Colin S. Smith's Blog, page 75

Three Signs That You’re a Lover of Money

Money is one of our top worries, often second to health or safety. Money divides families, breaks up marriages, and turns gentle dispositions into fits of rage. How we handle our money says more about our priorities than any words we could ever speak.

A survey by the American Psychological Association shows money as a “perennial” source of stress in the lives of Americans year after year. Surprisingly, the stress is not limited to lower-income households. Even those with $1 million or more net worth worry about their financial future.

From CNBC in 2015:

It’s only natural to sweat the phone bill when there aren’t enough nickels to rub together. But what explains the millionaire who agonizes over the cost of new curtains, or the homeowner of sufficient means who can’t pull the trigger on a long-overdue family vacation?

Indeed, a surprising number of Americans who are otherwise financially secure are quite literally worried sick about money.

The stress, divisiveness, and heartache associated with money has existed for generations; remember the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22), the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-16), or long before them, the conflict between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot (Genesis 13)? The heart condition characterized by the love of money is the same heart condition continues to afflict us today.

Is Money Your Master?

Jesus warns that serving money means we are not serving him. In other words, money cannot be our top priority.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

Matthew Henry describes the conflict between two masters like this:

While two masters go together, a servant may follow them both; but when they part, you will see to which he belongs; he cannot love, and observe, and cleave to both as he should. If to the one, not to the other; either this or that must be comparatively hated and despised.

A master is the one we trust to lead us and bring order to our lives. He is the one with control and is the one to be obeyed. Even as Christians, we can find ourselves drawn to serve the master of money. But God’s Word is clear:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Three Signs That You’re a Lover of Money

From the scriptures, we find some common themes that describe lovers of money. Here are some signs that money may be the master of your life:

1. Lovers of money exalt the things of man.

In Luke, the Pharisees are described as “lovers of money” who hold in high regard the things that are important to others.

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:14-15)

Modern examples of the things that are “exalted among men” include the prestige that comes with a position of leadership; the ability to buy nice clothing and eat at fine restaurants; an excellent education or family pedigree; or having the resources to go on vacation, stay in nice hotels, and buy theme park tickets.

Of course it’s not sinful to have quality clothing or visit a theme park. The question is, what do you “exalt”? Are you driven by a love of money? Is it important to you that people think highly of you based on what you have?

Or do you love God more than money and the high opinion of others?

2. Lovers of money place their confidence in what they possess.

Men and women who lived through the Great Depression saw their financial security wiped out. With unimaginable unemployment rates and food shortages, they learned that the confidence that comes with a steady paycheck can disappear without notice.

Are you waiting until you have “enough” before you can be satisfied?
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God’s Word reminds us to place our confidence in God, who provides for our needs, and not to pin our hopes on the uncertainty of jobs, pension plans, and property.

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Where is your confidence? Do you tell yourself that once you’ve paid off the house or gotten a promotion or built up your 401k that you’ll feel secure?

Or do you trust God more than wealth to give you a “good foundation for the future”?

3. Lovers of money never have enough.

In the words of Bob and Larry of Veggie Tales:

Bob the Tomato: “Larry, how much stuff do you need to make you happy?”

Larry the Cucumber: “I don’t know. How much stuff is there?”

We live in a society marked by consumption. Electronics that cost us hundreds of dollars are obsolete within two years, only to be replaced by fancier electronics that quickly become obsolete themselves. Entire industries are built on updating fashion, home décor, and entertainment trends. Even the secular world is getting sick of our consumerism as evidenced by the tiny home movement and minimalist trend sweeping the nation.

King Solomon said it best:

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Are you seeking the comfort and leisure that comes with money? Are you waiting until you have “enough” before you can be satisfied?

Or are you content with what God has given you?

Freed From the Love of Money

The American Psychological Association survey reveals what God’s Word told us all along, that money is indeed a fickle master. It promises security, safety, and enjoyment, but the more we chase it, the more we learn that money cannot be trusted to provide what only God can give.

The habit-forming quality of money appeals to our sinful nature. So how can we be free from the love of money? By turning our focus on the only God who provides all we need. To serve God and not money, we count him as more reliable, more satisfying, and more permanent. “And this is how we know [daily, by experience] that we have come to know Him [to understand Him and be more deeply acquainted with Him]: if we habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings) (1 John 2:3, AMP).

Jesus satisfies our greatest need when we come to know him in salvation, and he transforms our desires, focus, and pursuits through sanctification. That is, he first saves us from the penalty of our sin by his “atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle] (1 John 2:2, AMP). Having been saved from the penalty of sin, we are being saved from the power of sin, and are increasingly freed from the love of money, as Christ shifts our focus from the “things in the world” to himself.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

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The post Three Signs That You’re a Lover of Money appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Six Reasons the Church Needs Corporate Prayer

We read in Acts 2 that Peter preached to crowds and “they were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). Scriptures tells us that 3,000 were added to the church that day when Peter proclaimed, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Thousands were compelled by the working of the Spirit through Peter’s words to understand and believe that Jesus, whom they crucified, was indeed both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36).

Immediately after they believed, we read that the new believers “devoted themselves” to the teaching of the Apostles, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. We see signs and wonders, belief, and generosity. We see worship, hospitality, praise, unity, and evangelistic growth (Acts 2:42-47).

Who doesn’t want their church to look like the body of Christians we see in Acts 2?

But the excitement of signs and wonders and favor and awe and new believers may cause us to race right past the first church’s commitment to prayer—their commitment to root their ministry in dependance on the Lord.

For the early church, prayer was not an afterthought, or the Christian way to start and end a meeting. Prayer was not an addendum to the “real work” of the apostles. Prayer was central then and it must be for us now.  

In this age when activity and productivity are equated with spiritual fruit, the quiet act of prayer is easily forsaken. But here are six reasons the Church needs corporate prayer.

Six Reasons the Church Needs Corporate Prayer
1. Corporate prayer encourages.

Life is hard. On this side of heaven we face sickness, sin, death, and brokenness. As followers of Christ we can find ourselves at a loss for words—even at a loss for how to understand a calamity in light of God’s goodness and sovereignty. When we gather with other believers to pray we can “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  

In corporate prayer we can remind our brothers and sisters that God will never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39), and that we have a Savior who sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).

2. Corporate prayer disciples.

When believers of varying ages and stages gather together to pray, we learn from one another. I remember well being taught by example to pray for God’s glory and for his will to be done; and that this sort of prayer takes a biblical priority above that of praying for my own safety.

Just as Jesus taught the disciples to pray (Matthew 6:10), when young believers listen to the prayers of the mature and faithful, their faith grows. Corporate prayer moves us beyond simplistic requests for ease or health or blessing (though those are worthy requests too) and teaches us to ask instead that we might be conformed to the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:29).

3. Corporate prayer forms in us the habit of prayer.

Scheduling times to pray with others makes us more consistent in acknowledging that we are weak and God is strong.

When I dedicate specific days and times to pray with others—prayer partners, elders’ wives, ministry leaders, women’s Bible study attendees, my friends and neighbors—I simply pray more. Like any discipline, doing it with others motivates and grows me. Setting aside time to pray together spurs us on in ways we wouldn’t be if we chose to only pray alone (Hebrews 10:24-25). Corporate prayer teaches us that, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil” (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

4. Corporate prayer is needed for confession.

When we pray with others and confess our sin, we expose it to the light and Christ shines on us (Ephesians 5:11-14, 1 John 1:7-9). James exhorts us to “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16).

Individual prayer only makes use of part of our weapon of prayer to battle sin. There is strength in gathering with others. If we are serious about battling sin, we must put corporate prayer in our arsenal.

5. Corporate prayer builds unity.

It is nearly impossible to hold a grudge against someone when you join him or her in prayer. Jesus instructs us, in fact, that we cannot offer him a gift if we have something against our brother (Matthew 5:23-24). He says we must first go and be reconciled. Indeed, Peter reminds us that the Lord’s ears are only open to the prayers of the righteous, and not those who are walking in unrepentant sin (1 Peter 3:12). As we regularly come together, we’re reminded to “maintain the the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

6. Corporate prayer invests in evangelism.

Lastly, but not exhaustively, praying with others invests in God’s work to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. We see in Acts that “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). As we pray, the Lord works to draw others to himself.

John says, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14). And Peter tells us, that the Lord does not wish “that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9). We know that when we pray for the salvation of others, it is the Lord’s desire that all would repent, and his will that some should be saved. We can join him in his work of redemption as we pray for those who are lost.

May it not be said of the church today that, “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2).

An Example to Follow

God graciously gave us the example of the early church, as seen in Acts 2, to spur us on 2,000 years later. May we not forget the power and priority of corporate prayer. May our small groups, Bible studies, churches, communities, and friends be known for prioritizing prayer together.

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10 Prayers to Pray Before Church
Why Discipleship and the Local Church Must Go Together

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Key Connections (May 4, 2018)

The Danger of an Unscraped Knee (Trevin Wax, The Gospel Coalition)

Bad weather will always confound the control freak. The upside is that nature’s resistance to bend to our will reminds us of our frailty and points to the sovereignty of the One who scattered the stars.

The Fire in His Eyes: Seeing the Son in Revelation 1 (John Piper, Desiring God)

The vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:12–16 has always soared above me. How can I rise to this? How can I feel what John must surely want us to feel? “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.” So I thought I would apply some poetic effort to say what he saw in different words.

Lessons About Worship and Faith (John MacArthur, Grace to You)

It is a danger, even for people who love Christ, that we not become so concerned with doing things for Himthat we begin to neglect hearing Him and remembering what He has done for us. We must never allow our service for Christ to crowd out our worship of Him.

When Bible Study Goes Wrong (David Prince, Servants of Grace)

The Bible is not primarily about the Bible. It is not primarily about morality. And the Bible is not merely an encyclopedia of religious knowledge. The Bible is the word of God, and the entirety of the Bible points to Christ, the living Word.

Seven Ways Christ Is the Good Shepherd (Colin Smith, Unlocking the Bible)

Christ does not care for you because of what he can get out of you. That would be the spirit of the hired hand. Christ cares for you because you are his. There will never be a time when he will say, “You’re not worth it.” He made you his own, at the cost of his life and, having made you his own, he will never leave you; he will never forsake you.

 

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Seven Ways Christ Is the Good Shepherd

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14). The relationship of believers with Jesus Christ is that of sheep to a shepherd. The Lord is our shepherd; we are his flock. But what does that mean?

In John 10, Christ spells out what it means for him to be our shepherd and for us to be his sheep in seven wonderful ways.

1. Christ has received you as a gift from the Father.

“My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:29)

Christ’s sheep are a gift that he receives from the Father.

Now how would you know if you are one of Christ’s sheep? How would you know if you have been given by the Father to the Son?

The identifying marks of Christ’s sheep are stated clearly in these verses: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (10:27). But what does it mean to hear his voice?

Jesus says earlier, “You do not believe because you are not among my sheep” (10:26). So it follows that believing is a distinguishing mark of the sheep given to the Son by the Father. Christ’s sheep hear his voice, they believe his Word, and they follow him.

So, if you believe and follow Jesus Christ, you are one of Christ’s sheep. You have been given by the Father to the Son.

2. Christ knows you completely.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father…” (10:14-15)

Jesus Christ knows you completely! There may be times when you are a mystery to yourself, but you are never a mystery to Christ.

In the Psalms we read, “The Lord knows our frame…” (Psalm 103:14). Christ knows your temperament, your moods. He knows what lifts you up, and he knows what gets you down.

There is nothing you could ever tell Jesus about yourself that he does not already know completely.

Here is the joy of following Jesus Christ. Because he knows you completely, he is able to lead you effectively. The good shepherd knows what you need, and he is able to give you what you need at precisely the time that you need it.

3. Christ gave himself for you.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.…I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, 15)

Here is something very wonderful: The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Everything Jesus endured in his passion was for you. When he gave himself into the hands of the arresting party in the Garden of Gethsemane, it was for you. When he was scourged and beaten, it was for you. And when he was condemned to death, it was for you. When he hung on that cross in agony, it was for you.

Never forget that Jesus chose to suffer and die for you. This was not imposed on him.
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Never forget that Jesus chose to suffer and die for you. This was not imposed on him. He gave himself willingly. “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (10:18).

Jesus accomplished everything he had come to do and then he gave himself into death. And this is what he has done for you. Christ’s sheep can say with Paul, “The Son of God…loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

4. Christ called you and brought you to himself.

“And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” (John 10:16)

How does he bring us to himself and make us his sheep? “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (10:3). The sheep who are called by name in John 10:3 are the same sheep who enter by the door in John 10:9. And Jesus says, “I am the door.” Christ is the door, and “if anyone enters by the door, he will be saved” (10:9).

You come through the door when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. But when you believe, you will very quickly have an awareness that there was something going on beyond your believing. Somehow he called you. Somehow he brought you. He did not stand back and wait to see if you would come to him. Like the shepherd who went out to find the lost sheep, he laid you on his shoulders and brought you back home.

5. Christ owns you and will never abandon you.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me…My sheep hear my voice…” (John 10:14, 27)

What a marvelous thing to be wholly owned by the Son of God! The contrast here is with the hired hand. The hired hand “does not own the sheep” (10:12). The hired hand has no real investment in the flock. He shepherds the flock because he is paid to do so. The hired hand has to calculate whether it is worth the effort and risk of doing this job for what he gets paid. There is a point when the hired hand may say, “It’s just not worth it.” There are limits to his commitment.

Christ does not care for you because of what he can get out of you. That would be the spirit of the hired hand. Christ cares for you because you are his. There will never be a time when he will say, “You’re not worth it.” He made you his own, at the cost of his life and, having made you his own, he will never leave you; he will never forsake you.

With such a shepherd committed to you for life, what do you have to fear?

6. Christ gives you eternal life.

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish…” (John 10:28)

Jesus does not say, “I will give them eternal life at some time in the future.” He says, “I give them eternal life!” If Christ is your shepherd, this precious gift of eternal life is already yours.

And notice the word give. In other words, you did not earn this priceless gift. Eternal life is freely given by the shepherd and freely received by his sheep, simply because he is the shepherd and we are the sheep.

The life Jesus gives is eternal. Eternal life, by definition, is a life that never ends, and if you have this life, it’s yours forever!

7. Christ guards you and will keep you forever.

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29)

What reason do you have for confidence as a Christian when all the pressure stands against you? Can what is yours in Christ be taken away?

Christ’s sheep are in his hand. That’s the answer! And as if that wasn’t enough, our Lord adds, “No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (10:29-30). AW. Pink says,

The hand of Christ is beneath us, and the hand of the Father is above us. Thus we are secured between the clasped hands of Omnipotence. [1]

Are these things true of you; is the Lord your Shepherd?

[This article is adapted from Pastor Colin’s sermon “The Shepherd and His Sheep”(March 25, 2018).] [1] A. W. Pink, Exposition of the Gospel of John, p. 552, Zondervan, 1968.
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Five Onramps to Joyful Prayer

If you had to describe your prayer life in one word, what would you choose? Fulfilling? Effective? Joyful?

Or do words like irregular, inconsistent, or blah ring truer?

I’ve been there. And up until fairly recently, I haven’t been concerned, thinking it was normal, and thus OK. What I soon realized is that being content with a lackluster prayer life exposes an anemic view of God. It makes God seem optional instead of supreme and distant instead of approachable by faith in Christ. He is worthy of so much more than my excuses and laziness.

A more joyful prayer life may be closer than you realize, even if you have no idea how to get there. God wants us to enjoy him in prayer, and sometimes all it takes is a small onramp of truth to take us to the highway of joyful prayer and deeper communion with God.

Onramp #1: Meditate on God as our Father.

In the opening words of the Lord’s Prayer, our Lord invites us to address our prayers to, “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9; emphasis added). Seeing God primarily as Father keeps us from seeing him as a harsh judge, an impersonal higher being, or a wish-granting magic genie.[1]

Our all-powerful and loving Father loves us as his children and seeks our best. He has the power and desire to guide our lives, answer our prayers, and work out his purposes in us. Our relational link with our Heavenly Father is unbreakable and his love for us unending.

Knowing implications of our sonship gives us confidence in prayer to our Father. “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31b–32).

When you struggle in prayer, take heart that your Father knows. Take heart that even when you do not feel love toward God, you can draw near through the awareness of his love for you.[2] All it takes is the mention of the word ‘Father’ to enter into a world of delight.

Onramp #2: Confess your sins.

During difficult spiritual seasons of my life, guilt over my sin kept me from prayer. How could someone as unworthy as me approach a holy God? This attitude betrays a weak understanding of the gospel. God knows our sin and invites us to confess our sins and receive his cleansing (1 John 1:9; c.f. Matthew 6:12; Psalm 32).

