Category: Devotional

How Humility Leads to Joy

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional1 Comment 
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3, ESV)

Recently, I was talking with an atheist friend about our different views of reality. Rather than pointing to more objective evidence, I asked him if there was ever a time when he had been in awe of the sublime grandeur of nature. After a brief pause, he said he had indeed felt overwhelmed by the vastness—and even beauty—of the universe. I pointed out how, whether we claim belief in God or not, we humans seem wired to take joy in something greater than ourselves.

At its core, humility is the ability to take joy in something or someone outside yourself. Some people think of humility as a posture of self-degradation (“I’m not really good at anything”), as if running oneself down all the time is a sure sign of a humble spirit. But that’s incorrect. Humility is not self-focused at all; it’s a willingness to be so invested in others that the joy of others becomes your joy.

Count Others More Significant

No wonder that a New Testament letter on joy in Christ gives one of the clearest teachings on true humility:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)

Paul says that when the Philippians do this, his joy is complete.

Many have pointed out how strange it is that while Americans are among the wealthiest in the world, we are also a nation where anxiety and depression are steadily on the rise. We also live in a nation where individualism and self-esteem are prized far more than most cultures of the world. Could it be that our me-centered mindset is directly linked to this general decrease in happiness?

Of course, this isn’t a uniquely American problem. Even in first century Rome, the Apostle Paul could speak of the coming problems of the last days:

“For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:2-5, ESV)

Two things stand out to me about this passage. First, this parade of qualities is a perfect description of our ungodly 21st century world. Second, I find it interesting that every single one of these traits seems to be directly opposed to a humble spirit.

Worldly wisdom says that happiness is found in putting yourself first. Your needs. Your desires. Your appearance. Biblical wisdom says that thinking too highly of yourself actually steals your joy.

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." (Romans 12:3, NIV)

Who Am I?

Self-centered thinking leads you to believe everyone owes you. That you’re always in the right and that everyone else is in the wrong. But true humility leaves you in awe of how truly blessed you are. The humble person can look at all they have in life and say, “Who am I, that I get to have all these blessings in life?”

Some of the most miserable people in this world are those who have either forgotten or maybe never known how precious it is to walk in true humility. To have no sense of entitlement. No sense of God owing you. And what can change all that unhealthy thinking is humbly recognizing just how extraordinarily gracious God has been with you. Yes, you! God has loved you while knowing everything about you. He loved you even when you were weak, even when you were His enemy (Romans 5:6-10). Think of what kind of love this must be! And He loves you more than anyone else ever could or would.

Jesus told His followers, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), because He wanted us to humbly recognize just how much we need Him in every part of our lives. It’s about admitting that if we are in the driver’s seat of our lives, the car always ends up in the ditch. Life is far better when the true King and Captain of our soul is behind the wheel.

Without Grumbling

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” (Philippians 2:14, ESV)

This is one of those verses that convicts me the more I contemplate it. It’s so easy for me to complain about things in life. I can complain about circumstances, relationships, the weather, the government, high prices, and all the God-denying aspects of the culture. What about you? How easy is it to complain to co-workers about things at home? And then to come home and gripe to your spouse about co-workers? I don’t know about you, but complaining is something that comes way too easily for me.

But it happens more than just at home, doesn’t it? If someone was to look at how people talk about national leaders or what is said on social media, you’d think that grumbling was America’s favorite past time. It reminds me of the Israelites in the wilderness. God does so many amazing feats for them, like rescuing them from enslavement in Egypt, splitting the Red Sea for them, and causing water to gush forth from a rock in the desert.

God even invented the first store-to-front-door delivery system, with delicious cakes and fresh quail arriving outside their tents faster than an Amazon Prime van. God took care of them, and He commissioned Moses to lead them. And what happened, over and over, in that wilderness? They grumbled about Moses and God (I counted no less than 14 times the Bible records Israel grumbling in the wilderness!).

There’s a scene in the film Saving Private Ryan, where Captain Miller, played by Tom Hanks, is asked if he has any gripes about their mission. He responds, “Gripes go up, not down. Always up. You gripe to me, I gripe to my superior officer, so on, so on, and so on.” Gripes always go up says Captain Miller. If that’s true on the cosmic scale, then think of how much griping God must hear daily.

But imagine what it would look like if Christians were known, not for our complaining, but for our joyful acceptance of difficult circumstances. Paul calls us to do all things without bitterness, resentment, and grumbling. Why?

“…that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Philippians 2:15, ESV)

Radiant Joy

Paul says, that because of the joy of the Lord, we can live as true children of our God. When Paul says we can be “blameless and innocent,” he’s not talking about Christian perfectionism here. He’s speaking about humbly recognizing that, as grace-drenched children of God, we really have no reason to grumble. We can say, “Who am I, that I should be called a child of the living God?” When we live with a confidence in God’s hand guiding us through every trial, instead of being known as complainers, we’ll be known for our radiant joy, even in difficult circumstances.

Just yesterday, Dennis, one of the elders at my church prayed something like this, “Father, we really don’t know just how good we have it. Help us to see that we have nothing to complain about.” Amen!

All of this can only happen when we regularly apply the power of the gospel to our lives. As we humbly submit our thinking to what God has done for us in Christ, the Holy Spirit fills us and leads us into songs of joy and thanksgiving (see Colossians 3:12-17). Grace is always best received by the empty hands of those who most recognize their need for it.

When we refuse to bitterly complain even in the midst of hardships or mistreatment, we’re telling the rest of the world that we have a hope they need to get in on!

Here’s a question to consider for personal application. Do you look at difficult situations or dark times as a chance to grumble to others or be humble toward others?

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

Strangers in Our Own World

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life2 Comments

In October 2019, the Pew Research Center released a major new report called “In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace.” The research said that while 65% of Americans still nominally identify as Christian, the alarming thing is that this was a 12% decrease in only ten years.

This may be hard for Christians to hear, but it really will be to our benefit when we face up to the reality of how hostile our world is to biblical Christianity. When we downplay this, we are only making it harder for ourselves to know how to respond. The simple fact is, we may enjoy certain legal protections as Christians still, but our world is increasingly hostile to our faith, the values  we stand for, and the Christ we proclaim as Lord. Rather than putting our head in the sand like an ostrich, we want to be like the men of Issachar who “understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32, NIV).

Strangers and Exiles

In the Book of Hebrews, the author recounts the incredible faith of godly men and women who stood out from the world around them because of their serious commitment to God. He then sums up their lives like this:

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13, ESV)

When he calls them “strangers and exiles on the earth,” he’s not only talking about the likes of Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. He’s talking about all who belong to the one true God. Similarly, the Apostle Peter uses the word “exiles” to describe all his fellow believers scattered throughout modern day Turkey (1 Peter 1:1; 2:17).

So this is not a designation for a select few. This is us. As followers of the risen Jesus, we too are strangers and exiles in our own world. The Greek term for “exile” (παρεπίδημος, parepidemos) usually referred to a traveler from a foreign land, only staying in a certain place for a limited duration. So Peter calls Christians “elect exiles” (1:1) and “sojourners” (2:17) to remind us that we are not permanent residents of this world.

