Are you forgetful? Maybe you were about to tell someone something and your mind went blank. Or maybe you walked into a store to grab a few items only to leave with ten other things (and none of what you came after in the first place). But what about what God has done for you – have you ever forgotten about that?
Psalm 107:1-3 says,
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from trouble and gathered from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
God’s people have always been a forgetful people. If you look back through the Bible – Old and New Testaments, you see God consistently redeeming His people from trouble, their forgetting what He did for them, and His reminding them of the grace and salvation again and again.
We are able to see a variety of things that God saved His people from in this psalm; for example:
“wandered in desert wastes” (v. 4)
“hungry and thirsty”, soul-fainting, “trouble…distress” (v. 5)
“darkness”, “shadow of death”, “prisoners in affliction and in irons” (v. 10)
“fools through their sinful ways”, “because of iniquities suffered affliction” (v. 17)
Those problems and afflictions are many, and, most of us, can problem identify with many things from that list. But, rather than identify with them in their affliction, we need to identify with them in their response. Every, single, time God’s people gave the same response (vv. 6, 13, 19, 28): “Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.” Not only was that their constant response, but God delivered them every, single, time
The pattern was the same over and over. God’s people cried out, a description was given of the affliction from which they had been delivered, and a response was prescribed for them (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31): “Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!”
We have already established that we are forgetful, but let me remind you that God always delivers His people. Whatever affliction we are suffering feels like it will never end because we are in the middle of it. But think back to all of the times that God has helped you, redeemed you, rescued you. God’s track record speaks for itself. But we are forgetful in the middle of the storm. But let the words of Psalm 107 calm the storm inside of you:
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and He brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the LORD for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man!
Psalm 107:28-31
And that’s what we’re singing about this Sunday morning! We are going to be reminded that the steadfast love of the Lord is upon us and available for all! And we are going to trust Him to bring us to our “desired haven” – eternity in His presence!
These verses were on my heart as the worship set came together this week:
God So Loved – This is both a new and old song for us. It is new because we just introduced it last month. It is old because it pretty much walks through John 3:16. This is a great reminder of God’s great love for us and His desire to save people! We can come before Him with failures, addictions, sins of every shape and size and trust Him to save us! We can come to Him as we are and leave His presence forever changed!
Revelation Song – This song serves as a reminder of two things. First, the end of the Story has been written – God wins, and the victory has already been won! Second, the end result in our stories – if we have trusted in Christ and are saved – is eternity with Him! He is the reward! We get to sing along with heaven in this song as we sing, word-for-word, songs laid out in the book of Revelation that are sung and will be sung in heaven!
Mighty to Save – Our God is stronger than whatever is afflicting us. Jesus died, defeating death and hell. He is able to save us from death and sin and bring us to new life in Him. If He can do all of that, what do we have to fear? Let us remember what He has done for us and proclaim it loudly to those around us! Let His light shine through us so that others may have the hope we have by grace through faith in Christ alone!
(invitation/closing) You are My Strength – This is what our response to Jesus should look live. We are very clearly acquainted with our sins and failures. We fully understand our inability to save ourselves. So, our only hope – the only appropriate response – is to recognize the strength of our resurrected King – to reach out and grasp His outstretched, nail-scarred hand to receive salvation. He is our salvation, and it can be found in no other. His grace, mercy, strength, and love is enough to lift us out of whatever we face.
I hope to see you with us, whether you gather in person, in the parking lot via speaker, or on Facebook or YouTube live!
If gathering in person, please remember that masks are recommended and that we need to remain vigilant in our social distancing measures. Continue to pray for those who are sick – not just our members but all those around the world.
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for the obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with His blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Greetings, reader! I would like to start today’s devotion off with a question: have you ever felt hopeless and isolated? I think it is safe to say that everyone has felt that way from time to time, and – if you had not prior to 2020, you most likely have experienced it this year.
The people that Peter wrote to in his first letter were the poster children for hopeless and isolated. These exiles of the “Dispersion” saw a different kind of pandemic in their day, but, rather than a virus, they saw an outbreak of persecution in their home country. Acts 8:1-3 gives us some context:
And Saul approved of [Stephen’s] execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
In the early chapters of the book of Acts, the Church was flourishing and growing. This is the very beginning of the Church, and the honeymoon period did not last long at all. In fact, this illustrates something important about the Church: if she reflects her Savior, she will be treated like He was. We often get caught up in terrible nature of their situation, but I want to draw your attention to the last verse quoted above: “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the Word”.
If that strikes you as odd, you are not alone. Firstly, the church in America has never experienced persecution like this.[i] While many of our brothers and sisters around the world still face the same persecution and vastly more dangerous, we have yet to have to endure such things. Second, our fear of such persecution drives us to focus on the experience of those believers in Acts rather than their response. The believers in Acts continued to share their faith as they were scattered because their faith was genuine. And, out of that genuine faith, they found hope.
That hope is what I want us to look at and study today and over the coming weeks. 1 Peter is a book of hope for the scattered, isolated, and hopeless. So, we will dive into all the passages in this letter that talk about hope to see what the Lord offered the original audience through Peter – and thereby to us!
This first passage of hope is one of my favorites and one that I find myself quoting – to others and to myself – more and more often. As I quote it, I find myself laughing because, as an English teacher, this passage should drive me crazy because it is one, very long run-on sentence. Usually, run-ons drive me crazy, but, oddly enough, this one soothes me. It reminds me that the hope of God through Christ is overflowing and continual.
If you did not read the Scripture prior to my comments, please read it now. (If you only read one thing in what I post, your time and soul would be better served with the Scripture at the beginning than anything I offer.) We will dive in bit-by-bit and take up next week where we leave off.
The first phrase we see – “according to His great mercy” – is quite a big deal for us. You see, church-folks throw around words like grace and mercy, but that does not mean that we understand them. Grace (undeserved favor) often gets most of our focus. It is easily seen in Christ giving his life for us because the eternal life gained from such a gift is clearly not deserved by any sinner. Mercy is different, and it is a little bit less comfortable for us because it recognizes the reality and consequence of our sin.
If grace is God giving us something good that we do not deserve, mercy is God withholding punishment that we do deserve. Mercy is “divine forbearance” (Romans 3:25) where God holds off the penalty for our sin. Mercy is Jesus taking our punishment on Himself instead of it falling rightly on us. So, when Peter says that our being “born again” is according to God’s “great mercy”, we need to realize how big of a deal it truly is!
The term “born again” is especially important as well. Jesus talked to Nicodemus about it at length in John 3, going so far as to tell him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). To talk about being born again means we need to understand what happened after our first birth.
The Bible is clear that all human beings are sinners (Romans 3:10, 23). It also makes it abundantly clear that the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Because of our sin, we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-2) and effectively have earned a death penalty against a holy, righteous, and perfect God. Usually, death is a pretty permanent thing. There is no continue after the game over, that is, without Jesus.
You see, Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost” – those dead in their sin (Luke 19:10). Jesus died on behalf of lost sinners, giving opportunity for those sinners to put their trust and faith in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Those who put their trust in Him are born again. Ephesians 2:4-5 illustrates this well using similar language to 1 Peter 1:3: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved…” (“saved” and “born again” are both phrases that talk about people who have trusted in Jesus as Savior and Lord).
I know that is a lot to process, so let me bring it all back together. God – in his vast riches of mercy and grace – gives us the opportunity to have life instead of death by putting our trust and believing in Jesus. It is just that simple. He even clearly shows us how to go about doing it in His Word: “…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
This is good news! This is news that gives hope! And it seems like hope is in short supply in the world today. Because it is such a rare thing, I think it would do us well to define it. Hope is “confident optimism”. Confidence and optimism both seem to be in short supply as well. But we can be confident in Jesus and what He has done on our behalf.
The hope that we see here in 1 Peter 1:3 is a special kind of hope indeed. What little hope that can be found in the world is fleeting, but hope in Jesus is “living”. And hope in Him is living because He is alive! “According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead….” Amen.
As I type this, I am praying for you, reader. I do not know whether or not you are “born again”. I pray that, if you are not, you would cry out to God and ask Him to save you. The Romans 10 verse from above continues beyond the instructions on how to be saved; it also contains a promise: “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). So, you do not have to remain hopeless. There is grace and mercy for you.
If you are reading this and are “born again”, I am praying for you also. I am praying that you will be reminded of the hope that you are re-born into. I am praying that when trials come – and they will if they have not already – you will not look horizontally at the world for help but vertically to Christ for the “living hope” promised here.
Either way, know that you have been prayed for. Feel free to reach out if you need a listening ear. Whether or not you want to talk to me or someone else, know that there is One greater than me Who would love to hear from you. Call on Him any time.
[i] I am immensely thankful that we have not had to endure persecution like many of our brothers and sisters around the world. We are blessed to live in a country where we still have the opportunity to be free to worship the Lord as He commands in His Word. However, I would like to give you two things to ponder on here: 1) 2 Timothy 3:12-13 tell us, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived”; and 2) we need to ask ourselves this startling question, “Are we using our religious freedom in our country to truly do what Jesus commanded – to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), or are we busy with other things instead?
Our typical Songs for Sunday will follow this important announcement for Christ Community Church.
Dear CCC Family:
Proverbs 15:7 says, “The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.” In troubling times such as these, there is a temptation to keep some knowledge to ourselves. But some information needs to be shared, so we wanted to reach out and let everyone know that we have had a few church members diagnosed with Covid-19 over the past week. These members are taking all recommended precautions and are currently quarantined.
We still hold that church is essential, so CCC will still be open on Sunday for those wanting to gather in person. Those gathering in person need to understand that our social distancing and disinfecting measures are in place for a reason and need to be respected and followed. And, for those who decide it is best for themselves and their families to gather in their homes utilizing our online streaming resources, that is understandable.
While we hold that church is essential, the Sunday morning worship time will be our only in-person service until we announce otherwise. Wednesday services will still be provided via online streaming resources.
So, where does that leave us? There are a few responses that need to take place over the coming days:
Pray for God to heal those who have contracted this virus – our members and around our city, county, state, country, and world.
Pray about how God would lead your family to respond in regard to Sunday.
Whether you gather in person or in your home, make sure that you reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ. We have plenty of resources at our fingertips to communicate with others. If someone crosses your mind, pray for them before calling, texting, or messaging them to remind them that they are not alone.
We love you and are praying for you all,
CCC Pastors
Songs for Sunday
These are truly unprecedented times for us. We have never experienced anything like this – in health, economic, political, or general human nature – in our life times. But God is not surprised.
Psalm 139:13-16 gives us some context:
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Amen. God knew all of our days before we were even conceived in the womb. And God knows where we are and our need now. When teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus reminded the that the “Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8).
He knows what He need, and He is with us in the midst of whatever we are going through. He is Emmanuel, God with us. And that’s just what we need. And His presence in our lives gives us hope through the good times and the darkest of times.
Romans 5:3-5 tells us of that hope in the midst of suffering:
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
That is good news and what we’ll be singing about this Sunday.
These verses were on my heart as the worship set came together:
Psalm 139:13-16 – above
Romans 5:3-5 – above
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Here are our songs:
Blessed Be Your Name – This song was my anthem through some of the toughest years of my life. I am very thankful for it because it put a biblical view of trials and sufferings down into my brain! It mirrors Job’s cry following his great loss. And it mirrors what our response should be in the midst of fear, confusion, trials, etc. today.
Before the Throne of God Above – This hymn may be new to some of us, but it has a great message. It is primarily based off of Hebrews 4:15-16: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Let this song remind you of being able to run to our Father and receive the love, grace, and mercy that He has when we need Him – every, single time we need Him.
The Stand – Finally, this is our response. Having recognized our difficulties and turned to the Father for help and mercy in our time of need, we stand on His promises and worship Him. Whether good times or bad, we worship Him. Whether happy or sad, we worship Him. Why? He is the God who is worthy. His Name is above every names. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. And He loves you. So, we’ll stand, lift our hands, and give Him the best worship we can offer. And if we cannot stand, kneeling is a great place to encounter Him!
Context is key when looking at the Bible. It is easy to take a verse out of its context and really mess it up.
Before we dive into our passage for tonight, let’s look a little bit at the context of Titus 2. Verse 1 helps a lot: But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Let me translate that verse a little simpler: But here’s what you need to be doing – teaching people (the Word) with correct, healthy instruction.
Paul goes on from there and tells Titus why this is important for various age groups in the church there in Crete where he pastored:
older men – (v. 2b) sound in faith, love, and in steadfastness
older and younger women – (v. 5b) that the Word of God may not be reviled (the literally word from which we get blasphemy)
younger men – (v. 8b) so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us
slaves – (v. 10b) so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior
So, when we look at our passage today, we get a piece of the doctrine – the instruction – about salvation that Paul was giving to Titus. Let’s check it out. We’re going to see how God’s grace redeems us, reforms us, and rewards us in salvation.
Grace Redeems Us (vv. 11, 14a)
v. 11 – For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people….
Titus 3:4-5a – But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us….
1 Timothy 2:3-4 – This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
So, who can be saved? “all people”
Colossians 3:11 – Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Revelation 7:9-10 – After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Romans 10:13 (quoting from Joel 2:32) – For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
The Bible is clear: anyone can be saved. It is also clear on how one gets saved: by repenting and believing.
v. 14a – …[Jesus Christ] who gave Himself up for us to redeem us from all lawlessness….
Ezekiel 18:23 – Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from His way and live?
Let’s look at a little more of Titus 3:4-5b – But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved, us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy…
Jesus “redeem”s us by paying the penalty for our sin. And He does this simply because He loves us. Oh, what a love He has.
A few weeks back, I noticed a church sign that caught my attention. It said, “Come as you are. Leave changed.”
Jesus meets us in our sin (Romans 5:8) to save us, but He wants more for us afterward. Let’s look at how Grace Reforms Us
Grace Reforms Us (vv. 12, 14b)
v. 12 – …training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.
Even though the world around us has not changed, our hearts are changed when Christ saves us.
1 Peter 4:2 – …so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
So, what does all of this accomplish?
Philippians 2:15 – …that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of truth….
The way we live our lives either shows God to be a powerful Savior or weak and not very effective.
v. 14b – …and to purify for himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God has a plan for you. God has a mission for you.
But the best news of all, is the reward – but it’s not heaven and glory and mansions and crowns – we get to be with God! Let’s look at how Grace Rewards Us.
Grace Rewards Us (v. 13)
v. 13 – …waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
I will never forget June 17, 2006…. When those doors opened at the back of the church….
Revelation 21:1-4 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Amen, and hallelujah!
(Paul Washer) “Everyone wants to go to heaven. They just don’t want God to be there when they get there.”
He. Is. Our. Reward.
Conclusion/Application
I know I’ve given you a lot to chew on today, but I hope that you have listened to the Scripture that I shared and examined your life.
Salvation is available to everyone who calls on the Lord and repents/believes in Him. How about you: have you called on his name? Have you repented of your sin and confessed your faith to Him?
Coming into contact with the grace of God is life-changing. Has it changed your life?
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Greetings, readers! It is Thursday again, and I am glad for us to be spending time together in the Word today!
It is always my hope that these Refresh & Restore devotions serve as a reminder to us of Acts 3:19-21: “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.” It is good for us to repent and enjoy times of refreshment in the presence of God – specifically in His Word and prayer – while we follow Him and wait for all that He promised to take place.
Today, we are going to look at what it is like to follow God and be planted firmly in His Way in Psalm 1. This particular psalm reads a lot like the wisdom writing in the Proverbs. And, in it, we see how God intended for His people to live and be happy in Him.
I know for some people it seems like a stretch to imagine Christians to be happy. It is very sad to think that Christians – church folk, anyway – would be characterized as being anything other than happy because we have more to be happy about in Christ! On Thursday nights at Jesus Saves Bro, Tonya is always reminding folks how good it is to be saved and to be happy and excited about it. If nothing else, Psalm 1 shows us the difference in being saved/happy and lost/wretched.
We start off with a description of the “blessed…man” (or woman). The word translated “blessed” here can also be translated “happy” or “fortunate” – as in those who are saved are fortunate and should be happy in thinking about it. It follows with a description of what this “blessed” person does not do.
The “blessed” do not walk in the counsel of the wicked. This means that the lost world around them does not dictate what they do or how they live. It also means that our response to what happens in the world around us should be based on the Word of God instead of the way that the crowd around us does. The word “counsel” here reminds me how easy it is to have my mind hijacked by worldly thinking.
The “blessed” do not stand in the way of sinners. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 clears up what this means:
(vv. 14-15) “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.”
Even though we continue to live and minister in a lost world, we must be careful and guard ourselves against the influence of the world. We are called to be in the world but not of the world. Essentially, we guard our minds with the “helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17), guard our hearts with the “breastplate of righteousness” and pull it all together with the “belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:14). And, being guarded in this way, we do not need to go in the “way of sinners”; we know the Way (John 14:6).
The “blessed” do not sit in the seat of scoffers. What in the world is a “scoffer”? I am glad you asked. Proverbs 21:24 says, “‘Scoffer’ is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.” The “blessed” person does not slump into the role of the arrogance and pride even though it is easy to do. We are instead characterized by the humility of Christ (Philippians 2:5), Him showing through us and not our own pride.
We see a lot of what the “blessed” person does not do, so what does he/she do? The “blessed” delights and meditates on the word of God. The word there for “delight” means to take joy or pleasure in or to recognize as costly or a treasure. Psalm 119:92 attributes this joy because “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” Basically, if it had not been for the law – the Word – the “blessed” person would not know what it is to be saved. They also “meditate” on the Word.
We have allowed the word “meditate” to be stolen from us by Eastern mysticism and the world. But it is a spiritual discipline found and highlighted by the Word of God. To “meditate” on the Word of God is to have it dwell in your mind. This may sound odd, but it reminds me of chewing gum, as in – we need to bite off some of God’s Word and chew on it throughout the day. Rather than try to rush through our reading of God’s Word each day or try to just get through the Word, we need the Word to get through us. When we “meditate” on the Word and it gets through us, we walk in the way of the “blessed” and have less desire to be “wicked”.
