Unless you are a college
basketball fan, you probably never heard of Zion Williams until February 20,
2019. Even today, you may not know who Zion Williams is, but allow me a moment
to tell you his story.
Zion is a star basketball player
for Duke University as well as one of the best college basketball players in
the country. However, on February 20, 2019, Zion Williams fell to the court on
Duke’s first possession of their game vs. rival North Carolina. Zion’s Nike shoe fell apart. It literally had
a blowout.
As a result, Zion suffered a
sprained knee meaning he had to sit out the last five games of the regular season.
A further result of the incident saw Nike’s value fall by $1 billion dollars
and Duke lost the game to UNC as well as their #1 ranking. All because of a
blown-out shoe.
Sometimes we do not think about
the small things, like a shoe, until they cause an issue or are needed. Zion’s shoe failed. It did not fulfill its
intended purpose and as a result, caused pain and loss.
But what about your purpose? At
times, our purpose may seem small, but if we do not fulfill it, there is pain
and loss. It reminds me of Paul’s words in Ephesians 4.16,
“from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Each part of the church (the body
of Christ) has a purpose, are you fulfilling yours?
When you have a Bible question, where do you look?
Do you look in the Bible?
Dr. Malcolm Kendrick told an Eastern Tale that tells of the search for truth.*
A traveler passing through a village spotted a man on the ground obviously searching for something. Wanting to help, the stranger stopped and asked what he was trying to find. The man explained he’d lost his key.
Together they searched through the dust and leaves for more than an hour but found nothing. The traveler asked the old man if he was sure the key had been lost in this area. The elder told his new friend, “Oh, no! I lost it in my house.”
Irritated by the waste of time, the traveler demanded, “Then why are we looking out here?” The wise man, who used such opportunities to teach others, replied, “Because out here the light is so much better for looking.”
*The Great Cholesterol Con, Malcolm Kendrick, 2007, p. 206
Many people look where they are comfortable instead of the place to find the real answers. God has provided us all things for life and godliness (2 Peter 1.3) and the words of the Bible are written so we may believe (John 20.31).
How much time are you spending searching the Bible for life’s answers?
From grocery lists, shopping lists and “Honey Do” lists our lives might be full of various lists scattered on sheets of paper in our houses, cars, books, etc. This week, let’s add another one to the list, but let’s call it a “Congregational Family To-Do List.”
Many people use lists to help us stay on track and even remember what we are to do. Let’s use this list as a starting point to reach out to others and strengthen ourselves this week.
Here is your “Congregational Family To-Do List”
Read two chapters of the Bible each day. (grab a Daily Bible Reading Schedule to help)
Apply two things I learned from reading the Bible.
Each day Christians are put under a microscope to see whether their actions are consistent with their beliefs.
There are many in the world who watch a Christian’s every move and listen to every word to see whether they are in line with what the Bible says. Some examine out of sincerity, while others examine out of a critical mind. Being an approachable Christian is important because we are the light of the world (Matthew 5.14-16) and our light will only shine as bright as our faith will allow. To shine our lights brighter and extend the grace God has offered us to the world, we must be approachable as Christians.
Being approachable means we must not hide under the guise of being perfect, but under the reality that through Christ we are being made perfect. Being able to give an answer concerning the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3.15) implies that someone is going to ask us about our hope. Going further, for them to ask us, they are going to approach us. Our lives should be lived in such a way that we are approachable Christians.
Take a moment and see how you can become an approachable Christian:
Be Genuine – Finding a genuine person is becoming a lost art. So many are creating an image in public and never showing any faults or mistakes. Our society seeks to rise above the reality that everyone is not perfect; in fact, none of us are.
Pray Daily – Where would each of us be without constant prayer? If we are not praying, I almost guarantee someone is already praying for you. (That might be the reason you are where you are.)
Seek Jesus – Stop seeking to be a “super Christian” and seek to be like Jesus. Jesus is the model for each of our lives. Since the church is the body of Christ and Christ is the head, our actions should be made fully known as we follow the head.
