Follow the Leader

This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.”

– 1 Timothy 3:1

Imagine that it’s nighttime, and it’s raining so hard that you can barely see over your car’s hood. The fog and mist have rolled in. And you can’t risk slowing down or pulling over to the roadside. It’s a multi-vehicle accident just waiting to happen.

So, what do you do to make it safely to your destination? 

When it’s raining cats and dogs, sometimes the best move is a serious game of Follow the Leader. That means following the dim red taillights of the vehicle ahead of you and matching the driver’s every turn. When he taps his brakes, you do, too. And if he bears right, you don’t ask questions. That’s because you know he can see what’s up ahead. Things could get dangerous if you try to make it on your own. So ultimately, it’s a matter of trust.

Isn’t that also the case for every Christ-follower — as well as the pastors, elders, and teachers who lead them? Jesus asked his disciples to follow him into storms, hostile crowds, and towns full of unbelievers. These were dangerous, scary situations. But like that lead driver on the highway, Jesus could see what was ahead. And he led those who believed in him to experience life in its fullest.

That was fine 2,000 years ago. But what does it mean to follow Christ in the 21st century?

The saying goes that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And simply put, Believers should imitate Christ. That means following his example of communion with God through regular prayer, Bible reading, worship, and gathering with other believers. We can also mimic our Savior by being a friend to the weak and helpless, sharing our material blessings, and being an advocate for justice. And that barely scratches the surface.

If you’re of a certain age, maybe you wore a What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) bracelet or had the bumper sticker on your car. And it’s still the BIG question — more so now than ever considering these stormy days of social, economic, and political turmoil. Indeed, what would Jesus do? 

There’s only one way to find out. Let's follow the Leader! 

Best Laid Plans

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” — yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

– James 4:13-15

The saying goes that when we fail to plan, we plan to fail. And that’s true in so many areas of life. For example, a student has a better chance for a passing grade if they get an early start on their studies rather than cramming the night before the test. A young couple is more likely to become homeowners if they’re diligent about saving for a down payment. And taking full advantage of your employer’s 401(k) can help render a comfortable retirement.

Our plans, however, are linked closely to our priorities. For example, some people might live to travel and find adventure. Some might live for pleasure, family, or friends. And still others might seek meaning through their careers. But since there’s no shortage of life-choices, what’s the best way to plan?

“God helps those who help themselves” is a familiar phrase that seems to answer that question. What’s more, it sounds like a proverb in the Bible. But you won’t find it there. And while it’s smart to be actively engaged in those big decisions of life, this well-intentioned advice misses out on the significant ways God moves and works:

“You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God for it,” we read in the New Testament book of James. “And when you do ask he doesn’t give it to you, for you ask in quite the wrong spirit — you only want to satisfy your own desires.”

As Christ-followers, we first need to seek God’s guidance through prayer, Bible study, and the counsel of fellow Believers when it’s time to address those big decisions. Moreover, the resulting action should always be one that honors God. 

Have you planned for what’s most important in your life? Your Creator already has. So, start by seeking his will and seeing things from his perspective. Here’s how the apostle Paul admonished some of the first Christ-followers — as well as 21st-century Believers like you and me — through 1 Timothy 2:1-5:

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Doing the Right Thing

This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.

– 2 Chronicles 31:20-21

Author C.S. Lewis defined integrity as doing what’s right when no one else is watching. But in our modern culture that teaches what’s right or wrong is no longer so black or white, it’s reassuring to know that our God is a Creator who never changes. What's more, he’s also a God of justice, and he promises to right the wrongs done against us. But he also expects his followers to seek justice along the way. As we read in James 4:17: 

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."

Doing the right thing often calls for bravery. And while we may never need

to use it against a powerful army on the battlefield, we might have to combat figurative opponents like injustice, crime, and discrimination. We have no hope of defeating them on our own. But we should be encouraged that God specializes in empowering average Joes and Janes to do the extraordinary against overwhelming odds.

A case in point is that David — an obscure shepherd boy and musician — once protected his nation by killing the Philistine giant Goliath with a stone from his slingshot. It was this same David who eventually became the mighty King of Israel and the one God called "a man after My own heart." Likewise, a fisherman named Peter quite literally dove into the deep end when he accepted Jesus' call to walk on water. After he began to doubt his own abilities, Peter began to sink. But Christ saved him once he called out in faith. This same hesitant follower, who would eventually deny Jesus to others three times, ultimately became a bold preacher of what the book of Acts calls The Way (the Good News about his Savior, Jesus Christ). Two books of the Bible also bear Peter's name.

As Christ-followers, these examples should help us take heart. We know that the world can be a scary place, but God doesn't expect us to solve all its problems. Instead, it's by seeking and embracing his power in faith that we can make a world of difference. And it all starts when we act with integrity to seek and do the right thing.

 

Truth or Consequences

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work — which is by faith.

– 1 Timothy 1:3-4 

It sounds like something found deep in the jungles of Africa, the Amazon rainforest — or maybe even on another planet. It’s a carnivorous plant called the Venus fly trap, which grows wild in the bogs of North and South Carolina. 

Venus fly traps feast on flies and other insects, and their secret lies in their attractive colors and outstretched, nectar-scented pads. When an unsuspecting victim lands on the exotic plant, sensors prepare its trap to shut. But by intelligent design, it takes more than a single motion to spring the snare. It’s only after a second sensor is activated that the Venus fly trap grabs its prey within 0.1 seconds. Soon, powerful fluids fill the sprung trap, which dissolve the insect into usable nutrients. The cycle then resumes, with the plant re-opening its pads to repeat the lethal deception.

This illustrates an important lesson for Christ-followers: Although it might seem innocent at the time, we can suffer great harm from those who teach Scripture in ways that are inconsistent with God’s Word. That’s because false doctrine can lead Believers astray while misdirecting seekers from the biblical straight-and-narrow pathway toward salvation. Examples include pseudo-Christian tenets such as name-it-claim it, salvation by works, and legalism. One popular Atlanta-area pastor has also advocated unhitching the Old Testament from the Christian faith. And in recent years another familiar pastor/author has denied certain essential Christian beliefs. Declaring that “love wins” and that hell is just symbolic, he’s proclaimed that people worldwide will be saved in the end — even if they haven’t professed their faith Christ. Of course, Believers know through John 14:6 that Jesus disagrees:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The threat from bad doctrine is nothing new to Christ-followers. About 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul addressed some of the false teachings of his day that were both confusing and upsetting to early believers in Jesus:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,” Paul wrote in Galatians 1:8, “let them be under God’s curse!”

The good news is that God’s truth is near for those who seek it. And Christ-followers have open access to it 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 discerning the traps of false doctrine. It’s a vital lesson that underscores the importance of biblical literacy.

If you hear or read something that seems inconsistent with Scripture, maybe it is. Check the Bible and ask a trusted Christian friend. And if the teaching is unbiblical, don’t follow it. But if it turns out to be legitimate, God could be using it to build your faith and help you become a bit more like our Savior … one passage at a time.

Can I Get a Witness?

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

– 1 John 4:14

According to AccuWeather, tourists recently flocked to Death Valley, CA, at the height of a heat wave to experience temperatures that neared 130 degrees. The official high on July 7, 2024, was 129 degrees at Death Valley National Park’s Furnace Creek Visitors Center. And that was followed by a week with afternoon temperatures in the upper 120s.

That’s in stark contrast to the brutally cold temperatures endured 247 years earlier in another famous valley. In December 1777, General George Washington’s Continental Army faced frigid, snowy conditions as it set up winter camp in Valley Forge, PA, during the Revolutionary War. The situation was grim for the 12,000-man rag-tag force. What’s more, Washington was under attack by members of Congress, who were criticizing his strategic choices and lack of success on the battlefield. Some even advocated his removal from command. With food, clothing, and ammunition in extremely short supply, Washington wrote: "… that unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place ... this Army must inevitably … starve, dissolve, or disperse…"

A great change would indeed take place. One Valley Forge resident testified that Washington was alone and on his knees in prayer in the woods. The tired general called aloud for God’s help — and not just with his army’s dire plight — but also for all of humanity and the world. The witness recalled that he was astonished at the power and earnestness of the general’s petition. “We never thought a man could be a soldier and a Christian,” he said. “But if there is one in the world, it is Washington.”

The rest, as they say, is history. In the darkness of Christmas night, Washington and his army crossed the ice-choked Delaware River to defeat the oblivious Hessian mercenaries hired by the British. The news of the Continental’s surprise victory spread quickly throughout the fledgling nation and soon revived the fading war effort. 

Although the eyes of America were on George Washington that snowy evening, he hadn’t sought an audience — except for One. But his sincere and humble prayers testified volumes about his fervent faith in his Creator’s ability to protect and save.

How about you and me? As Christ-followers, the world is watching us, too. Do our words and deeds each day testify to our faith in God’s ability to change the world and save souls? When we practice what we preach, it’s our faith in action that honors God. And when we seek to honor God, he seeks to honor us. As Psalm 35:28 proclaims:

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.

Family Matters

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

– Acts 11:18

The Adoption Network reports that about 115,000 children are adopted each year in the United States, and 25% of them don’t share their adoptive parents’ race, culture, or ethnicity. Unfortunately, the adoption process can be stressful, tedious, and very expensive. Arrangements with the birthparents 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 those 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 — as our Savior, God acted legally on our behalf and paid all the related costs. The result? Our eternal salvation and adoption into God’s royal family:

“You did not choose me; I chose you,” Jesus explains through the apostle John’s gospel. “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. We had broken his laws, and our sinfulness had made us his enemies ... and him our Judge. But what’s so remarkable is that this same Judge has declared us not guilty. That’s because Christ paid the exorbitant price of our adoption through his death on the cross. For us then came a change of family, name, and home. And as God’s adopted children, it also meant an array of new privileges and responsibilities.

The implications are extraordinary. 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 the Creator 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. 

 

Flavor of the Month

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

– Acts 10:34-35

There’s a popular notion that one’s choice of faith, whether it be Christianity, Islam, Judaism, or something else, is little different than one’s choice of ice cream. Whether it’s vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, or pistachio, the flavor really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. It’s all just a matter of personal preference and taste.

God’s message to us through the Bible, however, reveals that our choice is one of life or death. Author Philip Yancey wrote about an incident that reveals this crucial truth. Several decades ago, there was a conference held in England where theologians debated which belief was unique to Christianity. Other faiths held to the resurrection of the dead. And still others described their gods as coming to earth in human form. But after much heated discussion, C.S. Lewis — the noted author of Mere Christianity, The Chronicles of Narnia, and other Christian classics — wandered into the room.

"What's all the hubbub about?" he inquired. When his colleagues disclosed the contentious topic, Lewis was quick to reply:

"Oh ...That's easy," he said. "It's grace."

What’s grace ... and why does it matter? 

Grace is God's free gift of favor to undeserving people like you and me. There's nothing we can do to earn it. We just need to accept it, embrace it, and live it out with transformed lives through our faith in Jesus Christ. Moreover, it's with grace that we not only survive, but thrive. 

The saying goes that religion is all about working and doing things to please God, but Christianity is all about the great thing that God has already done for us. It’s also through religion that we might imagine God warning us: “Work hard and be good so that you can be saved.” But when we turn our lives over to Jesus in faith, his actual loving message turns things on its head: 

“You have been saved. Now go out and do good in my name.”

Regardless of popular opinion, our choices — particularly those involving faith — have consequences. We can either choose manmade religion, where we face exhaustion and frustration due to our guaranteed failure to achieve, or embrace a God-made relationship, where Jesus has already paid the price for our salvation. All we must do is accept his remarkably gracious invitation and let him live through us. And even more amazing is that it’s an invitation that’s open to everyone:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock,” Jesus welcomes us through Revelation 3:20. “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”