Ulterior Motives

"...For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." -1 Samuel 16:7b

We wrestle with skepticism every day. Every relationship we hold carry varying levels of distrust and unsettling questions. Are people really who they say they are? Do our friends really care about us or are they working an angle for our affection, our contacts, our knowledge? Our church offers programs for the community and it always seems people believe we have another goal: baptisms. Everyone knows there is no free lunch, so why would someone talk to me unless they wanted something?

I believe we are wary of others' motives because we recognize selfish motive in ourselves from time to time. I heard on K-Love this afternoon a thought: People see what you do; God knows why you do it. God knows why I seek friendships with the people I do. God knows why I give tithe and offering and why I give the amount I give. God knows why I go, or don't go, to church. God knows why I say what I say and act the way I act with people. God knows my motives even when I don't realize them. God sees everything about me and understands the foundation of it all. I cannot hide from God.

That's heavy. God knows me better than I know myself. My thoughts are not secret. My heart is not shrouded in mystery. Even when I put on the brave, smiling face, God sees my terror-stricken, lonely, anxious heart. There is certainly comfort in His understanding.

Not only does He know me, He knows everyone I meet, greet, sweet and beat. He's looking out for me. He'll guard my heart, if I allow Him. He'll build strong, trust-filled relationships for me, if I allow Him. He'll place the walls of skepticism up at the right time, if I allow Him. He will keep me safe.

Our relationship with Christ is not supposed to be about gaining worldly wealth or even a heavenly home. It's about having a friend closer than a brother or sister. It's about having a relationship without skepticism, dishonesty, distrust or anxiety. It's a relationship free of ulterior motives.

Portion Control

"My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." -Psalm 73:26

My cousin once took a large piece of communion bread off the passing plate and his dad told him not to be selfish by taking a big piece. My cousin replied, "Dad, you can never get too much of Jesus."

We spend a good part of our lives fighting a battle with food. For some it's not a battle at all (we just surrender to the power of good food). There is an unspoken rule at potlucks and buffets: eat until you feel like sleeping for the next week. Most of us have little self-control when it comes to filling our plates.

My health-conscious (and beautiful, mind you) wife says the one of the greatest tools in the fight against weight/food is portion control. Not an earth shattering revelation to be sure. But it's important to remember this. Your body should only get a certain portion at a time, otherwise you get sick or gain unnecessary weight. Eat slowly enough your body can recognize it's full and then wait to digest before eating again.

Jesus called Himself the bread of life. Like my cousin I've often wondered whether it's possible to get too much of Jesus. On one hand we should all shout "NO!" I mean really, on it's face more Jesus seems better, right? But I believe history proves Jesus is willing to let us feast on His sacrifice and grace and He'll bring out the truth in courses. He knows the right appetizer for us. He has planned the main course and He is carefully crafting the dessert. But He's in charge of the meal, not me.

Don't worry about what course of the spiritual meal you're on. Let Jesus serve you each course in it's proper time. Keep eating. Chew carefully. When He says you're ready He'll place the next plate in front of you and you're spiritual body will receive the nourishment it needs. May Jesus be your portion forever.

Something from Nothing

"Then God said, 'Let there be light; and there was light.'" -Genesis 1:3 (emphasis added)

The power of God gives me a headache sometimes. Everything on our planet involves a beginning and end. Life is conceived, born, lived and, finally, closed with death. Marriages are conceived, experienced and shared, and, finally, end in death of one kind or another (physical, emotional, spiritual). Every relationship we have follows a natural life cycle. Watch National Geographic long enough and you see the "circle of life" played out over and again.

What I have a hard time imagining is God taking nothing and speaking something into existence. Even harder on my poor brain is considering what I'll call the non-beginning of God Himself. Without getting too off track, God has always been, is now and will always be. How can this be possible?

The overwhelming power of God's words floors me. They brought something from nothing. They stopped waves from capsizing a boat and the wind from blowing. His words brought forgiveness to the unforgivable. They gave strength to legs which had never taken a step. They commanded the realm of darkness from a tortured man and into the pigs. His words proclaimed the end of sin's deathly reach in our world and brought hope to men and women of all ages, races, creeds, societies, languages, and nations.

