RETALIATION - "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."
There is something deep within the human psyche that demands justice be served when wrongs are committed. When we have been hurt, insulted, violated, mocked, injured, falsely accused, persecuted, etc., we typically turn inward and focus on the impact suffering has upon us, first and foremost. Abuse can take on many forms and easily morph into an all-out attack on us emotionally and spiritually, more so than even physically. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world where evil and injustice take place, and we are left with a simple choice given the circumstance to either retaliate or forgive. What complicates the situation even more is when those who offend us have little to no remorse over sins they have committed, reject owning their sin, have no desire to truly change their foolish ways, and/or continue their pattern of abuse with no consideration or contrition for damages caused. It is easier to forgive those who sin against us when they recognize their sin and ask for forgiveness. However, how are we to respond to those who show no remorse for sins committed against us? How are we to forgive others when abuse continues without heart change? How long-suffering should we be? Scripture is clear: "Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times'" (Matthew 18:21-22). In other words, true forgiveness does not have a maximum threshold that cannot be exceeded.
In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus quickly debunks any rationale man could come up with to justify personal retaliation. The mandate (eye for an eye; tooth for a tooth) found in Leviticus 24:17-21 was instructed by God for the judges of Israel to use as a method of administering fair and equitable criminal justice. However, the religious leaders of Jesus' day twisted it as a weapon to enable a man to execute personal revenge. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Jesus' teaching on retaliation is what He doesn't say. He fully understood how the Pharisees manipulated this Old Testament teaching to justify their personal sins, but He didn't address its misuse at all. Why? Keep in mind, Jesus affirmed earlier in His sermon, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). What this tells us is there was no issue with the law of retaliation decreed in the Old Testament for systematic justice. Jesus endorsed it. But because Jesus knew man was using it for personal revenge and retribution (punishment inflicted as vengeance for sins committed), He flipped the script and encouraged His followers to choose love and forgiveness over retaliation as a method of reconciliation. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
It must be clarified though that choosing to love and forgive does not endorse or justify sin. For example, enabling a drug or alcohol addict, turning a blind eye to criminal activity, or remaining in a physically abusive or adulterous relationship is not wise. In those instances, separation is a necessary means to allow intervention, counseling, healing and treatment, NOT taking personal vengeance to repay the abuser for sins committed. Those of us who are caught in such unfortunate circumstances must never lose focus of what Scripture teaches regarding vengeance. "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all" (Romans 12:17). For regarding the temptation to retaliate and pursue personal retribution, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:19-21). This is not an easy teaching in the slightest, especially for the innocent caught in a vicious cycle of abuse and personal danger, but the call to resist retaliation is a powerful instrument of grace God allows us to grant one another when we choose love over hate.
Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). This is a critical lesson on relinquishing control to Christ when we wrestle with temptation to react vs. respond toward those who hurt us. Often times, we are left to pick up the pieces of our broken hearts when trampled on by those we love the most. For a wife bearing the immeasurable weight of spiritual warfare brought on by her adulterous husband, the insatiable desire to retaliate is overwhelming; or for a son thrust into the role of protecting his mother when his drunken father becomes abusive, personal revenge can seem justifiable. In any given situation, the opportunity to obey fleshly desires is confronted by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in every born-again Christian, exhorting us to relinquish personal rights for the sake of the Gospel. The choice is not easy though, for the world would convince us that in order to find peace in the midst of a storm, we must take it upon ourselves to self-protect and ensure justice is served. That is why John reminds us, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17).
If we are to do the will of the Father, is resisting retaliation sufficient? Not entirely. Jesus affirms going above and beyond the call of duty to magnify the grace of the Father which transcends human understanding. In other words, when we choose to love when love feels like the most illogical decision we could ever make, we are beginning to understand what it means to endure persecution for the sake of the Gospel and win souls for Christ. Countless martyrs who were beaten, tortured and imprisoned before execution because they identified themselves as Christians came face to face with the absolute truth of Matthew 5:38-42, yet they chose to not only forego retaliation but love and forgive as Jesus did, even unto death. Therefore, who are we to hold fast to unrighteous anger and/or hatred toward others when our Lord and Savior chose to not forsake us, but forgive and embrace us as His own beloved? "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).
What Jesus teaches goes far beyond retaliation itself, transcending our perspective to one that identifies the opportunity before us to make radical choices contrary to our fleshly inclination. Our primary purpose in life is to do the will of our Father in heaven who calls us to walk in His Word and live the Gospel out in our daily lives. Therefore, we are to discern every situation through prayer and petition so as to not enable or justify sin in others, but in wisdom apply love where love is the most illogical choice we could ever make in order to save others from eternal destruction. "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Matthew 5:33-37 (Devotion)
OATHS - "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one."
Words are important. Words convey a message. Words reveal what we believe. In many cases, words have incredible power when used to tear down or build up others. Our ability to receive salvation is made possible through spoken words. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved" (Romans 10:9-10). Simply stated, our words gauge the spiritual maturity we profess to those around us. For if we confess ourselves as Christians, we are held accountable to live out Scripture by word and deed. And if we are liable to judgment based on the application of our faith, the manner in which we speak will either affirm or deny whether our hearts are bond-servants to Christ or our flesh. The Bible affirms, "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (James 1:26). Therefore, we must be vigilant to guard our tongues from speaking falsely, because our words can undermine the good work God desires to do through us.
Keep in mind, Matthew 5:33-37 is a continuation of Jesus' sermon on the mount, beginning with the Beatitudes and an exhortation for Christians to be salt and light in the world. He continued by admonishing those who felt He came to abolish Old Testament law by explaining His purpose in fulfilling the law (a foreshadow of His future sacrifice unto death). Then He shifted gears and began a 6-part series focusing on character attributes by taking what Scripture taught as righteous behavior and layering new perspective to amplify the seriousness of each issue on man's heart. In other words, Jesus closed any loophole man could find to superficially obey God's Word while continuing to live in the flesh. Jesus' entire ministry focus centered on the heart, because the heart is the root of man's behavior. "And he (Jesus) said, 'What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person'" (Mark 7:20-23). If we desire to change our behavior, we must first recognize the condition of our heart and identify whether we are living for our own pleasure or God's glory.
We simply cannot undervalue how important our hearts are to understanding the wisdom Jesus conveys throughout His sermon. For if our hearts are bent on serving our flesh and self-protecting in order to legalistically check off religious boxes, we will never free ourselves from the strongholds that bind and quench the Spirit's conviction. God's Word reminds us, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). But rest assured, "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds" (Jeremiah 17:10). Just as the Lord spoke to the prophet Samuel, we must also reconcile this absolute truth: "For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). This should compel us to examine the motivation behind our actions, because a heart secretly bent on serving itself will never illicit righteous behavior that obeys what Jesus teaches throughout Matthew 5-7.
Consequently, Matthew 5:33-37 forces us to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, "Are my words trustworthy or manipulative and dishonest? Do my words support or contradict my actions? Can I be counted on for what I commit to?" Make no mistake, by viewing this passage with a quick glance compared to the aforementioned topics of anger, lust and divorce in Matthew 5:21-32, Jesus places a spotlight on man's character and integrity and challenges him to live not only according to what he says, but believes. James echoed this same sentiment when he wrote, "Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water" (James 3:11-12). If we are to be known as followers of Christ, our words must be true. Our 'Yes' and 'No' must be resolute to avoid confusion and misrepresentation. Therefore, there is no need to swear by anything to prove the validity of our words if we live truthfully according to what we say, and we cannot expect others to live with the same lofty standard of righteousness if we are not modeling that behavior first and foremost in our own hearts.
No doubt James, the brother of Jesus, heard this message loud and clear when he wrote, "But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation" (James 5:12). When we consider the context of what Jesus and James are saying, we begin to understand the importance oaths have on the health of the church. For when Christians behave in obedience to Scripture, the authenticity with which we witness for the cross of Christ has substance. The salvation message carries incredible weight when we do not simply "act" like Christians but truly "live" like Christians, exposing how our hearts have been changed and transformed by the Gospel. The Bible changes our entire behavioral trajectory, because God speaks to us directly through the absolute truth of His Word. "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD" (Zechariah 8:16-17). Therefore, we are without excuse. The world will always gives us alternative routes to living with integrity, honesty, authenticity and genuineness, but we must decide whether the words we speak will be honest and true or deceptive and hypocritical. The choice is ours.
Words are important. Words convey a message. Words reveal what we believe. In many cases, words have incredible power when used to tear down or build up others. Our ability to receive salvation is made possible through spoken words. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved" (Romans 10:9-10). Simply stated, our words gauge the spiritual maturity we profess to those around us. For if we confess ourselves as Christians, we are held accountable to live out Scripture by word and deed. And if we are liable to judgment based on the application of our faith, the manner in which we speak will either affirm or deny whether our hearts are bond-servants to Christ or our flesh. The Bible affirms, "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless" (James 1:26). Therefore, we must be vigilant to guard our tongues from speaking falsely, because our words can undermine the good work God desires to do through us.
Keep in mind, Matthew 5:33-37 is a continuation of Jesus' sermon on the mount, beginning with the Beatitudes and an exhortation for Christians to be salt and light in the world. He continued by admonishing those who felt He came to abolish Old Testament law by explaining His purpose in fulfilling the law (a foreshadow of His future sacrifice unto death). Then He shifted gears and began a 6-part series focusing on character attributes by taking what Scripture taught as righteous behavior and layering new perspective to amplify the seriousness of each issue on man's heart. In other words, Jesus closed any loophole man could find to superficially obey God's Word while continuing to live in the flesh. Jesus' entire ministry focus centered on the heart, because the heart is the root of man's behavior. "And he (Jesus) said, 'What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person'" (Mark 7:20-23). If we desire to change our behavior, we must first recognize the condition of our heart and identify whether we are living for our own pleasure or God's glory.
We simply cannot undervalue how important our hearts are to understanding the wisdom Jesus conveys throughout His sermon. For if our hearts are bent on serving our flesh and self-protecting in order to legalistically check off religious boxes, we will never free ourselves from the strongholds that bind and quench the Spirit's conviction. God's Word reminds us, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). But rest assured, "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds" (Jeremiah 17:10). Just as the Lord spoke to the prophet Samuel, we must also reconcile this absolute truth: "For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). This should compel us to examine the motivation behind our actions, because a heart secretly bent on serving itself will never illicit righteous behavior that obeys what Jesus teaches throughout Matthew 5-7.
Consequently, Matthew 5:33-37 forces us to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, "Are my words trustworthy or manipulative and dishonest? Do my words support or contradict my actions? Can I be counted on for what I commit to?" Make no mistake, by viewing this passage with a quick glance compared to the aforementioned topics of anger, lust and divorce in Matthew 5:21-32, Jesus places a spotlight on man's character and integrity and challenges him to live not only according to what he says, but believes. James echoed this same sentiment when he wrote, "Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water" (James 3:11-12). If we are to be known as followers of Christ, our words must be true. Our 'Yes' and 'No' must be resolute to avoid confusion and misrepresentation. Therefore, there is no need to swear by anything to prove the validity of our words if we live truthfully according to what we say, and we cannot expect others to live with the same lofty standard of righteousness if we are not modeling that behavior first and foremost in our own hearts.
No doubt James, the brother of Jesus, heard this message loud and clear when he wrote, "But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation" (James 5:12). When we consider the context of what Jesus and James are saying, we begin to understand the importance oaths have on the health of the church. For when Christians behave in obedience to Scripture, the authenticity with which we witness for the cross of Christ has substance. The salvation message carries incredible weight when we do not simply "act" like Christians but truly "live" like Christians, exposing how our hearts have been changed and transformed by the Gospel. The Bible changes our entire behavioral trajectory, because God speaks to us directly through the absolute truth of His Word. "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD" (Zechariah 8:16-17). Therefore, we are without excuse. The world will always gives us alternative routes to living with integrity, honesty, authenticity and genuineness, but we must decide whether the words we speak will be honest and true or deceptive and hypocritical. The choice is ours.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 (Devotion)
FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS - "Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil."
After 12 chapters distinguishing wisdom from foolishness and providing extensive perspective and insight regarding the vanity of life, Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes with an emphatic closing statement to fear God and keep His commandments. While not theologically difficult to wrap our minds around, our flesh is bent on resisting these 2 commands, for it speaks to the heart's struggle to embrace righteousness while resisting temptation. With surgical precision Solomon pinpoints what hinders us most from enjoying peace and tranquility this side of heaven, which is our unwillingness to submit to God. Because if we cannot submit to any authority other than our flesh, we will never understand what it means to fear who God is because He is almighty, or obey His Word because He is holy and righteous. We must understand plainly that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7), but what does that look like? Why is fear a prerequisite of knowledge and what difference does it make to those who reject He is Lord over all?
