Colin S. Smith's Blog, page 57

Are You a Fool for Jesus or a Fool for the World?

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26) 

Have you ever felt sympathy for the poor soul caught unaware by the jumbotron? You know this person would have behaved quite differently had they known their celebrity debut was imminent. For this mere five seconds, they may have chosen to stay awake or to consume the hot dog in several bites as opposed to one. Internally, you can’t help but cringe for the chap who was made to look a fool.  

You’re also instantly grateful it didn’t happen to you. 

Foolishness and Culture 

There seems to be an innate sense within each one of us that despises the feeling of appearing foolish. I’ve observed this in each one of my children while they stomp off after being pranked by an older child. Young as they may be, they know it was their intelligence that was attacked.  

No matter the age, no person wants to look as though they are not as wise as their peers. Constantly fighting the scourge of pride, foolishness is a direct blow to our gut.  

We can be thankful, as Christians, that we are never really fools since we are united to God the Father through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirits gives us a new heart so we can hear true wisdom when it calls out. Though not everything is known to us, we have the blessing of the written Word. What a relief to know we will never be a fool in God’s eyes while following Jesus unless we happen to keep worldly wisdom in our back pocket. 

Consider these three examples from Scripture. Were they fools? 

The Worldly Wisdom of Jonah 

Consider the prophet Jonah—why might Jonah have initially run from the Lord when told to go to Nineveh and preach? We know that the city was full of wickedness (Jonah 1:2). Jonah’s life could have easily been taken given the city’s cruel reputation. The prophets continually preached to stubborn Israel but were reluctant to bring the Gentiles to God.  

The Ninevites were enemies of Israel and deserving of punishment. Jonah, considering that this wicked city might be blessed with the Lord’s grace and compassion, ran hoping for the city’s calamity (Jonah 4:1-3). Jonah’s foolishness is completely revealed when God relented in punishing Nineveh. The city repented and Jonah, a prophet who should have rejoiced, wished to die. 

Jonah was viewing the situation through his fleshly ideas of wisdom and justice, judging God’s will as foolishness.  

The Christ-Centered Wisdom of Mary  

Here’s a different “fool” in Scripture: Imagine watching Mary anoint Jesus’s feet with perfume (John 12:1-8). A year’s worth of wages is vanishing before your eyes. The dense scent in the room is a persistent reminder of Mary’s lavishness.  

Were you present, you would have then observed Judas asking Jesus if Mary’s actions were wise? Judas offers the suggestion that this money could have been given to the poor. 

What ideas would have run through your head? Would you have judged Mary’s act as foolish or wise? 

Our Example in Christ 

It can be easy to forget that the Savior we serve was once mocked (Matthew 27:27-31). Beaten, stripped naked, spat upon, and publicly hanged on a cross, Jesus willingly endured suffering and the appearance of foolishness that we might be glorified with him.  

The chief priests, the elders, and the scribes all made him out to be a fool for what he claimed to be: 

“[Jesus] saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:42)  

Worldly wisdom said that Jesus’s death proved he was not the Son of God. Jesus was made to be a fool. But what the soldiers designed for shame, God used to tear the veil and bring fruition to his promises.  

If you were there, would you have judged Jesus’s death as a proof of his foolishness? 

Where Wisdom is Found 

These questions are written not to point fingers but to raise awareness. Where does wisdom come from? The world, or Christ?  

If you’re unprepared to appear foolish to the world, to take this potential gut punch, you’ll exchange peace for worry, willingness for hesitancy, obedience for disobedience, and trust for doubt. Instead of sacrificing whatever material goods are in question, you’ll be sacrificing eternal rewards.  

To continue placing value in our pocket-edition wisdom, we are attempting to serve two masters, which is impossible (Matthew 6:24).  

One Blessing of Fleshy Wisdom  

There is at least one blessing in the fleshly wisdom that rears its ugly head—it can easily point out the impurities of our hearts. If we take a moment to ask ourselves why we are hesitating in a commission of the Lord, we can find the areas God desires to prune.  

When Mary poured out the perfume, it was Judas’s greed that pestered him. When Jonah ran, it was his hatred that fueled his rebellion.  

Most of us are familiar with 1 Corinthians 3:19, “For the wisdom of the world is foolishness in God’s sight.” Often this verse is assumed as simple in application because of the frequency in which it’s presented.  

However, consider our previous examples—Judas was a disciple of Christ, Jonah was a prophet. If we forget we have an enemy and stop reading the Word of God, we may become confused when the need for obedience in a difficult situation arises. If we struggle with pride, these decisions may be especially difficult if they appear foolish to the world.  

Stay Focused on God’s Word 

Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Part of having a fear of the Lord means we know to stay focused on God’s word for our wisdom. We must set our hearts on things eternal and set aside the world’s opinion of us.  While the world was declaring Jesus to be a fool, God was handing him all authority in heaven and on earth.   

Do not be deceived into feeling shame while imitating Christ, but instead rejoice in the faith he has given. Let us consider it the ultimate compliment when the world considers us fools for serving Jesus. 

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

What It Looks Like to Take God at His Word

“Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth” (1 Kings 17:13-14) 

The words quoted above are from the prophet Elijah. In the previous verses, the Lord told Elijah to go hide in the desert. Elijah knew to take God at his word and obeyed. And here he was, just having arrived in Zarephath. He saw a woman in desperate poverty, gathering sticks on the dump outside the city. Elijah asks her for a drink, and as the woman turns to go and get the water, Elijah says “And bring me some bread” (17:11). 

Great Sacrifice 

Put yourself in her shoes. There she was, at the dump outside the city gathering sticks to make a fire. On this fire, she planned to bake some bread, with the full expectation that this would be her last meal. Then we have these astonishing words from Elijah who asks for bread, and also tells her not to fear.  

Elijah was a prophet. That means he spoke the Word of God. What the prophet says, God says. So the word of the Lord comes to this woman through Elijah, calling her to make a great sacrifice. To take God at his word would mean making a great sacrifice. 

Great Promise 

Notice God, through Elijah, also gives her a great promise:  

“For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” (17:14) 

Someone might say, “Well, this sounds a bit like the health and wealth gospel to me.” Not a bit of it. God never promised wealth to the woman. The promise was not “Make me a cake and I’ll give you a bread factory.” The promise was “Bake me a cake, and the jar of flour will not be empty. The jug of oil will not run dry.” 

God will provide what you need when you need it; not an overflowing jar and an overflowing jug. You can take him at his word, and you can trust him as you walk with him in faith and obedience. 

Elijah As a Type of Christ

So, Elijah makes an astonishing ask and gives an amazing promise. Elijah is a type of Christ here. He pictures what Christ would do when he came. He asks for a great sacrifice, and he offers the promise of great joy.  

Similarly, Christ comes to us as people in great need. We are all facing death. All of us are on our way there, as much as this woman was, though for some of us it is further away. 

Elijah directly points us to Jesus Christ. He comes into our situation of great need and calls for a great sacrifice, promising greater joy. 

Christ calls for great sacrifice 

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) 

You may say, “I guess that is for the seriously committed—people like Peter, James, and John.” No, the Bible says, “Jesus called the crowd with his disciples and said to them.” Christ’s call to a life of sacrifice is the headline; He never hides it in the small print. 

Christ promises greater joy  

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:35)

Consider how the widow at Zarepath’s decion to take God at his word worked out: She hears Elijah’s call to sacrifice, and she hears this great promise of God’s provision. The challenge is simple: Does she believe in the promise of God?  

She looks at the jar and the jug, and she listens to the promise of God. Then she must decide which one to trust. 

“She went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days” (1 Kings 17:15). What a tragedy if this woman had said to Elijah, “I’d love to help, but I just can’t do it.” 

This woman wagered all on the promise of God. She takes God at his word, acts on his command, and blessing flows into her life in unexpected ways. 

We face the same choice. Christ calls us to great sacrifice, and he promises even greater joy. Will you believe and listen to the promise of God? 

What Looks Like to Take God at His Word

“If anyone would come after me, he must take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24-25).

What does that mean? Taking up your cross means that you consider yourself dead already. 

This is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian: You died. Your life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). If you count yourself dead already, all that you have has already been released. All that you once owned is now in the hands of God. It has already passed from you. 

If you count yourself dead already, you will no longer ask, “What am I going to do with my life?” A Christian is a person who has already given that up—I died. The Christian asks a new question: “What does Christ want to do with this life? What is the best I can do for my God?”

That is a totally different question and it leads to a radically different life. 

[This article was adapted from Pastor Colin’s sermon, “Why God Asks for Sacrifice,” in his series, The Suprising Influence of a Godly Life] [Photo Credit: Unplash]

Key Connections: Lay Preachers, True Happiness, and more…

Here are some of my favorite quotes from Christian articles around the web, including a book review by Craig Blomberg to bolster your belief in the accuracy of the four gospels, a post offering tips for lay preachers, and Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth discussing the nature of true happiness.

You Can Trust The Four Gospels (Craig Blomberg, TGC)

By far the longest, newest, and most interesting chapter deals with the barrage of details that the Gospel authors got right. With the aid of numerous charts, Williams catalogs all the references to towns, regions, bodies of water, and other places in the Gospels. He surveys roads and travel, gardens, botanical terms, financial practices, local languages, and unusual customs… Throughout, Williams’s points remain clear. When they can be tested, the places Scripture mentions are accurate.

Tips for Lay Preachers (Tony Merritt Jr., For the Church)

As a lay preacher, you not only need preaching reps, but preparation reps too. You need to go through the sanctifying work of studying to preach. God wants His word to work in you, not just through you.

True Happiness (Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Revive Our Hearts)

The psalms deal with every season and every experience of life. As we look at any psalm—including Psalm 1—we see that these passages point us to the wisdom of God. They point us to the ways of God. But the psalms also point us to Christ, who is the wisdom of God and Christ who is our righteousness.

Three Reasons to Read the Bible Every Day in 2019 (John Piper, desiringGod)

So how do we come to believe? How do we keep on believing? We believe through the word, through the word of the apostles. And where is that found? It’s found in the Bible.

12 New Year’s Reflection to Replace New Year’s Resolutions (Denise Kohlmeyer, Unlocking the Bible)

As Christians, we believe lasting hope and change comes not from our own efforts and resolutions, but from our devotion to, and conformity to reflection on Jesus Christ. So instead of offering resolutions for the new year, I want to offer a New Year’s reflection. 

Seven Tips on How to Study the Bible with Neighbors

My husband and I have lived at our current residence for 25 years. When we moved in, God placed a desire in my heart to eventually study the Bible with my neighbors so they could know the Gospel.   

Natural connections formed with many of my neighbors: our kids played together, our husbands walked to the train together, our dogs barked at each other. I loved these interactions, yet I really wanted to find a way to invite them to my home and study the Bible together. It seemed like a big leap.  

Here’s why:

It’s not easy. If I want to study the Bible with my neighbors, I have to  “impose,” They’re living their lives, and I’m living mine. I like my privacy and want to respect theirs too.   

Jesus told his disciples to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). I had been on mission trips to different states and far away countries. I had shared the gospel with strangers in Chicago.   

Why would I not do the same on my block?

Here are seven things you can do as you work toward opening the Bible with your neighbors. My prayer is that your home will become a place where hospitality and deeper spiritual conversations merge. Where love and listening are active. And where hearts are encouraged and souls fed.  

1.) Form Relationships  

Neighborhood relationships happen when we share a short conversation here and there. Ask questions and take the time to listen to their stories. New neighbors recently moved in across the street and one day we saw them outside cleaning up the yard. We were heading out somewhere and we were running late.   

But my husband wanted to welcome our new neighbors so across the street he went. I was a bit annoyed but also joined them as introductions were being made. We quickly learned so much about them in that two-minute conversation. It was a great first encounter that will set the stage for more conversations in the future.   

2.) Care for Needs  

Relationships are vital because we need each other. It’s hard to admit in suburbia where we can pull into our garage and down comes that large door before anyone has a chance to notice us. But in every house, at some point, there is need.   

When a neighbor shovels the widow’s driveway, when the flashing red lights of an ambulance draws everyone out, or when an unsupervised teen party is going on and it’s time to text the parents. These are the moments neighbors need each other.   

Genuine care for the needs of our neighbors establishes trust and grows relationships. And always keep the greatest need in the forefront of your heart and mind. The greatest need we all have is to be saved from our sins and be in right standing before God.   

If we want to love God and love our neighbor, we are going to think seriously about ways we can share Christ with them. Maybe you invite them to church with you or maybe you’re ready to invite them to a neighborhood Bible study.   

3.) Pray  

Before you invite your neighbor over to study or read the Bible together, pray. Pray for each household, and each person you are planning to invite.   

Pray for their hearts to be opened to the idea of joining you in this adventure. Ask God to stir in their hearts a desire to know more about the Bible. Have your friends and church praying with you. If you have Christian neighbors, meet with them, share the idea and pray together. Pray about what you want to focus on and study.   

Ask God for wisdom and guidance through each detail.   

4.) Plan…  
…according to the person.  

Plan this study with each neighbor in mind. Be sensitive and aware of who is in your study. Maybe they have a religious background. Maybe spiritual conversations are completely foreign to them. Or, maybe they are going through a major family event, whether good or bad.  

…a time that works.  

Think through your neighbors and their schedules. A neighborhood of young moms will be available at a different time than a street of empty nesters. You won’t be able to accommodate all schedules but choose a time that could work for most. I found Sunday afternoon from 4-5 was the best time for most schedules. You’ll likely need to be flexible with your own schedule.   

…the curriculum.   

As you pray and talk to others who have done neighborhood studies, come up with a simple and clear curriculum. My neighbors and I have studied or will study Psalm 23, the “I AM” statements of Jesus, and the book of Ruth. If you have the time, a good idea would be a study that allows you and your neighbors to get a grasp of the over-arching story and theme of the Bible.

5.) Invite  

Yes, you need to invite your neighbors. Be honest and transparent in your invitation. Your neighbor should know exactly to what you are inviting them from the information on the invite.   

Once I planned a Christmas Brunch for my neighbors. What I did not mention in my invite was that we would be having a short Christmas devotional during that time. I thought I would just slip it in since I had everyone sitting around my family room. As I read this devotional, I remember the look on one neighbor’s face. She clearly was surprised and uncomfortable with my sweet little talk about baby Jesus.   

I offended her, not with the Gospel, but by “trapping her” to hear the gospel. I had been misleading in the invite and it caused a rift between us for months to come.   

When you invite, don’t be ashamed of saying it’s a Bible Study. The Bible is God’s word with riches beyond measure (Psalm 119:14), so invite them to learn along with you!

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

6.) Prioritize God’s Word  

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).   

Hosting and leading a Bible Study requires a sense of responsibility – a joyful one but still a responsibility. We want to represent God and his Word well. And we want to proclaim God’s truth, not our opinion.   

We don’t want to add or subtract to God’s Word. God’s Word stands perfectly on its own.   

Our role is to present it, share it, and proclaim it. Be prepared and hold fast to the word of truth and trust God for the results. He will work in and through you and your guests.

7.) Rely on God  

I was super excited to host and lead a Bible study until I stepped outside and started walking toward each house to invite them. Suddenly, I felt foolish. What I was doing felt foreign. This was the first time I was relating to them differently than I had in the past. I felt alone and insecure.

But then God drew near and renewed a right spirit within me. He reminded me that I was doing this for him! It was an act of obedience. I was doing this because I had the best news in the world to share. I was doing this because I really liked my neighbors and cared about their eternal state. God had prepared me and equipped me – in his power and strength, I pressed on to the next house until all the invites were delivered.   

I invite you to share Christ, and study the Bible, with your neighbors for their good and his glory.  

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

Make the New Year about Loving Others, Not Improving Yourself

As the calendar puts Thanksgiving and Christmas behind us, and we move into the New Year, we move from loving others and cheer to cultivating discontentment and feelings of insufficiency. We were not good enough last year, we think to ourselves. We’ll be better this year.   

Within this attitude of self-improvement lies a risk of missing the whole point of Christmas! Way more than cultivating contentment and sufficiency within material goods, Christmas cultivates contentment and sufficiency within our restored relationship to God. In Christ, we have been endowed with the highest value. And that truth extends beyond December 25th! 

Because Christ came to earth and gave his life as a ransom for us, he opened a way for us to find contentment and sufficiency in him. When we experience that selfless love, our hearts and minds will overflow with thanksgiving and our hands will mirror God selfless love towards our neighbor.  

Creation: God’s Sharing Himself with Us 

Out of his infinite love, God primarily created us to display his glory to us and allow us to relish in it. God did not create us to fulfill some need of his. He had everything in himself.  

God selflessly blessed Adam and Eve with his presence and with abundant life in Eden. Yet, they failed to submit themselves to his will when tempted by the devil. They could have demonstrated obedience and devotion from a heart of thanksgiving to God.  

Instead, their minds nursed bitterness, their hearts grew bitter towards God. And, because their hearts grew bitter towards God, they were obedient and devoted to their desires of self-fulfillment. 

We do the same thing. From birth, we suppress the truth that God is the good Creator of all the things we enjoy. We ponder on false pleasure apart from him, inflame our desires to pursue this pleasure, and love ourselves instead of loving God and loving others.

Instead of expressing thanksgiving to God, we try to replace him with our self. In our eyes, the world rotates around us. Thus, all things and beings, including God himself, exist to serve us, fulfill our passions, and help us achieve our goals.  

Jesus’ Incarnation: God’s Response to Restore the Broken World 

One night in Bethlehem, Jesus laid in a manger as a babe. Maintaining his divinity, Jesus descended into humanity. He momentarily gave up his rights and prerogatives as God.  

If Jesus had wanted to, he could have been the conqueror the Jews expected. But, he did not. Jesus made himself of no reputation, being born in a manger to a teen mom and a carpenter. He willingly became vulnerable to limits, pain, rejection, and scrutiny.

In eternity past, he was limitless. He was serenaded by angelic praise. He gave all this up to restore us to his Father and to one another. And, he came to renew our vision of God as our provider, not our enemy, and of our neighbor as our co-laborer in love, not our enemy. 

That night in Bethlehem, Christ laid as a covenant given to us from the Father to restore us to him. All of God’s promises to his people throughout the Old Testament were fulfilled:  

Jesus was Eve’s seed who would crush Satan.  
He was Abraham’s offspring through which all of the nations would be blessed. He was David’s heir who would eternally sit enthroned in Jerusalem.  
As the servant Isaiah prophesied to the Israelites, Jesus brought salvation to Jerusalem. 
Jesus accomplished Satan’s defeat, the offering of salvation to all nations, and his seat of uncontested rule over the cosmos and global adoration from the cosmos. 

He restored us to the Father, earning perfect righteousness we could never achieve and bearing God’s wrath on the cross. 

He modeled the result of his labors: The Father’s approval and the Holy Spirit’s power exhibited in a glorified body. Lifted up to the Father’s right hand, Jesus is our head and the first-fruit of transformative resurrection. 

Our Response: Gratitude and Sacrificial Acts of Love  

We did not have to lift one finger. Christ did all the work of us. Therefore, we must rest in Christ as our Redeemer. Christ surrendered himself to his heavenly father as the permanent servant of his people. Therefore, we must surrender ourselves to him as his servants.  

As his servants, we must serve one another since we are all members of one spiritual family. Being transformed into new creations, we must let our light shine before the world, so that people may behold our good works and glorify our Father, residing in heaven (Matthew 5:16). 

When Jesus was with his disciples during the feast of Passover, he washed their feet, resumed his place, and declared: 

“Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:12-17, italics mine). 

Similar to how Christ washed the disciples’ feet, he washed and cleansed us with his blood. Once repugnant and unable to enter God’s presence, we are presentable before God, because we are holy and blameless in Christ.  

Make the New Year about Loving Others 

Modeling Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, we must seek opportunities to be serving and loving others, no matter the severity of the debasement and humiliation our service must take on. 

That was the whole point of Christmas: Christ’s taking on flesh to serve us that we may become God’s children. So, as the new year approaches, let’s not forget what the Christmas season meant. And let’s not neglect to model Christ’s example by serving each other. 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1).

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

12 New Year’s Reflections to Replace New Year’s Resolutions

As Christians, we believe lasting hope and change comes not from our own efforts and resolutions, but from our devotion to, and conformity to reflection on Jesus Christ. So instead of offering resolutions for the new year, I want to offer a New Year’s reflection. 

Read these each month and use the theme for that month as you study God’s word. In doing so, you will grow in greater conformity to our precious Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. You can anticipate that, because it is true!

JANUARY: LOVE 

This is by far the most defining characteristic of Jesus. Throughout his earthly ministry (and even now!) He exuded love to everyone he encountered, whether saint or sinner. As Christians, love should be our distinguishing characteristic, as well. “Everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35). 

In the new year, let Christ-like love rule the day. While we should never compromise God’s Word, we can still express brotherly love to others in our everyday interactions with them. 

Reflection: In what specific, tangible ways does Christ love others in the Bible? 

FEBRUARY: COMPASSION 

Compassion is borne out of love for others. It means “to suffer together.” Compassion compels us to come alongside and partner with someone who is suffering, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.  

Scripture recounts several instances when Jesus was “moved with pity” (Mark 1:41). This God-given feeling caused him to move toward the sufferers out of love for them and do something to help them. 

Reflection: Read John 11. Reflect on Jesus’s compassion and love for Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. How does it change your life to know that Jesus’s weeps with us? 

MARCH: FORGIVENESS 

Forgiveness is why Jesus came to earth, to die on a cross so that we could be forgiven of our sins and receive eternal life. Thanks to God’s great forgiveness of our sins, our relationship with God can be wonderfully restored.  

It is the same with our earthly relationships. Unforgiveness keeps us separated, but forgiveness reunites us. Forgiveness enables us to lay aside the debt of wrongs and sins done to us (and vice versa). Forgiveness heals fractured relationships.  

