Finding Contentment in Jesus

There is little doubt that our society suffers from a lack of contentment. Many families bury themselves in debt as they seek to keep pace with the proverbial Joneses. Many individuals move from job to job and career to career in search of more pay, better benefits, and the brass ring that always seems just out of reach. Marital discontentment causes many to hope for greener grass in another relationship. And rampant materialism permeates nearly every facet of American life. All the while the virtue of contentment is nowhere to be found.
Thankfully God's Word addresses these pressing issues with illuminating clarity. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 says, "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
A few verses later the text continues by saying, "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
When considering these verses, along with the rest of what the New Testament teaches on the subject, it seems that the key to contentment is not my finding contentment in money, possessions, or things, but in my finding contentment in Jesus. Contentment comes as I am able to live knowing that in Jesus I have a treasure that is worthy of giving all for (Matthew 13:44). True contentment comes when I value Jesus above any and everything else and then live like I value Jesus in that way. Contentment is essentially living like Jesus and Jesus alone is more than sufficient to satisfy every longing and desire of my life. This treasuring of Jesus loosens the grip of materialism over my life and frees me so that I can truly experience the all-satisfying pleasure of knowing Jesus Christ.
Consider these eleven questions that may help you determine your level of contentment. These questions are aimed at the heart so as you read and think about them be sensitive to what God may be saying to you:
1) Am I content with what I have and the circumstances of my life or am I striving for more and more?
2) If everything in my life was taken away, all of my material possessions, and I had nothing but Jesus Christ would I still be content?
3) Am I living as if I am taking nothing with me when I die?
4) In my life does Jesus look like an all-satisfying treasure?
5) Can I rightly distinguish between my needs and my wants?
6) What is tempting me to treasure it more than I treasure Jesus?
7) Am I discontent with the things of this world, yet content with where I am in my relationship with Jesus?
8) Do I live like I trust and hope in things or like I trust and hope in God?
9) Am I generous, ready to give and willing to share?
10) Am I living and giving in a way that shows it is more blessed to give than to receive?
11) Does Jesus have all of my life?
Contentment is not primarily about money and things. It is primarily about being satisfied with Jesus and treasuring Him above all else.
 

The Wonder of Jesus

It is hard to believe that tomorrow is Christmas. For many, the next two days will be filled with gifts, food, family, friends, and joy. For some there will be busyness and hurrying to relatives homes and making sure all the last minute things are taken care of. And there will be the danger that we forget about Jesus in the midst of it all. We run the risk of forgetting about Christ at Christmas.
In the first chapter of Matthew we read of how an angel came to Joseph in a dream announcing that a child had been supernaturally conceived in Mary. Matthew reminds us that this was done in fulfillment of a prophecy given over 700 years before this time when Isaiah wrote, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). The name Immanuel means "God with us." That is why Jesus came: to be God with us. To be God in human flesh.
The Apostle John would  later write that Jesus "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Jesus has always been all God, but a little over 2,000 years ago Jesus became all man. Jesus was all God and at the same time all man: 100% God and 100% man with two distinct natures in one person in a way that is beyond our  comprehension.
And Jesus becoming man and taking on humanity was necessary for Him to "save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Jesus came to save His people by dying on the cross in their place and for their sins. Jesus had to become a man to do this because it took someone that was fully human to be man's substitute. If He was to die for man, He had to be a man. But it also took one that was fully God to bear the full weight of God's wrath against sin. Salvation could not have been accomplished unless man paid what was owing to God for sin. But the debt was so great that while man owed it, only God could pay it. So the one that would "save His people from their sins" had to be both man and God.
This Christmas don't get lost in the busyness of the season. Get lost in the wonder of the salvation that Jesus came to provide. Get lost in the greatness of our Savior who took on human flesh so that He could save His people from their sins.