The comparison of the tree by the stream (“blessed”) and the wicked (“chaff”) shows just how clear the division between the two is. The “blessed” are “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (verse 3). Picture a majestic oak tree with luscious branches and beautiful leaves on the side of a river bank. Drought can hit the land, and many of the other trees around it may dry up, but it will continue to be healthy because its roots have nourishment beyond what can be seen. You see, the “blessed” are rooted in something greater than themselves (Colossians 2:6-7) and what the world can offer. But nourishment, in and of itself, is not enough.
Jesus said that a tree is known for its fruit (Matthew 7:20). Likewise, the “blessed” will be known by the fruit they bear. Again, the difference between the “blessed” and the “wicked” is clear. Jesus explains this better than I could ever hope to in John 15:4-6:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, and burned.”
Apple trees bear apples. Orange trees bear oranges. And the “blessed” bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) because they are planted in Christ. Consequently, if there is absolutely no fruit of the Spirit in one’s life the opposite is true.
Roots are important. A tree can only grow so large if its roots are weak or shallow. Shallow or weak roots can cause a tree to fall. A strong enough storm can pluck a tree that lacks strong roots from the ground and carry it away. It is the same for the “wicked”. Without Christ, we are tossed about whenever trouble comes, and, if we remain solid during the storms of trouble, it is only because of Him (Matthew 7:24-27).
Ultimately, the only difference between the “blessed” and the “wicked” is a relationship with Christ. We live in a world that has more than enough trouble – especially in 2020, but we often want to truck on under our own steam and power. Maybe you are toiling away like that today. But, please hear me on this, there is no hope without a relationship with Jesus Christ.
I hope that you have a relationship with Him as you read this today, but, if you do not, I would love to talk with you. I want you to be planted by the water and have the assurance and hope that only comes from Him.
If you know Him today, rest assured that whatever storms come and rage against you that He is more than strong enough to hold you and keep you. Maybe you feel like you are hanging on by the roots. But if you are rooted to Jesus, that is more than enough to keep you safe through the storm!
I have heard various references – meant seriously as well as joking – that 2020 will be a year that will never be forgotten. In saying that, the people reference Covid-19, social distancing, cash shortages, murder hornets, murderous police officers, destructive and murderous riots, monuments, social justice, economic collapse, the Anti-Christ, the mark of the beast – the list keeps on going and grows in intensity as it continues.
I cannot speak of where exactly this year is going. So much information and misinformation goes out in volumes that one cannot keep up. Social media allows for people to share their fears and bias without reading or regard for what is going on outside of one’s heart – or at least their thumbs and smart phone. BUT I can assure you of something: God is still on His throne.
Psalm 119:92 says, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”
It is a time for the Church to pull back on the reins of our fear and remember that our fears and we are not Lord! We need to stop looking at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, the Grenada Star, the Clarion Ledger, the governor, or the president to be our Savior or to settle the fear in our hearts. None of them from Zuckerberg to Trump can save you. None of them can settle your fear. BUT, if we focus our hearts on the Savior and make His Word our delight, we will move from fear to hope.
Look at Titus 3:1-7 and see if the Word of God does not cover where we are and what we need to remember:
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. BUT when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
It covers the spectrum of emotion and fear and puts it all at the feet of the Savior. We need a reminder that we need less screen time and more knee time. We need a reminder that we do not need a phone to keep us connected but that we need to be connected to Christ (John 15:5). We do not need another report from the media but to repent to the Most High God.
And that’s what we are going to do as a church this Sunday. We are going to lift up our voices together to the Most High. We are going to worship Him in His triune splendor and ask Him to fill us with His Spirit, love us with His Father’s heart, and lift our eyes to our Resurrected King Jesus – to cast all our anxieties and fear on Him.
These verses were on my heart as the worship set came together this week:
Titus 3:1-7 (above)
Matthew 11:28-30 – [Jesus said] “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Here are our songs:
Holy Spirit – We are going to start our musical worship off with a prayer. We so often forget that God came and dwelt among us as Emmanuel – God with us – and that He is still with us today. If we are saved, we have His Spirit with us always and at all times. This prayer will be a reminder that, whether we are worshiping at home via Live, in the parking lot through a speaker, or in person, we need to God to flood us with His mercy and the power of His presence.
The Father’s House – This song is new to us, but I think it will be a powerful reminder Sunday. I can remember, as a kid, singing a lot of songs about getting a mansion one day in Heaven. But the more I read and study the Bible I realize I will get a room in the Father’s house (John 14:1-6). When I am afraid – even as a large-sized adult man, my first longing is for the comfort I had with my daddy as a scared little kid. But there’s not a lot he can do with my grown-sized fear – I need my Father! This is a reminder of the care and forgiveness that only comes from Him!
What a Beautiful Name – There’s just something about the name of Jesus! It is beautiful, wonderful, and powerful. Speaking His name goes a long way toward relieving our fears. My favorite part of this song is in the bridge: “You have no rivals / You have no equals / Now and forever, God, You reign / Yours is the Kingdom / Yours is the glory / Yours is the Name above all names.” Amen, and so it is! Nothing can compare to the glory and power of King Jesus. And it would do us all well to be reminded of it!
w/ Break Every Chain – We are going to mix a bit of this song in with “What a Beautiful Name”. This song is a stark reminder that Jesus has already done a great miraculous work in our lives when He saved us – He brought us from death to life! If He can make the dead live, what hold does this world have over us! (The correct answer is none, by the way.) May we remember that “for freedom Christ has set us free” and that we need to “stand firm, and…not submit again to a yoke of slavery” through our sin (Galatians 5:1).
(invitation) It is Well – The same God that spoke all the universe into existence is the same God who spoke “Peace be still” to the wind and waves of the Sea of Galilee. He is also the same God who speaks to His people through the Word of God today. That’s good news! And we definitely can use some!
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Greetings, readers! We have finally arrived at the end of Romans 12. Now that we are here, I want to remind you why we started: to discover what God wants His Church to be like! We have looked at mindsets and walked through the characteristics of the Church.
