Seth Durham, Author at A Kingdom Seeker

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.

Obedience.

I’ve been thinking a lot about obedience lately: what it means, why it’s difficult, and why it’s important.

Let’s begin by looking at the dictionary definition:

obedience, n.

The action or practice of obeying or doing what one is bidden;

the fact or quality of being obedient;

submission to the rule or authority of another.
Oxford English Dictionary

Look closely at that third definition (submission to the rule or authority of another), for it is in this sense that Christians are called to obey God.

Obedience means surrendering your will to Him. It means praying, as Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done.”(Luke 22:42). It means doing what God says, even when you don’t want to. In fact, if God asks you to do something you want to do, then doing it isn’t obedience at all. There is no submission there; no surrendering of the will. Obedience is when you do what you’d rather not, because God told you to.

We find examples of this throughout Scripture. Abraham took Isaac up the mountain to be sacrificed (Genesis 22). Moses confronted Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 4). Gideon reduced his fighting force down to 300 men before a crucial battle (Judges 7). In each case, these men did what they did, not because they wanted to, but because God told them to. They submitted to God’s authority; surrendered their wills to Him. They obeyed.

What makes obedience so difficult?

———-Pride———-

When we understand what obedience is, it’s pretty easy to see why it’s hard to be obedient. We’re rebellious by nature. We hate being told what to do. Our sinful flesh wants to be in charge. If our fallen nature has a motto, it mirrors the last two lines of William Henley’s Invictus: “I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.“(emphasis added).

Pride makes obedience nigh impossible. A prideful man does not recognize any authority higher than himself. He will not bend the knee, even to his Creator.

Humility is both prerequisite to, and a demonstration of, obedience. As always, Christ is our perfect example. Jesus humbly did the will of the Father at all times, no matter the cost.

[Jesus] humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8

———-Fear———-

A second obstacle to obedience is fear. You can be humble, recognizing God as the ultimate authority, and still not obey because of fear. Fear comes in many flavors: fear of failure, fear of ridicule, fear of loss, fear of pain, fear of death.

Fear is a paralytic toxin when it comes to obedience. As humility is the antidote to pride, so faith is the antidote to fear. To overcome fear, we must have faith that God is good, that He knows what is best, and that He will give us the strength we need to accomplish what He tells us to do.

The prophet Isaiah spoke often about faith and fear:

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
Isaiah 2:12

[The LORD] will keep in perfect peace all who trust in [Him], all whose thoughts are fixed on [Him]!
Isaiah 26:3

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.
Isaiah 26:4

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Bottom line: Obedience requires humility and faith.

Why bother?

Since obedience is so hard, and it involves doing what we don’t want to do, why should we obey? Here are four good reasons:

1) For our protection:

When you tell a small child, “Don’t put your hand on that hot stove,” you do so because you care about the child. You know that if the child disobeys, they will suffer the consequences.

In the same way, many of the commands God has given us are for our own protection. We may not see how disobedience will lead to disaster (just as a child may not fully understand what will happen if they touch the stove), but God does. Obedience can, and often does, keep us from harm.

2) For our development:

When I tell my daughter to clean her room, or to do her chores, I’m not doing it just to throw my weight around. My daughter may think these things are not important, and that I’m being a horrible dictator, but that’s simply not true. I know there are important life-lessons that can only be learned from experience. By doing her chores, she learns about authority, responsibility, discipline, and much more. Doing what I ask of her develops her character in ways she does not understand.

Similarly, when we obey God, we gain valuable experience. We become more like Christ. Obedience strengthens our faith, and builds our character.

3) Out of love:

God’s love for us is clear. He created us, sustains us, and cares for us. Everything we have, and all that we are, comes from Him. He loved us so much that, while we were still sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8).

God wants us to love Him in return, and to do that, we obey. Jesus said: “If you love me, obey my commandments.” (John 14:15).

4) For guidance:

Imagine that I come to you and ask you for directions and we have this conversation:

Me: Hey, do you know how to get to such-and-such?

You: Sure. First, head south...

Me: Whoa! let me stop you right there. I don't want to go south. I'm headed north. Can you please help me get to such-and-such?

You: Yes. Turn around and head south, then...

Me: Wait! I just told you ... I'm not going south. Now, please, just tell me how to get to such-and-such!

If I refuse to follow your instructions, you can’t help me, can you?

It’s the same way with God. If you want Him to direct you, you must make sure that you are following the directions you already have. For example, suppose God tells you to go to church (Hebrews 10:25), study your Bible (II Timothy 2:15), and spend time in prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17). If you refuse to do these things, how can you expect God to direct you any further?

Start obeying the commands you know, and God will guide you from there.

Take action.

Obedience is not easy. To submit to God’s authority, we have to swallow our pride and overcome our fears, but when we do, blessings come. When we obey, God protects us, develops us, and guides us.

See if you can think of just one command God has given you that you are not following. What’s stopping you? Pride? Fear? Ask God to help you change. Make a commitment to obey that command from here on out. It won’t be easy, but God will bless you if you do.

Nothing New.

When I write these posts, I have a couple of goals in mind. One is to communicate truth, and only truth, to the best of my ability. I never want to lead someone down the wrong path.

Another goal is to write something useful. I don’t want to waste your time. I want you to walk away with something important to think about; something that will have a real, positive impact on your life.

These are good goals, but the second one sometimes trips me up. It subtly morphs into, “I want to write something new / innovative / flashy / profound / exciting!” My ego whispers, “unless what you have to say is new and brilliant, it’s not worth saying.“

I was recently reading C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity, and the following passage really spoke to me on this issue:

“The real job of every moral teacher is to keep on bringing us back, time after time, to the old simple principles which we are all so anxious not to see; like bringing a horse back and back to the fence it has refused to jump or bringing a child back and back to the bit in its lesson that it wants to shirk.”
Mere Christianity; Book 3, Chapter 3

I realized I needn’t worry about writing anything new or original. It is worthwhile to revisit those old, simple principles that we so easily forget; those truths that we need to be reminded of, over and over again.

True love.

So, today, allow me to remind you of this: God loves you.

It blows my mind that God, Creator of all things, cares about us. In the scope of creation, what are we but specks of dust? Yet, the Bible makes it clear that God loves mankind, and not just mankind as a whole, but individuals, including you and me.

His love is not based on who we are (for we are truly wretched creatures), but on who He is. So great is His love for us that He became flesh, lived a sinless life, and took the punishment we deserve onto Himself, providing the way for us to be forgiven and redeemed.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 5:8

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
I John 4:10

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
I John 4:16

No matter what you’ve done, no matter where you are in life, God loves you. If you call out to Him, He will save you from your sin… because He loves you. He will make you into a new creature, and He will carry you through life’s difficulties… because He loves you.

The fact that God loves you may be nothing new, but it’s definitely a truth worth revisiting over, and over again.

Unconventional Gratitude.

We just celebrated Thanksgiving, and I certainly have much to be thankful for. It’s easy to be grateful for the good things … friends, family, health, food, shelter, clothes, etc. etc. But lately God has challenged me to be thankful for some less-than-ideal things.

Replace the grumble.

A typical morning: My 13-year-old dog wakes me up from a deep sleep because she wants breakfast –grumble-. As I stumble out of bed, I’m reminded of all my body aches … neck, back, shoulders –grumble!- I feed the dog, then decide to feed myself. I make a cup of coffee, then pull a breakfast sandwich out of the freezer, but I can’t read the tiny print that tells me how long to heat it up for –grumble!!- I hunt down my reading glasses, toss the sandwich in the microwave, but then my kid needs something and I get distracted. By the time I get back to my coffee and sandwich, both are ice-cold –grumble!!!

Lately the Holy Spirit has shown me that there’s a lot to be grateful for in my morning routine. I am thankful that my old dog is still with me. Though my body hurts, I am thankful that I’m not bed-ridden or wheelchair bound. Though my eyesight is getting worse, praise God I can still see! And though my coffee and egg-muffin are cold, I’m glad to have sustenance.

I’ve started to replace the grumble with gratitude and it has improved my mornings dramatically.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I Thessalonians 5:18

Thankful for “no”.

God, why didn’t you give me ______?

My “blank” has lots of things in it. Wealth, fame, talent, etc. If God were a genie that granted wishes, I’d be a rockstar/movie-god with mansions, yachts, and a private jet (just one, ’cause I’m not greedy or anything).

Sometimes I look at what the millionaires and billionaires have and wonder why God is holding out on me. Instead of being grateful for what I have, I start to envy what I don’t.

But God has given me an answer to my question, and it’s actually a little embarrassing. I know that if God gave me all the things my sinful heart desires, my relationship with Him would go down the toilet. I would be caught up in, and consumed by, the pleasures of this world, and I would go spiritually bankrupt.

There’s a passage in proverbs where Agur asks God specifically not to give him riches for this very reason.

…give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Proverbs 30:8-9

I’m like a child who wants pizza and ice-cream for every meal, and can’t understand why his parents say, “no!” I’m learning that when God says “no” it’s for my benefit.

Grateful in suffering.

In II Corinthians, the Apostle Paul talks about his “thorn in the flesh.” We’re not given the details, but it’s clear from the passage that this thorn is something very unpleasant. Three times Paul asks God to remove it, and God replies, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (II Corinthians 12:9a)

Paul came to understand that even this difficult thing in his life was there for his good. It kept him humble, and it allowed God to continue to work through him.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
II Corinthians 12:9-10

It’s hard to be grateful when you’re hurting. It may be the most difficult test of faith. To be in physical or emotional pain and believe that God is good and that your pain has a purpose.

Remember this promise from the book of Romans:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Challenge yourself to be a grateful person. Be grateful for what you have, and for what you don’t. Be grateful in the midst of suffering, believing that one day you will understand how everything you experienced in life was a manifestation of God’s love, mercy, and grace.

Be Useful.

American actor Shia Labeouf has led a tumultuous life. In 2021 he was nearing rock-bottom. Desperate to get back into the spotlight, he signed on to do a drama, accepting the role of Padre Pio, an Italian priest.

To prepare for the role, Shia spent several months with a group of Franciscan monks, and the experience changed his life. I don’t know if Shia is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation (I hope so), but I do know that there has been a great shift in his mindset. He said something in a recent interview that really resonated with me. To paraphrase: Before, my purpose in life was to be happy. That’s not my purpose anymore. Now my purpose is to be useful.

He’s onto something. When your primary concern is your own happiness, your focus is on yourself… what can I do to make myself feel better? But if your mission is to be useful, your focus is on others… how can I serve those around me? This was certainly the mindset of Jesus. He came with a servant’s heart and spent His lifetime serving those around Him.

Called to serve.

There are numerous scriptures that echo the idea that we ought to focus on serving others rather than ourselves. Here’s a sample:

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
I Peter 4:9-10

Jesus called [the disciples] together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10: 42-45

Unnatural.

Knowing what we should do and actually doing it are two different things. The truth is, it goes against our fallen nature to serve others. Deep in our hearts we believe that it’s better to be a king than to be a slave. But our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), and we must fight our natural desire to put ourselves first.

Fact: We are all selfish creatures! But the Holy Spirit can give us the strength to be humble, and to focus more on the needs of others than on our own. Ask God to help you be a better servant, and He will.

Unexpected benefits.

It’s difficult and counterintuitive to put others first, but it’s amazing what happens when you “just do it!” When you focus on serving others, true joy comes as a byproduct.

It’s ironic that when we focus on ourselves and our own selfish interests, happiness inevitably evades us. Yet when we decide to serve others, happiness is a frequent side effect. Put it to the test. Ask yourself how you can be useful to the people around you today. Focus on their needs and watch how God blesses all involved.

Peace.

It’s an understatement to say that over the last few days, my heart and mind have been troubled. A few days ago, terrorists marched into the neighborhoods of Israeli civilians, and committed unspeakable acts of violence. People were gunned down in their homes, women were raped, babies were beheaded, hostages were taken.

There is no justification for these atrocities. Period. I am appalled that there are people around the world, including here in the United States, that are not only justifying what happened, but gleefully celebrating these barbaric attacks. It is unconscionable. How deranged and depraved these people are!

Now, another war is upon us. More innocent people are going to die. I must confess that watching these things unfold has made me physically ill. My digestion is out of whack. I’m not sleeping well.

It’s time to recalibrate.

Focus.

My problem is easy to identify. My focus is on the wrong thing. Like Peter when he tried to walk on water, I have taken my eyes off of Jesus and begun to sink into fear and despair. Oh me of little faith.

It’s time to remind myself that God knows what He’s doing. I may not understand it, I may not like it, but that doesn’t matter. My role is to trust. Trust that He is good. Trust that truth and justice will prevail. Evil will not go unpunished… one day, the sheep will be separated from the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), and the goats will burn. That day is fast approaching.

Until then, I must take my focus off of what’s happening, and instead focus on God and His Word.

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sworn this oath:

It will all happen as I have planned.
It will be as I have decided.
Isaiah 14:24

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Deuteronomy 31:8

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27

Signs of the times.

When you look to the sky and see dark clouds, you know rain is coming. When the leaves start to fall and the temperature cools, you know that summer is ending and autumn is imminent.

The Bible tells us that one day Jesus will return, and the world as we know it will come to an end. It also tells us about the things that will take place as that time draws near. Many of those things are happening right now. Evil is rampant, persecution of Christians is on the rise, natural disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity, wars and rumors of wars are upon us, technology is pushing us closer and closer to a global system of trade and governance. And on, and on.

This is very good news for those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ… and very bad news for those who have not. But if you’re reading this, it’s not too late! Today is the day of salvation, and God has made salvation simple, so that anyone can be saved. Pastor JD Farag constantly reminds people that the gospel is as simple as A.B.C.

Admit that you are a sinner in need of a savior.

Believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins.

Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

That’s it. There is nothing else you need to do to find forgiveness and salvation. Don’t put it off. Don’t wait. Life is short, and time is short. In these troubled times, trust in Him, and find peace.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3

A Mighty Fortress.

None of us has a complete understanding of what God truly is. He is more than any human mind can comprehend. But the Bible helps us to understand God by comparing Him to things we are familiar with. For example, several passages of scripture liken God to a fortress.

The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.
Nahum 1:7

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:6

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
Psalm 18:2

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 59:16

Peace and safety in times of trouble.

The Bible does not teach that trouble will never come our way. In fact, Jesus said the exact opposite. He said we will have trouble, but we can take heart, because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). The harsh reality is that the world is full of trouble, danger, sorrow, and pain. But we who trust in the Lord have an impenetrable shelter in which we can find peace and rest. Jesus said:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Mathew 11:28

Head inside.

A fortress can’t protect you if you stand outside it. The world wants to pull us out of our Fortress. It tempts us with sinful pleasures and beckons us to venture outside where we are vulnerable. When we do, the enemy is ready and waiting to ambush us.

Maybe you’ve wandered outside, and now the enemy has ahold of you. Remember, as a child of God, you are no longer a slave to sin, and by the power of the Holy Spirit you can escape the grip of the enemy and return to the Fortress at any time.

And if you want to remain in the Fortress, then make God your top priority. Read the Bible daily. Study it. Get to church on Sunday. Pray. Serve others. These things keep us within the mighty fortress that is our God.