Heartlight Articles - Two Minute Meditations

Somebody?

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

The following story happened thirty years ago, in a safe town, on a Sunday morning, with nothing to fear except being late for church. But, it really happened and the more you know about the whole experience, the sadder the story actually is.

A group of university-aged young ladies ran out of gas about a mile from church. They were on the main road to the church. Hundreds of people going to that church and a couple of others had to pass by their car stopped on the side of the road. But ... nobody stopped. Nobody! ... As one of the young ladies walked to the gas station with a gas can and then walked back to the car with the gas can in the pouring rain, nobody stopped.

I'm sure a lot of people said to each other, "Somebody really ought to stop and help those girls." Anybody could have stopped and helped. Nobody did. Even those who had kids in the classes they taught and wondered why their kids' teachers were late drove right on by the girls.

Before you get all riled up about the incident -- whether you want to bash church folks or bash me for talking about church folks in a poor light -- nearly every single one of us has "walked by on the other side" (Luke 10:29-37) of many a situation like the one just described. We forget one of the most important principles of God's redemptive work: when God rescues, redeems and helps people, He uses everyday ordinary people to do it -- put in cornbread English, God uses us to be His means of deliverance and help.

Doubt that?

Let me give you the most powerful example that this is true: Jesus! Nobody in Jesus' hometown expected anything of this carpenter from Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6). Jesus was just a nobody boy from a one camel town. He wasn't born to a family of power or position. Yet Jesus is God's greatest deliverer!

Let me share with you one other example that convicted me of this principle recently. Look carefully at the story of Moses' call at the burning bush (emphasis added):

Then the LORD said, "I have seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters; I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:7-15 RSV).

Now notice carefully. The LORD saw, heard, and knew the suffering, oppression, and affliction of His people so He came down to deliver them (Exodus 3:7-8). How did He do it? What was His means of deliverance? Moses! Notice the parallel statement and how it is modified (Exodus 3:9-10). The Lord heard and saw the oppression of His people and He sent Moses!

God uses people to be His means of deliverance. Whether it is a Deborah, Jael, or Esther. Whether it is a Joshua, David, or Daniel. God uses His people to do His work of deliverance.

"So what? What difference does that make for me? I'm no Esther or King David?"

Isn't that what a part of us whispers in our hearts? Because we don't feel like we have any great thing to offer or can't do anything great to change the landscape of history, we just assume we've got no place in God's work of redemption. So in the process of discounting our importance to God and to others, we overlook the thousands of ways we can help those around us! We drive right on by a car full of college-aged girls and complain about our children's Bible class teachers being late when we were given the opportunity to be God's tool of deliverance. Don't you think this is why Jesus promised:

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is known to be my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly be rewarded (Matthew 10:42 TNIV).

God wants us to know that in most situations when anybody can help, nobody probably will ... unless we decide we are Christ's Body, sent to bring God's deliverance, in big and small ways, to the people in our world. Just like God did with Moses, He reminds us that He sees, hears, and knows the problems of the people around us and He is coming down to help them ... by sending us!

The following questions are designed for your introspection and for use in discussion of this article with others. Feel free to share your thoughts on the ideas in this article by leaving a response on my blog: http://thephilfiles.com

For a powerful example of the importance of the principles in this article, please read Rubel Shelly's recent "Fax of Life" piece called Mercy!

Why do you think we find it so easy to "walk by on the other side" when we see people who need help?

Can you think of a specific instance when you assumed someone else would help and didn't stop to help for one reason or another?

Can you think of a specific instance when you did help?

Why do we discount our deeds of kindness done in Jesus' name?

What would happen if instead of thinking "anybody could do that" or "somebody should help," we decided that we are the part of Christ's Body God is going to use for delivering them?

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click
here.

Website: Southern Hills Church of Christ

The Greatest Glory

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

His hands were shaking and beads of sweat formed above his lip and his forehead. "It seems like every time I'm in this room with you I get nervous!" he said with a wry grin.

He was right. I had seen his hands shake and the beads of sweat form two other times when he was in the same room. The first time was when I was privileged to be a part of his being baptized into Christ. The second time was when he married his wife -- I performed the marriage service that day. This third time, however, he was in charge. He was getting ready to baptize his own daughter into Christ. Yep, he was nervous, but nervous with deep joy.

I didn't have an official part in the third event that brought him back into the back room, but I can tell you it was my happiest moment of the three. Sure I loved baptizing him. You bet I was excited to be able to officiate his marriage service. The third time gave me the greatest joy because here was a man, a mature believer, and a dad. I had seen him mature through the years and now he was passing on his faith to his daughter!

Few situations bring more powerful joy than when we get to witness someone in whom we've invested pass on what they now believe and hold as their own faith, to someone else. Two passages come to my mind as I think about this. The first is from John, talking about the maturing young Christians in a church he oversees:

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth (3 John 1:4 TNIV).

The second is from Paul, talking about Timothy and how Timothy had absorbed Paul's passion, teaching, and lifestyle and could pass it on to others:

For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church (1 Corinthians 4:17).

Our goal in any form of Jesus-styled leadership -- whether as a parent, Bible class teacher, small group leader, boss, work team leader, manager, teacher, coach, etc. -- must be to reduplicate our strongest traits in others who can then carry on the task, mission, effort, outreach, ministry, and goals that lie close to our heart. In fact, our greatest delight as an influencer and leader is seeing those we lead carry on "our" mission as their own. More than just being a junior version of ourselves, we want them to take our best qualities and add their own skill set and passions to do an even better job in ways we never could!

Notice how Paul speaks about this in regard to his son in the faith, Timothy. In the first statement, Paul stresses to Timothy the multi-generational nature of genuine leadership:

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

This second quote shows Paul's confidence that Timothy can perform this task!

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel (Philippians 2:19-22).

In the Kingdom of God, leadership is not associated with garnering glory here on earth. Jesus was the prime example of real leadership, and he surrendered glory to come to earth as one us to share God with us (Philippians 2:5-11). Instead, a Christ-formed leader's greatest glory is seeing those in whom he or she has invested sharing a similar passion, living similar values, and adding their unique gifts and interests to the mix. At the heart of any shepherding leader following in the footsteps of Jesus is the power of example and the joy of seeing others pass on what the leader has invested in them.

I'm with John, "I have no greater joy" than to see those in whom I've invested doing what I did, except better! And about those precious ones in whom we've invested, I say with Paul:

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).

The following are for your personal reflection as well as for use in discussion with others in small groups, house churches, or LIFE groups. I'd also love to hear your take on any of these questions on my blog: http://thephilfiles.com

Who is someone who has invested in you to help you become the woman or man of God that you are today?

What would you like to say about them to thank them for their investment?

When was the last time you said it?

Why not write them a note and thank them now if they are still living and if they have gone to be with the Lord, then thank one of their children or grandchildren telling them about this person who made such a difference in your life?

Who is someone in whom you are investing -- or should be investing -- your passion, values, and goals?

What skills and character qualities do you see in them?

How can they bless the Kingdom of God?

When was the last time you told them these things?

How are you going to share these things with them in the near future?

A friend once said, "We can't live for our children, that's too limited a horizon. We must live for our grandchildren! That means we've got to help our children pass on to our grandchildren what we hold as most valuable to us."

What do you think about this thought?

How does this more accurately reflect what Paul taught to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:1-2)?

How did Jesus embody this principle of passing on faith to multiple generations?

How can you embody this principle in your relationships?

What is your greatest glory and joy in your influence and leadership of others?

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click
here.

Website: Southern Hills Church of Christ

Lost and Found

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Our son, Zachary, was not quite two years old. I had just taken a preaching position at a new church in Austin. One Wednesday night after we had visited with a lot of folks, Donna and I both looked up and Zach had just vanished. The lights were off in every part of the building except the foyer where we were standing. Donna and I looked at each other and at the couple with whom we were visiting and we all had this stricken look of panic!

Where would a little kid go in a dark church building? Nowhere! No little kid would wander off into a dark, creepy, huge, unfamiliar space like that. The other couple took off to look outside the building. We were all panicked and feared that he may have gone out to the parking lot or wandered into the very busy street. Both of these were horribly dangerous options that we couldn't even bear to imagine! They looked outside and Donna and I tore through the building calling, looking, and hoping against hope to find our lost boy.

Then Donna peaked in a classroom with a small window that allowed in a little outside light. There, calm as could be, was Zach. He was singing and playing with toys, totally unruffled by the darkness, separation from his parents, and their panic-stricken expressions. Relief, joy, and celebration all flooded over us. Zach was missing for only a very few minutes, but our fear and panic made it feel like an eternity. We were thrilled and overjoyed to have our little boy back in our arms!

Our story with Zach pales in comparison to the recent news stories of abducted children being reunited with their parents. I cannot begin to imagine the anguish those parents faced as they waited for years, never knowing what happened to their children who were not only lost to them, but also had vanished without a trace. Hearing stories of their reunions has touched my heart and caused tears to run down my face. Yet their stories pale in comparison to the brokenhearted Father of grace who came searching for us -- you and me, his lost children -- by sending Jesus to show us his love.

God's story is a story of searching love as he yearns to find his lost children, so it is no wonder that Jesus used the image of finding a lost sheep so frequently.

Jesus came to find God's lost sheep. (Matthew 10:6; Matthew 15:24)

The Father doesn't want any to perish, but rejoices at finding each lost sheep. (Matthew 18:10-14)

The shepherd's great joy at finding the lost sheep. (Luke 15:3-7)

Jesus came to seek and to save lost sheep -- like Zacchaeus. (Luke 19:1-10)

Jesus is God's message to let us know how desperately the Father wanted to find us, to reach our hearts, and to bring us home and have a party.

Jesus' most famous apostle, Peter, humbly rejoiced and reminded early followers of Jesus that each of them had once been a lost sheep:

For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:25 TNIV).

Each follower of Jesus -- even you and me -- has been brought home to God, with the angels of heaven rejoicing and the Father of glory wanting to throw a party.

How can we not celebrate with great joy that we have been included?

How can we not seek and reach out to those who have wandered away from God?

How can we not rejoice when God's lost ones come home to the Father of grace and the Great Shepherd of the sheep?

Read Luke 15:1-32 and then use the following questions for your personal reflection and group discussion in your LIFE groups, small groups, Home Gatherings, and house churches. I'd also love to hear from you on my blog about your lost and found experiences: http://thephilfiles.com

What is the most important thing in your life that you've lost, then rejoiced when you found it?

Have you ever lost a child (or a friend) in a crowd and feared something bad had happened to them?

How was this situation resolved?

Were you able to rejoice when the person was found? What did you do to celebrate?

Who are people in your life that you can help shepherd home to God?

Who is one specific person God has put on your heart that needs to come home to God?

What can you do to help others know about the love of God?

Why do you think it is so hard for many of us to celebrate and have a party when God's lost sheep come home?

Have you ever found yourself, or someone else you know, resenting those who have been away from God but who have been brought back home?

How do we help these folks, and ourselves, let go and rejoice like God does with the angels of heaven when his lost children come home?

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click
here.

Website: Southern Hills Church of Christ

Promises Kept!

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John10:11 ESV).

We have all sorts of little sayings to emphasize that we are telling the truth and we really are going to keep our promises:

"No brag, just fact."

"Just the facts, ma'am."

"Let me be brutally honest"

"Now truthfully ..."

"I want to walk the talk."

"You can take it to the bank."

"Let me be brutally honest!"

And a bunch more if we wanted to list them.

While Jesus had a way to emphasize the importance of something he said, when it comes to promises, the Lord advocated that we simply tell the truth the first time without elaboration or oaths (Matthew 5:34; James 5:12). Our lives really prove the value of our words, and Jesus wanted his life to speak clearly and loudly about his faithfulness: faithfulness to both God and to us.

