Laced With Grace

A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb,

But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. Proverbs 27:7
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

A sated man doesn’t seek. He’s no longer hungry. He’s satisfied and not willing to search. But a starved man will eat burnt toast. He’s seeking, he’s hungry. Have you ever noticed how fragile spiritual hunger is? One little delight and we’re good for a while. We don’t stay hungry for long. These verses are talking about real hunger-craving, pursuing, seeking. Empty-belly hunger. That’s the kind of hunger God is looking for. Content in Him certainly. Content in who He is, and in the way he provides for our every need, but not satisfied. Not feeling so full that we no longer crave the knowledge and presence of God.

Cassidy, page 43

“What was your latest response to God’s Word? A gasp or a yawn? Have you begun to yawn when I mention the fear of the Lord? Is that subject getting old for you are you still gasping?”

Cassidy by page 135

I am a bookworm and an avid reader of fiction. Most of the times when I’m reading fiction it’s for the love of a good story. However there are many times when I’m reading that I’m totally convicted by something one of the characters say. This was the case when I read the above quotes in Lori Wick’s novel Cassidy. It was as if Pastor Rylan was speaking from the pages of the book directly to my heart. I felt convicted. I had to reread the page several time. My mind was no longer on enjoying the story but my relationship with God. In fact I had to put the book down and ask myself a few tough questions;

What is my response to God’s word?

Do I still gasp with wonderment and awe?

Do I really have the spiritual hunger that I should have?

The answer, not always. However, even as the characters in the book made a new commitment to God so did I. In the times when I’m not as hungry as I should be for the things of God I ask him to renew my desire, my passion for him. The passion that surpasses my desire for anything else in life. I want to be, to paraphrase Pastor Rylan, content in God. Content in who He is, and in the way he provides my every need, but never so completely satisfied that I don’t crave the knowledge and presence of Him above all things.

Hello all of my friends here at Laced With Grace. When I look at the calendar every week and realize my turn to write is fast approaching, I tend to get a little panicky because there is not a thought in my head that I have to share.

I send up an S.O.S. prayer to our Lord and He NEVER fails to provide me with a learning lesson from His very hand. Last week, you may remember, He provided through my scatterbrained-mistaken delivery of a Bible study book. What a lesson that was. This week He delivered a balloon.

Sunday my husband opened the back door to go outside to do some chores. As he opened the door, this is what he found lying on the doorstep.

Now look at little closer. Can you read the words?

Is reads: BAPTISM!

I think God is hilarious! The delivery from the sky of this particular balloon is irony taken to a supernatural level. God is funny. Really, He is. He knows how much I love to laugh so He sends a “Baptized” balloon to my unbeliever on a Sunday morning.

My husband brings the balloon in wearing a befuddled look on his face. He shows me and I can’t help but to bust out with knee-slapping merriment. I laugh so hard I actually snort. How ironic. Can you believe God would send a special and private invitation to my man?

The arrival of this balloon was perfect. It prompted a pointed and genuine conversation about baptism. My husband knows enough about Jesus’ teaching to know baptism is a deciding step toward faith. He is familiar with Christ’s example.

Matthew 3: 13-17 (NIV)

The Baptism of Jesus
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Of course, I had to say something. I couldn’t let this divine moment slip away. “Honey, do you think this is your personal invitation to be baptized?” Usually I avoid these direct approaches because they tend to move into moments of tension between us. However, today, between my snorts of laughter I couldn’t help asking.

He kindly replied, “I am not ready.” *smile*

His response humbled and surprised me. I didn’t realize my man had actually contemplated baptism. Praise the Lord, he has!

It is unlike me to leave a story unfinished. I always like neat and tidy endings. However, today, I leave the ending of THIS story undone. I will wait for the Master Author to finish this scene. And finish it He will. It will be spectacular.

I can’t wait for the day when I can tell all of you who faithfully prayed for this man, he found his way to the foot of the cross. It will happen!

O Lord God, today I shout out the names of all of those whose salvation hangs in the balance. For my husband, for my neighbors, family, every person at my salon, gals in my Bible study, my online visitors who are searching. Lord, I shout their name out before your throne. Send them a balloon. Send them hope through the Bible, or a kind word, or some encouragement. Let them see Jesus in me and in every believer who stops in here today. In the life-changing name of Jesus I ask for their salvation, Amen.

Who is your hold out this day? Wont you shout out along with me?

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  (2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV)

If you knew you only had a short time to live, what advice or exhortation would you give to your loved ones?  Have you ever thought about that?  Have you ever heard or read someone’s last words?  I personally have not been beside someone who gave me instructions with their dying breath, but I do know that if I knew I only had a few sentences of breath left in me, I would make sure they counted.  Did you know that Paul’s second letter to his disciple/protege Timothy was most likely Paul’s last recorded written words?  My study bible says the letter was written by Paul from prison as he awaited execution in Rome.  Paul’s purpose for writing the letter was to instruct and encourage Timothy in his work as a minister. 

Among exhortations to be loyal to the faith, persevere through tough times, and to preach the word, I think that most of what Paul shared with Timothy in his letter can be summed up in 2 Timothy 2:2.  Paul had taught Timothy the in’s and out’s of being a pastor, preacher & teacher, and was making sure Timothy would pass on that instruction to others so that the newly born faith now known as Christianity could continue to grow and prosper.  Paul was in effect passing the baton of discipleship to young Timothy.    Timothy was to go forth and reproduce himself in another capable believer so that person could in turn do the same.   This is the essence of discipleship - when one mature believer comes alongside a new or less mature believer to teach them by words and by actions what it is like to be a true follower of Jesus.  Without discipleship, our faith will eventually die out.

What does it take to be a discipler?  First, we must be taught.  Secondly, we must apply what we learn so that we can become someone worthy of following.   We must continually be in a place where we are learning more about God and how to be like Christ.  Thirdly, we must be willing to invest our lives into someone else to pass along what we have learned and applied.  The essence of discipleship given in 2 Timothy 2:2 expands on the “how”of the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20 when He says:

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Jesus is essentially saying the same thing as Paul, isn’t He?  Are you taking someone alongside you in your life and showing them what it takes to be a Christian?  Are you living the life yourself by being in the Word of God each day and applying it to your life?  I will be the first to say that I am no Paul, but I will also say that my goal in life is to always be discipling someone, teaching them what I’ve learned so that will hopefully one day do the same for someone else.    Matter of fact, I just met with someone before I started writing this blog post today.  Aside from pleasing God by obeying His command to impart my faith to others, I am always extremely blessed when I learn of how God is starting to work in someone’s life or when someone catches my passion and excitement for what God’s Word has in store for each of us.  Oh, how I wish I had more time to meet with more people!  I am blessed by discipling others as well as convicted and encouraged by their newly awakened faith. 

So, Christian, who are you discipling? If you aren’t what are you waiting for?  What is holding you back?  It is imperative that those of us who walk in faith pass it on.  It is our responsibility after all.  If we are too busy to do it, who will?   

This week’s challenge:

1) If you aren’t actively reproducing yourself in others, ask God to lead someone to you for discipleship. 

2) If you don’t know what to pass on to someone else, pray to God asking for someone to disciple you. 

3) If you don’t see the importance of Paul’s and Jesus’ command to pass along the baton of your faith,  pray for understanding and for God to reveal to you what He would have you to see. 

Note: Equipping people with God’s Word is my passion.  If anyone out there wants to discuss this further or has any questions, I would love to discuss this with you.