Is This The Year?

This could be the year. Perhaps on God’s eschatological calendar he chose 2012 as the time for the completion of his Son’s work of assembling to himself a people for God’s possession. Maybe this year the Church will reach its evangelistic consummation and Christ will be sent to meet the last generation of his Bride face to face. Remember that Jesus’ emphatic and repeated emphasis on no one knowing the date or time of his return was not given to diminish his disciples’ expectation, it was given to increase it. The strategic ambiguity was not to lull his people into inactivity, it was to motivate them work at church growth as though this could be the week! Clearly God wants us to always be ready and expectant of his return! Peter even hints that we can “hasten” the day of Christ’s return as we seek to bring just one more life to the place of repentance and faith in Jesus (2 Peter 3:9, 12). May we embark on another great season of ministry, mindful that this could be the year.

Christmas Forgiveness

In this season of giving and receiving gifts, let us never lose our focus on the incomparable grace that was bestowed on us when God decided to give us everything that was needed to free us from the consequences of our sins through the life and death of Jesus Christ. It would seem only right that God would have walked away from our rebellious world, taking all his benefits and gifts with him. But instead, because of our Creator’s incredible love, he paid the high price of redemption by sending his Son to suffer in our place as our judicial substitute. Just as the Apostle Paul pondered the “surpassing grace of God” in 2 Corinthians 9:15 we should all be quick to say “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Gifts

The relationship of Christmas with gift-giving may be bemoaned by many, but the connection is a biblical one. I am not referring to the crazed run through the mall in late December or the White Elephant gift exchange at the office party, but the concept of generously and freely giving gifts because God gave us his Son to redeem us; this is the association that cannot and should not be avoided. The Bible says that our love for each other, and thus our love for God can be measured, at least in part, by our generosity and the willingness with which we give tangible gifts to one another (see 1 John 3:16-17). Being the targets of God’s love necessarily implants a desire to be the kind of person who meets the needs of others. Knowing what it is to be loved by God is an experience that the Bible says should drive us to give as freely as we have received. A redeemed heart will find increasing satisfaction in reaching out, even at great personal cost, to enrich and enhance the lives of others through the giving of time, talent and resources. So while the world may be giving gifts for all the wrong reasons (and complaining about it a good part of the time) we can piggy-back on this “gift-giving season” and give to help, benefit and encourage as a reflection of Christ and for the glory of God.

Christmas Plan

Christmas was required in God’s plan because the righteous life he requires was not attained by Adam or any of his fallen descendants. God, prompted by grace, chose to fulfill the holy human standard himself. The incarnate Deity chose to live the life we should have lived – the perfect childhood, the spotless teenage years and the righteous adult life. Had we been able to present to the Father the righteous life he requires so that we could perfectly enjoy his presence and his presents, God would not have needed to become a man and live among us. But we couldn’t, so he did. Were it only our sins that needed a payment, Christ could have arrived on the day of his crucifixion. But our deficiencies were more than our acts of transgression (doing the things we shouldn’t do), our problems included the “falling short of his glory” (failing to do the things we should do). It is with gratitude that we celebrate his advent as an infant, because we know that as our sins were atoned for on the cross, so it was that all our human deficits began to be rectified by one perfectly-lived life starting that very night in Bethlehem.

-- Pastor Mike

Christmas

There are several modern-day Gnostics who, in the name of Christ, seek to dissuade us from celebrating the birth of Jesus each December. They go to great lengths to enlighten us regarding the pagan associations of the winter solstice, the worship of Druid gods, and idolatry related to evergreen trees. They chide us, saying we are somehow playing into Satan’s insidious scheme by honoring the birth of Christ with our Christmas traditions. Don’t believe it. This old “guilt-by-association” argument condemning our celebrations of Christ must be examined from a biblical perspective (See Romans 14:1-6; 1 Corinthians 5:9-10; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 1 Corinthians 10:25-30). To condemn our Christ-honoring praise for the incarnation each December because of some ancient pagan associations is as ludicrous as disallowing Sunday worship because “Sunday” was initially designated for the worship of “Sol” the Sun god. Historically Christians have rightly redeemed certain days, words and places for the worship of Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote when facing the critics in Corinth, “Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it’” (1 Corinthians 10:25-26). So let us utilize all we can to bring glory, honor and praise to God for the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

-- Pastor Mike

Thanksgiving

Because we live in a world that isn’t great at saying “thank you,” we tend to think that gratitude is an extra-credit Christian virtue. Like our temptation to send a “thank you” note in response to someone’s “thank you” note, we might secretly believe that God should be grateful for our thanksgiving. The Bible, of course, reveals a different perspective. Jesus showed us that gratitude is the minimum expectation of those who are enriched by God’s gifts. When ten lepers are healed of their malady Christ doesn’t praise the one who returns to say “thank you,” he disappointedly asks, “Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17). The Bible tells us that it is “fitting” and appropriate for his people to praise God (Psalm 147:1). Certainly we, of all people, should recognize the “gracious hand of God that is upon us” (Ezra 8:18). We should habitually respond with heartfelt thanksgiving, not just on special days and special occasions, but everyday and in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18). May God enable us to always fulfill our fundamental duty to express our joyful thanksgiving to our gracious and generous Redeemer!

--Pastor Mike

Faith

Faith in Christ as we walk through this life can easily be mistaken for optimism. Don’t misunderstand, faith is not some worldly pie-in-the-sky glee. It is instead, a thoughtful confidence that our God is in charge of everything in our lives and his sovereign purpose for us will prevail. The words of Romans 8:28 (“God works all things together for good”) are not a license to live recklessly, but a reminder that the twists in the road “for those who love him” are adjustments that God has ordained to take us where he intends. We can be confident that God not only “called us according to his purpose” but he is actively using a variety of means to accomplish it. Where does that leave us? Looking pretty optimistic! We love him, he directs our lives and we entrust the outcome to him. So shun the temptation to fret or complain, and keep trusting our King!

Doubt

When we experience uncertainty, doubt or insecurities that the world is sure to bring, let us be sure that the cause is never our equivocation about God’s faithfulness. Let us always remember that God is true to his word. With Peter, let us affirm that even if God seems slow about keeping his promises, it is only an illusion because as it has always been so it will always be that God never forgets what he says and never fails to deliver on his promise (2 Peter 3:9). To that, add the fact that nothing ever surprises our sovereign God. He knows the end from the beginning and nothing is too small to escape his notice. If God our omniscient God has revealed it in his perfect word we can be confident that he is sure to follow through.

--Pastor Mike

Boldness

When we think of what it means to be a godly person, several virtues are likely to come to mind. Unfortunately, we often fail to include the key biblical ingredient the Bible calls “boldness.” In our “kinder, gentler” version of Christianity we are tempted to think “timidity” is what God esteems. Nothing could be further from the truth! In the pages of Scripture God is continually prompting his heroes to “be strong and very courageous” (Joshua 1:7). When his people are bashful they are chided (2 Timothy 1:7-8). God’s values couldn’t be clearer: “the righteous are as bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). Let’s see the fear of man for what it is and be counted with those who care more about what Christ thinks (Proverbs 29:5; Galatians 1:10). May we always stand up for truth and be quick to commend those who boldly do the same.

--Pastor Mike

End Times

A thoughtful view of God’s plan for the consummation of this era ought to infuse our hearts with ample amounts of hope and courage to face our daily challenges. Much like the despised but courageous ban of Israelites who rallied around God’s yet-to-be-enthroned “king” David in 1 Samuel 22, we can take heart that one day “every knee will bow” and “every tongue confess” that the King we now follow is the Lord of all (Philippians 2:9-11). More than that, we can be sure that his perfect governance will be firmly established and all the blessings he has promised for his followers will be fully realized (Revelation 11:17-18; Hebrews 1:8). So when life is tough, injustice prevails, the bad guys win and Christians are despised and maligned, take heart! Jesus has earned the right to take charge of this world and one day soon he certainly will. And when he does, his followers will bask in the joy and satisfaction of their King setting everything right and making all things new (Luke 3:5-6; Revelation 21:5)!

Worship

Real worship is not easy. The difficulty is usually commensurate with the amount of pride in our hearts. Worship is hard because it requires that we attribute to another what our flesh desires to receive – the credit! At the core of worship is the reverential attribution that God is the reason and cause of the good that we experience (James 1:16-17). Our flesh struggles to relinquish such praise. We would like to think we are the cause of the advantages we receive, but God says it’s not so. He clarifies, “You may say to yourself ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced wealth for me.’ But remember Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). Whether it’s a comfortable income, a capable mind, good health, loyal relationships or the forgiveness of our sins, the Bible is clear that God is the generous Benefactor who specifically chooses to grant such things. We are left with the humbling task of “remembering” and respectfully saying, “Thanks!” May our worship today be appropriate, sincere and well pleasing to him!

Transformation

Unwittingly we often come to church expecting to hear the preacher affirm what we already know and commend what we already practice. And for the growing Christian that is sometimes the case. But more times than not, the word of God forthrightly preached will in some way and to some extent work to adjust, reshape, modify or overturn our preexisting thoughts and behaviors. That is what God promised would happen when sincere and receptive hearts encounter the “sharp two-edged sword” as it is boldly wielded from faithful pulpits (Hebrews 4:12; James 1:23-25; Matthew 7:24-27). As one bygone theologian put it, “God speaks to us on his terms, invading and disrupting what we have known and taken for granted.” So when the proclamation of God’s word is internally disruptive or feels like an assault on your familiar preconceptions, that is a good time to gratefully realize that the Holy Spirit is using the Book he wrote to shape, mold and transform you into someone who is less like the old you and more like the holy Son of God.

Absolute Truth

Truth is always true. Even so, it is amazing how many people seem to think it’s up for grabs. While we can reasonably reach an impasse as to which restaurant has “the best” Mexican food, when it comes to what you had for lunch yesterday there is a right and wrong answer. That’s the thing about “truth” it’s not true unless it has a correspondence to reality. I may want to believe that I have a million dollars in my checking account and I owe nothing on my credit card, but the bank and MasterCard are always good at evaluating my beliefs against the objectivity of reality. Truth claims about God, Jesus and the afterlife are no different. Either there is a God or there isn’t. Either Jesus is able to take the debt of my sin away or he can’t. I will either cease to exist when I die or face my Maker on the other side. The reality of these truth claims is what matters, not my feelings about them. And that sends me down a different path than most prefer to travel. I must expend my efforts exploring the evidence, not my preferences. I have to investigate facts, not my feelings. It is our job to be truth-seekers not opinion-formulators. I trust that we will be up for the challenge of always seeking to know what’s true, not popular. And as a result I pray that the church will once again be known as the “pillar and foundation of the truth” (1Timothy 3:15).

Are You Ready?

There are times we realize life is short. We recognize that middle age or old age has arrived without our permission. Or perhaps we open the Bible and are reminded that no matter our stage of life, tomorrow is not promised or guaranteed. Instead we are told that our transient existence on this earth is like a mist, a vapor, a temporary loan from God, which can be revoked at any time. And add to that God's word tells us that the entire focal point of redemptive history is the any-moment return of Christ, the establishment of his kingdom and the consummation of the ages. Today might be our last. This could be our final hour. These are more than thought-provoking slogans, these are truthful assessments of the reality in which we live. So, are you living this day with eternity in view? Is there unfinished spiritual business that needs your attention? Are you ready to meet your Savior face-to-face? Are all of your plans made in light of the fact that tomorrow we might be in the presence of our King?

Feeling It

Some rationalize their disregard for doing what is right because they say their “hearts are not in it” and they “don’t want to be hypocrites.” They may consider themselves to be off the hook in neglecting prayer, Bible study or church attendance because they don’t “feel it,” but of course they are not. God will not shrug his proverbial shoulders and say, “Well then, if you don’t feel it, don’t bother.” Instead of abandoning our Christian duties because we feel inauthentic, God calls us to adjust our attitude and mindset. The psalmist says of God, “You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently” (Psalm 119:4). The Hebrew word translated “diligently” is the same word we find in Deuteronomy 6:5 where you and I are told to love the Lord “with all of our might.” It involves mental effort, gumption, determination, focus and thoughtfulness. Consider David who seems to be concerned about “going through the motions” of worship, when he turns his exhortation to his own soul and mind: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1). The neglectful are correct when they admit inauthenticity is a problem, but their proposed remedy is ruinous. We must never walk away from the Lord’s commands when we feel weak or lethargic, instead, with the Spirit’s help, we must retool and retune our hearts to sincerely and wholeheartedly engage in keeping his precepts.

Disturbed by Sin

The society in Israel had become compromised, corrupt and forgetful of God. Ezekiel was God’s mouthpiece to point out to them just how far they had regressed into worldliness, and what the divine consequences of that regression would be. Of course not everyone in Israel had driven headlong into the same excess of sin. But many of those who resisted the overt forms of compromise were about to be evaluated on what seems to be an unconventional form of “godliness” – i.e., whether they sighed and groaned. In dramatic fashion God reveals his strategy in Ezekiel 9. He would separate those who “sighed and groaned” over the sin in their society from those who didn’t. The men and women who were internally disturbed by the moral corruption were to be spared, and those who shrugged their shoulders at it weren’t. We may not often see it this way, but when we sigh over the transgressions of our culture we are revealing the state of our heart. Realize that some don’t follow the crowd into sin because they are cowards, others because they are heartbroken over it. Some applaud the godless in our society because they are afraid not to, they fear being “out of step.” Others cross their arms and groan because their hearts are in step with the Holy Spirit. So the next time you sigh or groan over the sin in our world don’t see it as a weakness in your character, but rather as a strength and an indication of the progress of your sanctification.

Circumstances

The biblical account of the devastating turn of events in Job’s life and his subsequent restoration is a reminder to us of just how little we actually know about the various happenings that take place in our lives. We are ignorant of many of the spiritual battles and divine purposes, which affect the circumstances of our lives. We are often like Job and his friends who, without any possible way of knowing the actual realities, rush to make sense of the good or the bad things that happen to us. As Proverbs reminds us, “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can a man understand his way?” (Proverbs 20:24) We must never forget that the all-wise God is at work in every corner of the universe and his transcendent plans always supersede our plans and usually our understanding. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9) and “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). These realizations may make us feel much smaller than our human inclinations prefer, but they will certainly spare us the frustration and embarrassment of jumping to wildly inaccurate conclusions about the occurrences in our lives. We are also able to gain that unrivaled peace which comes from knowing that as his child “God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Worry

Jesus regularly chided his disciples for their worry and anxiety. Worldly concerns about “what bad things might happen to us” are not befitting for followers of Christ. The ultimate and eternal dangers, in our case, have been solved and settled by God’s grace and Christ’s finished work. Our relationship with him is unaffected by the hazards, risks or perils which lie around the next bend in life. After all, as Jesus often said, there is nothing that can be done about most things we tend to worry about. “And which of you by being anxious,” Christ asked, “can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” (Luke 12:25-26). God sovereignly holds tomorrow’s pains and pleasures, failures and victories in his omnipotent hand. Of course God wants us fully engaged in life – but it’s the life right now he wants us focused on, not the potential “what ifs” that lie ahead (Matthew 6:34). So exercise your faith in a powerful God who sits enthroned over your future. Trust him, and let the hourly use of your faith drive out any anxiety concerning tomorrow.

Church Attendance

The Bible is very clear about God’s expectation regarding “church attendance” – to use our modern terminology. Christ commissioned the establishment of churches, the Holy Spirit inscribed instructions about how they operate, and God requires that our regular gathering in church not be neglected. Actually, the Hebrews passage so often quoted in this regard tells us that gathering together at church ought to happen “all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). The requirement to “be in church” should intensify as the years roll by, not diminish. While there is much more to church than just showing up, it is important to realize that we must attend regularly. Regularly and consistently going to church is a fundamental Christian duty. I realize that in a consumer culture saying that anything about Christianity is “a duty” is foreign to most people. But if God requires it, then it is my obligation to attend, even if I don’t think they’ll miss me, or need me, or feed me the way I think they should. Obviously, you should find the best and most biblical church within a reasonable driving distance. But once you’ve found the best one available, consider it your Christian obligation to be there regularly, even after the newness or initial excitement wears off, and especially as the reasons for not going pile up. If God requires it, you can be sure Satan will tempt you to neglect it. But don’t. Make it your resolve to be there week after week as faithful children and obedient servants of the Lord of hosts (Malachi 1:6).

Epaphroditus

Epaphroditus is one of the many unsung heroes of the Bible. His name means “attractive”. And while we don’t know anything about his physical appearance, when we read the New Testament we quickly discover that he possessed a beautiful character. While others were abandoning the Apostle Paul in droves, Epaphroditus remained his faithful and loyal friend. When the Apostles lamented the selfishness of those who clamored for the Christian spotlight, Epaphroditus was on the short list of those who truly cared for the welfare of others. In stark contrast to the values of our day where self-preservation, recreation and relaxation are a top priority, Epaphroditus like Paul worked himself to the point of exhaustion for the cause of Christ. Some would have expected Paul to chide Epaphroditus for overextending himself, but instead Paul praises him as an exemplary servant of Jesus Christ. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, when it comes to individuals with attractive and godly hearts like Epaphroditus, we must be sure that they are not unsung. Paul writes of him in Philippians 2:29, “honor such men!” So when you find a modern-day Epaphroditus, be sure he or she is not an obscure or unsung character in the story of your life.

Authority of Scripture

Without an unswerving resolve to affirm that God has inscribed his authoritative voice on the pages of Scripture we are hopelessly lost on a turbulent sea of speculation and opinion. Isaiah cries out to those who subjectively look inward or elsewhere for answers and says, “to the law and to the testimony” for “should not a people inquire of their God?” (Isaiah 8:19-20). The familiar words of Proverbs 3:5 exhort: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding”. Unfortunately for many Christians this means nothing more than subjectively imagining what God’s input might be. But we need the objectivity of Scripture and not the subjectivity of our speculation. Subjectivity was the low point of biblical history. Remember the closing words of Judges, “and everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25 b). We must value and consult God’s written word if we are to claim his wisdom and direction. Trusting in him and not ourselves means that we exalt his inspired sentences above our feelings and even our impressions about what his thoughts might be. As the Psalmist often affirmed, “I shall have an answer… for I trust in your word” (Psalm 119:42).

Wisdom

We are far too easily impressed with the “wisdom” of this world. What our society lacks in truth, it tries to make up for with confidence. But with all the assertiveness of our culture, they have yet to settle the disparity between what they sense they need and what they actually have. In the words of 1 Corinthians 1, “The world through its wisdom did not come to know God” (1 Corinthians 1:21). But it certainly tries. Our western culture may have given up on gold and stone idols, but they still seek their ever-changing pantheon of gods in hopes of finding that ultimate fulfillment and lasting satisfaction. But the cisterns are dry, as Jeremiah wrote (Jeremiah 2:13). The fountain of living water, which Jesus promised would forever close the gap between what we need and what we have, cannot be acquired through the ideas and prescriptions of the world (cf. John 4:10-14). We must be willing to humbly concede that God has “made foolish the wisdom of the world” and that “it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21). When by faith through the cross we are reconciled to our Creator and we find peace with our Maker we quickly learn that, “Christ is the power of God and wisdom of God, for the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:24-25).

Conscience

As we seek to proclaim the gospel and uphold, defend and establish the truth of God’s word, it is helpful to remember that God has implanted a witness to the truth within each person’s heart. While those who don’t want to hear our message may protest, the reality is that God has inscribed the fundamentals of his message so clearly on each human soul that dissent can only be manufactured as one fights, ignores or suppresses the biblical moral compass the Bible calls “conscience” (Romans 1:18; Romans 2:15). That is not to say that with repeated practice people can’t so “sear” or damage their conscience that the programmed resonance with God’s truth is hardly felt. No, that can and does happen (1Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 10:22; etc.). But even then, there must be a memory of this internal struggle, when their “hearts raged against the Lord” and his truth (Proverbs 19:3; John 8:9). It may seem we are bringing a completely foreign message to those with whom we speak, but it is not so. The truth is something that has been evident to everyone on a very personal and profound level. Our job is to lovingly turn up the volume on God’s instructions, articulating the written blueprint of God’s revelation which is (or at least was) speaking from within their own hearts precisely the same things.

Words

When reading through Proverbs one can’t help but perceive a handful of predominant and recurring themes. One of the most persistent sets of exhortations relates to our chronic tendency to say too much. Over one hundred seventy inspired proverbs seek to impress on our hearts that fools are “babblers” and the wicked are “rash” with their words, but the wise “restrain their tongues”. We are warned in dozens of ways that “When words are many, transgression is not lacking” (Proverbs 10:19). Sounds easy – say less and you’ll sin less – but it’s not. It may be simple, but it’s certainly not effortless. The words of a gossip, for instance, are said to be “delicious morsels” (Proverbs 18:8). We love to hear them, and in turn we find an evil pleasure in feeding them to the ears of our friends. But as with food, our gluttonous hearts must learn to show restraint. It is easy to dispense our critical, cutting or belittling commentary in just about any situation, but the wisdom of Proverbs tells us, “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent” (Proverbs 11:12). So whether it’s the exaggeration of self-promotion, the belittling of gossip, or the expedience of betraying a confidence, let us all take to heart the wisdom of God which promises that “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life” but the one “who opens wide his lips comes to ruin” (Proverbs 13:3).

Hate Evil

Psalm 97:10 says it as succinctly as it can be said: “O you who love the Lord, hate evil!” This terse exhortation may come as a bit of a surprise to many Christians. “Hate” after all is something we modern followers of Jesus never want to be associated with. We prefer to be described as loving. And of course we should be. But to love what is good involves hating what is evil (Romans 12:9; Amos 5:15). Especially when it comes to loving God. How can we say that we love a righteous and holy God while being passive about the things that nailed his Son to a cross? How can we draw near to have fellowship with a perfect and pure Lord and not disdain that which is perverse and impure? Yes, we need the psalmist’s curt rebuke, to hate what is evil, regardless of how unpopular it may be. And though God commands of us this uncomfortable emotion, he clearly prohibits any sinful expressions of hatred. “Be angry and do not sin” God’s word tells us (Ephesians 4:26). That may be hard, but indifference is not the solution. “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil” (Proverbs 8:13). This indignation may drive us to passionate prayer, ardent proclamation or even stern rebuke, but never apathy. So may our zeal for God and love for good be evident. May it rightly be said of us: “They love the Lord and hate evil” (Psalm 97:10)!

Our Mindset

The Bible persistently calls us to fix our attention on Christ (Hebrews 12:2), to set our minds on Christ’s agenda (Colossians 3:1-2), and to keep thinking about and praying for the triumph of Christ’s return (Matthew 6:10, Matthew 6:33). Add to this a long list of exhortations for Christians to be mindful of the needs of others and thoughtful regarding the concerns of others (Hebrews 10:24; Philippians 2:3; Ephesians 4:29; etc.), and there is little time or energy left to expend much of our thinking on ourselves. This is clearly by design. Our sinful, default proclivity is for our thoughts to be entrenched in pondering our advancement, our appearance, our acceptance and our advantage. And that pattern remains relatively unchanged for far too many of us. If for any given period we were to honestly monitor the focus of each of our thoughts, we would likely be surprised at what a vast majority are selfishly fixated on ourselves. The Holy Spirit wants to change that. His instructions are for us to occupy our minds with thoughts of God’s kingdom, Christ’s fame and the needs of others. Let us, with his help, understand our fallen inclinations and purposefully set our minds on God’s glory and the good of others.

Amazing Grace

The doctrine of God’s grace reminds us that not only do we not deserve God’s love and forgiveness, but we actually deserve nothing from God but his exacting judgment. And not the kind of judgment which we would incur were we to sin against a fellow citizen, some high ranking diplomat, or even an exalted and holy angel. Our so-called “mistakes”, “impulsive acts”, “foibles” and “unfortunate oversights” are nothing less than treason against God’s eternal kingdom and our own personal assault against the Creator’s righteous standards of conduct. In a day when most secretly believe they deserve God’s love and find little real fault within themselves, holding forth the Bible’s definitions of holiness and grace may sound like a ludicrous and scandalous rant by self-loathing zealots. But God’s grace must be truthfully upheld even in an age that doesn’t care to hear it. Yes, the masses may still periodically sing about “Amazing Grace” and parrot words about being “blind and lost wretches” in need of salvation, but few seem to actually believe it. As long as our culture continues to hide behind a growing list of excuses for our transgressions and sins, and fails to see God’s forgiveness as an inexplicable act of mercy, then we will never begin to realize just how undeserved and amazing the doctrine of grace actually is.

Praying

Reading through the Psalms can yield enlightening insights regarding what constitutes a godly prayer life. As we read these lines from God’s inspired Psalter we might expect lofty and refined theological ideas encased in polished and pietistic lyrics. Instead, we often encounter the raw emotions of frustrated saints and the unvarnished honesty of disgruntled followers of Yahweh. That is not only the pattern of their prayers; it is the exhortation regarding prayer from the Psalms. “Pour out your hearts before him; God is a refuge for us” David sings (Psalm 62:8). But lest you think this is permission to dump your negative thoughts on God and leave, or turn your prayer life into one gripe session after the next, you need to carefully notice how these raw emotions find their resolve within the prayers themselves. Psalm 73 is a classic example. The frustrations of Asaph are honest and bitter. After enviously observing the advancement of those who compromise and the promotion of those who arrogantly cheat, he exclaims “in vain have I kept my heart clean” (Psalm 73:13). But note that it is in prayer that Asaph also finds perspective and the abolition of his “foolish” feelings (Psalm 73:22). And after lingering in prayer he concludes: “it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge” (Psalm 73:28). So be honest with God. Pour out your heart to our compassionate King. But don’t leave quickly. Ponder his character, his truth and his promises. Linger in prayer and see how God can radically change your heart and mind.

Christian Outreach

I recently read in the paper about a “successful Christian outreach” where many “accepted Jesus as their savior”. The problem, as with most of our modern culture’s take on “salvation”, is that there is little clarity about what these folks are acquiring “salvation from”. The article described the “celebration” as giving some people “a new process in life”, others as “feeling refreshed”, and still others who were “struggling” as receiving “hope”. The article’s last line stated that the event left attendees with “a good vibe”. Such secular reporting would hardly be worth noting, were it not that most “Christians” provide similar descriptions of these types of “successful” events. It appears Christianity is being redefined. Biblical warnings of God’s coming judgment are being replaced with concerns about emotional hurts. The Spirit’s stinging conviction regarding guilt and sin are being exchanged for heartwarming stories about rejuvenation and optimism. The Bible’s call to repentance and self-denial are being surreptitiously switched for appeals that leave people with a good vibe. We cannot allow such shifts to be imperceptible among God’s people. Such redefinitions must set off alarms in our hearts and minds. Temporal “salvation” from bad feelings does not square with Scripture and must never pass for “success.”

Being Separate

There are many who use the statement that Jesus was “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matthew 11:19) to rationalize their social alliances and “after-work” camaraderie with immoral and ungodly people. They do this without any concern or attempt to harmonize the clear statements of Scripture which warn that “bad company ruins good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33), rhetorical questions like, “What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14), or God’s admonition for Christians to “go out from their midst and be separate from them” (2 Corinthians 6:17). Jesus did of course dine with “tax collectors and sinners” (Matthew 9:9-10), but what many seem to purposefully overlook is that Christ’s agenda in those settings was clearly stated – “I came to call sinners to repentance” (Mt.9:12-13; Luke 5:32). Christ’s enemies tried to make him out to be a companion of evildoers, along with calling him “a glutton and a drunkard” (Matthew 11:19), which also was not true. Obviously, all Christians will have necessary interaction with ungodly people in this world (1 Corinthians 5:9-10), and like Christ, we should periodically plan strategic times with immoral people, not to “take part in” their lifestyle, but rather to “expose it” and to plead with them saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:6-14). But when it comes to “down time”, “hanging out” or social interaction, the Scripture is consistently clear: “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Proverbs 13:20).

The Pursuit of Holiness

“The pursuit of happiness” is certainly our heart’s default position. Every day we, by nature, want to experience feelings of pleasure, gladness and enjoyment. Unfortunately, at the present time, we live in a corrupted world, encased in corrupted bodies, pitted against a very powerful corrupted enemy who is bent on luring us with “harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). If we thoughtlessly follow our natural appetites we will undoubtedly fall into a snare which will lead to multiplied pain and misery (Proverbs 7:21-27). While Christians should obviously value happiness and pleasure, we must recognize that most of it will need to be deferred to a more appropriate time and place. For now, the focus of our daily pursuit must be holiness not happiness. We should wake up each morning and say, “how can I be more holy today?” instead of asking “what can I do today that will make me happy?” This should also be our hope and prayer for others. We would be wise to say, “I want my kids to grow up to be holy” instead of saying “I just want them to be happy”. “The pursuit of holiness” ought to be our Christian “Declaration” and resolve. So let’s consciously recalibrate and pursue holiness this week.

Loving God With All

Many today suppose that a periodic acknowledgment of God or a half-hearted recognition of Christ should be sufficient to avoid any concerns come Judgment Day. “As long as I am not an atheist or a murderer and I believe in the Man upstairs,” they presume, “then I should be okay.” Perhaps we are partly to blame for such a widespread misunderstanding regarding the normative mindset of people who are forgiven. We too often acquiesce to our critics, tacitly agreeing that people with a zeal for God are “zealots” who would do well to tone it down. But Christ, when asked for the most important directive in all of Scripture, answered, “You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). This is hardly a moderate attitude. It is high time for God’s redeemed people to remind themselves and everyone else that being sold-out for Christ and deeply in love with God is not “super-spiritual” or extracurricular. Being obsessed with God and resolute to serve Christ is normative and expected. May the world clearly see in us that there is no “happy medium” or halfway. God expects all his kids to be all-in.

Christ Honoring Words

While impossible to master this side of heaven, God calls us to give special attention to replacing our errant and superfluous words with Christ-honoring words that make a good and godly difference (Ephesians 4:29). While this requires restraint and thoughtfulness, the primary focus of this command is not some regular strategic planning for our upcoming conversations. Scripture’s concern goes much deeper. Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Proverbs 10:11 tells us, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” Inversely, Jesus asks, “How can you speak what is good, when you are evil?” (Matthew12:34). The key to a renewed vocabulary and more edifying talk is a renewed heart which is growing daily in righteousness. If our hearts aren’t advancing in Christ and our minds aren’t increasingly saturated with the truths of God’s word, then there is little hope that our words will improve. This is why the command to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” necessarily proceeds the call to speak to one another “with wisdom,” to engage our mouths “with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” and to be known as one who regularly expresses “thankfulness” (Colossians 3:16-17). So the next time it is revealed that your words need to be amended or reformed, find your way quickly to spend time communing with God and ingesting more of his heart-transforming word.

Scripture

One big challenge of the Christian life is to courageously stand our ground regarding the veracity of God’s word, while living in a world which makes a sport of mocking, maligning and ridiculing it. It is helpful to regularly study and frequently recall how the Bible stands apart from all other religious texts, and how God has gone to such great lengths to underscore its supernatural origins through so many exacting predictive prophecies. The Scripture also provides us perspective by reminding us that all people (not just Christians) will one day be held accountable for the truth contained in God’s Word. Jesus said, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day” (John 12:48). Being certain about the truth and importance of the words contained in the Bible should not only instill us with fortitude when the world mocks Scripture, but should also prompt us to lovingly seek to persuade people to soberly reconsider the truths they now dismiss.

-- Pastor Mike

Moses

When God called Moses to be his representative during a dark hour in Israel’s history, Moses’ response was less than compliant. We might sympathize with his reluctance to stand before Pharaoh and deliver what was sure to be an unpopular message, but God was not so sympathetic. God was ready to enable and empower his newly called spokesman, but Moses continued to give the Lord one excuse after another. Moses, like us, was quick to focus on his weaknesses, his fears, and his past failures. But God, as always, was ready to supply all that was needed for all he commanded. After Moses protested that he could not do the job because he was “not eloquent” and was “slow of speech”, the Sovereign God put everything in perspective when he replied, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth” (Exodus 4:10-12). So the next time you feel reluctant, fearful or inadequate to do what you know Scripture calls you to do, remember that God will always supply what is needed as you step up with faith and obedience to do what he commands.

-- Pastor Mike

Consideration

It is unfortunate that we often treat God with less respect and consideration than we treat the people with whom we interact from day to day. This is especially true when it concerns our sin. Were we to come to the realization that we had offended, insulted or sinned against someone at the office or in our neighborhood, most of us would be careful to word a sincere apology, and be quick to express our heartfelt remorse. “I am so sorry!” and “Please forgive me!” would be the natural and immediate expressions of our hearts and our mouths. It is tragic that our relationship with God is often very different. It is not uncommon to hear Christians respond to the realizations of their sin with statements like “I’ll work on that,” or “I should really try to do better.” It is as though God were a concept or a standard that we were attempting to live up to, rather than a holy Person whom we have offended. In contrast, the Bible pleads with God’s people to “Take words with you and return to the Lord; say to him ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously’” (Hosea 14:2). Jesus ordered this kind of direct and daily appeal to God when he taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven… forgive our debts” (Matthew 6:12). Let us be careful then, to thoughtfully and sincerely express our regret to God each time his Spirit brings another of our transgressions into view. God, of all people, certainly deserves our sincerest apologies.

-- Pastor Mike

Holiness

The concern for most Christians isn’t “How far from sin can I get?” but rather, “How close is okay?” Anyone who is thoughtful about obedience and wants to distance himself from temptation and sinful behavior is sure to incite the charge of being “a misguided legalist” – as if the accuser knows what biblical legalism is. He usually doesn’t. But it sounds like a good “put-you-in-your-place” Christian comeback. And often it works. The one pursuing holiness is embarrassed, while the libertines feel empowered to continue to banner their form of “grace” as an excuse for their compromise and their love of the world and the things of the world. Compare the familiar license of “do what you want, cause you’re forgiven” with this charge of one New Testament Christian to another: “I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus… to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ… who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:13-15). Unlike today’s attempts at “counsel”, this kind of “charge” doesn’t result in a casual and careless approach to sanctification. The goal is clearly not “as much fun as possible” but instead, “Let us reverentially pursue as much holiness as possible!”

Real Missions

The Book of Acts is a story about first century Christians who, by today’s popular standards, would be considered brash, judgmental, narrow-minded zealots who were fueled by some sort of spiritual imperialism devoid of any real empathy, care or compassion. That theoretical assessment comes largely from today’s redefinition of “care and compassion”, as well as our monumental misunderstanding of what “biblical missions” is and isn’t. Today we like to talk about “respectfully reaching out in love” or “extending compassion in the name of Christ”; proclamation has given way to “polite conversation” and “preaching” is considered a bad word. A certain modern “evangelical missionary” sought to help me understand missions when she said, “It doesn’t matter what we say to the people, it’s just being there that counts.” These sentiments may sound “gracious”, but they have nothing to do with the grace we are called to herald regarding a crucified and resurrected King of kings. The Acts of the Apostles tell us of Christ’s Ambassadors boldly moving from city to city, resolutely calling people to repudiate their gods, their idols and their self-interests, instructing them to repent and turn to Jesus Christ so that they by faith might be graciously exempted from the coming wrath of God. Understandably this did not “go over well” in many cities. The Acts missionary teams were forcefully ejected from several cities – a response that with today’s mindset would require a “modern care extender” to retool her approach, not to mention her message. But much like firefighters attempting to rouse sleeping tenants in a burning building, true love and real compassion isn’t measured by pleasant inter-ethnic dialogue, amiable “moments” and feel-good photo ops, it is biblically measured by the clarity and urgency with which we proclaim our message of eternal life and death.

-- Pastor Mike

Keeping Grace In View

We are prone to forget, especially as we compare our relative righteousness, that our salvation is all of grace. We must never fail to remember that everything about our lives – our spiritual efforts, our moral resumes and our celebrated accomplishments – are all exchanged for Christ’s. Our salvation is secured in the same way as the “jail cell convert” or “deathbed penitent”. All that we are and all that we have done are substituted for Christ. We must not forget to continually count everything a loss and count our good deeds as rubbish, in order that we may gain Christ and be found in him, not have a righteousness of our own (Philippians 3:8). Our acts of “righteousness” count for nothing; Christ is all that counts! Such a mindset will keep everything in perspective. We will have no room for pride or questioning God’s “fairness”. Keeping the grace of salvation in view will leave us in a place of humble worship and thanksgiving, right where we should be.

Spiritual Endeavors

To the sympathetic reader, the last scene in Acts 15:36-41 appears to be an event brimming with high personal drama and raw emotions. Certainly language such as “sharp disagreement” (Acts 15:39) leads our hearts in that direction. But besides that single phrase, all the other words and phrases in the passage that describe Paul and Barnabas’ parting of ways are calm, thoughtful, dispassionate and strategic. It is impossible for us to know now how much “heat” was actually involved in this serious team breakdown, but the end result should show us that no matter how much there may have been, it didn’t impede their tactical thinking and the God-empowered results that followed. You see, God has always been training his people to approach any important task, not as an “individual conqueror” but as a person with a team (Genesis 2:18; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Proverbs 27:17; et al.). Paul clearly demonstrated this principle when he hit this impasse. Concluding that if God’s important work was to be done, he wouldn’t simply dump his previous ministry partners Barnabas and John-Mark and proceed on his own, rather he would choose a new team to work with him side-by-side. Silas was picked first, and on their first stop in Derbe and Lystra their “third strand” for the work of ministry was added, the young Timothy. So whether it’s a prayer ministry or a missions endeavor, a Sunday School class or leading a church youth program, don’t go it alone. Build a team. If things change and teams collapse over a reasoned yet “sharp” disagreement, then rebuild. Don’t wallow or live in the past. Get your team together and get going. Our time is running out.

-- Pastor Mike

Exalting Evil?

One of the challenges of living a godly life in an ungodly world, is the pressure we face when the world perpetually exalts those who are evil, and expects the rest of us to applaud. As with Isaiah, we live in a culture filled with “those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Jesus made it clear that “what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God” (Luke16:15). Making appraisals from a biblical perspective will not be popular, but necessary for those who walk with Christ. God’s heroes are not hailed by society. They never have been. They are those who are “afflicted and mistreated,” and yet Scripture extols them as those “of whom the world is not worthy” (Hebrews 11:37-38). There are many spiritual reasons the world exalts those who defy God’s rules. Not the least of which is their sinful desire to mitigate the pangs of conviction. Members of society can feel better about their transgressions when their heroes are avant-garde sinners. Though they know “that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1:32). Sin is shameful. We should be remorseful when we fall. And we should certainly never applaud those who defiantly make sinning their habit.

Perseverance

So many Christian virtues orbit around the “stick-to-itiveness” of the biblical word “perseverance”. To be patient or long-suffering, to look to the future with steadfast hope or “wait on the Lord”, to endure trials or persistently pray – these all relate to this fundamental godly trait called perseverance. To exercise biblical perseverance is to “hang in there” with strength and persistence when our flesh, our inclinations or our restlessness are telling us not to. In today’s popular quest to be authentic or “real”, many people are quick to react to their feelings which cry for some kind of change or course correction when biblical wisdom would call for perseverance. Much of this reactionary Christian living is based on the false assumption that every chapter of our lives should be filled with exciting new experiences or fresh challenges. Often the godly challenge is to persevere in “doing good”, even when our feelings are craving an adjustment. Much of the harvest of “good” is lost when our restlessness calls the shots (Galatians 6:9).

Decisions

Our feelings have been entrusted with far too much authority in our decision-making process. While we may live in a culture that wants to “feel led” before they act, Scripture provides us a template wherein God’s people choose to act righteously and “let their feelings catch up”. Consider the countercultural logic of Deuteronomy 7:7-8 where God explains the reason for his loving acts toward the Israelites: “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers”. Why does God love them? Because he chose to love them and promised to keep loving them. We often choose to do this or that, and choose to continue doing this or that if we feel like it. That is not the biblical example set for us by Jehoiada (2 Kings 11:17), Asa (2 Chronicles 15:12) or Ezra and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 10:29). The Bible leads us to choose to do what is good and right, letting our feelings tag along. Usually good decisions are eventually followed by good feelings, but sometimes not. Either way, we as God’s people should be making godly decisions based on biblical thinking, not on our fluctuating feelings.

I'm For Christ

In his parable of differing “soils” Jesus specifies some of the reasons certain people initially embrace Christianity, often with a great deal of enthusiasm and fervor, but then after a while bail out never to establish a root system which bears genuine and lasting fruit. Those identified as the first to leave do so because of “a time of testing” (Luke 8:13). This is some kind of painful situation or “persecution” (Matthew 13:21) that arises in a person’s life because of his or her new alliance with Christ. This is easy to imagine, knowing the power of social pressures and the unsympathetic “friends” who are quick to disparage and ridicule one’s confession to follow Jesus. When Christ costs friendships, some new “adherents” of Jesus are quick to say “forget it”. The other primary reason is variously described as “the cares of the world” (Matthew 13:22), the “pleasures of life” (Luke 8:14), or simply a “desire for other things” (Mark 4:19). The assortment of worldly attractions will certainly put one’s supposed faith to the test. Time will reveal whether people who claim to “follow Christ” will actually experience a God-given consistency in following Christ, or will instead retreat to following their own cravings for the temporal things of this world. So, without being cynical, we must be cautious knowing that based on Jesus’ teaching, not every “I’m for Christ” is genuine.

Empty Phrases

Jesus said that when we pray we should “not heap up empty phrases” (Matthew 6:7). Later he lamented a hypocritical form of worship by quoting the indictment that first came through Isaiah: “These people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew15:8). We must be so careful when we bow our heads to pray, or lift our voices to sing. God is not impressed when we utter mere words such as “Praise the Lord!” or “Hallelujah!” He is looking for worshippers whose spirits (i.e., minds, hearts, and thoughts) are engaged in expressing the meaning of those words (cf. John 4:23). It is easy to melodically recite lyrics of Christian songs, but it takes concentration, sincerity and thoughtfulness to truly worship in song. We should never hide behind fine sounding words while our minds wander through a set of thoughts about something else. This is a special challenge when someone else is leading us in prayer during a church service or at a Bible study. Those words coming from the one composing and vocalizing the prayer must be echoed in our own minds and then thoughtfully directed to God from our own hearts. When we are leading in prayer or praying privately, we must be careful to never “heap up empty phrases” which our minds never grasp or our hearts never direct to God. Real prayer and real worship require our minds. Don’t switch them off. Don’t let them wander. God deserves our full attention and desires our attentive communication.

Who Are You Trying To Impress?

Much of the Bible would have us ponder our coming evaluation. God, our Father and our Judge, will be the One to whom we must give an account of ourselves. And so, the logic goes, we must think of him when it comes to our decisions, words, actions and work. Our stewardship before God should always be in the forefront of our minds. And yet it seems we so often fail to walk with this kind of faith, walking instead by sight, seeking to garner the approval of those we can presently see and hear. We so desperately want the words and nods of affirmation from those around us, which may or may not coincide with the approval that really matters. Does it, in the end, make any real difference if we have impressed those we see each day and yet fail to hear “well done” from our Creator? Will it really bring us any lasting benefit to gain heaping approval from our neighbors and coworkers, if we later discover that we have been an offense to the One who died for us? How important our daily time in God’s word should be to us – our time to reflect on who and what is worth living for. The disapproval we so fear on earth may be nothing less than applause in heaven. May we learn to live for our Maker and our Redeemer whom we will soon see face-to-face. May we comprehend with clarity the futility of living to impress the world and each other.

Funerals

It is remarkable that non-Christians, agnostics and staunch secularists turn into weeping and hope-filled theologians at their loved ones’ funerals. People that rarely give God a thought or ten minutes of contemplation take up the microphone and tearfully recite their poems about the fishing, feasting and frolicking in “heaven”. They speak confidently of their departed friend living at peace and in comfort - enjoying “a better place” forevermore. They reference the eternal gifts of God but hurry to leave the ceremonies and gravesites to live, as the deceased once did, in open defiance of God. They continue to mock God’s truth, malign Christ’s followers and disdain all the truths that their Creator has inscribed in his word. All, that is, except the biblical references that speak of eternal pleasures and heaven’s rest. Their glaring hypocrisy goes undetected. People gleefully claim the benefits of the One they openly despise. In the first century Paul said that the difference between Christian and non-Christian funerals was that the former was tempered with hope and the latter was not (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Today, with our culture’s resolve to defy facts with feelings, to replace logic with wishing, and to selfishly claim all available benefits whether provision has been made for them or not, it should be no surprise that non-Christian funerals brim with overweening hope. Though it is a false hope, one that tragically insulates the ceremony’s participants from any urgency to make peace with their Maker. When in the end that is all that matters. The gravity of death ought to lead the living to humbly reach out to God in repentance. For to have any real hope of the blessings of heaven we must be made right with its King through a life-changing faith in Jesus Christ.

Desert Attitudes

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, the destination was the promised land of Canaan – a land of abundance and rest. The route was through the desert – which by contrast was hot, difficult and filled with discomfort. As is so often the case, God’s good plans include a path through the desert. From the perspective of the New Testament our entire life this side of heaven can rightly be considered a path through the desert (John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 4:1-11; et al.). But in a microcosm there are many instances in this life that follow this larger paradigm. It might be one of the many painful paths that God utilizes in our lives to bring us to a new level of maturity. It may be the discomfort of an illness before the relief of restored health. Or it might be the painful financial struggles before a season of financial stability. Whatever the circumstance, we can learn from the poor example of the Israelites in their desert. Their monumental failure was how they handled the pain on the way to their relief. They whined and complained. They were bitter and angry. They longingly looked back at the fish and cucumbers of Egypt, instead of looking forward to the milk and honey of Canaan (Numbers 11:4-6). God would have us learn to patiently endure the hardship of our deserts with faith and hope. He has promised relief. In the meantime his Spirit is able to make us resilient and resolute. May we not have to look back from our next “Canaan” regretting our words and our attitudes in the desert

Regret

It is not uncommon to hear people say that they have lived their lives with “no regrets”. They often state that they would live just the same if they had it to do all over again. That sentiment is one hard to imagine coming from the mouth of a Christian. While we may affirm the truth that God works all things together for good (Romans 8:28), there ought to be a true remorse for the times we have sinned against our holy and loving God. If reliving a situation were possible, I trust we would all want to amend a transgression that assailed our Savior, or maximize an opportunity to advance the cause of Christ. But the Bible is clear, we cannot. Thankfully, our iniquities and missed opportunities have been dealt with on the cross. And God of course, would have us live in the present and not the past (Philippians 3:13). He wants us to look ahead, not backwards. While our sinful histories rightly make us remorseful, the good news is our forgiveness is complete and more opportunities to glorify Christ lie before us. We can all admit we have regrets, but let us be quick to praise God that his grace is greater than our sin and today is a new day to live for Christ.

Daily Struggle

While we would all love to imagine a Christian life that is tranquil and calm, the truth is it’s not. The Bible is clear that this side of heaven every Christian has been drafted into battle. We are, after all, called to live for Christ in a world that is skeptical of our faith, disparaging of our values, and at enmity with our God. Add to that, we all must live for Christ in a physical body that is beset with a variety of selfish and sinful inclinations. Any hopes of tranquility will have to wait for a resurrected body and an address in the New Jerusalem. This, by the way, is why we find so much metaphorical use of military themes in the New Testament. When the Apostle Paul describes his fellow Christians and ministry colleagues he refers to them as “fellow soldiers” (Philippians 2:25; Phile.1:2; 2 Timothy 2:3). Near the end of his life lived for Christ, Paul looks back and writes, “I have fought the good fight” (2 Timothy 4:7). So if you are surprised by your daily struggle, don’t be. Let’s discover contentment as we accept the current forecast. Let’s grasp God’s promised peace amid the conflict. And whatever you do, don’t lose heart. God has promised us victory.

Hell

Hell. No one likes to think about it. The world attempts to dilute its force by using the word as an expletive or as an impertinent adjective. But much like tax day or a set of dire medical test results, not thinking about it or making light of it, doesn’t change its reality. While the biblical data on hell may be denied by the world and now even large portions of the church, it would do us well as Christians to take heed to what the New Testament has to say about the pending judgment of God on an unbelieving world. It is hard to acquire the proper motivation for biblical service or gospel evangelism until we accept the sobering words of Christ regarding sin’s eternal consequences. Attempting to dismiss the clear teaching of Scripture on this topic because it doesn’t fit our preconceived notions of God, or because we deem the whole concept archaic or severe will not do if we are going to let God define himself and if we claim his word to be the final arbiter of truth. We must grapple with this doctrine as we would any other, allowing it to shape our thoughts and our behavior. It will undoubtedly drive us to a deeper appreciation for grace and a more zealous involvement in advancing the cause of Christ.