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Christians Terms Used In Church Not Always Familiar To Visitors

2009-11-07T08:11:00.000-05:00

“And hearing they may hear and not understand.” (Mark 4:12)

Several weeks ago, my wife and I were visiting friends in Georgia and heard a humorous story about a misunderstanding their seven-year old daughter had. She attends a private Christian school operated by their church, but has a close friend that attends public school. When she was five, her mother was taking her to another town and they passed by a Publix Supermarket. “Mom,” she asked. “Is that the Publix School that he attends?”

We laughed when her mother recounted the story for us. But it made me think about how frequently we use terms in our own churches that confuse other Christians and unbelievers. Typically, every denomination uses an expression or two that other denominations do not use. We should remember when others are visiting our churches that they may not only be unfamiliar with how we worship, but also may find that some of the words we hurl around are equally strange and foreign.

Here’s a great example of what I mean: When my wife and I were dating eighteen years ago, her ten-year-old daughter asked me if I was saved. I had never heard that expression and asked her what she meant. Suffice it to say, she did a more than able job of explaining what salvation meant, and indeed, I was saved about three months later.

A number of mainstream denominations do not use the word “saved” to refer to asking Jesus to come into their hearts. It doesn’t mean their members aren’t saved, or that there denomination is doctrinally wrong because it does not refer to a salvation experience as being saved. It just means they are different, which is in part what Paul meant when he said, “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:20)

Jesus confronted similar situations during his ministry. In fact, he often used parables to help other better understand a spiritual point he was making. “But to those who are outside, all things come in parables,” he once told his disciples, “so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand. Lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.” (Mark 4:11-12)

When visitors attend our churches, we should stop and think about the things we say and do. I’m not saying we should apologize for them, or refrain from some practice that is customary in our church. Indeed, it’s probably why we attend certain churches to begin with. But there is also nothing wrong with offering an explanation of what just happened, or what some expression means.

A former pastor of mine, who is always very sensitive to the fact that visitors may not understand what was just said or done, would literally stop the service and explain what just happened. He always used Scripture to back up what he said. His church has exploded in growth and I am one who happens to believe that his sensitivity to such feelings is a major reason why.

The next time you look around the sanctuary during one of your church services and notice a visitor, think about what aspect of your worship service might be a little different for them. Words like saved, Holy Eucharist, Spirit baptism, sacrament, justified, homily, Jehovah Jirah, liturgy, and many others are not common in all denominations. Reach out to them and help them enjoy your service. It’s the best way to make sure you see them another Sunday.

Staying Close To God Helps Us Avoid Life’s Roadblocks

2009-10-31T22:20:00.000-04:00

“I will open my mouth in parables. I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:35)

I enjoy parables. They are great teaching tools and were used by Jesus to convey spiritual truths that are often difficult to grasp. In Jesus’ case, he would use an everyday situation that happens in life to communicate how he felt we should live our lives, respond to life situations, etc. Jesus liked them so much that about forty of them, over a third of the Gospels, are recorded in the New Testament.

Pastors often use parables, too, although we don’t realize it because they don’t call them parables. In today’s pulpits, they are referred to as illustrations. Just like parables, illustrations are used in today’s sermons to communicate important spiritual truths. Call them what you like - they still work today as much as they ever have!

My wife gave me a great illustration the other day that I can use to convey a spiritual truth that I believe is important. A young man on his way to work was slowed by a big truck, which obstructed his view ahead. He tried several times to pass the eighteen-wheeler, but the winding road would not cooperate and give him the clear view ahead that he need to ensure there was no oncoming traffic. Suddenly, the truck veered to the left to avoid a fallen tree that was blocking the lane. Unfortunately, the young man did not react quickly enough and hit the tree, causing great injury to himself.

This modern-day parable emphasizes the importance of a close walk with Jesus. The winding road represents life with all its twists and turns. Indeed, we never really know what lies ahead in our lives - the trees that will block our way - but we do know the one who does know; and if we choose to follow him, we can avoid much of the trouble that lies ahead.

Just how do we maintain that close walk? Prayer, Bible study and church attendance help. In fact, I believe the abundant life that Jesus promises in John 10:10 can be more easily realized when we make sure these three practices become habits in our lives.

But the question really isn’t as much about how we maintain a close walk as it is about whether we will do our part. Prayer, Bible study and church attendance do not come without work. Just like exercise, most of us have to force ourselves to do it until it becomes habit

God repeatedly assures us in his Word that he will do his part. In fact, there are hundreds of promises in the Bible and not one of them has been broken. Just as God told the Prophet Isaiah, “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Even with prayer, Bible study and regular church attendance, no one is going to avoid all the road blocks that life brings our way. But when they do come, God will give us the grace and peace to deal with them. That, too, is a promise directly out of his Word. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Value Of A Man’s Soul Is Priceless

2009-10-24T07:59:00.000-04:00

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

Scientists tell us that the value of the human body in today’s market is less than $4.50. In other words, the chemicals and minerals found in our bodies have very little over-the-counter value.

Obviously, our lives are priceless to our families, even though our bodies are not worth very much at all. The soul, however, is a whole different story. Notice in the above verse what Jesus said. Clearly, Christ could not place a value on the worth of a man’s soul. Even the accrual of great wealth or fame -“gains the whole world” - could not equal the cost of losing a soul.

Why is the soul so valuable to God? That’s an easy question to answer if you think about John 3:16. God gave His Son, Jesus, so that we could have eternal life. Just as the lives of our children are priceless to us, the life of Jesus was priceless to His Father.

In spite of how simple it is to understand, for some of us, it is equally difficult to believe. Otherwise, we would not make the decisions in life that we make. Every day, people trade their souls for earthly riches, fame, and sinful pleasures. Sadly, many of us believe in God, but we don’t believe Him. At least, we don’t act as if we do.

There are other explanations why God places such a high value on our souls. For example, the Bible says that we were made in God’s image. But God is not visible. He is a spirit. (John 4:24) If we are made in his image, then it is in our souls, which we cannot see, where we most resemble what God is like!

The soul is also the one part of us over which we have some control. Think about it. Many of our bodily functions are not under our control. Most of the genetic traits we have are handed down to us from our parents. These predispositions are not negotiable. But the soul is different. If we allow God to work with us - and through us - the change that goes on inside of us, down to our souls, can change the way we appear and act towards others. After all, when we ask Jesus to come into our hearts and choose to live for him, the Bible says that we become a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Those genetic dispositions don’t change, but our hearts and our souls do.

Finally, it’s important to remember that unlike our bodies, the soul does not cease to exist at death. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Moreover, in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, in Luke 16, Jesus said, “The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went into hell.” (Luke 16:22-23)

Rabbi Harold Kushner, who wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People, said, “The soul is not a physical entity, but instead refers to everything about us that is not physical - our values, memories, identity, sense of humor. Since the soul represents the parts of the human being that are not physical, it cannot get sick, it cannot die, it cannot disappear. In short, the soul is immortal”.

We shouldn’t worry as much about people as we should worry about the destiny of their souls. Every person has the promise of eternity. The problem is the choices we make decide whether it’s eternal life or eternal death. Jesus was right. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? “

Thorns In The Flesh

2009-10-17T10:58:00.000-04:00

“There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7)

You can’t help but wonder what this “thorn in the flesh” was, but we know from Scripture that it kept Paul humble. It also ensured that his prayer life remained active.

Theologians have offered a number of possibilities.

Many have argued that Paul was talking about a speech impediment. There is some historical evidence that Paul was not a good speaker. Maybe he did suffer from stammering speech.

Perhaps it was an eye infection. The Bible records that eye infections were fairly common in southern Galatia when Paul visited the area on his first missionary journey. In fact, Paul told us in Galatians 4:13 that he had been having some problems with his eyes. “As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you…Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn…you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.” (Galatians 4:13-15)

Others have suggested that Paul had an eye problem all right. Maybe his problem was with a wandering eye, not an infected eye. The problem with that claim is there isn’t a shred of evidence that Paul struggled with the sin of lust.

I’m glad that Paul never felt led by the Spirit to tell us exactly what his “thorn in the flesh” was because his admission would enable us to rule out any spiritual lessons from all those other thorns in the flesh that nag us today. In other words, if Paul had told us that it was an eye infection, a speech impediment, lust, or whatever, then those of us who have other thorns in the flesh wouldn’t pay such close attention to what God was trying to teach us through Paul’s experience.

The truth is we can grow and learn spiritually from any thorn in the flesh. That’s part of what God is trying to get across. These thorns that plague us often produce patience and humility. These are virtues that none of us can get too much of.

Here’s the point: God refused to remove Paul’s weakness, but he never said that he wouldn’t demonstrate his power through Paul. What he said to Paul after he had repeatedly asked God for deliverance is one of my favorite verses: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The fact that God’s power shows up in weak people should give us courage. It’s only when we recognize our limitations, that we stop patting ourselves on the backs. That’s an important moment because we are finally beginning to understand who’s really in charge.

Our weaknesses not only help us to develop Christian character, they can also deepen our worship. When we begin to acknowledge our weaknesses, the door then opens for God to affirm his strength in our lives. It’s another opportunity to let his glory shine right through our problems.

Facing The Trials of Life With Joy

2009-10-11T10:08:00.000-04:00

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” (James 1:2)

History tells us that Thomas Edison invented the microphone, the phonograph, the incandescent light, the storage battery, movies with sound, and more than 1,000 other things. The truth is the quality of our lives has been immeasurably improved by the genius of a man who overcame dyslexia and found that there was a great deal to learn from the failures and trials that life brought his way.

In 1914, the laboratory where many of Edison’s inventions were birthed caught on fire. Fire companies from eight surrounding towns responded, but inadequate water pressure and intense heat left firefighters with nothing more to do than watch two million dollars in assets that were insured for only $238,000 burn to the ground.

The inventor’s 24 year-old son, Charles, searched frantically for his father. He worried that his father might have been trapped in the structure. When he found him, he was calmly watching the fire, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind.

“My heart ached for him,” said Charles. “He was 67 - no longer a young man - and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, ‘Charles, where’s your mother?’ When I told him I didn’t know, he said, ‘Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives.’ “

The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.”

It is hard to face our trials with the spirit that was found in Thomas Edison, but that’s exactly what God expects us to do. You see God knows that real spiritual growth can only come from and through the trials that he allows to come our way. They are ultimately what form the basis for the joy that Christian maturity brings with it.

I ran across a poem recently that’s worth putting on our refrigerators and thinking about when trouble finds us. I don’t know who wrote it, but I sure know the One who inspired it:

It’s sometimes very difficult
For us to understand;
The wisdom and the love behind
The things that God has planned.

But we wouldn’t have the rainbow
If we didn’t have the rain;
We wouldn’t know the pleasure
If we never tasted pain.

We wouldn’t love the sunrise
If we hadn’t felt the night;
And we wouldn’t know our weakness
If we hadn’t sensed God’s might.

We couldn’t have the springtime
Or the yellow daffodil;
If we hadn’t experienced
The winter’s frosty chill.

And though the brilliant sunshine
Is something God has made;
He knew too much could parch our souls
So He created shade.

So God’s given us a balance:
Enough joys to keep us glad,
Enough tears to keep us humble,
Enough good to balance bad.

And if you’ll trust in Him you’ll see
Though yesterday brought sorrow;
The clouds will part and dawn will bring
A happier tomorrow.

What Is The Law Of Christ?

2009-10-03T07:18:00.001-04:00

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. “ (Galatians 6:2)

The law of Christ – just what does that mean anyway? I remember when Billy Graham spoke of the the mystery of evil during the memorial service held for the family members of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Evil is hard to understand sometimes. But for many of us, the law of Christ is a mystery, too.

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul never explained what he meant when he used this expression in one of his letters to a church in the Roman province of Galatia. In a letter to another church he wrote, “To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.” (1 Corinthians 9:21 NIV) Again, Paul offers no explanation, which adds to the confusion. It also begs the question, Was he referring to the Great Commandment in Leviticus 19:18, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, or was he talking about the New Commandment found at John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”?

In spite of this uncertainty, we can be sure that there are certain behaviors that Jesus expects to see reflected in our lives. He told us all that we could recognize other Christians by their fruit. So while we have no right to serve as judges, we can be fruit inspectors.

I heard a song recently, the words of which stirred my sprit like no other has in years. It was written by Gloria Gaither and – for me – fully explains what the law of Christ means. It also reminds me that I am not yet where I need to be.

Then I Shall Live

I then shall live as one who's been forgiven.
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child and I am not afraid.
So, greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother;
The law of love I gladly will obey.

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion.
I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I'll dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.

Your Kingdom come around and through and in me;
Your power and glory, let them shine through me.
Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honor,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor,
And may You feed a hungry world through me.

Amen, Amen, Amen

We may never know what the Apostle Paul meant by the law of Christ, but we do know that Christ expects us to show the change he has made in our lives by how we treat others. Indeed, if the unbelieving world is to ever come to know him, it will be by what they see in and through us.

Joseph of Arimathea Was Courageous In the End

2009-09-26T11:50:00.000-04:00

“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.” (John 19:38)

In spite of his role in the crucifixion story, we don’t know much about Joseph of Arimathea. The Bible has very little to say about him. But what it does record is a story of a miraculous transformation.

We do know that he was extremely wealthy, so much so that he already had a tomb waiting for him upon his death. But even though he was known by John and the other three writers of the Gospels as a disciple of Jesus, he apparently did not want anyone else to know. Perhaps his wealth would be at stake; or maybe it was the fact that he held a high position as a member in the Sanhedrin, a governing body of the Jews, which would be jeopardized if he were to have taken a more visible role in the Jesus’ ministry. In short, apparently, he had too much to lose by standing up for his beliefs.

But Jesus’ death on the cross visibly changed Joseph inside and out. He boldly went to Pilate to plead for the body so that Jesus could have a fitting burial. I am sure other disciples were surprised to hear that it was Joseph of Arimathea who approached Pilate. Pilate consented and the Bible records that it was Joseph who showed up at the cross to take the body of Jesus.

Imagine that moment when Joseph took Jesus from the Cross. Once a man afraid to admit any relationship with Christ, now willing to physically drape him over his shoulder and carry him to his grave. One of my favorite songwriters said it this way:

He took the lifeless body down from Calvary
Struggled to stand just beneath the load.
Blood spilled on his hands and on his clothing
Still Joseph sang as he stumbled down the road.

I’ll carry him upon my shoulder
I’ll bear the marks endure the shame.
I’ll serve my friend til life is over
And that is when the world will see He’ll carry me.

For I too have walked beneath a heavy burden
Stumbled down a dark and lonely road.
Trying hard not to be discouraged
Knowing victory awaits when I reach home.

He’ll carry me when he calls me from my sleeping
He’ll carry me toward the land of perfect day.
Across the golden vale into the glory
Where He’ll set me safely down inside the gate.

Until I’ll strive to walk and not grow weary
I’ll gladly bear my cross for all the world to see.
I’ll count it joy to carry Christ my savior
For very soon He’ll carry me.

Joseph of Arimathea played a vital role in the Gospel story. But his story is told in the Gospels for another reason, too. A lot of Christians, just like Joseph, secretly worship Jesus. We’re too afraid to stand up and be counted. We, too, think we have too much to risk. When I hear how Jesus feels about such shame, it makes me shutter: “For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).

Joseph had time to change and to show his world that his faith in Jesus mattered. There is still time for us to change, too, and show how much Jesus has transformed our lives.

God Inhabits The Praises Of His People

2009-09-16T09:37:00.002-04:00

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3)

Robbie and I are in Louisville, Kentucky at the largest gathering of Southern Gospel music in the world – the National Quartet Convention. Unfortunately, one of our all-time favorite performers is not here. Roger Bennett died in 2007 and is with his Lord and savior now. Somehow I don’t think he is missing us as much as we are missing him!

I wrote a tribute to Roger upon his death and decided to feature it again this week. Google tells me that It is the most popular devotion on my website – and why not? The message is eternal.

If you go to church with any regularity, you may have heard your music minister say, “God inhabits the praises of his people”. I always thought that statement was nothing more than a way to get me to sing the praise choruses that so many of our churches use now.

The truth is we should heed that advice. It’s not just that it’s scriptural. It’s one of God’s principles that work when we apply it.

Many of you probably did not know Roger Bennett. Roger Bennett was a Southern Gospel piano player and songwriter who made a living serving the Lord in the ministry of music. Unfortunately, he succumbed to cancer last month after an 11-year battle.

The last several years were not particularly easy ones for Bennett. He had leukemia, which he thought was in remission, only to see it rage back in his life with vengeance. He fought it valiantly, but realized that the disease was winning, so he decided to take a stand and underwent a bone marrow transplant at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas – the first of three.

Bennett wrote about his experiences on his website, Roger Bennett’s Midnight Meditations. “I am convinced,” he told his readers, “that our enemy stalks us exactly in the way the Bible describes him, a roaring lion. He hides in the bushes waiting for any sign of weakness and then he strikes.”

Bennett admitted that his faith became weak in the loneliness that is associated with bone marrow transplants. He mentioned one particular night when he “bottomed out”.

“He didn’t strike me physically,” Bennett wrote. “That had been accomplished for him by the chemo. He struck a more critical part of my being - my joy, my confidence, my hope. Every thought I turned toward heaven bounced back to me as if it were made of brass. Every time I tried to ‘look on the bright side’, I ended up imaging a very dark future. Then he threw his most effective dart at me - Doubt. ‘You call yourself a Christian,’ he said. ‘What a hypocrite! You wrote, Don’t Be Afraid, and yet you are more afraid now than you’ve ever been. You wrote about joy and yet now you are filled with despair. So much for your faith, Mr. Gospel Singer.’”

Indeed, Bennett had hit rock bottom. “I believed everything Satan said,” he admitted. “I tried everything I knew to pull out of it - all to no avail. I thought if I could just doze off, this will pass by morning. But the clock seemed to move in slow motion. Sleep was nowhere near. I tried to lose myself in the Bible, but the words blurred to my eyes and I couldn’t make any sense of them.”

Finally, Bennett had an epiphany, a revelation of sorts. He thought about the story told in Acts when Paul and Silas were in jail. “They didn’t despair,” he said. “They sang…It became their weapon.”

So Bennett began singing. “One after another these old songs came to my memory and I sang them to my empty room. It wasn’t a great performance, but it may have been the most powerful blessing I’ve received in my life.”

Roger Bennett realized just how true God is to His Word. He really does inhabit the praises of his people.

When it begins to rain in your life, take Roger Bennett’s (and God’s) advice - Sing the Gospel and allow it take root in your heart. You may not sing your blues away, but I’ll bet you’ll feel the presence of a pretty powerful friend.

Walk In Fear Of The Lord But Don’t Be Afraid Of Him

2009-09-12T15:28:00.000-04:00

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

Several years ago, my wife had severe abdominal pains. They became so severe I had to take her to the emergency room for treatment. One of the nurses charged with her care, a Christian, had a Chinese tattoo on his arm. “What does that mean,” my wife asked. “He who walks with no fear,” the nurse replied.

I noticed a cross on his neck and thought about the irony. How could a Christian walk with no fear when the Bible says that we should “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling”?

It’s a confusing verse because it reads as if our salvation may not be sure, which would certainly invoke fear and trembling in my spirit. Yet, the Bible promises that if we confess the Lord Jesus with our mouths and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, then we are saved. So the question is this: If we’re saved, why do we have to serve God with “fear and trembling”?

Paul never meant that we should quake in our boots as Christians. He simply meant that Christians should never want to offend God with their lives. Working out our salvation with fear and trembling implies a heightened sense of reverence for God by living our lives in ways that testifies to the fact that we are saved.

We all know that a modicum of fear is healthy. For example, a child’s fear of his parent will often produce the right behavior. The same is true for God. In fact, the Book of Proverbs provides great instruction about the fear of the Lord. Take a look at the scriptures below:

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.”

Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongs days.”

Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one
away from the snares of death.”

Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life.”

The truth is if we don’t have a healthy fear of the Lord, we cannot please God. The prophet Isaiah said it this way: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will build me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,’ says the Lord. ‘But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word’.” (Isaiah 66:1-2)

The Bible is clear about what a fear of the Lord can bring to our lives. Without it, we close ourselves to the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge; we will flirt with evil and be corrupted by it; our lives are likely to be shorter; and we will never come to know the love of God that gives us the assurance and confidence of our own salvation.

We really should walk in fear of the Lord, but we shouldn’t be afraid of Him. He is a life-long companion, an ever-present help in a time of trouble. Respect His ways, observe His truths, and walk in His light.

Sermon On The Mount Lasted For Days

2009-09-05T08:27:00.000-04:00

“Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” (Matthew 5:1-2)

Most Christians don’t realize that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount actually lasted for several days. That’s because many of us only associate the Beatitudes with the Sermon of the Mount. The truth is Jesus spent the better part of a week encouraging and instructing believers about other equally important issues like witnessing, obedience, prophecy, anger, lust, divorce, integrity, retaliation, loving our enemies, caring for the poor, prayer, fasting, money, criticizing others, going to heaven, servanthood, and faith.

There are also more than a few Christians who believe that the Sermon on the Mount happened in the early days of Jesus ministry, if for no other reason, because it is located just five chapters into the Gospel of Matthew. Wrong again. Those few days in the life of Christ actually occurred about nine months into his Galilean ministry, which in and of itself consumed almost eighteen months of his three-year public ministry.

I wasn’t surprised to learn that a large crowd showed up to hear what Jesus had to say. Word was spreading like wildfire that a young, charismatic Jewish carpenter was claiming that he was the Son of God. That alone was enough to convince the first century Jew to have a look-see. But this man had other credentials that intrigued people to seek him out.

The miracles he performed were unlike any that had ever been witnessed, and his incomparable wisdom often left the intellectuals of his day speechless. Even his ability to teach complex spiritual truths through parables, a then common-day form of storytelling, had both Jews and Romans alike shaking their heads in amazement.

The Bible records that people traveled for days to see him - sometimes getting nothing more than a brief glimpse, or a momentary chance to reach out and touch his garment in hopes of being healed.

But the crowd that showed up for the Sermon on the Mount was more than just curiosity seekers. They believed Jesus really was the Messiah that the prophets of the Old Testament had promised. So they listened intently while he taught extensively.

