The Submission of Mary and Jesus

Have you ever considered how Mary's story points forward to Jesus’ story and mission? One unmistakable overlap between the two is submission to the Father's will. 

Consider how Mary responded to the angel Gabriel on that fateful day when he made his announcement to her. She said... “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:38)

Like all young women, I'm sure that Mary had plans for her life, hopes and dreams. And here God’s angel comes along with a wonderful announcement for her, but one which will alter the course of her life and make it difficult in many ways. And what does Mary say? She doesn’t do what Moses did. She doesn’t ask God to go find someone else. She doesn’t suggest Gabriel go talk to her friend down the street. No! Mary immediately submitted to God’s plan for her life because she saw herself as God’s servant.

Jesus submitted to the Father in the same way. Consider, for example, Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus didn’t want to suffer. He knew how cruel and torturous a crucifixion was. He knew that He would feel every lash and blow. He knew that the humiliation would sting. Yet, what did Jesus say? “Not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42) Philippians 2:8 puts it this way. It says Jesus “became obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

Are you that submitted to the Father’s will for your life? Do you see yourself as His servant or as the master of your own fate? 

I want to challenge you to submit to the Lord today by echoing the words of Mary and Jesus. Would you be willing to prayer this prayer to the Lord today? 

Dear Heavenly Father - I am your servant… not my will but yours be done. I fully and freely submit to you. Do with my life what you will.

Prayer that prayer today and see what God will do with your life. 

A Rahab Christmas

But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

Joshua 6:25

Rahab was a sinner and a Gentile… yet she was welcomed into the people of God. This foreshadows Jesus’ ministry in significant ways. In Luke 5:32 Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” And much later in 1 Timothy 1:15, the Apostle Paul says “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...”

Too often we fall into the trap of thinking that God’s love, mercy and forgiveness are only for "good" people. People who have it all together. Church people. But Rahab’s story reminds us that God loves sinners too. And He sent His Son Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, to live and die, not to save the righteous but sinners!

That’s the scandal of the gospel and the scandal of Christmas. That the Almighty, Eternal, Holy God would love people like Rahab... and you and me. That He would send His son to die for people like us. People who don’t deserve His love, who aren’t worthy of His love, and have no claim to it.

As a Gentile, Rahab had no claim on the promises God had made to Abraham, and yet she was adopted into Israel. She became part of the people of God. And we find this theme of bringing the Gentiles into the people of God in the Christmas story as well. When Mary and Joseph bring baby Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord, Scripture tells us that Simeon took Jesus in his arms and said He would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles...” (Luke 2:32)

Jesus came not only to save sinners, but to save sinners from both Israel and the Gentiles. And to make them one body, one people. This was Jesus’ mission, made clear even when He was a baby at the temple. And we find that hidden purpose of God hinted at, way back in the life of Rahab.

A Heritage of Faith

Hebrews 11 is sometimes referred to as the Hall of Faith chapter... a kind of hall of fame for the Christian faith. It lauds the faith of individuals like Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Rahab and others. But at the very end of the chapter, after telling us all about their great faith, the author of Hebrews says this:

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:39–40

None of those precious saints received the fullness of the promise. Not yet anyway. The complete fulfillment and culmination of all of that God has promised to His saints... waits for you and me and for countless other believers, so that only together with us will the believers of old be made perfect.

This is a tremendously helpful reminder that the Christian faith isn't truly “personal” in the strict sense of the word. It's communal. Your faith is connected to all those who came before you and to all those who will come after. You have a spiritual heritage that has been passed down to you by your spiritual ancestors. And now you have a responsibility to pass it down to the next generation as well.

Do you connect your faith to those who came before you? Do you read the great Christian books and treatises and sermons of the past? Or is your Christian faith shaped solely by the pastors, teachers and authors alive today? You are privileged to have access to the writings and sermons of many of the greatest Christian thinkers, preachers and missionaries of the last two millennia. You would do well to expose yourself to at least some of them.  

And what about the generation that will come after you? Are you doing anything to hand the faith down to them? You should be. Whether you volunteer with the children's ministry at your church, or pray for and minister to your own kids and grandkids, you have a responsibility to help pass the faith down to the generations that come after you. Through service, giving and prayer make sure you do your part to pass the baton of faith to those who will still be running their race long after you are gone.

The Church isn't Burger King

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

Hebrews 13:1

When I go to Burger King, I go through the drive-thru because (1) I want to get in and out as quick as possible. And I’ve never once asked the person taking my order what his name is or started a conversation with him, because (2) I’m not there to build relationships. I’m just there to get what I want and get out. And speaking of what I want. Burger King is famous for the slogan “Have it Your Way.” So, when I go to Burger King, (3) I tell them exactly what I do and don’t want. I don’t like pickles. So, I tell them, “No pickles.” And if they mess that up and put pickles on my burger, then (4) I may not go back, because I’m the costumer and if I’m not happy with the service why would I go back?”

Now, some people treat the church the same way. (1) They want to get in and get out as quick as possible. If the church had a drive thru line, they’d use it. They don’t come for Sunday School, only the worship service, because they don’t want to be at church any longer than they have to be. (2) And just like me at Burger King, these people don’t ask anybody’s names. They don’t talk to anybody, because they aren’t there to build relationships. (3) And these people think Burger King’s slogan ought to apply to church. They want to have church "their way." So, if the sermon or the music isn’t how they like it, then they let someone know. They aren't afraid to give special orders for how they want their music or someone. (4) And since they see themselves as “the customer,” they think it’s the church’s job to make them happy. And if the church doesn’t do what they want, then they might just leave and find another church that does it "their way."

That’s what I call a Burger King view of the church. It isn't biblical. The Bible gives us a number of metaphors that help us think about the church rightly. One in particular is the Family.

Over 150 times, the New Testament refers to believers as brothers and sisters in Christ. And Hebrews 13:1 commands us to "love one another as brothers and sisters." For more on this view of the church check out (Mark 3:35, John 1:12-13, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:16)

Thinking of the church as a family leads to a very different outcome than thinking of it as a Burger King. When you realize that the church is a family, then (1) you stop wanting to get in and out as quick as possible. You stop looking for a drive-thru church experience. (2) You start caring about the people in your church. You want to know their names. You want to start conversations with them and get to know them. (3) And you instinctively get that in a family you can’t always have it "your way.” You have to consider other people’s needs and wants. And often you have to sacrifice your wants to meet their needs. (4) And, obviously, you don’t walk away from your family and go find a new one when you don’t get your way.

So, please understand me when I tell you that your church is a family! You aren’t a customer at church. You're a part of the family of God. So, don’t treat your church like a Burger King or a drive thru worship experience. Take the time to get to know your brothers and sisters in Christ. Learn their names. Build relationships with them. Stop trying to get in and out of church as quickly as possible. Join a Sunday School class or a Wednesday night Bible study. 

God didn't invite you to participate in a business transaction from arm’s length. He invited you into His family. Those are two very different things.

Live Unleavened

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8

The Jews ate the Passover meal on the 14th day of the month of Nisan. This meal marked the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which lasted seven days from the evening of the 14th to the evening of the 21st. Anyone who ate anything leavened during those seven days was cut off from Israel. So, it was very important that on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Israelites removed all leaven from their homes. Historically, Jews have taken this practice very seriously. In fact, it’s traditional Jewish practice to search every corner of the home with a lit candle to ensure that no bits or crumbs of leaven remain.*

Paul draws on that background to argue that the New Testament church lives (figuratively) during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus, our Passover Lamb, has already been slaughtered. His death was the Passover celebration that began the Feast in which we now live in. And this Feast of Unleavened Bread will continue until the church age ends and we eat the Marriage Supper of the Lamb when Jesus returns.

Paul argues then that we are called to “continually celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread every day—not just one week out of the year— [but all our lives] by living in a holy way.”** Paul uses leaven as an analogy for sin, and the implication is that we should search out and remove the old leaven of sin from our lives, from our homes, and from our churches. We are to be an unleavened people, kept as pure and uncontaminated by sin as we can until Jesus returns.

Make no mistake, God calls us individuals and churches to live unleavened lives. To seek out and destroy the sin that festers and grows in the corners of our lives and homes and churches.

So, I have to ask... What sin or sinful residue do you need to clean out of your life? Or out of your home? What do you need to get rid of? Purge it from your life and live unleavened, until Jesus returns.

* Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.

** Naselli, Andrew David. “1 Corinthians.” In Romans–Galatians, edited by Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, X:209–394. ESV Expository Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020.

A Church that Welcomes the Truth

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

2 Timothy 4:2–4

We need more pastors and teachers in our churches today who will preach the whole counsel of God without fear. We need pastors who are prepared in season and out of season... who correct, rebuke and encourage. But we also need churches who will listen to and welcome the truth.

Sadly, some churches have turned away from the truth and refuse to hear it. Some churches won’t put up with sound doctrine being preached from their pulpits. Instead, they gather teachers and preachers who will preach what their itching ears want to hear.

Don't let that happen at your church. If you want your church to be a place where the whole counsel of God is preached… then do your part as a church member to welcome sound doctrine and sound preaching. 

How do you do that? Let me give you a few ideas:

1) Encourage your pastor more than you criticize him. When you think he preached a bad sermon, say nothing. Chances are he already knows. But when you think he preached a good one, go out of your way to encourage him and tell him what it meant to you. 

2) When your pastor preaches a difficult passage of Scripture and handles it biblically, thank him! Let him know that you want to study hard passages of Scripture and have them carefully explained.

3) When you hear other church members complain about sound doctrine being preached, support your pastor! Have his back. He may very well be risking his job to preach God's Word. If you want him to keep preaching courageously, then support it!

I am very thankful to be in a church that does all of these things, but I know that not every pastor is as blessed as I am. You may not be able to change the climate of your church overnight, but you'd be surprised how much impact a single church member can have. Be that church member for your pastor and for your church. 

Lukewarm Laodicea

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Revelation 3:15–16

You may not know this, but if you drink enough water at a certain temperature, roughly 95-100 degrees Fehrenheit, it can make you nauseous and actually induce vomiting.* I imagine the residents of Laodicea did know this. Laodicea didn’t have a source of clean, drinking water. Their water had to be piped in by means of an aqueduct. Cold water was piped in from Colossae. Hot water was piped in from the hot springs at Hierapolis. Either way by the time the water got to Laodicea, it was lukewarm.**

Jesus tells this church that their lukewarm Christianity makes Him feel the same way. It makes Him sick to His stomach. It makes Him want to vomit. And because of this Jesus threatens to spew this church out of His mouth.

Now, it’s not exactly clear if that would mean this church would cease to exist or not. But what is clear is that this church was dangerously close to being rejecting by it’s Lord. If the church at Laodicea continued to be lukewarm in their commitment to Jesus, then He would have nothing to do with them.*** They were in grave danger of losing Jesus’ blessing on their church. And what is a church without Jesus’ blessing?! If Jesus rejects us, what hope do we have? None.

It’s easy for a church to lose it’s passion over time and grow lukewarm. It’s easy for us to get to a place where we’re really just going through the motions. Where church stops being about about Jesus or about love or about the gospel and it’s just something we do... out of habit. That is a very dangerous place to be. We can’t let that happen to our churches, or to us as individuals, for fear of being rejected by our Lord.

If your faith has grown a little cold, then stir it up today. Don’t just go through the motions. Don’t play pretend. Either you’re all in or you’re all out. Jesus hates apathy. He hates lukewarm commitment. So, decide right now to be all in for Jesus. Fan the flames of your faith. And with God’s help, you will never be lukewarm in your commitment to Him again.

*Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 562). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

**Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 3:15). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

***Schreiner, Thomas R. “Revelation.” In Hebrews–Revelation, edited by Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, XII:525–754. ESV Expository Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018.

Futility (W.o.W. Rewind)

 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

Hebrews 10:11

Does your life ever feel like an exercise in futility? Do you ever wonder why God allows you to stay stuck in your station in life with seemingly no hope of escape? Consider the Old Testament priests. Stunningly, the Bible tells us that a faithful priest under the old covenant was doomed to spend their life, day after day, offering the same sacrifices for sin over and over again that could never actually atone for sin. From a human standpoint this is the very definition of an exercise in futility. What a waste of time! But it wasn't. Even if the priests didn't know it, every single sacrifice offered in the Old Testament served a higher purpose than atoning for sin. Every sacrifice pointed forward to Jesus. So the priests didn't spend their lives offering pointless sacrifices, they spent their lives pointing forward to that more excellent sacrifice, Jesus. He offered a single sacrifice for sins by which we have been sanctified once for all (Hebrews 10:10, 12).

So what at first glance appears to be pointless is actually a beautiful reminder of what we are all supposed to do. We point to Jesus with our lives. Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, make sure your response points people to Jesus. You can be sure that no matter how great or how terrible your life is, God has allowed you to be in the exact place you are in so that you might point others to Him by your response. God appoints some to thrive that the world may see He is good. He appoints some to poverty so His goodness can be shown in providing for them. Some suffer that the world may see His tenderness and His power to rescue. Some are called to singleness so they can spend more time pointing others to Jesus. Others are called to families so they can raise up the next generation for Jesus.

Whatever circumstances God has put you in, He has put you there to point people to Jesus. So worry less about why God has allowed certain things in your life. You'll probably never be able to answer that question anyway. Instead, focus on how you are pointing others to Jesus in your circumstances, through your circumstances or even in spite of your circumstances.

Father, whatever my situation, help me point to Jesus with my life!

The Zeal of Jezebel

Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

1 Kings 18:19

Do you know what an influencer is? You know... those people who have millions of followers on social media. We call them influencers because they wield a LOT of influence over people. They have an outsized impact.

I think the villain Jezebel was kind of an Old Testament influencer. Like the influencers of today, Jezebel had an outsized impact. Where she led, people followed. And there can be little doubt that from the time she married King Ahab, and for many years afterward, Jezebel had an outsized influence on the kingdom of Israel. Sadly, her influence wasn't for the good. 

One example of Jezebel's influence is found in the verse above. It says that Jezebel had 450 prophets of Baal and 400 hundred prophets of Asherah who ate at her table. She personally fed 850 false prophets. Why? Because she was zealous to feed the growth of Baal worship in Israel.

And Jezebel didn’t just oppose worship of the One True God; Scripture tells us that she was so zealous about this that she tried to kill ALL the prophets of the Lord. And if it weren't for a faithful man named Obadiah who hid a hundred of God’s prophets in two caves, Jezebel probably would’ve very nearly succeeded. (1 Kings 18:4)

What I want you to take not of here is Jezebel's zeal. She was highly motivated to lead Israel into Baal worship and sin. She went to great lengths to feed the growth of her false religion all over Israel. 

Which raises an interesting question... Are you as zealous for the Lord as Jezebel was for Baal? Are you as zealous a supporter of the church and of Christianity as she was of Baal worship? Are you as motivated to see people come to Jesus as she was to see them come to Baal? Don’t let Jezebel outdo you for zeal!!! Why should she be more zealous for her false god than you are for the One True God?!

Taking the Credit

Twelve months later, as [King Nebuchadnezzar] was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Daniel 4:29-30

Nebuchadnezzar took credit for what God had done. He was walking on the roof of his palace in Babylon looking out over the majesty of his kingdom and in his pride, he took credit for all of it.

From a human perspective we can understand how Nebuchadnezzar made this mistake. History tells us that Nebuchadnezzar was a great builder. He built temples and shrines to his gods. He built the very palace whose roof he was walking on when he made this statement. He built walls and moats and gates for his city. He dug deep canals and built impressive dams.* He rebuilt nearly every city and every temple in his kingdom. And we know that Nebuchadnezzar did all this because nearly all the ancient bricks archeologists have found in this region from that time are stamped with Nebuchadnezzar’s name! How’s that for humble?**

Most notably, Nebuchadnezzar is credited with creating the hanging gardens of Babylon which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.*** 

So, you can understand why Nebuchadnezzar took the credit. The problem was that he actually believed he had done all this by himself. In his arrogance, he believed he had done it by his own mighty power. And, of course, in his pride, Nebuchadnezzar undertook it all for his own glory.

Aren’t we sometimes guilty of the same? Don’t we sometimes look around at all that God has done through us and for us and think “I did this!”

Don’t take credit for what God has done. Even the things that God has done through you, were done in His power, not your own. And God deserves the credit for doing such mighty works through such a weak instrument. And don't forget how great a danger pride is. It’s easy for us to start living a life that is all about ourselves and start building monuments to our own glory. But ultimately, that way of life is empty. It is less than what we are called to as humans and as Christians. So, humble yourself before the Lord. Give him the glory. And spend your life building His kingdom, not your own.

* Wilson, Dick R. “Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar.” In The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, edited by James Orr, John L. Nuelsen, Edgar Y. Mullins, and Morris O. Evans. Vol. 1–5. Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915.

** Easton, M. G. Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893. 

*** Ritzema, Elliot. “Nebuchadnezzar.” In The Lexham Bible Dictionary, edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.

**** Easton, M. G. Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893.

Look Up (W.o.W. Rewind)

 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

Daniel 4:34

The great King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon stood atop the world in the sixth century B.C. But when he became too full of thoughts of himself and his own glory, God disgraced him. He took his mind from him and He humbled him and caused Nebuchadnezzar to live like an animal in the field. How fitting it is that his sanity should return the moment he lifted his eyes up off the grass, beyond himself, and up toward heaven. 

There are many times in my life when casting my gaze on heaven seems like the only sane act in this crazy world. Like Nebuchadnezzar, I sometimes find myself with my head down eating the grass of daily existence. Caught up in the mundane and never-ending routines that take up so much of our time and that the great teacher of Ecclesiastes called "meaningless." It is only as I lift my eyes toward heaven that sanity and meaning are given to the things that drive me crazy. 

Sometimes I look up to laugh at the insanity of our world. Sometimes to cry. At other times I look up in worship and at others to plead for help. But always the Lord lifts my gaze up toward Himself. As long as my eyes rest on heaven, my troubles don't seem big enough to crush me, nor do my successes shine bright enough to distract me. 

So, cast your eyes on the Lord today! Look to Him and plead, pray, mourn, laugh, or worship. Look to Him in whatever way is fitting for you and your circumstances, only be careful to never lower your gaze. 

A Day of Division

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 4:1–3

These verses talk about the Day of the Lord. What is that? It’s the day of God’s judgment. Now, the Day of the Lord can refer to moments of judgment within human history, such as the Exodus or the Babylonian exile, but the ultimate fulfillment of the Day of the Lord will come on that great and final judgment day at the end of human history.

And I want to draw your attention to the great contrast that is presented in these verses between the expectation of the wicked and the righteous on that day. For the wicked, that day “will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire… Not a root or a branch will be left to them.”

Notice the dominant image here is a furnace or an oven. God’s judgment doesn’t burn out of control, but it does burn hot. And the wicked are ripe for His judgment. They are described as dry stubble or straw, which always lights easily and burns quickly. Though the wicked seem to have deep roots in our world, though they seem to branch out in every direction and prosper, God says that not a root or branch will be left to them. They will be utterly destroyed and removed from our world on that final day.

By contrast, for those who revere God’s name, that day will not burn like an oven but will soothe like the warmth of the rising sun that causes stiff limbs to loosen and work again. Whereas the wicked might run in terror on that day, the righteous are described as frolicking and celebrating. It says that they will go out skipping like calves that have been pent up in their stalls all winter now set free in a green meadow. And the wicked will be trampled under their feet on that day of victory.

What we dare not miss here is that there will be a great division. A distinction will be made between the wicked and the righteous when God’s judgment finally comes. Jesus affirms this. He says the wicked and the righteous will be separated one from the other like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And the experience of the two will differ greatly. For God’s sheep, the Day of the Lord will be a day of deliverance and celebration. But for the wicked, it will be their doom... a great and terrible day of judgment.

Which side will you be on, when God draws that final line of separation? Are you ready for that Day? Do you look forward to it? Or do you tremble at the thought of it? If you tremble, it isn’t too late to make ready. If you aren't sure how, then keep reading below. 

***

The Gospel in a nutshell: We are all sinners. Every one of us has rejected God's way and gone our own way. We have all rebelled against the one true King. Our sin deserves punishment. In fact, so great a sin against so great a God deserves Hell. But God, because of His great love for us, has offered us His forgiving grace. For God to be just, our sin had to be punished though. So, God, in His wisdom, took the punishment for our sin on Himself in Jesus. Jesus died to pay the price for your sins and then rose from the dead beating the power of sin over you. He ascended into heaven to prepare a place for those who believe in Him. So that now those who place their faith in Him can be forgiven and spend eternity in Heaven with their Savior. If you would like to do that today, here is what you need to do.

• A- Admit that you are a sinner and in need of God's grace (Romans 3:10 and 3:23).
• B- Believe that Jesus is God's Son, that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin, and that He was raised from the dead (Romans 6:23 and 5:8).
• C- Confess Jesus as Lord of your life. Turn from sin (from living life your way) and commit to live your life for God (Romans 10:9).

It's as easy as ABC. Follow these steps and find a Bible preaching church to plug into and grow in your faith. 

Unchanging God

I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.

Malachi 3:6

Judah has been unfaithful to their covenant with God. And it is only because God doesn’t change... in His covenant faithfulness and in His longsuffering mercy for His people… that they have not been destroyed altogether.

Theologians call this the Immutability of God. And it can be defined in this way. God does not change in the essential attributes of His nature or in His eternal purposes. Take the essential attribute of God’s holiness for example. God is perfectly holy and good. He always does right and never does wrong. That cannot change. God cannot suddenly begin loving sin. He cannot embrace evil. That would be a fundamental change in who He is, and God does not change.

In fact, God can’t change. Think about it this way. God is perfect.… and perfection doesn’t change. Any change in the Lord would have to make Him either better or worse. If He were to change for the better, then that would mean He wasn’t perfect before and therefore wasn’t God before He changed. Alternatively, if He were to change for the worse, then that would mean that He is no longer perfect and therefore is no longer God. So, God cannot change.

Now, you may not realize it, but this aspect of God’s character is something you should be incredibly thankful for. Imagine if God was everchanging and unpredictable? Imagine the nightmare of an all-powerful God with the temperament of a toddler... a God who might strike you dead in the midst of a temper tantrum. 

I’m so thankful God is not like that. I’m thankful that I don’t have to worry about God changing His mind about my salvation or about how He feels about me. I’m so thankful that I don’t have to hope that God is “in a good mood” when I die. I’m so thankful that I can live my life according to His Word without having to worry about Him suddenly changing the rules of the game by changing what it is He wants from me.

So, take a moment and consider just how blessed you are by this attribute of the Lord... and praise God that He doesn't change.

Refined Like Silver

Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness...

Malachi 3:1-3

Do you remember what happened when Jesus came to the temple? He made a whip of cords, overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and ran all the livestock out of the temple courts. Essentially, Jesus entered into judgment not only against the temple but also against those in charge of worship there. In other words, Jesus restored right worship to the temple so men could bring offerings in righteousness again... just as Malachi says.

So, this passage is definitely talking about Jesus’ cleansing of the temple. But look at how it describes Jesus’ purifying work. It says, “he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” The passage clearly applies this purifying work of Christ to the Levites. But it also gives us a glimpse, I believe, into how Jesus continues to work in the lives of Christians today. Let me explain.

Do you know how the process of refining silver works? The refiner heats up his furnace and places silver in it to melt away the impurities, imperfections and ores. And do you know how the silversmith knows when the silver is pure? He knows it’s pure when it reflects his face... his likeness.*

It’s the same with Jesus, isn’t it? He takes a sinner and places them in the furnace of life. And what’s His goal? To purify us until we look like Him, until we reflect His likeness. That’s His goal and it should be our aim. Yes! Jesus is still purifying men and women today, removing sin from our lives so we can offer up worship that is pleasing to Him. 

That’s the only way you will be able to “endure the day of his coming” is for you to receive Jesus as Lord and let Him refine you until He can see His face in you… until you reflect His likeness. As Christians we need to participate in that process. We need to seek to be pure... to become more and more like Jesus so that we have nothing to be ashamed of on the day of His coming. 

* Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. Note on Malachi 3:3

Careful Investigation

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 1:1-3

The gospel is worthy of careful investigation. Far too often it is skimmed over or given only a cursory explanation, but it is worthy of so much more time and attention. 

Luke knew that many had already undertaken to write an account of Jesus' life. He knew that there were eyewitnesses and servants of the word (including the apostles themselves) who could testify to what had happened. Luke could have decided that these were sufficient to tell the world what Jesus had done and accomplished. But He didn't.

Even with all those testimonies already out there, Luke felt that it was still worth his while to carefully investigate all that Christ had fulfilled and write it down in an "orderly account." No doubt this was ordained by God, but it also sets an example for us to follow. 

Far too many of us fail to give the gospel (or God's Word as a whole) the time and careful attention it deserves. Far too of us many barely read our Bibles, let alone study them. There are precious treasures waiting to be discovered in the pages of God's Word. Yes, these pages are well trodden. Many have gone before you and written sermons and Bible studies and commentaries. And you may very well come across passages you have read countless times before. But they are still worthy of your time! They are still worthy of careful investigation and ordered explanation. These are the words of life and we dare not skim over them. 

Blind, Lame and Diseased Sacrifices

When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.

Malachi 1:8

There was a problem with Judah's worship. The law gave very specific instructions for not only what kinds of animals but also what quality of animals were to be offered up to the Lord. Only animals of the highest quality... without blemish or defect were to be sacrificed to God. But Judah had been offering blind, lame and diseased animals. They were supposed to be sacrificing their best and they had been sacrificing their worst animals to God... animals that even their Persian governor wouldn’t have accepted.

This kind of worship was unacceptable to the Lord. In fact, verse 10 tells us that God would rather they have locked the temple doors and not worshipped Him at all, than bring these offensive offerings to Him.

We don’t sacrifice animals to the Lord anymore. But we do bring offerings of our own: tithes and worship and service. Let’s look at each in turn?

First, tithes. Whatever amount you give, do you give sacrificially, generously and cheerfully? Or do you give begrudgingly... not out of gratitude or love but because you feel like you have to? That kind of giving shows contempt for God’s name. It isn’t about the amount, but about the sacrifice and the heart with which your gift is given. (Mark 12:41-44)

Next, what about your worship? Do you worship in such a way that exalts the Lord and brings glory to His name OR when you worship do you look bored, unengaged and unimpressed with the God you are singing about? When people see you worship, does it hurt or help God’s reputation?

Lastly, do you serve the Lord through church or parachurch ministries? When you serve, is your service well-prepared, focused on others and glorifying to God? Or is it lazy? Do you give minimal effort, show up late, and often even miss your commitments? Or perhaps its self-serving? You pretend to serve the Lord but in reality, your motive is to gain attention and feel important. 

Make sure that the offerings you bring to the Lord are worthy of His name. Make sure you bring your best, so that His name might be great among the nations (Malachi 1:11) and so He might be pleased to accept yoru offering. 

Oracle

The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.

Malachi 1:1

Do you know what the word 'oracle' means? It refers to a load, a burden, an utterance, or a message. This ought to remind us that God’s Word delivered to us through the prophet's is a weighty thing. A burden had to be borne for God's Word to get to you. Don’t take it for granted!

And who bore this burden? It says that this particular word of the Lord was delivered to us through Malachi. Interestingly, in Hebrew Malachi means “my messenger.” So, some question whether this is the prophet’s name or if it’s simply a title. It could be God’s way of saying that this prophet’s name isn’t important. What’s important is that he is God's messenger. While most think Malachi was this prophet's proper name, this ought to remind us that the prophets were God’s messengers. Their message, their books, matter because their source is found not in the prophets themselves but in the Lord.

As 2 Peter 1:20–21 says,

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

That’s why the Bible matters. That's why the Old Testament matters. And that’s why even the minor prophets at the back of the Old Testament like Malachi matter. Because God wanted us... wanted you... to have this message. And He sent His prophets to bear this burden to get this message to you. 

What will you do with the oracle that has been delivered to you? Will you take it for granted? Will you neglect it or ignore it? Or will you take it to heart, read it and apply it to your life? I want to encourage you to treat all of God's Word as inspired and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) Read and treasure it... even the minor prophets.

Raging Against the Lord

A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.

Proverbs 19:3

Is your life in ruins? Have your dreams been dashed? Your hopes come to naught? Are you inwardly (or outwardly) raging against the Lord and blaming Him for your current state of affairs? If so, you need to ask yourself this question... "Is it actually my fault?" 

I've seen it over and over again. As humans we are all too prone to give ourselves way too much credit for the good things that happen in our lives and to give the Lord way too much credit for the bad. We rage against the Lord and ask "How could God let this happen to me?!" When the truth is... we did it to ourselves. 

We chose sin over obedience, our way over God's way, selfishness over service, pride over humility, and the broad path over the narrow way. We sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind. (Hosea 8:7) And now... we want to blame God. Now, we look to Him and ask why. Now, we accuse Him with the question "How could You?"

The sad truth is that when we do this we are only falling for another one of the enemy's tricks. Blaming God and raging against Him won't make your life any better. When your life falls apart you don't need to rage against the Lord, you need to come to Him for help putting the pieces back together. He can do that you know. 

So, be careful not to blame God for the rotten fruit that comes as a direct result of the seeds you planted in your life. Actions have consequences. You sow what you reap. God tells us that in His Word. (Galatians 6:7) Don’t blame or slander Him for what you did. Instead take responsibility for what you caused and look to Him for help.

Dirty Mangers

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.

Proverbs 14:4

This proverb helps us see that we have to take the bad with the good. You can’t have an abundant harvest, without the strength of an ox. But there are certain inconveniences that go along with having oxen. Among them are a dirty barn. Oxen have to be fed and their stalls have to be cleaned. So, you have to choose. You can have an empty, clean manger or an abundant harvest. You can't have both.  

This applies to so many areas in our lives, but I have often quoted it about churches. Many say they want more young families. They want their pews to be filled with teens and young children, but they don’t want anyone to be loud in church. They don’t want anyone to dirty the floors or the walls. They don’t want invest money in the children’s ministry or youth ministry. And they don't want to sing any new songs in worship. In other words, they want a growing church without the inconvenience of having to accomodate any change. It just doesn’t work like that. Thankfully, I don't believe that's the attitude at my church.

But there may be some things in your own life that you need to recast in this way. Maybe your messy home is just the price you pay for having happy, healthy kids. Maybe your aching back is the unavoidable cost of still being physically able to do hard work at your age. Maybe your lack of "me time" is the natural outcome of being so indispensable in the lives of your loved ones. You can't have the good without the bad. 

If we can learn to begin thinking about the bad as the price we pay for the good things we want, then maybe we can accept these things with less bitterness and frustration. Maybe we can even begin to look at the dirty mangers in our lives with a small sense of gratitude.

Bothering God?

Each day we are tempted in a thousand different ways to live a life of wickedness. Each day we are told that wickedness brings pleasure. And from time to time, we are tempted... tempted to eat the forbidden fruit. How does the wise person think about this? Why should you live righteously? Is there any benefit to it? According to Proverbs 15:8, there is!

The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

Proverbs 15:8

There is a minor distinction in this proverb that is easy to miss. It's found in the words sacrifice and prayer. Normally prayers imply that we are asking God for something, whereas sacrifices are about us giving God something. So, in this verse the wicked man is giving God a gift and (more than likely) the upright man is coming before the Lord with some request.

Now, you might be tempted to think that God loves rich people more than poor people because they can give Him big gifts and buy his love. And if the wicked are wealthy by means of unjust gain, then you might be tempted to think that maybe God favors the wicked because they bribe Him with their wealth. But this proverb says that God hates the sacrifices of the wicked. Their gifts are funded by wicked deeds. Their worship is mere lip-service. It is insincere and backed up by a life of sin. Not only does God not appreciate that kind of worship, He detests it!

But what of the upright man? The Bible often pictures upright and righteous people as being poor. And I think that may be what is in view here. Every day this upright man comes to the Lord in prayer to ask for his daily bread. He has nothing of earthly value to give to God. When he does offer a sacrifice, it’s probably the poor man's offering of a pair of doves rather than a lamb, ox, or bull. He can’t afford that! How does God feel about his prayers? How does God feel about this man constantly asking for His help? 

 

Sometimes people think that if they pray too much it will "bother" God. So, they pray less and ask God for His help less, thinking that somehow this is pleasing to Him. But this proverb contradicts that thinking. It says that God is pleased with the prayers of the upright man. God is pleased when His children bring their needs to Him, because this is a form of worship. God would rather have an upright man or woman cry out to Him for help, than have a wicked person give Him a million dollars.

So, understand that it is the condition of your life and your heart that makes your worship pleasing or detestable to God. It isn't how much money you give or what you have to offer. And understand that if you are truly seeking the Lord, then you should never feel like you are "bothering" Him when you come to Him with your needs in prayer. It is actually pleasing to the Lord, when the upright person prayer to Him.

Thinking About Truth

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

John 18:37-38

With his one rhetorical question, Pilate encapsulates the lie of relativism. This lie says that there is no absolute truth, there are only perceptions of the truth. Truth is relative. It varies from culture to culture and society to society. There is no fixed, certain, unmovable, absolute truth. There’s your truth, and there’s my truth. And what is true for you, may not be true for me. But who am I tell you that you’re wrong, because that’s your truth?

If believed, this lie leaves us with a world and a God that make no sense. If there is no absolute truth, then I cannot absolutely say that God exists, or that He has called you to repent of your sins. In fact, if there is no truth, then I can’t say for sure that anything is sinful. Maybe it’s a sin for me, but not for you. Or maybe it’s considered a sin in our culture, but is praiseworthy in another. If truth doesn’t exist, then nothing is certain and Christianity is just an opinion. If truth isn’t fixed, then reality as a whole begins to break down and it becomes hard to make sense of anything.

But what does the Bible say? Are we adrift at sea in a world without truth? No! 

If you were to flip the Bible open at random and pick any verse, chances are you would find a truth claim. Because literally, every page of the Bible assumes, implies, and makes clear that truth really does exist and that it doesn’t change over time. 

But instead of flipping the Bible open at random, let me share just a few verses with you. The first is Isaiah 65:16 which says “...he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth.” God identifies Himself as the “God of truth.” Why would He do that if truth doesn’t exist?

Or consider 1 Timothy 2:4 which says that God “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” How can people come to a knowledge of the truth if truth doesn’t exist?

So, make no mistake, truth does exist. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that truth is relative or that my truth is different from your truth. Truth exists and God is its source. He is the God of truth! This is why we find truth primarily revealed to us in God’s Word. The Bible, is our primary source of truth. It is the standard by which we determine what is true. Don’t allow anyone or anything else to be your final standard of truth but God’s Word. Cling to it!

Favorites in the Family (W.o.W. Rewind)

 Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.

Genesis 29:30

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Genesis 37:3-4

Jacob had been his mother's favorite son. His brother, Esau, had been his dad's. Favoritism in the home was what he knew. It was what he was used to. And as we read the last half of Genesis, it becomes clearer and clearer that it is a toxic trait that Jacob's home life will be dominated by. 

Through a series of circumstances that weren't entirely Jacob's fault, he was tricked into marrying a pair of sisters. This is a bad idea which is why Scripture expressly forbids it in Leviticus 18:18. But Jacob made this bad idea worse by playing favorites. Scripture tells us right away that he loved one of his wives better than the other. Unsurprisingly, this created a rivalry between the two women. And for years they competed for their husband's affection by trying to outdo the other by having more children.

Sadly, this only made the situation worse because Jacob treated the children the same as he treated their mothers. He played favorites among his own kids. Showing preference to the one who was born of his favorite wife. Predictably, this led to rivalry among the kids. It got so bad that the brothers sold their rival into slavery and told their father he was dead. Deep down in their hearts, I believe they wished he really were dead. 

There are so many lessons we can learn from Jacob's life but one of them is undoubtedly the danger of playing favorites with our families. I know that most of us think we would never do that, but how many adults do you know who believe they weren't their parent's favorite child? Obviously, some parents still make this mistake. Be very careful that you aren't among them. Favoritism is toxic, and it will ruin your family.

Divinely Powered Weapons

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God...

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

What weapons do we wield as Christians against the Devil? In these verses, Paul speaks of weapons that have “divine power.” And he says that we use these divinely-powered weapons to “to demolish strongholds and arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.”

But what are these weapons? Paul doesn’t say in this passage. But as we look at his ministry, and at how Paul attacked false teaching, I think we can get a pretty good idea of what these divinely-powered weapons must be.

First, I think one of them must be the clear proclamation of the truth of the gospel. Clear explanation of gospel truth is a Spirit-powered weapon that God uses to tear down the lies of the enemy. Consider, for example, all the letters Paul wrote to address errors in the church. The New Testament is filled with these letters in which Paul is carefully explaining and teaching the gospel. Why? Because Paul understood that we can’t just win people’s hearts for Jesus… we must also win their minds.

I think the modern church has largely forgotten that! Too many of us think that if we can just make people feel good enough about church, if we can just make them feel good enough about Jesus, then we will win them for the Lord. But, that’s not how the New Testament church did it.

Have you ever read Romans? Have you ever read 1st or 2nd Corinthians. They aren’t exactly what I would call “feel-good” books. They aren’t primarily aimed at making people feel good. No! They are filled with sound doctrine, with logical arguments and detailed explanations that are primarily aimed at the mind.

We must learn to do the same. If we want to rescue people from the lies of the enemy, we must give them a clear dose of the truth. And if we want to safeguard our own minds from the enemy's attacks, then we must take in a steady diet of the truth presented in God’s Word ourselves.

Another divinely powered weapon that we see at work in Paul’s ministry is prayer. If you read Paul’s letters, you will see that he is constantly praying for his churches. Why? Because prayer unleashes the power of God in our lives. It's through prayer that the Spirit of God acts and convicts men and draws them to the truth. So, pray for yourself and for others to know the truth and think clearly. And pray for those who have been deceived by the enemy, who have been captured, to be set free from his strongholds and come back out into the light of day.

A third and final divinely-powered weapon that I see at work in the Apostle Paul’s ministry is the example and witness of his daily life. The Apostle Paul lived a divinely-powered life that confirmed his message, silenced his critics and gained a hearing for the gospel. He didn’t just preach the gospel, he lived it. You and I must do the same if we are going to unmask the lies of the enemy.

Follow the Spirit

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch... The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

Acts 8:26-27, 29

Philip had just sparked a revival in Samaria that brought many Samaritans to Christ. In fact, verse 14 tells us that it was a significant enough revival for some of the apostles to come down from Jerusalem to check it out and take part in it. So, Philip has been doing a great work! And now, God tells him to take the road that leads to the desert?

Philip must have wondered why! Why would God ask him to do this? There were so many new converts in Samaria that needed to be discipled. Surely, Philip could be more useful there. This didn’t make any sense. Why would God send Philip away from the action to this deserted place?

We serve a God who works in mysterious and wonderful ways. What He leads you to do, won’t always make sense. Sometimes, obeying what you believe the Spirit is prompting you to do will make you feel downright foolish. Because it won’t make any sense to you. You won’t know why you are doing what you are doing. You will just know that you believe God wants you to do it.

Is that enough for you? Are you willing to take the next step that God is pointing out to you even if you can’t see where it leads or why God wants you to go that way? You’ll have to, if you are going to be used by God to go and tell others about Jesus.

You see God is at work in people’s hearts long before you ever get to have a conversation with them about Jesus. And only He knows who is ready to hear from you. Sometimes, you won’t understand why God is asking you to do something. But, if you are willing to obey Him— even when it doesn’t make sense—then God can do things through you that are bigger than you are. 

If you are going to be used to lead people to Jesus, then you will have to listen and be willing to follow the promptings of the Spirit. To be an effective soul winner, you must be willing to step out in faith and obey the promptings of the Spirit even when they don’t make sense to you, even when you don’t know where they lead. Will you follow the Spirit?

Live Such Holy Lives

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 2:12

Do you meet that standard? Do you live such a good life that even though people want to slander and attack your faith, they can’t find anything bad to say about you? Do you live such a good life that even those people who do falsely accuse you, over time have to admit that they were wrong?

Let me put it a different way. Do you live your life in such a way that your testimony about Jesus is believable? You see, how you live your life often determines whether or not people are willing to listen to what you have to say at all.

There are few things in life more frustrating than having to listen to someone who is just as clueless as you are explain to you what you ought to be doing. Have you ever had that experience? Someone who doesn’t know a lick about cars trying to tell you what they think is wrong with your car. Or someone who doesn’t know a lick about farming trying to tell you how to run your farm. Or someone who has never had a kid trying to tell you how to raise yours. Have you experienced that? No one likes that.

In the same way, people don’t want to listen to somebody tell them about God unless they’re first convinced that you know what you are talking about. And the way you convince them of that is by living such a good, holy, hope-filled life day after day after day that when the time comes, they want your opinion.

I hate to say it, but I think there are many believers who could go share Jesus with a friend right now, and it wouldn’t much matter... because those friends have seen how they live. They’ve seen that these Christians don’t live holy or hope-filled lives. Why would they listen to someone who claims to have the answer, but lives the same way they do? Nine times out of ten… they won’t. Very often, living a holy life when you think no one is watching, is the unseen but necessary preparation to being able to share the gospel effectively and reach people for Jesus.

So, let me encourage you to live in such a way that people are inclined to believe you when you share the gospel with them. Adorn the gospel with your life! That is what we are called to do, to live such holy lives that they give us opportunities to share the gospel and that they render what we share believable. Do that!

Be Prepared

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...

1 Peter 3:15–16

If someone were to notice your Christian character, if they were to sense the presence of God in your life… and they were to ask how they could become like you, how they could be saved… would you be ready to give an answer? Are you prepared (right now) to lead someone to Jesus?

You can’t wait until you get the opportunity to try to prepare. It’s too late to get ready then! You must prepare ahead of time. The Bible commands you to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” And the best way for you to be prepared to share your faith is for you to memorize a gospel presentation that you feel comfortable with.

So, I’m going to teach you the Romans Road Gospel Presentation with the ABC’s of becoming a Christian tacked on at the end. I want to encourage you to memorize this or some other gospel presentation and go over it again and again until you ar ready to lead someone to the Lord. 

“There is no one righteous, not even one..." (Romans 3:10)

 

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:23)

The Bible teaches that we are all sinners. Every single one of us has rebelled against God and His commands. We have all gone our own way. This is called sin, and sin has consequences.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

The wages (or result) of sin is death… physical death in this life and spiritual death in the afterlife. The Bible clearly teaches that sin earns us eternal separation from God in a place called Hell.

But because of His great love, God made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins. Instead of death, He offers you life… eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Because God is just, our sin had to be punished. Because God is loving, He took the punishment for our sin on Himself. He sent His Son Jesus to take on flesh. He was fully God and fully man. He lived a perfect, sinless life. The only man to ever do that. And He became the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty and die the death that your sin required on the cross. Jesus did that… for you and for me so that anyone who repents of their sin and believes on Him will be saved.

But Jesus didn’t just die, the Bible tells us that on the third day after His death, Jesus was raised back to life. By His death and resurrection Jesus beat the power of sin and death for us so we can be set free from both. And Romans 10:9 tells us exactly how to receive this gift of eternal life that God offers us in Jesus.

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

That’s what it takes to be a Christian. It’s as easy as ABC.

A- Admit you’re a sinner. Repent of your sins. Ask God to forgive you and start obeying His commands.

B- Believe in Jesus. Believe that He really is God’s Son, that He took on flesh and lived a perfect sinless life and died on the cross to take your punishment. Believe that He was raised from the dead on the third day and ascended to Heaven where He’s preparing a place for us to spend eternity with Him.

C- Confess Jesus as Lord. Surrender control of your life to Him. Become His servant and make Him your Lord. 

That’s how you become a Christian. If you are a Christian already, then learn this. Memorize it. Go over and over it again and again until you’re comfortable with it and can share it easily.

And if you aren’t a Christian… if you have never made Jesus Lord of your life… or if you aren’t sure that you have, then make today the day you draw a line in the sand and pray a clear prayer of salvation admitting your sins, placing your faith in Jesus and making Him Lord of your life. 

Go & Tell What He Has Done

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.

Psalm 96:3–5

We don’t often think of praise as a form of evangelism... but it is. You can tell others about the Lord simply by praising Him publicly. And there’s actually quite a lot about this in the Bible. 

As we read above, Psalm 96 commands us to glorify God among the nations and to tell all peoples of His wonderful deeds. And the reason for this command is given in verses four and five. It's because God deserves to be praised by all peoples everywhere, but they aren’t praising Him.

John Piper says that the reason missions exists is because worship does not.* That is the idea we get here. The nations ought to be worshiping God, but instead they’re worshiping false idols. And the answer to that problem is for you and I to declare God’s glory and His marvelous deeds among them.

Christians should praise God, not only in our worship services, but also amongst the lost, so that they might hear and learn about the One True God and perhaps come to worship Him themselves.

I’m convinced that one of the reasons many believers find it so difficult to tell others about Jesus is because they think that sharing their faith means telling people what to believe or what to do. But I want you to see that sharing Jesus doesn’t have to be about that. I’m not saying that Christianity doesn’t place commands on our lives. I’m not saying that there isn’t a time and a place to say, God has commanded you in His Word to do this or that. I AM saying that evangelism doesn’t ALWAYS have to be that. 

You can share Jesus with others simply by telling them what God has done for you (by sharing your testimony). You can share Jesus with others by telling them how great, kind, loving, gracious, powerful and good He is. That's declaring God's praise among all people. You can share Jesus with others simply by talking about Him in God-honoring ways in public. So, be sure to season your conversation with the salt of God's grace and praise. Go and tell what He has done!

*Piper, John. Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions. 3rd ed., Baker Academic, p. 35, 2010.

Telling Through Tears

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

Philippians 1:12

What exactly has happened to Paul? As Paul writes these words, he sits in a Roman prison. In fact, by this time, we believe that Paul has been imprisoned for more than two years. Now, you would think that taking the missionary off the road and putting him in prison would hinder the spread of the gospel. But Paul says that God has actually used it to advance the gospel!

The word Paul uses here for ‘advance’ means to blaze a trail.* It pictures scouts going ahead and cutting a trail for the army that follows behind them.** That’s how Paul viewed his imprisonment. In Paul’s eyes, his suffering, his imprisonment blazed a new trail for the gospel. One that otherwise would have been shut off to him.

In other words, God didn’t put Paul in prison on accident. God had a purpose for Paul’s pain! He had a plan to use Paul’s suffering to break new ground and make new inroads for the gospel.

Would you be willing to suffer if it meant that more people would get saved? Would you be willing to suffer pain, hardship or difficulty for a limited amount of time here on earth so that others might hear the gospel and escape unlimited suffering in Hell? That’s what God did through the Apostle Paul, and He might just want to do the same through you. God might choose to use your suffering to bring others to salvation.

If you doubt that God works in this way, I would encourage you to consider the life and ministry of Corrie ten Boom who not only suffered but also ministered in a Nazi concentration camp for women and girls. I would encourage you to consider the life and ministry of Richard Wurmbrand who was imprisoned and tortured for Christ by Communist Russia for 14 years. I would encourage you to consider the life and ministry of Joni Erickson Tada who’s incredible suffering as a paraplegic gave her a voice for Christ. I would point you to Elizabeth Elliot whose ministry was, in many ways, founded upon the tragic death of her missionary husband Jim Eliot. And if you don’t know who these people are, then I encourage you to read their stories and learn about them and how God used their suffering to spread the gospel.

Will you use your suffering to tell others about Jesus?

* Melick, Richard R., Jr. “Philippians.” In CSB Study Bible: Notes, edited by Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax, 1881–89. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

** Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887.