HARNESSED FLEAS

I read in the Florida Times Union that an entire troupe of performing fleas froze to death in Germany.  No lie.  The circus director Robert Birk said he was shocked to find all three hundred of his fleas dead in their transport box.  He said it was the first time he had lost all his fleas to the cold all at one time. 

I’ve never seen a flea circus, so I did a little a research.  According to Wikipedia flea performances were first advertised as early as 1833 in England, and were a major carnival attraction until 1930.  The only known genuine flea circus that still performs is the one in Germany.  Fleas typically live only for a few months and are not trained.  Fleas are observed to see if they have a predisposition for jumping or walking.  Once sorted, they are harnessed by carefully wrapping a thin gold wire around the neck of the flea.  Once in the harness the fleas usually stay in it for life. The harnesses are attached to the props and the strong legs of the flea allow them to move objects significantly larger than themselves. Jumping fleas are used for kicking small lightweight balls. They are carefully given a ball; when they try to jump away (which is not possible because of the harness) they shoot the ball instead. Running fleas are used to pull small carts and vehicles or to rotate a Ferris wheel.  There are historical reports of fleas glued to the base of the flea circus enclosure.  Instruments were then glued to the flea performers and the enclosure was heated.  The fleas fought to escape, giving the impression of fleas playing musical instruments. 

At the risk of sounding uncompassionate I’ll be honest and admit that I laughed my way through Wikipedia’s description.  I never knew.  So flea circuses really did/do exist. 

On a less comical note, I wonder about the various times in our lives when we’ve been like “circus fleas” harnessed to a habit or pain or fear.  And we’ve kicked and tried to run and tried to escape or cope in our own ways and strength.  Instead of getting free we stayed “harnessed” to our destructive or self-centered patterns which I believe give Satan a sense of gratification.  Instead of kicking or running or using our own power to change our lives, we must let Christ free us and transform us.  The flea may think:  My own behavior baffles me. For I find myself not doing what I really want to do but doing what I really loathe, (Romans 7:15 Ph).  But the Christian has the truth:  In my mind I am God’s willing servant, but in my own nature I am bound fast, as I say, to the law of sin and death. It is an agonizing situation, and who on earth can set me free from the clutches of my sinful nature? I thank God there is a way out through Jesus Christ our Lord, (Romans 7:22-25 Ph).  

THE INVITE

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus. John 1:40-42

Next Sunday is Easter.  Of all the Sundays in the entire year, that’s the Sunday to invite someone to church.  The first thing Andrew did after he had decided to follow Jesus was to find his brother Simon Peter and bring him to Jesus.  For those of us who are convinced that Jesus is our Salvation, the obvious thing to do this week is to invite someone to come to church with us on Easter Sunday.  Bring them to Jesus.

TO BE GREAT

Jesus defines “greatness” differently than the world.  Jesus says “stardom” is really just the opposite of what the ways of the world would lead us to believe.  The disciples were jockeying for positions of greatness in God’s Kingdom, arguing about who would be “stars” with Jesus.  Who would be the ones to be noticed with the King?  Who would be out front and in charge with Jesus? 

Then, Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).

Jesus said the real stars are the servants and the sacrificial.  They are the great ones.  They are the heroes in God’s eyes.  The Apostle Paul said, Our decision all along has been to put up with anything rather than to get in the way or detract from the Message of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:12 Mes).  We must constantly examine our motives and actions.  The message we communicate, the vibe we send, the feeling that is expressed is to be the “message of Christ”, never the “message of me”.  Be great by being a servant who sacrifices as a way of life in order to bring people to salvation in Christ.

LIVING JOYFULLY

Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in him at all times. Have a reputation for gentleness, and never forget the nearness of your Lord.  Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (Ph)

To rejoice is a choice.  The focus of joy and the source of joy are in your relationship with the Lord God.  It’s in your time spent with Him.  When you’re getting your joy from the Lord you can show forbearance with people.  When you choose to share with the Lord all of your heart and all of your needs, thanking Him for what He’s done in your life, and you choose not to be consumed with worry, then God will give you peace of mind.  He will guard your heart and mind with His peace.

Practically speaking:

1.      Take time with the Lord to experience joy with Him.

2.      Take that joy with you throughout the day.

3.      Then you can be forbearing with others.  Why? Because your inner joy and peace is not based on how people act or react to you, but on your relationship with the Lord.

4.      Take the emotional hits and burdens back to the Lord and talk to Him about all of them.  Leave your anxiety with Him.  And then His peace will guard your feelings and our thoughts.

Three things about God’s relationship with the committed believer in Christ will never change:

1. You will always be together.  Rest in His security.

I can never escape from your Spirit!  I can never get away from your presence! Psalm 139:7 (NLT)

2. He will work everything out for your good.  Rest in His goodness.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)

3. He wants you to know how deeply He loves you.  Rest in His love for you.

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it, … There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. 1 John 3:1; 4:18 (Mes)

JUDGING VS. JUDGMENTAL

Jesus didn’t say not to “judge”.  For example He said, “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?” (Luke 12:57), and “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly” (John 7:24 NLT).  Yes, we should judge between right and wrong, and stand for what’s right and stand against what’s wrong, because there is a right and a wrong.  There is good and there is evil.  There is the Lord God’s way that leads to life and there is every other way that leads to death.

Jesus didn’t say don't judge; He said don’t be “judgmental.”  We must keep ourselves in check that we don’t take the place of God in judging others.  We’re all ultimately accountable to Him.  He will have the last word.  We all will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5 NLT). 

What’s the difference between a “nonjudgmental person” and a “judgmental person”?  Nonjudgmental people are aware of their own flaws and potential for failure.  They are therefore cautious about criticizing others.  Judgmental people classify wrongdoing into acceptable and unacceptable categories.  For example they decide it’s unacceptable to steal from others, but acceptable to tolerate sexual lust as long as it’s not acted out.  “Acceptable” and “unacceptable” are decided according to what the judge tolerates in his or her own personal life.  Jesus said, “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.  For you will be treated as you treat others.  The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?” (Matthew 7:1-3 NLT).

THE LONG TERM

     You were making splendid progress; who put you off the course you had set for the truth? Galatians 5:7 (Ph)

      Most boards and CEO’s want to hire people who have shown measurable results.  But when they overvalue the short term results that are more easily measured, they reward those who produce immediate advances over long term significance. 

     Something similar can happen in the church.  We can place too much emphasis on the short term immediate visible results, and when they don’t materialize as soon as we want, we’re tempted to move on to something else or somewhere else, or just give up.  And our spiritual growth is stunted. 

      Though it may be challenging to value the long term results over the short term results, it’s that “stick to it” kind of attitude that is rewarded more.  With a long term view of results, godly values are absorbed deeply and take root in our lives.  We are transformed over the long term.  The kind of results looked for – Christ-like character, love, joy, peace, authentic vulnerable community, a strong motivation for connecting people to God and growing spiritually and serving people – materialize over time.  Transformed lives, Christ-like character, and spiritual/emotional maturity can only be produced over the long term.   The final results will be measured in eternity one day.  So stay the course.  Stick to it.  Look for long term results in the future for yourself and for others, because those are lasting results – lives truly transformed and matured.  So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective, Colossians 3:1-2 (Mes).

FINDING YOUR WAY

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Cor. 5:14-15

The love of Christ is that which not only compels us, drives us, urges us on, but it also defines our life purpose.  His love “closes us in.”  The King James Version says it this way:  For the love of Christ constrains us.  The meaning of His love which gets hold of us and pushes us forward also means His love “constrains” us.  It’s the idea of being confined between two walls to one purpose.

God’s love for you sharpens the focus of your life.  It gives direction to your life.  It’s in His love for you that your purpose is defined.  It’s by His love for you, His love for human beings, and your love for Him that you’re able to narrow down your life purpose.  The love of Christ puts you in a hallway, so to speak, and the direction of your life becomes clear and focused.

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us!  Just look at it—we’re called children of God!  That’s who we really are. 1 John 1:3 (Mes)

Just look at God’s love for you.  Take the time regularly to pause and… just look at God’s love.   Gaze on it.  Stare at it.  Take it in.  Soak it up.  Delight in it.  Marvel at it.  Wonder at it.  Let His love for you dear child of His go all the way through you.  And… your life will transform.  And… your life purpose will form in a direction for you.