Good & Evil: Who we are in a world of evil

Boko Haram, a Muslim extremist group in Nigeria, butchers Christians. “Butchers” isn’t too strong of a word; it’s morbidly accurate as the group slices and hacks at the bodies of the non-Muslims. They stop only long enough to determine if the sufferer is ready to renounce Christ and pledge allegiance to Allah. You can read more at VOM’s article, “You can’t kill my soul,” but I warn you that it might make you feel something – a churning of the stomach, a shudder of the spine, an inexplicable urge to fall to your knees and pray for someone in a far off land.

Evil is nothing new; persecution began when God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but not Cain’s resulting in Cain’s murderous assault on Abel (Genesis 4:1-12). Nevertheless, it is part of our current world. How do we face it? How do we respond to bloody stories that don’t fit with our comfortable church-pew Christianity?

I found some help – even some encouragement – in Psalm 37. I hope you’ll take a minute to read it now; all you have to do is click on the link. (Can I be honest here for a second and point out that a lot of people in this world would weep tears of joy for such easy access to the word of God?)

We’re going to take a look at Psalm 37 over the next four weeks. This article will consider who we are, the next two weeks we’ll look at what we do and what God does, and then the fourth week we’ll discuss the outcome.

Who are we? Characteristics of the righteous

I pulled this list of characteristics out of the text of the chapter. Let me start by saying that I dealt with some serious conviction while I did so. You know what I mean – those “Ouch” moments when you read God’s Word and the Spirit points out somewhere deep inside that you aren’t quite living up to what God is asking of you. Yeah, those. But here we go –

When confronted with evil, a child of God is…

37:1, 7, 8 – Not agitated. A confrontation with evil shouldn’t make us burn with anger. That’s hard, isn’t it? When I read the above article from VOM about the beheading of a little boy, anger burned within me. By all accounts, evil is spreading and prospering. Earthly armies can’t stop it but eventually Christ will. Trust me, evil doesn’t prosper and find victory in the end.

37:1 – Not envious. At first thought, why would we be envious of evildoers? But, let me admit, envy flickered in my mind when I found out the ISIS army has $2,000,000 a day in income just from the oil fields they’ve conquered. But again, their success is temporary.

37:6 – Righteousness that shines like the dawn. This isn’t me showing off all my good works to make sure everyone sees them. My righteousness is in Christ; if it shines like the dawn then that is Him in me shining out to the world. That’s a good thing.

37:8 – Not angry nor enraged, in addition to not agitated. Keep the breathing under control; don’t spew words of poison. Stay steady. If you believe God is in control then you should be under control.

37:11 – Humble. Remember, Christ’s righteousness shines through us, not our own goodness. Honestly, we don’t have any goodness on our own anyway. He’s in control. As a child of God, we lay aside our own pride and positions to advance His kingdom.

37:18 – Blameless. We’re not perfect; we’re not sinless. The idea behind being blameless is to be complete or whole. Christ in us – His joy and love manifested in us – completes us.

37:21, 26 – Gracious and giving. We can’t hold tight to what God has given us. When we see evil, our response is to help, reach out, give, and extend grace to those who hurt as a result.

37:22 – Blessed by God. God chose to look on us in favor. He chose to come before us with the greatest gift possible – the life of His Son. He chose to restore us through the sacrifice of that Son. We are blessed.

37:30, 31 – Wise, just, and know God’s instruction. This is another one we can only claim because Christ works in us and through us. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

37:37 – Man of peace. Evil – characterized by pride, anger, rage, greed, and foolishness – leads to restlessness, destruction, and death. But a child of God knows peace even in the midst of evil.

I don’t know about you, but this list will stay with me this week as I see evil become more prevalent in our world. All of these characteristics are contrary to how the world says we should live. If we can implement them in our lives, we can make a difference. We can live the difference. We can shine the righteousness of Christ in a world of darkness.

Please click here for the next article in the series.

Believe It, People of God

Passover and the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection will be here soon. We don’t mourn as a people who have no hope; we rejoice in this holy season. We celebrate freedom from slavery; we find joy in God’s provision of redemption for all people.

This season we’re reading through the last of four servant songs written by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Written hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, they give detailed prophecies of the coming Messiah. Prophecies fulfilled in the life of Jesus. We read the first stanza last week – Wake Up, City of God.

Hard to Believe

“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1 NIV). Sometimes we hear things – especially in this day of internet-based information overload – that don’t really seem possible. Sometimes a little tidbit of news seems a little too far out there – a little hard to believe. 

Or, maybe the news doesn’t quite fit with how we think the situation should play out. We expect one outcome of events and yet things appear to have happened a different way.

Kind of like the news Isaiah is about to share with his fellow Jews. Will anyone believe this message? Will anyone realize they have beheld the power of God, poetically referred to as the arm of the Lord? After all, it’s kind of a hard message to accept that the Messiah would… could lower to… could humiliate Himself to … come as a man.

Four Aspects of Jesus’ Humanity

• “He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground” (Isaiah 53:2).

Since Jesus came as a man, He had to grow up. He lay in a manger as a baby and learned in the Temple as a boy. He grew to manhood.

But He also grew before God the Father – connected to Him as a sapling tree connects to the original tree. Yes, He was a man but He came from God and was God.

He grew before God the Father – miraculously as a root that grows out of dry earth. Yes, He was a man but He was a source of life in a spiritually dry, desolate environment.

• “He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2).

His body, His clothes, and His appearance were normal. 

He didn’t have the physique of Thor or Superman. He didn’t dress or have gadgetry like Iron Man or Batman. He didn’t have an intimidating appearance like the Incredible Hulk. He was a man.

• “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was” (Isaiah 53:3). 

His reputation was nothing special; He wasn’t immune from pain, sorrow, or suffering.

He didn’t focus on building a platform or deal with paparazzi. Most people who lived in the first century probably never even heard His name. He definitely didn’t break any retweet records.

He ached for His beloved city of Jerusalem, wanting to gather the people together under His protection (Luke 13:34). He wept over the death of a dear friend, Lazarus, and for the sisters who didn’t yet realize that only through Him was resurrection and life (John 11:35). He was troubled knowing that betrayal would come from a friend with whom He sat at the same table (John 13:21). In agony, He sweat drops of blood as His crucifixion drew near (Luke 22:44). He was a man.

• “He was like someone people turned away from; He was despised, and we didn’t value Him” (Isaiah 53:3). 

He had no special charm and no celebrity status.

Celebrity status has taken over the American church. People love pastors and teachers for their charisma, charm, dynamic delivery, and impressive buildings. Many of us would excitedly jump at the opportunity to meet Billy Graham, Francis Chan, John MacArthur, John Piper, or __________ (fill in the blank with your favorite celebrity pastor). Usually (unfortunately not always), the pastor or teacher isn’t after the celebrity status; it's a by-product of our culture. We are drawn to them because of their charisma and charm. We lift them up; we highly esteem them.

Jesus had none of that. Nothing drew people to Him. Very few jumped at the chance to meet Him – usually only those hoping for a healing. Most turned away from Him. He wasn’t the Christian celebrity we know today full of charisma and charm. He was a man.

It’s kind of hard to believe, isn’t it? The Savior of the world, the awaited Messiah, wouldn’t supernaturally appear as a conquering hero. He wouldn’t come with beauty and majesty. He wouldn’t be overwhelmingly popular and loved by all.

But don’t worry, that day is coming. The Messiah came the first time as Isaiah’s prophesied Servant but a second coming awaits us in the future. At that time, He will supernaturally appear as the conquering hero. The whole world will behold His beauty, power, and majesty. The whole world will worship Him as King of Kings. Amen to that.

Read about the third stanza, Isaiah 53:4-6, by clicking here: Consider the Why, Rebels of God.

Read about the fourth stanza, Isaiah 53:7-9, by clicking here: Behold the Lamb, Children of God.

Read about the fifth stanza, Isaiah 53:10-12, by clicking here: Receive the Victory, Chosen of God

Because of Love, He did It

One of my favorite Christmas stories has nothing to do with Christmas.

July was hot and humid in Tennessee the summer I was sixteen years old. I had traveled there with my youth group for my first short term mission trip. I knew the coordinating organization would assign each of us to a separate group to do light construction and repairs on low-income housing.

The first night I met my group; the next morning we headed out to our assignment. Life was changed.

Our assignment was a single man in his 40’s or 50’s. He lived in a garage haphazardly converted into three rooms. The front room was trashed – no sheetrock, concrete floors, junk everywhere. The junk included a toilet which the man used, despite the lack of plumbing attached underneath. The back half was divided into two rooms. The first one, despite the filth, wasn’t too bad with a couch and console TV in it. The second one, the man’s bedroom, was a pornography pit. I’m not going to describe what was on those walls. I wish the images weren’t in my head and I’m not going to try to create them in your head.

