Tag: hope

Why Does Jesus Call Us “Sheep”?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life1 Comment 
“The sheep follow the shepherd, for they know his voice.” (John 10:4)

One of my spiritual mentors who has discipled me while I was still in seminary is my good buddy, Matt MacCollin. He and I went through a book together called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller. One of the things that stands out from that little book is a danger unique to sheep called being “cast” or “cast down.” He described it this way: 

“….even the largest, fattest, strongest and sometimes healthiest sheep can become ‘cast’ and be a casualty. The way it happens is this. A heavy, fat, or long-fleeced sheep will lie down comfortably in some little hollow or depression in the ground. It may roll on its side slightly to stretch out or relax. Suddenly the center of gravity in the body shifts so that it turns on its back far enough that the feet no longer touch the ground. It may feel a sense of panic and start to paw frantically. Frequently this only makes things worse. It rolls over even further. Now it is quite impossible for it to regain its feet.” 

As you read the book, you get the sense that sheep are pretty pathetic creatures! Without a shepherd, they really are helpless. Particularly when you think of flocks of sheep in the first century context.  

Shepherds spent all their lives with their sheep. In many ways, it was a lonely existence—just you and these wooly creatures 24/7.  

Today, shepherds generally agree that sheep are both stubborn and jumpy. They can be frightened by the smallest thing. And yet, they also can be stubbornly resistant about moving when they need to. 

God as Shepherd

In John 10, Jesus identifies Himself as the “Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep.” That’s a powerful image. 

God knows that we need pictures in our mind. God is invisible. And sometimes when we just rattle off God’s attributes, like “God is all-powerful,” “God is holy,” “God is love,” we can struggle to fit it all together. So God gave us pictures or illustrations of what He is like. 

One of the most pervasive themes in Scripture is this concept of God as Shepherd.

Jacob, whose name was later changed to “Israel,” was a shepherd. And he was the first to call God his “shepherd.”  

Probably the most famous psalm, Psalm 23, begins: 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. (Psalm 23:1-3, ESV) 

My dad encouraged me to memorize this psalm when I was still a little guy. I can remember reciting it over and over. And for that reason, this psalm has probably spoken to me more than any of the others. I can still remember a time when I was off at camp and feeling homesick, and I just started quoting Psalm 23 over and over. And it gave me peace. The image of the Lord as our Shepherd is powerful. 

Sheep Know Their Shepherd’s Voice

There are many other times we see this same image of God as our Shepherd: 

He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11, ESV) 

In Ezekiel 34, when God uses this image of a shepherd as an indictment. He says that He made the kings of Israel to be like shepherds over His people. But instead of being faithful shepherds who cared for the ill or hungry sheep, they instead fed themselves and ignored the sheep entrusted to their care. 

So how does God respond?  

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.” (Ezekiel 34:11-12, ESV) 

Think about how this image of a shepherd seeking out his sheep captures the heart of Jesus for lost sinners.

And of course, if God is our Shepherd, then we are His sheep. That might not be the most flattering image for us. If you’ve been around sheep for any length of time, you’re not really struck by how intelligent these creatures are. Nevertheless, it seems to be one of God’s favorite descriptions for us.

Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3, ESV) 

We have to ask ourselves not only Why is the Lord compared to a Shepherd? But also Why are we compared to sheep? In John 10, Jesus explains how vulnerable sheep are and how they need protection. 

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (John 10:1-2, ESV) 

In ancient times, a sheepfold was basically an area enclosed by a rock wall. Because the gate to the sheepfold was usually guarded, the thief would have to sneak in over the wall to snag a sheep. So the thief had to be sneaky under the cover of darkness, but Jesus makes it clear that a shepherd is known by his sheep. 

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (John 10:3-4, ESV) 

In ancient times, a shepherd spent so much individual time with each of his sheep that he really did name every one of them. There was this intimate bond between them. 

An outsider coming up on his flock might think that they all look and act the same. It just looks like a bunch of random sheep. But the shepherd knew his sheep. He could tell you each of their names. If one was falling behind or had wandered off, the shepherd knew which one was missing. He knew the traits and temperament of each one.

Sheep Are Dependent on the Shepherd

Keeping in mind that Jesus is really talking about Himself here, this image helps us understand the heart Jesus has for us individually. To Jesus, you’re not just one more face in a crowd. Jesus knows everything about you. He knows what causes you fear. He knows every hair on your head. Our Savior is our Shepherd. 

Jesus says, “The sheep follow the shepherd, for they know His voice.” 

And sheep really are dependent on their shepherds. Especially back then, there was the constant danger of predators rushing in and dragging off one of your sheep. A shepherd had to be vigilant. I remember one professor saying that sheep are irrefutable proof that Darwinian evolution isn’t true, because they never could have survived on their own. In any case, the fact that sheep are so helpless without their shepherd teaches something about us. 

The image of sheep pictures how dependent we are on the Lord who knows each of us intimately. 

And as we hear Christ’s voice in Scripture, we know it’s His. We can follow Him, because we recognize His voice. How are you doing at listening to the Shepherd’s voice? 

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Rearranging Deck Chairs or Being Salt and Light?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for LifeLeave a comment

Many Christians are disheartened when they look around at how our American culture has become more secular and, in many ways, anti-Christian in everything from its views on sexuality to public policy. In this cultural moment, it’s easy for Christians to not only feel like outsiders, but victims. 

I find it interesting, however, that Scripture never encourages us to play the victim card. Instead, we are called to see ourselves “overcomers,” who are always victorious in Christ (see Romans 8:37).

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:7, ESV)

Some renowned Christian preachers from the past have said things like, “Trying to make a difference in the culture is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.” While we are called citizens of Heaven, we are still citizens of our nation. One truth does not cancel out the other.

Thank God that people like William Wilberforce, the Christian abolitionist who was instrumental in ending the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, didn’t take such a view. He believed that the God of Heaven had called him to take a stand for truth, justice, goodness, and beauty in the culture he inhabited. Wilberforce urged his fellow Christians to not shrink into the shadowy margins of society with a private faith, but to boldly and publicly profess their faith in Jesus along with all the implications that come with that.

Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and commanded, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

In his great book, Real Christianity, Wilberforce writes:

“What a difference it would be if our system of morality were based on the Bible instead of the standards devised by cultural Christians.”

Wilberforce was confronting those who want to claim the name of Christ, but deny that Christ’s Lordship has the power to transform both individuals and whole societies. He wondered why so many professing Christians seemed embarrassed by the Name of Jesus and would only be caught uttering His Name in the safety of a house of worship.

As I read Wilberforce, I feel like he’s talking to Christians today–like he’s talking to me! The same struggles with fear and shame that he addressed so boldly are found among churches today. Brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Consider how Jesus called us to take our personal faith in Him public:

“What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” (Matthew 10:27, ESV)

Knowing we would be tempted to keep our faith private, Jesus said:

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33, ESV)

Jesus was speaking to His twelve Apostles, but notice how Jesus uses words like “everyone” and “whoever” to make the point. In other words, speaking about Jesus publicly is not something reserved for trained evangelists or those gifted in evangelism. Jesus is saying that our willingness to speak His Name in public is an accurate gauge of our relationship to Him. I don’t know about you, but I want Jesus to acknowledge me before the Father. These words should motivate us to boldly take the next step of faith in our relationship with Jesus. When we do speak openly of Jesus, the response will always be mixed. Sometimes, we may feel like we did a poor job of representing our Lord or didn’t say everything we could have, but again, speaking of Jesus is something to which “everyone” is called. And we can depend on the Holy Spirit to give us the words we need (Luke 12:11-12).

Unless people hear the message of Jesus, their hearts won’t be regenerated. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17, NIV). If we care about cultural renewal, we need to first care about renewal of hearts.

Christians should not intentionally be antagonistic toward others. We should use wisdom and seek to listen well before we speak. At the same time, we should be known for both what we believe and Whom we believe in. Both visibly and audibly, it should be plain to others that we belong to Jesus.

Jesus told Paul, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10, BSB). He told the other Apostles, “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life” (Acts 5:20, BSB).

Jesus called us to be salt and light in a culture shrouded in spiritual darkness and decay. We are called to take our faith public, and above all, to live with hope. 

Prayer:

Lord, help me to live with hope in dark days. Help me be the light you call me to be by the power of the Holy Spirit. On my own, I know I have very little to contribute, but with Your enabling power, I can reach others and make an impact in my generation. May this generation experience a reawakening to Your power, wisdom, and love. I ask this in the mighty Name of Jesus.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Failure Is Never Final

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional3 Comments

Before Jonas Salk discovered the vaccine for polio, he had to fail 200 times. When he was asked how he felt about those 200 failures, Salk said, “I never failed two hundred times in my life. I was taught not to use the word ‘failure.’ I just discovered two hundred ways how not to vaccinate for polio.”

Just think about that for a minute. 200 times. What if he had given up after that 200th attempt? Or even the 20th attempt? Polio was a deadly disease that afflicted thousands prior to the discovery of the vaccine. The disease claimed the life of 3,000 people in 1952 alone. Thank God, Salk didn’t quit early. Today, polio is almost completely eradicated across the world. Salk had to think of his failures in a way most people don’t in order to move forward to success.

In the Gospel of John, we read about another man with a series of failures. Peter grievously sinned by denying he even knew Jesus three times. But the truly amazing thing is how Jesus responded to Peter’s failures. Jesus didn’t abandon Peter or discard him as no longer useful to him. In fact, He gave Peter a position of extraordinary prominence in His newly launched church. 

This is an important reminder. When you have a God of infinite grace, failure can become a steppingstone to true success. It’s an opportunity for growth, if you’re willing to receive God’s grace. Every time you honestly confess your sin to God, think of it as taking one more step toward becoming the person He wants you to be.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV)

Most Christians will readily agree that confession leads to forgiveness, but do we really believe that Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness? 

There is tremendous freedom in bringing our failures into the light of God’s presence. He is a God who graciously forgives, but like a good father, He calls us to confess where we’ve gone wrong.

If I snap at my wife Whitney in the morning and then later that evening come home and say, “Hey, honey, what’s for dinner?” There’s still going to be a rift between us. Before our relationship can be restored to what it should be, I have to go through the painful experience of saying, “I was wrong for how I snapped at you earlier. Will you forgive me?” That’s how it always goes with relationships. 

We might assume Peter’s leadership career was over after that failure in the temple courts, but Jesus fully restored Peter. Think about that. It’s hard to imagine something more grievous than denying his Lord three times, but Jesus restored Peter and chose him to be the guy to first proclaim the gospel of grace in Jerusalem.

The same kind of thing could be said of Paul. He had a record of persecuting Christians and blaspheming Jesus, yet God used him to first take the gospel to the Gentile world. Paul even says that God chose people like him because they would showcase His grace and the fact that His cross and resurrection set us free from our past and restore us to our true calling (see 1 Timothy 1:16).

This is what makes Christianity so amazing! Because of the gospel, past failure doesn’t disqualify us from the calling God has on our lives.

While it’s important to confess sin to the Lord, it’s equally important to see that the Lord can grow you through your failures. Never give in to the lie that God is done using you because of something in your past. Maybe you’re holding onto something you need to surrender to Him.

So many Christians feel defeated by past failures and feel they can never move on and move forward in their walk with the Lord. If that’s you, please know that is not a word from God. That’s not Jesus telling you you’re disqualified. That’s the devil.

Revelation 12:10 calls the devil “the Accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accused them day and night before God.” This is one of Satan’s tactics. He will urge us to quit when we’ve blown it. Or tell us we’ve tried God’s patience too many times. Watch out for the critics you face in life. The more you say “Yes” to God’s calling on your life, the more critics will attack you.

But every time you stumble and fall, don’t let Satan sideline you.  By God’s grace, see it as another opportunity to rise again in the power of the Lord and get back in the fight.

Theodore Roosevelt said:

“It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

If you feel like you’ve failed Jesus too many times, see John 21:15-19 as an invitation to sit down by the fire with Jesus. Hear Him asking you, “Do you love Me?” 

And if the answer is “Yes,” then there’s always hope. And that love can drive you to keep following after Him.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Charlie Kirk, Evil, and the Hope of Jesus Christ

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life, Why I Believe3 Comments
Photo courtesy of First Freedoms Foundation

One of the most common objections to Christianity I hear is the problem of evil. How could a good God allow so much evil in His world? I think it’s good to think through this question as believers. It will inevitably come up as you interact with others about spiritual things and seek opportunities to tell others about the hope of Jesus Christ.

Let me first say that there is something very right about that question. It assumes evil is real. That may not sound too profound, but it’s the common ground we all have to deal with. Some things are truly evil. It’s not just that I don’t like certain things or that I get disgusted by certain things. There are some things in this world that are objectively and unambiguously evil, and we all know this, even if our worldview doesn’t have a basis for saying it.

This last week, the world witnessed true evil. Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old Christ-follower and popular conservative with a massive social media following, was murdered with a single bullet. The event shocked the world. In fact, I’ve talked with many people who have said they were shocked, but not surprised. 

I think what people mean is they are morally shocked by the act of cold-blooded murder, but intellectually, they know evil is sadly abundant in the world, so they aren’t all that surprised. I want to affirm the rightness of being morally shocked by the evil of murder. It is sadly the case that we are so inundated with news about murder, war, gang violence, and school shootings, that it would be easy for us to become calloused and forget how heinous each act of murder and violence truly is. 

Charlie Kirk was an outspoken Christian. He was very vocal in his views, so his name and his online presence were well-known. Many people sharply disagreed with Charlie’s views, and he was constantly on the receiving end of mockery, insults, outright hatred, and death threats for him and his family. And he was shot in broad daylight while debating college students in his trademark fashion that made him so popular among conservatives. All of this helps us understand how shocking his murder was. 

But I hope that we can see what is often lost in the noise: every murder is a violation of the sixth commandment. Murder is unequivocally evil, because every human life bears the image of God and has inestimable worth in God’s eyes. The Bible doesn’t offer a pat answer to the problem of evil or give us a clean explanation for the origin of evil. The fall in Genesis 3 explains the origin of human evil and the brokenness of the world, but the absolute origin of evil (Why did Satan rebel?) is not provided. This is likely because evil is ultimately irrational and incomprehensible. 

We aren’t called to fixate on evil, but to think about things that are lovely, pure, true, and beautiful (Philippians 4:8). We are to fix our eyes on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God who so lovingly and graciously gave up His life to rescue a world ensnared in the darkness of our own making. 

So, while the Bible doesn’t offer a thorough explanation of evil, it does give us the resources for calling something evil and then finding hope in a purely good God.

We know evil is evil because of its contrast with a perfectly good God. God alone is the standard of absolute goodness, and it’s only by looking to Him as our fixed reference point for all reality that we can see what evil, by contrast, looks like. Those who say evil makes no sense if God is real need to consider how calling something “evil” could make sense if there is no God. Every time you call something like murder evil, you are assuming a standard of goodness. You are saying, “This (murder) is wrong, because it does not conform to that which is good, true, and beautiful (protecting and honoring each human life as sacred).”

If your worldview has no room for God, then on what basis are you calling something “evil”? If we are just the product of a natural, blind, irrational process with no divine Mind behind it, we can talk about survival of the fittest, but not the arrival of moral absolutes. It is only because there is a transcendent Authority on good and evil that we can step back and call something unquestionably “evil.” But the Christian hope gives us more than a basis to call evil what it is; it offers us Jesus Christ as the redemptive hope for a lost world.

In one talk he gave in 2023, Charlie said, “Here is the gospel in four words: Jesus took my place.” Charlie recognized that he was a sinner in need of a Savior, and that Jesus and His sacrifice are the only hope for forgiveness and eternal life.

Jesus, too, was outspoken in His views on God, morality, and truth, and Jesus, too, was murdered graphically and publicly. 

What made Jesus unique, however, is that because He is the sinless Son of God, His death had the power to ransom evil people from their self-destruction and deliver them to the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may 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 I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18-19, ESV)

Jesus took our place. He laid down His life to suffer the consequences of the evil you and I have done, but because He is Lord, He took it up again and rose to life. Jesus called people to repent and believe this good news. Outside of Jesus, we each have to deal with the judgment our sins deserve, and it’s only in Jesus that love will overcome hate. 

May the death of Charlie Kirk spark a revival in our nation, with countless turning to Christ in faith. What man intends for evil, God intends for good (Genesis 50:20).

Jesus alone is the only hope for a lost and dying world, and because He is King, a glorious day is coming when all will be set right.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

What Hope Does God Offer Families of Flood Victims?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life4 Comments
Photo by Patrick Keely via Reuters

This last Friday (the 4th of July), flash flooding devastated central Texas. As of this writing, there are 104 confirmed deaths, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls camp outside Hunt, Texas. My heart breaks for the grieving families. As a husband and father, it’s difficult to imagine what they must be going through right now. Their sense of loss must be unbearable.

In times of tragedy, people ask, “Why would a God of love allow something so terrible to happen?”

I don’t even want to pretend I have an answer to that question. While the question is often asked, my response must be, “I don’t know why God allowed this particular tragedy.” Some things must be left to the inscrutable wisdom of God.

But here’s what I do know. I know that God is not a cold and distant God, unaware or uninterested in what happens in our life. In fact, I have spoken with many people who have told me that it was right in the middle of tragedy and devastating loss that God drew near and made His presence more real to them.

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18, NIV)

Somehow, in the midst of all the tears and heart-wrenching grief, God Himself comes near in love. He enfolds the crushed in His arms of compassion. 

“God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3, NLT)

Ultimately, it is the love of Jesus Christ that can bring healing to our deepest wounds. Although no answer to the “why” can ever bring a daughter or a sister back, it can help to know that our God knows what it’s like to live in a broken world under the curse of sin. When we wonder if God cares about our misery, consider Jesus, who clothed Himself in human flesh and walked this planet alongside the hurting, the broken, and the dying. He Himself experienced the grief of losing His dear friend, Lazarus. 

Consider that Jesus didn’t turn away but gazed into the eyes of Mary as she wept for her dead brother. He saw those mourning and felt the deep pangs of emotion stirring in His perfect soul.

When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. (John 11:33, NLT)

Jesus wasn’t merely disturbed; He was angry. How can the Son of God be angry at something in the world He created? Jesus felt a keen sense of anger at what sin and death have done to this world of human beings He created. His compassionate heart longed for the day when He would put all things right, when every tear would be wiped away and death would be no more and His creation would be made new (Revelation 21:4-5).

According to the Bible, it is not God but man who brought death into this world, but Christ’s empty tomb proves that death does not get the last word. 

“Just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.” (1 Corinthians 15:21, NLT)

Does God care about the flood in Texas? Does He see those parents mourning the loss of their little girl? Beyond question, He does. If you look at the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, you can know that He endured the agony of sin’s curse at a level we could never know in order to redeem this world from that curse. And one day, He will accomplish the final defeat of death, “the last enemy” to be destroyed (v. 26).

I invite you to pray with me for those grieving families.

Father God, You alone can bring the comfort we most need in the midst of devastating heartbreak. Show Your unfathomable love to those grieving families who were devastated by the Texas flood. We can’t understand why, but we thank You for the great love proved by the Cross. And we thank You for the hope of the resurrection of Jesus. May countless people turn to Your merciful heart in this time of deep loss. In Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.

If you have thoughts on this post, I would love to hear from you.

The Fear of Death and the God of Life

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life3 Comments 
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25, BSB)

The fear of death has long plagued humanity. It’s a universal dread that hangs over the whole world. It’s the knowledge that one day, we won’t wake up. One day, our loved ones, our family members, our favorite pet, all those we treasure most in life, will no longer be here. That’s a sobering thought.

And the fear of death is one that humans have tried to deal with from the beginning. How do we escape this fear? What hope do we have? What answers and assurance are there for us?

In his Gospel, the Apostle John wants us to see that the only remedy for the fear of death is the God of life, whom we meet in Jesus Christ. That’s why John puts so much focus on who Jesus is. He knows that nothing else matters if we get Jesus wrong.

God doesn’t want you to live your whole life in fear of death. He wants to give you the assurance of life found in Christ.

John 8 narrates a high-octane dialogue between Jesus and His biggest critics, the religious leaders of Israel. Jesus makes some astounding claims, calling these leaders “slaves to sin” and saying the devil is their daddy.[1] As you can imagine, those comments didn’t sit well with them.

These religious leaders figured, “Well, we can fight fire with fire!” So, they come back with this attack:

The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” (John 8:48, NIV)

Calling Jesus a “Samaritan” was supposed to be a racial slur, but that’s not the thing that bothered Jesus. However, calling the holy Son of God “demon-possessed” is outright blasphemy. So why would they do that?

See, it was so hard to deny that something supernatural was happening with Jesus. Even the Jewish Talmud concedes that Jesus was doing some kind of supernatural deeds, but they attribute them to satanic sorcery. Some Jews today still believe that Jesus was in league with the devil.

In fact, Rabbi Daniel Asor, not long ago said, “Jesus was a false prophet, for he acted only through sorcery. He himself is the embodiment of Satanism.”

But today, that’s a minority opinion on Jesus. Most people today think of Jesus as a kindly “Mr. Rogers” type of guy who was just a great example of love and compassion. People like Madonna and Justin Timberlake have worn T-shirts calling Jesus their “Homeboy.” Oprah Winfrey has said that she finds Jesus to be an “inspiration,” and Brad Pitt has said that he “respects” Him. That sounds pretty safe. Who wouldn’t want to get on board with a Jesus who is there to cheer us on and left an example of love and kindness?

Now, it’s true that Jesus was full of love and compassion. In fact, no one else comes even close. But what if this view of Jesus is so watered down that it’s not even recognizable when we look at what the real Jesus said and did?

There’s a sense in which people like Brad Pitt say they “respect” Jesus because it allows them to stay a safe distance away and avoid the biggest truth about who Jesus claimed to be. But Jesus doesn’t merely want to be respected or inspire us to be nice. He came into this world making the most earth-shaking claims imaginable. So, to downplay what Jesus actually said is to ignore the real Jesus.

See, who Jesus really is matters because if Jesus claimed to be God 2,000 years ago, that claim still stands today. If it was true in the first century, it must be true in the 21st century.

So, Jesus sets the record straight.

“I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” (John 8:49-51, NIV)

And here Jesus makes an enormous claim. “Whoever obeys [or holds to or commits themselves to] His Word will never see death.”

Jesus is referring to spiritual death: separation from God. He’s speaking in the same sense as when John earlier said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.”[2]

Jesus is saying that He alone holds the answer to the timeless question of our mortality.

Many philosophers have made the case that the fear of death drives nearly all human behavior. Even when we’re not conscious of it, it’s there under the surface, shaping the way that we approach all of life. Some have said that philosophy itself is the mind’s way of trying to transcend the looming specter of death.

But of course, it’s not just philosophers that have tried to overcome the fear of death.

Here’s what the Bible says. Jesus died for us, “that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14-15, NIV).

