"Closings

“Closings”

 

When a storm threatens a community (most recently Hurricane Matthew) a list of closings (schools, roads, etc.) is usually broadcast in the interest of public safety. When we sell or purchase real estate the transfer takes place at a meeting referred to as the closing. When two opposite extremes begin to come together we sometimes call it closing the gap. These examples illustrate the variety of possible meanings the same word or phrase may have. So in dealing with life’s events it’s good to make sure all are in agreement with how terms are to be understood.

In grade school I remember lessons about letter writing and the parts involved, including what my teachers called the “complimentary close”. This was intended as a sign of respect, but over the years the endings of some letters I’ve found it necessary to send have been somewhat less than complimentary! The determining factor is almost always the circumstances involved.

Lately I’ve been thinking about how letters I’ve received and composed have been brought to closure. In those which have a business purpose I’ve often seen “Yours truly” or “Very truly yours”. (Sometimes, though, we don’t want to be “theirs”, whatever that means.) I’ve gotten letters and emails from friends concluding with “Best” and “Regards”. A generic ending can be “Sincerely” or “Sincerely yours”. Notes from family members and close friends may be signed “Love” or a variation thereof. But the ones I enjoy most are from fellow believers. Some I remember most fondly are “Because He Lives”, “In His grip”, “In His wonderful service”, and “Serving Him”. Personally I like to close my correspondence and these articles simply with “Blessings”.

In 12 of his 13 epistles the Apostle Paul ended with the same theme: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” or “Grace be with you”. Sometimes he had to address unpleasant topics but his love for Christ and his recipients led him (by the Holy Spirit’s direction) to desire Jesus’ favor as the final thought. Maybe I need to change my preferred conclusion to “Grace and blessings”.

But the ultimate closing I want to hear is from Jesus: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21). Along with faithfulness in my walk and talk how I show grace and blessings to others will be determining factors in what I hear when I meet Him. May these and other qualities shape our lives to His glory!

Grace and blessings!

Jim McMillan

"All?"

“All?”

(Thanks to Karen for another title)

 

Recently while driving to a hospice visit I was listening to Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias. He stated what seems to be an obvious fact when he said, “Words have meaning.” But our current society has taken the liberty of changing definitions when they don’t fit a particular agenda by parsing words, splitting hairs, and spinning inconvenient facts. The result is confusion and misunderstanding. But words do have meaning. Mike Conneally, our Associate Pastor in New Hampshire, put it best when he said in a message, “All means all and that’s all all means.”

As I re-pondered Mike’s bit of wisdom I remembered meeting with a cultist while serving our first church in western New York. My visitor maintained that Jesus was created and not eternal so He couldn’t be God based on Paul’s describing Him as “…the firstborn….” in Colossians 1:15. In response I pointed out that “firstborn” in this context refers to status, not time, as with Solomon, who was David’s fourth son (1 Chronicles 14:4) but is called “…my firstborn….” (Psalm 89:27). I then took him to Colossians 1:16 (“…by {Christ} all things were created….”—emphasis added) and told him that if he was correct Jesus would had to have created Himself (read Mike’s statement again). The cultist said that didn’t make sense, to which I answered that the only way it did is if Jesus is Eternally God. (My guest never showed up for a scheduled follow-up session.)

“All” conveys entirety and without exception. The word appears 4660 times in the NIV (I assure all of you—pun intended—that I referred to a concordance and didn’t count them myself). Here are some of the most significant occurrences (emphasis added in each case):

   “All Scripture is God-breathed….” (2 Timothy 3:16)

   “Through him all things were made….” (John 1:3)

   “…All have sinned….” (Romans 3:23)

   “…The blood of Jesus, (God’s) Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

   “…In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form….” (Colossians 2:9)

   “All nations will come and worship before you….” (Revelation 15:4)

None of us has the right to make words say what we want them to, especially when it comes to Scripture (“Every word of God is flawless….”—Proverbs 30:5). So let’s be careful how we use words. And that’s all I have to say for now!

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Blind Spots"

“Blind Spots”

 

I few years ago I was driving a van on the New York Thruway (aka I-90) near Syracuse. I came up behind a driver who had the audacity to be moving along at the posted speed limit! I checked my mirror, put on my signal, and pulled into the passing lane only to hear the blast of a horn. I looked again and saw I had nearly forced a small car onto the median. What had happened? He had been in what we call our “blind spot.” You can rest assured that I now double-check each time I change lanes. (I’ve also added the small attachment to the side mirror which covers the hard-to-see area.)

Blind spots are not only dangerous on the road (as my experience confirms) but they can also be hazardous in our dealings with people. Our preconceived notions or biases can cause us to overlook areas we shouldn’t, giving us a distorted view of circumstances. We then form hasty judgments or dismiss facts we don’t want to hear. The results can be devastating—witness Eli’s handling of his two sons in 1 Samuel 2.

Probably the best book in the Bible on relationships is Proverbs. In 18:13 Solomon warns, “He who answers before listening—that is his folly and his shame.” Failure to listen can produce blind spots which can hurt others as well as embarrass us. (I’ve fallen into this trap many times.) How much better it would be if we’d ask God to help us see things as they really are and not let blind spots hinder our objectivity.

Part of Scripture’s purpose is “…that the (people) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:17) and to “…(give) us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him….” (2 Peter 1:3). Taking these principles seriously can encourage us, provide resources for effective service, and eliminate life’s blind spots. So let’s check our spiritual side mirrors carefully and often.

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"The Trust Transition"

“The Trust Transition”

(Thanks to Karen for the title)

 

While I was on summer break from seminary a friend who was also preparing for ministry was home as well. Each of us was asked to bring a message at a Wednesday Bible Study/Prayer Meeting at our church. I don’t recall my topic but remember my friend talked about trusting the Lord and transitioning that trust into action. Whatever he said must have impacted me because a recurring theme of my preaching over the years has been putting faith to work (“…Faith without deeds is useless.”—James 2:20).

One of my favorite passages is Psalm 37. I was first introduced to it while working at a Christian camp in 1960 and still repeat part of it almost daily. In Verse 3 David says, “Trust in the Lord and do good….” (emphasis added). It’s taken me 56 years to see this as an Old Testament version of James 2:20! (I never claimed to be a fast learner!)

During his time as Lord Protector of England in the 1560’s Oliver Cromwell is reported to have said, “Trust in God and keep your powder dry.” This reflects the principle seen in James 2 and Psalm 37: God expects us to trust Him and act on that confidence. Biblical examples abound. In Exodus 17 Moses and Joshua trusted God to bring victory in battle but it only came as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ weary arms. In 1 Kings 18 Elijah depended on God to show Himself in Israel but to do so challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. And let’s look at Jesus: “He left his case in the hands of God…He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.” (1 Peter 2:23-24, NLT).

A familiar hymn says in part, “…What He says we will do, where He sends we will go—Never fear, only trust and obey.” Have I ever stopped to think of how often I’ve sung this version of putting my faith into practice then failed to do so? I’ve just asked God to forgive me for not keeping this commitment. By His grace I’ll take it more seriously in my remaining days on earth before He calls me Home.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan