Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 79

Breathe in the Happiness of Heaven

I grew up in an unbelieving home, and first heard about Christ as a teenager. Initially, Bible stories seemed no more true than the Greek mythology and comics I loved. Then I read the Gospels, and believed that Jesus was real, and then superheroes became mere shadows of Him. When Jesus rescued me, I experienced a profound happiness I’d never known, and have never gotten over. My heartfelt gladness was the result of being born again, forgiven, and indwelt by God’s Spirit. “Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1, NRSV).

This “joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12) contrasted starkly with the emptiness I’d felt before hearing the “good news of happiness” (Isaiah 52:7), also called the “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10).

I never considered what I gave up to follow Christ as sacrifices — mainly because they hadn’t brought me happiness. Jesus now meant everything to me. I wasn’t trying to be happy; I simply was happy.

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing

Not everyone who comes to Christ experiences such a dramatic increase in happiness. Plenty do, but even many of those see their happiness gradually fade over time.

Until Christ cures this world, our happiness in Christ will be punctuated by sorrow. Yet somehow an abiding joy is possible even in suffering. Christians are “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).

A few years ago a dear friend took his life and I wept more than I have in years. One moment, Nanci and I were huddled close and sobbing with his widow. Then inexplicably guitar and drums exploded while someone sang “Twist and Shout.” Shocked and wide-eyed, the three of us started laughing uncontrollably at the startling incongruity.

That moment was a gift, laughter lifting our heavy hearts. More such moments came over the next three days that included the dreaded graveside and hope-filled memorial service. Death’s grim face did not prevail, as the family worshiped a sovereign, loving, happy God who gave us joys both small and great in the midst of heartbreaking sorrow. Jesus said, “How happy are you who weep now, for you are going to laugh!” (Luke 6:21, Phillips). The laughter promised us in Heaven sometimes erupts in the present, a welcome foretaste of the unending happiness awaiting us.

Positive Thinking and Pure Joy

Experiencing daily happiness in Christ isn’t wishful thinking. It’s based on solid facts: God secured our eternal happiness through the cross and resurrection. He dwells within us, and He intercedes for us. Nothing separates us from His love. And He tells us “Be happy and full of joy, because the Lord has done a wonderful thing” (Joel 2:21, NCV).

“Positive thinking” says we can be happy by ignoring the negative (such as sin, suffering, and hell). I don’t believe that. Nor do I embrace the God-as-genie, name-it-and-claim-it prosperity gospel, which promises happiness through health, wealth, and success.

We should be grateful when God grants us health, provisions, and delightful surprises. But it’s one thing to be happy when such things occur, and another to believe God has failed us when they don’t.

Our models shouldn’t be jewelry-laden prosperity preachers, but Jesus-centered servants. Servants such as missionary Amy Carmichael (1867–1951), who brought the gospel to countless children she rescued from temple prostitution in India. She experienced much physical suffering and didn’t have a furlough in fifty-five years. Yet she wrote, “There is nothing dreary and doubtful about [life]. It is meant to be continually joyful. . . . We are called to a settled happiness in the Lord whose joy is our strength” (Frank Houghton, Amy Carmichael).

There’s selfish and superficial happiness, just like there’s selfish and superficial love and peace. But we still use those words, even though the world sells cheap imitations. We dare not belittle Christ-focused happiness just because there is self-centered happiness!

A Joy Bigger Than Circumstances

The quest to be happy is as ancient as Eden. People’s thirst for happiness remains. Our culture is characterized by increasing depression and anxiety, particularly among youth. Studies show more people feel bad than good after using social media; photos of others having good times leave observers feeling left out and inferior.

Research indicates there’s “little correlation between the circumstances of people’s lives and how happy they are” (Happiness Is a Serious Problem, 115). Yet when people are asked “Why aren’t you happy?” they focus on circumstances. In our fallen world, troubles are constant. Happy people look beyond their difficult circumstances to Someone whose grace brings light to the darkness and smiles to our faces in the most unlikely moments.

Many Christians live in sadness, anger, anxiety, or loneliness, thinking these feelings are inevitable given their circumstances. They lose joy over traffic jams, wifi issues, or rising gas prices. They miss the reasons for happiness expressed on nearly every page of Scripture.

We Will Breathe Happiness in Heaven

A.W. Tozer wrote, “The people of God ought to be the happiest people in all the wide world! People should be coming to us constantly and asking the source of our joy and delight” (Who Put Jesus on the Cross?).

Amy Carmichael’s “settled happiness” is possible despite life’s difficulties. Rich and durable, this happiness is ours today, because Christ is here; it’s ours tomorrow because Christ will be there; and it’s ours forever, because He’ll never leave us.

The day hasn’t yet come when God will “wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 21:4). But it will. Christ’s blood-bought promise has breathtaking implications for our present happiness. Jesus made this startling statement: “Happy are those who mourn; [for] God will comfort them!” (Matthew 5:4, GNT). Present happiness is derived from the promise of future comfort. The eternal perspective of God’s children informs them of a true and ultimate happiness they can anticipate now (see Psalm 16:11; 21:6; 36:7–10; 37:16; 43:4; 73:28; John 10:10).

Why not frontload eternity’s joys into the present? Don’t we find current happiness in anticipating an upcoming graduation, wedding, visit, reunion, or vacation? So shouldn’t we find even greater pleasure in anticipating the day when God will swallow up death forever (Isaiah 25:8), permanently reverse the curse (Revelation 22:3), and unite us with our Savior and eternal family?

Calling upon His grace, let’s enter into our Master’s happiness today by contemplating and sharing His promise that we’ll behold His face in a new and captivating world, where joy will be the air we breathe.

Browse more resources on the topic of happiness, and see Randy’s related books, including Happiness and Does God Want Us to Be Happy?

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

Racism Can Be Seen in Our Low Expectations of Others

This video, with responses to the question, “Are voter ID laws racist and suppress the black vote?”, is fascinating and revealing. It demonstrates that racism includes well-meaning whites who patronize blacks and think they have to make things very simple so that “those people” can understand them.

In my experience racism among conservatives sometimes (by no means always) takes the classic and more obvious form. Among liberals however, it often takes the paternalistic form of “you can’t take care of yourselves so you must depend on us to take care of you, and that’s how we earn your votes.” Both are racist and demeaning in their own ways. 

Of course, voter suppression may be happening in some other ways. The point here is that it’s possible to actually demean and belittle people as being less intelligent and capable, even when we imagine we’re being progressive and justice oriented.

See Randy's novel Dominion, as well as Benjamin Watson's book Under Our Skin.

Photo by Fabien Bazanegue on Unsplash

When We Disagree, What Are We Really Arguing About?

From Randy: I recently shared on  my blog a message that I recorded for my home church on Romans 14, called When Christians Disagree About Beliefs and Actions. I explained that true love and unity are never achieved at the expense of primary biblical truths. But they are achieved at the expense of personal pride and preferences on second- and third-level issues.

The following article from Kevin DeYoung is perfectly consistent with the primary v. secondary or first level/second level/third-level approach I talk about in my message. We need to recognize that our consciences differ, and we should pray and search Scripture and ask God’s guidance, realizing that in secondary issues, God will approve of others believing and acting differently than we do. This is where true biblical love, a big view of God, and believing the best of our brothers and sisters comes in. Thanks for this helpful article, Kevin.

What Are We Arguing About?

By Kevin DeYoung

On the Life and Books and Everything podcast, I talked at some length about what we are really arguing about when it comes to some of our current cultural flashpoints. I won’t repeat everything I said on the podcast (you should subscribe!), but I thought it might be worthwhile to give the basic outline of my monologue.

My overarching point is this: we need to be clearer as Christians about where our disagreements lie.

That is to say, we often talk as if we are disagreeing about significant elements of the Christian faith—whether that has to do with God’s sovereignty or worship or justice or racism or abortion—when actually we are disagreeing about a host of issues surrounding those issues. By drilling down to our actual disagreements, we may not find a new consensus or a mythical third way, but perhaps we will be able to talk to each other with more charity and humility.

Let’s look at three of the most contentious issues dividing churches (or about to divide churches) at the moment.

Presidential Election

Christians disagree about all sorts of things related to the election. I don’t want to talk about Trump vs. Biden. Instead, I want us to think about voting itself. How should Christians in America think about their vote for president? I see at least four approaches.

1. Vote for the best candidate of all the candidates. Pretty simple. Look on the ballot (or write someone in) and vote for the person you think best represents Christian values and will effectively carry out the responsibilities of the presidency.

2. Vote for the best (or least bad) candidate of the two major parties. It is almost assuredly the case that the Republican or Democratic nominee will be president, so, this argument insists, we ought to vote for whichever of the two candidates is better. And what do we mean by better? That is open for debate as well. For most people “better” means some combination of policies, platform, appointments, personal integrity, and the political party you would be putting in power. You may or may not be excited about the person at the top of the ticket, but you figure you are voting for a network of policies and influencers, not just one person.

3. Vote for the best candidate—of all the candidates, or of the two leading parties—so long as the candidate meets a certain threshold for character and ideology. This is like 1 and 2, but instead of saying, “I will always vote for the lesser of two evils,” it says, “I won’t cast a vote for someone I think is actually evil.” You think to yourself, I could never cast a vote for someone who advocates the killing of all puppies. He may be better than the person who supports the killing of puppies and grown dogs, but I simply can’t vote for someone who doesn’t pass a basic test of moral decency.

4. Vote in a way that you believe best advances the long-term interests of your policy goals and convictions. You may reason that Candidate A is less bad than Candidate B in the short run, but you are going to vote for Candidate C because you want to signal that you hope your party will select better candidates in the future. Or you may reason that even though you agree with Candidate B on more issues, that candidate’s style or character makes those positions less palatable and actually hurts the goals and policies you care about most. Instead of viewing the election as a matter of immediate national life or death, you think it best to play the long game and vote accordingly.

I’m not telling you how to look at your vote. Maybe one of these approaches makes more sense in our given context than another. But then we should be clear that we are arguing about a philosophy of voting—something not nailed down in Scripture—rather than about issues of first-order importance. I don’t think all of the approaches above are equally compelling, but I do think they are all reasonable ways to approach the act of voting.

Police Shootings

Let’s take another controversial issue. Many churches are divided over how to think about police shootings. Too often, we throw around accusations of racism or cultural Marxism or not caring about the Bible or not caring about people of color, when we are actually disagreeing about the facts of a given situation. It’s easy to jump to conclusions, and then jump to counter-conclusions, when slowing down to ask certain questions can isolate what we are really talking about and (likely) disagreeing about.

When it comes to the specific issue of a specific police shooting—not all race issues in general—we would do well to ask four questions.

What happened?
How often does it happen?
To whom does it happen?
Why did it/does it happen?

Of course, it’s possible that we ask questions in a way that only serves to obfuscate the issues. We’ve all heard people say, “I’m only asking questions,” when they are really just trying to gum up the discussion. But highlighting the four questions above—even if we don’t agree on the answers—can at least highlight that our disagreements may not be about a lack of concern for justice or an affinity for Critical Race Theory.

Instead, our disagreements may focus on: whether the shooting was justified or not, whether police shootings happen a lot or little, whether they happen disproportionately to some people over others, and whether the shooting was because of race, poor training, poor judgment, or some other factor. In other words, we may think we are arguing about social justice, when actually we are arguing about shooting data and police unions. Or, we may not, in fact, be arguing about remotely the same thing at all but have reached an impasse because one person is looking for empathy and a recognition of historical wrongs while another person is parsing out the nuances of proper compliance and policing procedure.

Covid-19

One more issue, and this may be the most difficult. It’s no secret that Christians don’t agree on when and whether to open church, on when or whether to wear masks, and on when or whether to disobey the government. Again, the arguments are often pitched as fundamentally about the Bible, theology, and personal devotion to Christ. And they may be. But more often in my experience, the hottest part of the argument is about other issues not spelled out clearly in Scripture.

Is the virus a very serious health concern, or has the threat been greatly exaggerated?
Is the government exercising its authority in consistent ways, or does it seem to be singling out churches for worse treatment than other establishments?
Is the government trying to achieve its public health goals in the least burdensome way, or are its rules arbitrary and unreasonably heavy-handed?
Is the government generally to be trusted as looking out for the best interests of its citizens, or is the government ramping up oppressive measures that it will be slow to relinquish?

These are all important questions. I’m not suggesting we don’t try to answer them. But in answering them, let’s be clear that we are making decisions about epidemiology, mathematical modeling, and government bureaucracies. One church may say, “Don’t you love Christ? Why won’t you meet for worship?” Another church may say, “Don’t you love your neighbor? How dare you open for worship?” Of course, every church ought to be absolutely committed to public worship and loving our neighbors. The reason two churches like this are criticizing the other has much more to do with their epidemiological views than their theological views. Being clear about the disagreement is a step in the right direction.

Four Final Thoughts

Where does this leave us? Quickly, four thoughts.

1. Let’s be clear what we are arguing about (and what we are not arguing about). Drill down to the issue really causing separation.

2. Let’s be less dogmatic about our approach to voting, and our reading of police data, and our take on the severity of the virus than we are about fundamental articles of the Christian faith. By all means, we can try to persuade about all those other matters, but let’s realize we are outside the realm of inerrant, or often even uniquely Christian, conclusions.

3. Let’s humbly acknowledge our position when disagreeing with others in the church. Instead of raising every disagreement to the highest rhetorical level, we might say, “I’m not questioning your commitment to Christ, but I don’t think the virus is the threat you think it is. Here’s why.”

4. Let’s understand that most pastors are trying to find a way to hold their congregation together in divisive times. It may be that your pastor is cowardly trying to make everyone happy. That won’t work. But it may be that he is trying to wisely shepherd a diverse flock in a way that helps the sheep to focus on Christ and him crucified. If the disagreement has become public in your church, then the pastor is usually wise to deal with it publicly. That takes courage. But don’t expect that he is going to take a definitive side when he is not an expert in the contentious matter, and reasonable Christians can come to different conclusions. The loving pastor should show that he understands both sides and is sympathetic to the good things people want on both sides. He should not pretend he has found the third way that everyone will agree on or that piety alone will transcend all our disagreements.

Make no mistake, these are difficult times and leaders will have to make difficult decisions. But the fallout from these decisions can be made less difficult if we know what we are disagreeing about, can state clearly why we think the way we do, and are willing to allow that others may reasonably think differently.

This article originally appeared on The Gospel Coalition and is used with permission.

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

What’s Missin’ These Days: Obadiah Abernathy Reminisces

When I’m asked who my favorite character from all my novels is, I always say it’s Obadiah Abernathy in Dominion, who played baseball in the old Negro leagues. He modeled dignity, grace, wisdom, and humor.

My spiritual inspiration for Obadiah was my friend John Perkins, now 90 years old, the son of a Mississippi sharecropper and one of my heroes. John awakened me to racial justice with his magnificent book Let Justice Roll Down, and who I got to know when we spoke together at a conference in the 80’s. Later I spend time with John in Mississippi while researching Dominion. I tell some of this story here.

Three years ago John Perkins asked me to write the foreword for his life story and vision, Dream with Me: Race, Love, and the Struggle We Must Win. When I wrote Obadiah’s dialogue, I often asked myself, What would John say? In real life, I sometimes ask myself the same question, including when I write about racial justice.

While I modeled Obadiah Abernathy after the heart and love of John Perkins, my sports inspiration for Obadiah was Buck O’Neill in the old Negro leagues. A modern man of reconciliation, he was born in 1911 and died in 2005, one month shy of age 95. In this video, Buck O’Neill is speaking for 50 minutes when he was in his nineties. Here you see the winsomeness of Obadiah Abernathy, just as in John Perkins you see the same with great spiritual depth:

In this excerpt from my book, Obadiah talks to his family about church in the old days, and the Heaven that’s coming and won’t ever end.

The family sat around Dani’s big dining-room table, Obadiah at the head, Clarence and Geneva on one side of him, Keisha and Celeste on the other, with Jonah and Ty at the far end. Ty was there under protest. As usual, he wanted to be doing something with his friends.

Obadiah sat straight as his eighty-seven-year-old back would allow. As always, he chewed his food over and over, as if stretching it, savoring it, trying to draw extra nourishment. He ate like a man who hadn’t always had enough to eat. At Sunday dinner he held the family reins, and in the last year or so with Obadiah, you never knew where the conversation would go next.

“Fine message, fine message,” Obadiah said. “I like that Pastor Clancy.”

“So do I,” Geneva said. She passed Obadiah a big piece of huckleberry pie.

“Much obliged, Daughter. Looks wondrous. Looks wondrous.” After one long bite and lots of head shaking, he resumed his commentary. “Good chu’ch. I likes that chu’ch. Good chu’ch, isn’t it boys?” He eyeballed Jonah and Ty.

“Yes sir,” Jonah said.

Ty looked down and grunted, “Yeah.”

“Been to lots a churches in my day,” Obadiah said. “One time went with Cousin Jabal to a church in Louisiana. They put whites on one side and blacks on another. Then they had this big ol’ rope goin’ down the middle aisle, just to make sure no one forgot what color he was. Funny thing, pastor was preachin’ through Colossians, and the text was how race don’t matter and we’s all one in Christ Jesus.” He chuckled, eyes dancing. “I don’t know what more that pastor said. I just sat there thinkin’ about how we’re all one in Christ Jesus and lookin’ at that rope!”

Obadiah laughed long and hard, shaking his head. “You remember Jabal’s boy Rabe, don’t you Clarence?”

“Yeah, Daddy. He stayed with us a few weeks until...until the polin’.”

“What’s polin?” Jonah asked. Clarence glanced at his daddy as if to say, “You’re the one who brought it up.”

Obadiah sighed. “Polin’ was where people would get in their cars, drink enough beer to gets them up some courage, then drive down roads settin’ to whack blacks in the back of the head with two-by-fours. It happened to Rabe. Hurt him pretty bad.”

“Why are white people so mean, Grampy?” Celeste asked.

“They’re not mean, honey, not all of ’em, not even most of ’em. Just some of them, chile, just some of them.” He looked around the table. “Jabal always used to say, ‘Never trust a white man,’ and he said it more than ever after Rabe got poled. Well, Jabal was wrong. I told my chillens then and I’m tellin’ you all now. Never trust a man with bad morals and a weak character, that’s what Jabal should have said. Skin color don’t matter, ’cept to people with small brains. There’s good blacks and bad blacks. There’s good whites and bad whites. You can’t never tell a book by its cover. And you can’t never tell a man by his color.”

Obadiah measured the silence at the table before continuing. “The problem ain’t white folk. The problem’s just folk—black, white, or purple, it don’t matter. Bible calls it sin, and sinners is what we all is.” He seemed to be reaching for a story, and his eyes glowed when he found one.

“When I was a boy, my grandpappy on my daddy’s side was visitin’. It was a hot day and we was fishin’ down by a lake—prettiest little lake you ever seen. Well, Grandpappy, he took off his shirt. And I saw the marks all over his back. I came over and ran my finger over them. They was all healed, but you could still see the pain in his eyes. I asked him, ‘Who did this to you, Grandpappy?’ I knew he’d been a slave, but the stories never made much sense to me till I saw the marks.

