In the New Testament, one cannot miss the pattern that the immediate work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a new follower was to bring him/her together into deep fellowship with other followers of Christ. Acts 2:41-47 represents a classic passage on the account of the fledgling church in Jerusalem:

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

What an amazing example of God’s ideal for a community of Christ-followers! Their lives were totally entwined with each other as they actively and intentionally pursued Jesus Christ. And lest someone argue that this was their experience, but not necessarily God’s design for the church, check out the one-another passages in the New Testament. These passages underscore God’s desire for us to establish and grow in our relationships with each other as Christ-followers:

• Be devoted to one another in brotherly love –Romans 12:10
• Honor one another above yourselves—Romans 12:10
• Live in harmony with one another— Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8
• Love one another— Romans 13:8; 1 Peter 1:22
• Stop passing judgment on one another— Romans 14:13
• Accept one another— Romans 15:7
• Greet one another warmly— Romans 16:16
• Agree with one another—1 Corinthians 1:10
• Serve one another—Galatians 5:13
• Be patient, bearing with one another in love— Ephesians 4:2
• Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other—Ephesians 4:32
• Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ—Ephesians 5:21
• Bear with each other and forgive one another—Colossians 3:13
• Teach and admonish one another—Colossians 3:16
• Encourage one another—1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Spur one another on toward love and good deeds—Hebrews 10:24
• Do not slander one another— James 4:11
• Offer hospitality to one another—1 Peter 4:9
• Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another—1 Peter 5:5

Obviously we cannot obey our heavenly Father in these noble ways apart from direct, consistent interaction with each other. There is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian. Clearly, we cannot practice these one-another commands by ourselves! Once again, if we have errantly abandoned the community of Christ-followers (our church) then it must be a case of mistaken identity—we’d forgotten who we are.

©2010 Rob Fischer

Do not read Zacharias’ book unless you’re a thinker! In The End of Reason Ravi Zacharias masterfully challenges what he calls the New Atheism. This brand of atheism prefers malicious mockery and caustic, prejudiced ranting over logical thinking. Zacharias argues head to head with Sam Harris referring to Harris’ recently published book, Letter to a Christian Nation, and neatly dismantles the house of straw that Harris so audaciously erected.

Although this New Atheism touts tolerance as its chief virtue, Zacharias comments, “I have always found it fascinating how relativists who say they love the idea of tolerance ultimately reveal themselves to be among the most bigoted.” (Zacharias, p. 14)

A strong element of Zacharias’ short but powerful treatise calls us back to the disciplines of sound logic and applying that logic across all arguments. Failure to apply logic can represent either sloppy thinking or intentional deception. For example, Zacharias warns, “If you know enough about a subject, you can confuse anybody by a selective use of the facts.” (Zacharias, p. 38)

Through cogent reasoning, Zacharias also exposes the inevitable conclusions to which this New Atheism leads. New Atheism logically results in a life void of meaning and without morality.

 I highly recommend Zacharias’ book, The End of Reason! Ravi Zacharias, The End of Reason (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008).

©2010 Rob Fischer

Was Jesus ever taken advantage of?

This may seem like an odd question, but it’s one I’m wrestling with in a very personal and practical way. You see, I just learned that I’ve been taken advantage of by someone. This person had been posing as someone with a chronic illness and in dire financial need. I and others rose to their alleged need by paying some of their bills, serving them and praying for them. This has gone on for a couple years. Now that their deceit has been exposed I feel violated, foolish and a tremendous sense of grief for them.

What should I have done differently? Did anything like this ever happen to Jesus? If so, how did he respond? How does he want me to respond? How do I guard myself in the future—or, should I?

These questions take me to Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6:27-31: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Jesus’ words really get under our skin because they demand living in a way that is far too vulnerable for comfort! If we live like that aren’t we opening the door for being taken advantage of? And yet he calls us to this lifestyle precisely because it demonstrates God’s character.

We can consider the question, “Was Jesus ever taken advantage of?” in two ways. First, because Jesus is God and therefore all-knowing and all-wise, we conclude that Jesus was never taken advantage of in the sense that he was fooled or that someone tricked him. John 2:24 bears this out when it explains, “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.” Jesus was fully aware of the motivations of their hearts.

There’s a second way we can think about the question whether Jesus was ever taken advantage of. This viewpoint does not result from foolishness, naivety or lack of knowledge, but due to his virtuous character.

