Cross & Gavel Devotional

What's Love Got to Do With It? Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Garner) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:04:00 +0000

"So this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." (1 John 3:16)

Ok, first, please stop singing that song in your head. :) Second, let me clarify the question a little. What does a Christian's love of God have to do with his/her life? The reason I ask this question is that "love" is a fruit of the Spirit, and therefore, it is important for a Christian to have a biblical understanding of what love is and how love is to be lived out.

I want to suggest that a Christian's love for God should drive everything that we do. For example, Jesus Christ commands all those who have repented of their sin and have faith in Christ to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39). These commands of Christ are the reason why a Christian's life must be radically different from the world because we are to evaluate all of our actions, thoughts, and motivations in light of this passage in order to determine if they are driven by a love for God and others or for by a love for ourselves.

With regard to love, one fundamental difference in a non-Christian and a Christian is that a non-Christian's primary love is a love of self with the goal of bringing glory to himself/herself. On the other hand, a Christian's primary love is a love of God that seeks to bring glory to Him. Every sin committed is the result of when a person's love for himself/herself trumps his/her love for God. Think about it. All sin can be traced back to a love of self because our sin is an example of us doing what we desire to do out of a love for self, instead of doing what God desires us to do out of an obedient and submissive love of Him. We must never forget that sin whether it is a love of self or any other sin is no small matter because it is rebellion against God.

As a Christian, love might be costly at times when we are wronged, persecuted, or taken advantage of, but we must remember that Christ's love for us was costly as well. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16)

In this first devotional on love, let's briefly look at some practical ways that we can live out a love for God. First, a Christian's life is to be a life of sacrifice. What I mean by that is that Christians are called to die to self and live for Christ. The first way we need to pursue accomplishing this goal is to be faithful our practice of pursuing God through our exercise of the personal spiritual disciplines of reading the Bible, praying, memorizating Scripture, and fasting. We must make time for these things as they are essential in the process of loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind.

The Bible teaches us about our sin, about who God is, and about how we are to live a life that is in submission to Him. It would be foolish for a person who professes to be a Christian to try to live a life that is reflective of the love of God by just doing what feels best to him/her at the moment. In the same way, it would be foolish for an untrained "soldier" to go to battle with an unloaded gun or for an attorney to argue a case in court with no knowledge of the laws that apply to the case.

Our hearts are prone to evil and unbelief, and we must combat that tendency by letting God's Word shape the way we live and love. When our conscience convicts us of our sin, Christians should be reminded that our salvation is not a result of our imperfect work and obedience, but rather, a Christian's salvation is a result of God's work that he accomplished for all those who would repent of their sin and put their faith in the one Triune God of the Bible. The gospel of Jesus Christ is an exclusive gospel (John 14:6). It is simply not loving and untrue to tell anyone otherwise.

As we conclude, let's look at 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 which says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

AMEN!

~ With thanks to the author of this devotional, Brady Tarr, Attorney Ministries Coordinator, Christian Legal Society.

Patience: Busy People and a Patient God

noreply@blogger.com (Jonathan Garner) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:39:00 +0000

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."

(1 Thessalonians 5:14)

I don't know about you, but when I hear the word patience and am reminded that it is supposed to be evident in my life as a Christian, I get a little nervous because I don't have to spend much time evaluating my life to realize that I am often not a patient person. I think that if we are honest with ourselves and each other we will all have to admit that we are tempted to be impatient in a society where things never get done as quickly as we would like for them to.

What are some examples of things that we often blame our impatience on? Here are a few examples:

Getting the results back from the LSAT
Hearing whether or not we were accepted into the law school you wanted to go to
Waiting to get grades back after tests
Waiting to get a job
Waiting to meet your spouse and get married
Waiting to argue your case in court
Waiting on a judge or jury to give a verdict
When a veteran attorney has to train a new attorney
Waiting on your spouse to get home after work
Waiting on your children to do what you ask
The wait to pay off student loans, a car, or a house
The wait for warm weather to come
Treating others with impatience who sin against me...remember how Christ treats us

How would you define patience?

For a Christian, patience can be defined as the capacity to endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint because of the Christian's faith in and reliance on God. I think that we can all agree that patience is hard, but just because patience is hard and is sometimes misperceived as weakness does not mean that Christians should not pursue patience through our prayers, thoughts, and actions.

What is the importance of Patience?

We are commanded to be patient (1 Thess. 5:14)
Patience is a Fruit of the Spirit which should be evident in the lives of Christians (Gal. 5:22-23)
Impatience is sin against God (Ps. 51:3-4)

What causes impatience? Would it be correct to say that other people, our circumstances, our pride, our envy, or even ourselves are the cause of our impatience at different time. No, impatience is most fundamentally rooted in a lack of faith in Jesus Christ. All the other things mentioned are secondary factors that we often give as excuses for our impatience/lack of faith in God.

The Example of Patience (James 5:10-11; Rom. 15:5-6)

In light of the fact that impatience is a sin that all Christians are guilty of and/or tempted by, I think a helpful thing for each of us to do is think about how Christ exemplified patience and how we can apply the things we learn from his example. The first thing we must remember is that Christ's desire was not for his will to be done, but His Father's. Jesus was patient in submitting to whatever would bring God the most glory.

Is our impatience a result of our desire to glorify God or to in some way glorify ourselves? We need to pray on a daily basis for God to help us see our work, actions, speech, thoughts, and circumstances in light of God's glory and not our own.

Second, many of you are attorneys who I trust want justice to be done in accordance to the law (Micah 6:8). We all know that sometimes no matter how hard we work, justice is not done in our eyes. However troubling injustice is to all of us, God is at work in all things to bring himself glory whether we fully comprehend how a certain situation glorifies him or not. Jesus left us an example of remaining faithful even though he suffered under injustice after injustice, and God was glorified through his death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus' patient endurance and faith in God accomplished the salvation of all those who would repent of their sin and put their faith in Jesus Christ.

When we understand that God is at work in all things to bring himself glory, we can understand one of the statements that Sam Ericcson was known for saying after losing a case that he had initially thought would be better to win... He would say "party when you win and party when you lose" because God's glory/purpose is being accomplished either way. Sam was a great man and left a legacy of a life of faithfulness that we can emulate.

When injustice is done in a case of yours or on a test of yours is your goal to respond to that injustice with a patient faith that glorifies God in light of the fact that he is in control of all things?

Third, we all need to look at the example of Jesus' response to the supreme injustice he endured. He responded with a forgiving (Luke 23:34) and patient faithfulness to God because his hope was not in the law, in people, or his own strength; his patient faith was in God the Father.

When our spouse, friends, or foes sin against us, we need to be mindful of the amazing patience and mercy that God has toward us each day when we sin against him. With forgiveness in mind, we must seek to treat others as Christ is treating us.

