Contrary to what many people think, life's toughest decision is not accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. It is whether to stay faithful to Him. Becoming born again is a relatively simple act, although the road leading up to it may be plenty rocky. Some people find it difficult to profess their decision in front of a crowd of people in a church. But once that is done, the hard part begins.
On the surface, staying faithful to Christ looks like thousands of individual decisions. The truth is that when you commit to following the Savior, you have to make the same decision over and over again: "Do I stay faithful to Jesus, or do I do this thing which I know is outside of His will for my life?" Your moment-to-moment decisions affect everything. They affect your spouse, your children, and your work.
If you work for a living, and nearly all of us do, that choice comes up far more often than you would like. On some jobs it's every day. The workplace has undergone a lot of changes over the past few decades. As foreign competition increases and many tasks are outsourced, ethics can get blurred. What once seemed a simple right-wrong decision has turned into right-wrong-gray area somewhere in between.
Our workplace decisions can be great or small, but they probably fall into the category of the corner butcher who puts his thumb on the scale to increase the price. That may seem funny, but even small acts of dishonesty are like termites eating away at your soul. When you lie or cheat or even just fudge a little on the truth, you make a huge statement as to your integrity. A person of integrity is one who makes right decisions based on his faith in Christ at every point.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says in part, "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." Making right decisions in life based on your faith in Christ begins with daily keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Proverbs 4:25-27 speaks clearly of how to be a person of integrity: "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." In other words, look to Jesus and follow him!
People of true integrity, especially in positions of leadership, seem so few and far between today that we can't even name a half dozen of them. Outside of the church and ministry, can you even name five? Hard, isn't it?
So do you, as a Christian, have to sacrifice success to follow Jesus Christ? I don't think so. I think you make life's toughest decision, then you show others that you will not waver from it through your words or your actions. At some point in your career you have to make it clear what you will and will not stand for. Your spouse counts on it. Your children count on it. It’s who you are in Christ that should show itself every day. Maybe you'll have to forego a house and garage full of "toys" to do the right thing. But Jesus was not engaging in idle speculation when he asked, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, NIV).
Titus 2:7-8 states this truth clearly: "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."
When you follow Christ in integrity, your family takes notice and you will become the spiritual leader in your home that you were meant to be. Be an example of Christ-like courage to the ones who love you most. Amen.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Monday, September 19, 2016
The Battle Belongs to the Lord
Life can be difficult. All of us face difficulties of some sort every day. It may be physical needs. It may be spiritual needs. It may involve decisions that have to be made. It may involve simply finding a way to trust God on a daily basis. Finding time to read God’s Word. Finding time to pray, to seek God’s face, to receive guidance in our lives. Sometimes you find yourself facing a crisis that calls for a solution that you simply cannot deliver.
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat, King of Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel), found himself in a similar situation. Enemy nations joined together and came against him in an attempt to defeat him and eliminate Judah from the face of the earth. Jehoshaphat knew he didn’t have the military might to stand against them and do battle. Most certainly they would be up against a stronger force. Outnumbered and out equipped, they would see nothing but defeat.
Knowing he had no way out, Jehoshaphat turned to God for help. Verse 3 gives his reaction to this very difficult situation: “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” He did two things in the face of this crisis situation: (1) he set himself to pray, and (2) he proclaimed a fast throughout the land.
First, Jehoshaphat exercised his faith and cried out to God to fight the battle for him, a battle he knew was impossible to win. Literally, “he set himself to seek the LORD” (v. 3a). He knew that no battle was too great for God. He knew that nothing was impossible for God. As Luke 1:37 says, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Along with that, Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
You will note in verse 6 how Jehoshaphat prayed, “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” He recognized who God was. He realized that God was the all-powerful God who loved His people and stood ready to do battle for them. He put his trust in God and looked to God to bring him through the battle and give him victory.
When you seek after God, recognize who He is, and look to Him for guidance, He will give it to you. He will meet your needs and give you victory. Whatever situation you are in or whatever your need may be, God stands ready to help you through it and to meet your need. Just trust Him and seek after Him. That is all the Lord asks.
Then Jehoshaphat commanded the people to fast, pray, and praise their God. He “proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (v. 3b). And Verse 4 gives the reaction of the people: “So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.” They came together to fast and pray. They “gathered together to ask help from the LORD” (v. 4a). They gave God the praise as they “came to seek the LORD” (v. 4b).
The Lord honored Jehoshaphat’s faith in an unusual way: His enemies destroyed themselves! Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah faced this difficult situation by trusting God to handle it for them. They understood that the battle belonged to the Lord and they turned to Him to solve their problem. God said, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15b). He said, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.” (v. 17). And so it was.
What do you do when difficult situations or hardships come into your life? What do you do when you are worried or afraid? Remember, the battle belongs to the Lord. Pray. Seek His face. He will fight your battle for you and help you through it. He will give you the victory. Amen.
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat, King of Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel), found himself in a similar situation. Enemy nations joined together and came against him in an attempt to defeat him and eliminate Judah from the face of the earth. Jehoshaphat knew he didn’t have the military might to stand against them and do battle. Most certainly they would be up against a stronger force. Outnumbered and out equipped, they would see nothing but defeat.
Knowing he had no way out, Jehoshaphat turned to God for help. Verse 3 gives his reaction to this very difficult situation: “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” He did two things in the face of this crisis situation: (1) he set himself to pray, and (2) he proclaimed a fast throughout the land.
First, Jehoshaphat exercised his faith and cried out to God to fight the battle for him, a battle he knew was impossible to win. Literally, “he set himself to seek the LORD” (v. 3a). He knew that no battle was too great for God. He knew that nothing was impossible for God. As Luke 1:37 says, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Along with that, Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
You will note in verse 6 how Jehoshaphat prayed, “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” He recognized who God was. He realized that God was the all-powerful God who loved His people and stood ready to do battle for them. He put his trust in God and looked to God to bring him through the battle and give him victory.
When you seek after God, recognize who He is, and look to Him for guidance, He will give it to you. He will meet your needs and give you victory. Whatever situation you are in or whatever your need may be, God stands ready to help you through it and to meet your need. Just trust Him and seek after Him. That is all the Lord asks.
Then Jehoshaphat commanded the people to fast, pray, and praise their God. He “proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (v. 3b). And Verse 4 gives the reaction of the people: “So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.” They came together to fast and pray. They “gathered together to ask help from the LORD” (v. 4a). They gave God the praise as they “came to seek the LORD” (v. 4b).
The Lord honored Jehoshaphat’s faith in an unusual way: His enemies destroyed themselves! Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah faced this difficult situation by trusting God to handle it for them. They understood that the battle belonged to the Lord and they turned to Him to solve their problem. God said, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15b). He said, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.” (v. 17). And so it was.
What do you do when difficult situations or hardships come into your life? What do you do when you are worried or afraid? Remember, the battle belongs to the Lord. Pray. Seek His face. He will fight your battle for you and help you through it. He will give you the victory. Amen.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Be of Good Courage
From time to time we all take inventory of our lives and realize that we fall short of who we should be as spiritual leaders in our homes as well as in our churches. That realization should lead us not only to desire to do better, but to take action in order to actually become a better, more effective leader. So we devise a plan that we can commit to and follow. We may even find a fellow believer who can hold us accountable.
To become the spiritual leader you want to be, begins with an active faith. It begins as we trust God and step out in faith to do the things we know we should be doing for Him. As we are then faithful in the little things, God steps up the ante and leads us to even greater endeavors for Him. To continue to step out in faith for the Lord takes courage as a believer. It takes courageous faith.
When Moses was 120 years old, the Lord said to him, “You shall not cross this Jordan” (Deut. 31:1). So Moses gave one last message to the people before commissioning Joshua to take over the work. The people of Israel were about to cross over the Jordan and take the land that God was giving them. Moses was reminding them that, as long as they remained faithful to God and trusted Him, they would have nothing to fear. The Lord God would take care of them, and He was the one who would deliver the pagan people of the land into their hands.
In that context he said, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6). In like manner, the Lord Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Like the people of Israel as they went in to conquer the Promised Land, you can know that the Lord is always with you as well, to take care of you and to deliver you from the enemy at every turn.
When David spoke to Solomon about the temple service he picked up that same theme. He was fully aware of what Moses said to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6 and he tells Solomon the same thing: “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God - my God - will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD” (1 Chron. 28:20). He told Solomon to do the work he was called to do.
To become the spiritual leader you want to be, begins with an active faith. It begins as we trust God and step out in faith to do the things we know we should be doing for Him. As we are then faithful in the little things, God steps up the ante and leads us to even greater endeavors for Him. To continue to step out in faith for the Lord takes courage as a believer. It takes courageous faith.
When Moses was 120 years old, the Lord said to him, “You shall not cross this Jordan” (Deut. 31:1). So Moses gave one last message to the people before commissioning Joshua to take over the work. The people of Israel were about to cross over the Jordan and take the land that God was giving them. Moses was reminding them that, as long as they remained faithful to God and trusted Him, they would have nothing to fear. The Lord God would take care of them, and He was the one who would deliver the pagan people of the land into their hands.
In that context he said, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deut. 31:6). In like manner, the Lord Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Like the people of Israel as they went in to conquer the Promised Land, you can know that the Lord is always with you as well, to take care of you and to deliver you from the enemy at every turn.
When David spoke to Solomon about the temple service he picked up that same theme. He was fully aware of what Moses said to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6 and he tells Solomon the same thing: “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God - my God - will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD” (1 Chron. 28:20). He told Solomon to do the work he was called to do.
You too are admonished to “Be strong and of good courage, and do it!” You are called to carry out your commitment today with courage and without fear. God will be with you always. He will not leave you nor forsake you. You can make this commitment and then lean on Him every day. He will strengthen you and empower you. He will help you be the spiritual leader in your home and in your church that you are called to be. Amen.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Choose This Day Whom You Will Serve
Orthodox theologian Alexander Schmemann wrote in his journals, "One can love religion like anything else in life: sports, science, stamp collecting. One can love it for its own sake without relation to God or the world or life. Religion fascinates; it is entertaining. It has everything that is sought after by a certain type of person: esthetics, mystery, the sacred, a feeling of one's importance and exclusive depth, etc. That kind of religion is not necessarily faith." (Mark Galli, "The Thirst of the 24/7 Fan," Christianity Today [3-28-05])
I believe what he is referring to is the fact that you can be religious without actually knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. You can give a sort of intellectual assent to God and Christianity without truly knowing Christ. As a result you can say you believe in God, and yet choose to follow the ways of the world instead. However, when you trust in Christ alone for salvation, which is true faith, you cannot choose anything but to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Each and everyone of us must decide if we are going to follow the ways of God or the ways of man. When Joshua and the people of Israel had conquered the promised land, had divided it by God’s plan, and had settled in the land of Israel, Joshua encouraged the people to "fear the Lord" and to "serve Him in sincerity and truth" (Joshua 24:14). He then reminded them of all that God had done for them and of God’s faithfulness to them; the fact that He had blessed them in battle when they were faithful, and let them suffer defeat when they were not. Then Joshua challenged them, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (v. 15a). But he confessed, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (v. 15b).
In John 6:48-69, Jesus’ disciples had a similar choice to make. They had to decide whether or not to follow Jesus. Jesus spoke of Himself as "the bread of life" (v. 48), and said, "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me" (v. 57). Many of His followers found this to be "a hard saying" (v. 60). They simply couldn’t or wouldn’t understand what Jesus was saying, and they chose to forsake Him and leave Him (v. 66): "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more." When He asked the twelve if they wanted to leave as well, Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (v. 69).
Jesus’ inner circle of disciples made the right choice, just as Joshua had so long before. If you "believe and know" who Jesus is, I would hope that you would also make the right choice of following Him faithfully. It is an easy thing to let Christ and the church take a back row seat to other more worldly things in life. We seem to think that Christ is always there, the church is always there, so we’ll just forget them today and do something else. That is choosing to follow the ways of the world instead of following Christ. As Joshua understood, that is often when hard times come your way, and they simply do not seem to get any better.
I urge one and all to make the right choice today. Follow Christ faithfully ahead of all else. Attend church faithfully ahead of other things as well. Do this and God has shown that He will richly bless your life. He will see you through the hard times and give you His peace. Amen.
I believe what he is referring to is the fact that you can be religious without actually knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. You can give a sort of intellectual assent to God and Christianity without truly knowing Christ. As a result you can say you believe in God, and yet choose to follow the ways of the world instead. However, when you trust in Christ alone for salvation, which is true faith, you cannot choose anything but to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Each and everyone of us must decide if we are going to follow the ways of God or the ways of man. When Joshua and the people of Israel had conquered the promised land, had divided it by God’s plan, and had settled in the land of Israel, Joshua encouraged the people to "fear the Lord" and to "serve Him in sincerity and truth" (Joshua 24:14). He then reminded them of all that God had done for them and of God’s faithfulness to them; the fact that He had blessed them in battle when they were faithful, and let them suffer defeat when they were not. Then Joshua challenged them, "Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" (v. 15a). But he confessed, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (v. 15b).
In John 6:48-69, Jesus’ disciples had a similar choice to make. They had to decide whether or not to follow Jesus. Jesus spoke of Himself as "the bread of life" (v. 48), and said, "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me" (v. 57). Many of His followers found this to be "a hard saying" (v. 60). They simply couldn’t or wouldn’t understand what Jesus was saying, and they chose to forsake Him and leave Him (v. 66): "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more." When He asked the twelve if they wanted to leave as well, Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (v. 69).
Jesus’ inner circle of disciples made the right choice, just as Joshua had so long before. If you "believe and know" who Jesus is, I would hope that you would also make the right choice of following Him faithfully. It is an easy thing to let Christ and the church take a back row seat to other more worldly things in life. We seem to think that Christ is always there, the church is always there, so we’ll just forget them today and do something else. That is choosing to follow the ways of the world instead of following Christ. As Joshua understood, that is often when hard times come your way, and they simply do not seem to get any better.
I urge one and all to make the right choice today. Follow Christ faithfully ahead of all else. Attend church faithfully ahead of other things as well. Do this and God has shown that He will richly bless your life. He will see you through the hard times and give you His peace. Amen.
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