Blog Archives
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.
What’s Wrong?
by Chris Jones
What’s wrong with this world? It’s a question we’ve probably all asked ourselves at one time or another. Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer…or is there?
In Matthew 22:34-40, Jesus is confronted with a question that’s familiar to many of us. “…An expert in religious law tried to trap him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?’ Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.'”
Did you catch that? “The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Obedience to God’s Word should be a natural byproduct of our lives, when we learn to completely love God and those with whom we share this world.
In 1 John 4:7-12, John says,
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
The answer, then, to any question of “what’s wrong with this world” might be best solved by answering the question of “what’s wrong with us”.
What sense is there in analyzing the world’s problems with religious and political debates, when our time is better spent finding ways to love one another? What meaning will we find in letting our differences divide us, when His love has come to unify us? What reward is there in capturing possessions for ourselves, when love should motivate us to willingly share with those in need?
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” (1 John 4:12) If people aren’t expereincing God’s love through you, what’s wrong?
Through The Dark
by Chris Jones
When I enter my house through the laundry room, I’m greeted by total darkness. It’s no problem if I just keep moving, three steps straight forward, reach low for the doorknob, and I’m out. If I stop for even a second, to turn around, to try to let me eyes adjust, I could easily get disoriented. Even in that small room, I might be left fumbling in the dark.
When we find ourselves in a dark place in life, it’s no different. Whether we’ve been there before or it’s brand new territory, the darkness breeds fear. It insights panic. It stops you in your tracks, leaving you disoriented and confused.
Sometimes, though, the fastest way out of the darkness is through it. Have confidence in the plan God has for your life. He has you on this path for a reason. Don’t stop. Don’t even take a second to question your direction. Reach forward to take hold of what God is placing before you. Jesus said, “I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” (John 12:46)
Worshipping in Spirit and Truth
by Chris Jones
Enter his gates with THANKSGIVING. Go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
There’s a familiar phrase to many Christians. It’s a common expression we take from John 4:24. There we read about John telling a Samaritan woman that one MUST “worship God in spirit and in truth”. It may be a difficult concept for some to understand, and seems thoroughly disregarded by others. When I imagine what a true worshipper of God might look like, I think of King David (as most probably do). If you’re unfamiliar with his story, you can read about him staring here. It’s a story that chronicles a man whose worship directly touched the heart of God.
In comparison to someone like David, I feel like I live a pretty lackluster life. Don’t misunderstand me. I love my life. I have a great wife. I’m the father of two awesome little boys who are growing to be special men in God’s Kingdom. I have a career that I really do love and God continues to breathe fresh life into the dreams He is placing in my heart. Still, I feel far from what He designed me to be, a perfect instrument of worship. Honestly, and ironically, it’s worship songs that make me feel this way. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that I feel this way in regard to worship songs I wish I could sing from the bottom of my heart.
Have you ever heard this quote from A.W. Tozer, “christians don’t tell lies, they just go to church and sing them”? I think this is partly true. How often do we stop and consider the words of the worship songs we sing? I feel like some of them expose how far I am from being able/willing to fully abandon all of my goals and ambitions, in exchange for all He has for me. Take, as an example, the words of this popular worship song:
Lord I give you my heart. I give you my soul.
I love for You alone.
Every breath that I take, every moment I’m awake
Lord, have your way in me
Some weeks, I just don’t feel like that guy.
Worship is serious. It’s not just a time for us to sing with one another. It’s another opportunity for us to open our hearts before God. The last thing I want to be in those moments is false. Rather than sing something that may not be true of myself, I turn those thoughts into prayers. “God help me to lay aside my selfish ambitions and learn to live, guided by your plan for my life. Right now I just don’t feel like I can say that I’m living for You alone. Holy Spirit help me live a life and be a man through whom You can truly have your way.” Perhaps I’m splitting hairs. Admittedly, it seems like such a small difference. However, I believe it’s a great expression of His worth to us to acknowledge how far we are from His glory and that only he can bridge the distance that separates us.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12 Give thanks today, with a pure and grateful heart.
(note: Re-reading this whole thing, it sounds like a bit of a bummer on what is such a significant day for most of us. I apologize, if it comes across that way. I’m curious to hear your thoughts.)
Does Jesus Make Life Easy?
by Chris Jones
It seems a common sentiment among Christians, to suppose life would be easier if Jesus lived among us. I confess. It would be pretty sweet to watch Him interact with people, healing the sick, raising the dead, doing the stuff we think typical of our Lord. Let’s be honest though. Sometimes, Jesus could make things downright weird.
Consider John 6:53-58 as an example. Jesus had just come off performing some amazing miracles. The day before, He multiplied a small boy’s lunch to feed thousands. Later that night, he walked on water, through a storm, to reach His disciples on a lake. I can’t imagine what his disciples might have felt when they saw Him coming. I can, however, gather some sense of how I might have felt If I was standing there the following day when he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
Excuse me, Jesus. Could we have a word for a second? Yeah, I’m not sure this is the direction I’d go here. How about we do some more miracles or something? I’m sure there’s someone here who could use some healing. Seriously though, I think you might lose some people with all this “eat my flesh” stuff. What does that even mean anyway?
If you think life with Jesus is always easy, ask the “rich young ruler”, For him, walking with Jesus would destroy life as he knew it. He was asked to give everything, a price he was unwilling to pay. The challenge here suggests our life was meant to be lived as complete sacrifice to God’s purpose. So… is it fair to insinuate that Jesus makes life difficult, or is it more accurate to say that we may not understand life as He intended us to live it? That life may not be easy, but it brings the greatest reward.
God’s Abundant Blessings
by Chris Jones
A funny thing happened on the way to work yesterday. I was talking to God about various needs that exist in our family. At one point I said, “God, show me your abundant provision.” The words were barely out of my mouth when the door in front of me burst open. Through it walked a well-dressed man, who appeared very wealthy. Laughing to myself, I said, “No God. Show your abundant provision in MY life.”
That night, we received just such a blessing, an unexpected gift that completely satisfied a significant and very costly need in our family. As soon as I was told of this, I thought about my earlier conversation with God. I shouldn’t be surprised that He would show His provision, in response to my request.
I think about Philip at a moment like this. Why Philip? He’s the one Jesus asked, before feeding the crowd with the fish and bread, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” You can read this story in John 6. Philip’s reply reads something like, “Forget about ‘where’, Jesus. Let’s talk about ‘how’. We don’t have anywhere near enough money for that kind of purchase.”
It’s interesting that Philip’s focus immediately turned to the thought of where the money would come from. This isn’t at all what Jesus asked Him to consider. Ultimately, all Philip needed to do was receive. Jesus already had it all planned out.
What might have happened if Philip responded differently? If Jesus so desired, He could have rained down bread from Heaven. Do we forget this? What will it take for us to live confidently in the knowledge that God can provide to meet all our needs. Size doesn’t matter. Cost doesn’t matter. Sometimes, that provision comes through hard work and preparation. Other times, it’s a simple matter of us just asking and receiving.
WITNESS RUNNER 