Monthly Archives: October 2010

Recently I had the privilege to go back and preach for a congregation I frequently visited for two years of my life.  I experienced a wide array of thoughts and emotions as I pulled into the parking lot and began to walk into the church building.  I was immediately greeted with firm handshakes and warm smiles.  As I looked around the auditorium the memories of this place came rushing back to me.  I was being reunited with people that I had not seen or had any form of communication with, in over ten years.

Then a young man in his mid twenties came up to me.  “Do you remember me?”  I responded, “Why yes, yes I do.”  He then asked, “Do you remember that time you asked me if I wanted to go to church camp with you down in Lawton, OK?”  To be honest I really didn’t remember that conversation.  Then he continued, “Because you asked me to go with you to church camp; a seed was planted and now I am a Christian.”  My heart jumped, and I felt this deep sense of humility and joy.

After returning home, I learned that his Christian young man is currently enrolled in some classes to aid in his continued spiritual growth by equipping him to be able to do some missionary work.  It warms my heart to see how the Lord and His gospel made a difference in His life.  However; what if no one had ever asked him to go to camp?  What if no one had spent time encouraging him?  What if no one had taken the time to study with him and to allow him to see the life that is available through Christ?  How tragic would that be? (Many people had a profound influence in his decision to follow Christ)

I am constantly reminded of the power of the gospel to save men from eternal punishment because of their sin.  The gospel deeply impacts the lives it touches unlike anything else that we know.

On that Sunday evening, in that small town, with that group of Christians, I was reminded that anyone and everyone can make a difference in the spiritual state of our friends and families.  There is nothing more important than being able to make a difference in someone else’s life and nothing makes a difference more than the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You and I can make a difference:

In someone’s ETERNITY.  In John 1:35-42 we learn that  Andrew lead his brother Simon Peter to Jesus by telling him that he had found the Messiah and took Simon Peter to meet Jesus.  It was because of Andrews love and concern for his brothers soul, that he took the time to introduce Simon to Jesus.  I was once asked, “Who will you thank when you get to heaven?”  This is a great question which we all can spend some time contemplating.  However; I want you to consider it from a slightly different angle, “Who will thank you for telling/teaching them the gospel when we all get to Heaven?”   What a joyous day that will be!

In someone’s NEAR FUTURE.  Many in our culture are going through immense struggles.  Many are battling with depression, trials, or tribulations of various types and degrees.  There is also a large group of people that are struggling to find proper direction and purpose for their lives.  Jesus stated in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  I am strongly convinced there is no greater life to live than to live the life of a Christian.  To be able to have access to His forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love (just to name a few) is a joyous feeling.  It is also great to realize that God has given us everything that we need in order to be successful. ”His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3).  The gospel will make a difference in someone’s near future.

In someone’s FAMILY.  We don’t have to look very far to realize that many marriages are under attack.  To divorce rates are staggering.  The deep emotion scars which couples and often the children acquire are saddening.  God has given us a blueprint for successful marriages.  Where things often get complicated is when a spouse or both individuals go outside of God’s decrees.   In Ephesians 5:21-33 we find that selflessness and submission are two vital aspects to improve our marriages.  The gospel will make a difference in our family.

By enlarging the KINGDOM OF GOD.  There is nothing better than having a large family which loves and cares for each other in a genuine way.  I am thankful for those times in which my church family has aided in my spiritual growth and development as well as the emotional and spiritual support offered.

There is no greater task set before each and every one of us that to help carry out the Great Commission – God’s commission.  To go into all the world and make disciples; baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe everything that God commanded.  (Matthew 28:19-20)

Redemption is the main theme in Scripture from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation.  This one plan is God’s plan to bring mankind back into a covenant relationship with Him.  That message is a very important message that we are commanded to proclaim as ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20).

You and I can make a difference in the lives of those we meet and teach.  We can make a difference not only in this world, but in the world to come.  People need saving and Jesus has done His part by dying on the cross for mankind’s sin (John 3:16); but now it is our turn to love God and keep His command to go and tell others about Jesus.

On that particular Sunday, I thought I was the one who was going in to preach to that congregation about Jesus; but in return I was the one who was reminded that simply asking someone to come and meet Jesus would make an eternal difference in someone else’s life – and ultimately it has made a difference in mine!

Go make an IMPACT!

