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OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD

4/27/2014

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Occupational hazard is a very common expression in our society that refers to potential risks, dangers, or peril associated with one’s job or profession.  For example, people who work with asbestos run the risk of developing lung cancer later on in life; roofers run the risk of falls and injuries.  In general, most professions, if not all, have associated risks. 

So are there associated risks with Christian Service (Ministry)?  The answer is yes!  There are associated risks for just being a Christian; Jesus warned, “In this world you will have trouble” (Jn 16:33b).  The early Church was bitterly persecuted, and the Hymnist captured it this way, “Mocked, imprisoned, stoned, tormented, sawn asunder, slain with sword.” The Church today still faces persecution in horrible ways, including isolation and being disowned by loved ones.  Persecution and the like, in themselves, as harsh as they sound are really not the worse hazard associated with Christian Ministry.

The worst I believe, is DISCOURAGEMENT, which can happen to any Christian, no matter how spiritually matured.  How does one arrive at discouragement?  Discouragement creeps into our lives for various reasons and at different times.  Discouragement can ensue when there’s not enough support or cheering on (encouragement), not enough supplies to work with, obstacles and threats in the way, and the absence of fruit.  Discouragement, if not appropriately addressed can lead to despondency and throwing in the towel.      

First King 18 recaps for us the contest between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.  Elijah challenged those prophets to call on Baal to send down fire to consume their sacrifice, which of course didn’t happen.  On the other hand, God answered Elijah!  When he called, fire came down from heaven, burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.  After demonstrating that, “The Lord-He is God!  The Lord-He is God!” (1 Ki 18:39), Elijah had those prophets killed.  King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel swore to kill Elijah in revenge.  So what did Elijah do?  He ran for his life; he went into hiding!  He was so discouraged, he wanted to die.  This was his prayer, “I have had enough, Lord, take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Ki 19:4b).

Elijah was exhausted, persecuted, and afraid, which then led to discouragement, to the point of wishing he were dead (maybe he had no prayer support).  Until he was discouraged, he was fine.  He had challenged the people, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is god follow him” (1 Ki 18:21).  He had also  challenged the king without fear of punishment, telling him, he and his father’s house had made trouble for Israel (1Ki 18:18), and then taunted the prophets of Baal about their god who could be asleep, deep in thought, busy, or travelling (1 Ki 18:27).  Discouragement however, changed everything for him; he threw in the towel!

Discouragement can be a serious occupational hazard in Christian Ministry.  Let us remember to pray for one another, for our Missionaries, and for our pastors.  Let us cheer them on, and if at all possible, make sure they have all they need to get job done.   

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THE CHRISTIAN’S CHARGE

4/25/2014

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Imagine this; you are a teenager living at home with your parents.  One evening as your mother hurries out the door for a meeting, she yells out instructions for dinner that went something like this: “make some spaghetti for dinner; see you later.”

An hour or so before dinner, you looked in the pantry; there was no noodle and no sauce, you have no car, and there is no grocery store within walking distance.  Reluctantly you go to the neighbors next door to borrow ingredients for dinner.  How annoying and inconvenient!

Now, God says to us, His children, “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own” (Lev 20:26).  Fortunately, we don’t have to figure out on our own how to be holy; along with the command, He has also given us the ‘How To’.  Amen!  Peter puts it this way, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Pet 1:3-4).

I believe the Christian’s charge can be placed in two major categories, for which God has already equipped us.  He further warns us about the schemes of our adversary, the devil, who is always looking for ways to sabotage our efforts (1 Pet 5:8).

·        Godly Living - So how are we supposed to accomplish this?  Well, God makes Himself known to us through His Son (the Word).  If we search the Word carefully and diligently we will discover the ‘How,’ which is an ongoing, everyday process - of thinking and behaving like He would. After all, He wants His holiness to be our model, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children” (Eph 5:1).    

·        Evangelism – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…to the end of the age” (Mt 28:19-20).  He has given us the power we need, and expressed it this way, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The power is not only for courage and boldness in sharing our faith; it is also for living godly lives, because our way of life is a way of witnessing, and it is just as important as verbally sharing our faith.  We are more effective in soul-winning when our way of life confirms what we say.  

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DROP YOUR STONE IF YOU ARE A SINNER

4/4/2014

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The Jewish leaders were always trying to find reasons to accuse Jesus.  They always came up with questions they thought were so controversial that His answers would trap Him or back Him into a corner.  On one such occasion, they brought a woman to Him who was supposedly caught in adultery.  Their question was, “In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.  Now what do you say” (Jn 8:5)?  Jesus’ response was, “Let him who have no sin cast the first stone” (Jn 8:7).  His response was to the point; they did not need explanation or interpretation.  Although He didn't, Jesus could have added onto His response by saying, “But let him who has any sin drop his stone.” That of course would have been everyone.  They each walked away without casting a single stone at the woman. 

How about you, and how about me?  Are we throwing stones at other sinners while we are not batting an eye about our own sins?  Sin is sin, no matter how we categorize it.  You and I have not been given the responsibility and or authority to decide which sin should be tolerated, and which one should be punished.  Let us stop judging and pointing fingers at others.  The wages of sin is death, the Bible says, no matter the category (Rom 3:23).

In the book of Luke, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned (Lk 6:37); “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye” (Lk 6:41)?   If Jesus, the only righteous One, with the power and authority to judge and condemn shows mercy (Jn 8:10-11), who are we to be judging and condemning others?

Showing mercy does not mean condoning.  We can, and should come along side each other in love, to rebuke, encourage, and build up.  The apostle Paul puts it this way, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently” (Gal 6:1a).

So fellow sinners, let us all drop each one his or her stone!  


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