Category Archives: Faith

Faith

Satan’s Most Effective Trick.

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In comparison to our omnipotent God, Satan appears powerless, like a toddler getting into the ring with the heavyweight champion of the world. He has no chance. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a few tricks up his sleeve, some of which have proven incredibly effective over the years, even against the people of God. Like some sadistic killer, he has honed the art of inflicting pain and destroying lives, and draws from a breadth of tools he has mastered over the millennia to accomplish his reprehensible exploits.

In his book, The Solomon Seduction, author Mark Atteberry suggests that “of all the nasty little stunts (Satan) pulls, making sin look like a good idea is easily the most dastardly.” Certainly the ability to give sin so thorough a makeover that it appears appealing is one of the devil’s most successful deceptions.

But an even more effective and dangerous trick, I believe, is Satan’s prodigious talent for persuading us that our conduct isn’t sin at all. Once we buy into the idea that God does not prohibit our behavior, the speed with which it becomes an entrenched part of our identity is supersonic. After all, why struggle against or resist an action if God doesn’t find it offensive?

American society has proven a receptive audience to this sham, happily devouring a philosophy that replaces God’s view of sin with a permissive perspective that condones all behavior. In fact, our culture so thoroughly embraces Satan’s enticing creed that it now categorically dismisses the concept of sin as silly and superstitious – a concept conceived in ignorance by a bunch of narrow-minded religious zealots. This represents an almost universal view on campuses, in Hollywood, on Wall Street, and among elected officials in the nation’s capital.

And though Satan has enjoyed unparalleled success targeting secular society with this fraud, he has succeeded in hoodwinking the church with it as well. While Christians may not subscribe to its tenets to the same degree as the culture, an honest assessment of our lives reveals its existence.

Indeed, Satan’s scheme has proven so effective we often fail to recognize our acquiescence to his lie. We have incurred spiritual blind spots that prevent us from perceiving the truth regarding our secret sins. Moreover, because we cherish these sinful behaviors we have little motivation to discover the truth. We revel in the maxim that ignorance is bliss. Consequently, we face the frightening prospect that we will continue in our hidden sins indefinitely. Our unwillingness to consider an alternate view of our behavior desensitizes us to the Holy Spirit’s conviction.

It is likely every one of us has some sin in his or her life that he or she incorrectly views as acceptable to God. (Those who believe themselves excluded from this assertion are likely the most deluded of all). Recognizing the obstacles we face in uncovering the truth, how do we remove our spiritual blind spots and identify the sins that so easily (and stealthily) ensnare us?

First, we must immerse ourselves in the Word of God to develop a thorough understanding of the mind and heart of Christ. In the absence of such knowledge Satan’s job of fooling us is made considerably easier since shallow infrequent study of Scripture generally produces shallow infrequent followers of Christ.

Second, we must petition God to expose the deceits of our hearts and reveal our hidden sins. God delights in those who want to live holy lives and will gladly answer such prayers – if genuine and unconditional. In others words, we cannot offer such prayers with hidden desires that some behaviors be excluded.

Third, we must seek counsel from mature believers. Those who have faithfully navigated the Christian journey for many years can often shed light on sin we have inadvertently embraced as harmless. Sometimes these seasoned believers are friends, family members, or congregants at our local church, and other times they are national leaders who speak to us through their writings, sermons, and ministries.

Finally, we must understand that when our inner voice justifies a behavior, that’s one indication something is amiss. We ought to exercise great caution before we pursue any conduct that falls into a gray area. The heart’s ability to deceive is legendary and we must resist the temptation to allow it to have its way with us.

A multitude of actions fall into the gray area and at first blush many will seem innocuous from inside the church – even if we might agree that secular society often practices them in a sinful manner. In truth, the church often practices them in a sinful manner, too. Here are three such sinful behaviors that thrive in many evangelical and orthodox churches because leadership and laity alike refuse to confront them.

1) We love the world and the things in the world. (See 1 John 2:15-17)

2) We steal God’s glory by inserting ‘I’ and ‘me’ into the narrative of His work in our lives, communities, and churches – and often do so with alarming frequency. (See Isaiah 42:8).