The Obedience of Patience (Lam. 3:24-26)

We must seek to follow Christ's example and put our faith in God and be patient for him to accomplish his will. When we give in to the temptation that we all face to be impatient, we allow ourselves to become nearsighted and consumed with things that are but a vapor in light of eternity instead of being farsighted and consumed with God's eternal glory and the hope that we, as Christians, have to come. A patient Christian is farsighted which means that no matter what joys or trials we encounter or tests of our patience we encounter, we must look for, long for, and pray for that glorious day when Christ returns and sin will be no more! Hallelujah what a Savior... Come Lord Jesus Come!

PRAYER CONCLUSION

Father, please cause our minds and thoughts to be consumed with a reverent awe of you and the work of salvation that you accomplished through Jesus Christ. May you help us where we are weak in our faith against sin and unbelief. Thank you for your grace and patience with us. Help us to forgive in such a way that models how we have been/are forgiven by you as undeserving sinners. Amen.

~ With thanks to the author of this devotional, Brady Tarr, Attorney Ministries Coordinator, Christian Legal Society.

I Could Sure Use A Drink!

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water that I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
(John 4:13-14)

Who Could Use A Drink?
Have any of you felt like the Samaritan woman at the well? Maybe you don't have five ex-spouses and are currently living in sin, but maybe you have found yourself in circumstances that were not, shall we say, "ideal." Maybe you are in a tough situation at work, having trouble with your marriage or your children, or simply feeling distant from God. Have you ever felt that way? Just feeling empty. We all feel that way at times, don't we? Maybe you are feeling that way right now.

The Samaritan woman was someone who really needed a drink of living water. She jumped right on the offer Jesus made her. It may have sounded unbelievable, but she was at a low place in her life where she was ready to believe. She wanted to believe. The offer of eternal life in this passage, however, is not reserved for the down and out. For those who have hit rock bottom. Sometimes people who are running on empty and most in need of living water are those who from the outside, seem to be full. Do you know people like that? From the outside, they look like they have it all. A six-figure income, great job, attractive spouse, good health, and a beautiful home. If you pay close attention, however, people who seem to "have it all" are not always happy people. In fact, despite the ostentatious exterior, many well-to-do people are as desperate as the Samaritan woman at the well. If they knew Jesus, they would implore him, "Give me this water so that I won't get thirsty again!" with the same fervor as the Samaritan woman.

Everyone who seeks satisfaction from things of the world will be thirsty again. Whether they seek satisfaction through relationships, alcohol, risk-taking behavior, achievements, or by becoming workaholics, they will never be satisfied. Why go through all of that trouble when Jesus reminds us that "Those who drink the water I give them will never thirst" - how simple is that! Drinking the water Jesus gives you "will become . . . a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Don't wait until you fall upon desperate circumstances to ask Jesus for living water. Ask Him today! He is waiting to hear from you, and can do immeasurably more for you than you could ever ask or imagine! (Eph. 3:20)

Lord, please give me your living water so I will not thirst. Please remind me to keep my eyes on you and not seek satisfaction from the world or from worldly desires. Please remind me that through my faith in you I can receive satisfaction far above and beyond anything I ever imagined in this world. Only you can make me truly full so that I will not thirst. In your name I pray.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society. This devotional was written by CLS Member, Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., M.Div.

Mr. Holland’s Opus

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 07 May 2010 09:30:00 +0000

Read: Luke 12:16-21

One of my favorite movies is Mr. Holland’s Opus, starring Richard Dreyfuss. It tells the story of a talented young musician who dreams of creating a masterpiece, his magnum opus, his legacy of genius for history.

Unfortunately, his family needs food and a place to live while the masterwork is in progress, so Mr. Holland takes a job as a public school band director. He is good at the job, but often frustrated as he finds that its demands, and the needs of the young people in his classes, take so much time and energy that he has little left over for composing.

The movie follows Mr. Holland throughout the ups and downs of his adult life, until, at the end [spoiler alert], his dreams of composing fame never realized, he comes to understand that these people were his real opus. The students and family into whom he poured himself over the years were the lasting treasure, the mark of a successful life.

The story rings true for lawyers and, I’m sorry to say, law professors. Many of us dream of making partner, winning the record-breaking verdict, arguing the landmark case in the Supreme Court, being elected to high political office, or appointed as an appellate judge. We tend to assume that our legacy, our mark on history, is found in our achievements within the legal profession.

There’s nothing wrong with those things, but in terms of priority, Luke 12 tells a different story. Not only money, but all the achievements of this world are temporary. They will soon be forgotten by everyone. There is only one thing of permanent, eternal value into which we can invest ourselves: relationships, with God and with other people. Long after our office achievements have been forgotten, the people whom we impacted will be impacting others, who will impact others, and so on.

So the next time you are tempted to think that the “important work” of your day is being interrupted by the annoying client who calls for no real reason, or the secretary who requires way too much hand-holding, or the spouse whose needs are never met, or the children who just can’t understand that you’re too busy, or the waitress at your favorite diner who won’t shut up – take a moment to realize that those people are your important work for the day. God is much more interested in how you impact their lives than He is in one more rewrite of the brief or contract.

~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law

Who Is Worthy To Drink Living Water?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water that I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
(John 4:13-14)

Who is worthy to drink living water? This is a critical question nowadays in a society where we are constantly reminded that we could be doing better. Have you ever noticed how massive the self-help section of a bookstore is compared to some other sections? There are books on how to improve every single aspect of your life. Many of us are taught to believe we are just not good enough as we are. We live in an age where standards have become so high that we joke that we would never be accepted into the colleges we managed to attend years ago, and we are filling out resumes and personal statements for our toddlers to attend preschool. And sometimes they don't get in. Not good enough!

Those without faith are hit particularly hard with these unrealistic standards, and even more prone in many cases to consider themselves unworthy. Which is why this is such a great verse; because what kind of a person is it in this passage that is offered living water? A righteous person? Someone living according to high standards? The valedictorian of the local High School? No. A woman who was living in sin with a sordid past, probably shunned by her neighbors. Jesus chose her, to offer her living water and eternal life. He chooses every one of us also individually, and He meets us exactly where we are, ex-spouses and all!

If you are thinking today that you are not good enough, please remember these verses. Jesus specifically chose the Samaritan woman as the one to whom He revealed Himself as the Messiah. If anyone could have used a drink of living water, she could. His invitation to come and drink living water is extended to you. You don't need to go through life empty, you too can be filled. So don't be afraid to approach Jesus. You don't need to come ashamed, or defensive. Just come thirsty, and drink.

Lord please bless us this day and remind us that your offer of living water is open to all of us right now. Please meet us right where we are in order that we may take part in your gift of living water that you extend to each of us. In your name we pray.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Multiplying a Godly Heritage

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:30:00 +0000

For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born...that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. Psalm 78:5-7

One of the best ways to mirror God's image is through a line of godly descendants-our children-who will carry a reflection of His character to the next generation. God's original plan called for the home to be a sort of greenhouse-a nurture center where children grow up to learn character, values, and integrity. Psalm 78 instructs parents to teach their children to carry the message of who God is to the next generation. Through these lines of godly descendants, Satan's kingdom would be defeated.

