I just dropped my youngest daughter at college last Friday. It's her second year. Each year is a challenge of figuring out how to pay for school. I'm proud of both daughters who are paying their own way through school. They couldn't do it without student loans. My older daughter is in year five of a five year/dual degree program. When she graduates this spring her student loan debt will be about $30,000. Probably not as bad as some and not as good as others.
College is expensive. Even with grants the financial burden of getting an education is severe. Pursuing a dream is always costly. Getting the tools necessary to accomplish dream exacts a cost. There is always an investment required.
Solomon talks about the cost of gaining wisdom in Proverbs 4. People spend a lot on education these days. But education alone isn't enough. You need wisdom to apply your learning. Solomon exclaims, "Get wisdom, get understanding." Later in chapter four he says that wisdom is supreme, get wisdom even if it cost you all you have, get understanding.
When Solomon talks about understanding, he's not just talking about getting information. Although information helps in discernment, he is talking about gaining the insight of wisdom here. It's the insight to know what to do with the information you have acquired. Lots of people know computer programming and understand computer technology, but Bill Gates had the insight or wisdom that very few have. There are a lot of financial investors, but few with the wisdom of Warren Buffet.
The advice that I would give all college students and truly all students of life would be to heed Solomon's words here in Proverbs 4 about getting wisdom. Wisdom adds so much more to your life. The quality of your life will improve. The hardships will decrease. The path of wisdom may seem different from that of the world's, but it's the safest, most profitable path to take.
God, in this confusing world, I need wisdom. I don't need the wisdom of man. I need your wisdom. Give me wisdom today. Give me the wisdom I need to handle today's challenges. Give me the wisdom to understand the steps I need to take today to get to where you want me to be tomorrow and on down the road.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Daily Reflections on Jn. 10:14-42 (A Tribute to Pauline)
This past week my wife's great aunt passed away. She was 99. A lovely lady with great grace. She was an encourager, a helper, a servant. By the time you reach 99 you learn a lot about life. And her guide throughout her years was the Good Shepherd. One of ten kids up and then starting life in the depression, marriage and the premature death of her spouse, Pauline learned how to follow her shepherd.
All good relationships are fueled by trust. Our spiritual relationship with God is fueled by learning to trust Him more. The more that I learn to trust Him in all areas of my life, the deeper my relationship with God will be. The more I learn to trust Jesus on a daily basis, the deeper, the more satisfying, the more enjoyable my spiritual life will be, not to mention my daily life.
If I'm going to learn to trust the Good Shepherd, like Aunt Pauline, and build my relationship with Jesus, I have to learn to trust Jesus' character. If I learn what Jesus is really like then I know that I can trust Him. As we examine His character we will realize that we can cast our cares on Him, as Peter says, because He cares for us.
Sometimes we struggle with issues or events thinking that God has thrown a monkey wrench into the mix just to mess us up or to punish us. We find ourselves questioning not only the event, but we find ourselves questioning God. We say things like, "God, why are you letting this happen to me?" But that's not the character of Jesus that we see in John 10. As the Good Shepherd we have to remember that Jesus knows us, personally. That means he knows what we're facing, feeling, going through and He's there.
According to this passage Jesus says that He is willing to lay down His life for His sheep, that's us. No one takes His life from Him. He willing lays it down for us. Those aren't just words. He proved at the cross, laying down His life for mine and yours. And it's through that sacrifice that He can invite us into the security of His fold. He invites us because He loves us.
It's one thing to trust Jesus' character, but it's another thing to trust His power. Even if I trust His character and understand that He cares for me, so what if He can't make a difference in my life? But as you peruse the pages of the Bible, you realize that as God, Jesus is all powerful. And if Jesus is all powerful then instead of holding onto all the issues in my life, I should release them into His hands. I've learned through my limited years that God won't rip anything out of my hands. He always waits for me to give it to Him. I end up struggling half the time because I've not let it go and put it in His hands.
Perhaps that's because, sometimes I forget to trust in Jesus' promises. Sure I know He cares and that He's all powerful, but I forget that His promises are for me, not just stuff written in a book for me to read. If you read through this passage in John 10 it becomes obvious that Jesus promises for all who will come to Him and place their trust in Him to give them eternal life, that they'll never perish and that no one can snatch them out of His hand. Those basic promises are foundational in our relationship with Him learning to trust Him in the daily things of life.
God, thanks for the example of Aunt Pauline who lived her life following, trusting the Good Shepherd. Help me grow in learning how to trust you daily for even the most basic things of life. I want that abundant life that Jesus talks about and I know that's only possible as I relinquish my daily schedule, agenda, struggles, challenges to you.
All good relationships are fueled by trust. Our spiritual relationship with God is fueled by learning to trust Him more. The more that I learn to trust Him in all areas of my life, the deeper my relationship with God will be. The more I learn to trust Jesus on a daily basis, the deeper, the more satisfying, the more enjoyable my spiritual life will be, not to mention my daily life.
If I'm going to learn to trust the Good Shepherd, like Aunt Pauline, and build my relationship with Jesus, I have to learn to trust Jesus' character. If I learn what Jesus is really like then I know that I can trust Him. As we examine His character we will realize that we can cast our cares on Him, as Peter says, because He cares for us.
Sometimes we struggle with issues or events thinking that God has thrown a monkey wrench into the mix just to mess us up or to punish us. We find ourselves questioning not only the event, but we find ourselves questioning God. We say things like, "God, why are you letting this happen to me?" But that's not the character of Jesus that we see in John 10. As the Good Shepherd we have to remember that Jesus knows us, personally. That means he knows what we're facing, feeling, going through and He's there.
According to this passage Jesus says that He is willing to lay down His life for His sheep, that's us. No one takes His life from Him. He willing lays it down for us. Those aren't just words. He proved at the cross, laying down His life for mine and yours. And it's through that sacrifice that He can invite us into the security of His fold. He invites us because He loves us.
It's one thing to trust Jesus' character, but it's another thing to trust His power. Even if I trust His character and understand that He cares for me, so what if He can't make a difference in my life? But as you peruse the pages of the Bible, you realize that as God, Jesus is all powerful. And if Jesus is all powerful then instead of holding onto all the issues in my life, I should release them into His hands. I've learned through my limited years that God won't rip anything out of my hands. He always waits for me to give it to Him. I end up struggling half the time because I've not let it go and put it in His hands.
Perhaps that's because, sometimes I forget to trust in Jesus' promises. Sure I know He cares and that He's all powerful, but I forget that His promises are for me, not just stuff written in a book for me to read. If you read through this passage in John 10 it becomes obvious that Jesus promises for all who will come to Him and place their trust in Him to give them eternal life, that they'll never perish and that no one can snatch them out of His hand. Those basic promises are foundational in our relationship with Him learning to trust Him in the daily things of life.
God, thanks for the example of Aunt Pauline who lived her life following, trusting the Good Shepherd. Help me grow in learning how to trust you daily for even the most basic things of life. I want that abundant life that Jesus talks about and I know that's only possible as I relinquish my daily schedule, agenda, struggles, challenges to you.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Daily Reflections on Jn. 10:14-21 (I Want In)
Yesterday after church services my wife exclaims, "I want you to preach that at my funeral." Later in the afternoon as I watching Y.E. Yang's amazing come from behind win at this year's PGA Championship over Tiger Woods, she sat down on the couch and said proclaimed the same message, "I mean it. I want you to preach that at my funeral."
That morning I had spoken on John 10:1-13. It's the passage where Jesus announces that He is the Good Shepherd and that He is the Gate or the Door. I had gotten a clearer understanding of that passage when I was in Israel in the year 2000. In my western way of thinking, when the Bible talked about folds or pens, I imaged a fenced in area with barb wire, swinging gate and the whole bit. I didn't realize that folds were actually caves with only one entrance/exit and that literally the shepherd was the door. He would sleep in the entry way so that nothing could pass in or out without his knowledge. Everything went through him.
Sure makes a lot more sense than my imagery. It's a lot easier to understand how the Good Shepherd would know each sheep if they had to pass through virtually one at a time as they entered the cave.
But if you keep on reading, beginning in verse 14 and following, you realize that there is more to the story. He talks about the intimacy that Jesus has with us if we're a part of his flock or part of His fold. We can have the same type of relationship with Jesus that He enjoys with God, the Father. There's a oneness that is only possible when we enter through the gate, Jesus.
When Jesus was teaching this life lesson, He mentioned that He had other sheep that were not of this particular sheep pen. What's He talking about? Some have erroneously suggested that Jesus was referring to life on other planets. Not so. He's talking to a Jewish crowd at the Feast of Tabernacles. Jewish feast. Jewish people. Jewish pen. So who are the other sheep "not of this sheep pen?" Those of us who are not Jews, more commonly known as "the gentiles."
If I were to draw an imagery that compared to today, I think a parallel would be church folk and non church folk. Many people act as if Jesus only came to save good, clean living, respectable church going people. It's like there are two classes, the acceptable people and those sinful pagans. Many church people make it a point to steer clear from those non church people for fear of contamination. We don't call them unclean, we just think of them as such. We have as little to do with them as possible.
Yet Jesus says, "Hey, you know those people whom you consider unclean, they belong to me too." He talks about that fact that we'll be one flock with one shepherd. News flash: the flock or pen is not ours! We're HIS flock. He came to die for all people, Jews or gentiles, church going people and non church going people. And by the way, just because we're church going people doesn't automatically get us into His fold. We ALL have to enter through the gate, Jesus, individually. We all have to claim Him as Lord and Savior. We all have to listen to His voice, obey His voice and follow Him with complete trust. Your actions give you away as to whom or what you're really following.
God, thanks for providing a way out or rather a way in through Jesus. Thanks for your grace, guidance, protection, love, security, salvation, satisfaction. I know that, Lord, my life isn't so abundant when I fail to listen, obey and follow you implicitly. Thanks for making it possible for me, an unclean gentile, to get into your fold. Help me to realize and remember your flock is broader than my perception and that you died for ALL people, not just for the ones like me.
That morning I had spoken on John 10:1-13. It's the passage where Jesus announces that He is the Good Shepherd and that He is the Gate or the Door. I had gotten a clearer understanding of that passage when I was in Israel in the year 2000. In my western way of thinking, when the Bible talked about folds or pens, I imaged a fenced in area with barb wire, swinging gate and the whole bit. I didn't realize that folds were actually caves with only one entrance/exit and that literally the shepherd was the door. He would sleep in the entry way so that nothing could pass in or out without his knowledge. Everything went through him.
Sure makes a lot more sense than my imagery. It's a lot easier to understand how the Good Shepherd would know each sheep if they had to pass through virtually one at a time as they entered the cave.
But if you keep on reading, beginning in verse 14 and following, you realize that there is more to the story. He talks about the intimacy that Jesus has with us if we're a part of his flock or part of His fold. We can have the same type of relationship with Jesus that He enjoys with God, the Father. There's a oneness that is only possible when we enter through the gate, Jesus.
When Jesus was teaching this life lesson, He mentioned that He had other sheep that were not of this particular sheep pen. What's He talking about? Some have erroneously suggested that Jesus was referring to life on other planets. Not so. He's talking to a Jewish crowd at the Feast of Tabernacles. Jewish feast. Jewish people. Jewish pen. So who are the other sheep "not of this sheep pen?" Those of us who are not Jews, more commonly known as "the gentiles."
If I were to draw an imagery that compared to today, I think a parallel would be church folk and non church folk. Many people act as if Jesus only came to save good, clean living, respectable church going people. It's like there are two classes, the acceptable people and those sinful pagans. Many church people make it a point to steer clear from those non church people for fear of contamination. We don't call them unclean, we just think of them as such. We have as little to do with them as possible.
Yet Jesus says, "Hey, you know those people whom you consider unclean, they belong to me too." He talks about that fact that we'll be one flock with one shepherd. News flash: the flock or pen is not ours! We're HIS flock. He came to die for all people, Jews or gentiles, church going people and non church going people. And by the way, just because we're church going people doesn't automatically get us into His fold. We ALL have to enter through the gate, Jesus, individually. We all have to claim Him as Lord and Savior. We all have to listen to His voice, obey His voice and follow Him with complete trust. Your actions give you away as to whom or what you're really following.
God, thanks for providing a way out or rather a way in through Jesus. Thanks for your grace, guidance, protection, love, security, salvation, satisfaction. I know that, Lord, my life isn't so abundant when I fail to listen, obey and follow you implicitly. Thanks for making it possible for me, an unclean gentile, to get into your fold. Help me to realize and remember your flock is broader than my perception and that you died for ALL people, not just for the ones like me.
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