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For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 2:19-21

The Christian life cannot be lived successfully if our focus is on ourselves or if we allow our desires to come first. Jesus made it clear that we cannot follow in His steps unless we are willing to die to self. “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). We cannot be truly like Jesus otherwise, because that is exactly what He did. No one forced Him to go to the cross. He willingly chose to die for our sins when He could have stopped the entire process at any point with a single word.

Our old nature and our old desires do not disappear when we are saved. What changes is that we now have the power to deny them—to die to ourselves so we can live for Christ. George Müller said, “There was a day when I died, utterly died, died to George Müller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will, died to the world, its approval or censure, died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends, and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.” What we live for is determined by what matters most to us. If we love God more than anything else, then we will not shirk from the struggle and pain of bearing our cross. If we do crucify ourselves, we will then be prepared to live like Jesus lived.

And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

1 Chronicles 15:12-13

When God sent judgment to the Philistines who had placed the captured Ark of the Covenant in the temple of their god, Dagon, they sent it back to Israel on a cart drawn by oxen. The ark remained separated from the tabernacle for many years. When David determined to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, he used the same method for moving it that the Philistines had, despite that being contrary to God's commandment. As the Ark was carried through the streets on an ox cart, it teetered. A man named Uzzah reached out and touched the Ark to steady it and keep it from falling. Uzzah's action was not only directly opposed to God's instructions, but it was dismissive of the incredible holiness the Ark represented. For these reasons, God took Uzzah's life. “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God” (2 Samuel 6:7). Months later, when David again determined to move the Ark to the Tabernacle, he followed God's instructions and had the Ark carried in the manner God has specified.

It is common in our day for people to say that the methods we use in worshiping and serving God are not important as long as our intentions are good. That is a false and dangerous idea. Although our worship and service today does not center around representative objects (like the Ark of the Covenant or the Tabernacle), we must not disregard God's commandments and assume He will accept good intentions as a substitute for obedience. “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).

As we worship and serve the Lord, we should do so in a way that honors Him, not just our preferences or feelings. After all, He is the head of the church, and He is to have the preeminence in all things. 

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:12

There is an old story about a lady who dreamed that Jesus was going to come and visit her. In her dream she immediately began to clean the house, prepare a special meal, and do everything that she could to make sure everything was perfect for her expected guest. All day she labored, and finally when everything was finished, she heard the doorbell ring. When she went to the door, she saw a ragged, disheveled, gaunt figure. “I am expecting Jesus, who are you?” she asked the man. “I am what you have shown your neighbors of Me,” the Lord replied. She woke up ashamed at her failure to glorify God with her life.

Every day we are either bringing honor and glory to God and showing His true nature to those around us, or we are bringing disgrace on His holy name. The world cannot see God, but they do see us, and their opinion of God is in large measure shaped by what they see. Nathan pointed this out when he rebuked David for his sin with Bathsheba. “Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme...” (2 Samuel 12:14). The king had not just dishonored himself, but he had also brought reproach to the name of God.

When we become part of God's family, we are given the privilege of being His children, but that privilege comes with a great responsibility. Paul wrote, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ephesians 4:1). We will never be able to perfectly reflect God's character, holiness, and love to the world around us, but we must continually do our best. We have a high calling, and we must labor to fulfill it.

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

Psalm 95:6-9

God loves us too much to allow us to do wrong without responding. One of the most important influences that shapes the direction of our lives is how we react to God's chastening and correction. Though God had delivered the Israelites from Egypt, they did not stay grateful very long. Soon they were complaining about the lack of variety in their diet, the lack of water, and the leadership of Moses. Ignoring all the evidence of what God had done for them, they questioned whether He was even there. “And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:7).

When we are corrected, we must not make the mistake the Israelites did hardening our hearts so that we overlook all the good things God has done for us and question His love and care. The very presence of God's correction is all the evidence we need of His view of our relationship with Him. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Hebrews 12:7). It is easy to become angry and frustrated when God corrects us. But if we harden our hearts in this fashion we will not benefit from the grace God is bringing into our lives. The point of God's correction is to change not just our conduct, but our hearts. If we are not willing to make that change, we will miss the opportunity to repent.

Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

Leviticus 25:9-10

In 1752 the colony of Pennsylvania ordered a new bell from England to be cast for use in the State House. It would be rung to announce the beginning of a legislative session or the death of a dignitary. There was a flaw in the casting, however, which was revealed when the bell cracked not long after it arrived in Philadelphia and was put into service. It was recast and remained in use in the building that became known as Independence Hall. It was one of the bells rung in the city on July 8, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was formally and publicly announced. It is believed that the last time the bell rung was in 1835 to mark the death of Chief Justice John Marshall. The Liberty Bell, as it came to be known, is still one of the most recognizable symbols of the United States of America.

The biblical quote on the bell—"Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof"—is taken from the instructions God gave to Moses for the Year of Jubilee to be observed by the nation of Israel. It is a reminder we still need today. Freedom, true freedom, is first and foremost a gift from God, and it always comes with responsibilities.

Freedom is not the ability to do anything we want, but rather the ability to do what God says. Paul wrote, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). Our spiritual liberty gives us the freedom to say "no" to sin and "yes" to God. We should use this liberty daily to serve God and to serve others by pointing them to God.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

John 15:8-11

In 1963 the launch of the Rocket Chemical Company in San Diego, California, didn't attract much attention. The whole company was just three men who had an idea to create rust prevention and degreasing solvent products that would be used by the fast-growing aerospace industry. Their initial effort failed completely. They were not discouraged, however, and kept working. Dozens of more attempts followed, none of which produced a viable product they could sell. In all, thirty-nine separate efforts failed. While the company is not much remembered today, the product they created on their fortieth attempt and given the name WD-40 is one of the most recognizable brands in the country.

One of the last instructions Jesus gave the disciples before His crucifixion was that they were not just to do what He had told them, but to keep on doing it. Obedience is not just something we do once. We are to walk in daily obedience to God—with a heart motivated by His love. Someone said that the Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. There are people who start out well, but then fall by the wayside. Though it is certainly not always the case, often they stop doing the things that no one sees long before the change becomes outwardly apparent. Like a tree that is rotten on the inside but still appears firm outwardly, it is only when the storm comes that they fall. The cause of that fall is not the storm, but the failure to continue inwardly in following Jesus.

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

1 John 4:13

The Holy Spirit is not just some kind of influence that comes over our lives from time to time. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is God, and if we are children of God, the Holy Spirit indwells us. We have the Holy Spirit constantly within us. Paul wrote, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Though Jesus returned to Heaven when His work was complete, He sent the Holy Spirit to assure us of His continuing presence and to guide our lives each day. There are no days when He is not there. We can do things that bring Him sorrow, but He never leaves a Christian. “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30).

