Chuck Locklear
fascinating characters, impactful books and messages
Relationship Advice
We recently did a survey to determine with what people were struggling.The most commonly listed struggles were with relationships. My guess is that is not unusual. The most frequently provided relationship question was “How do I better understand and work with a difficult relationship?”
You can learn a lot from a relationship with difficult person: bosses, ex-wives, adult children. One lesson that I learned from the most difficult relationship in my life, an ex-boss, is choose your battles wisely. There are two important questions before engaging in a conflict with a difficult person. First, what am I going to gain?
Before the Israelites crossed into the “Promised Land,” Moses set before them a choice, “to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him” or not (Deuteronomy 30:16, NIV). One path would lead to life and prosperity and the other destruction and death. In this choice, there was a lot to gain. Just before this passage, we read Moses instructions; if the people chose to follow God, “The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors…” (Deuteronomy 30:9, NIV). There was a lot to gain in making the right choice.
When my children were young, Lizzy and I brought them to church regularly. I was a leader in the children’s ministry. I led the youth group. We made it our family’s priority. We brought the neighbor kids to church too. Also, we picked up my niece and nephew and took them to church. This action resulted in the salvation of my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. At one point, my niece said to my brother-in-law, “Dad, you don’t stand a chance. We are all praying for you. You might as well start coming to church.” And, he did.
Now, I am so glad we made the house of God our priority. Looking back, those days are gone. I couldn’t have a “do over,” even if I wanted it. But, I don’t need one. We did what was right or righteous in the sight of God. Praise God!
Choosing what is righteous is important, especially when it comes to relationships. This brings me to the second question with regards to choosing your battles wisely. What am I going to lose? In relationships, the issue is not “right or wrong,” but “getting along.” I challenge you with this truth as it relates to all of the difficult relationships in your life: Instead of being right, be righteous…remember, WWJD (What Would Jesus Do).
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). My wife is the best example of a peacemaker. She does not like conflicts and will go out of her way to keep the peace. Me on the other hand, I like logic and order. I want to convince others of the truth of my reasoning. Sometimes, I will make my point with a sledge hammer. “Of course, you were the one to leave the coffee pot on. You were the last one to leave the house.” It took me a long time to learn that there was more to lose than to gain in these types of arguments. From my ex-boss, I learned that, for her, emotions were a lot more important than logic.
The other day, Lizzy and I were using the “Maps” app to determine the best route for driving to my son’s office. She kept clicking the map. I said, “I want to see the difference between the options.” But, she kept clicking. My voice got loud and I said, “Stop, clicking! I want to see the difference.” Of course, logically, I knew that the only important difference in the alternative routes is the time difference which shows on the overview screen. But, she was clicking each route so I can see the alternate roads that we could travel. I start to explain that the most important difference is how long it takes, but stopped.
It didn’t really matter; saving a few minutes is not much to gain when compared to what could be lost if I continued the argument. The point, someone can do something differently than you and still be right. Being righteous is much better than being right. If you are that person, like me, that has to be right all the time, this may be a difficult, but important lesson to learn.
You won’t find the word relationships in the King James and only a few times in the NIV, but we have a sure model for a God-like relationship.
“Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. . .”
Philippians 2:1-8, NIV
Let this be our prayer today, “Lord, let us have the mindset that you modeled for us!”
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see How to be Happy.
You Are Priceless
When the weather is warm, I love sleeping with the windows open and listening to the birds chirping early in the morning. Their song is a reminder that we are of great value to our heavenly father. In fact, we are priceless. Their song speaks to us saying, Make your life count!
Selah
My granddaughter, Selah, is three years old with a mind of her own. She can sometimes dig in her heels and stubbornly make her stand. Her principles can seem illogical to adults, but they are important to her none-the-less.