We decided to begin our work in the bedroom. We quickly removed the pictures from the walls, each of us wishing we could destroy them but knowing we couldn’t destroy the man’s property. The room only needed minor repairs so we finished it that first day. Most of our week would be spent sheet rocking the front room (remember – the one with the toilet?). Even though we knew we couldn’t destroy the filth on the walls, we knew we didn’t have to hang it back up again either. So we didn’t.

Each person on our team had a specific job duty; mine was leading the devotional time each day. The coordinating organization had provided resources for me to use. They told us to invite the people at our work site to join us for the devotional time. Our man, however, left every morning as soon as we arrived and didn’t return until after we were done. He didn’t have a job so I’m not sure where he went; I think he just didn’t want to be with us.

Sometime during the middle of the week our devotional message focused on the birth of Jesus Christ. It included a little cardstock nativity scene for us to assemble and give to the people in whose home we were working. I admit it; I was a little embarrassed. This was nothing nice – it reminded me of something I would have made in Sunday school as a young child. Insert tab A into slot A; insert tab B into slot B. This day I was a little relieved our man wasn’t there. I could leave the nativity in his bedroom and not have the embarrassment of giving him our “gift.”

I entered the bedroom cautiously. We hadn’t worked in there for a couple of days so I didn’t know if he had rehung his pictures. Peeked in…all was good. I entered and left the nativity on a shelf by his bed.

A couple more days passed and we wrapped up our last workday. The toilet had been removed, sheet rock had been hung, and walls had been painted. The front room wasn’t too bad of a place now. I gathered my tools and realized I couldn’t find my hammer. Everyone looked through their tools – no hammer to be found. Looked in the van – no hammer. I knew my dad was going to want me to return home with his hammer.

I knew where the hammer was. I knew I had left it in one of the back rooms. I knew I had to go back in to find it. I looked in the first room – no hammer. Two more days had passed – would the pictures be back on the walls? I looked in the second room. Three things now lay on the shelf where I had left the nativity scene. The first was the missing hammer but that’s not what changed my life. The second was a Bible lying right beside the third item – our nativity scene gift. The nativity had been reinforced with tape; someone had obviously taken care to make sure tab A stayed in slot A and tab B didn’t tear out of slot B. More than that, rather than rehang the filth of before, our man had found a Bible to read about that cardstock Baby in that cardstock manger.

Lots of things came together in my mind in that moment as I looked at the reinforced nativity aside the Holy Word of God.

I should never be embarrassed by the simplicity of God’s gift.

I should never assume anyone is too far down for God to pull them out of a pit.

God has the power to use anything to change a heart.

Even at 16 I realized - Serving God may take me into some filthy, disgusting places. It’s worth it.

Now this next part I don’t think I realized then, but I do now. God may call us into some filthy, disgusting places but it’s only because He first descended into a filthy, disgusting place. Think of the glories He beheld in heaven’s eternity past – do you think the manure and stench of the stable compared? Consider the light and sinless perfection in the presence of the Father – do you think the darkness of sin in the presence of mankind was anywhere near as brilliant?

And yet, because of love, He did it.

Read more at:

• From Deity to Death
• So What?
• Cleaning off the Dirt

Life Sucks: What are we going to do about it?

It’s true, it does. Life is hard. People are hurting; healthy people, sick people, poor people, rich people. Followers of Christ, people who don’t follow Christ. We’re all hurting.

A lot of people have contacted me lately to share their situations. For a while, literally three or four people a day called me…texted me…emailed me. They were all going through hard stuff. I’m not talking about the little stuff; I’m talking hard times. Times that change your life and your direction and your focus and make you change what you’re doing and make you step back and think how did this happen. Things that transform you for the rest of your life.

Even more recently, I’m finding out this isn’t unique with me. I’m not the only one receiving the phone calls and texts and email messages. Other friends are experiencing the same thing; they also are receiving those same phone calls and text messages and emails. They also are seeing the pain and the hurt. Why is there so much pain? What can we do about it?

Why is there pain?

We live in a sinful, fallen world; that’s not going to change. Pride. Arrogance. Greed. Lust. Selfishness. For some people, those may only be Bible sin words but reality is they tear us down. They hurt. They hurt the participator but their flames also fan out to burn everyone in their path. “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it” (Jeremiah 17:9)?

What can we do about it?

This is the way it is and it’s not going to get any better. It’s going to get worse. But I don’t want to be a pessimist because there is hope. But right here, right now, what can we do? That’s the question… and I don't have all the answers. But I know where to start.

