MERCY (Personal Reflection)

Hear my cries, Lord, hear my plea

All around me all I see

Are canyons of heartache, rivers of mistake

They're calling out longing for me

So hide me under Your wings of grace

Let your love be my hiding place

Wash me clean, come make me holy

For I deserve all the worst, yet You offer mercy

For I deserve all the worst, yet You offer mercy

When I'm parched, Lord, give me drink

Pull me up from on the brink

Dangers abounding, my head is pounding

It's clouding up my clarity

So hide me under Your wings of grace

Let your love be my hiding place

Wash me clean, come make me holy

For I deserve all the worst, yet You offer mercy

For I deserve all the worst, yet You offer mercy

Oh, Lord, have mercy on me

Oh, Lord, have mercy on me

Oh, Lord, have mercy on me

Kyrie, Kyrie Eleison

Oh, Lord, have mercy on me

Hide me under Your wings of grace

Let your love be my refuge safe

Wash me clean, come make me holy

For I deserve all the worst, yet You offer mercy

For I deserve all the worst, yet You offer mercy

Kyrie, Kyrie Eleison

Oh, Lord, have mercy on me

For I deserve all the worst, yet You offer mercy

For I deserve all the worst, yet You offer mercy

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One of the most miraculous aspects of God's character is that He is rich in mercy and abounds in steadfast love. "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4–5). In many ways, it is difficult to wrap our minds around the enormity of those absolute truths because it is impossible to understand how patient the Lord truly is with us. How can God continue to welcome us home with open arms like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) when we choose to sin and go our separate way? The answer lies in understanding who He is, first and foremost. Scripture affirms, "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" (2 Peter 3:9). Why? Because "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you" (Jeremiah 31:3). It is hard to fathom that love could be everlasting, for we tend to view love from a selfish, conditional vantage point. However, we must recognize God is not simply our Creator but our Father in heaven, which helps us understand why His love endures forever. Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:50), because by faith we are adopted into the family of God as His sons and daughters. "In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:4–6). As humans, we struggle with NOT keeping a record of wrongs because wounds cut deep and scars remind us of what we've been through. Granted, we may choose to forgive, but forgetting how we've been offended and/or afflicted by someone we love is extremely difficult, especially when the sin is grievous and widely destructive. God does not operate in the same manner, though. Rather, He promises to His children, "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins" (Isaiah 43:25). What an amazing promise!

From my personal perspective, sins I've committed in my life are constantly at the forefront of my mind, for better or worse. In other words, I benefit from not forgetting my past sins because the consequences of my actions keep my guard up to ensure I don't fall victim to the same mistakes. However, in the same token I must be careful not to wear my guilt and shame like a scarlet letter, wallowing in self-pity and unwilling to accept God's grace and mercy which He freely offers. Healing and restoration begin with acknowledging how I have sinned and then seeking reconciliation with God through Biblical repentance for violating His righteous standard.  King David famously said, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment" (Psalm 51:1–4). The beautiful part of this prayer is that David owned the enormity and consequences of his sin by acknowledging God as his righteous judge and supreme authority. He affirmed God's character as abundant in mercy, while at the same time elevated the necessity of personal accountability for sins he personally committed. Finally, David willingly accepted whatever just punishment was due him in order to reconcile his heart to God. The problem many of us encounter, though, is that after we pray to God in a manner similar Psalm 51:1–4, we camp out in the depths of despair rather than embracing His forgiveness, learning from our mistakes, and guarding against future temptations.  In no way does God wish to render us incapacitated to forgive ourselves and learn from our mistakes. Consider Jesus' words to Peter: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31–32). For in His sovereignty, God will use our failures as an opportunity to minister to others who find themselves caught in similar situations. 

"Early in the morning he (Jesus) came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, 'Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?' This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, 'Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.' And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more'" (John 8:2–11).

Satan would have us believe God is nothing more than a tyrant who strips away our freedoms, takes pleasure in punishing us for our sins, and lords our mistakes over us as a reminder of how wretched we truly are. However, that is NOT what the Bible teaches. For those who are born-again believers, Scripture affirms that while we are accountable for our actions, Jesus received the just punishment for our sins. "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). What is even more incredible is that Christ's atonement for our sins is infinite, because He died once for all mankind and the sins we commit in our entire lifetime. "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit" (1 Peter 3:18). Therefore, how could we ever express any other emotion to God but praise and thanksgiving for what He has done to assure our eternal salvation? Granted, we will be afflicted in our lifetime with trials, tribulations, persecution, illnesses, tragedies, and even death, yet all are TEMPORARY afflictions which do nothing more than testify to how precious the blood of Jesus is to rescue us from the depravity of this world. "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that'" (James 4:13–15). Even Paul was afflicted with a thorn in the flesh throughout his ministry, yet he understood it was temporary and meant for a greater purpose than he could fathom, to keep him humble and dependent on God as his source of strength.

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:7–10).

