devotional - Lift Up My Eyes

Wear Your Faith

Last Christmas, my step-daughter and her husband gave me an assortment of “Bible Socks.” If you haven’t seen these advertised, they are high-quality socks with a graphic design and a Bible verse or other scriptural encouragement. As someone who likes “unconventional” clothing, I really enjoy these socks. And I could feel good about wearing them as they convey a positive message.

Then it dawned on me that they didn’t convey much of a message. If I posted a scripture passage on a roadside bulletin board, that would be a message that thousands would see. Since I normally wear dress boots when I wear these socks, not many people would actually see them unless I sat down and crossed my legs or if I wore shorts with these socks (and that isn’t happening – I am not that unconventional).

So I put on my thinking cap and pondered. Since I am retired, I ponder a lot now. My wife, Heather, says I am a deep thinker but I call it pondering. Two thoughts emerged. First, I realized that some people might see the socks and the socks might have a positive effect. I realize this is nothing on the scale of a Billy Graham Evangelistic Crusade nor a sold out concert by a Christian performer, but it could impact someone.

The second thing that occurred to me was that maybe I wasn’t wearing the socks just as a positive witness to others. The socks can, and do, serve as an encouragement to me. When I sit down and cross my legs, I see a scripture, maybe “Trust in the Lord” that reminds me that I can place my trust in Him when life seems too difficult for me. Or “I can do all things” when I encounter difficulties.

Ephesians 6:15 comes to mind. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (NIV).” Wearing these socks helps me to “put on the whole armor of God” as described in the broader passage here. In MacLaren’s Expositions, the author suggests two things about this passage. First, five of the six items mentioned are defensive. Only the sword is an offensive weapon. With this in mind he suggests that the passage might better be referred to as preparedness rather than preparation. We aren’t just to prepare, we are to be always ready to defend ourselves against attacks from the evil one.

I Peter 3:15-16 reads “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame (NASB).” We should be ready! Ready when people speak derisively about our faith, or when they make a sincere inquiry about that faith. In speaking with gentleness and respect, we are upholding the faith and putting those who attack us to shame. And we can do it with a clear conscience – no regrets.

Please don’t think I have it all perfected. I am a sinner, just like every one of you. My socks help me have the attitude mentioned in this passage. Socks, of course, are not the only thing we can use. Jewelry carrying a faith message can be helpful. If a man wears a tie, he can wear one with a gospel message. Christian T-shirts are frequently worn as a witness. A visitor to my home once commented on the religious items evident in my home. If you come to my home, you will have no doubt about where I stand with God.

At one time, I carried a small cross in my pocket to remind me of these things. One day I was in an automobile accident, in which I was fortunate not to sustain any injuries. When I got home that day, I noticed that I had two crosses in my pocket. My thought was that God was protecting me doubly that day. I’m not saying that the cross kept me from injury, but the cross brought to my awareness that He protects me.

There is nothing magical about these religious icons, but they can remind us of who we are and whose we are. An icon can be described as a famous person or thing that is used to represent a

set of beliefs or a way of life. These socks, or other objects, can be used to represent our faith. How do you show your faith daily?

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Discipleship Today

Current Events, devotional

In a recent blog (https://liftupmyeyes.com/what-is-discipleship/) we discussed what discipleship is and what God expects of us as believers and disciples. However, a cursory glance at the Christian landscape today reveals a number of so-called paths to discipleship. Make no doubt about it, discipleship is hard, it takes persistence and consistency. There are no “Five Easy Steps to Discipleship.” In this article, I am proposing some reasons for the lack of true disciples in our churches. I almost stated in the previous sentence “the decline of true disciples in our churches today,” but I am not certain that this is a new phenomenon. Likely the church has always had difficulty training true disciples who attempt to fulfill Jesus’ admonition in Luke 9:23 “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

It is obvious that church membership, attendance, and discipleship are on the decline. David Thompson, writing in The Atlantic, observes that 25 percent of the American population identifies as agnostic, atheist, or unaffiliated. In the last 25 years, 40 million Americans stopped going to church. He states that this is the “largest concentrated change in church attendance in American history.” He lists several reasons for this decline. There is obviously some overlap among these reasons.

Politics, as evangelical Christians have embraced the Republican Party, Christians of liberal political persuasions have nowhere to go and have left the church.
Divorce, particularly men who tend to drop out.
Our decline in face-to-face socializing. We rationalize, “Why go to church when I can watch services on television?” This spills over to other social events in our lives.
Disengagement as we withdraw and reduce the level of our volunteerism, our dissatisfaction with our community and social life. We are lonely.
Fewer shared spaces where connections are made. We find it easier to sit at home rather than go out and “do things” with other people. We don’t sit around over a cup of coffee and solve the worlds problems as we once did.
Community has been replaced by technology. We stare at our iPhone screens, in deference to interacting with others.

Religious rituals are the opposite of these factors. I am not talking just about singing, preaching, praying – the things we do in Sunday morning worship but the broader landscape of church activity. Small groups gathering just for socializing, groups banding together to help meet needs of those outside the church, having “work days” to help our community, groups meeting for Bible study. Thompson states that these rituals “put us in our body.” Religious ritual is embodied, synchronous, deep, and collective.” We have lost much of this today.

Bill Leonard, in writing for Baptist News Global stated that Thompson’s article is a “plea for the survival of faith communities that offer safe harbor amid the turmoil of isolation, loneliness and enduring social and political conflict. For Christian faith communities, that kind of safety is grounded in the teachings of Jesus, although determining the meaning and application of those teachings is the source of considerable debate, even conflict, inside American Christianity. The Bible is our guide, but it sometimes does not give us definitive answers to our social, political, and other questions that arise in daily life.”

Ryan Burge, discussing “casual dechurching” has taken note of reasons people leave the church. His observations are that these reasons are often boring, logistical reasons that escape the headlines. The number one reason people dechurched was because they moved. Rather than find a new church, they determined it wasn’t worth the time and effort. Other reasons include marriage, having kids, change in jobs or schedules. Just plain nuts-and-bolts reasons.

This statement by Burge is quite an indictment of the church today. It tells me that today’s church is irrelevant, has lost its religious significance and has become not much different than a social club. I was once part of a church (name changed to protect the innocent) that met this definition. Many attended this church to be seen and to be identified as a Christian man or woman. I referred to it as the First Congregational Church Country Club.

The church is declining because it is not meeting the Gospel needs of the population. Many today may identify their faith as “spiritual but not religious.” I realize their intent is to avoid being labeled religious due to the shortcomings of many religious leaders. I do not identify as spiritual. Someone reminded me that Satan is a spiritual being, so I needed to be more specific. I am a Child of God, my allegiance is to a spiritual being we know as Yahweh, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit.

A leading cause of the woes of the church today is the church itself. Well-publicized scandals of sex, money, and other misdeeds have eroded our confidence in our church pastors and leaders. Burge states “All these stories continue to come out about religious people doing dumb things, doing immoral things, and that fits this larger narrative that’s going on in American culture right now, especially amongst young people. Cynicism is at all-time highs. Only about 9,999 in 10,000 pastors are doing their job as best they can. But the one in 10,000 who does something terrible gets transferred to all pastors.” All of us are fallen beings, no one is perfect. In a listing of characteristics of successful leadership, the number one characteristic is often “authenticity.” Many of our church leaders today lack this characteristic.

Rick Renner, writing for CBN, stated that it may eventually seem that there are three churches. One, those holding fast to the truth and facing opposition for doing so. But we must be careful to hold to the TRUTH and not tradition. Second, Renner cites a church in the middle, seeking accomodation or compromise, much like the church in Pergamum in Revelation 2:12-17. They have not renounced Christ, but they have adopted false teachings. Third, he cites a lukewarm Laodicena-like Church that has watered down the Gospel message (Revelation 3:14-22).

Leonard speaks of a conversation he had with the last three sisters at Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH. He asked the sisters “How do you feel about the disappearance of your order?” One of the sisters replied “We regret it deeply, but we know the Spirit will reveal itself again, somewhere, somehow. They may not call themselves Shakers, but they will live a kingdom life.”

And that is the good news. Despite widespread rejection or misapplication of the Christian faith, the church will survive. We do not need to worry excessively about the future of the church. The church is the Body of Christ. Christ is eternal, the church will be with us until called home. As believers, we are to remain a part of the Body, doing all we can for as long as we can.

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

Photo Credit @doidam10 via Canva

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How Will I Know?

Current Events, devotional

In recent blogs, we have explored the topic of discipleship, attempting to define discipleship (https://liftupmyeyes.com/what-is-discipleship/) and taking a view of discipleship in our churches today (add link). In this article we are attempting to focus on the individual, rather than discipleship as a whole. Maybe you’ve done what you think is the right way to approach discipleship, but you have a nagging feeling that you’re not yet where you should be. In John 15, Jesus was speaking to the disciples in the upper room. This is a part of his farewell discourse and was specifically addressed to the twelve, but is seen as a logical extension to the future church.

John 15:1-6 reads “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the

vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Jesus’ use of the vine analogy is one that the Israelites could easily relate to. In ancient Israel, vines were everywhere. There was also a golden vine as a decoration of the front of the temple. This vine represented the idea that Israel was God’s vine. But Jesus is saying that He is the true vine and we should be rooted in Him, not Israel or even the church.

We previously established that Jesus set out three requirements for discipleship. Deny self. Take up your cross. Follow Him. When we meet these three requirements, we find that we are remaining, or abiding, in Him. This passage has three components for our purposes today – cut, prune, bear fruit.

Cut. Anyone who has ever done any gardening knows that a dead branch is of no use. The branch is removed for the good of the entire plant. But the cut branch is no longer a part of the vine, or plant. It is cast out and thrown into the fire (or in today’s world it’s left on the curb as yard waste). Just as we would be cast out if we are not following God. As the branch must remain with the vine, we must remain in Christ, or we can do nothing.

Prune. At first, pruning may seem counterintuitive, no different than cutting off a branch. Jenna Jonaitis, writing for Angi, lists eight reasons for pruning trees and bushes.

It promotes growth.
It encourages fruit production.
It can be used to treat disease.
It helps prevent safety hazards.
It can help shape the plant.
It removes unwanted growth.
It can save money.
It can protect trees from storms.

Think of these eight benefits and apply them to your Christian life. When we are pruned these good things can happen. I think the spiritual benefits of pruning are self-evident, except maybe for number seven. It may be a stretch, but pruning may help us spend less on those things that could be harmful to our Christian walk and allow us to give where needs exist.

