Zondervan Blog: June 2012

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June 2012

June 13, 2012

The Story of Saul and Ananias: Why Listening to God is a Risk Worth Taking [Excerpt]

Have you ever noticed how when Saul became Paul, God didn't do all the heavy lifting? He asked a Christian named Ananias to help Saul, and Ananias almost didn't do it...

This is an excerpt from Bill Hybel's The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond [eBook]. -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

A risky mission for Ananias

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God spoke to Ananias in a vision, telling him to go to Saul and deliver a message. God even provides the address where Saul is staying [Acts 9:10–12].

"Hey, God," [Ananias] essentially said, "I don't know if you've neglected to keep up with the daily news or what, but Saul's name is all over the headlines. He's a terrorist, and the whole reason he's in town is to destroy the church that I attend. If you think I'm going to actually seek him out, well, then one of us is crazy!" ...

God stood by his one-word reply: "Go." And Ananias went. [Acts 9:13-16]

Earlier that day...

On the road to Damascus as Saul lay there blinded by the light, God had issued him a triad of instructions, as well: "Get up, Saul. Go into the city. And wait." Saul now had a decision to make. What would he do with the direction he'd been given? He's a tough guy—should he just stand up, shake his fist at heaven and say, "Is that your best shot?"

In perhaps the wisest move of Saul's life to that point, he chose the other path. The text says that he rose, he was led into the city by his band of brothers (who were probably shocked to be leading their once-fearless, now-helpless leader), and he waited for whatever would happen next [Acts 9:1-9].

Listening to God: A risk worth taking

I have read [Acts 9:17–19] many times, and with each reading I find myself trembling just a bit...

[Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength."]

Bill Hybels

Think about it: a highly intelligent (though completely misdirected) man—who will someday become a powerful force in the hand of Almighty God—is lying blind on a bed with no clue what he is to do next—other than to wait. If someone could only deliver a small dose of knowledge—a divine insight to him—the blind man not only will regain his sight but will eventually change the whole world for good.

Ananias delivers that small dose of knowledge, and Saul goes on to write two-thirds of the New Testament; he plants churches that will have lasting impact; he leaves a legacy, not of bitterness and rage, but of boldness and righteousness and faith. Lost people are saved, believers are encouraged, churches are strengthened and entire communities experience times of great peace, all because two men hear God's whispers and have the guts to respond.

I imagine God cheering from heaven's balcony as he watched Ananias enter the home where Saul lay anxiously awaiting the arrival of a man he'd never met.

'You were so ecstatic about your license to kill,' I picture God saying to Saul, 'but I can do you one better than that...'

"You were so ecstatic about your license to kill," I picture God saying to Saul, "but I can do you one better than that! You're about to be granted a license to help millions of people throughout history live. You now have full access to grace. Full access to love. Full access to power. Full access to fulfillment. Stay close to me, Saul, and you will want for nothing. I will care for you. I will protect you. I will provide for you. And while we're at it, I'll even give you a new name. Paul—that's who you are now ... Paul, my brand-new creation...

I am convinced that one of the major reasons a one-time terrorist [Saul] wound up becoming one of the most impactful Christian leaders in history is because he chose the path of obedience. On day one, when Jesus asked him to do three little things, he did them. And that step of initial obedience began a pattern of submission to the will and ways of God. Despite the eventual respect among believers that Saul—now Paul—would come to enjoy, the apostle Paul never got too seasoned, sophisticated or smart to do anything less than that which Jesus whispered for him to do. How I wish the same always could be said of me!

- Bill Hybels (@billhybels)

A theme from this story leaped out at me: Small obedience can make a big difference. It doesn't always feel like that, does it? But in the case of Ananias, doing something that frightened him had world-changing results. And for Paul, those small acts of obedience marked a new kind of life, characterized by obedience and "full access" to grace / love / power / fulfillment. -AF

Learn More

Learn more about Bill Hybels's The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond (eBook).

June 12, 2012

Adam's Hope: From "What's the Use?" to "Praise the Lord!" [Excerpt]

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Sometimes life doesn't go the way we expect, which can be especially discouraging when we've worked hard for a particular goal.

But when we feel like saying "What's the use," we have reason to hope, as we see in this imaginative portrait of Adam from the Once-A-Day Men & Women of the Bible Devotional. -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

The Struggles, Failures, and Hope of Adam

It is almost impossible to imagine what Adam's life was like in Eden. He was first and one-of-a-kind: no childhood, no parents, no schooling, no guilt, close contact with God, perfect world, a beautiful garden, knowing animals by name, a spouse created to be an ideal partner, only one rule to follow. Life today is vastly different.

