Author: Seth Durham

Be Like Josiah.

You’ll find the story of king Josiah in II Kings 22 -23. Josiah was a good king. His story inspires me in many ways.

Josiah was his own man.

Josiah became king at just eight years old. If you look at his lineage, you will see that both his father and grandfather were wicked rulers. It would have been easy for Josiah to follow in their footsteps, but he chose a different path. He looked to his Godly ancestor David as an example, and did what was pleasing to God.

[Josiah] did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right.

~II Kings 22:2

Josiah’s story reminds us that no matter what circumstances we’re born into, no matter how bad the influences around us, we can still choose to do what is right.

Josiah had a tender heart.

In his mid twenty’s, king Josiah decided to restore the Lord’s Temple, which had been neglected for decades. During the restoration, the high priest, Hilkiah, found the Book of the Law (i.e. the first five books of The Old Testament).

Look at how Josiah responded when the scripture was read to him:

When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair.

Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: 

“Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”

~II Kings 22: 11-13

Josiah didn’t ignore God’s Word. He listened intently and took it to heart. We ought to do the same. We should let God’s Word convict us, guide us, and shape us.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Hebrews 4:12

Josiah took action.

James 1:22 says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

Josiah was a doer. When he realized that he and the nation of Israel were not following God’s law, he made sweeping changes. Much of what he did is recorded in II Kings 23, but here’s a summary:

  • He read the scripture to the people, and reaffirmed the covenant between God and Israel.
  • He had all pagan articles in the Temple removed and destroyed.
  • He got rid of all the pagan priests appointed by his predecessors.
  • He got rid of the shrine prostitutes at the Temple.
  • He banned priests who had served at pagan shrines from serving at the Temple.
  • He destroyed numerous altars and shrines to false gods.
  • He got rid of mediums, psychics, and household idols.
  • He reinstituted the Passover celebration.

That’s a pretty impressive list, no!?


I’m motivated to be more like Josiah. I want to be focused on God, even when the people around me are not. I want to listen carefully when God speaks to me through His Word, and let it transform me. Lastly, I want to be a “doer”, not a “hearer only.”

Four Promises In Romans 8.

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been reading and meditating on Romans chapter 8. For those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, there are at least four, wonderful promises of God in this passage of scripture.

1) Freedom.

We are all born with a sin nature. Sin enslaves us (John 8:34), and damns us (Romans 6:23), but there is freedom for those who come to Jesus.

In Romans 8 we see God’s promise that through Christ we are free from sin in two ways. First, we are free from the penalty of sin. Second, we are free from the power of sin.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

~Romans 8: 1-2

Christians no longer stand condemned before God because Christ took our punishment upon Himself. We are no longer slaves to our sinful desires because we have the Holy Spirit within us. We are truly free!

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you…

~Romans 8: 9a

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

~Romans 8: 12

2) Life.

Worldwide, it’s estimated that two to three people die every second! Death is inevitable. One day, it will be your turn. Are you ready?

The Bible tells us that death is not the end. After death, we face judgement (Hebrews 9:27). Those who reject Christ will be condemned (John 3:18), but those who trust in Christ as their Savior will enjoy eternal life (John 3:16).

This brings us to the second promise found in Romans 8: Those who know Jesus will be resurrected with incorruptible bodies, never to die again.

And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

~Romans 8: 10-11

the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

~Romans 8:21

And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

~Romans 8:23

3) Relief.

Suffering is a part of life. The Bible never says that we won’t suffer (in fact, there are many places where it says we will suffer), but Christians are promised that our suffering is temporary, and that it pales in comparison to the glory that awaits us.

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

~Romans 8: 17-18

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

…

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

~Romans 8: 35 & 37

God also promises that He will take all things (including our suffering) and work them together for our good.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

~Romans 8: 28

Are you a Christian that’s suffering right now? Hold on! Relief is coming.

4) Security.

This fourth promise from Romans 8 is one of my favorites. Most things in life are fleeting. Youth, health, success, money, fame… all of these things eventually slip away or get taken from us. But there is one thing a Christian can always count on, and that is God’s love.