According to Calvin,

[T]he beginning, and even the preparation, of proper prayer is the plea for pardon with a humble and sincere confession of guilt…it is no wonder if believers open for themselves the door to prayer with this key…[3]

When feeling crushed by the weight of your sin, take hold of the key of confession and enter through the door to prayer. Let your sin drive you to heartfelt confession and confident joy in the Christ who came to rescue sinners and give them access to the Father (1 Timothy 1:15; cf. Hebrews 4:16).

Onramp #3: Pray prayers that God loves to answer.

God wants to hear your prayers for “the prayer of the upright is His delight” (Proverbs 15:8 NASB). He also guarantees to answer certain prayers. Why not take God at his Word and pray the following?

Pray for wisdom.

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God will grant you wisdom for any situation—you just need to ask.

Pray according to God’s will.

Consider 1 John 5:14-15, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” This promise (that can also be expressed as praying in Jesus’ name) should embolden our prayers and sharpen our expectancy.

Since Scripture is God’s revealed will, praying the words of Scripture back to God powerfully apply this truth. Note the following examples:

Pray to be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
Pray for a renewed mind and set-apart life (Romans 12:1–2).
Pray to bear fruit by abiding in Christ (John 15:1–8).
Pray for the grace to please Christ in your work (Ephesians 6:5–8).
Pray for joy and the Spirit’s presence amidst suffering (Romans 5:3–5).

Pray the Bible’s prayers.

The Bible provides a storehouse of Spirit-inspired prayers. Whether it be the prayers of the apostle Paul, Moses, or Jesus Himself (c.f. Matthew 6:9–14; John 17), praying the words of Scripture helps us approach God with words of his choosing so we think on things and ask for things near to His heart. (John Piper put together a list of all the New Testament prayer requests.)

Being content with a lackluster prayer life exposes an anemic view of God.
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I’ve seen how God has answered my persistent prayers echoing the request of Paul in Ephesians 1:15-23 for a deeper spiritual understanding of the hope, love, and power of the gospel—things I would never have prayed for without Paul’s example. These answers to prayer fuel my desire to pray.

Praying for these things doesn’t guarantee he’ll answer as we like, but will act as a guardrail to keep us from stepping out of his will and bring our hearts in-line with His purposes.

Onramp #4: Give Thanks.

Giving thanks lifts our eyes from focusing on our circumstances by reminding us of all God has done for us in Christ. When coupled with genuine prayer, it leads to experiencing the world-transcending peace of God (Philippians 4:6-7).

Famed Bible commentator Matthew Henry provides a perfect example of how thanksgiving leads to joy as he reflected on having his wallet stolen:

1) I am thankful that he never robbed me before.

2) I am thankful that although he took my wallet, he did not take my life.

3) Although he took all I had, it was not much.

4) I am glad that it was I who was robbed, not I who did the robbing.[4]

Henry’s thankfulness turned a traumatic situation into an opportunity to behold God’s grace. As blood-bought children of God with an eternal inheritance, we always have reason to give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Let a thankful, gospel-focused heart lead you into joyful communion with the Father.

Onramp #5: Meditate on the promises of God.

The riches of the gospel are too big and glorious to fully wrap our minds around and can only be grasped in increasing measure as we sweat to comprehend them. Calvin says, “[W]e dig up by prayer the treasures that were pointed out by the Lord’s gospel, and which our faith has gazed upon.”[5] We only unearth some gospel treasures by the spade of prayer.

Meditating on God’s “precious and very great promises” (2 Peter 1:4) will take you deeper into the unsearchable riches of Christ and cause awe and wonder to spill from your lips. I suggest meditating on specific promises for circumstances in your life: your struggles, your doubts, your relationships, your work, etc. As God’s promises wash over your mind and heart, you will enter into greater joy.

Spurgeon comments,

The best praying man is the man who is most believingly familiar with the promises of God. After all, prayer is nothing but taking God’s promises to him, and saying to him, ‘Do as thou hast said.’

Prayer: the path to fuller joy in God

Knowing onramps to joyful prayer isn’t the same as taking them daily. We must grow in prayer by setting aside time and pursuing God diligently. This isn’t just a New Year’s resolution, it is a life resolution.

In many ways, this whole article is a misnomer. Our goal should not be merely joyful prayer, but joy in God through prayer. As we discipline ourselves toward that end, our faith will be strengthened and lives enriched as we live more and more in his presence where there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).

[This article first appeared at Anchored in Christ .][Photo Credit: Unsplash]
[1] This comparison was laid out by Colin Smith on a sermon in the series Three Gifts to Transform Your Prayer Life. [2] To paraphrase Michael Horton in Calvin on the Christian Life, Kindle Location 3568. [3] From John Calvin’s Institutes 3.20.9. [4] John Yates, “An Attitude of Gratitude,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 110. [5] From John Calvin’s Institutes 3.20.9.

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He Brings Joy, Part 1
The Joy of the Lord and the Playfulness of Man
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Is It Arrogant For Christians To Say They Know the Truth?

Relativism

Everybody makes truth claims. The rise of a mode of thinking called relativism has saturated our Western culture. People who hold to this ideology believe specifically or subconsciously that they are their own determiner of truth—that truth is not absolute. This is truly arrogant thinking, because it makes a subjective individual’s feelings superior to external objective moral laws. But, in our culture, if you don’t accept someone else’s “truth,” you’re labeled as arrogant and intolerant.

The secular world tries to make falsehood palatable by making a creed to tolerate all beliefs. Think on the absurdity of this statement: We are now morally obligated to accept the moral obligations of everyone. How is that even possible?

We as Christians have to clearly understand the truth. Our Western culture has found a way to skirt around Christian truth claims by calling Christians “arrogant.”

Are Christians arrogant for claiming to have the truth? In a short answer, I would say “No.” It is possible to say you have the truth and not be arrogant.

Defining Truth

Nancy Pearcy warns believers about the understanding of truth in her book Total Truth:

The danger is that if Christians do not consciously develop a biblical approach to a subject, then we will unconsciously absorb some other philosophical approach.

Christians need to be very clear about our approach to understanding truth.

We have a good and gracious God—an external reality—who revealed himself as truth because we would not know what truth is unless the Truth himself told us and showed us. Is it of utmost importance to understand that the most significant and practical revelation of truth is found in God’s Word—written and incarnate.

Jesus prays to God the Father, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17, emphasis added). God gave us truth in the Bible so we would not have to grasp for it in the dark.

Jesus declared with his own words that he was “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus claimed to be truth. Truth is a person who gave us the right ways to live, believe, and understand. Truth is not just the written words in a book or the right words spoken from a platform; truth is the person of Jesus. John 1:14 tells us “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” When we know Jesus, we know the truth.

And it is not arrogant for Christians to claim to have the truth. Here are three reasons why.

Three Reasons It’s Not Arrogant for Christians to Say They Know the Truth

In the first letter to the Corinthians Paul addresses a people who regularly had truth battles with one another. Everybody was trying to sell their wisdom on their corner of the philosophical market. If you could out-reason someone, you could thrive in Corinth. Paul’s address to the church helps us respond to people who say we are arrogant.

1.  Truth comes from God, not us.

Consider the following two passages of God’s Word in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-25)

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:10-13)

All Christians were at some point hopeless and helpless to see the truth. By God’s grace, he revealed to us the truth. Praise be to God who did not leave us alone to think it up, for truth bears infinite implications. Christians are not arrogant for claiming to have the truth because it’s not our truth—it was revealed to us by the Spirit of God himself.

2. Truth is necessary for salvation.

Paul says,

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

The simple message of the truth is this: The infinite God created you with value (Genesis 1:26-27). He desired a relationship with his creation, but we rejected his Lordship for a lie (Romans 1:25). This rejection resigned mankind to sin and suffer spiritual consequences leading to death. But God did not stop pursuing us, though we trusted in the lies of the enemy.

You can trust in your own truth that you created, or in the Truth that created you.
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For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:2-4)

Whoever believes in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior—trusting him in repentance and faith—will be saved! We must share this truth in a way that helps other people see Jesus as better and more necessary than anything this life has to offer.

You can trust in your own truth that you created, or in the Truth that created you. To whose care do you want to entrust your soul? You can trust in him who is true—Jesus Christ—for your eternity. If embraced, this Truth is life-changing and eternity-altering.

3. Truth points us to our need, not our sufficiency.

Paul claims in verse three to have proclaimed the truth about Jesus in “weakness, fear, and much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). Those don’t sound like words to describe an arrogant person.

Arrogant people are strong, confident, and secure; they have lost sight of their need in life. Humble people know their need for deliverance from sin, and they remember what life was like before they met the Savior.

We live in a world that is hungry for truth. But we often fill that hunger with false food that won’t satisfy. Always remember, Christian, that God came to you when you needed it most and offered you life in Jesus. A beggar knows when someone offers them food. And, like the great reformer Martin Luther said, “We are just beggars showing other beggars where to find food.”

Christians are not arrogant for claiming to have the truth, because we do not speak from a place of sufficiency, but of humble need for the truth we have received.

 [Photo Credit: Unsplash]

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The Joy of Living in a Hostile Culture
Your Struggle for Truth, Part 1

The post Is It Arrogant For Christians To Say They Know the Truth? appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

How Do We Overcome the Fear of Evangelism?

Public speaking is said to be many people’s number one fear. It should not come as a surprise then that one fear of many evangelical Christians is evangelism: sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others, publicly or privately.  

This fear manifests itself differently for each person.

Some fear they don’t know enough of the Bible to answer unbelievers’ questions, to give a “defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Others fear that because of their own sin and failures they will be perceived as hypocrites, and people will write them off.

Still others—and this seems to be the biggest one—fear unbelievers’ reactions, such as anger, harsh words, rejection, abandonment, or even physical abuse.

All of these are widely experienced, natural fears. We all have them. However, as God’s chosen ambassadors, we cannot use them as justifiable excuses for not sharing the gospel. We cannot let our fear silence us.

Our Calling

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

God gave this Great Commission to all of his followers, not just a select few like the apostles or men like Billy Graham. God calls each of us—you and me—to evangelize, to tell others about the problem of sin, the provision of Jesus Christ the Lord as our Savior, and to call them to repentance and faith in Jesus.

For, God desires that no one “should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b). His desire is that everyone should have the opportunity to hear the gospel and respond to it. And he graciously deploys his people toward that endeavor.

So how can we overcome our fear, unashamedly open our mouths, and proclaim the great name of Jesus Christ?

How Do We Overcome the Fear of Evangelizing?
Recognize Where Fear Comes From

In the context of evangelism, fear is not from God. “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). So, while we may feel like fleeing when the Holy Spirit presents an evangelistic opportunity, we shouldn’t. We are not to fear those who can harm or kill our bodies. For, in the end, they cannot harm or kill our souls, which last for all eternity (Matthew 10:28).

Fear is one of the many tactics Satan employs to shut us down and shut us up.
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Recognize that fear is from Satan. It is one of the many tactics he employs to shut us down and shut us up. For, his greatest desire is that everyone should perish and that no one should come to repentance and saving faith in Jesus Christ. He delights when people are “dead in their trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).

