Author: Seth Durham

Humility.

Since the 1970’s, June has been known as “Pride Month” in the United States. Rainbow flags and other gay-pride paraphernalia are ubiquitous. Our culture now fully embraces the LGBTQIA2S lifestyle. The message: Be proud of your sexuality!

Social media encourages people to flaunt their wealth. You’re supposed to post pictures of the cool new toys you buy. Post pics of food from that fancy restaurant. Brag about your exotic vacations. The message: Be proud of your possessions!

Society encourages us to boast about our achievements. Go ahead and broadcast that you went to an Ivy League school. Make sure people know how successful you are. Brag about your intellect and business acumen. The message: Be proud of your accomplishments!

Notice the common thread. Pride is all about “me, me, me!” It is a form of self-worship, for it prizes the self above all else.

Not something to celebrate.

Pride is no virtue. In fact, it is chief among the cardinal sins.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis said this about pride:

“Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.“

Here’s a sample of what the Bible says about pride:

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.

Proverbs 8:13

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Psalm 10:4

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:6

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 

But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 

For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

James 3: 13-16

Opposite of pride.

Jesus taught humility.

Read Mathew 23:1-12 where Jesus condemns the pride of the Pharisees, and warns His followers not to be like them.

Read Luke 22: 24-27 where Jesus teaches His disciples that if they want to be truly great, they must humble themselves and serve others.

And Jesus didn’t just teach humility, He lived it. He demonstrated it when He healed the sick, when He ministered to the meek and lowly, when He washed the feet of His disciples.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

Finally, Jesus exemplified humility in the most profound way possible: He took on feeble, human flesh, and willingly went to the cross to die for sinful mankind.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

Food for thought.

A proud man is a miserable man. He looks down on those he deems inferior, and he burns with envy at the mere thought of anyone being superior. He lives in constant fear of being knocked off the pedestal on which he has placed himself.

Our modern world is at odds with The Almighty on the issue of pride. You have a daily choice to make: Will you go with the flow, and celebrate what God detests? Or will you dare to follow the example of Jesus?

Memorizing Scripture.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been memorizing one new verse of scripture a day. When I was trying to decide what to write about for this post, my daughter said, “Daddy, why don’t you write about the verses you’ve been memorizing?” That sounded like a great idea to me, so here goes!

Why memorize?

Memorizing scripture is not easy. It takes time and effort, but the process has many benefits.

  1. As you work to retain a verse in memory, you start to think deeply about the meaning of it and how it applies to your life.

  2. While you’re focused on scripture, your mind isn’t wandering aimlessly, or worse, thinking thoughts that are harmful / sinful.

  3. Once a verse is stored in memory, you can bring it to mind when you need it, and it can be a source of comfort, encouragement, or inspiration.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:11

Five verses:

I’m going to go through five of the verses I’ve memorized recently, and talk about what they mean to me:

1

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23

The “heart” in this verse is your innermost self. It’s the true, unfiltered, genuine you. It’s the seat of your emotions and desires. What’s in your heart is who you really are.

This verse is a warning to be careful what you allow to influence and shape you. Choose carefully what you watch, what you listen to, and who you associate with, because what you let into your heart becomes a part of you, and will determine how your life plays out.

2

I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

Psalm 146:2

This is a pledge to be loyal and faithful to God to the end. By making this pledge daily, you’ll be able to say at the end of your life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7).

3

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Psalm 145:8

This verse encapsulates the nature of God. It is because of His mercy, compassion, and unfailing love that He sent His Son to die on a cross for our sins (John 3:16). It is His loving nature that motivates us to love Him. (“We love him, because he first loved us” I John 4:19).

4

He counts the stars and calls them all by name.

Psalm 147:4

This verse speaks of the unfathomable mind of God. Imagine a mind capable of knowing, not only the exact number of stars, but also their individual names! It reminds us how great God is, and how truly limited we are by comparison. (see also Isaiah 55:8-9).

5

Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.

Psalm 131:1

This verse is a great reminder that we should always approach God with humility. We may not know why God allows certain things to happen in our lives, but we can trust that He is in control. We should let go of the things that are beyond our understanding.

You can do it!

I challenge you to commit more scripture to memory. Even memorizing one new verse a month is better than nothing. Find a verse that speaks to you, write it out on a 3 x 5 card, and go over it at least once a day. Meditate on it and see how it impacts your life. You’ll be glad you did!

Side note: If you have a hard time memorizing things, I hear ya. If you want to improve your ability to memorize scripture (or anything else), I recommend a book by Kevin Horsley called, Unlimited Memory. It’s not magic; you’ll have to work to learn the methods that he teaches, but I’ve found them to be quite effective.

Mind Your Tongue.

Julian Treasure gave a Ted Talk called, “How to speak so that people want to listen.” In this talk, he gives a list of seven things you should avoid when speaking. They are:

  • Gossip
  • Judging
  • Negativity
  • Complaining
  • Excuses
  • Lying
  • Dogmatism

When I heard the list, I smiled and thought to myself, where have I heard this before? (spoiler: it’s in the Bible!)

James chapter 3 reminds us just how unruly our tongues can be, and that if we are not careful our words can do great harm.

Proverbs 15: 4 says, “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

Let’s look at the Biblical reasons that we ought to avoid the seven things on Julian Treasure’s list.

Gossip

Talking about people behind their backs is rarely a good idea. The one exception is when you have something positive to say. If you can’t say something nice, say nothing!

A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

Proverbs 11:13

A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 16:28

Judging

Romans 3:23 reminds us that we all fall short of God’s perfect standard. God alone is qualified to judge.

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 

For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”

Mathew 7: 1-3

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 

And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 

Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?

Romans 2:1-3

Negativity

A negative attitude is toxic. Negativity drags people down.

As Christians we always have a reason to be positive, because the trials of this life are nothing compared to the glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18)!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5:16 – 18

Complaining

If you’re complaining, you’re probably focused on the wrong thing. You can complain that you’re stuck in traffic, or you can be grateful that you own a car. You can whine about needing to wear glasses, or you can appreciate the amazing gift of sight.

Shift your focus to the good things, and watch what happens. You’ll complain less, and smile more.

Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Philippians 2:14-15

He comes to say that all are guilty for all the sin they have done and all the sinful things these sinners have spoken against God.

These men complain and are never happy with anything. They let their desires lead them into sin. When they talk about themselves, they make it sound as if they are great people. They show respect to people only to get something out of them.

Jude 1:15-16

Excuses

To make excuses is to abdicate responsibility. Never cast blame that you deserve onto someone or something else. Take responsibility for your actions.

[Adam] replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

So the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:12-13

Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

Proverbs 24:12

Lying

The Bible has a lot to say about lies and truth. God is Truth. He cannot lie (Numbers 23:19 , Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18). We can trust in His promises.

The Devil is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).

We must strive to speak only truth.

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

Ephesians 4:25

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Proverbs 12:22

Dogmatism

Actually, sometimes, we should be dogmatic! When it comes to truth, we should stand firm, and never waver or compromise.

Where we should avoid dogmatism is in matters of opinion, or when we are uncertain about the truth. Dogmatism often stems from pride; from our need to be right. Be humble, and be open to the opinions of others.

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Colossians 4:6

Stop acting so proud and haughty! Don’t speak with such arrogance! For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done; he will judge your actions.

I Samuel 2:3

I don’t know how Julian Treasure came up with his list of seven things to avoid when speaking, but his advice is sound because it lines up with Biblical principles.

I challenge you to pick out at least a couple of things on the list, and make a commitment to eliminate them from your speech.

Faithful, Gracious, And Just.

Read Psalm 34. Take your time and meditate on each verse.

David wrote this Psalm during a very difficult period in his life. He and his men were being hunted by king Saul. They were hiding out in caves, and they had run out of food. Think about the fact that David was homeless and starving when he wrote these words:

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.

I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.

Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34 :1-3

How was David able to praise God even under these terrible circumstances? Because he knew God’s character. Throughout Psalm 34, David focuses on three aspects of God’s character: His faithfulness, His grace, and His justice.

God’s Faithfulness.

David experienced God’s faithfulness firsthand. When he was a boy, God helped him defend his father’s flock from vicious predators. As a young man, God gave him victory over the giant, Goliath.

So when David’s situation became desperate, he did not despair. He knew that God is faithful. He trusted that God would deliver him. This gave him strength, and alleviated his fears.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Psalm 34: 4-7

Life is full of ups and downs, but in times of hardship, remember that God is in control, and He is faithful.

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

Psalm 34: 17-19

2) God’s Grace.

Grace means unmerited favor or kindness. David understood that he was a sinful man, and that he had done nothing to earn God’s favor. He was ever in awe of God’s great mercy and love, and he knew he didn’t deserve it (see Psalm 51).

But David knew the grace of God.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

Psalm 34: 8-10

For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!

—-

But the Lord will redeem those who serve him. No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 34: 20 & 22

Like David, we should marvel at God’s grace. We are nothing but rebellious sinners, yet God offers us redemption and mercy. Salvation comes only through God’s grace (Ephesians 2: 8-9).

3) God’s Justice.

David saw wicked men around him prospering while he himself suffered. But he knew that God is just, and that the wicked would pay in due time.

God is loving and patient, and He wants people to repent and be saved (II Peter 3:9). But God is also just. Those who continue in their wicked ways and refuse God’s mercy will face His justice!

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help.

But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.

Psalm 34: 15-16

Calamity will surely destroy the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

Psalm 34: 21

It may seem like the wicked prosper. They often do… for a season. But rest assured that one day God will judge them for their evil deeds.

So whatever you’re going through right now, do what David did and praise God because He is faithful, gracious, and just.

Friendship.

Do you remember the story of Job? The Bible tells us that Job was a righteous man whom God had greatly blessed. Job had health, wealth, family, and the respect of his peers. Then, without warning or explanation, everything he held dear was taken from him. His wealth was plundered/destroyed, his children were killed, and he became horribly ill, his skin covered in boils. Ugh!

Enter Job’s friends. Let’s look at the men who came to visit Job in his time of need, and see if we can learn a few things about friendship from them.

When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.

When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. 

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.

Job 2:11-13

True friends.

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, demonstrated friendship in a powerful way. These men likely had families, careers, and responsibilities, yet they dropped everything and “traveled from their homes to comfort and console [Job]”. They had no ulterior motives, for Job had nothing to offer them. They went and sat with Job in silence for seven days, their presence sending a clear message: “We love you, dear friend.”

This got me to thinking: Have I cultivated any friendships in my life that rise to this level? If tragedy fell upon me, do I have a single friend that cares for me enough to do anything close to what Job’s friends did for him? Bonds this strong don’t happen by accident, and it’s a testament to Job’s character that he had at least four friends (Elihu is the fourth friend, mentioned later in the story) that cared for him so deeply.

And what have I done for my friends in need? A short phone call? A quick visit? A few hours of my time? When I look at what Job’s friends did for him, I must admit, I feel convicted. I may not be able to go and sit with a friend for seven days in silence, but I could certainly do better than say, “man, I’m really sorry about what happened,” and then just go back to my life. I need to do better in the future.

Not perfect.

Job chapter 3 – chapter 27 records the dialogue between Job and his three friends (note: the fourth and youngest friend, Elihu, is listening to the conversation).

Job’s friends clearly loved him, and had the best of intentions. Unfortunately, they thought they understood the cause of Job’s misfortune when, in fact, they did not. As a result, they added insult to injury by insisting that Job must have committed some heinous sin, and that God was punishing him for it.

Instead of comforting Job, they started preaching at him. They made assumptions that were false. They offered unsolicited and unwarranted advice, telling Job that he needed to repent of whatever terrible, secret sin he had committed.

On the one hand, this shows that Job’s friends were candid, and felt free to speak their minds with Job. That’s a positive thing. But they didn’t have enough information to rightly judge Job’s situation or to offer wise counsel. As a result, they unintentionally made the situation worse.

As we are told in Ecclesiastes 3:7, there is a time to speak, and a time to remain silent. When dealing with friends in pain, we should listen first, then pray for the wisdom to say things that are both comforting and true. If such words don’t come to us, we ought to keep quiet. Elihu demonstrates this for us in Job 32 – 37. He listened carefully, and when it was his turn to speak, he offered real words of wisdom.

The greatest friend.

The old hymn, “What a friend we have in Jesus” is one of my favorites. Jesus told His disciples, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). And that’s exactly what Jesus did for you and me. He willingly laid down His life to pay our sin-debt. He offers the free gift of salvation to all who repent and put their faith in Him.

Jesus serves as the ultimate example of what a friend should be: loving, compassionate, and selfless.

So how good a friend are you? I know I have room for improvement in this area, and I suspect you do too. I think we could all be more giving of ourselves, more careful with our words, and better friends to each other.

Lessons From King Asa.

Asa, son of Abijah, was one of the few good kings that ruled over ancient Judah. His story is recorded in II Chronicles 14 -16. Take a few minutes and read those three chapters. There are many lessons in this passage. Here are a few that stood out to me.

1) Obedience leads to peace.

The first thing Asa does as king is address the widespread problem of idolatry. The countryside is littered with foreign alters, pagan shrines, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles. Asa destroys these detestable symbols of false gods, and then he commands the people of Judah to: seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey His law and His commands (II Chronicles 14:4).

As a result, his kingdom enjoys a period of peace. God blesses King Asa, and gives him rest from his enemies (II Chronicles 14:5-6).

—=—

If you want to be at peace, put God first in your life, and obey His commandments.

“Obey God and be at peace with Him.“

Job 22:21

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:9 – The Apostle Paul speaking.

2) No problem is too big for God.

After a time, Asa faces a major challenge. A powerful army mobilizes against Judah. A million soldiers and three hundred chariots advance on the town of Mareshah. Asa prepares for war, but he is greatly outnumbered, and knows he cannot win.

In the face of certain disaster, he cries out to God: “O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!” (II Chronicles 14:11).

Asa calls out to God in his time of need, and God answers. God Himself fights the battle, and defeats the army that is too much for Asa.

—=—

We sometimes face challenges that seem impossible. In those times we can choose to despair, or we can call out to God, and trust that He is able to handle our situation.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:37

Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalm 55:22

3) God rewards those who remain faithful.

After God miraculously delivers Judah from their enemies, the prophet Azariah seeks out King Asa as he’s returning from the battle. Azariah tells Asa, and the people, that as long as they follow God’s commands, God will be with them. He also warns them not to turn away from God.

Then Azariah encourages the people with these words: “be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.” (II Chronicles 15:7).

Asa wastes no time. He sweeps through the kingdom and lays waste to any remaining idols. He repairs the altar in front of the LORD’s temple. Then Asa and his people offers sacrifices, and enter into a sacred covenant with God.

God rewards the people for their faithfulness: “All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side.” (II Chronicles 15:15).

—=—

There are blessings for those who obey the LORD. God delights in working wonders for those who love Him.

 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

…[God] is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6b

4) Even the righteous can fall.

Asa and his kingdom enjoy a long period of peace and prosperity, but somewhere along the way Asa becomes prideful and complacent.

In the 36th year of Asa’s reign, King Baasha invades Judah, and instead of asking God what he should do, Asa acts according to his own wisdom.

Hanani the seer confronts Asa with his error, but Asa is unrepentant, and throws Hanani in prison!

Asa continues to sin, and even begins to oppresses his own people. When he contracts a serious disease, he is still too proud to seek God’s help. King Asa’s final years are marked by war, pain, and suffering.

—=—

Asa’s sad ending is a sobering reminder to be spiritually vigilant. When times are good, it’s easy to put God on the backburner. It’s easy to get lazy with things like Bible study and church attendance. Often times we drift away from God so slowly that we don’t realize it’s happening until something dramatic happens to get our attention.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

I Corinthians 10:12

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

I Peter 5:8

We can learn a lot from King Asa. If we remain faithful and obedient to God, He will reward us and give us peace. No problem is too big for God, and we should always seek Him first in times of trouble. Lastly, if we’re not careful, we can easily drift away from God. We need to renew our hearts and minds daily, and remember to put God first in our lives.

You’re Not Good Enough.

Ask a thousand people, “are you a good person?” and 999 of them will answer, “yes!”

“I’m on par with my friends and neighbors,” they think to themselves. “Compared to some of them, I’m practically a saint!”

Our secular culture tells us that we’re good. Look at this article titled, How to Be a Good Person, and you’ll see what I mean. Just love yourself, be yourself, be honest and forgiving and… presto! You are a good person!

A lot of “spiritual” people think that being a good person is their ticket to heaven. “When I die, God will weigh the good I did against the bad. I’m a good person, so Saint Peter’s gonna let me through the pearly gates for sure!”

This idea goes back a long way. The ancient Egyptians believed that when a person died, the gods weighed their heart on a scale against the feather of Ma’at (truth, order, justice). If the person did evil things in life, their heart would be heavier than the feather, and it would be gobbled up by a demon. But if they were a good person, their heart would be lighter than the feather, and they would be allowed into paradise.

The hard truth.

Thomas Sowell said, “When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.”

If you tell people they are good; that they’re terrific just they way they are, they’ll love you for it! They’ll smile and walk away feeling great. It’s exactly the kind of thing we all want to hear.

If you tell people they are wicked and vile, they won’t be too happy with you. They will probably get offended and angry. No one wants to hear that, let alone believe it.

But if we care about people, we have to tell them the truth from God’s Word, even when it’s unpleasant, and Scripture absolutely destroys the idea that people are good.

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;”

Romans 3:10 / Psalm 53:3

Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

Psalm 14:1

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

Jeremiah 17:9

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.

I John 1:8

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.

You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 

All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

Ephesians 2: 1-3

I know… it’s all about as pleasant as a cancer diagnosis, but it’s what the Bible says.

The world may say that you are a good person, but God says otherwise. It is by His standard that you will be judged, and His standard is absolute holiness.

We all fall short of God’s definition of good (Romans 3:23). We can never be good enough to earn our way into Heaven. What few good works we actually do are equivalent to filthy rags:

We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.

Isaiah 64:6

No amount of good deeds will wash away your sin, and the Bible says in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death.”

If this news frightens you… that’s the point. A man who believes he is healthy doesn’t seek a doctor, but a man who knows he is sick does. Similarly, only a man who grasps his desperate spiritual condition will seek the Savior.

The good news!

The bad news is: we are all sinful people, and God has decreed that sin must be punished. There’s no getting around it. The debt must be paid.

But God loves us enough that He sent His Son to die in our place. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. He went willingly to the cross, and shed His blood as payment for your sin and mine.

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

Romans 3:25a

You have been offered a full pardon for your sin, but you must accept it. You accept this gift by putting your faith in Jesus Christ alone.

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Romans 3:22

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

When you stand before God as your judge, your good works won’t be enough to save you. Only one thing will matter: Did you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ? “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)”

If you haven’t come to Jesus yet, don’t delay. Life is but a vapor that will soon pass. Humble yourself. Admit that you are a sinner. Ask for His mercy and forgiveness, and you will get it.

If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, remember to take a few minutes each day to express your gratitude for the amazing, free gift of salvation!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

What Foundation Are You Building On?

I recently got one of those notifications on Facebook where it says something like, “Here’s a memory from this date X years ago!” and it shows you an old post you made. The post was from February 2012, and this is what it said:

“Feel awful today and don’t know why. Sad, depressed, miserable… just having a bad friggen day. Going to go to bed early and hope tomorrow turns out better.“

This got me thinking back to that time in my life, my early thirties.

