Don’t Abuse God’s Grace

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” Romans 6:1-2

The gospel of God’s grace, His full provision for man’s sin - present life and eternal destiny - is frequently perverted and attacked. At the foundation of most false religions is a denial of the free gift of salvation and an embrace of good works. Others caution that the good news of grace can lead to a lifestyle of sin without appropriate punishment. “I am saved by grace so why does it matter how I live,” is the standard argument.

The Scriptures clearly refute both errors, citing man’s inability to know God apart from the Savior’s initiative and man’s responsibility to live obediently. The rebellious believer recaps what he sows and is a most miserable creature. However, we should never let such opposition dilute the overwhelming truth of amazing grace. Critics can never dampen the transforming, liberating power of God’s free, unconditional, unmerited, love and mercy.

The gospel of grace, though misunderstood, cannot be replaced. It is the cornerstone for all of life, illuminating the goodness of God and attracting us to Him. Delight yourself today in the God of all grace.

“Perfection demands perfection. That is why salvation must be by grace and not by works.” -Donald Barnhouse

Be Strong...

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1

The Christian life is compared to a race in the Scriptures. Paul calls us to run the race so we may win (1 Cor. 9:24). The author of Hebrews tells us to run our race with endurance (Heb. 12:1). The only means by which believers can triumphantly run and finish the course God assigned for each of us is to run on the wings of grace. The legs of performance eventually grow weak. The muscles of legalism and religion weigh us down and become rigid hindrances.

Our problem is that we can understand the need for grace in salvation and glorification, but we tend to rely on other means in the interim - our sanctification on earth. Justification, the securing of a favorable verdict by Christ’s death, is by grace. Glorification, the consummate conforming of our bodies and souls to Christ’s glorious image, is by grace. Sanctification, the process of growing in Christlikeness, is also by grace.

In His grace, God supplies all the gear you need for running the spiritual race - His Spirit, His Word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. Be strong in grace. Throw off the leg irons of works and religion and receive the power of God’s grace.

“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected” -Jonathan Edwards

Standing in God’s Grace

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

If God’s offer of grace is so rich and free, why do so many people fail to receive the gift of salvation? The inability to receive the grace of God is almost always connected with an overdose of pride. It is often difficult for some persons to receive a helping hand from another person in regards to material matters. They would rather earn the gift offered on their own initiative and can even be insulted by the generosity of the giver.

Perhaps you can identify with that feeling. You may have had a definite need. Someone graciously volunteered to meet that need; but you refused the offer because it wounded your pride, your sense of self-esteem.

Perhaps in some way you devised a means to satisfy your need. But in the spiritual realm, there is no substitute for grace. You cannot supplant good works or performance for grace. You can either receive it or reject it. It is yours to enjoy by faith or yours to turn away by pride.

Do not refuse the offer of God’s grace in salvation. There is no other ground by which a man can be saved. Let go of pride and receive the grace of God.

“Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin.” -Charles Wesley

The Marvel of God’s Grace

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

Amazed at the endless measure of God’s grace, St. Augustine could not find words to quite explain its wonder: “What is grace? I know until you ask me; when you ask me, I do not know.” God’s grace is His undeserved love given to men for salvation, sanctification, and glorification. We can do nothing to earn or merit salvation. It is a gift of God’s unfailing love, expressed in its highest form in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

C. Samuel Storms writes in his book The Grandeur of God: “The first and possible most fundamental characteristic of divine grace is that it presupposes sin and guilt. Grace has meaning only when men are seen as fallen, unworthy of salvation, and liable to eternal wrath....Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to bestow it in the presence of human merit....Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to withdraw it in the presence of human demerit....[Grace] is treating a person without the slightest reference to desert whatsoever, but solely according to the infinite goodness and sovereign purpose of God.”

The grace of God is greater than any sin, any failure. It is the eternal benevolence of God who rescues fallen men with the hand of His saving love.

“The law detects, grace alone conquers sin.” -St. Augustine

Be a Bridge Builder

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Several years ago during a storm, the bridge from Martha’s Vineyard to the mainland was washed out. The islanders were stranded. The people could be ferried off and on the tiny island, but supplies could not. The people were isolated until the bridge could be rebuilt.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a bridge-builder for Jesus Christ? We are all potential “bridge-builders” for Him. It is a call that He issues to all believers. Bridge-building is a ministry that includes reconciliation, reaching out, giving, and sharing so that stranded people may come to know the love of Jesus Christ.

You may think bridge-building is an occupation only reserved for skilled architects, but you are mistaken. Right now you are in the process of becoming an architect for Christ. Each hurt you have suffered, each time you have found victory by trusting Jesus is a completed chapter in the guidebook. None of us can build a bridge unless we personally know the design of the structure.

Your classroom is the life God has given you. Your teacher and employer is the Holy Spirit, and your commission is the world in which you live. Many people live like islands, but deep down inside they long for someone to reach out to them. You may be God’s only bridge of love to them.

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20

Merry Christmas!

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. Luke 2:1-20

May you and yours know the joy, peace, and love of the season. Merry Christmas!!!

Living a Consistent Life

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:17-24

One of the key ingredients to success is consistency - a willingness to stick to the plan. You may be thinking that sounds a great deal like persistence and perhaps it does. A major element of consistency is persistence. If we want to be successful in our Christian walk, we must learn to be consistent with Jesus Christ. However, many Christians give up after a few disappointing setbacks.

The truth is that the Christian life is a process - a life long process. It begins the moment you accept Jesus Christ as Savior and continues until you draw your last earthly breath. That means there will be times when we blow it, when we wish we could just pick up the pieces and start over again. The remarkable thing about our Lord is that he never keeps score. All He requires of us is that we turn our hearts toward Him.

Consistency is built into our lives as we spend time in prayer and worship. It is there that we learn consistency, where our lives take on Christlikeness. We are to be renewed in Christ daily. It is a continuous, consistent process that leads to one final goal - becoming more like God’s Son.

Take a few minutes and ask God to show you how to build consistency in your life as you live for Him today.

“...be transformed by the renewing of your mind...” Romans 12:2

God’s Loving Desire for You

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” 1 Timothy 2:1-8

There are three reasons why God desires us to be saved. The first is that we may know the love of God. God’s love is unconditional. Regardless of your circumstances, God loves you. When we refuse His love, we miss the joy of His fellowship and settle for the conditional love of the world.

