"Because of My Enemies"

 Spirit & Truth # 241

“Because of My Enemies”

By Rev. Greg Smith

            Ten years ago this past Sunday, our nation was attacked.  Thousands were killed in a brutal suicide mission.  Individual families had their lives changed, with loved ones ripped away in their prime and without warning.  America was changed on that day.  Suddenly, secure living was a myth.  People flocked to churches, at least for a while.  They cried out to God for healing, and struggled with their ability to forgive.

            Country singers responded with the heartcry of America.  Toby Keith sang:

Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shakin' her fist
And the eagle will fly
Man, it's gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringin' her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue

Justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in you’re a--
It's the American way[i]

            It has been ten years now, and this past Sunday many of us attended prayer vigils and remembrance services to honor those who have fallen.  If they were well-done, they honored the victims, but they also honored the lives of civilian casualties that have taken place in wars since September 11.  If they were done very well, then they even remembered the human lives that were lost to the tragedy of religiously guided suicide on that day.  September 11 of this year has caused me to ask the question, “How do we respond to our enemies?”

You see, initial anger at an injustice in your life is understandable.  No matter who your enemy is, both personal and national, your immediate response is usually anger.  Then there’s the lengthy grief process of those who have experienced loss.  But ultimately, there must be healing.

King David was had a lot of deadly enemies—some of them were even in his own family.  His prayer in Psalm 5:8 was, “Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies.”  If we’re honest with ourselves, we behave pretty well when things are going nicely.  But when our enemies come against us, they try our patience and cause us to explode in anger.  David’s psalm admits that it’s our enemies that tempt us toward an unrighteous response.  He prays that God will lead us in righteousness, specifically because these people make it so difficult to respond in the right way.

It’s reported the Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, never bore a grudge.  When a friend wanted to remind her of an offense someone had done to her, the friend said, “Don’t you remember?”  Clara could only respond, “No.  I distinctly remember forgetting that.”  That’s the kind of Christian that Jesus calls each of His followers to be.

How do you respond to your enemies?  Jesus taught us to forgive them, love them, and pray for them.  Maybe you’re not quite there yet, but Psalm 8:5 gives us the first step.  Walk in righteousness, because of your enemies.

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[i] Song:  “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American).”

"Earthquakes and Kings"

Spirit & Truth # 240

“Earthquakes and Kings”

By Rev. Greg Smith

Samuel Anoints Samuel as king of Israel  "http://thebiblerevival.com"

            In his song “Beautiful Boy,” John lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”  Lennon advises patience in life—but patience is often something that’s hard to come by.  We want to see our plans work out—and we want it now.  But God has other plans.

            2 Samuel 9:1-10:1 tells the story of a young man named Saul who is sent to recover his father’s lost donkeys.  Saul goes from village to village looking for the errant animals.  Finally his companion suggests that they visit the local prophet Samuel, who might tell them where the donkeys are.  Meanwhile God has already told Samuel that Saul is coming.  Saul is God’s choice to be the first king of Israel—even though he doesn’t know it yet.  Samuel has been planning a feast, and has reserved the choicest piece of meat for Samuel.  When Saul meets Samuel, the prophet reveals that he already knows that Saul is looking for his father’s donkeys—that they are all right, and have been recovered.  Samuel invites Saul to the banquet and honors him with the choice meat.  The next day, he tells him that what really brought him to the prophet is the will of God—for the Lord has chosen him to be the ruler of Israel.  Samuel pours oil on Saul’s head and anoints him as king.

            “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.”  When Samuel set out to look for his father’s donkeys, he had no idea that he’d end up visiting a seer.  When he saw the prophet, he was clueless that the next day, he’d be anointing as king.  But God’s plans were bigger than Saul’s plans.

            Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” God’s plans are bigger than my plans, too.  I was reminded of that recently.

            The morning of August 23, my wife and I were on the way to visit somebody in the hospital.  I was off my schedule, and since we were running later than expected, we stopped at a restaurant for lunch.  Just before we left, we bumped into someone who was on the way into the restaurant—my dad and stepmom, whom I had not seen for  over two years.  (We won’t get into all the reasons.  Suffice it to say that the distance has been their choice, and not mine.)  What a strange coincidence that was!  (Actually, I don’t believe in coincidences—I call them “Godincidences.”)  “Why don’t you join us?” they said.  And not long after we sat down, the earth shook, with a 5.8 magnitude tremor.

