Monthly Archives: January 2025

Leaving All to Follow Christ

Posted on by
2

Driving across I-77 through Columbia, SC, I grew up looking out my window and seeing some swampy wetlands that could not be built upon. Once, I remarked to my dad how great it would be to live on such an open prairie, but he quickly informed me about the marshy area’s unsuitability for construction. Fast forward about 15 years, and news broke in the local community that a contractor had bought all that land to build a neighborhood hub. After years of litigation, he ultimately had to relinquish the land upon realizing he couldn’t develop a marshy wetland. Despite his initial aggressiveness in acquiring the land and gaining much notoriety, he was left embarrassed, unable to finish what he started. On the one hand, I can admire someone’s zeal and readiness to initiate such a significant project, investing resources I could only dream of. But on the other hand, it reminds me of the wisdom found in counting the cost, as Jesus advised:

25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 

26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  

27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—  

29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,  

30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? (Luke 14:25-30, NKJV)

Jesus emphasized that following Him requires a life defined by complete and utter devotion. He taught that one’s love for Him should be so profound that it eclipses all other relationships, even those with parents, spouses, children, and siblings. This calls into question the concept of self-sacrifice in Christian belief and challenges individuals to consider whether they are genuinely willing to dedicate themselves to following Jesus.

If Jesus had left it right there, it would appear that people can accept or reject Him as Lord with no future challenges. However, Jesus did not conclude His message by advising individuals to weigh the cost of accepting Him as Christ, implying that one could walk away without consequences. He continued in this manner:

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  

32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.  

33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:31-33)

Suppose a great army was approaching, and you realized you lacked the resources to stand against such a force! Wouldn’t it make sense to do everything in your power to seek conditions of peace from this impending threat? You would aim to make peace, likely accepting whatever terms the more potent force offers. The spiritual parallel here is significant; Jesus is returning to confront those who have opposed Him (Rev. 19:11-21). God has outlined His conditions for peace, Jesus is one day coming in vengeance with His mighty angels (2 Thess. 1:8-9), and I would like to know what those conditions are and how we can accept them (Rom. 3:21-26; 6:1-7, 23). It’s essential to read the Bible and pray to understand this better. The terms Jesus offers are non-negotiable, and rejecting His call to discipleship carries eternal consequences (John 5:25-30). Someday, everyone will recognize His authority (Phil. 2:9-11). Let us humbly accept His terms of peace and embrace the path of discipleship now.

Joseph – Take What the Text Gives

Posted on by
1

Perhaps it is because some people, like the Athenians, want to hear something new, or maybe they want to make some Bible characters more relatable. Unfortunately, some speak negatively about Joseph, calling him a daddy’s boy and a tattletale, even saying that he flaunted his abilities by talking about his dreams that depicted him as a ruler. However, to reach those conclusions, one must insert their own presuppositions rather than take what the text gives us. Straight to the point – if you take what the Bible gives you, there’s no reason to besmirch Joseph’s character.

About Joseph being his father’s favorite, his brothers had previously shown the type of character they possessed, so why would it be any surprise that Jacob favored Joseph (Gen. 34:25-31; 35:22)? Could it simply be that Joseph was the son of Rachel, the woman Jacob loved (Gen. 29:18; 37:3)? Could it be that Joseph was much more righteous than his brothers? Either way, there are other instances in which parents showed favoritism toward their child, which was neither admirable nor proper (Gen. 25:28). My point is that the inspired text does not indicate that Joseph did anything deserving to bring that favoritism upon himself.

Joseph gives his father an unfavorable report about his brothers (Gen. 37:2). Is there any reason the Bible text provides that should give us a conclusion that these men were genuinely up to no good? Many biblical texts reveal those men to be of poor character (Gen. 37:18-35; 38:1-30), so it should be no surprise that they would have a bad report returned to their father. Is there a passage supporting any claim that Joseph lied when giving a bad report about his brothers? Moreover, if they were doing something they should not have done, would Joseph have been doing his brothers a service by keeping his mouth shut? To besmirch Joseph because he gave a bad report about his brothers is entirely without merit.

Joseph told his brothers, including his father, about his dreams (Gen. 37:5-11). As the historical narrative unfolds, we see that God granted Joseph the ability to have insight into dreams (Gen. 40:5-23). So as it turns out, the dreams that had been revealed to Joseph (by God) were a foretelling of the events that would come (Gen. 42:9). Joseph relating those dreams to his family was, therefore, a forthtelling of what God had revealed to him. Again, there is no reason to besmirch Joseph’s character because he told his family about the dreams that God had revealed to him.

Whether it is because people are looking for something new or trying to make Joseph more relatable, it is disheartening that some paint Joseph as a negative person. There is nothing evil spoken of Joseph in the Bible! Instead, the way God speaks of Joseph ought to inspire all, especially young people (Gen. 37:1-2; 41:46). Knowing that you can be young and do right by God is noteworthy.

Moreover, Joseph was a victim of much of what he dealt with in his lifetime!! He could not help that his father showed him favoritism, that his brothers were jealous of him, that they conspired against him/sold him into slavery, that a married woman cast longing eyes after him, that he was wrongly accused of attempted rape, and put into prison. But Joseph COULD determine how he would deal with every one of those circumstances. I’m confident that Joseph struggled with the feelings that come along with being deeply hurt because the names of his children (Gen. 41:51-52) and the emotions he expressed later in life reflect the pains (Gen. 42:24; 45:2, 14; 50:17). Yet we are not given any indication that he wallowed in self-pity, nor did he ever give up on God!

This world is filled with many heartaches and injustices, and all sorts of people are genuine victims of evil circumstances, to no fault of their own. What will YOU do with the undeserved pains and anguishes of YOUR life? Joseph is a GREAT EXAMPLE of faith in every situation. We will see that as we read of him if we are content to take what the inspired text gives us.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 

7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

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

9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 

10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  

11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

~ Peter 5:6-11, NKJV

Superficial Versus True Christianity – The Choice is Yours

Posted on by
Reply

Maybe it’s just the algorithm in my social media, but many people (even high-profile ones) are taking a stand against many of the evils in our society. Additionally, many are even invoking the name of Christ in their speeches, which, on one hand, gets me very encouraged. On the other hand, I’m mindful that there can be a superficial calling upon the name of the Lord that has no substance, and doing that kind of thing can lull us into a false sense of security (Matt. 7:22-24).

I can remember when this country was brought to its knees, so to speak. On September 11th, 2001, thousands of American lives were lost because of horrible acts of evil, and as a result, there seemed to be a great awakening among our fellow citizens. Even among the politicians in Washington, it seemed people were putting away their differences to do what was right. On television, they held hands, sang gospel hymns, and attended church services. Furthermore, Americans were united with a greater sense of patriotism. But how long did all of that last?

We ought to learn from the history of God’s people. Jeroboam II ruled when the nation of Israel seemed to flourish (2 Kings 14:23-29). Israel’s military was powerful. They had expanded their territory to the furthest reaches since the days of King Solomon. Politically, they appeared to be strong on the world stage. Economically, business was booming! The problem was that the people (including their leaders) weren’t genuinely seeking after God, and as a result, the end came very quickly, and the Assyrians soon toppled them (2 Kings 17:1-41). All those blessings during Jeroboam’s time almost make it seem like God said, “If you would turn to me, things could be so much better. This is how it could be if you genuinely sought after Me and followed My ways.” Unfortunately, that was not the case for Israel, as their ascent was based on superficial means.

I perceive an opportunity for our great blessing here within our borders. Who doesn’t want our military to be strong? We want righteousness to prevail over wickedness socially. We want the economy to be robust. We want peace and brotherly love to reign. Many wish for Christianity to flourish. Still, if it’s just going to be some superficial Christianity that we embrace, if we’re going to be weak in our convictions, or if we’re going to be halfhearted — that’s not going to cut it. We need complete allegiance to Christ. Satan would love nothing more than for you to have a false sense of security in America’s military, our economy, and even brotherly love. But at the end of the day, all those fears that people have about how things may have been going for some time will ultimately come to fruition if we do not seek God wholeheartedly (Mark 12:30).

As an individual, I pray for an awakening among the borders of the land where we dwell. I pray for a worldwide GREAT awakening (2 Tim. 2:1-7). But God Almighty, please do not let me not fall prey to a false sense of security or even a false message of who You are and what You want from my life (Col. 2:8)! Reveal Your true character to me through Your word, Father. Moreover, reveal to me (through Your word) the one TRUE Jesus (2 Pet 1:4; Col. 1:27). I pray that all honest hearts will find You (Matt. 7:7-8), and may Your people capitalize on this time of great potential to manifest true godliness within our local sphere of influence (Matt. 5:11-16). Amen.

No Other Doctrine

Posted on by
1

Many perceive Bible study as dull, which often coincides with the notion that Bible doctrine holds little significance. Is this how you view it? Does God truly care about our treatment of His word? Furthermore, can plain Bible truths convey different meanings to different individuals? 

Paul advised Timothy that by instructing others based on his letters (1 Tim. 1:3-11), he would be a good minister of Jesus, flourishing in the words of faith and the sound doctrine he had followed so closely (4:6). He urged Timothy to prioritize reading, encouragement, and doctrine until he arrived (4:13). Paul also cautioned Timothy to pay close attention to himself and his teaching, emphasizing that perseverance in these matters would lead to his and his listeners’ salvation (4:16). He affirmed that elders who govern effectively deserve double honor, especially those who diligently work in the word and doctrine (5:17). Timothy was instructed that bondservants should honor their masters to prevent the name of God and His doctrine from being blasphemed (6:1), and the seriousness of doctrine is highlighted by Paul’s warning that if anyone teaches differently and disagrees with wholesome words, including Christ’s teachings, they are proud and lacking knowledge (6:3-5). 

Everyone who desires to fulfill God’s word should seek to be nourished by faith (Rom. 10:17). We must diligently follow what God imparts through Scripture. And like Timothy, we should read and reflect on how we live in light of God’s teachings. Adhering to God’s doctrine is so crucial that it leads to our salvation! Moreover, our fidelity or failure to God’s teachings will influence how others perceive Him. 

For those who believe God is indifferent to how we handle His word or view “doctrine” as tedious or unimportant, I ask—what about these Scriptures? So many today discuss “my truth” versus “his or her truth,” relating to personal perspectives… However, God’s word is presented as absolute (John 17:17). Thus, plain Bible truths cannot be interpreted subjectively. 

Consider this: if you see a sign that warns of a bridge out ahead, would you take it to mean anything other than — that there’s a bridge out? If you encounter a stop sign, does it imply that you should either slow down or speed up?? Of course not—a stop sign means stop! Similarly, when God communicates through His word, He truly means what He says. Those who find the Bible uninteresting or deem doctrine trivial likely have not engaged deeply. God does care about how we honor His word; do we share that same reverence?

“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” (1 Timothy 1:3-4, New King James Version)

Pleas for Help

Posted on by
Reply

Thinking about asking God for help, we sometimes use the word in very self-centered ways. For example, I might ask my children, “Can you ‘help’ me with the chores? I’ll pick it up, and you run the vacuum.” Or “Can you ‘help’ me do some yard work? I’ll rake the pine straw, and you place the piles into a bag.” So essentially, I ask them to “add their strength to mine” in these mundane things. I would like them to assist me. Such a supplication infers that I have plenty of strength and merely need some assistance.

But if I am not careful, I can ask God for help in self-centered ways, forgetting that He is the source of all ability that I own. For example, I might flippantly entreat God to, “Please ‘help’ my friend struggling with her health concerns.” All the while, subconsciously implying that, “Since my friend and her body are doing all the hard work, God, please come along and ‘help’ her body to heal.”

God is not merely supporting our strength; He is the source and sustainer of all (Acts 17:25-28)! When we ask for His help, we invite His infinite power to further work in our life. Maybe to improve my thinking, I could pray this manner: “Father, by Your infinite power and wisdom, please heal my friend’s body.” It would be more than just saying, “Help heal my friend’s body.” Instead, I’d acknowledge Him as the healer, and ask Him to do HIS WORK to restore her health. My friend can participate in her rehabilitation, but God’s power ultimately brings true healing, even through providential means (James 5:15-18). I can also pray, “Father, grant wisdom to those ministering to her, like the doctors, nurses, and therapists so that they can provide her with the best care possible.” Such goes beyond simply saying, “Help her medical team.” Additionally, I may pray, “God, empower me to love and support her well.” Remembering that God is not just an assistant in our lives is essential. Recognize that while God is infinite and all-powerful, we are finite and weak. Therefore, I can thus pray, “God, please ENABLE me to minister to others effectively!”

Let me be clear: I do not wish to sensationalize God’s work in our lives, suggesting that mankind shouldn’t put any effort into such things. I also understand that many passages entreat God for His help, implying that special times call for the entreating of God’s special response (Psalm 12:1; 20:2; 22:19; 37:40). I simply wish to evoke that our consciousness of God and His work in our lives be more present. God doesn’t merely assist us; He empowers us. He doesn’t just add a little strength; instead, HE PROVIDES us with the very strength needed to reach out and accomplish all tasks (John 15:5; Heb. 1:3). So instead of asking God to “lend a hand” or give us a “handout,” let’s OPEN OUR HEARTS to our infinite and loving Father, ENTREATING HIM to be who He promises: “our refuge and strength, a VERY PRESENT HELP in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Overcoming Bitterness

Posted on by
Reply

Though not everybody continually struggles with bitterness, there are plenty of warnings against the matter in Scripture. These warnings are not just for people of the world, but, for Christians (Eph. 4:31). Therefore, bitterness must be an issue that some struggle with. It’s also crucial to recognize that even if we don’t feel overwhelmed by bitterness, it can creep in slowly and subtly, impacting our relationships with others and even our relationship with God. It prompts us to ask ourselves: What signs of bitterness might be present in my life, and how can I address them with compassion? The effects can be profound, leading to unfair treatment of those around us and damaging the bonds we hold most dear. 

Bitterness often arises from unforgiveness, and when we allow bitterness to take root, it creates barriers that hinder our spiritual growth, preventing us from experiencing the love, joy, and peace that God desires for every one of us. Unresolved anger is also one of the key elements that can lead to bitterness (Eph. 4:26). This kind of anger often lingers when we don’t take the time to process or address it adequately. Many people, like us, may find themselves replaying past hurts and feelings of injustice, making forgiveness much more difficult. It is also common to feel envious or resentful when we perceive others as happier or more successful than we are (Matt. 6:22-23). This can lead to a cycle of self-criticism and negativity that affects us and those we interact with (James 2:13; 4:7-10).

Maybe you don’t feel like you possess a bitter spirit toward anyone, but I understand that even tiny seeds of resentment can hold us back from experiencing a more profound connection with God and others (Heb. 12:15). The Bible discusses the need to forgive others, emphasizing that our forgiveness of sins from God is closely tied to our willingness to forgive others (Matt. 6:12, 14-15). If someone has hurt us, we should approach them with a desire not just to highlight their wrongs but to seek restoration for both their and our peace (Prov. 28:23; Matt. 18:15-16). As the Apostle Paul instructs, we should strive to live at peace with everyone, recognizing that this is a path toward healing and growth for all involved (Rom. 12:18).

Oh my God, I realize that some matters weigh heavily on people more than others. Although I do not often feel overwhelmed by these struggles, I have noticed times when bitterness has crept into my own heart. Please help me focus on the blessings in my life from You and guide me in processing and dealing with my emotions more healthily. Help me move past the hurt I have experienced from others and grant me the strength not to envy those doing well. I want to continually cultivate a more hopeful attitude regarding my salvation, and also desire to possess a forgiving spirit. Grant me the wisdom, strength, and boldness to address any issues that arise with others openly and sincerely. God, I long for peace with You and harmony with Your people. Help me in ever-experiencing true contentment, oh God! Amen.

Praying for a Happy New Year in 2025

Posted on by
Reply

So often, many start the new year wanting to set goals and read their Bibles more ambitiously. People also set goals to better themselves physically, financially, etc. Setting goals in the new year motivates me to “get better.” It’s just an overall refreshing exercise. Still, I have experienced varying success and failure in fulfilling those New Year’s resolutions. 

Here is a very simplified plan of attack for my new year, which may encourage you somehow. My goal for this year is to read the Bible in its entirety while also reading one Psalm a day as part of my reading. I will also pray more fervently ABOUT my daily Bible reading. Additionally, I will pray continually for myself and my family, my brethren, and my friends, focusing on their strengths and weaknesses—while giving God thanks and offering supplications on our behalf. 

Another big resolution for this year is to do more outreach on a personal level. I want to encourage relationship-building this year genuinely. That will be one of my main focuses, and I ask for your prayers to help me engage more with others (Eph. 6:19). While I don’t consider myself an introvert, stepping out of my comfort zone to make sincere connections requires effort. I genuinely believe this is something I can improve on and help spread the gospel according to God’s design (John 13:35; Rom. 12:10; 1 Pet. 1:22; 4:8). 

May the Lord bless you richly in your efforts to glorify Him this next year. 2025 will be a great blessing for you, your family, the local community you live in, and the nation where we dwell. Let us help our fellow citizens recognize that the most excellent citizenship one can have is that of heaven (Phil. 3:12), and the only way to become a citizen of heaven is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Acts 4:12). Have you done that? If not, then why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling upon the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16).