We just returned from our Annual men’s “Lake Escape” and these thoughts are in my mind and heart for you all today:
All “disciples are believers; not all believers are disciples.”
A true disciple of Christ is first of all teachable, then dependant and trusting in God alone, then he/she is diligent...about what? About Jesus Christ Who is His/Her life.
The “battle” begins between our recreated spirit (Paul calls us a “New Creation”) and our flesh (our Old Man/Earthly Nature/Sin Nature) the very moment we come to faith in Christ. Oswald Chambers calls this an “altered disposition”...indeed!
Before God redeemed and saved us, we faced “moral choices” that were all on the carnal, self-centered, selfish side of the ledger. After salvation, we face “moral choices” and the conflict widens...it’s now between our “old man” and our “new man.”
“...turning our natural life into a spiritual life.....is done only by a series of moral choices.” (Chambers)
These “moral choices” serve to build spiritual character. We do not go after “character”...character is the fruit of our moral choices. These choices come only from the Holy Spirit revealing God’s will, God’s direction, God’s character if you will, through the Word of God...not our singular opinion of what’s right or wrong.
We have only one outside, objective, and perfect “plum-line”...”standard”...it’s God’s precious Word!
The careful and diligent study, interpretation, and application of God’s wonderful Word is the basis and framework of these critical, daily “moral choices.”
(A short “rabbit trail” on discipleship:)
A maturing “disciple of Christ Jesus” is hungry for this truth and not resistant/not arrogant, not self-trusting, and not slothful or apathetic! Jesus told his “disciples”, just before he ascended to His Father, to go and preach the Gospel (Jesus saves them). This will make disciples! It’s God’s will that we come to know Him and trust Him and become His disciple!!! What a privilege!
A “learner” comes and goes; a "disciple" comes and follows and never leaves!! See what Paul said to Timothy for some good stuff on “discipleship.”
Let’s return to our “moral choices” topic:
These good and moral and Biblical choices are in direct opposition to our once known, comfortable, and WRONG natural, fleshly life. Paul says to “walk in the Spirit”...to walk under the control and influence of the Holy Spirit will flow out naturally into good “moral choices” each day...
Everything is “mental” first; if you don’t’ buy that, take out the brain and see what happens. This is why the Word speaks so much about “transforming the mind” and not “conforming the mind” to the worldly “choices.”
Set your mind and your affections on things above: Jesus!
May the love of God in the great work of the Gospel of Jesus capture your heart today!
Col 1:18b “...that in all things, Christ might have the supremacy.”
Be “salt & light” in your world today,
Jerry
Being Salt & Light...
John Howard Yoder makes the striking observation that after the Constantinian shift the meaning of the word “Christian” changes. Prior to Constantine it took exceptional conviction to BE a Christian. After Constantine it takes exceptional courage NOT TO BE counted as a Christian. This change in status of what it meant to be Christian, according to Yoder, called forth a new theological development; “namely the doctrine of the invisibility of the church.” Constantine's messing with Christianity got so goofy that, “... to be a Christian is to be transmuted to inwardness”. It was all about what was “in their heart” and to examine the outward behavior would be to judge. Jesus taught us to “judge by the fruit.” If there is some eternal life thing going on in my heart, you’ll see the fruit, case closed!
Bottom line:
“...the followers of Jesus are no longer faced with a decision. The only decision possible for us has already been made. Now we have to be what we are, or we are not following Jesus. We “followers” are the visible community of faith; our discipleship is a visible act which separates Us from the world...or it is not discipleship. And Discipleship is as visible as light in the night, as a mountain in the flatland. To flee into invisibility is to deny the call. Any community of Jesus which wants to be invisible is no longer a community that follows him” (Bonhoeffer 2001, 113)
Fruit is produced without effort via connection with the vine. Do we serve,.. do we follow just to be seen (My flesh certainly does!)? Are we called to be different just to be different? (Again, my flesh likes the attention of being different) NO! In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches that our “righteousness” is invisible even to us. This fruit which is visibility & difference is the result of us being pulled into the way of life made possible by Jesus. To be “in Christ” produces “unconscious holiness.”
There is something that is visible and different about those who are pulled into the way of the world, wouldn’t you agree? It isn't hard to see arrogance,... boasting,... my options,... my rights,... it’s not fair; all of these rooted in being focused on self.
To show you just how delicate this language is, one definition of worldly that I particularly like is “outward show.” Worldliness is all about being seen! Jesus warned the disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the Sadducees saying that “everything they do is for the outward appearance.” The TV option has simply been too much of a test for many preachers.
Now, give me my “Gospel Glasses” and we’ll wrap this one up:
My friends, it's not about who we are! To be brought from death to life... to be washed whiter than snow... to have our sins forgiven IS to be made different, to be visible “salt & light” for others. If we have all our “needs” met, we can then BE for others. The time we would spend focusing on our mess and trying to become acceptable to God can now be used living in loving response because we ARE accepted by God. The people around us will notice when we quit using them and begin serving them!
Be salt & light for our Great Champion!!
Jerry
Camp Lurecrest is the most beautiful place that I have ever witnessed on earth. I have seen quite beautiful places around the globe and yet the beauty of Camp Lurecrest is more profound. You can walk around and see that it is old and sooner or later things need to be repaired. It is dusty, quiet, some pretty views of mountain ridges, and to any first time visitor it may seem like an ordinary camp ground but there is still more beauty at Camp Lurecrest than anywhere I have ever been.
