You Lead, I’ll Follow (If you know that Jamie Grace song, you’re welcome for it now being stuck on repeat in your head!)
With all of the end of the year banquets, and graduation announcements flooding the mail and social media it’s hard not to think about the high school graduates right now. This is true for us especially as our own daughter has just graduated and started her official first year as a full-time college sophomore, but also because we were the Directors of Students at Frist Baptist Grapeland and were with our oldest son’s group since they were freshman, actually 8th graders! OH the memories! Thirteen of them graduated and saw one season of their lives change into a new exciting, and for some, possibly a scary or intimidating season, just as Grace embarks on now. Shaun and I have an anchor verse that we generally write on personalized messages to them, Proverbs 3:5-6, it will be our text for today and it’s not only applicable to graduates in this new season, but to us as well and especially to me as I have shared about entering a new season of my life.
One of my very favorite things about Scripture is that Scripture Interprets Scripture. Scripture is internally consistent, other verses can help interpret other verses, we’ve even talked some about the “big ideas” or metanarratives, and themes throughout Scripture with loads of Scriptures that tie together to bring a full understanding of the theme or metanarrative. In both of these situations, the author is God, so there’s no room for human error of interpretation. Why am I saying all of this? The previous piece on “Hinds Feet” can help us to better understand today’s “direction of our path”!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Whatever we go through in life, we are to trust in the Lord and not lean on our understanding and let God direct our path. What do we know about our understanding? It’s a tough pill to swallow, but
Proverbs 21:2 tells us “Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.”
So what about our hearts?
Jeremiah 17:9 tells us “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”
BUT GOD! I’m SO thankful for his love and mercy, for loving us while we were still sinners(Rom 5:8) and sending his Son to reconcile us to himself through his atoning sacrifice and defeat of death (2 Corinth 5:18, 1John 2:2)! When we trust God with all of our heart and we acknowledge Him in all of our ways, HE directs our paths, He’s the captain of our ship, the trail guide, the pilot, the driver! Does that change the terrain? Does that mean there won’t be potholes, storms, turbulence, or sheer rocky cliffs? We learned previously that those are some of the exact places God has already equipped us with “hinds feet” to trod, that when we trust God and are in pursuit of Him and understand that He gives us “hinds feet” to handle the terrain HE sets us on, regardless of our circumstance, we don’t have to be fearful, and we aren’t alone because He is with us wherever we go! HOW COMFORTING IS THAT!? Isn’t it awesome how all of these Scriptures connect together to help us deepen our understanding of the love of God and how He in His divine wisdom which is incomparable (Psalm 40:5, Isa 46:5) to anything, has spared no details! As we traverse these next few days, weeks, years, and for some, a new season of life, let’s be sure that we are being intentional about untethering ourselves from our way, and trusting God and acknowledging Him to direct our paths!
Long time no type. Well, it hasn’t really been that long but much longer than normal. Why? I’ve been in a funk, not a writing funk, a “what do I do with myself funk”. It’s crazy how this happens and the things that seem to pull me out of them. Almost every time, it’s digging into God’s word, and connection. This time is no different. Gracie is finishing up 2 classes before she gets a spring break and starts two more. She’s taking a theology class and one of her assignments was to write an essay on a term associated with the doctrine of salvation. She was struggling a little to understand why defining terms such as adoption, conversion, regeneration, redemption, reconciliation, justification, election, sanctification, or glorification were important if you understood the big picture. We broke it down and began to talk it out anyway.
One of the things we practiced when the kids were younger before they started dual credit classes was what we called “fast writing story starts.” Sometimes we would take a random prompt and be given 30 minutes to write a story or part of a story that started with that prompt. Other times we did a 30 minute who, what, where, when, why on a particular person or event. I usually participated in these too and we read them out loud to each other afterwards. She chose the word justification, and we worked together to dig it out of Scripture and see at what point someone is justified in Christ.
As Grace rightly pointed out, justification isn’t a new concept, people have been justifying their actions for centuries, usually it’s when they have done something they weren’t supposed to do and they want to rationalize it to make the actions appear, right or justified, in right alignment with something……and cue fast writing story start on justification!
It is difficult to single out one aspect of the doctrine of salvation and analyze it’s relationship to sin and to a believer’s personal life. Perhaps one of the most interesting and visually appealing aspects of salvation is that of justification. A quick google search of the word justification reveals the definition to be “the action of showing something to be right or reasonable,” “good reason that something exists or has been done”, theologically speaking, “the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God,” or when typing a document, “the action of justifying a line of type or piece of text.” The last one paints the best picture although it’s difficult to understand since the word being defined is used in the definition. Simply put, justification is to put into right or correct alignment. Sin in the lives of humanity takes humans out of correct alignment with God the Father. Similar to beginning a paper with the heading in the center of the paper and then continuing to type the body of the paper while still aligned in the center. The body of a paper belongs on the left side of the paper and is out of alignment. When the left alignment or justification tab is selected the body of the paper is put into proper alignment.
Concerning salvation, the cause of our improper alignment is sin.
Romans 3:21-26, “21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in God’s merciful restraint He let the sins previously committed go unpunished; 26 for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Romans 3:21-26 NASB
Jesus is the “control “a” (select all) control “L” (left align or justify) buttons of our life! The only thing that will align us rightly is repentance, which includes expressing sorrow over sin, turning from sin, and turning to God and faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. Both of the words Savior and Lord need unpacking as well however, we will stick with justification. A wage is given as payment for sin, according to Romans 6:23, this wage is spiritual death. When repentance and faith in Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for that sin occurs, Jesus pays with His death as the only worthy, sinless sacrifice and we are then justified (aligned rightly) with God the Father because of Jesus. He pays your tab!
Galatians 2:16 states, “16 nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”
Galatians 2:16 NASB
Humanity cannot align itself rightly with God the Father. Humans cannot work for their salvation. The only way to be justified is by faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-9 reiterates this same theological concept that we are saved by faith through grace not of our own works.
As a believer, while I am now aligned rightly with the Father through Jesus and sealed with the deposit of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14), I still am in need of sanctification, a process in which I become more and more like Christ throughout my life as a result of making decisions that reflect correct alignment with God. This means there are things I do and don’t participate in, things I do say and things I do not say regardless of where I am work, home, school, grocery store etc. as a result of my desire to follow Jesus’ teachings and become more Christ like. Sanctification is a process that will continue until my physical death or Jesus comes back as Philippians 1:6 indicates.
