November 1 - Hebrews 3:1-19 - Your Daily Dose of Encouragement

Advertising slogans can be memorable or laughable. Many are forgettable. Some products change their slogan on a regular basis. From 1963 to 2003, Coke changed its ad slogan sixteen times! Others have so captured the essence of the product or service that the slogan stands for decades. Public service ad slogans seem especially long-lived. McGruff’s “Take a Bite Out of Crime” is over thirty years old; the United Negro College Fund’s “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste” is over thirty-five years old, and Smoky Bear’s “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” has been with us for almost seventy years.

In today’s text, I think I have found the slogan for my blog – Hebrews 3:13a; “Encourage One Another Every Day.” I knew what I was doing was a good thing, but I didn’t know there was a clear Biblical mandate. But there it is – “Encourage One Another Every Day!” However, there is also a mandate in verse 1, and that one could easily compete for slogan status. That would be the phrase, “Fix Your Thoughts on Jesus.” After all, that’s what I’m trying to accomplish, too. I want to encourage everyone to visit God’s Word each day to keep their thoughts fixed on Jesus. It would be a long slogan, but I could just slap the word “to” in between them and go with that.

Before I make that decision, let’s explore this chapter of Hebrews and see why we are told to be encouraging and locked onto Jesus. The Word says those who confess faith in Christ are members of His household. That confession will prove hollow and we will prove to be pretenders to the family of God if we do not fix our thoughts on Jesus. Those whose thoughts wander into worldly, sinful patterns resulting in worldly, sinful behaviors reveal their confession to be lip-service. 

Twice the author quotes the phrase, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” With every exposure to God’s Word, we have a choice before us. To soften our heart or to harden it. If we consider what Jesus taught in the parable of the Sower and the Seed, our heart can be soft soil, receptive to the seed of His Word, or it can be hard soil that will not receive His Word. “Do not harden your hearts!” That is your encouragement for the day.

Jesus is the Living Word; the Word made flesh who dwelt among us. So, don’t harden your heart toward Him, either. Dwell on Him who dwelt with us. Meditate on His life and works. Be like His mother, Mary, and treasure and ponder all the things about Jesus in your heart. This text says that He is an Apostle, a High Priest, a Faithful Appointee, a Greater than Moses, The Son over God’s House, the Christ. Look at all of that mind-meat to chew on and savor! And yet we have within us the ability to treat these wonders loosely, to turn away from the Living God. That’s why we need encouragement daily. That’s why we must hold firm our confession and prove its genuineness with thoughts and actions that are continually connected to Christ.

Our devotion to Jesus –
Let’s teach the world to sing that it’s the real thing.
(oh, that’s Coke: 1971 and 1969)

Pray: Lord Jesus, you are God, and you watch over and care for your house, your family. I am a member of your household and desire never to wander away as I might be prone to do. Help me to keep You and your Word before me every day for the encouragement I need. And help me to be an instrument of your encouragement to others. Keep my thoughts fixed on You.

October 31 - Hebrews 2:1-18 - We Must Pay More Careful Attention

As leaders, we are constantly concerned with effective communication. And today we are blessed with so many means of getting information to our audience; print, digital text, audio, video, and good old word of mouth. But do you wonder if anybody is really paying attention. As a pastor, I have had people come to me about an event and tell me they missed it because they hadn’t heard about it. And yet, I know it was published and broadcast in a number of ways in a timely manner. I am a teacher also, and it astonishes me sometimes how frequently the same question has to be asked and answered before folks actually hear it. I guess it’s part of the fallen nature of man, to be careless about paying attention.

The second chapter of Hebrews starts with that exact phrase – “We must pay more careful attention.” With so few communication media in that day, it would have been especially critical to pay attention. The author warns that if care is not taken in hearing and comprehending and incorporating the message, then the person is apt to drift away from the message. Of course, the message referred to is the gospel; the truth about Jesus and the salvation He announced.

Last chapter, the deity of Christ was the aspect of the gospel emphasized. If we are not careful to pay attention to what the Scriptures say about Jesus, we may be tempted to accept some “other Jesus.” Earlier in this series of blogs, we gave the example of Deepak Chopra’s ‘Third Jesus.’ Theological drift is a reality, and that is why we must be in the Word daily; that’s why this blog exists. It keeps me and anyone who wishes to follow accountable to ‘paying attention.’ You’ve had that experience, where someone speaks out with boldness and you know that they don’t know what they’re talking about. Assertiveness is no substitute for accuracy. So, let’s pay more careful attention to the Word, so we can speak with precision regarding Jesus and His salvation.