Yet we can identify with Adam's struggles:

He's embarrassed to admit mistakes and wants to avoid confronting his problems.
His kids get into big trouble, spoiling many of his dreams for their future.
He works harder and gets less done as life goes on.
As an older adult, he has little to show for all his labors except a small farm and scattered grandchildren.

Yet even Adam had hope. Genesis 3:15 is God's first piece of Good News: Satan will be defeated; a Savior will come. That promise gave Adam hope, and still lifts us from the pits to the heavens, from "What's the use?" to "Praise the Lord!" When life seems barren and pointless, remember that even Adam, who had fallen the furthest, had this hope. [See Romans 5:14-17]

Jesus has come, salvation is won and the Bible promises another (second) coming at the end of time when all of our tears will be wiped away. Whenever you're discouraged, remember the Good News. [See 1 Cor. 15:22, 45]

Prayer

Lord, I need encouragement today because...

Adam after the Fall. Sculpture by Rodin.

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Learn more about Once-A-Day Men and Women of the Bible Devotional.
Discover more Once-a-Day Devotionals.

June 11, 2012

You, LORD, Keep My Lamp Burning [Excerpt]

Excerpt from the NIV Once-A-Day Devotional for Women.

You, LORD, keep my lamp burning;
   my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
   with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect:
   The LORD's word is flawless;
   he shields all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 18:28–30

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All of us have experienced times when our lives grew dark — when hope seemed futile, when confusion set in, when we felt alone. David knew how dark life could seem at times. When he wrote this prayer, the memories of fleeing in terror from King Saul's manhunt and hiding in dark, damp caves were fresh in his mind.

Yet, he focused on God's light in his life — the light that dispelled the confusion of darkness. With this light, David saw clearly that God's way was perfect, even if it brought him through dark and dangerous valleys. God would always prove himself true to his promises. God would always be with him to protect him.

When you are traveling a dark road, remind yourself of David's experience with God — of how God led him through those dark places. Use David's prayer to remind yourself of God's light in your life.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for lighting up my darkness...

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Learn more about Once-A-Day Devotional for Women.
Discover more Once-a-Day Devotionals.

June 08, 2012

When "Weird Stuff" Starts to Happen [Excerpt]

I wasn't always a Christian. During my early teens my thoughts began to surprise me: "I can't do life on my own anymore," and, "You know you don't have to do this on your own, right?"

That time came to mind when I found this excerpt from Billy Hybels. If you're having weird thoughts you can't quite explain, I encourage you to consider Bill Hybels's perspective. This is an excerpt from The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond [eBook]. -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

When "weird stuff" starts happening

Bill Hybels

I often talk with people ... who are exploring the Christian faith. During those conversations, it is not uncommon for me to hear tales about how they are going about their normal daily routines when "weird stuff" starts happening to them. They report feeling restless in life or less satisfied with the direction they're headed. The "fun" they used to have doesn't feel quite as fun anymore. They grow weary of the way things are and wonder if there might be more to life. And typically it's in a moment like this when they finally agree to come to church.

On some occasions, I'll ask folks like these, "Do you think anyone is orchestrating those ideas that float through your mind? I mean, do you think your thoughts are just random, or is it possible that God is trying to communicate to you in some way?" Usually, they think it's all random. Which usually is when I beg to differ.

"When the circumstances of your life start to shift," I suggest, "at least consider that it might be due to God. When you find yourself in a state of confusion or curiosity about the way things are going, go ahead and ask him if there's something he'd like to say to you. Open your hands, open your heart, heighten your attentiveness to any small way he might want to communicate to you, and then agree in advance that you will comply with whatever he says. Why not give it a shot? What's the downside?"

- Bill Hybels (@billhybels)

"Taste and see that the LORD is good." Psalm 34:8a

Learn More

Learn more about Bill Hybels's The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond (eBook).

June 07, 2012

Listen to the Story of the Bible with THE STORY (NIV)

What's the story of the Bible?

Don't sweat it if you can't answer. It's one of the toughest questions I know.

It's a tough question because the story of God's work to form, sustain and redeem Creation is the biggest, grandest, wildest, most challenging, rewarding, and sometimes most confusing story I know.

This is why I like The Story. It presents the big story of God's work as one seamless narrative, like a novel. The Story uses the NIV translation of the Bible to reveal the biblical storyline chronologically, from Genesis through Revelation. The Bible's stories, poems and teachings are woven together in so to keep the Bible's unified story arc front-and-center. You should hear the unabridged audiobook:

Listen to Chapter 1 of The Story, which takes us through the high drama of Creation (0:01), Fall (9:56), and Flood (16:10).

When you listen to that chapter I think you'll see why The Story was just honored by the Audie Awards — which is like the Academy Awards for audiobooks — as the Inspirational/Faith-based Nonfiction work of the year.

Hearing these Genesis stories, I marvel at the patience of God. This in particular jumped out at me: the first murder on earth was committed out of a motive as simple as envy, and it was committed by one brother against another.

The chapter above ends with Noah's family surviving the Flood, and I'm thankful God didn't use the opportunity to rid Earth of humanity once and for all! I'm looking forward to hearing more of The Story's rendering of the Bible.

What jumped out at you from The Story's telling of Genesis?

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Learn more about The Story audiobook
Find The Story on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpeaktheStory

-Adam Forrest, Zondervan

Postscript: Do you feel like a carriage wheel or train wheel?

The Once-A-Day Devotional message above prompted some questions for me, and I'd like to share them with you.

Do you feel like God is just one part of your life, like a spoke on this wagon wheel?

If we invite God into every area of our life, and make it our mission to reflect His glory, our life will be more like this train wheel:

A life that praises God wholly is solid. Unified.

I used to be afraid that making my life about His glory would make the me in me fade and disappear. But this has not been my experience. I believe we become whole people when we worship God wholly. (See Isaiah 60:2-3, Romans 12:6-8)

I'll see you on the train, compañeros.

-Adam Forrest, Zondervan

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Learn more about Once-A-Day Devotional for Men.

June 06, 2012

When God Whispers, aka Sixty Pounds of Peaches [Excerpt]

Bill Hybels shares a story about following the Holy Spirit's promptings in this excerpt from The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond [eBook].

Have you ever had an experience like Bill's? I'd love to hear your story, just leave a comment on the post. -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

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There are seasons when I am "meticulously obedient" to the will and whispers of God, and then there are times when I'm sure I know a better way. Still, I try to keep coming back to my heavenly Father with open hands, an open heart and a keener interest in whatever insights he is willing to share. "God, if there is something you would like me to do," I prayed recently, "then please say so. It doesn't matter what it is; I'll do it."

Wouldn't you know it? He actually took me up on that prayer.

Lynne and I had just come from a funeral home across town after saying our final farewells to my aunt. As we approached our car, I spotted a frail, elderly woman pulling into the nearby apartment complex. She parked her car and began to slowly and laboriously pull grocery bags out of her trunk. "How about helping that woman with her groceries?" the Holy Spirit seemed to prompt.

I initially brushed past the whisper because Lynne was with me and we were ready to go. But I had just made that offer to God, "If there is something you would like me to do..." I knew I had to comply.

"Lynne," I said, "I've got this little pact going with God, and I need to go help that woman with her groceries for a minute..."

Bill Hybels

My wife tried to conceal her dumbfounded expression, but I saw it peeking through. You probably know the look, the one that says, "You? Living at your pace? Helping someone you don't even know? Wow. It must be God."

I approached the elderly woman. "Can I give you a hand with your groceries?" I asked.

"Oh, yes! Thank you!" she said, relieved.

I knew that this small act of kindness would honor God...what I didn't know was that those grocery sacks boasted thirty pounds of fresh peaches each.

The driveway leading back to her apartment ... was roped off, meaning residents had to walk a few hundred yards just to get from their cars to their homes. I knew that this small act of kindness would honor God and help meet a real need; what I didn't know was that those grocery sacks boasted thirty pounds of fresh peaches each. Pretending the added weight didn't affect me a bit, I said, "All set here. You lead the way."

She began winding through backyards that had become swamps due to recent rains. [It turns out the] woman was extremely arthritic [and] had some sort of emphysema that forced us to take a breather every forty-five seconds or so. It took us a full thirty minutes to make our way to her apartment, and by the time we arrived, we were tight. I had learned more about this dear woman's life than I could ever have hoped to know.

We entered her modest home, and ... I set the sacks on the counter before turning to shake her hand and then let myself out through the front door. The woman left her bony, wrinkled hand in mine long after the handshake was done. "I will believe to my dying day that God sent you to help me just now," she said.

The whole deal felt so inglorious—the wet feet, the longer-than-expected trek, the lack of any earth-shattering results—and yet as I walked away from the apartment complex, something in my spirit felt right. God had whispered a simple instruction my way, and this time I had actually slowed down enough to listen. There is no greater feeling in the world than to hear—and heed—God's voice...

I have come to believe over time that it is the little acts of obedience that invite God's power to fully flow in our lives.