Considering the topic of mercy, I often wonder why so many people boldly and emphatically reject Christianity. Why wouldn't someone want to be rescued from eternal hell and torment? What is more precious in life than peace, hope, joy and contentment? Granted, we are not guaranteed this life will be void of trials and tribulations if we accept Christ, which unfortunately is the byproduct of prosperity doctrine (i.e. false teaching). However, we are guaranteed that Jesus is the final authority over our trial, pain and suffering. Therefore, we should not fear whatever the enemy throws our way to tempt us to reject our faith and assurance in Christ. "I (Jesus) have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). For the promise of salvation is this: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4). In many ways, people simply fail to grasp the depth, breadth and magnitude of mercy. Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary helps clarify confusion by defining "mercy" as follows:

"That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy. That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being."

Keep in mind, mercy does not eliminate the consequences of sin, but willingly pardons the offender by choosing to forgive instead. Scripture affirms, "The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation" (Numbers 14:18). We must recognize that God demonstrates His love for us by offering mercy and forgiveness through the blood of Jesus to atone for our sins. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). However, this invitation is meant to bring us to salvation through repentance, otherwise our offspring will endure the wrath of our indignant choice to reject God. It is a sobering reality when we consider that our indifference toward sin and lack of ownership and personal accountability can so heavily influence the next generation, but that is precisely what Scripture warns if we do not humble ourselves and seek eternal reconciliation with God for our sins. Therefore, must cling to David's words as our own and humble confess, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). The Lord declares, "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). What then does Biblical repentance look like (compared to worldly repentance which begins and ends with a halfhearted apology)? Here is my perspective from comparing what I've learned through personal experience with the truth of God's Word:

1. I acknowledge the eternal ramification and enormity of my sin from God's Holy perspective (Jeremiah 14:20–21). 
2. I take ownership for choosing to commit my sin regardless of who/what influenced my decision (Proverbs 28:13–14).
3. I accept personal responsibility for the consequences of my sin and the destructive wake it caused myself and others (Psalm 51:3–4).
4. I reject any fleshly desire to shift blame for my actions or minimize/justify my sin (Romans 2:1).
5. I confess my sin to God and others by seeking restoration/reconciliation (Psalm 32:5). 
6. I humble myself by asking forgiveness from those I have directly and indirectly hurt because of my sin (Matthew 5:23–24).
7. By faith, I accept God's grace, mercy and forgiveness for my sin (1 John 1:9).
8. I rejoice in thanksgiving for God's healing and restoration (Psalm 103:8–14).
9. I commit to learn from my mistakes and sin no more by submitting to the authority of God's Word in faithful obedience and application (2 Chronicles 7:14).

When Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees concerning the quality time He spent with tax collectors and sinners, He simply replied, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:12–13). The enemy would have us believe that because the love of Jesus covers a multitude of sins, if we are saved, we do not need to humble ourselves and repent of our sins because the debt has already been paid. The danger of that mentality is that it promotes laziness and tempts us to consider salvation as a one-time event that has no bearing on our lives otherwise. No! True faith is active faith, whereby we invest time seeking to know God through His Word and applying the truth of His wisdom in our lives. However, if we're honest with ourselves, more often than not, we treat repentance with indifference because we are sidetracked by a multitude of tasks and to-do lists which distract us from quality time with God. The danger is that a lack of consistent and frequent quality time with God produces shallow faith, which is a detriment to the believer, the body of Christ at large, and secular society as well. In other words, if we're not tithing the first-fruits of our time and attention to God, fully engaged in the process of self-examination whereby we actively seek the Lord's wisdom and accountability, then we are completely missing the boat in understanding what Jesus says in Matthew 9:12–13. What then does the Lord desire? David wrote, "For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:16–17). All God wants is our heart, fully devoted to Him and obedient in submission to His Word. Only then will we grasp the magnitude of His love which overflows with grace and mercy to those who humble themselves, repent of their sins, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. 

"'Yet even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.' Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (Joel 2:12–13). 

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RISE UP (Personal Reflection)

Calling all the followers of the living God

It's time we rise up, rise up

Our God is calling after

All of His sons and daughters

He's calling us to follow

Although the road is narrow

We trust in His great freedom

We long to see His kingdom

It's time to...

Rise up church, shine your light

Rise up death, time to come alive

Rise up love, lead us in the fight

Children of God, let's rise up

Come every generation

All people, all ye nations

We stand and raise our voices

Lift up the torch of justice

United all for Jesus

The Lord our God is with us

It's time to...

Rise up church, shine your light

Rise up death, time to come alive

Rise up love, lead us in the fight

Children of God, let's rise up

Faith is rising 

Hope is rising 

Love is rising 

Oh, it's rising up

Peace is rising

Joy is rising

Truth is rising

Oh, it's rising up

Death is rising

Church is rising

Oh, we are rising up

We're rising up 

RISE UP, RISE UP!

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The inspiration for today's post, "Rise Up," by Aaron Pelsue Band, is a song I've listened to hundreds of times because it's one of my all-time favorites. I've been a fan of Aaron's music for the past 16 years when He was the worship leader at a church in Indianapolis (E91) my wife and I attended. Aaron was just coming on board as the worship leader when we relocated out of state for my job. Nevertheless, we have watched Aaron's career develop from a distance and championed his music with those we've crossed paths with through the years. What's most compelling to me about this song, outside of its exceptional "rock" arrangement (which I love), are the central themes of UNITY and BOLDNESS which challenge us to stand together as the body of Christ universal, rather than isolate ourselves from one another. In a day and age where relative truth is spreading like wildfire and permeating the theology of many Christian denominations, UNITY is our rallying cry, but BOLDNESS should be our attitude. Bound together, we are the voice of morality, reason and ethics in a perverse culture. Apart from one another, we are weakened to the extent where our collective voice is being drowned out by our inability to reconcile denominational differences. It is a far greater issue than many of us realize because we assume our common thread of "Christianity" is enough to overwhelm the enemy. And while that position may have held true a generation or more ago, in today's culture, our Christian brand is increasingly devalued and fragmented due to disunity compared to secular opposition we are supposed to be unified against. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

Sadly, one cannot drive through the majority of towns in America and not see multiple Christian churches within walking distance of one another, all proudly displaying their denominational affiliations in the name of Christ but sadly, at the expense of one another. In many cases, church buildings stand side by side or directly adjacent to one another, offering a different flavor of Jesus and the Bible to appease the appetite of those seeking corporate worship and fellowship based on culturally-motivated personal preferences rather than doctrine. What should be more alarming to us are the staggering (and quickly increasing) number of churches across the globe who barely even reference the Bible in sermons or misrepresent/misinterpret God's Word through false teaching. It's not surprising, though, considering watered down or "feel good" messages are much easier to preach because they set the bar extremely low for people to measure themselves against, and require little to no accountability for personal growth. The truth is that church attendance and financial giving increase quickly in shallow, spiritual environments because people can easily be manipulated when false promises of material blessings and salvation by any other means than 100% faith in Jesus are preached from the pulpit to appease the flesh. Therefore, we must consider Paul's admonition to Timothy with great attention to detail in order to understand how easily we can be led astray by false teaching. "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" (2 Timothy 4:1–4). People often turn away from Biblical accountability because it makes them feel uncomfortable when there is an absolute standard of right and wrong and impending judgement on personal choices made throughout life. However, that should never compel us to soften the edges or disregard portions of God's Word in order to satisfy personal feelings and/or hidden agendas designed to make people feel more comfortable and keep tithes flowing into the church.

The key to UNITY within the church universal is identifying what is doctrinal vs. peripheral in our theology. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10). Divisions in the church are not uncommon as evidenced from the very beginning of Christianity, but we must be careful to consider "doctrinal vs. peripheral," just as Paul did, if we are to thwart Satan's attempt to divide us from within. In other words, the doctrinal pillars of our faith (such as the inerrancy and inspiration of Scripture, the Holy Trinity, Christ's incarnate nature as fully God/man, the virgin birth of Jesus, salvation by grace through faith alone, Christ's resurrection, etc.) are non-negotiable. The Christian faith is devoid of value if our doctrinal foundation is not firm and absolute on these issues and others. However, more often than not, peripheral differences have driven wedges within the church rather than doctrinal pillars. Therefore, we must hold fast to the truth of God's Word with BOLDNESS, unashamed of what it declares cover-to-cover. "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. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 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 2:13–15). Generations ago, churches split over such as things as musical preferences, financial stewardship, and unilateral decision making. Fast forward to 2019 and churches are carefully negotiating (not just navigating) their doctrinal position concerning issues such as LGBTQ inclusion, gay marriage, abortion, suicide, euthanasia, etc. How can it be that cultural choices/preferences are gaining momentum as "acceptable" in the eyes of God, despite what the Bible clearly states to the contrary? Have we really degraded Christianity to the point where doctrinal foundations regarding sin are now relative and negotiable? Perhaps more pointedly, have specific Christian churches and denominations chosen to justify sin in order to maintain/increase church attendance and financial giving? How can this be?

In many cases, churches and even complete denominations have flown the white flag of surrender by succumbing to cultural and political pressure under the umbrella of inclusion. Therefore, we must reconcile once and for all what our response will be to the shifting tide of morality crashing upon the shore of our faith. Will we BOLDLY defend God and His Word, UNIFIED with our corporate brethren across the denominational divide? Or will we water down Scripture to the point where only love and grace matter? Because of course, "God would never sentence anyone to eternal hell for their sin and unbelief since that would be unloving" (sarcasm intended). Jesus said, "Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32–33). Keep in mind, endorsing the Bible as absolute truth in today's post-modernistic environment is a recipe for backlash, persecution, and ironically, judgement. Nevertheless, Jesus assures us, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 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 5:10–12). What we need more than anything is genuine revival in the church at the deepest heart level, because our universal behavior and ideology have morphed into an unrecognizable shell of Christianity which pales in comparison to the original New Testament blueprint. Therefore, we must cling to God's Word because it is our only source of spiritual food sufficient enough to meet our eternal needs, and the only true weapon at our disposal to defeat the kingdom of darkness. "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:7–9).

UNITY in our doctrine and BOLDNESS to not apologize for what the Bible says are at the crux of our faith, both of which hang in a delicate balance throughout the body of Christ. We may not recognize the severity of denominational separatism, but we are witnessing the beginning of the end if we fail to clearly identify who our enemy is and the tactics he is using to drive wedges between us, which includes false teaching. Paul wrote, "I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive" (Romans 16:17–18). Granted, false teachers are difficult to discern because they intentionally blend Scripture references into their messages to manipulate people into thinking their teaching is Biblically credible. There is nothing new about this tactic, because Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus in the wilderness in order to tempt him to reject God.  

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.' But he answered, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."' Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "He will command his angels concerning you," and "On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone."' Jesus said to him, 'Again it is written, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test."' Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, 'All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve."' Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him" (Matthew 4:1–11).

How then does false teaching manifest itself, and how can we can guard against such evil schemes? In his article entitled, "Satan's Bible Knowledge," John Piper offers valuable perspective for us to consider in helping identify false teaching and the misrepresentation of Scripture which is infiltrating the church universal. 

"What makes Satan happy is when he can get Christians to believe that Proverbs 15:6 justifies the accumulation of wealth in a world of hunger; that 2 Thessalonians 3:10 abolishes charity; that Romans 9:16 makes evangelism superfluous; that 1 Timothy 2:4 means God is not sovereign in conversion; that John 10:28 means a “Christian” can do whatever he wants and still be saved; that Hebrews 6:4–6 means there is no security and assurance for God’s elect. 

Is it a sobering thought that the word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17)? Yes! And indeed it is. What did Jesus say when Satan quoted Scripture? He said: “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Matthew 4:7). He quoted Scripture against Satan’s use of Scripture. He knew the Bible better than Satan."

UNITY in our knowledge, understanding and application of God's Word is paramount because it exposes false teaching and allows us to discern what is doctrinal vs. peripheral in our collective theology. However, UNITY also requires we take ownership for our theology and invest the necessary time, attention, submission and obedience it takes to learn, understand and apply what God's Word says. Undoubtedly, there will still be disagreements among denominations on the interpretation of doctrinal issues, but acknowledging that doctrinal truths are absolute is a monumental first step in securing our collective position as a beacon of light and security in a fallen and lost world. Jesus warned, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’" (Matthew 7:21–23). Doing the will of God requires BOLDNESS because our world is passionately consumed with destroying our credibility from the ground up. They rejoice when our selfish behavior is no different than their own, because it diminishes any remorseful call to action for the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, the more denominations isolate themselves and navigate the choppy waters of "what is a sin vs. what is not" without surrendering complete authority to Scripture, the more we communicate to the lost and hopeless of this world that our doctrine is negotiable and relative to culture, rather than sovereign and absolute. In other words, when we cannot agree on our doctrinal pillars within the body of Christ, our faith (Christianity itself) gets thrown into the melting pot of post-modernistic thinking, as if it were a side item on a menu anyone can pick and choose from to formulate their personal theology.

Paul summed it up best: "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Philippians 2:1–2). It takes COURAGE and BOLDNESS to break away from the norm and focus on our similarities vs. differences. In many ways, secular society revels when we boast about ourselves as Baptists, Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Calvinists, Charismatics, Non-Denominational, etc., rather than simply born-again, Bible-believing, followers of Christ. It exposes our pride when our identity of faith is wrapped up in denominational brands rather than God's Word itself. "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). Why? Because the flesh will always seek to escape from the conviction of the Bible, which lends itself to false teaching and divisions within the church. "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect" (Mark 13:22). In the end, the only thing that matters is our doctrine, God's Holy Word, which illuminates absolute truth and guides our thoughts and actions toward repentance, salvation, and ultimately, freedom in Christ. Therefore, may we RISE UP (as our feature song encourages) as children of God and the body of Christ, UNITED in our doctrinal convictions with BOLDNESS to endure trial and persecution rather than compromise the sovereignty of God and His Word. "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" (Psalm 133:1).  Therefore, rise up, Church, RISE UP!

TEMPTATION (Personal Reflection)

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"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Whether you're a fan of rap music or not, the lyrics of this compilation song are raw, gritty, honest, and shed light upon the secret sins many of us (even in the church) struggle with. As men and the spiritual leaders of our home, we cannot turn a blind eye toward the impact sexual gratification has on our psyche and our marriages. Our eyes are easily influenced by the images culture accentuates at every turn, yet God's Word is clear that we are constantly at war with our flesh. "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do" (Galatians 5:17). As such, we must guard our hearts from succumbing to the onslaught of temptation readily accessible in our day. Internet, TV, videos, magazines, billboards, social media, etc., all have the power to sway our attention from the truth of Scripture which cautions us to avoid temptation at all costs. Therefore, we must be willing to take extreme measures in order to protect ourselves from the flesh we struggle to gain self control over. "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire" (Matthew 18:7–9).

The most compelling aspect of this song, in my opinion, is the inclusion of interlude preaching within the rap itself. I cannot listen to this track without being confronted by the accusations presented and convicted to the core, for I admit my mind places far too much emphasis on sexual gratification as my foundation for happiness and/or my identity as a man. Keep in mind, sex within the construct of Biblical marriage is a beautiful gift from God which He gives us to enjoy. However, our twisted perversion of that gift is the focus of this post because we forget all too quickly what Scripture promises: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a result, suppressing who I am in Christ impacts my marriage because of unrealistic expectations I place on my wife. It also affects my family because it distracts my attention from the role of spiritual leadership I am called to exemplify for my daughters (as they observe my behavior for righteous character qualities they should look for in future husbands). The greatest gift I can ever give my children is a Godly marriage, and a healthy union begins with dying to self and aligning my desires and personal will with the Lord and His Word. Therefore, I must continually ask myself whether I am living for Christ or my flesh. Whose voice do I yield to when my sexual desires are not being met? Do I seek personal satisfaction outside my marriage to any degree? Am I prone to being mentally consumed by lust to the extent where I act out?

There are countless Scripture passages which speak to the dilemma man faces deep within his heart when it comes to sex, yet in the moment we tend to completely forget or ignore what we know to be true, that death and destruction come from yielding to the flesh and obeying its cravings. "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death" (James 1:14–15). There is a reason why Biblical counselors advise men who struggle with lust to wash their minds with the convicting truth of Proverbs 5-7. Scripture describes a scene where a man is led astray by his sexual desires and destroys himself like a moth to a flame in the arms of an adulteress. It is one of the most gripping examples of self-destruction in the Bible, which many of us know more intimately than we care to admit. "With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life" (Proverbs 7:21–23). Unfortunately, it is not until we experience a "moment of clarity" when the scales of deception fall from our eyes and we see our sin for what it truly is. Death. However, admitting when we've CHOSEN to sin rather than blaming others for our sinful decisions is a reality we need to reconcile in our hearts once and for all, if we truly want to gain victory over our flesh.

About 6 years ago, I wrote an extensive commentary on Matthew 5:27-30 where Jesus taught, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27–28). In that post, I wrote the following:

"Thus in considering Matthew 5:27-30, once acceptance of Christ as truth has been established, a man must confront his tempestuous process/tendencies of yielding to sin in order to understand what his degradation progression looks like when his lust becomes adultery.  In my experience, the process essentially follows this cyclical pattern: 

1. His natural propensity to sexual stimulation by means of his flesh.  

2. Temptations that stir his mind with promises of pleasure and satisfaction. 

3. Methods which provide a medium, outlet or forum for acting out on his lust.  

4. Consideration of the "balance scale" between perceived pleasure and consequences.  

5. Acceptance/acknowledgement of what he knows to be wrong, yet proceeds anyway.  

6. Hormonal escalation to the point where mental fantasy results in physical climax.  

7. "Moment of clarity" where his temporary, false satisfaction is replaced by the reality of his sin.  

8. Guilt, shame and (in reality) empty promises to finally turn away from his sin.   

9. Period of time where judgment is distracted until his sin desire is stirred and the cyclical pattern begins again. 

While most men can logically follow the pattern of this list against their own experiences as true on the whole, the reality is that the "balance scale" and "moment of clarity" typically do not garner enough attention and prayerful consideration.  The truth of the matter is that God gives opportunities for accountability to men struggling with lustful temptations.  King David echoed this emphatically and without reservation following the consequences of his adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah, when he plainly stated, "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me" (Psalm 51:3).  How refreshing are the pages of Scripture when the reality of my heart's condition is perfectly united with an imperfect man, who for the most part sought God's will throughout his life, yet struggled with sin progressions I personally relate to.  David understood the magnitude of his sin. "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment" (Psalm 51:4). Therefore, he humbled himself before the judgment of a Holy God, who forgave him because of his solemn and reverent plea of repentance by fully accepting and taking responsibility for his sins. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" (Psalm 51:1-2)."

We can justify in our minds all we want that we "got caught up in the moment," or leverage any combination of reasons which enabled our lustful actions. Bottom-line: WE OWN OUR BEHAVIOR. As a result, if we choose to sin, we choose to suffer the consequences of those actions. The idolatry of sex and perversion of God's design for marriage is an epidemic both outside our church walls and within. Look no further than daily social media headlines for proof. Human sex trafficking is rampant throughout the world and global pornography revenue estimates exceed $100 billion, easily dwarfing (>3x) the 4 major U.S. sports leagues (NFL/NBA/MLB/NHL) combined! If we're not recognizing the degradation of sexuality and subsequent idolatry in our world today, we as Christians are either ignorant to the facts or fooling ourselves into thinking the problem is not as bad as it seems. "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). However, fixing the problem would require PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and OWNERSHIP over our behavior, and that is a line in the sand many who struggle with lust are unwilling to be held accountable to. In other words, we struggle admitting how twisted our view of sex has become because we've allowed it to take root in our minds. In turn, sexual curiosity has morphed into a state of desensitization where we continue to expand the depths of perversion. What was once taboo is commonplace; and unfortunately, our children are shouldering the burden of our indifference toward sexual impurity by becoming enslaved themselves. "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen" (Romans 1:24–25).

The key takeaway from the conclusion of this song is that addressing our sin problem does not begin and end with managing our libido. I know because I wasted too many years exhausting that method to no avail. Sex is merely the surface issue hiding the true root of depravity in our hearts, manifested in love of self. Certainly we can attempt to suppress our sexual cravings, but our natural propensity to yield to the flesh will always keep us from experiencing victory if we rely on our strength alone. It is only through the power of Holy Spirit that we are even capable of destroying the strongholds which pervert our minds. However, we must choose whom we will serve. "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15). In the end, God's Word is the only tool at our disposal which illuminates truth and exposes lies. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). What many of us need to realize is that spiritual amputation is the first step to breaking the chains which bind us. What does that look like though? Job offers a simple recipe for success: "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin? What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high? Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?" (Job 31:1–4). In other words, I am committing to GUARD my eyes because my thoughts, intentions and actions are on full display for God, my Judge.  

More importantly, safeguarding our hearts stops the stream of resources pouring into sexual degradation all over the world. Bottom-line, the porn industry exists because addicted humans are too prideful and selfish to put an end to it. We can raise all the awareness in the world about the atrocities of human sex trafficking, but it will continue to exist and gain momentum because we are too consumed with gratifying our private, sexual cravings to recognize we are enabling a crisis of grave proportions. Yes, I understand that is an "all-inclusive" statement, and thankfully many reading this post may not struggle with lust. However, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE CURRENTLY ADDICTED TO PORNOGRAPHY, and we are naive to believe that statistic is not inclusive of the church body. We cannot forget that supply only exists because the demand is great. How then do we cut off the demand? Heart change for Christ; because in our own power, we do not have the strength to destroy strongholds. "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:3–4). I realize many will ridicule or minimize the idea that "trusting in Jesus" will make any difference whatsoever, but we as the body of Christ must start believing 2 Corinthians 10:3–4 and walking in the light of His grace and mercy. Unfortunately, millions of souls within the church are addicted to lust in varying degrees and perversions. Therefore, if we desire and commit to make a difference in this world, let it begin at home first and foremost so that we would be an example of God's saving power to destroy strongholds.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:1–5).

"TEMPTATION" by 116 Clique

[Intro: Andy Mineo]

This body's not mine, it's yours, it's yours, it's yours.

So every day, I'm fighting a war

To flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all.

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all.

[Verse 1: KB]

OK, saved at an early age

In thirty days, it felt like I had managed to murder most of my worldly ways.

Worldly ways? But a couple stayed and coupled with a couple years,

I'm wondering am I missing out on the thrills I had thrown away?

Was all this in vain? Strain to remain and refrain

And sustain through this flame in my veins.

Lust is his name, this virgin a burden,

I ain't never hit the club, maybe I just need a taste.

A lil' taste, a lil' taste is like a little rape,

A lil' drank, a poison but can it kill a man?

A heard 'em say without sex, life is a waste,

But Christ is over all, I kept my pants on my waist.

Turned beautiful chicks away, dudes swearin' that I'm lame,

Though I got a sex drive, the Spirit's holding the brakes.

There's no breaks, this is His infinite work,

Content with my rib, nothing is sweet enough to desert her.

[Interlude]

See, some of y'all done bought the lie

That sex is what makes you a man,

But that's not what makes you a man.

Anybody can go lay with a woman.

What makes you a man is being defined

By who you say you are in Christ.

If you have Christ, you have all that you need.

Everything you need is bound up in the resurrected Savior.

[Verse 2: Derek Minor]

Look, can I be real with you?

They say that women want attention, that's the real issue.

And if they only wore dresses just a little bit longer,

Then the flesh that I be feeding wouldn't burn like a sauna.

Wait, is that the reason why your brain is in chains

When you at home by yourself in front of computer screens?

Or is that the reason why sick men prey on

Little girls still in school still playing with crayons?

No! It's the flesh that all men should fight

While Satan persist to tempt us with our own wicked delights.

See, God made intimacy to glorify He,

The flesh wanna do as we please glorify we (don't deserve it).

That girl is not an object for playing,

That's a woman, not a barbie, I don't care what Nicki (Minaj) say.

And just like her, sex is God's creation,

You spit inside his face when you don't use it how he made it.

[Interlude]

Sex is a gift from God but we've taken it and made it idolatry.

We've taken it and put it in the place of God and we worship it,

And so it comes out in all kinds of profane ways.

And so we blame the women for what they're wearing,

And we blame the media for what they're producing,

But we never blame ourselves

For how we've twisted God's gift to glorify us.

[Verse 3: Tedashii]

Flesh on the rise like the tide when I go surfing,

You can see just what I prize in my life when I go searching.

Roaming with my eyes; no surprise sin is lurking,

Get's me every time and inside, man, I'm hurting.

Pretending that I'm fine but it's a lie, man, I'm burdened,

'Cause what's inside is never satisfied so I serve it.

Afraid of getting caught so I hide, I'm so nervous,

Scared that I may die begging Christ to reverse it.

Lord, you are the gospel, such a bad scene,

Even if I clear my history my past ain't clean.

And I can try to clean it up, but it never seems enough,

I trust myself then hurt myself, fail, this is tough.

I need the gospel clear, see my sin for what it is,

One brings life, the other death, man, to me plus my kids.

Selfish in my ways and it's gonna' put me in the grave,

But Christ can save and set you free, no longer be enslaved.

[Bridge: Andy Mineo]

My spirit willing but my flesh weak,

And this moment is but a test see.

Yeah, Lord, you're greater than all these pleasures,

I just wanna see you as my treasure.

God I wanna

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all,

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all,

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all,

Flee from it all 'til I'm free from it all.

[Interlude]

Manning up is not just managing your sexual temptations.

It's not just managing your sin. 

That's not what it means to be a man.

Because you can try harder, and you can do better,

And you can hang on longer. 

That's not manning up!

Manning up is our ability to lay down all of our effort,

And all of our trying, and all of our strength, 

And say, 'I trust in Jesus!'

I trust in his perfection. I trust in his power. I trust in his resurrection.

Because He's the only one that can get me through this,

And He's the only one that can make me free.

EVERY MOTHER, EVERY FATHER (Personal Reflection)

Every mother, every father 

Called to raise up sons or daughters 

May your heart be patient 

May your mind be clear 

May our God be with you 

and calm your fears

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Children are one of life's greatest blessings for a parent and the source of some of our greatest trials and anxiety as well. No matter whether they've brought us joy or sorrow, we all need the Lord's grace and mercy to minister and shepherd them by the power of the Holy Spirit according to His Word. However, that does not assume the road is straight, the journey smooth, and the end result favorable. There are certainly days when we've lost our compass and feel incapable of gathering our wits to respond in love and not react in anger. Those are the moments we desperately need patience, clarity, and peace of mind to weather the storms of parenting, and a prayer like the one in our feature song, "Every Mother, Every Father," can help facilitate that process. God's Word affirms, "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!" (Psalm 127:3–5). Therefore, reminding ourselves how privileged we are to be entrusted by God as shepherds of His children and mirrors of His unconditional love for them is an extraordinary blessing and priceless gift. However, it carries with it tremendous responsibility not to be taken lightly. For many parents have neglected their Biblical role as mothers and fathers, and subsequently drove a wedge of dissension and rebellion in the hearts of their children because of their lack of obedience to the Lord. That is why the Bible warns, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Our goal as parents is simply to encourage our children to seek after Jesus, respond to His invitation of salvation, and embrace a personal relationship with Him. Therefore, we are wise to first model that behavior in the hope that one day they will surrender their lives to Christ (just as we have) and live according to His sovereign will (just as we are). "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth" (3 John 1:4).

When I first heard, "Every Mother, Every Father," I was captivated by the beauty of its simplicity and reminded that a short, genuine prayer can convey more of our heart's longing in the moment than any eloquent supplication we could offer to the Lord. For when the chaos of life surrounds us, we need to pause and allow the Spirit to intercede on our behalf; because often times, we are too overwhelmed to think clearly. Scripture affirms, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26–27). For those who have (or have had) the privilege of shepherding children of our own, prayer is a precious gift we have been given to communicate directly with God's heart; yet it is often under-utilized, even by the body of Christ. How can this be? In some cases, it's simply because of pride, laziness, and self-serving motives which conflict with God's will. "You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions" (James 4:2–3). However, more often than not, we find ourselves caught in the time constraints of work, school, extracurricular activities, church, family, etc., which monopolize our attention to the detriment of quality time with the Lord. As a result, we lose sight of what's most important far too frequently and fall victim to busyness and subsequent stress, forgetting what God's Word has to say about our plight.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 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 6:25–34).

In many ways, Satan has baited us into believing quality time with the Lord is too great a sacrifice to prioritize in our daily schedules. More pressing issues and tasks at hand demand our immediate attention. Therefore, we justify in our minds that the Lord can wait until we have more time to dedicate our full attention to Him. Why do we think this way? Could it be we take advantage of His patience and assume He is long-suffering, not realizing how passionately He abhors idolatry. "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 4:24). Perhaps we view daily "quiet time" as impossible to incorporate or too burdensome to carve into our schedules? Again, God's Word declares, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). It is a heart decision whether we PRIORITIZE God first, which compels us to reconcile whether God is an accessory in our lives used to manipulate our public, "Christian" perception, or the foundation of our entire being. We would certainly never build a home without pouring a firm foundation to begin with. Therefore, we must plan our schedules accordingly to ensure God receives the first fruits of our complete and undivided attention, rather than whatever discretionary time and energy we have left (if any) at the end of our day. 

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). It seems I've quoted Matthew 11:28–30 frequently in my most recent personal reflections, but I believe we need to constantly remind ourselves of Jesus' promise in order to gain victory over the busyness of life. Why? Because in many ways, we begrudgingly approach the throne of grace out of obligation or duty rather than willful compulsion. A healthy "want to" desire is supplanted by a negative "have to" attitude, and the end result testifies clearly within our spiritual disciplines. It's embarrassing to admit, but my spiritual immaturity can easily be traced back to my heart's perspective regarding Matthew 11:28–30. In other words, I tend to view quality time with God in Bible study and prayer as work instead of pleasure, which manifests itself by my prioritization of immediate and temporary satisfactions of the world over the peace of God which transcends all understanding. In reality, it's simply a spiritual warfare tactic Satan uses to tempt me to question the authority of Scripture under the justification, "Did God really say?" (Genesis 3:1), as I discern how I will invest my time each day. In the end, I must filter Satan's lies and preach the Gospel to my heart in order to discern what is honorable and true in the sight of the Lord. "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them" (Hosea 14:9).

Scripture exhorts, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4–7). Many of us have lost our spiritual joy because we consider our faith more as a burden to manage and upkeep than a personal relationship to nurture and develop. Certainly, we desire intimacy with the Lord where our hearts are in tune with His will at all times. However, we are short-sided if we believe neglecting quality time with God has any bearing on our spiritual health and maturity. Like Esau trading his eternal birthright for a momentary bowl of soup, far too often we willingly trade our opportunity to rest in the presence of Jesus for whatever immediate task demands our attention instead. Granted, there may be legitimate needs which require our focus at times, but that should be the exception to the rule rather than the standard. For if we increasingly justify why we're not in our Bibles, nor praying or doing family devotions, nor even attending church regularly, then we are trading our spiritual birthright for a bowl of soup to the detriment of our faith. Scripture warns, "But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Granted, the focus of this verse may center on financial provision, but we are wise to ensure we're providing invaluable spiritual leadership in our homes as well, which begins with humility, sustained by faith, and bathed in prayer.

It has been said that "Every Mother, Every Father" feels like a spiritual lullaby for parents. I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. This lyrical prayer sung in captivating harmonies can have a profound impact on our hearts if we simply stop and listen to them when the trials of life infringe upon our comforts, and confess our need of grace and mercy in the moment to God. Far too often, we try to muscle our way through whatever obstacles lie before us and strong-arm our children into doing what we say because we say so, rather than teaching them what God has to say because He loves us and His Word is forever true. It requires a shift in perspective, for no one enters into parenting knowing exactly what to do in every circumstance. In many ways, we endure trial by fire and lean upon our own strength and understanding far too often as the blueprint for universal success and happiness. What we fail to realize early on in the child-rearing days is that the spiritual foundation we pour and solidify at the beginning of their lives will dictate how well they withstand the inevitable storms of life, and that begins with making Christ the cornerstone of our homes. "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24–27). 

In the end, whether our children accept or reject Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives is independently their decision. However, we can ensure we equip them with the foundation and tools necessary to navigate the storms of life with confidence if we're teaching them what God's Word has to say and emulating the application of His standard in our own lives. Therefore, it begins with our submission, obedience, and surrendering our pride at the foot of the cross each day by calling upon the name of Jesus to guard our tongues and guide our actions. For no one ever said parenting was easy, but shepherding a child can be the most rewarding experience this side of heaven for those who trust in the Lord no matter the circumstance and teach their children to do the same. "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). Bottom-line, none of our children will ever be perfect, but we can ensure they know who God is, what He has done for their salvation, and how they can place their hope and trust in His eternal provision without reservation. Only then will we be able to enter the throne of grace confident we have obeyed the Lord's call to teach, admonish and exhort our children unto righteousness for His name's sake and glory. 

PERSONAL TESTIMONY (Daniel): It is impossible for me to listen to this song and not reflect upon how blessed I am to have an angel for my soulmate and four daughters who reflect her true beauty, integrity and character. My wife is an amazing woman who not only home-schools our two oldest daughters, but manages the demands of our two toddler daughters as well. The enormous sacrifice she makes day after day is immeasurable, yet the fruit of her labor is evident because all four of our girls are genuinely sweet, compassionate, tenderhearted, and well-mannered, just like my wife. However, when I look at my middle-school daughters in particular, I see a far deeper impact of my wife's unwavering faith, humility and meekness which have not only been passed down, but planted deep in the soil of their hearts where strong roots have developed. I would be foolish to assume the investment she makes in their education is easy, for I know it comes with a great cost of patience, time and energy, which she willingly sacrifices without reservation. Daughters look up to their mothers, in particular, with great attention to detail and, at times, unfair scrutiny. But I am so proud of her because despite the demands on her schedule, she is disciplined enough to prioritize quiet time with the Lord each morning in Bible study and prayer. Perhaps that is why I fell in love with "Every Mother, Every Father" the first time I heard it, because it reminds me of my angel who represents the beauty of the lyrics and acoustic harmonies. May I learn to intercede on her behalf and sing this precious prayer over her each morning to ensure her spirit is strengthened, her countenance lifted, and her heart and mind protected, that she may rest in the arms of the Savior where grace and mercy flow freely.