Don’t spend your precious time asking,
“Why isn’t the world a better place?”
It will only be time wasted.
The question to ask is “How can I make it better?”
To that there is an answer.” 
 - Leo F. Buscaglia

It was a familiar scene as a mother with her one year old son knelt down on the cemetery grass in front of a special headstone and said, “Momma this is Connor, Connor this is your Nana…”  “Momma I miss you…”  Only a few months prior had I found myself kneeling down in front of my dad’s grave and saying, “Dad this is Connor, Connor this is your Grandpa Langford.”  “Dad, you would love being around him…”  As I looked on at this scene of Susan and Connor from a distance, I too found myself fighting back the tears. 

Although it has been four years now, it seems like only yesterday that we were all standing beside the lifeless body of Sue Waldrum.  I clearly recall weeping bitterly not only for myself, her husband, children, and grandchildren but especially for my children.  You see my children were going to miss interacting with one of the nicest, most affectionate and selfless people I have ever known.  Sadly, my children will never get to know their Nana or Grandpa Langford but it doesn’t mean they will not know about them.

As the last few years have quickly rolled by, I find myself meditating on special events of times past at various times.  After all, all I have are the memories; the words, emotions, touches.  They embrace my heart and my mind more and more now that I have embarked on this voyage called fatherhood.  I realize more and more each day, that what we are left with after our loved ones have left this live is their legacy.

Sometimes I find it easier than others to realize that I am investing time and energy into the legacy that I will leave behind for my loved ones.  Personally, I find that it can be scary when I come to the realization that my decisions, responses, and character will (hopefully) one day be passed down to future generations.

Therefore, if we are all currently writing our legacy through our actions and behaviors; here are a few things we must consider.

1. Commit to growing in personal spiritual maturity.  John 15:4 – “Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”  It has been said that if we are not growing then we are dying therefore we must be a people who embrace the Bible.  We must come to realize its relevance for transformation and spiritual growth.   It is through consistent study of the Word that we are molded into the image of Christ. Ephesians 4:14-15 states, “…that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
    
2. Commit to growing in love for one another.  John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”  Proverbs 8:17 – “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.”  Lamentations 3:22 – “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end…”  Love is at the very heart and nature of our God.  As imitators of God we are to develop this attribute to bring glory and honor to our Redeemer and Friend.

    

3.  Commit to developing a godly family.  As fathers there is no greater task before us than teaching the laws and decrees of God to our children by impressing the very words of God upon our children’s hearts (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)  The responsibility lies at the feet of the fathers to bring them (our children) up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)  It is essential that we seize each and every opportunity we have to display Christ within our daily lives by loving, serving, submitting, honoring, and sharing Christ with others.

    

4. Commit to help reach the world with God’s plan of redemption.  Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.“  God wants to work through our families to help fulfill the Great Commission.  The Lord wants all men everywhere to come to the knowledge of Him (Col. 2:2; 1 Timothy 2:4) and to turn away from the allurement of evil by turning to Him (2 Peter 3:9). 
     
5. Commit to memory that building a legacy brings many benefits – Psalm 16:1 – “Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”  Here is a man who experienced every emotion that you and I have felt.  A man who committed some sinful actions and dealt with disasters within his life.  But as he looked back on his life, knew he had some great things to pass down to his children and spiritual children.  I believe that for David it was all about perspective.  We need to have the proper perspective in realizing that we don’t have to be perfect; because we are not.  But instead we need to display repentance and remorse when we sin and continually lean upon our Father for guidance and strength.

 There are two quotes I have always really enjoyed about living a legacy. 

“Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.” – Billy Graham

“I may be here for a short while, gone tomorrow into oblivion or until the days come to take me away. But, in whatever part you play, be remembered as part of a legacy…of sharing dreams and changing humanity for the better. It’s that legacy that never dies” – Unknown

I could tell there was something heavy weighing upon the heart of a young man whom I had recently met.  He approached me and said that although he had only met me a few days earlier that since I was a minister he needed to talk.  As I heard those words flow from his mouth, my mind quickly began to guess as to what he would say next.  He shared with me how he obeyed the gospel as a teenager.  He went on to say that he knows the purpose for his baptism which was for the remission of sins; to be added to the Lord’s church (by God Himself); and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  However; he said that he didn’t feel close to God and now realizes that he never has established his own faith.  He wanted to know what he should do.

