How much of our hearts do we put into becoming a follower of Christ? From the very first step until our very last one, God is wanting our “hearts” to be part of it (Psalms 37:4; Romans 5:5; John 14:27).
When someone hears the Gospel and is pricked to the heart and realizes the need to be saved from sinfulness, there begins a process of tuning our hearts to God’s heart. Therefore, the “why” questions and even the “how” questions become important in our change.
Although we would like to think that the “hows” are explained well enough in Scripture that there isn’t confusion, we know that there are numerous groups that emphasize one aspect of obedience to Christ over another. Our faith that Jesus is the son of God is important, our admitting our own sinful human nature is important, our humbling ourselves and turning completely to God for rescuing is important, and our being baptized for the forgiveness of sins is important. It would be nice if everyone recognized these as important to following Christ.
However, equally important is the life we choose to live after we make that decision. God wants our hearts to be changed (Matthew 22:37-39; Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 23:26; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:7 and many others). To do that, we have to “die to ourselves daily” (Luke 9:23), and be patient during the process. But just because it may be a longer or more difficult process to adhere to Christlikeness for some more than others, it still has to be our “heart’s desire,” just as Jesus said in Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
In Acts 8:9-25, we read of a convert who had a challenging past – a sorcerer named Simon. He heard the words of Philip and believed the good news of the kingdom of God and was baptized. But when Peter and John came down teach and lay hands on people, Simon’s heart was enticed to his old ways of living. He said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
But Peter’s answer helps us see how God wants us to respond to His generous gift of life. Peter said, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that He may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.” (Compare to Matthew 6:21; 1 Timothy 6:10.)
Simon begged for help at that point. He needed to stop thinking according to his old way of life – no matter how recent those “old days” were for him. This sets the urgency for all of us that to choose to follow Christ requires a change in our thinking, which ultimately changes our hearts.
God can use anyone, but we have to be willing to be molded and shaped into a spiritual person who thinks like God. But our hearts make all the difference; it’s what He’s been after from the beginning. Joel 2:13, “Rend (tear/humble) your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Friday, September 21, 2018
Breath of Eternal Life
It doesn’t take much for us to lose focus on what’s important in life and begin to
“major in the minors,” as the old saying goes. To counter that, it takes intentional,
purpose-filled thoughts and actions. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “So we fix our eyes not
on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is
unseen is eternal.” But it’s the things that are “seen” that lure us into behaviors that
get us into trouble.
James highlights the fact that there were some folks making bias distinctions between the rich and the poor, and other behaviors that did not (and do not) exemplify Christ. But, as followers of Christ we must be, as Peter says in 1 Peter 1:14-17, “[Like] obedient children, [who] do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.”
Life is filled with things that won’t last: from your favorite pair of shoes, to your ability to run upstairs, to your dog Sparky. But technically life doesn’t last – at least down here. Having that thought in our head can help us stay focused. In Psalms 90, Moses sang a song of praise to the Everlasting God, the One who had seen him through some of the most amazing things witnessed by human eyes. As the much older Moses reflected on God’s presence, he says in 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
To know that physical life has a starting point and an ending point is actually a helpful thing. Not necessarily enjoyable, but a good reminder of how we should live while here. Philippians 1:27, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” And Paul goes on to describe that as “stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one…,” which was also one of Jesus’ last prayers (John 17).
Throughout our study of the book of James, this has been a common theme – using wisdom from above to understand the value and importance of unity among brethren – how we should live.
The Holy Spirit, who is “our seal for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30), is God’s gift to us to help us think and act with an eternal focus, a God-like focus on the life beyond breath. All that we have ever known is dependent upon physical breath: from our first breath at birth, to those beautiful or horrifying moments that take our breath away, to the struggle to breathe in those final moments down here. However, the more I am reminded of how I can use that breath to glorify God instead of tearing down those created in His image, the more I can find peace within and among others.
As God breathed life into the first man, Adam, and as Paul compares Christ as the first (eternal) man (Romans 5; 1 Corinthians 15), God breathes a new kind of breath into us via the Holy Spirit at the moment we clothe ourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27). That new breath not only changes how we’ll live in heaven, but how we will live down here!
James highlights the fact that there were some folks making bias distinctions between the rich and the poor, and other behaviors that did not (and do not) exemplify Christ. But, as followers of Christ we must be, as Peter says in 1 Peter 1:14-17, “[Like] obedient children, [who] do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.”
Life is filled with things that won’t last: from your favorite pair of shoes, to your ability to run upstairs, to your dog Sparky. But technically life doesn’t last – at least down here. Having that thought in our head can help us stay focused. In Psalms 90, Moses sang a song of praise to the Everlasting God, the One who had seen him through some of the most amazing things witnessed by human eyes. As the much older Moses reflected on God’s presence, he says in 90:12, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
To know that physical life has a starting point and an ending point is actually a helpful thing. Not necessarily enjoyable, but a good reminder of how we should live while here. Philippians 1:27, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” And Paul goes on to describe that as “stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one…,” which was also one of Jesus’ last prayers (John 17).
Throughout our study of the book of James, this has been a common theme – using wisdom from above to understand the value and importance of unity among brethren – how we should live.
The Holy Spirit, who is “our seal for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30), is God’s gift to us to help us think and act with an eternal focus, a God-like focus on the life beyond breath. All that we have ever known is dependent upon physical breath: from our first breath at birth, to those beautiful or horrifying moments that take our breath away, to the struggle to breathe in those final moments down here. However, the more I am reminded of how I can use that breath to glorify God instead of tearing down those created in His image, the more I can find peace within and among others.
As God breathed life into the first man, Adam, and as Paul compares Christ as the first (eternal) man (Romans 5; 1 Corinthians 15), God breathes a new kind of breath into us via the Holy Spirit at the moment we clothe ourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27). That new breath not only changes how we’ll live in heaven, but how we will live down here!
Friday, September 14, 2018
What Word Best Describes You?
What word best describes you? Or perhaps what word would you hope other people would use to describe you? I’ve been to some funerals where the congregation was asked that question to describe the deceased. In that exercise, it's interesting to see how many characteristics are told about someone.
Truth is, we can see the same person from different perspectives. What about God? What word do we attribute to God’s character?
We may have different experiences that have shaped how we view God, but He describes Himself in His word. But how in the world can the creator of the universe, the savior of our souls, the sustainer of life, the eternal judge, be summed up in one word?
In the Hebrew culture (like many ancient cultures) names meant something more than just an identity. In Exodus 33:18-19, Moses had asked God for permission to lay his eyes on Him, which God allowed. But He says, “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, in your presence…”
Once God was ready, He passed by and described His name. He says in Exodus 34:6-7, “THE LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”
All of these words help explain what peace is all about. God’s peace is something that He wants us to have (John 14:27, 16:33; Romans 2:10, 5:1, etc.) In a letter, James addresses several things that these congregations needed to strive to achieve. James 4 begins with explaining why they don’t have peace among themselves, and what they need to do in order to obtain it – James 4:7-10, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
There are a lot of words that help to describe what God is looking for in us: faithfulness, perseverance, compassion, repentance, purity, humility… Imagine how much peace comes to anyone who demonstrates these kinds of qualities towards the people we live around.
Psalms 103:8-12, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor his anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Truth is, we can see the same person from different perspectives. What about God? What word do we attribute to God’s character?
We may have different experiences that have shaped how we view God, but He describes Himself in His word. But how in the world can the creator of the universe, the savior of our souls, the sustainer of life, the eternal judge, be summed up in one word?
In the Hebrew culture (like many ancient cultures) names meant something more than just an identity. In Exodus 33:18-19, Moses had asked God for permission to lay his eyes on Him, which God allowed. But He says, “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, in your presence…”
Once God was ready, He passed by and described His name. He says in Exodus 34:6-7, “THE LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”
All of these words help explain what peace is all about. God’s peace is something that He wants us to have (John 14:27, 16:33; Romans 2:10, 5:1, etc.) In a letter, James addresses several things that these congregations needed to strive to achieve. James 4 begins with explaining why they don’t have peace among themselves, and what they need to do in order to obtain it – James 4:7-10, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
There are a lot of words that help to describe what God is looking for in us: faithfulness, perseverance, compassion, repentance, purity, humility… Imagine how much peace comes to anyone who demonstrates these kinds of qualities towards the people we live around.
Psalms 103:8-12, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor his anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Friday, September 7, 2018
What Are We Teaching?
School’s underway, and people are fitting into their busy schedules once again. Since our time is so precious, it seems we place a high value on efficiency. Efficiency is usually a good thing, and it even has a place in worship. However, saving time isn’t the goal when it comes to honoring our Heavenly Father for providing a way to spend eternity with Him in His home that is not bound by time. But we see these steps for easier worship in how we reduce the number of songs or verses, or encouraging shorter sermons, or even the statement often made during the time of offering, “This is separate and apart from the Lord’s Supper, but as a matter of convenience, we’re taking up an offering now.”
While these may be important, another issue is what to expect out of a Bible class teacher. James addresses the fact that “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). Knowing that what we teach, or even how we teach may impact how someone else receives (or rejects) the gospel of Christ, should help us to put a heavy emphasis on examining our efforts and motives as teachers.
This was something that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their reckless attitude towards teaching God’s will. He said in Matthew 23:13-15, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to… You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are” (Luke 11:46). “Woe to you lawyers as well, for you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”
To fulfill the Great Commission, we must be people that “teach others to observe all that God commands” (Matthew 28:20). Which reveals the importance of teachers in the process of bringing people to Christ. In James’ situation, showing partiality and demonstrating jealousy was teaching a different lesson to people that was not part of God’s will. Instead, James reminds them of the lessons taught by Abraham and Rahab, where they taught others about their faith in God by modeling sacrifice and kindness.
What motivates our teaching? What message do we send to the world who is watching us? Do we model wisdom or selfish ambition? He says in James 3:13-18, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
While these may be important, another issue is what to expect out of a Bible class teacher. James addresses the fact that “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). Knowing that what we teach, or even how we teach may impact how someone else receives (or rejects) the gospel of Christ, should help us to put a heavy emphasis on examining our efforts and motives as teachers.
This was something that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their reckless attitude towards teaching God’s will. He said in Matthew 23:13-15, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to… You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are” (Luke 11:46). “Woe to you lawyers as well, for you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, while you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”
To fulfill the Great Commission, we must be people that “teach others to observe all that God commands” (Matthew 28:20). Which reveals the importance of teachers in the process of bringing people to Christ. In James’ situation, showing partiality and demonstrating jealousy was teaching a different lesson to people that was not part of God’s will. Instead, James reminds them of the lessons taught by Abraham and Rahab, where they taught others about their faith in God by modeling sacrifice and kindness.
What motivates our teaching? What message do we send to the world who is watching us? Do we model wisdom or selfish ambition? He says in James 3:13-18, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”