Justification is immediate when I repent and believe and occurs at the moment of Salvation “for if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) It is at that moment a person becomes a believer and is put into correct alignment, justified, and righteous.
ANNNND TIME! I love how connection to and with others, especially studying the word of God together always aligns my thoughts rightly and untethers me from whatever funk I’m in! It’s almost as if we were created to live in relationship/community with one another (she typed sarcastically), because we were absolutely created this way!
Do you ever have days you just want to make a blanket fort and hide inside it with your coloring books and crayons? My Bestie and I joke about that a lot, although I think if I legit made a blanket fort she’d probably bring the crayons and join me! Recently, it seems there’s been no shortage of trials in our lives. It seems like just when we get through something and start to breathe and think of enjoying a moment the phone rings and BAM another wave of difficulty, or BAM something breaks down, or tragedy strikes, you get the idea.
The other night Shaun and I both woke up at 2am with 1.53 million thoughts running through our heads and couldn’t go back to sleep. He had different stressors than I did, and his brain was trying to prepare how to have difficult but intentional conversations the next day that would help rather than isolate and lead to unity and team building, among 1.52 million other things. I was laying there questioning every decision I’ve made in the last 2 years and reflecting on the will of God and praying about whether I was following Him or me. We are definitely two different people, when Shaun frets with things, he comes up with workable solutions mid fret and lets the Holy Spirit lead him. I tend to initially act like Chicken Little running around screaming that the sky is falling, and then finally manage to yield to the Holy Spirit and let Him comfort and guide me through things. It takes me a minute to capture my thoughts and beat them into submission. Shaun and I talked until 3 that night before we finally managed to drift back to sleep, I fell asleep mid prayer, this happens so much. I saw a cartoon on Facebook posted by a friend today that is the literal picture of what happens to me when I focus on my problems and stressors and when I focus on the problem solver, rather than counting sheep, focus on the Shepherd!
This reminds me of the passage in Matthew 14:22-33 when Peter has the bright idea to walk to Jesus on the water while wind was causing the boat to be buffeted (beaten) by waves, and Jesus tells him to “Come”. Bro was doing fine the whole time he kept his eyes on Jesus but when he started to focus on the wind around him, he started sinking. Literally my life!
On Tuesdays I do a zoom Bible study with a group of ladies from all over, I’m new to the group, this is my first study with them, but they readily embraced me and made me feel like we’ve been doing life together for years. We are studying Revelation which can certainly make you focus on calamity, especially with the wrong perspective! Nancy Guthrie’s accompaniment book “Blessed” has been tremendously helpful in focusing on Jesus throughout all of the confusing and heavy passages. We were discussing interpretations of some of those passages yesterday and discovered it really kind of depends on where you stand eschatologically. Which is a big word that just means study of the end times. I used to be a “pan theologist” meaning Revelation is tough, just trust Jesus and it will all “pan out”, but then I listened to one pastor talk and I decided that I believed that believers would likely have to face the tribulation or at least part of it, this is known as post-tribulation, or mid-tribulation. Then I listened to another teacher who I affectionally call Professor, because he’s literally one of the smartest most humble people on this planet! Anyhow, after his class I decided I was a pre-tribulation believer. Then I went to seminary and just became more confused, I think! There are still even more viewpoints of the end times because technically those labels are just in regard to a specific event in the Bible concerning the end times. Check out this simple chart and then I’ll try not to confuse myself anymore and know that there are still scholars studying and debating and they don’t even have it all figure out yet.
So, when I say pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, I’m also stating what I believe inside one of the above categories. The trib refers to the great tribulation and the pre, post, or mid refer to the timing of all believers (the church) being raptured (gathering together of believers in clouds with Jesus and taken from Earth) 1Thessalonians 4:13-18. See why pan-theology is starting to sound nice right about now! How you view these will be impacted by your Covenant Theology (your study and belief of God’s Covenants). Cue Raychel beginning to run around like Chicken Little! Truthfully, I really have and do sort all of this out by reading Scripture and allowing it to inform and instruct me, I just do it like one would eat an elephant…one small bite at a time…Not that I encourage the eating of elephants or would eat one, it’s just a colloquial saying about doing something that seems impossible!
As we discussed a touch of this in our study our leader reminded us that the whole purpose of Nancy’s study was more of a zoomed-out view of Revelation, rather than trying to nail down every single answer to every single thing we are trying to understand (which isn’t possible), to look at it through the perspective of what it reveals about Jesus and how that impacts how we are exhorted to live our lives as it unfolds.Literally, focus on the Shepherd!We were reminded too, that what we believe about how the end times will specifically play out does not affect our salvation or the commission we all have to go and make disciples. Two believers can believe the end times and the rapture will occur differently and because they have trusted Jesus for their wage of death for their sin through His death burial and resurrection on the cross, (repentance and faith), they’ll still end up in the same place at the end! We don’t have to have all the answers, that’s not faith, and we aren’t God, that doesn’t mean we don’t study, the Bible literally tells us to do that in 2Timothy 2:15.
As we wrapped up our study and shared with each other some of the things we each have going on in our lives, I began to have the thought that adulting seems unnecessarily hard sometimes. But we could look to James chapter one and know that these trials are purposeful, and they produce perseverance which leads to maturity. Trials mean He’s still working on me and are actually a comfort because I know that I am in Him and He’s working on me (Phil 1:6), granted, some of my trials are a result of my own stupid or poor decisions, but I still learn something and grow! All of this to say that life does seem really tough sometimes, and when I focus on how hard and difficult things can be, when I focus on the problems, I get depressed and, in the dumps, and feel like it’s all unnecessary, definitely thoughts I need to Untether from. But when I tether myself to Jesus and force my eyes to look at Him and His Word, I find verses like John 16:33 and I have peace and hope in Him!
If this encouraged you at all, please consider liking, commenting, and or sharing with someone else to encourage them!
I was having a conversation with my oldest son the other day about a quote the late Kobe Bryant made that Wes retorted to his sister while in a verbal sparring match. They were discussing teamwork and Gracie, not so gently, chided Wesley that there was no “I” in team, to which he replied, “well, in the words of my man Kobe, there is an “M-E”!
I began to think about that statement and apply a Biblical filter to it, you can’t find that filter on snap, or insta, trust me, I’ve looked!
When you are part of a team, there is a ME in team, but those two letters don’t make up the whole team and neither do you. However, your role is important, and your contribution is to bring your very best at what you are good at! Teamwork isn’t a Major League sports idea or concept. In fact, God had Paul write about it WAY before anyone ever became famous playing any sort of team sport on a league as he talked about how each person uses their spiritual gifts in 1Corinthians 12 as part of the Body of Christ.
The Bible tells us that plenty of things were written on our hearts by our Creator that we have “gut” feelings about but don’t always understand because someone hasn’t helped us see through a Biblical lens. This is evidenced in Romans 1:18-20 where God through Paul says,
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because that which is made known about God is evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so they are without excuse.”
Romans 1:18-20
This is general revelation; we can observe nature and see that it bears the mark of an intelligent designer when we observe its uniqueness and complexities. We understand that creation did not just haphazardly boom into place or evolve from pond scum at its own will into what we see now. Creation screams there is a Divine Creator.
People for centuries have understood that “instinctively” but needed further revelation, special revelation, to understand who that creator is. This is also evidenced by the progression of the book of Romans where by chapter 10, Paul writes starting in verse 14,
“How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things.”
Romans 10:14-15
When we hear the word preacher, you may be thinking the dude that stands in the pulpit, but this word could also be translated proclaimer. This is special revelation that we are all tasked by Jesus in Matt 28:19-20 to go and tell, not just making converts but disciples, meaning not only sharing the gospel but also teaching those we have had the opportunity to evangelize to, to obey everything Jesus has commanded, or at the very least, making sure someone will be able to build that discipleship relationship with them.
As a personal aside, I am missing the big toenail off of my left foot, it fell casualty to multiple incidents, the first involving me having to drag a deer that I had harvested across a too full and FREEZING creek whereby I took my shoes and coveralls off so they wouldn’t get wet and stumped my toe on an underwater log creating a 90-degree angle between my toe and said toenail. The coups de gras was not nearly as exciting of a tale, I again created a 90-degree angle with this same toenail and toe by catching the end of it while lifting an unplugged chop saw to move it while in sandals. All of this was to illustrate that due to that missing toenail, my feet are anything but beautiful by worldly standards but according to the Bible, as I am obedient to the commission to share the gospel they just look better and better!
As you read through 1Corinthians chapter 12, spend some time meditating on what you are gifted at, what others in your spiritual circle have affirmed you’re gifted at and brainstorm ways you can use your talents to bring special revelation (the truth about Christ) to the table in your local congregation, at your workplace or school, in your home and community! My youngest son, Tristan, often uses his unique skills doing card tricks to gain an audience and build relationships so he can share the gospel! What unique and creative ideas do you have? Are you simply just a kid magnet, orator, athlete, organizer, etc. bring it!
As Christians according to what we read 1Corinthians 12, we understand that we are gifted with spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit when we are saved. In what is likely a poor attempt to pull of this together, is it possible that the idea of teamwork and desire to play on a team and in sports is a manifestation of that instinctive need written upon our hearts by God to not only recognize Him as creator and place our faith in King Jesus as Savior and Lord so that we are reconciled to God, but as we take on our roles in the body of Christ and live out our calling, utilizing our gifting(s) to strengthen the body, we are fulfilling that desire by playing our part on Team Jesus?
A couple of years ago, I came across one of the best illustrations, particularly as a southerner who loves a good potluck, I have ever seen in relating how we each are to use our spiritual gifts to bring our very best to the table of ministry in the body of Christ. Check out the excerpt below!
BRING YOUR BEST
I like to eat. I travel a lot for my work, so I get to eat out regularly. As much as possible, I frequent local dives rather than franchises. But no matter the restaurant, the chef, the city, or the ambiance, nothing replaces a good covered-dish meal.
In the church culture I grew up in, periodically after the Sunday worship service, everyone would make their way to the fellowship hall, pull out their food dishes, and we would feast.
Each person had his or her specialty. Mrs. Polly cooked macaroni and cheese, while Mrs. Smith baked pecan pie with the pecans she’d picked and cracked from her own yard. Mr. Thompson made homemade vanilla-bean ice cream (that topped off the pie) better than any ice cream parlor you have been to.
We had sugar-cured ham with a drizzle of honey, green-bean casserole, peach cobbler, fried okra, mini ham sandwiches on poppy-seed sweet rolls, buttermilk fried chicken, and every other assortment of mouthwatering food you can imagine.
The key to this covered-dish dinner is that everyone knew what they made well, spent time putting their contribution together, and brought to the table the best they had to offer. No one tried to make better fried okra than Mrs. White. They brought their own specialty.
The covered-dish feast is an important illustration in the life of the church. God has given each of us our own specialty that He specifically designed us to have and use. That includes you.
The greatest meals are the ones where everyone brings their best. The table is not a table for one. It’s an enormous banquet table where God Himself invites all to come and dine. Your “covered dish” is the particular gifts God has given you, no matter what they may be. Paul tells us that since we have “gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:”
Excerpt from: “Life in Community: Joining Together to Display the Gospel” by Dustin Willis.
As we continue to seek the Lord and serve Him, let’s BRING OUR BEST! Seek the Lord in prayer and through His word asking Him to reveal ways that He has uniquely created, prepared, and equipped you to serve in the Body of Christ, see these opportunities in your everyday life at home, work, school, doctors’ offices and public. Remember, that he promises to be with us wherever we go, our role is to be obedient to go and tell (Matt 28:19-20), and the Holy Spirit will guide and convict into truth (John 16:8), that’s teamwork! Untether yourself from thinking you don’t have something someone else has to give, bring what YOU have to give, that what’s needed!!
When I was in Junior High and early high school I didn’t really like working in groups, I was always nervous to have to rely on someone else’s work for MY grade. Usually, I would just do all of the work and turn it in for us to ensure an A. I’m not sure if I would have come out then and said that I thought I was smarter or just that I had trust issues. When I was in the last couple of years in high school, the group I interacted with academically often challenged me. I’ll never forget the first time I got to choose my own group and came out with Prem, Alan, and Amanda and we sat down to talk about the project and what needed to be done. These 3 actually graduated valedictorian, salutatorian, and high honors of our class. Prem and Alan were literally the smartest people I knew at the time and Amanda was probably the most creative when it came to meshing ideas together and making them flow. We each pulled our weight and brought something different to the team. We each taught each other new things. This challenged my early idea of group work. I realized I didn’t have to be the smartest person in the room, our grades together were actually better than when I took over and did it all myself. Sure, the work was done but it could have been so much better. I realized that I just needed to be able to locate the people who were gifted in the areas I was not, or who were just smarter than me all together. I don’t have to be the smartest person in the room or on the team, I need people who know more than me!
This strategy worked well for me all through college, sometimes I got to choose my groups and sometimes I was assigned them. EVERYONE has something contribute, so everyone can contribute somehow in a way that someone else wouldn’t. It just takes getting to know your team, and figuring out what that is!
In the last two weeks I have encountered two situations, one involving a new Christian and the other a non-believer. In both of these situations, they were conversing in a group of people they felt like were definitely “smarter” than them where the Bible was concerned. One conversation was over translations of the Bible among what was clearly seminary trained or well-studied adults. The new believer described this experience like “friendly fire” as they each made their case for their favorite Bible translation and why. The new believer was just happy to have a Bible and be able to understand it finally. She didn’t really understand why a group of Christians was essentially arguing with each other over reading the Bible!
When I was younger the only translation, we had in the house was a King James translation and I used to try to read it but then always ended up acting like an actor in a Shakespeare play and heralding what I was reading rather than actually comprehending it. Then, when I was 13, I received a Youth Walk devotional Bible which was probably an NIV translation, maybe ESV but my money is on NIV (I lost it in a wreck in my 20’s). Anyhow, I remember thinking, “OMG, this is in English!” It was the first Bible I had actually been able to read and understand.
I’ve seen that scenario play out plenty of times teaching youth over the past 10 years. When I went to seminary and was taking Hermeneutics, I learned about the different Bible translations, but my professor equated them not only with how they were translated, word for word, literal, or thought for thought, etc. He also explained them with reading and comprehension in mind and gave us suggestions when understanding who we were providing the Bible to.
While I do have a favorite translation I personally read from, I read from my paper NASB 77 but my electronic NASB 95, because I prefer a word for word translation of the original text, but that’s not usually my “go to” recommendation for kids! Really the biggest one I absolutely stay away from is “The Message” translation and others that are thought for thought translations because that means the passage has been interpreted by a human and translated into what they believe the thought of the writer was. Now, my husband can be thinking and say something to me, and I react in a way that makes me want to throat chop him, as we talk it out, what I heard and what he was thinking when he articulated were two very different things and I end up not being upset at all. I’m fallible, I make mistakes and misunderstand. Because we understand that the Bible was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit guiding the human men’s hands along that physically penned the words (2Peter 1:21), we understand the author to be God. We know that God is perfect, does not make mistakes, and never fails. So, I prefer to leave someone else’s thought process out of the translation process into my language when it comes to interpretation. I prefer the most literal word for word translation I can read. This doesn’t mean I never pick up an NIV or ESV or even a CSB, I actually have a CSB apologetic out now, because I sometimes get to a difficult passage and need to hear some of the other translations as I began a word study.
All of this to say, the smartest people in the room that day, who have a valid point about Bible translations, participated in a conversation among people that left at least one new believer for sure, feeling overwhelmed and like she was reading an inferior translation to what “the scholars” read but not being able to understand them fully, they ended up detracting from her discipleship rather than encouraging her. Fortunately, this time, I didn’t participate in this particular conversation, but unfortunately, I can recall times I’ve discussed something similar and probably did make someone feel this way.
The other scenario was a conversation in front of and with a non-believer about questions he had but that lead to different denominational practices. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit swooped in an arrested my thoughts and tongue and directed me to focus on what I would call “Primary Doctrine,” that of how it is we come to faith in Jesus as Savior and King. In this instance, two of us having the conversation believed rightly the same thing about Jesus and had already repented of sin and believed the gospel of Christ, placing our faith in Jesus. The discussion was beginning to take a turn towards certain ways we practice our faith, such as speaking in tongues and if that means a language of a tribe or nation of peoples or a spiritual language that also requires a spiritual interpreter. There are people who are on both sides of the fence on this one. This wasn’t a discussion that was going to be helpful at the moment to a non-believer who wasn’t the one who asked that question but had asked other questions trying to understand a basic Biblical metanarrative (big idea of the Bible). The Holy Spirit steered us away from having a debate and towards talking about Jesus’ death burial and resurrection and that He is the answer to all the brokenness and hurting in the world. God has done something about it, He sent Jesus, and in His grace and mercy we are given time to come to repentance and faith!
I have to admit I haven’t always yielded to the Holy Spirit in these matters. I mean it’s not like it’s wrong to talk these things out with others and have a spiritual conversation, right? TIME AND PLACE! When that conversation takes place in front of a person or people who are new to the faith or unbelievers, and they see it as more of a debate, it can actually detract rather than build. Unfortunately, I’ve been guilty of this before, and I’ve also seen it happen. When I was in seminary, I got comfortable around my “bubble” of “little theologians”, and we were made to discuss these things regularly amongst each other. The same “debates” shouldn’t take place in all settings. Especially if you’re just trying to prove that you are as smart as the guy next to you. Those “bubbles” can be dangerous, especially for people in leadership positions in a local congregation, there’s a difference in educating and equipping the people you have the privilege to encounter and making them feel like you’re the smartest person in the room and the only one capable of rightly sharing the gospel to lead someone to Christ or for continued discipleship. Jesus commissioned all believers to do that, not just the seminary educated ones, pastors, scholars, or other church staff. “If you know enough to be saved, you know enough to lead someone else to Christ,” after that you can learn together! We ALL have something to contribute, don’t let someone make you feel inferior or uncapable to share the gospel and disciple! We are all “little theologians” whether we do it in seminary or home, or church, we are all studying God and His Word! Your pastor may have more experience speaking to groups or people due to his “job” and his “professional training,” but the same Holy Spirit that lives in him lives in you and you are completely capable of learning and sharing!
If you are usually the smartest person in the room, and especially if you feel the need to prove you’re the smartest person in the room, find a new room! Recognize how that may make others feel especially if your end goal is to participate in study or conversation that equips and grows both you and the people around you. Recognize you can learn something from everyone. I might spell or write better than my hubby, but he can outperform and outthink me mechanically, physically, and leadership wise, honestly, he’s better at loving me than I am him too! We are smart in different ways, together we are better! When we are with people, lets untether ourselves from the worldly idea of competition and seek to learn from each other and bring our best to build and grow together regardless of our experience or education levels!
I previously saved the “Love Is” cartoons from the Dallas Morning News which always featured a couple drawn in a precious moments style and a cute saying, like, “love is always kissing her goodnight.” One very aptly read “Love is letting her warm her feet!” This one makes me laugh because my husband HATES cold things touching his skin and he’s always incredibly warm, my feet….not so much…..and I KNOW it’s an act of true love when he sticks his legs up to the bottom of my feet and let’s me warm them! There are a million other things that love is and a million and one that the world will tell you it is.
That’s vulnerability!
My vote is to always look to the word of God to discern what things are because He’s the reason it exists anyway! 1 John 4:8, NIV: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. Jesus tells us the greatest command is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart soul and mind, and the second greatest is like it, to love our neighbors as ourself in Matthew 22:37-39. He wasn’t talking about the house next to you, He was talking about everyone you see. Every person you come into contact with is your neighbor. We could go deeper into that, but let’s follow the “love trail” for today. There’s an entire chapter in 1 Corinthians dedicated to love!
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. 6Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. 7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways. 12Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians literally the whole chapter 13
Did you catch that? Bc it was a lot! Let’s look at an excerpt.
Not only is God all of those things because he is love, as we follow Him and demonstrate His love to others as He has asked us to do this should characterize how we love others.
In youth we had a sign that we would hold across our chests with our hands when we needed to encourage someone to remember how to be loving which consisted of a 1 and a 3 to remind ourselves of this chapter. We also liked to do “Live it outs,” which were practical ways that we would apply Scriptural knowledge and live it out in our daily lives. I mentioned a personal example of Shaun and my cold feet! There are so many others.
Sometimes loving others makes us nervous, AWKWARD, vulnerable, and look weird…ok a lot of times it can do that. It can be not coming back with that zinger while verbally sparring with someone that is sure to win you popularity points with the class or crowd and get a good laugh but humiliate the other person. Love may look like sitting beside a friend who’s lost a loved one and not saying a word just being present so they know they aren’t alone because nothing you can say would make a difference in that moment anyway. Love may look like a text to say you were thinking about them. It may look like showing up with dinner for a family after they’ve received rough news or been through something or have been sick. It may look like a shift at the hospital with a friend who’s fighting for their life or healing from an injury or surgery, it may look like walking in and doing the dishes or laundry for a friend after the loss of a loved one or even when they have children and just need a break. It may look like walking in and holding the baby for a friend so she can shower or nap for a bit. It may look like an invitation to literally anything. It sounds a whole lot like doing life together, even when it’s awkward and you don’t know what to say! It’s certainly always sharing the gospel because that is the greatest demonstration of love ever and it shows you care about them spiritually, not just physically and if you’ve ever done that it can be real awkward. Sometimes love is speaking the truth IN LOVE saying the hard things in the softest of ways. Love only looks like things that glorify God the Father because He is love. Let’s untether from our worldly, hallmark, and other awful movie depictions of love and tether ourselves to the Father who will show us how we can love each other sacrificially in Him and by His power!
Every day I open some platform of social media and I see a news article or shared post for prayer because someone has committed suicide. I’ve attended funerals for people, loved ones, who have succumbed to the heaviness in their mind and taken their own lives. It’s heartbreaking and something that Christians especially, should be doing more to offer hope and help about. Unfortunately, too often the evangelical community inadvertently, due to a lack of understanding, particularly with personal experience, perpetuates a taboo sort of stigma in regard to depression.
My husband, who loves me and loves the Lord, who has been to seminary and has studied Biblical counseling and even completed a certificate program, who has served alongside me in ministry for years, doesn’t and has never struggled with depression. I who also love him and love the Lord, have also been to seminary and studied alongside Shaun in the same Biblical counseling classes, sometimes struggle with both anxiety and depression. Shaun cannot relate to me exactly because he doesn’t struggle in the same ways that I do, but because he loves me and he lives with me and sees me daily, tries very hard to minister to me and support me, especially on the rough days. He sees all of my Bible study books scattered about the house, he receives my random texts about something exciting I connected in my daily reading or a new study, he receives my texts about prayer for him, our kids, friends, family, and his teammates. He has witnessed, once even in the last week, me sharing the gospel and attempting to help a person I had just met understand the pain and suffering of this world.
He has also seen, this week, me break down in tears, feeling unworthy, and undesirable because I’ve put multiple resumes out and job applications out with no fruitful results, to have been so active and passionate about serving the Lord in our previous church, only to not be able to find a place where we are currently located. To feel invisible, certainly humbled, nothing special, and apart from the fact that I have 3 amazing happy, healthy children who are well educated, one with a degree and a job positively contributing to society and doing the adult thing, one 15 hours from her first degree and she’s not even 18, the 3rd 24 hours into his first and just turning 16, and ALL 3 KNOWING and LOVING the Lord, their eternity secured through repentance and faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord……ok when you type that out its not nothing…….but other than that and a stack of degrees and certificates with a lot of non-traditional teaching and managing experience feeling like I have nothing else to show for my 41 years.
I’m the first to admit that just because someone has a degree doesn’t mean they get the job or should even be in that field, but I do have personal experience and the testimony of both clients, my kids/students, and of those I have served, but it feels like none of that counts. Your mind goes to crazy places and tells you that yes, those people supported, affirmed, helped, and loved you while you were giving them your time and resources but not now. You can rationally look and see that you have blessings piled up a mile high or more and have no reason to be sad, but there it is, and you even get frustrated with yourself because you know better, but you still feel this way.
The one place that you should feel safe coming to and having people put their arms around you and love you and walk through it with you doesn’t. Because for some reason, rather than being vulnerable with each other, we view vulnerability as a weakness and if you say these things even at church its taboo. You either are participating in unrepentant sin or you aren’t reading your Bible enough, or you aren’t praying enough, or you aren’t serving enough. Or you make people feel uncomfortable because you’re actually honest and transparent and are attempting real connection rather than hiding it. Never mind that we are supposed to “bear one another’s burdens”(Galatians 6:2) and that we are “competent to counsel”(Roamans 15:14) each other when we are in Christ studying and serving alongside each other. We are so worried that someone will think we don’t have it all together and because our worldy society has taught us the dog-eat-dog ideology, we synchronize that with church and keep on pretending there too.
Listen, I can tell you that I am completely praying and willing to allow Jesus’ “eyes like flaming fire”(Rev 1:14) to look down into my soul and burn out my impurities, I pray that he reveals areas of my life that I need to repent in and I do. I love the Lord, I want to serve Him, I want and do share Him with others. I do read my Bible and find more and more to love and worship Him for every day.
My struggle with depression isn’t because I don’t trust God enough, or have hidden sin in my life! Honestly, if I didn’t understand God’s word or His love for me and others, I would probably be one of the statistics. I “feel” Paul when he said, “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” I know I have a perfect Heaven to look forward to with my perfect and loving Savior, I can’t even begin to imagine how wonderful it’s going to be because my human mind has not seen anything wonderful enough to relate it to. But I also know that unless we the church( the actual body of believers..not the building) don’t take the gospel message to this world and actually disciple people they won’t have the same hope and assurance we do. This means I will need to live in this fallen and broken world to live out my purpose under Jesus’ authority. Living in a fallen broken world dominated by Satan means I’m going to be exposed to things that cause me to suffer. My sufferings are nothing like what others have endured, even to the point of death, but they are still real. So that’s me, that’s my testimony about it but I’m not the only one.
Did you know one of the greatest preachers of all time suffered with depression as well? Charles Spurgeon prayed this in his autobiography,
“Thou art my Father, and I am Thy child, and thou as a father, art tender and full of mercy. I could not bear to see my child suffer as Thou makest me suffer; and if I saw him tormented as I am now, I would do what I could to help him, and put my arms under him to sustain him. Wilt thou hide thy face from me, my father? Wilt thou still lay on me thy heavy hand, and not give me a smile from thy countenance?”
Charles Spurgeon-from his autobiography
Clearly he knows and believes in the Lord and clearly he’s heavily vexed. In his sermon the saddest cry from the Cross,” he says;
“Quite involuntarily, unhappiness of mind, depression of spirit, and sorrow of heart will come upon you. You may be without any real reason for grief, and yet may become among the most unhappy of men.”
Charles Spurgeon from his sermon “The Saddest Cry of the Cross”
Spurgeon recognized there often isn’t any real reason for his depression but the grief just comes. Spurgeon’s life has already been analyzed by Biblical scholars and all agree he was a spiritual giant. His sermons are studied in seminaries world wide and they still counsel and lead and teach others about Christ after his death! Yet, he admits to struggling with depression and anxiety. Google it and read through his sermons! My intent is this, if you’re reading this and you’re struggling and thinking you can’t be a good Christian and participate in the work of the Kingdom, understand that’s false! That is exactly the kind of attack Satan would employ to take you out of the race so he doesn’t have to worry about you sharing the gospel or discipling. He wants to so cripple you in your mind so that you are useless for the Kingdom. Don’t let him. Show up even on the bad days! If you don’t struggle and you’re reading this, please issue grace toward us. I’m the first to admit that sometimes our (all humans) turmoil can be caused from sin, by poor decisions we make that we need to recognize, be broken hearted over, ask forgiveness for, and turn away from (repent). Sometimes other people’s sin affects us negatively causing sorrow, and sometimes just like Spurgeon, its sudden and seemingly unprovoked. We need you to hold space for us, and be with us, and keep our hands on the plow, encourage us in the Lord, and walk alongside us gently pointing to Him and the hope and assurance we have. We aren’t unfit, unreliable, or undependable, we are broken crayons that by the grace of God alone are totally capable of coloring! Let’s Untether from those thoughts as we battle to take our thoughts captive and focus them on the will of Christ,” (2 Corinth 10:5) and “focus on things that are true, pure, lovely, and Holy.” (Phil 4:8) Being vulnerable enough to admit where you struggle is perhaps the greatest display of bravery. I’ll close with a quote a friend shared this morning, coincidentally she has held space for me, and I have attempted to do the same for her. She too struggles in different ways, but she has a brilliant mind and a sold-out heart for the Lord too, and so, when given the opportunity, “we lean on each other, so we don’t have to sleep with our heads in the mud”-Bubba (Forest Gump).
Please don’t read this as a condoning of walking with someone in sin or participating in it. Don’t read this as enabling someone to sin either. As you hold space for someone you may find that the relationship that you build DOES IN FACT impact the outcome, hopefully in a positive and Jesus giving way!
What does it mean to hold space for someone else? It means we are willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they’re on without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact the outcome. When we hold space for other people, we open our hearts, offer unconditional support, and let go of judgement and control.
I love listening to audible books on car trips. Last year the hubs worked 6 months in Indiana, and I learned I could drive straight through from deep East Texas in about 14 ish hours depending on stops for fuel, food, and the restroom which I typically try to combine and stay on the road as long as possible. The year before two of the kids and I drove out to South Carolina to spend family day and watch one of our bonus kids graduate from Army basic training. We dropped down and visited my dad in Georgia and then popped in on a friend in Alabama on the way back. It’s exactly 10 hours from her house to our house in Texas and that’s all the time you need to listen to the entire “Seal of God” book by Chad Williams. You can almost listen to all of “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink on the Indy drive, and you can knock out “A Warriors Faith,” by Robert Vera on that drive too. Oh, and you can also knock out “It’s Your Ship” by Michael Abrashoff on the drive from Indy to New York and back! It’s a 24 hour drive home from where we are now, so I have plenty of time to get through entire books on the drive. Are you seeing a common theme in my book preferences? With the exception of one book called “Brave Hearted: Women of the American West” by Katie Hickman, which should honestly have replaced playing the game “The Oregon Trail” in school because the book teaches the lessons of the game with greater weight and clarity than the game ever did. I love listening to military books, and leadership books, even better if you combine the two; perfect if you also combine them with faith! Oddly enough, if I read a physical book or Kindle book, it’s the Bible, Bible studies, or YA fantasy particularly shifter, fae, vampire, etc but keep it clean!
Anyway, I’m getting to the point, I promise! We always associate our military personnel with bravery, strength, and courage. We see them as tough, capable, and deadly, especially SEALS, Rangers, Green Berets, AFSPECWAR and literally all Marines. All military personnel signed a dotted line saying they’re willing to give their lives for you, we often call them heroes and for good reason. We don’t, or at least I don’t, ever really see Jesus in the same way as I see them. Certainly, I see Him as the ultimate hero, but the training that leads to the success of our military that causes us to characterize them the way we do is not how I usually see Jesus.
I’ve noted before that I’m doing a zoom Bible study with an incredible group of ladies over Revelation using Nancy Guthrie’s accompaniment study, “Blessed.” The groundwork she puts in to lay a foundation for how you will study the rest of the book forces you to see Jesus as He sits resurrected. She highlights attributes that we do not always associate with Jesus when we only focus on His Earthly ministry. As she guides you in picking apart John’s description of Him in Revelation Chapter 1 we come to the understanding of why John, the disciple who reclined with Jesus….think layed around chillin with JC…..who knew Him as Savior and friend, saw Him in His resurrected body, warning of His return and exhorting the churches (and us), and John was terrified….so much so that he fell down as though he were dead. This is starting to sound more like warrior from my military books! From head to toe He’s impressive, He’s wearing not only the garments of a high priest because He is our High priest, but of a King, because He is King whether you choose to recognize it or not. Guthrie points out that the white hair on His head is indicative of age and wisdom, His eyes a “flame of fire,” He has a penetrating gaze, seeing all, penetrating into our souls capable of burning out the impurities, burnished bronze feet, a firm foundation tested by fire. He has a powerful voice like the roar of many waters, deafening, distinctive. From His mouth comes a two-edged sword, He speaks grace to believers, and destruction to His enemies. Before we even get started with the rest of Revelation, I’m already seeing Jesus more powerfully, deadly even. I see someone I would trust leading me into battle.
As I sat doing a personal video Bible study this morning over Ben Stuart’s, “Rest and War,” I saw more of the warrior that Jesus is and the ultimate rescue mission He made to destroy a target we would never be able to amass an army big enough or powerful enough to overcome. Ben equates Jesus’ mission to come to Earth as a HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) mission to rescue the oppressed and destroy the enemy. He certainly came from a high altitude and his lowly birth in a manger was a low opening that kept him from being an exposed too visible target.
How is it a rescue mission and will Jesus really engage in battle? Um, yes! The final battle is still to come, but Jesus has already defeated death and now holds the keys to the Kingdom (Rev 2:8, 3:7). Stuart marks His mission starting from Genesis 3:15 where he will conquer the evil one, Jesus was sent to release captives and set free the downtrodden (Luke 4:18). The ruler of this world is the devil and Jesus came to cast him out (Luke 12:31).
Jesus knew the only way to complete His mission was to stand in our place, a perfect living sacrifice for our sins. In every movie or book where you see a soldier jump on a grenade to save his fellow soldiers, we are always moved by his bravery, courage, strength, and sacrifice. All the more should we be moved by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for all of humanity!
Seeing Jesus from this perspective is not only truth, as we can see in His Word, but it grows my faith and trust all the more. This is why continued Bible study is important. Most other books I read once and I’m done, sometimes I’ll go back and review some of the leadership ones. You can’t truly know Jesus by just doing a “one and done” of the Bible. I often find places where His word corrects and informs incorrect ideologies or thoughts that pop up or that I think myself. When I read and study His Word, I have to Untether myself from what I think, and let His word inform me of all truth, this will take me a lifetime, but I’m happy to live for The One who was willing to sacrifice Himself on a rescue mission for me.
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Who in their right mind would want to admit that they are like Saul? Like “OG” original Old Testament (1 Samuel) Saul that the Israelite’s begged for so they could be like all the other pagan peoples around them, and God allowed Samuel to anoint as an Earthly King, the one who tried to murder David.
Obviously, I’ve never tried to murder anyone but there are a several instances I was sitting here thinking about after having gone through chapters 12-15 of 1 Samuel where the motives for my actions were similar to Saul’s motives. Saul made a rash, rushed decision to sacrifice to God instead of waiting on Samuel to do it like he was supposed to. Why? He was more concerned with what the people thought than what God thought and the proper way and timing. If I’m honest, I have often been overly concerned with what others have thought about me, I’ve made impulsive decisions that didn’t hurt anyone, but had they simmered a bit and been done in God’s timing rather than mine, would have been more about Him. I have kept my mouth shut when I know I should have opened it and stood up for God and truth. Rather, I felt like I didn’t want to make waves or bring attention to myself or the situation.
My daughter, while watching a movie the other night, said to the character on tv, “no response, is a response, girl”. Sometimes not speaking is definitely the right thing to do, especially when you are responding in anger and what you will say will be harmful and not said out of love, but sometimes not speaking is condoning or supporting whatever is going on when you know you shouldn’t. I’m not talking about engaging in a typing, texting, or verbal sparring match on social media or elsewhere that causes you to just look argumentative and unloving. Those are two things God’s word instructs against, Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without arguing and complaining,” Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.”
Jesus, when asked in Matthew 22: 37-39 about the greatest commands, said to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
Sometimes we do need to speak up, but it has to come from a place of love. We cannot be so concerned with what others will think about us that we jeopardize our integrity and behave in a way that is not pleasing to the Lord, that we represent God poorly by being ambassadors of ourselves or society’s will rather than Christ’s. Saul was more concerned about pleasing people than pleasing the Lord, if we are honest with ourselves, we have all had moments of that too. In the words of Soloman, “there’s nothing new under the sun,” it’s not a new trend,the Bible is replete with verses that warn against it. Here a just a few,
The amount of time I have spent in the past on social media, looking at others posts, creating my own, and then swinging back around to see how well received it was, was a clear indicator of me being just as guilty, even when I was posting biblical posts!!!!!! I mean Saul was sacrificing to the Lord, wasn’t he? But it was to appease the people, his heart wasn’t right. God prefers our obedience rather than our sacrifice, (1Sam 15:22 and Hosea 6:6). We all have a desire to be well received and approved of.