Jesus claimed to be the Good Shepherd, and The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. This was so important that he said it in slightly different ways five times in one setting (John 10:11-18). However, the ultimate test of a shepherd is whether he lives for himself or for his sheep -- if he truly lays down his life for his sheep in both big and small ways.

Jesus proved himself to be a faithful shepherd by what he did and how he did it!

Jesus gave up the protection and perfection of heaven for the flaws and mortality of human life (Philippians 2:5-11).

Jesus prepared his closest followers for his absence even when wrestling with his impending death. He lovingly spent time with them and prepared them for his absence and promised them his ongoing presence through the Holy Spirit, the Comforter (John 13:1-17:26).

Jesus paid the ultimate price by dying on the Cross and was raised from the dead to release us from the tyranny of sin and death (Mark 10:45; Romans 4:25).

Jesus spoke these words of promise, "I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:15), then proved his word true by laying down his life every step of his journey with them.

But why is this important? Why make such a big deal about it?

Today, two reasons seem very important to me.

First, we can trust the glorious promises of Jesus because he proved himself faithful in the promises he paid the awful cost to fulfill. Since he was willing to give up heaven to come to us and give up his life to save us, why would we ever doubt his promises to bless us and bring us to the Father?

Second, Jesus shows us the heart of real leadership. Leadership "Jesus' style" is not about being served or finding status or exercising power. Leadership "Jesus' style" is about setting an example, living our lives to bless others, and giving up our lives to help others find God, hope, and heaven. Anyone who leads in the footsteps of Jesus should not be surprised that leadership requires us to lay down our lives for those we lead as we follow the Master's example!

Jesus did more than say he loves us: he has proven his love by his actions. And because his love has been proven, we can trust his promises to be with us and to bring us to the Father. No brag ... just fact!

The following questions are for your own reflection and may also be used in small group discussion or house church settings. I would also love to get your feedback on my blog: http://tinyurl.com/hl102909

What are your favorite promises of Jesus?

Why can you trust these promises to be true?

What do they help you look forward to experiencing with God in the future?

How do they help give you reassurance in difficult times?

Why do you think we tend to forget Jesus' promises when we are going through times of trouble?

How does Jesus' proof of his faithfulness to the hard and painful promises give us assurance that he will keep the glorious promises?

What can you do to help some other believer hear and accept the promises of Jesus?

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click
here.

Website: Southern Hills Church of Christ

A Really Inconvenient Truth

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

How nervous was he?

I really don't know, but my guess is that he was extremely nervous. God had chosen him to share a really inconvenient truth with the most powerful man in his world. In fact, this man in power had killed other men for less. So I can visualize Nate with sweat on his upper lip, his palms clammy, a catch in his throat that he couldn't quite clear, and his tongue an oversized cotton ball with a throat as dry as dust. He knew the stakes -- his life or the king's character. Nate's job had forever ramifications for him and for the king and his kingdom.

The king had a reputation for having a heart for God, but when he blew it, he blew it big and bad and ugly. And this was one of those times. So as Nate cast about for a way to confront the king, the Lord led him to a story -- a story close to the heart of God and hopefully close to the heart of the king. Nate must have prayed that the king hadn't become so enamored with the palace and power that he had forgotten his roots, his heart, and the integrity he had so carelessly thrown away for a season of power lust. Nate tried to clear his throat one more time and began:

There were two men in the same city -- one rich, the other poor. The rich man had huge flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. The poor man had nothing but one little female lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up with him and his children as a member of the family. It ate off his plate and drank from his cup and slept on his bed. It was like a daughter to him.

One day a traveler dropped in on the rich man. He was too stingy to take an animal from his own herds or flocks to make a meal for his visitor, so he took the poor man's lamb and prepared a meal to set before his guest.

Nate didn't have to wait for a reaction. The king responded immediately!
David exploded in anger:

"As surely as God lives," he said to Nathan, "the man who did this ought to be lynched! He must repay for the lamb four times over for his crime and his stinginess!"