Absolute Commitment

A while back I ran across a little book about Jesus in the nursery at church that caught my eye. You know the kind of book: vibrant pictures with a few sentences on each page using short, easy to understand words. A typical children's book. On the cover of the book was a picture of Jesus with a wide smile, perfect teeth, groomed hair, and an appearance that said, "I just want to be your friend."
Make no mistake, I think that it is great for kids to be taught from an early age the love that Jesus has for them and His desire to be warm and welcoming and friendly. The problem is that we grow up and still have this view of Jesus exclusively. In other words, we cannot imagine Jesus saying or demanding anything over and above just wanting to be our pal.
While I believe that Jesus was indeed the most joyous man who ever lived, since He had no sin and enjoyed perfect communion with God, He is also the man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3) who came to speak out against sin and to deal decisively with it once and for all (Hebrews 9:11-12). And the smiling, easy-going, happy-go-lucky Jesus is also the Jesus who calls His followers to absolute and unconditional commitment to Him.
In Luke 9:23-24 Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." To deny one's self is to live as if we no longer exist. And to take up one's cross is not just to deny self; it is to die to self.
In Luke 14:33 Jesus said, "Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple." Jesus is emphatic that all has to be given up to follow Him. This does not mean that a person has to take a vow of poverty in order to be a Christian or that they have to sell all of their possessions and give the proceeds to Christian causes. But it does mean that nothing is to get in the way of our radical following of Him. It means that we dare not allow our hands to be full of things that must be given up for Christ.
I am eternally grateful for the smiling Jesus who's arms are open wide to receive sinners and who calls them friends (John 15:15). I am constantly amazed at the grace of God shown to me in Jesus as He receives me not based upon my works or my goodness, but based upon His death (1 Peter 3:18). Yet I am continually confronted and challenged with Jesus' call to absolute commitment to Him, the One who has always been absolutely committed to me.

If I Only Had Three Years Left...

For several months now my wife Gayle and I have been asking ourselves a question. What we hope will be a life-changing question. A question that rightly answered will cause us to radically reprioritize our lives. The question is this: If we had only three years left on this earth what would we do? What would change in our lives? What would become more important? What would be a bigger priority?
We have been asking this question not because we have a terminal illness that we know of or because of any other external reason (including the Mayan calendar!). We have sought to ask and answer this question because we do not want to waste the life and the salvation that God has so graciously given to us. We realize that life is like a vapor (James 4:14) and therefore we must live with planned urgency.
So let me share with you ten of my personal answers to the question: If I had only three years left on this earth what would I do?
I would:
1) Strive as the chief aim of all I do to draw closer to Jesus
2) Apply Scripture to every area of my life
3) Pray with greater intimacy and do more listening to and for the voice of God
4) Spend more real, purposeful, intimate time with my family
5) Do more to reach people with the Gospel, especially the unreached peoples of the world
6) Pray more fervently for the lost
7) Be more generous and give more radically
8) Love the Body of Christ deeper
9) Think much more about heaven and the life to come
10) Live with and in the freedom of why I was created and why I was saved: to glorify God

What about you? If you had only three years left on this earth what would you do?

(I elaborated upon these ten answers in my sermon "If..." that can be viewed at www.nrfellowship.org/Video.html)

Jesus - Our Treasure and Joy

Unfortunately, when many think of Christianity they picture grumpy old men in three piece suits sitting around with scowls on their faces as they talk about the long list of things they don't do because they are Christians. Now there is certainly nothing wrong with older men, three piece suits, or the truth that the Bible commands Christians to abstain from certain activities. There is, however, something decidedly wrong with joyless Christianity. Of all the people in the world, whose who follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior should be the possessors of great joy.
Sadly this is not always the case. Often Christians plod through life just trying to "get by" and make it through another day. Life seems overwhelming and the thought of joy in the midst of a hurried life that seems chaotic at best and depressing at worst seems unimaginable.
The problem is that many are looking for joy in all the wrong places. Some seek joy through their career and advancement up the corporate ladder. Others look for joy in material possessions and the accumulation of things. While some search for joy in relationships or titles or power or influence or...you get the picture. The point is that the human heart longs for joy and will not rest until it is found.
It may shock some that the Bible actually commands us to seek joy. Psalm 32:11 says, "Be glad in the LORD and rejoice; Shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" The theme of joy is seen in Psalm 37:4 which instructs us to "Delight yourself also in the LORD." Jesus told His followers to rejoice that their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:19-20) and to "leap for joy" as they await their heavenly future with Him (Luke 6:22-23). The Apostle Paul in his joy-saturated letter to the Philippians commands Christians to "Rejoice in the Lord always" (4:4).
But joy for the Christian is not simply joy for joy's sake. Nor is it a joy that comes from our circumstances or the things that we possess. Rather, ours is a joy that is found in Jesus Christ. The fountain and the source of the Christian's joy must be Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for us in His life, death, and resurrection.
At this point you may be wondering how the pursuit of joy can coincide with some of the demands Jesus made in the Gospels. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me" (Luke 9:23). Later Jesus said, "Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:33). How can self-denial, cross-carrying, and the forsaking of all things coexist with the pursuit of joy? These truths are reconciled as we realize that it is in our giving of all for the sake of Jesus that our joy is realized. The removal of these counterfeit joys from our lives frees us to focus upon the only thing in the universe that brings true and lasting joy: Jesus Christ.
This truth is driven home by Jesus in a one verse parable about the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew 13:44 Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven (knowing Jesus Christ) to a treasure buried in a field. A man found the treasure, hid the treasure again, and then sold all that he had to buy the field so that he might possess the treasure. But what motivates the man to sell all his possessions and buy the field in order to get the treasure? Jesus says his motivation was joy. Because true joy was not found in all that he possessed; true joy was found in the treasure.
When compared with the treasure everything else he possessed seemed to have no value at all (Philippians 3:7-10). Jesus' point is that knowing Him is more valuable and more precious than anything else. As our treasure, He is the source of our joy.
So the next time you think about Christianity, dispel the notion of the scowl and the three piece. Instead, think about the treasure in the field and the joy that moves us to give all to obtain it. Think about Jesus "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross" that we might find our joy in Him (Hebrews 12:2).

The Fool Has Said...

For centuries mankind has been trying to deny the existence of God. While God has declared His existence to all mankind through general means such as creation (Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:19-20), the human conscience (Romans 2:14-15), and His loving care of all mankind (Acts 14:16-17) and has revealed Himself through the special means of His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2), mankind still chooses to suppress and distort this truth about God (Romans 1:21).
One such attempt to deny God was made last year in the weeks leading up to Christmas. The American Humanist Association launched a $40,000 holiday ad campaign in Washington D.C. by putting the message, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness sake" on the sides of city buses. A spokesman for the group stated in an interview that, "We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you. Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists, and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion."
The D.C. ad campaign came on the heels of a similar anti-God barrage in England. The British Humanist Association ran ads on London buses declaring, "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." This ad campaign in the U.K. goes to show that foolishness knows no geographical boundaries (Psalm 14:1; 53:1).
But as I read and considered the content (or lack thereof!) of the ads and the comments of their propagators, I was immediately struck with the absurdity of their argument. Simply wishing God away or denying His existence does not change the fact that He does exist. I may not believe in gravity, but one step off the Perrine Bridge sans parachute and I will be quickly convinced, at least for a second or two, of the truth of the force of gravity. Month after month I can choose to deny my accountability to the bank for my mortgage, or even go so far as to deny the very existence of the bank itself. But the bank will be quite quick to remind me of their existence and the consequences of my denial when they begin foreclosure proceedings. Why believe in a God? Because the overwhelming evidence leads us to the existence of a God who has made Himself known. God exists and He is far from silent about His existence.
The message, "Just be good for goodness sake" is not good news at all, because as hard as we may try, we cannot be good enough. The message of the Bible and the Gospel is not "clean up your act and try harder and be good for goodness sakes." The Good News of the Bible is that Jesus came because I cannot be good. He embarked on a divine rescue-mission where He would deliver sinners from the penalty of their sins through His death (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Timothy 1:15).
And while many "agnostics, atheists, and other types of non-theists" feel alone during the holidays, they only feel such because they have rejected God. The message of the Bible is that we are not alone: the God of this universe cares for us. The message of Christmas that makes them feel "a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion" is the one that proves to them that God loves them enough to send His Son to save them (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
Is anyone really willing to rest their life on the shifting sand assertion of "there's probably no God"? Besides that, if there is no God then I have lost all capacity to "stop worrying and enjoy your life." The problem is that if there is no God then all I can do is worry. If there is no God then I have been cut off from the only thing in the universe that brings true joy to my life and is able to satisfy the deepest longings of my heart (Psalm 73:25; Isaiah 43:7). If there is no God then life ceases to make sense and nothing really matters at all.
Jesus came because I cannot be good. Jesus came because I do feel alone. Jesus came because I need hope for this life and hope for the life to come. He came for "agnostics, atheists, and other types of non-theists" and for just run-of-the-mill sinners like you and me. There is a God. And this God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. Now that's a great message for an ad campaign (Acts 1:8)!

Praising God for His Servants

I praise God for a man named Carl Hodges. Carl was in his late fifties when I really got to know him. He was on medical retirement from his job due to a terribly bad heart. I met him when Gayle and I became Christians and got involved in our local church.
I was excited about the things of the Lord and eager to serve in any way that I could. I worked night shift at the time so I had my days free so Carl invited me to join him as he ministered around the community. He drove an aqua-blue Ford Pinto that had a top speed of about 45 miles-per-hour and I would meet him at the church and off we would go. I, the 23 year-old new Christian, and he, the seasoned servant of the Lord. We went to nursing homes, the homes of those that were too ill or too elderly to go to church, and other places around our community seeking to minister to the people there. We would teach them Sunday School lessons or pray with them or just be there to encourage them in the Lord. The first time that I ever taught the Bible was in an elderly woman's living room under the direction of Carl.
Carl went to be with the Lord Jesus about 10 years or so ago now. When he died he had very little materially to speak of. He did not leave behind great wealth or great acheivements in the eyes of the world. But God used this simple and humble man to greatly impact my life. He taught me with his actions what it really meant to be a servant of others and to love the Lord Jesus in such a way that it allows that love to spill over into other people's lives. He taught me that the work of God that goes on behind the scenes in nursing homes and in the living rooms of shut-ins is important to the heart of God. And he taught me that God can use anyone that is willing to be used by Him. I praise God for Carl Hodges and hope that I can be more like this simple servant who had a heart for God and a heart for others.

What Do You See?

My study is located in a room that we built in the garage of our home. When we built it we put in a window so that there would be some natural light and so that I would be less likely to remember that I am sitting in my garage. The table that I work at faces that window and I can look out of it at the homes that line West Avenue J in Jerome where we live. It is a nice and fairly quiet neighborhood with a lot of kids and a prevailing sense of normalcy about it.
On occasion as I look out the window of my study I think about what it would be like if instead of looking out upon West Avenue J in Jerome, Idaho I was looking out upon a village in southern Senegal where we minister. What would be different? What things would remain the same?
If I were in Senegal instead of looking out and seeing neatly lined houses with vinyl siding I would see houses made of mud with thatch or tin roofs. If I were looking out onto a village in Senegal the grass covered yards of West Avenue J would give way to sand and dust in the dry season and mud and standing water during the rainy season. The cars that go up and down my street would be replaced by people on foot, a bicycle or an ox or donkey pulled cart, and on rare occasions a possible car. The skin color of the people would change along with their clothing, but the smiles and laughter and joy of the children would still be there. If my street were in Senegal everyone who lived on it would surely all know each other and we would great each other every time that we passed. There would be a greater sense of community among us and less of an individualized existence where we live in isolation from those around us. Indeed, if as I write this I were looking out upon a Senegalese village things would be much different.
While there are many differences, there are some similarities as well. Whether overlooking a village in Senegal or the homes on West Avenue J one things remains the same: the people there need to hear the message of Jesus. And my responsibility, just like yours if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, is to have a part in taking that message to them. Whether it is crossing a culture or crossing the street we are surrounded by people that have no hope apart from the message of the Gospel. What do you see when you look out your window and how can God use you to touch the lives of the people that are there?

Studying the Word of God

I am often asked questions that relate to personal Bible reading and study as people want to get the most benefit out of their time in God’s Word. Let me share with you a few thoughts about your personal time in the Bible that may be helpful.
First, use a translation that you are comfortable with. Different translations serve different purposes and you need to find one that is easy for you to understand, yet also maintains the accuracy of the Scriptures. With the abundance of English translations available today this task is not at all difficult.
Second, read for breadth. Expose yourself to the entire Bible so that you are able to see how all of God’s Word fits together and is a unity. I highly recommend a Bible reading plan that allows you to read through the entire Bible in a year. This allows you to see the big picture of God’s story of redemption as well as exposing you to books of the Bible that you may otherwise be tempted to neglect. There are many great Bible reading plans that do this (we put a reading plan in the bulletin each month) and there are even “One Year” Bibles that contain each day’s reading. With as little time as fifteen minutes a day a person can easily read through the entire Bible in a year. When one reads for breadth they are getting the “lay of the land” and are not reading for great detail, but just to see the overall picture.
Third, read for depth. I know you are thinking, “Wait a minute, I thought you just said read for breadth!” True, but it is both/and, not either/or. Reading for depth in not just reading; it is study. There are several practices that will help us do this. One that has been very helpful to me over the years is to read the same book of the Bible every day for a month. A short book like Colossians or 2 Peter can easily be read in one sitting, while longer books like one of the Gospels or Romans can be divided into smaller units. Reading the same book every day for a month allows you to become intimately familiar with the book. After reading it several times you will begin to see certain themes that emerge or certain key words and ideas that are repeated that you may want to study further. Writing key verses on index cards and taking them with you to work or sticking them in your pocket to reflect upon during the day is another good way to cement God’s Word in your heart and mind.
Fourth, ask questions from the text that you are studying. As part of your reading for depth you want to encounter the text and think deeply through it. Asking questions helps us in this process.
The following are some questions to consider as you study a passage:
What does this text tell me about God and what God is like?
What does this text tell me about what God has done in history?
What does this text tell me about what God has done for me?
What does this text tell me about myself and what I am like?
Does this text contain a promise from God? If so, what is it? Is the promise conditional or unconditional?
Does this text reveal something I should praise or thank God for? If so, what is it?
Does this text reveal something that I should pray about for myself or for others? If so, what is it?
Does this text reveal something that I should have a new attitude about? If so, what is it?
Does this text reveal something I should do for the sake of Christ, others, or myself? If so, what is it?
Does this text reveal a sin in my life that I need to repent of? If so, what is it?
What am I going to do in response to this text from God’s Word?
These questions, and others like them, will help us not only to understand the text, but more importantly to apply it.
Above all else, just make time for the Word of God. Identify the things that steal time from your life and prevent you from spending more time with God in His Word and eradicate them. While these thoughts by no means exhaust the many ways you can read and study the Bible, some of them may be of genuine use to you. Grab your Bible, find a quiet place, and taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)!

Praying for Missionaries

Missionaries have always asked for prayer. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome and said, “Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me” (Romans 15:30). But all too often our prayers for missionaries consist of “God please bless all the missionaries all over the world wherever they are.” Many times I have heard people who have a genuine heart for Jesus, the Gospel, and the Great Commission pray in this way. And I readily confess that I have uttered these general type petitions in the past as well as I sought to lift up those who are serving the cause of Jesus Christ and the Gospel overseas. But over the years I have tried to move away from such blanket prayers and move toward praying for some very specific things on behalf of missionaries.
One thing that has greatly helped me to do this is to pray regularly for specific missionaries. Our family receives several monthly prayer updates from missionaries on the field that convey their detailed needs. This allows one to “get to know” the missionaries and their struggles and their specific needs and concerns. Also, many missionary agencies such as the International Mission Board provide prayer calendars and send out weekly e-mail prayer updates to keep God’s people aware of particular needs that arise, as well as to inform them of how they can praise God for the continued advance of the Gospel.
It also helps to pray for some needs that are common to all missionaries. The following list is far from exhaustive, but may cause you to enlarge your prayers on behalf of God’s ambassadors.
Pray for their Spiritual Life: that they would take sufficient time to study the Bible and pray; that they would be encouraged and experience joy in their ministry; that they would be people of integrity, reliability, humility, discernment, and wisdom; that they would be led by the Holy Spirit in all of their day to day decisions.
Pray for their Personal Life: that their marital relationships would be strengthened; that the needs of their children would be cared for; that they would not be homesick for or worry about family, friends, and situations back in the United States; that they would be protected from sickness; that they would be protected from accidents, crime, terrorists, and calamities.
Pray for their relationships: with other Christians; with their ministry team; with the nationals they are working with and ministering to.
Pray for them as they work in a different culture with a new language: that they would make steady progress in language studies; that they would adapt well and be sensitive to new customs and cultures; that they would have clarity, creativity, and relevance in their preaching and teaching; that they would be fearless to preach Christ and Him crucified no matter what the cost.
While there are so many more things that we must pray for on behalf of missionaries, let this serve as a great starting point for us as we seek to be “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Now let us pray without ceasing on behalf of those who are pouring out their life for the spread of the Gospel!

Down-to-Business Living for Christ

At the age of 22 Jim Elliot wrote these words to his father in a letter dated April 13, 1950, “I met with twenty-five young people, high school age and over, last night after the meeting before I went to the bus and had a serious time dealing with them about private study of the Scriptures, personal holiness, and down-to-business living for Christ.”
Jim Elliot was more than qualified to speak about down-to-business living for Christ. His life was permeated with a desire to live a life that thoroughly glorified Jesus in all that he did. When Jim was between the ages of 20 and 24 he penned the following quotes in his journal and in letters to family and friends:
“God, I pray Thee, light these idle sticks of my life and may I burn up for Thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is Thine. I seek not a long life but a full one, like you, Lord Jesus.”
“He makes His ministers a flame of fire. Am I ignitable? God deliver me from the dread asbestos of ‘other things.’ Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be aflame.”
“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.”
“Christ needs some young fellows to sell out to Him and recklessly toss their lives into His work.”
“He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.”
After college and some time spent in various ministries Jim traveled to Ecuador to minister among the Quichua Indians. God had also implanted within Jim’s heart a desire to reach the Auca people. The Auca were a primitive and savage people who were hostile toward the Quichua and outsiders. It was dangerous to attempt to reach the Auca, yet Jim knew that this was what God had called him to do and that the Gospel was the Auca’s only hope.
Less than six years after he wrote to his father about “down-to-business living for Christ” Jim Elliot would lie dead on the banks of a secluded river in the jungles of Ecuador having been run threw with a spear by the very people that he desired to share the Gospel with. His widow concludes her story of Jim’s life in this way:
“Suffice it to say that on Friday the thrill of Jim’s lifetime was given. He took an Auca by the hand. At last the twain met. Five American men, three naked savages. Two days later, on Sunday, January 8, 1956, the men for whom Jim Elliot had prayed for six years killed him and his four companions.” Jim Elliot, at the age of 28, lay dead on the banks of the Curaray River in the jungle of Ecuador.
As his widow begins the Epilogue she writes, “W. Somerset Maugham, in Of Human Bondage, wrote, ‘These old folk had done nothing, and when they died it would be just as if they had never been.’ Jim’s comment on this was, ‘God deliver me!’” And God did indeed deliver Jim Elliot from such a wasted life. His life and death were characterized with bold obedience to Jesus Christ. And though when he died he had very little of material value, he left an enduring legacy and an example of self-sacrifice for the cause of Christ to the peoples of the world.
God deliver us so that we would not waste our lives, but would live them for the glory of Jesus Christ and the spread of His Gospel to the nations!

