the basic message #E287
8/26/04
How are you doing in your job these days? What about family relationships and friendships- how's that going? Most importantly, how are you doing in your relationship with God? Are you able to say, "I'm doing my best"? I frequently hear friends or coworkers proclaiming "I'm doing my best". Are we?
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not
need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
We can talk incessantly about doing our best, but the reality is that we seldom really, truly do our best. I used to be a competitive runner and duathlete, and I was obsessed with getting faster and stronger. I trained at every opportunity possible, and if I didn't get my workout every day, I would be extremely grumpy. I remember a winter training run with temperatures in the 30's and a light drizzle coming down. As I made my way past a lady getting in her car, I heard her say, "that's dedication". At that point in time, could I say that I was doing my best? No, I couldn't. I could say I was trying hard and I could say I was training regularly, but I wasn't doing my best. You see, if I really wanted to, I could squeeze out another 5 or 10 minutes of training each day, or I could have eaten a little healthier diet, but I had my limits as to what I would and wouldn't do. Our Christian walk is much the same- we frequently say we're doing our best, but in reality we're putting out a pretty weak effort. In observing Christians (including myself), I would say that if most of us were really doing our best in observing the teachings of Christ, we would be without friends, family or jobs. Why? Because a true Christian walk will always alienate ourselves from others in a very pronounced way. Some of you might be saying, "Heck, John, I'm a Christian and my life is just like everyone else's. That statement might be a good indication that the life you're living is far from being your best.
Webster's says that the noun "best" means, among other things, "One's maximum effort". What are some examples of people giving their maximum effort? One that comes to mind very quickly is Jesus going to the cross voluntarily. I can't think of anything he could have done any better when he faced the scourgings and abuse, and then the ultimate physical and mental abuse, crucifixion. Whenever I feel like I'm doing all I can to follow Jesus Christ, I think about what he did for me, and then I must concede that very seldom do I give God my best. I think it's important to note that Jesus, in his love for us, doesn't expect us to go to a literal cross, but he certainly expects more from us than we routinely provide. Like what? How about loving our enemies? Do we give our best in this endeavor? On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being our best effort, how well does the American Christian try to love the Iraqi soldiers who fight against us? I would seriously doubt that we even pull a strong "1" on that scale. What did Jesus say?
Matthew 5:43-46
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?"
We seem to be a people who have trouble loving those who love us, so what chance does our enemy have of receiving our love? Loving our enemies requires strength in many areas, but most of all it requires faith. Millions of Christians profess faith in Jesus Christ, but when it comes to dealing with enemies, the bulk of Christians obviously think Jesus' teachings are outdated or aren't for the times and situations America finds itself in today. Nothing could be farther from the truth. If there was ever a time that America should put down its weapons and try to live at peace with the world, it's now. "But John, they attacked the World Trade Center." Yes, they did, and we have destroyed much more in Iraq and Afghanistan than that, but what did that solve? "But John, we need to preserve our way of life." Just what is "our way of life" that we're so interested in preserving? If Jesus Christ came to America today, how would you explain what "our way of life" is? If you were successful in describing it, how would Jesus feel about it? We are a nation that puts democracy ahead of our Christian beliefs, and that misorder will someday come back to haunt us. In fact, I think that day may be here now.