“He said, ‘A cruel man did it to me. I’ve asked Jesus to forgive him. I hope he asked Jesus to forgive him too.’ See, he never said it was a white man. He said it was a cruel man. I never forgot that.”

Obadiah looked around the table, and Clarence could almost hear an abrupt gear change in his daddy’s head. “You know what’s missin’ in churches these days?” “What’s that, Daddy?” Clarence asked.

“The mourner’s bench. ’Member our old church in Puckett? They had a mourner’s bench. That was back in the days when you didn’t need no theologian to explain away the Bible. We just believed it. And tried to live by it. ’Member ol’ Reverend Charo, Clarence?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Now that was a preacher. Man had more points than a thornbush.” Obadiah smiled broadly, his white teeth looking like piano ivories. “The Reverend used to say from the pulpit in this big loud voice, ‘It’s no disgrace to be colored.’ Then he’d pause and lean forward and wink at us and whisper, ‘It’s just awfully inconvenient.’”

Obadiah laughed and laughed, mostly on his own, though Geneva managed a few chuckles herself.

“Sunday was the finest day of the week, I reckon. We’d leave behind those cotton fields, that ol’ ramshackle house, and come to the house of God. Without Sundays, we woulda shriveled up and died, worked ourselves to the grave ’fore we was fifty years ol’. We’d put on our Sunday best. Mama, she’d put wheat starch in my collar to glue down the threads on my one white shirt. I’d pick the trousers with the fewest holes. We’d walk the four miles to Sunday school, rain or shine. And we had fun walkin’. Ol’ Elijah and me, we was always cookin’ up mischief along the way.”

He looked right at Jonah and Ty and nodded, as an old man who’s never forgotten what it is to be young. Everyone’s eyes focused on Granddaddy. Frail as Obadiah’s body had become, his eyes were strong and he still carried the indomitable authority of a senior black man.

“Pastor served four churches, so he’d be there once a month. We’d take a break after Sunday school, then have a big service. Preacher go up there and say, ‘Remember your mama? How she used to hug you and tuck you in? But she gone now. Can’t tuck you in no more.’ And he’d carry on and on, till we was all snifflin’ and sobbin’. He’d keep remindin’ us of our grandmammies and all our kin that died until we was almost in a frenzy. Then he’d shout, ‘But someday you goin’ to see yo’ mama again. Some day you goin’ to heaven, if you loves Jesus, and there she be—arm’s awide open, waitin’ fo’ you. How many o’ you can hardly wait for that day?’”

Obadiah’s voice had taken on the strength of the preacher’s from seventy-five years ago. “People, they be shoutin’ and clappin’, twitchin’ and tremblin.’ Not like some churches where it’s just a lecture and they has to stop at an hour so you don’t falls asleep. Now, your churches today, they don’t preach about heaven no mo’, not like that anyways. Not like that. Maybe nowadays we thinks this world’s our home. Maybe that’s whys we’s in so much trouble.”

His deep-set eyes surveyed the table as if it were a poker game and he was trying to read in the faces each player’s hand.

“Then there was revival week. Relatives would come back from all over. Church and family was the same, wasn’t one without the other back then. Lots of eatin’, singin’, preachin’, and lots of offerin’s, sometimes two or three in a service if we didn’t collect enough for the poor.”

“I thought you were poor, Grandpa,” Jonah said.

“Well, compared to most folks we was. But there’s always people poorer than you, and you always gots to help them. You remember that now, chillens.”

He scanned the children to decide which to light his eyes on, and this time chose Keisha.

“We’d come together and focus on a better life—the life to come. Always read the Scripture that said we was strangers and aliens and pilgrims. Slave stock understood that. Property owners never did. See, Keisha, black folk couldn’t own property back then. A few did, but very few. We was sharecroppers; our pappies was slaves. We knew this wasn’t our home. It’s harder when you think you own things yourself. ’Cause then you starts actin’ like a big shot owner instead of a tenant. This here is God’s world, chillens. No man owns anything. We’s all just sharecroppers on God’s land. But he never cheats us—come harvest time, he’ll give us the rewards of our labor.”

“Doesn’t seem that way sometimes, Daddy,” Clarence said. Geneva looked startled. She didn’t remember him ever taking issue with his daddy in front of the children, at least not on spiritual matters. “Lots of bad things happen in this world. Seems like sometimes our labor doesn’t pay off.”

“That’s because it ain’t harvest time yet, Son. You jus’ wait. You jus’ wait.”

“I’m tired of always waiting.”

“You trust him, boy, and yo’ sweet Jesus ain’t gonna let you down. These television preachers make it sound like today’s the harvest. Give a bunch o’ money and next thing you know there’s a big Cadillac in your driveway. Show me the chapter and verse fo’ that one, will ya? God say at the proper time we’ll reap a harvest, if we don’t give up. Proper time ain’t here yet. Don’t give up, Son. Just don’t give up.”

The old man’s eyes started to glaze. His mouth kept moving, but he was in transition. “I remembers those ol’ songs, songs black as night, black as the raven. ‘Steal away.’ ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.’ ‘I’ll Fly Away.’ ‘Just Over in Glory Land.’ ‘In the Sweet By-and-By.’ We always sung about ‘one day acomin.’ We knew this weren’t the day.”

Obadiah was somewhere else now. Was he thinking about his mama? Clarence wondered. His wife? His daughter? Little Felicia?

Suddenly, so low and quiet you could barely hear, he began singing a song Clarence vaguely remembered from childhood. “I does not know why all aroun’ me, my hopes all shattered seem to be. God’s perfect plan I cannot see. But one day, someday, he’ll make it plain.”

Photo by Cassandra Ortiz on Unsplash

You Have Permission to Lead an Ordinary Life

From Randy Alcorn: Years ago my wife Nanci and I wrote a book together called Help for Women Under Stress. We talked about the extraordinary pressures and stresses that women often face, including the pressure to pursue excellence in every area of life. We wrote then (and still believe it’s true), “Christ has called us not to excellence in all things but to faithfulness in all things.”

That’s why the message of this article by Melissa Kruger about the power of a quiet, ordinary, faithful, and Christ-honoring life resonated with me. Although Melissa’s original audience was women, her wisdom is applicable for every reader. Hope this encourages you as it did me.

Sisters, You Have Permission to Lead an Ordinary Life

By Melissa Kruger

You’re special. Don’t let anyone limit your potential. You’re made for more. Your life is up to you. Exercise more. Eat better. Make time for yourself. Cheer others on. Give more. Do more. Try harder. Run faster. 

And, while you’re at it, change the world. Solve injustice. Start a nonprofit. Lead a Bible study.  Read all the new books (maybe write one, too). Read the classics. Make sure to vote. Wash your face. Live untamed.

No wonder you haven’t thought about what’s for dinner. (But, whatever you do, make sure it’s an all-organic, free-range, and locally sourced nutritious meal.)

Do you feel the pressure too? Some days it’s exhausting to be a woman. Internally, we feel the reality of not measuring up to our own hopes of being the friend, employee, daughter, wife, or mother we think we should be. Externally, we have so many influencers telling us to make an amazing, groundbreaking difference in the world. Words meant to inspire often exhaust.

Can I borrow a moment of your time to give you (and me) permission to lead a quiet, ordinary life? When I’m overwhelmed by all the messages coming at me each day, I remind myself of 1 Thessalonians 4:11: “Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands.” The quiet, godly life described here is within our reach. And I’ve seen it lived out firsthand.

One Ordinary Life

I recently treasured final moments with my friend Polly. You probably don’t know her. She’s not an Instagram influencer or New York Times–bestselling author. Polly is a wife and mom of two college-aged children. 

She’s worked at a seminary for years, managing accreditation for the entire institution. She hasn’t moved overseas as a missionary, opened an orphanage, or taught the Bible to thousands. Yet her faithful work has supported people who have served in all those ways and more. 

I want to live a life like Polly’s. Three passages from Scripture keep me grounded in pursuing this different type of ambition.

1. Love the Lord

Our primary calling is this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matt. 22:37–38). 

The command to love him is linked repeatedly in Scripture with wholeheartedly embracing and delighting in his law (Deut. 11:1; Josh. 22:5; Ps. 19:7–10; John 15:9–10). It is not wrong to have ambition. It just needs to be centered on the right aim.

This calling to love the Lord is not a one-time, walk-the-aisle-and-accept-Jesus type of relationship. It’s a daily walking with him, talking to him, knowing him, and serving him. Our love for Jesus needs careful tending because it’s apt to grow indifferent or lukewarm (Rev. 3:16). As Joshua reminded the people of Israel: “Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God” (Josh. 23:11). 

With all there is to do, this is the one thing that must be done. Don’t neglect the Lord. This ordinary faithfulness, after all, is only possible because of his extraordinary work. So be in his Word. Spend time in prayer. Worship him at church. Live in light of his commands. 

2. Fulfill Your Calling

At the end of Colossians, Paul writes, “And say to Archippus, ‘See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord’” (Col. 4:17). The simplicity of Paul’s reminder silences the voices telling me I have to dream bigger, live boldly, work harder, and do more. 

I’m not able to solve all of the world’s problems. But I can fulfill the ministry the Lord has given me. I’m a small part in his big story—and what an amazing privilege to be given a role!

What’s before you today? If you have a husband or children, love them well (Titus 2:4). As you work at your job—whether loads of laundry, piles of emails, or hours of meetings—work heartily, as for the Lord (Col. 3:23). 

Don’t concern yourself with what he’s called someone else to do. Encourage and support others, but don’t believe that just because they’re doing something means you must, too. Whatever God has called you to, faithfully fulfill the ministry you’ve received from him. Ordinary lives can produce extraordinary fruit.

3. Hope in Eternity

Hope is a precious thing. We too easily put our hope in earthly comforts, success, and people. When they fail us (and they ultimately will), we may question if God has failed us. But Peter reminds us: “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13). 

A hope anchored in heaven secures our faithfulness on earth. This life is simply a journey; it doesn’t really matter if it’s ordinary. Don’t buy the lie that your life only matters if your name is known, you have lots of followers, or you do amazing things. 

Your life matters because you’re made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). Christian woman, you can rejoice—not because of all you’ve accomplished, but because your name is written in heaven (Luke 10:20). You are beloved by the King. 

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

A few weeks ago we got the call. Polly’s cancer treatments had stopped working. Friend after friend came and sat with her on her back porch. Some flew in from Texas, others drove from Mississippi. One evening we stood in her yard and sang hymns while she listened from the porch. 

On Sunday morning, we gathered at her home to worship. Her husband, Bob, was at her side every minute. Her children listened and laughed at stories they told together. They read the Bible. They prayed. Soon after, she went to be with Jesus. 

Yes, you could say her life was ordinary. But as I watched the people of her life gather, all I could think is: How beautiful and extraordinary is my friend. She loved the Lord. She fulfilled her calling. She hoped for eternity.

What an amazing life.

This article originally appeared on The Gospel Coalition and is used with the author’s permission.

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

When Christians Disagree about Beliefs and Actions

Jesus commanded Christians to love one another and told us our love for each other is the greatest proof that we love Him and follow Him (John 13). The unity and oneness of the church is a primary evidence that the Good News is true.

But unfortunately, the church has never had more issues to divide us and make us outraged at each other. There’s a pandemic of accusation and blame, and the result is Christians publicly attacking and berating each other, then remaining unrepentant for doing so. We have an unswerving certainty that we are right about everything, even secondary issues.

True love and unity are never achieved at the expense of primary biblical truths. But they are achieved at the expense of personal pride and preferences on second and third level issues. It isn’t our secondary beliefs that are most important, but our hearts of love instead of resentment, humility instead of pride, and thanksgiving instead of ingratitude.

Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be genuine.” God calls us to not pretend to love each other. It’s not “I love you in the Lord (but I really hate you!).” Love welcomes differences; it doesn’t resent them. Our goal should be conformity to Jesus, not to each other.

In this 46-minute message I recorded for my home church, I share more on Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8, and what they tell us about how Christians should approach second and third level issues:

See Randy's book The Grace and Truth Paradox for more on reflecting Jesus in our relationships.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Is It Judgmental and Unloving to Believe That Abortion Is Child-Killing?

Unfortunately, despite the clear teaching of Scripture that the preborn are fully human and created by God, the Bible’s message of love is often misused when it comes to abortion. This comment on my Facebook page expresses a common sentiment: “God wants union, understanding, compassion, love, no judgment. …people saying that women shouldn’t have abortions is like saying, ‘I’m judging you and criticizing you.’”