Charles Spurgeon said, “And you may know whether it is the Spirit’s work by this. Have you been led to Christ, and away from self? Have you been led away from all feelings, from all doings, from all willings, from all prayings, as the ground of your trust and your hope, and have you been brought nakedly to rely upon the finished work of Christ? If so, this is more than human nature ever taught any man. This is a height to which human nature never climbed. The Spirit of God has done that, and He will never leave what He has once begun.”

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives allows us to live with confidence rather than fear. He is the evidence God leaves with us that we are His children. He is the guarantee that we will never be abandoned or forsaken. He is the guarantee that we will spend eternity in Heaven. Our responsibility in light of this wonderful gift is to walk each day under the Holy Spirit's control, obeying His commands and fulfilling His purposes for our lives.

LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Psalm 26:8-12

At the end of the spring semester in 2023, Garrett Merriam, an associate professor of philosophy at Sacramento State University, made a discovery. He found that final exams from some of his previous classes had been posted online, which allowed students to cheat. He contacted the site, and had the test removed, but then decided to conduct an experiment. He posted a copy of the new test, but with wrong answers marked. Most of them were not just wrong, but way off, and anyone who had paid attention in class would have known they were not correct. Merriam then waited to see what the test results would show. He analyzed the wrong answers and reported, “To my amazement...this implies forty out of ninety-six students looked at and used the planted final for at least a critical mass of questions.” Almost half the students in a class called “Introduction to Ethics” were cheating.

Every day we face temptations to compromise our integrity. Often these temptations are presented as small things that hardly matter. But everything matters when it comes to being honest and upright. As the old saying put it, “If you borrow a penny, you're in debt and if you steal a penny, you're a thief.” There are no small things when it comes to integrity. Every act of dishonesty, cutting corners, shading the truth or misleading someone undermines our character. Though it may not be immediately apparent, eventually those failings accumulate and the destruction of integrity is visible to everyone. Every time we are presented the easier path by doing wrong, we must choose to do what is right.

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

John 14:7-9

The primary purpose of Jesus coming to Earth was to be the Savior that lost mankind so desperately needed. But He also did many other things as He taught, worked miracles, and lived a perfect and sinless life. One of the things the life of Jesus did was give people a tangible way to understand and see what God is like. Every day Jesus was showing people a reflection of His Father in Heaven. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). He modeled the attributes and actions of His Father every day.

Jesus returned to Heaven after the completion of His work and left His followers to take up the task of being a powerful and positive reflection of God to those around us. Every day we are to be doing the work of pointing people to the Father by the way we act and talk and live. It is up to us to continue the work that Jesus began. God has big plans for us, and we must fulfill them. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). The world needs God—not the distorted reflection portrayed in popular culture and some religions, but the true God spoken of in the Bible and lived out by Jesus Christ. It is up to us to show them the Father.

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

1 John 4:14

From the earliest days of Jesus' life and ministry on Earth, there were people who shared what they had seen and heard concerning Him with others. Think about it: upon leaving the manger, the shepherds scattered across the Judean countryside, telling everyone what they had heard and seen. The wise men arrived in Jerusalem and threw the city into an uproar by announcing they had seen the star heralding the birth of a new king. John the Baptist proclaimed that the time for the coming of the Messiah had arrived. Again and again, Jesus sent out His disciples to announce His presence. Before returning to Heaven, He commissioned them, and us, to spread the good news all around the world.

When Jesus cast the demons out of a man and into the herd of pigs feeding nearby, everything changed. This man who could not live around other people but stayed in a graveyard, constantly threatening those who passed by, was now wearing normal clothing, in full control and in his right mind. The people were astonished. He asked Jesus if he could go with Him but instead Jesus gave him a different assignment. “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him” (Luke 8:39).

It is not enough just for us to receive and know the truth for ourselves. We must share it with others as well, telling them what we have seen and heard and experienced. This is God's plan for reaching the lost. The Scottish pastor and theologian James Denney wrote, “It is not the main part of [the evangelist] to tell men to make their peace with God, but to tell them that God has made peace with the world. At bottom, the Gospel is not good advice, but good news. All the good advice it gives is summed up in this: Receive the good news!”

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

John 15:7-10

An apple tree that never produces a single apple is not fulfilling its purpose. The lack of fruit is a clear indication that there is something wrong. The failure might be due to poor soil, or too much or too little water, or disease or pests, but there is no question that there is a problem. The Christian life is much the same. There is an inner problem in the life of a Christian who is never producing any kind of fruit. 

God designed the Christian life to be a fruitful life. As we abide in Christ and walk in the Spirit, our lives will show the fruit of God at work. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance..." (Galatians 5:22–23). If this fruit is not increasingly present in our lives, there is somewhere a stoppage of the power of God flowing through us. Whether that is a lack of time spent in the Word of God and prayer, or a refusal to obey God's commands, or a hidden sin somewhere in the life, there is no question that there is a problem. 

When we recognize that we are not producing the fruit of the Spirit and bearing fruit to the glory of God, we should pause and consider if we have been abiding in Christ. If we are not aware of drift in our lives, we should ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal what would keep us from producing fruit. 

For a fruit tree, bearing fruit does not require intense struggle; it is a normal product of the tree's design. Similarly, being a fruitful Christian does not require some kind of massive effort; it is the natural overflow of our love for God and walk with Him. Fruitful lives bring honor and glory to God. We do not produce fruit to obtain attention or gain applause. We do it in obedience to the purpose and will of God for our lives. The closer we are to Him, the more His power can flow through us, and produce fruit according to His plan.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 16:13-15

There are many names and titles given to the Holy Spirit in the Word of God. Each of them reveals an aspect of His character and nature or an aspect of His work in the world today. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of truth.” Indeed, in a time when the very idea that there is such a thing as absolute truth is up for debate in our society, we need that certainty and stability more than ever. Our faith and our lives are not based on unknown or changing things, but on the eternal truth that is part of God Himself. He has given us the Holy Spirit as a voice and reminder of that truth—that we can always trust everything God has said no matter how out of step with the world around us we find ourselves.

It was not by accident that the first thing Satan attacked in the Garden of Eden was the truthfulness of God. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). Every time we are tempted to doubt the complete accuracy and reliability of anything God has spoken, we are treading on dangerous ground. That is why this particular ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives is so important. A close relationship with Him guards us against doubting God's Word. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

1 John 4:15

The validity of our faith depends on Jesus being who He said He was—God in the flesh. The debates about Jesus' identity that began while He was here on earth continue to this day. Now, just as then, some contend that He could not have been God. Now, just as then, some contend that He could not have been human. He was both. J. C. Ryle wrote, “We should settle it firmly in our minds, that our Savior is perfect man as well as perfect God, and perfect God as well as perfect man. If we once lose sight of this great foundational truth, we may run into fearful heresies. The name Emmanuel takes in the whole mystery. Jesus is 'God with us.' He had a nature like our own in all things, sin only excepted. But though Jesus was 'with us' in human flesh and blood, He was at the same time very God.”

