Settled and Firm in Christ

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Our nation has become a very contentious society. If we don’t agree with a person’s point of view, that person often will simply shut them out. I once had a Facebook friend who posted on his timeline that if any of his “friends” voted for a particular statewide candidate then they could delete him right then. Even though I had not voted for that person, I deleted him as a friend, as I saw no benefit to attempt a relationship with such a closed-minded person.

During an election year, the atmosphere can be very unsettling, as all candidates strive to convince voters to cast their vote for them. Promises are made. Each side thinks their candidate is the one to lead us. Once the vote has been counted, we hope to put our differences aside and work for the betterment of our nation. This unofficial “down time” after an election can allow us to settle down to a more normal routine with no campaign rhetoric. In any election, some are bitter, others overjoyed. I like the statement someone made that said that a bird’s left wing and right wing are both part of the same bird. The same holds for our country. This article is about how we, as Christians should move forward after the election frenzy. Our faith extends beyond party loyalties. In the aftermath of an election our faith needs to take on two characteristics. We need to be Settled and we need to Stand Firm. These characteristics should be seen in our faith, in our love, and in our hope. Those who do not share our political views should not be vilified, denigrated, or dismissed.

Settled. What does it mean to be settled? Although the Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives several shades of meaning to this word, I think two of them are particularly relevant. The first is “to make quiet or orderly.” The second definition is “to close,” to bring the matter to a conclusion. We have differing worldviews and no conclusive solution is likely to be found for all issues. But we can strive to be civil to each other and live in an orderly fashion without hostility. We can respect the views of others without resorting to personal attacks. We must come together. As Jesus stated in Luke 11:17 (CEV) “A kingdom where people fight each other will end up in ruin. And a family that fights will break up.” Is that what we want?

Stand Firm. Merriam-Webster defines this idiom as refusing to change a decision or position, but that doesn’t cover it from a Biblical perspective. It sounds stubborn. As Christians we should take our faith seriously and refuse to compromise but we can be open to new revelations in Scripture. In our faith, as in our lives, we should be flexible and open to new views. I Corinthians 15:58 tells us “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.” While holding to what we believe, Paul is telling us to excel in the work of the Lord. I would take that a step further. As Christians, there is no secular, everything we do should be for the Lord. Our jobs, our recreation, everything we do is the work of the Lord and should be done to the best of our abilities.

Our Faith. Our faith is in Jesus Christ, and Him alone. While we may look to and admire politicians, business persons, relatives, and even ministers we must never forget where our faith ultimately resides. In Genesis 12 God made a covenant with Abram that He would make him into a great nation through which all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (v. 3) “Abram believed the Lord and the Lord was pleased with him and accepted him.” (CEV Genesis 15:6). Abraham was not perfect but he placed His faith in God. Abraham’s people, the Israelites, often struggled, but returned to God. This promise from God that all the families of the earth would be blessed through the Israelites is one of the remaining 500 or so prophecies in the Bible that have yet to be fulfilled.

Our faith is the foundation of who we are. The old hymn expresses it well “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word!” Regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we need not despair. God is in control. Adam Clayton Powell was a minister turned politician. Although he strayed from his faith and ran into some legal difficulties, he made a profound statement. “Keep the faith because God’s realities always exceed man’s fondest dreams. Keep faith in God… He’ll make a way out of no way. He’ll open doors that no one can open and shut doors that no one can shut.” God can make a way. God will make a way. On His timetable, not ours. Keep the faith.

Our Love. The Sermon on the Mount is generally regarded as one of the most famous speeches ever. This sermon contains many ethical demands. Taken as a whole, this sermon tells us much of what Jesus regarded as necessary for us to function as Christians. In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus talked about love, casting a broad net as to whom we should love. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

We are to pray for our enemies. Our enemies, according to the Bible, are the world, the flesh, and Satan. 2 John 2:15-17 tells us not to love the world. If we don’t follow this, the love of God is not in us. But we are told to pray for the world.

I once taught at a college that had a student-led group called “Love in Action.” While there is nothing unique about this name, it tells us about how our love works in the world. It is a love of action. We recently had a couple of hurricanes blow through my community and a friend of mine posted this on Facebook “We intentionally aren’t going anywhere, so that we can be a part of our community and the clean up efforts as this storm takes place. If you are in the Lakeland area and find yourself in need of help, please reach out.” That is love in action.

Our Hope should be in Jesus Christ alone. While humans on this earth may do some good things, people often fail. It has long been a goal of mine to end well. I have seen countless individuals who were looked up to, put on a pedestal, and fell. Some indiscretion in their lifehas brought them down. I won’t name any names but all of us can think of those who fell from man’s idolization. Man will fail. If we place our hope in a mankind we will ultimately be disappointed. I am reminded of the old hymn by William Bradbury

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, our Hope. We may fail Him, but He will not fail us. He does not promise to remove all difficulties but He will see us through them. Fix our eyes and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14 KJV).

When we are discouraged, when we face rejection, when inexplicable events occur, where do you turn? Place your hope in Christ. Make it a priority to keep yourfocus on Him. He is our solid Rock. Men and women, including those calling themselves Christians, may fail. Christ never fails. Settle on Christ.

 

Photo Credit to Gerd Altmann and John Hall on Pixabay.

All scripture is the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise indicated.

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Have You Learned to be Content?

I have always struggled with Phillippians 4:11, which reads “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” I recently realized that my problem with this verse is the word “content.” Other versions use satisfied, but the large majority use my stumbling-block word. The Amplified Bible adds a parenthetical comment “satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted whatever state I am.”  Those parenthetical comments, using the words disturbed or disquieted help us understand what we should seek.

Content. I studied this word and realized that I was not looking at a full definition of the word. One definition in Mirriam-Webster defines the verb as “to limit (oneself) in requirements, desires, or actions.”  The Cambridge Dictionary reads “to make someone feel happy and satisfied.” These definitions exhibit my prior thoughts about this word.  If that’s the way you think of this word, then you probably have some of the same feelings that I have about it in this passage. Using these definitions, we just sit back, be happy, and take whatever comes. I don’t think that’s it al all.

Clarence L. Haynes, Jr., whom I consider to be a very insightful Christian author and teacher, states regarding being content “This does not mean you don’t push to be better, do more, or to advance. It means you don’t use that as the measure of your satisfaction. As Christians, this is necessary because the opposite of contentment is disappointment, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness. If you search for contentment in the wrong places, it can lead to making harmful choices.” In other words, Haynes is not telling us that the content Christian should not strive for improvement. Sounds good, but what does that mean? How do we exhibit Christian contentment?

The difference is our focus. We should look to God for our contentment. Philippians 4;13 reads “can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Notice that Paul did not say he (or we) could do all things, He said “ I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me.” 

Things to Avoid. If we are to be content there are some things to avoid. First, we should not look to humans for our contentment. Psalm 146:3 (CEV) reads “You can’t depend on anyone,  not even a great leader.”  Jeremiah 17:5 is a little more forceful “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength.” Finally, I would give you Psalm 118:8-9 (CEV) “It is better to trust the Lord for protection than to trust anyone else, including strong leaders.”  Don’t look to others to make you content. Man will fail you. God never fails.

Second, don’t focus on possessions. Matthew 24:35 reads “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Everything you’ve accumulated over your lifetime will be gone. I was recently cleaning out my house in anticipation of a move and I realized much of what I had accumulated was things that had memories for me. They stirred up pleasant thoughts, but my kids didn’t want many of those things. They were my possessions that meant little to them. I gained a new insight into possessions.

Third, Don’t make promotions in your work or growth of your business your source of contentment. If your identity is in your work, you lose that identity when you lose your job – either from being fired, or from retirement. Having retired twice, as a professor and as a CPA, I can attest that there is a dislocation. But God had more for me. I am more than a teacher and a bean-counter.

Fourth, don’t pursue personal achievements to become content. There is nothing wrong with personal achievements. I used to run and participated in many road races, including two marathons. I was thrilled to finish the first one under my goal time. But I immediately started looking to the next one and was hoping to shave thirty minutes off that time. I didn’t achieve that goal. Personal achievements can be fulfilling to pursue, but don’t wrap your identity in those achievements. In road races, as in many other aspects of life, there is only one first place. If we set realistic goals for ourselves, we can “win” when we meet those goals. The only trophy I ever got in running was for 12th place in the Senior Division. But I achieved my goal and I felt like a winner.

Fifth. Don’t set prosperity as your goal. Larry Burkett, who founded Christian Financial Concepts, now Crown Financial Ministries, once responded to the question “How much is enough?” His response? “Just a little more.”

Sixth, earthly pleasures will not make you content. That bucket-list vacation you took? It ended. Your dream car you finally bought? It wore out. Your new house that tops the Jones’ house just got upstaged by a newer, bigger house down the street. I am not saying there is anything wrong with these, but they do not bring a lifetime of contentment. You’ll always want more.

