Believers Need Help in Life’s Struggles 

Last weekend the sudden death of a professional golfer was in the news. After he had withdrawn from a tournament on Friday, it was reported on Saturday that he had died. Later the family issued a statement revealing that the young man had tragically taken his own life. Apparently this golfer had been very open about his struggles with alcoholism, anxiety, and depression. However, earlier this year when he was in the spotlight for winning a tournament, I recall some people suggesting that he had seemed to turn his life around recently. After his death, I heard one of his colleagues say that within the past year or so this young man had put his trust in Jesus as His Savior. While the report of his newfound faith can be an encouraging note in the midst of these tragic circumstances, it can also serve as a reminder about the ongoing struggles we can face as believers.

On the one hand, repenting of our sins and putting our faith in Jesus and His death on the cross for our salvation is a life-changing event. Jesus compared it to a new birth. It not only changes our relationship with God but it transforms our hearts and lives. In a very real sense, we become new creations in Christ. We go from being condemned slaves of sin to becoming forgiven children of God. We exit the pathway leading to destruction and enter the road that will take us to heaven. The drastic change due to the Spirit of Christ cleansing us and taking up residence in our hearts would be hard to overstate.

On the other hand, as important as that salvation event is and as momentous a difference it makes for us, it doesn’t automatically resolve all the issues in our lives. Not only may we still have to deal with some of the consequences of our pre-faith lives, but we will also continue to encounter temptations and challenges to our faith. We will find that there are yet tendencies within our own hearts that will seek to pull us in wrong directions at times. We may struggle with some of the same issues we dealt with as an unbeliever, only now we have some greater resources to draw from as we fight those battles. We have the presence of the Lord, the promises of His Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit to assist us. We have a loving Father whom we can talk to in prayer and lean on for support. And hopefully we have other believers on whom we can rely.

We need to remember that the Christian faith isn’t only about a moment of conversion, as significant as that is. It is also a journey. The Bible appropriately describes it numerous times as a “walk.” We must keep moving forward step by step. Our commitment to Christ isn’t just a one-time decision, it is a daily choice. Jesus said that we must daily take up our cross and follow Him. And there will be struggles, temptations, and challenges all along that pathway. Some will come from forces around us, while others will spring up from within us from the remnants of our own fallen nature. Therefore we need to be on guard for both ourselves and for others.

This tragic incident in the golfing community should remind us all to seek the help and support of others when we need it, but also to be the encourager and supporter that someone around us may need. Even as believers we will struggle. Let’s pray for each other and be there for one another. Let’s continue to lean on the Lord every day, every moment. As the old song says, “Lord, we need Thee every hour.”

 

What Keeps Us from Looking like Jesus? 

As students were presented with awards at the end of the school year, I was especially pleased to hear about the recognition one of our grandsons received at the Christian school he attends. He was given the award for Christlikeness, a high honor that was reserved for only one student in each grade level. While other awards for academics and sports achievements are also admirable, I believe this recognition of being like Jesus is a wonderful testimony of a person’s character. However, the physical appearance of my grandson the evening of the ceremony could have raised questions about the appropriateness of his receiving this particular honor. He walked onto the stage while sporting a noticeable black eye. Thankfully, he didn’t receive this injury from being in a fistfight. It was actually the result of getting hit in the face by a baseball the previous day. Nevertheless, it seemed rather humorous and could have been misunderstood in light of the award he was receiving. After all, I don’t recall any depictions of Jesus with a black eye. He may have dished out some tongue-lashings to the Pharisees and even got physical while driving out the moneychangers from the temple, but Jesus wasn’t a brawler.

  Christlikeness is something we should all be aiming for as followers of Jesus. It is not just one of many worthy goals for us to seek, but it is actually the main goal God has in mind for us. Romans 8:29 says that He has chosen us “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” Paul wrote about how we all are being transformed by the Holy Spirit into the image of the glory of the Lord (see II Corinthians 3:18). In another letter, he said, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). We are meant to be like Jesus.

However, we all are aware that we still have a long way to go before fully reaching that goal. It is great that my grandson was recognized for being Christlike but he can’t hang that certificate on his wall with the idea that he has reached the spiritual pinnacle where he can remain for the rest of his life. Just like the rest of us, he still has a lot of growing to do spiritually. There are still areas in our lives which need to be worked on, refined, and shaped more into the image of Jesus. No matter how much we may resemble the Lord, we are still only a blurred image of what He is and what we can yet be.  

Let’s just make sure that we don’t have any obvious black eyes that would hinder our testimony for Jesus. We all have our shortcomings. We are all works in progress. However, if there is a flaw in our character that tends to show itself prominently in our lives, we especially need to let the Holy Spirit work on us in that area. When other people see that noticeable attitude or spirit frequently manifesting itself through our words and behavior, it can damage our witness for the Lord. Again, we are all going to have our spiritual blemishes to overcome. But I am referring to the bigger and more prominent issues that we know are inappropriate for a follower of Jesus and that can be a stumbling block to the people around us. We need to let God do more than cover over that black eye, but to bring real healing from the inside out. 

Let’s allow the Lord to reveal any black eyes in our character and conduct that hurts our witness for Him. Then let’s seek His help to get rid of whatever keeps us from looking more like Jesus.

 

A New Direction but the Same God 

Our oldest grandson is one of the many high school students who are graduating this year. It is a significant milestone as these young people leave one phase of their lives and commence a new and different facet of their journey. We face similar pivotal moments at various times throughout our lives – getting married, having children, changing jobs, relocating. Even as we get older, we have to deal with saying goodbye to longtime familiar seasons of life and opening ourselves up to some new stage. It may be when we become empty-nesters, when we retire, or when health issues force us to relinquish some of our independence. Life is full of graduations and commencements, moving from one chapter to the next.

Those transition times can be stressful, even scary. We are leaving what we are familiar and comfortable with while stepping out into strange and uncertain territory. Therefore sometimes we may be tempted to hang onto the past and have a hard time giving it up. We may hesitate about walking into the unknown or refuse to take those steps even though we know it is the way we need to go. It can be a difficult time in our lives.

One of the most significant graduations and commencements recorded for us in the Bible is when the Israelites were leaving the wilderness in order to take possession of the homeland God had promised to give them. It doesn’t sound like a tough transition – graduating from a life of wandering in an area where food and water were scarce to entering and settling down in a lush land described as being full of milk and honey. It seems like everyone would be ready to excitedly move forward to this new adventure.

However, it wasn’t quite that simple. For most of the Israelites, all they knew was life in the wilderness. In spite of all its drawbacks, it was home. And while they had experienced a few battles up to this time, they knew war was going to be a constant way of life for a while as they went in to conquer this new land. They were switching from survival mode to battle mode. And some of their enemies were formidable – giants and well-fortified cities. To top it off, they were facing a major change in leadership. Their longtime leader, Moses, was passing the torch to his assistant, Joshua. Everything was going to change and be different.

Maybe God’s encouragement to Joshua and the Israelites can be helpful to us as we face times of transition in our own lives, whether graduating from school or starting some other new chapter. Appropriately enough, my grandson who is graduating is named Joshua. So let’s take these words to heart which were uttered to the Bible’s Joshua. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you…Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:5, 9).

As the Lord was with us in the previous phase of our lives, He will be with us in the next one. He will continue to lead those who are seeking to follow Him. We may not know what lies ahead, but we know that the Lord will go with us whatever we may have to face. We don’t have to be afraid of the challenges ahead – God is fighting for us and can give us the strength we need.

Our pathway may be taking a sharp turn in a new direction, but the same faithful God who has helped us in the past will still be there to see us through this next part of life’s journey.

 

During Busy Times Refocus on the Lord 

For many people this seems to be an especially busy month. It is the time when another school year draws to a close, meaning a lot of end-of-the-year activities for teachers, students, and their families. Some are focused on graduations, not just from high school but from kindergarten and college. In addition to all of that busyness, throw in Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and in our family a few birthday celebrations. I know others who are also in the middle of house renovations or sorting through all their belongings as they prepare to move out of their homes. At our church we even squeeze in our Homecoming service and potluck dinner this month.

When there is so much activity going on and our calendars are full, it is easy to get overwhelmed in all of the hustle and bustle. We can find ourselves stressed out as we try to navigate our way through those busy schedules. We hardly have time to catch our breaths as we scurry around, chauffeur kids, and prepare for special gatherings. It can be tiring just thinking about it, much less living it out each day.

At times like these, we need to remind ourselves of that familiar biblical exhortation: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Someone might shout in response, “But I don’t have time to be still!” Neither did the psalmist. He referred to times of distress, earthshaking events, troubled waters, and war. Yet he reminded himself that God is our refuge and strength, no matter what is going on in our lives. In the midst of all the busy disturbances in his life, he heard the divine voice reminding him to be still and to focus on God.

