Is it hard for you to accept correction?

Have you ever said something out loud that you didn't think would surprise someone, but it totally did? When I was being trained in counseling, I would spend time training in a group lab with other counselors. In that context, we would practice our skills on each other and attempt to refine each others' abilities.

One afternoon, we were asked to give feedback to each other about what the experience was like and I admitted to another counselor something that she seemed shocked to hear. I told her, "I don't think you'd be easy to counsel." The look on her face when I said that was one of surprise, alarm, and possibly hurt. I certainly didn't mean to hurt her feelings, but her resistance to outside input during our practice session gave me that feeling.

Soon after that experience, I started to ask myself if someone might also be able to make that statement about me, and I think it's fair to say that, depending on the subject, I might also be difficult to counsel. That's an area of life that I'm actively trying to improve, and I suspect it will continue to be an area I'll want to keep an eye on.

What about you? How well do you respond to counsel or correction? Do you get defensive and dismissive, or do you receive it with humility? Proverbs 9 invites us to wrestle with that thought.

I. Will you walk in the way of insight?

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.  She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.  She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town,  “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.  Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (Proverbs 9:1-6)

This proverbs utilizes the literary device of personification. As Solomon attempts to help us see the contrast between wisdom and folly, he presents them as if they are two different women. The woman of Wisdom is prudent, thoughtful, inviting, helpful, and filled with good counsel. She tries to guide lost people onto a better path. The woman of Folly does the exact opposite, but we'll examine her activities a little later.

In these verses, Solomon is trying to convey a picture of the benefits of embracing the wise counsel of the Lord. One of the major benefits we enjoy as those who trust in Jesus Christ is greater insight. He grants us His mind. He lets us see with His eyes. Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we are being intentionally led toward the truth, and we're being shown all sorts of things we wouldn't have naturally perceived. This chapter of Proverbs helps us gain a better understanding of how the Lord is actively pursuing us with His wisdom.

When we observe the work of the Lord, we see that He is intentional, organized, and methodical with His plans and the ways in which He deals with humanity. The personification of wisdom that we see in this passage helps illustrate that. We're told that Wisdom has built her house, prepared food and drink, and sent out her servants to extend an open invitation to partake. The Lord's activity toward humanity is being illustrated in this description. He's building His house, preparing a banquet table, and sending out His ambassadors into this world to extend an invitation.

In this passage, we're told that Wisdom invites the simple to change course, to eat the food she offers, to leave their simple ways, and to walk in the way of insight. Again, this is all being shown to us to help us gain a greater glimpse of the redemptive work of our Lord. Through Christ, we're invited to change course, find our sustenance in Him, leave our life of spiritual blindness, and walk in the light of the truth of His gospel.

That's all beautiful to consider, but it begs the question, "Will you walk in the ways of insight?" True insight is found in Jesus. True wisdom is found in Him. Do you want what He has to offer, or will you settle for the counsel of an "influencer" or a "guru" that is not omniscient? And lest that sound like I'm pointing a finger at you alone, I promise I'm not. That's a question I'm forced to wrestle with as well.

I have two offices that are both filled with books. In addition to that, I have bookshelves throughout my home that are also full, as well as a vast collection of digital books on most of my devices. Every day I'm reading the words and ideas of people that I allow to influence me. To their credit, many of them provide counsel that helps me navigate different areas of life. But the counsel of someone who isn't omniscient cannot supersede the counsel of one who is.

The wise counsel of God, accessed through faith in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will allow us to gain real insight. And as our mind begins the grasp the value of godly wisdom, His Spirit is willing to empower us to put it into practice in our daily walk.

II. Can you be corrected?

"Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.  For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.  If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it." (Proverbs 9:7-12)

How well do you respond to being corrected? What's your gut-level response or reaction?

I have noticed that some of the most successful people I know in just about every field also tend to be the most correctable. I have also noticed that the people in my life who never really seem to gain traction or momentum also tend to resist correction.

In this passage, Solomon tells us about the nature of correcting the uncorrectable. If you correct a scoffer, you get scoffed at. If you challenge a wicked man, you get injured. In both cases, we're being shown the gut-level response of these people to correction. They fight against it, and they do everything in their power to keep those who correct them at a distance. At times, the uncorrectable aren't afraid to verbally or physically hurt those who offer them wisdom.

But what happens when you instruct a wise man? If you give him good counsel, he will love you because he realizes the nature of the favor you've done for him. You've saved him from needless harm, error, or expense. You've been more beneficial to him than an entire army of "yes-men."

I have also observed an interesting pattern among the wise that truly sets them apart from those who refuse to be corrected. The ignorant invest in their distractions. The wise invest in their understanding. Some of the wisest people I know are always telling me about courses they're taking, books they're reading, and discussions they're having, while the ignorant only seem to care about the next thing that might make them giggle.

In drawing the contrast between the scoffer and the wise man, Solomon goes on to make it clear that the wisest among us will always be those who fear the Lord. When a person lives with genuine reverence and respect for the Lord, they are in a perpetual listening posture. Their entire life is being lived with an ear toward Heaven as they await the counsel and instruction the Lord will offer them next.

Years ago, a pastor told me the story of how his church building was built. When it was being founded, a wealthy businessman offered to pay for its construction. During the process, he asked the pastor to give him an answer related to something in his personal life. The pastor gave an honest answer, in a gentle way, even though it challenged the businessman's decision. Most people were afraid to challenge him, but because the pastor gave him honest counsel, he thanked him and said, "Thank you for your honesty. I had already decided that if you weren't honest with me, I wasn't going to continue funding this church."

I also know of a ministry leader that completely rejected the counsel of his board of advisors when they corrected him about an obvious (but correctable) error. In fact, he made this his ongoing pattern, and now they refuse to work with him at all. Nearly all have resigned.

What's your story? Can you be corrected, or will you do your best to resist it?

III. Who has your ear?

The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.  She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,  “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says,  “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”  But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. (Proverbs 9:13-18)

The picture Solomon paints in these verses is unpleasant and possibly offensive. He personifies folly and tells us that it's like a seductive woman who knows nothing. She yells, she entices passers by, and she invites people to join her on her path toward utter destruction. The picture painted here reminds me of a something my daughter and I witnessed last year in Philadelphia.

My daughter was purchasing a car from an older gentleman, and after we test-drove it, we took it to a business to complete the purchase and have the title changed. Twenty feet away from the door of the business, there was a woman standing on the corner of the street. She had a broom in her hand and she was yelling at nearly everyone who passed by, including another woman who looked like she was trying to walk home from work. As she yelled at that woman, she started making fun of her physical appearance, and it was so offensive that it caused a man who was also walking in close proximity to react and try to stop the screaming woman from yelling such hurtful words.

As I witnessed that, I prayed that the woman who was insulted wouldn't take the insults she just received to heart. I was hopeful that the Lord would strike those thoughts from her memory so she wouldn't internalize what she just heard.

In a similar vein, it's probably good for us to ask, "Who has our ear?" Are we listening to the loud yelling of folly, or can we hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to our conscience?

If we're arrogant, we won't hear the voice of the Spirit. The arrogant have ears that have been conditioned to primarily perceive folly, but the humble are listening for the voice of God.

The arrogant don't like to listen. They would rather speak than open their ears to the truth. They would rather live their lives convinced that they've already got everything figured out. In a sense, they attempt to be their own messiah. Instead of responding to the gracious offer of Jesus to save them, they attempt to be their own savior. Their ears aren't open to hear His life-giving gospel. They only want to hear themselves speak.

What about you? Do you think you're perfect? Do you even think you need Jesus? He's offering Himself to you. In fact, He may be calling out to you today, but you're going to have to turn down the volume on "the woman of Folly" if you're going to hear Him. But if you do hear Him, and respond to His invitation, He will graciously guide and protect you for the rest of your life.

Accepting correction isn't easy for many people, but a correctable heart is a redeemable heart. With Spirit-empowered humility, let's ask the Lord to make us receptive to the wisdom He grants us through prayer, through His word, and through the loving counsel of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

© John Stange, 2020

Your conscience will impact the quality of your life

What motivates the decisions you make? Why do you conduct yourself the way you do, and why is your life the way it is?

Recently, I had a conversation with a friend. He was telling me about some difficult things he's been dealing with lately, including some medical problems. Whenever you have medical issues, everyone offers you advice, but some of the advice he received troubled him. He said to me, "I know they're trying to be helpful, but my conscience just won't let me take that suggestion."

Part of the reason I have great respect for this friend is because he has shown me over time that he is a man of strong conscience. He has a high quality of life because he makes a point not to violate his conscience. We're all making "quality of life" decisions on a daily basis. And when we compare our decisions to the counsel we're given in Proverbs 6:1-19, we can clearly see that the quality of our lives will be directly impacted by the sensitivity of our conscience and our willingness to obey the Lord's counsel.

I. How long will you choose to remain ensnared?

"My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; 5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler." (Proverbs 6:1-5)

Becoming entangled or ensnared in something is quite unpleasant. It's unpleasant physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Several years ago, there was evidence that a mouse got into our house. Most homeowners eventually experience that nuisance, and as you'd expect, I set several traps near where I had seen evidence of the mouse's presence. Soon after, I heard one of the traps snap, and when I went to check it out, there was the mouse. He wasn't dead, but he was caught.

At first, I thought I should take him outside and finish him off, but as I looked at him, I started feeling compassion for his condition. I could kill him, or I could set him free. In a moment of empathy that surprised me, I felt compelled to let him go. I did give him a warning, however, that this was a one-time pass and if I saw him again, the meeting would end differently.

Like a mouse in a trap, it's easy to become ensnared by unhealthy and unwise things during the course of our lives. In this passage, Solomon describes someone who becomes ensnared by putting up security for his neighbor. In modern terms, this would be the same concept as co-signing a loan. I don't know if you've ever done that, but it's not a good idea. I have done that in the past, but I don't plan on doing that again. It rarely ends well. Most often, you become liable for the debts of someone else or you're forced to spend years worried about whether or not they'll actually make good on their payments.

Solomon's counsel is to do everything you can to get out of that arrangement because it's a trap that ensnares you. Do whatever you ethically can to get out of it.

And while loans and pledges can ensnare us, they aren't the only things in life that attempt to trap us. Frequently, we're enticed by our temptations to become ensnared in all kinds of ungodliness. Thankfully, Jesus looks at us with compassion and He offers us freedom from our entanglements through faith in Him. And as He blesses us with that freedom, He also reminds us not to return to our previous traps. A trapped life is not a quality life. An entangled life isn't a quality life.

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

II. Are you internally or externally motivated to work?

"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man." (Proverbs 6:6-11)

I don't know if you're a fan of insects or if they give you the creeps, but this passage definitely deepens my appreciation of ants in particular. We're told that they provide an excellent example of the kind of work ethic the Lord wants us to develop.

Ants make preparations with an eye toward the future. They gather what they need. They do the right thing without having to be directly instructed. And they don't waste their days in a slothful manner.

On the other hand, this world is filled with many people who have been created in the image of God, that choose to sleep away the time they can be using to make a meaningful contribution with their life. Solomon tells us that excessive slumber and laziness lead to poverty, and I'm sure we can all think of examples when we've seen that play out in the lives of people we know.

Just recently I asked my father for an update on someone that I remember him helping out years ago. "What happened to him?," I asked. He said, "After getting hired for an entry-level job, he decided to stop showing up. Now he primarily stays in his apartment, drinking beer, watching TV, and coming up with creative ways to convince the government to fund his lazy lifestyle, even though he's fully capable of working."

Are you motivated to do what the Lord has called you to do? Are you using your time, talents, and energy in accordance with His calling on your life, or are you wasting your days on distractions while avoiding your calling?

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)

In whatever vocation or area of service we commit ourselves to, let's do so with the understanding that we aren't serving ourselves, we're serving Christ. He is the one we're seeking to honor.

III. Can you be trusted to shoot straight?

"A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing." (Proverbs 6:12-15)

Something that has become very clear throughout the course of my life is the fact that the truth always comes to the surface. At times, I have felt frustrated with those who were operating dishonestly or in a shady manner, but the Lord has made it more and more apparent that if I wait long enough, I will see Him bring the truth to light.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we're called to be truth-bearers. Since our words and deeds impact the impression people have of Him, we should be mindful of the spiritual implications of our actions. Jesus instructed us to speak honestly, with a "yes" that means "yes" and a "no" that means "no" (Matthew 5:37). To do anything less demonstrates that we're deficient in our understanding of His holiness, and His calling on our lives to walk in holiness (1 Peter 1:16).

Solomon speaks to this issue as well when he tells us that a person who seeks to be of no value to others demonstrates their deficient character through dishonesty. They don't shoot straight. Their words are nothing but double-speak. Even their body language communicates deception. Eventually, when the truth comes to light, such a person will be utterly destroyed if they don't repent of their unbelief and its obvious fruit.

IV. Are you making life bitter or better?

”There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers." (Proverbs 6:16-19)

As this portion of Proverbs 6 concludes, Solomon shares a summary of things that the LORD detests. He despises all forms of deception, injustice, wickedness, and division. These are actions and attitudes that reflect the motives of Satan, not the heart of Christ. As Satan was cast away from the LORD's presence, so too will those who persist in the rebellion and unbelief of Satan.

But as followers of Christ, we have been blessed with a much greater option. Instead of making the lives of others bitter, we have been empowered to make their lives better through the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work within us. True quality of life is found through Christ, and we are graced with the blessing of investing that quality in the lives of those we interact with.

As I read this portion of the book of Proverbs, it seems clear to me that the Lord is encouraging us to be people who maintain a conscience that is sensitive to His guidance and wisdom. As we do so, we'll experience a greater quality of life, and we'll be positioned to contribute to the quality of life of others in a Christ-centered manner.

© John Stange, 2020

Affair-proof your heart

Years ago, I had a friend who seemed to be on a dangerous path. I started to notice that he was becoming far too comfortable interacting with women in a way that, in my opinion, was crossing an ethical line. His behavior started to catch the attention of several other friends as well, so instead of talking about him, I decided to talk to him. I knew it would be an awkward conversation, but I was fearful that he was going to do something that harmed his marriage and damaged his testimony. He thanked me for speaking truth into his life, assured me that he would be more careful, but eventually cheated on his wife anyway. It was hard to watch that unfold, knowing that I had done the best I could to help him.

In a similarly tragic vein, I just learned something tragic about a prominent Christian leader who projected faithfulness to his wife and fidelity to the Scriptures during the entirety of his adult life. While he was conveying an image of holiness and faithfulness, he was leading a double life of sexual infidelity.

Why bring this up? Well, for many (if not most) people, this is one of the primary areas of temptation whereby the devil tries to gain a foothold in our lives. Just look at our entertainment options or listen to the conversations of your peers. You don't have to look far to see the effects of our willingness to give our hearts over to sexual immorality.

And while it's certainly a risk to marry or trust another person, and while it's entirely possible that they may go in a direction that breaks your heart, please keep in mind that you can't control what another person does. What you can do is open your heart to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and invite Him to lead you toward the truth of the gospel and away from temptation. He gives us His strength and His counsel to enable us to avoid unfaithfulness.

With that in mind, let's look at the counsel we're given in Proverbs 5 that demonstrates how the Spirit is enabling us to affair proof our hearts.

I. Don't let yourself be enticed by smooth words (speak the gospel to your spouse)

"My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.  For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.  Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it." (Proverbs 5:1-6)

Solomon doesn't mince words as he attempts to paint a picture in this passage. The image we're given here is of a woman who tries to tempt a man, but keep in mind this same principal works the other way too. Men tempt women. Women tempt men. Neither scenario is good. The concept being conveyed is a person who tries to drag another person down into the depths of sin, instead of building them up and pointing them toward Christ.

There are three primary sources of temptation, and it's wise to be aware of each. We can be tempted by other people, by the devil, and by ourselves. Ironically, we more often tend to blame the devil or other people for tempting us than we blame ourselves even though we tend to be the biggest source of our own temptation.

In this passage, Solomon demonstrates how the smooth words of someone else, combined with our willingness to participate in wickedness, can lead us to the path of death. The path of death is the path of ignorance and rebellion without thought of the consequences of our choices. We were all on that path before coming to faith in Christ and being placed on His path of life. And if we've received new life in Christ, it doesn't make sense for us to return to the path He rescued us from, so don't go back to it.

Rather, instead of being enticed by the smooth words of your tempter, use your words in a proactive way. If the Lord has blessed you with a spouse, speak the gospel to him or her. Give your spouse daily reminders of the grace of Christ, and the faithfulness of Christ, through the verbal reminders you pepper them with throughout the day.

II. Keep yourself away from tempting situations (spend time with your spouse)

“And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.  Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house," (Proverbs 5:7-8)

Those who know me best know that food tends to be my biggest vice. I remember when our family first moved to Langhorne, PA, I was very pleased with the abundance of my favorite chain restaurants that are all just a 5 minute drive from my house or my office. It didn't take long before I found myself eating lunch at one of my favorites almost every day. When I finally started adding up the calories I was eating, I realized that in one meal, I was consuming more than I should eat in an entire day.

For that pattern to be interrupted, I needed to stop visiting those restaurants. It wasn't enough for me to promise myself that I'd make better food choices. I had to take a break from eating there, otherwise I'd be tempted to go right back to my unhealthy habits. I still struggle with this because I'm an emotional eater. I have the bad habit of medicating my stress with food.

