Newness of Life

Today, we celebrate the greatest moment in time: Christ’s resurrection. What seemed dead and hopeless on the cross became our salvation when He defeated death once and for all. We await our eternity with Him because of what we celebrate today. We are blessed to have His truth in the written Word, but God has placed His truth in His creation as well (Romans 1:20). What seemed dead just a season ago has come to life again, bringing joy in its beauty and fruit. In our own seasons of life, we experience both pain in suffering and joy in blessing. We serve a King who understands what it means to live a human life. He comforts us in our sorrow and rejoices in our choices to produce fruit. He is patient and willing to forgive when we’ve sinned against Him, and He is willing to discipline us to shape us to become more like Him, bearing fruit for the kingdom of God.

As I walked around my home and took time to enjoy God’s creation, I was amazed at the details He made in each plant and creature. No matter how many years I see the process, it never gets old. The wind blew strong at times, but if the roots were strong, the plant could withstand it. Yet in the distance, I could hear a crack in the woods, resulting in a dead tree laying across the path. Death and life portrayed in one moment. It left me to ponder who I will choose to be. Will I let myself die spiritually and be uprooted? Or will I be willing to face what life has to offer and bear fruit even through the strongest of storms? I serve a Savior who went through it all, and the Father raised Him back to life. No matter what I go through, if my trust is in Him as Jesus’ was, what do I have to fear?

I’m thankful that the Lord has given me a joy for His creation because it has taught me–and continues to teach me–so much. I’m also thankful to be inspired by His Word of truth to write poems and songs that I pray will bring honor and glory to Him.

Here are some poems turned into songs to celebrate seasons of life and Christ’s sacrifice for our sins:

Beauty in His Blood

Seasons Change

Love Divine

Here are some pictures from my nature walk around the house and in the garden 🙂 Hope you enjoy them and that they remind you of the newness of life we have in Christ.

Cluster of blackberry buds getting ready to bloom

Sage with a green garden spiders (these particular spiders love my sage plants)

Wild violet that likes to grow out the sides of my raised beds

Ground ivy in bloom (beautiful design and the leaves smell wonderful when you step on them)

Elderberry clusters growing (transplanted from a nearby ditch within the last couple years- it’s getting huge!)

Unknown nut tree- transplanted from nearby woods, but unsure of type yet

Pecan tree (has yet to produce nuts over the last few years)

Embrace the Spiritual Pollen

I love spring. Everything is green and new. No matter how many times I experience it, I never get tired of seeing the budding, blossoming, and bees buzzing–the world comes to life again. Besides these signs of spring, there’s also another tell. One may even say it’s a nuisance or annoyance. I’m sure you guessed it: pollen. I don’t recall having seasonal allergies until a few years ago. Before that, I never really understood what people were feeling when they experienced them. But last weekend, as I worked in the garden to prepare for planting, I started to feel the symptoms: runny nose, itchy eyes and scratchy throat. The next morning, there was no mistaking the culprit as I looked to see my red car turned yellow.

What’s interesting about pollen is that it’s not actually harmful to us. Rather, some people’s immune systems treat it as a threat, thereby creating antibodies and releasing histamine and other chemicals in their bodies. This is what creates all the nasty symptoms. Since I’ve been gardening I’ve come to realize the importance of pollen, and as I looked at my newly-coated car, I was not annoyed but rather in awe of God and His creation. Pollen is necessary for plant reproduction whether that be for conifers, fruit-bearing plants, or other types. It is an ingredient to grow life, how God made His creation to reproduce after their own kind. We see the clouds of pollen produced by trees that need the wind to help them reproduce. We see the bees carry the pollen from flower to flower and back to their hives, not only helping plants to bear fruit, but they produce food for themselves and for those of us brave enough to get it.

As I thought more about this amazing process, God reminded me of our spiritual growth process as Christians. We have moments, trials, people, and other things in our lives that may seem like a nuisance or an annoyance. We may even fight against what’s happening to us. But what if some of those things are really spiritual pollen–helpful steps on our path to bear fruit? Just like many people’s bodies reject pollen and create a fighting response, sometimes we misunderstand these necessary steps in our lives as being harmful rather than helping us to bear fruit. Discipline is the first thing that comes to mind.

“It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Hebrews 12:7-11 (NASB)

As Christians, we have both the Spirit and flesh warring daily, just like our bodies fighting off the pollen. While I’m not saying that all trials and difficult moments are from God, I believe that many of us recognize the moments where God is stretching and disciplining us in ways that may be uncomfortable or outside of what we want for ourselves. We may receive a nudge in a certain direction and be too afraid to step forward. We may be asked to forgive someone and relinquish bitterness that is hard to let go. We may be told to step out of a relationship that doesn’t honor God. Our goal is to become like Christ and our flesh will not let us do that easily. But thankfully the apostle John reminded us that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). James also encourages believers:

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

When we’re going through something that frustrates, annoys or confuses us, let us ask God first if we’re supposed to fight it, or if He is trying to lead us to a place to bear fruit. If we ask Him in faith, He will let us know. James continues to write in 1:5-8:

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

If we want to take the pollen analogy one step further, we could say that taking an anti-histamine allows our bodies to return to normal, showing us that we really don’t have something harmful in us. But we can’t just take one allergy pill and be fine. Most instructions say to take one pill every 24 hours, which means that it’s a daily medicine for as long as it’s needed. In the same way, God’s truth–His Word–is our anti-histamine, allowing us to see the truth of what’s unfolding around us and in us. It is only His truth that leads us to bear fruit and the process involves some hard decisions, and yes, even trials. Our hope and assurance in making it through is that Christ already paid for us with His life. We just have to be willing to bear with a little pain now to reap the glorious rewards in His eternal kingdom.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9

The next time you step outside and feel those symptoms start to take over your body, remember that it’s part of the process to bear fruit. Ask yourself (maybe after you take an allergy pill to clear your mind 😉 ) if there are areas in your life where God is disciplining you and teaching you so that you can also bear fruit. More importantly, ask God what work He is doing in you and where He desires to lead you. Instead of us letting our flesh dictate our emotional responses, let’s call on the Lord and let His Spirit guide us into wisdom so that we may produce a tremendous harvest for His kingdom.

Delight in the Lord- Psalm 37

I’ve been going through a bit of a trial lately. Without going into too much detail, I’ve basically been accused of willfully and knowingly deceiving a certain group. This came as a shock to me since I was as open and honest as possible with this group of people and always strived to be communicative and compliant with anything asked of me. Not only has it been difficult being called a liar, but there are potential financial ramifications involved. Needless to say, I was a bit stressed, frustrated and angry when this all started. However, I was able to prepare my case and make a defense before my accusers. Then I had to wait for the results. Waiting was the hard part because I kept going over the conversation in my head. Did I say everything I should have? Was my defense strong enough? Then I found out I missed the results letter and had to wait another day to get it. Instead of being patient and trusting the Lord, I let the stress and anger in my flesh come out against those who love me the most. When I confessed my sin and asked for forgiveness, I received this Scripture as a word of encouragement:

“Delight yourself in the Lord;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light

And your judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Cease from anger and forsake wrath;

Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.”

Psalm 37:4-8 (NASB)

While the journey isn’t over with this situation, I needed this reminder that the Lord is just and knows those who are His. Even if I don’t see how things turn out now, I know the end result: the Lord justifies the righteous and punishes the wicked. That truth will never change. My hope and trust should always be in Him no matter what the world tries to do. It is only victorious when I turn away from the Lord and listen to what it says about me. Rather, my focus should be that the Creator of the universe cares so much about me that He knows everything about what I’m going through and what the outcome will be. This Scripture illustrates that my actions ought to be directed towards God, not the world:

I am to delight in Him.

I am to commit my way to Him.

I am to rest in Him.

I am to wait patiently for Him.

He will take care of the rest. It is my human, fleshly nature that wants to control everything about my life, thinking that I know better than the Lord. But in fact, I am one in Spirit with Him (John 17: 20-21; 1 Corinthians 6:17). Isn’t that amazing?! Not only am I made in the image of God, but I have a part of Him IN me as a believer in Christ, as do all of us who have accepted Christ. Paul writes about this in his letters to the churches:

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” Galatians 5:16-17

This battle with our flesh and spirit is real. We all feel it every day. Imagine who we would be individually and as a church if we truly walked by the Spirit, denying our flesh its desires. We will never be perfect until we’re with the Lord, but wow, what an impact we’d have in our families, churches, work places, and anywhere we went! While such a feat feels impossible, the Lord is always with us, and as a Father who loves His children, He desires for us to place our hope, trust and rest in Him.