I can remember one time we were staying at a rented house with a pool and hot tub. The air was growing cold and we had all gotten out of the pool and into the hot tub. But, there was Selah, standing by the hot tub, towel-less in a dripping wet swimsuit, arms clutched, teeth chattering, body cold, and shivering. “Come on in. It feels wonderful and you will warm up,” I had tried to convince her from inside the hot tub. But, she stubbornly refused, angry that her brother had gotten in before her, fearful to give in and let her brother know he was the winner.
No matter how hard I tried to coax her, she was adamant. She was not coming in. Her pale skin was taking on a purplish shade. “I promise you,” I tried again. “It feels so good.” Selah was not convinced. She stood her ground. She was beginning to look like a Popsicle, so I pulled myself out of the hot tub to find a towel to wrap her up.
Unknown Waters
How often do our fears take hold preventing us from doing what we know is best for us? How often do we stubbornly cling to the familiar, rather than venturing into unknown waters. Instead, we stand, miserable, our minds made up regardless of the folly or even danger of our choice. “Come to me,” our heavenly father calls. “Trust me. My way is the best choice for you.” Too often we remain stuck in place, to obstinate to abandon what we want and submit to what God wants for our lives.
Jesus said in the book of Matthew:
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10: 29-31
Make Your Life Count
We are priceless to our heavenly father. Yes, he even knows the number of hairs on your head. Wow, that seems impossible. Our value increases as we choose what is valuable to God. He will bless us with good things and important responsibilities in this life. Plus, God’s word promises that he will make us rulers of kingdoms in the life to come. You are of great value!
Also, see With God All Things Are Possible.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Praise Language
Faith grows as we offer praise. There lessons that can be learned about praise. Here’s one to start with: language has a powerful effect on how we offer praise.
Learning From Educators
As an educator, I have learned that I need to carefully consider what I am praising and the reason for my praise of students. Words of praise such as “good job,” “well done,” “exactly right,” and “you got it” are not informative to the student and likely will have no impact beyond the student knowing they got an answer right. These types of comments are more evaluation than feedback. Carol Dweck, in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (2007), says, “praise is intricately connected to how students view their intelligence” (p. 34), and therefore may produce a burst of pride, but may in fact encourage a “fixed” mindset.
Dweck suggests that praise should focus on efforts and actions. Comments such as “You really worked hard on this lesson” or “I can see you have pushed yourself to learn this subject,” are “more likely to encourage ongoing learning, risk taking, and the embracing of challenge” (Ron Ritchhard, 2015, p. 81). These are the actions that we want of our students. This is true of how parents should praise their children as well. Our praise should be specific, descriptive, and informative. Informative means providing information about what they should keep doing.
Follow My Example
Let me give an example of a praise statement that follows this format. If you follow me on Facebook, you know that my granddaughter, Juliet, has started a YouTube channel. It is called Juliet’s Story Time. On this channel, she reads children’s books to her followers. When I post her stories, I always ask for viewers to leave her an encouraging comment. Recently, she read the book, “This Is My Hair.” It is a funny book and she does a “good job.” However, rather than leaving her the comment, “Good job,” let’s construct a comment together, starting with something specific: “I love the way you held the pages up to show the pictures.” Now, let’s add a little more description: “Doing this helped me follow along.” Finally, let’s make it informative: “Keep reading and growing your skills.”
Putting it all together it says, “I love the way you held the pages up to show the pictures. Doing this helped me follow along. Keep reading and growing your skills.” Yes, this is a long statement and you won’t provide praise this long every time, but you will find that the more you practice, the better you’ll get.
Learning to Praise God
How does this relate to our communication and the praises we offer to God. When we praise God, are we offering an “evaluation?” “God, you did a good job with answering my request.” Wow, think about that for a moment. Does God really need us to evaluate him? Of course not, that seems silly. Does our praise to God need to be “specific, descriptive, and informative.” Does God really need us to inform him of what he needs to continue to do? No, again, this seems silly.
What God does want us to inform him on is the thinking that is going on in our hearts. “God, when you sent the man to help jump start my car, it gave me reassurance that you truly care for me. Thank you.” Or, “God, I needed food and you sent someone to drop food off at my door. I appreciate so much your mercies that are new every morning.” These are the kinds of statements that inform God of what is in our heart. Equally important, these kinds of statements help us reflect on the things God is doing.
Yes, language has a powerful effect on how we offer praise. . . and the effectiveness of our praise. As we praise God for the specific answers to prayer, he will grow our faith. Thankfully, all we need is faith the size of a grain of a mustard seed and we can move mountains.
Also, see Talking About Faith.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
A Promise of Blessing
Some battles are not our battle, but this does not completely let us off the hook. We still may be required to take up our positions and stand firm. There is a mythology in Christianity today that the chosen of God will not have to fight battles in this life. My experience is that this is far from true. In the 133 miracles that I have studied in the Bible, all required some action to receive God’s blessing.
On the Map
I trace this mythology and misunderstanding to a place in the land of Israel called The Valley of Blessing. Yes, it is a real place. On the map, it is actually called the valley of Beracah. It is on the main road from Hebron to Jerusalem. It is significant because of a king of Judah named Jehoshaphat.
The kings of Judah and the kings of Israel all fall into one of two categories: those who did right in the sight of God and those who did evil. It is a sad commentary that even with all of the blessings God had given his people most of the kings did not act in a way that pleased God. Jehoshaphat was a king of Judah, however, who did what was right in the sight of God. In 2 Chronicles we find, “The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David…The Lord established the kingdom under his control…so that he had great wealth and honor…His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 17:3-6).
Favor
This favor from God did not mean that there were no challenges during Jehoshaphat’s reign. God allows challenges in the lives of his people. No one is excluded. At one point in the story, a vast army from three neighboring nations, Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir, came against Judah. Not surprisingly, Jehoshaphat was overwhelmed by fear and gathered the people together to ask God for deliverance. He prayed, “For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
God’s reply that came is a promise that Christians still rely upon today, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” The battle is not yours, but God’s. This promise is the source of our misunderstanding. It is true that the prophet said, “You will not have to fight this battle…” But, he did not stop there. He went on to say, “. . . take up your positions; stand firm.” If you do this, then, you will “. . . see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” They could not sit around and wait for a miracle. They were commanded to “Go.” My experience is that, while God is with me, I still have to go and face my challenges. This is what the prophet said to Jehoshaphat, “Go out and face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17).
Crazy! They sang!
Indeed, Jehoshaphat did just as he was directed. Early on the next morning, they left for the place of the battle. Regardless of his fearfulness, he assembled the people and went out to the battle. As they went, Jehoshaphat’s confidence increased to such a degree that he did something very unusual. He appointed people to sing to the Lord and praise God for the splendor of his holiness. Crazy! They sang!
“Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever.”
On this day, Jehoshaphat and the people began to sing and praise God and God answered their prayers by stirring up the enemy to kill each other. “The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir…After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another” (2 Chronicles 20:23). Just as God had promised, when Jehoshaphat and his army entered the valley, the enemy had completely annihilated each other. Judah’s army took three days to sort through the dead bodies and collect the valuables, including gold, silver, and precious jewels. On the fourth day, Jehoshaphat assembled the people in the valley of Berakah, which means blessing, where they praised the Lord. To this day, the valley is called “The Valley of Blessing.”
We Must Stand
While the battle was God’s, Jehoshaphat still had to take up his position and stand. Too often, Christians use this scripture as an excuse to do nothing. “It is not my battle, it’s God’s.” But, God does not take us out of the battle; He fights on our side! In all of the challenges that I have faced so far in my life, God has been Jehovah Saboth, the Lord our protector and Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our banner. However, that has never meant that there was no role for me to play.
During a difficult time at work, Debbie Backy, a woman of strong faith, reminded me of Isaiah 54:17 and gave me this promise on which to focus my attention. I printed this scripture and posted it beside my computer as a daily reminder.
