no matter what

...as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Philippians 1:20

Paul’s hope rested in Christ no matter what. The apostle believed that the outcome of his imprisonment, whether it was release to preach the gospel, or martyrdom because of the gospel, would bring glory to Jesus Christ. When the end vision is to see Jesus made much of, our circumstances cannot rob us of the joy of our hope and those circumstances help us to worship Jesus at all times.

Of course it is the last six words of this statement of Paul that are the firmest commitment. We all can sign on to the wish to glorify Christ by life when given that option. It is harder to accept that we could do so by death. Will that ever truly be tested? I pray that I would have this kind of confident courage if it ever were.

Lord Jesus,

You are worth living for with all that I have. And like Paul, may I confidently pray to honor you in my body, no matter what.

Amen

What will following Jesus cost me?

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Luke 14:28

Following Jesus is not a hobby or a part-time interest. Being a Christian is not a side interest or just a part of what a person is. Following Jesus requires serious, all the time, lifelong commitment. It isn’t something to do on a whim. What is the cost of discipleship? It is my entire life.

It seems pretty easy to take Christian teaching as an hour on Sunday kind of thing, as long as that sermon gets done before NFL kickoff! But that is not what it means to follow Jesus. Discipleship is a life obsession with loving, knowing, and being changed by Jesus. It started when I trusted in the gospel and then IT NEVER ENDS! Seriously... we give our lives to following Jesus, and then we spend eternity with our Lord! If that sounds like a letdown, then maybe the cost has never been committed to. The cost of discipleship is an investment of my entire life!

I know what you are thinking.

And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind.”

Ezekiel 11:5

One reason God is the prefect judge is that He does not need to cross examine us to get to the truth. He knows more than our actions. God knows our minds. He knows our thoughts. What we think is under His scrutiny. That was one reason why Israel’s idolatry brought such severe judgment when it finally came.

God knows my mind and tests my heart. He wants my love for Him and true repentance from sin to be what happens in my heart. That is why Christian faith can’t be about mere external conformance. I need a heart change. I need to think in a new, holy, and transformed way with God’s power changing me.

Praise God that His Word can discern my thoughts (Hebrews 4:12). And His Spirit and Word change my thinking so that I can put off sin and put on holy living (Ephesians 4:22-24). Thank God that He changes my thinking!

light and life

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,

and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life...

Proverbs 6:23

This is my goal when reading God’s Word: I want to find light that shows me my way every day so that my life can be lived to please my Lord. I believe that in so doing I will also be happiest. I need the wisdom of God to light my steps. I need the discipline it brings in order to truly find meaningful life.

And so this proverb is a foundation to my day. It sets the tone for how I open the Bible. From God’s Word will come that light, that discipline, and that life. It is worth it to begin each day with an open Bible and a ready heart, asking the Spirit of God to shine the way!

O Lord,

Your Word is my lamp. Show me my path. Teach me Your truth. Discipline where I stray and build the character of Christ in me as You show me how to obey! You give me life in Your Word! May I live it as You give it. 

Amen

only God

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

Psalm 73:25

The heart whose sole affection is God will know constant worship. Look at this expression of worship in this verse! It shows what true, single-minded devotion to God looks like. Nothing in heaven or earth is greater than God, our Creator, our Sustainer, our Father! He is our hope and our future. He is our present help and friend. God is all we should desire.

Yet there are many things, many of them very good things, that can pull me away from this kind of devotion. The big thing that can do this in my life is “busy”ness. And the good time of busy that comes with ministry can strangely become something that I look to more than God. I can almost worship it. I must repent of such misplaced devotion!

O Lord,

I thank You for the privilege of serving You. But I confess that service is not the same as worship of You. Keep my heart focused on You, Lord Jesus. Amen

faithful and safe

And the word of the LORD came to him: “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

1 Kings 17:2-4

No matter how hard things may seem, God takes care of His people. Elijah came to ministry in a difficult cultural climate. Ahab and Jezebel led Israel in continuous, wanton idolatry. It was as if God had been wiped clean of the cultural memory, with no cultural or political interest in the worship of Yahweh at all.

The Lord brought a devastating environmental disaster upon the land with a drought in order to draw His people back in repentance. He used Elijah as His prophet to announce this judgment on Israel’s sin. God confronted the leadership using one man.

Although Elijah was considered an enemy of the state due to his stand for righteousness, he was untouchable in God’s plan! God kept Elijah safe and sound. Camped out by the brook Cherith, Elijah had every need met. The flowing stream and the daily food deliveries from ravens kept God’s truth speaker alive.

The God Who created meal delivery by air certainly knows our need today! And He will care for those faithful to the gospel in dangerous times. Of that we can be sure.

True Guilt

It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the LORD.

Leviticus 5:19

When I sin

     and disobey

          what God commands

or act in a wrong way

     whether I understand 

          or not...

I am guilty.

I have sinned.

I need forgiveness.

I must repent.

True guilt

    is helpful consequence

for what I have done

     in response and repentance

            believing God’s truth...

I need forgiveness.

I trust Jesus.

Guilt is covered.

Sin is forgiven.