Tuesday, November 29, 2011

kingly.

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.” James 2:8
Royal. I found it interesting that James, inspired by the Holy Spirit, used this word. I could be wrong, but I don't recall any other law being labeled as such. The Greek word is basilikos, which most commonly means “of or belonging to a king.”
I serve the King of kings, the Ruler of all things. What better way to love and serve Him, than by following the kingly law: loving and serving others?



This past week, this has meant building a Christmas village, curling endless amounts of ribbon, serving 400 people dinner four nights in a row, ironing over 200 tablecloths, cleaning a boys' bathroom with powdered shampoo and sandpaper, constantly embarrassing myself while trying to communicate effectively in Spanish, wearing a bow-tie, learning two Christmas dances, and a myriad of other things.
Tomorrow, it may mean something completely different.

Whatever it may be, I need to remember
that in doing so, I am serving the King of kings,
Whom I love, and Who has first loved me.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

a beautiful inheritance.

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” James 2:5
The poor of this world truly are the rich in faith. These are the words I hear most after someone has gone on their first missions trip. They soon find that those who they would assume to be unhappy because of their physical circumstances, have the most joy because of the state that their spirit is in. They are truly rich in faith. I saw firsthand that this is true the first time that I went to Mexico when I was twelve, and everyday as I'm living here in El Salvador.
My friend Gabe Shippam lives in downtown San Diego, serving the urban poor and homeless. He writes his experiences in ministry and insights in a blog, which he titled: .poor is beautiful. (poorisbeautiful.blogspot.com).  Oh how true this is! The hearts and spirits of the poor are the most pure, lovely, joyful, and beautiful. They truly are the rich in faith.
One night, as I was serving with Gabe at a community meal, he spoke about inheritance. He was referring back to the Old Testament, when the LORD was giving portions to the twelve tribes of Israel. When God spoke to the Levites, He told them that they would have none on earth, for He Himself would be their portion and inheritance. Oh how great that is! In the eyes of the world, this tribe was poor and unfortunate. However, they would be the most rich in faith, for the God of the universe was their portion and the provision for all of their needs.
The same has been true in my life. Proverbs 30:8-9 says, “...Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, 'Who is the LORD?'...” I am so grateful that up until now, God has only dealt with me in this way. By the standards of American culture, I would be considered poor. I always have been. However, I am never left in want. God has always provided what I need, just in time. He alone is my portion and inheritance. Because He has done this, I have great faith that He will continue to provide for me in the future. Even though life would see easier if I had money and provision laid out for me in advance, I am grateful that I do not, because I am becoming more and more rich in faith every time He provides in another way. I wouldn't trade that for any earthly inheritance.
Recently, a lot of new expenses have come up here in El Salvador. I do not know how God will provide the finances, but I do know that He will. Therefore, I will continue to dwell on His past faithfulness, and trust Him with the future.
Lord, thank you for always providing. Continue to give me only what I need, lest I become rich and forget about my precious God. Please increase my faith. You alone are my portion and inheritance, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Psalm 16:5-6 || “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” ♥

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

thoughts.

For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4

Evil thoughts. That's it, isn't it? Every action, good or bad, begins with our thoughts. Partiality is simply an overflow of what is already going on in our minds. The same is true of everything else that we do.
As I'm working and living with my team, I will strive to believe the best, instead of assuming the worst. Then, the war will have been won within my thoughts, before it ever even hits the battle ground with others.

Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Monday, November 21, 2011

hands.

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.” James 2:1

The English word “partiality” in this verse is translated from the Greek word prosōpolēmpsia, which, in Biblical usage, can be defined in this way:

"The fault of one who when called on to give judgment has respect of the outward circumstances of man and not to their intrinsic merits, and so prefers, as the more worthy, one who is rich, high born, or powerful, to another who does not have these qualities."
How often we show favor to someone based on their outward appearances, instead of their inward qualities? This is not what our Lord does at all. He Himself said that “man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Oh, how true that is.
Another version of the Bible phrased James 2:1 differently. It says, “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?” (NLT) Ouch. That one hits home.
For me, it definitely does, but literally. As a team of nine people here serving in El Salvador, why is it so hard to serve each other inside our home? In a way, we are showing partiality. We subconsciously view serving the boys in the orphanage in San Martin, those at central church, or the kids in the after-school programs as more noble or important than serving the others on our team.
At this point, we have all recognized that we are failing in this, one way or another. God has begun the heart change. We have even acted on it, and I believe we all have been stepping up a lot more to serve one another lately. However, we cannot lose heart, nor grow weary or lazy in doing good within our own household.
This verse was a great reminder, and I will strive to make the connection from my heart to my hands, and live out what the Lord is showing me. I will continue to look for opportunities to serve those on my team, and have a loving and willing heart while doing so.
Lord, continue to build in me a deeper servant's heart, one that does not show partiality.
"But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded." 2 Chronicles 15:7

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

why.