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 54:17
Isaiah wrote this promise to the people of Israel as a reminder of the future glory of Zion. Through Debbie, I was reminded that this promise is also for God’s people today. Truly, no weapon or instrument of persecution will be successful. The sense of Isaiah’s words is that attacks against the servants of God will not prevail. God’s people shall have final and ultimate prosperity. These attacks may appear for a time to prosper, but there will not be final and result in complete success. Of course, it is difficult for us to believe that victory is on the way when we are faced with overwhelming odds…or a vast army.
A Heritage of Blessing
This is not a blanket promise for everyone. Isaiah specifically says, this promise is the heritage of the servants of the Lord. If you have committed your life to serving God, then you can rest easy in His promised protection. The Lord also says that this is a promise for those whose righteousness or goodness is from Me – from the Lord Himself – and not from us. When we understand that our righteousness is really from God, we can take comfort in letting the Lord protect his righteousness.
God will vindicate us. Isaiah’s promise is an assurance that the inheritance which awaits those who serve God is truth and victory. This is a promise of protection in times of trouble; God is our banner and protector in times of adversity. God will see us through and place us in The Valley of Blessing.
© 2019 Chuck Locklear All rights reserved
Keep Going, Have Courage
We live in an uncertain world. At times, it is enough to cause us to stop in our tracks. If we do, however, we will miss out on what God is trying to accomplish in our lives. We need to need to keep going and have courage.
God’s promise does not mean we will be sitting in a classroom with five rows of six chairs. Instead, this promise from God is that he will provide us with hands-on lessons.
Lizzy and I learned one such hands-on lesson when our children were young. We had planned for weeks to take a hiking trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. Whitney, our oldest, was eight years old. Chandler was six, and Holland was just over a year, which meant I would need to carry him on my back for the hike. I had purchased a special backpack carrier and had practiced carrying him on my back to build up my stamina.
Our goal was to visit Abrams Falls. Abrams Falls is a waterfall with a large volume of water rushing over a twenty-foot high drop. It is named for a Cherokee chief whose village once stood several miles downstream. The hike is 5 miles over rough terrain. The trail map rated the hike as moderate in difficulty. However, as we began the hike, I was thinking the map was wrong and it was difficult, especially carrying a child on your back. Can we really make this trip? I thought to myself.
Our first obstacle came about an hour into the hike. It was a hot, summer day and the trail was more difficult than we expected. The girls were complaining, so we stopped for a water break, which gave us a chance to notice the beauty of our surroundings. The Great Smoky Mountains are beautiful. Our trail traversed pine-oak forests on the ridges and hemlock and rhododendron forests along the creek.
Feeling renewed, it was time to make a decision, turn around and head back to the hotel or keep moving toward the original goal. “Keep going,” Liz proclaimed. So, we did, and made it to the falls. It was worth the trip, but all I could say was, “Thank you Jesus.” It would not be the last time that I repeated this statement over the next few hours.
We ate the picnic lunch we had packed, played in the water at the bottom of the falls, and I got one of my most treasured photographs of Holland and me with the mist of the waterfall soaking our faces. After an hour and a half, feeling refreshed, it was time to start the return trip. However, we were apparently not as refreshed as I had thought.
About half way into the return, our six year old Chandler had had enough. This was no longer fun and she was tired. She sat down right in the middle of the trail and wouldn’t move . . . no matter how much we coaxed her. It was starting to get dark and Liz and I were worried. We knew that black bears and other animals were active in the area, so we did not want to be on the trail after dark. I couldn’t carry two children and Liz did not think she could carry Chandler over the rocky terrain. So, we prayed . . . and, God sent an angel.
A nice man walking along the trail stopped to talk with Chandler. She was smiling and he was kind, encouraging, and convinced her to drink the water we’d given her. I’m not sure what he said, but it gave her the motivation she needed. She jumped up and almost ran the remainder of the hike. I repeated my gratitude again, “Thank you Jesus.”
At the end of the day, I wondered, “What if we would have turned back early in our trip?” We would have missed the beauty of God’s creation. The fear of uncertainty would have kept us from experiencing the adventure with which God had blessed us.
