Sing A New Song—DAY 141

One God – One Path

There are many religions in this world and I would scarcely call myself an expert.  But I happen to believe it is possible to tell the truth from a lie without having to hear all the lies first.  When bankers are giving tellers training on recognizing counterfeits they don’t have them study all the fakes and facsimiles out there … they just make sure they handle nothing but the genuine article so that when the counterfeit does come within their grasp, they know it instantly … something just doesn’t feel right.

The certainty with which today’s devotion is written, and indeed the theology of many Christians, is viewed as arrogance, especially in America’s climate of culturally dominating pluralism.  The belief that: “Habit with him was all the test of truth, “It must be right, I’ve done it from my youth”—George Crabbe, 1910, The Borough-Letter 3, the Vicar—is often taken for gospel.  That is why the staying power of the faith of our youth is declining today.  Many were shocked with the Barna’s poll release of information that:  “In several ways, teenagers are much less inclined toward spirituality than were teens a dozen years ago … talking to God may be losing out to Facebook.”  Teens view the hollowness of some feigned church relationships of adults as pariahs, not examples to follow.   (Do you know what I mean “brother?”)

Kids today are looking for something more concrete than just “tradition” to justify the investment of their time and commitment.  I maintain that real Christianity offers an exciting, if narrow, pathway to a vibrant relationship with a relevant God.  God is not to be pursued casually or recklessly but reasonably … He can stand the light of their questioning minds.

There is a faith whose subscript is “One God – Many Paths.”  “Catchiness” is also not the test of truth (neither is sincerity … or the 19 men who flew planes into the Trade Towers, Pentagon and a Pennsylvania countryside can really expect the 70 virgins each they were promised for their evil deed).  Read what the Scriptures say: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NASU)

Just because you think you’re right, doesn’t make you right.  And there are many who, while agreeing with that premise, follow another god or another religion … but “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” (Prov. 14:12 NASU)

Here’s a prayer you can pray:  “Lord, help me to be a discerner of truth; and as Jesus was the Only Begotten Son of His Father, may I learn that His way, like Truth, is singular, not plural.  In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Posted: May 19th, 2012 under General.
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Sing A New Song—DAY 140

A New Necklace

I think conservative jewelry, appropriately worn—where the focus of the eyes are not drawn away from the face, but augmented by those adornments—can be a positive thing for the Christian woman.  Men wearing jewelry has never been something I thought was anything less than vanity and pride … but that’s just a personal opinion and certainly a more traditional than a contemporary view.  But what a woman wears is a statement about how she sees herself and how she wants others to perceive her.

I have a proposal for a new icon of the faith … and one way that can be popularized through the wearing of jewelry. The most prevalent icon in the Christian faith is, without doubt, the cross.  Worn about the neck of many women (and some men), often gilded, it is either empty—as in the case of most Protestants, presumably to emphasize the Resurrection of Christ—or adorned with our slain Lord—as in the case of most Roman Catholics, presumably to emphasize the sacrifice of our Savior.  But wouldn’t the empty tomb be a powerful and poignant message?

It could be represented by a figure eight on its side (the mathematical symbol for infinity) with the right side circle being solid—to represent the stone rolled aside—and the left side circle an open ring—to represent the open (and empty) tomb.  I daresay, it would provoke many convenient and opportune discussions of the nature of its meaning and make a beautiful and appropriate adornment for women.

And isn’t that our message?  Read the account from the Scriptures:  “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living One among the dead?  He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” (Matthew 24:1-7 NASU)

The power of the life of Christ does not lie in the miracles He did, though the proof of His divinity is surely there.  Had He not overcome death, His message, though important, would lack the power we need to live our lives.  But He was resurrected!  And the power of that message lies in its reality … and the fact that the stone was not rolled aside to let Him out, but to let us in!

Here’s a prayer you can pray:  “Heavenly Father, although I cannot imagine the sacrifice You made in sending Your only begotten Son, I can still be grateful; and I am.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.”

Posted: May 18th, 2012 under General.
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Sing A New Song—DAY 139

Cynasura

Most know Polaris by the name “North Star”, not its ancient name, Cynasura.  It still, by any name, occupies that bit of space directly above the North Pole axis of the earth.  It is easily found by using the last two stars of the ladle in the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) as “pointers,” pointing the way—about 30^o of arc distance—to Cynasura.  Merak and Dubhe have affectionately been called the “Pointer Sisters” for this reason.

And they point to Cynasura—the Pole Star—about which the whole universe appears to turn.  Being at that particular point in space above the North Axis of the earth gave northern explorers a distinct advantage—there is no corresponding pole star above the southern axis—when it came to navigating.  Hence every famous explorer was from the northern hemisphere, Cynasura not being visible from southern climes.

The advantage came from the fact that they had a fixed reference point by which to navigate.  Even a compass only points to “magnetic north” and requires knowledge of your longitude and nautical tables to determine your true position.   Spiritually speaking, being able to refer to a fixed standard helps navigate the various difficulties of life … as surely as a mariner uses Cynasura.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us of a fixed standard like the Pole Star:  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (NASU)  Earlier in Hebrews, the writer recommends:  “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith …” (Heb.  12:2 NASU)

The value in life of having an Example to follow cannot be overstated.  Additionally, we have the comfort of knowing that the example we’re following is the right one.  Not some older sibling whose example might lead the impressionable younger person astray, but the example of the Creator Himself.