So why did Jesus start his Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes anyway? Why didn’t he just kick off what we might call today a “crusade-like event” with a more eye-catching, ear-snatching sermon, one that might have attracted an even greater crowd? The reason is simple, but not so obvious.

Remember that Jesus was speaking to believers rather than unbelievers. So he drew upon personal experiences to which every Christian, then and now, could relate. You see the Beatitudes don’t describe eight kinds of people. They describe eight kinds of experiences that every Christian is likely to remember.

Jesus was reminding these believers that Christian living involves a spiritual journey that begins when a believer realizes that he doesn’t have God in his life (“the poor in spirit”), but will one day end in victory (“great is your reward”). These eight Christian experiences deal with grace, conviction, repentance, faith, sanctification, servanthood, and persecution. And in each of these experiences, Jesus points out that the Christian will find all that is necessary for fullness in life, in spite of what else may be going on in the world.

William Barclay, in his book, The Gospel of Matthew, put it this way: “Blessed is an absolute. It is true anytime, anywhere--now as in the first century…(It) describes that joy which has its secret within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and the changes of life.”

So you see Jesus began with the Beatitudes to emphasize that our Christian faith involves a spiritual walk in this world that must begin and end with a relationship. And if we don’t have a relationship, then everything else that he has to say to us really doesn’t matter.

Confession Is Good For The Soul

2009-08-30T09:27:00.001-04:00

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

All of us have likely heard the maxim, “Confession is good for the soul.” It’s an old Scottish proverb but there is a word missing. The proverb actually reads, “Open confession is good for the soul.”

I believe there is biblical truth to this maxim as well. In fact, the Bible supports the conclusion that absent open confession, salvation is not guaranteed. That’s the truth exposed in the Scripture leading today’s column.

You can imagine how startled I was to learn that a mainline denomination doesn’t believe that open confession is necessary for salvation. Just yesterday, a friend of my wife told her she asked her pastor if confession was necessary for salvation. He told her no and emphasized that Jesus saved her 2,000 years ago when he died on the cross.

I was stunned, and wondered how any denomination could read what Scripture says repeatedly and reach such a conclusion. Interestingly, this parishioner told my wife that all she needs to recite for salvation is the Apostles Creed. “I say it every Sunday,” she told her.

I believe the Apostles Creed, too – every word of it, but the Apostles Creed is a statement of faith, not a tool to secure one’s salvation. I like what the Concordia Theological Seminary, a Lutheran-based seminary had to say about the role of this long-standing Christian declaration of faith. “It is intended to be used daily in the life of the Christian and the Christian family for the purpose of faithful meditation upon the Word of God and as medicine to help the Christian against the ravaging disease of sin which infects his life.”

We need to be careful to examine whether our church’s doctrine lines up with Scripture. If you believe for a moment that Jesus’ work on the cross saved you automatically from hell, you are dead wrong. The verse I used to begin today’s column says that you have to do two things to secure salvation. Note that if you do, the verse emphasizes, “You will be saved.” “The verb “will” is the future tense. In other words, salvation was been provided for us by Jesus’ death on the cross, but it is secured at a future date and time when the two conditions prescribed by Romans 10:9 are met. That is exactly what Jesus meant at John 14:6 where he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus death on the cross is the “way” to salvation - the means, not the end.

There are other verses that support this truth. Think about these as you examine what your church believes.

• 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• Matthew 10:32: “Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my father who is in heaven.”
• Psalm 32:5: “I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
• Acts2:21: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

We are creatures who have been given free will. When it comes to salvation, Jesus provided the way, and God will knock on the door to our hearts. But the next move is up to us. Indeed, confession is not just good for the soul. It’s what saves it for an eternity.

Christian Walk Comes From Daily Exercise

2009-08-22T08:03:00.000-04:00

“I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.” (Proverbs 4:11-12)

My wife and I walk together almost every day at the local high school track down the street from where we live. For the most part, I walk after work, but every now and then, my schedule allows me to get in an early morning walk. There’s something different about the early morning crowd I see at the track. They walk slower than the evening crowd. Why?

The obvious answer is that the morning crowd is older and just can’t maintain the faster pace set by the younger walkers who frequent the track after work during the evening hours. And while age probably is a factor, there is at least one other distinction that also helps to explain why their pace is slower.

Many of the morning walkers are retired and just don’t have the demands on their time that the younger walkers have. The truth is the reason they walk slower may have more to do with time than age. In short, maybe their lifestyle has more to do with their pace than their age does.

The same thing could be said about our Christian walk because the lifestyle choices we make have everything to do with the pace we are able to maintain on our journey of becoming more like Jesus.

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says a long journey begins with the first step. The same is true about sanctification, which is nothing more than a big word that explains our everyday walk with Jesus. That first step in the journey, salvation, is unarguably the most important, but we haven’t arrived when we get saved. So while salvation guarantees us a ticket into heaven, we still have a good bit to learn about being a Christian.

There’s not a day in my life when I don’t stop and think about my relationship with the Lord. To be quite honest with you, I’m not where I think I need to be, but I realize that the choices I make each day can either draw me closer to God or distance me from him.

I try not to measure my progress by what I notice in the lives of other Christians. My own mistakes are hard enough to swallow. But I’ve got admit that I do find comfort when I hear other Christians, who are lot farther down the road than I am, confess that poor choices have slowed their progress, too.

The Apostle Paul was one of the greatest Christians who ever lived. Yet even he once commented in a letter to Christians living in Rome that he could not believe some of the things he did. "I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15)

John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace, also struggled with his Christian walk, but pointed out that direction was just as important as pace. "I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be," he once said. "But thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, ‘By the grace of God I am what I am’."

Newton makes another point that we all lose sight of. We don’t live under law. We live under grace. Jesus death on the Cross was, and is, the final atonement for our sins. There’s nothing we can do to add to the finished work on the Cross.

So you see, while the choices we make in life will affect our relationship with Jesus, that doesn’t mean we can’t win when we stumble. If we’re headed in the right direction, God will make sure the light always shines on our path. The important thing is keep at it every day, which is what Paul meant when he said, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

Our Sins Are Washed Away But Our Problems Stay With Us

2009-08-15T07:13:00.000-04:00

“He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45)

When I was saved, I actually thought my problems would disappear. After all, the burden of sin had been lifted from my shoulders. The sense of euphoria I felt initially placed an unrealistic expectation of what God would do for me. When I came down, I realized I had been forgiven. However, the consequences from all those sinful choices I made were still with me. What a bummer!

A lot of mature Christians occasionally fall into the same trap, too. One of the reasons is several of the television and radio ministries plant false hopes in the hearts and minds of Christians. They often twist Scripture to get you to donate to their ministries. Many of them will literally promise prosperity in exchange for your gift, and a lot of Christians give thinking the problems that trouble them will go away. The truth is your wallet will be lighter, but your problems will stay with you. God’s promise to bless us for our faithfulness has nothing to do with the removal of whatever is going on in our life. He will love us through it, but that doesn’t mean he will lighten it or remove it.

In spite of what your favorite televangelist may tell you, there are five promises the Bible never makes:

1. Prosperity: The Bible views wealth very differently than the world views wealth. We can be both wealthy and penniless in the Lord’s eyes. 1 Samuel 2:7 says, “The Lord makes poor and makes rich.” Clearly, material wealth is never promised in the Bible. Perhaps we should take account of what we have rather than what we don’t have.

2. Good Health: Sickness and disease can come our way for many reasons. The Bible teaches that it can come from sin, the devil, old age, or just from the fact we are fallen beings with physical bodies prone to disease and sickness. The hard thing to square up is why does God allow us to suffer? I don’t have all the answers to that question. This truth reminds me that God is sovereign. So when we suffer, he allows it to happen. There is always a purpose for it, and there is always an opportunity for me to grow in spite of it. Some of the most riveting testimonies I have heard from other believers and extreme suffering brought them to a closer relationship with the Lord.

3. Salvation of Our Children: Wouldn’t it be great if we could get a package deal? The deal, however, is salvation is a personal choice by the individual. So all those children who think they are going to heaven because their parents are saved, or their grandfather was a pastor, are dead wrong.

4. Old Age: “The days of our lives are seventy years, and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10) I know what you’re thinking. “But seventy is today’s sixty.” Maybe, but in the Good Book, if we’re living past 70, we’re living on borrowed time.

5. Happiness: Joy is guaranteed. In fact, it is one of nine elements of the fruit of the spirit that Paul mentions in Galatians 5:22-23. But you won’t find happiness on the list. It is simply not promised.

The Bible contains thousands of promises and you count on God to deliver on each one of them. But there are at least five promises you will never find – at least not in the Bible. You can take His Word on it.

Cash for Clunkers And The Road Less Traveled

2009-08-08T14:49:00.001-04:00

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6)

In all my life, I never thought I would see a rush to car lots to receive government rebates of up to $4,500 for their clunkers. Who can blame them? It’s the only way so far that I have seen the federal government get some of its massive bailout in the hands of everyday Americans. In less than 2 weeks, almost $1 billion has been handed out, and Congress just approved another $2 billion.

All this being said, the money will soon dry up and car lots will return to the recession that still looms behind the mad rush to their dealerships. The message here: It will not last.

Aren’t you glad Christianity does not behave by the same rules? We can run to the Cross and be forgiven for our sins, and never have to worry whether our sins will outrun God’s forgiveness. It’s a done deal…forever!

One of my greatest regrets in life is that I did not come to know Jesus earlier than I did. Many of the mistakes and bad turns I made could have been avoided, but then, I would not have had the life experiences that have helped me to appreciate my salvation as much as I do. I guess it proves the point that God’s timing is perfect.

It’s strange what can be said that actually make the difference in someone’s decision to seek salvation. In my case, I had a hard time believing that I could be forgiven for the sins I had committed, not to mention all those sins that I would commit in the future. In short, I just did not believe the weight of my sin could really be carried by someone else.

Many of you know that it was my wife who led me to the Cross. What she said to me in response to this question made its way through the doubt. “So what if I am wrong,” she told me. “What have you lost by believing something that wasn’t true? You will have lived a better life, one that will show great character; one that your children will look back on and respect you for.”

I did not have great faith during my first moment of confession. But I did have enough faith to take the chance that all she had been saying to me might be right. It may have been just a glint of faith, but in that moment I believed my prayer and Jesus rushed in to my heart. Today, my faith is strong and great. I’m sure glad I made the decision I did, when I did.

I ran across a poem the other day. It was written by Robert Frost in 1920 and speaks for me about the decision I made – a decision to travel a road less traveled.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Aren’t you glad you made the decision to follow Christ? Unfortunately, there are many who choose to believe that all you have to do go to heaven is die. They are in for big surprise. The “way” that Jesus mentioned in John 14:6 is still the only way. It may be a road less traveled, but it will make all the difference!

When God Forgives Our Sins, He Totally Forgets About Them

2009-08-01T07:29:00.001-04:00

He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19)

My home computer has really been acting kind of crazy lately. It would reboot itself when I checked my e-mail and at other times it would just inexplicably crash or shut down.

I asked a friend about it and he told me that I had so many corrupt files on my hard drive that the operating system was getting confused. He recommended that I back up all my data and reformat my hard drive. In other words, remove the operating system, all of the programs, and re-install everything.

It took most of a day to get it done, but my friend’s advice produced a miracle. It works like a charm now. All of my problems have disappeared.

As I thought about my life as an unbeliever, I realized that I used to be just as confused as my computer. I had a state-of-the-art operating system, one that the God had given me, but it just wouldn’t work with a corrupt lifestyle. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew that if didn’t do something soon, I, too, would crash.

Thank God I had a friend who knew what was wrong with me. She helped me understand that God had not programmed me to live the kind of life I was living and that the lifestyle choices I had made were killing me. The more I listened to her, the more sense she made.

I realized that hope was just a prayer away when she opened God’s Word and showed me some verses. For the first time in my life, I saw myself in those words and understood that the answers to all my problems really were in that Book. Indeed, I had finally found the Owner’s Manual.

Salvation is still the greatest miracle I have ever seen. I look in the mirror today and pretty much see the same man I saw ten years ago, but inside I am changed. Corruption has given way to righteousness. I am no longer confused about where life’s taking me. My operating system is now working the way that God intended it to work.

All those bad files that were making my computer do some crazy things are now gone. When I performed a clean install, they were replaced with good files. In fact, my computer doesn’t even remember that it ever had even one corrupt file.

Salvation’s the same way. When God comes in, he replaces everything, too—A clean install. And guess what? He doesn’t remember one single sin. In fact His Word says that they’ve been forgotten just as if they’ve been cast into the deep blue sea.

The point is this: If you know someone who is about to crash, whose life is heading down the wrong road, say something to him. Help him (or her) to understand that there are answers to life’s ills. Reassure them that there’s nothing wrong with their operating system. It’s working just as it is designed, but has a few bad files.

Let them know that there really are instructions available to repair their broken life. And that if they will follow them, they, too can one day look in the mirror and thank God for the greatest miracle of all.

Sin Taxes Everyone

2009-07-25T17:20:00.001-04:00

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

My local newspaper reported this week that the legislature in my state will be increasing sin taxes in order to balance the state budget. I stopped and thought about it and drew an important inference about what sin taxes teach us. In my state, sin taxes are excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco, although some states tax other products, too. Interesting, isn’t it? The world teaches us to think of only alcohol and tobacco as sin to the point that we should pay tax on it. I guess that means we only sin if we smoke and drink!

All joking aside, the world sees sin very differently that the Bible sees sin. Just this month, for example, Robbie and I took a trip she won to Las Vegas, Nevada – Sin City. We were amazed at what families were exposing to their children. Right there on “The Strip”, we were forced through a gauntlet of people, men and women, lining the sidewalks, snapping baseball-sized cards together to draw attention. The cards were pictures of naked women. These “snappers” as the locals call them were advertising for an “escort” service. Dial the number on the card and someone would arrive at your room at the appointed time.

We were stunned in several ways. One was that a parent would parade their children through it, some even laughing about it. You couldn’t help but to see the cards. They littered the sidewalk for those of us who were uncomfortable and chose to look down. But what surprised us the most was it was a standard practice and viewed no differently than someone passing out free coupons for soft drinks. It pointed out to us in a very vivid way how numbed Americans have become to sin. It made me wonder, “What do I no longer see as sinful in my life?”

It’s important for us to remember that while times change, and the world’s definition of sin changes with it, God’s view of sin never changes. What the Word says was sinful when Jesus lived, is still sinful today!

There are two important points the Bible makes about sin. James 4:17 paints sin in with a very broad brush. “To him who knows to do good and does not do it,” James wrote, “to him it is sin.” In other words, we may not always recognize sin in our lives, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t present. None of us is good to the core. The Apostle Paul, who wrote over half of the New Testament, once referred to himself as a wretch. And he continues to remind all of us as he did the Church at Rome, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Second and most important, the Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) If we don’t, God’s Word is clear: “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)

Don’t think for a moment that God has changed his mind about sin. If you believe you might have lost your focus, read what he has to say about it. It’s the best way to make sure that you and God are on the same page when it comes to sin.

The Difference Between Happiness And Joy

2009-07-18T08:27:00.000-04:00

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” (James 1:2)

It may have been fourteen years ago, but the summer of 1995 was a memorable time for me. I celebrated my 42nd birthday and only now affectionately refer to that summer as my "Summer of 42".

Everything seemed to be falling apart. I learned that my childhood asthma, which I was told I had outgrown, had returned; I had an annual physical only to learn that I had diabetes; and I lost one of my best friends after a long bout with cancer. What else would God bring my way, and why?

I periodically ask my Sunday School class members whether they are heading into a storm, are already in the middle of a storm, or are coming out of a storm. It's a great way to link all the crises that we confront in life with our spiritual growth. God doesn't guarantee that Christians will not face trials. In fact, he assures us that trouble will come our way, and he expects us to use it as an opportunity to strengthen our faith.

That all sounds great when you're telling someone else how to handle their problem. But this time, I was the one who was in the middle of a storm, so this was my problem and my problem was different. Interestingly, James may tell us to "count it all joy", but I wasn’t about to thank God for what he was bringing my way. What did he expect me to do ... Jump for joy?

Absolutely. He expected me to see my trouble for what it was, and if I would just be willing to face it with the faith of a mustard seed, I could ride the storm out and learn that some of the best fruit in life is just on the other side.

Jesus tells us a story in John l6 about storms and why we have them. In this parable, God is the owner of a vineyard and we are the vines. He owns them, he loves them, and he cares for them. He removes every branch that doesn’t bear fruit, so there will be more room for the branches that do bear fruit. He even prunes the branch that does bear fruit because it's the only chance that branch will have to bear more fruit.

Jesus teaches us about several spiritual truths in that parable that we can apply to every "storm" that comes our way. He points out that we have an opportunity to glorify God. Storms are our chance to show the difference that God's presence makes in our lives. In other words, it's our chance to let his glory shine through our problems. That why Jesus says: "By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit." (John 15:8)

He also reminds us that God is never closer that when trouble comes our way. Think about it. The owner of the vineyard is never any closer than when he is there pruning the vine. It's at this point in any storm that we are close enough to touch him and he is close enough to touch us.

Finally, Jesus lets us know that those who use their faith to navigate their way through storms are not just believers, they are His friends. "No longer do I call you servants ...but I have called you friends." (John 15:15)

Indeed, he is a friend that "sticketh closer than a brother". In fact, I wouldn’t trade my "Summer of 42" for anything. I may not be happy about the circumstances in which I find myself, then or now. But I now understand what it means to "count it all joy”. There is a difference between happiness and joy. I know because I've seen the other side.

Grace Comes In Four Flavors

2009-07-11T07:50:00.000-04:00

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

I sure love living under grace. It doesn’t mean I can sin and move on with life as if nothing happened. It means that God will accept me in spite of sin in my life. Now that’s forgiveness with a capital “F”!

We all know that grace is the unmerited favor of God. But John Piper, a Baptist pastor in Minnesota, takes grace one step farther: “Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon.” Indeed, we live through and by the grace of the Lord Jesus.

Lately, it appears that I am obsessed with lists. Several of my recent columns have included them. Don’t worry. It won’t last much longer, but I couldn’t resist the temptation when it comes to explaining the application of grace in the life of a believer. I like to think that grace for the Christian comes in four flavors: convicting grace, saving grace, living grace and dying grace. Bear with me while I explain.

Convicting Grace: This is the only type of grace that God will dispense in the life of an unbeliever. The truth is the journey across the great divide to salvation cannot come without convicting grace. “No one can come to me” Jesus said, “unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44) What Jesus meant is we cannot earn salvation. It is a gift from God.

All of us distinctly remember the moment when convicting grace was present in our lives. You simply cannot mistake it for anything else. It covers you like a blanket and will not leave you alone. You can deny it and eventually it will go way. But when it comes, it brings one of two things with it – life or death. God provides it, but the decision as to what to do with it is ours.

Saving Grace: Saving grace is what Jesus did for us on the cross. Once we become convicted about how we are living our life and for whom we are living it, we must then make a decision as to whether we actually believe that Jesus really died on the cross for us. The Bible says if we believe in both his death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave, and confess to such, we are saved.

For many of us, the journey between convicting grace and saving grace is a short one. I can’t count how many times God knocked on the door of my heart before I decided to accept his invitation. The road between convicting grace and saving grace is a dangerous one, especially the longer it becomes.

Living Grace: There’s nothing like it. I marvel at how much trouble the world can bring my way and how little I let it worry me. God never gives me a lot of grace each day. It’s far too precious to waste. But he gives me enough to make it in spite of whatever may come my way.

Dying Grace: I believe every believer will receive dying grace before the Lord calls him home. I saw it in my brother’s journey before God called him home last year. Once afraid of dying, his faith in Jesus Christ helped him conquer the one last fear that seemed to haunt him. I saw it in my grandmother who told me in her late 80’s how much she looked forward to seeing all of her friends in heaven. And I’ve seen in my own life. The older I get, the less I fear death. It’s living that scares the most now.

C.S. Lewis once said that grace is what makes Christianity unique. Indeed, without it, we could never know Christ; because of it, we can understand the difference between joy and happiness; with it, we can conquer any fear that the world brings our way. We can do nothing to earn it, and we never get enough of it to take into our tomorrows. It’s both priceless and free. John Newton was right. It’s amazing.

Good Habits Require Dedication And Hard Work - Part 3

2009-07-04T07:22:00.002-04:00

(This is part three of a three-part series on the seven habits of highly effective Christians)

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)

One of problems with a series of devotions on the same subject is everyone doesn’t read my devotion from week-to-week. Therefore, I have to restate some of what I said in the interest of clarity and continuity. Of course, the two previous devotions covering six of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Christians may be read on my website, www.devotions.com.

So far, I have discussed six key habits that I consider paramount in the life of a Christian: trustworthiness, humility, a forgiving spirit, church attendance, cheerful giving, and knowing and applying the Word of God. Here is the final habit on my list:

Habit #7 – Prayer: In the end, it literally defines how close of a relationship we have with God. Why is prayer such a hard thing to sell to a Christian? If you stop and think about it, it was prayer that got each of us into the Kingdom to begin with. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Romans 10:9-14) In spite of its importance, many Christians freely admit that they do not spend enough time in prayer. Indeed it is a habit that is very difficult to develop and to sustain.

The Barna Group noted in a 2007 survey that 83% of Christians surveyed said they had prayed in the last week. But the real questions are: how many times and for how long?

I can only use myself as an example. Prayer is a habit I have, but it’s not developed as fully as I would like. In other words, I do not pray enough and when I do pray, I do not pray long enough. I simply need to learn to devote more time to what I consider to be the most important habit of highly effective Christians.

Here are my recommendations for improving your prayer life:

1. Pray several times a day; don’t just pray daily. Muslims pray five times a day. It just doesn’t make sense for faithful Christians to pray only once per day.

2. Learn to say table grace again. Yes, you will get some strange looks in this post-Christian world, but it’s a great way to incorporate more prayer into your life. And why not thank God for what He has given us. It seems the only time we talk to Him is when we want something.

3. Be careful telling someone you will pray for them. It is one of life’s biggest lies and very unbecoming for a Christian. When someone requests prayer, stop and pray for them right where you are. You will likely eliminate at least one lie from your life and will be amazed at how your friendship with them will blossom. And finally…

4. Pray when you are in the shower. Who said you could sing anyway? This is a great way to build a great habit and cleanse yourself – inside and out.