The hands-on lesson: if we “Keep going,” God will give us strength and courage when we need it most.
“I will instruct you and teach you.”
Also see Finish.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Finding Purpose
Have you ever felt “goaded” into something. The word goad is not commonly used today. The phrase “kicking against the goads” refers to the practice of farmers goading their oxen in the fields. A goad is a spiked stick for driving cattle or oxen. It directs their work and provides purpose. What is your purpose?
A Good Example
Sometimes the ox would kick at the goad. When this happened, the goad would stab into the flesh and the pain would remind the animal of its purpose. The Apostle Paul is a good example of someone who was being goaded. God got his attention on the road to Damascus. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 26:14).
All of Paul’s life God had been goading him in the direction of his purpose. However, Paul was resisting God’s purpose, trying to do what he thought was best for his life. Perhaps, this is how many of us respond to life. Are you directing your time and energy into pursuing your own desires? Perhaps, it is time to stop “kicking against the goads.”
My Purpose
When we surrender and open our hearts to God’s purpose, he will make his calling clear. After Paul had been blinded by the light, God said to him, “Now get up and stand on your feet. . . I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light . . . so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:16-18).
For me, I have been called to more than one purpose over my lifetime. I was called to teach Sunday school when I was 17 years old. . . and I did that faithfully. Perhaps, my greatest calling has been as a father. In this calling, I have made the greatest difference in this world. My legacy lives on in my children and grandchildren. People that have experienced the love of God are shining light into the darkness of our world. My work was a calling. I have been an educator, a principal, and a pastor. In each of these roles I have pursued God’s purpose and daily asked for God’s direction.
How Powerful is Faith?
On one occasion, Jesus taught his disciples saying, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).
I can hear you thinking, “Easy for him to say. He is the son of God.” “I’ve not seen any mountains moving in my life.” We all experience tragedies and hardships in life that can challenge our faith. The truth is, to some degree, we are all affected by a lack of faith. This reminds me of the story in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus healed a little body at the request of his father. The father pleaded with Jesus saying, “If you can, please heal my son.” Jesus’ response is amazing:
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. I can almost hear the sarcasm in Jesus’ voice. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9: 23-24)
God’s Purpose For You
Make the decision to be all in. Hear the voice of God today and say, “Yes, Lord.” Maybe you don’t know exactly what that means, but, don’t worry, he will make it clear to you. You just have to surrender. It starts with a simple, “Yes.” God has a purpose for you.
Also, see With God All Things Are Possible.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Justified By God
Today, I take you back three hundred years, to a fireside, as my father’s matrilineal ancestors considered whether their actions were “justified by God.”
Reliance On the English
Wheat dumplings simmered in the metal pot over a fire. Nourourhquotkan watched the flames deep in thought. Nourouhquotkan had taken the name John Pagett at the insistence of his clan leaders, who had urged everyone to take names of prestigious English colonists, thus, ensuring the respect of the English. He was the husband to Runehu’hu, which meant turtledove. He loved the sound that her name made as it rolled off the tongue, Rooneh-hoo’-hoo. However, to satisfy the ukuwana’?tha? (oodoo-wawnaw-ahk-tha-ahk) or clan mother, he took to calling her Jane.
John’s thoughts about the name Jane turned his thinking to the metal pot sitting directly on the open flame. He thought about how uneasy it made him that his people were becoming more and more reliant on trade with the English. The clay pots the Tuscarora had used previously could not rest directly on an open fire. True, the metal pots were superior, but this was just another indicator of the Tuscaroras’ need to trade deer skin to obtain these conveniences.
As John rested on his mat, he held a stone tobacco pipe in his mouth. He said to Jane, “Teethha Hancock is head of the bear clan. His actions are justified by God.” Teethha is the Tuscarora word for king. Although, the use of the English word “king” was becoming more common among his people.
English Abuses
John continued, “As is our custom, I have come here to live in your mother’s longhouse, but I cannot abandon my brothers. The English are a threat to all Tuscaroras, not just those in Hancock’s town of Catechna. My blood is hot to join with my brothers in the coming battle against the English who are taking more of our land.”
John passed the pipe to Jane. She drew deeply in on the Nicotiana rustica and let the smoke waft out her nose as a puff curled over her head. Tobacco smoking was common for both men and women among the Tuscaroras.
Jane held the stone pipe and listened for John to finish his thoughts. She then broke the silence with her answer, “I understand your anger, but the hostilities you are provoking will bring the war to all bear clan people, even those in our village, perhaps other clans of upper Tuscarora towns as well. This is why King Blount, of our village, advised them to release the prisoner De Graffenried.”
Baron Christopher de Graffenried and John Lawson were being held as prisoners because they had traveled into King Hancock’s territory without permission, but, more importantly, because of abuses by the English toward the Tuscarora people. De Graffenried had brought 400 Swiss and German settlers to North Carolina and had established the town of New Bern. Several hundred settlers being dumped into the area certainly shocked the Indians, resulting in more land loss and conflicts over hunting and fishing. Lawson was the surveyor general for the colony of North Carolina. Many native people believed that his work was responsible for the loss of so much Indian land to the ever increasing numbers of English colonists. When captured, the pair, and two African slaves, were on an expedition up the Neuse River. Though they would not admit it, the goal was to survey more land for English farms and plantations.
War In North Carolina
John responded to Jane’s comment about King Blount, “I was at the council meeting when the truth came out. When questioned, prisoner Lawson’s temper got the best of him. He argued back loudly. His sarcasm was apparent for all to see. Rather than apologize for the abuses committed by the colonists, he threatened King Hancock and guaranteed that the Tuscarora would pay for taking him prisoner.”
John grimaced.
Jane handed the pipe back to John. She looked directly into his eyes and said, “Do not go. Stay here. I have a bad feeling about this.”
John responded, “The English will not be satisfied until they have taken all our land and removed our bloodline from the earth.”
Jane shook her head. “This is nonsense. Your hatred for the English will only result in our destruction. Please do not drag us into the conflict with the English. The decisions made by this war captains will have far-reaching consequences for our people.”
Jane’s intuition was correct. She knew their leaders’ next moves would be critical to the future of her people. Would her family be snuffed out or would her bloodline survive?
She had a sense of foreboding that the coming events would lead to war in North Carolina. Jane feared that many of her mother’s clan would not survive, that some would end up as enslaved people. She did not know that this was her fate, and did not know that her own husband would not survive? She did know that her future was not certain.
Justified By God
Jane was not a Christian. It would be later in life that she would meet and marry Thomas Kersey and learn of the sacrifice of Jesus. On this night, she believed in Tarenhiawagen—the Master of Life and Ruler of Skyland. It was he who had led the Tuscarora from the Great Lakes east to their present home on the Neuse River on North Carolina’s coast. . . a place that he called Cautanoh. It was he who taught this Iroquois-speaking people to use a bow and arrow. Thinking themselves favored by Tarenhiawagen made them believe they were superior to other people and justified their actions.
John could feel it in his heart that revenge on the English was justified by Tarenhiawagen or God. He was truly “righting a wrong.” The actions of the English were against God. I can hear him saying, “I wasn’t raised that way,” as he railed against the abuses of the English toward this people. How could he mingle with people whose lifestyles so blatantly ran afoul of how he’d been reared?
A Feeble Measuring Stick
Like many of us, he conflated his righteousness with his upbringing—the lives of his forebears was the stick by which he measured his actions. This hit too close to home, as I considered his feeble measuring stick, which resembled my own legalistic stubbornness. This reminded me of the self-righteousness of the Pharisees and the words of Jesus:
“He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.’”
Like John, I treasure my godly parents who deposited within me a fierce desire for God. Would I ever measure up to the kind of righteousness I saw in them?