Interestingly, people have tried all sorts of ways to get around death, to stave it off, and avoid it. But God calls us to confront the reality of our own death, so that we will be prepared for what comes next. So, here’s a question: How often do you reflect on your own death? Most people try to avoid the subject as much as possible.

If you were to ask the Bible, “Why do we die?” The answer is that we were never meant to die. Death is an enemy and a foreign invader into God’s good world (1 Corinthians 15:26). It’s here because sin is here (Romans 5:12). When our first parents rebelled against God, death made its first entry. That’s because when you rebel against the God of life, death is the result. This fear of death tells us that things are not as they should be. And people have come up with all sorts of ways to try to deny death.

Believe it or not, there are those today who have the hope that through medical advancements, like stem cell research and nanobots, they will be able to avoid death altogether. The logic goes something like this: We know that death is caused by certain diseases, disorders, or bodily malfunctions, so all we must do is find a cure for every disease and disorder, and we will be able to live indefinitely.

The first Facebook president, Sean Parker, has boasted: “Because I’m a billionaire, I’m going to have access to better healthcare… I’m going to be like 160 and I’m going to be part of this, like, class of immortal overlords.”

He’s not the only one talking this way. In a recent TED talk, British researcher Aubrey de Grey claimed that through nanobot technology, “the first human beings who will live to 1,000 years old have already been born.” As it turns out, the search for the mythical fountain of youth has continued even in the 21st century.

But at the end of the day, I have to say, it’s all incredibly foolish. There’s only One who can save you from death, and I assure you, it’s not nanobots! It’s the One who called Himself “The Resurrection and the Life.”

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

[1] John 8:31-44

[2] John 3:36, NIV

Praying When God Seems Distant

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional3 Comments 
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12, ESV)

For many people, the only prayer they practice is a kind of formal, perfunctory prayer that is done at family gatherings. Such people struggle with prayer because they’ve never viewed prayer as an intimate conversation with God. Jesus warned us not to be like religious hypocrites who use prayer as a chance to win the admiration of others (Matthew 6:5). At its heart, prayer is about experiencing relational nearness to our Lord and Shepherd.

Prayer Is Essential

The number one reason so many Christians lack spiritual vitality in their life is because of neglect of private prayer. “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased” (Psalm 138:3).

It’s fascinating to study the accounts of great men and women throughout history and how consistently each one of them was a person of fervent and consistent prayer.

George Muller, who helped care for more than 10,000 orphans in England and provided education for more than 120,000 children had a daily habit of beginning each day with several hours of prayer. Charles Simeon rose at 4 am every day, so he could spend the first four hours in prayer. Susannah Wesley, the busy mother of 19 children, would sit in a rocking chair with an apron over her head praying passionately for her children. And her prayers were no doubt effective, because two of her sons Charles and John went on to make a tremendous difference for Christ.

Now, on the one hand, it’s inspiring to hear such stories. But if we’re honest, we can also feel a little guilty that we devote so little time to prayer. Such stories might inspire us while simultaneously making us feel like spiritual failures.

But what if we began small? What if we committed to set aside only ten minutes per day to nothing but sitting in the presence of God, opening up our hearts, communing with our Lord, and interceding on behalf of others?

Zondervan conducted a survey of 678 respondents about prayer, and only 23 felt satisfied with the time they were spending in prayer. In his book, Prayer, Philip Yancey recounts some of the struggles he has had with praying to an invisible God. He writes, “In theory prayer is the essential human act, a priceless point of contact with the God of the universe. In practice prayer is often confusing and fraught with frustration.”

We pray because prayer speaks to a universal human need. We are dependent creatures. We were not made for life without God. As Thomas Merton put it, “Prayer is an expression of who we are… We are a living incompleteness. We are a gap, an emptiness that calls for fulfillment.”

If you don’t know how to pray, our Lord Jesus tells us to begin with acknowledging who God is and what He calls us to be (Matthew 6:9-13). In fact, while many view prayer primarily as a way to get things from God, prayer should be first and foremost about intimacy with God.

Why Does God Sometimes Seem Distant?

And for us to have an intimate relationship with God, we need to acknowledge the ways we have turned away from God and repent. Through the prophet Isaiah, God even tells the nation of Israel that because of their national sins, God has turned away from hearing their prayers.

“When you spread out your hands in prayer,
    I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
    I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!
Wash and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
    stop doing wrong.
Learn to do right; seek justice.
    Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
    plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:15-17, NIV)

The way back to God begins with owning our sin and repenting. That’s a sobering warning. God does not tolerate sin in the midst of His people. He says, “You’re lifting up hands in prayer, but those hands are covered in the blood of the innocent. You’re crying out for Me to listen to you, but you haven’t listened to those most hurting around you.”

This is a warning for all of us. Are we treating others fairly? Are we staying faithful to our marriage vows? Are we treating those who look and think differently from us the same way we treat those who look and think like us? Are we sharing food with the hungry? Are we showing compassion for both the preborn baby in the womb, and also for the unwed mother who feels abandoned and alone? Are we acknowledging the sin in our past, repenting toward God, and seeking the forgiveness that is offered through the finished work of Jesus alone?

Sin is not the only reason God can seem absent in prayer. Even spiritual giants such as King David, Asaph, Ethan the Ezrahite, and the prophet Habakkuk lamented times when God seemed distant (Psalm 13:1; 80:4; 89:46; Habakkuk 1:2). Scripture would urge us to not give up in prayer even when God feels far away. It’s often during the “dark night of the soul,” as John of the Cross put it, that God is doing His deepest work in our souls.

But whatever you do, don’t give up! The Holy Spirit will help us to pray even when we have no idea what to say in prayer (Romans 8:26).

