My Favorite Activity in 2019

Kahori asked me yesterday what some of my favorite activities and events were from 2019.  We talked a lot about the trips we had taken, about family times together, and about significant growth points in church. But this morning I’m reminded that my favorite activity this year has been my daily meeting with God in His Word.

One of my goals each year is to read through the Bible.  Every day includes a chapter or two from the Old Testament, a chapter from the Psalms, and a chapter from the New Testament.  Almost without fail, something sticks out to me after reading the three chapters.  There’s usually something that hits me as significant for the day.  Plus, when I read God’s Word, it reminds me of who’s in charge of my day and who I can depend on.  God is watching over me and loves me.

Psalm 119:1-2 says,  “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”  This year I want to be blessed more, so I will continue the habit of going to God’s Word and accepting His love and following His ways.

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”  If that’s true, and I believe it is, then God’s Word is alive for me today.  God speaks to me through my reading.  God’s “voice” is loudest when I read His words that He already wrote to me.

Today I read the last chapter of Revelation, chapter 22.  I was reminded of Jesus’ love for me and that one day He will return for me and take me to Heaven.  “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” (22:12-14).  Jesus has “washed my robe” and prepared me for heaven by forgiving my sins by His grace.  Thank you Lord!  I look forward to reading your Word in this coming year as I anticipate your quick return.
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Perseverance Brings Joy

This Christmas break we took our family up to the mountains for some snow hiking. (Ray Benson Sno-Park on the Santiam pass).  It was a great day!  The snow was fresh and powdery, the weather was good, and, of course, having the family together was wonderful.  We even sat on a snow covered log and ate our lunch!  (Eating lunch on our hikes is an Elmer family tradition.)

But as I think back and ponder our wonderful snow hiking day, I realize that it didn't come easy.  We planned ahead for the date, communicated with each other for ideas, packed a lunch, got out the snow clothes, rented the snowshoes, and then drove 2 hours each way to make it happen.  It was a lot of work, actually.  We didn't think about it as work.  It was all a delightful adventure.  Nevertheless, it took perseverance.  In fact, on the drive up the mountain we thought we could find snow lower down on the mountain, and hence, a shorter drive.  But such was not the case.  We had to drive all the way up to the summit to find enough snow.  So, at one point, I was tempted to complain about how far the drive was.  But I persevered and didn't complain, even though I felt like it.  (We don't have to behave like we feel!, one of my mentors would always say.)  So when we got out into the snow I gladly declared, "It was worth the drive!"

Many things in life are like that... they take perseverance.  In fact, most things that we enjoy take some form of investment, sacrifice and perseverance.  Whether it's family events, career accomplishments, or even ministry at church... the greatest achievements usually involve staying the course.

The Bible reminds us about this value in many places:

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."

Romans 5:2-4... "...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

James 1:12... "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

Proverbs 24:16... "For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity."

In the coming year, 2020, I want to persevere MORE than I did in 2019.  I want my life to count for God and for Heaven more than it did last year.  I'm praying already that God will give me His strength by the power of the Holy Spirit, to follow Him with intense love and faithfulness.

Loneliness

I really missed having my wife around when she traveled to Mexico recently with our churches mission team.  She was gone for 10 days.  I was lonely!  With the kids grown and gone, we already feel like our home is so much quieter these days.  But with Kahori gone, too, it was disastrously void of life.  So I went to work keeping myself busy.  I worked in the yard.  I cleaned the house.  I organized the closet.  It was nice in a way, to have total control of my surroundings.  (The house stays much cleaner when you're the only one to blame for the mess.)

But it was a lonely, clean house.

The only good thing about her absence was that I was reminded of some very important realities.  First, I was reminded of how important my wife is in my life.  By God's design, she fulfills me and meets my needs, as I do hers.  She is "the rest of me."  Without her I am not fully me.  We are one, in Christ.  So, as the days of separation wore on, the words in my texts to her became deeper and richer in meaning... because my realization of her goodness became deeper and richer.  (Absence does make the heart grow fonder!)