How to be content. Now that we have seen what will not make us content, what do we need to achieve contentment from a Christian perspective. First, do focus on eternal life. In  2 Peter 3:13, the apostle wrote “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” Think of that – “a place where righteousness dwells” – that’s where I want to spend all my days. Eternity is a difficult concept. Here on earth, time often enslaves us as we attempt to accomplish more on earth. I think I am fairly safe in saying that Heaven has no clocks. Our eternal life will be unhurried, with everything in its “time.”

Second, do focus on things above. In Colossians 3:2, Paul, who was taken up to see heaven before his death, writes “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.” Paul had seen heaven and earth. Obviously, heaven was the better choice, as he relates. In his recent book What Comes Next?, Max Lucado writes that your best day on earth will pale in comparison to our experience in heaven. 

Third, do focus on His decrees. In Psalm 119:112, the Psalmist writes “I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes. Forever, even to the end.” God has set his laws, his instructions to us. We should focus on what God has told us to do. In the 1990’s a popular phrase in the Jesus movement was “WWJD.” What Would Jesus Do? I was surprised to discover that this phrase grew out of the Biblical concept of “Imitatio Christi” or “Imitation of Christ” in the 1400’s. In 1890 Reverend Charles Sheldon introduced this phrase to a wider audience and preached a series of sermons to address the question of how to imitate Christ in modern society. He ended each sermon with the question “What would Jesus do?” From the positive response to his sermons, he wrote the best seller In His Steps, which became a Christian classic. Interestingly the book became widely published by 70 publishers due to a defective copyright. (God works in mysterious ways).

Fourth, do focus on Jesus. Heb 3:1 reads (CEV) “My friends, God has chosen you to be his holy people. So think about Jesus, the one we call our apostle and high priest!” But the writer doesn’t stop there. In the following verses, he explains why we should think about Jesus. He was faithful to the appointment God gave Him. He emphasizes that man may build things, but the reality is that God is the builder of everything.

In Hebrews 12:1-2, the point is made stronger as the author states “let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, (my emphasis) the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

To focus is to concentrate, to direct our attention on something. If I am watching a closely played sporting event, I am going to be laser-focused on that game. At that point, nothing else matters. We should have that same focus on Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:18, Paul (as usual) doesn’t mince words “He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

We live in a fallen world. Keeping our focus on Jesus doesn’t just happen. We need to be diligent in our Christian disciplines, especially prayer and Bible study. My wife and I were just talking about another aspect of focusing. We need to surround ourselves with Christian friends. We become like those we associate with. Spending time with fellow Christians can help us maintain proper focus.

Fifth, we should focus on grace. Merriam Webster defines grace in relation to God as “a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance.” I grew up in a church named Grace Baptist. It was frequently uttered that GRACE is an acronym for “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense. Christ made God’s riches available to us for the asking.

I Peter 1:13 (CEV) tells us to “Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how God will treat you with undeserved grace when Jesus Christ appears.” There is much to ponder in this short passage, but I want to focus on three things. One, we are to be alert and straight-thinking. We just need to watch people and see that this is not common today. Two, we need to put our hope in how God will treat us. If we live for Him, he will treat us with undeserved grace. Third, this will happen when Christ appears – He IS coming back. 

Sixth, we should focus on others with compassion and mercy. Jesus was a compassionate person when he walked on this earth. In the feeding of the 5,000 (plus women and children) Matthew relates that “When He came ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” (14:14). In the same instance, it was past dinner time and the disciples came to Him, suggesting He send them away to find food for themselves. Jesus would have none of that, he had a miracle in mind. He took five loaves and two fish and made enough to feed everybody with food left over.

Again in Matthew, the disciple relates the parable of the unforgiving slave. The master had forgiven the slave a large debt, but the slave did not have mercy on his fellow slave for not forgiving a much smaller debt. The master handed him over to be punished. Jesus commanded mercy on our part, saying “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (18:35). The Golden Rule from Matthew 7:12 (CEV) should be our standard operating procedure. “Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.”

Be content with what is missing. VJ Dunn is a favorite author who writes relatable Christian fiction (her words, not mine). She recently sent an email that expresses that she is thankful for what’s missing in her life. I’ve summarized her list slightly:

  1. I don’t have an illness, other than old  age aches and pains.
  2. I don’t have a desire for more, better, faster. I am a very content person.
  3. I don’t have debilitating addictions. My real addiction is reading.
  4. Best of all, I don’t have the fear of death any longer, thanks to my Savior who defeated death on that cross?

VJ has learned to be content in her circumstances. As the scriptures tell us repeatedly, Christ is enough. Why not make Christ enough in your life? Be content.

 

Scripture is from the NASB unless otherwise stated.

Photo credits from Pixabay – Vilius Icvlsanauskas, Mani Samva, Igor, Pobobriy, Vicki Hamilton.

 

 

 

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Are You Fully Equipped?

Paul wrote many letters which have been preserved and maintained in the New Testament. Most of these were written to a church or other group of believers. However, three of these letters were written to specific individuals – I and II Timothy and Titus. Hence, we see detailed instructions to these individuals. In II Timothy 3, Paul is encouraging Timothy to maintain his passion for Christ and to remain firm in sound doctrine. In the first part of this chapter, he tells Timothy that difficult times are ahead (verses 1-5) “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.” Remember that time has no relevance to God, He is timeless. In God’s view, we are to always be prepared, as Christ could rapture the saints at any time. So, in a very real sense, we are in the last times and have been since the ascension of Jesus.

In II Corinthians 12:4-7, we see that Paul “was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak…Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!” So he speaks with authority in regard to the difficult times ahead that he describes in II Timothy.

Paul continues, exhorting Timothy to remain faithful to the scriptures, stating in verses 16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. At first glance, one might think that Paul was being repetitive here to make his point. But a deeper look indicates different shades of meaning for these four words.

Teaching. Biblically, this word has many interpretations – to teach, to instruct systematically, to train, to hand down tradition, to correct or counsel, to command. Looking at this vast Biblical vocabulary, it is obvious that God wants His people to study and learn scripture. Further, we see that God planned for teaching to occur in two primary contexts. Teaching is delegated to the family and to God’s family, the church. This places a tremendous responsibility on parents to give their children instruction in the way of God. Parents can teach in a formal manner, such as a daily devotional or Bible study for the family. But it also includes using “teachable moments” that arise in everyday life. Both can be effective teaching methodologies. And this teaching is not limited to parents, but to grandparents and other extended family.

But not just the parents, God has provided for spiritually gifted leaders to teach its members. This would be more in a context of Sunday school, small group studies, and pastoral teaching from the pulpit. I recall that as a young person growing up in a Southern Baptist Church we had “Sword Drills” in which a scripture verse would be annouced and we would try to be the first to find that scripture in our Bibles. Looking back, I see what a valuable tool that has become for me through the years, To this day, I can find any scripture verse quickly. 

Rebuke. This word conveys a strong expression of disapproval, reproof, or correction. The King James Dictionary defines rebuke as “To reprimand; strongly warn; restrain.” To rebuke someone is to point out to the offending person an observed sinful behavior. The Greek derivative, elegcho, means to reprimand and convict by exposing a wrong. Rebuke should alway be handled carefully, done in love and with a great deal of discernment. In rebuking someone, keep in mind you are doing so to help the person become aware of their sinful behavior, not to demonstrate your superior spirituality. Tread softly in how this is done, or you may drive them further from Christ. And be certain the Holy Spirit is calling on you to rebuke that person.

A third thing I would point out about rebuke is that the intended target of rebuke is to a fellow believer. It is not intended to be used when talking with an unbeliever. That situation calls for an entirely different approach.

 I don’t recall it being listed as one of the spiritual gifts. It is portrayed as an act of love and concern for the spiritual growth and maturity of fellow believers.  Above all, when rebuking someone, follow biblical guidelines.

Correction. This word involves changing something wrong to make it right or better. If I am driving somewhere and take a wrong turn, I need to make a correction in my route to get back toward my destination. Three words are used in the Bible to connote correction. Yasar and musar in the Old Testament and pideuo in the New. All three of these words connote corrective discipline. God seeks for us to change directions for our betterment, godliness, and protection. 

Scripture is replete with lawful boundaries for our behavior. Along with these boundaries, God has placed authorities to enforce the boundaries. Romans 13:1-4 affirms this. “Every person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.” There are certainly issues with authorities who abuse their power, but that is beyond the scope of this discussion.

Paul also discusses correction of Christians exhibiting unhealthy behaviors. This falls short of rebuke but could lead to it. Matthew 18:15-18 (CEV) reads “If one of my followers sins against you, go and point out what was wrong. But do it in private, just between the two of you. If that person listens, you have won back a follower. But if that one refuses to listen, take along one or two others. The Scriptures teach that every complaint must be proven true by two or more witnesses. If the follower refuses to listen to them, report the matter to the church. Anyone who refuses to listen to the church must be treated like an unbeliever or a tax collector.” One of the key takeaways here is what to do with the one who refuses to listen. How should we treat an unbeliever? We don’t ignore him, we attempt to bring him to salvation.

