Review: Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands

By: Howard Cole

A beautiful guitar locked in its case may resemble many church members. How? A guitar is designed with the intention to be played upon by another so that the music of the instrument can be heard by all. It was never meant to stay in the case! Author Paul David Tripp seizes upon this idea and develops it in his book Instruments in the Redeemers Hands. What is the book about? What were some of its weaknesses? Did any sections grip and grow my own understanding of being a person in need of change helping people in need of change? Read on and consider reading this book if you want to help the ones you love change in areas where they get spiritually stuck.

Lastly, what gripped me and grew me? So much! I caught Trip’s vision and I dream of making it a reality for my local church. I am repenting of the following things that the book pointed out: I am now targeting my heart and others hearts instead of surface behavior, I am first seeking to slowly love and know another before I speak into their life or help with agenda setting, I am seeing myself and others as “meaning-makers” and I am bringing the revelation of Scripture as the primary aid in interpreting how we can change, and lastly I am attempting to ask wise questions that show my love for another as I seek to apply God’s redemptive solutions.

Have you ever considered yourself an instrument fashioned, formed and placed in the hands of Jesus? Have you ever thanked God for the dignity and sense of purpose he gives members of his church who act as instruments in his hands in the change and growth of another? I long to be used by God in this way and encourage you to read this book for your own growth in grace.

Tripp states his focused goal of the book when he says “this book is about: how God uses people who are themselves in need of change, as instruments of the same kind of change in culture.” He reminds his readers that an instrument is not a passive conduit but instead an active tool used to actually change something. He cites Ephesians 4 as the foundation for every member of a local church actually being a particular tool in the Father’s toolbox. Tripp then goes deeper with his overall goal when he adds “the goal is to help change the church’s very culture.” Tripp makes a bold assault on the idea that paid professionals are the only ones that can be used by God as instruments to help people change. He does not denigrate the roles of the pastor or elders or deacons but instead marshals Scripture upon Scripture to call all members into the active role of instruments in the Redeemer’s hands.

The specific content of the book was helpful for me in my understanding of God’s overall purposes regarding how people change, in understanding myself and in understanding others. Tripp began with a profound argument about our behavior being rooted in the thoughts and motives of our hearts. He cautioned against trying to help others change without going down to the depths of one’s heart. The heart is the core of a person where they think, feel and act. Surface level change is not the goal. Change at the heart level is the true goal. Next Tripp called members of a church to be ambassadors for Christ. The helper needs to incarnate Christ in the suffering and struggles of another. He contends that this is done best by a dual process; ask really good questions that get to the bottom of the heart and set an agenda of accountability that puts feet to the change proposed. All of this is done against the backdrop of the radical redemption that both the helper and “helpee” experience in Christ.

Did the book have any weaknesses? I believe Tripp did a fine job in developing an “every member ministry” church culture but what is one to do if a member avoids or fails to follow through with the intended change from another member that is not a spiritual authority? The church was set up with elders (see Philippians 1:1) who guide followers of Jesus in their change process. Our culture is so anti-authority due to the fall of all men into sin. Many members will run from the loving redemptive help of another and the book would be enhanced with a section that gave practical tips on how to help another when the person does not want help. Another suggested improvement of the book centers on a specific “block” that many members might give to another that is trying to help them. What do I mean? Trip challenges his readers to go through a four step process with others to help them change: Love the other, know the other, speak to the other and set an agenda to help the person know what to do. I have found that many people will run from any step of this process by saying “you don’t know my specific struggles so I cannot trust that you can help me change.” I know that this a smoke screen of sorts but I could of used help in what to do for a person that runs from the process with this or many other excuses.

Learning to Pursue Sacrifice

By: Sarah Cates

As Americans, most of our life is consciously and unconsciously built around trying to avoid discomfort of any kind. But we cannot forget that wrapped up in the promise of blessing and comfort from Christ, we are also promised that we will share in His suffering while on this earth. Suffering is unavoidable. When we inoculate ourselves to any discomfort, any irritation, any self-sacrifice, then, when we are struck with promised suffering, it bowls us over.

Do you pursue any discomfort in your own life, any sacrifice? Do you wake up earlier than you must to pray? Do you volunteer at your child’s school? Do you give up your time to invest in someone who can give you nothing, but who needs your everything? Do you take care of your health for the sake of those you love, who rely on you? Most of us don’t or, if we do, we go kicking and screaming.

I CrossFit. I lift heavy barbells in a dozen ways, I jump on boxes, I do hundreds of burpees, I do pull-ups, I run with heavy objects on my shoulder. Every workout is designed to hurt, to push you past limits. God has used this intentional, pursued discomfort in my day-to-day life to speak Truth into my heart so that I am better prepared when sacrifice I didn’t choose comes around - which it does almost daily.

