Category: God’s Will

What does God want you to do with your life? Is it possible to answer that question? I believe it is. I’m looking into scripture for the answer and posting my thoughts in this blog. I hope what I write will be of help to you as well.

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.

On Sheep.

If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose? Something majestic and strong, like a lion, perhaps? Maybe something cunning and fierce, like a wolf? How cool would it be to soar through the clouds as an eagle?

Odds are, you wouldn’t choose a sheep. Most people don’t think very highly of them. When someone is labeled a sheep, it’s meant as a knock on their intelligence and their ability to think for themselves.

At first it may seem insulting that God’s people are compared to sheep in the Bible. We like to think we’re better than that, but that’s just our pride talking. In fact, there are valuable lessons to be learned when we properly understand the analogy of God as our shepherd and we as His sheep.

Going astray.

The prophet Isaiah said:

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own…” (Isaiah 53:6a).

I did a Google search and found out some interesting reasons why sheep go astray. The following is adapted from the Google AI Overview:

Frightened:

Sheep are prey animals and have a natural instinct to flee when they feel threatened. Loud noises, quick movements, and dogs can all scare sheep and make them run.

Distracted:

Sheep can also wander off, even in ideal environments with food and water, because they can get distracted or busy. For example, they might get so focused on grazing that they don’t notice their flock has moved.

Separated from the flock:

Sheep are social animals that feel safe in groups, so separating one sheep from the rest can be frightening and disturbing.

Let’s look at how the factors that cause literal sheep to go astray also impact us as metaphorical sheep.

Fear.

It’s not surprising that fear is one of the things that causes us to wander from God. Fear is a powerful negative emotion.

Fear undermines our trust in God’s sovereignty. It fills us with doubt and uncertainty. Fear of failure keeps us from stepping out in faith. Fear of rejection keeps us silent when we should speak.

But God is more powerful than your fears. The message “don’t be afraid” appears hundreds of time in scripture. Ask God for the courage to overcome your fears, and don’t let fear take you off the path He has for you.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

-II Timothy 1:7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

-Proverbs 3: 5-6

Distractions.

Even when life is going great and we’re not living in fear, busyness and distractions can lead us away from God.

We spend our days in the rat race, trying to make enough money to pay our bills and get a little bit ahead. The various roles we play (i.e. parent, friend, spouse, employee, etc.) consume a lot of time and energy. With all this busyness, who has time for reading the Bible, praying, and going to church?

And how easy is it to spend all day on frivolous things? I’m guilty. I can’t tell you how many days I’ve wasted scrolling through Facebook, watching T.V., playing video games, etc. It’s easy to get sucked into trivialities, and to lose sight of what really matters.

We must examine our lives frequently to make sure we have our priorities straight. We must continually reevaluate and refocus to ensure our Shepherd is in sight, and that we’re following in His footsteps.

I like this quote from C.S. Lewis:

“I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.” [emphasis mine]

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

-Colossians 3:2

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

-Psalm 119:37

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

-Hebrews 3:1

Isolation.

Like sheep, we are social creatures. We need each other. Surround yourself with strong Christians dedicated to following the Lord, and you will be more likely to stay on the right path.

We are not meant to go through life’s trials alone. Find a good church where God’s Word is faithfully preached, and get in the habit of attending weekly. Seek out Christian fellowship. Lean on your brothers and sisters when you are weak, and be ready to support them when they need you.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

-Proverbs 27:17

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

-Hebrews 10:25

The Good Shepherd.

We’ve looked at one side of the shepherd/sheep analogy, and hopefully you found it insightful how some of the same things that cause sheep to lose their way cause us to stray from God. Now we’ll look at the other side of the analogy: God’s role as our Shepherd.

Let’s return to Isaiah 53:6, and look at the last part of it:

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on Him the sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6).

In spite of our waywardness, our shepherd loves us. So much so, that He took our sins upon Himself and died in our place.

I’ll close with the words of Jesus found in John 10. May they encourage and inspire you to stay close to The Good Shepherd.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.

The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 

just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 

I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.“

-John 10: 11-16

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.

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

Clear Instructions.

Ever had to deal with bad instructions? Like when someone gives you bad directions and you wind up lost. Or when you’re trying to put together a new piece of furniture and the steps are poorly explained. We’ve all been there. It’s incredibly frustrating!

Thankfully, when it comes to living the Christian life, the Bible instructs us in clear, plain language. There are many passages that spell things out for us, but I’d like to draw your attention to Romans, chapter 12. That single chapter contains the essence of what it means to live a Christ-like life. If every Christian lived out what’s written there, it would change the world.

And so, for today’s post, I will simply post the chapter in its entirety and leave you with a challenge: Read Romans: 12 every day for the next 30 days. Meditate on it, and really try to live it. Let me know how it impacts you and those around you when you do.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans : 12

Our Father…

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He replied:

“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”

Mathew 6:9-13

This is probably the most well known prayer in history. Even non-believer’s know it, or have at the very least heard it. It’s so familiar, in fact, that many people recite the words without contemplating their power and importance. This prayer was given to us by Jesus Himself, so we ought to pay special attention to it. We should meditate on these words.

My original plan for this post was to go through The Lord’s Prayer, line by line, and share my thoughts. I didn’t get very far. In fact, I only made it through the first two words, “Our Father.”

What does the word “father” mean to you?

What’s your dad like? Perhaps you have a great dad, and the word father elicits warm feelings and puts a smile on your face. Maybe your dad was never a part of your life, and the word feels hollow. Or maybe your dad is a horrible monster, and the word brings out nothing but anger and pain.

Set aside your father for a moment, and think about what constitutes a good father. A good father is a protector, provider, and mentor. He doesn’t give his kids everything they want, but he tries to give them everything they need. He sets boundaries, and he disciplines his children when they wander outside them. He’s quick to encourage, and careful with criticism. He does everything in his power to help his kids develop their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. A good father wants what is best for his kids.

Whatever attributes make up a good father, God possesses them to the infinite degree. He’s not just a good father, He’s the perfect father.

 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Mathew 7:9-11

An unbelievable privilege.

It’s impossible to fathom just how far beneath God we really are. Think about the difference between yourself and an amoeba, then scale that up… that might put us in the ballpark. Amazingly, God raises us up and lowers Himself to the point that we can have a parent/child relationship with Him.

The Lord’s Prayer could easily have begun, “Our Creator…” or “Our King…”. Either of those would have been true and appropriate. Instead, Jesus invites us to address God in an intimate and personal way: as Father.

Consider this passage in I John:

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

I John 3:1a

As a Christian, you are a child of God. It didn’t have to be that way, but God made it so because He loves you. What an incredible honor!

Our responsibility.

Along with our awesome privilege comes an awesome responsibility. As God’s children, we are ambassadors of His Kingdom, and we should act the part. Jesus showed us how. He is the example of how we are to conduct ourselves in this world.

This is no easy task. In fact, it’s impossible in and of ourselves. When Jesus walked this earth, He was humble, forgiving, loving, and selfless. He loved even his enemies. He did the Father’s will, no matter what. His heart was a servant’s heart. Everything that Jesus did runs counter to our selfish, sinful nature.

And yet, as God’s children, we are called to be like Jesus. This requires complete surrender to His will. We have to die to self, daily, and let Christ live in and through us. None of us gets it right all the time. We stumble, we fall, but our Father helps us to our feet again.

So don’t give up the struggle. Take your privilege and responsibility as a child of God seriously. And never forget that our Father loves you, He is with you, and He wants the very best for you.

Tear Down Your Idols.

Throughout much of the Old Testament, the Israelites are trapped in a tragic cycle that looks like this:

  • They follow God’s commands.
  • God blesses them.
  • They start to worship idols.
  • God warns them.
  • They ignore the warnings.
  • God punishes them.
  • They cry out to God for help.
  • God delivers them.
  • Back to step 1.

This cycle starts almost as soon as God rescues them from Egypt, and it repeats time and time again until they finally lose the promised land to the Babylonians. We’re talking eight hundred years, generation after generation, where the Israelites just can’t break free of this pattern.

So, what the heck was wrong with these people? Why didn’t they learn from their past? Why did they keep making the same mistakes? Were they insane? Because it sure looks like they kept doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.

Don’t be too quick to judge. We’re not so different.

From good times to bad.

When times were at their best, the Israelites were often at their worst. When food was plentiful, and there was peace and safety, they would take their situation for granted. They would forget that God was providing these things.

Soon they would start to question their need for God. They didn’t need deliverance anymore. There was peace and prosperity throughout the land. Maybe they didn’t need God at all!

The Israelites would then turn away from God and fixate on idols. They would worship pagan gods like Baal and Asherah, seeking after power and pleasure. Yahweh, God of their ancestors, the one true God, was all but forgotten.

Then God would send a judge or a prophet to try to turn them from their wicked ways, but they wouldn’t listen. Finally, God would say, “Enough!” and they would get a taste of divine judgement. It seems only pain and suffering could get their attention and turn them back to God.

How about you?

Are you any different? Don’t you naturally start to back-burner God when times are good? Don’t you tend to forget where your blessings come from? I know I do. It’s part of our sinful, human nature.

Maybe you’re at a time in your life when everything is going great. The family is happy and healthy. The kids are doing well in school. You just got promoted at work. Your 401k is looking good. Life just couldn’t be better. If so, take heed!

When you are most secure in yourself, you are least dependent on God. When you’re riding high, you’re most at risk of a fall. It’s a good time to check for idols.

Modern idols.

I probably don’t need to warn you against worshiping golden calves or Asherah poles. Those kinds of idols are uncommon today. But, keep in mind that almost anything can become an idol, and often times that thing, in and of itself, isn’t bad. For example, money isn’t bad, but if it becomes more important to you than God, it becomes an idol.

Even good things can become idols when not in their proper place. Family, work, sports, entertainment. These are wonderful things, but they become idols when they take priority over God. Anything that ranks higher on your list than God is an idol.

Don’t ignore the warning.

Perhaps God is trying to get your attention right now. Maybe this post is meant to draw your attention to something in your life that has become an idol to you. If so, now is the time to repent! Tear down that idol, and turn back to God.

God is not sadistic, but He does inflict pain when it’s for our own good. As a good father disciplines his children when they do wrong, so God disciplines us.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 3:11-12

It’s not too late.

Maybe you’ve pushed God aside for a long time, ignored His warnings, and now you’re suffering. You have two options. One: stubbornly double down and keep worshiping your idols. Two: humble yourself, confess your sin, and turn back to God. One option leads to further suffering, the other to salvation.

Like the ancient Israelites, we are prone to lose sight of what is most important, especially when times are good. So if things are going well for you, be vigilant! Be on the lookout for idols, and make sure that God has His proper place in your life. Don’t ignore God’s warnings when they come. In my experience, He will draw you back gently if He can, but will punish harshly when He must. Finally, if judgement falls on you, repent without delay. God is just, but He is also merciful and quick to forgive.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I John 1:9

How NOT To Study The Bible.

In the beginning

I grew up in church. My family went to Sunday school, Sunday morning service, and Sunday evening service every week unless one of us was ill. As a kid, I participated in lots of Christian activities. I memorized a ton of scripture, and I knew every Bible story. As a teenager, I attended youth group regularly, and all four years of high school I spent a good chunk of my Summers as a missionary.

By the time I was in my late teens, I thought I had learned all there was to learn from the Bible. I had it figured out. I started going to church when I was in diapers, and I was sure I had heard every variation of every sermon at least twice. Sitting through a Church service was a drag.

By my early twenties, I just quit going to Church altogether. What was the point? I was a Christian. I was a good person. That seemed like enough. I wanted to go out and make my place in the world and, sure, God was welcome to come along for the ride. My mother asked me why I had stopped going to church. In my hubris I replied, “Why should I go? Did God come out with the Bible part II?”

I focused on my work and my education. In my free time I just wanted to be entertained. I drifted away from God. Sin started to creep in, wrapping its chains tighter and tighter around me. The truly frightening thing is, I didn’t even notice. It happened gradually. I became “comfortably miserable”. I was in pain, but not enough pain to get off my butt and do something about it.

A crisis of faith

I had a Bible in my house. It sat on a shelf in pristine condition. I remember being in my mid/late twenties, feeling convicted, and a thought occurred to me: Despite being a Christian from a young age and being inundated with Biblical teaching, I had never actually read through the entire Bible. I decided I would give that a try.

At this time in my life, my faith was shaky. Questions and doubts festered in my mind. I decided that as I read through the Bible I would jot down in a notebook any questions or concerns I had. I didn’t get far before I had to stop. My notebook was filling up. There were just too many contradictions and inconsistencies in this crazy book. My faith virtually dissolved, and I feared that continued reading would destroy it completely.

The turning point

Then my wife and I went on a life-changing trip to Africa, and the dying embers of my faith started to glow again. A man I met on that trip recommended I read a book called “The Skeptical Believer” by Daniel Taylor, and it encouraged me greatly. God began to work in my heart. Over the span of ten years or so, God slowly, gently, patiently brought me back to Himself, but that is a story for another time.

Today, as I read through the Bible, I find hope, encouragement, and joy! The experience is the polar opposite of what it was in my twenties. So what made the difference? How is it that reading the Bible back then put my faith in crisis, while reading the Bible now strengthens my faith?

Context, context, context!

I expected to read the Bible as if it were written in modern times. I wanted it to be clear-cut, unambiguous, and scientifically accurate. Coming into it with those expectations, it’s no wonder I was disappointed!

The Bible is a collection of ancient documents, originally written in languages I can’t read, to an audience with lifestyles and customs completely foreign to me. It should be obvious (though it certainly wasn’t to me at first), that the Bible is not a book you can just read through like a novel and be done with it.

To truly understand the Bible, you have to understand the contexts (yes, plural) in which it was written. In “The Bible Unfiltered“, Dr. Michael Heiser talks about some of the contexts that are important:

  • Historical context
  • Cultural context
  • Literary context

But, as Dr. Heiser points out, these are not even the most important contexts. From page 13 of “The Bible Unfiltered“:

“So what is the proper context for interpreting the Bible? […] the context of the biblical writers – the context that produced the Bible. Every other context is alien or at least secondary.”

Understanding this completely changed my approach to reading scripture. The more I try to look at the text from the perspective of the writer, the better I am able to understand the message the writer was trying to convey. And that is the whole point!

Do it right

Studying scripture in proper context is hard work. Fortunately, there are more tools available than ever before to assist in the endeavor. The internet provides convenient access to a treasure trove of resources. If you really want to understand those passages of scripture that have you scratching your head, put yourself in the mindset of the writer. Research the culture, customs, and common beliefs that defined them. You’ll be amazed at the results.

So don’t do what I did in my twenties. Don’t approach the Bible as if it were a Science book or a modern-day novel, and don’t throw up your hands in despair when things aren’t clear at first reading. Be diligent and be willing to adjust your approach to studying God’s Word. You will start to learn and grow like never before.

Works Cited

Heiser, Michael S. The Bible Unfiltered: Approaching Scripture on Its Own Terms. Lexham Press, 2017.

Not Of This World.

This world is constantly telling us what’s right and what’s wrong, what to think, and how to act.

The world says things like:

  • Look out for number one.
  • If you’ve got it, flaunt it.
  • If it feels good, do it!
  • Money is the key to happiness.
  • Do whatever you have to do to get ahead.
  • Don’t get mad, get even!

These ideas may seem right, but as Proverbs 14: 12 warns, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Christ’s teachings are often the exact opposite of the world’s.

In the world, but not of it.

In Romans 12:2 the Apostle Paul writes, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.“

As Christians, we’re not supposed to just go along with what the world says. Christ is our example, and we should strive to mimic Him. The non-Christian should see a stark contrast between themselves and us.

It’s all about me!

Some people practically worship themselves. Often these people are beautiful, talented, and wealthy, and they see themselves as superior. Many professional athletes and Hollywood stars fall into this category, and they are held up as examples of what success looks like. The world celebrates them.

Most of us aren’t quite that full of ourselves, but pride is still a big factor in our lives. We like to feel important, we want others to take notice of us, and it’s all too easy for us to look down on people who aren’t as “good’ as we are.

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

James 4:6

But Jesus was different. Over and over again He demonstrated genuine humility. He didn’t come to be served, but instead He came to serve. His time on Earth was spent ministering to the sick, the poor, the forgotten, and the lost. He was God, and yet he didn’t treat anyone as if they were beneath Him!

The world defines greatness in terms of accomplishments, but Jesus said, “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mathew 20:26) We are instructed to follow Christ’s example, putting others before ourselves.

Money, money, money, MO-NEY!

There’s nothing the world celebrates more than wealth. We’re told that the real winners in life are the ones with the biggest houses, the fanciest cars, and the most luxurious lifestyles. Many people spend their entire lives in pursuit of more money.

But the Bible tells us that money is not what we should desire most. King Solomon had more wealth than most people can imagine, yet in the book of Ecclesiastes, he confesses that his wealth did not bring him satisfaction. He also points out that whoever loves money never has enough (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

Jesus said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ” (Mathew 6:19). Jesus wants us to aim for something higher. He said to His disciples:

“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. “

Mathew 6:19-20

We are not to be obsessed with material wealth. We are to be like the Apostle Paul who said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11). If we have food, water, and shelter, we have enough.

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

The desire for revenge is built into us. When someone wrongs us, we want to get even. We want to hurt them like they hurt us. Just think about how many movies and television shows have revenge as the central plot.

But Jesus said, if someone slaps you on the right cheek, give them your left. If they sue you for your shirt, give them your coat too. His words in Mathew chapter five are stunning:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Mathew 5:43-44

I can’t think of a more radical departure from the teachings of the world than that! We’re told not just to forgive our enemies, but to love them.

Why bother?

Living a Christian life means being different from the world. Putting others first, pursuing the things of Heaven instead of the things of Earth, loving our enemies. These things are foreign to our sinful nature.

But as Christians we have a new nature. The nature of Christ. When we act in accordance with our new nature, we point people to Jesus, and that is our ultimate purpose while we are here on this Earth!

So always remember that you are a child of God. Don’t act like this world because you are not of this world.

The Great Commission.

I just read a study that shocked me. According to a survey conducted in 2017, more than half of Christians (51%) said they had never heard of the great commission. A mere 17% said they had heard of it and knew what it meant! Apparently our churches have failed miserably at explaining this important command. A command given by Jesus himself. Unacceptable!

If you’re a Christian, you have a job to do.

Let’s get right to it. This is the great commission:

Then Jesus came to [His disciples] and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

~Mathew 28:18-20

The book of Mark repeats the command:

And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Mark 13:10.

[Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15.

There are more passages, but we need not go into them because the message is clear: As followers of Christ we must share the gospel with others.

Simple, not easy.

The word gospel means, “good news”, and we have good news indeed! Let me summarize:

  • We are all sinners, and we are all headed for an eternity in Hell [Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23] (Ok, that’s obviously not the good news, but we’ll get to it shortly).
  • Jesus died to pay for your sins and mine. He is our only escape from Hell, and the only way to Heaven [Romans 5:8].
  • Confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved [Romans 10:9 and Acts 16:31].

Jesus can save you from an eternity in Hell and gift you an eternity in Heaven! It’s yours for the asking. That’s the gospel! It’s beautiful, wonderful, and simple. Reminds me of those old, GEICO commercials: “So easy, a caveman could do it!”

Yet as simple as it is, sharing it can be incredibly difficult. Fear often holds us back. We’re afraid of how people will respond. (Will they think I’m a fool? A religious nut? What if they make fun of me? Will I lose friends? What if they have questions I can’t answer?) But the stakes are too high to let fear stop us.

There will come a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [Philippians 2:10-11]. For many, that day will be terrifying. They will realize too late their folly in rejecting God, and if their name is not found written in the book of life, they will be cast into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:15]. We should do all we can to warn people of this fate.

You don’t have to go overseas to fulfill the great commission.

The mission field is all around you, wherever you are. Your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers need God’s love and forgiveness. They will face enormous consequences when their time on Earth is up. Love them enough to share the gospel with them.

When you do share the good news, there will be times when you fumble. Your words will come out all wrong, and you might walk away feeling like a failure. Take heart! You’ve done what God has told you to do. He will handle the rest. You’ve planted a seed, and if their heart is open to God’s love, that seed will take root in God’s time.

And remember that it’s not just what you say, it’s also how you live. If you live your life with integrity, and if you follow God’s Word, you will stand out like a pink flamingo in an Eskimo village! In other words, live like you are not of this world. People will be curious, and their curiosity will provide you with opportunities to share Christ with them.

The bottom line is this: we have a duty as Christians to carry out the great commission. Let’s always be on the lookout for ways to spread the good news!

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