Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 13

Expressing Gratitude Is a Holy Habit

Do we consistently acknowledge God to be the greatest source of our joy? Are we filled with discontentment over what we don’t have, rather than gratitude over what we do have? Do we thank God for problems we could have but don’t? (I have several medical problems, but I thank God every time I fill out a physician’s form and realize how few boxes I have to check on those pages of diseases and disorders!)

Luke tells of ten men whom Jesus healed of leprosy. Only one of them returned to say “Thank you.” Jesus asked the man a question that reflects the sadness God feels at our thanklessness: “What happened to the other nine that were also healed?” (see Luke 17:11-19).

Jesus then commended the only one who returned, saying, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:19). This is an example of healing—far greater than physical healing—that only comes through gratitude for God’s countless kindnesses to us. (We’ll never exhaust them, but the more we count them, the more grateful we’ll be.)

G. K. Chesterton, one of the happiest and cleverest minds of the twentieth century, noted that children are grateful when their Christmas stockings are filled with candy or toys. But what about “the gift of two miraculous legs” inside our stockings? “We thank people for birthday presents of cigars and slippers. Can I thank no one for the birthday present of birth?”

The custom of praying to thank God for each meal is a wonderful one. But why should we restrict this custom to meals? Why not thank God throughout the day for a hundred other things?

Chesterton wrote,

You say grace before meals. All right.

But I say grace before the play and the opera, And grace before the concert and the pantomime, And grace before I open a book,

And grace before sketching, . . . boxing, walking, playing, dancing; And grace before I dip the pen in the ink.

Encouragement for Those Entering the Holiday Gauntlet of Grief

Note from Randy: I remember when I took my first vacation without Nanci, just one of many moments and days of the firsts… eating a certain food she used to make, going to a restaurant she loved.  I’ve done vacations without her twice now. Once one of my daughters joined me for a week, and that was good. The holiday season is challenging: Christmas is the toughest, then Thanksgiving. Nanci’s birthday is four weeks before Christmas and that’s hard, too. And then there’s December 7, the anniversary of the day we met in 1968 as freshmen in high school, and it keeps going until Valentine’s Day and then March 28, the day of Nanci’s homegoing.

In this article, Clarrisa Moll, author of Beyond the Darkness, shares five tips for the holiday season for those who are grieving. (I quote Clarissa in my booklet Grieving with Hope, and appreciate her insights into grief. She has a new book out with her teen daughter, Hurt Help Hope: A Real Conversation about Teen Grief and Life after Loss.) She writes, “There is a joy to this season that death, trial, and suffering can never take away.” So true. Because of Jesus, we have a rock-solid hope. I believe that more than ever since Nanci entered His presence!

Entering the Gauntlet

5 Tips for preparing for a holiday season without your person

Before Rob died, I used to love November. I’d turn on the radio station as soon as they switched over to “All Christmas All The Time.” I made cutout cookies with my kids, letting them decorate in garish colors and designs to their hearts’ delight. I loved Advent, the season of waiting and anticipation and beginning the church’s greatest story.

And then death arrived, and every November announced my least favorite season of all. Suddenly, in ways I’d never realized, the holidays meant a kind of togetherness I could no longer access, a kind of joy now snuffed out by sorrow. Rob and I had never been big on holiday traditions, but now I couldn’t even walk into Target without feeling the ache of sadness rise up inside my chest. Just keep your eye on March, I told myself. When Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, my birthday, and Valentine’s Day would be over. When the gauntlet of holidays would open up into the spacious nothingness of an ordinary month. I suspect as the calendar has turned to November, you’ve begun to feel similarly.

Over the last five years, I’ve slowly rebuilt a love for November. It’s been hard-won, a love that acknowledges the complexity of deep grief alongside the very real joy of a Christchild in a manger. I’ve come to see that acknowledging Rob at the holidays allows me an intimacy of remembrance that, while bittersweet, keeps me close to him in a season where he feels so far away. As I reflect on what I’ve learned, here are five things I’d encourage you to consider as you look ahead to your own gauntlet of holidays. There is no fool-proof or perfect way to face the days that lie ahead, but you too can build rhythms that support and comfort you as you face the holidays without your person.

1. Plan ahead. As an exercise of the mind and heart, take a few minutes and write down a plan for the holiday that approaches. Who do you want to be with you? Where do you want to be? What would you like to do and how? We often feel powerless before the rush of holiday scheduling, but even jotting down a few notes can give you a sense of agency. You don’t need to approach the holidays blind.

2. Hold your plans loosely. If your plan is a blank slate, be aware that you might change your mind and want to be around people when the day arrives. If your plan is to visit with family or friends, only make commitments that you know would understand if you need to bow out. As you mentally and socially “enforce” flexibility, you offer yourself the space to adjust your pace according to the needs of your body, mind or heart.

3. Focus on your body first. When our feelings start to get big, the first things that usually disappear are our self-care routines. We eat poorly, sleep poorly, and move about frantically (or find that a physical heaviness keeps us from any action at all). In preparation for the holidays, be intentional now about caring for your body first. Avoid alcohol, too much caffeine or sugar — we know the emotional swings all three can bring even on our best days! Block out space in your calendar for rest and/or exercise.

4. Phone a friend. Friends and family are understandably busy during the holidays. (You once were too, and you loved it — even if it was crazy.) Grieving folks can feel left behind in the hubbub of everybody else’s busyness and excitement, so make a proactive effort now to connect with a friend who can offer a lifeline text or call when you need it. Not sure who to ask? Be honest, straightforward and simple. I anticipate the holidays being hard this year. Would you be willing and available to be my phone-a-friend if I start to struggle or need a word of encouragement? All it takes is one friend to send you a funny meme on Thanksgiving or an encouraging email to wake up to on Christmas morning. One relationship in a time of stress can make all the difference.

5. Forecast joy. I’ve heard from so many grieving folks that the trappings of Christmas mean little to them now, but the story of Jesus’ birth has grown exponentially in meaning since their person died.

The truth is … Thanksgiving is about acknowledging God as the Great Provider. Christmas is about acknowledging Jesus as the Prince of Peace and Conqueror of sin and death. New Year’s Day reminds us that the Spirit goes before us to order all our days in wisdom and loving kindness. Valentine’s Day reminds us that we are the Beloved — now and forever. There is a joy to this season that death, trial, and suffering can never take away. And if you can forecast disaster (and heaven knows we do that enough!), you have the same power to forecast that deep abiding, soul-feeding joy as well.

Forecasting joy is a discipline of the heart. It requires that we acknowledge all of the world’s deep darkness and hold it honestly. And, in that trembling hand, joy sits with its little light, reminding us that we still see through a glass darkly, this world is not our home, salvation is now nearer than when we first believed.

This article originally appeared on Clarissa’s Substack, and is used with permission.

For Richer, for Poorer: How to Steward Money in Marriage

Were you to survey married couples about their money-management goals, most answers would focus on some form of financial success. Most people strive to accumulate better houses, nicer cars, more toys, and bigger retirement accounts. But when it comes to the dream of financial prosperity and security, we should ask, “Whose dream is it?” It may be the American dream—but is it the dream of the risen Jesus? And since what glorifies him is also for our good, is it a dream that’s ultimately in the best interests of our family?

The process of discovering God’s countercultural will about money and possessions can both excite and liberate. For my late wife, Nanci, and me, our growth in financial stewardship paralleled our spiritual growth. In fact, it propelled it. We learned about faith, grace, commitment, generosity, and God’s provision. We had challenging giving discussions that ultimately strengthened our marriage and bonded us around the common goal of investing in eternity.

Using the word makarios, which means “happy-making,” Jesus said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35 GNT). Nanci and I found that happiness, not duty, permeates a God-honoring theology of money. When grace-saturated, kingdom-minded disciples use God’s money and possessions, we fulfill the first and second greatest commandments. We store up treasures in heaven and “take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19).

The following principles can help you and your spouse develop a lifestyle of good stewardship that will yield dividends, now and forever.

1. Recognize the dangers of a possessions-centered life.

Although there is nothing inherently wrong with money, something is desperately wrong with devotion to money. “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare. . . . For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Timothy 6:9–10).

Understanding the dangers of materialism can liberate us to experience the joys of Christ-centered stewardship. Jesus speaks of the “deceitfulness of riches” (Mark 4:19). The psalmist warns, “Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them” (Psalm 62:10 NIV). None of us is immune to the value-changing nature of wealth.

Things have mass, mass exerts gravity, and gravity holds us in orbit around the things we accumulate. A friend told me that when he and his wife were first married, they spent their time taking walks, playing games, and reading together. They were content. Later, as their income rose, they found themselves trapped by shifting priorities. Little by little, money and possessions took precedence over God, church, and meaningful time together.

Studies and anecdotal evidence have shown a connection between an increase in income and marital infidelity, since having access to more money can provide greater temptation and opportunity to sin. Of course, the point is not the income itself, but the lifestyle it underwrites. A Christian can make a million dollars a year, give generously, live modestly, and avoid much of that added temptation to immorality. It is not how much we make that matters. It is how much we keep.

How can we recognize if we are falling into materialism’s trap? “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Jesus is saying, “Show me your bank statement, your credit card statement, and your receipts, and I’ll show you where your heart is.” What we do with our money is an inarguable statement of our values.

God declares, “Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine” (Job 41:11). God’s ownership of everything provides the foundation of a biblical theology of money and the antidote to materialism. Acutely aware of the fact that what we have is God’s and not ours, faithful money-managing stewards regularly consult him to implement his biblical investment priorities.

2. Make generous giving a priority.

I encourage you to commit to giving regularly to your local church and, above and beyond that, to missions and other ministries. Begin by setting an amount to give — I recommend not less than 10 percent — and stick with it so you honor God with your firstfruits (Proverbs 3:9). If you want him to bless your family’s finances, don’t place yourself under the curse of disobedience.

As thunder follows lightning, giving follows grace (2 Corinthians 8:1–2). If God’s grace touches you, you can’t help but give generously! Then, when God entrusts you with more, remind yourselves why: “So that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV). (Contrary to the health-and-wealth gospel, God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving.)

If you have not been in the habit of giving, it can be challenging to begin. However, I ask people, “If you got a 10 percent pay cut, would you die?” Of course not! God is big enough to take care of you if you step out in faith and return to him what is his in the first place. (Even though I think in most cases people really can afford to give away ten percent, obviously if you believe it is impossible for you to do so or your children would go hungry if you did, then by all means feed your family and God will be pleased if you do. I am just encouraging you to take an honest look at whether you are spending money on non-necessities that you could have given away without inflicting suffering on your family.)

What if you and your spouse are not on the same page about giving? I learned over the years that my desire to give sacrificially could sometimes feel insensitive to Nanci. When I learned to be more generous with her (and our daughters), Nanci no longer felt that giving to kingdom causes competed with our family’s needs. Through many conversations, she learned to find increasing joy in giving, and I learned to find increasing joy in growing together and leading—but not pushing or pulling. We were holding hands, even if sometimes one of us was a step ahead. (As the years went by, the one ahead was increasingly her.)

Of course, God wants us to do many good things with money that do not involve giving. We must provide for our family’s basic material needs, for example (1 Timothy 5:8). But these good things are only a beginning. The money God entrusts to us is eternal investment capital. Every day is an opportunity to buy up more shares in his kingdom!

3. Set a budget so you can spend and save wisely.

Since the long-term consequences are severe when a couple disagrees about money, I can’t stress enough the importance of discussing financial matters. Start by making a careful record of spending so you can find out where your money is currently going. Then determine where it should be going. This will become the basis for your budget. (When I was a pastor, I met with families who followed a budget and did fine on a meager income. I met with others who made much more and were regularly in financial crisis.)

For some, the most practical way to budget is the envelope system. When paychecks are cashed, the cash goes into envelopes designated for giving, housing, food, gas, utilities, entertainment, clothing, saving, and so on. If nothing is left in the entertainment envelope halfway through the month, no more movies or eating out. If we overspend in one area, we must underspend elsewhere to compensate. The envelope system may seem antiquated, but it teaches us that resources are limited, which is an invaluable lesson.

What is the right balance between how much we give, use for needs and wants, and save? I believe the tension reflected in that question is healthy. We can prayerfully seek God’s guidance, determined to follow his lead as best as we can discern it.

Jesus tells us, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things [what you eat, drink, and wear] will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33 NIV). Unlike the pagans who “run after all these things” and “worry about tomorrow,” believers can trust God (Matthew 6:25–34). If we believe that God can create us, redeem us, and bring us through death to spend eternity with him, we can take him at his word when he says he will provide for our material needs.

4. Avoid debt, except in rare instances.

The choice to live under debt (except in manageable amounts, such as with a mortgage payment well within your means) is ultimately deadening to the soul and to a marriage. It is always unwise to live above your income. It will invariably produce conflict in your marriage.

Trust means believing God will take care of our needs. When we go into debt, however, we usually do so to obtain wants, not needs. So the Bible cautions us against debt. The ESV translates the beginning of Romans 13:8, “Owe no one anything.” This would appear to prohibit debt. The NIV reads, “Let no debt remain outstanding.” This would allow debt, if paid off as soon as possible.

Not all debt is the same, however. I’m sympathetic to those in situations where, after prayer and evaluation, debt seems the only alternative. In such cases, nothing is wiser than giving first to God, cutting back expenditures, and systematically paying off debt as aggressively as possible.

Some consider mortgages an exception to avoiding debt, and a case can be made for borrowing to buy a reasonably priced house instead of renting. Unfortunately, many aspiring homeowners buy a house outside their budget. A couple I know assumed a large mortgage that depended on both of their incomes. When the wife became pregnant, they realized that to keep the house, they would have to violate their convictions against leaving their child in a day-care center while the mother worked.

What about credit cards? Some use them for convenience, paying off the amount owed on every statement to avoid interest. Nanci and I did this. This approach has advantages, but it also has drawbacks. The very convenience of having a credit card is often a liability—and constitutes temptation. Here are some prudent guidelines:

Never use credit cards for anything except budgeted purchases.
Pay off your credit cards every month.
The first month you have a credit card bill you cannot pay in full, destroy the card, pay it off, and don’t get another one.

5. Enjoy life to God’s glory.

As believers in a materialistic culture, we should embrace lifestyles that free up money to further the progress of the gospel. And yet, the answer is not asceticism, believing that money and possessions are inherently evil. Our God is a lavish giver (Romans 8:32). He provides pleasures and comforts he desires us to enjoy: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Over the years, Nanci and I spent reasonable amounts of money on vacations that served to renew us. Even when our girls were small, we would have a date night, believing one of the best things we could do for our children was to maintain a strong marriage. (Make it a priority to date your spouse. Put it in your schedule and budget!)

Scripture says we are to put our hope not in material things but “in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17 NIV). That means we shouldn’t feel guilty for enjoying his provisions! God does not expect his followers to live like prisoners in a cell, never feasting or celebrating life. He entrusts us with money to care for our needs and the needs of others, but also so we can take pleasure in the life he has given us.

Invest in Eternity—Together

Many Christians store up their treasures on earth. They end up backing into eternity, heading away from their treasures. Christ calls us to turn it around—to store up our treasures in heaven. That way, every day moves us closer to our Treasure.

In her last years, Nanci and I reflected on the ways, by God’s grace, we had invested in eternity and served the Lord Jesus together. What lay behind us was meaningful, but what awaited us on death’s other side was what we spent our lives preparing for.

Shortly before she died, I was holding Nanci’s hand, and she said, with a smile and tears, “Randy, thank you for my life.” I replied, also crying, “Nanci, thank you for my life.” God had used us to grow each other spiritually and make us better followers of Jesus. We certainly didn’t do everything right, but with God’s help, we sought to store up far greater treasures in heaven than on earth.

I encourage you to put Christ in the center of your marriage and finances. You will never regret it. The eternal payoffs will forever bring you joy and your Savior glory!

Several years ago, I had the privilege of doing a Q&A with Wayne Grudem at a conference. One of the questions I was asked was how I would counsel a young couple about financial matters. At the end, Wayne shares a lesson he and Margaret learned about finances and obeying God:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzzzOKaV5b8?si=wqwmtNrNeFNz_GSC

For more on this topic, see Managing God’s Money and The Treasure Principle. And for a deeper dive into how God views money, see Money, Possessions, and Eternity.

When I Write About Abortion or Sexual Purity, What About…?

I shared this on my Facebook page:

The Bible clearly teaches that God’s very best for our lives involves our purity and obedience to Him. This includes forsaking all sexual sins—heterosexual and homosexual—outside of the marriage covenant between a man and a woman. If this message is “hate speech,” then the Bible is hate speech, and no one can preach the whole Bible without being guilty of hate speech. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4, NIV).

 A reader wrote this comment:

Focusing on sex and abortion are fair game because they are discussed in the Bible.

Randy, you know that most of your followers, who tend to be older and white, will be very happy with a post like this. Many will click 'like' or 'love,' and go on with their day, probably spending most or all of it relating only with their 'tribe.'

Why don't we *also* discuss why so many conservative Christians focus almost exclusively on issues like sex and abortion? While ignoring things like feeding the poor, loving our enemies, etc.? Is it because condemning sex and abortion doesn't really ask much of older, white Christians (or "cultural evangelicals"), while doing the other things might be more of a challenge?

There are more and more stories on social media of teachers at Christian schools being attacked by supposedly Christian parents for doing things like teaching the Beatitudes and other teachings of Jesus. In some cases, the parents believe their partisan politics are being attacked when the teacher is reading straight from the Gospels. This suggests the parents are, at the least, placing politics above Jesus. Something worth discussing.

You are a wonderful author. Back around 2002, God used your book Dominion to change my life. I know it's tempting to just sit back and enjoy smooth sailing, but why not use your platform to challenge your followers to read the Bible more, and to think?

One of our EPM staff said this in reply:

If you’ve followed Randy’s page and blog for long, you know his heart is always to encourage believers to read the Bible more and apply its truths to their lives. (For example, see this post). The vast majority of Randy’s posts have nothing to do with sex or abortion. But because those are two topics that Randy has written about in his books, and because God cares about unborn children and cares about sexual purity and addresses it in His Word, they are topics that Randy does address on his page from time to time, too. We are called to share the full counsel of God (Acts 2:27).

Our ministry gives away 100% of the royalties from Randy’s books; some go to pro-life causes, but the vast majority goes to care for already born children and people, including to relief ministries providing practical needs. We will always encourage people to give and help a wide variety of ministries meeting people’s needs (see this list). For example, Randy has addressed the needs of persecuted believers in various places and encouraged people to find ways to help them. (This blog encouraged people to get involved in caring for the needy in this communities.)

Do the vast majority of Christians really not care about the needy, and do nothing to care for them? Certainly, that’s the line we’re told from the secular world. But when we look closer and move past the stereotypes, we find there are countless believers involved with all sorts of ministries across the country and around the world. Yes, some support these ministries financially and don’t do as much hands-on work, for various reasons. But they are still a vital part of caring for the needy. Now, are there Christians who talk about these topics online but do nothing to help actual people, through serving or giving? Yes, of course. That’s always been true. But to characterize all believers as not caring for the needy is simply untrue.

Let’s “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). Yes, sometimes that will involve addressing tough topics like sexual purity and abortion. But may we always point each other back to God’s Word and to our wonderful Savior. We are seeking to do that in our content, and will continue to do so with God’s help. The Lord bless you.

Out of curiosity, I asked our staff how much money our ministry has given in 2024 (so far) to different categories of ministries, through what we call special funds:

Missions Fund—Evangelizing and discipling the world's unreached. ($72,158)

Relief Fund—Helping in Christ's name the world's unfed, unclothed, unsheltered, and genuinely poor. ($44,000)

Persecuted Church Fund— Aiding Christians around the world who are suffering for their faith. ($4,746)

Pro-life Fund—Intervening, with truth and compassion, for unborn babies and their mothers. ($12,000)

Disabilities Fund— Assisting those who are disabled through worthy disability ministries. ($2,500)

Family Fund—Promoting the family's cause and helping specific needy families through established reputable organizations. ($13,535)

Legal Defense Fund—Assisting those in legal difficulty because they are upholding biblical principles. ($450)

Salt and Light Fund—Promoting truth, moral sanity, justice, and compassion in a post-Christian society. ($11,838)

Racial Unity Fund— Fostering interracial understanding, partnership, and unity in the Body of Christ. ($1,225)

Clearly, prolife causes are just one of the areas that EPM supports. Of course, I would never apologize for even a dime of what we give to pro-life ministries or causes. However, my point is that we are not a one-issue ministry and have never been. Similarly, over the years, some people have thought I talk too much about social justice issues and not enough about missions, not realizing how much EPM gives substantially to missions and crisis and development aid. I’m not trying to be defensive; I simply wish to clarify that we give to a wide and diverse range of causes that we believe are close to God’s heart.

This reader’s comment also reminded me of whataboutism. It’s a common logical fallacy that doesn’t refute what’s being said but gives the illusion it does through ad hominem attacks and claims of hypocrisy or lack of love. Here’s how one website describes it:

Whataboutism, also called whataboutery, is a logical fallacy and rhetorical technique in which people respond to a difficult concern or question with a counter-accusation in order to divert attention to a different topic.

As the name suggests, it’s characterized by the phrase “what about…?”, which would be followed by an issue that may be only remotely related to the original one.

It’s typically used when one is charged with a harmful accusation regarding their past actions; one counters the charge by bringing up something negative about the opposing side and thus attempts to downplay the magnitude of their own actions.

It is classified as a variant of the tu quoque fallacy, but it’s also closely related to the red herring fallacy.

How God Can Use an Online Article to Further His Kingdom

I’ve written a number of online articles over the years for Desiring God, and some for The Gospel Coalition. Sometimes I’ve wondered how much difference they might be making, compared to the books I write. I found this video interesting and touching, showing how God can use one article to a great end—in this case, starting a quality Christian school in the inner city:

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fthegospelcoalition%2Fvideos%2F1447130702824071%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0

This reminds me of what John Piper says: “Books don’t change people, paragraphs do — sometimes sentences. …Paragraphs find their way to us through books, and they often gain their peculiar power because of the context they have in the book. But the point remains: One sentence or paragraph may lodge itself so powerfully in our mind that its effect is enormous when all else is forgotten.”

Here are a few articles from The Gospel Coalition related to our ministry or my books:

Randy Alcorn Opens Up about His Depression

What’s Your Theology of Money (in 200 Words or Less)?

Randy Alcorn on Calvinists, Arminians, and Everything In Between

Embracing the Holy Tension Between God’s Sovereignty and Human Choice

Start Giving Before You Inherit

The Esimbi People Celebrate Receiving the New Testament in Their Heart Language

In June 2018, our beloved coworker and dear friend Karen Coleman went to be with Jesus. Nanci and I have known many Christlike people, but she’s on the shortlist. This amazing sister has been a dear friend to us, full of grace and truth in the face of hardships, never losing her wit and humor, quietly saying the funniest and wisest things. She is truly one of my heroes.

Prior to working at Eternal Perspective Ministries, Karen and her family spent 23 years as missionaries and Bible translators in Africa. We couldn't think of a better way to remember Karen’s legacy than to give in her honor towards the translation of Scripture.

EPM partnered with The Seed Company to help fund the Esimbi project, bringing God’s Word to 20,000 people who live in isolated areas in Karen’s beloved Cameroon. It's especially appropriate that we chose the Esimbi language project as this is the language group that Karen went to minister to in Cameroon and invested in their Bible translation.

Six years later, the New Testament is complete! I want to extend a big thank you to those donors who partnered with us in giving to finish this project in Karen's honor. What a privilege to participate in getting God’s Word to people. Giving to The Seed Company is truly making an investment in eternity!

Here’s what The Seed Company wrote about the Esimbi translation:

The Esimbi people’s homeland is nestled in the forests of Northwest Cameroon. But since 2017, armed conflict in the region has forced families to flee. Amid this unrest and the added uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Esimbi who once sacrificed to traditional gods and viewed the Lord as a distant “Supreme Being” have placed their trust in Him. For over 10 years, the Cameroon Association of Bible Translation and Literacy (CABTAL) has been working with the Esimbi to translate Scripture into their language.

In 2021, they completed the New Testament—and then waited three more years for physical copies to arrive. On June 22, 2024, a crowd of 200 gathered in Edéa, Cameroon, to dedicate the Esimbi New Testament. This was to be the first of three celebrations held for the diaspora, with a fourth being held in the Esimbi homeland. Among the attendees were four Esimbi chiefs who traveled over 250 miles on dangerous roads to witness this historic moment. In a display of honor, four women carried in the New Testament on a small platform. The ceremony included traditional dances, a presentation of gifts, and a shared meal.

In one of many speeches, a Seed Company representative recognized the numerous trials the Esimbi have endured. “But God has not abandoned you,” he told the crowd, “and you have not abandoned God’s work.” A CABTAL representative proceeded to declare, “It is hence going down in the history of Bible translation that God now speaks Esimbi.” An Esimbi translator urged the people to not only buy the New Testament but to read it. “Because to have the Bible is not the point,” he said. But to open its pages and be transformed—this is the future of the Esimbi people, for they now can hold the Word of God in their hands.

Here's a thank you video they sent to EPM:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWFuXkQPj3w?si=nqPoIVZbVEW9Zp4N

Those of us who know Christ will celebrate the fruits of this ministry throughout the ages to come, when we meet and develop friendships with people of every tribe, nation and language—some of the very people who received the Word of God because of our giving and our prayers. What could be better than that? What could bring greater happiness?

Photo/Video Credit: Jim Monroe; Property of illumiNations

Humbly Admitting We Are Vulnerable to Sexual Temptation Is the First Step to Avoiding a Fall

Someone once asked my thoughts about the idea that a Christian ministering among the needy in the inner city is safer from sexual temptation than someone else ministering to those who live in the more affluent suburbs. The idea seemed to be that God is more pleased by (or does greater work through) those who devote themselves to working in the inner city than those who serve in the suburbs. You may disagree with his premise, but my point to him was if he’s right, then that actually means that Satan has more reason to derail inner-city workers!

Since Satan and demons are finite beings and can only expend limited time and energy in tempting people, then it stands to reason that their higher priority would be to take down someone in the inner city who is doing a work close to God’s heart. (Of course, I absolutely know that ministry to those in the suburbs is also an important part of God’s plan, but I’m just following the questioner’s logic.)

Our Enemy Is on the Prowl

Pride, power, money, and sex are Satan’s major temptation tools, and pride and power often are underneath the temptation to money and sex. The inner-city worker will still be tempted by money, but even if he or she is freer of it than someone ministering in the suburbs (and that’s not necessarily so), consider the issue of sexual temptation. People are still people, and the city is as full of sex as the suburbs—arguably, fuller of sex (at least the open and blatant on-the-streets and in-your-face stuff). And if Satan especially hates what the inner-city Christian is doing, shouldn’t we expect him to bombard that believer with more sexual temptation to destroy God’s work?

Our enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour, and the landscape is littered with people he has destroyed. Obviously, he can do more damage to God’s kingdom by taking on Christians (once set on a path of destruction, drug addicts don’t need as much attention from him), more damage still by taking on Christians of influence and notoriety, and the most damage of all by taking down Christians who are doing strategic work that is close to God’s heart. I believe that’s exactly what Satan and demons do (I developed some of that in my novels Lord Foulgrin’s Letters and The Ishbane Conspiracy). And they will use all weapons at their disposal...including and often especially sexual temptation.

Consider what 1 Peter 5:5-9 says:

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Beware of Pride

Pride is a problem for all of us, but there is an obvious pride in a Christian believing their sexual vulnerability is less because they are “doing God’s work.” (On the contrary, as I’ve argued in my booklet Sexual Temptation, such a Christian will probably be more vulnerable—but certainly at the very least the same, not less.) This applies to believers in every position of ministry and leadership.

For example, if we think we are not vulnerable to being robbed, pretty soon we will leave the car unlocked, and cash laying on the passenger’s seat...greatly increasing our chances of being robbed precisely because we thought we wouldn’t be. This is part of God opposing the proud: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

For a believer to think they have a better chance of standing because of where they minister is a pride issue that makes them more sexually vulnerable. That person, whether a man or woman, needs—as we all do—to humble themselves, not lift themselves up. If they lift themselves up, God will take them down. (Same for all of us.) But if they humble themselves, God will lift them up. Part of humbling themselves is realizing their wrong thinking in this area: “Because I’m this spiritual believer doing God’s work in the inner-city, I’m less vulnerable to sexual temptations that derail my less spiritual brethren out serving in the suburbs with the Fat Cats.” If they don’t humble themselves, they turn the job over to God...who will humble them by allowing them to fall.

Peter says, “Be self-controlled and alert.” A critical part of alertness is recognizing the full extent of the danger that confronts us. A fall is preceded by a lack of alertness to danger and a failure to take the necessary steps to escape danger.

We All Face Temptation

Peter reminds us that our “brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” In context, those sufferings are the attempts of Satan, the roaring lion, to devour them. So the sufferings are primarily all that Satan is behind, which includes both persecution and temptation. This is a good reminder: everyone is experiencing temptation.

A man imprisoned and about to be martyred for his faith can experience sexual temptation. A woman could be in a jail cell with him, and he could fall into adultery. He could struggle with his thought life. He may be the godliest man, in circumstances of adversity and service that make our ministry pale in comparison. But precisely because His service for Christ is so strong and strategic, Satan will use everything at his disposal to bring that man down. In prison, there may not be much money or material things to tempt him. But sex will still be one of the most readily available temptations.

That’s true of all of us, including “brothers throughout the world.” It doesn’t matter where you are and what you’re doing. We still have to be humbly alert in this area, or Satan the roaring lion will take us down, and God will humble us.

God Is Faithful to Help Us

The good news is that God promises in 1 Corinthians 10:13 to always provide a way out. “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

We do not have to succumb to temptation. Now, will we ever give into it? Yes, but in no case do we have to. It is not out of our hands. And it’s not God’s fault or because His grace is lacking. We can call upon the Lord for help and call a friend to talk us down from sin. If that seems like a crutch, so be it. Damaged people sometimes need a crutch to walk.

By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, may we wake up and yield ourselves to Him and take the necessary steps to protect ourselves, our families, our churches, and those God has entrusted to our care.

God, I pray you will convict us, your children, where we are walking in pride. Help us to instead walk in humility as we serve you. Empower us to follow you wholeheartedly and to take seriously what your Word reveals about our responsibility to live righteously by the power of your Holy Spirit. We ask this in the name of Jesus, King of Kings.

Dallas Holm and How Studying Heaven Provides Comfort in Grief

I mentioned in a past blog about my long-time appreciation for Dallas Holm’s praise song “I Will Rise Again,” and how that song’s message hits even deeper now that my Nanci and Dallas’s wife Linda are both with Jesus.

Dallas recorded a podcast episode with his daughter on the subject of my book Heaven. He has an unusually acute understanding of the book—his comments about Christoplatonism display an awareness that is not common, but right on target and very important!

In this excerpt, Dallas shares a brief summary of my approach to Scripture in Heaven. He also talks about his own experience of finding comfort after Linda’s death through learning and thinking about Heaven:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNi5Miu1f5g?si=wT1RkOVnFF5gGbA0

In this excerpt, Dallas talks about how my book deals with the question of, “Will the current earth be destroyed?” He addresses God’s plan for restoring all of creation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0146mvDvUus?si=LTveQMxcvFlLQeG7

The 20th Anniversary edition of Randy's book  Heaven  is now available from EPM.

Our Sovereign King Reigns

I first shared this on my blog after the 2020 election. It’s as true now as it was then.

Whether you are encouraged or distressed by the results (thus far) of the election, there is great comfort in acknowledging and embracing Scripture’s teaching that God is sovereign over human events, including the outcome of elections. In Isaiah 46:10, God says, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (NIV). Those who believe in a God who knows “the end from the beginning” can relax because even though they don’t know what lies ahead, their sovereign God does.

“For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28, BSB). Because God has absolute power, no one—including demons and humans who choose to violate His moral will—can thwart His ultimate purpose. “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).

The Lord “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11, NIV). Our fates do not rest in the hands of fallen humankind: politicians, lawyers, military officers, employers, or even spouses and children. If we believe this, our reaction to current events and to many of the difficulties we face will change. Problems will seem smaller, for although we can’t control them, we know God can—and that everything will work out for His glory and our good.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Cheer up, Christian! Things are not left to chance: no blind fate rules the world. God hath purposes, and those purposes are fulfilled. God hath plans, and those plans are wise, and never can be dislocated.”

Ultimately our hope must be in Jesus, this Sovereign over the nations: “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you” (2 Chronicles 20:6).

Let these truths about God’s sovereignty, purposes, and trustworthiness bring you perspective and peace:

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, His sovereignty rules over all.” (Psalm 103:19, NASB)

“He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; ... the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.” (Daniel 2:21; 4:17)

“It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.” (Psalm 118:8-9)

“…you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.” (1 Chronicles 29:12, CSB)

“He stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases.” (Job 23:13, NIV)

“The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” (Psalms 33:10-11)

“Do not trust in nobles, in a son of man, who cannot save. When his breath leaves him, he returns to the ground; on that day his plans die. Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever…” (Psalm 146:3-6, CSB)

“His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:14, CSB)

The One Who Rules the World Cares for You

Note from Randy: Paul David Tripp’s Everyday Gospel is a wonder. It's brilliantly written, clear, concise, Christ-exalting, true to God’s word, enriching to the mind, encouraging to the heart, and overflowing with gospel grace. Every paragraph has the ring of truth. If you want a daily dose of God’s life-giving wisdom and kindness, this book is for you. Hope you enjoy this excerpt.

Your world is not spinning out of control, careening toward chaos, because we have a King who rules over all the earth.

Does it feel as though your life is out of control? Family drama, violence in the world, the rapid coarsening of the surrounding culture—chaos appears to be all around us. Perhaps you’re dealing with a physical sickness that you can’t seem to get on top of. Maybe you suddenly lost a job or a friendship, or experienced a life-altering accident. Perhaps your daily responsibilities are a burden too heavy to bear. The unexpected, unplanned, and unwanted confront us with how little power and control we actually have. They reveal our delusion of self-sovereignty. When you must face how few things you rule, you either spin off into depression, fear, or panic, or you remember that you can rest, knowing that though your life is out of your control, it is not actually out of control. We have a King who sits on His throne above the earth. He rules with wisdom, holiness, power, and grace. His rule is always right, His plan cannot be thwarted, and His will is done in Heaven and on earth. Nothing escapes His rule. Everything He ordains, He accomplishes. He delivers on every promise He has made. He is King.

Psalm 47 calls us out of our fear and panic and welcomes us to peace and rest of heart:

Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.    Selah…
God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted! (Ps. 47:1-4, 8-9)

Psalm 47 tells you that you will never be in a situation, location, or relationship that is not ruled by your Lord. You will never wander outside of His rule. Not only does He rule, but He exercises His sovereign rule over all things for the sake of those whom He has chosen to be the objects of His love. Your world is ruled by one who loves you and exercises His infinite power for your eternal good. This does not mean that you will always understand what happens in your life, but, in the failure of your understanding, you can know that your life is in good hands.

Does your life seem out of control? Run again and again to Psalm 47. Remember, rest, and rejoice. The one who rules loves you and is exercising His kingship for your good and His glory.

Taken from Everyday Gospel by Paul David Tripp, Copyright © 2024, pp. 208-209. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org.