Fields Sown with Seeds of Bitterness

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

 (John 15:9-11 ESV)

                I was talking with a man about righteousness, truth, and the Lord Jesus Christ last night.  He is convinced that there is something between him and God "like a dark cloud" as he put it in his own words.  I found that he was equating his fulfillment with material possessions and a quality of life that everyone "should" have.  He is a regrettable consequence of a cultural element that has fed off of creating a victim mentality and an attitude of entitlement among the poor in our land.   He blames the wickedness of other people especially those who are racist and have opportunities he never had.  He is a gentle mannered giant with a heart full of bitterness and pride.  I love him to death but can't stand his hard-headedness. Education and hard work has failed him.  The only solution he sees is if the government steps in and saves the day. He has lost hope in anything else.  The problem is too big for him to deal with.

Living an Eternal Life Now Part 6: The Only One Worthy of Your Devotion

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. (1Peter 2:4-5)

                The cornerstone used to be something more than a place in the foundation of a building that sported a commemorative plaque with the year the building was erected. It was the reference point from which the entire building would be carefully measured and constructed. Jesus Christ, being the standard by which we will all be measured, is our cornerstone. He is the one we must align ourselves to. If humanity were a building he would be the reference point from which all things are to be measured and put in their proper place. The metaphor in this passage underscores the authority that Jesus Christ has over all men. This authority exists whether people believe in him or not. He is the one we are to obey. 

Meeting Christ at the Coffeehouse (The Coffeehouse Chronicles book set Giveaway!) | Inside Pages

Meeting Christ at the Coffeehouse (The Coffeehouse Chronicles book set Giveaway!) | Inside Pages

I found a discussion on an interesting topic on this site. I think anyone with any current or future plans to attend college should consider what they read in this site.

Living an Eternal Life Now Part 5: The Only One Worthy of Your Allegiance

As you come to him to offer spiritual sacrifices . . .

                I remember hearing that becoming a Christian is not achieved through an intellectual consent but through a moral response. This statement needs to be qualified by understanding it in the context of distinguishing between the intellectual reception of truth and the intellectual perception of truth. There is nothing objectionable in this statement when framed in that context. All men believe something yet not all men have saving faith. Peter assumes the readers of his letter possess saving faith. Those who have tasted that the Lord is good will come to worship and praise him.  Such is the natural response after perceiving God’s mercy. Understanding what God has done for you as an individual through Jesus Christ should result in genuine saving faith. A sincere person needs to ask what exactly genuine saving faith is. There are so many religions and denominations in the world today. How do you decide which one is the right one? We must turn to the same principle the early Christians were encouraged to apply in the midst of their own personal crisis. God has been merciful in giving believers salvation through Jesus Christ. He has also been merciful in giving us genuine evidence for saving faith through Jesus Christ.

And the War Rages On

I met a doctoral candidate at the university while waiting for a friend outside of the dinning common. It turns out that he was a missionary to Germany. His ministry was focused on starting churches in communities located in the eastern part of Germany. I became very curious and began asking him questions about the challenges he faced sharing the gospel in Germany. He mentioned that the historically socialist environment as well as the current cultural climate had resulted in an entrenched atheistic perspective of life. He spent most of his time proclaiming the gospel and providing and promoting literature that gave a rational defense for the existence of God. He lamented at the fact that most people think that the concept of God is irrational and consider anyone who believes in God to be foolish. He said that Ben Stein was ridiculed for being in a video that promoted intelligent design as a more viable scientific alternative to evolution. I asked him if he saw similar attitudes here in the U.S. He mentioned that the same rhetoric that promotes the atheism in Europe is also found here. It left me thinking of our future as a nation founded on the principle of religious freedom.

Living an Eternal Life Now Part 4: Developing Spiritual Maturity

Since you have been born again (1Peter 1:22-2:3)

                Biblical Christianity is unique in its approach to personal righteousness. Its uniqueness lies primarily in the means by which a believer is made righteous. The previous passage encouraged believers to prepare their minds for action by focusing on the value of the gospel. The truth of the gospel is that Jesus came to save us by taking our sins upon himself and dying on the cross in our place. He was then buried and was raised on the third day as promised in the Scriptures. The good news is that all who believe in him will be saved. The appropriate response to the good news is to believe that Jesus Christ has paid for your sins and to submit to his authority as Lord of your life. Salvation results in a genuine response to the truth revealed by God that results in a change in your personal focus. It is an event that has lasting consequences and can never be reversed. It is an encounter with God that transforms the soul and cleanses the heart. A purified soul is necessary before you can ever hope to have the opportunity to love and serve God. The problem is that although people are cleansed and forgiven at the moment of salvation they are not mature.  This spiritual immaturity limits our ability to love God and others. How can we grow spiritually and learn to love deeply and genuinely?