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12, ESV)

Praying to a Loving Father

If God were a cold and aloof deity, we could hardly bear the thought of praying to Him, considering how we have all failed Him. But here’s why Jesus taught us to begin by addressing God as “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). Think of how a good father will do anything to protect and provide for his children. Consider how quickly a good father is willing to lift his little child in his arms and hold them close to his chest, even after that child has rebelled countless times.

“As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:13, ESV)

This is why Jesus said God is “our Father.” He loves His children beyond words. In one sense our unrepentant sin is indeed the obstacle to intimacy with God. On the other hand, the primary hindrance to prayer is a failure to see God as a Father who loves us with an unshakable and undying love and is eager to forgive His repentant children. Not only that, but God even delights in you!

If we begin here, knowing that our God is a loving and compassionate Father who willingly takes back the prodigal son or daughter and showers him or her with kisses, we will be willing to repent and ask for forgiveness for the wrongs we have done. In prayer, we approach the Father through the Son, who fully paid for all our sin on the cross. That is why the Book of Hebrews says we can boldly approach the throne of grace, knowing that He is a Father who loves us dearly (Hebrews 4:16).

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

The Nations Rage, but Jesus Reigns

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional, Theology for Life3 Comments

With the 2024 U. S. presidential election fast approaching, many people are feeling anxious about our nation’s uncertain future. Who will lead our country for the next four years? Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? How will this shape our nation’s future, both at home and abroad? Around this time, political opponents amp up their disdain for one another while simultaneously putting themselves forward as the savior this nation needs in order to once more have freedom and justice reign in the land.

During this time, Christians feel a collective longing for the return of our Savior, King Jesus, who will ultimately do what every political figure only attempts to do in their own way but always fails to do.

The Bible lays out the reality that until Jesus’ soon return, there will be two kingdoms vying for our allegiance in the world. The church father Augustine called them “the City of God” and “the earthly city” (or the City of Man). The City of God is marked by those who have centered all their hopes on the rule and reign of the King of kings, who, unlike every human leader, will rule with perfect justice, truth, and grace. The City of Man opposes the rule of Jesus and seeks to establish a kind of secular humanism utopia on earth, undistracted by threats of divine judgment.

As a follower of Jesus in America, I look around at a culture that is sinking deeper and deeper into moral corruption and arrogance. I know that only King Jesus can set things right and rescue His world from the curse of sin and death. I am thankful to be an American citizen and for the sacrifices that have won the freedoms my family and I enjoy. But first and foremost, my “citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:19). Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me,” not Congress and not the person in the White House (Matthew 28:18).

Some Christians, distraught over the state of the culture, have decided to politically disengage and not vote this November. They refuse to vote because they dislike the choice of either candidate. I’ve heard one young man say, “I don’t like either one. What’s the point?”

In some ways, I can understand his frustration. I probably wouldn’t disagree with many points he might raise. However, I believe that Christians should still be politically engaged, even when a vote may feel like a vote for the lesser of two evils.

It’s always been true, not just in 2024, that no political candidate will ever measure up to Jesus. It is for His rule and reign that we long. Nevertheless, until the fullness of His kingdom has arrived, we are left with fallen politicians in a fallen world. Simply by voting, you are not putting your hope in a flawed candidate. But you are seeking to influence the world around you—even in some small measure—by prayerfully voting for an administration with policies that most closely aligns with the truth of God’s Word.

Jesus calls His followers to be salt and light in the world, which means we are meant to have an impact for the kingdom wherever we live. Hitting the eject button and completely disengaging from the culture isn’t an option. As Jesus put it, lamps don’t belong under a basket, but on a stand to give light to all in the house.

Furthermore, many biblical convictions have a direct bearing in the political realm. For example, all Christians should agree that life is sacred and that we must do all we can to preserve the life of preborn babies. This is but one example, but protection of human life should be central to our convictions. For that reason, I intend to cast a vote that most closely aligns with my biblical convictions.

Ultimately, however, the election is a gospel opportunity to give reasons for our hope. For the Jesus-follower, the election is not a time to be anxious; it is a time to point others to the hope and peace found in King Jesus and His coming kingdom, not any earthly government or kingdom.

Psalm 2 speaks prophetically of how every political regime that sets itself up against the reign of King Jesus is destined for destruction.

Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
“Let us break their chains
    and throw off their shackles.” (Psalm 2:1-3, NIV)

Notice that the political rulers of various nations are banding “together against the Lord” in a kind of godless globalism. They say, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” For those who pridefully oppose the reign of God, His moral truth always feels like restrictive chains. But Jesus said, “The truth will set you free.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
“I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.” (Psalm 2:4-6, NIV)

Political rulers may set themselves up as the saviors of this world, but God laughs at their folly. This is not the laughter of being pleased. God condemns them for thinking they can rule His world and reject His Messiah-King.

God the Father goes on to promise His Son, King Jesus, the nations as His inheritance (v. 8). As the hymn puts it:

Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
does its successive journeys run,
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.

The nations rage, but Jesus will reign.

Psalm 2 is a warning to every national ruler who fails to acknowledge the supremacy of Jesus Christ over every nation and people. The nations today are but a drop in the bucket; the kingdom of God is eternal. But make no mistake. The reign of Jesus is not some graceless tyranny. We are called to “celebrate His rule with trembling” (v. 11). Salvation comes to those who bow the knee to the true Lord of the world.

But if you don’t humbly welcome His rule and reign over your life, “He will be angry and your way will lead you to your destruction, for His wrath can flare up in a moment” (v. 12). If you haven’t yet, this is a call to yield your life to the King of kings. The text says to “Kiss the Son,” which is another way of saying, “Give Him your absolute allegiance.” When you do, you will not fall prey to either misguided triumphalism when your candidate wins or overwhelming despair when your candidate loses. Instead, you will pray to God, “Your kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.”

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Are You a Cultural Christian?

On By Jason SmithIn Devotional2 Comments 
“In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4).

