Courage in Iran

Read an article this morning about a house church in Iran where each believer commits to give away one New Testament to a non-believer each day of the week. At their weekly worship gathering, each member of the house church receives 7 New Testaments to give away. In a country where such activity brings arrest, imprisonment, and often death, the courage of these faithful followers of Jesus is very humbling to me. Why am I so reticent to share the gospel here in the United States where the only fear is personal rejection? Father, forgive me for my failure to tell everyone I know about Jesus and help me to move beyond my silly inhibitions and share the Good News at every opportunity.

Treasures in Heaven - Investing for Eternity

“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:12-13) Paul here explains how he is content in all circumstances (even as he is imprisoned) because he knows that his sufficiency is in Christ and not in circumstances.

However, note how Paul thanks the Philippians in the next few verses for their support of his ministry: “Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.” (Phil. 4:14-17)

Paul is talking about a heavenly account for each of the Philippian believers. In Matthew 6:19-20, Jesus says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” As I look at these and other passages in Scripture, I can only conclude that our capacity to praise and give glory to God in heaven will be related somehow to the abundance of the treasures that we lay up in heaven during our time here on earth.

We just finished a nine-week study in Philippians and as we finished the study this past weekend, I believe that the Holy Spirit showed me something about the gifts the Philippians gave to Paul. Their gifts (at times the only support Paul was receiving from the church) allowed him to continue his ministry and to write the Epistles that are in our Bible today. Literally, God was still using the generous gifts of the Philippians to Paul to bless our men's group gathered around a breakfast table Saturday morning studying Paul's letter. God can use the gifts of our time, talents, and resources far beyond our own generation. How well are you investing for eternity?

"Do Not Be Conformed ... Be Transformed"

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)

One of the biggest problems with most disciples of Christ in the United States is falling into the trap of being "conformed to this world". What does Paul mean by "conformed to this world"? The word "conformed" carries the idea of being "molded". We are to avoid being cast in the mold of this world. God does not leave us in this world when we are saved only to be drawn into the mold of this world system. Too many born again Christians believe in Jesus Christ but live in an unwitting acceptance of a secular world view. Our words may speak of the kingdom of God, but our actions don't look much different from our unsaved friends living in the secular world. Do not inadvertently default to a secular mind set because that's how your neighbors live. Check yourself: Are there worldly pleasures or activities that you unthinkingly (or perhaps even deliberately) indulge?

"...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Let's explore that a little bit. First, what does the word “transformed” mean? The Greek word for "transformed" is the same word that was used to describe the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain with Moses and Elijah. Just as Jesus radiated the glory of God on that mountain, our minds will reflect the glory of God if we allow our minds to be renewed. How are our minds renewed? First, notice that we do not transform our minds, but rather the text says to "be transformed" implying that the work of transformation is not done by us but by God. However, we do have a part in this transformation. We must allow our minds to be renewed by exposing our minds to the Word of God. We must study our Bible and know it well. And we must "offer our bodies as a living sacrifice" every day in alignment with the Scriptures. We must expose our minds to the Word of God and to conversation with God every day and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us by renewing our minds.

How do we do this? Each morning immediately after getting out of bed, I pick up my Bible and begin a time of prayer, Bible reading and devotion. My habit is to read through the entire Bible in a year so that I am regularly exposed to the entire counsel of God. Other men have different ways of reading Scripture every day. Some men read a devotional book every morning that leads them into into the Scripture. However you approach it, daily reading of Scripture is an excellent tool for renewing your mind. Regular Bible study is also an important aspect of renewing your mind beyond daily reading of the Scripture. There are many different methods of Bible study that are beyond the scope of this post, but studying the Bible, in addition to simply reading it, is very important. As we expose ourselves to the Word of God in a variety of ways, the Holy Spirit will "transform us by renewing our minds."

"... that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Many of us struggle to find out what is the will of God for our lives, and we may be missing the point a little bit. We prove the will of God by offering our bodies as living sacrifices, by not being conformed to the world, and by being transformed by the renewing of our minds. It seems to me that God's will for each of our lives may have less to do with what job we have or what house we live in and a lot more to do with how we allow Christ to live in us and through us - how we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us - as we offer our bodies as living sacrifices.

Living Sacrifice (Part 2)

Continuing with Romans 12:1-2 and the concept of "presenting our bodies a living sacrifice", we should understand what is meant by "holy, acceptable to God".  First, the word "holy" means to be set apart for the purpose of God.  Does this mean only people who have a "religious" vocation - like a pastor or a missionary?  Of course not ... Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Rome - not just to the leaders.  Every one of us who is a disciple of Jesus Christ must consider ourselves set apart for the purposes of God.  We must be available for His purposes - no matter what our occupation.  We should not be engaged in activities that would bring dishonor to God.  And how do we become "acceptable" to God?  Live by the Ten Commandments?  If we seek to live under the Law, we must uphold the entire Law ... all the time.  That can't be the answer.  Try to be as good as we possibly can be?  No, we are acceptable to God because we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.  When the Father looks at us, He sees His Son.

Then Paul adds "which is your reasonable service".  The word for "service" can be translated "act of worship".  Thus, as believers our "reasonable act of worship" is to "present our bodies a living sacrifice" to God for His purposes rather than carrying out our own agenda.  Too many people think that "worship" is simply singing and praising in church on Sunday.  Yet our everyday lives should be a continuing series of "acts of worship" bringing glory to God.  Why does Paul use the word "reasonable" to describe us "presenting our bodies a living sacrifice"?  In my most recent post, we discussed the "therefore" in Romans 12:1 referring back to all that God has done for us as described in Romans chapters 1 through 11.  In light of all that God has done for us through His Son, it is only reasonable that, as disciples of Jesus Christ, we "present our bodies a living sacrifice" just as Jesus literally sacrificed His body for us.  More to follow in Romans 12:2 ...

