Category: The Bible (Page 11 of 22)

Defined By Integrity

November 5, 2010 / Nick / 0 Comments

Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.
-Daniel 6:4 (NLT)

One of my all-time favorite movies is the 2005 superhero flick Batman Begins. Near the end of the film, Batman is in the process of saving Gotham City when his childhood friend Rachel asks about his identity. Batman responds by re-quoting something that she said to him earlier: “It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.”

In the Chapter 6 of Daniel, we find the author in a difficult situation. Daniel had worked extremely hard and honorably as an administrator for King Darius, and was soon to be rewarded with a promotion. The other administrators were jealous, but no matter how exhaustively they searched, they couldn’t find anything negative to charge him with. His record was spotless. Daniel was above reproach. He was a man of integrity.

Have you ever heard someone stand up for them self by saying, “Deep down I am a good person” or “Deep down I want to do the right thing”?

Think about it… Is having to dig “deep down” to find goodness in you really what we want to settle for? You see, Daniel was so consistent living a life of incorruptibility that his godliness poured out as soon as you scratched the surface… That’s the kind of character I want to be know for!

There comes a point where we have to take responsibility and control of who we are. Whether it’s your occupation, your school, your family, your team, or your church… As Christians, in all that we do, we should strive to be persons defined by integrity. Faithful people. Responsible people. Trustworthy people. And not just “deep down”.

It’s not who you are underneath. It’s what you do that defines you.

Accidental Idols

November 2, 2010 / Nick / 0 Comments

“Don’t get so upset, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know how evil these people are. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!”
-Exodus 32:22-24 (NLT)

Picture the scene: Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments directly from God. What a moment! But when he returned from the mountain, he finds his brother Aaron leading the Israelites in worship of a golden calf statue! Can you imagine the disappointment and anger that must have instantly swept over Moses? Talk about a buzzkill.

And to make matters worse, Aaron tries to defend himself by saying that it was the Israelites’ fault. They are the evil ones… They were complaining… They brought their gold jewelry to me.

Then, he blurts out one of the most unintentionally hilarious lines in the Bible: “I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!” Are you serious, Aaron?! Is that really the best you can do? C’mon… That’s simply pathetic. I can see Moses rolling his eyes and hanging his head in shame right now.

It’s extremely easy for us to point the finger and laugh at Aaron’s expense as we read this story. But unfortunately, it really hits home… Well, I wouldn’t have done THAT if so-and-so hadn’t done THIS! Ever heard that one before? Or how ’bout, Oh, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal… One thing lead to another and it kinda just happened! Oopsie!

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve used the Aaron cop-out, I’d be a very rich man.

Our rebellion against God is serious business. Whether you’re a leader or not, when sin occurs you’ve got to step up, take responsibility, learn from the mistake, and immediately change.

There’s no such thing as accidental idols.

Religious Fashion Shows

October 27, 2010 / Nick / 0 Comments

Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
-Deuteronomy 6:8 (NIV)

In the Jewish culture, statements like these in scripture were often taken literally. Very literally. Jewish men would sometimes wear what’s called a phylactery, a small box containing scrolls of scripture that were attached to their hands and foreheads. The purpose behind this verse in Deuteronomy was to symbolically keep their faith in God close to their hands and minds, but many Pharisees and scribes acted it out for notoriety. That’s why Jesus calls them out on this practice in Matthew 23:5. The Message describes them as “religious fashion shows.” Ouch.

Whether we admit it or not, just like the hypocritical Pharisees and scribes, we ultimately want it to appear that we’ve got it all together in the religion department as well. If I’m honest with myself, I wonder how many “symbols” of my faith are really just there for show…

Do I really use that enormous, 8-inch thick Bible on the coffee table, or do I just want others who enter my home to think I’m a consistent Bible reader? Do I really wear that cross necklace as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice, or do I just want others to think I’m a “good guy”? Do I really listen to Christian music as a way to worship my God, or do I just not want others to think I listen to the “bad” stuff? Do I really bring my Bible to church every Sunday morning because I desperately want to dig into the Word, or do I just want others to be impressed? Do I really want to show thankfulness to my Father for taking care of my every need, or do I just not want the booth next to me at the restaurant to think I’m an unbeliever?

When things that are supposed to remind us of God instead become things to draw attention to ourselves, then the original purpose is completely disgraced. Whether its a phylactery or a coffee table Bible, the intent has to be about remembrance, not reputation.

Otherwise, it’s just a religious fashion show.

I Yam What I Yam

October 25, 2010 / Nick / 0 Comments

Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.

“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
-1 Samuel 17:38-40 (NLT)

One of my favorite cartoon characters has always been the spinach-lovin’ sailor Popeye. In particular, I love his personal mantra, “I yam what I yam.” No matter what his others said about him, Popeye stood firm in understanding his identity.

In 1 Samuel Chapter 17, right as the young shepherd David finally convinces King Saul that he should be the one to fight the Philistine warrior Goliath, an easily-overlooked conversation occurs between the two. Saul gave the boy a helmet, armor and a sword — everything one would need for battle. But when David tries them on, it just doesn’t work. I can imagine the helmet sliding on his head, the mail weighing him down, and the sword almost tipping him over.

A solider just isn’t who David was.

Instead, true to his character as a shepherd, David picks five stones and heads toward the giant with only his staff and sling. And of course, as the story goes, David defeats and kills Goliath with one quick hurl of his sling.

I believe we often think about ourselves in the fashion that Saul thought about David. We essentially try to make ourselves into people we’re not, many times at the suggestion of others. Instead of focusing on maximizing who God has made us to be at this very moment in time, we are enamored with being everything that we think we should be. So we cover ourselves with “armor” — things that are cumbersome and a hindrance. Things that aren’t in accord with who God has made us to be right now.

Despite Saul’s best intentions, the story probably would have ended differently had David waddled out into the valley dressed up as a solider. I wonder what part of God’s story for my life I might have hindered by playing pretend as well?

I can try to make my self into someone I’m not, but who am I fooling? Certainly not God.

I yam what I yam.

In Jesus’ Name

October 18, 2010 / Nick / 0 Comments

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
-John 14:13-14 (NIV)

Your head is bowed, your eyes are closed, and you are listening as someone leads in prayer. And then you hear the usual closing words: “We ask all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.” The prayer is officially complete.

But why do we close our audible prayers to God in this way?

The idea is taught in these verses from the Gospel of John. At first glance it might seem that you can simply tag this line to the end of any prayer and get what you want, but that’s not the case at all. Does Jesus want to do whatever we ask of him? Yes, but with a caveat… He will do anything we ask that brings glory to God.

In Jesus’ day, a person’s name embodied what they were like. So to pray in the name of Jesus simply meant you were asking for something consistent with his character. Jesus will gladly answer those requests because through them his Father will be glorified.

Many people unfortunately view prayer as a magic formula where we list our selfish cravings. But if what we ask for clearly isn’t in line with God’s will, then those words are vain and meaningless.

Using “in Jesus’ name” in a prayer isn’t necessarily right nor wrong. But it is absolutely not a secret password that gets you an all-access pass to God. It’s not about the words we use; it’s about our intent.

So ask yourself this question: If all your prayers were answered, who would get the credit? You, someone else, or God the Father?

Ask Jesus for anything that brings God glory and he will do it.

Category: The Bible (Page 11 of 22)

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