As the old hymn goes, “This world is not my home. I’m just a-passin’ through.” Some Christians might object, “But aren’t we destined to live on a restored earth in real resurrected bodies?” Absolutely, we are! But Peter’s point is that the world as it now is—fallen and corrupted by sin—is not our home. This is an identity statement.

When Christ sets you free through faith, you come to see that your new identity in Him will never be embraced by the world. You’ll never fully fit in with the world. You’ll never be totally at home here. We are strangers. It’s essential for us to recognize this because too often we can forget our calling. We can forget why we’re here. We’re not here primarily to soak up as many worldly pleasures as possible. God has a much bigger view of joy than we do.

Citizens of Heaven

So what does that mean for us? We shouldn’t let our roots go too deep. We should keep a loose hold on the things of this world. We need to remember and embrace the truth that “this world in its present form is passing away” (1 Corinthians 7:31, NIV).

If we think of this world as our permanent residence, we will begin to live like citizens of the world rather than citizens of Heaven. We’ll start to live like the world, embrace the world’s values, and forget our purpose here is not merely to “live it up because you only live once,” but to live for Christ.

I want to encourage my Christian brothers and sisters to be mindful of this and not be caught off guard. Following Christ makes you different in this world—you are a sojourner and an alien in a world that rejects Him.

We tend to think that if we are living faithfully for Christ, people will automatically be drawn to us. The sober truth is that when you live for Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and faithfully obey His commands, you will be at odds with the world around you. On the night before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples:

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:19, NIV)

What was true of the disciples then is true of us today. “In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12, CSB).

Between Two Worlds

Peter calls the church “God’s elect exiles” (1 Peter 1:1, NIV). In other words, believers have been chosen and set apart by God. That is something to marvel at: that God would graciously choose us who were once His enemies. On the other side of the coin, being God’s elect—or God’s chosen people—inevitably estranges us from the world around us.

To live as an exile means you’re living between two worlds—the world you are inevitably enmeshed in and the world to come, the world to which you now belong.

But what does it mean to live between two worlds?

Let me illustrate this principle. When Whitney and I had our firstborn, Logan, our world became very different. In one sense, we still lived in the old world. We were still married. We still had the same friends and other interests. But, on the other hand, we had just entered the very new world of parenting. We now had a new schedule, with much of our time and interests wrapped up in the eating, sleeping, crawling, and babbling of our little bundle of joy. Oftentimes, new parents find themselves a bit alienated from their other friends who don’t yet have children, because they suddenly have less in common and their schedules are totally different from what they used to be. You are still you, but your life has totally changed.

Peter was writing to former pagans who worshiped dozens of gods who have now become followers of the one Lord, Jesus Christ. And that is a much bigger change than entering the world of parenting. Peter is writing to assure them that their new identity as followers of Jesus will set them apart from the world they inhabit.

In chapter 4, Peter will tell them, “You used to live like pagans, but you’re different now.”

“You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.” (1 Peter 4:3-5, NLT)

Those first Christians Peter is writing to had entered another world. And because they had committed themselves to Jesus, their worldviews were now diametrically opposed to their pagan friends. In the same way, your old party buddies might wonder the same about you. “What’s with you now? Why don’t you like to get drunk with us anymore? Why do you take sexual purity so seriously? And why have you become a Jesus freak? It’s like you can’t stop talking about Him!”

Every follower of Jesus should come to terms with this. It doesn’t matter what your upbringing might be. There are certain practices, groups, and lifestyles we are called to leave behind. There are many things where we must, in personal conviction from the Spirit, say, “I can’t be a part of that anymore.” As strangers in our own world, there are times we have to say, “I won’t entertain myself that way.” We must never forget that we have been set apart because Jesus shed His blood and atoned for our sins.

What about you? What is Jesus calling you to leave behind? Let me encourage you, whatever it might be, if it’s contrary to the faith, give it up for Jesus. There is blessing in embracing your new calling. While many will reject you, God will use your living testimony to draw others to Himself.

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

Photo of Portland, OR taken by Matthew Bacher.

Press On

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional4 Comments 
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12, ESV)

The Bible regularly calls followers of Jesus to a humble realism—a humble recognition that we have not yet arrived. In Philippians 3:12, the Apostle Paul has the humility to say, “I’m not yet everything that I one day will be.” And this humility itself is a sign of his spiritual maturity.

I remember listening to a radio talk show several years ago (this was an allegedly Christian radio station), and being shocked to hear the host claim to have reached a state of sinlessness. I had a double take, and I remember thinking, Did I hear this guy, right?  I played the sequence back a second time and confirmed that I had indeed heard him correctly.

The guest he was talking with seemed equally puzzled. He asked, “So, you’re saying you have no sin?” “That’s right,” he replied confidently. “I have a new nature. Praise the Lord!” Then the guest said, “Well, what about 1 John 1:8?” 1 John 1:8 says: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” The host continued to try to argue for his position, but his arguments seemed weak and unconvincing.

We need the humility to say with Paul, “I haven’t already arrived, but I’m pressing on!” The Christian life is much more akin to a marathon than a 100-meter dash. But let’s not miss something key in Paul’s statement. Paul’s confidence didn’t come from his pursuit of Christ. His confidence was rooted in the fact that “Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12). Nothing compels us to pursue Christ more and more like knowing more deeply that He has already taken hold of us.

One Thing

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV)

I love the way Paul boils down for us his great motivation in living the Christian life. He says, “I’ve learned to simplify my whole life by focusing on this one thing that matters most.” This is a word we all need to hear. It’s so easy for us to get caught up in all the clutter of busyness in our lives that we forget to focus on the eternal things.

My older two boys have birthdays coming up. Recently, they each told me the “one thing” they desperately wanted for a present. They were emphatic that this one thing is all they cared about; they didn’t need any ancillary presents. This one thing (in this case, a Lego set) would most assuredly be all they needed. Undoubtedly, they understand that if they narrow down their birthday wish list to only one thing, they are more likely to get it.

Paul understood the beauty of simplifying life to one tremendous pursuit, one glorious ambition. In our digital age, we can let so many distractions pull our attention away from what matters most. The urgent overshadows the essential. Our phone is constantly buzzing, dinging, and chiming. Our watch is telling us we’re running behind. Our calendars are chock full. And after a busy day, it’s so easy to want to just plop down in front of the tube, isn’t it? Paul knew that if you want to be effective in this life for Christ, then you can’t be driven by worthless distractions which are constantly vying for our attention. Instead, we’ve got to lock on to the “one thing” that matters above all.

Selective Amnesia

Notice Paul says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on” (vv. 13b-14a).

Paul says he’s learned to forget what lies behind him. There were many things Paul could have looked back at that could have slowed him down, or even tripped him up. He could have let the guilt and shame from his past in persecuting the church drag his feet. But he chose not to look back. I’ve heard my dad say, “If you’re always looking in the rearview mirror, you won’t be able to see where you’re going.”

Paul understood the beauty of self-forgetfulness. He wasn’t caught up with all the “what ifs” of life. He was in hot pursuit of Christ. Christ was his goal and his aim. He wanted to know Christ better. That’s the one thing that mattered most to this great man of God.

