TETHERED (Personal Reflection)

I don't wanna miss the beauty

Of Heaven all around me

Your power and Your mercy

The greatness of Your love

I don't wanna lose the wonder

Of being in Your presence

Of knowing such a friendship

To be with You, my God

Everything I am

I throw into Your hands

I just want my life to ever be entwined with You

Tethered to Your heart

I just want my soul to ever stand in awe of You

Tethered to Your heart

Ooh, tethered to Your heart

What more could I desire

What greater thing to treasure

I'm convinced there's nothing better

Than living in Your love

Caught up in the wonder

Of being in Your presence

Of knowing such a friendship

To be with You, my God

Everything I am

God, I throw into Your hands

I just want my life to ever be entwined with You

Tethered to Your heart

I just want my soul to ever stand in awe of You

Tethered to Your heart

Ooh, tethered to Your heart

Draw me closer

Take me deeper

I wanna be where You are

I wanna be where You are

I just want my life to ever be entwined with You

Tethered to Your heart

I just want my soul to ever stand in awe of You

Tethered to Your heart

Ooh, tethered to Your heart

Ooh, tethered to Your heart

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The older I get, the more I reflect upon my journey of faith and trials God has brought me through. In many ways, my trials have been self-inflicted by destructive choices I have made rather than tests of faith brought on by the Lord to refine my character and sharpen my resolve. Yet despite the season of life I have found myself in, one thing remains the same: God's faithfulness. For better or worse, He has shown me abundant grace despite my sinful thoughts and actions, and continues to love me unconditionally even when I choose to serve my flesh rather than obey His Word. Perhaps that is why "Tethered," by Phil Wickham, holds such a special place in my heart, because it echoes my soul's desire to live in intimate relationship with Him despite my sinful behavior. "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate" (Romans 7:15). The beauty of this song is that it does not hope God will hear our cries and meet our needs. Rather, it presumes God's faithfulness based on the promise of His Word which is more than enough to trust Him. Truthfully, many followers of Christ find themselves in deep, spiritual valleys devoid of mountaintop joy. Salvation decisions become distant memories and self-preservation increasingly supplants submission and obedience to Christ as our primary (and even singular) source of strength in times of trial. It is not difficult to understand why, for the majority of us are plagued by busyness which pulls us away from quality time in prayer and Bible study. When we prioritize anyone or anything above God with our time, attention and affection, we devalue our relationship with Him as "nice to have" rather than "need to have," and shift from knowing His Word to having a vague memory of what He said in the first place. Scripture warns, "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). How, then, should we respond?

"I don't wanna miss the beauty of Heaven all around me. Your power and Your mercy, the greatness of Your love. I don't wanna lose the wonder of being in Your presence, of knowing such a friendship, to be with You, my God." The key to not leaning upon our own understanding is not being wise in our own eyes. It requires we acknowledge that our perspective is limited compared to the all-powerful, omniscient and omnipresent God we serve, which should compel us to seek His wisdom in all circumstances. However, we know far too well what it is like to know right from wrong and choose the latter without reservation. To that end, we must keenly remember, "For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries" (Hebrews 10:26–27). When I have chosen to sin in my life (and yes, active sin is a deliberate, personal choice of my own volition), lack of intimacy between God and I is painfully magnified. I can trace a line from my sin directly to a void of Bible study and prayer in my life. In other words, apart from God's protection I am destined for failure (and my life testifies to that truth, more than I care to admit!) Therefore, when I reflect upon my past failures, the only response my heart can now make is to stay awake, immerse myself in His Word, and not miss the beauty of Heaven nor the power of God's presence in my life. It echoes a similar parable Jesus taught...

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour" (Matthew 25:1–13).

"Everything I am, I throw into Your hands. I just want my life to ever be entwined with You, tethered to Your heart. I just want my soul to ever stand in awe of You, tethered to Your heart." When we prioritize quality time with God, our personal will begins to entwine (interweave) itself with His and our hearts tether (securely fasten) together. What an amazing picture! However, truth be told, many of us struggle trusting God without strings attached. We doubt God's Word which reminds us, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7–8). Complete trust is earned when it is proven. Yet despite how faithful the Lord has been to us, we hold onto self-preservation in order to fall back on, presuming there is a possibility God will fail us. Why? Dare I say we've lost our awe of Him! In many cases, our lack of trust in God is grounded in unrealistic expectations we place upon Him. Without recognizing it, our prayers become demands, which can only be satisfied based on personal preference rather than His divine wisdom. In other words, God must answer our prayers when, where and how we deem appropriate in order to be proven trustworthy and faithful, regardless of our limited perspective compared to His omniscience. Keep in mind, the God we serve encourages us to test His faithfulness. For instance, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need" (Malachi 3:10). However, we must understand that testing the Lord is conditional in that our will and actions must align with the promises of His Word so there is no conflict of interest. If not, Scripture warns, "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. You shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you" (Deuteronomy 6:16–17).

"What more could I desire? What greater thing to treasure? I'm convinced there's nothing better than living in Your love. Caught up in the wonder of being in Your presence, of knowing such a friendship, to be with You, my God." Personal relationship with God is paramount to breaking free from bondage in our lives. That may seem simplistic at first glance. Nonetheless, freedom is not found in religion but faith, and those who understand that truth have the power to change the trajectory of their lives from valley despair to mountaintop joy overnight. Keep in mind, there is no presumption we will forever avoid trials and despair because we are born-again. Rather, as Christians we should expect hardship and persecution to come and thus celebrate trials because we know He is walking with us in the valley and refining us through the fire for our sanctification. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2–4). When we shift focus off ourselves and realize the purpose of trials in our lives, our perspective changes. We realize there is nothing greater to treasure than spending quality time with God because He is the source of our strength, which inevitably helps us endure the hardships we face. In Jesus' greatest hour of need, He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). Jesus knew what was about to happen and prayed His Father would remove the trial so He would not have to endure it. What happens next, though, cannot be missed. "And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him" (Luke 22:43). Jesus was not spared the ultimate trial of mankind in any way, but instead provided strength from the Father for the inevitable torture and execution He was about to face. "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). Therefore, what more could we need or desire in our time of need? For if Christ died in our place for our eternal salvation, are we not fully convinced He is our complete sufficiency in all things?

"Draw me closer. Take me deeper. I wanna be where You are." The power to change and overcome any obstacle or pattern of sin requires surrender to the Lord's will, which cannot be attained without time spent in His Word. "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free'" (John 8:31–32). How then shall we abide? What does that mean? According to Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary, to abide means, "to rest or dwell; to continue permanently or in the same state; to be firm and immovable." Therefore, if we are to know our Lord and Savior more intimately, we must cling to the absolute truth of Holy Scripture till our dying breath, unshakable in our faith and resolute in His promises which seals our salvation for eternity. However, there will be times when we are tempted to lose sight of the horizon and trade our eternal birthright for a momentary pleasure (just as Esau once did). In those moments, we must never forget Jesus' commission: "So 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). "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). If we crave true friendship with the Lord, we must spend quality time with Him. But if we desire peace which transcends all understanding, we must discipline ourselves to know His Word more deeply than we can fathom and apply it in full submission and obedience for His glory (not ours), even if it costs us our lives.

In the end, our sole purpose as born-again followers of Jesus Christ is simply to know Him more and obey His commands. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:27–28). Again, the older I get, the more I realize how satisfying submission and obedience to Christ truly is. For no attainment of wealth, title, esteem or pleasure can come close to the joy of knowing my eternity is sealed forever because I have accepted Jesus' free gift of salvation by grace through faith alone. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8–9). Today, I can say for certain I know my Savior and He knows me by name. Therefore, no matter what the future may hold or what trials assuredly lie ahead, my soul is at peace because I have found rest in the arms of Jesus. "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). In many cases, the sins of my past could have baited me into thinking I was unworthy of forgiveness, but God saw otherwise by cleansing my guilt and shame and drawing me unto Himself. Sadly, millions of souls will pass from this life to the next proudly rejecting the Bible and placing their eternal bet on false doctrine and/or self-preservation. What they fail to realize is their final destination is a desolate place void of hope but overflowing with regretful weeping and gnashing of teeth. To that end, we weep, mourn and remedy to unashamedly share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in love with the lost, prepared for whatever reaction or response comes our way. "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15). Therefore, to those of us whom God has illuminated our eyes to see His glory and share in His inheritance, we must never take our salvation for granted but humbly declare, "I just want my life to ever be entwined with You tethered to Your heart. I just want my soul to ever stand in awe of You, tethered to Your heart."

Philippians 2:1-11 (Devotion)

CHRIST'S EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY - "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. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

"If" is a powerful word. It represents a fork in the road whereby we weigh the scales of life to determine the wisest course of action in the decisions we face. "If" can also drive one's psyche into a frenzy because it feeds upon hypothetical outcomes and fantasies. Any and every decision poses an equal and opposite reaction based on "if," so why do we focus so much attention on the products of our imagination than reality itself? Perhaps what is real and present is too difficult to manage or accept for some, therefore "if" becomes a coping mechanism to manage pain, stress, confusion and/or anxiety. For others, "if" is firmly rooted in accountability or regret and becomes the catalyst for change, whether positive or negative. Yet in the context Paul describes, "if" represents a spiritual line in the sand whereby we are forced to weigh the scales of truth in our lives and determine whether our identity is rooted in the absolute truth of Scripture or relative truth of this world. Make no mistake, Paul echoes the same sentiment Moses did to the nation of Israel. 