For example, in John 5, Jesus healed a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. One Sabbath day, Jesus told this man to get up, pick up the mat he was lying on and walk. The Jewish religious leaders reprimanded the man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath. In response the healed man replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ So they asked him, ‘Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?’ The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.”

Later on, Jesus found this guy in the temple and warned him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” At this, the man went back to the Jews and informed them that it was Jesus who had made him well. And as a result, the Jews persecuted Jesus for doing these things on the Sabbath. (John 5:1-16)

How could this guy turn against Jesus like this right after Jesus healed him? And, why did Jesus allow himself to be taken advantage of like this? Then something occurred to me. Every time one of us, who has experienced Jesus’ forgiveness for sin, rebels against him and willfully sins again—are we not taking advantage of our Lord’s grace and goodness? We are taking advantage of him, to be sure. And yet he humbly endures it when we defraud him and he remains gracious and ready to forgive when we return to him! 1 John 1:9 explains, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus asks us to endure the same treatment from others. In 1 Corinthians 6:7 he says, “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?” Enduring this mistreatment from others allows us the opportunity to “participate in the sufferings of Christ.” (1 Peter 4:12-13.)

If we are living and becoming more like Jesus, it should not surprise us when we are taken advantage of like he is. May we also learn to bear it humbly like he does!

©2010 Rob Fischer

The term Christian has come to mean everything and nothing in our day. The Barna Group reports that four out of ten Americans claim to be born-again Christians. Can that be so? What does that mean? Wouldn’t it follow that if forty percent of the population were following Jesus Christ our nation would be radically impacted for the better?

There is a serious gap between the terms Christian and follower of Christ in our day!

Jesus’ challenge both then and now is “Follow me!” The questions we need to be asking each other are, “Are you following Jesus? Is he your Leader? Do others see Jesus in you?” Because following Jesus is life changing! We cannot draw near to God and remain unchanged. How is he changing you? In what ways are you becoming more like him? What’s an area in your life that he wants to change?

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3 NLT

© 2010 Rob Fischer

1. Always read God’s Word expecting to meet with him. Approach God’s Word relationally. Listen for his voice. What is he saying to you personally? What do you see from his Word that reveals God’s character and ways? Where do you need to align your life with his character and ways?

2. Set aside a regular time to read God’s Word. I don’t know about you, but I need the discipline of a schedule. It helps knowing that I always spend this time listening to and conversing with God. Self-discipline is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We do not cultivate self-discipline by always being spontaneous or only reading and conversing with him when we feel like it.

3. Beware of routine! This is the flipside of the previous tip. If you find yourself just going through the motions of reading, shake it up and do something different! For instance, if you’re in a reading plan, break out of it for a week and go to your favorite portion of Scripture. Be open with the Lord about your feelings and ask him to help you. Add some spontaneity to your Bible reading.

4. Read God’s Word out of desire for him. God is not impressed with how many times we’ve read through the Bible or with what we can recall from it. He wants our heart.

5. Share what you find with others. This is one of the most neglected, yet most powerful habits for launching ourselves and others into deeper relationship with God. Tell others what he’s revealing to you, how he’s changing you and what you enjoy about him.

Already, men are reporting how God is meeting with them and changing them as they spend time with him in his Word!

Let me challenge you too, to draw near to God and deepen your relationship with him as you simply read his Word. If you’re not a reader or simply prefer another alternative to reading, check out the free tools for listening to the New Testament on your iPhone, Blackberry or MP3 player: www.sccprimed.org.

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New Testament Read-thru Challenge!
Read thru the NT in 13 weeks at three chapters per day

Week
1       John 1-21

2       Acts 1-21

3       Acts 22-28; Romans 1-14

4       Romans 15-16; Matthew 1-19

5       Matthew 20-28; 1 Corinthians 1-12

6       1 Corinthians 13-16; 2 Corinthians 1-13; Luke 1-4

7       Luke 5-24; Galatians 1

8       Galatians 2-6; Eph 1-6; Phil 1-4; Col 1-4; 1 Thessalonians 1-2

9       1 Thessalonians 3-5; 2 Thessalonians 1-3; Mark 1-15

10      Mark 16; Philemon; 1 Tim 1-6; 2 Tim 1-4; Titus 1-3; Heb 1-6

11      Heb 7-13; James 1-5; 1 Peter 1-5; 2 Peter 1-3; 1 John 1

12      1 John 2-5; 2 John; 3 John; Jude; Revelation 1-14

13      Revelation 15-22

Always go to the Word expecting to meet with God!
Ask Him:
• What are You revealing to me here about Yourself?
• How does this passage apply to my relationship with You and others today?
• Lord, what do You want to change in me?

