3 lessons learned in the woods and their spiritual implications

You will get a kick out of this if you are an outdoorsman.  If you’re not, the spiritual implications arevaluable, trust me.   I recently spent a few days bowhunting in adense forest in central Missouri.  On thesecond morning of the hunt, I awoke 30 minutes before the alarm went off.  I slept great!  I was rested and ready to go.  Getting up extra early, I was able to readthe Bible, pray and enjoy some good coffee before we left the cabin.  I had only been in this set of woods oncebefore and yet walked directly to the tree I wanted to hunt from.  Awesome! The morning was goingperfectly.  I climbed the tree and gotsettled in my stand.  I knew this wasgoing to be a great day.

About 7:30 a.m. I saw movement on my right side.  Here he came. A nice buck emerges from the brush about 20 yards away.  I had only a small lane to shoot through andknew I couldn’t waste much time.  That’swhen it happened; a series of mistakes that would turn my “perfect” morninginto a long, wet, disappointing day.  Letme explain.

As I drew my bow, my peep sight turned.  Aargh! That’s when I realized my firstmistake of the morning; I didn’t give my equipment a thorough check.  Then, I made my second mistake, I didn’tregroup.  I thought about it.  I really did. But instead, I took a blind shot. The result was a poor shot and hours of tracking in the rain! 

Tired and frustrated, I settled into a different spot in theevening.  I just knew that the deer wouldcome from one direction so I set my climbing stand to face it.  I had good, clear shooting lanes, my peepsight was in

place and I was ready.  Thenit happened. The deer did not come from the direction I was facing. Nope, itcame from behind me.  When I realized it,I got impatient.  Instead of waiting forthe right moment to turn my body into position, I hastily turned around to geta shot.  By the time I got back to where Ineeded to be, I was busted.  I watched asthe deer galloped away from about 25 yards. I neglected to follow the basicrules of hunting.

Needless to say, as I lay in the bed that night my emotionswere much different than how they had begun earlier that morning.  My anticipation of a great day had turned toa restless night of disappointment and a list of “should haves.”

As I pondered on the mishaps it struck me.  The mistakes I made in the woods are often madein our faith journey with the Lord.  Wego from unspeakable joy and great anticipation to regret and disappointment

4 Focus Points to Greater Kingdom Impact

I’m sure you have heard it said just like I have; “If there are so many Christians, then why aren’t we seeing a greater impact on our society and world?”  Personally, I don’t believe it is from a lack of concern.  Every Christ-follower that I have had discussion with has a genuine concern over the moral and spiritual decline we are witnessing in society.   Now, I may be wrong, but I also don’t believe I have ever met a true believer who wasn’t deeply burdened for those who are without a personal relationship with Christ.  Yet, that still doesn’t answer the question, “Why aren’t Christians making a greater impact?”

As I mentioned, I don’t think it is from a lack of concern.  I believe for many of us, the enemy is using a different tool from his evil collection; he has got us distracted.  Christians are not exempt from the everyday pressures of life.  Like everyone else, Christ-followers have families to raise, jobs to go to, lawns to mow, dishes to wash, bills to pay, PTA meetings to attend and the list goes on and on. Satan knows that he doesn’t have to harden our heart, he can simply distract our focus.

I love the story about former New York Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra.  He was known for his

Faith that Works

Recently, in the Bible study group that my wife and I enjoy each week, our discussion on authentic Christianity turned to the topics of grace and works.  If you want to get a theological firestorm started, just get a debate going on the role grace and works play in one’s eternal salvation.  Personally, I am very thankful that the gift of Salvation is just that, a gift.  Forgiveness of sin, being made righteous before a holy God, and having the confidence of eternal life is nothing short of the undeserved favor (grace) that God pours upon the soul of a sinner who finally realizes his or her utter spiritual depravity and calls out to Jesus.  He alone can bring peace between sinful mankind and Holy God.

As the song writer penned, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.”

The Scriptures declare, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 13-14, NIV).

I know you will join me in giving praise to the Lord for His grace.  Yet, in our thanksgiving for God’s indescribable gift, we cannot forget that following grace must be a transformed life that declares through our actions that we have indeed received grace. In reading 1 Thessalonians, we get a glimpse of the power of the Gospel as it is displayed with both grace and works in the life of a believer.

“We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1: 3, NIV)

The writer, Paul, was moved by the genuineness of the faith in these Thessalonian believers.  They had received the message of redemption through Christ and that knowledge had traveled 18 inches south from their ears to their heart.  They did not simply hear the Gospel, it transformed them.  Paul remarks, “We remember your WORK, your LABOR, and your ENDURANCE.” 

A few verses later, Paul states that he did not even have to write about their works of faith because the whole community was talking about them.  He said, “For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1: 9-10, NIV)

The Apostle James writes, “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2: 26, NIV).

Even Jesus taught, “…a tree is recognized by its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33, NIV).

Life Application:

Are you a follower of Jesus?  If so, have you stopped to give thanks to God today for the incredible grace He offers you through Jesus?  As you give Him praise, ask Him to empower you to live out your faith so that others will believe your testimony by your actions.  Show others through your life that change Jesus makes.