3) We worship God with our lips but our hearts are far from Him. (See Matthew 15:7-9).

Take time to reflect on your lifestyle and habits. Are there areas in your life that house a hidden sin? If so, ask God for forgiveness and the power to overcome them. If you are unable to identify any secret sins, spend time in prayer and seek God’s guidance in exposing them. As you do you will undergo a spiritual transformation as God reignites your faith in amazing ways.

Faith

The Fear of the Lord.

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A growing but troubling trend in the church today is the movement away from teaching believers to fear the Lord. I was reminded of this recently when a respected pastor informed his congregation that to properly fulfill God’s purpose in life they needed a perspective adjustment. Specifically, they needed to view God through the lens of love rather than fear. Only then could they enjoy His presence; only then could they fully comprehend and follow Him.

On the one hand, I understand this perspective. Many pastors grew up in churches that emphasized the fear of the Lord to the exclusion of His love. Their ministers taught the wrath of God, the terrible day of the Lord, and pounded on the existence and dangers of hell. Irrespective of the text on any given Sunday, the pulpit would intertwine these themes into the message. Many of the youth in these churches eventually learned the existence of God’s love, mercy and grace elsewhere and it resonated with them.

Fast forward a couple decades and some of these youth have become the pastors, leaders, speakers, and teachers of today’s church. In an effort to avoid falling into the same trap their ministers did, today’s pastors often ignore wrath, hell, and the fear of the Lord altogether. But emphasizing the love of the Lord to the exclusion of His judgment is dangerous. Such a narrow and incomplete view of God produces Christian lifestyles and attitudes that often mirror those exhibited in secular society.

Absent a reason to fear God our motivation to obey Him often diminishes. Moreover, God’s forgiveness, mercy, and compassion are unnecessary if His wrath does not exist. An accurate and healthy understanding of God, then, recognizes that each of these attributes represent His character.

The early church understood this truth. In Acts we learn that “the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied” (Acts 9:31, NKJV). These churches experienced considerable growth because they walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. They didn’t stress one characteristic of God over another. Instead, they held a complete view of God, which included both His compassion and His judgment. A healthy view of God always incorporates fear and love.

Some readers may wonder what value exists in teaching the fear of the Lord. Others argue that such instruction turns people away from God. To attract modern society, they argue, we need to abandon any talk of fear, wrath, or judgment. But without an appropriate fear of God and respect for His standard of holiness, people and cultures adopt sinful lifestyles without concern for eternal consequences.

The prophet Malachi tells us that God brings judgment, “Because the people do not fear the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:5). Absent a suitable fear of God, we enter into sin lightly until it becomes an established habit. The writer of Proverbs describes the anecdote for such behavior like this: “By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil” (Proverbs 16:6, NKJV).

In Revelation, the apostle John uses the following language to summarize the everlasting gospel, “Fear God, give Him glory … and worship Him,” (Revelation 14:6-7). While mercy and forgiveness represent critical components of the gospel, no need for either exists without judgment and wrath. A vibrant understanding of our need for God’s love and compassion begins with a proper fear of God. They go hand-in-hand.

And recall King Solomon. He invested considerable resources, energy, and time pursuing every action, thought, and philosophy to discover the meaning of life. He distills his findings into the following wisdom: “Here is the conclusion of the whole matter; Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, NKJV). The essence of our purpose is to know God, and that includes a healthy fear of Him; doing so reflects reverence and recognition of His greatness.

Solomon spoke from experience. Early in life He possessed a healthy fear of God and conducted His affairs accordingly. But as that fear diminished His obedience waned and He began committing a variety of abominations that led to his downfall.

Other benefits from fearing the Lord include the development of wisdom (see Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7, 9:10), God’s blessing (Psalm 112:1; 128:1,4), and an understanding of the mysteries of God (Psalm 25:14). In fact, societies that teach and embrace a healthy fear of God experience renewal and restoration. That is an outcome sorely needed in America today. In closing, I encourage Christian leaders to reinstate a healthy fear of the Lord into their sermons and for churchgoers to embrace that message. It is one that has the power to transform our nation.

Faith

Spiritual Attire.

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Irrespective of our style when it comes to attire, our wardrobe preferences are as unique as our personalities. Fashion forward individuals wear cutting-edge outfits that establish trends in society while those who prefer professional chic want apparel that blends elegance with style. Some of us favor designer labels while others prefer value brands. Some gravitate to bright hues, others to muted pastels, and still others to dark colors. Some are meticulous about creating matching ensembles while others invest little time pulling an outfit together. But regardless of specifics, most of us would agree our wardrobes reflect who we are and signal something about our personality.

Did you know that the same principle applies with our spiritual wardrobes? The behaviors, language, and attitudes we wear on a daily basis reveal a great deal about our faith and signal to causal observers what we really believe. Consequently we ought to focus as much time and attention on how we are clothed spiritually each day as we do on our outfits of cotton, cashmere, and corduroy.

The apostle Paul speaks to this in Colossians. He tells us, “Since God chose us to be the holy people He loves, we must clothe ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12, NLT). I love the metaphorical imagery Paul uses. His counsel is not a recommendation; it is a command. As an expression of our gratitude for God’s love, we dress ourselves in these characteristics that define Him. Moreover, Christ modeled these traits as an example for us to follow and demonstrate to a hurting world.

Moreover, in a culture marked by judgment, rudeness, arrogance, brutality, and impatience, such godly attributes offer a compelling contrast. They attract the attention of those weary and crushed by society’s cruel indifference. Clothing ourselves with the behaviors Paul mentions opens doors to sharing the gospel with those who otherwise might have no interest in discussing God.

Additionally, there are three important insights we can glean from the imagery of Paul’s clothing metaphor. First, we need to wear spiritual garments consistent with our faith in Christ. A grizzled motorcyclist would never enter his favorite bar wearing yellow trousers, a periwinkle shirt, and a cashmere sweater; nor would a fashionista saunter down Main Street sporting apparel from Wal-Mart or Dollar General. Such outfits are incongruous to their identities as a tough guy and an authority on style. Similarly, we ought to clothe ourselves in appropriate spiritual attire that reflects Jesus’ attributes.

Second, we need to dress ourselves spiritually on a daily basis. How many of us wear clothes only a couple days a week and walk around naked the rest of the time? None, I suspect. Likewise, it is insufficient to wear our spiritual attire on only an occasional basis. We must clothe ourselves in love, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience every day, and keep that attire on throughout the day. We must resist the temptation to remove any of those garments when faced with a challenging circumstance or sticky situation.

Finally, we must be intentional in putting on our spiritual apparel. Do you ever leave home just hoping your body clothed itself or do you deliberately go to the closet, select an outfit, put it on, and check the mirror to make sure everything’s fine? Similarly, we must do more than hope we have on spiritual clothing when we leave the house.

Develop the practice of asking God to give you a spirit of humility, mercy, patience, kindness, and gentleness as you get dressed each morning. By linking the two together you will develop the habit of ensuring you are clothed in the attributes of Christ as you start each day.

Faith

Counting All Things as Loss for Christ.

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Society is hurtling down a path of rebellion against and rejection of God at an alarming rate, perhaps unprecedented in modern history. We have arrived at an era where culture labels good evil and celebrates the wicked. And in all likelihood things will get much worse before they get any better – perhaps not improving until Christ returns.

In particular, those who profess faith and fidelity for Christ will face increasingly daunting and difficult circumstances that will test their commitment to Him. And retribution for practicing Scripturally-sound faith will come not just from the government, as many fear, but from commercial and social institutions as well.

It doesn’t require much creativity to imagine businesses in the near future demanding all employees sign a covenant committing to the organization’s values, some of which will certainly contravene those espoused by the Bible. Those who refuse will be swiftly terminated and not enjoy the benefit of a favorable reference when they seek new employment.

Similarly, social media seems increasingly hostile to those who embrace a biblical worldview or have the temerity to share the Gospel. It seems reasonable that such opposition will intensify to the point of marginalizing and ostracizing to society’s periphery any who publically claim Christ as Lord. In fact, many believers will find themselves verbally abused, bullied, and rejected not just by online trolls but by former friends as well.

In short, the cost of surrendering to Christ, declaring your love for Him, and obeying His word will continue to climb. For many, the cost will become too steep and they will renounce their faith outright, or sanitize it so society no longer deems it offensive, or practice it in private to avoid the consequences. But Jesus expects us to stand firm, persevere in the face of intimidation, boldly proclaim His Word, and resist the temptation to compromise truth.

So how do we prepare for the pending tsunami of persecution? How do we avoid acquiescing to societal pressure out of fear and remain steadfast in our love for Jesus despite the coming consequences?

We need to adopt the mindset of the apostle Paul, who before his conversion to Christ enjoyed every imaginable benefit of this world. He was wealthy, powerful, admired, feared, and distinguished. He wanted for nothing and lived a charmed life.

But after his encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road, Paul adopted a new view on those things he previously counted as gain (such as his reputation, influence, comfort, and authority). He tells us, “What things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Indeed, I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him … that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:7-8, 10, NKJV).

Paul endured significant suffering, deteriorating health, imprisonment, and the loss of all things he previously valued. Yet his faith never wavered. In fact, it thrived because he had come to terms with the cost of following Christ. He willingly exchanged those things he previously valued for “the excellence of knowing Christ.” For Paul, the choice between the world’s enticements and fellowship with the living God was no choice at all. And so he recalibrated his priorities, his plans, and his perspective accordingly.

What things do you count as gain in your life today: your career, reputation, financial stability, safety, or a life of comfort and leisure? Would you compromise, sanitize, or renounce your faith to preserve them? Or will your faith emerge more vibrant and mature than ever following the approaching onslaught of coercion, cruelty, and consequences?

Commit today to counting as loss those things that now hold your attention and distract you from your relationship with Christ. Commit anew to pursuing the excellence of knowing Him, following His example, and embracing His standard of holiness. As you do, you’ll not only know Christ more intimately but, like Paul, you’ll also know “the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering” so that you may “attain to the resurrection of the dead.”

 

Faith

Discerning God’s Will.

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Throughout life we face a constant barrage of decisions. From life-altering choices like where we work, who we marry, and where we live, to ongoing ones like how to discipline our children, how to invest our time, and where to spend our money, decisions are an integral part of life. Significant choices like these – unlike minor day-to-day decisions we make with little thought – often spur us to solicit God’s counsel in hopes of learning His will before moving forward.

And while the desire to learn and follow God’s design on major decisions is always a good idea, waiting until we confront such inflection points before seeking His will is not ideal. That practice suffers a serious flaw in its foundation. It incorrectly assumes God’s will is a series of unrelated binary decisions we navigate throughout life. Absent the presence of a metaphorical fork in the road, we can cruise through life with little focus on God’s plan for us.

That thinking often leads to a dangerous habit: choosing when to seek (and follow) God’s plan and when to go it alone. For choices deemed manageable, we may decide to move forward on our own strength, reserving God’s guidance for those situations we find overwhelming or daunting.

What that perspective fails to recognize, however, is that God’s plan exists in the midst of the mundane, not just in milestone moments. Further, God’s will involves much more than making right decisions; it includes the adoption of behaviors, attributes, and habits that reflect Christ at work in our lives. Let’s examine a couple verses that crystallize this point.

The apostle Paul encourages us to: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV). These verses demonstrate that the will of God is a lifestyle that envelops us, not a collection of isolated decisions made over the course of one’ life.

Notice that all three activities ought to be done incessantly. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything. In essence, Paul instructs us to cultivate a lifestyle that radiates joy, prayer, and gratitude. In doing so we fulfill God’s purpose.

If your life does not reflect sustained emphasis on these attributes, is it reasonable to expect God to reveal His will on monumental decisions? Shouldn’t we obey Him in ways He has explicitly labeled His will if we want His revelation in situations unique to our lives?

Paul also reminds us, “This is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3, NKJV). Sanctification is not a one-time decision that occurs in a brief moment. It is the ongoing lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. Sanctification produces the growing presence of Christ in our lives until He eventually permeates every aspect of who we are.

God’s will, then, involves placing our identity in Jesus, pursuing His presence regularly, and modeling ourselves after Him. If we’re unwilling to live like Christ on a daily basis then any attempt to understand His will on consequential matters seems a bit paradoxical. If our actions, thoughts, and lifestyle do not reveal a growing familiarity with Jesus we ought to ask God for that desire.

That is of critical importance. When we limit God’s will to a handful of big decisions we never develop an intimacy with God that sharpens our ability to hear His small, still voice – which is a product of sanctification. Consequently, we’re easily distracted by worldly influences and voices, making it difficult to discern God’s plan when confronting critical choices.

Paul describes it like this, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you” (Romans 12:2, NLT). We must resist the temptation to conform to this world, choosing instead to allow God to transform us by changing how we think. As that transformation occurs, our ability to discern God’s will improves dramatically.

So what can we say about God’s will? First, it extends beyond making the right decisions at crucial crossroads in life – which is a limited and insufficient definition. A proper understanding of God’s will embraces the idea that it impacts every area of life. It yields a spirit of joy, produces a posture of prayer, and fuels a passion for our sanctification. Most of all, it transforms us into passionate followers of His Son so we reflect His love and truth.

Faith

Sharing Christ in Face of Opposition.

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A friend recently shared the story of a local college coach having a profound impact on campus by sharing the gospel with many of the students he encounters each day. On hearing this, another friend expressed surprise the school’s administration hadn’t prohibited the man from sharing his faith with others or manufactured an excuse to terminate him, since their hostility to Christianity was well established. I couldn’t help recall a sequence of events in Jesus’ ministry that demonstrated why leadership at this college had failed to prevent the spread of the gospel.

The apostle John tells us that after Christ healed a crippled man, “The Pharisees persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. Then Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.’ Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:16-18, NKJV).

A short time later Jesus upbraids the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and declares Himself sent from God, infuriating the Pharisees so much “They sought to take Him; but no one laid a hand on Him.” Despite their visceral hatred for Christ and desire to slaughter Him, the Pharisees do nothing, as if prevented by a hidden hand.

On another occasion these religious charlatans are enraged by the crowd’s reaction to Jesus who “believed in Him, and said, ‘When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?’” (John 7:30-31). Their response prompted immediate action from Jewish leaders. John explains. “When the Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Christ, they and the chief priests sent officers to take Him” (verse 32). But nothing came of their effort. “The officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and said to them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man’” (John 7:45-46).

After another encounter in which Jesus announced that “before Abraham was, I AM,” the Jews “took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by” (John 8:58b-59, NKJV).

A short time later Jewish leaders demand of Jesus, “If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” In response, He informs them, “I give My followers eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one” (John 10:28-29, NKJV).

That He claimed to offer eternal life was bad enough for the Pharisees and priests, but His assertion that He and God were one was outright blasphemy. John notes that the Jews sought to seize and stone Him but He managed to evade their evil intentions. (See John 8:22-39).

Time and again this pattern is repeated throughout His ministry. Jesus speaks the truth about Himself, the Pharisees take offense and try to harm or detain Him, and Christ escapes unscathed. How is this possible? How could the chief priests constantly fail in their efforts to eliminate Jesus and end His burgeoning ministry?

John offers this insight: “His hour had not yet come” (John 7:30). God had established a time for Jesus’ life to end and His earthly ministry to come to a close. Until that time arrived, nothing could prevent Him from fulfilling His purpose. No amount of scheming or intimidation could undermine His work. All efforts to arrest, incarcerate, or harm Him were destined to fail. Until, that is, His hour arrived. At that time the Jewish leaders would succeed in stopping His ministry and ending His life.

