Through the centuries, Christians have been burned at the stake, sawed in two, and crucified. They have been shot, fed to lions, and forced to choose between their faith and their freedom. Many were gassed along with the Jews for harboring their Jewish neighbors. These were people who were committed to their faith.
But according to Voice of the Martyrs, “More men and women are being persecuted today for Jesus than at any other time in human history. Millions of Christians face intense persecution and risk their lives for the sake of the Gospel.”
The Bible teaches that in the last days, evil, including every kind of persecution will continue to grow. But here in the US, we often feel somewhat insulated from all this. Most of us, probably, can’t imagine beheadings or people being burned alive here. But what if we were faced with the choice to stand up or betray Christ in the face of intense persecution? Would we be as committed to our faith as other believers around the world or as Christians in times past?
And I wonder, are we as committed to our faith as many of our Muslim neighbors are to theirs?
God has always taken sin seriously, both in the Old Testament and the New. As God led Moses to begin the system of temple worship, two of Aaron’s sons attempted to carry out their new priestly duties with sinful, perhaps prideful, attitudes and were killed instantly. The text says they “offered profane fire before the Lord.”
In the book of Acts, Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter about their offering and dropped dead. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul said some believers had died prematurely because they failed to take seriously Christ’s sacrifice. Jesus Himself called us hypocrites when we fail to examine our own lives instead of pointing out the wrongs in everyone else’s.
These were intended to be strong warnings to the people of their day and ours. And speaking of warnings, Proverbs has plenty of them, too. Today’s reading exposes an invitation that is repeatedly sent out to us all. But it’s one to which only a fool RSVPs.
When do we need the gospel? Is it a one-time thing? Does it have anything to do with our ongoing walks with God? How could the answers to these questions help us love God more and transform our lives?
Also, read about why we are responsible for our own spiritual growth and for whether or not we are hearing solid biblical teaching. And while the word Trinity doesn’t actually appear in the Bible, why we can trust its reality.
Hypocrites! Jesus rebuked the religious leaders repeatedly with that accusation. But hypocrisy isn’t as obvious as it might seem. Those leaders certainly didn’t see themselves as hypocrites. Worse yet, they taught others to live and see God just as they did.
Even if our intentions are good, could we be guilty of hypocrisy, as well? And could we be in danger of unknowingly teaching our children to be little hypocrites? If our goal is to have well-behaved children, could that foster hypocrisy? How can we avoid hypocrisy ourselves and be better able to point our children to a genuine relationship with Christ?
Learning to trust God as Father makes it possible to rest in Him even in the midst of pain, persecution, trials, and other difficulties. But if we’re going to trust God as Father, we must truly know Him as our Father and not just as God and Judge.
How do you see God? Do you see Him as a harsh judge just waiting to punish you? Do you see Him as a benevolent grandfather who’s not too concerned about whether or not you are holy? Or do you see Him as a Father, the only perfect father, one who cares about your holiness and not just your happiness, but a father who is trustworthy and has your best interests in mind? If not, I hope you will read today’s post and prayerfully think about these things.
Paul implored each of us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. And while the Old Testament sacrificial system was bloody and messy, being a living sacrifice can be bloody and messy, too. Being one requires allowing God to use the sword of the Spirit on our hearts and minds.
The sacrificial system also required worshipers to give their best as offerings. They weren’t to sacrifice the lame and diseased animals. When it comes to your time, talents, and resources, what do you offer to God? Do you offer Him your best? Or do you feel that you often have nothing left to give? During those times, could your best look different than what you might think?
Have you ever heard someone say, “I love him but I’m just not ‘in love’ with him”? Maybe you have said or, at least, thought the same thing. If so, could your ideas about love be colored more by the world than by God’s Word? So, what is biblical love? Is it what greeting card writers or Hollywood movie producers want us to believe, some irresistible attraction, something we fall into and out of? Or is it something else?
Mirrors, they’re everywhere today. But that would not have been true for most people living in biblical times. Yet, the women we’ll read about today, women with the same desire to be attractive that we experience, gave up their bronze mirrors for the glory of God. What would you and I be willing to give up for God’s glory? And does the focus of our care and attention line up with what we say?
We are all counseling. If you’re like most people, friends and family members talk to you all the time. They share struggles and hurts and they are looking to you for input. “How did you handle a similar situation?” or “What would you do?” are the questions that they’re often asking.
And if you’re a parent, you are constantly advising your children. You may find yourself talking to your daughter about that mean girl at school, the pain of not being invited to the party, or to your son about the first love who broke his heart.
The question is, “What is the source of your answers?”
What does God say about counseling? If we’re all counseling all the time, how can we be better equipped to do it well? We’ll look at those and other questions today.
We’ll, also, talk about the seasons of ministry, our priorities in ministry and how God is not surprised by our failures.
Many people have attended church for years. They’ve gone to Bible studies and heard the Bible preached, but they reject the wisdom of God and live in foolish ways. It’s as if they view God’s Word as merely divine suggestions.
Others reject God’s truth altogether claiming they can decide what is right and wrong and wise for themselves. They have decided they can’t worship the God of the Bible so, if they claim a belief in God at all, create a god of their own making, one who is more tolerant and simply loves everyone.
But what about those who actually want God’s wisdom? Does God only give it to a select few or is it there for everyone to hear and apply? And is there a way to grow in wisdom?
