Posts in category Daily Devotions

The Apostle Paul Would Not Recognize Most Of American Christianity

Apr21
2012 Written by Warner Smith

A friend of mine who does research for a living told me of a conversation he recently had with a professional pollster.  The pollster knew that my friend was a Southern Baptist.  He told him that his company had developed a new strategy for checking the margin of error in results which also doubled for doing a poll immediately when clients wanted an instant result.  The method was to gather 15 Southern Baptists and ask them their opinions. The reason they can depend on such a shortcut in their research he explained was that the “Southern Baptist Church has the purest picture of America in the streets.”

This statement was not meant to be a compliment.  We have changed what the people in church believe but not how they live.  We have taught them to know better but not to do better.  This state of affairs explains why individual Christians can make statements like, “I know that this is not right but . . .”.  Think about how often you behave in a way contrary to your stated beliefs.  How quickly do you discount what you know to be right for a course of action that is either more convenient or more desirable?

Paul had discovered the true value of knowing Christ and it so changed his behavior that he could write:

8 . . . I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.    Philippians 3:8 (ESV)

Saul (who later became known as the Apostle Paul) was educated at the Harvard of his country.

3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. Acts 22:3 (NASB)

While no one can know for certain, it is reasonable to assume that prior to being knocked off his horse by Christ while on the Damascus road (and converted), Paul was well off and married.

All Pharisees were married as a matter of custom.  They did not think that one who was not married had either the social status within their community or the accumulated wisdom to teach others.  Although a Jew, Paul was also a Roman citizen.  His Roman citizenship provides us another clue to both Paul’s social standing and wealth.  Roman citizenship was purchased only at a very high price.  Either Paul or his family would have had to have purchased his citizenship.

When Paul says “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” we need to realize that his relationship with Christ really had cost him plenty.

23 Are they servants of Christ? . . . I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.  24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.  25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.  26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;  27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.  28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.                               2 Corinthians 11:23–28 (NASB)

Paul clearly placed knowing and obeying Christ above everything else in his life.  What are you willing to loose because you so value “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ?”  Some people mistakenly want to know Jesus without losing anything.  Southern Baptist’s whose lifestyle is so like American culture that pollsters can describe them as the “purest picture of the American street” are practicing a form of Christianity which would be unrecognizable to the Apostle Paul.  Today’s American Christian so values pursuing the American dream that he is unable or unwilling to be inconvenienced in order to gain Christ.

Think about your own lifestyle.  What have you lost and what are you willing to loose to in your pursuit of Christ?

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Fully Indictable Committed Christians

Apr20
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Many people have had great influence on my Christian life.  One person who has had a tremendous impact on my Christian growth I had never met until fairly recently.  The books and writings of Carl George have blessed me for years.  In November of 2008 I had the pleasure of meeting him.  As we talked and shared the thing that most impressed me was not his intellect (though he has a Ph.D.) nor his knowledge of church growth and consulting (he has probably forgotten more on either subject than I will ever know) but his passion for Christ.

His eyes sparkled and danced any time he spoke about Christ or heard another speak about Christ.   In his presence his charisma and passion for Christ were palatable.  One of the greatest lessons which Carl taught me is that as a Christian I am to develop “fully indictable committed Christians” in my ministry.

This is exactly what Jesus did.  His disciples were “fully indictable committed Christians.”  Listen to what the Sanhedrin council said about Peter and John after they had examined them.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (ESV)

Were your Christian faith examined by a council, board or court, could you, would you be indictable?  Could you be convicted of being a committed Christian?  Would they find you guilty of being a casual Christian (some would argue that a casual Christian is no Christian at all), or would you be acquitted of being a Christian at all?

What would Jesus have to say about your practice of Christianity?  One day those who are His will hear him say

Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Matthew 25:21b (KJV)

Living so that you may hear this statement from Jesus should be the central focus and most important goal in your life.  If hearing this statement from Christ is your life’s ambition then it will effect your priorities and passions.  What is most precious to you? If we are honest there are many things which we have placed before our passion for Christ.  Each of these competing distractions are idols and must be cast aside.

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We All Need Someone Who Believes In Us Part 2

Apr19
2012 Written by Warner Smith

We all need encouragement. Individuals who come to the aid of someone they see to be in moral distress are encouragers. The great encourager in the New Testament is Barnabas, and the two most notable recipients of his encouragement are Paul and John Mark. Paul (formerly Saul) was an outsider to the church. John Mark was a church kid.

Yesterday I explained how Barnabas had gone out of his way to encourage Paul even though most of the Church of his day were afraid of him. Today we will focus on Barnabas’ showing encouragement to John Mark.

We are first acquainted with John Mark when we learn that the church met to pray in the home of Mary, his mother.

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Acts 12:12

When Barnabas returned to the church in Jerusalem and gave them his report on the condition of the church in Antioch, Paul accompanied him. When Barnabas and Paul (formerly Saul) returned to Antioch they brought with them John Mark.