A second reason God desires us to be saved is to become trophies of His grace. We are saved by grace through faith. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more than He does at this very moment.

A third reason God wants to save you is that He might be glorified through your life on earth - much like He was through the life of His Son.

The primary purpose for our existence is to bring glory to Christ. When Jesus returns the Bible says the entire earth will be filled with His glory and the knowledge of Him. You can honor Christ every day as the Holy Spirit works in you. Remember His personal love for you today as you drive to your job, talk to others over the telephone, and work with those around you.

God is glorified when we share what Jesus did for us on the cross. The only way a lost person knows that God’s love is real is by seeing it lived out in the lives of His saints.

“We proclaim Him...that we may present every man complete in Christ.” Colossians 1:28

Finding the Will of God

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

Someone once said: “The will of God is like a Hebrew word. It can only be read backwards.” What he meant was that God’s will for our lives becomes more clear as we look back at His sovereign hand. However, we most often want or need to discover His will now. God understands our predicament. He does not want us to make misguided decisions that leave distasteful consequences. How can we knows the will of God in such instances?

Our hearts must be bent toward God. That means we want God’s will above our own, that we are fellowshipping with Him consistently and our love and devotion are directed toward Him. We may occasionally slip and stumble; but when we do, we confess, repent, and move on with God.

In addition, we must be busy doing what we already know to be God’s will - giving thanks in all things and walking obediently. The heart that is bent toward God and that delights in His ways will find that the will of the Lord will be accomplished even when we are unsure of His way. Once on the other side, we can look back and thank God for His loving guidance and wisdom that providentially ordered our steps into His kind and profitable plan.

“...walk as children of Light...trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:8-10

Abide in Me

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:1-5

Does an apple tree struggle to produce apples? Does a pear tree labor to make its sweet crop? As simple as it may appear, the liberating principle for doing God’s work God’s way is learning to abide in Christ. Abiding in Christ means we rest in the finished work of the cross. The cry of Jesus at Calvary was, “It is finished.” He had accomplished the work of redemption, providing the way of victory over sin and Satan for all who place their faith in Him.

Our toil or effort can add nothing to what Christ has done. Our task is to receive the complete sufficiency of Christ for every situation. We do so with the same childlike faith we had at salvation. “Yes, Lord, I believe You can solve this problem, heal this relationship, take care of this anxiety because You are my adequacy. You are all I have, but You are enough.”

The abiding life is the restful life spoken of in Hebrews 4. It is the place of absolute trust and confidence in the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ is all-sufficient. His life richly flows through you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He will satisfy every need, fulfill every demand, and produce the abundant Christian life in you as you depend wholly on Him. He is able.

“For we who have believed enter that rest...” Hebrews 4:3

God’s Work Done God’s Way

So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” Zechariah 4:5-7

When a person becomes a Christian, he enters a new dimension of spiritual living. Before, he was a physical being with emotions and personality; but his spirit was dead toward God. That all changed with the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit who came to indwell each believer upon personal faith in Christ.

A Christian is primarily a spiritual being. We still have our bodies and personalities, but our spirit is alive unto God. It is our spirit, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, that defines our true identities. As author Bill Gillham says, we are “spirit critters with an earth suit.”

Our competence in the spiritual realm can be attributed to our reliance upon the Holy Spirit. He equips us for the Christian life. It is only as we yield our natural gifts and abilities to Him that we experience the abundant Christian life Jesus promised. The Holy Spirit wants to permeate every area of living - work, thoughts, deeds, relationships, goals, family - with His wisdom and power.

Will you let Him fill you with the fulness of Christ? The Holy Spirit will do in you and through you what you could never do in your own power and might.

“...for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

Are you Helping or Hindering?

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29

Pain. Suffering. Hurt. Heartache. Failure. Disappointment. Trials. These are the tools God uses to achieve His ultimate purpose in each person - to conform every believer to the likeness of Jesus Christ. Not distinguishing these tools as God’s instruments for change can result in misguided intervention in the life of a fellow believer.

How then do we know when to help and when to wait? God clearly calls us to minister to others in His name. We are not to become isolationists, refusing to become involved in the troubles of our brethren.

First, pray. Before you rush in to help, bring the matter specifically before the Father. Ask for His will to be done in the person’s life, not your will. Also ask that God deal with the root problem in the person’s life.

Second, wait for God’s timing. God may use you, but not until He has accomplished His loving plans. By waiting until He provides the opportunity, you are acknowledging God’s control over the situation.

Third, depend on the Holy Spirit. He will use you according to God’s will. Be sensitive to His prompting.

Help others, but make sure that you are not interfering with God’s loving purpose in the process.

“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

Are You a Stumbling Block?

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’

Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’” Matthew 16:21-26

A friend has a debt that he cannot repay. Reluctant to see him in financial straits, we write him a check to cover the amount. A son is reprimanded at school for misbehavior. We rush to the principal’s office to vent our displeasure, and the principal lifts the punishment. Our well-intentioned efforts to help can be stumbling blocks that hinder God from accomplishing His will.

We may find the friend we rescued from financial duress in problematic debt again. He did not learn God’s lesson of the responsible stewardship. The son we delivered from just punishment may be back in the principal’s office only a few weeks later. This time the offense is more serious. God’s lessons can be difficult to learn. We must often be placed in strenuous circumstances before we seek the Lords’ will and are open to His solution.

Are you getting in God’s way in His dealing with someone? If so, you may be lengthening the time frame for God to work His purposes in someone’s life. God is far better equipped than we to solve problems. Be careful not to unnecessarily interfere with His plan.

The Standard of Morality

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

When in doubt about the future, it is sometimes best to return to your roots. As America searches for the correct balance between social ethics and religion, the discerning words of our first president, George Washington, provide an interesting context: “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education of minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

The religion Washington referred to is Christianity, and the principle he alluded to is the truth of the Bible demonstrated in the life of the believer. If the epidemic of moral, political, and social corruption in our country is to be reversed, we must embrace the authority of the Bible and its relevance for personal and national morality.

The Bible is God’s revealed truth for men and the nations they govern. Read, understood, and applied, it is the standard for healthy morality of persons, corporations, and countries. Morality has no compass apart from the Bible and no rudder apart from the personal example of the Christian.

“...This great nation was founded not...on religion but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.” -Patrick Henry

Blessed is the Nation

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12

Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Russian novelist, former prisoner, and astute observer of both American and Russian politics, wrote the following summation on the moral and political decline of the old Russian empire: “If I were asked today to formulate...the main cause for the ruinous [Russian] revolution that swallowed up some sixty million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: ‘Men have forgotten God.’”

Has America forgotten God as the changeless, authoritative arbiter of social and moral justice, the author of human life, and the Deity to whom we owe our absolute allegiance? The phrase “forgotten God” is found repeatedly in the book of Jeremiah. The persistent prophet accused both religious and civil leaders of abandoning God’s agenda and substituting instead an artificially contrived system that was morally bankrupt.

The cure has always been genuine repentance, turning away from all that counterfeits God. If America is to remember God, to put Him in the forefront of ethics and social justice, then believers must examine themselves routinely and set the example. A nation that remembers God is comprised of individuals who don’t forget Him in their daily agenda.

“It is the duty of nations as well as men to recognize the truth announced in holy Scripture...” -Abraham Lincoln

One Step at a Time

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

Someone said you can’t drive a car very well by constantly looking in the rear view mirror. That is good counsel for the person bogged down in the murky waters of failure. We must look up to God and out to others. And in the process, we will find ourselves gradually leaving the failure behind us. But how do you do that? How do you look ahead when failure and trouble seem to be the constant focus of your attention?

Lawrence O. Richards writes in his book, The Believer’s Guidebook: “When my oldest was crawling...I remember my wife propping him up as I crouched a few feet away. ‘Come to Daddy!’ Paul, on tiptoes, would stagger a step toward me and fall. I would pick him up, hug him and say, ‘Good boy! That’s right! Try again. Walk to Daddy.’ God, the truly good Father, isn’t upset when you and I fall. We struggle to toddle to Him. Taking one step at a time, supported by His love, we eventually will leave failure behind and find our way to truly productive lives (Titus 3:14).”

Don’t try to take giant leaps out of the pit of failure but let God lead you and lift you one step at a time. God is patient and kind and graciously extends the hand of His unfailing love.

“...but one thing I do...” Philippians 3:13

Failure - What You Need to Know

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:8-11

The emotional overload of failure can fog our vision of God so completely that we lost our spiritual bearings. We can wander aimlessly, withdraw from the fellowship of believers, and pull away from the God we feel no longer cares.

If that is where you find yourself, read on. If not, read on anyway because you probably will find yourself spending fortnight in what has been called the dark night of the soul. Anchor yourself to these truths and act on them promptly.

In your failure, God never condemns you. God vented His full fury against sin on His Son at Calvary. His love for you is not based on your performance. When you blow it, He still loves you. He forgave all your sins at the cross, past, present, and future - and still drew you to salvation.

In your failure, God is always with you. Once saved, God never lets go of you. He never relaxes His grip of eternal love. Thank Him for His never ending presence by confessing the truth of Scripture and choosing it above the faulty gage of emotions.

In your failure, God is working for your good. The providence of God is never thwarted. He is able to weave your pain and sorrow into a majestic design. Submit to His rule and failure never need be final.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me...” Psalm 23:4

Failure: The First Step to Victory, Part 2

“‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.’ But he said to Him, ‘Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!’ And He said, ‘I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.’” Luke 22:31-34

Failure, as intensely painful and undesirable as it may be, can be the first phase of God’s rebuilding job, knocking out the props we lean on and building His enduring truth into our hearts and minds. We develop certain behavioral traits through the years that seemingly serve us well. Our intense work ethic propels us into leadership positions, our initiative thrusts us past our peers, our desire to control our circumstances pushes us to the forefront.

But the day comes when our work isn’t enough, when our initiative leads us down a dark alley, when the rug is pulled out from under our ability to control our circumstances. Failure becomes a reality. But this is not the time to give up. God often must bring us to the end of ourselves so we might see the truth that will set us free.

Peter appeared to have brazen notions of being Christ’s right hand man. But Jesus first had to bring Him to his knees to show him that He would exalt the humble man, not the proud. Failure cuts away our rotting timber so Christ may implant in our hearts the restoring and lasting truth of Scripture. It is an opportunity to know the Savior more intimately than ever before.

“...for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

Failure: The First Step to Victory

“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.” Romans 7:15-19

“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:24-25

Failure often reads or sounds like: An F on a report card; A poor on a job performance appraisal; “I didn’t think you would stick with it,” from a Bible study teacher after dropping out of the course; An almost unbearable silence from our mate after having said a harsh, demeaning word.

Failure - we hate the sound of the word itself, much less enduring its distasteful consequences. We want triumph. We crave to be on top and struggle to maintain an upward spiral. Yet at some point, in some way, to some degree, we all fail. We stumble in our moral life. We make a mess of our finances. We drift far from our devotion to Christ. We easily fall into the pit of depression. We feel we have nowhere to go and no one to turn to. The pits may be where you are today. Regardless of how or why you got there, you do not have to stay.

You may have to press through some difficult times because of the failure, but you can move on. The God who has rescued you from the power of the grave and lifted you from eternal death will and can bring you up out of the miry pit. If you let Him, failure can be the first step to victory.

“We may fail - do fail continually - but He [Christ] never fails. -J. Hudson Taylor

Lighten the Load

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

The backpacker and family camper live in two different worlds. The family camper is interested in large tents, sufficient cookware, inflatable mattresses, ice chests, and other such essentials. The backpacker, however, wants as little gear as possible for the journey. Everything must fit into a backpack, and the critical concerns are size and weight. His world is literally on his back and his load must be light.

Because eternity is such a hard thing to fathom, we tend to accumulate emotional and spiritual weights that God never intended for us to carry. The Scriptures speak of this life as a pilgrimage, not our forever home but merely part of a journey.

The best advice is to rid yourself of excess baggage. Do you lug around false guilt? Is there sin in your life you need to confess and stop practicing? Is your mind riddled with depressing thoughts? Is there someone whom you have offended that you need to ask forgiveness? Do you need to forgive a person who has hurt you deeply?

