Look before you leap

Proverbs 13:16 (NLT)

16 Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

 

A reminder, one should think through their actions before jumping in head first. However there are those who don’t and even brag about their thoughtless actions.

 

 

 

There was a time I performed interviews for job candidates. Our HR department had trained some of us in a specialized way of handling interviews using questions selected towards the job category. One of the questions was “What one thing have you done that you wish you could do over and do it better?”  The idea behind the question was to see if the job candidate would give a technical example of something where they fell short of expectations and later saw how they could improve upon their work skill. Most of the job candidates understood this and would give an example of an error and how they later corrected it.

 

One person we interviewed had a completely different kind of response to the question. I’m going to be a little gentler with what the person actually said, but it went something like this: “I once was told I was getting a job transfer so I decided to cuss out my current boss. I think I went a little over board in some of the language I used. Then I found out I didn’t get the transfer. Next time I would wait for the transfer to happen before actually telling anyone where they could go.”

 

I could tell the other person conducting the interview with me was as taken back by the answer as I was. Here was a person talking not about their technical skill, but instead about their interpersonal skills with others. It became clear we didn’t want a person who thought the answer to cussing out their boss was to wait until a more opportunistic time. We wondered how they would respond to others authority. The two of us interviewing also thought that was probably not an answer we would have given in an interview.

 

 

Wise people think before they act or as is often said “think before you leap”, because there might be something you don’t want to leap into.

To be used for good works

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)

19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

The Apostle Paul reminds the Church of Corinth that their bodies are now the temple in which the Holy Spirit resides. God use to be only present in the inner most part of the temple, but now His Holy spirit resides in the bodies of those who have placed their faith in Christ. Therefore they should treat themselves with respect just as they would for the temple.

To those of us in the West, he is known only as "The Traveler." He is one of the persons who helps distribute goods inside North Korea. Despite the ever-present danger of exposure, The Traveler remains an unpretentious and simple man. He looks more like a blue-collar factory worker than the Korean James Bond, but that's one of the keys to his success. He's adept at blending in, remaining both vigilant and decisive.

It's a matter of survival.

He has served Open Doors for years, and yet we don't even know his real name. We never will. The fewer people who know it, the better, for if his secret work on behalf of God's people were ever to be discovered, it would mean a brutal death sentence for him.

When [our] leaders spoke to him, we asked him what the church in North Korea prays for. This ostensibly emotionless man who puts his life on the line every day—often for people he's never even met living in cities he's never visited—began to weep.

He told of a church movement that has remained underground ever since the fifties. In order to wipe Christianity from the face of the land, Kim II-sung's soldiers herded entire congregations into the streets and ran them over with bulldozers. Thousands of men, women, and children—nearly all of them North Korean citizens—were literally crushed to death, their remains … used to line roadbeds throughout the surrounding cities.

Today, under Kim's son Kim Jon-il, there are [around] 240,000 believers, direct descendants of those who were left behind …. [These] North Korean believers are prayerfully focused on one purpose: to be in place and fulfill God's will for their lives. Their prayer is a prayer for liberation, for lifting of the darkness, for a possibility to reopen the churches of their ancestors, and for reconciliation ….

So despite the dangers, The Traveler continues to [risk his life in order to] equip believers with commentaries, Bibles, radio resources, training, and encouragement to keep them focused on the Lord.

[Carl Moeller and David Hegg, The Privilege of Persecution (Moody Publishers, 2011), pp. 67-68, 70]

We can put our bodies to use to do good works or works of evil; it is our choice to make. But we are reminded that our bodies are where the Holy Spirit resides; for we are the temples of Christ. Therefore we should use our bodies for good works and not that of sin.

God places great value on us

Luke 12:6-7 (NKJV)

6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

In these verses Jesus is teaching about the respect and reverence we should have towards God the Father. Jesus first speaks of the earthly value of five sparrows, which were sold for pennies. Jesus then shares the value God places upon sparrows by saying they are taken care of, remembered in their life and death. Then Jesus speaks of people saying they are more valued than many sparrows. God knows us intimately, knowing even the number of hairs on our head. When we cry God counts our tears; even the drops of blood shed for His sake are counted. God finds us precious and loves us dearly.

Yesterday I read a statement followed by a question. The woman said she had a friend who had realized her husband had a problem with pornography. Obviously it was not just a trivial matter, but years of addicted use. The wife confronted the husband about it and the response was probably not what she expected. The husband began to defend his actions and even played the game children do when they are caught by saying, “Well all the other men do it!”  Angry over the confrontation he packed his bag for the night and left home and also left behind a devastated wife. The friend asked, “What do you say to the wife that will bring comfort her?”

As I thought about the question, I thought of how God found her to be precious and highly valued despite the husband’s reaction towards her. The husband was treating her as an object, while God was responding to her as His child. God would be her comforter and if she allows herself to trust the Lord, He will guide her to do what is needed.

