From the inauguration of God’s creation of man and woman to the conception of the 21st century; we have all been created for the same purpose. That purpose, as defined by Jesus in John 6.38, is “to do the will of God.”
I realize this may appear to be quite ambiguous but allow me to attempt to connect the dots. Consider, for a moment, the relationship a football coach has with his players. When the players take the field they understand they must do precisely what the coach assigns for them. The coach specifically assigns the blockers who to block, the kickers where to kick, the runners where to run, the receivers where to receive, and the quarterback where to throw. When everyone executes their assignments; success is eminent. Deviation from their assignments could result in consequences that may lead to loss.
Just as it is in football, it is in life. With God as our coach and us as his players; we must execute our assignments according to his specific instructions. Deviation from our assignments could result in consequences that may lead to our loss.
This afternoon I had lunch with a friend that has a clear understanding of what God’s assignment is for his life. He shared with me how God has placed this deep burden in his heart to inspire and equip others through “RAISE UP.” He explained that, “RAISE UP is all about making a decision within ones self. It’s arising to the occasion, so to speak, deciding to strive to live your life to the excellent standard of Jesus Christ. It’s recognizing that God wants to show His glory through us.”
Whether you are a college student, a doctor, a lawyer, a musician, or an artist he says that God calls us to, “RAISE UP!” He went on to describe how God has orchestrated the birth of a movement of Christ-followers that are committing to RAISE UP. It truly is amazing to hear him talk about the assignment God has given him. He pointed out how completely honored he feels that God would assign such a task to him. Realizing that God could have given this assignment to anyone; instead He choose to give it to him.
What is your assignment; what does God want you to do for Him? In Jeremiah 29.11 God says, “I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” God has your assignment, what are you waiting for?
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles")
“David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.”1 Samuel 30.6 I have a few friends and fellow ministers that swear TWITTER is a complete waste of their time and monthly text message budget. I’ve tried to argue otherwise with little to no success. Some have created a twitter account just to shut me up but still not a tweet from them. Some have yet to maximize its full networking power and have limited their occasional tweets to a very select group of friends and colleagues. Still some have focused on the negatives and have resolved to never explore the positive side of twitter. I don’t know what your opinion of twitter is but if you have yet to find yourself consumed with the tweets of world leaders, global missionaries, engaging authors, revolutionary leaders, and inspiring messengers of the Good News like I have; I hope this will change your mind. I appreciate the technology of twitter because of the opportunities and platform it offers me to receive and share words of wisdom, encouragement, and humor.
Yesterday, as I sat in Wendy’s enjoying my lunch; killing time while my car was getting an oil change at the adjacent mechanic shop, I received one of these encouraging tweets. This is what the tweet said: @rickwarren: To last in ministry learn what David did: “He ENCOURAGED HIMSELF in the Lord” (1 Sam 30.6) Don’t expect others to do it for you.
Just as soon as I read this tweet from Dr. Rick Warren, founding pastor of Sabbleback Church, leader of the Purpose Driven Network of churches, and best selling author of The Purpose Driven Life, I had to know the context of the verse he was referring to.
In this passage King David and his men of approximately 600 had just returned home from a battle that apparently no one really wanted them around for. Upon arriving at their town of Zilag they found that an opposing army had raided it and burned it to the ground. This raiding party had also carried off their women, children, and everyone else. Already returning home with their spirits deflated and now devastated from this tragic situation the Bible says these men “wept until they could weep no more.”
Their weeping soon turned to rage toward their leader, King David, whom they wanted to hold responsible for their loss. These men began contemplating stoning him. It was David’s response to this life-threatening plot that brought @rickwarren to send his tweet. The Bible says that David, “found strength in the Lord his God.”
When facing adversity or opposition we can learn from David how God would want us to respond. Notice I said ‘when’ not ‘if’ because we can be sure that with leadership comes adversity. In those moments it would be easy to raise the white flag but in leadership we have to realize that we are working to please God and not those we are called to lead. We can’t give up and we can’t give in; we must, like David, ask God to give us strength to keep moving forward. Because David chose to seek God for strength to move forward he was able recover all that was taken from him and his men with interest.
So when you find yourself facing what you feel is the death of God’s plan for your life, your ministry, and your future don’t give up! Seek God and you too will find “strength in the Lord” your God!
What does all this have to do with twitter? Well, nothing really, accept for the fact that without having an active twitter account I would have never received this encouraging word that I feel God had for me and for you.
Why don’t more evangelical churches observe Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent? Today is the first occasion I can remember ever pondering this question in all my years of Christ following. (The answer to this question may be obvious to you but give me a moment to digest my ponderings.)
Now that I am considering this question I’m also considering how well I really am doing in truly following Christ. Is it not the desire of every Christian to become more like Christ? That being true of me I think spending a day considering my inability to overcome my sin without the cleansing power of Jesus would do me well. Also, I think taking 40 days to give up a self-indulgence would provide greater depth and intimacy to my relationship with Christ.
Based on my understanding Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent only bring about the disciplines that Jesus calls his disciples to. Jesus calls us to prayer in Matthew 7.7 when he says “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” He calls us to fasting in Joel 2.12 “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” He calls us to repentance in Luke 5.32 “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” And Jesus calls us to worship him in John 4.23 “But the time is coming – indeed its here now – when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.”
I realize there are churches all over the world that individually call their congregations to fast and pray throughout the year but I feel Ash Wednesday and Lent is a corporate call to all believers. This season isn’t about denominations, worship styles, or traditions; it's about greater intimacy with our Savior!
Consider this, “In order to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday, the palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday are burned and mixed with a little oil. And in this lies perhaps the most meaningful subtext of Ash Wednesday. If Palm Sunday represents our praise and adulation for God, Ash Wednesday represents the knowledge that the adulation has turned to dust – in a year’s time we’ve forgotten Him, we’ve sinned against Him and fellow humans and most of all, we’ve made something great (our love for God) into something dirty. It’s a powerful reminder to us of how quickly our hearts can turn from God – shouting “Hosanna” and worshiping Him as our Lord and King – to basically ignoring His existence.” Ryan Hamm (excerpt from The Many Lessons of Ash Wednesday)
The same disciplines that Christ called his disciples to over 2000 years ago are the same disciplines that he is corporately calling his church to today! So why aren’t more evangelical churches responding to the call?