All quotes are from: Elisabeth Elliot. Shadow of the Almighty. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1958.

The Application of the Truth of God to the Hurting Soul: Part 6

Putting on the new
Taking thoughts captive is only half the battle. In reality, it is not enough to simply abolish the thoughts that do not conform to the criteria of Philippians 4:8. We must replace these thoughts with truth from God’s Word. Paul’s admonition is not simply to do away with wrong thinking, but to “think about” those things that do conform to the truths of God’s Word. Not replacing the wrong thoughts simply leaves a vacuum that will soon be occupied with more erroneous thinking if something true does not take its place. This is where we really begin to preach truth to ourselves in an active way.
Ephesians 4:20-24 says, “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” The Bible uses terminology such as “put off” and “put on” to describe the things of our former way of life that we lay aside and “put off” while we “put on” and adopt new ways of thinking and living in Christ. In the above passage, Paul says that as Christians we are to “be renewed in the spirit of your mind” as we put on the new man that has been recreated in Christ. Similarly, Colossians 3:8-10 also tells us to “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge.” It is clear to see that the Christian not only needs a new way of living, but also a new way of thinking.
Here is how this applies: as we take thoughts captive we “put off” those that do not conform to the Philippians 4:8 criteria and we “put on” those that do and we meditate upon them. Obviously, the thoughts that meet those criteria come from the truth of God’s Word. To pick up our depression example again, as the depressed person thought, “This is going to be another terrible day” that thought should be taken captive and replaced with something like, “It may indeed be a bad day today, but God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) and no matter what happens to me today God is going to use it for my good in making me more like Christ (Romans 8:28-29).” To use another example, the thought “God has abandoned me and is nowhere to be found” is to be “put off” and replaced with truth such as “God may not feel near to me at this moment, but He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5) and even though He may feel distant the truth is that He is an ever present help in my time of need (Psalm 46:1).” When we do this we are injecting our mind and heart with biblical, life-giving truth. This allows us to preach to ourselves in an active way rather than us passively “listening” to our uncontrolled thoughts and emotions. It also allows us to anchor our lives to truth rather than feelings. I may feel such-and-such a way, but I need to be reminded that my feelings often betray the truth of what God has said about Himself, me, and my circumstances.
None of this denies the real hurt and heartbreak of life. It does, however, push us to the truth of God and His Word and His promises. It allows us to turn the focus away from our situation and our self and place our gaze upon God.

The Application of the Truth of God to the Hurting Soul: Part 5

Using a biblical filter for our thoughts
The question now arises, “What thoughts do I take captive?” Being aware of our thoughts and taking our thoughts captive is of no use unless we know what thoughts need to be eradicated. To do this we need a filter.
Consider how a filter works in your home air conditioning unit: as the air flows over the filter it is designed to capture and stop certain things from making it into the air ducts of your house. It stops dust, lint, and other particles that are unhealthy for your family to breath, but allows the air to pass through without problem. In other words, it stops the bad things from traveling any further and allows the proper things to pass through unabated.
God’s Word also gives us a biblical “filter” for our thoughts in Philippians 4:8 where Paul writes, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.” The criterion that our thoughts have to meet is truth, nobility, rightness, purity, loveliness, admirableness, excellence, and praiseworthiness. Things that meet these criteria pass through the filter and should be thought about and meditated upon. Thoughts that do not meet these criteria don’t pass through this filter and should be taken captive and we do not think about them.
The problem is that most of our thoughts should never make it through the filter. To use our example of the person with depression again, the thought, “This is going to be another terrible day” should be taken captive because it is not pure, lovely, or noble. It may indeed be true, but to dwell upon that idea sends the depressed person into further despondency and further away from the realization of God in their lives. To use another example, the thought “God has abandoned me and is nowhere to be found” does not meet the criteria of truth. It may feel like the truth, but in actuality it is simply a lie. Again, this thought must be taken captive and put out of one’s mind. The filter is of no use unless it is implemented through the active taking captive of one’s thoughts.
(NOTE: This is not the power of positive thinking or anything of the sort. As will hopefully be seen below, this is the power of biblical truth to transform and renew our minds [Romans 12:2].)

