19 November: Tuesday Refocus

‘When I want to pursue humility, whatever happens to me is okay…’ - Gary Thomas 

We love humility… in other people. Experiencing humility in others is disarming and magnetizing. But often, we run from or avoid the very circumstances and experiences in our own lives where humility can take root and grow.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” James 4:10

Being conformed to the image of Christ means that humility should also deeply mark our lives. Our thoughts of and toward ourselves are based on sober judgment, not thinking more highly than we ought to think (Romans 12:3).

As we move toward the Advent season, one of the realities we are invited to remember is that Christ “…emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:7-8).” And through his humility, he was exalted: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).”

Father, would we trust that our lives are safe in your hands. That humility in us is a beautiful reflection of your heart and character. In Christ’s name, amen.

Amen,

AB

3 September: Tuesday Refocus

“One of the great neglected duties of the Christian life is self-examination, and maybe self-examination is neglected because it is so humiliating an exercise.” - William Barclay

Nothing surprises God. There is no corner of creation or my heart that is not already seen and known all the way through. So when we pray with the psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24),” we pray to the One who has already “…searched me and known me! (Psalm 139:1).”

We pray asking not that God would learn something new in searching us, but that we would learn something new because God already knows “When I sit down and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether (Psalm 139:2-4).”

Father, thank You that You know us and that in Your kindness the Spirit convicts us of sin, and comforts us in our distress. Thank You for raising up the humble. In Christ’s name, amen.

Amen,

AB

27 August: Tuesday Refocus

“This way is first humility, second humility, third humility, and however often you should ask me I would say the same, not because there are not other precepts to be explained, but, if humility does not precede and accompany and follow every good work we do, and if it is not set before us to look upon, and beside us to lean upon, and behind us to fence us in, pride will wrest from our hand any good deed we do while we are in the very act of taking pleasure in it.” - Augustine

If pride comes before destruction, humility comes before exaltation (Proverbs 16:18, James 4:10). In pride we most closely resemble our first parents - and the accuser of our souls. In humility, we live as reflections of the one, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11

Jesus, might we be humble as you are humble. In your name, amen.

Amen,

AB

November 22: Tuesday Refocus

“Jesus transforms our hearts by service, not by power.” - Tim Keller

The weeks of Thanksgiving into the season of Advent are an opportunity for followers of Jesus to remember once more, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). All is gift. All is grace.

The arrival of Christ into our world was not marked by power.

It was marked by service. Because, “Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).” 

Christ transforms our hearts because He has first served us by emptying himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, humbling himself, and becoming obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2:7-8). Christ transforms our hearts once more when we seek to serve others as Christ has first served us.

Lord, may this upcoming Advent season be a time of heart transformation as we see how You have first loved and served us. Amen.

In service,

AB

February 15: Tuesday Refocus

“Confession and forgiveness are the concrete forms in which we sinful people love one another.” - Henri J.M. Nouwen

Grand, romantic gestures, gifts, and extravagance are often the visible markers of love the culture recognizes - particularly on Valentine’s Day.  But Scripture tells us, greater love has no one than this than they lay their life down for their friend (John 15:13).  But when Christ laid down His life for us, we were not friends of God.  In fact, we were His enemies, hostile toward Him (Rom 5:10).

Maybe there will come a day when you will be called upon to literally lay down your life on behalf of someone you love.  More likely, you will be called upon to lay down your life by dying to self, taking up your cross, and in humility thinking more highly of others as you confess your sins, and give and receive forgiveness (Gal 2:20, Col 3, Rom 12:3, Luke 9:23, James 5:16).  There are few things more vulnerable.  There are few things that display the kind of Christ-like love that is ours in and through His life and death.

Jesus, You have loved us with an everlasting, steadfast, immovable love.  May our love not just live in our hearts, but move our actions as we confess and forgive.  This is love too deep, and too difficult for us to accomplish in our own strength.  Help us to love with the power of Your Spirit.  Amen.

Love,

AB

February 1: Tuesday Refocus

“Surely to be proud is to be more like the devil and fallen Adam, than like Christ.” - J.C. Ryle

No one needs to learn pride, the fall built that into our DNA.  A genetic trait passed on from our first parents.  A hereditary malformation of soul and spirit.