Jesus had no hesitation about the true nature of His identity. He said, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:29-30). In response the people tried to stone Him. The problem was not that they did not know who He was, but that they would not accept Him for who He was. We only come to God on His terms, and the only way we can come to Him is through His Son. Jesus said, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The world doesn't mind saying Jesus was a good teacher or a kind leader or that He presented a good moral ethic. But they are unwilling to acknowledge that He was indeed God. Yet, if Jesus is not God, He could not also be a good man, because He claimed to be God. Furthermore, if Jesus is not God, we have no hope in Him as our Savior. The very premise of salvation through the substitutionary death and resurrection of Christ rests on His being God.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 5:6-9

There is an old saying in the publicity business: “Not advertising is like winking at someone in the dark. You may know what you're doing, but no one else does.” There are a number of things in our lives that are primarily internal, but there will be evidence to show what is on the inside. No matter how hard we try to conceal it, eventually what is on the inside will come out. Jesus declared this to the Pharisees, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).

Love is one of those things that will eventually reveal itself. True love cannot be kept hidden. And thankfully, that was the case with God's love toward us. God did not just love the world, He showed it—commended it—by sending Jesus to die as the sacrifice for sin and to be the Savior of all who believe. That love could not be contained or revealed or kept inside. Its very nature demanded that it be demonstrated.

For those of us who have trusted Christ as our Savior, God's love should be manifest in our lives as well. We should not simple enjoy God's love. And we shouldn't assume just because we feel love toward others, that is enough. The love of God in our hearts should overflow into every relationship and interaction that we have. Corrie ten Boom and her family saved the lives of more than eight hundred Jewish men, women, and children during the Holocaust through the “Hiding Place” they created in the family home and clock shop. They paid a high price when they were betrayed and arrested. But as Corrie said after the war ended, “Love is not something you say. It is something you do.”

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

1 Peter 3:8-9

Even if we are doing all that we should, there will still be problems. We live in a fallen and broken world, and evil is widespread in our day. That is not new. Though it takes different forms and guises, the underlying opposition to God has been a constant throughout human history. Our responsibility is not to insist on fairness or getting what we deserve, but to do what is right even—especially—if we are being wronged. Paul condemned the members of the church at Corinth for resorting to suing each other rather than resolving their differences properly. “Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” (1 Corinthians 6:7). We can always do the right thing no matter what anyone else does. Kent Keith wrote:

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:16

More than 25,000 spectators crowded the banks of the Niagara River on both the American and Canadian sides on June 30, 1859, to watch Charles Blondin attempt to walk across over Niagara Falls. The feat was widely regarded to be impossible given the distance, the winds, and the constant spray of water from the falls below. Blondin, who had performed his first tightrope walk between two chairs in his family home when he was just four years old, confidently stepped on to the rope and made his way across from America to Canada. After resting a bit, he made the return trip, this time carrying a large camera on his back. Halfway across he stopped, set up the camera using his balancing pole and took a picture of the crowd.

Blondin made the walk repeatedly over the next few weeks, often adding something new to his routine. Once he made the entire trip while blindfolded. His most famous crossing was made with his manager, Harry Colcord carried on his back. Though their combined weight snapped some of the guy wires holding the tightrope, they made it safely across. There is an enormous difference between just knowing something and genuinely believing it. Colcord would never have agreed to the stunt unless he had complete faith in Blondin. He was willing to risk his very life on the skill and sense of balance of another man.

God's love is far more than just an academic truth. It is real, because He is love, but until we come to believe it for ourselves, we do not receive the benefit of that love. Jesus came because God loved the world, but many people rejected Him then and still reject Him now. He sadly said, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40).

For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 2:4-6

All of us want people to respond positively when we share the gospel with them. None of us are particularly eager to endure suffering and persecution. Yet God's call to us is to be obedient regardless of the opposition or obstacles we face and to deliver His message without fear.

Hudson Taylor went as a missionary to China at a time when the gospel was almost completely unknown in the country. He served during famines, floods, wars, and frequently endured great opposition. He buried his first wife on the mission field. He frequently suffered from intense headaches that lasted days at a time. Through it all, however, he relied on God. In a letter to his mother he wrote, “Working without precedent in many respects and with few experienced helpers, often sick in body as well as perplexed in mind and embarrassed by circumstances—had not the Lord been specially gracious to me, had not my mind been sustained by the conviction that the work is His and that He is with me...I must have fainted or broken down. But the battle is the Lord’s, and He will conquer.”

We must never forget that sharing the gospel is God's work, and the only hope of success we have for Him to work in and through us. We are not responsible for the results or the outcome of our work and service for God. Our obligation is to be faithful messengers, refusing to allow anything to deter us from completing His assignments.

Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.

Jeremiah 7:2-4

In the days of the prophet Jeremiah, the people in Judah had gotten comfortable with combining the worship of the one true God with the worship of various gods venerated by the surrounding nations. They did not think that judgment would come to them, despite their unfaithfulness. After all God had chosen Israel from among all the nations and the city of Jerusalem as the one city where He would be most worshiped. “Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever” (2 Chronicles 33:4). Surely no judgment would ever fall on such a place. But they were wrong. They refused to repent, and judgment did fall as the Babylonians destroyed the city and the Temple and carried the people away as captives.

This was a common mistake throughout Israel's history. The corrupt and immoral sons of Eli thought that taking the Ark of the Covenant into battle against the Philistines would guarantee victory, but it did not. The brass serpent that Moses made according to God's instructions as a symbol of the necessity of faith had become an idol by the time of King Hezekiah and had to be destroyed. The things that God has used and given to us are never a substitute for Him. Feeling that we have leeway to disobey because of God's past blessing always leads to judgment and heartache. The monuments to His goodness that we see in our lives do not mean that we no longer need to pursue a close relationship with God today.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1 John 4:17

One day we will stand before God to give an account of our lives. We who have trusted Jesus Christ for salvation have no fear of our destiny, because He already paid the price for our sins in full. However we will find ourselves standing before the Lord from whom nothing can be hidden. J. C. Ryle wrote, “We and God must at last meet face to face. We shall have to render an account of every privilege that was granted to us, and of every ray of light that we enjoyed. We shall find that we are dealt with as accountable and responsible creatures, and that to whomsoever much is given, of them much will be required.”

If we want to face that judgment with confidence rather than fear, then we must devote our lives now to whatever work God has called us to do. The more that we love Him, the more dedicated and devoted our service for Him will be. Paul wrote about the power and influence of love on his own ministry. “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). He was willing to go to great lengths because God loved him and he loved God.

Paul had no fear of judgment, whether here or in the future. He was often called before the authorities, having been falsely accused of trying to undermine the Roman Empire or attacking the law of Moses. In every case Paul stood with complete confidence and boldness. Whether before kings or magistrates or religious leaders, he declared the truth without fear or apology. “And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds” (Acts 26:29).

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14

Many of the problems in our relationships—whether the relationship be marriage, family, church, or work—stem from having the wrong focus. It is easy for us to think of ourselves as better than we actually are while at the same time viewing others with a critical eye. We obscure or ignore our own faults while focusing like a laser on the problems of someone else. Jesus called out this kind of unjust judgment and said, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye” (Matthew 7:5).

If we think we have it all together and there is no further room for us to learn and grow, we will naturally be critical and condescending toward others. But such confidence is false. Even with all that he had learned and done for the Lord, Paul recognized that there was still much more ahead toward which he should be reaching. He refused to become self-satisfied in his spiritual walk and his ministry. He kept going forward, with his focus on himself before anyone else.

If we find ourselves being judgmental and feeling superior, we need to check our own relationship with God. John Newton said, “When people are right with God, they are apt to be hard on themselves and easy on other people. But when they are not right with God, they are easy on themselves and hard on others.” We should never forget that there is always room for us to learn and grow and become more like Jesus.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Psalm 27:6-8

David spent years running for his life. His picture was on the wall of every post office, and he was Number One on the Ten Most Wanted list in Israel. King Saul offered great rewards to anyone who would reveal David's whereabouts so that he could kill him. Yet in those days, David continued to trust the Lord. Things certainly didn't work out the way David had expected when the prophet Samuel poured anointing oil on his head and declared he would be the next king of Israel. But instead of allowing the detours and difficulties to drive him away from God, David used every opportunity to seek God even more. The harder his life became, the more he drew close to God.

In contrast to David, Asa was one of the better kings over the nation of Judah. He did many things that were right and pointed the people away from idols and back to God. But in his most severe crisis, he did not seek to deepen his relationship with God. “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12). We are not told what motivated Asa's decision. Perhaps he was bitter that God had allowed him to suffer a great disease after years of faithful service. But for whatever reason, he did not turn to God. As a result, he missed out, not just on a healing that he might have received, but on an opportunity to grow closer to God.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

Despite all they had seen of His power and ability to control all of the natural elements, when the disciples were caught in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, they were terrified. Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat, exhausted after a long day teaching and healing. His calmness should have been a source of comfort to the disciples, for if Jesus was sleeping through the storm, He did not think it posed a serious threat no matter how the waves crashed or the winds blew. Yet instead of encouraging the disciples, His sleep led them to question if Jesus really cared about them. “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38). The disciples were tormented by fear when they should have rested in the love and care of Jesus for them instead.

Having faith in God does not guarantee we will never face storms. All of the men in that boat, except John, would eventually be martyred for their fearless gospel preaching. They had real opposition and faced threats that could have led them to silence their message in fear. Instead, they boldly obeyed the command of Jesus to share the good news with the world. Their love for Him had grown to the point where no matter what happened, they would not be bound by fear. Our reaction to the hardships and trials of life reveals not just the state of our faith, but the state of our love for God. If we are bound and tormented by fear, it reveals a failure of love. It is easy for us to become attached to the things of this world, but if our hearts are fixed on God, nothing will make us afraid.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:11-13

Paul endured a great deal of hardship during his ministry. Travel in those days was dangerous enough, and in addition, Paul constantly faced opposition from both Jewish and Roman authorities. Every day he was aware that his life would almost certainly end with his martyrdom, which it eventually did. He was beaten, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, and unjustly imprisoned. After surviving a shipwreck through God's grace, he was then bitten by a poisonous serpent on the island of Malta. Sometimes he didn't have enough food to eat or a comfortable place to sleep. None of that, however, deterred him from continuing the work God had set before Him. He was not working for God in his own strength, so Paul was able to keep going no matter what his circumstances were.

Life is filled with trouble because we live in a world marred by sin. Often we are tempted to allow those troubles to derail us from continuing to follow Christ wholeheartedly. But it is in these times when we most need Christ! Rather than backsliding into disobedience and inconsistency in our pursuit of Christ and growth in Him, we should rely on His grace to remain faithful. Faithfulness is tested when things go wrong. The Scottish hymn writer Horatius Bonar wrote, “If you are Christians, be consistent. Be Christians out and out; Christians every hour, in every part. Beware of halfhearted discipleship, of compromise with evil, of conformity to the world, of trying to serve two masters—to walk in two ways, the narrow and the broad, at once. It will not do. Halfhearted Christianity will only dishonor God, while it makes you miserable.”

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

Joel 2:15-17

The Old Testament prophet Joel ministered at a time when the Jewish people were in a difficult situation. They were enduring economic devastation as their crops were destroyed. They were facing foreign invasion by enemy armies. But none of this was happening by coincidence. They had turned their backs on God in spite of His many warnings, and God was chastising them. Joel told the people that if they did not repent, worse things would follow. He admonished them to seek God's face in prayer, asking for deliverance from judgment. And he told them before asking God for deliverance, they were to sanctify themselves—to set aside their false idols and return to the worship of God. It does no good for us to pray if we are holding onto sin in our hearts which we are unwilling to confess or turn from. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).

Prayer is vitally important to the Christian life, but it is never a substitute for doing what is right. If we try to straddle the fence, seeking God's protection while living in disobedience to Him, we should not expect those prayers to be answered. Before we cry out “Spare thy people,” we must first “sanctify the congregation.” Otherwise all of our praying will be in vain. The power of prayer is so great that it can bring revival even in the face of judgment, but the only prayer that has power is the prayer that is often from a penitent heart willing to confess and forsake sin.

We love him, because he first loved us.

1 John 4:19

God does not love us because we are special or worthy or lovable. He loves us because He is love. God does not wait for us to come to Him. If He did, no one would ever be saved. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10-11). God's love is not only active, but sacrificial. Love is what put Jesus on the cross and kept Him there. Love is what motivated Him to go through the physical suffering, and the even worse spiritual and emotional suffering of bearing the weight of our sin. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). God does not tell us to change our ways to qualify for His love before He extends it.

It is this amazing love of God that calls us to love Him in return. How can we not love the God who loved us when we were unlovely, gave His life for us, washed us from our sin, and gives our lives meaning and purpose? How can we not love Him wholeheartedly and completely, above all else. As the hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote,

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

It is God's love for us and our love for Him that motivates us to follow and obey and serve Him and to continue to do so until we see His face.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

John 14:1-4

In 1907 the Aladdin Homes Company of Bay City, Michigan, began selling mail order homes. Customers could look through a catalog and decide what kind of house they wanted to build. Once they placed their order, all of the items necessary to build that house would be prepared and shipped, along with the blueprints needed to assemble the parts. One of the biggest selling points for these homes was the preparation that was put in ahead of time. Once the materials were received, the homeowner could start work immediately.

The company catalog boasted of the thoroughness of their offerings which included: “Stairways, treads, risers, stringers, newel posts, balusters, moulding, etc. for all two story houses cut to fit. All hardware. Mortise locks, knobs, and hinges, tin flashing, hip shingles, galvanized ridge roll, window hardware, etc. Nails of proper size for entire house. Paint for two coats outside body and trim (and colors), putty, stains and varnishes. Lath and plaster and grounds for lining entire house. Complete instructions and illustrations for doing all the work.” Aladdin sold more than 100,000 of their homes before going out of business during the Great Depression.

Jesus promised that He was preparing a place for His children to spend eternity with Him. Far beyond what any earthly manufacturer could plan or provide, He has been making ready for everyone who has trusted Him as Savior to find their place in His Father's house. There will be no shortages of material or anything left out—everything in Heaven will be just as perfect as our perfect Lord can make it.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 3:15-18

The devil always counterfeits what God does. He cannot create anything of his own, but rather copies what God has already made. He works carefully to make his offerings look as appealing as possible, but they are never the real thing. Wisdom—true godly wisdom—is vital to living a fruitful and successful life for God. King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, reported that his father David had taught him on the importance of wisdom: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). Knowing the importance of godly wisdom, Satan offers us worldly wisdom instead which may outwardly appear like God's wisdom but has a very different nature and character. Our task is to rely on God's Word and God's Spirit to discern the difference.

Every time we are faced with a decision we need to be sure to consult God's wisdom rather than accepting substitutes. The good news is that God's wisdom is available to those who seek it. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). When we seek God's wisdom and walk in it, we can be confident that we are living in a manner that is pleasing to Him. Author Oswald Sanders wrote, “If knowledge is the accumulation of facts, intelligence the development of reason, wisdom is heavenly discernment. It is insight into the heart of things. Wisdom involves knowing God and the subtleties of the human heart. More than knowledge, it is the right application of knowledge in moral and spiritual matters, in handling dilemmas, in negotiating complex relationships.”

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

1 John 4:20

In many countries around the world, you can identify the religion a person observes by seeing how they are dressed. In India it is common for women to wear a long robe known as a sari, but Hindu women wear it over the left shoulder while Parsi women wear it on the right. The colorful robes of Buddhist monks set them apart from the dark garments of priests in the western religious tradition. Sikhs never appear in public without their heads being covered in a turban. These are simply ways for people to express their faith outwardly.

For Christians the first and foremost marker of our identity is not our clothing but our conduct, and specifically the way we treat other believers and those around us. This was true from the beginning. Historian Rodney Stark detailed the impact Christian love had on the Roman Empire. “Indeed, the impact of Christian mercy was so evident that in the fourth century when the emperor Julian attempted to restore paganism, he exhorted the pagan priesthood to compete with the Christian charities. In a letter to the high priest of Galatia, Julian urged the distribution of grain and wine to the poor, noting that “the impious Galileans [Christians], in addition to their own, support ours, [and] it is shameful that our poor should be wanting our aid.”

It is an act of disobedience for us not to love others. We may not think they are lovable, but we were not lovable when God loved us. The test of our love for Him is not the beauty or elegance of our words but the sincerity of our actions and love for those around us. It is not possible to truly say we love God as we should unless we are showing His love in the way we act toward others.

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Daniel 4:34-35

Despite the warning he had received from Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar continued to boast of his power and position, until God took it all away from him. For seven years, he lived in the field like an animal. When he recovered his senses, he had a new appreciation for the majesty and power of God and had no doubt about who was really in control of the world. Despite all his power and might, Nebuchadnezzar was never in charge—it was always God. That was true then and it is still true today. God is not scrambling to try to figure out a way to respond to events, but is fully in control. While He does not always do things the way we think He should, He always does what is right. He is God and we are not.

Charles Spurgeon said, “I believe that every particle of dust that dances in the sunbeam does not move an atom more or less than God wishes. The creeping of an aphid over the rosebud is as much fixed as the march of the devastating pestilence—the fall of leaves from a poplar is as fully ordained as the tumbling of an avalanche. He who believes in God must believe this truth. There is no standing point between this and Atheism. There is no halfway between an Almighty God, who works all things according to the good pleasure of His will, and no God at all!”

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Philippians 1:20-24

It is easy for us to get caught up in the things of this world and forget that we are not meant for here but for eternity. While it's not uncommon for people to take a pillow on an airplane with them if they hope to sleep, we would certainly think it was strange if they brought sheets and blankets and pictures and lamps and set up house. The plane is just taking them from one place to another, and is never meant to be their home.

John Rice wrote, “This world is only an anteroom of the next. This short life is incidental compared with eternity. This world is not home to the Christian. Here we are only sojourners, temporary dwellers in a foreign land. Our citizenship is in Heaven. Our treasure should be in Heaven. Our thoughts should dwell lovingly and longingly on that sweet home of the departed saints, of our Savior and of our Heavenly Father.”

Jesus described those whose lives are never productive because their focus is on the things around them rather than the things of God. “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). If we want our lives to count for God, we must keep our focus on the eternal and remember this world is not our home.

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 John 4:21

The most famous cavalry charge in history took place during the Crimean War when the Light Brigade attacked entrenched Russian gun positions across the valley with horrific losses. Since several of the officers involved were killed in the battle, it was never clear who made the fateful decision to attack an enemy strong point. Tennyson's famous poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” highlighted the courage of the men who moved forward to obey their orders even in the face of near-certain death.

“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismay’d?
Not tho’ the soldier knew
Some one had blunder’d:
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

If soldiers in an earthly army can obey orders despite the danger and circumstances, certainly we in the army of the Lord can do no less. When it comes to how we treat our fellow believers, God does not suggest or request, but rather commands that we love them. Love is often a costly thing, but we are to love regardless of the cost. That is the way He loves us, and that is the way He tells us to love others. Paul was not writing to the lost but to believers when he warned, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Galatians 5:15).