There are no easy answers in a matter like this. First the husband has to come to a point that he realizes he needs to change. No one can change the husband, except God and that is only if the husband allows God to do so. We might think we can change others, but the only one we have control over is ourselves.

Others can pray for this couple. First pray for the husband that he would fall under God’s conviction and understand the harm he is doing to his wife. This was a problem that obviously disturbed her, yet the husband ignored her feelings. Pray for the wife that he would have strength to face this problem. Pray that she would have strong boundaries that say if you continue this behavior then these will be my actions.  Also, pray for the wife to understand that her husband has a problem that may be rooted in years of other emotional distress. Pray she might be able to see any of her errors and be able to express affection and concern for the husband.

God cares deeply for each of us. He cares for the husband and would love to see Him do what is right. Pray he will understand God's love for him. God cares for the wife and knows her pain, even counting the drops of her tears. He will comfort her as His child and He will guide her with His wisdom to do what is right for her.

Father you know our sin, but you call us by our name. Satan knows our name, but calls us out by our sin. Help free this husband from his past so that he can live in a harmonious future with his wife and You.

I Surrender All

Psalm 194:4 (NKJV)
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

Psalm 194 gives praise to God, The Redeemer, who provided victory over an enemy. The psalm also refers to the future glory of Christ our Savior; for God will beautify the meek, those who surrender their lives to Him and those who trust in Him. They will hear God’s word of salvation and put aside their pride and accept His gift of eternal life in heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Judson W. Van DeVenter (1855-1939) was raised in a Christian home. At age 17, he accepted Jesus as his Savior. He graduated university with a degree in art and was employed successfully as a teacher and administrator of high school art. He traveled extensively, visiting the various art galleries throughout Europe.

Van DeVenter also studied and taught music. He mastered 13 different instruments, sang and composed music. He was very involved in the music ministry of his Methodist Episcopal church and eventually found himself torn between his successful teaching career and his desire to be a part of an evangelistic team. This struggle within himself lasted for almost five years.

In 1896, Van DeVenter was conducting the music of a church event. It was during these meetings that he finally surrendered his desires completely to God -- He made the decision to become a full-time evangelist. As he submitted completely to the will of his Lord, a song was born in his heart.

I Surrender All was put to music by Winfield S. Weeden (1847-1908 ), who published this and many other hymns in several volumes. Weeden so loved this song that the words I Surrender All were put on his tombstone. (1)

 

The words of I Surrender All are something we should all strive for - All to Jesus, I surrender; All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior, I surrender all. All to Jesus I surrender; Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken; Take me, Jesus, take me now. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior, I surrender all. All to Jesus, I surrender; Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior, I surrender all.  All to Jesus, I surrender;  Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power;  Let Thy blessing fall on me.  I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior, I surrender all.All to Jesus I surrender; Now I feel the sacred flame. O the joy of full salvation! I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my bless'd Savior, I surrender all.

 

 

 

 

 

(1)[http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/i-surrender-all-the-song-and-the-story.html]

Reviewing ourselves

Galatians 6:4 (NKJV)

4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Here the apostle says each person should examine their lives in the light of God’s word to see whether or not their lives align with God’s desires for them. Some would prefer to judge and censure others so as to make them feel proud, but this is wrong. We instead should view our actions in light of God’s will for us instead of what other people do.

In his book Let Your Life Speak, Parker Palmer, a Quaker, tells the story of how God used Palmer's friends to shape his vocational path in a significant way. Palmer had been offered the opportunity to become the president of a small educational institution. He was certain the job was for him, but he honored the tradition of the Quaker community, which is to call on a dozen trusted friends to engage in a "clearness committee," a process in which "the group refrains from giving you advice but spends three hours asking you honest, open questions to help you discover your own inner truth." Palmer writes that the initial questions were all very easy, until someone simply asked, "What would you like most about being a president?" He writes:

The simplicity of that question loosed me from my head and lowered me into my heart. I remember pondering for at least a full minute before I could respond. Then, very softly and tentatively, I started to speak: "Well, I would not like having to give up my writing and my teaching…. I would not like the politics of the presidency, never knowing who your real friends are…. I would not like having to glad-hand people I do not respect simply because they have money…. I would not…"

Gently but firmly, the person who had posed the question interrupted me: "May I remind you that I asked what you would most like?"

I responded impatiently, "Yes, yes, I'm working my way toward an answer." Then I resumed my sullen but honest litany. …

Once again the questioner called me back to the original question. But this time I felt compelled to give the only honest answer I possessed, an answer that came from the very bottom of my barrel, an answer that appalled even me as I spoke it.

"Well," I said, in the smallest voice I possess, "I guess what I'd like most is getting my picture in the paper with the word president under it."

I was sitting with seasoned Quakers who knew that though my answer was laughable, my mortal soul was clearly at stake! They did not laugh at all but went into a long and serious silence—a silence in which I could only sweat and inwardly groan.

