YOU ARE HERE FOR A PURPOSE!

I just received a devotional book by William Barclay.  Although I'll be saving it for next year, I sat and read the introduction written by Denis Duncan, who collected and edited the works of this great biblical scholar.

Denis included a long list of Barclay's accomplishments and positions held - from biblical scholar and professor to football fan and supporter of the Scottish National Orchestra.  He trained and conducted the Trinity College Student's Choir and also found time to be a railway enthusiast!

He wrote over sixty books while his Daily Study Bible sold over a million copies in Britain and half-a-million more in the United States!  

As a journalist, his work was published in many newspapers and journals.  His television teaching on the New Testament captivated millions!  

All this while being married and raising a son.

"The typical Barclay day:

"He rises at 7:15 AM and reaches the university at 8:30 AM.  He works at his desk until 1:15 PM.  In the afternoon he sees research students from 2:00 - 4:30 PM. The evening he spends reading, writing or out speaking. At 11:00 PM he falls asleep but only for one hour.  At midnight he is awake again and works till 2:00 AM.   [DAILY CELEBRATION, William Barclay, p.10]  

After reading this introduction, I simply sat in the quiet of my study and meditated.

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After this period of personal reflection I set myself to typing into my quote file a number of things from my recent reading.   One of the quotes took me back to my earlier musings.  Actually, it was a quote from DAILY CELEBRATION VOL2 [p.45].

"Every man who ever came into this world was sent into this world by God to do some special task. Every man is, as it has been put, a 'Dream of God'."

Reader, you are a "Dream of God"!  You have been sent into this world to do some special task!

Hey! I heard that thought!  You were thinking: "Yeah, right!"  But listen - it's true!

Your task may not be one which is great as the world uses the word great. It may be to:

• care for a child, 
• make someone else happy, 
• teach someone’s mind, 
• cure someone’s body, 
• bring sunshine into the lives of others across a counter
• or in an office, 
• to make a home.

Do what you do - whatever it is - with the determination not to disappoint the God who set you to this task!  

Honor Him!

Love Him!

Serve Him joyfully!

Point others to Him!

Be a joyful servant!

King of the universe: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Thank You for sending us into Your world to serve Your purposes!

The world may deem our role as insignificant, but You don't!

Don't allow us to minimize the importance of our existence!

Even as we age and are relegated to less impacting roles, help us to realize that we are still capable of much for You - though it may be in different ways!

Be near to the young mother who is wiping noses, changing diapers and trying to maintain order in her home.  She is about the crucial business of raising godly children who will honor You!

Touch the millworker today who has a repetitive job that barely engages the mind.  Help them to live with purpose and hope that will inspire their fellow workers and point them to You!

Engage the ones who are full of despair today!  Lord, help them to remember that they are Your dream!  Guide them back onto the path of Your plan and blessing!  Renew their hope and sense of purpose!

For those who are far from home: due to military service, or schooling obligations, or being immigrants, or work commitments, or rebellion, or being captives of violence or the sex trade, or even the prodigals;  assure them that You are with them!  Remind them that You see into the darkest corners and are able to rally rescuers, provide strength and endurance while guiding and protecting them with Your angels!

Regardless of our situation, location, or state of mind, renew our understanding that we were sent into this world to do some special task!  Give us the courage and stamina to look around, figure out what it is, and do it with all our passion and desire.

And may our service be pleasing to You, and may we earn the right to someday hear You say:  "Well done!  You have been a faithful servant!  Enter into the eternal joy of your Lord!"  

AMEN!

WE MUST AVOID PETRIFYING THE GOSPEL

The King James Version of our Bible was written in 1611.  It's use was almost exclusive for over three hundred years.  When it was written, it was absolutely colloquial and contemporary.  Yet today it is safe to assume that it is only used in extremely conservative groups!  

Growing up in the 1950's and 1960's, the KJV was the only version that I read until my teen years when Ken Taylor began to produce The Living Bible.  It was so refreshing and relevant and in the language of the 1960’s. 