Nate silently thanked God for guiding the story to the perfect place in King David's heart. He looked the king in the eye, and without hesitation or flinching at just the right moment, Nate said, "You're the man!"

You probably recognize the story from the prophet Nathan's rebuke of King David's sins of adultery with Bathsheba and of the murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 12:1-7 MSG). Both were a betrayal of David's power and position. Even worse, they were a betrayal of God, who chose David because of the "integrity of his heart" as a kind shepherd to be the shepherd of his people (Psalm 78:70-72 NKJV).

David, the shepherd king, was chosen because of those shepherd-like qualities -- qualities that were near to the heart of God, who described himself as a tender shepherd:

He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep (Isaiah 40:11 NRS).

This same David gave us the comforting and beautiful Shepherd Song that has comforted many of us in our times of greatest loss, heartache and trail:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me (Psalm 23:1-4 ESV).

So when Nathan has to confront David, what does he do?

He tells him a shepherd's story -- a story near to the heart of God and near to the heart of David's experience. The story hits its mark and David is convicted of his sinful abuse of his power and position as well as his betrayal of his role as a shepherd for God's people (Psalm 51:1-17).

Unfortunately, we live in a day when the images of a good shepherd are almost completely lost on us. But if we listen, if we open our hearts, we can still feel the pull of the powerful metaphor of a shepherd's watchful, tender, powerful, loving care with his flock. We can also be reminded of how awful, how debilitating, it is for God's people to settle for less than real shepherds with "integrity of heart" -- leaders who smell like sheep because they have lived among them.

God's leaders must have as their goal to lead like the Great Shepherd David describes in his famous psalm. It's not about the size of the flock or the reputation of the flock, but it's about the flock being sheep that have been led to abundant life by their shepherds (John 10:10), sheep who lack no good thing (Psalm 23:1).

So as you look for leaders to follow in God's family, go back to David's famous of description of God as our Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-4) or Jesus' description of himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18). Then ask yourself; does this shepherd smell like the sheep? Do I see the qualities of the Good Shepherd in this leader?

And if you want to lead God's people at any level -- because shepherding is not just a role, but it is also a mandated style of leadership in Scripture regardless of your position -- are you following the Good Shepherd to learn to bless others? Are you doing the things in the lives of others that lead them to recognize your shepherding care? Can people describe your leadership being done with "integrity of heart" as a shepherd? Do you go out ahead of people and when you call, they follow you? Are you feeding them, giving them rest, restoring their spirits, giving them assurance in difficult times, and walking beside them in tough times?

God is looking for people with shepherding hearts to step into the lives of the flock and guide them to better things, better resources, and better care. Let's not settle for less than real shepherds for God's flock!

Here are a few other questions to consider as you think about the issues of shepherding in your life. I would love to get your feedback on my blog -- http://tinyurl.com/hl102209 -- or you can use these questions for your own growth or in a small group Bible study as well.

Why do you think the image of a shepherd, as a leader, is so important in the Bible?

Why is it used to describe God so frequently and intimately?

Who has been the shepherding leader in your life -- whether the shepherd was an official leader or not?

For whom can you be a shepherding leader?

What trait of God as Shepherd blesses you most?

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click
here.

Website: Southern Hills Church of Christ

Drop the Rope!

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Google or Bing the words "tug of war rope breaks injuries" and you will get to some crazy and even gruesome stuff -- injuries caused both by people wrapping the rope around their hands or arms and also caused by the rope breaking. Of course, there are some advertisers claiming to provide ropes for injury free tug-of-war contests as well as references to medical people criticizing tug-of-war as a dangerous, unnecessary, and accident-prone exercise.

So, why do we find ourselves so frequently engaging in tug-of-war debates in Jesus' family of faith? You know what I'm talking about, those "either-or" debates about things that are good, helpful, and spiritually encouraging?

Over the last few weeks, from at least five totally unrelated people, from the web and in private discussion, the subject of mission trips versus service trips has come up. Two different people, one online and one in person, asked a question similar to the following: "I had a minister tell me that service trips were okay, but 'preaching the gospel' trips were much more important. What do you think?"

So do I join the tug-of-war? And if I join the tug-of-war, who is going to get injured when the goal is to win an argument over two good things and someone gets caught in the rope on the losing end? And if I join the tug-of-war, aren't I pitting myself as a rival of the group who is on the other end of the rope whether my side wins, loses, or we draw?

Sorry, I can't get on either end of this rope! I can't tilt the balance one way or the other. I believe these two must go together, not be pitted against one another. Calling folks to obey God without demonstrating the compassion of God is falling very short of who Jesus was and what Jesus calls us to be. Being compassionate without sharing Jesus, the moving force behind our compassion, is not going to offer people a lasting solution to their deepest problems. Let me illustrate this with two perspectives we gain from Matthew's Gospel.

Example 1: How Jesus' ministry is Described

Matthew twice emphasizes that Jesus' ministry involved both ends of our rope:

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people (Matthew 4:23 TNIV).

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness (Matthew 9:35).

For Jesus, it was not "either/or," but "both/and"! Read the stories of Jesus in the Gospels. He performed miracles, he cast out demons, he cared tenderly for people, he touched the untouchable, he welcomed sinners, and he did so because he loved people. There wasn't a hook in his motives. He wasn't being nice to manipulate them to some point. He was displaying God's love to them. At the same time, Jesus spoke openly about the need for repentance, about obeying the will of God, and following him as Lord. He practiced what he preached and preached what he practiced!

There is simply no way to separate both of these two crucial parts of Jesus' ministry: there is no tug-of-war and there is no "either/or"! When the heart of who we are and what we do is to love God and love our neighbor, then we are going to share the truth of God and we are going to demonstrate the compassion of God. If we don't, someone is going to get hurt when the rope breaks or one side or the other wins the argument!

Example 2: Experiencing Immanuel

Matthew's Gospel calls Jesus' followers to experience Immanuel, God with us. He emphasizes that this happens in at least four ways:

Through the story of Jesus' time on earth (Matthew 1:23).

Through radical and authentic community (Matthew 18:1-20, esp. vs. 20).

Through sacrificial service to those in need (Matthew 25:31-46, esp. vs. 40).

Through crossing cultures to form Christ in others (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus is our ultimate expression of Immanuel. Jesus prepares his followers for his physical absence by emphasizing that they will experience his presence, serve him, and have him go with them as they do both -- demonstrate God's compassion and communicate God's message.

Rather than trying to get everyone polarized over mission trips versus service trips, evangelizing versus serving, proclaiming the Gospel or practicing social justice, why don't we put down our rope? I may be simplistic, but shouldn't we be about BOTH caring for others as Jesus did AND sharing with others what Jesus did and how we should respond to him?

The following questions are for your personal reflection or discussion in a group setting or house church. I would also love to get your feedback to the article or the questions on my blog:
The Phil Files

Why do you think it is so easy for us to get into these religious tug-of-wars instead of caring and sharing with those outside our spiritual family?

What is missing on a service trip in Jesus' name when folks don't look for opportunities to share the story of Jesus?

What is missing in a mission trip if folks preach and teach in Jesus' name, but don't serve others as Jesus did or treat others along the way as Jesus did?

Which is harder for you, sharing the story of Jesus or caring for those in need?
Why is one harder than the other?
What can you do to grow in both areas, but especially in the area of weakness?
What can we all do to ensure that our efforts in mission trips and in daily life include both caring and sharing?

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click
here.

Website: Southern Hills Church of Christ

Riders in the Storm

phil@heartlight.org (Phil Ware) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

For once, I was excited to go see my doctor. Headed into my yearly physical, I had dropped about 25 pounds from the year before and felt great. I couldn't wait to hear what my friend and doc had to say. At least I thought I couldn't wait!

My doc said, "Hey Phil, you look great. How did you lose the weight?"

I explained and we shared some chitchat. Then, while looking at my neck and feeling my lymph nodes, he said, "So what is that?" About that time he punched around at the bottom of my neck in the little soft spot and I flinched as a twinge of pain shot through me. Then he said, "Oh wow, there are three of them!"

This is not what I had expected to hear! I had three small masses that he could see and touch. I could feel a twinge when he poked on each of them. I went from feeling proud and great, to feeling startled and worried, in a matter of minutes. To be honest, I don't remember anything else about the results of that physical except for the end.

My doc said, "These feel perfectly round, so I'm hopeful they are simply cysts."

Then I asked the dumb question, "So if they are not cysts, what else could they be?"

Not a good question and certainly not one he could answer. The sky was the limit on "what else could they be?" We both knew what I was really asking. I was a public speaker. The cysts were near my vocal chords and at the base of my thyroid. For anyone, this would be a scare, but for someone who spoke as his primary livelihood, well, let's just say everything was up for grabs in my heart!

The doc's answer was evasive, but better than if he had given me the long list of possibilities for "what else could they be?"

"Let's not speculate at this point. I am going to schedule you for an ultrasound and also a thyroid nuclear x-ray. These cysts are small and feel perfectly round, so I'm not all that worried about them; I think they might even go away on their own.

While the doc's words were good, this is what I heard, "Oh wow ... three of them ... ultrasound ... nuclear ... worried ... probably ... might?"

I trusted my friend. I believed that he was probably right, but I couldn't help but hear the echo of these fearful words in my heart as I tossed and turned several nights before I took the tests and received the results.

There have been many other storms in my life since that doctor's visit, and nearly all of them have turned out well when I've finished riding out the storm and come to the calm waters on the other side of the storm.

All of us who find ourselves as mortal bags of bones, blood, and skin have to be riders on the storm at different moments in our lives. The real issue in those moments is what we allow our focus to become during the storm. What sounds do we hear and what sights capture our gaze? What do we do when fear overwhelms us and we've grown tired of fighting the storm? How do we know if Jesus is with us when we can't see him and it appears he is far from us?

The early followers of Jesus faced storms like we do -- theirs may have even been worse than most of us have faced. For them, an event in the life of Jesus was told and re-told to help them find comfort and keep faith in their storms.

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God?" (Matthew 14:22-33 TNIV).

What made this story so powerful to Jesus' early followers was that Jesus had just demonstrated in the feeding of the 5,000 that if his followers would bring him their limited resources and their inability to deal with big problems, then he would make them more than sufficient to face the challenge (Matthew 14:13-21). But like us, they could quickly forget and lose their focus and their faith. Like us, they could listen more to the wind and watch the rolling waves, quickly forgetting the loving concern of their friend, Jesus, who had the power to come to them during the storm and then bring them to safety out of the storm.

At some time in each of our lives, we are all going to find ourselves as riders in the storm. How are we going to handle them?

What are some of the storms you have faced in your life?

So when you were in your storm, to whom did you turn for help?

Did you trust Jesus to come and meet you in your storm even though you weren't aware of his presence at first?

Will you look to Jesus in your future storms instead of focusing on the winds and the waves?

Will you take risks to find Jesus in your storms, even if those around do not?

And if you fall in your storms, will you cry out to Jesus to save you?

Do you think it is sometimes necessary to go through storms to discover that the presence of Jesus in your life is real?

My prayer for you is that this story from Jesus' life will become more than just a story for you. I pray it will become a truth that shapes your future as you face your storms and seek to follow Jesus!

While the questions above can be used for your study and application of our key passage, or can be used in small group discussion of the passage, I would love to hear your answer, your take, on Jesus coming to you during the storms of your life and bringing you safely home. Let me hear from you on my blog: http://tinyurl.com/hl20091008

Phil Ware is minister of the Word at Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. For the past 10+ years, he has also been co-editor of HEARTLIGHT Magazine. For more details, click
here.

Website: Southern Hills Church of Christ