Pray
I just finished a study on prayer. One of the things that came through in that study is that we are so quick to pray for physical problems. And there are some bad physical problems – like cancer. But where are the prayers for the drug addicts and the mentally unstable, the unsaved and those who’ve walked away. Where are the prayers that knock us to our knees in humility as we acknowledge God is in control and without him we’re incompetent? Does our pride keep us from sharing those prayers?

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). The word “healed” in this verse isn’t referring to physical healing – it’s a healing of the soul that makes us whole, frees us from our sins, and brings us salvation. That’s the kind of healing we all need to alleviate some of the pain.

The Word
We have developed a habit of reading God’s word for comfort, because it’s the right thing to do, or to gain knowledge. These are all good and true reasons but we’ve lost the habit of reading it so it will transform us. We read it…we study it…we wrestle through the hard passages so they can change us. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). We do it so we are no longer the person we used to be as we become more like Christ. I hope that hasn’t become too much of a cliché because it’s the truth. Will we accomplish it on this side of eternity? No, but it’s the goal. It’s the plan. It’s what we’re supposed to be doing. We dig into God’s Word and allow it to transform us.

These two activities – prayer and Bible study – aren’t going to solve all of the world’s problems overnight. But they can make a difference in your own personal set of problems. They can be a source of healing as they pour out to those around you as well. And then, when you get the phone call…or text message…or email with a word of hurt and pain, you’ll know what to do about it. You either head to the Word or you fall to your knees. Either one has the power to get you through.

Choose to Glorify God

Here it is…the whole point. The main thing. The ultimate goal.

To God be the glory.

I’m going to start with a confession… I didn’t plan out this whole series before I started writing it. In school, I never was too good about outlining my paper before I wrote it. This series grew from a jumble of thoughts I’ve had over the last several months.

And here’s why I want you to know that… I didn’t plan or know about the link between the problems of our glorification of busyness and our lack of opportunity to glorify God when I started this series. Now I see it clearly. Our glorification of busyness is what keeps us from serving and glorifying God. (Tweet this.)

A recap of how we got here

The Glorification of Busy—We are a busy society - no one’s going to deny that. But we’ve moved past being busy. We now glorify it. To busyness be the glory.

Make Choices, Not Excuses—The excuses we make now keep us from living in the moment God has designed for us…Make an excuse or make a change. It's your choice.

Choose Not to Stress—The whole God-thing isn’t about plans, control, and to-do lists. Those things lead to stress. The whole God-thing is about relationship; a relationship built on faith, trust, freedom, and love.

Choose to Enjoy Life—Life is hard. Bad stuff happens. We can’t control every situation. We can’t manipulate away every negative outcome. But, we can choose not to gripe…We can choose to trust God. We can choose to recognize He is in control. We can choose to find joy.

Choose to Serve God—Serving God is a lifestyle – an attitude that permeates everything we do. We can’t separate it from our homes, jobs, or community involvement. It can’t be another item on a checklist that we check off when completed.

Choose to Glorify God

Author friend Jake Pendleton posted a thought on his Facebook page a few months ago that became part of my scattered notes on this subject. “I don't know about y'all, but I've kinda been feeling lately like my life has been just bumbling around, day to day, not really focused on a goal--or an objective, if you will--that looked beyond each day itself. So starting this month, I’m going to do my best to wake up each morning and ask God to help me glorify Him as my objective for the day. How about you? I think glorifying God is the biggest responsibility we have as followers of Christ. It’s one of those situations where if we accomplish it, it covers all the other things we strive to do in order to walk holy. If we make a conscious effort to bring glory to God each day, how can we go wrong?”

Wise words, huh?

“Glorify God” can become a Christianese cliché if we don’t have practical ways to apply it. I love Jake’s first suggestion – pray each day that an opportunity will present itself in which to glorify God. Then watch and act when the opportunity comes. It’s kind of like the prayer I suggested a couple of weeks ago, “God, what do You want me to do today?” Here’s some other suggestions…

Glorify God by Serving Others

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Ties in with serving God, doesn’t it? The effect of our choice to serve God is that God is glorified.

Glorify God by Decreasing Self

“He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). John the Baptist had it figured out. As long as our busy actions bring us glory, then glory isn’t going to God. Even Jesus didn’t glorify Himself. Instead He said, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me” (John 8:54).

Glorify God through Persecution

“Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’” (John 21:19). Peter did follow; his life ended as a crucified martyr. Not a pleasant ending and yet we still learn from it that our persecution brings glory to God.