Living Sacrifice (Part 1)

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

The words of J. Vernon McGee still ring in my ears: "When you read the word "therefore", you have to ask what it's there for." Chapter 12 of Romans is a practical discussion of how to offer your body every day as a living sacrifice, but we must first understand to what Paul is referring with his "therefore". I believe that Paul's reference is to all that God has done for us as described in the first eleven chapters of Romans. The following bullets are a small sample of the many mercies that God has shown to us as believers in His Son:

• God's righteousness is revealed in Jesus Christ and available to all who believe in Him.
• We are justified by faith. God's grace alone is sufficient; our good works will not justify us.
  
• We have peace with God through Christ who loved us enough to die for us when were ungodly sinners.
• Our salvation is a free gift that we cannot earn. We are saved from God's wrath by the blood of His Son.
• We walk in newness of life in Christ because our old man is dead and buried with Christ.
  
• The law of the Spirit of God in Christ has freed us from the law of sin and death.
  
• We are children of God and joint heirs with Christ.
  
• We are the called according to God's purpose and thus all things work together for good to us who love God.
  
• No created thing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  

In Romans 12:1 Paul says "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God...". The "mercies of God" are all of the undeserved mercies that God has showered upon us who believe in His Son as Paul has described in the first 11 chapters of Romans. As a result of the "mercies of God" Paul says we should therefore "present your bodies a living sacrifice". It is only through God's mercies that it is even possible for us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.

How do we go about offering our bodies as a living sacrifice? In general, we must offer our bodies each day to serve God's purposes. And offering our bodies is meant to include all that is encompassed in our bodies - our hearts, our minds, our emotions, our affections, our souls. That means denying our own agenda and our pride. It means dying to self and allowing Christ to live through us. In Galatians 2:20 Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

First, I would argue, we must purpose before God to do it. To present our bodies as living sacrifices. Every day.

In my thirty years as a born again disciple of Jesus Christ, I have finally reached the point in my life where I start each day the same way - prayer, Bible reading and devotions. Each morning - not always in the same words - but with the same idea in mind, I purpose before God that my wife and I would offer our bodies as living sacrifices for God's glory.

My conversation with God usually includes a commitment to be available and sensitive to the guiding of the Holy Spirit, to be a comfort and an encouragement to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to be a witness to the lost. I ask God to help us not to miss the opportunities for service that He brings before us.

We must purpose before God to be living sacrifices each day and ask His help and guidance in doing so - because we cannot do it in our own strength.

My next post will continue in Romans 12:1-2, Lord willing.

Superficial Treatments

Recently during my morning devotions, I read a verse, Jeremiah 8:11, that shook me to the core. I have been using a chronological (vice canonical order) Bible for my morning devotions, and it uses the New Living Translation (NLT). Jeremiah 8:11 in the NLT struck me in a way that it never had in previous readings in other translations. In Jeremiah chapter 8, God is speaking through Jeremiah to rebuke the priests and prophets of Israel for telling the Israelites that they will experience peace and prosperity despite their wicked devotion to idols and other sinful ways. The second half of the verse is familiar to many as God is telling the priests and prophets that they are saying "Peace, Peace, when there is no peace." But the NLT's version of the first part of Jer. 8:11 is what was so compelling to me. "They offer superficial treatments for my people's mortal wounds."

Now I realize that this verse was directed at the priests and prophets of Israel and was in a much different context than my own. Still, I was figuratively knocked to the floor as I asked myself, "Am I doing everything I can as a disciple of Christ to pray, to encourage, and to provide tangible support to my brothers and sisters in Islamic strongholds who suffer unspeakable horrors for calling on the name of Jesus? Am I speaking truth to my fellow Americans about their spiritual condition? Or am I offering "superficial treatments for [His] people's mortal wounds"? Am I offering "spiritual" platitudes when more concrete actions are required? Am I in a sense doing what James condemned in James 2:15-16? "If a brother or a sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?"

These questions have haunted me for the last ten days...

Render unto Caesar ...

The people marveled at Jesus' answer to the question about the lawfulness of paying the poll tax: "Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21)

Paul tells us that we are to be in subjection to the governing authority "for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil." (Romans 13:4) Paul lived during the reign of Roman Emperor Nero (A.D. 54-68), and his letter to the Romans is believed by many to have been written around A.D. 55-56 during his third missionary journey.

It is difficult for many of us to honor our current government given some of its actions. (And I am speaking of members of both parties.) If Paul wrote about being in subjection to the governing authority during the reign of the infamous Nero, how can we think that our circumstance is so bad that we can be excused for not respecting our current government.

My point is not that we should refrain from seeking improvement in our government. God has allowed us the privilege of a form of government that permits our participation in the political process. We should take that blessing seriously and do everything we can to influence our country to honor God and seek after righteousness.

However, we must watch our tongues. We must refrain from disrespect and cheap personal attacks. Our engagement with our political leaders must be full of God's love and His principles - not uncontrolled anger and bitterness. While so-called "righteous indignation" can feel good in the short term, we do nothing to grow the Kingdom in the long run when we are simply in "attack" mode.

Disciples of Christ should be known for their self-control among other things. Let us keep from ruining our witness with angry personal attacks that will bring no one to repentance. Let our conversation demonstrate love from a pure heart.