Training. In this context, training is more than the previously-discussed teaching. Training has been described as more of an intentional process or disciplined instruction. Think of teaching as a weekly meeting at church or in someone’s home and anyone is free to attend. Training, on the other hand, would be represented by a disciplined period of instruction usually with the same small group of participants. The study is usually focused on a certain aspect of the Christian life. 

For example, for a number of years, I was involved with the Discipleship Training curriculum in the Southern Baptist Church. We had a number of studies on Discipleship, PrayerLife, Experiencing God, First Place, and The Mind of Christ. These typically lasted from three to six months in a closed small-group setting, focusing on a particular aspect of the Christian walk.

Biblical training should be a holistic process that encompasses all aspects of our being – body, mind, and spirit while helping Christians  in moral, spiritual,and intellectual development. In I Corinthians 9:24-27 (CEV) Paul compares the Christian life to a race. “You know that many runners enter a race, and only one of them wins the prize. So run to win! Athletes work hard to win a crown that cannot last, but we do it for a crown that will last forever. I don’t run without a goal. And I don’t box by beating my fists in the air. I keep my body under control and make it my slave, so I won’t lose out after telling the good news to others.” This same physical discipline should be evident in all aspects of our spiritual growth. 

In Ephesians 4:12-13 we see the role of leaders in the church is ‘for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” The discipline of training rarely seems pleasant at the time. I spent many years in college, training for my chosen profession. As a runner, I spent hours pounding the pavement in preparation for upcoming road races. There were times I wanted to quit both of these. I was tired, sore, brain dead. Yet, by keeping my eye on the prize, I persevered.

In the past, I’ve heard that certain churches would “dip ‘em and drop ‘em,” meaning their focus was on evangelism and getting people baptized but offered little in terms of training. That is a short-sighted focus. The church should take a holistic view of the believer. And the believer should be proactive in becoming the Child of God he or she was intended to be. Resources abound. What keeps you from being “Fully Equipped?”

 

All scripture is from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

Photo credit to RDNE Stock on Pexels, Stocksnap on Pixabay, Manseok_Kim on Pixabay, and Geralt on Pixabay.

 

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Stand Up in Faith

Faith in God often leads us into unknown territory. When threats to our faith arise we can stand up or slink out. A well-known pastor tells the tale of a house church meeting surreptitiously in a persecuted land. Suddenly, the doors burst open and a military attachment entered the room. The leader told everyone “Hands Up! If you are not a believer in Christ, you may leave.” Several people left and the leader closed and locked the door. He then uttered an astounding statement. “Now, raise your hands in praise to our God!” This military leader wanted to weed out the pretenders. I sometimes wish we could have a test to weed out those who proclaim Christ only when it is easy or convenient. I think that’s why the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego has always intrigued me, even from childhood. I have seen people who claimed to be Christian but seem lackadaisical in their relationship with Him. I will leave the judgment to God.

Daniel Prays and Interprets. As background, King Nebuchandezzar had a dream that none of his wise men, magicians, and astrologers could interpret, even though they claimed to be connected to the gods. The king was rather cagey asking his spiritual advisors to first recount the dream. They obviously couldn’t, the king was furious, and ordered them all killed. Daniel, who was not included in this group, heard of the decree and realized he was under a death sentence also. Daniel and his friends prayed for a revelation. God gave Daniel a vision. He then requested an audience with the king. When this was granted, he related the dream. “You, O king, were watching and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary radiance, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its chest and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and its feet partly of iron and partly of clay” (Daniel 2:31-33). He then related that the king saw the statue crushed to pieces. 

Daniel added that Nebuchandezzar was the head of gold. Apparently, Nebuchandezzar only heard the part about him being the greatest of the four kings and ignored the destruction part. He ordered a statue to be built and worshiped by all. Those who did not were condemned to die in a burning furnace. 

The Chaldeans Target Daniel’s  Friends. There is likely a backstory. Daniel had been made ruler of Babylon as a result of His interpretation. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had been appointed over the administration of Babylon. After the statue was built, certain Chaldeans reported to the king that these three did not worship the golden statue. One must wonder where Daniel was, maybe he was considered untouchable as the ruler of Babylon and a favorite of the king. Perhaps he was off ruling Babylon.

One must also wonder about the Chaldeans. How did they know the three were not worshiping the statue? Did that mean they had been out snooping and weren’t worshiping? They obviously disliked the Jews being in places of power and sought to remove them. This could have even been the whole purpose behind the statue.

The king went into another rage (see a pattern here?) but gave the three another chance, adding that their God could not even save them from the burning furnace. They calmly replied “we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18). Here is where the story gets good.

Three Statements. Note that the three made three statements, I can see them each taking  turns , each making a point to  Nebuchandezzar. Shadrach – We don’t answer to you. Meshach – God is able to rescue us from the furnace. Abed-nego – Even if he chooses not to, we will not worship your gods nor your statue.

Of course, this enraged Nebuchandezzar and he took action. First, he heated the furnace seven times hotter. He bound them. They were thrown into the fire that was so hot the three guards were burned to death. The king was astounded as he looked into the fire and saw four men. He asked “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the middle of the fire?” They replied to the king, ‘Absolutely, O king.’ He responded, ‘Look! I see four men untied and walking about in the middle of the fire unharmed, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!’”

Let’s focus on three statements from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

We don’t answer to you. The three were making it abundantly clear that their first allegiance was to God, not to the king, regardless of what he said or did. As the One having supreme allegiance, we answer to Almighty God, our supreme authority.

God is able to rescue us. Because he is almighty, immortal, and all-powerful we know that our God can rescue us from your pithy little furnace. If he so chooses, the furnace cannot harm us. Our focus is on eternity, not this world.

Even if he chooses not to save us. We will not worship any God but Yahweh. God has a plan. As mere mortals, we are not privy to those plans unless he chooses to reveal them to us. If he doesn’t rescue us, you can know, as we do, that God has something better planned. We are merely three individuals and if He chooses us for His better way, we will lay down our lives for Him. 

God was with them and they walked out of the furnace without even a smell of smoke on them. When God comes through, He comes through in a big way. The king declared that no one should speak anything offensive against their God. But note, it was still “their” God. Nebuchandezzar had still not embraced Him.

Four Characteristics. I think there are four characteristics we see in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego that we would do well to adopt in our own lives.

First, they were steadfast. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines steadfast as firmly fixed in place. Immovable, not subject to change. Firm in belief, determination, or adherence. Loyal. Those are some pretty strong words. I would be proud if someone called me steadfast in my faith. They lacked no uncertainty about Yahweh being the one, true God.

Second, they publicly lived out their faith. They had friends in high places. Daniel had them appointed to prestigious jobs overseeing Babylon. They could have taken the attitude that they should “lay low” since God had seen fit to place them in such positions of authority. In other words, “God’s favoring us, let’s don’t do anything to mess this up.” But, as we know, God had greater things in store for them. They would have been settling for less than God’s best.

Some may question the role of faith. They pray “God grant this request of mine.” But they don’t get an immediate answer. Some of us know God better because we have spent time with Him in prayer, praise, and pondering. Our faith works best when we are inside His will. Our faith unlocks God’s will in our lives. Remember that “faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). If someone tells me they will give me $1,000,000, I am likely to discount that statement. I lack faith in that person. But if that person is a wealthy relative who has taken a liking to me, I would be more inclined to believe it would happen.  I trust that person fully, so I have faith it will come to be. It’s the same with God. When we are close to him, we can have more faith in Him and our faith becomes sight.

Third, they believed in prayer. Prayer is most likely the most powerful tool in our arsenal. Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:18 when describing the whole armor of God “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” A pastor of mine was once organizing a church-wide effort and was recruiting volunteers for various roles – visitation, greeting, promotion, facilities, etc. Then he uttered the crushing blow “And if you can’t do anything else, you can pray. I about hit the roof. Prayer is not the last resort, it is the first priority. Some may not be able to do any of those tasks, but everyone can pray. And you can do it no matter where you are.

The final characteristic of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego is that they regarded themselves as part of a community. Daniel was preparing to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He had requested an audience with the king.But he was proactive. Before he got an invitation from the king, Daniel prepared himself in prayer. In Daniel 2:17-18 we read  “Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego), about the matter, so that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.” The three (and possibly others) prayed with Daniel about this matter. We can assume that Daniel and others were praying for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego as well.

As Christians we are not Lone Rangers but supporters of each other. Hebrews 10:24-25 reads “and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  As a body of believers, a community. and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were a part of the community of believers. 

Examine your steadfastness. Deepen your faith. Be a prayer warrior. Don’t neglect your church community. 

Scripture is from New American Standard Bible unless otherwise indicated

Photo credits Image by Freepix and BRGFX on Freepix

 

 

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Not Everyone Goes to Heaven

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There are a great number of false beliefs about God and the afterlife. Many people think everyone will go to Heaven. Others think if we live a good life we will go to Heaven. Others cannot comprehend a loving God sending anyone to hell. Several years ago, when I was searching on a dating site, I was amazed at the number of ladies who indicated in their profile that they were “Christian.” Upon exchange of messages with many of these ladies, it was apparent that’s what they called themselves, but there was no evidence of God in their lives. 

Six Premises

This article has six premises about God and our eternal destination. 

There is a God.

God is Love.

The Bible is God’s true word.

God loves us.

Hell is real.

God does not send us to hell. He provides us a choice to avoid an eternity in hell.

 There is a God.  Admittedly, I have a bias here, but I do not see how anyone can observe the overwhelming multitude of signs that there is a God. The chance of there not being a creator is infinitesimally small. When I first stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon, the thought that overwhelmed me was that only God could have created anything so magnificent. And how could one not believe in Him. Looking at nature, it constantly amazes me how different species of life are uniquely adapted to their survival. From man, the pinnacle of God’s creation, to the smallest of insects, each animal has features that will help it survive. The same goes for plant life. God provided for the different plants to grow and survive on this planet. And I would add that both animal and plant life are designed to serve mankind. After all, Adam and Eve were given dominion over the earth before being removed from the Garden of Eden. They were removed for disobeying God. But He did not abandon them.

Looking at the universe as a whole, the earth is perfectly positioned for our survival. Although there may be other life forms out there, only the earth is where we, and our life forms can survive. Louis Pasteur was quoted as saying “A bit of science distances one from God, but much science nears one to Him.” The more truth we know, the closer we can be to God and the more we realize how awesome and loving He is.

God is Love. I John 4:16 tells us so. “God is love.” There is more to that verse but I want to focus on those three words. God. It doesn’t say God loves us, which He does, But it says that He is love. God has many attributes but the central attribute of God is His love. This means that everything God does is just and right. He is the example of perfect true love. I cannot explain everything in the Bible, especially some of the wrathful portions of the Old Testament. But I can say that everything God did was done in love. God has a purpose and will lovingly accomplish that purpose. 

The Bible is God’s Word and is True. There are approximately 2,500 prophecies in the Bible. Of these, about 2,000 have been fulfilled. These have all been fulfilled to the letter with no errors. These are not vague, generic prophecies. They are very specific. As for the remaining 500, these are unfilled prophecies, not incorrect prophecies, as the Bible has much prophecy still unfolding. 

Just three examples. Sometime before 5oo BC Daniel proclaimed that Israel’s Messiah would begin his public ministry 483 years after the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (Daniel 9:25-26). There is historical evidence to prove the fulfillment of this prophecy. Someone has listed the probability of its fulfillment as 1 in 10 to the fifth power. That’s one chance in 100,000 of happening.

In the fifth century BC, the prophet Zechariah declared the Messiah would be betrayed for the price of a slave (30 pieces of silver). But he didn’t stop there. He also said the money would be used to buy a burial plot for the traitor. That was Judas and that is what happened. One chance in 10 to the 11th power. That is one in a trillion odds.

Some 400 years before crucifixion was invented, both Daniel and Zechariah described Jesus’ death in words that perfectly depict he would be crucified (Psalm 34:20 and Zechariah 12:10). The odds? One in 10 to the 13th power. Once chance in 10 trillion.

 I’ve only listed three miracles with seemingly insurmountable odds. Consider over 2,000 similar fulfilled prophecies. This screams of the Bible being absolutely true.  

God loves us. The Bible is replete with examples and statements about God’s love. But since this is only a short article and not a full-fledged book, I will only cite a few verses that speak of God’s love.

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” How much greater than sacrificing His only son, who suffered on the cruel cross (as was prophesied) for us – sinners. Christ lived a perfect life on earth, to bear our sins and allow us to be blameless before God.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” This verse adds something more. It states that we will not perish, but have eternal life. There is something beyond the grave. After we leave this earth, God promises eternal life to those who accept His Lordship. Believing is not enough. James 2:19 tells us “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”

Ephesians 2:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” We do not deserve Heaven. Our sins made us dead on the road to hell. I know it is somewhere I don’t want to be and I KNOW I will not be there. We escape hell when we choose God’s grace.

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends.” This is the ultimate love – that someone would die in our place. Jesus did that. Think of this as a one-on-one. Even if there were no one else on this world, Jesus would have gone on that cross to save me. 

I John 4:9 “By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. We live through Him. God doesn’t do things half-way. We live for Him, not just on earth but for eternity in Heaven when we accept his invitation.

I John 3:1 “See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.” There are two significant things about this verse. First, we are not just some straggler from off the street. We are children of God. He is indeed our Father. A perfect, heavenly Father. Secondly, those who do not accept His invitation can’t know and understand us. Until, and unless, we choose adoption by God, we will not understand the things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that “a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The natural person is a person without God. When someone accepts God’s invitation by faith, the Truth of God is revealed to that person. Somewhat like having inside knowledge of a group. John 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus is the truth, and only through Him will we be set free to see the Truth.

Hell is Real. I have already made references to this, but a simple response to the question of hell would be “If there is no hell, then our beings cease to exist upon our earthly death. Eternal life is nothing but a myth.” This reminds me of a very poignant song  of depression and disillusionment sung by Peggy Lee. The chorus goes Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing. Let’s break out the booze and have a ball. If that’s all there is.

But that is most assuredly not all there is. There is eternal life and we will all end up in one of two destinations – Heaven or hell.

God Does Not Send Us to Hell. I have heard people proclaim that a loving God would not destine people to hell. And that is right. God gives us a choice. If we accept His invitation, we will join Him in heaven. If not, we will suffer for eternity in hell – a hell of our own choosing. 

Prophecies to be Fulfilled. Having established the veracity of the Bible, we noted that there are still 500 or so unfilled prophecies. Since the Bible has been shown to be one hundred percent accurate on 2,000 prophecies, why would we expect anything different in the remaining 500. These prophecies are, for the most part, dealing with the end times. Bible scholars (of which I am not one) differ on what will happen at the end of time on earth. My Biblical-based belief in a nutshell is that there will be a rapture of saints at the beginning of a seven-year tribulation period. Those who are not Christian will be left behind. During that seven year period, God will send special messengers to give humanity one last chance to enter the gates of Heaven. At the end of that time, Christ will return to Earth. This time it is different. He came over 2000 years ago as a suffering servant. He will come the second time as a conquering hero, setting up His millennial reign on earth. At this time Satan will be bound and locked away, along with those who do not accept God’s invitation. At this point every person who has ever lived on earth will be on the earth, dead and lost, or in Heaven taking part in the judgment. God’s judgments will be seen by the saints as fair (Revelation 15: CEV) “You alone are holy, and all nations will come and worship you, because you have shown that you judge with fairness.” And in Revelation 22:11-12 (CEV) John writes “Evil people will keep on being evil, and everyone who is dirty-minded will still be dirty-minded. But good people will keep on doing right, and God’s people will always be holy. Then I was told: ‘I am coming soon! And when I come, I will reward everyone for what they have done.’”

It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This. You, like I, have probably uttered these words on more than one occasion. We’ve taken our dream vacation. We reached a personal achievement. Our family has turned out to be good people. Our favorite team has won the championship. You met the love of your life. In short, life is good. But life on earth is just a flicker of light in comparison to eternity. No matter how good your life on earth has seemed, if you are a Christian, this life is as bad as it gets when viewed from the eternal life we will find in Heaven. We should live in the light of Heaven.

Seek and Set. In Colossians 3:1-3 Paul told us how to live our days on earth. “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Seek and set are two powerful verbs Paul used in this passage. “Seek” means“ coveting earnestly , striving after. We are like the pilot of an airplane seeking the landing strip, totally focused to bring the plane to a safe landing.. Paul had a penchant to overstate things in order to drive his point home. In this instance, he followed up with “set.” This word is from a Greek term that means to set one’s mind on, to be devoted to” (Max Lucado in What Happens Next). Our focus on Heaven is a single-minded purpose. It is something we should think of daily. Lucado has said that a day with no thought of Heaven is a day wasted. 

Eternal Life Begins Now. This article has focused on one aspect of eternal life – an eternity in Heaven with God and the saints rather than spending eternity in a tortuous hell. But eternal life is more than a “fire insurance policy.” When we accept Christ’s invitation, eternal life begins at that point. We have eternal life NOW. Our existence on earth will change. As previously cited “the truth shall set us free.” We are free. Many of earth’s problems pale in light of what lies before us. What can man do to us now? Even though we are changed on earth, what awaits us in Heaven is infinitely greater than anything we can imagine on earth. I once recall reading a work of fiction in which a man died and went to Heaven. He was being shown around heaven and observed the “Heavenly Cafe.” His guide told him that the restaurant had awesome food, and since they were in Heaven, calories, cholesterol, and sugar were not issues. Although that is fiction, Heaven is full of banquets more extravagant than we can even imagine. I am reminded of the first hit from Mercy Me, “I Can Only Imagine.”