The Application of the Truth of God to the Hurting Soul: Part 4

Taking our thoughts captive
Paul writes to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 and says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
Several things come to bear on the application of the truth of God here. First, it is a battle. Paul uses warfare imagery as he talks about appropriating the truth of God in the midst of a spiritual war. Secondly, and most importantly, he says to “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” This deals with being in control of what we are thinking and talking to ourselves rather than simply passively listening to ourselves.
Imagine the person who does not “take every thought captive” as in the example of the person with depression given above. They are like a person who is on an out of control horse where the reins have been thrown over the horse’s head and the rider is simply hanging on for dear life with no control over the horse whatsoever. The horse simply goes wherever it wishes. This person’s mind is taking them on a ride that is scary, out of control, and is not pleasurable in the least. The antidote and remedy for this is to “take every thought captive.”
To do this one has to constantly be aware of what we are thinking all of the time. A thought cannot be taken into captivity if we are oblivious to what we are thinking. In keeping with Paul’s warfare analogy, we need to be on guard for what is happening with our thoughts in much the same way that a sentry would guard against the enemy: ever vigilant and mindful of an attack or anything that seems like a foreign invader.

The Application of the Truth of God to the Hurting Soul: Part 3

Preaching truth to ourselves as we battle for the mind
The fight of faith in the midst of troubles is more often than not a battle of the mind. Our minds are the battlefield. Satan, the flesh, and the world have lies for their arsenal and our main weapon is truth. Here is what we have a tendency to do when we face troubles: we allow our self to talk to us instead of us talking to ourselves. In other words, we are many times passive listeners rather than active talkers to ourselves. Rather than “renewing our mind” (Romans 12:2) we often allow our mind and our thoughts to control us and send us into an ever increasing spiral into our fears, depression, and despondency and away from the truth of God and His promises.
An example of this might be someone who battles with depression. They may wake up and tell themselves, “This is going to be another terrible day.” Or, “Something will go wrong today, just give it time.” Or even worse, “God has abandoned me and is nowhere to be found.” The list of examples is endless. The point is that this person most likely thinks these things thousands of times during the day without ever really taking notice of what occupies their thoughts. So it is no wonder that they feel depressed when you consider that they have been “listening” to themselves speak things that are not in conformity to the truths of God. Everybody does this, to one degree or another, but this is most harmful in times of struggle.

The Application of the Truth of God to the Hurting Soul: Part 2

Satan’s design is for us to focus on our troubles and not upon our God
The enemy’s grand scheme (Ephesians 6:11) is for Christ’s followers to be so wrapped up in their troubles that they lose sight of the source of their strength (Exodus 15:2). Satan desires that we would be so distraught and overwhelmed with the trials of life that we would curse God to His face (Job 1:11). This is the pervasive struggle in trials: to see past the trials so that we might see the face of God. The glass is even dimmer in the darkness of trial and tribulation (1 Corinthians 13:12) so we must strain to see past the situation and squint to see the light of God. We surely cannot do this apart from faith in God and in the promises of His Word.
When the writer of Hebrews says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1) he captures the essence of faith in God and His promises in the midst of trials. When we walk through the trials of life we do not often “see” the hand of God. Many times it seems to be quite the opposite: a world and a life that are out of control where God does not intervene. It is in those dark moments that we must be “certain” of what we do not see, namely the secure and steadfast promises of God that are rooted in the unchanging character of God and His Word.

The Application of the Truth of God to the Hurting Soul: Part 1

The application of the truth of God is a fight
Applying the Word of God does not come easily in times of God’s overt blessing, much less at times when various trials and hardships assail us. To apply the Word of God to our circumstances and to our souls calls for the utmost diligence and the most fervent fight.
The Psalmist writes, “My flesh and my heart fail” (Psalm 73:26a). This surely is the feeling that many experience during struggles: weakness, a sense of being overwhelmed, despondent, depressed, and the list could go on. But in the second part of the verse he declares, “But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26b). The psalmist does not stay in his despondent condition, but rather clings to God. There is no doubt that this is a fight and that it is not easy, but yielding to the failing of our flesh and heart cannot be an option. We must fight.

