Answering the Critics

The other day, I was accosted by a sales girl in a shopping centre. I've met this kind before. They pass you a freebie, then you're hooked. Not every sales girl can do this well, but the girls from this particular organisation are well trained, I have to say. This is the second time in roughly 5 years that I've come across this brand, and it is also the second time I've spent way to much money with them...

That aside, I took the opportunity share the gospel with the girl. She had built a good rapport with me, and was very easy-going and open. Since she was sharing a great product with me (I do think they are good quality products), I thought I'd share something great with her too!

She was so polite, but had some serious indictments against God. Her family fled the Poh Pot regime in Cambodia, and one of her sisters fell victim to the genocide there. If God exists, she countered, this shouldn't have happened.

Additionally, she believed that people only need God when they are sad or in trouble. In other words, she believed God is a crutch only made up by people in need. She also felt that she had no choice to follow another god since her family are all Buddhists. What do you say to such a list?

These arguments are very common. I've read them in books and movies, and heard them repeated in discussions with friends. They may be universal questions but sometimes I wonder if some people just pick up these views from the media.

What I do know is that trying to convince someone when their mindset is fixed is like banging your head against a brick wall. She was definitely fixed, and in any case, she was a stranger I'd met for the first time. For most people, convincing people is not the strategy to take, and you can't allow emotions to overtake rational discussion. No matter how emotional your conversation (or debating) partner, you have to stay rational and calm. You plant a seed, expose a flaw in their argument(s), share Christ with them, show them His love and that's all you can do.

I don't know if what I said went anywhere, but what I hoped that I had done is plant a seed that would make her think, and continue to sit in her heart and remind her in days to come.

We have to remember that we are not there to convince people. It's God who will ultimately help them to be convinced. We are to be faithful messengers who communicate the message accurately, and represent God faithfully. We may be the last in a long line of messengers who plants the last seed to break down the hardness of their hearts, or we may be one in the middle. But every one counts.

I am reminded of an analogy I heard in an awesome SFC camp meeting one year (any SFCers out there??) that everytime we share is like a drop of water. That drop may not seem to go anywhere, but over time, consistent drips over time can break down rock in a way that no flood can.

Be a drop of water today!

Get a Life

What do you think about this interesting statement?

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col 3:3

If a person is dead, how can we still speak of life? Because Paul is talking about the spiritual realm.

"For you died" - this refers to the 'old nature' which is crucified with Christ (Rom 6:6) and 'buried' through water baptism (Rom 6:3-5).

Barne's commentary puts it this way:

The idea of the apostle is, that as Christ became literally dead in the tomb, so we, in virtue of our connection with him, have become dead to sin, to worldly influences, pleasures, and ambition. Or, in other words, we are to be to them as if we were dead, and they had no more influence over us than the things of earth had over him in the grave

"Your life" - this refers to your new being, which has been 'born again' through God:

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor 5:17

The Amplified Bible denotes that this 'life' Paul speaks of is the result of the death of the old nature:

For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)

Your life in terms of physical existence is not the real you. It is a stage you pass through, like a caterpillar in a cocoon. The real you is a new spiritual identity only available when you identity with Christ's crucifixion and resurrection through believing in Him.

Some translations pick up on a nuance of the word 'hidden' which implies something hidden due to its value. It's covered, kept carefully and secretly with Christ in God.

So are you living your real life? Or are you more pre-occupied with the details of your physical one, which is transient and already slipping away? Get a life! Get your real one that is hidden in Christ.

Colossians 2:1-2 exhorts:

IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. (Amplified Bible)

Where is your focus today? What have you set your heart on lately? Let the Shepherd of your heart order its contents today, and everyday.

Metamorphosis

Do you feel like all your efforts towards changing for the better are going nowhere? Then consider the caterpillar inside its cocoon.

The cocoon hangs around for quite some time, and looks as if nothing is going on. But that's only what it LOOKS like.

Change always takes time. Let patience have its perfect work in you, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4).


Don't be frustrated with 'no change' because your perception of 'no change' may be wrong: just because you can't see fruit doesn't mean that it isn't coming; just because the fruit is green, doesn't mean that it's not going to ripen; just because a pregnant woman doesn't look pregnant, it doesn't mean that she isn't!

God is always working behind the scenes, and He can make something out of nothing.

Your part is to be consistent in your discipline, abide in the Lord and leave the rest to Him. You will find one day that you have changed without you even realising it!

Change Me! (please)

Leo Tolstoy once said:

 "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."

And it's quite true when it comes to changing others. Yet I'm quite sure that everyone reading this article would want to change something about themselves. We want to be skinnier, smarter, better looking - but that's just the physical appearance side of it. If that wasn't asking for the moon, we each also wish that we were more patient, less lazy, more courageous, considerate etc etc... AND when we do we want it? NOW.


Well, you can change without pain, without discipline. Try the 5 steps to a NEW YOU and get instant results or your money back!! Free shipping, and we'll even throw in some self-confidence for free if you sign up for our 'You're Awesome' magazine...YOU WISH.

Think about this little gem from C.S Lewis:

"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."

And then this:

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  - Jesus Christ of Nazareth (John 15:4-6)

Do you want real, lasting change? Then go for the inside-out change. No amount of personal growth can stick if it's from the outside-in, just as putting on Christina Aguilera's look doesn't give you her vocal prowess. 

"He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; 

for without Me you can do nothing."

Did you ever realise that the fruits of the Spirit are FRUITS, not gifts? Fruits take time to develop and mature. A branch on a grapevine can only bear grapes if it stays attached to the vine, receiving nutrients from it.


