Colossians 4:5-6 "Someone's Watching"

Read Colossians 4:5-6.

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders...." NIV

Recently at our church we had one of our teens (let's call him Clay) play the drums in the service. Clay had only been attending for about three months and had grown spiritually in tremendous leaps from an atheist to a believer. He had played drums for our Sunday morning youth service called, A.M. But not in the adult service. That's why his father and his girlfriend came that morning. I was sitting on the front row because Jim (my husband) and I were going to team teach on parenting that day. Jim was standing off to the side in the wing. Worship began and suddenly I realized that standing to the side, but right in front of the stage was Clay's dad with a camera taking video of Clay playing the drums. Because we work so hard to avoid distractions during worship so people can actually worship, my first instinct was to go ask him to sit in the front seats or wait until after service to get his video. I knew the team would play another song for him in between services. I even looked over at Jim to see if he wanted me to move. We both just waited a bit to see if he would sit back down, but he tenaciously stood there taping his son. Jim nodded me off to let him continue. At greeting time, Clay's dad (We'll call him, Tom) sat down beaming from ear to ear.

Bob immediately got involved in the church helping with set up (We meet in a high school.) and came to church three weeks in a row. I talked to Clay the second week Tom was there and he said that his dad really liked coming and felt it just added something to his life. This last Sunday, week three of Tom's coming, we had baptisms. We always have some scheduled with video testimonies to precede them. But after the scheduled ones, Jim always gives an invitation for anyone who wants to get baptized to come talk to a pastor. We have clothes and towels waiting for them to use. At the end of first service baptisms, Clay came forward and asked to be baptized. It was awesome. Here this 16-year-old, who only three months previously was a self-proclaimed atheist, was receiving the sacrament of baptism. Clay had called his dad to come, but Tom missed it by just minutes.

Tom stayed for second service and after the baptisms, he came forward to speak to a pastor about being baptized. Someone ran to A.M. service and pulled Clay out saying, "Your dad is going under." So with Tom and the pastor in the portable hot tub, and Clay kneeling behind his dad with his hand on Tom's shoulder, Tom took the plunge. What a beautiful sight - father and son, hugging and crying -- as together they declared that they will follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

So here's the point of my story. What if Jim or I had stopped Tom from videotaping his son that day three weeks ago? Here was an unbeliever who was proud of his boy and just wanted to document his son's accomplishment. We could have come across as very uncaring and legalistic if we had stopped him and maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't have come back. I'm not saying this is the only reason Tom kept coming back. There are other factors -- the Holy Spirit working in his heart; the love and acceptance of not only Tom but his son by the people of the church. But.....what if.

People are watching us every day. Many just waiting for us to "mess up" so their view of Christians can be confirmed. Many watching because they see we have something that they so desperately want. Are we taking that fishbowl life seriously? Are we watching that we treat all people with love and kindness -- not just those in the body or the ones that treat us nicely? Are we allowing the glory of Christ to shine through our actions and conversations so we present the best reflection of Christ possible? We have to live out in front of all people the person we say that we are. Souls are hanging in the balance. And I don't want to have to answer for one of them being lost.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look for more Scriptures on being a witness for Jesus Christ to those who we are around every day.
2. How did Jesus treat the unbelievers He came in contact with?
3. Is there a "Tom" in your life who needs to see who Jesus really is? Are you showing them? If not, what needs to change?

Matthew 21:12-17 "Strength in Truth"

Read Matthew 21:12-17.

"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves." NIV

Who ever said that Christians should be mamby-pamby whimps. Our Lord certainly wasn't. In fact, He'd plain and simply had had it with the hypocrites. And He backed it all up with Scripture. Did you notice that is basically all He says. No debate, no arguing, no insults or sarcasm -- just the Word of God.

I really don't have much more to say. This Scripture passage completely speaks for itself. I'll just add one instructional note: We must know the Word and character of God to speak His Scripture in truth and love. So I guess I'd better study some more.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look up the Scriptures Jesus quotes and the surrounding passage, Jeremiah 7:11 and Psalm 8:2.
2. Is truth still truth even if no one believes it? Explain.
3. Is there someone you need to speak truth to? Pray and then do it in love standing on the Lord's Word.

Matthew 16:24-28 "Cross Carrying"

Read Matthew 16:24-28.

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." NIV

Have you made your "to do" list for today? If you are like me, you've at least mentally thought through what you are going to do today. So tell me, did you consult the Lord first? Okay, granted, there are things I don't think we need to ask Him about - i.e. showering, take the kids to school, go to work, etc. There are things we must do to live and exist in this world. But there are little and big "appointments" throughout our day that we may or may not plan where God has a special purpose for us. It could be as small as stopping to have a conversation with your neighbor at the mailbox to hopping on a plane to as big as a job change. God works in the little and big things of our lives. The question is are you ready?

