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Simple Things

I consider myself a rather simple guy.  Sure, I have a PhD in Educational Administration, but I don’t consider myself to be an intellectual.  I understand life in simple, basic terms.

When I was a high school principal, I challenged my teachers to have high expectations for their students.  I believe that more times than not, students will rise up to the level of expectation we have for them.

When it comes to finances, my Dad taught me a lesson years ago that still serves me well.  When dealing with your money, spend less than you earn.  Sounds simple, but it works.

Concerning Chicago baseball, Cubs fans will still have to wait until next year.  Simple, but true.

How about our relationship with God?  Can this be seen in simple terms?  I believe so.  In fact, I believe God has only two simple things on His agenda for your life.

The first one is for you to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.  This is the basic statement of the gospel.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

This is the desire of God’s heart.  “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

This is the great pursuit that God is on.  “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.”  Exodus 6:7

The second thing on God’s agenda for your life is for you to become like His Son.  “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son.”  Romans 8:29

The incredible thing to realize is that because He is God, He has the resources of the universe at His disposal to bring these two simple things about in your life.  He will passionately pursue you to draw you into a relationship with Him.  Since you are the object of His affection, there is nothing He will withhold to reach out to you.  We see this clearly proven at the cross.

And then, once you have committed to join Him in relationship, He will guide, mold, form and shape you to become like His Son.  He will use heartache and joy, victory and defeat, pain and peace to bring this about.

Don’t make following God complicated.  It’s really rather simple.

Semper Fidelis

Recently I had the opportunity to be in Parris Island, SC.  I was there attending a graduation ceremony at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.  Over 600 men and women had completed their recruit training and were now being recognized as the newest United States Marines.

For the past 12 weeks, this group had endured difficulties, faced challenges and accomplished tasks that most of us will never deal with.  They had learned to give their all.  And when they thought they were empty, they dug down deeper and found hidden strength.

They were taught the history and values of the Marines, including the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis.  Latin for "always faithful," this motto guides Marines to remain faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the Corps and to country, no matter what.

While Semper Fidelis has been the Marine Corps motto since 1883, it has been God’s motto from before the beginning of time.  “Always faithful” is one of the many characteristics that God demonstrates to us.

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.  Psalm 33:4

He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.  1 Corinthians 1:8-9

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.  2 Thessalonians 3:3

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

My respect, admiration, and gratitude for those serving our country have never been greater.  Personally knowing just a little more about those that are committed to give their all for a cause greater than themselves is very humbling.

But, I’ve also learned an incredible lesson about God.  He has been and will continue to be faithful to me.  He gave His all for the cause of ransoming me.  How will I live my life in return knowing what He has done?

Father, I pray you will find me always faithful.

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23

God be with You

Have you ever been in a tough spot?  Things ever not gone according to plan?  Does it sometimes seem like you’re going through life on your own?

Have you ever asked questions like, “How did I get here?  What did I do?  How long will this last?”

As people of faith, perhaps our biggest question is, “Where is God?”  The story of Joseph will help us see that God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good!

“The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.”  Genesis 39:2

“The Lord was with Joseph.”  These words are crucial in understanding this entire story.  It was God’s presence with Joseph and Joseph’s awareness of this that made all the difference in how he approached life.  Joseph escaped death at the hands of his brothers only to become a slave in a distant land.  But, Joseph wasn’t just any slave.  He knew and lived out the reality that God was with him.

Joseph was a handsome young man, and Potiphar’s wife took notice of him.  Day after day she seduced him into sleeping with her.  Day after day he refused her advances knowing that having access to everything did not include Mrs. Potiphar.  When she realized that she would not prevail, she accused Joseph of trying to force himself on her.  This resulted in the wrath of Potiphar and Joseph being thrown into prison.

“The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”  Genesis 39:23

There is that phrase again, “the Lord was with Joseph.”  It was a long time ago that Joseph lived as the favored son of his father Jacob.  Since then he was almost killed by his brothers, sold as a slave in a foreign land, and now he was in jail for a crime he didn’t commit.  But, in spite of and through all of this, the Lord was with Joseph.

