When He rode into Jerusalem in triumph, we do not read that He disdained to confess that the humble fishermen were His followers. And “Now, though He reigns exalted on high, His love is still as great.” He still calls us Brethren, Friends! He still recognizes the kinship of the one blood. And yet, strange to say, we have known many Christians who have forgotten much of their love to Christ when they have risen in the world. “Ah,” said a woman who had been desirous to do much for Christ in poverty and who had had a great sum left her, “I cannot do as much as I used to do.” “But how is that?” asked one. She said, “When I had a shilling purse, I had a guinea heart, but now that I have a guinea purse, I have only a shilling heart.” It is a sad temptation to some men to get rich. They were con- tent to go to the Meeting House and mix with the ignoble congregation while they had but little. They have grown rich; there is an Oriental carpet in the drawing room—they now have arrangements too splendid to permit them to invite the poor of the flock, as once they did. And Christ Jesus is not so fashionable as to allow them to introduce any religious topic when they meet with their new friends. Besides this, they say they are now obliged to pay this visit and that visit—and they must spend so much time upon attire—and in maintaining their station and respectability, they cannot find time to pray as they did. The House of God has to be neglected for the party and Christ has less of their heart than He ever had. “Is this your kindness to your Friend?” And have you risen so high that you are ashamed of Christ? And have you grown so rich, that Christ in His poverty is despised? Alas, poor wealth! Alas, base wealth! Vile wealth! It were well for you if it should be all swept away if a descent to poverty would be a restoration to the ardency of your affection!
- Charles Spurgeon, Sermon #229, Love
This reflects how I feel at times these days. Perhaps I feel I have grown so important and rich and high and mighty that I forget those who are broken and in need and where I came from.
http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/pete-briscoe/
"It's exhausting being the best."
This is a video I shared with my LIFE group this past week. If there's anything I'm being reminded of in this season of life, it's the truth that success doesn't bring us closer to God, but it can quite easily become a wall we put up against him.
In January, I saw a picture of myself listing all that I had accomplished in life on a scroll. I stood facing the scroll and wrote line after line of what I had done. And as I wrote, the scroll was slowly being unwound and it grew longer and longer. Right behind the scroll stood Jesus, who longed to give me grace and look on me with eyes of love. Yet the longer the scroll became, the more of Him it obscured. The challenge in the moment was to throw the scroll in the flames.
I believe it's worth it.
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:3-11)
Photo Shows Muslims Protecting Church in Egypt as Congregants Attend Mass
There was a time when I would read an article like this and wonder to myself, "What exactly does it mean to be Christians, if people who follow insert religion here can be better people?"
But the beautiful thing about following Christ and not just religion is that that is exactly the point. My life aim isn't to be better than the pious Muslim or Buddhist. If I tried, I might be able to accomplish it; but even if I did, it would add nothing to my life:
"For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die... " (Romans 5:7)
Perhaps for a good person one would dare to die, but Jesus did the unthinkable by dying for not only the righteous but even sinners:
"... but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
And that's how God finds me. Not as a "good Christian" or a good human being but as a sinner. This is where my hope is built. And that hope won't change no matter how much better of a person I may become (which does happen, mind you...).
So I read the article and I see Jesus' beauty reflected in the actions of Muslim leaders. Jesus stood up for the oppressed, and he defended a sinful woman being stoned. He loved the unlovable. I rejoice that this is the Savior I worship; exactly the kind of saving I need; the kind of love that is reflected in this act.
May we all come to see the beauty of Jesus everyday.
It's crummy being a restaurant owner. You're the victim, that manipulated guy that all your friends walk in expecting a 30% discount and appetizers on the house. My heart goes out to them. Feel free to join me in my annual April 23rd moment of silence for all restaurant owners with friends.
Never do I walk into a friend's workplace and expect to give, but I do feel entitled to receive a whole lot. After all, we're friends right? *nudge nudge*
A radical idea crossed my mind... What if I went into a friend's restaurant and expected to pay more? What if I tipped 40% because they were my friend and I wanted to honor them? What if I expected to give instead of get? And that got me going...
It says a lot about how much we respect and love our favorite musical artists when we pirate their music, how much we love our church by demanding they meet our needs, how much we love our roommates when we count the number of times we clean the house without their help, and how much we care about our friends who own restaurants when we expect to be treated like kings.
"Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 25:17)
To love God and to love your neighbor is altogether something radically different.
