What Does it Mean to Claim or Seek Salvation? What is the cost we must bear if we are to seek God’s will whole heartedly?

Often during my holiday from school my husband will put me on the preaching schedule for our church. Yesterday he officiated the service and I preached.

Luke 14:25-35                    Proverbs 1:7-19                     Revelations 3:14-22

Last week Brother Santos shared with us how even Christians regard both money and salvation as two important concerns in our life. Today I would like us to focus on salvation and the cost we must be willing to bear if we truly claim that salvation.

Salvation is one of those things that everyone hopes to enjoy. We like the idea of spending eternity in peace without any concerns, problems, or challenges, but many people think that problems end when someone becomes a Christian; unfortunately that is not the case.

Most of us struggle in some way and we don’t like to remember that the road to salvation can be full of pot holes and gallops. When we see people struggling or being punished we want to assume that they have done something to deserve their challenges or punishment. In the Proverbs’ passage it talks about ill-gotten gain. When we see corruption around us it’s easy to judge harshly those that are caught. We are even happy when we see corruption uncovered and relieved if those caught are judged guilty. But what do we do when deceit and greed are hidden in people’s hearts and not uncovered? What when we do when we discover seeds of deceit or greed in our own hearts. What do we do when we find we are making our own plans and realize that the plans we have set our hearts on are not in accordance with God’s will? As with all increased understanding, the more we learn about God the more we are convicted by the law and will of God.

There may be someone we have set our hearts on marrying, or something we feel we must purchase, or a job or promotion that we feel we deserve and then as days pass things just don’t work out the way we expected and we begin to wonder why. We cry out, “It’s not fair!” but at some point we need to ask ourselves if we have brought our desire to God and asked Him if our will is also His will.

As hard as it may be, we have to realize that seeking God’s will and living in accordance with His will is a daily challenge. For most of us, the cost of being a disciple is that effort to daily seek His will in all that we do. In decisions big or small, in our home, work, school, when we are relaxing. In discussions with friends and choosing what to watch on TV or listen to in our car, we must consider God’s will. For some, the cost of following God is more than making daily sacrifices; often those we admire most have persevered in spite of great challenges.

Bearing the cost of being God’s disciple is not just about going to Sunday service or attending mid-week prayers, it’s about how we live our lives day in and day out. In Revelations we read about how God despises the lukewarm. This text is actually referring to the people of Laodicea. They were a wealthy people who enjoyed the benefits from their banking industry, wool manufacturing, and their medical school. Their main problem is that the town lacked a good water system. Their only water source was from a nearby hot springs so their water was always lukewarm, and lukewarm water is always disgusting.

The passage is not just speaking about water; as Christians, we understand how God can despise the cold – those that even we identify as living outside God’s will. We also admire and seek to be on fire for God. We strive to live boldly and to be seen as someone who walks closely with God and benefits from the blessings he showers upon His children. But how many of us are living as lukewarm Christians? The people of Laodicea thought their wealth was enough to get them by; God thought otherwise. 

The TV evangelists and preachers speak a lot about God’s blessings and imply that there is something wrong if we don’t have them. But God doesn’t promise us material gain.

But if truth be told, if we focus on the actual cost of seeking God’s salvation, we have to admit that it can be exhausting to seek God’s will. It is a challenge to both seek and submit to God’s will. I’ve said several times that living for Christ is hard and choosing the world’s way seems so much easier, but if we really desire God’s way and His kingdom, then we must be willing to accept the challenge. If we want to do well on our exams, we study hard. If we want to do well in competitions, we must train hard.

The rich feel they have worked hard for their wealth so they want to protect it. They build up their high walls and place a buffer, or protective barrier, between themselves and the poor. The rich seem to imply that they have so much that their wealth will solve all of life’s problems. They don’t need anyone else in their world, their wealth is enough.  But even the middle class have their walls. They may not be as high, but they still round our property and try to keep it safe from those outside and sometimes we all try going our own ways.