Glorify God through Unity

“So that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:6). Watching a fight between two people who are supposed to love each other can be a little awkward, can’t it? Yet, Christians do it all the time even though the world should recognize us for our love. Global Christianity has a lot of differences – worship styles, doctrinal differences, cultural applications, and the list goes on. We cling to some things – like Jesus’ death and resurrection – until our last breath is gone. We need to grant a little grace in other things – like the kind of clothes we should wear or how end times events will play out. Then, our unity brings glory to God.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Busy Life series. Let’s all make choices to take the glory out of being busy and put it where it belongs…on God.

From Deity to Death: Jesus 8 Steps Down

So What? has been a popular article on this blog. It compares Jesus’ act of washing His disciples’ feet with Philippians 2:5-11. So, when my pastor preached an incredible sermon a few weeks ago on this same passage, I knew I had to get his permission to pass his message along to you! (If you haven’t read So What? – you might want to; you can do so by clicking here. Don’t worry, we’ll wait.)

His sermon, From Deity to Death, went through eight steps Jesus took in descending from His glory in heaven to His death on the cross. Although this sounds like it might make a good Easter sermon, our study of the book of Philippians brought us to this passage in mid-December – a time when the birth of Christ was forefront in my mind. This different holiday perspective led me to text our pastor later, “The step from deity to humanity was a greater descent than that from humanity to crucifixion.”

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God…” (Phil. 2:5-6)

Jesus let go of His equality with God

“…did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,” (Phil. 2:6)

Jesus is the second person of the Godhead but He didn’t hold on tightly to what was His. All the glories of heaven were rightfully His and yet, He released them.

Jesus was our example to let go of our rights.

Jesus emptied Himself of who He was

“but made himself nothing” (Phil 2:7)

Jesus emptied Himself of any personal advantages or privileges entitled to the Son of God. He nullified His position and His power. Yes, He cleansed, healed, and performed miracles – but always in reference to the will of the Father.

He emptied Himself of His glory, the benefits of His attributes, and His position; He was now despised rather than glorified. He emptied Himself of honor, adoration, and eternal intimacy with the Father.

Jesus was our example to empty ourselves of what we think is due us.

Jesus took on the form of a servant

“taking the very nature of a servant,” (Phil 2:7)

Jesus became a slave, a bond servant in every sense of the word. He owned nothing – no land, no house, no animals. Even at His death, everything was borrowed. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45.

Jesus was our example of humility; He Himself said, “no servant is greater than His master” (John 13:16). Let me add something here – Jesus said those words as He washed the disciples’ feet. So What? See how once again these two passages are fitting together?

Jesus was made in the likeness of a man

“being made in human likeness.” (Phil. 2:7)

The Creator and King of kings took His place among common man. He wasn’t given, nor did He allow Himself to receive any special treatment. In the beginning, Creator God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26). However, sin entered the world. In order to provide redemption, God instead was now made in the likeness of a man.

Jesus was our example to sacrifice for others.

Jesus appeared as a man

“And being found in appearance as a man,” (Phil 2:8)

Jesus became 100% man. So thorough was His humanity that, apart from the declaration of angels, the Father, and Jesus Himself, those around Him wouldn’t have known that He was God in the flesh. Jesus appeared as a normal, regular person.

The King of kings – the Lord of lords – God in the flesh suffered. He wasn’t rugged and handsome; nor was He royal and kingly looking. He was unknown and rejected. Few realized that He was different.

Jesus’ success wasn’t about beauty, fame, power, fashion, or money. His number of followers didn’t even determine His success. His accomplishment of the task for which the Father had sent Him determined His success.

Jesus was our example that obedience to God is our definition of success. Our success is not about our appearance and how others perceive us. We don’t have to have special insight, a large following, glory, or money. We base our success on how God perceives us.

Jesus humbled Himself

“he humbled himself” (Phil. 2:8)

God became flesh, common man, unrecognized by almost all – but that wasn’t enough. Jesus humbled Himself; literally, He laid low.

In our early steps, Jesus lowered Himself in relation to God as He let go of His equality with God and emptied Himself of who He was. Now we see that He lowered Himself in relation to mankind – people whom He had created!

The peak of Jesus laying Himself low was during the latter days of His ministry – His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Those He had created mocked Him, falsely accused Him, spit upon Him, beat Him, and scourged Him. They left Him naked and bloody.