When you become a child of God you are forever secure in His love.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Through Christ we are promised freedom from sin, life everlasting, an end to suffering, and love that’s unshakable. Set aside some time a few days from now to read Romans 8 again, and reflect on these amazing promises.

Faith Misplaced.

People put their faith in lots of different things. Some put their faith in money, believing that wealth provides security. Others put their faith in charismatic leaders, trusting them to have all the answers. Many put their faith in science and technology. The list could go on and on, but the point is, we all put our faith in something. The question is, when that moment of crisis hits, will the thing(s) you have placed your faith in actually deliver?

A hard lesson.

In I Samuel 4:1-10 the Israelites learn the hard way what happens when you put your faith in the wrong things.

Israel is at war, and it’s not going well:

The Philistines attacked and defeated the army of Israel, killing 4,000 men.

~I Samuel 4:2

After this crushing defeat they asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?”

The Israelites had expected to win. Instead they were soundly beaten, losing thousands of soldiers. Why? Because they weren’t trusting in God to give them the victory, they were trusting in their own strength.

An incorrect correction.

The Israelite leaders realize they need a new approach. But rather than turn to God for help, they put their faith in an object: the Ark of the Covenant. At first it seems to work! When the Ark arrives on the scene, the Israelites are inspired, and the Philistines are terrified. The Israelites march forward, confident that this time they will be victorious. But things do not go according to plan.

So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents.

~I Samuel 4:10

Once again, the Israelites had misplaced their faith. They failed to realize that without God, the Ark of the Covenant is nothing more than a fancy box. Israel paid a heavy price: tens-of-thousands dead, and the loss of the Ark of the Covenant.

The details about what happens to the Ark of the Covenant are found in I Samuel 5-6, but the short version is that God forces the Philistines to return it to Israel.

It then takes twenty years before Israel is finally ready to acknowledge and remedy their mistakes.

The Ark remained in Kiriath-jearim for a long time—twenty years in all. During that time all Israel mourned because it seemed the Lord had abandoned them.

~I Samuel 7:2

Getting it right.

Finally, when the Israelites are ready to listen, Samuel instructs them:

Then Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you want to return to the Lord with all your hearts, get rid of your foreign gods and your images of Ashtoreth. Turn your hearts to the Lord and obey him alone; then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”

~I Samuel 7:3

Samuel issues a challenge and a promise to the people of Israel.
The challenge: put your faith in God alone.
The promise: God will rescue you.

Now read I Samuel 7:4-11 and see what happens when the Israelites turn back to God and put their faith in Him.

How about you?

Take a few moments to examine your own life. What are you putting your faith in?

Put your faith in God alone. Trust that He will keep the promises in His Word. When that moment of crisis hits, you can count on Him to deliver.

Your Words Matter.

In Ephesians 4: 17-32, the Apostle Paul gives instruction on how Christians ought to live. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to throw off our old sinful nature, and put on a new nature that is righteous and holy. Paul explains in detail what that looks like, contrasting the old nature with the new.

One of the things that jumped out at me was how our new nature impacts the words we say.

Truthful words.

 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth…

~Ephesians 4:25

Lies provide a short-term benefit at a long-term cost. The consequences may be mild or severe, but there will be consequences. Proverbs 19:9 says, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.” 

In contrast, telling the truth may have short-term costs, but it provides long-term benefits. The truth is liberating and empowering. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.“

Ephesians 4:15 tells us to “…speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ…”

The truth matters. As Christians we should commit ourselves to speaking the truth in love in all circumstances.

Gentle words.

If you want to say something you’ll regret, speak when you’re angry. Anger puts us into a kind of auto-pilot, where words are formed by intense emotion rather than logical thought. It causes us to utter words that are indelicate at best, and downright hurtful at worst.

Don’t use foul or abusive language…

—

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

~Ephesians 4: 29 & 31

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

~Proverbs 15:4

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

~Colossians 4:6

We need to be mindful of what we say, and also how we say it. We should be careful not to lash out at others, even when we think they deserve it. When you’re angry, sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all.

