Monday Memo

by Steve May

A survey published by the Barna Group in 2006 demonstrated that most American evangelicals don’t consider themselves to be holy. The report states:

- 76% believe that it is possible for someone to become holy regardless of their past.
- 55% said that they knew someone they considered to be holy.
- 29% consider themselves to be holy.

It appears that believers are more convinced of their connection to their old nature than they are to their connection to their connection to their new nature. They’re more aware of their acts of sinfulness than they are of their acts of righteousness. They’re more aware of their failures than they are of their successes.

I suppose this makes sense. In the journey toward holiness, the ugliness of sin will stick out, like a smudge on an otherwise beautiful painting. It is this awareness of sin that empowers us to fight it, reject it, and abandon it.

But let’s not let ourselves be too aware of sin — not in the sense that it defines us. Though we struggle with the old man, we must remember that who we really we are is defined by the gift of grace that God has lavished upon us. Hebrews says we have made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:10) and through this sacrifice we are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:14)

The first reference describes our position: God declares us holy. The second reference describes our performance: God is conforming us into the image of Christ.

For this reason we must learn to see ourselves as God sees us: New creatures, created in Christ to become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Your struggles with sin — the fact that sinful tendencies frustrate you — are an indication of what God has already done in your life and where he is taking you today.

Perhaps one of the best Father’s Day illustrations is the story of Derek Redmond, a runner in the 1992 Olympics.

Derek was competing for the medal in the 400 meter race. Less than half-way through, he ripped a hamstring muscle and fell to the ground in agony. While the rest of the runners moved past him, Derek managed to get to his feet and began struggling to move forward.

Then something caught the attention of the television cameras. An older man wearing blue shorts and a Nike “Just Do It” cap pushed past a security guard onto the race track. It was Derek’s father, Jim.

At first Derek shrugged him away, saying, “I’m going to finish the race.” Jim said to his son, “We’ve started everything together. We’ll finish this together.”

He put his arm around his son and held him as they crossed the finish line together. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause; it has become a classic moment in sports.

In fact, Oliver Irish, columnist for the UK based Observer, called it one of the top 10 “teary moments” in sports. He said, “Not many moments … remain so poignant that they can reduce grown men to tears, but this is a bona fide weepy.”

This story challenges me, as it challenges all fathers, to do whatever I can to help my children finish the race. Even if—especially if—they stumble along the way.

In the book of Isaiah, God said, Listen to me…you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you. (Isaiah 46:3-4)

Fathers, by God’s grace may we live with such strength and integrity that we can say these words to our sons and daughters.

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Project Brasil has a free bulletin insert of this story HERE (THIS IS A PDF FILE.)

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Here is a video of the Derek Redmond story. (Note: If you search on Derek Redmond at You Tube, you’ll find many more videos of the same event, some have developed with a scriptural theme.)

Andy Stanley makes a great statement about God’s timing: We look at our watches; God looks at the calendar.

Waiting on God is a difficult habit for believers to develop. By nature we’re not patient, and our culture offers little encouragement to develop the habit. We want, we need, we think we deserve everything now.

Remember that Sarah waited until she was very old for the son she had always dreamed about; Moses waited 40 years on the backside of the desert for God’s call; Joseph languished in prison 13 years before God vindicated him. Even Paul spent 17 years in preparation before he began the ministry that God called him to on the road to Damascus. But you can be sure that each of these saints would say it was worth the wait. It always is.

No doubt you’re waiting for a number of things, too: victory, healing, peace, growth, vindication, success. Today I encourage you to remember one thing: God is on his way. Sometimes the night seems to last forever. Sometimes his silence seems permanent. That’s because we look at the clock while he looks at the calendar.

Solomon wrote, “God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

We cannot see the whole scope of God’s work, but the scope exists. And we may not see the big picture, but there is one. Today might be just another day of waiting for you, but here’s how you can make it better: Take your eyes off the clock and turn them toward Jesus. Spend this time waiting in expectation rather than desperation. God is at work in your work in life, making all things beautiful in their time.