Be Honest – Honesty is the best policy is definitely true when striving to be an approachable Christian. Just being genuine is a major factor, so is the life of honesty.
Approach others – To be approachable means you must be willing to approach others as well. You must be willing to step up to the plate and approach someone and speak to them. Open yourself up to someone else and create a sense of openness.
10 –Old people should not retire; young folks need you! – Remember Moses led the people of Israel at the age of 80; Caleb was still vigorous at 85 (Joshua 14.10) and remember Paul’s words to the Titus (Titus 2.1-10).
9 – Sophisticated education is not needed to follow Jesus (Acts 4.13).
8 – Bald men, well at least one, have power (2 Kings 2.23-25)
7 – You can read the Bible every day.
6 – Everyone has a gift to use; given to them by God. (Romans 12.3-8; Ephesians 4.11-16; 1 Peter 4.10-11; Matthew 25.14-30)
5 – The Bible even has a book about sex. Apparently there is something God wants us to know. (Song of Solomon)
4 – It allows me to eat bacon. (Acts 10.15)
3 – The Bible proves itself. (Science does not prove the Bible, the Bible proves science.) – The more people search, study and investigate nature, they find themselves staring at a Creator.
2 – Hell is optional. – You do not have to go; there is a better place called heaven and the Bible tells you how to get there.
For the past two weeks you have watched both political parties duke it out in the National Spotlight. Watching the volley of this political tennis match is daunting, but necessary to me. I am concerned with the state of our country and the future of my children from a national standpoint. The Bible is clear that we should pray for our leaders and I am sure people are praying every day. Lately, I have been praying for a leader like Josiah. I believe we need more “Josiah Leadership” than a leadership which pleases the masses.
We need Josiah!
“And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (2 Kings 22:2; ESV)
While the beginnings of Josiah may not be known to everyone, it should be known that he became king at 8 years old (2 Kings 22.1). A greater point to Josiah’s legacy should be the Biblical fact that he did what was right in the sight of God. (2 Kings 22:2). He lived in the spiritual heritage of his forefather David (2 Kings 22:2). What a powerful statement of heritage because we know that David was a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22)
We Need Leaders to Stand Like Josiah!
“And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.” (2 Kings 23:2; ESV)
In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, the book of the Law was found (2 Kings 22:8). Take special notice of Josiah’s emotions when the book of the law was found. (2 Kings 22:11). He knew the history of the nation and how his forefathers were evil in their acts (2 Kings 22:13). As the nation’s leader, He took a stand of dedication to the Lord more than his fathers (2 Kings 23:2-3).
Did you notice that Josiah stood before the people and read the Book of the Covenant? Josiah did; not the priests, not the king’s servants, but the king! We need more leaders reading the Bible instead of talking about the Bible.
We Need a Leader to Stand!
“And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second order and the keepers of the threshold to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron and carried their ashes to Bethel.” (2 Kings 23:4; ESV)
Here is where Josiah stood: The idols to the false gods from the temple were removed (2 Kings 23:4), the false priests that were ordained were put down (2 Kings 23:5), the wooden image was burned (2 Kings 23:6), the booths of perverts were tore down (2 Kings 23:7), Josiah defiled the place of Molech. (2 Kings 23:10), horses dedicated to the sun were removed, and chariots burned. (2 Kings 23:11) and He commanded the people the people to keep the Passover. (2 Kings 23:21)
We Need Leaders Like Josiah!
“Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.” (2 Kings 23:25; ESV)
We need leaders to take a stand on the ultimate code of law and morality – the Bible. The Psalmist understood the power of following God (Psalm 33:12). Our country needs leaders to read and see what the Bible says about life.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34; ESV)
The Choice Begins with You!
The choice to build dependable leadership is by building dependable people of morality, conviction and truth. Each of us must make the change in our lives to begin changing the world. Are you making the change?
Will you put away false gods? (Those things taking the place of God)
Will you put away from you those false teachers? (Those teaching what God does not want?