Bear Fruit. I would not go so far as to say that the reason for our salvation is so that we can witness to others that they might be saved. That reminds me of a pyramid scheme, where the primary purpose is to sign up as many new people as you can, so that you will benefit more greatly. There is no question that we all have sinned and without our salvation we will not spend eternity in Heaven. If we really believe this, we should be compelled to lead a Godly life that others may see or hear our example. Pink Floyd performed the song “It’s What We Do.” Although I am not a Pink Floyd fan, this song represents their dedication to their craft. The broader message of the song is about following one’s passion relentlessly. And maybe, what we do here will continue beyond our days on earth. “It’s What We Do” should be about our Christian walk.

Having been a part of the church all my life, I used to have problems with the fruit bearing part. Without going too deep, an apple tree will bear apples. Apples are the only thing it can produce. If it doesn’t produce apples, we cut it down. I don’t want to be cut down but I am an introvert. As such you’re not going to find me on a street corner preaching God’s word or handing out tracts. That’s not me. My efforts in this regard might even be counter-productive. So what is encompassed in bearing fruit?

An article on Bible.org lists five types of fruit that a Christian can bear:

Fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:22-23 we find the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Note that “fruit” is singular. The nine qualities listed in this passage are parts that come together to form a whole. We are like a plant, producing one type of fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is one very attractive and beneficial fruit. This reflects our character.

Right Conduct. Our conduct is determined by our character. I once knew someone who could be described as a “con man.” He was a very engaging person often willing to help out. This was his exterior persona. Because I recognized him for what he was, I realized he lacked character. We can put on a false veneer, but ultimately our character is reflected in our conduct. Colossians 4:5-6 guides us “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

Witness. Those who come to Christ through our witness are fruit. Keep in mind that our witness is more than what we say, it’s also what we do. I am reminded of the old saying from Ralph Waldo Emerson “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” Our actions carry more weight than our words. Be careful what we do.

Praise and Thanksgiving. When we find something new that we like, it seems like we can’t stop talking about it. I had a friend once who commented “There’s nothing more obnoxious than a new convert to anything.” While that may be overstated, we often get excited about things in our lives. As Christians, praise and thanksgiving are fruit that we can lift up to God as an offering. And we should be excited about it, but not overbearing.

Give Money. If you read through the letters of Paul, one thing you will note is that he was not shy about asking people to give. In I Corinthians 16:1-2 he indicated that he bore this message to more than one church “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do as well. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper so that no collections need to be made when I come.” Someone may say that God will provide. Yes, He does. But he provides through the actions of Christians on earth. When God blesses us abundantly, we should be abundant in our “fruit” gifts.

As a seeker, someone might say, “That all sounds well and good, but what happens when I remain in Christ?” This is human nature coming out. The seeker does not know all about Christ, he or she is just learning, so their tendency would be to ask “What’s in it for me? Why should I follow Christ?”

Jesus laid out four things that happen when we remain in Him. John 15:7-11 “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Ask. We are told that if we ask, whatever we wish will be done for us. This is not a blank check. Jesus’ statement here is preceded by the condition that we remain in Him. If we are so attuned to God’s will, our asking will be in line with that will.

Glorify. It is an awesome thought that we can glorify God. We glorify Him through our praise and worship. But we also Glorify God with our fruit. I can envision God’s smiling in approval as our fruit is lifted up.

Prove. When we remain in Him, we are proving our discipleship. An old saying is “the proof is in the pudding.” In this case the proof of our discipleship is our fruit.

Keep His Commandments. We remain in Him when we keep His commandments. If we violate man’s law, there will be penalties to be paid. For example, if I fail to pay my income taxes, I may get caught. When that happens, I don’t just pay my taxes. I pay a penalty. When we don’t remain in Christ, the penalty is separation from Him.

Someone might say ‘This is hard. I’m only human. I’m not perfect.” That is exactly right. But God sent His son to erase our sin. God sent the Holy Spirit to help us here on earth. The disciples were perplexed when Jesus spoke of entering the kingdom of God. However, in Matthew 19:26, Jesus allayed their fears “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Unless otherwise stated all scripture is from the New American Standard Bible

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What is Discipleship?

Current Events, devotional

In many churches and Christian circles today, discipleship is a popular topic. In my opinion, much of what passes for discipleship falls woefully short of what Jesus and scripture had to say about discipleship. I did a Google search to see what others said about this term and found a number of articles and lists that attempt to define discipleship. “Six (eight, ten, the number varies) characteristics of discipleship.” Not being satisfied, I looked at what Jesus said. In Luke 9:23 Jesus laid out three requirements to be His disciple: “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”

My first observation was that Jesus was NOT talking to the twelve, He was addressing all of His followers. He had just finished the feeding of the five thousand. It is reasonable to assume that “them all” included more than just the twelve. He laid out three requirements for a disciple. The lists I previously alluded to probably contain these three, but elaborate on them as supplemental material. I like to keep things simple, so we will elaborate on the three components Jesus mentioned:

- - - - Deny self
        
        Take up YOUR cross
        
        Follow Him

Deny Self I see these three as a progression toward discipleship. In denying self, Jesus is telling us that, if we are to be His disciple, we must love Him more than we love our family. In Luke 14:26 we read “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” God is a god of love, how can He speak hate? My first observation is that God’s hatred could be more a matter of priorities rather than a despising of another individual or object. Think of a continuum. At one end is God. Everything else is less than the love we have for God. So we are not being told to hate, or despise others. We are being told that God should be number one, by far, in everything. Second place is not even close. Thus we place God as the most important thing in our lives and deny ourselves whatever not according to His plan.

Luke 26 goes on to say in verses 28-30 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘this person began to build, and was not able to finish!’”

We must be careful that, in denying ourselves, we do not ignore ourselves. We may take the attitude that any desire we have is sinful, we ignore the fact that God provides good things for us here on earth.

Discipleship carries a cost and we are being told to determine if we are willing to pay the cost. When I see this scripture, I am often reminded of the “Eyesore on I-4.” If you’ve traveled on that highway in the Altamonte Springs area, you’ve probably noticed it. The building has been under construction since 2001 and remains incomplete. It is known as the Majesty Building and was designed to house the not-for-profit Christian TV station WACX and was funded with contributions from viewers. For any number of reasons, it remains incomplete. But comparing the Majesty Building to Christ’s statement is a glaring example of what He was referring to. The cost of the building was not fully considered. In making the commitment to follow Jesus, we need to count the cost. Is there anything in our lives that hinders us from putting Christ first in everything?

Take Up Your Cross This command of Jesus is often misunderstood. We often use it in reference to a burdensome task. If, for example, you have a loved one who needs you to be their caretaker, that task may be referred to as the cross you have to bear. In this regard all of humanity, a follower of Jesus or not, will experience difficulties in this life. That is not what Jesus was referring to.

Also, taking up our cross is not a symbol for us figuratively bearing Christ’s cross. He bore His cross. Here, he is telling us to take up OUR cross.

What is the cross? Although we may use a cross as a Christian symbol, the actual cross is an instrument of death. When Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily he was telling us that we need to die to self each and every day. We are sinful, fallen human beings. We will stumble. By dying to self daily, we help maintain our discipleship. In Luke 9:24 Jesus elaborates on taking up the cross by saying “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it.”

Follow Me Jesus is calling us to discipleship. The definition of disciple varies depending on one’s perspective. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a disciple as “one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ’s followers.” This is entirely too narrow, as Jesus calls us all to discipleship. A second definition from the same source defines ‘disciple’ generically as “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.” We can be disciples of someone other than Christ. We might think of ourselves as a disciple of a strong, charismatic leader. But this can be a misplaced allegiance. Jim Jones had disciples who followed him, and drank the Kool Aid, killing over 900 souls.

Following Jesus means that we do what He bids us to do. Jesus does not have a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all discipleship. Jesus has a task for us and there will be consequences when we follow Him. Whatever He calls us to do we should do our best. A Christian not working hard is a poor example. Colossians 3:17 tells us “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Do it well, as you are doing it in the name of Jesus. Be thankful for the task God has given you.

I would add that a task or assignment from God is not necessarily for life. As we go through this life, the tasks that God has for us may change. There are seasons in our human lives, there are also seasons in our Christian life.

Never forget that discipleship is a task we don’t face alone. When Jesus ascended, he promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be with them. In Acts 1:8 Jesus tells us “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.. There may be difficulties but ultimately we can’t lose.

Cross picture by Freepix. All scripture is from the NASB unless othewise stated.

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Consider Abraham

devotional

Abram (later renamed Abraham) is the Father of the Christian faith. Not only the Christian faith but he is also the father of the Jewish and Muslim faiths. If you’re looking for a strong, faithful man, Abram would readily come to mind.

At this point, Abram was 75 years old, married to Sarai (later Sarah) who was barren. As was the custom at the time, he lived with his parents and had two brothers. Apparently, his father, Terah, was a wealthy man. Let’s drop in on an imaginary conversation between Abram and his parents. Abram: “Dad, we need to talk.” Dad: “Sure, son, what’s on your mind?” Abram: “Well, last night God spoke to me and told me to leave Haran, to leave my family and move from your house.” Dad: “That’s ridiculous! What God is this you speak of? My God didn’t tell me anything about this. Do you need to have your head examined? Where will you go? What will you do?” Abram: “This God just spoke to me for the first time, but something about Him seemed so real, so genuine. It’s almost as if I can’t resist His call. But He told me some really awesome stuff. He said he would make me into a great nation.”Dad: “How are you going to become a great nation? Sarai is barren. You’re 75 years old and you and Sarai are going to become a great nation? Come on.” Abram: “If you would let me finish and quit interrupting me, I’ll tell you what He said. He will bless me, my name will become great, I will be a blessing to others and God will bless those who bless me. In fact, He said that I will bless all the families on the earth.” Dad: I’m not sure what you’ve been smoking, but you seem intent on this mission. Take your family and possessions and go. Just for good measure, take your nephew Lot. He’s not doing me any good, maybe he will be of help to you. When you fail, don’t come crawling back to me. I told you this was a hair-brained idea you have. You’re going to be the death of me.”

Abram Departs Haran As we read in Genesis 12, Abram took Sarai and Lot and departed Haran. He took with him their possessions, servants (slaves) and headed to the land of Canaan. We must suppose Abram headed in this direction under God’s guidance Genesis 12:5-6 records “they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanites were in the land at that time. And the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’”

At this point, two significant events occurred. Abram heard from God and he erected an altar. Likely, Abram was still a little in the dark about God’s plans. I can visualize Abram talking to God “Hey, Lord. You’ve brought me to Canaan but it’s full of Canaanites. Am I on the right track?” In His infinite wisdom God again showed up affirming that Abram was still on track. ”To your descendants I will give this land” (Genesis 12:7). This was what Abram needed for he proceeded to build an altar. In a religious context, there are many reasons for altars, but their focus is on the worship of God. Abram showed God that He was still on board. The altar probably represented what Henry Blackaby makes reference to as “spiritual markers, a time or place when you knew God spoke to you.” This was a place of remembrance for Abram. Through the years, Abram could look back and recall this experience. It helps us if we can look back to our spiritual markers, a time when we had a significant encounter with God.

Abram Falters Despite all of the positive aspects of Abram’s walk with God, he was far from perfect. Abram was no different than we are, in this respect. I can recall three significant times when Abram’s faith weakened. The first occurred during a famine in the land, so Abram journeyed to Egypt where things were supposedly better. On the way, Abram told Sarai “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.” Abram’s faith faltered. That ruse failed, but literally it put the fear of God in Pharaoh. How often have we not been fully transparent in our conversations, trying to avoid unpleasant consequences?

In the second case, Abram (and Sarai) got impatient. They were getting older and still had no son. Abram had relations with Hagar, and bore a son, Ishmael. Under the law, Ishmael became Abram’s heir. Abram was 86 at this time. Time slowly marched on. Through the years, I have learned that God is faithful to fulfill His promises, it’s just that I am not operating on God’s timeline and get impatient, just as Abram and Sarai did.

Thirteen years later, God showed up again. He renewed His covenant with Abram in Genesis 17 adding some details to the covenant. Abram also got a new name that seemed to take things a step further. Abram (Exalted Father) became Abraham (Father of a multitude). Similar names with a shade of difference in the meanings. God also changed Sarai’s name to Sarah. From “My Princess” to “Mother of Nations.

God’s plan has definitely shifted into a new gear. Shortly after this encounter, three strangers showed up at Abraham’s door. They proceeded to prophesy that “next year this time, Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:10). Again, this anointed couple didn’t take God seriously. Sarah laughed, denied she did, and God upbraided her saying to Abraham ”Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I actually give birth to a child, when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” And, of course, the birth of Issac occurred as prophesied.

Abraham was a faithful servant of God but he was not perfect. Like all of us he faltered. But he was a man mightily used of God. I think there are at least four things we can learn from his relationship with God.

God Affirms Us When Abraham faltered, God came and reminded him of His promises to make him a great nation. The scope of the promises made to Abraham is so unlikely, Abraham needed reassurance from time to time. After all, it was 25 years from the time Abraham left his home until the birth of Isaac. Time is meaningless to God. From Abraham’s experience, we can see that God will be there for us.
As finite human beings, we cannot possibly see everything from God’s perspective. When things don’t go as we think they should we need to “Let Go and Let God.”
God is Faithful I wonder how many times in that 25-year period, Abraham doubted. Maybe he thought he heard God wrong. Maybe he thought he dreamed it all up. But ultimately, God showed Himself as faithful in fulfilling all of His promises to Abraham.

Our God is the Same Unchanging God that Abraham Worshiped It is a cliché but true. Our God is unchanging. We can benefit from seeing thousands of years of God working with mankind. We can see God’s faithfulness over those years. Abraham did not have this privilege. God was brand new to him.

The next time you feel that God is no longer there, Think of Abraham and the years he waited. Think of your own spiritual markers that remind you of what God has done in your past. Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song, “My Redeemer is Faithful and True,” Those lyrics remind us of God’s faithfulness.

“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.
And in every situation He has proved His love to me; When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me.”

Unless otherwise noted all scripture quotations are from the NASB.

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What Have You Always Wanted?

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I saw a question posed the other day that asked ”What is it that you have always wanted?” This led me to do some thinking. As I mulled over my answer to that question, I realized that having all the money you could ever want was not the answer. Here in the United States, we are a prosperous nation, yet there is a great deal of personal dissatisfaction. Recently, the United States ranked as the 23rd happiest country in the world, but was 7th in Gross Domestic Product per capita. As I compiled my list, I realized anew that the most important things are not objects or experiences, but relationships.

My list includes a number of accomplishments that I have achieved. I have obtained a doctoral degree, I have run two marathons in under four hours, I have seen many of my favorite artists perform live, on stage, I have attended a New Year’s Day Bowl game, I’ve been to game seven of a Stanley Cup series (and saw my team win), I have two children and three grandchildren that I can be proud of, I have been blessed to be married to two fantastic women. I have published some books, I have obtained a CPA (and other professional certifications), I did own a convertible, an old beaten-up Karmann Ghia.

As impressive as that list may seem, there are a number of things that I have not accomplished. I would like to take a cruise to the Panama Canal. I’ve tried three times but have had my plans fall through every time. I scheduled a trip to Australia and COVID canceled that for me. There are other places in the world I haven’t seen although I would like to. I’ve owned a Thunderbird but not a Jaguar. I’ve never been up in a hot air balloon. I’ve not attended a World Series game or an NCAA Football National Championship game. I’ve always wanted to be in Boston on July 4 for the Boston Pops Concert.

I am fortunate that I have had many wonderful experiences and possessions during my years on earth, but the only thing that is really important is my salvation in Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote in II Corinthians 4:18 (NASB) “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Everything on earth, the good, the bad, and the ugly will pass away. Any good we have seen on earth will be far surpassed by what is to come. Our sufferings on earth will be forgotten. We will dwell forever in a place of unimaginable beauty.

Someone might say that God’s word is not true. After all, Philippians 4:19 (NASB) says “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” At this point we need to make a distinction between needs, wants, and desires. A need is a requirement, something we must have if we are to survive and function in a reasonable manner. Things such as food, water, clothing, shelter, and safety. A basic meal is a need. A want tends to go beyond the physical basics and into our preferences. A well-prepared full-fledged meal is a want. We often ask our loved ones at what restaurant they would like to celebrate their birthday. “I want to have a good steak.” might be the reaction here. Finally, we get into desires. Our desires tend toward the emotional. ”I’d like to go to Bern’s Steakhouse. I am retiring and want to celebrate the occasion in style.”

There is nothing wrong with any of these. We are human and God placed in us a search for needs, wants, and desires. But we must not focus on the wants and desires to the point where we become indulgent. Many people today are “entitled,” believing themselves to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. Such individuals feel deserving and think the world revolves around them. What we must do is to not lose sight of what is a need, a want, or a desire. When we get caught up in pursuing our wants and desires, we may think of them as needs and lose focus on what is actually important.

Before we go further, I can hear someone saying “but there are millions of people in the world who do not have even the most basic needs.” That is true and I don’t discount that fact. But we live in an imperfect world. When (and if) we die and go to Heaven, all of our needs will be met. Meanwhile those of us who have been abundantly blessed need to work to meet basic needs here on earth.

Someone else might say to me that John 15:7 says that Jesus promised us to ask whatever we wish and it will be done for us. He did say that, sort of. His preface to that statement was “If you remain or abide in Me…” To abide or remain in Jesus means that we are so attuned to Christ that we live in Him, fully attaching ourselves to Him. If we abide in Christ, we would not ask for something that is not in His will. We ask, knowing what would please Him and He will provide. James 4:3 reads “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.” This is not easy. We are all human, we all sin, so we may ask for the wrong reasons and not receive what we sought.

One of my favorite Christian artists is Andrew Peterson. He often brings to his songs an account of his frailties. In the song “Faith to be Strong,” he writes:

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it’s hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

I think Peterson might have been thinking about what Peter wrote in I Peter 1:4-9 God gives us “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

God has offered us something permanent and more wonderful than anything here on earth. Are you anticipating God welcoming you into His Heaven? What more could we want?

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Don’t Leave Jesus in the Manger

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Jesus was born of a virgin in a manger in Bethlehem. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the King. It was indeed a miraculous event as Jesus entered our world as one of us. With one exception – he was God’s son and came that we might be redeemed from our sins. But too often we leave Jesus in Bethlehem. To me, that’s like going to a theatrical presentation and leaving after the first act. But there is more.

Act I – Jesus Was Born and Lived Among Us

Jesus’ birth is well-documented in the Gospels. The star appeared, Angels visited the shepherds in the fields, the wise men followed the star to find Jesus. On the eighth day, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple for purification. While there, Simeon and Anna appeared and testified of the fulfillment of prophecy in the birth of Jesus. This, we are told, amazed Mary and Joseph. But I think it likely confirmed or reminded them of who Jesus was.

We know that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus later fled to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod, who was intent on killing the “imposter” to his throne. In order to accomplish this, several miracles occurred. The wise men were warned in a dream, and went back another way, rather than reporting to Herod. Joseph had a dream where an angel appeared and warned him to “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” (Matthew 2:13 NASB)

We are told that, upon returning to Nazareth, Jesus continued to grow and became strong, increasing in wisdom. Jesus was known as a carpenter, so it is likely that he worked with Joseph in the shop. God’s favor on Him was said to be evident.

At the age of 12, Jesus went to the Feast of the Passover with his earthly parents. Mary And Joseph lost him and finally found Him in the Temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions. Mary scolded him, but He replied “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:50 NASB). He was aware of who He was and of His mission on earth.

Beyond that, we know little of Jesus’ first 30 years on earth. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. First, priests officially entered service at age 30 (Numbers 4:3). So, he was keeping with tradition. Secondly, I think Jesus used this time to “be one of us,” to experience life as a human being, having human feelings and emotions.

To leave Jesus in His youth, we are missing the rest of the play. If we don’t stay for the ending, we are not receiving the fullness of Jesus and will celebrate only His birth.

Act II Jesus’ Ministry and Crucifixion

Jesus’ ministry was controversial to say the least. While He healed the sick and performed other signs and wonders, this was not His primary purpose. He came to preach the Truth. Jesus is the Truth. As we read in John 8:32 (NASB) “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Healing and other miracles were good things, but if these recipients rejected the gospel, they were not done any ultimate good. One might think that He did these as attention getters. “See, I am the Son of God and I can do great things.” But that is not the case. He frequently told those who were healed to tell no one about it. I think this was because the news would spread of his ability to perform miracles and hinder His gospel ministry, the primary reason for coming to earth. The focus was the healing ministry of salvation. Obviously, word spread about these miracles, and his compassion compelled Him to help people.

Jesus’ focus on earth was the teaching of the disciples, so that His message would live on. In John 17 where Jesus prayed His high priestly prayer, he prayed, “Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word (vv. 17-20 NASB). Shortly thereafter, He was crucified. But three days later, he arose again, an event we celebrate each year.

But if you leave Jesus here, you will miss the grand finale of our play.

Act III – The Ascension and Exaltation

After His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days on earth, making appearances to a number of His followers. He was using this time to encourage those who were already “His,” not an attempt to convert more to the truth of the gospel. At the end of 40 days, he visibly ascended into heaven. After He ascended, the disciples were “gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, and they said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:10-11 NASB).

Jesus’ ministry did not end with his ascension. The disciples returned to Jerusalem, probably a little bewildered. They, along with others, retreated to the upper room, devoting themselves to prayer.

Suddenly, something Jesus told His followers would happen came to fruition – the helper Jesus promised came to them in the form of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had ascended into Heaven, and took His place at the right hand of God. As Paul records in Phillippians 2:5-11 “Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Jesus will return again as an exalted, conquering hero – Lord of the earth.”

That is the grand finale of our play. We could say there is an encore that is still in progress. You can join Jesus Christ in Heaven for all eternity. Are you ready to welcome the Lord at His return in all His glory?

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Wisdom

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The word wisdom carries with it a number of meanings, but it seems to me that many of them miss the mark. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary states that wisdom “implies sense and judgment far above average.” It uses insight, common sense, knowledge and judgment in defining the word. We see a focus on worldly wisdom which is more concerned with pleasing oneself. These characteristics may result from education, getting ahead in this world (rat race), or other externalities.
None of this addresses Godly wisdom. This type of wisdom comes from God only and seeks to honor Him. I John 2:15-16 reads “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world” (NASB) The author here is contrasting the things of God with earthly values and not settling for the lesser. Love of the world and love of God are incompatible – we cannot have both.

The Bible has much to say about wisdom, and Proverbs makes many references to wisdom. But our starting point must be James 1:5 “But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all” (NASB). To get wisdom we must pray for it and God will grant our prayers. He gives it to all generously and graciously. Obviously, our prayer must be sincere and with the right motives, not just one more trophy to place on our shelf of accomplishments.

One sign we don’t have Godly wisdom is if we brag about how wise we are. Proverbs 16:16 indicates our focus “How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver” (NASB). I recall a discussion with another professing Christian. In our group discussion, he commented that pride was not a problem for him. He was always boasting about his accomplishments. In my judgment, he was one of the most prideful men I knew. His “wisdom” was apparently not Godly.

How will we recognize Godly wisdom in our lives and in the lives of others? There are at least six characteristics we can observe in a person possessing Godly Wisdom. Let’s examine these characteristics.

It starts with a fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1:7 tells us “ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction” (NASB). The Amplified Bible describes fear of the Lord as reverent, worshipful, and regarding God as awesome. Fools are regarded as closed-minded, over-confident, and unteachable. I recall a high school basketball player who had a great deal of talent. The town was excited when he committed to play for the local college team. However, he did not excel in college. It was apparent that he was uncoachable. Godly speaking he lacked wisdom.
God gives wisdom to those with whom He is pleased. Ecclesiastes 2:26 reads “For to a person who is good in His sight, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.” Not only does he give wisdom – knowledge and joy are included! Note that not all obtain wisdom as they do not ask God for it in sincerity. We please God when we walk in the Spirit.
The Christian with wisdom will love life. Proverbs 19:8 reads “One who gets wisdom loves his own soul” (NASB). If a person loves his soul, he will also be someone who loves life. Someone with Godly wisdom will radiate it by their love.
Proverbs 19:20 reads “Listen to advice and accept discipline, so that you may be wise the rest of your days.” (NASB) Listening to advice can be difficult. Notice that it does not say accept the advice. We should listen and evaluate the advice being given. One part of wisdom is knowing when to follow advice and when to reject it.
Accepting discipline can be difficult but it can lead to improvements in our life. I remember when I started writing for an academic publisher, I was assigned an editor. Having never worked with an editor, I was somewhat resentful at first. After working with her, I realized that her suggestions were improving my writing and the finished product. The wise man accepts advice and discipline.
The wise man or woman will be full of grace. Colossians 4:5-6 tells us to “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (NASB). Two things in these verses jump out at me. First, we are to make the most of the opportunity. An opportunity has been described as a flower. It blossoms in beauty, but quickly fades. We are to make good use of the time we have been given. Don’t waste our time on sinful things of the world. When we act in this fashion, we will be filled with God’s grace. People will see God in us as we conduct ourselves with grace. Grace has been described as undeserved favor. God has bestowed grace on us, it is imperative that we serve as a conduit for grace. A graceful person will seek to build others up in gentleness and respect.
Finally, if we have God’s wisdom, that will be a sign of our righteousness. Psalm 37:30 tells us “The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. People will see God in us. That, to me, is the crowning achievement. If by my words and actions, people see God in me, then I will probably someday hear the words from God “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23 goes on to tell us that we will share the joy of the Master.

The thing about wisdom is that you never “arrive.” You can always advance along the “wisdom scale.” Stop for a moment and consider where you are on that scale. But not just where you are on that scale, but in which direction you are going. Grace is an essential part of God’s character. How well do you reflect God’s grace in your life?

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Finding God’s Will

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It is sometimes difficult for us to determine God’s will. God deals with each of us differently, so one person’s experience may not be the same as that of another. I am certainly no expert on God’s will so this is mostly a recounting of God working with me over my lifetime. As I see it, one of our main issues in seeking God’s will is that our will is present and we want God’s will to match what we want.

In Luke 5, Jesus was teaching the crowds and commandeered Simon’s fishing boat. After he finished teaching, he told Simon “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” He had been fishing all night and Jesus told him to cast the nets once more. Simon, the professional in this story, responded “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” Simon at this point was not a disciple of Jesus, but after protesting, he did what Jesus told him to do. At this point, I somewhat envy Simon. Face-to-face with Jesus, he did what Jesus said. There was no question in his mind about following Jesus’ instructions. Wouldn’t it be simple to have Jesus physically speaking to us, telling us what to do?

While I do not put down anyone’s experience with trying to discern God’s will, I am always somewhat suspicious when someone starts a conversation, saying “God told me…” I have known many people whose supposed words from God did not come about. We must, however, be flexible in how we respond to God’s perceived will.

When I was in high school, I was seeking to determine what my major in college would be. I happened to read an article about CPAs and the work of an accountant. At this point in my life, I did not know what a CPA was. But the article piqued my interest. I soon knew without a doubt that my major should be accounting. My senior year in high school, I took a bookkeeping course and I knew I was on the right track. I never wavered from that belief. My career did not turn out as I envisioned, but I was always involved professionally in the field of accounting. I believe God planned for me to read that article.

While in college, I sort of fell into becoming a journalist, first as Sports Editor for my college newspaper and later as Editor of the paper. I came from a long line of journalists (My grandfather founded a local newspaper that thrived for years and the whole family was involved in the business). I found out that I enjoyed writing and was pretty good at it. While in college I also had some sports articles published in the Asheville newspaper. But my writing took a backseat to my accounting career and it was neglected for years. In retrospect, I see that it was God’s hand leading me into writing.

Sometimes God speaks to us through other people. I met my first wife, Gloria while in college. Unbeknownst to me, she told her roommate that she was going to marry me. We were friends, but didn’t date at that point. After two years, she transferred to nursing school. We corresponded some, and she asked to be placed on the mailing list for the College newspaper of which I was the editor. She came back to campus to visit some friends and we got back together. We started dating and ended up being married for over 48 years. I’ve always been suspicious about the circumstances of that visit to her friends.

After college, I was employed in a variety of accounting jobs. One Sunday morning I sat beside a friend at church. We struck up a conversation and he mentioned that he needed an accountant to teach in the evening program of the local technical school. I asked about it, and he encouraged me to submit an application, which I did. He told me that he had found an accountant but to submit my application, as he was always needing an accountant. About half-way through the next semester, he called and told me his accounting teacher had been transferred to another city. Could I take over the class? I figured this was a great opportunity. If I did not do well, I could blame it on the fact that I did not start the semester and save face. I loved it and my students were very receptive. It did not take me long to realize I needed to be in teaching. I had no idea if I was qualified to teach in college, so I contacted Fred Bentley, President of Mars Hill College and sought his advice. He was very encouraging and gave me some tips on how to get a job. I would add that my years on the college newspaper put me in frequent touch with the President and we had become friends.

Fast forward a few years. Gloria bought me a book by Max Lucado entitled Cure for the Common Life. This book turned out to be transformational. In reading the book, I realized that writing was one of my callings, so I vowed to start writing again. I began writing academic articles related to accounting and was somewhat successful, having several articles published. I was also given the opportunity to write tax articles for the Polk County Business Journal. The writing enhanced my career as an academic and I found that I enjoyed it. I also was a frequent blogger for an online accounting site and also wrote my own blog “The TaxDoc Spot.”

In addition to teaching I also had a tax preparation business. As I approached retirement from academia, it occurred to me that I could begin a new line of business, giving seminars and consulting on the subject of church and clergy taxes. I prayed, consulted with a number of people and started Church Tax Solutions. This was an instance where I think my will overrode God’s. Although this was a good idea, it never got off the ground. In retrospect, I now see that I would need to devote time to caring for Gloria as her physical condition declined. In a related vein, I retired from academia just prior to Gloria needing me more.

After Gloria passed away, I realized that I don’t do well alone, so I started dating. Just as I was about to give up finding anyone, Heather walked into my life. The moment I saw her, I felt God telling me that we would marry. I did not tell her this at the time. But as things progressed, it turned out that marriage was God’s will and we are more certain of that every day.

I finally gave up my tax practice after much prayer and fasting. I never thought I would so willingly walk away from it, as it was something I loved. But God showed me it was time, and I do not miss my tax work.

I was no longer a professor, no longer a tax preparer. So what was next? As I contemplated this question, I realized a desire to write again. About this time, a friend who has a blog site invited me to publish on his site. This was different from my prior writing as I decided to write a faith-based blog. So that’s what occupies my time now. I enjoy it and hope that others can learn and be inspired by my musings.
We must never lose sight of the fact that God’s will for you will not contradict His Divine Nature. Ultimately He seeks:

Advancement of His kingdom. Daniel 2:44 “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be [a]left for
another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.”
Salvation of His children through Jesus. II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
For us to do His work on earth. Eph 2:10 “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Over the years, as you can see, God has led me in many ways, not always by speaking to me. Sometimes when I wasn’t even seeking Him. What I have learned is summed up in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” When God is first in our lives, he will guide us abundantly. What place does God have in your life?

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Expectation or Hope?

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