To many people, Jesus’ words “Do not judge” mean never questioning someone’s choice of abortion, and love and compassion mean never trying to deter someone from considering abortion. In fact, many consider it “judgmental” even to say abortion is wrong.  But is it judgmental and unloving to say slapping or abandoning a baby is wrong? When people hear of infants found in trash cans, are they being judgmental and unloving to believe that was a terrible thing for someone to do?

True, God is love (1 John 4:16), and His followers are to love their neighbors as themselves (Mark 12:31). They are to be full of compassion and humility (1 Peter 3:8), and not be self-righteous or unfairly judge or condemn others (Luke 6:37).

But believers are also called to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25). Love does not mean saying all choices are valid. (If it did, a God of love would never condemn sin, which He repeatedly does in Scripture, nor would there be such a thing as sin or any need to be forgiven.) If abortion truly does harm women and kill children, then we owe it to women to gently and lovingly point out the truth, while offering grace and help.

A young woman who said she believed that abortion takes the life of an innocent child told me that because she loved her friend, she was going to drive her to the clinic to get an abortion. She said, “That’s what you do when you love someone, even if you disagree.”

I asked, “If your friend wanted to kill her parents or brother or sister and had a shotgun in hand, and asked you to drive her to their house, would you do it?”

“Of course not!”

But other than legality, what’s the difference? It is never loving to help others kill, not only because of the harm to the victims, but also because of the harm to themselves. It’s never in a mother’s best interest to kill her child, so we should never tell her it’s fine to do so, and never assist her in taking a life and thereby heaping guilt and a lifetime of regret upon her. Real compassion is full of both grace and truth, like Jesus (John 1:14).

Download the PDF of Randy’s new book Pro-Choice or Pro-Life: Examining 15 Pro-Choice Claims—What Do Facts & Common Sense Tell Us? 

In this thoroughly researched and easy-to-read book, author Randy Alcorn examines fifteen major claims of the pro-choice position and shares fact-based, rational responses. If you have mixed feelings about abortion, as many people do, this book can be part of your quest for truth. If you’re pro-choice or pro-life, it can help you think through your position.

If we have any hope of understanding and engaging with each other, let’s move our dialogue beyond bumper stickers, memes, and tweets. Randy encourages readers to listen carefully to arguments on both sides of the abortion debate, and to look at the evidence and weigh it on its own merit.

The print book is available from our ministry for an extremely low cost ($1.00 per single copy; 90 cents per copy on orders of 100 or more; 80 cents per copy on orders of 1,000 or more, plus shipping).

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

Letter to a Dying Believer

I recently wrote this to a dying friend, but I’m replacing her name with “dying believer.” The reality is, I am dying and every person reading this is too. Perhaps you have reason to believe that death will come very soon. Or perhaps you have a loved one or friend who is close to death and would benefit from the Scripture and quotes I share. I hope these words will encourage your heart and help you fix your eyes on Jesus.

Dear dying believer,

In your darkest hours, may you sense the arms of Jesus around you and hear Him whisper, “I love you; and soon we will celebrate our love forever in a far better world.” When it comes to both loving us and understanding our suffering, His nail-scarred hands give Him credibility, don’t they?

Soon you’ll be with Jesus and with your family who loves you so much, those already there who you will be joining, and also those who will join you before long. You are leaving some family only for the moment, but you are not leaving home—you are going home. You have not passed your peak. You never will! The best is yet to be, and every day with Him will be richer than the one before. Your family here will miss you, but they will not be losing you, because they will know where you are. And they will know that by the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus, they will follow you there!

“[God has] raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7). This verse tells us that forever God will be revealing to us surpassing riches in Christ. What magnificent wonders of the New Creation we’ll behold, and how great it will be to grasp the attributes of our God with much deeper understanding! And we’ll all do that together. What glorious meals and celebration and worship and story-telling and laughter await us!

Lean on our King Jesus. He has great and eternal plans for you. They are already unfolding. And they will be wonderful beyond all imagination.

Here are some Scriptures that I hope encourage you:

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16, NLT)

They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:9-10)

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,
    of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.
And he will swallow up on this mountain
    the covering that is cast over all peoples,
    the veil that is spread over all nations.
    He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
    and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
    for the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 25:6-8)

And here are some quotations I collected for my Heaven book:

Their souls being on fire with holy love, shall not be like a fire pent up, but like a flame uncovered and at liberty. Their spirits, being winged with love, shall have no weight upon them to hinder their flight. There shall be no lack of strength or activity, nor any lack of words with which to praise the Object of their affection. Nothing shall hinder them from communing with God, and praising and serving Him just as their love inclines them to do. Love naturally desires to express itself; and in heaven the love of the saints shall be at full liberty to express itself as it desires, whether it be towards God or to created beings. —Jonathan Edwards, Heaven: A World of Love 

I do live expecting great things in the life that is ripening for me and all mine—when we shall have all the universe for our own, and be good merry helpful children in the great house of our father…When we are all just as loving and unselfish as Jesus; when like him, our one thought of delight is that God is, and is what he is…then, darling, you and I and all will have grand liberty wherewith Christ makes free—opening his hand to send us out like white doves to range the universe. —George MacDonald, letter to his dying daughter

I haven’t been cheated out of being a complete person—I’m just going through a forty-year delay, and God is with me even through that. Being “glorified”—I know the meaning of that now. It’s the time, after my death here, when I’ll be on my feet dancing.  —Joni Eareckson Tada, What About Heaven and Hell

If Jesus’ resurrected body is a clue, along with accounts of angels appearing to a host of other biblical worthies, I surmise that we will transport ourselves not only across but also through space—and with what by earth standards would seem incredible speed. Anyone who has envied a hawk’s ability to soar or a whale’s to dive can get enthusiastic about heavenly release from present limitations of mobility. —Arthur Roberts, Exploring Heaven

These small and perishable bodies we now have were given to us as ponies are given to schoolboys. We must learn to manage:  not that we may someday be free of horses altogether but that someday we may ride bare-back, confident and rejoicing, those greater mounts, those winged, shining and world-shaking horses which perhaps even now expect us with impatience, pawing and snorting in the King’s stables. Not that the gallop would be of any value unless it were a gallop with the King; but how else—since He has retained His own charger—should we accompany Him? —C.S. Lewis, Miracles

Throughout eternity we will live full, truly human lives, exploring and managing God’s creation to his glory. Fascinating vistas will unfold before us as we learn to serve God in a renewed universe. —Edward Donnelly, Biblical Teaching on the Doctrines of Heaven and Hell

I suspect that every saved soul in heaven is a great wonder, and that heaven is a vast museum of wonders of grace and mercy—a palace of miracles, in which everything will surprise everyone who gets there. —Charles Spurgeon, “Feeble Faith Appealing To A Strong Savior”

Then Aslan turned to them and said, “You do not yet look so happy as I mean you to be.”

