Tag Archives: Christianity

No Worries?

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Matthew 6:25-34

“Faith is our personal confidence in a being whose character we know, but whose ways we cannot trace by common sense.” (Oswald Chambers; Studies on the Sermon on the Mount; Oswald Chambers Publishers; updated 2016; p 59)

Chambers says common sense is mathematical. Faith works on illogical lines. We want to believe that if something happens, there is a result we can predict. If it rains, flowers will grow. If I get married, I will be happy. If I am good, good things will happen to me. But we all know life is messier than that.

This past weekend, several of us had a girls’ weekend in Gatlinburg, Tennessee to attend the Gaither Family Fest. While we were there, one of the ladies received word her brother had had a stroke and they were rushing him to a hospital in Jacksonville, about 60 miles away from his home. Our friend was stuck hundreds of miles away, unable to be with him and their family at such a critical moment.

We all know her brother. Rick is a good man, a deacon at our church, a willing servant of God, and a lover of Jesus. How do we make sense of his trouble at this time? That’s where faith comes in.

First let me say, as I think about this portion of Scripture, not one of the seven of us in that mountain cabin ever asked how something like this could happen to such a good guy. No one said, “He doesn’t deserve this.” I don’t think any of us questioned why this was happening. But all of us went to God in faith, trusting God for the outcome. Knowing the character of God, we can rest in His love of and care for Rick’s physical body. He’s the same God who cares for the flowers and the birds, and Rick is more dear to God than any flower or bird.

God has already done the best thing for Rick when He took care of his sin problem by dying on the cross. Rick is God’s precious child through his faith in the saving work of Jesus. We can trust God for Rick’s eternity. Certainly we can trust God for Rick’s present.

Jesus tells us not to worry. So what does it say when someone claims they can’t help but worry? Do they not have faith in God’s power and promises? If Jesus tells us to do something, and we say we can’t do that thing, is that disobedience?

Jesus doesn’t tell us not to be concerned. He doesn’t tell us not to seek medical help, or to erase Rick’s situation from our minds, and pretend it’s not happening. What Jesus is saying is not to waste time wringing our hands or pacing the floor, imagining worst case scenarios, and being paralyzed by fear. We are praying for Rick with open hands, trusting that the God whose character we know and love, is working even this out for Rick’s good and God’s glory.

Paul expressed this kind of faith in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Rick’s need right now is physical healing. As people who love him, we are praying that his physical body will be healed so we can enjoy this ornery guy for a long time yet. But we hold on lightly, understanding this life is not the end.

Chambers asks this important question for all of us: Are we going to be true to the revelation that God is good? Are we going to be true to His honor, whatever may happen in the actual domain?” (p 60)

My prayer is yes.

PS: I had just hit the “publish” button when I got a text from Rick’s sister saying that after the doctor looked at the test results and spoke with Rick to find an improvement in his speech, they cancelled surgery! God answers prayer, dear ones. I know not every situation has the same results. But God is good and works for the good on behalf of his children. Rick’s not out of the woods, and we will continue to pray, but I just wanted to share the good news with you. May God be praised!

Jesus Just Doesn’t Let Up

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Matthew 5:38-42

Have you ever heard anyone say this passage in confusing or even that it certainly can’t mean what it says: should women stay in abusive marriages? Should I sit back and watch a thief ransack my home and not defend it? Should I give money to every bum with a cardboard sign by the side of the road?

I want to share what Chambers says about this: “We always say we do not know what Jesus Christ means when we know perfectly well He means something that is a blunt impossibility unless He remake us and make it possible.: (Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, Oswald Chambers Publishers, updated 2016, p 40).

Throughout his sermon, Jesus is speaking about our character, our disposition, our integrity. In these verses He continues that lesson using shocking examples from their culture.

To us He says: “Think of the worst insult or disrespect you can imagine, the biggest offense against you, the most unfair treatment you’ve every encountered. Then imagine you not having the desire to defend yourself or get even. Imagine you reaching out to the offender with generosity. Imagine you being kind to the person intent on hurting you.”

