Practical Discernment

I spoke in a previous devotional about text proofing.  To demonstrate its importance and how it is a tool for discernment, I want to give an example and build more on this.

There are those today who argue that we must keep the feast of Tabernacles and the sabbath day as commanded by Moses.  They contend that if we fail to do so, God will withhold the rain from our land, and Jesus will not return.

Sadly, some are taken in by this error.  They fail to ask, “If this is true and important, then why is it not taught to the churches in the New Testament Scriptures?”  In other words, why can it not be text-proofed in both the Old and New Testaments?  Even more practical would be to respond with the question, “Why does it rain on my land even though I have never observed it the way you say I should, and all I have done is trust in Christ?”

When we check the practices of the early church, we do not find instruction being given to the Gentile churches regarding feast days and sabbaths being kept. Instead, we find the opposite.

Colossians 2:16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

As we immerse ourselves in Scripture with a New Covenant understanding, we gain immunity against erroneous fads and movements. This understanding empowers us, ensuring that we are not misled into bondage.

There are still pharisaical and doubt-driven merely religious ideologies at work on this earth.  If we fail to learn how to use practical discernment rooted in a knowledge of the word of God according to true New Covenant truth, we can come under condemnation.

Jesus did not sacrifice himself for us to be condemned.  Romans 8 unequivocally states who is liberated from condemnation.  It is those who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  Those who are born again and have been liberated from the idea of earning righteousness from God because they truly believe in Jesus and are righteous with His own righteousness.  They cannot be deceived into observing the things that had been required under the law because they know all that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which is now attributed to them by faith in Him.

New Covenant believers know that sabbath rest is now a way of life in Christ where we have ceased from our own works to gain righteousness and receive the righteousness of God by faith in Christ.  It is no longer about a day that was given for man to rest, and it is not a day made for man to serve it.  Jesus himself made that very clear.  So when it comes to demands for observances of feast days, new moons, and sabbaths, we can know that such demands are no longer supported in the New Covenant because the substance, which is Jesus Christ, has come, and we are in Him and He in us.  When we strengthen ourselves in this area of practical discernment based on text proofing and other practices, we are not taken in by the crafty arguments of those who are deceived and just need more to join their deception to affirm themselves.  Everyone can benefit from practical discernment.

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Text Proofing

In the practice of text proofing, I look for a thread of the idea I think I am seeing in other places of Scripture.  Scripture will always support itself.

For Instance, the idea of grace and righteousness by faith has a thread throughout Scripture.  When Paul brings this idea forward in his letters to the churches and speaks of hidden mysteries, he is not saying it was absent from the pages of Scripture to start with.  He is saying it was there all the time, but many were blinded to its existence.

The concept of grace and righteousness by faith is not a recent revelation. Its presence can be traced all the way back to Abram, and some might argue, even to Noah.  Noah found favor with God, took God at His word about the coming judgment, and made preparations. Abram was counted righteous because he simply took God at His word about his descendants and future heir. Even King David, despite his mishaps, was favored by God because He believed God and took Him at His word. This evidence of grace and righteousness by faith is not confined to the New Testament but is present throughout Scripture, both Old and New Testaments.

Paul, as an apostle, used this principle of text proofing when all he had to call Scripture was the Old Testament Scriptures.

Here’s something to consider: Abram was made righteous by believing God about something that had nothing to do with Jesus and His sacrifice.  It simply involved believing in the promise God made to him.

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

This interpretation of the truth of grace and righteousness by faith has a thread of appearance in the New Testament Scriptures.

Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Galatians 3:6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

God has spoken clearly throughout human history.  He has even moved men to write down what He spoke.  There is a clear record of His consistency in communication, revealing His intentions and promises.  What the apostles preached was not a brand-new concept from God’s point of view.  Jesus, Peter, Paul, and others used text proofing when they preached the good news and demonstrated how it was God’s plan from the beginning.  If it cannot be text-proofed by the Scriptures, it shouldn’t be preached.  The true gospel is text-proven!

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Context

This is a very important word that is sometimes disregarded.  The dictionary defines it this way:  the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning:

Context really matters if we really desire to divide the word of truth in Scripture rightly.

Motor oil is a wonderful product when it is used for what it was intended to be used for.  When I get the oil changed in my truck, they drain out the old oil and put fresh oil in the crankcase of the motor.  If they were to put the oil into the gas tank, thinking it would lubricate the engine, it would not do any good, and the engine wouldn’t run.  You see, the gas tank would be the wrong context for oil.

Oil in the right context is wonderful and extremely helpful.  Oil in the wrong context is no good.

So it is with the truth of Scripture.  Scripture can be misused by being taken out of context and made to apply in some way it was never intended to. It is the responsibility of those who handle the word of God, particularly spiritual leaders who minister and teach the word, to guide correct interpretation and application. They must ensure they are studying to show themselves approved of God by rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Saying or teaching things to others to wow them, make them feel a certain way, or control them in some way is not a responsible handling of the truth.

