A Prayerful Attitude

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul says, "Pray without ceasing." Another directive that seems on the surface to be impossible to live by. It refers to constant prayerfulness. Remember, prayer is as much an attitude as it is an activity. Joyful believers recognize their own insufficiency and, as a result, find themselves constantly in an attitude of prayer.

"Pray" (v. 17) translates a Greek word that is the most common New Testament word for prayer. It refers to all aspects of prayer: submission, confession, petition, intercession, praise, and thanksgiving. Without ceasing means "constant." It defines prayer not as a continual activity of kneeling and interceding, but as a way of life marked by a continual attitude of prayer.

Prayer is more than just kneeling and speaking to God with thanksgiving and praise and petition. The essence of prayer consists of lifting your heart to God. Understanding that truth enables us to carry into practice this injunction to "pray without ceasing" (v. 17). We can't have words of prayer on our lips all the time (activity). However, we can be in the spirit of prayer at all times (attitude). When you realize your complete dependence on God for everything and you recognize His presence with you wherever you are, then you will find yourself continually yielding yourself prayerfully to Him to be guided and used by Him.

This inward attitude of prayer will find outward expression in the activity of verbal prayer on a regular basis. Without notice you will find yourself breaking out in praise and prayer to God. When this inward attitude of prayer exists you will find yourself constantly talking with God—praying while walking, or while driving, or even while talking with others. The more you practice the presence of God through prayer, the more you will find yourself continually in an attitude of prayer. That is what it means to "pray without ceasing" (v. 17). Amen.

A Joyful Spirit

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Paul says, "Rejoice always." It is a command. But what does it mean? It means just what it says—never cease rejoicing. As a Christian, you are to have a constant joyfulness about you. As impossible as this may seem on the surface, a full understanding of what Scripture teaches concerning joy in the life of Christians can make this experience a reality in your life.

The New Testament continually stresses joy—not a self-generated joy, but joy that comes directly from the Holy Spirit who indwells us. Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Joy is the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in your life when you let Him guide and control you daily.

The phrase translated "rejoice always" (v. 16), literally reads, "at all times be rejoicing." The idea is that you can experience and express joy continually because of your deep-seated confidence in God's love and power. You might call this "joy of faith," which is certain both of salvation in Christ and glorification to spend eternity with Him in heaven.

The New Testament church permeated with a spirit of joy. Just read through the Book of Acts and you will see this clearly, especially in Acts 2:42-47. There, verses 46-47 concludes, "Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Throughout the Book of Acts, the believers are not dampened by affliction. In the midst of sadness and persecution, joy gives proof of its power. They suffer together and they are glorified together. It is all based on the glorious purposes of God. That is why James can say, "count it all joy" when encountering "various trials" (James 1:2). It is all based on God and His work in your life.

You are to have a joyful spirit about you at all times. Remember what God has done for you, and you will "rejoice always" (1 Thess. 5:16). Walk daily by faith, letting the Spirit of Christ within you give you His joy, and you will have a joyful spirit for all to see. Amen.

A Transformed Life

Not only your body, but your mind must be given over to God. Only when both your mind and body are completely given over to God are you fully devoted to Him, but it all begins with the mind. In the mind, we make choices as to whether we will let our new nature manifest itself outwardly in holiness, or if we will instead let our old nature manifest itself outwardly in acts of ungodliness or sin. Which is it? It all comes down to who controls your mind.

Romans 12:2 makes it clear that the dedicated life is also a transformed life. Verse 1 has called for a decisive commitment to be devoted to God ("a living sacrifice"). Verse 2 deals with the maintenance of that commitment—how we are to live (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 10, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978], 128).

Paul commands us, "And do not be conformed to this world" (v. 2a). "Be conformed" (v. 2a) refers to an outward expression that does not reflect what is within. It is used of masquerading, or putting on an act, specifically by following a prescribed pattern or scheme. It also carries the idea of being transitory, impermanent, and unstable. The negative ("not") makes the verb prohibitive. The verb itself is passive and imperative, the passive indicating that to conform is something we allow to be done to us, the imperative making it a command, not a suggestion (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, [Moody Publishers: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1994], 149).

The command is that we are "not" to allow ourselves to "be conformed to this world" (v. 2a). We are not to masquerade as a worldly person for any reason. J.B. Phillips translates this phrase: "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould." Do not pattern yourself or allow yourself to be patterned after the ways of this world. Do not become victims of this world. Stop allowing people around you, who are not believers, to fashion you after their image—an image which is anything but the image of Christ.

Paul continues: "But be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (v. 2b). "Be transformed" (v. 2b) is from the Greek verb metamorphoo and refers to a change in outward appearance. It is the term from which we get the English metamorphosis. Matthew used the word in describing Jesus' transfiguration: "He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light" (Matt. 17:2). Christ's inner divine nature and glory were, for a brief time and to a limited degree, manifested outwardly. Our inner redeemed nature is also to be manifested outwardly, as completely as possible, in our daily lives. Your new inner self must show through in how you live.

The only other appearance of this word in the New Testament is in 2 Corinthians 3:18, where Paul said, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." Here, we are being changed into the likeness of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. This gives good commentary on Romans 12:2. There, "be transformed" (v. 2b) is a passive imperative—in this case a positive command. We are commanded to allow ourselves to be changed outwardly into the image of our redeemer.

This transformation is "by the renewing of your mind" (v. 2b). The outward transformation is affected by an inner change in the mind. The Spirit transforms our minds through God's Word. In Psalm 119:11, David said, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." God's Word is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to renew our minds. God's Word is the instrument the Holy Spirit uses to transform our living. "Present" yourself to God daily (v. 1), get into the Scriptures daily, and watch your life begin to be "transformed" into the very image of Christ (v. 2).

Paul concludes verse 2, "that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Our lives can "prove what the will of God is" (v. 2c, NASB) only by doing those things He approves of—things that are "good and acceptable and perfect" (v. 2c) to Him. "Acceptable" (v. 2c) comes from the Old Testament sacrificial language and refers to the kind of holy living God approves, a "living sacrifice" (v. 1a) without spot or blemish. "Perfect" (v. 2c) refers to being complete, or being everything you should be. You are to desire what God desires and to seek to do only what He wants you to do. A transformed mind produces a transformed will, eager to do what God wants you to do, no matter what the cost. This involves the strong desire to know God better and to follow His purpose for our lives.

God wants to change you completely. He wants to take the person you once were and remake you into the absolutely beautiful person He designed you to be. To have your old life transformed into the image of Christ involves a complete change of heart—an entire alteration of your state of mind. This change involves the whole person. It begins on the inside and works its way outward until all can see it. Only when you begin to live outwardly by the same faith by which you were saved, will you be transformed into the person God intended you to be. Amen.

A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1 reads: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." "Therefore" (v. 1a) establishes a connection with the entire first eleven chapters of Romans. Those eleven chapters clearly presented "the mercies of God" (v. 1a) to us. That mercy has to do with our salvation. "Therefore" (v. 1a), because the Lord has saved us, our lives must change.

"Beseech" (v. 1a) or "urge" (NASB) is from the Greek word parakaleo, which has the basic meaning of coming alongside in order to help or give aid. It later came to mean exhorting, admonishing, or encouraging. The force of the word lies somewhere between commanding and beseeching. It possesses something of the element of authority that is more forcefully expressed by "command," and has in it something of the element of appeal that is best expressed by "beseech." Hence, the KJV and NKJV rendering: "I beseech you therefore, brethren" (v. 1a).

Essentially, Paul not only strongly urges us as to how we ought to live as believers, but by all respects, he gives us a command. It is not optional. Paul wanted to come alongside his fellow believers to strongly encourage them to fulfill the inner desire of their new hearts—to dedicate themselves without reservation to their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

That is what the word "present" (v. 1a) means. It means to "yield" or "offer" (NIV). In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), "present" was often used as a technical term for a priest's placing an offering on the altar. It therefore carried the general idea of surrendering or yielding up. Here it is an imperative or a command. As members of God's "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), you are here commanded to perform what is essentially a priestly act of worship.

The word "present" (Rom. 12:1a) is actually what is called a final infinitive, meaning the final purpose. According to Colossians 1:21-22, the final purpose of our reconciliation through the death of Christ is "to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight" (v. 22b). "Blameless" (v. 22b) or "without blemish" (NIV) is "a technical sacrificial term... used of animals that were without flaw and therefore worthy of being offered to God" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978], 187). The reference then, is not to our personal conduct but to our position in Christ. Through faith in Christ you stand holy and blameless before God and you will be holy and blameless when He takes you home to glory—it is final.

In Romans 12:1, the final purpose of our reconciliation (or salvation) is to "present" yourself in total devotion to God. Because you are holy and blameless in His sight, you are worthy to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God" (v. 1b). The former animal sacrifices of Israel were dead sacrifices that had no lasting value. The new sacrifice is a "living sacrifice" (v. 1b), your body or your entire self. You have been set apart to be "holy" (v. 1b), a reference to being set apart for a special purpose. You have been set apart for God—consecrated to Him for His service. Let the righteousness of Christ dwell in you. Give yourself completely unto the Lord each day, letting Him work through you. That is what is "acceptable" (v. 1b) or "pleasing to God" (NIV).

"This is your reasonable service" (v. 1b) or "your spiritual service of worship" (NASB) or "your true and proper worship" (NIV). God isn't interested in the ceremonial acts, like animal sacrifices. He is interested in a living and perpetual sacrifice—the giving of yourself to worship Him, walk with Him daily, and to serve Him in whatever way He leads. This sacrifice of yourself to God is never to be neglected or recalled. It is a day to day, moment to moment sacrifice. Obedient lives is our only "reasonable" (v. 1b) response to God.

Surrender to God all your hopes, plans, and everything that is precious to you. That is what the Lord asks of you. Give all of yourself to Him. Be fully devoted to the Lord and watch Him work in your life. Amen.

My Grace Is Sufficient for You

"My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul penned these words as he thought back to a time of pain and suffering. As he dealt with his "thorn in the flesh" (v. 7), he "implored the Lord three times that it might leave" (v. 8). And these words were the Lord's answer to him.

But there was more. Christ went on: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" (v. 9a). Paul's thoughts likely went to the cross. As Jesus hung there in pain and suffering, He said to one of the thieves being crucified with Him, the one who believed, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). His message to this thief was the same as His message to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9a, NIV).

Paul responded: "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong" (vv. 9b-10).

Let me tell a story about a young man who served as a youth pastor in the Applewood area of north Denver while in Seminary. Each summer the boys of this youth group went on a camping trip. The summer of 1979 was no different. The youth pastor and three boys ages 15, 16, and 17 went canoeing and camping for a week on the boundary waters between northern Minnesota and Canada. Their prayer was for God to reveal Himself to them through their experience in the wilderness of His creation.

It was a great week of canoeing and fishing and swimming and camping. It was a fun time and there would be many memories. Then, on the last night, everything changed. Camp was set, dinner was finished, fishing was great; several northern pike had met their match.

Then, out of nowhere, a storm came sweeping onto the lake. They quickly got to shore and into the tent. It was a violent storm and lightning was everywhere, so they began to count the time between the lightning and thunder. Seven seconds; six seconds; four seconds; two; one. Suddenly the lightning and thunder was simultaneous. A huge bolt of lightning exploded right inside the tent. It tore through the door of the tent and struck the youth pastor in the side, lifting him in the air, using him as its ground, leaving a large hole in the rock beneath him. It also left him unconscious. The lightning scattered up Doug’s side leaving him semiconscious. The two older boys, Chip and Bob, were rolled into the corners of the tent. Great destruction was everywhere.

I remember thinking as I was lifted in the air—yes, I was that youth pastor—"Lord, take me home if that is your will. I am ready." But I soon realized that I was still alive. However, I couldn't feel my legs. I thought they had been blown off by the lightning. I couldn't look, so I didn't. For some twenty minutes I just laid there, completely still.

Chip took the lead as they assessed the situation. Thinking I was dead, they began trying to help Doug. Eventually I decided I had to look at my legs, so I opened my eyes with a groan; the boys later said it was more of a scream. My legs were fine, but I couldn't feel them or move them. After another thirty minutes, the feeling came back and I was able to get up and about.