“Impossible!” you say. “That person doesn’t deserve my kindness.”

God’s answer? “Did I ask you to treat them the way they deserve? Do I treat you the way you deserve?”

Jesus doesn’t let up, does He? He’s always revealing one hard truth after another. This time He is addressing humble obedience. It has to do with letting go of my perceived rights and allowing Him to live His character through me. I have to surrender my will and accept His will.

Nowhere does Jesus talk about money in this passage. But we read these verses and interpret them materially. We read it and think about the bum on the side of the road. It’s a lot easier to think that way than to face my pride and my self-esteem or my skewed sense of fairness. Yet those are the things God is asking us to face.

You and I both know Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat us. Here, in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, He is telling us how that looks in real life.

Impossible on our own. But very possible, a done deal, when the Holy Spirit is free to express the character of God through us.

I Will

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Matthew 5:31-33

People who marry take an oath before God and witnesses. They give their word to be faithful to one person for the rest of their lives. We tend to make these verses in Matthew about marriage and divorce. But the real message Jesus is trying to get across is much wider and deeper than that one issue. He’s been talking about integrity in this Sermon, about character and disposition. He’s been talking about the seriousness of sin and its effect on our spiritual health.

Then he uses the marriage oath as an example. We ought not to read verses 31-32 without verse 33. It’s a shame the Bible publishers put in that arbitrary break. So let’s not, for sake of argument today.

If you make an oath of any kind (which Webster defines as “a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future action or behavior”), you had better honor and protect it. If you don’t, and you break that solemn promise, you are no different than an adulterer. Jesus is painting a word picture, using marriage as an example of someone who doesn’t keep his or her promises.

Sometimes I think we consider an “oath” as a big deal, like a doctor taking an oath to do no harm, or a witness taking an oath to tell the truth in court. But if I know Jesus, He’s not only talking about the “big.” He always gets to the heart of an issue, doesn’t He? That’s what I believe He is doing here.

Have you ever heard someone referred to as a “man of his word?” What does that mean? I think most of us know at least one person who has the kind of integrity that if he says he will do something, you know he will. He always does what he says.

We, as Christ followers, ought to be men and women of our word. Whether it’s a promise to pay our loans on time, or take out the trash, if it’s the promise to our employer to do our job, or a promise to our child to go to the dance recital, if we say we will… we will. Jesus was a man of HIs word, and if He is our example, we ought to be, too.

I believe Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, is laying out the truth for believers. We are held to a higher standard. Our faith is evidenced by the kind of life we lead. More than anyone, a Christian ought to be the person who has integrity, honesty, the person who will follow through with what is promised.

If you say, “I will,” will you?

I’ve Got Rights

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Matthew 5:29-30

Paul tells us we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God. I think Jesus is saying the same thing here in these verses.

I’m all about submitting my heart to God. I truly want to be salt and light, separate from the world, wearing the righteousness of Jesus, and pointing others to the saving grace of God. But I don’t think I’ve ever really considered what that should mean for my physical body.

Oswald Chambers in his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount (Oswald Chambers Press, updated 2016), points out that it’s easy to give up bad things for the sake of our spiritual lives. Yet God asks us to give up good things, too, and that might not be so easy.

We know our society is “rights” focused. Often our “rights” are exactly what God wants on the altar.

I have a right to drink alcohol. I have a right to get drunk. I’m an adult. I have a right to go to R rated movies. I have a right to sleep in on Sunday mornings. I have a right to eat as much as I want. I have a right to over-eat. I have a right to piercings and tattoos. I have a right to have consensual sex with anyone I like. It’s my body. I have a right to support abortion and transgender causes. I have a right to work two jobs to provide luxury for my family.

Not all our rights are bad. Some are more easy to surrender than others. Yet God says we are to surrender them all. Our relationship with God is not just spiritual. It’s physical, too. It’s this flesh and blood body surrendered to God, giving Him all rights to use as He sees fit.

Sometimes He asks us to “cut off,” or “gouge out,” some things for the sake of our spiritual, eternal life. Sometimes it hurts.

