Archives For Christian Life

Real Hope

 —  August 18, 2009 — 7 Comments

It’s often said that the Bible is an antiquated book that lacks the ability to speak to us today, but this is hardly the case. The biblical narratives afford us with real hope for real problems. Consider the following:

  1. The Effects of Infidelity (Genesis 16)
  2. How to Cope with Complete Bankruptcy (The book of Job)
  3. How to Cope with the Loss of an Infant Child (2 Samuel 12:15-23)
  4. When You Can’t Forgive Yourself (John 21:15-24)
  5. Hope to Not to Cope with the Loss of a Job (Story of King Saul)
  6. When You Question Your Convictions (Matthew 11:1-15)
  7. Where To Go When Your Depressed (1 Kings 19:1-18)

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Hindered Prayers

 —  August 12, 2009 — 5 Comments

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, sine they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

I Peter 3:7, ESV

All sorts of things can hinder a prayer life. For sure, the guilt and shame of failures lead one to be hesitant in prayer, especially, when thinking about a prayer life with another person. I can’t help but think that this is certainly true when it comes to a husband and wife praying together.

Apart from God, who knows you like your spouse? Your spouse knows your tells. Your spouse understands your tendencies.  Your spouse can hear in the tone of your voice when something isn’t quite right. Moreover, your spouse most always sees through the facades you knowing and unknowingly erect to protect yourself. So when a couple isn’t dwelling together “in an understanding way,” things aren’t going to be the same, especially, when it comes to prayer. Shame causes us to be reluctant to enter into the house of prayer with one we love!

Father…Help us to not let the failure of unmet standards inhibit our prayer lives!

In Christian Life, Uncategorized
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Is He Serious? (1)

 —  July 23, 2009 — 5 Comments

The Sermon on the Mount, I believe, is both loved by us and in ways lost to us. We need it in more than we can imagine. From it we understand our roles as “salt” and “light” (5:13-16). Deep-seated convictions are carved from it (cf. Matthew 5:31-32). Without question, from both the remote and specific contexts of Matthew, The Sermon on the Mount is the essence of living in God’s kingdom.

But I’ve noticed the tendency to be very selective with where we tread in The Sermon, as well as with how hard we push its precepts. In our world especially, it’s hard to push too hard and remain consistent. Take for instance, Matthew 6:19-34.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon the earth…” Here we have verb action that is Greek present tense and in the imperative mood. Jesus is being very specific here. Essentially, he is saying, “You must not lay up stores of treasures here on the earth.” But we do. All of us. And we will go to great lengths to justify it. But is he serious?

Later he says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (vv. 25-26). The key word throughout the remainder of the section is anxious. He reiterates and reinforces his point. But when are we not thinking about these kinds of things? People experience tons of anxiety over these matters. But is he serious?

Are we really supposed to “not worry” about our lives (v. 25, NKJV)? Is he serious? Have we sinned if we do? Before responding, remember that he offers no caveats whatsoever. If he didn’t want them to get the wrong impression, I think he would have issued a caveat.

In Christian Life, Faith, Jesus
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Moving Forward

 —  July 14, 2009 — 1 Comment

It’s time to move forward. As God told Moses and the Israelites at Horeb, “You have stayed at this mountain long enough. Resume your journey…” (Deuteronomy 1:6-7, HCSB), so also is it time to move on and away from what’s gone on here for the last several days.

This morning I was reading through Acts 6 and I was struck by the life of Stephen. He was one of the “seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom” selected to tend to the Grecian widows who’d been neglected in the daily distribution. He was also described as “full of faith” (v. 5). Still later, we read of Stephen as “full of grace and power…performing great wonders and signs among the people” (v. 8). He met formidable opposition from those of the Freedman’s Synagogue, but “they were not able to stand up against the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (v. 10). Ultimately, his history lesson of Israel’s rejections of God’s prophets over the years, which culminated in the rejection of the Messiah, got him killed. But what a compelling argument he was for the faith of Christ!

The guy chosen to “wait on tables” (v. 2) apparently had much more to offer. And he did. Inside of him was a heart for souls. His ministry was about meeting the needs of others. If by food distribution, so be it. He offered food that met physical needs, but he was also willing to serve food “that lasts for eternal life” (John 6:27).

Service, in whatever form, is mighty ministry. Jesus boldly proclaimed the “living word” with passion and urgency; yet, washing his disciples’s feet was no less ministry, and no less significant.

Like Jesus, Stephen wasn’t a one talent man. His selection for a specific work didn’t mean he wasn’t fit for anything else. In a sense, I think it helped groom him for more. Unfortunately, it seems to have been a life cut short, but like others who have gone on before, “though he is dead, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4).

In Christian Life, Evangelism, Faith , , ,
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Great grace

 —  July 9, 2009 — 6 Comments

It seems to me that the infant, first century church learned a lot about itself through its experiences, both good and bad. Most obvious is the bad; namely, that racial tension between Jewish and Gentile Christians developed (Acts 10-15; Romans 1-2; 14-15). The most astounding of the good developed prior to the ensuing racial tensions.

Take, for instance, the manifestation of agape one for another in Acts 2-4. In fact, the essence of the good is expressly summarized by Luke himself,

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Acts 4:32-35, ESV.

What was responsible for sacrifice of that magnitude? The answer lies in the “great grace” that “was upon them all.” Kindness manifested through benevolent action was the embodiment of God’s grace in action (2 Corinthians 8:1ff).

The grace we receive from God becomes a catalyst for us to offer the same (1 Peter 2:1-3). Our growth in grace (2 Peter 3:18) is manifested through the actions of the Christian graces (2 Peter 1:5ff). As recipients of God’s grace, we become the bestowers thereof.

Can it be said that “great grace” is upon us?

In Christian Life ,
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