Souljourn

Devotional thoughts on a culture of honour

I spoke last week about the importance of developing a culture of honour and how a culture of honour enables the proper stewardship of God's purposes.  We live in a culture that doesn't understand honour and is actually based on dishonour but we must live counter-culturally to that, we must live with a Kingdom culture.  Honour is a really big deal to God but not because He is looking for affirmation, but because of what the giving of honour does in, and through, our lives.

We learn from Exodus 20:12 that the giving of honour releases life and longevity in God's purposes, hence its necessity in stewarding what God is doing, AND we also learn that it is the person who gives the honour that actually receives the greatest blessing (this one is hard for us to accept in a culture that esteems the person receiving honour and almost overlooks the ones giving the honour).  This Kingdom concept is backed up again in 1 Peter 3:7 when husbands are instructed to honour their wives so that THEIR PRAYERS will not be hindered.  Once again, it is the person giving the honour that benefits the most in this 'transaction'.

Certainly the person who receives honour is blessed and encouraged, but we would all do well to remember where the greatest blessing lies...in the giving of honour.

I'm reading through Acts in my devotions right now and I came across a verse that challenged, and enlarged, my understanding of what a culture of honour looks like.  It is easy to think it looks like constant encouragement, affirmation and appreciation of people, but that is actually only a small piece of the culture of honour.

In Acts 5:41 the apostles had just gotten flogged for preaching about Jesus and their reaction is incredible.  It says that they counted it an honour to suffer for the sake of Jesus. Now that is an aspect of the culture of honour that I was not expecting to see.   A culture of Kingdom honour can't be limited simply to the affirmation and encouragement we give one another, although it must contain these elements.  A culture of honour is also made up of people being overwhelming grateful to Jesus for His saving grace in their lives and His willingness to use us to demonstrate His love to the world, regardless of the worlds response to us.

As I was thinking about this passage another passage came to mind that fits nicely with this one.  In Proverbs 19:11 we are told that it is a persons honour to overlook an offense.  This is another aspect of a culture of honour that might easily be overlooked, but is absolutely necessary.  A culture of honour is a culture where people are not defensive or offended, and realize the greatest reward is found in releasing an offense instead of holding it.

So I'll leave it with this.  Based on Acts 5:41 and Proverbs 19:11 how are you doing at developing a culture of honour? ( I know I've got work to do.)

Devotional thoughts

I'm reading through the book of Acts in my devotions right now and it seems like every few verses I'm getting walloped.  I read Acts 4 yesterday and five little words stood out in a BIG way.  

The apostles were boldly preaching the message of Jesus and they quickly began to run into some resistance.  It didn't take long for the critics and skeptics to appear and try to douse what was going on.  

But even while their harshest critics were telling them to stop doing what they were doing, the Bible tells us that these same critics recognized that they had been with Jesus (v.13).  And not only did they recognize it, they were in awe of it!

They weren't just recognizing that the apostles and Jesus had been in the same place together, they noticed that the apostles had taken on the characteristics of Jesus.  It was evident to them that these men had hung out with Jesus enough to express similar qualities and characteristics in their own lives.

Now it's one thing when people who really like us, and are looking for the best in us, recognize Christlike qualities in us, but I think it is something INCREDIBLY SIGNIFICANT when our critics and naysayers recognize Christlike qualities in us.  And not only do they recognize them, but they are in awe of them.

This is so much more than a fish bumper sticker or a WWJD bracelet.

This is you and I encountering Jesus in such a powerful way that we reflect Him to everyone around us.

I want this. 

I could be known as someone who:

• reads their Bible
• goes to Church
• prays
• puts money in the offering
• etc. 

I want to be known as a man that has been with Jesus. 

Devotional thoughts

This summer (in a few days it will be 'last summer' ) I went through Proverbs again in my devotions. On one of my previous readings I was struck by Proverbs 22:18 which says this about Proverbs, "it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips.'   

I will admit that in the past I have adopted a somewhat 'fortune cookie' approach to the Proverbs and not really paid them tremendous attention but that particular verse  challenged me.   If these proverbs where honestly in my heart then they would/should flow out of my life.   That caused me to reflect on my approach to my devotional reading and ask myself, 'Why am I reading the Bible?'.  While that might sound like  a somewhat elementary question it was one I needed to answer again, and I think we all should do the same.

There are times the Bible is read out of duty.  A sense of obligation to someone; ourselves, God, a small group leader, stirs an 'I ought to read my Bible today' which we hopefully respond to by reading our Bible.

There are times the Bible is read out of a search for information.  I want to know more details about something in the Bible, a character, an event, and perhaps even the Bibles perspective on an issue. 

There are times the Bible is read out of a sense of competition.  I want to be able to say (even if only to myself) that I read a chapter today, or I just completed reading a certain book etc.  Here the goal is not so much what I have read, but rather how much I have read.

How I really want to approach my devotional reading is with a desire for transformation.  This is different than searching for information because with this approach I am committed to responding to what I read, not just amassing knowledge.  Here I am expecting to be challenged in how I live.  My thoughts, attitudes, perspectives and actions - towards God and man - are wide open to being shaped by God's Word.

Let me close this post by encouraging you in your devotional reading.  Before you open up your Bible and dive in to what it is your about to read why don't you take a short moment and reaffirm your posture of expecting/desiring transformation.

When you come back on Monday I'll share some of the proverbs that have really stood out to me over the last while.  

Devotional thoughts

I'm reading through Proverbs again as part of my devotional reading and I read this today in Proverbs 3:3 (June 3 - Proverbs 3):

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
      Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
      Write them deep within your heart.

There are some great other proverbs in chapter 3 but this never stops standing out to me.  It causes me to ask a couple questions:

1. Do I do this?

2. How could I improve at this?

3. What would it be like if everyone lived from the vantage points of loyalty and kindness?

It really is an amazing mental picture you can get when you stop for just a moment and consider what the world would be like if everyone operated with kindness & loyalty.  Relationships would deepen.  Marriages would strengthen.  Churches would grow.  Communities would be healthier.

It seems so simple.  Loyalty and kindness.  It's a no brainer.

Easier said than done.

Who have you told lately?

Have you ever had a really good (or bad) cup of coffee?  Chances are you've probably told someone about it.  The same is probably true for a meal at a restaurant, the service at a store, and a movie that you've watched.  People have a tendency to talk about what is either really good, or really bad.  Those things which are average, okay, or pretty good, seldom get any mention from us. 

Keep this in mind as I reference a story in the Bible.  

In 2 Samuel 6 we read about King David trying to bring the Ark to Jerusalem and in the process someone dies and David becomes angry, afraid, confused and disappointed.  David has no idea what to do so he stores the Ark at someone else's house and for a period of three months David remains stuck in this place of disappointment and confusion.

For all we know David may have remained stuck there for even longer had it not been for the testimonies of God's goodness that he heard.  While the Ark was being stored, the goodness of God was on display in such great measure -- in another town, in another house, in another man's life -- that people began to talk about it (they were giving testimonies).  And as the testimonies spread out, word eventually reached David.And when David heard the testimonies of God's goodness he was moved from the place of anger, fear, confusion and disappointment and he began to pursue the presence of God again (he went out to get the Ark).

This story illustrates the amazing power of sharing testimonies.  We never know who will hear our testimonies of God's goodness.  We do know there are people around us that are afraid, angry, confused and disappointed.It may be the testimony that you share which causes someone to begin, or renew, their pursuit for God.

The goodness of God is definitely not average so it needs to be talked about.  The stories need to be told, and retold, and then told again.  (how many times have you told someone about a meal you had at a restaurant, or a movie you saw?)

Another thing this story teaches us is that it doesn't even have to be happening to us, for us to be able to share it.  It wasn't the guy who was experiencing God's goodness that told David, it was someone who saw/heard what was happening and then told someone else and it eventually reached David.

Once you've heard the story of God's goodness, then it is your story to tell (and tell often).

Devotional thoughts

I read this verse the other day in my devotions from 2 John 8:

Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so 

hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. 

What stood out to me as I read this verse was that I had just recently written a post about Carol Cartwright and the fruitfulness that we were experiencing as a church thanks in part to her ministry to us.  So I was mindful not only of the fruitfulness we are experiencing, but also the prophetic promises spoken to us.

It was against this backdrop, as well as the most recent word from Graham Cooke, that this verse really stood out to me.

This verse served as a reminder to stay focused, to be diligent, and not allow the fruitfulness/blessings of today to cause me to slow up from pursuing the fruitfulness & blessings of tomorrow.

Sometimes the greatest hinderance to our continued advance and increased fruitfulness is the advances we have made and the fruitfulness we have seen.  These can cause us to become complacent.  To settle for was it good instead of what is best.  

There is an opportunity before us all that has been opened up to us through the prophetic ministry of others.  It is an opportunity (our full reward as 2 John 8 would state it) that God intends for us to fully achieve.  It is not something that we make happen, or bring about in our own strength.  But, we do have a responsibility.  It is well stated in the above verse.  

I'm so thankful for God's Word. 

Personal trainer

I read this verse this morning in my devotions:

Psalm 144:1 - Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 

God wants me prepared for, and engaged in, the conflict between His advancing Kingdom and the enemies diminishing territory.  

It reminded me what Jesus said in Matthew 11:12 - From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

It sure is cool being on the winning side!

devotional thoughts

I'm working my way through Psalm 119.  I figured I would spread it out over a couple days instead of trying to 'get through it' (176 verses).  Here are a couple statements that stood out and demanded a second read and some thought:

• My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous! - insatiable for your nourishing commands. (I love the descriptive words and the imagery of great longing for God's Word.  I want more of this.)
• Give me a bent for your words of wisdom, and not for piling up loot.  Divert my eyes from toys and trinkets. (This is easier to read than actually do in a world that is bent on materialism and the constant pursuit of MORE STUFF.)
• Give me insight so I can do what you tell me - my whole life one long, obedient response. (Talk about giving God our YES.  What a way to characterize a life - a long obedient response to God.)
• I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. (Where do I find pleasure?  What does bring satisfaction?)

Devotional thoughts

I read Psalm 116 this morning in my devotions.  I love the prayer, and commitment, that the psalmist makes.  He is in the middle of hardship.  He has been disappointed, and even betrayed, by people around him, and right while all that is going on, before the situation has been resolved, he worships God and gives thanks for the many blessings of God in his life.

He maintains a confident peace that God will care for him.  He keeps his focus on what God has done, and what God will do, instead of focussing on the hardships of the moment.  

That alone was a devotional lesson worth mulling over for awhile, but then he repeats a statement that really stirred something in me.  Here is a statement he makes just prior to these statements that give a sense of context:

"Despite giving up on the human race, saying, "They're all liars and cheats."  

then he makes these statements:

"I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it together with His people."

"I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it in company with His people, 

in the place of worship, in God's house."

I love the commitment that the psalmist makes to maintain relationship with God and His people.  Even while he is in a place of disappointment, and I'm sure there was a strong pull to isolation and independence - "that's it, I'm out of here, I'll do it on my own..." - He reaffirms His commitment to walk in relationship with the people of God, and in the House of God (local church).

All of us will inevitably face disappointments and hardship.  That's not pessimism, that's realism.  But even in those situations (seasons?) we must affirm, and walk out, a commitment to the people of God and the House of God.  The enemy loves to push us to a place of isolation and independence where we cut ourselves off from relationship.  Quite often people do this with the rationale that "I'm protecting myself", but the reality is that we are endangering ourselves even more. 

God wants us in relationship with Him, His people, and His House.  We need to be in relationship with Him, His people, and His House.  Life works when we are in relationship with Him, His people, and His House.

2 days to Christmas

It seems like Christmas has come so fast this year.  A couple of days ago we were launching a new fall season of ministry and whoooosh it's December 23rd.  But as fast as it may have seemed to come, it's nothing like that first Christmas.  I love the way that Luke tells the story (Luke 2) and the way everything is going along normally when SUDDENLY this event takes place that changes absolutely everything.  Here is a passage that I read this morning from the Message translation.  I've highlighted the words that lept out at me as I read it.  They all were weighted with implication and so I'm going to spend some time just pondering them.  The urgency of 'as fast as we can', the global reach of, 'meant for everybody, worldwide,' and, the evangelistic responsibility of, 'all who heard' are just some of the implications I'm praying about.  

 8-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

 13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: 
   Glory to God in the heavenly heights, 
   Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

 15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

 19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!