Finally my questioner broke the silence with a question that cracked all of us up—and cracked me open: "Parker," he said, "can you think of an easier way to get your picture in the paper?"

By then it was obvious, even to me, that my desire to be president had much more to do with my ego than with the ecology of my life—so obvious that when the clearness committee ended, I called the school and withdrew my name from consideration. Had I taken that job, it would have been very bad for me and a disaster for the school.

Sometimes we just need to stop and take a moment to examine our life and look at our true intentions. So often we mislead ourselves by making comparisons to others or by letting our own ego and pride draw us away to a place we should not be.

God's comfort

2 Corinthians 1:3-6(NLT)

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.

After the preface the apostle writes about the comfort God provides even in the midst of trials and tribulations. All comfort originates with God and is passed to us so that we can share that comfort with others. For in our trials and tribulations we learn that we can endure and that God is with us. We can share that with others so they can patiently endure the same type of suffering and know God will be with them too.

In The Story before the Story, preached at Lincoln Christian College by Damien Spikereit speaks about a portion of his life: When I was in high school my father passed away rather suddenly. It was just two days before my high school graduation. At that time in my life I was a baby Christian; immature and shallow. I was still drying off the baptistery waters. All I cared about was not going to hell.

But then my dad died. I found myself in a place I'd never been before. I wanted to hear God speak. I wanted to know what he had to say about this situation; how he was going to get me and my family through this difficult time. So I prayed. And I waited for God to speak.

Then came the day of the funeral. The church was packed. I sat on the front pew with my mother and two younger sisters. The Lutheran priest spoke, but I don't remember what he said. I continued to wait for God to say something. Then the service was over. It was the tradition of this church to have the family line up in the foyer. Everyone would file past us and offer words of condolence and encouragement. Tears were shed, hugs offered, and words were given. I don't remember what anybody said to me in that time. But I continued to wait for God to speak.

Then I saw Kim O'Quinn. She was my age. We were in the youth group together. When she got to me, she didn't say a word. She had tears in her eyes. And she simply hugged me and walked off. But I heard God speak. It dawned on me. Just months before, I had attended another funeral; the funeral for Kim O'Quinn's father. In that moment she knew exactly what it meant to be me.

If you want to hear God's voice in your life look no further than the one who knows exactly what it's like to be you. He knows what it is to be human, he knows what it is to suffer, he knows what it is to be rejected, he knows what it is to be human. If you want to hear God's voice speak, allow your soul to be quieted long enough so that you can hear the one who was in the beginning say to you, "draw near to me and I'll draw near to you."

Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

The enticement of sin

Proverbs 5:21-23 (NLT)

21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths. 22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. 23 For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.

Those who live in sin attempt to live in secrecy. They promise themselves they will let no one see the evil acts they perform, but it is to no avail for The Lord sees all that they do. God knows the heart of the person and sees it in truth. Man is always under inspection by God and eventually man is called into judgment for the wrongful actions committed. It is not that man has not been warned, but that man is following his own selfish desires instead of the plans God had laid out for him.

In the vicinity of Richmond, Vermont, you'll find the Huntington River Gorge. It's a beautiful spot—but it's also quite deadly. In the last 40 years, 20 persons (mostly young adults in their 20s and 30s) have lost their lives in the gorge. Those injured while swimming have numbered in the hundreds.

On the surface, the water looks calm and placid, but beneath this attractive scene are strong currents that run swiftly over treacherous waterfalls and whirlpools. Public safety officials have designated the gorge "the single most deadly place in the state." Warning signs have been posted by a concerned individual on a side of the gorge, reading: "When the water is high due to rain or snowmelt, especially powerful currents can easily sweep you over the falls and trap you underneath the water."

A debate rages as to what to do with this dangerous place. Some argue for more public information that can properly educate people of its risks. Others are pushing to ban anyone and everyone from visitation. All the while, swimmers continue to be attracted to the scene. One college student attending the University of Vermont—just 14 miles away from the gorge—said she had heard about the beauty of the location and had the desire to see it herself. She commented that people know about the dangers and try their best to be careful.

"We just go swimming in the shallow part," she said. "You can't change the water, and you can't stop people from going in." [Katie Zezima, "An Enticing Gorge Poses a Deadly Problem," The New York Times (7-16-06); submitted by Ted De Hass, Bedford, Iowa]

Sin often looks attractive and enticing to a person; yet they don’t see the dangers lying beneath the surface. There are strong currents that will suck them deeper down into sin and hold them there. If they are not careful they are swept away by sin. Some see the temptation of sin and think they can play at the edge and stay safe, but eventually they are lured deeper into the sin. Just like the warning signs posted around the water God has given us warning signs in His Word. Free yourself from the secrets you are holding onto and open yourself to God that He would free you from the sin that so easily wants to entrap you.