Daily Bible Devotionals

“For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed His name when you served the saints – and you continue to serve them.  Now we want each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the final realization of your hope, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.” Hebrews 6:10-12 (HCSB)

When my grandfather died, he left my mother some property in rural Arkansas.  We were all excited!  I recall driving down a maze of dirt roads to view her “estate.” What we found was 30 acres of dense forest, swallowing some rickety old shack.  My mom shook her head and said, “Not worth it,” so we drove away.  To my knowledge, nothing has ever been done with that land.

Sometimes, dreams and reality collide with damaging consequences.  Seldom are we told that we will have to work hard at things we’ve been given by grace.  When this reality sets in, people often lose interest.

This was the case with Israel after they entered the Promised Land.  God had sworn to deliver them, and He was faithful to His Word.  But once Israel crossed over, it was their job to “dispossess the land’s former inhabitants.” This, too, God promised would be completed if Israel boldly went forth, trusting Him as before, to drive out their enemies.  He did not need their labor to accomplish His purposes, but He gave them opportunities to be faithful so they could experience His faithfulness to His Word.  Hence, the pedestrian Israelite was given limited participation in fulfilling God’s promise.   God intended to use their hard work, empowered by His Spirit, to reach goals outlined in His Word.  God chose to elevate Israel’s faith through faith-stretching tasks.  

Some of the tribes obeyed, driving out the former inhabitants.  Others compromised and made their enemies slaves.  Still, others cowered, so they never took hold of what God had promised.  Once they had been delivered, by grace through faith, discipleship stalled.

The author of Hebrews (scholars cannot agree on its author) was drawing a parallel of the deliverance of Moses-era Israel with salvation through the Messiah, Jesus.  While we are saved by grace, apart from works, once we have been delivered (i.e., are saved), we must bear the armor of God and dispossess those former “inhabitants” (attitudes, influences, thoughts, and actions) that once controlled our lives.

Our command to fight does not diminish God’s saving grace.  The Lord still delivers us, but under the condition that we remain vigilant and diligent.  Again, God gives believers limited participation in things He doesn’t need us to do to experience His faithfulness.  Why?  Because He loves us and has chosen to show Himself faithful through our faithfulness.

Let us strive to be imitators of those “who inherit the promises, through faith and perseverance.” Again, we are not saved by faith and works; instead, by faith that works.

“For who heard and rebelled?  Wasn’t it really all who came out of Egypt under Moses?  And who was He provoked with for 40 years?’  Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  And who did He swear to that they would not enter His rest, if not those who disobeyed?  So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.”  Hebrews 3:16-19 (HCSB)

I love mountain biking.  I love the equipment, the trails, and the magazines.  I even love Power Bars and the Camel Back full of Gatorade—one problem.  I don’t actually like to RIDE mountain bikes!

Several years ago, my “extreme” friends bought mountain bikes, and so did I.  I was really excited about joining the extreme sports culture…until they took me out on a trail ride.  Screaming down narrow trails, inches between tree limbs and the ends of my handlebars, was no treat for me.  It was my third fall that convinced me my new Gary Fisher bike had just become a monument to impetuousness, on permanent display in my garage!  

It is easy to get into the culture of mountain biking.  But you have to be committed to being an actual mountain biker.

Similarly, it can be easy to get into Christian culture, but it’s often difficult to live the life of a Christian.  I am not talking about our salvation, which is by God’s grace alone, through our faith in Jesus.  I’m talking about living out your faith once you have received salvation.

Following Jesus is more than saying a prayer, signing a card, lifting a hand, or walking an aisle.  Those action items may be methods of “crossing the line of faith,” but the acts themselves are only external indicators of an inward transformation.  Jesus calls us to a life of faith and service, not just a one-time decision.  To paraphrase the old preacher, D.L. Moody, “New believers are to be weighed, not counted.”  If your last act of following Jesus was your decision to follow Him, maybe it’s time to examine your life to see whether the gospel you received was the real thing.  We are not saved by faith and works.  Instead, we are saved by faith that works.  Salvation is less about a moment of decision and more about generating momentum for a disciple.  Belief is a starting line, not a finish line.

For the Israelites, simply leaving Egypt didn’t mean they were ready to follow God in obedience.  All but two men of that generation were unable to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief.  Similarly, salvation in this generation comes only through belief in Messiah, Jesus.  Simply leaving the World and attending a church is not necessarily an indicator that we have entered a saving relationship with Jesus.  It never hurts to examine our spiritual lives to ensure we know the difference between “leaving” and “following.”  The indicator that we have received the real thing is most often found in how we worship God in those “desert” seasons of our lives.

“Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again.  You need milk, not solid food.  Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.  But solid food is for the mature – for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish good and evil.”  Hebrews 5:12-14 (HCSB)

I started working full-time when I was in 8th grade.  My poor kids have that to live up to!  I held the “cart boy” position at the Fianna Hills Country Club, and working at the club taught me two important things: 1) NEVER wear plaid polyester pants!  2) Money doesn’t buy class.

From my “caddy shack” vantage point, I observed men yelling at their wives during tennis matches, marital infidelity, binge drinking, gambling away expensive cars…and so on.  Being educated and affluent doesn’t make you classy or mature.

Likewise, just because a person attends a church doesn’t necessarily make them a mature believer.  Maturity comes when we apply the Bible’s teaching and move beyond being “hearers” of the Word to being “doers” of it.  If we fail to employ the Biblical teaching we learn, our maturity as believers is stunted.  

Imagine my adult son eating the same baby formula as an 8-month-old.  How pathetic would that be at a barbecue?  It’s the same image Paul uses for believers who refuse to faithfully employ Biblical teaching.

How did Jesus mature as a young Jewish man?

“Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what he suffered.” Hebrews 5:8 (HCSB)

In our efforts to make our churches more attractive and “relevant,” have we, perhaps, missed the most important lesson of faith?  Faith must be employed for a person to realize its worth.  Only after we have chosen to trust God, endured the conditions of our calling, and been delivered through various trials can we truly say we were faithful.  