Chambers ends his commentary on these two verses with this:

“…are we prepared to give up the best we have for Jesus Christ? The only rights we as Christians have is the right to give up our rights.”

Think about that for a second. God wants us to give Him all. I think that includes mind, body, heart, and soul. I think it includes our right to our hands and our eyes, our homes, our families, are talents, are finances, our health, our future. A.L.L.

In fact, and here’s what hit me today as I read Chambers’ opinions concerning this whole cut-off-your-hand-and-gouge-out-your-eye thing. This is another quote from page 32. I’ll leave you with this:

“If we are only willing to give up wrong things for Jesus Christ, we should never talk about being in love with Him.”

Disposition

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Matthew 5:21-22

I’m using Oswald Chambers, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount; God’s Character and the Believer’s Conduct, (Oswald Chambers Publishing, updated 2016) as I spend time in God’s Word these days. Chambers uses the word “disposition” regarding these two verses. He says we’re born with it. I had to stop and consider that for a moment, but I get it. We see it on display in newborns. Some are pleasant, joyful, sweet from the moment they’re born. Others are cranky and fussy right off the bat. No one had to teach them. It’s who they are from birth. And traces of that original disposition follows most throughout their lives.

Chambers says our disposition fashions our character. So when Jesus is using murder as an example of serious sin, we suddenly realize He’s not just about the taking of a life. He’s actually referring to grumpy old men (and women), the “Karens” of the world, the Debbie Downers, the Sarcastic Susies, and the Nasty Neds. He is speaking to people who use others as the butt of jokes, or who delight in making even their friends look like fools. Some people have to put someone down in order to feel good about themselves. Jesus is telling us that’s a problem. He says people with that disposition are subject to judgment.

I would say people born with that disposition cannot talk themselves out of it. They are incapable of changing who they are. They need a personality transplant. And that’s exactly what God offers! He wants to remove the diseased disposition and replace it with his own.

Consider Jesus’ disposition, His temperament, and personality. That’s what he’s offering to any who receive Him. For a Christian to say, “That’s just how I am,” is denying the power of God. Look how Peter’s disposition was changed. Or Paul’s. You have no excuse to continue being the “old nature” when God wants to, and can, make it new.

That old disposition might be who you were. But it can’t be who you are if the Holy Spirit lives in you.

What is Good?

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Matthew 5:21-30

Jesus, in verse 20, just got done saying our goodness must exceed that of the Pharisees, those professional do-gooders. They were men who went out of their way to be and do good, and held themselves up as what goodness should look like. Exceed that?

Then, if that’s not impossible enough, Jesus goes on to make it more impossible!

We humans look at a person’s actions and evaluate the level of good or evil. A good man is someone who does NOT murder, does NOT cheat on his wife, does NOT steal or lie or throw tantrums. A good man is someone who DOES value life, fidelity, honesty, and self-control and demonstrates these virtues by his good choices. We see his actions and say, “That is a good man.”

Most of us, if we try, can reach a level of goodness using those indicators. But Jesus reminds us we look on the outside, God looks on the heart. And that’s where the rubber meets the road.

If I have hate in my heart for anyone, if I nurture anger toward someone, if I gossip about someone or reveal things that could ruin a reputation, if I consider myself superior to anyone and treat them like I think they’re unimportant or ignorant, my righteousness does not exceed that of a Pharisee, and Jesus says heaven is closed to me.

Then Jesus throws in lust. Most people don’t literally have sex with their neighbor’s wife. But infidelity extends to our thought life, the choice to look at someone and think about having sex with them, perhaps looking at pornography, or daydreaming about sex.

We can commend the guy who has been a faithful husband for 50 years, but not realize he is addicted to pornography. We can commend a woman for her commitment to her husband and family, and not realize she thinks about leaving them every day. We don’t know what goes on inside a person’s mind. God knows. And God judges what goes on inside a person’s mind as though they were actions.

Thank God for Jesus, who took the punishment for our sins of thought and action. Thank God for the Holy Spirit who changes our hearts so that our thoughts and actions are pure.