How do we prepare for God's redirects to our plans? Well, I think the very beginning is to commit every day to do whatever He calls you to do. My husband has developed a wonderful habit of rolling out of bed right to His knees and spending a minute of committing His day to the Lord - wherever He may take him. That is about as close to physically taking up our cross daily as you can get. The cross is a symbol of death and punishment. By carrying our cross, we are dead men and women walking. If I am dead to myself and acknowledging that I am only alive in Jesus Christ, then I will submit to the Father's leading in my life - WHATEVER that may be.

After we have surrendered -- again -- our life to His leading, we must continually remind ourselves throughout the day's distractions that we are committed to following God's plan. I've mentioned this before in another post, but a friend recommended setting your electronic calendar to reminder you every few hours to stop and acknowledge God. I set my phone to give me a simple reminder tone at 10:00, 1:00, 4:00 and 7:00. When I hear that tone, I stop what I'm doing and focus on the Lord. This simple action reboots my mind toward Him. My goal is that 1) I don't need the alarm anymore. It's automatic. and 2) That someday, my mind would be in constant communion with Him. I don't even know if that is possible with all the chaos and activity of life. But I sure desire to be in that place. At least, if He wants to "interrupt" what I am doing, I want to always hear His voice to change directions.

We are here as servants of the Most High. Like a king's servant responds immediately to the summons of their master, we must be ready at all times to answer the call of our Lord. We must completely surrender our desires and schedules to His plans for our life. It's the only path a dead man can walk.

Further Thoughts:

1. Have you died to self and accepted the path that God has laid out for you? Then do it again. We must take up our cross daily to follow Him. See Luke 9:23.
2. If you are a believer, Christ lives in you. His Holy Spirit guides you and gives you counsel. Are you ignoring your closest resident for the pull of all those others around you? How do you pay closer attention to the Father's leading in your life? What habits do you need to form or get rid of? (Add prayer times, get off the computer, for example.)

Matthew 16:13-16 "Who is He?"

Read Matthew 16:13-16.

"'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?'" NIV

That is the question we all must ask ourselves. Who do we say that Christ is? We as a church remain firm in the definition - He is the Son of God, Second in the Triune. He is 100% God and 100% man. He existed from the beginning of time and lowered Himself to come to earth to be like us. He was crucified, died, and rose again, becoming the final sacrificial lamb for our sins. Through receiving Him as our Savior, we have eternal life with Him. By surrendering our will to His ways, He is our Lord and Master of all our ways. In the last days, He will come again to take His Bride home to eternity with the Father.

This is who Christ is -- divine and human, my Savior and my Lord. The question we all must ask ourselves is, "Do I just give Him lip-service or do I really believe He is who He says He is?" If I don't believe, I will not follow His ways with Him as my Lord and Master. To be a Christian, I must be a Christ-follower. Otherwise, I am just claiming a tradition, not a relationship.

Further Thoughts:

1. Who do you say Jesus is?
2. What Scriptures prove His divinity?
3. Do you live out your life based on your definition of Jesus Christ? If not, why? Is your definition wrong or are your choices wrong?

Matthew 14:1-12 "Getting My Way"

Read Matthew 14:1-12.

"Prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.'" NIV

I don't know exactly the reason this passage is in the Bible other than a historical account of what happened to John the Baptist. However, whenever I read it, I focus in more on Herodias and what I should learn from her actions.

Women instinctually have a manipulative gene in their DNA. Blame it on Eve if you want, but we can all be very good at manipulating a situation for our intended outcome. Whether manipulation in and of itself is a sin is a dicussion to be had. But suffice it to say, whether done above board or not, is it not a form of deception and selfishness?

And then there are the Herodiases of life. She's the most dispicable manipulator because she used her daughter. She sends her in to entice Herod with her sexuality and to get him to give an open-ended promise. When she asks for John the Baptist's head, he feels he is held by his oath and those who witnessed it to give her what she asked. What kind of mother expects her daughter to bring a severed head to her on a platter? (Now I will not address Herod's ethics or leadership skills; that's another discussion.)

Now, I don't know anyone that goes to this extreme, although I know there are mothers and fathers who have sold their children into prostitution to make money for the family. But for the most part, our manipulations are not as drastic but still can cause a lot of damage to our relationships with others and with our Lord. The deceitfulness that can be used to manipulate destroys our integrity with others while the selfishness of "getting our way by any means" is not a Christ-like characteristic. Christ never manipulated. He encouraged and guided, but not for His own benefit. His motivation was always for other people's good.

This is once again a moment to fight the sinful nature of selfishness and think about others' needs without succombing to the subversive attitudes and actions of manipulation. Whether in little issues or in big ones, our thoughts should be for others before ourselves.

Lord, you know my heart. I want to think of others before myself. Help me to not manipulate, but to be honest and forthright in all I do. Teach me to love better.

