Spiritual Growth – Page 63

Are We Asking the Wrong Question?

4 Comments / September 3, 2010 August 6, 2015

So many of our Christian conversations and questions revolve around what forms of entertainment and behavior are “allowed” for a Christian. There are many varied views on this topic. What about all the gray areas that aren’t covered in scripture? The accusation of legalism is a common one if one shares conviction on any “gray” area. But I would propose that maybe the question isn’t “Is this right or wrong?” but instead “Will this move me closer to or away from the God I love?” A second question that must quickly follow this one is “Will this help or hinder my Christian brothers and sisters in their walk with Christ?” This changes the whole conversation, doesn’t it?

So much of our gray area conversations are rationalizations on why it is okay to do things that go against principles in scripture. We grab the typical passages used out of context for our arguments. But in thinking through what direction I want to go–towards God, if I am a believer–I have to challenge myself to think through WHY I am trying so hard to rationalize a particular behavior or action. Oftentimes it is for my own self gratification. It is because it is something I want to do and has nothing to do with bringing glory to Christ, reaching others for Him, or furthering His kingdom in any way, shape, or form.

The other thing worth mentioning here is that there are certain things that are not going to be cut and dried. For instance, while a glass of wine with dinner or attending a horse race may be fine for some, these activities are going to present some pretty serious problems for the alcoholic and the gambler. And, while, perhaps some of us can do these things without stumbling, it is imperative that we, as believers, show love and care for our fellow believers and not tempt them unnecessarily; always taking very great care in all that we do.

When it comes right down to it, our walk with God is all about love. But it is not only His love for us, but it is also our love for God, which translates itself into our selfless actions–denying ourselves worldly pleasures and showing immense selflessness towards others (see James 1:27).

So perhaps we have been asking the wrong question. Perhaps I need to ask myself will this help me or my fellow believers in their walk with Christ? Or will it be a detriment? Will I please the Lord with this action or will I grieve Him? Do I love the Lord enough NOT to do this thing I really want to do in order to please Him? We need to stop trying to rationalize and, instead, take an honest look at our hearts’ intentions. The excuse that “it isn’t specifically in the Bible” is pretty weak when we ask ourselves the question of direction, rather than the question of legislation.

Mark 12:30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

The Lonely Road

1 Comment / August 28, 2010 August 15, 2015

It was a beautiful, hot, summer evening. We were traveling on an interstate highway in the middle of nowhere. Tree-covered mountains were around us on all sides. As we were driving along we passed other cars and trucks intent on getting wherever it was they were going. And then–quite suddenly–we were completely alone. There was not another vehicle anywhere before us or behind us or beside us. We were the only car on this stretch of highway.

For a brief–very brief–moment I panicked.

Had we missed a sign that says the highway is closed? Surely, at this time of day, people should be traveling on the highway? I reined in my thoughts almost before I had them, they were that ridiculous. But as I pondered on my momentary panic, I realized that sometimes we do this in our Christian lives, as well.

We are trying hard to obey God’s Word in a certain area and, yet, when we look around us, we feel so alone, because none of our Christian brothers and sisters seem to be obeying God in this area. We question ourselves–is this really a conviction from God’s Word or just a tradition or opinion? Should I be making myself or my kids hold to this standard when it seems like we are completely and utterly alone in doing so?

Being alone is not a fun place to be. It is easier for some than for others. But when it comes right down to it, we all would rather be a part of the crowd. We’d rather not stand out for things such as what we are not wearing, what we are not watching, where we are not going, and what we are not listening to.

We’d rather just melt into the crowd and allow our kids to do the same. It is so much easier to just follow the crowd and allow ourselves or our kids to wear that immodest bathing suit or listen to that obscene band; to play that violent X-box game or go to that R-rated movie.

But let me encourage you to stay on the lonely road. It will be worth it. Your kids will thank you someday (as long as you give them a good discussion about basing your rules on God’s Word alone; don’t just lay down legalistic laws without reasons). Don’t lower your standards.

I Timothy 6:12 tells us to–^“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Let’s fight the good fight and stand for truth together! But in those moments when you feel alone, keep standing! You will never be sorry!

P.S. I have made many mistakes in this area–caving in instead of standing–as I am sure many of you have. We need to be very careful not to judge others, but instead encourage and edify one another, gently admonishing and always loving each other.

Up

Leave a Comment / August 19, 2010 April 12, 2014

I just got back from a trip to Nashville. I do not do a lot of flying and it always makes me a bit nervous. It also fills my mind with so many different things as I look out the window at the world in miniature and then, as we climb higher, to the beautiful, amazing scenery of clouds and sun. When we took off to come home yesterday the world below was rainy, gloomy, and overcast. But the flight schedule continued on time. As the plane climbed gradually higher I lost sight of the world below and was surrounded by only thick, gray clouds. I could not see anything but gray outside. It made a foggy day here on earth look like nothing. I pondered how in the world the pilot had any idea where he was going. But I was trusting that pilot to know where he was going. And, sure enough, after a few minutes, we climbed out of those gray, gloomy, incredibly thick clouds, through the atmosphere, to the sunshine above. Of course, after an hour or two above, we had to descend back down through those clouds, to the earth below as we arrived at Washington DC.

I think by now you may know where I am going with this. You know that famous saying “God is my co-pilot”? Well, I am here to tell you that God is my pilot. Don’t we all have times where we are in a thick fog in life? Surrounded by the unknown? Having no idea where the current circumstances are going to take us? I am so incredibly grateful that I can rely on my heavenly Father to know where He is taking me. He has a plan and I can safely rest in knowing that He is the one guiding me through the thick fog of life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a very familiar passage, but consider this again with me:

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

I can rely on God to direct my paths and guide me. But there are conditions to this promise of guidance. I need to trust Him. I can’t try to figure out all the answers by myself. And I need to acknowledge Him, which means giving His desires for my life consideration in every area of life, instead of being so focused on what I want.

And, unbelievably–suddenly–He treats us to amazing glimpses of the sun, giving us moments of beauty and happiness. I am so thankful for those times. But I am also incredibly grateful for his guidance through the thick, gray clouds. What an amazing God we serve! That He would care for me–this tiny, minute speck of His creation–is truly mind-boggling.

The Millipede

2 Comments / August 10, 2010 August 10, 2010

This weekend, while sitting by the campfire, I spotted a shiny millipede in the grass. It was winding its way to who knows where? As I watched it going wherever it was going with seemingly great purpose, it would sometimes disappear beneath the grass. I would watch for it to pop up in some other place. Sometimes I could see just part of its hard-shelled body. As I observed this tiny creature from my vantage point of the camping chair, I got to thinking that my view of the millipede is a little bit like our view of God. Sometimes we can see Him at work in our lives in obvious, amazing ways. Other times it is not so clear. We are not sure. And then other times, He seems to disappear altogether. No matter how much we pray or read our Bibles, we just don’t have a “feeling” of closeness to Him (I am certainly glad that my salvation does not depend upon my feelings!)

But just like the millipede is always there in the grass, whether I can see him or not, so God is always there. I don’t have to see Him at work or have a particular “feeling”. If I am a true believer, God is with me. Always. God’s Word makes that clear. One example of this is in Psalm 23:4:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

God is always with us…when we can see Him at work in our lives…and when we can’t.

Is that all that really matters?

Leave a Comment / August 4, 2010 August 4, 2010

This morning I was listening to a song when the lyrics struck me. The line was “the only thing that matters is how we have loved”. Is that really the only thing that matters? At first I shuddered at the apparent lack of biblical truth in this song. While this is not true if we are looking at all of biblical and human history, what about if the song is referring to the individual? The only thing that truly matters is that we have loved? And if that is true, just exactly what are we to love? That is not really clear in the song. However, it is very clear in Mark 12, verses 29-31

²⁹ Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’^[e] This is the first commandment.^[f] ³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^[g] There is no other commandment greater than these.”

We are to love God and we are to love our neighbors (all people that we come in contact with). Jesus tells us these are the first and second of all commandments. If we follow these commandments all of the others will follow naturally, because they show us how to (or how not to) love God or people.

We hear an awful lot about the second commandment these days. American Christians are totally focused on helping the poor, needy, hungry, and destitute. And that is great! I think that is awesome. But what about that first commandment? How do we love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength? I John gives us a bit of a clue…

I John 2:³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

We show our love to God by walking as Jesus walked. By doing our best to obey ALL of the commandments in God’s Word…not just a few. We are to live righteous lives. Pure lives. Holy lives. Not in fellowship with the world, but in fellowship with God. In prayer. Not drawing attention to ourselves except for reasons of being salt and light. And, yes, in loving others.

So, I guess loving is what it comes down to while living our lives. If we love God, our whole lives will be transformed by that love. It will affect not only how we treat others, but will affect what we say, read, listen to, and wear. How we react, respond, and our tone of voice. It affects who we hang out with, what movies we go to, and what is on our ipods. It alters how we treat our parents, our siblings, church leaders, and police officers. It impacts our interests, passions, and hobbies. It changes our conversations, how we drive, and who we date (or marry). It affects if we read our Bibles, go to a church that teaches the Truth, or take the time to pray. And it affects our commitments…to our families, our churches, and our communities. Loving God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength will change me completely. Loving God (first) and loving others (second) is truly what matters most when it comes to how we live our lives each day.

TMI?

Leave a Comment / July 25, 2010 September 12, 2015

So I am making myself a bit vulnerable with this entry. You may think I am strange after reading this (and I will admit that you are probably right) but I am going to go ahead and write this entry because–perhaps…just maybe–there may be someone out there who can relate to what I am about to write.

So, here goes. Every now and then, on a rare occasion, I start thinking that I have my act together spiritually. I look at the world around me and I think…hmmm…I could be a lot worse. I find myself thinking something like “God must surely be impressed with how spiritual I am”. And, gradually, I become just a tad bit prideful.

I would like you to know that I have discovered the sure fire cure for this kind of proud thinking. Here it is: Stay in a camper for an entire week with 1 husband, 3 teenagers, and 1 pre-teen and all of the stuff that accompanies said group when the weather is 95+ degrees with horrible humidity and intermittent showers (that do nothing to relieve the heat wave but are very effective at making everything wet). I found that this trip brought home rather quickly just how sinful I am.

While most of us became a bit grumpy and short-tempered, I would love to write that I was just the icon of godly motherhood–calming everyone with my peaceful demeanor, serving everyone cold drinks, and giving soft answers that turned away wrath. Unfortunately, this was not the case. I would venture to say that it was FAR from the case. I may have been (mind you, may have been) the worst of all of us. I was so disappointed in myself. If I cannot behave in a godly fashion during a heat wave then I consider myself absolutely pathetic.

I came face to face with my sinful nature and it was not a pretty sight. In fact, it was downright discouraging. How could I have let such paltry things push me into such selfish and unkind responses? After swallowing my pride, making apologies, and trying to make things right, I have realized that I did learn something from this experience.

If there is any benefit, whatsoever, of this past week, it is this– I realized once again how great my sin and how awesome God’s grace. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The forgiveness given by my Heavenly Father is amazing and complete. And that is it in a nutshell.

With that said, tomorrow is a new day to begin. Hopefully, I can be more like Jesus with whatever minutes, days, and years I have ahead of me. In the meantime, I want to remain full of gratitude for the forgiveness I have in Christ when I mess up. And when I happen to grow prideful, I will surely get knocked down off my perch once again. It’s inevitable. As I Corinthians 10:12 says “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall”.

But perhaps that is God’s grace working in us, as well, working to keep us humble. And for that, I am truly thankful.

UPDATE (9/12/15)—Once a week or so, I like to share an old post on the G4L Facebook page. I chose this one for today because it was encouraging in two ways. First, I am still falling on my face regularly and experiencing God’s grace. He continues to keep me from growing too prideful. And for that, I am thankful! And, second, I love that I can see how I’ve grown in the past five years. I still have an awful long way to go, but I am making progress–very slow and steady progress. And that’s good news!

Our similarity…to trees

Leave a Comment / July 12, 2010 July 12, 2010

So, as I was looking at the tree in our front yard the other day I got to thinking about how it has grown in the last 10 years. It still looks like a pretty young tree, but it has grown considerably from the time it was first planted. In a lot of ways people are like trees. Here are a few that I thought worth mentioning–

– A tree that is fed properly generally grows properly. Its trunk gets thicker, its roots grow deeper and its shade canopy becomes more widespread. When we are fed properly (can be used both in the physical and spiritual realms), we grow stronger and taller. When a tree OR a human looks sickly or is not growing we know something is definitely wrong.

–If a tree isn’t growing properly, but it is being fed, then you need to look for other problems…such as internal or external diseases or pests. Sometimes a disease or pest may threaten the very life of the tree. Sometimes it just makes the tree drop its leaves or mars its appearance. We, as people, may start looking spiritually sickly or diseased on occasion. Sometimes it threatens the very core of our spiritual health. Other times it signifies consequences of some poor choices. It is important to keep watch on our spiritual health.

