Unecessary but Nice

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)

Yesterday I took my grandson Elijah (age six) out for a ride on his trailer bike. The front end of his monocycle attaches to the seat post of my bike and we ride together. We went 15 miles and tackled some pretty significant hills. The biggest one was about eight tenths of a mile long and rose about 170 feet. That makes it a four percent grade, not much in a car but pretty significant when you're pedaling up it with a 75 pound load on the back of your bike. The profile of the hill from my GPS makes it look even more difficult.

Elijah's trailer bike does have pedals, but most of the time he gets pretty lazy back there, content to freewheel and let Papa do all the work. When he does pedal along, if we're on a flat stretch of road it's almost impossible to detect any difference in the level of effort required on my part. But yesterday was different. Yesterday Elijah was very enthusiastic about going for a ride. And when it came to the hills Elijah was eager to help out. In fact, on a couple of occasions he was pedaling so hard that I'm convinced I could have stopped pedaling momentarily and he would have kept us going uphill for some distance.

I know that I would have made it up every hill in our ride without Elijah's help. His efforts were not required to successfully climb the 9 or 10 hills on our 15 mile ride. But when I was going uphill and could feel his little legs adding power and speed to our climb it felt good. It made my heart smile to know that he was giving it his all and doing everything he could to make our ride a success.

As I read Colossians today, I was struck by the greatness of Christ. Paul's words drove home the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord of all! He created all things and rules over everything with all the rights of a firstborn Son. He existed before anything, and everything that exists is held together by Him. Yet, He chose to give us a role in carrying on His ministry after He ascended into heaven following His glorious resurrection victory.

I realized that Paul's words in Colossians 1 make it clear that Jesus doesn't need us to get His work done. He can accomplish His will by His own divine power without any of us lifting a finger to help. But He has honored us by allowing us to participate in His work here on earth for the salvation of mankind. It made me think about yesterday's bike ride. I would have gotten up those hills without Elijah's help, but it was good to feel his efforts on the back of the bike. It made my heart happy to know that we were in it together, part of a combined effort. I'm sure it makes Jesus happy when He sees our efforts to serve Him. He is not dependent on our contribution, but the joy of sharing His ministry with us is a blessing to Him, just as it is a blessing to us.

Creators for the Creator

(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Hebrews 3:4

I watched a video yesterday on wealth creation. It described how wealth can be created out of nothing. When someone has an idea, then takes that idea and turns it into reality, the real object, invention or improved product becomes something that someone else sees as valuable. The creator can then sell that object to the person who values it and consequently increase his or her wealth.

Where did the wealth come from? From the person who bought the object? Not really. The money would have never changed hands without the idea that was conceived in the creator's mind. The idea is that which created the wealth to begin with. Or is it?

Where did the idea come from? From the mind that conceived it? Certainly that is the case, but where did the mind itself come from, or the ability of that mind to create something new out of nothing? It came from God. The reason we are creative people who are able to conceive of something new, something that no one has ever thought of before, is because we are created in the image of God.

God Himself is the ultimate Creator. Just as every house must have a builder, so everything in all of creation must have a Builder too. That Builder is God, and when God graciously created us to be like Him so that we could have fellowship with Him, He became the ultimate Originator of every idea that has ever been conceived. Thus, God is the Builder of everything. Not just the trees and flowers and animals and people that are a part of nature. But even the cars, houses, office buildings, computers and cell phones that we use every day. Because if God had not made us in His image, if He had not made us creative like Him, we would be like the animals who cannot conceive of a doggie door, or a kittie litter box, or a hamster ball or the anything else that is not "natural."

We honor people who create something new with wealth for their useful inventions. But even more, we should honor God for everything that exists, even the things we invent. Because God is the Builder of everything.

People to be thankful for?

"We give thanks to God always for all of you." 1 Thessalonians 1:2

It's the day before Thanksgiving, and of all the things I am thankful for, that for which I am most thankful is people. Most of all, I am thankful for my family, those dear people God has knit me together with most closely, my wife, my children, and my grandchildren. But there are many, many other people for whom I am thankful.

Paul's words, however, are amazing if you think about them. Two words jumped out at me as I read this verse, "always" and "all". I recognize that these may not have been literal expressions, but knowing Paul, I wouldn't be surprised if they were. Paul says "We give thanks to God always for all of you." I was forced to ask myself, "Am I always thankful for all the people in my life?" What about the person who cuts me off in traffic? What about the fast food worker who messes up my order? What about the in-law coming for Thanksgiving dinner who always, always has to be "right" about everything? I've been reading "Tour de France, Tour de Force" lately and one of the competitors even talked about how thankful he was for the competition, the other competitors who rode so hard that it forced him to ride even harder.