Maybe some of us need to listen and act on that command too. Notice, it is a command, not just a suggestion. God knows what we need during these busy times. No, it isn’t more hours in the day or a clone of ourselves so that we can be doing two things at once or be in different places at the same time. What can often be most helpful in times like these is a better perspective. We need to be reminded that God is with us. We need to remember that He has everything under control. We need to know that we can lean on Him for support and strength, as well as take refuge in Him when we feel as if we are being overrun by everything. Be still and know that He is God.

How can we fulfill that command when the clock and the calendar seem to be putting so much pressure on us? It may involve just taking a moment to physically be still or at least to calm our spirit. Catch a breath. Say a prayer. Listen to an inspiring Christian song or hymn. Recite one of God’s promises to yourself. Get your eyes off your problems, challenges, and activities momentarily while getting refocused on the loving and powerful God who is with you.  

At the same time, as much as possible, don’t forsake those longer pauses in your schedule in order to draw close to the Lord. Keep your priorities in order. You may have to do it differently or at a different time, but maintain a regular time for Bible reading, prayer, and worship. Don’t let these other things crowd out your needed fellowship with your heavenly Father. Keep seeking the Lord first and all those other activities will find their proper place.

You may not have much choice but to be busy these days, However, also choose to take time to be still. Take a moment right now and draw close to the Lord.

 

Properly Use the Authority Jesus Gives You 

Some of you may recall an episode of The Andy Griffith Show in which scrawny Deputy Barney Fife confronts a couple of tough farmers who were illegally selling their produce on the side of the road. They flaunted their physical superiority over the deputy, made fun of him, and caused him to run off scared. However, by the end of the show, both they and Barney had learned something. An emboldened Barney encountered them again, reminding them that although they were bigger than he was, the people of Mayberry had given him the authority to represent them and to carry out the law. While he may not have had the physical ability to make those farmers move, he had the authority to do it.

 We need to recognize that truth about Jesus too. In His case, not only did He have the ability to do great things, but He had authority over sickness, evil, and even nature itself. He had the right and power to heal diseases, cast out demons, and calm stormy seas because of who He was as the Son of God.

Amazingly, He passed along that authority to His followers, at least to some degree and for certain occasions. He said that they would do the same kind of works He did. We find some of the disciples in the book of Acts doing such works of healing and other miracles in Jesus’ name. As Jesus was proclaiming what we have come to call the Great Commission, He prefaced it by saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). Maybe He was letting us know not only that He had all authority, but also that He was sending His followers out under that same authority. In a sense, He has deputized us. Jesus has given us the power and authority to minister in His name.

Therefore, on the one hand, we need to make use of the authority Jesus has bestowed on us. We don’t have to quiver and run away from evil forces and Satan. The Bible tells us that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. I am concerned that too many of us are like Barney Fife at his first encounter with those tough farmers. We let sin and Satan intimidate us. We cower in the face of evil and as we are confronted by the difficulties the devil throws in our pathway. We run scared when dealing with adversity and opposition.

Let’s remember whose we are – that we belong to the Lord and we are His ambassadors. We represent Him. We can make use of His authority to be overcomers and to be victorious over sin and evil in the world.

However, on the other hand, let’s be careful not to overstep or misuse that authority. Among those who like to talk about “taking authority” over things, there often seems to be an arrogant spirit. We need to be sure we exalt the Lord, not ourselves. It also seems that some people start claiming authority over every aspect of their lives without regard to what God’s will may be. They presume to take authority over anything they don’t like or that gets in the way of what they want. Some see demons around every corner, and ignore the fact that some of those difficulties are the result of their own foolish choices. 

Remember the quote from the Spiderman movie – “with great power comes great responsibility”. We have been given great power and authority by the Lord, but it comes with great responsibility to use it wisely and in the way God intends. Don’t ignore or neglect that authority. At the same time, let’s use it wisely under the Lord’s direction. 

 

Seek to Be More like Jesus 

One of our daughters and her family recently came over to our house one evening for a visit. We played a couple of games, including one in which a player tries to get others to say a particular word but can only use gestures in order to do it. It is kind of like charades, only you have a very short timeframe in order to illicit the correct response from another person. We were doing impersonations of everything from Batman to cheerleaders to pigeons. If we were awarding prizes that night, the blue ribbon would have gone to one of our teenage grandsons. He did a great imitation of a jellyfish. My description doesn’t do it justice, but try to picture someone acting as if he were slightly tilted, floating, and bobbing like one of those sea creatures.

