And crying with a loud voice, Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Luke 23:46
Faith doesn’t come only when things are good – when the sun is shining, the bills are paid, and everyone loves us. Who needs faith then?
But when the storms rage, the money jar is empty and the enemy knocks at the door, that is when we need faith. That is when the exercise of our faith in God is most beautiful and He is most glorified.
Christ is our example. Rather than avoid it, He walked through the suffering, through the pain, through the rejection and spitting and scoffing and unbelief – even by His own friends. Why? Because He had faith in His Father, the Father who sent Him to the cross. He kept faith that He had a plan and a purpose in His suffering.
They would never know anything but how to reject, how to accuse, how to inflict pain unless He died. Unless He offered forgiveness for their sins and they took it. Only when their eyes were opened and their hearts were wiped clean of sin would they have the capacity for true love. So He gave Himself so they could be forgiven and bring love into the world.
And they would go on to trust God through their own sufferings, to commit their spirits to their heavenly Father like their Savior did, so others could hear of Him, have their eyes opened and hearts wiped clean of sin. So they could learn how to love like Jesus did, completely and unselfishly, and fill the world with it.
The torch has been passed to us, and we are called to do the same.
A wealthy society, prominent schools, medical access, fine clothing, a good church. Successful. A community where anyone would be fortunate enough to have a home and raise a family.
Sound familiar?
Like one of countless neighborhoods in America, doesn’t it?
Only this community, more specifically the church in this community, is mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Jesus Christ speaks directly to her, the Church in Laodicea. But He doesn’t send His congratulations at being a center of modern medicine, or for being a mecca for trade and wealth, or for dressing themselves in fine clothes.
They had made the mistake of finding contentment in their earthly treasures. And in their wallowing, they had become spiritually destitute.
They thought they had everything, but because He sees differently than we see, Christ gives them an eye-opener – a warning and a call to repentance. He tells them they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
They had allowed their prosperity to rob them of their zeal for Christ, and their faith had become lukewarm. Good for nothing. Tasteless. And they were in danger of being vomited from His mouth.
Sound familiar?
America has anything anyone could want. Lady Liberty lights the way to welcome countless people from around the world who come to find their American dream – a job, a home, education, medical expertise. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And we’ve become spiritually impoverished.
We are now the home of the seeker-friendly church. We’ve watered down the gospel for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. We’ve made it exciting for fear of alienating young people. We’ve rested on our American laurels. We’ve molded to the world instead of allowing the truth to mold it.
And we’ve become, in large part, wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
But as always, Christ gives us hope. As He counseled the Church in Laodicea, I believe He counsels the Church in America, and wherever else it applies, to “buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Rev. 3:18
It’s not in a white-collar career, a mini-mansion, a car with heated seats, clothes fresh off the Paris runway, or in any kind of fame that we are made whole.
It’s not in a set of religious rules, or intricate stained-glass windows, or hip, modern teaching about how nobody needs to worry about hell, maybe peppered with a cuss word here or there to prove that Christians aren’t all stuffy.
It’s in the person of Jesus Christ.
It’s in believing in Him and putting faith in Him and His work on the cross.
There is nothing inherently wrong with wealth or a finely-tuned Sunday morning service.
But:
1. Those will not save one soul. And in this sin-sick world, people need Christ. People are hungry for the truth, hungry for answers, hungry for hope and starving for love. And it’s a sin for a church to rob someone of that knowledge in favor of an entertaining Sunday get-together.
2. Those are not our goal. Our goal is to know Christ and take what He infuses into our souls to the world as salt and light. Our goal is to give ourselves over to Him for the sanctification of our souls and renewing of our minds.
Our goal is to get up on the cross with Christ and die.
It’s to overcome the world, not give in to it. To overcome the enemy, not join forces. To overcome the sin that entangles us, not sit and wallow in it.
And this can only be done as we hold onto Christ. And if we do, He gives us a promise:
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Rev. 3:21
We have a short time here, and then the reward. May we see ourselves through Jesus’s loving, gracious, sober eyes and remember the reason we’re here.
Grace and peace, love and joy,
Hello again!
I’m excited to announce that my testimony, along with 39 others, will be published in a book and released sometime later this year! Some stories, like mine, will be about how, against all odds, the truth of Jesus Christ penetrated hearts and brought people to a saving faith in Him. Other stories will be glimpses into the lives of believers and how they were able to keep holding onto faith despite trying times. All will be stories of hope and the miracles that only Christ can do. I’ll let you know more details as they’re announced. I’m excited to see how the Lord will use the book in the lives of many hurting people desperate for real hope in a world that’s increasingly lacking it. Add it to your Christmas list!
It was probably a day like any other day. People are milling around John, known as The Baptist, as he talks about the One Who is to come. Daily more people come to hear about the Light who has come into the world, to learn of repentance, and to be baptized.
John is talking with two of his followers when he sees Jesus of Nazareth walk by, and declares “Behold the Lamb of God!” John 1:36
They turn and see the One they’ve been hearing about. The One Who they’ve heard will baptize with the Holy Spirit. The One Who takes away the sin of the world. And they leave and begin following Him.
“Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, ‘What do you seek?’ They said to Him, ‘Rabbi’ (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), ‘where are You staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).’” John 1:38-39
These two new apostles, Andrew and probably the man who would author the gospel of John, wanted to know where Jesus lived. They left John the Baptist to stay, not in a certain place, but with Jesus Himself. Where Jesus went, they went. Where He slept and ate and spoke, they were there with Him.
His home, wherever that would be, would now be their home. And their lives would never be the same.
Had Andrew and John stayed with John the Baptist, they would have only heard about Jesus.
They would have missed out on three years of actually getting to know Him, walking with Him from place to place, talking with Him along the way about the great mysteries He held deep in His heart. They would have missed seeing Him perform miracles and watching Him change the hardened hearts of men and women. They would have missed seeing the joy in His eyes when children skipped up to Him and threw their arms around Him, and hearing Him laugh as He held them tight.
They might have missed that day at Pentacost when they were filled with the Holy Spirit and blessed with gifts from God to live out the greatest calling to go out into the world and preach the Good News. They would have missed seeing countless others come to know Jesus–the Man they knew as friend, confidante and Lord–as their Lord and Savior.
Hearing about Jesus was good, but living with Jesus brought them to the Source of all good things, to the very feet of God, the place of all power.
The word staying in the apostles’ question is the same word translated as abide that Jesus later uses in this admonition: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Jesus calls us to abide with Him, too. It’s not enough to hang back and hear about Him from teachers, parents or friends.
He now lives in us and He wants us to live in Him, wherever that may be. He wants us to beg the question of Him, “Where are you staying?”
Jesus doesn’t live in church. Don’t leave Him there.
If we’ve received Him as Lord and Savior, He lives in our hearts, and we are to live in Him.
He is now our home.
And for each of us He is in a different place. He is walking in a different direction in my life than He is in yours.
He is doing a different thing, teaching a different lesson, healing a different wound in each of our lives.
He is sanctifying individual souls. And only He has the power to do it.
Why be satisfied with only hearing about Him, when we can live with the Source of all life?
Where is Jesus in your life right now? What does He want to teach you? How is He working to mature your faith? Where does He want to go and who does He want to serve through you?
Are you right there, following in obedience, living where He’s living? Are you in communion with Him daily, learning from the Master, being filled with His Spirit, receiving His gifts and living the abundant life He longs to share with you?
Jesus said we can do nothing unless we abide in Him.
But if we do abide in Him, there is nothing we can’t do.
“Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God … What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be.”
~John Adams, 2nd President of the United States of America and Signer of the Declaration of Independence
There will come a day when those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ will see that Utopia. When the new heaven and new earth are unveiled, and we are its city set on a hill, gleaming as a trillion bright lights. When love is the banner and God is its King. And we’ll understand freedom on a whole new level.
The freedoms our Founding Fathers wanted to bring us in this country were only a shadow of the aching of every soul for spiritual freedom. As much as we want to bring heaven down to us, no matter how good we could make it, its always going to be less than our hearts desire.
But we have that freedom inside us now, purchased for us on another hill, the hill of Calvary.
And each of us carries the light of that freedom when we agree with Joshua and say
But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15b
Suppose we took those words of Joshua to heart and lived them out in all their righteous glory, and light the darkness around us in a spectacular display of God’s immeasurable love, grace and mercy.
We would allow the Holy Spirit to move us to love passionately, to give wholeheartedly, and to bring the greatest, most joyous message of freedom the world has ever known.
We would let the Word of God permeate our thoughts and actions and it, not the world, would dictate how we would change and who we would become.
We would fling open the gates of heaven into our lives with our prayer and obedience, dispelling all fear and flooding our lives with God’s boldness and power. And we would serve the Lord with as much dedication and courage and bravery as those who fought to purchase and keep our earthly freedoms, living out the greatest commission to “..go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
We would live out the light of the glory of that future Paradise, right here and right now, and set the world around us on fire for Christ.
I listened to this interview on John Piper’s site a few months ago and wanted to share it with you. Rosaria Champagne Butterfield tells of her journey from living as a radical lesbian, as she puts it, to being confronted with the truth of Christ, putting her faith in Him, and leaving the gay lifestyle. But this is not just a story of a lesbian who got saved.