I can only imagine what it will be like

When I walk by Your side

I can only imagine what my eyes will see

When Your face is before me

I can only imagine, yeah

Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You, Jesus

Or in awe of You be still?

Will I stand in Your presence

Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?

Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes

And I find myself standing in the sun/son

I can only imagine when all I will do

Is forever—forever worship You 

If you have never asked Jesus into your heart, now is the time to take that step and spend eternity with the One who loves you more than you can imagine! Pray this prayer and God promises to come live in your heart forever. “Lord Jesus I need you.Thank you dying on the cross for my sins. By faith I open the door of my life and my heart to receive You as my Savior and my Lord. 

 

Scripture is from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise indicated.

Photo credit from Pixabay to John R. Perry – One Way. 1Tamara2 -Heaven’s Gates. Aberrant Realities – Hell.

 

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Has the American Church Lost its First Love?

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by Clarence L. Haynes Jr. 

The following article was written by a guest blogger, Clarence L. Haynes, Jr. Clarence is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club.  He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit www.clarencehaynes.com.

This article discusses a topic that has been on my mind recently. I felt that Clarence expressed the concern very well. He graciously agreed to let me republish it on this website.

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Over the past several years, I’ve found myself reflecting deeply on the state of the body of Christ in America, or what I’ll refer to as the American church. While my thoughts may not apply to every believer, there’s a pressing question that I believe we must honestly consider: Has the church in America lost its first love?

As I study the Scriptures, particularly the message to the church in Ephesus in the book of Revelation, I can’t help but draw some unsettling comparisons. Could it be that the American church, like Ephesus, has become so focused on standing for truth and fighting against evil that it has forgotten the heart of its faith?

When you line up the characteristics, the similarities are striking — and perhaps even sobering.

Jesus’ Message to the Church in Ephesus “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:1-3).

When Jesus first addresses this church, he points out some noble characteristics. The people in the church of Ephesus were hard workers who embodied the spirit of perseverance. They didn’t crumble at the first sign of trouble, but they stood firm, refusing to give up. They had no tolerance for wickedness and they did not waiver in their commitment to the truth, carefully discerning and exposing those who were false. Their dedication to Jesus was unshakable, even when enduring hardships and attacks on their faith.

Through it all, they never grew weary; instead, they continued to stand strong for the name of Jesus, no matter what challenges came their way. This sounds like a church that knew what they believed and was ready to fight for what they believed in.

Ephesus Reminds Me of the American Church When I think of the church in Ephesus, it strikes me just how much it reflects the pulse of many in the American church today. There are pastors and believers alike who are quick to declare they are standing firm against evil, boldly shining a light on the deeds of darkness. They’re resolute in their stance against anything that doesn’t align with Biblical truth, particularly related to lifestyles that fall short of God’s standard.

With a pervasive sense that the church is under siege, many are ready to fight back with all they’ve got. It’s a rallying cry that resonates with those who see themselves in the midst of a spiritual battle, determined to stand their ground and defend their faith against a rising tide of opposition. Whether you share this sentiment or know others who do, it’s a perspective that exists in many segments of the church today.  

That’s Not the End of the Story If Jesus had stopped there, we would probably uphold the church in Ephesus as a model to follow, but Jesus had more to say. I believe what he says to Ephesus applies to the church in America as well.

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4).

In the New Living Translation (NLT) this verse says you don’t love me or each other the way you did at first. Can somebody please say ouch because those are piercing words, and those words speak volumes about what matters most to Jesus. However, the words he utters next probably represent the biggest gut punch.

“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Revelation 2:5).

This tells me that correct theology is not enough. While it is crucial for believers to have the right doctrine, it is not enough because Ephesus had correct theology. Many of those who are standing against some of the wickedness in our society today also have correct doctrine, but shining light for Christ requires more than that.

It can be so easy to get caught up in fighting the good fight that we ultimately forget what we are fighting for and, more importantly, what our mission is as believers in Jesus Christ. We are Christ’s ambassadors who have been given the ministry of reconciliation. This means our job is to make the appeal and reconcile people to Jesus. One critical component in that responsibility is how we love God, each other, and those around us. Consider the words of Jesus.

“’Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40).

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

As you look at these verses, Jesus highlights the most important aspect of your Christian journey: Your relationship with him and your relationship with others. Even if you have all the right doctrines and all the right truth, if you don’t love Jesus and love each other, it cancels them out. If you stand for truth and righteousness without love, it gains you nothing. I believe this mindset has crept into the American church. Listen to God’s word on this.

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NLT).

For those preachers, teachers, and believers who are upholding the truth of God’s word, is it possible that the message is being lost because we love being in the fight for truth more than we love the one who is the truth? When loving Jesus first and completely becomes the top desire of your heart, it will affect the way you love others, because you will see people the way Jesus does. This is what we are called to do, and it feels like this is missing from many segments of the church.

How We Treat People Matters Can you win people to Christ without loving them in the process? I don’t know if that is possible. Here is what I know. We have a responsibility to uphold the truth and stand for righteousness in our society. That’s what it means to be salt and light. However, how we live and how we deliver that truth matters just as much. In Romans, Paul tells us it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4). That was true when Paul wrote it, and that is true today. Take a moment and ponder these three questions:

What impact would we have in our culture if we stood for truth and showed love and compassion to those who may disagree with us?

What would happen if we loved Jesus so much that we considered people’s eternal condition over their temporary social status, economic status, or any other demographic?

What would happen if we just loved and cared about people the way Jesus did?

When Jesus was addressing the church in Ephesus, I believe this is what he meant. How I love you and how you love me matters. The way you love those who are outside the body of Christ, that matters too. Ultimately, however, the only way this type of love is going to flow through your heart is by loving Jesus first.

Here Is the Challenge I believe we who are followers of Jesus need to get back to loving Jesus first and then living out what it means to love others. I will not profess that this is easy to do because it is not. But if we are going to have the influence in the world that Jesus desires us to have, then as challenging as it may be, this is absolutely necessary. When we neglect loving Jesus and loving others, even if we get other things right, the words of Jesus ring true. Look at the height you have fallen.  

As Jesus told the church in Ephesus, I believe it is time for the church in America to repent and get back on mission. Fight for truth, but love Jesus and love people while you do it because the harvest field is still ripe. People are still searching for answers and looking for truth, and we are the ones who have the truth.

Finally, to remind you of what this love should look like in our actions, I leave you again with the words of Scripture.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 12:4-8a).

 

Photo credit: Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema

Originally Published September 03, 2024

 

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The Retired Christian

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Usually, when writing a blog, I select the final title after the article is finished. Probably my main reason for doing this is that writing an article is somewhat organic. From beginning to end, I never know in what direction an article will go. I find that this approach opens unexpected doors. Sometimes it even provides me a window I may need to jump out of. In this case, I feel very certain about how this is going to go. I am not being close minded, I had this topic in mind before I wrote a previous blog that deals with the Christian in the Workplace. I discovered I needed to discuss the concept of the Christian worker before I could cover The Retired Christian.

Is Retirement Biblical? Retirement is not exactly a Biblical concept. There is only one mention of retirement in the Bible. In Numbers 8:23-26 we read (NLT) “The Lord also instructed Moses, ‘This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, and they must retire at the age of fifty. After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by serving as guards at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service.’” The Levites were members of the tribe of Levi.  They were appointed to assist the priests in the temple or tabernacle.  After age 50, we see they transitioned to a lesser position but still serving God and the nation of Israel.

Our society has traditionally used age 65 as a retirement age. Some professions, such as teaching and first responders often are given full retirement much earlier. Others work into their 70’s or later, doing the same tasks. This sort of extended retirement is not common in history. In the 1800’s Germany was setting up a retirement system similar to Social Security in the United States today. They were debating at what age an individual should begin to receive benefits. Someone suggested age 65, adding that nobody lived that long. So with an eye to financial stability for the government, 65 became the retirement age. That is the age adopted for the United States’ Social Security system, but has been raised to 67 in subsequent years.

The average life expectancy in the United States for women is 81.98 years and for men 77.05 years. Other nations experience greater longevity. This has created a period of extended retirement for many individuals, an opportunity not experienced by previous generations. Many seniors remain healthy and active into their 80’s and 90’s. It is God who determines our years. Proverbs 16:9 tells us to make our plans carefully “ The mind of a person plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” An old Yiddish proverb states it a little more bluntly “We plan, God laughs.” We can, and should make plans. But we need to be flexible in those plans, as God may have another direction for us. I can’t tell you the number of times I have made plans, only to receive a course redirection from God. If we are still alive, God has something in store for us. Some writers have described God’s retirement as our graduation to heaven. But even that is not “retirement.” We will be working alongside God and the saints when we reach heaven. What are we to do in the gap between our retirement from full-time employment until God takes us home? It is most definitely not sitting on the porch rocking our lives away.

New Opportunities. Retirement gives us new opportunities with increased freedom to explore new horizons, new adventures, to undertake activities we had only dreamed of. Retirement does not need to be a frenzy of activity, traveling across the globe. Maybe you’re not cut out for that. Maybe you can’t afford unlimited vacations. But there is much we can do where we live – where God planted us. I had an uncle who was born in a small town in Eastern North Carolina. He was a farmer until he was unable to work. As far as I know, he never traveled more than 50 miles from where he was born. I’m not relating this story so we could feel sorry for him. Quite the contrary. He was probably my favorite uncle. He taught me to fish, he had me working in the tobacco fields. He had a great sense of humor. Frank was a man of God and God planted him in a very small geographical area. But that did not deter him. As long as he was healthy, he enjoyed life.

I once knew of a gentleman who was very active in his community, working with youth, with various civic groups, and was active in his church including singing in the choir. When he took early retirement and was in good health, he stopped everything. He no longer involved himself in youth, civic groups. He even stopped attending church. That is not God’s plan for retirement. 

Others seem to take a different attitude toward retirement. Even into his mid-nineties, Warren Buffett is active and still serves as Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. I have a friend who retired somewhat early in life. He was well-set financially, so having sufficient income in retirement was not an issue for him. I spoke with him some time after his retirement and commented that I noted he had re-entered the workforce. His comment was that he “failed retirement.” 

A Need to Remain Active. I am a person who needs to be doing something. Several years ago, while still fully employed, I had a detached retina and had to spend several weeks doing nothing. My doctor told me I could go up and down one flight of stairs daily and I could make a simple lunch such as a sandwich. That was it. Our friends were asking my wife, Gloria, “How can John be doing nothing? He is always active.” I guess my best answer was that God helped me through it. Looking back, I see that it did serve a purpose. I became keenly aware that full retirement was not going to be for me.

As I approached the time when I felt it to be time to retire from teaching, I had two trains of thought. I knew that I wanted to continue to be an active CPA, maintaining my business for a few more years. But I was also making plans to start a new business, focused on helping churches and clergy with their tax issues. I organized the business, wrote a book, and attempted to kick-start a new venture. Unfortunately, other events intervened and that experiment never took flight. I continued the CPA business for a few years, then felt that it was time. Several personal issues intervened in the ensuing years and I spent time adjusting to those and planning my new future. 

I have always enjoyed writing but no longer had a desire to write technical accounting articles after I quit teaching. I was invited to contribute to a blog that a friend maintained so I did that on a semi-regular basis, writing faith-based articles. As I became more adjusted to my new environments, I felt a need to take writing to the next level, so with the prayers and encouragement of Heather, we started “Life Up My Eyes.” It is not a job in the sense that I get paid, but I know I am doing what the Lord wants me to do at this time. I hope I am doing some good for the Kingdom. How long will that last? I have no ideas or plans for what is next, but I know the Lord will once again guide me when it is time.

Four Principles of Retirement. Retirement is a recognition that, as we age, we do need to cut back on some activities. But God leaves us here on earth as He has something else for us to accomplish. There are four principles about retirement for a Christian that I feel are important to keep in mind as we contemplate the next steps in our lives.

First, God’s Retirement is Death. I don’t mean this in a macabre manner but it is simply a statement that as long as God has a purpose for us, we will remain on earth. Paul, in II Timothy 4:7-8, put it well “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Our retirement is eternity with God in His glorious Heaven. And there will be work for us in Heaven.

There are a couple of issues that this raises. The first of these deals with God’s timing. Why do some people cling to life when it becomes apparent that they will probably not recover. I can only speculate, but my view is that only God knows when a person has accomplished their mission on earth. Even though my father was unable to speak in his final years and spent several months in the hospital, his Christian spirit ministered to those with whom he came in contact.

The second issue deals with those who are not professing Christians. I feel that God can, and does, work through those who do not follow Him. When they have fulfilled God’s purpose (other than accepting salvation), He grants their retirement. We are again faced with the fact that only God knows when that time comes. 

Second, Know when to retire. This one is a little harder than the first. If we are not attuned to God’s working in our lives, we may retire early or hang on too long. All of us have seen both. Once again, this may not be our decision. Our lifestyle could be a factor in our longevity. King Saul had forsaken God, and God saw fit to remove him from the throne. He and his three sons met an untimely death in battle. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira sold a plot of land and brought the proceeds to the Apostles. Peter, full of God’s anointing, knew that they did not bring all the proceeds to the Apostles, despite their insistence. They were both struck dead on the spot for attempting to deceive God. I don’t know if we will see these people in Heaven, but their usefulness on earth had ended.

I also know of many Saints of the Kingdom who have lived a full life for God well into their 90’s. I have a long-time family friend who is a “retired” minister. In his 90’s he is still working as a supply pastor and doing other Kingdom work. I also like his sense of optimism as he remarried in his late 80’s after losing his first wife. If we walk with the Lord, we will know when it is time. If we misstep, He will bring us back on the right path. 

Third, Vacations, holidays, and recreation are ok within limits. God designed us to take a weekly sabbath rest. This has been seen to be a valuable form of rest from normal work habits once a week. We all need a weekly sabbath. Certain professions, such as college professors, may receive a semester or year off from normal teaching duties to pursue other interests. It was during one such period that my plans for retirement began to take shape.

As older, retired adults our bodies slow down. We need more rest in order to remain healthy. We have the freedom to take extended times for vacations and the like. There is nothing wrong with a Christian taking such periods of rest and relaxation. We should do this judicially, not over-indulging in endless vacations, but working these “sabbatical” periods into God’s overall plan for our retirement years.

Fourth, Serving God. There are many ways to serve God in our retirement years. Retirement can be a time of exploring new adventures. My father had a servant’s heart. For a time during his retirement, he volunteered at his church to download and organize materials that were available from his church’s denomination via satellite so the church as a whole could take advantage of these resources. It was something he enjoyed and it made him feel useful. There is a need for people such as retirees to contribute to their church and community. 

I readily admit that retirement options for most of us is a first-world problem. God has richly blessed us in the United States. We need to plan for retirement and use our blessings for God, helping those we are called to help. Have you thought about what your retirement is going to look like?

Roger Barrier wrote of a man in his 90’s who regularly worked in his garden. One day while he was chopping weeds, a child started watching him. He watched for a while, then timidly asked the man “What would you do if you only had one hour to live?” The man stopped, leaned on his hoe and said “I’d just keep on chopping weeds.” This was his task and he resolved to continue it until God called him home. What will God find you doing as He calls you home?

 

All scripture is from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

Photo credit for Scrabble tiles to Bret Jordan from Pexels

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The Christian in the Workplace

We sometimes think of work as a burden, something we would choose to avoid. However, work for most of us is required if we are to provide the necessities of life for ourselves, family, and others. There is a misconception that, before the fall, Adam and Eve were not designed for work. That is not true. God created Adam and gave him the job of caring for creation. It would not be a stretch to say Adam was CEO of the earth. Then God saw that Adam should not be alone and created Eve to help him. They had dominion over the earth but things changed once they partook of the Tree of Life. They lost the dominion. God banned them from the Garden so they could no longer gain access to the Tree of Life. After they were banished, the nature of their work changed. But not for eternity. God did not cancel the Garden of Eden plan, He did not abandon Adam and Eve or us. He set in motion a plan for the redemption of the world. God designed us for work from the start of creation and it continues today.

Why Should We Work? Our primary motivation for work, at least in the beginning, is to provide for ourselves and our loved ones. In I Timothy 5:8, Paul said “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” That is some pretty strong language. It clearly tells us that work should be a part of our faith. 

It should not stop there. We should discover other reasons for our work. Someone once said “Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” This is a very appealing statement holding a grain of truth, but not entirely accurate. In one of my careers, I was a CPA who prepared tax returns. I found this work exhilarating, and was sometimes thought to be weird (otherwise known as a tax nerd). It provided income but it takes someone with a calling to engage in this work. It is a stressful job. Most people despise working on their tax returns. I found that I got a great deal of satisfaction, helping people with their taxes.  This is not something people can do optimally on their own. To save people thousands of dollars from their tax liability was a very satisfying feeling. I had one client tell me that they valued my work as “You are a Christian and you don’t like to pay taxes.”  Another told me I couldn’t retire because he didn’t know what he would do without me.

How Should We Work? When I could help people I felt fulfilled. However, It was not all a bed of roses. Clients could sometimes be difficult, dishonest, or truculent. Others would tell me a certain tax law didn’t make sense. In that case I would have to agree with them, but my response would be that it was the law, and there was no legal way around it. And of course, I was often dealing with those who were told by a friend of a friend of a friend that my approach was wrong. Dealing with these situations was not pleasant, but I knew that to maintain my integrity and relationship with God, I needed to stand firm.