The problem with the world is not that they don’t have access to the Gospel or good preaching.  With the internet, we have more access to Gospel answers and good preaching than ever in History.  The problem is that people don’t have VALUE for the Gospel preached.  Those who value the Gospel will be willing to suffer for it.

The author of Hebrews begged his disciples to share in his suffering.  He knew faith-in-action moves “Faith in Jesus” from theory to reality.  Maturity grows, faith upon faith.  Our challenge is to press on faithfully, transcending intellectual ascent and striving to obtain the life that makes suffering worthwhile.  This moves from milk to meat, training our senses to distinguish good from evil and obeying the Spirit’s leading.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.” Hebrews 4:15-16 (HCSB)

There is an unwritten rule: Men don’t ask for directions.  Maybe it’s our primal hunter/warrior instinct.  Maybe it’s our stupidity, but it’s hard to get men to admit they don’t know where they’re going.  It threatens both their manhood and their on-time arrival.  

Women generally ask for help.  In contrast, women’s lateness is more related to getting dressed than getting lost!  Arriving in style often trumps arriving on time.  

At the risk of further over-generalizing, I have observed gender-specific trends when it comes to spiritual directions, as well.  It is hard to get men motivated about Bible study.  We would rather compete, joke around, or build something.  On the other hand, women can put together a Bible study group with a few phone calls.  

While women may be more inclined to congregate, image-shattering honesty is often missing from the group.  If you could ever get men together, they’re usually pretty open and honest about challenging one another.  As I said, I’m over-generalizing, and I’m sure none of this applies to you…Ha!

Bottom line: We all have weaknesses.  Just because we don’t share the same weakness doesn’t make one gender superior or inferior.  It simply means we’re different yet equal in our need for mercy and grace.

People tend to gravitate to communities of faith that support their moral strengths and deemphasize their weaknesses.  This is not a healthy approach to seeking a church family.  Nobody wants to be judged all the time, but part of a loving community is the honest assessment of our spiritual conditions, which leads to a plan of healing.  As they say in recovery, “The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.”  

Satan uses the fear of “being exposed” to keep many Christians “in neutral” when God is calling them to “go forth” boldly.  Today’s passage is an empowering challenge for us to take courage and approach the throne of mercy and grace with boldness!  Jesus is familiar with our weaknesses and has overcome them all.  He is sympathetic, which means He relates to us on the level that He knows how it “feels” to be us.  

By virtue of His sinless victory over fleshly weakness, we can trust Him to lead us out of our bondage into the life He has prepared for us.

“We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.  For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”  Hebrews 2:1-3a (HCSB)

One of my friends used to own a home on Lake Michigan.  In the summers, my family would drive over to their house to ride jet skis.

Lake Michigan has waves and moods, just like an ocean.  It’s not as much a lake as it is an inland sea.  It ebbs and flows.  At times, it can be quite treacherous.  Many large ships have sunk in Lake Michigan storms.  Gordon Lightfoot’s song, “The Wreck of The Edmond Fitzgerald,” is about one such Lake Michigan shipwreck.

One summer afternoon, I was pretty far out in the lake when I decided to jump off my “water hog” and swim around a bit.  No big deal, I just hopped into the lake.  Very quickly, my jet ski began drifting away.  I had to paddle like crazy and was almost completely exhausted before I caught it!

It can be that way sometimes with the gospel.  When we turn our attention away from the gospel, we quickly drift away.  That is why Godly community is so important.  Hanging around worldly people to minister to them is important.  But a steady diet of worldliness will dull your sensitivity to sin.  Often, we don’t even realize it.  

Have you known people who have drifted away from the church community?  Have you been one of those people?  I have.  

We know we are drifting when we begin to feel uncomfortable around fully devoted believers.  Their proximity makes us feel convicted because of the difference in their attitudes and lifestyles, exposing our sin.  Those awkward encounters are gifts from the Lord because true believers cannot find sustained joy outside of Godly fellowship with other believers.

We must keep a sharp spiritual focus.  If we drift from the life Jesus calls us to, we neglect the parameters He has set up to protect us.  When we disengage from spiritual community, we risk becoming completely disenfranchised.  This is how Satan picks us off one by one.

If we reject the Lord’s provision, especially that of salvation through faith in Jesus, there are always negative consequences.  If we neglect God’s grace, how will we escape our just punishment?  Praise the Lord that salvation is offered freely to all who would turn from their sin and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior!

“But know this: difficult times will come in the last days.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness [religion] but denying its power.  Avoid these people!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (HCSB)

The first American President I remember was Gerald Ford.  He was the only president not to be elected as vice president or president, and he manned the helm during a turbulent time in our nation’s history.  For that, I am thankful.

Shortly after Ford’s death, on the CBS Early Show, Charles Gibson interviewed the Ford family’s Episcopal Priest, Robert Certain.  The discussion soon turned to comments Ford had made to reporter Bob Woodward, criticizing the Bush administration.  President Ford had asked that his comments not be published until his passing.

As the priest and Mr. Gibson discussed Ford’s political stance on Iraq, the conversation turned toward moral issues.  Soon, Mr. Certain was bashing what he called the “radical religious right.” (Let me be clear that I do not “carte blanche” endorse anyone or any organization.  Rather, I weigh everyone’s claims by my understanding of the Bible.)

That said, the Episcopal priest began to denounce anyone who believed the Bible’s claims against homosexuality and several other moral issues.  He went on to say that the “golden rule” (do unto others…) was present in the writings of over 20 world religions, and no religion has any exclusive claims to absolute truth.

I could not believe this man was allowed to shepherd a Sunday school class, much less a Head of State!  

Wearing his black suit and priest’s collar, he looked very authoritarian.  Reading 2 Timothy 3 is sobering.  In the last days, men will hold to the form of religion but deny its power.  They are lovers of convenience more than lovers of God.  “From such people, turn away!”

