postponement problems
June 24, 2009
READ: Romans 12:4-13
We have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function. —Romans 12:4
Many of us struggle with them—postponement problems. A professor at the University of Calgary in Alberta studied the problem of procrastination for 5 years and reported that 95 percent of us put off doing one thing or another. One estimate showed that Americans lose approximately $400 million a year by putting off filing taxes! Because of fear of failure or other insecurities, we wait and wait before starting a project or making a decision.
Procrastination is a problem in the church too. Many of us postpone serving God. We know we should reach out to others, but we feel insecure or worried about what to do. Because we’re unsure of our gifts or interests, we put off our involvement in the church. We worry, What if I do a poor job? What if I find out I can’t even do it?
Romans 12 gives us some encouragement. Serving starts with presenting ourselves to God as “a living sacrifice” (v.1). Pray and give yourself anew to the Lord and His work. Then look around at what others are doing in your church and ask if you can join in. Start small if you need to, and try a number of things.
Your church needs you. Ask God to help you overcome your postponement problems.
— Anne Cetas
For a healthier church, exercise your spiritual gifts.
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Are you struggling in your beliefs? Look up at the stars tonight. In the sky is crafter an amazing road sign pointing to the Designer behind the design. —Dennis Fisher, Our Daily Bread
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By Isaac Tan, Singapore
Imagine.
The lights dim; high-powered colored lights flash; the crowd cheers; the spotlight is on you. The world’s a stage and you want to be the only actor in full view. The blinding spotlight shuts off God but you go about basking in the limelight of being the center of everyone’s attention. Ever experienced that before? I have.
I’ve been a part of a band made up of like-minded Christians who frequently share the gospel through evangelistic concerts. You would expect that being in a Christian band would enable everyone to perform with the right motives. But, sometimes, that isn’t the case.
The allure of the stage is something unexplainable, only experiential. Having people clap after each song, coming up to you after a program and telling you how well you’ve done is a great feeling. Soon enough, the spotlight is what many performers crave after.
It beckons the question: Do we yearn to have the light of the world upon us or to be the light of the world?
The disciples in Jesus’ time were not spared from desiring to be in position of glory. In Mark 10:35 -44 we read of the account of James and John asking to sit in the places of honor.
Their request was one that was over the top when they requested to be given seats at the right and left of Jesus in heaven. This was not an ordinary request. It was one that would have elevated James and John above all the other apostles.
Jesus said that it was not His decision to grant such a favor. He then taught the disciples that biblical greatness is different from the world’s understanding. Those great in the world exercise their authority over people. However, a Christian who wants to be great is to be a slave. Even the Son of Man came to serve and not to be served.
This truth shocked me. We find the same truth in Philippians too.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2: 5 – 7 (ESV)
The King of kings came to be a servant. It was way beyond comprehensive logic that a King would do such a thing. But this was the love that God had for His people. Jesus served to the point of death.
When we reflect upon this truth, we can’t help but be amazed at what Jesus was willing to do for us. His Servanthood is indeed something that we are to emulate. This issue of hoarding the limelight is sinful because we are meant to give all glory unto God. His glorification is our priority.
Now, imagine.
The world walks by without noticing you. People sneer at your Christian “antics” and persecute you. But God watches every step you take, providing encouragement through His Word. He causes His face to shine upon you and peace that surpassed all understanding to fill you. God is awaiting to commend you, “Good and faithful servant, in whom I am well pleased.”
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Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there (v.24).
READ: Galatians 5:16-24
Fine. I’ll take care of it myself.” With a clipped tone, I ended the conversation and snapped my cell phone shut. Realizing I had done the very thing I had not wanted to do, my frustration increased. Not 30 minutes earlier, I had shared with a friend how God was teaching me to trust my husband’s heart rather than reacting. But here I was again. Would I ever learn?
Scripture tells us that as long as we are alive on this earth, two desires will battle inside us (Galatians 5:17). Through His death on the cross, Jesus destroyed sin’s power over us. But our struggle with sin doesn’t end when we receive salvation (Romans 7:18). Jesus made it clear to His disciples that obedience and surrender are daily decisions (Luke 9:23).
Trying to convince us that we’re going nowhere fast, the enemy tells us we’ll never be free. See, he’ll whisper, nothing has changed. God’s power isn’t real in your life. Ashamed and angry at ourselves for doing things we shouldn’t, we wonder if his lies are true.
We can’t overcome our sin nature on our own. Salvation comes only by grace (Ephesians 2:8). However, when I choose His grace, my life no longer belongs to me. Galatians 2:20 says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” I gain the ability to overcome temptation when—by grace—I yield my flesh to Christ and He lives through me (Romans 6:6-8).
God’s Word promises freedom. But we can’t walk where we haven’t chosen to go. We will either feed or crucify our flesh. A spiritually dead person has chosen to reject the freedom and life found in Jesus. —Regina Franklin
In what ways are you feeding your flesh? How will you “crucify” it and choose to follow Jesus instead?
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