Category: Christian Living

Lessons from the Soldier, Athlete & Farmer

Rushing to the sidelines, the goalie yanked off his lacrosse helmet and pulled his pads over his head in one swift motion. Calling a “time out,” the coach tried to remain calm as he gathered the team to decide what to do. The foul called against the goalie had earned him a three-minute exclusion from the game and his teammates needed a quick plan to cover for him. As the referee signaled the end of the time out, another player hastily pulled on the goalie’s protective gear and sprinted out on the field. Kneeling in the penalty box, the goalie watched as his teammates tried to block shots on the goal with one less player on the field.

It’s unusual for a lacrosse goalie to receive an exclusion penalty, and it often means the opposing team will score. That day, my son’s high school teammates couldn’t hold off their opponents. Although they had been dominating the game until then, the three excruciating minutes with their goalie in the penalty box shifted the momentum. They were never able to recover and ended up with a disappointing loss.  It was a hard way to learn the importance of following the rules. When one player gets called on a personal foul, it affects the whole team.

To me, this is a great picture of what Paul describes in 2 Timothy 2:5, “Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.”

An athlete needs self-discipline to learn and follow the rules of a game to compete successfully. Similarly, Christians self-discipline to study and follow God’s Word if they want to live a life that pleases Him and blesses others. Not engaging the Bible consistently makes it difficult to grow in faith or be effective in sharing the gospel.

Believers also derail spiritual growth when they ignore sin in their lives. Unconfessed sin impedes authenticity in our walks with God, discourages fellow believers, and diminishes our ability to impact others. When we study God’s Word, it studies us. With the prompting of the Holy Spirit, we begin to change our actions and thoughts.

In the same passage in 2 Timothy Paul also gives the example of a soldier, “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4, NIV)

Like soldiers, we make it our goal to please God as our “commanding officer.” We don’t entangle ourselves in worldly affairs that will lead our faith off track. Jesus mentions in John 18 that His kingdom is not of this world. We need to keep that in mind and remember we serve God first. Doing this enables the Holy Spirit to flow through us so we can impact others with His love. Rather than letting the light of Christ be snuffed out by ungodly influences, we strive to shine brightly so we can draw others toward God’s love and grace. We follow His lead, not the world’s.

Also, like soldiers, we focus on executing orders from our commanding officer, God, instead of operating on our own agendas. We trust that the Lord sees the big picture that we’re unable to have from our vantage point. Having a vertical focus helps us to trust His wisdom above ours.

Paul’s third analogy compares us to the hardworking farmer who is diligent with planting seeds and patient waiting for them to grow. A farmer knows the seeds are taking root and rising toward the surface, even though he can’t see the results above ground immediately. He understands the crop will come eventually and tends to it with patience and care.

Similarly, we sow seeds of faith in others through our actions and words, patiently trusting that God is at work in ways we can’t see: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11, NIV)

Like the farmer waiting for crops to emerge from the soil, we may not always see the ways God is moving and working in the hearts of others, but we can trust Him and be patient with the process.

Having the self-discipline of an athlete, the focus of a soldier, and the patience of a farmer enables us to be strong in the grace of Jesus. With these qualities, we’ll be equipped to receive the wisdom and truth of the gospel and to entrust it to other reliable people who will, in turn, be qualified to teach others.

For King & Country’s song “Fix My Eyes” describes the actions of a life of faith and reminds us the only way we can fulfill God’s purposes is through fixing our eyes on Him. Listen carefully and you’ll recognize a reference from 2 Timothy 2 in the lyrics to the song.

Beth Moore, Entrusted: A Study of 2 Timothy, Lifeway Press 2016.

Not Ashamed (or Embarrassed)

The satisfying crack of the ball meeting the bat brought us to our feet cheering. Watching countless little league games over the years had taught the parents in the stands to make the most of the few moments of excitement. If you’ve ever watched kids play baseball, you know what I’m talking about. There is a lot of sitting and waiting between isolated flurries of activity.

Each year my boys played, we waited with anticipation to see who would be on the team—it was always nice to spend those long hours in the bleachers and the dugout with people we enjoyed. Often, we’d get to know families well through the overlaps we had in school, sports, and the neighborhood. I still remember one team my younger son played on many years ago. I’d usually sit in the stands with the same two or three moms and we’d pass the hours chatting about a variety of topics.

