obedience

Love and Obedience

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Jesus was both loved and hated. Those who loved him were faithful followers who hung on his every word. They believed his message. They longed to see him perform miracles and change lives. They whispered about him behind closed doors, longing to spend more time with him. They wondered if he was the promised Messiah.

But then there were the haters. They too listened to his words, but they were appalled at what they heard. They asked him what they thought were hard questions, trying to trip him up. He answered all their questions with ease or with silence. They hated his teaching because his words pointed directly at their sin, and their sin was their identity. They didn’t want to change in any way, shape or form. They wanted to be rid of him, even if it meant violence against him. They hunted him and talked about him behind closed doors plotting revenge.

Jesus was gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. He was sharing with them about his upcoming death. They weren’t understanding clearly what he was telling them, and they were confused as to why he was telling only them. Why not tell the masses?

One of the disciples asked Jesus why he was planning to reveal his mission only to his closest followers and not to the masses. But when you think about it, why would anyone reveal such intimate information to those who don’t support them? Why give the haters one more thing to plot against? Oh sure. At the appointed time, revealing his true identity and mission was necessary. But it wasn’t yet time. Jesus’ own disciples still had doubts that he had to deal with. So, why go to the masses with your most private but soon to be ultimate destiny?

Jesus spoke simply and plainly to his disciples when he explained that only those who love him would obey him. And if we truly love him, we will keep his word. There will be no question of our commitment. That can’t be said for those who hate him. Jesus also knew that once his work was completed on this earth the Holy Spirit would come to instruct those who loved him. And anyone who rejects Jesus also rejects his Father and would not receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus lived in complete reliance on and submission to his Father. There was no line he would cross or attitude he would cop in rebellion against his Father’s plan for his life. And he knew there was a price he would pay when he relinquished his heavenly body for an earthly one. He knew the price would be high, and he was willing to pay it in an earthly body that would hold him for no more than thirty three years. But he couldn’t speak publicly of the plans. They were for certain ears only. And his disciples were the chosen audience.

Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. Matthew 12:30

Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. John 14:22-24

Jesus’ disciples thought he was planning to establish an earthly kingdom and then overthrow Rome, so they couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t go public with his plan. But the plans set out for the Son of God had nothing to do with an earthly kingdom, and Jesus had plans to share the details with only those who loved and obeyed him. He knew anyone else would try to sabotage his ministry.

Love is a commitment. When we choose to love and obey God, we must understand the strength of that bond. God sacrificed his only Son for our sins, so we must love him with everything we’ve got. Otherwise, is it really love? Some say there is a fine line between love and hate. But, I wonder. How fine is that line? Perhaps it depends on the relationship and the reasons behind the love or hate. In this passage of Scripture, there is a definite distinction between those who love Jesus and those who don’t. And Jesus must treat the two groups differently. The groups don’t have the same values or mission. One is out to win the world for Jesus, and the other is out for blood. Jesus’ blood, that is. Love is not out for blood. Only hate seeks revenge and destruction. Only hate seeks to destroy those who disagree with you. Love seeks open discussion and reconciliation, not retaliation.

We read in Deuteronomy that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength. This level of commitment to our Lord and Savior is in acknowledgment of the fact that the Lord alone is God. And because of our love for God, we must abide by his commandments. Even if those who hate God or are just opposed to the teachings of Jesus also oppose us and our beliefs, we must stand firm in our faith and commitment.

Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Obedience is the necessary consequence of love.
— James Smith

The Heart of It All

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So. We bought this house late last summer. Oh. The stone on the front facade is a look I have always disliked. I’ve just never cared for it, but there it is on the front of a house that I willingly bought. And I’m definitely not going to invest money to replace it with something I prefer. That’s just not in the budget. There are many other updates that I want to put my money and hard work toward, so I ignore the ugly stone as much as I can and concentrate on the parts of the house that I love.

And then I step inside my home. Oh. Every wall is still currently painted white. The floor is a lighter color than I would have chosen. I have paint swatches and wallpaper samples taped to the walls, and I’ve placed rugs in a couple of rooms. I’m making plans to update light fixtures and to paint the cabinets. I’d like to replace the garden tub with a walk-in shower. Those things will happen, but they will take time because we have some big ticket items to consider. We need to install a new HVAC system, and we need to replace part of the roof. We have foggy windows that need replaced. And these updates will come all in good time.

We’ve made this house our home, and it’s a comfortable place to live. Bright light shines in through the tall living room windows and the doors. Fresh breezes flow through the house on nice days. I’m working to make this house a cozy place where we will enjoy growing old. And so far, it’s working. We love being in our home.

The thing is. If I had to buy this house based on the exterior of it alone, I would have passed on it. Not because I disliked the shape of house, because I don’t dislike it. I just don’t like the look of the stone. It’s dated and ugly and way too expensive to replace. But it was the inside of the house that drew me in. The layout. The beauty of the tall wooden ceilings. The shape of the A-frame feels rustic and homey. It is a welcoming place.

The way I’m working on making my home a place I genuinely love reminds me of the story of how David was anointed as the second king of Israel. God was displeased with King Saul’s continued disobedience, so he let Saul know that none of his sons would inherit his place on the throne. Imagine being the prophet Samuel who had to break that news to the king of Israel. But he did it. He shared the bad news.

And God then told Samuel to go to the house of Jesse and anoint one of his sons as the next king. The problem is. God didn’t tell Samuel which son he had chosen. He told Samuel he would let him know who was the chosen son when he arrived in Bethlehem. When Samuel arrived at the house, he came with an offering to present to God. It was a heifer. Jesse and his sons were invited to the sacrifice where God would tell Samuel which son was to be the next king.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

When Samuel saw the first son, he was impressed and thought this must be the one. But God told him to keep looking. After checking out six more sons, God had still not given the green light to any of them. So Samuel asked if there were more sons. Oh. One more. The youngest. You don’t want to see him. He’s not worthy. Bring him to me, said Samuel. And when David was brought in to face Samuel, God let him know that the future king of Israel was standing before him. Samuel then anointed David in front of his father and brothers before they sat down to enjoy a feast.

Each time one of the first seven sons stood before Samuel, he thought they looked fine. All he could see was their physical appearance. But God was looking at their heart. And God had told Samuel earlier that he was looking for someone with a heart toward Him. He wanted a king who would obediently follow God while he led his country. Not a small task, at all. And when David entered the room, Samuel knew this was God’s chosen one.

Oh. We would later learn that David was far from perfect. He messed up big time. But he always turned back to God and repented of his sins. The results of momentary temptations and lusts brought him to his knees as he watched the son born of his sin die in infancy. But he arose from his knees a forgiven and changed man. He was a warrior and led the nation of Israel in many victorious wars against enemy nations. He planned and prepared for the temple that his son Solomon, the next king of Israel, would build. He was a man after God’s own heart.

Too many times we look at ourselves and wonder what God sees in us. But when we faithfully follow him, even though we may stumble, he is faithful to us. He will forgive us when we sin, as long as we repent. He knows our hearts. He knows if we have a true leaning toward being a child of God, or if we’re just playing around with our faith. He’s looking for seriously committed followers who will live out their beliefs in public. Oh. We’re not faultless, but we must be repentant when we do sin.

Just as my new home needs repairs and updates that may not be visible to the naked eye, so is our heart when it comes to spiritual growth. God sees us as we are, and he knows the work he has ordained for us. Throughout our lifetime of serving him, God will work on the areas of our heart that are not fully in tune with him. When we allow God to correct and prune us, we will grow in his likeness. When we surrender our sinful nature to him, we will experience a lifetime of growth. Just as my house has not been well cared for through the years, we can’t allow our spiritual growth to become stagnant, because our faith will erode and decay. We need daily spiritual nourishment from God’s word, prayer and fellowship with other believers. It is a lifetime of faithful obedience that draws us closer to God and makes us more like him.

Don’t Be Misguided

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The guy on the podcast I was listening to said that the world is watching to see if a believer’s conduct lines up with their confession of faith. And we know that’s true. There are watchers of people of faith. Who knows if they’re intentionally or unintentionally watching anyone who calls themselves a believer, but some notice when a Christian is in or out of line with what they say they believe. But we also have to know that God himself knows all about us. All the good and the bad and the ugly. He knows it all. He sees it all.

Justin Martyr, a Christian apologist from AD155 said that it is for us Christians to offer to all the opportunity of inspecting our life and teachings. That means we can’t rely on our own understanding, but we must trust in the Lord. We aren’t reliable when left to our own devices. We’re easily swayed by the ideas and opinions of others who seem confident in their own beliefs. We can be easily misguided if we’re not careful of who we’re following or listening to. Whether it’s the pastor of the latest megachurch. Or the best selling author. Or the most downloaded podcaster. Or the slickest politician. Or the newest spiritual fad. We can’t just trust every word we hear from those we listen to. We must do our own study and research. And most importantly, we must study to show ourselves approved when it comes to living out our faith.

Oh sure. Others will be watching to see how we live out our faith. But our Heavenly Father is watching always and forever. We can’t escape his eye or his knowledge of our ways. So, more importantly than doing the “right thing” for others to see, we must most importantly do the “biblical thing” as God directs us. And in order for us to know the biblical thing to do, we must read the Bible. We must study God’s word so we know exactly what God requires of us.

I recently read that, as believers, we shouldn’t have to ask God to guide us because He is automatically guiding those who have put their faith in him. But we must know the truths that he has put in place for his followers. We must be prepared to act on the trust we say we have in Him when push comes to shove. We can’t depend on our own understanding, our own interpretation of right and wrong, when we’re in the fire. We can be wishy washy. Untrustworthy. Unless our complete trust is in God, we may lean on our own misguided ideas.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

The question is. Do we really trust Jesus? As believers, do we put our entire trust in Him for every aspect of our lives? If not, what are we holding onto for our own personal purposes? What part of our lives do we trust ourselves with more than we trust God? Are our ways higher than God’s ways? The Bible would say definitely not. So, why do we think we know better than God?

