Will Davis Jr.'s Blog, page 55

Have a Seat

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). John 6:10

When it comes to following Jesus, there are times for working, running, sweating and doing. And then there are times for sitting. This was one of those times.

Why did Jesus have the crowds sit down? There are several reasons:

He wanted to better clarify for his disciples who needed to be fed.
He wanted to separate those who had faith from those who didn’t. Not everyone in that crowd sat down, and those who didn’t went home hungry.
He wanted to make it easier for the people to see the miracle. This was no mass-sharing feast where everyone gave a little. This was a miracle of the highest order.
He wanted to teach his followers about dependency.

When you sit down, you’re really not in control. It’s a posture of waiting, of receiving and of dependency. When you sit at a restaurant you’re dependent on the wait staff. When you sit in a classroom you’re dependent on the instructor. When you sit in a salon chair you’re at the mercy of the hair-stylist.

And when you sit before Jesus, you’re completely dependent on him for provision and protection.

The Christian life is all about learning to sit before Jesus, and to do so when provision isn’t so easy to see. This crowd was asked to sit before Jesus multiplied the bread and fish. It was an act of faith. And everyone who sat down ended up satisfied and with more than when they started.

Are you good at sitting? Do you know when to slow your pace down and sit at the feet of Jesus? He wants to feed, teach and heal you. But if you insist on standing–on looking like you’re in control, on taking matters in your on hands, on not looking foolish, on having a Plan B–then you’re going to stay hungry.

Have a seat please. Jesus has something to say.

Business Mode

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” John 6:10a

My wife often accuses me of getting in “business mode.” That means that I’m focused on a task and not really available for much else. You know–paying bills, doing taxes, balancing the checkbook, or for me–writing a message or studying for something. But she’s right about me. When I’m in business mode, I mean business.

So did Jesus. When he told the disciples to have the crowd sit down, he was in business mode. Playtime was over. He had Kingdom work to do and nothing was going to interfere with it. Just moments before, he had been prodding Philip with a playful test of his faith. No more. Jesus shifted from Teacher to Commander and Chief in one instant. He had work to do, his Father’s work. That called for business mode.

Jesus still goes into business mode with us today. And when he does, he is just as serious about it as when he was about to feed that multitude.

So how do you know when Jesus is in business mode? It’s simple. Read the verse again: Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Jesus issued a command. It wasn’t a parable or a verily, verily statement or a teaching moment. It was an order, a command. And when Jesus issues a command, you can be sure that he is in business mode and that the Kingdom stakes are very high.

When Jesus goes into business mode there is a crowd that needs to be fed or a demon that needs casting out or a captive that needs to be set free. And his command to you is your indicator that he intends to use you and your resources in the process.

Still confused? Jesus is in business mode when you hear him say something like:

Start praying everyday with your spouse
Increase your prayers for this person
Confess this sin right now
Call and make an appointment with that counselor
Walk across the street and check on your neighbor
Invite that single mom over for dinner
Ask your rude boss how you can serve him
Increase your giving
Get out of debt
Fast for three days
Write that letter of forgiveness
Seek out the friend you wronged and ask his or her forgiveness
Get in a small group and start living in community
It’s time for your to start leading a group

When you hear Jesus say something like that, he means business. And when he gets into business mode, you can be sure that he is doing something far bigger than you can see at the moment.

Are you paying attention? Are you listening? Be ready.  The command of your Master could be coming at any second. Or, has he already issued it? Hmmm . . .

 

 

 

 

Letter to ACF–October 11, 2013

 

This is a Test

He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

John 6:6

Be careful when Jesus gets that twinkle in his eye. You can be certain that he’s up to something, and that “something” will inevitably grow your faith.

In the Bible, God never asks questions because he is lacking the answer. He asks because he wants us to think about the question. Jesus was the same. His questions weren’t meant to glean information; they were intended to make his audience think.

So when Jesus turned and asked Philip how they going to feed the crowd of several thousand, he wasn’t really looking for Philip’s ideas. He was redirecting Philip’s thinking.

