Blog Archives
Valuing Others Above Ourselves
by Chris Jones
I’ve been thinking about this post a lot lately. It’s a timely thought, with everything that’s happening at the moment.
Originally posted 09-10-2013
Right of Way
There are few things that really drive me nuts. Chief among them is people with poor driving etiquette. What are they trying to prove anyway (riding on bumpers, laying on their horns, not yielding the right of way)? People seem to be at their most inconsiderate of others when they’re in their cars. Perhaps it’s because they don’t have to deal with people on a personal level. Each of us is surrounded by our own steel cage, removed from more intimate, physical contact. It’s as if we have a certain agenda and nothing else matters, nothing else exists.
Changing lanes has become a test of wills. If you signal your intent, shouldn’t people adjust their speed to accommodate? It seems the rules may have changed. Who decided this? Now, if you see someone attempting to change lanes, standard protocol is to ride the bumper of the car in front of you, leaving no room to merge.
Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV) says, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
We could easily apply this same analogy to people coming to faith in God. What will this world ever know of Jesus, if Christians can’t master the principle of making room for others? Do we need to learn to yield to those around us, “valuing others above ourselves”? How might we need to adjust our pace to allow them to merge into our lane? It seems we’d rather point out all the ways their lives are incompatible with our flow. Does any of that really matter? If we receive the slightest signal that someone wants to come over, shouldn’t we make their transition an easy one?
In their introduction to Christ, is it more important that we win an initial battle of right vs. wrong, or that we welcome them into that same tender and compassionate spirit that gives us grace that we don’t deserve? It wasn’t anything about our preparedness or any pace of life that we achieved that allowed us to merge into His grace. Thank God for those who allowed us to limp along, even being delayed as they helped us get up to speed. Be watchful, patient and full of grace. Step outside the steel cage of any religious spirit that keeps you from seeing people as people. Yield your right of way to make room for them to merge into God’s grace. Be patient as they limp along. Bring them up to speed with love and understanding. Allow people to travel in our lane, the one that inevitably will lead them to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Be The Weak Link
by Chris Jones
What sense does it make that anyone should want to become weak? It certainly isn’t a quality that’s valued in this world. Especially among men, weakness is seen as a handicap. It’s ironic, then, that weakness may be the key to your freedom.
Photo: “Chained” by Trevor Leyenhorst
There’s strong symbolism in seeing our sin as chains. In John 8:31-34, Jesus said that sin enslaves us. Whether trapped by willful participation or as victim to a generational curse, the deepest longing of our heart is freedom from that bondage.
For some, however, prayers might seem to be a fruitless endeavor. Always asking and waiting for someone or something to come break them, we fail to recognize the link we are in those chains. Is it possible that prideful unwillingness to welcome help inhibits our breakthrough? Are we fearful of the judgement we might face if our shortcomings are exposed? Can it be that we’re comfortable, “at home” with our addictions? Are we holding on too tightly?
If a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, becoming weak is the beginning of freedom. Allow yourself to be broken; your pride, your will, your plans, your thoughts in exchange for His. Let go of those things you hold more closely than His Word, His promises. Pick up the Armor of God (Ephesians 6). Allow His Fruit (Galatians 5) to grow in your life.
Your freedom is not in your ability to remain strong. It’s found in your willingness to become weak.
No Rock Can Take Your Role.
by Chris Jones
Isn’t it strange that Jesus said that the rocks would cry out? The conversation takes place after Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Luke 19:37-40 tells us that the religious leaders told Jesus to rebuke his followers for proclaiming him as King, and equating him with God. Jesus’ reply suggests that, if those people kept their praise to themselves, “the stones along the road would burst into cheers.” (NLT)
When you really think about it, natural objects declaring the majesty of God isn’t a stretch of the imagination. How many times have you heard someone with no faith in Jesus Christ, talk about experiencing God through nature, that the great outdoors is their church? These are fairly common sentiments. Psalm 19:1-4 even says, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.”
It’s important to notice that there’s no inference that the rocks would share the gospel message. There’s no suggestion that the trees would relay a personal testimony of the difference Jesus has made in their lives. The wind and the waves aren’t going to be the body of Christ, ministering love to the people around them. As believers, these are our jobs. These are the roles we play in the Kingdom of God. Among all of his creation, God uniquely designed each of us to testify to his Glory, specifically as it has been revealed through his Son, Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father.
The bad news is that we’re living in a generation in which “the rocks” just might be doing a better job than us, of declaring the splendor of our King. That doesn’t necessarily advance the Kingdom though. It’s our job to point the world to Jesus Christ. All creation resounds in praise, but no rock can take your role.
A Father In His Image
by Chris Jones
Parents, how many times have our reactions 
to our children been triggered in a moment of our own frustration or anger? I’d guess that, in an easy majority of those instances, we’ve reacted with emotion and consequences that were well disproportionate to the perceived offense. Let it stand as reason enough to live in the power of The Holy Spirit, relying on His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control to rule over the emotions we’d otherwise release.
Ephesians 6:4 says, “And now a word to you fathers. Don’t make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.
A comment to this verse in my Life Application Study Bible says, “The purpose of parental discipline is to help children grow, not to exasperate and provoke them to anger or discouragement. Parenting is not easy. It takes lots of patience to raise children in a loving, Christ-honoring manner. But frustration and anger should not be causes for discipline. Instead, parents should act in love, treating their children as Jesus treats the people he loves. This is vital to children’s development and to their understanding of what Christ is like.”
