Salvation

Yesterday my church put on a huge outreach event in a neighborhood. We basically threw a block party with food, live worship music, the sharing of the gospel, and an invitation for salvation. Several came forward to accept Christ’s precious gift. Then, we filled a tub with water and ten were baptized right on the spot—in 95 degree weather; no change of clothes; no special certificate.

What an incredibly beautiful, God-filled day!

Unfortunately, my heart was far from where it should have been. Sure I was excited to see people getting saved and even got chills when they were also baptized. I was witnessing the very active, living beauty of God in broken people. But while others came up with tears streaming down their cheeks, realizing their need for a Savior,  I was not with them.

I was sitting behind a drum set, waiting for the altar call song to get enough momentum so that I could start playing. My mind was on me. People were present that hadn’t heard me play before, or at least in a long time. My mind was on them. And I wanted to make a good impression. My mind was on me.

Why is it that my mind isn’t always focused on God?

Even in the midst of ministry, it becomes so easy to miss God. I was so focused on myself and on other people that I became distracted from my purpose. From GOD’s purpose. “…for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost,” (Luke 19:10). 

Just as God’s salvation is true for those who were baptized yesterday, so is it true for me who was baptized 16 years ago. When I get lost in my own agenda and poor thinking, He recaptures my heart and renews my mind so that I can again be aligned with His good and perfect will (Rom. 12:2). Jesus always brings me back to where salvation lives—in Him.

Forgiveness

“If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” – Jesus (Luke 17:3)

These can be hard words to hear. But what makes them even harder is that Jesus continues, “And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying ‘I repent,’  you shall forgive him.” (Lk. 17:4). Wow! I don’t know about you, but this makes me want to respond by saying, “Really, Jesus? Are you sure? Because that person really hurt me.” Sometimes I forget that Jesus kind of knew what He was talking about. After all, He was abandoned by all of His followers (except a few women, one being His mother), betrayed by one of his closest friends, put to death by the very people He came to love, and was denied by His best friend as He was being tortured and was dying. This causes me to think that Jesus may have really understood what pain is. Sometimes we try to let Him off the hook because He is God, but this is to deny Him as the Son of Man, a whole human, with full human feelings and emotions. And if He was (and is) not fully human, then He could not do that which was necessary to save us, so we would still be left to sin and death. So to sum up everything, Jesus was human, suffered intense emotional pain from other people, and still calls us to forgiveness.

As I look at these two verses though, I have to ask, what if the person who offends me does not repent? What are we to do then? In the past year, I have suffered from two significant relationships in my life that have hurt me considerably. And neither of them really repented.  Maybe they didn’t because I did not “rebuke” them, or did not do it correctly. But now, it’s too late to try to make it right in that way. The relationships we once had, are now virtually over. One of these people I may never even see again. Yet even though the relationship is over, I am still left in brokenness and pain. So what am I to do?

After Jesus presented this message to the disciples, they responded by saying to the Lord, “Increase our faith” (17:5). Jesus’ answer astounds me. He doesn’t tell them to go pray, read the Bible, or any other churchy kind of answers; He simply tells them to be obedient. “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” (17:10).

When we are left hurt and broken by people who were supposed to love and care for us, I think we are always called to forgive them- no matter how much or how often they hurt us, and even if they never repent. But I think that Jesus is also telling us that that forgiveness may look very different than what we would originally expect. Forgiveness is not a one time thing. We do not often forgive someone in one sitting, then go on fine and splendidly. Instead, forgiveness is a process that comes as we do the work of God that He has commanded us to do. Forgiveness comes as we become that humbled servant who is not after a profit or any special treatment, but only desires to be faithful in the least of things (Lk. 16:10).

If you are that person that has been hurt by someone else, I am sorry for your pain and what has been done against you. But I encourage to you respond in faithfulness to God. I know that it’s hard and probably will be for a while, but as you are obedient to our Father and do what is commanded of you, He will carry you “as a man carries his son,” (Deut. 1:31). For true healing rests only in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My Story

Ever since I was young, I have always been different from nearly all of my peers- not in physical appearance or imagination, but in spirituality. Often when I say this, I refer back to when I was four, sitting at my neighbor’s kitchen table, and declared for the first time that I was going to be a pastor; but God’s role in my life didn’t just start there. Just as God spoke to Jeremiah saying, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,” I also believe that He has appointed me “a prophet to the nations,” (Jer. 1:10) whatever that ends up meaning in my life. All I know is that “his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot,” (Jer. 20:9). While other kids were day-dreaming about recess and games during class, I was dreaming about preaching. I was also filled with such strong convictions that I once wrote a note to my third grade teacher on a test to tell him that, even though I answered according to what he had taught, I held to a biblical worldview that did not support his teachings.

Though I feel blessed to have been filled with such passion for God my whole life, it has not always been easy. For example, as a sophomore in high school I went through a period of time when I had to let my dream of being a pastor die. Since my entire life was rooted in this call, my world seemed to fall apart as my footing dissolved. It was a hard year or so of desert and famine, but I gained strength as I was able to choose God just as He had chosen me. I was beginning to understand what surrender really looked like.

There are some areas of service that we, as Christians, are all called to- such as feeding and clothing the poor. But as each of us grows and chooses our own path of service, God gives us more specific charges. To the tax collectors, “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” (Lk. 3:13), and to the soldiers, “…don’t accuse people falsely,” (Lk. 3:14). If we are to be successful as the church, we must realize that we all experience different calls with unique challenges and charges.