With that in mind, why do you suppose the father in this passage encourages the son to stay far away from the temptress? Why is he told not to even go near the door of her house? He's being given this advice because proximity equals opportunity. If you put yourself near what tempts you, you're more likely to give in to it in a moment of weakness. If you keep your distance, you're giving yourself less opportunity to fall.

When it comes to marriage, we can flip this concept on its head and do something proactive. While keeping ourselves away from tempting situations, we can begin carving out time with our spouse. For some people, that's the primary way they know they're loved. If you carve out time for your spouse, you're demonstrating that you'd rather be with them than spend your time lurking where you're likely to be brought down.

III. You aren't an exception to the downside of unfaithfulness (so treat your spouse exceptionally)

lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner, and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.” (Proverbs 5:9-14)

Solomon continues to demonstrate the importance of marital fidelity in this passage by revealing the part of an affair that most participants do their best to ignore. Everyone seems to think they will be the one exception to the downside of unfaithfulness, but guess what, there are no exceptions.

Solomon very clearly tells us that the unfaithful person can expect loss of honor, oppression, to be taken advantage of, unexpected costs that derail their financial health, physical problems, and deep regret. I don't know how that sounds to you, but that certainly gets my attention. And there are no exceptions to this rule. Everyone who persists in unfaithfulness eventually pays this price.

That's why I'm so grateful that our Lord is compassionate toward us. Through Jesus, we're given the opportunity to repent of our unfaithfulness, get back on the path of life, and be cleansed of our iniquities.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Instead of convincing ourselves that somehow we're the exception to the downside of unfaithfulness, let's treat our spouses exceptionally. Let's make a point to demonstrate the sacrificial love and fidelity of Christ within our households.

IV. Be satisfied with the blessing God has selected for you (and be a blessing to the one God chose for you)

"Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?" (Proverbs 5:15-20)

Remember when restaurants didn't give you free refills on your beverages? When I was in high school, our tennis team visited a restaurant after a match that was a distance away. I was very thirsty and ordered a large iced tea with my meal. During the meal, I made the mistake of getting up from the table and one of the guys sitting across from me took most of my drink and poured it into his cup. When I came back to the table and discovered it, I was furious.

Solomon tells us that when it comes to married life, don't try to steal someone else's drink. Drink water from your own cistern. Enjoy the blessings and benefits of marital intimacy without attempting to satisfy that desire outside of marriage. Be satisfied with the blessing God has given you. Be a blessing to the one God blessed you with. Don't covet someone else's blessing. And don't forget that your marriage is meant to demonstrate the love of Christ for His bride, the church. Guard, protect, and provide for your marriage the way Christ is caring for His.

V. God is watching (so keep a close eye on your life and motives)

"For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.  The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.  He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray." (Proverbs 5:21-23)

Lastly, Solomon makes a point to remind us of something healthy that we far too often forget. He brings our attention to the fact that the eyes of God are always upon us. God is watching. There is nothing about our lives or our motives that can be hidden from Him. He knows it all.

If we squelch our conscience and try to live as if God cannot see us and will not hold us accountable, we will find ourselves dreadfully ensnared in the cords of sin. We'll be led astray toward folly and come to a tragic demise.

I don't know how this chapter of Proverbs strikes your ears, but I hope you can hear God's protective care in these words. He isn't revealing the downside of unfaithfulness to us to beat us up if we're already feeling guilty about something. He's revealing the truth to us so we won't take our lives in an ungodly and unwise direction. He's giving us words of prevention while also reminding us that He's the cure for this problem.

Christ is the solution for our wandering hearts. Through Him, we can affair proof our life. By finding our satisfaction in Christ, we don't need to attempt to satisfy the cravings of our old nature.

"But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." (Matthew 5:6)

© John Stange, 2020

Do you have a forward facing faith?

When I was in my early teens, I remember our church taking the youth group on a hayride. The hayride was hosted by a farm that was a little distance away. To save gas, the adult chaperones decided that it would make sense to car pool, and several drivers offered their vehicles. One of the drivers who volunteered was our pastor. He drove a light blue station wagon with wood grain exterior trim, and I was assigned to ride with him.

During the days when seat belts were considered optional, station wagons were very fun cars for a kid to ride in. You had all the room in the world to roam around the back, but our pastor's car had one additional feature that I had never experienced before. His car had a bench seat in the far back that folded up from the floor and let you face the rear window. I volunteered to sit there and found it very entertaining. It was certainly a new perspective as a passenger.

By the end of the drive, however, the novelty wore off. It became clear to me that I strongly preferred facing forward. I wanted to see where I was going, not where I had already been. Spiritually speaking, I think that's a perspective the Lord wants us to develop as well. He invites us to be looking forward, not staring backward or looking side to side.

In Proverbs 4:20-27, Solomon speaks directly about that very thing. As we prepare to look at that passage together, let me ask, "Do you have a forward facing faith?"

I. Develop a thirst for righteous wisdom

“My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.  For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)

During the warm months, I typically mow my lawn on Monday afternoons. I usually take that day off, so if the weather cooperates, it's a good time of the week for me to get that task accomplished. To some people, it's a chore, but for me it's relaxing. I try to stay hydrated while I'm mowing, but I have noticed that when I'm done, there's nothing I seem to crave more than some sort of fruit juice. I suspect that my body is sending my brain signals that the fruit juice has the nutrients or electrolytes that were depleted while I was outside working.

I think we all know what it's like to have an intense thirst for something. We find it difficult to stop thinking about it until we obtain it. In my estimation, it's practical to keep that feeling in mind when we're reading this passage. Solomon is teaching us to develop a thirst for righteous wisdom.

As he makes a pattern of doing, Solomon writes like a father speaking to a son. He instructs the son, or the reader, to be attentive to his words and to have an ear that is inclined to listen to what he's saying because in that teaching, there is life and healing.

I picture the listener here being encouraged to have thirsty ears. We're encouraged to have ears that are highly eager to receive the wisdom of God. I frequently think about this when I'm preaching. I always know that when I'm proclaiming Scripture, I have to compete with cell phones, and I can tell if someone has thirsty ears that are ready to hear the word of God by whether the phone or the passage we're looking at has their attention.

If as followers of Christ we develop a thirst for righteous wisdom, we will experience blessings that are protective in nature. As our eyes and hearts learn to point toward Christ, and our faith continues to grow mature, we will be able to filter out so much worldly confusion. We'll actually begin to see the issues behind the issues, the real problems behind the presenting problems, and the needs behind the facades as we develop a thirst for righteous wisdom.

II. Guard your heart

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

A few months ago, I set up a new home office in my basement that has become the primary place I'm working right now. I like my desk. I like the privacy. I like the solitude that has allowed me to get more work done in less time because I have fewer distractions. But there's one problem with the office that I hope is only temporary. All of a sudden, it's being infested with yellow jackets. I still haven't figured out where these wasps are coming from, but I find myself needing to defend my favorite work environment from being invaded.

In a similar way, there are all kinds of things swarming around in our lives that would love to be able to invade our hearts. There are things that compete for our affections and our attention. There are things that want our full devotion, even though they aren't healthy or wise. Many people in this world, as well as many professing Christians, have allowed their lives to become derailed because they have stopped guarding their hearts.

Solomon encourages us to be vigilant in how we keep, protect, and watch over our hearts. He knew how susceptible our hearts can be to invasion and distraction. From our hearts we will gradually begin to display what we value and what we're prioritizing.

Our hearts, left to themselves, have a big problem. By nature, we struggle with sin, which means that our hearts our diseased and can't be fully trusted. Our hearts are actually quite adept at deceiving us. That's why Jesus chose to intervene on our behalf.

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person." (Matthew 15:19-20a)

Our hearts reveal what we value. Our hearts reveal what's going on within us. Our hearts demonstrate just how lost we would be without Christ.

Thankfully, through Jesus we receive a new heart. He teaches us to value new things that we didn't value while we were still leaving our hearts unguarded from the arrows of worldly temptation. The new heart He gives us aligns with His eternal desires for our lives.

So how can we avoid veering in an unguarded and unhealthy direction?

III. Don't be diverted from the path God placed you on

"Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.  Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.  Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.  Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil." (Proverbs 4:24-27)

Just the other day, I received a prayer request from someone I don't know personally. Due to a downturn in her industry, she was just informed that she lost her job. I have prayed for her multiple times since hearing that, and I'm sure most of us can sympathize with the emotions she's feeling.

So what should you do if you find yourself in a situation like that? Should you give up or should you press on? I don't know if you're familiar with the name Pat Flynn. He's developed a reputation over the years as someone who has figured out how just about anyone can bounce back from losing a job. Pat lost his job as an architect in 2008, and since that time, he learned how to successfully build an online business that helps people pass the exam needed to become an architect, and has been laser-focused on teaching people how they can build a business based on their expertise as well. He's a great example of the benefits that come from sticking to the right path over the long-term. His consistency is truly paying off.

There is a path the Lord directs us to follow in His word. As those who trust in Jesus Christ, all aspects of our lives are intended to be impacted by Christ's saving presence within us. We're encouraged to be people who do not divert from God's path. Our fidelity to remaining on that path will be visibly demonstrated in our speech, through our eyes, and by observing which direction our feet are walking.

The Bible has much to say about how we use our words. Solomon encourages us to put crooked speech and deception far from us. Elsewhere in Scripture, we're reminded that our words can build up, tear down, communicate the gospel, instruct the unwise, convey love, speak a blessing, and voice a petition before the throne of God.

"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34b)

The Bible has much to say about our eyes. Solomon encourages us to be people who look directly forward. Elsewhere in Scripture, we're encouraged not to look longingly toward worldly affections, to avoid feeding the lusts of our eyes, and to fix our eyes on Christ.

The Bible has much to say about how we use our feet. Solomon encourages us to think about where we're walking, to avoid veering off path, and to turn our feet away from evil. Elsewhere in Scripture we're invited to come running to our Heavenly Father who loves us, and to venture out as missionaries who bring the good news where it hasn't yet been heard.

All of this is to be done with a forward looking faith. The way we use our speech, the content we feed our eyes, and the path our feet follow should reflect the new heart Jesus has given us. And of the examples of a forward looking faith, His is the most powerful.

"let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross," (Hebrews 12:1b-2a)

We're called to have a forward facing faith that reflects the example of Christ. Jesus was willing to endure all He experienced on this earth because He could see beyond it. As we run our race on this planet, it can be far too easy to grow weary. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus, and learn to see what He sees, our perspective can drastically change.

Jesus was looking forward to the new family He would establish, the church. Jesus was looking forward to the redemption of billions of lost lives. Jesus was looking forward to the reformation and restoration of His creation. And because He was able to see beyond His momentary pain, He endured the most excruciating form of death imagined in the mind of man.

As those who follow Christ and trust in Him completely, let's remember His example. And keeping our eyes on Him, let's continue to look forward to what He has in store for all who know and love Him.

© John Stange, 2020

The blueprint for living a long and peaceful life

When I was in seventh grade, my science teacher was talking about biological and sociological factors that tend to contribute to a lengthier life span. In the midst of teaching on that subject, he asked the class this question, "How many of you would like to live till you're 100-years-old?" Most of the class raised their hands, but I didn't.

My teacher thought that was odd, so he asked me a follow up question. "Typically, when I ask my students a question like that, they all raise their hands. Why didn't you raise yours?"

I gave a reply that was 50% honest, and 50% an attempt to look cool and rebellious in front of my peers. I answered, "Life stinks!" When I look back at what was going on in my life during that season, and when I consider some of my major influences at that time, it doesn't surprise me that I said that. But now, if I was asked that question, I would give a very different answer. I happen to enjoy life, and I'm more convinced than ever that it is a gift from God.

We don't know how many days the Lord has ordained for us on this earth. It's different for us all. But when we examine Proverbs 3:1-12, we're given a blueprint that most certainly can contribute to a long and peaceful life. The counsel we're given in these verses is priceless.

I. Remember what you were taught

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you." (Proverbs 3:1-2)

One of the greatest privileges I have been given is the blessing of being a father to four great children. I love them. I'm proud of them, and I'm glad I get to spend large portions of my life with them. On a daily basis, they ask me questions, and they expect answers. I have never been shy about sharing my opinions and insights with them. But here's the interesting part of that. Sometimes they accept my counsel eagerly. Other times, they reject it and venture out on their own. That's the same pattern many of us follow in life, but I'm sure most of us can testify to the fact that things tend to go better when we listen to what we were taught.

As he does in multiple portions of the book of Proverbs, Solomon writes this section like a father giving advice to his son. This approach conveys the heart of a loving father toward his child. It also gives us a glimpse of the loving heart of God the Father toward His children.

These verses set the tone for what Solomon is about to elaborate on. If we want to avoid an untimely demise, and if we want to experience a peaceful life that isn't filled with needless pain and regret, we would be wise to listen to the counsel of those who love us and have walked a mile in our shoes just one short generation ago.

And above that, we would be wise to listen to the wise counsel Jesus has given us through His teaching. In fact, Christ reveals that we are being actively helped to remember His words. The Holy Spirit intentionally and powerfully reminds us of what Jesus said to us.

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:25-26)

II. Remain loving and faithful

"Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man." (Proverbs 3:3-4)

I'm grateful that throughout the course of our days, we have the privilege of getting to know the Lord better and better. He has revealed Himself to us, and He has historically told us more about Himself so we would understand His nature and His character.

During the days of the exodus when Moses was leading the people of Israel toward the Promised Land, the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in powerful ways. During that season, the Lord made it clear to Moses that, by nature, He was merciful, gracious, patient, loving, and faithful.

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness," (Exodus 34:6)

Solomon was familiar with what the Lord had revealed about Himself back in the days of Moses, and as the Holy Spirit was inspiring him to write down these verses, Solomon encouraged us to reflect the heart of God by likewise remaining loving and faithful.

Through faith in Jesus, this is possible for us. When we trust in Christ, our heart is changed, our eyes are opened, and our desires are reformed. We begin to want the things that God wants, and value what he values. If we actively demonstrate the fact that we value love and faithfulness by lavishly bestowing them upon others, Solomon tells us we will find favor and success in the sight of God and man. The Father will delight to see us reflecting His heart, and others will grow to respect us because we're demonstrating the fact that we value, care for, and respect them.

III. Trust in the Lord

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.  It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8)

On most Fridays, I take my wife out to eat, then we usually take a walk together and finish the evening with ice cream. I enjoy our conversations on Friday nights because it usually involves some reminiscing. We're in our mid-40's now, so it blows my mind when I think about the fact that we started dating when we were still teenagers. Every day I get to enjoy the fruit of the choices I made when I was young.

During my teen years, I was being peppered with advice from all angles. Some of that counsel was wise, but much of that counsel was bad. I'm grateful that I started listening to the counsel the Lord gives us in His word at a young age instead of trusting my own wisdom. It has had a huge impact on the trajectory of my life, and I think that's the point. The sooner we learn to trust the Lord's wisdom above our own ideas, the better life goes.

Solomon encourages us to be people who trust in the Lord with our entire heart instead of idolizing ourselves and our own ideas. He encourages us to acknowledge the Lord as the one who is in charge of our lives so that we won't veer off course. He challenges us, as he does throughout Proverbs, to fear the Lord and turn from evil.

All that being said, there is no more peaceful way to live your life than to go through your days trusting in the Lord, just as this passage says. When hard days come, we can trust that the Lord has a purpose for the lessons we're learning. When we're troubled about all the things we can't control, we can step back and be glad that He has everything under His control. When we're tempted to start living in the past, we can look forward to the future and take solace in the fact that Christ will return just as He promised to.

In every moment, and in all circumstances, we're called to trust the Lord.

IV. Honor the LORD with your wealth

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10)

What does it mean to honor the Lord with your wealth? Do you even feel wealthy? I read a statistic not too long ago that stated that if you earn more than $34,000 per year, you're wealthier than 99% percent of the people living on earth right now. And if you have just $4,210 to your name, you're wealthier than 50% of people living on earth.

I don't know how much money the Lord will entrust to you during the course of your life. It's likely there will be others who earn more than you and others who earn less. But the Lord has promised to meet our needs, and He sovereignly allows us to earn and receive what He has willed for us.

If we show that we won't worship money, but will use it to glorify Him, it seems likely from what we read in verses like this that the Lord may choose to entrust additional wealth to us. But if we don't honor Him with what He has already entrusted to us, I don't think He would be doing us much of a favor to give us even more. If we're going to turn money into an idol, the fatherly thing to do would be to hold back from giving us something that might actually draw us away from Him. So honor the Lord with whatever wealth He entrusts to your care.

V. Accept the LORD's discipline

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12)

As Solomon concludes this portion of the chapter, he points us toward one additional way the Lord demonstrates His love. God shows us He loves us through disciplining us. He doesn't discipline us because He hates us. His discipline is evidence of His love.

For this reason, Solomon encourages us not to despise, resent, or grow tired of the Lord's willingness to discipline us. God's discipline is protective and redemptive in nature. He’s rescuing us from harm and leading us away from greater errors. He's showing us that He is sufficient and that our lives are being compassionately overseen by One who cares for our well-being, and isn't shy about intervening on our behalf in a corrective way.