Believe it or not, God calls us to have “selective amnesia” and forget about our shame in the past so that we won’t lose our stride in the race of life. Keep your eyes looking straight ahead on the goal. Nothing matters more than crossing that finish line with eyes on Christ!

Whether it feels like it or not at this point for you, Paul wants us to understand that there is nothing in all reality that compares with knowing Christ. And yet, millions of people every day consider this idea foolishness. They hardly even think about Christ. But He is the reason we are here. Our life comes from Him, and He is the purpose for our existence (Colossians 1:16-18). It’s all about knowing Jesus.

In 1923, a race took place involving runners from Scotland and France. The best from each nation were there to compete and to win the title. Then came the famous 440-meter race. The gun fired, and all the runners took off. The runners were bunched together, shoulder to shoulder, and then came the first turn, where one runner was shoved to the ground just inside the track.

The crowd gasped and hopes were dashed, as the well-known runner hit the dirt. It looked like it was all over for this young Scotsman. But he had different plans. A moment later, he was flying down the track again. After only a few seconds, he was already catching up to the pack. The leaders continued to sprint hard. But there he was: “the Flying Scotsman!” With knees high and head back—Eric Liddell somehow managed, against all human odds, to cross the finish line first! This astonishing come-from-behind win was memorably captured in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. That race catapulted Liddell on to the international stage as a living legend.

What do you think most runners would have done after falling on the first turn? Shake their fist in anger? Maybe kick the dirt and storm off the track? Not Liddell. Perhaps he was motivated by this very passage. After all, he was a passionate follower of Christ who would later go on not only to win an Olympic medal, but also go on the mission field in China.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on” (Philippians 4:13-14).

Press On

Paul urges us here to “press on,” even when things look bleak, even when it looks like it is time to throw in the towel. Paul says, “Don’t give up and don’t look back! Press on, because the goal that awaits you is worth every ounce of your sweat!”

In Paul’s mind, success in the Christian life is not about never getting knocked down. It’s about what you do after getting knocked down—with knees skinned and mud splattered across your face.

In 1941, the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a famous speech during a perilous time for England. He knew he needed to spur on every British citizen if they were to outlast the Nazis. As he stood before the captive audience, Churchill said, “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

In the same way, Paul urges every one of us—wherever we are at in life and no matter what we’re up against—press on! Press on in the strength the Holy Spirit supplies.

I ran in the Cascade Lakes Relay back in 2010. The race covers some 216 miles divided up among 12 runners who run either two or three legs each. In the race, you get a breathtaking view of lakes, mountains, and golden sunrises. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s also exhausting because, aside from running a total of 22 miles or so, you also get very little sleep. Runners are given the opportunity to sleep in a school gym filled with cots. So you can imagine that if one guy in the middle is snoring, everybody can hear him.

After getting maybe two hours of sleep, it was my turn to run again. The bracelet was handed to me, and I took off running into the darkness. I had probably gone about a mile down the road when I came to a course ribbon pointing me off the road to a trail that ran through the forest. Before long, I came to another fork in the trail. This time, there was no ribbon. I decided on the trail to the left, which took me up a very steep trail.

Before long, I realized I was completely lost. I later found out that the ribbon actually had a little sign attached to it pointing away from that first trail, but I didn’t see it in the darkness. In case you’re wondering, I don’t have great night vision. You can probably guess that my team teased me for being that lost runner off on a forest trail by myself. As it happens, our team’s name was “Press On,” taking the phrase from Philippians 3.

It’s possible that you are one who has gotten caught in the devil’s trap by only focusing on your failures. Maybe you have a past that is riddled with times when you went off the right path. If that’s you, then you need to know something. If you’ve turned from that sin and come to Christ for forgiveness, then God has already moved on. And it’s time you do, too.

Scripture says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Hear that, Christian. In God’s eyes, the banner over your life says “No Condemnation.” He no longer sees you as guilty, but pardoned. Now stay on the path marked “Forgiven.” Live as one who looks forward to the future with hope. Press on!

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

Faithful, Not Flashy nor Fickle

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional1 Comment 
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (Matthew 25:31, NIV)

I don’t know what comes to mind when you hear the word faithfulness, but for me the word conjures up the image of faithful men and women I have known personally who have proven themselves trustworthy and loyal for many years. With such people I can share my burdens without fear of betrayal or rejection.

I know I’m biased, but I think of people like my dad, who has remained true to his convictions throughout his many years as a pastor and has held the course morally. I think of my mom, too, who has been faithfully by his side through thick and thin times in ministry. I also think of people I know who right now are overseas and have literally given their lives to the mission of reaching people across the world with the saving message of the gospel.

I also think of people who have been doggedly committed to Jesus Christ throughout church history. Men like Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Spurgeon. And women like Hannah More, Susanna Wesley, and Corrie Ten Boom. And many, many others who were mocked, maligned, and sometimes murdered for their unashamed commitment to Christ above all else.

I wonder who comes to mind for you when you think of those you consider to be outstanding examples of faithfulness. There’s something about these people that we just can’t help but admire.

A Rare Quality

Faithfulness is a word I don’t hear all that often outside of Christian circles. In fact, it’s listed as a fruit of the Spirit, meaning it’s something that God the Holy Spirit produces in us (Galatians 5:22). If I was to boil faithfulness down to one definition, I’d say this: Faithfulness describes you if you are consistently loyal to the persons, principles, and plans to which you have committed yourself.

While “faithfulness” might sound like a religious word, even secular people are drawn to this type of person. People may use words like “reliable” and “dependable,” but even better than that is one who is “faithful.” And you know something? While people can’t help admiring the genuinely faithful person, the reality is that such people are somewhat rare.

“Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?” (Proverbs 20:6, NIV)

Hypocrisy doesn’t look good on anyone. But for the Christian, our integrity matters even more so, because we aren’t merely representing ourselves. We are ambassadors of Christ, representing His Name wherever we go.

That reminds me of the young man who came to his boss and asked for the day off to attend his grandmother’s funeral. His boss said, “Of course, you can.” The next day, the young man walked into the office, and his boss said, “Say, do you believe in resurrection from the dead?” The young man said, “Yes, in fact, I do.” His boss replied, “Interesting. Because after you left work yesterday, your grandmother came to visit you!”

Not Flashy nor Fickle

Faithfulness can be a powerful testimony of the Lord’s work in our lives, but we should be clear about something. Faithfulness is not about making a huge impact in the world. It’s not about getting your name in the paper or winning some Pulitzer Prize. Our motivation for faithfulness is Christ, and the fuel of our faithfulness is the faithfulness of God. God is supremely faithful to us. This is essential to get right, because we live in a world that values convenience much more than faithfulness.

Many people are motivated by the approval of others. It can be tempting for us to think, What others don’t know about me can’t hurt me. But the truly faithful person aspires to follow Christ even when no one is looking. Or even when obeying Him might earn us the disapproval or mockery of others. When you begin to hunger for the world’s approval, remember this exhortation:

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:3-4, ESV)

Others may have abandoned you, but God has promised to never leave you nor forsake you. Others may have deceived you, but God has never lied to you and never will.

