“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20).
When one of my brothers was a teenager, my parents tried to get him to understand the correlation between the friends he had chosen and the trouble that inevitably found him. He was not willing to give up these friends until he matured to the point where he could weigh the pros and cons of their friendship. He eventually realized that the cost for their friendship was too high a price to pay. For better or worse, the people we hang around influence us. During my freshman year of college, I received a care package from home. I eagerly tore into the box to find soap, shampoo, and my favorite cookies. I greedily stuffed two cookies in my mouth and immediately spit them out. They tasted like soap! The close proximity between the cookies and soap had cross-contaminated them. The cookies absorbed the pungent fragrance of the soap to the extent that it had lost its own uniqueness. When we walk with wise men, they will invariably rub off on us. Similarly, if we walk with fools, they will negatively influence us and eventually overpower us. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (I Corinthians 15:33). We can be in the world, intentionally witnessing to those around us, loving the lost with the love of God and still be separate. Jesus ministered to the sinners and publicans, but hand-chose his inner circle. We should follow the same example.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sharing Good News
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).
With the exception of coming to Christ ourselves, leading someone to Jesus is the greatest thing we can do in this life. Bringing men to Christ is our mission and calling. “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). We are commanded by Jesus to go and make disciples in all nations (Matthew 28:19, 20). No one is exempt from the need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we have a responsibility to share the Good News. Research by Barna and Gallup indicate the percentage of Christians who actively share their faith is low. When I returned to Jesus after my prodigal experience, I remember feeling inadequate and unworthy of sharing my faith. I was apprehensive that I would say the wrong thing or offend the other person. I realize now that Satan planted these excuses to hinder me from witnessing. Once I discovered, as Dr. Neil T. Anderson said, that “Witnessing is sharing our faith in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God” I felt enabled to share Jesus. I have shared Jesus with many people since, and I have never had a bad experience. Even when a few people were rude or antagonistic in their worldview, I had complete confidence and peace that I had done what God wanted. Almost every individual I have shared with – even Muslims – have thanked me for caring enough about them to share the truth of Jesus. The greatest high I have experienced is the thrill of leading someone to the Lord. Men of God, be intentional in your witness. A lost world is waiting to hear our message.
With the exception of coming to Christ ourselves, leading someone to Jesus is the greatest thing we can do in this life. Bringing men to Christ is our mission and calling. “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). We are commanded by Jesus to go and make disciples in all nations (Matthew 28:19, 20). No one is exempt from the need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we have a responsibility to share the Good News. Research by Barna and Gallup indicate the percentage of Christians who actively share their faith is low. When I returned to Jesus after my prodigal experience, I remember feeling inadequate and unworthy of sharing my faith. I was apprehensive that I would say the wrong thing or offend the other person. I realize now that Satan planted these excuses to hinder me from witnessing. Once I discovered, as Dr. Neil T. Anderson said, that “Witnessing is sharing our faith in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God” I felt enabled to share Jesus. I have shared Jesus with many people since, and I have never had a bad experience. Even when a few people were rude or antagonistic in their worldview, I had complete confidence and peace that I had done what God wanted. Almost every individual I have shared with – even Muslims – have thanked me for caring enough about them to share the truth of Jesus. The greatest high I have experienced is the thrill of leading someone to the Lord. Men of God, be intentional in your witness. A lost world is waiting to hear our message.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Come, Lord Jesus
“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).
The more we desire something, the harder it is to wait for it. When I was a boy, waiting for Santa Claus to come was a yearlong event. The countdown for next year’s Christmas began on December 26. My anticipation grew daily as Christmas drew nearer. When the big day arrived, I would tear down the stairs along with my brothers and sister, wake up our parents and revel in the excitement of Christmas. Men of God, we should possess a similar attitude of expectation concerning the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (I Corinthians 15:51, 52). Those that love His appearing and look forward to it, will be rewarded with a crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8). Paul again exhorted Titus to “[look] for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (I Peter 5:4). Are our hearts longing for Jesus to return? Is our prayer that of John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”? Do our hearts skip a beat when we see prophecy fulfilled before our very eyes? Rest assured, men of God, Jesus is coming back. May we not be ashamed of His coming or be found sleeping.
The more we desire something, the harder it is to wait for it. When I was a boy, waiting for Santa Claus to come was a yearlong event. The countdown for next year’s Christmas began on December 26. My anticipation grew daily as Christmas drew nearer. When the big day arrived, I would tear down the stairs along with my brothers and sister, wake up our parents and revel in the excitement of Christmas. Men of God, we should possess a similar attitude of expectation concerning the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (I Corinthians 15:51, 52). Those that love His appearing and look forward to it, will be rewarded with a crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:8). Paul again exhorted Titus to “[look] for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (I Peter 5:4). Are our hearts longing for Jesus to return? Is our prayer that of John, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus”? Do our hearts skip a beat when we see prophecy fulfilled before our very eyes? Rest assured, men of God, Jesus is coming back. May we not be ashamed of His coming or be found sleeping.