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9

We’ve heard the famous saying “come as you are” when we come to Jesus. We’re told we don’t have to pretty up our behavior. We can come to Him asking for forgiveness with all the ugliness and awfulness of our lives in tow. But does Jesus really say that in the Bible? Actually, there’s no Bible verse that says those specific words, but Jesus does accept us as we are when we come to him in genuine repentance. We don’t have to change before we seek his forgiveness. But the thing is. We can’t stay as we are. We must change after we have asked him to forgive our sins. If we say that Jesus is Lord of our lives, then we must live as if what we said was true. We must live in accordance with our repentance and confession of faith. Otherwise, we are lying not only to ourselves but to the world and to God himself.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

So. If we say Jesus is Lord of our lives, then we have to trust Him. Oh. It’s a daily dying to ourselves and laying down our faith in ourselves. We must daily hand over our own desires and leanings to Jesus Christ. We must allow our will to be bent to line up with the teachings of our Savior. We aren’t better than Him. As ones who say we have bowed our wills to Him, we must then bow daily to His will. We must honor him not only with our lips, but also with our hearts and actions. How can we say we follow our Lord and Savior if we neglect His teachings and corrections? How can we say we’re His followers if we continually disobey and dishonor Him? Who do we think we are?

And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. Isaiah 29:13

Stepping Out of the Fire

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Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego defied King Nebuchadnezzar’s order. They refused to bow to an idol that he insisted everyone bow to. They stood straight and tall and did not submit to a command to worship a false god. Oh. Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He had his men raise the heat in the furnace. And then he had these three faithful followers of God thrown into that unbearably hot fire. The heat killed the soldiers who threw them into the furnace, but soon Nebuchadnezzar saw not only those three but a fourth person walking around in the fiery pit. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego survived the death sentence.

These three young men had made a decision that they would rather suffer than sin. They knew they must not do evil so that good would come to them. Oh. It might have seemed like a fine line they were crossing, but they knew that to bow with the knee even though their hearts weren’t bent was too big of an ask. So they refused. They wanted to stand before God with pure hearts and clear consciences.

Walking through the fire is not for sissies.

This wasn’t the first time they chose not to defile their bodies. Early on in their captivity, they were among an elite group of young men selected for a rigorous training program for royal servants. And they were given food and drink that would have defiled their Jewish diet. They refused and were granted a reprieve and given appropriate foods. Now here they were being asked to bow to another god. They weren’t being asked to give up their God. All they had to do was just bow their knee. Just for a second or two. They couldn’t do it. Imagine the searing guilt on their consciences if they had just bowed. It would have been a quick and easy thing to do. Just dip the knee and stay out of trouble. But they knew in their hearts it was wrong So they said no.

You can read the story of these 3 brave young men in Daniel 3.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord , your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:2-3

If you’ve read the story of these three guys, you’ll notice that when they walked out of the fire they were inspected closely by those who had watched their fiery trial. There was no smoke damage. No singed hair. No ashes. No scorched clothes. In fact, they were still fully clothed. The fire had not damaged them at all. Because with the fourth person in the fire with them, not only were they surrounded by flames but they were surrounded by the presence of God. An angel of the Lord was in the midst of the fire with them.

Oh. The cords that were wrapped around these men were burned off. But the clothes on their backs didn’t even smell of smoke. Isn’t it odd that the things that were binding them were removed during the fire, and the items of clothing that protected their dignity weren’t touched by the flames? Or, is it odd? The God of the universe is much more powerful than we give him credit for. He allows what he allows, and he forbids what he forbids. Only he has full control. Oh. Mankind likes to manipulate events to their own advantage, but God is still in control.

Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! Daniel 3:26-27

What do you look like when you walk out of the fire? Are your clothes scorched? Is your hair singed? Do you smell of smoke? Does a pile of ash drop to the floor? Do you appear as damaged goods for having suffered for Christ? Are you angry? Are you insulted? Or, do you praise God that he was walking with you every step of the way? Do you thank God for the lessons learned as you were engulfed in flames?

Once out of the fire, we must realize the power that God has over even the worst moments of our lives. When we suffer for Christ, he is with us in those moments of crisis. He does not leave us to walk alone.

When we step out of the fire, our witness is on display for the world to see. And what do others see? They may know we have just come from the fire, but they will be watching our witness of God’s goodness and grace. They will want to know if we walk our talk. Even King Nebuchadnezzar praised God when he saw the three men totally uninjured from the fire. When he commanded them to walk out of the furnace, he saw a miracle appear before him. And he praised the God of these three men. He knew he was an eyewitness to the great power of the God of the Universe, and he gave God all the praise and glory.

We never know who our example of faithfulness and obedience to God will influence. We don’t know who’s watching, but we better believe that someone is. And they will note our obedience or lack of it. And then some will be influenced to follow our lead, regardless of whether we’ve obeyed God or not. Let’s be faithful to the God who has orchestrated every second of our lives, even those that are a fiery furnace experience.

Where Do You Get Your Confidence

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Sennacherib, the king of Assyria had threatened the nation of Judah. His plan was to attack and capture the city, much as he had done to many other neighboring enemies. His tactics for conquering the city were intimidation and threats. He knew that the other nations who had surrendered to defeat did not have gods that would work for them and against him. He knew their gods had no power. But he had heard of the great God of Judah. He had heard the stories of triumph and success that came with this mighty nation he now wanted as his own. So he had to use intimidation to make the people cower to his words of coercion.