This is because of Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses camp like a warm blanket. His message of grace and love soaks the hearts of the people who walk the grounds. Christ died so that we may be set free. My freedom from sin has nothing to do with what I can or cannot do, what I have or have not done, or what I should or should not do. It has everything to do with what Christ has done and now I will live my life with love and gratitude because He first loved me. This is the truth of the gospel and is what makes Camp Lurecrest so beautiful because it is the center source of everything that takes place there.
Some people may think a child is too young to understand what kind of commitment they are making when they come to know Jesus Christ as their savior at a summer camp but I can personally testify that they can. I grew up in a Christian home and when I was ten years old I went to Lurecrest as a camper. I remember the moment I let Christ reign in my heart for the first time. I was standing down at the chapel one night and it brought tears to my eyes because something happened inside me and I could tell. I went back every summer after that where I continually grew more and more in love with Jesus every time. I eventually went on staff which only made my foundation more solid in Christ not only because we get to share the love of God to the kids that come up for a week of camp but also because we live in an environment where the gospel of grace is breathed into our lives at every moment of the day.
We live in such a selfish society in today’s world where everything is about individuals and community does not exist anymore. Camp brings a breath of peaceful fresh air to the soul because community exists there more than any place I know. As the body of Christ, we are called to be in communion with one another which is the essence of true church. I consider Camp Lurecrest to be more of my home church than any other church I have been a part of because we are a community of believers that together grow more in love with Christ Jesus which is so beautiful yet so hard to find in today’s society.
To Him be the glory forever and ever AMEN!
Caroline Belk
As a camp counselor I knew I’d have the role of pouring into others but I didn’t realize how much I would be poured into at Camp Lurecrest. The staff I worked with was amazing! Camp Lurecrest impacted my life on so many levels. I felt so encouraged in my walk with the Lord. I felt a renewed inner strength, focus, and excitement as I prepared to attend Bible School that fall. The staff and campers really touched my life. I thank God for using such special people whom I admire and respect to speak into my life and encourage me in this way.
Some of my favorite times at camp were staff devotions and personal meetings with Jerry Martin (Poppy). I remember sharing with Jerry how I used to think I didn't struggle with pride (I know that sounds ridiculous) – but I was prideful in that. I wanted to be able to ask God to strip me of my pride but at the same time I was afraid to ask for this because of the process God might use to humble me. Jerry helped bring clarity to this situation. He assured me that God only wants to better me and build me up in Him. My flesh will be humbled, yet I am no longer my flesh because I am in Christ. My fleshly tendency is to be afraid but I can completely trust in the Lord. According to Romans 8:9 "…you are NOT in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you." So even though asking God to humble me will break down my flesh, it will build up my Spirit and I am my Spirit NOT the flesh! What reason do I have then to fear in asking God to humble me? None! Wow, I'd read and heard this verse so many times but this time God used Jerry to remind me of this truth, it gave me a sense of greater freedom! The deeper issue for me is truly trusting in the Lord. I feel like the past couple years God has really stretched me to trust in Him, and at camp I began to hand over another area of my life I was clinging to – trusting in Him fully! I know there will be other areas in my life God will reveal to me that I need to trust in Him over – but I have experienced that the more I hand over to Jesus, the more I feel a sense of His peace. This revelation has made me love Jesus more. I am amazed at how I was freed from areas in my life I didn't even fully know I was in bondage in at the time. I feel so thankful that God used Jerry to shed light on this subject. I will forever remember my time serving as a camp counselor at Camp Lurecrest and a lot of the reason for this is the staff and their individual walks with the Lord. I continue to be in awe by the bond of Christ and how it links Christians together so quickly. Jesus is amazing!
Counselor 2007
-To the Romans, there was nothing more useful than sun and salt.-
Jesus' statement that his followers were the “light of the world and the salt of the earth” was a jolt to them as well as to the unbelievers. These two characteristics refer to the enriching and the preserving influence of Christ’s children. They speak also to the “witness” we have as believers in the world. There are three things that salt speaks of:
Purity – meat spoils without salt
Preservation – meat is preserved with salt
Flavor – the taste of meat, etc, is enhanced by salt
The Romans used the Sun and sea water to get salt. The Soldiers were often paid in salt…thus, the basis of the word salary. This tells us something of the value of salt and just how shocking Jesus’ words were in his reference to his people. Jesus declares our value. We are to purify this world, preserve this world, and enhance this world.
FOR us, IN us, THROUGH us!
Salt is “fruit”, not “root.” There is something “outside” that produces salt! There is something IN salt and there is something that happens WITH & THROUGH salt.
Salt loses itself in its only purpose: service!
Now, let’s put on our “Gospel Glasses.”
As salt has a root, so we as disciples of Christ have a root, a beginning. Christ is our beginning. We are “produced” by faith in His work FOR us. Our roots are firmly in Christ’s work FOR us. The bible says that Jesus sprang up as a root out of dry ground. Nothing on this earth made a contribution to Christ, the true root! This root produces fruit; this fruit is in our inward response of heart gratitude and our outward response in service for and to others. We are salt to others because we’ve been made salty. Our ONLY purpose is to live lives in loving response unto our Father and bring Him honor and glory. Others are to see our salty lives and give glory to God.
Can you connect the dots? If this world is rotting then it needs salt. If we are salty then we can serve. If not, we will not and can not fulfill our purpose: loving service, loving response.
Christ’s work FOR us and AS us, produces something IN and THROUGH us by the power of the Holy Spirit, that brings glory to God!
Never think that through our service we become salt!! Backwards!!
Until next week,
BE salt and light,
Jerry