Influence

Christians are called to make a difference in society. They are called to be salt, and light (Matthew 5:13-14). Our  life of faith in Jesus Christ should penetrate and illuminate those around us. We should be a positive influence on society. Unfortunately, the influence can also go the other way. Unless we are careful, instead of influencing others for the good, we may be influenced for the bad (Psalm 26:4; 1 Corinthians 15:33). Peer pressure can be a strong persuader, especially if you are in a group. Before you know it you can be following the wrong crowd (Exodus 23:2).

The best way to maintain our witness and influence others for the Good is to keep the influence coming from the right direction (John 8:23). If our influence comes from the world, we will be influenced, but if the flow of influence is from above, we will influence others for the good as a result of our being influenced from above.When the direction of influence is from above, others recognize the source and God gets the credit (Matthew 5:16). Likewise, when you have been influenced by evil, the credit goes back to the source (John 8:44).

You cannot take your cues from the the devil and claim the name of Christ. It is a sham that everyone can see through (Jeremiah 7:9-11). On the other hand, when we are true to the Lord, He is glorified in us (2 Thess. 1:12). If you want to influence others for the good, you have to guard your heart and mind (Proverbs 4:23; Romans 8:6-7). The Bible tells us that only when we are delivered from sin and live by the Spirit can we have our minds set on what the spirit desires. We must no longer conform to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). Then we can influence others because we ourselves have been transformed.

Receptivity

Prayer is communication. Communication requires a transmitter and a receiver. Radio communication takes a station broadcasting on a certain frequency (Transmitter), and a radio tuned to that frequency (receiver). In prayer we often see God as the receiver. We make the prayer to God and He hears us. He receives our prayer. It is seen as a one way street, much like the radio, with  one transmitter, and one receiver. We transmit and hope God is tuned into our frequency. But what about when God is the one who is doing the talking. Do we receive as well as we transmit? In prayer, is God the only one that is supposed to listen? Of course, the answer is no. We are supposed to listen for the voice of God, not only tug at His ear.
A Biblical example of how communication between God and another person is both successful, and short circuited can be seen in the book of 1st Samuel. In chapter two a woman named Hannah silently prays to God. She is distraught over her barrenness and asks for a child. She is thought to be intoxicated because her lips are moving, but there are no words coming out of her mouth. God who knows her heart, also hears her prayer. God hears the silent, heartfelt prayer. Her answer is soon realized as she feels new life in her belly. God receives perfectly. There is no short circuit where God is concerned.
On the other hand, the priest Eli, who supposes she is drunk because of her inaudible prayers is addressed by God himself and refuses to listen. Communication is short circuited on the receiver end. God heard the woman’s prayer and answered, but when God transmits a message to Eli he will not listen.
In 1 Samuel 3, the boy given to Hannah as a result of her prayers is ministering at the tabernacle in Shiloh. He hears the voice of God in the night. God tells him that He has pronounced Judgment on Eli, the priest, because he would not listen. This is interesting. Hannah prayed silently, and God heard. God sent a prophet to audibly speak to Eli, but Eli turns a deaf ear to God. Eli’s wicked son’s are killed and Eli’s family is removed from the ministry (1 Samuel 4). Samuel, on the other hand hears the voice of God and becomes a prophet (1 Samuel 3:21).
How often do we short circuit communication with God? Our ability to hear God is more important than our ability to transmit messages to Him. What He has to say is more important than what we have to say. If we think a successful prayer life is seeing the hand of God move as a result of our prayers we are only partly right. A successful prayer life is hearing and being moved by the voice of God.The message for us here is that we must not only transmit to God, but we must be receptive. True communication is a two way street. Perhaps a radio is not as good an analogy for prayer as a walkie-talkie.  Effective prayer is a two-way street.

Wholehearted

When we think whole-hearted commitment we think of someone who is all in. There is no pulling back. Someone who is half-hearted is not really committed at all. How does this apply to Christianity? Can you have a halfhearted Christian? The very idea makes Jesus sick (Revelation 3:16). The Israelites found out that there is a price to pay for half-heartedness (Numbers 32:11). It really comes down to faith (Isaiah 7:9). Without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus indicated that it would take wholehearted devotion to be His disciple (Mark 8:35; Luke 9:23) The Apostle Paul was willing to lay down his life for Jesus (Acts 21:10-14). Likewise, we are called to live sacrificial lives (Romans 12:1-2).  The catalog of heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 is a veritable who’s who of people who lived out their faith in wholehearted commitment. Like them, we are challenged to look to the one who is the author of our faith and follow the path of perseverance (Hebrews 12:1-3). By contrast, halfhearted people are not worthy to follow Christ (Matthew 10:38; Luke 9:62; cf. Zephaniah 1:6). It is the commitment that pushes through to the end that gives us a share in Christ (Hebrews 3:14). In fact, the ones who starts well and then falls back is worse off than when they started (2 Peter 2:20).

