Category Archives: Discipleship
The Stars We Follow
What is Advent? Seriously, take a minute and try and define it in your head. What did you come up with? It’s a big event on the church calendar, but the meaning can often elude us. We talked about the deeper meaning of Advent in our Young Adult gathering last night. We started with the following video.
“Advent” is a Latin word, made popular in 490 AD. It means, “coming,” as in the coming birth of Jesus. Each time this year we hear the stories from Matthew and Luke about the birth of baby Jesus. They make us feel warm and fuzzy about this innocent child being born into the world. But Advent is more; it is actually 3 distinct “comings.”
The first is the Jesus’ birth, the usual celebration this time of year. Now that is a big deal all by itself. The fact that God came into the world as a baby is important. But, if we stop there, we miss the bigger picture of Advent. The second coming is Jesus’ presence in the world. This gives us a sense joy. We can see that world will finally begin to be set right. No longer is God far off, like we feel in the Old Testament, but right here with us. Advent reminds us that Jesus comes into the day to day to commune, to live life, with us. The final part of Advent is that Jesus is coming back one day. It is what we call the second coming. This is about hope. We are reminded that the world and our lives will not spin deeper and deeper in to brokenness and sin and ultimately destroy itself. We are reminded that Jesus will come again and will rescue those who have put their faith in Him. The hope, is that the world and our lives will be made right again.
So, when you think about Advent, remember it is about the coming of Jesus; past, present, and future.
I heard it said that finding happiness is about grasping what will last, and letting go of what is fleeting. That reminds me of the star that the Wise Men see in the East [see Matthew 2:1-6]. They were used to traveling by following the stars, because they did not move. There were not accurate maps. The maps they had would change and shift based on discoveries. The stars, however, were consistent. As we think about our lives, we see that the “stars” that have taught, guided, and led us over the years. What or who has been your guide over your lifetime?
Young adulthood is about striking out on your own. In many ways, you are like the wise men who leave behind their kingdoms in search of God. So what are the stars you are following now? Does it have to do with a vision for a career, family pressure, or a relationship? Where do you see that star leading you? Is it fleeting, or does it seem lasting?
When we look at the night sky, we are overwhelmed by how many stars are present. It can be hard to find the one “right one.” The fear is that if we get the wrong star, we might end up outside God’s will. Or, like Joseph in the above video, get “unfriended.” More and more, I have come to see that God gives us choices. If the next step was always obvious, we would have no need for God. So, in the midst of the big decisions we have as young adults, we can find peace. The peace comes knowing that God has called us to follow Him. As we journey, we pray, seek the advice of others, and listen. If we end up on the wrong path, God will correct it. Advent reminds us that God has been present in our lives, that He will watch over the future, and especially that Jesus is with us today.
Let Advent be a time for you to follow the stars in your life. Let them lead you to Jesus, to the plans and opportunities He has for you. And relax, He is guiding you, even if it does not always feel like it.
Feel free to use the comment section to post any comments, thoughts, or disagreements you have.
Resource: Sermon on the Mount
Twice a year, Asbury Seminary releases a common scripture reader (print and digital forms) for the community. Now that Asbury has created Seedbed, the resourcing arm of the seminary, they are providing common readers to the folks outside the seminary community. I, for one, am very excited about this move.
They just launched ”Perfect” the Fall reader. The focus is on Jesus’ sermon on the Mount in Matthew, which concludes with the instruction, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). That is kinda a tough verse to live. So check out the reader, and especially audio resource linked below.
The Resource: Each week they are posting brief audio clips of a conversation with Dr. David Bauer teaching on the Sermon on the Mount. Dr. Bauer was my professor for Inductive Bible Study, and taught the course on the Gospel of Matthew. His class was one of the most helpful in how I read scripture. He has taught this particular book for over 25 years now and allowed it to live into his own life. That’s what we desire when we read the Bible, is to allow its story to inform and shape our story/stories.
Get the Resource:
- Mobile device: Go to http://mobilereader.asburyseminary.edu/#listen This link takes you right to the audio pieces, formatted for your phone. On an iPhone, it will give you instructions to make it an app on your home page screen. …pretty cool.
- Computer: Go to http://www.asburyreader.com
Frustrations on the Journey
I preached on Genesis 12:1-9 this past weekend. It is the story of Abraham’s call by God to leave his country, kindred, and father’s house. He was to set out for a land God would show Him, to build a nation, and to gain a new name and reputation. Abram (as he was called at this time), was 75 when God called him, and it would take him the rest of his life to see the promises of God accomplished. His journey with God would cover the span of his life, but could only be accomplished one day at a time. But just because we are walking with God does not mean everything goes perfect. We are in a process of growing.
I presented a case study from my hospital ministry this past week to my supervisor and fellow chaplain interns. By my estimation, I had made significant progress since first starting in March, and I was anxious to demonstrate my growth to the group. While they affirmed what I was doing well, they found a big issue that I missed in my conversation with the patient. It was under the surface, and thus, not evident to the patient, but it came through in our conversation. My group helped me to see that I missed a key issue. I was really frustrated and had to fight back defensiveness so I could hear them out. I wondered, was I really making progress?
Abram’s journey provided a frame for my own journey with Christ. Abram did not do it perfectly, we can read Genesis further and see where he got some things right, and others wrong. There are times in our Christian walk, usually with the best of intentions, we wander of the trail, say the wrong thing, or mess something up. We look back in hindsight and get frustrated and angry. But adults learn by doing and experience, and we can trust that God knows this about us. He is proud when we put what we are learning into practice in order to grow. The point of discipleship is building a relationship with Jesus, not about being perfect always. Abraham makes it into the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 because he kept following God by faith, not because he followed perfectly.
So let’s keep going on the journey with God. He has called you and me, and knows our strengths and weaknesses. Adults learn by putting concepts into experience first, and then by processing afterward. So we will likely get frustrated when things don’t go just right. They key is that we are on a journey to know God more and more.
What experiences have taught you the most in hindsight?
“To-Do” or “To-Be” List
Part of my morning routine is to sit down and review my ongoing to-do list. There is always a running list of at least 10, though usually closer to 20 tasks that need attention. I realize I cannot accomplish everything in one day. So, I try to find three most important tasks that I want to accomplish today. These three are my “must get done today items.” I will use extra time in the day to accomplish other tasks on the list. This process has worked for me for some time now. I am able to prioritize my day and minimize distractions. So I often ask myself at the beginning of the day, “what do I want to do today?”
But, God challenged me recently. In my heart, I felt the question come back. “Who do I want to be today?” In my push to get things done, I was not asking who God desired to me to become. I looked back at my to do list and found many of the items that seemed most important were only priority for others. Now, if I had unlimited time, talent, and resources I could accomplish everything. But I don’t, and neither do you. So with our time, talent, and resources how do you and I figure out what is most important?
We determine what to do based on who God desires us to be.
The ministry, work, individual, and community God has called us to grow into defines how we can best use our limited time, talent, and resources. Whether the to-do list item is preparing a corporate budget to writing “thank you” cards, we must ask, who are these tasks making me into? I want to be a person who expresses gratefulness for others, so “thank you” cards are important. I also want to be faithful of the fiscal resources God has provided in my work, so I will labor over a budget for accountability, among other reasons.
What do the things we do say about who we are? What do they say about who God has made and called us to be? In Matthew 5, Jesus tells the crowds, “You are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world.” Before telling the crowds what they should do, Jesus told them who they are. Then He goes on to say, “No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” First be, then do. We accomplish this through prayer, and over time, as God reveals His plans within our own life.
How do you prioritize your to-do list? Leave a comment, I am interested to know your thoughts. Thanks!