As the Lord disciplines us, He's giving us opportunity to learn, confess, and repent. Our sin has already been paid for by Jesus. Through Christ we are set free from our bondage to it. The discipline of God is a helpful way to get the taste of sin out of our mouths. He's helping us to realize that the sweetness of sin and rebellion is nothing but spoiled and bitter fruit.

The blueprint for a long and peaceful life isn't complicated, but more people reject that blueprint than accept it. As we trust in Jesus, and live out the fruit of that trust, there will be measurable benefit in our lives. This chapter of Proverbs makes that abundantly clear.

Notes:
1. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2082385/We-1--You-need-34k-income-global-elite--half-worlds-richest-live-U-S.html
2. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/07/how-much-money-you-need-to-be-in-the-richest-10-percent-worldwide.html

© John Stange, 2020

If it's important to you, you'll do what you need to get it

A few months ago, my mother-in-law bought me a book. It's a book about a musician that I have always admired and respected. She knows I have a lot of books and love to read. When she gave me the book, I joked with her, "You know, it's a little dangerous to try to buy a book for me."

"Why's that?," she asked.

"Because if I really want to read something, odds are I've probably already purchased it."

We laughed about that, because we both know it's true. I have pretty simple tastes, but if something truly catches my attention, it isn't too much longer before it's in my possession. And when it comes to knowledge, if I want to know something, I'm going to do whatever it takes to learn it. I think we all demonstrate that same capacity to one degree or another. If something is genuinely important to us, we'll do whatever it takes to get it. In fact, if you take a quick moment to analyze your life, you'll see that you're already pursuing what's important to you.

Solomon elaborates on that concept in Proverbs 2. He applies that approach to the subject of the wisdom of God. If the wisdom of God is important to you, you'll call out for it. You'll eagerly pursue it. You'll give up other things in order to get it. You'll plead with the Lord to bless you with it.

So how important is godly wisdom to us? Are we doing what we need in order to get it?

I. Is the treasure you're seeking and the treasure you actually need the same thing?

"My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:1-5)

How much of your life is being spent digging for some kind of treasure?

Sometimes I feel guilty about complaining because I know my life isn't anywhere near as difficult as the lives some of my ancestors lived. On my hardest days, I often think about my great-grandfather, Joseph Lewis, and the fact that he spent nearly every day of his adult life working in a coal mine. There were many days he didn't see sunlight because his task was to pick at veins of coal deep in the ground. And sadly, he lost his life in a cave in.

Solomon speaks of the treasure we're invited to dig for in this passage. He teaches us that we're to receive the words and wisdom of God like the great gift that they are. We're to treasure His commandments and seek to know even more about what He's communicating.

In fact, we're told to make this a matter of prayer. We're invited to call out to the Lord for the kind of supernatural insight only He can fully supply. If this becomes the pattern of our life, we'll be amazed at the good that comes from it. In the process of seeking the Lord's counsel and internalizing the wisdom He makes available to us in His word, we'll gain a deeper level of reverence for Him and we'll know Him in a full and meaningful way.

With this in mind, I love what Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:6. In that passage He says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." The wisdom of this world cannot satisfy our hearts, but the righteousness of Christ that we receive as a gift through faith in Christ, will satisfy the longings of our soul. And with His righteousness, we likewise receive His wisdom. He who lives within us offers us His counsel.

Admittedly, I have spent multiple seasons of my life seeking after things that I mistakenly thought would satisfy that longing. Thankfully, the Lord has been showing me that He alone is sufficient. The treasure that I was seeking and the treasure I actually needed weren't the same thing. But now my heart is convinced that in Christ I find all I truly need. Jesus is the wisdom of God personified and He offers Himself to us freely.

II. God is guarding your life in multiple ways through multiple means

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways." (Proverbs 2:6-15)

When our kids were little, we lived in a home with a nice wooden staircase. I thought it was lovely, but it was also a little dangerous. I went sliding down that thing, unintentionally, many times in my socks. And because our house was full of people, it wasn't always practical to have a gate in place to block it. Thankfully, we had our son Jay who, even at a very young age, was always willing to stand guard and legitimately protect his younger siblings from getting too close to it or falling down that staircase.

Have you ever paused to thank God for the ways He's intentionally guarding and protecting your life? Can you see the safety measures and guide-rails He's surrounding you with to keep you from falling?

Solomon gives us a glimpse of multiple ways the Lord is guarding us. He tells us that God guards us by giving us wisdom. We receive that wisdom as the Holy Spirit speaks to our conscience, and enlightens us through His word. We're also told that the Lord is sovereignly watching over the path we take. He shields us from evil. He protects us from perverseness. He delivers us from those who want us to join them on a crooked path.

Knowing that the Lord is guarding our lives should certainly be a source of comfort and confidence for us all, but it doesn't excuse us from paying attention to the steps we take or the way we walk our walk. We have been granted the liberty to embrace His protective guidance or try to live our lives outside of those rails. This passage shows us the wisdom of embracing the framework of God's protective care.

III. There is a high degree of similarity between spiritual and marital adultery

"So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life." (Proverbs 2:16-19)

I once heard a man state that when he was a child, his grandmother didn't want him to read some of the things Solomon wrote in the Bible, particularly when he brought up subjects like adultery and other issues related to marriage and intimacy. She told him he should wait until he was older to read them.

I do find it rather interesting how frequently subjects like adultery and unfaithfulness come up in Scripture. The history of humanity shows us that this is one of the primary areas of temptation we struggle with. In fact, when you take a look at the lives of leaders who eventually disqualify themselves in leadership, it frequently comes back to either their misuse of money or their lack of integrity in regard to sexual ethics.

And while infidelity within a marriage is certainly a big deal, there's a realm of unfaithfulness that the Lord often speaks about in the same manner. You may or may not have been unfaithful to your spouse, but all of us have struggled to be faithful to God. This has been the struggle of humanity from our earliest days. It was because of our willingness to sever our relationship with God and live unfaithfully that the Father sent us Jesus. Our relationship with the Lord needs to be restored and reconciled, and that's only accomplished through Christ.

"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4)

When we examine Solomon's words in Proverbs 2, he shows us that giving in to the temptation to be unfaithful only leads to ruin. Marital adultery and spiritual adultery both seem enticing and tempting in the moment, but they both lead to ruin and regret in the end. Solomon's words are strong counsel to us, "for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed."

IV. Build your life on a foundation of faith, righteousness, and integrity

"So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it." (Proverbs 2:20-22)

I'm grateful that through Christ, we don't need to remain on the path of unrighteousness and death. In Christ, we receive life. In Christ, we're made upright, and we're given an inheritance in the kingdom of God. As Solomon says, "the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it." The wicked who persist in their unbelief are cut off from the eternal goodness of God, but those who have faith in Christ will enjoy a secure inheritance in His presence forever.

This passage forces me to ask the question, "On what foundation am I building my life?" When you look at the example that's being held out for us to emulate, we're shown a person who chooses to build their life on a foundation of faith, righteousness, and integrity. As they trust in the Lord and receive His wisdom, they're shown that this is the right foundation to lay.

But some people build their lives on something much shakier. I won't use names, but I recently read an article about an influential person who is now deceased. During the course of his life, his public persona gave off the impression that he was a man of character, but since his death, it's starting to become clear that he may have been leading a double life. It drives me crazy when I learn of stories like that, but it's so common and we need to admit that we could easily find ourselves making the same mistake if we attempt to build our lives on a worldly or wicked foundation.

Is your life being built on the foundation of Jesus Christ who will foster faith, righteousness, and integrity, or are you living a double life, built on a shaky foundation that's bound to eventually crumble?

The wisdom and righteousness of Christ matters. It's of greater value than the treasures this world tries to convince us to value. If what Christ offers you is valuable to you, you'll do what you need to do to get it. Are you calling out to Him for it? How badly do you want the wisdom He offers? How intensely do you want Him to guide, direct, and protect your life?

© John Stange, 2020

Don't allow yourself to be easily led astray

The book of Proverbs is one of the best loved books of Scripture.

What is the purpose of the book of Proverbs? The book of Proverbs is a fascinating book. It was written to impart godly wisdom to us, but that wisdom can only be fully understood and appreciated when it's coupled with genuine faith in the Lord. If we read its pages, and implement what we read, we'll be spared from making all kinds of unforced errors. We'll also get ahead in many meaningful ways in a shorter period of time by incorporating this wisdom into our life.

Who wrote it? The primary person who wrote the book of Proverbs was King Solomon. Solomon was king of Israel in about 900 B.C. and he was granted great wisdom by the Lord. He also compiled the wise words of other individuals and included them in this collection. This collection of divinely inspired wisdom was a great gift to the people of Solomon's day, but it's also a great gift to us as well. We would do well to heed the counsel contained in this collection of verses.

Topics in Proverbs: Every major topic of life is referenced in the book of Proverbs. Solomon speaks about the nature of our relationship with God. He also speaks about things like; our behaviors, our character, our motivation, financial wealth, relationships, ethics, and the process of raising children.

As we examine some of the wise subjects addressed in Proverbs, we're going to learn more about walking in the wisdom of God and what it looks like to grow in godliness, avoid costly mistakes, and get ahead in life.

I. Are you positioned to welcome or resist wisdom and instruction?

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:5-7)

One of my favorite pictures of my daughter Julia was taken at Core Creek Park in Langhorne, PA when she was a little less than 3-years-old. Andrea and I had taken the kids to the park to run around and play in the fields. We also brought along a small football that our sons liked to throw around when they were small. I offered to throw the ball to Julia as well and she cautiously agreed. As she did so, she put her hands out in front of her, squinted her eyes, and nervously waited for the ball to come crashing into her arms. She made herself ready to receive it in anticipation of its arrival.

Is it your belief that the Lord wants to bless you with His wisdom? Are you ready to receive it? Are you positioned to welcome it, or is your back still turned toward it?

As Solomon begins this collection of wise counsel, he shows us how to be ready to receive it. He invites the wise to hear and increase their learning. He encourages the understanding among us to get ready to obtain additional guidance. Then he draws a stark line between those who are in a posture to receive divine truth and those who turn their backs to wisdom.

Solomon is very careful to say that a person can only experience the true fullness of wisdom if they respect the Lord who is the source of wisdom. If we have genuine faith in the Lord and our hearts truly revere Him, we're positioned to hear His counsel and drink it in deeply. But fools despise godly wisdom and turn their backs to wisdom's source.

I don't believe we should use the words "fool" or "idiot" casually. For the most part, I have attempted to weed those words out of my vocabulary unless I'm using them in their proper context. A true fool, like Solomon references in Proverbs 1:7, is a faithless person. A fool utterly rejects the Lord and lives as if the Lord doesn't exist. I have chosen to stop using that term casually because it isn't a term that's meant to be taken lightly. It's a term that should be reserved for someone who lives in the arrogance of unbelief.

What side of that line are you living on? Are you positioned to welcome or resist the wisdom of God? When you look at the full counsel of Scripture, we're shown that we'll never touch the depths of wisdom until we come to a place of genuine faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the wisdom of God personified. Jesus is greater than Solomon. He is the one who created Solomon and the world Solomon occupied.

"And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God,  righteousness and sanctification and redemption," (1 Corinthians 1:30)

"The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here." (Matthew 12:42)

II. The company you keep will lift you up or tear you down

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.  My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.  If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse” (Proverbs 1:8-14)

When possible, I try to grab lunch with some of the men I'm friends with in our church and in our community. It's a good way to connect, and sometimes it can provide a great opportunity for leadership development and discipleship.

Years ago, I used to carve out time to meet with someone, but I eventually had to stop. I noticed that every conversation eventually transitioned into what he disliked about other people. Then when he ran out of other people to cut down, he would "do me the favor" of telling me all the things he didn't really like about me. In his words, he was just trying to be "helpful," but I can't remember a single time I left one of those lunches feeling anything but discouraged by his demeaning negativity. Eventually, I decided it would be best to stop meeting for lunch because the company you keep will either lift you up or tear you down, and he was really good at tearing me down.

Solomon references that same concept in Proverbs 1:8-14, and I think it's particularly interesting that he mentions this in the very first chapter of this book. It's as if he's trying to tell us that the company we keep is such an important concept to understand that it will deeply impact our openness to receive and apply wisdom depending on who we're surrounding ourselves with. Some of the best people to surround yourself with are your parents.

Solomon encourages us to be people who take counsel from our parents. The Lord has given us our parents as a gift. They have lived through every season we're presently living through, and heeding their counsel can save us from many needless mistakes and regrets.

Isn't it comical how all of us at one point of another have probably convinced ourselves that we knew more than our parents? Practically speaking, that doesn't make any sense. People don't tend to get dumber the longer they live. As they accumulate experiences, relationships, and endure hardships, they tend to grow in wisdom as well. And if they know and love Jesus, that wisdom is also coupled with faith. What sense does it make to reject their wisdom when they offer it to us? Only the arrogant reject godly counsel when it's freely offered to them.

That counsel can stick in our thinking long after our parents are even living. Just the other day, my father told me that he was so tired on Sunday morning and didn't want to get up for church, but he could still hear my grandmother's voice in his mind saying, "The Lord gives you 168 hours every week. Is it too much for you to give Him one of those back?" So, even though my grandmother is presently in Heaven, the memory of her counsel still gets him out of bed for church on Sundays. She spent her life building her children up.

But as we've already said, not everyone in your life wants to build you up. Plenty of people will extend an invitation to you to join them in whatever mess they've immersed themselves in. Don't take that invitation. It's much easier to be dragged down than to be lifted up.

Solomon shares an example of companions who give counsel that is contrary to the advice given by godly parents. He speaks of men who try to entice someone to join them in ambushing an unsuspecting person. He speaks of those who attempt to entice you with worldliness, and he encourages us not to consent to their allure.

Who thinks so little of your well-being that they're willing to drag you down? Don't go in the direction they're trying to take you. Who loves you enough to lift you up? Walk with them, take their counsel, and make the point to give each other a regular glimpse of the heart of Christ.

III. You'll never get ahead by stealing someone else's blessings

“my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.” (Proverbs 1:15-19)

As Solomon describes those who attempt to ambush and rob an unsuspecting person, he reveals the outcome of that manner of living. Those who live this way will eventually find themselves ensnared by the traps they set for others. Their attempts to damage and destroy other people will only leave them damaged and destroyed.

I was thinking about his recently when I read a story about two well-educated, but young lawyers who decided to participate in several criminal acts. One threw a fire bomb into a police car, but her actions were caught on video. I couldn't help but think about the fact that she spent many years and lots of money in preparation for a lucrative career, then threw it all away by attempting to harm someone else.

How does a person really get ahead in life? I think that question will be answered for us through many of the examples we're given in the book of Proverbs, but even before we fully grasp that answer, I think this passage makes it clear that we won't be getting ahead by trying to steal someone else's blessings. Coveting another persons gifts, talents, and treasures will only leave you feeling jealous and empty. It's much better to celebrate another person's blessings than it is to condemn them for receiving them.

When we fail to celebrate the blessings someone else has received, we're also showing that deep down we're dissatisfied with the blessings we've been given. It's like saying to the Lord, "I realize you've been good to me, but you could have done better than this. You obviously must not have my best interests at heart." But Christ truly does have our best interests in mind when He allows us to receive and enjoy what we're entrusted with.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Throughout the course of your life, you're going to encounter many different influences. Some will attempt to build you up. Some will try to tear you down. Some will point you to Christ, and some will try to convince you that your heart can find contentment apart from Him. Ask the Lord to help you filter these influences so you aren't easily led astray from a sincere walk with Christ. Trust the Lord. Revere Him, and allow the healthy respect you have for His power to form the foundation of the wisdom your life is being built upon.

© John Stange, 2020

Are you spiritually discerning, dull, disinterested, or dead?

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

I truly wish the spiritual discernment we've been granted as believers in Jesus Christ was an aspect of our salvation that was valued, appreciated, and utilized more than it is. The older I get, and the more I observe the lives of those I care about, the more concerned I'm becoming that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are buying into the smoke screens and delusions of the age in which we live.

In every generation, Satan attempts to propagate values and priorities that aren't biblical. Those values are preached to us constantly through nearly every channel of communication and source of entertainment. Those values work their way into our textbooks, conversations, and parenting trends. Two things leave us wide open to buying into them; lack of prayer and lack of time in the Bible. We buy into a mindset that we should be guarding against because our minds are being fed a steady diet of worldly beliefs while being starved of the word of God.

Are we willing to admit this is a problem that's presently affecting the church? Would we be willing to ask ourselves the hard question, "Am I spiritually discerning, dull, disinterested, or dead?"

I. Your mind needs to be regenerated in order to have true spiritual understanding

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14) 

The other day, my youngest daughter and I were engaged in a debate. It wasn't contentious or argumentative like some debates in this world can become. Our discussion centered around the application of a particular portion of Scripture and whether or not we should interpret it as a hard and fast issue, or if there was some room for liberty in our understanding of that passage. I thought it was a good discussion, and I appreciated the spirit in which she approached the topic with me. She genuinely wanted to learn and didn't resist giving my viewpoint some consideration.

My daughter values the teaching of Scripture because she trusts in Jesus, and the Spirit of God lives within her. A stark contrast to that worldview is illustrated by Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:14. In that passage, Paul tells us that a person with a mind that hasn't been regenerated by the Spirit of God cannot understand the things pertaining to the Spirit of God. It's a foreign language to him. It sounds like foolishness, and the unspiritual person probably scratches his head wondering why anyone would believe something that cannot be observed in nature.

I think there's a lot of irony present in that viewpoint, however. The unspiritual person thinks spiritual truth is folly and can't fathom why we place so much trust in a God we can't see, but I can't help but wonder how much such a person would be willing to examine the nature of their own beliefs or who they're placing their trust in.

Everyone believes things they haven't seen. Everyone places their trust in people they haven't laid eyes on. Everyone believes theories and ideas they haven't personally verified. Have you ever considered that much of what you believe comes down to the fact that you have chosen to trust the person who delivered information to you first, and many of your core convictions are things you've never taken much time to research or examine?

If an online influencer or celebrity got to your mind first, you may treat their views as verifiable truth. If a parent, teacher, or pastor got to your mind first, you may also trust what they've told you. It may be accurate or it may not be, but you may be basing the way you live your life, the way you treat your spouse, the way you raise your children, and the way you relate to God based on information that may be false, yet you treat it as true.

So what should we do about this? I think one of the best examples we're given is found in the history of the early church as recorded in Acts 17:11-12 which says, "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men." They searched the Scriptures for themselves with the goal to learn what was true.

The natural person doesn't have the power to discern spiritual truth. They are an open vessel for the whims and wishes of destructive earthly philosophies to take hold in their minds. But those who trust in Jesus Christ have the internal witness of the Holy Spirit who leads us toward the truth and uses His revealed word, which He encourages us to examine, to help us differentiate between what is true and what isn't.

If you're walking by faith in Christ, keeping in step with the Spirit, you'll understand what He's telling you. But if you don't believe, or if you keep fighting Him, or if you never seem to get around to examining the Scriptures for yourself, you'll be ripe for deception and Satan will gladly swoop in, put a bag over your head, and encourage you to spend decades on this earth stumbling around in utter confusion while you wait for the world to tell you what to believe next.

II. Someone in a state of unbelief cannot make accurate spiritual judgements

"The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one." (1 Corinthians 2:15) 

Have you ever had to stand before a judge? Depending on your reason for standing before one, it can be an intimidating experience. Your hope is that the judge rules justly and makes the right decisions, but you know there's a risk that he might not.

When you become a parent, a coach, a teacher, or an employer, you also become a judge. When I was directing a conference center, I had to make daily judgement calls with campers and staff. I had to decide when to chastise and when to show mercy. I had to try to decipher truth when competing stories were presented before me.

I still remember a camper who was accused of vandalizing part of the camp's property. He denied doing it, so I asked that he be brought before me. I looked at him in the face, confronted him with the details I knew, carefully watched his body language and facial expressions while I was talking, then finished my statement with, "You did what you're being accused of, didn't you." When I made the right judgement call, he confessed and said, "Yes, I did." Then I thanked him for his confession and told him, "If you go back and fix it, there will be no further problems and I'll have no issue with you either." He undid his vandalism and didn't cause any further difficulties. I had to make a judgement call, and I think I made the right one.

In 1 Corinthians 2:15, Paul speaks of judgement, but he also makes it clear that an unspiritual person cannot make accurate spiritual judgements, while a spiritual person can. If you have genuine faith in Jesus Christ, your assessment of the the value of His life, death, and resurrection will differ greatly from the assessments of the unspiritual person. Your understanding of the nature and need of salvation will differ greatly as well, and the unspiritual person will not be able to see what you're seeing until their spiritual eyes are opened.

Are there people in your life who seem spiritually disinterested or spiritually dead to you? If you know Jesus, what role has the Lord called you to play in their life?

Christ is offering Himself to them just like He offered Himself to you. In fact, He's making His appeal to them through your words and your life. Your task is to pray for them, model genuine faith to them, value them, spend time with them, speak to them, pray with them, and then mentor them in the faith if they eventually come to believe in Jesus. I hope someone once did that for you as well.

III. Are we making the best use of the insight and understanding made available to us?

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

I used to spend a lot of time at my grandmother's house when I was a child. Her sister, my great-aunt lived there as well and was like a bonus grandmother to me. In their living room, they had end tables that doubled as book shelves. I used to walk past them all the time, but finally got curious enough to start reading the books my aunt had purchased. One was an almanac filled with interesting details about American history. For years, I read it and re-read it whenever I visited. It's amazing what happened to my history grades when I stopped walking past the books and started picking them up.

Do you ever feel like you're walking right past the insight and understanding God is making available to you?

It's obvious that we are not in a position to instruct the Lord about anything. He is omniscient. He knowns all things, and His thoughts are far above our own. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8)

But as Paul wraps up this chapter, he does so with a clear declaration that if we know Christ, we have been blessed with the mind of Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, we are made able to see what He sees and think what He thinks. Are we making the best use of that ability?

Possessing the mind of Christ enables us to see ourselves from God's perspective.

Possessing the mind of Christ enables us to see others with the eyes of God.

Possessing the mind of Christ enables us to understand more clearly the times in which we live.

"Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command."  (1 Chronicles 12:32)

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16)

The mind of Christ is a gift given to all believers. Don't waste that gift. Understand the times in which you live. Walk in the wisdom of the Spirit, and resist the fallacies of the evil one that compete daily for space and dominance in your mind.

© John Stange, 2020

Do you actually understand what God is trying to say?

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

The other day, I had to make a long drive. When I'm making a long drive, I try to use the time to make and return phone calls. I had been meaning to contact someone who works with international missionaries and learn more about his ministry, so I scheduled the call to take place during the drive. Unfortunately, about twenty minutes into the call, I started to lose reception and his voice started fading in and out. I didn't want to interrupt his train of thought, so I did my best to piece together what he was trying to say, but eventually I had to admit that I couldn't understand what he was attempting to tell me.

God communicates with humanity, and He wants us to understand what He's trying to say. Some of us hear His voice, and some of us don't. Some of us clearly understand what He's telling us, and some of us don't have a clue what He's saying.

Would you like to be counted among those who hear the voice of God and understand what He's telling you? In 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, the Apostle Paul explains how that process takes place and what is necessary for us to understand what God is saying.

I. Certain truths can only be received if they are revealed

"these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”  (1 Corinthians 2:10, ESV)

In 1 Corinthians 2:8-9, Paul mentioned that the Lord has good things in store for those who love Him. These things are far beyond anything we have ever seen or could naturally imagine. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are guaranteed a place in God's eternal kingdom. As we walk by faith, our hearts develop confidence in the Lord and in His plan. We trust Him for things we have not yet seen.

Paul explains that this confident understanding we have regarding things we have not seen is directly connected to the fact that the Holy Spirit who lives within us has revealed these truths to us. This is a unique privilege because the Spirit does not live within everyone. Only those who trust in Christ are indwelled by the Holy Spirit (John 14:17), while the unbelieving world experiences the conviction of the Holy Spirit in an external way (John 16:8).

"even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:17)

"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:" (John 16:8)

The unbelieving world experiences the Spirit working on them from the outside. Believers experience Him working on us from within. And as He does His work, He shows us things we would not naturally perceive.

Unbelievers can look at creation and come to the conclusion that there must be an Intelligent Designer who made what we see. Believers, however, can also trust the fact that what we see will be remade and will no longer be corrupted by sin. We believe this because the Spirit has revealed these specific details in Scripture about what's coming up next. We would never naturally figure that out. These truths can only be known because they have been divinely revealed.

Likewise, I believe that if we're walking in step with the Spirit, He will reveal things to us about our own lives and the lives of people we interact with that wouldn't be known any other way. I have seen Him do this many times in my life when He has made something clear to me about another person, or has made something hidden obvious to me when I'm trying to help someone in a counseling context. I believe that's evidence of His internal presence and His ministry of revelation.

II. Through the Spirit, we understand the plans and purposes of God

“For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts 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 understand the things freely given us by God.”  (1 Corinthians 2:11-12, ESV)

I was talking to a friend recently and he said to me, "You usually seem to be in a good mood, but have you ever angrily lashed out at someone?" His question made me think of a couple times when that's exactly what I've done. One particular time happened when I was a young pastor and a woman started publicly berating me because I didn't attend a viewing for one of her deceased relatives. I didn't even know about it until after it happened. After she lashed out at me, I replied to her and said, "I'm good at a few things, but one thing I'm terrible at is reading minds. Next time, if you want me to show up for something, it would help if you told me about it."

Do you have anyone in your life that seems to expect you to be able to read their mind? Why is that so frustrating? I think we're frustrated by that expectation because it's unreasonable and impossible. Paul confirms that in this passage when he says, "who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him?" We know what we're thinking, but others don't. Unless we reveal our inner thoughts, others will just be left guessing.

A similar thing could be said regarding God. Unless God reveals His thoughts to us, how will we know what He's thinking? But Paul teaches us in this passage that as believers in Jesus Christ who have the Holy Spirit living within us, we have been made able to understand God's plans and purposes. We've received the Spirit of God who makes us able to understand the things freely given to us by God. And as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:16, we have the mind of Christ. So with the Spirit of God and the mind of Christ, our capacity to comprehend deeper-level spiritual truths is made possible.

III. We are equipped to make known what the Spirit reveals to us

“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:13, ESV)

One of my favorite hours of the week is the mid-week Bible study we host at the church. In recent weeks, we've been going through the early chapters in Luke's gospel, and we're learning helpful things as we do so. That's also one of my favorite contexts in which to teach because it's a relaxed atmosphere that seems to foster helpful dialogue and discussion. It's an environment that genuinely promotes learning.

In a traditional educational environment, learning takes place when someone who is equipped to teach conveys information and takes the time to explain it. In the context of the church, one of the hardest things to convince people to do is teach or speak. Typically, the biggest obstacle that gets in their way is their own self-doubt. They doubt they're equipped to teach anything of value to someone else.

But if the Holy Spirit lives within you, you are equipped to impart spiritual truths to others. Paul stated that the things he was sharing with the church in Corinth were words that were taught to him by the Spirit. What is the Holy Spirit teaching you that He wants you to impart to someone else? What is He clarifying to your mind from His word that He wants you to pass along? And if you aren't willing to stand at a pulpit to do it, would you be willing to do it in some other way? A letter? A conversation? A social media post?

IV. Spiritual truths can only be understood in their fullness by those who are spiritual

“And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:13, ESV)

In 1962, safety rules for riding motorcycles were written by the Honda Motor Company. As their products were gradually becoming more popular in the United States, they translated the rules from Japanese into English. Tell me if this translation makes sense to you...

1. At the rise of the hand by Policeman, stop rapidly. Do not pass him by or otherwise disrespect him.

2. When a passenger of the foot, hooves in sight, tootle the horn trumpet melodiously at first. If he still obstacles your passage, tootel him with vigor and express by word of mouth, warning Hi, Hi.

3. Beware of the wandering horse that he shall not take fright as you pass him. Do not explode the exhaust box at him. Go smoothingly by.

4. Give big space to the festive dog that makes sport in roadway. Avoid entanglement of dog with wheel spokes.

5. Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon. Press the brake foot as you roll around the corners, and save the collapse and tie up.

Those safety rules are entertaining to read, but it would definitely help if they were interpreted more clearly. A native Japanese speaker wouldn't have even needed them to be translated because he would have understood them in their original form. Our ability to comprehend spiritual truth operates in a similar way.

Paul indicates in this passage that spiritual truths are understood by those who are spiritual, which likewise also indicates that spiritual truths are not understood by those who aren't spiritual.

So, here's my big question for you right now? Do you actually understand what God is trying to say or does the truth of His word remain foreign to your heart?

Many people, even professing believers, keep falling into the trap of believing worldly philosophies, cultural mantras, and the false teaching of today's talking heads, because they're trying to live with one foot in the world and the other foot in the kingdom of God. Where are your feet being planted? What makes sense to your mind? Do your core convictions (which will be demonstrated by your lifestyle) align with the clear teaching of God's word?

If you know Christ, please ask Him to clarify this for you. Ask Him to grant you a greater glimpse of what He sees, and the desire to ingest and apply His word to your life.

© John Stange, 2020

Insight holds greater value than authority

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

When you look at the things this world pursues, it's very clear that power and authority are high on the list. But which would you rather; authority or insight? Power or understanding?

Insight holds greater long-term value than authority. Scripture tells us that ultimately, every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. So what sense does it make to spend our lives trying to usurp His authority or build our own kingdom? I'd rather join Christ in what He's building than try to build something of my own. I'd rather gain insight into the deep and everlasting truths of God than spend my life immersed in the philosophies of man.

In 1 Corinthians 2:8-9, Paul shows us why insight holds greater value than authority.

I. Possessing power doesn't guarantee that you also possess wisdom

"None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:8)

A little over twenty years ago, I served on a ministry board with a very interesting man. In some respects, I appreciated the work he did, but in other areas, I often felt a check in my spirit when I spoke with him. For a while, I couldn't put my finger on what was bothering me, but then I heard him deliver a speech to a group of leaders and everything became clear to me. I noticed that every time he referenced the concept of "power", he practically salivated. He seemed fixated on obtaining power in all realms of his life, and the power he craved struck me as a desire to obtain an unhealthy amount of control over the lives of others. Years later, he was stripped of all his authority when this became clear to those he was supposed to remain accountable to.

When Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, he referenced the people of their era who possessed great power. Paul called them "the rulers of this age." Based on the context of this passage, I believe he was referencing both political and religious leaders in that statement, and he made it clear that even though they had great authority, there was much they didn't understand. The fact that they possessed power didn't guarantee that they also possessed wisdom. In fact, many of them had hardened their hearts to the Lord who is the source of true wisdom.

Years ago, I purchased a book called "Eyewitness to Power." It's an account that was written by David Gergen who served in an advisory capacity to several U.S. presidents. As I read that book, I wondered what it must have been like to offer counsel to the most powerful men in the world. Would they listen? How open would they be to outside instruction or ideas?

When a person becomes powerful, it can become quite difficult for them to receive wisdom from others. In many instances, they may fall into the trap of trying to deify themselves. They forget everyone who helped them get where they are. They frequently begin to think of themselves as the source of all the good things that have happened on their journey.

One of my favorite accounts of leadership in the Bible is the story we're told of Solomon. Solomon was a young man when he assumed the throne in Israel. It's widely accepted that he was less than 30-years-old, but some historians believe he may have actually been in his teen years when his reign began.

If you were made king of a powerful nation, what would your first action be? What would you do right from the start. Scripture tells us that as Solomon began his reign, he prayed to the Lord for wisdom. He could have asked the Lord for anything, but wisdom to lead well was his request.

"Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9)

The Lord honored Solomon's prayer, and I believe He's pleased when we make the same request. The leaders of this world want authority. They want power, and they aren't afraid to kill in order to obtain it. But followers of Christ are offered a gift that is of greater value than the limited power of this world. We're offered wisdom through Christ that this world's leaders struggle to understand.

II. Your understanding of Christ impacts what you do with Christ

"None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:8)

Have you ever been offered something that you didn't know what to do with? A while back, a friend of our family invited us over for a meal. The food was fantastic. We enjoyed several foods that were common in her ethnic tradition that were, up to that point, unfamiliar to us. One particularly tasty item on the menu was strips of meat that were prepared in a way we had never seen. In fact, when they were served to us, we weren't sure how to eat them, so we started cutting them with our knives and eating them with a fork. While we were doing this, our friend looked at us with confusion. Eventually, she admitted that in her culture, those strips of mean are typically picked up by hand and eaten like we would eat fried chicken.

We didn't know what to do with the food we were served, and it's clear that the leaders of this world had no idea what to do with Jesus when He offered Himself to them.

When Jesus was conducting His earthly ministry, people genuinely marveled at who He was. His reputation for wisdom and miraculous acts grew large. His willingness to confront unscrupulous leaders was also well known. Those in leadership were posed with a dilemma, "Do I worship Him, ignore Him, or crush Him?" Unfortunately for them, they chose to attempt to crush Him. At the behest of the religious leaders, and with the cooperation of the governmental leaders, Jesus was crucified and put to death. They killed Him because they didn't know what to do with Him.

I'm a little curious to know if we know what to do with Jesus? Your understanding of who He is will directly impact what you do with Him. Will you worship Him, ignore Him, or attempt to crush Him? If your eyes have been opened to see His divine nature, to understand that He is indeed God who became man, you'll be inclined to worship Him and submit all aspects of your life over to Him. But if you still think He was nothing more than a very interesting man, for the most part, you'll ignore Him. And if you're convinced His message is an offensive problem that needs to be prevented from spreading further, you'll do your best to crush Him by crushing His followers.

Let me say this in the plainest way I can. There is no more important question you need to answer than "Who is Jesus?" Your answer to that question will directly impact your understanding of your purpose in life. It will also directly impact your future destiny. If you want to grow in wisdom and live in hope, I dare you to ask and attempt to answer that question.

III. It's hard to imagine or quantify the wonderful things God has in store for His children

But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9)

One of the hardest, but most beneficial things I have done in my adult life was obtain a master's degree in counseling. The courses and the group labs were intellectually and emotionally challenging. It has been almost a decade since I earned that degree, but I chose to earn it at a difficult season of life. It isn't easy to get a master's degree when you have a full-time job, and a family with four young children. The last six months of that process were particularly grueling, and I used to dream every day about the fun things our family would do the Summer after that degree was complete. I still remember how relieved I felt when that Summer finally came. It was wonderful to see and experience what I had been looking forward to for a long time.

I'm grateful that in this passage, Paul makes reference to the good things the Lord has in store for us in the future. In his comments, he makes reference to Isaiah 64:4 which says, "From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him."

Do you ever spend time wondering about what the Lord has in store for those who love Him? It's hard to imagine, and even harder to describe, but because we've been given the mind of Christ, we can already perceive and understand that it's going to be better than anything we've ever experienced. I don't know why I let myself get so attached to the things of this world, because the Lord has good things in store for us that are far greater than anything we've ever experienced this side of Heaven.

Not long ago, I started going through the contacts I had saved on my phone and I came across my mother's cell phone number. I miss her and I wish I could still call her, but it's been several years now since she passed away. Out of curiosity, I kept scrolling through my contacts and realized that multiple people in my contact list had passed away. One at a time, I went through and began deleting their numbers. Part of me felt sad, but another part of me felt intensely curious. I'm curious about what they're seeing and experiencing at this very moment.

Through Christ who helps me understand things I cannot see, here's what I truly believe. I believe that many of those the Lord has blessed me to know are experiencing sights greater than they ever saw on earth, sounds that are more beautiful than their ears ever heard on this planet, and experiences that are more amazingly wonderful than they experienced on the very best day of their earthly life. And if we also have the mind of Christ, which we receive through faith in Him, we can already perceive that the Lord has that in store for us as well.

In this world, there are many people spending their lives chasing power and authority, but they'll never find the peace their hearts crave even if they gain the power they seek. But those who trust Christ will be granted His sight. We will see with His eyes, and we will enjoy the blessings of the peace, hope, and contentment He supplies even now.

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

© John Stange, 2020

I can see things I couldn't see before

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

Throughout the course of our lives, we naturally begin to see things differently as we grow and mature. Our perspective develops as we take on new roles and responsibilities. I used to think leadership looked fun, now that I've been leading for a few decades, I can see that it's sometimes fun and sometimes very painful. As a child, I used to question the decisions of my parents, but as a father, I can more clearly see why they made certain leadership decisions that I didn't appreciate in my youth.

As we come to faith in Jesus, and our faith begins to mature, our spiritual eyes are opened. Once we are granted the mind of Christ, His Spirit shows us things that we were incapable of seeing before. Things that were hidden from us because we didn't possess a spiritual mind that was capable of comprehending them. God's word goes into detail about our new spiritual sight and the development of our understanding.

I. The wisdom of God is displayed in Jesus Christ

“but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)

When I was about twelve, my grandparents took my sisters and me to a drive in movie theater to see the movie "Big". In that movie, the character played by Tom Hanks gets a job with a toy company, and during a business meeting, someone tries to pitch an idea for a new toy. It's a robot that transforms into a building. After the idea is presented, Hanks raises his hand and says, "I don't get it." He thought the toy was boring and it would be better for the robot to transform into something that could move, not just a building that would sit still.

When the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is presented to an unbelieving world, I often wonder if they're also saying, "I don't get it." And if that is what they're saying, they're probably being honest because Paul says our crucified Savior is a stumbling block to Jews and sounds like foolishness to Gentiles.

The Jews who were waiting for centuries for the appearance of the Messiah struggled to wrap their mind around Him finally coming, only to be crucified. And Gentiles who come from all kinds of mixed up spiritual beliefs struggle to see how a suffering Savior who was put to death can accomplish anything meaningful in our lives at present.

But those of us who have come to faith in Christ have had our eyes open to the bigger picture. In Christ, we see the fulfillment of the Scriptures. In Christ, we see the atonement for our sin. In Christ, we not only see His vicarious death, but also the power of His resurrection. In bodily form, through His words and His actions, Christ demonstrated both the wisdom and the power of God because He is the source of true wisdom and power.

We also understand that we will never experience true wisdom or lasting power outside of a deep, relational connection to Jesus Christ.

II. God's plan, which was secret, has been made clear to you

"But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory." (1 Corinthians 2:7)

The older I get, the more I value having a plan, and I see this same trait in my children as well. A few months ago, I announced to our household, "Tomorrow, I'm taking a drive in my car. Anyone who wants to come with me is welcome to come. If you go, you will have fun, but don't ask me any other questions about it." Because I didn't annunciate all the details of my plan, only one person in my household joined me--my wife. And we had a lovely day together.

God is a planner. He is orderly and intentional. From eternity past, He planned for our redemption through His Son. But He's been revealing His plan to humanity gradually, a piece at a time. Certain aspects of His plan remained mysterious and hidden for ages. Likewise, there are certain details of what He has in store that He has only revealed to us in part at present. But in the meantime, He offers us the chance to take a ride with Him. He's giving us the opportunity to get in the car and believe He's got something good in store.

Amazingly, there are aspects of His plan that we have a more developed understanding of than did the angels and the prophets who lived prior to Christ's incarnation. They longed to look into the things that have been more fully revealed to us.

As recipients of this divine revelation, Paul tells us in this passage that we have the privilege to impart this secret or hidden wisdom of God to others. It will only be understood by those whose eyes have been opened by the Lord, but we are given the privilege to be the ones He speaks through. We reveal what we have been privileged to understand.

III. Through knowing Christ, your eyes are truly opened

"So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened." (Acts 9:17-19)

A few months ago, my father became unhappy with his television. It is a high-end TV that's supposed to last a long time, but he said the color was starting to fade and the image wasn't as crisp. In the meantime, he also went to his doctor to get cataracts removed from his eyes. When his eyes healed, he quickly realized that his TV was perfectly fine. His ability to see clearly was the real problem.

The Apostle Paul experienced a significant sight problem during his era as well. If you're familiar with the story of his life, you know he was zealous for the religious traditions he was raised in. He was well trained in Jewish theology and became part of a select group called the Pharisees. For a time, he hated and persecuted Christians because he believed their worship of Jesus was blasphemous. Jesus was still a stumbling block for Paul, until his eyes were opened.

God's word tells us that Jesus appeared to Paul and Paul was impacted both physically and spiritually through that encounter. For a time, he became physically blind after seeing Jesus, but after coming to faith in Jesus, his physical sight was restored and he was granted true spiritual sight.

If you know Jesus in a personal way, have you ever taken the time to notice how the Lord has been opening your eyes to see things you would never have naturally seen? When Christ opens your eyes, you will see yourself differently. You'll also see marriage, parenting, cultural events, morality, grace, justice, and the needs of humanity in a new way. The world will not understand your new perspective, but mature believers in Christ who also have had their eyes opened will understand you completely.

IV. The Holy Spirit will enable you to understand the whole counsel of God's word

“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:26-27)

For one week each summer, I have the privilege, along with several other seasoned pastors, to teach classes to new pastors. At this year's training event, one of the questions that came from one of the new pastors was, "How do I handle the fact that a very influential man in my congregation doesn't like when I preach through entire books of the Bible. He prefers that I preach on selected topics that fit with current events."

Every pastor experiences that same dilemma. We're called to preach the whole counsel of God's word, but when people become glued to the mind-warping power of modern media, they can sometimes prefer the pulpit to become the podium of current events instead of the sacred desk from which the Scriptures are preached. From time to time, I receive pushback in this particular area because more often than not I try to resist the urge to let my preaching calendar become dictated by the news cycle. I am willing to accept occasional criticism for taking this approach because I know that when the day comes and my service as a pastor ends, you'll always be able to say, "John preached the word of God. Even the awkward parts."

That was Paul's aim as well when he was proclaiming the Scriptures to the people in his era. He showed them that the Scriptures are pointing us to Jesus. He even went so far as to say that he couldn't be held culpable for the spiritual blindness or spiritual death of anyone because he never shied away from declaring the whole counsel of God's word, even the awkward parts.

As our eyes are opened through faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will also enable us to understand the whole counsel of God's word. We won't just see the parts we prefer to see. We'll see and understand the parts that challenge us as well, and I believe He will help us to value what He's showing us in those passages. As our faith matures, we'll even thank Him for confronting our false beliefs and opening up our eyes to the right perspective.

Tell me if this sounds familiar. "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." That quote is usually attributed to Mark Twain, even though it probably wasn't him who said it. But we laugh at the thought that's being conveyed because it's something we can all identify with. It takes time for us to see things that used to be hidden from our understanding.

Take heart because through Christ, we can now see things that we couldn't see before. God is giving us new sight and deeper understanding. Rejoice in His willingness to open our eyes, and generously share His wisdom.

© John Stange, 2020

We have been given wisdom that transcends this moment in time

One of the greatest blessings you and I possess as followers of Jesus, is His wisdom and His mind. Through Jesus we have a new perspective, new eyes, and a new outlook. There are things we are being divinely equipped to understand that the unbelieving world cannot comprehend.

I have come to believe that one of the greatest tools we as believers need to be utilizing during this era of history is the "mind of Christ." There are all kinds of ideas, philosophies, and perspectives bombarding us daily. And sadly, even some believers can at times begin to embrace worldly ideas as true if they aren't careful. But Christ enables us to see things more clearly when we walk with Him, listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and embrace the counsel of his word.

In 1 Corinthians 2:6, we are told, "Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away." So what does it look like for us to utilize the wisdom of Christ that transcends the mixed up perspectives of this era in history? I think there are several key things we're shown in Scripture that can help us navigate this confusing time in our lives quite well.

I. The wisdom from above outshines the wisdom of this world (James 3:17)

““But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.””

— James 3:17, ESV

Godly wisdom outshines worldly wisdom. James stressed that in his brief letter, and that's something we benefit from understanding as well. There are many ways the wisdom from above can be described including being "peaceable" and "open to reason," but that's not always a perspective you see embraced by this world.

I experienced a glaring example of this recently when my family was driving home from our vacation. We stopped at a gas station, and while I pumped the gas, everyone else walked into the store. I finished pumping the gas moments before they walked out, and as they were walking back to the van, a driver behind me started to get agitated. He beeped at me to move, then got out of his truck and started yelling at me while my kids were getting back into our van. He couldn't be reasoned with, called me some unkind names, insulted the entire state of Pennsylvania, and chose not to wait two more seconds for the pump to be free before leaving the gas station in a huff. It was a weird experience, but also a good example of what pours out of your life when your heart is governed by a selfish and worldly perspective.

The wisdom God supplies to those who trust in Jesus Christ operates differently. It outshines the easily irritated perspectives that dominate the hearts of those whose eyes are not open to the truth. The wisdom of God works hand in hand with the fruit of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives. James tells us that God's wisdom is peaceable, gentle, open to reason, merciful, full of good fruits, impartial and sincere.

From what I read in Scripture, and what I've seen through daily experience, I truly prefer the effect of godly wisdom in my life to the alternative. The wisdom of this world leads to frustration and exasperation because it's filled with "me first" motives. But the wisdom from above reflects the sacrificial heart of Christ and isn't dominated by self-seeking arrogance.

II. God's wisdom is granted to those who revere Him (Proverbs 1:7)

““The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” ”

— Proverbs 1:7, ESV

There are several proverbs that tend to fit in the category of "best known", and I believe Proverbs 1:7 is one of them. In that proverb, we're told that fools despise wisdom and instruction. They don't want to hear it and they frequently fight against it. But those who fear the Lord, are blessed in a unique way. They're blessed with deeper knowledge than what can be naturally obtained. This was made clear to me when I was young.

I was fifteen-years-old when I finally became serious about my faith in Christ. I had been a professing Christian for five years at that point, but I don't believe I was living with a healthy fear of the Lord during that season. As a result, ignorance and immaturity continued to persist in my life.

Then the Lord helped me to see what it meant to fear Him like this Scripture describes. It means to revere and respect Him. It means to live with a deep awareness and appreciation of His power. It involves admitting to yourself that there is a day when you will give a full account of your life to Him. When my heart latched onto that truth, I started to take my faith in Christ much more seriously. It stopped being an addendum to my life and became the very thing that defined my life.

In that season when I submitted my heart over to Him, He showed me new things. He granted me wisdom that I didn't previously have. I stopped fighting Him, started respecting Him, and great benefit came to my life as a result.

In some respects, I see this as a universal pattern of life. You are more likely to be assisted by those you honor and respect, and more likely to be chastised or not invested in by those you disrespect and fight against.

Many of you know that I dabble into certain entrepreneurial ventures. When people ask me about my hobbies, I often mention some of the online work I do in my free time. I podcast, write, speak, blog, and do a few other things as well. To my amazement, some of those hobbies have turned into sources of household income and I enjoy trying to make them grow.

There are several successful entrepreneurs in that space that I truly admire and try to learn from. I have no hesitancy expressing my admiration for them either, and just this week, I was blessed to have three of them reach out to me and freely offer me the kind of counsel they would normally charge thousands of dollars for. Because I showed them respect, they blessed me with the gift of their knowledge.

Admittedly, it's easy to value something in this world that improves our income, but how deeply do we value the wisdom and knowledge of God? Well, there's a simple way we can test if we value it. Do we fight Him or do we fear Him? Do we resist Him or do we revere Him?

III. Those who walk with Christ will understand the will of Christ (Ephesians 5:15-17)

““Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.””

— Ephesians 5:15-17, ESV

One of the most common questions we as believers wrestle with is, "What is God's will for my life?" We want to know His plan. We want to know what the best decisions to make happen to be.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, he gave them careful counsel that helped them understand the will of God. He told them that as followers of Christ, they were to look carefully at how they chose to "walk" or live their lives in this world. He warned them that they live in an evil era, so the best use of their time was to walk with Jesus instead of running away from Him. That was good counsel for them, and it's good counsel for us as well.

It also gets to the heart of why some Christians really struggle to understand God's will for their life. Because they aren't walking with Christ daily, they're beginning to embrace foolishness and treating it like it's wisdom. Then when it produces negative effects in their lives, they're confused as if they are getting something they didn't deserve. But here's the thing, we reap what we sow. The seeds that you're planting in your life and your mind will eventually bear the fruit of wisdom or folly.

A little over a week ago, I took a long walk while listening to an audio book that was narrated by the author. By the time the walk was finished, I felt like I knew him personally. Our walk with Christ is very similar. The longer we walk with Him, and the more we grow accustomed to listening to His voice, the better we come to know Him. Those who walk with Christ, will understand the will and the mind of Christ better than those who run from Him.

IV. Jesus will speak His undefeatable wisdom through you (Luke 21:15)

““for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.””

— Luke 21:15, ESV

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for what life in this world was going to look like for them, He didn't hold back. He revealed to them that they were going to be questioned by authorities and adversaries. He made it clear that they were going to have to appear before those who governed from a worldly perspective. But He also made it clear that they didn't need to fear when those moments came.

Because they had the mind of Christ, He would also speak His undefeatable wisdom through them. Their adversaries might ignore them or silence them, but they wouldn't be able to successfully contradict them. Right now I'm praying for church leaders who are preparing to get a real taste of what these early disciples experienced as we have now moved into an era where there are legal consequences for preaching the gospel to believers who have assembled for worship. The day will come when many of us will have to testify before authorities, and I'm praying that we will speak with the undefeatable wisdom of Jesus when that day comes.

The wisdom of the world is paper thin. It changes all the time, and while it proposes to be wise, it's usually foolishness dressed up in a new outfit. Jesus will help you see through it, and as He clarifies His truth to your heart, He will enable you to be the mouth He speaks it through.

We have the mind of Christ. His wisdom transcends this moment in time, and He's inviting us to begin using it.

© John Stange, 2020

Do you understand God's calling on your life?

The term "disciple" is an important biblical term that often gets overlooked. It comes from the Greek word "mathétés" which means to be a learner or a pupil. In the context of our faith, a disciple would be one who eagerly learns from Jesus.

What then would a disciple of Christ be learning? If we are His disciples, we would be learning to follow Jesus, imitate His life and pass on His teachings to others. This is because Christ's calling on His disciples is not only that we would become disciples, but that we would mentor and teach others so that they too would become His disciples.

Just prior to His ascension to Heaven, Jesus spoke to His disciples, and the Scriptures record the conversation like this; "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Jesus desires more than just people who are converted to faith in Him. He's seeking to build a family of fully devoted followers. Men and women who delight in their relationship with Him. People who love to learn and implement His teaching. A group of people who love and are loved by Jesus and their lives make that abundantly clear.

The other day I received a call from a friend. On the call, he asked me to remember him in prayer. In particular, he wanted clarity on what God wanted for him. He was seeking the Lord's guidance on what his next step in life should be. Have you ever wrestled with that same question?

What is God's calling on your life? I would contend that He desires you to become a disciple of Christ in the truest sense of the word. In the simplest terms, that's your calling. So how can we become disciples who are fully devoted followers of Christ?

I. Follow me

“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ”

— Matthew 4:18-20, ESV

Growing up, I went fishing from time to time, but not very much. I don't enjoy eating fish so the idea of catching them never stuck with me. My son Daniel, however, goes fishing whenever he has a free moment. Several years ago he discovered how much he loves it, and I'm pretty sure just about all of his disposable income has gone to fishing gear in recent years.

This Scripture tells us that Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is a rather large lake and it's plenty deep. The people who lived in the region around the lake tended to be adept at fishing. My understanding is that fishing was the main trade and source of income for the communities that surrounded the Sea of Galilee at the time.

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen. They were casting their nets into the water and doing their best to bring in as many fish as they could catch. This was their trade. This was their livelihood. It would be safe to assume that this is precisely what they expected to be doing most days for the rest of their lives. But Jesus called them that day, and they said "yes" to following Him.