I believe there is a bigger, more universal lesson. It’s a compelling story of someone who was enslaved by sin, as we all were before Christ freed us, whose soul was moved and whose life was changed by the power of God’s living, breathing Word.
And I think we can learn something very powerful from her story. Actually, two somethings.
(I would encourage you to listen to the 23-minute interview first if you can, then read the rest of the post.)
1. There is power in the Word of God.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
The Bible is not just another book. In all the places in the world, the Bible that we have tucked on our shelves, maybe laying on our laps on Sundays, and possibly read a day or two during the week, is the only place we can be assured to find the truth of God. And there is nothing more powerful than truth.
If God can use His Word in such a powerful way in the heart of someone who was not yet saved, what could He do in and through those who are saved and dedicated to reading and studying His Word?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
I’m convinced that the Church–those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ–would be tastier salt and brighter light to the world if we would be continually filled with the precious, life-giving truth on the pages of God’s Word.
And that brings me to the second something.
2. People don’t need our judgment. They need Jesus.
‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Romans 10:13-15
It is our feet, yours and mine, that bring the good news of Jesus Christ. We are the called and we are the sent ones–not just to those who make us comfortable, or whose sins are not readily apparent, or more specifically, not like ours. But to everyone. Had a Christian man not befriended Dr. Butterfield, she might not be saved to this day, and many lives would be radically different.
Christians can get a bad rap and sometimes that reputation is earned. When we choose to stand in judgment, or speak words of hatred, or refuse to share the love of Jesus to someone because of their particular brand of sin, we’ve failed in our calling.
There is no unforgivable sin. “Everyone who calls…” That statement is very clearly all-inclusive. It isn’t hate or judgment or rejection, but God’s loving kindness that brought us to repentance, and will bring others, too.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Prayer and we have another chance to collectively pray for our nation. And boy do we need it. It seems every day there is more news that our nation as a whole is moving further into darkness. Right is called wrong and wrong is called right.
And instead of being a godly influence on the world around her, the church as a whole seems to have allowed itself to be molded by the world.
Jesus’ light is, of course, as bright as ever, but the light of the church has dimmed.
Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship has been chosen to be this year’s Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer. Not surprisingly, he has already encountered conflict as a gay and lesbian group has called for his removal from the position because of his godly stance on the truth in God’s Word on homosexuality.
Pastor Greg is refusing to step down, and that doesn’t surprise me. In fact, I haven’t even heard him mention it. He is moving full steam ahead in the strength and power of Christ as usual. And he needs our prayers as he moves forward. The country needs our prayers, and not just superficial prayers, but real repentence.
Humility isn’t a very popular thing anymore, but it’s what God calls us to. And if we’re going to see ourselves, and as a result, our country be healed, we need to return to humility, get on our knees and pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness.
These are a few of the prayer needs I can think of. If you can think of anything else, please don’t hesitate to post them.
1. Pray the Lord Jesus Christ will be held high and glorified as the only way, the only truth, the only life.
2. Pray that those who call themselves followers of Christ, especially those who have been called to lead, will hear from the Lord and repent of any ways in which they’ve turned away from God. Pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit for all of us that we may, above all, love one another, and live uncompromising and bold lives in our families, our neighborhoods, our churches, our workplaces, our cities, and wherever God chooses to place us.
3. Pray for those who believe they are saved but are not and are instead living in a system of religion only or believing that being a “good” person will earn them a place in heaven. Pray the Lord will open their eyes to see the truth that religion and good works cannot save. That it is only through the forgiveness of our sins through the atonement of Christ’s shed blood that any of us can be saved.
4. Pray that as Pastor Greg prays on Thursday those who oppose the truth will feel God’s love (and ours) and His desire to come into the life of anyone who would repent and turn to Christ.
5. Pray the leaders of our nation will be convicted and will turn to Christ for salvation and begin to lead us in a godly way.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13
I’ve been a believer in Christ almost half my life (maybe more, but that’s a story for another day). I’ve lived this Christian life so long that I can sometimes forget all that Christ has saved me from.
But once in a while God gives me a reminder, a little glimpse into what my life could have been like had I kept walking the path I was on. I very well could have died in my sins. Lost forever.
But my Redeemer lives.
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27
Even Job, who lived centuries prior to Christ’s incarnation, because of his intimate relationship with God knew he had a Redeemer. While he sat utterly destitute and broken by the tornado of suffering he suddenly faced, he held onto hope that he would be saved, even if not until he passed on from this life. He knew His Redeemer would reign victorious at the end of all things and that He would be raised with Him and see his Redeemer face to face.
God did save Job and restored his life. And I have no doubt that Job’s faith carried him home to see the face he so longed to see, where all suffering melted away.