Yet, He never defended Himself, never expressed bitterness, and never accused. He actually prayed for them. He didn’t demand His rights as God; He didn’t even demand His rights as a man.

Jesus was our example to lay ourselves low when others rise up against us.

Jesus obeyed unto death

“and became obedient to death” Phil. 2:8

Romans 5:19 says, “through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” Jesus is the only one who will die solely because of His attitude of obedience. You and I will die whether we’re obedient or not, but not Jesus. The only reason He died was because of obedience.

He came to do His Father’s will – the theme of His life. Jesus chose obedience unto death because it was the will of the Father. Before His arrest, Jesus said, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father” (John 10:17-18).

Jesus was our example of obedience – even in extreme situations.

Jesus died on a cross

“—even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8)

John the Baptist was beheaded, Steven was stoned, and Jesus could have died one of many different ways. But His way was the death of the cross. The death reserved for slaves, the lowest of criminals, and enemies of Rome.

Jesus became a curse because of the type of death He endured; “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13)

Crucifixion was a physical torment unlike any other. Jesus’ crucifixion was a mental torment as His people rejected Him. His was a spiritual torment as the Father forsook him. Jesus final step of humility was to be mistreated unmercifully.

Jesus was our example – not to allow ourselves to be mistreated by others for no apparent reason – but rather, that “it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:19-21).

_______________________________________ 
Eight Steps used by permission of Jerry Tharp (adapted from John MacArthur Commentary Series)

A Loud Enemy; A Silent God

Psalm 83:1-4

¹God, do not keep silent.
Do not be deaf, God; do not be idle.

²See how Your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate You have acted arrogantly.

³They devise clever schemes against Your people;
they conspire against Your treasured ones.

⁴They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation
so that Israel’s name will no longer be remembered.”

The Arsenal of the Enemy

The enemies of God and His chosen ones have a definite arsenal – uproars, arrogance, and clever schemes. Uproars are turbulent, boisterous commotions. They are a process used to bring about a desired goal; in this case, the goal is the destruction of God’s people. Clever schemes include a level of intimacy among those gathered together but here they gather for a shrewd or malevolent reason. Finally, arrogance; I saved the best for last. Arrogance led to the fall of the archangel Lucifer; it also keeps us from recognizing our need for a Savior. In both roles, arrogance separates from God. That is exactly what we will see here in Psalm 83. But those who separate from God to exalt themselves don’t stay exalted for long…

The Silence of God

Silence, deafness, idleness – these aren’t qualities we want in our Defender. Enemies conspire against us; we think, “This is not a time for quiet peace and restfulness!” Like the watchmen of Isaiah 62:6-7, coming attacks are not a time to hold our peace and keep silent. It is not a time for undisturbed tranquility and inactivity. But God won’t stay this way for long…

The Promise of Israel

God is silent and the threats of the enemy are loud. This is a perfect setup for fear and doubt. Here the threat is against Israel, God’s chosen people. We’ll focus more on that in the days to come as we work through the rest of Psalm 83. But I also want us to remember that we as believers are part of God’s chosen people.

God can be silent because He spoke in the past. He spoke and His Word will not change.

“For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever” (Psalm 37:28-29).

God promised to protect Israel just as He promised to protect us; it doesn’t matter what our enemies may say against us. Despite the arrogance with which they make evil schemes, in the end they will come to nothing. God may seem quiet but He already promised the outcome.

“For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land…

The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming…

Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it” (Psalm 37:9, 12-13, 34).

Click here to read Day Two - Covenanted Against God

Click here for a free, downloadable study on all of Psalm 83.

A Willing Heart

A willing heart; a heart that lets go of what I want so I can do what God wants.

The other night I found myself hurriedly trying to throw dinner together. I was adding spices and stuff to ground beef before shaping it into hamburger patties; my oldest daughter was mixing up coleslaw.

My youngest daughter loves to sit on the stool beside me whenever I cook. At four years old, she is already quite the little chef. She can measure, pour, mix, and even chop a little (with a table knife, not a sharp knife). This particular night she badly wanted to help; however, the nature of the meal left few opportunities for her assistance.

Her older sister asked her to help by retrieving ingredients from the pantry and refrigerator. However, my youngest felt those tasks didn’t fit with her particular skill set. I could tell she only wanted to do the “bigger” jobs such as mixing and measuring. Plus, she wanted to help me – not sister. Even with her diverse skills, she could do nothing to help with the hamburger patties.