I can see Jesus–obviously aware of the stress his question would create–smiling and asking innocently, “How are we going to feed all these people?” It was a nudge to his disciples to start thinking on a higher plane. God had bigger plans than just sending this crowd home hungry. But when Jesus uttered his next statement–have the people sit down–it probably didn’t sound so innocent. He was in business mode (that’s another devotion for another day).

What questions is Jesus asking you today? Let me restate that: What dilemmas has he placed before you? What seemingly no-win situations has he put you in? Between what rock and what hard place has he set you? You are not there by accident and he has not abandoned you.

You are being tested. There is a way out–a supernatural way–that God wants you to seek. It will both grow you and glorify him. So you don’t get to send the crowd home. You don’t get to punt. You don’t get to go all fetal. Jesus is smiling. Something big is up. Rise to this occasion and let God do something for you that only he can.

 

 

Are You Pretty Enough?

Jennifer Tress was 42 years old and had been married for two years when she discovered that her husband was having an affair. When she confronted her him with his behavior, he responded by blaming her for being, “not pretty enough.”

Jennifer has written about her experiences and more importantly, about women and self esteem in what is now a best selling book. I don’t know Jennifer, but I’m really proud of how she’s turned her husband’s selfishness into a way to encourage other women.  You can read more about Jennifer and her book here.

What struck me about Jennifer’s story is how tragically common it is. I hear that kind of junk all the time from both men and women:

The woman who thinks her husband’s infidelity is somehow her fault. If she were only prettier or skinnier or sexier . . . .
The man who lost his wife because he couldn’t support her spending habits or “make her happy.”

And so to all of you, perhaps like Jennifer, who have been on the receiving end of such marital nonsense, I’d like to offer the following encouragement:

The purpose of marriage is never happiness; it’s holiness. Happiness is superficial and short-lived. No marriage, no matter how good, can ultimately fulfill a person. It may be true that you can be a better spouse. I know I could be. But it’s not true that your spouse’s happiness is your responsibility.
If your spouse leaves you for another person, it says nothing about you and everything about him or her . Husbands who sleep with other women don’t do so because they have bad or ugly or overweight or nagging wives. They do so because they’re selfish and have misplaced priorities. They may indeed have a bad or ungrateful or self-centered wife, but that is never grounds for infidelity. (And BTW–there are no grounds for infidelity.) Men and women who cheat do so because something in their character is broken. They can’t blame their spouse. Infidelity (and fidelity) is always a choice.
You’re value doesn’t rest in how pretty you are or how much money you make . We are bombarded with messages that the physical and the temporal matter. That tight butts and big breasts and six-pack abs and bulging biceps and fast cars and nice clothes and exclusive club memberships and flying first class and nice homes are some kind of indicator of, or even worse, determiner of our value. That a girl could actually not be pretty enough or a guy not successful enough.

Let me be very clear about this one: That’s a lie straight from hell.

Your value has nothing to do with how much you make or how you look. Your value lies in the fact that you are made in the image of God, that he created you with an eternal soul, and that he has already deemed you valuable enough to die for, even if you choose to reject him.That’s the truth about you. And no man’s or women’s opinion or selfish behavior can or will ever change that.

You’re pretty enough. You’re rich enough. You’re successful enough. And you’re ALREADY loved.

 

 

 

 

 

Settled in Heaven

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89

 There are many settings today where the Bible is not respected. Groups–from some university professors to late night talk show hosts to leaders of cultural movements–question the validity of the Scriptures. They doubt the Bible’s origins. They question its integrity. They slander the motives of its writers and of the individuals that promoted its message. They scoff at the accounts of the miraculous and reject at its claims of authority. They discount its moral code as outdated and intolerant. They say it needs to evolve with culture. And, they do all this in the name of knowledge, higher thought and reason.

I have always been amazed at the presumption of those who claim to know more about the nature of ancient events than those who actually experienced or witnessed them. That is not knowledge; that’s pride. In our pride we somehow think that we can deduce through what little information that has survived the real motives and sayings of those who preceded us. We simply know better what happened in Jesus’ day than his contemporaries. In our culture’s eyes, the question of God’s Word is clearly unsettled.

It is not so, however, in heaven. This psalm says that God’s Word is settled in heaven. What does that mean? Simply that in the setting that has the best view of truth and eternal matters, there is no debate about the power or accuracy of God’s Word. That which is eternal always recognizes what is ultimately real. While finite-minded beings on earth debate and question the veracity of God’s Laws, those with the view from eternity do not. The issue is settled. And, as time, earth and space come to an end, the reality of the Scriptures will bear out. Eventually, the question will be settled for all of us too. Even the doubters and skeptics of our day will see that God’s Word is true.

What are you staking your life on today? The Word of God remains the only true guide for anything that is eternal. You and I are eternal; we are made in God’s holy image and we will outlive this earth. We will live eternally. Stake your life today on the only source given to man to prepare him for eternal life. Everything else is futile.

Check Your Facts

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” John 7:41-42

Do you know the truth about Jesus? Do you really know who he is, why he came, and the sheer power of his name?

There’s a lot of junk out there being said about Jesus. And you need to be able to recognize it when you hear it. And, you need to be able to refute it.

In the verse above, John records a raging debate about Jesus and the sad fact that many refused to follow him simply because they didn’t know the truth about him. Jesus had indeed lived in Galilee, but he was from David’s lineage (through his earthly father Joseph) and he was born in Bethlehem. He met every scriptural requirement for the Messiah, but people missed him simply because they didn’t do their homework.

That’s still happening today. Sometimes it’s easier to believe a lie than doing the hard work of seeking out the truth.

Do you know the truth about Jesus?

Some people say he never really existed
Some say the Church invented most of his teachings after he died
Some say his resurrection was only figurative or metaphysical
Some say he was married with a family and lived into his late sixties
Some say he was a really good teacher
Some say he was a prophet
Some say he was a moral leader
Some say he was misguided

What do you say?

Don’t let the winds of culture mislead you about Jesus. Do the hard work of seeking him out. Besides reading the Gospels and really getting to know what he did and said, ask him. If Jesus is alive today, then he will answer you when you call to him.

Going back to the verse above–All those leaders had to do was ask Jesus what the truth was. That’s all we need to do too. Ask Jesus to show you the truth, and he’ll respond by showing you himself.

 

Is Jesus God?

This may be the most critical question of all: Is Jesus God? It probably isn’t overstating things to say that say that the credibility of the Christian faith rests on the answer to this question. Here’s why:

Jesus claimed to be God
The Bible asserts Jesus’ deity
Christianity is presented as unique in the world because of Jesus’ deity
If Jesus isn’t God, then the resurrection didn’t happen

So as you can see, this is a big deal. And like I said, it may be the most important question you can ask about the Christian faith.

If you want a detailed  discussion of the deity of Jesus, click here to watch or listen to my weekend message at ACF on this subject.

For our purposes here, let me just touch on some high points:

In the Old Testament, a figure shows up repeatedly who openly received the worship of those around him. Angles never did that. Who was it?
Both Testaments of the Bible affirm that God created the world through his spoken Word. Jesus is called the Word by John and the New Testament attributes creation to the work of Jesus.
There are repeatedly claims of deity by Jesus in the Gospels.
Jesus’ enemies accused him of blasphemy because he described himself as equal to God.
Paul, Peter and the writer of Hebrews each affirm the deity of Jesus.

So in the Bible, at least, the divinity of Jesus is an open-and-shut case.

But let’s step outside of the Bible for a moment.

If God were to show up on the earth (as Jesus claimed he did), would we know it? How would the world be different if God had actually lived on the planet for 33 years? I think the impact of Jesus’ life on history may be one of the greatest evidences of his divine nature.