Sennacherib had come for the country of Judah. He attacked and conquered their fortified cities. And, of course, King Hezekiah was very concerned. He had tried to align himself with the Assyrian king giving him all the Temple gold and silver. He thought it a better decision to pay off this evil king and become his subject rather than trusting in God. But Sennacherib wanted more. He wasn’t satisfied with just silver and gold. This payment only emboldened Sennacherib against Judah.

Sennacherib asked Hezekiah what he was trusting in that made him so confident. And honestly. Hezekiah was trusting in an alliance with Egypt rather than trusting in God. He got caught up in man’s assurances rather than God’s, and it could have cost him everything if he hadn’t set himself back on the path of following God’s leading.

Sennacherib threatened the people and tried to bribe them into following him. He belittled them. He tried to plant doubt in the people’s minds about their king and revolt against him. He reminded them of all the victories the great army of Assyria had accomplished in defeating the surrounding nations. And he reminded them that the gods of those nations couldn’t save their people. So how could the God of Judah stand a chance?

The king of Assyria knew that Hezekiah, the king of Judah, had destroyed all the shrines and altars to false gods. He insinuated that Hezekiah’s act of removing shrines so the people could only worship in Jerusalem was the wrong thing to do. He pitted the false gods of Assyria against the One True God of Judah. The one good thing that Hezekiah had done was remove the altars to idols. And he took advantage of Sennacherib’s false insinuations, because Sennacherib tried to use his lies against God and Hezekiah. He insulted God. He told the people of Judah that the God of Hezekiah would not be able to stand against him, just as the gods of all the other countries he captured couldn’t. He was bold in his assertions and assumptions of victory because he didn’t know the strength and power of the God of Hezekiah.

Oh sure. The king of Assyria intentionally put fear in the hearts of the people. He told them that Hezekiah would try to deceive them, all the while saying deceptive words himself. He knew if he could get them to cower before him that he would have subjects who would serve him. He and his men threw insult after insult upon Hezekiah to make the people of Judah wary of anything Hezekiah told them. He planted doubt in their minds. He wanted to terrorize the people so the act of capturing the city would be much easier than facing a slew of strong courageous fighters. He wanted weaklings who could be controlled.

Sure. The people were discouraged and shaken to the bone. They knew Sennacherib and his men had a history of torturing and abusing their captives. They knew he meant every word he said, even though his words were lies. When a tyrant or dictator gains power, he is never willing to relinquish it. He will do whatever it takes to maintain control over his subjects. And Hezekiah and his people had heard the stories of the horrible mistreatment of Sennacherib’s political enemies.

When Hezekiah’s men returned to the palace to present this awful message to the king, the king of Judah knew they were in big trouble. Changes had to be made. And the first change he made was a change of heart about God. He knew the God who could calm a raging storm could also part the seas. He knew God was a God of miracles, and that’s exactly what they needed. He sent one of his men to the prophet Isaiah to hear a word from God.

And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the Lord : “O Lord , God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O Lord , and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord , and see! Listen to Sennacherib’s words of defiance against the living God. “It is true, Lord , that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands. Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you alone, O Lord , are God.” 2 Kings 19:15-19

Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave Hezekiah a promising message of assurance that Assyria would not enter their city. God would defend and protect his people. The city was spared from the Assyrians.

You can read the full story at 2 Kings 18-19.

What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? 2 Kings 18:19

We have much to learn from the story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. Two strong kings, both following different paths of leadership, clash in their beliefs and leadership styles. One is on a path of obeying God and the other is headed down the path of destruction and futility. One might wonder which leader will triumph, but the real hero of the story is God. The sovereign, omniscient God of the universe who sets the course of all men, knew exactly how to handle this rogue, manipulative king of Assyria.

God knew Hezekiah could have chosen the alliance with Egypt, which wouldn’t have honored God. But Hezekiah saw the writing on the wall, and he turned his confidence over to God’s power to fight his battles.

Satan will often attack us just as Sennacherib’s words attacked Hezekiah when he asked what he was trusting in. If our complete trust isn’t in God, what are we trusting in?

We must be prepared to be criticized, because our behavior is determined by facts which the princes of this world know not. (Meyer)

God is an ever-present help in times of trouble. We don’t need to feel discouraged or anxious because his will is perfect. He has ordained every step of our days, and he will guide us through each heartbreak, uncertainty, and dark day that we face. Each of our anxious thoughts are covered by him. We are not alone. We are never alone with God as our guide. That knowledge gives us the courage to get out of bed each morning and face the day with full confidence that we are surrounded by God’s army.

Just as Hezekiah prayed a mighty prayer of faith, we too have that same pipeline to God. We must know that every prayer of our heart goes straight to God’s ears. He hears our cries for help and repentance. The call to humbly present our requests to God is great because of his sovereignty. God deserves our respect and worship. He leaves nothing to chance. He is ready and able to do the impossible if we ask. As the nation of Judah placed their total dependence on God, so too must we.

Christian Obligation

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King Saul. Oh. He was the first king of Israel, and he was a complicated man. He never asked to be king, but he was chosen by God to serve his nation. He didn’t know how to be a king. And he blew it big time. He blew it so bad that God instructed the prophet Samuel to tell him that the kingdom would be taken from his family. None of his sons or anyone in his family line would ever be king of Israel. A different family line would be placed on the throne after Saul. What a blow to an arrogant man’s ego.

