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Want to grab some lunch?

But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum? ” Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.  I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
Luke 5:30-32 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.5.30-32.NLT

Who are we sitting down to dinner with?

How do we think of ourselves,  as righteous enough to point fingers at others – or as those who are still searching out the sin in our lives that needs to be radiated and overcome by Christ who lives in us?

We are safest from falling into spiritual pride by understanding we are children at the feet of our Savior and Lord in loving grattitude, that we are servants washing the feet of others in loving forgiveness, mercy, love, and kindness.

Continue reading “Want to grab some lunch?” →

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Long term strategy

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.
Luke 5:16 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.5.16.NLT

When was the last time that I withdrew from the world? Not just rising up early to pray before the distractions of the day arrive,  but truly withdrawing from the world,  going out into the wilderness to spend a day alone with the Lord.

Yes,  I like doing this occasionally – a retreat from the world. And many times it is just me going out by myself, and other times it is with friends – but the focus is to step away from the hustle and bustle of the world and get things back into an eternal perspective,  back into a Kingdom mindset.

Am I focused on the little things,  worrying about the details that really don’t matter in the end? Or am I resting upon the one thing that does matter eternally,  my relationship with God – lived out as my faith,  my discipleship, my example to others of not being a stumbling block.

Sometimes a strategic retreat is necessary for the battle to be won. Sometimes we must lure the enemy into the valley,  into the wilderness with us, so that the enemies of God can be struck down mightily by the hand of God, not just fought by the sword.

The valley of death is not for our end and destruction when we walk through it,  for we are eternal children of the Most High. He walks the valley with us and leads us through to the green pastures and living waters on the other side,  friend. Don’t fear the valley,  don’t fear the trials – His blessings are on the other side,  friends. And those eternal blessings far outshine even our wildest imagination.

Is it time for a strategic retreat from the world? Is it time to lay down the distractions and temptations and pleasures and comforts of this world and step out into the wilderness,  trusting only in the Lord and seeking Him more earnestly?

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Get to Work

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-10 ESV
http://bible.com/59/2th.3.7-10.ESV

“We worked night and day” and “if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” – Yes, this is the passage that my wife and I opened to for our devotional together this morning – immediately on the heals of yet another late night of work.

I have worked the past 3 weeks working through the nights on the weekends and taking calls almost every single night from work and I’m still there every day for first shift Monday through Friday. In fact, one of the weekends, I had an hour and a half of sleep Friday night and 3 hours Saturday night because of the workload.

Many look at the long hours that I put into my job at times and wonder how I can do it, or even why I would do it. And my answer is, there is a need, and it is in my ability to fill that need. Some of those same people might look at the time that I dedicate weekly to ministry – around 30 hours a week, and they may have the same question, why?

And the reason is the same, there is a need, and I am able to fill it.

Is it a heavy burden at times? It can seem that way if I’m not doing it for the right reasons – but not if I see a need, and I realize that I am able to help, and serve, and give of myself, to help others.

While many might throw accusations that I’m foolish and being used and manipulated and taken advantage of – I would say, if that is so, then am I not blessed to share in sufferings and trials with my Savior?

Isn’t the physical weariness of my long work week nothing beside the sacrifice my Lord and Savior made at the cross?

It encourages me to know that repeatedly the Word of God makes a differentiation between those religious leaders who lived off of the silver of those they oppressed with the law – and Christ the Good Shepherd (and His disciples) who came to serve the needy, to feed the poor, to work and provide for themselves and to help others. It encourages me when I have every urge and passion to spread this gospel to the ends of the earth, but I have no urge to stop working.

And do not take this as an attack upon those who are paid to preach the gospel. I have no fight with my brother, because that is between him and the Lord. We are not all called and used for the same purpose or in the same manner or during the same seasons of our lives. Even the Pharisees were used for God’s purpose when they persecuted Jesus Christ, because if all were perfect, who would there be left to lift Him up on the cross but imperfect me?

I’m just thankful for this blessed assurance that my Lord offers me, in such an encouraging Word just at the perfect moment, just on the morning when it is needed to strengthen me for the day ahead. I may have worked through the night and into the morning, and it may be time again to head back into the office and do this thing again – but I am strengthened by the Lord. And I am doing His work, not working for mere men.

There is a need. There is a great need. Both in your workplace and in the mission field.

Are you stepping forth to fill that need? Or sitting idle and still expecting to eat?

Get to work, friends. The time is short, the need is great, and your end will be upon you sooner than you might imagine.

