Thin Skinned - Pt 2

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (Psalm 32:10-11 ESV).

I have seen it written that we need to be a people with a thick skin and a tender heart. That is central to the example and desire of God in our lives. Our culture has developed such a privileged and protected attitude that we have lost much of our desire and ability to do this. The psalmist encourages us to be very aware of the steadfast love that surrounds us. It is this knowledge that prompts us to achieve balance in our lives. So, I offer four ways you can be a person with a thick skin and a tender heart in your relationships with others: 1. First we need to be people of the Scripture. We cannot fall into the trap of being so much in the world that become a part of the world. We should be understanding of the human condition and the shortcomings of others; however, we cannot fall into the error of misunderstanding our own shortcomings. Doing this puts us in touch with the grace of God and leads to an attitude of grace and forgiveness towards those who hurt us. 2. Second, do not apologize for having your heart hurt; and, don’t harbor the hurt. When we are hurt there is no sin in our heart. It is the harboring of this hurt and allowing it to make you bitter or fill you with a grudge that becomes the sin. Speak your truth and be honest when you have been wounded; and, always forgive and resolve conflict. 3. Third, take charge by being firm and true. We have the responsibilities that we do for a reason. Wise people have seen our potential and believe that we are the right person for whatever responsibility we have accepted. It is our responsibility to wield our power with grace and truth, which sometimes means taking a stand on the truth of the Word when we need to. We should not be afraid to take control where we need to take it and lead others when they need to be led. We should speak truth firmly; and, know our responsibility, and walk in it. 4. Fourth, stay humble; the teacher can always be taught. We should know our humanity, and be willing to admit it. It’s hard for a follower of Christ to argue with someone who knows their humanity and is willing to continue to learn and grow into the image of Jesus! If you are humble, if you are teachable, others will want to be taught by you.

Thin Skinned - Pt 1

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:9-12 ESV).

It is interesting to see how our culture has drifted into a situation where people's feelings are the chief measure of how to love. If feelings are vulnerable and might be hurt by a certain action, then we say, "This is probably not the loving thing to do." This means that we can easily be held hostage by people's sensitivities. Good and loving acts will be rejected because the bottom line of love is not truth or principle or even what's best for the person, but how they will feel. So if they can communicate that they will feel really bad, they can protect themselves from many good things. Our reading speaks to this issue. The writer begins by using the word "beloved" (v. 9). It simply means "loved ones," or "you whom I love." It's the only place in the book where the writer says "loved ones." The reason this stands out is that he has just said some of the hardest words in the book. He has said that they are dull of hearing even though by this time they ought to be teachers (cf. 5:11-12). He says that they are like babes stuck on milk (cf. 5:13-14). And he holds out the possibility that some of them have had great blessings and high religious experiences but are not saved, and are like a field that drinks rain for months and never brings forth fruit (cf. 6:4-8). And then he says, "I do love you." Now I point this out because we need to let the Bible shape our worldview. We have become a nation of victims, whiners, and pouters to a large degree. That is, if someone says something negative about us, no matter how constructive they may try to be, we either slump into a fit of self-justifying woundedness. We are a very thin-skinned people in America these days. Easily offended and easily provoked. This is not good. Followers of Jesus should be different. We are chosen by God, loved by God, forgiven by God, accepted by God, indwelt by God, guided by God, protected by God, strengthened by God — and God is more important than anyone else in the universe. We do not have to feel vulnerable or insecure. We do not have to be self-justifying or self-defensive or self-pitying. We can be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger (cf. James 1:19); and, we should! That will create real relationship.

Boo! (Part 6)

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ESV).

Our last look at practical principles approaching Halloween is the encouragement to be a generous people. By being Jesus’ people, we should become increasingly generous people. He fills our hearts and opens our hands. John Wesley said, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” While this is a truth for our every day, it is especially true on this night. We should remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). Our reading today from the Apostle Paul tells us to resolve to make the sacrifice to give “not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (v. 7). That is a worthy object to achieve especially on a night like Halloween. Remember that unbelieving humans are not our enemies. The devil and his demons are the foe. Paul said, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). So, chase away the darkness by turning on your porch lights and giving out the best of treats. Look upon the nastiest costumes and vilest of revelers with the mind and heart of Christ. Matthew reminds us that: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Jesus came to destroy Satan, all his works, and all his ways (cf. 1 John 3:8). He has delivered “all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (cf. Hebrews 2:15). Be strong in him and in the strength of his might (cf. Ephesians 6:10), and on this All Hallows’ Eve, take your stand against the schemes of the devil (cf. Ephesians 6:11). After all, this is our night! It does not belong to our enemy. Jesus saw to that in the glorious wonder of the resurrection!

Boo! (Part 5)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:6-11 ESV).

The fourth principle developing out of our victory over death and hell is that we can, and should be an intentional people. But being intentional doesn’t mean being naïve. In fact, just the opposite proves true. The calling of every believer is to intentionality and vigilance for the sake of the cause. The apostle says in our reading that we ought to be “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (v. 8). God has given us a manual for war, “so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs” (2 Corinthians 2:11). We must use our voice for kindness, our ears for compassion, our hands for charity, our mind for truth, and our hearts for love. I find it so common today that the Church’s voice get lost as it mimics the world as it constantly competes for a hollow victory in debate. While apologetics has a vital role in our work of ministry, the real power is in the simple declaration of the gospel. This is especially true when we wander away from the truth of Scripture and begin to look more like a voice at a political rally supporting a candidate. We have only one name to call others to and it is Jesus! And, of course, this leads us to the premise that we don’t work alone. In all our care and consciousness, we lean against the backstop of Christ’s pledge: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). This means that we do buy candy, turn on porch lights, make apple cider, and bring the warmth of a happy face into an otherwise cold night because we know he has promised “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). The dress-up ghosts and goblins are not our enemies. Use this time of Halloween to declare the victory over the real enemy! The devil, death, and sin have been forever decisively defeated. Declare that in all you do this year.

Boo! (Part 4)

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20 ESV).

