Leaving The Track

By Tennen-Gas - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Our Sunday morning bulletin listed the morning message as “Courageous Leadership,” with scripture from Joshua 23. I had my Bible open to the passage when Pastor changed tracks. That’s why I chose the rail yard for this blog’s graphic. There are many ways to switch tracks.

We have lots of thoughts, lots of plans, lots of work done in a specific direction – when something comes along and changes the track we are on. For Pastor, it was the theme from the previous week’s Youth Camp in Pensacola, Florida. Kenny Baldwin, Senior Pastor at Crossroads Baptist Church in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia, was the speaker during the week and the them was “Driven.” Pastor Baldwin has preached revival at our church in the past and I’ve found him to be a compelling witness.

Of course, our Pastor could not condense a week’s worth of messages into one Sunday message, but from Philippians 3:4-16, Pastor did give a compelling call to consider our own lives.

First, from verse 10: “That I might know him.” Hearing of Jesus, the messages from others who know Him, or at least say they know Him, can be confusing. Was He a great prophet called by God to change people? Is He a myth, no historical records to back up stories made by a group of men? Was He a man, or was He a God? Why do people pray in His name? No one can begin to answer these questions until they get to know Him and his story.

Paul – who was named Saul – knew of Jesus and those who were called Christian because of a title. He knew them so well that he was determined to destroy them and the testimony they gave of Jesus’ birth, life, death and – of all things – resurrection. Put a stop to them and the stories would die a natural death. However, Paul became the widest-traveled witness to his own knowledge of Jesus. He was the most outspoken Apostle. He wrote to the church at Corinth:

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV)

Paul went from apprehending Christians to determined to know Him.

Second, from verse 12: “I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” That is “I am taken into custody by Christ Jesus.” Ironic, isn’t it? Paul set out to apprehended followers of Christ and ended up “apprehended of Christ.” That’s what we are supposed be, too. As His followers, we are to be caught up in learning about Christ as much as we share what we learn with others.

If you are a Christian, who knows it? How do they know it? Do you know when and why Jesus said:

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9 KJV)

The third point came from verse 14: “I press toward the mark.” This hold the connotation of a race, and race cars, foot race, or even last week’s “Driven,” uses such examples. Paul uses it as his  goal daily in life, consistent in his message to all the cities he visited. I especially love his message on Mars Hill in Athens in Acts 17, before people who had no idea who he was or why he was there? However, his testimony before Agrippa and Festus in Acts 26 is one of the best sermons anyone can give – a first person view of why Paul believed Jesus’ message. What is your own testimony – why do you accept Jesus – or why do you reject Him?

Three simple points – “That I might know him” is how we learn of Christ. “I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” is when we are captured by Him. “I press toward the mark” is how we live with Christ as the motivation in our life.

After considering these three points, where are you in relation to Christ? Why?

How Do We Measure?

This is a carpenter's rule, used in construction. There is also a metal tape measure that rolls into a compact container used for measuring in construction. Which is best? One user wrote:

"I use both folding ruler and retractable tape in my daily work. They are both useful. For accuracy the folding rule is superior."

I suspect there are differing opinions as to accuracy. I was reminded today about what standards we live by when a friend's blog from September 2012 was mentioned:  "Whose Yardstick Are You Using?" Oddly enough, that same month I had written about "Setting Biblical Standards."

There used to be social norms that were widely acceptable, but today those norms no longer exist. There used to be laws that people (for the most part) followed, but today many laws are simply ignored. Does that affect our lives? A verse from my friend's blog tells me that it really doesn't:

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:14-15 KJV)

That peace is for all. Take a moment - is there someone with whom you are not at peace? I certainly have one. Or two. Or maybe more. If I do not feel peace about them, how can I have peace in my life?

And follow holiness? That's another subject my friend's post discussed. Do I know anyone as holy as the one whose name I used to describe my life - Christian. The one who said:

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.  (Matthew 5:46-48 KJV)

That love for everyone is a standard, a rule, by which we are supposed to love all. Not simply family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. All. That's a stumbling point for everyone, isn't it? But it wasn't for Jesus, and that's our standard,  too. Just before He said we were to be perfect, He said:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:43-44 KJV)

When I read that, I think of a photo called "Second Mile" on the website Journeys With The Messiah. Please take a moment to visit the "Second Mile" link and I'd love to hear if you would be able to make the first mile, much less the second. Or if you could turn the other cheek? I've had to give some very serious thoughts about that.

There was a time as a child when I was abused. Later in life I had the thought - would that person be in heaven? And, the answer was "Yes, it is possible." I knew the passages of scripture that convinced me that not only was it possible, it was most likely truth. So what did that mean to me? That God forgives and to be like Him, I was to forgive. What a burden lifted.

Recently a dear family member was physically abused, and I was angered at the liar that chose abuse over the love they had promised. Once again, though, the Lord convinced me that prayer for that individual was necessary. So my prayer list carries the name of a person I do not wish to see, but that I know needs God in their life. That did erase my anger, replacing it with prayer.

I do not believe a person can hold hatred for a person for whom they pray. Can you?

Of course, I'm speaking as a Christian to other Christians. Non-believers would not consider praying. It would seem to be incompatible with their belief system - unless they are willing to try it as Jesus suggested in the Lord's Prayer, or His in the depth of pain as He prayed:

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:39-42 KJV)

Thy will be done.