One conversation that season stands out above all the others. A mom I’d been sitting with regularly turned to me one afternoon and said, “Ya know, I don’t usually like churchy people, but for some reason I like you.” I was taken aback, not sure if I’d just been complimented or criticized. I don’t even remember what prompted the comment, but I decided to assume she meant to affirm me, so I laughed and retorted, “Why don’t you usually like churchy people?” She spent the next several minutes describing a variety of negative experiences she’d had with Christians throughout her childhood and on into adulthood. She was okay with God in general, but didn’t care much for the people who followed Him. Instead of getting defensive, I just listened and empathized with the hurt she’d experienced.

I’ve spent most of my life in secular settings—I went to public schools from Kindergarten through graduate school. I taught in a secular high school and we intentionally placed our kids in public schools as well. And what I’ve noticed is that many people don’t see Christians in a positive light. There is the occasional exception, but the general attitude I’ve encountered time and time again is that people see Christians as judgmental, self-righteous and hypocritical. Between stereotypes they see in the media and negative personal encounters, many people think Christians have oppressive morality and narrow-minded views. It’s enough to make any follower of Jesus be tempted to keep their faith hidden and silent.

And yet, in his second letter to Timothy, Paul urges Timothy (and all believers) not to be ashamed of the gospel. Beth Moore explains, “We live in a culture where Christianity is plummeting in popularity and where we, instead of Satan, are touted as the enemy.” (Entrusted, p. 62)

We don’t ever need to be ashamed or embarrassed about living according to God’s standards laid out for us in the Bible. Just as Paul encouraged Timothy to guard the deposit of faith entrusted to him, we must pursue the Lord consistently and remember that His ways bring good into our lives and into the world.

Paul gives some clear instructions for how to live a godly life that differs from a worldly one:

“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (2 Tim 2:22-26)

Although nonbelievers may balk at our choice to be different, they can still experience our gentleness and love, which can create opportunities to share more about our faith. The unusual way we live may cause some people to write us off, but others will be intrigued. As they move past negative stereotypes and get to know us, they’ll learn about the foundation we have that remains firm amidst the ever-changing standards of the world.

People are always in process and even those who seem repelled by faith have the capacity to change when they see integrity and authenticity over the long haul. A case in point is my friend from the bleachers years ago. I still bump into her from time to time and am amazed to see that God continues to place Christians (aka “churchy people”) in her path. I’ve seen Him soften her heart and enable her to discover many positive aspects of the Christian faith that she didn’t recognize before.  It’s been a slow journey, but she is moving past her negative experiences and finding herself drawn to others with genuine faith who are pointing her toward God. If I’d been embarrassed by her comments on the bleachers, I would have missed the opportunity to engage her in conversation and to move her one step closer to seeing that Christians aren’t perfect, they are just forgiven people trying to navigate life in a broken world.

Click on the link and celebrate this idea with “Lift My Life Up” by Unspoken.

Beth Moore, Entrusted: A Study of 2 Timothy, Lifeway Press, 2016.

 

Building Your Spiritual Lineage

Pulling out the chair, I glanced over and smiled as we both sat down. I knew most of the people at my nephew’s graduation dinner, but the woman seated next to me was a stranger. Soon after we’d introduced ourselves, I discovered that she and her husband were the leaders of a ministry where my nephew had been involved throughout college. Despite their youthful demeanor, I learned they’d been staff members for several decades with an organization that shared the gospel with students and equipped them to pass it on to others. Having been a part of the same ministry on my college campus, it didn’t take long for us to begin sharing stories and discovering people we both knew. It was one of those “Small World” moments that make you smile, especially in Christian circles.

As Karen told me about the different universities where she’d ministered to students, one part of her story caught my attention. A mentor I’d had for just one year in college had graduated from one of the schools where Karen had served. I lobbed out my leader’s name, wondering if Karen knew her. Nearly jumping out of her seat, she couldn’t contain her enthusiasm, “Wait a minute, you’re telling me that Kim was the staff member that helped you start a Bible study in your sorority?!”

“Yes, do you know her?” I responded with a smile. (I was pretty sure I already knew the answer.)

Karen explained that she’d mentored Kim during her college years and had helped her start a Bible study in her sorority, just as Kim had done for me. Exuberant, Karen finished her story saying, “This is so cool! It’s like you’re my spiritual granddaughter! I hardly ever get the blessing of seeing a second generation of the fruit God bears through our ministry!” Being maybe 10-15 years older than me, her “grandparent” analogy made me laugh.

In the span of that one meal Karen and I went from being perfect strangers to realizing that we were part of the same spiritual lineage. She had accepted Christ in college through a friend in her sorority. She’d gone on to spend her adult life pouring into college students with the gospel that had transformed her. One of the many students she’d discipled was Kim, who later “just happened” to be my Bible study leader for one year in college. It’s a special privilege when we get to see the big picture of how God builds His house one life at a time.

Beth Moore explains, “Practically every child of God has an earthly spiritual ancestry…Taking personal ownership of our spiritual lineage—both in what we receive and what we pass down—is titanic in this Scriptural journey. Whether we are on the younger side of the generational spectrum or older, God’s sovereign way is for optimum fruitfulness and faithfulness to spring from the soil of our connectedness.” (Entrusted, p. 59)

It makes me think of Peter’s description of believers, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5, NIV) Each time we share the gospel and someone receives it, we build God’s spiritual house just a little bigger. With Christ as our foundation, we continue to expand outward and upward, with each part of the house connected to the stones that were laid earlier and supporting the ones that will be added later. The same is true of our spiritual lineage: we received the gospel from those who came before us and we have the privilege of entrusting it to others who come after us.

Standing alone, stones are uninspiring. But when they are stacked together under the watchful eye of a skilled builder and sealed in place with the Holy Spirit, they represent the hope of salvation. It makes me realize how important it is to be intentional about continuing to share with others what has been entrusted to me. If we don’t recognize the crucial role each believer plays in passing on our spiritual lineage to others, it would be like a stone house with holes in the walls.

Take Beth Moore’s words to heart and share God’s faithfulness with someone who needs to hear the gospel. And maybe one day, you’ll be blessed with the opportunity to meet a perfect stranger who turns out to be part of your spiritual lineage.

Micah Tyler’s song “Different” could be a fitting prayer for inviting God to continue His spiritual lineage through you.

Photo courtesy of pixabay.com

Beth Moore, Entrusted: A Study of 2 Timothy, Lifeway Press, 2016.

When Fellowship Fractures

As hard as it is to believe, even deep and godly friendships sometimes fracture. Paul and Barnabas are a case in point. The friendship between them may have begun when Barnabas stood up for Paul when the others were skeptical about the authenticity of his conversion in Acts 9. Later, the Holy Spirit ordained their ministry in Acts 13 and they traveled together sharing the gospel until a disagreement tore them apart. Despite their deep love for God and their history of meaningful fellowship, Acts 15 explains that these two pillars of the faith couldn’t reconcile in their opposite opinions over John Mark accompanying them on their next missionary journey. Barnabas wanted to give him a second chance after a past failure, Paul didn’t. This caused them to split up and to continue sharing the gospel in different places with new ministry partners.

Beth Moore writes about this situation, “One ministry turned into two. You and I both know it doesn’t always happen that way. It takes cooperation. We can stunt God’s redemptive work in our midst with our bitterness, unforgiveness, slander, blame, chronic regret, and unresolved guilt. Or we can go face down and beg God in our fractures to do something bigger with the broken pieces than He might have done with the whole.” (Entrusted, page 36)

Reading her words, I couldn’t help but think of how God used the broken pieces of a former relationship to make me into something better. The friendship I shared with this woman arose from our mutual desire to study God’s Word. We were the only two from our congregation that joined an in-depth Bible study at a neighboring church. After class, we’d stand in the parking lot talking enthusiastically about what we’d learned long after the rest of the cars had pulled away. My son, a toddler at the time, would fuss and squirm in his car seat once his Cheerios ran out or the sippy cup was empty. Finally, I’d have to interrupt her animated sharing with an apology and a promise to continue the conversation later. I could usually feel her disappointment as I pulled away.

A year later, our enthusiasm to study God’s Word with others led us to start a new Bible study for our own church with the help of a seasoned teacher. It was an exciting time of spiritual growth and meaningful fellowship centered on God’s Word. So much so, that I ignored the subtle warning signs that would lead to future problems between us.