Nobody knows when Jesus will return, but I am convinced we are living in the last days.  Thank you for your commitment to read God’s Word, and to share it with whomever He leads your way.  As it was to Paul and Timothy, it has been given to us to be guardians of the Gospel.  We must not add to or take away from God’s Word and distance ourselves from those who do.  This is so that the Gospel, as the Lord has designed it, would retain its integrity and thus its power to save in our generation.

“Now towhich of the angels has He [God] ever said: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool?  Are they not all ministering spirits sent outto serve those who are going to inherit salvation?”  Hebrews 1:13-14 (HCSB)

It has been said, “Pertaining to angels, there are two things to avoid: giving them too much thought and not enough.”

I have met people who are overly preoccupied with angels.  It seems like everything that happens in their lives is mystically attached to some demonic or angelic influence.  It is hard to discuss the practical aspects of faith with those people.  If it’s not spooky, they aren’t interested.  It seems nothing is ever their fault, claiming, “The Devil made me do it!”

On the other hand, many people don’t believe in angels.  They believe in God and people.   One of the most challenging things to overcome when sharing the gospel with the Jewish community, for instance, is the prevalent unbelief in the angelic, which is taught in many synagogues.  Because of this, it is almost impossible to communicate the realities of Satan’s influence, the antichrist or hell, for that matter.

I don’t spend a lot of time dwelling on angels.  I know they are there, but I don’t worship them by giving them excess honor or fear.  I pray that God will protect me, support me, and give me influence for His gospel.  How He answers those prayers in the angelic realm is His business.

Two very important lessons about angels can be found in today’s passage of Scripture.

1) Jesus is above angels.  Some people believe God’s holiness is balanced by His “evil equal” Satan.  That is simply wrong.  Satan’s counterpart is Michael, the archangel.  They are both ANGELS.  God has no equal, evil or otherwise.

2) Angels are ministering spirits sent out to serve believers…or those who WILL believe.  You may say, “No.  Angels serve only God.”  But the text indicates that angels serve anyone in the family of God.  One of the benefits of being a believer is that angels influence conditions in our lives by God’s will and direction, which is ultimately in our better interest.

Followers of Jesus are co-inheritors with Him.  As Jesus lived up to the character of the Name He inherited, so should we strive to honor the Lord, Whose Name we have inherited as believers.  To do otherwise would be to receive His Name in vain, to say we are His, yet live as if we belong to the World.  (By the way, that is the essence of the 3rd commandment!)

“I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These are good and profitable for everyone.  But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.  Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning, knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.” Titus 3:8b-11 (HCSB)

Much of my “early believer” experience revolved around avoidance.  By avoidance, I mean all my energy was focused on not sinning.  I didn’t fully understand God’s grace, so I thought He was always keeping score with me.  All I could think about was how my sin was displeasing God and storing up some kind of punishment.  I became disenchanted as a young believer, and I wondered where a believer’s “abundant life” was.  

You may ask, “What’s wrong with NOT sinning?” Nothing at all.  My problem was that I considered “not sinning” as the ultimate goal of a Christian.  It took a while before I learned that morality was not the goal of my faith; it is simply the byproduct of it.  I shouldn’t have to focus the majority of my attention on avoidance if Jesus has truly given me the power to live abundantly.

After a Christian friend shared this idea with me, my efforts shifted from “not offending God” by avoiding sin to “pleasing God” by doing good.  By focusing my energy on pleasing God, I worried less about offending Him.  From this vantage point, we naturally avoid sin, plus we also avoid the guilt of sinning.  Perhaps this all sounds like semantics, but these are very different mindsets.

In today’s passage, Paul instructs Titus that those who have believed in God should be careful to devote themselves to good works.  More than simply avoiding sin, we must discipline ourselves to replace sinful behavior with that which honors God and reflects our inner transformation.  Our behavior is always the outworking of an internal heart condition.  It is the same with properly motivated good works.  If we have been genuinely transformed by Jesus, our desire to please Him should override the fear of offending Him.  

In sports, there is a saying: The best defense is a good offense.  People with an “avoidance” or “spiritually defensive” mindset are generally legalistic and judgmental towards anyone who doesn’t adhere to their legalism.  They love to draw others into lengthy debates concerning the rules of avoidance.

Paul instructs that we should “avoid” such debates on avoidance!  The best way to refute false religion is to know the Bible and to live within the parameters that God has set up.  Don’t add to or take away from His requirements and freedom.  Put simply, A God-honoring life is the best apologetic, for which we need no apology.

“For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, [Messiah] Jesus Christ.”  Titus 2:11-13 (HCSB)

There is an idea present in the Church-at-large about God’s Grace that it covers all sin and requires no accountability.  I have friends who firmly believe this, to the point where they distort God’s Grace by removing themselves from Godly accountability with other believers.  They live however they want, and when confronted about their lifestyles, they answer, in essence, “God’s grace covers all sin, and it cannot be revoked.”

While that is a true statement about God’s Grace, my friends’ attitude does not reflect the heart of Jesus.

“The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.  And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father.  I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” John 14:21 (HCSB)

Paul instructs us to “…deny Godlessness and Worldly lust and to live in a sensible, righteous, and Godly way.”  Nowhere in that verse is a license to live apart from God’s standard.

The observable power of salvation in the believer’s life is not fully displayed because we have been saved from God’s wrath to come.  It is primarily revealed in that we are changed today!  We are called “converts” because we are changed, meaning our desires to sin are also being replaced with the desire to please God.  Salvation is not the ability to sin without consequence; it is more of a fresh start, where we are freed to serve the Lord rightly.

To me, the sweetness of Grace is displayed in today’s passage.  God’s grace brings salvation to “all people.”  That’s not to say that all people will be saved.  Rather, salvation is offered and available to all people by grace through faith in Jesus’ atonement for our sin.  It is still the individual’s choice to respond to it.