Living an Eternal Life Now Part 3: Preparing Your Mind for Action

Place your hope on grace (1Peter 1:13-21)

                The decision to be a follower of Christ is something that has to be taken seriously. More damage has been done by those who call themselves Christians and betray the very Lord by whom they claim to be saved than by any other false religion. I have heard testimonies of people who thought they had a vibrant relationship with God under the health, wealth, and prosperity movement until they got sick, lost loved ones to illness, or lost their homes. The failure to place their hope on the true gospel resulted in a shipwreck of faith and contempt for God. The reality is that they were hoping for things that were never guaranteed. God has promised a living hope and an eternal inheritance (1Peter 1:3-4) and has called us by his Holy Scriptures to a genuine faith that results in salvation (1Peter 1:7, 9). He has become a heavenly Father to those who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Because of this we have a relationship with him that needs to be nurtured. This relationship comes with responsibilities that are not optional. What must you consider if you are to be a serious follower of Christ?

Contentment vs. Complacency

                 I challenged my family to learn to be content with the challenges and conditions God places them in. Jude 5-7 came to mind as a warning given to all who rebelled against God’s provision and the terrible consequences that will follow. This passage should challenge every person because it points out that unbelief leads to dissatisfaction resulting in rebellion against God himself. Faith, on the other hand, leads to contentment and submission to God’s will as he provides and leads us so we may accomplish great things for the sake of his kingdom and for his glory.

                When we feel dissatisfied we are forgetting God’s sovereignty. We become complacent when we forget his promises and blessings. The Bible says we are supposed to be zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). Clearly, ambition is not the problem. The problem is when we let ourselves be deceived into thinking that anything or anyone besides God deserves to direct our ambition. The fine line between contentment and complacency is drawn by our submission to God.

Living an Eternal Life Now Part 2: The Tested Genuineness of your Faith

The tested genuineness of your faith (1Peter 1:6-9)

                Dianne recognized the implications of the gospel. She said she was trusting in Jesus as her savior. Unfortunately, her response revealed that her acknowledgment of the gospel was only an intellectual consent to the facts mentioned in the bible.  She did not respond to her trials with a heartfelt conviction that God’s ways are the best ways. She chose to hold on to her pain and grow bitter rather than forgive, love, and confidently expect the fulfillment of the wonderful promises of God. She had not gained victory over sin! Instead, she was in the gall of bitterness and, ironically, enslaved to the same filth that she hated so much.  It was clear that her faith lacked genuineness. Her decision to disobey God brought him no honor or glory. I find that everyone is guilty of the same faithlessness when they rebel against God. True believers rejoice in loving and depending on Jesus Christ because God has given us the precious gift of salvation through him. Where does a person gain this confidence and joy?

Living an Eternal Life Now Part 1: Multiplied Grace and Peace

May Grace and Peace be Multiplied to You (1Peter 1:1-2)

                I met her yesterday while I was walking my dog. Dianne seemed to grasp at the attention she received from a simple hello. She began to tell me things, thing I did not particularly care to hear. It was obvious this woman was hurting and in bondage to her sin. I shared the gospel with her and let her know that Jesus Christ is the answer to her pain. Her response made me realize that this person had been receiving some form of spiritual training. She asked informed questions, she said the right things about salvation and who Jesus Christ was. That made the filth and corruption that came out of her mouth all the more astounding. I had to let her know that I could not listen to her anymore and left.  My heart sank. I considered how God’s grace had preserved me from becoming like Dianne. Then I realized how much like her I really am. Am I not tempted to adopt a victim mentality when things don’t go my way? Do I not vilify people who hurt me? Am I not tempted to absolve myself of any guilt or responsibility when my relationships are breaking apart? We are all tempted to resent difficult circumstances and the people through which they come. What grace have we been given to have peace in the midst of difficult circumstances? 

A Remedy for the Uncertainty of a New Year

Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

       A young woman who had recently given birth was admitted into the emergency room.  A young nurse took her vital signs and began to take her to the back room. With a nervous tremor in her voice the young mother begged the nurse not to let her die. Surprised, the nurse looked at her with a smile and said “you’re not going to die.” Minutes later the 20 something year-old mother of an in infant only days old went into cardiac arrest. Death came suddenly and completely unexpectedly. Years later that nurse told me this true story to alert me to the fact that you never know what is going to happen with a patient. The reality of the uncertainty of life made me uncomfortable at that moment. How can we prepare for the uncertainty of life? How can we make every day count even when confronted with adversity? The story of a young man named Daniel helps us answer these questions.