God's words bring something from nothing even today. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

There is no aspect of your life where the words of God cannot bring new life and redemption. There is no portion of your life where God cannot speak His word and create something from nothing. There is no limit to His creative power. There is no expiration date on His words. May the words of Genesis speak to the darkness in your life. May God say, "Let there be light', and there is light.

Delegating the Burdens

"I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me." (Numbers 11:14 NKJV)

Moses is such an inspiration for us and holds a special inspiration for pastors. The guy didn't want the job of nation leader. In fact, he made every excuse he could think of before God at the burning bush. Then when God convinced him he was the man for the job he didn't exactly get the easiest draw. You think Job had it bad losing his family, wealth and friends? I say Moses had it worse.

Overwhelming stress regarding the salvation of people God said were His. Constant crabbing, disgruntled groaning, devastating dereliction of duty (come on, Aaron), and ridiculous ridicule hounded him at every turn. Liars, cheats, thieves, pagans, pretentious pious priests, wimps and partiers filled the camp. And finally the enormity of his task became too much.

"God," he cried. "I can't do this by myself. This is too much. And, by the way, why would you treat me like this?" (see verse 15)

God didn't leave him to stew in his discouraged, beaten down demeanor. God brought in the reinforcements. He taught Moses the power of teaching others and delegating the burden of ministry and life. 70 elders became Moses' team. Imagine what Moses could do by sharing the load with 70 people God had blessed especially for the task. God chose the 70 and anointed them with the same discernment and care Moses had been given. Moses went from "This is too much" to "Bring on the promised land!"

What have you been working out on your own? What has overwhelmed you? Why are you so determined to carry the weight of the world by yourself? Maybe it's time to train others to take your place. Maybe it's time to ask others to help carry the burden of sin or leadership with you. Perhaps it's time to bring your spouse into full knowledge of your life. Or maybe it's time you started helping carry others' burdens too.

Don't get discouraged and don't be selfish. God wants to place elders in your life to carry the weight of your world.

The Other Mark

"And the LORD said to him, 'Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over the abominations that are done within it.'" -Ezekiel 9:4

Ezekiel's job to proclaim the God-given perspective to the Israelites was not an easy gig. In Ezekiel 9 we read about the judgment of people who were defiling the temple and disgracing the city of God. But what fascinates me is the mark God put on the faithful: the other mark.

A great deal of emphasis is placed on the mark of the beast (MOB) in Revelation. If I held Bible studies or public gospel meetings and advertise about the mark of the beast meeting I am guaranteed at least a few attendees. Some worry the MOB is an electronic chip or a tattoo or something worse. And just about everyone is worried about the MOB and few wonder about an alternative o his mark.

God is in the business of marking people, too. In Ezekiel He requires the marking of those who have been discouraged, distraught and downtrodden by the defiling of Jerusalem. The Hebrew letter 'tau' used as the marker was shaped like a cross in Ezekiel's day. It is also the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet representing the last, or remaining, people of God.

When we experience God in our lives He develops a strong appreciation for His house and His holy things. The more we surrender to Him the greater. we care if people disgrace God, His name, His creation, His people and even His laws. Our response is a telling marker of where we stand with God and eventually will lead to our being marked.

Give your mind, heart, wallet, family, career, etc, to God and let Him
mark you with the victorious cross. If you seek His mark you will never have to worry about receiving the other mark.

What Sorry Means

My 6th grade teacher, Mrs. Hoffman, used to tell us to be careful when we say, "I'm sorry." She would tell us, "'I'm sorry' means 'I'm going to change.'" After all these years I realize just how important it is to be determined to change my behavior. It's not enough to just say the words "I'm sorry;" you have to be prepared to be changed.

The danger we all face is thinking we can change ourselves. We believe we can grin-and-bear-it or gut out change in our lives. Sometimes it even looks/feels like we're winning the battle. But if we could truly change our core sinfulness then there would be no need of Jesus.