Financially, things were good. My wife and I were both working, and we were debt free, except for our mortgage. We had money to invest, and we had enough disposable income to do the things we wanted to do.

Marriage was good. We had our ups and downs, of course, but we’d been married for over a decade, and had found a comfortable rhythm. We had no kids, so we spent a lot of time together, and we genuinely enjoyed each other’s company.

Physically, I was as healthy and strong as I have ever been. I had more hair, more energy, and better eyesight. I had free time to do what I wanted to do: I worked out, I played video games, I watched movies.

And yet… I was hurting, and I was miserable. What’s worse, I couldn’t figure out why. I remember having lunch with a buddy of mine during this time and lamenting, “I should be happy! Everything is great. I’ve got everything I need and more. I should be happy, but I’m not!”

A foundation of sand.

I thought at the time that I could find joy, peace, and satisfaction in the material world. If I worked hard enough, those things would surely come. I just needed a little more… more money, more status, more stuff.

But I discovered first-hand the truths found in the book of Ecclesiastes: Wealth is not the answer. Fame is not the answer. Pleasure is not the answer. No amount of earthly treasure is enough to satisfy the soul.

I like what actor/comedian Jim Carrey said: “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.“

A life of joy, peace, and satisfaction cannot be built on a foundation of worldly pursuits. Wealth, power, influence, fame… these are naught but shifting sand. Whatever you build on them is destined to fall.

“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Mathew 7: 26-27

The Solid Rock.

Instead of building on sand, you can build on Jesus Christ, the solid rock.

Don’t misunderstand. This doesn’t mean you will escape the storms of life. In fact, the Bible virtually promises hardship and sorrow will be a part of following Christ. But if you build your life on Jesus, then your joy, peace, and satisfaction will not collapse when the storms hit. Your Foundation will be unshakeable.

Jesus said:

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 

Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.”

Mathew 7: 24-25

Build with the future in mind.

This broken world we live in is temporary. It will pass away. If you build your life on an earthly foundation, you will perish. Build your life on Jesus, and you will live.

And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

I John 2:17

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

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: 2-4

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Mathew 6: 19-21

Missionary, Charles Studd, wrote:

Only one life ’twill soon be past.
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Friend, I have built on sand, and I have built on the Rock. The Rock is better. Take some time this week to think about what’s at the foundation of your life. What are you building on?

Even So.

The first few books of the Old Testament tell us how God delivered His people from Egypt, and brought them to the promised land.

Because of their disobedience, Israel wandered around the desert for 40 years. Moses, and most of the generation that had fled Egypt, were not allowed to enter the promised land, and many died in the wilderness.

Shortly after Moses died, Joshua lead the people across the River Jordan into the promised land.

With God’s help, Israel quickly conquered much of the promised land. Things were looking up! Israel was so confident, that they divided up the land amongst the tribes before they had even captured it all.

But then Joshua died, and the Israelites lost their way. They started doing the exact opposite of what God had told them to do. Instead of slaying the wicked inhabitants of the promised land, they started intermarrying with them, and began to worship their false gods.

The next 300+ years were tumultuous. This was the time of the Judges. Over and over the following pattern repeated:

  • Israel rebels against God.
  • God punishes them, allowing the surrounding nations to oppress them.
  • Israel cries out to God for help.
  • God sends a “Judge” to deliver them.
  • Israel turns back to God for a generation or two.
  • Israel starts getting friendly with the neighboring nations and their false gods… and the cycle repeats.

Lesson learned?

When we get to the book of I Samuel, Israel has reached an inflection point in their history. Samuel is destined to be the last Judge of Israel. The people have decided they want a king instead. They want to be like the nations around them.

Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel.

“Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”

I Samuel 8: 4-5

Samuel knows this is not a good plan. Israel is supposed to be different from the nations around them. They are God’s chosen people. God is their King. Samuel warns them, and explains what will happen if they insist on having an earthly king.

 “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. 

Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. 

The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him.

 He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials.

 He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants.

He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. 

He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. 

When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.”

I Samuel 8: 11-18

Now you would think, after all that Israel has been through… after centuries of ups and downs, rebellion and consequences… that they would heed this warning.

Nope!

But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 

“We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

I Samuel 8: 19-20

Did you catch that? “EVEN SO, we still want a king.“

It’s easy to read that and think, “Come on! They know this is going to end badly. Why in the world would they go through with it!?” But we shouldn’t be too quick to judge.

When we sin, we know there will be consequences. We know because we’ve been warned by God’s Word. Even so, we sometimes decide that we want our own way, no matter the cost. But the bill always comes due. We pay a price for our sin; we bear the scars.

Even so, God loves us. When we repent, He forgives us and delivers us, just as He did for the Israelites.

Again and again he rescued [Israel], but they chose to rebel against him, and they were finally destroyed by their sin.

Even so, he pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries.

He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love.

Psalm 106: 43-45

A better, “even so”.

Our daily challenge as Christians is to make our “even so” look something like this:

“I’m tempted to [insert sin that you struggle with here]. I really want to! Even so, I choose to obey God.”

This isn’t easy, but it is doable through the power of the Holy Spirit. Remember this promise:

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

I Corinthians 10:13

Taste And See.

You probably know who Jordan Peterson is. Personally, I admire him for his intellect and his principles.

Several months ago I watched his video series on Exodus. If you are unfamiliar, I would describe it this way: a panel of brilliant men with diverse backgrounds gather around a table to read and discuss the Old Testament story of how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and brought them to the promised land.

The series consists of 17 episodes, and the total runtime is over 33 hours!

Prior to making the Exodus series, Jordan Peterson gave a series of lectures on the book of Genesis, and currently he is on a tour entitled, “We Who Wrestle With God.” He’s written a book with the same title.

It’s clear that Dr. Peterson is serious about his search for God. Sadly, with his current approach, I fear he may miss Him.

Knowledge vs understanding.

A parable:

There once was a brilliant scientist who wanted to learn all there was to learn about chocolate. He bought a chocolate bar, and conducted many experiments. He meticulously recorded his observations, and in time he came to know a great deal about chocolate: how its made, its melting point, the precise ratios of all the ingredients, etc.

The scientist dug deeper, learning about chocolate’s chemical composition, molecular density, atomic structure, and more. Finally, he felt confident he knew all there was to know.

Then, one day, a boy came into his lab. The boy simply ate the chocolate bar, and smiled.

You see, the scientist knows about chocolate; the boy knows chocolate.

Until the scientist tastes the chocolate for himself, he will never truly understand it. When he does, he will realize that what he knows about chocolate on an intellectual level doesn’t compare to the experience of eating it.

It’s similar with God. Using one’s intellect to get a deeper knowledge of God is no substitute for experiencing God in a real and personal way. As the Psalmist said:

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

Uncomplicated.

Good news! If you want to know God, you don’t need special training or equipment. You don’t have to have a PhD in philosophy or religion. A personal relationship with God is available to anyone who desires it. All you need is humility and a tender heart.

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Mathew 18:1-4

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.’

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Acts 4:11-12

Want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Want to find God? Humble yourself, repent of your sin, trust fully in Jesus, and you will.

Jesus is the way to God; there is no other. Through Him, the God of the Bible becomes more than just an abstract idea. He comes alive inside you. The One, True God. The God of the prophets, the God of King David, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Through Jesus, that God becomes your God.

Don’t settle.

I pray almost every day for Jordan Peterson. He is so close to the truth. I pray that one day he will humble himself and come to Jesus with the heart of a child. I pray that he will experience God, not as some impersonal, abstract idea, but as the awesome, terrifying, holy, and personal Being that He is.

If you have come to Jesus already, you know what I’m talking about. If you have not, don’t delay. Take a leap of faith. Experience God for yourself. Taste and see.

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