Many of the people in my early-life church even prayed in the language style of the KJV, using thee’s and Thou’s in their prayers.

It is only suitable to deduce that this kind of language use was petrified from the era of 1611.  Once upon a time it was relevant and essential.  But time evolved and the language morphed.  Today, we celebrate having the Bible available in translations that are in conversational language!  Relevance has been restored!

In recent months I’ve been enjoying a devotional book written by biblical scholar, William Barclay. I was stunned by the significance of his comments for today’s date referring to the use of the ‘Authorized Version’ [KJV]:

[REMEMBER – This was written well over fifty years ago.]

“Worship by so many has got to be in the language of the Authorized Version of the Bible.  But surely a twentieth-century man speaks to God in twentieth-century English.  The biggest barrier to prayer is the stagnation which insists on a special prayer language which is quite out of date.

But in worship there is also stagnation in the order of service.  For the person within the Church, and brought up within the Church, no doubt the accepted and traditional orders of service are hallowed and dear.  But when a man (sic) comes in from outside the Church, we cannot afford to go through the long preparation of prayer and praise and reading, or we lose him (sic).

We must talk to him almost at once.

After all, the Church must be concerned for the man (sic) outside.

There are fewer and fewer inside!”

Many readers will miss the power of Barclay’s statement by virtue of not knowing that it was his life’s mission to make the Bible understandable to the common student of the Word.  His seventeen volume study Bible (commentary) was/is an invaluable resource to pastors and students to this day!  It was my personal dream to own it, but I was not able to make that happen, so I settled for reading it in various libraries along my journey! 

I digress. 

Worship must be relevant! 

While attending Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, I leaned toward a more liturgical expression of worship.  But this was balanced by the use of praise and worship music that was exploding in the 1980’s.  Many churches are migrating toward increasingly liturgical forms of worship [even in my own ‘free’ tradition of Free Methodism].  I believe this creates barriers to convert growth.  Although I'm aware that MANY will disagree, I believe it is a form of petrifying the Gospel.

I currently worship in a Reformed Presbyterian church.  I am not drawn to the identical form used week after week – although I recognize that many are indeed comfortable with this format.  This church made a significant hire a few years ago of a new worship leader that has brought novelty and creativity to the leadership of worship via, instruments, new music, and the innovation of two distinct worship teams that alternate.  Her direction regularly infuses vibrancy into a rote form.  This IS a growing and vibrant church.

Our task is the task of our Lord: “to seek and to save the lost” [Luke 19:10]. 

During nine years of service in leading a church before we left for China, we tapped the talents of our people by creating a worship experience that was marked by creativity, engagement, variety, and stimulation.  How?

By using drama, humor, video clips, testimonies, three worship teams with unique styles, fill-in-the-blank worksheets, and worship experiences that involved the congregation in movement – such as:

·         Occasionally having the people bring their tithes and offering forward while singing a joyful song of praise.

·         Coming forward once-a-month to receive Holy communion.

The response to these specific plans was one of growth!  The church more than doubled in size and a second worship service was begun to allow for even greater growth!  For two years in a row the church was recognized by our denomination as a 'Multiplying Church'.

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Having led ministries for over forty years, I'm very familiar with the dynamics of trying to change the local church!  The resistance faced requires patience, love yet persistence.  This is the Kingdom of God and we are compelled to follow Him as He leads us into our world! 

Ever loving Lord,

Help us who have impact on the worship of our church to fearlessly innovate so that the common person will find relevance when they enter our sanctuary.  We want them to see You and come to know You!  This is far more important than meeting our needs for comfort and control.

For the Kingdom’s sake.  Amen.  

DUTY CALLS

I’m currently reading an old devotional book written by William Barclay, a British Bible scholar.  His context leaks out in nearly everything he writes.