The Bible says our hearts are wicked and deceitful in a far greater proportion than they are good. Only by giving up the battle to Christ Jesus and His power will true change come. When you make the mistake you must run to Jesus and ask His forgiveness, believing He grants it. And you must surrender yourself again to Him. You're telling Him, "I want my life to be different and I know only You can do the changing."

An Insatiable Yearning

"The yearning to know what cannot be known, to comprehend the incomprehensible, to touch and taste the unapproachable, arises from the image of God in the nature of man. Deep calleth unto deep, and though polluted and landlocked by the mighty disaster theologians call the Fall, the soul senses its origin and longs to return to its source." -A.W. Tozer

Some call it a God-shaped hole. Others feel the dull ache of loneliness in a crowded room. Many try to hide the emptiness with brazen attitudes, laughter, substance, stories of conquests or loud talk. Few allow the depths of their heart to answer the calling of the depth of God.

You are made in the image of God. The gnawing, aching, tearing apart inside is your very being begging to answer the call of God for you. (Romans 8:23) And the groaning will not go unanswered. God placed the beacon of hope in your heart so you would keep searching. And you will find Him because He loves you.

"You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:13

Etch-A-Sketch Mind

Our minds are incredible storage facilities. I used to fall asleep by imagining walking to a room full of filing cabinets, taking out a file and stepping into whatever scene was in the file. (A little "Inception-esque" before Inception was even heard of.)

Truthfully I wish my mind was like an Etch-A-Sketch sometimes. When you see a troubling image, just shake it out of your memory and start fresh. When you make a mistake, just wig out a little and it's gone. I really wish this was possible when it comes to sin.

1 John 1 shares the familiar verse about Christ being willing to forgive us and cleanse us of all our sins and unrighteousnesses if we only confess. The problem I always have is the memory of the sin. I know God promises to make my sins white like snow, but for some reason they linger in my memory like the smell of my wife's perfume. And just like her perfume, places, smells, words, images or people trigger the memories of my failures. Really it can be quite unnerving.

I believe God allows the memory of sin for a time so we learn from our pasts. He does not intend for us to continue to dig up the rotting carcass of our sins and ask perpetual forgiveness for something He's already forgotten. We are supposed to take Him at His word that our sins are cast to the deepest part of the ocean.

I may not have a room full of filing cabinets in my head or an Etch-A-Sketch for a memory, but I believe in my God's power and passion to forgive. Today I will live in the peace of His forgiveness.

The Truth of Perception

Not long after I started as a pastor in my first district my head elder pulled me to the side and told me, "Pastor, perception is 99% of reality."

We do not, as a general rule, develop our ideas of other people over a long period of time. Don't agree with me? Then why aren't job interviews years long in multiple settings? Why do we consider "speed dating" a realistic way to find your "soul mate"? Why do we cross the street when we feel threatened or uncomfortable with those who are quickly approaching our little sidewalk square? You've even probably defended a friend or family member before with, "They're really cool/nice/fun once you get to know them."

The truth is perception really does form 99% of our initial reality. (I say "initial reality" because our perceptions do change over time.) Your actions, dress, mannerisms, demeanor, posture, breath, hair color, facial expressions, and words all carry an overwhelming weight in developing perception. The places you go, the people you hang with, all say certain things about you whether we like it or not.

Some people act like they don't care about these things when secretly we almost all do. Some say Jesus didn't care about who He was hanging with, but I believe He intentionally looked for the perceived low-lifes and spent time with them. He knew the perception of God was already one of unapproachability. He wanted that changed. He knew everyone already thought God was on the side of rich, the beautiful, the physically healthy, the well-dressed and the powerful. He meant to show God is in love with everybody.

The best way to change the perception of people is spending time getting to know them, no matter how difficult it seems to start. Usually we find at least one thing we like about everyone. (Although, admittedly, it may take a great deal of work and patience with some.)

The best way to change the perception we have of God (and we all have one) is spending time getting to know Him. It seems so simple and still it can be so hard to start. But God promises if you search for Him He will not hide from you. He promises you'll find Him if you put all your heart into the search. And finally, I guarantee your perception of God will change (whatever it is) the more time you spend with Him. Let God change your perception of Him into a literal reality.

Beatitudinal Adjustment: The Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3 - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

We start an 8-part series on the Beatitudes in my district this month. So every week I'll share thoughts on the next Beatitude in the series.

Matthew is significant as a gospel writer as he depicts Christ as King of kings. Throughout Matthew the phraseology reflects the kingdom of heaven and the coming rulership of Jesus. As Matthew 5 opens, the famous Sermon on the Mount places Jesus in a parallel with Moses on Mount Sinai in the mind of the Jewish reader. Jesus prepares to expound upon the Testimonies given at Sinai without changing them. It should be noted that in Matthew 7:28 the people sit in awe of Jesus and the authority He speaks with just as the children of Israel were in awe of Moses after he spoke with God.

Jesus begins His sermon by speaking blessings upon the people. He starts with "the poor in spirit." The contemporary culture of Jesus' day saw poverty as a curse from the gods. They were ostracized, marginalized and often given lower positions (if any) during worship services or mealtimes. Jesus begins to tear down this misconception. In the eyes of Christ wealth and positions of grandeur are greater burdens than poverty and little or no authority. (see Matthew 19:21-24)

Rather than trumpeting our outward, temporal successes, Christians are called to a life of self-denial, introspection, and humility before The Holy God. Take Isaiah 66:1-2, for example.

"Thus says the LORD: 'Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,' says the LORD. 'But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.'"

God is not interested in how big and beautiful we can build our churches/temples/shrines/monuments in honor of Him. God already made the heavens and the earth and they serve as a much greater throne and footstool than we could ever build or even design/dream. The LORD is looking for people who recognize they are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:17)

Christ's message stands in perfect contrast to the teaching of the proud Pharisees and pious Scribes of old. His message still stands against the common empty teachings of today. You are most successful in life when you are humbled by your sinfulness and lying face down before Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to show God's compassion to the poor and suffering (both physically and spiritually). He removed the wall of to the Most Holy place of the heavenly sanctuary allowing all to approach the throne of grace. He showed us the accessibility of God. He took, and still takes, the lowest of the low and raises them to the lofty heights of the Most High.

He opened the gates of heaven for you. What will you do about it?


"And he brought them out and said, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'
"So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.'"
(Acts 16:30-31)

The Battle for the Hearts and Minds

We hear quite a lot about political candidates hoping to win over the hearts and minds of voters this year with the upcoming presidential election. The president and his challengers work to position themselves squarely in the middle of our consciousnesses and are pushing their brand of America hoping to define themselves in an overwhelming way to the American people. They flood television and radio with advertising. They appear on national and local programs to beat their campaign drum. They shake hands, kiss babies, write op-eds, hold town halls, call out opponents, make promises and pledges which most will forget after November. All hope to win your vote, your circle of influence, your undying support.

Our political process is eerily similar to the supernatural campaign for our hearts and minds. God and his challenger, Satan, flood the spiritual airwaves with calls to join their campaigns.

God calmly and carefully lays out His promises which are never forgotten and do not change. God patiently knocks on every hearts door and personally asks for your support. He refuses to give up. He sends acquaintances, friends, family, pastors, and other influencers endowed with His Holy Spirit to speak on His behalf. Far and few between are those who willing take up the battle on the straight and narrow road.

Satan takes a seemingly more aggressive approach. The sights and sounds of the world are granted him. The heavens may declare the glory of God, but my television speaks of the work of the deceiver. The news heralds to destruction of men and women by others or themselves. Perversion is glorified. Vice is worn as a badge of honor. Skepticism and tolerance are delicately balanced as the grandest qualities leading to the dilution, devaluation or denouncement of absolute truth. Far and wide the call to a life of ease and entertainment is eagerly accepted.

Some may read this and say, "There goes Pastor Aaron, jumping back on the conservative, legalistic Christian bandwagon. Guess I'll have to watch my P's and Q's around him again." That's not necessarily the case. Each day I have the same decision you do. Each day I must make the decision to endorse Christ with my life or the challenger. The time for wavering is past. Today we must choose and the choice is  more than who will lead our government for the next 4 years. The choice is who will lead us to our eternal destination.

Who gets your vote?