Early in our friendship, I’d given her a card expressing my gratitude to God for her. I wrote about how thankful I was that the Lord was using us in each other’s lives and told her I believed He had much more in store for our friendship. I couldn’t wait to see how things would unfold. Although God did use her in my life, what I envisioned when I wrote that card was not at all how things turned out.

Without belaboring the details, over the course of 9 months, our friendship went into a downward spiral because of some boundaries I had to put in place. Although she said she understood, she retreated with hurt and anger. I continued to pursue her to no avail. Soon I found that the groups we’d enjoyed spending time with together were having gatherings without me. Over the months, my heart sank lower and lower as many of our mutual friends backed away from me with little or no explanation. I felt cut off from the fellowship I had once enjoyed so much. This began a dark and lonely season in my life that ultimately led me to counseling.

With the help of a wise and godly therapist, I began to see where things had gone wrong and could take ownership over the unhealthy contributions I’d made to our friendship. I could also identify the things that were solely her issues and not my responsibility. Over the course of more than a year in counseling, I started to understand how the implosion of that friendship was a flash point for some deeper issues that I needed to sort through.

Without that fractured relationship, I never would have recognized the unhealthy perspectives and patterns I’d maintained for many years. I would have stunted God’s redemptive work and prevented Him from refining me through the longstanding struggles in my life. In that difficult season, I learned how to be authentic and vulnerable, how to have safe and healthy relationships, and how to function more wisely with people. Confronting my issues equipped me for opportunities to come alongside others who were struggling in different ways. It has also allowed me to navigate through the inevitable challenges that come whenever people work, serve, study, socialize, or live together (whether they are Christians or not).

I’ve thought many times about that card I wrote to my old friend early in our relationship. God did, indeed, use her in my life. He peeled back some issues that I needed to deal with so that I could reach a healthier place. And although it’s still painful to remember that season, I am ultimately grateful that it became a catalyst for heathy change in my life.

Before my former friend moved away, I tried one last time to reach out by leaving a card on her doorstep.  Although she never responded, I’m glad I told her about how God used our struggles for good in my life. I pray that the same is true for her.

If you’re struggling with a fractured relationship, don’t muddle through it alone. Let the song “Brother” by NEEDTOBREATHE be an encouragement to you today (and if you’re a woman, substitute the word “sister” if it makes you feel better.)

Beth Moore, Entrusted: A Study of 2 Timothy, Lifeway Press 2016.

The Value of a Vertical Focus

The blank wall in our backyard was unremarkable for years. We had ideas for how to spruce it up, but never seemed to find the time. And then one spring afternoon, my husband got inspired. Returning from a trip to the hardware store, he set to work installing small bolts up the wall at evenly spaced intervals. Once he finished, he uncoiled a spool of wire and wound it around each bolt. By the time he was finished, we had a perfect grid ready for a vine.

Strategically digging holes at the base of the latticework, we nestled tiny plants into them. After a few months, they began to grow tall enough for my husband to wind the small tendrils around the wire, training them to attach to it and grow upwards. At first the latticework looked a little lonely and bare, but over time the lush foliage filled in. Now, five years later, the once bare wall is the most noteworthy aspect of our yard. Getting it to look that way took time, patience, and discipline (for which I can take no credit whatsoever).

Every few weeks, new growth and foliage need to be pulled from the wall and either trimmed off or wound around the wire to continue the upward growth. Without human intervention, the wall would be a messy jumble of shoots and leaves with no pattern. It would be unruly and undisciplined.

For some reason, a picture of our latticework wall came to mind as I read a question in Beth Moore’s Entrusted Bible study this week. At the close of Week 1, Day 1, she asks readers “What brings you to your side of this page”?  In other words, why are you doing this study?

If my life was that vine growing up our wall, then God’s Word is what keeps me tethered to the wire when I want to stray out on my own. It helps me to keep a vertical focus so that my worldview, actions and attitudes come from God and not from the standards of our ever-changing culture. Consistently engaging in Bible study for most of my life has allowed healthy patterns to emerge and God’s handiwork to show in my life. His Word grounds me in truth when the world bombards me with lies. It is a firm foundation in unsteady times. It is a plumb line that keeps my thoughts and perspectives aligned with God’s ways instead of the world’s. It is the mirror that shows me my true identity as God’s beloved child when I’m tempted to measure myself by the fickle standards of the world.

When I’m not fighting against Him; when I’m patient over the long haul; when I trust Him even when I don’t understand why He’s allowing a certain hardship– He can do beautiful things in and through me. He sees the whole picture where I see only a small part. He has laid out plans for me, intentionally going before me to stretch out the wires on the wall that beckon me to grow to heights I could never achieve on my own. As I allow His loving hands to wind the tendrils of my life around His latticework, I see that His ways are higher and better than mine.

For me, completing a study guide isn’t a task to be checked off a to do list. We call it “homework” at Bible study, but in reality it’s the gateway to life transformation and the thing that continually keeps my focus exactly where it belongs: on God. And that is what brings me back year after year.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)

“Word of Life” by Jeremy Camp is a song that celebrates Jesus as the Word that became flesh and the truth found in God’s Word. Click on the link to hear it.

 

 

Pouring Out What’s Been Poured In

Clutching her hand, my voice quavered as I looked up, pleading. “Tell me again, mom, tell me again.” Leaning down to kiss me goodbye, she handed me my lunch and reassured me gently, “Jesus is holding your hand. Just remember, even when I can’t be with you, He can. Even if you can’t feel Him, you can trust that He’s there.” The lump in my throat slowly shrank and my courage returned as I pulled on my backpack and joined my siblings for the car ride to school.

Starting first grade at a new school in a new town hadn’t been easy. Every night as I climbed into bed, my stomach twisted in nervous knots. Every morning I fought back tears as my dad dropped me off. But all of that had changed once my mom started reassuring me about Jesus’ love and care for me.  She was the first person to entrust me with the good news of the gospel. Throughout my childhood, she used her gifts to share God’s Word-whether it was reading stories to me from Scripture or teaching  neighborhood kids at an after-school Bible class in our home.

As I got older, other people came into my life to shape and encourage my faith as well. There was Micki Ann, my wise small group leader during high school who patiently poured into a gaggle of teenage girls despite having a toddler and a newborn of her own. Later in my college years, I had a string of mentors who entrusted me with God’s Word and coached me to become a leader among my peers. Julia, Kim, Stacy and Kelly each left an indelible mark on me during that season by encouraging me to stand apart from the crowd and follow Jesus. In young motherhood, there was Melinda, who taught me how to be a godly wife and mom and Courtney, who helped me to understand my identity in Christ and the importance of healthy boundaries.

And of course, throughout adulthood there have been mentors I didn’t know personally who have shaped my faith by entrusting me with Biblical truth: Kay Arthur, Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Kelly Minter, to name a few.

All of these women and others like them poured into me in the same way others had poured into them. They used their varied gifts to nurture my faith, to draw out my potential, and to help me discover how God could use me. And like them, I’ve had the blessing and privilege of spurring on others in their walks with Jesus. Some have been formal mentoring relationships, others have sprung up naturally over time. Some I still see regularly, while others I rarely get to connect with anymore.

The cycle of being entrusted with the gospel and then sharing it with others has repeated from one generation to the next for over two thousand years. The pages of the New Testament are filled with examples of people pouring out their lives to pour the gospel into others. Their names and surroundings were different, but the cycle remains the same. All followers of Jesus share the call to entrust the gospel to others using the gifts God has given them.

Paul puts perfect words to this when he urges Timothy saying, “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us….And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 1:13-14 and 2:2, NIV)

Over the next few months I’m going to spend some time on this idea of pouring out what’s been poured into us.  I’ll draw on inspiration from Beth Moore’s Bible study, Entrusted: A Study of 2 Timothy (Lifeway Press 2016). Whether you do the study or just follow along with my posts, I pray that you’ll be encouraged, inspired and challenged to discover more of what God has entrusted to you and how you’re being called to share it with others.

 

 

 

 

Faith Foundations #10: Choose Your Path Wisely

We’d been on the trail many times before and I assumed my friend knew the way back to the car.  But as we approached the final fork in the road, I realized I was wrong. Veering left on the wide trail that looked like the obvious choice, she looked at me quizzically as I pointed her in the other direction.  The narrow path to our right looked less worn and more treacherous, but I knew it was the fastest way back to the car. She laughed at her poor sense of direction and turned to join me.