We cannot control how other people treat us. We cannot force them to be kind or considerate or loving. But we have full control over how we treat them. We can love no matter what they do or how they respond or why they act the way they do. We can love because we must love. We must love because God commands us to love. God commands us to love because He is love and without love we cannot be like Him.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 12:24-27

During his life, English clergyman and poet John Donne knew a great deal about loss. Two of his children were stillborn, and three more died before reaching ten years of age. His beloved wife Anne died giving birth to their twelfth child. Donne poured out his grief through his pen in his Meditation 17, writing these famous words about the impact losing anyone leaves on others: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

The church is not just a collection of families and individuals from different backgrounds who happen to worship in the same building. It is a body, and as such it is vital that we not allow it to be divided, and that we care for each other. Paul wrote, “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). If someone in the church has a problem, the entire body should join together to do what they can to help. There are no unimportant people who can be written off. Each member of the body matters, and we must not look away and hope someone else will step up, but do our part.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

It's easy to look around and see that churches today are not making the same kind of impact on society that the early churches did in the first century. We have tools and techniques they could not even have imagined. We have programs and plans that have been market tested and promoted. We have buildings with comfortable chairs and air conditioning and state-of-the-art sound and light systems. But first-century churches shook the world without any of those things. What they had was an overwhelming love. They loved God wholeheartedly. They loved each other sacrificially. They loved the lost with a passion that made them brave every danger and overcome every obstacle to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

More than anything else, we need a revival and renewal of that kind of love if we want to have an impact on the world. The English Puritan Nathaniel Vincent wrote, “O love! How much want is there of you in the Church of Christ! And how much does the Church feel for this want! It groans, it languishes, it dies daily because of your absence. Return, O love, return! Repair breaches, restore paths to dwell in, edify the old ways and places, and raise up the foundations of many generations.”

Nothing done without love as its foundation and motivation will create lasting positive results. As the old hymn put it:

Let us love our God supremely,
Let us love each other too.
Let us love and pray for sinners
'Til our God makes all things new.

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

1 John 5:1

The Pharisees often clashed with Jesus because they resented His claim of divine authority. Rather than clinging to their traditions, He called them to follow God's Word. They had set up a system that put them above the people, allowing them to feel superior about their public piety and ostentatious conforming to the outward indications of true faith. They resented Jesus using the Scriptures to highlight their errors. One of the most dramatic and public confrontations occurred in Jerusalem when Jesus came to the Temple for the Feast of Tabernacles. In very clear terms, Jesus stated that He was indeed the Messiah and the very Son of God.

Though some believed Him, most of the religious leaders wanted nothing to do with this preacher from Galilee. They accused Him of being demon possessed and clung to their tradition and heritage for their standing in the eyes of God. Jesus pointedly told them that He was the only way to Heaven and that to refuse to place faith in Him would result in eternal damnation. Jesus said, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). In response they tried to stone Him.

The world is no different today. Many people are looking for an alternative to salvation through Jesus Christ. Some adopt other religions. Some claim there is no God to whom we must one day give an account. Many focus on their own efforts and merit, thinking that doing enough good or avoiding enough bad will suffice. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Unless we believe that He paid the debt for our sins and accept that payment, we cannot be saved. The most important question any of us will ever answer is Who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Revelation 3:1-2

Though everything was perfect when God created the world, the entrance of sin changed everything. Since that time, the natural bent and drift of man is not toward God but away from Him. Once Adam rejoiced to spend time with God in the Garden of Eden; but after he sinned, he wanted to hide himself. No one becomes a better Christian by accident. No one builds a life of character and good witness to the world apart from an intention to do so. We may think that we can coast or drift along and be fine, but God Who sees the heart knows whether or not our true inward condition matches our outward reputation. He is not impressed by what we used to be or what we used to do. He sees our current condition clearly, and He calls those who have turned away from Him to repent.

What is true for individuals is true for churches as well. Churches must be actively and intentionally seeking God, or they will be turning away from Him. That turning may be so slow and gradual that no one notices for a time, but left unchecked it will lead us away from God. A. W. Tozer wrote, “The neglected heart will soon be a heart overrun with worldly thoughts; the neglected life will soon become a moral chaos; the church that is not jealously protected by mighty intercession and sacrificial labors will before long become the abode of every evil bird and the hiding place for unsuspected corruption. The creeping wilderness will soon take over that church that trusts in its own strength and forgets to watch and pray.”

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

Much of this world is intensely focused on position and prominence. People strive to get to the top of different ladders, depending on their talents and interests. Often this striving takes negative forms. People lie, cheat, falsely accuse, and do almost anything to get ahead. These battles can quickly become intense, even over things that objectively aren't that important. For many years Wallace Stanley Sayre was a professor of political science at Columbia University. In a Wall Street Journal article in 1973 Sayre said, “Academic politics is the most vicious and bitter form of politics, because the stakes are so low.”

Everything that people do to get ahead in this world is at best a temporary victory. Nothing in the way of achievement, fame, power, or prestige in this world will carry over into the next. One day, every person, both saved and lost, will bow down and acknowledge the rightful place of Jesus Christ as the only One worthy of praise and glory, and as the supreme ruler of everything. Satan has been fighting against that acknowledgment ever since he was cast out of Heaven, but one day even he will be forced to bow down before Jesus and admit defeat.

The knowledge that the day is coming when we will join the throng bowing before Jesus should motivate us to live not for our own glory or advancement, but for the glory of the Lord. Any reward that we gain will be laid at His feet. “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:10-11).

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1 John 5:2

We do not get our salvation by anything we do or do not do. We do not keep our salvation by anything we do or do not do. Salvation is never any of our own doing, but only by grace through faith alone. If it were up to us we would have no hope. Instead, it is through what Jesus did, and we must rest in Him. God does not want us to live in doubt or fear regarding our salvation. But when we wander from the Lord, doubt as to our standing in Him can creep into our hearts. When we are living in obedience to the Lord's commands, we are more likely to sense His assurance in our hearts. 

Jonathan Edwards wrote, “’Tis not God’s design that men should obtain assurance in any other way, than by mortifying corruption, and increasing in grace, and obtaining the lively exercises of it. And although self-examination be a duty of great use and importance, and by no means to be neglected; yet it is not the principal means, by which the saints do get satisfaction of their good estate. Assurance is not to be obtained so much by self-examination, as by action.” It is not to gain or keep salvation that we obey, but because we love God and wish to glorify and please Him with our lives. Jesus made the link between love and obedience explicit in the Upper Room when He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

If we are living like the world, in rebellion against the law of God and going our own way, we are not living like believers. Just as earthly parents expect their children to behave themselves in a manner that does not dishonor the family name, God calls us to be positive examples of His grace. If and when we turn to paths of disobedience, God confirms His love by chastising us, even as a good parent does with his children. If we have been truly saved, it will be demonstrated through our love and obedience to God.

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

Daniel 2:44-45

When God gave the ability to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream to Daniel, He was revealing not just to the heathen king but to us as well what was to come. The great statue in the king's dream represented four great empires that would come, and history records that everything transpired just as Daniel said. The Persians followed the Babylonians, who were in turn conquered by the Greeks under Alexander the Great. His divided empire was eventually absorbed by the Romans. Even the division of Rome into eastern and western empires is foreshadowed in the two legs of the statue.