Those who recognize their need for God’s Grace and receive it enter into an unexplainable joy.  We, who are receivers of His Grace, should also desire to be givers of it.  In this way, we become “living testimonies” by virtue of our transformed lives, along with the words of the gospel we share.

Lastly, we have hope in the Grace of Messiah because we acknowledge the deity of the Messiah.  (Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6) Grace without deity is just a kind gesture.  Deity without Grace is unforgiving judgment.  We have hope because Jesus is both “God and Savior!”

“For an overseer, as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.”  Titus 1: 7-9 (HCSB)

Many years ago, I committed myself to reading a chapter of the Bible each day.  The text seemed awkward and obscure at first.  I wondered how much of the Bible was actually applicable to my life.  I would begin with this prayer: “Lord, give me something today and someone to share it with.”  While the reading was laborious at times, God was faithful to answer that prayer.  He gave me something relevant each day, and He began leading people into my life who were asking spiritual questions that corresponded to the truth God was revealing to me.

Over time, I realized that I could add some Biblical truth to almost every conversation.  I began ministering to people by virtue of the cache of Biblical truth the Spirit was stockpiling daily in my heart.  

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense [answer] to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)

When we study the Bible, we are sowing the seeds of readiness.  We are preparing to give reason for the hope that is in us.  By preparing in such a way, we become active participants in spiritual battle.  We are in a state of spiritual war, and in a sense, we are both the soldiers and the battlefields.  We are the “land” that God and Satan both long to possess.  The difference between spiritual warfare and all other warfare is that the “battlefield” is given the right to choose who will possess it.

When we choose to follow Jesus, He gives us the gift of His Spirit, Who exposes the truth of God’s Word.  A great tragedy of the Church is that we have the potential to know deep mysteries of Scripture, yet so few believers realize it.  Not only do they forsake their calling to share the hope of the gospel, but they also deny themselves the source of vital optimism, which is needed to get through life.

Biblical knowledge bears interest by building your faith.  Before you become intimate with God’s Word, your faith is shallow.  As we gain knowledge of God’s Word, we begin viewing life through the lens of the Bible.  Instead of seeing only pain and despair, we learn to live in hope, even through seemingly hopeless situations.

As you develop a Biblical worldview, you begin trusting God’s plan more than the World’s.  This is exactly the state that God wants spiritual leaders to be operating in and that we all should strive for.  We should be moving from being overseen by spiritual shepherds to being overseers ourselves.  You don’t have to be a “Minister” to minister.

“Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.  They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (HCSB)

The term “share the gospel” has been limited to evangelism in our generation.  Although evangelism is essential, Jesus called us to “Go and make disciples.” Evangelism originates a disciple, but “discipleship” is the ongoing accountable pursuit of learning to live out the gospel.

It is safe to say we have become dependent on convenience.   Our generation yells at the microwave for being too slow.   In response to societal trends, so-called “generationally-savvy” congregations have designed ministry paradigms to make the congregational worship experience more convenient and less challenging.

There is nothing wrong with understanding a culture to reach its people.  But the greater “body of Messiah” fails in its God-intended purpose when it becomes preoccupied with not offending people.  By avoiding the hard truths of the gospel (intended to lead to repentance for those who fall short of God’s standard for believers), the “soft sell” approach is needlessly prolonging the suffering an individual incurs through unrepentance.  In seeking to not offend the non-believer, these congregations don’t seem to be worried about offending God, Who desires that ALL come unto repentance.  Practically speaking, it takes more energy to pursue cultural relevance than simply teaching the Bible constantly.

The discipleship process of rebuking, correcting, and teaching is not always convenient.  People will often hate you for teaching the undiluted Bible.  Why?  When people become aware of God’s standard, they are confronted with their personal sin problem, and that’s uncomfortable.  But rejecting the gospel is not always the unbeliever’s response.  Often, they believe.  Paul tells us what to expect when we share God’s Word as He reveals it.  

“But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.  The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, ‘God is really among you.’” 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (HCSB)

We must preach the Bible as His Spirit has revealed it to us.  And we should trust God to change lives.  We cannot be afraid to teach sound doctrine.  Anything less is a distraction from the real issues people need to address to grow as believers.

We cannot let fear of rejection discourage us from sharing the gospel.  Paul teaches the Church’s lack of effectiveness stems not from our lack of cultural relevance.  It’s our lack of passion, persistence, perseverance, and patience.

“Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.  But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels.  The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness.  Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.  Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:22-26 (HCSB)

I’m not much of a handyman around the house.  I get by, but generally, I would rather pay a professional to do a job right than to struggle all day on a project, only to have a professional redo it because of my ignorance!

I have learned that having the right tools can make all the difference when doing a job.  The same is true when we’re doing the Lord’s work.  Good intentions must be matched with the Lord’s will and ways.

In today’s passage, Paul instructs Timothy on the finer points of “meekness.” Meekness is not the same as weakness.  Weakness is a deficiency of power, while meekness is power under submission.  Imagine a horse, a mighty creature that must be made to submit to saddle and bridle before being useful to the rider.  Timothy had to be reminded to take his youthful enthusiasm and submit it to the Lord’s will.

In a rush to do “something big for God,” often new believers forget that evangelism aims to win souls, not arguments.  Un-meek renegade believers often make more messes than they do converts.

Beyond resisting the foolhardy passions of worldly youthfulness, Paul is exhorting Timothy against the tendency of young believers to attempt the Lord’s work in their own strength: the wrong tool for the job.  

“Then he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 (ESV)

It is important to remember that as we pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, we are preparing for (and engaging in) spiritual battle.  Those with whom we share the gospel are captured in the Devil’s trap, caught up in believing the delusions of worldliness.  It is not as if we will be effective by the loud volume of our arguments.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit, working through the life surrendered to God’s will, which accomplishes His purposes.

There is no limit to what the Lord will do with a surrendered and selfless life.  Have you given Him yours?

“Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.  Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve [foundation] for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real.”  1 Timothy 6:17-19 (HCSB)

No matter what time of the year it is, it’s always fun to think about the winter holidays.  I remember Christmas growing up.  And more specifically, I remember Christmas mid-morning.  I’m not talking about Christmas “morning,” where you ran into the living room and ripped through the wrapping paper.  I’m talking about an hour after you got dressed and went to the sidewalk to meet up with your friends to see what THEY got for Christmas!

One of my childhood friends was “Mark” (name changed).  Mark always had the best of everything.  His parents were well-to-do, so he had to practically machete through dense layers of presents to reach their Christmas tree.  I was lucky to get three gifts, including the yearly underwear and socks package, from my grandmother.

Two cool things about Mark: 1) he always complimented whatever I got, and 2) he let me play with all his stuff!!!  We’d meet on the sidewalk mid-morning.  I would be holding a football.  He’d be holding professional football tickets…then he’d invite me to the game.  He was rich in money but also generous.  Rich in good works.

Years later, I heard that Mark’s dad lost most of his money in a stock market crash.  Wealth is uncertain like that.  I wondered how their family coped with living on an average income.  I know they loved the Lord, so I hope they drew strength from their church.  

This year, when the season arrives, and before we share what we got for Christmas, how about letting people know how much they mean to us?  For that matter, why wait for the holidays?  It’s always good to praise the Lord for getting us through another year and for giving us hope for the future.  Let’s take hold of what’s real in this life and set our hope on God, Who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.

“Support widows who are genuinely widows.  But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.  The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; however, she who is self indulgent, is dead even while she lives.  Command this also, so they won’t be blamed.  But if anyone does not provide for his own, that is his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:3-8 (HCSB)

Years ago, I was asked to attend a meeting of a group of creative thinkers called the Renaissance Group.  Meeting at the Newport Beach home of Roberta and Howard Ahmanson, hand-selected authors, musicians, ministers, and artists convened to form a “think tank,” whereby new methods of reaching the secular world with the Gospel might develop.

On one occasion, the group was sent a copy of Marvin Olasky’s book, “The Tragedy of American Compassion.”  Several weeks later, we met in the Ahmanson’s living room to discuss the book with the author.  I suggest you get a copy of Olasky’s book.

The foundation of Olasky’s observations is that compassion only works well in small groups of accountabilities.  In small groups, as in small towns, people know each other.  They know when a person is hard-working and who is lazy.  They know who is honest and are aware of the liars.  Mr. Olasky points out that most Americans have lost touch with the “community” mindset to the point where they give money to charities (or sign-holding men on the corner) out of guilt or raw emotional reactions without demanding any accountability from those organizations or individuals receiving charity.

On the other extreme, we allow charity to be dispensed by our government through a welfare system in drastic need of an overhaul.  In actuality, healthy church ministries have the best record for helping people transition from their dependence on charity into a lifestyle where they become contributors to charity.  This is because churches are communities of accountability whose standard for charity is God’s Word.

In today’s passage, Paul is narrowing the focus of what a “widow” is.  Those deserving of charity are not simply women without husbands; they are women without husbands who fit specific Biblical accountability criteria.  Paul’s system is similar to Olasky’s proposal.  He was saying, in effect, “Don’t let your emotions or sympathies interfere with God’s standard for ministry.”    

“Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and with all propriety, the younger women as sisters.”  1 Timothy 5:1-2 (HCSB)

When this passage is matched with today’s text, it becomes evident that, while the definition of “widow” is narrowed, the definition of “family” is expanded.  Social responsibility is shifted from the corporate congregation to the compassionate individual.

“Command and teach these things.  Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:11-12 (HCSB)

One evening, I got a phone call from my then 12-year-old son, Wyatt.  He had just hit the age of attending “night” parties.  You know the ones.  “Day” parties include a birthday cake and a clown who bends balloons.  “Night” parties consist of pizza, loud music, and all your friends trying to look cool.  It’s a rite of passage.

Anyhow, we got this call.

Parent: “Hello?”

Son: “Hey, uh, am I allowed to play the Halo video game?

Parent: “What’s it rated?

Son: “Uh…M for mature.”

Parent: “Are you 18 years old?”

Son: “No.”

Parent: “Then, no. You shouldn’t play it.”

Son: “Uh, can you come pick me up?”

Parent: “Why?”

Son: “Uh, ’cause everyone’s playing it, and I’m alone and bored.”

Parent: “We’ll be there in 10 minutes.”

10 minutes later, my wife and I showed up.  We expected to see my son moping by the curb, but all the kids were outside, playing basketball.  Wyatt ran up to the car, “I told them I wasn’t allowed to play that game…so they said they would play basketball instead.”

I would never have made that phone call when I was a kid!  I just would have played the game and never said anything to Mom and Dad.  If asked, I would have simply lied.  No remorse.  That’s just how I figured kids got by.  It wasn’t the right attitude to have, but I never considered my parents to be on my side.  Parents were the barrier that stood between me and fun.  So, whenever I went to someone else’s house and their parents let them do stuff mine wouldn’t, I just did what I wanted.  The whole scene kind of ate at my soul because I could never be at peace.  Deep down, I knew I was a liar.

Let me be the first to say that I am proud of my son.  He’s not a saint; he’s human.  But episodes like I described (above) still happen.  I am pleased to know we aren’t his enemies.  And I’m proud that he stands up for what is right and doesn’t let other people control him.

Leadership is not just about age.  It’s about being confident, competent, and convicted.  I will never tire of telling you, “God has great plans for you.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  Stay the course, endure, and receive what He has prepared for those who live faithfully.

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (HCSB)

Several years ago, during the Christmas season, I was surfing the TV channels when I caught a late-night cable news show interviewing the maker of the “Left Behind” video game.  The game’s designers had given the “Christians” in the game the option to shoot “unbelievers” who don’t convert!  The twisted side of me just had to laugh.