No matter the “right” things we do as Christians, they can only yield a temporary good feeling, too often tainted with a little pride, a bit of superiority, a dose of pity, rather than compassion. I can hear the voice of Jesus speaking to me . . . speaking to us. Your genes don’t constitute your salvation. It is my blood, not yours, that prepares you to sit at my table. Praise God! It is because of Jesus that we are justified and can stand in the righteous presence of God.
Prayer
Jesus, please grant us the foresight to resist self-righteousness, self-righteousness which only leads to our destruction. We are not justified by our goodness. Only you are worthy to “break the seal and open the scroll.”
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see The Lost Colony of Roanoke.
Privilege?
Are we better than others? Do we walk on the other side of the road when we see someone in need? Our sense of privilege can get in the way being his hands and feet.
Invest Our Talents
During World War 2, bombs fell on Poland. One lone building partly survived the bombs…a wall stood with these words clearly legible: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Bombs will continue to fall in our world because of sin. Our world was corrupted by sin. This world will be impacted by natural and man-made calamities. This will continue to happen until Christ returns to set up his new kingdom. Until that time, we should invest the talents God has given us while there is still time. There are people in our communities that need the love of God. In addition to praying for world peace, let’s pray for peace on our street.
I recently read this question in a Bible study: “Are you on the front lines in the defense of Christianity, or has your love for God grown cold?” Wow, really? Does Christianity really need to be defended? You may know that I love history. That question sounds like a recruiting poster for the war against the Turks in the battle that saved Christendom in 1683.
Hero King
The Great Siege of Vienna was the historical culmination of the Turks’ long struggle against Christian Europe. The besieging force was the largest Turkish army ever assembled. Vienna was the door to Central Europe. Within the city walls, the choice was surrender or be ruthlessly slaughtered. The hero of the defense of Christendom was the Polish King John Sobieski. He led the largest cavalry charge in history with 18,000 winged Hussars. They charged down the hill and broke the Turkish siege. The Christian forces had won the battle.
Yet, the call to come to the defense of Christendom was more about kingdoms, culture, power, and money than about coming to God’s defense. It was about entitlement. God doesn’t need us to defend him. God doesn’t need us to argue his side on Facebook. American prosperity has nothing to do with God’s plan for our world.
Don’t Be a Jerk
“What about me?” This one question will keep you from serving God and cause us to act like a jerk.
It is human nature to compare ourselves to others. “I deserve it more than she does.” “I’ve worked harder than he has.” This also lets us off the hook. “I don’t need to help them. They should help themselves.” You know the saying, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” This is a silly statement and it is not in the Bible. It is a rationalization that justifies me saying “No” to God. “No, I don’t need to give to him or her. If they only learned to fish; they could help themselves.”
I love this idea from John Pavlovitz, If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk. God is love and we are children of that love. Our feelings of privilege can get in the way of us being like Jesus. We are called to shine the light of Jesus’ love to the world around us.
The truth is that we are our brother’s [and sister’s] keepers. Don’t be a jerk. We all have needs. God understands this. Our cup will overflow with blessings as we serve others.
Privilege or Responsibility
Our feelings of privilege can get in the way of doing God’s work. We are no more entitled than anyone else. If we feel we are better than others, we are just like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. We will walk on the other side of the road when we see someone in need. Instead, we have a responsibility to hear Jesus’ voice calling us to be the Good Samaritan.
“Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will repay them.”
Proverbs 19:17
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Growth Mindset.
Busyness
Having goals means having a checklist. If not on paper, at least mentally. This is true for most of us, even if we don’t know it. Do you start each day with a list of priorities that you want or NEED to accomplish. These lists can provide direction, but also produce busyness and create pressure.
I have a list of things to do every day, even on Sunday, which should be a day of rest. For me, these checklists created a lot of pressure, making me crabby, just ask Lizzy.