Lucy said, “We’re so afraid of being sent away, Aslan. And you have sent us back into our own world so often.”

“No fear of that,” said Aslan. “Have you not guessed?”

Their hearts leaped and a wild hope rose within them.

“There was a real railway accident,” said Aslan softly. “Your father and mother and all of you are-as you used to call it in the ShadowLands—dead. The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.”

And as he spoke he no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page; now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read; which goes on forever; in which every chapter is better than the one before.  —C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle

Everyone raised his hand to pick the fruit he best liked the look of, and then everyone paused for a second. This fruit was so beautiful that each felt, “It can’t be meant for me . . . surely we’re not allowed to pluck it.”

“It’s all right,” said Peter. “. . . I’ve a feeling we’ve got to the country where everything is allowed.” —C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle

What will these glorified human beings be able to do in their transfigured universe, on their transfigured earth? The simplest answer seems to be: whatever they wish. For according to an old theological dictum heaven will mean the satisfaction of every rational desire. And their transfigured cosmos will obviously be an ‘extension of heaven,’ wide open to whatever use the glorified men will wish to put it. It will be theirs to use and develop into an even better and better universe. There will be no conflicts, no enmities, no hatred, no wars, no property bounds, no segregation, no discrimination. There will be abundant space and abundant opportunity for everyone to do whatever he wishes and wherever he wishes. —E. J. Fortman, Everlasting Life After Death

There will be new planets to develop, new principles to discover, new joys to experience. Every moment of eternity will be an adventure of discovery. —Ray C. Stedman, “The City of Glory”

I once scorned ev’ry fearful thought of death,

When it was but the end of pulse and breath,

But now my eyes have seen that past the pain

There is a world that’s waiting to be claimed.

Earthmaker, Holy, let me now depart,

For living’s such a temporary art.

And dying is but getting dressed for God,

Our graves are merely doorways cut in sod. —Calvin Miller

I feel within me that future life. I am like a forest that has been razed; the new shoots are stronger and brighter. I shall most certainly rise toward the heavens the nearer my approach to the end, the plainer is the sound of immortal symphonies of worlds which invite me. For half a century I have been translating my thoughts into prose and verse: history, drama, philosophy, romance, tradition, satire, ode, and song; all of these I have tried. But I feel I haven’t given utterance to the thousandth part of what lies within me. When I go to the grave I can say, as others have said, “My day’s work is done.” But I cannot say, “My life is done.” My work will recommence the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley; it is a thoroughfare. It closes upon the twilight, but opens upon the dawn.  —Victor Hugo, The Future Life

 To come to Thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging storm, to come to rest after long labour, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes. —Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

I said of this poor body [Spurgeon had many health problems and underwent much suffering], “You have not yet been newly created. The venom of the old serpent still taints you. But you shall yet be delivered. You shall rise again if you die and are buried, or you shall be changed if the Lord should suddenly come today. You, poor body, which drags me down to the dust in pain and sorrow, even you shall rise and be made remade in the redemption of the body. For the new creation has begun in me, with God’s down payment of his Spirit.”

Oh beloved, can’t you rejoice in this? I encourage you to do so. Rejoice in what God is doing in this new creation! Let your whole spirit be glad! Leap down, you waterfalls of joy! Overflow with gladness! Let loose the torrents of praise! —Charles Spurgeon, “God Rejoicing in the New Creation,” Sermon #2211, from We Shall See God

Death may bend his bow and fit the arrow to the string. But we laugh at you, oh death! And you, oh Hell, we will despise! For over both of you enemies of mankind we shall be more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37). We shall stand invulnerable and invincible, defying and laughing to scorn our every foe. And all this because we are washed from sin and covered with a spotless righteousness…

Brothers and sisters, lift up your heads. Contending with sin and cast down with doubts, lift up your heads and wipe the tears from your eyes. There are days coming, the likes of which angels have not seen, but you shall see them. —Charles Spurgeon, from We Shall See God

I shall rise from the dead. . . . I shall see the Son of God, the Sun of Glory, and shine myself as that sun shines. I shall be united to the Ancient of Days, to God Himself, who had no morning, never began. . . . No man ever saw God and lived. And yet, I shall not live till I see God; and when I have seen him, I shall never die. —John Donne, The Works of John Donne

See also Why We Don’t Need to Fear the Moment of Our Death. Browse more resources on the topic of Heaven, and see Randy’s related books, including Heaven.

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

Introducing My New Book “Pro-Choice or Pro-Life?”

I’m excited to introduce my book Pro-Choice or Pro-Life: Examining 15 Pro-Choice Claims—What Do Facts & Common Sense Tell Us? It tackles the predominant pro-choice claims head-on but does so in a thoughtful and non-aggressive way in order to reach pro-life and at least some pro-choice readers. This book is carefully written and edited, and I believe is a high-quality pro-life resource.

Here’s the book’s description:

There are few issues as consequential for our personal lives and communities as abortion. It divides people not only on the streets and in workplaces, but also in homes and churches. After all, this issue involves personal decisions about sex, pregnancy, parenting, and our health. So while abortion is difficult to talk about, it’s important to provide accurate information and a context in which that information can be discussed.

In this thoroughly researched and easy-to-read book, author Randy Alcorn examines fifteen major claims of the pro-choice position and shares fact-based, rational responses. If you have mixed feelings about abortion, as many people do, this book can be part of your quest for truth. If you’re pro-choice or pro-life, it can help you think through your position.

If we have any hope of understanding and engaging with each other, let’s move our dialogue beyond bumper stickers, memes, and tweets. Randy encourages readers to listen carefully to arguments on both sides of the abortion debate, and to look at the evidence and weigh it on its own merit.

The PDF is free, and we also offer a free discussion guide. The print version of the book is available from our ministry for an extremely low cost ($1.00 per single copy; 90 cents per copy on orders of 100 or more; 80 cents per copy on orders of 1,000 or more, plus shipping). A single pro-life donor could purchase enough copies for their entire church.

Some might wonder how Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? is different than my books Why Pro-Life? and Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments. Size is the first and most obvious difference. Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments is over 143,000 words, and Why Pro-Life? is over 52,000 words, while Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? comes in at 32,000 words.