–As the trunk gets thicker and the roots grow deeper, the tree becomes stronger and much more able to take the storms that will inevitably come and the gales of wind that will blow. Sometimes we do not feel strong enough to weather the storms that come our way. But if we are rooted in Jesus, we will never be uprooted. God has promised us this in His Word (Psalm 62). And the older we are in the Lord, the stronger our trunks. It takes more to shake us from the narrow path. Because we have experienced God’s faithfulness. It is easy in this culture to get discouraged about growing old. So many things shout the praises of being young. A gazillion products exist to remove our age spots, our wrinkles, and our cellulite. And yet, in growing older in the Lord, we should be wiser than we were as young people. We should realize how much we have learned and, more importantly, how much we haven’t learned.

–Just as a mature tree shades the plants and beings underneath its leafy canopy, so we can provide shade (encouragement, respite, empathy, and kindness) to those who God puts on our path. All of us have the opportunity to do these things…but the older we get…the wider our canopy becomes–through the many and varied experiences through which God as led us. We are able to reach out and touch more people because God’s faithfulness through all of our life’s journey allows us to understand and encourage others in their walks with God.

–And, finally–just as deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter, so we, too, sometimes lose things or people that we value. Most times these losses lead us into our own personal winter as we struggle to understand the meaning of what happened to us. But just like the tree in springtime, one day we realize that a little shoot of hope has started to grow. And then another one. And eventually…maybe a month later…maybe 2 years later…maybe more…we realize that we are healing…slowly but surely.

The Rocking Chair

Leave a Comment / July 8, 2010 March 21, 2014

I have a couple of rocking chairs on my porch. They look nice and sturdy. In fact, I just repainted them, so they look quite inviting for anyone with a cup of coffee in their hand as they prepare to watch the sunset. But if you sit on the one, it will be a big disappointment. The one rocker is broken and while it looks perfect, the piece on the bottom is actually completely severed and broken. It needs glued and we just haven’t gotten around to that. But we can put it together in such a way that you can’t really tell…until you sit on it.

“So what?” you may ask. This rocker got me to thinking about how we view others. I wonder if we don’t often view those around us and their behaviors with a certain judging spirit, totally unaware of what is hurting, insecure, or broken on the inside. If someone is behaving in a certain way, there is usually an internal reason for doing so. Perhaps they never felt loved or accepted by their father. Perhaps they are watching a loved one as they battle fiercely with cancer or some other dreaded disease. Perhaps they are wrapped up in a lawsuit that threatens their livelihood or maybe their daughter just had an abortion. Could it be that they suffered abuse at the hands of an uncle or were bullied as a child? The list goes on and on.

While the past is never an excuse for sin, and sin does need to be confronted, it is never a reason not to love someone, especially a Christian brother or sister. In I John 3:10 it says we are not of God if we do not love our brother. We will do far more good with love than with hate. Judging people without love and with a spirit of arrogance is not of God (Proverbs 6:17).

We are to judge (John 7:24), but only with a proper heart attitude and a heart full of love. Judgment that is only based on God’s standards of righteousness–not our own. Knowing that, but for the grace of God, go I and being fully aware of our own sinful hearts. We are to love and care for one another, especially our Christian brothers and sisters. We should actually be broken-hearted because they are offending Almighty God, instead of feeling prideful because of how “holy” we are compared to THEM.

That rocker looks different than it really is. Just as people are often different on the inside than they appear on the outside. Now, I am not saying we are never to determine what kind of fruit someone is producing in their life. We are to discern between good and evil and we are to walk in the way of righteousness.We are to choose our friends wisely and we are to confront our brother or sister when sin is present. But sitting in our homes or at the restaurant having conversations about others and their “sin” is not right. It is gossip. And God hates it. Aah, how easy it is to fail in this area. And, oh, how so many of us Christians (myself included) forget that this is sin, plain and simple.

The BIG Lie

10 Comments / July 6, 2010 January 25, 2019

Modern-day Christianity has sold us on a huge lie. It has changed the course of this nation. It has changed the landscape of our Christian culture. It has changed me. It is a sobering thing to think about. And one that we should truly be aware of and fight against with all that is within us. Here it is:

Salvation exists to give ME a purpose.

Ummm, really? I thought salvation was for the purpose of saving sinners from eternal hell. That I realize that I, in and of myself, have nothing good in me to offer anyone, especially God. There is nothing I can do or say or be that makes me acceptable to Almighty God. (Ephesians 2:8,9)

You may say, “Well, I believe that.”. Yes, so do I. But here are five ways this lie has crept into our lives (at least from my observation).

1) I can do what I want because Jesus wants me to be happy.

