Here are a few more columns from our church newsletter. I hope you were encouraged by those from the last post, and will be encouraged by these as well.

MAY 2004

Matthew 20:7-b
He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.'

There's really nothing any better than looking back at the end of the day and seeing accomplishment. It doesn't actually matter what the accomplishment might be, merely knowing that we've completed something worthwhile is almost reward in itself. Whether it is finishing a long-read novel, finally getting the flower bed weeded, getting the garage cleaned out, just knowing it's finished (and you did it) is a wonderful feeling.

But too often people see emptiness where work should be. For whatever reason, people sometimes begin to devalue their usefulness. It might be age, education, perhaps talent, but some force of circumstance makes them feel they have nothing to contribute. And just as there is no greater feeling than accomplishment, there is no worse feeling than failing to contribute.
Sure, not everyone can be a preacher, a teacher, or a singer. But if you'll notice throughout the Word of God, those are not the only jobs. Within the kingdom of God, there are many, many jobs that need your special attention. While it may be difficult to find employment in today's economy, there is never a job-shortage in the work of the Lord.

And, unlike the physical world, there are no long lists of prerequisites or "qualifications." The only qualifying factors are a personal relationship with Christ, and a desire to work for Him. There is no minimum or maximum age limit, no previous experience necessary, no references required. The Lord continually has the "Help Wanted" sign up, and walk-ins are always welcome.

"So," you ask, "what is the job description?" It's simple. Make God first in your life, and allow Him to direct you in your task. The Lord is a very "hands on" type of leader. No matter where you go or what you face, He will be there to lend assistance, and to give you every advantage.

"What jobs are available?" I'm glad you asked. The area with the most openings is in the "Witness Brigade." These are the people who take the opportunities presented to them to spread the good news of Jesus to the world. Again, there are no minimum requirements or special education necessary. All you need do is live your life as a testimony of what God has done for you, and let people see the God you serve. Now, this is a twenty-four-hour-per-day job, and you are always on call, but the opportunities for work are endless.

"What are the benefits?" I knew you'd get to that sooner or later. Jobs in God's Kingdom are the highest-paying, most secure positions possible. Instead of waiting until every Friday, or every two weeks for pay, you are paid on a daily basis. Under the watchful eye of our Employer, (as our verse stated) whatever is right you will receive. Going above and beyond is always noted and rewarded. However, be aware that slacking is also noticed.

Also included in the "Kingdom Employment Package" is a terrific retirement plan. You've heard it's out of this world? Well, you'd be right. There are only a few minor differences compared with other employment opportunities out in the world. First, your retirement coverage begins in full the very first day. Second, your retirement benefits never decrease. Third, once it is your time to retire, the Lord honors your loyal service by giving you a brand new body, complete with eternal life and a mansion in heaven.

Just remember that no matter who you are, or what skills you possess, you are valuable to God's work. If you never preach a sermon, teach a class, serve on a committee or sing a song, you can always witness for the Lord. There's a lot of work out there. Use what you have, truly live the Christian life, work for the Lord the best you can, and God will certainly bless you with what is right. Thanks for applying, and congratulations on your new job!


JUNE 2004

Nahum 1:13
"For now I will break off his yoke from you, and burst your bonds apart."

In considering the above verse, what things do you find of considerable importance? Let's consider it for a moment, starting with the end, and working backwards. First, we find "burst your bonds apart." God does, indeed, have the power to burst all our bonds apart. Those things keeping us down, keeping us fearful, keeping us defeated, are no match for the power of the living God. When we see the words "burst" and "apart," we are put in mind not of a simple release, but of total destruction, the destruction of whatever "bonds" we have suffered. If you drop a coffee mug and merely chip it, that's one thing; you could still use it without much difficulty. But, were you to drop it and shatter it, the mug would be totally ruined. Such is the case when God bursts apart our bonds. If we rely totally on Him, and place our lives in His hands, those former bonds can never be used against us again. But trust is the key.

Going a little further back, we find the word "yoke," defined as something which has the ability to both hold in place and control the animal (or person) placed in it. Again we see this idea of breaking the yoke, of taking what is holding you and controlling you, and breaking free from it. For the unbeliever, it is the power of sin. For the Christian, it may be temptations, trials, sickness, pain, or some other circumstance. God has the power to set you free, which is the meaning behind this verse.

But, as I like to ask so often, can you find the most important word in this verse? Study it closely. Is it "break" or "burst?" Is it "yoke" or "bonds?" Could it possibly be "apart?" While each of these words is of critical significance, there is still another word that makes the meaning of this verse explode in the power of victory.

That word is "NOW."

All of us are aware that God does, indeed, have the power to conquer all, to break all the chains which keep us in the bondage of sin or defeat. By placing our trust in the Lord, He will conquer all obstacles in our lives. But the word "NOW" adds an entirely new dimension to this verse. What is that new dimension? Well, I'm glad you asked.

When you pause to contemplate the power of this verse, you absolutely must include the word "now." Let's look at the verse once again: "For now I will break off his yoke from you, and burst your bonds apart." There is no reason the Christian is to continue living a defeated life. The days of fear, of defeat, are over NOW, and this according to the Word of God.

"But, Pastor Chris," you say, "haven't you repeatedly said that our time frame is not necessarily God's time frame? Haven't you said that sometimes God's answer to our prayers is 'wait?' Doesn't this view contradict our verse?"

Not at all. Consider this: the moment a sinner asks for God's salvation, the yoke of sin is broken, the bonds of slavery burst apart. There is no mandatory waiting period, there are no special hearings, no fine print. Freedom is immediate. So, too, is the freedom for the Christian. God's freedom for us is "now."

Knowing God has heard your prayer, that He sees your need and will answer, gives you peace. In a recent sermon, I mentioned that peace has the power to conquer every temptation and trial. Therefore the intense power of the worry, the pain, the heartbreak, the fear that keeps the Christian defeated, is immediately broken. It sometimes requires patience to wait on God's answer, but we have peace and freedom knowing the answer is on the way. So, live your life for God, trust totally in Him no matter what, and claim the promise that NOW, this moment, God will break off whatever yoke is holding or controlling you, and those bonds will be burst apart for good. Stop living in defeat, in pain, in the past, and live life in the conquering power of the Lord.

Victory lies not only in the future. Victory is NOW!


SEPTEMBER 2004

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

What do you enjoy more than anything? The reason I ask this question is because what we enjoy the most is usually what we look forward to the most. Recall the days of your youth, when a birthday or Christmas was approaching. The arrival of the "big day" seemed like forever, and the waiting was miserable. Perhaps you had those "forever" feelings when waiting for your wedding day, or the birth of a child. An old ketchup slogan ran thus: The Best Things Come to Those Who Wait. Maybe, but the waiting is usually not much fun, especially when it's the only thing we can do.

Recently in a sermon, I used an illustration about a favorite author, how I could barely stand the wait for his newest novel. Then, when it came out, I read through the book so quickly, that it was finished almost before it had begun. So, I had once again to wait a few more years for the next one. This same author, Jeff Shaara, will be coming to Lexington for a book-signing in November. He and I have e-mailed one another several times over the last few years, but I can't wait to meet him in person. However, no matter how much I look forward to that moment, I still have a couple of months to wait, and nothing will make the waiting any shorter.

In spiritual matters, we are often called to wait on the Lord. We have our own schedules, our own plans, and most times waiting isn't figured in at all. God has a plan, His own timetable, and we must wait on Him if we want to be successful and victorious in life. In this month's verse, not one word is spoken about the waiting being easy or fun, but we are, nonetheless, called to wait.

Let's say you wanted to go swimming in your brand new in-ground, near-Olympic-sized swimming pool the contractors just finished installing. When they left, about 5:00 PM, you put the garden hose in the deep end and turned on the faucet. About 5:30 PM, you donned your new and stylish swim-wear, picked up your towel and radio, and walked out to the deck. You sat down your gear, ran around to the diving board, jumped up and down a few times, and dived right in. Unfortunately, there's only about an inch of water in the bottom of the pool. I think you'll agree that in this particular situation, waiting would have been best.

It is easy in life to get excited about what to do next (and not just "happy" excited, but anxious, nervous our scared about what to do). We feel that we have done all we can, and that we're ready to dive right in, prepared or not. However, it is best to wait. Just as we would be in serious trouble diving into an unfilled pool, we can do great damage to ourselves and those around us by diving in when we should have waited. God wants us to wait on Him, because He is in control of making things just right, so that the experience is positive and we come out winners.

It's not easy, but in the waiting, we can come to know God in a deeper and more fulfilling way. When you are going through struggles, when you don't know what way to turn, rely on the Lord. In the waiting, He will give you strength and courage to make it through that waiting, through any pain or difficulty you may experience, and through the victorious result that will follow. While you wait, you can begin thinking about how you will thank and praise God for seeing you through. The wait is for a purpose, and it's good to be prepared for when the wait is over.

Maybe the ketchup people did have it right. The best things do, indeed, come to those who wait. God has something special for us, right on the other side of the trial, just beyond the waiting. Wait on Him to bring you to it, so that you'll be ready to receive it when He's ready to give it to us. He will give us exactly what we need when we are made ready, when we allow His will to be done in our lives. So, even though it's tough sometimes, "Wait, I say, on the Lord!"


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