My own heart has been worked over, and I have had to seek the Lord and repent in several areas. I have not arrived! But, thank the Lord, “He’s still working on me”!
While I enjoy writing these devotions, I find myself quite anxious while I type this one. These verses are quite heavy, and I do not feel that I can adequately break them down. Rather than try to fully explain it, I want us to understand the gist of what is being talked about here in the correct context.
It is easy to take these characteristics and try to make a list of rules to follow. When we read them, there are some that stick out and show us problem areas in our lives. This goes back to the image of a wellness visit with your doctor. Testing and blood work may show some area in your life that needs exercise or medication. Ultimately, the entire issue – both in the doctor’s office and in our walks with Christ – lies inside of us.
Sometimes we agree with the doctor and start on whatever regimen that he/she suggests. Other times we decide that we know better and carry on. Today, folks, we have an EKG of our spiritual heart that is likely going to show some irregular rhythms that need addressing.
In this case, we need to look back and remember what we were like before God saved us. Titus 3:3 describes it like this: “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” Notice the phrase “we ourselves were once” – this is supposed to be our past. This does not mean that we are perfect in our present, but it does mean that there should be differences from the past. It means that we should not freely partake of the sin that once enslaved us. There should be a struggle – a wrestling – with the former self (Romans 7:13-25).
Today’s characteristics in Romans 12 are a struggle for me, and they are a continuation out of the ones from last week.
It is human nature to want vengeance. If someone sins against us or is hateful toward us, we want that person to pay. It is what they deserve after all. We want restitution. We want amends to be made. We want that person to get worse than they gave to us. But there is a problem with that type of thinking in followers of Christ – that thinking does not follow Christ.
I worry here that I will not be able to adequately explain this, but, ultimately, there is not much explaining to be done. Our natural tendencies are toward sin and self-satisfaction. Our natural tendencies need redemption. Just as Titus 3:3 shows the former way of life for believers, Titus 3:4-5a gives a beautiful picture of new life in Christ: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy…”. Thankfully, God did not seek vengeance against us but decided to love us and make a Way for us!
Is that not one of the most uncomfortable thoughts – God taking vengeance on people? Yet, we certainly deserve it. Romans 6:23 tells us the “wages of sin is death”, meaning that we have earned a death sentence because of our sin. It is fitting for a punishment to be given out. It is right. It is just. But we only want justice for other people and not for ourselves if we have to pay a penalty. But, if we have trusted in Christ, He has paid the penalty for us.
Colossians 2:13-14 describes this so well:
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.”
Let that sink in. Forgiveness of sin does not mean that it magically goes away. The penalty must be paid! Justice must be satisfied! If you are saved, Jesus in His mercy and grace paid your penalty by taking your/our punishment on Himself.
So, why am I talking about all of this? To understand why we should show kindness to our enemies cannot happen unless we understand how God showed kindness to His enemies – us. Romans 5:10 says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son….” If God had not shown kindness to us while we were His enemies, we would never have been reconciled to Him. It could not have happened any other way. If He had struck out at us in vengeance – which He would be just and right to do – we would already be in Hell.
Our treatment of our enemies ultimately reveals our hearts. Do we care more about their eternal souls or our own earthly comfort? This hurts my feelings. This makes me sad because I know the answer. I want to be happy and for people to treat me the way that I want to be treated. I want to be the center of my own universe. But Jesus is my Lord, and that means I need to submit and quit trying to sit on His throne in my life.
Look at Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In the context of this chapter, I believe that this needs to happen first in our own hearts. When we seek vengeance, it affects us more than the people with whom we are angry. When we do not forgive, it is really ourselves who are hurt and damaged. I have heard it said that refusing to forgive someone and holding a grudge is like drinking poison yourself and waiting for the other person to die. We must remember that hate (again look at Titus 3:3) cannot exist in our hearts and not damage us.
It would be easy to stop here and just leave the forgiveness of our enemies as an issue for our own hearts, but I think there is a little more to it. There is also the issue of their hearts. Look at Romans 3:22b-25:
“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins.”
Think about that phrase “passed over former sins”. This does not mean that God ignored those sins. It means that He was divinely patient with us. He did not strike us dead at the first sin. There was opportunity for faith and repentance!
Moreover, hatred and anger will never lead to faith and repentance. Think of how often you have heard someone (or said yourself) say “Go to Hell!” in anger. We pass it off as just a common, meaningless phrase, but that is what seeking vengeance leads to: your enemy going to Hell. My heart aches as I write these words because I have wanted that same thing for people who have done me wrong. But that is not how I learned about Christ (Ephesians 4:20)!
Whew! This is tough. But there is good news: God is sovereign and in control. He is not bound by my anger or hatred, and He is still working on me! If you find yourself in the same boat as me, trust me when I say there will be no moment easier to forgive someone than right now. Every moment you wait to forgive will be more and more difficult because hate will abide in your heart a little longer.
Pray for God to change your perspective and your heart. Ask Him to help you see the person who wronged you as a soul bound for an eternal destination. And let these words from 2 Timothy 2:24-26 be your heart and mind as you seek the Lord in this matter:
“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
I love you and am praying for you. May God continue to work on my heart and yours!
Dietrich Bonhoeffer spent the end of his life in a Nazi concentration camp. The teachings of the gospel and the Nazi indoctrination were contrary to one another. For this reason, Hitler sought ferociously to weed the gospel out of Germany – the gospel, not church or religion for there was still much of both remaining.
On his last day, he preached – right there in the concentration camp. It makes me wonder what text I would choose if I knew I was preaching my last. Bonhoeffer’s was 1 Peter 1:3:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ from the dead….”
What a powerful image! While He preached, a British RAF pilot stood in the doorway, keeping the Nazi officers who would escort Bonhoeffer to his death at bay. He preached and glorified the Savior whom he would see with his own eyes moments later. As he was submitting himself to the Nazi soldiers, he uttered the above mentioned quote: “This is the end – for me the beginning.”
That is so powerful and inspirational. But we need to look past Bonhoeffer to the God how inspired him to live in such a way – to die in such a way. One does not submit to death with joy unless he has hope. And the hope found in the Word of God changes lives still today.