We each have our own story. But while we are unique, we are not alone. God has equipped us with gifts and callings that are irrevocable (Rom. 11:29). It is our job as the church body to encourage other members to fulfill their callings. As each does his/her part, another is supported.

So let me exhort you. Just as God has affirmed His future and purpose for my life (Jer. 29:11), I pray that He will affirm yours. Realize that every good thing that you have- any talent, ability, or blessing- is from God (Jms. 1:17) and is meant to be used. This is not a pressure on you to start doing “the Lord’s work” (as we so like to say), but rather an opportunity to brainstorm and make room in your life for the Holy Spirit to work through you in the gifts which the Father has bestowed upon you. This is your freedom (2 Cor. 2:17)!

Now go make your own story!

Complete

Redemption. We hear this word so often, but do we really know what it means? And if we do know the dictionary meaning, how willing are we to allow it to work in our lives?

As part of the human race, we seem to have this overwhelming struggle with a thing called sin. Somewhere along the line, we realized that there was something we were missing. So we try to fill this loss with other things. Sure, we may try things such as drugs, sex, and…what other cliche do we hear about at youth group? But what about our biggest sin of all- pride?

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I don’t have a problem with pride” that probably means you do. (Right? Haven’t we all heard that statement?) But maybe we’re thinking about pride in all of the wrong ways. Maybe the problem isn’t the acts of sin that we use to try to complete our lives, but the fact that we’re trying to complete our lives by ourselves in the first place. In one of my religion classes, we were talking about different sins that can lead to falling in the ministry. I said pride was the biggest. My friend said that while pride was a big one, lust was a pretty big deal too. But you see, pride is the root of lust, in that lust looks for things in this world to bring fulfillment instead of looking to God. Put simply, pride is a focus on ourselves instead of God.

If we look in the Bible, it seems to depict pride as the first sin leading to all others as well. Look at Lucifer for example. Isaiah 14:13 says this of him, “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God.” Isn’t this the same lie He told Eve? “You will not surely die…For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,” (Gen. 3:4-5). So why did both the angels and humanity fall? Because we wanted to be our own god.

Why in the world do we want to be our own god, when we are only the mirror reflecting God’s image? The One who created the universe and uses it as a footstool died to acquit us of our sin so that we could share in the divine relationship, yet we still think that we have it all figured out.

So here’s my point: it doesn’t even matter what you think you want, because God’s purpose ultimately prevails (Prov. 19:21). Stop fighting God for control over your life. Stop trying to be your own god. Stop trying to complete your own life when it is promised “that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, developing and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you,” (Phil. 1:6, Amplified).

While our efforts to find fulfillment always fall short, God’s are truly good and will bring ultimate completion and perfection. Our attempts are tarnished and broken, but “He is the Rock, His works are perfect” (Deut. 32:4). Allow Him to love you, comfort you, mend you,complete you, and perfect you.

Peanut Butter Fudge

There was a week in elementary school that I had an unquenchable craving for peanut butter fudge. One of the strongest cravings I’ve probably ever had. It was so bad that I would practically daydream about taking a luscious bite of that sugary goodness. One night while at home with my sisters, I began to describe to them my yearning for this prized dessert. I came up with an elaborate story about a dream, where everything was made of peanut butter fudge. I would wake up in a fudge bed, go to a fudge school, and even come home to rollerblade in fudge skates on a fudge road. Apparently my made up dream became believable, as I realized my sisters thought I was truly describing one of my night-time imagination creations. I was simply joking, trying to share my ideas with a fun twist, but my sisters considered it a lie.

No matter what the subject, our words hold amazing power. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “Life and death are in the power of the tongue,” it even goes on to say that “those who love it will eat its fruit.” The Fall of mankind all started with the fruit of deceitful words. What we say may seem small or insignificant, but it can change eternity by speaking life or death. My little “white lie” or “fib” that I thought was funny, actually changed a part of how my sisters perceived me. For a while afterwards, they did not always know whether I spoke truth or lies; life or death.
Luckily, I have sisters that believe in redemption and know my heart, but that is not always the case. Sometimes we only have one chance to make an impact or impression.

As you go about your week, think carefully about the words you say and how you say them. Choose vocabulary to build others up, doing your best to never tear them down. Always tell the truth. Honesty is the best sign of integrity. Remember, it’s not really worth it to even “fudge” the truth a little. Choose, live, and speak life!

Proverbs 18:21 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (NKJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, (NIV)

Birthday Friends

When I was younger, my sisters and I had a particular way of describing our relationships with friends. We would have acquaintances, friends, and then “birthday friends.” At birthday parties we were only allowed to have a certain number of guests, so we would always have to carefully choose which friends to invite. But for my sixth birthday party, the stakes were raised. My cousin Bethany and I have always been very close; she was definitely a “birthday friend.” Unfortunately, that year she could not make my party date, so I had to make a decision. I could either choose to have a larger party with about ten guests, or one with just her.

With God, we often have to make a similar decision. Though we do not have to find His mailing address to send an invitation, we do have to discover where he lies in the priority of our lives. Just as I realized the importance of Bethany in my life and chose her before my other friends, so we must do with Christ. John 15:13 tells us that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend. We also see in Proverbs 18:24 that “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” Jesus has been very friendly towards us, but are we friendly back? Do we choose to be the “friend that sticks closer than a brother”?

I encourage you to choose Jesus today. You may have to give up more notable parties to spend time with Him, but it is always worth it- He gives the best presents Let’s make Jesus a birthday friend.

Proverbs 18:24 – A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

John 15:13 – Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.