As you can imagine, the news commentators (along with many Christians) were appalled at this idea.  Still, others rushed to defend the game’s maker.  The “enemy” loves this kind of controversy.  Ironically, this all took place during the season when Christians remember God’s gift of peace on earth and goodwill towards men.

Did this game prompt an outbreak of Christian violence?  No.  But such controversies add another layer of distance between Christians and unbelievers in our lives.  **In fairness to the game’s maker, players cannot WIN the Left Behind game by killing people.  You lose “spirit points” by exercising that option.  Players score points by witnessing and praying.  But, come on….

A facet of Christianity that the game makers “left behind” is the powerful testimony of the martyr.  “Left Behind” leaves the player with only two options for survival:  Convert or kill.  Sounds more like Islam to me.  There were no points for the martyred servant, to whom God would say, “Well done!” as opposed to “Game Over.” Those options, “convert or kill,” are tragically haunting to the Jewish community because Christian-on-Jewish persecution is part of their history.  But the idea of the martyrs, those believers whose faith in God and love for unbelievers lead to their personal death, is missing from both the video game and the over-arching conversation with the Jewish community.

Survival is a basic human instinct, but hope in the resurrection is, perhaps, the most powerful component of our faith.  The great existential question of the evangelist: Even if it cost our lives, would we honor God to the very end, striving to convince our oppressors to follow Him, as well?  What is God’s heart’s desire for the world?  Paul tells us God wants everyone to be saved.  How much so?  Jesus laid down His life for the world.  John 3:16-17 The Lord honored Jesus’ sacrifice by raising Him up again, and He promises the same for all believers.  This truth emboldens us to lay down our lives, even unto death, if required.  

Evangelism is about laying down our lives so that others might see our example and choose to believe in Jesus.  It’s not a “believe or die” scenario.  It’s more like “believe and live.” The essence of servanthood is saying “no” to our individual rights and “yes” to personal righteousness.

“But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.  And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: God was MANIFESTED in the flesh, VINDICATED [justified] in the Spirit, SEEN by angels, PREACHED among the nations, BELIEVED ON in the world, TAKEN UP in glory.” [my emphasis]   1 Timothy 3:15-16 (HCSB)

One lazy afternoon, I watched a History Channel special: “In Search of Jesus.”  For two hours, a myriad of so-called “Christian” experts gave their accounts of the Messiah’s birth, life, and resurrection.  Some scholars said He was born in Bethlehem, others say Nazareth, and still, others suggest a desert cave.  One guy suggested Jesus wasn’t born at all.  Rather, He was only a “spirit.”

None of them believed Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt.  Nor could they agree on Herod’s execution of babies in Bethlehem.  The show ended with speculation over Messiah’s resurrection.

Given the varied testimonies of so many disagreeing “scholars,” I doubt anyone would be compelled to accept Jesus as Lord, much less devote their lives to taking up a “cross” and following Him.  Honestly, the show would have been better if the directors had swapped the “expert” Christians with some REAL ones!

Just as Paul was given the “administration” to dispense the mystery of the gospel (Gentiles get in) and the mystery of lawlessness (those who abandon God’s Word will be harshly judged), he also revealed the mystery of Godliness.  We are called to imitate Jesus, refuting heresy by our transformed lives, surrendered to God’s Word.  Following Jesus means more than walking an aisle, praying a prayer, raising a hand, or signing a card.  It’s about a life devoted to Messiah-likeness.  The Bible says God was pleased with Jesus’ suffering on the Roman cross because He lived up to the character of the NAME He inherited.  If you are indeed a co-inheritor with Jesus, how are you doing in living up to the character of the Name you have inherited?

Let’s review what Paul calls the “foundation of our faith,” asking ourselves how our lives resonate with these fundamental truths of the gospel.

Have you placed your trust in Jesus?  Upon doing so, Jesus is made MANIFEST (i.e., “takes up residence”) in us.  If so, the presence of His Spirit should be working in your life, testifying that you have been JUSTIFIED by Messiah’s atoning work on the cross.  The angels in Heaven have SEEN every believer because they rejoice when even one sinner repents.  (Luke 15:10) Through the believer, the gospel is PREACHED throughout the world, and by our testimonies, men BELIEVE in Jesus.  How’s it going, sharing your faith?  Finally, do you live with the knowledge and hope that you, too, will be TAKEN UP in glory to be with Jesus at the time God appoints?

“As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies.  These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.”  1 Timothy 1:3-5 (HCSB)

There are a growing number of churches that have adopted a diminished view of “calling.”  That is to say, they don’t believe that God cares what you do with your life as long as you’re not pursuing sin.  I don’t understand how that theology is supported Biblically.

When I read the Bible, the concept I see being reinforced is the theology of “calling.”  That is, God calls people personally, to specific places, to minister to specific people with a specific message for a specific amount of time.  If there were no “calling,” why would anyone suffer for the gospel?  We would simply avoid the uncomfortable, following the ministry path of least resistance.  Why suffer if God doesn’t care about the details of your life choices?  

God beckons us to a certain salvation from a certain hell.  He equips us with certain gifts and calls us to certain places to deliver certain messages to certain people.  We labor with  certain hope that our work will be certainly completed by His Spirit.  “Calling” compels us to go.  Calling emboldens us to persevere, enduring hardship.  Calling ensures victory through the power of His Spirit.   And “calling” is not just for pastors.  It encompasses ALL believers.  We are all called, and God has specific plans for each of us.

Let’s examine Timothy’s calling:

Certain place:  He was dispatched to Ephesus.

Certain time frame: He was told to stay there.

Certain people: He was to speak to the church leaders in Ephesus who had strayed from Paul’s teaching.

Certain message:  He was to command the church leaders to get back on track.

Certain hope:  With correct instruction applied over time, the congregation members would develop loving hearts, good consciences, and sincere faith.

There is a story of a fashion designer notorious for mending clothes backstage at her New York runway shows.  When asked why she didn’t assign the task of mending to a junior designer, she smartly replied, “Because it’s my name on the tag.”

God cares enough to call us into salvation and His service.  We bear His name.  God cares about your choices because His name is on your life.

“Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?  And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed…”  2 Thessalonians 2:5-8a (NKJV)

Paul spoke of his administration in the earlier epistles to reveal the “mystery of the gospel.”  That mystery can be summarized as follows: Gentiles get in, too.  That is, Messiah’s grace is offered freely to all who will believe by faith, regardless of ethnicity.  No longer a mystery, today’s “Church-at-large” is comprised of mostly Gentiles.

The gospel’s mystery is still mysterious in most Jewish synagogues, but hopefully not for long!

So, what is the “mystery of lawlessness”?  The mystery of lawlessness is the polar opposite of the “promise of lawlessness.”  Lawlessness promises liberty without accountability.  “If it feels good, do it.”  On the surface, that’s a great idea…but when lawlessness is promised to EVERYONE, every man becomes a law unto himself.  The result is anarchy.

“Anarchy!”  It’s a great punk rock slogan, but if you’ve ever been in the midst of full-on civil unrest, you’ll wish you’d never been born.  One 4th of July in downtown Memphis, I watched patriotic revelry turn to pure anarchy as rival gang members squared off.  In a moment’s spark, thousands of citizens were running for their lives.  

The mystery of lawlessness is that the absence of law promotes terror and anxiety, not freedom.  A lawless society does not find balance.  Rather, it implodes and resounds with waves of selfishness.  Our present “post-modern” culture is defined by the trend against absolutes.  Well, it doesn’t get more absolute than a law!  So, as professing followers of Jesus distance themselves from God’s Word as the ultimate authority, they are actually promoting lawlessness with the promise of more religious freedom.  They are obviously ignorant of the “mystery” of lawlessness, which will produce the opposite effect they hope for.  They are setting the stage for the day of antichrist, softening the Church-at-large.

Antichrist will promise to completely abolish the law, like a false light peering past the curtain of the Holy Spirit.  But when fully revealed, lawlessness will have led the world into enslavement to the ultimate self-worshipper, Satan.      

Jesus said, “I came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it.” Matthew 5:17.  Jesus freed the believer from the law’s penalty by fulfilling the Torah through His death on the cross, as evidenced by His resurrection.  Yet, the law remains fully intact.  How else would people be held accountable?  True liberty can only be obtained by the fulfillment of the law, not the removal of it.

“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.  This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels.” 2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (NIV)

My wife and I have four children.  At times, it is challenging to keep a secret in our house.  There are just too many people and too little space for privacy.  At times, we have developed an elaborate holiday shopping process.  Everyone shops on the same day, yet nobody knows what they’re getting until they open their presents.

When it comes to gift-giving, my kids demand FAIRNESS.  Everyone must get the same amount.  If it were discovered that we spent more on one sibling, there would be a huge whine-fest until next year.

Adults have similar expectations about God.  “God must be fair!”

You’ll be disappointed if your hope of God’s goodness is weighed on your scale for His fairness.  God is not fair.  (See also: Ecclesiastes) Fairness assumes that we should all get the same thing.  Our American understanding of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” has led us to think that everyone deserves equal portions.  

Each of us has different “callings” (or “missions” to accomplish) within God’s Kingdom.  In the Army, soldiers are rationed supplies and armaments according to their distinct missions.  Some need overwhelming supplies, and others would be hindered by excess gear to schlep.  It’s not a question of fairness or equity.  Supplies are rationed based on what is suitable for the mission.

If God is not fair, then what makes Him good?  He is good because He is JUST.  Justice does not assume all men get equal shares in life.  It simply represents that God can always be trusted to judge fairly and display His righteousness with ultimate authority.

The Thessalonian congregation endured severe persecution.  Notice Paul didn’t promise equality with other congregations.  Instead, He encouraged them to persevere as a testimony to others.  He focused their hope on God’s JUSTICE instead of a false hope of equal treatment with other believers.

Some acts of Justice may not occur in our lifetime.  Our oppressors may die believing they got away without punishment.  We hope that God will judge eventually.  Nobody escapes God’s Justice.  Paul indicated that aspects of the fullness of God’s Justice would not be fully weighed on the Thessalonian oppressors until the Lord is revealed.

Enter Grace.  Messiah took God’s judgment (of the World’s sin) upon Himself.  Through a saving relationship with Jesus, we can boldly stand before the Lord, “justified.”  Furthermore, the Grace of Messiah Jesus is offered freely to ALL who would receive it by faith.  That’s fair enough!

“So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.   But since we belong to the day, we must be serious and put on the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation.  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:6-11 (HCSB)

For the past few days, I’ve been working in my yard.  Some people like working in their yards.  When you visit their homes, it’s like entering a luxury resort.  My wife grew up in a “yard family.”  She can look at a vacant lot and envision a beautiful garden.  

When I see a vacant lot, I think, “Lucky guys, no yard work.”  I grew up in a family that prayed for August so the grass would die and we wouldn’t have to mow it!  Yes, our neighbors hated us!

I don’t like yard work because I simply don’t have a vision for what my labor could produce.  All that digging and clipping, with no immediate gratification…shrubs just don’t grow fast enough!   To paraphrase the girl group TLC, “I don’t want no shrubs.”

Sometimes, being a follower of Jesus can seem like self-sacrificing work with no foreseeable payoff.  It’s easy to get impatient, especially if we can’t visualize what we’re working towards.

The congregation at Thessalonica had problems understanding what it meant to wait on the Lord.  They had to learn to patiently endure the work of faith and the labor of love with hope.  The primary purpose of Paul’s letter was to provide the Thessalonians with an accurate vision of what their faithfulness (and faithlessness) would yield.

Paul describes the abstract concepts of “faith, hope & love” with action-oriented terms to motivate the Thessalonians.  Impatient people need a sense of momentum.  In chapter 1, Paul referenced the “Work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope.”  Later, he boils them down to “turning, serving, and waiting.”  In today’s chapter, he uses military terms.