Recognize that your fear of evangelism comes from the Enemy. Let’s not give him the pleasure of silencing us.

Rely on the Holy Spirit

While Satan does wield considerable power, his power has limitations. He is, after all, a created being and a fallen angel (see Ezekiel 28; Isaiah 14). He is neither omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (everywhere at once), nor omnipotent (all-powerful).

Praise God that he has greater power than Satan—unlimited power (1 John 4:4). And God dwells in us by the Holy Spirit, who takes up permanent residence in our hearts the moment we appropriate God’s free gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ and his work on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, who thus raises us up from spiritual death and breathes new life into our sin-sick souls (Romans 8:11).

Through the Spirit we are emboldened and empowered, like the apostles in the Book of Acts, to speak life-saving words to those who are perishing (Acts 4:31, 13:52; 1 Corinthians 2:4). His power is available to us, 24/7/365. We would be remiss if we did not ask for the Holy Spirit’s help and trust his promise of ever-presence!

Know the Word

Knowing God’s Word is key to overcoming our fear of feeling inadequate or hypocritical as we evangelize. The Word is active, living, convicting, transforming (Hebrews 4:12). As we meditate on it, the Spirit makes our convictions more solid and our behavior more sanctified. Pursuing biblical literacy will form our character and boost our confidence when it comes time to proclaim the life-changing words of Jesus Christ. And the more truth we hide in our hearts, the more truth we have to sow. Toward this end, we should:

Read the Word: Read the Bible on a regular basis, even if it is for 15-20 minutes a day.
Study the Word: Delve deeper into understanding the doctrines of Scripture (e.g. justification, sanctification).
Memorize the Word: Have certain verses memorized (i.e. John 3:16 or Ephesians 2:8-9), so that the Holy Spirit may remind you of them whenever you have an opportunity to witness about Jesus (John 14:26).

Obey the Word

Remember the Great Commission: “Go…make disciples of all nations…baptizing them…teaching …” (Matthew 28:18-20). This commission is not optional; we’re given imperatives. God calls for our obedience; evangelism isn’t something we can choose to avoid.

The more truth we hide in our hearts, the more truth we have to sow.
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But know that this command comes with a wonderful promise: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20b). God assures us he will never leave us or forsake us. He is with us always, especially in those moments when we’re sharing his Word with the lost.

 Pray About Your Fears

God commands us in Philippians 4:6 to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

We need to bring everything—including our fears about witnessing—before the “throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Witnessing is a “time of need,” just like any other, for God’s mercy and grace, when we need his courage, strength, and power. And God promises in Psalm 34:4 to deliver us from all our fears—including publicly proclaiming his name.

Beloved children of the King, bring your fears and anxieties about sharing the gospel with others to God in prayer. Pray that words might be given to you in opening your mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, that you might declare it boldly as you ought to speak (Ephesians 6:19-20).

While fear is a natural inclination, it need not silence you, and it’s ultimately of the Enemy. When you are fulfilling the Great Commission in obedience to God’s Word, know that you are not alone. God is right there with you, and will bring to mind the Scriptures you hide in your heart. Know you have been given all the power and resources you need to overcome your fear of sharing the good news about Jesus with others: prayer, the living Word, and the Holy Spirit.

Is there someone God is impressing upon your heart with whom you can share the good news this week?

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

RELATED POSTS:

The Gospel Is More Powerful Than You Think
Six Elements of an Effective Christian Witness
Empowered Evangelism

The post How Do We Overcome the Fear of Evangelism? appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

Key Connections (April 27, 2018)

The Wall Between You and God’s Will (Marshall Segal, Desiring God)

And how do we behold the glory of the Lord? We listen to God’s voice (in his word) as he reveals to us the way things really are. We search the Scriptures, because they all bear witness to the glory of Christ (John 5:39).

The Simple Reason Why So Many Christians Are Miserable (Kevin Halloran, Anchored in Christ)

According to Jesus, there is a link between our obedience and our joy. We experience the joy of Christ when we abide in His love, but this abiding requires whole-hearted obedience.

Why John Piper’s “Shells” Illustration Transformed a Generation (Tim Challies, Challies.com)

You don’t have to know a lot of things in order to make a huge difference for the Lord in the world. But you do need to know a few things that are great and be willing to live for them and die for them.

What Is the Gospel? (Burk Parsons, Ligonier Ministries)

It is vital we understand that just because a preacher talks about Jesus, the cross, and heaven, that does not mean he is preaching the gospel. And just because there is a church building on every corner does not mean the gospel is preached on every corner.

The Danger of Forgetting (James Williams, Growing in Grace)

Are we guilty as well? While we may be able to cognitively remember things God has done, are we letting that feed our faith and trust in Him? We might think it’s crazy that the Israelites doubted at this point considering all they had seen, but perhaps we do the same thing.

For the Lord Your God Is With You (Eden Parker, Unlocking the Bible)

Before Joshua could run into battle armed with God’s promise, he had to actually hear and know God’s Word to him and believe what God said was true. He had to treasure it in his heart so that it would come from his mouth on demand.

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Seven Strategies for Handling Hostile People

In 1 Samuel 13, we read how Samuel the prophet anointed David to be King Saul’s successor. David worked for Saul first as a musician, and then as a military commander. David gave the best and the most loyal service, but Saul was not pleased with anything he did. And David was also Saul’s son-in-law.

But Saul was jealous of David and became increasingly obsessed with destroying him.

Think about the Saul in your life—someone who has been antagonistic or hostile towards you. They make accusations against you. They are always on your case.

How should you handle a hostile person?

The Robe

We hear in 1 Samuel 24 that one day, David had a chance to put an end to all that he had endured from Saul. And this happened not once but twice.