Beyond that, consider the counter-intuitive plan and path of Jesus. From his virgin birth to growing up in poverty to his rejection by the Jewish leaders to his death on a cross. No conventional wisdom would have ever written that script for God. And yet that’s the script of Jesus’ life. It’s almost as if God were meeting a need though Jesus’ that none of us had considered. It’s almost as if God knew something we didn’t. Hmmm . . . .

Finally, consider the explosion of Christianity in the period immediately following Jesus’ crucifixion. There were plenty of self-proclaimed messiah’s who showed up before and after Jesus. And a few hours on a Roman cross or their untimely death at the hands of one of their supposed followers tended to snuff them out. Not so with Jesus. The very thing the Jews hoped would silence his movement only propelled it.

And the explosion centered around the repeated claims by hundreds of different people that Jesus had risen from the dead. There was no stopping the movement then, and the fact that I’m writing about it today proves it.

Is Jesus God? The biblical and historical evidence is overwhelming. I say with a straight face that there are no other reasonable explanations for Jesus’ life other than that he was God.

What do you say?

 

Room for God’s Word

You are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. John 8:37

Do you have room for God’s Word in your life? Do you arrange your life around it? Or is it like baby Jesus, kept outside in a stable because there was no room in the inn?

We need to be diligent about making room for God’s Word in our lives.

In this verse, Jesus is in a heated discussion with the religious leaders of his day. They’re questioning his authority and legitimacy. Jesus, having already gotten in trouble for calling God his Father, now thickens the plot by saying that God has placed his seal of approval on his ministry. This makes Jesus’ adversaries even angrier and sets the stage for this zinger from Jesus. He basically said:

Look, the reason you can’t hear what I’m saying is because you don’t hear what God is saying. You’ve crowded his Word right out of your lives with all your tradition and religiosity.

I’m sure that went over well.

But Jesus made his point, and it’s one that we need to hear today. Far too many of us are equally guilty of not making room for God’s Word in our lives. We would be just as shocked as the Pharisees were to think we were guilty of not actually listening to God. But the evidence is there. Consider:

How busyness crowds reading the Bible and prayer out of our daily routine
How recreation crowds serving out of our schedules
How our spending crowds giving out of our worship
How cultural trends crowd God’s truth out of our beliefs

The sad truth is that we have very little room for God’s Word in our lives. It tends to cramp our style, be very demanding and often require more of us than we want to give.

So today, pray and think about how much room you’ve allotted for God’s Word in your own life. Ask him to show you where he really stands with you. And then do something about it. Don’t try to fit God’s Word into some corner of your life that you occasionally visit. Make it the centerpiece of all you are. You’ll be better–more joyful and contended–for it.

 

 

Telling the Next Generation

That you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the Lord. Exodus 10:2

Because of the Explore God emphasis in Austin, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my own relationship with God. Why do I believe? How did I come to faith? Why have I never really doubted? And while there are many good answers to those questions, one obvious one is that I was raised to believe in God.

Bottom line: I owe my faith in God to my parents. They taught me about God, and I still believe decades later.

The Old Testament is ripe with teaching about the importance of passing faith along to the next generations. God repeatedly instructs parents and grandparents to “tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson” the great works of God. That’s how faith gets passed along. That’s how new disciples are born and raised–through the story-telling of their parents, grandparent, and aunts and uncles.

My wife Susie is great about this. She’s great about setting up family dinners just so she can ask strategic questions like: What was the last think God said to you? or What curriculum does God have you on right now? And guess what, not only do my kids associate our dinner table with God-talk, their friends do too. They know if they come to our table they’re going to talk about God.

In other words, it’s normal.

As a follower of Jesus, you have an amazing opportunity to influence the younger generation for Christ. Don’t buy this junk that they need to come to their faith on their own and that you shouldn’t try to influence them. They are not growing up in a spiritual vacuum. They are being influenced, and it’s your job and mine to make sure they’re being influenced toward Jesus.

Today, spend some time with a member of the next generation and just brag on God. That’s all it takes.