Today’s culture offers no such fixed point of reference.  The shifting sands of fad or fancy offers an ever-changing landscape and all navigation by its varied horizon leads to chaos and frustration.  First, seekers try various religious tenets; wanting to believe in something, they first try this and later, that … and finally try believing in everything … or nothing.  The result is the same.  All standards are variable except One.  It’s like I told my students the other day.  Christianity is the most dogmatic religion in the world.  Jesus said:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except by me.”  (John 14:6) and again in Acts 4:12:  “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Here’s a prayer you can pray:  “Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to be my example of consistency; unchanging and ever gracious.  In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Posted: May 17th, 2012 under General.
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Sing A New Song—DAY 138

Follow the Money

The Scripture is clear:  “…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  (Matt. 6:21 NASU)  If you want to know a man’s heart, look at his checkbook … or more contemporarily, look at his credit card receipts.  Seriously, we usually end up spending our money on those things most important to us.  If it’s the kind of car we drive, then we have a big car payment … if it’s the kind of house we live in, then we have a big mortgage … if it’s a—I think you get the picture—follow the money if you want to know a man’s priorities.

With Solomon, it was his wives—he had a thousand… I think keeping one happy is challenge enough!  With Saul, it was his authority and power.  He regarded anyone and everyone as a threat to his reign … I guess that’s why he spent most of his resources chasing David. God takes a dim view of anyone who looks to money, horses, chariots, population … or anything other than Him as the Source of their power.

Who’s your God?  Whom you obey.  When Adam and Eve sinned against God, it was the dictates of the serpent who won out.  That is why he is called the Prince of this World.  Adam was to have this title; created in the very image of God, he was uniquely qualified and equipped to handle the scope of his authority.  He gave that authority over to the serpent by obeying him, rather than God.  We can see what man valued most by following the money … or the promise thereof.

We really see this in Satan’s temptation of Christ in the wilderness:  “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;  and he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.’” (Matt. 4:8-9 NASU)  We are often tempted by the promise of quick gain, but there really are no shortcuts.

Adam and Eve were not so tempted by the forbidden fruit, as by the power of God the serpent said it held.  The Devil used Jesus’ hunger, His destiny, and the promise of His Father to tempt Christ.  We are offered shortcuts to many things … that’s why gambling, corporate greed, and even a mistake by someone at the register is such a temptation for us … everyone wants a windfall without the work—but quick gain without the requisite work leads to a change in our value system.  How about you?  If God were to Follow the Money, what would He discover?

Here’s a prayer you can pray:  “Heavenly Father, examine my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me.  Root out my foolish and selfish motivations and create a clean heart within me.   May my pursuit of You leave no room for the chasing of those empty things that have so occupied my attention in the past.  May I be assured of Your provision as I seek first Your Kingdom; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Posted: May 16th, 2012 under General.
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Sing A New Song—DAY 137

Driving on the Top Half

It is an on-going conversation that I have with my wife … “darlin’, if you would consider that you are ‘empty’ when your gas gauge reaches half-full, then you would never run out of gas …”—it is called “driving on the top half” and the additional cost is only a half-a-tank-of-gas, ONE TIME!  A small price to pay for the peace of mind of never having to run out.

There is a spiritual principle here, and it is what today’s devotion is all about.  If all your prayers are desperate “If-God-doesn’t-show-up-I’ll-utterly-fail” prayers, then perhaps you’ve gone from supplication to presumption.  If your reading of the Word, or your fasting, or your good works are only attempts at manipulating God to do your desperate bidding, then your “bottom-half” spiritual existence is not dependent on Him but a “gun-to-the-head” threatening of Him. God doesn’t respond well to extortion.  When you are constantly with one nostril above the waterline, it doesn’t take much to sink you.

Take being on time, for instance.  “Driving on the top half” means to be early.  Get to where you are going ten minutes early.  Then, when the occasional—but inevitable—unexpected mishap occurs, you will still be on time.

Being “prayed up” is another example.  Many find themselves precariously dangling by a slim thread of hope over some abyss of circumstance totally unprepared for the experience.  A little prayer beforehand could easily have alleviated the anxiety of the moment.  When a desperate time comes, it is hard to make a simultaneous deposit and immediate withdrawal without having to pay expensive overdraft charges.

We have many secular sayings that give voice to similar sentiments:  “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and “to be forewarned is to be forearmed” … or my favorite—the Boy Scout motto—“Be Prepared.”  The Scripture said it first, though:  “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.” (Prov. 22:3 NKJV)

How about you?  Tired of “running around like a chicken with its head cut off?” (I’ve actually seen this … its hilarious … for everyone but the chicken!)  Try driving on the top half for a change and see if peace doesn’t overtake you.

Here’s a prayer you can pray:  “Heavenly Father, You see the end from the beginning, so nothing takes you unawares.  Help me to see that calamity is a fact of living in a fallen world and that making time to pray in advance of the moment of need, takes all the desperation out of the circumstance.  I freely confess that my lack of spiritual preparation has allowed life to become crisis-driven rather than God’s-will driven.  Forgive me and help me, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Posted: May 15th, 2012 under General.
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