Today I read of a situation where a group of elite, British Coldstream Guards who were under siege fought their way out of this dilemma, but with tremendous losses among their ranks!  Out of two battalions, only two hundred men were left. 

These survivors were cared for by the Royal Air Force. 

“A Coldstream Guards major was talking to the R.A.F. unit’s medical officer.  The R.A.F. man said, ‘After all, as Foot Guards, you had no option but to have a go.’  Another R.A.F. man said: ‘It must be pretty tough to be in the Brigade of Guards, because the tradition compels you to carry on irrespective of circumstances.’

It was simply a sense of duty which turned these men into heroes.”

As an American, I’m confident that our special forces fighters have had similar experiences where the tradition compelled them to bravery and the risking of their lives!

Being compelled by duty seems to be a less admirable trait in the current culture.  Duty seems often thought of as mundane, trivial, and obligatory. 

Yet duty gives direction and clarity in many cases.  It leaves no doubt.  It helps to sustain a sense of purpose.  It develops faithfulness and creates camaraderie! 

“There was never anyone in whom the sense of duty was stronger than it was in Jesus Christ.  He went to His work saying: ‘I must.’”

·        “I must be about My Father’s business”  -  Luke 2:49

·        “I must preach the gospel”  -  Luke 4:43

·        He tells His disciples that He “must go to Jerusalem”  -  Matthew 16:21

·        “The Son of Man must suffer” -  Mark 8:31

·        “The Son of Man must be delivered up”  -  Luke 24:7

·        “I must work the works of Him that sent Me”  -  John 9:4

·        “The Son of Man must be lifted up”  -  John 12:34

Duty sometimes gets us up and out-the-door.  But as a result of duty’s motivation, good things happen and good connections are made!  Things get accomplished!

Duty is not a bad word!  It’s just fallen into disuse in a culture that glorifies fun, indulgence and diversion! 

Thankfully, many ARE still motivated by duty!  Our military, our police, our first-responders - as well as others would still answer the question, "Why did you risk your life?" with the response: "It was my duty!"

MEMORIES - PRESSED BETWEEN THE PAGES OF MY MIND!

I read the following in William Barclay's DAILY CELEBRATION, VOL.2, pp.127-128:

I was born in Wick [Scotland].  I had not seen it since 1912, but the extraordinary thing is that when we went back to Wick recently, I immediately and without hesitation recognised the street where we used to stay and could go straight to the house where I was born.

That set me to thinking about memory.

Memory is a frightening thing.  There are so many pictures which remain forever unobliterated in our minds.  In fact the psychologists tell us that we never forget anything. Everything we have ever done and seen is buried in our minds.  It may not be there on a conscious level, but it is buried deep down in the unconscious, and even there it has its effect upon us.

Obviously if we never forget anything, we should be very careful indeed what we give ourselves to remember!  [emphasis mine] 

[Therefore] We should be careful what we look at.

Sir Joshua Reynolds, the great artist, used to refuse even to look at an inferior painting, because, he said, even to look at an inferior picture had an effect on his own art.

Somewhere the picture of everything that we have seen is buried in the unconscious depths of our memories.  Whether we know it or not, that picture is affecting us.

If we allow ourselves to look at soiled and smutted things, there is defilement within our memories, even if we are unaware that it is there.

The same truth obviously applies to the things we listen to or read.

I don't know if I'm an exception or if my experience is normative?  I have memories that actually make me wince when they invade my thoughts!  I have to "take captive every thought" [II Corinthians 10:5] when they come to my mind!  These memories cause me pain!  And they are pervasive.  It takes stringent effort on my part to rid them from my consciousness!  I often go to prayer - out loud!  I quote scriptures!  I rebuke my enemy!  

Oh, how I wish I could just hit 'Delete' on these memories!  

If we could just impact our youth with this knowledge, perhaps we could save them from a similar experience.  

It's a quick trail to move from this initial observation to the problem of pornography among men [and women] today - even in the Christian community.