The Lord knows my situation and yours. Let us pray for one another and encourage one another in the truth of His Word. We are already victorious in Him!

~~~

As a way to help me remember this Scripture, I used AI to help create a song based on Psalm 37 called “Delight in the Lord”: Delight in the Lord

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

“You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly. You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the Lord. You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:15-18 (NASB)

“And a lawyer stood up and put Him (Jesus) to the test, saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ And He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?’ And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And He said to him, ‘You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.’ But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Luke 10:25-29

When I was in college taking courses for my Intercultural Studies degree, the question of “who is my neighbor?” would come up in discussion. Is it my actual neighbor who lives next door? Is it anyone who is poor and in need? Is it a tribe in another part of the world? Often the answer to this question is that our neighbor is one outside the church. However, Scripture teaches the exact opposite. In every context, the Lord is speaking about loving one’s neighbor whether he is a fellow Israelite or one who joined the Israelites (OT), or a fellow brother and sister in Christ once the church was established (NT). People use the parable of the Good Samaritan as an example of one who ministers to anyone in need. But let’s look at the context of that story which follows Jesus’ words to the lawyer who asks, ‘And who is my neighbor’? (Luke 10:29):

“Jesus replied and said, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?’ And he said, ‘The one who showed mercy toward him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’” Luke 10:30-37

The first noteworthy point is that Jesus is speaking to a lawyer, a Jew who understands the Law given by God to Moses. The part of the Law that cites loving your neighbor as yourself is in Leviticus (written above) and specifically addresses their own countryman, or fellow Israelites. This is what the lawyer would have understood. Jesus tells a parable of a man coming down from Jerusalem who is most likely a Jew who may have gone up to make a sacrifice or offering in the temple. On his way to Jericho, he is beaten up by robbers and left for dead. The first two people who see him are a priest and Levite, both well acquainted with the Law and should understand to love their neighbor as themselves. But they don’t. Rather, they walk on the opposite side, perhaps not wanting to be defiled by this man. However, the third man, a Samaritan, viewed as an enemy of the Jews, is the one who not only takes care of his immediate needs, but he even pays for the innkeeper to take care of him. The one who did not understand the Law did the deeds required by the Law (which is reminiscent of Paul’s words about the Gentiles in Romans 2:12-16) whereas the ones who claimed to follow it did not keep the Law. What Jesus is pointing out is that while the lawyer understands the right answer to his question about eternal life, he and others like him are not following the truth. They condemn themselves by being a hearer of the Law but not doers.

Another important point is that the Samaritan wasn’t going out of his way to find someone in need. Rather, when the opportunity presented itself, he chose to act and help. Too often we go out of our way to help others because that is what seems right or what the world tells us to do, but yet, we miss the opportunities right in front of us. Do we take care of our earthly family if possible? Do we take care of the body of Christ? Throughout the entire New Testament (and as we just read the Old Testament too), each letter addresses how we ought to act towards one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Jesus is still under the Law during His earthly ministry, but He does not nullify the Law after resurrection; rather He fulfills it. The motive of the Law- loving God and loving our neighbor- is still front and center in a Christian life. In Romans 13, Paul addresses loving one’s neighbor to the church in Rome who is struggling between what being a Christian looks like for both Jews and Gentiles:

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:8-10

In Romans 14, Paul continues to address this idea of loving one’s neighbor by not being a stumbling block to a brother or sister in Christ. While one’s conscience is clear doing one thing, it may be a sin to someone else. Being a neighbor is being mindful of who you’re around and not intentionally doing something to cause someone else to stumble. Rather, Paul writes in vv. 16-19:

“Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”

In Galatians, Paul addresses the issue of circumcision which was an important issue in the early church because it divided the Jewish and Gentile Christians. While some were still trying to follow the letter of the Law and lead others to do so, Paul addressed that Gentiles were not required to be circumcised in order to be Christians. The motive of those teaching circumcision was out of a fleshly desire to keep following the Law (and not be persecuted by non-Christian Jews- Galatians 5:12) rather than be free in Christ. Therefore, Paul writes:

“For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Galatians 5:13-16

James is even more to the point as he writes to Jewish Christians about how they are to act and treat one another within the body of Christ: “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:21-22). He continues by telling them to show no partiality among believers, namely, giving the rich special attention and treating poor believers dishonorably.

“If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” James 2:8-10

In my life, the book of James has been one that constantly convicts me, especially as James continues to give an example of how to treat our neighbors:

“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:14-17

We like to say nice and encouraging things to one another as Christians. We know the right verses to say and the right tone. But what are we actually doing for one another? Do we know the needs of our brothers and sisters around us? Do we ask? Do we observe? Do we work out our salvation with fear and trembling knowing that the Lord will judge us according to how we judge? Do we think about what we say before we say it? Are our words edifying? Do our actions line up with what we speak?

“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:13-18

James does not mince words. The wisdom of the world consists of jealousy and self ambition, and as James puts it, is demonic. This type of wisdom creates “disorder and every evil thing.” In other words, it is not loving one’s neighbor which requires humility and putting others before ourselves. Look at the adjectives describing godly wisdom: pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, merciful, fruitful, unwavering, without hypocrisy–everything loving one’s neighbor should be. When we struggle with this, we should ask ourselves some questions. Would I want to receive mercy? Do I want to be spoken to with gentleness? Do I want someone to be hypocritical towards me? Do I want peaceful or wrathful discussion? Just by typing these questions I’m already convicted about my own behavior. Too often I act before I think things through, causing problems that could have been avoided. Once they’re out, words can’t be taken back even when people forgive. How often has an angry word split a church or caused strife among the body of Christ? James talks about this too because even in the early church many divisions and arguments arose. Let’s use this as an opportunity to avoid these issues or fix them if they’re already going on:

“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:1-4

When we fight among ourselves in the church, we are acting as the world does. And if we are befriending the world and its wisdom, we make ourselves enemies of God. Simple and to the point. We commit adultery against God because as His bride we are choosing to be betrothed to the world instead of Him when we act like this. Why doesn’t this move us to make change? Why don’t we have fear of the Lord and His judgment? And yes, I mean fear, not simply respect. The One who judges our very soul is telling us to love one another, but what does the world see about Christians? Do they see what Jesus prayed for His disciples (both the Twelve and future disciples) in John 17:22-23?

“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

Our love for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ is supposed to be our testimony to the world. Not how big or small one’s church is. Not charismatic preachers. Not the best worship bands. Not catchy Bible verses used out of context. Not how many mission trips we go on. Not how many services we attend each week. Not how much money we give. If true Christians, united in the essentials of what Christianity should be, actually come together, take care of one another, and live peaceably together, there is no telling how powerful of a testimony that would be to the rest of the world. John writes constantly about loving one another, thus also following Jesus’ words and the motive of the Law:

“The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:9-11

Again, the context here is about a brother (or sister) in Christ. He continues in vv. 14-17:

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

Scripture is black and white. We either love God or the world. If we love God, our actions (not just words) will show it. If we love the world, our fruit will be obvious, as Paul writes in Galatians 5:19-26:

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”

Loving our neighbor as ourselves begins in the church. If we can’t get the house of God in order, how do we expect the world, which is Satan’s domain, to come to know the Lord? To be as blunt as Jesus, Paul, James and John, as the church we have committed adultery against the Lord God just like ancient Israel did. But it isn’t too late. The grace and mercy of God allows us to approach His throne in repentance and ask for help:

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Change begins with our repentance: “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). We have the Word of God. We’ve heard it, read it, and confessed it; therefore, we are all accountable for its truth. We have no excuse. Will we love one another as the Lord God has instructed since creation? We will be the light we are called to be?

~~~

Father, forgive me for acting with worldly wisdom rather than Your wisdom. Help me to love my neighbor as You commanded, building up Your body in love and truth, meeting needs where You present opportunity. Help us as the church to be a light to this world by the love we show one another. Convict our hearts and remind us that fearing You and You alone is the beginning of wisdom. Thank you for the mercy and grace You show us each day and that we can approach You for forgiveness and help. May we desire to follow Your will and crucify our flesh from what it desires. May You be glorified above all things. Amen.

I Am a Christian

“For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” John 17:19-23 (NASB)

I always love reading this passage in John which recalls part of Jesus’ prayer to the Father the night before His crucifixion. In those moments, He not only prayed for the cup to be removed from Him, yet the Lord’s will be done (Matt. 26:39, 42, 44), but He also prayed for His disciples, both those with Him then and for those who will become disciples. I believe that He, being God, knew what would happen with the church: division, arguments, dissension, differing teachings, etc; therefore, He prayed for unity among the disciples. More specifically, He prayed for such a unity that exists between Him and the Father with a significant result in mind: that the world would know Jesus Christ and the Father’s love for all mankind. The unity in the body is meant to be a testimony of God’s love and sacrifice.

Yet, not long after Jesus ascended, disagreements arose between Jews and Gentiles regarding salvation and who was a follower of whom. It wasn’t until Peter’s vision in Acts 10 and the salvation of Cornelius’s family that the church realized that “God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). Paul and Barnabas also met resistance from the Jews on their first missionary journey together, responding to their jealous and blasphemous words, “‘It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the LORD commanded us, ‘I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, that You may bring them salvation to the end of the earth.’’’ These words not only reflect Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah 49 but also Jesus’ words in John 10:16: “‘I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.’” Going even further back to the promise given to Abraham, the Lord always intended for the Gentiles to receive salvation: “‘And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed’” (Genesis 12:3). God made His intentions clear from the beginning, but sin, historical animosity and cultural norms and practices crept in to create division. Luckily, those whom the Lord put in charge were able to see the truth when the Lord revealed it to them. Guidelines were given to all the churches regarding what should and should not be imposed upon the Gentiles (Acts 15:28-29).

