Let's Build a Tower!

We can look out for one another in so many ways. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Maybe not his keeper but you can be a hand up, an encouragement, a defender of basic human rights, and a protector of the vulnerable.

If you aren't sure how you can do or be that, then take a moment to reflect. In your sphere of influence how can you make a difference? What do you possibly look the other way on? Have you talked to the Lord about it, or is He possibly urging you in your spirit about something that needs to be done but you have pushed that to the side?

"But what will others think if I......?" What will the Lord think if you don't? How will you feel if you let that moment go by and you do nothing? At some point we have to stand up and be counted. We have to stand up and be willing.

"What if it costs me my friends or my family?" If you are being lovingly obedient to the Lord, then the results, the aftermath of those actions are for Him to work out in your life. Our time on this planet is so temporary. Our pursuits are so often frivolous.

Can you imagine what we could accomplish if we pooled our efforts and applied them to things that hold eternal value versus things that hold temporary pleasure and offer false and temporary security?

"Mine, mine, mine!" It is often one of the first words learned by a child as well as acted out in their behavior. Shouldn't it be one of the first words we relinquish when we say yes to God?

In Genesis 1:1-6 we read the story of the Tower of Babel:

“Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. ² And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. ³ Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. ⁴ And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

⁵ But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. ⁶ And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.”

In verse 1 we see that the people were united in language. In verses 5 and 6 we see that the Lord acknowledges the unity of the people and how their goal could truly be achieved because of their unity and the fact they all spoke the same language.

God divided their languages because in verse 4 the people said to each other, “…let us make a name for ourselves…” It seems pride and prestige were the goals they had in mind.

This story encourages me because it tells me that when we unite as a people, and more importantly, for the right reasons, we can accomplish anything. If we set our pride and desire for self aside, if we were united in an effort to truly uplift, encourage and defend one another, what would that look like? How awesome would that be?!

I propose we build a tower. Not a tower of bricks and mortar but a tower of community, action, love, healing, hope and purpose. Let’s acknowledge each other equally. We have different gifts. We have different goals. Our ministries may vary but we can be united in love, even with those who were deemed by others as unlovable. Maybe that is the true test of unity…simply loving sincerely, without wondering what we are going to get for our trouble.

Are you willing to unite with others? Are you willing to build that tower? Are you willing to work beside another whose personality may not be what you are used to, whose back-story is so different from your own?

In verses 2 and 3 we read that before they built the tower these people had journeyed together and dwelt in the land of Shinar together. Then, one day somebody had an idea. That idea led to a great collaboration of effort, talents, strength and vision. Who have you journeyed beside and dwelt with in this land?

So, what about it, do you want to build a tower?

All Things

Many times, as Christians, we shout the familiar verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" as we plough through our days, frantically trying to do...all...things. We totally understand the first part, but I wonder how often, when we are doing all things, that we are doing them through Christ who strengthens us?

As we are shouting and proclaiming this verse which, for many, has become their mantra, could it be that we miss the whisper of the Lord as He gently reminds us to, "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10)

Perhaps He would also reminds us that, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Yes, by all means, do all things but do them in His strength. Rest in His presence. Be filled with His spirit. Sit and rest. Love Him and be loved by Him. Perhaps it is not whether or not you do everything, but it is more about the things, the all things, that you do when you allow yourself to be strengthened by Him.

Doing everything is not the same as doing all things. Doing everything will most likely result in burnout, fatigue, bitterness and a whole host of other things that are not becoming nor needful in the life of a believer.

However, doing all things through Christ is supernatural. When we truly live that verse, then what we do becomes anointed. Our words and actions become empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our lives become impacting in a way that doing everything could never achieve.

I encourage you today to stop trying to do everything. Instead, simply seek to do all things through Christ who (willingly wants to) strengthen YOU. 

You may find that you actually accomplish more this way.

Rubber Bands

I have been thinking about rubber bands. They are quite unassuming when you look at them. Some are colored for variety. Many are a standard color of tan. They come in different sizes.  On their own they may not seem to have a purpose. In fact, they may even look out of shape. If you saw one lying on the ground you might not even give it much notice. However, rubber bands can be quite amazing. They can have many purposes, depending on the need at the time. 

For some, a rubber band can be worn as a bracelet, often a child's fashion accessory. For others, a standard rubber band makes a great hair tie or pony tail holder. For a bit of amusement you can fling a rubber band across the room as a projectile, often aimed at another in fun and jest. Probably the most common use for a rubber band is wrapping it around multiple objects to hold them together. You can imagine how many more uses that a rubber band lends itself to. 

In pondering all these wonderful thoughts I realized that people are like rubber bands, or we should be. We should lend ourselves to many uses in the lives of others. In particular, we should be always ready to wrap ourselves around one another, especially when it seems like another may be falling apart. Just as we wrap a band several times around an item to make sure it is snug, we should do the same with our family, friends, loved ones and anyone we see with a need. It may take several people in the life of one to wrap themselves around him/her to make sure enough support is given. 

We want to make sure not to wrap ourselves too tightly, for that may damage the very one we hope to secure. Likewise, too loose and we may have something slip through. Of course, we all know that rubber bands can become weakened, brittle and even break from time to time. This is caused by exposure to the elements, especially heat. One way you can protect rubber bands is by storing them in your refrigerator or freezer.

We can translate that tip like this: We, as people, when being utilized as rubber bands, may find it necessary from time to time to "Chill out". We may need to take a break from the elements that could weaken our usefulness. We need not isolate ourselves for then our service becomes unfulfilled. Once the heat in our life has cooled we need to return to a place of use.

Another cause for rubber bands to become brittle and break is that sometimes they have been used for one thing only and left in that stretched, stress state. The bands become stiff and dry and more easily suffer brokenness. We must care for ourselves and realize that we may need to be utilized for more than just one purpose. Again, we may find that, from time to time, we need to chill and relax as we recoup and retain our elasticity.

In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul writes, "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you."

Maybe one day we need to be a hair tie and the next day we need to be a fun projectile. Maybe we need to become a replacement eraser atop a pencil. Whatever the need may we place ourselves in the Master's hands so that He may utilize our seemingly unassuming selves for His glory so that some may be saved. By being a rubber band may we become all things to all people. Let's not be afraid to stretch ourselves in an effort to minister and love those around us. 

Personally, I plan to be a colorful rubber band...maybe a green one...or red...or....

For fun tips on how you can use your rubber bands check out this site:

http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/04/26/40-practical-tricks-for-an-ordinary-rubber-band/

Are You Yielded?

Can you imagine becoming so filled and affected by the love of God that our actions to minister, to serve, to love, to go, to do...all would be done as a reflex reaction to that love? I wonder how much we would begin to do simply in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit once we were yielded to the point that we heard Him daily. Would we become more impulsive? Would our choices to obey confound those closest to us?

I remember being in a service several years ago. We had may teens in that service and the message was truly anointed. Several teens were so affected that they got up and went outside. Some were on the side of the building and a couple were in the front yard. I remember one boy in particular. He was bowed under a tree weeping so hard. He was weeping because he just felt and experienced the love of God. It overwhelmed him and so he wept as he struggled to accept God's love. The two on the side of the building also were in need of prayer.

The whole scene was beautiful, but not to everyone. The minister that evening only saw chaos because of the few that went out before the message was finished. What appeared unsettled and out of control was in complete control of the Lord. It seemed like we could not minister fast enough to those under conviction and in need of prayer. The Holy Spirit did not seemed bothered one bit, but it bothered the one called to deliver His message that evening.

If that one who was bothered by the interruption had been more yielded to what the Lord was doing I wonder how that evening might have been even more amazing in the hearts of those young ones. Instead of rejoicing and being in awe of God at work that one chose sullenness, offense and jealousy. That one had been yielded for a time when sharing God's word but forsook that yielding when hearts and eyes were turned only upon the Lord.

May we consciously choose each day to be yielded to the Holy Spirit, even if that means that we are no longer being seen or heard. May we simply be found in service to the needs of those around us.

How fantastic would it be if every week, when we go to church, we find fewer and fewer people there because they chose to be completely yielded to the plans of the Lord? What if those plans took them to another state, town, country or church? Would we rejoice at the spontaneity of the Lord or would we be sullen, judgmental or jealous?

The question is not whether or not God calls you to leave everything around you that is familiar. The question is, "Would you go?"