The timing seemed uncanny.  All summer I’d been anticipating sending my son to college and we’d had many conversations about the choices that he’d face once he got there. My husband and I had been encouraging him to “pre-decide” what he’d do in potentially compromising or awkward situations. We wanted him to know which path he’d choose when he came to a fork in the road of life choices. The term “pre-decide,” originally coined by author and Bible teacher Lysa TerKeurst, echoes Jesus’ sentiments in Matthew 7:13-14:

  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Often the ways of the world are like that wide path my friend was heading down without thinking—the route seems obvious, easy and comfortable. The wide road leads in the direction most people seem to be going; it’s the path of least resistance.  If we don’t “pre-decide,” it’s the way we’ll end up taking by default.

The narrow path, on the other hand, isn’t the obvious choice, but it’s the best one. Sometimes we’ll find ourselves walking alone as others abandon us for less challenging journeys.  But if we’re wise, we’ll heed Jesus’ advice to avoid the destruction that awaits us at the end of the wide and easy road.

I’ve spent most of my adult life choosing the narrow path. Sometimes others have joined me or cheered me on, other times they’ve mocked me or distanced themselves from me.  But I’ve never regretted choosing it, whether it’s been popular with others or not. And along the way, I’ve been deeply blessed by those who have joined me on it.

Maybe you’re wondering what it looks like to choose the narrow path in daily life. If so, I hope one of these examples brings clarity:

We choose the narrow path when we care more about honoring God than we do about fitting in with others.

We choose the narrow path when we make the hard choice to do the right thing, even when it puts us at a disadvantage.

We choose the narrow path when we say “yes” to an opportunity that’s going to stretch and challenge us beyond our comfort zone.

We choose the narrow path when we refuse to allow someone to convince us that a sin is “harmless” or “no big deal.”

We choose the narrow path when doing things God’s way costs us more time or money or when it inconveniences us in some way.

We choose the narrow path when we opt to spend time alone rather than being with people who are going to pressure us to compromise our faith, values, or morals.

We choose the narrow path when we stand up for what’s right even when no one else seems to care or notice.

We choose the narrow path when we give without expecting anything in return.

We choose the narrow path when we favor humility over self-glorification.

We choose the narrow path when we forgive instead of seeking revenge or nursing a grudge.

We choose the narrow path when we care more about blessing others than creating comfort for ourselves.

The narrow path may feel daunting at times, but Jesus promises it’s always the way to life. I’d rather trust the One who died for me than take the easy way following the crowd.

“Hard Love” by NeedtoBreathe is a great song to motivate you as you walk the narrow road. Click on the link and let it inspire you.

 

Faith Foundation #8: Trust and Obey

She was one of those students brimming with potential. As her freshman English teacher, I was eager to see her tap into it, but she seemed more interested in boys, clothes and popularity. When she did turn in work, it was mediocre at best. And then one day, she surprised me with a new attitude. Handing me a completed assignment, she gushed, “I worked on this all night, I can’t wait for you to see it.” Pleased by her newfound enthusiasm, I leafed through the stack of papers later that day eager to find hers. To my disappointment, the assignment she’d completed didn’t follow the guidelines I’d explained to the class. It was obvious she’d put a lot of effort into creating some beautiful artwork, but none of the other requirements had been met. There was no way I could give her full credit for it. I’d explained the instructions verbally and in writing, but she’d chosen to ignore them and do things her way.

Handing the assignment back the next day, I affirmed her for her effort, but explained why she didn’t earn the maximum points possible. Sadly, no amount of encouragement or explanation I gave her could break through her stubborn shell. She glared at me with arms folded for the rest of the period. As the year progressed, I think she saw me as an unreasonable and unfair task master. Eventually, she just gave up trying. Her stubbornness and pride led her to miss the opportunity to learn from the experience.

While I would never be so presumptuous as to equate myself with God, I think many of us see Him similarly to the way my student saw me all those years ago. We want to approach Him on our terms instead of His. Rather than taking the time to learn how to live faithfully and obediently, we follow our own path and then don’t understand why we don’t feel more connected to Him.

Accepting God’s free gift of grace offered through Jesus marks the beginning of a lifelong process of growing in a relationship with Him. Author and pastor Eugene Peterson describes this journey as “a long obedience in the same direction.” That “o” word (obedience) is a hard one to accept in our culture today. Like my student, most of us want to do things on our terms. We pray hoping God will bend to our wills instead of inviting His will to be done. The idea of obeying Him doesn’t sound nearly as attractive as the free gift of grace.  Yet, the two were meant to go hand in hand.

