What's in a Name?

LORD, the God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.

– Ezra 9:15

It takes just a single word — positive or negative — to paint a vivid picture of someone. For example, we might link words like genius or visionary to Albert Einstein and Steve Jobs, or leader to George Washington and Martin Luther King. Likewise, we might label Ted Bundy or Hitler as murderer.

How about you?

Would you label yourself as generous, energetic, successful … or maybe humble? Or what about lonely, abused, or divorced? How about addicted?

Ask that question to 20 people, and you’ll probably get 20 different answers. But the apostle Paul tells us through the book of Romans that there’s one word that fits everyone: GUILTY.

He explains that everyone (that’s you and me) has in one way or another broken God’s perfect Law. That’s because we’ve all lied, cheated, stolen, and killed — either literally or figuratively. We’re all guilty as sin. And according to God’s Law, the death penalty is the just reward for our wrongdoings. 

Scripture affirms this. It’s in Romans 6:23 that we read the wages of sin is death.

But here’s the good news: This same Bible passage adds that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Paul writes that God paid the penalty we all deserve through the death of his own son (Jesus) on the cross. So as far as our Creator is concerned, we’re considered RIGHTEOUS, or right in the eyes of God. And that also means we’re reconciled to him … and now free to live out our lives and follow his perfect ways. 

Have you put your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If so, he’s cancelled your debt. And as far as he’s concerned, your name is now INNOCENT. Paul sums it up for us this way in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

On the Job

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

– Matthew 25:23

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent American Time Use Survey, it’s lumberjacks and farmers who report being the happiest and least stressed on the job. On the other hand, social workers and those in the heath-care industry see their occupations as meaningful — but they’re also highly stressed and rank lower on the happiness scale.

The saying goes that you’ll never work another day in your life if you love what you're doing for a living. That’s when a run-of-the-mill job becomes a passion. But whether you’re thrilled with your career or you’re simply putting in the hours for a paycheck, the Bible has some words of wisdom that put things in perspective:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men …”

Whether you’re the CEO of an international corporation or a 9-to-5 ditch-digger, you should do your job for God’s glory while we wait for his return. And Christ-followers should also consider the workplace as much a place of worship on weekdays as church is on Sundays. What’s more, we must work — and live — with the end in mind. Because once we pass into eternity, job titles and salaries will be worthless. Rich or poor, famous or obscure, we’ll all have to account for what we did in our lifetimes with the gifts and talents our Creator gave us. 

The world’s message is that focusing on money, position, and upward mobility can lead to a successful career, and that a successful career equates to a successful life. But the world has it backwards. Everything we have — our money, possessions, family, and health — is due to God’s generosity. He gives it freely. And he can take it away without notice.

God’s definition of success surely comes as a surprise to many in the workforce. So, instead of living self-centered lives on the fast track to a big salary, stock options, and a corner office, our motivation should revolve around being his hands and feet in the home, workplace, and community. It's our faithfulness and hope in him that's the real measure of success on the job. 

A Higher Authority

You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

– Leviticus 20:26

If you cook or shop for groceries, chances are you’ve seen them a thousand times — those special symbols on food packaging that certify the contents as kosher (fit to eat).

Kosher food is prepared according to Jewish dietary laws, which are rules and regulations derived from Old Testament laws and rabbinical extensions to ensure quality, cleanliness, and safety. Hebrew National — a well-known brand of hotdogs — has a famous slogan that sums up its call to be kosher: 

We Answer to a Higher Authority.

Christ-followers do, too. And although we aren’t bound by the Old Testament dietary laws observed by the Israelites, these statutes are still a valuable reminder that we worship a God who knows us intimately, cares for us deeply, and wants us to lead pure, Spirit-filled lives. What’s more, he wants his children to be set apart from the world by living to a higher standard. This profound, loving care and attention also cover much more than the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter. Our Creator wants only the best for us when it comes to our personal relationships, as well.

It's all about holiness. And his instructions on this matter are both timeless and straightforward. When it comes to dating and choosing a mate, the Bible tells us to be picky and refuse compromise. Does your prospective spouse share your love for God and strive to grow in his or her spiritual walk? If not, beware! Our nation’s high divorce rate tells the sad story about choosing an incompatible mate. And what about his or her standards of personal behavior? Are they driven consistently by Christ-centered principles like patience and kindness? 

Likewise, we can’t ignore the uncomfortable topic of same-sex relationships. The world tells us that we’re bigoted, intolerant, and old-fashioned if we don’t fall in line. But God’s opinion about this matter is unambiguous. And he calls Christ-followers to be Biblically correct rather than politically correct:

“You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives,” the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians. “The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own.”

That’s a difficult admonition that clashes with today’s feel-good, anything-goes mindset. And that’s just the point. As Christ-followers, we’re not to follow the crowd. Instead, we’re to follow God’s standards for purity and refuse anything less. Our very lives should be kosher. After all, we’re set apart — and we answer to a Higher Authority.   

Worth Every Penny

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

– Luke 15:10

Few things are as disappointing as buying a product or service that fails to meet expectations —especially if it’s expensive. For example, maybe you heard about a new restaurant that piqued your taste buds. You went online and checked out the menu, read several online reviews, and even asked your friends and co-workers for their opinions. But once you were seated at the table, you quickly saw through the hype. The dining room was dingy, the waiter was rude … and that $50 entrée wasn’t even appetizing. 

What a costly letdown!

On the other hand, what about that expensive Caribbean cruise that you had planned for months? You visited countless tourist websites, watched The Travel Channel, and spoke with friends who had earlier taken the same trip. And although the cost of your ticket meant weeks of cutting back on other purchases, the tropical islands you visited were gorgeous, the cuisine was superb, and you even made some new friends along the way. Yes, that pricey trip put a dent in your bank account. But those memories you’re still cherishing mean much more than dollars and cents. 

The Bible also confirms the worth of some costly purchases. For example, there’s Jesus’ famous story about the Prodigal Son, where a loving father welcomes back his wayward — and totally undeserving — child, who had burned through his entire inheritance on outrageously wasteful living. Christ also told his disciples about a man who sold his possessions to buy a field. And not just any field, but one that held buried treasure. Although the cost to buy the land was staggering, the man did whatever it took to gain the prize.

Those stories are vivid illustrations of how God puts his love into action to bring us into his family. The most familiar passage in the New Testament (John 3:16) declares that he loves the world so much that he gave his only Son (Jesus) so that those who believe in him will have eternal life. Our Creator willingly let Jesus suffer and die on the cross to pay for all our wrongdoings — past, present, and future. And unlike Christ — who lived a perfect, sin-free existence — we all rightfully deserve death because of our lawlessness. But God’s grace offers us forgiveness and a fresh start if we’re only willing to accept it. 

Jesus paid the extravagant price to save us from ourselves. And unlike many of our purchases, it was worth every penny.