The Best Part of Being a Sheep

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one

 to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

 

 

The Bible frequently draws an analogy between Christians and sheep.  In many instances (such as the one above), the comparison is less than flattering.  After all, sheep have many, less-than-ideal characteristics.  They are helpless and stupid; needing constant care in order to survive.  Sound familiar?  It isn't surprising that our first-century church fathers used the Greek word "shepherd" for the office that we call "pastor."

 

Sheep are gentle and non-aggressive and, therefore, need the safety of the flock for protection from predators.  A sheep that wanders alone will most certainly perish from wolves, injury, or hunger.  However, these timid creatures also tend to have a stubborn streak, resisting even the care of a kind and loving shepherd. Their tendency to follow others blindly can be a danger when they willingly follow other foolish sheep, rather than the Good Shepherd.

 

Despite the many frailties and shortcomings of sheep, there is one characteristic that sheep share that all Christians should emulate: their way of eating.  Sheep, you see, have a very unique style of eating.  While cows merely graze along the blades of the grass, a sheep will eat all the way down to the root. In fact, roots contain nutrients and moisture that are vital to the health and growth of a sheep.

 

To carry this analogy to us, as Christians, we need to look at how we "feed" on the Word.  Unfortunately, many of today's "sheep" are eating like cows; believing that they can get sufficient spiritual nourishment by grazing rather than going deep.  Their "meals" consist of skimming through a chapter in the Bible or gleaning a few truths during the service on Sunday.  Even worse are those whose spiritual diet is centered around "processed food" such as devotionals, inspirational writers, and whatever Christian book is all the rage. Discouragement and stunted growth are just a couple of the symptoms of the spiritual malnutrition that results from this type of diet.

 

Sheep need to feed all the way down to the roots.  That means being immersed in the Word of God.  American Christians have become so dependent on others to feed them, that we have lost the ability to learn for ourselves.  We don't need a famous preacher to explain God's Word to us; the Holy Spirit can do a much better job- plus, we know that He will always be right. 

 

What we do need is a genuine hunger for the meat of the Word.  Unfortunately, when you've been dining on junk food for a long time, it is hard to re-acquire a taste for good, solid fare.  Just ask any junk-food junkie!  However, the time comes when even the most resistant dieter realizes that their present style of eating is killing them and that a change is needed.  If you are looking at yourself today and realizing that you are starving spiritually and that the steady course of watered-down devotionals and sugar-coated fads trying pass themselves off as Bible studies aren't really nourishing you, then maybe it is time for a change.

 

If so, check back next week for some tips on how to begin eating like a sheep.

Milk, Meat, or Meringue?

For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5: 13-14

My husband and I made a New Year's resolution to eat healthier.  We've cut back on the sweets and included more vegetables into our diet.  It hasn't been easy and sometimes we've overindulged in the sweet stuff.  Nevertheless, we've stuck with it because we understand that to have a healthy, strong body, we need to consume the right things.

It's the same for our soul; it needs to be fed the right kind of food. When we were young in the Lord, we needed milk because we were not mature enough to handle solids.  However, we cannot stay on the bottle our whole life. Can you imagine a teenager walking around with a baby bottle? As we grow, the needs of our body changes.  We need meat to develop.  There comes a time when staying on the bottle will stunt our growth and make us malnourished.

As our bodies develop and change, so do our nutritional needs.  There are stages in our life when we need more protein, others when we need more calcium, and, face it, sometimes we just need a little comfort food.  Yet, we still need to maintain a balanced diet at all times. The same is true spiritually.  There are stages in our Christian walk when we need the strong doctrine of Romans; other times when we need to focus on the foundations of Genesis; and sometimes when we just need the comfort of Psalms. Through those stages, we need to maintain a balance of all the Scriptures, both Old and New Testament.

As my husband and I continue our quest to eat healthier, we still enjoy a sugary treat on occasion. When taken in moderation, sweets can help brighten the day and make you feel good.  Sometimes, we need a little something sweet and light in our Christian walk; what I call spiritual meringue.  There are lots of Christian books out there that are chocked full of spiritual meringue.  They make you feel good about yourself, and who doesn't need that now and then? Sometimes pastors may serve up a meringue sermon to encourage and uplift his flock.

But there is a great danger if we fail to moderate the amount of meringue in our Christian life.  After all, despite how sweet it tastes and how good it makes us feel, we need to remember that it is all fluff and no substance.  A diet that consists primarily of meringue will make us weak and eventually kill us. That is why we need to focus on the meat in our personal devotions- and make sure that our church is serving up a steady dose of the solid stuff.

The world tells us that "you are what you eat."  In a way, this passage in Hebrews is telling us the same thing.  If we are still on a diet of watered-down Scriptures, then we are trying to remain as spiritual babies.  And, babies can't do a lot to further the Kingdom of Heaven.  However, if we are consuming the meat of God's Word on a regular basis, then we are mature Christians who are spiritually fit to do God's work.

One of the first steps we had to take in eating right was to keep a daily journal of what we consume.  Most people are not aware of what they are consuming each day.  By writing it down, it makes us realize exactly what we are eating and how much of it.  What would we learn about our spiritual diet if we did this?  Are we having a steady diet of the meat of God's Word or do we snack endlessly on the latest Christian bestseller? Do we have regular meals or go for days without eating at all?

God has already laid the table for us.  With 66 incredible books to choose from, we have an endless choice of entrees.  So sidle up to the table and make sure you clean your plate. Bon appetit!

Do Not Disturb

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,

 and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

Of all the verses in the Bible, this one is probably the most misapplied.  We hear it used often at revivals.  We have probably used it ourselves when sharing Christ with the lost.  However, what many Christians don't realize is that this verse was intended for believers rather than for the lost.

Now don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean that we cannot use this verse when leading someone to the Lord.  However, since Jesus was speaking to us, the Church, when He said this; surely it is vital that we look at what He said in that context.  Jesus is knocking at the door of the Christian's heart (our heart) and asking to come in.  How can that be?, we may ask ourselves. As a believer, we have already accepted Him into our hearts.  Why would Jesus need to tell us that He is standing at our heart's door and knocking to come in?  The reason is that many of us have hung a "Do Not Disturb" sign on our heart.

Why would a believer hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign on their heart?  The answer is simple enough: We are afraid of what Jesus might ask us to do.  After all, if we open our hearts completely to God, He may ask us to risk our jobs by witnessing to a lost co-worker.  Or He may question the emphasis that we place on our children's sports programs.  If we answer the knock on our heart, Jesus might come in and interrupt our weekly schedule- and that might mean missing our favorite TV show or the time we spend with our favorite hobby.  Opening that door might invite Jesus to begin messing with our finances; and do we really want to answer to Him about how we are spending our money?  Even worse, He may ask us to re-evaluate into whose hands we have placed the education of our children- and why.

Face it, opening the door to our hearts is scary.  There is just no telling where it might take you, but I do know this:  Opening the door to Christ will take you off that sofa and into a dark, lost world.  It will bring you hardships and sorrow- and you may never be able to call another minute your own.  But by letting Christ in, you will begin to have the kind of spiritual relationship that you were meant to have.  So throw open that door and let Christ use you to change the world.

Gotta go.  I think I hear someone knocking at the door...

Fearless Faith

And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?

Mark 4:40

Just prior to going overseas to serve as missionaries with the International Mission Board, Alan and I  spoke at numerous churches across the southeast. Our five children, ranging in age from 5 to 12, went with us. At every church that we visited, I had the same conversation after the service.

"So, you are going to be a missionary in Southeast Asia?"

"That's right," I'd say with a smile.

"Are you taking your children?"

"Yes, we are."

"All of them?"

"Yes, all of them." (Did they really think I would only take some of my children with me?)

"I could never take my children to some foreign country! Aren't you afraid that something might happen to them?"

"God has called us to the mission field," I would explain. "If I've learned anything, it is that my family is safer in a foreign country if we are following God's Will, than we could ever be in America if we are outside of His Will."