As I think back over my twelve years of ministry, I can recall countless stories from young people just like this one.  Young people who have put on Christ in baptism but have no personal connection with Christ Himself.  But why is that the case?  What possibly could contribute to this problem?  As I reflect back I must admit that I have been programmed to ask the “seeker” a series of questions and if they answer them correctly then we go forth with the conversion.  But just as I have been programmed to ask the right question, too often the “seeker” has been programmed to share the correct answer without spending the needed time to meditate on how their lives must be different in order to establish a relationship with God.

Therefore I am compelled to change the approach that I have taken in times past.  Although we MUST continue to teach what the Holy Scriptures teach about the place, purpose and essentiality of baptism (Acts 2:38: 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-6; Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27); true repentance (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3) and confession (Romans 10:10; Philippians 2:11) I am compelled to spend more time teaching/training people on how to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The term ‘disciple” plainly means a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; or a follower.  As Christians we often think of any of the twelve disciples of Christ.  Even on a larger scope we read in Luke 10:1 of the seventy disciples which were sent out to teach.  This term disciple in a general sense applies to any follower of Christ.  The word disciple is not confined only to the realm of religion.  There were disciples of great men and women who taught any type of skill/trade or were of a school of thought.

In the book of Acts we see where the number of disciples of Christ is growing:

Acts 6:1 – “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing.”
Acts 6:7 – “the number of disciples multiplied in Jerusalem.”
Acts 9:1 – Saul was breathing out threats and murder against the disciples

By the time we get to Acts 11: 21 we see where a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  Finally when we read a little further and get to verse 26 where the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Biblically speaking the term “disciple” and the term “Christian” are used interchangeably.  But notice these groups of disciples were not called Christians merely because of their conversion, but also because of their belief, their conduct, and their life in Christ.

All around us we know of people who often refer to themselves as Christians.  The problem is we as a culture have watered down that term to mean almost anything but often not someone who is willing to die daily and live for Him.  Overtime we as a culture have taken God-given terms which were intended to be used interchangeably and have altered their meaning.  As a result we see a trend of “Christians” who never became a disciple of Christ through deeper conviction, growth, obedience, and spiritual development.  Simply put: A disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian may be a disciple.

So what are some defining marks of a disciple?  Let’s look at Acts 11:19-26.

Willing to preach to the world around them (19-21).  The text states that they were scattered because of persecution in their neighborhood for being followers of Christ.  They weren’t persecuted because they knew Jesus or met Jesus, but because they followed Jesus in life and example.  But the beauty in all this is as they were being chased from their homes, they kept on talking about Jesus.  Jesus had such an influence upon their lives that they wouldn’t stop talking about Him even though they were run out of town.  They learned how to live for God and talk about God while facing opposition, temptation, and even persecution.

Willing to live differently than the world around them. (22-23)  It is interesting to note that the news got all the way back to the church in Jerusalem about the lives changed in Antioch.  Impressively, Antioch happens to be some 300 miles north of Jerusalem; yet the word was out.  There was no Associated Press, CNN, or Dallas Morning News, just people’s lives changed so drastically that it spread by word of mouth.  People are not interested in what we have to say about God if our life is not any different than theirs.  We must live lives differently than the world around us.

Willing to train to be different than the world around them (24-26)  Discipleship can be defined as the process of being a lifelong learner and follower of Christ determining to go where He goes, do what He does, and say what He says.  The problem is we often are not good followers.  George Barna once stated, “Even though less than 1/5 of the population describes themselves as leaders, few people are willing to follow the vision, the plans, the methods, or the exhortations of leaders on a consistent basis.  Americans have not only become a diverse culture but an unruly one, unwilling to follow anyone but themselves.”  A man by the name of Kierkegaard once said, “To become an admirer of Jesus is much easier than be become a follower of Jesus.”

We must practice being good (Matthew 5:16); being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18); and being full of faith (1 Corinthians 2:5).

Paul challenged the Christians in Philippi to be different than the world around them by having the same attitude as Jesus Christ Himself (Philippians 2:1-18).  May we all strive to be better Christians and disciples so that others may see our good deeds and glorify our Father (Matthew 5:16).

This past weekend I had to privilege to travel to Searcy, Arkansas for Bison Daze; a recruiting weekend designed to bring in high school juniors and seniors so they can become more familiar with Harding Christian University.    It was a great weekend that everyone in our trip thoroughly enjoyed.  Due to certain circumstances I ended up staying in the dorm with one of our young men from our home congregation.  It was a great chance for me to get to spend some quality time with him and to meet his roommate. 

