Tag Team

Brothers and sisters often are involved in pushing and shoving, which if left unchecked can escalate into wrestling matches with no holds barred. Frustration has Mom on the ropes but she holds her ground and serving as referee often sends them to opposite corners for time-out. In many instances, a mother of several children might secretly wish she could call in relief as one involved in tag-team wrestling.

As children of God, we wrestle with evil forces; experiencing weakness, we might be tempted to throw in the towel. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12 NKJ).” In times of discouragement, we can depend on God to step into the ring.

God’s Spirit abides within and yet at the same time is always walking by our side. He never leaves us in the clutches and we honor Him each time we call out to Him for rescue. The boldness of believers of the early church was not due to any natural strength but because of each one depending upon the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain them. The next time you feel down for the count, call out for re-enforcement. The Holy Spirit will win the match!

 

 

 

 

Back to You Later

We want instant gratification, our needs unequivocally met and a listeners undivided attention. In a world of technology, our patience quickly dwindles when a business we call puts us on hold. Next to that dilemma, this response is as annoying as lukewarm coffee: “I’ll get back with you later.” Don’t you just hate that? Sometimes contacts postpone conversations of urgency putting us on hold. It is a serious mistake to postpone God: “I’ll get back to you later.”

“As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you (Acts 24:25 NIV).” We can tag stores as “convenience,” and shop whenever we please. On the other hand, issues relating to salvation, where we will spend eternity- need our immediate attention. We have no guarantee of seeing tomorrow and it may be later than we know…

 

 

Don’t Cross Me!

In anger, a person makes a threat. “Don’t you cross me!” No one enjoys being threatened and intimidated. The old self-preservation mode automatically kicks in and we feel compelled to retaliate. “I’ll show you who you are trying to push around!” We get our hackles up and our resistance to temptation down. There is a far better response. I choose to cross them.

Jesus alone, through his death on the cross can produce peace. “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1:20 NIV).” Now, I am onto something. He reconciles; he makes peace.

He powers peace and reconciliation with others through our reconciliation with him. “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation (Colossians 1:22 NIV). He frees us from making both false and justified accusations. He frees the accused. “I’m crossing you; please cross me!”

Motion Activated

Modern marvels accent bathrooms of today.  Faucets, toilets, paper towel dispensers and hand blow dryers are motion activated. We are so accustomed to the luxuries that we forget to flush in the few places that have not kept up with the latest inventions. Motion activated devices are now becoming the norm.

As I celebrate Easter, I cheer God’s advancements that overshadow man’s gadgets. The door to Jesus tomb was motion activated. He stirred as he arose and it signaled an angel, an earthquake and the grand opening! “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it (Matthew 28:2 NIV).”

Fall in Step

Poor, pitiful people pleasers… Guess we all slip off into that category from time to time. It’s hard to avoid but not impossible to overcome. The condition first pops up at an early age. Children desire the approval of parents and teachers and seek adult affection. As adults, we must be careful not to set our standards too high. We can break their fragile spirit.

In the teenage season of life, many young people no longer care as much about pleasing adults. Under the stresses and demands of peer pressure, teens have their focus on pleasing the in-crowd. They want to fit-in their crowd and go to extremes in efforts to blend in. They unknowingly become carbon copies of those they emulate.

As followers of Christ we are compelled to please him as in obedience he pleases the Father. Paul is an example to follow. “Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10 RSV).”  Satisfied, sustained Savior servants…fall in step!