We are made in the image and likeness of God. We are uniquely like Him. Nothing else in His creation comes close to what we are. Guess what? God was a worker. I Corinthians 3:9 reads “For we are God’s fellow workers.” We work with God. God is not asking anything of us that He does not do. He works, so should we.

I recently saw an article that expressed the view that Only the mediocre are always at their best. Admired Leadership wrote that average-performing workers accept mediocrity and, therefore, can easily meet the standard they set for themselves. Often this is a preference that allows them to get by and focus on more pleasurable pursuits. They do tend to have a good work-life balance and don’t often get placed into crisis situations at work. They come to work, do their tasks, and go home. No anxiety, no work-related expenses, or bother about improving themselves.

While this may sound attractive, it flies in the face of God’s expectations of our work. Colossians 3:23-24 reads “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Notice four things in this scripture.

First, regardless of who our “boss” is at work, the truth is we are working for the Lord. We may sometimes have to work under a “less-than-ideal” human boss. We will not always be working under that person, but we will always be working for the Lord.

Second, the Lord deserves our best in everything. He gave us His best, His Son. He gives us the greatest gift of eternal life. What should we give Him in return?

Third, our reward is from the Lord. Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our reward is permanent, and cannot be removed. As a child, I had a sense about permanence. I would read or hear language to the effect that “This is a temporary offer.” My six-year old mind told me that everything is temporary. Later, I learned that only God is permanent.

In the late 19th century C. T. Studd was a renowned cricket player on the English Ashes team which toured the world. This provided him fame and fortune. Yet, he gave it up to serve God in China. He wrote a poem that expressed his life and included these lines “Only one life,’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Fourth, we serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Joshua 24:15 tells us to get off the fence “choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.” This is not to say that we should not accumulate wealth. We just need to keep it in its proper place.

R. G. LeTourneau was a very successful businessman, inventor, and industrialist. He dedicated his life to the Lord and was richly blessed, financially. The drive and determination that led him in the workplace compelled him in evangelism and discipleship. Not only did he work for the Lord, he gave generously. It is said that, as his wealth grew, so did his giving to his Lord. He started giving a tithe of 10 percent but eventually reversed that and was giving 90 percent to God and keeping only 10 percent for himself. His priorities were spot-on. He once stated “We need to give careful thought to our ways, asking ourselves if we’d do better to give more to the Lord and ask him to maximize what we keep. That’s so much better than trying to hang on to more, only to watch it leak out of our pockets.”

These tenets apply to any Christian. It can be doubly hard if we are self-employed or not working for pay. In these cases, we are, in a real sense, our own taskmaster. We may choose to make ourselves accountable to someone to help keep us on track. Whether we are an employee, self-employed, or a volunteer, the same standard of excellence applies.

How Does Our Work Impact the Kingdom? Deuteronomy 8:6 tells us “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.” When we are at work (and at all times) we are to walk in His ways. People will see our faithful example.

I once had a co-worker comment on how I never seemed to get ruffled at work but was always calm and steady. My first thought was that she didn’t see my inner workings. But in truth, she was correct. Putting God first in my work allowed me to remain calm (most of the time).

Working for the Lord is not a license to spend your time at work evangelizing, but doing your assigned tasks. An hour’s work for an hour’s pay. We are to give our employer our best efforts on his behalf. My mother was very fond of saying “What you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you say.” They see our faith in our daily activities.  This is our mission in the workplace.

In carrying this out on a daily basis, we should seek to exhibit Godly behaviors. We should follow his law in our work. There is no sacred versus secular. Everything is sacred. As such, the goals we set for ourselves and those under our supervision should promote worthy causes. I read a work of fiction in which a team of covert operators was given a difficult assignment. As they pursued this assignment, something did not seem right about what they were doing. They eventually discovered that the “assignment” was the work of two men with a vengeful agenda. Changes were made to assure the operators were pursuing a worthy cause. If your work is not worthy, God may have another place for you. I know several friends and former students who were faced with an ethical dilemma at work. Yet, they maintained their integrity. And moved on to a better job.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines hero, in part, as “a person admired for achievements and noble qualities or one who shows great courage.” Heroes often don’t seek the adulation they receive.Heroes come sometimes when we least expect it. Ray Foster was a custodian in the church I attended as a teen. He was devoted to his job and to the Lord. He felt a keen responsibility to have the church building ready for worship each week. Sixty years later, I still remember him. He was a hero. We should find the heroes in our own lives and imitate them. 

In the Bible, Paul presented Timothy as an example of selflessness (Philippians 2:19-24). In this respect, we never “arrive.” We are always learning so we should keep alert for examples to follow.

Your source of work does not matter. You can be an employee, self-employed, volunteer or whatever. Christian should always be serving the same Master. Will we hear Him say to us “Well done, my good and faithful servant”? (Matthew 25:23 NLT)

 

All scripture quoted is from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise stated.

Work photo credit to Thinglass

 

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What Happens When We Trust God?

In a recent article we explored the topic of Placing Trust in God, examining why we should fully trust Him and actions we can take to trust Him more fully. This article takes us a step further, looking at what can happen when placing trust in our God. At the risk of trivializing it, trusting God could be likened to getting an American Express Platinum card. When you read the promotional material you see a plethora of benefits to subscribing to such a prestigious card. But then you look at the annual fee, currently $695. Maybe the Platinum card is for you, maybe not. 

Once Heather and I attended a presentation for the Hilton Grand Vacation Club. We were enticed by three nights in Daytona Beach and a significant number of  Hilton Honors points in exchange for a small fee plus an hour of our time. We attended, and were regaled with the thrill of travel and benefits from joining. Virtually a place to stay in any city or town. They even offered us a “special low price.” It sounded great. I think I had gotten Heather a little worried as she thought I was going to buy in. But we quickly realized that it was not for us. We don’t know how long we will remain healthy enough to take advantage of it. We also factored into the equation that cruising is our favorite way to vacation. Bottom line, it wasn’t that great a deal for us.  So we declined all of these wonderful benefits despite the “good deal” we were being offered.

I would note that there are differences in both of these “deals” when compared to trusting God. The Hilton Grand Vacations Club is a negotiable deal. The have several levels of membership and negotiable costs. The charge card terms are non-negotiable – just like trusting God. We must accept Him on His terms, His way. But we can take assurance that His way is best.

Trusting God, like American Express or Hilton offers, carries a number of benefits. But there is one big, big difference. The benefits of trusting God come without a dollar sign. Everything God has promised He will do. I am reminded of a song by Steven Curtis Chapman “My Redeemer is Faithful and True” that expresses this sentiment.

As I look back on this road I’ve traveled

I see so many times He carried me through

And if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my life

My Redeemer is faithful and true

My heart rejoices when I read the promise

There is a place I am preparing for you

I know someday I’ll see my Lord face to face

Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true

And in every situation He has proved His love for me

When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me

My Redeemer is faithful and true

Everything He has said He will do

And every morning His mercies are new

My Redeemer is faithful and true

My Redeemer is faithful and true

Psalm 91 has been called “Security of One Who Trusts in the Lord.” The benefits of trusting God don’t have an annual fee, they are readily available to anyone who commits to fully trusting Him, and they never expire.

He shelters us. We are in His safe place in His shadow. He is right there with us. (vv. 1-2). Only in this case, God is defending us in a strong and safe place from the evil that surrounds us. But even better, we don’t have to find His shelter, He comes to us (vv. 3-4), rescuing us from the trap of evil and the deadly sickness of eternity in hell. He safely covers us with his wings and a strong wall protects us.

In times of war, we often read about individuals (often government officials) taking refuge in an embassy in an attempt to stay safe. Sometimes that works, sometimes not. But God’s refuge doesn’t fail.  Psalm 46 tells us He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. No matter how bad things seem, He will always be there.

He Protects us from trouble and fear. Nighttime is a difficult time for many people. (vv. 5-10) But we are told we do not need to be afraid of trouble at night nor the sickness that walks in darkness. There is a term for fear of the dark. This is known as nyctophobia and may cause someone to exhibit symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest tightness, trembling, an intense need to escape, detachment, and a feeling of powerlessness. And it really doesn’t need to be at night. We can be personally in a period of darkness and fear anytime of the day or night. Shelby Brown has stated that it is less likely that you are actually afraid of the dark, but that you fear the unseen and unknown. Trusting God can help alleviate these fears. 

That is not all. During the day we are protected from the piercing arrows and the trouble that destroys. Though thousands fall around us, it will not come near us. We are onlookers seeing how the sinful are punished. Because we have made the Lord our safe place, the Most High place nothing will hurt us, no trouble comes near us.

In the Old Testament, high places were often places for sacrifice and worship of other Gods. When the Temple was built, that became a High Place for the worship of the one true God. But the Temple as a High Place pales in comparison to God’s High Place, one that is entirely safe.

His messengers watch over us. He will tell His angels to watch out and care for us. (vv.11-13) We will not even trip over a stone (that sounds great!). Under our feet will be the lion and the snake but they will not harm us – we will trample them.

There is a misconception about angels. When we humans die and go to Heaven, we will not be angels. Angels are a distinct type of created being. Angels serve the purpose of being God’s messengers. We serve a higher purpose, we will be like Christ, higher than the angels. Daniel received a vision from God that caused him to mourn for three weeks. During this time he prayed and fasted. Suddenly He looked up and saw an angel, a messenger from God. The angel assured him that God had heard his petitions. He told Daniel that he was delayed by the minions of Satan and the Archangel Michael came to help Daniel’s messenger. The angelic messenger then explained Daniel’s vision to him.

God will deliver us.  He says that because we have set our love on Him, he will deliver us. (vv.14-16)

We know His name and have exalted Him.

We know his mercy, love and kindness.

We trust and rely on Him and He will never forsake us.

When we call upon Him, He will answer.

He will be with us.

He will deliver us.

And He will honor us.

Imagine that! God has said He will honor those who trust Him. We will be satisfied in Him and will see His salvation. I Corinthians 3:16 tells us “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? God dwells in His temple and we are His temple. How marvelous!

Please don’t read this and think trusting God will keep us from troubles. We will have trouble, sickness, and hardships. But we can know that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We don’t see God’s perspective on everything. There is much we don’t understand. But this one thing we know -everything works out when God is in it. 

In our day-to-day existence in this troubled, sinful world. It can be hard to remain focused on what we need to do to trust in God fully. Remember the words of this Psalm. Remember what we need to do to fully trust Him. It isn’t easy. We will drift away. But, with God’s help we will always be able to be pulled back into his protection. What is keeping you from trusting Him more?

 

All scripture is NASB unless otherwise stated.

 

 

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Placing Trust in God

The phrase “In God We Trust” has been the official motto of the United States since 1956. However, this inscription can be found on the country’s money beginning around 1862 where it arose during the Civil War. Interestingly, the motto was also frequently seen on banners and the like in the Confederacy. The phrase derived originally from an obscure stanza in our National Anthem which reads “”And this be our motto-“In God is our trust.” President Theodore Roosevelt was vehemently opposed to placing the motto on our currency but was fine with the inscription showing up on government buildings. There was some basis in his reasoning. He felt that putting it on our currency and coins could lead to a degrading of the motto and even invited levity and ridicule. Roosevelt was somewhat vindicated with this stand as frequently one would hear it said “In God we trust, all others pay cash,” and other such epithets. Nonetheless, it has remained. Efforts to remove it have failed. Challenges based on the First Amendment have not succeeded as the motto does not create an accommodation for a single religion since the motto could be used by any religion. Also, the courts have stated that “ a repetitious invocation of a religious entity in ceremonial matters strips the phrase of its original religious connotation.”

As Christians, we are often told to “Trust God.” But what does trusting God look like? What do I do to be able to trust Him more? It’s one thing to say we want to trust God, but it is something else to make it happen. How?

There is no shortage of statements made by Christian leaders about trust. Buzz Williams said “Trust is the tie that binds any and all relationships with God, our spouses, our friends, and our community. The more trust we have, the more influence we have.” Really? Isn’t trust more than influence?

Rick Warren – “The more you believe and trust God, the more limitless your possibilities become for your family, your career – for your life!” The key here is trust. Even the demons believe.

Joel Osteen – “When you’re really believing, when you’re in peace, you’re showing God by your actions that you trust Him.”  Again, believing isn’t enough. 

Brett Harris – “It’s amazing what we can do if we will trust God enough to step out of our comfort zones!” God gives us comfort when we trust.

All of these sound good, they may motivate us to want to trust God more, but none address the “How” of trusting God.

I readily admit I don’t have a definitive answer to trusting God, but there are some specific things we can do to move us closer to Him. A Google search will give you a three-step, five-step, seven step, ten step plan to accomplish this. So I’m going to outline some steps that I think have enabled me to trust Him more fully. It’s not a comprehensive list, it’s probably not the best list, but it’s something I have found helpful. Before I go any further, I want to address one thing that it is not. We cannot just sit back and wait for God to move. Isaiah 40:31 reads “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

The first line tells us to wait upon the Lord, then it goes on to describe what happens. Waiting on the Lord is not sitting in our recliner, waiting for God to act. Waiting on the Lord is an active waiting, continuing what we have been doing for Him. When we are doing His work, we are drawing closer to trusting God more.

 Brittany Yesudasan writes that trusting in Him means believing what He says about Himself, about the world and about you is true. Secondly, she states that “trusting God is more than a feeling; it’s a choice to have faith in what He says.” Our feelings and circumstances may not be reliable and we can easily deceive ourselves. Third, trusting God is living a life of belief in and obedience to God even when it’s difficult. Our feelings and circumstances should not be ignored, but are two factors in trusting God.

I have identified seven behaviors that we can undertake to increase our trust in God.

First, Our trust in God is rooted in our faith and knowledge of God. This means we should talk to Him regularly in prayer and learn about Him through reading His message to us. As we make this a habit we become more confident in Him and His character. As we learn about Him through His word, we can use our knowledge of Scripture as a checkpoint. In our prayers we should not hesitate to cry out to God. We should confess our unbelief. In Mark 9, a father was asking Jesus to heal his son. He cried out “I do believe; help my unbelief!” 

In John 8:31-21 Jesus said “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Other translations use the word abide but the concept of remaining in Him seems to be a term we can more relate to. To remain in someone or something means that it is a part of us.

Second, Our trust in God is obedience and, yes, dependence on Him. Don’t depend on yourself. And when we trust Him and need Him, we cry out to Him. In I Samuel 7:9 we are told that “Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.” God does not change. When we cry out to Him, He hears us even today. 

But we must obey Him. In Acts 5, Peter and the Apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin and ordered them to stop teaching in Jesus’ name. Under threat of death they responded. “We must obey God rather than men.” In today’s world, there are many who deny Christ, many who would attempt to discredit our faith. We must stand firm, obeying His word, or He will deny us. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ If we deny Him on Earth, He will deny us at Heaven’s gate.

Third, Our trust in God is believing in spite of our feelings. We may feel Him leading us in a certain way that seems the opposite of what we think we can do. Faith is a steadfast trust in His truth, feelings are fleeting emotions not grounded in faith. Think about your favorite sports team. They play a lousy game and lose. We are disgusted with them and vow never to watch them again. Yet, your emotions fade and you are once again avidly watching them, only to disavow them then in their next unfortunate showing. Our faith in God is steadfast as He never fails us.

Fourth, This should go without saying, but in today’s world we need to be aware that evil is very present. We should never accommodate evil. That first, seemingly harmless, step may be our first step to destruction. Our trust in Him should have us running from evil. Psalm 37:27-29 reads “Turn from evil and do good, So that you will dwell forever. For the Lord loves justice and does not abandon His godly ones.” Other translations show urgency, implying us to “flee from evil.” 

Fifth, God sent us the Holy Spirit to be our comforter, our advocate. Listen to the Spirit and build your trust. In John 14:16-17, Jesus told us “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.” This helper, the comforter is the Holy Spirit. Two things to note here. The Spirit can only be received if we are in Christ. If you are of the world, you cannot receive the helper. Next, we see the word “remain” in relation to our relationship with Him. The Spirit is always with us when we remain in Him.

Sixth, Our trust in God is bolstered when we remember things grateful for which we are grateful. Times when God led us in the right direction. Henry Blackaby called these times “spiritual markers.” Remember your spiritual markers. Write them in your journal to help you recall them. In Joshua 4:8 we read “So the sons of Israel did exactly as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the Lord spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the encampment and put them down there.” This was to help the people remember God bringing them into the promised land. Maybe they never returned to this spot, but they remembered the celebration of God’s faithfulness.

Finally, When we place our trust fully in God, we can find rest in Him. God established the sabbath as a weekly day of rest. In today’s world, we often find ourselves running to and fro, non-stop. This is not God’s design. He intends for us a time of rest. Matthew Sleeth was an emergency room doctor who was worn out from constant work. At the time he was not a Christian. Yet, he felt led to take a weekly “sabbath” one day a week to do nothing. He learned that he was refreshed and accomplished as much or more in six days as he had previously done in seven. He later discovered God’s plan for taking a sabbath day of rest, and became a Christian. Take a day off. Take a nap. Give rest to your body, mind, and soul. This is so important to God that He established it as one of the Ten Commandments. And it is also the longest of the Commandments. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the LORD your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your resident who stays with you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”  (Exodus 20:9-11).

It takes time to build trust. But we know that God can be fully trusted all the time. Why not take the next step and trust Him?

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