Living in the Margin

  These are evil times, so make every minute count.  Ephesians 5:16

Stress seems to be a constant for so many of us. Our lives are often defined by how busy we are. There doesn't seem to be enough time for everything we need to do. Today's culture encourages us to push to our limits and as a result most of us are living at an unsustainable pace. The key is creating margin.

Margin is the amount available beyond what is necessary. It's the difference between what you have and what you need. So many of us need margin in our lives. We've become obsessed with accomplishing thing we think are urgent and important. As a result, we're missing out on the most important things in life.

We find a great example of this in Luke 10 when Jesus came to visit Mary and Martha. During His visit, Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to Him, while Martha was busy fixing a meal for her guest. Are you more like Martha or Mary? When was the last time time you sat quietly for a period of time and just listened for Christ to speak into your life? If it has been a while, then it's time to create some margin in our life.

What was Jesus' evaluation of the Mary/Martha scenario? “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

Friend of Sinners?

 

“...a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ – Luke 7:34

Several years ago, friends of my wife and I from our home church, were involved in an adulterous affair. Fortunately, they repented of their sin and received forgiveness from Jesus Christ. When we went back for a visit, we were surprised to see they were both still attending the same church. I'm not sure how wise that was but at least they sat at opposite sides on the sanctuary.

After the worship service, my wife spoke with the lady and I spoke with the man. We did not bring up their affair but just spoke to them in generalities. We wanted to let them know that we were still friends and we loved them.

When we went outside, we were accosted by some of the local congregation. They wanted us to know that this couple had been involved in this terrible sin and that we should not be talking with them. (I should have noticed immediately following the service, no one spoke to them.) My response was that they had been forgiven by God and we shouldn't hold their past sin against them. Their response was they “thought” they were secretly seeing each other and had not left their sin.

I was saddened by their attitude. Two thoughts immediately came to my mind: 1] No one wants THIER past sins to be brought up. 2] This is not the attitude of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says we are to have the mind of Christ. How would He treat them? The perfect example of Jesus's attitude toward sinners is found in John 8 where He dealt with a woman caught in the “act of adultery.” He said He did not condemn her but extended love, grace, and acceptance.

I've lost track of our friends but I hope they have found a church where they would find healing and acceptance.

Rejected But Accepted

"...I will never turn away anyone who comes to me," John 6:37

The story of King David has to an interesting backdrop. David was the youngest of eight brothers. When the prophet Samuel came to David's house to choose a new king, everyone assumed Samuel would choose, Eliab. Eliab was the biggest, oldest, and strongest of the brothers. Surely he was going to be the new king. But God said, “Nope. Not him.” Undoubtedly, Eliab felt spurned. The system seemed upside down. He wasn’t chosen as king. Instead, the youngest brother was—the kid who wasn’t even in the lineup. Eliab felt rejected, and rejected people reject people. 

None of us like to feel we aren’t good enough. Or smart enough. Or wanted enough. As much as we wish it weren’t so, the opinions of others matter.

I grew up with the fear of rejection. I never tried out for sports; because I feared I couldn't make the cut. I didn't date much in my teen years because I couldn't handle being turned down. 

But even if we have been rejected by our peers, passed over by a job promotion, or even rejected by our parents; remember Jesus will never turn away from you. John 6:37 Psalm 27:10

Jesus accepts us not because of our appearance 1 Samuel 16:7 , our intelligence or personality but because He choose us from the time of our conception. Before you were born, He loved you. Job 10:10-12  God did not accept you because of anything you had done but just because He loved you. 

Dead But Still Deadly

Many people do not believe in the reality of the devil but the Bible makes it very clear, that he is real. His purpose on earth is to destroy everything God created: Mankind, the Church, and the family. "The thief (devil) comes only to steal and kill..." John 10:10

The Good News is Jesus defeated the devil by His atoning death on the Cross. "...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work." I John 3:8 When you place your trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you and you are able to overcome the attacks of Satan. Romans 8:37

However, as we read in 1 Peter 5:8, the devil still “prowls around . . . looking for someone to devour.” In many ways, he is like a snake with its head cut off. When you kill a snake, you have to be sure to bury its head, because even after death the serpent holds a lethal dose of venom in its fangs. If you step on a dead snake’s head, you can still get poisoned. In the same way, even though Jesus broke the power of Satan at the cross, he can still inject his deadly poison into our lives. He is dead but still deadly.

We must remember that WE are not able to overcome Satan in our own strength. Our dependency must be on the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ.  Victory is all about trusting in Christ and not about trying to succeed. 

Joy in the Journey

Famous UCLA basketball coach John Wooden led one of the greatest dynasties in sports history, winning 10 NCAA Championships in 12 years. Toward the end of his life, he was asked what one day from his storied career he would choose to re-live if given the chance. His answer may surprise you.

Are You Living a Fantasy?

 

Years ago there was a popular TV series called Fantasy Island. The premise of the show was people from different walks of life could come to a secluded island and live out their fantasy, though for a price. There is always a price for living a fantasy.

From the beginning of time, Satan's strategy was to get people to think they could live a “fantasy” without a price. Genesis 3:4 But Ezekiel 18:20 tells us, “The one who sins is the one who will die.” His plan has not changed. He tells people that they can get rich by playing the lottery but the odds of winning are 1 in 13,983,816! True fantasy. People who view pornography, fantasize they can have an intimate relationship with one of those gorgeous women. But the chance of even meeting one of those women is a true fantasy.

The fantasy of sin is:

1. Sin will take you further than you ever intended.
2. Sin will cost your more than you expected.
3. Sin will never fulfill what it promised.
4. Sin will never bring true happiness.

The fantasy of Satan is that you live your life without God. But that is not living; it's a fantasy.

How Well do You Know God?

 

A father overheard his son playing with two friends in their backyard. As boys will often do, they were boasting about how important their fathers were. The first boy bragged that HIS father was so important, he knew the mayor of the city. The second boy not to be undone bragged HIS father personally knew the Governor of the state. The listening father wondered what his son might say about him. His son, with puffed up chest, said His father was so important he knew God!

Well you cannot top that! I wonder if our children could say that about us. What is there about our relationship with God that would convince our children that we personally know God? James 2:23 When we pray with our families, do we convey that our relationship with God is up-close and personal? Or God is some distant Deity? Do we share with our children how God is working in our lives?

In Genesis 5, there is a brief account of a man known as Enoch. The Bible tells us Enoch walked so close to God that God took him to heaven without him dying. I can only imagine the conversation around the evening meal in Enoch's home! “Your father won't be joining us tonight. He is having dinner with God!”

Fathers, take time to develop your relationship with God and then share with your family how God is working in your life!