Oswald Chambers, in his book on the Sermon on the Mount points out purity is not innocence. “Purity is not a question of doing things right, but of the doer BEING right on the inside.” (p 22). He goes on to say purity isn’t something we’re born with like innocence. Purity comes from conflict. Purity comes from wrestling with sinful thoughts, with ungodly attitudes, and defeating it. Purity is a result of coming through the refiner’s fire.

God doesn’t accept our goodness as a tradeoff for sin. In fact, there is no goodness in us to give. All you and I have is our badness, but when we give God our badness, He gives us the goodness of Jesus! He refines the badness into Jesus’ goodness.

Our righteousness will exceed that of the Pharisees when we are wearing the righteousness of Jesus. An impossible righteousness to achieve on our own. But wonderfully possible through the blood of Jesus.

Wonder No More

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Gal 2:11-21

To anyone who wonders if, or hopes they’ve done enough good to go to heaven – READ THESE VERSES! Paul answers your questions clearly:

You are not good enough!

No amount of law-abiding behavior, no matter how loving or compassionate you are, no matter how many times you go to church, or how well you are thought of at work – you aren’t good enough to earn your way to heaven. Good people go to hell the same as bad people.

The fact is, Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for sinners. We all have sinned. Even you. What Jesus did there on the cross is the difference between heaven and hell. You can’t come close to equalling that.

If we could somehow pay the death penalty for our sin then live again, or if we could do enough good to erase the sins we’ve committed, Jesus should have just stayed in heaven. His painful death would be worthless.

Paul tells us he was crucified with Christ. We know he wasn’t put on that cross with Jesus. But Paul often talks about the surrender he made to Jesus that changed his life. He calls it dying to self. Paul doesn’t live on his own anymore. It’s Jesus living in him! I hope you can say the same.

Do you wonder if you’re going to heaven? Answer this: have you repented of your sin and accepted the work of Christ on the cross as the payment for your sin? Have you surrendered to God and is Christ living in you in the person of the Holy Spirit? Are you, like Paul, allowing God to live through you?

If you can’t say yes to those questions then Scripture tells us you aren’t going to heaven. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no one goes to the Father except through Jesus. There is no room for, “well he’s such a good person. Certainly God will accept him.”

My prayer is that you can honestly say yes to those questions. I pray that Jesus is your Savior, that you have surrendered to Him and accepted His grace, the forgiveness of your sins. Heaven awaits you.

If you wonder if you are going to heaven, wonder no more. The answer is as plain as day.

Grace and Peace

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Galatians 1:1-5

I finished my study of Genesis with Warren Wiersbe, and decided to go to the New Testament for my next personal time in God’s Word. Howard F. Vox wrote a commentary on Galatians entitled, A Call to Christian Liberty as part of the “Everyman’s Bible Commentary” published by Moody Bible Institute in 1971. I’m going to consider his opinions as I look at this letter of Paul for the next few days.

Vox says that “grace” was a common Greek greeting among Gentiles, while “peace” or Shalom was a Hebrew greeting. He thinks Paul purposely combined the two greetings as a demonstration of the joining together of Jews and Greeks as equals in God’s kingdom, the veil being destroyed by Jesus’ death, so that now there is no difference between the two.

And, Vox points out, Paul always used “grace” before “peace” in his greeting. That is the experience of all believers. First, God pours out His grace upon repentant sinners, applies Jesus’ blood to our account and saves us from the punishment we deserve. What follows is the peace that passes all understanding. No one can have the peace of God without first receiving His grace. So it is fitting that Paul would use these two words in this particular order whenever writing to the churches.

Jesus sacrificed Himself to rescue us, to pluck us out of the grip of evil in this world. And because we can contribute nothing to our salvation (Jesus’ death was enough) God gets all the glory, both now and forever! Amen!

I have read the book of Galatians many times, heard I don’t know how many sermons and lessons on it, and most of the time I’ve skimmed over the greeting to get to the meat. But today I am so blessed by having stopped and considered these five verses as penned by Paul.

I am saved by grace alone. It’s not a “I hope I’m saved,” or “I hope I’m good enough” kind of a thing. I am saved because I have put my faith in the only One who can save me. That’s why today, with all the trouble in this world, I can go with peace in my heart, fully trusting that the One who saved me can also keep me.