We joined hands and prayed. Doug asked God to quiet the storm. Immediately, the storm let up, the lightning ceased, and only a light sprinkle remained. We bedded down for the night. There was no way to get out in the dark.

I couldn't sleep. I kept reliving the scene over and over again. I was sure it was the same for the boys. So I prayed silently, "Lord, send help. Just someone to reassure us that all would be alright."

Immediately, the lightning started up again. I thought, "That wasn't what I asked." But then we heard the clanking of a canoe getting off the lake at our landing to escape the lightning. We got their attention, and one of the men said he was a doctor from the closest hospital. He said our wounds were "superficial," and he cleaned them and gave us directions to a boy scout camp on the next lake. We headed there in the morning.

After four hours of canoeing, a twenty minute drive to our outfitters, and an hour and a half drive to the hospital, we received the treatment we needed. As the nurse cleaned my wounds she was obviously shaken. Doug asked if she had cleaned lightning wounds before. She said, "Yes, but never any this bad. Only a direct hit would cause wounds this bad. Then they are taken to the morgue, not the emergency room."

As I laid there, my thoughts went to Jesus and the cross. I could picture Him hanging on the cross looking at me and saying, "My grace is sufficient for you." There was nothing to fear. No matter what happened He would always be there watching over Me. I could trust Him.

That is His message to you from the cross as well. Trust Him at all times and in all things. He will watch over you. He will take care of you.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus extends His power to us. By faith He comes to indwell us and His power resides within us. Paul realized this truth. Christ said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" (v. 9a, NIV).

It is His power that gives us our strength. That is why Paul was able to respond as he did. No amount of pain, no amount of adversity, no amount of suffering, could ever stop him from trusting Jesus. In all things, Christ was with him and in him, giving him strength to endure and to witness for Christ. "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (v. 10b), is how Paul put it.

Come to the cross. Reach out your hands toward Jesus. Trust Him by faith and face each situation that comes your way through Him—through His strength which resides in you. His grace is sufficient for you. His power is made perfect in weakness. When you are weak, He is your strength. Amen.

Four Days Late, Yet Right on Time

John 11 tells the story of Jesus raising His good friend Lazarus from the dead. Note two verses here concerning the timeframe involved in this story. In verse 6, learning that His friend Lazarus was sick, "He stayed two more days in the place where He was." Then when He decided to go to Bethany, He told His disciples, "Lazarus is dead" (v. 14). Some time was involved in their travel, and when they arrived in Bethany, "He found that (Lazarus) had already been in the tomb four days (v. 17).

In Martha's mind, Jesus was four days late! She said, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died" (v. 21). "You're four days Late!" Yet, look at her faith as she continues, "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You" (v. 22). What faith! And note how Jesus responded: "Your brother will rise again" (v. 23).

Several years back, a song was recorded called, Four Days Late. It was about this very story. The message of the song was really the message of this passage: Jesus wasn't late at all; He was actually right on time. Jesus is never late. Jesus is always right on time.

Like Martha, when we pray about various circumstances in life and the answer to our prayer seems to come slowly, we question the Lord saying, "Why now? Why not sooner? Why? Why? Why?" The truth is, Jesus is never late. He is always right on time. His timing is always perfect. The answer comes when we need it, no sooner and no later.

The rest of this story clearly relates the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Note first, however, the explanation of death: Jesus "said to (His disciples), 'Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.' Then His disciples said, 'Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.' However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him'" (vv. 11b-15).

Three different Greek words are used here referring to death: The first, in verses 11-12 refers literally to sleep or to slumber, but is used figuratively to refer to one who is deceased, especially when speaking of believers. Death is not the complete cessation of life. The truth is, there is life after death. The body dies but the soul lives on. The second, in verse 13 is used of spiritual or physical death. The third, in verse 14 is closely related to the word used in verse 13, and refers to literal death.

So, when Jesus said, "Lazarus sleeps" (v. 11), the disciples misunderstood. They thought he was just resting to recover from a sickness. When Jesus said, "I go that I may wake him up" (v. 11), He was speaking of raising Lazarus from the dead, but the disciples were already confused. So Jesus cleared it up for them in verse 14. And in verse 15, Jesus explains that raising Lazarus from the dead would do more to strengthen their faith than just healing him of a sickness.

And so we continue with the story: When Martha was speaking with Jesus and He told her that Lazarus "will rise again" (v. 23), she said, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day" (v. 24), a truth that was not challenged. Rather, Jesus invoked the name of God as given to Moses, "I Am" (Exodus 3:14). Here Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (vv. 25-26).

Here we have the promise of life in His name. Heaven is real. Eternal life begins right now by faith in the Lord Jesus who died on the cross to give us life. Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will have eternal life in His name.

Notice how greatly moved Jesus was by all the sorrow and weeping around Him (v. 33). It says "He groaned in the spirit and was troubled" (v. 33b). In verse 35 John adds that "Jesus wept." Jesus cares. Jesus understands and He cares deeply. He is with each one of you right now because He cares. He is concerned for you. He wept for each person that was there that day. He let them see His own deep emotion, even though He knew what He was about to do—raise Lazarus from the dead.

And it was all for God's glory. In verse 40, Jesus told Martha, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" This is our promise of future resurrection. We will be with Christ Jesus and our loved ones again! Jesus weeps with us when we weep, even though He knows He will raise us up as well. He understands. He cares. He watches over us. He gives us peace.

Note the response of the people. When Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead (v. 43), "then many of the Jews who... had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him" (v. 45). Because they saw this miracle with their own eyes, they believed. Yet even before all of this had taken place, Martha expressed her faith in Jesus: "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world" (v. 27).

Do you believe? If you do, not only will you have eternal life with Jesus, but you will begin to experience His power in your life right now. Every day you can look to Jesus, and He will guide you and help you through whatever you face, because He cares for you. Amen.

Trust in the Lord

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Note that the proverb begins: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart" (v. 5a). In the original Hebrew of the Old Testament, "trust" (v. 5a) meant to rely on, or put confidence in. The word for "heart" (v. 5a) referred to the inner person, the self, or the seat of thought and emotion.

To "trust in the LORD with all your heart" (v. 5a) means just what it says. You are instructed to trust and put confidence in the Lord Jesus with all you are—with your whole being. Everything you think, everything you say, and everything you do flows directly out of your trust in God. He is your guiding light.

This leads us into the rest of this verse: "And lean not on your own understanding" (v. 5b). In the Hebrew, "lean" (v. 5b) means to rely on, and "understanding" (v. 5b) has to do with insight, discernment, good sense, wisdom, usually referring to the wisdom that comes from the Lord Jesus and his instruction.

When you "trust in the LORD" (v. 5a) with your whole being, and everything you think, say, and do comes from Him, you are leaning on Jesus, not yourself. You are trusting and living daily by the wisdom that comes from God and His Word.

This is further defined in verse 6: "In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." The Hebrew for "ways" (v. 6a) refers to a path, a journey, or conduct, a way of life. It has to do with how you live your life.

In Hebrew, "acknowledge" (v. 6a) means to recognize, to understand or to know intimately. To "acknowledge Him" (v. 6a) then means to know Jesus intimately as your personal Lord and Savior and to recognize the authority of His Word in everything, and to follow it.

In everything you do, follow Jesus! How you live your life every day is to flow from your intimate knowledge of Jesus. How you live your life every day is to flow right from the Scriptures. Let God direct your path and follow Him.

When you live by the Word of God and by faith in Jesus, "He shall direct your paths" (v. 6b). The NIV translates this, "He will make straight your paths." To "make straight" (v.6b) in Hebrew, means to do good, do right, be straight; to make straight, make smooth or to be evenly hammered. From the base meaning of straightening out a crooked object comes the idea of doing an act that is right or just.

Again, like the Hebrew for "ways" (v. 6a), the word for "paths" (v. 6b) refers to a road, a way, a path, or a thoroughfare; by extension it refers again to our way of life, or manner of conduct; how we live every day.

When we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and when we let Him guide us in the way we should live our lives, He will give us direction. He will guide us by His Word as to what we should think, what we should say, and what we should do every day. Just trust in Him! Let Jesus live and work in and through you. Amen.