Ending With A High Note

 ENDING WITH A HIGH NOTE

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” - 2 Timothy 4:6-7

I love good Southern Gospel Music, don't you? I love strong lyrics, close harmony, great accompaniment and talented singers. Music production is better than it has ever been. Great songs are being written and recorded. I must confess that I still love to hear convention songs. Whether new or old, convention songs are near and dear to my heart. I love to hear a good quartet sing a convention song!

Back in the late 1970's and early 1980's, the Kingsmen Quartet had a tenor named Ernie Phillips. Ernie was originally from Cool Ridge, WV, which is about 15 minutes away from the office where I work. Ernie was referred to as “the little giant.” What a tenor he was! Wow! He could really sing! Often Ernie would end a song with a high note.

I want to end every day on a high note. Sometimes the start of my day is rather difficult. I am not a morning person. It is unbelievably challenging for me to get focused when I get up each morning. I tend to do better by mid-morning. Yet I expect my day to get better as the hours pass. I tend to get more focused and productive. By the time I go to bed in the evening, I want the day to end well. I want to look back and be satisfied that it has been a day that was well-lived. I want to end each day on a high note.

I also want to end the year on a high note. As we approach the end of 2023, it would be great to finish strong. Perhaps 2023 was a tough year for you. Maybe you experienced great loss and personal pain in the past year. Yet, by God's grace, the ending of this year can be a high point for you. Perhaps this year has been marked by personal failure. Yet the final days could a rallying point. It could be that a year of defeat will finish with the greatest of victories.

Even if 2023 was a great year for you, it may be that these final days and hours could be the pinnacle of it all. Sometimes the greatest joys await at the end of the year and punctuate the holidays with deeper joy. If 2023 was a great year, we don't want it to end on a sour note, do we?

We tend to focus on the new year with excitement and optimism. We think that January first is the best time to start a diet, work out at the gym or begin reading through the Bible. While there is nothing wrong with that approach, what is keeping us from doing those things today? One way to end the year on a high note is to do the things today that you should be doing. We tend to overestimate the first day of the year and underestimate today.

I want to finish the year on a high note. But also, I want to finish my life on a high note. I don't know how close I am to the finish line. It may be that I am living in my final days. You may be, too. Wouldn't it be great to cross the finish line with excitement and enthusiasm? Don't you want to finish strong? Don't you want to finish well?

Paul wrote about his finish: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Notice three things that Paul mentions about his own life.

A GOOD FIGHT

First of all, Paul said, “I have fought a good fight.” Like a warrior at the end of the battle, Paul was ending his assignment victoriously. That should be our goal, too.

A GREAT FAITH

Also, Paul lived with a great faith. He lived his life for the glory of God. As he approached the end, he said, “I have kept the faith.” He was faithful to the Lord and stood boldly for Christ till the end.

A GLORIOUS FINISH

Finally, there was a glorious finish. Paul wrote, “I have finished my course.” He was nearing the finish line. Rather than giving out or giving up, Paul wanted to cross the finish line with zeal.

I want to finish this day, this year and my life on a high note. That means that I need to fight a good fight, experience a great faith and enjoy a glorious finish every day. One day it will be my last day.  Like Paul, I want to cross the finish line victoriously.

I want to end on a high note, what about you?

Little Is Much When God Is In It

LITTLE IS MUCH WHEN GOD IS IN IT

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” - Micah 5:2

In his younger years, my father collected convention songbooks and sheet music. He kept these items his entire life. When I was in the seventh grade, he taught our family to sight-read shape note music. Among the songs we learned was a song from 1963 entitled, “Little Is Much When God Is In It.” The sheet music was published by Ben Speer Music. The world-famous Speer family had recorded the song. Since then, the song has become a standard.

When I first sang the tune, I thought it was just an average song. However, over time I found the song to be rather profound and relevant. In fact, I often think about that song when I look at my meager efforts in serving God. The song reminds me that it isn't the magnitude of my efforts that make the difference, but the mighty God who uses them.

Throughout the Scripture, we find our powerful God doing mighty things through small, weak people. The Lord took a fugitive and send him back to Egypt to lead an unprecedented exodus. He used timid Gideon to achieve a great victory over the Midianites. God used a small shepherd boy to slay a giant. Little is much when God is in it.

God specializes in using small things to accomplish great tasks. The Lord used the wooden staff of Moses to reveal His greatness to Pharaoh. God used the small jar of oil to provide for a desperate widow. With just five loaves and two fishes, our Lord miraculously fed thousands. He took clay, just plain dirt, and anointed a man's eyes and soon the man would see. Little is much when God is in it.

Our world scorns the little things. Instead, the emphasis is placed on bigness. We praise those with big bank accounts. We admire men who have great power. We tend to respect people with great talent. Even in Christianity, mega-churches and large ministries are the focus of attention. Christian talk shows would rather interview a best-selling Christian author than a small church pastor any day. We celebrate those who achieve numerical success.

Isn't this the antithesis of our Lord's ministry? During this Christmas season we are reminded of the prophecy, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” The Messiah did not come as an adult, but as a small child. Jesus came to a small town, not the big city. He was not born at a Holiday Inn, but in a lowly stable. He was not clothed with rich apparel, but was wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Our Lord came as a servant. Jesus said, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Paul put it this way, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

It was in His humility that Jesus provided redemption for us. He died as a convicted felon, executed on a Roman cross. Isaiah prophesied that He would be rejected by men … and so He was. The One who once had huge crowds following Him, died all alone. The names of executed felons tend to die with them. Not with Jesus. This humble carpenter was more than just a good teacher. He is the Son of God. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

1 Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” God still does great things through small people. The world applauds the rich, beautiful and talented. God looks at the heart. He doesn't need us, but we desperately need Him. He takes pleasure in using small, obscure people like us to make His Name known.

Let me encourage you to surrender everything to the Lord. When the Lord receives a surrendered life, He tends to do profound things with it.

Little is much when God is in it.

Labels

LABELS

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” - Ephesians 4:29

We are living in troubled times. Tensions are running high. Many are easily offended. Disagreements sometimes boil over into violence. Our nation is being torn apart by anger and frustration.

I wish to highlight one major problem that seems to stir up immediate hostility. Most Americans, especially the news media and talk show hosts, are guilty. Here's the problem: we tend to label others. It is easy to use labels in describing others.

Here are some popular (and inaccurate) labels that ungodly celebrities use to describe Christians today:

Homophobic

Islamophobic

Bigot

Intolerant

Hypocrite

Extreme

Radical

It is easy for people to use these labels and they feel justified in using them. They never consider that their words actually stir controversy and contribute to the growing anger that is sweeping our land.

As Christians, we need to resist the temptation to play the name game. Although unbelievers often use derogatory and inaccurate labels in describing us, it does not give us the right to use insulting labels as a means of getting revenge. God has called us to a higher standard than that.

What I want to address is the use of labels in the Church. As Christians, we love labels. We enjoy labels of denominational and doctrinal choice. We love to label ourselves. But we also love to label others. Here are some common “Christian” labels of our day:

Dispensational

Charismatic

Calvinist

Premillennial

Evangelical

Fundamentalist

There are many similar labels out there. We may enjoy describing ourselves with one or more of these labels. We may be revolted by others. Here's the problem. None of these labels are technically in the Bible. Many of these labels indicate a doctrinal belief, but the label itself is not in the Bible. Furthermore, these labels can mean different things to different people.

We would be better off just using the labels that the Bible uses. When the Lord called Simon, he gave him the nickname, Peter, which means little stone. Simon accepted that label and used it the rest of his life. In his two epistles, he referred to himself as Peter. The nickname given to him by the Lord was cherished by Simon. Wouldn't you feel happy to have a special name lovingly given to you by the Lord?

As followers of Jesus, the Bible has attached some great labels to us. Labels like,

Beloved

Saints

Children of God

Saved

Disciples

Brethren

You may enjoy the doctrinal labels I mentioned before, but I'd rather use the labels God has given to me.

Yes, the world will continue to use insulting labels to criticize, ridicule and shame us. Those who preach the loudest against hate tend to use hate-filled words and create unnecessary drama. They can play in the mud all they want to. Personally, I'd rather stay clean and walk with God.

I admit that I am unworthy to wear the labels that God uses to describe me. But He is the One who chose to use them. His labels are given out of great affection and love. That's all I care about.

It doesn't really matter what others say about me.

Priorities

 PRIORITIES

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” - Matthew 6:33

Leadership guru, John Maxwell, once said, “The secret of your success is found in your daily agenda.” He claims that he can tell much about your life by looking at your daily planner. Whether you actually keep a daily planner or not, there is truth to what he says. Everyday, we emphasize some tasks above others based upon our values and desires. Whether you have them written down or not, you live by certain priorities. These priorities motivate you to emphasize some projects or chores over others.

As you look back on the previous day, you should be able to determine what your priorities have been. The big question is this: Are your priorities what they should be?

Sadly, I think most American Christians have the wrong priorities. Obviously, we are expected to work and support our families. The Bible teaches us this. Apart from your work, what are your priorities?

I find that many guys can't wait to go hunting or fishing. In fact, some would live outdoors if they had no other responsibilities. Some ladies would spend all day shopping if their finances would allow for it. Others would rather sit in a rocking chair and rock their lives away.

But what about God? Does your daily agenda reflect His importance in your life? Do you read your Bible daily? Do you pray every day? Are you faithfully attending your local church every time the doors are open? How valuable is the Lord to you?

I fear that Jesus is just a supplementary addition to the lives of many church members. To them, Jesus is just an emergency roadside kit, there for unexpected emergencies. If you asked them about their faith, they would say that Jesus is very important to them. Yet their lives betray this claim.

Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” This should be out top priority, not a secondary consideration.

Most church members would argue that they don't want to take their faith to an extreme. Christianity, they say, has its place. But what value does Christianity have if it is only a minor issue in the life of a believer? It is one thing to claim Jesus as your Lord, but it is another thing to live your life in submission to His Lordship.

As I read the book of Acts, I don't find the early church putting their faith in such a minor category. They treated the commandments of God with great importance. Obedience was not optional. They lived in a hostile world. They suffered for their faith. Yet they were very fervent in their faith. In spite of persecution, they spread the Gospel. Believers risked their lives for the sake of the Gospel. Today, a few drops of rain keeps many from attending church.

Have you ever read the Foxe's Book of Martyrs? If so, you'll know that there is a huge difference between Christianity of that day and what we are seeing today. Jesus was their number one priority. It showed by the lives they lived.

How do I know our priorities are warped here in America? Thousands will go to a ballgame on Saturday, but only a fraction of them will be in church the next day. People will spend hundreds of dollars, reserve seats in advance and drive hundreds of miles to see a concert, but will not drive a half mile to worship God and sing to Him. Many will go to an arena and listen to a one-hour speech from a politician and cheer, but complain if the preacher's sermon goes much beyond noon. A large crowd will cheer loudly as they sit and freeze in a snowy NFL stadium on Sunday afternoon when they could have sat in a warm sanctuary and worshiped the Lord of Lords.

It is time we get our priorities correct. Your hobbies and interests are not wrong, but earning a living is more important. Your career is significant, but not as important as your family. Your family is precious, but not more important than your relationship with Jesus.

Our walk needs to match our talk. While it is good to say that Jesus is your Lord, it is even more important for this to be a reality, reflected through daily living. 

He is the One who left heaven on our account. Doing His Father's will was His priority. He made our salvation a priority. He bled and died in misery so that we could be saved. He did all that for us. We are ungrateful and misguided to give Him any less than our best. We should submit to His Lordship and live in loving obedience to Him.

Is that too much for Him to expect from us?

Unconvinced

 

UNCOVINCED

“How long halt ye between two opinions?” - 1 Kings 18:21

Have you ever noticed that every survey has a percentage of people who are undecided? Whether it is a survey about an upcoming election, the economy or favorite sodas, there is always a group of people who don't have an opinion on the subject.

While there are many who are outspoken (even belligerent) about their views, I wonder about those who are undecided. Are they afraid to speak up? Are they just apathetic about a particular subject? Or are they really uncertain what they believe?

Even in the church, there are people who are undecided. If they are challenged to make a decision, they conveniently remain neutral. Elijah confronted the people on Mount Carmel with these words, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” They could choose to stand for God or stand with Baal. Instead, the people refused to stand for anything.

That is what concerns me about our day. Many are standing for wrong things, a few are standing for good things, but there is still a large percentage of people who remain undecided.

Even in the church, I am concerned that far too many people are unconvinced. Why do we have few people truly committed to the church and the things of God? Why are so many professing Christians simply blending in with the lost culture around them? Why isn't the church making a positive impact in our society? I fear that many in the church are not truly convinced themselves.

In a survey of evangelical believers by Ligonier Ministries in 2020, 30% believe that Jesus was a good teacher, but not God. 46% believed that the Holy Spirit is a force and not a personal being. Furthermore, 22% believed that gender identity is a matter of choice and 11% believe that the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality doesn't apply today. 39% believed that “worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.” These numbers indicate that many in church are not convinced that what the Bible teaches is true today. Let's go deeper and get personal.

If you have family members who are unsaved, do you REALLY believe they will go to hell if they die unconverted? Many tend to make exceptions to their beliefs when it comes to people they know and care about. This pinpoints what I am saying. Most people are not truly convinced.

If church members were truly convinced that Jesus is the Son of God, they would treat worship seriously. If they knew that unconverted loved ones are truly hell-bound, this would intensify their prayers. If they truly believed in the reality of hell, they would recognize that every person they meet is either heaven-bound or hell-bound, and it would change everything. Just think how different our communities would be if professing Christians were truly convinced about Biblical truth. Instead, unconvinced people view convinced Christians as being extreme or radical.

Why were first century believers eager to spread the Gospel, even though it could cost them their lives? Why were they willing to endure pain and persecution? Here's the answer. They loved Jesus more than they loved their own lives. They were convinced that He is the only way. They were convinced that the Gospel message is true and needed to be shared. They were truly convinced.

What about you? Are you truly convinced? If so, let me challenge you to:

SHOW UP

Show up regularly at church. Show up daily in your prayer closet. Show up at the ballot box and vote according to Biblical principles. As a good soldier of Jesus Christ, show up for duty every day.

STAND UP

Stand up for Jesus Christ. Be an unapologetic, unashamed follower of Christ. Be humble, yet bold. Be caring, yet uncompromising. Stand up for the Gospel. Stand up in support of other believers. Stand up for the truth.

SPEAK UP

Finally, be a verbal witness for Jesus Christ. Speak the truth in love. Let others know where you stand concerning the Lord. Speak up on behalf of those who can't speak for themselves. Speak up on behalf of your persecuted brethren. Speak up on behalf of the unborn. Speak up on behalf of Christian values.

If we are truly convinced, we should show up, stand up and speak up. That's the kind of response God expects from those who are truly convinced.

Are you convinced?