Jesus taught His disciples about the importance of obedience saying: “If you love me, keep my commands… Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:15 & 21, NIV)

Years after hearing Jesus teach, John expanded on the importance of obedience by explaining, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says,’I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:3-6, NIV)

The idea is that once we receive God’s grace, we show our love for Him by responding with obedience. Doing this makes His love complete in us over the course of a lifetime. It shows that we trust Him, whether or not we understand what He’s doing.

I’m guessing right now you may be wondering two things. First, how are we supposed to know all of the commands Jesus wants us to obey? Second, how can I ever follow them obediently when I still struggle with sin every day?

The short answer to the first question is simple: you need to read the Bible consistently. The more you study Scripture, the more it will study you. As you discover God’s plan for your life and begin to incorporate His ways into your choices, you’ll begin to surrender different areas of your life that you’ve been trying to control on your own.  As you respond to His Word by trusting Him and taking steps of obedience, you begin walking a new path that puts God in the lead instead of you. Make time consistently to study His Word intently, discuss it with others, wrestle in prayer over the things you don’t understand, and ultimately you will be changed by it.

Going back to the second question above, you may be wondering how it’s possible for an imperfect and sinful person to be obedient and walk as Jesus did. We can’t be obedient to God based on our own will power or good intentions. Jesus knew this, which is why when He explained the importance of obedience to the disciples, He also said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you…the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:16, 17, 26, NIV)

When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live in us. He is our tutor, our guide, and our advocate. He gives us wisdom when we ask for it, He convicts us when we’re dabbling with sin, and He gently leads us in the way God calls us to go. He speaks to us through God’s Word, searches our hearts, and intercedes for us in our prayers (see Romans 8:26-27 if you’ve never heard this before).

God’s grace gives us access to Him for eternity but our trust and obedience are the keys to living the abundant life He intends for us now. Not surprisingly, there aren’t many popular songs today about the concept of obedience.  There is, however, a great old hymn called “Trust and Obey.” Click on the link to hear Big Daddy Weave’s version of this song and let the truth of the lyrics marinate in your mind.

Faith Foundation #7: Making It Personal

Sifting through the pile of mail, I ripped papers in half before tossing them in the recycle bin when the bold print on one letter caught my eye: “Enjoy a 7-day cruise for two, our gift to you!” Without another thought, I tore up the offer and threw it in with the rest of the junk mail.  Maybe I was missing the opportunity of a lifetime, but I’ve always been taught that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.  That piece of mail started me thinking, though.  How many “special offers” do we discard without checking to see if they’re legitimate? Have I ever missed out on something good just because I didn’t make the effort to redeem it?

If you’ve been following along with my last few posts, you know I’ve been exploring some foundations of the Christian faith. You might remember that God extends each person an offer that surpasses any others we might receive: the gift of eternal life.  I’ve written about some key truths in the Christian faith that paved the way for today’s message:

  • Truth #1 God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.
  • Truth #2 There is a problem, sin separates us from God.
  • Truth #3: Jesus Christ is the only way we can have eternal life and experience God’s love.

Many people have heard snippets of these messages but sometimes fail to see the big picture.  They’ve been told that Jesus died for the sins of all people, but aren’t aware of this fourth key truth: Each person must individually place faith in Jesus Christ as Savior in order to receive the gift of salvation and to learn God’s plan for his or her life.

Jesus’ death was not just a blanket insurance policy that automatically covers everyone and saves all people from their sins.  Just like any other special offer, we must choose to redeem it personally in order to receive it.

John 1:12 puts it this way: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

And Ephesians 2:8-9 clarifies that it is God’s grace activated by our faith that saves us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Grace is God’s unmerited favor bestowed upon us.  An easy way to define it is by using this acrostic:

God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense

Like the special offer I received in the mail with my name on it, God extends a personal invitation for us to begin a relationship with Him and to receive eternal life through Christ. Jesus says in Revelation 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Eating a meal with someone signifies a relationship– Jesus is ready and waiting to begin an individual relationship with each person, but it’s up to us personally to open the door and let Him in.

Deciding to accept God’s grace and to begin a relationship with Him is not just an intellectual decision or an emotionally charged “spiritual high.” It is an act of the will made by faith. It is the beginning of a new and thrilling journey of trusting God and learning to lean into Him no matter what comes your way. Jesus explained that when we begin a relationship with Him, we are born into a new life. (You can read about this in John 3.) This choice for spiritual re-birth shifts our focus away from self and onto God.