Reflection: Please read the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50. Meditate on it this month and think about those in your life whom you need to forgive. Read also Luke 23. Ask yourself: What does it mean for my life if Jesus could forgive those who crucified him? 

APRIL: HUMILITY 

Humility means “lowliness of mind, modesty.” As the saying goes, “It is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.” Humility is a mindset, an attitude, the opposite of pride, “haughtiness, disdain, arrogance.”  

Hear this from Philippians 2:5-7:  

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 

Reflection: How can you follow Christ’s example by “taking the form of a servant” and begin to cultivate humility in your own life?  

MAY: OBEDIENCE 

Just as compassion is an outgrowth of love, obedience is an outgrowth of humility. “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). 

Jesus’ obedience manifested itself in doing the will of his Father, not his own (John 6:38). He made God’s greatest wish and desire—that none should perish, but that all should have eternal life—and made it his own (2 Peter 3:9). 

Reflection: In what way are you struggling to obey God right now? How does Christ’s obedience move you to be more obedient of God’s will for your life? 

JUNE: PEACE 

Even before his birth, Isaiah said that one of Jesus’s names would be Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus offers this peace through salvation. Jesus’s broken body tore down “the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14) between God and us. Amen! 

Peace is yet another characteristic that should define God’s children, so much so that it is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  

Reflection: Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). How did Jesus bring peace to those he came in contact with? How does he bring us peace today? 

JULY: SERVICE 

Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins was (and is) the most significant act of love, compassion, humility, and obedience ever expressed. He willingly gave himself in death, so that you and I could have life. It was his ultimate act of service for sinful mankind, having come “not to be served but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). 

Reflection: Read Matthew 23:11-12. Meditate on all that Jesus has done (and continues to do) for you, to help you begin to cultivate a sacrificial servant’s heart for others.  

AUGUST: PRAYERFUL 

Prayer, first and foremost, is to exchange our own wishes (our wills) for God’s. Recall when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane. He asked God to take away the cup of death which he was about to drink. But, ultimately, Jesus prayed, “…yet, not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Notice the exchange of Jesus’s wish for God the Father’s? 

Reflection: Jesus also knew that he could not fulfill his ministry without his Father’s help and guidance, Therefore, throughout his three-year ministry, he frequently withdrew from everyone and went to isolated places to be alone with God (Luke 5:16, 6:12; Mark 1:35). How can you withdraw for times of spiritual refreshment and seek God’s help and guidance? 

SEPTEMBER: AVAILABLE, ATTENTIVE 

Often, we are so consumed with our own lives and schedules that we aren’t as available or attentive to the hurting, the needy, and the spiritually lost as we should be.  

Consider how most of Jesus’ three-year ministry was spent in open, public places (by the sea of Galilee, on mountaintops, at public bathing pools, on roadways). People could come to him at any time. And they did. By the thousands. Jesus intentionally made himself accessible, welcoming everyone, both saint and sinner. (See Luke 7:36-50, 17:11-19; Mark 2:1-12, 14-17) 

Reflection: How has God been available and attentive to you during your journey with him?  

OCTOBER: TRUTHFUL 

God the Father cannot lie, and neither can Jesus, God the Son. (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18).  

Unlike Jesus, however, we can lie, exaggerate, bend the truth. It is part of our sinful nature. Yet, believers are called to “take off your old self with its practices…[and] do not lie to each other” (Colossians 3:9). 

Reflection: What truth did Jesus speak that you most want to share with someone you know? 

NOVEMBER: PATIENCE 

When the confused disciples couldn’t grasp the meanings of many of his parables, Jesus patiently explained them. When Thomas doubted who he was and demanded proof before he believed, he patiently complied. Praise God! For he is patient with us, his stubborn, errant children (Psalm 103:8).  

Resolution: Make Romans 15:5 your prayer this month: “May the God who  gives [patience] endurance and encouragement give [me] the same attitude of mind toward each other, which Christ Jesus had.” 

DECEMBER: HOLY 

Holiness is not merely a set of moral codes to follow. Moral behaviors are the outgrowth of an already holy character. In Christ, we are holy at the moment of our conversion. Our lifestyle choices and outward conduct, through the ongoing transformation of our lives, then reflect that holiness. 

Just as God is “set apart and separate,” we are to spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and in some cases, physically disassociate ourselves from the world’s sinful activities, values, beliefs, and philosophies.  

Resolution: If you have put your faith in the  free gift  of grace, found through Jesus Christ  (Ephesians 2:8-9) ,  then  Christ’s holiness has been attributed to you .  What  good works has God “prepared beforehand” (v. 10) in your life? 

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12 Most Popular Articles in 2018’s 12 Months

The end of December is a great time to reflect back on all the ways God has blessed us over the last year. Here at Unlocking the Bible, we’ve been blessed with great contributors who love the Lord, love God’s word, and have a special ability to share with others. I wanted to take a moment to look back on some of these articles, highlighting the 12 most popular articles for each of the 12 months. If you have not read these, please do so!

January – 10 Bible Reading Habits I’ve Learned from My Pastor (Rachel Lehner)

When seeking to understand the meaning of a word or verse, I’ve seen how important it is to interpret Scripture in light of itself. For example, I understood the word “blasphemy” to mean insulting or showing contempt for God. But my pastor used Mark 2:7 to explain Matthew 26:65, which defines “blasphemy” as claiming to be God. This makes the charge against Jesus before the priests all the more meaningful since Jesus was put to death for claiming to be God, the one crime for which Jesus could be rightfully convicted.