• "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 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 30:15-20)

If indeed our personal truth or spiritual compass aligns with the pages of Scripture, then our response to Philippians 2:1-11 is firm and resolute. In other words, we embrace encouragement, comfort, fellowship, affection and sympathy as Paul describes because they are the byproducts of our union with Jesus. They empower us to live as the body of Christ because they are rooted in the promise of salvation which hinges upon FAITH. Faith is the line in the sand which distinguishes a believer from an unbeliever because it identifies those who cling to Scripture as absolute truth vs. those who reject its supreme authority and relevance altogether. Therefore, if we believe what the Bible says, our hope is secure in the assurance that joy is made possible through Jesus. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5). Faith in Christ compels us to live outside of our fleshly propensities by elevating selflessness in community, which is why Paul positioned his argument beginning with "if." Therefore, we cannot simply know what God's Word says and fill our minds with knowledge without application. For even Solomon confessed, "I said in my heart, 'I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.' And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:16–17). Rather, we must be united in spirit and devoted to the same mission of emulating Christ's example of humility.

Humility is an interesting topic of discussion because people tend to struggle defining what it looks like and how to achieve it. Is it a philosophical state of mind? Can it be achieved without faith or religion? There are countless, secular opinions on the internet all proclaiming humility as independent from religious influence. Yet as people of faith, we believe humility is the personification of God Himself and the defining aspect of His character in Christ Jesus, which is the essence of Philippians 2:1-11 Paul wrote about to provide an example we can emulate. The key we must understand is that humility is the byproduct of being humble. Therefore, our actions dictate to those around us whether humility is an aspect of our character because it is identified by what we DO rather than what we SAY. Consider the following example from the mouth of the Lord Himself: "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). Notice how humility is positioned as an act of obedience and submission. Humility forces us to check our pride at the door, demanding we relinquish supreme control and authority by yielding to what God desires. In other words, humility demands sacrifice. And if we're unwilling to reject our selfish tendencies, we will never reap the benefits God promises to those who submit to His authority and obey His sovereign will. Granted, it is never easy to humble oneself, but what are we truly communicating to those around us when we boastfully reject the lowest position in favor of the highest?

• "Now he (Jesus) told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:7–11).

It is incredible to consider the blessings which await those who obey God's Word regardless of the consequences. However, we are wise to recognize that humility does not promise earthly rewards. In some cases, humility is met with ridicule, threats and persecution, which many faithful brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are ostracized, imprisoned, and even martyred for their faith can attest to. Truthfully, the majority of us cannot begin to fathom the humility it takes to literally sacrifice EVERYTHING we have for the sake of the Gospel, and endure abuse and torture on top of that. Unfortunately, that is what it means to live as a Christian in hostile areas around the world. Yet every day, men, women and children humble themselves and make that sacrifice for no other reason but submission and obedience to the Lord and His Word. Jesus said, "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" (John 15:18–19). The crux of humility hangs on our ability to die to self, which is manifested in the life of Christ. Therefore, just as our ability to love originates from our Creator, our ability to humble ourselves does as well. 

• "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:7–12).

When we come full circle to Paul's admonition that "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), we must respond in faith regardless of the consequences. Reason being, our ability to love one another and humble ourselves distinguishes us as followers of Christ and differentiates us from the world. Scripture reminds us, "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20). Therefore, who are we to accept Christ's sacrifice on the cross for our eternal salvation yet refuse to count others more significant than ourselves? Humility is the complete antithesis of conceit and selfish ambition and has no part in the body of Christ, yet it exists within the church as evidenced by the testimony of its members' admission of sin throughout the generations, beginning with the writers of Scripture themselves. "For I (Paul) do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate" (Romans 7:15). Moreover, "And I (Isaiah) said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!'" (Isaiah 6:5). Therefore, let us emulate the example of humility evidenced by our Savior, Jesus Christ, and embrace the honesty needed (like Paul and Isaiah) to identify opportunities where we can practice humbling ourselves. Because like it or not, humility is the gateway to surrender of personal will—trusting God will honor our sacrifice, whether now or in eternity, as a testimony of our faith and devotion to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 

• "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 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 3:12–17).

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!