BJ Armstrong

First Importance

Are you good at prioritizing? Can you focus your thoughts and actions on the one thing that makes the most difference? The truthful answer for me is “no.” I am continuously overwhelmed with the number of choices available to me. Combine that with external pressures from friends, family, co-workers and Christians and its likely that I will choose poorly. Apparently, the Corinthian church wasn’t any different. They engaged every kind of dialogue and strategy to be better people. To “be closer” to God. To fulfill their potential. While their effort may have been noble, just like ours, their result was failure. You see, in our attempt to define what God wants for our lives and how he wants us to live them, we lose sight of the most important thing. It’s what Paul calls “first importance.”

I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

I love Paul’s gentle reminder in those verses. He’s telling the Corinthians, and us, in our busy and distracted lives, not to forget the most important thing. It doesn’t matter what our spiritual gift(s) is, or if we can speak in tongues, or if we can prophesy. Only one thing matters. The Gospel. That’s right. Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised on the third day. How is this helpful? Simply put, it brings us in touch with his perfect grace. The grace that allows us, sinners, idolaters and haters to live in harmony with our perfect creator. Paul was clearly in touch with his need for the grace found within the Gospel. He says, “I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle” (1 Corinthians 15:9, NLT). Despite Paul’s unworthiness, he knows that hope and abundant life come through, “the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

That’s it. That’s the thing of first importance. It’s the understanding that we are sinners and acknowledging that God is willing to look past it, because of Jesus. When we are continuously in touch with both our need for God’s grace and the reality of God’s grace, new life is upon us. Looking again to Paul, we can see this at work. He “[worked] harder than any of them” (1 Corinthians 15:10). No, that does not mean he was earning it. Paul’s hard work was a response of worship. He wanted to be sure that God’s precious gift, his glorious grace was not wasted. He lived in the reality of God’s grace. All the time.

Identity Crisis

I read an article recently about identity crisis. According to google, an identity crisis is “a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person’s sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected aims or role in society.” As we grow older and mature, it is incredibly common for people to experience them. In fact, we are about to see the Corinthian church going through an identity crisis too. Today, as we read through 1 Corinthians 1, I wonder, do we know our spiritual identity? Is our identity in crisis?

If you are a Christian, meaning that you are “sanctified in Christ Jesus” (v2), there is a very specific identity attached to you. Paul explains it very simply for us in verse 2. He says that we are “called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.” Easy, right? Not so fast. Satan, and the world often conspire against us, creating confusion, even crisis. The Corinthian church, just like us, was confronted with situations that caused “uncertainty and confusion.” In short, they experienced an identity crisis. Thankfully, Paul, was one man with a clear understanding of his identity in Jesus. He used this clarity to remind and redirect the Corinthian church, the Christians, to the identity of Jesus. So, how do we get that same clarity?

Consider first that Paul’s certainty of identity carried a posture of gratitude and thanksgiving. It is not by accident that he starts the chapter (v4-9) giving thanks. There is, however, something special about his gratitude. Maybe you didn’t notice, but in those five verses, Paul references God nine different times! Clearly, Paul was clearly understood that if not for Jesus, we would all be lost. Therefore, his posture was one of continuous gratitude to Him, the giver of all good things. Contrast this with our own thanksgiving which is often based on our circumstances and materialism.

In addition to gratitude, Paul continually considered his position, relative to Christ. Re-read verses 10-17 paying attention to how the church is dividing. Member’s are attempting to elevate the positions of their favorite pastors, causing fights (v11). As this identity crisis begins to grow, Paul steps in. He knows positively where true hope and joy found; the cross of Christ Jesus (v17). He reminds the Corinthians that elevating any person above another will, in fact, “empty the cross of its power.” Jesus Christ, therefore, holds the primary and only position for Christians. As Christ-followers, we are all equal, under him.

Finally, Paul’s posture and position relative to Christ allow him to full embrace his purpose. Consider these three purpose statement from Paul, found in his writings:

“that they may be saved” 1 Corinthians 10:33
“to make the word of God fully known” Colossians 1:25
“that we may present everyone mature in Christ” Colossians 1:28

Paul has such an intimate relationship with Christ that he knows, without a doubt, why he is on this earth. With this kind of certainty, identity crisis is impossible. In fact, our certainty and clarity becomes a beacon of hope and love to the world, just like Paul’s.

In the end we are either with Christ, or without him. When we, like Paul, fully embrace Christ, He is our identity. In him, there is no doubt, there is no circumstance that can cause us confusion. Crisis averted!