I thought this would change after I retired, since I would have so much extra time on my hands. It happened. I sat around relaxing. . . for about a week. I had often heard retired people say that they are more busy now than when they were working. Yes, there is a lot of truth to this statement. I have found that our busyness expands to fill the amount of time we have available. So, if you are blessed with a free half day, your mind goes to work filling it with all of the things you want or need to get done. It seems this is how we are wired.
Is Everyone Busy?
This is not just true for retired people. No one is off the hook. Young mothers have checklists, and the checklist grows with the number of kids. Number one on their list is keeping the kids alive. If you have grandkids, you have a checklist. If you are a student, you have a checklist. Medical condition. . . checklist. If you have a job, you have a checklist for your working hours, and one for after work. And, don’t get me started about weekends. There is the grass around the house, catching up on housework, repairing the car, the boat, bike riding around the park, playing basketball, watching basketball, walking the dog. . . Wow, I’m getting tired just thinking about it.
In Mark, chapter four, Jesus is teaching by the lake and he gives The Parable of the Sower, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. . . an some seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear fruit” (Mark 4:19)
Thorns
The “thorns” represent our busyness. We can make sure the cares of this life don’t choke out God’s purpose for us by examining our checklists. Take a look at your list. Did God make your top five? Did you pray or look into God’s word to find direction for your day? Were your neighbors on your list? Did you do something to spread the love of Jesus? Did you nurture some children? Or, is your list just filled with things important to you?
As Christ followers, we must make Jesus a priority. He has to make our top five. Until we do this, we will be always searching, but never satisfied. You see God made us with a void inside that can only be filled with him. We will never be complete without him. Nothing else will work, none of our busyness. Until God is in your top five, you will not be satisfied. You will not be happy.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Looking for Peace.
Faith In Afghanistan
Are we living in the end times? Maybe, maybe not. Certainly, it must feel like it for Christians in Afghanistan.
Taliban Take Over
Let me introduce you to Mindy. She is a young girl, whose father, Juma, is a church leader, among the small number of Christians in Afghanistan, a majority Muslim country. About two years ago, Mindy’s entire family converted after learning of the love of Jesus. Then, Juma and other church leaders did something amazing. . . and dangerous. They decided to change their religious affiliation on their national identification cards.
All Afghans have a national ID card. ID cards are required to travel, buy groceries; for almost everything. Religious affiliation tends to be handed down by the father. Juma changed his for the sake of his children and grandchildren. At the time, Mindy’s mother, Zahra, argued that this was not a good idea. She said, “Now, government records show us as Christians.” Her worries were well founded. Since the take over, the Taliban has targeted Christians.
Christians Threatened
The day before full takeover by the Taliban, Mindy witnessed something terrifying. A man, suspected of being in the Afghan military, was dragged out of his house into the street and shot in the head. Mindy has had nightmares ever since.
Soon after, Juma received a letter from the Taliban. She listened from the other room as her mother read the letter to her father. One sentence reminded her of the man being dragged out of his house. It said, “We know where you are, and we know what you’re doing.” Mindy knew this meant the Taliban has access to the government records. Next, Mindy heard her mother say, “The Taliban have visited other Christian homes. We will be next.”
Zahra cried, saying, “God must not exist. God cannot possibly love us. He has abandoned us. . . even though we have been faithful.” All night long, her Juma and Zahra argued. After many hours, through the closed window, Mindy could see the sun coming up. Then, she heard her mom say, “It is almost morning. We should prepare for our morning prayers.” And they did.
Future In Afghanistan?
What will happen to Mindy? We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future. Let us pray for courage. Let us pray that Mindy is able to lift up her eyes to Jesus, the one enthroned in heaven, the one who loves us and cares for us.
“I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sits enthroned in heaven.”
Psalm 123:1
Regardless of our circumstances, we lift our eyes to our heavenly father. Are we living in the end times? Maybe, maybe not. It doesn’t really matter. Our response is still the same. We keep doing what Jesus commanded anyway: preach the Gospel and shine the light of Jesus’ love to the world around us.
P.S. This story is based on real events, with the names changed to protect individual identities.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Jesus Was a Radical.