Upon rereading Paul's words I noticed that he didn't say, "We are always thankful for all of you." He said "We always give thanks for all of you." There's a difference. I'm sure that my family is not always thankful for me, especially when I'm being selfish or I lose my temper. But they can always give thanks for me. And when I give thanks to God for another person, it will improve my attitude toward that person, even if I am not thankful for them at the moment.

As I look back on my life I am thankful for so many people. I am thankful for my godly mother who loved me and all five of her children unconditionally. I am thankful for my grandfather, who loved God and his family dearly. I am thankful for my wife, the most tenderhearted and sensitive person I have ever met.

But even when I look at the people in my life who have caused me pain or let me down, I can give thanks. I can give thanks for the things I learned from them, if only by negative example. I can give thanks for the ways I grew as a result of their hurt or disappointment in my life. I can give thanks for the privilege of forgiving them, even as I have been forgiven by God.

Perhaps you can take some time today or tomorrow and make a list of the people in your life, both past and present. Maybe it can take a form something like this, "I give thanks to God for [name] because..." I'm guessing that when you're done your heart will be overflowing with gratitude and your attitude towards some of those people will be just a litte bit better. Happy Thanksgiving!

Grateful

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith." Philippians 3:7-9

This is Thanksgiving week. It's time to count our blessings and thank our God for them. Traditionally this has meant thankfulness for the harvest, for food and shelter, for the necessities of life that God so graciously provides, almost always beyond our needs. Through the years as we Americans have gotten fatter and happier, it's meant less thanksgiving and more celebrating with feasting and football.

In Philippians 3 Paul puts things in perspective for us. For the sake of Christ Paul suffered the loss of everything, ultimately even his life, and never regretted it. He counted every earthly benefit as rubbish for the sake of knowing Jesus and being right with God through faith in him.

I wish I could honestly say I've reached that point of spiritual maturity. If forced to choose between Christ and the comforts of this life, I believe that by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit I would make the right choice. But since I'm not in that position, I have to confess that I still enjoy the many earthly blessing that God so graciously showers on me.

So as Thanksgiving approaches I will thank God for the beautiful and conformtable home that I live in. I will thank Him that it's in a nice warm climate where I can enjoy riding my fabulous road bike almost any day of the year. I will thank Him for hills to climb and descents to race down, and for good food to fuel up on after a long, hard ride.

But as I give thanks this year I will especially give thanks for my family. For a beautiful wife I've been privileged to love for a lifetime. For a daughter who is studying hard in pursuit of a career and a future for herself and her son. For another daughter who is working to teach immigrants about English and life in America. For a hardworking son-in-law who loves his wife and son. And especially for two handsome, happy, healthy grandsons whom I have been privileged to love all of their short lives and who bring me great joy every day.

And while I'm at it, I will also give thanks for the privilege of continuing in ministry, preaching and teaching God's Word to God's people without all the pressure of full-time ministry as a Senior Pastor.

Above all I am thankful for my Savior. For the righteousness of faith that He has bestowed on me through His perfect life, His willing sacrifice, and His glorious resurrection. I am thankful that because of Him I have the hope of heaven.

This Thanksgiving week I'm particularly thankful for my family. I am thankful that I can serve my family in love each day. I am thankful that I can seek to be a Christ-like example to them. I am thankful that I can pour the love of Jesus into their lives both through my words and actions. I am thankful too, that I can breathe the grace of God into the lives of God's people at Concordia as I share God's Word. I am thankful for God's forgiveness when I fall short, as I frequently do.

Yes, this Thanksgiving week I will take time to thank God that I am blessed beyond measure! No response could ever be adequate, so, what can I say, but "Thank you, dear Lord!"

Loved First

We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

At the bottom of my blog is a picture of my bike. It's labelled "My Pastor's Appreciation Gift." I received that gift three years ago, but I keep that picture there because I'm still overwhelmed by it. That bike is one I could have never owned except as a gift. It's too good a bike for my caliber of cyclist. It's too expensive to purchase for myself. And it still the best ride I've ever experienced. So why did my congregation honor me with that gift? There's only one word to explain it... love.

When I received that gift I had been pastor of the congregation for seven years. I'm sure they never would have made such a gift to me when I first walked in the door. Yes, they were glad I had accepted their call, and they were pleased to have a pastor after a long search, but they did not yet love me enough to make that kind of sacrifice. So why did they do so after seven years? Because I loved them.

Now that doesn't make me a hero. I loved God's people and ministered faithfully to them not because I'm such a great guy. I did it because God first loved me and gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Because I know the wonder of God's unconditional, undeserved love for me, it enables me to love others.

All genuine love originates with God. God is love. A lot of the time, things that we call love are very self-serving. "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." But whenever love is freely given, without any expectation of return, and without any merit or worthiness on the part of the recipient, then we see real love that flows from God. Because that's how God loved us.

We would be completely incapable of loving and serving God if He had not first loved us. The only reason we can ever choose God is because God loved us from eternity and chose us in Christ to be His very own. So whenever I ride my bike or even see that picture of it I say, "Thanks be to God!" Because unless God first loved me I never would have loved God's people, who in turn loved me and blessed me with that gift.

Do you need some love in your life? Turn to God. He loves you unconditionally. When you experience His love in Jesus, then you will be able to love someone else. And when you love someone else, some of that love will come back to you. But it all goes back to God, since... We love because God first loved us.

Works or Workmanship?

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

I just finished reading "Lance Armstrong: Images of a Champion." It was interesting to read his own account of his first Tour de France win in 1999 and compare it with Johan Bruyneel's account in his book, "We Might as Well Win." Sometimes when you read two different people's accounts of the same events you will get very different stories. That wasn't the case in this instance. Lance agreed that it was Johan who first made him believe that he could win the Tour de France. Now, it's true that Lance could not have won even once, let alone seven times, without a huge effort on his part. Nevertheless, he may not have won at all, not even once, unless Johan had approached him to say, "I think you can win."

I thought of this when I read Ephesians 2 today. This chapter contains my favorite verses in the whole Bible, the verses I quoted above. In fact, a lot of Christians claim Ephesians 2:8-9 as their favorite Bible verse, but most don't include verse 10. Those first two verses remind us that we can never make ourselves right with God. The third verse gives God the credit for anything good we are able to accomplish.

This is a reminder we desperately need. In our sinfulness, we try to fool ourselves into thinking that we can earn God's favor by the good works that we do, as though, somehow they could offset, overcome or compensate for the sin in our lives. Because of our sinful pride we want the credit for those good deeds to go to us, as though we were responsible for them.

Our sinful pride tempts us to think that our situation is like Lance Armstrong's. His victory was initiated by the encouragement of Johan Bruyneel who convinced him that he could win. In a sense, you could say that Lance was Johan's "workmanship" because he prepared Lance in advance to win the Tour. But Lance knows very well how much training, effort, pain and suffering went into those victories on his part. Therefore, while some of the credit for Lance's victories should go to Johan, much of the praise is due to Lance for his own hard work.

The reality of our situation is completely different. In our situation all of the credit, praise and glory belongs to God and God alone. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God planned for us to complete long ago, in fact, before the foundation of the world. The fact that we are able to do anything good is not because of ourselves. It's entirely because of God and His grace at work in us, as Paul said in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Thus, if there is anything good in me, or if I am able to accomplish any good in my life, it is all because of Christ! The good in me is not my own, it is only because Christ lives in me and works through me.

I highly doubt that Lance Armstrong would ever give all the credit for his Tour de France wins to Johan Bruyneel. Some of it, yes. All of it, no. But that is exactly what we must do. We must give all the credit, all the glory and all the praise for every good work to God and God alone. God tells us that "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) Only through faith in Christ do we become God's workmanship, new creations who are able to do the good works that God planned for eternity for us to accomplish to His glory. So thank God that you are saved by Him, not by your works. Thank GOd that it's His workmanship that matters, not your own works. On our own, we could never win, not even once.

Adventuresome?

And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier that guarded him.... He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (Acts 28:16, 30-31)

This last chapter of Acts concludes a truly amazing story. God used a man who was arrested in Jerusalem, imprisoned in Caesarea, shipwrecked on the island of Malta, and finally detained under house arrest with an armed guard for two years, to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. It's hard to imagine that God could have devised a more round about way of delivering the Gospel to the heart of the Roman Empire.

When I think about the life I've lived, it is about as round about as the story of Paul in Acts, although not nearly as dramatic. Growing up in Michigan the grandson of a wholesale florist, I was supposed to follow in my grandfather's footsteps and take over the family business. God had other plans, and I ended up being chosen by Him to share the good news of Jesus for the rest of my life. In the process God moved me and my family from Illinois, to Minnesota, to Washington state, and finally now to Texas. In every place God had new adventures planned for us, and opportunities I had never dreamed of to spread the gospel.

Paul was an even more unlikely candidate to be chosen by God than I was. He was a Pharisee, the strictest sect of the Jews who were determined to make themselves right with God by their own efforts at observing the Law. Paul persecuted Christians and threw them in prison, before he was blinded by Christ and then had his eyes opened at his baptism. But through Paul, God taught us about his grace, turned the world upside down, and spread the Gospel throughout the known world.

You may think you're nothing special or that your life is pretty ordinary, but if you will put yourself in God's hands you may be surprised how He will use you to spread the message of His love in Jesus. You may even have some adventures you never dreamed of. Being used by God to share the Gospel is not always easy or painless, but it is exciting and full of adventure. So why not say a prayer and ask God to put you to work, starting today!