Tools - Binoculars 2

1 Corinthians 2:12-13

Many driver’s education instructors prefer that their students attend classes before they spend any time being taught by their parents.  The reasoning is that these qualified teachers would rather teach about driving properly without the influence of the bad habits an older driver might impart.

In many ways our faith can become distorted and flawed if we follow too closely what we are accustomed to practicing in our religion.  Sometimes our practice of faith is influenced too heavily by human tradition.  Sometimes our faith can be guided more by human thinking than by the leading of God.

In his first letter to the believers in Corinth Paul talks about what has guided him in his teachings.  What has NOT influenced him?  What guides his messages?  What is the result?

It can be challenging to practice discernment, that ability to determine what is correct and what is flawed.  It is easy to have our faith and our beliefs influenced heavily by the traditions our churches practice and by the traditions we have honored over the years.  It is easy to be influenced by popular beliefs in our society.

But like Paul we must be certain that we are being guided by the Spirit of God and not the spirit of the world.  Our faith choices must be led by the Lord and not by the thoughts and desires of ourselves or other people.

As we work through our faith journey, as we make decisions about what we believe and how we will love out the love of God, we must seek direction from God.  We must open ourselves up through prayer and meditation, through Biblical study, through holy examples to receive the guidance that the Holy Spirit can provide.  We must open our hearts, souls and minds to the leading of the Spirit to gain a new way of looking at our faith.

With this new perspective on our relationship with God we can approach how we live out our faith in a new way.  We can become people who are able to truly love others.  We can be the people who share the good news of Christ with those who need to hear it.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How do you know you are being led by the Holy Spirit in your faith?

Tools - Binoculars 1

Ephesians 3:6

While church buildings are built to honor God, made to be large so they may hold a good number of people, rising high above many other buildings to remind us of the greatness of the Lord, they are often an intimidating sight to those who are not familiar with religion.  Those who are not acquainted with the ways of doing “church” may feel that they are not welcome in such imposing buildings.  But God’s grace and love is intended for all people.

As we continue our faith journey equipped with the backpack of God’s love and the light that Jesus brings, we can add another tool for our trip.  We can add binoculars to our collection of equipment.

Just as binoculars allow us to see things from a distance, allow us to see better the details of those objects that are far away, the third chapter of Ephesians gives us a new way of looking at our faith.  What is the mystery of faith?  What good news do the Gentiles receive?

Through the working of the Holy Spirit we can take on a new way of looking at faith.  It is no longer a mysterious and incomprehensible idea.  It is no longer an attitude that excludes the outsider.  Instead we must see that the love and grace – the care and forgiveness – that comes from God is open to all who will receive it.

Although at first it seemed that Jesus was born to be the Messiah for God’s chosen people as his ministry grew the message of salvation was offered not just to the Jews but to Gentiles as well.  God’s grace was extended to those who were outside the Jewish faith.

This message continues to be offered to all people through the sacrifice of Christ.  The mystery of faith is that God’s love and mercy is meant for everyone and not just a select group.  Paul and his followers were given direction from God to share the message of salvation to those who were not already part of the predominant faith.  The Gentiles were then welcomed to share in the good news of Jesus.

Like the Gentiles in the time of Paul, the people who are not part of our faith body are still welcome into the grace of Christ.  We must see our faith in a new way.  We must understand that God’s love extends beyond the walls of our church and is open to all who will accept he Lord.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you look at your faith differently?

Tools - Flashlight 5

1 John 1:7

In the first month or two at our current church I was passing through the Sanctuary on the way to my office.  It was in the evening and the church was dark.  I thought I knew where things were in the room and thought I could easily maneuver to where I needed to be until my knee discovered where the piano was.

Things are so much better and easier when it is light.  I learned my lesson that evening.  I turn on the lights whenever I have to go anywhere in the church.  It is important for me to be able to see where I am going.

The same is true of our lives.  It is important that we go through life in the light.  We need the light of wisdom, the light of hope, the light of love.  We need the light that God gives us, the light of His care and insight.  If we do not walk in the light of God’s guidance and love then we are in the dark of confusion, doubt, and sin.

John encourages us to walk in the light.  What are the benefits of walking in the light of God?

1 John 1:5 tells us that “God is light; in him there is no darkness.”  God is love and wisdom.  God is the source of hope.  Being all these things means that God is that light that we need so badly.

If we can walk in the light of God – that is, if we can try to live out love the way God loves, if we can try to keep God as part of who we are – we can avoid stumbling in life.  We can avoid wrong decisions, wrong attitudes, and wrong actions.

If we make God’s love part of who we are we are also freed from sin.  The sacrifice and presence of Jesus purifies us, washes away the sinfulness.  But we also have fellowship.  That fellowship is with God because we are in His presence and we have made Him part of who we are.

But, just as light shines on more than one person, when we are in the light of God that light spills over onto others.  We are then in fellowship with others.  In that fellowship we can share the love of God.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you walk in the light of God?

Tools - Flashlight 4

Hebrews 1:3

How do we know what God looks like?  How do we know what God is like?  These questions are often on our hearts and minds.  And they are certainly on the hearts and minds of others who are trying to make their way through the labyrinth of life.

As we examine faith, specifically our own faith, we must concede that faith is a belief and confidence in something we cannot fully grasp, and probably cannot see.  So we feel we must be content in accepting that we believe in God even though we think we can never see God.

But the author of Hebrews gives us a plain example of God and Jesus.  Who is Jesus?  What does Jesus do?

Jesus came to earth as a human being, the Son of God, appearing in human form – completely human and also completely holy.  He came so that we might be saved from sin; that is certain.  But he came also so that we might see God.

Jesus is the physical representation of God.  Through the kindness and mercy, the miraculous works, the compassion that was expressed by Jesus we can see who God is.  Jesus acted out the love of God – caring and sacrificial, all-encompassing.  God’s love is that way.

Jesus came as a reflection of God.  He came so that we might be able to comprehend God, to see what God is like in terms we can cope with.

Through the word of Christ, the teaching and lessons, Jesus holds all the things about God together in ways that we can see and experience.  When we look at who Jesus is we see who God is.

And now we must see that we are supposed to be like Jesus.  If Jesus shows the love of God, shines grace and mercy like a blinding light in a darkened world, then we also are to shine that light of love.  If Jesus loved all people – the good, the bad, the saints and the sinner – it was because God loves all people.  And we are to love all people.

As Jesus reflects the love and light of God, we are to reflect the love and light of Christ.  In so doing we are shining the light of hope and grace that comes from God, shining it on those who live in the darkness of ignorance and sin and hopelessness.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  What do you do that reflects Jesus?

Tools - Flashlight 3

Romans 5:6

When I was first hired at an engineering firm years ago I was shown to my desk.  On the desk was a new trashcan and inside the can were a stapler, tape dispenser, pens, pencils, scissors, and notepads.  I was thrilled to find these items waiting for me.  I was starting a new job in a new place with new things.

But the collection of items on my desk were not just gifts from the company; they were tools for getting things done.  They were given to me, not to make me happy, but to equip me for what I would do.

We as believers are given new things from God.  In Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome he points out one of the basics of faith.  What did Christ do?  When did he do this?

We know in our faith that if we rely on ourselves we are unable to accomplish anything.  We need to have the love and grace of God so that we might move forward in our journey of faith and belief.  Paul has reminded all of us that God provided us with what we need to advance in our faith.

The sacrifice of Jesus was made when we powerless, when we were still immersed in our sin.  We were still far from perfect with no hope of goodness, yet Jesus in the compassion of God gave himself that we might be saved.  Through the salvation of Jesus we were each given new life.  Our faith was brought to life.

And what was the purpose of such a gift?  We can find joy in knowing that we are loved by God so much that He would send His Son to save us from sin.  But there is also a purpose in our life.

With our new life, with our salvation, we are able to do good work for God’s kingdom.  This refreshing of the soul, this washing clean of our spirit brings us new energy and new ability.  We are no longer bogged down by sinfulness and evil.  We are given new power and we are joined by the presence of Christ in our lives.

As new people blessed by the grace of God we are now pointed in the direction of sharing God’s love and grace with others.  God shines a light of hope and redemption on us and on our path.  He shows us that we should share this refreshing grace with all.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  What can remind you that you have been renewed in spirit?