Pure Refreshment 1.05 -> All the Best

It was supposed to be a simple trip across the lake. Instead, the boat’s crew found themselves in the middle of a sudden storm. The wind blew violently and the waves became larger and larger. Even the seasoned fishermen of the group were quite concerned. Waves broke over the sides of their little boat, drenching everyone in the process. Something, however, was strange about the situation—one of the passengers was asleep.

Fearing for their very lives, they went to him and said, “Hey! We’re going to drown if you don’t help us out!”

So Jesus got up and said, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he told the winds to die down, and they immediately subsided. Then he went back to sleep.

Thankfully, that’s not how the story goes. In Matthew 8, we read that Jesus told both the winds and waves to stop. Some math is necessary here:

No waves + wind = a difficult trip across the lake (to be sure) and questions afterward.

No wind + waves = a capsized vessel and the potential loss of all on board.

No wind + no waves = a unanimous declaration from the disciples: “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:27 [NIV])

--------

When a person becomes a Christian, the Lord begins to change their heart and mind to match his. This involves a desire to know him intimately, a concern for people that don’t yet know Jesus, and a change of attitudes and behaviors that accurately reflect God’s influence.

One of the behaviors I have recently been challenged to incorporate more in my life involves a prayer I pray before I start work: “Lord, please help me to do my absolute best and to do all things well, that I might be an positive example to those around me of who you are.”

Should being a follower of Jesus Christ mean that we can get away with not doing our best? Should it mean that we can do inferior work in comparison to those “of the world?” The answer to each of these questions is a resounding “No!”

We might not be professionals, but we’re not amateurs either.

We are to perform the work Jesus has told us to do, to the very best of our ability, in a manner that will help, rather than hinder, individuals from meeting God in a personal fashion.

Sadly, we have fallen into the trap that ‘just good enough’ is acceptable. We see it in some of the music, videos, and other merchandise available at the local Christian bookstore. We see it in ministries that desire to be ‘cutting edge’ but cannot pull it off, thus diminishing their effectiveness. We see it in the lives of individuals that claim Christ as Forgiver and Leader, then act like any ordinary person.

I’m glad that God doesn’t believe in ‘just good enough.’ When the Israelites committed sins, they had to bring sacrifices to the priest to be offered. The sacrifices varied, but had one common element—they were “without defect.” An individual could not, for example, sin and then bring a ram with a broken leg to the altar. It simply would not be accepted (see Leviticus 5:17-19). Later on, Jesus served as our sacrifice for all the errors and mistakes we have made (or will make) due to the perfect life he lived (see Hebrews 9:27-28). His actions and lifestyle showed that ‘good enough’ meant doing all things well (as evidenced by calming both the winds and the waves in Matthew 8).

Not everyone can be the CEO of a Fortune 100 company. Not everyone is called to sit in a director’s chair and create the next summer blockbuster. Not everyone will sing on television or have their own concert tour. But we all have a responsibility to do whatever we do well (1 Corinthians 10:31) It can mean the difference between faith for someone and eternity spent outside the eyes of God.

Sometimes it is as simple as making sure that all words in a brochure or bulletin for work are spelled correctly. Sometimes it means getting a second opinion before proceeding with the next step of a project. Sometimes it means taking the trash out with a smile. Who knows what opportunities to share about Jesus may arise as a result?

We cannot hide behind the disguises of inferiority and ineptitude any longer. The world needs to see our faith in Christ—and we’re just the ones to do it (Acts 1:8).

What does ‘doing all things well’ mean to you? Do your actions convey or betray your thinking? What changes will you need to make as a result?

Take time today to thank God for not settling for ‘just good enough.’ May you allow him to help you do your best today and each day forward. And in doing so, may he refresh you, so that you can in turn refresh others.

“Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.”
—Philippians 2:14-16a (Message)

“You are greatly mistaken if you think that to be a Christian is merely to have certain views, and convictions, and spiritual delights. This is all well, but if it leads not to a devoted life, I fear it is all a delusion. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”
—Robert Murray McCheyne

All material copyright 2006 J. Alan Sharrer. No part of this message may be reproduced—other than the forwarding of the original, unaltered email message—without express written permission.

Pure Refreshment 1.04 -> Even Better Than the Real Thing?

The Southern section of the US is known for more than just miles of sandy beaches, distinct accents, and the movie Gone With the Wind. It’s also known for its cuisine. Foods like barbecue, collard greens, and grits normally come to mind (along with ice-cold lemonade served on the front porch). But when I think of Southern fare, I tend to think of chicken sandwiches.

Chicken sandwiches?

Absolutely.