As I began to unload my things from the church van to take upstairs into the dorm; I noticed several boxes.  Different shapes, different sizes but each carefully wrapped.  These care packages were gifts from mom and dad sent to their children who were away from home.  As I began airing up my air mattress, I able to witness two young men quickly and eagerly open up each package.    There was lots of food, assorted clothing, and even a unicycle tire. 

I couldn’t help but think of all the gifts that I had received as a child from my parents; all the times they were able to send me items which made my life a little easier, a little better, a little more comfortable.  Isn’t it amazing how well our parents know what we need? 

James states in 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Scripture has so much to say about all the various ways that our Heavenly Father showers us with gifts and blessings.  But for time sake I want to focus upon perhaps the most well known passage; John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Let’s break this passage down to try and gain a deeper understanding of what God is revealing to us.

For God so loved the world…

The word “so” is a small but powerful word. It says that the limitless love of the most High God is lavished upon this lowdown world.  It says that the holy love of the Most Holy God is directed to the most unholy world. It says that the perfect love of the Pure and Righteous God is extended to an imperfect world. It says that the pardoning love of a Merciful God is given to a condemned world. It says that the reclaiming love of the God of reconciliation is given to a degenerating world. It says that the gracious love of the God of grace is directed to a world in disgrace. For God so love the world

That He gave…

Love is never content to simply exist. Love must act. Love is a word of action. Love proves it’s self by what it does. “Love that does not serve is seduction. Love that does not listen is a lie. Love that does not provide is a phony. Love that does not fulfill is a fake. Love that does not give is a gimmick.” (Borrowed) God so loved the world that He gave. That is action! He did not give because the world was worthy. He did not even give because the world was needed. He gave because He so loved! That is grace! In this act of love we get an example of divine giving. The single motivation for His giving is His love for us.  May we unite with the children as they proclaim, “O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, because He first loved me!”

His only begotten Son….

In this phrase we see the quality of the gift of God. God’s love for us not only motivated Him to give but He gave us the best that He had. He not only gave us the best but He gave the only Son that He had. There was none other like Him. He is one of a kind! God is giving us a divine example of the principle of sowing and reaping. God gave the one Son He had in order to gain many sons and daughters. Through the blood of one He now has many sons and daughters. However, in order to gain God had to give. If nothing in your life has ever touched you this ought to. I will give God my best simply because He gave me His best. We ought to understand that you can’t beat God’s giving. The more you give the more He gives to you. Just keep on giving and you find it’s really true.

That whosoever believes in Him….

In this phrase we see the object of God’s love gift. Whosoever are you and I! It’s the high and the low. It’s the rich and the poor. It’s the bad and good. It’s the happy and the sad. It’s the sick and the well. It’s the up and the down. It’s the black and the white. It’s the brown and the yellow. It’s the neat and the nasty. It’s the weak and the strong. It’s the wise and the foolish. It’s the short and the tall. It’s the thin and the fat. Whosoever! No matter where you have been God’s love gift is for you. It does not matter what you’ve done God’s love gift is for you! God’s love gift is sufficient for all, but efficient only for those who believe! Everything I am saying is true, but the power of this Gospel is for those who believe it and obey it. If you don’t believe and obey; you will go to hell, not because God did not do His part but simply because you would not receive His love gift.

Shall not perish but have everlasting life.

This phrase tells of the benefit that belongs to whosoever believes. Jesus says that if we believe (the gospel) we shall not perish! Shall is the perfect future tense that means that not perishing is the absolute results of believing. If you believe you will not perish!  Jesus says that the believer who receives the love gift shall not perish. You may grow old and feeble but you will not perish. Your body may become cripple but you will not perish. Cancer may be eating away inside your body but you will not perish. If there was no other benefit it would be worth it all just to know that no matter what I will not perish. That is not all! Jesus says, “We who receive the love gift will have everlasting life.” If we believe we will not die but live with Him in eternity! He will move us from mortal to immortal, from the part to the whole, from earth to the mansion in glory. He will move us to the land of no more; no more sickness, no more crying, no more dying, no more pain, no more sorrow. He will move us to a city whose builder and maker is God. To a land where the wicked will cease from troubling and the weary will be at rest. Where all of the Saints of the ages will set at His feet and be blessed!

For those two young college guys; the gift they received from home was great.  However; compared to the gifts which are made possible by God, they fail to compare.  May we all take the time to thank God for all He has done and will continue to do to us; through us; and for us!