Despite our best efforts, we will never master faithfulness in this life. I know that might not sound super encouraging, but the point is that this is something we always need to grow in. So, if you’re looking for the perfect example of faithfulness, don’t look at Billy Graham—though he was a great example of faithfulness—but instead look to Jesus Christ, the only One who was perfectly faithful.

People have all kinds of motives for wanting to do what is right. Maybe it’s that they don’t want to get in trouble. Maybe they want to look good in front of others. But for Christians, we have a much higher motivation. We should want to do what is right out of faithfulness to Christ. He’s our motivation! We are not our own; He has bought us with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Wherever He Has You

So, even though we want to love a lost and hurting world, we really shouldn’t be seeking the world’s recognition. If your motivation is the approval of others, your faithfulness will only extend as far as people are willing to applaud you. Seeking the world’s acceptance has led many Christians down the dangerous road of compromise.  Certainly, we should care about our testimony, but ultimately we live for an Audience of One. And we are called to be faithful to Him wherever He has us.

The story is told of a man taking a long walk down at the beach when he noticed a young man picking up a starfish and hurling it into the ocean waves. The older man was a little amused, so he asked, “Son, why are you doing that?” The youth told him that the stranded starfish would die if left on the beach in the morning sun. The man smiled and said, “But the beach goes on for miles, and there are millions of starfish. How can your efforts make any difference?” The young man looked at the starfish in his hands and then threw it into the safety of the waves. “It makes a difference to that one,” he said.

We are called to make a difference where we are. Wherever you live, work, and have your being, God has sovereignly orchestrated the circumstances so that you can be a light in a dark world. That’s why God uses the entire church in His kingdom work on earth. The failure or success of the kingdom does not ride on the shoulders of any one of us. Christ promised, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, ESV). But if we are faithful in the place that God has called us, it will make a difference that will find its echo in eternity.

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

The Declaration of Creation

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional1 Comment

Recently, my family and I stopped to feast our eyes on an exquisite sunset, complete with a bright glowing blend of red, orange, and purple. Just after dusk, my three boys and I went frog hunting on my in-laws’ property. We crept up on a little pond, from which we could hear a chorus of croaks and chirps. As we closed in on the frogs, they suddenly fell silent in unison. It didn’t help that our dog, June, plunged into their pond a moment later.

On our way back to the house, we stopped to gaze up at the night sky above us, a deep black canvas dotted with tiny sparkling diamonds. It was sublime. We could even spot Jupiter and Venus. What a way to begin spring! Despite the cold March air, it was hard for the four of us to stop staring. In the midst of our shared excitement, I was reminded of the first line from Psalm 19:

“The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1, ESV)

Ears to Hear

According to the Bible, that starry sky above is making a declaration to us. It’s announcing to us that there is an Artist and Designer behind it all.

Everything you see in this world – towering trees, majestic mountains, fertile fields, mighty elephants, growling lions, chirping crickets – all of it owes its existence to an all-powerful Creator, who ordered and designed this world for the glory of His great name.

Some people might say, “I don’t hear any announcement.” But think of it this way. Someone can be shouting something to you from across the room, and you still don’t hear it. Maybe you’re deaf or you’re wearing noise-canceling headphones. Or maybe you’re just choosing to ignore that person. Although the stars don’t actually speak (v. 3), their message of God’s glory is being declared “through all the earth” (v. 4) to those who have ears to hear.

God’s glory is all the beauty and majesty of His character and nature. The word “glory” (kabod in Hebrew) gives the sense of something being weighty or having importance. So to say the heavens declare God’s glory is more than saying they point to His existence. All of creation is announcing His importance, His power, His worth. The starry skies are urging us to worship God as the One who deserves all the glory.

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11, NIV)

Many people today like to say they’re not too sure about God’s existence; instead, they prefer to look for a scientific explanation. But the more we learn about the heavens, the more we should see God’s glory. The magnetosphere is a magnetic field surrounding the earth that stretches out into space 36,000 miles. It acts like a massive shield, protecting our planet from the sun’s harmful solar winds. When the charged particles of the solar winds are redirected to the north and south poles, they create the beautiful auroras, known as the northern and southern lights. Science should lead us to exult in God’s incredible design. Not only does the magnetosphere act as a massive protective bubble, but it also creates a breathtaking display in the night sky.

Interestingly, scientists have discovered a host of features like the magnetosphere that have to be just so for earth to be a habitable planet. This includes the size of earth in relation to the sun, the size of the moon in relation to earth, the amount of oxygen in our atmosphere, the amount of water on earth, the size of the surrounding planets, and even our location in the Milky Way galaxy. These are well-documented in The Privileged Planet, a book written by Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay W. Richards.

The Sufficiency of Scripture

David, the psalmist, goes on to say that while creation declares there is a glorious Creator, it doesn’t tell us how to get right with Him. General revelation (nature) tells us there is a Creator, but we need special revelation (Scripture) to learn that there is also a Redeemer.

“The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:7, ESV)

While astounding things can be learned from observing the created world, true wisdom is found in God’s law. Such wisdom comes from above; it is more precious than gold (V. 10). Most people don’t realize what an extraordinary privilege it is to have a Bible in their home. It’s like they are sitting on a storehouse of treasure, and they’ve never realized it. God’s Word alone is perfect, flawless, and true. Through Scripture, our eyes are opened to see that this wise Creator has made a way for us to be forgiven and granted eternal life. Many have chased after gold and riches, but David reminds us that “the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever” (v. 9).

David wants us to understand the sufficiency of Scripture. The wonder of God’s Word is that you don’t need to have an advanced degree in physics or philosophy to know what God is really like. Scripture itself imparts wisdom to even the “simple” or uneducated (v. 7). It tells us plainly of God’s goodness, justice, and grace. And most importantly, it tells us about the Redeemer Jesus Christ, who alone lived a life acceptable in God’s sight (v. 14) and then offered that life as an acceptable sacrifice in the place of sinners (Ephesians 5:2).

So while creation declares God is powerful and wise, Scripture declares that God is loving and gracious. The Bible alone is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15, ESV).

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

The Kind of Person God Blesses

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life1 Comment

Those immersed in the modern world of dating are often encouraged to look for the ideal man or woman of their dreams. Online dating applications often use algorithms to match users with those who meet certain criteria, such as age, location, and a host of other preferences. While most everyone agrees that romantic connection could never be reduced to matching two sets of data points, the idea is that the algorithm will at least narrow the field to those who are at least potentially compatible with you.

I don’t have much of an opinion on online dating. I am happily married, so thankfully I’m already matched up with my dating partner. The point is that most people still seeking a romantic match have some idea in their minds of what that special someone might look and act like. The same thing could be said of an employer seeking a certain type of employee. They have a particular set of experiences and qualifications that they are looking for.

Supreme Happiness

Psalm 1 gives the description of the kind of man (or woman)[1] God is seeking, the type of person He intends to bless. It’s a basic summary of one who has the ideal characteristics God is looking for. When the Bible speaks of someone being “blessed” (esher in Hebrew), it’s describing supreme happiness. While some have likened Christianity to a moral straitjacket, the Bible actually urges its readers to pursue genuine happiness. Granted, this is a happiness that doesn’t always align with our natural inclinations. But it’s a joy that is deep and abiding, not fluctuating with the ups and downs of life. The psalm begins by telling us what the blessed man is not like.

“Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers.” (Psalm 1:1, ESV)

The psalmist describes the downward spiral of sin. He’s warning us about how sin gets its talons into us. First, we are influenced by “the counsel of the wicked.” Then we grow accustom to “the way of sinners.” Lastly, we are so comfortable with sin that we begin to laugh at corruption alongside other “scoffers.”

Examine Your Habits

Most Christians are far more influenced by the world than they would care to admit. They spend far more hours watching TV or YouTube than they do in God’s Word. They are constantly joining conversations that make light of sin or listening to music that makes immorality sound fun, but rarely listening to the voice of their Lord. Although they would probably deny it, they are regularly walking “in the counsel of the wicked.”

Examine your habits and you will see the kind of person you are becoming. The Apostle Paul offered a similar warning: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33, ESV).

As a father of three boys, this is something often on my mind. What kind of friends are they making? How are they spending their time? What are the things that most influence their thinking? Are they growing in their love for the Lord or for the things of this world?

Don’t misunderstand me. Christian parents can’t isolate their children from the world. If you try to raise your children in a bubble, that bubble will eventually pop. I want to live in faith, not fear. But at the same time, one of my goals as a dad is to train them to think differently from the world they are immersed in. I want them to learn to be respectfully critical of godless ideas. I pray that they learn to be wise and discerning. Every Christian parent can turn Romans 12:2 into a prayer for their children:

“Father, I pray that my son (or daughter) would not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but that he (she) would be transformed by the renewing of his (her) mind. Then he (she) will be able to test and approve what Your will is—Your good, pleasing and perfect will. Amen.”

Rather than pretending sin always appears gross from the outside, I want them to know that sin can sometimes appear attractive. But I also want them to know that the pleasure of sin is always empty and fleeting (Hebrews 11:25) and that the consequences of sin always outweigh the momentary thrill. I want them to know that they will sometimes need to stand alone as scoffers try to make following God look foolish.

Fruitful in Each Season

As for the blessed man, “his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Rather than seeing God’s law as an obstacle to self-expression, the blessed man loves the law because he delights in God Himself. He wants to please his Lord, so he spends each day reading and reflecting on His Word.

Unlike a wild tree growing randomly in the forest, the blessed man is like a tree intentionally planted in fertile soil by streams of water. His roots go down deep in the Word of God, so his life “yields fruit in its season” (v. 3).

What does it mean to produce fruit in its season? I take it to mean that the fruit of a blessed man will show up in various ways and seasons of life. When trials afflict him, he shows the fruit of patience. When good things happen, he grows more thankful and generous. When called to lead, he shows both courage and humility. When slandered, he responds with love.

The Truly Blessed Man

If I am honest, however, I must admit that I don’t always look like the blessed man of Psalm 1. There are times when I have listened to “the counsel of the wicked” rather than meditating on the law of the Lord. In fact, no Christian can say they have perfectly listened to God’s voice over the siren’s call of the world. That’s a problem because, as Willem VanGemeren has observed, the perfect mood of the Hebrew grammar in Psalm 1 “emphasizes that the godly are never involved with anything tainted with evil.”[2] So where does that leave us?

Ultimately, only Jesus has perfectly lived as the blessed man of Psalm 1. He alone never followed the path of sin and perfectly obeyed the Father’s will. The good news of the gospel is that when we repent and trust in Christ, we get to share in the blessing that Jesus alone deserved (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Not only that, but as we walk with the Lord, we become more like Him. The more we are emptied of our own selfish desires, the more we can be full of Christ. The more we seek joy in His will for our lives, the more we will be fruitful and prosper (v. 3).

“The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.” (Psalm 1:4, ESV)

I think of a combine harvester in the Willamette Valley where I live, separating the grain from the husks. The psalmist says the wicked are like empty husks, with no kernel inside. They are weightless and driven by the wind. The righteous, by contrast, are like a solid tree that can withstand even hurricane force winds.

As I think about such a blessed person, I can’t help thinking of my wife’s grandmother, Ruth Bell, who recently died. Despite living as a widow for several years and struggling with various health challenges toward the end of her life, she always exhibited the fruit of someone whose roots go down to the waters of life. Knowing her Savior and His Word deeply made her increasingly like Him.

This is the Lord’s goal for all of us, that we would be shaped by His Word and that we would have the blessing of being known by Him (v. 6). True success and blessing is found in living a fruitful life for the Lord.

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

[1] The Hebrew uses a term that can speak of both men and women.

[2] Willem A. VanGemeren, Psalms, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 79.

The Rich Will Fade Away

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life2 Comments

As a society, we tend to revere the wealthy even while denying that fact, don’t we? Sure, some may say, “Down with the rich!” But even then, their actions demonstrate they actually want to be the rich. Think about how much focus is on the wealthy in our news media. If a wealthy couple walks into a restaurant, don’t they tend to get special treatment? Even closer to home, isn’t this often the case in a church?

Many churchgoers today assume that wealth is an inherent sign of God’s blessing. Some will even assume that those who have great faith will have great wealth. But the Book of James says nearly the opposite:

“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5, ESV)

Shattering Expectations

Certainly, this is a general statement, not particular to every case, but we shouldn’t let that diminish the force of what James is saying here. Contrary to expectations, God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith. This is ironic, because isn’t it our natural tendency to look down on the poor? Of course, we see great importance in supporting and caring for the destitute. But who are you more likely to ask for advice: a wealthy man or a poor man? How many times have you come to a street corner, seen someone holding a sign asking for something, and immediately thought: Man, I sure wish he would just get a job and contribute something to society?

Isn’t that how we tend to think?

Earlier in James, we read something else unexpected:

“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.” (James 1:9-10, ESV)

You see what James is doing here? He’s flipping the script. He says it’s the little guy of little means who really has reason to boast. Why? Because his confidence is in God. Without money, it has to be! He knows full well that he can’t count on his financial resources, so he’s truly rich because he’s relying fully on God. Meanwhile, the rich will fade away like the wildflower.

Fading like the Flower

“For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” (James 1:11, ESV)

If you consider yourself a gardener, you know how much work is involved with the endeavor. You might spend hours just in preparation. After weeks of waiting, you finally see those buds of your favorite flower first begin to open. You’ve given much time and effort to reach this moment, and now you get to see that beautiful chrysanthemum open up, with all its beautiful and tiny petals reaching out.

Or maybe you’re more into peonies, and you see your flowers bloom in May, with all the soft pinks and whites. It’s exquisite. But then what happens? The summer heat of June and July comes and that once-glorious flower ever so quickly wilts, turns brown, and fades away.

What a picture. All the beauty and glory of that flower lasts for only a very short time – sometimes only a handful of days – and then it’s gone.

In the Middle East, where James is writing, this is even more evident. There will be times in the spring where you can look out over a hillside and see all kinds of wildflowers in bloom, a beautiful sea of purples, oranges, and yellows. But in a very short time, that east wind will come and the desert sun will beat down on them and those beautiful flowers will fade, just as quickly.

