"The Right FIt"

“The Right Fit”

The house in which I grew up had old-fashioned wooden screens and storm windows. Every fall my dad removed the screens and replaced them with the windows to keep us more comfortable during the winter and reversed the procedure for the warmer months. The sizes varied slightly so he put numbers on the inserts so they’d fit properly. This process continued for many years (with my brother’s and my help as we got older) until Dad sprung for the self-storing type years later.

Most of us have worked on jigsaw puzzles—simple ones used as educational toys when we were young then larger and more complicated ones as we got older. They remain popular—the clubhouse in our community has ten shelves of them for residents’ enjoyment (and possibly frustration at times). But whether they have ten or a thousand pieces they have this in common: each part has its specific place to make a complete picture.

When God gave instructions for transporting His tabernacle during Israel’s travels He was clear as to who was to do what. In Numbers 4:19 He told Moses and Aaron, “Aaron and his sons are to…assign each man his work and what he is to carry.” Without specific responsibilities chaos would have been likely. By clearly defining each one’s duties God was seeing to it that “…everything (was) done in a fitting and orderly way.” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

One of the most important resources which has been provided to the church is the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples His Father would send His Spirit to live in His people (“…He…will be in you.”—John 14:17), a promise which was fulfilled in Acts 2 and continues even today (“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”—Acts 2:39). And one way the Spirit’s power is shown is by His gifting for service. Our tasks vary according to the abilities He’s given (“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.”--! Corinthians 12:4) so Christ’s body, the church, can function effectively (“Under {Christ’s} direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly.”—Ephesians 4:16, NLT). While all are equal in His family (“…You are all one in Christ Jesus.”—Galatians 3:28) we’re not all the same (“We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has a different work to do.”—Romans 12:5, NLT). Somewhere you and I are the right fit—and as we carry out our ministry God’s work gets done and He’s glorified. So “…Let your light shine before (all), that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"The Snake Line"

“The Snake Line”

 

Early settlers in New England and other parts of Colonial America would ask if property they were considering purchasing was above the “snake line”. This refers to an invisible boundary above which our slithering “friends” can’t survive. And even though the higher terrain wasn’t as productive as that at lower altitudes the farmers were willing to work harder to protect themselves and their families from unwanted critters like rattlesnakes and copperheads.

Just as there’s an unseen barrier by which God shields those He’s created from harmful reptiles He’s provided an intangible defense from the threat of spiritual defeat. The Apostle Paul depicts this protection in military terms: “…Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but…against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:10-12). He then describes each part of a soldier’s equipment and its function in safeguarding us against our spiritual enemy. And he assures us that we have offensive weapons Satan can’t overcome: Scripture and prayer (see verses 17 and 18). So from God we have the means to stay above the “snake line”.

I don’t know if composer Johnson Oatman Jr. was familiar with the “snake line” but his 1898 hymn “Higher Ground” seems to recognize the principle as seen in verses 2 and 3:

  “My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay,

  Though some may dwell where these abound, my prayer, my aim is higher ground.

  I want to live above the world, though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;

  For faith has caught the joyful sound, the song of saints on higher ground.”

Just as it took extra effort to work the “higher ground” it requires intentionality to commit ourselves to growth and progress in our walk of faith. Oatman appears to have understood this because he began his song of praise with “I’m pressing on the upward way….”

As he and Barnabas returned to churches they’d planted Paul told them, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22). About 20 years earlier Jesus had warned, “In this world you will have trouble.” But He gave His disciples (and us) hope when He added, “…Take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). So He’s promised to keep us above the “snake line”—let’s trust Him to be faithful to His word!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"A Divide Creek Moment"

“A Divide Creek Moment”

 

I recently read Billy Graham’s The Journey: How to Live by Faith in an Uncertain World. As he outlined the principles of godly living I was struck by a phrase and its variations which appeared several hundred times: “The Bible says…/The Bible tells us…” Through more than a half century of evangelistic work which took him to almost every part of the globe his preaching was punctuated with this same appeal to Scripture as “…the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes….” (Romans 1:16). I believe it’s his dependence on God’s Word that has kept him and his ministry scandal free and used of Him to bring hundreds of thousands to faith in Christ.

In his book Dr. Graham relates that as he was preparing for an intensive evangelistic campaign in Los Angeles a friend who had become skeptical of the Bible’s trustworthiness challenged him to re-examine his convictions surrounding its inspiration and authority. He wrestled with this question for months as he read and pondered Scripture. Finally, alone in the woods at a conference center he put his Bible on a tree stump and told the Lord that even though there were things in His Word he didn’t understand or couldn’t explain he accepted it as from Him by faith. And that commitment never changed throughout his 70+ years of serving God.

In the Canadian Rockies there’s a small stream called Divide Creek. It splits around a boulder—the water flowing to the left eventually empties into the Pacific while that going right winds up in the Atlantic. Billy Graham’s Divide Creek moment took place in a California forest in the late 1940’s and determined the direction of his life and ministry.

In the same way each of us has a Divide Creek moment (mine was in 1960 at a Christian camp in upstate New York when God called me to vocational ministry) which sets our life’s course. Whatever or whenever it might be it calls for a decision for “No one can serve two masters.” (Matthew 6:24). May you and I be able to say, “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws…May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.” (Psalm 119:30, 173).

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"When Silence Isn't Golden"

“When Silence Isn’t Golden”

 

Long-time Major League umpire Larry Goetz once observed, “The greatest compliment an umpire receives is silence.” By this he meant he’d fulfilled his role by his work during a game if no one complained. What’s true in Goetz’s profession carries through to other areas: a job well done seldom receives the recognition it deserves.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 reminds us that there’s “…a time to be silent and a time to speak.” But there are occasions we speak when we ought to be quiet and remain mum when we should talk. For example, we’re often much more vocal with criticism than we are in giving accolades. (I’ve always appreciated a church leader with whom I had some disagreements who frequently greeted me at the close of a service by saying, “Good message!”)

An adage which probably has its roots in ancient Egypt says, “Silence is golden”. Is this true? Let’s listen to Solomon for some reasons it is. First, we stay out of trouble (“Watch your words and hold your tongue; you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.”—Proverbs 21:23, TM). We also can keep ourselves from looking foolish (“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”—Proverbs 17:28). And we reduce the chances of sinning by what we say (“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”—Proverbs 10:19, NASB). Our Lord’s brother echoed this theme by writing, “…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak….” (James 1:19). So it’s better to be silent than wish we had been!

But there are those occasions that call for kind and wise expression. Paul used godly words to build up believers (“We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ…for your strengthening.”—2 Corinthians 12:19). We must also communicate God’s message in the right way by “…speaking the truth in love….” (Ephesians 4:15). And a word of kindness is always appropriate (“…How delightful is a timely word.”—Proverbs 15:23, NASB).

King David prayed, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3). If I take this seriously both my silence and speech will be golden. Will you join me in making this request?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan