A Stumbler's Walk | PERSUADING LIGHT

And (king) Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?”

- Acts 26:28 

Do we live persuasive lives? Do we speak words, as did Paul, of selfless authority and penetrating authenticity? And are these words evidenced by the follow-through of a changed and changing character?

King Agrippa walked into court with all the self-promotion and pomp of Apollo Creed in Rocky (I or IV – you pick it). He thought hearing Paul would provide good sport. When Agrippa walked out, it was with a new recognition of a void in his soul. Truth pierces the heart and exposes what is within. The power and authenticity of Paul’s words (and life) could not be ignored.

I believe Agrippa hid behind his question to Paul. He was exposed and it was uncomfortable. A light was shone into dark areas of his life; into areas he was unwilling to go. The Apostle John utilizes the analogy of light and darkness in the first chapters of both his gospel and of his first letter. The light of Jesus shines in the darkness. Yet many react by trying to hide from the light. Many embrace the darkness. Like Agrippa, it is natural to hide when the light of truth shines into areas that we are not ready to face.

Paul was exposed by the light of Christ on the Damascus road. It changed him. When we are exposed by the light of Jesus and his truth we are faced with a choice; a choice that leads down divergent paths. One is a path of perpetual darkness, hiding and covering up. The other, though blindingly uncomfortable at first, is a path of grace and continual light. John writes that we, "…walk in the light, as he is in the light… (1 John 1:17).

Exposure to the light of Christ is not a one-time thing. We are continually exposed through scripture, worship, the community of believers, prayer, etc. And as we walk in the light, we become persuaded people. Persuaded by Christ's love, his truth, his presence. As the old hymn says (based on 2 Timothy 1:12): I am not ashamed: ...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Persuaded people are persuasive people.

God, shine your light on me.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | MY NAME

So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city.

- Acts 25:23 

Some people need to prove themselves a big deal. People who realize they are a big deal to God don't need to prove it to others. 

You and I are a big deal to God.

We are the focus of his love, the recipients of his grace, the targets of his mercy, and the conduits of his power. And that is enough… because it is everything.

God, thank you for knowing my name.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | FREE to LOVE

Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.

-Acts 23:1 

How do we live our lives "before God in all good conscience?" What is it God requires of us? 

In the book of Micah we read, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). 

Do justice… love kindness… walk humbly…. 

Pretty simple. Jesus summed up the whole Bible with these words, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… (and) love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39).

Love is the core of the Christian message; love for God, love for others and love for ourselves. We are most like Christ when we love. We are the greatest reflection of the Father when we love. Jesus said, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Love exposes un-love. Notice what immediately follows Paul's statement: "'Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.' And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth" (Acts 23:1-2). Religion, devoid of love, is ugly.

When we are honest before God, he exposes the un-love in us. He doesn't expose in order to condemn. Not to punish. But to remove it, and free us to love; Him… others… ourselves. It is this process of honesty before God - the openness, exposing, cleansing and freeing - that allows us to live "before God in all good conscience."

Never confuse conviction with condemnation. God convicts with a purpose to restore. Condemnation is not from God; its source and purpose are destructive. Paul writes, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

Jesus said, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). We have been set free. Free from condemnation - by God or others. Free to love. Free to live "before God in all good conscience."

God, thank you for setting me free.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | STORY

As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon…

- Acts 22:6 

This is Paul's, "I once was…, but now I am…" story. He recounts it three times in the book of Acts.

There is power in testimony. Others may argue our theology. They can dispute the existence of God on whatever grounds they choose. Many will debate his nature or the pathway to salvation - whatever version they choose. (None of this should cause fear. I am a believer that truth stands up to question and scrutiny; that truth shines when dialogue is respectful and open-minded).

What no one can argue however, is our story. 

Why? Because we own it. You and I are the utmost experts on what God has done and is doing in our lives. When we say, "I once was…, but now I am…," no one has the insight or ability to refute. Eye witness testimony is a powerful thing; in a court of law as in every aspect of life. And no one is as "eye witness" to our own story as we are.

That said, our life (and lifestyle) better match up with our beliefs and our words. When we tell the story of our lives, it is vital that the evidence support it. We are inundated with altered "before and after" photos and testimonials pushing everything from diet pills to skin rejuvenators. When true, they are powerful. When proven false, credibility tanks. The evidence of our lives must match our story.

Ours are not so much "before and after" stories. They are more "before and becoming…" stories. There is a point we come face to face with the reality of Christ. In that moment we are changed; we are given new life. And from that moment we are continually transformed. "Be (being continually) transformed by the renewal of your mind," (Romans 12:2 - emphasizing verb tense in the original Greek).

Frankly, "before and after" would be a little boring; "before and becoming…" is dynamic and exciting. We experience God's mercy and grace "…new every morning," (Lamentations 3:23).

Tell your "before and becoming…" story today. More importantly, LIVE your story today.

God, thank you I am not what I was, and that I am not yet what I will be.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | SAY-DO

You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time…

- Acts 20:17

The Christian life is not about talking a good game. Our lifestyle must reflect what we believe. Those around take notice.  This life of faith is about experiencing the grace and power of God through Christ and living in surrender. Saying christian things is not enough. (By christian things, I mean  cliches and nice sounding but weak - or meaningless - religious platitudes). 

Paul writes, "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power,” (1 Corinthians 4:20). James put it this way; "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? ...if a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 4:14-16).

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” 

― Brennan Manning

There is an important distinction, and we must understand this; we do not do Christian things in attempt to prove ourselves acceptable to God. We are already accepted. Christ has seen to that through his cross. (Re-read the last two sentences as many times as it takes to sink in). We live the Christian life as children who are pleasing to their father; and that is freeing. 

The Christian things we say and do (which better match up), we say and do not to gain acceptance from God or others. We say them and do them from a positional security. We are children of God. There is a difference in motivation that boils down to the opposites of fear and faith - and that gulf is wider than the Grand Canyon.

The Apostle Paul was attacked and accused from every direction throughout his ministry recorded in the book of Acts. Ultimately, he could make the statement, "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time..."

Can we say the same?

God, you give me life, and I am free to live with you and for you.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | HANDMADE gODS

 … gods made with hands are not gods.- Acts 19:26 

Genesis opens, "In the beginning, God…." The gospel of John begins with these words, "In the beginning was the Word…." (later identifying Jesus as the Word). God reveals himself to us in many ways - in nature, through creation, in the uniqueness of human life, in a loving act. 

Specifically, he reveals himself in scripture. Ultimately and fully, he has revealed himself to us in and through Jesus Christ.

Nowhere in scripture however, is God explained. He is described in multiple ways, but never explained. As for his origin, he is the one who has always been. Moses asked God his name. When commanded to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of Israel from Egyptian slavery, Moses said, (paraphrased) "they will ask me the name of this God… what do I tell them is your name?" "God said to Moses, 'I AM Who I AM. Say this to the people… I AM has sent me…'" (Exodus 3:14).

gods made with hands pass; (yes, I realize I just started the sentence without capitalization). They become tainted or decay. They lose power - or are revealed for the powerless frauds they truly are. gods made with hands have origin and expiration. They have a shelf life. They are unworthy of worship.

Handmade gods come in many shapes and forms. They are not all easily identifiable golden calves. They take the form of stock portfolios, philosophical constructs, religion, relationships, reflections in the mirror; on and on. Handmade gods are sometimes blatant, but often subtle. Many wonderful things become ugly when they are exalted to godhood (god-ness?).

Each of us has some handmade Gods. Commandment #1: "You shall have no other gods before (beside) me," (Exodus 20:3). The one true God is not threatened by a little competition. It's not that. He knows that handmade gods are detrimental to us in so many ways.

The I AM has no origin. He has no expiration. He is the God who has always been and who always will be. Yet he is not the God of the past or the future. He is always the God of the present. I AM.

This is powerfully comforting. Handmade gods often work in our favor for a while. But even then, leave us somehow empty and wanting. Ultimately they prove themselves to be powerless and draining. The God WHO IS, is always present. He is always powerful. He is always in love with us.

...gods made with hands are not gods. God IS…

God, thank you for being real and present, powerful and gracious… thank you that You Are.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | MISSION

…for they were tent-makers by trade.

- Acts 18:3 

Mission.

God has one for you, he has one for me. Our mission is both broad: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…," (Matthew 28:19); and specific, as was Paul's throughout Asia Minor. It is easy for us to think of Missions - that which happens with dollars we may give through a church, and is carried out by others ("professionals") to reach people in far corners of the world. But I am not referring to missions, I'm talking mission. Mission is carried out by mechanics and managers, teachers and plumbers, coaches and salespeople, etc. - "tent-makers." Mission is for you and me. We are the called.

A mission is personal.

Our specific mission can be lifelong - think Mother Teresa. Sometimes it changes direction and takes on different avenues. Paul, for example, completely changed focus and tactics in Acts 18:6. Having begun on mission to tell Jews the good news of Jesus, his mission focus changed. He became the Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13).

God has distinctly gifted each of us and prepared us for our mission. He specifically calls us. This preparation is, by the way, an ongoing process. My experience: we will never feel ready or completely capable. Mission requires faith. And faith is trust in the character and power of God.

We easily focus on the mistakes, trials and missed opportunities of our past. We tend to think we have somehow been disqualified, or were never qualified. At the risk of being indelicate, that is a lie; and in it we have somehow overlooked the character and power of God. God invites us right where we are, and as we are, to join him.

Now to be (possibly too) personal and a little vulnerable. I am searching for my mission. Maybe you can relate. More accurately, I am seeking the God who calls; diligently and patiently waiting and listening. That may sound strange coming from a guy who spent over 25 years in the ministry - twelve as a senior pastor. Honestly, I saw church ministry as tent making in a way. My trade has changed. My heart is still mission-focused.

So we live according to Jesus' broad mission for our lives. And we are attentive to his voice leading us into our specific mission(s). At least that's my plan.

God, I will walk in what I know, and change directions where you lead.

For now...

D