So often I have seen myself in her position. She sits beside me and watches me work. Likewise, I have sat in God’s presence and watched Him work. Like my helpful daughter, I eagerly want to join in and help in His work. So He gives me a job to do.

Perhaps He says, “Make a phone call.” But I say, “No, I don’t want to do that. I want to teach a lesson about this issue.”

Or, He says, “Donate some money.” But I say, “Hey, I could write a really great blog article about this.”

I might hear Him say, “Tell her about Jesus.” So I respond with, “No, not now. I’ll just be a good listener.”

Like my daughter, my heart is in the right place and I truly want to be helpful. The things I want to do are all good things – but if they aren’t what God is asking me to do, then am I really being helpful?

Pray a-Cross Missouri (Part One)

Thursday, as I was turning from 291 onto 50 Highway, I saw a van with a door magnet reading, “Carry your Cross.” At first, I thought, “That must be a Christian construction company.” (I have no idea why I decided it must be a construction company.) Then the light dawned and I remembered that Pray a-Cross Missouri had just started; that day men were carrying it 10 miles from Lee’s Summit to Lone Jack. As I passed the van, I saw the 85 pound cross, carried by a small group of men, including my pastor, Jerry, and our friend, Jayme.

I continued home and did some work around the house. A few hours later I took my daughters to piano lessons at church. Within a few minutes of my arrival they carried the cross up the Lone Jack exit. Jerry and Jayme, with the help of some other men along the way, had walked the entire ten mile journey. My husband arose early Friday morning and went to meet up with the cross as it left Lone Jack. He helped carry it the four miles from F Highway to W Highway. I’ve asked each of these men to share their thoughts about the experience:

Jayme said he “felt like God was right there walking with us, challenging us to continue on with that symbol, even though we were dead tired.” He was encouraged as people passed by, honked, and waved. He knew God was flowing through their hearts and their minds, making them feel His love. Despite Jayme’s sore muscles and tired body last night, he says, “I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!” Jayme, a strong young man, also shared that although the cross was heavy, “it was nothing compared to the weight of the sin of the world” that Christ carried upon His shoulders. That thought not only carried him through to the end of the ten miles, but in the days since has made him realize how much he wants to live for Jesus every day.


Jerry shared that while he walked he never wondered, “What are people passing by going to think of me.” His focus during the ten mile journey was all on Jesus as he prayed for his children and grandchildren not only to know Jesus as their Savior but to experience a life-changing radical passion for Jesus. He focused on Jesus as he prayed for the members of our church and our community. He focused on Jesus as he prayed for all the residents of the state of Missouri that they would accept Jesus’ gift of salvation.

Ralph, another member of our church, joined Jayme and Jerry for part of the walk. Being a man who is, um, not quite as young as Jayme, he was concerned that he wouldn’t be able to pull the heavy cross for any distance. He asked himself before starting, “Am I going to have the strength to do this?” As he started he realized God gave him the strength he needed and he was able to go far beyond what he expected. As he has thought about his experience he shares that the cross had a wheel at the bottom to make it easier to pull for hundreds of miles. It also has padding where it rests on the shoulder. The cross of Christ didn’t have those amenities but Jesus didn’t do it for comfort. He did it for us.


Jimmy described the experience as humbling, a privilege, and an honor. Although it was 45℉ and pouring down rain, the discomfort and suffering he felt didn’t compare to the suffering Christ endured when He carried the true cross. As he started walking, the journey was a struggle. His legs burned, the wind and rain whipped his face, and he grew colder as his pants became drenched. After a short time though, as he struggled up hills, he said, “God’s amazing power and strength came upon me.” After that, he never wanted to stop. He felt as if he could keep going for miles, despite the weather conditions. As he approached the end of his part of the journey, our girls and I were there waiting for him. As he came over a hill and saw us waiting, he began to cry as he considered his unconditional love for our daughters and realized it’s nothing compared to the unconditional love that Christ has for us.

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body (2 Corinthians 4:10).

Click here to read the second part of this article...

She is a...a...Sinner!

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is-that she is a sinner" (Luke 7:36-39).

This story from Luke reminds me of three kinds of people in this world.

The First Group 

...sits inside the church and thinks, “This is a good place to be. I’m comfortable here. How dare anyone come in here with their alcoholism, or drug abuse, or divorce, or this, or that.” And so they sit, inside, thinking.

The Second Group 

...sits outside the church and thinks, “I wonder what’s going on in there. Something is missing in my life and something deep within me thinks the church might be able to help. But I can’t go in because of my alcoholism, or drug abuse, or divorce, or this, or that.” And so they sit, outside, wondering.

