What Authority?

Have you had people ask you why you follow Jesus? Have they asked you why you believe He is your Savior? Did their questions cause you to pause and reconsider your belief in Him? How did you answer them? Did you answer them like Jesus answered those who questioned Him?

Sometimes we are put on the spot. Someone who doesn’t believe, or doesn’t want to believe, asks us why we believe. The person who doesn’t believe attempts to put us down because of our belief. The one who doesn’t want to believe may be seeking an answer that will pull them off the fence.

So, how should we answer? We wrestle with that question when asked. Might I suggest we have an answer ready before we are asked that question? By being prepared, we are following the guidance Peter gives in 1 Peter 3:15. We can be prepared by thinking about the types of questions we have heard in the past and by thinking about how others might try to trip us up.

Jesus gives us an example in Matthew 21:23-27. He doesn’t give a straightforward answer but asks a question instead. We might decide to do the same. If someone asks why we believe in Jesus, rather than trying to provide hard evidence of the truth we know, we might ask them why they believe there is no eternal life. We might ask why they believe they achieve a goal they have set. We could ask why they are planning for retirement in their twenties, not knowing if they will live to retirement.

Could these questions be controversial or seem callous? Sure. But causing them to wrestle with questions for which they have no answer may just cause them to reconsider their beliefs (or non-beliefs) about Jesus. We don’t need to be confrontational. Our goal is to cause the other person to think. Our question may ignite a curiosity that brings them to Christ.

I pray we all are prepared to answer questions about our belief. I pray we seek to cause others to think. I pray each one of us will encourage others to believe in Jesus through our conversations with them. Be prepared. Lovingly challenge others. Seek to bring others to Christ.

Matthew 21:23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

Work Out Your Salvation

Have you ever feared for your life? Have you faced an extremely tough situation in which you had to figure out how you would get through it? Were you forced into to doing something you would not normally do? Are you willing to go against your human inclination for eternity’s sake?

Facing a life and death situation can change our perspective for years to come. It can cause us to run amuck, taking incredible chances with our lives. It can also cause us to cherish every moment we have and turn us toward the only One who has promised us eternity.

The Apostle Paul tells the church in Philippi to work out their own salvation. He could just as easily be writing to each of us. But what does he mean? He is talking about working through our own selfishness, being willing to give it up, and turning to Christ to obtain the eternal life we all long for. When he speaks of fear and trembling, he means to be in awe of God and revere him as the sovereign king of all creation.

Most of us have not been in the presence of someone who has significant power. In our world today, we often dismiss those who are in power and look at them with no more regard than any other person we meet. We are more likely to be in awe of celebrities than rulers. No matter which person we are in awe of, we should be in far more awe of God than any of them.

We are to recognize that God is at work in each of us. He is working in us to provide us the ability and opportunity to serve him and his purposes. When we deny it, we are denying the only One who has power over us for eternal life or eternal torment. Our shortsightedness will cost us in the end. We must turn our attention to God, his Son, and his purpose for our life. That is how we work out our own salvation.

I pray we all turn our attention to God. I pray we are in awe of and revere God. I pray each one of us will work out our salvation by submitting to God and his purposes for our lives. Be in awe of God. Give God your reverence. Give up your selfishness. Work out your salvation. Commit yourself to Jesus.

Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Mind of Jesus

Have you wondered what your frame of mind should be? Do you desire to be of the same mind as Jesus Christ? Have you considered His outlook on life? Would you like to know how Jesus approached life on this earth? Do you know we have it written for us?

We may say we want to be like Jesus. We may think we are pursuing being like Him. However, when we pause to take an honest look at how we approach life, we find ourselves falling short. We then write it off as being human and unable to be perfect as He is.

Oh, how we fool ourselves. Or, perhaps, we allow Satan to fill our minds with foolish thoughts. It is not easy for us to become like Jesus, but we can. It takes discipline. It takes commitment. It takes a deep desire, not merely wanting it. It requires action. It requires us to know Jesus intimately and continually working toward the goal of being like Him.