Any Scripture can be taken out of context and made to appear to say many things it was never intended to say. It can be turned into what Scripture calls profane and idle babblings.

2 Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

Hymanaeus and Philetus likely felt they were leaders and taught the truth to others, but they were deceived and taught things out of context in a way that disrupted the faith of others regarding the hope of the resurrection. They did not deny the resurrection; they simply said it had already happened. This was serious enough for Paul to point out their error and use it as an example of how some fail to divide the word of truth correctly.

If anyone desires to be a mouthpiece for God in teaching others, they should be willing to put in the time before the Lord and, with Scripture in hand and a teachable heart, do the work involved in making sure they see the truth in its right context so they can share it without misleading others.

This is what the Scripture cautions,

James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

Those who have taken on the role of instructing others have also accepted the stricter judgment spoken of here.  This is why it merits taking context seriously.  In order to give proper glory and respect to God in this practice getting context right and making sure what is shared is rightly divided is an essential part of the process.

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Upside Down Love

The concept of love is a prevalent and often discussed topic in today’s society. It is commonly viewed from a self-centric perspective, focusing on what love can do for the individual rather than the transformative power it can have when working through us for the benefit of others.

Expectations of expressions of love are often applied out of context and can become more of a selfish ideology that has nothing to do with love, even though it claims to be about love.

Even when we try our best to look at love as it is defined by Scripture itself, we can struggle to understand how it applies to the diverse situations we experience in daily life.

We can read about how love is patient and struggle to understand what love’s patience looks and acts like in every situation.  When we review what the Scripture says about love, the starting point made apparent is that people can do good for others without a motivation for love.  In other words, good can be practiced, and what may appear to be unselfish may, in fact, be very selfish because it is motivated by something other than love.

1Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

It is clear that good things can be practiced without love as their core motivation. So, how can we know love is truly at work?

Scripture tells us this about love.

1Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

The attribute of love described in these passages demands that we understand and apply its definition and context correctly.

Who’s the idea of what kind looks like will be the rule of thumb in this description of what love is?

Too often, in an honest and sincere effort to promote the call to love, the idea of who is responsible for it and how it is to be measured gets misapplied due to being misunderstood or received in a self-centered notion of it.  That is when love is turned upside down.  When I hear about love, and my first thought is about how others should treat me, did I correctly understand the truth being communicated?

Another thought is figuring out how all the other attributes of love coincide with and cooperate with the controversial attribute about how love doesn’t delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  There’s a lot to love that is misunderstood.  This is where failing to take into consideration the whole counsel of the New Testament Scripture when seeking to understand what love is and what it looks like can lead a person to an upside-down view of it.  We need to pursue love, especially the motivation of it flowing from the heart. There can be no debate about that.  However, let’s not neglect to realize that we can also benefit from a fuller understanding of its multifaceted manifestation.

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The Act Of Love

Consider the gospel story if it had portrayed Jesus as coming to this earth solely to profess his love without taking any action to save us. This paradox lies at the heart of the Christian faith.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s love was demonstrated by an act—an act that will forever speak of His love for us.  But why did Jesus die?

His death is not just a demonstration of God’s love; it is a transformative act. It refuses to leave us in our former unrenewed state of existence and the confusion of the kingdom of darkness, and He translated us into His kingdom of light and life.

Love will not leave someone in a bad state if it can rescue them from it. At the same time, love respects individual freedom. It does not force a person to accept a rescue offer, such as the offer of abundant life in Christ. Love makes a grand and glorious offer in the gospel of Jesus, but it does not force anyone to accept it.

However, love also does not act or speak in a way that communicates deadly and dangerous living as harmless and safe. Love guides us to discern what is truly safe and beneficial and empowers us to live in a way that does not cause others to stumble.

Romans 14:5-18

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  For it is written:  “As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”  So then, each of us shall give an account of himself to God. Therefore, let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself, but to him who considers anything to be unclean to him, it is unclean. Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil, for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

If we are not supposed to let our good be spoken of as evil, what would that say regarding the things that are already declared evil to start with? Love does not condone evil; it rather exposes it for the deceptive, deadly force that it is.  Love has no desire to leave someone in the mire of sin and destruction; it refuses to give the kind of examples that would communicate that sin is of no danger or consequence.  Love chooses to live at a higher place not only for its own sake but for the sake of others.  We can talk about love and seek to define it in new ways, but in the end, authentic love will still be and act as its source has determined.  God is love.  Love is to be defined by Him, not us.  He has shown us what it is in His word and has demonstrated His love through Jesus at the cross when He paid for sin and conquered sin and death on our behalf.  Jesus never sinned, He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.  His love acted in certain ways for the sake of others.  He put no stumbling blocks in the path of those He claimed to love.

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Inspired And Authorized

Today, it is becoming increasingly difficult to know what might be fake and what might be authentic.

The struggle to know what is actually true has become more real than ever before.

Wanting someone to feel good about themselves seems to be the crowning value for some, while others seem to desire the opposite and do all they can to make others feel miserable about themselves.  It seems as if each side of this pendulum claims to be the one who is about the truth.

Both extremes will claim to be free of the fear of man, and thus, they claim to be speaking the truth.

So, how can any believer know who to listen to or what to believe?

This is where the word of God comes in, and rightly dividing it becomes important.

2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

There is a good deal of extra-Biblical teaching floating around nowadays, and it is ministering confusion.  The two extremes seem to be one of a gnostic foundation where the only thing that is said to matter is that which is spirit, so what someone does in their bodies is of no real significance.  The gnostic-rooted view leads to universalism, which says everyone will be saved no matter what. All will be okay anyway.  With that type of view, I am not sure why they even feel a need to preach anything because if all will be saved no matter what, why would there be any need to preach at all?   The other extreme is that all that matters is what is done in the body, and thus, one will be accepted by God and loved by God based on their works and make it into heaven based on their works or not make it for that same reason.

Which is true?  Neither one!  Both are rooted in fundamental error and devoid of rightly dividing the word of truth.

Some act as though the New Covenant Scriptures are cult-like coded messages that can only be tapped by the superspiritual.  While others treat the Bible like they would any other book on the shelf and think it can be understood by merely following the basic rules of interpretation with no help at all from the Holy Spirit.

There are some today who speak as though what they say is just as inspired as the Scriptures and equal in authority to the Scriptures, and they avoid the use of Scripture while claiming to support it.  Likewise, some use Scripture, but they twist it to support their positions and to control others.  But a misuse of Scripture or the lack of using it should never be allowed to diminish the importance of it.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Scripture is meant to be a solid, sure, and reliable means for us to be able to test what is true.  It will assure us, challenge us, correct us, and even rebuke us based on where we are at in our journey with the Lord.  It is never meant only to tell us how amazingly wonderful we are, nor is it going always to tell us we are awful and horrible.  But it will reveal and expose the truth concerning us as to who we are now in Christ and what that is meant to look like in the expression of our lives.  More importantly, when rightly divided, it reveals the authenticity of who Christ Jesus is to us.  Never forget,

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

I rely on Scripture and meditate on it, asking the Holy Spirit for the right interpretation of it.  I never wish to diminish the importance of it in my own life or the lives of others.

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God Will Judge

In these modern times, it has become popular for some to avoid the idea that God will judge righteously at Christ’s appearance.  They mistakenly teach that Christ paid for the sin of the world, and that means the wrath of God was satisfied against all mankind, and thus, God will not judge. By teaching such things, they reveal that they are not paying attention to portions of Scripture that teach us the truth in this matter.

The New Covenant does not teach that God no longer has wrath and will not judge.  Nor does it teach that there will not be a final judgment.

Here’s just one of many examples of what I am talking about in Scripture.

2Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.  11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus indeed took the sin of the whole world to Himself at the cross. He indeed atoned for the sin of the whole world at the cross.  But it must be appropriated by faith on the part of each person.  If the forgiveness provided and life offered is not received by faith, then it is not applied.

John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Indeed, Jesus did not come to condemn the world.  But that does not mean condemnation is totally out of the way and that judgment will not take place.  John the Baptist said it this way,

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

The evidence of how God hates sin is throughout Scripture, and ironically, God went out of His way to make sure sin could be dealt with once and for all through Jesus the Son.  It is because of the love of God that He hates sin so much.  Sin brings death and destruction into people’s lives.  It is why humanity is so messed up.  But what is not true is the idea that Jesus’ work on the cross means that no one will ever experience the wrath of God or His judgment.  Those who do not believe in Jesus and accept by faith His finished work at the cross will experience the judgment and wrath of God and will be punished in the Lake of Fire.  It is a dreadful reality that no believer should ever want anyone to experience.

This is why it is so important for us as believers to love and care enough to share the good news of Jesus Christ with as many as we have the opportunity to do so.  If it doesn’t matter one way or the other, the responsibility to be a witness dissolves.  That’s what makes the error so dangerous.  The reason for a continued witness is that this matter of where a person will spend eternity and experience separation and punishment for their rejection of such a gracious and loving offer hangs in the balance.

Everyone, regardless of what their current life appears to be, needs Jesus. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.  Those who do not believe will perish and will be judged on that day.  Let’s help others become aware of our amazingly wonderful God and our incredible Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  Many still need to hear of His love and mercy revealed at the cross.

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The Gospel Preached

It seems popular of late among some to preach and teach in such a way that ignores certain injunctions or admonishments given in Scripture to the church.  It is also alarming how popular it seems to be to denounce the idea of leadership or someone being in a position of authority.  There’s a growing desire to avoid any and all accountability which can be dangerous and unhealthy.

If the gospel I preach cannot withstand the full counsel of Scripture as a whole in the New Testament, is it really the gospel?  My understanding of the gospel should ground me so strongly in security in Christ that I can withstand a critique of my behavior when appropriate, and it not rock my world but rather enhance it.  Getting the gospel right does not do away with my need for correction at times, but it will take away the sting that comes from any insecurity and will allow me to examine all of Scripture, not just the parts of it that I favor.

Sometimes, what is passed over as insignificant in the word of God may be highly significant.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.  14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.  16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.  23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

So, in view of such a passage, we should ask ourselves:

Do I recognize the person or persons who labor on my behalf, and do I see them as being over me in the Lord?   

Am I esteeming them very highly in love for their work’s sake?

Am I at peace with myself and with others I am in fellowship with?

Do I warn those who are unruly, or do I take part in their complaints and efforts at sowing division?

Do I comfort the fainthearted?

Do I uphold the weak?

Am I patient with all?

Do I live by a motto of getting even with someone who hurts or uses me?

Do I pursue what is good for myself and others?

Am I one who rejoices always?

Do I live in an attitude of prayer?

Am I one who gives thanks for everything, or do I feel permission to complain most of the time?

Do I quench the Spirit, or am I surrendered to Him?

Am I a person who desires prophecies, or do I despise them and avoid them?

Do I diligently test all things and hold fast to what is good?

Do I abstain from every form of evil, or do I find some of it acceptable?

Failure in any of these areas will not undo my salvation, nor will it overpower the righteousness of God that I have become.  But it can affect my witness for Christ to others and bring a disruption to the peace I am promised in my soul. It can also bear an impact on the fellowship I am a part of and adversely affect my relationships, and it is why such instruction exists in Scripture.

An authentic gospel is not devoid of practical, wise counsel for the purpose of unified and healthy fellowship with others.  If my gospel does not take others into account in the way I choose to live as a witness for Christ and my call to be in fellowship with other believers, it might be another gospel other than the one found on the pages of the New Testament.

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Grace Authority

I cannot help but be somewhat concerned when I hear grace teachers speak as if there should never be any measurable behavioral accountability expected within the churches and among believers.

It is as if they think that grace means a believer can do nothing wrong or displeasing to God.

I must say here that such a notion is not true at all.  There are too many passages that address behavior and consequences for such in the New Testament letters to the churches for us to conclude that grace means never addressing such things or expressing expectations for behavior.

Here’s a great example of what I am talking about.  Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica.

1Thessalonians 4:1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.  3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

Notice how Paul is speaking of how they should walk to please God.  The walk involves what one does. He goes on to speak of how they commanded them.  This is an uncomfortable language for some grace teachers who think leadership can never provide direction or firm and clear directives.  No, I am not saying leaders have permission to control the lives of others, but they do have a command to care for the souls of those they have been called to lead.

Paul goes on to make sure they understand he is speaking in terms of the will of God for them.  The will of God is their sanctification.  He then goes on to speak about things they should avoid.  He talks about possessing one’s vessel in sanctification and honor.

Then, Paul goes on to speak of how the Lord is an avenger of certain behaviors.  He says he had forwarned them of such and testified to its validity. The idea of the Lord being an avenger of such behavior is an especially uncomfortable language for some grace teachers.  But here it is in the Bible for all to read.

How did God call us?  Not into uncleanness, but in holiness as is revealed here for us.  But here’s the real kicker in all of this.  Paul uses some very strong language in verse 8 when he says that whoever rejects what he is saying here is not rejecting a man but rather is rejecting God because it was God who gave Paul His Holy Spirit.  In other words, Paul is speaking expressly by the Holy Spirit in saying this.

There are times when leaders who minister with integrity must speak regarding behavior and the consequences that can follow wrong behavior. It should not be the lion’s share of what they speak about, as the gospel should always be a main focus.  But there will be times when it is justified that believers be reminded that pleasing God involves how we walk, and sanctification that involves letting go of dishonoring and destructive behaviors is right before God.  This is grace authority.

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Free Or Not Free

Imagine coming upon an animal in a trap, in pain and anguish, and very afraid.  Then, imagine you set that animal free and move it to a safer place where there is more than enough good food for it.  Then imagine that you come back and find that animal in the same trap because it went after the same food as before.

Was it your desire that the animal do such a thing?  There is a spiritual lesson in this example.

Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

We were in darkness and slaves to sin and death.  But Jesus came and set us free from the snare of sin and death and translated us into His kingdom of light and life.  He gave us life, made heavenly things accessible to us, and set a table for us with good things to eat.  He did away with that old nature that was drawn to destructive things and the sin that brings death and destruction.  We are no longer slaves to sin and death.  We are no longer prisoners to the dictates of the fleshly appetites that once did us such harm and brought destruction and misery into our lives.  We get to choose how we will show up and what we will be adorned with when we do.  That is why the Scripture goes on to say,

Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The way to show up rightly clothed with a proper attitude and readiness for the occasion is described here in these passages.  If I were once dressed in jeans that had become filthy and tattered due to what I had put them through, and I removed them and put on new ones that were clean and fresh, I would not want to do to the new ones the same things that made the others filthy and tattered.  That’s kind of the idea conveyed here.  I’ve received something very precious and valuable. It’s worth looking after.

We were at one time okay with living in ways that were not good for us or others.  We stripped that way of living off when we accepted the new life Christ offered us.  It makes no sense to go right back to that old way of living now.  I was set free from it, and I do not want to go back to it.  The reality of free or not free is really this simple. Sin and death no longer have power over us. We have to choose to go back to the things we’ve been set free from.  So, we choose whether to live “Free Or Not Free.”

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Complete

Surely, we all remember doing homework assignments in school and being told whether or not they were complete.  In the verb sense, this idea of complete means the work is done, and all involved with it is finished.

As a kid, I enjoyed building model cars and model planes.  One of my favorites was an F15 Eagle.  Man, did that model have many parts to it?!

I remember the satisfaction I felt when I was done building it, and there were no leftover parts in the box.

You know Jesus completed a work as it pertains to us.  It says as much in the Bible.  But some people desire to tell us this is not true.

They speak to believers as if Jesus left some of the pieces needed for completion in the box, and now it is up to us to find those pieces and complete the build.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Have you ever taken time to think about what is being said here?

Should a beware like this be taken seriously?

I wonder how many believers have ever felt cheated in this way?  Constantly being told they do not measure up and need to step it up and then given self-improvement ideas rooted in the Law in order to bring to completion what Jesus began.

Pointing to things that draw on the strength of the flesh and turn our attention to ourselves distracts our attention and trust toward Christ and leads us to forget what He accomplished on our behalf.  That is what it means to say, and not according to Christ.

Should we take the next verse seriously?

Colossians 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

The fullness of the Godhead bodily is not spoken of as a reality rooted in what we do to attain something.  It is not spoken about our merited condition rooted in having made ourselves attain righteousness on some level.  The fullness, the completeness we seek, is only found in Jesus, and when we rest in Him, we get to enjoy the fullness of God.

The finished work of who we truly are is only found in Him.  The place where the devil cannot get to us is where we’ve been hidden in God with Christ, who is the Head of all principality and power!

Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

There’s no greater authority and power than Jesus! The false accusations of an enemy should hold no sway over us anymore.  We are complete in Jesus!  Don’t let the devil trick you into arguing on the basis of what you’ve accomplished.  Make the focus on the One who made you complete in Himself.

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Harmful Mixture

Have you ever had an experience where you bought fuel for a vehicle and there was water in it, which caused problems with your car’s performance?

Gas and water do not mix, and if ever you try to do so, the purpose for which you use the gas is profoundly affected.

This is the result of a wrong mixture.

Another example is the danger of mixing cleaners, which can result in noxious and dangerous fumes.

For instance, if you mix bleach with vinegar, it creates chlorine gas that causes breathing and eye problems. Your body will react negatively to the gas produced from such a mixture, just as your car will react negatively to water in the gas tank.

This can be true spiritually, too!  There is a mixture that is dangerous to you spiritually, and many engage in it without realizing it.

I would like to consider several passages as we think about the danger of mixture this morning.

Romans 7:6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Galatians 3:2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

2Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

When we mix things that we shouldn’t, our spiritual eyes are affected, and our understanding is hindered when we seek to grow through a mixture.  Law and grace do not mix.

The law always appeals to the flesh and calls on the strength of the flesh. It always promotes self-righteousness in a person because it demands it. But we can live according to the Spirit and free of condemnation that comes to us through the Law.

I will wrap up this thought today with two final passages.

Romans 3:21  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

Romans 3:28 Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

I want the right kind of righteousness, one that is free of harmful mixture and full of the fire of the Holy Spirit. Only God’s righteousness can do that, and it can be mine only by faith in Christ, not through my observance of the Law.  Beware the harmful mixture that is promoted as a viable spiritual cleaner.  It will dim your spiritual eyes and hinder your spiritual breath.  It is a veil that hides His glory from your view and experience.

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On These Hang?

I find it interesting how often I encounter someone who mistakenly believes they have figured out all that is needed to know when it comes to righteousness by quoting the following verses of Scripture.

They quote them as if it is a badge of honor to do so and as if they are observing them with perfection.

Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”  37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus said that on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. In other words, everything communicated in the Old Covenant as the conditions for being right with God owes its existence to these two primary and greatest commands.

So, a person will sometimes quote this and then say Jesus simplified the Law down to just two things. They will then say He paid for the sin of breaking the Law and now expects us to just focus on these two commandments because if we get these down, we will fulfill the whole Law.

This is spoken as though they or others might actually perfectly observe these two greatest commandments. But such things are spoken without truly thinking about it. Jesus wasn’t trying to reduce our focus on the Law so that we might be able to keep it. He is demonstrating that even if it were made even more simple than it already was, no one would have truly kept it in its purity with perfection.

I am always amazed at those who claim they love the Law and how little respect they truly have for it by thinking anyone other than Jesus has ever perfectly kept it.  Thinking it could be kept in the flesh is to blemish its perfection and reduce it to something less than what it really is as a standard.

It presses me this morning to ask the question that should always be visited when this comes up.

Have you or anyone you know ever perfectly without fail loved God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and loved your neighbor as you love yourself?

The only human being I know of who fulfilled this was Jesus himself.  The idea of quoting these Scriptures and thinking that observing them will be how I will maintain the righteousness of God freely given to me through Jesus is fleshly.  It is putting my hope in my ability as opposed to what Jesus did already on my behalf.

By emphasizing this point, I am not saying we should not love God or our neighbors. I am simply saying that the source of our confidence should not be in ourselves and what we do but in Jesus and what He did.  By saying this, I am pointing attention to the Jesus who brought life and immortality to light and obliterated sin and death at the cross.

Jesus makes the righteousness of God available to anyone who will believe in Him and receive His free gift of grace.  That is the only righteousness that God will accept. All other attempts at righteousness in order to merit from God are rejected.  Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, is not just a good saying; it is a matter of life and death.  The One who fulfilled the whole Law and satisfied its righteous requirements has redeemed my life, and I am now hidden with God in Christ.  There is now no condemnation!

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

To Jesus be all the glory, all the praise, and all the honor. I am thankful to Him and for Him and the life He has given me. Now, on Him hangs the matter of real righteousness and glory, and I am in Him, have been given His life and His righteousness, and am now a joint heir with Him. Hallelujah!

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Works?

It is said that you can tell a lot about a person by watching what they do.

My father-in-law, who has gone on to be with the Lord, had a saying.  People will do what they really want to do.

Our choices and actions are the direct result of our beliefs and imagination, serving as the tangible fruit of our faith.

Therefore, in the context of faith, works hold significant importance.

There are many today who preach in such a way as to say works mean nothing, but this would be a contradiction to Scripture and even to what Jesus, after He was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven, spoke.

Now, in saying this, I am not looking to make believers work-focused; I merely desire to make the point that works follow the faith and that we will give an account for them.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Some today believe there will not be any judgment, which defies the fact that judgment is written about in the New Testament Scriptures.

Revelation 22:12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.

To the ministers of the seven churches of Asia, Jesus said, “I know your works.”  To the Minister at the church of Sardis, Jesus said, “I have not found your works perfect before God.”

Our works tell the truth about what we really believe strongly.  However, having said this, I must say that work is not our focus.  Believing right is the focus.  When we get our believing right the works will follow naturally.

Judgment will always be with regard to works, for they always prove the right belief or unbelief.  So, in that sense, works do matter.

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Gospel Reality

Jesus, who is the author and originator of the New Covenant and the One who establishes the Kingdom of God, said the following,

Mark 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Some reject the idea of rebuking for any reason or of anyone being condemned. Others struggle with the idea of the supernatural’s work and its role in spreading the gospel.

No matter what anyone may think with regard to these matters, there is no way to deny what Jesus so clearly said in these passages.

When we get the gospel right, we allow it into our hearts, where it produces fruit for His kingdom, and it produces in us a desire to engage in sharing it with others.

There’s no way to deny the fact that the fruit of believing in Him is indicated here by the Lord.  Jesus says these signs will follow those who believe.

When we truly believe and act in His name to promote the gospel, He backs us up with His power.

I also note that it says, “They went out and preached everywhere.”  They didn’t wait for people to seek them out. They went out.

The more real the gospel is to us, the more fruitful we become in it. The more we believe the good news, the more excited we become about it. We rejoice in its truth, and it affects our hearts as a result.

This is why the gospel needs to be preached often, even to the church. Being reminded of His great grace, mercy, and love ignites a passion in our hearts and excites us with possibility and opportunity for others.

When we share it with others outside the church, amazing things happen, and we get to go on an adventure with Jesus! It is Gospel Reality!  It is what makes being a believer exciting and adventurous!

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Conflicting Messages

Sometimes what we say and do can send conflicting messages to others.

For instance, declaring I am happy while sporting an angry look sends a conflicting message to others.

If I were to say I am very sad while smiling would send a conflicting message.

I was in Puerto Rico with a mentor many years ago, meeting with pastors to help resolve a conflict. I began to share something of great importance and seriousness, and I was smiling the whole time. Afterward, when my mentor and I were alone, he informed me that what I had to say was of great importance and needed to be taken seriously, but then he went on to tell me my facial expression failed to match the communication.

He wasn’t asking me to look angry or mean; he just wanted me to have a facial expression that matched the nature of the communication and expressed my embodiment of it.  He didn’t want me to send a conflicting message, especially when it was of such great importance.

Today, there are many conflicting messages, not just because facial expressions fail to match what is being said but also because reactions fail to match what is being said.

There’s an example of this in Scripture from the time when Israel was brought out of Egypt after 400 years of cruel bondage in slavery.  They had watched their greatest enemy’s army drown in the Red Sea so as to no longer be a threat to them.  But later in their journey, we find them conducting themselves as though they are still slaves in some way or another.  They lack proper gratitude and instead adopt an attitude of complaining.  They miss opportunities for praise because they are too caught up in a momentary inconvenience.

When believers spend more time complaining than praising, it sends a conflicting message to the lost. The gospel tells them they can have life more abundantly and experience joy unspeakable and full of glory in the Holy Spirit after receiving eternal life in Jesus, but then they watch as Christians complain about one thing after another, as though they are being cheated and robbed.

Such a conflicting message says that what is being promoted isn’t accurate since it does not appear to work for the ones who are promoting it.  Conflicting messages do not come across as being sincere and authentic.

Believers in Jesus are not victims any longer. They are set free in Him to flourish in life regardless of circumstances.  As believers, we are meant to walk in the fullness of joy that is ours in Christ Jesus, fully aware of the amazing power it took for Him to redeem us to Himself so we could be loved by the Father and welcomed into fellowship with God.  We are meant to operate from a place of overflow so great that we have joy and peace when the world around us is in total chaos.  We are meant to be at rest in the midst of trial and difficulty because we are living in the power of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us as a gift based on faith.  This should produce praise, thanksgiving, joy, and peace when truly believed and received.  It should put a smile on the face of anyone who knows it is theirs to enjoy.

I do not want to send conflicting messages to others, especially when it comes to the gospel.  So I think by His grace at work in me, I will enjoy Him and manifest His joy today while I go about my business. I invite you to join me.

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Proactive Or Reactive?

Many people in the United States are asking how we arrived at this pivotal moment in America’s history.

I’ve witnessed preachers pointing their fingers at the church and saying it’s all her fault that things are the way they are.  Despite the blame game, I see the church as a beacon of hope, a place where positive change can start.

Why is it that when something goes wrong, we look for someone or something to blame?

Why do so many wait until something goes wrong to get motivated to do something about it?

Too often, when we wait until something is wrong to do something about it, the reaction to it is generally out of balance or out of proportion to the problem.

I personally believe that being proactive is a much better approach. Proactive action involves doing the right thing well before the problem can overwhelm the situation.  It is not about complaining once things have diminished to a certain point.

Case and point.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

His last command to the disciples was to preach the gospel.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

A proactive posture for the church would be to engage in this process eagerly and faithfully. By seeking out the lost rather than waiting for them to seek us out, we might witness a shift in the culture.

Could it be possible that a post-Christian America could become flipped again if the great commission of Jesus were to be taken seriously?

For me, proactive involves getting the gospel right, getting the gospel into our hearts firmly rooted and grounded, and then getting the gospel out. Reactive is when things have to get so bad that there is no longer an option left but to do the thing that should have been done all along.

The sad thing is, when it is done from a reactive position, it usually comes across as being hateful and more of a turn-off than a beautiful invitation to something wonderful.  The invitation to know who Jesus is, what He accomplished, and how He is offering eternal life to any who would believe in Him is meant to be the greatest news ever brought to this fallen planet.  It is meant to be proactive, but it can only be proactive when it is believed and exported as the wonderful truth that it really is.

I wonder what would happen before the end of 2024 if every professing believer in Jesus won just one person to Christ by faithfully and continually promoting the good news of Jesus to those they come in contact with. Now that would be proactive!  I think it would be a much happier and more enjoyable way to go about it, don’t you?  Complaining all the time is reactive and comes across as being a victim.

There is beauty in being proactive, hope in being proactive, and something attractive about being proactive! The gospel has always been proactive. Jesus did not come as a reaction to sin; He was the plan before sin ever happened. The Trinity was proactive before creation!  Who can you share Jesus with today?

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Faith Without Thanksgiving or Praise?

My daughter and her husband recently planted a young tree in their yard to replace one that they lost. Currently, this young tree is braced by ropes tethered in different directions to help it withstand winds from storms until its roots are well established.  Without these tethers to help it initially, it might be blown over by strong winds.  It needs an opportunity to grow its roots strong in order to withstand all the storms that may come at it.

Those tethers are symbolic of a faith that produces thanksgiving and praise.

In the Bible, this idea is conveyed by Paul when he writes to the Colossians.

Colossians 2:6 As you, therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Over a year ago, a newly made friend and brother in Christ promised me a motorcycle. He lived in Mississippi at the time, and we had met at a conference. On a Sunday morning, he texted me pictures of a motorcycle and told me it was mine and that he was going to bring it to me on a trailer all the way from Mississippi. It would take some time before it would arrive, but I believed him and thanked him.

I began showing the pictures to others and telling them I owned a motorcycle.  I was giving God praise because I had spoken with Him about this before it had ever happened, and He answered me clearly.  My faith, made possible by His word to me, resulted in thanksgiving and praise even before that motorcycle was delivered.

Now, all this is very important because of what is at stake when it comes to faith or the lack thereof.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Our completeness, righteousness, and ability to please God are realized in Christ and are ours by faith in Christ.  Many will come along and attempt to tell us we must do something to earn our standing, but according to the real gospel our standing is grounded in Christ and is ours according to faith.  Real faith celebrates this sure promise of hope with thanksgiving and praise.  This is why Paul began His letter with these words.

Colossians 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

God is always pleased with our steadfast faith in Christ! I trust in Christ alone, and I stand fast on the promise of His word of redemption and life! I thank Him for His great love and mercy and for the life I have now in Him!  All praise to Jesus for the life which He has so abundantly supplied!  An abundant life is mine in Him, and it is yours in Him as well.  The more this is believed, the more thankful you become, and you will be energized and empowered to give Him all the praise!

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Help!

It’s a common human struggle, isn’t it? The desire to be self-sufficient, to not need anyone’s help. But let’s pause and ask ourselves, is it truly possible to navigate this journey of life without ever needing help?

I think in Christianity, this idea has hurt many saints.  The idea is that we needed Jesus to get saved, but then He set us up to not need Him so desperately any longer.

How often has someone looked at another person who is in a bad way and going through really difficult challenges and thought, “Man, I don’t want to be in their shoes?”  How many like myself before have thought, “I don’t want to need Jesus like that?”  “I want to be strong and have it all together.”  “I want to be able to stand before others and boast of my deep level of strong devotion and my strong self-discipline.”

How many of us have found ourselves in the trap of comparison? Looking at others who seem to have it all together and feel inadequate in comparison, If this resonates with you, know that you’re not alone in this struggle.

But also know that’s a life of running on a gerbil wheel, always striving but never seeming to get anywhere. The more a person tries not to need Jesus, the deeper in trouble they find themselves.  It is like falling into quicksand; the more you struggle, the deeper into it you go.

The truth is, I find myself needing Jesus more now than I did when I first came to Him. Salvation didn’t shield me from the challenges of the world, nor did it guarantee that everyone in my life would treat me as I hoped. But in these moments, I find comfort in knowing that I can still turn to Jesus for help.

When I got saved, I did not arrive home to find a brand new car, a brand new wardrobe, and the house of my dreams. Life was still going to unfold in all its many facets for me, and it still does. There are still things that come up in my life for which I need Jesus’ help.

Jesus did not save me and then say to me, “Okay, there you go. Now go handle it and make Me proud of what you can do.”  Jesus saved me to bring me into a real relationship with the Father and have access to help as needed.  This was why the Holy Spirit was given to me as such a precious gift!

If I think I have it all together, then I also lose sight of my need for Jesus and His strength.

2Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I am not a super Christian. I am a human being like all others who need Jesus all the time. I need Him like an addict needs Him, like a homeless person needs Him, and like a criminal needs Him. I need Jesus! I need my relationship with Him to be alive and on fire. I need Him to be so real to me that I find myself talking with Him and hearing Him talk to me.  I never want to lose my sense of needing Him.  I never want to have it so together that I forget how much I need Him.  I want others to see me as someone who needed Jesus, and Jesus showed Himself faithful to me so that they, too, can find life, hope, joy, and peace in Him!  Help!  It’s not a dirty word.

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Silence

It is said that silence is golden.  But is that true when it comes to valued relationships?

I recently asked a group of men how long they would be willing to endure their wives’ silence before they thought something might be wrong. Unanimously, they felt it wouldn’t be long before they wanted to find out what was going on.

The reason the feeling was unanimous was because we all know that prolonged silence in a valued relationship is a sign that something is off.

Now we know that in our earthly relationships involving two human beings, the problem can lie at both doorsteps.  But when it comes to our relationship with God, the problem can only lie at one doorstep, and that is our own. This personal responsibility empowers us to take an active role in our relationship with God.

God is perfect; He has never done us wrong, He has never sinned against us, He cannot lie to us, and He does not mistreat us.  God has gone out of His way to make it possible for us to have a beautiful and rewarding relationship with Him.

Jesus spoke something profound,

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

He is referring to anyone and everyone who has been born again.   Jesus is speaking, but if I am not hearing, it has something to do with me, not Him.  Jesus also gave us this advice,

John 15:5  “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Our relationship with Jesus is the single most significant relationship in our lives. It merits our attention and focus. To be effective fruit bearers, we must abide in Him and allow His words to abide in us.

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

A fruitful relationship involves effective communication. Jesus makes it clear how much He desires for us to be connected with Him and prioritize His words for our lives.  This is a case where silence is not golden.  Hearing His voice and loving His words are golden.

Jesus is speaking to anyone who belongs to Him; if there seems to be silence, it is because of an issue with one’s hearing.  It is not that Jesus is refusing to speak.  This is a matter of the heart.  When we refuse to soften our hearts and wash our souls with the water of His word, we set up a hearing issue in our walk with Him.  It’s never too late to see this get fixed.  It’s as simple as softening one’s heart and desiring once again to hear Him speak whatever He wishes to say without trying to filter through our own preferences according to the flesh.  By being wide open to hear from Him with a desire to do His will, His voice becomes clearer and more frequently recognized.  His love for us is unveiled and the possibilities of adventuring with Him in this life are opened to us.  So I encourage you never to let yourself be comfortable with silence.

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