Then Paul had to address some issues that had arisen in the Corinthian church (and was perhaps happening elsewhere since letters were shared amongst the churches). He writes in 1 Corinthians 3:1-7:

“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.”

In our modern culture, we could easily understand this verse when we say, “I am of Augustine” or “I am of Calvin” of “I am of Luther” or “I am of Wesley.” The list of early church figures and theologians goes on and on. The five churches on one street composed of various denominations prove it. Paul continues in verse 18 in the same chapter:

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, ‘He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.’ So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Whether we want to admit it or not, we have become a divided church, and part of the problem is that it is no longer sufficient to say that we are simply Christians. The word “Christian” does not carry the same weight as it did in Antioch where people became disciples in the face of persecution (Acts 11:19-30). We are a church that still needs milk instead of solid food, and instead of coming together to demonstrate God’s love to the world (as Jesus prayed in John 17), we’ve doubled down on hypocrisy and given into our culture to change the church rather than the church changing the culture. Instead of “Christians” we are Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, Church of Christ, Pentecostal, Non-denominational, Baptists, etc. We often use emotionalism to create converts and wonder why the fire doesn’t last. We spew theological terms and have theological arguments which have further splintered the church. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence when Jesus says to those who accused Him of having a demon: “‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges’” (Luke 11:17-19). The same logic applies to the church: If we are divided, the church will not stand. Do you question what it means to be a Lutheran or Baptist or Pentecostal, etc.? Do you understand the church history behind the change and the beliefs that are a part of your denomination? Or have you been born into your current tradition, and therefore, there you will stay? What I find so powerful in Acts when the apostles and other disciples are sharing the Word of God is that they preach and teach directly from the Scriptures. To the Jews, this reminds them of what they should have already known and missed. To the Gentiles, it brings hope and life (see Acts 8:25-39 and Acts 10) because they didn’t know and the mystery has been revealed to them. It should mean something when I say, “I am a Christian.” Demons should tremble because I have the Spirit of God inside of me. The world should wonder why I’m different because the love and light of Christ is evident in both my words and actions. It was enough for Jesus to choose men who were mostly uneducated and give them His power and authority, saying,

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:23-26

Luke also shares Jesus’ words regarding the Holy Spirit in Luke 21:12-15: “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.” Mark writes it this way: “When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11).

Why say all this? I believe that many Christians hide behind the guise that because they aren’t theologians, ministers, or Bible teachers that they can’t have full understanding of the Word without someone else telling them or without reading a guidebook or topical book to help them. That’s a lie! In my experience, some of those same “teachers” get stuck in their own theology that they struggle to see the truth when it’s staring them in the face. Even Jesus Himself wasn’t born as a scribe or Pharisee or any kind of teacher of the Law but as a carpenter’s son. He relied on the Father to teach Him, which I believe was on purpose so that we also may follow His example to rely on the Father. The Father gives the Holy Spirit, but we aren’t to pray to the Spirit (as many have become in the habit of doing). We are to pray to the Father who hears and gives wisdom and insight into His Word. Too many “Christians” are satisfied with sitting in a Sunday and/or Wednesday service and being taught without questioning the teaching. Too many “ministers” and “teachers” are OK with that. And if leaders are questioned, they often take offense instead of bringing it before the Lord to see if there is some validity to the questions. A unified body edifies and admonishes, meaning that it’s not always a party. Sometimes hard questions need to be asked, answers need to be sought by the Father, and people need to be honest about the result. Traditions of men should not be above Scripture. It should be enough to bear the name “Christian” because Christ is the one who died for us, not Luther or Calvin or Wesley, or Aquinas, or Augustine. These are mere men who have given contributions to the church and exhibited faults. But bearing the name “Christian” should be worn with honor while also knowing that it invites the enemy to persecute us. That should encourage us to be in the Word all the more so that when persecutions come, we already have faith that the Spirit will call to our remembrance all that we have learned, and it is the Lord God who will come to our defense. The disciples didn’t have scholastic degrees, but they had a hunger to learn from Christ Himself. If we have been saved and baptized, we have received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38); therefore, we can also learn from Christ Himself for we are His temple as Paul says to the Corinthians: “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Do you believe that you are a temple and the Spirit of God lives in you? If so, don’t you want to make sure that everything you’re taught aligns with the Spirit (1 Timothy 4)? Remember that no matter what position a person may hold within the body, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ called to both encourage and rebuke when necessary. Only when we come together in truth can we be united. It’s not about being under the theological leanings of a man or woman. It’s coming under the headship of Christ and following His Words that will bring us into the unity Jesus prayed for before He made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Let us honor Him by declaring that we will follow Him alone. Let us boldly proclaim: I AM A CHRISTIAN!

Discipleship: A Call to Serve

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, no doubt you’ve learned about discipleship or at least have heard the term. We read about the disciples of Jesus– both the chosen Twelve and other faithful followers– in the Gospels, and learn from their examples, and yes, mistakes. As I’ve been reading through the Gospels again, the Lord brought to my attention what Jesus said to His disciples before the feeding of the five thousand. In the context, Jesus had just learned of John the Baptist’s death and went in a boat to a secluded place, but the people followed Him on foot (Matthew 14:13). When He arrived at the shore, Jesus had compassion on the people and healed them (v. 14). In Mark’s Gospel, he writes that Jesus “felt compassion for them because they were like a sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34). Let’s look at what happened in Matthew 14:15-20:

“When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!’ They said to Him, ‘We have here only five loaves and two fish.’ And He said, ‘Bring them here to Me.’ Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets.”

“You give them something to eat!” In Mark’s Gospel, the disciples ask, “Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?” (Mark 6:37). A denarius was about a day’s wages so that would be at least 200 day’s worth of food! How often do we think of worldly issues over what God tells us? At this time, Jesus’ chosen Twelve had been with Him and witnessed many miracles, yet instead of thinking about the people’s needs first, they wanted them to go and take care of themselves. Now, this doesn’t sound unreasonable. A crowd full of 5,000 men (not including woman and children- see v. 21) would be quite overwhelming. But Jesus doesn’t say, “I’ll give them something to eat.” Rather, He presents it to the disciples as their responsibility. Jesus is teaching them what it means to be a disciple of Christ. It is not meant to be a lofty position but one of service.

“He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” After Jesus prays over the meager amount of food, He doesn’t hand out the food but gives it to His disciples to share it with the people. They not only physically served, but they had to have faith that the food would continue to multiply. The amazing miracle is that they had even more leftover than when they started! As disciples, we are called to be servants to those God calls us to and trust that if God asks us to do it (this is important to note), He will meet us there and provide. Jesus didn’t always feed every crowd, but in this case, He not only taught His disciples that the Lord can supply physical needs but spiritual ones as well.

In John’s Gospel, the people who were fed followed Jesus and His disciples the following day to where they were ministering (John 6:22-25). Jesus used this opportunity to teach the people about Him being the bread of life. While food is important, it is only temporary; however, the Bread of Life provides salvation leading to eternal life. He later makes this incredible statement in vv. 53-55, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.” Just as Jesus was teaching the crowd, He was also teaching His disciples, separating the true followers from those who would go astray for they sought the temporary rather than yearning for spiritual truth and understanding. John writes in vv. 66-69:

“As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘You do not want to go away also, do you?’ Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.’”

Being a true disciple is focusing on the eternal. If people are given food, but their soul is going to hell, what benefit is it? If we are worried about the temporary issues of life, how do we expect God to do miracles? The people that were fed didn’t just eat a little. They ate and were satisfied! How much more will we be satisfied if we eat and drink the truth of His Word and understand who the LORD- Father, Son, and Spirit- truly is? What if we were dialed in to what the will of the Lord is that we were able to use the spiritual gifts God has blessed us with?

When Jesus sent out His disciples to the cities to preach and perform miracles, He didn’t sugarcoat the trials that would come. He said things like, “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matt. 10:16). He continues in vv. 21-23:

“‘Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.’”

If we think that this was only for the Twelve, we are mistaken. Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane right before death about His current disciples and the disciples who had yet to come:

“‘I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.’” John 17:14-21

Being a disciple is accepting that the world hates you. It’s a matter of light versus darkness, flesh versus Spirit. As a person who has sought man’s approval my whole life, this is an area of struggle for me. I don’t like to be disliked or hated. But if I am doing everything that a disciple ought to be doing (and this is an ongoing process of growth), then that hatred is cause to rejoice because I am following the Lord.

As stated earlier, being a disciple is not one who holds himself or herself in high esteem but rather is humble. Jesus’ disciples had to understand this as well. Luke writes in Luke 9:46-48:

“‘An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.’”

Discipleship is the opposite from what the world teaches: wealth, fame, superiority. Is it wrong to be wealthy? Contrary to what some may teach and preach, the answer is no. Wealth becomes an issue when it comes before God and is sought after like an idol. The question is, if God asked us to give it up, would we? In Jesus’ response to His disciples, He uses a child to demonstrate who the greatest is. A child is the very image of humility and dependence on those in authority over them. Therefore, as disciples, we also are supposed to be humble and rely on our Heavenly Father.

Jesus also set the example of staying in communication with the Father. Throughout the Gospels, the writers convey that Jesus would often find a secluded place after being with crowds in order to pray. Sometimes He would take His disciples, but other times He went alone. Even though Jesus is God, He demonstrated the importance of talking with the Heavenly Father. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked the Lord to remove the cup of suffering from Him, “‘Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will’” (Mark 14:36). He prayed this three times demonstrating to His disciples (including us) that we can ask the Father for anything, but it must be in line with His will. The Father didn’t take the cup from Jesus, and He suffered as no one ever has. Yet, it was for His glory and for our salvation. As disciples, we have the blessing to approach the Lord before His throne and ask anything, but we always need to have a heart that desires His will.

