Day 30 - The Choice is Ours

"'But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.'”

Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

(If you read my other blog, you might recognize some of the material mentioned today. I'm posting this a little early... just in case Sandy knocks out the power)

"If I Chew on that I'll Choke!"

 This was the response given to me by my husband after I emptied my heart to him a few weeks ago. (Oh, I love his sense of humor!)  While, I know that his statement was only in hopes of bringing levity to a very intense conversation about the state of my heart.... there was also some truth nestled gently into the words he spoke.  Ever-so-slowly, God is peeling back layers and revealing more and more to me... changing me, transforming me... and it's completely wonderful. But, it’s also utterly horrifying.

On the day in question, after a morning trip to the gym... and listening to yet another convicting sermon from Matt Chandler, I plopped myself down on the bed and verbally vomited all over my husband.  (Sorry for the visual… but it wasn’t pretty.  The words and emotions just spewed out of me… uncontrollably. Poor guy never stood a chance.) As the tears flowed and the words came tumbling out, you could see the concern on his face... not for me... for him.  God has been leading us... ever so slowly... to this place where a decision has to be made: we either TRULY pick up the cross and follow Jesus or we keep deluding ourselves into believing that the “status-quo” is enough… realizing more and more that it isn’t… that it never was. 

It’s hard for me to pin-point where this all started, or even how I got to where I am today.  Little things here and there have been convicting me of all the temptations and strongholds of this world. We were recently reading a passage from the book Kisses from Katie, as part of our family devotional, and the words we read struck a resounding chord… one I "fear" will resonate in my heart forever (written in her journal upon her return back to the States after a year in Uganda):

"I keep forgetting to ask God first to heal me, to fill me, to guide me, to rejoice with me.  I have to set aside 'time to pray' in the morning and at night instead of being in constant communication with Him. In Uganda, because I was so physically 'poor,' I was completely dependent on God and spiritually as wealthy as ever. As I sit here writing, I am frustrated with my own stupidity, my human willingness to step back into dependence on stuff and these places I swore I detested." p. 122

So much of what Katie wrote is also imprinted on my heart... without ever having been to Uganda. Figuring out how to loosen the chains of this world, a tightening noose around our necks, has been a challenge... but not nearly as difficult as the choice we now face. God continues to encourage me.  He continues to reveal His power in my life.  He has restored a relationship that I feared would be forever crippled by my inability to surrender my heart completely to Him.  I have cried with my children and prayed with them that Jesus would bind their hearts from the pain they feel from living in this broken world.  I am constantly reminded that He alone has made a strong marriage stronger... that He has made a good life better.  When I look at these promises fulfilled, it makes walking away from the things of this world seem a little easier.  When I think about the moments of joy that I experience at the power of His hand... joy that I have never felt from the "comforts" of this world... it makes me want to drop everything and run to Jesus... to run away from the things of this world... and this is what my husband felt he might choke on.  I have given my time.  I have given my money. I have given my talents. But I haven’t given my heart… not completely.  I like the comforts of this world.  If I’m really honest, I have to admit that I like getting lost in some of Satan’s subtle distractions.  The thought of completely committing my life to Jesus terrifies me… because I know it will change me.  And I don’t like change… especially if it means losing my comforts.

But this is what Jesus has revealed to me over the past 30 days: We live in one of the richest societies in the world.  And while most of us would never consider ourselves wealthy… comparatively speaking, we are.  Jesus tells us that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for the rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven… which doesn’t exactly bode well for us.  Then throw on top of that the countless references to goats and hypocrites; whitewashed Pharisees and evildoers.  Warning after warning that not everyone who professes belief in Christ will be given eternal life with the Father... In light of all this, my own admission to my inability to completely submit my life…my heart… to Him… well, that doesn’t really bode well for me. 

If I’m honest, I must admit that up until this point, I wanted to follow Jesus on my own terms… but that isn’t really following Jesus, is it? I’ve wanted all the benefits of being a Christian, without any of the sacrifices.  I’ve wanted to take all the promises from Jesus without giving Him the one thing He asked for… my heart. 

As I sit here and write, I am grieved and ashamed of everything I have made my faith out to be... but, also incredibly thankful… thankful that He has shined a light onto my blackened heart.  That in His mercy, He has opened my eyes to what it means to truly love Him… to truly follow Him.  I am also reminded of the fact that I have a choice to make.       