As Christians we strive to live in community without walls. The early Christians shared all that they had, but today we don’t want to have our desire to live in community with others be abused by those who do not hold to God’s will or uphold his standards. God promises His kingdom to those who accept his correction and discipline but overcoming and not submitting to all the world offers is really hard. We get angry when we feel the world is abusing our spirit of generosity. As a child, I was taught to “count to ten” when I was angry so that I could cool off before I said something I might regret. Today I use that time to pray for God’s guidance.

Praying for God’s guidance is practical advice for Christians, but we must take prayer seriously and realize that God calls us to put him before all that the world has to offer and sometimes that might even mean putting God’s will before the will of our parents or others that are important to us. God calls us to carry the cross; that cross can come in many forms, but basically means anything that comes between us and God’s will. Anything that threatens to separate us from God; I know I often fight a battle of wills with God. Sometimes His will is not what I expected and submitting to His will demands that I set my will, my desires, aside.; to do otherwise would be to sin.

In Luke 17:1-9, God admits that we will all face sin and cautions us to be ready. He also challenges us to forgive those who sin against us, just as he daily forgives us. Like the apostles we must cry out, “Increase our faith!”

We are comforted by the words of Luke 18:27 where Jesus clearly states that what is impossible for men is possible with God. Later, in verse 30, he promises that the payback for those who strive to live for God’s kingdom will be “to receive many more times as much in this age and the age to come.” Did you hear that, “this age and in the age to come.”

God promises that the cost is worth the payback. It’s hard not knowing when that payback will come, we all hope and pray it will come in time for us to enjoy it. But while we wait, we can take comfort in knowing God promises us heaven on earth (Luke 17:21). He says that the kingdom of God is neither here nor there, but within you, within us.

I think God provides us glimmers of His eternal kingdom throughout our lives; if only we look closely every day to notice them. A child’s hug, a girlfriend or boyfriend’s special look, a teacher’s “Good job!” a boss’ “well done!”, a spouses’ love and thankfulness, a teenager’s words of appreciation, the knowledge that we gave our all on the sports field or in a presentation. The realization that God provides our daily needs and more should bring us contentment.

As humans we always want more, but we are encouraged to live a contended life and must decide if the cost is worth the call.

I believe God understands our struggles; didn’t he struggle on the cross at Calvary? I also believe that God will provide us with the courage and ability to meet the tasks he puts before us, but daily we find that trust tested and daily we must submit to the willingness to seek salvation first. One thing about courage; it develops in times of war or tragedy. By the grace of God we will one day meet him and hear him say, “Well done good and faithful servant. The kingdom of God is at hand. Enjoy!” Grace is something Lutherans know well; without it we will always fall short.

May we together strive to seek His will and may we daily find ways to encourage and strengthen each other so we might meet in his kingdom one day and find the door open.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.”

Virtues Only Develop During Tough Times

Courage, Heroism, Sacrifice, Justice, Compassion, Mercy, Love…

Sometimes there is such evil in this world it is easy to wonder where God is. In Randy Alcorn’s book, Deception, Ollie and Clarence discuss this dilemma. Clarence explains that we would never see the virtues listed above if it weren’t for the challenges and tragedies we face.

It is the virtues we see in good people that inspire us and, according to another character, Jake, justice has to be restrained…God  has been withholding judgment-- it’s what kept us alive, giving us opportunity to repent and accept his grace.

If God always intervened as soon as something bad happened, none of us would develop courage, make sacrifices, seek justice, show compassion, etc.

It is like a parent who is ready to catch the child when he’s about to fall. When the child is a toddler, the parent’s hovering is welcome and necessary, but as the same child becomes a teenager or adult then the parent’s hovering is neither welcome nor necessary. In fact, it keeps the child from his own growth and development and becomes a hindrance to him from developing those very virtues listed above.

God’s justice is not usually the kind of justice we seek, but it is a kind of restrained justice that allows us to take correction or welcome a second chance in life. If justice was swift, we would never understand the extent of God’s love and grace. We would never have the chance to right what is wrong in our own lives or make a difference in someone else’s.

God allows suffering and evil to give us a chance to stand up or take a second chance to right a wrong in our life, but especially for us to learn how lean Him. Take a moment and think about when God’s restraint gave you a chance to get it right and the growth you experienced as a result.

Compromises Can Be a Good Thing

Over the years I've enjoyed making up, or adapting different recipes. It all started back when I was five or six years old.

I remember I was sitting in front of the TV shredding bread into a bowl. Don't ask me why, I was watching Julia Child and knew I couldn't just throw them away so I made up a recipe to use them. I looked in the fridge and pulled out cheese, onions. and my mom suggested I add some eggs and milk. It tasted pretty good. I remember writing the recipe down and naming it something like "Dorthea's favorite breakfast" and writing, "if you don't have eggs, you can use strawberries". I don't know if my mom still has that page in her cookbook, but I know it was there for long and I made it more than once while growing up.

A few years back, when it was I was living in a more remote part of Nigeria and rarely had cheese I sometimes made "Mbamba Pizza". I was living in Mbamba at the time so it was just pizza with no cheese. It was certainly better than no pizza at all! I'm sure the Italians have there own name for it, but I like mine.

Then there were "Breakfast Cookies". My kids never had time for breakfast when they were little. They just ran out to play as soon as they were awake. Living at the seminary in Mbamba, our neighbors were early risers and so were the kids. As they ran out the door I'd shout, "At least take a cookie or two!" They were oatmeal cookies with reduced sugar and peanut butter so I figured they were better than a bowl of oatmeal, especially since I made them on the big size.

The other day I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and the kids gobbled them up in less than a day. (Good thing I hid a few so Amson could get some when he returned home from some travels the next day.) A few days later when I asked Daniel what kind of cookies I should make , he wanted the same ones and agreed "no chips" would be fine. While making them, I remembered that Grandpa Paul's favorite cookies were chocolate chip, but he always looked for ones with few or no chips so now I have a new cookie, "Grandpa Paul's Cookies".

I find that I'd rather have a compromised recipe than not make what is on my mind. Learning to make a compromise can be a good thing. One of the few lessons I remember from high school was about compromise. Miss Lancaster taught us survival tips and her theme was to find a compromise if you don't have exactly what you need. I guess that's what I did with most of these recipes. I found a compromise. I'd say that lesson has served me well and helped me to survive over twenty years in Nigeria. Having some kind of pizza, and cookies certainly helped. Did I mention my ice cream substitute????

Comfort Zones

                                                                                                                                            Ezekiel 37:1-14

A prophetic voice “comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comforted.”

Sister Shirley

I was visiting with friends recently and one, who had been out the country for several years after having grown up here, noted how different Nigerian society is today. We all keep to our neighborhoods and stay out of areas less familiar to us or that are not dominated by our own people.

To put in my own words, we stay in our comfort zones. I am reminded of a challenge I heard several years ago from a Catholic sister I once worked with, she challenged people around her to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted.” In this context I would stretch the last words to include those living a comfortable life, not having concern for others; they too need to be afflicted.

If we find we are contented in our comfortable lives I think we should thank God for his provisions and blessings, but personally, I fear that state of contentment because too often I find that if I stay there, I end up getting lazy and begin to dry up. I end up going through my days without any real connectedness, like I was a robot; living without feeling or deep concern for those around me.

God calls us to live in a state of community, but if we just stay within our comfort zones we isolate ourselves. When God created this world he did it with much diversity. He used an array of colors and textures. If we cut ourselves off from even one part of that diversity then we are not living the life God intended for us. May you daily remember to seek to understand God’s dreams so that you don’t miss out on the life God intends for you. And remember; if your life is too comfortable, maybe it’s time shake things up a little!

Do Not Let Anger Reign

“In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not let the devil get a foothold.”

Ephesians 4:26-27           

I made it out walking yesterday, took my daughter shopping for cloth to make some dresses, and made pizza for supper, but not without losing my temper several times.

Over the weekend I attended a Niger Wives Bible Study, all of the women who attend the monthly fellowship are married to Nigerians. Our topic for the day was anger. One of the questions that we discussed has been on my mind since the meeting; “Why do many Christians seem to be so angry.” I hope no one would describe me as an angry person, but I am guilty of getting angry often; yesterday was no exception.

I won’t bore you with the details, but by the end of the day it not only poured rain several times, I also poured out my anger several times. I will admit that at least some of the occasions warranted correction, even strong correction, I just wish I could offer correction without becoming angry because it is so easy to throw in words that are hurtful and not necessary.

Don’t get me wrong, this text does not condemn anger. Anger can be a constructive tool, even Jesus got angry in the temple, but anger should not be followed by sin.

I am thankful that apologies were made before going to bed, but I still pray that I could learn to get angry without sinning and hurting other people’s feelings with my words. I pray today will be a day where joy might reign and if corrections are necessary, I might make them with more gentleness.

Break Time!

School closed four days ago and graduation was three days ago. I didn't realize how much I needed a break. I had noticed that students were telling me to "chill out" more often so I guess they noticed how my stress level was rising.

Today I actually laughed myself! (I was looking the other way and ran into a door that is usually opened.) It did feel good to laugh, I guess I don't do it enough...especially toward the end of the school year!

I guess I'll have to try harder to rest more during the next Christmas break because the second semester just had too many stresses: curriculum revisions, bombings in town, increased security concerns in town and at school, classroom challenges, and more.

Somehow I survived it all, but only by leaning on God. Without him I could not have held on to the end. The way the challenges just continued, crept up on me, and drained my energy so that I had little creativity kept me from fully recognizing how much I was ready for a break.

Now it is here and I pray I can find a pace that is refreshing and can re-invigorate my teaching for next year.

We don't have any big plans these next two months. I hope to read several novels, do a few things in the house, watch Food Channel and some detective shows, read some history books for fun and brainstorm ideas for next year. I'm teaching African History again and I need to get a fresh approach in my other classes too. We'll get out of town for a few weeks when we spend time in our own home in Adamawa State.

I also hope to start walking again. I fell a few months ago and have only been walking once or twice since then. Now my toe and knee have healed, but it's hard to get in the habit again.

Well, it's time to take a break from the computer and do something else. I don't think I have time for a walk since it will be dark soon, but I do have a novel to finish reading. See you later!

Surviving

Our soul waits for the Lord, he is our help and our shield.            Psalm 33:20

Are you just surviving in this world? So often there are times, or days, in our life when we feel we just have to get by or get through the day, next few weeks, or period. As a history teacher I find it takes less effort to focus on the past, but to really understand it we must make connections to today.

I don’t think it is God’s desire for us to just get by, but he understands our limitations so over and over in the Bible he offers us hope and himself to hold on to when we feel like we might otherwise just lose it and fall apart.

I think one of the reasons Jesus’ teachings were in story form is because it is much less demanding to focus on someone else’s story than our own. By listening to a story our defenses go down a little and we think about the characters in the story, but then so often we find we connect to someone or some event in the story, and realize we can learn something from it.

Once we begin to make connections to a story, we have to make a choice. Do we just think to ourselves, “Oh, that was a nice little story? Funny how it sounds so familiar.” and then walk away. Or we can say, “Wait a second, what is this really saying!” and then try to take correction, or hope, and apply it to our own life.

As we go through life’s many challenges, I hope you too are comforted and refreshed by the fact that God’s source of strength is waiting for us to grasp and hold close like a shield. He offers himself as both our protector and our personal source for courage.

May you claim his shield and raise it high so that you, and those around you, might breathe a little easier knowing we are not alone; if we claim God’s promises fully, we may even find ourselves dancing for joy at the end of the day or battle!