What Are You Looking At?

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen? Was it a beautiful landscape? A sweet picture? An attractive person? A Chinese acrobatics show?

Our visual sensory system is keen....It can distinguish 500 shades of gray! As incredible as this physical feature is, though, it has much less power over us than the eyes of our minds. As you all know, it’s easy to close our eyes, but when it comes to closing our mind’s eye, that can be much more difficult.

I’m coming to realize the difference that is made when I fix my spiritual eyes on various things. In different seasons of life, we may feel more pressure, hardship, difficulties or challenges. It is in these moments that we have opportunity to determine where we’ll fix our gaze.

Recently, I was challenged by Hebrews 6:-- that talks about the example of others. It says, “we want you to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” There are a lot of people that we can imitate. There are dozens of awesome characters in the Bible that are well-worth a second look. Not only that, but most of us are surrounded by people who exhibit an incredible amount of both faith and patience.

At times when I’m feeling particularly tired or worn out, I think of these people and the constant battles they’re facing. I think, “Wow, if they can do that… How am I tired?” Their faith and their patience inspire me greatly.

However, it seems like this is never enough to encourage me when I’m at a difficult point or season. Instead, I have to look in a different direction…

Hebrews 12:2-3

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

When you’re feeling pressured, first look to the cross. After that, look to the cross. And when all else fails, look to the cross. It’s the only place you’re be able to fix your eyes on the one who endured far more opposition and pressure than you are experiencing. He’s the prime example of faith and patience.

P.S. If you can, please comment so I know you've read!

To the Ungrateful and Wicked...

Hypothetically speaking...

Imagine with me that I’m the leader of a ministry that feeds, houses and serves street kids of all ages. Most are under 18, but there are a few who are on the older spectrum. I work with a staff of four and about 12 volunteers. This is a letter to all staff and volunteers describing the heart behind our ministry.

Dear partners in service,

First, thank you, thank you, thank you for your service. Without you, none of this would be happening. It’s so awesome to see little lives being changed and these kids being fed, clothed and housed. What amazing things we’ve seen God do!

However, I’m coming to a realization of what our motivation for ministry must be. See, it’s easy to say “my motivation is God,” but we don’t always act that way. I’m going to tell you about two experiences I had back in the States then try to tie it all together with some incredible things that Jesus said.

I think back to my days in High School and college volunteering at our local Salvation Army. This was really the first experience I had ever had working with people who had less than I did. I’d spent many hours serving at church, but the Salvation Army soup kitchen was a very different environment! I enjoyed it so much. I loved dishing up food, smiling at people, and working hard in the kitchen. I volunteered with some interesting people, too. I’m not sure why they were there. To put it bluntly, they were negative complainers. They were constantly complaining about how people took too many cans of free soda, threw away food, and didn’t say thank you. Of course, all of those things bothered me to some extent, but it didn’t seem like a big deal. I never said anything about it, I just quietly processed it in my mind.

Another experience I want to share with you happened when I was leading a group of 8 students on an inner-city trip. We were working with an Urban Missionary family. On the way home from an outreach, James, the man we were working with, saw a homeless beggar. He asked if anyone had a dollar and a tract. Nobody had one available in time, but as we drove on someone asked, “You give them cash? Aren’t you worried about how they’ll spend it?” James replied simply, saying, “Yes, I do give them money if I have it. But think about it, how many times do we misuse God’s gifts to us, brother?”

I never would have seen the correlation between these two experiences until I heard a message on generosity. During my time in the Internship at Life Church, we listened to three sermons from various preachers each week. Many of these messages impacted me, but maybe none more than this 30-minute discussion of generosity. I want it to be the basis of our ministry here.

First, I want you to think about the difference between why Christians give and why the world gives. Christmastime is a prime example. Many people are looking for charity, and many people are willing to give, Christ-followers along with self-centered pagans.

Have you ever been serving here or somewhere else and gotten frustrated because of lack of change? What about lack of gratitude? Sometimes, I know, it feels like what we’re doing isn’t making a difference. We try to think about their future and positively effecting them, but they don’t even seem to care about their future. Most of these kids don’t know what it means to say “thank you” without being told. If this drains you of your compassion, consider what Jesus said...

In Luke 6, Jesus shares some words of encouragement. Verse 30 says we’re to “Give to everyone who asks you.” That’s a powerful command! How many times would I be driving by the homeless guy on the corner and think, “I can’t give... he’ll misuse it.”

When we serve and see result or give and see the profit, we’re inspired. We get a good feeling. Sometimes it’s easy to let that good feeling motivate our continued giving. This is altruism at its best: be selfless, because in the end it benefits you. We focus on the end result. If the results don’t show up, we let that guide our response – give or stop giving.

Jesus continues in verse 33, saying, “If you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.” We feel “credited” when we get the good feeling of helping someone out. At the same time, we expect to be somehow repaid by gratitude or good results.

Instead of thinking about our credit right now, I want us to focus on two things. First, be motivated by what God did for us. Verse 35 says “Your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” We are most like God when we’re kind and generous ... not toward the ones who give us gratitude or a good feeling, but towards the ungrateful (the ones who don’t say “thanks”) and the wicked (the ones who may potentially misuse the gift or service). Are you like God, who gave so generously to us, the ones who don’t thank Him and misuse His gifts?

The second motivation is the motivation of Jesus. Why did Jesus give His all for those who were ungrateful and wicked? Bottom line, He desired to please the Father. He doesn’t look at us and say, “I’m not giving you my grace, because you’ll misuse it.” He’s looking at us and saying, “Be merciful, because my Father is merciful” (verse 36).

What does this mean for you and I? As we’re a part of this ministry together, I don’t want us to ever stop giving because they don’t say “thanks” or because they misuse or abuse the system. Instead, I want us to focus on the fact that the more we give to these people, the more we become like God and the more we please the Father. Isn’t it worth saying, “I’m giving this in Jesus’ name, with no expectations of return”?

Ask yourself today: What motivates you to give and serve? What keeps your compassion strong? What would you say if you never again saw results?

When you’re feeling tired and feeling demotivated, remember Hebrews 12:2-3: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”