Genuine Concern for Others

In Philippians 2:20-22, Timothy is singled out as being unique.  Paul states "I have no one else like him, who will show a genuine concern for your welfare.  For everyone looks out for their own interests.  Not those of Jesus Christ."  Of all the people surrounding Paul throughout his ministry, he recognizes genuine concern as a rare trait possessed only by Timothy.  

Interesting.  Wouldn't most of us say that concern for the welfare of others is sort of "entry-level Christianity?"

Unfortunately, nothing has changed today.  Whether at a business function, a family gathering, or a church social event, the truth is that most of us remain primarily focused on our own needs or agendas.  We interact with others and show appropriate amusement, dismay or concern, while thinking about the next comment we will add or story we will tell.  We check out what is happening around us while half-listening, rather than focusing completely on what the other person is saying. We promise to get together again in the future, and then we go on about our lives. 

How rare a gift is the conversation with another who demonstrates complete focus on what we have to say.  No rush to tell a similar story, or to say, "Oh, that's nothing.  Let me tell you what happened to me!"  Rather, a conversation that remains focused on you; where more details are sought, genuine interest is demonstrated and you are encouraged to talk at length.

Is it any wonder, then, that we struggle to embrace the image of God loving us enough to stop and say "I have nothing else to do, nowhere I'd rather be, I'm fully devoted to being with you?"  If we can't even hold the interest of other humans, how is it possible that God would have any desire to spend time with us?  Particularly the God who knows the whole, ugly truth about who we are?  Why on earth would he pay attention to anything we have to say, let alone turn to us in joyful anticipation of spending time together?

Do you want to be a missionary of God to those around you?  Slow down and show complete focus and interest on what others desire to tell you.  Ask questions, encourage them to elaborate and ask for updates as time passes.  As Paul noted, such genuine concern, while seemingly normal, is actually quite rare.  

Focused attention will surprise people.  It will make them wonder.  And ask questions.  And provide you with an opening to talk about the Source of genuine concern.

As others realize the value you place on these conversations and the relationship you're building with them, they may begin to believe that they might just possibly be valued by God as well.  And that is a very big deal.

Love Pays Attention

One of the great miracles of life is that God pays attention to us.  This is partly why the writers of Scripture speak so often of God's face.  This is the hope of the great priestly blessing that God himself taught the people of Israel:

   The LORD bless you and keep you;

   the LORD make his face to shine upon you

     and be gracious to you

   the LORD turn his face toward you

     and give you peace.

To turn your face toward someone is to give that person your whole-hearted, undivided attention.  It is not the casual listening of a preoccupied mind.  It is a statement: "I have nothing else to do, nowhere I'd rather be, I'm fully devoted to being with you."  This is the kind of attention God lavishes on us.

It gets better.  This blessing says God will not only turn his face toward us, he will make it "shine" on us.  The shining face is an image of delight.  It is the face of a proud parent beaming while a child plays in her first piano recital.  It is the radiant face of a bride as she walks the aisle to her groom.  We can turn our face toward (pay attention to) anyone, with little effort.  But our faces shine and beam and grow radiant only in the presence of those we love most deeply.  And this, says the prayer, is how God loves us. 

                  

     John Ortberg.  (1998).  Love Beyond Reason. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.  p 31.

There's only one problem.  We don't really believe that it's true. For most of us, the idea that God has nothing better to do than to hang with us, or that his face lights with joy when he turns toward us, is completely far-fetched.

Why is that?  I invite you to ponder that thought in your own devotions or to leave a comment with your thoughts below.  But most of all, I invite you to stay tuned while we explore this question together.

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!


Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!


Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!


Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”


Rev. William W. Walford, a blind English minister, is the author of this hymn which was probably written about the year 1842. It was recited to Rev. Thomas Salmon, Congregational pastor at Coleshill, England, who took it down and brought it to New York, where it was published in the New York Observer.  Little is known of Mr. Walford save that in his blindness, besides preaching occasionally, he employed his mechanical skill in making useful articles of bone and ivory.  The tune was composed by W. B. Bradbury in 1859, and first appeard in 'Cottage Melodies'.

Love

My child, don't turn away
or become bitter
     when the Lord corrects you.
The Lord corrects
     everyone he loves,
just as parents correct
     their favorite child.
          Proverbs 3:11-12

The mother who never punishes her child is not more loving.  The father who never sets limits may seem like his son's friend, but actually does more harm than good. Children need boundaries.  They need correction when they have done wrong.  It is the loving parent who puts her child back on the right track when he has misstepped.

Similarly, when we deviate from the path of holiness, our Father lovingly corrects us and sets us back in the right direction.  At times, this correction is uncomfortable and unwelcomed, but although it may be difficult, know that it is God showing you that He loves you.

                       Your Promise to God . . .

     Like a parent who knows what is best for her child, 
     You, Lord, know what's best for me. 
     I will walk the path You lay before me 
     even when it seems like a rocky road.


Promises from God to Parents, (c) 2006 by T.D. Jakes, pg. 14-15

All the Theology Needed by Man

As a freshman in college, I was required to memorize and write down all four verses to the hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" as the answer to an essay question. (The question being, "What are words to the hymn...") My professor believed that the verses laid out the essence of the Gospel and contained all of the theology needed by man (or woman.)   I invite you to meditate on these words and see if you agree...

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

1. A mighty fortress is our God, 
 a bulwark never failing; 
 our helper he amid the flood 
 of mortal ills prevaling.  
 For still our ancient foe 
 doth seek to work us woe; 
 his craft and power are great, 
 and armed with cruel hate, 
 on earth is not his equal.

2. Did we in our own strength confide, 
 our striving would be losing, 
 were not the right man on our side, 
 the man of God's own choosing.
 Dost ask who that may be?  
 Christ Jesus, it is he; 
 Lord Sabaoth, his name, 
 from age to age the same, 
 and he must win the battle.

3. And though this world, with devils filled, 
 should threaten to undo us, 
 we will not fear, for God hath willed 
 his truth to triumph through us.  
 The Prince of Darkness grim, 
 we tremble not for him; 
 his rage we can endure, 
 for lo, his doom is sure; 
 one little word shall fell him.

4. That word above all earthly powers, 
 no thanks to them, abideth; 
 the Spirit and the gifts are ours, 
 thru him who with us sideth.  
 Let goods and kindred go, 
 this mortal life also; 
 the body they may kill; 
 God's truth abideth still; 
 his kingdom is forever!

Freedom

As you celebrate the Fourth of July, remember that as great as the freedom is that we enjoy as citizens of the United States, our true citizenship is in heaven, which provides a far greater freedom.

Philippians 3:20

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 8:31-36
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.  They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"  Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Luke 4:18-19
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
       because he has anointed me
       to proclaim good news to the poor.
       He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
       and recovery of sight for the blind,
       to set the oppressed free,
       to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Romans 8:1-4
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful humanity to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in human flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

Celebrate your freedom in Christ!