New and Improved

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

– Isaiah 43:19

You finally bought that new car, and it looks and drives great. In fact, it’s even better than you expected. But only a few days later you see a slick TV commercial for the 2024 model. The styling is better, there's more horsepower, and it has features that weren't available on your vehicle. Suddenly, your shiny pride-and-joy has lost its luster against the latest upgrade.

It’s inevitable. Buy a feature-packed smartphone, tablet computer, or other tech-filled device, and rest assured that a new-and-improved model will soon hit the market. Televisions exemplify this principle. It was only a few years ago that expensive Sony Trinitrons had the best picture quality. But today’s ultra-high definition flat-screens deliver amazing, life-like images at just a fraction of the price.

There’s nothing wrong with the TV you bought a few years ago. Its picture and sound quality haven’t let you down. But once you’ve watched the Super Bowl on one of those new UHD sets, you’re spoiled for good. It’s hard to go back because your expectations have reached the next level.

For better or worse, advertising agencies and marketing departments sell products and services by promoting the latest-and-greatest and what’s new-and-improved. But have you ever considered that God does much the same when it comes to our faith? Above all, our Creator wants us to upgrade our lives and futures by embracing his Son as our personal Lord and Savior. And once we accept this extremely costly — but free — offer, we put our flawed past behind us and begin our amazing journey toward eternity. 

2024 is upon us. So, are you ready to become new-and-improved through a relationship with Jesus Christ? Today’s the day to trade in that basic-cable spiritual journey for 500 channels of ultra-high-definition faith. You’ll be glad you made the switch!

Stress Test

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

– John 16:33

For most Americans, the holidays are times of festive get-togethers with family, friends, neighbors, and even co-workers. We gather around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts, and around the dinner table to savor a repeat of Thanksgiving’s menu. There are also Yuletide parties and church services to attend, and tacky outdoor light displays to critique. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. 

The flip side of Christmas, however, is the stress that accompanies it.

And that can be more serious than a dinnertime disagreement with your in-laws. The fact is that stress is a life-threatening condition linked to cardiovascular disease, workplace injuries, sleep disturbances, ulcers, and cancer. The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reports that healthcare expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers who endure high levels of stress.

Poor health is a high price to pay for what’s billed as a season of peace and joy. Likewise, it’s unfortunate that the holidays come with such a hefty price tag — and we're not talking about those sky-high MasterCard and VISA bills that will arrive in January. Like the socks and sweaters from a favorite aunt or distant cousin, Christmas-related stress comes in a variety of colors and styles. It might be physical, emotional, or financial. And not only can the holidays strain your bank account, they can also evoke turmoil when they’re a reminder of a broken relationship or the death of a loved one.

The vibrant reds and greens of Christmas are often deep blue for hurting people. Inner peace is absent and hope is in short supply. And that's when God enters the picture.

The Bible tells us that long before the world was formed, our Creator knew our name. He also knew when and where we would be born, what sort of life we would lead, and when we would die. And since we consistently broke his laws and fell short of his standards, he also knew that we'd need someone to save us from the well-deserved consequences of our transgressions. We were powerless to do it ourselves. So, God decided to do it by personally living out the human experience on Earth through his Son, Jesus Christ. He was the long-prophesied Emmanuel: God with us.

Because he lived among sinful mankind in an obscure corner of the Roman Empire, Jesus truly understands the stress of the season — and in ways we might never consider. Leading up to that first Christmas when Jesus was born among a stable-full of less-than-cleanly farm animals, Joseph and Mary (his earthly parents) were quite familiar with the condition. They had experienced emotional stress from the scandalous rumors swirling around her pregnancy. They had endured physical stress from the grueling trip to Bethlehem mandated by the Roman census. And with money in short supply, financial stress was always abundant.

But because he personally experienced it all, Jesus really does relate to us, whether it's December 25 or any other day of the year. What's more, he's promised his followers — that's you and me — that he'll never leave them or forget them. So, while the holidays may be stressful, it's through our Savior that we can always find peace of mind. May we never forget this reassuring passage from the book of Isaiah: 

Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace — in peace because they trust in you.

Joy to the World

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

–1 Chronicles 16:27

Surf the web, turn on the TV, or read a newspaper, and you’re bound to come across headline after headline about the high cost of living, unemployment, war in the Middle East, political turmoil, and degenerate human behavior. It’s no surprise that the media thrives off bad news and hyping the worst possible scenarios for maximum effect. After all, good news rarely drives ratings or sells magazines.

With scary headlines in such plentiful supply these days, how about taking a much-needed break? For one week, make the effort to avoid TV — particularly news broadcasts

or shows with a political bent. Also, keep away from similar content on the web. At the end of those quiet seven days, maybe you won’t feel quite as informed as you would have had you stayed glued to that 24-hour cable news channel. But odds are you’ll experience less stress and enjoy a more optimistic take on life.

That’s sound advice for ditching the negative. But what about finding something positive and uplifting?

As Christ-followers, we have the Gospel, which is the good news that God came to live among sinful mankind through the birth of his only son, Jesus. And since the wages of sin is death, Jesus covered it all by dying in our place on the cross. Then as predicted centuries earlier in the Old Testament, he defeated the power of sin and death through his resurrection to life. We were helpless to help ourselves. But through our simple faith in Jesus (not through our good works, deeds, or intentions), our eternal salvation and place in God’s kingdom are assured.

This remarkable news about Jesus is what gives us a much clearer perspective for tomorrow. And as the Bible tells us about the incredible promises God has kept over the centuries, our anticipation only grows as we ponder the amazing future that awaits us. Along the way, our faith-journey will have its peaks and valleys, but we’ll find real hope in our darkest hours. What’s more, we’ll also experience joy, which springs from within through our intimate relationship with God.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace," Jesus proclaimed to his disciples. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Are the headlines getting you down these days? Joy, inner peace — and the blessings that spring through the Good News about Jesus — are closer than you think!

Love Language

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

— 1 John 4:8

Love is a remarkable English word with a broad scope of meanings and implications. We say that we love our spouse, love our church, and love pizza. What’s more, we’d love for our favorite football team to win the Super Bowl. On the other hand, Hebrew, and ancient Greek — the languages of the Bible — have several such words including agape (self-sacrificial love), hesed (lovingkindness), eros (romantic love), and phileo (fraternal or friendly love). And Genesis 22:2 uses the word ahab to convey the intensely close emotional bond between Abraham and his son Isaac.

While we might broadly consider love to be a thing, it’s also very much an action word … and our Creator is our example. The apostle John wrote that “we love Him because He first loved us.” And then there’s John 3:16, which summarizes God’s good news to mankind (the Gospel):

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

That IS good news — especially considering that we’re imperfect people who constantly break God’s perfect law through our thoughts, words, and deeds. Moreover, we can’t save ourselves from the punishment we rightfully deserve. Jesus, who was sinless, paid that exorbitant price for us by dying on a cross between two criminals. And then as the Old Testament had prophesied (predicted) centuries earlier, Christ defeated death and the power of sin by rising to life. His was the ultimate act of love.

The Bible describes our most-sincere loving deeds, words, and intentions as nothing more than filthy rags and rubbish. But God’s sacrificial love for us through Jesus still demands our response. For example, we can show our love for God by keeping his commands and doing his will. And it’s in Matthew’s gospel that Christ summarized the 10 Commandments for us into two laws:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind … And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Does this sound like an impossible standard? We know that King David, who was called a man after God's own heart, failed to live up to it. So, practically speaking, how should we demonstrate God-centered lives? If we’re looking for a role model, let’s look to Mary, Jesus’ mother. God recognized the young woman’s qualities of faithfulness, responsibility, and humility, and chose her to bring his only Son into the world. It was through Mary that Jesus would come to live a perfect life among sinful mankind … and all to live out the human experience through love. She responded to her eternity-altering assignment accordingly:

“Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word.’”

All Things New

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

– Isaiah 43:19

It's often an uncertain economy. Sometimes it's a midlife crisis. But whatever the reason, special people from across America are reinventing their careers — and ultimately — who they are. In his book What Should I Do with the Rest of My Life? author Bruce Frankel introduces us to several remarkable individuals who turned their backs on the past to do something completely different. Thomas Dwyer, a 70-something former intelligence officer, joined a dance troupe. And then there's Deborah Jack, who left behind her two-decades-long career in financial publishing to go into business for herself with a Fetch! Pet Care franchise.

But one of the biggest change stories of all involves Fife Symington. Back in 1997, the former two-term governor of Arizona was convicted on seven counts of bank and wire fraud, and he was sentenced to 30 months in prison and five years of probation. A federal appeals court eventually overturned his convictions, and he received a presidential pardon. Nevertheless, Symington abandoned politics, graduated from culinary school, and became an accomplished pastry chef!

These success stories are nothing less than inspirational. But even so, many folks avoid new things — particularly as they get older. But big changes can reap even bigger rewards. And as the saying goes, people often don't see the light until they feel the heat.

You won't find any arguments about that in the Bible. In Genesis, we read that God told Abraham, who was an old man at the time, to leave his beloved country for a far-off land. And because he obeyed, Abraham became the father of Israel. Moses also had a midlife crisis that drastically altered his career path. Raised within the Egyptian royal family, he fled the country after killing a cruel taskmaster, and spent the next several decades in anonymity as a shepherd. But God never forgot Moses. And he used his unlikely servant to switch gears yet again. This time, it was for Moses' return to Egypt to tell Pharaoh — the world's most-powerful ruler — to set God's people free.

God may or may not call you to make drastic changes to your career or address. But he does call on every Christ-follower to make a profound spiritual change — one that lets us see through his eyes and take on his perspective. As Jesus puts it, we all must be born again.

The word-picture the apostle Paul paints through the book of Ephesians is that we must strip off the old self and put on the new, much like exchanging filthy rags for a beautiful new set of clothes. But how do we do that? It all begins by admitting that we're fatally flawed individuals who can do nothing on our own to save ourselves from the punishment we deserve. And the next step is to believe on Jesus Christ, the only One who can save us because he long ago paid our sin-debt in full. After all, we can never do enough or be good enough on our own merits to meet God’s standards for perfection. It's only through our faith in Jesus that we can become a new creation.

With 2023 winding down, the timing of this crucial truth is hardly coincidental. So, as we approach the New Year, let's do more than make half-hearted resolutions about changing for the better. Let's instead start 2024 with a better attitude ... and a new Spirit.

 

Let God Be the Judge

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

– Luke 6:37 

Judgment is arguably one of the most misunderstood concepts in the Bible. For example, many people — including some professing Christ-followers — say that no one has the right to judge anyone … or at least call them out for a supposed sinful deed, attitude, or behavior. And they’re also quick to quote Jesus’ words from Matthew’s gospel:

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

With that in mind, Scripture does direct Believers to hold fellow brothers and sisters-in-Christ accountable for living according to God’s high standards. The key is that we must first address our own shortcomings to avoid committing another familiar sin: hypocrisy. But rest assured, we can judge fellow Christ-followers if we do so fairly from pertinent biblical standards. It’s in John 7:24 that Jesus

cautioned: 

“Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

And in Matthew 7:18-19 he also made this familiar observation about judging others:

“A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.”

Christ-followers have open access to God’s truth through the Bible, prayer, and even wise counsel from fellow Believers. We should therefore have less trouble than others with telling right from wrong and good from evil — and living our lives accordingly. However, when we point our finger at someone else, our hand’s other four fingers point back at us. That’s why we must look closely in the mirror: Are our own words, thoughts, and actions beyond reproach? And we also must consider if the would-be transgressor simply needs guidance. Is he or she already a fellow Christ-follower? Or is the so-called “sinner” someone who never signed up for Jesus’ walk of faith in the first place? 

The answers determine the proper action. But either way, Christ-followers must hold themselves to a higher standard of behavior. And on the flipside, we must let God be the judge of those outside the faith. He knows the whole story, and we’re hardly in the position to condemn anyone. As we read in Romans 14:10:

“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

Regardless of what we think or say about judging others, let’s remember that love should be our core value and motivation in whatever we think, say, and do. The apostle John sums up this vast principle in just three small words: God is Love. So, with that in mind, let’s hand over the gavel and let God be the judge.

Saying Yes to God

Then I looked things over and told the leaders, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of your enemies! The Lord is great and fearsome. So think of him and fight for your relatives and children, your wives and homes!"

– Nehemiah 4:14

It’s a common misconception — particularly among new Believers — that life’s struggles will disappear once they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But the truth is quite the opposite. In fact, Christ-followers are particularly susceptible to the obstacles of life when they say YES to God and seek to do his will. 

These pitfalls and detours can take several disheartening forms. It might be criticism or ridicule of our efforts from an enemy, co-worker, or even a family member. And in extreme cases, the situation could turn malicious, violent, or even fatal.

The saying “No good deed goes unpunished” applies here, which is why we shouldn’t be surprised when we take heat for trying to help others see the light. In fact, we should beware if our faith-journeys are too smooth and trouble-free. It could mean that the devil doesn’t consider us a threat to his plans. And it’s then that we can become our own worst enemy: 

“How terrible when everyone says only good things about you,” warns Jesus, “because their ancestors said the same things about the false prophets.”