Once a year, my family would participate in the time-honored tradition of shopping for school clothes. Without exception, this meant a trip to the mall, hours of walking around, and a sit-down lunch. On one occasion, my parents introduced me to a place called Chick-Fil-A. Their chicken sandwiches were pretty good, I was told. After lunch that day, I was hooked. Maybe it was the seasonings. Maybe it was the pickles. I’m not sure. As the years went on, any trip to a mall provided another opportunity to enjoy a taste of childhood (except on Sundays, since they were closed).

Returning to college one semester, I stopped at a restaurant called Rush’s outside of Columbia, South Carolina for a quick meal. Their menu showed a picture of a chicken sandwich that looked eerily familiar to those I enjoyed at Chick-Fil-A. Instinctively, I ordered one. It came in a similar bag. It looked like the real thing. Then I took my first bite.

It wasn’t the same. Not even close. I ended up eating the sandwich, but it wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped. I tried to substitute Rush’s chicken sandwich for Chick-Fil-A’s—and ended up deprived as a result (until my next trip to the mall, that is).

A similar situation can occur in our relationship with God if we're not careful. In this case, I’m not talking about “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things,” although these can easily serve to draw us farther away from the Lord Jesus (see Mark 4:19). Instead, I’m referring to something more subtle—but just as dangerous. Richard Foster describes it as allowing someone to talk to God for another person.1

Think about it for a moment. An individual claiming Jesus as their Forgiver and Leader has the ability to place that relationship on auto-pilot, allowing other people’s ideas, reactions, and thoughts to become more important than God’s. The Bible becomes the second book (or worse!) turned to in times of challenge or crisis. The words of the pastor become gospel more than the actual gospel does.

If there’s any group of people that fell prey to “substitution,” it had to be the Israelites. Throughout the early parts of the Old Testament, God had direct communication with his people. Adam and Eve were on speaking terms with God before and after they ate from the wrong tree (see Genesis 3). Abraham asked the Lord questions, and the Lord answered him directly (see Genesis 15:1-6). Moses tried to get out of leading the people from slavery in Egypt, but God told him exactly what to do (see Exodus 4).

Fast forward to Exodus 15. The Israelites had just watched God destroy the Egyptian armies with one swift stroke, rendering them free again. After three days in the wilderness, they came to Marah and found water; however, it was bitter and undrinkable. Instead of asking God directly, they cried out to Moses instead: “So what are we supposed to drink?” (Exodus 15:24 [Msg]) Moses then acted as a mediator between the two and asked on their behalf. God fixed the water situation, but the role of middle-man was continually carried out through the rest of the Old Testament:

• Israel cried out in distress due to losing battles with competing nations while, at the same time, they forsook God for other so-called “deities.” The Lord provided them with judges that helped lead the country during those challenging times.
• Later, Israel told the prophet Samuel they wanted a king to be their ruler, so they could be “just like all the other nations” (1 Samuel 8:20 [Msg]). God granted their request and provided them with kings.
• In order to be forgiven of their mistakes, people had to present offerings to a priest, who acted as an intermediary between God and the individual. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest would pass through a curtain, enter the Most Holy Place, and offer sacrifices on behalf of himself and the entire nation for their sins.

When Jesus breathed his last breath while hanging on a cross, the Bible records something amazing: “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51 [NIV], underlining added) The curtain was a physical symbol of the need for a mediator to approach the Lord. Jesus’ sinless life provides us the same freedom Abraham and Moses had—to come and talk to him directly without anyone’s assistance. Direct access to God—if that’s not refreshing, I don’t know what is!

However, we must fight the constant battle of not allowing things to take that freedom away from us. We cannot live passive lives for Christ! And no amount of inspiring books, emails, songs, or sermons—although useful—can act as an acceptable substitute for encountering God directly through the Bible and prayer. Why? Because sincere encounters with the Creator of heaven and earth force us to make changes in our lives. Those changes are not always comfortable, but serve to make us more useful to the Lord.

So . . . are you communicating with God directly, taking advantage of the torn curtain Jesus provided? What is he saying to you? Are you willing to make changes in your life as a result of a true encounter with him?

Don’t settle for a substitute when you can have the real thing. And as you truly encounter the Lord God, may he refresh you through and through, so that you, in turn, can refresh others.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
—Hebrews 10:19-22 (NIV)

“Never let good books take the place of the Bible. Don’t turn to them first in hard hours. Drink from the Well . . . Read thoughtfully, read prayerfully, and soon the Spirit of God will illuminate some verse or passage and you will find in it exactly what you most need.”
—Amy Carmichael, British missionary to India

1 Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline. Harper SanFrancisco, 1998, p. 24.