Saul didn’t start out in a royal kind of life. He was from the smallest family of the smallest tribe of Israel. He seemed to start out on the right foot in his kingly life, but things went downhill. He had great military success. Wherever he turned, he was victorious in battle because God was on his side. After all, God chose him out of all the other Jewish men to lead the nation. But Saul got ahead of himself. He didn’t remain faithful to God and refused to obey his commands. God rejected Saul and was sorry he had made him king.

In one particular battle, God commanded Saul through the prophet Samuel to kill every living being. This meant every man, woman, child and animal should be wiped out. This may sound like a harsh command, but God knew that anyone from the opposing side who was allowed to live was a threat to his people. But Saul decided to keep some of the best animals for himself, and he captured the opposing king and let him live. Oh. Saul defeated the other king’s army and slaughtered everyone and everything else, but he didn’t fully obey God.

Samuel stopped by to check in with Saul. Saul greeted him with open arms and proclaimed that he had carried out the Lord’s command. But Samuel asked why he could hear animals. Oh. Saul said. We saved some of the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord. And then Samuel laid him out right there. He told Saul that because of his disobedience, God had removed his blessing from Saul. But Saul insisted that he had obeyed God. Samuel said no. Obedience is better than burnt offerings and sacrifice. He told Saul that rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness is as bad as worshiping idols.

You can read this story in 1 Samuel 15.

Saul’s disobedience cost him and his family the royal throne. While Saul thought that partial obedience was obedience, it really wasn’t. It cost him his soul. His obligation was to fully obey God to the fullest extent. And he didn’t. He had a rebellious streak that he pitted against God. Rebelling against God is never a winning strategy.

What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? Psalms 116:12

If we call ourselves a Christian, we have certain obligations. Oh. We may not like to hear that, but hear me out. To call oneself a Christian means that we have confessed our sins to God and repented of them. We turn our back on sinning and begin to walk in the teachings of Christ. We are Christ followers. And what Jesus Christ did for us before we confessed our sins was to die on the cross. He did that willingly and in accordance with God’s plan. Because once Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden, God offered a plan of redemption so we wouldn’t be doomed to hell for eternity. He offered us a way out of living in sin. And when we are forgiven, we are freed from our past. We can live forgiven, and we are no longer under a death sentence.

But is a free gift really free? The gift of salvation came with a huge price. Jesus died for everyone else’s salvation, so no one else would have to die. Christian faith costs something when we pick up our cross and follow Christ. The cross represented suffering, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Anyone flippant about Christianity isn’t serious about their faith.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24

Some may think Jesus is cool without ever taking their beliefs into consideration. Being a Christian doesn’t mean we have to be cool. Because very often, the Christian will be on the low end of the coolness meter, according to those on the other side of the fence. Christians don’t need to be cool. They need to be humble. Humility is a symbol of bowing to one’s own desires and submitting to the will of our heavenly Father. Obedience to the Father’s will is liberating.

We want to learn from Saul’s lesson of disobedience. Partial obedience is not obedience. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t just obey God fully when it pleases us and then turn around and partially obey. Dying to ourselves requires full surrender to God’s will and commands.

Religion is not a warm electric blanket, it’s the cross, and the cross holds the suffering of the world. This is a very profound symbol of human suffering and failure of community, that they can be presented with the child of God and crucify him. We live in a fallen world. To make it all nice and to make it all warm and fuzzy, you’re not really talking about faith.

Ethan Hawke

When Christianity Isn’t Christianity

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On the front sleeve of Yoram Hazony’s book “Conservatism”, we’re told that he shows in the book “that by identifying conservativism with ‘classical’ liberalism, conservatives embraced the very principles that led to their defeat”. He said “the survival of Western democracy requires a revival of the centuries-old legal, religious, and cultural traditions that made Britain and America models of national freedom for the entire world.” 

The same principle can used for describing Christianity today. If we say we’re Christians, then we must embrace the very principles that are in the Bible. If we want to see the survival of historical Christianity, then we need a revival of our hearts. When Christianity embraces the same principles as the non-Christian world, Christianity will face defeat. Perhaps not total defeat, for there will always be a remnant of faithful followers of Christ. But defeat, nonetheless, as it relates to being light in a dark world. Individual souls will face defeat when faced with God’s judgment.

When we identify Christianity as synonymous with today’s culture, something is wrong. It just doesn’t work. Christians should be identified by how they are not like the culture. Oh. Perhaps not in every way or in everything. But when it comes to the cultural lies that we all face, we know what we’re talking about without actually saying it. When Christians buy into the fact that they can live their lives the same as their unbelieving friends and still call themselves Christians, who are they really fooling?

Basic truth I wish every Christian realized: Silence in exchange for cultural respect is a deal with the devil.

Natasha Crain

The Greek empire was split into four kingdoms after the death of Alexander the Great. One of the four major players was a man named Antiochus Epiphanes, who was one tough cookie. He was out for blood. In particular, he was out for the blood of the Jews. He had conquered all the countries that surrounded Israel, and he had his sight set on Israel. His goal was to make himself the god they worshipped and bowed to. The problem was that they feared God more than they feared this man, so they didn’t follow his lead. And he made them pay for their disobedience. 