Partner with a friend or your small group to keep you accountable and to share what God is doing in your life!

1. Recognize that marriage is hard work, so stick with it and give it your best efforts! When our kids were little we were having a discussion about marriage around the dinner table. Our older two children indicated that, yes, they wanted to get married some day. When we asked our youngest son (who was about six at the time) whether he would some day marry, he pondered that question thoughtfully and stated, “I don’t know if I’ll get married. Marriage is hard work! I think I’ll get a job instead.” Linda and I pray that it wasn’t our marriage that gave him the idea that marriage is so hard! Anyways, after the laughter subsided, we had to agree with our six-year-old psychiatrist—marriage is hard work! So roll up your sleeves and put into your marriage the work required to make it great!

2. Tell your spouse you love him/her often (multiple times every day). Guys, don’t give me any baloney like, “I don’t need to tell her I love her, she already knows it.” Tell your sweetheart you love her! She needs and wants to hear you say it.

3. Go out on dates regularly. Enjoy each other’s company. Hold hands, be romantic. Make your times together special. Don’t let anything get in the way. She/he is worth it!

4. Look for concrete ways to serve each other selflessly. One of the biggest reasons marriages get stale is because we become self-absorbed. The best way out that downward spiral is to serve your spouse lovingly, joyfully and selflessly. Do it!

5. Listen to each other attentively. Listen to each other actively: maintain eye contact, eliminate distractions, employ empathy and great non-verbals. Listen to her/him attentively and caringly. A tip for you husbands, your wife will often share problems with you that you can’t fix, so don’t try to fix them. Simply love her, reassure her, hold her and tell her things will be alright.

6. Pray with each other. Guys, take the lead on this. Look for and step into opportunities to pray with each other. In this way you’ll grow in your relationship with God together. Thank God for the wonderful gift of your wife in her hearing. Make most of these prayers short and sweet!

©2009 Rob Fischer

 In year 39 of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness two men woke up one morning. One man got up, put on his outer garment and lifted the flap over the door of his tent to step out into the desert morning. As he ducked under the tent flap it dumped a load of sand down his neck. He cursed under his breath and angrily shook out his clothes muttering, “I am sick and tired of this infernal sand! I’ve got sand in my bed, sand in my hair, sand in my food! Everywhere there’s sand! I hate this life of constant moving and upheaval. And guess what’s for breakfast? Manna—again!” 

 This man’s mood was no private matter, but spread unmercifully like cancer to his wife and children. With his incessant bitterness, anger and complaints he poisoned the minds and attitudes of his family and friends. His poison took its toll on his relationships replacing intimacy with isolation, trust with suspicion and love with self-centeredness. This man truly lived out the miserable life he envisioned for himself. By making much of himself and his circumstances, he lived as though God were puny and others insignificant.

 Across the vast camp of the Israelites that same morning another man awoke. This man’s circumstances were in no wise different than the first man. But as this man stepped out of his tent that morning shaking the sand from his clothes, he stood up and filled his lungs with the fresh, cool desert air. He looked to the east watching the glory of the sun as it began to dispel the night. He thought to himself that the sunrise was but a tiny reflection of the magnificent glory of its Creator.

 He expectantly looked out over the hillsides around their camp and saw the familiar blanket of manna in the receding shadows. Suddenly he was overwhelmed with a sense of God’s presence, faithfulness and love for him and his family. Without inhibition he raised his hands and looked up into the sky and worshipped out loud, “Thank you, my God, my King, my Shepherd! Thank you for another “manna-day”, a day in which you show yourself faithful and loving toward me and your people. Thank you for providing for us, O gracious Lord!”

 This man’s mood was no private matter either, but spread to others like the warmth of the rising sun. His humble gratitude made him a delight to be around! His family and friends found his faith and joy contagious, so that they too gave God glory. By making much of God, he saw more of God and his greatness and love. And by experiencing God’s love, he could not help but love others around him on whom God had also poured out his love.

Which man are you?

Prayer: Lord, I desperately want to be the second man in this parable! Each day, let me turn my eyes toward you and off myself and my circumstances. Let me see you in your awesome splendor and majesty and worship you as you really are. I long to draw near to you today with the knowledge that in doing so, I cannot remain unchanged. Therefore, I invite you to change me. Make me more like you in character—more loving, more generous, more thoughtful of others. Thank you for your abundant provision in my life and for being so faithful. I praise you with my entire being! In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, amen!

