Easter 42 What's in Your Toolbox?

[HKHaugan]

I heard a great analogy in a brief remark made by a worshiper interviewed as he was leaving a church service. He went to church to hear the sermons because each one offered a new tool for his toolbox. It continues that theme of thinking spiritually again. If we can offer the Holy Spirit's insights, the ones He gives us as we encounter every next moment, then we are penetrating the world's negative atmosphere. We are offering spiritual tools to build, to correct, to open the heart to a free life in Christ. It's that key theme of hope. If we can offer people hope in their every next moment then we are making a difference both in our selves and them. Just as the message of hope has freed us so it is freeing them in the process.

But it is not hope in itself or we would end up making an idol out of hope. It is God's hope in becoming what God has designed us for, to be in relationship with Him and to build relationships with others. Hope is not wishful thinking or being a 'Pollyanna,' that is, a self-defined optimist on steroids. Hope is a personal quality and gift from the Lord. It's believing, trusting and acting in faith because they are the means to letting Jesus live out His Resurrection in us. Hope is the Holy Spirit's work in us as we let the Lord guide us through His Word, His promises in the Word, our repentance and His forgiveness. Hope is looking forward expectantly as we read His Word, worship Him, open ourselves to others, share and seize the moment for Him.

Hope is the willingness to be open to see the Lord working in spite of what negative things may be happening in and around us. If in fact we believe that 'all things work for good' that becomes the poster verse for every next event in our relational encounters. The issue is not what do we say or do when we are confronted by unbelieving attitudes and opinions but rather what is the Lord showing me in them that teaches me more about how to respond that He may be seen through me. How do I deal with disagreement, anger, those who bait me into an argument, pointed hard-to-answer questions, uncomfortable emotions in self and others, open mistakes, careless remarks and criticism? It is not just hope in some isolated sense like 'I hope I get through this OK.' That's negativity tinged with fear. Hope is positive. It's hope in the love and power of the risen Lord who is there present in my heart. Hope is the Lord working in us to stand firm and confident and respond like He did when He was in similar circumstances.

Think of ourselves as handymen, carpenters, repair techs, engineers, with toolboxes full of hope tools that can meet the emergencies of the moment. Like them we are called into situations that need help because the one who calls doesn't know how to fix the issue and may not realize the implications involved. And when they arrive they have to analyze, determine the course of action, apply the right tools and adjust accordingly. Many times the real issue is not what is being expressed but something far different than what was originally thought. This is the nature of relational exchanges. There are always deeper issues.

However, having a toolbox full of spiritual tools doesn't mean we have to unload and impose them the moment we come into a situation. It's the patience in listening, discerning and waiting on the Spirit to give us the nudges necessary to know which ones are to be drawn from the box. If our hope is in the Lord then that hope is believing He will 'in-Spirit' us to use the tool necessary in every next moment. Because the Lord Jesus resides in our heart by the Holy Spirit the tools are always there ready for the moment a need presents itself.

We may be intimidated by someone's intellectual expertise, biblical knowledge, emotional nature or their hostility. You might say a subject “is too deep for me,” or “I'm in over my head'” or “I know they won't listen because of social position,” or “they're scary,” or “they're bigger and stronger,” or “I could lose my job,” even, “they might kill me,” what ever. When that kind of thinking grips you consider diminutive Paul and his mission and the physical limitations biblical commentators said he had. Listen to the power with which he counsels us:
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom.8:35-39).”

Paul's toolbox was full and complete. We have the same one but tailored for each of us individually. Time to move out, get on with the program and watch the Lord at work.