Today, however, we can observe a problem with many Christian couples regarding child bearing and child rearing: They conform more to the world's standards than to God's. First, many families comply with the popular slogan "Two and no more." And many other couples opt for no children at all, even though they are perfectly capable of conceiving. All families need not be large. Nor is it wrong for a family to be small. But I do believe some Christians are becoming unduly worried about "overpopulating the world." The world needs Christians who are willing and ready to produce godly offspring. If Christians don't replicate a godly heritage to carry biblical values and Scriptural truths to the next generation, then other philosophies and religions will fill the vacuum.

Consider the kind of impact you want to have on the world through your children. Petition your heavenly Father to help you raise children who will grow up to love Jesus Christ with all their hearts and turn their world upside down for Christ!

~ Prof. Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law

Running on Empty

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:30:00 +0000

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water that I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
(John 4:13-14)

Whether we are talking about your stomach or the gas tank of your car, it is an uncomfortable feeling to be running on empty. The same is true with our spiritual comfort level. Are we living in the fullness of Christ's love, or are we running without fuel? Interestingly, the answer to this question can have little to do with your circumstances in life, your house, or your family, and everything to do with your relationship with Jesus Christ. We may be able to become "full" temporarily, but how long will we stay fulfilled?

That question is answered in a passage that has become a favorite for many Christians, the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. This woman meets Jesus Christ at the well when she is drawing water, and He makes her an offer that changes her life. And this passage provides a great illustration of the difference between satisfying ourselves with material things, like the well water in this story, or accepting Jesus' offer of eternal satisfaction, represented here by the offer of living water.

Many people today are just like the Samaritan woman; seeking temporary fullness, temporary satisfaction. Whether it's through entertainment, relationships, alcohol, your job, or through the pride of your accomplishments. Jesus offers us something much better. He promises us that we don't have to keep searching for satisfaction in the world. Our satisfaction results from keeping an eye on Him and His promises.

Lord, please inspire us to keep our eyes on you, and not become tempted by the things of the world. Let us remember that only you can make us full, and satisfied in this world. We ask that you show us that reality this day. In your name we pray.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Walk Humbly

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 09:30:00 +0000

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Much can be learned about a person by observing his or her way of walking. Lawyers know that bearing is more than a matter of mechanics and posture. Each person's walk is expressive of the kind of person he or she is. Cheerfulness, decisiveness, even honesty, may be revealed by how the person walks.

Scripture often uses walking as a metaphor for one's way of life before God. At the dawn of human history, we read of godly Enoch, whose entire life was summarized in only a few words: "And Enoch walked with God, and was not; for God took him." (Gen. 5.22).

What specifically are we to understand concerning this matter of walking humbly with God? We do not have far to look. The Lord Jesus Christ taught and lived humility. In His humility we see a holy boldness, a sure-footedness that eludes those whose vision is dulled by self-absorption. Andrew Murray describes our Lord's walk this way:

It is in this, above and before everything, in which the conformity to Jesus consists: being and doing nothing of ourselves, that God may be all. Here we have the root and nature of humility. It is because this is not understood or sought after, that our humility is so superficial and so feeble. We must learn of Jesus, how He is meek and lowly of heart. He teaches us where true humility takes its rise and finds its strength - in the knowledge that it is God who worketh all in all, that our place is to yield to Him in perfect resignation and dependence, in full consent to be and to do nothing in ourselves. This is the life Christ came to reveal and to impart - a life to God that came through death to sin and self. If we feel that this life is too high for us and beyond our reach, it must but the more urge us seek it in Him; it is the indwelling Christ who will live in us this life. (see, Murray, Humility, Chapt. 3)

Where will we walk today? Let us consider the consciousness-raising thought that we, the body of Christ, are the means by which Jesus walks our streets, our courtrooms and schools. He wants to be more than an example to us - He is to be our very life (Col. 3:4). The One who said of Himself "I am meek and lowly of heart" indwells and empowers us to live His life as we look to Him in faith.

Lord Jesus Christ, it is from considering Your life that I begin to grasp my own need of humility. Humility is altogether foreign to my human nature. Yet, I sense that the very last thing I need is to be absorbed with myself, even with my own lack in this area. Today, I will look away from my need to Your sufficiency. Live in me this day, that I may be a medium through which You express Yourself in my sphere of influence. Teach me to live the "not-I-but-Christ life."

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Learning from Job

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 09:30:00 +0000

Read Job 1 and 2 (in other words, the first two chapters of Job).

The Book of Job gives us a fascinating glimpse “behind the scenes,” into the very courts of God in heavenly places. The Bible treats this, by the way, as an event that really happened, not as allegory or fiction, so we should, too. We are told that God and Satan were having a conversation; the subject of their discussion was a man named Job, who was “blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Job was also very wealthy, and had a wonderful large family. Satan challenges God by claiming that if God allows Satan to destroy Job’s wealth, health, and family, Job will “curse You [God] to Your face.” God gives Satan permission, and Job’s great suffering begins.

In the midst of his tremendous sorrow and pain, Job nevertheless worships God, affirming that “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away – Blessed be the name of the Lord.” We are further told, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” Even when Job was mocked by his wife (“Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!”), he stood firm: “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?”

Here is the thing that has always struck me about Job: He never finds out why all that bad stuff happened to him. Oh, he would like to have known – he cries out to God for some sort of answer, although his main concern was about whether there was anything sinful he did that caused it all to happen (he didn’t think there was, and he was apparently right). But, rather than give Job an explanation (“You see, Job, there was a sort of a bet between the devil and Me”), God famously responded to Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (38:4).

God ultimately restored wealth and health and family (“replacement children”?) to Job, but (so far as we are told) Job never found out why all this had happened to him. It is natural to want to know why things (good and bad) happen to us. I think it is even appropriate to ask God for insight along those lines. I think sometimes God may tell us why he has let us go through certain things; sometimes we can look back and see how the things we have gone through have helped shape us in positive ways, by God’s grace. But I think we need to be careful not to demand explanations from God, or to think that he owes us an explanation. He is sovereign, and we may not ever know, this side of heaven at least, why God did what He did, or why He let any certain thing happen to us. Just like Job.

~ Dean Doug Cook, Regent University School of Law

A Quiet Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:30:00 +0000

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest ye shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

We lawyers are a talkative bunch. In our interactions with others, the urge to lend a thought to the conversation, to share an analogy or observation, or to propose a suggestion for a fix, is almost irresistible. And there is nothing wrong with speaking up for the good of others around us, whether in church or in our practices. Our training and experience often equip us to provide needed insights, leadership and know-how.

But on a more personal level, let us ask ourselves whether we have also learned to be quiet inwardly before God. Let the peace of God rule [be referee] in your heart (Col.3:15). In the midst of an active, competitive practice, let us learn to allow the divine referee to rule in our hearts. The role of a referee is often to throw a flag. Inwardly, the Holy Spirit throws a flag when we have lost our peace, when we have ceased to rest in the Lord.

Does a situation or a person cause you to lose your peace? Perhaps your peace is lost just thinking about a pending event. Waste no time in self-recrimination ("I know I shouldn't let this cause me anxiety"). The Lord understands: He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust (Ps. 103:14). Only consider that the Lord stands ready to provide the poise and the confidence we need. The trial or event that you are thinking of is an opportunity to trust Him more and better, even in the midst of the fray. His promise holds sure: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee. (Isaiah 26:3). Staying our mind on Him is not a quick fix, but an area of learning and growth. Read the biography of any prominent Christian whose life you admire - you will find that he or she learned through deep trials and costly struggles to trust in the Lord and to rest in His provision. This did not lead to passivity and ineffectiveness, but to a life of power and usefulness.

It is good to keep in mind that the victory is not ours but His. He will provide the wherewithal to trust Him, if only we ask, and He is sufficient for any infirmity we have. F. B. Meyer answered the question "How do I overcome?" this way:

There is only one way by which the Tempter can be met. He laughs at our good resolutions and ridicules the pledges with which we fortify ourselves. There is only One whom he fears; One who in the hour of greatest weakness conquered him; and who has been raised far above all principality and power, that He may succor and deliver all frail and tempted souls. He conquered the prince of this world in the days of His flesh; and He is prepared to do as much again, in each one of us, if only we will truly surrender ourselves to His gracious and mighty indwelling.

Lord, teach me to live in Your presence with a quiet heart. It is not so much the power and poise of a quiet heart that I seek, but Yourself. Give me eyes to see Your hand in the events of today, and the grace to leave outcomes with You. I ask this not only for myself, but for the encouragement of the believers around me. In quietness and confidence will be our strength.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:30:00 +0000

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:12-14)

If any of you have felt discouraged, unfocused, or weary in your journey, this verse is for you. We are encouraged and inspired to stay in the race and keep our eyes on Jesus as we strive forward, not letting our past drag us down, while at the same time, realizing soberly that we have not yet arrived . . .

We have not yet arrived. The first thing Paul points out is something most of us are painfully aware of every day: that we have not yet arrived. Does anyone feel like they have arrived? Most likely, none of you feel that way. And you are in good company. Because remember in this verse, who is talking? This is the apostle Paul talking about becoming like Christ. And as devoted as Paul was to spreading the gospel- sometimes at almost any cost, here he is admitting that even he hasn't arrived. And if Paul in all of his devotion and dedication to spreading the gospel hasn't arrived, what does that say about the rest of us? It is important that we not get discouraged about not having arrived. Especially when the going gets tough.

Our Goal. And regarding our goal, what does it say in verse 12: "but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." This is important to remember. Why are we doing all that we are doing in our lives? To fulfill the purpose for which Christ has taken hold of us. We aren't here by accident, and we aren't here to accomplish random acts. God isn't surprised that we are right where we are in life, because His plan is perfect. We are encouraged in this passage to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of us. Even when things don't seem to be going our way, we have the promise that everything will work out for our good (Romans 8:28).

Forgetting what is behind. Verses 13-14 tell us to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, "pressing on toward our goal to win the prize." This doesn't mean forget the past, and it doesn't mean don't learn from the past, it just means don't live in the past. Don't let the past be an anchor that weighs you down. The enemy would like to remind you of every bad thing you ever did. Don't fall for that! Your sins are forgiven and forgotten now that you have accepted Christ. Conversely don't rest on past accomplishments, but strive to look forward to continue to grow, and as this verse says, strain towards what is ahead.

Be patient and don't get discouraged. None of us have arrived but what we all have in common, is that Christ has taken a hold of us and inspired us to have faith and look forward to what is ahead. Let us all work toward this common goal, together.

Lord, help me to focus on you, and not get bogged down by my past or by the challenges of my current circumstances. Instill in me the faith to trust that you have great plans for me. When I put my trust in you I allow myself to persevere in the great race of life, motivated by your promise of eternal life in you at the finish line.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Privacy as a Biblical Concept

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Can the Bible teach us anything about the notion of privacy? The law has been concerned with privacy quite dramatically over the past century, wrestling with questions such as: What is privacy? When does private conduct receive public protection? How does the law regulate these?

American jurisprudence has indeed based many rulings on this notion of privacy, and has expanded it dramatically over that process. The Supreme Court of the United States has relied on privacy interests to rule in Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390 (1923), and Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925) in favor of parental rights; in Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965) regarding martial privacy; in Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972) regarding contraceptives for unmarried individuals; in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992), regarding abortion, and Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003) regarding privacy for consensual sexual conduct in one’s own home.

Consider Genesis 3:8. Adam and Eve thought they could seek privacy. But is there any privacy from God? No, He is omniscient. There is nothing hidden from Him. He knows all, then and now. So is privacy a biblical concept? Consider Romans 1: 20- 2:1. God has kept nothing about Himself private, not even His wrath (v.20) but freely reveals all He is if we seek Him. Indeed, Paul notes in v.21 that God has made it all plain to us. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” And precisely because we are without excuse, true believers do act as set forth in Romans 1, and we simultaneously have no excuse to pass judgment (2:1). So why is privacy such a mystery to lawmakers? The Bible offers great insight into this mystery of privacy. Consider Psalm 25:4-14:

Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths, guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.

Remember, Lord, Your great mercy from and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways, according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He instructs sinners in His way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of His covenant. For the sake of Your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity though it is great. Who then is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity and his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear Him. He makes His covenant known to them.

God knows all, even if we think we can keep something private from Him; furthermore, He desires for us to know Him, and wants to afford his protection, and blessings in our lives. Privacy is something to be guarded for good. And God wishes there to be no privacy between us and Him, for “the Lord confides in those who fear Him, He makes His covenant known to them.” (v.14). There is no privacy between God and those He loves – which is every one of us. The biblical concept of privacy reveals that He knows all, and desires for us to know all through Him. And through Him, we are free from any notion of privacy that might expand into a trap. “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.” Psalm 25:15. Yes, privacy is a biblical concept – one that can be easily twisted by human nature, but freely reveals all knowledge of Him.

~ Prof. Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law

The Bible and the Constitution

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:30:00 +0000

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-16

As a Christian who is also a professor of constitutional law, I am struck by the parallels between the way Christians struggle over the authority of Scripture, and the way American lawyers, scholars, and judges struggle over the meaning of the United States Constitution.