We have a Savior who – though He was crucified and died – is alive! And because of that fact, our hope is living. Religion will not do that for a person. Ancient texts do not do that for us. Only a resurrected King can accomplish that, and He is worthy of our trust, love, and worship!
This Sunday, we will be focusing on the hope that comes from only Jesus! We will start by looking at Jesus as our Rescuer and Savior. We will look at Him being the promised Messiah. We will look at the His rich mercy was poured out for us on the cross. And we will celebrate the hope that is found in Him!
So, if you are struggling, downhearted, or just otherwise not-put-together, you will not be put to shame if you follow after Jesus. He will give you hope and rest in Him!
These verses were on my heart as the worship set came together this week:
Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound….
Psalm 34:4 – I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Colossians 2:13-14 – And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.
1 Peter 1:3 (see above)
Here are our songs:
Rescuer – What a claim to begin our worship: “He’s our Rescuer!” While the song goes through various things we’ve been rescued, or saved, from – sin, shame, doubt, fear, religion, we all know exactly what sin is in our life and how much we need a Savior/Rescuer. It is from that knowledge we can cry out, “Oh, how sweet the sound; oh, how grace abounds!”
Jesus Messiah – I love, love, love how this song begins by singing Scripture straight out of the Bible. Worship through singing is a powerful thing. It is absolutely necessary because it is commanded in Scripture. But no lyric of Scripture can be as powerful as actual quotes from the Word – because the Word is special and has unique power! We get to lay out the gospel from the Word and point out that Jesus is the Christ – the Messiah – the promised One who came 2,000 years ago and is coming again!
At the Cross (Love Ran Red) – The cross is such a powerful image for the believer. We look at it and know that it belonged to us. We think on Christ’s sacrifice and know He bore our sin. Jesus humbled Himself to bear it, and we should surrender ourselves and submit to Him in faith. In Him “sin and shame are powerless”. Mercy and grace flow freely. And, since He rose from the dead, the peace that is promised is eternal because He defeated death, Hell, and the grave!
Living Hope – This song gets me fired up. The image of a great chasm – I’m talking Grand Canyon-ish – between us and God is not difficult to see or imagine. But our great “God and Savior Jesus Christ” is our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). He bridged the gap and made a Way for us! We can cry out, “Hallelujah! Praise the One who set me free!” Amen!
On July 4th, the United States of America will be 244 years old. Over those nearly two and a half centuries, this country has been through quite a lot, yet, in the general lifetime of the other countries like her, she is still fairly young and new to the world’s stage. If one wanted, it would be easy to track her development just like a child through to adolescence.
The United States was conceived from an idea: freedom. The people who would form that idea left the home they had always known and struck out to make a new beginning. When they found themselves on the shores of North America, that beginning was found to be more difficult than they had imagined as they had to live under the tyrannical rule of King George. They found their newfound freedom to be stifled by their lack of representation in the government that ruled them from across the ocean and were beaten down by unfair laws meant to take advantage of them rather than to help or build up. The same longing that brought them to this continent left them dissatisfied with their leadership and gave them a desire to strike out on their own – to overthrow the bonds of the government that ruled over them and seek to be independent, to be free.
When the idea of freedom was to give birth, the United States had quite the difficult delivery. In order to gain their freedom – liberty from the tyrant – there had to be revolution. And revolution would mean war and the battlefield would be their home. Yet they knew that liberty was an ideal worth having, and, since it was worth having, it was worth fighting for – even dying for if it meant that future generations could have what they hoped for. From 1773-1783 (and again in 1812), fighting is just what they did. And, thusly, the United States was born.
America’s journey to adolescence has not been easy, and some may argue that she has not quite grown up yet. Her people have squabbled among themselves for the majority of this country’s lifetime. The Civil War was won, lost, and has wounds that are still not healed. Reconstruction following the war never fully took place, and the scars are evident every day. Yet there is still something special and unique about this country.
The idea of freedom is still attractive. It is still more rare in the world than many would believe. People try time and time again to gain citizenship here. People cram into tight spaces in the holds of ships, they scramble across her borders under the cover of darkness, and they float in from closer countries on ramshackle, homemade rafts – all to have what is promised here through the ideals that are still sought after today. The inscription on the Statue of Liberty says it all:
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
Thousands and thousands of immigrants have come through that particular harbor at Ellis Island, giving credence to those words and opportunity for a better future in this young nation.
This country has been heralded as a land of opportunity. It has allowed and seen many people realize their dreams and aspirations and given them the freedom to pursue them. In fact, the very pursuit of such aspirations has become known as the American dream.
One cannot help but realize that the freedom, acceptance, and hospitality realized in the American dream comes from the founding fathers who are still towering figures and examples of fulfilled opportunity and pursued destiny. In fact, the founding fathers injected this country with their beliefs and aspirations. Many tout that because of this the United States is a Christian nation. While this has not been the case, the Christian doctrine that many of the founding fathers believed is evident in the aspirations that this country set out to provide for her citizens – again and namely freedom.
This idea of freedom is one of the reasons that I am quite proud to be an American. I could have been born anywhere in the world, yet God allowed me to be born here. For that I am thankful. There is no place I would rather live. And, yet, I have aspirations and hopes for this country as she continues to grow and change. Those aspirations and hopes are based upon the same beliefs and doctrines that those founding fathers imbued into the foundations of our country. So, as Independence Day draws near, I have had two images weighing on my mind that have affected the way I view this country and how I fit in as one of her citizens. The first is a story relayed to me over a decade ago by a missionary to Jordan. The second is a monument.
A Tale of a Patriot Missionary
A Jordanian native heard the gospel preached and gave his life to Jesus Christ. Once he had done this, his entire life changed. He was born again sought to tell others about his new life in Christ. So, he began to share with his neighbors about what had happened in his life. Only 6% of Jordan’s population is Christian, compared to 92% Sunni Muslim[i]. While he was passionate about his message, he was cautious. He was cautious because he remembered what it was like to have not heard the gospel. He was also cautious because the gospel stands at odds with the status quo and encountering Jesus through the gospel changes lives. We will call him Sam for the sake of the story.