Please don’t be satisfied with the words LAZY or IDLE or SELFISH even touching the thoughts or tongue of whoever will be giving your eulogy – if you would claim the name of Christ as the Savior of your life. He deserves a better testimony than that from us, friends. He deserves the words FAITHFUL SERVANT to be the undeniable evidence and testimony of our lives.

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Do I train like my dad, the Ironman?

And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
Luke 5:11 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.5.11.NLT

My dad, Jim Ballinger, is 64, and he is an Ironman. In fact,  he is training for Ironman Florida right now. We talked yesterday and he shared with me that the training that he does is tougher mentally than it is physically. He explained that he has no one training with him this time and the long sessions can feel lonely at times. I asked if he ever tries listening to something in one ear while he trains,  but he explained that the distraction is too dangerous since there are situations that come up that you must be prepared for our you could be caught up in an accident. Other people aren’t very mindful or aware enough to look out for someone riding a bike 100 miles or running a long distance as they train for an event that seems foreign or impossible to most of the world.

A few hours earlier, my wife and I had run into, Mark Foster, a great friend, pastor, and fellow child of the One True God in the produce section at Ingles as we gathered our groceries for the week. Our discussion was on the focus and dedication that it takes to successfully walk in the Spirit and to “Go and sin no more.” But our conversation was about that it is possible with great focus and dedication and training,  that we are not yet perfect,  but our goal is to strive after perfection – to live our lives as a sacrifice,  making Christ our addiction,  seeking first the Kingdom of God.

The parallels between training for an Ironman and training for our final destination to be proven before Christ as a good and faithful servant have never been so clear to me as now. As I study this Word of God and learn to recognize those things in my own life that are tricks of the enemy,  I become equipped with the tools to battle and overcome those temptations in my life. And for most temptations, they flee from me once I am equipped in that area. But some return. And some return with stronger friends,  and I must continue to learn and grow and equip myself for battle.

Some would say, but your salvation is complete,  the battle is already won, Christ has completed the work – to which I would say,  “Yes, I am His and He is mine. That work is done and He is faithful and true. My salvation is complete. But my testimony is not.” You see, if I make it only about my own salvation, if I take this heaven ticket,  place it in my back pocket for the day I die,  and do nothing for the Kingdom of God,  if I turn back from the plow and try to use have as an excuse to remain in sin,  not battling to see sin overcome in my life, not sharing this gospel with others who are lost,  not making disciples and baptizing in His name, then how can I say that I’ve “left everything and followed Jesus”?

And as we train and as we grow in discernment, being equipped with more understanding of how to recognize and battle the tricks and traps of the enemy, those areas of our lives that need correction – unfortunately  this healing to our spiritual eyes also comes with the ability to see it in others. And while we are called to use it to strive for righteousness ourselves and do battle against those things in our lives that would spill our garments,  our testimony to the Lord – it can create division and separation and isolation from the world. We can find ourselves on a long,  narrow road, seemingly running forever,  with no brothers or sisters running beside us to the end – but Christ is always with us.

You see,  we are not just meant to look at our own salvation and celebrate when so many of our brothers and sisters are either lost in the darkness or are still soiling their garments. If we only use the grace that we’ve received to remain the same as the world in every other aspect of our lives other than a once a week praise and worship and a check to someone else who is serving the Lord,  then how precious and valuable can we say that the Lord is to us? Are we not like Israel, turning back to our idols in this world? Loving wealth,  comfort,  pleasure,  sports,  hobbies, loved ones,  more than we love God who died for us and offers us His hand in eternity?

So let’s lay down everything. Let’s set our sights on serving the Lord. Let’s count the cost and realize that Christ is the ONLY thing of value that we can cling to. Let’s get addicted to Christ.

And let’s train radically, to the world as if we were racing for the impossible. Let’s set our eyes upon striving for the righteousness of a life where we “go and sin no more”. But let’s remember even when we slip that He will catch us.

Today,  I ask you,  are your eyes set firmly upon your Lord and Savior? Are you training to show yourself approved? Or are you caught up in the distraction?

Focus.

Run.

Train.

Be diligent.

Strive for perfection,  not so that you may be found perfect (because you are not), but so that the Lord may be honored in your continued effort,  and so that your life shines as a living and undeniable testimony to others that the Lord has touched you,  has changed you,  and is doing a mighty work in you and through you. Do not worry about the stumbles,  even when visible to others – let the discipline you receive even be a testimony and a warning for others. Better that the Lord be honored as faithful and true than for me to shrink back from running the race to my best.