Encouraging words.

If we are careless with our words, they can do serious damage to others, but if we chose our words wisely, we can build people up. Use words that encourage and inspire; avoid words that tear people down.

…Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

~Ephesians 4:29

So let us do all we can to live in peace. And let us work hard to build up one another.

~Romans 14:19

Imagine if everyone was committed to saying only things that were good, helpful, and encouraging. The world would change overnight. Obviously you can’t control what anyone else does, but you can make that commitment. I guarantee it will have a positive effect on your life.

The words you use matter. Are your words truthful? Are they gentle and loving? Do they encourage those who hear them? Put off the old nature, and put on the new. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you say only what is good, and helpful, and encouraging.

Love And Loss.

Yesterday, my wife, my daughter and I took our beloved dog to the vet to be euthanized. She was 15 years old. Her name was Hobo. We said goodbye with tears in our eyes, and held her as she took her last breath.

I’d like to share her story, and an important lesson I learned over these last few years with her.

“Hobo” isn’t a common name for a dog, but when you hear how she came to be our pet, the name will make sense. One morning, about 15 years ago, I was at work, and standing on the walkway in front of the store where I worked was a transient with a three-month-old puppy. I didn’t think much about it at first, but suddenly I heard the puppy yelp. I was horrified when I saw the transient physically abusing this little dog.

Standing idly by was not an option. I walked out of the store and told the man that if he didn’t stop hurting the dog, I would take it from him. He told me to F*&^ off. I went back into the store, but less than five minutes later, he was at it again, and the puppy was crying out in pain.

I kept my word. There was an altercation. I secured the dog, and my coworkers called the police. In the end, the transient went to jail, and the puppy went to the dog pound. I told my wife about what happened, and we decided that we wanted to adopt the puppy if we could. The dog pound released little Hobo into our care a week later.

The abuse she suffered as a pup impacted her for life. For the first year, if you tried to touch her tail, she would try take off your hand. She was fearful of people. But in time she came to understand how much we loved her, and she made amazing progress.

I don’t know what breed of dog Hobo was, but she was beautiful. She had a brindle coat, and was built like a greyhound. She could run like the wind in her youth, and one of her favorite things to do was to chase seagulls at the beach.

The later years.

As she got older, Hobo developed myriad health problems that got progressively worse. She endured two cancer surgeries. She went almost completely deaf. About three years ago, she started to stumble when she walked. She developed a tumor on her stomach that eventually grew to the size of a grapefruit.

Things got worse. Her back legs got weaker and weaker, to the point where she often could not stand without assistance. She lost all control of her bladder and bowels. Her stomach wouldn’t tolerate kibble any more. She got bladder infections, and developed a constant runny nose.

In spite of all this, she was full of life and love to the end. She was a fighter, and she just adapted as her health declined.

Love in action.

We knew that Hobo wasn’t ready to quit on life, and we were determined not to quit on her. And so, we got her pain medication and antibiotics when she needed them. We helped her up when she fell. We cleaned up her messes. Each night, we made her special dog food (chicken and rice mostly). We did this for nearly three years. We would still be doing it, but we finally hit a hurdle that no amount of money or effort could overcome. She developed a growth under her tongue that made it difficult for her to eat, and nearly impossible for her to drink.

Over the last three years, there were times when our home smelled like a sewer. There were trips we didn’t take and things we didn’t buy so that we could care for Hobo. We sacrificed time, money, and energy. And both my wife and I would do it all over again without hesitation. Why? Because we truly loved her. And we learned from this experience that the following is absolutely true: love is not a feeling; love is what you do.

Gratitude.

I am so grateful to God for bringing Hobo into our lives. She lived much longer than we ever thought she would, and I thank God for every second we had with her.

When it came time to make the call to have Hobo put down, God gave me peace that it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it. He is comforting me in this difficult time with His presence and His Word, and I am so grateful for both.

I also look forward to a time when grief and sorrow are no more. Praise God for the blessed hope He gives us through His son, Jesus Christ!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

~Revelation 21:4

Jesus Said WHAT!?

There’s a passage in the book of John where Jesus shocks His followers. Here’s the passage:

 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. 

But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. 

For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 

Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 

I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.“

~John 6:53-57

If you’re wondering what-in-the-world Jesus is talking about here, you’re not alone. The people listening to Jesus argued over what this meant, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat? (John 6:52)” and “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it? (John 6:60).” In fact, many of Jesus’s followers “turned away and deserted Him (John 6:66)” over this very teaching.

So what’s going on here? What are we to make of it? Is Jesus introducing some radical, new teaching involving cannibalism? To make sense of this passage, we have to look at the context, and we have to look at it in light of other scripture.

Literal or figurative?

We can safely dispense with the idea that Jesus wanted His followers to literally eat His flesh and drink His blood. He never carved off pieces of Himself and fed them to His disciples, nor did He fill goblets with His blood for them to drink.

The questions that need answered are:

  1. why did Jesus use this shocking metaphor?
  2. what does it mean?

Context.

If we back up a little bit, we see that this passage takes place one day after the feeding of the 5000. Jesus has just fed a multitude with only five loaves and two fish, and the people are beyond excited (John 6: 1- 15). They have just witnessed a true miracle, and they want more.

Now, this is important: In regards to the feeding of the 5000, Jesus tells them they do not understand the meaning of the miracle. (John 6:26) Jesus is offering them something far better than perishable food; He’s offering them eternal life! They have failed to make a connection between the physical food He miraculously provided, and the spiritual sustenance He wants to give them.

The crowd just wants more miracles. They talk about how Moses brought down bread from heaven. Jesus tries again to get them to see that their spiritual needs outweigh their physical needs:

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 

The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

The crowd’s response is:  “Sir, give us that bread every day.”

This reminds me of the response from the woman at the well. When Jesus tells her that He has living water, she doesn’t grasp what He’s saying. She says, “Sir, give me this water… so that I won’t have to keep coming back to this well.“

These people are wanting Jesus to literally give them a magical loaf of bread, or a glass of magical water.

Once again, Jesus tries to help them make a connection between something they are familiar with (food and drink are necessary for the survival of the body), and a spiritual reality they don’t yet understand (Jesus is necessary for the survival of the soul).

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. 

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.

For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 

And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. 

For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.“

~John 6:35-40

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. 

Yes, I am the bread of life!

Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. 

Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die.“

~John 6:47-50

Let’s return to the shocking text we started with. By looking at the verses leading up to it, it seems clear that Jesus is intentionally taking His metaphor to the extreme because His audience is thinking too literally. When He does, there is no longer a reasonable, literal interpretation of what He is saying. The audience is forced to either accept that Jesus is teaching a spiritual truth they don’t fully grasp, or abandon Him.

After a large portion of these “followers” decide to turn away, Jesus asks the twelve apostles, “Are you also going to leave?” To which Simon Peter replies, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-68).

Even the apostles did not fully understand what Jesus was teaching at the time, but they had faith that Jesus was the way to eternal life… and that was the essence of what Jesus was trying to teach them!

The Last Supper and the cross.

Obviously the “eat my flesh; drink my blood” teaching takes place prior to Jesus’s death and resurrection. It’s not a coincidence that Jesus revisits this theme with His disciples at The Last Supper.

When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.

Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 

For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 

For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.”

~Luke 22:14-20

Here Jesus makes it clear that His broken body and shed blood are what make salvation possible. Once again, He brings in literal food and drink (bread and wine) to help them understand a spiritual truth. Just as their physical bodies would perish without food and drink, so their souls would perish without the broken body and shed blood of Christ.

A key takeaway is this: when it comes to salvation and eternal life, it’s not enough to just believe that Jesus existed, or that He was a good man and a prophet. You have to personally accept the sacrifice that Christ made on your behalf. And that is what it means to eat His flesh and drink His blood.

Another layer of meaning.

There’s a poem by Walter de la Mare that begins like this:

It’s a very odd thing –
As odd can be –
That whatever Miss T eats
Turns into Miss T.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “you are what you eat.”

Our bodies automatically take the things we eat and drink, and transform them into… us!

In a spiritual sense, the same thing happens when we eat Jesus’s flesh and drink His blood. Not only does this sustain us and give us life, it also transforms us… making us more like Him.

To accept Jesus as savior, to be “born again”, is to invite Him to transform you.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

~II Corinthians 5:17

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

~Galatians 2:20

How about you? Have you received eternal life? Have you been transformed by the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ?

New Life.

Read Colossians 3: 1 – 16.

This is both an encouraging and challenging text. It focuses on what it means to have new life in Christ, and how we ought to conduct ourselves as a result. Here’s some of what I gleaned from this passage:

New focus.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

~Colossians 3:1-2

One of the greatest blessings we have as Christians is a hope that lies beyond this world. This earth will pass away, but that needn’t concern us if our eyes are fixed on heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal (Mathew 6:20).

As you go through life, with all its trials, remember that this world is temporary, and think about the wonderful future God has prepared you. That shift in focus should put things in perspective and give you comfort and peace.

New habits.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.

~Colossians 3:5a

I love the way that Paul phrases this. As Christians, sinful urges still lurk within us, but thankfully we are no longer slaves to them. With God’s help, we can put them to death, and live a life that is pleasing to Him.

Paul gives a list of things that have no place in our new lives, including: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

These are old, sinful habits that need to be eliminated. How? Paul gives us the answer in verse 10:

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

~Colossians 3:10

The key is to put on your new nature. Study the Bible daily, get to know God better and become more like Him. As a result, those old habits get replaced with new ones.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

~Colossians 3:12-14

When you compare the list of things associated with our old lives to the things that make up our new lives in Christ, it’s a night and day difference, is it not?

Take a moment and self assess. How much of the old life do you still struggle with? What areas of the new life do you need to manifest more? Continually ask God to help you shake off the old, put on the new, and become more like Christ.

New future.

What an amazing thing it is to have new life in Christ! What a future we have to look forward to! One day, Jesus will come back, and those of us who have found new life in Him will not be disappointed.

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 

And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

~Colossians 3:3-4

“Lord, help me to keep my focus on things above. Help me to put away the old nature and to put on the new. Thank you for the promise that one day you will renew all things and that I will share in your glory. Amen.”

Lead With Love.

There is a lot of division in our country right now. There are two political factions with radically different ideas about what the USA is, and what it should become in the future. Whichever camp you’re in, you probably find it difficult to get along with people in the other camp.

This division has led to a lot of anger, strife… even hatred. It has torn families apart and damaged friendships. It’s ugly.

As Christians, how should we navigate this hostile landscape? What should our guiding principle be? In a word: love.

Commanded to love.

In Mathew 22, an unnamed Pharisee asks Jesus an important question:

[A Pharisee], an expert in religious law, tried to trap [Jesus] with this question: 

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.“

Notice that the two greatest commandments both involve love. Love for God; love for people.

In John 15:12 Jesus says: This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 

In John 13:35 we’re told that by our love that people will know we are followers of Christ.

I John 4:7 says: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”

No matter the circumstances, no matter how unlovable the people around us become, we Christians are commanded to love.

The importance of love.

If we act without love, we act in vain. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in I Corinthians 13.

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

I Corinthians 13:1-3

It’s not enough to go through the motions. You can do all the right things, but if you don’t do them with love in your heart, you’re wasting your time and energy.

What is love?

Scripture makes it clear that love is not optional for the Christian, but what does the word ‘love’ really mean? We return to I Corinthians 13 for the answer:

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.

It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

I Corinthians 13: 4-7

So if you’re feeling angry and bitter, ask God to fill you with His love. Show love even to those you disagree with, and remember that God loves them as much as He loves you. In all you do, lead with love.

Great Or Small.

Last week I read through the book of Acts, and there were two stories that jumped out at me.

Dorcas.

In Acts 9:36-42 we read about a woman named Dorcas who had become ill and died. As far as we know, this woman never did anything extraordinary. She wasn’t a prophet or teacher. She didn’t make the lame walk or the blind see. But the Bible tells us that she had a kind heart, and she used her time and energy helping others in whatever way she could.

Apparently she had a great impact on the people she helped. Acts 9:39 tells us that widows filled the room where Dorcas had died. They wept as they clung to the precious coats and clothes that Dorcas had made for them.

God performed a miracle through Peter and brought Dorcas back to life, and as a result, many people become believers in Christ.

As I read the story, I was struck by the way God uses ordinary people. Dorcas reminds us that we don’t have to have exceptional skills or talents to make an impact for Christ. She was kind to the poor. She made clothes for widows. That’s it. But because of her faithful service, she touched the lives of many, and her story encourages us today.

Paul.

The Apostle Paul, by contrast, stands out as a truly extraordinary individual. His missionary journeys were epic, and he authored a good chunk of The New Testament.

In Acts 20:22-24 Paul exemplifies true courage. God has directed him to go to Jerusalem. God has also made Paul aware that pain and suffering await. As you read through Acts, there are several times where Paul’s friends try to persuade him not to go. But Paul will not be deterred. His answer is simply:

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” ~Acts 20:24

How many of us would be able to do what Paul did, I wonder? Knowing that hardship is ahead, and press on anyway? Let Paul’s example inspire you to do what you know God wants you to do, even when the cost is great.

You.

It doesn’t matter if you’re more like Paul or more like Dorcas. Great or small, we all have a role to play. Use the talents God has given you, and trust Him with the results.

But I Say…

We all have opinions about everything. But Jesus never uttered opinions, only truth. The question is, how closely do your opinions match up with the teachings of Jesus? You might be surprised. What Jesus taught was often contrary to conventional wisdom and popular opinion.

Read Mathew 5: 21-45. Pay close attention when Jesus says, “But I say…”

On murder and adultery.

The sixth and seventh of The Ten Commandments are: do not kill, and do not commit adultery. Most likely you’ve never killed anyone, and hopefully you have never cheated on your spouse. But don’t be too quick to pat yourself on the back.

Jesus explained that these commandments go deeper than we realize. It’s not just about the physical acts; it’s a matter of the heart.

“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!”

~Mathew 5: 21-22

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

~Mathew 5: 27-28

God knows our hearts. We may not commit the physical acts of murder or adultery but sometimes the desire is there, and if we knew we could get away with it…

The bottom line is, Jesus taught that if you have ever looked at woman with lust, or burned with hatred against another person, you are guilty of breaking God’s law the same as if you had committed adultery or murder!

On divorce.

In our modern times, divorce is not seen as a big deal. If you’re unhappy, unfulfilled, or unsatisfied with your marriage in any way, just call it quits.

But Jesus taught that marriage is a sacred commitment, and that the only valid reason for divorce is an unfaithful partner.

But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

~Mathew 5: 32

Some Pharisees came to [Jesus] to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

~Mathew 19: 3-6

On making vows.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I swear on my mother” or, “I swear on my kid’s lives”? It’s a fairly common thing, and it’s meant to show that the person is serious about the claim they are making.

But Jesus said not to use such oaths. We are to live with such integrity that people know our word is good at all times.

But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.

And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King.

Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black.

Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

~Mathew 5: 34 -37

On revenge.

The desire for revenge when we are wronged is a natural impulse. We want those who hurt us to pay a price.

But Jesus taught that we should resist the urge for revenge and instead “turn the other cheek.” It’s hard to overstate how radical (and difficult) this teaching is. It goes against our every instinct.

But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

~Mathew 5: 39

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

~Proverbs 20:22

On enemies.

An enemy, by definition, is someone hostile toward you. They don’t like you, and they want to see you come to harm. The natural tendency is to reciprocate.

But once again, Jesus tells us to take a radically different approach.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”

~Mathew 5: 43-44

So how do your opinions about these topics line up with what Jesus taught? Do you find some of the teachings hard to accept? If so, ask God to help you adjust your thinking, then ask Him for the strength to put these teachings into practice in your day-to-day life.

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