Fear is a terrible thing.  It robs us of joy, corrupts our thinking, and paralyzes our ability to do what is right.  We cannot fight it with words because fear is irrational.  In Romans 8:15, Paul calls fear "a spirit of bondage."  It is a very appropriate term because fear truly makes us a prisoner. And like other sins (Yes, fear IS A SIN), it damages our spiritual growth and our willingness to serve the Lord.

For a woman, fear is the greatest weapon that Satan can use against us. I know, because there was a time when I allowed fear to get a stronghold in my life. But, praise the Lord, God has empowered us through the Holy Spirit to be able to break the chains of fear. We know this to be true, but sometimes it can be a little tricky to actually apply.

Let me share a few tips that helped me to overcome fear in my own life.  The first thing that I had to do was to stop watching the news on TV.  I sometimes think that the main purpose of the evening news is to instill as much fear into Americans as possible.  Just look at the headline news: murders, tragic fires, deadly crashes.  Why do we need to see those things? Is there anything that we can do about them? NO! Then why subject ourselves to them?  God gives us sufficient grace to handle the tragedies that happen in our own lives and the lives of those around us, but not to deal with the suffering of the whole world. So turn the television off and read your news (if you absolutely have to have it) from the internet.

The next time you are facing a fearful situation, ask yourself this: What is the worst thing that could happen?  For example, layoffs at work may be making you fearful about your own job.  So the worst thing that could happen is that you would lose your job.  So if you lost your job, what is the worst thing that could happen? You could lose your home and be forced to live in a homeless shelter.  If that happened, could any good come from it?  Well, yes, you could start a ministry to the homeless; without a job, you'd have more time with your children; and you wouldn't have to do housework. It all boils down to this: If the worse did happen, do you believe that God would be with you through it all?

It is not a coincidence that Jesus equates fear with a lack of faith.  If we truly believe that God can walk us through the valley of the shadow of death and bring us out into the sunshine on the other side, then fear cannot take root in our heart. We cannot argue ourselves out of being fearful. We have to build the kind of faith that can defeat it. That kind of faith requires stepping out and putting our lives on the line when He asks us to.  Running from God and His Will only produces unbelief.

So next time that Satan tries to enslave you with the chains of fear, trust that God can see you through the worst of storms. Take it from someone who has gone through some of those "worst things", GOD WILL BE THERE FOR YOU!

Exercising My Faith

For we walk by faith, not by sight...

II Corinthians 5:7

A couple of years ago, my husband and I made a New Year's resolution to exercise regularly together. We wanted to make sure that we stayed healthy so we could enjoy watching our grandchildren grow up. I still remember that first day of exercise (using an exercise DVD that our daughter had loaned us), we put everything we had into it. Surprisingly, it wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. I went to bed that night feeling really good about myself.

I woke up the next day and could hardly get out of bed. I was sore in places where I didn't even know there were muscles. Every step, every breath, every movement was agony.  I wondered what I was thinking, to put myself through so much pain. I seriously considered just quitting. Surely nothing could be worth this much hardship.

But I didn't quit. For weeks I dreaded our exercise time.  I wondered if it would ever come easy to me. Two years later, we still exercise regularly.  Our health improved and we have greater stamina than I ever thought possible.  I can't say that I necessarily look forward to exercising, but it has become second nature to me- a part of who I am.

Faith is a lot like this. In many ways it is like one of the muscles in our body. The more that we exercise it, the stronger it gets. Conversely, a muscle that is seldom used becomes flabby and, eventually, will atrophy.

Exercising our faith is usually difficult, and sometimes downright painful. It is only when it becomes a regular part of our life that we can expect to reap the benefits.  While physical exercise profits little in comparison, exercising our faith has eternal benefits.  It gives us the spiritual stamina to survive every crisis that comes our way.

When you start any exercise program, it is best to start with small steps and work up to bigger things.  This week, start with the simple things that God is prompting you to do.  Go and share your faith with that lost neighbor or co-worker. Or maybe you need to agree to teach that Bible class at church that no one else wants.

It may be easier to be a spiritual couch potato, but you'll never truly exercise your faith until you get out of your comfort zone.  Only by living by faith will you see the full power of the risen savior, Jesus Christ.