Sylvan Hills church of Christ

Burj Dubai (Arabic for “Dubai Tower”) is now completed. Rising 2,717 feet, the $1.5 billion structure is the tallest in the world. It will have a swimming pool on the 76^{th floor and a mosque on the 158th floor. Builders of the Dubai Tower wanted it to be a monument to the boundless human spirit of their people (ironically, it was designed by a U.S. firm out of Chicago).}

Builders of the original tower of Babel had a similar motive. “Let us make for ourselves a name” (Genesis 11:4). Their intent was to bring glory to themselves and not God. Babel was about the human spirit rather than the Holy Spirit. It was a tribute to the potential of men rather than the possibilities with God.

The ultimate aim for man is not to build monuments to ourselves. Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Ultimately, the human spirit is full of potential only as it is full of faith in the Creator. He is the one able to do more than we could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20). To Him be the glory!

“How did it happen? He used to be such a good person. I can’t believe he has allowed this addiction to take over his life.” Similar comments are often heard when expressing shock over the discovery of hidden sin in the life of a “godly person.”

Anyone, Christians included, can become comfortable with the continual presence of sinful behavior if the conscience has been dulled. The downward process to self-delusion begins with rationalization. A person excuses their own sin by comparing it to the sins of others which they judge in the jury of their own mind to be far more serious.

The Bible says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith, examine yourselves!” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Grading of the test is based upon Scripture, not the imperfections of others. The self-deluded person must come face to face with God’s word and be honest with self. Only then will they seek deliverance in Christ.

A man and his family were noticing all of the orange trees while travelling through Florida.  They decided to stop in at the next restaurant and have a glass of fresh orange juice.  Upon ordering their waitress announced, “I can’t bring you orange juice. Our machine is broken.”  Oranges were everywhere! Nevertheless, dependence upon the machine prevented them from enjoying a glass of juice.

In our society we are inundated with biblical resources.  Christian books, CD’s, DVD’s, software, and free research sites on the internet abound.  Most of us have more than one Bible in the home.  Opportunity for spiritual enrichment is everywhere!  Yet, it is so easy to become dependent upon preachers for delivery of God’s message.   Waiting till Sunday to get a 30 minute sip will eventually cause dehydration.  Daily Bible reading and personal study is the answer.

David wrote, “My soul thirsts for Thee… in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Ps. 63:1b).  He found satisfaction for his thirst in the sweetness of God’s word (Ps. 119:103).  Determine today to set aside a few minutes in the morning to drink from God’s word.  Enjoy the incomparable refreshment!

Question: “Can a Christian firmly state their views but still not want to make or keep everything Christianity preaches against illegal?”

Great question!  Throughout our nation’s history there have been laws that were firmly rooted in our Judeo-Christian history.  Christians have sought to influence lawmakers because they believed “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 14:34) and that all nations are accountable to God (Dan. 4:32). 

However, submission to the way of Christ is a personal choice based upon an understanding of God’s word, not legal mandates from government.  Transformed living is not about dodging illegal behavior, it’s about following Christ.  Godliness cannot be forced upon people through man made laws.  Even God gives the unbeliever the power to choose. With their citizenship ultimately in heaven (Phil. 3:20), Christians choose to conform to God’s law regardless of civil laws of a moral nature that may or may not be present.  Sin is sin because of God’s standards, not D.C.’s.  We’ll pray for moral leadership among our rulers, but our hope for societal change is in the life changing message of Christ.

Fran Striker wrote, “I believe that to have a friend, a man must be one.”  His philosophy reflects the principle found in the Golden Rule: “However you want people to treat you, so treat them” (Matthew 7:12). 

Whatever you desire in life, the key to having it is to first provide it to others.  If you want respect, show it to others. Needing a better work ethic in the office? Demonstrate it clearly in your own example.  Tired of arguing with your family?  Explore the path of peace in times of conflict.  Desperately hoping for meaningful, strong friendships?  First step: be a stable friend to someone you know. 

Only when we become proactive, can we truly change our circumstances.   Waiting on the actions and attitudes of others before reciprocating will lead to frustration and resentment.  A life lived by reaction is full of insecurity.  Continually hoping people will read your mind is a hopeless endeavor.

However, the Lord knows your every need.  You can decide today to give the Lord control instead of abdicating it to others.  With His perfect knowledge and infinite ability, He can empower you to take charge and make positive changes.  Jesus Christ makes a difference in every situation!  With Him, tomorrow’s possibilities are unlimited!

Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar asks his audience, “How many of you believe there is one thing you can do today to make your marriage worse?” All hands go up.  Then he asks, “How many of you believe there is one thing you can do that will make your marriage better?”  Hands rise at a slower pace.  Why?  We’ve been conditioned to think that marriage improvement is a complex matter and that little can be done when the flames of passion have become smoldering embers.
 
Empowerment brings hope.  Understanding you possess the ability to make your marriage better will help stop the fruitless practice of blaming others.  You will never have total control over anyone but yourself.   You are the only one who can detoxify your words and infuse positive, affirming, and nurturing communication.  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21). You are the only one that can demonstrate your gratitude and respect for the one with whom you made a covenant.  The Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12) calls for you to take the initiative. 

Transformational living is counter-cultural.  While 40-50% of marriages are ending in divorce, yours can have a new beginning.  God can take any situation and turn it around!  He’s in the business of surprising us!  When we believe our circumstances are hopeless, He waits for an invitation for intervention.

What can you do today to make a difference?
1) Release your anxieties to Him in prayer (1 Peter 5:6,7)
2) Identify your contributions to problematic areas of your marriage (1 John 1:8)
3) Humble yourself before God and draw near to Him (Jas. 4:6-10)
4) Keep angry, critical comments to yourself  (Jas. 1:19,20)
5) Speak affirming, nurturing words of encouragement (Eph. 4:29)
6) Forgive (Eph. 4:32)

Don’t wait for someone to someday do something.  It’s your marriage.

Have you seen the movie Fireproof yet? If not, hurry and get to a theater before they stop showing it and return to the normal lineup of sex, foul language, and violence. Fireproof is such an unusual film, you tend to look around and make sure you are in a public theater. It’s an amazingly powerful portrayal of a Firefighter and the trials he experiences in his marriage. God’s ability to change lives is a major theme. If you liked Facing the Giants, you’ll love this movie as well. It was produced by the same people.

As the son of a retired firefighter, I was inspired by scenes in the movie of firefighters at work reselling people. ‘they are the unsung heroes at work everyday. Sherwood and North Little Rock firefighters are some of the best around. But as a minister, I was most encouraged by seeing a well produced film speaking truth about love, respect, commitment, and humbling ourselves before God. More information is available at www.Fireproofmymarriage.com   

I’m so thoroughly impressed with Fireproof, I’ll make a deal with you.

1)  Go see the movie with your spouse

2)  Bring the 2 ticket stubs by my office (Hwy 107 & Maryland, Sherwood)

3)  I’ll reimburse you for the 2 tickets! Really.

Even if you don’t come by the office, I’m interested in hearing about how God blessed you by viewing the movie! Drop me a note at greg.clark@sylvanhillscofc.org