Further Thoughts:

1. Think through people in the Old and New Testament. Who were some of the manipulators? Compare and contrast their motivations and the outcome of their situations.
2. Read Galatians 2:20. How can this verse and the selfishness of manipulation co-exist?
3. Do you have trouble with manipulating people? Do you believe it is destructive or not? If yes, what are some steps to take to stop this habit? Who can you be accountable to who will help you stop?
4. Is there a situation that you are manipulating? Is there someone you need to apologize to for using them to get what you want?

Matthew 13:44-46 "Treasure of the Heart"

Read Matthew 13:44-46.

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field." NIV

Now of course Jesus is not saying here that salvation can be purchased. Neither is He saying that you must go out and sell everything you have to follow Jesus. It's a parable, not literal directions.
What He is saying is something every one of us should evaluate for our own lives. He's saying that our devotion to Christ should be of such priority and importance that it has first place in our lives. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, is second to following Christ. Our spouse, our children, our friends, our careers, our possessions, our hobbies, our personal comfort, our goals, our recreation, our dreams all fall behind following Christ. And in doing so, we are demonstrating to God that He is first in our life and to others the true value that the kingdom of heaven holds in our lives. He is the treasure that we must hold dear and protect at all cost. Nothing and no one takes precedence over Him.

I probably should evaluate this daily, but at least periodically, look at each area of my life and ask this question, "Am I putting ___________ in front of God?" Sometimes, the thing may be a worthy activity that serves Him. But if I am placing greater importance on the act of service to God than on being His obedient follower, my priorities are out of whack. Our schedule of activities each day and our checkbook tell exactly where we rank our priorities. If I am not being a servant of Jesus Christ in everything I do, I've got it all wrong.

Now in many ways this is an attitude of the heart and my Christianity defining who I am. For example, we have to work to live. It's simply a fact of life - no work, no money, then no food or housing. But because I am a follower of Christ and all followers are called to be ministers of the gospel, I can be a follower while doing my job. I don't set aside my very essence as a believer in Jesus Christ so I can go do my job. I do my job as a believer in Jesus Christ. I work hard; keep respectful, cooperative, healthy relationships with my co-workers and clients; I am a person of integrity, humility and grace. I share the love of Christ simply through my actions and attitudes or through, more overtly, telling them about Jesus. That is doing my job with Christ first in my life.

Therefore, I must be willing to give up everything for Christ. Before anyone or anything, He is my treasure and my life is the pedestal on which to display His glory.

Further Thoughts:

1. Look in a concordance for the word "treasure." Compare and contrast God's definition of a treasure with the world's.
2. Define "lord." If Christ is Lord of your life, how does that make Him your treasure? What parts of your heart need to change to be in line with His lordship?
3. Evaluate your day yesterday. Did you live it with Christ as the priority? Was there anything in your day that was contrary to Christ? If yes, why? Do you need to seek forgiveness for any attitudes or actions?
4. Is Christ your treasure? If so, how does that play out in your every day life? What does that mean for the priorities of your heart?

Matthew 13:1-23 "The Persistent Sower"

Read Matthew 13:1-23.

"But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it." NIV

This passage can sometimes make me very sad. I just want more people to be in the good soil group. The other population is so much larger. I have seen seeds on the pathway, seeds among the rocks, and seeds choked off by thorns so many times that I have to fight discouragement. I want to scream, open your eyes, unstop your ears -- this is the Truth. Pay attention; you are missing out.

And then I wonder how much responsibility I must take. Did I show those people what the Christian life is really about? Did they see the victory they could have in my eyes? Did they see the hope in my attitudes and actions? Do I allow the power I do have in the Lord to shine out through my life or am I being sucked into the complaining whirlwind of frustrating circumstances and difficulties. I do not want to be owned by difficulties, but I do experience them. Am I sucked into joining the crowd in unified complaining or do I offer a hope and positive view that I truly believe that God has everything under control?

These four distinct responses to evangelism will forever dominate our lives. So how do we find the good soil and reach those that will accept the Truth? God only knows the hearts of men. I've known many who showed tremendous enthusiasm and eagerness for God, but after a time, they wandered away from their commitment. But that should never stop us from trying. We must continue to spread the seed, share the love of Jesus, and reach out to whoever will listen while walking the life that Jesus would have us walk. We cannot be responsible for other's response, only for our obedience. Out of love for my Lord, I'll continue to throw out the seed.

Further Thoughts:

1. Read through Acts and be encouraged by the numbers that received Christ through the apostles' ministry. He is the same Lord that is in charge today.
2. Does "hope" happen automatically because you are a believer? The enemy will constantly work to discourage hope in your life. Look up Scriptures with the word "hope" that will give you strength in seemingly hopeless situations so you are not sucked into his lies.
3. Does the Christian life take work on our part? Read 1 Peter 4:1-11.
4. Maybe you are reading this today, and you are one who has not found "root" in your faith. Seek the Lord through prayer and His Word. Find a body of believers to fellowship with. Good soil can be developed, but only through diligently seeking the Lord. He's waiting for you.