It is designed to be highly readable and welcoming, a book to hand someone you’re talking to without overwhelming them. Someone could ask a friend or family member, “Would you be willing to read this and let me know what you think?” It’s a very discussable book for one on one, or a small group where a leader could assign one or more chapter per week, and within a few months a group could receive a decent pro-life education.

Its smaller size will likely be a help, while the encyclopedic volume Pro-Life Answers contains more in-depth and thoroughly documented answers and will continue to be widely used by students for research papers, speeches, and debates.

Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? reflects the heart and soul of Pro-Life Answers to Pro-choice Arguments but distills the main arguments from thirty-nine down to fifteen major claims. It provides a more concise (though still substantial) response to each one. Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? focuses on the actual facts and logic that refute the claims, but being much smaller, it can have a broader reach.

Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? is also different in approach from Why Pro-Life?, which is less argument-intensive and addresses topics by chapters in order to lay out the pro-life case. Major pro-choice arguments are certainly included in Why Pro-Life?, but the chapters aren’t centered on directly responding to them.

Our prayer is that people around the world with a firm pro-life understanding and significant translation skills would be involved in rendering the book into other languages. There will be no royalties or licensing fees. Groups can print and give it away or sell it as they wish. Our goal is simply to get the truth out. (If you’re interested in translating it, please contact us.)

Join me in praying that God will use this book to make an impact!

What Is the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts, and How Do You Discover Yours?

I was asked to share some thoughts on 1 Peter 4:10-11 for a study series for my church. Here’s the video, and below is an edited transcript:

First Peter 4:10-11 (NIV) says,

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Verse 10 is preceded by, “Show hospitality to each other without grumbling.” I think that writing about hospitality, which is a major gift, might have gotten Paul thinking about spiritual gifts in general. And then he says in verse 10, “As each has received...”

Every Christian has received a spiritual gift, so you don’t have to wonder, “Do I have one?” You certainly might wonder what it is. There are ways you can discover it, and I’ll talk about that a little later.

Here’s what the gifts are to be used for: “to serve one another as good stewards of God’s grace” (ESV). We’re to think, God has entrusted this gift to me, and I’m to steward it. He has entrusted time to us, and we’re to steward it; He’s entrusted money to us, and we’re to steward it. Likewise, He’s entrusted a spiritual gift to each of us—perhaps more, as some people have more than one spiritual gift.

This passage is a little different from the other gifts passages (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4). All of those passages list a number of specific gifts. This one does talk about serving gifts and speaking gifts, but even the speaking gifts are to be used to serve the body of Christ.

The Point of Our Gifts Is to Glorify God

“Whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies” (ESV). That clarification is critical! God gives us strength to do the tasks He has for us. He’s given us gifts, but He also empowers us, and we are to be dependent on Him. Jesus said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). How effective will we be in exercising our spiritual gifts? As effective as the degree of our dependence upon God. We’re to pray to Him and ask Him to help us serve our brothers and sisters.

And it’s all to be to the glory of God: “that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion, forever and ever. Amen” (ESV). You can’t read this passage without being reminded that it’s not about you, and it’s not about me. It’s about our Lord Jesus!

Sometimes when we talk about things like gifts, people can start being proud of a gift they have. It’s as if they feel it came through some merit of their own. But God has given us these gifts, and while we do develop them and hone them as we do natural talents, God gets the praise and the glory because even in the exercise of the gifts, we are dependent upon Him. Spiritual gifts come from His hand, and we are to utilize them to His glory.

All of Us Are to Exercise Our Gifts

Note that it says “each of you.” There are no exceptions. This isn’t just something for pastors or church leaders—this is a calling for every single member of the body. Nor are the gifts just for our self-fulfillment or glory. We are to use them to serve one another in the body of Christ. There’s interdependence here. When the church is without some of its people, it’s without some of the vital gifts that God has given to the body for everyone’s good.

Ephesians 4:12 says that the gifts are given so that Christ’s body may be built up. Not just that we as individuals would be built up, but that the body of Christ would be built. That’s how we serve one another.

There are different gifts listed in the other passages I mentioned. The ultimate goal of using the gifts is that God may be praised, but the gifts are unique. God gives you a gift in a certain circumstance, and how you use that gift may be quite different than how someone with a different gift uses it, and that’s great. Scripture makes clear in 1 Corinthians 12:17 that “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?”

God has distributed the gifts to us as He wills for the good of the body. God chooses our gifts and gives them to us, but we’re to use them to His glory.

We’re to Actively Discover Our Gifts

So how do you discover what gift you have? One of the ways is by asking other people who know you well what you do that they consider particularly significant. What do you do that helps and encourages others, and contributes to the body of Christ? What do you do that people say, “Thanks for that! That really met a need!” I think of some men in our church who cut wood and bring it to people who need of it, and other guys who help widows and others by repairing their cars. That’s a gift of service.

I’d also add this: what do you find the most happiness in? What really fulfills you? God has wired you to use your gift in a way that not only touches others, but also brings enrichment to your own life. God is glorified, others are helped, and you receive the pleasure of serving others.

How does a duck know it has the gift of swimming? It has to get out into the water and swim. Let me give an example that I think will help illustrate this. Over forty-five years ago, I had the joy of leading my mom to Christ. She’s been with Jesus since 1981, but when she first came to the Lord, several years before she died, she was asked to speak or teach at an event. She said, “I don’t like to do that. I don’t have the ability to speak.” Then she was asked to teach a Sunday school class for 4th grade girls, and she was terrified. I told her, “Mom, the Lord says He has given you gifts.” She said, “But I don’t know what they are!” I said, “Just try it and serve Him. Do what He has called you to do and see what happens.”

The rest of the story is that my mom became what to me will always be the gold standard of Sunday school teachers. She studied fifteen hours a week in her Bible study to prepare a lesson for the girls in her class. Every week, she got on the phone and called the girls or their moms, and she wrote letters to them. To this day, I still have women who come up to me—some at our church, and some at other churches—and say, “Your mom had an incredible role in my life.”

There is great joy and purpose in serving God by using our gifts, and ultimately He is glorified. So find your gift, and use it! You’ll do that as you get out into the water like the duck does and swims, and now knows it has the gift of swimming. And if you don’t yet know what your gift is, don’t worry about it. You do have a calling to serve. God will show you in time what that gift is, and everybody will benefit as a result—including you. And God will get the glory.

Photo by chay tessari on Unsplash