Recently, I heard someone use a phrase I often hear: “I’ve always tried to be a good Christian man.” Hearing this statement got me thinking. What do most people mean when they claim to be a “good Christian” or even a “Christian”? Just because a phrase is used all the time doesn’t mean we are all meaning the same thing. In fact, when people don’t clearly explain what they mean by a certain term, that often means there are a lot of hidden assumptions.

For so many people today, they think that being a Christian is about doing all the good, Christian things we’re supposed to be doing. They think that as long as they are listening to Christian music, going to church, occasionally posting a Bible verse on Facebook or X, then they must be a Christian.

For many, “Jesus” is more of an idea than a person. He’s a flannel graph character with a beard and long hair who likes to cuddle lambs. Others consider Jesus their “homeboy” or “co-pilot,” according to their T-Shirt or bumper sticker. It’s as if Jesus is merely this invisible guy that exists for them.

Jefferson Bethke is an author and songwriter who grew up thinking he knew what being a Christian was all about. In his book Jesus is Greater Than Religion, he talks about when he first started attending a Christian university, he tried to fit in with everyone else.

Jefferson writes, “So I decided to copy what ‘being a Christian’ was all about by watching others. I took off my earrings, stopped wearing basketball jerseys, tried my hardest to memorize Hillsong United’s greatest hits, and listened to the Christian radio station. I thought that if I did enough Christian things, it would bring peace to my life. It didn’t work.”

Jefferson eventually realized that though he called himself a Christian, he wasn’t really following Jesus, but an Americanized religious subculture. He came to see that the real Jesus of the Bible is far more powerful and radical than the Sunday School version he’d been taught.

He finally recognized his religious works were nothing but foolish attempts to try to buy God off. He understood now that God is holy, just, and righteous. Furthermore, he was everything God was not. That’s why he needed the cross. On “Skull Rock,” Jesus lovingly gave up His life so that he could have life. Jesus bore the penalty that God’s justice demanded for his sins, and on the third day, He rose in triumph from the grave.

Jefferson came to the foot of the cross and surrendered to the real and living Jesus for the first time.

In view of cultural Christianity, he adds, “In our subculture Jesus would have never been crucified—he’s too nice… The Jesus of the Bible is a radical man with a radical message, changing people’s lives in a radical way. In the Scriptures, Jesus isn’t safe.”

That reminds me of the line from C. S. Lewis’s book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. When Lucy asks if Aslan the lion (who represents Jesus) is safe, Mr. Beaver tells the Pevensie children: “‘Safe?… Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.’”

The real Jesus is not tame and de-clawed. He’s more like a roaring lion in all His glory. He’s not just a “good feeling” to get you through the day. He’s not your “co-pilot.” In Him is life. We exist by Jesus and for Jesus. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end—not just the guy to help you get through the middle.

Listen to this description from Colossians 1:15-17:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

In Jesus everything holds together. Every atom in the universe is bound together and ordered by Jesus! He is the Lord over all creation! He is the reason for your existence. Your very life exists by His continuing power. Jesus is not just a religious figure from long ago. He’s not just the most influential person in history. He is the God-man! And you were created for His glory.

So what about you? Have you encountered the real Jesus? Spend some time in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and carefully consider what you find.

Do you know Him as the sovereign King that He is? Have you bowed the knee and entrusted your eternity to Him? Have you taken up your cross, and are you now following Him?

Are you a cultural Christian? Or, are you a committed Christ-follower?

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!

Suicide and the Serious Business of Heaven

On By Jason SmithIn Theology for Life, Why I Believe3 Comments 
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11, ESV)

Jesus wants us to experience joy. The Bible is all about finding joy from the true Fountain of Joy. It’s not about faking a smile so that everyone thinks you’re okay. The Bible emphasizes the kind of joy that wells up from deep within, because we have found the reason for our existence.

God did not make us to live as bored and miserable creatures. Every one of us longs to experience a meaningful life. Deep down, we know that we were not made for a dreary, barren existence. We were made for a bigger joy than anything this world can give us. Our hearts are deeper than we know. Only God Himself is big enough to fill them with lasting joy.

C. S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.”[1] Where you find joy says everything about you. In fact, I think it’s one of the clearest ways to know if you are a genuine follower of Jesus. Because if you are, then you have the Holy Spirit living inside you, and the Holy Spirit changes everything He touches. He brings warmth and life to what is otherwise cold and dead. He is the Source of true joy. Just like a branch draws sap from the trunk, we receive life-giving joy from the Spirit who dwells inside us.

Just think about this. Does it make sense to have the Fountain of everlasting joy live inside you, yet always be gloomy and miserable? Certainly, Christians get sad, too. But the true Christian still has the wellspring of everlasting joy living within, and that will buoy them when nothing else can.

Running on Empty

Our society today demonstrates that material possessions and economic wealth cannot make us happy. In the United States, we are one of the wealthiest countries in the world—not only today, but in all of history—and yet we are also one of the most anxious and depressed nations in the world. Advertisements today promise us happiness through purchasing a certain product, such as a car, or taking a vacation. And we have bought the lies that leave us empty.

Sociologists tell us that suicidal ideation is at an all-time high today—even higher than during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In the next hour, more than five Americans will take their own life. By the end of the day, that number will reach roughly 130 people. In the course of 2024, an estimated 47,000 people will have committed suicide. These numbers should astonish us, but it’s impossible to calculate the amount of pain caused by even a single suicide.

Many people today pay little attention to the Bible. Frankly, they don’t care what a bunch of Jews wrote two thousand years ago. And yet, this book claims to offer the joy that our world is desperately craving.

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11, ESV)

The same Holy Spirit that indwelled Jesus and indwelled the Apostles indwells His followers today. The Holy Spirit closes the gap so that everything in our Bibles is relevant to us today, because the deep truths they talked about 2,000 years ago remain true for us today. Jesus is just as relevant.

People were sinners in need of a Savior back then, and people are sinners in need of a Savior today. People were hurting, miserable, and lacking joy back then, and people today are hurting, miserable, and lost.

