Shark Tank

1 Peter 5:1-11

  

Money and power equals success in our culture. The TV reality show Shark Tank personifies this. It is all about money and power.

 

The panel of super successful business people entertain pitches from entrepreneurs for their business ideas. If a panel member(s) like the pitch, they commit some of their own personal money to that business. If not, then look out. After all, the panel members are sharks, and if you’re going to get into the tank with sharks, you better be ready.

 

Peter was not particularly humble. He was more of a shark. He approached Jesus about who was the greatest. Anytime Jesus asked a question, Peter was the first to respond. Peter knew how to get things done and had the confidence to do them; until the night Jesus said that Peter would betray him. And later he did just that.

 

Following the resurrection, Peter wrote to the believers who were exiled throughout Asia Minor, “And all of you serve each other with humble spirits, for God gives special blessings to those who are humble, but sets himself against those who are proud. ⁶ If you will humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in his good time he will lift you up.”          TLB

 

If you look at the Bible as a whole, God used those who were humble; who often times found themselves at the bottom socially, economically or emotionally.

• David was the youngest of Jesse’s sons doing the lowly job of a shepherd when Samuel declared him to be the next king.
• Gideon was hiding in a winepress when God called him to be a “Mighty Warrior”.
• Mary was a poor peasant teenager, soon to be pregnant out of wedlock, when God’s angel called her to be the mother of Jesus.
• Paul was persecuting the believers when Christ struck him blind and called him to repent.

 

This is how God works. This is where He wants us; humble, not proud. Eugene Peterson puts it like this in Matthew 5: ³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. ⁴ “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”           MSG

 

Money and power equals success, but what pleases God more; your success or your faith? Are you proud or are you humble before Him?

 

 

 

Welcome to the shark tank. You better be ready.

 

Wall Drug

Isaiah 55:1-9

 

In 1931 Dorothy and Ted Hustead bought a small drug store in Wall, SD on the edge of the Badlands. Following the Great Depression, there were 326 poor people who lived in Wall. The Hustead’s worked the drug store for 5 years eking out a sparse existence.

 

Then, in the summer of 1936, everything changed.

 

It was a very, very hot afternoon when Dorothy had an idea. She thought, just maybe

all the people driving by their store on Route 16A might be thirsty, and if they offered free water, just maybe they would stop. Today, Wall Drug is a national tourist attraction with 76,000 square feet of store space; thanks to free water.

 

Isaiah wrote, “Say there! Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine and milk—it’s all free! ² Why spend your money on food that doesn’t give you strength? Why pay for groceries that do you no good? Listen and I’ll tell you where to get good food that fattens up the soul!”  TLB

 

For Isaiah, this is not a marketing ploy to bring customers into his store. It is an invitation to you, to me, to your co-worker, to the clerk at McDonalds, to the driver who cut you off… you get the idea. It is an open invitation for everyone to come to the Lord for our soul to be filled.

 

John wrote in Revelation to the church in Laodicea, ^16 “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”  NIV

 

It doesn’t sound like life has changed all that much since John’s days. We still find all kinds of things to take the place of what truly fulfills; what truly quenches our thirst. The Good News is that Jesus is always seeking us.

 

John also wrote to the church in Laodicea,

 ^20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”       NIV

 

"Get a soda . . .

Get a root beer . . .

Turn next corner . . .

Just as near . . .

To Highway 16 & 14. . .

Free Ice Water. . .

Wall Drug."

While reading this, you can visualize the signage as you are driving down the 2 lane highway of Route 16A.

 

 

 

What signs has God put in your life to draw you to Him? How has He used you in the lives of others as a sign to draw them to the Lord?

 

 

 

Prepare Yourself

Romans 13:8-14

 

 

Prep work is always the most important part of a job. Take painting for instance.

 

For an indoor job, first you have to remove everything hanging on the wall including all the outlet and light switch covers. Then you repair any drywall damage and fill holes. It’s always a good idea to sand down the wall too. Next, you may need to put a coat of primer on depending on the existing wall color and the new color.

 

Before you start to roll the final coat, you must cut in around all the trim. And before

cutting in, most people will apply blue tape to protect the trim. Finally, you get to roll the beautiful paint that you have selected. Then, when it’s all done, your spouse comes along, looks at it and points to a spot that you missed… Good preparation is essential.

 

Paul understood the importance of preparation. He wrote, ^11 “Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord is nearer now than when we first believed.”           TLB

 

In other words, we need to be ready; to be prepared for when the Lord returns. We can’t be lazy. We always have to be on high alert, as if a terrorist attack was eminent. We always have to be motivated to do our best. However, doing that “day in and day out” is difficult.

 

I went to a motivational workshop once where one of the speakers said that he took the attitude every day that

today was the last day before he went on vacation. You know how it is before going on vacation. You’re trying to get everything done that you would normally do during vacation, only get it done before vacation.

 

Peter also understood the importance of preparation. ^13 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep a clear

head, and set your hope completely on the grace to be given you when Jesus, the Messiah, is revealed.”  ISV

 

This verse begs the question: Why do you prepare your mind for action? James gives us the answer. ^14 “Temptation is the pull of man’s own evil thoughts and wishes. ¹⁵ These evil thoughts lead to evil actions and afterwards to the death penalty from God.”           TLB

 

From these verses, and our own experience, we know that sin begins with a fleeting

thought or desire. Therefore, preparing our mind and heart for action is critical in our relationship with Christ.

 

If we know why we should “prepare our mind for action”, then how do we do it? For me it includes daily time in the Scriptures and meditation on God’s word, talking to and listening for God to speak, participation in worship, in singing, in fellowship and in accountability with other believers.

 

 

Prepare yourself. How do you do it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Job Joe Boy

Matthew 3:13-17

 

The last football game that my Dad ever saw me play I wanted to make him proud. It was my senior year of high school, but my parents were moving to Kentucky while I stayed in Michigan. This was it; my final chance to win his approval; to make him proud. My last chance to hear him say, “Good job Joe Boy”.

 

With those four words he could have sent me on my way ready to tear down walls. After all, this was going to be a big change for me. I wouldn’t be living with my parents anymore. The people who had raised me, provided for me and made my life secure were moving, leaving me behind. Fear, insecurity and the anxiety of the unknown all waited for me like a dark closet in my bedroom.

 

Imagine how Jesus might have felt as he approached his cousin John about baptizing him. He was about to set out on his earthly ministry. We don’t know how much of the specifics Jesus knew of what awaited him, but for sure he had at least an inclination that a painful, sacrificial death would end his life. That by itself, would be more than enough for fear, insecurity and anxiety to stop him in his tracks.

 

^16-17 “The moment Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and

he saw God’s Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life.”                       MSG

 

With these words, God affirmed His son. He gave Jesus the strength and courage to go forward. He gave him the love and affirmation to face an unknown future that promised to hold both miraculous events and painful ones. He lifted Jesus up to prepare him for three years of high intensity spiritual battles.

 

I never heard my Dad say those words to me: “Good job Joe Boy”. But every time that I read God’s word, He says them to me. Every year when I celebrate the birth of His son, He says them to me. Every Easter when I remember the risen Christ, He says them to me. Every worship song that I sing, He says them to me.

 

He says the same message to you. “You are my Son, my daughter, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

 

 

 

By saying this, He gives you the courage and strength to face your fears, insecurities and anxiety of an unknown future.