faith

Culture’s War on the Biblical Family

It’s time to get real. The enemy has been in the business of causing division and strife within the family since creation. Eve, knowing what God had said about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, was still deceived and ate from it, believing that she would be like God in wisdom. Adam, also knowing the word of the Lord, still ate when Eve offered him the fruit. Thus sin entered the world, and Adam and Eve were removed from the perfect Garden of Eden to face the consequences of their actions. Then we read about Cain and Abel where Abel gives an offering pleasing to God, but Cain’s offering was less pleasing than Abel’s so Cain murdered his brother. Jacob and Esau were rivals since birth, yet Jacob, being younger, gained Esau’s birthright and become the father of the nation of Israel. Skip ahead to the modern age and now we have homosexual and transgender families paraded around our culture as lampposts for the modern family. Divorce has become expected rather than being the exception. Movies, television shows, schools, social media, businesses, and news media have normalized these kinds of families to where we have become numb, or even worse, afraid to speak out. We have become complacent and think that this is just how life is supposed to be. What we forget is that mankind, since creation, has had the gift of free will.

Eve chose to eat the fruit knowing God’s warning, and Adam chose to follow his wife instead of God. In Genesis 4:7, Cain was warned by God that sin was at his door desiring him, and he must master it. But instead Cain chose to kill his brother. In Genesis 25:23, the Lord revealed to Rebekah that she had twins in her womb—two nations—and the older (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob). As they grew up, Esau became the hunter, but Jacob was peaceful. One day Esau came home famished and desired the food Jacob made. Jacob asked Esau for his birthright first, and Esau swore it to him (Gen. 25:31-34). Therefore, Esau had no regard for the blessing given to him. He chose to give away what was his over his temporary desire for food, and in the end he became the nation of Edom, separated from Jacob’s family, the nation of Israel. In everything, there is a choice. As the church, we can choose to remain silent about what has happened to the biblical family, or we can stand up for what is right, knowing that it can cost us dearly on earth. As Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Do we treasure the spiritual well-being of our home and the church over the riches and stature given to us in this world by remaining silent?

The main problem is that the church does not know how to defend the biblical family because it doesn’t know what the family is supposed to look like. We spend more time engaging with the world and its message rather than the truth of God’s Word. The average Christian can quote John 3:16, Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13, but can he or she recall what Ephesians 5 says about marriage? Will a Christian woman say that a wife is commanded to submit to her husband as the church submits to Christ (Eph. 5:22-24)? Will a Christian man say that a husband is supposed to love his wife as Christ loved the church, giving Himself up for her (Eph. 5:25-30)? Will a Christian woman adhere to Paul’s instructions to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:9-15?:

“Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”

In addition, after writing about the proper order within church gatherings, Paul instructs the church in Corinth (a letter that would have been read at other churches as well) about women: “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church (1 Cor. 14:34-35).” If we say we adhere to Scripture, why do we overlook these passages? These passages also imply that husbands should understand the Word of God in order to be able to provide answers when asked. In 1 Corinthians 14:37-38, Paul makes an important statement: “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.” He is referring to everything written to the Corinthians about the proper order in the church, including his instructions about women. Although Paul writes the letter, the message is from the Lord and is a commandment to be obeyed.

Will leaders in the church adhere to Paul’s message to Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:4-7?:

“He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

How many times have we heard of pastors’ kids going off the rails or becoming estranged from their parents? Scripture tells us that if a leader in the church cannot manage his own home, he should not be a leader. And that brings me to probably the most controversial point—there is no mention in Scripture of female leadership in the church. Older women should teach younger women (Titus 2:3-5) and mothers should teach their children (Proverbs 1:8), but Paul is clear that a woman should not teach over a man (1 Timothy 2:12). It violates the order of submission within the church and home. The church has become disobedient to the Lord in that area, which has led to many women trying to be the spiritual leaders of their own homes. Yet there are plenty of roles for women in the church. Scripture talks about spiritual gifts being given to all members of the church, including women. We also know of prophetesses in Scripture such as Anna in Luke 2:36 and women who supported Jesus’ ministry and early church ministry (Matthew 27:55; Luke 8:2-3; Luke 10:38-42; Acts 16:13-15; Romans 16:1). The Lord created men and women and loves both equally; however, each one has his or her proper roles in the home and in the church.

The enemy knows all of these things and has used our culture to normalize what is not from God. He has caused the people of God to fear man more than fearing God to the point where not only has marriage been targeted but also our children. Innocence has been stripped away to normalize sexual behavior and deviance among children. If we cannot get our homes straight and back on the spiritual track to obeying God and His Word, the church will also fall apart. Each home is a mini church where the husband/father leads the home in truth, and the wife submits to him out of obedience to the Lord, and the children submit to their parents out of obedience to the Lord. The world will hate us for it, but Jesus already prayed to the Father on our behalf even before we decided to take the name of “Christian”:

“While I was with them (the disciples), I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that Scripture would be fulfilled. But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. 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 in 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. 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 17:12-23

Jesus spoke these words to the Father right before He was arrested and later crucified to take away our sins, even the ones we are now committing in the church. If we, as the church, want to be presented to Him as holy, spotless, and blameless when He returns (Ephesians 5:27), we must ask for forgiveness and remove the sin that we’ve allowed in the church. We must ask God to help us restore our families and our churches according to His Word and His order for how can He work through us if we have chosen to follow the world? It is our time to choose.

©Lauren Demuth

Restoring the Garden

Weeding. For those of us who have done gardening or any kind of landscaping, we know it is not a pleasurable task. Rather, it can be downright frustrating. We try our best to get plants to grow that we actually planted, but it always seems the weeds grow better, faster, and stronger. It can be hard to keep up, especially after a good rain. Sometimes we just let them grow and get used to them to the point where they don’t bother us anymore. They become part of the garden, and we give ourselves excuses for their existence. “I just don’t have time.” “They’re not really that big.” “I’ll get them in the fall or winter when everything else dies.” But do you ever notice how a lot of weeds tend to persist even when most of our desirable plants have died off? I believe everything about creation shows us who God is, and He even shared truths through parables, using aspects of creation, like planting seed and farming, to help us better understand Him and the choices we make. Paul captures this clearly in Romans 1:20:

“For since the creation of the world [God’s] attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (NASB)

The “they” in this verse is referring back to verse 18 where Paul talks about “men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” Such people, and really all of us, are without excuse just by the evidence of God in creation. This is even more true since we also have His very Word. He is gracious to remind us of Himself even in tasks like gardening.

While there are noticeable weeds in the garden, there are also those that aren’t so obvious, specifically the ones that are embedded in the good plants. These ones take more time to spot and are more delicate to remove because there’s a chance the removal can damage what is good. But if they aren’t removed, more harm can come to the good plant. The nutrients meant for the good plant also get used by the weed. And any gardener–whether new or experienced–knows, if you don’t get the root, it will come right back. Some roots go straight down and are easy to pull whereas others spread and can harm multiple plants.

Our spiritual life is also a garden. The good plants are from seeds that get planted by the Word of God and His truth, and the weeds are the different parts of our lives that try to choke out the truth. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explains to His disciples that the seeds sown among the thorns “are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19). I must confess, it has been a difficult past few days because the Lord revealed to me that I have many weeds in my garden that I didn’t realize existed. I’ve been busy trying to help others with their spiritual gardens while mine was filled with weeds. Even worse, the plants I thought were producing fruit were unfertilized flowers just wilting away. The Lord has brought this to my attention before, and I would clean things up for awhile, but the worries of the world and other people’s approval and my pride became my focus rather on tending the garden. In our spiritual life, tending the garden is year-round, 24/7 work. While the process isn’t pleasurable, and maybe sometimes it hurts to get rid of weeds that look beautiful (not all are thorny), the reward is eternity with God which outweighs all the work. As the church, we have the opportunity to help each other pull up weeds with words of truth, but we also can’t neglect our own spiritual garden. In the end, each of us is accountable for its condition. Will it be full of fruitful and beautiful good plants, or will it be full of weeds with mere remnants of what is good? 

© Lauren Demuth

Wives, Submit to Your Husbands

I can already sense the raised eyebrows and crossed arms. Submit?! We can often handle the word “respect” but “submit” is too much. However, this way of thinking is not Spirit-inspired but rather culture-inspired. In Western cultures, it is rare to hear anyone in society support the notion of hierarchy and submission within the home. And if we’re honest, the church has done a poor job teaching Scripture’s truth on the roles of men and women in the home and in the church. I would argue that the majority of the church has succumbed to culture’s viewpoint rather than the Lord’s. So what is the Lord’s will for the church and our families?

Creation is where everything began for humanity. Genesis 1:26-30 provides a general overview of the creation of man and how we were made in the image of God. We were created male and female and were given dominion over the earth and commanded to be fruitful and multiply. God created all that we would need to survive. Genesis 2 gives us a bit more detail on the creation of man. In verse 7 we read that God formed man from the dust of the earth, breathed life into him, and set him in the garden that He created for man to cultivate. But the Lord saw that it was not good for man to be alone (v. 18) so He decided to make a helper suitable for him. Nothing in creation was suitable for Adam so that Lord caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of his ribs and created Woman from it (vv. 21-22). Verses 23 and 24 state:

“The man said,

‘This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.’

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”

We cannot deny from these passages that God created Adam first, and Eve was created from a part of him. We are unique from the rest of creation in a number of ways, but I believe this facet is one of the most striking. Man and woman are joined physically in bone and flesh hence the phrase “they shall become one flesh” in verse 24. 

Fast-forward thousands of years to the time of the early church. In Ephesians 5, Paul writes about relationships, and specifically in verses 22-33, he writes about husbands and wives. I have heard professors and preachers use verse 21 to promote mutual submission between husband and wife because it says, “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” If that was the end of the discussion, I could see how this would lead to the idea of mutual submission. But the rest of Paul’s message provides an explanation to verse 21. Let’s read vv. 22-33:

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”

What I love about this passage is how marriage is compared to the relationship between Christ and the church because it shows what love should look like and leaves no room to doubt that there is a hierarchy within the home. In explanation to verse 21, wives are instructed to be subject to their own husbands. In plain language, Paul explains that the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. The church subjects itself to Christ; therefore, the wife is to subject herself to her husband. We wouldn’t say that Christ submits to the church so why do we say that husbands should submit to their wives? Scripture clearly denies this notion. Rather, it should be noted that husbands have a bit more instruction than the wives do because they are to emulate Christ and His love for the church. They ought to love their wives as their own bodies (going back to the creation account in Genesis) and to love sacrificially as Christ did, giving Himself up for the sake of the church. Husbands are given great responsibility in regards to their wives and families. In the same way we submit to Christ because of the love He has demonstrated to us, wives also ought to submit to their husbands. 

As we know, no marriage or relationship is perfect. We are sinful beings striving to live righteously in a sinful world. Peter writes to the church in 1 Peter 3:1-7:

“In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”

Again, I want to reiterate that Peter, just like Paul, is writing to the church. They are instructions for believers and are not condoning abuse in any way. Rather, if a woman’s husband is not in right-standing with God, she’s not being told to point her finger at him and remind him of his faults as our culture often demonstrates. Instead, it is his wife’s behavior- respectful, gentle, quiet, modest- that can help him turn back to God. No words need to be said. We are not supposed to be self-seeking, boisterous, gossiping, nagging women. Often people get bent out of shape when they read “live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman.” It is not meant to cause offense, but in truth, emotionally and physically we are weaker. We are led too often by emotions rather than wisdom, which can bleed into how we walk spiritually. When people continue reading, they would see that a husband’s behavior towards his wife is important for his own spiritual life: “show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” That’s quite a powerful statement. If a husband is not doing his part in caring for his wife and being the spiritual leader that he’s meant to be, God may not give heed to his prayers until the situation has been reconciled. Husbands and wives are both responsible to fulfill their God-given roles. 

It’s easy to laugh at comedians who talk about husbands fearing their wives because of their many moods and whims. We even hear such quips from the pulpit. We laugh because we see this behavior in our own lives. As the church, our relationships are often not reflections of Scripture but of the world. If wives are not submitting to and respecting their husbands as the head of their household and husbands are not loving and caring for their wives like Christ loves the church, why should we expect God to move in our families and in the church? What example are we setting for non-believers when our lives look just like theirs? How many marriages have ended in failure and how much of that could’ve been prevented just by following God’s Word? Wives, it is not our job to be the spiritual head of the household. It isn’t. Should we pray? Absolutely! Should we cover our husband and children in prayer? Yes! Should we be in the Word and lead by example? Yes! But men in our culture have been told that they’re toxic and that they’re unwanted and not needed. They have been emasculated by the media, politics, and yes, even the church. So how can we expect them to be leaders when they’re told just the opposite? We need men like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, etc. They were not perfect, but they strived to be men of God, leading the people of Israel in strength and righteousness. Isn’t that the kind of husband you want leading your family? As women, don’t we want to honor God by how we treat our husbands? We have to stop caring if the world is offended by our behavior and get our hearts, minds, and attitudes back to the truth of God’s Word. 

The world needs to see real love. Christ is the ultimate demonstration of that love, and our marriages should be a reflection of Christ’s love to His bride.

© Lauren Demuth

Worthy of Our Calling

As I continue to read through the New Testament, and especially in Paul’s letters, this particular phrase keeps popping up: “Walk in a manner worthy of your calling.” What does that mean? Let’s look at some verses (NASB translation) with this instruction:

Ephesians 4:1-3 – “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Philippians 1:27-28 – “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.”

Colossians 1:9-12 – “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”

1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 – “For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 – “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.”

2 Thessalonians 1:6-12 – “For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Lord is so good to us that He doesn’t leave us wondering what “walking in a manner worthy of your calling” means. First, this command is given to the church as a whole. As the body of Christ we should be walking in a manner worthy of our calling in order to glorify God in this world. Second, it is also an individual command because as you read in each letter, not everyone is acting as a Christian should. Each Christian should examine oneself to see where his or her standing is with the Lord and make the changes needed to be worthy of the calling of being a believer in Christ. In each of these passages, Paul explains how we should live. Sometimes it’s easier for me to take it all in with a list so here’s a list based on what we’ve just read:

A Christian walks in a manner worthy of his or her calling by:

  • Demonstrating tolerance for those within the church in love, humility, gentleness and patience
  • Diligently preserving the unity of the Spirit in peace
  • Standing firm in one spirit with believers
  • Striving with other believers in one mind for the faith of the gospel
  • Trusting in God rather than being afraid of opponents of the gospel
  • Bearing fruit in every good work
  • Increasing in the knowledge of God and His will
  • Strengthened with God’s power to be able to attain steadfastness and patience
  • Joyously giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be part of His kingdom
  • Accepting exhortation and encouragement from those with spiritual wisdom and discernment
  • Persevering in the midst of trials for the sake of the gospel
  • Having faith in the midst of trials for the sake of the gospel
  • Suffering for the gospel knowing that God will deliver retribution at Christ’s coming

We could easily add to this list with other passages from Scripture, but notice how all of these actions are important as a BODY of believers. The love we have for one another and how we treat one another should be a testament to the world. But if church looks like the world, what distinction is there? Are we willing to be set apart for God’s kingdom knowing that it may make us a target of suffering in one way or another? 1 Thessalonians 2:12 struck me where it says “so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” Not only are we called into a kingdom beyond anything we can imagine, but we are also called into God’s glory. The God who created all things with a word calls us to share that glory. The God who came down to a sinful world to save His people as only He could calls us to share that glory. The God who died and took every sin upon Himself as the perfect sacrifice calls us to share that glory. The God who raised Jesus Christ from the grave to give every person the opportunity to spend eternity with Him calls us to share that glory. It feels impossible to be worthy of such a calling. How can we be? And that’s just it. We can’t. On our own, we are unworthy. But the love and sacrifice of our amazing, incomparable God has MADE us worthy because HE IS WORTHY!!! What other god would give itself to meager people? What other god would allow those people to share its glory? NONE! That is why Yahweh is the Lord of lords and King of kings who created humanity–because of LOVE. He WANTS us to be with Him even after all we’ve done. Even after all the slander to His name. Even after all acts of disobedience and defiance. He is still worthy above it all. He is still glorified above it all. He is still love above it all. He is still forgiving above it all. He is still extending His hand above it all. But make no mistake, God is a jealous God who will not tolerate lukewarm devotion. We cannot love God and be friends with the world (James 4:4). If we say we’re willing to give it all, we need to mean it with our lives because He is worthy of it. And as Paul indicated in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, we want to be counted by God as worthy of our calling when Christ returns so that the name of Jesus will be glorified in us and us in Him. On that day, we will no longer be able to ask these questions: Did I diligently study God’s word of truth to know Him and understand His will? Did I treat brothers and sisters with all humility, gentleness, peace and love to build them up and be an example to the world? Did I persevere in faith in the midst of trials? Did I stand up for the Lord when everyone else around me fell silent? Did I put the Lord first above all else in my life?

Sometimes all of these questions and thoughts seem overwhelming. How can we ever achieve them? One thing that the Lord has reminded me lately is that He’s already overcome everything. Everything we have faced, are facing, or will ever face, the Lord has overcome it with His death and resurrection. He will return, and He will reign, and we will forever be with Him if we are faithful believers. What happens in our lives until then will either glorify God or not. We are not perfect so we will have difficult moments and failures and setbacks. But then instead of getting down on ourselves and getting stuck in a pit, we have the choice to ask, “How can I glorify the Lord in this?” In other words, we can choose to take the eyes off of ourselves and circumstances which is just a moment in time and focus on the God who is eternal.

Let’s encourage one another and exhort each other as the body of believers so that we can glorify the King of kings in a world that desperately needs to know and understand the love of our Savior. May we demonstrate that love to each other so that it overflows into every aspect of our lives, bringing others to the saving grace that God has given as a gift for them.

©Lauren Demuth

Growing from Impatient Children to Grateful Disciples

Jesus often taught His disciples using lessons from everyday life. He used what they understood to provide a launching point into the wisdom of the kingdom of God. I believe He still uses this method of teaching today as we live out our lives—as long as we have ears to hear.

Last week I decided that my son and I were going to visit my mom. My son had been asking for awhile to visit, and my mom mentioned the idea so I was on board. Then I thought it would be a good idea to tell my son (a 4-year-old) three days in advance that we were going. My motive was to give him something to look forward to and to build an excitement as we counted the days. But that’s not exactly what happened. Each morning he’d wake up ready to go to Gigi’s house, and then the tears started as I told him not yet. I kept reminding him that we ARE going, just not today. When the day finally arrived, I couldn’t wait to get in the car and drive just so I didn’t have to hear him ask me over and over when we were leaving. We arrived and had fun at a nearby park, and then I made the mistake of telling him plans in advance again. “We’re going to get pizza and then go to the store afterwards.” He wanted to look at toys at the store so instead of enjoying time eating delicious pizza, all he wanted to do was rush and get to the store. As I’m sitting with my son and mom, I tell her (paraphrased here), “He has no concept of time. It doesn’t matter when I say it will happen, he thinks it’s right now.” And then I heard the Lord do a little “Ahem” in my ear. He was pretty much saying, “You know you do the same thing, right?” I even said out loud at the table, “OK, Lord, I get it” and had to laugh.

The next day I was being good and NOT telling my son in advance that we were going to the zoo. I just said, “What do you want to do today?” He replied that he wanted to go to the park. Then I had to open my mouth and say, “Oh there’s a playground where we’re going.” Do you think he wanted to see the amazing animals in the zoo when we got there? All he kept saying was that he wanted to go to the playground. I told him that we will get there eventually, but we’re going to see some awesome animals on the way. When it became clear that the time was getting closer for the zoo to close and the tram had too long of a line to wait, we walked as fast as we could to get to the playground. We bypassed so many neat exhibits and rushed to get there that we couldn’t quite enjoy our crazy walk (uphill almost the whole way!). We finally arrived, and of course, he was blissfully happy just to play on the playground with other kids (it seemed their parents had a similar story to tell).

I kept saying to myself and to my mom that I’m just not going to tell my son anymore what we’re doing until we get somewhere. That would be easier, and maybe that’s for the best sometimes. But I know that God was showing me how we often are with Him. We look at children and think that they’re so impatient and have no concept of time, and then we mistakenly think we’ve grown out of this way of thinking. Too often we are just the same with God. He doesn’t have to tell us what’s coming next, but He often gives us directions whether it’s in Scripture or in our individual lives. And why does He do it? To make us impatient? No! Just like I was motivated by love for my son to see him excited and full of joy and hope that something amazing was about to happen, God our Father loves us so much that He wants to give us hope and a glimpse into the beauty of what’s to come. But instead of rejoicing , knowing that His goodness and blessings are coming our way, all we can focus on is “Why is it not here yet? I want it, and I want it now!” And we miss everything else around us and the beauty of the journey to get to that blessing. Maybe God is trying to shape us before we get there. Maybe we’re not ready for it if we had it right now. The truth is He doesn’t have to show us at all, but because His love is so extravagant He WANTS to show us His blessings in our lives. He WANTS to give us hope. He WANTS to build our faith as we trust that our Father is honest, pure, true, and holy. He KEEPS His word.

In Matthew 7:7-12, Jesus talks to His disciples about the Father’s goodness:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

The Father is kind and generous to give to His children who ask Him! But notice it doesn’t say He gives the good gift right away. Could He do that? Sure! But too often this is the expectation, and instead of rejoicing in anticipation and praying for God to prepare us for what He has in store, we get frustrated. Sometimes we get angry. I can say that because I’ve been there. “God, You said that this business would be successful, but nothing is happening!” “God, you said I would have another child, but it’s been years!” In reflection, this anger demonstrates my lack of faith. Yet the Father has been so gracious to teach me all of these things so that I can stop being an impatient child and learn to be a grateful disciple—one who trusts the word of the Lord God of the universe even when I can’t see over the mountain in front of me.

Just like I kept telling my son, “Just wait, we’re almost there,” He’s saying the same to each one of us: “Just wait, your blessing is coming. Trust Me, I am not leading you astray. You may have a journey to get there, but keep your eyes open for more blessings on the way. Keep your focus on ME and not on the blessing itself because you’ll miss more of what I have for you. I want to give you LIFE! Trust that My timing is perfect because I created time and am outside of time. You are in the best hands because I am IN all and THROUGH all and ABOVE all things. I AM.”

©Lauren Demuth

Revelation- The Message of Hope

Satan is the antithesis of hope. What a better way for Satan to get the church to take its focus off the hope of Christ than to distort the message of hope that encompasses the Book of Revelation. Rather than lead us to the hope of Christ’s victory, we have allowed Satan to use it to cause division in the body of Christ. The church has been split based on different theological and eschatological viewpoints of Revelation. Arguments have been fought within the church, within our families, and among friends. I’ve had this experience in my life. I grew up in Pentecostal circles and was raised with one viewpoint. When I studied the Word more on my own and with other Christians, my viewpoint changed. I even took a class in college on the Book of Revelation. But honestly, with all the hostility and divisive outcomes, this book left a bad taste in my mouth. That should’ve been a clue that this effect was not from God but rather the evil one, for God’s Word is truth and light and anything contrary to that is not of God.

So why am I writing this today? My family and I recently started engaging in Passion City Church online as part of our church and worship time. A few weeks ago we watched a sermon by Louie Giglio about Revelation, which was actually one sermon out of a series of sermons. My first reaction when I saw what it was about was, “Ok, here we go again. I would rather watch a sermon about something else.” But I decided not to change it, and I am so glad I didn’t. I got to hear Revelation taught as a Bible study without theological viewpoints or debates. It was just purely the Word of God illuminating the truth and hope of Christ. Now I’ve been a Christian for most of my life, and I’ve read through Revelation quite a few times, but in the midst of hostility and division, I forgot about the message of hope. That is the whole point of Revelation, that in the midst of all the chaos of life and times that seems unbearable, Christ already has the victory! We will get to be with Him, and we will finally be able to be in the presence of the Almighty God. My soul was stirred up after that sermon, and I decided to watch all of them from the beginning to the last one today. What struck me after each message was that it was all about Jesus, every time, straight from the Word of God. There was no debate about “the rapture” or who the 144,000 are. It was all about Jesus, His sacrifice, what He is preparing for us now, and how we will rule and reign with Him as sons and daughters of the living God. That’s why Satan has twisted it and gets us to focus on all the things that WE have chosen to divide us rather than listen to the words of Jesus as He communicates to John amazing scenes from heaven that all the forefathers would have wished they could see. We have such a privilege and honor to get a glimpse of what happens around the throne room of Yahweh. Louie Giglio is a great speaker, but I have no doubt in my mind that the Lord God anointed this series of messages because if there is any time in history that people need to understand the hope of Christ, it’s now.

With that said, I highly encourage you to check out this series: Revelation Series

As a Christian, it will leave you encouraged by the Word of God and emboldened to share the Word with others. If you aren’t a Christian, it will be the message of hope in this dark world that this is not the end of it all, but greater things are in store for those who choose to follow Jesus Christ.

I pray that you will be blessed, uplifted, encouraged and refreshed as the Word of God comes to life and the greatest hope of all time is declared.

Thank You, Father God, for the gift of Your Word which shines the light of truth in this sinful world. Thank You for this Revelation of Jesus Christ which is not simply a message of hope but THE message of hope for all nations, tribes, and tongues that all may know Your ultimate love for us and Your power against the spiritual darkness that permeates our world. We look forward to a new heaven and earth where we will be with You as THE light and where we will finally see You face to face. Thank You for the riches of Your kindness, mercy, and grace. Help us to endure trials and tribulations for the sake of Your name that You may be glorified. Refine Your church with the refiner’s fire so that what is not of You is burned up and what is of You remains so that we can be Your bride you are molding us to be. May our oil be full and lamps lit so that we are ready for the day You, the bridegroom, come for us, Your bride. Forgive us of our sins and heal us so that we can be made whole again in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

©Lauren Demuth

Being Content with Our Daily Bread

The Lord’s Prayer is one of the most memorized passages of Scripture. I can’t even count how many times I’ve read it in devotions or prayed it out loud in gatherings. I recently decided to start reading through the New Testament again from the beginning and in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, the authors share this prayer. In Matthew 6, the prayer is part of the beatitudes and is preceded by Jesus’ teaching to pray in secret rather than be like the hypocrites who pray loudly and openly to be praised by men. In verses 7-8 Jesus also teaches not to use repetitious words thinking that more words will make God hear us, but He explains that the Father already knows what we need before we ask. Rather He presents this simple prayer, which we know of as the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13):

“Pray, then, in this way:

Our Father who is in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]”

Luke’s account of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11:2-4 is more concise, but the essence is still the same. When we pray it is to the Father who is holy and in heaven. Our desire should be for His kingdom to come and for His will, not ours, to be done. We also ought to pray for our DAILY bread (to this point I will come back to). Then we are instructed to ask for forgiveness, and notice the passage says “as we also have forgiven our debtors.” We ask for forgiveness once we’ve already forgiven others. Matthew 6:14-15 expounds on this point: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” That part of the passage is a blog post topic for another time, but it’s important to remember. Then lastly we ought to pray to be kept from temptation and delivered from evil because we all fall into sin and the enemy would like nothing more than to draw us away from the Lord.

Back in April, I wrote a blog post called “The Measure of Contentment” where I shared about my sin of pride and how I was placing my contentment in the wrong things. I was called by the Lord to follow a path, but I made the task my focus rather than the Lord. It led me on a journey (which I’m still on) of what it means to be content in the Lord. I know the Lord promised success if I followed Him, but I began to realize that His timing and mine weren’t the same. The worldly idea of success would creep in, and I would wonder when I could start providing again. I would compare myself to others and wonder why I couldn’t be more like them. But when I recently read the Lord’s Prayer again, it clicked: “Give us this day our DAILY bread.” The world says to make as much money as possible and save it, invest it, etc. We tend to get to know people by what they do and judge (whether we consciously realize it or not) by what others earn for a living. But the prayer that Jesus shared as the way to pray didn’t say, “Pray for loads of wealth for the future.” Rather He said to pray “Give us this day our daily bread.” Is it wrong to be wealthy? No! The Lord can and has used wealthy people to further His kingdom. But the reality is we aren’t guaranteed tomorrow. James 4:13-15 says,

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’”

Only the Lord knows what will happen in our lives, and Jesus is teaching His disciples, who will become the leaders of the church, to pray for the Father to give them what they need for each day. Not for the next week or next year or next ten years. Today. And that’s enough. When I let this sink in, my prayer started to change from “Lord, help me to provide for my family” to “Lord, I pray that you will provide for what we need today.” And He has! I don’t have to worry about the future because the Lord already knows. I just have to be faithful to do what He’s called me to do and not compare what He’s given me to the tasks He’s given to someone else. We are a BODY of believers who all have been called to do different things for the Lord, as Paul talks about 1 Corinthians 12. The body is not made up of the same part (which would look monstrous) but multiple, unique parts with different functions. The beauty is that when we are obedient and content in Him, all the parts of the body function properly, and we become the church– the bride –that He has called us to be.

The world is going to call us foolish for not saving up as much money as possible or for not diving into every social media outlet to gain followers, customers, or people to approve of us and what we do. And to the world we are foolish—and we should be honored by that:

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

When Jesus tells His disciples to pray “Give us this day our daily bread,” He is telling them to live in faith day-by-day, confident that the Father already knows what we need. And the “daily bread” is not going to look the same for everyone, and that’s alright. Our eyes shouldn’t be roaming around (or scrolling through people’s pages) to see what others’ “daily bread” looks like. We are accountable for our own faith and for our own fruit before the Lord God, and in truth, praying for our “daily bread” is freeing because that means we know that the Lord will take care of us each day until He calls us home to be with Him. Each day may look different from the last, but He already knows what we need. And that is enough.

©Lauren Demuth

Righteousness

Since I wrote my last blog post about contentment, it has been quite a journey—a more difficult journey than I expected. Part of this journey has been learning to stop doing for the sake of doing and listen to what the Lord wants me to do (or not do). That leads me to last night where I debated back and forth between reading something I wanted to read or writing and spending time with the Lord. As I finally stopped the debate and knew what I was supposed to do, I wondered what I was going to write. And the Lord clearly said, “I want you to write a poem.” I didn’t know what to write a poem about, but He already knew what I was going to say and responded, “Write what I tell you.” The Lord has always helped me write when I’ve asked so I knew He would this time. Also, for reasons unbeknownst to me, it was important to share this poem today, so here it is:

Righteousness

Righteousness dwells in the house of the Most High

where death and shadows abate.

Newness of life springs forth

while hell’s gates close their fate.

What once was dead is now alive,

breathing for the first time in the kingdom of heaven.

Rejoice, sons and daughters of the Most High,

for the slave has become a child of God,

filled with the Spirit,

embraced by the Son,

forgiven by the Father.

Joy overflowing.

Love pursuing.

Peace overcoming.

New life triumphs over death

as flesh and spirit converge,

demanding the choice between

wickedness or righteousness.

The Spirit of God within is greater than

the spirit without,

battling temptations,

building faith,

enduring trials,

finishing the race,

when, at last, the child of God hears those fateful words,

“Well done, good and faithful servant.

Enter into My rest.”

©Lauren Demuth

The Measure of Contentment

What does being content mean? Too often I think “when I get to this certain place, I will be content.” That’s wrong for two reasons. First, it completely negates the present time, and second, it doesn’t turn out to be true. Any time I’ve gotten to “that certain place” it doesn’t satisfy like I think it will. Now you may already be thinking, “Lauren, you’re supposed to be content in the Lord.” And you would be right! But again, I have to ask myself, what does that mean? What does that look like for me to be content in the Lord?

This has been a long process for me, not because the Lord hasn’t been wonderful. He’s shown me boundless love when He speaks, disciplines, comforts, provides, and leads. When I’ve allowed myself to face the truth, the root of the problem is me, namely, my pride. I’ve let this sin reside in me for a long time, but it’s been conniving, masquerading itself as high achievement and determination to excel. To want to excel is not wrong in and of itself, but when it’s never enough, there’s something out of place. This may sound juvenile, but I loved being a student because I was graded. I could see a physical sign of the outcome of my efforts. Those achievements gave me a tangible sense of worth, whether I consciously realized it or not. I just had to know that I was doing everything right because failure wasn’t an option. While striving for excellence can be admirable, it made me afraid to fail at anything. It made me not want to try things that I wasn’t good at. School is where I felt safe so I got a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree all while seeking approval from others in various ways.

But next came being in the real world, and instead of striving for excellence out of my comfort zone, I settled for jobs where I knew I couldn’t really fail. The Lord was gracious to promote me at times, but it wasn’t until I finally pursued teaching (the first time) that I was tested. However, instead of relying on the Lord for guidance and understanding, all I could see was failure after failure. Eventually, I let my anxiety break me to a point I never thought possible, especially as a Christian. That anxiety and depression turned to shame and guilt, which only made it worse.

My pride was saying that I shouldn’t have failed, that it wasn’t an option. But that was a lie. Failure is a part of life that pushes us forward to success if we allow it to. I just couldn’t see that yet. Thankfully, the Lord God blessed me with a family who encouraged me but also didn’t sugarcoat the fact that my pride was truly my downfall. By the grace of God, I slowly climbed out of the pit as I held on to His extended hand. The Lord opened another door for teaching shortly thereafter, and although I was apprehensive, I followed where He led, and He blessed me. There were certainly challenges along the way, but I was able to apply what I learned before and try new things.

However, the Lord has a way of not letting me get too comfortable. I could probably stay in the same routine for the rest of my life if the Lord let me, but another opportunity came up to have a family business. It started growing while I was still teaching, and it got to the point where I had to choose. After much prayer, I chose to quit teaching and focus on the business where I could also be home with my son. The Lord opened the floodgates, and we were getting so many orders that it was hard to keep up. It became a full time job, and old pride was right at my doorstep. “Keep going, you’re helping your family by spending all your time here.” “This is your worth. Look how much you’re making.” So I kept pushing and soon it became my main focus. Work longer. Please your customers. Make money. This is your value to your family. Such thoughts and actions led to strife, and once again, discontentment. It was the same story with different clothes on: pride masquerading as high achievement with the drive to excel at all costs. It wasn’t until I finally stopped and spent time with the Lord about it that He showed me my pride was getting in the way, and I was not acting Christ-like. I also had a lot more to learn about business because even though it looked like I was making X amount of money, I really wasn’t making much at all. But instead of telling me to give it up, the Lord directed me to stop using that outlet for business and use a different one, making smarter and better business decisions along the way. The idea of practically starting over was daunting, but it was a clear message.

I worked and worked to get everything ready, but I was pursuing it at my pace to meet my schedule. Looking back I can’t help thinking, do I ever learn? When I thought I was done, I found out that I had to go over everything again in more detail…and I had to rely on someone else for help. I’ve never liked doing that because I want to do things my way and my pace. As you can see, pride was still hanging around. Another month and a half goes by, and I’m finally ready to reopen, but not much has happened. With all my efforts and hours of connecting with customers and trying social media outlets, I’ve only had a raindrop of orders. Then I hear myself asking God, “Didn’t you tell me to do this, to make a change? Wasn’t this supposed to be successful? I’ve worked so hard, why isn’t this working?” When I finally stopped to listen, He spoke a very clear message: “You have made this your source of contentment.” And then I understood.

Like past times in my life, I get going on what God leads me to do, but then I turn the task into my measure of contentment. I allow what’s good to be overtaken by pride. Pride leads me away from the Lord and turns into strife, frustration, anger and discontentment. Now that I know what the problem is, the Lord has told me to write all of these things so that I can now strive to understand contentment, not only to be accountable for my actions but to also have His truth in the forefront of my mind.

So what is God’s truth regarding contentment? Two passages have been circulating in my mind. The first place to start is in Philippians. Paul and Timothy are writing to the church in Philippi while Paul is imprisoned for the cause of Christ. They encourage the church to remain faithful and bold for the cause of Christ even in the midst of suffering as Paul has experienced and to be united in love and humility rather than become selfish and vain. Paul describes Christ as the ultimate example, writing, “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (2:6-8). As Christ is our example, contentment begins with selflessness and humility. He could’ve lorded His power over everyone and everything but chose contentment in the imperfect form of humanity to fulfill His purpose, spurned by love for us. In chapter 3 of the letter, Paul also encourages the Philippians to not listen to those who say they need to be circumcised in the flesh but reminds them that their righteousness comes from God through faith. They should remain steadfast and press on. In the final chapter, the church is encouraged to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (4:6-7).

Contentment has no room for anxiety because it is built on faith, believing that God will take care of things we need. It may not always be the time we expect or in the form we want, but He will hear and answer. In verse 10, Paul expresses his joy that the Philippians were able to provide for his needs, but then he continues saying, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (4:11-13). Contentment can be found in the poorest and richest of circumstances when the Lord is at the center of it. Contentment can’t be based on financial circumstances because those can change at any moment for any reason. In both situations, we must have faith in the Lord. In poor circumstances, we must have faith that the Lord will provide for what we need. In rich circumstances, we must have faith to be generous to further God’s kingdom and to use it for His purpose. This brings us to the next passage.

In Matthew 6 Jesus is speaking to His disciples about how to be different from the world, namely to focus on the eternal rather than temporary physical and emotional gains. He gives instructions about fasting in secret so that only the Father sees rather than man and about storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (vv. 16-21). He addresses the contrast of light and darkness, and more explicitly states in v. 24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” In researching the word used for “wealth” (Greek: mamona), it has a negative connotation of worldly wealth. The idea of being a servant is complete devotion to something. As servants of the Lord, we can’t truly be devoted to God and to something else. Does God bless people with wealth? Yes! We can read about a number of people throughout Scripture who have used their wealth to honor the Lord. But in this passage, it’s a matter of where our devotion and faith lie. Are they with the Lord or with the world? Jesus expounds on His statement in v. 25, “For this reason (referencing back to v. 24) I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” In verses 26-30 He continues to talk about how the Lord provides for nature in many different ways so how much more will He provide for us who are made in His image! Therefore, ““Do not worry then, saying ‘What will we eat?’ Or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”” (vv. 31-34).

Looking at this passage in terms of contentment, it boils back down to faith. Do we let our emotions, our anxiety, sway with what we see in the world? Or do we remain devoted to the Lord, trusting that He already knows what we need? Are we living in a state of “what will happen tomorrow?” rather than “how can I be content right now?” Another point to think about from this passage is how much value we have to God. Jesus elaborates how the birds of the air are fed, lilies are clothed more beautifully than Solomon, and the grass is clothed even though it will easily and quickly be burned up. We are His children for whom Jesus (at the time He’s speaking in this passage) is getting ready to sacrifice Himself. We already have immense value without having to earn it. In this passage Jesus is not only teaching truth to His disciples, but He’s preparing them for what’s to come. Some of them left their livelihoods and families to follow Christ. Later on in His ministry, Jesus tells His close disciples to take nothing with them on their travels and other times to bring what He tells them to. In every circumstance, they are being asked to have faith that God will provide the right people in the right places to give what they need. Is this not an example for us? The only way to be content in all circumstances is to seek the Lord and His kingdom first, have faith that He already knows what we need, and trust that whatever the outcome may be, the Lord’s will is best. Faith, of course, is always tested. Will we fail sometimes? Yes. I know I have many times. Jesus’ closest disciples did too. But that wasn’t the end of their ministry, and it won’t be the end of ours either. Rather, may those failures refine us to become better servants of Christ devoted wholly to Him.

~~~

Below is a quick contentment check I created while writing this post to help me when pride wants to come knocking. I plan to print it out to help keep me straight. Feel free to click on this link to use it for yourself or create your own and even add to it.

My Contentment Check

Am I:

  1. Acting out of selflessness? What can I do for others in the Body of Christ? (Philippians 2)
  2. Basing decisions in faith (not anxiety) while maintaining devotion to the Lord? (Philippians 4; Matthew 6)
  3. Basing my contentment on financial circumstances? Remember, contentment can be found in poor and rich circumstances alike with the Lord at the center (Philippians 4; Matthew 6)
  4. Focused on the present rather than the past or future? (Matthew 6:34)
  5. Embracing that the Lord values me without having to earn it (Matthew 6:30)

©Lauren Demuth

“If the Lord Wills”

James 4:13-15, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’”

Ephesians 5:15-17, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

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These are two passages written by different men to different audiences within the church. James is a Jew writing to a Jewish audience who has been scattered (James 1:1), and Paul is also a Jew, but he’s writing to the Ephesians, a Greek audience. Yet they both focus on the Lord’s will rather than following our own. It is ingrained in us–at least those of us from Western culture–to have a plan for the future, whether it’s tomorrow, a year from now or 10 years from now. I am a list-making, planning type of person. When a wrench is thrown into those plans, it’s difficult for me to adjust. I’ve gotten better over the years, but I get so focused on a task that a deterrent can change my attitude like a switch. Unfortunately, that attitude change affects my family the most. These last couple of weeks, the Lord has been constantly reminding me to say, “If the Lord wills, I will do this or that.” Having a business where I want to maintain customer satisfaction (having been a people-pleaser my whole life), I can get too focused on that. There are deadlines and remaking items that failed the first time. But then the wrench is thrown. People are sick in the house, I need to help. Our water heater rusted out, I need to watch the kids while others fix the problem. Family goes out of town so there’s less time in the shop. Animals need to be fed. Basketball practice and games come up. In short, life happens.

When I stop to think and pray about why it’s so hard to let my plans go, I realize it comes down to one main issue: control. I want to control what happens so it is done my way in the timing I think it should be done. There are a number of “I’s” and “my’s” in that statement–and there lies the problem. When I tell the Lord He is the Savior of my life and trust Him, giving up control is part of that. Not that I am a robot, but rather, understanding that His ways are truly much greater than my own. In the end, I never regret it when I trust Him and hand over control because the outcome is always better. It may not be what I expect, or the outcome may not be known right away. But it is always good. As a parent, I’m starting to understand that more. I always want the best for my son even though he may not think I’m being nice all the time. He may be having fun doing one thing, but I know it will lead to danger so I tell him to stop. He may never understand why I’m so adamant, but I do. Doesn’t the Lord do that with us as our loving Father? I am reminded of a couple of passages (although there are many more):

Luke 11:9-13, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Hebrews 12:7-11, “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.”

Even though I may think that trying to fulfill tasks is no big deal, it becomes a matter of flesh versus Spirit when I can’t accomplish what I want and my behavior changes. It’s the negative changes that occur over time and the affects that those changes have on others that should make me pause and ask myself, “Am I putting the Lord first?” “Am I putting my family next?” “Am I demonstrating Christ-like behavior to those around me?” “Why is this making me angry?” “What is the outcome if I don’t finish; is it as bad as I think it will be?” “What does the Lord want me to do, even if it’s not what I want in this moment?”

Habits and mindsets are difficult to break but not impossible. If we want to strive to do the Lord’s will and fulfill what HE has for us, parts of ourselves need to be broken and re-shaped to become more like Christ. While painful, it’s for our good, and ultimately, for His glory. We may live in this world, but our focus should not be on the things of this world. If I don’t become who the Lord has called me to be, the only person standing in my way is me. The Lord is the good Father who answers when we call. Will we listen to His response?