Stained Glass

by Charles Ligon

 

In years past, my wife’s work required that she travel to Europe. Fortunately, I got to go along and while she was working, I would sightsee. In particular, I enjoyed touring ancient cathedrals to observe the very beautiful and ornate stained glass windows. I learned that stained glass windows were the first “picture books” of the Bible. As far back as 350 A.D., churches used stained glass windows to visually tell stories to a mostly illiterate population; people who knew very little about God and the Bible. Stain glass windows are still being used throughout the world to portray Bible stories and to tell of God’s love.

 

Did you know that your life as a Christian is like a stained glass window? That’s right, the Christian life is a living picture for all to observe. How we live daily is a snapshot or a visual illustration to a skeptical world. Work associates who aren’t reading the Bible and know very little about God’s love are learning about it by observing believers in the workplace. Paul says that Christians are an epistle (a letter) of Christ, known and read by all men (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). What do people read when they observe you and what do they learn about God’s love? Do they see Christ; someone who is compassionate, trustworthy, honest and who goes out of their way to serve others? Are they drawn to Him in you?

 

Matthew 5: 14-16 says “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.

 

Workplace Challenge: Let non-believers see Christ in your actions, behavior, words or attitude. Decide now to let your light shine so that people in this world who know nothing about Christ will be drawn to Christ in you. Decide now to let your life be a “stained glass window” that tells a story of God’s love. Your co-workers are watching and you might be the only Bible

Called, Gifted and Empowered

by Charles Ligon

I watch with amazement each day as our company’s Design Engineers diligently work with enormous focus and attention to detail. They have been tasked to design Distributed Generation Systems for our customers. And, they clearly understand that the scope/specifications of every project must be clear and every detail on the electrical diagram correct. Each engineer is gifted, skilled and competent in their profession and each has been empowered to perform specific assignments. Our company reputation and our financial results depend on their hard-work, skill and ability. As gifted workers, it is evident that they aspire to the highest level of excellence in their vocation.    

In the same way, every Christian has been called, gifted and empowered in their specific vocations. Further, every Christian has been filled with the Spirit of God to assist them wherever God has placed them to work. Every Christian should aspire to the highest level of excellence in their work.

In Exodus 31:1-5 the Lord said to Moses...I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver and in bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft… According to this passage, God called Bezalel by name to build the first Tabernacle, a place where God would dwell among His people. God gifted and empowered Bezalel to do this very important assignment. His competence and craftsmanship, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, would bring glory to God through his work.

Our workplace challenge is to understand that, like Bezalel, God has called, gifted and empowered every Christian to be effective wherever He places us to work. How we perform our God-assignment is integral to both His image and His mission for kingdom advancement. Our work (good or bad) will impact how others view our faith and our ability to minister in the workplace. You might not be called to build a tabernacle but you are called to work with excellence unto His glory (I Cor. 10:31).  Make today count!

Don't Miss It!

by Charles Ligon   

 

Early in my career I missed it! While working for a large public utility in Virginia and I didn’t see what was before me. Some would say it was “hidden in plain sight”. My dad would say, “Had it been a snake, it would have bitten you”. Let me explain…I was spending 60-70% of my waking hours in the “largest mission field in the world”, the workplace. Roughly 7 of 10 people around me were unchurched and/or didn’t have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Yet, In spite of all that…I still didn’t see my place of work as a mission field or a place of calling. I totally missed it! I failed to integrate my faith in the very place where I had the greatest opportunity to influence others for Christ.

For years, I lived by faulty thinking, with an incorrect theology that led me to compartmentalize my faith; separating the secular from sacred. For way too long, I defined ministry as “that which was fulfilled within the four walls of my local church”. My mindset rendered me useless in fulfilling my workplace calling. You see, the enemy desires to render all Christians useless at work. His strategy is to deceive us into believing that our work is unrelated to God’s plan for our lives and that our workplaces are simply the means to earning our paychecks.

However, there is a biblical mandate to live our Christian faith every day of the week. Exodus 20:9 says “six days you shall labor and do all your work”. Created in God’s image, the Christian has a responsibility to labor unto the Lord six days and rest on the seventh. God is a working God and we are his image bearers (Genesis 1:26-27). What’s more, the root word for “work” in Hebrew (avodah) is derived from the same root word as “worship” and “service”.  Therefore, our work is intended to be an act of worship and service to others. 

Your workplace challenge is to consider how you view your work and your workplace. Have you failed to see the ministry opportunities in your workplace? Have you failed to see your workplace as ministry and a calling? Billy Graham said “I believe one of the next movements of God is going to be through believers in the workplace.” Indeed, God is working and He wants to use you to be part of what He is doing in the workplace…for His Glory.

"Has God Rejected Israel? No!"

“Has God Rejected Israel? No!”

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 11:1-10

 

Romans 9:6 comes immediately to mind as we go forward in our study of Romans 11. It reminded us of the fact that God’s word never fails. He is consistent, merciful, and faithful. But at the conclusion of chapter 10, one might begin to wonder as Isaiah 65:2 is quoted in explaining national Israel and its disobedience and obstinacy before God. Perhaps God has had enough? Maybe they have “gone too far” this time? Paul continues his discussion of Israel and offers some very clear examples to his statement, “May it never be!” in response to whether God has rejected Israel.

