Clay in the Hands

I have the distinct privilege of teaching an undergraduate class this semester.  The class is geared for individuals who are either in ministry in the local church or considering the path of ministry.  We have spent the semester discussing calling and discerning God’s leading or “messing” with our lives.  We have also talked about very practical, hands on nuts and bolts of the daily life of a minister.  It has been a great experience for me and I hope the students have gleaned something from our time together as well.

The last third of the semester will deal with Baptist life – polity and doctrines.  Today, we will be discussing several important concepts inherent to Baptists but I am particularly excited to cover one topic in particular – the belief in soul competency.  

Baptists have been accused of being too individualistic.  I would be naive to ignore the point to be revered in this accusation.  The world does not revolve around me – nor does it turn on its axis for you.  But before we dismiss the idea of individual faith we need to understand one of the most critical and foundational elements of the gospel message – choice.

In Matthew 16 verses 15 and 16, Jesus asked a crucial, turning-point question of the disciples.  He had asked about the chatter.  “Who do people say that I am?”  But then he turned to heart of the matter and asked the only question that matters – for them and for us.  “Who do you say I am?”  Peter voluntarily, without coaching from his pastor or his parent or from the testimony of the church answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

That turning-point question is still the question today.  When it comes to faith – to the entrusting of our eternal soul – we have to answer that question for ourselves.  Attending a particular community of faith regularly or even joining that body does not answer the question.  Living by an honorable moral code does not face the question.  Each of us has to reach a point in our walk that we come face to face with Jesus and answer that question for ourselves.

Who do you say Jesus is?

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We are two weeks away from knowing the identity of the next president of the United States.  Division in our country continues to grow and I fear it will only get worse after the election.  Regardless of where people stand politically, I continue to hear fear and anxiety in the voices of those with whom I visit about the fate of our nation.

Yesterday, a small band of folks gathered in the garden in front of our church to pray.  We prayed for school children and teachers, for our city and for our nation.  As we stood to lift our hearts in unison to the Father, one participant voiced a very insightful prayer.  She prayed that all would feel compelled to vote and to vote their conscience.  She then prayed for both front running candidates and asked God to work in their hearts – and then once the new president is announced for God to work within the heart of the person to bend their will to His.

Ultimately, we need to remember that it does not really matter, in the eternal scheme, who is elected in two weeks.  God is on His throne today just as He will be three weeks from now – and 6 months from now.  The only hope for us as a people does not rest on the shoulders of the next president but in the sovereign hand of the Almighty.

The path to lasting peace comes to an end in the very presence of God.  Rest in His presence today and the security His presence brings.

Be blessed!

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I have challenged our deacon body to read through some selected Psalms over the next month.  Today we began with the first Psalm.  It begins like this:

¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

As I read these verses this morning, I was reminded how important it is to remain planted in God’s truth.  It is really hard for a tree to bear fruit if it is not receiving the needed sustenance to survive.

We are no different.  We need God’s truth flowing into us so that we can bear fruit.

We all go through dry spells in our walk.  But always remember, we are dry most likely because we have ceased to be planted by the stream.

Stay planted today!

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Is God at work in your life?  Have you asked yourself that question lately?

God leaves nothing unfinished.  Philippians 1:6 says, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God has begun something amazing in you.  The work really started with your conception.  God knew your potential even then.  God knew your quirks.  God knew your strengths.  God knew what would bring you passion.  God knew.

Your entire life – all of it – leading right up to this sacred moment right now, God has been working in your life.  God takes everything you experience and uses it to shape you.  You are a masterpiece of His creation.  God’s fingerprints are all over you.

God is still at work.  So no matter what you encounter today, remember . . . God IS NOT finished.  And God is faithful and trustworthy to carry out what He has started.

Rest in this truth today!

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This Sunday we will wrap up our current sermon series entitled, Walking With God.  The topic for this Sunday is walking with joy.  So I have been giving a lot of thought and prayer to the subject of joy this week.

What brings us joy?  Do we even know how to describe it?  Most might describe joy as happiness.  We might think of things we obtain or positions we attain as bringing us joy.  We might think of the experience of holding a new born for the first time or meeting that special someone.

As we think of ways to define joy, different experiences begin to come to mind, but putting a clear definition into words is a bit difficult.

The classic definition of joy is “emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune.”  But when we look at how joy is used in the sacred text, we find a deeper nuance to the word.  As we study scripture, we begin to see joy as a compilation of the experience of security that comes by being known and loved by the creator coupled with the experience of confidence in God’s provision.

1 Peter 1:8-9 tells us that when we believe Jesus is who he says he is – really believe to the point of staking our lives on him – then we will receive joy that far surpasses descriptive definition.   This joy is a direct result of the realization that Jesus provides us with something we can never attain on our own – salvation.

So today, as you think about the things in life that bring you happiness, think also on the deeper experience of joy that can be yours in believing.

Be blessed today!

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This Sunday we will begin a new series here at the church entitled, Walking With God.  So I have been thinking for some time about all the ramifications of this thought of actually walking with God on a daily basis.  There are all kinds of images that come to mind when thinking about walking.  

Kristi and I often walk together along the jogging trails around our house.  But when we walk it is more for exercise than for leisure.  Walking also serves as the means of getting from one place to another – so the idea of destination becomes important.

But when I consider walking with God, I am drawn to the idea that walking with God is more encompassing than simply exercise or destination.  Walking with God is more about the time together and the direction than it is about meeting a specific goal in a specific timeframe.  Maybe it is more about the conversation and observation than about the distance.

As you set out to walk with God today, note what is happening around you.  What is God showing you?  How is God leading you as you walk through this day?

And as you walk, remember this – God’s promise to Joshua (Joshua 1:9) is extended to you as his child –

Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

God is with you on this journey so walk with confidence today!

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