Challenge
Spend some time reflecting on the past 30 days.  What has God stirred in your heart? Have you truly made a choice to follow Jesus... or have you simply made a choice to go to church and live a moral life?  Jesus calls us to more than that. He calls us to follow Him.  The choice is ours... the most important one we will EVER make.  

Day 29 - Jesus Still Saves

^“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)

A few weeks ago, my husband happened across a fascinating exhibit of nature: a busy spider preparing for a future meal.  While cleaning outside, he found a rather large grasshopper… one that made the unfortunate mistake of getting tangled in a spider’s web. Seeing an opportunity to teach our children an up-close and personal science lesson, my husband brought my oldest son over to watch everything unfold.

As the grasshopper hopelessly tried to wiggle and squirm its way loose from the trappings of the web, the spider worked tirelessly to secure its prey.  My husband and son watched as the spider began to spin a cocoon around the poor grasshopper, starting with one leg and then the next.  As my husband began to explain the grasshopper’s impending demise, my son went into superhero mode.  Emphatically professing the need to save the defenseless grasshopper, my son immediately grabbed a stick and went to work.  Within seconds, the grasshopper was freed, the spider was dead and my husband was speechless.

As my husband retold the story to me, I couldn’t help but laugh… but I also couldn’t help myself from thinking about Jesus.  This story of the spider and the grasshopper serves as an amazing reminder of the power of our Savior.  So many of us find ourselves like the helpless grasshopper: trapped in seemingly impossible situations with no means of escape.  Like my husband, we sit and wait for the inevitable… forgetting about the power of the Father.  We fail to remember that He has the power to save us; to redeem us; to restore us.  Just as my son worked to free the grasshopper from the trappings of the web, Jesus frees us from the trappings of this world.  But, the beauty of this analogy resides in a deeper truth: Not only does Jesus save… He triumphs over evil. 

For my son, simply saving the grasshopper was not enough.  He wanted to make sure the menacing spider would never harm another creature… so, with one swift motion, he destroyed it.  And this is the power of the Savior.  It has been foretold that Satan will be defeated and that our Savior will reign.  As Christians, this is the promise we hold on to… that we cling to.  This is what we must remember when we find ourselves entangled in the webs of life.  When we are tempted to quit… to give in, or to give up… we are to remember the power of our Savior and the undeniable fact that Jesus can do anything.

Challenge

Sometimes we find ourselves in the trappings of this world, forgetting that Jesus is the only key to our freedom.  We try everything in our power to release ourselves, but often times, we only become more entangled.  The only key to loosening the shackles is our complete submission to Jesus. Spend some time thinking about whether or not there are areas in your life that need to be submitted to the Father.  Ask for His help… he wants to give it.

Day 28 - Cultivating Generosity

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”

Matthew 6:19-21(NIV)

When it comes to teaching our children about the Gospel and biblical principles, I have one firm belief: until we practice what is preached, it is only theory.  In other words, reading the Gospel is great, but practicing the Gospel, actually living it out, takes it to a whole different level… especially for our children.

For us, we started a few years ago with weekly trips to the soup kitchen.  At that point in our lives, the children were all still pretty young; but, not too young to set out silverware and place mats. So that’s what we did. We have also been encouraged by other families that are trying their best to live out the Gospel with their children.  Through the years, we’ve heard of some really great examples: doing yard work for elderly neighbors; making meals for single parents; running in, and raising money for, charity races; having birthday parties at (and for) non-profit organizations, spending Christmas mornings feeding the homeless, teaming up with another family to raise money to build an orphanage in Haiti. You’re only limited by your imagination… or the need that God places right in front of you! 

After years of trying our best to live out the Gospel in this small area, we are seeing God’s grace bestowed upon our children as their hearts are being transformed right before our eyes. This year, our children decided that they wanted to support the Robbie Foundation, an organization that is working to meet the needs of children with developmental disabilities in the state of Maine. One night, while discussing the needs of the organization, my eldest children asked if we could help purchase one of the items: a wheelchair ramp for a 4-year-old little boy.  And, just like that, we had our project.  For the next few months, we collected bottles and sold items we no longer needed.  Usually that money was earmarked for bakery purchases and dinners out, but my kids were willing to sacrifice…some more than others, but I could never begin to explain how incredible it was to hear my children gently remind one another of the greater purpose and the need to sacrifice.  My children, in this very small way, were beginning to understand what it means to live out the Gospel. I’ve asked my oldest, Sydney, to share her thoughts with you…

"It is important to live out the Gospel because you can teach great things to people who need it. The hardest part of raising money for the Robbie Foundation was not being able to get sweets. We would have used our bottle deposits for sweets or for trips to Dairy Queen.  But, it felt great to count out the money with my brother and sister and then roll the coins with my dad.  I think Jesus feels great about our choice to buy the wheelchair ramps.  It's good that we didn't spend our money on something that won't last.  Instead, we are helping to make a child's life better.  I want to help any child who needs help because that's what Jesus would want me to do."

And I don't think I could have said it any better myself!

Challenge

If you don’t already have a tradition for cultivating generosity in your family, spend time asking God to point you in the right direction.  It can be a service project in the community, in your neighborhood or even in your own house.  (Spurring on generosity between siblings is always an adventure.) We have found that nothing else helps us fall more in love with Jesus than extending His love to others.

Day 27 - New Testament vs. Old Testament: What Did Jesus Really Do?

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:17-19 (NIV)

A recent conversation with friends had me thinking of the “apparent” differences between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Someone caught me completely off guard as she emphatically professed her unwavering belief that “following Jesus is so much easier than following the 10 Commandments.”  She was whole-heartedly convinced that Jesus’ command to love God and to love our neighbors trumped Mosaic Laws. She saw Jesus’ words as a dividing line between the Old Testament and the Gospel… seeing His command to love as a division from the past, instead of the completion of prophesy.

Now, to be fair, the Old Testament has 613 commands.  Of that, there are 248 “thou shalls” and 365 “thou shall nots.” (Those are a lot of rules to follow!) Before Jesus, these commands served as an external pursuit of behavioral conformity.  Being righteous was a reflection of your deeds, your ability to follow the commands. Simply put: righteousness was measured by ones ability to follow the rules and look the part. But Jesus turned that standard on its ear. He penetrated external conformity and pierced the sinner’s heart. In other words, Jesus upped the anti by underscoring the fact that an internal transformation of our hearts is the true reflection of our faith in Him. We see a great example of this in Matthew 5:21-22.  

The Scripture reads: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”(NIV) Jesus draws attention to the fact that the Old Testament refers only to the physical act of murder… an external behavior, something that occurs outside of us.  However, pay close attention to what He says next. He holds that the condition of our hearts is the true reflection of our transformation… and is also subject to judgment.  Plainly said, murder is the result of a heart consumed by anger and this anger is the root cause of our sin… and for this sin we will also be judged.

We see it again a few verses down in Matthew 5:27-28:  ^“’You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The Old Testament speaks to the physical act of adultery.  Jesus speaks to the corruption of our hearts and our minds.  He clearly states that it is not enough that we refuse to act on our lustful thoughts, but asserts that it is the lust, itself, that forces a wedge between us and our Heavenly Father.   

In light of this, I don’t see how following Jesus is easier. If anything, I think it’s much harder. Even on my worst day, I can fake it pretty well.  I can scream at my family on our way to church, only to pull into the parking lot with the biggest smile on my face.  I could sing my heart out during worship, never letting on that bitterness and resentment had a death-grip on my soul. “Fake It ‘Till You Make It”… that was my motto for the longest time  I was no better than the Pharisees Jesus spoke of in Matthew 23:27: "You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." I was really good at following the "rules"... I just wasn't so great at following Jesus.

Jesus did not put an end to Mosaic Law... He brought it to completion.  He poured light upon the 10 Commandments, revealing their true purpose as a diagnostic test for our hearts.  If we find ourselves at odds with the Law, it is the surest way to know that our hearts are not right with Jesus.  Following the Savior is the most difficult thing we will ever do, for the simple fact that through all our pretending He sees the truth.

  

Challenge

Spend time reflecting on whether the condition of your heart is truthfully displayed in your actions.  We might be able to control our anger and prevent it from affecting others, but this does not prevent the anger from consuming our heart and adversely affecting our relationship with Jesus. 