“Grace and peace from God our Father,” is my greeting to you all. Have you accepted His grace or are you still trying do earn you salvation? I pray that you will stop, listen, humble yourself and accept what Jesus died to give you… complete forgiveness. I promise you, when you experience His grace you will have His peace.

Then, let’s continue together through this book of Galatians and discover more about what that all means to each of us. May God teach us, grow us, and prepare us to be used by Him to reach those who don’t yet know the wonder of a relationship with Almighty God.

Find Us Faithful

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Genesis 50

G. Campbell Morgan once said that a believer’s work in the world is not finished when they put him in the ground. Think about that for a minute.

Joseph was a faithful and productive servant of God during his 110 years on this earth, and continued to be used by God for the next 400 years after his death. He was probably embalmed and placed in a sarcophagus since he was an Egyptian ruler. But the Israelites held onto the remains even after they were forced into slavery.

What did that coffin represent to the generations after Joseph? Salvation!

Joseph’s last words to his family was when – not if – God comes to your aid and takes you back to Canaan, take my bones with you and bury me there. Joseph’s remains were a constant reminder of God’s promises to Israel, and the hope of His salvation.

Years ago Steve Green wrote a song entitled “Find Us Faithful.” It is my prayer. The chorus says:

Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.

Google the lyrics, or better yet go to You Tube and hear Steve Green sing it. It will make you stop and think.

What is it you want the memory of you to inspire? When your children think of you after you’re gone, what do you hope comes to mind? Your money will be spent, your belongings will be discarded. But your influence will live on.

Understanding that truth, there might be some changes you (and I) might want to make while we still have a chance. The footprints we leave will lead somewhere. Do you care where? Will they lead our loved ones to God, or away from Him?

May all who come behind us find us faithful.

But God Can

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Genesis 41:1-45

“I am not able to.” That’s not easy for anyone to admit. Especially if you are standing in front a king who has authority over your life and death as in the case of Joseph. Pharaoh had just asked him to do something and Joseph said, “I can’t.”

But Joseph had a realistic view of his abilities, and God’s greater ability. “I can’t, Pharaoh. But God can!”

It’s not wrong or weak to admit you’re facing something beyond your ability to handle. We are human. We all have our weaknesses. Yet sometimes there are things that are truly beyond our ability to handle on our own. So what do you do in that case?

Do you repeat a mantra? “I am capable,” I am worthy,” “I am strong,” I am powerful?” You might take a deep breath and try to do the impossible.

But it’s impossible.

The truth is there are just some things that are really beyond our capabilities. There are things we cannot do no matter how hard we try.

I think that’s why there is so much anxiety and depression in our world today. It’s an epidemic even among our children, which is so sad because the acceptable answer for many is to medicate. What are we doing?

Shame on us for making our children believe a lie. We are telling them we are giving them self-confidence, when in reality we are taking away their lifeline. We are telling them they can do anything they set their minds to. But in reality that is giving them false hope.

Even in the secular world we need help. We need each other. Yet we are telling our children to need is to be weak. That’s awful!

There is a greater problem, because we are also teaching children they don’t need God. They are to believe God is a crutch for weak people. Shame on us.

I know in my heart that the answer to most anxiety and depression is submission. It’s admitting that we aren’t “all that.” I think saying “I can’t” is often the most powerful words you can say… especially when it’s followed by, “But God can.”

Have you ever played tug-of-war? You pull with every ounce of strength, and keep pulling. Muscles ache. Breathing becomes difficult. You have laser focus.

But when you let go you can actually feel the tension leave your aching muscles. You can breathe. It’s a tangible relief.

That’s what submitting to God is like. It is so freeing to finally admit that you are weak, that you need God’s help. That’s the way it’s supposed to be! That’s the way we were created. That’s what God WANTS to be in our lives. If you are His child through the blood of Jesus, then when you are weak He is strong!!

Say it. Repeat it. Believe it. Count on it.

“I cannot. But God can.”