Fear of the Lord is best understood through reverence (the highest degree of respect and esteem), yet many bristle and balk at the notion that God's wrath is real. Even in the church, many devout brothers and sisters in Christ struggle conveying to unbelievers the impending judgment awaiting those who reject the cross of Christ for salvation. It is not difficult to understand why. Scripture verses that highlight God's wrath invoke judgment, and we typically shy away from truly believing God will punish and excommunicate any human being who rejects Christ and lives for himself. That is why love is the predominant focus of those both outside and within the church walls, portraying God as a giant teddy bear incapable of forsaking or casting anyone into Hell for eternity. This is a great misunderstanding of who God is though, and we are wise to grasp that God's character is entwined within a threefold cord of His Word (Scripture), His love (grace and mercy), and His sovereignty (supreme power and authority). Therefore, as Christians we can rest assured and reconcile the validity of our inerrant doctrine of absolute truth by affirming the following Scripture passages as equally and simultaneously true:
After 12 chapters distinguishing wisdom from foolishness and providing extensive perspective and insight regarding the vanity of life, Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes with an emphatic closing statement to fear God and keep His commandments. While not theologically difficult to wrap our minds around, our flesh is bent on resisting these 2 commands, for it speaks to the heart's struggle to embrace righteousness while resisting temptation. With surgical precision Solomon pinpoints what hinders us most from enjoying peace and tranquility this side of heaven, which is our unwillingness to submit to God. Because if we cannot submit to any authority other than our flesh, we will never understand what it means to fear who God is because He is almighty, or obey His Word because He is holy and righteous. We must understand plainly that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7), but what does that look like? Why is fear a prerequisite of knowledge and what difference does it make to those who reject He is Lord over all?
Fear of the Lord is best understood through reverence (the highest degree of respect and esteem), yet many bristle and balk at the notion that God's wrath is real. Even in the church, many devout brothers and sisters in Christ struggle conveying to unbelievers the impending judgment awaiting those who reject the cross of Christ for salvation. It is not difficult to understand why. Scripture verses that highlight God's wrath invoke judgment, and we typically shy away from truly believing God will punish and excommunicate any human being who rejects Christ and lives for himself. That is why love is the predominant focus of those both outside and within the church walls, portraying God as a giant teddy bear incapable of forsaking or casting anyone into Hell for eternity. This is a great misunderstanding of who God is though, and we are wise to grasp that God's character is entwined within a threefold cord of His Word (Scripture), His love (grace and mercy), and His sovereignty (supreme power and authority). Therefore, as Christians we can rest assured and reconcile the validity of our inerrant doctrine of absolute truth by affirming the following Scripture passages as equally and simultaneously true:
- WRATH/JUDGMENT - "And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15).
- LOVE/GRACE - "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed" (2 Peter 3:9-10).
- WRATH/JUDGMENT - "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth" (Romans 1:18).
- LOVE/GRACE - "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not meant to provide only warm, fuzzy feelings displayed against a backdrop of rainbows and unicorns. No, it is intended to stop a man dead in his tracks and grip his heart to the point where he comes face to face with the enormity of eternity and his subsequent place within it. That is why Jesus said, "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law" (Luke 12:49-53). The cross of Christ demands we examine our hearts and determine where our allegiance lies when the day of judgment comes, which inevitably may cause us to step away from those we love who are headed for eternal, spiritual destruction so we are not led astray. However, the Lord reminds us, "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:11-12).
While submission is the wisest response to a healthy and reverent fear of the Lord, obedience to God's Word is the applicable response for living wisely. In other words, we follow Christ spiritually and do what He says practically. That is the outpouring of love we communicate to those around us—not devoid of the spiritual reality of judgment and accountability, but because of it. Scripture affirms, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:1-2). As time progresses, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christ-followers to talk about the Bible, let alone obey its teachings. Political correctness has increased the sensitivity level of our culture to the extent where Christians are stereotyped as judgmental and narrow-minded, and our message of salvation as foolishness. Despite His creation on full display, man still rejects God's sovereignty. Therefore, it should be no surprise to us that "He (God) has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I (Jesus) would heal them" (John 12:40). For today's generation is no different than 2,000 years ago, where Jesus Himself faced the same type of scrutiny and unbelief despite insurmountable evidence to the contrary. "The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, 'Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation'" (Mark 8:11-12).
Bottom-line, love was the reason God sent Jesus to live among men and die a sinner's death, and it is love that appeased the wrath of God intended for us—yet so many willingly choose to reject the Lord. Why? Truthfully, many misunderstand the Bible's intent to reveal God's will for our lives. For the Bible brings freedom, not bondage, to those who trust in its absolute truth. But with freedom comes conviction, and many reject being held accountable for their thoughts and actions. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13). Jesus offers us the personal decision to follow Him or the ways of the world, and we must reconcile to whom we will pledge our allegiance as a bond-servant to. What we (as those who trust in Jesus) can be assured of is this promise: "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:31b-32,34-36). Therefore, the end of the matter is set before us: Fear God and keep His commandments or suffer the consequences of our own personal volition. "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
Sunday, October 9, 2016
Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 (Devotion)
REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR IN YOUR YOUTH - "Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets—before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity."
Upon first glance of reading Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, one may presume that Solomon is being rather morbid. He speaks at length about the natural deterioration of the aging, human body and declares our physical existence this side of heaven as vanity. However, it would be foolish for those of us who identify ourselves as followers of Christ to gaze upon the future and begrudgingly anticipate doom and gloom. Far too often in the church we view ministry as occupational in nature and our age proportionately influenced by the season of life we find ourselves in. In other words, we labor in the workforce from typically age 18 to 65, then retire to the reality of personal comforts typically disengaged from active ministry service. The common perspective would be that the baton is passed to a younger generation who has more time and energy to do the work of God. Unfortunately, this reality is far too common and as non-Biblical a mindset as we could ever imagine. No where in Scripture are we encouraged to "retire" from ministry, for serving God is not restrained by age whatsoever. Rather, the Bible speaks plainly, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:16-17).
The notion that aging is a negative process is misguided as well, for "gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life" (Proverbs 16:31). The longer we live, the greater perspective God blesses us with. Experiential knowledge increases over time as we navigate through joys and triumphs, trials and tribulations. With each experience, God teaches us something new. Whether we choose to hold fast to wisdom or foolishness thereafter is another question altogether, but the seed is planted in our hearts and minds for future application. Therefore, we must be focused on bearing good fruit regardless of how young or old we are with the unique perspective God allows based on our experiential knowledge. Scripture affirms, "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him" (Psalm 92:12-15). If we are to maximize the time allotted to us by God to live on this earth, we must realize that age is simply a number and has no bearing on whether God can use us for His glory to bear good fruit. Age simply demonstrates our amount of healthy growth (or lack thereof) based on the character and countenance of our faith in Jesus Christ.
It is important we understand the importance of a spiritual legacy. Many of us fail to realize the full breadth and depth our thoughts and actions have over time. What we learned in our youth affirms who we believe God to be as we transition from age to age. More importantly, time magnifies the impact sin has on our fellowship with God and the subsequent ministry impact we have for His kingdom. For if we sow seeds of righteousness our harvest will be bountiful, but if we sow seeds of foolishness our harvest will be barren. Perhaps that is why the Psalmist declares, "O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come" (Psalm 71:17-18). There is no substitute for proclaiming the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world desperate for peace, hope, love and forgiveness, and we are commissioned to not just preach that message of grace but practically apply its wisdom in how we love and serve others. "A new commandment I (Jesus) give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).
If anything, retirement within the workplace should springboard us deeper into the waters of ministry. Time is freed up allowing us to get more intimately involved in the work of the church, both at home and abroad. In no way should we slow down simply because the golden years have arrived. There are simply too many avenues for God to use our time, energy and resources for His glory within our families and communities. "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10). Faith in Jesus Christ believes we go no place by accident and that our efforts are never made in vain. Therefore, we can walk confidently by the power of the Holy Spirit knowing that the time we invest for the sake of Gospel will return to us tenfold. Keep in mind, that does not allow us to postpone our ministry service till retirement. In no way are we guaranteed tomorrow, so are wise to begin building our kingdom legacy one moment at a time. Ministry always ebbs and flows based on the season of life we find ourselves in, but opportunities abound to positively impact the lives of those around us in our everyday walk of life.
When Jesus taught the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12), no doubt many people gasped at the enormity of the lesson. In today's age, common logic would compel us as it did for the rich fool to save up, build a nest egg for retirement, and enjoy our twilight years in ease and comfort. Jesus had a different lesson in mind though, and conveys the same message to our hearts now as He did when He first spoke these words almost 2,000 years ago. "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:20-21). We must be continually mindful that living wisely is not misconstrued as living comfortably. Yes, there are comforts that come with having a personal relationship with Jesus, but many hardships as well especially when we self-protect. Therefore, we must never forget the promise Jesus made to His disciples regarding the fruit of their ministry labor, because we are commissioned with the same message throughout our lives to the praise and glory of His name. For with great risk, there is great reward—and a life sold out for the Gospel no matter the time or circumstance will reap a good harvest regardless of age. "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours" (John 15:18-20).