There is no more important habit than prayer. It brings us closer to God and is the difference between being seen as religious and having a personal relationship with Christ. Walter Mueller said it this way: “Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble. Prayer is a life attitude”.

Good Habits And Dedication Require Hard Work - Part 2

2009-06-27T11:05:00.004-04:00

(This is part two of a three-part series on the seven habits of highly effective Christians)

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

Webster’s defines a habit as a recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition; an established disposition of the mind or character. It is the latter statement that inspired me to examine what I consider to be the seven most important habits that every Christian should possess. Mind you now, my list is not all-inclusive. I do not have the market cornered on the list of all the habits that should how up in our lives. In fact, my list is no better or more correct that your list. It’s just mine and its purpose is simply to inspire all of you to address important Christian qualities that you would like others to see in you.

Last week’s column discussed three important habits that should show up in the life of every Christian: trustworthiness, humility and a forgiving spirit. Who would not want to see these qualities in a most trusted friend? Indeed as weight loss guru Jenny Craig states, “It’s not what you do once in a while, it’s what you do day in and day out that makes the difference.”

Here are three of the other four habits on my list.

Habit # 4: Church Attendance: I can hear you now. “Oh, here we go. If I don’t attend church, I am not a Christian and won’t go to heaven.” That is not the point. Attending church has nothing to do with salvation, but it has everything to do with learning how to build Christian relationships and help others who are trying to do the same.

Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” In other words, we attend church because we need to get to know our Christian family and encourage one another. It’s how we begin to learn to return the love that Christ showed for us. Learning to love and encourage one another prepares us to take what we have learned beyond the walls of the church. There is simply no better place to develop our gifts and shape our Christian character.

Habit #5: Cheerful Giving: My church dedicates a part of every service that permits its members to come to the altar and leave offerings. This is separate from tithing, which I believe we’re commanded to do. Offerings, however, are in addition to the tithe. It is an important part of our Sunday service and I marvel at the joy I see in children who come down to leave a small token of their appreciation. They give cheerfully, never thinking how much they need the money for something else in life. Attitude is frequently developed through habits. If we teach ourselves to give cheerfully, a cheerful attitude will begin to show up in other areas of our lives. I never give out of a need. I give to my church because I am so grateful for what Christ has done for me. I expect nothing in return – just glad to be a part of the kingdom.

Habit #6: Knows and applies the Word of God: The Apostle Paul told the church at Rome, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17) I agree but I am amazed at how much I know about the Bible and how little I often apply it. The problems that come my way often come from not following the advice and counsel that Scripture provides.

Knowing the Word of God and applying it in life are two different things. The more important habit comes from applying what we know. Golfers in last week’s U.S. Open hit great golf shots under pressure because they’ve committed what works best to memory through repetition. Simply stated, we must practice what we preach. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:8)

Next week’s column is devoted the most important habit of all. Until then, remember the words of another minister, “Habits are safer than rules. You don’t have to watch them. And you don’t have to keep them either. They keep you.”

Good Habits Require Dedication And Hard Work - Part 1

2009-06-20T07:31:00.005-04:00

(This is part one of a three-part series on the seven habits of highly effective Christians)

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Nothing could be truer, right? If only we only understood that the same principle applies to our adult lives, too. Indeed, if we are willing to train ourselves, we can develop the habits that we would like to see in ourselves and other Christians. Even Aristotle agreed. “We are what we repeatedly do,” he said. “Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Dr. Stephen Covey’s 1989 best seller, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, got me to wondering. What are the habits that highly effective Christians should have? I will admit that my list is not all-inclusive. There is any number of habits beyond the seven I will mention that should show up in our Christian life. So consider my list as nothing more than a good starting point for you to debate among yourselves.

I will discuss only three habits this week and follow up with the final four habits in next week’s column.

Habit #1: Trustworthiness: The worst witness a Christian can have is to be unreliable. When unbelievers see it in our lives, it leaves a bad taste in their mouths and becomes a turnoff to what we might want to say to them about the importance of Christian faith.

Being known as trustworthy is not just the first of twelve character traits that are taught to Boy Scouts. It was very important to Jesus as well. “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ Jesus taught. “And your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37) If it was this important for Jesus to mention with such emphasis, it simply has to show up in our walk with Him.

Habit #2: Humility: When I was first saved, I was so proud of what God had done in my life. I just had to share my pride with my friends. One of them kindly reminded me that pride was not what God wanted to see in my life. “Humility,” he told me, “is the true mark of a Christian.”

How could one argue with him? The Bible could not be clearer. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

The Apostle Paul also taught about humility. He had every reason to be proud. He was smart, well-educated, and - in his Jewish life - had won great respect among his peers. So much so that he was a Pharisee, a member of the ruling party of Jews in his day. Yet, Paul understood that he could never reach the lost through his accomplishments or the pride that goes with them. In his letter to the Church at Rome, he emphasized, “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.” (Romans 12:6)

Habit #3: Forgiving Spirit: It’s hard to understand. How can Christians justify carrying around all the unforgiveness that we see them carry? Unforgiveness is unforgivable – at least that is what Jesus said. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14)

I have a whole lot more to say next week about 4 other habits that we must have to be known as highly effective Christians. Until then, ask the Lord to help these habits show up in your walk with Him.

When Faith And Doubt Meet

2009-06-13T07:10:00.000-04:00

“‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:29)

In the late 1970’s, I vacationed frequently at Nags Head. I remember one summer in particular. Several of us decided to go deep-sea fishing in the Gulf Stream, which is not far from North Carolina’s Outer Banks and offers some of the finest dolphin fishing that a charter boat captain can muster.

We awoke early that morning because we had to be at the dock by 5:00 a.m. It was windy and our charter boat captain told us that it would be rough going through the Oregon Inlet.

You’ve may have never heard of Oregon Inlet, but it has a reputation among seasoned boatmen in North Carolina. It can provide some of the smoothest waters an inlet can offer; and yet when the winds are up, it is almost impossible to navigate. This narrow inlet, where the ocean meets the sound, has capsized more than its fair share of boats, bringing an early and sometimes tragic end to what should have been a day of fun and excitement.

My friends didn’t know enough to be afraid. I had been through the inlet several times and knew that it was a rough ride at best. But on a windy day like this one? They had no idea of what was in store for us when we pushed off. In fact, our captain had already told us that it wouldn’t surprise him if we had to turn around. “Aw come on,” they said. “It’ll be rough, but it’ll be worth it when we get on the other side.”

When we got to the inlet, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I saw enough white caps to last me a lifetime. “No way,” I thought. “Let’s turn around and try it again tomorrow.”

Our captain idled the boat several hundred yards from the inlet. He just sat there, staring at it. I knew he was trying to make up his mind. His doubts made me even more fearful.

Finally, he looked at us for a nod of approval. “Go for it,” my friends pleaded. And away we went, full speed ahead.

We made it through all right, but it wasn’t a ride I want to take again. Several of us became seasick and the wife of one of my friends even started crying just minutes into the inlet. She finally realized the chance we were taking.

I thought of this experience the other day when my pastor told the story about Peter walking on water. He analogized Peter’s experience to living on the edge and offered some great advice when we approach those inlets in our lives where faith and doubt inevitably confront one another.

Think about it. Peter thought he saw Jesus walking on the water, but it was night and he wasn’t sure. “Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus replied, “Come”. (Matthew 14:28-29)

The Bible records that Peter didn’t give it a second thought. He got out the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. It wasn’t until he took his eyes off the Lord that he became afraid and began to sink. “Lord, save me,” Peter cried. Matthew reports that Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, after which he said, “You of little faith. Why did you doubt.” (Matthew 14:30-31)

I know just how Peter felt. It’s easy to be a faithful, doubt-dodging Christian when things are going well. But when those storms come, the winds of doubt enter into the reaches of the mind where you thought only faith could dwell. And it’s there where you realize that you’ve come to a spiritual inlet and must make a decision to trust the Captain’s judgment.

Peter died with a faith in Christ that was second to none. I believe it came from a life filled with storms where somehow he finally learned to bridge the inlet where doubt and faith meet. Peter learned to trust Jesus.

God brings the same opportunities our way and if we’ll trust him, we’ll find that just like Peter, the wind will die down when we climb back in the boat with Jesus.

Is It A Question You Are Afraid To Ask?

2009-06-07T07:04:00.000-04:00

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16)

One or two designated Sundays during the year, churches often ask you to invite someone who is unchurched. Some call it “Friend Day” or “High Attendance Sunday”. The names may vary, but you get the point.

“Make a difference,” they will tell you. “Be a real friend and help Jesus change a life.”

Sadly, many of us let that challenge go through one ear and right out the other. “That’s going a little too far,” we say to ourselves. “Our church shouldn’t make us feel like we have to bring someone else. Lord knows it’s hard enough just to get my own family in the pews on Sunday mornings.”

Well it wasn’t the church that was the first to suggest that we need to get to know our neighbors and give them a chance to get to know us. The truth is Jesus was the first to challenge us to witness to those who live and work around us. No, Jesus didn’t ask us to bring a friend on High Attendance Sunday. He commanded us to go to them and share the gospel. Listen to him: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Paul Harvey once said, “Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium.” He’s right, but he wasn’t the first to come up with that idea either. Jesus said the same thing during his Sermon on the Mount, except he analogized the stale or reluctant Christian to salt that had lost its flavor.

Jesus told believers that day, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” (Matthew 5:13)

Those present understood exactly what Christ meant. The roads leading to the place where he preached were littered with salt that had once been used to help retain heat in massive outdoor ovens. However, the chemical reaction that took place rendered it useless, except to gravel roads and other travelways in the immediate vicinity.

Christ makes two extremely important points in Matthew 5:13-16 about Christian witnessing.

First and foremost, our lives should always reflect the difference that Christ made. “You are the light of the world,” he told us. “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Jesus also told us that we should be willing to talk about the difference that he has made, and he warned us that our continued failure to tell others about him may not just limit our effectiveness as Christian witnesses, but may also damage our relationship with him. “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything.” (Matthew 5:13)

Remember, there’s a false teaching at work in this world that says we can be evangelical without being evangelistic. All we have to do is believe that we "go” to church and forget that we are the church.

You don’t need to wait until your church has a “Friend Day”. You need to take a look around you at those who do not attend church and invite them this Sunday. Don’t wait another (Sun)day.

Remember Who Masters The Wind

2009-05-30T07:26:00.000-04:00

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” (Psalms 37:74)

This week is Hurricane Awareness Week in my home state of North Carolina. Its purpose is to remind us to prepare for the hurricane season, which begins on June 1. It reminded me of a devotion I wrote 10 years ago after Hurricane Floyd ravaged my hometown. It’s a very special devotion to me. You’ll soon realize why.

The Bible is full of stories about men and women who thought they had all the answers, only to find out that they could not save themselves from what life brought their way. It’s the very foundation upon which the Plan of Salvation is built. God’s hope is that all of us will eventually realize that we can never save ourselves from our own pride and folly.

True salvation can only come if we realize that we are born to sin, will continue to sin, and will never be able to solve the problems that come from a sinful nature. That’s why Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (John 14:6) In other words, all Christians ultimately understand that most problems in and of themselves have no real solutions. The real peace and joy comes not from life, but from the relationship we have with God, who loves us in spite of ourselves.

As Christians, we have to place our trust not in what we know, but in what we believe. The Bible describes faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Indeed, the Apostle Paul was right. “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

I don’t have to read the Bible to understand about the faithless. I simply need to look at my own life. It seems I spend far too much time trying to see God rather than learning to feel his presence and understand that he has always been there to help me, if I would just ask.

There’s a lady in my hometown who is like a mother to me. She lost everything she owned to Hurricane Floyd. There she sat in her apartment, unaware that floodwaters were inching towards her front door. By the time she finally noticed, water was filling the apartment and no one was in sight.

“The only thing I could think to do,” she told me, “was to get a flashlight and keep shining it out the window. But no one was around. I just prayed that God would save my life.”

She had no other choice but to wait on God’s amazing grace. But I’ve known her all my life and I’ve watched God save her time and time again from all the travails that life has brought her way. The difference between her and most of us in this world is that she never intended to rely on anyone but God in the first place.

So there she stood in her flooded apartment, standing in water that was almost up to her neck. Most of us would have given up on God by now, but not her. God brought someone her way and saved her just in the nick of time.

When Sunday came around, she wasn’t feeling sorry for herself. She had nothing but rags to wear to church that morning. “If all I had to wear was my petticoat, I was going to church to praise him for saving my life. He isn’t looking at what I’m wearing anyway. God looks at the heart.”

I don’t know whether there’s a hurricane in your life or not, but I know the one who made it. Ask him to save you and wait on him, even if the water is almost up to your neck. Remember what Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:8)

Lust is a Deadly Sin for the Christian

2009-05-25T14:34:00.000-04:00

“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

Do you remember what Jimmy Carter once said about the sin of lust? Then President Carter shocked the nation in November of 1976 when he admitted that he repeatedly looked at other women with lust.

“I try not to commit a deliberate sin,” Carter confessed. “I recognize that I’m going to do it anyhow, because I’m human and I’m tempted. And Christ set some almost impossible standards for us. Christ said, ‘I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery’. I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do—and I have done it—and God forgives me for it.”

I admire Mr. Carter for his honesty. The sin of lust is a common problem for a lot of Christians. And President Carter is correct. God has and will forgive him for it. Indeed, Romans 3:23 reminds us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

My problem with President Carter’s statement is that he exhibited no conviction about lust. He’s right. Lust is a human quality that is difficult if not impossible for many of us to overcome. What Carter overlooked, however, is that nothing is impossible for God to overcome. In fact, God’s expects us to fight temptation and seek his help with deliverance from sinful desires.

The Bible teaches us that God’s grace can and will offer guidance to us about issues like lust. Titus 2:11-12 promises, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Even Paul once admitted that he had prayed for deliverance three times about an unspoken matter in his life only to hear God say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Paul realized that God’s grace and only God’s grace could help him to overcome imperfections in his life. He told the church at Corinth that he actually took delight in his hardships. Finally he understood as he exclaimed, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Several years ago there was a movie about a shipwreck with only a few survivors who were left drifting aimlessly on the ocean in a lifeboat. Their rations disappeared in a few days and they were left deliriously thirsty under the scorching sun. One night, while the others were asleep, one man ignored his shipmates’ warnings and gulped down some salt water. He was the first to die.

Ocean water contains seven times more salt than the human body can safely ingest. Salt water accelerates dehydration because the kidneys demand extra water to flush the overload of salt. In other words, the more salt water someone drinks, the thirstier he gets. Ironically, the man in the lifeboat actually died of thirst.

Christians who lust are much like that man in the lifeboat. They thirst desperately for something that looks like what they want. But they don’t realize that it is precisely what they do not need. If they fail to heed the warnings that are associated with it, it can kill them. That’s what Paul meant when he said, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23)