I have come to believe over time that it is the little acts of obedience that invite God's power to fully flow in our lives. When you and I prove ourselves faithful with the small whispers, he entrusts us with bigger ones. And when we follow through on those big ones, big kingdom results can be gained. This is what Ananias experienced firsthand, on that day when Saul became Paul. Back to our text.

- Bill Hybels (@billhybels)

Learn More

Learn more about Bill Hybels's The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God, Having the Guts to Respond (eBook).

June 05, 2012

I'll Have Jesus, with a Little Idolatry on the Side [Excerpt]

"Everything I have is yours," we say to Jesus. "What about that thing you're hiding behind your back?" Jesus asks...

Jesus hears some pretty funny excuses when he calls followers to him in Luke 9. Likewise, when people choose their favorite thing over the pearl of great price, I'm reminded of a vaudeville comedy routine. I'd laugh more loudly, except I'm too busy acting out my own leading role in the idolatry play.

This post is about how we can respond to Jesus's call, and what we have to gain. [Excerpt from the new Teen Edition of Kyle Idleman's Not a Fan (Teen Edition): What Does It Mean to Really Follow Jesus (eBook).] -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

You, me and the Knights Templar

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I was reading about a strange baptism practice that was allowed by the church when the Knights of Templar would be baptized. When the church would baptize one of the knights, they would be baptized with their sword, but they wouldn't take their swords under water with them. Instead they would hold their swords up out of the water while the rest of them would be immersed. It was the knights' way of saying to Jesus, "You can have control of me but you can't have this. Jesus, I'm all yours, but who I am and what I do on the battlefield, how I use this sword, that's not part of the deal" ...

If that was still the practice today, we might not hold up a sword, but my guess is that many would hold up a wallet. Some would hold up a remote control. Others would hold up a laptop.

Many fans say to Jesus, 'Anything and everything I have, I give to you.' But Jesus points to what you're hiding behind your back and says, 'What about that?'

Many fans say to Jesus, "I will follow. Anything and everything I have, I give to you." But Jesus points to what you're hiding behind your back and says, "What about that?" For Nicodemus it was a religious reputation. For the Rich Young Ruler it was his stuff. For this man it seems to be his family relationships that held him back. They are willing to follow Jesus, but the relationship isn't exclusive. They're holding on to some things from the past.

Jesus doesn't want followers who have a divided affection or a split allegiance. And so Jesus points to what you most value and are most concerned about, and says, "What about that?"

For Pam, Jesus was asking, "What about food?" For years she turned to food rather than Jesus as her source of comfort and satisfaction. She finally realized she couldn't call herself a follower of Jesus if she was unwilling to surrender this area of her life to him.

Steve said, "I want to follow Jesus with everything." And Jesus asked, "What about your entertainment choices?" Steve wanted to be a follower of Jesus, but for a long time he kept looking back to television shows and internet sites that filled him with lust. He wanted to follow Jesus, but not with both hands on the plow; he kept looking back.

Jesus says to Stephanie, "What about your friends?" Stephanie called herself a follower of Jesus, but her life didn't revolve around Jesus. Her life revolved around her friends. Her friends were where she found her greatest joy. Her friends determined whether it was a good day or a bad day.

To Doug, Jesus asks, "What about your money?" Over the years Doug had found his identify and self-worth not in being a follower of Jesus, but in money and the things money could buy. With a downturn in the economy Doug has begun to realize that though he said he would follow Jesus, he has spent most of his time and given most of his attention to looking back...

Why does Jesus want followers to surrender everything?

Please understand: Jesus loves you so much. He died to have a relationship with you. He will not share your heart with anyone. He will settle for nothing less than your complete devotion and heartfelt affection. He made no compromises when he came and gave his life up for you, and he takes no compromises now as he asks you to do the same.

The reason Jesus is so adamant about followers surrendering everything is because the reality is this: the one thing we are most reluctant to give up is the one thing that has the most potential to become a substitute for him. Really what we're talking about here is idolatry. When we are to be following Jesus, who is ahead of us, but find ourselves looking behind us, we are revealing that we are substituting something or someone for him.

When we finally surrender that one thing, we discover the satisfaction that comes from following Jesus that was always missing when we were holding something back.

- Kyle Idleman (@kyleidleman)

Learn More

Learn more about the new Not a Fan (Teen Edition): What Does It Mean to Really Follow Jesus? [eBook]. (You may already be familiar with Kyle Idleman's original book Not a Fan.)

June 04, 2012

Enjoying Pleasure to the Fullest [Excerpt]

Does God like to look at trees?

I think he does! Genesis 2:9 says, "The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

That single verse reminds us of two things: God created pleasure, and we're often tempted to chase pleasure "out of bounds." (I bet Adam and Eve had some regrets about their encounter with "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.")

Below, Philip Yancey reflects on how we can enjoy God's good gifts to the fullest. I've added a little quiz question, hoping you find it helpful. [This is an excerpt from Philip Yancey's Grace Notes: Daily Readings with Philip Yancey (eBook).] -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

Great Good + Grave Danger

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Why is sex fun? Why is eating fun? Why are there colors? ...

Where did pleasure come from? That seems to me a huge question — the philosophical equivalent, for atheists, to the problem of pain for Christians. Don't atheists and secular humanists have an equal obligation to explain the origin of pleasure in a world of randomness and meaninglessness? ...

Pleasure is at once a great good and a grave danger. If we start chasing pleasure as an end in itself, along the way we may lose sight of the One who gave us such good gifts as sexual drive, taste buds, and the capacity to appreciate beauty. As Ecclesiastes tells it, a wholesale devotion to pleasure will, paradoxically, lead to a state of utter despair.

The Christian's Choice

We can set about enjoying pleasure to the fullest, which means enjoying it in the way the Creator intended.

Somehow Christians have gotten a reputation as anti-pleasure, and this despite the fact that they believe pleasure was an invention of the Creator himself. We Christians have a choice. We can present ourselves as uptight bores who sacrificially forfeit half the fun of life by limiting our indulgence in sex, food, and other sensual pleasures. Or we can set about enjoying pleasure to the fullest, which means enjoying it in the way the Creator intended.

Not everyone will accept the Christian philosophy of pleasure as a gift best enjoyed within the bounds of the Creator's intent. Some skeptics will scoff at any insistence on moderation. For these skeptics, I have a few simple questions. Why is eating fun? Why are there colors? I'm still waiting for a good explanation that does not include the word God.

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-Philip Yancey

Q: Think of your favorite pastime. How do you know when you're enjoying that pleasure within bounds of God's intent?

In other words, whose opinions do you listen to? You may find this helpful: Rank these authorities from 1 to 4 (1 = most authoritative, 4 = least authoritative).
___ I listen to my conscience
___ I look to the most commonly accepted opinion
___ I look to the opinions of certain people I trust
___ I look to what the Bible says

Learn more about the eBook Grace Notes: Daily Readings with Philip Yancey
Visit Philip Yancey's blog

June 01, 2012

How I Want to Go Out [Excerpt by Mark Buchanan]

What do you want to be like at the end of your faith journey?

When you're full of years, leaning on your staff, what kinds of messages will you impart to others? Curses or blessings?

Author/ pastor Mark Buchanan wants to go out like Jacob did. Mark's vision infected me, and you can catch it too in this excerpt from Your Church Is Too Safe: Why Following Christ Turns the World Upside-Down. -Adam Forrest, Zondervan

Mark Buchanan

I have made Hebrews 11:21 an icon for my own journey: "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff."

That's the faith I want to live and die by.

In Jacob, the sign of that faith is a man who, though doddering and muttering, spends his last breath, his last strength, in worship and in blessing. And the ones he blesses are the children. He does not spend his meager breath and failing strength complaining about how loud the music is, how unruly and ungrateful the youth of today are, how poorly designed the facilities are... He worships and he blesses. And the young ones receive his blessing as gift and as treasure. The children have his example to guide their own lives by. They have his legacy of faith passed down.

It's how I want to finish.

I think of the wisdom of the Cowichan people, the First Nations tribe in the region where I live. One of the former chiefs of the Cowichans told me, "Every time we gather as a people, the purpose of our gathering is to make the world better and safer for our children." "Men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets, each with cane in hand because of his age. The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there."

May our churches be the epicenter of this, a healing of the generations.

- Mark Buchanan

Learn More

Learn more about Your Church Is Too Safe: Why Following Christ Turns the World Upside-Down.

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June 2012

June 13, 2012

A risky mission for Ananias

Earlier that day...

Listening to God: A risk worth taking

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June 12, 2012

The Struggles, Failures, and Hope of Adam

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June 11, 2012

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June 08, 2012

When "weird stuff" starts happening

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June 07, 2012

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Postscript: Do you feel like a carriage wheel or train wheel?

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June 06, 2012

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June 05, 2012

You, me and the Knights Templar

Why does Jesus want followers to surrender everything?

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June 04, 2012

Great Good + Grave Danger

The Christian's Choice

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June 01, 2012

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