Upon first glance of reading Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, one may presume that Solomon is being rather morbid. He speaks at length about the natural deterioration of the aging, human body and declares our physical existence this side of heaven as vanity. However, it would be foolish for those of us who identify ourselves as followers of Christ to gaze upon the future and begrudgingly anticipate doom and gloom. Far too often in the church we view ministry as occupational in nature and our age proportionately influenced by the season of life we find ourselves in. In other words, we labor in the workforce from typically age 18 to 65, then retire to the reality of personal comforts typically disengaged from active ministry service. The common perspective would be that the baton is passed to a younger generation who has more time and energy to do the work of God. Unfortunately, this reality is far too common and as non-Biblical a mindset as we could ever imagine. No where in Scripture are we encouraged to "retire" from ministry, for serving God is not restrained by age whatsoever. Rather, the Bible speaks plainly, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:16-17).
The notion that aging is a negative process is misguided as well, for "gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life" (Proverbs 16:31). The longer we live, the greater perspective God blesses us with. Experiential knowledge increases over time as we navigate through joys and triumphs, trials and tribulations. With each experience, God teaches us something new. Whether we choose to hold fast to wisdom or foolishness thereafter is another question altogether, but the seed is planted in our hearts and minds for future application. Therefore, we must be focused on bearing good fruit regardless of how young or old we are with the unique perspective God allows based on our experiential knowledge. Scripture affirms, "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him" (Psalm 92:12-15). If we are to maximize the time allotted to us by God to live on this earth, we must realize that age is simply a number and has no bearing on whether God can use us for His glory to bear good fruit. Age simply demonstrates our amount of healthy growth (or lack thereof) based on the character and countenance of our faith in Jesus Christ.
It is important we understand the importance of a spiritual legacy. Many of us fail to realize the full breadth and depth our thoughts and actions have over time. What we learned in our youth affirms who we believe God to be as we transition from age to age. More importantly, time magnifies the impact sin has on our fellowship with God and the subsequent ministry impact we have for His kingdom. For if we sow seeds of righteousness our harvest will be bountiful, but if we sow seeds of foolishness our harvest will be barren. Perhaps that is why the Psalmist declares, "O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come" (Psalm 71:17-18). There is no substitute for proclaiming the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world desperate for peace, hope, love and forgiveness, and we are commissioned to not just preach that message of grace but practically apply its wisdom in how we love and serve others. "A new commandment I (Jesus) give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).
If anything, retirement within the workplace should springboard us deeper into the waters of ministry. Time is freed up allowing us to get more intimately involved in the work of the church, both at home and abroad. In no way should we slow down simply because the golden years have arrived. There are simply too many avenues for God to use our time, energy and resources for His glory within our families and communities. "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10). Faith in Jesus Christ believes we go no place by accident and that our efforts are never made in vain. Therefore, we can walk confidently by the power of the Holy Spirit knowing that the time we invest for the sake of Gospel will return to us tenfold. Keep in mind, that does not allow us to postpone our ministry service till retirement. In no way are we guaranteed tomorrow, so are wise to begin building our kingdom legacy one moment at a time. Ministry always ebbs and flows based on the season of life we find ourselves in, but opportunities abound to positively impact the lives of those around us in our everyday walk of life.
When Jesus taught the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12), no doubt many people gasped at the enormity of the lesson. In today's age, common logic would compel us as it did for the rich fool to save up, build a nest egg for retirement, and enjoy our twilight years in ease and comfort. Jesus had a different lesson in mind though, and conveys the same message to our hearts now as He did when He first spoke these words almost 2,000 years ago. "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:20-21). We must be continually mindful that living wisely is not misconstrued as living comfortably. Yes, there are comforts that come with having a personal relationship with Jesus, but many hardships as well especially when we self-protect. Therefore, we must never forget the promise Jesus made to His disciples regarding the fruit of their ministry labor, because we are commissioned with the same message throughout our lives to the praise and glory of His name. For with great risk, there is great reward—and a life sold out for the Gospel no matter the time or circumstance will reap a good harvest regardless of age. "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours" (John 15:18-20).
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 (Devotion)
"Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity."
At times, we need a simple message to remind us that life here on earth is temporary. We tend to forget that due to the daily hustle and bustle of our practical lives and lose focus of how our busyness distracts us from focusing on what is most important. Our attention is diverted toward a myriad of practical functions each day related to our marriages, families, employment, homes and hobbies that often pull us in conflicting directions. In each case, there is a cost associated with our time investment. For instance, there is nothing wrong with providing provisional and leadership functions as a husband and father. Where we go astray is when we become lazy or indifferent toward spiritual disciplines under the false pretense that we are too busy with duties and responsibilities the Bible instructs us to perform as men and women, husbands and wives. In this passage of Ecclesiastes 11, Solomon affirms that living in the moment is fine so long as we realize the spiritual ramifications our decisions have over time. In other words, if we decide to invest the time we are given in functions devoid of spiritual purpose and mission, we will reap the reward of that fruitless labor. "Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist" (Proverbs 23:4). However, if quality time with the Lord is prioritized above all else, what we say and do carry intentionality that aligns our personal will with the will of God.
It takes long-term perspective to understand how fragile our time is here on earth. Typically we live short-term, making decisions that impact here and now rather than what is to come. Therefore, Solomon reinforces the salvation decision every human being must wrestle with before they breathe their last. In other words, God may bless us with a long and fruitful life, but if we have not accepted His gift of saving grace by faith, the days of darkness (Hell) where we will reside for eternity will never end. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4). Every day, countless individuals fail to realize Jesus paid the penalty of our sins to appease the wrath of God's judgment spelled out in His law, while many more boldly reject Christ's sacrifice and thus seal their eternal fate without slightest remorse. Their eyes are blind to the absolute truth that His love is manifested in the satisfaction His law demands, because God's wrath requires a blood sacrifice be made to atone for sin. And that is the true essence of propitiation, the appeasement of God's wrath through the shed blood of Jesus. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith" (Romans 3:23-25a).
Sadly, many of us live under the false assumption that tomorrow is guaranteed, unaware that our spiritual compass has lost it's true north. Solomon reminds us that whether our days are few or many, we cannot take a single moment for granted. We must rejoice in the blessings God bestows upon us but also remember that our time here on earth is momentary. In fact the Bible teaches, "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). This should sober our minds to realize the consequences of our actions through every word we speak and move we make. That is why Solomon emphasizes remembrance as a key component to living wisely. A man who thinks this life is the end-all of fulfillment is foolish. He does not realize the fragility of not only his mortal life but his spiritual eternity. Mistakes and foolish decisions do not draw him into a state of self-examination where he realizes his insufficiency through failed self-sufficiency, but rather seals his fate when the day of reckoning arrives. That is why Jesus reminds us, "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:38-39).
The key is simply to maintain perspective of eternity through momentary significance. In other words, our lives are filled with choices. We can choose to live for selfish pleasure or God's glory. We can speak with words of blessing or cursing to those we love. We can extend and share the resources God has graciously given us or hold them tightfisted for personal protection. In each situation and circumstance the choice is ours to make and reap the consequences from. We control our eternal fate. Therefore, we must understand the magnitude of Solomon's simplistic admonition and live our lives to the fullest while understanding the fragility of our existence. Let us be clear though that we are not called to balance our personal will with the Lord's will. God does not approve of a 50/50 negotiation where sin and righteousness coexist without the slightest regard for heart change. Faith in Christ mandates full, 100% surrender, which amplifies the importance of salvation and the impact judgment will have when we breathe our last. "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness" (Romans 6:13). No doubt, we will struggle every day to turn from sin and live for righteousness, but our theology must not allow us to lead double lives maintaining personal freedom apart from God to satisfy our selfish desires while living as bond-servants to a holy and righteous God. Hypocrisy must be eradicated if we are to act as salt and light to a fallen world.
Solomon concludes by encouraging us to remove vexation (frustration, worry, annoyance) from our hearts and pain from our bodies because youth and the dawn of life are vanity. What is most intriguing is that this statement comes directly after Solomon instructs to walk according to the inclinations of our hearts and eyes, letting our hearts cheer us in the days of our youth but under the umbrella of God's impending judgment. How then should we live? The key is to not be consumed by either extreme. "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:31-34). When Jesus spoke these words, He did not encourage independent self-sufficiency nor promote a life crippled by stress, worry and anxiety. He simply instructed us to trust our Father in heaven and live according to His Word without fear. Therefore, let us live without regrets so long as we understand that peace and freedom are found when we die to self and embrace God's Word as our fountain of life. For our singular purpose in life is simple: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
At times, we need a simple message to remind us that life here on earth is temporary. We tend to forget that due to the daily hustle and bustle of our practical lives and lose focus of how our busyness distracts us from focusing on what is most important. Our attention is diverted toward a myriad of practical functions each day related to our marriages, families, employment, homes and hobbies that often pull us in conflicting directions. In each case, there is a cost associated with our time investment. For instance, there is nothing wrong with providing provisional and leadership functions as a husband and father. Where we go astray is when we become lazy or indifferent toward spiritual disciplines under the false pretense that we are too busy with duties and responsibilities the Bible instructs us to perform as men and women, husbands and wives. In this passage of Ecclesiastes 11, Solomon affirms that living in the moment is fine so long as we realize the spiritual ramifications our decisions have over time. In other words, if we decide to invest the time we are given in functions devoid of spiritual purpose and mission, we will reap the reward of that fruitless labor. "Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist" (Proverbs 23:4). However, if quality time with the Lord is prioritized above all else, what we say and do carry intentionality that aligns our personal will with the will of God.
