I had a great conversation with a couple of pastors today on the importance of developing deep spiritual roots in our lives. We used the image of a well-rooted plant.
Here were some thoughts:
1. What really matters is what is beneath the surface.
2. I focus too much on the fruit.
3. I need to focus on growing deeper roots.
4. If I grow deeper roots in Christ, the fruit will come.
5. When God cuts you back, grow deeper roots.
This morning I was reading from A Closer Walk by Catherine Marshall. In her book she discussed her experience of fasting from criticalness. Here are some insights that struck me personally.
“Do no Judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:-12
1. A critical spirit focuses us on ourselves and makes us unhappy. We lose perspective and humor.
2. A critical spirit blocks the positive creative thoughts God longs to give us.
3. A critical spirit can prevent god relationships between individuals and often produces retaliatory criticalness,
4. Criticalness blocks the work of the Spirit of God: love, good will, mercy.
5. Whenever we see something genuinely wrong in another person’s behavior, rather that criticize him or her directly, or-far-worse-gripe about him behind his back, we should ask the Spirit of God to do the correction needed.
my box is nice
it is big and has lots of little boxes inside
sometimes I sit in one of these boxes and watch another box that lights up
it is fun to watch this box
I also have a box with wheels
it is shinny and can hold 5 people
it goes fast
if I work hard enough I can have a bigger box
or maybe a box by the beach
I would like to visit this box
in the end they will put me in another box
and then give all my other boxes away
I don’t really like my boxes anymore
Last week a friend asked me: “which section of scripture has had the most profound affect on you as a church leader?”
There are two:
Matthew 9:35-38 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
This part of scripture never fails to remind me of why I serve in full-time ministry.
In this passage, Jesus had just finished a full day of ministry. Prior to verses 35-38, he healed a paralytic, called a tax collector to ministry, debated theology with the Pharisees, restored a bleeding woman, and raised a dead girl back to life. It had been a full day, but the day was not done.
Moved by the great needs before him, Jesus looked upon the crowd with compassion and said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” As I read Jesus’ words, I understand His message. Seeing the needs of those before me evokes compassion and reminds me of why I serve in church leadership.
Some time ago, I sat down to counsel a couple that I was scheduled to marry. In our meeting, the woman began to open up about the pain that previous relationships brought to her life. As she began to let her guard down, she openly shared the current challenge she faces in trusting her fiancé and her fear of trusting God.
As I sat in that meeting, Jesus’ words took on flesh. “They are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
In my life I have found nothing more fulfilling than being one of the ”workers in the harvest field.” Those words fuel and direct my life.
The other passage that has a deep impact on me as a church leader is found in James.
James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Throughout the last 13 years, I have learned through many experiences the importance of perseverance in ministry.
Though learning perseverance can bring pain and leave scars, I have found that it is during those trials and testing of my faith that God has nurtured my resolve to serve him with even greater fervor.
Consequently, my first response to hardship or trial is no longer, “Why is this happening to me?” Instead, I have learned to respond to challenges in life and ministry by asking a question: “What are you teaching me now, Lord?” I would be lying to say that this is an area of mastery in my relationship with God. I am learning to understand God’s definition of joy as he lovingly allows me to grow deeper in faith through trials of many kinds but yet never leaves my side.
The other day I was teaching my daughter to share. She was playing with her “best friend” who was wildly upset because my daughter would not share a toy with her.
When I asked my daughter to share she yelled “No! I can’t believe that she wants my toy. It is mine!”
One of the first things we need to learn in life is the concept of sharing. This is something that if left solely to ourselves, we will never do. But if one wants to truly thrive in this world they will have to learn how to share.
This is especially true when it comes to hope. Because hope was created to be shared.
Scripture speaks to this in 1 Peter 3. “Always be prepared to give and answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have.”
In this passage scripture tells us to be ready. Because it is when we are truly living a life of faith, a life that demonstrates our hope in God, that it often raise questions in the minds of others.
And it is in these moments that we should be ready to give an answer for our lives and the hope we have because of Jesus Christ.
Take a few moments to think about this. Maybe there was a time when a person asked you why you lived differently. How did you respond? What happened in that moment? Does your life really look any different than others?
Read 1 Peter 3:15-17