Slaves of Jesus

It is interesting to notice how the writers of the New Testament refer to themselves in their letters. As the Apostle Paul begins his letter to the church in Rome he writes, “This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ's slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News” (Romans 1:1). James begins his letter by saying, “This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1). The Apostle Peter starts his second letter by writing, “This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). And the first words of Jude’s letter read, “This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James” (Jude 1:1). The one thing that they all have in common was that they consider themselves slaves of Jesus. Rather than refer to themselves as church planters or missionaries or leaders, or even referring to themselves exclusively as apostles, they chose to be known as slaves of Jesus.
Slavery was a reality in the first century Roman Empire. Estimates of slavery in that culture vary with some reporting slaves being in upwards of 50% of the population and some showing slaves making up 20% of the population. A realistic number is probably somewhere in between, but whichever figure is true it is more than apparent that slavery flourished in the first century.
While the tasks of slaves varied, one thing that all slaves had in common was that they were the property of someone else. Slaves were considered living tools with each one having an owner. A Roman could buy, rent, or sell a slave as he would any other piece of property. Paul had this truth in mind when he wrote, “Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 7:22b-23a). Jesus, our Master, has paid for us with His life and we are now His possession.
The word “slave” or “bondservant” that is used in the passages above comes from the Greek word doulos (dou/loj) and is a word that means “pertaining to a state of being completely controlled by someone or something; to be subservient to someone else; one who gives himself up wholly to another’s will.” So as slaves of Jesus we are now to be completely controlled by and subservient to Him. As His followers we are to give ourselves up wholly to His will and live for Him and not for ourselves.
But a slave of Jesus lives not just to serve Jesus, but also to serve others. 1 Corinthians 9:19 says, “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” A Christian’s servitude to Jesus is lived out in the service of others. A person who is a slave of Jesus will follow the example of their Master who said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant” so that He could serve us by dying on the cross in our place and for our sins (Philippians 2:7-8).
Are you able to refer to yourself as many of the New Testament writers did: a slave of Jesus? Begin today to live life as a slave of Jesus Christ and experience the grace and love of the Master who says, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

A Christ-Centered Perspective on Life

One of the challenges of life is living all of it out with a Christ-centered perspective. Colossians 3:3-4 gives us some instruction concerning this when it reads, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.”
Verse 3 points to the Christian’s union with Jesus and our death with Him. When Jesus died on the cross He died as my representative, taking my place, and my death. Now, through my union with Him by faith, I have already died. I am now dead to the penalty of sin, I am dead to the power of sin, and I am dead to the things of this world. I am a new creation in Christ. This is past tense showing that this is what has already happened.
In verse 4 Paul looks to the future and speaks about Jesus’ return. Though Jesus is now hidden, out of sight from the eyes of the world, and though our lives are now hidden in Him, there is coming a day when those things will be revealed. There is coming a day when Jesus returns and we will be made like Him and we will glorify Him. That is the future.
But we are living out our lives in the present: somewhere between Jesus dying for us and Jesus coming again. We are stuck between the past and the future in this world of the here and now. But we are to live with both perspectives in mind. Our desires and our focus and our thoughts and our minds are to reflect both the past truths and the future truths. We are to live remembering that Jesus died for us and all that we are in Christ. And we are also to live remembering that Jesus is coming again for us to glorify us and to bring us to be with Him forever. We are to live with both the past and the future in mind. And as we do that it should transform our living and cause us to have a true Christ-centered perspective.
But the key to it all is to live all of our lives remembering that it is Christ who is our life. Jesus does not merely give life; for the Christian Jesus is life. Jesus cannot just be a part of my life that gets pulled out and lived out on Sunday mornings. For the believer Jesus is their life!

Life Changing Truth

For me personally there has never been a verse that has so impacted my thinking and living of the Christian life than Colossians 3:4. The verse reads: “When Christ who is our life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.” It may be an overstatement to say that that verse is one of the greatest passages in the New Testament. But it would not be an overstatement for me to say that in my own personal life and relationship with Jesus Christ that He has used this passage in a greater way than possibly any other in the Bible. I had read this passage many, many times in my reading of Scripture, but about five years ago this verse, and specifically one phrase, leapt off the page and I have been trying to live out the implications of that phrase ever since: CHRIST WHO IS OUR LIFE. Because Jesus is not meant to be just a part of your life; not even a big part of your life. Jesus should be your life. And everything in life rides on this and how true this is for you and me. My hope for this site is that it will encourage me (and possibly the one or two other people that view it!) to live out the truth that Christ is our life. Most of the things that I plan to post will simply be comments upon Scripture in order to encourage, challenge, and strengthen us to show the supremacy of Jesus in all of life!