If you’ve never accepted Jesus’ offer for a personal relationship with God and eternal life, you can simply pray something like this:

 Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Please take control of my life and make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.

Choosing to accept Christ is cause for celebration! Whether you did it for the first time just now, or many years ago, put words to your joy by listening to Jason Gray’s song “More Like Falling in Love.” (And if it was your first time, be sure to tell someone who can help you continue to grow spiritually.)

*Note that the four key truths discussed in my recent posts were all adapted from The Four Spiritual Laws, originally compiled by Dr. Bill Bright. Click here if you would like to read them as they were originally written for the international ministry he founded called Campus Crusade for Christ (now called Cru.)

*All Scriptures in this post are from the NIV 1984 version

 

Faith Foundation #6: Inclusive Exclusivity

Neatly pressed tablecloths rustled as we walked past them on the way to our table. Starched napkins stood at attention flanked by place settings arranged with perfect symmetry. The hostess smiled as she showed us to our seats and handed us menus. A wall of windows nearby gave us a perfect view of the pristine beach where the club’s lounge chairs and umbrellas were stationed in neat rows. Beyond them, the Pacific Ocean gleamed as the sun sank low on the horizon. Although I’d seen the exclusive beach club from a distance many times, I’d never had the privilege of stepping inside it before. I felt honored to be there.

At the time, I was in college and had been invited to a birthday dinner for a friend whose parents belonged to the club. Because of her, I’d been allowed access to all of the amenities enjoyed by the members. As her guest, the staff treated me warmly and attentively.  I felt welcomed, included, and accepted, at least for the night.  I knew full well that if I’d returned the next evening on my own, I wouldn’t have been allowed past the front door.

Have you ever had a glimpse into an exclusive place that you knew you couldn’t gain access to on your own? Ever known that your only way to get acceptance was riding on the coat tails of someone with more clout than you?

Well, if you know how that feels, then I have good news for you: God made it possible for you to gain access to the one place that is more exclusive than any other.  It is a place reserved only for those who are perfect, holy and sinless. Anyone without these qualifications would simply be destroyed. Where is this place, you ask? It is in the presence of God for eternity.

If you’ve been following along, you may remember that the last few posts in my Faith Foundations series have been discussing four key truths that are crucial to understand in the Christian faith. Here’s a quick review:

  • Truth #1 God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.
  • Truth #2 There is a problem, sin separates us from God.

Today’s post explains Truth #3: Jesus Christ is the only way we can have eternal life and experience God’s love.

Romans 5:8 explains our pitiful state and God’s solution to it: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  And Jesus says it clearly in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

In our pluralistic society, saying there is only one way to connect with God is outlandish and even offensive to some people.  The irony, however, is that God’s grace makes the Christian faith more inclusive than any other religion.  God knew His standard of perfection could never be reached by sinful humans. No matter how “good” we try to be, we will never be good enough to “earn” a place in heaven.  In human terms, this makes God’s “club” the most exclusive ever, with no one being allowed entrance. And yet, because of His desire to be in relationship with us, God made a way into His exclusive “club” through His Son, Jesus. For anyone seeking a direct relationship with God and hoping for eternal life in His presence, Jesus is the only conduit.  All we have to do is admit we need Jesus to save us from our sins. This is God’s grace, His free gift to us. Anything “good” we do after we accept Christ is simply an expression of our gratitude, not an act done to earn God’s love or to rack up spiritual brownie points.

Thinking back to that night I was a guest at the beach club, I smile as I remember the name of the friend who took me there: Grace. Just as my relationship with her enabled me to experience the pleasure and privilege of her parents’ exclusive club, a relationship with Jesus enables us to receive the joy and honor of knowing His Father.  Anyone that comes to God through His son receives grace, forgiveness and acceptance. He is indeed, the one true God who made a way to be inclusive despite His exclusivity.

The song “One True God” by Steven Curtis Chapman elaborates on this idea and uses some key phrases from Scripture to show Jesus as the one true path to salvation.

For further reading on this topic, consider one of the following:

  •  The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
  •  More Than a Carpenter by Josh and Sean McDowell

Photo courtesy of www.pixabay.com, Scriptures from the NIV translation