Day 26 - Faith or Works?

“Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham ‘made right with God by works’ when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are ‘works of faith’? The full meaning of ‘believe’ in the Scripture sentence, ‘Abraham believed God and was set right with God,’ includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named ‘God’s friend.’ Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?”

James 2:22-24 (The Message)

One of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity is that we are justified by our faith in Jesus. I’ve heard the word “justified” used many times.  I’ve even adopted it into my biblical vernacular.  However, I have to admit that, for a while, I had become desensitized to the meaning… I began to take it for granted. Justification, in its most simplistic form, is God’s declaration of our righteousness through our faith in Jesus. He does this by crediting the righteousness of Jesus to the sinner.  This is done by faith. PERIOD.  When the sinner puts his faith in the sacrifice of Jesus and trusts in Him, and not himself, for righteousness, then God justifies him.  But, if the Bible teaches that we are justified by faith, why does James stress the importance of “works”?

Like so much of Scripture, context is everything.  On this particular topic, we need to begin with James 2:14. Here he gives an example of both true and empty faith.  With reference to the latter, James warns that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (v. 17). Simply stated, he argues that merely believing in Jesus is not enough.   To underscore this fact, James draws a grim comparison: “You believe that there is one God. Good!  Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (v. 19).  He acknowledges that demons have faith, but that their faith is useless because it’s only a mental acknowledgment of God's existence.  Their faith bares no fruit.

James is warning us… if we profess that we are Christians, but have no “proof” (in the form of “works”), then our faith is false.  We see this again in 1 John 2:4: "If you say you have come to know Him, yet you do not keep His commandments, then the truth is not in you and you are a liar."  But, in reading this, I think many of us skip over the most important element of this Scripture… that the truth must be in us.  Yes, we must believe in Jesus… but we must also trust Him.  And, as so many of us know, trust is an issue of the heart.  Trusting Jesus is about giving Him our hearts and allowing Him to transform them. This is what it means to have His truth in us. It’s about lives committed to the Gospel… 100% committed.  It’s about giving Him everything.  In the words of Saint Francis Assisi: “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”  

Recently, someone asked me to contemplate a very challenging question: How are you different from the people you work with, the people in your neighborhood, the people you know that aren’t Christians?  Specifically… are you bearing fruit in your life that sets you apart?  Do people look at you and see Jesus because you live a life that is radically different from the rest of the world?

Challenge
Chew on that last paragraph for a while.  We’re almost done… hang in there.  God is definitely working.  The stories I’m hearing from some of you are a HUGE testament to the power and goodness of our Savior.  Thank you for your faithfulness to Him.
It’s come to my attention that we have a faithful following in Russia.  We’d love to hear from you!  Send us an email if you have a chance. 

Day 25 - I Don't Like the Goats and the Sheep

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.”

Matthew 25: 31-33 (NIV)

Without question, the Book of James is my favorite of the Bible.  I love his honesty and directness; his “no excuses” mentality.  However, when it comes to being the most challenged… hands down, Matthew 25:31-46 wins the prize.  For those of you unfamiliar with the Sheep and Goats Parable, let me break it down:

            When Jesus returns, all nations will be gathered before him. He will then separate the people into two groups: sheep and goats.  He will tell the sheep that they may take their inheritance (enter into heaven) because they took care of the hungry and thirsty; gave shelter to the stranger; gave clothes to the needy; looked after the sick; visited those in prison. He will then turn to the goats and say “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” for they did not do as the sheep. The response of the goats is this, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” To which Jesus will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

The reason this is so unsettling to me is due to the response given by the goats. They acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus. They were expecting to be sheep.  But, instead, they are sent to the eternal fires of hell.  And I can’t help but think, especially in light of their response to Jesus, that they were completely blindsided.  In this parable, Jesus underscores the importance of loving our neighbors.  However, he also boldly states a glaring truth that many of us have chosen to ignore: God will judge us not only for the wrong we have done, but also for the good we have failed to do.   

If that wasn’t enough to cause great pause… maybe Matthew 7:21-23 will:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (NIV)

In a commentary provided by John MacArthur, the following conclusion is drawn: “[There are] no more serious words for people who profess Christianity than these because our Lord says there will not be a few but many who are mistaken about their future destiny. He points out in this passage, for our consideration, the folly of empty words, and then the tragedy of empty hearts... But it’s a far more sobering and stunning and shocking thing to realize that there are many who are going to say, ‘Lord, Lord,’ to Jesus Christ, there is a confession openly of some attachment to Him that has been carried so far that they have actually functioned in His name only to hear that they will not at all enter heaven. One’s final destiny…is not about profession, it is about obedience” (Saved or Deceived, Part 2)

And this is why I don’t like the goats and the sheep. These Scriptures require me to acknowledge where I am with Jesus. They force me to evaluate whether my actions match my words… if they match my heart.  They force me to face this undeniable reality: There are eternal consequences to an unrepentant heart, to blatant hypocrisy and complacency. There is a very good chance that many of us consider ourselves to be sheep, when in reality, Jesus would deem us goats.

Challenge

This is a hard devotional to read… believe me, it was a hard devotional to write.  Please, don’t let Satan weasel his way in on this one… because he will try.  We must take an honest account of our hearts and our actions.  If the Holy Spirit is pricking… there’s a reason for it!  I have been reminded time and time again the past few weeks that iron sharpens iron.  And, my friends, I know this iron has been dull for quite a while.  Spend time with Jesus on this one.  Ask Him to reveal the truth of your heart. Be ready to listen!     

Day 24 - Are You Making Disciples?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

We’ve seen in the Gospel, that Jesus calls us to make disciples of all nations.  But, what in the world does that mean?  What does it look like?  The actual definition of disciple is the following: One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.  At the risk of over generalizing, I believe the majority of Christians in our society have no problem with the idea of embracing the teachings of Jesus. We agree that reading the Bible is important.  Some of us attend weekly Bible studies and small groups. Many of us spend time memorizing God’s Word. This is the “easy” part.  However, for many of us, the stumbling block is the idea of “spreading the teachings” of Jesus. 

Plainly stated, the call on our lives is very clear: We are to make disciples of all nations.  We are to teach others the ways of our faith, the truth of the Gospel.  But, here’s a reality check: How many of us are living out our faith in this capacity?  How many of us are introducing others to the Lord and walking with them? How many of us are investing time in others, and mentoring them, just as Jesus did with his twelve disciples?

Our goal as Christians, as disciples, is not to simply know the Word of God, we are to multiply.  In essence, the key to discipleship is not just soaking in God’s Word… we must pass it on.  James, the half-brother of Jesus, says it best:  ^“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.” (James 1:22)  My friends, these words serve as a fierce warning… and I have to admit that they terrify me.  I look at my own life and see very little fruit in this area.  Discipleship hasn’t even been on my radar... but it needs to be.

At some point in our history, we’ve distorted the true essence of discipleship… in some cases, it’s been forgotten altogether.  In its place, we have “created a church culture where the paid ministers do the ‘ministry,’ and the rest of us show up, put some money in the plate, and leave feeling inspired or ‘fed.’ We have moved so far away from Jesus’ command that many Christians don’t have a frame of reference for what disciple making looks like.” (Making Disciples Study Guide, 2012)  But, don’t despair… because Jesus left us the most perfect example.

Jesus spent three years of his life in the company of 12 men.  And of those men, there were three with which He shared an even closer bond.  He opened up His life.  He shared the teachings of His Father.  He spoke truth… even when it was hard to hear.  He invested Himself… all of Himself… for the sake of the Gospel.  And as I write, I can’t help but wonder whether the real reason discipleship isn’t a priority in my life is because I don’t really want to make that kind of effort.  I don’t want to invest that kind of time… I don’t even HAVE that kind of time!  And let’s be honest… living a life completely committed to the Gospel would change everything.  It would change us. 

And, isn’t that the point?

Challenge

Is discipleship a part of your walk as a Christian?  Spend time thinking about the purpose of discipleship and our role in spreading the Gospel.  If you have about 30 minutes, I challenge you to watch some new videos from Francis Chan and David Platt at http://multiplymovement.com  (I’m warning you… this is pretty challenging stuff!)  Our family will be participating in the webcast on November 9^th and we encourage you to consider doing the same.