So, what should we do when saying yes to God gets too tough? 

The first thing is to know our opposition and acknowledge its existence. Running away, ignoring the situation, or pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it disappear. Then we need to pray for God’s help and guidance. Likewise, we must pray for our enemies — and even do good for them. And finally, we can’t be afraid to stand up for what we’re doing. If it’s something that comes from God, saying yes to him and fighting for what’s right is worth the trouble and effort. 

That’s a tall order. But remember that we’re not in the fight alone, and God has the last word. Moreover, since Jesus has already paid the price on the cross for the world’s sins, the battle is already won, and the obstacles are overcome. As the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Christ-followers in Ephesus:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

There’s a spiritual battle underway between Christ-followers and the adversary’s deceit and false appearance of power. But rest assured, victory is ours when we say YES to God.

Absent Without Leave

Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.

– Ecclesiastes 10:18

Employees call it playing hooky, taking a mental hygiene break … or simply calling in sick. Their employers, however, call it absenteeism: those occasions when employees don’t show up to work because of illness, injury, scheduled time away, or some other reason. But whatever it’s called, absenteeism is costly. According to Circadian, a global workforce performance company, unscheduled absenteeism costs about $3,600 per year for each hourly worker and $2,660 for salaried employees.

That’s an eye-opener. But human resources professionals actually face a problem with a much higher price tag. Presenteeism occurs when employees come to work when they’re sick or otherwise unable to perform up to their usual standards. They’re technically on the job, but they really shouldn’t be. After all, sick employees can compound the issue by infecting their co-workers, customers, and even clients. The Harvard Business Review estimates that presenteeism costs the U.S. economy about $150 billion per year in lost productivity.

Such losses are astounding. But there’s another type of presenteeism that’s even more devastating. It’s not an illness spread through an office building or passed behind the counters of a fast-food restaurant. Instead, it’s a common affliction found in homes around the globe that damages and destroys relationships and tempts families to turn away from God.

It’s a sin called passivity. Not to be confused with laziness, passivity often appears in those who return home from the office each day, only to use TV, the internet, or computer games to tune out their spouse and children. They’re at home. But they’re not really there when their loved ones need them the most.

It’s easy to see how this activity (or lack thereof) can corrode personal relationships. But to God, it’s even worse. That’s because he calls Christ-followers to manage their households, love their spouses, and raise their children according to his holy ways. 

Domestic passivity is hardly a benign issue. And make no mistake: the devil is behind it. Satan knows that he can take over the home if he can take out the husband or wife. And when spouses abdicate their responsibilities and abandon their families, the lasting societal damage is enormous.

It’s a serious illness that calls for strong spiritual medicine. And what’s the remedy? First, we need to recognize our sin and turn away from it. And then through prayer — preferably with our spouse — we must seek God’s forgiveness through Jesus, along with the strength to manage our households by his standards

The Old Testament hero Joshua long ago addressed this modern-day issue with this declaration:

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living, he told the Israelites. “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

A-ha Moment

Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.

– Matthew 15:14 

An a-ha moment is that split second when our eyes are opened to a spiritual truth that changes everything. As Christ-followers, we can experience an a-ha when God shows us that we're going down the wrong path in some area of our life. It's then up to us to respond and turn in the right direction.

Then there's the ultimate a-ha: When non-believers finally awaken to their need for Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. And that's not just a temporary condition — it's an eternal revelation. When God's light gets through, we can finally see clearly. But unfortunately, the world still chooses to remain blind and enjoy the darkness of its existence. In fact, if you're a believer who's open about your faith, the world won't ignore you. Instead, it will likely accuse you of exhibiting hate or bigotry. Just watch TV, surf the Web, or listen to a podcast. You don't have to look hard to find content featuring Hollywood celebrities, academics, or other "progressive" thinkers, who are quick to point their fingers at so-called intolerant Christians.

But depending on its context, is intolerance always a bad thing? After all, Jesus doesn't turn a blind eye to sin. What's more, he declares himself to be the exclusive pathway to God.

"I am the way, the truth and the life," we read in John's gospel. "No one comes to the Father except through me."

That's not very tolerant of him. And his bold proclamation defies today's inclusive, politically correct environment. After all, it hurts feelings and declares that one faith is better than all others. But society's demands for open-mindedness and equality are irrelevant. Jesus has no tolerance for false, second-rate gods and allegiances.

As Christ-followers, we have open access to God's truth through the Bible, prayer, and even wise counsel from fellow believers. We should therefore have less trouble than others with telling right from wrong. But actually doing it is another matter. And that opens us up — and often rightfully so — to accusations of self-righteousness and hypocrisy. That's because the world is watching and comparing our Sunday morning words to our weekday deeds.

Let's all take a look in the mirror. Are our words, thoughts, and actions beyond reproach? Jesus was right on the mark when he said we must remove the plank from our own eye before we can remove the speck from our neighbor's eye. So, is your favorite "sinner" someone who needs God's truth ... or is he or she already a Christ-follower? On the other hand, maybe they never signed up for Jesus' walk of faith in the first place.

The answers to these questions should determine our response. Meanwhile, Christ-followers must hold themselves to a higher standard and let God be the judge of others outside the faith. He knows the whole story, and we're hardly in a position to condemn anyone. 

Let’s consider that today’s a-ha moment.

Dirty Laundry

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

– Matthew 8:5

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.

You won’t find this familiar saying anywhere in the Bible. But many people believe it’s the Gospel truth. We start or end most days with a hot shower or bath. We stock our bathrooms with antibacterial soaps. And we buy costly laundry detergents and bleaches promising brilliant whites and vivid colors. It all adds up to a global soap and detergent industry involving hundreds of companies with a combined annual market size exceeding $125 billion.

Cleanliness is also part of our popular culture. Mr. Clean has been a recognized Proctor and Gamble icon for more than 50 years. Ivory Soap — famous for more than a century — promotes itself as 99 44/100% Pure. And there’s even a popular Tide detergent NASCAR race car.

Our desire to stay clean seems to be hard-wired into our DNA. But this intense longing covers much more than our face and hands. We also want to be just as clean on the inside. That means a clean heart, a clean conscience, and a clean spirit. And what we want most is a clean start in life.

But from the earliest chapters of the Bible, we read that mankind has chosen to turn its back on God and do its own thing. We’ve decided to live our lives on our own terms and ignore the One who made us, knows us, and loves us. And by disobeying God, we’ve destroyed our pristine environment and become stained with a spot on our souls that the strongest detergent can never remove. 