The Contradictions of Christianity
“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches” (Proverbs 13:7).
Kingdom principles are often difficult to understand and contrary to so-called common sense. We must die in order to live, be poor in order to become rich and take up our cross before we are set free. Jesus was the model of this apparent contradiction. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9).
The God who created the universe, who owns the cattle upon a thousand hills, became poor for us. “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
Just as Jesus became poor, we must also become poor. The first beatitude says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew. 5:3). A man must realize he is lost before he can be found. It is only after he looks within and recognizes the wretchedness in his heart, that he will call out to the Savior and receive forgiveness. The man who feels he is “rich in spirit” will be poor for eternity. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear” (Rev. 3:17, 18).
Kingdom principles are often difficult to understand and contrary to so-called common sense. We must die in order to live, be poor in order to become rich and take up our cross before we are set free. Jesus was the model of this apparent contradiction. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9).
The God who created the universe, who owns the cattle upon a thousand hills, became poor for us. “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
Just as Jesus became poor, we must also become poor. The first beatitude says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew. 5:3). A man must realize he is lost before he can be found. It is only after he looks within and recognizes the wretchedness in his heart, that he will call out to the Savior and receive forgiveness. The man who feels he is “rich in spirit” will be poor for eternity. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear” (Rev. 3:17, 18).
Monday, June 13, 2011
The Miami Heat Are A Picture of Most Christians
It's hard to feel bad for the Heat. With all the pre-season hoopla and empty promises of a dynasty, well, it all seems a little blustery now. There are some interesting parallels in the Heat and most Christians, and I thought I'd spend a few moments unpacking that concept.
With three superstars on a team, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James could never decide who was the go to guy. Each man expected the other one to carry the load. What ended up happening was that no one did anything, and three perennial all-stars ended up looking like regular joes. The Mavs, an old school basketball team, beat them with an unselfish pass game. As Christians, we are often just like the Heat. God has enabled each of us with superstar gifts and talents, yet we wait on the other all-star Christians around us to do the work that we were called to do. It's easy to shift the responsibility on others when we think they are more qualified and have more all star appearances than we do.
Also like the Heat, we are celebrating our victory before we have rightly attained it. No matter where we are in our Christian journey, if we are still on this side of the daisies, then there is work to be done. While there is nothing wrong with celebrating Christ's finished work on the cross, that doesn't give us the right to sit around basking in future victory when there is so much laboring that needs to be done in the meantime. When you begin celebrating before you obtain the prize, you have lost focus and have underestimated your adversary.
The Heat also did not follow a strong leader. In hindsight, a young, inexperienced coach may not have been the best choice for three headstrong youth. A wiser leader, who had been battle tested in the trenches of NBA warfare, would have been a better choice. It is difficult for NBA players to respect a coach that has not earned his stripes. Similarly, Christians often follow weak leaders, who tell them what their itching ears long to hear, instead of following strong, faithful leaders who speak the truth boldly. Like the Heat, when strong leadership is not present, Christians tend to point fingers, shift responsibility and sit around and cry over lost opportunities.
There is hope for the Heat. If they can learn to play as a team, each learn their role in the offense, play to each teammate's strengths, and come together as one body for the common goal of winning it all, then greatness is in their future. The same can be said of the Church. Let's not fall short of greatness like the Heat, when we are all All-Stars playing on the winning team.
With three superstars on a team, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James could never decide who was the go to guy. Each man expected the other one to carry the load. What ended up happening was that no one did anything, and three perennial all-stars ended up looking like regular joes. The Mavs, an old school basketball team, beat them with an unselfish pass game. As Christians, we are often just like the Heat. God has enabled each of us with superstar gifts and talents, yet we wait on the other all-star Christians around us to do the work that we were called to do. It's easy to shift the responsibility on others when we think they are more qualified and have more all star appearances than we do.
Also like the Heat, we are celebrating our victory before we have rightly attained it. No matter where we are in our Christian journey, if we are still on this side of the daisies, then there is work to be done. While there is nothing wrong with celebrating Christ's finished work on the cross, that doesn't give us the right to sit around basking in future victory when there is so much laboring that needs to be done in the meantime. When you begin celebrating before you obtain the prize, you have lost focus and have underestimated your adversary.
The Heat also did not follow a strong leader. In hindsight, a young, inexperienced coach may not have been the best choice for three headstrong youth. A wiser leader, who had been battle tested in the trenches of NBA warfare, would have been a better choice. It is difficult for NBA players to respect a coach that has not earned his stripes. Similarly, Christians often follow weak leaders, who tell them what their itching ears long to hear, instead of following strong, faithful leaders who speak the truth boldly. Like the Heat, when strong leadership is not present, Christians tend to point fingers, shift responsibility and sit around and cry over lost opportunities.
There is hope for the Heat. If they can learn to play as a team, each learn their role in the offense, play to each teammate's strengths, and come together as one body for the common goal of winning it all, then greatness is in their future. The same can be said of the Church. Let's not fall short of greatness like the Heat, when we are all All-Stars playing on the winning team.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Depart From Evil
“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident” (Proverbs 14:16).
As boys, we are taught from an early age that we should be fearless. Maxims from our youth, such as “Big boys don’t cry’ and “Be a man,” have given us a false expectation of how we are to face the world. Many of the “truths’ we were indoctrinated with as children are not grounded in reality. For example, boys are taught to fear nothing, but there are some things we should have a healthy respect for: sin, evil, and a Holy God. A fear of sin and evil is wise because it serves as a protective mechanism to keep us far away from wickedness. Our fear helps us to weigh the consequences of falling into sin when temptation comes our way. A foolish man is confident and fears nothing. This kind of man is easily led astray because he places himself in no-win situations. He fails to recognize dangers and warning signs that a wise man would pick up on. “A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3). Godly men, I realize that the Bible says that we are to fear no evil (Psalms 23:4) and fear not what flesh can do to us (Psalms 56:4). However, the fear of the Lord and departing from evil go hand in hand (Proverbs 3:7). The fear of sin and evil is not a negative fear rooted in a lack of faith in God’s abilities, but a healthy fear ingrained in a love for God and a desire to live holy.
As boys, we are taught from an early age that we should be fearless. Maxims from our youth, such as “Big boys don’t cry’ and “Be a man,” have given us a false expectation of how we are to face the world. Many of the “truths’ we were indoctrinated with as children are not grounded in reality. For example, boys are taught to fear nothing, but there are some things we should have a healthy respect for: sin, evil, and a Holy God. A fear of sin and evil is wise because it serves as a protective mechanism to keep us far away from wickedness. Our fear helps us to weigh the consequences of falling into sin when temptation comes our way. A foolish man is confident and fears nothing. This kind of man is easily led astray because he places himself in no-win situations. He fails to recognize dangers and warning signs that a wise man would pick up on. “A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3). Godly men, I realize that the Bible says that we are to fear no evil (Psalms 23:4) and fear not what flesh can do to us (Psalms 56:4). However, the fear of the Lord and departing from evil go hand in hand (Proverbs 3:7). The fear of sin and evil is not a negative fear rooted in a lack of faith in God’s abilities, but a healthy fear ingrained in a love for God and a desire to live holy.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
I'm Not There Yet
Sometimes there are days that God lets you see yourself for who you really are, and although it is immensely painful, it is necessary for growth. After all, it is when you feel you have arrived in the Christian journey that you cease to grow. If I am being honest, I have been complacent lately. The routine of Christianity has lulled me to sleep, and I hate going through the motions. Sometimes a long stretch of I-26 and I-95 after a day visiting clients is a perfect time to take inventory of your life spiritually. Am I the man I claim to be? Do I excuse sin in my life as just being human? Have I grown accustomed to my life as it is that I have ceased to hope for something better? Do I still believe that God loves me and wants to bless me more than I can think or imagine? Has my pursuit of happiness become more important than the people God places in my path to reach and influence? Am I a good steward of my money? Am I preparing myself to be the husband that my future wife deserves?
As you can see it was a very long ride back from Charleston. My spiritual inventory revealed many places in which I am lacking. I was convicted to renew my spiritual journey with gusto. It is so easy when this world is pulling you a million different directions to lose your first love. Quite a few tears were shed when the Holy Spirit reminded me of all Jesus had done for me, how "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40:2-3)
So tomorrow is a new day, a chance to begin again. Not just for me but for you as well. His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23), and if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9). Who wouldn't want to serve a God like that?
As you can see it was a very long ride back from Charleston. My spiritual inventory revealed many places in which I am lacking. I was convicted to renew my spiritual journey with gusto. It is so easy when this world is pulling you a million different directions to lose your first love. Quite a few tears were shed when the Holy Spirit reminded me of all Jesus had done for me, how "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40:2-3)
So tomorrow is a new day, a chance to begin again. Not just for me but for you as well. His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23), and if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9). Who wouldn't want to serve a God like that?
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