But we are invited to learn from the Son of God and Son of Man - the One who is gentle and lowly of heart (Matthew 11:29).  And it is in this learning that we find rest for weary souls - those souls made busy and searching by pride.

God opposes the proud (James 4:6).  But it was for the proud and rebellious that He came - though He was rich, for our sake He became poor, so that we by His poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).  Through the humility and humiliation of Christ, our prideful hearts may be made gentle and lowly like His.

Lord, make us like You. Amen.

Asking,

AB

Working With Your Pastor

Relationships are never easy. They require time, communication, effort, forgiveness, and grace upon grace. The relationship between a worship leader and a pastor has layers of complicated dynamics at play: they are often your boss (your direct manager), your pastor (helping to shepherd your soul as a follower of Jesus), a friend (a relationship that exists outside of merely working together), a mentor (walking with you in personal relationship toward the Lord), and your employer (responsible in some way for your livelihood). These are complex and overlapping circles of relationship. While every person is unique, every relationship specific to the individuals involved, as I reflect on some of the relational pain, as well as evidence of God’s grace in relationships with pastors I have served alongside, here are a few things I hope will benefit you as you seek to work, worship, and serve in relationship with your pastor.

Focus on your own personal holiness. I am often reminded of Robert Murray McCheyne’s exhortation to pastors, ‘The greatest need of my people is my personal holiness.’ I believe this could be true in all our relationships - relationships with our spouses, coworkers, classmates, children, parents, siblings, team, etc. When I am more concerned over my own need to be conformed to the image of Christ, I am far less concerned about the failings of others. We are all in desperate need of the same grace of God. And when we recognize our own need, and gratefully accept God’s grace, how could we be angry, impatient, hostile, or ambivalent toward the same need in others?

You are on the same team as your pastor. A team that is being pulled in different or opposing directions cannot succeed. We must all keep in step with the Spirit personally and as a team. You are not in competition over vision, direction, or time on the platform each weekend. When we are in competition, we are proudly serving our own kingdom, rather than in humility serving Christ’s kingdom. Ed Welch says

‘Prayer is evidence of humility. Prayerlessness means that we neither believe Him, which is pride, nor turn to Him because we prefer to trust ourselves.’ (Ed Welch, Running Scared).

Pray for your pastor. For their own personal holiness, for their walk with the Lord. For wisdom and discernment to lead and serve God’s people well. For protection from the Enemy. Pray for your own heart to know how to love, serve, and encourage your pastor as you serve side by side for the glory of God and the good of His people.

Your pastor needs your support and encouragement. Our pastors carry more things than we realize. How can you speak life and courage into the hearts, and into their ministry? Talk to them, not about them. Assume the best, give grace. Speak well of them in their presence as well as in their absence. Honor God by honoring your leaders.

Relationships take work, but that cannot be work done by a single individual. Healthy relationships will require both people dying to self, and seeking the good of the other. Unfortunately, even within the church, even among those leading and serving the church, this is not always representative of how we interact one with another. Because of our sin, because of the Enemy’s desire to bring disunity and chaos into the Body of Christ, because of our own experience and baggage, we stand in constant need of God’s grace, mercy, and kindness to keep and sustain our relationships.

If you are involved in a relationship with your pastor that is abusive in any way - please seek outside, expert care and counseling. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans: ’If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.’ (Romans 12:18). The sad reality of living in the broken world is that sometimes - even when we have done everything we know to do - it is not possible to live peaceably with all.

If you’re a pastor, here are four things that you worship leader needs from you.

30 January: Tuesday Refocus

‘The greatest sign of pride isn’t the presence of boasting, it’s a lack of prayer.’ – BJ Thompson

Ouch.

We can wax lyrical about being humble servant leaders, but if we don’t come away from the crowd for communion with our Father (Lk 5:16), if our lives are not filled with unceasing prayers (1 Thess 5:16-18) of dependence, humility is merely aspiration.  And if our songs are really prayers, sung in faith and belief – they must be desperate echoes of a father, ‘I believe! Help my unbelief!’ (Mk 9:14)

Pray like you believe. 

Pray because you believe. 

Pray because you need to believe.

To prayer,

AB