But there were others in the Jewish community who were in awe of the Greek culture and lifestyle. It was attractive, less restrictive and made fewer moral demands on them. It was an easier lifestyle. It seemed. They could throw caution to the wind and indulge their whims and desires. It felt as if they were finally free. So they indulged themselves in this newfound freedom. They gave up their faith for a lesser known religion of self-indulgence. They abandoned God and regarded man as their authority.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

The same scenario is playing out before our eyes today. People call themselves Christians, yet they’ve abandoned God. They stand for nothing vaguely similar to Christianity. Their knowledge of the Bible is limited, and their church attendance is nonexistent. Yet they say they’re Christians.

Oh. This is a controversial topic. Calling yourself a Christian without fully knowing what being a Christian is all about. It’s an easy label to slap on your sleeve. And then change nothing else in your life. When someone says they’re a Christian but still follow unchristian ways, are they really a Christian? Are they a born again Christian? It’s not my place to say. I’m not the Holy God, the Judge of the ages. But the definition of a Christian is one who has repented of their sins and is committed to following Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They’ve died to their own desires and live totally surrendered to God.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:12-14

We have to make a conscious choice not to make evil good. We must live biblically when we call ourselves Christians. Otherwise, what are we? When we become a Christian, we are, in essence, taking up the cross of Christ. We are wearing the blood stripes on our back. We have nail prints on our hands. Our side has been cut open and bodily fluids have been drained. We have died to ourselves. So there must be a change in us. We can no longer bow to the whims of soft Christianity. There is a price we pay to be an authentic Christian.

If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead.

William Law

In Leviticus 10:10, Moses instructed the priests and the general population how to be set apart for God. He said they must know what is holy and what is common. They must be able to distinguish right from wrong. The same goes for Christians today. We must be set apart in our actions and responses to a culture that ignores God.

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:22-24

You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Out of Stock

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It was eleven thirty in the morning. The restaurant had only been open for thirty minutes. I ordered a baked potato. The server said they were out of potatoes. So I kindly asked how they could be out of potatoes when they had only been open for thirty minutes. She said the potatoes had been a popular item the evening before.

This wasn’t the first time I had encountered this issue at this particular restaurant. A time before, the out of stock item was brussels sprouts. I thought then that it must have been a one-time event, but now I’ve concluded that the manager doesn’t prepare for busy weekend diners. They don’t plan far enough in advance for popular menu items. And I’m assuming that food deliveries aren’t made on weekends. So, I knew I wouldn’t be the only customer to face a lack of potatoes since it was early in the day. First world problem. I know.

Perhaps, the manager sees their management style as one of good stewardship. They don’t want to over plan and then have potatoes growing eyes. But really. It’s a restaurant. They’re open seven days a week. People order baked potatoes all the time. So, what this manager may see as good stewardship, the disappointed customer sees as poor management. The customer isn’t satisfied. They see poor planning and lack of concern for the customer’s satisfaction. Doesn’t the manager know that disappointed customers may choose not to return? And they most definitely will tell others about the lack of popular items. It doesn’t seem to be a win/win situation in the eyes of the disappointed customer.

I’ve heard that the customer is always right. So, is that really true? Is there ever a time when the customer is flat out wrong? I know. It depends on the situation.

Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:21

As another story goes, there were ten virgins heading to a wedding. The bridegroom was delayed, so these ten fell asleep. They awoke to the sounds that the bridegroom was on his way. Five of the virgins had thought ahead and brought extra oil for their lamps. The other five did not, and they asked for the others to share. The five with extra oil said no. If they shared, then they too would run out before the bridegroom arrived. So they trimmed their lamps and headed out to the party. The other five had to run back into town and get more. As they were getting their supply of oil, the bridegroom arrived and they weren’t at the meeting spot. Once the door to the party was shut, no one else was permitted to enter. When the last five virgins arrived, they weren’t allowed entry. They were too late. They were left standing outside while the party carried on indoors.

You can read the story of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.

You may wonder how baked potatoes and virgins are related. Well. They aren’t. But the moral of the story is preparation. The manager of the store needs to be prepared to serve any item on the menu at all times. Lack of planning on his part should not constitute an emergency for anyone else. But it does. And angry customers may never return. The situation is easily avoidable.

The virgins in the story are another matter. Half of them planned for waiting an extended period of time, and the other half did not. Those who were prepared were rewarded for their faithfulness in planning. They were allowed to celebrate with the bridegroom. The others were left behind. They could not and would not be allowed entry, regardless of having received an invitation.

As believers, we must prepare for our eternal meeting with Christ. We must repent of our sins. But then the work to become more Christlike begins. And that work is ongoing. Until we breathe our last breath, we must pursue a deepening relationship with Christ. Our walk must match our talk. If we say we’re Christians and are following Christ, then our actions must line up with our words. If we say we believe the Bible, are we living like the Bible tells us to? We can’t talk out of both sides of our mouth. Sounding Christian while we’re at church and then acting like the devil the rest of the week doesn’t work with God. We must be prepared at all times to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is our Bridegroom. If we aren’t prepared to meet him, he may come to take us to our eternal home and we’ll miss it.

Oh. The Bible tells us that the gate to heaven is narrow, but the gate to hell is wide. We need to make sure we’re heading toward the narrow gate, for it is the gate to eternal life. We can’t allow ourselves to be fooled by following the large crowd walking the wide path, for we may find ourselves on a path straight to hell and wonder how we missed heaven.