February – The 3-5 Method: Studying God’s Word When You’re Tired and Busy (Abbey Wedgeworth)

Whoever and wherever you are, be encouraged, my weary friend, that the Word of God has something for you in this season and your unique circumstances and limited abilities don’t disqualify you from accessing it. Regardless of the amount of time and energy you have or the amount of guilt or shame you feel, you can consistently engage with and be nourished by the Bible.

March – Pain Will Not Have the Final Word (Sarah Walton)

No one lives this life untouched. We all experience the brokenness and frailty of this world in one way or another. Whether we face daily disappointments, an aging body, a life-altering illness, abuse, broken relationships, or loss, the pain we experience becomes woven into the fabric of our lives. It changes us, sometimes leaving us with scars or a limp.

April – The Power of Our Criticism (Meredith Hodge)

Jesus tells us that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). When we fail to acknowledge the sin rooted in our hearts before we speak, our reckless words have the power to destroy, no matter how seemingly small.

May – What Happens When You Pray (Colin Smith)

Jesus lives to make our weak, stumbling prayers effective. He stands between us and the Father. Our weak prayers are sanctified and made fragrant through the blood of Jesus, so that the stammering prayers of people like us should carry weight with Almighty God!

June – Five Ways the Armor of God Protects Us Against the Enemy (Kevin Halloran)

Satan wants us to compromise the truth by giving into unrighteous living. We are to be unshakable and uncompromising in our moral lives: “Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). When Christians live out their identity as the holy people of God, they become even more Christ-like, thus avoiding the trap of the enemy.

July – The Single Greatest Challenge of Your Christian Life (Colin Smith)

When you find something of supreme value, you go after it—regardless of the cost. If you have grasped the glory of Jesus Christ, you will wade into deeper water, giving sacrificially like never before. Costly obedience shows how you value Jesus Christ.

August – The Best Place to Flourish (Colin Smith)

Focus your best effort on what God has given you to do right now. It’s easy to waste your life, always looking at the next thing, but the best place to flourish is where God has set you down. Whatever God has given you to do, do it with all your heart! My pastor used to say, “Colin, there are no perfect places. The best place to flourish is where God has set you now.”

September – Good News for Stressed People (Kristen Wetherell)

What’s the result of trusting Christ’s lordship and enduring in his strength? Peace. And not only for us, but for those around us. When we are convinced that Jesus reigns as Lord on the throne of the universe and our lives, that nothing escapes or surprises him, and that he’ll guide and strengthen our way, the fruit of such trust is his peace.

October – Women, Wage War on a Lustful Heart (Brittany Allen)

We must put off thoughts of our old self and think on things of our new life in Christ. Meditate on the gospel—remember who you were before Jesus called you to himself and praise him for making you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). When temptation enters your mind, choose to think on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).

November – Five Words of Encouragement for Youth Pastors (Jon Nielson)

Your job is to communicate God’s Word to the young men and women you serve; you can trust Scripture to do the “heavy lifting” in ministry. More than being a guru, event coordinator, or entertainer, you must see yourself as a herald of the gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is revealed to us in the Word of God.

December – Christmas Lights Shine on Humanity’s Wounds (Chad Bird)

There is no dark pit of sadness so deep that his arm cannot reach to grab you and pull you back into the light of life again. There is no regret so final that his love cannot reverse and transform it into a hope again. No person who feels useless or utterly forgotten that is not precious to him. For he was willing to be born for you, to enter your pain, to absorb your scars, and to bring you out of the grave with him on his and your Easter day.

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On Reading, and Re-Reading, Familiar Bible Passages

For the Christian, certain times of the year mean that certain Scriptures need to be read again. During Thanksgiving, many bloggers look to the opening and closing lines of Paul’s letters. During Easter, we open the Gospels to their last few chapters. And this past Christmas time, we once again read Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2. We are creatures of habit. The holiday calendar asks us to be re-reading the same Scriptures repeatedly.  

If you are like me, you might think to yourself, Is there not anything else we can read? We do this every year. 

Make it New  

This was a famous line from an infamous, and disreputable, twentieth-century poet, Ezra Pound. He exhorted the creative world with such a simple phrase that it became the rally-cry for an entire generation: Make It New.

With this phrase, Pound summarized the spirit of the modernist era. A time ripe with innovative technology, seemingly-new ideologies rising against organized religion, and an awakened obsession with expressive individualism. Sound familiar?  

The idea to make it new, this simple exhortation, was nothing new, of course. People in all cultures and all generations have sought to be new. This was a struggle that even Solomon, David’s son and Jerusalem’s king, had to wrestle with.  

Is there a thing of which can be said,  

“See, this is new”?  

It has been already  

In the ages before us. (Ecclesiastes 1:10) 

The verses above offer true wisdom, because they begin to push back on the value of newness. If I think I have something new, then I can use that to fuel my own pride. I am worth more now than I was worth before. But the “the Preacher” (1:1)—Hebrew word Qoheleth, which could also mean collector—knows that newness itself is untrustworthy. 

I certainly need to learn this lesson! As a writer, I am always looking for a new idea to express or a new expression for an old idea. Embedded in me is the assumption that something new is more valuable than something old. This assumption contributes to my temptation to roll my eyes when I hear the same Scripture passage cited over and over. Or my temptation to skip passages in my daily devotions that I’ve read many times before.

Are you, like me, caught up in the ever-present cultural craze to make it new?  

Re-Reading the Bible  

I am not suggesting reading more of Scripture than Luke 1-2 around Christmas is in any way bad. I am, however, suggesting that we need to be aware of how we are influenced by the ever-present spirit-of-the-age prompting us, however vaguely, to be different. To be new. And our feeling that reading something new is better than something old may be one of many ways which we are influenced.

I want to advocate strongly for an increased appreciation of re-reading. In his essay “Good Readers and Good Writers,” one twentieth-century university professor wrote:  

Curiously enough, one cannot read a book: one can only re-read it. A good reader, a major reader, an active and creative reader is a rereader.

He taught this idea to his undergraduate students as a strategy for making it through difficult literary texts. I want to apply this, rather, to the Christian life. A Christian cannot read the Bible, he or she can only re-read it. Re-reading, as a practice, is Christ-honoring, biblically-based, and leads a Christan to great joy in the Lord.  

Christ-Honoring  

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)  

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25) 

Inherent to remembrance is repetition. Repetitive reflection on the same event, person, or idea from the past. Jesus calls the disciples, and us, to remember the establishment of the new covenant.  

I find it remarkable that Christ takes two very common activities—breaking bread and drinking a glass of wine—and says, “Do this in remembrance of me.” I’m no expert on first-century life, but wouldn’t the disciples either break bread or drink wine daily? I imagine they would. And like them, we are to return to a daily reflection of what Christ has done for us. The remembrance conforms us to the image of Christ.   

Here’s one last thing I’d like to say on remembrance. The same Greek word appears in Hebrews 10. but in that context, the author of Hebrews refers to the annual sacrifices which occurred as a result of the Law. These annual sacrifices brought the reminder of sin:  

…in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. (Hebrews 10:3)  

Do you see the two big differences between that remembrance and the one Christ calls us to? The old covenant brought a reminder of sin, and that reminder happened a few times throughout the year, but the new covenant brings a reminder of God’s great grace, and that reminder happens every day.  

Biblically-Based  

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (2 Peter 1:12-15) 

Peter acknowledges that his audience is already in-the-know. They have not only heard but also established their lives “in the truth.” Even so, Peter knows it is right and profitable to say things to them that they already know.   

Peter is saying, “Look, there is nothing new here. But what you already know is the truth. It alone will stir you up. And I want not to fill your head with something else taking precious space your mind away from the Gospel but to cause to memorize these wonderful truths.”  

Perhaps we all know the general narrative arch of Luke 1 and 2, but how many of us can recall it, with complete accuracy, “at any time?”  

Once again, I am not suggesting there’s anything wrong to read something other than Luke or Matthew this Christmas. Instead, I am suggesting caution at the spirit that may be driving that choice. More so, I am affirming the infinite value of re-reading those passages. 

Leads to Great Joy  

Let me clue you into the great paradox of re-reading the Bible. It is through reflecting, remembering, recalling, and re-reading the ancient truths of the Bible that we can apply the newness it offers to our lives.  

We all have the yearning for something new. But you do not need to strive after newness very long before you can resonate with Solomon’s anguish:  

“Is there a thing of which can be said,  

“See this is new”? 

The answer to his question is yes. Jesus Christ took on human flesh in order to offer something truly new to all who believe in him. He came to give life to the dead. He came to give immortality to mortality. He came to give humanity a new heart, so that we may worship him and glorify in him forever.  

Christian, this is why we return to the story of Christ’s birth. Re-reading about the gifts given to Jesus. Re-reading the story of Mary and Elizabeth. Re-reading about Simon and Anna. We re-read this story because it is the start of the only new thing the world has seen since the fall of man. 

Christ does not simply offer us a new idea or mode of expressing ourselves. Christ offers us new life.

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Can Genuine Faith Come as a Result of False Ministries?



[Editorial Note: This sermon clip comes in the middle of Pastor Colin’s sermon, “When God Hides You,” in which he discusses Elijah’s time in the desert. During this time, God promised Elijah: ‘You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there…’ And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening. (1 Kings 17:4,6). Hear the full sermon here.]

The striking thing is that the birds that flew at the command of God and provided the sustaining food for Elijah were ravens. That is fascinating to me because in the Old Testament laws the ravens were unclean birds.

God gave laws about what his people could eat and what they could not eat in the Old Testament, and ravens were definitely “off limits.” The raven was described as “detestable” (Leviticus 11:16).

It is surprising that when God chooses to sustain a servant, he chooses to use an unclean bird. Think about this: God sends life-sustaining food, delivered by unclean birds.

You May Have Been Fed by an Unclean Bird

Maybe you were taught the Bible by a Sunday school teacher or a pastor or a friend. You looked up to that person. You saw them as a role model, as an example. But some years later, you found out that they were not who you thought they were.

Maybe they committed a great crime. Maybe they abandoned the faith they once taught, and you were left saying, “Wait a minute, what is all this about?” You felt robbed. If that’s happened to you, it will greatly help you to know God can deliver clean food, even through an unclean bird.

Maybe the person who led you to Christ then abandoned their faith in Jesus, and that leaves you saying, “What about me? What does that mean for my faith?”

Jesus sent out the 12 apostles on a mission. All of them were used by God. People would have come to faith in Christ through each of their ministries. Imagine meeting with these people:

One says “I was led to faith by Peter.”

Another says, “I was led to faith by John.”

Someone else seems rather quiet.  You know why.  “What about you? Who led you to faith?”

“Well, actually it was Judas. I don’t like to mention it.”

How God Creates Genuine Faith

You say “Is that possible? That someone could be led to genuine faith by someone who did not have it themselves?” Absolutely. God can create genuine faith through the ministry of fake believers. It is the Gospel that saves, not the person who speaks it.

You are saved by the power of the Gospel, not by the integrity of the person who speaks it. You desperately need to know that, if you find out that the person who led you to faith was an unclean bird.