People do not start out in the Christian life with the goal of being halfhearted.  If they were apathetic to begin with they would not even bother to start. So what makes people go from new life and spiritual enthusiasm to complacency and decline? One thing that leads to complacency is a shallow view of God’s Word. We begin to look at the Word of God as a literary work much like poetry, and we attend a prophetic utterance much like a literary critic. We admire the beauty of the form, but miss the sense of power that should come with its delivery (Ezekiel 33:31-32). Materialism can also dampen our ardor for God (Hosea 13:6; Mark 4:19). Eternal values give way to temporal desire and we end up giving our soul away for a little bit of nothing (Mark 8:35-37; Luke 21:34; Hebrews 12:16-17). Because our hearts are so easily captivated by other things we must take care to guard them (Proverbs 4:23; 1 Timothy 6:10). Me must put all other loves out of the running and love Jesus alone. Otherwise, it is curtains for us. We can not serve two masters (Luke 16:13). Perhaps that is why Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God with our whole heart (Matt. 22:37). It is wholehearted devotion God wants. There really is no such thing as a halfhearted Christian. That would be a contradiction in terms.

Rendering Unto Caesar

It is tax time again. It is interesting to note places taxes are mentioned in the Bible. Citizens were subject to assessment and were burdened with taxes (2 Kings 23:35; Esther 10:1). There was a flat tax (1 Samuel 8:15). People had to borrow money to pay their taxes (Nehemiah 5:4). Some were arrested for tax evasion (2 Kings 17:4). Clergy claimed an exemption (Ezra 7:24). Tax collector’s were not well thought of (Matthew 18:17) and were advised not to cheat others in performing their duties(Luke 3:12-13). By the same token, those paying taxes were not to cheat the government either (Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25). It was taxation (Per capita) that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem at Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-5). Jesus paid taxes and provided the funds for one of His disciples to pay what he owed (Matthew 17:24-27). He ate with many tax collectors (Mark 2:15) and even called one of them to be His disciple (Luke 5:27-28). A tax collector even wrote one of the Gospels (Mathew 9:9). Taxes have been a part of society for a long time. It is necessary for governments to protect its citizens and provide for the common good, and that is why its citizens are to pay taxes (Romans 13:6-7).

What does it cost?

I have been thinking of the concern most people have with their return on the dollar (or yen, euro, bolivar, etc.) and the ever increasing need for imediate gratification. How much bang do I get for my buck? What's it going to cost me? When am I going to see a return on my investment? Like the fast food consumer, we want it our way, we want it now, and we want change back from our dollar.

The same attitude persists in the realm of Christianity today. After many hours logged in the pew, countless (or counted and here's your receipt sir) dollars have been dropped into the collection plate, prayers have been offered, and resources have been spent and energy expended a problem arises. It may be a big problem, or it may be a little problem. It may be medical, relational, financial. Whatever the problem, the request goes out to God to solve it and the thoughts go back to the cost of following him and people expect to see a return. I'll have my miracle now please, and oh, do not forget the mayo. Let me have it my way, and let me have it now!

Whatever happened to following the Lord without counting the cost? Whatever happened to waiting upon the Lord? What ever happened to "not my will, but yours, oh Lord." These things have fallen to a religion that says you can have it all and you can have it your way, and yes, you can have it now. I reject such religion and its commercial use of God. "send me twenty dollars and your miracle is on its way." Pshaw. Such things are an offense to God. It makes God into a fast food miracle stand, and it requires the "believer" to overcome nothing, not even their own self centered preoccupation. God does not pass out miracle cures avery day. God does not promise an immediate return on our investment. Though He may graciously answer our request, we have no right to make demands.

Some may ask then if I do not believe in miracles. Sure I do. But the point of miracles is that they are not everyday occurances, but the supernatural intervention of God into normal affairs. If we were to expect miracles at every turn the they would no longer be miracles, but they would be part of the normal landscape of life.

The problem, I think, is that we have turned the financial picture upside down. It is not we who should be seeking a return on our investment, but it is God who is looking for a return on His investment. If we rightly consider the price paid for us by Christ, we should no longer count the cost of following Him, but should offer ourselves up gladly to him. We are no longer our own, but we were bought with a price. He has paid for us, and not the other way around. The consumer mentality says we paid our tithe, now give us the blessing. The Consecrated mentality says we have given you only what was already yours.