1. You learn to take it one step at a time

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34

It is impossible to do many CrossFit workouts while thinking about the entire workout. Once you begin and the burn starts and your heart rate is up, it does you no favors to think about how this is only round one and you’ve got five to do. You learn that you can only focus on performing the movement at hand to the best of your ability, with the best strategy, so that you can actually make it to round five. The same can apply when trying to staff volunteers for an event, when trying to get the baby to go to sleep for the eleventh time, when setting a budget that lets you give to your church. Thinking about the entire problem, trying to solve the entire problem at once will never be effective. Do the next thing, and soon the entire thing will be done.

2. You learn to keep moving no matter what

“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13b-14

There comes a time in almost every workout, when you want to either stop and rest, or you want to take some weight off, or you want to just plain quit. But you learn to say no. You learn to push yourself to finish at the weight you started, even though it’s more difficult with every rep. You learn to not take any more rest than you need, because it doesn’t help you accomplish what you set out to accomplish. You learn not to quit, because it is never worth it to quit once you’ve started. The only thing that will help you is WORK. To call the next potential volunteer and ask them to show up. To fill out the next page of the application. To not turn on the TV and spend intentional time with your kids.

3. You learn that you need others

“And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

Most CrossFit workouts are done in a gym with a coach and with a class. You have friends who are suffering literally alongside you as you try to complete whatever task has been put before you. This community becomes one of the greatest sources of encouragement and strength to keep going. This becomes a model and reminder of how Christ comes alongside us and holds us up through trials of every kind. We need Him and His Spirit to accomplish any self-sacrificial task, and He does not disappoint.

4. You learn that suffering produces joy

This doesn’t mean, of course, that we have only a hope of future joys—we can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles. Taken in the right spirit these very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character, and a character of this sort produces a steady hope, a hope that will never disappoint us. Already we have some experience of the love of God flooding through our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us. - Romans 5:3-5 (Phillips)

There is an undeniable, unexplainable joy in completing something that you didn’t think you could complete. Whether its a workout at a heavier weight than you’ve ever used, or boot camp, or passing the last exam to earn your CPA. Those things that appear most daunting when you first look at them, often offer the most joy - even as you are completing them. God is faithful to meet us in the midst, not just the end, of our suffering and to bring us joy that is inexplicable apart from His Spirit at work. We learn that it is not our circumstances that bring us joy, but the presence and knowledge of the person of Christ and we best meet Him when we are not living for our own comfort.

"And when we find ourselves most hopeless, the road most taxing, we may also find that it is then that the Risen Christ catches up to us on the way, better than our dreams, beyond all our hopes. For it is He--not His gifts, nor His power, nor what He can do for us, but He Himself--who comes and makes Himself known to us. And this is one pure joy for those who sorrow." -Elisabeth Elliot

5. You learn more about the heart of your Savior

“Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:2

Christ became man, leaving behind perfect joy, love, comfort, peace, to suffer for our sake. He chose suffering. He pursued it. He suffered mentally, physically and spiritually, just to rescue us out of the suffering of our sin and return us to the grace of communion with Him. When we are in the midst of discomfort and suffering ourselves, it reminds us of what He chose - when He didn’t have to. May this draw us deeper into worship and relationship with our loving Savior.

You don’t have to do CrossFit to pursue discomfort in your life. That is the method that God has used to bring these truths home to me - but He will meet you in any intentional pursuit of self-sacrifice. Maybe you’re being called to downsize your lifestyle so that you can spend more time with your family. There might be a difficult family member you need to pursue renewed relationship with. Maybe you need to volunteer at your child’s school. Perhaps you need to serve more actively in your church. It is not the method of self-sacrifice that is important, it is the intentional hunt for an exit from our comfort zone, trusting that the Lord Himself will meet us on the other side with joy beyond our imagining.

Growing Pains

By Howard Cole

Once upon a time two little seeds fell to the ground and slowly sunk into the damp soil. The seeds were adjacent to a large window in the front yard of a family’s home in the suburbs. One seed had everything it needed to become a comfortable weed. The other seed would become a comforting red rose.

One day they both broke through the earth’s carpet and began to sunbathe and sway in the warm wind. Day after day they stretched their stems toward the sky. They grew and grew until both of them could peek into the window and watch the bustling family’s life. The weed tilted toward the rose and spoke with a smug tone as he observed the young mother changing a diaper.

“Change. That poor mother is always changing things. Changing the diapers, changing the oil of the car, changing the air filters in the house, changing the budget, changing the meal plans, changing her bad attitude toward her husband and children, changing her fashion, and even changing her mind. I heard her husband tell her the other day that changes were happening at work, in their church, and in the country. You’ve seen him as much as I’ve seen him changing a morally suspect channel of his TV, changing his yelling at his kids to a kinder tone and changing from being stubbornly angry at his wife for a wrong he did and asking her to forgive him. Change, change, change! Personally, I don’t believe in the benefits of change. Too often change involves pain.”

