Engaging with Joy, Part 2

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2b

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

Insights: Yesterday we looked at those witnesses surrounding our lives which encourage us to remain faithful to our Lord Jesus.  Today, we move to the next part which deals with winning the race.  We win the race by having our faith perfected.  This perfecting happens in two ways.  First, we throw off everything that hinders us, which is sin that entangles us.  Think for a moment about how seriously Jesus told us to deal with sin.  If our right hand should offend us, what ought we to do with it?  Cut it off.  If our eye causes us to sin, what ought we to do with it?  Pluck it out.  In other words, we are to deal drastically with sin.  We must not let it in any way trip us up on this race we are running.  Second, and by far the most important aspect of this perfecting, we must fix our eyes on Jesus.  Think about a track race for just a moment.  As those runners are heading toward the finish line are they looking side to side to see where their competitors are in the race?  Absolutely not!  Do they tilt backward with their head held high?  Again, no!  They are looking straight ahead with their eyes fixed on that ribbon.  Their bodies are leaning forward to give them every inch of advantage as they approach that ribbon.  We are to run this spiritual race with the same kind of fixation as these Olympians run a foot race.  The difference is our finish line is not a ribbon, but a person, Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.  This second point is the key to the first part.  We are incapable in and of ourselves to throw off everything that hinders us.  We cannot miss the trap set before us in sin that so easily entangles us.  Jesus, however, can throw off those things that hinder us.  Jesus can prevent us from being entangled in sin.  So, how do we engage this world with joy?  We do it by living our lives in and through Jesus.  He is the One who empowers us and fills us with joy.  He is the One who gives us the strength to remain faithful and become a witness to others.  Everything you do ought to be done through the lens of Jesus.  Surrender to His Lordship and be blessed.

Questions:

1. What sins are entangling your life?
2. Are you fixing your eyes on Jesus or the things of this world?

Prayer: Father, forgive me of my sin and change my vision to be transfixed upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Amen.

Engaging with Joy, Part 1

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2b

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,

Insights: We are halfway through building our spiritual wall of faith with bricks of character through the book of Nehemiah. We are, however, going to pause for the next three weeks on that building project so that we can begin fixing our eyes on the cross of Easter.  This week we are going to be looking at the joy of Easter and specifically today and tomorrow we are going to be examining Hebrews 12:1-2b.  Notice with me the first phrase in this set of verses, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.”  Whenever you read Scripture and you come to the word “therefore” it is an instructive key to look at the preceding information.  In this case the entire eleventh chapter is to what the “therefore” of verse one is pointing us.  We call the eleventh chapter the “Hall of Faith” because it lists men and women like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, etc. who have proven their faith by their actions.  Their actions did not save them, their faith did, but their actions proved they had faith.  In fact, in verse four of the eleventh chapter we are told that Abel is still speaking to us even though he is dead because of his faithful actions.  Our lives are also surrounded by contemporary men and women who are witnesses to us.  It could be our parents or grandparents.  It could also be godly men and women who lived near us.  The point is we have witnessed and observed the lives of faithful Christ-followers who point us to the Savior Jesus.  Their love for Him was so great it convicts and challenges our lives to be obedient to Him.  In the same vain, our lives of faith ought to be leaving a legacy behind us as well.  We are to be witnesses to other people regarding our faith in the Lord Jesus.  Our lives and words ought to convict those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus to His salvific power.  At the same time our lives and words ought to be an encouragement to other Christians to remain faithful to their Lord.  This kind of life requires us to engage in the race and to do so with joy because of what Jesus has done for us.

Questions:

1. Who has been a witness surrounding you?
2. To whom are you being a witness surrounding them?

Prayer: Father, as we begin turning our eyes toward the cross in celebration of Easter, let me be mindful of the legacy I am leaving and help me become a witness to those around me.  May my life bring You glory. Amen.