© Rob Fischer 2008

Still, there were aspects of Bible college I really enjoyed—especially the relationships I had built with friends. So after the first semester, when my money had run out, I was crushed because I couldn’t continue. I remember wondering why God didn’t provide for my tuition like he had for other students. Having to leave school just didn’t make sense to me. Why would God allow this to happen? Isn’t going to Bible college a good thing to do?

When I left Multnomah, I still owed them tuition from the last semester and I needed to pay off my bill quickly. My brother invited me to work at a feed mill in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that a friend of ours managed. I applied there and they hired me into the lowest job at the mill, “end-man.”

As end-man I loaded and unloaded trucks and boxcars of 25, 50 and 100 pound sacks of feed all day long. Work in the feed mill was grueling! When I started it was January in Minnesota. I remember a week long period of minus 33 degrees every night with highs in the minus 20’s and the warehouse was not heated. The arctic wind would blast through the drafty warehouse, numbing our toes and fingers. The only way to keep warm was to work hard and fast. On breaks we retreated to the basement to huddle around the boiler that heated the offices.

I’m sure today that the conditions under which we worked would not be tolerated by OSHA! The only safety training we got was the order, “Don’t get hurt!” And all day long we breathed in whey and milk replacer dust. Handling the bags was so hard on gloves that we went through a pair of cloth gloves daily. Leather gloves lasted a week.

But it was in the middle of these harsh working conditions that God got my attention. Two of the other guys working there at the time had recently come to Christ out of the hippy movement. They were so in love with Jesus Christ, with each other and others that it showed prominently in everything they did. On breaks each would pull a tattered New Testament out of his pocket and devour the Word with a hunger I had never experienced. And the respect and love they showed the rough, multi-ethnic workforce at the feed mill was nothing short of Christ-like.

After watching these two followers of Christ for a few weeks, I went home one night and fell down on my knees next to my bed and cried out to God. I asked him to forgive my complacency and apathy toward him and I begged him to grant me the same love for him that I saw my two co-workers exhibit. My life has never been the same since! I felt like I had entered into a personal adventure with God!

I discovered that God wants to be intimately involved in all areas of our lives. And when we trust him and recognize his hand at work in everything we do, life truly is an adventure with him. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

©2009 Rob Fischer

The other day I began thinking back over some of the key people in my life who had a profound impact in modeling Christlikeness for me. My parents played a huge role in demonstrating the lifestyle of a Christ follower for me. They were human, sinners and had weaknesses just like everybody else, but their lives were also on a continual upward trajectory of growth in Christ. Who they were in private at home was who they were in any and all other settings.

We were a family of five kids—I was the oldest—and every evening we ate supper together. My parents weren’t particularly strict. I can’t believe some of things my brothers and I got away with! But they ingrained certain key values in our lives that flow from becoming like Christ. Some of those values include: loving Christ passionately, working hard, always seeking to do my best, loving others, caring for the needs of the less fortunate, generosity, hospitality, and practicing simple common courtesies and being polite.

I can’t recall a time when my parents ever sat us down to teach us those values, but they modeled them before us with their lives on a daily basis. To this day, I’ve never known anyone as selfless and generous as my parents.

When I was in elementary school there were several men who also greatly impacted my life for good. Mr. Alman was the only male teacher at my school. He was stern and strict when he needed to be and the other teachers looked to him to bring order in tough disciplinary situations. But the thing I remember most about Mr. Alman was that he deeply cared for us kids. Even back then I recognized that he approached teaching as a calling rather than a job. He also loved Jesus Christ, which exhibited itself strongly in his good character and integrity. He was the kind of man I wanted to grow up to be like.

In sixth grade I had a Sunday school teacher whose name was Buzz Sawyer (really). I don’t remember what he did for a living except that he worked a craft of some kind and always had dirty fingernails. (It’s funny what kids remember.) Mr. Sawyer volunteered his time to lead this band of rowdy sixth-grade boys every Sunday. But his care for us didn’t end there. Often on summer weekends he would take us boating or swimming and sledding in the winter.

What I remember about Mr. Sawyer was the simplicity of his devotion to Christ and how he integrated his love for Christ into everything he did. Whether at work or play, with his wife and family or with us boys he was the real thing. Again, he modeled for us what a true Christ-follower looks like.

©2009 Rob Fischer