Necessity

These words of Paul just floored me this morning.
I’m reminded of Acts 9:15 when Jesus, speaking of Paul, told Ananias “for he is a chosen instrument of mine”.

God’s grace was truly not wasted on Paul. Paul couldn’t help but fulfill the work God had chosen him for.

He was overflowing with the realization of the mercy and grace that had been lavished upon him. It was this grace that propelled and compelled him to accomplish what he did.

Paul truly grasped how in need of a Savior he was. His life simply couldn’t be lived any other way than in service of his Savior. He said as much in 1 Corinthians 9:16, “For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

Paul couldn’t NOT live and speak for Jesus Christ. To him, it was just unacceptable. There was no other possible response to his salvation.

How about us?

Clanging Cymbals

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV).

These words of the apostle Paul are direct and insightful. If the essential element of love is missing from our speech, we are just making noise, regardless of how eloquent we speak.

In the recording industry, one of the most challenging sounds to adequately capture is that of the cymbal. The recorded sound is often brittle, harsh, and as one engineer put it “icepick” sounding. Recording processes and techniques have technologically advanced over the years, and I believe that some of these techniques can be applied to Paul’s admonition to speak with love.

Self-Erasure

When recording was does on analog tape, there was an element that was actually beneficial to the recording of cymbals and other higher-frequency instruments. This element was referred to as ‘self-erasure’, an inherent compression in tape recording which would generally cause cymbals to sound more pleasant on the recording. In modern psychology, this term self-erasure is used to describe the practice of putting others’ needs above your own. It is generally viewed negatively, as a proponent of low self-esteem and people-pleasing. But I think that there is a good middle ground. In terms of love and speech, utilizing a healthy dose of self-erasure will place the needs of the hearer above your own, and by gracing your speech with love, your words will be much more pleasant to the ear.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3 ESV).

Choice of Equipment

Another important aspect is the selection of equipment, both cymbals and microphones. The proper equipment makes all of the difference in the world. If you’re playing crappy cymbals, it’s much more difficult to make them sound good. This relates to our word selection. Choosing the right words cannot be underestimated. And this careful selection is of itself an act of love. Take the time and effort to intentionally select your words.

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Proverbs 16:24 ESV).

Striking Technique

Along with cymbal selection is striking technique. The manner in which the cymbal is struck dramatically effects the sounds that it will produce. Think of this in terms of your tone of voice. No matter what words are chosen, if they are spoken in an unpleasant way, they will have an unpleasant effect. Even the words “I love you” can be spoken with contempt and disdain. Mind your tone, it’s just as, if not more, important than the actual words spoken. Tone of voice should be seasoned with love.

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6 ESV).

 Polarity

The last point I’ll make is that of the importance of the polarity of the microphones when recording. Polarity refers to the balance between positive (+) and negative (-). Applied to our speech, this cannot be overemphasized. When we’re speaking to someone, we should always balance the positive and negative. Even when having a difficult conversation in which negatives need to be addressed, these things can be addressed lovingly, and there must also be a healthy balance of positive affirmation. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul states that “love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”. Even in light of negative issues, positive things should be identified and acknowledged. This is what love will do.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29 ESV).

 So, our goal is to not sound like clanging cymbals at all, by having love for the people whom we are speaking to. These applicable recording techniques can help us infuse our hearts and speech with love, so that our words will be pleasing to the ear.

 

Christ Jesus, Our Wisdom

I love this so much!!

Paul is writing about how the cross is foolishness to the unbeliever, and how even God’s ‘foolishness’ is more wise than any human wisdom.

This is something that the skeptic and atheist can never comprehend. Christ Himself is our wisdom. They ask “how can you know, what is your proof?” And the answer is: JESUS CHRIST. His Spirit bears witness with our spirits (Romans 8:6). This isn’t something that can be, or needs to be, empirically demonstrated. We have all the evidence we need.

The archaeological evidence, the historical evidence, the manuscript evidence, the cosmological evidence, the teleological evidence, the scientific evidence, can be debated until we’re all blue in the face. This kind of evidence rarely leads to true knowledge and acceptance of God. God’s Spirit opens hearts and eyes.

We don’t need to proclaim our testimonies with lofty speech or earthly wisdom. We know Christ and Him crucified. Our faith does not rest in the wisdom of men. Our faith rests in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2, 5)

Health Food

Good morning, warriors!!

Every day, we feel hunger. Physical hunger. And when we do, more often than not, we eat. We’ll grab that Snickers, that PowerBar, that apple. We cater to the needs of our body when it cries out. This gives us the fuel, the energy, to continue on.

Do we respond likewise when our spirits cry out in hunger? Do we stop and cater to those needs by consuming the Word of God, and by meeting with our Father in prayer?

Do we feed our minds and our hearts with good thoughts, music that praises God, words from Scripture?

We rarely hesitate to feed our physical bodies. Sometimes we feed it good stuff, sometimes we feed it bad stuff. And the body responds appropriately. Good food gives good, lasting energy and strength. Sugar and garbage, while it may seem to give us an initial boost, eventually bogs us down.

The same is true spiritually. We need to feed our spirits. If we feed ourselves the garbage of this world and the lies of the betrayer, we’ll be weighed down.

If we feed ourselves the Truth of God’s Word, it will bring Light, Love, and Life.

Drink of the Living Water that is Jesus Christ, and you will never thirst.

Stay fierce! Stay focused! Stay faithful! ⚔️

Advance!

In today’s reading from the ‘Warrior’ plan that some of us are doing, the questions were asked: “What cause are you fighting for? Are you fighting for anything beyond yourself?”

I’m reminded of the words of our Savior Jesus:

“Therefore, GO and MAKE disciples of all the nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. TEACH these new disciples to OBEY all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

There are a lot of verbs in Jesus’ statements.

The life of the follower of Jesus isn’t idle, complacent, passive, or stagnant. It is active, involved, engaged, and moving forward.

As Pastor Levi Lusko said “God doesn’t just want you to hold your ground, He wants you to TAKE some ground!”

I think that many Christians become complacent and even backslidden because they’re not actively engaged in the fight. They’re not seeking Jesus daily or fulfilling their role in His plan to advance and expand His kingdom.

We all have a purpose. Today. Right now. Each of us woke up today by divine design, I believe that 100%.

Will we make ourselves available to God today? Will we impact this world and those around us with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Or will we simply exist, carrying on with our own agendas, indifferent to the will and purpose of our Creator?

Let us all be as the prophet Isaiah:

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Father God, here we are, reporting for duty. ⚔️

Salt

Good morning, gentlemen!

We must always realize that not only WHAT we say matters, but also HOW we say it. We are to speak the truth, but it must be done with love. (Ephesians 4:15)

Paul prefaces this statement about our speech with the admonition to ‘walk in wisdom toward outsiders’.

He doesn’t say to ‘walk in emotions’, or ‘walk in pride’, or ‘walk in judgement’. He says to walk in WISDOM.

Every day, on the interwebs or in person, we will encounter people who say and think things contrary to the truth of Jesus Christ. Most often, we feel the need to stand up and defend our Lord. We get all fired up and think that it’s our job to ‘set them straight’.

First off, our Lord doesn’t need us to defend Him.

Second, more often than not, we respond to these people out of indignation and judgment. We feel the need to beat them over the head with Scripture, and we automatically assume their character based on their statements.

This is not wisdom.

Wisdom is understanding that our culture breeds ignorance and animosity toward God. We should expect nothing different. Wisdom is realizing that these people need a Savior, just as we do.

Wisdom is representing Jesus Christ in a way that actually causes people to want to know Him, instead of driving people further away from Him.

Our words should be seasoned with salt. Salt preserves. Salt adds flavor. Salt extinguishes fire. Salt cleans and polishes.

If we’re not going to respond graciously, we shouldn’t respond at all. The goal is to lead people toward Jesus Christ, not to win an argument or change people’s minds. If they need changing, Christ will change them.

One Piece at a Time

As I was studying this verse, I discovered something that I consider to be very significant. (There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit wrote this book)

The word ‘anxious’ here means to be distracted, or ‘divided into pieces’.

The ‘everything’ we are to bring by prayer means ‘one piece at a time’.

Digest that.

Our worries make us go to pieces. By prayer and earnest request, we are to bring those pieces, one at a time, to God, with gratitude for His grace.

Worry and anxiety pulls us apart.

God puts us back together.

One piece at a time.

Let us not be overwhelmed. God knows what we need before we even ask Him. Part of the reason that we pray is so that we can declare our need to God, which demonstrates our faith in Him to handle it.

‘Prayer’ in this verse refers to the act of moving toward God, and having an exchange with Him.

We give Him our worries, He gives us His grace.

Best deal ever.

Remember!

One of the reasons I keep a journal is to have a ‘book of remembrance’.

There will be times of hardship and of doubt, where my faith in God is tested.

By storing up the things that God has done, by writing them down and keeping a record of them, I’m able to look back on the wondrous things He has done for me and in me, and draw from that supply to sustain me during the hard times.

Psalm 105:5 commands us to

“Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered”.

In the wilderness, the Israelites consistently doubted God and kept provoking Him because “They did not remember his power or the day when he redeemed them from the foe”

‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭78:42‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

In Judges 8:34 we’re told that when Gideon died, Israel immediately turned right back to worshipping false gods because they “did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side”

We need to rehearse the memories of God’s faithfulness, and continue to believe, and press into that belief.

“If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?’ you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt”

‭‭(Deuteronomy‬ ‭7:17-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

My man King David had it figured out:

“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭63:5-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Gentlemen, remember God’s goodness, His faithfulness. Remember the victory of Jesus, and recall the times when you’ve witnessed His greatness.

It will sustain you when hardships come.

Get In The Fight

Oh man, this morning’s reading has me all fired up.

The word translated as ‘lay my requests’ is the word ‘arak’. The meaning of this word is driving me to my knees to seek the Lord.

Arak means many things, but among them is the idea of arranging weapons for battle, or joining the battle.

Basically, preparing for and getting in the fight.

Men, that’s what our Christian walk is all about. Getting in the fight. And we fight this battle on our knees before the throne of God.

We show up, equipped and ready, and then we wait. This ‘waiting expectantly’ comes from the word ‘tsaphah’, which means to wait for, keep watch, lean forward, peer into the distance.

We lay ourselves and our prayers before the Lord, and then we watch, knowing that God not only hears us, but also knowing that He will respond.

What an awesome God we serve. He is capable, He is mighty, He is faithful.

I pray today that each of our lives will represent and bring glory to the King of Kings, the Living Word of God.

Fierce. Focused. Faithful. ⚔️

Break Out

Blessed, happy, is the man who finds pleasure in the Lord’s direction and instruction, who ponders over and speaks the law of the Lord.

This man is constantly watered, never dry, never thirsty. His ‘leaves’ remain green, and never wither. He does not fear the heat or the drought.

The word translated as ‘prosper’ here is very interesting. The Hebrew word tsalach literally means ‘to rush, break out, come mightily’.

The idea here is that when we find our pleasure and our trust in the Lord and in His Word, we cannot be contained. We will produce, break through, go over, be profitable, in all that we do. As Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us”.

This isn’t about getting what WE want, it’s about giving God what HE wants, and experiencing His plan for us.

Compare Psalm 1:1-3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8.

When we delight in God, we cleave, we penetrate, we advance.

Fierce, focused, faithful. ⚔️