"Bold"

"Therefore, since we have such hope, we act very boldly."

- 2 Corinthians 3:12 (NAB)

I think I got my first "lack of caffeine" headache the other day.  I still want to believe it is just psychological, with no medical certainty.  I am not really sure what to make of it, but there it was.  The remedy?  A venti Gold Coast Blend from Starbucks.  Extra bold.  Not bold.  EXTRA BOLD.  Better than a pill, the coffee worked its medicinal purpose, sending my headache away.

I probably cannot blame anyone but myself.  Over the last twenty years, my coffee preferences have gravitated towards the extra bold.  Folgers and Maxwell house no longer offer the same satisfaction as the selections offered at my local Starbucks.  As I read this passage of Scripture the other day while drinking a nice travel mug of Starbucks Christmas Blend, I begin to wonder what my "spiritual blend" is.

Some like their Christianity as a nice little morning diversion to help them "get moving" for the day.  Maybe something a little light and gentle.  A relationship with the Creator is not something to get all worked up about.  God is there when He is needed.  The church has other people doing stuff.  The Bible is ok, I guess, but why read it everyday.  It is a nice easy blend of Christianity.  It is enjoyble, but ultimately, you really do not have to deal with the headaches.

Others like a little more "kick" to their Christianity.  A richer, more balnced blend, if you will.  They take their places at the church.  They love the great old stories of the Bible.  They can tell you about the life of Jesus, quote spiritual maxims, and tell you about the "good ol' days of the church", all while feeling really good about it.  It is a nice blend.  It showcases our spirituality without being too radical.  It is one that, for a moment, can give you a little satisfaction.

And then there are those apostle Paul types.  No watered down Christianity for them.  No cream or sugar, please.  In fact, a couple of shots of espresso will top off that extra bold, extra tall cup of power surge really nice, thank you.  What type of Christianity does this look like?  It is a radical abandonment to the Father for a divine purpose.  It is not for the faint of heart.  There is nothing safe or gentle about it.  In 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks of great pressure that called into question his own endurance (1:8 - 10), anguish of heart (2:4), carrying the death of Jesus, so his life might be revealed (4:10 - 12).  Notice Paul's words in chapter 6:

³ We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything (NIV).

Now that's boldness!  Why could Paul be so bold?  He knew the hope he had.  A relationship with God gave him a hope, not only in the present, but in the life to come.  When Paul locked on to that, He could do nothing except to act with boldness.  The greek word "parrhesia" means "freedom and frankness in speech."  It also carries the meaning of "free and fearless confidence."  There is no way Paul would travel this road if it were not for the hope he had.  This was born out of his relationship with God.

So, what is your blend?  The easy way might bring minimal satisfaction, but true Christianity is about abandoning ourselves to the Father.  When we discover the hope that we have been given, and when we realize that we are messengers of that hope, watered down Christianity does not work anymore.  Yeah, there are some headaches when participating at this level.  Oh, but how good it is when we see God at work!

I could say more, but my mug is empty and I am going to visit some of the shut ins.  I think there is a Starbucks on the way.

"Achor"

Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, And the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, For My people who have sought Me. - Isaiah 65:10 (NKJV).

In the Old Testamant book of Isaiah, the sixty-fifth chapter speaks on the themes of judgement, for those who reject God (v. 5), and restoration, for those who seek after God (v. 9).  Two groups, two choices, and two outcomes.  We are reminded that God is rich in mercy and has things under control... for those who seek after him.  No matter what we have faced, we find that the grace of God trumps it all.

One of the pictures of redemption and restoration painted by Isaiah tells of herds lying down in a valley called Achor.  In Hebrew, the word means "trouble".  The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia goes on to say, "serious or extreme trouble."  Do you have a happy place that you, at times, mentally travel to?  Chances are, that place is not like Achor.  The beach?  The mountains?  A golf course?  All of those are sure nice to think on.  But Achor?  No way.  I am sure the Israelites would just as soon forget such a place of trouble.

Joshua 7 tells the story of Achan who, along with a few others, took plunder from Jericho.  The issue?  They were told by God not to.  After losing favor with God, the Israelites are routed when they attempt to take the next city, Ai.  Furthermore, when Achan's sin is found out, he and his family are put to death.  The Bible says the place was called Achor from that time on.  So, no.  Achor is not a happy place.

Perhaps you have been, or maybe still are, in your own Vallley of Achor.  Perhaps it by your own choices, or maybe you were swept up by the decisions of others.  Be thankful that God is a Redeeming God!  Your place of trouble in the hands of the Master, becomes a place of tranquility and peace.  Our world shows the scars of man's sinfulness.  Choices are made, life happens, and we are left to make sense of it all.  We set up tent in Achor, always reminded of something awful from our past or present.

The good news of the Gospel is a message of restoration.  In Christ, the hopeless have hope.  In Christ, the weak are made strong.  In Christ, what was once a place of scorn and contempt, becomes a place of abundance and peace.  Relationships are healed, sinners are forgiven, the wayward find their way home, broken hearts are mended, and hope rises out of despair.  Whatever your "Achor" is, allow God to transform it by His grace.  We may show scars, but they become testimonies to His grace.  We are a people of hope!

"Equip"

 ¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.   (Ephesians 4:11-12 NLT)




A couple of weeks ago, I proceeded to mount a kitchen radio to the underside of a cabinet.  After putting off this task for awhile, the time had come to finally get it behind me.  Unfortunately, the task proved to be more difficult, because I coud not find a screwdriver that fit into the cabinet.  So the task of tightening the screws was long and painful because I lacked the proper tools for the job.




It is easy to be frustrated in those types of situations.  Unfortuantely, we allow life in the Church to be equally frustrating.  Too often, the Church heads off into battle trusting our own strength, while being grossly unprepared. As frustration at our futility sets in, so does disappointment.  The Church, as seen through the lens of Ephesians 4:11-12, encourages us.  Christ has given to the Church everything needed to carry out his work. He has given us the right tools. 




I feel struck by the word "equip" in this passage of Scripture.  "Equip"  (katartismos) is a blend of "kata", which means "throughout", and "artios" which means "fitted."  The imagery is clear.  The responsiblity of the Church is to "thoroughly fit, or equip" the Body for what God has called us to do.  How does He do this?  By using others as well as myself.  When I realize that God is using me to "thoroughly equip" my brother and my sister, my wants and desires have a way of becoming insignificant. How I view my brother and sister radically changes. 




What would happen if all of those cool images you and I have of the Church would be seen through the filter of "thoroughly equipping" the Body?  Want to have a potluck?  How can this be used to thoroughly equip?  Want to have a  cool children's ministry?  How can that be used to thoroughly equip?  Love that worship music?  Am I allowing it to thoroughly equip?  How can my small group and friends be used to thoroughly equip one another?




God has given the Body, everything needed to be His ambassadors.  Apart from Him, I am not even in the right toolbox.