Saul gathered an army of 3,000 men to hunt for David. He came to “the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself” (1 Samuel 24:3). Most likely, Saul would have taken off his robe and thrown it behind him, not realizing that further back in this vast cavern were David and his mighty men.

The men said to David, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand’” (1 Samuel 24:4). This must have been a great temptation for David. One thrust of the sword, and David’s whole life would be changed.  

But God says, “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13)  So, David refused to do anything to harm Saul. Instead, he creeps forward and cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe.

So Saul finishes his business, and has no idea of the grace, kindness, and the sheer loyalty that has just been shown, until David comes out of the cave holding the corner of his robe in his hand.

The Spear

Saul did not change, even after David showed him this grace. In 1 Samuel 26, Saul is back to hunting for David again.

Chapter 26 tells us the story of how David found the camp where Saul and his 3,000 men were sleeping.

Here is Saul sound asleep. His spear that twice he has thrown at David is stuck in the ground beside his head (1 Samuel 26:7). One stroke of the spear and it’s all over. And Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day” (1 Samuel 26:8).

David responds just as he did in the cave: “The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 26:11).

So David takes the spear, and when he is a safe distance from the camp he shouts out. Saul wakes up and sees David standing on the hillside with the spear, and again Saul sees the evidence of grace.  

How to Handle a Hostile Person

This story is given to us so that we’ll know how to live the Christian life. This is an amazing story of grace, and I want to learn how to handle a hostile person from the example of David.

1. Practice restraint.

Saul had done David so much harm, but David holds back the natural desire to pay him back.

In this he gives us a marvelous picture of God’s restraining grace. God does not treat us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). If God treated any of us as our sins deserved, our lives would be hell on earth.

If you’re a Christian, you’re going to do what David is doing here, which is what? Love your enemies as God has loved you.

2. Show appropriate respect.

Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. (1 Samuel 24:8)

The Bible is really clear on this principle: Give honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:7). This is very important if you have a dysfunctional parent: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12).

Peter says, “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor” (1 Peter 2:17). What kind of emperor did they have when Peter was writing? A dreadful one.  

Show respect to other people, and especially to those people God has placed in authority over you.

3. Make the kindest assumption.

David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm?’” (1 Samuel 24:9)

This was the kindest assumption. We saw last time that Saul was absolutely convinced that David was out to get him. David lifts the burden from Saul and points to the role of his advisers. “Why do you listen of the words of men who say, ‘David seeks your harm’?”

A.W. Pink speaks about the method to follow when seeking to subdue the malice of those who hate us:

Proceed on the assumption that it is not the individual’s own enmity against us, but that it has been unjustly stirred up by others…due allowance should be made for their having been ill-informed by others. (The Life of David)

4. Demonstrate grace.

“Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD‘s anointed.’” (1 Samuel 24:10)

David holds the corner of Saul’s robe in his hand as the evidence of grace. He had the opportunity to hurt Saul, but he would not do it. This is demonstrated, not only in his words, but in his actions. He shows grace and mercy.

5. Appeal to the relationship at its best.

See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. (1 Samuel 24:11)

David married Saul’s daughter, Michal, so that would make Saul David’s father-in-law. David might have said “See, my enemy, the corner of your robe,” or “See, my king, the corner of your robe.” But David appeals to the relationship at its best.  

W. Pink points out that when Judas came into the garden of Gethsemane and kissed Jesus, our Lord did not say, “Traitor, do what you came to do,” or “Betrayer, do what you came to do.” Jesus said, “Friend, do what you came to do” (Matthew 26:50).

David calls Saul, who wants to destroy him, his father. And Jesus calls Judas, who betrays him, his friend. If David could do that with Saul, and Jesus could do this with Judas, you can do the same with the person who is hostile towards you.

6. Do good without expecting it in return.

“Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father’s house.” And David swore this to Saul. (1 Samuel 24:21-22)

If David were a good negotiator, he would’ve said “Call off this manhunt, and I’ll make this promise to you.” David made a commitment to Saul, but he did not ask for a commitment in return. There is no negotiation here. David does not ask for what Saul would be unable to give.

7. Trust God for your vindication.

“May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand.” (1 Samuel 24:15)

It’s not easy to live under a barrage of false accusation, and people assuming the worst about you. Jesus said to his disciples, “People will say all kind of evil against you” (Matthew 5:11).

When this happens, remember this is what they did to the prophets who were before you. All kinds of evil was said about our Lord Jesus. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. What did he do? He trusted his Heavenly Father and looked to him for his vindication (1 Peter 2:23).   

Evidence of Grace

David showed Saul the robe and the spear. They were the evidence of grace. David was saying to Saul, “You think I am against you. You think I am out to harm you. But I am for you, and here is the proof.”

God holds before you today, not a robe or a spear, but a cross: “Here is the proof that I am not out to harm you. I am for you.” Even though you have been resisting him and sinning against him: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The tragedy of Saul’s life was that when grace was displayed he kept pushing it away. Don’t let that be the story of your life. Today, if you hear his voice, don’t harden your heart. Come to Christ in faith and repentance. Come to him in confession.

Why would you not want to be reconciled to this Christ who is for you and who offers himself to you today?

[This article is adapted from Pastor Colin’s sermon “The Robe and the Spear: Showing Patience; Extending Grace” from his series A Tale of Two Kings.]
[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

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Christ Came into a Hostile World
The Joy of Living in a Hostile Culture
The Love of God and the Patience of Christ, Part 1

The post Seven Strategies for Handling Hostile People appeared first on Unlocking the Bible.

The True Colors of Perfectionism

I brushed the last of the dirt, sawdust, and fur into the dust pan, gently flicking it along. My back was sore from sweeping, but my desire for spotless floors overcame it.

Back aching, I walked over to the window and pushed the curtains open. I turned around to examine my work.

I didn’t smile. I groaned.

Did I even sweep in here? The sunlight, now stretching over the entire living room floor, revealed specks of dirt and dust peppered over it.

My palms began to sweat and my heart rate climbed. My back felt too sore to continue, so I resolved to leave it. Good enough.

Perfectionistic Pursuits

I hung the broom up in the kitchen and went upstairs, but my mind never left the living room. As I wrote articles, read books, folded laundry, fixed my hair, and prepared supper, the dusty floors remained at the front of my mind. Will I ever have clean floors? How could I get those floors even more spotless? What if I mopped them each day, maybe that would pick up all the dust. How come no one else’s floors look like that? Why can everyone else make their floors look so spotless?

Each time I walked through the living room, the floor mocked me, somehow growing more and more dirt with each trip. I felt agitated and irritated each time I had to face the dusty floors. Part of me wanted to simply close the curtains, but I knew that wouldn’t still my anxious heart.  

Maybe this sounds ridiculous to you, but if you are perfectionist like me, I know you have your own version of dusty floors. Maybe it took you far too long to write an article this week because you kept backspacing the entire time. Maybe you procrastinated your next deadline because you’re too scared to start a project, knowing it won’t be perfect. Maybe you refused to go skating with your friends because you knew you’d look silly and wouldn’t do it to perfection. Maybe you worried more about your party decorations than enjoying the party itself.

If so, you may be a perfectionist like me. And if you are, I want you to consider with me: Is perfectionism perhaps your greatest weakness? Could it be the leading cause of your anxiety?

A Hopeless, Anxious Pursuit

Perfectionism promises to paint a calming picture for us of soft blues and greens, and some yellow too. It promises that your life will be more organized and successful. It promises to make you into a picture of perfection—no mistakes, no flaws, no drips, no red hues.

But is that the life perfectionism actually paints for you?

Despite its promises, perfectionism instead paints a fiery picture with bright red strokes at random over the canvas. It fills us with panic, fear, worry, and despair. We desperately try to meet the standards it sets, but we always finish anywhere from miles to inches away from the goal.

Perfectionism is a hopeless pursuit; it sets impossible standards for us.
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Perfectionism brings misery because it tries to control what cannot be controlled, and therefore never allows us to enjoy life. Nothing is done in the name of freedom, but must be done in a slavish way in order to be perfected. The process cannot be enjoyed because it may lead to a flaw or failure. Even after the project or task is finished, we still can’t enjoy it because something may not be perfect. We are filled with worry over blemishes, even ones people can’t see.

Perfectionism sets impossible standards for us—that we would always be perfect, 100% of the time.

Friend, this is not possible. We are human beings, imperfect people. We are mortal, limited on energy and strength. We can run, but not forever. We are forced to stop due to hunger, thirst, rest, sickness, and injuries.

But the worst part of our condition: We are sinful. We were created by a perfect God, but we have chosen to rebel against him and his loving will for us. We have spit in his face and scoffed at him. We are sinners, bound in rebellion and imperfection.

So perfectionism is like trying to paint with blues and greens when the only color you have is red: It leads us to strive for something we can never attain on our own.

Perfectionism is a hopeless pursuit.

Gospel-Hope for Perfectionists

But our God paints a hope-filled picture with bright yellow grace and light, glowing orange like the clear sunrise. God knows we are imperfect, sinful human beings. Though he commanded perfect obedience, we could not attain it—in fact, we didn’t even want to.

For that reason, he sent his Son.

Christ, the perfect God-man. Christ, who lived the perfect life we could not live. Christ, who came to earth as a baby and obeyed God’s law without the slightest wavering or fault. Christ, who died on the cross to pay the penalty for every believer’s sins. We deserve God’s wrath for our sins, which is ultimately death and hell, but Christ? He took our place. He bore the wrath meant for us. Then, he rose to life, showing us that sin was conquered, setting the pattern and securing the promise for every believer to rise to eternal life.

As believers, we strive to point people to Christ, not our successes.
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Colossians 2:13-14 says,

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Friend, you can stop striving in perfectionism. The work is done. There is nothing to earn or prove—for Christ has earned your righteous standing before God. Because of his sacrifice, whoever believes in him and receives his righteousness is freed from trying to earn their own.

Perfectionism compels you to earn people’s love and praise by being perfect. But Jesus leads you to rest in his perfection by turning from your sin and trusting in his finished work on the cross.

A Grace-Filled Pursuit

God still calls us to obedience—to be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:16). But rather than striving to be perfect on our own, we know we can’t, and this is why we need Jesus. In him, God gives us a new heart that desires to obey him out of love—not to earn his love. He also gives us the Holy Spirit to enable obedience because sin still taints us while we live in these human bodies.

We often desire to live perfectly to bring glory to ourselves, not God; perfectionism breeds fear of man and people-pleasing in us. Instead, as believers, we strive to point people to Christ, not our successes. The beauty of this new desire is that when we fail (which we will) we can point people to Jesus. When we sin and others see our failure, we direct their gaze to Christ, reminding them of his abundant forgiveness and perfect righteousness for those who believe.

Friend, when your heart is tempted toward the anxiety of perfectionism—whether it be in your obedience to God or in small tasks—remember the freeing hope God offers you in his Son. Confess to him the red, anxious hues your perfectionism paints, and begin instead to paint your days with the hope-filled colors of his gospel.  

[Photo Credit: Unsplash]

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Can We Obey the Commands Perfectly?
The Cure for Perfectionism
Renouncing Anxiety

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