Living The Christian Life - Day By Day

"Then He [Jesus] said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY (sic) , and follow Me." -  Luke 9:23

Being a Christian is a daily thing. It is not like putting on a favorite shirt, but some days it is in the dirty clothes so you pick another one. It is more like putting on your glasses so you can see clearly. We have to be intentional about the way we live and who we live for. There is a song, chorus actually, that was popular in the '70s, called Day By Day.

"Day by day, oh, dear Lord, three things I pray. [1] To see thee more clearly. [2] Love thee more dearly. [3] Follow thee more nearly, day by day" - by Godspell, Song: Day By Day

To see (to understand the Truth), to love (embrace and commit to the truth) and to follow (to submit and obey the Truth in word and deed). Seems like not a bad prayer to start the day with. Living the Christian life must be intentional. There is no spiritual cruise control or automatic pilot. We must be alert and aware of who we are as Christians as we live out each day on this planet. When we think that we can neglect our faith and its disciplines (put it off until later) - the Word, Meditation, Praying, Witnessing and keeping Jesus in the center of all of it - well, we are in trouble.

"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;  but exhort one another DAILY (sic), while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end" - Hebrews 3:12-14

Reflecting on there verses in Hebrews I am reminded of why I write these devotions.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

When The Glory Fades

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:7-10

Some of you reading these posts may be aware that I was once on the staff of Promise Keepers (PK), a national men's ministry in the mid '90s. I served as the State Manager for Alabama and Mississippi. The point of my bringing that up is this. While in that position, I had the opportunity to meet with and talk to many, many people. The "prime directive" of that ministry was to stir the hearts of all Christian men to fulfill their responsibilities as husbands, fathers, and Brothers in Christ. Essentially, to reflect Jesus and not their culture. You can probably detect that thread toward Christian men and women in my writings today.

A big part of the PK ministry was holding stadium events - where tens of thousands of men would gather to hear sermons - sing songs of praise - to render their hearts to God. Typically. hundreds of men would pray to receive Christ or rededicate themselves as Jesus followers.

When I would return to Alabama, I would speak at churches and men's groups. More than once, I would meet a wife of one of the men who attended a conference. The conversation would go something like this. (wife) "I just love Promise Keepers  and what you stand for. My husband went to the conference in Atlanta. When he returned he was like a new man. But then after about 2 or 3 weeks, he was the same as before he left." I didn't have much of a response to that. But I suspected that I knew what had happened. I was reminded of Moses.

"Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them." - Exodus 34:29-31

Because Moses was in the presence of God - his face glowed - but eventually the "glory faded". That was the case with those men. Their time at the conference had a spiritual element experience certainly - but for many it was more emotion than spirit. Like attending a sports event. The excitement of the crowd was almost intoxicating. The men could agree, in principle, with everything they heard and experienced. They knew it was right - but the spiritual truth did not take root. There was no heart change. Like the parable of the seed. 

"And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away." - Mark 4:4-6

So it was like for those husbands - the commitment had not reached the heart and it withered away. I called it the Promise Keeper pill. "Take one my friend and your spirituality will be good for another year!" Or not! The truth was that PK preached the message to them, but it was the responsibility  of the the local church and a sincere intent on the part of each man that would sustain that change. And the same goes for each of us.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:1-2

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Speaking The Truth

"Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” - John 18:37-38

As I get older, I find changes at work in me. My eyesight is no longer 20-15 so I can't read signs from afar off.  And my physique? Well let's just say it is like the house that potential buyers visit and the best they can say is "It has good bones!" I can no longer hear a pin drop - unless it is the size of a railroad spike.

Have you noticed how hard it is to find a restaurant where you can have a conversation at a table and hear what is being said by the the people you are dining with? It is not just because of my hearing acuity, the ambient noise can be deafening - so many loud conversations combined with music, ugh! In much the same way, the "noise" of our culture has begun so loud as it drowns out the cry of the Saints. 

Tolerance is the word of the day. Tolerance defined as "you can believe what you want to believe -  your truth, just don't say that the truth that I believe, practice and promote is wrong." If you do you are in danger of being labeled a Hater. 

Pilate challenged Jesus with the word, Truth. For him, truth was relative not absolute. Jesus' truth, Pilate's truth, the Jewish leader's truth, it was all relative. Which truth prevailed depended upon whoever had the most power or influence. Apart from the sovereignty of God, what truth is depends upon who you are talking to and on what foundation you base Truth. 

Have you ever heard the term, "That is the God's honest truth"? You want to know the truth - God has revealed Truth in His written Word [the Bible] and the Living Word [Jesus]. Truth that is revealed by the Spirit of God and is rejected by those who have not been born again. Jesus had something to say about truth?

"I [Jesus] do not pray that You [Father God] should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." John 17:15-18

"Jesus said to him [Thomas], “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6

It takes the Spirit to understand and know Truth according to the Scriptures and since the world (meaning those who are not Christians) lacks the indwelling of the Spirit of God which happens at the point of salvation, they consider Truth according to the Bible foolishness. 

"But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:10-14

Now isn't that a dilemma? So what to do. Well, I think that since I am speaking a foreign language to the lost - my most effective testimony will be visual not spoken - walking my talk- the world watching how I live my life. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Unity and Diversity

 At the turn of the 20th century there were an estimated 1900 Christian (Evangelical) denominations in the world. Christians divided by culture, race, and doctrinal beliefs. By the end of the 20th century there were an estimated 22,000 Christian denominations in the world. (I assume that includes what I call "non-denominational" denominations.) page 97 - The Call - Os Guinness.

Reading that caused me to think about the root of the Christian faith. What is at the root of what it means to be a Christian? That took me to John chapter 3 and a conversation between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus.

"There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." - John 3:1-6

Given that scripture, how would you answer the question, "What must I do to be saved?" Of course - "You must be born again by the Spirit." Association with a denomination had nothing to do with my salvation. In fact, my new birth and Martie's happened after we listened to the preaching of a Presbyterian pastor. Some months later, we were baptized by a Nazarene Army Chaplain. It was by God's grace and mercy that we were saved. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:8-9

But there is more, isn't there. Reading those verses in Ephesians, one should ask - "Faith in what or more correctly in Whom?"

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." - Romans 10:8-10

Faith in Jesus - acknowledgement and understanding of His place in the eternal plan of God the Father. Belief that God the Father, raised Him, Jesus, from the dead so we might have victory over sin and death - through Him. That has nothing to do directly with a denomination but everything to do with God expressing His love for mankind through His Son. The heart of Nicodemus was stirred and 

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." - John 3:16-17

That is the root of who we are as Christians. I don't identify primarily as a Baptist but as a Christian - a Christ follower. The Baptist denomination or any denomination cannot save me - only faith in Jesus and the indwelling of the Spirit can do that. Being born again by the Spirit.

In John 17 Jesus prayed about unity in the body of Christ as a testimony to a lost world. An other-worldly unity among diverse people as evidence that the world might believe that the Father sent the Son. That is how important unity among Christians is. 

“I (Jesus) do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." - John 17:20-21

There is much diversity among Christians today  - you might say 22,000 divisions in the Body of Christ. Jesus spoke to the consequence of division. Actually He was referring to Satan, but the principle applies to everyone, including Christians.

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end." - Mark 3:24-26

It is not wrong to be aligned with a denomination, but it is wrong to identify with a denomination first and then as a Christian. A word of caution, make certain that those you identify with are talking about the same Jesus you are.

"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 16:13-17

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

From Beginning To End

 "While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.  At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision" - Daniel 9:21-23

We have been studying the Book of Daniel. In Chapters 8 and 9 the Angel Gabriel spoke to Daniel. The same Gabriel that spoke to Zacharias and Mary in Luke. In Daniel he spoke about what would happen in the distant future. In Luke he spoke of what would happen in the near future. In each case he spoke about what was unknown to the hearers but known to God. What we call prophecy is nothing more than God revealing what He sees in the expanse of time. He is not surprised by anyone or anything. 

If time, as we know it, could be laid out on your dining table, it would start on one end and end on the other.  God sees or knows from beginning to end - man can only see or know what is in front of and behind him and, without divine revelation, can only imagine what will be in the future. I was thinking about time in the context of faith. There is so much that has happened, is happening, and will happen between the beginning and the end. Some is good and some is bad. But this one thing we know - at the end - God wins! And, as His children, so do we!

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1

The fact that God wins is the substance of things hoped for. What will happen in this world from the point you are reading these words to the end of time is the evidence of things not seen. And this is the confidence that we have - that God is sovereign in all of it. 

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7

Do not let the uncertain of the days we live in or what the future might hold cause you to lose heart. Remember the words of Jesus.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I."- John 14:27-28

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

An Audience Of One

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24 

Most everything we do, we do primarily in an effort to please someone; ourselves, our spouses, our parents, our friends, people we want to be our friends, our bosses. But, if you are a Christian -  those are all the wrong reasons for doing what you do. In fact if any of those are your motivations, you may be tempted to do what you know is not right to do - compromising yourself just for the sake of pleasing someone and thereby finding acceptance and affirmation.

"When we discuss our plans and endeavors, we automatically think of notions like "aims", "ambition", achievements", "assessment" and so on. But we often overlook the vital part of audience. ..   A life lived listening to the decisive call of God is a life lived before one audience that trumps all others  - the Audience of One." - Os Guinness, The Call, page 70

If you want the adoration of the world, specifically of the culture in the United States, you must have notoriety. The number of followers on Tik Tok, Twitter, or some other form of social media is a measure of your "goodness". Os Guinness wrote the following in 1998- it might have been written yesterday.

"Today, however, the media offer a shortcut to fame - instantly fabricated famousness with no need for sweat, cost, and dedication of true greatness. The result is not the hero but the celebrity, the person famously described as "well-known for being well-known." A big name rather than a big person, the celebrity is someone who character is nothing, coverage is all." - The Call, p 78

I am thinking about Daniel and the lions' den and his three friends in the furnace. They faced a choice. Choose the culture they were living in and get along or reject the culture - honor God and be prepared to face the consequences. They chose the latter. They were saved by God and through that saving - God was glorified. But what if they had perished? I submit that God would still be glorified through their faithfulness. 

Our callings demand that we rise above our culture - that we resist our flesh by submitting to the Spirit. That we see God's calling as preeminent and the praise of men to be of no value to us. That we remember our priorities in this new life we now live.

"Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 22:36-40

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Be The Light

"Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it." - Psalm 34:13-14

Do you have a difficult time with controlling your words - speaking negatively about someone - maybe even using profanity in the course of your conversations? There was a day when profanity was a part of my vocabulary. It flowed naturally out of my mouth. Then I met Jesus. On numerous occasions, someone will use profanity when talking to me and then apologize. As if it is OK to speak it if they are not speaking to someone like me (whatever that means). I am thinking, don't be concerned about me - I am just a man. Instead Christian, be more concerned about the One who knows the heart of man. The words we speak, my Christian friend, are to be edifying and glorifying.

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." - Luke 6:45

The admonition I opened this devotion with is from Psalm 34. It is a spiritual admonition not to try harder but to trust harder, that is to be manifested in day to day living. The Bible does not have one command in it that does not require spiritual power to obey - our surrender and the power of the Spirit at work in us. That is why the rich young ruler was not nearly good enough - even though he seemed to be a marvel of doing good. It was all him. 

We have a plaque in our living room next to the TV that says "Guard your heart" - from Proverbs 4:23. The television is thew world's portal into our home through which both good and evil can and does pass. We have to be alert - always. There are so many programs offered that seem interesting but then within the first 5 to 10 minutes very often the actors start shouting out expletives. That is when we change programs. 

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:6-9

Why would we want to think about whatever is not true, not noble, not just, not pure, not lovely, not of good report, not virtuous, not praise worthy? Isn't that the life that we have been saved from? Ah, but our flesh is drawn to those things still. Be careful to resist the thinking that what you see and hear in the movies or on television - or on social media is not a spiritual danger for you. Certainly it is scripted - contrived - but, at the same time, it is representative of life on this planet. You deceive yourself if you think that you are not going to be affected by the influence of the visual media you are exposed to.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Peter 5:8

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone