Just Please God

On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV

You can try to please yourself, you can try to please others, or you can try to please God. If you try to please yourself it's easy to rationalize the results. If you try to please others you end up at the mercy of peoples whims and emotions. But, if you try to please God you end up concerned with doing what is right. 

Please God and you will do what is best. You won't try to make yourself the center of attention because the gospel is about Jesus. You won't try to make the "felt needs" of others the complete focus of your outreach because the gospel is about our need to have sin and its' effects dealt with in us. You will try to please God and lift up Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life. That pleases God. 

A Prayer for Good Feet

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is

written:“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Romans 10:15 NIV

Lord, wherever you send me today, whoever you put in front of me today, use me to bring the good news. Open a door, open a heart, open my mouth at the appointed time for someone to hear of your great love in Jesus Christ the risen Savior. Praise be to you in us today!

Prepare the Way: Be Real, Be Willing

And you, my child, will be called 
   a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord 
   to prepare the way for him,

to give his people the knowledge of salvation 

   through the forgiveness of their sins,

Luke 1:76-77 NIV

Every day we represent Christ to the dying world around us. This is no guilt trip. It's just the truth. We don't have to be perfect, we just have to be real and willing. 

If we are not real, as in honest about our own shortcomings and sinfulness, we will just be hypocrites. You see, as a Christian, our witness is not about how good we are, but, it's about how good God is. Our neighbors, co-workers and friends don't need us, they need Jesus. Our very humanness is our opportunity to let the grace of God in our lives witness to those around us. 

Be willing, when the moment appears, to share in whatever way you can. You don't have to have an alter call. You don't have to stand on a soap box. Just be willing to share anything that God has done in your life. The Holy Spirit can take the smallest thing (in our eyes) and use it to make a way into someones heart. Maybe all you did was mention that you went to church in a conversation. That's all the Spirit needs. Just be willing. 

Everybody Needs Mercy

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Jude 1:22-23 (NIV)

There is a fine line between being zealous to see people come to know the saving grace of God in Christ and acting like a blind fanatic. I once was in San Fransico and walked by a street preacher standing on a corner preaching away. He sounded pretty right on. On of my friends sincerely said, "Amen, brother. Preach it!" The street preacher turned to us, gave us the middle finger and a few obscenities, turned back and started "preaching" again. I think he kind of lost the idea of, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

I think most Christian know people who they have worked with who were or are vehemently opposed to the gospel. They still need mercy, whether they acknowledge it or not. You can't argue someone into the kingdom of God. You may have to confront (in love) arguments that oppose Christ, but, the love of God shown us all by the mercy of God in Christ is what they need. 

Because I Said So

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

1 John 4:1-3 (NIV)

I guess I have always been one of those people who questioned authority. Saying, "Because I said so!" didn't really work for me. Shorty after giving my life to Christ I started to attend a Calvary Chapel church. One of the things that impressed me was that the pastors would say, "Don't believe me just because I say something. Compare it with the Bible and if what I say doesn't agree with what the Bible says tell me." The deal is that you have to read the Bible and study it to know what it says. In the same way you have to spend time with Christ to know him. If you don't acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh, that he is real, you don't know Jesus. 

A lot of people say a lot of things about Jesus. The Jehovah's Witnesses say that Jesus was Michael the Archangel before he became Christ and was "a" god, not "the" God, Jehovah. Some say Jesus was a good teacher, a great man, or maybe just a myth. The Apostle John flat out says that if you don't acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, you are not from God. 

Just because someone calls themselves a teacher, a prophet, an evangelist, does not make it true. People say all kinds of things. John tells us not to believe everyone, and to check if they believe that Jesus has come in the flesh. If they are wrong about who Jesus is, that won't be all they will be wrong about, because no matter what else they say they won't be talking about the Jesus of the Bible, the Way, the Truth and the Life, the only way to Father (John 14:6).

Father, help us to know you, to know Jesus and to remain in him. Praise be to you in us today!

DOES YOUR ANSWER OPEN A DOOR?

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 

I Peter 3:15-16

Up against the fear of suffering for doing what is right Peter tells us to set apart Christ as Lord. That means trusting him with the outcome of our faith. If you chose to act in accordance with the love of Christ, you will find yourself on a different path than those around you. Some people will be really bothered by that. Be ready to gently explain why your faith in Christ leads you to chose to do some things and not others. 

I have been asked to go places and do things that I know would not honor God or my wife. So, I have to say no. Sometimes people want to know why. There is a difference between answering with gentleness and respect while telling the truth (calling sin sin) and condemning people without the offer of hope. If I respond in gentleness and respect a door is opened that the Holy Spirit uses. I guess you might say it leads to a redemptive conversation and there is nothing like seeing someone open up to Christ. The opportunity to see someone come to Christ is truly awesome. 

Father, help us to live by faith and respond in gentleness and respect to those who need you. Provide a redemptive conversation today! Praise be to you in us today!

COURAGE TO TELL THE TRUTH!

"The man answered , "Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening  the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."" John 9:30-33

I love this story! The courage of this man to tell the truth about what Jesus had done in his life despite the doubts and insults of the Pharisees is courage born in faith.

The Pharisees, like all legalists, get hung up on technicalities. But, the real issue is power. Power over others and the illusion of power over their own lives. They tried to set the rules and interpret the Bible in ways that made them righteous by their actions. Jesus came and threatened (in their eyes) everything they thought about God and themselves! They couldn't get to Jesus yet so they went after the man whose eyes Jesus had opened. 

Sometimes telling the truth about Jesus will get you ridiculed and ostracized. The cool thing is that after the Pharisees threw the out the man whose sight was given to him, Jesus found him (John 9:35ff). After every battle, look for Jesus because he will find you. 

Father, give us the courage to tell the truth about Jesus no matter what others may think. Praise be to you in us today! 

YOU CAN'T ARGUE SOMEONE INTO THE KINGDOM: II Timothy 2:23

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." II Timothy 2:23

When I first started teaching there was a group of guys who started teaching couple years after me. They were all atheists and liberals. When they found out I was a Christian and not a liberal they just couldn't believe it and would ask all kinds of questions. I would ask them a few. The discussion would usually turn into a full on argument brawl. After a while I just told them that if they really wanted to know why I believe what I believe, just ask. They did and in the end about three guys found their way to Christ. 

I also notice that I have become a bit more tactful myself. I found that you need to always allow someone a way out, because, if you back someone into a corner (even verbally) they usually will try to fight their way out. Francis Schaeffer said that he once debated an atheist and when he got home his wife asked him if he won the debate. He said yes, but he'd never do it again because he felt that he beat the guy up so bad that he would never come to Christ. Truth without love can just be a battering ram. 

You can't quarrel/ argue someone into the kingdom. You may give an answer to your beliefs and that may be an opening to share the gospel. Proverbs 15:1 reminds us that, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Remember, the goal is to turn people to Christ, not away from him. 

Father, give us grace to gently answer those question or challenge our beliefs. May we turn people to you, not away from you. Praise be to you in us today!