The story of Joseph is an amazing one.  We see how Joseph showed himself faithful to God, even in difficult times.  Even more than this, we see the powerful hand of God as evidenced by the phrase, “the Lord was with Joseph.”

I don’t know what you are struggling with right now.  I’m not sure of the uncertainty you are facing.  But I know one thing that is true for you.  It’s the one thing that Joseph could count on.

God is with you.

As it Turned Out

“So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters.  As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.”  Ruth 2:3 (NIV)

“As it turned out…”  What a great phrase!  Now, if we heard that at work we would realize that a project just came together.  If we heard this at home we would know a situation had resolved itself.  Just day-to-day circumstances; ordinary situations that rarely deserve special attention.

But these words are found in the Bible.  And in the Bible, “as it turned out” is anything but ordinary.

Well, “as it turned out,” Ruth ended up working in the field of one of Naomi’s relatives.  Boaz was pleased to have Ruth in his field and told his workers to take care of her.  Boaz had heard about the commitment Ruth made to Naomi and was treating her well in return.  Ruth went home at the end of the day well fed and with much food for her household.

Naomi was thrilled when she learned that Boaz was the owner of the field that Ruth worked in.  You see, even more than being a relative, Boaz was a family guardian, a kinsman-redeemer.

In those days, in order to keep inheritance in the family of a male that was deceased, a relative would take on the responsibility to carry on the family name.  Fulfilling the role of kinsman-redeemer or family guardian was a selfless act.  The guardian did not personally benefit from taking on the responsibility of another.  He actually took on a liability to keep another’s name from dying out.

Enter once again the sovereignty of God.  Throughout the pages of the Bible, we see the powerful hand of God working out the details of His story.  The story of Ruth is further evidence of this.

Ruth and Boaz would have a child that they would name Obed.  Obed is mentioned in two contexts in the Bible.  In this story, he is presented as the child of Ruth and Boaz.  The only other place he shows up is in the gospels where both Matthew and Luke list Obed in the genealogy of Jesus.

You see, Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.  This is the David that kills a giant and becomes king.  God would promise to David that there would always be someone from his family line on the throne in Israel.  This would come to pass through the person of Jesus Christ.

God continues to work out His plan every day.  As we follow closely to Him, we experience the joy of having our story intersect with His story.  And when that happens, we can look at every situation “as it turned out.”

Ordinary People

Ordinary, basic, plain, normal. None of these sound very exciting. Where is the action? Where is the adventure? Where is the drama?

As we consider the early church, we find a whole group of ordinary people; fishermen, tax collectors, tent makers, and the like.  So how did this group of ordinary people make such an extraordinary difference?

The people of the early church were forever changed by an encounter with Jesus Christ. As a result of this encounter, they came to possess the very presence and power of God in their lives through the Holy Spirit. Together, as God directed them, their new lives in Christ were used to turn the world right-side-up.

Today as Christ-followers, we have the privilege and responsibility to carry on the mission of the early church. However, before we start relying on all our technological advancements and theological insights, we must remember one basic truth: God is still in the business of using ordinary people to carry out His work. We are living out God's plan and God's purposes. He has the big picture in mind and all the details worked out. He is looking for ordinary people; people like you and me. He wants to move in and through us to make a difference.

For this to happen, we have to be fully available to Him.  We have to be willing to commit our lives to His plans and purposes.  We have to be all in!  The people of the early church did not have the education, the knowledge or the perspective that we have today.  However, what they had was a commitment to what they believed that resulted in action.

One more thing. In Acts 4:13 we read that Peter and John were bold and courageous to the point of astonishing the people around them. How was this possible? They were just ordinary men. Take a look at the end of the verse: "these men had been with Jesus."  Today, our opportunity to be with Jesus is found as we spend time with Him in the Bible and in prayer.

Ordinary people + Jesus = making a difference! Being ordinary doesn't sound so bad after all.