Set an Example

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young,

but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

1 Timothy 4:12, emphasis added

If Someone Asked You

My little brother loves trash trucks.  He notices them, imitates their sounds, and points them out to all of us - every time he sees one.  Every Monday morning it is the highlight of his day to sit and watch the trash truck pick up the neighborhood trash.  While many things are important to him, it's clear that trash trucks are pretty high on the list.  We all have things that are important to us.  For some, it's sports.  For others, entertainment.  For some, it's trash trucks.  But if you had to name the one thing that is more important to you than anything else, what would it be?

Before he became a Christian, the apostle Paul had a lot of things going for him.  He was given a very privileged Jewish education, and, as a Pharisee and a "Hebrew of Hebrews," (Phil. 3:5) enjoyed much esteem from his fellow Jews.  Additionally, as a son in a Jewish family, Paul could take pride in his genealogical line.  But once Paul became a Christian, something else was more important to him.

Later in his life, Paul wrote to the Christian church in Philippi, listing all the reasons he had to enjoy life: good family line, great education, etc.  But at the end of the list, what does Paul say?  "I wish other Jews still thought highly of me"?  No.  "At least I still enjoy the good family line"?  No.  Once Paul finishes naming everything he could take pride in, he writes, "I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" (Phil. 3:8).  Paul's priorities had changed.  No longer was human applause important to him.  Gone were the days when Paul's own obedience to the law was a source of pride for him.  Now it was all rubbish, in his opinion.  All that mattered now was Christ. 

Paul wrote of "sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2-3, emphasis added).  Paul lived pursuing Christ and Christ alone.  The things of this world held no value for him and received none of his devotion - all of it was given to Christ.  If someone were to ask Paul what was most important in his life, he would answer without hesitation: Jesus Christ.  If someone asked you the same question, what would your answer be?

Of Cups and Vessels

Kaitlyn lived a normal life.  She had friends, hobbies, a great family, and went to church every Sunday.  But one day, her normal life was changed.


It started simply enough.  Kaitlyn was busy getting ready for church that morning.  She picked out an outfit that was just right, but then she found the perfect one.  Then she fixed her hair just the way it would complement the perfect outfit.  Kaitlyn and her family walked into church just before the service started.  "Oh, a visiting speaker," Kaitlyn pointed out.  "This should be interesting."


"It is my pleasure to introduce to you this morning, Dr. Randall Sparks," Kaitlyn's pastor told the congregation.  As the applause died down, Dr. Sparks began his message.


"Every day I ask myself, 'Well, what kind of cup will you be today, Randy?'  I know that question sounds a little strange, but there is a purpose behind it.  You see, Paul wrote to his student, Timothy: 'Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work' (2 Timothy 2:20-21).  Paul's exhortation to Timothy has to do with purity.  You see, if something is pure, it is without other substances.  It is completely one thing and only that one thing.  Pure gold, for example, doesn't have any iron in it.  Pure chocolate doesn't have any peanut butter.  If we are to be pure in our walk with God, to be a vessel for honorable use, we must 'cleanse' ourselves, as Paul instructs us, of anything that doesn't honor God, anything that isn't fully for our one goal of glorifying God.  To remind me of this decision I must make every day, I always ask myself, 'What kind of cup - or vessel - will you be today?'  Now, today we're going to look closer at the concept of..."


Kaitlyn couldn't remember the rest of the sermon, for she didn't hear it.  She wasn't listening.  She just couldn't get past his opening illustration.  What kind of cup are you? she thought to herself.  But Kaitlyn was a good girl - what could she need to change?


Slowly, Kaitlyn walked into her room after they returned home from church.  She sat down on her bed and thought about how she spent her time.  No, there was nothing wrong with talking on the phone to friends, or spending time on hobbies.  But what am I doing for God? she thought to herself.  How am I spending time working to be a vessel for honorable use?  She thought about how she had spent her time the day before.  She talked with her friend Rebecca on the phone, then went over and did some reading and talking with her friend Michaela.  But what time did she spend seeking God?  What time did she spend doing things that would bring Him glory?  Just a few minutes for my morning devotional, she remembered, a little guiltily.  Kaitlyn reached over for a piece of paper and wrote on it, then she propped it up on her bedside table.  "There," she said to herself.  "Now I can always ask myself, 'What kind of cup will you be today, Katie?"

Photo by Catherine Hadler at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The Finish Line

Many things take our focus off of God.  Common modern idols are money, fame, or being first in something.  If those define the ideals of life, then there was one man who had it all.  But what if there is more to life than what man says is important?

In the 1924 Paris Olympics, Eric Liddell stunned the world of sports by refusing to submit to their expectations.  Already known as an accomplished runner, Eric dashed the hopes of many of his countrymen when he refused to run in the 200-meter race (his personal best) because the qualifying preliminary was held on a Sunday.  Some even called him a traitor.  What kind of athlete would forfeit an Olympic medal for his country because a meet was on a Sunday?  Despite the sour feelings of his supporters, Eric stayed firm in his conviction to remain true to God.  God rewarded his faithfulness and Eric won a gold medal in the 400 meter race, which was not one he was expected to win.  Not only did he win, but he set a new world record: 47.6 seconds.  He had stunned the sports world again - this time impressing them.

But Olympics was not what Eric lived for; winning races was not his life goal.  The son of missionaries, he left running to become a missionary to China for the last twenty years of his life.  While there he married another missionary kid, Florence Mackenzie, and they had three daughters.  Together, they labored to bring the Gospel to the hurting Chinese people.  Back home, however, many were questioning Eric's decisions.  Why would a famous Olympic runner give up his sport to labor in a foreign land?

In the early 1940s, while the Liddells were working in China, the Japanese invaded China.  Life was dangerous for everyone, and Eric sent his wife and daughters to his wife’s family in Canada for their safety.  Choosing to stay where God had called him, Eric stayed with the people of China.  He and many others were soon put in a Japanese internment camp.  As a prisoner, Eric busied himself with the needs of others by assisting the elderly, providing games and activities for the children, and helping teach chemistry.  Eric continued to faithfully serve God first and put the needs of others before his own.  While still a prisoner of war, Eric became sick.  Unfortunately, the camp had no means to treat his brain tumor, and he died just after he turned forty-three.  The world was still wondering.  Why would a promising young husband and father spend the end of his life in an internment camp away from his family?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Eric Liddell was a good runner - that’s for sure.  Striving to follow God first and foremost, he was an example of what it means to prize what God prized and not what the world around him treasured.  What kind of athlete would throw away an Olympic gold medal because the first meet was held on Sunday?  One whose goal was knowing God, not winning gold.  Why would a world-renowned Olympian walk away from the sport he took by storm in order to work among a foreign people in a foreign land?  Because winning a race was not the purpose of Eric Liddell's life.  Why would a healthy, popular, smart, young husband and father live the last of his days as a POW away from home and family?  Because Eric Liddell followed God and God alone.  His heart was pure because God was on the throne of his heart.  Eric ran his race with endurance; pursuing a life that glorified God.  Let us also run toward the finish line, ignoring all else as we pursue God and God alone.

Following the Rules

   Some people think that the Bible is just a bunch of rules. "Do this, do that," or "don't do this, don't do that," is how many people view Christianity. The first five books of the Old Testament - the Torah - contain (by many estimates) 613 laws. These rules covered everything from sacrifices and cleansing rituals to family life and foreign relations. There was a rule for almost everything. Many people assume that Christianity is like Old Testament Judaism. But not even Old Testament Judaism was about rules.

   When Hezekiah became king of Judah at the age of twenty-five, he was replacing a ruler who, like many other Old Testament kings, was not a godly one. King after king in Judah's royal line ruled in defiance of God and His ways. But things would be different with Hezekiah. As soon as he sat on the throne he began sweeping reforms to wipe out idolatry and to reaffirm Judah's allegiance to God and God alone. The Bible tells us that Hezekiah

"trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following Him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him" (2 Kings 18:5-7).

Judah had a revival. The people were excited to be returning to the God of their fathers, and they were ready to be ceremonially cleansed for the celebration of the Passover. However, the time set to celebrate the Passover was quickly approaching, and there would not be time for all of the people to be made clean before the Passover began. Hezekiah saw the impending problem: many people of Israel and Judah would want to partake of the Passover, but would not meet the requirement of being ceremonially clean. Hezekiah prayed:

"'May the good LORD pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness'". And next we read, "And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people" (2 Chronicles 30:18-20).