What can we compare it to? I compare it to an athlete who desires to play at the highest professional level yet is not quite as skilled as others. The athlete must spend more time training and honing their skills. They must have more dedication than the others. They must make their goal their number one priority, focusing every effort on achieving it.

When we look at the verses following today’s passage, we see the attitude, mindset, and outlook on life of Jesus. Paul succinctly tells us how Jesus approached life and accomplishing His mission. Take time to read Philippians 2:6-11. Ask yourself if you have the same mind. Be honest. It is only when we are honest with ourselves that we can seek the change we say we want. It is only seeing how far we fall short that we can gather the determination to achieve our goal. It is only by dedicating ourselves to Jesus and asking Him to help us that we can become like Him.

I pray we all take time to understand Jesus’ mindset on life. I pray we desire to be of the same mind with Him. I pray each one of us will dedicate our efforts to be like Jesus and ask Him to help us. Know Jesus’ mindset. Seek to be of the same mind. Strive to be like Jesus. Dedicate yourself to Him.

Philippians 2:5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who,…

Old Sayings

How many old sayings can you remember? How many wives tales have you heard? Do you remember any of the clichés you have heard from your parents or grandparents? Have you given any thought to them recently? Do you put any credence in them?

We have likely heard many old sayings in our lifetimes. If we have not, we will. Some of them sound questionable, until at some point in our lives we find they are true. When we are young, we don’t pay much attention to them. We cast them aside, thinking we know better.

When we are young, we don’t understand the saying, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. We may not fully understand it as we grow older. The meaning of some old sayings lose their meaning…or their meaning gets lost over time. When that happens, we must do some research or spend some time thinking to rediscover the meaning.

We are told in Psalm 78 that old sayings and teachings from God will return. God’s sayings and teachings are true generation after generation. We may not want to hear them, but we cannot dispute their truth. We have heard that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His truth is the truth for yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

We would be well served to read God’s Word and heed its truths. We may think his truths are old and outdated, yet human nature, at its core, has not changed and God’s truths still apply. Learning lessons from our ancestors and from God will help us from making the same mistakes they made during their lives.

I pray we all read God’s Word and understand his truths. I pray we heed God’s truths. I pray each one of us will choose to learn from our ancestors and God to better our lives. Read the old sayings. Read God’s Word. Trust in God’s truths. Apply them in your life. Live a better life.

Psalm 78:1-3

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; 

incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 

I will open my mouth in a parable; 

I will utter dark sayings from of old, 

things that we have heard and known, 

that our ancestors have told us.

God Will Provide

Yesterday, we asked ourselves if we will complain or trust God. Today, we look at God being able to provide for us in all situations. Do we believe that? Really, deep down in our hearts believe that? Do we act like we believe it? Or are we only giving lip service?

Tough questions for us to wrestle with. The Israelites were grumbling at Moses. They were thirsty. And why wouldn’t they be? They were wandering through a desert. There was no way they could carry enough water for thousands of them, let alone enough water for all the sheep, goats, and oxen.

God heard their grumbling, but I don’t believe he gave them water because they were grumbling. I’m not sure he did it because he felt sorry for Moses who had to listen to the grumbling. No, I believe he gave them water to drink because he loved them, and he wanted to show them he had the power to give them water from anywhere.

Take a look at how God brought water to them. He had Moses hit a rock with his wooden staff! From a purely human perspective, that makes absolutely no sense. Of our own accord we could never cause water to come out of a rock by hitting it with a stick. We could use a thousand sticks to hit a thousand rocks and never draw water.

God did it because he could. He did it because he cared for his people. He can and will do it for us. Will we believe? Will we ask? God cares for us as much as he cared for the Israelites. He wants to bring good things into our lives. Yet, we often don’t ask, nor do we believe. I know this firsthand. Been there, done that, and sometimes still do it. We all should be asking God to provide with full belief he will.

I pray we all believe God can do anything to provide for us. I pray we know he cares enough for us to provide. I pray each one of us will ask God to provide for our needs and trust him to do so. Believe in God. Believe God will provide. Ask God to provide. Take him up on his promises.

Exodus 17:6-7 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Complain or Trust

Have you followed instructions and experienced things going well? Have you experienced things going well for a while only to suddenly not go well? How did you react when things took an unexpected turn? Did you cry out to God and wonder if he cared for you?

There are times when it seems all is right with the world. We are accomplishing tasks in our daily jobs. Our family is well—no illnesses, no injuries, no diseases, and no drama. Our church is experiencing visitors, many of whom decide to return and become members.

When things are going very well, we enjoy it but also may be looking over our shoulder, waiting for something to go wrong. If we have lived a few decades, we have experienced things going well for a while and suddenly taking a nosedive into what seems to be a bottomless pit. That is where the Israelites found themselves as they were roaming the wilderness.

It can be difficult for us to understand their journey. The first thing we must remember is they had no automobiles and there were not many large cities. They were a people who were used to farming, raising animals, and living near sources of fresh water. They were a people of manual labor and walking long distances to get from one place to another. They knew they needed fresh water to survive. As they followed God into the wilderness, they suddenly found themselves without water. Of course, they didn’t complain to God but complained to Moses, their intermediary.

We sometimes do the same thing. Our church attendance and membership are in decline. We ask the pastor why. We look to the pastor to develop and implement an innovative program to draw people to the church. Just like the Israelites, we have lost our faith in God. We no longer believe he will provide. And we are no longer carrying out his work. Rather than complaining, we would be much better off to ask God to guide us in the work he would have us do and trust him to provide.

I pray we all trust God is in control when things are going well. I pray we trust God is in control when things are not going well. I pray each one of us will ask God for guidance and continue to work for him. Trust God at all times. Ask God for guidance. Follow God’s guidance. 

Exodus 17:1-2 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”

Accept All Who Jesus Accepts

Do you like competition? Do you compete in virtually everything you do? Do you want to finish first? Are you continually striving to be better than others? What if I told you, it was all in vain?

Many of us are competitors, even if not in the traditional sports sense. We compete to get ahead in this world. We compete to better our physical lives. We even compete in the church, seeking praise from others for our humbleness, piety, and love of Christ.

Jesus tells us there is no competition. Everyone will receive the inheritance of eternity with Him if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Every one of us will receive the crown of life. Jesus gives it to all who accept Him.

But that is not all we learn from the parable that ends with the verse below. We learn that we must accept all those He accepts. That can be difficult for us to do. Those of us who have lived a Christian life all our lives can find it very challenging to accept someone who receives Christ just before death. We may think it unfair.

Yet Jesus tells us He has accepted them, and we should, too. In fact, they may be placed before us! Rather than being disgruntled or sad, we are to be joyous and sing the praises of Christ for welcoming them into the kingdom. After all, when one sinner repents the angels of heaven rejoice (Luke 15:10).

Jesus does not live by the world’s rules. He lives by God’s rules. We are counseled not to live by the world’s rules, but to live by God’s rules. God’s rules are perfect. They are unchanging. They are to be our guidance throughout our lives.

I pray we all learn to live by God’s rules. I pray we give up living by the world’s rules. I pray each one of us accepts every person Christ accepts into His kingdom. Rejoice when a sinner repents. Rejoice when a soul is added to the kingdom of heaven. Sing with the angels. Obey God’s rules. Accept everyone Jesus accepts.

Matthew 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Be a Laborer

Are you a hired laborer? Do you consider yourself a hired laborer? Have you ever worked in a field? Have you labored in the hot sun hoeing a row of beans or corn? Do you enjoy physical labor or desk labor? Do you ever think about laboring for Christ?

Whether we like to think of ourselves this way or not, we are all hired laborers. Some of us work for an hourly wage. Others work for a salary. We have been hired by a business to perform specific tasks. We may like to think more highly of ourselves, but we are just hired laborers.

On the other hand, we are also hired laborers for God. God has offered the gift of eternal life. He sent His Son to pay the price for that gift. Yet, when we accept that gift, he also desires us to work in his vineyard. He wants us to work at planting seeds. He wants us to water those seeds. He wants us to cultivate relationships and draw people to him. He wants us to harvest those people­­—bring them into the kingdom when they are ready.