 
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James 1:27

This is my favorite verse in the Bible; the one that I live by. Some would call it my life verse.
With that being said, there's so much I can say about it. I could probably write pages and pages. However, what practical application can I take for my life, here, today?
I am here in El Salvador to love God by doing just this. To visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep myself unstained by the world. However, amid the busy-ness, sickness, work, joy, and exhaustion that a day here may bring, I often forget this. I forget why I'm enduring all this. I forget that because God has called me here, Satan is doing all he can to get me to give up. I forget that God never promised it would be easy.
I am going to make a conscious effort to remind myself of why I'm here. When I am digging, raking, playing with kids, laying in bed sick, planning VBS, enduring headaches, cooking a meal, practicing Spanish, cleaning, or anything else, I will look to the Lord and remember this verse: I am doing all these things so that I may love the loveless as He does, and remain unspotted by the things of this world. James 1:27; it's what I'm living for.

and it's all worth it.

Santiago 1:27
"La religión pura y sin mácula delante de Dios y Padre es esta: Visitar los huérfanos y las viudas en sus tribulaciones, y guardarse sin mancha de este mundo."

Monday, November 14, 2011

hot air.

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” James 1:26
In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrased this verse (and the following) in this way:
"Anyone who sets himself up as “religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world."
I do not want my words to contradict my faith, character, or actions. My life should by the primary evidence of my faith, not my words. Therefore, I will seek to be intentional in what I say, and strive to be slow to speak. I will ask my Father to set a guard over my mouth, and keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3), so that I do not set my self up as “religious” by “talking a good game”.
I want to be set aflame by His fire, and not my own hot air.
 “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” Prov. 13:3
1 John 3:18 “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

mirror.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:23-25

In studying this verse, God has shown me a lot. However, the word that strikes me the most in this passage is “perseveres”.
When God reveals something about our character or heart that we need to change, it truly takes perseverance to do it. It is far easier to let it go, forget about it, or put no thought into how to do so. It gets tough and we become weary, because the very thing we are trying to change is contrary to our flesh and hard for us to do.
This past month, my Father has been further shaping my heart and revealing things that He wants to change in me. He has picked me up and placed me in front of the mirror, allowing me to see my natural face. Now it is my responsibility, in His strength, to be a doer and not just a hearer.
I will continue to pray for perseverance and ask for accountability, so that I may not forget what I am like. Instead, I will look into the perfect law of liberty and persevere, so that I may be blessed in all my doing.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

just do it.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22
This verse reminded of an analogy that a speaker used once at Potter's Field Ranch. They were talking about Americans and diets. They said that some people will get all fired up about losing weight, so they will buy the diet book, a gym membership, workout clothes, make a healthy eating plan, and start drinking more water. Then, because they did all these things, they feel better and healthier. They think that they have already done something and feel good about themselves, even though, in reality, they have done nothing. By the next week, the book is lost, they haven't gone to the gym, their new clothes still have the tags on them, they went to McDonald's twice, and got super-sized shakes instead of water... both times.
The same is true with the Word. We'll go to church to hear it preached, talk about it with others, buy T-Shirts and bumper stickers with verses on them, and even do our devotions in the morning. In so doing, we feel like we have already accomplished something. However, James wrote that we are merely “deceiving ourselves.” We must not only hear the Word, we must act on it.
This is especially applicable to me here in El Salvador, because I simply do not get the Word as often. The sermons are in Spanish, so I only understand about 75% of what is said. Therefore, I need to be more diligent in living out what I am learning through my devotions.
I want to be a doer, and not just merely a hearer. Therefore, I will look for practical applications in my devotional reading. I will also seek out accountability in them, so that I may grow and have my Father mold my heart and life into one that He desires.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your old heart of stone and give you a new heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and help you to keep my laws."

Monday, November 7, 2011

melodies.

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21
At the Central American Pastor's Conference this week, Don McClure told a story that reminded me of this verse.
An inventor created a violin, and it was the most beautiful sounding violin in all the world. People would travel for miles just to hear one, and they were very expensive. A man sold everything he had to buy one, and started playing on street corners. At the end of every performance, the applause would be great. However, he knew that they were merely applauding the violin, and not his talent. He became jealous of his violin. One day, at the end of his performance, with the applause resounding in the air, the man raised his violin over his head, and smashed it on the ground. The crowd gasped. He then reached behind him, pulled out another violin, and held it in his two hands. “This,” he said, “is the famous, beloved violin that you all came to hear. The one that you are applauding for was purchased for twenty dollars.” The crowd was silenced. The applause was then for his music and talent, not for the violin. The music was just as beautiful coming from his hands playing the famous violin, as it was when he performed with the twenty dollar one.
The Word of God is priceless. It is far more beautiful and precious than any music. Yet, how often do we judge its source rather than it's content? I am often reluctant to hear the Word from someone who I think has alternate motives, a wrong heart, pride, or who has wronged me. However, Paul did not see it this way. He wrote, “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will... But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.” (Philippians 1:15,18).
I need to sincerely live out this verse in James and receive the Word in meekness and humility, before God and before the messenger. Instead of focusing on their motives, I need to search my own heart. I no longer want to allow the instrument to keep me from His beautiful melodies.
Lord, change my heart.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."