Yesterday, I talked about names. Today, words. Words give life or kill. A timely word of encouragement can be the fuel someone needs to keep on. And, words reflect what is going on inside us.
Ephesians 4 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." A few observations:
1. Paul contrasts "unwholesome" with "building others up."
2. It seems to imply that there is more than just the receiver of the "talk" because he says "those who listen."
Words have meanings that we ascribe to them. So, a word today may be "unwholesome" and yet in fifteen years it is fine. But, I think Paul is getting into the heart of the intention behind the words. Sure, I think our words -- generally -- must be fitting. But, I think Paul is also speaking about when we are talking with others to make sure that our words are measured to: (a) the person's needs that we are speaking to and (b) the listeners. That is to say, what you may say to one person alone is not appropriate to that same person in a group. And, what you say to one person alone may not be appropriate for another person also alone.
It's real simple and yet not easy. Measure your words. They matter.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
A name
What's in a name? When Stephanie and I were looking for names for our children, we took a lot of time deciding. We wanted names that had a special meaning. Ones that we could talk to our children about and explain to them why we named them the names we did. Names matter. God has many many names. My favorite is Jehovah-Jireh (God provides). That name was revealed when God provided the sacrifice to Abraham instead of Isaac.
In Ephesians 3:14, Paul says, "for this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." Our name is derived from the Father in heaven. We all have a common last name with God in it. What comes to your mind when you hear "rockefeller, walton, gates"? Those names mean something. But, if the person with that last name was unaware of or confused as to whom he belonged, he would not be able to appropriate all the benefits (blessings) that come from those names. He might not even mention the name in a conversation.
As a Christ follower our names have changed. But, we act at times as those they haven't. This happens because the devil convinces us or trials cause us to take the focus off whose we are. We get confused. But, the reality is that I am no less Jeff Jehovah-Jireh(son) because of my actions. Neither are you.
Earlier in Ephesians, Paul said,"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." And, in Hebrews 4:16 is it said, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Because of our name, we can approach God with freedom and confidence and who we are approaching is on a throne of GRACE! It's like Sam Walton's son approaching Sam and asking for a million dollars. Sam's got nearly unlimited funds. Would say "no"? But, we approach God who does have infinite, unlimited GRACE. And, when we approach Him there is grace and mercy no judgment because of our name.
God has many names. What name of God means the most to you? There's power in the name. In fact, Jesus said in John 17:11b "Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one."
Take some time today. Do a search on the names of God. Acknowledge that you are Jeff Jehova-Jireh(son). Live in his name.
Approach his throne of grace. It's unlimited.
In Ephesians 3:14, Paul says, "for this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." Our name is derived from the Father in heaven. We all have a common last name with God in it. What comes to your mind when you hear "rockefeller, walton, gates"? Those names mean something. But, if the person with that last name was unaware of or confused as to whom he belonged, he would not be able to appropriate all the benefits (blessings) that come from those names. He might not even mention the name in a conversation.
As a Christ follower our names have changed. But, we act at times as those they haven't. This happens because the devil convinces us or trials cause us to take the focus off whose we are. We get confused. But, the reality is that I am no less Jeff Jehovah-Jireh(son) because of my actions. Neither are you.
Earlier in Ephesians, Paul said,"In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." And, in Hebrews 4:16 is it said, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Because of our name, we can approach God with freedom and confidence and who we are approaching is on a throne of GRACE! It's like Sam Walton's son approaching Sam and asking for a million dollars. Sam's got nearly unlimited funds. Would say "no"? But, we approach God who does have infinite, unlimited GRACE. And, when we approach Him there is grace and mercy no judgment because of our name.
God has many names. What name of God means the most to you? There's power in the name. In fact, Jesus said in John 17:11b "Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one."
Take some time today. Do a search on the names of God. Acknowledge that you are Jeff Jehova-Jireh(son). Live in his name.
Approach his throne of grace. It's unlimited.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Control
I titled this entry "control" and yet I start with a verse about "faith": "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
My nature is to want to control things, control outcomes, the end game. I want certainty, to minimize risk, to quantify the upside. To put it bluntly, I want to know that my efforts will produce "x" and I control it.
Control is quite a joke. Of all people, as Christ followers, we ought to know that we control one thing -- our character (how we respond to circumstances) and the development of it. The results, however, are not of our doing. Consider for a moment:
Joseph: Sold to slavery, accused of rape, put in prison, and yet, "while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him." (Gen. 29:20-21).
Job: Job was "blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." And, he looses his children, wealth, and his wife (at least her support).
There are countless other stories but the thread that we will see is that these ancients live by faith. The faith that while the outcome is not know the DECIDER of the outcome is known. They had faith in the Person through the process.
Now, if what I have communicated is true, then our goal should be character development. Paul put puts it this way in Romans 12: "2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
In Colossians he says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
In Eph. 4:22 he says, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds."
The world SHOUTS Control the outcome
God whispers Trust the Person
Here's what we know, it could all be wiped away by a tornado, flood, fire, accident, or any other act. But, if we focus on transformation to Christ then our character will reflect God's and the results will ultimately be His. We also know that we really control nothing but our character.