It takes long-term perspective to understand how fragile our time is here on earth. Typically we live short-term, making decisions that impact here and now rather than what is to come. Therefore, Solomon reinforces the salvation decision every human being must wrestle with before they breathe their last. In other words, God may bless us with a long and fruitful life, but if we have not accepted His gift of saving grace by faith, the days of darkness (Hell) where we will reside for eternity will never end. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4). Every day, countless individuals fail to realize Jesus paid the penalty of our sins to appease the wrath of God's judgment spelled out in His law, while many more boldly reject Christ's sacrifice and thus seal their eternal fate without slightest remorse. Their eyes are blind to the absolute truth that His love is manifested in the satisfaction His law demands, because God's wrath requires a blood sacrifice be made to atone for sin. And that is the true essence of propitiation, the appeasement of God's wrath through the shed blood of Jesus. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith" (Romans 3:23-25a).
Sadly, many of us live under the false assumption that tomorrow is guaranteed, unaware that our spiritual compass has lost it's true north. Solomon reminds us that whether our days are few or many, we cannot take a single moment for granted. We must rejoice in the blessings God bestows upon us but also remember that our time here on earth is momentary. In fact the Bible teaches, "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Peter 3:8). This should sober our minds to realize the consequences of our actions through every word we speak and move we make. That is why Solomon emphasizes remembrance as a key component to living wisely. A man who thinks this life is the end-all of fulfillment is foolish. He does not realize the fragility of not only his mortal life but his spiritual eternity. Mistakes and foolish decisions do not draw him into a state of self-examination where he realizes his insufficiency through failed self-sufficiency, but rather seals his fate when the day of reckoning arrives. That is why Jesus reminds us, "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:38-39).
The key is simply to maintain perspective of eternity through momentary significance. In other words, our lives are filled with choices. We can choose to live for selfish pleasure or God's glory. We can speak with words of blessing or cursing to those we love. We can extend and share the resources God has graciously given us or hold them tightfisted for personal protection. In each situation and circumstance the choice is ours to make and reap the consequences from. We control our eternal fate. Therefore, we must understand the magnitude of Solomon's simplistic admonition and live our lives to the fullest while understanding the fragility of our existence. Let us be clear though that we are not called to balance our personal will with the Lord's will. God does not approve of a 50/50 negotiation where sin and righteousness coexist without the slightest regard for heart change. Faith in Christ mandates full, 100% surrender, which amplifies the importance of salvation and the impact judgment will have when we breathe our last. "Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness" (Romans 6:13). No doubt, we will struggle every day to turn from sin and live for righteousness, but our theology must not allow us to lead double lives maintaining personal freedom apart from God to satisfy our selfish desires while living as bond-servants to a holy and righteous God. Hypocrisy must be eradicated if we are to act as salt and light to a fallen world.
Solomon concludes by encouraging us to remove vexation (frustration, worry, annoyance) from our hearts and pain from our bodies because youth and the dawn of life are vanity. What is most intriguing is that this statement comes directly after Solomon instructs to walk according to the inclinations of our hearts and eyes, letting our hearts cheer us in the days of our youth but under the umbrella of God's impending judgment. How then should we live? The key is to not be consumed by either extreme. "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:31-34). When Jesus spoke these words, He did not encourage independent self-sufficiency nor promote a life crippled by stress, worry and anxiety. He simply instructed us to trust our Father in heaven and live according to His Word without fear. Therefore, let us live without regrets so long as we understand that peace and freedom are found when we die to self and embrace God's Word as our fountain of life. For our singular purpose in life is simple: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
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