Let go of the crippling and fatiguing weights that exhaust your spiritual and emotional energy. You will find a new spring in your step and peace in your spirit while preparing to face the crises that are bound to strike.

“...they began to lighten the ship by throwing out the wheat into the sea.” Acts 27:38

How to Protect Your Family

“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach — if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.” Colossians 1:19-23

You do not fight real wars with pop guns, and you don’t fight the devil with mere determination or resolve. Our families’ defense against Satan is provided by God. If we are to succeed, we must take up His weapons.

Pray for each member of your family every day. Ask God to surround them with His supernatural hedge of protection against the tactics of the evil one. Call out their names before God, thanking Him that they are inscribed on the palm of His hand.

Especially pray the Word of God. Find Scriptures that pertain to your particular problems, and pray those Scriptures to God. It is the truth of God, and the truth always defeats the lies of Satan.

Resist the devil in the name of Jesus. Through your union with Christ, you have been given victory over the enemy. Jesus defeated Satan through His sinless life, His atoning death, and His triumphant resurrection.

Satan is a vanquished foe. Though he still puts up a vicious fight, you can overcome him through the power of Jesus Christ. Rebuke the devil in Christ’s name, command him to flee, and stand firm. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your family members and leave no room for the devil to set up shop.

“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Dad - Stand in the Gap!

“Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?’ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.’

And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.’” Matthew 12:22-30

The devil wants your family. Does that grab you by the throat? It should. Our adversary, Satan, is a crafty foe whose intention is to deceive and destroy you and your family.

Some Christians live as if Satan doesn’t exist. Others are aware of his opposition but do not have a clue how to resist him. Although each person is responsible for his personal choices, Satan is always involved in sin as the tempter, the deceiver, the liar. He would like for nothing better than to keep your family in constant turmoil, arguing, fighting, quarreling, and bickering.

Sometimes his tactics are less noticeable. There could be more subtle forms of rebellion - lack of communication between husband and wife, a chill in your emotional oneness. Maybe your children are not on drugs or engaged in immoral behavior. But they could be trapped in the mire of low self-esteem or distant in their personal relationship with Christ. Prayer is the last thing on their minds.

Understand this: your family has a cruel enemy who wants to divide our home, seeds of discontent, and create as much turmoil as possible. This is spiritual warfare, and it requires spiritual weapons. Remember, no one can enter a strong man’s house until he first binds the strong man! Dad, be the man - stand strong!

“...Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

The Father’s Gift to His Children

“My son, if you will receive my words
and treasure my commandments within you,
make your ear attentive to wisdom,
incline your heart to understanding;
for if you cry for discernment,
lift your voice for understanding;
if you seek her as silver
and search for her as for hidden treasures;
then you will discern the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:1-6

The Bible is pretty hard on fathers. It commands us to lead our homes through the discipline of servanthood, to rear children without letting their tempers get the best of them, and to provide for the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of every family member. Of course, we all fall short on many counts. Nonetheless, that should not prevent us from seeking to discharge our scriptural responsibilities.

The same God who enjoins us to lead, teach, guide, and equip our families also equips us for the task. He gives us the tools we need if we will but receive and use them. You have the wisdom of God you need through the revelation of the Scriptures. The book of Proverbs brims with relevant capsules of God’s counsel for fathers. From Genesis to Revelation, there is a myriad of examples, good and bad, of how a father should treat his wife and children.

You have help. You have supernatural help. The load is heavy; but when you turn to Jesus, He takes on the responsibility of equipping you and making the burden His light and easy yoke. It is a hard job, Dad. But it can be a job well done when we do it God’s way, looking to the counsel of His truth.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger...” Ephesians 6:4

A Faithful Provider

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8

A father is responsible to provide for the material needs of his family as best as he can in dependence upon God. That does not always mean Dad can afford everything his children or spouse desire; but he meets their basic requirements of food, clothing, and shelter. Yet in times of unemployment, meeting even fundamental needs is difficult. He must lean (as he always should) on the provision of the heavenly Father, helping his family see their real Source, Jesus Christ.

Children and spouse need a godly perspective of their self-esteem. Youngsters lacking a biblical sense of value to God are easy prey to peer pressure. Spouses who do not understand their worth to the Father and value as a mother and wife can easily slip into depression and false guilt.

Fathers, pray with your children. Tell them daily how much you love them. Let them know how grateful you are that God gave them to you. Husbands, love your wives with sacrificial, unconditional love. Praise her regularly both in private and in public. Help her to see her oneness with Christ and inestimable value to God and you.

Don’t preach the Word. Live the Word as Christ did, becoming a servant to all.

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching...” 1 Timothy 4:16

The Godly Man

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand in the path of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in its season
and its leaf does not wither;
and in whatever he does, he prospers.

The wicked are not so,
but they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Psalm 1:1-6

How would you describe a godly man? Some might point to a man’s personal witness for Christ in his community. Another might take note of his personal service to the kingdom of Christ in his church. Still others would consider a man’s spiritual leadership in his family. These are solid characteristics of a godly man. But a man can serve Christ and even manage his family well and still not be a man after God’s own heart - the Father’s primary description of a godly man.

A man after God’s heart admits his failures. He does not feed his ego with pride and quickly confesses his sins before God. He likewise is not too egotistical to admit mistakes to his family. A man after God’s heart understands that his strength lies in his weakness. David was frequently at the end of his rope. Paul was thoroughly convinced he could not go on unless he relied on the sufficient grace of God.

Are you honest with God and others regarding your mistakes? Do you work dependent upon God or ask for His help only during trying occasions? The man whose heart is transparent and humble before his Maker will leave Christ’s imprint on all he does.

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20

The Believer's Reward

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10

Many times the word “judgement” brings thoughts of condemnation. However, the believer’s judgement will not be a time of reproof. It will be a time of reward and reckoning as we give an account of our service to God. Jesus will reward us for our faithfulness in the work He has given us to do. We will not receive material rewards, but instead be given places of service in heaven and an unhindered ability to glorify God. You may feel unappreciated and forgotten, but the one Person who really matters is recording all that you do.