But the point of the dream was not the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms, but what happened at the end. One day Jesus will return, not as a humble Savior, but as a mighty King. All the powers of the earth will fall before Him, shattered into pieces because of their futile resistance. Then He will rule over everything in the one kingdom that will never end. This return is just as certain as the historical events that have already occurred. Jesus is going to come and set up His throne. We do not know when that will happen, but we know with certainty that it will. This knowledge means that we do not need to be shaken by anything that happens in the political realm. Nations may rise and fall, but Jesus reigns forever.

The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

Isaiah 50:4-5

English author Gyles Brandreth once estimated that the average person speaks more than 860,000,000 words in his lifetime. Maybe you know someone who goes through that many in just a few days! Regardless of the exact number, our words matter, and they need to be chosen with care. The prophet Isaiah highlighted the importance of not just using words, but using words that are full of meaning and helpful to those who hear them. The more time we spend with God and in His Word, the more those powerful and perfect words will fill our mouths the greater positive impact we can have on those around us. We should not be speaking ignorantly where God has revealed His truth.

When our ears are opened to God's Word, then our tongues are prepared to speak effectively for Him. This truth was demonstrated in the life of Samuel. From a young age He heard God speaking to Him, and he was faithful to accurately report the message, even when it was not what people wanted to hear. As a result, his words were not empty and meaningless. Instead, they had a real and lasting impact. “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19). That should be the goal for each of us to make sure our words have a positive and lasting influence on others. Most people are not in vocational ministry like pastors or teachers, but that does not mean that our words don't matter. Each of us has a responsibility to speak with “the tongue of the learned” and encourage others to do what is right.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1 John 5:3

Our being put into God's family is all about what He does for us, not what we do to deserve or merit His grace. Once we are in His family, He expects us to live up to the calling we have been given. To ensure that our lives are pleasing to Him, He has given us the instruction and commandments of His Word. He calls us to guide our lives by it and live in obedience to Him. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). God's commandments are given for our own good, based on His perfect knowledge and wisdom. If we are continually complaining about having to keep them, something is wrong in our hearts—we do not love Him as we should.

John Newton wrote, “The Lord’s commands to His people are not arbitrary appointments; but that, so far as they are conscientiously complied with, they have an evident tendency and suitableness to promote our own advantage. He requires us to acknowledge Him…for our own sakes; not because He has need of our poor services, but because we have need of His blessing, and without the influence of His grace (which is promised to all who seek it) are sure to be unhappy in ourselves and in all our connections.”

The instructions God has given to us in His Word are designed to protect us, just as a shepherd guards His flock from dangers. Often the sheep (who are not known for their intelligence) try to go to places that are not safe. They wander off from the flock where they are in danger from predators. They make their way into dangerous terrain that threatens their very lives. The shepherd is there to bring them back to safety. God's commands viewed in the light of His love and care for us are not onerous for us to obey.

Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Isaiah 1:13-15

The Israelites of Isaiah's day had the rituals of worship down pat. They marked the sabbath and feast days. They observed the new moon with the appropriate offerings and sacrifices. They brought the animals to the Temple as commanded by Moses. They stood and prayed, calling out to God as He instructed. Yet none of this impressed God, for He saw and knew that their hearts were not right toward Him. “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men” (Isaiah 29:13).

As a result, God refused to listen to their prayers. He did not accept their sacrifices, even though they conformed to the law. Anything that we do for God outwardly that does not begin by being right internally will not be accepted by Him. No matter how perfect our church attendance, our singing, our giving, and even our public testimony may be, God sees the heart. And if it is not right, He will not hear when we pray. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). Any time our prayers are not being answered, we should carefully look within to see if the hindrance is something we are doing or failing to do that keeps our hearts from being fully committed to God. There are times that God delays answering our prayers because of His perfect timing that we cannot see. But sometimes, a lack of answer is because we are not in right fellowship with Him. We cannot expect His answers to our prayers if our lives are not clean.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

James 5:16-18

Though there are times when God answers prayer immediately, there are many times when the answer comes only after we have prayed and prayed and prayed again. After Elijah called down fire from Heaven on Mount Carmel and slew the prophets of Baal, he began praying for the drought to end. Time and again he sent his servant to look out over the sea to determine if his prayer had been answered. Time and again the servant returned with nothing to report. Elijah kept praying until the answer came. “And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not” (1 Kings 18:44).

Charles Spurgeon said, “Prevailing prayer takes the Christian to the mountain and enables him to cover heaven with clouds of blessings, and earth with floods of mercy. Prevailing prayer lifts the Christian and shows him his inheritance and transfigures him into the likeness of his Lord. If you would like to reach to something higher than ordinary groveling experience, look to the Rock that is higher than you, and gaze with the eye of faith through the window of consistent prayer. When you open the window on your side it will not be bolted on the other.” Do not be discouraged if your answer is delayed. Unless and until God closes the door, keep praying and keep believing.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:4

As a teenager, John Yates began helping out in his family's shoe business in New York. His mother, who also worked as a teacher, nurtured his writing ability and encouraged him to submit his poems to various magazines. They were published first in local papers and then later in national magazines. Yates continued to work but also began preaching, filling pulpits across the state. As the popularity of his hymns began to grow, he began to work with Ira Sankey to provide music for D. L Moody's revivals.

Yates knew great tragedy, including the loss of his wife and both children in a diphtheria epidemic, but he continued to trust in God. The best known of his hymns reflects the depth of his faith.

Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.

Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.

Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

God did not tell us that life would be easy. In fact, He promised us that there would be battles and tests and tribulation. He also promised that we would be victorious if we remained faithful no matter what comes. The reality is that the world, having been defeated by Jesus on the cross, cannot win the victory over us unless we do not stand firm. Every defeat that we experience requires our participation. Our faith is not based on our commitment or ability or talent or determination. It is based solely on God's promises. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” (Hebrews 10:23).

But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

John 5:36-39

When a courtroom trial is being held, one of the most important factors in the decision of the jury is the credibility and reliability of the witnesses. If the members of the jury believe that a key witness is not being honest, they are very unlikely to vote in favor of his side. That is why attorneys spend so much time studying and examining the lives of potential witnesses. The side that calls the witness wants to be sure they are not undermining their case, and the other side looks for any way in which they can lessen the jury's trust in that witness. Of course, as crucial as a reliable witness is, what that witness has to say is also important. A reliable witness who provides relevant and truthful information is vital to convincing a jury. 