When we read John 1:35-42, we learn that this wasn't the first time Jesus spoke to these men. But this was the moment when Jesus called them to follow Him. We're told here that they listened to His voice, left their nets and followed Him, becoming His disciples and then later being granted the office of apostle.

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them,“Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said,“You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). (John 1:35-42, ESV)

Jesus wants us to be His disciples as well and part of what that entails is our willingness to follow Him. Jesus is God in the flesh. He is the epitome of leadership, and a good leader incorporates multiple disciplines in his style of leadership. One of the things you'll notice about a good leader is that he doesn't send you off in a direction by yourself. Rather, he invites you to follow him. He doesn't push you away, he welcomes you to get closer to him and then move in the same direction he's moving.

That's the kind of leadership we see in Christ. We're invited to follow Him. We're invited to head in the same direction He's heading in. We're reminded that He will be with us always and won't abandon us. But if we're going to follow Him, it needs to be on His terms, not our own. It needs to be His voice we're heeding, not our own voice.

I don't know if you've ever heard the Dave Ramsey show via podcast or on the radio. He gives financial advice from a Christian perspective and he has outlined a simple plan for eliminating debt, investing for retirement, and giving generously that he encourages his listeners to follow. From time to time, people will call in, say they have been following his plan, then mention how they are "mostly" following his plan, just not in certain areas like credit card usage or car loans. Then Dave will inevitably say, "It sounds like you're following your plan, not mine, because my plan encourages you never to do that."

In a similar way, Christ has invited us to follow Him. That doesn't mean we make changes to what He says or only follow Him on days when we don't feel like fishing. It means we leave our nets (whatever has the propensity to trap or entangle us), listen to His voice, and move in the direction He's moving (which we can be certain will be in a direction that's different from where our boats were already drifting).

II. I will make you something new

“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ”

— Matthew 4:19, ESV

Please notice a few things about Christ's call on the disciples. He told them to, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." What was Jesus getting at when He said this? Jesus was telling them that their lives were going to be quite different from how they were before they followed Him. He was about to give them a new mission, and He was going to make them into new people.

He invited them to follow Him, not as spectators, but as His disciples. He would be their master, teacher, leader and Lord, and they would experience a transformation of life as they grew in their relationship with Him.

He also said, "I will make you fishers of men." This is an interesting statement that shows that Jesus was using a concept that would have been familiar to this group of fishermen. They were used to understanding the activity and patterns of fish. They knew the best time of day to look for them. They utilized the best tools they could use to catch them. Now their mission was going to change. They would be made into new people with new eyes and new priorities, and their mission on this earth was going to change accordingly.

Two months ago, I decided that I needed to make some changes to what I was eating. I try to do this from time-to-time. I typically only post pictures of the bad things I have eaten online, but my normal meals have been following a pretty strict regimen. It makes me feel better. It's helping me to lose some of the weight I gained during the months of quarantine. And if I stick with it, I'm confident I'll be pleased with the results.

Eating the right foods can certainly improve my health. A healthy life includes improvement, but when we dig a little into what Jesus was saying here, He revealed that our deepest health isn't dependent on "self-improvement". Rather, it's dependent on transformation that He accomplishes through faith in Him, by the Holy Spirit who indwells all believers. Jesus transforms the way we think, see and live (Eph. 2:10). He isn't calling us to become an improved version of our old self. He's calling us to be and do something new.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

III. Your life will change

“And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.  Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

— Matthew 4:21-22, ESV

Growing up, there were certain things that were expected of me and certain things I expected of myself. My full name is John N. Stange IV. Senior started a grocery business, Jr. continued it, III expanded it, and from birth, I was raised in it. I wanted to be just like my Dad and just like my Grandfather. I walked around in that store with a meat apron on, sliced meat when I was still in elementary school, stocked the shelves, ran the register, cleaned the meat department and delivered groceries when I was old enough to drive. Then I broke my Dad's heart and told him that I thought God wanted me to do something different and be a pastor. I was raised to run a family business, but God called me away from it.

Zebedee was a prominent fisherman. He had a well established business with some high profile customers. We're told that his business was doing well enough that he had hired servants to help with the business, in addition to his sons (Mark 1:20). Some theologians believe that Zebedee had the contract to supply the high priest with fish, and we can see from John 18:15 that Zebedee's son, John, was certainly known to the high priest.

“And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.” (Mark 1:20, ESV)

“Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,” (John 18:15, ESV)

As Jesus continued to call disciples, I'm sure there were temptations for those disciples to remain right where they were, particularly people like James and John who could have continued to lead and inherit their father's prosperous business. And that would have been fine if that's what Christ called them to do. But Jesus called them to leave the comfort, familiarity and prosperity of their father's boat and follow Him instead. From that point on, their lives were never the same.

One of the basic marks of a disciple of Christ is the fact that their life has changed. We all have stories of what our lives were like before we met Christ, and it's fascinating to see the long tail of what Christ has been doing in us, and changing about us, over the course of decades. But it's also edifying to hear stories and testimonies of what Christ has been doing in our lives, or teaching us, over shorter spans of time like the past few months.

Has your life been changed? If you are truly Christ's disciple, the answer is absolutely yes. Or, do you feel like you're still living like you're spiritually dead? When you're battling between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit, who do you submit your will to? Christ who transforms you or this world that deforms you?

Christ's calling on your life and my life is so much higher than the standards this world drives into our minds. He calls us to follow Him, be made new by Him, and experience a life that is change by Him for good.

© John Stange, 2020

How can we live at peace when we aren't on the same page?

As much as you may like other people, one of the most difficult aspects of life is getting along with the people the Lord brings into your life. If you serve in a people-centered vocation, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about. One of my friend's daughters was recently telling us about her new job as a server in a local restaurant. It's been an eye opening experience for her to attempt to meet the different wants and preferences of her customers while keeping a pleasant smile on her face.

Likewise, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that there might be a few people in your life that you've decided not to interact with frequently because you're trying to "keep the peace." Living in harmony with others, even our brothers and sisters in Christ, can be a challenging task that, in the end, requires us to depend on the strength of the Lord to empower.

As Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome, I'm sure he was grateful for them and for what Christ was doing among them. I'm sure he rejoiced over their growth, but he was also concerned for their well-being and ongoing spiritual and relational development. And since this group of people was as diverse as it was, he wanted them to understand the key to living in harmony. So what advice did the Holy Spirit inspire Paul to give the church about the nature of harmony in the body of Christ?

I. Bear with the failings of the weak

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.  For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.””

— Romans 15:1-3, ESV

Over the course of your life, you're going to experience trials and you're going to learn things that deepen your understanding. Your faith is going to be stretched, but as it is stretched, it's going to become stronger. As you walk through difficult seasons with the help of Christ, you're going to realize He can be trusted and relied on, and He's going to make you strong with the kind of strength only He can provide.

As you become strong, you're going to interact with those who are at a different season in their walk with Christ. They may be many years earlier in the journey than you are. And as you interact with them, don't forget that you were once where they are right now. If the Lord has taken years to make you strong, honor His investment in you by patiently bearing with the failings of those who are presently weaker.

Yes, you might be hurt at times by their failings. Yes, you might be inconvenienced or even embarrassed, but that's not an excuse to abandon them. Rather, our goal as believers is to please them and build them up because that's exactly what Christ has done for us.

Romans 15:3 speaks of what Jesus did for us, and we're reminded that, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” What is that verse trying to tell us? Mankind reproached the Father, and those words of reproach fell upon Christ, the Son. In part, this Scripture is telling us that Jesus came to this earth and put up with the effects of problems He didn't cause. We sinned, and He bore the consequences of our sin upon Himself.

So if Jesus can do that for you and me, is it too much of Him to expect us to bear with each others' failings?

We are living in the perfect environment right now for this to be tested. During this season of uncharted territory, I hear many definitive opinions stated daily. Who's right and who's wrong? I would contend that in many cases, both sides make valid points, but very few people seem willing to put up with one another in the process of making those points. I expect that immaturity from the world, but as the church, let's make the point to exhibit a more Christ-like attitude, and a dose of humility when we express our views.

II. Let the Scriptures inform your hope

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

— Romans 15:4-7, ESV

A while back, I was listening to an album that I haven't listened to in a while. As I listened to the words I thought to myself, "This music is very encouraging. I like what this artist is trying to say." Why do you suppose her words encouraged me like they did? I think a big part of why I found them so encouraging was because the artist was conveying Scriptural concepts in her lyrics and singing about how the Lord deepened the nature of her hope in Him.

I'm so grateful that the Lord has given us access to His word. We're told in Romans 15:4 that the word of God was written to instruct us, encourage us, and produce hope in our lives. The Scriptures continually point us to Jesus. The Scriptures give us a glimpse into the heart and mind of God. The Scriptures reveal the promises of God to us, and our hope grows strong as we watch Him fulfill what He has assured us He will fulfill.

And as the Lord uses His word to foster hope within your heart, while at the same time He uses His word to foster hope in my heart, we'll find ourselves growing in the same hope at the same time. And since we possess the same hope, we can enjoy harmony with one another. Then since we're living in hope and harmony, we can be intentional about welcoming one another as Christ has welcomed us.

Consider for a moment what this means. How has Christ welcomed us? Well, He welcomed us before we were cleaned up, and while we had nothing to offer Him. He took us as we were, then the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit to live within us, counsel us, and sanctify us. We came to Him with filthy hands and He has graciously washed our filth away. We are presented before Him as a bride without any stain, wrinkle, or blemish.

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners." (Romans 5:6, NLT)

"For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.  He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault." (Ephesians 5:25-27, NLT)

So how do we know these powerful and refreshing truths? We know these things because the Lord has revealed them in His word. And through these Scriptures, He informs our hope.

III. Understand that Christ is the confirmation of God's promises

“For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.” And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.””

— Romans 15:8-12, ESV

A few days ago, my son Daniel bought his first car. We found it several days earlier, but we had two requests of the dealer that needed to be honored before we officially bought it. Daniel has been looking forward to getting that car like I haven't seen him look forward to something before. All week he'd ask me things like, "Did you hear back from the dealer?", "You don't suppose they sold that car to someone else after we left, right?", "Do you think he will actually call us on Thursday or do you think it might take longer?" When we finally picked the car up, he was overjoyed because the very thing he was looking forward to was right in front of him at last.

Imagine living during the Old Testament era. During that period of time, God revealed that the day was going to come when He would send the Messiah. Abraham was told of Him. Moses was told of Him. All the Jewish patriarchs were given hints and glimpses of Jesus as they awaited the day of His arrival. God also revealed to these men that when the Messiah came, even the Gentiles would place their trust in Him and glorify God the Father for the mercy He has shown humanity in sending His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the fulfillment of these long-standing promises. His arrival and ministry are confirmation of God's truthfulness. He is the proof of the promises of God. He is the assurance of the accuracy of Scripture. Our common faith in Christ facilitates harmony among us.

IV. Experience the fruit of genuine faith

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

— Romans 15:13, ESV

A while back, I read this quote from Halford E. Luccock, “Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.” That's a powerful statement that you and I see lived out every day. If you possess genuine faith in Jesus Christ and are confident that your future is secure in his hands, you will live with power right here and now as well. But if you don't have faith in Christ, you'll be painfully insecure about the future and the present as well.

As you approach each day, do you do so as someone with eyes of faith? Are you filled with joy, peace, power, and hope as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live within you and work within your life?

If you're downcast and discouraged right now, please do me a favor and ask yourself the question, "Which direction are my eyes looking?" Are you looking down at the ground, stuck in a defeated moment, or can you see beyond your temporary circumstances with eyes of hope that are the product of genuine faith?

Our Lord has called us to "abound in hope." We have the power of the resurrection living within us. And this is true for everyone who has genuine faith in Christ. So, knowing that we have a common Lord, common history, common joy, and a common future, we can also enjoy the experience of living with a Spirit-empowered common harmony. By the grace of God, we can live at peace with one another even if we aren't always on the same page about the lesser issues.

© John Stange, 2020

Staying productive when the couch keeps calling your name

A couple years ago, I was talking to a friend who had recently retired from his vocation. He has always been a hard worker and enjoyed having a lot of things going on at once, but in observing him from a distance, I started to notice some unhealthy habits developing in his life. We're good enough friends that I was able to be honest with him about what I was seeing.

It came to my attention a while back after he told me about a visit from his grandchildren. They were all at his house, having a good time, making noise, and moving everything around. When they left, it dawned on him that one of them moved the remote for the television and placed it where he couldn't find it. He was livid.

When I asked him why it was bothering him so much, he said, "What else do I have? At this point, I just want to watch TV, and now I can't even do that." His comment helped me realize how depressed he was, and how that depression was transforming a healthy, productive man, in unhealthy ways.

The Lord has called each of us to be productive in multiple ways, with the time, talents, and abilities we presently have. This was something Paul wanted the Thessalonians to understand as well, but some in their context were clearly struggling to grasp that truth.

So how can we be productive when the couch keeps calling our name? How can we stay productive for the Lord's glory when we'd rather take a prolonged nap?

I. Be a blessing, not a burden

“Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 3:6-8, ESV

In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul warned them not to be lazy. If there were any idle brothers among them, the church was told to challenge them to repent of their laziness and get back to work. For whatever reason, it appears that there were still some people in the church who hadn't yet taken these words to heart, so Paul elaborated on that admonition further.

In this passage, Paul challenged the church to stop socializing and spending their time with believers who walked in idleness. There was a two-fold reason for doing so. First of all, it could be a form of social discipline for the lazy person. Second, it would help prevent the bad habits of those individuals from rubbing off on others.

As Paul shared this challenge, he did so as someone with great credibility. He reminded them of the example he set for them when he was with them. During his visit, he didn't burden them financially. He worked hard at his tent-making trade so he wouldn't have to be dependent on them for money. He even states here that he didn't eat the food of others without compensating them for it. Paul wanted to be a blessing, not a burden to this church.

Years ago, I had a conversation with a woman who was in failing health. She had worked hard all her life, but in her weakened state, she was now relying on others to care for her. It never set well with her, and she said to me, "I feel like I'm being a burden to everyone." She wasn't a burden, but that's how she felt. But in the church in Thessalonica, there were people who didn't seem too troubled in conscience to burden the church family with their needs, even though they could have met their own needs through hard work and personal effort.

II. Show integrity in your labor

“It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.  For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.  For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.  Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

— 2 Thessalonians 3:9-12, ESV

Paul elaborated further on the importance of showing integrity in our labor. He reminded this church that even though he had the right to be compensated for the spiritual care he provided when he was among them, he willing went without compensation. He wanted to give them an example to imitate. He wanted to give them a picture that could point their hearts to the sacrificial service we have been shown by Jesus Christ. And Paul wanted to make sure that the people of that city could never falsely accuse him of doing what he was doing because he was motivated by dishonest gain.

But since there were those within that church who seemed to be ignoring the example of Christ's service, and the direct teaching on labor that they had received from Paul, Paul gave them a more forceful form of instruction that would be hard to misunderstand. He said, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." That seems harsh, but is it? I think it makes perfect sense. Instead of sitting around gossiping, complaining, and taking advantage of the hard work of others, some of these brothers and sisters needed a kick in the pants. Missing a few meals might just do the trick.

Again, keep in mind that Paul was addressing this to people who had the opportunity and ability to work, but were choosing not to. This wasn't a statement regarding those who needed compassionate care and benevolence. This was a word of correction to those who were taking advantage of others so they could sit around all day doing nothing.

As a pastor, I'm often given the task to try to determine how to share benevolent forms of care with those who have needs. Sometimes, it's obvious that there's a genuine need that the church can help meet. Other times, it becomes clear that people who persist in laziness are just trying to take advantage of the giving nature of local churches. I have had to confront that form of deceit multiple times throughout the course of my years in church leadership.

So, what does it look like for us to show integrity in the labor the Lord has given us? A while back, I happened to see a documentary on the life of Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon loved Jesus and was motivated to preach His gospel, serve His people, and evangelize the lost. As I watched the film, I was fascinated with Spurgeon's level of productivity, and I pulled six principles from that documentary that I wrote down so I could share them with others as well.

Charles Spurgeon was a well-known pastor during the late 1800’s. He pastored a church that grew very large under his leadership, while writing approximately 150 books, publishing a magazine, founding an orphanage, establishing a pastors’ college, and starting many other Christ-centered ministries (a large percentage of which are still operating).

Here are six principles I gleaned from that overview of his life that I think will help us become productive in our work as well. (Here's a link to the full article I wrote about it).

1. Understand what needs to get done.

2. Create a schedule and keep to it.

3. Eliminate sloth and time-wasters from your schedule.

4. Surround yourself with a team that helps you get things accomplished.

5. Schedule time for prayer and rest.

6. Don't neglect your family.

III. Don't grow weary in doing good

“As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.  If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed.  Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”

— 2 Thessalonians 3:13-15, ESV

Paul stated something in these verses that is immensely helpful for believers to understand when they devote themselves to faithfully serving the Lord. As the Holy Spirit inspired his words, Paul encouraged the church not to grow wearing in doing good. Have you ever experienced feelings of weariness while you were serving God's people? If you've been serving as an active volunteer in a local church, or if you've been leading an active ministry department, I have no doubt that at times you have definitely experienced weariness. It comes to us all.