Why Do People Commit Suicide?

Dr. Matthew Sleeth is a medical doctor who saw countless patients in the emergency room who had attempted to take their own life. Dr. Sleeth is now a follower of Jesus, but for most of his medical career, he was an atheist. During that time, he observed the protective effect of belief in a personal God when it comes to suicide.

In his book Hope Always, Dr. Sleeth notes how suicide doesn’t really fit with the theory of evolution, a theory that teaches all of life owes its existence to the principle of survival of the fittest. In fact, in study after study, it’s been shown that suicide is unknown in the animal kingdom. So, the question is: Why do we commit suicide?

Dr. Sleeth writes:

“…for most of my medical career, I was an atheist. Nonetheless, in the course of seeing some thirty thousand patients, I couldn’t help but notice the positive role faith played in my patients’ ability to cope and recover from both mental and physical illness. In fact, faith seemed to be the crucial factor in most of those who successfully recovered from long-term addictions.”[2]

If we were made for God and joy really is the serious business of Heaven, then it makes sense that a wholesale rejection of God—as we are seeing in our culture today—will lead to tragic increases in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

He adds, “God helps when it comes to suicide. It’s a fact. Yet the current sixty-one-page report published by the CDC on suicide expunges God and faith from the discussion of suicide and depression.”[3]

 Jesus alone can give you the joy your soul is craving.

His joy can be in you today, in 2024, because Jesus is alive today. That’s what the story of Easter is all about. He defeated all our enemies—sin, death, and the devil—so that we can be restored to union with Him that we were made for.

In other words, you can’t be united to Jesus by faith and not have joy. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). That doesn’t mean every day is easy and filled with laughter for the follower of Christ. But it does mean that from the bottom of your soul, you can know that friendship with Jesus is the only way to true joy. And it means you can have the confidence that Jesus is greater and more satisfying than anything this world has to offer.

No career will give you this kind of joy. No house or car will give you this joy. No relationship or marriage—no matter how amazing it might be—can possibly give you what Jesus can give you. That’s because He offers a supernatural joy. Again, this was Jesus’ promise for His disciples, and that includes us today:

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11, ESV)

The Extraordinary Life of Following Jesus

As our friend, Jesus is giving us another motivation to follow Him. The life of discipleship is the context for the above statement. He is saying we’ll know deep joy if we abide (or make our home) in Him. This is not how the world thinks. The world thinks that if we turn from what the Bible calls “sin” and start following Christ, then our life will seem so dull and restrictive. But the truth is the very opposite: Living as Christ’s disciple is liberating and invigorating. I get to walk hand-in-hand with the Creator of the stars! He wants to talk with me from His Word, guide me by His ever-present Spirit, and hear from me. He treasures me more than the birds of the sky or the flowers of the field. And I am His. What could possibly be better than this?

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness.” (Psalm 30:11, ESV)

Living in sin might be pleasurable for a season, but it will actually choke out all sense of joy. In the end, sin is always a joy-killer, not a joy-giver. Because sin always disrupts good and right fellowship with our Lord. And He is the One that can fill us with joy.

I can say I used to think like the world about this. When I was in high school, I simply thought of obeying Jesus as “the right thing to do” and there were even times I resented the fact that, as a Christian, I didn’t get to have all the so-called “fun” that other teenagers were having. And though I wouldn’t have said it, I sometimes even felt a little deprived. But today I see things far better. I recognize how nothing can compete with the joy of knowing Jesus.

It’s not what you’d expect, but there is deep and profound joy in surrendering every part of your life to Christ.

Because when you consciously give yourself to Jesus, you experience more of His love, His goodness. There’s freedom in knowing your sins are forgiven, and you can gladly say, “Not my will, but Your will be done in my life.”

And what’s the alternative? Do you really want to look to yourself to be the one manufacturing all your joy? Do you really want to carry every burden in life on your own shoulders? How much better to let Jesus lift all your burdens and listen to Him. Because His Word has greater wisdom than this world can offer.

The Joy of Your Salvation

For a time, King David thought he could find joy outside of God. He looked for it in the arms of a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. But though he had pleasure for a night, that adultery led to the sin of lying, which led to the sin of murder. And then even more deception. And as his heart hardened into concrete, all the joy was sapped out of him. In Psalm 51, he talks about how he was a tormented soul; his own guilt was crushing him.

It took a prophet of God to confront him, just like the Word of God confronts us today. And then David, broken as he was, poured out his heart to God:

“Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love.” (Psalm 51:1-2, ESV)

God responded to his repentance by lifting his weight of guilt. And then David could pray:

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:12, ESV)

Forgiveness was no longer an abstract idea for David. He had experienced it on a level he never knew possible. He was washed completely clean, and then he once again knew the sheer joy of being loved and known and cherished by God. What a gift! He didn’t deserve it. But God is abundantly merciful and loves to extend forgiveness to all who cry out to Him just like David did.

It took a humble surrender on David’s part before he experienced the “joy of salvation.” Such is always the case.

You want to know what can steal your joy? Thinking too highly of yourself (see Romans 12:3). Thinking everyone owes you. That you’re always in the right and that everyone else is in the wrong.

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. True humility means having no sense of entitlement, no sense of God owing you, but instead having an overwhelming sense of gratitude that God has given you so many extraordinary gifts you simply don’t deserve. True humility comes from learning to delight in God Himself.

Think often of how gracious God has been to you. God has loved you while knowing everything about you. And He loves you more than anyone else ever could or would.

Abiding in Jesus comes from humbly recognizing just how much we need Him in every part of our lives. It’s 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 your soul is behind the wheel. Because He can give you fullness of joy.

If you have any questions or thoughts about any of this, I would love to hear from you!

[1] C. S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, 93.

[2] Dr. Matthew Sleeth, Hope Always, 44.

[3] Ibid, 45.