Scripture is full of examples of what discipleship should look like, but the main criteria from the passages discussed are: servanthood, faith, focus on eternal and spiritual truth, humility, and a lifestyle of prayer. There are more qualities to add to this list, but this is a challenging start. As we are about to enter into a new year full of possibilities, let us pray for our lives to become more like the disciples of Christ He desires for us to be. May we set ourselves apart for His service and glory so that those who are lost may be found in Him.

~~~

Father, we thank You for another new year and all the blessings You’ve given us. We also thank You for being with us through the hardships. Help us to keep our focus ahead to eternity and live humble lives in service to You. Let us have ears to hear Your voice and minds to understand Your will and truth. May we live to gain Your approval alone. Thank You for your patience and grace You give us each day, even when we fail You. Thank You that You are a Father who never fails. We love You and pray for a wonderful year ahead. May Your will be done. Amen.

Jesus: Born to Die

“But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:23-29

As I’ve written in recent posts, I’ve been reading straight through the Old Testament again and just finished. It has been an amazing journey because so often we lose sight of the wholeness of the Gospel. We serve a God who is not only Creator but a loving and disciplinary Father. He never changes (Malachi 3:6) and is always faithful. He keeps His promises, but that doesn’t mean humanity doesn’t face consequences for their sin. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, the LORD GOD, Yahweh, made the promise of redemption for those who would follow Him. Genesis 3:15 foreshadows the triumph of Christ over the enemy, but as we know, that didn’t happen right away. As Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 3:9 regarding Christ’s return and the Lord’s judgment, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” The majority of the Old Testament illustrates the failure of humanity; namely, the failure of His chosen people to be faithful to Him. Since being led into the wilderness in Exodus, Israel failed to be the people God called them to be. They were swayed by the world, by the nations around them who worshipped false, man-made gods. They forgot what had been done for them, and they forgot the Law that was to keep them holy before the Lord. And if God’s people failed, what hope is there for the rest of humanity?

It’s true that most of the Old Testament demonstrates humanity’s unfaithfulness, but more importantly, it illuminates the Lord’s grace, mercy, and compassion. He was angry but not forever. He disciplined and punished but only for a time. Why? To turn His people’s heart back to Him. Every time His purpose was to reestablish His relationship–His covenant–with people who chose to be faithful to Him. And He gave the promise of the Righteous Branch, the Messiah:

“‘Behold the days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.’’” Jeremiah 23:5-6

In the midst of being warned of Jerusalem’s fall and Judah going into exile, the people receive this amazing message of hope. God is not done with them yet, and He will keep His promise that He made since the beginning of the world. Even Abraham, although no Law was given yet, knew about the coming Messiah. Jesus speaking to the Jews says,

“‘Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.’ So the Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.’” John 8:56-58

What a powerful moment! Throughout history, God has put His truth in the hearts and minds of those who would be faithful to Him. The promise to Abraham was for ALL the families of the earth to be blessed (Genesis 12:3). This was before Israel even existed; therefore, God’s intention was always for ALL of mankind to be blessed in Him. The Law was given to the Israelites because God chose them to be His people, and the Law taught them how to be holy and remain in right-standing with Him. But they continually broke, ignored, or forgot the Law. In Jesus’ day, the Jewish leaders became self-righteous, claiming to be adherers of the Law when they continuously violated it:

“For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.” Romans 2:25-29

When Paul wrote this, he knew the gravity of what he had written. As he says in Philippians 3:4-6, he knew the Law and followed the Law to where he could boast in his flesh if he wanted to. But in truth, everything comes down to the intent and motive of the Law, which Jesus simply teaches to anyone who has ears to hear:

“‘In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 7:12

“But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:34-40

The purpose of the Law was to love God and love others, and in this, Israel failed. In fact, we all have. No earthly sacrifice is great or lasting enough to keep us in right-standing with God because we continue to fail and fall into sin. But the Lord God already knew this, and Israel’s failure became the rest of the world’s gain as Paul writes in Romans 11:5-15:

“In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written,

‘God gave them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
Down to this very day.’

And David says,

‘Let their table become a snare and a trap,
And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.

Let their eyes be darkened to see not,
And bend their backs forever.’

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?”

Jesus becomes the bridge between the Jews and the Gentiles, bringing them into one flock as the Good Shepherd (John 10:16). Those who are called by God are not those who look a certain way outwardly like the Jews thought. They are those circumcised of the heart, living their lives in repentance and faith. All of that is possible because our Heavenly Father sent His Son, the Righteous Branch–the Messiah–as a baby in human flesh. He was (as is) fully God and fully man so that He could be the perfect sacrifice for our sin. This was planned from the beginning, and even after seeing all the unfaithfulness, hypocrisy and egregious sin, He STILL came into a sinful world in the most vulnerable state of being: a baby. He learned, lived, and asked questions. He was ridiculed not only by outsiders but His own family, all the while knowing His purpose was to die for them. Jesus was born to die for a world who hated Him. But love compelled Him. He came to dwell on this earth at precisely the right time. He died at precisely the right time. He was raised at the right time. You have come to learn and hear about Him at precisely the right time. Because the Lord knows all, is through all, and is above all (Ephesians 4:6). Nothing is done without His knowledge and purpose. And His purpose is to love you, His creation, and to be loved by you in return.

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” Romans 5:6-11

The entire Bible–both Old and New Testaments–is ONE message, ONE love letter from our Creator and Heavenly Father to His children whom He desperately desires to be His for eternity. As any book is meant to be read as a whole from beginning to end instead of cut apart, I encourage you to take the time to read the entire Gospel message. The Lord’s Word is for all who seek God and His truth, and you WILL understand it if you ask Him. It is not just for Sundays and Wednesday nights to listen to by a preacher. Know it and learn it yourself, and you will be amazed to discover who God is and how He speaks to you through His Word.

As Christmas approaches, may our hearts and minds be in right-standing with the Lord. May this time be an opportunity to be a witness to our families and friends who may not know the real Jesus. May our lives and actions speak more than our words, and may His truth pour out of us with His love. We have been given the greatest gift in Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection. Let’s share that gift with anyone who desires to receive it.

~~~

To emphasize the love of God in His Word, here is a song/poem originally written in 2021 called Love Divine.

Be Still and Know

I had my own plans today. I wanted to keep looking back through old poems and songs and continue to create music. But as soon as I started, it wasn’t right. I knew it in my spirit. I knew my motive wasn’t right, and I finally did what I should’ve done in the first place: ask God. As soon as I asked Him, I knew that I was being told to write something new. As I’ve mentioned in recent posts, I’ve been reading through the Old Testament, and I’ve currently been in the prophets. All of them have the same overarching message to Israel and Judah: “Return to the Lord God.” They fell into the sin of idolatry and were often compared to being adulteresses. They were unfaithful to the one true God and sought other man-made gods and nations. All of these books and stories have been passed down to us so that we would learn from them (1 Corinthians 10). But bluntly stated, we haven’t. Our idols may not look exactly the same, but we have plenty of them. James’ words in James 4:1-10 are reminiscent of the prophets words to Israel and Judah:

“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (Bold words for emphasis)

James wrote this to believers in the church. Specifically, he wrote it to Jewish believers who had been scattered amongst the nations (James 1:1). Sound familiar? I know I’m guilty of befriending the world. As much as I’ve tried to fight it my whole life, I still seek man’s approval. Even when I genuinely want to write something or create something for the Lord, there is still a part of me that wants to know what people think. American culture has made that even more difficult with our electronic devices and social media. It feels impossible to balance it all out and remain in right-standing with God. The Lord deserves everything we have to give because He gave it all for us. Our faithfulness cannot be wavering if we are to be the bride He desires us to be. As James instructed, the church needs to humble itself and mourn for our unfaithfulness.

In response to the Lord telling me to write something new, I wrote a poem called “Be Still and Know.”

“Be still and know Me;
Know My peace, know My rest.
Stop running around.
Slow that pumping in your chest.
This world is full of idols
To entrap and ensnare.
Some may seem innocent,
But it’s still an affair.”

Harlotry, idolatry, adultery
Committed against my King.
My covenant should be with You alone,
But I’ve made the world’s voice my everything.

Nakedness exposed,
You uncover the ugly truth
That I’ve sought man’s approval
Ever since my youth.

Temporary joy,
Words tickle my ears.
Flattery inflates what’s already inside:
My sin of pride.

