Common Sense, Critical Thinking and Jesus

     Over this past weekend while gathered for a family wedding, There was ample time to discuss the many issues that seem to be dividing segments of our nation as well as Christians.  Topics like face masks, vaccinations and lockdowns were on the top of the list.  Instead of extending grace to others with a different mindset in the various examples we discussed, people name called, accused and shamed others.  In short, they were doing exactly what they say they hated to see in "cancel culture" not realizing their response to someone who disagreed with them was the same type of response they say they despised.  How easy it is for us to fall in the trap of reacting based on feelings or emotions that ebb and flow rather than using common sense and critical thinking skills even as our Lord Jesus Christ did on numerous occasions.

     One of my long time favorite verses in God's Word comes from Isaiah 55:8-9:  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."  God's ability to reason is far above ours, but we are called to use the mind he has given us.  Living on emotions is the equivalent of a roller coaster ride. We react to others rather than reason with them even as God has called us to do.  Isaiah 1:18a declares:  "Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord..."

     When we look at many encounters Paul had with those in Synagogues and towns where he traveled, he took time to reason with others using evidence found in Scripture to the truth of Jesus Christ as Messiah.  Acts 17:2 says, "And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures..."  Then in Acts 18:4, we read: "And he was reasoning in the synagogue every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks."  The Apostle used common sense examples, critical thinking skills to persuade, not coerce, others for the hope that was within him.  Jesus Christ has called us to do the same.  We are to be the salt and light in this world in order to share the Good News.

      Certainly having discussions about the state of our nation, economy, or any other topic can be a good thing if done with mutual respect.  However, we all know how easy it is to be sidetracked by the cares of this world.  Paul writes this in Colossians 2:8:  "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."  Our citizenship is in heaven if we are a Christian, and the Enemy of our Soul would love nothing better than to help us forget our final destination.  Instead, Satan would have us worry, fight and stew over side issues in this world so that we become divided.  This way he can render us ineffective.  Jesus warned His disciples about this in Matthew 24:24:  "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect."  So what, then, is the answer in this contentious age?

     First, remember that when presented with information do some research on it.  Do not accept at face value everything that we read or hear, but we must look at several sources.  This is part of the critical thinking process.  Knowing God's Word is one way we can evaluate the things we are confronted with.  The Bereans checked out everything Paul preached according to the Scriptures to see if it was so.  Even in secular matters, we need to do the same.

     Secondly, pray about issues before speaking out on them.  We must seek God's wisdom on matters of health, safety and the well being of our families.  Quickly jumping to conclusions based on emotions or because the neighbor down the street had an article in favor of an issue may lead to consequences we do not like.  My father used to say, "If all of your friends decided to jump off a cliff, would you go do it too?"  In other words, use common sense and seek the Lord.  He is the author of life, and desires to give wisdom to all who ask.

     Finally, we all must remember that God is sovereign over all the affairs of men.  He puts leaders in power and takes them out for His plan and purpose.  We may not like it, but we must trust His goodness, His mercy and His care for us.  He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  We also know that there will come a day of judgement when God will give us a new heaven and a new earth where justice reigns supreme.  This world and all that it offers will soon pass away, but God's Word will stand forever.  Therefore my friends, let us not get caught up in bunny trails, conspiracy theories, or worry over the future.  Instead, let us cling to the truth of God's Word and deal with one another in love, grace and kindness.  We must not get sidetracked but keep our eyes on the goal of God's high calling on our lives.  When we do get into discussions, may we all remember to do so with humility, common sense, critical thinking and the love of Jesus Christ.  This is the kind of conversation that will attract others and point them to Christ whether we win the argument or not.  Selah!

Finding Strength in His Joy

     Seventy years is a long time to be away from home, and now, the people of Judah were returning under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.  While this was a journey many had longed to make, the reality of the ruins that they found was overwhelming.  There was a lot of work to be done, but before all of this could be accomplished,  the people were called to hear the reading of God's Law.  After all, it was sin and idolatry that had separated them from their covenant God.  Now, they needed to hear once again what God expected of His people.  As the people listened, Nehemiah gave these instructions (Chapter 8:9-10):  "…9Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law. 10Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve.”…  The key verse in this passage is "the joy of the LORD is your strength".

 

   While the people of Judah had every reason to grieve over their past sins, this day was declared a holy day.  Not only did they have good food to enjoy but they had God's Word read so they could understand His covenant with them.  This was the foundation that would give them the strength to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.  Likewise, this is our foundation when life offers us challenges.  We find our ability to persevere when the joy of our Lord fills us.  Let me give an example.

     When people ask me if it is hard recuperating from knee surgery, I tell them that the easiest part is the surgery.  It isn't hard to go to sleep and wake up with a new knee.  No, the hard work doesn't come until after you go home.  Then, the work begins in earnest.  Exercising swollen tissue and muscles is not easy.  However, if you want your knee to function normally again, you have no choice but to keep working through the pain.  This is where it is important to have a goal.  For me, I want to take walks again and take pictures of flowers and God's creatures.  This is very attainable if I apply myself on a daily basis.  The same is true for other goals or difficulties that we face in life.  We have a choice.  We can either give up and go have a pity party or we can find our strength in the joy of the Lord.

     There are several ways we can learn to develop that deep joy.  First and foremost, we need to pray every day.  I find that if I hem my day in prayer, it is less likely to unravel.  Without committing our cares to Him, we carry the burden of our troubles with us everywhere we go.  It is a weight we were never meant to carry.  The Lord tells us to "Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

     A second way to find deep joy is by reading the Bible on a daily basis.  Both my husband and I found a  reading plan that takes us through the Word in a year.  Filling our minds with God's thoughts keeps us on track in our relationship with God.  This is why Ezra read the Law of Moses to the people returning to the land.  They needed a reason to build, a hope to build on and joy to get the job done.  The same is true for us.

     Finally, we need Christian fellowship to fill up our joy tank!  If I had to do all my rehab home alone, I would be tempted to skip it.  However, in the fellowship of physical therapists and other patients, I find myself pushing through the discomfort to reach my goal.  The same is true in our spiritual life.  We need other believers to talk to and encourage us when life hands us tough times.  The people of Judah found strength not only in the joy of the Lord but by having fellowship with one another as they went about rebuilding their city.  We are no different.  The three keys to having the joy in the Lord then are simple:  pray, be in the Bible daily and have fellowship with other believers.  This is what keeps me moving towards recovery and my prayer is that this will help each of you reading this to know that the "joy of the Lord is your strength" to face whatever lies ahead for you.  Selah!

Step by Step

     Recovering from knee replacement surgery is not for the faint of heart.  It requires determination, effort, and following the rehab plan.  This is my third knee surgery in less than a year so I feel like I am well acquainted with many of the exercises.  The discomfort is something that no one enjoys but it goes along with the process.  In many respects, the Christian life is very similar.

     God begins a work within us when He calls us to be His own.  He removes our stony heart as stated in Ezekiel 36:26:  "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."  We were once dead to God and alive to sin until the Great Physician gave us a new life in Christ.  Talk about major surgery!   God made us a new creation unto repentance, and just like physical surgery, it takes time to grow in this new way of life.

     With knee surgery, they get you up the same day as your surgery and have you begin moving.  Of course, it is supervised and I took baby steps.  No instant marathon runner here...it will take time.  In much the same way as a new Christian, we need someone to come along side us and help us to grow.  This is where church fellowship, teaching and discipleship are critically important.  Being a babe in Christ is both exciting and a little scary too.   My husband and I were blessed when we became new Christians to have this kind of support to help us grow in the Lord.

     Of course, we all progress at different rates whether it is recovery from surgery or in our growth in Christ.  After knee surgery, I had two weeks of home therapy, and went from using a walker, to a cane and now walking independently.  Going to rehab appointments three times a week helps to strengthen the weak muscles and even though it tests my limits of discomfort, I know I need to rebuild flexibility so I can enjoy walking again.  It will take time, and as my doctor reminds me, I could have some stiffness for
up to a year.  However, what I will not have is the bone on bone pain I had endured before. 

     Following heart surgery under the mighty Hand of God will also require some stretching and changing.  Old habits must die, the sin nature no longer holds us captive, and our desires will be transformed as well.  Some of this process can be uncomfortable or even painful.  Co-workers, family and friends may not understand the difference in us.  This may cause a number of them to walk away from us.  Jesus said in Matthew 19:29:  "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life."  Yes, we may lose some cherished relationships but in return, we will gain a family in Christ to walk with us.

     Our Lord clearly said that we will face tribulation in this world, but we can be of good cheer because as He has overcome the world, we also will overcome through His power.  We must be willing to invest our time and effort to grow just like I am currently doing in my rehab with my knee.  I want to get full function back, and it requires my participation in less than comfortable exercises.  So I keep my eye on the goal and that is what we must do if we desire to grow in Christ.  Let us keep pressing forward towards the goal as the Apostle Paul told us...keeping our eye on the prize that we may win the crown and hear our master say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant..." (Matthew 25:23).  Press on dear friends....we are almost home!  Selah!

The Sweetness of Coming Home

     There is nothing like the sweetness of coming home again after being away for a vacation or some other event.  No bed feels softer, no food tastes better and no surroundings seem as welcoming as those of our own home. The same can also be said for our spiritual home.

     Over this past year, many of us found ourselves separated from our church homes due to the Pandemic.  We could, of course, watch services online, but it was not the same as being there in person.  Just within this past month my husband and I finally had the chance to return to in person worship. There are no words to describe the great joy we felt being with other saints, hearing the Word of God proclaimed, and singing the hymns of our faith. Yes, we could watch all of that take place online, but the intimacy of the worship experience is missing on the screen. The Psalmist was correct when he wrote these words pertaining to God's House:  "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness"(Psalm 84:10). Sadly, it is often true that we do not realize the blessings we possess until they are taken from us.  While the virus could not take our faith away, it did manage to keep us from meeting together for a while.

     Indeed, King David loved to be in the House of the Lord and expressed this in Psalm 27:4:  "One thing I have asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple." How precious these words are in light of how long we were away from the House of the Lord!  A year seems like forever. The worst part has been the inability to partake in the Lord's Supper.

     Unfortunately, with recent surgery, I am now homebound for a time and will once again, miss this meal of grace along with the celebration of Easter in person. Truly, absence does make the heart grow fonder.

     This past weekend, we watched a church service online as they received new members.  Among the people being received, many were students and younger elementary aged children.  My heart burst with joy as I saw these new believers come into the fellowship of the church, and tears streamed down my cheeks.  Did they realize how blessed they were to be together in person?  I pray they never lose that desire for fellowship.  Then, when the church celebrated the Lord's Supper, I prayed for that time when we will also be able to join in once again in remembrance of our Savior's sacrifice for us.

     Having gone through this Pandemic has not been easy for any of us, but of this I am certain, we must never take for granted the ability to worship the Lord together and to take to heart the admonition found in Hebrews 10:24-25: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."  Yes, the Day of His return will come, and we will be ready when we remain in fellowship in the House of the Lord.  Selah!   Have a blessed Easter for HE IS RISEN!