It can be particularly wearisome when you're not only trying to do what the Lord has called you to do, but you're also trying to carry the weight for others who won't share in the load. It's exhausting when you have to repeatedly admonish and warn other believers who seem to value their own comfort more than anything else in this world. Paul's words in this passage show that he understood how this felt.

Earlier this week, two pastors I have admired since childhood passed away. In fact, they were also friends, and they passed away within 24 hours of each other. Their ministries began before I was even born, but in the decades I have had the privilege to observe them, I have watched them both persist in their work, refusing to give up, even when they went through prolonged periods of burden and discouragement. They lasted so long in ministry because in their moments of weariness, they allowed Jesus to lift them up and see them through. And I'm certain that now that they're face-to-face with Christ, they would most certainly say, it was all worth it.

IV. Walk in the grace and peace of Christ

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

— 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18, ESV

As Paul ends this letter to the church in Thessalonica, he does so by encouraging them to walk in the grace and peace of Christ. The peace Christ supplies isn't merely the absence of conflict. It's a steady confidence in Him that isn't lost during seasons of heaviness and trial.

The grace of Christ is His unmerited favor that He bestows upon His family in more ways than we can easily count. Are you walking as one who has been immensely blessed by His grace? Do you live as someone who is continually comforted by His peace?

The Lord's calling on our lives is more significant than any other voice we'll ever hear. Our couches may be calling us to fold our hands and rest, but Christ has called us to press on and not give in to weariness while we do the good He empowers us to do.

There will be plenty of time for us to slumber if we truly need it, but for now, let's remain active and productive while we joyfully wait for Christ's return.

© John Stange, 2020

Is the Lord directing your heart?

Not long ago, I made a surprise visit to a campsite where both of my sisters and their children were camping. They didn't know I was coming, so they were surprised, as were my nieces and nephews.

The campsite was part of a more elaborate campground that was part rustic, and part amusement. The place featured things like mini-golf, large swimming pools, bumper boats, and paddle boats. I didn't go swimming, but I tried everything else.

Of the options, I think the paddle boats were my favorite. It was certainly a good workout to take that boat around the pond, but I was also impressed with how easily I was able to steer it. The steering seemed to work better than I remembered something like that working. Because I was able to direct the boat without too much complication, the experience of floating around the water was particularly enjoyable.

Direction is important in life. It's also important to let yourself be directed. In fact, the Lord makes it clear in His word that He desires to direct the course of our lives, the steps that we take, and the affections of our hearts.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, Paul demonstrates the ways in which the Lord directs our lives once we yield ourselves over to Him by faith. Take a look at some of the examples we're given in this passage.

I. The Lord will direct you to advance the spread of the Gospel

“Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, ”

— 2 Thessalonians 3:1, ESV

Doing hard things can be valuable and enjoyable, but if you want to do something sustainable, you need others to support you. Paul was certainly someone who was willing to do very difficult things, but he was also grateful for the support of the churches that got behind him and helped him with his efforts.

Paul was motivated to spread the good news of Jesus Christ wherever he found an open door to do so. He followed the Lord's direction to share the gospel in Thessalonica, and he was looking to continue sharing the gospel in new areas. But for his efforts to be truly successful, he knew he needed the prayer support of his brothers and sisters in Christ.

So as Paul began winding down this brief letter to the church, he asked them to pray for him in a very specific way. He asked them to pray that the gospel would keep advancing and would keep touching hearts as it was proclaimed city to city.

If our hearts are in line with the Lord's desires for us, I believe we'll clearly experience a divine nudge from Him to participate in advancing the spread of the gospel as well. This is a joyful activity that He wants all believers, not just apostles, to engage in. It is our privilege and joy to testify to this world that Jesus has saved us, and that He desires to save them as well.

II. The Lord will protect you from evil

“and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.  But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3, ESV

When I was a child, I spent a lot of time at my grandparents' home. I loved it there. In their kitchen, they had a bar style table with storage cabinets underneath. One evening, my grandfather leaned under the table to get something out of the cabinet and accidentally hit his head on the edge of the table when standing back up. It was obviously painful, so the next time I saw him get something from the cabinet, I put my hand between his head and the table so he wouldn't accidentally hit it a second time. I remember him thanking me, but also being surprised that his grandson would risk hurting a hand in order to protect him from injury.

But that's what you do for someone you love. And if an immature child can love their grandfather enough to try to protect him, how much more do you suppose our perfect God is willing to lovingly protect His own children?

Paul was aware that Christians in this world who are choosing to be actively directed by the Lord, are going to experience some obstacles and opposition. Much of that opposition will come at the hands of people who are bent on doing evil because their lives are being directed by Satan (often without them realizing it).

Having experienced many instances of opposition and harm in the past, Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray for his protection from evil. And even as he asked them to pray about this, he did so with confidence that the Lord would guard and protect him.

The Lord is doing the same for us as well. Have you ever considered some of the ways the Lord may be protecting you from evil? Obviously He's doing so in spiritual ways that we may not directly perceive, but He also protects us by speaking to our conscience through His Spirit and His word. He protects us by telling us where to go and where not to go, who to spend our time with and who to avoid, and who to allow to influence us along the way.

Don't dismiss the benefits of the Lord's protective hand upon your life. Recognizing the fact that He actively and lovingly protects His children from evil can grant us a considerable amount of confidence as we walk through the various seasons and tests that occur in our lives.

III. The Lord will direct you to apply His word to your life

“And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 3:4, ESV

When looking at one of my online accounts, I recently realized that I had a credit that was good for some money off a digital book of my choosing. I wasn't sure what I should use it on, so I asked my friends if they could offer me some suggestions. I also stressed that I wasn't interested in any fiction recommendations. I was primarily looking for something to read that taught me how to do something practical. (That tends to be my general reading preference).

I received some good suggestions that I found helpful, but when it comes down to it, I'll never find a book more interesting, practical, and helpful as the Bible itself. Throughout His word, the Lord has communicated the very things I need to know for life and godliness. His word gives me wisdom on how to live, serve, raise a family, and honor Him.

It wouldn't surprise you to know that I read His world regularly, but there's a danger that we as Christians should be aware of when we're reading Scripture. The danger is that we might read it more out of a sense of duty than delight. That we might skim over it, but never actually apply it.

When Paul instructed the Thessalonians, he gave them godly counsel that the Holy Spirit inspired. That counsel is also reflected in Paul's letters to this church. As Paul instructed them, he didn't just want them to mentally assent to his teaching. He wanted them to apply it to their lives. He wanted them to live out the instruction that the Holy Spirit inspired Him to communicate.

In our case, it doesn't hurt for us to be reminded to do the same thing when we look at Paul's words in this passage. As people of the word, living lives directed by Christ, we're called to apply the teaching of Scripture to our lives. The Lord hasn't called us to debate or argue with Him about what He's communicated. He's called us to trust Him enough to say "Yes," when He blesses us with His divine counsel, encouragement, and instruction.

Which are you better at? Debating the Lord, or saying "Yes" when He speaks?

IV. The Lord will guide you toward His love and steadfastness

“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”

— 2 Thessalonians 3:5, ESV

There are many things in this world that compete for our affections. No matter where we go or what activity we're involved it, something is always trying to get our attention. When we're online, we get ads. When we're driving, we see billboards. If we have young children, they're always screaming our names or tugging on our pant legs looking for attention.

But there's no greater affection our hearts can experience than to have our hearts divinely guided toward a mature understanding of God's love and an appreciation for the steadfast, patient endurance of Christ.

As the Thessalonians grew in their faith, Paul expected to see more and more of this in them. As we grow in our faith, the Lord wants to see more and more of this in us.

If our lives are truly submitted over to the Lord, He will direct our eyes to seek His face. He will direct our hearts to appreciate the depth of His love. He will direct our steps to walk in sync with Him as He leads us throughout the course of our lives. We can entrust ourselves to His care. He is worthy of our submission and affection.

© John Stange, 2020

You are called and equipped to stand firm

Growing up, I was blessed with younger sisters, but I didn't have a brother. I'm sure it wouldn't surprise you to hear me say that boys tend to be interested in a variety of things girls aren't interested in. For instance, as a child, I was very interested in wrestling and fighting. For some strange reason, that never appealed to my sisters (although sometimes I didn't really give them much of a choice).

There was one silver lining to my brother-less scenario, however. I have a cousin who is the exact same age as me and we didn't live far apart. So with regularity, when our families would get together, he and I would almost immediately begin to wrestle or fight. Usually it was all in good fun. Sometimes it got way out of hand.

Since we typically would meet up at my grandparents home, and in order to prevent their furniture from being destroyed, our fathers decided to channel our energy in a different direction. They taught us a fun game that involved trying to force each other off balance. Since it was a competitive test of strength, we loved it. In order to win, you had to do two things; force your opponent to lose his footing, and prevent him from causing you to lose yours. You needed to stand firm under pressure.

I find it interesting to read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 knowing that, according to this Scripture, the Lord has called and equipped us to stand firm in our faith regardless of the internal or external pressures we may be facing.

Take a look at this passage with me as we observe the nature of how we've been equipped to do this.

I. You were chosen for salvation

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 2:13, ESV

This passage begins by speaking of a spiritual reality that Christians would benefit from thinking about more than they do. As Paul opens these verses to the Thessalonians, he wanted to remind them of one of the greatest reasons we as believers should express our thanks to the Lord. That reason is the fact that the Lord has chosen us to be the recipients of His gift of salvation.

This was something Paul wanted to make sure the Thessalonians understood. In their case, he refers to them as "the firstfruits to be saved." They were the first generation of believers in Jesus Christ in their city. They were the first generation of Christians to experience the blessing of sanctification as the Holy Spirit enabled these young believers to grow in holiness. They were the first generation to have their eyes opened to the truth of the gospel in their community. God chose them for this.

There's something special about the feeling of being chosen. I remember my wife telling me that in a very real way it made her feel more secure about our dating relationship during our college years when she thought about the fact that I chose her. There was something about that reality that impacted her on an emotional level. It felt more sure and solid to her than if the opposite was true.

Consider what the Lord is revealing to us in this passage by virtue of what He had done for the Thessalonians. This passage demonstrates that if you have had your eyes opened up to your need for Jesus Christ to save you, it's because the Lord divinely graced you with that blessing. It may have initially felt like you chose Him, but in reality, you responded to His offer because He chose you.

Do you feel worthy to be chosen to be the beneficiary of Christ's gift of salvation? I certainly don't, and that's perfectly fine because I am not inherently worthy of it. But Jesus, who atoned for our sin, and fulfilled all righteousness on our behalf, is willing to give us the gift of His righteousness. Our "worthiness" has nothing to do with what we could offer Him back. Jesus is worthy, and as the Father looks at us, He sees His son living within us.

II. You will share in the glory of Christ

“To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 2:14, ESV

One of the most entertaining things to observe is to watch your friends raise and interact with their children. This is especially true when their children remind you of younger versions of your friends. I get the biggest kick out of seeing kids who look like, talk like, and behave just like their parents.

I mention that because in a very real way, that concept is being demonstrated on a spiritual level in this passage. As part of the family of Christ, we begin to look like Him in many ways, and we will ultimately share in His glory. His glory will be seen in us forever.

The moment we came to faith in Christ, we were justified. Over the course of our Christian life, we are being sanctified. When our earthly life comes to an end, we will be glorified. The day is rapidly approaching when we will be perfected in every way.

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21)

And since we will obtain and share in Christ's glory for all time, what's holding us back from giving others a visible taste of it here and now? I believe the Lord wants to show others His glory through how He is graciously working in our lives.

III. You must take the teaching of God's word seriously

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”

— 2 Thessalonians 2:15, ESV

Recently, I set up a new office in my home. It's become my favorite place to work. I took a corner of our basement that wasn't being used for anything significant, and completely transformed it. I set up partitions and built a very practical L-shaped desk. I bought a new printer/copier, and added two bookshelves. When everything was put together, I gathered some of my most frequently consulted books and put them in place. I also selected some of my favorite copies of the Bible to keep in close proximity to my desk.

In doing that, it dawned on me that I have no idea how many printed Bibles I own. I have copies of the Bible in just about every room in my home. I have a copy that I keep in my car. I have digital copies on all my devices, and I think I have at least twenty copies in various translations in my church office as well. What a blessing it is to live in an era when the word of God is so accessible.

The Thessalonians lived during an era when that wasn't the case. The New Testament was still being written during their time, and printing presses hadn't yet been invented, so literature wasn't as readily available. In their era, everything had to be written out by hand. In their case, they were frequently dependent on information being verbally taught or passed on through oral tradition. And if they did have a copy of written text, it frequently needed to be shared among many people.

But just the same, Paul implored them to stand firm in the word of God that had been delivered to them. That's a challenge I want our hearts to hear as well. We need to be people who take the word of God seriously.

What does it look like to take God's word seriously? I think a person who takes it seriously will be curious about it and motivated to learn it. And once they learn it, they'll be intentional to obey it because they trust its source. Conversely, a person who doesn't take God's word seriously won't examine it, won't commit it to memory, and won't obey it. They'll simply continue to obey their own passions and the changing values of their culture, mindless of the consequences of their spiritual ignorance.

IV. You have been set up to succeed in ways that matter most

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”

— 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, ESV

I'm grateful for the ways the Lord invests in His children. He doesn't call us unto Himself and then forget about us. He's building us up, and He's enabling us to succeed in ways that actually matter.

Paul demonstrates that here in this passage. He reminds us that the Lord shows us His unconditional love. And not only does He love us, He comforts us with an eternal comfort. In conjunction with that, He grants us hope beyond this present moment. Then, because He's fully invested in making us people who reflect His glory, He establishes us in "every good work and word." In Christ, our feet are being planted on solid ground.

When you look at your life, what do you see? Are you still measuring yourself by earthly metrics that hold no value for eternity? Do you beat yourself up because your life doesn't look exactly like you thought it might look at this point? Do you tell yourself that the goal of your life is to have a fulfilling career, perfect marriage, children who never make mistakes, and more money in your bank account than you know what to do with? Why torture yourself with such things?

The measurements this world uses should not be the measurements we adopt for ourselves. We've been set up to succeed in ways that are much more meaningful. We have significantly greater things to look forward to, and we are being prepared for a more glorious future than we endure in the present.

Through your faith in Jesus Christ, you are called and equipped to stand firm in the midst of a world that tends to adopt a very unstable value system for itself. Let your mind dwell on this truth. Let your eyes see beyond the present moment. Give your heart permission to anchor itself in the words and works of Christ.

© John Stange, 2020

Even if the world is deceived, you don't need to be

During the early years of high school, I remember watching an interview on TV with a prominent world leader. I paid attention to what he was saying, but something about his words and facial expressions seemed off. Most people at the time believed what he was saying, but I didn't. As he spoke, I remember asking my father, "Why can't people tell that he's lying?"

That moment stuck in my mind, and it became a question I frequently came back to. I wondered why that leader was able to convince so many people that he was telling the truth even though it seemed plain to me that he wasn't. Years later, the truth came out and my suspicions of that man were shown to be 100% correct. Why was I able to see what so many were missing?

In time, I learned that I wasn't the only one who could perceive his dishonesty. Others picked up on it as well, and there was a common thread that ran throughout those who understood. It became clear that followers of Christ were able to discern something the rest of the world couldn't see. I believe the Holy Spirit was intervening in our lives to help us see these truths. He was opening our eyes to catch what many didn't want to accept or understand.

Deception is one of Satan's favorite tools to use against humanity. He tries to keep us in the dark so we'll walk in darkness. In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, we're told of a future day when deception and lawlessness is going to be rampant. This Scripture describes a future day when deception is going to be so prevalent, it will be treated like obvious truth, but those who believe in Christ don't need to succumb to it.

I. You don't need to be easily shaken

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, ESV

When Paul was with the Thessalonians, he taught them many things about the Christian faith and what Jesus was still going to accomplish at a future date. But soon after Paul left the city of Thessalonica, it appears that false teachers attempted to distort Paul's teaching and confuse the Thessalonian believers.

Some were saying that the day of the Lord had already come, and the Thessalonian Christians had missed out. I imagine that must have been terrifying for some of these young believers. Their day-to-day lives involved regular persecution and pain, but through it all, they reminded themselves of the hope they had toward the future. To be told that much of what they were looking forward to was no longer an option would have been painfully alarming.

So Paul reminded them that they didn't need to be easily shaken or alarmed about this subject. Whether a deceitful spirit tried to propagate false information, or if it came through conversation, or even a forged letter, these believers could stand on the truth, and Paul was about to lay it all out for them in abundant clarity.

This is good counsel for us when we're trying to assess what's taking place during the course of our lives. Many people find themselves easily shaken and at times over-reactive. Why? In many respects, it comes down to believing the wrong information sources or failing to hold all sources of information up to the light of Scripture. For that reason, I would encourage us to begin immersing ourselves in the teaching of God's word so that we can better discern truth from error.

II. The lawless one will be revealed

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ”

— 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5, ESV

In multiple places, Scripture teaches us about the coming day of the Lord. It's a day of judgment and blessing. Those who have rejected Christ will be condemned, while those who have fully trusted in Jesus will receive eternal life and heavenly rewards. In this passage, Paul explains some of the historical events that will precede the coming of that day.

Prior to the day of the Lord, there will be a rebellion against the Lord and against biblical wisdom. People will throw off restraint and show utter contempt for the teaching of Scripture. Then the man of lawlessness, also referred to as the Antichrist, will be revealed. He will be a powerful world leader who will enjoy great influence and the affection of many people. He will be elevated to his position and will have great authority to rule the earth.

