DOING WHAT YOU’RE CALLED TO DO

Last weekend, while Janette and the boys were out of town, I was able to do a couple of ride-alongs through the Tuscola County Sheriff’s Office. Both days were relatively uneventful. One of the officers described Saturday as “slow.” I’ve learned never to use the word, “quiet”. Let’s just say that it is frowned upon.

After some paperwork and one call, we traveled the roads of the county, but hadn’t made any traffic stops. That’s when a call came over the radio, and we responded to a complaint on the other end of the county. And, wouldn’t you know it … on the way, there would have been two “solid stops” as the officer put it. I guess it was their lucky day, because we were already responding to a call. Priorities had shifted, and stopping those cars was not an option.

Why do I share that story? Well, the Christian life can be like that. Like the officer that received the call from dispatch, Christians have also been given a call that should change our priorities. It doesn’t mean that we neglect our other duties, but we are all called to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV) 

As I have mentioned before, the Greek has more of the idea of “having gone” instead of “go” - it’s something we do in the midst of our other responsibilities. Like the scenario above, there will often be other important things that require our attention. However, we must not neglect the call to which we have been “dispatched.” This goes beyond evangelism (which is important) to the matter of using the gifts God has given us. Our talents and abilities are not meant for us only, but rather for the building up of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-16). 

Today, I encourage you to do what God has called you to do.  “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16 ESV)

In His grip, 

Pastor Decker

SELF-CENTERED OR GOD-CENTERED?

Today, two paths of my reading intersected, and I thought I would share it with you. I’ve been reading a book called, “Dug Down Deep,” by Joshua Harris. He grew up in the church, but had little interest in God for quite some time. This book shares how God changed his course and how theology (the study of God) became very important to him (he became a pastor, by the way). As he shares his love of God, he notes, “What makes it difficult for us to see the truth about God, I think, isn’t his overwhelming immensity but our overwhelming self-centeredness. Looking past ourselves is a lot harder to do than most of us realize.” (39) Keep that in mind, as we consider the second path…

My devotions for today were Psalm 67 and 68. The beginning of Psalm 67 struck me:

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, (Selah) that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! (Psalm 67:1-3 ESV)

This allusion to Numbers 6:24-25 is an encouraging one, isn’t it? We all long for God’s blessing. But, let’s face it, when we think of God’s blessing, it tends to be self-centered … we think of how His blessing benefits us, which it surely does. Perhaps that is part of what Joshua Harris was getting at.

Now, take another look at that passage from Psalm again, but focus on the part after the “Selah.” When you read the passage the first time, did you focus on the first part? I suspect many did. But, now, where do you think the focus is meant to be? The call for blessing is not the end of the matter. Rather it’s the means to the end, which is that God’s way and saving power might be known among all nations and that all the peoples would praise Him. Think on that … God’s blessing is not primarily for our benefit, it’s for His glory.

It’s easy to slip into a self-centered mindset, isn’t it? Let’s guard against that, and be radically God-centered people. May He be glorified in and through us!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

BACK TO NORMAL OR FOREVER CHANGED?

Good Friday and Easter have come and gone. Sadly, many who came to church on Easter will not return for a long time. Some were visitors that will go back to their own churches—and that is a good thing. Others who only attend church on Christmas, Easter, or other special occasions will probably go back to their routine, finding other things to do on Sunday mornings. Regular church-goers will probably remain regular church-goers, and will settle back into their routines—not that it’s all bad, but Christianity is about a growing relationship with Christ, not just routine or ritual. But, then, there may be some that encountered Christ on Good Friday and/or Easter, and will be forever changed.

Surely, somewhere, someone heard the message of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection and found hope through a personal and saving relationship with Jesus Christ. They were forever changed and they will be hungry to know more. I hope and pray that they “...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2Pe 3:18 ESV)

But, I hope that they weren’t the only ones that encountered Christ on Good Friday and Easter. I hope that we all encountered Christ! While the accounts of His crucifixion and resurrection may not be new to us, I pray that our remembrance of them stirs something within us. When you responded to “He is risen!” with “He is risen, indeed!” I hope that you realized the significance of what you were saying. Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection changed everything. He made atonement for our sins. He made it possible to have restored relationship with God by offering us the gift of salvation.

I pray that Good Friday and Easter linger on your mind—that they are not just filed away as more holidays gone by, but have caused you to “...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...” (2Pe 3:18 ESV) Whether the Gospel of Jesus Christ is new to you, or you have known it most of your life, I hope that you don’t go “back to normal,” but are forever changed. May His resurrection impact your life today and forevermore! He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

LEARNING FROM CHRIST

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Mat 11:28-30 ESV)

Last week, I referred to this passage in reference to rest. This week, something else caught my attention. In the middle of this passage, we are commanded to learn from Christ. Yes, I mean commanded … an imperative verb has some force behind it. But what caught my attention was how we are to learn from Christ.: we must take His yoke upon us. This means we must be active learners.

Sometimes, we can think of learning as a passive thing. A student may sit for hours listening to a teacher or professor, and may, in fact, learn something. But, when that lesson is put into practice, what was learned theoretically begins to take hold. That’s where homework comes in … it forces us to practice what’s been taught. Eventually, knowledge has to be put into practice. As is so often said, “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

Once again, learning from Christ is an active thing. Matthew 11:29 tells us that we learn from Christ by actively taking His yoke upon us. But, what does that mean? Well, when two animals are yoked together, they are attached by a wooden beam, and must work together—the yoke keeps them from going different directions and different speeds. It does little if the animals are standing still, but is most helpful when the animals are moving forward.

The same is true of being yoked to Christ. To learn from Him, we must work together with Him. He takes the lead. We go the same direction and speed as He does. We learn His ways by walking in step with Him. If we get out of sync with Christ, we are sure to find ourselves in trouble and unproductive for Him. But, when we live yoked to Him, we are sure to find that His way is the best way. Today, we are yoked to Him through His Word, the Bible. But we must not stand still. We must move forward with Him. As we do, we will find that we can accomplish much more yoked to Him than we could on our own. (Philippians 4:13). Why spend time and energy going in circles when we could be moving forward and learning from Christ? Today, I encourage you to “yoke up,” follow His lead, and learn from Him.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

AN OFTEN MISSED BLESSING: REST

What comes to mind when I mention the word, “rest”? Chances are pretty high that it involves taking a nap. Maybe your favorite chair or recliner comes to mind. For some, it may mean “getting away” for a day or two. Whether it’s a few minutes or an extended period of time, it probably means letting go of the stresses of life for a time. We all need that, don’t we? Even God rested:

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Gen 2:2-3 ESV)

I could easily talk about our need for a Sabbath—a day of rest, but, today, I’d like to reflect on the type of rest that can come only from God. Well, actually, two types of rest. First, there’s the kind of rest referred to in Psalm 116:7 “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.” Here, “rest” refers to a resting-place - a place of calm and quietness. How do we get there? This verse makes it clear … by remembering that “the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.” If we remember this fundamental truth, we can find rest even in the midst of trial. We can “rest” in the fact that God cares and will carry us though.

The second kind of rest is found in Matthew 11:28-30:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Mat 11:28-30 ESV)

Perhaps the distinction flows from differences between Hebrew and Greek thought and language, but the idea here is a bit different. The word used for “rest” is not merely the cessation of activity, but includes the idea of being refreshed or revived. If we’re taking Christ’s yoke upon us, it hardly means to stop working. Rather, it means that we keep working with Christ along-side of us. If we are laboring on our own, we’re sure to get weary. However, if we labor in Christ’s strength and with Him by our side, we will find the refreshment that only He can give.

Brother or sister, are you weary? Lean on Christ, and you will find the blessing of “rest” even as you press on in your service for Him!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker