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Good and Faithful Servant

The president of my graduating class at Dorman, Reid Bowyer, passed yesterday. He had been fighting brain cancer. And even though he passed at the age of 46, he left such a legacy of glorifying God with his life and demonstrating the gospel clearly in his live for others. What a perfect verse this seemed when I opened the Bible app ands it was sitting there waiting for me:

Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.
Daniel 12:3 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/dan.12.3.AMP

Reid just “got it” and was wise in spiritual things and was a Fisher of men, even in school. He never seemed to veer off course,  but was a lighthouse to many. He was popular because he was a natural leader who was just, honest, fair and humble. He clearly loved the Lord and loved people. I look at Reid’s life example, and I can’t help but see Christ woven into all of it.

And even though I know that I should compare myself to Christ and be humbled, rather than compare myself to a man of flesh and blood which might cause envy, shame, pride or many other bad things — in this time, I honor Reid by recognizing how his life fits today’s verse, and how he has served as a mentor, as a lighthouse for many to see and to avoid crashing our lives upon the rocks. And I find confidence and assurance almost hearing in my mind’s eye “Well done, Reid, my good and faithful servant.”

What an amazing testimony to God that He can use someone like Reid in a life long influence, similar to a Samuel who was dedicated to living and serving the Lord from birth. And how amazing that God could use someone like me, more like the demoniac who couldn’t be bound or the woman caught in adultery as well to tell all what Jesus has done for them after their deliverance.

And it is right that people like Reid with life long walks of serving the Lord and leading others to Him should shine brightly in the heavens and be rewarded greatly — even while there are also so many who “just barely make it through the gate by the skin of their teeth”. The greatest treasure seems getting to be at Jesus’s feet like Mary and the children and so many who clamored just to get close to Him. If His radiance wears off on us for being in His presence and we shine, I have to admit that my longing for Him is the cause of any brightness.

I think that Reid would have told you that He just wanted to be with Jesus, and that in loving and serving others — he was serving His Lord and Savior each time. Because those people bear the image of the Lord. I think that Reid would have hoped and prayed for a steady and consistent Christian life more like Samuel, but would have been aware of his similarities to the demoniac and adulteress in some areas of his life as well. But it doesn’t matter what I think, or what I say — it matters what the Lord did in the life of Reid, and through him in the lives of so many.

Thank you, Lord, for using your servant Reid Bowyer so clearly and greatly in a way that any distractions of self and weaknesses and ego disappeared in the brightness of him glowing from being in your presence. Help us to enter into that same place with you daily, not so that we can look at ourselves shining brightly, but so that we can set our eyes on you and that your light (not our own) can be the beacon drawing others to safety in the storm. We know that our days are numbered, Lord, and as much as Reid longed to remain here for his family and for the gospel to go forth through him, I’m sure he also longed for that day where he could be fully in your presence and away from the sin, sickness, suffering and pain on this side of glory. Help us to be balanced and mindful of both the purpose and urgency of the now, and the promise and hope of the future. And thank you for previous vessels like Reid where you have let us see your image so clearly throughout our lives, leading us home. Amen.

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Thirsty?

There was a really TV show commercial that came on last night while our family was watching Big Brother together. The Big Brother show gives us opportunities to pause the show and talk together about how people act towards each other,  try to manipulate each other,  etc. We focus on teaching the principal “wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove” to prepare our daughter and ourselves for what this world might throw at us. This particular commercial was about “thirsty people” being put together on a reality show (not my words of judgement — the actual premise of the show Too Hot to Handle), and the three of us all had a gut reaction of “ugg, that looks horrible” — 0 stars, I do NOT recommend.

I mention this, because a friend Ashley Pridgeon Palmer highlighted verses in the Bible app that really caught my attention this morning:

On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
John 7:37‭-‬39 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.7.37-39.NLT

“Thirsty” is a trendy buzzword for people who are excessively seeking attention for themselves:

For example, if I were sharing things on this website to get attention, compliments, respect, and honor from others, that would make me thirsty for validation from others. Or if I’m overflowing with awe and wonder at what God is revealing and teaching me through His Word, that would be the opposite of thirsty. The difference is because my worth and value is founded in Christ (not in how others see me) and I share out of gratitude and amazement (not in trying to ingratiate myself to others).

Jesus was speaking figuratively (much like the TV commercial was when they were talking about “thirsty” people), and we see this definition for Strong’s G1372 “dipsao” (which is the word used in this verse) in the earliest manuscripts recording the book of John for us:

Thirsting is like itching — it is “painfully feeling want”. And when people thirst (in the common sense of the word), it is a body’s physical response to the need for pure, clean water to insure the continued healthy operation of the body. The body’s need is for the perfect and pure water, because that is what will be used inside the body for nourishment. But an out of control thirst — like in the example of people stranded at sea with no immediate access to fresh water — can lead people to drink unhealthy things in an attempt to satisfy the thirst, ignoring the actual need.

Figuratively speaking, everyone has a thirst for a restored relationship with God. But many only know they are thirsty “for more”, they do not really know what they need. So they find all kinds of other ways to try and cure the thirst — money,  success, attention, reputation, sex, physical fitness, education, good works, etc. But these types of things only dull the thirst temporarily, and do not eliminate or cure the thirst.

And when the thirst presses us towards these things in excess, they no longer help us but hurt us. And the trick isn’t to get really good at balancing all of the spinning plates — in fact, there is no trick at all. We simply need the pure, perfect cure on the inside. This is what Jesus is talking about.

And He doesn’t just say that you can come and drink and that it will cure your own thirst — but that rivers of life giving water will flow from your heart. This life giving water isn’t just for you, but it is for others as well.

And it isn’t so that we can talk about it and gather followers and attention for ourselves (because God gets all the glory). And it isn’t so that we can profit from it for ourselves (because we aren’t meant to be like the money changers in the temple).

It is so that we can be made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit. And it is for the glory of God.

Lord, you are the pure and perfect and holy that we crave, we need, we hunger and thirst for. Help us to not settle for any substitute for You. Forgive us for the many times that we have foolishly accepted substitutes. Forgive us for the many times we have sought to glorify ourselves instead of you. Help us to produce untainted, healthy water from you that is a blessing to those thirsty for a taste of your goodness. You protect us and strengthen us in our every time of need, so help us to trust in your purpose and plan. You are faithful and trustworthy. May all the world see that you are worthy of all praise and honor and glory. May your children hear the call to come and drink, and to overflow with your Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Bothered & Worried or Blessed & Trusting

This morning, I noticed this verse in the Bible app that Brittany Malone had highlighted, and it is so perfect for a season of challenge:

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7‭-‬8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.17.7-8.NLT

It would seem a harsh command to tell people in the midst of heat and drought — that you must appear happy, healthy and positive outwardly “I need you to keep up appearances that all is well” — and that you must still meet all expectations,  “I need you to do more with less”. And that is NOT what this is saying.

This isn’t about faking it until you make it. Because if we have no confidence, and we are already bothered and worried, how much worse does it make it to have to “put on a happy face” or “ignore it”?

And it is easy for us to have learned through interaction with people that they are not trustworthy and to notice the signs of problems that do not instill hope, confidence, or trust. The old “wise as a serpent, harmless as a dove” verse comes to mind as wonderful advice when traveling through this world and interacting with people. But this verse isn’t a “How-To” about dealing with people. It isn’t even a “How-To” about dealing with situations and circumstances.

This is about a trusting relationship with God. And there is no question that He is trustworthy and faithful — that is the very foundation of faith. If we do not believe that He is trustworthy and faithful, we might grumble and complain even when things are easy and comfortable and wilt when things get difficult. But if we trust Him, then we can have peace even when our eyes can’t see a way out of our circumstances. And that peace is what will be the source of our not being bothered or worried.

I wrote the above early morning before church, but didn’t finish my post because I needed to head out to help at church. And just a few hours later, Mark Pangel’s sermon at 4 Points Church today hit on this same topic, so I counted it as confirmation that this is something that I need to be especially mindful of right now. Sgain, not so that I can just “try to do better”, but so that I can evaluate myself to be sure that I’m still trusting in the Lord:

And in case one confirmation wasn’t enough for my hard head, I get out of church to a private message from Ken Mayfield from The Light FM:

Now, please realize that I’m not name dropping with Brittany, Mark or Ken. Because they are just the messengers — sparking inspiration from that fire of the Holy Spirit that burns in them. I’m pointing them out because God is at work in His church, and not just on TV, and not just on the radio, and not just on the internet, and not just in the building on Sunday mornings. This isn’t about me, or about them individually. This isn’t even about honoring them — which is good and we should strive to outdo one another in honoring each other. It is truly about sho much more than that.

Recently, I have found myself out of work unexpectedly, and we have been dealing with multiple family members who are sick, a death in the family, and considering what needs to be done to meet our obligations and to maintain stability during these challenging times. I’ve recently seen my “value” within my organization and my career field go from being a highly sought after and respected leader — to feeling like a “persona non grata”.

It is a very humbling experience for someone who has always strived to work hard, to over-achieve, to embody the core values of my organization, to advocate on behalf of customers, and to coach and support my teammates. But all of those things are about my reputation as an IT professional, and that isn’t the greatest value that I have to bring to my community. No amount of my own talent, skill or experience measures up to Christ who dwells in me. And this experience is reminding me of that.

I’m not going to grumble about how things did or didn’t go. I’m not going to be bothered or worried or vengeful — regardless of whether I was treated justly or wrongly — I am going to love, and offer help and encouragement and an outstretched hand. I’m not going to burn bridges or abandon relationships — I’m going to offer reconciliation, and I’m going to reassure folks that I still am here for them even if I’m no longer a part of the organization with them anymore. I’m not hoping to undermine anyone — I’m going to encourage people to give the other guy the benefit of the doubt, to genuinely listen for the “why” and not just react to the “what”, and to be “wise as a serpent, yet harmless as a dove”. Not because I want to somehow to show or prove that I’m the better man — but because even though that devil on my shoulder has whispered thoughts and ways I know that I could get vengeance and “not get caught”, Jesus owns me, He is my Lord, and I walk to the beat of His drum now. He truly is greater, and I’m trusting that His plan is better.

I know that there are things that I’ve done and justified in my mind as being “me being right” or being “the right thing” that I could argue and justify all day long as to their reasonableness — providing evidence to support “my position”. But what good does that even do? If two people disagree, the facts don’t matter nearly as much as which person speaking the listener trusts and believes — the lies folks swallow so easily from their own political side these days should be plenty evidence of that fact. So “being justified in our own minds” is quite useless. So if I’m willing to not really care “who was right” or “who was wrong” (making it about me or them) but just seek how God could get the glory in this situation — I can see how that faith brings a peace and a willingness to offer love and peace and reconciliation instead of fear, worry, or bitterness.

I don’t know what you are going through — but I know that it is easy to pick up a sword and cut off someone’s ear if you feel justified in doing so — but Jesus taught another way.

I say, “As for me and my house, we are going to trust the Lord.”

And I’ll say that time and time again, even knowing that I don’t “get it right” many times — especially when I feel like I could successfully “argue why I’m right”. We have to get past “I’m right and you’re wrong” to trusting the Lord, whether we have been treated fairly or unfairly. If we are facing a challenge, do we not trust that the Lord disciplines the ones that He loves? Do we not trust that we can walk upon the waters? Do we not trust that He protects and strengthens us?

Lord, forgive us for our foolish ignorance and pride and for making things about “us” and “them” rather than about you. Help us, Lord, to be filled with you, with the peace that bears the fruit of your Holy Spirit. This is the blessing we long for, for ourselves, and for your beloved children. Amen.