Learning by Repetition

Part of parental training includes repetition. Every parent can probably identify with these reminders: "Don't dash into the street without looking . . . no, do not hit people . . . or, please don't slam the door when you go outside." 

It might have taken some hard knocks to convince us of some things, but overall, we improved our lives by taking instructions to heart.

It’s discouraging to see how we moderns treat one another. Road rage is one thing, but even more damaging is cutting off one another’s communication. There’s a complete lack of mercy in today’s cancel culture; however, canceling others with a critical attitude is nothing new.

In reading Matthew this week, I noticed Jesus repeated a phrase to the Pharisees which we might do well to consider.

In Matthew 9:9-13 (ESV), the Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners. They knew the Old Testament Laws very well, but he said to them, “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.”

Then in Matthew 12:1-8 (ESV), Jesus and his disciples were walking through grain fields one Sabbath and the disciples plucked and ate some grain. The Pharisees pointed out that the disciples were breaking Sabbath law. Once again Jesus said, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” 

Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7 (ESV). Comforting words, aren’t they? 

Less comforting are these: Judgement is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13 (ESV).  

Most people have heard of the Golden Rule (treat others as you want to be treated), but we can also be kind to ourselves.

It will help to remember this:  . . . with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:1-2 (ESV).  

 

A Steadfast Love

A STEADFAST LOVE

In an ever-changing world, it’s nice to have some steadfast things. These things are firm, fixed, or settled and affect our thoughts, decisions, and relationships. Would you agree that reliable, trustworthy, and dependable love is the only kind worth having?

I’ve been focusing on The Book of Psalms. While reviewing chapter headings, I noticed that David often referred to God’s steadfast love. I wondered how many times does he mention that in the Psalms themselves?

When I read a Psalm, I mark it off in my Bible. Some chapters are very long, so I’m flexible, but I’m keeping a list of David’s descriptions of steadfast love.

I started this quest with Psalms 106 through 109. So far, I’ve read that God’s steadfast love:

Is good

Saves me

Is great

Endures forever

Does wondrous works

Is abundant

Relents against destruction

Hears cries of distress

I’m looking forward to learning more! David certainly has the right to speak about this. He loved and served God as a shepherd boy, a warrior, a leader, and a king even in old age.

He learned of God’s steadfast love when he sinned against Him by sleeping with Bathsheba, then tried to cover up the adultery by having her husband killed in battle. God didn’t let him get by with that. He sent a prophet to confront David.

David was wise enough to repent before God, and Psalm 51:10-11 (NKJV) is his famous prayer: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Not only is God to be steadfast, we are, too. Psalm 51 is not long, but it’s packed with David’s deep desire for God. I encourage you to read it.  

Ask yourself some questions:  How steadfast am I in my faith? Am I living a life pleasing to God? When I’m convicted, do I repent of my sin?  

You can ask God for mercy. Rest assured, He will never despise a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:1, 17).

  

Love and Let Live

I enjoyed The Jesus Revolution movie. Would I have texted “don’t miss this” to forty-nine people, one at a time, if I hadn’t?

The movie was special to me for a couple of reasons: (1) I was in college in Costa Mesa, CA when barefooted long-haired hippies started packing out Chuck Smith’s small church, and (2) I saw the power of the Jesus movement at work even in the San Diego area.

My husband and I had the privilege of working at a church in La Mesa, CA where the pastor not only welcomed these young hippies, he prepared the congregation to accept them. In my mind, his wise advice boiled down to this: These kids are coming and they will not look like you, dress like you, or act the way you think they should. Your job is to accept them, and if they need correction, I will do it.

I’m happy to say, “We did, and he did.” Our church grew from about two hundred to the point of needing a new church which seated about fifteen hundred.

It hurts me to have Christians pick the movie apart. I got another text this morning trying to explain Lonnie Frisbee and his part in the historical Jesus Revolution. People who knew him well explain that he was born with a club foot, had a hard family life, and was abused sexually. He raised his hands and cried out to God, while high on drugs, “If you are real, prove it to me!” God heard his cry, saved him, and filled his heart with a great love to be used by God.

Considering how much time and money it takes to make a movie, let alone the challenges regarding distribution, I believe we should be thanking God for the overall impact of this production.

Let’s accept the grace of God---He chooses to use flawed people, ministers, and lay people alike. I’m not perfect, Are you? OK then, let’s LOVE as advised in I Peter 4:8, ESV: Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

And, let’s LET LIVE as further advised in I Peter 4:10-11, ESV: As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies---in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I never met Lonnie, but from the movie, I believe that’s the way he lived his life. Peter’s spiritual advice still rings true, so let’s be doers of the word and not hearers only.

 

My Favorite Word

Where would we be without words? We might get tired of playing charades to communicate, for one thing. And those of us who enjoy word games like Scrabble or puzzles like Word Search would miss out on lots of fun.

You don’t have to be an expert communicator to know that words have power. They can sting or soothe, wound or heal, and even discourage or encourage. It’s a negative vs. positive choice.

Life gets better with positive self-talk. We don’t always have people around when faced with discouragement or options which all feel negative. When on our own, we need to encourage ourselves.

That’s why I love the word HOPE! There's an old saying: Where there’s life, there’s hope. A more truthful version might be this: Where there’s life, there’s the option of hope. Hope is not an automated response; it’s a purposeful choice.  

People of hope look to the future. They maintain their purpose and goals in the face of hardship. They focus forward with optimism, inspiration, and a never-give-up attitude.

Without hope, people become pessimistic, cynical, desperate, or despondent. They may seem unpleasant because they often refute attempts to cheer them up and prefer to ignore reasons to hope.

Here’s my favorite scripture about my favorite word: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13 ESV).

How do we get the benefits of such hope? By prayer, which is simply talking to God. 

Philippians 4:6-7 in The Message puts it this way: Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns . . .

It concludes with this thought: . . .  it’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. My hope starts there.

  

I Lived This History

I was excited to learn that a movie was coming from my college years. Movies based on true stories are always interesting, but here was a movie I knew something about.  

Maybe you have recently seen or heard interviews with Greg Laurie or Kelsey Grammer. This movie, Jesus Revolution, shares from the late 1960s and early 70s.

Since I attended a college in Costa Mesa, CA, I was aware of Pastor Smith’s small church. Word spread that it was filling up with barefoot hippies, happily sitting on the floor and worshiping Jesus.

They outgrew that church and moved into a large tent. My brother, who followed me in college, attended some services there. It continued to fill with hippies hungry for God, and those who had found Him were sincere in their faith.

Maranatha! Music was birthed by Chuck Smith to share music from the hippie groups who were singing at Calvary Chapel. Wikipedia mentions a few of them like Love Song, Children of the Day, Mustard Seed Faith, Chuck Girard, and Karen Lafferty.

During the Jesus Movement, my husband and I were on the staff of a church in the San Diego area. Our pastor also welcomed these hippie young people. He wisely advised the congregation to accept them however they came and if they needed any correction, he would be the one to do it.

Many brought their parents and grandparents. Over our fifteen years of ministry in that church we saw the growth and faithfulness of these believers young and old.

The current Asbury Revival in Kentucky brings back memories of the Jesus Revolution. Once again young people are being drawn to God. It’s awesome to see them seriously engaged in prayer, or lifting their hands to worship as they sing.

A refrain from a song by Hillsong keeps running through my mind: You are awesome in this place, Mighty God. You are awesome in this place, Abba Father. You are worthy of all praise, to You our hands we raise. You are awesome in this place, Mighty God.

  

Ecumenical Evangelical

That’s a mouthful; I can’t say it very quickly. When I heard the term, I was drawn to it, partially because of my father.

As a minister for over fifty years, he exemplified trying to dwell in unity in his pastorates and the community.

He would always join the local ministerial association. On vacations, we attended churches outside our denomination, and I remember him telling me, “Even if there are no kids from your church in your school, you can always find someone who loves Jesus.”

Thanks to Dad, I grew up with friends from various denominations. Our commonality was faith in Jesus and the Word of God.

While preparing tax papers this week, I listened to PRAISE interviews. I DVR these programs on TBN and watch them when I can. It was interesting to hear Dr. Ed Young share his life and ministry at Second Baptist Church in Houston, TX.

I haven’t heard of many churches named “Second” anything. In my mind, it speaks of humility. He said the goal of this church has always been unity in the community. His congregation has many different ministries to meet the needs of people in their city. With over eighty thousand members and many campuses, I’d say they are meeting that goal quite well.

In speaking about being in fellowship with other churches, Pastor Young said, “We need to be Ecumenical Evangelicals.” Immediately, Dad came to mind.

My NKJV Study Bible titles three awesome prayers in John 17: (1) Jesus Prays for Himself, (2) Jesus Prays for His Disciples, and (3) Jesus Prays for All Believers.

That third prayer (verses 20-21) says, “I do not pray for these alone (the people who believed on Him while on earth), but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

In Psalm 133:1, David declared, “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” It doesn’t happen automatically. Each of us has to choose to be concerned about others, not just ourselves.

Christian unity is the power behind many organizations meeting needs all over the world. Glory to God! May this continue!   

A Different Kind of Fruit

In the midwest where I grew up, fruits seemed scarce. When I moved to California, my fruit options expanded. Kiwi was new to me, but I couldn’t resist trying them when a commercial grower brought a big box to share at church.

One summer, on an extended family vacation, we picked long-stem cherries in Idaho. I grew to love those dark beauties; I still do.

Are you familiar with Spiritual Fruit? Nine desirable character traits are produced in us by the Holy Spirit. Listed in Galatians 5:22, they are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

But in studying the words of Jesus today, I ran across a completely different type of fruit. Yes, we can tell a tree by its fruit, but the fruit he mentioned here set forth a new challenge.

Do you ever stop to think that what comes out of our mouths comes from our hearts? Based on this premise, Jesus explained that a good man brings good things out of the treasure of his heart, and an evil man brings forth evil (Matthew 12:33-37 NKJV).

But his real clincher is this: “By your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.” I have often thought about my words being positive or negative, but today I looked at them in a new light.

Paul's teaching is the same. Hebrews 13:15 (NIV) says, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise---the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”

He further emphasizes the importance of words in Ephesians 4:29 (NIV): Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  

In The Message, Eugene Peterson refers to Jesus’ teaching by saying, “It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. Words are powerful; take them seriously.”