During the days of the Antichrist, he will present himself as an object of worship. He will exalt himself as if he is higher than God. Satan will empower the Antichrist, and will do so with the same proud and rebellious attitude he always conveys toward God. We already live in a time when people worship celebrities and political leaders, so this form of deception from a future leader demanding worship doesn't strike me as shocking. We already see a picture of it.

III. The lawless one will be destroyed

“And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.  The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10, ESV

While the Antichrist will have the opportunity to rule for a season of time, his reign will eventually be ended. Even now, the ability of Satan to raise up the Antichrist is being restrained. I believe the Holy Spirit is presently restraining Satan from doing this. I believe He restrains Satan through the influence of the church on the culture, through human governments, and through other divinely empowered means that are mysterious to me. But the day is coming when this restraint will be lifted.

When that restrain is lifted and the Antichrist is enabled to do his bidding in this world, Satan will empower him and employ false signs and seemingly miraculous acts that will be done through this man of lawlessness, in order to deceive those who do not know Christ. The Scripture tells us that those who refuse to love the truth, and those who reject Christ's offer of salvation, will fall under the Antichrist's deception.

But the reign of the man of lawlessness will not continue forever. When Christ comes again to rule, reign, and restore righteousness on this earth, the Antichrist will be destroyed. We're told here that the Antichrist is the one who, "the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming." Christ will have His victory, and will end the deceptive and destructive reign of the Antichrist which Satan empowered.

IV. If you take pleasure in unrighteousness, you are more likely to be deceived

“Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

— 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, ESV

So what's the value in knowing all these things ahead of time? What if we aren't even here to experience these events? Is there still something we can learn from this teaching? I believe there is.

First of all, I think we're able to keep our present trials in context when we understand the ultimate future outcome the Lord has planned. Our confidence in the Lord can remain strong even when we're enduring difficulty because we know He has a perfect plan that He is bringing to fruition.

I think it's also valuable to know about these things so we don't fall prey to Satan's schemes like so many will in that coming day. We're told that those who reject Jesus will be locked in that state forever. They will continue to believe what is false because they take pleasure in unrighteousness.

Let me ask you a highly personal question that I hope you'll take to heart. At present, do you take pleasure in unrighteousness? Is that what you crave? Is giving in to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of your eyes, and the boastful pride of life the way you're currently living? If so, please understand what the outcome will be. If your greatest pleasure is found in the things that offend the holiness of God, you will be deceived by Satan or by those who do Satan's bidding.

But if on the other hand, you want to understand the truth of Christ, walk in the light of His gospel, and truly comprehend the will of God for your life, you'll need to renounce your allegiance to sin. You can be free from sin or you can be a slave to sin, but you can't be both. And if you're struggling to find perfect peace, or you're struggling to understand God's will for your life, I'd encourage you to start asking yourself some hard questions about the sin you've invited to take hold in your mind and your heart.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)

In the future, this world may be deceived, but you don't need to be. In the present, this world may be deceived, but you don't need to be. If Christ is truly Lord of your life, your eyes will be opened to the truth, and the deluding power of sin that likes to keep us deceived and depressed will be utterly destroyed by the breath of Christ's mouth.

© John Stange, 2020

Our greatest hope is not in the here and now

There's an interesting verse in the book of Ecclesiastes that comes back to my mind from time to time. It's a verse that I've been thinking about a lot lately, but before I share it with you, I want to first share where my mind has been drifting in recent days.

Several months ago, I came across a home video that was posted on YouTube. It wasn't a video of my family or friends. It was a video that was filmed decades ago when I was a teenager. The video was taken where I grew up, and it followed a group of people my same exact age going to our mall, shopping at local stores, passing by our ice cream place, cruising around town in their junky car, and having an absolute blast.

I don't personally know a single person in the video, but I feel like I do. I have watched it several times, and every time I do, it makes me more nostalgic. I miss those sights and sounds. I miss certain aspects of that season of life. And in our current societal state, I miss what it was like to live like that.

Then we come to the verse I just mentioned in Ecclesiastes. In Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT), we're told, "Don’t long for 'the good old days.' This is not wise." Why do you suppose Scripture tells us not to long for those days? I suppose there are several reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is illustrated in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12 where we're shown that our greatest hope isn't in the here and now. Our greatest hope is in Jesus, and His word reveals what He has in store.

I. God has promised you a good life, not an easy one

“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— ”

— 2 Thessalonians 1:5, ESV

One of the benefits you and I enjoy as Christians living during this era of history is the example of those who have come before us. Many of us enjoyed the blessing of growing up in a Christian family that modeled what faith in Christ looked like. And even if you didn't grow up in that context, there are many generations of Christians who have lived the life of faith over the past two thousand years that you can look to for examples, ideas, and inspiration.

For the church at Thessalonica, however, that wasn't a luxury they enjoyed. They were the first generation of Christians in their families. They were the first generation of Christians in their city. And being that they were misunderstood and oppressed, they suffered greatly at the hands of those who hated Jesus, despised them, and resented the claims of the gospel.

But one of the things the Thessalonians had straight in their minds, that we should also strive to understand, is the fact that God has promised us a good life, not an easy one. Paul illustrates this when he speaks of their suffering, but also the blessings they enjoyed in being part of the eternal kingdom of God.

The fact that this recently converted group of believers was willing to endure this without abdicating their faith, showed that God's judgment was just. Through their suffering and trials, their identity as God's children was being confirmed. In Christ, they had been made "worthy" of this divine designation, and the lives they were living confirmed that the internal change Jesus made within them was effective and real.

This is something we should take note of. I recognize that in many respects, we all hope to experience an easy life. I'm sure we all probably daydream at times of easier seasons, particularly when we're being tested. But again, God promises us a good life, not an easy one. Through Jesus, we have a good life. When the sun is shining it's good. When the sky is cloudy, it's still good. And even on our best days, God's word has confirmed that the future He has in store for us is better than the best days we've experienced at present.

II. The day is coming when God's justice will be undeniable

“since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, ESV

Jesus is coming back, and He will restore all things when He does. I still remember first learning about the fact that Jesus had promised to return. As a young person, I wasn't sure if that was something I should be looking forward to or afraid of. I often wondered what He would find me doing when He returned. Would I be on the right path, or would I try to hide my face in shame because of embarrassment.

In this passage, Paul shared several very specific pieces of information regarding future events that will surround the return of Jesus. He started off by explaining to the Thessalonians that in that day, the Lord was going to repay those who were afflicting them. Truth be told, I don't wish for vengeance on those who oppress God's people. I pray for their repentance. But I think part of why this information was shared with the Thessalonians was so they understood that they didn't need to retaliate against those who hurt them. That was a matter that could be entrusted to the Lord to handle in the fairest way possible.

Paul shared that the day was coming when all who trust in Jesus will be granted relief. This will include relief from our struggles, relief from our trials, relief from our pain, and relief from any form of oppression. We will live in His presence for all eternity, and no harm will be inflicted upon us ever again.

But those who persist in their rejection of Christ, can expect the exact opposite. Jesus came the first time in meekness. He most often veiled His power, and He has given humanity thousands of years to repent of their unbelief. But those who never come to the place of trusting Him completely and surrendering their lives over to Him, will experience His wrath when He returns. This Scripture makes it very clear that they will suffer eternal punishment and spend their eternity separated from the joys of the Lord's glory.

When I preach on passages like this, I often wonder what goes through people's minds. I wonder if it freaks them out a little. I'm actually convinced that it's good if that's what it does because every word of this passage is going to be fulfilled sooner than we probably realize.

But also consider the gracious and merciful nature of our Lord. Why would He tell us these things ahead of time and then give us so much time to ponder these words? He's showing us a high level of patience. I believe He's sharing these warnings ahead of time, because He doesn't want us to experience eternal separation from Him. He is graciously warning us and giving us time to wake up to our need for Jesus Christ.

"The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." (2 Peter 3:9, NLT)

The day is coming when God's justice will be undeniable. On that day, where will you stand? Will you come before His throne as one who has given your complete trust to Jesus Christ to save you, or will you be counted among the many who never really had a relationship with Jesus at all?

III. Don't resent your refinement

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

— 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, ESV

The past two years, my sons and I have agreed to a small task that takes a little commitment to accomplish. We have decided to do 100 push-ups every single day, without exception, in the month of June. We are gracious in that we allow them to be done in segments, but as we noticed last year, and we're noticing again this year, those push-ups get much easier to do as the month goes on. Our bodies are being gradually refined, and that process is making us stronger.

That's a microcosm of what the Lord is actually accomplishing in the lives of all fully committed believers at present. He's refining us. He's strengthening us. He's using our experiences to teach us things. He's speaking to us through His Spirit and His word. He's directly blessing us with His power through His indwelling presence.

Paul understood this, and he wanted to make sure the Thessalonians knew he was praying to the Lord to accomplish this level of refinement in their lives. He prayed for them with great regularity that they would grow in holiness and maturity. He prayed that the good works the Lord was doing in their lives would be brought to fruition so that the name of Jesus Christ would be glorified among them. He prayed that the Lord would bless them with the demonstration of His great grace.

In this season of your life, and in every season, the Lord is trying to teach you something. He wants you to know Him better, and He wants your confidence in what He's in the process of accomplishing to grow. How do you typically respond to the lessons He's sharing with you?

Elena Bonner, wife of Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, says that as he wrote his memoirs she typed, edited, and nursed the work, doing everything she could to make sure it survived seizure by the government. Sakharov worked on his memoirs in Gorky, rewriting sections because they kept vanishing. Then one day he met Elena at the train station and with trembling lips told her, “They stole it.”

She says he looked like a man who had just learned of the death of a close friend. But after a few days, Sakharov returned to his work. According to his wife, each time he rewrote his memoirs there was something new—something better. -Today in the Word, Moody Bible Institute, January, 1991, p. 34

The story of your life is currently being written. The Lord already knows the outcome, but in the process, He's blessing you with the privilege to experience the kind of refinement only His sovereign hand could truly orchestrate.

Our greatest hope is not in the here and now. Good things are being held in store for all who know Jesus Christ by faith. If we take that truth to heart, I'm certain our approach to every circumstance, season, or challenge will be impacted for the better.

© John Stange, 2020

Three ways to test your spiritual maturity

In the book of 1 Thessalonians, Paul expressed his great joy for the ways in which he could see the faith of the church in Thessalonica growing. He had been concerned that his inability to remain with them, due to persecution, was going to have a negative impact on their spiritual growth. When word of their continual progress in faith reached his ears, Paul was overjoyed and he wrote his first letter to them to encourage the church and give them additional instruction.

Unfortunately, sometime after receiving that letter from Paul, the church started behaving strangely. It appears that some in the Thessalonian church were misinterpreting the teaching they had received about the future return of Christ. It may also have been the case that false teachers were corrupting good doctrine and producing confusion among them. Either way, some of the people apparently began quitting their jobs, abdicating their responsibilities, and failing to redeem the time they had been blessed with because they didn't expect to be there much longer.

Paul was in the city of Corinth when he took the time to write 2 Thessalonians. It was written just a short time after his first letter to them had been sent. In his second letter to the church, Paul went into great detail about the return of Jesus as well as other events that will take place during that time in history. He also made a point to encourage the church to understand how to apply the teaching of Scripture to their lives more accurately, while reminding them of the ultimate victory Christ secures on our behalf.

Some of the issues this church was dealing with came down to their level of spiritual maturity. How spiritually mature do you believe yourself to be? Is that a question you've ever really asked yourself? In the opening verses of 2 Thessalonians 1, I see three simple questions we can ask ourselves in order to test our level of spiritual maturity.

I. Is your faith growing?

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 1:3, ESV

There are people in my life that I am extremely thankful for. They're the type of people who serve as examples to me, remind me that they value me, and in general tend to show kindness to my family. It's clear that the Thessalonian Christians were people that Paul was genuinely thankful for, possibly for some of the same reasons, but also because of what he could see the Lord accomplishing in their lives.

One of the most obvious pieces of evidence that the Lord was at work within them was the fact that their faith was growing. I like the way Paul describes that growth. He doesn't say their faith was gradually improving, which would also be a compliment. He says their faith was growing "abundantly." In every way, with great evidence, their faith was making progress.

Where is your faith at right now? Is it growing? Has it stagnated? Are you even questioning whether it was there to begin with?

Recently, I received news of someone who used to volunteer in our church who has apparently decided to adopt worldly values as her primary worldview. All external evidence seems to indicate that she has drifted backward in faith. I heard a similar report from another friend of mine regarding her husband. She told me that He's no longer walking with the Lord. Both reports were sad to hear.

Christ's desire for us once He saves us is that we won't return back to a worldly mindset or the life of sin we were once tied to. He has set us free from those chains, and He is presently empowering us to walk in the freedom He secured for us when He atoned for our sin on the cross.

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

So practically speaking, is there an approach to life that we can take that might help us to grow abundantly in faith so we won't revert back to a depressive state of worldliness? Let me suggest a few things that I can testify are helping me.

1. Hold whatever you choose to believe up to the light of Scripture.

2. Filter your mental, emotional, and spiritual diet so you're only inviting things to influence you that convey the truth of the gospel.

3. Do not neglect to assemble together with other believers who will invest in you, encourage you, and hold you accountable.

4. Confess your sin to the Lord and to at least one other person.

5. Pray without ceasing.

II. Is your love for others increasing?

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. ”

— 2 Thessalonians 1:3, ESV

I was involved in a group discussion on prayer recently, and the participants were invited to answer the question, "What prompts you to pray?" They suggested various things, but one of the participants said, "People." When I asked him to elaborate, he said that because he finds people challenging to deal with, and since they often break his heart, he frequently feels prompted to pray after interacting with others.

Isn't it interesting to consider that in this life, other people tend to be one of our greatest sources of joy while also being one of our greatest sources of pain? In a very real way, it's risky to interact with others. I'm sure we've all been tempted at times to avoid others because we're fearful of the pain they might cause us, but when we avoid them for too long, we start to realize that there can be even more pain in prolonged isolation.

The Christian life isn't a solitary life. Our union with Christ also unites us as one body with other Christians. Christ has shown His body great love, and reveals in His word that one of the most powerful ways people will come to know we're His followers is if we genuinely love one another.

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

Paul sincerely complimented the church at Thessalonica for their increasing love for one another. This must have been something they were making obvious in a variety of ways, and I'm sure it was having a spiritual impact on the unbelievers in their city as well. This demonstration of love between believers is the tool the Lord frequently uses to open unbelieving eyes to begin seeing the unconditional nature of His love for us.

The love Paul was praising the Thessalonians for showing wasn't just a warm affection between friends. It was the joyful and sacrificial giving of oneself for the benefit of others. Believers were meeting each others needs, protecting one another from persecution, and welcoming one another into their lives.

Love sounds wonderful right up to the point when you're asked to put it into practice. Love sounds ideal right up to the point when it's tested. How would you describe your love for your brothers and sisters in Christ right now? Is there a way the Lord encourages you to show love that you're currently resisting? What's holding it back from increasing more and more?

III. Is your steadfastness continuing?

“Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.”

— 2 Thessalonians 1:4, ESV

Since becoming a Christian, and particularly since becoming a pastor, I always wondered if and when I would see the church experiencing genuine and overt forms of persecution in our country. There have certainly been some examples of that, but nothing on the scale of what I have been seeing in many foreign nations. But in recent days, I have been watching the selective treatment and overt threats churches have been receiving in certain cities and corners of our country, and it isn't pretty. I have read about a church building being burned down, believers being threatened with arrest for hosting small gatherings, and pastors being arrested or detained. And if I'm honest, I think this is only a taste of what's to come. I doubt this will be the only time I see this, or worse, on American soil during my lifetime. I hope I'm wrong.

The Thessalonian church that Paul addressed this letter to experienced this kind of threatening behavior from the first day it was founded. There were people in their wealthy city who wanted them removed, arrested, or executed. Their persecutors probably would have been content with any of the above options.

But a very interesting thing happens to the church when it's persecuted. It grows nice and big, and becomes particularly strong. Believers start to weigh what really matters to them in this life, and false brothers are quickly weeded out of the fellowship when the going gets tough. There are beautiful historical examples of this happening all throughout the world, and there are present day examples of this phenomenon that we can learn from as well. Persecution is terrible, but the Lord delights in taking what men mean for evil and bringing good out of it.

It should be noted that the Thessalonian Christians were so steadfast in the midst of their persecution that Paul began boasting about them to other churches in various places throughout the world. In their afflictions, they turned to Jesus and trusted Him to see them through. In their moments of persecution, they remembered that it was only for a season, and a glorious future in the presence of Christ awaited them.

Trials and tests show what a person is really made of. Don't despise your times of testing because the Lord will use them to bolster the depth of your faith, and put it on display for others to see. In His power, He will make you steadfast in your walk with Him. He will empower you not to adopt this world's way of thinking as your own, and He will build His church one person at a time no matter the opposition that comes against His people.

"I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18b)

As Paul opens his second letter to the Thessalonians, I appreciate the words he speaks. He's giving us a metric we can use to test our spiritual maturity. Is your faith growing? Is your love for others increasing? Is your steadfastness continuing? By the grace of Jesus, I pray that it is.

© John Stange, 2020