James says that those who put all their stock in their material possessions are like those flowers. They are certainly beautiful; there is a glory about them. But it’s oh so temporary.

And the image of a flower is perfect because flowers are so flimsy and fragile aren’t they?

My boys will often pick flowers for my wife Whitney from the park or our backyard. Their intentions are great. They want to give their mom a flower. But sometimes, before making their floral delivery, they will climb the slide or roll around in the grass. By the time they give the flower to Whitney, it’s limp and pulled apart. Why? Because they are boys and flowers are fragile.

In God’s economy, the rich and powerful of this world are like that flower. Although there is a beauty and glory to their wealth and luxury, they are actually very lowly because nothing they own will last. In reality, their lives are so fragile.

It’s been said… Money will buy:

A bed, but not sleep.
Books, but not brains.
Food, but not appetite.
A house, but not a home.
Medicine, but not health.
Amusement, but not happiness.
Finery, but not beauty.
A crucifix, but not a Savior.

And notice James says, “the rich will fade away” even while they are going about their business, even in the midst of their spending endless hours studying the stock market, coordinating deals, or spending many nights away from home. The world has taught them to define their lives by their financial gains, but it all will eventually fade away.

This is a warning to all of us about the dangers of relying on material wealth. Of infinitely greater value are the spiritual riches that come from reliance on Christ.

The True Riches of Christ

Way back in the 1890s, Youssuf Ishmaelo, was an international wrestling sensation known as “the Terrible Turk.” Ishmaelo was a man of enormous proportions, known for his incredible strength. And of course, as his popularity rose, so did his wealth. At one point, he demanded his winnings in gold and strapped them into his belt, which he never removed.

On his way back from a victory match in America, he was sailing across the Atlantic and his ship sank. According to the surviving eyewitnesses, Ishmaelo was “like a wild beast,” barreling through crowds and knocking people out of his way. At one point, he jumped onto one of the life boats already full of passengers, and the force of his enormous weight capsized the boat and knocked everyone into the water. Ishmaelo was an incredible swimmer, but he alone sank under the waves, dragged to the bottom by the weight of his $10,000 gold belt.[1]

Many people have eternally sunk because they were clutching so tightly to their wealth and looking to money for the security that only our sovereign God can give.

But this isn’t just a warning for the rich. It’s a warning for anyone who would bank all their hope on how much they have. When things get tighter financially, our hearts are being tested, aren’t they? Are we really trusting that God can provide for our every need, or does our confidence in God rise and fall with the stock market or the amount in our bank account?

But in the midst of this warning, God wants to encourage us. He wants us to see that we who have Christ are truly wealthy. We have eternal riches in Him, and He is worth more than anything that money could buy. As Jesus so memorably put it:

“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36, BSB)

If you have Christ, you really do have everything. He is the mainspring of all true joy. You can find your identity in Him. And when you are in Christ’s family, the new heavens and the new earth are your future inheritance. God’s children are headed for nothing less than unhindered access to the unfading glory and beauty of God Himself. Even today, God promises to care for His own.

Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, “I will never fail you or abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5, CSB)

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

[1] Randy Alcorn, Giving is the Good Life: The Unexpected Path to Purpose and Joy.

The Affectionate Husband

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life2 Comments 
“You have captured my heart, my treasure, my bride. You hold it hostage with one glance of your eyes, with a single jewel of your necklace.” (Song of Solomon 4:9, NLT)

Marriage is serious business. In His Word, God speaks of marriage as a holy and sacred covenant we make before Him (Genesis 2:24; Proverbs 2:17); it is a relationship to cherish and protect from all potential dangers. God expresses righteous indignation toward the one who disregards his wedding vows (Malachi 2:13-16). So marriage is serious business, but it’s also meant to be a relationship of joy and delight.

In fact, these two concepts of reverence toward marriage and delight in marriage support and sustain each other. Contrary to popular belief, to regard something as “holy” does not suggest the absence of joy. Unfortunately, many today want to characterize marriage as boring and rigid, even as a form of slavery. But to view marriage as holy simply means that we should regard it is as special and set apart before God. When a man and woman wed, they are embracing one another in a union that is set apart from all other relationships. Through their vows, the bride and groom are essentially saying to one another, “I give myself exclusively to you and promise to delight in you in a lifelong covenant that I share with no one else.”

Bring Happiness to Your Wife

Maybe you’ve heard the quip that marriage is a three-ring circus. First, there is the engagement ring, then the wedding ring, and lastly, you have the suffering. However, this is completely contrary to the Bible’s portrayal of marriage. God intends for husband and wife to experience the joy of their union far beyond the honeymoon.

You get a sense of God’s intention for marriage through some of the laws that He gave His people. For instance, through Moses, God said:

“When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken.” (Deuteronomy 24:5, ESV)

When my wife Whitney and I were engaged, I began considering going to seminary. My friend and mentor, Pastor Matt, wisely counseled me to wait at least one full year after the wedding before enrolling. He pointed to this law for support, saying that God would have me give my full attention to my new bride for the first year. It made perfect sense, and I’m so glad I heeded his advice.

That first year of marriage is pivotal because you are setting a pattern and laying a foundation for the rest of your life together. Notice that God’s high standard for marriage is seen in the way He expressly commands happiness for newlyweds. Translated literally, the husband is commanded to “bring happiness to the wife he has married” (TNIV).

Catch the Little Foxes

Like all God’s laws, this is intended for our good and growth (Deuteronomy 10:13). But how many husbands today have made it their goal to make their wife happy?

Research has shown that a newly married husband will often pour all his attention into establishing his career. He tells his wife (and himself) that he’s only thinking of their future together, but he doesn’t realize he actually is setting a dangerous pattern. Rather than giving his undivided attention to her as an affectionate husband, he postpones affection by spending most of his time away from her.

For some husbands, it’s not until they reach middle age that they suddenly wake up and realize they have neglected their responsibility of showing their wife affection. Instead, they have made career aspirations their first priority.

Song of Solomon is a lengthy poem about King Solomon and his beloved bride. The love poem pictures the marriage union as a garden or vineyard that needs to be protected and cultivated. If you have ever tried to maintain a garden, you know the importance of giving it enough attention and care. There are weeds to be pulled, water and fertilizer to be given, and branches that must be pruned. At one point, Solomon’s bride even laments the “little foxes” that sneak in and destroy their “vineyard”:

“Catch the foxes for us,
    the little foxes
that spoil the vineyards,
    for our vineyards are in blossom.” (Song of Solomon 2:15, ESV)

Many marriages suffer from a lack of proper care and cultivation. When this happens, the “little foxes” of stress, financial hardship, and other distractions can slowly start to corrode the relationship.

So what is the solution? It’s actually quite simple: As the husband, you are to lavish your bride with love and affection. Pursue her with the same tenacity you did to win her heart. Become a lifelong student of your wife, her needs, her hopes, and what brings her joy.

Rejoice in Your Wife

Solomon’s bride exults:

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine.” (Song of Solomon 1:2, ESV)

When her husband is away, she is less sure of herself (1:5-6). She craves his swift return (2:8) and is distressed when he is gone long hours (3:1-3).

In the TV series Everwood, there’s a scene where a wife confronts her husband, a traveling salesman, about how frequently he is away from home. She tells him how hard it is when he’s gone, not only for their little boy, but for her. With tears in her eyes, she says, “Do you need me that way? Please tell me you still need me that way.”

In God’s design, the wife is designed to long for her husband’s affection, and the husband is designed to fulfill this longing. That’s why Solomon seizes every opportunity to shower his bride with affection, calling her “most beautiful among women” (1:8; also see 1:15; 4:1). As the husband practices this kind of affection, loving his wife is no longer a wearisome duty, but a wonderful delight.

Some might even blush at the way the Bible unabashedly urges the husband to delight in his wife:

“Let your fountain be blessed,
    and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
    a lovely deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;
    be intoxicated always in her love.” (Proverbs 5:18-19, ESV)

When the husband leads the way in tenderly expressing love for his wife, their union is strengthened and their love made secure.

In their book Love Lock, Marty Trammell and Rich Rollins describe the deep longing we all have for security in our love relationships. One of the best ways to show love for our spouse is through attentive listening. They write, “When our spouse knows that her world is becoming more important to us, she feels our love more deeply.”[1]

All of this is encompassed in the straightforward command: “Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly” (Colossians 3:19, NLT). The affectionate husband recognizes just how essential this lasting love is.

[1] Marty Trammel and Rich Rollins, Love Lock: Creating Lasting Connections with the One You Love, 29.

Grace First

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life3 Comments

From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He went around healing, teaching, and calling people to follow Him. When people followed Jesus, they began a life of transformational discipleship. In other words, people did not have to meet certain criteria before becoming His followers. They only had to leave their life of sin. Jesus didn’t call people to clean themselves up. He simply said, “In whatever place you find yourself, come to Me. Come to Me and begin a new life following Me as Lord, Teacher, and Savior.”

Interestingly, in the call to follow Him, Jesus included a call to reach others. Jesus told those rugged fishermen on the Galilean shore, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). He tells them that part of following Him is calling others to follow Him, too. Multiplication is at the core of what it means to be a follower (disciple) of Jesus.

Jesus was teaching these fishermen about discipleship using language they were familiar with: “Look, you guys know how to catch greasy fish in a net. I’m appointing you to catch greasy sinners in the net of grace.”

In other words, you don’t see any indication in the Gospels that it’s possible to faithfully follow Jesus while pursuing a monastic life of perpetual solitude or taking a “just Jesus and me” approach to spirituality. If you truly want to follow Jesus, then you should be concerned about helping others follow Jesus, too. Put another way: True disciples make more disciples (see Matthew 28:18-20).

This was true for those fishermen, and it’s true for everyone since then.

The “Grace First” Approach

Jesus called people with what I call the “Grace First” approach. In other words, Jesus called people to follow Him and forsake their life of sin, but He didn’t say, “Let me take a look at your track record and see how you’ve spent your life so far. Let me see if you check all the boxes of true righteousness.”

For goodness’ sake, just look at the kind of people that Jesus picked, and you’ll know they weren’t exactly on the honor roll for holiness. You’ve got Peter, a man with no verbal filter. Then you’ve got John and James, brash brothers who seem bent on incinerating those who look or think differently from them (Luke 9:52-55). Somehow, these three were considered His closest friends! All twelve came with lots of baggage, terrible habits, and troubling issues. They came with checkered backgrounds. Yet, Jesus didn’t say, “Go back and get your life straight, and then come follow Me.”

He showed grace first. He came to them with the clear mindset that He wanted them, even if they were woefully unworthy of Him. And you know something? Followers of Jesus can forget this, but this is how we all came to Jesus. Here is every Christian’s testimony in a nutshell:

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3:3-5a, NIV)

We didn’t become Christians “because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” It wasn’t by our holy records. It wasn’t by our outstanding moral achievements. It was by His blood shed on the cross. It was by His call to trust in His sacrifice for sins. It was always grace first.

And so, because He welcomed us with grace first, He expects us to do the same to others. 

Matthew the Tax Collector

Matthew was a disreputable tax collector, and his own people hated him for it.

Today in America, our stomach tightens when someone mentions “taxes” or “the IRS.” But this is nothing compared to the way first century Jews viewed tax collectors. They were seen as vile, corrupt, and loathsome. The scum of the earth. Jewish tax collectors were commissioned by the occupying Roman Empire to tax their own countrymen, and they were notorious for overtaxing their own people in order to skim off the top an extra portion for themselves. In other words, in the eyes of their fellow Jews, tax collectors were not only turncoats who had betrayed their nation, but also greedy cheats who had become wealthy by extorting their own people.

More respectable and religious Jews were probably saying, “You know what’s wrong with our country? You know why God isn’t blessing us like He used to? It’s because we have guys like that tax collector over there running around!” They were utterly despised.

That was Matthew. Just imagine how seared your conscience must be for it to be your daily practice to cheat your own people in order to pad your wallet! Nearly everyone hated Matthew. Nearly.

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9, NIV)

The account is simple and straightforward, but to watch this scene unfold would have left every upstanding citizen scratching their head. The other disciples might have been thinking, Oh no, Jesus. Not Matthew. Anyone but him.

Changed by Grace

It’s not just Jesus’ choice of Matthew that’s shocking. Equally surprising is Matthew’s sudden willingness to go with this Jewish rabbi. Could it be that Matthew, hardened though he was, sensed a love from Jesus that he had never experienced before?

At the beginning of Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables, Jean Valjean is a recently released criminal. 19 years in a French prison have left Valjean bitter and hard-hearted. After being turned away at every inn and tavern, he stumbles upon the house of a bishop, Monseigneur Myriel. When Valjean tells Myriel who he is, he expects to be turned away once again. But instead, the bishop says, “You need not tell me who you were.” He tells Valjean, “This is not my house – it is the house of Jesus Christ.” After feeding Valjean, the bishop invites the ex-convict to stay the night. In the middle of the night, Valjean’s old habits get the better of him. He stuffs the bishop’s silverware in his knapsack and slips away while the bishop sleeps.

Before long, some policemen catch him with the silverware and force him to take the walk of shame back to the bishop’s house. Valjean knows that he is done for – he had blown his only chance and would likely be imprisoned for the rest of his life.

But then something astonishing happens. Before the officer can explain the crime, the bishop marches right up to Valjean. “Oh! Here you are! I’m so glad to see you. I can’t believe it. You forgot the candlesticks. They are made of pure silver as well… Please take them with the forks and spoons I gave you.” Valjean is stunned. So are the policemen. After dismissing the officers, the bishop says, “Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. I have bought your soul from you. I take it back from evil thoughts and deeds and the spirit of Hell, and I give it to God.” From that moment on, Valjean is a changed man… changed by grace.

In an even more profound picture of grace, Jesus sought out Matthew, even while he sat in the tax booth, and called him to Himself. Jesus Himself says in Luke 19:10 that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

“He Left Everything and Followed Him”

Like Valjean, Matthew was utterly lost. He was a man without a lick of spiritual potential. And yet, Luke tells us that when Jesus called Matthew, he “left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:28, NIV). That’s significant. Matthew was forsaking his old way of doing life and embracing the call to follow Jesus in the new way.

Interestingly, we learn that Matthew invited Jesus over for a dinner party at his house, and many of his old pals were there. This created quite the scandal. After all, these people were the gangsters, thugs, and prostitutes of this time. For a Jewish rabbi to associate with that ilk was unheard of, because by eating with someone, you are in some sense identifying with them. The religious leaders grumbled about Jesus eating with “sinners and tax collectors.”

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32, NIV)

Notice that Jesus had no problem identifying Matthew and his friends as the sick and sinful, those in need of repentance. But He showed astonishing love to them by eating with them and expressing a genuine concern for them. His call to repentance was adorned with grace.

If Jesus called others to repent with a grace first approach, then as His disciples who are called to make more disciples, we should do the same.

Have thoughts on this post? Feel free to comment below!

A Word Fitly Spoken

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional4 Comments 
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.” (Proverbs 25:11, ESV)

Christians need one another. Whether we go through times of triumph or defeat, we need a brother or a sister to come alongside us and encourage us to walk the path of faithfulness.

Imagine a scenario where someone slighted you or put you down. This person made a point of saying how awful you are at your job or how lousy you are as a parent. They made cruel remarks not only about you but about your family. The targeted attack spewing from this person’s mouth seems intended to make you feel small and worthless. Perhaps it’s not so difficult to imagine this scenario. Maybe you’ve lived it!

In such a situation, how do you respond? Better said, how would God have us respond when we are shamefully mistreated and insulted?

The Future King

We find an example of this in 1 Samuel 25. This story occurs when David is not yet the king of Israel, but is instead a fugitive on the run. King Saul, jealous of David for being a better man than him in every way, has been hunting David down. Knowing many in his kingdom long for David to be on the throne – including his own son Jonathan – Saul is determined to kill David.

Twice during this season of exile, David has an opportunity to assassinate Saul. Even when his men encourage David to slay the king, David refuses, saying, “The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed.” (1 Samuel 26:11; cf. 24:6). David’s Christlike character never shines brighter than in these moments when he chooses to trust God and spare the man who has made his life miserable.

But situated between these two incidents is another time when David’s faithfulness is put to the test. It involves a foolish and ill-tempered man named Nabal, and his wife Abigail, “an intelligent and beautiful woman” (1 Samuel 25:3, NIV). David has something like a business partnership with the wealthy Nabal. Nabal owns many flocks, and David and his 600 soldiers have protected Nabal’s flocks and servants for some time. These were dangerous times when large flocks and their shepherds were vulnerable to raiders and wild animals. The servants even say that David’s men “were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them” (v. 16).

It was generally understood that when soldiers provided protective services, it is only right that they be well fed by the owner of the herds. Nabal is about to throw a big feast, so David sends a warm and friendly message to him, asking whether he and his men can join. You could call it a polite request for a fair business transaction.

The Wealthy Fool

But Nabal’s response is crude and thoughtless. He basically says, “David who? Never heard of him. He sounds like one of those runaway slaves who tries to take advantage of respectable individuals like myself.”

This was a pretty low blow. David was well-known everywhere in Israel. He had gained renown for defeating the Philistine giant Goliath. Not only was Nabal not practicing fair exchange, but he was slapping David across the face, telling him to go beg somewhere else. Nabal was living up to his name, which meant “fool.”

Nabal’s reckless words were especially foolish in this ancient honor-shame society. Those who were shamed by others were expected to protect their own name by taking vengeance on the wrongdoer.

David’s response is quick and decisive. He tells 400 of his men: “Strap on your swords!” (v. 13). Nobody insults David and gets away with it. It’s payback time!

The Wise Woman

It’s at this time that Abigail, Nabal’s wife, learns what her idiotic husband has done and that David plans to destroy every man in his household. She wastes no time in putting together a peace offering and running out to meet the enraged David. Abigail humbly falls at David’s feet and pleads with him to reconsider.

Noting that what her husband did is both foolish and hateful, Abigail says, “Please forgive the trespass of your servant” (v. 28). Then, with astonishing wisdom, she reminds David of Yahweh’s tender care for him and that God will one day set him on Israel’s throne, establishing a lasting dynasty.[1] It’s crucial that Abigail does this. When we forget about God’s deep love for us, it can be far easier to be reactionary and impulsive. Abigail then says, “It’s not just for my husband that I’m pleading, David, but for you. I don’t want you to have his blood on your conscience.”

Abigail’s counsel is a word fitly spoken. She appeals to God’s justice and love. And because Abigail speaks with respect and kindness, David is cut to the heart. She is a “wise reprover,” and he has “a listening ear” (Proverbs 25:11).[2]

David recognizes that really it is God who sent her to speak these words to him. He will not take vengeance into his own hands. Because of Abigail’s wise words, David chose to trust the Lord to be his defender instead of responding in a fit of anger. Rather than piling sin upon sin, Abigail guided David to live out what we read in Romans 12:

“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19, 21, ESV)

David let God be his defender. In fact, we read that only ten days later God struck down Nabal, and David later married the widowed Abigail (1 Samuel 25:38). That doesn’t mean we pray for God to smite all those who mistreat us, but we do show trust in God by letting Him deal with our enemies.

The Essential Church

In our age of rage and social media, people are encouraged to slap back when they are slapped across the face. We think it is up to us to right every wrong and defend ourselves against every offense. In many ways, we are still a shame-honor culture. In a world that urges you to protect your own honor, God’s Word says:

“Good sense makes one slow to anger,
    and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11, ESV)

How often are you willing to listen to an Abigail when you are hurt or upset? The two biggest reasons Christians make foolish decisions is that they don’t listen to God’s Word and they don’t listen to the wise counsel of other believers. Certainly, we must seek the Lord’s leading through prayer, but we must take care not to use “I’ll pray about that” as a reason to exclude the guidance of others.

The church is an incredible gift we must never take for granted. When we make decisions in isolation or reject the advice of others, we are walking down the path of foolishness – sometimes even running down that path!

Christ called the church His body, because we are both united to Him and mutually interdependent on one another, just as the eye needs the ear and the hand needs the foot.[3] The Holy Spirit unites believers to one another so that they can share divine wisdom and encourage one another to follow Christ faithfully. We cannot forsake the fellowship of other believers.

When we respond in fleshly haste, we put ourselves in danger, sometimes both spiritually and physically. We need to seek the wisdom of others in the church, because a word fitly spoken might just spare us from the pangs of conscience later.

[1] The Lord Himself promises David that he will have a son reign on his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16), a promise fulfilled by King Jesus in His present and future kingdom (Isaiah 11:1-10).

[2] It’s ironic that many skeptics claim the Bible is denigrating to women when you have many stories like this one, where the woman is clearly the voice of reason and godly wisdom. For other examples, see: Genesis 38:25-26; Judges 4:4-10; Ruth 2:20-22; 1 Samuel 1:12-17; Esther 7:1-7; Luke 24:9-12; John 12:3-8; Acts 18:26.

[3] See 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.