All material copyright 2006 J. Alan Sharrer. No part of this email may be reproduced—other than the forwarding of the original, unaltered email message—without express written permission.

---

Pure Refreshment 1.03 -> The Strength of Weakness

In the midst of the blaring rock music, rows of mirrors, and unmistakable smell of sweat, I tried to get pumped up. All around the room, guys identically dressed in gold t-shirts and blue shorts were clapping and screaming. It was time for me to have a date with destiny.

I laid down on the bench and grabbed the bar. You can do this, I kept telling myself. Just one repetition. And with that, I pushed the bar off its holder and brought it down to my chest. Using every ounce of brute strength in me, I lifted the bar approximately a foot—but no further. Red-faced and out of breath, I yelled, “Help!”

A classmate assisted in getting the bar back on the holder. I then got up from the bench, demoralized and frustrated. Others in the room had noticed my struggle and began snickering to themselves. Steeling up my courage, I asked, “How much does the bar weigh, anyway?”

We are all weak in some way, shape, or form. That afternoon in physical conditioning class, I was the literal “98-pound weakling” in a room full of football and basketball players. For some, weaknesses can be physical in nature. Others may struggle with their emotions when in certain situations.

We have the ability to allow our weaknesses to incapacitate and render us ineffective for the things God desires in and through our lives. But we also have the ability to prevail despite any obstacles that may arise.

In short, we need to find the strength of weakness—and then put it to good use.

One person who understood this was Paul from Tarsus. Once a zealous persecutor of all things Jesus, he became a proclaimer of all things Jesus. As a result, he learned that sharing this new faith with others wasn’t going to be easy. In his second letter to the Corinthian church, he mentioned some of the difficulties he endured. They make our seemingly ‘huge’ issues seem quite insignificant: beatings, shipwrecks, dangers from robbers, dangers from fellow countrymen, hunger, thirst, and lack of rest (see 2 Corinthians 11:24-29a).

Adding to all of this was a “thorn” in Paul’s flesh God allowed in order to remind him of his limitations (2 Corinthians 12:7). Paul would’ve preferred otherwise, asking God to take it away three times. Instead, God offered words of encouragement to him—and us: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9a [NKJV]).

I think Paul’s response is intriguing: “Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen” (2 Corinthians 12:9b [Msg], underlining added). He understood that the strength of weakness is not power, but grace. For the weaker a person is, the more visibly God can be displayed to a world that desperately needs him.

Think about it: we tend to marvel at people who were addicted to drugs, alcohol, and/or lives of crime that now know Jesus as Forgiver and Leader. The testimony of a person who came from a Bible-believing home and became a Christian is just as valid, but may not have the lasting effect in another person's life because the weaknesses, though there, are not as noticeable upon first glance.

Nevertheless, where there are weaknesses, there is grace.

And each of us have been blessed with both.

Paul could've fought God for a long time about his “thorn”—a messenger of Satan—and not come any closer to having it removed. Instead, he realized that the Lord had something better in mind—despite the struggles he would face as a result. Those struggles provided a powerful basis to share Jesus with those Paul came into contact with. It also allowed him to consider the “thorn” as a gift instead of a hindrance.

In addition, God’s grace is constant despite our weaknesses. He doesn’t pull his hand away at the times when we desperately need him. Instead, we are granted the opportunity to live by faith and not by sight on a daily basis (2 Corinthians 5:7). By placing our trust in God for our next step, our next word, our next thought, we discover how strong we truly are. And this leads to a steadfast determination to accomplish the plans the Lord has for us.

Consider the modern example of Scott Eaton. In June 1997, he was riding his personal watercraft when he fell off and was struck in the head by another craft. The collision left him fighting for life and unable to walk or talk. By God’s grace, he was eventually able to use a walker to move about and recently completed a 5K race in 4 ½ hours. After he finished the race to cheers and applause, Scott (still unable to talk) used a sheet of letters to spell out the strength of weakness: “I thank God for saving me eight years ago when I didn’t deserve it.” (Here's a link to a news article on Scott)

What are your weaknesses? Are you ready to allow God to use you more effectively for his kingdom despite (and through) them? May you accept the grace our Father provides and be strengthened as a result. And armed with his strength, may you be truly refreshed, that you may in turn refresh others.

“The surest sign that God has done a work of grace in my heart is that I love Jesus Christ best, not weakly and faintly, not intellectually, but passionately, personally, and devotedly, overwhelming every other love of my life.”
—Oswald Chambers

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
—2 Corinthians 12:10b (NIV)

All material copyright 2006 J. Alan Sharrer. No part of this email may be reproduced—other than the forwarding of the original, unaltered email message—without express written permission.

Pure Refreshment 1.02 -> Swimming Ducks

One of the greatest joys of being a parent is watching one’s children grow up.

It happens so quickly that if close attention isn’t paid, something significant could be missed. My nearly four year-old daughter is no exception. I am amazed when she stands in our living room and improvises her role in a future ballet production. I am astonished when she shows me that she can write her name. I am astounded when she begins quoting Sam I Am’s lines from Green Eggs and Ham—after hearing the story once. And I am humbled that God chooses to teach me through her observations of the world.

A case in point: Rebecca’s love of books led me to surprise her with a trip to the library last week. As we headed back to the car, we passed by a small canal. Suddenly she yelled, “Daddy! Look at the ducks down there!” I peered over the edge of the railing, and sure enough, there were two ducks swimming in the brownish waters below. We stood there, transfixed, for a minute or two. She was excited that the ducks were coming our way. But I saw something else.

There was an intense current attempting to pull the ducks underneath a nearby bridge. They kept getting closer to us, but were spending large amounts of energy in the process. Suddenly, one of the ducks plunged its head under the water for a second. By the time it had resurfaced, the current had pulled the duck five feet backwards.

Eventually the ducks made it to where Rebecca and I were standing, causing her to laugh and me to think about an important truth.

Christians are like the ducks we saw in the canal that sunny afternoon—swimming against the currents of the world and its actions, beliefs, and ideas. There must be a reason we do this, don’t you think? Otherwise, we should just stop fighting and surrender to the inevitable.

But we do have a reason: Jesus. The life he lived, the teachings he taught, and the sacrifice he made for all humanity—these compel us to jump into the water and swim vigorously in his direction. At the same time, this desire drives us to invite others to join us on the journey (cf. Acts 1:8).

To actively follow Christ involves an understanding that the trip will not be as simple as we would like. There will be challenges and opportunities along the way. We must always be ready and willing to keep swimming despite any obstacles or setbacks that may arise.

It takes discipline. It takes discernment. It takes determination.

Let’s briefly look at why these are so important:

• Discipline is critical to a follower of Jesus because it provides a level of consistency necessary for fighting the daily battles of life. Jesus made it a point to often spend focused time with God in prayer (Luke 5:16). Those encounters helped prepare him for his most difficult challenge—facing death on a cross (Luke 22:39-42). Without discipline, we run the risk of developing a faith that is run by our personal whims and situations. It’s inconsistent faith at best and destructive faith at worst. Various elements make up a disciplined lifestyle of faith: Bible study, prayer, worship, and witnessing to others in words and actions. Some people may add accountability, journaling, and fasting to these, but the ultimate key is knowing God intimately and expressing him relevantly to a world going the wrong way—quickly.

• Why is discernment important? That’s a fair question that deserves a fair answer. As a follower of Jesus spends time with him, they learn what things are central to his heart. What things are of importance in a particular situation. What people need to be impacted and changed for eternity. At this point, the person can be used quite effectively by God.

Discernment is also vital in understanding and combating the attacks thrown at us by our adversary the devil. Paul makes it clear that we’re not fighting people, but the things we cannot see (Ephesians 6:11). His words also serve to reinforce the significance of always being prepared for battle. Christianity is not a spectator’s sport; there are no time-outs and no out-of-bounds markers.

• Determination comes into the picture during those times when we have no answers for the situations we face. An unexpected death, a sickness, the loss of a job, a strained relationship—any of these can bring us to a point of despair. At these times, the question we must answer is, “What am I going to allow this situation to do to me, those around me, and the faith I claim?” Our answer, to a large degree, exhibits what we believe about the Lord and his plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11-13). This, in turn, can lead to either a renewed confidence or a crushing disappointment. Yet despite this, we can take heart that Jesus will strengthen us until the very end (1 Corinthians 1:8).

We have a race to complete, one that will take us the rest of our lives. Like the ducks Rebecca and I saw recently, we swim against the ideas, morals, and ways of modern society. We keep moving, keep fighting, keep pressing forward, while allowing God to use our lives to help people know Jesus as Forgiver and Leader.

Ask God today to examine your life in the areas of discipline, discernment, and determination. Allow him to make the changes he finds necessary. And may you be truly refreshed as a result, that you may in turn refresh others.

“All moments are key moments.”
—Frederick Buechner1

“Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all of this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!”
—Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (The Message)

1 Frederick Buechner, Then and Now, Harper SanFrancisco, 1983, p. 92.

All material copyright 2006 J. Alan Sharrer. No part of this email may be reproduced—other than the forwarding of the original, unaltered email message—without express written permission.