You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14

The Chosen

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I’ve begun watching the third season of The Chosen. I’ve already watched the first two seasons, so I thought I might as well see the next one. Just so you know. I’m not a fan of the series. I believe too many non-biblical liberties have been taken with the script. I also know that, in order to create a complete story, unknown elements must be added. Conversations and scenarios must be created. Unknown personalities must become known. My concern with the series is the unnecessary interpretation of events. I take issue with additions that distort the truth of the biblical stories. But those issues are for another day.

I have, however, been pleasantly surprised with some scenes in this third season that cause my imagination to take over. I wonder how I would respond if I were in the same situation as these twelve disciples. I wonder if I would be gracious or anxious. Would I become angry or repentant if I didn’t find the healing I wanted or needed when I saw others being healed? Would I be willing to leave family and home for weeks on end to tell a new story of the Promised Messiah I was now following? Would I be willing to risk everything, even my life, for a message many didn’t understand or want to hear?

The scenes that most take me by surprise are the ones where the twelve disciples are learning to really trust who Jesus says he is. They’ve said they will follow him. And then he commissions them to go out into different towns and villages two by two to share his message. He gives them the power to heal and perform miracles. He gives them the authority to cast out demons. And then they’re just supposed to go do it. And they know they’re only human. How can they heal sick people? And how can they perform miracles similar to what they see of Jesus? Who does he think they are? After all. They’re a gnarly group from different walks of life. Several were fishermen. One a tax collector. One a nationalist. Another would become a traitor. They weren’t best friends, yet together they forged a lifelong commitment to a cause that would disrupt the entire world for all times.

Imagine the humanity in these men as they performed their first miracles. The shock and awe that they had the same power that Jesus had when they see the person in front of them healed of an ailment. Deaf men hear. Blind people see. And when Jesus walked on the water to them as they were rowing in the nighttime storm, they knew he wasn’t a ghost. But how could he walk on water in the middle of a storm in the dark of night? How much trust and faith did it actually take to follow the Messiah in person? To talk with him face to face. To walk the dusty roads with him. To break bread with him. It was unusual, to say the least. Never had such a person walked the face of the earth. And never again would someone of his caliber come to earth.

Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

When they sat with the crowd of five thousand listening to Jesus preach, they knew everyone had traveled a long way. No one had thought to bring lunch. And they sat listening to the Messiah speak for hours on end. Stomachs growled. People became restless. One small boy had brought his lunch. Five loaves of barley bread and two small fish. Hardly enough to feed such a large crowd of people. But Jesus blessed the food, and something amazing happened as the twelve began to distribute it. Everyone was fed and twelve baskets of food were left over. The disciples were in as much amazement as the crowd. And by the way. Where did the baskets come from?

Something much bigger than man was happening in the lives of those who followed the Messiah. They had personal contact with the Son of God. They ate with him. They traveled with him. They talked with him. They knew him personally, yet there was much they didn’t know or understand. He seemed to speak in riddles. He showed kindness to those who were unkind. He meted out words of anger and judgment to those desecrating the Temple. He knew information about people before he ever met them.

These twelve men were to share the news of this man’s message throughout the world. And they did so willingly. Oh. It was at a cost. They had to leave family behind. They were instructed not to carry extra clothes or food with them. They weren’t always welcomed in the towns they visited. But they went anyway.

One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick. Luke 9:1-6

I wonder. If I had lived during the time Jesus lived on earth, would I have eagerly listened to his message? Would I have believed that he was the Promised Messiah? Would I have accepted the call to follow him? Would I have agreed to tell others a new message that stood in contrast to the Jewish laws of the day? Would I have been willing to risk my life for him?

The question is. Am I willing to do the same today?

A Long Obedience

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When Daniel was a teenager, he was captured from his home in Jerusalem and taken to Babylon. There he spent three years being indoctrinated into the Babylonian culture, religions and traditions. He was then chosen to serve as a wise man in the royal court of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was a Jew. He was raised in a country that had rejected God, yet he was taught that God was the God of his people. Even though the king of his homeland had rejected God, there remained a faithful remnant in the land. Yet, that didn’t keep the followers of God safe from their enemy. Daniel became a prisoner of war. He wasn’t free to leave Babylon and go home to Jerusalem. He never returned home and was to be an exile for the rest of his life. Some would think he never reached his full potential living in a foreign land.

Daniel now lived in a heathen country that did not recognize God as the One True God. The Babylonians worshipped many gods. When he had been taken captive, the king had even changed Daniel’s name to Belteshazzar. His new name was the name of one of Nebuchadnezzar’s gods. The name Daniel means “God is my judge.” The god Bel was a powerless Babylonian god, while the God of Israel was the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The God of the Israelites was and still is living and breathing. He was and still is capable of hearing prayers and answering them. He is most powerful. Daniel knew this and never forgot it.

