Let’s Serve God, Not Just Acknowledge Him   

As our attention is especially focused on our nation during this Fourth of July weekend, it’s a good time not only to celebrate the past but to evaluate our current condition. There’s a description given in the Bible of another nation which I believe is fitting for us today as well. Although the circumstances were very different, the moral and spiritual climates displayed some similarities. It was said of these people that “they feared the Lord, yet served their own gods” (II Kings 17:33). If you look at the context, it was a society in which the people acknowledged God and followed some of the rituals in connection with His worship, but they didn’t live in obedience to His word. Isn’t that what is happening in our country today? God is still acknowledged oftentimes, although even that practice is becoming less common. There are still people who observe some degree of religious rituals in relation to God. However, we are straying further and further away from living in accordance to the teachings of His word. We acknowledge God, but we aren’t obeying Him. We either ignore what He says, attempt to reinterpret it to our own liking, or just rebelliously refuse to adhere to it. This isn’t only a characteristic of our secular society today, but unfortunately it also describes a large portion of the church. Many pay lip-service to God, but they aren’t obeying His teachings.

The people referred to in II Kings showed where their love and loyalty lay. Yes, they gave some recognition to the one true God, but they served their own gods. Their own deities had their hearts and in turn their obedience and service. We may acknowledge God, use the phrase “In God We Trust” as our motto, claim that we are “one nation under God”, proclaim “God bless America”, say our prayers, and attend our worship services. But who or what are we serving? Who really has our heart? Is it the one true God who has revealed Himself through the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ, or is it the gods of our own making?

I would suggest that we, including many who profess to be Christians, are guilty of serving our own gods today. The things of this world actually have our hearts more than God does. We love them more than we love Him. It may be the god of self – wanting what we want and dismissing what anyone, including God, says to the contrary. Or it may be one or more of the many other gods in our world – popularity, power, sex, money, pleasure, and the list goes on. We aren’t willing to give up those other gods even when following them runs contrary to the way God says we should live. Therefore we still acknowledge God and try to do enough to appease any displeasure He might have toward us, but meanwhile we’re serving our own gods.

Do we fear God enough to obey Him? However, serving Him shouldn’t just be based on being afraid of what He might do to us if we disobey Him. It really comes down to love. We should serve Him out of love for Him. We should want to obey Him based on how much He loves us and how He gave His Son to die on the cross for our sins. We should love Him more than we love the gods of this world, including the god of self.

We, individually and as a nation, need to quit serving our other gods. We need to give our hearts back to God and commit ourselves to obeying His word.    

 

Outbursts of Rage Point to a Spiritual Problem 

Every time we turn around it seems like we’re hearing about another incident of road rage, air rage, or a person reacting with an outburst of anger in some other setting. Our society is searching for an explanation for the increasing number of these disturbing and often violent occurrences. Some point to guns as being the problem. Others suggest that it’s the result of all the stress people are feeling in relation to the pandemic. May I offer another possibility? Could it be that this is part of what a world looks like when we remove God from our lives? This is how fallen human beings tend to react when they’re not under the restraints of the Holy Spirit. When people aren’t yielding to the Lord and cultivating His holy characteristics in their lives, they will fall more and more under the sway of Satan and their ungodly, baser instincts. Maybe the guns are the chosen instruments some people use. Maybe the pressures and fears from the pandemic intensify people’s poor reactions. However, the root of the problem is our turning away from the loving and holy God who can purify our hearts and help us to treat others in the right way.

Sometimes I don’t think we realize what a positive influence the church and followers of Jesus have had on our society. When they are functioning properly, they are truly a light in the darkness and the salt of the earth that purifies and preserves its surroundings. So as less people fit that description and as those who do are marginalized by our culture, is it any wonder that we are reaping the results of their waning influence?

 The Bible lists some of the Christlike qualities that spring forth from our lives as a result of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power at work (see Galatians 5:22-23). I believe we’re witnessing a rise in the opposite of those characteristics referred to as the fruit of the Spirit. Instead of love, there is more selfishness and hatred. Rather than joy, we’re seeing more anger and fear. Rather than peace, there is conflict and chaos. Instead of people being longsuffering, we’re finding more individuals having short fuses and lacking patience with the shortcomings of those around them. Kindness is growing more rare, while a lack of courtesy and respect becomes more common. Goodness is disappearing from our society, being replaced by various shades of evil, crudeness, and selfish motivations. Faithfulness is waning, while instability and unpredictability in people abound. Gentleness has given way to a spirit of harshness. And self-control seems to be exhibited less and less, not only in a society that indulges in all its pleasures, but one in which people fail to restrain themselves from lashing out at others. Many of the incidents we noted earlier are the result of people failing to exercise proper self-control when facing some irritation, conflict, or challenge. 

   In a contrasting list of attitudes and actions mentioned just prior to the fruit of the Spirit is what the Bible refers to as “the works of the flesh” (see Galatians 5:19-21). Included under that heading are such things as hatred, outbursts of wrath, and murders, the very qualities and behaviors we’re seeing on the rise today.

Our choices have consequences. If we continue down the road of rebellion against God and His Word, we will keep seeing godliness decrease and the unrestrained passions of sinful humanity manifest themselves more and more. Laws and vaccines won’t resolve the issue. People need a change of heart and our society needs the influence of those who follow Christ. We need to turn back to God and submit to Him. 

 

God Intends for Us to Be Fruitful  

Recently my son became a father for the first time. It’s wonderful to get to see him experience the joys of fatherhood now. This newest grandchild actually made his arrival in the world on my and my wife’s fortieth wedding anniversary. He was the best present we could have received for the occasion. As we celebrated with the rest of our children, grandkids, and family, it was a reminder of how the Lord has blessed us and how our union as husband and wife those many years ago has born much fruit.

Hopefully we can all say the same thing about our relationship with Christ. Jesus made it clear that fruitfulness is one of His purposes for our lives as His followers. “You did not choose Me, but I choose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16). He also declared that through bearing fruit, we bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father. “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8).  It sounds as if the more fruit we bear, the better.

 One way such fruitfulness should manifest itself is through Christlike characteristics becoming more evident in our lives. We should experience spiritual growth and transformation in our hearts, minds, and conduct. The Bible even refers to those desirable qualities as “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:23). Are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control increasingly springing up in our lives?

Bearing fruit can also refer to the spiritual sons and daughters in whose lives we’ve played a role in their coming to know the Lord and in their continuing walk with Him. Maybe we’ve had a direct impact on some, even praying with them as they received God’s gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus. There may be others on whom we have had more of an indirect influence as we’ve prayed for them, encouraged them in their walk with God, shared truth, or simply lived before them as a Christlike example. Some of those people we may be able to point to and call by name. However, there may be others we’ve influenced of whom we’re not even aware. Just as my wife and I can look at our family and give thanks for God’s blessings, let’s all look with grateful hearts at how God has allowed us to bear fruit spiritually.

But let’s also endeavor to continue to bear fruit for the Lord. No matter our age or circumstances, the Lord can still work in us and through us to bear more fruit. The Bible even refers to those who will “still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing” (Psalm 92:14). It may be difficult to change as we get older and set in our ways, but the Lord can keep forming us more into the image of Jesus if we’ll cooperate with Him. Because of age or changing circumstances, we may not have as much interaction with others as we once did, but we can still pray, be an example, and find other ways to have a positive impact on others for the Lord.

If we’re staying close to Jesus and faithfully following Him, we will bear fruit. We don’t have to work to produce fruitfulness - it will naturally tend to happen if we’re spiritually healthy and staying connected to our source of spiritual life. We just have to keep the weeds and other obstacles out of the way that would hinder us from being fruitful.  

So let’s thank God for past fruitfulness while seeking to bear even more fruit for Him in the days ahead.

 

We Need Contrite Humility Rather than Pride  

It seems that an increasing number of organizations and businesses are jumping on the bandwagon of celebrating June as “Pride Month”. Since when has pride become such a virtue? Granted, we all should have proper respect for ourselves as human beings created in the image of God. However, we also have to keep in mind that His image in us has been marred due to sin. We aren’t born perfect, but with a sinful nature and various related flaws. We can value who we are while at the same time recognizing our shortcomings. Too often self-respect grows into self-exaltation or thinking too highly of ourselves, becoming the quality the Bible condemns as pride. And the more we think of ourselves, the less we tend to think of our Creator. We exalt ourselves above Him, even to the point of defying Him and the truth of His Word.

As our culture emphasizes pride, it is in a sense affirming its abandonment of God’s Word. The Bible doesn’t treat pride as a characteristic to celebrate. It is roundly condemned and connected to the ungodly in society. God declares that He hates pride (Proverbs 6:17; 8:13). He calls it sin (Proverbs 21:4), specifically listing it as one of the various sins of the wicked city of Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49).  Jesus plainly referred to pride as an “evil thing” (Mark 7:21-23). It’s listed in Romans 1:30 as one of the characteristics of those who have forsaken God. And Paul denotes it as one of the qualities of an ungodly society in the last days (II Timothy 3:2).

Just as disturbing is what the Bible describes as the effects and results of pride. It deceives people (Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 1:3). Pride keeps people from seeking God (Psalm 10:4) and it causes God to resist them (James 4:6). It leads to shame, conflict, and ultimately destruction (Proverbs 11:2; 13:10; 16:18). Aren’t we doing a disservice to people to promote something which is harmful to them? Wouldn’t true Christian love urge people to forsake the way of pride and defiance of God, encouraging them to humbly submit to what God says about our natures, practices, and lifestyles? Instead of soothing the misguided and cheering on the proud as they travel the road toward personal destruction, shouldn’t we be warning them of the error of their ways and be lovingly assisting them to find the better path?

 In contrast to pride, the Bible emphasizes our need to have a humble and contrite heart. It’s not about us, what we want, or what we self-deceptively think will make us happy. It’s about God, what He wants, and what He knows is best for us. It’s about exalting Him, which in turn will help us find true joy and fulfillment in life. Our main goal is not to be happy, but to honor our God. In order to do that we will often have to do as Jesus declared – deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Walking that path will require a humbling of ourselves, a turning away from anything in our lives contrary to God’s will, and submitting to what God says about how we are to live.

It's ironic that the main ideas people are being encouraged to take pride in regarding sexuality and gender identity are some of the same ones of which we need to humbly repent due to their being contrary to God’s Word, nature, and reality. So while others may choose to celebrate pride this month, let’s focus more on humbling ourselves, submitting to God, and praying for others to do the same.  

 

Being Loyal until Our Master Returns  

My wife and I recently watched a particular movie for the first time even though it’s been out for over a decade. Although the most prominent actor in the film is Richard Gere, the real star of the story is a dog named Hachi. I understand that the whole account is based on a real event. This dog would faithfully meet his owner at the train station every day at 5:00 p.m. when he returned from work. However, one day the man left for his job never to return, having collapsed at his workplace and ending up dying. Nevertheless, Hachi continued to watch and wait for his master at the train station. Amazingly, the dog maintained his vigilance at that location for ten years until finally passing away too. He became an inspiring symbol of loyalty and devotion.

 Are we as loyal and devoted to our absent Master? In a real sense, Jesus is still with us through His Spirit who lives within those who put their trust in Him as Savior. However, He’s no longer physically present on this earth in the same way as when He was in the flesh some 2000 years ago. He died, too. Yet He was also resurrected. But then He left His disciples, ascending into heaven with the promise of returning one day. Have we forgotten? Are we going about our lives without any thought about our Master coming back one day? Have we given up on Him and gone back to our old way of life? Or are we still watching and waiting? Are we still being loyal to Him in spite of His prolonged absence?

The departure of Hachi’s owner was unexpected, while Jesus’ leaving was not, at least not for Him. He warned His followers that it was coming. He even instructed them in what they needed to do while He was gone. How do we exhibit our loyalty and love for Him until His return? Unlike the dog in the movie, it isn’t primarily by sitting in some sacred spot in anticipation of His Second Coming. We aren’t to be simply sitting in our churches or taking a pilgrimage to some sacred site in order to hold a vigil until our Master shows up again. No, we show our devotion to Him by staying busy being involved in what He instructed us to be doing until He comes back.

Some of the parables He told related to His coming reveal how we should be exhibiting our loyalty to Him in the meantime. The parable about the virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) reminds us to guard against falling into the sleep of spiritual complacency. We need to maintain the condition of our souls, keeping our hearts filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) shows us that we aren’t supposed to be just idly hiding out until Jesus returns. We should be using the resources and abilities He’s entrusted to us to honor Him and accomplish His purposes until He returns. The story about the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46) reminds us to be busy showing compassion to others and taking care of their needs until we stand before the Lord to give an account of ourselves one day. And the parable of the faithful servant (Matthew 24:45-51) tells us to be diligent in fulfilling whatever responsibilities our Master has given us. Based on other final instructions to His followers, those duties would include proclaiming the gospel and helping lead others into His kingdom to become His disciples.

So let’s be examples of loyalty and devotion to our Master by faithfully continuing to do His will and His work until He returns.  

 

Don’t Ignore the Warning of What’s Coming  

After some recent computer issues, a diagnostic check revealed that my hard drive was failing and there was nothing I could do about it. The device continued to work at times, although very slowly. Periodically a warning would be displayed of “imminent failure”. I used the time to prepare for that inevitable event – backing up my files, copying links to favorite sites, and shopping for a replacement. The day after my new computer arrived, the old one “gave up the ghost”. I’m thankful I had the opportunity to get ready for its collapse rather than it happening suddenly without any advance notice.

We’re living in times in which our nation, society, the religious community, and just the world in general is having serious issues. We see signs all around us warning of “imminent failure”. We seem to be on the verge of a collapse of the world as we know it. Major shifts in morals and values are affecting all other areas of our lives. As families erode, as lawlessness increases, as our freedoms are curtailed, as our economy becomes more vulnerable, and as churches compromise truth, the signs are there that we are heading toward “imminent failure”. So what do we do?

First of all, if there’s anything we can do to help avoid the collapse, we should be doing it. We can pray, repent, and call on others to do the same. We can work to restore our society and the church to what it should be. We can uphold and promote those values which many have forsaken. We can pray for a widespread revival that could repair the damage. Maybe things can turn around. But what if they don’t?

We need to make sure our hearts are right with the Lord. Even if there’s no general revival in our land, there can still be personal revival in our own souls. Let’s use this time to draw closer to the Lord than ever before. Let’s spend time in His Word, committing ourselves to obeying its truths. Let’s yield ourselves more fully to the Holy Spirit, letting Him fill us with His presence and power. Let’s be faithful prayer warriors and witnesses for Christ. Let’s serve the Lord with our time, energy, and resources. Let’s be part of a faithful remnant who are staying true to the Lord and to His Word.

We also need to be preparing ourselves and others for hard times. If persecution comes, we need to be ready to face it and with a Christlike spirit. We need to be prepared for the possibility of putting our lives on the line for Jesus.

We need to maintain a firm faith and hope in the Lord. Although our current system may collapse, we know we have a better world to look forward to. We know that the Lord will be with us to help us through whatever we may be called upon to face in this life, while looking ahead to better days. We know who wins in the end.

Additionally, we need to be warning others. We should be encouraging them to give their hearts to Christ and to get ready for what’s coming, including His return. Many people may see the problem, but they need to recognize that Jesus is the answer.

Our world hasn’t collapsed yet. We still have an opportunity to avoid it or to prepare ourselves and others for what appears to be ahead. The signs are there. Don’t ignore them and go about business as usual. We’re being given a chance to get ready for what’s coming. Will we make use of it?

 

In Times of Crisis Keep Trusting Jesus to Provide  

Did you make it through the recent gas shortage without too much of a problem? Last year it was toilet paper, paper towels, and hand sanitizer. This time it was gasoline. What will it be next? We’ve been shown how vulnerable our society is to having supplies of items interrupted by pandemics or computer hacks. So most likely something similar will occur again at some point. How did we react to this one? How should we respond in comparison to how others act on such occasions?

The predominant spirit that seems to manifest itself at times like these is one of fear. During the midst of this gasoline crisis, I heard one person on a TV news program repeatedly use the word “scary” to describe these times in which we’re living. She seemed to suggest that people are generally afraid and therefore it’s understandable for them to panic when new situations like this arise. It reminds me of Jesus’ words in describing the days before his return – “men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth” (Luke 21:26). However, even if such a spirit is common, even prevalent, does that mean we as followers of Christ should be joining the fear-filled crowd?

I believe we have a certain God-given desire to survive or to preserve our lives from danger. We can have a healthy fear that keeps us from walking out in front of a moving truck or stepping off the roof of a building. The problem is when we let our fears mushroom into worry and panic. Are those characteristics consistent with someone who professes to trust Jesus and who believes He is going to fulfill His promises to take care of them? We quote verses about God supplying our needs and about Jesus providing for our necessities if we seek Him and His kingdom first, but then we panic over the prospect of an empty shelf of one item at the grocery store or a dry pump at the gas station.

It’s certainly tempting to let our fears get the best of us when we hear reports of an interruption in service on the news and we see the people around us kick into panic mode. We feel like we’re foolish and may miss out if we don’t join the rush with everyone else. Maybe we need to just stop, take a breath, say a prayer, rationally evaluate our situation, and reaffirm our trust in God to take care of us. We still may need to wait in line for gas, but we ought to be able to do it with a spirit that’s different from the wild-eyed mob surrounding us. We may need to pray for the Lord to give us grace and patience at such times. Could He bless us with such a calm spirit and a sense of peace that it could be a witness to others that there’s something different about us? After all, our relationship with Jesus should make a difference in our lives, shouldn’t it? Instead of pushing our way through the panicked masses with desperation written on our faces, maybe we can patiently endure the inconvenience with a smile and even looking for ways to be a blessing or encouragement to those around us. Fear can be contagious, but so can a calm, trusting spirit. Could we be a soothing presence in the midst of stressful situations?

Remaining calm when everyone around you is panicking isn’t easy, but I believe God can give us grace to do so. Do what you need to do, but do it manifesting a spirit of peaceful trust in Jesus.