Jesus tells the parable of the laborers in the vineyard so we can better understand what the kingdom of heaven is like. The kingdom is now. We are to be laborers in the kingdom now. We have been created to love him and to obey him. We are to labor out of love and obedience.

Jesus sent us into the vineyard to work when he said we are to go into the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). He said we are to cultivate them when he said we are to teach them what we know about Him (Matthew 28:20). No, we are not to be stagnant, lazy, nor sit around and wait for someone else to do it. We are to be a laborer for Jesus.

I pray we all realize we are to labor for Jesus. I pray we choose to go into the field before us. I pray each one of us will build relationships, speak of Jesus, and bring others into the kingdom of heaven. Be a laborer for Christ. Go make disciples. Go teach others about Jesus. Go out of love. Go out of obedience.

Matthew 20:1-2 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard.”

Privilege to Believe

What do you consider a privilege in your life? Do you consider it a privilege to be able to choose your job? Do you consider it a privilege to be able to travel? Do you consider it a privilege to vote in elections? Do you consider it a privilege to believe in Jesus Christ?

We live in a privileged society. Far too often, what is a privilege has been interpreted to be an entitlement. We are not entitled to a job but are given the privilege of seeking a job we desire. We are not entitled to vote in elections but are granted the privilege to vote.

Traveling to see wondrous sights across our country or foreign lands has become so common that some have turned them into entitlements. Sure, they know they must pay for those trips, but they still see them as entitlements. They feel they are entitled to make the money to afford to make those trips. There are places in this world where travel is restricted.

Paul tells the Philippian church they are privileged to believe in Christ. I’m willing to bet that most of us have never considered it a privilege. In fact, I suspect most of us took it to be a right of ours to believe in Him. Our country’s constitution and laws have provided it as a right to us. However, it is not the same in other countries of this world. In many, it is a crime to be a Christian rather than the national religion.

We live privileged lives. Far too often we do not recognize it as such. We complain when what was a privilege is taken away. Perhaps we should take advantage of the privilege we have to believe in Jesus. It just might be in our own best interest to share that belief with others and convince them to believe. It would certainly be in the best interest of the person who doesn’t currently believe to come to belief.

I pray we all realize that believing in Jesus is a privilege. I pray we share that privilege with others. I pray each one of us will seek to convince others to believe in Jesus. Know the difference between privilege and entitlement. Take advantage of the privilege to believe in Jesus. Seek to share that privilege with others.

Philippians 1:29-30 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Worthy of the Gospel

In what manner do you live your life? Do you live to be worthy of something? Do you live to be honored by someone else or an organization? Do you live to find your ten minutes of fame? Do you work well with others or are you a lone ranger? Do you know how you should live?

Sometimes it seems we live with no real aim nor goal. Not that we are going around aimlessly. We simply seem to live to get through another day. We focus on the task in front of us and nothing else. We don’t take time to think about how we live the life we have been given.

Living in the moment is not always bad. It can be very beneficial when we are celebrating a joyous achievement. It can be good when we are focused on the birth of our child. But living in the moment should not be an everyday occurrence. If we allow that to be, we will never become the person we want to be nor who God wants us to be.

The good news of Jesus Christ is the most honorable thing we can live for. Having His story ingrained in us, both heart and mind, can be and is rewarding. Standing strong in the Spirit of Christ brings us peace. Working side by side with other Christians to spread His message is wonderful.

We may think it is too hard for us to do. We may experience fear of reprisal. But Jesus has given us a Spirit of strength and courage. As we tap into the Holy Spirit and the words of Jesus, we can spread His message. We can stand strong, without fear of reprisal. We can be courageous in the face of opposition. It simply requires us to lean on Jesus’ promises.

I pray we all trust in Jesus’ promises. I pray we stand strong in the Spirit. I pray each one of us are willing to work side by side with other Christians to spread the message of Jesus Christ. Live for Christ. Live a life worthy of Christ. Be strong in the Spirit. Work with other Christians. Spread the message of Jesus.

Philippians 1:27-28a Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents.