Loving People Is Hard Because It Hurts

I had a friend a few years ago who told me, "Anytime you want something for someone more than they want it for themselves, you are going to be the one that is hurt."  I didn't realize it at the time but it has proven to be one of the wisest things anyone has ever told me. I truly care about people though and I don't know how to separate myself enough to not be hurt when I see things that I truly believe will be harmful in the long run.

I have felt and continue to feel this for my children and my family. I have felt and continue to feel this for the people that God allows me to be a pastor to.  I have felt and continue to feel this for the people of the city that I have grown to love.  I have felt and continue to feel this for my country.

The struggle comes in not being apathetic and continuing to love, because it will bring the pain of caring!

Grace Demands Shared Forgiveness

Another great lesson that we learned from studying Paul's letter to Philemon, was about sharing forgiveness.  It was a lesson Jesus taught many times.  Most pointedly with the parable of the unmerciful servant.  Forgiveness is a wonderful thing when you are on the receiving end of things, giving well that is a different story.

The really clever thing that Paul did was send this little letter along with a bigger letter to the entire church and so it would have been read in front of the whole church.  That means everyone would have been watching to see how Philemon responded.  You’ll probably never be put on the spot in front of the whole church, but people are watching to see how you respond to the grace that was shown to you as a follower of Christ.

Francis Chan said, “Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving the people he has made?” When you forgive someone, you bring healing to both you and them. When you hold a grudge, you bring harm only to yourself. Christianity is nothing if it doesn’t show itself in terms of relationships.  

Christianity is really just one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread.  The great news is we can be showing others the bread of life – Jesus!

GRACE DEMANDS A CHANGE OF HEART

We are doing this really cool sermon series this summer called "Summer Breezes".  We are looking at seven of the shortest books of the Bible.  They are ones that if we aren't careful we will "breeze" right over and miss some great teaching and some great truthes for our life.  This week we looked at the postcard of Philemon.  It was all about Grace and Forgiveness.  One of the lessons we pulled from the text was that "Grace Demands a Change of Heart".  Here is what we learned ...

1.     Paul’s heart was changed on the road to Damascus.

2.     Philemon’s heart was changed in a revival in Colossae.

3.     Onesimus’ heart was changed as he talked to Paul in Rome.

4.     One important question that we don’t know the answer to is, was Philemon’s heart changed toward Onesimus.

5.     The most important question today is one only you can answer, “When was your heart changed”?

6.     Once your heart is changed you can begin to really follow Christ.

Mistakes in Leadership = Learning

Have you ever been thrust into a leadership position that left you feeling in over your head.  Fear is a paralyzing thing for many people.  I am really not sure which is the greatest fear.  Many would say it is the fear of failure, but I often wonder if it is really the fear of success.  The thinking often comes into play when a leader, whether by title or just reality of life, knows that there is another step that needs to be taken but they also results that taking the step will change their life.  If they step out and fail, there is the embarrassment that comes with failure.  They may lose their job, their position, their family, their home, who knows what they might lose.  But on the other hand if they take the leap of faith and it works, people will expect that over and over again.   There might be a promotion, a new job, a new company, more pay, more incentives, more responsibility, more hours, more chances to fail the next time.  So many potentially great leaders, choose to do nothing!!!  What a mistake!!!   

Mistakes are inevitable if you are a leader!  However, the greatest mistake by far is to do nothing.  Yogi Berra didn't always make a lot of sense but he did know that when you come to the fork in the road you better take it!  You have to do something.

Great leaders learn from others mistakes. Awesome leaders learn from their own mistakes!    When we learn from others mistakes, that is called research.  When we learn from our own mistakes, that is a risk!  My suggestion is that brilliant leaders incorporate both into their plans. 

Taking the approach of the hunter who says, "Ready, aim, aim, aim, aim, aim ..." and never pulls the trigger never gets you a trophy on the wall.   Taking the approach of "Ready FIRE", may get you a hole in the wall.  Neither is the desired result.  Don't be afraid to fail and don't be afraid to succeed.  God says he will see you through both your failures and your successes.   God tells us in Jeremiah 29 ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

A Great Lesson from Haggai

We are in this great series this summer called Summer Breezes where we are looking at seven of the most overlooked books of the Bible because of their length.  They are short books so if we aren't real careful we will just breeze right over them.  This week we looked at the book of Haggai.  It was written in 520 BC as God used Haggai to encourage the people rebuilding the temple that the Babylonians had destroyed in 586 BC.  The last visiosn of encouragement that Haggai received was to Zerubbabel.  He was the little known leader of the people doing the rebuilding.  Apparently he felt like many people feel today who find themselves called to lead.  He felt overwhelmed and God says, "Just serve me faithfully."
The warning to Zeb was, "Don’t feel useless or powerless, God is in control."   2:20-23 That is how Zerubbabel was feeling.  He had limited military might.  Only 42,000 had made the return voyage to Jerusalem.  He was feeling, “I can’t maintain this once we build it.”  God says, “You do what I have asked of you and I’ll take care of the rest.”
That is all any of us can do!  Take care of what we are asked to do and let God handle the rest.  You just serve Him faithfully. 
Several people talked to me after last week's message from Obadiah about forgiveness and holding a grudge.  You can only control you!  You can’t  make someone forgive you or accept your request for forgiveness.  You can only control you!  So you serve Him faithfully and let God take care of the rest!
God tells Zerubbabel that He will make him His signet ring.   That was huge because that was the symbol of being God’s Davidic ruler.  The king from the line of David.  When the people were following Him, God removed that blessing from Jehoiakim.  But the return of His blessing brought hope!
God may be calling you to lead in a very powerful way that everyone will notice, or he may be calling you to lead from behind where no one will notice but Him.  Whatever God is calling you to do, wherever He is calling you to lead ... SERVE HIM FAITHFULLY!