I Demand My Rights!

What happens when God asks you to face yourself, to look at yourself and make an honest evaluation? In Matthew 5:38-42, He does just that. Our response? Often it is to explain it away; to come up with another understanding that makes God's Word palatable.

The above passage is very familiar with both Christians and non-Christians. Everyone can recite, "turn the other cheek." Often they understand these words to teach pacifism. However, they miss the point of Jesus' words. God gives permission to fight crime and wage war. (See Genesis 9:6 & Romans 13 as examples.) Also, self-defense is not rebuked.

What then does the passage teach? It teaches us to examine our personal rights, our responses to those that ask of us. In the United States, rights are everything, and with good reason. However, when a culture is created around personal rights, in time these rights trump all others, and any sense of humility and submission is lost. Humility and submission must be taught alongside of personal rights to keep a culture in balance.

Jesus taught these concepts and did so in a way that made the listener consider self and selfishness. He asks us to walk the second mile. A Roman soldier could rightly demand of anyone to carry his baggage for one mile. Jesus tells us to go two. Why? When we go the "extra mile" we are doing that which is not rightly demanded of us. We gain freedom from the moment by going beyond the required. The soldier then must ask us to not do so or accept our gift. The second mile becomes an act of grace. And it gives us, the one carrying the burden, freedom that we did not have during the first mile.
I'll expand this in the weeks to come.
-Mark

Calling All Scrooges

This year I have been somewhat of a scrooge. I sat on the sofa and watched as Debbie decorated the tree. I did all my shopping online in about 45 minutes. So maybe it is true, possibly I am a Scrooge. What then can I do to recapture the magic of Christmas.

Last Friday, I did something that helped. I, along with Debbie and her brother Dan, went to New York City. We had a great time. We window shopped, went to FAO Schwartz, walked around Central Park, ate in Little Italy, and attended the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. I can say now, because of Santa and the Rockettes, I have regained some of the Christmas magic.

What was it that Santa and the Rockettes did to re-ignite the magic? During their show, two dramatic numbers taught me three lessons:

1) Develop the right attitude toward gifting. Often I find that I am a competitve gifter. If someone gives me something, I feel inclined to gift them back with a gift of greater value. What I should do is find the right gift. Santa said in the spectacular, "The right gift will find you." This is liberating, because I do not need to worry about monetary value. In our relationship with God, we find that we cannot out give Him. Once we realize this, the fact that we are free from trying to impress God, then we can truly begin to understand His grace.

2) Quit filling Christmas with junk. Do we really need another coffee mug, candy we should not eat, or knick-knacks that take up space and attract dust? Focus on value, quality, not items meant for the dump or the re-gift drawer. Again in the show, Santa stressed the right gift. The boys located the perfect rag doll, with the help of the Rockettes, for their sister. In our relationship with God, He asks us to give of ourselves (Romans 12:1,2) Maybe this should be our practice in our Christmas giving.

3) Finally, get the focus of the holiday back on Jesus Christ. Recently, I attempted to buy a Christmas card with Jesus on the front. Out of 200 cards, I could only find one that had a spiritual theme. Just because our culture is shifting away from the Christ of Christmas, we do not have to do the same. The final, and most dramatic scene at Radio City Music Hall was the recreation of the Nativity. Through Scripture reading, song, sets, and acting, the good news of Jesus Christ was clearly presented. It changed the entire event and was a blessing to all.

So I think I will work on making Christmas simple, the giving of self, and with a focus on Jesus.
-Mark


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God's Peace

In Luke 2:14 the angels sang "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." It was this text that started our study and it was the subject of peace that we studied.

In the study we covered the basics on peace. Two of the three points were 1) The Gift of Peace in a Person - John 14:27, and 2) The Gift of Peace in a Response - Romans 5:1. Instead of me taking you through the message, I would like to encourage you to personally study those verses and consider the peace that God offers.

Later that evening, Ricky, one of our members approached me and stated, "It is God's perogative to offer peace." I agree with this statement. According to His sovereignty, God gives His peace. Always, God is the one reconciling man to himself. God seeks to make peace with us. That is His nature. We never seek God out to make peace with Him. That would be against our nature. I'll offer up two verses to make my point: Colossians 1:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:18-20.

There is much more that could be said. For instance, do you lack peace due to worry or to a known sin in your life? God does not want either in your life. The verses offered above address both. If you live a life of worry, God desires that you pray and receive His peace. Read Philippians 4:6-7. If you are living in sin, either without hope because you have not received God's reconciliation, or as a believer who has broken fellowship with God because of sin, you need to call upon your savior and cast yourself upon Him (faith). I might also add for the believer that has wandered away, develop a hatred for sin. As long as you hold on to the things of the world you will not have peace in your life.

We'll talk next week.
-Mark
Please visit our website at www.wakefieldbible.org

2,800 Opportunities

This week I was pleasantly surprised to learn that our website, www.wakefieldbible.org has received 2,800 visits during the past year. I am smart enough to know that 2,800 is a small number for some websites, however for Wakefield and what we are attempting to accomplish, I find the number thrilling. For me, they are 2,800 opportunities to share Christ, His grace, and Wakefield Valley Bible Church.
Now that I am aware of the 2,800 I am looking with a critical eye at our website to make sure it is accomplishing its purpose, to share Christ and the church with all who visit. So check back in the weeks to come and give me some feedback.
-Mark

An Honest Evaluation

Life is often upsetting. Things do not go as planned. However, if I am honest, if I evaluate my life honestly, then I must admit that I have lived a blessed life. I believe if you would honestly count your blessings you would find that your life is truly blessed, regardless of your circumstances.
Believers often make the mistake of evaluating their circumstances in the same way as unbelievers. We point to our bank account, our home, or automobiles, and say "God has blessed me." We also may lift up family, especially those that are walking with the Lord, as evidence that God has blessed. However, I would say that the Scripture looks at life differently. It does not deny the blessings given above, but puts it all in proper perspective.
Take a moment and read through chapter one of Ephesians. Focus on verses 3-14. What are those spiritual blessings spoken of in verse 3? Well, you were chosen, predestined, and adopted. God has lavished on you His grace, His forgiveness, and His wisdom. On and on it goes until the verses conclude with this thought, "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." Wow, how we are truly blessed!
In many respects my life is not how I planned it. Much of it has fallen short of my goals and expectations. But the blessings of God found in Ephesians far exceeds anything I could have planned. I think I will sit down with Ephesians and count my blessings all over again and name them one by one.
-Mark