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 ...