In each case, you have a written text that, in theory, we accept as authoritative and definitive. Christians accept the Bible as God’s written word, totally true and trustworthy because it came from the mind of God Himself, who used human authors to put pen to paper (parchment, or whatever they used). 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

The Constitution is authoritative NOT because it is God-breathed and infallible, but because it is the supreme law of the land. It is supposed to bind the hands of all branches of government, setting a firm parameter around legislative, executive and judicial power that can only be altered by its authors, “We the People of the United States.”

In each case, however, we see large numbers of people who want to ignore the written text and substitute their own judgment of the good. In constitutional law, this is called the “living Constitution” approach. If we can’t find our desired political outcome in the actual text of the document, we just say that the words must morph to comply with some vague, self-determined set of “constitutional principles.”

The same happens in churches that ignore God’s clear written word, replacing it with the “wisdom” of their leaders. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.) For example, the Bible’s teaching on sexual morality is clear, but those whose who want to promote extra-marital sex or homosexuality ignore the text and say that they are following “biblical principles” like love and non-judgment.

Words require interpretation and application. Understanding the full meaning of a written text, whether it is the Bible, the Constitution, or something else, can be difficult and divisive. But we need to commit ourselves to that difficult task. If we claim to be followers of that text, we can’t just ignore the words and fall back on vague platitudes.

~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law

The Spirit of the Gospel

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:30:00 +0000

Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:29-30)

How should we look at people? As they are or as they may become? How does God see the men and women around us? Do we tend to divide our acquaintances into "likely prospects" and "hard cases"? Consider the following story of the conversion of a rough man in a brutal environment.

The scene is the jail at Philippi. Paul and Silas had been ministering in the region, but wherever they went they were followed by a certain slave girl who was possessed with a spirit of divination. We are told that her masters made a good living from her fortune-telling. But now she fastened her attention upon Paul and Silas. She would cry out as they attempted to speak "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation!" After several of these outbursts Paul became "greatly annoyed." He stopped speaking, turned around and commanded the spirit to leave the girl, and it is recorded that the spirit of divination "came out that very hour." Incensed at this interference with their livelihood, the masters of the slave girl incited the people and the magistrates to take Paul and Silas, beat them with rods and dump them into the local prison.

At midnight, Paul and Silas were singing hymns to God when a great earthquake shook the prison. It opened doors and loosed the prisoners' chains. The keeper of the prison assessed the situation, realized that he could not prevent the escape of the prisoners. He knew what his superiors did to men such as him who failed in their job performance, and decided that taking his own life would be preferable to the painful death he would suffer at their hands. But as he drew his sword, Paul called to him with a loud voice: "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." We know how the story ends. The jailer beseeched Paul and Silas to show him the way of salvation and, after they did, he prayed to receive Christ. Paul and Silas were taken to the jailer's home and their wounds were dressed. The jailer and his family were baptized and afterward they shared a meal with Paul and Silas.

So, how did Paul and Silas see the jailer? They could no doubt see that he was a coarse, hard man, a man accustomed to brutality and torture, a man who gave no mercy and expected none. But Paul and Silas saw something else. The Holy Spirit had gifted them with what Watchman Nee called the spirit of the Gospel - the compassion that comes from sensing the perishing condition of sinners. They saw what Richard Wurmbrand saw in a communist concentration camp in Romania in the late 1940s.

Wurmbrand's story reads like the book of Acts. It is recounted in his book Tortured for Christ,and in abbreviated form in Jesus Freaks - Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus. As the communists came to power in Romania in 1945, they sought to co-opt the churches by holding a great congress for the religious leaders - some 4,000 Christian leaders attended. The agenda of the communists was to force the church into submission to the new regime. The assembly began by electing Josef Stalin as honorary president. Then, at the main convocation, bishops and pastors rose one after another and declared loyalty to the state, assuring those present that Christianity and communism were fundamentally the same and could co-exist. Wurmbrand and his wife Sabina became more and more upset.

Finally, Sabina looked at her pastor husband and said: "Richard, stand up and wash this shame from the face of Christ." He knew what was at stake: "If I speak, you will lose your husband." Sabina's reply: "I do not wish to have a coward for a husband." Wurmbrand took the stage and to everyone's surprise, began to preach. "Delegates," he began, "it is not our duty to praise earthly powers that come and go, but to glorify God the creator and Christ the Savior who died for us on the cross." Many of the delegates who had been afraid to oppose the communists until then, began to praise God loudly and pandemonium broke out in the assembly. Wurmbrand's microphone was cut off and the assembly was shut down for the day. Richard Wurmbrand was a marked man thereafter. Eventually he spent fourteen years in prison, where he was subjected to the most cruel sorts of torture. His wife, Sabina, likewise went to a prison camp for three years.

But like Paul and Silas, Wurmbrand was not a typical prisoner. He and his fellow Christian brothers, in the midst of unimaginable cruelties, began to experience a miracle:

And then the miracle happened. When it was at the worst, when we were tortured as never before, we began to love those who tortured us. Just as a flower, when you bruise it under your foot, rewards you with its perfume, the more we were mocked and tortured, the more we pitied and loved our torturers.

After his release from the prison camp in 1956, Wurmbrand told his story to the world. Often he was asked with some incredulousness: "How can you love someone who is torturing you?" His reply:

By looking at men...not as they are, but as they will be... I could also see in our persecutors a Saul of Tarsus - a future Apostle Paul. Many officers of the secret police to whom we witnessed became Christians, and were happy to later suffer in prison for having found our Christ. Although we were whipped, as Paul was, in our jailers we saw the potential of the jailer in Philippi, who became a convert. We dreamed that soon they would ask, "What must I do to be saved?"

How do we look at the people who we deal with day to day? Are we surrounded by unlikely candidates for the Gospel? Perhaps we need new eyes. Let the story of Richard Wurmbrand inspire us to see that "something else" in people - to see our clients and colleagues, even our adversaries, as they may become in Christ.

Heavenly Father, today I ask you to give me the spirit of the Gospel -- eyes to see individuals as You see them. May I experience the miracle of love for the unlovely and undeserving. Be with your men and women around the world who have chosen to risk all for Your sake and for the Gospel. May it be that I would have a part with them in what You are doing.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

A Tale of Two Lawyers

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:30:00 +0000

I recently heard accounts of two lawyers who fared very differently in our challenging economy. The first lawyer was a partner in a large firm in a major city who specialized in appellate practice, including successfully arguing several cases before the United States Supreme Court. Although this attorney was gifted and prominent, by nature his practice did not involve rainmaking. When his firm was hit hard by the recession, the lawyer’s partners decided to let him go. Tragically, this lawyer committed suicide in his office on his last day of work.

The second lawyer has also been significantly affected by the recession, but in a very different way. He is a partner in a small firm in a small city. Recently, another attorney in a large firm in a neighboring metropolitan area referred a case to him. The referring attorney complained about how hard his firm had been hit by the recession, and then asked the lawyer how his business had been. The lawyer replied honestly that he had more business than ever before, literally more than he could handle. Dumbfounded, the referring attorney asked his secret, and the lawyer explained that he viewed his practice as a ministry, took a personal interest in his clients, spent quality time with them, and tried to serve their personal needs rather than just dispense legal advice. This lawyer’s reputation has spread quickly, and clients are knocking his door down.