What does the author emphasize here in the second chapter of Hebrews? He portrays Jesus as the perfect union of deity and humanity! Jesus is Lord (a word reserved for God), He announces His salvation for us and testifies to its veracity through signs, wonders, miracles and Spiritual gifts. And yet, we know that Jesus also stepped down out of heaven, became lower than the angels and by the grace of God, suffered for our sake. From miracle-worker to murdered man. He put on flesh and blood like ours to put to death the power of death over us! He shared in our humanity that we might share in His eternal glory. And also that He would be tempted as a human so all of us can know - our Savior understands our struggles. He saves us in this moment, as well as in the final moment. We have an incarnate Redeemer who HAS saved us from the penalty of sin, IS saving us from the power of sin, and WILL save us from any presence of sin.

Did you catch all that? Are you paying attention? Be careful. You don’t want to drift away from these truths. Because they’re not mine. They are the Lord’s.

Pray: Suffering Servant, Redeemer and Lord, I have received the salvation that You announced, procured and secured by your amazing union of deity and humanity. You are the God-Man, uniquely qualified to stand in the gap between the Holy and the unholy, and reconcile them. Thank you for your amazing grace. Keep me wrapped in your Spirit and Word, so that I will ever be paying attention to your will and ways.

October 30 - Hebrews 1:1-14 - Oh, Yes He Is!

During the Cold War in 1950, Richard Patterson, Jr., United States ambassador to Guatemala, accused the Jacobo Guzmán government of being Communist. Patterson explained his reasoning as follows:

“Suppose you see a bird walking around in a farm yard. This bird has no label that says 'duck'. But the bird certainly looks like a duck. Also, he goes to the pond and you notice that he swims like a duck. Then he opens his beak and quacks like a duck. Well, by this time you have probably reached the conclusion that the bird is a duck, whether he's wearing a label or not."

This has come to be known as the “Duck Test.” One way of explaining this approach would be… rather than doubt that things are as they appear to be until proven so, accept things as they appear to be until proven not so. If it looks, swims and quacks like a duck, accept that it’s a duck! Or prove that it is an impostor.

The author of the book of Hebrews describes Jesus, and the description is of God. Look what it says about Him: the universe was made through Him (v. 2); He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of God’s being; He sustains all things by the power of His Word (v. 3); He laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of His hands (v. 10); the angels worship Him (v. 6); He is called “God” (v. 8) and “Lord” (v. 10) and He and His throne will last forever and ever (vss. 8,11,12).

Jesus looks like God, swims like God and quacks like God. So, I’m not going to worry myself over those who challenge me to prove that Jesus is God. I’m going to accept that He IS God and let others try to prove that He is not. 

Some folks point to the fact that Jesus never explicitly says that He is God. That’s like Patterson’s statement that the bird has no label that says ‘duck.’ It doesn’t have to have a label for us to see clearly that it’s a duck. Jesus doesn’t have to have a nametag that reads, “Hello, my name is God” for us to know that He is God. But read the gospels carefully. Study the New Testament in light of its Old Testament antecedents. Jesus did indeed declare His divinity in the language and context of His culture. 

So then, if Jesus is one who claims to be God when He knows that He is not – he's a liar, or if He truly believes He is God when He isn’t – he's a lunatic,  but if He is who He says He is – he's the Lord God Almighty. Some solve this ‘trilemma’ with the proposal that Jesus’ followers make Him out to be God when He isn’t – he's a legend. But that also causes the claim to fall into the category of ‘lie’. All this calls the question, “Can a myth, a madman, or a misrepresentation transform the lives of millions over two millennia?”

That looks, swims and quacks like divinity to me.

Pray: Jesus, if you are who you say you are, then you are a living God with power to speak today, to move today, and to transform lives from the inside out. I have seen that. I have experienced that. I am convinced. Continue to show yourself worthy of faith and worship. Thank you that you are alive and living in me. Use me as an instrument of revelation. May others see You in me.

October 29 - Philemon 1-25 - Don’t Miss the Third Dimension

M. C. Escher was a highly creative and technically skilled illustrator. He was especially fond of producing three-dimensional effects with the two-dimensional medium of pencil on paper. Not only that, he delighted in creating three-dimensional effects that were at the same time, completely believable and completely impossible. Look carefully at this sample of his work.


To see more of Escher's work, click here.






Do you see how the stairs are both always ascending and always descending? How can each step be higher than/lower than the next and yet lead back to where they begin? It boggles the mind. M. C. Escher helps us to marvel in and have fun with the third dimension.

There is a third dimension in today’s text, Paul’s quirky letter to his friend, Philemon. I say ‘quirky’ because this brief letter is a bit of a lesson in rhetorical manipulation. Crazy enough, it still qualifies as Scripture! Paul writes to encourage Philemon to re-embrace his runaway slave, Onesimus, as a brother in Christ. The way he does this leaves us laughing as well as raising an eyebrow. Did Paul actually say, “If he … owes you anything … I will pay it back – not to mention that you owe me your very self” ? Not to mention! But, let’s move beyond the ‘not to mention’ to the third dimension.

See what Paul writes in verses 5 and 6? “I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.” Two dimensions of the Christian life – trusting God and loving His church. These are clear demonstrations of a redeemed life. There are many people who trust in money or might or mentality, but not in the Lord. There are many who demean or disregard the church as ignorant and irrelevant. So those who put their trust in Jesus and embrace His followers are clearly a unique breed; disciples of Christ. But there is another relational dimension to the Christian life – our relationship to the lost.

“Be active in sharing your faith,” Paul prayerfully instructs. If you know the joy of God’s salvation and the fellowship of God’s church, then share it with a lost and lonely world. By the providence of God, Philemon’s slave runs away from him and smack dab into his friend, Paul. In fact, it looks like Onesimus got tossed in the ‘slammer’ and ended up in the cell next to Paul’s! With his jailhouse testimony, Paul introduces the slave to the Savior. Now this stranger/slave is as a son to Paul, and a newborn child of God. “Be active in sharing your faith,” Paul wrote, “so that you will have a full understanding (a three-dimensional view) of every good thing we have in Christ.”

If we are not sharing our faith, we are neglecting and forfeiting some of the best blessings of God. We are living a two-dimensional life in Christ. Like the difference between a sheet of paper and a block of wood, two dimensions prove flimsy; three prove to be substantial. Don’t settle for a flimsy Christian life. “Be active in sharing your faith.” Don’t miss the third dimension. Go for substance.

Pray: Redeeming Lord, remove the obstacles in my life that keep me from sharing my faith. Convince me to embrace the privilege and blessing of leading others to saving faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. Place some name upon my heart even now, to identify the one you would have me tell Your story to. Your story and mine have intersected with eternal impact. Keep me eager to share that life-changing account with others.

October 28 - Titus 3: 1-15 - What a Transformation!

We have this tree in the front yard. It appears to be some kind of maple. In one way it is an answer to prayer, because Sandie and I spent many years in NY and MA and big trees with colorful fall foliage are a favorite of ours. There may be no winter here in California, but we do have fall foliage … right out the kitchen window! Thank you, Lord, for the magnificent transformation of green to red and gold. In another way, this lovely arbor is a curse. At a certain time of year it sprays sap. I’m not sure how it does it; I just know that if we park our cars in the driveway beside the tree, they come away with a fine mist of stickiness all over. Thank God for the transformation a good car wash can affect. Dull and sticky on the way in, smooth and shiny on the way out.

Today’s text talks about a magnificent transformation by way of washing that is nothing short of miraculous. Paul writes to Titus of the radical change (not just turning a leaf, but down deep to the root) that occurs in salvation. Here, Paul calls it “the washing of rebirth.” It is that wonderful Trinitarian cleansing that the Father showers over us; a downpour of the Holy Spirit through the Savior Jesus Christ. It is a flood of transformation that changes everything.

By the washing of salvation we are transformed out of foolishness, disobedience, deception and enslavement into rebirth, renewal, justification and adoption. There can be no greater transformation and no greater activators: the kindness, love and grace of our glorious God. And look at the stark contrast there – He has kindness for those who “lived in malice.” He has grace for the covetous and love for the hater. Is this God amazing and deserving of our praise, or what?!

Can we take any credit for some part of this miracle transformation? No. “… He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done …” We didn’t do anything to earn, inspire, or catalyze this spiritual transaction. We are changed by grace. God’s generosity through Jesus burst the floodgates of heaven and down came the Spirit of God, cleansing our souls from the inside out. Washed so clean as to qualify us as brand new people – born again. Wouldn’t it be wild to send my car into the car wash as a 2004 model and have it come out the other side a 2011? A washing of rebirth and renewal! When my maple tree changes into its autumn attire, it is beautiful to behold. Even more stunning is the dormant, leafless maple springing back to life in early April. What to say then of a human being experiencing change at the core of their being? The old becomes new; the dull becomes beautiful; the dormant comes springing to life!

And all God asks of us on the other side of transformation is to do good. It takes care and requires devotion, but we can do what is good. The Lord has made us good to do good. We are capable of excellence now and are able to bless every one - God, others and self. “Be careful to devote [yourself] to doing what is good.” Be good every day. Be good to all people. Imitate God, who in the face of malice, envy and hatred,
brought His kindness and love to bear.

And saved us,

by His mercy.

Pray: Savior, I simply stand in awe of what you have done. I am dumbfounded at the appearance of your loving-kindness. I am eternally grateful for your mercy and grace. Help me to do good as acts of thanksgiving and worship. Help me to devote myself to this. Bring many more to the rebirth and renewal of salvation by the washing of your Spirit.