Secondly, I now have a greater appreciation for the effect my absences might have upon her.  Usually it's me leaving her alone when I travel.  Now, I am much more concerned for the future times that I will be gone... leaving her at home in a lonely space.  Maybe this will help me find ways to help her through those times, and give me better words to say when I'm gone.

Another, even greater, reality that I contemplated through and since her absence has been my utter dependence on our loving Lord.  "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1).  When people aren't around or people fail me, God is always there.  God is my first and greatest companion.  He is my all in all.  "I will always be with you" (Joshua 1:5) God says hundreds of times in the Bible.  I love the words of Psalm 68:5-6... "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing..."  This is good news for everyone.

I'm not the only one who gets lonely!

There are countless numbers of lonely people in our culture.  People sitting alone in their homes, widows, divorcees, singles, kids whose parents are too busy, teenagers that don't seem to fit into the social circles at school, forgotten elderly in assisted care homes, discouraged spouses who are lonely within the broken confines of their marriages.

There is loneliness everywhere; oftentimes hidden, oftentimes masked.  America values independence, but one great unintended consequence of our freedom-loving, rights-based, independent culture is desperate loneliness.

When Psalm 68:6 says, as mentioned above, that "God sets the lonely in families," I fear that people may think that's a false promise.  Those who don't have family around... or those whose family members aren't always filled with love.  Where is God in the midst of MY loneliness?, they may wonder.  That's an understandable question.  But it also has an answer.

God has purposed to put us into spiritual families.  The Apostle Paul wrote to a group of people who had faith in God in the book of Ephesians in the Bible.  He said, "You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household..."  He was reminding them that within their local gathering of believers, there is place and belonging.  God's local expressions of His church are very important.  When God says that He will put the lonely into families, it's not always our blood relatives.  Sometimes it's our church family... our spiritual family.

Did you ever wonder when you were sitting in church on Sunday, "Who here is lonely?"  Or maybe, "Who here is lonely like I am?"  There is nothing to be ashamed of when you are lonely.  Everyone is lonely at some point.  This broken, sinful world frequently causes loneliness.

But, the adult, mature thing to do when you are lonely is admit it to yourself, admit it to God and then begin to do something about it.  And the best thing you can do is accept God's offer of a spiritual family and go be with a group of people at a church.  Will those people be perfect?  No.  Will they immediately fill your need for companionship and friendship?  It may take a little while.  But at our church we work hard at helping people fit in and find a place of belonging and friendship and purpose.

I believe God cares deeply about us and knows our intimate needs for love and companionship.  In fact, He has given Himself to this world to show us how much He loves us (John 3:16).  Jesus even said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

I'm so glad God loves me through my loneliness when others aren't around.  AND, I'm so glad my church family is God's haven of loving friendship for me in this broken world.

Unity in Jesus

I'm so thankful this week for the unity we have in our church.  Each morning we've offered a simple Soccer Camp to kids from many different backgrounds.  Some of the kids are from our church, some from the neighborhood, some from the Hispanic families that our Hispanic pastor has been reaching out to.  Each morning we welcome every single one of those kids in the love of Christ.  It doesn't matter what their background is.  Jesus loves them all.  At mid-morning, we stop playing soccer and come into the gym for a rest, some snacks, and a short message on the love of Christ.  Many of the kids have invited Jesus into their hearts for the first time.  And what has really blessed my heart is how natural the intercultural outreach is for our church.  We are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).  With all the division and hatred in the world today, it's so nice to be a part of a group of people that just focuses on seeing people like God sees them... as eternal beings that are invited to live with God forever in heaven. 

Plus, I'm seeing so many people of our church volunteering their time to show Christ's love.  As a pastor, I'm really proud of them.  Children's Director McKenzie O'Neil and Hispanic Pastor Sorin Crivceag have worked hard to plan this event and ask volunteers to help.  Everyone is working together so well!  Another show of unity in Jesus.

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus."  Romans 15:5

Are "Believers in Jesus" and "Disciples of Jesus" the same thing?

Are “believers in Jesus” and “disciples of Jesus” the same thing?

By Jeremy Myers

Here is a truth that will help you unpack many tricky and often-misunderstood Bible passages:

Though all believers have eternal life,
Not all believers are disciples, and
Not all disciples are believers.

It seems a little confusing at first, but if we think through each statement a little more slowly, it all makes sense.

Let’s unpack the statements one at a time:

All believers have eternal life

We know from numerous Bible passages that anyone who believes in Jesus has eternal life. Jesus makes this claim over and over in the Gospel of John (cf. John 3:16; 5:24; 6:47). There should be nothing too controversial about this statement by Jesus, but strangely, many Christians don’t agree with Jesus on this matter. Many say that faith alone in Jesus Christ alone is not enough, for we also need to submit our lives to Jesus, obey Jesus, follow Jesus, and perform all sorts of good works to prove that we truly belong to Jesus. But if you look at all of the Bible passages which contain instructions for these sorts of things, they ALL are talking about becoming a follower, or disciple, of Jesus. They are NOT talking about receiving the free gift of eternal life from Jesus.

This leads to the second statement from above:

Not all believers are disciples

Ancient discipleship was very close to what we call apprenticeship. A person would follow and learn from a master teacher or craftsman in order to become like him and do what he did (Matt 10:25; Luke 6:40).  This usually progressed in four stages: First, he listens to the master’s instructions. Second, he watches the master perform the action. Third, he performs the action with the master’s help. Fourth, he is able to perform the action on his own, and starts teaching it to others.

A disciple (mathētēs) who only listened to the master teach but never progressed out of the classroom, would never be considered a true disciple, even if they could recite from memory everything the teacher had ever said.

While “classroom” teaching and learning was part of the discipleship process, it was only the very first part. A student who never progressed past the classroom would not be considered successful. While learning was important, putting into practice what had been learned was the most important.

A true disciple not only learns what the teacher knows, but also practices what the teacher does (cf. Luke 6:40).

All of this means, of course, that true discipleship is a lifelong process, especially when we think of being a disciple of Jesus.

Since no person can ever fully learn everything Jesus has to teach, and no person can ever fully resemble and practice everything that Jesus leads us to do, all who are disciples of Jesus will spend their entire lives learning from Jesus and following in His footsteps.

Since this is so, it should be immediately obvious that there are major differences between believing in Jesus for eternal life and being a disciple of Jesus.For example, once a person receives eternal life through faith in Jesus, they have eternal life forever. They receive the free gift of eternal life immediately upon believing in Jesus, and nothing they can say or do in the future will cause God to take away this eternal life from them.

Discipleship, however, is not instantaneous, is not a free gift of God, and has numerous ongoing conditions.

While a person cannot lose their eternal life, they can stop being a disciple if they fail to meet the conditions.

Therefore, as you can see, it is possible to believe in Jesus for eternal life, but fail in several aspects of discipleship. Such a person is still part of the family of God, but they are not properly participating in the activities of the family of God.  God will not kick them out of His family for such inactivity, but will continue to seek to teach, train, call, and maybe even discipline these children so that they will grow up from infancy and become productive members of His family.

But this leads to another surprising insight … the third statement from above:

Not all disciples are believers

Just as it is quite possible for someone to believe in Jesus, but not become a fully-committed follower of Jesus, it is also possible for someone to follow Jesus as a disciple, but never actually believe in Him for eternal life.

Judas Iscariot might be one example, but there are other examples in the Gospel accounts, such as those who follow Jesus for a while, but then leave Him when the going gets tough (cf. John 6:66). It appears that many of those who left didn’t believe in Jesus for eternal life.

Even in modern times, we all know people who consider Jesus to be a good moral teacher, and try to follow His example and teaching, and yet who still believe that their own good works and moral living is how they will earn eternal life for themselves.  Such people are certainly disciples of Jesus, for they listen to much of what He says and follow His example, but they do not have eternal life because they have not believed in Jesus for eternal life.

Mahatma Gandhi repeatedly said that he did his best to follow the teachings and example of Jesus, especially what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. It is too bad we Christians do not follow the example of Gandhi in this regard! However, as far as we know, Gandhi never believed one of the main things that Jesus taught, which is that God gives eternal life to anyone who believes in Jesus for it.

Sadly, there are probably many who call themselves Christians who do their best to follow Jesus, and yet who have not believed in Jesus for eternal life but instead continue to trust in their own good works and effort to earn everlasting life for themselves.

Seek to be BOTH a believer AND a Disciple

If you want the full experience of the Christian life, you should not only believe in Jesus for eternal life, but also seek to follow Jesus in the path of discipleship. This way, you not only have eternal life from Jesus, but the abundant life with Jesus.  You not only get to be part of the family of God, but also get to join in the thrilling adventures that God goes on with His active family members.

Let me provide one example of how this helps us understand Scripture.

Matthew 10:37-39 is about discipleship; not eternal life

Matthew 10:37-39 contains several more costly and difficult conditions for the person who would be a disciple of Jesus.  In the previous context, Jesus said that His teachings would create division and strife between family members (Matt 10:34-36). Jesus says that if this happens, His disciples must choose to follow Him rather than stay committed to their family. In the parallel passage of Luke 14:26-33, Jesus says that His disciples must even “hate” their family members.

These passages have been widely misunderstood, primarily because we do not live in the honor and shame culture of Jesus’ day. In a culture that was governed by honor and shame, turning away from family business, family traditions, and family culture to follow other traditions was akin to hating your family.  In that culture, there was no greater way to bring shame on your family. If a person told their family that they were going to give up the family inheritance, not follow through on the family business, and not follow the family traditions, the other family members would feel slighted, insulted, shamed, and even hated. They might say, “Why do you hate us so much to turn your back on your traditions?”

Jesus is saying that in such situations, there might not be anything one of His followers can do.  We should never hate our family members or treat them in unloving ways, of course. Such behavior has nothing to do with following Jesus.  But when we follow Jesus, other family members are likely to misunderstand. They might even (wrongly) feel that we hate them.  And while we are to always show our family members love, and invite them to follow Jesus along with us, if they force us to choose between Jesus and family, Jesus is saying that His disciples will choose Him.

This is not easy. It will feel like dying, which is exactly what Jesus says.  He invites His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him. Following Jesus is following Him into the death of our old life.  We will die to old habits, old traditions, and old beliefs. We will lose our old life. But in the process, we will gain a new way of living with Jesus Christ. When we lose our life for the cause of Christ, we gain a new life with Him (cf. Matt 16:24-27; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-26).

This discussion in Matthew 10:39 about finding a new life with Jesus has caused some to think that Jesus is referring to eternal life. But typically, when Jesus is referring to eternal life, He refers to it as such. When He is simply talking about life, He is referring to the temporal, physical life here on earth, as is the case here.  This world has a certain set of values and goals, but they always and only lead to death. So, when we try to hold on to our life in this world, we lose it. However, when we give up the values and goals of life in this world, and instead adopt and accept the values and goals of Jesus, it is then that we discover how to properly live this life with God and with others.

So, do you want to follow Jesus on the path of discipleship? It won’t be easy. It might even cause some of your family members to condemn and hate you. But the life you will gain as an active member of the family of God will make it all worth it.  Matthew 10:37-39 is not telling you how to receive eternal life, but is telling you what you can expect if you truly follow Jesus on the path of discipleship. Following Jesus can be quite costly, but it is more than worth the cost.