Faith, Righteousness and Glory

Are you a rule follower? Have you ever thought about why? Most of us were taught that we either follow the rules, or get punished. If that is you, I have another question for you. Who do you believe God to be? The judge? The wrathful prosecutor? An angry father? Do you fear his punishment and condemnation? Believe it or not, our answers to those questions can help us understand our faith. Or, maybe they highlight our lack of faith. According to Paul in Romans 4, if we believe those things about God, we are living according to the law. How can we tell? Let’s first consider righteousness.

How could I ever consider myself righteous? I am painfully aware of how short I fall from God’s expectations, which is to say that I am disobedient to him and his commands. I am sinful. But, to say so, invites the condemnation and wrath that I fear. Even worse, to believe it, is to ignore Jesus. Truly, because of Jesus death and resurrection, I do NOT fall short of God’s expectations. In fact, I fully satisfy them. That is the message that Paul is preaching today in Romans 4. In verse 25, Paul explains that Jesus was “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” So, does Jesus make us righteous?

Yes, Jesus can make us righteous. In fact, the Bible elevates believers in Jesus to Priests and Saints, but there is a catch to reaching this mark. We must believe. We must have faith. Paul uses Abraham as an example. Faith for Abraham was being “fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:13). Remember, Abraham was 100 years old, yet his faith in God’s promises enabled him to push through physical weakness (Romans 4:19). Furthermore, “no unbelief made him waiver.” Abraham’s unwavering posture points to mental toughness. Faith in God, therefore, provided everything he needed to persevere and succeed. That’s powerful! So, the real question of righteousness looks less like living according to a strict set of rules and more like knowing, trusting and believing that God, through Jesus, has a plan for my life.

Finally, what is the evidence that our faith is full and real? Glory. Not to us, but glory to God. Looking at verse 20, we see that Abraham “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.” We can conclude that faith is fully manifested in us when we give God glory for everything in every way. Ironically, living for God’s glory means that we cannot possibly entertain thoughts, or engage behaviors that are contrary to his nature. To do so would negate our belief and therefore, his very existence.

It’s that simple. Faith, righteousness and glory do not come from finding all the right things to do in the Bible. Instead, our perfection now and eternally, comes through “the one whom the Bible reveals,” Jesus Christ. Believe it!

Chambers, Oswald (2011-05-01). My Utmost for His Highest, Classic Edition (Kindle Locations 2064-2066). Discovery House. Kindle Edition.

Fearless

Today’s Reading: Acts 5

What does it mean to be a “fearless Christ follower?” Let’s start with what it looks like to be fearless. To be fearless is not the absence of fear. Fearless is action in the presence of fear. To help illustrate this, look at two stories in Acts 5. The first is about Ananias and Sapphira. The second, involves the apostles.

Annanias and Sapphira decided, together, to give the proceeds of a real estate deal to the church. Simple enough, right? The problem is, they didn’t do it. Why not? Consider for a moment that the answer is fear. At the end of Acts 4, we see the church caring for its own. Wealthy people, the ones who owned homes and land, were selling them to provide money for the church. Somewhere, sitting in the congregation is Ananias and Sapphira. The Holy Spirit was at work and they felt what everyone else did. The love of God. They were a part of it. In fact, they wanted to give to it. In that moment, they made a pledge to give the land that they owned.

I imagine them getting home that night feeling great about their decision to give back. It is the right thing to do. Maybe they have a doubt or two creep in. Satan whispers to them, “hey, why did you give so much?” They probably dismissed these early thoughts. If they are anything like me, however, the thoughts continue. I would start thinking about how irresponsible it is to give up so much. I mean, “what about the college funds?” I fear that we‘ll fail to provide enough for them already. Then, I think about retirement. How on earth am I going to fund my life on the little that I have saved. As you can see, fear is tricky. It comes to us masterfully disguised. Ananias and Sapphira, gave in to it.

The apostles stand in stark contrast to Ananias and Sapphira. When faced with opposition, they stood fearless. In Acts 5:29, Peter tells the captain of the guards that no matter the consequences, he will obey God. He didn’t care if they harmed him physically or mentally. Neither of those were as important to him as the truth of God. Peter, as Chet Bandy pointed out to us yesterday had defined the ONE thing about this life on earth. It is that nothing matters except God.

No doubt, today we will be faced with opposition. The question remains how we will choose to deal with it. Will we choose to uphold the Truth and maintain an eternal perspective? The Bible is clear that our failure to do so carries the consequence of death. The apostles, on the other hand, show us that an eternal perspective, armed with Truth gives life. Everyday, in every circumstance.

Gradually, and then suddenly

Potter's Field, Israel.  The place where Judas hanged himself.

Most Christians are familiar with Judas’ story. We know him as a traitor, a cheat and a thief. The Bible has plenty of evidence for those conclusions. But, was it his fault? Today, as we read John 13, I get stuck on three words from verse 27, “Satan entered him.” As I read it, the thought of Satan entering chills my bones. I begin to worry that Satan, at any moment, can take over my heart and mind. That he can control my actions as he did with Judas. Does it work that way? Are we susceptible to catastrophic failure at any given moment of the day? To answer those questions, we need to look closer at Judas’ life.

Surely, like you and me, Judas’ choice to follow Jesus was pure. He saw in Jesus what we all see. Love, joy, hope and peace. Also like us, as Judas followed Jesus, he was confronted with his old self. Judas’ old makeup was filled with greed and love of money. That life is marked with continuously cultivating thoughts of wealth and prosperity. As an apostle, he must have found himself continuously at odds with those desires. At some point, the frustration is too great. He must choose one or the other. How does he choose? The same way we do. Whichever desire gets more attention wins.

The Bible is clear that the desires we feed will produce results. In fact, James 1:14-15 says that, “temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” Sounds like Judas, doesn’t it?

Imagine Judas sitting at home, alone one evening, relaxing by the fire, contemplating his life. His thoughts drift to the wealthy people. He ponders what their lives are like. He adores their clothing, their homes, maybe even their chariots. But, he doesn’t have any of that. How can he get it? As he lies down in bed he’s still thinking of the possibilities of having money. Oh, how it could change his life and how much better he could be.

The next day, Judas hasn’t shaken the thought. He begins to think more and more about what he could have. He must have it! Judas begins to craft a solution in his head. ‘How can I get the money?’ As he evaluates his skills and resources, he has an idea. He could sell out Jesus. I imagine him immediately dismissing the thought as he remembers why he follows Jesus. But, every time he is alone, he ponders how to live a bigger life. The thought of selling out Jesus returns. This time, it’s not so easily dismissed. He begins to ask it questions like “how would it happen,” and “what is the next step.” Over time, the thought is large enough to be carried with him. Everyday, he’s returning to it, considering it, even strategizing it. Just like us, once we have considered it long enough, an opportunity will present itself. For Judas, he finds a special opportunity while talking to the chief priest. “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” (Matthew 26:15). And that was it. The response given by the chief priest encouraged and empowered him. He could see victory. Now, he just needed the right time.

Even though Judas’ mind was resolved and his heart now hardened against Jesus, he must have questioned the decision. I see him sitting with Jesus and the disciple’s at the Passover table. He’s floundering and filled with anxiety. Is this the time? Little did Judas know that the decision was no longer his. He had been surrendering the choice to Satan little by little for the last several weeks. The thing that was once just a thought had been cultivated in his heart and it had control. His floundering was not an obstacle for Satan. He is crafty. He knows exactly how to finish him. It happens in verse 27. I imagine that Satan, watching Judas take the bread, uses Jesus’ words to provoke the malice and hatred he had been cultivating. Now, rushing in all at once, Judas was fully won. He went “into the night.” Death was near.

What do you ponder when you are alone? What is the thing that has your attention? Is it Holy? Imagine yourself in possession of the thing that you most want, is it drawing you nearer to Jesus?

Remember

Take a minute to re-read Luke 24:13-35, paying attention to the loss of hope that the Christ-followers were experiencing. I believe that their experience is not unique

We go through life with our eyes closed. It’s our attempt to shield ourselves from the pain, from anything that might steal our hope. When we engage in conversations about it, the longing for a full life again arises. Our hearts burn for it. Yet, we fail recognize life because we are focused only on death. We look for what might help us overcome the darkness. Money, power, fame, sex. We will try anything. Nothing works. It doesn’t work because the leap from death to life is not about what, it’s about who. Many of us figured that out a long time ago. Unfortunately, our current circumstances have us again wandering in the dark, living in despair.

What will cause us to remember hope? How can we recall the hope that we once carried, the hope that we chose in submission through baptism? We must again remember death. Jesus death, specifically. This is the death that restores life. Nothing else can. Will you join me today in remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made for us? The followers in today’s story remembered Life when Jesus broke bread with them. We now call it communion. Jesus promises that he will honor our attempt to remember. We will recognize that we have a savior and salvation is ours. Life.

ReFocused

Today’s Reading: Luke 10

I’ve been a Christian for a long time. I count 39 years. In that time, I’ve prayed for miraculous healing, asking God to remove cancer, take away brain tumors, and restore failing marriages. I’ve looked to him when I feel broken, confused and distraught. I have even asked for miraculous powers of healing that Jesus gave the disciples. Have you? Seriously, who hasn’t thought about how amazing it would be to cure cancer in an instant? In my mind, God could use such works as a powerful testimony. What a great way to build his church!

Today, in Luke 10:17-20, we see the apostles returning from their missionary journey. Prior to their journey, Jesus bestowed on them the miraculous healing powers that I have prayed for. They were wildly successful. How do we know? Because “The seventy-two returned with joy (v17).” They were celebrating. They were in awe over what had a happened, exclaiming that, “even the demons are subject to us.” Rightfully, they remained clear about the source of these powers, knowing that it was only possibly because it was “in Jesus name.” It sounds legit, doesn’t it? They have gone out faithfully, performing the work of Jesus exactly as he says. They were hugely successful. So, they did exactly what we all would do. Celebrate!

Jesus observed a shifting focus in their exuberance and quickly put a hold on the celebration. He decided it was time to pause and refocus the apostles’ joy. It was a simple reminder. He said, Hey, wait a minute. “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, instead, rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (v20)”

Why did Jesus interrupt the party to remind the apostles of the gospel message? I see three reasons. First, focusing on redemption causes us to remember our brokenness, which points us directly toward the Savior. Second, when focused on redemption, we cannot escape the greatness of Jesus’ love and grace. Finally, redemption is not situational. Think about it. We can celebrate redemption anywhere and anytime. In the best of circumstances and in the worst. This is true no matter our mental or physical prowess or it’s frailty. It does not change with our emotions; it is always the same. Redemption is not about success or failure; it is about Jesus. It’s mystery and grandeur do not fade with the passing days. It is eternal. We get to receive it every minute, hour, day month, year. Forever.

Keep Watch

I found myself on the interstate last week during a heavy snow. The danger was clear. Drive too fast and you will careen out of control into the ditch, or worse. I witnessed it happening all around me. I also understood that my own efforts were not enough to control the risk. Other drivers pose a threat to me. Extra vigilance is required. My focus intensifies. This intense focus is true in the broader picture of our lives too. Here are a few things that we regularly keep watch on:

· Finances	· Children
· Leaky basements	· Maintenance schedules
· Fuel levels in our gas tank	· Calendars

By watching these things in the present, we minimize the future cost. The risk, of course, is when we fail to keep watch, or as Jesus says, we “fall asleep” (Mark 13:36). What do you have difficulty keeping watch on? How are you most likely to be found “asleep?” Additionally, remember that others around us can amplify the risk. As a culture, what is America not paying attention to?

· Sobriety	· Pornography
· Idolatry	· Selfish Ambition
· Media – Internet, TV, music	· Community
· Personal responsibility	· Demystifying God

To be honest, I wrote a few things there that I did not want to. Take sobriety, for instance. When I hear that word, my mind races to an image of an unfit father who neglects his responsibilities. This picture allows me to quickly dismiss it as, “not me.” Look closer. Consider how well do you “keep watch” after one glass of wine. How about two? Three?

Pornography is another issue that I would rather not address. But, I read a startling statistic this week that is worth sharing. It says that 70% of all 18 to 34 year-olds are regular viewers of pornography. And, on average, they started viewing it at age 11. Do you hear danger? I do. James Emery White explains the consequences in this blog post. It’s worth reading. As I look around, however, I can’t say that it’s surprising. Sexual images and viewing invitations are everywhere. I am fully desensitized. As Jesus puts it (Luke 22:46), I am sleeping!

Before you start losing hope, let’s look back at the promises of God. He gives us the equipment we need to keep watch both offensively and defensively. Look at 1 Thessalonians 5:5-10. It tells us to build a defense with “the breastplate of righteousness.” This defense looks like integrity, holiness, and purity. Where do they come from?

· Prayer	Matthew 26:41 tells us to watch and pray
· Submission	Hebrews 13:17 explains that our leaders are watching over us too. We should, therefore, listen to them
· Community	Ephesians 6:18 encourages us to be in prayer for all believers, everywhere. We are in this together!

I have a harder time summarizing Our offensive posture, so I am going to rely on N.T. Wright. In his book After You Believe, he describes how we must, as Christ-followers, make the hard decisions and take the hard actions that run counter to our flesh. These are our offense. Through them, we “develop, in the present, the character which will truly anticipate the life of the coming age. …. Sooner or later, preferable sooner, each individual Christian must make the key choices to “put on” the things which genuinely anticipate, in the present the life we are promised in the future, the life we have already been given in Christ. And, having made those key choices, each Christian must acquire the habit of making them over and over again.”

As you can see, keeping watch isn’t hard. Keeping watch on the most important things – the things that affect our souls – requires focus and intensity. My prayer today is that something here shines a bright light in your eyes causing you to awaken from your sleep. I also pray that the darkness will forever be gone, replaced with the eternal light of love, made available to all of us through Jesus Christ.

The Great Commission

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

Today, Matthew 28 documents the life-giving story of Jesus’ resurrection. He overcame death. He lives! Celebrate and worship. As of this moment, every life has hope. Our hope comes from the power of the Holy Spirit, now living within us. Celebrate and worship. I was just beginning to enjoy the resurrection when Matthew quickly shifts away, confronting me with the next leg of the journey. Um, wait a minute. I’m not ready. Can we go back to the celebration?

Most Christians stop right here, at Jesus resurrection. We celebrating and worship Jesus for the grace and mercy he gives, claiming eternity as our own. Other than that, our lives remain unchanged. We are, however, called to more. Jesus calls us to become his disciples and make disciples. What exactly is a disciple? To describe us as followers is too simple. Christian discipleship involves becoming like Jesus. To be one requires our full submission that enables our full transformation to be like him. Sadly, few Christians move off the celebratory mark set by the resurrection.

Need proof? In a nationwide poll conducted by the Barna Group, 40% of the people surveyed said, “they were personally committed to Jesus Christ, had confessed their sins, and believed they will go to heaven after they die because of God’s grace provided through Jesus’ death and resurrection.” That is significant. However, when directed toward their response to that resurrection, “not one of the adults we interviewed said that their goal in life was to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ or to make disciples.”[i] Wait, what? Read that quote again. It is worth digesting fully.

I am hoping that your engagement with BibleJournal.net implies that you have a goal for spiritual formation. If that is true, great. The challenge then becomes one of sharing. You see, when we truly find Christ and our lives are transformed by his love, we will also be compelled to share him. Therefore, making disciples is not hard. It is the natural outpouring of Christ upon the world around us. We will fully embrace the idea that “the local church is the hope of the world.” When I think about it this way, Jesus’ command to reach the world, becomes not an impossibility, but a full reality. A couple of years ago, Bill Hybels presented this vision with such clarity, that I want to share it with you today. I hope you can find a few spare minutes to hear his message.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pmEjAEe9nU

The morning prayer of every believer should be, “Jesus, this new day, I freshly commit myself to the role you have invited me to play as you are building your church in this world.” ~ Bill Hybels

[i] Barna, George (2013-03-06). Growing True Disciples: New Strategies for Producing Genuine Followers of Christ (Barna Reports) (p. 8). The Doubleday Religious Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Headwinds

Today’s Reading: Matthew 14

My world is full of notes with ideas that come to me during sermons, classes, and conferences, even stop lights. I think, “I could do that!” I get all jacked up thinking about how I am going to do this or that. And then, nothing. Give it an hour or a day, or two and the notion is gone. The excitement fades and the vision is lost. Occasionally, however, I take a flier. Today, we get a special look at the entire life-cycle of an idea, a vision, or an “aha” moment.

Excitement. We all get ideas that make our heart beat a little faster. Occasionally, this excitement turns into something more. When we allow it to capture our full attention, we must respond. It happened to Peter. When he figured out that it was Jesus walking toward the boat he got excited. He wanted to be part of the action. So, “Peter answered him” (Matthew 14:28). Simple, right?

Action. Hopefully, we get to this stage. This is when we have to actually do something about it. Peter did it. It started with a decision. He tells Jesus, “command me to come.” Peter doesn’t stop there, he also moves. “Peter got out of the boat and walked.” To be honest, I’m pretty good at the first part. Getting out of the boat? That is a little tougher.

Fear. When we act, something unforeseen will show up. For Peter, it was the wind. It distracted him. He feared it and couldn’t overcome it. So, it overcame him. “when he saw the wind, he was afraid” (v30).

Failure. Peter’s attention on the wind and his own safety resulted in failure. He was “beginning to sink” (v30).

Recovery. Successful people are not the ones that never fail, rather, they fail the most often. The difference is that they recover fast. If you have recently fallen, or are stalled out by the headwinds in your life, take note of what happened to Peter. In the midst of his failure, “Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him” (Matthew 14:31). The truth is that if God called you out, he will help you through. If you feel like you are hanging today, it is because you have not accepted his help.

Worship. When safety returns and we relax, who gets the credit? All too often, we think that we survived through grit and determination. This results in self-worship. Peter and the apostles, however, knew where their help came from. They, “worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God”” (Matthew 14:31).

I don’t know where you are in the life-cycle of a calling. I can look across my many projects and see that I have some that need to get off the ground and some that have completely failed. Today, these promises are hugely encouraging to me. Thank you, Lord! Truly, you are the son of God!!