The third principle for us to understand with the approach of Halloween is that we are a people on mission. In Christ, we are not a cloistered, cowering people, perpetually on the defensive. Jesus gives us a mission. Our reading details that mission. We are to go on our way making disciples (v. 19). We are no longer of this world, but sent into this world, with the backing of the King’s boundless authority (v. 18), on history’s great offensive, thrashing joyfully against the darkness. As Jesus prayed to his Father about his saints, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:15-18). Our great high priest doesn’t pray for our removal from the world, but for our reaching of it. Our task is to be God’s tool in rescuing fellow sinners from “the god of this world [who] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Our mission is to free our captive neighbors and coworkers, family and friends, who are “following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). There are many ways to use Halloween as a ministry opportunity; however, the real key is to be on mission everyday throughout the year. I find people separating mission from their daily activities too often of the time. “Mission” becomes something we go and do. The Scripture makes it clear that mission is something we do “while we go.” It is our daily lives and habits that define where and what we do on our personal mission. Our calling is the center of our lives. Whether you are employed in full-time ministry or another non-ministerial vocation, all of them are a part of the calling of God to be a people on mission. My encouragement to you is that you use every holiday celebration as a way to point others to Jesus, but, additionally, give you attention to the things you do each day to render a kind word, a gesture of grace to everyone you come into contact with. And, surround yourself with people on the same mission as you!

Boo! (Part 3)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:1-4 ESV).

The second truth we celebrate at the mark of this holiday is that we are a courageous people. Since we know victory is assuredly ours in Christ, we can be of good courage. Not only has Jesus completely defeated Satan with a final deathblow, he also does not leave us to fight alone. He promises to be with us (cf. Matthew 18:20), and says to his covenant people, “Take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). I like the meme I found for today’s devotional: The devil whispers, “You can’t withstand the storm.” The warrior [Jesus and His followers] replied, “I am the storm.” Listen to J. D. Greear: When it comes to the demonic, people fall into two errors—not wanting to talk about it at all, or not wanting to talk about anything else. As C. S. Lewis said, “Humanity falls into two equal and opposite errors concerning the Devil. Either they take him altogether too seriously or they do not take him seriously enough.” So we can’t just pretend that demons aren’t real. If Satan is real—prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour—what can Christians do about it? Listen to what Jesus says: “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20). In one breath, Jesus acknowledges the reality of spiritual enemies, but reminds us not to be obsessed with them. Jesus consistently directs people away from preoccupation with the demonic. He took on his fair share of demons, but he never tells us to go out demon hunting. Instead, he says to “rejoice that our names are written in heaven.” The way to engage the demonic is by focusing on the gospel, the good news that our names are written in heaven. Because Jesus has won, and is with us, we don’t flee from the devil, but take Christ up on his promise. Look at our reading today again: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (v. 4). We can boldly defy our adversary on precisely the night when he would most like for us to cower and take cover. The devil may rage, his demons may plot, but “he who sits in the heavens laughs” (Psalm 2:1,4), and invites us to smile confidently with him!

Boo! (Part 2)

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Colossians 2:13-15 ESV).

As Christians we have a theology strong enough for every bit of the common cultural celebration of Halloween. In fact, it is strong enough for every fear of every other day of the year. This is not a night to moan and fret, but to rejoice with confident smiles and treats in hand. It is also a time for rehearsing precious truths, or teaching them for the first time. It is a time to celebrate the undaunted dominion of Christ and what it means for us as his people. So, for the next few days we will look at some specific things that can lead us out of fear and into joy. The harvest is great, and Halloween is an incredible tool for teaching our kids, and reminding ourselves of who we are in Christ. First, we must understand that we are a victorious people. Start with Jesus and his victory. All things were created in him, through him, and for him. The Apostle Paul says, “in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” (Colossians 1:16). And, in our reading today, he says, at the cross, God “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (v. 5). Jesus reigns supreme over Satan and every demon, both by creation and by the cross. He commands unclean spirits and they obey him (cf. Mark 1:27); and, He is Lord even over the mental movements of Satan’s minions (cf. Revelation 17:17). It is easy to marvel at our Savior. Further, we should be amazed that he would have us join him in his great victory. Not only did he crush Satan in his death and resurrection, but he makes us a victorious people, to experience this victory with him. To be a Christian emphatically does not mean that we don’t suffer, face persecution, or even find ourselves to be the objects of demonic attack in this life. But it does mean we will win (cf. Revelation 3:21), not in our own strength, but in the power of God’s Spirit. The decisive battle has been won. The final match is just a matter of time. We are a victorious people in the world’s single most important war and celebrate with the apostle Paul, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). That’s the real celebration at Halloween! Go ahead and enjoy this day!

Boo! (Part 1)

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:14-17 ESV).

“Boo!” At least that’s the title of our next little series in Morning Devotionals. I know I risk offending some folks who take a different approach to this centuries old holiday; however, my hope is to give a perspective that emphasizes the grace and victory that we celebrate through the work of Christ as we understand the root of this day with a bit more depth. Let me begin with a basic truth: Halloween is not too haunted for true saints. This is no night for God’s “holy ones” to run and hide, but rise up and revel in the power of our sovereign Christ. This is not the devil’s day, but ours. No concessions, no treaties, no retreat. No call to fear, but an invitation to feast. Today we’ll look at a little Scripture and some history. Originally “All Hallows’ Eve” may have been an annual commemoration of the seemingly “super-holy,” the Roman “saints.” The word hallows comes from the Latin and translates “holy ones.” It has been celebrated since the Eighth century. It was then called “the feast of All Hallows.” On its current date in the Western Church, it may be traced to Pope Gregory III's (731–741) founding of an oratory in St. Peter’s Basilica for the relics "of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors". However, those of us who find our theological roots in the Reformation see the history of this day a bit differently. It was on October 31, 1517, at the church door in Wittenberg, Germany that Martin Luther started a monumental change in the Church. Eventually Luther labored with a multitude of others to liberate God’s people from a host of medieval misconceptions, including the assumption that only some, not all, of Christ’s people are “saints” (cf. Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; and 2 Corinthians 1:1). History tells us that Halloween is not the devil’s day, but ours! Claiming All Hallows’ Eve truly belongs to believers does not mean we celebrate death or darkness. We celebrate our Savior’s victory over death and over everything demonic. We mark Christ’s triumph, through death, over sin and Satan. The writer of Hebrews certainly understood this truth. In our reading today he said, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil (v. 14). In the days ahead we’ll unpack more of this. Today, celebrate our victory! Even the devil cannot overpower us!

David and Goliath - Pt 3

This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand. (1 Samuel 17:46-47 ESV).

Today we continue with our reading from yesterday and add a few verses. It is clear that the root of David’s courage was his confidence in God’s promises and God’s power to fulfill them. In the preceding chapter, Samuel had informed David that God had chosen him to be the next king of Israel and anointed him with his brothers around him (cf. 1 Samuel 16:13). David knew God’s plan for him before he ever faced the taunts of the giant. H also drew additional confidence by remembering how God had helped him in the past (cf. 1 Samuel 17:34-36). This reality was David’s courage wellspring. He was not self-confident; he was God-confident. David believed that God would never break his promise. So he went out to fight knowing that God would give him victory over Goliath; and, when he did, the victory would demonstrate God’s power and faithfulness, not David’s courage. Courage is not an autonomous, self-generated virtue. Courage is always produced by faith, whether our faith is in God or something else. Courage is a derivative virtue. For the Christian, a lack of courage is always evidence of a lack faith in a promise of God. Some “Goliath” is looming larger than God in our sight and taunting us into humiliation. All we see is how weak and pathetic we are, and how inadequate we are to face him. Fighting him seems impossible, and the thought immobilizes us. All of us experience this fear. But faith made David more than courageous. When he heard the Philistine defy the living God and his army, it made David angry. Goliath’s taunts and accusations scorned God’s glory. And when no one stepped up to defend God’s name, it made God look weak. David would not tolerate that. And such should also be our response to every fear and “lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God” (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:5). Our fears are not primarily about us, even though they feel that way. Our fears are primarily about God. They impugn God’s character and call him weak, or non-existent. They defy God and his church. Make it your intention today to stand in the face of such fears and you will overcome them. Whatever you face, if God has already defeated our greatest enemy, how can any other stand before Him. We walk with the Lion of Judah at our side. Turn Him loose!

David and Goliath - Pt 2

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. (1 Samuel 17:45-46 ESV).

Many think David’s defeat of Goliath is a story of personal courage in the face of overwhelming odds. They see David as the archetypal underdog, as a self-confident, independent young man who was brave enough to fight for what was right and rely on his own strength and skills, rather than conform to conventional tactics. The popular moral of the story is this: Get out there and face down your giant because the heroically courageous come out on top. But that is not at all what this story is about. It’s true that David was courageous, and courage is an essential, glorious virtue. But when he faced Goliath, David’s courage was a derivative virtue. It was being empowered by his faith. Before looking at David’s faith, we need to ask why Saul and his soldiers lacked it, at least at this moment. On the surface, the answer seems manifestly obvious. The Philistine champion was about nine-feet tall and incredibly strong (vv. 4-7). He was a highly trained, experienced warrior who had sent many opponents to their death (v. 33). Physically, every man in the Hebrew camp was outclassed. Fighting Goliath looked like a suicide mission at best. But it is not as it seemed. First of all, because fighting Goliath didn’t look like suicide to David, who was as physically outclassed as anyone else, but also, because these men believed in God and knew Israel’s history. They knew the stories, how God had overcome one giant adversary after another. Many of them had personally seen God do amazing things, such as Jonathan’s defeat of a Philistine garrison (cf. 1 Samuel 14). No, the men lacked courage to face Goliath because at this moment the men lacked faith. At this moment, for whatever reason, despite all the stories and past experiences, Goliath looked bigger than God. Each man believed that if he went out against this huge warrior, he would be on his own and be defeated in death (v. 44). It was this same faith that gave David the ability to write the psalm in our meme today that also gave him courage to face Goliath. He knew what God would do in the face of such an enemy. He had proven it many times before. This is the same truth of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Death could not hold Jesus and neither can it hold us. He is greater and more powerful even than that final spectre. This is the root of our sure hope that empowers us to live with Davidic courage! Rejoice, your end is already written and cannot be undone!

David and Goliath - Pt 1

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. (1 Samuel 17:1-4 ESV).

Today’s devotional begins a look at courage, especially in the face of enormous obstacles. I hope to answers some persistent questions as we face the challenges of life. We need to know where our courage can come from. And, we need to know how we can get it when we need it. From the very basic fear of death to the more mundane, daily fears of our culture, we must understand the story of David and Goliath. So we begin with our reading today. It is one of the most famous stories of all time; and, it is also one of the most misunderstood stories in the Bible. So, let’s start at the beginning of the story, about three thousand years ago. It takes place in the Valley of Elah when a massive man named Goliath of Gath stepped out of the Philistine ranks to defy and taunt the army of Israel and its God. The Scripture says he was “six cubits and a half tall.” For those of us who don’t measure in the Hebrew format, that is about nine feet six inches tall! For forty days, he harangued the Israelite warriors, heaping shame on them, since none dared to accept his fight-to-the-death, winner-take-all challenge. Every morning when he stepped forward, the “men of God” shrank back. Then a teenage Hebrew shepherd boy named David showed up in the camp with some bread and cheese for his older brothers who were serving in Saul’s army. He heard Goliath pour out his scorn on them. David became indignant. He chastened the fearful men, took his shepherd’s sling, grabbed a few stones, and knocked Goliath unconscious then cut off his head with Goliath’s own sword. We will talk about what this story is not about more tomorrow. Today I want to emphasize it is not about David’s courage or strength. If that were the message I would be hopeless in the face of my challenges. I’m certainly no David. It is about his faith and the strength that comes from his relationship with the Lord. That is something we all can match. It is also centrally about what Jesus has already done for us in the victory won on our behalf. That is what we trust in the midst of our battles! The is no “giant” bigger than Jesus!

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV).

It was early in the morning of October 20, 1983 that our youngest son was born. Since there were so many unusual challenges surrounding his birth, we were thrilled at the announcement from the doctors that all had gone well and he was perfectly healthy. In fact, as you can see from this picture taken in DC last summer, he is much healthier than I could hope of ever being! I suppose that should come as no surprise, since the Lord has always taken care of each day of our lives. Never-the-less, I am surprised. I am not surprised that Aaron is doing so well. He does more than his part in that regard. He runs five miles every other day, walks nearly everywhere he goes, eats healthy, and has great health habits. I am surprised because I always stand amazed at the great blessing of God in my children and grandchildren. I find it a sure example of the grace of God when I think of how easy it is to think it is just the things that I do that cause God to do what He does. The opposite is actually the truth. God does what he does because of who he is and his character of mercy and grace. I have marveled at the incredible blessing I have in my all my children. People often ask me how I managed it (whatever “it” might be at the moment of the query)? My answer is always pointed toward the mercy of God extended to me through Christ. Our reading today says that we should “acknowledge him, and he will make straight our paths” (v. 6). That sounds an awfully lot like something I must do rather than something I should be. However, it is the latter. The temptation to turn this verse into a vending machine principle of life must be avoided. I cannot put a bit of acknowledgement into the equation and receive this “straight path.” What I aim to do and be is an individual who knows that God is both responsible and intentional about bring blessing into my life. That is the gist of acknowledgement toward Him. So, as circumstances shift and change I can stay focused on the constant of God who both wills and works good in my life and the life of my children. Perhaps you have not had that kind of assurance in your life. Perhaps your children have proven to be more challenge that you ever imagined possible. Don’t rely on the world’s idea of faith and trust; rely instead on the unfailing principle from the Scripture. God desires nothing but good for you and your family. Thank Him for that unfailing mercy!

The Goodness of God - Pt 4

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. (Psalm 25:8-10 ESV).

It comes out most clearly when we turn to our third focus, namely, the basis of David's expectation. We have looked at the elements of his situation, fear, loneliness, guilt, confusion; and the content of his supplication. He takes all these concerns to God. David shows us he is not on a quest for messages, but a quest for holiness. And what we see when we look at the basis of his hope for guidance is that the essence of it is a spiritual condition. The prerequisite of divine guidance is not the quest for messages, but the quest for holiness. This is his prayer in our reading today. Then he later describes the kind of person who can be confident of God's guidance. These become our focus.  First, sinners can be (v. 8). Sin is NOT a qualification for guidance; but sin is not necessarily an obstacle to guidance. We saw that David confessed his sinfulness four times in this psalm. So, we can confidently say perfection is not a prerequisite to guidance, because God is good. That brings us to a consistent attitude of repentance.  Second, humility is a prerequisite to guidance (v. 9). In other words a person who admits his sinfulness and feels helpless in himself has one of the indispensable spiritual qualifications for discerning what pleases the Lord. The quest for guidance must be the quest for humility.  Third, covenant keeping is a prerequisite to guidance (v. 10). To keep God's covenant and his testimonies does not mean sinlessness. That has already been ruled out (v. 8). In fact I don't know a better passage in the Old Testament to show that covenant keeping does not mean sinlessness. Covenant keeping means admitting sin; seeing our only hope in the Lord's commitment to his own name; and, fearing God. Fearing God means fearing to insult his knowledge by presuming to hide our sin. It means the reverence of humility. It means fearing to dishonor God's name by not trusting that he is a reliable guide to joy.  Fourth, faith is a prerequisite for divine guidance. And we don't have to get this from some indirect inference like this. It is the first thing David says in the psalm. So, our first effort must be to trust God. Do you trust him for who he really is? For he is a sin forgiving Savior and an infallible guide to everlasting joy.

The Goodness of God - Pt 3

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. (Psalm 25:14-15 ESV).

Yesterday we saw that David understood the necessity of prayer to experience the goodness of God. There are at least eighteen petitions in Psalm 25, including our reading today. David goes to God in every aspect of his situation. David comes to God with his fear and his loneliness and guilt and confusion and pleads with God to make things right and to lead him in the way of love and faithfulness. Most of us take that for granted. Unfortunately this is not our most common response when we are threatened, lonely, guilty, or uncertain about God's will for our future. We typically panic; God wants us to pray. Ask and He will guide. If you face a decision, and there is usually no direct biblical command relating to that specific choice. There can be some miracle in the circumstances to point the way, but I think I can say that these are not his normal means of guidance in such cases. The Bible describes the ordinary guidance of God as the development of spiritual sensitivity. In other words, the prerequisite of divine guidance is not the quest for messages, but the quest for holiness. Guidance is the product not of ecstatic heights but of spiritual depth. Normally God guides his children through alertness to circumstances and through spiritual sensitivity to the present implications of God's character and purposes revealed in his Word. God guides us by bringing our hearts and minds into harmony or sympathy with his own heart and mind so that when we study a situation, we discern (you might even say intuit) what path would best accord with the character and purposes of God that we know from Scripture. So what we ought to be asking when we pray is, "Lead me into your truth, and teach me." We must pray that God would create in us a spiritual and moral conformity to himself and that he would help us see all the relevant factors that relate to the decision we're about to make. God teaches us his way by alerting us to significant facts of the situation and by awakening us to the implications of his character and his purpose. Wherever you find yourself today, the light of God is always pointing you to the way of safe passage from the storm. Ignore every other direction, no matter how logical it may seem, unless it is absolutely clearly from the mind and purpose of God. Pray for that and you will find peace in your journey.

The Goodness of God - Pt 2

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. (Psalm 25:1-4 ESV).

David begins the psalm by listing four things that he is struggling with: fear, loneliness, guilt, and confusion. It will be helpful for us to look at each of these. By moving from the trouble that comes from outside and moving to the trouble that rises from within, we will certainly see the goodness of God for our lives. We can’t see it all. The future is always fuzzier than the past or present; but, we can see that God is good.  The first struggle is fear (v. 2). David is struggling with fear because his life or his reputation is in danger. David's life is not one of outward peace and safety. There are threats. And he does not breeze through these without feeling the tight chest and sweaty hands and pounding heart of fear. Normal Christian life in this age does not mean escaping danger, but handling it with success and confidence. Prayer is the answer. We will see more about this before we are done.  The second struggle is his loneliness. This often goes in hand with a life devoted to radical obedience and hardship. People pull back. You are uneasy to be around, and it is too threatening. It happened to Paul at the end of his life in prison (cf. 2 Timothy 4:16) and it happened to Jesus in Gethsemane. You know who your friends are when trouble strikes and life together is comradeship in battle not just company for dinner.  The third struggle is guilt. David mentions this four times. He can remember the folly of his youth and he admits that even his present guilt is great. So in the middle of all this external turmoil with foes threatening and friends forsaking, the trouble is compounded by the internal misery of a sinful and guilty heart.  The fourth struggle is confusion. It is not unusual in a situation like this to begin to lose your bearings. What is the will of God? What am I supposed to do? We feel so uncertain. We just want to lie down and cry we are so confused. No path seems like a way out. But then David says, "Make me to know thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth and teach me” (v. 4). Every one of us struggles at one time or another with fear, loneliness, guilt, and confusion. David's answer was pray! The experience of the goodness of God begins with prayer.

The Goodness of God - Pt 1

For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. (Psalm 25:11-15 ESV).

Psalm 25 is one of the clearest psalms from David that directs us to the goodness of God. It is also a very sober warning. I am always a little amazed how many people consider themselves believers who don't consult Christ when making choices. As we begin this new series concerning the goodness of God, I feel the need to sound a warning: You cannot be saved from sin by the Christ of the Bible if you reject the Christ of the Bible. The Christ of the Bible is an authoritative Adviser as well as an atoning Savior. So if we try to receive him as an atoning Savior and reject him as an authoritative Adviser, all we receive is an imaginary Christ, while rejecting the Christ of the Bible. Therefore, since we can't be saved by the Christ of the Bible if we reject the Christ of the Bible, we will never make it to heaven, nor enjoy the fellowship of God here, if we don't aim to make the counsel of Christ decisive in the decision making process of our life. Suppose Jesus Christ walked through the door to your home and came up to you saying, "Hello, my name is Jesus, I am the Son of God and I came into the world to save sinners and give them complete happiness and everlasting life. By my death and resurrection I have atoned for sin. And by my wisdom and knowledge I can show you how to make choices that will bring you the greatest life and joy. Will you trust me?" And suppose you said, "Well, I do want to be happy. I like the idea of having all my sins forgiven. I certainly don't want to go to hell. But I have looked over some of you directions for the good life and I just don't agree with some of your ideas about how I can be happiest. So I accept your forgiveness now, and I really appreciate it. But I think I will go with my own ideas of how to live." Sounds crazy doesn’t it? Jesus’ answer to such a response is recorded for us in the gospel. The rich young man asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him a few commandments that needed to be kept. His answer was that hed had done but still wondered what else there was for him to do. Jesus told him to sell or give away everything he had and follow Him. The Bible says. “He went away sorrowful.” (cf. Matthew 19:16-30). Jesus said that the young man wanted to control his destiny by his own devices. That is an impossibility. God is good and merciful; however, he is also just and righteous. As we begin, keep that in mind. Your decisions in life are important as they reflect your heart.

The Valley of Tears

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:29-33 ESV).

For centuries, Christians have called this world a “valley of tears.” Yes, Christ has come. Yes, he is risen. And yes, he will come again. But still we mourn and ache and weep, and walk alongside those who mourn and ache and weep. We plod through the “valley” with hearts heavy laden, grieving for any one of a thousand reasons: our depressed children, our distant spouses, our dashed hopes, and our deceased loved ones. Sometimes, we cry because life’s sorrows have become chronic, filling our life like unwelcome houseguests who just won’t leave. Other times, we cry because some unexpected misery lands like a meteor and carves a crater in our soul. And still other times, we cry and don’t know quite why; the grief evades description and analysis. The Bible’s message is not to dry up your tears. The Bible says weeping is typical of life in the valley, and its message to mourners is much more sympathetic. Our reading today declares that God sees us. Not one sparrow falls to the ground apart from God’s notice (v. 29), and neither does one of our tears. When Hagar lifted up her voice in the wilderness of Beersheba, God drew near (cf. Genesis 21:17). When Hannah wept bitterly outside the temple of the Lord, God noticed and remembered (cf. 1 Samuel 1:10, 17). When David became weary with moaning, God didn’t become weary with listening (cf. Psalm 6:6-9). The God of all comfort keeps watch over your weeping; in fact, He gathers up all your tears and puts them in his bottle (cf. Psalm 56:8). Like a mother sitting beside her child’s sickbed, God marks every sigh of discomfort and pain. No matter how much of your anguish has gone unnoticed by others, not one moment has escaped the attention of the God. As God says to King Hezekiah, so he could say to each of his children, “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears” (2 Kings 20:5). Believe in this God. Believing in that God will turn your tears into shouts of joy does not mean that we no longer grieve. But it does mean that we cling to him through the pain, and let every calamity crash us into his arms. And that we learn to lament to God instead of curse his name. We’ll keep reading our Bibles, even when we feel dead to God’s word. We’ll keep on crying out to God, even when he feels deaf to us. And we’ll keep on sowing the seeds of truth and grace into our barren souls, waiting for the day when God takes us home.

Six Helpful Things to Do - Pt 6

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. (2 Peter 1:3-7 ESV).

Today we come to the close of our little study in some of the practical things we can do to help those who are walking through the pain of mental illness. We must walk in humility and confidence with them. Really this is a mere summation of all the previous principles. We should ourselves walk in humility before God and others; we should be alert to our limitations, needs, and dependence on the wisdom of others; and, we should walk with increasing confidence in the God who is closer than we once thought. He is our deepest need. Our reading is very clear in showing us the first step in any good work is humility. I’ve noticed a very short supply of that in our nation these days. We must be different as followers of Jesus. Here are some things that describe humility. Use this list to determine your goals: 1. A humble person is teachable. Humility believes it can always learn from the education and experiences of others. 2. A humble person is at peace with themselves and others. Humility embraces contentment and simplicity. Humility enjoys balance and harmony. 3. A humble person is grateful. Humility isn’t entitled. 4. A humble person is slow to offend and quick to forgive. 5. A humble person asks for help. Humility helps us know who we are and who we are not. 6. A humble person treats everybody with respect. 7. A humble person is patient and doesn’t easily get frustrated with the imperfection of others. Humility knows that mistakes and inadequacies are part of life. 8. A humble person recognizes their own limitations. Humility doesn’t have a negative view of self. Humility has an accurate view of self. 9. A humble person celebrates the accomplishments of others. Humility sees others as co-pilgrims and collaborators and not competitors. 10. A humble person is open to a deep relationship with God. Perfection is not the goal; ministry is the goal. Commit yourself to the ministry to others who cannot do for themselves alone what you can do with them.

Six Helpful Things to Do - Pt 5

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. (Psalm 91:1-4 ESV).

When we have visited Gatlinburg, Tennessee in the past, we have often taken the short loop through the mountains known as the Roaring Fork Motor Trail. Beginning and ending within miles of downtown Gatlinburg, the trail is a one-way drive that takes visitors along a 5.5 mile experience through the National Park. The beauty is unmistakable; wildlife is abundant; and, the river cascading along the trail is truly magnificent. The photo you see here is taken from one of the spots Mary and I have been to on our many trips to the site. I suppose one of the amazing things is how the rocks seem to have each been placed in such perfect balance to the environment. It is a tremendous temptation to venture out on to the rocks for even better photos. My personal favorite is simply sitting by the river and listening to the quiet babbling of the river winding its way down from the mountain top. It gives me a sense of balance. After reading our Scripture again today, I was brought back to this though. Balance is so important in a contented life. This is especially true for those who are enduring the ravages of mental illness. There are many paths to living a balanced life. The Christian perspective to having a balanced life begins by examining our relationship with God. It is this perspective that we can both model and teach to those who are hurting. Because we can often feel alone when life becomes overwhelming, a relationship with God means that you are never alone. The more intimate our relationship with God the more we can experience His help even in the toughest of times. So, as we look at the fifth practical thing we can do for others who are ill, we should help them achieve this balance. Though a search for the answer is usually misguided, we always need to know someone better. The challenge, both one-to-one and in groups, is to love others by knowing them and to love them by including them in the community where we hear the word, know other people’s joys and struggles, and participate in worship. By making yourself available for others to simply be with, you help them find balance. You don’t need to know any “answers” to accomplish this kind of work; you simply need to know the One who is the answer. Make it you aim to be that kind of friend to those who are struggling, especially if their struggle is with mental illness.

Six Helpful Things to Do - Pt 4

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30 ESV).

The fourth practical thing we can do for those with mental illness is to help them learn to rest. This is both physical and emotional rest. And, it is rooted in the spiritual dimension of our lives. We may not understand the biological details of any illness unless we have specific training in that area. We are not called on to give advice on physical remedies; we are thankful that there are physicians and counselors who have expertise in these specific areas of treatment. But we can and should all know that there are spiritual realities at the heart of all misery. Learning the right means of rest, reconsidering the love of God, the sufferings of Jesus, and the presence of the Spirit bring comfort and hope. Our weariness results from the cumulative, multilayered intersections of life’s complexities, bodily frailties, emotional heartbreaks, and the consequences of sin. It surpasses understanding. Because our burdens are not simple, they are not relieved by simplistic platitudes (“Cheer up! Things are bound to turn around!”). But a simple promise can relieve a complex burden, provided we believe that the power behind the promise is complex and strong enough to relieve our heaviness. The simplicity of Jesus’ promise in our reading today is both striking and refreshing. Jesus doesn’t offer us a four-fold path to peace-giving enlightenment, like the Buddha did. He doesn’t give us five pillars of peace through submission as Islam does. Nor does he give us “10 Ways to Relieve Your Weariness,” which we pragmatic, self-help-oriented 21st century Americans are so drawn to. Unique to anyone else in human history, Jesus simply offers himself as the universal solution to all that burdens us. That is the point at which we can be so helpful to those suffering, especially from mental illness. It is the hope Jesus offers that brings encouragement and relief from the terrifying effects of mental illness. Like the four friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus, lowering him through the roof, take your brother or sister to the One who does give us rest. Take them to Jesus with your words and actions.

Six Helpful Things to Do - Pt 3

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV).

We have been given an incredible arsenal of defensive and offensive weapons with which to deal with every circumstance of life. Prayer is one of those weapons that is both defensive and offensive. So, our third practical action toward those who are walking through mental illness is to simply pray with and for them. We pray when we are over our heads and only God can help, and we are comforted when our relationships take us to this place. Any quest for the perfect piece of advice will fail. Advice and counsel is good; however, without the component of prayer it leaves us unfulfilled. A great benefit of the Christian community is that believers in Christ pray for one another. Our reading today urges us to pray “on all occasions” and “for all the Lord’s people” always. This is important because amid all the activities and busyness we may face each day, we’re in a struggle against evil. The forces of evil do not want us to love one another. This principle is obvious but not always easy. Prayer connects our needs with God’s promises and plans, but we can be unclear about either one. That confusion leads us to at least two places. First, this is a natural time to ask for help from others. Who can give us a better understanding of the person’s struggles? Who can give us a better understanding of promises that we can pray? Second, as we continue to search Scripture together for passages that are meaningful to the struggling person, we can always pray, “Help us, Father.” Don’t neglect to pray with and for those who are walking through any illness in their journey. I have found that the effects of prayer are often both immediate and significant. This is not a “just pray about it” solution. It is the concern and compassion directed to an illness from a friend and brother in the face of a very difficult and real illness.

Six Helpful Things to Do - Pt 2

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. (Proverbs 2:6-8 ESV).

The second practical thing we can do is to understand and support the wisdom of prescription medications for treatment of mental illness. Kristle Lowell is a world champion trampoline gymnast who also has made a significant impact in her church and community as a spokesperson and ambassador for Still I Run. She shares the following personal story in dealing with her own illness: Almost every mental health patient who takes medication has lived this moment. We look over at the clock and realize it’s time to take our medication. So we slip away to the bathroom to take our medication, trying not to make a sound with the bottle. Or we lie to friends and coworkers about what the medication is for saying “I have a headache”. If you’re like me I keep my medication in my bag and have to open it quietly, sneak a pill out, and dry swallow it to avoid detection. Why is it okay for people to take Advil or allergy medication out in the open, yet we feel shame and stigma attached when taking medication for a mental health condition? Stigma is very real and mental health patients are some of the most discriminated against minority around. If there is anyone one group that does not need the shame of stigma with medication it’s the mentally ill. There is no telling the effect people’s comments have on patients. Some people feel so ashamed that they stop taking their medication. This is something that should never be done unless consulting with a doctor. When others are courageous enough to mention that they take psychiatric medication, church members tend to withdraw, or worse, condemn. We should recognize that when someone takes psychiatric medication, it means that something hurts and life can feel overwhelming. It means that the person has known suffering, and that is a reason to come close. There are cautions for us here. Too often, on matters that we know little about, we speak with great confidence. We misinterpret suffering in misguided efforts to find causes and remedies. We can immediately default to demonic interpretations when a person’s problems seem foreign to us. Such thoughtless reactions, of course, never help. Instead, we should get to know the person, be moved by their hardships, ask them what would be helpful, consider Scripture together, and then come to the God who invites us to draw near in our neediness. He is indeed the real High Priest (v. 16). We should encourage the use of every means of wisdom which, after all, comes only form God. Medical discoveries are also a gift from God.

Six Helpful Things to Do - Pt 1

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:1-8 ESV).

Thanks to science, education and outspoken advocates, there is less of a stigma surrounding mental illness than ever before. However, the statistics are at an alarming high in our culture. Poor mental health affects almost 20% of adults each year in the United States alone. While there are more than 200 different diagnosed mental illnesses, there are five major categories that most conditions fall within: mood disorders, which create painful mental and physical symptoms along with feelings that go outside the normal variations of happiness or sadness; anxiety disorders, which occur when an individual experiences excessive panic or fear that interferes with their everyday life; eating disorders, which are marked by either a severe reduction in eating, extreme overeating or binge eating, along with excessive anxiety related to weight or body image; dementia which is characterized by a quick change in cognitive abilities; and, schizophrenic or psychotic disorders, which are almost always caused by chemical imbalances in the brain that create a variety of symptoms, like hallucinations, delusions, withdrawal, impaired reasoning and incoherent speech. Today I want to call our attention to some practical things that we can do within the community of faith to help those with these complicated illnesses. First, I must say that I am assuming that you are not a professional counselor/psychiatrist and that the person so affected is under the care of such a professional. These suggestions are simply things that anyone can and should do to help. As you will see, they are common sense actions that we do for every other illness within our community of faith, but somehow tragically fail to do in regard to those with mental illness. The first is to simply be patient and kind. That’s the impact of our reading today. This principle is obvious but not easy. We might do well with those who are like us, but we are slow to be patient with those we don’t understand. Patience and kindness are not scared away by eccentricities, differences, or complicated problems. Love and kindness includes others and assimilates them in the larger family of the church, where peculiarities abound. This simple action goes a long way in the healing process.

Fall in the Great Smoky Mountains

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:53-58 ESV).

This week Mary and I are traveling to Tennessee. I will be privileged to preach at Santa Fe Baptist Church where I pastored for five years before moving home to Texas. We will also get to spend some time with some of our dearest friends while we are there. Of course, no trip that close to the mountains would be complete without traveling to the Smokies. Hopefully the timing will be late enough into Fall that the colors will have begun to appear. As you can see from this picture I took some years ago, they can be spectacular! It really is a magical time of year when the leaves on the trees change from green to many shades of blood orange, red, bright yellow, and rust. Driving along the mountain roads, especially in Cade’s Cove, I am reminded of the incredible promises of God for our future. Sometimes it is easy to forget that the beauty of the leaves is a result of their annual death. The green of their chlorophyll decomposes, revealing other natural pigments in the leaves which give us the incredible yellows, reds, and oranges. Death can be very a very difficult topic for us. We have self-awareness, a consciousness we so prize that we fear losing it for eternity. However, as I step back, I can acknowledge the generations of people who preceded me. We would not be here if it were not for our ancestors.Think of it, as each leaf carries with it the DNA of its “ancestors,” we carry that same “legacy” in our being. Death gives way to future beauty in the cycle of on-going creation begun and sustained by God through the ages. God’s power and being exists in the cycles of our living and dying. It’s a marvelous plan of creation that renews and progresses. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, death is no ending. That which was always “perishable” is now putting on that which can never die. Therein lays the great difference in the regular cycle of autumn and eternal life. These bodies may die once, but we will forever live in the grace God has extended to us through Christ. Death is swallowed up in victory! That reminder is always an encouragement to me. I hope it is to you as well. Enjoy the color changes and look forward to your own change in Christ!

The Heart of the Gospel - Pt 26

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. (Luke 18:9-14 ESV).

Today we come to the close of our study in “The Heart of the Gospel.” I hope you have been inspired and challenged to wrestle further with these great doctrines. I have. In so “wrestling” there are many great preachers I have studied carefully through the years. One of those is Charles Spurgeon. He lived from 1834to 1892. He was a contemporary of George Mueller. He was also the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London and the most famous pastor of his day. His preaching was powerful in so many ways; however, it was this plain means of declaring the gospel that held thousands spellbound each week. Spurgeon wrote: “I believe there is no substitute for Christ. And, we must preach Christ. That is the Gospel. Further, we cannot preach the gospel unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of God; nor do I think we can preach the gospel unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ completed on the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called.” Perhaps it is best to let this great preacher lead us in prayer: Let Charles Spurgeon lead you in prayer: “Lord, I am guilty, I deserve thy wrath. Lord, I cannot save myself. Lord, I would have a new heart and a right spirit, but what can I do? Lord, I can do nothing, come and work in me to will and to do thy good pleasure. Thou alone hast power, I know, to save a wretch like me; to whom, or whither should I go if I should run from thee? But I now do from my very soul call upon thy name. Trembling, yet believing, I cast myself wholly upon thee, O Lord. I trust the blood and righteousness of thy dear Son. . . . Lord, save me tonight, for Jesus’ sake.” [Quoted in Iain Murray, The Forgotten Spurgeon (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 1973), pp. 101–102.] This is the prayer that will indeed send you “down to your house” justified! It emanates from the heart of God working grace in you!

The Heart of the Gospel - Pt 25

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:8-10 ESV).

Perseverance is a community project. God never meant us to fight the fight of faith alone. We are to fight for each other. One of Paul’s most remarkable statements about the perseverance of the elect is the last verse of our reading today. To many this is astonishing. Isn’t it already sure that the elect will obtain salvation in final glory? Yes it is. Those whom he justified he glorified. But the question betrays an assumption that this last point is meant to remove — the assumption that certain outcomes imply that there’s no need to press on toward them. That is a mistake. Salvation is certain for God’s elect. It cannot fail. But the way God has ordained to make it certain is by means of empowering human partnership in the fight of faith. Paul sees his ministry of the word as essential to the perseverance of the elect. Take a simple example. Suppose God has predestined that a nail be in a two-by-four with its head flush with the surface of the board. It is certain that this will happen. God is God and he has planned it. Does that mean he is indifferent to hammers? No. In fact God has also ordained that the way the nail gets in the board is by being struck with a hammer. Similarly, the elect will certainly be saved in the end with eternal glory. Does that mean God is indifferent to the ministry of the world in getting them there? No. God has made it essential. And the reason that does not undermine the certainty of salvation is that God is just as sovereign over the means as he is over the ends. The writer of Hebrews says: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:12-13). God will not let any of his elect “fall away” into destruction. But the way he will keep us from falling (cf. Jude 24) is by the mutual exhortation of other believers in our lives. This is one of the highest tributes that could possibly be paid to the church. God ordains the body of Christ as the means of his infallible keeping of the elect. Community is so important. When someone tells me they can go to church anywhere, I know they simply don’t understand the importance of “church.” Church is not worship; church is community. Find a good one and invest your life in it for your sake and the sake of others!

The Heart of the Gospel - Pt 24

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV).

God works to cause his elect to persevere. We are not left to ourselves in the fight of faith, and our assurance is rooted in the sovereign love of God to perform what he has called us to do. One of the most precious of all those promises relates the new covenant to God’s absolute commitment to cause us to persevere: “I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me” (Jeremiah 32:40). This promise recurs in many wonderful expressions in the New Testament. Our reading today is one of those. I sometimes ask people, “Why do you believe you will wake up a Christian tomorrow morning?” The biblical answer is not, “I know I will choose to believe tomorrow morning. I am committed to Jesus.” That is very fragile confidence. The answer is that God is faithful. God will work in me. God will keep me. God will finish his work to the end. The answer is God’s ongoing work, not my ongoing commitment. When I ask this question I am fishing to see if anyone has the view that eternal security is like a vaccination. We got our vaccination when we were converted and can’t catch the disease of unbelief. That is a misleading analogy because it implies that the process of preservation is automatic without the ongoing work of the great physician. Perseverance is not like a vaccination, but like a life-long therapy program in which the great physician stays with you all the way. He will never leave us (cf. Hebrews 13:5). That is the way we persevere. That is the way we have assurance. Therefore we can be zealous to confirm our calling and election. It is not that our calling and election are fragile and need to be propped up. We have seen plainly that calling and election are the most solid realities under God. They are links in a chain of salvation that cannot be broken (cf. Romans 8:29-39). However, we should be very intentional to maintain our assurance of them and to confirm them continually by walking in the joy of them. It is, after all, by God’s divine power that we grow in faith and virtue and knowledge and self-control and steadfastness and godliness and brotherly affection and love (cf. 2 Peter 1:5-7). In other words we make eager efforts to trust the promises and power of God so deeply that sin is put to death in our lives by the Spirit and the goal of love is joyfully pursued. That’s how we persevere! Don’t stop now, we’re almost there!

The Heart of the Gospel - Pt 23

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 ESV).

God justifies us completely through the first genuine act of saving faith, but this is the sort of faith that perseveres and bears fruit in the “obedience of faith.” The point here is the emphasis above on the necessity of persevering faith and obedience does not mean God is waiting to observe our perseverance and obedience before he declares us completely righteous in union with Jesus Christ. This is the teaching of our reading today. Paul says that we “have been justified by faith.” It is a past act. The first time we believe in Jesus we are united to Christ. In union with him, his righteousness is counted as ours, at that moment. The apostle says that he aims to “be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Philippians 3:9). The ground of our acceptance with God is Christ alone — his blood and righteousness. The role of our faith is not to be a performance of something virtuous that God rewards with salvation. The point is that faith is a receiving of Christ who performed what we could not, a punishment for our sin and provision of our perfection. Faith is not the ground of our acceptance but the means of union with Christ who alone is the ground of our acceptance with God. The role of the obedience in our justification is to give evidence that our faith is authentic. Deeds of love are not the ground of our first or final acceptance with God. What counts with God in justification is the kind of faith that works through love. It is not our love that causes God to be 100% for us. It is God being 100% for us through faith in Christ that enables us to love. Therefore, the necessity of perseverance in faith and obedience for final salvation does not mean he waits till the end before he accepts us, adopts us, and justifies us. We do not fight the fight of faith in order to make God be 100% for us. That happened in our union with Christ on our first act of faith. Rather, we fight because he is 100% for us. Christ has made us his own. That is how we fight on. We persevere because of the same grace that saved us in the first place. God does not motivate us by fear of judgment. He loves us and spurs us on by His unfathomable love.

The Heart of the Gospel - Pt 22

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:3-6 ESV).

God’s elect cannot be lost. This is why we believe in eternal security; namely, the eternal security of the elect. The implication is that God will so work in us that those whom he has chosen for eternal salvation will be enabled by him to persevere in faith to the end and fulfill, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the requirements for a new kind of life. We have seen before the ironclad chain of divine work (cf. Romans 8:30). What is evident from this verse is that those who are effectually called into the hope of salvation will indeed persevere to the end and be glorified. There are no dropouts in this sequence. These are promises of God rooted in unconditional election in the first place and in the sovereign, converting, preserving grace of God. The links in this chain are unbreakable, because God’s saving work is infallible and his new covenant commitments are irrevocable. Our reading today is the Apostle Paul’s direction in this sequence. It follows Jesus’ instruction to the disciples: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will 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 the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:27-30). We have seen before that being a sheep of Jesus means being chosen by God and given to the Son. In other words, the promise of Jesus never to lose any of his sheep is the sovereign commitment of the Son of God to preserve the faith of the elect for whom he laid down his life. This truth is essential to our hope. None of us, the elect of God, can have any assurance if we are responsible for the ultimate outcome of our redemption. If we must depend on our perfection and obedience to gain the ultimate end of our redemption, we are lost indeed. We can KNOW that we will be safely brought to our final destination in heaven because we are tethered to the Lord Jesus (cf. Hebrews 6:19). Our anchor is firmly set safely there and we cannot be torn away by any storm of life whether by our own making or another’s. That gives me reason to persevere through the storm!