Tag: God Christianity

Modeling Discipleship

According to the liturgical calendar, Christmastide lasts twelve days – between December 25 and January 5. The liturgical season of Epiphany begins on January 6 and ends on Ash Wednesday. Epiphany means “manifestation.” It is the season we celebrate the fact that Christ came to save all people from their sins, both Jews and Gentiles. Our reading, Matthew 2:1-12, is the traditional reading on Epiphany Sunday. The story of the Magi is one of the most known and loved stories in the Bible; they complete the Christmas narrative. Yet, hiding in the tradition of their story is a fact we cannot ignore – the Magi give us the perfect model for discipleship. Consider these three things with me.

First, the Magi bowed down. The Magi were Babylonian astrologers or priests, who had seen a star that announced the birth of a newborn king. The Magi assumed the newborn king was born in the insecure palace of Herod the Great in Jerusalem. The chief priests and the teachers of the law corrected the Magi’s mistake. The newborn king would be born a few miles south of Jerusalem in Bethlehem. A short time later, the Magi found the infant Jesus in a house. When they arrived, they bowed down and worshipped Jesus. (Verse 11) What does it mean to bow down? It means the Magi, with all their worldly influence, knowledge and power, humbled themselves before Jesus. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, then you must humble yourself before him too. How humble are you? 

I love this story: Shortly after Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman. Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her. Because he had no pressing business at that moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested. When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace. A little girl recognized him, and she later revealed his identity to the lady. The next morning, the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the Institute and apologized profusely. “It’s perfectly all right, Madam,” he replied. “Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it’s always a delight to do something for a friend.” She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart. Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating large sums of money to the Tuskegee Institute. Isn’t it amazing how God can use a humble person? Do the people in your life consider you humble? The Magi bowed down.

Second, the Magi opened up. The Magi didn’t just bow down. They also offered him gifts. You know the gifts, they gave gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each one of the gifts reveals something about the life that Jesus is going to live. The gold was a gift for a king. The frankincense was a gift for a priest. The myrrh was a gift for one who was going to die. The Magi’s gifts reveal the generosity of the Magi. The Magi gave their best. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, then you must give him your best as well. One of the characteristics of the Christian faith is generosity. Hebrews 13:16 says, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” I have seen that verse played out within the life of the church many times.

Annually, my wife Kathryn and I travel to Estonia to help with Christian Camp Gideon. Normally, we travel alone, but last year we met a couple from Iowa at camp, who had heard about the camp but had never traveled to Estonia. Like us, they were moved by the people and the mission of the camp. Giving of their time was not enough, so they inquired about what the camp needed. It turned out the camp needed a riding lawn mower costing approximately $12,000. In the end, they bought that lawn mower and demonstrated their faith. One of the characteristics of the Christian faith is generosity. Do the people in your life consider you generous? The Magi opened up.

Third, the Magi changed. Once the Magi had worshipped Jesus and gave their gifts, they long to return home. They planned returning by the same route from which they came. There is no reason to believe they would have changed their itinerary, however they had a dream that warned them to go home a different way. Verse 12 says, “They returned home by another route.”  Jesus had changed their normal way, and they tried a new way. How much is Jesus changing your life? Are you willing to try something new for Jesus or do you like yourself as you are? That leads us to an interesting question.

How has the Christian Faith changed your life? The Christian Faith should completely transform you, because the Christian Faith offers us hope and a purpose. The Christian Faith should change your behavior, because you are to be more like Jesus, making you more empathetic and resilient. The Christian Faith should be changing your identity, because Jesus offers us spiritual renewal. The Magi changed. Have you?

According to recent polls, approximately 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. Some resolutions revolve around personal health: exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight. Some resolutions revolve around finances: save money, pay off debt, follow a budget. Some resolutions revolve around personal well-being: being happier or learning something new. I hope you make a resolution to be more like the Magi, who took their discipleship seriously. They bowed down and humbled themselves. They opened up and gave generously. They changed and followed God’s direction. German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoffer (1906-1945) once said, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”

In the Name of Jesus

Our scripture reading is Acts 16:16-18. Paul is on his second missionary journey, accompanied by Silas and Timothy. They are looking for a place to pray. That is not as simple as it sounds. A female fortune teller, who has made her master a great deal of money, had been stocking them for several days, causing an uproar at every opportunity. At that time, fortune-telling was seen as Satanic. Still today, there is a dark side of fortune-telling that can’t be ignored. Paul’s patience with her grew thin. Without warning, Paul looked at the woman and called on the name of Jesus. Immediately, the demon was exorcised from her, and her “gift” was gone. Calling on the name of Jesus reveals God’s authority. Have you ever called on the name of Jesus in your time of greatest need? Calling on the name of Jesus does three things.

