One night, on the Larry King Live television show, Larry King was interviewing Bono, one of the most famous rock stars in the world. Bono was talking about his commitment to Christ and how he was trying to live out Christ’s love in the world. It was the Christian commitment of this rock star that prompted Larry King to ask an important question.

“What makes Christianity different from all the other religions in the world?” he asked. “What does Christianity have to offer that other religions do not?”

Bono paused for a moment, then answered, “All the other religions of the world, in one way or another, teach karma. Only Jesus offers grace. In all the other religions of the world, people end up having to pay a penalty for their sins. Only Jesus Christ, by His grace, makes it possible for people to be delivered from the consequences of the sins that they have committed in this life.”

After another poignant pause, Bono added, “Sadly, all too often, the church, contrary to Jesus, teaches karma. Most of the time, the church teaches karma instead of offering grace.”

– Tony Campolo, Stories that Feed Your Soul, 2010, p. 25

Karma is a pervasive concept in our society. It only makes sense that we should get what we deserve. In fact, the apostles felt that way. In John chapter nine, Jesus and his disciples encounter a man who was born blind. The disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” It seemed reasonable that the man’s blindness was the result of someone’s sin.

Karma is easy to understand. Karma appeals to our sense of justice, but the truth is: none of us get what we truly deserve. Chaos, fate, and chance are equally prevalent beliefs surrounding us. I have many problems with the concept of karma. For example, in my experience, belief in karma leads to arrogance. Do you remember the story of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9 – 14)? The Pharisee believed he was doing everything right and therefore, should receive good things (karma), but his pride became his downfall.

Another problem with karma is that it only focuses on the sins of commission rather than sins of omission. In ethics, we call this the Silver Rule. You know the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Golden Rule demands action, but the Silver Rule simply says, “Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.” No action required.

Finally, karma encourages accounting rather than growth. In karma, it’s all about balance. Do something bad, atone for it with something good. Christians believe in grace, God’s forgiveness, and that motivates us to become better people. We are striving to grow rather than balance! For example, Jesus taught:

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

“Jesus wept” may be the shortest verse in the Bible, but it is also one of the most powerful. Have you ever wondered what makes God weep? Here are five situations that answer that question.

People in pain make God weep. In Mark 1:41, the man torn with leprosy touched Jesus deeply. He was “filled with compassion” (splanchnizomai, σπλαγχνίζομαι). It means Jesus felt torn up inside. He was moved. God created people in his image, and to see this man raked with disease brought Jesus to tears.

People who refuse to help fill Jesus with anger:

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored (Mark 3:1 – 5).

But Jesus was also moved by the lost (Mark 6:34): “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” I wonder if we feel the same way about our friends and neighbors who don’t know Jesus?

One of the most emotional passages is found in Mark 8:12, “The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit.” I like what the classic commentator Swete wrote: “The sigh seemed to come, as we say, from the bottom of his heart, the Lord’s human spirit was stirred to its depths.” Hard hearts and eyes that refuse to see make God weep.

Finally, pompous people bring tears to God’s eyes. When the disciples were marching to Jerusalem, people began bringing little children to Jesus. The apostles were incised:

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

My prayer today has two parts first, that we will be moved by the same things that bring tears to the eyes of God, and second, that I won’t do anything today that will cause my Father pain.

Today, we’re continuing to “get dressed.” The Apostle Paul told the Colossians to:

¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:12 – 15).

In the morning, I stumble around the bedroom tangled in the sheets until I catch myself on the dresser. The top drawer contains my socks, so I put on a pair and then try to find something to match. Paul says the well-dressed Christian will put on “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” so let’s open the drawer and discover what he is talking about.

Compassionate hearts – I always liked the King James version: “bowels of mercies.” It’s actually closer to the Greek word splanchna (σπλάγχνα) which means “viscera or entrails – the center of emotions.” In modern English we say “heart,” but I think it takes “guts” to be compassionate because compassion doesn’t turn away or ignore someone else’s plight. If we’re dressed with compassionate hearts, we will become involved!

Kindness – “the quality of being helpful or beneficial, goodness, kindness, generosity.” Christians should make this world a better place!

Humility – In a world filled with pride, sometimes it is hard to be humble, but it is worth the effort! Sinful pride is arrogant. It is the sin of exalting oneself and placing one’s own interests above those of others. Pride craves admiration and even adoration and will not share the limelight. Rather, Christians should:

“…give preference to one another in honor,” (Romans 12:10).

Humility is as important for Christians to put on as our pants!

Meekness – is not weakness! The word translated meekness here requires strength. It is not easily angered because a meek person has nothing to prove. He is full of quiet confidence.

Finally, put on the hat of patience. You know there are many synonyms in the Greek Bible that are translated patience in English. This one is a particularly godly quality that the King James Version translated “longsuffering.” It is the patient endurance we all admire. I think of this quality as a hat that keeps the searing sun of trials off our heads.

There you have it: the five qualities every well-dressed Christian will be wearing today: compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

Every morning you have a decision to make. What are you going to wear? Do you have an important meeting, or will you be working in the yard? What kind of image do you want to project? Of course, for some of us, the decision has already been made for us. Perhaps you have to wear a uniform, or, for me, the choice is made by what is clean. I generally put on my socks and then try to find something to match, but that’s a story for another day.

The Apostle Paul told the Colossians to “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:12 – 14).

He begins by saying we are “chosen,” “holy,” and “beloved,” so our adornments should match what we indeed are. God chose us to be his children. That means we should act like it. Our behavior reflects on our family. When people meet us, they are meeting our Father too. That’s a huge responsibility!

Likewise, we are to be “holy.” Sadly, that image is badly soiled. You’ve heard the expression, “He’s a holy Joe.” It’s not a compliment! It describes someone who is judgmental and, often, a borderline hypocrite. When I was growing up, mom had two sets of dishes: the everyday Melmac, and the good china. We only got out the china on special occasions, and with five kids, the Melmac sometimes soared across the room like a Frisbee, but never the china! It was nearly holy. So too, we aren’t to be Melmac. We are Christians! We’ve been chosen. We are special. We are to be holy.

Finally, just as mom’s china was connected with beautiful memories – Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas, birthdays, and visits from family – so we are “beloved.” God sees such wonderful things in you, that it makes him smile. You are chosen, holy, and beloved, so take care how you dress today: inside and out!

I dread looking in the mirror in the morning! I just trotted down the hall, and I’m half-asleep. I haven’t had my coffee before I stumble into the bathroom. When I flip on the light, it’s a shock. Who is that guy? From my side of the mirror, I am at the peak of life. I’m wise and good-looking, but the man in the mirror is telling me a different story. Apparently, I am not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau:

During the 20th century, the number of persons in the United States under age 65 has tripled. At the same time, the number aged 65 or over has jumped by a factor of 11! Consequently, the elderly, who comprised only 1 in every 25 Americans (3.1 million) in 1900, made up 1 in 8 (33.2 million) in 1994. … The “oldest old” – those aged 85 and over – are the most rapidly growing elderly age group. Between 1960 and 1994, their numbers rose 274 percent. In contrast, the elderly population, in general, rose 100 percent, and the entire U.S. population grew only 45 percent.[1]

So, what does that mean? Solomon, arguably the wisest man who ever lived, addressed this question in his last book, Ecclesiastes:

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 

When we were teenagers, this text seemed to be the theme of every youth rally. “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” Now I look at the second half of that verse: “before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’” As I look at the old guy in the mirror, I have to disagree. These are the best days of my life! But growing old isn’t for the faint-hearted. I remember one of our elders explaining to my teen Bible class what the rest of the passage meant. It is a picture of growing old.

“… before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain, 

Solomon is talking about growing old and losing our sight as we start adding up the candles on our cake.

“… in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent,” 

The Sage continues the description of growing older as we begin to stoop as our bones age. We may start to lose a few of our teeth (or at least some crowns). Solomon warns: “the grinders cease because they are few.”

I’ll let you think about the rest of the symbols of aging that Solomon shares with us:

“and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity “(Ecclesiastes 12:1 – 8).

However, before we become too depressed about growing old, I want to say: “These are the best days of my life.” I’m not ready to check-out just yet. I have a treasure trove of memories that pop up at the most unexpected times and make me smile. I’d like to think I have some hard-earned wisdom that can help me navigate the uncertain times ahead. During the Second World War, the Merchant Marine discovered something amazing. When a ship was torpedoed, and the crew manned the lifeboats, the youngsters gave up and died while the seasoned salts survived. Why? The old men’s experience and maturity filled them with hope![2]

Something else I relish is that I no longer have to prove myself continually. Like Popeye said, “I yam what I yam.” That’s another blessing! It’s okay to crawl under the table with my grandchildren and not worry about what anyone else will think of me, and I don’t have to dress to impress. I can wear my favorite shirt simply because it is my favorite shirt.

Part of the joy of growing older is I like to think I have something to share if anyone would care to take the time to ask for my advice.

But the greatest joy is knowing: the best is yet to come! We are closer to the goal than we ever have been before!

Be a Blessing!

  [1] Downloaded from https://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/statbriefs/agebrief.html June 2, 2020.

[2] The result of these studies became the basis for the creation of the British Outward Bound program.

R.T. Kendall opens his book Total Forgiveness, by observing: “Most of us have times in our lives when we are pushed to our limits as to how much we are called to forgive.” We are afraid if we let go of a wrong, justice will not be served. Kendall continues:

When we are bitter, we delude ourselves into thinking that those who hurt us are more likely to be punished as long as we are set on revenge. We are afraid to let go of those feelings. After all, if we don’t make plans to see that justice is done, how will justice be done? We make ourselves believe that it is up to us to keep the offense alive.

The Apostle Paul told the Romans: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19).

Kendall concludes, “It is also my experience that the quickest way I seem to lose inner peace is when I allow bitterness to reenter my heart. It’s not worth it! I made a decision for inner peace. But I found that I had to carry out that decision by a daily commitment to forgive those who hurt me and to forgive them totally. I, therefore, let them utterly off the hook and resigned myself to this knowledge:

• They won’t get caught or found out.
• Nobody will ever know what they did.
• They will prosper and be blessed as if they had done no wrong.”

So, as Christians, we are forced to choose between the peace of God in our hearts and an on-going vendetta against those who hurt us. Of course, there is more to forgiveness than this, but it will take a week’s worth of meditations to explore Total Forgiveness.

Something to Think About

We’ve all been hurt. People have failed us – even intentionally hurt us. Sadly, this includes some of our Christian family. This is especially true for ministers and their families. One preacher told me about having to literally load up his family and their possessions in the middle of the night and drive away. Another told me about having the front window of his home shot out by a pack of deacons! It’s easy to take up the refrain, “Gloom, despair, and misery on me! If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all! Gloom, despair, and misery on me!” Think about how learning to forgive can free us from the black hole of depression.

Be a Blessing!

The Apostle Paul is an illustration of God’s compassion and forgiveness. Once Paul had been a violent persecutor of Christians, but in an amazing display of God’s love, Jesus appeared to Paul in a blinding light on the Damascus Road and told him to obey the Gospel. Saul, the Persecutor, became Paul, the Apostle.

What does the life of Paul illustrate about God? God’s love is demonstrated by his treatment of Paul. Before he became the apostle we love, Paul was Saul, the Persecutor. His pride made him unlovable (Philippians 3:4 – 6). Worse, his actions: throwing Christians into prison and voting to put them to death, made him unlovable (Acts 8:1 – 3), but God’s love isn’t merited. God loves us despite ourselves (Romans 5:6 – 8).

God’s love is illustrated by his treatment of Paul. If anyone deserved God’s punishment, it was Paul (1 Timothy 1:12 – 14), but what would cause the Lord to be merciful to someone like Paul? The answer is found in two New Testament words.

Splanchnesthai means “to have compassion.” The word isn’t found outside of the gospels, and, with three exceptions, it is always used of Jesus. Jesus used it in three of his parables to describe the compassion of the king for the unmerciful servant, the compassion of the father for the prodigal son, and the compassion of the Good Samaritan for the wounded traveler. What moved Jesus to have compassion? He recognizes spiritual lostness. The people who gathered around him “were like sheep without a shepherd.” He knew they were hungry, and he felt their pain. Likewise, Jesus understood sorrow and wept real tears. All of this moved him to compassion.

When we are sympathetic, we feel for other people, but compassion is different. Compassion causes us to feel with other people. You might feel sympathetic with the characters in a movie, but you would never feel compassion for them. On the other hand, God feels with us. Our pain, our struggles move him. God is compassionate! He feels with us.

The second word is found in Acts 3:19, where Peter tells the crowd, “Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” We might forgive someone, but we rarely forget – not so God. In NT times, people wrote on papyrus. Since the ink contained no acid, when it was still fresh, it could be “wiped out.” However, in those days, when people fulfilled an obligation, it was “crossed out,” but when God forgives us, it is “wiped out.” Completely removed! There is no need to keep bringing up our failures over and over again. Our sins have been washed away: wiped out.

You’ve got a friend! Spend some time today, saying, “Thank you!” The attitude of gratitude is the heart of worship.

“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells,” Revelation 2:13

Long before the Romans proclaimed Pergamum the capital of Asia, it had been a royal city. When Alexander the Great died, this portion of his empire was willed to his general, Lysimachus. The general left his fortune in Pergamum under the care of his trusted treasurer, Philetaerus. However, Philetaerus was anything but faithful. He absconded with the funds, proclaimed himself king, and began his own monarchy!

When the Apostle John wrote Revelation, Pergamum was one of his “Seven Cities of Asia,” and it was the only one of the cities built on a hill. The Great Altar of Zeus was built into the side of that hill and dominated the skyline of the capital. Its horseshoe shape looked like a giant throne. This gives special meaning to the words of Christ, “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.” That could describe either the altar of Zeus, which looked like a throne on the hillside, or it might describe Pergamum as the capital city, the seat of the Roman government, and the attendant worship of the Emperor. Jesus also said he knew the Christians there held fast to his name. That wasn’t easy to do in the capital city. In fact, Antipas, one of the Christians in Pergamum, had recently been put to death!

We don’t know much about Antipas except he is called “my faithful witness” (Revelation 2:13). The Greek word translated “witness” is martyr. The term has become a particular English word for a witness who testifies at the cost of his life. (Tradition says he was roasted to death in the belly of a bronze bull for his faith.)

Jesus calls Antipas “faithful,” which means “being worthy of trust,” and so our devotional comes to a conclusion. What it would require for you to be a “faithful witness” for Jesus? Does your faith run “hot and cold” or are you reliable? In these days of change, we need Christians we can count on!

It’s not just about food 

The greatest hurdle to understanding gluttony is to think it only pertains to food. Some people can’t have enough toys, television, entertainment, sex or company. Gluttony is about an excess of anything. 

Examples

• Drink – Proverbs 23:29-35
• Food – Proverbs 23:19-21
• Drugs
• Sex
• Video games
• People

It is possible to become so caught up in pleasure, whether food or fun, that we can no longer enjoy other things. It becomes addictive. Neuroscientists tell us, pleasure can actually rewire the pathways in our brains.

The key to overcoming Gluttony is to understand our life is out of balance. We enter into Gluttony when we demand more pleasure from something than it was made for.

Results

The results of Gluttony harm us physically (Addictive behavior harms our bodies), emotionally (Emotional – Addictive behavior harms our spirit) and spiritually (Addictive behavior harms our souls, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:19).

Overcoming Addiction

How can we overcome Gluttony? This is one sin where fellowship is especially helpful. One of Satan’s favorite tricks is trying to convince us we are the only ones dealing with this temptation. Sin thrives in secrecy! That’s why fellowship and confession are so important. You are not alone! Admit your problem and ask for help.

Likewise, recognize the power of sin. It’s not something we can handle by ourselves.

Finally, fill the void! Instead of focusing on not doing it again, focus on God’s gift. He promises us there is always a way out:

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Something to Think About
Review the Seven Deadly sins: 

PEWSLAG: pride, envy, wrath, sloth, lust, avarice, gluttony then rank them:

1. On a scale of 1 to 7 with one being the most difficult to overcome. Why?
2. Which one is most prevalent in our culture?
3. Which one appears the least sinful? Why?

Knowledge

1. Define “Gluttony.” Give some synonyms for it.
2. Paul says our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
   1. What does that mean?
   2. If that is true, how should we treat our bodies?
3. Addictions rewire our brains. This makes it very difficult to overcome an addiction. 
   1. How do people do it? 
   2. What role does the church and fellowship play in helping people overcome addictions?
4. How does the Holy Spirit help us wrestle with addiction?

Attitude

• There are two schools of thought in overcoming an addiction. One says you need to distance yourself from the addiction and anybody else who has suffered from it lest you be tempted. The other says you must “own your addiction” by admitting you are powerless to resist. These people form support groups. What do you think?

Action

• One of the most important elements of prayer is confession. Try to become more confessional in prayer this week.

Be a Blessing!

It’s a common belief among outsiders that all preachers ever talk about is money. That’s certainly not true where I preach, but maybe it should be. If there was a modern idol competing for our devotion, it just might be the almighty dollar. Money is not the source of all evil (that honor goes to the love of money, 1 Timothy 6:10), but it certainly is the cause for a great deal of unhappiness.

The Younger Brother’s Dilemma
A young man turned to Jesus for help. “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me,’” (Luke 12:13). The inheritance laws in those days seemed unjust (see Deuteronomy 21:17). The older brother got the family farm, and the rest of the siblings had to be satisfied, dividing whatever else was left. It seems unfair to us until you realize the consequences of dividing the farm between all of the siblings. An acre becomes half an acre, and then a quarter of an acre until there is nothing left, but to the younger brother, this didn’t matter. He saw himself as a victim.

On the other hand, Jesus could see the young man’s heart and used this as an opportunity to teach us about possessions: “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed….” (v. 14).

The Parable of the Rich Fool
It’s surprising to note how many times Jesus talked about money unless we realize how prevalent a sin greed is. Do you remember the Parable of the Rich Fool, which comes just a few verses later?

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:16 – 21).

There are two things to note about the Rich Fool: He never saw beyond himself, and he never considered anything past the present. (Ecclesiastes 5:15 and Job 1:21 remind us we will leave this world the same way we came into it.)

What Shall We Do?
Let’s ask ourselves some important questions. First, what does money represent to you? Freedom? Prestige? Power? The Apostle Paul says greed is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5), so ask yourself, “How can money compete with God?”

As a minister, I’ve asked elders to consider why people give to the church. Some answer, “Because they feel obligated. They joined the club, and now they have to pay the dues.” Others say: “because they are philanthropists at heart, and love to give to a good cause.” They remember the words of John: “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1 John 3:17).

My perspective is a little different. I think there are two good reasons. First, giving should come from “An Attitude of Gratitude.” Worship at its heart is just that: an attitude of gratitude. We know Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain, but why did he offer a sacrifice at all? He was grateful!

Second, do you remember the story of Manna? (Exodus 16) No one was to try and gather more than they needed for that day. Why? God was teaching them (and us) a lesson. We need to trust in God. Are you giving so graciously it is an act of trust – an act of worship?

Do you have time for some questions?

Knowledge
1. Do you think the young man had a valid complaint?
2. Why didn’t Jesus address his complaint?
3. Define “greed.”
4. Is wealth good or evil?
5. Scripture Search:
a. Ecclesiastes 5:10
b. Matthew 6:24
c. 1 Timothy 6:10
d. Hebrews 13:5

Attitude
1. How much is “enough”?
2. Who is more concerned about money: the rich or the poor?
3. How can the love of money be the root of all evil?
4. How much should Christians give?
5. Why is God concerned about how we use our money?

Action
Burn a dollar. (Hey! It’s just a buck, but if it bothers you, ask yourself why? If it still bothers you, wait till we can go out again, put it in some poor barista’s tip jar – in addition to your regular tip. Just don’t let her see you do it!)

Be a Blessing!