Daniel held true to his faith for his entire life. He gained solid teaching in his childhood while still in Jerusalem. Even though his native country had turned from serving God, someone taught him the Holy Scriptures that had been passed down for generations. He had learned to pray, and he knew prayer was a valuable lifeline. Perhaps it was his father who had taught him the Scriptures by rote repetition. Or perhaps, the young Jewish boys of his day were still taught the Torah, even though their nation’s leaders lived in direct opposition to God’s commands. Regardless of how he learned of God and to trust in him, he learned that lesson. And he learned it well. It was the most valuable possession he took with him as he was forced to travel the long journey from home to the foreign nation of Babylon. Little did he know just how much he would have to rely on God as his only source of strength and comfort for the remainder of his life.

But now. Roughly thirty years later, he finds himself called for an audience with the king. He now stood awaiting the king’s request. Once again, he had been asked to interpret another one of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. All the other wise men stood in front of the king, yet not one of them could provide the meaning of this disturbing dream. And after all this time, Nebuchadnezzar was visibly relieved when Daniel walked through the door. He trusted Daniel and knew that Daniel would be able to interpret his dream. Why didn’t he just call for Daniel first thing, instead of bringing in all the other wise men?

The story of Daniel doesn’t allow us to witness Daniel’s faithfulness to God or even to his employer on a day-by-day or year-by-year basis. Yet this story shows us that as Daniel grew into a man who was now in his forties, his faith in God was deeper and stronger than it had been when he walked the path as a prisoner so many years earlier. He had learned that even when facing possible death, God was on his side. God was with him in those dark moments. And yet. He didn’t know what other trials were ahead. He faced the perils of living in a heathen culture all the while keeping his faith in God strong. He didn’t let the temptations and threats of the surrounding culture determine his faith. Those temptations and threats strengthened his resolve to obey God regardless of what he faced. He was immersed in an environment that bowed to many manmade gods, yet he didn’t bow a knee to them. Not once. He was determined to not let anything defile his relationship with God.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Nebuchadnezzar was a religious man. He worshipped many gods. Yet his gods couldn’t help him in his times of deepest need. They never came through for him. But he trusted Daniel. And he knew that Daniel didn’t worship his gods. Daniel worshipped the One True God, the living God. Nebuchadnezzar respected him for his faithfulness to his faith, yet he never demanded that Daniel turn against God. Nebuchadnezzar realized he relied on Daniel’s God because he had seen his hand working in Daniel’s life. And he had also experienced the work of God in his own life. Yet he still refused to worship God. He only acknowledged God’s existence and power. He was full of pride and refused to bow to God.

Daniel’s allegiance to God never wavered during these thirty years serving a king who continually mocked God. There’s much we don’t know of those years between the king’s two dreams, yet we do know that on a daily basis Daniel stood fast in his devotion to God. If not, he wouldn’t have been faithful when a temptation or threat popped up. His faith was steadfast. It had been cultivated in hard times and nothing could deter him from it.

You can read this part of Daniel’s story in Daniel 4:4-18.

As believers in a hostile, heathen culture today, we are faced with temptations and threats we never thought possible. Yet here we are. We must do the hard work of studying God’s word and spending time in prayer so we are prepared for the challenges that we will face. We may not be called on to interpret a dream or bow to a foreign god. But we may be asked to call someone by a different pronoun. Or we may be mandated to perform tasks at work that go against our beliefs. We may be asked to bow a knee to an ideology that is in direct contradiction to God’s Word. We may be asked to say words we don’t believe. We may be required to sit through mandatory indoctrination of secular philosophies that are unbiblical. If we don’t know God’s Word. If we don’t spend time in prayer now. How will we be ready to face the fight when we’re suddenly in it? It could happen at any time.

Oh. It was thirty years in the making for Daniel. What he didn’t know was that he still had forty more years to go. His battles of working in a heathen environment never changed. His entire career was spent working in a situation that went directly against his beliefs. And yet he had a great reputation. His work was impeccable and he was favored by the king. Sure. The kings changed over time. The players in the king’s court changed. And some of the rules even changed. Yet Daniel’s faith and commitment to his God remained unchanged. Even during the darkest trials.

For his entire career, Daniel worked in a hostile environment. He didn’t know from one day to the next whether he life would be on the line. Sure. He had developed a relationship with the king. But kings can be fickle. And it wasn’t like Daniel could find another more suitable job. Where do you go after working for a hostile foreign king? If Daniel could work in a hostile environment for so many years and remain faithful to God, why can’t we? We wonder today if we should work only for companies that support our values. But Daniel didn’t have a choice and he was able to remain faithful to his God. We can’t always run from the situation we find ourselves in. Sometimes the only choice is to stay and stand strong amidst the daily rebukes thrown at us. When someone calls us horrible names, we can stand strong knowing who knows our true name and calls us by it. Remember. God is with us.

We may not have a choice but to remain in difficult situations. God may even require us to stay. We don’t know what lies ahead for any of us. What we do know is that if God is with us, those against us will not win in the end. We must keep our eye on our eternal prize. Not on an easy life on this earth. As followers of Christ, we aren’t called to an easy life. We’re not called to conform to current cultural trends. We’re called to be faithful and obedient to God. And the Bible clearly tells us that we will face suffering.

Let’s learn to be like Daniel. We must choose to be in the fight for our faith over the long haul. It isn’t a short-term commitment. It is a lifetime of choice. A lifetime of choosing to live in direct obedience to God’s will. To stand for God’s will and no one else’s. Let’s make the commitment. Let’s strengthen our faith and stand strong from this day forward. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.