I was eleven when my best friend showed me my first pictures of nudes.  Even today the statistics report that eleven is typically a child's first exposure to pornographic material.  

I refuse to give statistics here because they are all over the chart and can be cited to say just about anything you want to prove.  But the fact that pornography is a problem is clear.  Christian men [and women] are continually faced with the temptation to seek erotic stimulation from sources that are far too available.   

Talk about memory!  I recall being a teenager at Family Camp.  One year, my future father-in-law - Ken Whippo - was charged with speaking to the boy's class that I was a part of.  He spoke clearly on this very topic.  He impressed on us the power of the mind!  He wanted us to realize that if we allow those images to enter our minds, then our minds can pull up those images at any time!  His warning was clear:  If you don't put those images in there, then you won't have to struggle with them in the future!  Interesting that I can recall this incident from fifty-seven years ago!  It kind of proves the point!

Being a godly man or woman calls for an intention to remain pure!  This takes determination, a plan, and accountability!

Need help with the determination part?

"Whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things."

 Philippians 4:8

    

CHRISTIANS DIE WELL

[I came across this in William Barclay's DAILY CELEBRATION - Volume 2.  I felt compelled to share it with you today!]

T. R. Glover published his book, THE JESUS OF HISTORY, in 1917.  In it, he discusses the triumph of Christianity in the ancient world.  

It was a highly improbable triumph.  How did it happen that a small group of simple and unlettered men could go out into the world with the story of a crucified Jewish criminal and persuade men and women to take that Jesus as savior and Lord?  

Glover's answer is that the Christians were enabled by the grace of God to do three things - they outlived, they out-died, and they out-thought the pagan world.

THEY OUTLIVED THE WORLD

Why were they able to do this?  Because they could say of Jesus: "He loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal.2:20).  Every man had acquired a new dignity and a new worth because he could say that for him, as a person, the Son of God had died.

Further, he believed that the Son of God had loved and given Himself for all men.  He had therefore a motive for service that no one else had.

He was eager to help the man for whom Christ died.  He had a motive of forgiveness such as no one else had.  However unpleasant that other man might be, Jesus Christ had died for him.

He had a motive for purity such as no one else had.  He could look at a prostitute - "the victim of the common lust" as Tertullian called her - and he could know that even for her Christ had died.  And therefore he must treat her as a daughter of God and the beloved of Jesus Christ.  [Imagine how reduced the clicks for pornography would be if today's Christian men and women thought this way?]

Once a man could say "He loved me and gave Himself for me", and once he knew that that was true of everyone including himself, life could become a "new creation".

THEY OUT-DIED THE WORLD

It was this that won Tertullian, the famous Roman lawyer.  He saw the Christians die, and it shook him to the depths of his being!  "Every man," he said, "who sees it is moved with some misgiving, and is set on fire to learn the reason; he enquires and he is taught;  and when he has learned the truth he instantly follows it himself."  

When simple men and women could choose to die like that, and to die in agony, there must be something in that for which they died!

THEY OUT-THOUGHT THE WORLD

The ancient world was credulous and superstitious.  The Christian was clear-sighted and fearless.

Lucian tells how he saw on heathen shrines the notice: "Christians keep out."  The Christian saw too clearly through the mumbo-jumbo.

In the ancient world the way to destroy your enemy was to attach his name to a demon and the demon would kill him. "Go on," said the Christian, "attach my name to a demon.  I don't care.  I have a name which is above every name to keep me safe."

The Christian thought fearlessly and clearly.  The number of heresies shows the freedom and vigor with which the Christian thought.  He had a freedom of thought and speech that no one else had ever had.

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If we are to persuade the world that Christianity is worthwhile, the way of the early Christians is the only way.  We have to outlive the world in service, in charity, in purity and in joy.

We have to out-die the world in that we show the world that we are still prepared to pay the price of being a Christian.

We have to out-think the world, not clinging to the old ways and the old words, but ever ready for the adventure of thought in whatever age we live.