“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin,” pleaded King David, the one who was called a man after God’s own heart. It’s this same plea that we should offer up to God every day.

The good news is that God long ago responded to our helplessness in a most miraculous way. But not by devising some sort of payment plan for all the damage we’ve done to our own lives and to others. The price was much too high for that.

Instead, God decided to clean the slate himself through the death of his only Son, Jesus Christ. So as predicted centuries earlier in the Old Testament, He came to earth in the form of a helpless infant, grew up and lived a faultless, sin-free life, and was unjustly executed for trumped-up crimes that He didn’t commit. 

It was all so grossly unfair because Jesus was without fault. But there was no other way to fully pay the penalty that we alone deserve. After all, He was the perfect sacrifice who came to earth to make us right with God. So, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God sees us as He sees his own Son: The One who is stainless and blameless. Therefore, all we must do for a clean start is accept this free — and incredibly generous — gift of grace. 

“I, the LORD, invite you to come and talk it over,” says God in the book of Isaiah. “Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool.”

Nobody’s hands are clean, but there is a way to make them spotless. Now’s the time to come clean with God.

Hope Personified

“I myself am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus told her. “The man who believes in me will live even though he dies, and anyone who is alive and believes in me will never die at all. Can you believe that?”

– John 11:25

One of the great things about the English language is that a single word can mean so many different things. For example, we might say that we love going to church, we love our children, and we’d love for our favorite football team to win the Super Bowl.

The same holds true for the word hope. For example, we hope that COVID-19 won’t return. We hope we’ll make it to the office on time. And we also put our hope for eternal salvation in Jesus. But why should we hope for that? It’s because Jesus is hope personified.

During his brief time on earth, Jesus cured the sick, raised the dead, forgave sins, and became a living sacrifice to pay the price for all the wrongs of the world — just as God had planned it at the foundation of the world. Jesus’ resurrection from the grave — just as he had predicted it — proved his power over death. He also fulfilled prophecies written centuries before his birth. And 2,000 years later, Jesus' words continue to change lives and deliver hope through the fact that God has it covered.

This is a fundamental certainty that every Christ-follower should embrace. But sometimes we can't see the big picture. We don’t know the life-changing people and situations that God will place into our existence. And we also don’t have his vantage point of knowing what’s around the corner and miles up the road. Moreover, it’s hard for us to see a greater purpose in our lives when we're going through the pain of unemployment, lingering illness, family issues, or even death. But God is in control. And for those who trust and follow him, he offers this assurance:

"Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you,” says our Creator. “Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

To borrow the title of an old-time Gospel song, this promise is nothing less than Blessed Assurance. We know without a doubt that God — through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross — has taken care of our past, present, and future. So, in a world marked by tragedy, sorrow, and uncertainty, we can still find hope for today … and tomorrow.

 

It’s the Real Thing

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

– Acts 4:12

One of the world’s most recognized brands, Coca-Cola traces its roots back to 1886, when the first glass of the tasty beverage was served in an Atlanta, GA, pharmacy. The drink grew in popularity — and it wasn’t without imitators. Pepsi arrived in 1893, followed by Royal Crown (“RC”), Shasta, and a host of others. In the late 1960s to help further differentiate Coke from the competition, company executives chose the familiar It’s the Real Thing slogan in response to research that revealed “… young people seek the real, the original, and the natural as an escape from phoniness.”

Now fast-forward more than 50 years, and people of all ages still seek authenticity — especially when it comes to matters of faith and religion. There’s no shortage of options. And furthering the confusion is the common notion that whichever one we choose, it really doesn't matter, just so long as we’re sincere and it makes us happy. After all, everyone is entitled to their own truth. It's all relative. And we're all

worshiping the same god. Right?

On the contrary! The Bible reveals that Jesus made some startling claims that clearly contradict today’s anything-goes take on faith. And he also backed them up. For example, Scripture accurately predicted Christ’s birth — even the name of the tiny village where it would happen — centuries before the fact. And in Jesus’ brief time on earth, he proved himself as the Son of God by curing the sick, raising the dead, forgiving sins, and being a living sacrifice to pay the price for the sins of the world. His resurrection from the grave (also as he predicted) proved his power over death. And 2,000 years later, Jesus' words continue to change lives and make an eternal difference.

"I am the vine; you are the branches," we read in John's gospel. "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

Many people — even those who aren't Christ-followers — agree that Jesus was a "good" man and a "wise" teacher. But the hot button question is whether or not he's the only way to God. The short answer is … YES! Jesus declares that no one can come to the Father (God) except through him. However, these days that's a claim that makes people uncomfortable. It's an assertion of exclusivity. And many would call it intolerant.

But maybe it's not so exclusive after all. Jesus' death and resurrection make it possible for anyone to have eternal life, and no one who wants a new beginning through the Savior is turned away. And unlike manmade religions, the real way to God isn't about keeping certain rules, saying special prayers, or eating (or not eating) particular foods. Instead, being a Christ-follower is about putting our faith in him, accepting his free gift of salvation, and letting him live through us.

Today there are about 20 major world religions along with thousands of related beliefs and their offshoots. And they all have something in common: their emphasis on doing. But Christianity — the simple faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior — is instead about what's been done. We can't earn our salvation or do enough good deeds to cancel out our sins. And without faith in Jesus, we also can’t please God.

"It is finished!" Jesus proclaimed as he hung from the cross to save you and me. It was the only way. And It’s the Real Thing.

Liberty or Death

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

– 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

What better symbolizes freedom than the Statue of Liberty? 

Constructed in France, disassembled, and then shipped to New York in 214 crates, “Lady Liberty” was re-assembled and later officially dedicated in October 1886. Since then, the iconic statue has inspired millions around the world to experience freedom by immigrating to the United States and escaping the hardships or persecutions they faced in their mother countries. 

Today, Americans enjoy countless rights and privileges protected through federal, state, and local laws. The First Amendment of the Constitution even guarantees our freedom to worship God as we see fit. But if we look at things through the upside-down way of Jesus, no one (of any nationality) has any real freedom. The truth is that we’re all slaves! 

Regardless of what’s written in our Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Independence, everyone without exception is a slave to someone or something. They might not have literal chains around their wrists and ankles. But they still lack God’s perspective of true freedom. As Jesus put it so bluntly:

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

This type of sin represents bondage to the world’s values, and it comes in many forms. It might be slavery to money and possessions, pleasures, fame, a career — or even religion. But however it appears, sin boils down to substituting false, man-made gods for the One and Only True Creator.

Christ-followers are also slaves. But the big difference is that they willingly choose to give up the temporary things of this world for the true freedom gained from an eternal relationship with Jesus.

“Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey,” asked the Apostle Paul, “whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Paul’s question reveals that our choice is one of liberty or death: Following Jesus or following sin.

Is this a difficult decision? Let’s remember that our earthly possessions aren’t really our own, and we certainly can't expect them to last. We can lose our jobs unexpectedly through layoffs or so-called downsizing, and our homes and property can be ruined through a natural or man-made disaster. Serious health issues can arise at any time. And let’s face it: the mortality rate for everyone is 100%. No one gets out alive.

The fact is that one day we WILL lose it all in one way or another. And unfortunately, most people will choose to do it through their slavery to sin. But there’s a far better and more satisfying choice: Becoming a lifelong servant to a very kind master by accepting Jesus’ generous offer of salvation.

"Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever," Christ assures us. "So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Take it or leave it, the choice is ours: Liberty or Death.

Road Warriors

Even the hairs on your head are counted. So don't be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.

– Luke 12:7

Think your daily commute is rough? 

Even if you’ve braved the infamous rush hours of Atlanta, Northern Virginia, New York City, or even Los Angeles, count your blessings that you don’t live in Sao Paulo, Brazil. According to the Urban Mobility Research Network, gridlock in that South American metropolis of 12.4 million means that some residents spend the equivalent of one month per year in traffic, or 2.4 hours per day. And as car ownership increases there — and with it further congestion — these numbers will only grow.

Sao Paulo residents (“Paulistos”) cope the best they can as the gridlock consumes more and more of their lives. But a sense of helplessness leaves many of these road warriors feeling angry, exhausted, and depressed. This quote from one frazzled commuter says it all:

"I feel useless, like I am a prisoner," said Andreia de Oliveira, an architect who spends between two and three hours each day going to and from work. "I could be at the gym, studying, at home relaxing. But instead, I am stressed and frustrated."

You might not have to suffer through that level of bumper-to-bumper traffic. But you — like every human being — have at one time or another felt like things have spiraled out of control. Maybe you feel like that today. (And for good reason.) But believe it or not, God happens to be in control of the situation.  

God’s sovereignty over circumstances is a fundamental concept that every Christ-follower should embrace. But one reason we don't is because we can't see the big picture. We don’t know the life-changing people and situations he’ll bring into our existence. Likewise, we don’t have his vantage point of knowing what’s around the corner and miles up the road. And obviously, it’s hard for us to see a greater purpose in our lives when we're going through the pain of unemployment, lingering illness, family problems ... and even death. But God is in total control. And for those who trust and follow him, he offers this assurance:

"Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you,” says our Creator. “Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Have things gone haywire in your life? If not, they will eventually. But don’t lose hope. God cares for each of us and even invites us to be his sons and daughters through a personal relationship with his own Son, Jesus Christ. With this Good News in mind, we can count on God’s words of healing and hope through Psalm 147:3 — a timeless promise meant for each of us today:

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Gospel Truth

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness …

– 2 Timothy 3:16

Can we really believe what's in the Bible? And is all that stuff about Jesus rising from the dead really true? In a word … YES! And here’s how we know:

First, the Bible not only claims to be God's Word, it backs it up with hundreds of prophesies (predictions) about events that actually happened decades or centuries later. For example, the Old Testament records in detail God's plan for saving mankind. The prophet Micah wrote that the Savior would be born — in of all places — an obscure Middle Eastern town called Bethlehem. And as we read in the New Testament, Jesus later fulfilled these prophesies to the letter through his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection!

Historically and scientifically accurate, the Bible is also the most studied and critiqued book in history. Try as many have, no one has been able to disprove its claims. Luke, the physician who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, also wanted the real scoop. So, he interviewed the people who knew Jesus best and could attest to his veracity. Let’s consider the opening lines of Luke's first book:

"Many people have tried to tell the story of what God has done among us. They wrote what we had been told by the ones who were there in the beginning and saw what happened. So, I made a careful study of everything and then decided to write and tell you exactly what took place. ... I have done this to let you know the truth about what you have heard."

The apostle Peter — someone who knew Jesus personally — also presented his own testimony:

"When we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling just clever stories that someone invented," he wrote. "But we saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes."

It all adds up to a mountain of convincing evidence that would stand up in court. So, as Christ-followers seeking to grow in our faith, what's our response to this awesome reality?

First, we should take time each day to read and memorize the Bible. After all, it's our Creator’s message to us that covers just about every facet of life. And of course, we also need to obey it — even if it doesn't always make sense at the time. What's more, we should delight in it because we know it's the source of truth for our life. And that all leads to our final response: TRUST.

Yes, God's word to us through the Bible is trustworthy. And who's better to confirm that than someone who very much believed it himself: Jesus. Luke's gospel tells us that Christ even launched his public ministry by reading passages from the Book of Isaiah:

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

A tiny Jewish congregation was the first audience for these stunning words of new-found meaning. But Jesus also meant them for everyone — even those of us today — with ears to hear and hearts to believe.

Let's Go!

Then Jesus said to all the people: “If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me.”

– Luke 9:23

The June 6, 1944, landing on the French beaches of Normandy — the bloody event best known as D-Day — involved an estimated 2 million Allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen plus thousands of naval vessels and aircraft. About 17 billion pounds of supplies supported it. And if it weren’t for a stubborn weatherman and a general who were willing to risk the outcome of World War II, this history-changing invasion might have turned out quite differently.

American, British, and Canadian troops had trained for D-Day for months. And the German military knew that an invasion of Europe would come sooner or later. The question was where … and when. June 5 was the original date with destiny. But the weather was questionable and could make the English Channel treacherous for the thousands of vulnerable landing craft and support vehicles. Dr. James Martin Stagg, the Allies’ lead weatherman, advised postponing the massive invasion. But he told supreme commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower that there should be a break in the clouds on June 6. Several members of the meteorological team disagreed with Stagg’s interpretation of the weather charts. But after considering the situation for just 30 seconds, Eisenhower made his commitment by announcing, “OK, let’s go.”   

Commitment is a rare quality that God has valued in his people for thousands of years. Joshua, one of the great servant leaders of the Old Testament, displayed this trait when he challenged the tribes of Israel to choose who they would serve: the false gods of their ancestors or the one True God. 

“But as for me and my household,” declared Joshua, “we will serve the Lord."

Jesus also seeks this same level of total commitment from his modern-day followers. Rather than would-be believers who might help build his kingdom if it’s not too inconvenient for them, Christ demands an all-or-nothing relationship from those willing to give the little they have to eventually gain everything.

Does this sound unrealistic? Jesus’ closest friends once thought so. One day, a rich young man asked Christ what he had to do to gain eternal life. Knowing what was in the man’s heart, Jesus reminded him about following God’s commandments about theft, adultery, murder, lying, and honoring one’s parents. When the man replied that he had kept these laws since childhood, the Savior told him that he lacked just one thing: the need to sell all his possessions.

Jesus knew that rather than loving God with all his heart, soul, and mind (the first of the 10 Commandments), the rich man was actually committed to money. The would-be follower was crushed by Jesus’ harsh revelation and soon turned away. And Jesus’ apostles were just as amazed. “If this is the way it is,” they asked, “who can ever be saved?”

“What is impossible for man,” Christ responded, “is possible with God.”

The lesson here is that God is committed to us. But are we just as committed to Him?

Speak Up!

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

– Acts 4:18-20

The saying goes that loose lips sink ships. And in wartime, careless overheard words do lead to lost battles, planes, and ships ... as well as to fatalities and other casualties. So, it should be no surprise that as we go about our daily activities, our own loose lips can cause immense damage — and even spiritual death — when the wrong words reach the wrong person.

A related adage is that you don’t let your mouth write a check that you can’t cash. In other words, don’t say something unless you mean it and are willing to back it up with action. Our tongues can get us into lots of hot water. And when we’re too quick to speak and even quicker to anger, catastrophe and regret often follow.

However, there are times when the Holy Spirit can convict us to speak up without the need for much thought, such as when we witness obvious injustice, cruelty, or other violations of God’s law. And that message comes in many forms — but never in a way that contradicts Scripture. For example, it might be through that small, still voice that tells us the right thing to do in an unexpected situation. A spiritual directive could also come through Bible study, a situation at home or at work, daily circumstances, and even that chance meeting with a friend you haven’t spoken with in years. Was that unexpected late-night phone call or text just a coincidence? Not necessarily!

When it comes to entertainment, politics, or sports, we’re likely quick to speak up for our favorite celebrity or president — or even defend our opinion about who’s the NFL’s greatest quarterback. But what about issues of much greater importance? Let’s take the advice of King Solomon, who offers us these timeless words of wisdom recorded in Proverbs 31:8-9:

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; defend the rights of all those who have nothing,” he tells his 21st century readers like you and me. “Speak up and judge fairly, and defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Home of the Brave

I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9

Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage was once required reading in high school English classes from coast to coast. Set on the bloody battlefields of the Civil War, this 1895 masterpiece was so realistic that the author often received letters from veterans, who wrote to inquire about his regiment. In fact, Crane was born six years after the war — the fourteenth child of a Presbyterian minister!

The Red Badge of Courage is the story of Henry Fleming, a naïve youth who, against his mother’s wishes, joins the Union Army to find his measure of excitement and glory. But Henry soon discovers the horrific realities of war when his regiment attacks the enemy from behind. Henry and several other soldiers run from the carnage. Wounded and bleeding from a stiff blow from a rifle butt (delivered by another “lost” Yankee), Henry eventually makes it back to camp with the help of a fellow soldier. Remarkably, no one suspects him of desertion.

Henry’s baptism of fire quickly changes the innocent young man into a battle-wise vet. He’s involved the next day in several frontline skirmishes with the rebel army. And later, his colonel compliments the former coward for his bravery in combat. Henry’s transformation was both remarkable and complete. It was just hours before that he had abandoned his comrades and run for his life. Now, Henry held the line and even encouraged his fellow boys in blue to fight even harder.

The Red Badge of Courage is not an overtly Christian novel. But as a “PK” (Pastor’s Kid) and former seminary student, it’s likely that the author knew a thing or two about redemption and the Power that enables regular people to do the seemingly impossible. It’s also likely that most of us can identify with Crane’s main character, Henry. We may not be facing a fierce enemy army on a distant battlefield. But we all struggle against intimidating foes of one form or another. Unemployment, debt, addiction, and disease are a few obvious examples. Is it any wonder that Satan uses fear as his primary weapon against Christ-followers?

The good news is that we’re not alone in the trenches. Our God is always with us, and he calls every Believer to be strong and brave. Moreover, we can be encouraged by the average people (like you and me) that our Creator enables to do extraordinary things. It was David — an obscure shepherd boy — who killed the fierce giant Goliath with a single stone from a slingshot. And this same shepherd boy eventually became the King of Israel and the one God called “… a man after My own heart.” 

Likewise, it was the apostle Peter, who quite literally dove into the deep end when he accepted Jesus’ call to walk on water. When Peter began to doubt (and sink), Christ saved him once the dubious follower called out in faith. Later, this same follower — who would soon deny even knowing Jesus — became a bold preacher of a growing faith-movement called The Way. Two books of the New Testament also bear Peter’s name. 

As Christ-followers, God doesn’t expect us to solve the world’s problems. Instead, it’s by having the courage to step out in faith and let Him work through us that we can make a world of difference.

Help Wanted

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

– Luke 10:2

The news is filled with stories about job layoffs, empty storefronts, and companies fleeing big cities. Nevertheless, Help Wanted signs are commonplace, and some businesses can’t fill their open positions. If you’d like to be considered for one, be aware that employers prefer experienced, can-do candidates who meet their exacting criteria. And those who fail to impress and separate themselves from the competition won’t be invited to a second interview.

Your first hurdle is to demonstrate that you’re available and can do the work. What’s more, employers must decide if they like you. Even if you’re well-qualified, you probably won’t get the job if they think you lack the right chemistry. And they also want to know if you’re a risk. In other words, do you have a reputation for being difficult to manage? And finally, you must be affordable. Employers will eliminate you from the running if they think your salary demands are unreasonable.

Fortune 500 companies aren’t the only ones with high standards for their team members. For example, Christ-followers are tasked with preparing God’s Kingdom and being a bright light in a dark, troubled world. And since it’s such an important job that can yield eternal, life-changing rewards, only certain candidates are considered. If you’re up for the challenge, be aware that you must be available on an as-needed basis. (Expect to work weekends and holidays!) You also need to be obedient and follow the Boss’s (Jesus) instructions — even if they don’t make much sense at the time. Humility is likewise important, so you should share the credit whenever it’s due. Expect overtime and sacrifice. And to top it off, you have to take the initiative and be on the lookout for opportunities to help your customers (neighbors), both local and foreign.

Is it any wonder that most people won’t respond to Christ’s Help Wanted sign? To quote the U.S. Navy’s old recruiting slogan, “It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure.” 

Here’s Jesus’ admonition to his would-be employees as recorded in Luke’s gospel:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Landing a job can be hard — even in a vibrant economy. But here’s some good news: Jesus is hiring right now for his organization’s growing team. And many of his highest producers started with no experience in the field. Yes, the working conditions aren’t always ideal. But there are plenty of rewards along the way ... and the retirement plan is out of this world!

All Things New

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

– Psalm 51:1

Ever had a computer or smartphone that’s infected by a virus or malware? If so, you know that helpless feeling when it crashes, freezes, or slows to a maddening crawl. And soon enough, that once top-of-the-line machine becomes nothing more than an expensive plastic paperweight.

But don’t lose hope. There are reputable companies that can not only clean out such infections, they can also help prevent future problems by fixing unrelated performance issues. So, what was once a dead or balky computer can be restored to a better-than-new condition.

Every Christ-follower for the last 2,000 years can relate to this modern-day illustration. Like a crippled machine made whole again, Christ-followers become born again once they accept Jesus Christ through faith as their Lord and Savior. We start over at that point with a clean slate — and ready to do good works to advance God’s kingdom. Think about it: Everything we’ve done wrong since birth — none of it will be held against us after we leave this life on earth! All the ways we’ve mistreated others, the lies we’ve told, and the potential we’ve wasted over the years … It’s all forgiven because Jesus paid the price by dying for us on the cross. 

Now declared justified in God’s eyes, we can look forward to an eternity of joy with our Creator. But until that day when we meet our Savior face to face, we should ask him to empower us to live restored, fruit-bearing, Spirit-filled lives, which the apostle Paul explains through the New Testament’s Book of Galatians:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Of course, we’re not saved from the punishment we deserve because of any good deeds we might do. If that were the case, it would be possible to earn our way to God’s acceptance. The fact is that our feeble efforts and good intentions are never enough. So, there’s nothing left for us to do except to follow God’s simple plan of salvation — and accept his free gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. 

It's through our Savior that we find restoration. And it’s then that all things are new again.

Can I Get a Mulligan?

Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.

– Psalm 32:1

There are few do-overs in the game of life. But sometimes there are in the game of golf. For example, if a golfer slices their shot into the woods or a deep sand trap, they might ask their opponent for a mulligan — a chance to try again.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get a mulligan every time we fail in life? Like for the times we speak rudely to a family member or cut off another motorist in traffic. Or when we gossip about someone at church or “forget” to report some income on our tax forms. Better still, how about a do-over for that night (25 years ago) when we shoplifted on a dare from a friend? Big or small, our failures can weigh heavy on our hearts. We can’t stop thinking about them and about what could have been. 

How different our lives would be if we could simply erase those ugly moments in time and start over with a clean slate. The truth is that we can all use a few mulligans.

The apostle Peter understood this sentiment. Although he was one of Jesus’ earliest followers, witnessed his Master’s miracles, and even walked on water (until his faith ran out), this bold individual known as The Rock failed the test more than once. For example, we can read in Matthew 26 about Peter’s declaration to stand by Jesus — and even die, if necessary — no matter what. But only hours after the Savior’s betrayal and arrest, Peter denied even knowing him. And not just once, but three times!

That’s sobering stuff. But the good news is that God understands our human limitations. What’s more, we can find his solution to this universal problem throughout the Bible:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” we read in 1 John. And this passage from Proverbs delivers additional reassurance: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

That message on a popular bumper sticker sums it up: Christians aren’t perfect, they’re just forgiven. It’s when we desperately need a mulligan to erase our failures — whether we’re on or off the golf course — that we can always count on God’s undeserved kindness. We just need to confess our shortfalls to Jesus in faith. The result is a clean scorecard. A complete and total do-over. A mulligan.

“How far has the Lord taken our sins from us?” the psalmist asks. “Farther than the distance from east to west!”

 

Family Matters

As many as received Him, to them He gave the right, the authority, to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name.

– John 1:12

Baseball legend Babe Ruth. Apple mastermind Steve Jobs. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Country music superstars Faith Hill and Shania Twain. 

Other than being famous for excelling at their professions, what do they have in common? They were all adopted. 

According to the Adoption Network, about 115,000 children are adopted each year in the United States, and about 5 million Americans overall are adopted. And as anyone who has been through the process will tell you, adoption can be stressful, tedious, and very expensive. What’s more, arrangements with birth parents can fall through at the last minute, and agency fees, court costs, and other legal expenses can easily exceed tens of thousands of dollars. But for the right adoptive parents whose hearts are set on a special child, no price is too high.

Scripture reveals that God is quite familiar with the adoption process, its struggles, and legalities. That’s because in a very real sense, he’s the adoptive parent of every Christ-follower. When we first put our faith in his Son — Jesus Christ — as our Savior, God acted legally on our behalf and paid all the related costs. The result? Our adoption into God’s royal family.

But just as adopted children don’t pick their new parents, the apostle John’s gospel reminds us that the same is true for our heavenly adoption: 

“You did not choose me; I chose you,” Jesus told his disciples. “And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.”

Before God became our Heavenly Father, we were spiritually dead. And since we broke God’s laws, our sinfulness had made us his enemies ... and him the Judge. What’s so remarkable is that this same Judge has declared us “not guilty” because of his willingness to pay the high price of our adoption through Jesus’ death on the cross. And for us — through our adoption — came a change of family, name, and home. As God’s adopted children, it also meant an array of new privileges and life-changing responsibilities.

The implications are remarkable. God — as our loving Father — is now approachable through prayer. He’s no longer some cold, impersonal Being who’s only accessible through a priest. In fact, Jesus outraged the strict religious authorities of the day by referring to God as “Abba,” which means daddy in the Aramaic language. And he happens to be a Daddy who watches out for his kids!

Indeed, the Creator of our vast universe cares for us so much and knows us so intimately that he’s literally counted the hairs on our head! He’s also willing to pay any price to adopt us into his family. And for every Christ-follower, that’s exactly what he did to forever convey his name, protection, inheritance, and love. Because to Him, family matters. 

We Will Serve the Lord

LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens

– Psalm 8:1

We’re all worshipers in one way or another.

Christ-followers worship the true God revealed and proven through the Bible. Meanwhile, various world religions promote manmade gods, ancestor worship, and even the reverence of living things or nature (worshiping the creation rather than the Creator). And then there are popular false teachings such as New Age, Scientology, and Kabbalah. It’s a very long list.

Even strict atheists are fervent worshipers. True, they’re not Sunday morning churchgoers who proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior. But they — along with likely billions of other people — still bow down to their favorite idols. Some worship money, luxury, and pleasure while others bend the knee to intellect and higher learning. And others kneel at the altar of more negative gods such as alcohol, drugs, and illicit relationships. Meanwhile, the saying goes that there are no atheists on the battlefield. But there’s a different kind of conflict that rages within everyone: The God of the Bible versus the world’s gods and idols. It’s our hearts, minds, and souls that are the prizes of this heated, internal war.

Perhaps we don’t literally kneel before and worship graven images. But the fact is that that we secretly (or maybe not-so-secretly) cherish our own personal gods. Consider the things that we worry about or sacrifice our time and money for. Which issues make us angry? What brings us the most joy? And here’s a revealing question: Whose attention and applause do we most crave?

If the answers to these questions don't involve the Lord, we’re likely worshiping an idol. And idols can be difficult to recognize through the smoke and confusion of spiritual warfare. Even seemingly good things can evolve into inferior god things if they're misused. That's why it’s particularly important for Christ-followers to remember that our Creator — the God of the Bible revealed through Jesus — refuses to share his glory with false idols, manmade religions, and philosophies. We therefore must consider the God (or gods) in our lives, and then choose the One to serve and live for.

This dilemma is nothing new. Let’s consider this scene from book of Joshua, named for the courageous Old Testament leader who brought the Israelites into the Promised Land:

“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord,” said Joshua. “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.”

Joshua next made the familiar declaration of faith that true worshipers repeat and affirm to this day: 

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

May it also be so for you and me.

Conversations with God

 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

– Psalm 139:23

Christ-followers enjoy many special privileges, and one of the greatest is the ability to approach God in prayer about our blessings, troubles, concerns, and everything else that’s going on in our lives. Prayer is a give-and-take conversation. And it’s all possible through our faith in his Son, Jesus.

But this raises an important question: If we have such a special relationship with our Creator, why is it that some of our prayers go unanswered? After all, there are times when even the most seasoned Christ-follower feels like their petitions go no higher than the bedroom ceiling.

Let’s keep in mind that prayer is a bit like a phone call. Sometimes the message comes through loud and clear — as if the other person is in the next room. But sometimes there’s static or no one picks up the call. So, what's the problem? 

First, we need to ensure that the line is clear by dealing with any unconfessed sin in our lives. After all, the One who created us is already aware of our every thought and deed. Likewise, if we’re carrying a grudge against someone — like a spouse or co-worker — it needs to be ironed out before we can expect God to listen to us. And faith also plays a big part in the equation. If we pray but don’t think God has the power or desire to deal with our issues, why even ask in the first place?

What about those occasions when we pray sincerely and with good intentions, but our prayers still go unanswered? The short answer is that God does respond to every one of them. But sometimes his response is “no” or “not now.” As the Creator of all things past, present, and future, he knows the big picture — those people, places, and circumstances that make all the difference to our situation. And although it's not always apparent to us at the time, God's plans for us are always the best. He knows that it’s not always what we want that matters, but ultimately it's all about what we need.

Show Me the Way

 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.

– Psalm 119:1 

The recent deep-sea implosion of the Titan submersible continues to dominate the news, which reports that all five passengers aboard the craft perished during their expedition to the wreck of the Titanic. Many consider the incident to be nothing more than a tragic accident. However, serious questions remain. For example, the sub apparently had no official certification regarding its adherence to basic maritime engineering standards, and Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation. Also troubling is that the head of the company that operated Titan had earlier dismissed critics’ safety concerns as being roadblocks to innovation. (He also died in the mishap.) And one passenger on a May 2021 test dive of the submersible reported that Titan’s propulsion system had stopped working and that its computers were unresponsive — all in just 100 feet of calm water. “I 100% knew (this tragedy) was going to happen,” he said.

Did disaster arise from overconfidence in Titan’s experimental design? If so, it was nothing new. As King Solomon observed centuries ago through the Old Testament's book of Proverbs: 

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

That’s true for physical death. But it’s also the case for spiritual destruction — a stern warning that Jesus declared to his followers and enemies alike. The Roman Empire that ruled Israel 2,000 years ago embraced multiculturalism, which allowed the worship of multiple false, manmade deities. On the other hand, the Jews worshiped the one true God. But if they were willing to get along with the Romans by acknowledging Caesar as their lord, the government largely tolerated them.

Fast-forward now to 21st century America, and we see that society continues to embrace multiculturalism and political correctness. Whether it’s Christianity, Islam, Hindu, or Buddhism, it makes no difference — particularly if you’re sincere in your faith. However, those who dare to stand for Biblical principles are denounced as naïve, bigots, and intolerant.

From the foundation of the world, Jesus knew that this perspective meant its proponents' certain death and separation from him. In response, he proclaimed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” And in Matthew 7:13 he likewise declared, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”

Are these outrageous and narrow-minded claims? Only to those who are lost and refuse to believe in Jesus as their exclusive guide to salvation. But to those who follow him as their Lord and Savior, his stunning declarations are a simple roadmap that shows the only way to truth and eternal life.

 

God’s Waiting Room

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

– Micah 7:7

Americans are good at many things, but waiting isn’t one of them. We love our fast food, microwave popcorn, and next-day Amazon Prime shipping. We specialize in multitasking. And we sometimes even judge our neighbors by the speed and features of their smartphones.

We also have no time for delays. However, efficiency experts report that on average, we still spend nearly an hour each day waiting. That covers common scenarios like waiting in line at the grocery store, waiting for the waitress to take our food order, and even waiting to fill up the car at the gas pump. (All told, that’s about three years of waiting by the time we reach age 70!)

But waiting isn't always a waste — particularly when it comes to God. In fact, it’s an essential part of his plan for us because it helps us grow. This concept might be difficult to grasp because the human perspective of time differs from the Almighty's. While he sees the past, present, and future, we see only what's happening moment by moment. That's why we want to know (now!) when we’ll find another job, when we’ll sell our house, and when we’ll find a spouse. And exactly when will we finally be healthy again? Inquiring minds want to know.

We don't have a clue, but God has known the answers since the foundation of the world. The apostle Peter puts our waiting into perspective: 

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends," he wrote. "To the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day."

As Christ-followers, we need to understand that what happens while we're waiting is often more important than what we're waiting for. Ask anyone who has spent grueling hours at the hospital contemplating the health and future of a loved one. Did their soul-searching experience bring a closer dependence on God? It should have. After all, it's when we're so humbled and powerless that we realize we can do nothing on our own and need him the most.

Downtime and anticipation are necessary components of our non-stop, 24/7/365 world. So, let's make the most of them in God's Waiting Room — a special place where we can look for ways and opportunities to say yes to him with a sense of expectancy and hope. Because whether we understand it or not, his timing is always perfect.

"Be still, and know that I am God," the Lord tells us through Psalm 46:10. "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."