            Of course, I don’t really believe the earthquake was my fault.  But God used the earthquake in my life to underscore that His plans for me are what happens while I’m busy making other plans.  What if I hadn’t been running late that day?  What if we’d picked a different restaurant?  What if we’d payed a little less attention to who was coming in the restaurant door?  We would have missed a much-needed reunion!  The earthquake just reminded me that God had engineered the “chance” meeting.

            You probably haven’t recently gone looking for your father’s missing donkeys.  Maybe God won’t highlight His actions in your life with an earthquake.  But the next time life takes you on an unexpected adventure—just go with it!  Watch the strange and wonderful events that God will bring into your day.  Trust that His ways are greater than your ways, and look forward to your next “Godincidence.” 

           

           

"Looking Out for Number One"

Spirit & Truth # 239

“Looking Out for Number One”

By Rev. Greg Smith

In Matthew 16:21-24, Jesus tries to prepare His disciples for His impending suffering and crucifixion, but Peter refuses to accept Jesus’ predictions.  Verse 22 (NIV) says, “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’”

The Greek words translated as “Never, Lord!” in the NIV are ileos soi, which literally means “Merciful you!”  Young’s Literal Translation renders it, “Be kind to thyself, sir!”  In essence, it could be said that Peter was looking out for Number One—himself.  He was looking out for his own emotional needs not to lose his master.  He disguised it as looking out for Jesus’ needs, imploring Jesus to treat Himself kindly and find some other way.

In verse 23 (NIV), Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”  Jesus means that Peter has made himself Number One in his own life, taking care of his own self-interests and actually becoming an adversary to God’s redemptive plan.  The name “Satan” actually means “adversary,” so in this case it truly could be said that Peter was a satan.  Peter’s words, “Be kind to thyself, sir” almost echo the false concern that Satan tried to show Jesus when he tempted the Lord in the wilderness.  I can imagine the Evil One saying, “Be kind to yourself, Jesus.  If you’re hungry, then just turn these stones to bread.”[i]
 

When we follow our own agendas rather God’s interests, we make ourselves Number One in our own lives.  The 1977 book, Looking Out for Number One[ii], by Robert J. Ringer, espouses the idea of putting yourself first.  Ringer says, “Looking Out For Number One is the conscious, rational effort to spend as much time as possible doing those things which bring you the greatest amount of pleasure and less time on those which cause pain (Pg. 10).”  He also writes, “When you boil it all down, I think that’s what everyone’s main objective in life is—to feel good (Pg. 12).”

Is that what life’s all about?  Feeling good?  Maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain?  At that moment, Peter seemed to think so.  He was so focused on feeling good that he forgot to glorify God.  The Westminster Shorter Catechism says, “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.”  When your chief end is to feel good, you become a satan in your life and in the lives of others.  When your chief end is to glorify God, you truly assist the mission of Christ in the world.  Thank God that Jesus' mission wasn't all about feeling good--but in glorifying God, even to the point of self-sacrifice!

In verses 24-25 (NIV), Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”  The word Jesus uses for life is psuchen, from which we get the word psyche.  Jesus’ meaning is clear:  Whoever wants to reserve their thoughts, identity, and agenda for themselves will instead lose themselves.  Whoever gives their psyche up to God will gain all.  So, who’s Number One in your life?  Is it you—or is it Jesus?  I challenge you to look out for Number One—but be careful who that Number One really is.

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[i] My version of Matthew 4:3

[ii] Ringer, Robert J.  Looking Out for Number One.  Ballantine Books: New York.  1977.

"Deliver us From the Evil One"

“Deliver Us From the Evil One”

Rev. Greg Smith

© 2011

"Cronus Devouring His Children" by Goya

How would you feel if a thief broke into your house and stole your most precious treasures?  You might experience feelings of vulnerability, helplessness, and violation.  But what can a thief take that’s of any real value, anyway?  Things can be replaced.  But what if someone broke into your house and kidnapped one of your children?  It’s hard to even imagine the anguish!  If you knew that a kidnapper was coming, you’d stay up all night with loaded shotgun, alert and sober, waiting to defend your loved ones.

Yet the thief’s methods are usually not so overt, and all too often we aren’t that good at keeping watch.  Satan isn’t a red-suited, horned, pitchfork-carrying monster.  If he looked that way, nobody would find the sin he offers so attractive!  In reality, 2 Corinthians 11:14b-15 says, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”  Satan is sneaky.  The thief is covert.  Dressing up as an angel of light, he convinces you that he has your best interest at heart.  He smiles broadly and gets you to trust him.  Then he steals what’s most precious to you.

John 10:10 says, ““The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  Jesus doesn’t want His people ravaged by Satan.  He has come for blessing.  But God’s people must beware.  Satan’s servants “come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (Matthew 7:15).”  They do not come in overtly, tempting you to do some bad thing.  They come in smiling, tempting you to trust that they have only good in store for you.  Then, once you trust them, they steal away your soul.  

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  The thief is a silent stalker.  He doesn’t attack in the light, but prefers to hide in the dark.  With tactics like that, how can you defend against him?

Verses 9-11 say, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.   To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 

First, stand firm in the faith.  Do not waver or compromise in your reliance on God.  Second, understand that other believers have been through similar battles.  Because they have been there, they can be a support to you.  Third, remember the power and grace of God, who fights your battles for you.  Fourth, trust that whatever you may lose—God can restore.  He will make you strong, firm, and steadfast if you trust in Him.  Then, rest in the final “amen” of these verses.  “Amen” means “so be it,” or “let it be,” or “Thy will be done.”  It is an acknowledgement that God is in control and we’re not.  It also happens to be one of the names of Jesus (Revelation 3:14).  Be alert and sober, but rest yourself in Jesus as well.  Let Him guard your heart as you pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Luke 11:4).”

Stumps and Clumps

Spirit & Truth # 237

“Stumps and Clumps”

By Rev. Greg Smith

            Some time ago, we had a tree in the yard that was rotten to the core, so we had a tree service come and cut it down.  They did a good job at removing the tree, but they left a stump which was never ground down, cut up, pulled up, or otherwise removed.  It wasn’t long after that, that we discovered tender shoots springing up from that old stump.  They seemed small at first, but today, just a few months later, that old stump has become a spreading clump of shoots, springing out in every direction and making the yard look a mess.  

It occurs to me that our lives are that way.  When we realize the sin that makes us rotten to the core, we call in the Surgeon of our souls who cuts away everything that displeases God.  In Matthew 3:10 (NKJV) John the Baptist says, “Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.  Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”  Jesus cuts the sin out of our lives, even though it may mean he has to cut us down to a stump.  If the ax is laid to the root, this means that our sin is totally eliminated, and will not return.  But all too often we let Him cut away our sin only to have it sprout shoots and grow back again.  Those sprouts of sin spread faster than you can imagine, and pretty soon what looked like a clean-cut stump ends up a clump of spreading sin that makes your whole life a mess.

What sin do you find growing in the center of your life?  Ask Jesus, and He will cut it out of your heart.  But be careful to keep the sin cut out, or it will come back worse than it was before.  Jesus says in Luke 11:24-26 (NKJV), “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order.  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the state of that man is worse than the first.”  

Don’t let your soul become hospitable to sin that’s already been cast out.  God, the Master Gardener, wants to remove the sin from your life today.  But it’s up to you to maintain the pruning work that He’s done.  Don’t let sin grow back.  Let Him grind your sin out completely, so that it’ll never return.  Don’t let your stump get a new clump.  When God cuts the sin off, it’s up to you to keep it off.

Anxious Thoughts

Spirit & Truth # 236

“Anxious Thoughts”

                                                                                            

By Rev. Greg Smith

“The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”

--George Muller

            God wants you to have a beautiful prayer life, but often that’s easier said than done.  If you’re like me, it’s all too often that distracting and anxious thoughts pop up, destroying whatever peace you may have gained through prayer.  Psalm 139 is a beautiful prayer of trust in God, acknowledging that God knows us inside and out, is constantly thinking about us, and is always present with us.  Yet the psalmist admits that distracting and anxious thoughts interfere with his prayer life, too.

            In verses 11-12 (NIV), David says, “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”  David admits that he is prone to thoughts of worry and darkness, but he reminds himself that God is in control.  Even darkness is not dark to God—because God is the light.  When anxious thoughts invade your prayer life, simply smile and remind yourself that your darkness is not God’s darkness, and that He is the light.

            The bulk of David’s psalm is calming, inspiring, and reassuring—much like our devotion time should be.  But then the tone of David’s psalm changes.  Suddenly, sandwiched between words of comfort, David writes, “If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.  Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?  I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies (vv. 19-21 NIV).”  

When we read these verses, we wonder where they came from, because they’re so out of character for the rest of the psalm.  The answer is that these are David’s wandering, distracting, anxious thoughts.  Instead of the reassurance that he felt just a few verses ago, now David shifts to worrying about evildoers.  How our thoughts wander when we’re in prayer as well!  But we need to be careful about anxious thoughts.  Arthur Somers Roche warns that “anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all others thoughts are drained.”  If you let anxiety rule your thought life, you’ll find that there’s little room left for faith.

So, regaining his composure, David prays, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (vv. 23-24 NIV).”  When anxious thoughts interrupt your prayer time, simply smile at them like an old friend.  Regain your composure and ask God to search you and know your heart and your anxiety.  Ask Him to cleanse your heart of anything that gets in the way of your peaceful relationship with the Lord, and ask Him to lead you in His eternal way.

Heaven (Really) Is For Real

Spirit & Truth # 234

“Heaven (Really) Is For Real”

                                                                                            

By Rev. Greg Smith

            I don’t do book reviews very often, but there’s one book that everyone’s been talking about lately, and I wanted to share my thoughts.  Rev. Todd Burpo’s new book, Heaven is For Real, written with Lynn Vincent, is the account of his four-year-old son Colton’s near death experience, and the things Colton says he saw in heaven.  Everywhere I turn, people have been asking me, “Have you read it?”  Or, having assumed that I have read it, they have asked me for a pastor’s perspective.  So I finally gave in.  I’m a slow reader, but even as such, the 154 pages went by quickly.  Burpo’s narrative flows smoothly and enjoyably, making the book a pleasurable read.

            The remarkable thing about Colton’s story is that it happened to such a small child.  When he began sharing with his parents the things he had seen in heaven, he related details that no child of his age would know just from reading the Bible or listening in Sunday school.  A few things he told even taught his pastor father a thing or two.  How could Colton know these things, unless he really had had a direct experience of heaven?

            I won’t ruin the book for you, but one example is that he met his great-grandfather in heaven, a man named Pop, whom Colton had never met in life.  When Colton shared this with his parents, they showed him pictures of Pop when he was an old man.  The boy said that Pop didn’t look like that.  But later, when Colton saw a group picture that included his great-grandfather in it at the age of 29, the boy said, “How did you get a picture of Pop?”[i]  Colton also told his parents, “I have two sisters.”  They asked what he meant, for his sister Cassie was the only sister he had ever known.  Colton replied, “I have two sisters.  You had a baby die in your tummy, didn’t you?”[ii]  The Burpos had never told Colton about their miscarriage, but Colton said he spent time with his dark-haired sister, and later cried because he missed her.

            While there were a few elements of Colton’s story that made me raise an eyebrow (Pop had wings—a detail of the afterlife that the Bible never mentions,[iii] and the angel Gabriel has a seat on the left side of God[iv]) these are not impossibilities.  Just because the Bible doesn’t mention them, that doesn’t make it false.  Though some things in the book aren’t specifically outlined in scripture, I could find nothing that contracted the Bible.  Colton’s perspective on the coming battle of Armageddon certainly was chilling, and his understanding of things like the Trinity and Satan, gleaned from this near-death experience, were far beyond what a normal child of his age should grasp.  

            The most important thing I found in the book was greater Colton’s account of the pearly gates or streets of gold.  It was his newfound concern, almost obsession, that people have Jesus in their heart.  Attending a funeral for a stranger, Colton nearly had a crying fit, asking, “Did that man have Jesus?”  Colton insisted, “He can’t get into heaven if he didn’t have Jesus in his heart!”[v]  To me, this is the gold nugget of Burpo’s book.  Yes, eventually he answers the question whether or not there are animals in heaven (read the book to find out).  But most important is the question whether or not you will be there.  And that depends on whether or not you have Jesus in your heart. 

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[i] Burpo, Todd, and Vincent, Lynn.  Heaven is For Real.  Thomas Nelson Publishing: Nashville, TN.  2010. Pg. 122

[ii] ibid, pg. 94.

[iii] ibid, pg. 72

[iv] ibid, pg. 102

[v] ibid, pg. 59