Are you leaving God out of any part of your life? That might just be the part you need to let Him into if you want to see anything improve in that area. Give Him the right to work on you there, find out what He's saying about that area, then obey Him whether you like it or not.


So often, we try to change without God; for some reason, we think it is better without Him when in fact we NEED Him to help us change: "for without me you can do nothing". That's a slap in the face for some people; it takes humility to realise that you can't achieve it on your own, but that's exactly the first step to becoming more like Jesus.


The next step is to be more than just sorry about your bad habit/characteristic. Good intention alone is not enough to change the world. Convictions are because they are beliefs that propel you to action. But how do we get them?

"Good intention alone is not enough 
to change the world. Convictions are..."

Spend time with the Lord and invest in activities, thoughts and prayers that align yourself with God's Word. Catch God's passion and convictions, and let them change you from the inside out. It's time spent in His Word by His Spirit that transforms us.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor 3:18

Then, position yourself for change. It is important to ask (ie pray), but it also important to position yourself to receive. It may mean repentance. It may mean giving up your right make your own choice about something in order for you to follow God's choice for you. Or it may just mean straight discipline. Whatever it is, it will probably entail some discomfort, and effort. But don't do it out of your own strength. Remember:"abide in me, and I in you...without me, you can do nothing."


God is in the business of heart renovation. He'll take you up on the challenge if you step up to the plate and work with Him towards being all He made you to be. He's waiting for you.

When there is Silence

Have you ever felt that your prayers were lost in the ether? Or your ears were peeled for an answer, but none came?


There are many others who could discuss the silence of God more adequately than myself but I can only comment on what I have experienced. Here are some thoughts.


God still has the Last Say
There are many of us, including myself in unguarded moments, where we regard God in our image. We think of Him as having failings and limitations like us - but this is a grave mistake. When we make God in our own image, we not only under-estimate Him and insult Him, we also miss out on so much.


We miss out on the peace that comes with the assurance of God's limitless power; we miss out trusting and stepping out on a limb, then seeing God's step in and do miracles. We miss out when we underestimate Him.


God is also sovereign; He has the last say. It doesn't mean that He doesn't tolerate questions -- it just means that as King of the Universe, He has the right to do what He feels best. Look at Abraham and Moses - both of them pleaded with God to reconsider His plans (Ex 32; Gen 18:16-33) and God listened to them.


Because we know that He is good, and that He loved us enough for Him to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sin, we know that He will make the right decisions concerning us. We may not understand all of His decisions - in fact, we may seriously question them. Yet it is important to realise that we can only see such a small portion of the future, or of events at large.


We can never know the full impact of one act, one word, much less the events of our lives. God can see and comprehend it all, whilst our vision and understanding is so limited that we have no hope of having a strong basis to say to God "You don't know what you're doing."

Isaiah 29:16: How foolish can you be?He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay!   Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”?   Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”?

God may not answer a prayer, but I cannot deny the times He has answered me before. He may not have done something I asked for, but it does not negate what He had already done for me. My experience is of a God who loves me fully and completely. Who am I to question His hand in the face of His greatness?


Our Sins Get in the Way

Isaiah 59:2 says:"And your iniquities have separated you from God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."

When we stubbornly hold on to a sin that we know is wrong but refuse to admit so, we'll find His voice distant, His Word difficult to receive. Our sin blocks the pipes. If you value Him, and the quality of your life enough, you will do all you can to clear the pipes. Sin is poison in our system, and exceedingly deceitful. If gives you what you want, but it brings with it death. Then you'll wonder why things seem harder, why your attitude is poisoned, why the thing that you thought would satisfy you is destroying you too.


Sin is not some laid-down rule to control you - it's the 'don't touch the hot kettle' kind of rules that keep us whole, and safe. You don't need to find out the hard way that God's ways are the best ways - listen and obey!


It's Already Been Said


There's a few parts to this: existing knowledge, the push to discover, the knowing silence of intimacy.


Once upon a time, my Dad told me not to do something but I didn't listen. I went away and thought that the best way to resolve my problem was precisely what he had told me NOT to do. So I asked him what he thought about it. He was silent. I pestered him until he stopped me and said sternly, "I've already told you the answer. You know what I think about it. Why are you asking me?"


His answer wasn't very satisfactory because I wanted him to sanction my decision. But because he didn't stop me, I thought I could go ahead with my plans. When it went all pear-shaped, you can guess that my moans were not received well.


Sometimes God doesn't even bother stopping us with 'You already know what I think'. He knows that we've already decided to go against His counsel, and is leaving it with us to decide whether to follow Him, or to follow our own ideas. It's a test of our obedience.


On the flip side, we might be moaning about something that His Word is already clear about. God may not answer because we have a little nudge to go discover it for ourselves. Search His Word, believe it, act on it. God is definitely no spoon-feeder; every good teacher knows spoon feeding is detrimental to their students.


Lastly, there is an eloquence in silence. God doesn't have to speak through words or voices. Sometimes, through the silence comes an idea, a sense of assurance... Any couple who know each other well can attest that volumes can be said in just sitting together in silence. 


Hide and Seek
Sometimes we get a whiff of God's presence, and we call to Him and get no answer. These are times calling us to seek Him with all the fervency and vigour of a devoted lover. God is not interested in one-night stands, or flattery. He wants your sincere love.


Those who are prepared to seek and pursue Him will find all that their heart desires, and more.


Now, what should you do?
If you have sin, and are getting silence, you'll know about it. The answer for that is to repent (ie give up your sin, and walk away from it). As for the other reasons, I would say,  "don't be afraid of God's silence." Seek Him. God can speak in innumerable ways. He is always saying something. It just might not be in a way that we expect.