I like the way Paul’s letter is interpreted in Colossians 3:21 (NLT), where he warns, “Fathers, don’t aggravate your children. If you do, they will become discouraged and quit trying.”
God, help us to love like you love and discipline like you discipline. Help us to nurture the tender spirits in our children. Help us to always build, and never tear down. Holy Spirit, help us exhibit the image and character of Jesus in our interactions with those over whom we’re in positions of authority. Allow us to clearly see the mercy and grace we’ve been shown by the Father, and dispense guidance and correction accordingly. I pray that your peace and presence will rule in our homes, as we yield ourselves to Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Journey Begins…
Welcome to my journey, as I run into God’s healing power. In this post I set the background for why I began to run, and what I’m believing as I take these steps of faith. Join me and let’s run this race together!
Is Happiness Stealing Our Joy?
by Chris Jones
You know that feeling, the one you get when you’ve gone out of your way for someone. Weather in response to that “still, small voice” or personal gumption, there’s a sense of a greater call we tap into when we help those in need. It’s the inexpressible emotions of uniting in labor with Missionaries in the field. It’s the reward found in our sacrifice to make sure others don’t go without. It’s the peace that settles after sharing the grief of the broken and hurting. It’s unspeakable and enduring joy.
While such joy is the theme of life for some, it’s all too rare a glimpse of God’s glory for most. It makes me wonder, is the pursuit of happiness stealing our joy?
While it may seem like a matter of semantics to many, some will agree that there’s an undeniable difference in the happiness that comes from the pursuit of earthly goals and the joy we discover in the work of God’s Kingdom, being His love extended to the overlooked, the devalued, the forgotten, the “least” among us. None-the-less, we spend the greater part of our resources in a lopsided pursuit of a temporary happiness that expires as the luster of our possessions fades, inspiring us to believe that “bigger” and “better” will somehow satisfy the restless desire for our hearts to be filled.
In this context, it’s hard to ignore John’s urging to “…not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” Peter also acknowledges the key to this joy when he said, “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
Christmas is a natural time of benevolence, and the joy that comes with giving. We’ve missed something though, if we believe God’s intent was that the birth of his Son would merely inspire a season of giving. Rather, His gift to us is that we needn’t settle for the “happiness” of this world, but that we share in the joy of being ambassadors for His Kingdom, giving completely of ourselves in service to others.
Are We Doing It Wrong?
by Chris Jones
If there’s really power in prayer, why is it too often neglected? If there’s a promise that “prayer…has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16), what keeps us from tapping into it? Has something changed about God’s promises? Are we somehow not eligible for those benefits? Have we developed a sense of futility with it all? Or, is it possible that we’re just not doing it correctly?
Paul gives us direct advice concerning our approach to prayer. In Colossians 4:2, he says, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart”.
Devote yourself to prayer.
You’re probably familiar with Paul urging the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing“. Paul’s not suggesting we literally live on our knees. Rather, he’s encouraging us to stay in constant communion with the Father. Don’t miss the meaning of this beautiful word, “communion”. One dictionary defines it as “the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level”. Don’t just come to God when your back is against the wall. Take full advantage of the direct access you have to Him, in good times and bad.
Pray with an alert mind.
Can anyone successfully argue that God doesn’t deserve our full attention? Effective prayer requires engagement, free from all distractions. Find moments in your day, when you can silence everything around you, and fully engage with God. There just isn’t a substitute for spending quality time in His presence, fully aware of the privilege to have deep, intimate connection with the Father.
Pray with a thankful heart.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. (Psalm 100)”
I think it would be an error to believe a thankful heart “primes the pump”, somehow ingratiating us to God. Instead, a thankful heart breeds a humble spirit. Hopefully, we haven’t flipped the script, supposing God to be at our bidding, a servant to respond to our demands. He cares greatly for us, and will not refuse a broken and repentant heart (Psalm 51). Make your request known to God, understanding that He has already given us His greatest gift, in His Son, Jesus Christ.
If there’s a missing link in the story of our faith, I believe it’s the absence of the power and authority in which we should live as followers of Jesus Christ. Develop a habit of devoted, alert and thankful prayer. It’s the key to God’s unlimited provision, and will produce evidence the world cannot refuse.
Can We Get Real?
by Chris Jones
Can we get real? Are we capable of being honest about ourselves, with ourselves and others? Is it possible to strip away everything we believe and represent ourselves to be, to better see our lives compared to the example we have in Jesus Christ?
At its core , I think it comes down to a basic question of reputation.
It seems that so much of our time and energy, whether intentionally or not, are devoted to developing an image by which the world judges our worth. In that process, I believe we compromise the maximum impact we could have for God’s Kingdom. It’s a matter of personal appearance and clothing labels. How large is your house? What kind of car do you drive? The average American family lives well beyond it’s means to keep pace. All the while, God’s Kingdom and His people go with unmet needs. The poor struggle, with too few helping hands extended their way. The pursuit and maintenance of our reputations seem directly opposed to the work to which we’ve been called.
Compare this to the example Jesus set for us. Philippians 2:5-11 tells us,
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being…he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
I like that the King James version says “(He) made himself of no reputation”, all for the glory of the Father. In laying aside all earthly ambition, He was optimally effective in the work to which His was appointed.
If we’re capable of seeing ourselves for who we are, what warning do we received from James 5:1-3, where it says,
Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment.
Isn’t it time that we see and respond to the needs around us? Isn’t it time we take an honest assessment of the ways in which we limit our impact by literally storing up our treasures in the form of earthly possessions? Isn’t it time we get real?
WITNESS RUNNER 