When the Cheering Stopped
We are on the cusp of a very special week as I write this. Sunday will begin Holy Week in Christian churches all around the globe. In thousands of languages and dialects, the story of Jesus' Passion will be told. Don't miss it.
John 12:17-19 (Msg) The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. [18] It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. [19] The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him."
If Gallop, Barna, or Harris had taken a poll, Jesus would have been proclaimed king in a landslide that Palm Sunday, as even his enemies admitted that His popularity was at an all time high. People thronged to see Him enter Jerusalem.
But within a few days, people in Jerusalem were crying for Him to be executed as a criminal. And so He was. How did Jesus handle not just a change in popularity, but intense rejection? How can we learn from what He did?
No, we'll never enter Jerusalem at the head of thousands of our followers. But we enjoy being praised, and we like being liked. What happens to our convictions when we aren't? What principle can we look at to guide our way?
What did Jesus do?
John 12:27-28 (Msg)
"Right now I am storm-tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this'? No, this is why I came in the first place. [28] I'll say, 'Father, put your glory on display.' "
Knowing that this celebration would end, and that the week would find Him bruised, battered, and crucified, Jesus looked not to His circumstances for direction, but to God. It was God's will that He used like a homing beacon. It was His passion to please God and glorify His name that kept Him going.
What are you here for?
Glorifying God. That's why you were placed here in the first place.
Is God in first place within your life?
Take the next week and use it to redirect your focus off the things of this life. Use the lens of Jesus' Passion to help you push toward deeper things - toward God. People aren't going to always be cheering your efforts you know.
But God will. The cheering may stop here, but heaven will raise a ruckus when you come home.
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Friday, April 02, 2004
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Aim High
Well, all work here came to a stop for a few minutes today as the USAF aerial demonstration team - the Thunderbirds - did their practice for this weekend's air show. With 5 F-16's roaring overhead, you couldn't hear yourself think anyway, so under NW Florida's impossibly blue skies, people pulled off the road, others even in our church parking lot - to look up.
I am not sure how often we do that unless we're drawn to by the extraordinary.
But we ought to always. Excellence in what we do, as demonstrated so well today overhead by the Thunderbirds, should be the norm, not the exception. Paul wrote about that when he wrote:
1 Cor. 9:24-26 (Msg)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. [25] All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
[26] I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me!
When we look at those who have trained well and perform at such a high level, we should take a moment and ask ourselves "Am I giving it everything I've got?"
As believers, we can train for each day by praying to God, reading His Word, and by meeting with Him in worship. And unlike a performance an athlete does, we can exercise the benefits of that training in our everyday lives. The fruits of the Spirit are our medals.
Galatians 5:22 (Msg)
But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments.
So don't be satisfied with where you are - aim high!
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Well, all work here came to a stop for a few minutes today as the USAF aerial demonstration team - the Thunderbirds - did their practice for this weekend's air show. With 5 F-16's roaring overhead, you couldn't hear yourself think anyway, so under NW Florida's impossibly blue skies, people pulled off the road, others even in our church parking lot - to look up.
I am not sure how often we do that unless we're drawn to by the extraordinary.
But we ought to always. Excellence in what we do, as demonstrated so well today overhead by the Thunderbirds, should be the norm, not the exception. Paul wrote about that when he wrote:
1 Cor. 9:24-26 (Msg)
You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. [25] All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.
[26] I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me!
When we look at those who have trained well and perform at such a high level, we should take a moment and ask ourselves "Am I giving it everything I've got?"
As believers, we can train for each day by praying to God, reading His Word, and by meeting with Him in worship. And unlike a performance an athlete does, we can exercise the benefits of that training in our everyday lives. The fruits of the Spirit are our medals.
Galatians 5:22 (Msg)
But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments.
So don't be satisfied with where you are - aim high!
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Can You See Past It?
Karen Watson was after more.
As a pre-Christian, she lived her life in search of the next thrill - out of her passion for life. Once she became a Christian she didn't slow down - just changed her direction. Her friends commented on how she lived life "flat out" and how she only had one speed "100 mph."
She was hard after God's attention when she died, the victim of terrorist's bullets in Iraq. Working as a Southern Baptist missionary among the poor in Jordan and Iraq, she had given and given without any thought for herself. "I know there are Jordanians and Iraqis today who are weeping," said a fellow aid worker. "She is a woman who is going to be remembered as Iraqis and Jordanians hold up the things she did and say: 'Look what she did for us.'"
Her brother stood at the gravesite the other day, and looked over Karen's coffin remembering easier days, when his sister used to spend her time as lots of little girls do, collecting trinkets in what she called her "hope chest."
"What we have here before us today is a hope chest," he said, "something of value, not a coffin or a casket."
How could he possibly say that?
He believes in Christ.
Romans 6:8 (Msg)
What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection.
We get included in Christ's victory when we believe in His role as God's Son, admit our sins are separating us from God, and embracing His forgiveness, commit our lives to following Him.
Though Karen died that day in Iraq, because of her faith in Jesus Christ, she was included in the company of those who though they die, will live forever in heaven with Christ.
