Month: March 2012

Rooted in Reality: Building Character, Part 1

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You will know them by their fruits.  
Matthew 7:16

Several years ago, the Dallas Morning News reported that an elderly North Dallas couple, the Davenports, were sitting at home one quiet evening, enjoying a delicious meal. As they finished up, a burglar broke into their house, pointed a gun at them, and demanded money.

While Mrs. Davenport frantically searched through her purse for some money, the burglar noticed that the television was on, so he asked Mr. Davenport what they were watching. Mr Davenport replied, “The 700 Club.”

“Are y’all Christians?” the burglar asked.

“Yes,” Mr. Davenport replied.

The burglar said in all seriousness, “Me, too.”

It’s easy to be more than a little cynical of this man’s profession of faith, because we know faith is supposed to go hand-in-hand with a lifestyle change. Jesus used the example of plants to help us understand this concept.

Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they?
So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
Matthew 7:16-18

The reality is this: It is our character, not our words alone, that reveals who we are to others. Character is who we really are. It’s the essence of our being. It is, as D.L. Moody said, “What you are in the dark.” Without character, we can only fool people for so long. Without character, we can’t fool God at all.

What’s so important about character?

     1. Character sets us apart.

In this day, age, and culture, people constantly strive to set themselves apart from the crowd. Some of us use shocking dress and behavior; some of us climb the rungs of the social ladder; some of us search for money and power. In reality, though, the lower elements of humanity are so prominent today it is the person of integrity and pure character that stands out from the rest. Deep inside, we long for someone to show us something real and solid and clean.

     2. Character creates trust.

Solid relationships have to be founded on trust. Trust is the oil that keeps society moving forward and reduces friction from personalities clashing.

     3. Character promotes excellence.

Excellence in behavior does more than promote the welfare of an individual. It is the glue that cements the higher ideals of families, the workplace, the political sphere, and nations into a cohesive unit.

    4. Character gives us staying power.

It carries us through the tough times, because the same self-discipline we need to cultivate integrity also keeps us going when we are weary and discouraged. Ironically, trials are also the very tools God uses to solidify our character.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, 
knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 
and perseverance, proven character
and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts 
through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 
Romans 5:3-5 

Like a good piece of pottery, we are “hardened” by the fire of trial. Someone has said fire either destroys or hardens that which it touches. When we emerge from the fire of hardship and suffering with our faith intact, our character has been “proven.”

     5. Character extends our influence.

Everyone wants to have an influence on others. But without character, we are simply performing for others and competing to be noticed. If we want to have a lasting impact on others for good, it’s going to be the godly character we exhibit that will shout above the din.

So how do we cultivate godly character? Next week we’ll identify and discover how to implement L.I.E.S. in our search to live in integrity.

The Flower of Forgiveness

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Be kind to one another, tender-hearted,
forgiving each other, 
just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32 NASB

Forgiving the misdeeds of others against us would be easy if it were as simple and satisfying as accepting their humble apologies as they came crawling to us in abject brokenness. It would be (we imagine) an act of mercy to relieve the suffering of such penitents. But that scene is the stuff of fantasy conjured up by a wounded heart,  rarely rooted in reality. Humanity, as a whole, is pretty good at making excuses for its actions and words. We’d rather enter our houses justified in our own minds than make the painful trip to humility’s doorstep to ask for forgiveness. So we stand at mutual arm’s length as we hold tight to our respective territories and await capitulation from the other side.

Forgiveness is the gift we love to withhold from the undeserving.

But it never feels right, does it? Holding on to the offenses of others against us keeps us captive to a constant replay. We relive the pain; we bleed all over again. But this time the wounds are self-inflicted as we cut ourselves in an effort to release the pain we should be releasing in three simple words: “I forgive you.”

During His time on earth, Jesus actively sought to extend forgiveness to everyone who has or ever will exist. He entered time and space and lived His entire life with the express purpose of giving us a chance to receive forgiveness. One of His last acts on the cross was to forgive his killers, executioners neither Roman nor Jew. The nails in Jesus’ body were put there by every dirty thought and action of His crowning creation:

You and me.

I did not ask for Him to come. I wasn’t worthy of His suffering for my wrongdoing. He forgave me long before I asked for or wanted his forgiveness. But as He waited all those years, He never once treated me like the undeserving person I am.

Throughout the centuries and to this day, He likewise extends the scepter of life to all who will reach out to touch it. As long as there is hope for repentance, He endures our blasphemies, taunts, and flagrant sins. The gift is extended; it is up to us to reach for it. We are all the undeserving; there is no one who has not needed forgiveness. Remembering our own frailties, our goal should be to live in a constant state of forgiveness, extending to others that which we have received.

Extending forgiveness frees us. What others do with the gift is their decision.

For if you forgive others for their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Matthew 6:14-15 NASB 

When Fear Is at the Door

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Fear knocked at the door.  Faith answered.  No one was there. Unknown

Fear’s been knocking at the door a lot. Events over which I have no control have hounded me relentlessly this past year, leaving me to feel as if I am bobbing helplessly along in a swift river toward a massive waterfall – something like Bogey and Kate in African Queen. Except I have the drama without the glamour. Each day I have grimly pushed through the day’s challenges as I have tried to ignore the persistent pounding on my spirit’s door by fear.    

Some days I totally give in to it, which was what happened this week. I discovered I had a nasty infection, followed by bad reactions to each of the two different antibiotics prescribed by my doctor. The one last night was particularly frightening. I debated about going to ER but settled instead on going to bed to wait out the night. My family prayed for me, released me from my share of the caregiving duties, and watched protectively as I snuggled under the comfort of my new throw (a Pier One Valentine’s gift from my dear husband) and tried to shut my eyes against the raging storm in my body.

 But the greater storm was the one in my spirit. The physical pounding in my heart echoed the fear that emanated from behind the door of the unknown as it rattled the doorknob and threatened to jump out at me at any moment.

Just then, my husband came up bearing a small container of pure, extra-virgin olive oil from the kitchen.  He slipped to my side and offered to anoint me as he prayed for me. I gladly accepted. He poured a bit out and  touched it to my forehead as he prayed a simple but heartfelt prayer for healing. It was nothing grandiose or commanding – just a request to his God on behalf of his beloved.

The physical storm did not immediately stop, but the spiritual one subsided as that incomprehensible peace only the Spirit can give washed over me. My husband’s intercession was the reminder I needed that God is always in control. It was his faith going to the door for me and opening it to find nothing on the other side.

This morning I am much better. As I recuperate and rest on this Sunday morning, I think of the other doors and storms in my life and am reminded that our struggle is truly not a physical one, but one against the “flaming missiles of the evil one” (Eph. 6:16). In this age of sophistication and cynicism, I must never forget I do not war with what I see, but with the “spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). For those wars in our lives, we must put on the whole armor of God and walk in complete fearlessness, never forgetting we serve a big God who is alive, well, and fully in charge.

God is real; fear is the shadow.

Today may God strengthen and encourage you for whatever doors you face. As you surround yourself with His armor, my prayer is He will grant us all the courage to open those doors we face and dispel our fears. Who knows what opportunities for God’s service and glory lie behind them?

Not to fear is the armor. Ulrich Zwingli

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

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