One of his neighbors was angry at his message. Rather than lash out right then and there, this neighbor went to the authorities. Rooting out this perceived missionary cell was high on the priorities of the local authorities, but they wanted to proceed carefully. They decided to partner with the neighbor and set up a sting operation. All the neighbor had to do was allow Sam to be caught sharing explicitly Christian doctrine and they would be able to swoop in to arrest him.
When it came time for the sting operation, they met in the neighbor’s garage under the cover of night. The neighbor drew Sam in with a few questions to get the conversation started. Once Sam began to lay out how Jesus saves, the neighbor was overwhelmed by anger. He lost all logic and was so irate that he grabbed a nearby screwdriver and stabbed Sam several times.
The police had to abort the sting and rush in to rescue Sam from the neighbor. Rather than arresting Sam, they had to send for emergency services and arrest the neighbor instead. They could have just counted the entire operation as a loss , but they decided to double down and interrogate Sam themselves. Even though he was wounded, they figured that they could still bait him into incriminating himself with the gospel. Yet, rather than directly asking what they wanted to know, they asked him, “Sam, why do you hate Jordan?”
Sam’s response is why this story has been on my mind this week. Rather than defend himself or try to come up with an excuse to get out from under the authorities, he simply responded: “Why do I hate Jordan? Everything I do is because I love Jordan. I want my people to experience what I have.”
This makes me think of my own relationship to this country. I can spout out plenty of history on the United States – good and bad. I can cite various quotes from the founding fathers to civil rights advocates that show how there is hope for the United States. I am passionate about any number of political issues that I genuinely believe to be important for the trajectory of this country. Yet I lack the patriotism – the ardent love of one’s country – that Sam had. Sam, like our founding fathers, was willing to impact his country with his beliefs. Because Sam loved Jordan, he tried to introduce as many Jordanians as he could to Jesus through the gospel. He did this because he knew that their encountering Jesus would be vastly more effective than any political rhetoric or argument.
A Picture of a Roadside Monument
If I had not been thinking about Sam’s story, I likely would not have given much thought to the second image that has been weighing on my mind. My family and I recently went on a trip that took us east across highway 82. It had been quite some time since I had been through there, and I had not realized that a cross had been built outside of Eupora, MS. As we drove past, I happened to notice it – likely because of the recent construction of a cross in my home town. It took me several days to finally be able to articulate what popped into my heart and mind when I saw that monument. When it finally began to come together in my mind, I contacted a friend of mine, Jenni Kilburn-Oswalt, who is the talented photographer who provided us with the picture here to help make my point.
What finally and profoundly struck me was how much bigger the cross is than the flag. Now, I realize that this is not necessarily a conscious effort of symbolism. But the idea that struck me here is the view of one’s country that must be had to see change take place. It is the same view that Sam had of his own country. His love of his country was such that led him to believe that the only good and lasting change that could take place would be for people to come to know Christ. Rather than try to be a political change agent, Sam introduced people to Christ. His view of the cross was simply bigger.
While he loved his country, he was unable to continue with the same old status quo. You see, the moment that one comes to faith in Christ, he or she ends up with dual citizenship between heaven and their native country. Paul explains it better in Philippians 3:20-21: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” That heavenly citizenship affects our earthly citizenship.
As stated earlier, I have much love and respect for my earthly country. I also understand the issues that this country faces. But I am one man, and I do not have a platform that would allow for national change. Were I to have such a platform, I lack the appropriate capabilities to affect the changes needed. But I can do what Sam did: I can share Christ where I am planted. And this is what I know I should be doing because I love my country. Christ, through the preaching of His gospel, is the only means that will affect change.
The image of the cross and the flag stirred this up in me. If I get sidetracked by pursuing many earthly solutions that are outside my control, I will accomplish little to nothing. I am not saying that one person cannot affect change. I am saying that I realize how this one person is intended to do so. My voice will be much more valuable to the United States if it is spent sharing Christ and proclaiming His Kingdom. My role as one of God’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:18-21) will further his kingdom more than trying to form my country into the way that I feel it should look, act, and progress. In doing so, my view of Jesus has to be bigger than my view of the government and this country.
Trust, Freedom, and Wrapping This Up
There is hope for the United States. For all of the ills that have befallen her, much change and progress has been made and, Lord willing, more will continue. The founding fathers were not the only movers and shakers in our history. In fact, the 244 years of America have seen people rise up time and time again to show that there is something to these ideals of liberty and freedom. Yet we live in a time period where people believe that typing into a box on social media and sharing the latest fear-inducing meme, video, or article will wake America up and affect change. We see people on both sides of the partisan aisle cry out that their guy (or gal) is the hope for America and that the other guy (or gal) is the emissary of destruction. I think we can look to Psalm 20:7 for guidance here:
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.”
To paraphrase: some trust in elephants and some in donkeys, but we trust in Jesus.
Thankfully, we have freedom here. We have freedom to disagree. We have freedom to group up. We have freedom to voice our opinions. And we have freedom to worship whichever god we choose. It is in this freedom where the proverbial rubber meets the road. Are we going to trust in God and be his ambassador, or are we going to trust in the government? Are we going to hold on to a heritage of the United States of yesteryear, or are we going to show patriotism like Sam and share the gospel with our neighbors because we love them and our country?
Think back to the inscription on the Statue of Liberty. As powerful an image as it is, it is just a plaque on a statue. Jesus had a call that is similar and vastly more effective. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says,
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
One can come to America and, maybe, find all that the inscription promises. But if one comes to faith in Christ, one finds Life. And what is liberty and freedom without life? So, we need to be about pointing to Christ and watching him change lives. It’s time to be his ambassadors in this land that we love.
Ultimately, time will tell. But, if you will indulge me, I have a suggestion on how to proceed from here. Whatever concerns you have about this country, take it to God in prayer. Whatever aspects of this country that you believe are great, praise the Lord for them. But if you claim to love this country and love Christ, the greatest and most affective actions that can be taken will be to invest the gospel into your neighborhood, community, town, county, state, and country.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Philippians 2:3-5 —
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus….