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. Acts 12:25

This missionary team began their work and traveled to Antioch, then crossed by ship to the island of Cyprus, crossed the island and then once more by ship went to Perga in Pamphylia (on the coast of modern Turkey). It is at this point that John Mark leaves them and returns to Jerusalem. The exact reason for John Mark’s departure is unknown, but whatever his reason it did not meet with Paul’s approval.

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:36-41

John Mark’s departure from Barnabas and Paul’s missionary journey and his invitation to rejoin them on a second journey caused such a problem that Paul and Barnabas “had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.” Barnabas the encourager takes Mark and Paul takes Silas and they depart.

The encourager is always going to help the underdog. Previously, it was the outsider Paul, now it is the insider John Mark. True encouragers do not care who, they help those whom they see in distress. The fact that Barnabas was related to John Mark (they were cousins Col 4:10) may have had something to do with his decision, but I think it is more his nature as encourager.

In the final analysis Paul tells us that he acted to hastily and that Barnabas was right and John Mark’s rehabilitation was worth all of Barnabas’ effort.

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 2 Timothy 4:11

Who needs your encouragement today? It may be an outsider who will stretch you beyond your own comfort zone or an insider (perhaps even a member of your own family), but someone needs your encouragement and your gift given to them will help you both, and God’s kingdom.

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We All Need Someone Who Believes In Us Part 1

Apr18
2012 Written by Warner Smith

Have you ever been a disappointment to your family and friends? When it has been made clear to everyone that you are not the man or woman which your parents raised you to be, it is easy to feel shame. It is precisely at such moments, and while dealing with these kinds of circumstances, that we need someone to come to our side and offer us encouragement.

Individuals who come to the aid of someone they see to be in moral distress are encouragers. The great encourager in the New Testament is Barnabas, and the two most notable recipients of his encouragement are Paul and John Mark. Paul (formerly Saul) was an outsider to the church. John Mark was a church kid.

We first meet Saul in Acts holding the coats of those who are stoning Stephen, and, lest we think that Saul might have been pressed into this service against his will, Dr. Luke informs us that Saul approved of Stephen’s execution.

Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Acts 7:58b-8:1

Little wonder that when Paul was converted, few Christians rushed to his side to rejoice. Most Christians were happy to fellowship with their new brother Paul from a safe distance. Barnabas, however, was going to Paul and then taking him and making introductions on his behalf.

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:26-27

When the church in Jerusalem needed someone to go and investigate what was happening in the church at Antioch, they quite naturally chose to send Barnabas. On his way Barnabas chose to go out of his way to Tarsus and look for Saul first.

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, Acts 11:25

Notice that being an encourager to Saul required Barnabas to go out of his way. This is why there are so few encouragers. With our hustle and bustle lifestyles too few of us take the time and go to the trouble to encourage others, particularly those who appear as risky to us as Paul appeared to be to the early church. Each of us needs someone who will go out of their way to come and look for us. Barnabas went about 100 miles out of his way to find Paul. The distance you need to travel to encourage someone today may be much less. Perhaps you need only to go down the hall to your child’s room. There may be emotional distance you need to cross to encourage your spouse.

If you would like someone to encourage you, why not start by being an encourager to someone who God places in your path today?

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The Importance of Being Honest Even on Our Taxes

Apr17
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Warner Smith

This year the IRS has graciously given Americans until Tuesday, April 17, 2012 to pay their income taxes.  Traditionally, however, April 15 has been tax day. Many of us pay our taxes only begrudgingly. Jesus taught that we are responsible to pay the tax which our government determines we owe. One of Jesus’ disciples, Matthew, was a tax collector Mt 9:9 (IRS agent).

If you want to protest the paying of taxes to the government you will not find a sympathizer in Jesus.

17 . . . . Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” . . . 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:17b;19–21 (ESV)

Jesus had a rather unique way of paying His tax.

24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” Matthew 17:24–27 (ESV)

Rather than focusing on Jesus’ method of gathering the funds necessary to pay his tax, however, we should focus on the fact that the funds He needed were supplied to Him by His Father.  In fact God provided more than Jesus needed giving Him enough to pay His and Peter’s tax bill. We don’t need to steal from the government but simply need to trust and obey God and be honest about our tax bills. You and I need to “put off” stealing and “put on” honesty.

Paul clarifies the biblical principle taught by Jesus in his letter to the church in Rome.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.  8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:6–8 (ESV)

Our problem with feeling pressure to steal and be dishonest arises from our violating the principal to “owe no one anything, except to love each other.” Because we have failed to trust God and live by His principles we take control of our lives to our own selves and begin to believe that we have what we earned therefore it is ours to do with as we choose. Instead we should recognize that what we have, whatever it is, whether great or small is the gift of God and is His for which we are  to be good stewards. We may not always be able to trust our government we but we know we can always trust our God.

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