Like ancient Israel, I’ve fallen into idolatry
Forgetting what my King has done for me.
I deserve to be exiled from His throne,
But instead, My forgiving Father calls me home:

“Be still and know Me.
Obey My commands.
Know My everlasting truth.
I’ll lead you to the Promised Land.
The world will hate you if you follow Me,
But your crown is for eternity.
My sacrifice is worth it all
So let your idols fall.
You are My bride,
My beloved one,
Return faithfully to Me
So you can behold My majesty and glory.”

His words wash over my shame,
Cleansing me from within.
He gives me a new name,
“Redeemed Daughter,” He has spoken.

I take off my ring,
And hurl it at the world,
Divorcing myself from its sin
So that I can become whole with my Beloved again.

Bride of Christ, do not tarry;
Do not wait!
Repent from your idols or face your fate.
Learn from His Word;
Remember His rage.
He is a jealous God who no one can tame.
Return with a whole heart or be cast away.
For He doesn’t want second-hand praise from those who go astray.
Be hot or cold;
Make your choice today.
Be still and know:
He won’t delay.

~~~

Here is a song version of the poem: Be Still and Know

© Lauren Demuth

God’s Truth Through Music

God’s Word and music are both amazing gifts from the Lord. When they’re put together, life-changing moments can happen. When I was in a pit a few years ago, music helped me to remember God’s truth and to reach for the light. Over many years I’ve written poems and songs, many of which I’ve shared on my blog. While I enjoy singing, I don’t play an instrument or have a band so the songs and poems stayed on paper, and sometimes they didn’t see the light for years. Now with the ingenuity and progression with AI, songs and poems on paper can become alive. I struggled with this idea at first because my brain was telling me it was cheating to have AI help write music or rewrite lyrics to better fit a song. But then I had these verses pop in my head:

“…Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.” Ephesians 5:18-20

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8

“Sing to the Lord a new song;

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, bless His name;

Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.

Tell of His glory among the nations,

His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;

He is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

But the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him,

Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.

Psalm 96:1-6

The message I was getting was if God’s truth is being preached, how can that be cheating? God inspired me in my writings, and now I get to hear His words back to me in song. It’s been AMAZING! Even though it’s not my voice singing, I realized that’s probably a good thing so that I would focus less on my voice and more on the message. Plus, I never realized how many of my poems fit well with rap, which has been quite insightful 🙂 I have not finished all the songs yet, but I wanted to take the opportunity to share what’s finished with you.

This is a link to my family’s brand new YouTube channel featuring songs that we have created with the help of Suno-Music AI. More will be added soon, but I’m excited to share my playlist called “Redeemed”.

I hope you are encouraged and challenged by the songs, and most importantly, that God will speak to you whether you’re on the mountaintop or in the valley. David wrote psalms in every kind of moment in his life, and now I’m beginning to understand how that helped him to stay in right-standing with the Lord. The enemy loves to use music to persuade the world to follow him, but it was created by the Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth. Let’s use it for His glory, bringing restoration to the church and leading the lost to salvation!

Thank you, Father, for the songs You’ve sung over me. Thank you for Your redemption.

“For I Know the Plans that I Have for You…”

“‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB)

Christians love Jeremiah 29:11. It’s a life verse for many people which they display on t-shirts, mugs, wall decor, and journals. It is positive and hopeful, getting people through rough times in their lives. While it is encouraging, this verse often gets pulled out of its context as if God spoke it to us in the 21st century. What makes this verse even more hopeful and powerful is understanding it in the time that it was written and the people for whom it was written. If I were to ask a group of Christians what the book of Jeremiah is about and who Jeremiah was, I would probably get a response similar to “It’s a book of prophecy” or “Jeremiah was a prophet.” These are correct statements, but what is this book of prophecy about?

The Lord appointed Jeremiah to be a prophet in his youth during the reign of king Josiah as is written in Jeremiah 1:1-10. In verse 6, Jeremiah claims that he does not know how to speak, being a youth, but the LORD says in verses 7-8:

“But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,’ declares the LORD.”

In verse 9 Jeremiah explains how the LORD touched his mouth and declared that He put His words in Jeremiah’s mouth, saying in verse 10: “‘See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.’” Because Jeremiah 29:11 is such a positive verse, people may assume that Jeremiah was a beloved prophet, but it was the exact opposite. He was hated because of the message he was given to speak to Judah. Judah had been repeatedly warned by God that punishment was coming because of their unfaithfulness to Him. They worshipped other gods, especially Baal, and were unrepentant in their behavior: “‘For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer. 2:13). He continues in Jeremiah 2:19-22:

“‘Your own wickedness will correct you, and your apostasies will reprove you; know therefore and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God, and the dread of Me is not in you,’ declares the LORD GOD of hosts. ‘For long ago I broke your yoke and tore off your bonds; but you said, ‘I will not serve!’ For on every high hill and under every green tree you have lain down as a harlot. Yet I planted you a choice vine, a completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine? Although you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me,’ declares the LORD GOD.”

The entire book of Jeremiah is about Judah’s harlotry and unfaithfulness to the LORD, and the LORD is warning them that the king of Babylon is coming to take Judah into captivity just like Assyria carried away her sister Samaria. Rather than learning from the mistakes and consequences of Israel, Judah doubled-down and brought God’s wrath upon themselves. And He will not relent. Is it because He is unforgiving, wishing for their destruction? No! Rather, the nation of Israel was warned in the very first commandment of Law after the LORD rescued them from Egypt that they should have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3). In Exodus 20:22-23 the LORD speaks to Moses saying, “‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.’” After Moses explained more details of the Law given to him by God, the Israelites declared, “‘All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do!’ (Ex. 24:3)” Yet right after this event, while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the stone tablets of the Law, the Israelites wavered in their faith by creating their own idols and worshipping them. How quickly promises are made, and how quickly they are broken. Thus is the pattern of Israel throughout the Old Testament, and the LORD has had enough of their disobedience (see Jeremiah 15:1-9).

In the book of Jeremiah, God constantly reminds the people who He is, the Creator of everything who knows all and sees all. Yet the people do not fear Him as they should, and they worship man-made idols that have no power or wisdom. Not only has the nation failed, but also its priests and prophets, men who are supposed to spiritually lead the people on the right path:

“‘An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?” Jeremiah 5:30-31

And why do the people love it so? Because the prophets and priests are telling them what they want to hear: peace and safety. Jeremiah not only had to share a very difficult message to his own people, but he had to contend with other supposed spiritual leaders who spoke the exact opposite message, claiming that it was also from the LORD:

“‘But, ‘Ah, LORD GOD!’ I (Jeremiah) said, ‘Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword nor will you have famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ Then the LORD said to me, ‘The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds. Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who are prophesying in My name, although it was not I who sent them–yet they keep saying, ‘There will be no sword or famine in the land’–by sword and famine those prophets shall meet their end!’” Jeremiah 14:13-15

The people chose to listen to these prophets because they liked the idea of peace and safety. Who doesn’t? But this is an example of why John exhorts the church to test the spirits in 1 John 4:1: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Paul also shares a similar message with Timothy regarding his leadership in the church in 2 Timothy 4:2-4:

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”

As Solomon would say, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Just as the ancient Israelites wanted their ears tickled by false prophets, the church is also in danger of having its ears tickled rather than face the consequences of disobedience and faithlessness. In truth, I argue that many people have already succumbed to listening and believing in false teachings because they make people feel better about themselves and the decisions they’ve made. Rather than fall into that temptation, I encourage us to be more like Jeremiah. He was human and struggled with what God called him to do, but he also could not deny that the LORD indeed called him and would not leave him:

“Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me as a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have not lent, nor have men lent money to me, yet everyone curses me…You who know, O LORD, remember me, take notice of me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away; know that for Your sake I endure reproach. Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:10, 15-16

The fifty-two chapters of Jeremiah are filled with messages of death, destruction, and captivity. Although many people in Judah will die by famine, pestilence and the sword as Jeremiah prophesied, the LORD also promised Judah that a remnant will return to the land. In Jeremiah 29, Jeremiah sends a letter to the exiles in Babylon, telling them to make a life there by planting gardens, building families and seeking the welfare of the city where they have been sent (vv. 4-7). He continues in vv. 8-14:

“‘For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD. For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’”

Putting verse 11 in context makes its meaning much more powerful. God, as both a loving Father and a wrathful holy God, sent His children into exile as consequence for their sin. A couple generations go by, thereby weeding out those who committed the adulterous sin, so that a new generation, rooted and grounded in the LORD GOD of Israel could return to the promised land. THAT is the future and hope. God is always faithful to fulfill His promises, and for the sake of His great name, and for the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David, there was a remnant in Israel which eventually resulted in the “Righteous Branch” (discussed in Jeremiah 23:1-6 and 33:14-18), that is Jesus, who is the everlasting King and Priest.

Since creation, God knew what would have to be done to atone for humanity’s sin. Yet even in all of Israel’s faithlessness (and ours) toward Him, the LORD did not forget His promise to save us from our sins. While we are not exiles in a foreign land like the Israelites were (though this world is not our home), we do have a hope and a future because of the blood of Jesus Christ and the Father’s gifts of salvation and grace. The message to the church is the same message to the ancient Israelites, for God does not change:

“‘But this is what I commanded them (the people coming out of Egypt) saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’” Jeremiah 7:23

Obedience. This is what God asks of every person who desires to follow Him. It is simple, but like all children, our flesh desires for us to rebel against our parents–in this case our Heavenly Father. We think we know what is best for us, but we have no clue. While some people may argue that the Old Testament is irrelevant, I argue that mentality is contrary to Scripture. If we have little to no understanding of the Old Covenant, we cannot understand who God is, the importance of sacrifice, and the necessity of discipline and being set apart for the sake of holiness. We also cannot fully understand Jesus, His mission and ministry. I believe Paul would argue the same as evidenced by his message in 1 Corinthians 10:1-14:

“For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.’ Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (Bold print added for emphasis)

Our hope and our future is in Christ. Our mission in life is to obey the Lord, and trust Him that where He leads us He will meet us there. Jeremiah had a difficult task, but his obedience trumped his fear, sadness, and loneliness. He feared God more than men who tried to kill him, and God intervened on his behalf. When people preach or teach messages that keep you in your comfort, test it against the truth of Scripture. The New Testament is full of messages that talk about the hardships of following God and being a Christian. Just look at Paul’s life once he made the decision to follow the Lord after persecuting Christians:

“Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.” 2 Corinthians 11:24-33

The Christian life is not easy. It is not for the fickle-minded. It is not for those who seek comfort, peace, and safety as the Israelites did. It is about forsaking the ways of the world while living in the midst of it for the sake of the gospel of Christ and the great name of the Lord God, our Creator, who saved us with His own blood. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:16: “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” As Christians who have been given the truth of God’s Word, we are under compulsion to preach the gospel, not only with words but with our very lives. We should not look or act like the world. Rather, we are called to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Are we walking in faithfulness to the Lord, or are there idols in our lives keeping us from being obedient? If so, we are called to repent and turn away from that which keeps us from Him. Our minds should be fixed on the eternal rather than the temporary for everything will one day be gone. Ask God with sincerity of heart to reveal the things in your life that are keeping you from Him. I can say from experience that He will tell you if you seek Him earnestly. But that’s just the first part. The Israelites asked the Lord for His guidance, and He answered them. However, they often didn’t listen because it’s not what they wanted to hear. I encourage all of us to have ears that want to hear the truth and the will to follow Him even when it’s hard—and it will be hard sometimes. It may even cost us everything in this world, but righteous fruit will last forever.

Father, give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and minds to understand Your truth. Help us to learn from the unfaithfulness of ancient Israel and to choose today to be obedient to You. When we seek You earnestly, may we find You. When we stumble and repent, may You forgive us that we may remain in right-standing with You. We thank You for the love and patience You have for us, Your children. We do not desire to be lukewarm, being spit out of Your mouth, but we want to be flames in this world for Your glory. Give us the strength to endure and the wisdom to speak and act your Word truthfully. Amen.

	Lauren (Heiligenthal… on Newness of Life
	heavenlyraindrops on Newness of Life
	Lauren (Heiligenthal… on Newness of Life
	heavenlyraindrops on Newness of Life
	Lauren (Heiligenthal… on Newness of Life

Aletheia_Word

Sharing God's Truth, Growing in Maturity, and Building Up the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:14-16)