Greetings, readers! How is your spiritual wellness check going? I have heard from several that this journey through Romans 12 has been quite challenging. It has for me, as well.
I think these characteristics of the church are supposed to be convicting. They seem unattainable – or at least too hard for someone like me to live out in my life. But these characteristics are not meant to be attained or achieved by the likes of us. They are only to be accomplished by Christ living in us (Galatians 2:20)!
So far, the Word has shown us what it is like to love and live in faith out in the world. Now, we are to look again to our minds and hearts to see the attitudes that should motivate us in walking with Christ.
The Philippians 2 passage gives us a little bit of context. I will not go into too much detail there as I hope to write on Philippians 2 at a later date, but what we see in verses 3-5 – not being selfishly ambitious, counting others “more significant than [ourselves], looking to the interests of those around us – is a picture of the mind of Christ.
The concept of putting others is a bit foreign for most of us. We live in a day and age that is often described as being a dog-eat-dog world and running at a cut-throat pace. But Jesus wants more for His bride – His body. Notice I said “more for” not “more from” or “more out of”. This is important when looking at today’s characteristics because they are not so much actions that can be learned and practiced as they are motivations that have to be cultivated and engrained. Let’s walk through these verses to see what the Lord would have for us here.
Verse 13 says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” It is in our nature to look at verses such as this and fight against what they teach. Rather than get sidetracked by counter-arguments, let us look at it in the context of the whole chapter of Romans 12.
Think back to a few weeks ago when we looked at Romans 12:3-8 and the Church being Christ’s body. The body of Christ (the Church) is not a man-made organization. Its members are not to be thought of as individuals making up a corporation but rather to be parts of the body (i.e., losing an arm would be dismembered). So, when Paul talks about contributing to needs and showing hospitality, it is like saying take care of your arm for the sake of the rest of the body.
For centuries doctors could not fight against infection and knew, for them, it was better to sever the arm or leg than to allow gangrene or infection to set in and kill the entire body. It is the same principle here. If one of the members of our church is suffering or has a need that God has provided us the means to meet or take care of, we need to do it. It really is simple, and it flows out of love. Rather that cut that member out of fellowship for being in need, we reach out in love and meet the needs out of the overflow of God’s blessings to us.
Verse 14 cuts me right to the core. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” I struggle with this. When I was a kid, I was made fun of and bullied pretty heavily. My parents told me that I used to pray at night to be big like my Uncle Mike so that people would treat me differently. God answered that prayer quite specifically: when my Uncle Mike passed away, we were the same height, wore the same size clothing down to the shoes, and were within fifteen pounds of one another. I was finally big enough to make people leave me alone – or so I thought. All that happened was my heart changed and anger and bitterness had a bigger space to fill inside me.
The significance of this characteristic is that it changes the way we look at those who mistreat us. Those we are to be blessing are those who persecute us. They are lost people who are treating us poorly because of the gospel – which they need! By blessing them, we give opportunity for the Lord to work in their lives and their hearts be impacted by the gospel! Now, I do not mean the Southern “Bless your heart!” here (that’s more than likely meant as a politely worded curse). I believe that asking God to save those who are persecuting us 1) protects our hearts from bitterness, 2) gives us a Christ-like mindset, and 3) will see your enemy become a brother or sister if they get saved.
Verses 15-16a say, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.” The first thing I see here is that we often misunderstand what it means to “live in harmony”. Paul is not telling the Church to just go along and get along. Harmony is much more complex. Think about a group of people singing in harmony. Every single syllable makes a specific chord. If you take one voice away, the chord changes. If one voice decides to sing a completely different song while the others are singing together, you get discord.
Essentially, our collective harmony is built around doing life together. The Christian life is not meant to be walked alone. The kidneys – while an important part of the body – cannot carry out all bodily functions. And part of our living in harmony and contributing to each of the needs of the saints is sharing in life together.
When a brother or sister is joyful over something in their life, are you joyful with them or do you resent and covet? When a member is sorrowful over something bad that happened in their life, are you crying with them or silently ecstatic that they got what you think they deserve? I can think of few sounds that are as beautiful to me as a church singing together. We must make sure our lives are singing the same song, as well.
Our last characteristic this week is found in verses 16b: “Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” The word “haughty” here could be translated “arrogant” and “lowly” could be translated “downhearted”. Basically, we get the picture of one person whose worldly status has caused him/her to be swelled up with arrogance, while the other person’s lack of status causes them to be looked down upon. This should never be the case in the Church. This is backed up by James 2:1-7, verse 1 of which says, “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.”
The gathering of the Church together should be a place where people from all walks of life should fit because of the shared faith, hope, and redemption found in salvation by Christ alone. The gospel does not discriminate. Anyone who repents and believes upon the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. Anyone – rich, poor, skinny, fat, and every shade of skin on the planet.
This may seem odd, but I have never fully felt at home in church until about a year and a half ago. If you know me, you know I am weird – at the very least quirky, probably more than a little eccentric. I like stuff that many others do not: books, science fiction, comic books, etc. It has always been hard for me to fit in. Then, God allowed me to come to Christ Community Church. The slogan on the church sign is “everyone is welcome”, and, once inside, it holds true. Even the persecution gets it right; one gentlemen – quite aggravated after worshiping there one Sunday – said, “This is a church of misfits.” Amen, indeed!
While Christ Community is not perfect, it gives us a good picture of the Body of Christ. Everyone Christ has ever saved has was a sinner who needed saving. He does not save because of status; He saves lost sinners! The variety of differences are for His glory and much to be celebrated. Revelation 7:9 describes a multitude in heaven as being “from every nation, …all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” – a bunch of misfits, and all loved and adopted by God!
Knowing where the Church is headed and remembering from the depths of sin Christ brought us lead us to much love, care, and thoughtfulness in our daily lives. My prayer for you today is that you could view the world around you – especially your church family – the way Christ does. May it drive you to love and care for those around you and see people’s lives changed by the gospel! “Never be wise in your own sight” (v. 16). Let us not seek our own wisdom but His and follow after Him, and seeing the change only He can bring to our lives and communities!
Just Keith Harris 