The rose blushed as it faced the weed and spoke softly. “I’m not yet old enough to share more than an opinion, so can you explain to me why you don’t believe in the benefits of change?”

Before she could finish her sentence the weed resumed his rant.

“I like things to follow a regular routine that makes life comfortable. Steady sunshine one day and soft showers the next should make everyone happy. Pain is to be resisted at all cost and pleasure should be the highest purpose and pursuit. At the end of every day one should enjoy the narcotic of nostalgia and fall asleep remembering the way things used to be.”

The rose wanted to agree but as she looked down at her stem she noticed her uncomfortable thorns. She gently challenged the weed.

“God gave me these painful points to remind me that he is the one who is creating beauty in his mysterious way. Though I don’t know much, I do know that growth includes, rather than excludes the pain of change. I’ve watched the mother and father exercise and work with pain to produce the flower of emotional pleasure, an ordered home and health. I’ve seen the children endure the pain of schoolwork, chores and correction yielding the flowers of wisdom and creativity. I’ve heard the whole family speak at the table about someone named Christ who changed water into wine and died a painful death to change the condition of sinners into beloved saints. He died, crowned with the glory of thorns.”

The weed lifted his shabby leaves to cover his ears. “I won’t hear any more of this this talk about the benefits of change. It pains me too much.”

Just as the weed covered his ears the mother called to her teenage son, “Go pull the weeds near the windows before you play your video games.” The pimpled boy approached the weed and the rose. The weed lowered his leaves from his ears and expected the boy to play in the yard. Instead, to the weed’s utter discomfort, the boy bent over, reached out, strangled his stem and pulled its roots out of the ground tossing it without a care into a garbage can. Because the rose was still small and short the boy planned to pull her out of the ground too as he mistook her for a weed. As he grabbed her stem a thorn stabbed his thumb. He winced, let go and marveled at the beauty of the red rose. As he left the rose planted in her place the rose bloomed in the sunshine with the wonder of knowing that change contains pain to produce beauty.

The Dusty Plans in My Attic

By: Sarah Cates

Yesterday was my 29th birthday. I’m almost 30, which is awesome, but thinking about that… man, have I ever realized that I am not where I expected to be as I enter my 30s. Perhaps some of you feel the same way as you hit this milestone, or your 40th, or your 50th, or your retirement years.

Let’s travel back to 22 year old me. My plan was to find some way to get onto the African continent working for a non-profit or as a volunteer, or really anything, for at least a year or two before coming back to the States and finding a “real job” and settling down. I know. Bask in the glory of that well-thought out, detailed plan. Then I met Chris and, ironically, while I was in Uganda on a short-term missions trip, I realized that I was going to marry him and stay in the States. And that was the beginning of the revolution of my adolescent dreams. No living in Africa for a few years by myself. No jetsetting around the world. No writing novels in between the hours of my 9-5. God’s plan for me was a quiet married life in DC, figuring out what it meant to be a wife, and - much sooner than we planned - mother.

Reality has a way of taking your biggest dreams, putting them into one of those vacuum sealed, space-saving storage bags, and tucking them in the attic of your heart. That sounds horrible doesn’t it? But it doesn’t scare me anymore. Because I know that the God of my reality is still the God of that little attic, and He sees it, even when I feel like everything in it has been lost. Proverbs 16:9 says: “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” There is no greater contentment or comfort than knowing that I am at the center of God’s will for me. Even if that will isn’t exactly what I would have chosen for myself, knowing that it is His releases all of my anxiety.

I don’t know what God plans to do with my dreams in those vacuum sealed bags. But He gives me a sweet promise in Psalm 37:4 - “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This is not a guarantee that He will pull those dreams out of storage and give them back. It gives me my assignment for now - learn to delight in Him! It is a beautiful promise that as I do that, He will be faithful to fulfill the desires of my changed heart. Maybe some of those dreams will stay in the attic. But like my arts and crafts projects from second grade… maybe that’s where they belong.

To anyone who is past the 30 year milestone and who has stuck with this post for this long, may I encourage you - please pour into those people who are younger than you. Tell them about the dreams you had when you were 20 that you saw come to fruition at 50. Show them in real-time the proof of God’s faithfulness to know us and love us well. And beyond that, His faithfulness to change us and make us new and give us better desires than our 20 year old self could come up with.

I don’t understand exactly why I have been given the life I have been given. It is a blessed, wonderful, beautiful life. I do not deserve it. It is also a life so drastically different from what I would have chosen for myself, and so drastically different from anyone else’s. I have different troubles and different successes. But, “If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshipped” (Evelyn Underhill). I want a big God. I want a God with mysterious, wondrous, creative plans. I do not want a God who takes direction from me, who follows my plans. My goodness, what a mess I would be in if I had that type of god. Thank goodness I don’t.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11