These two elements—a reliable witness with relevant information—are even more crucial when it comes to spiritual matters. The Pharisees in Jesus' day knew the Old Testament backward and forward. They memorized much of the Torah, and were able to quote passages at great length. They thought that their knowledge of the Word of God was sufficient, but Jesus highlighted the crucial shortcoming. They knew the Word, but it did not have life in their hearts because they simply didn't believe what it said. God's Word is a completely reliable witness. It is always true, and completely without error. But knowing that only benefits us spiritually if we genuinely believe that it is true and act accordingly.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 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 2:5-8

Various surveys identify different individuals as being the best-known on a worldwide basis. One recent example listed entrepreneur Elon Musk, soccer star Cristiano Renaldo, and former President Barack Obama as the people with the highest name recognition globally. Many people go to great lengths to get the attention of others. It is not uncommon for celebrities to have vast numbers of employees dedicated to building publicity. Many times people do outrageous things simply to attract attention to themselves. Fame is seen as the key to success in many professions. But it is not the key to success in the Christian life.

Jesus was worthy of all the praise and majesty of Heaven. He had every right to be known and proclaimed as the King of the universe. Yet, instead, He chose to be born to a poor couple in a small town that didn't even a place for them to stay. Jesus did not care about His reputation. He was focused on the task for which He had come into the world, and He did not allow anything to interfere with that. Often when He healed someone, He told them not to tell anyone about it. Jesus' focus on the Father rather than on fame is the opposite of the world's approach, but it is the approach we must follow if we are to be like Him. President Ronald Reagan was fond of saying, “There's no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit.” Rather than trying to bring attention and glory to ourselves, we are to live so that others will praise our Father in Heaven, and see Jesus reflected in our lives.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

1 John 5:5

Many people had trouble believing that Jesus was Who He claimed to be. Some cited His living in Nazareth in the Galilee region as a disqualifying mark. They knew the prophecy that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, and either did not know or did not consider that Jesus was indeed born in the City of David. Some cited His violation of the traditions that had grown up and taken the place of the actual law God gave to Moses as proof He was not the Messiah. They could not understand how what mattered so much to them was interfering with doing what God actually said. In truth, they were simply not willing to believe in Him because they loved things in this world more than the things of God. Jesus told them about this divide in clear terms. “And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23).

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to live in this present world not as subject to its desires and interests, but as conquerors who are rejecting the temptations around us to walk as Jesus did. Our faith in Him as Savior is not just about the next life. It is to make us victorious in this life as well. Paul wrote, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). If our hearts are fixed on the things of the world, we will not be overcomers. It takes faith to believe that the promises of God are more real than things in the physical world, but if we have that faith we will triumph over the enemy. And the foundation of our faith is the belief that Jesus is Who He claimed to be.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 3:15-17

John the Baptist was not confused about what his purpose was or about who Jesus was. He knew he had been born to prepare people for the coming Messiah. When he saw Jesus in person, he announced Him as “the Lamb of God.” Yet though Jesus was perfect and the Savior of all including John, Jesus insisted on being baptized. John protested, noting correctly that he should have Jesus baptize him, but the Lord made it clear that it needed to happen that way. There was an example to set for others, even though He had no need to repent, and Jesus always did what was necessary to fulfill God's instructions. So Jesus was baptized by His cousin just as so many others had been.

There are times in life when we are not sure what to do. But in most cases the problem is not in knowing, but in being willing to do what we already know is right. God expects us to do what He has instructed us to do. If we do not, we are sinning. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). It was not convenient for Jesus to go to John the Baptist who was ministering sixty or seventy miles away. It was not convenient to go into the Jordan River and go under the water. But it was right. If our obedience only happens when it is easy or convenient, we will not be obedient very often.

That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Acts 10:37-40

When Cornelius sent messengers to Joppa to ask Peter to come and tell him what God required, it sparked a crisis in Peter's life. If God had not made it clear that he was to go, this observant Jewish man would not have entered the home of a Gentile. Even more he would never have wanted to. Yet God's plan was not just to offer salvation to the Jews but to everyone who would believe. So Peter went and proclaimed the gospel to Cornelius and his family. His message was all about Jesus—Who He was, what He did, and how He saves. Peter's gospel presentation to Cornelius is a great pattern for us to follow.

Our world is filled with controversies and arguments. People are parading evil in the streets where it used to be hidden in private. There is conflict in the political, economic and even religious arenas. But that is not new. There was tumult and chaos in the first century. Roman rule over Israel sparked constant riots and revolts, even outright revolutions. The Roman culture was known for its immorality and lax attitudes. What they needed then, and what our world needs now is the gospel. No change in government or new program can solve the basic problem in the heart of men. The message that matters most is the message of Jesus Christ. We need to be busy sharing the good news with those around us so that they too can have the hope of eternal life.

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

1 John 5:6

Even in the first century heresies about the nature of Jesus were starting to spring up. In his time at Ephesus, the apostle John had to deal with a group called the Gnostics who taught that Jesus had a dual nature, so that He was not really at the same time both God and man. This false belief denied the essential nature of the Lord. He had to be completely God and sinless to pay the price for our sins. He had to be completely man and sinless to provide an example we could follow. Jesus was both at the same time even though humanly speaking that is impossible. All things are possible with God. Jesus came to make a way for us to be reconciled to God. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

When we believe what the Bible says about Jesus, we are protected from error in doctrine and practice. And as children of God we have the Holy Spirit to help us distinguish between truth and error. Jesus promised, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13). We should approach the Word of God with faith that it is true, and with an openness to hear what it says. We should never elevate the teachings of others above what the Bible says. There are many great resources available to us, but the best resource of all is the Holy Spirit Who as we yield to and follow Him leads us to the truth.

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

Psalm 37:28-31

For thousands of years people have used anchors to keep their boats in place. As long as the hooks are able to latch onto a rock, the boat will not drift because the combination of the weight of the anchor and chain along with the fixed point beneath the surface keeps it in place. But if the boat was further from shore in water too deep to reach the bottom, there was no means of keeping the boat in a fixed location. Now modern technology has changed that. Mercury Marine recently unveiled the “Skyhook.” This automated program uses the latest GPS system along with sophisticated links to the boat's engines and drives to make whatever changes are necessary to hold the boat in place no matter what the wind or current may be doing. It is an “anchor” that provides stability in any situation.

All of us live in a world where the winds and currents do all that they can to draw us away from God. There are constant attacks and temptations that allure us toward sin. But in every situation and every temptation we have a source of stability from above. If we activate the “program,” God's Word and God's Spirit will keep us from falling. No matter how intense our trials may be, they cannot overcome the power of God. We simply open our heart in full surrender to the Holy Spirit and turn to God's Word as our consistent source of truth. In these ways, we will be kept from drifting away. Ever since the Garden of Eden, man's tendency has been to pull away rather than to run toward God. But He is always there, and we can anchor our hearts and minds in Him.