Jesus is personally interested in you, and He is preparing to reward you for your love and obedience to Him. But sadly not every believer is totally committed to Jesus. Many waver in their faith and make excuses for following the ways of the world. They try to overlook the fact that one day they will stand before His throne.

The overriding goal of Paul’s life was to know Christ and to become more like Him (Phil. 3:10). He knew the value of living a completely surrendered life. He wanted His eternal meeting with Jesus to be one of confidence and not regret. How about you?

“For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son.” John 5:22

Saved and Sure

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 5:24

God calls us to serve Him out of love and devotion, not out of work or obligation. The Pharisees prided themselves in the fact that they kept the whole law. They believed this would please God and secure their salvation. The sad point of all of this is whenever you base anything - a marriage, a friendship, a job, or more importantly our relationship to God - on works, you never know where you stand. There is always a degree of doubt involved because you are driven to achieve standards set by yourself and others.

Jesus set a new standard for our relationship with God: “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). God never meant for the Jews to view the Law as a pathway to salvation. Instead, it was given as preparation for the coming of Christ.

We can be sure of our salvation because we are secured by Christ and not by our performance. Some people say salvation by grace alone is “cheap talk.” But there is nothing cheap about the Cross. Jesus Christ, the most valuable Person who has ever lived, loves you so much that He willingly laid His life down that you might experience eternal life with Him. It is His gift of love to you.

“...a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus...” Galatians 2:16

That You May Know

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13

The reason many Christians lack joy is because they are not sure of their relationship with Christ. The Jews of Jesus’ day believed the only way they could be sure of their standing with God was by keeping the Law. It provided measurable evidence of their devotion.

However, Jesus offered a new theology, one based on God’s unconditional love and acceptance. The Jewish leaders were bound by the Law and refused to accept salvation as being a gift of grace. Imagine their dismay when Jesus told them that He was fulfillment of the Law.

Through Christ we have personal access to God the Father without bearing the burden of the Law and its consequences. Only grace secures our position with God. Jesus told Nicodemus: “You must be born again” (John 3:7). His words indicated a need for spiritual rebirth or regeneration. It is something human hands cannot achieve. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. Salvation equals grace plus nothing.

The next time you are tempted to doubt your salvation, think of the Cross where grace paid the eternal price for all our sins. We are saved and sure by the power of His grace - nothing more, nothing less.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

Christ, Our Advocate

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2

Christians often become discouraged when tempted by sinful habits they thought were eliminated at the point of their salvation. The truth is we still live in a fallen world under the influence of Satan. As a child of God, the enemy no longer holds the title to your life. Spiritually, you are seated in heaven with Christ (Col. 3:3).

However, this does not free you from the strife of Satan’s disastrous intentions. Salvation only shifts his goal for your life from one of eternal death to one of ineffectiveness. The enemy wants to render you useless in your witness and testimony for Jesus Christ. Sin is his favorite weapon because he knows it fogs our relationship with God.

However, the power of sin was eternally broken at the cross. We no longer have to yield to its temptation. The only way to handle sin is to put it in subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ. The key to overcoming it lies in living daily in the light of God’s Word.

When temptations come, remember the enemy’s power has been broken. Jesus is your strong advocate before the Father. Confess your sins, claim His forgiveness, and continue your life in the light of His grace.

Remember, Satan wants to enslave you; Jesus died to free you!

“...our old self was crucified with Him...that we would no longer be slaves to sin.” Romans 6:6

The Power of the Gospel

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:16-17

People often wonder what happened to the disciples after the resurrection. Many became our first missionaries. Much of Peter’s work was with the Jews in Jerusalem; Philip went to Samaria, as did John. Later Paul traveled extensively carrying the gospel throughout Asia Minor, Syria, Macedonia, and Achaia. Those who traveled with him, Timothy, Titus, Luke, and Silas, also joined the missionary troop.

One might think the thrust of their message was complicated, but it wasn’t. They simply told others what Jesus had done for them and mankind through His life, death, and resurrection. The message of the gospel was so powerful that by the end of Nero’s life and rule in A.D. 68, Christianity was a movement that forcibly challenged all other religions.

Judaism, the Mosaic Law, and the worship of false gods were no match for the gospel message - neither are the false religions of today. Only a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ has the power to break the stronghold of sin, guilt, and legalism.

The most effective tool we have apart from the Word of God is our Christian testimony. When you tell others what Jesus has done in your own life, you join the ranks of members of the early church.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation...” Romans 1:16

Triumph Through Trouble

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

When Jesus saw that His disciples truly understood who He was, He made a startling statement. It was one they were not prepared to hear: “Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me” (John 16:32).

God’s plan for redemption did not include lifting the disciples out of their immediate surroundings. The pain and stress of facing life as children of God would never deliver them from the earthly reality of trouble. Jesus made that clear when He said: “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33).

Soon after these words, the agony of the cross was His to bear. How did He withstand such tribulation? Christ’s life was anchored in the plan of the Father, not in the things of the world. Jesus was not worried about men and their false accusations, nor was He overwhelmed by trials or earthly tribulations. He had overcome the world.

What is His personal word to you when trials come without warning? “These things I [share with] you, so that in Me you may have [a] peace [that passes all human understanding]. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“...I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

“I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing praises to You before the gods.
I will bow down toward Your holy temple
and give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
for You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
On the day I called, You answered me;
You made me bold with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138:1-3

“How to Observe Thanksgiving”

Count your blessings instead of your crosses
Count your grains instead of your losses

Count your joys instead of your woes
Count your friends instead of your foes

Count your full years instead of your lean
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean

Count your health instead of your wealth
Count on God instead of yourself

-Author Unknown

Be grateful...Give thanks with a grateful heart!

He Calms Your Storms

“When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing!’ He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, ‘What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’” Matthew 8:23-27

Jesus came to earth as God in the flesh. He didn’t have to take on the form of humanity, but did. He momentarily laid aside His eternal glory in order to identify with the needs of sinful man. No one knows the personal loss nor the private pain that Jesus suffered. Wherever He traveled, storm clouds gathered. Wherever He spoke, political unrest ensued. For every person that joined His fleeting band of disciples, hundreds more turned against Him.

Christ could have focused on the storms that tore at His mind and heart. Instead, He chose to calm the stormy lives of others - a Roman centurion whose servant was dying, a young man bound by demonic oppression, a woman caught in adultery, a crippled beggar, a man born blind, and a Pharisee who came to Him hidden by night’s cover.

Even when the storms grew to overwhelming proportions, Jesus did not waver in His faith. He never lost sight of His eternal purpose. Dying on the cross, He offered salvation to the thief being crucified beside Him. When the storm clouds gather in your life, remember Jesus personally understands your pain and suffering. And there is never a time when you are beyond His loving grasp.

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but...to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28

When the Storms Come

“Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.’

Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘You are certainly God’s Son!’” Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus knew a storm was coming. Yet he watched passively as His ambling disciples push away from the shoreline and began rowing into deeper water. Finally, the sails caught the wind and the oars were pulled inside the boat.

From a Galilean hillside, Christ continued to study their obedient journey. Perhaps Peter was manning the rudder; John and Bartholomew, in deep conversation, rested against the bow; and Matthew, serious in thought, appeared caught up in Thomas’ animated words.

By the evening’s fourth watch, the scene was dramatically different. The sea had turned into a fierce enemy, and fear filled the hearts of the disciples. Swamped by elevating waves, the tiny boat listed in its struggle to stay afloat. There was no mistake - Jesus had deliberately sent the disciples into the path of the storm.

Some of life’s stormiest moment are found at the heart of obedience. While the storms of life are not easy, they are necessary. Jesus used this one as a catalyst to refine the disciples’ faith. He did not leave them alone. The moment all hope in human help had faded, Jesus came to them. Whatever you’re facing today, Christ is in it with you. And just as He came to rescue His disciples, He will come to help you.

“...Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27

Facing Life’s Obstacles, Part 2

“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth. For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him, then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.” Deuteronomy 11:18-23

Joshua and the nation of Israel were preparing to enter the Promised Land. Moses would not go with them. His last responsibility as their leader would be to issue a charge concerning the land they were about to enter. He explained that if they would keep the commandments of the Law then God would drive out their enemies before them. Often we find ourselves wondering why God does not remove all the obstacle after He blesses us.

The excitement of a new job turns sour the moment we find out our boss has a dark side. The dream house becomes a nightmare when we find out the roof leaks and the water heater needs replacing. Many times God places obstacles in our lives to keep us humble and dependent on Him. The very name God gave the Promised Land, Canaan, means “a place of humility.” Israelites longed to enter the Land of Promise. Yet they realized along with the promise came the tests and trails of life.

There will be time when you feel as though you have run into a brick wall. The obstacle facing you may seem overwhelming, but take heart. These are the times when God wants you to true to Him and trust Him to remove the obstacle blocking your path.

“...the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you...” Deut. 11:23

Facing Life’s Obstacles

“Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in. The LORD said to Joshua, ‘See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors. You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.’” Joshua 6:1-5

Each of us has faced obstacles in life that seemed overwhelming. When the nation of Israel came to the city of Jericho, God gave the people one objective and that was to remain firmly focused on Him and His Word. They were not to calculate the fortification of the city walls, the aggressiveness of the inhabitants, or the numerous enemies living within the land. Nor were they to view the conquest of Jericho in light of their own strength.

One reason God commanded them to circle the walls in silence was to maintain their focus. The more we talk about and calculate the outcome of a situation, the less likely we are to follow God in faithful obedience. Jericho was a divinely planned obstacle. The outcome of the battle would bring glory to God and provide conclusive evidence to Israel that He was doing exactly what He had promised He would do.

Every single obstacle you face is subject to the supernatural power of God. So don’t allow your vision to be narrowed to the obstacle. Instead, learn to view it from the background of His power and infinite resources.

Forgive Freely

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:15-21

When a person hurts us deeply, forgiveness can be obscured by the intensity of the pain: “How could that person do that to me?” “How can I possibly forgive them for what they have done?” Only when our focus shifts from a damage assessment to the sovereign hand of God at work in our lives can we genuinely forgive.

When Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid he would take revenge: “What if Joseph decides to punish us now?” Trembling, they asked Joseph’s forgiveness. His response echoes his confidence in God’s guidance and provision in the face of injustice: “...you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good...” (Gen. 50:20).

Even the deliberate wounds of another cannot foil God’s purposes for your life. He can integrate even the worst pain of betrayal into rich fabric of His plan. When you freely forgive another, you cultivate the fruitful soil of God’s blessing. You are free to experience His love, grace, and mercy. Focus your attention on God’s sufficiency for your hurt. He can use it to bring good in your life if you allow Him to forgive others through you as He has forgiven you.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other...” Ephesians 4:32

Forgiving One Another

“But Jesus was saying, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.” Luke 23:34

Jesus’ cry of pardon for those who nailed Him to an agonizing cross rings through the centuries: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). In our humanity we wonder how even the divine Christ could think of such forgiveness for the scornful lot of Pharisees, soldiers, and those who jeered on the hill of Golgotha. Yet we, as disciples of Christ, are called by the Scriptures to be like our Teacher. Is there anything more difficult? Perhaps not. But are our circumstances any worse than the darkness of Calvary?

If forgiveness can be extended in the blackness of the cross, we can offer it in our shadows of hurt through Christ’s example. Jesus forgave because He knew sin’s deceit was at work in His persecutors. When people offend us, they do not fully understand the folly of their ways, the deceitfulness of sin, and the consequences of their actions.

Christ forgave because He had come to die for the sins of all men, including those who nailed Him to a tree. We forgive because we are called to love all men - even our enemies - knowing they too are objects of God’s seeking love. We can forgive because the forgiving Christ is within us.

“...forgive, if you have anything against anyone...” Mark 11:25

Confession and Fellowship

“What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” 1 John 1:3-4

A son engages his father in a heated argument. Upset, the son slams the door to his room and remains there for hours. Days later the son still refuses to talk to his father. Finally, one evening the father and son are reconciled - their differences resolved.

When a person receives Christ as his Savior, his sins are no longer counted against him. In the fullest sense he has been pardoned. However, that is not all that salvation secures. Christ comes to make His home in the heart of the believer through the Holy Spirit, and God becomes the believer’s heavenly Father. One of the greatest privileges the Christian has in this new relationship is fellowship with the Father.

However, when we sin our intimacy is broken. Like the angry son, our relationship with our Father is affected by our selfish behavior. Confession is vital because it is the means by which God restores our close communion. When we live with open, unconfessed sin, our ability to enjoy God is diminished. God is not waiting for our sacrifice to renew His fellowship with us. He waits for our humble confession.

“This is eternal life, that they may know You...” John 17:3

If We Confess...

“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10

When Christ died on the cross, He was crucified for all the sins of the world. That means He died for your sins of yesterday. All of a believer’s past transgressions are forgiven through the cross. That means He died for your sins of today. Wherever a believer violates the Word of God or grieves the Spirit of God, he is forgiven through the cross. That also means He died for your sins of tomorrow. Regardless of future sins, the believer is forgiven through Christ.

Because of the totality of His forgiveness, confession takes on a different meaning than many Christians assign it. Since Christ has died for all of our sins - past, present, and future - we do not confess our sins in order to be forgiven. We are already forgiven.

The Greek word for confess, which is used by the apostle John, means “to agree.” Confession means we agree with God concerning our disobedience and His hatred of sin. Our confession aligns our hearts with God’s perspective and restores our fellowship. He has forgiven us. Our sin disrupts our communion with Him, not our standing before Him.

“If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Psalm 66:18

A God of Mercy and Grace

But when he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.’” So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:17-24

God is under no obligation to mankind. As Creator, Lord, and sovereign Judge, He can make any decisions He desires which conforms to His holy character. Thus, when man sinned and incurred His judgement, God could have closed down planet Earth and annihilated man. But He did not, and that is what makes forgiveness so amazing.

He is a God of unconditional love. His love for man cannot be cancelled by our rejection, unbelief, or disdain. He loves us with an everlasting love, and He has demonstrated that love through that sacrifice of His Son Jesus.

Our Lord is a God of amazing grace which means He bestows His goodness upon us despite our unworthiness. Grace means God gives and gives and gives without ceasing. Salvation is the noblest gift of that grace.

He is a God of infinite mercy. While His grace gives us what we do not deserve, His mercy withholds what we do deserve. Because of the cross, God is merciful to man, refusing to treat us according to our sins.

Forgiveness flows from the heart of a loving, merciful, and gracious Father who patiently seeks to bring the lost into His waiting arms.

“...Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting...” Psalm 138:8

Choose Life

“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:22-23

Life and death struggles were commonplace in our country’s formative years. A child with an infection usually died for lack of antibiotics. A drought or crop disease meant that some would die of malnourishment. Today such problems are solved without much difficulty. An infection can be treated with any of dozens of medicines, and a bad crop year is managed with increased exports or the release of stored reserves.

Forgiveness of sin, however, remains the ultimate life and death issue. God decreed the penalty for sin as eternal death, everlasting separation from the presence of a holy, loving God. The punishment is not a temporary assignment in some unknown world or a permanent unconsciousness or destruction of mind, soul, and body.

Made in the image of God, our soul is immortal - to dwell either in God’s presence (heaven) or away from His presence (hell). God wants us to choose life which He gives through faith in His Son who paid sin’s price on our behalf. He has done all He can to keep us from the place of torment (2 Pet. 3:9).

What decision have you made? Life or death hangs in the balance.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

Understanding God’s Grace

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

When convicted serial murderer Ted Bundy publicly shared his religious beliefs days before his execution, many Christians doubted the reality of his conversion. Their reasoning is not necessarily based on his lack of sincerity or on erroneous doctrine but on the repulsiveness of Bundy’s crimes. How could someone who perpetrated such murders possibly by forgiven? - is their fundamental question.

This thinking fails to understand the complete inability of man to receive God’s forgiveness apart from a personal faith in Christ’s work on the cross. Mankind’s greatest need is forgiveness of sin because all men are lost. Moral men are guilty; immoral men are guilty.

When Christ died as our Substitute at Calvary and paid sin’s penalty, which is death, our righteous Judge was free to forgive men based on Christ’s full payment. With the sin debt paid, mankind can receive God’s pardon and gift of eternal life based completely and solely on Christ’s redeeming work.

God saves a Ted Bundy or a Good Sam on the same grounds: personal faith in Jesus Christ who shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins - no matter how despicable they may be. The questions is not - is God able to save the worst of sinners?...But did the sinner genuinely receive Christ?

“...Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Man’s Greatest Need

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.’” Acts 2:37-39

What would you say is mankind’s greatest need? There are many people living in war-torn countries who would reply: “World peace.” There are others who inhabit famine-stricken regions who would respond: “An adequate food and water supply.” There are others who live in substandard housing or rural poverty who would answer: “Improved economic conditions.”

Perhaps you have your own answer in mind. It may be “family harmony” or “racial equality” or “a stable work environment.” Suppose each of these problems was somehow eliminated - peace came to nations, the hungry were fed, the poor were elevated. What then would be mankind’s greatest need?

The Bible declares the timeless answer. Mankind’s greatest problem - for every age, for every culture, for ever man and woman - is the forgiveness of sin. Every conceivable burden is the result of sin, beginning with Adam and Eve’s transgression and polluting each succeeding generation with its poison. Worse yet, each member of the human race is a sinner - guilty before a just, holy God with the terrible judgement of eternal death.

“...through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” Acts 13:38

The God of Hope

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Richards continues his wonderful summary on the powerful biblical concept of hope with this inspiring summary:

“In what do we hope?...It is God who is the focus and object - and ultimate guarantee - of our hope. Everything you and I hope for is wrapped up in Jesus. He is the power who works our present transformation. He is the one whose return marks history’s furthest horizon. He is the one thorough whom each believer will experience both the resurrection of the body and the future’s full expression of eternal life.

Like the OT saints, you and I will know hurt and uncertain tomorrows. We may suffer and experience tragedy, yet we can face the future expectantly. We may have to wait a while for the full experience of the good that God intends for us, but God is fully committed to everyone who makes a faith commitment to Him. ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11).”

He is the hope of the hopeless, and He is all-sufficient for every burden. Hope in God and He will sustain you.