The Third Group 

...kneels at the feet of Jesus and doesn’t say or think a word. They don’t have to because their actions speak more than their words ever could. They've come face-to-face with their own depravity and recognized their inability to overcome it. Tears stream down their faces and land on the feet of Jesus. Each tear cries out, “Take my alcoholism, my drug abuse, my divorce, my lying, my stealing, my anger, my indifference, my vulgarity, my…” So they kneel, at His feet, forgiven.

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. 

Luke 7:47

But it doesn't end there. The third group of people doesn't just sit there. With the glory and the beauty of their encounter with Christ ever forefront in their minds, they rise up and leave the home of the Pharisee. Each one goes to a different place where Christ has told them to go. Each one has a unique job for the kingdom. But they all go, and they go in peace.

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7:50

Following Jesus: The path of humility

Yesterday I had to take my Sunday morning class down a path many of us fear to tread. I dreaded heading down its unfamiliar course, let alone leading my class there as well. With caution and trepidation, plus a little shame that I wasn’t more familiar with this particular route, we ventured into the unknown.

A week earlier, our class had come to a crossroads. One arrow pointed down an appealing looking path with the name of Pride. The other arrow pointed towards a seldom walked, somewhat overgrown path named Humility. As the previous week’s lesson had ended, we had seen Jesus walk down the Humility path, not only by washing the feet of His disciples but by the ultimate humiliation of leaving His position in heaven to come to earth and die on the cross as the perfect and final sacrifice for our sins. (See last week's blog "So What.") This week’s lesson picked up with us hearing Him say, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:14-15) The instructions were clear: we were to follow Him down this path called Humility.

The first few steps weren’t quite so bad. We could see various acts of service along both sides of the path – watching a friend’s kids, preparing a meal for those without, providing a place to stay for a friend from out of town. As women, further down the road, we saw many scenes along the way of the duties of motherhood, starting with birth itself. From there, the path – overgrown with weeds – became harder to navigate. A few hazy images of those who had submitted to the authority of one over them served to guide us along the way.

As we turned a sharp curve in the road, Jesus’ words echoed in our minds, “You should do as I have done for you.” Jesus didn’t merely serve; He didn’t only submit. He humbled Himself. To humble means to lower in rank or status. To continue down the Humility path, we were going to have to lower ourselves, just as Jesus lowered Himself by leaving heaven and becoming a man. By this point, few had trod this path; it was horribly overgrown. Almost no scenes along the way illustrated true humility for us. As we looked at our own lives, we saw the weeds and brush so overgrown that we couldn’t proceed any further. We pulled out our machete of prayer and the double-edged sword of God’s Word. The weeds tried to block our way down the Humility path; with agonizing swings of prayer and study, we begun to clear our path so we could continue our journey.

We realized towards the end of our time together that we wouldn’t reach the end of this path called Humility on this side of eternity. But when we do reach it, in all the glory and radiance of heaven, Jesus will be standing there, having finished the path ahead of us, with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” followed by, “He who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 25:21, Luke 18:14).

It is a "great paradox in Christianity that it makes humility the avenue to glory."

(Easton's Bible Dictionary)

So What?

The Father put all things under Jesus' power. Jesus came from God; He returned to God. So what?

Jesus knowledge of these three things led Him to perform a revolutionary act. Did He overthrow the Roman government and establish a kingdom on earth? No. Did He use that authority to bind Satan and throw him in the lake of fire? No, but He’s going to do that someday. His knowledge of His power and His position led Him to wash the feet of His disciples.

What is the correlation? The IVP New Testament Commentary calls this passage of Scripture “an acted parable of the Lord’s humiliation unto death.” A parable uses a physical, earthly act or situation to teach a spiritual truth or lesson. Usually Jesus told parables verbally but in this case He acted it out. If you compare John 13:4,5, & 12 to Philippians 2:6-11 you can see, without any extra commentary, how Jesus physical act of washing the disciples’ feet compares to the truth of Him forsaking the glory of Heaven and humbling Himself by taking on the form of a man and coming to earth.

If Jesus’ act of washing the disciples’ feet is a picture of Him coming to earth to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins, then all of a sudden, you can see how His knowledge of His power and position correlates with His choice to pour Himself out that we might be saved. He was the only one who had the power and the position to save sinful man. Because of the love He had, like we talked about in the post, "Having Loved His Own", He humbled Himself unto death, even death on a cross.