Perhaps you are feeling impatient or even bored with (seemingly) rote Christian activities like Bible reading, prayer, or church service.  It is important to remember we are amidst a raging spiritual war.  While we may not be experiencing a direct attack, someone around you probably is!  Eventually, we are all attacked.  If we can visualize the war in the light of our overwhelming spiritual “ammunition,” we can endure our battles with hope for the victory.

By the way, my yard is starting to take shape…by my wife’s direction and my shoveling.

“Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God – as you are doing – do so even more.”  1 Thessalonians 4:1 (HCSB)

There are basically two types of slaves:  those forced into it and those who willingly apply for it.

Many people have an inappropriate view of Jewish Biblical slave life.  They have the Alex Haley “Roots” and Cecil B. DeMille  “10 Commandments” views, where the slaves are constantly beaten.  Of course, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt and, under foreign oppression, were beaten.  However, within the nation of Israel, there was voluntary slavery, which was not usually physically brutal.  

I’m not making a case for slavery.  I believe it’s cruel and inhumane.  I’m just saying that Paul’s use of slave imagery was received more positively in his day than in ours.  Jewish slaves within the national Hebrew life were more respected and treated better than those of, say, the American Civil War era.

Accounts given by former slaves after the U.S. Civil War told how they got through the day.  The overall goal was to do as little as possible but just enough to avoid the whip.  That is, they didn’t want to honor their oppressors, yet they didn’t want to provoke them either.  

Some Believers in Jesus have adopted the “forced slave” mentality.  They want to know exactly how much “Jesus” it takes to avoid Hell without having to serve their Master by living a Christ-centered life.

Who has forced us to believe in Messiah that we would take that attitude?  Have we not chosen, of our own free will, to be His slaves and servants on this earth?  Why, then, would we settle to do as little as possible with our Christian lives and simply skate through life?  Why would we not give ourselves in faithful thanksgiving that God has invited us to serve Him?

Paul addresses the believers in Thessalonica by encouraging the progress they had made.  But Paul goes further.  He says, “As you are doing – do so even more.”  While there are legitimate times of rest and refreshment, the momentum of our lives should always be moving forward and upward.  We have come a long way since we became believers in Messiah Jesus; God be praised!  Here’s our challenge: Let’s go further!

“In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened.  For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent to find out about your faith, fearing that the Tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.”  1 Thessalonians 3:4-5 (HCSB)

Reggie had no reason to be running college cross-country.  I argued with him all the way to the signup table.  Still, he signed his name on the “walk-on” list and turned away.

In high school, Reggie and I had been track and field competitors.  I had obtained a scholarship while all the colleges passed him up.  Even though he hadn’t worked out in over a year, he had observed my previous track season with envy.  Bottom line is that he thought he could beat me and earn a place on the team.

I actually wanted Reggie to succeed.  I thought he had more raw talent than me, but he lacked the drive to win.  Like I said, I tried to talk him out of it.  I told him that running at the college level was harder than it looked.

The day arrived for our first practice.  The coach blew a whistle, and off we went.  The first week’s practices are always the most difficult.  They’re designed to weed out the weaker runners.  Five miles later, I returned to the starting point with the front pack.  Then I stood by Coach until everyone crossed the line…no Reggie.  The guys said he had fallen back and was “examining his lunch,” yawning in technicolor somewhere on the trail.  He never came back.

I have met many young people who could have been successful in ministry, but nobody told them it would be so hard.  Others were told but wouldn’t listen.  Maybe you’re tired of hearing me say it, but living for the Lord can be challenging.  If you expect to succeed on raw talent, you’re fooling yourself.  God has designed us to run on a combination of His Spirit, Talent, and Discipline.

More than just warning you, I have determined to train alongside you.  Hopefully, you find these daily Bible emails more inspirational than “desperational” (my word).  I pray you will endure the discipline to obtain the prize!

“So we wanted to come to you – even I, Paul, time and again – but Satan hindered us.  For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?  Is it not you?  For you are our glory and joy!”  1 Thessalonians 2:18-20 (HCSB)

When I was a kid, the cool thing was to have a brand-new pair of WHITE tennis shoes.  Everyone got new shoes for school, but a few trips to the playground quickly faded their glory.  Dirt happens.

Occasionally, a footwear miracle would occur.  Some lucky kid would defy all odds, and his shoes would retain their out-of-the-box “whiteness” for months on end.  In the fall of 1980, I was that miracle kid.  I recall the day the miracle ended.

It was well past Thanksgiving, and I had just stepped off the school bus.  The air was crisp and relatively cool for a sunny day.   I was strutting my Fred Perry “pure whites” to homeroom when, out of nowhere, Ron Street ran up and raked his muddy penny-loafer across my shoelaces!!!!  He yells, “Skid Mark!” and runs off.  Apparently, he had been jealous for some time.  I was devastated.  Some guys are just plain mean.

Speaking of mean, the Devil is mean.  There is nothing Satan wants more than to keep you from God and steal the glory of your Kingdom work.  If you are a follower of Jesus, Satan wants to make you completely ineffective.  More than a discourager, he is a destroyer.  He would kill you if allowed the opportunity.  

Now, consider Paul.  How can the guy who said, “I can do all things through Messiah, Who strengthens me.” be hindered by Satan?  Was Paul a liar?  By no means!!

Paul accomplished all that the Lord had directed him to labor towards in Thessalonica.  The church flourished despite great opposition.   But the way that God used Paul to accomplish His plan for the Thessalonians’ salvation was through the example of Paul and his colleagues enduring spiritual opposition and overcoming it by faith.  

Friends, do not be discouraged when you experience spiritual opposition.  Be encouraged that while the battle may be fierce, the victory is the Lord’s.  Satan will get his due…much the same way Ron Street got detention for scuffing my shoes.