That is just not true. There is nothing in scripture that says Jesus wants me to be happy. In fact, I would say the opposite is true…Matthew 19: 16-26 is the account of the rich young ruler. Jesus tells him to sell all that he has…knowing that young man is extremely attached to his material possessions. If our modern day definition of happiness includes material wealth (and it does for many of us) then what Jesus is asking this young man to do goes against the definition of happiness. And what about Matthew 16:24? Jesus tells us that anyone who desires to come after Him must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him. That sounds like the complete opposite of our definition of happiness, doesn’t it? Deny myself? Deny myself worldly pleasures? You know what your worldly pleasures are, just as I know what mine are. And we are kidding ourselves if we think we can have Jesus and the world, too. We can’t. We have to make a choice.

2) I can do what I want because Jesus forgives me.

Oh, really? Yes, Jesus forgives. But if we are truly saved, our hearts will be tremendously grieved at causing the Father grief when we sin. I see very little grief over sin. In fact, I see very little conviction about sin. Most of us are living our lives without even giving consideration to the things that grieve the Father in our lives. How incredibly sad He must be at the lack of care we give to the sins in our lives. I know that I, personally, do not take seriously enough the sin I commit every day. I truly want to live my life so that I am not sinning with a carefree attitude that I will be forgiven, but that I am truly grieved at the sin in my life and am working towards sinning as little as possible.

3) I need to be relevant to reach the world.

Matthew 5:13 says that we are the salt of the earth. And how shall the world be seasoned if we lose our flavor? It is good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. I would say that Christianity in America has completely lost its flavor and needs to be thrown out in its entirety. The relevance lie has brought about nothing but a bunch of “Christians” who need excuses to drink, gamble, wear immodest clothing, and watch movies/listen to music that goes against all that God stands for. If God needs us to be like the world to reach the world, He is a pretty small God. That is a pretty small box for Him. Do I really believe God needs me to be like the world to reach people for Him? It goes against God’s word completely. And if I am like the world, what I am I truly offering to the world? James 1:27 tell us we need to be unspotted from the world. I see an awful lot of spots—in my life and in the lives of those around me. It is sobering to think on.

4) I need to love myself before I can love others.

This is one of the most insidious of all the lies. We hear it everywhere…from popular authors…to magazines…to pop music…to preachers…all are telling us that we cannot be fulfilled, happy, love others, or realize our dreams until we love ourselves. But Jesus tells us we already DO love ourselves, and that we are to love others the way we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). We are not to foster this love, we are to try to rid ourselves of it. Some of you may say “well, I don’t love myself, I hate myself.” Don’t you see that this is a form of love? It really comes down to MYSELF consuming my time, thoughts, ambitions, and goals.

Philippians 2:3 puts it this way: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

The goal is to stop thinking about ourselves at all…to always put others ahead of ourselves. This is SO very hard. But coming to grips with the fact that self-love is not our goal is a start to a new way of living.

5) I need to fulfill my dreams because that is what God wants for me.

No, He doesn’t. This was one I came face to face with just recently. I am a person of great dreams. I have lots on my bucket list. But I was convicted recently (by another of John MacArthur’s sermons!) that my duty is to do the things set before me…please my husband, care for my children, be a good steward of my time and money, etc. If God allows me to live some of my dreams (and He has!) then that is an extra blessing. It isn’t that I deserve it. It is not my personal right to have my dreams fulfilled.

In conclusion, I would just say that this has been very difficult to write. It goes against so much of what we are being taught today. And in writing this, I have been convicted all over again about how these lies have affected me and my family. It is sobering to realize how far Christianity has strayed from the truth of the Gospel and has so watered it down that many who think they are believes will be at the pearly gates telling God they knew Him and he will say He never knew them! (Matthew 7: 21-23)

Developing Self-Discipline

Leave a Comment / July 3, 2010 April 2, 2013

Here are some exercises for developing the fruit of self-discipline in your life. This comes straight from John MacArthur’s “The Art of Self-Discipline” sermon series (which is extremely convicting, by the way).

1. Clean your environment.

2. Make a schedule.

3. Wean yourself off entertainment.

4. Be on time.

5. Keep your word.

6. Do the hardest task first.

7. Finish what you start.

8. Practice self-denial.

9. Volunteer for tasks outside your own personal agenda.

In the 2-part series he goes on to talk more deeply about the reason we need to be self-disciplined as believers and how to truly work on this in our lives with the Lord’s help. However, this brief introduction of little things we can do to help us in this area of our lives is a great list! I thought I would share it. If you would like to take the time to listen yourself, which I HIGHLY recommend, you can find it here.