God’s saved me from more than I have time to tell you here. And no matter what struggles I go through as a believer, it’s nothing compared to living this life without Jesus, without the hope of salvation.
He’s redeemed my soul from the pit. He’s saved me from destroying myself. He’s rescued me from destructive relationships and from wandering the earth in a state of spiritual blindness.
He’s given me sight to see Him and ears to hear Him. He’s changing my heart from hardened stone to pure, soft flesh. He’s blessed me in ways that before I would have thought impossible. And He’s filled me with His Spirit to give me the hope of salvation and that one day I, too, will see my Redeemer face to face.
A boy grows up like any other boy. Only this boy would teach in the synagogues, and with such authority the priests would be seized with jealousy. They would obsess over plotting to kill Him.
The boy grows up into adolescence like any other young man. Only He would not look for a wife, but instead devote Himself to carpentry and to prayer.
The adolescent grows up like any other man, only He changes water to wine.
And He claims to be the Son of God. The I Am.
Twelve men would leave their families and their lives in an instant because He called them.
It doesn’t make sense.
In an ordinary place among ordinary people, a Man walks among them. A Man who, on the outset, would seem ordinary, too. But He isn’t.
He heals the blind, He touches the leper, He raises the dead.
In a time when women are property, He defends them.
In a place where there is no food, He feeds multitudes with a boy’s lunch.
How can that be?
To some religious leaders He boldly states, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:5
Time and time again He shows His power, His authority.
Except one night when soldiers have come to take Him. Still, His authority overwhelms them and they fall helpless to the ground. He gives them strength again and as His disciples look on, they stand to their feet and seize Him. A soldier loses an ear in the melee and He heals him.
Why? Why doesn’t He run while He can?
He stands before men in four separate mock trials.
He is sentenced to die in the place of a murderer who is set free.
He is beaten beyond recognition as a man.
But some begin to recognize Him as more than a man.
He is nailed to a cross to die among thieves, and promises one of them who asks that he will have a place with Him in Paradise that day.
How can He make that promise?
“But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.’” Luke 23:35
Why didn’t He?
He calls to His Father in heaven, asking Him to forgive all who have sinned against Him.
He dies and is buried in a tomb with armed guards standing watch.
The disciples scatter. Judas is dead. Peter hides in his shame. Hope is lost. A man is dead.
Was it all too good to be true? Were His claims preposterous? Were His promises empty?
Three years had come and gone like a dream and now they were awake. It’s over. The Sabbath comes and goes.
And it’s morning on the third day.
Some disciples journey to the tomb. Some take spices for burial.
Photo by Ferrell Jenkins
But the stone is already rolled away and He’s gone.
How? Where were the soldiers?
In her grief, Mary Magdalene begs a man she supposes to be the gardener, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” John 20:15
If only she could have one more moment with Him.
The Man calls her name.
“Mary!”
That voice, she knows that voice!
“Teacher!”
And she clings to Him.
She clings to Him Who is hope, to Him Who is the resurrection and the life, to Him Who is the Lord of the Sabbath, the Lord of the universe, the King of heaven.
It was all true! It sounded preposterous, ludicrous, absurd. A boy born to a virgin who claimed to be God and came to die for the sins of the world? To human ears, human reasoning, it seemed insane.
It was beyond their comprehension.
It’s a story so elaborate, so perfectly designed, so extraordinary, so humble and so powerful at the same time that only God could dream it.
From the very beginning, everything He said would happen did.
He’s still dreaming dreams for us. He’s still making promises that seem completely contrary to anything we can understand. He’ll heal the marriage, He’ll bring home the child, He’ll provide the need. He’ll forgive the sin, He’ll make us new creations. He’ll love us and be by our side no matter what.
He’ll prepare a home for us and come back to take us there.
And He’ll seal the promise by filling us with His Holy Spirit.
It seems preposterous. Impossible. Almost unbelievable.
But the stone is rolled away and He is alive.
May the joy of Jesus’ Resurrection fill you this day and every day!
Meet Lejla Allison, a girl who was first changed by the atrocities of war, and then changed again by a man named Jesus. Watch and see how He was able to meet her need in a most personal and powerful way. And see what she’s doing now.
Want to be one of the reasons for the smile on a child’s face this Christmas? (Not to mention that helping others is a sure-fire way to make your own problems seem just a little bit smaller.) All you have to do is pack a shoebox and find a drop-off location near you.
Hurry! Collection week is coming up quick, from November 12-19, 2012 (although you can send shoeboxes year-round to Operation Christmas Child at Samaritan’s Purse).
You can find the answers to all your questions by clicking on the link to Operation Christmas Child on the sidebar.
Who knows what Jesus will do in a child’s life through you.
“My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!”
1 John 4:12 The Message