Promotions affect People

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:18-19

Now that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep, also birds were prepared for me; and once in ten days all sorts of wine were furnished in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the governor's food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people.  Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Insights: The fourth major concern Nehemiah faced was the people affected by his promotion.  Earlier in the week I mentioned that two times Nehemiah made reference to not eating the food allowance which was given to the governor.  In verse eighteen we are told the reason for his refusal to accept such a privilege at that time.  It was because it would have added a heavy burden to the people under his care.  When we accept promotions it will place people under us and we need to make certain we lead them in such a fashion that does not over burden them.  In other words, our pace of leadership may need to be slowed down at times and at other times picked up.  We need to lead at the appropriate pace where we are just far enough in front that the people can see us closely, but not so far in front that they get scared or discouraged and feel like giving up.  Let me close this week with the motivating force behind Nehemiah’s leadership style.  He was concerned about the people because of his relationship with His God.  Back in verse fifteen the last few words read, “I did not do so because of the fear of God.”  The “I did not do so” was in reference to all the policies of the previous governors that added to the peoples already burdened lives.  Now we see him again refusing to accept his food privileges because of the burden it would have caused the people.  Then we move into verse nineteen and we see Nehemiah offering up a prayer to God and it is basically a prayer of examination.  It is as if Nehemiah is praying, “God, because of my fear of You and my desire to lead Your people well, please examine my leadership and tell me if I have acted properly for Your glory.”  Everything we do in the horizontal axis of this world and the relationships we have with other people ought to be driven by the vertical axis we have with the Lord God.  Beloved, I pray you seek the Lord first and then lead.

Questions:

1. At what pass are you leading those under your supervision?
2. Is your relationship with the Father motivating you to be a better servant leader?

Prayer: Lord, at the end of the day it is because of my relationship with You that motivates me to be a godly leader for those under my care.  Help me to affect their lives in a positive way. Amen.

Promotions involve Projects

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:17-18

Moreover, there were at my table one hundred and fifty Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. Now that which was prepared for each day was one ox and six choice sheep, also birds were prepared for me; and once in ten days all sorts of wine were furnished in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the governor's food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on this people.

Insights: The third major concern Nehemiah faced was the projects involved in his promotion.  We already learned yesterday from verse sixteen that Nehemiah’s passion was the wall of Jerusalem.  He knew God had assigned him the project of completing that wall.  It was not just a wall for the people.  It was a sign of God’s protective and providential hand on the life of Israel.  As we mentioned on the day we spoke about privileges, however, more responsibility was assigned to Nehemiah.  In other words, not only did he have his project of the wall to accomplish, but as governor he would have special interest groups bombarding him on a regular basis.  Once again, we see Scripture communicating the truth regarding the vast responsibilities people faced in ancient days that are no different from today.  Every day Nehemiah had 150 Jewish officials and other national ambassadors coming to him for political favors regarding their projects.  So, the question we have to ask ourselves is, how did Nehemiah take care of his daily responsibilities as governor and all of these extraneous projects and maintain focus on what he knew he was really called to do, which obviously was to finish the wall?  He learned to priorities his days.  I don’t know how this luncheon was run, but this was a business luncheon.  He did not invite these people every day just to partake of ox, sheep and birds.  It was the most efficient manner in which Nehemiah found to deal with the daily projects of other people that came with his promotion.  Before this meal and after it Nehemiah was free to focus on what truly mattered, the wall.  Beloved, we need to learn to be shrewd time managers in our lives.  We need to make certain we are making first things first and not get ourselves consumed by all the other projects that come on us with promotions and life.  The best way we are able to stay focused is to ask the Father every day to direct our paths and to seek His guidance each morning as to what is most important and then stay true to that project.

Questions:

1. What project is God assigning you to do for Him?
2. How well are you balancing your project for God and your daily responsibilities?

Prayer: Lord, strengthen me and help me to remain focused on the project You have assigned me to do.  I desire for my life to bring You glory. Amen.

Promotions threaten Policies

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:15-16

But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of God. I also applied myself to the work on this wall; we did not buy any land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.

Insights: The second major concern Nehemiah faced was policy changes.  Here is what I mean by policy changes.  You are not going to do things exactly like the last person before you did them.  Your predecessor did things in a fashion that does not match your skill set and vice versa.  Specifically in regards to Nehemiah there were three things the previous governors did that Nehemiah knew needed to be changed.  First, the previous governors overtaxed the people.  We see this truth in the phrase “laid burdens on the people.”  Second, the previous governors took bribes for governmental sanctions.  We see this truth in the phrase, “took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver.”  Finally, the previous governors promoted their friends into positions of influence.  We see this truth in the phrase, “even their servants domineered the people.”  Do these three attributes of government sound familiar to twenty-first century American politics?  Nehemiah said these previous policies must go.  Notice verse fifteen states, “But I did not do so because of the fear of God.”  Nehemiah is going to be a blessing to his constituents and he is not going to participate in these evil practices.  One of the interesting things about human nature, however, is the resistance to change.  Unless the idea for change is your idea, you are more than likely going to oppose the change.  Not all change is good, but change, whatever it may be, is often resisted.  The reason change is resisted is because people at least know how to handle what they are presently facing.  Change moves them into the realm of the unknown and people are often times frightened of what they don’t know.  Chuck Swindoll writing about these verses points out the extreme pressure Nehemiah must have been under by his advisors because of his rattling of the cages.  Nehemiah constantly heard the age old, “It has always been done this way” or the “It has never been done like this before” chants from his advisors.  Leaders must hear these words and stay focused to the task.  Verse sixteen shows us Nehemiah stayed focused on the rebuilding of the wall as he changed these policies.