“Instruct those...rich in this present world not to...fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches...” 1 Timothy 6:17

Our Hope

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” 1 Peter 3:13-16

In his book, Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, Lawrence O. Richards defines the exciting, encouraging meaning of the New Testament word hope:

“In the New Testament (NT), hope is always the expectation of something good,” writes Richards. “It is also something we must wait for. In the NT unlike the OT [Old Testament], just what we hope for is carefully explained...Resurrection is a reality...Because believers will be raised to be with the Lord, we do ‘grieve like the rest of men who hope’ when death invades our circle of friends (1 Thess. 4:13).

The NT also associate hope with character. In the NT, character development is linked with patient endurance: doing the right thing despite delays in reaching goals or receiving rewards. So it is particularly significant when we are told that ‘endurance [is] inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Thess. 1:3; Rom. 5:4-5). We are exhorted to ‘hold on to our courage the hope of which we boast’ (Heb. 3:6) and to make our hope sure showing ‘diligence to the very end’ (Heb. 6:11)....With hope we can maintain an optimistic outlook, even when things go wrong.”

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul...enters within the veil.” Hebrews 6:19

Put on the New Self

“So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:17-24

Once you realize your new identity and position in Christ, obedience to God’s Word takes on new dynamics. You do not have to be frightened or discouraged by biblical terms such as holiness. You can be holy because you are holy. Obeying the Scriptures can become an adventure and delight, not drudgery. We can experience the joy of following God as we embrace the following principles of our new identity.

First, know the truth. We can only obey what we know. That is why Paul wrote to the Romans: “Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin” (Rom.6:6). Rehearse daily who you are in Christ so that you might intimately know the truth.

Second, believe the truth. You cannot let feelings be your emotional or spiritual rudder. What God says about you as a new creature is true, no matter how you perceive yourself.

Third, act on the truth. Put into practice what God says. If God says to speak in such a way to bless others, do so.

There will be plenty of stumbling, but go on in Christ. Believe and practice what you know to be true, and the truth will set you free.

“And put on the new self, which...has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:24

Know Who You Are!

“So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” John 8:31-32

It is God’s truth - eternal reality - that sets men free. When the truth of the gospel was presented concerning salvation, you believed its veracity and were liberated from the penalty of sin - death - and given eternal life. Now that you are a Christian, it is through your understanding of the truth of your new identity in Christ that you gain freedom and triumph over sin and entrenched patterns of destructive behavior.

In his book, Lifetime Guarantee, author Dr. Bill Gillham provides and extensive description of our new identity. Here is a partial list:

“You are accepted.” (Rom. 15:7)
“You are always led in His triumph.” (2 Cor. 2:14)
“You have boldness and confident access to God.” (Eph. 3:12)
“You were formerly dankness, but are now light. (Eph. 5:8)
“You have all your needs (not greeds) supplied.” (Phil. 4:19)
“You are a son and an heir.” (Gal. 4:7)
“You are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 1:3)

Meditate on these truths. Think of their wonderful implications. God has set you free to enjoy an abundant life through your new identity in Him.

“Having been buried with Him in baptism...you were also raised up with Him...” Colossians 2:12

Live Like Who You Are!

“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day - things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” Colossians 2:9-17

The reason a Christian can think like a new man and, therefore, act like a new man is because he is a new man in Christ Jesus. We tend to view the Christian life like a patched tire. We think of salvation as something added to our lives when we accepted Christ, repairing the puncture of sin but still leaving us damaged. That is not the biblical version at all. When we accepted Christ, we were given a new nature, Christ’s nature. We were give a brand new tire so to speak, not a retread.

You are no longer in Adam but in Christ. You are not partly in Christ and partly in Adam but completely in Christ (Col. 2:9). You have exchanged your old corrupt sin nature for Christ’s holy nature. This happened at the cross. You were crucified with Christ, buried with Christ, and risen with Christ. God did it, placing you in Christ and Christ in you (1 Cor. 1:30).

The life of Christ is your life. You can conquer any sin habit because you are now a slave of righteousness, not a slave of sin. As a new creature in Christ, you are free to serve Christ. You still may choose to sin, but you don’t have to for you have died to sin and are fully alive to God in Christ (Rom. 6:6-11).

“...our old self was crucified with Him, in order that...we would no longer be slaves to sin.” Romans 6:6

Control Your Thoughts

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3

As we looked yesterday, Paul reminded the Corinthians of their position in Christ - holy, righteous, and blameless - because he knew their thinking must change before their behavior could be altered. Here is where many fail to overcome unwanted habits. We try to change our actions without our thinking being conformed to God’s truth. We inevitably act the way we perceive ourselves. If we feel like unworthy sinners, then we will usually act like one - guilt-ridden, erratic, and unhappy. Satan points his dirty finger at our actions and accuses us as vile sinners until we finally believe him.

Don’t believe a lie! Don’t yield to the father of lies and the accuser of the brethren who has no truth in him. This is the truth: You are a saint who occasionally sins. However, nothing you did yesterday, today, or tomorrow can change your position in Christ.

When you do sin, even habitually, you are not acting according to your true desires or identity as God’s holy one. You are acting inconsistently with your new nature in Christ. God says you are a saint now that you have received Christ. That is why you can experience victory over all sin. Christ is in you. He will make you more than a conqueror as you know the truth that sets you free.

“...Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me...” Matthew 16:23

Your Identity in Christ

“Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

You are locked into a bad habit you cannot seem to lick. The more you try to do what God says is right, the tighter the vise. You struggle - for months, for years. There is some measure of release at times, but you still feel captive to the problem.

If that sounds like a familiar scenario to you, don’t give up. God has provided a way of escape, no matter how deep the bondage. He is the Rescuer. There is help in the battle. Knowing the truth, not struggling against the lie, is what sets you free. Receiving the victory, not trying to attain it, is Christ’s liberating message.

When the apostle Paul penned his first epistle to the Corinthians the church was a mess. The people lived in immorality, were involved in idol worship, and quarreled about their leadership. You would think Paul would immediately berate the Corinthians. Instead, he begins his letter with a remarkable description of their identity in Christ. He calls them “saints” or “holy ones.” He says they “have been sanctified,” not “will be sanctified.” He continues to remind them of the grace richly available to them.

Paul spoke the truth that sets men free - knowing you are in Christ will change your behavior.

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6