   During one of Jesus' many encounters with the strict rule-keeping Pharisees, He called them '"whitewashed tombs,"' a vivid word picture of a place without life yet decorated to look nice on the outside. In other words, the Pharisees were putting on a good show of serving God with their actions, but not with the attitudes of their hearts. For example, the Pharisees were so strict in their tithing that they even gave a tenth of their spices like mint and cumin, yet they were neglecting the more important matters such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus told them, "'So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness'" (Matthew 23:28; see also Matthew 23:23-24). When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, the Pharisees reprimanded Him for "working" on the Sabbath, as they focused on the letter of the law and completely missed the intent of it. Instead of kindly shepherding the people Israel, the Pharisees, as Israel's spiritual leaders, chose to impose more exacting rules on Israel than those that God required. Jesus taught that the Pharisees' rules did not help them gain eternal life - only a heart right with God gives that.
 
   The Israelites who ate the Passover during Hezekiah's reign had not followed all the rules. Yet they did right. The Pharisees rigidly calculated their every move in order to keep all 613 laws of the Torah. Yet they were the unwashed tombs. "The Lord says: 'These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men'" (Isaiah 29:13). Maybe we follow all the rules, but where do the allegiances of our heart lie? What is our heart attitude? Yes, there are rules, and they are meant to be followed, but the Bible is about so much more than that. "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8). God desires a humble spirit and a heart that seeks Him. No rule can duplicate a heart attitude. Christianity is not a religion of rules, because no matter how many rules we follow, "the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Filled Up

The other day I was really hungry.  REALLY hungry.  I could've eaten anything!  (Okay, not anything.  But close.)

While I was hungry for edible food, Jesus taught us in the Beatitudes about another kind of hunger: "'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied'" (Matthew 5:6). Righteousness is right standing with God, but we can't get that on our own.  Jesus gives it to us (1 Corinthians 1:30 and Philippians 3:9) when we trust Him alone and repent of our sin.  Righteousness is Christ-likeness; we must be close to Christ to be like Him, to be righteous.  But what does it mean to hunger for righteousness?

When my little brother was a baby, he let us know when he was hungry.  Once he decided that he was ready for a bottle, he wanted it immediately, and he screamed until he got it!  Nothing else would satisfy him.  "Like newborn babies," Peter wrote, "crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation" (1 Peter 2:2).  When we're spiritually hungry, we should settle for nothing less than that which alone will ultimately satisfy.  Trying to satisfy our hunger with anything else is like giving a starving man a Hershey's kiss - it tastes good but doesn't help the hunger or give any nutrition.  No little baby would settle for anything but the bottle; we must not settle for anything less than God's Word.

We are not to be proud of our righteous acts.  The Bible says that sometimes the righteous begin to trust in their righteousness instead of God's mercy and then they commit evil (Ezekiel 33:13).  Righteousness is God's gift to those who believe in Him and repent (Philippians 2:13).  To hunger for righteousness is to hunger to be like God - to put Him first and to bring glory to Him, not to earn our own way to Heaven or impress those around us.  Righteousness is something God gives to us; we must give the glory to God for our righteous acts and not try to steal the glory for ourselves.

“To know You is to want to know You more,” the song testifies (Casting Crowns, "To Know You"). Matthew 5:6 holds one of the greatest promises in the Bible.  "'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...'"  Now, hungering and thirsting are not pleasant experiences.  They're worth it, though, "'...for they shall be satisfied.'"  He will not leave us hungry, or give us sweet but non-filling treats.  We will be filled.  As the famous psalm tells us, "my cup overflows" (Psalm 23:5).

Photo Credit: Simon Howden from FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Nothing Short

"In my deepest heart I know that some of us have to face our comfortable,
self-oriented lives all over again.

The times are too tragic, God's sorrow is too great,
man's night is too dark,the Cross is too glorious

for us to live as we have lived, in anything short of

holy obedience."


Thomas Kelly