Questions:

1. What policies or procedures do you need to change as a result of your promotion?
2. Have you experienced the pressure to maintain the status quo?

Prayer: Lord, You have blessed me with this position to change situations and to be a blessing to those around me.  Grant me Your favor and strength as I walk obediently with You. Amen.

Promotions bring Privileges

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:14

Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor's food allowance.

Insights: Over the next four days we are going to look at the four major concerns that Nehemiah faced when he stepped into his new role as governor.  These four concerns are true for everyone who receives promotions in one way or another.  The first concern is the privileges of the job.  It takes a wise leader to use them without abusing them.  Today’s verse gives the first of two references to the governor’s food allowance and in both verses Nehemiah is emphatic regarding his not eating it.  There are times the privileges that come with promotion ought not to be taken.  For Nehemiah, this food allowance was such a privilege that needed to be avoided.  So, what is the secret regarding the privileges that come with promotion?  The answer is wisdom.  How does one get wisdom?  According to James we are to ask God (James 1:5).  Here is the point regarding the privileges:  when we receive these benefits do we take them as our personal rights or do we view them as God’s own possessions?  For sake of argument, let’s use the financial privileges that come from promotions.  When you get your raise, what do you do?  The vast majority of people say to themselves, “What can I get now?”  Whereas the Father above would have us ask the question, “How would God have me use this extra money?”  There is absolutely nothing wrong with the privileges that come from promotions in and of themselves.  These privileges are given with promotion because more responsibility is being asked of the one receiving the promotion.  As a Christian, however, we must first seek God’s council as to how we ought to handle those privileges.  For Nehemiah, he was not to accept the privilege that was just given to him.  When we get to the final concern Nehemiah faced with this promotion, we will learn the reason he did not partake of this food allowance.  So, in conclusion Beloved, when you receive privileges from promotions, don’t selfishly abuse the gift, but rather first ask God what He would have you to do with these new freedoms.

Questions:

1. How do you handle the privileges of promotion?
2. Do you first consult the Lord as to how you ought to handle them?

Prayer: Lord, help me not to take the privileges of promotion for granted.  You have blessed me for specific reason.  Give me the wherewithal to seek You and learn from You how You would have me handle these privileges. Amen.

Progression through Promotion

Scripture: Nehemiah 5:14

Moreover, from the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor's food allowance.

Insights: When we began this study in the life of Nehemiah I mentioned that he would hold three positions throughout this book.  First, he was the cupbearer to the king.  Second, he was the builder of the wall.  Finally, he was the governor of the people.  In today’s verse we move into that final role.  It is regarding this promotion that this week’s Thought’s by Scott are going to be focused.  Over the years it has really surprised me how many Christ-followers have resisted advancement in their careers.  A lot of reasons are given and most of those excuses are not valid.  If you have been one of those who have avoided promotions, then let me encourage you through the words of Proverbs 29:2.  It reads, “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan.”  The reason the Lord God places Christ-followers in positions of leadership is to impact the lives of those around them.  Every one of us has had a boss that was tyrannical in nature.  Did you rejoice in going to work or did you groan?  I also hope you have had a godly boss for which to work as well.  Hopefully, you can say working for such a person was a rejoicing situation.  God appoints us to such positions so that we can point to the love of Jesus.  Our righteous leadership ought to help guide people to the love of God.  In such positions we can show justice from a biblical position when we discipline or reprimand an employee.  We can also display grace and humility when we instruct and assist along the way.  We can show wisdom when offering advice regarding projects.  In other words, our promotions are to be spring boards to point others to the Lord God.  Maybe you have not thought about advancement and promotions in this light, but as a child of the King, this is the proper vantage point from which you ought to accept such opportunities.  Beloved, we need godly leaders in business, politics, education, service industries and whatever other field you might serve.  I pray you will begin to think about the way you work and do it as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

Questions:

1. Does your influence make people rejoice or groan?
2. Are you shying away from advancement for any reason?

Prayer: Lord, I want to be obedient to You in any way possible.  Help me to live a life that makes people rejoice and not groan.  I desire to bring You glory. Amen.