Have those antagonistic to the gospel ever threatened you harm? Ever encountered hostility when sharing Jesus’ good news with others? Do those in positions of power try to terrorize, bully, or shame you into silence about Christ’s love? Has vitriolic opposition to biblical truth paralyzed you from speaking boldly for Christ?

If so, take heart that such efforts will never come to fruition outside of God’s timing. God will prevent the wicked from undermining the fruitfulness of your obedience until your hour has come. Armed with that confidence, I encourage you to preach, proclaim, and share the truth and love of Christ with boldness and conviction.

Faith

Proudly Proclaiming Christ.

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Have you ever been embarrassed to divulge a friendship, share your family heritage, or admit your affiliation with a group? If you’re like the majority of people, you probably haven’t. Most of us speak favorably of our lineage and those we associate with, and are unwilling to allow anyone to diminish that pride. We tend to be intensely loyal to those who share our bloodlines, our memories, and our confidences.

You might think Jesus enjoyed such fidelity from His followers; that they spoke of Him in glowing terms. But surprisingly some expressed shame towards Him, unwilling to admit publically their relationship. In his gospel narrative the apostle John recounts this dichotomy. “Among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43, NKJV).

A few verses earlier John notes that although Jesus performed many signs the crowds did not believe in Him. In contrast, many in the ruling class believed Him but refused to express that belief openly for fear of the Pharisees. They didn’t want to sully their status or ruin their reputation because they cherished others’ approval more than Christ’s. So they concealed their faith in Jesus.

This may not seem like a big deal but Jesus addresses such inconsistency using stark and troubling language. “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38, NKJV). It is not enough to simply ‘believe’ in Jesus. He expects us to proudly proclaim Him and align ourselves with Him without compunction.

On a separate occasion Jesus declares, “Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33, NKJV).

With those powerful words as a backdrop, ask yourself these questions:

  • Are you ashamed to confess Christ within your circle of friends?
  • Do you withhold your faith from those at work for fear it will cost you a promotion, compromise your career, or yield ridicule from colleagues?
  • Do you speak up for godliness and biblical standards when discussing cultural trends and pop culture with non-believers, or do you hold your tongue to avoid being labeled a religious radical?
  • Do you share your faith with those around you even when they indicate hostility toward the name of Jesus?

If your answers reveal an embarrassment for Christ or your faith, ask yourself why. What’s keeping you from openly and enthusiastically sharing the good news of Jesus with the people God has brought into your life?

  • Is it fear? Then take to heart this truth: “God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity but of power and boldness.”
  • Is it a feeling of inadequacy? Then embrace this advice from Christ: “Do not worry what you will say in that day. The Spirit will guide you and give you the words to speak.”
  • Is it because other priorities demand your silence? Then listen to this warning from Christ. “What is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

There are billions of people in the world today in desperate need of the Savior. But how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? (See Romans 10:15). They cannot unless we obey Jesus and fulfill the Great Commission by boldly teaching the message of Christ and unashamedly making disciples of others.

So let’s remember Jesus’ prescient message regarding the overwhelming spiritual needs that exist in the world today. “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray that the Lord of the harvest sends out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38, NKJV).

As you go into this weekend ask the Lord for an opportunity to share your faith with someone: family, friend, or stranger. Then be alert for opportunities to appear. As you capitalize on them you’ll develop the habit of proudly proclaiming your faith to people around you and join the ranks of those laboring in the fields for the Lord. What an awesome honor.

Faith

Sacrificial Love.

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God is love. That truth represents one of the overarching themes of Scripture. It courses through every book of the Bible and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross – to redeem mankind from sin and reconcile us to God.

That act of selfless obedience gave us more than eternal life, however. It also provided us a model for how we are to love others and demonstrated the supremacy of love both in God’s kingdom and in His people. More than that, we learn elsewhere in Scripture that genuine love evidences the presence of Christ in our hearts and the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The apostle John informs us, “Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10, NKJV). Take a moment to read that verse again and consider what John is saying. Those who fail to love the family of God reveal His absence in their lives. Said another way, anyone who claims to follow Christ but does not love God’s people is exposed as a liar. They have no part in God’s kingdom and will not experience eternal life. It is impossible, John tells us, to truly know Christ and not love His followers.