October 27 - Titus 2:1-15 - Teach Them to Control Their Selves

Ever noticed how many people have control issues, have to manipulate things and people, and at the same time how many people are out of control? I guess it’s that people want to control everything but themselves. To control everything and yet not be controlled by anything is a definition of God. Subtly, neurotically, people reveal that their desire is to be God. But since God is God and we are not, the answer to our control issues is faith. If God is the One in control, then we will have to trust Him to take care of us. We don’t have to throw off restraint and manipulate our environment and relationships to gain some semblance of peace. We simply have to rest in His goodness and mercy.

I was stunned to see the concept of ‘self-control’ repeated five times in today’s brief portion of Scripture. Every age group Paul refers to – older men, older women, younger women and young men – seems to have a self-control problem. And then in verse 12, he makes a general statement about all people, and again includes the need for self-control. Remember, Titus is on the island of Crete where even their own spokespeople say ‘Cretans are constant liars, evil brutes, and lazy gluttons.’ Titus 1:12. Yeah, that sounds like self-control problems to me.

What is even more stunning in this passage is the repetition of verbs related to teaching. The words ‘teach,’ ‘train’ and ‘encourage’ appear twelve times in fifteen verses! The Word is telling us that we can actually teach each other to be self-controlled. But notice it doesn’t say “teach them to control themselves.” People can’t control themselves. We can only be ‘self-controlled.’ We can have the self under control, but we cannot have the self controlling the self. That would be like asking a broken tool to fix itself. To be self-controlled is to place the self under the Holy Spirit’s control. Paul wrote to Titus, “The grace of God that brings salvation [that brings the Holy Spirit into the life of a person] … teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness … and to live self-controlled …”

Galatians 5:22 names self-control as a fruit of the Spirit. Self-control is not an act of reining myself in by my own power; it is the condition of disciplined peace I find myself in because I find the Spirit is in me. So how do I teach people to be self-controlled, that is, controlled by the Spirit? I teach them the gospel of the grace of God that brings to them the controlling Spirit. I teach them of a “great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness [including impotent self-rule]…” And I do as verse 7 instructs: “In everything set them an example …” As one possessing the Spirit, demonstrate the fruit of that Spirit, which includes self-control.

People can’t control themselves, but they can control their self – by surrendering it to Jesus Christ.

Pray: Spirit of God, teach me to stop trying to control my self and rather assist me in turning my self over to You. Cultivate in me the fruit of self-control. Help me to be a good example to those around me of a person yielded to Jesus Christ. Help me to teach the gospel and the blessings of grace. Make me an instrument of Your peace to all who come in contact with me.

October 26 - Titus 1:1-16 - Filling The Void

I received an email today that informed me of another pastor resigning here in the Redwood Empire. As with any organization, the loss of leadership creates a serious void to be filled. In most cases, teams or committees are gathered to do the work of identifying the successor. Early in the process, a set of criteria must be agreed on for filtering prospective candidates. What do we desire in a new leader? What does a suitable leader for our organization look like? Do we need to re-visit the job description? A great deal of serious, strategic thinking goes into choosing a leader.

In today’s text, we read that Titus had been sent by Paul to supply something that was lacking in the ‘Cretan Baptist Association.’ That lack was leadership. Paul gives us his criteria for filtering candidates, and by my count from the NIV, he prescribes seventeen leadership qualities. It is interesting to note that there are no criteria for academic achievement or organizational management or financial management skills. All but two of the criteria are personal character items. Comparing this list with similar references to leadership qualities in Timothy and Acts, we see that God is less concerned with what we do and more with who we are. Character is even more valuable than competency.

The character qualities here are:

Blamelessness
Fidelity to spouse
Not overbearing
Not quick tempered
Not given to drunkenness
Not violent
Not pursuing dishonest gain
Hospitable
A lover of good
Self-controlled
Upright
Holy, and
Disciplined

The two competency-based criteria are:

Solid parenting
and Knowledge of Sound Doctrine, which results in
the ability to encourage those who embrace it, and
the ability to refute and rebuke those who oppose it.

I hope our churches, and churches everywhere, will consider the emphases of Scripture as they embark on their leadership searches. Look for men of character. Value integrity and holiness and Spirit-produced fruitfulness. Consider their success in the home. And weigh their ability to accurately divide and apply the Word.

If John Maxwell is right – “Everything rises or falls on leadership” – then the success of God’s churches will depend on pastors of noble character who know, preach, and defend sound doctrine. Are those the emphases of your church regarding leadership? Is that the kind of pastor that you are? That you aspire to be?

Lack of leadership is not just a void. It’s a grave.

Pray: Lord and Master, make me a leader after your own heart, after the criteria of your holy Word. Help every church to discover Your pastor for their people. Help transform the mindsets of churches and pastors, that they may aspire to mission and ministry under Biblically-defined leadership.