A chart showing the differences between believers and disciples

Eternal Life	Discipleship
Free Gift	Costly
Received through faith	Received through commitment and obedience
Not by works	By works
Instant justification	Life-long sanctification
Jesus paid the price	The Christian pays the price
Believe in Jesus	Follow Jesus as Lord
Believe in Jesus	Obey the commands
Cannot be earned	Earns reward

Are you a believer AND a disciple?

So … have you believed in Jesus for eternal life? Good! Now listen for where Jesus wants to lead you…

Are you trying to follow Jesus, but you are not sure you have eternal life? That’s a good start … but let me be one of the first to invite you to believe in Jesus so that you can KNOW that you have eternal life, and so that you can better follow the leading of Jesus in your life.

Make sure you understand the differences between believing in Jesus for eternal life and following Jesus on the path of discipleship. The condition and results of both are completely different, but both are necessary to experience ALL that God wants for us in the life.

The strongest people have humility

I am thinking a lot about humility this week as I prepare my sermon for Sunday.  Philippians 2:5-8... "You should have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped..."  And it goes on to say how much Jesus humiliated Himself in coming down from heaven to earth. 

We don't like the word "humiliated."  It sounds like what happens when we make a mistake and look bad in the eyes of others.  But Jesus purposely humiliated Himself.  He was the Lord of heaven and yet He became a servant on earth.  He had all divine authority, and yet gave up the use of that divine authority whenever it would benefit Himself instead of others.

I am a prideful person.  So often I want others to think well of me and I want to be known as a person who gets things done.  Getting things done is not wrong, but to do so in order to get the praise is where I stumble.  Many people are the same.  I'm not alone.  But to serve others and do things for the benefit of others is Christlike.

There are many great examples in my life and at our church of people who have learned that humility is strength.  Saying your sorry is powerful.  Admitting your need for God is foundational.  As one of our Elders often says on Sunday mornings, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace."

The Bible is clear on this point.  Pride and arrogance are hurtful and weak.  Humility and repentance bring power and strength.  It's counter intuitive to our natural selves, but wise and insightful in our redeemed spirits. 

This is the core of our personal testimonies:  admitting our sin and our need for God.  What does it mean to share your faith?  It means to share that you have faith in God's forgiveness through Christ, and that you need His forgiveness because of the messes you've made in life.  The more open and humble I am about my past sins, the more glory God gets when I share how much He has forgiven me.

Lord, help me to be more humble today, like Jesus.

Day 4 of 21 leading up to Easter

The same power that God used to raise Christ from the dead is the power He uses in us to raise us to eternal life and give us daily power for living!  That's an incredible truth!  Thank you, God, for your power within me.  When I struggle with sin and temptation, I can know that I have God's power within me.  When I feel defeated and depressed, I can know that I have God's power within me.  When I think of myself as inadequate or puny, I can know that I have God's power within me.  Thank you, God, for your power within me!

Day 2 of 21 leading up to Easter

Day 2 of 21 leading up to Easter... Jesus promised eternal life to those who believe in Him when he said to Martha:  "I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live even though they die and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."  That's an AMAZING statement.  LIVING FOREVER.  Question:  When was the first time you truly understood that you would live forever because of your faith in God through Jesus Christ?

DAY 1 of 21 leading up to Easter

In 1978, at the age of 14, Jesus changed my life.  I went from being a selfish, disobedient kid to being a forgiven child of God.  Not everything changed right away - I was still selfish and sometimes disobedient, and even today I still fight selfishness and pride - but my heart changed.  Because of the power of God in my life, things began to be different.  That power is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.  We'll celebrate that power in 21 days... Resurrection Sunday, 2019.  HOW HAS GOD CHANGED YOUR LIFE BY HIS RESURRECTION POWER?  Please share a word of testimony in the comments section of this Facebook post.