 

I.                   Has God Rejected Israel? No! The Example of Paul Himself    Romans 11:1

a.       As we continue into chapter 11 from chapter 10, let’s remember that our chapter designations were not a part of the original text. This fact helps us as we consider the question that opens Verse 1.

b.      The question on the table after the abrupt and strong ending of chapter 10 is this, “Has God rejected His people, Israel?”. Paul has already explained his love and concern for the nation of Israel in 9:1-3 and 10:1. He loves these people and desires nothing more than then their ultimate salvation. But Isaiah 65:2 that is quoted at the end of chapter 10 shudders the heart of love without some explanation.

c.       Romans 9:6 offered some very helpful insight as it shared that there is a distinction between “National Israel” and “Spiritual Israel”. National Israel is the designation of all that have a Jewish lineage; those descended from  the Jews. On the other hand, Spiritual Israel is a designation of those that have trusted in Christ for their salvation and for their eternity.

d.      Romans 10:16 says that “all did not heed the good news”. That is, some have embraced the gospel message and some have rejected it. Paul, anticipating another question from his readers, asks it himself in the letter. With the fact that some “do not heed” and the additional insight into the heart condition of National Israel, has all of National Israel been rejected?

e.       Paul is very quick to give the answer that he has so often offered to these anticipated questions, “May it never be!”. And he offers a contemporary example to prove his answer: Himself.

f.       Paul shares that he is an Israelite. This fact is also confirmed in both 2 Corinthians 11:22 and Philippians 3:5. It is noteworthy that Paul mentions the fact that he is from the tribe of Benjamin. Though small, the tribe of Benjamin is significant in that Israel’s first king, Saul, was from this tribe.

g.      If Paul could be, and he was (Acts 9) saved, than God could and would certainly save other Jews. But even if Paul had been the only Jew that had been saved, it would be proof positive that God had not forgotten or rejected His people.

 

II.                Has God Rejected Israel? No! The Example from the Old Testament    Romans 11:2-6

a.       Before offering an Old Testament example to the proof of God not rejecting His people, Paul continues the discussion in Verse 2 with a reminder of his own words in 8:29. Psalm 94:14 is an interesting cross reference. Psalm 94:5 speaks of a group that is crushing the people of God and afflicting their heritage. Verse 14 reminds the reader of the fact that God will not abandon the vulnerable and will provide them a heritage in Him. The very same thing is happening today as the “vulnerable”, those under the press of the world, are provided an inheritance in Him by salvation.

b.      Paul continues with an example from the Old Testament. With the contemporary example before them of himself, Paul now launches into an example from the life of Elijah. 1 Kings 19 is the background story for Verses 3 and 4 as verses 10, 14, and 18 are in focus. Elijah has for the moment escaped the evil Jezebel and is sharing with God the troubles that he is currently going through. In verses 10 and 14, he unfolds his plight before God and shares that “he is alone and they seek my life”. He also shares of the disobedience and the wickedness of the sons of Israel in breaking the covenant and currently threatening his life.

c.       God’s response in 1 Kings 19:18 is that Elijah is not correct as he reports his “aloneness”. He notes a “remnant” of 7000 that have not bowed to Baal. With that encouraging piece of information, God sends Elijah on to more ministry.

d.      The answer to Elijah’s question in 1 Kings 19:10 and 14 is answered in 1 Kings 19:18. Paul’s question in Romans 11:1 is answered in Romans 11:5.

e.       Verses 5-6 tell us that there will be a remnant from National Israel that will be saved. But this remnant will not be a result of their hard work or their obedience. This elective choice will be God’s alone. He will make this choice based on His mercy and His promises to Israel, not because of their character or performance.

f.       The fact is, this choice is made by grace, not works. If the choice were made by performance or heritage, than grace would not be the means of God’s elective choice.

 

III.             If God Hasn’t Rejected Israel, What’s Going On?    Romans 11:7-10

a.       Paul has now offered two examples of the fact that God has not rejected National Israel, himself and the remnant of 7000 that did not bow to Baal in 1 Kings 19. So what’s going on then? Why does National Israel seem to be off the radar and out of the plans of God? They aren’t, but they sure seem that way.

b.      Romans 9:31 is back in focus as Verse 7 opens up. National Israel was trying to obtain favor with God through their performance and was failing. On the other hand, there are those that are of the elect that have and will obtain it. The verse continues by saying that those that are not of the elect were “hardened”.

c.       What does this mean? We are given an insight into its meaning in Verses 8-10. With much more explanation coming in the upcoming lessons, Paul offers Deuteronomy 29:3-4 and Isaiah 29:10 in Verse 8 to begin the answer. He continues by quoting Psalm 69:22-23. In Verses 9-10. The results of divine “hardening” are a spiritual drowsiness, numbness, blindness and deafness for now. The very things that should be a blessing to them (their table and bounty) are a stumbling block to them.

                                                              i.      Without losing the fact that National Israel is the focus of our discussion, do you think that we in the United States could have a similar “hardening” as a result of God’s blessings and our disobedience? (Discuss)

d.      There will be much more to the answer of what this “hardening” looks like and how long it will last in the lessons to come. But for now, National Israel continues to be under this “hardening”.

 

IV.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       Remember, God’s choices are based on His mercy and His compassion.

Remember, God’s choices are always right because