What are people reminded of when they see us and our daily lives? I am not talking about when we are playing a game or when we are putting on a show for others. I am referring to when we are authentically ourselves, going about our everyday business of life. Who do we look like? What kind of qualities show forth in our lives and character?

The Bible indicates that we should imitate Jesus. Paul put forth himself as an example: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1). In another letter, he wrote: “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (Ephesians 5:1-2). He also exhorted: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), where he goes on to extol Jesus’ humility and obedience. However, this wasn’t just a Pauline idea. John writes: “He who says he abides in Him (Christ) ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (I John 2:6). Even Jesus Himself pointed His disciples in that direction as He told them to humbly serve and wash others’ feet as He had done, as well as to love others as He had loved them (John 13:14. 34).  The Bible makes it clear that followers of Jesus should be becoming more like Him, being transformed more and more into His image.

However, such a transformation doesn’t come solely from imitation. Yes, we should be seeking to be like Jesus in our words, actions, and attitudes. We should consider what would be a Christlike response to the situations we face. We should make choices based on what we believe Jesus would do. We can actively and intentionally seek to follow the example of Jesus.

Nevertheless, our progression into Christlikeness should go deeper than our efforts to mimic Jesus. It needs to spring from the reality of the Spirit of Jesus Himself dwelling within us and actively working in our lives. It shouldn’t just be me trying to be like Jesus. We should experience Jesus living in and through us. Paul described it well in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Imitation has its limitations. If imitation is the extent of our Christlikeness, it will often fall short and be skewed due to our faulty understanding and abilities. But if we are living surrendered to Jesus and letting Him manifest Himself through us, we will find ourselves better and more consistently reflecting the real image of our Savior.

Imitate Jesus. But better yet, let Him live in you and through you.

 

Are We Hearing God or Ourselves? 

One Sunday as I was turning on and testing the sound equipment in preparation for our worship service, I discovered that something didn’t sound right. Upon closer examination I found that the main speakers didn’t appear to be working. After not seeing any obvious cause for this issue, we resorted to a temporary back-up plan. Due to the small size of our sanctuary, we were able to make some adjustments in order to be able to adequately function that day until we got someone there to check out the problem. We simply turned up the volume of the stage monitors - the speakers pointing back to the platform so that those who are speaking or singing can hear themselves. We cranked those smaller speakers up enough that the congregation could hear what was coming through those devices, even though they were pointing in the opposite direction.

 We seem to be doing something similar in our society today. Much has been said about how we are tending to gravitate more and more to merely hearing our own voices or listening only to those in the news media or on social media who agree with our points of view. In a sense we have turned off the other speakers and are only listening to the stage monitors as they sound forth some version of our own words and thoughts. We tend to be unwilling to hear the other side, to consider that some of our opinions could be wrong, and to look at matters from a different angle.

While that can be unhealthy in some ways, in certain situations it can be understandable and even commendable. When it comes to truth, we shouldn’t compromise, nor should we give a listening ear to deceptive doctrines. And it is natural to connect with those who are likeminded to us. We need that encouragement and support from others, especially when more people are turning away from those truths and we often feel like a growing minority.

However, I believe we have to be careful about letting this tendency to hear only our own voices carry over into our communications with the Lord. Are we really hearing the voice of God or are we merely hearing our own thoughts and views being projected back to us? Are we open to hearing the fullness of divine truth, or are we letting our views based on personal preferences, traditions, and other factors severely taint that message? All of us need to be careful that we seek to hear the unadulterated word of God, not simply some twisted version that meets with our approval.

How can we be certain whether we are truly hearing God’s voice or merely our own words being reflected back to us? Hopefully, as we mature spiritually, we can better discern the difference between our own inner voice and the voice of the Holy Spirit. Also, the content of the message should clue us in as to whether or not it is in harmony with God’s character of love, truth, holiness, grace, and justice. However, the greatest aid in this quest to hear God’s voice is the fact that we have been given a more objective means of communication – the written word of God. Our personal feelings and thoughts may not always be reliable. We have to compare them to what God clearly says in the scriptures. Even then, we need to guard against interpreting those scriptures through our own lens in order to try to make it fit our viewpoint or lifestyle. We need to conform to God’s Word, not try to shape it to fit us or our ideas.

Let’s make sure we are listening to the main speaker declaring the word of the Lord and not just listening to ourselves.