So what does love look like? Is it merely expressed in words? Is it enough just to claim love for others? Of course not. The apostle James tells us that words alone are useless in isolation; they prove nothing. Actions must work in concert with words for love to truly flourish.

In his first epistle John tells us, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16, NKJV). Ah, now we’re getting somewhere in our quest to define love. Jesus shows us how to love others. He sacrificed His life for us because His love for us is so great. He wanted to reconcile us with God so we could enjoy eternal life in His presence.

John declares that we ought to love others in a similar manner – especially our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Just as Christ prioritized our salvation above His temporal needs (safety, comfort, long life), we ought to do the same for others.

Though the form that takes varies by believer, it always mirror Christ’s example in terms of sacrifice and selflessness. John provides one compelling example of demonstrated love in the next verse when he tells us. “Whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

The question is rhetorical. You cannot truly love God and allow those in His family to suffer in need. Whoever has this world’s goods, if he or she is a Christian, will share generously with those in need, especially those from the household of faith. How much you ask? Consistent with Christ’s model; that is, sacrificially. Anything less is mere lip service, which John rebukes as inadequate. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (verse 18).

The apostle James gives the same message in his epistle. “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:15-17, NKJV).

God calls us to love sacrificially, love substantively, and to reveal Him to others as we love on His behalf. There are countless needs in this world, among believers and unbelievers alike. At the same time, our country enjoys an unprecedented level of wealth that could meet many of those needs. But that will only happen when we, as God’s people, set aside our selfish desires and train our resources on meeting the spiritual, physical, and basic needs of those across the globe.

Take time this weekend to consider the following questions. How is God is calling you to love sacrificially. In what ways does selfishness preempt you from following Christ’s model of love? Who specifically is God prompting you to inundate with love? How can you ensure that acts of selfless, sacrificial love become a part of your daily routine?

Faith

Exercising Faith.

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Have you heard about the young man who became an Olympic athlete despite training only fifteen minutes a day; familiar with the entrepreneur who created a global retail empire despite dedicating just a couple hours a week running her business; aware of the renowned brain surgeon, distinguished professor, or avant-garde architect who reached the pinnacle of their professions with little effort and no sacrifice?

Of course, such people don’t exist. Anyone who wants to achieve success or realize their dreams knows that sacrifice and hard work are a critical part of the equation. Any goal worth pursuing makes demands of us, which comes as no surprise to the successful athlete, entertainer, professional, or executive. Those serious about making their ambitions a reality readily accept such sacrifice and dedicate themselves to the task at hand. They do so without groveling about the hard work required. In fact, they revel in it.

I wonder how many of us approach our faith in a similar manner? Do we revel in the sacrifice and dedication required to mature in our relationship with Jesus or do we adopt the perspective of the fictitious individuals above, believing we can grow into mature Christians by investing little into our relationship with God? How many of us hold the view that temporal success requires sacrifice but the pursuit of Christ requires none; that it is reasonable for worldly pursuits to make demands of us but unreasonable for Jesus to do the same?

The apostle Paul rejected that perspective. He told the church at Corinth, “Everyone who competes for a prize exercises self-control in all things. Now, they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:25). His point? We all chase after something important – an objective that yields a return we assign value. Secularists pursue crowns of wealth, power, prominence, and success, all of which perish when they leave this world. But spiritual pursuits yield imperishable crowns that God will distribute on our arrival in heaven, and we’ll enjoy them for eternity.

Godliness is one such pursuit that produces eternal rewards. Paul tells us: “Exercise yourself to godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7b-8).

Godliness does not come naturally for us. We must work at becoming like Christ, training ourselves daily in the faith. Just as an athlete exercises regularly to build and strengthen his or her muscles to maximize performance, Christians must exercise their hearts and minds to mirror Jesus’ conduct and thoughts. The belief we can grow to reflect Jesus by allocating just a few minutes a day studying His word, worshipping Him, and communicating in prayer is as ridiculous as the athlete’s belief that he or she can win Olympic gold with minimal training.

In another analogy Paul advises us to “Fight the good fight of faith… to which you were called” (1 Timothy 6:12, NKJV). He’s encouraging us to go daily into the ring of life, however tired we are, and seek to glorify God and advance His will with our thoughts, actions, and time. It is for this purpose He calls us to live as His followers. If we do that throughout our lives then we can echo Paul’s words when he reached the end of his journey in this world: “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7, NKJV).

We have a responsibility as Christians to use our limited time on earth to draw close to God regularly and serve Him through acts of love, mercy, kindness, and humility, sacrificing ourselves for others. That is what it means to fight the good fight.

And after a lifetime of such acts, we too will have finished our faith journey. At that point we can expect to hear the Lord say, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’ I can’t imagine hearing seven more satisfying words on entering God’s presence.

Take time this weekend to examine your commitment to Christ, the health of your relationship with Him, and your humble service of those in need. Are you fighting the good fight, running the race, and keeping the faith? How might God be calling you to redouble your efforts in these areas?

Faith

Guilt – Conviction – Grace

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An increasingly popular view among Christians is that God does not want us to feel bad about ourselves. Since by God’s grace no condemnation awaits the believer, we often conclude that any feelings of guilt or remorse are an attempt by Satan to diminish our joy and spoil our delight in the Lord. Since God builds His people up and such emotions run counter to that objective, they cannot come from Him.

But we need to be careful. While the devil indeed uses guilt to demoralize us, a danger exists when we assume that feelings of remorse and shame never have a place in a Christian’s life; that they are contrary to a healthy faith. In fact, we do ourselves a spiritual disservice when we categorically dismiss such emotions as an attempt by Satan to render us spiritually ineffective. Scripture actually informs us those feelings play a critical role in our spiritual growth and maturation.

The apostle Paul wrote the following words to the church at Corinth, after learning of their sorrow over his first epistle to them: “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it” (2 Corinthians 7:8, NKJV). His first message had made the church uncomfortable and led to feelings of grief, yet Paul doesn’t apologize for or regret his words. How could so prominent a church leader be so insensitive to the feelings of believers? Listen to his reasoning.

“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner. What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (vs. 9-11, emphasis mine).

Paul informs us there are instances when sorrow and remorse are appropriate. Indeed, he clearly asserts they represent a godly response to sin. Consequently, when he learned of the Corinthian church’s sorrow he rejoiced, because that sorrow led to repentance from the sins that had ensnared them. Whenever feelings of regret or guilt lead to repentance and the accompanying forgiveness, we too ought to rejoice.

Therein lies the distinction determining whether such emotions are healthy or unhealthy. When guilt surfaces for past sin from which we have already repented and received God’s forgiveness, we know Satan lies behind the attack and hopes to discourage and neutralize us. He loves to remind Christians of our past in a futile attempt to forget about his future. In such situations we should ignore our feelings of guilt and shame and instead rejoice over God’s mercy and forgiveness.

On the other hand, if such feelings are a product of unaddressed sin we’ve allowed to flourish in our lives – and from which we’ve never repented – then we know the Holy Spirit lies behind those pricks to our conscience. One of the critical roles the Holy Spirit plays in every believer’s life is bringing to bear conviction when we sin or toy with temptation. In such instances we need to confess our iniquity and ask God’s forgiveness. If we don’t, we risk becoming desensitized to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and suffering a slow spiritual decay.

Avoiding that outcome is one reason Paul tells us not to regret godly sorrow. It leads to salvation and a healthy relationship with Christ. In contrast, the world’s sorrow always produces death because it never recognizes the spiritual component of regret and guilt, and therefore can never properly address their root cause.

Take some time to examine the source of any guilt or shame you feel. Do not allow Satan to use those emotions to steal your joy and peace in Christ. But also resist the temptation to ignore them if they reveal the existence of ongoing sin. Remember, whenever we repent God extends His forgiveness.