That is the sure and certain hope we have through the example of Jesus' resurrection.
That's why Karen's brother could see past the grave - he could see the future through the frame of an empty tomb's opening.
How do you view this world? What frame do you use? The fact is, we all will die.
Don't you want more than this life can give? Friends, Karen was one among millions who have followed the footsteps of Jesus Christ. They lead to the grave - and past it. Can you see that?
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Karen Watson was after more.
As a pre-Christian, she lived her life in search of the next thrill - out of her passion for life. Once she became a Christian she didn't slow down - just changed her direction. Her friends commented on how she lived life "flat out" and how she only had one speed "100 mph."
She was hard after God's attention when she died, the victim of terrorist's bullets in Iraq. Working as a Southern Baptist missionary among the poor in Jordan and Iraq, she had given and given without any thought for herself. "I know there are Jordanians and Iraqis today who are weeping," said a fellow aid worker. "She is a woman who is going to be remembered as Iraqis and Jordanians hold up the things she did and say: 'Look what she did for us.'"
Her brother stood at the gravesite the other day, and looked over Karen's coffin remembering easier days, when his sister used to spend her time as lots of little girls do, collecting trinkets in what she called her "hope chest."
"What we have here before us today is a hope chest," he said, "something of value, not a coffin or a casket."
How could he possibly say that?
He believes in Christ.
Romans 6:8 (Msg)
What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection.
We get included in Christ's victory when we believe in His role as God's Son, admit our sins are separating us from God, and embracing His forgiveness, commit our lives to following Him.
Though Karen died that day in Iraq, because of her faith in Jesus Christ, she was included in the company of those who though they die, will live forever in heaven with Christ.
That is the sure and certain hope we have through the example of Jesus' resurrection.
That's why Karen's brother could see past the grave - he could see the future through the frame of an empty tomb's opening.
How do you view this world? What frame do you use? The fact is, we all will die.
Don't you want more than this life can give? Friends, Karen was one among millions who have followed the footsteps of Jesus Christ. They lead to the grave - and past it. Can you see that?
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Tuesday, March 30, 2004
The Words Change - The Story Never Does
Today the phrase "cutting red tape" implies that a person is blasting through needless regulations to get things done. It's pretty amazing how the phrase has changed in a pretty short period of time.
Thomas Edison's laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey was the world's first great R&D facility. In six years, the invention factory at Menlo Park secured more than 400 patents. The U.S. Patent Office watched and waited for
packages that were wrapped in a certain kind of red tape. They knew these came from Edison's lab, and they cut these first.
So red tape was a good thing, and cutting it was something you did out of eagerness to see something new and of value. Not any more. Think of the words "bad," "gay," "issues," "awesome," "cool" and "hip." In my lifetime, the meaning of these words in general usage has changed drastically.
And what of those words that are tied to particular culture? Try explaining what "lilies of the field" means to natives of Somalia, a land where no lilies grow.
But the story doesn't change.
I stood in front of some kids in VBS last year and told the story of Christ's crucifixion. Using nails and a crown of thorns from Israel, I did my best to make it understood. One child asked to touch the thorns and when he did, he looked directly at me and said, "He must have really loved us."
Yes He did.
1 John 5:11 (Msg)
This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in His Son.
That friends hasn't changed. We can haggle over translations, denominations, signs and wonders, and the like, but through Jesus, God's Son, born of a virgin, crucified under Pontius Pilate, laid dead in a tomb, risen on the
third day - through placing our faith in Him - we have life.
Words change - the story never will. Tell somebody!
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
Today the phrase "cutting red tape" implies that a person is blasting through needless regulations to get things done. It's pretty amazing how the phrase has changed in a pretty short period of time.
Thomas Edison's laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey was the world's first great R&D facility. In six years, the invention factory at Menlo Park secured more than 400 patents. The U.S. Patent Office watched and waited for
packages that were wrapped in a certain kind of red tape. They knew these came from Edison's lab, and they cut these first.
So red tape was a good thing, and cutting it was something you did out of eagerness to see something new and of value. Not any more. Think of the words "bad," "gay," "issues," "awesome," "cool" and "hip." In my lifetime, the meaning of these words in general usage has changed drastically.
And what of those words that are tied to particular culture? Try explaining what "lilies of the field" means to natives of Somalia, a land where no lilies grow.
But the story doesn't change.
I stood in front of some kids in VBS last year and told the story of Christ's crucifixion. Using nails and a crown of thorns from Israel, I did my best to make it understood. One child asked to touch the thorns and when he did, he looked directly at me and said, "He must have really loved us."
Yes He did.
1 John 5:11 (Msg)
This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in His Son.
That friends hasn't changed. We can haggle over translations, denominations, signs and wonders, and the like, but through Jesus, God's Son, born of a virgin, crucified under Pontius Pilate, laid dead in a tomb, risen on the
third day - through placing our faith in Him - we have life.
Words change - the story never will. Tell somebody!
Grace!
David Wilson
This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.
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