I don’t want to judge the first lawyer too harshly, if at all, but I do believe such a tragic end is far more likely if we view our work as our sole or primary purpose in life, rather than a calling to serve others. 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV) warns,

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

An example of someone who loved the things of the world too much was the rich young ruler who went away sad when Jesus challenged him to give everything he owned to the poor and then follow Him (see Matthew 19:16-22). This fellow rejected an exclusive offer to follow the Lord of the universe simply because he would not let go of his material possessions.

How often do we do likewise, by elevating our personal or professional pursuits above Jesus’ command to meet the needs of the least among us? By contrast, the second lawyer described above is living out Christ’s calling to die to self and to be his body – literally, his hands and feet – serving a hurting world. Compelled by Christ’s love, this lawyer understands that he is not just an attorney, but a minister of reconciliation, serving the Gospel in furtherance of God’s plan to reconcile the world to himself and heal a hurting world (2 Corinthians 5:14-21). May we all see our vocation as an outgrowth and essential part of this ministry of reconciliation, rather than an end in itself.

~ Professor Michael V. Hernandez, Regent University School of Law

Hardened Hearts? Guard Your Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:30:00 +0000

In Matthew 19: 1-9, Jesus Christ was confronted by the law makers with the concept of divorce, the legal dissolution of marriage. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” (v. 3) and “Why then…did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” (v. 7) they asked.

Moses performed such divorces routinely, quite similar to modern no-fault divorce. Nothing has changed in three thousand years. Marriage is still a challenge, and divorce is still an easy way out. Marriages of Christian lawyers are not immune from this concern.

Every state, except for one,* has a statutory method for dissolving marriage “for any and every reason,” where just one party must initiate the divorce proceeding. No-fault divorce allows any person to deem his or her marriage as “irreconcilable,” or “irretrievably broken,” or to simply leave and end the marriage, unilaterally, even if the other spouse disagrees. Yet statistics show that such divorces are opposed by the remaining spouse in four of five cases.** Although the marriage had been willingly entered into by two people, one can unilaterally terminate it.

In any other legal contract the party who breaks the contract is accountable to stiff penalties. Although the Federal Constitution under the 5th and 14th Amendments requires that “no person be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law,” every unilateral no-fault divorce is always granted, as the “fundamental right of marriage”*** allows for the right to adjust that most fundamental of relationships - even unilaterally. Divorce is the result of a hardened heart. But it was not this way from the beginning.

“Haven’t you read, Jesus replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate. (v. 4-6) ...Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not his way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for martial unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (v.8-9).

Hardened hearts lead to broken marriages. Broken marriages led to broken families. Broken families lead to broken societies.

Don’t allow your heart to get hard. Keep your marriage the way it was from the beginning, as God created it, united as husband and wife in one flesh. Guard your marriage, and don’t allow your heart to harden against God’s design.

If you are married, do not seek to be unmarried (I Corinthians 7:10-11, 27). Give God your heart, and your marriage, and he will soften both, for His glory.

~ Prof. Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law

* Only New York State requires bilateral agreement for a no-fault divorce. NY Dom Rel L § 170 Divorce.
** See Michael McManus, How To Cut America's Divorce Rate in Half: A Strategy Every State Should Adopt, Marriage Savers (2009).
*** Loving v. Virginia, 388 U.S. 1 (1967).

The Snake on the Pole

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:05:00 +0000

Read: John 3:14-18, Numbers 21:4-9

Not far from the famous Scripture, “For God so loved the world . . .” in John 3:16, we come upon another passage that is more cryptic: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) What is this “lifted up snake” thing all about?

We find the answer back in Numbers chapter 21. The Israelites were wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt and, as was often the case, they were mumbling and grumbling against God, complaining about how miserable their life was. They were sinful and disobedient (just as we often are). And God brought a well-deserved punishment on them: poisonous snakes that slithered through the camp biting the people. The snakebites were fatal.

The people begged Moses to intercede with God on their behalf, and he did so. God, in His endless mercy, provided salvation from the punishment for sin: a bronze snake was crafted and lifted up on a pole. The bronze snake cured the poisonous snakebites. There was just one catch: salvation was not automatic just because the snake was lifted up. Each individual had to choose to turn his head and look at the snake in order to be saved. Anyone who refused to do so would die.

The interesting thing is that Jesus himself said that his crucifixion would be just like Moses lifting the snake on the pole. Just like the snake, God provided Jesus on the cross to take away the penalty for our sins. And just like the snake on the pole, this salvation is not automatic because of Jesus’ completed work. We have to “look at the snake.” We have to turn our eyes upon Jesus and accept by faith His free gift of salvation.

Scripture doesn’t tell us whether any of the Jews refused to look at the snake, and died instead. Maybe some of them said, “I just don’t believe in bronze snakes,” or “the snake may be right for you, but it’s not my truth.” Today, however, we live in the world in which millions of people choose not to look at Jesus on the cross and put their faith in Him.

Maybe there are one or two who need to hear your testimony today.

~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law

As 2010 Begins . . . (Con't)

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:30:00 +0000

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope the Lord is. (Jer. 17:7)

It is in defeat that we often have the greatest opportunity to give glory to God. When the chips are down, the world watches with special interest to see if our faith is real, if it has substance.

Such was the case on Thursday night, January 8 in Pasadena. The 2009-10 BCS Championship college football game had concluded and it was late. The Longhorns of Texas had been defeated by the Alabama Crimson Tide and Colt McCoy, the starting quarterback of the University of Texas, approached the television cameras on the sidelines. After the 2008 season, in which he had been an All-American and runner-up for the prestigious Heisman Trophy, McCoy had decided against entering the pro draft and instead returned to Texas to complete his senior year, determined to lead his team to a national championship. But in what seemed a cruel irony, McCoy, within sight of his goal, had been forced to leave the game in the first quarter. A hit received on an otherwise routine tackle left his throwing arm numb and McCoy spent the rest of the game receiving treatment and encouraging his teammates from the sidelines. Despite the heroic efforts of the untried freshman quarterback who replaced him, McCoy and his team failed to reach the goal they had worked so hard to attain.

As McCoy came alongside the post-game interviewer, the concern and disappointment among his many supporters was palpable. The dream of a national championship had vanished, and his yet unevaluated injury left a question mark hanging over his future prospects as a football player.

However, there was no question mark hanging over McCoy's Christian faith. Asked to tell the television audience what it was like to watch his team play for the national title from the sidelines, McCoy gave the following memorable answer:

I'd have given . . . I'd have given everything I had to be out there with my team. ....But I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know, if nothing else, I stand on the Rock.

It is easy for us to praise God when life is going our way - when the jury finds for our client or our daughter is named high school valedictorian. But when setbacks come, let us not disdain to take a page from Colt McCoy's playbook. Our misfortune may afford us the opportunity of demonstrating costly faith to a watching world.

Lord, as another year begins, You are my Audience of One. Teach me to see an opportunity in every event, whether it seems "good" or "bad." I want to be one who trusts You in all the times of life, especially when praising You costs something. Like Colt McCoy, I know that if nothing else, I stand on the Rock.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Relationships and Priorities: Master, Mate, Mission

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:30:00 +0000

When Christ reminded the expert in the law with “the greatest commandment in the Law,” He was spelling out for us all how to live our lives.

“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: 37

This passage lays out the priorities of life, or what I call Master, Mate, Mission. And a new year presents a perfect opportunity to readjust yours, if needed. Every day presents challenges in keeping the proper priorities in every area of our lives. For each of us, regardless of calling or position, the very first priority in our lives needs to be Christ, our Master. That means spending time with God as the priority above all others, keeping Him above all else, indeed, “loving Him will all your heart, all your soul, all your mind.”

The second part of the greatest commandment deals with the rest of our priorities: “loving your neighbor as yourself.” These could be characterized as the other relationships in your life. Included in these are those in your family (spouse, children, parents, siblings) and your mission (calling, vocation, church, etc.), or Mate and Mission.

The key to all of life is having your priorities in order. For lawyers who work from 6am to 11pm to meet billable hours, or to achieve the best outcome in the case, and for law students inspired by their calling, this warning should be taken all the more seriously.

If you are married, your order must be Master, Mate, Mission. This means God is first in your life, your spouse and children are next as your first neighbors, and your calling is your third – in that order. Too many lawyers and law students fall prey to being consumed by their mission, to the detriment of their master and mate. A married individual must keep this order of priorities, in obedience to Christ as the greatest commandments, and to thrive in life (I Corinthians 7:33-35). When children come along, the order is even more important – Master, then Mate, then children, then mission. As a woman and a lawyer I know how easy it is to put your children above your husband, a sure mistake in priorities, or to put work before family. Women are good at multitasking, but we must keep these priorities. It is equally if not more important that men guard these priorities, keeping certain that family, wife then children, come before work. Men and women know how easy it is to let mission crowd out master and mate. Guarding these priorities is the key to thriving.

A single person, by contrast, is not (yet) weighed down with family concerns (again I Corinthians 7:32-35), and can keep a different order: Master, Mission, Mate. This means that as you keep your Master first, you are free to make your neighbor the mission. And, as you are carrying out your mission, if God desires He will bring along your mate in the process of your mission, in His perfect time, as part of His perfect plan for you. This means that as a single you are free to thrive in your mission, not needing to “look for” that mate, knowing God will choose a mate for you, if it is His will, in His perfect timing, as you are carrying out that second commandment, “loving your neighbor as yourself.” This is the secret to thriving in obedience to Christ.

Relationships and priorities: Master, Mate, Mission or Master, Mission, Mate. The key to all of life is having your priorities in order, the Greatest Commandments.

~ Professor Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law

The Necessity of Joy

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:30:00 +0000

Joy is most needed when things are tough.

Paul prays that the Colossians may be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. . . .” (Col. 1:11). Here, endurance and patience go hand in hand with joy. Peter, too, speaks of a “joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (I Pet. 1:9). This joy comes with grievous trials and testing, as if by fire (v.7). And Nehemiah’s famous admonition to his people that “The joy of the Lord is your strength” was delivered to a weeping people, spiritually broken upon the reading of the law.

These passages tell us something about joy. For one thing, it isn’t natural. It’s not happiness or glee or giddiness. It is supernatural: the joy of the Lord, a deep rejoicing which affirms that he is King of all, Lord of all circumstances, and deliverer of his people. We rejoice because our hope goes beyond our circumstances, not because things are going well. For another thing, joy always takes the long view—the eternal perspective. Our lives are God’s instruments in light of His plans for eternity. If we truly believe this, we have joy.

Although Christmas is over and the new year has begun, it is worth remembering that the advent of God incarnate to deliver his people is what makes an eternal perspective—joy itself—possible. He came to deliver his people; not just from Egypt, not just from Babylon, but from death itself—forever. The baby born in the manger IS the “good news of great joy for all people.” We rejoice in that supernatural gift! We sing praises to God; we eat and drink and give gifts in joyful celebration. And we do all this, despite knowing that this innocent baby will one day suffer the humiliation and death that we deserve. The joy of Christmas is that very inexpressible joy, filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

~ Mike Schutt, Professor at Regent University School of Law, and Director of the Institute for Christian Legal Studies

As 2010 Begins . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:30:00 +0000

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. (Jeremiah 17:7)

Only a few who read these words will recognize the name Hunter Lawrence. In certain parts of the country his name is now well known, but before the 2009-10 Big Twelve championship game, he was just the field goal kicker for the University of Texas football team. On that December night, he was called upon to kick a field goal on which his team's entire season, and hopes of a national championship, hung. There was exactly one second left on the game clock - a second added back by referees who at first had thought that time had run out on the Texas team. Lawrence's team was behind by 2 points. A 46 yard field goal loomed.

Predictably, as Lawrence and his holder readied themselves for the snap, the opposing coach called for a time out. Calling for a time out under such circumstances is a time-honored practice sometimes referred to as "icing" the kicker - give the kicker too much time to think about what is riding on the kick - time, perhaps, to choke under the psychological pressure of the moment.

Less predictably, Lawrence's holder, Jordan Shipley, settled Lawrence down by reminding him of the Bible verse that had been the team's motto for the week, Jeremiah 17:7, Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Timeout over, Shipley received the snap and placed the ball for Lawrence, who proceeded to drive it through the uprights half a football field away. Longhorns by 1 point, right to play in the national championship game secured. Lawrence was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates. Later, he credited his friend Jordan Shipley with providing the word in season that made all the difference.

Lawyers can identify with the pressure Lawrence was under. Thorough preparation and years of experience do not make one immune to the heavy, sometimes lonely, responsibilities of representing a client when the stakes are high. Like kickers, some lawyers live for such moments; others would prefer to avoid them. Regardless, a lawyer knows that his or her mettle will be tested, and only one side will win. And one cannot expect a do-over.

As 2010 begins, almost all of us face challenges that, if we are honest, we find daunting. Perhaps the challenge for you is professional. Or it may be relational or health related. Perhaps the very thought of this challenge makes you a bit jittery. If so, receive this verse as your word in season: Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

Grace and peace in the coming year from your brothers and sisters at the Christian Legal Society.

Lord, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. My heart is at rest because You, not the things of this life, are my Hope. Use the events of the coming year to teach me to trust You more fully than ever I have in the past. Thank You for bringing me to this very place.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Are We Christians, or Herodians?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Read: Matthew 2

Jesus was born in the sleepy little town of Bethlehem, located almost in the shadow of the Herodium, the magnificent fortress/palace constructed by King Herod the Great. The contrast between Herod’s luxurious palace and the humble stable of Jesus couldn’t be any more dramatic.

When Herod heard that a new “king of the Jews” was to be born, he was terrified of losing his power and wealth (if not his life). He was willing to take any measures to eliminate this contender to his throne:

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16

It didn’t work, because God took Joseph, Mary and Jesus to safety in Egypt. And the slaughter of all those little Jewish boys was so senseless, so unnecessary. Herod didn’t realize that this Jesus would grow up to say, “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” and “My Kingdom is not of this world.” Jesus came not to claim political or military power, or to promote insurrection against the governing authorities, but to bring people to God and reign in their hearts. Herod could never have understood this; to him, the only kind of rule that mattered was physical rule with all its trappings.

Do you live like a follower of Christ, or of Herod? Sometimes we who claim the name of Jesus seem so focused on implementing our legal and public policy goals that it’s not clear which kingdom we are serving. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t work for god-honoring laws and support political candidates with good values – but since the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, our first priority must always be to share the Good News of the Gospel with a world full of people who desperately need to hear it. Everything else is secondary.

At this Christmas season, may we keep our focus on the filthy stable, not the magnificent palace, and proclaim the internal, life-changing Kingdom of Jesus above all else.

~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law

Are You Prepared to Celebrate?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Simeon was ready. Are we?

From the beginning, God promised a Redeemer, one who would “crush the head” of Satan and suffer pain in the process (Gen. 3:15). And throughout the ages, God gave further wonderful and mysterious hints about the coming of the Christ, the King, the Suffering Servant. He promised Abraham that through his descendants, all peoples would be blessed (Gen. 12:3). He redeemed His people from political and spiritual bondage in Egypt (Ex. 6:6; 20:2), and he healed them by a bronze snake “raised up” in the wilderness (Num. 21:8-9). His prophets told of the Comforter of Israel, a Suffering Servant, a light to the Gentiles, one who would bring justice to the nations.

Simeon knew and studied these promises, and he was ready and waiting for the Christ, the redeemer of Israel.

Advent is a season of preparation. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas—the celebration of the first coming of Christ—we remind ourselves to prepare for His return in glory. Like Simeon, we know His promises and we know He is coming. But are we ready and waiting? Simeon was a man whose heart was prepared for the Lord’s arrival. He listened to God, relied on His promises, and was empowered by His Holy Spirit. As a result, when God called at the greatest moment in human history, Simeon was ready. And at the arrival of the Christ, he could shout in celebration: “I am ready to depart in peace. I have seen your salvation!” Simeon was ready to be called home to meet his Redeemer. Are you?

Preparing to celebrate Christmas—an earthly symbol of the coming of the Redeemer—is really heart preparation to welcome Him in the tangible, temporal world. We celebrate Him and His literal presence in our daily lives, and we prepare our hearts to celebrate His coming again in glory.

Are you ready to celebrate?

~ Mike Schutt, Professor at Regent University School of Law, and Director of the Institute for Christian Legal Studies

Whose Fool Are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:30:00 +0000

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness." (1 Cor. 3:18-19)

It has been rightly said that a fool is a person who does not know the right value of things. Everything in life of any consequence has a price tag, and we must choose between competing interests and opportunities. At every turn we must decide - peace in the long run belongs to those who know the value of things and choose accordingly. Centuries ago, William Law wrote a classic volume with the title: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. In it he drew a vivid picture of the emptiness of lives that are tied to the temporal:

To abound in wealth, to have fine houses and rich clothes, to be attended with splendour and equipage, to be beautiful in our persons, to have titles of dignity, to be above our fellow-creatures, to command the bows and obeisance of other people, to be looked on with admiration, to overcome our enemies with power, to subdue all that oppose us, to set out ourselves in as much splendour as we can, to live highly and magnificently, to eat, and drink, and delight ourselves in the most costly manner, these are the great, the honourable, the desirable things, to which the spirit of the world turns the eyes of all people. And many a man is afraid of standing still, and not engaging in the pursuit of these things, lest the same world should take him for a fool.

To desire such things is part of the nature with which we entered the world. And the desire does not go away simply because we have been born again. Always such matters contend for our heart. But let us be wise in this matter. While not wrong in themselves, corner offices, plaques and gavels, and the indicia of professional success will not carry us into eternity. And they can be a heavy load if they make their way into our hearts.

A street evangelist used to walk among the bustling crowds in the downtown of a major city with a sandwich board. As he walked toward you, the board said "A Fool For Christ!" - as he passed by, you might look around and see the reverse board which inquired, "Whose Fool Are You?"

We will never succeed in putting the things of this world under our feet, no matter how we try. But we serve One who said to each of us "I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). Rest from the quest for adequacy and self-esteem. Rest from the need to acquire and achieve. Rest in the midst of the busiest of lives. It is by taking His yoke - coming under His authority - that we are set free from the other demands on our lives.

Heavenly Father, I thank You that I may take my place as Your child. It is a blessed thing that You, and not the fruit of my professional labors, are my life and my eternal reward. Show me today to the good works in which You have ordained that I walk, the "gold, silver, and precious stones" that will endure to all eternity.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Who Are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Ben Garner) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We adjure you by the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches." Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus, I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped upon them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
(Acts 19:13-16)

We adjure you by the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches. The seven sons of Sceva sought to make merchandise by invoking the name of Jesus, "whom Paul preaches". Scripture does not inform us of how these men were viewed the people who stood round about to witness their attempted exorcisms -the bystanders were probably impressed at first. They couldn't see what the evil spirit saw - that these men were pretenders.

Who are you? A certain well known conference speaker began his ministry among violent street gangs. Occasionally he would take young people from his church with him to the inner city. Some of the church youth were understandably nervous. Others were a bit cocky. To all of them, this man would say, "You don't need to worry. Only remember one thing - these guys hate a phony, and they can spot one a mile away."

What about us? As lawyers, we live in a world of impressions and we know how to say things for effect. Well and good. But let us not forget that we stand always in the presence of One before whom nothing is hid. As we go through our daily routine, both in our practice and among our brothers and sisters, let us ask ourselves a few questions - questions that others cannot ask. Questions like: "Why did I say what I just said?" or "Is the impression I'm leaving with this person a truthful one?" Chuck Swindoll used to keep a little plaque on his desk, turned toward himself so that only he could read it - it inquired of him, "What is your motivation?"

The struggle to be real is an ongoing one. Thankfully, the Lord Jesus, not self-recrimination, is the answer. He came to show us what reality is like and He ever lives to make us real, too. "He is made unto us ... sanctification." (I Cor. 1:30).

Lord, I ask that You work today in my inner life. You know what is real and what is false in me. My desire is that in my practice or in my studies, and in my walk through the world, there will be no gap between appearance and reality. Teach me, moment by moment, to walk in the light.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society