Paul used strong words re our sinful nature "death" ad "put off," some questions:
1. Does your interaction with employees reflect God's grace and mercy?
2. Does your interaction with clients reflect God's care for them?
3. Is your humility evident to all people?
4. How's your anger?
5. Is there something different about your business negotiations from the world's?
My nature is to want to control things, control outcomes, the end game. I want certainty, to minimize risk, to quantify the upside. To put it bluntly, I want to know that my efforts will produce "x" and I control it.
Control is quite a joke. Of all people, as Christ followers, we ought to know that we control one thing -- our character (how we respond to circumstances) and the development of it. The results, however, are not of our doing. Consider for a moment:
Joseph: Sold to slavery, accused of rape, put in prison, and yet, "while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him." (Gen. 29:20-21).
Job: Job was "blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." And, he looses his children, wealth, and his wife (at least her support).
There are countless other stories but the thread that we will see is that these ancients live by faith. The faith that while the outcome is not know the DECIDER of the outcome is known. They had faith in the Person through the process.
Now, if what I have communicated is true, then our goal should be character development. Paul put puts it this way in Romans 12: "2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
In Colossians he says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
In Eph. 4:22 he says, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds."
The world SHOUTS Control the outcome
God whispers Trust the Person
Here's what we know, it could all be wiped away by a tornado, flood, fire, accident, or any other act. But, if we focus on transformation to Christ then our character will reflect God's and the results will ultimately be His. We also know that we really control nothing but our character.
Paul used strong words re our sinful nature "death" ad "put off," some questions:
1. Does your interaction with employees reflect God's grace and mercy?
2. Does your interaction with clients reflect God's care for them?
3. Is your humility evident to all people?
4. How's your anger?
5. Is there something different about your business negotiations from the world's?
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Fanning the Flame
I was reading 2 Timothy today. Paul charged Timothy to be a Good Soldier, an Approved Worker, a Careful Believer, and a Good Work Producer. But, as I read all that Timothy was to be, I realized that it all began with his spiritual gift. Wow! We cannot be any of those things mentioned before if we do not identify God's gifting and then fan the flame of the gift.
We are told in 2 Timothy 1:5-7 that with faith comes the gift. In fact, Paul says in Romans 12:6, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." And, later Paul says in Eph. 4 that the purpose of the gifting is so "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine....[that we] may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."
What is clear is that we all have a gifting and God has placed each person in the body to cause the body -- all the members of the body -- to grow.
The challenge presented to the member is to fan the flame. And, we should fan the flame because God has given us power, love, and self discipline. Thus, we should walk boldly in our gifting. To do otherwise would be an insult to God. See the parable of the minas (Luke 19:11-24). We are stewards over our gifting and must recognize that we should always walk in love but that the gifting comes with power and self discipline.
The challenge presented to the body with respect to the member is to use the member, identify and confirm the gifting, and then to allow the member to fan his/her flame. You see the reason a flame is fanned is that it needs oxygen and when fanned oxygen is funneled into the flame causing it to explode. The body's responsibility is provide the environment in which fanning can take place. To not do so retards a flame and does not acknowledge what Paul communicated so clearly in Ephesians.
If the members and the body do not act in this way, then the member will never be able to fully be a Good Soldier, an Approved Worker, a Careful Believe, and a Good Work Producer. Thus, the member will suffer. And, at the same time, the Body will not receive the nourishment intended when God placed the member in the Body.
1. Do you want to be Good Soldier, an Approved Worker, a Careful Believe, and a Good Work Producer? Find your gifting. Ask your body to confirm it.
2. Are you fanning the flame? God has given you power, love, and self discipline.
3. Lastly, are you an encourager to others like Paul to Timothy? Paul said to Timothy, " I remind you to fan into flames." Sometimes, we just need a reminder or encourager. Be that today to somone.
We are told in 2 Timothy 1:5-7 that with faith comes the gift. In fact, Paul says in Romans 12:6, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." And, later Paul says in Eph. 4 that the purpose of the gifting is so "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine....[that we] may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."
What is clear is that we all have a gifting and God has placed each person in the body to cause the body -- all the members of the body -- to grow.
The challenge presented to the member is to fan the flame. And, we should fan the flame because God has given us power, love, and self discipline. Thus, we should walk boldly in our gifting. To do otherwise would be an insult to God. See the parable of the minas (Luke 19:11-24). We are stewards over our gifting and must recognize that we should always walk in love but that the gifting comes with power and self discipline.
The challenge presented to the body with respect to the member is to use the member, identify and confirm the gifting, and then to allow the member to fan his/her flame. You see the reason a flame is fanned is that it needs oxygen and when fanned oxygen is funneled into the flame causing it to explode. The body's responsibility is provide the environment in which fanning can take place. To not do so retards a flame and does not acknowledge what Paul communicated so clearly in Ephesians.
If the members and the body do not act in this way, then the member will never be able to fully be a Good Soldier, an Approved Worker, a Careful Believe, and a Good Work Producer. Thus, the member will suffer. And, at the same time, the Body will not receive the nourishment intended when God placed the member in the Body.
1. Do you want to be Good Soldier, an Approved Worker, a Careful Believe, and a Good Work Producer? Find your gifting. Ask your body to confirm it.
2. Are you fanning the flame? God has given you power, love, and self discipline.
3. Lastly, are you an encourager to others like Paul to Timothy? Paul said to Timothy, " I remind you to fan into flames." Sometimes, we just need a reminder or encourager. Be that today to somone.
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