Why Did the LORD Have to Come to Earth?

Jesus Christ is the Lord, our king. Did you know that the Bible refers to Jesus as Lord 20 more times than Savior? The Bible is busy proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord. And, this isn’t an unfamiliar title. The title “Lord” referred to Yahweh in the Old Testament. The Lord is the One parted the Red Sea, revealed himself at Sinai, destroyed the walls of Jericho, sent fire from heaven at the call of Elijah, and upheld the mighty Kings and Prophets of old.  

The Bible does not merely use the same name for Jesus but declares he is the Lord. We read in Colossians 1 that “in [Jesus] the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19), and later in chapter 2, that “in [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwel[t] bodily.” Jesus, in the flesh, was God. He was “the image of the invisible God” (1:15).  

Jesus was Lord before his coming to the earth. And, he remains the Lord still. However, surely there are people who ask: Why did Jesus have to come? Why did he have to come as a baby?

The Beauty of the Incarnation 

Jesus didn’t earn the title Lord because of what he did on earth. Rather, he was worthy of the title from the beginning of existence. When one begins to think this way, God’s unique wisdom is on full display as we consider the fullness of God, and the fullness of humanity, that was contained in the babe in the manger.   

If Jesus had come from heaven as an adult human, it would be hard to consider his human qualities. And, if he came from two humans, it would be hard to consider his God qualities. There is infinite wisdom in the Virgin Mary conceiving by the power of the Holy Spirit. It had to be this way. Jesus could not properly represent humanity without being human, and he couldn’t properly overcome sin, and be perfectly obedient without being God.   

The beauty of the incarnation is in the manner of which it happened. Jesus was perfectly equipped and positioned to be our Savior. There was never, and will never, be another Savior.

Genesis 15 

Though it may be a unique place to look for a Christmas reflection, I want to draw our attention to Genesis, chapter 15. Genesis 15 curiously describes a time when God was with Abraham. Just a few chapters earlier, God promised to make Abraham the Father of many offspring, and that he would be a blessing for the nations. Here, God formalizes these promises to Abraham.  

Starting in verse 12, God caused Abraham to fall into a deep sleep, but not before he instructed Abraham to take several different types of animals, cut them in two, and lay each half a short distance apart (v. 9-10), so that a type of runway formed. This was a common set-up when two individuals wanted to make a commitment to each other. The Bible uses the word ‘oath’ to describe this type of binding agreement.  

Essentially, both parties would walk between the halved animals. This created a visual reminder that if either failed to uphold their side of the commitment, the covenant, what had happened to the carcasses, would be their fate also—death!

The Covenant Ritual with one Exception 

And, this ritual happened in Genesis 15, with one main exception: Abraham was sleeping! God, represented by a smoking fire-pot and a flaming torch—the same elements that represented God later in the wilderness before his people in the book of Exodus—passed between the halves alone!  

By walking between the halves alone, God was communicating that if He failed to keep up His end of the agreement, it would mean the curse of death would be on Him. He was also communicating that if Abraham—or any member of Abraham’s line—would fail to keep up their end of the agreement, it would mean the curse of death would also be on God!  

In this act, God bound himself to humanity, forever. If man would ever thereafter fail to obey, perfectly, the parameters of their relationship—later represented by the Old Testament Law—the consequence would be the death of God himself.  

If you think this sounds funny, just think of the cross—at the cross, God held up his end of the agreement! 

Great Celebration and Great Commitment  

So, you see, when we talk about Christmas, and the coming of Jesus in the manger, it had to be the Lord Jesus born in human form. Though we understand there to be great love in the celebration of Christmas—after all, John 3:16 tell us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.” But, in this love there is also great commitment. 

It is important, that we have a proper scope. When our scope is simply the manger, and the birth, we warm our hearts, and we remind ourselves of the purity of Christ. But, when our scope is the whole framework of the Bible, starting in Genesis, and God’s full dealings with humanity, we can see that the manger was simply another step along the way to the cross. Jesus’ coming was for the purpose of dying. He is true to his word in Genesis 15.  

Jesus is the perfect sacrifice. Jesus died, in the flesh, taking our place for our rebellion. We did not and do not hold up our side of the agreement. But, God is faithful to hold it up for us. Friends, let me remind you, the Christian life does not depend on what you can do, and have done for Christ, but it rests entirely on what Jesus Christ, the Lord, has done for you. 

Ponder the Coming of the Lord

Jesus Christ, came as a baby— taking on our condition, yet remaining faithful to the Father, where we could not. Jesus, in his life, death, and heavenly rule is righting every wrong concerning sin, both in ourselves and in the world. He set out to be, and remains, the only Savior, and hope, for those who call on him and receive his grace, by faith. 

This Christmas season, it is my prayer that we’d not only consider the love of the Father, or consider only a baby in a manger, but also ponder the necessity and direction of Jesus’s coming. The Lord had to come. The Lord had to die. And he now lives in glory with a name that is above every name 

So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

A Prayer 

Jesus, Our Lord and King, we worship you; we honor you. You came to the earth 2000 years ago, perfectly. You lived as we do, yet were obedient in all circumstances, perfectly. And now, Lord, you reign in heaven, ruling over all—perfectly. Jesus, you are King of the universe. Yet in wisdom became a baby in flesh. Then a lamb which was slain. We understand our need, as sinners, is outside our ability to address. We also understand, Lord, that because of you, we do not need to remain in rebellion. For you laid down your life that we might live. Oh Lord, draw hearts to yourself. In the name of Christ, soften hearts of stone, and birth faith. To the glory and praise of God. Amen.

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