What about the silent treatment when you know there will be a confrontation? Ever given silent treatment to a brother or sister, friend, spouse, church member? God was/is super talkative, the first chapter of Genesis repeats itself numerous times, “and God said, and God said, and God said”. God doesn’t give the silent treatment, hence the reason we have the Bible and His Son, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us (John 1:14). Not talking is not an option. It matters what you say, and how you say it, but you do need to talk through it lovingly and come to a peaceable solution. Honestly, the silent treatment is so much easier, but in my desire to be obedient I know I need to ask God to help me work it out.
Sometimes we need to pause and pray and think it through. One of my fellow sisters in Christ teaches to ask a series of questions before you just blab out the first thing that comes to your mind, ESPECIALLY when you’re in your “feels”.
“Does it need to be said at all?
Does it need to be said by me?
Does it need to be said right now?”
I use these to help me filter my thoughts and not respond in a way that is displeasing to the Lord and harmful to someone else. I don’t always succeed, unfortunately, and need to apologize but I do have a promise from God’s word that I’m a work in progress and He’s not finished with me yet, it’s found in Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.” Slap a construction sign on my forehead until Jesus comes back! Thank you, Lord, because I definitely need His help to get me through literally everything! Know that when you’re in Christ, God is working on you too, practice caring about what God cares about, your relationship with Him and continually being conformed to the image of His Son. Let’s Untether ourselves from the need for external validation and seek approval from God alone!
I mentioned writing your story/testimony so you could work it into conversations, sometimes “the how” of how you relate your story to different people in different settings may change, but it’s still your story of how you came to faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Once you’ve figured out how to articulate it, it’s much easier to see how it fits in a conversation. Check out this example below from my own life!
As the owner of a gun shop and firearms training center I am given the opportunity to be in front of classes of people on a monthly/weekly basis , both classroom time and range time. Many of them are church goers but many of them are not. The gospel is not a conversation that usually makes its way into a firearms training class or the range. However, I share the gospel in every class while I have a captive audience, kind of like Paul in jail while he had a guard literally chained to him! Not only does my testimony fit into an analogy while teaching sight alignment it also works into other conversations about focus. I even share the actual “Romans Road” Scriptures in class while telling my testimony and then connecting it to sight alignment.
I was raised Catholic and went to St. Mary’s private Catholic school while living on a military base as my dad was in the Air Force. Later he retired and we moved to Texas. I understood the Bible as a historical textbook and knew who God was and what Jesus had done as well as the stories of the Bible. After catechism classes and confirmation, I knew that I was a sinner, I’d read Romans 3:23, and that sin was wrong and thought that I needed to go to confession and do good things to make up for the sin. I had a head knowledge of The Lord; I knew about him, but I was not applying him to my life and following Him. I felt the weight of the guilt of my sin but did not understand that I would never be able to do enough good to balance the scales at judgement. Life felt hopeless because I kept messing up. Being saved by grace through faith, not of my works but on Jesus’, was not something anyone had taught me, nor had I read Ephesians 2:8-9.
For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God- Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.-Romans 6:23
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned— Romans 5:12
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.- Ephesians 2:8-9
NASB 95
When I was 13 one of my mother’s coworkers son’s invited me to a Newsboys concert. (We did not listen to that kind of music in Mass!) I went and Josh McDowell took the stage and called a verse of scripture which I knew. He then started to talk about a relationship with Christ which struck me as an odd thing to say. It occurred to me that I could not have a relationship with George Washington because he was dead, but Jesus was different. I began all at once to see that the Bible was living, not a history text, that as a result of what Jesus did on the cross and being raised to life that I had a decision to make and actual action to take. Belief required something on my part (choosing to repent and follow), but Jesus had already done all the work. He paid my wages for the sins I had committed (and will commit, sadly) and once I understood that, repented of my sin, confessed with my mouth Jesus as Lord because of the belief in my heart, I would have eternal life and all new leadership calling the shots from now on which is what Romans 10:9-10 stated.
..that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation-Romans 10:9-10
I was supposed to be reading the Bible and as a result of what it said acting on its commands, allowing the Holy Spirit to change my habits and begin conforming me to be like Christ. It was impossible to be like Christ if I did not study Him. During that invitation I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, which meant making Him Lord of my life, in that everything I did from there on out needed to run through a filter of the what His word directed me to do; which is quickly how Proverbs 3:5-6 became my go to verses all those years ago. That was my conversion to Christianity, the moment I was adopted into the Kingdom of God, I followed a week later in believers baptism, something I got to choose because I believe, as a symbolic, public profession of my faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Having a relationship with Jesus is similar to how your sights work. You can know that your front sight is the boss and is the most important sight, but until you are able to have a right orientation of it in the center of your rear sight, which is your life and belief system, and rightly align both of those with your target, which is how you live, your shots and decisions will both be all over the place. He has done all of the work, he is the atoning sacrifice once and for all who justifies, (aligns us rightly with the Father), we just have to allow Him to Untether us from the bondage of sin and respond to follow Him and apply Him as the center piece (front sight) of our lives! If you have a testimony, write it down like I have and SHARE it with others!
If you don’t have a testimony and you’re sitting there reading this thinking, that’s me! I need forgiveness, I need to repent of my sins and believe in the gospel message of Jesus Christ, you can, right where you sit. There are no special words that have to be prayed exactly right, just talk to God with your own mouth and tell Him exactly what’s going on in your heart. It’s not the specific words that save you, it’s the repentance and belief in your heart in Jesus as Lord, His sacrifice for your sins, and your desire to follow and trust in Him. Then share it with someone else! Start reading your Bible, there’s an app if you don’t have a physical copy (YouVersion or NASB Bible). Connect with a local church and talk to the pastor or women’s ministry leader about your decision so you can be better discipled and equipped to share your story with others!
If you’re in an area of the world where going to a Christian church isn’t an option but you have access to the internet ….that’s an option, there are millions of Bible believing churches online as well as Bible studies online. I enjoy watching, Ben Stuart at Passion DC, he’s local to me, John Piper, Jen Wilkin has some awesome studies, as well as Priscilla Shirer and Tony Evans, Francis Chan and David Platt. The Bible ReCap with Tara Leigh Cobble is a great podcast to accompany your reading and a great one year reading plan too! Don’t hesitate to reach out to me through the contact page of the blog or page, I’ll do my best to help too!
If you’re enjoying my blog, if it’s encouraging you in any way, or more importantly drawing you closer to Jesus in any way, please consider liking and subscribing. If you think it may encourage someone else in the Lord please consider sharing!
Raychel Writes 