First, when you pray in the name of Jesus you are admitting your limitations. Sixteenth President of the United States Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) once said, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”  How many times has life driven you to your knees? God always has our attention when life is hard. I witness that daily. 

Did you know the countries with the highest conversion rates to Christianity are all found in Africa and Asia? No countries in Western Europe or North America are on the list. There are several reasons for this, but one stands out. The countries with the highest conversion rates also have the highest poverty rates. The areas of the world where Christianity is declining have the highest standard of living.  In other words, the countries with the lowest conversion rates have the most money. God has a hard time getting our attention when people believe we are self-sufficient. That is why more American church mortgages were paid off during the Great Depression than any other decade in the twentieth century. How many people don’t pray because they don’t think they need God? They can take care of themselves. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are admitting our limitations.

Second, when you pray in the name of Jesus you are identifying Jesus as your Lord and Savior. You are not praying in the name of Mohammed or Buddha. You are not calling on the name of your country or your favorite sports franchise. You are calling on the name of Jesus. In the scripture lesson, Paul commanded the spirit to come out in the name of Jesus. That is important because it shows Jesus’ authority over the spirit. This is not the only place. Jesus had authority over a variety of things in the Bible. When you pray in the name of Jesus, you are telling the world that you belong to him.

There is an old preaching story about Reverend E.P. Scott. He was a missionary to India in the 1800s. Against the advice of his peers, he decided to travel to a remote tribe to share the Gospel. Several days into his journey, he was confronted by a group of warriors. They took their spears and pointed them into his chest. He responded by pulling out his violin, closed his eyes and started singing, All Hail the Power of Jesus Name. The warriors didn’t know what to do so they lowered their spears. In time, the warriors began to cry. Scott’s life was saved and spent the rest of his life teaching that tribe about Jesus. There is something about that name, Jesus! When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are aligning ourselves with him.

Third, when you pray in the name of Jesus, you are surrendering to his will. One of the great stories in the Bible is the Garden of Gethsemane. You know the scene. It was Holy Week and so much had already happened. Jesus had entered Jerusalem on that humble animal. Jesus had already cursed the fig tree and taught at the temple. Jesus had already been anointed and shared that last Seder with the disciples. Judas Iscariot had already agreed to betray him for thirty pieces of silver. There was nothing left for Jesus to do but wait to be arrested. As he waits, he goes to the garden to pray. He knows of the coming ugliness. He struggles as he prays. In Luke 22:42 Jesus prays, Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but your will be done.”  Those are powerful words. Jesus does what many are unable to do – submit to God’s will.

Years ago, I received a phone call from a parishioner. She said, “Russ, I need your help.” She went on to tell me her neighbor’s son had been killed in a traffic accident. He was celebrating his twenty-first birthday and drank too much. When the highway patrol cut his lifeless body out of the car, they found a half-emptied case of beer and countless empty cans. I found out later his father had bought him the case of beer as a birthday present. Over the next few days, I spent several hours with the grieving mother. With red-rimmed eyes she asked me two questions. I will never forget them. First, “was God punishing my son for some past sin?”  No, God did not make your son drink and drive. Second, “why didn’t God hear my prayer and save his life?” It was clear she was ignorant about prayer. Do you know of anyone who is ignorant about prayer? You must know someone.

In past blogs, I told you that God answers our prayers in four ways. Sometimes, God answers, “Yes.” That is what happened in the scripture lesson. The slave was healed. Sometimes, God answers, “No.” Paul was never healed from the thorn in his flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:7) Sometimes, God answers, “Later.” There are many examples of that in our world. Sometimes, God answers, “Are you crazy?” Like praying to win the lottery or watching the Cleveland Browns win the Super Bowl. We always want the answer to be yes, but it doesn’t always happen. The real question is, are you submitting to God? When you pray in the name of Jesus, you are admitting your limitations. When you pray in the name of Jesus, you are identifying Jesus as our Lord and Savior. When you pray in the name of Jesus, you are surrendering to his will. The great reformer, Martin Luther (1843-1546) understood the significance of prayer. He said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”