Use Advent to Guide Yourself And Your Family Toward Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2 NIV).

I love Christmas and the Advent season. It is a special time of year for families and the church. The Advent season allows us to prepare our hearts for the birth of the Christ child. I also love all the traditions that come with Christmas – decorating the tree with ornaments that have been passed down from generations, giving and receiving presents, candlelight service at church on Christmas eve, the smell of gingerbread or pecan pies baking in the oven, a fresh pine tree in the house, and the excitement of Christmas day.

One of the traditions of Christmas that we typically gloss over is the advent wreath. Each week we light a new candle, and the symbolism of each is important to help understand Christmas and the Advent season. The Catholic church adopted this tradition during the Middle Ages as a way to prepare the hearts and minds for Christmas. The word advent itself comes from the Latin word “adventus” meaning “arrival.” We prepare for the arrival of Christ. The wreath itself represents eternity and everlasting life, a circle that never ends (John 3:16).

The week one candle is purple and is known as The Prophet’s Candle and symbolizes hope. The week two candle is purple and is known as The Bethlehem Candle and symbolizes peace. The week three candle is pink or rose-colored and is known as The Shepherd’s Candle and represents joy. The week four candle is purple and is known as The Angle’s Candle and represents love. The week five candle is white and is known as “Christ’s Candle” and represents the Advent Child, Jesus.

I have visited with men all over this world and found very few to have an abundance of the four characteristics of Advent. Those that typically have these attributes in abundance are those that society would consider “poor,” but Jesus would likely refer to them as “the least of my brothers and sisters” (Matthew 25:40).

How can people living in poverty have the four components of Advent with no pension, no HMO or PPO health care, no private school for their children, no bass boat, no four-wheel drive truck, no chance of ever visiting Bass Pro or Cabela’s, no XM radio, no season tickets for the local sports team, no Polo cologne, and no ostrich boots or big belt buckles? As a younger man, I would not have a clue how to begin to answer this question. Now, as an older man I have the benefit of traveling the world, talking to men, and most importantly talking and listening to God through His Word. I still do not claim to have any answers for anybody or any topic, but I do know the One that does ,,,,,, and so do “The least of my brothers and sisters.”

They have hope because they live the promise of Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (emphasis added).”

They have peace because they know that they abide in God and He in them (John 15:4, emphasis added).

They have joy because they understand Psalm 16:11. “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right Hand are pleasures forevermore (emphasis added).”

Last but not least, they have love because they know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and believe that God is love (1 John 4:8, emphasis added).

All of these things are possible because they have the fifth candle in their heart, Jesus. Jesus said in Luke 18:27, “What is impossible for man is possible with God.”

It is really as simple as that. Hope, peace, joy, and love will not be found in any material possession. They are nice, make us temporarily happy, and might impress our neighbors but do little to advance our pursuit of Christ. The four attributes of Advent, and even more, will be given to us but only by surrendering all to Jesus and acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior. If you are interested in the “more” part, please read Galatians 5:22-23 and imagine how you, your family, your church, and your community could be transformed by a life lived blessed by the Fruits of the Spirit. Talk to your pastor, pray to God, find a small group of like-minded men, look for resources from groups/authors such as Promise Keepers, Man In The Mirror, Patrick Morley, Max Lucado, Gary Chapman, etc. and search for a copy of the book Lead Like Jesus.

Many readers may recall how Simon Peter and his brother Andrew were fishermen but yet they left their nets behind when called to follow Jesus. Similarly, in Luke 18 Jesus was asked by a rich ruler what he must do to inherit eternal life. He had already honored the commandments his entire life. Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Scripture tells us that the man went away sad because he was wealthy. Afterwards, Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” This connection between earthly wealth and heavenly reward is also addressed in Luke 16:13 and Matthew 6:24. “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13, Matthew 6:24). “The least of my brothers and sisters” do not have to make the decision between serving God and money, but each of us, regardless of wealth, must answer the same question that Jesus posed to His disciples in Luke 9:20, “Who do you say I am?” Our answer to this question has eternal implications.

I do not think that Jesus is calling us today to sell everything we have to follow Him, nor do I think He would disapprove of our material possessions. However, I do feel that Jesus wants us to worship Him first, not our material possessions. One of the ways we worship Him is in how we treat “The least of my brothers and sisters.”

For Christmas this year, I want to receive hope, peace, love, and joy for the new year. I do not want to receive it transactionally as the world gives, but supernaturally as our Lord gives. I want a hope, peace, love, and joy that transcends all understanding, and I want that for you too. I want more of Jesus in me and less of me in me. If you seek the same for yourself, I invite you to join me in the prayer below.

Prayer: Merciful God, We confess that we have failed to an obedient church. We have failed to follow your commands and to hear the call of the least of our brothers and sisters. We have stored up our treasure on earth with little to no regard for our treasure in heaven. We have lost our hope, peace, love, and joy because we have strayed from You. Forgive us of our sins and restore in us a new heart in this season of Advent that yearns to only be satisfied by words and actions that bring glory and honor to You. Amen!

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He currently serves as the President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

The Best New Year’s Resolution

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV).

January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, right? I am considering joining a gym and need to get in better physical shape. You may seek to spend more time with family, find a new job, etc. All of these are fine goals. I read a recent article that indicated that most New Year’s resolutions will be abandoned or broken by January 19. Wow!

Most New Year’s resolutions are addressing a physical need such as my desire to get in better physical shape. Some may address a mental need such as a desire to slow down and work less. Regardless, we want a new self to correspond with the new year.

Millions of books have been written about military battles in the past. The greatest battle ever fought and the one with the most significance for each of us is being fought with or without your awareness in your very own mind. The best way to obtain a new self is to focus on our spiritual health, and the most important component of our spiritual health is our mind because it is in our mind that we tell ourselves who we are.

I am reading, The Four Voices, by Patrick Morley. This is an excellent book and in it, Mr. Morley helps the reader to understand that there are four voices competing for attention in our mind: the world, the flesh, the devil, and the Holy Spirit. The author provides useful and practical advice on how to identify which voice is that of the Holy Spirit.

It is important to identify the Voice of the Spirit because that allows us to renew our minds and claim the promise of Romans 12:2. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

We all have a desire to “fit in” to society. We typically seek to conform to the ways of the secular world. However, if we want to be transformed, we can not also be conformed. On earth, our fleshly tendency is to stop up treasure on earth, rather than in heaven. On earth, we think that the first will always be first, rather in heaven where the opposite is true.

When we conform to the world, there are many benefits with educational opportunities, employment, social advancement, etc. However, it is important that we do not conform to the world to determine wisdom. In the world, we determine what is wisdom in our minds. By renewing our minds, we better understand that true wisdom comes from God and His Word.

1 Corinthians 3:18-19 reads, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

The best New Year’s resolution is to change the way you think. However, please realize that you can not do this alone. Ephesians 4:23 says, “Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”

Renewing your thoughts begins by knowing and living the Truth. You may already know these famous words of Jesus: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). But did you know that the night before Jesus went to the cross, He prayed, “Use the truth to make them holy. Your words are truth” (John 17:17).

God is the Truth and to know Him and live in Him and for Him is the only way to be complete. The best New Year’s resolution has nothing to do with willpower. The best New Year’s resolution is to study and live Scripture, which is Truth.

The more we get to know Jesus, the more Truth (i.e., God) we will know. As we know more Truth, we are better able to reject the lies from other sources. Now, we can renew our minds and with the help of the Spirit we can be transformed more into the likeness of Christ. So, the Truth really does set you free!

Prayer: Thank you for the Truth that is found in Scripture. Forgive us for the times we do not seek You first and Your righteousness. Please help us to yoke ourselves to Your Spirit to renew our minds. Amen!

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Waiting For God In “The Gap”

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (Hebrews 6:12 NIV).

The period between asking God for something and receiving it is often referred to as “the gap.” Sometimes, the request is granted instantly (e.g., Matthew 9:35, Matthew 5:25-34, Luke 7:1-10). Other times, the request may linger for years before God responds. Joseph waited over 13 years before his prophetic promise was fulfilled. Moses waited 40 years before he had his divine encounter with the flaming voice of God. Abraham waited 25 years before God granted him a son.

We often think of waiting as a waste of time. We all seek instant gratification, and we often confuse God with Santa Claus and expect Him to answer our prayers on our timeframe. Perhaps a better way to view waiting is to realize that God is using this time to grow us closer to Him. The Hebrew word for “wait” is literally “to entwine” — like strands of a rope twisted into one. It is important to note that the Bible contains over 7,000 promises to us, but God does not promise that He will fulfill every one of them instantly. In fact, God has all of eternity to fulfill His promises. That means that some of His promises are certainly not going to be fulfilled in our timeframe, and it also means that some will likely not be fulfilled until our earthly life is over!

I wonder if God is using the time in the gap to grow our faith in Him. Perhaps He is waiting on us to surrender all to Him, while we are waiting on Him to answer our prayer. I wish I knew why God choses to quickly honor some requests and not others. If so, I could certainly cut down on my time in the gap! I do know that on many occasions after Jesus instantly answered prayers for healing, He mentioned that the petitioner had demonstrated “great faith” by their request to Him. These petitioners knew that if they were able to get in close proximity to Jesus to ask Him or just touch His garment, that He would honor their request.

Hebrews 11 is commonly referred to as the Hall of Faith. This chapter details the remarkable accomplishments of some otherwise unremarkable people that were accomplished through faith and begins by defining faith for us. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). The Apostle Paul expanded upon this concept when he wrote, “For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). This goes against our natural instincts and is very difficult to do.

For me, faith is waiting for something that you know is coming but you have absolutely no idea when it will come. The time in the gap requires endurance, and true endurance comes from God.

God will likely not talk to us through a booming voice in the sky, a burning bush, or a prophet as He did in the Bible. However, He is alive and talking to each of us right now through Scripture. He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

Our tendency during time in the gap is to look at the problem. Our tendency in the gap is to look at the mountain rather than the One that taught us that we could move mountains. Moses modelled the same approach as those that approached Jesus with faith in their hearts and asked for healing. The Bible says that Moses “kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). Moses showed great faith and we can “move mountains” and do even greater things than Jesus but only through faith.

During my time in the gap, I often asked God, “How much longer?” I have come to realize that God wants me to build my life on His promises rather than seeking His explanations for not following my time frame. In fact, God doesn’t owe me or you an explanation for anything. God is God, and we are not. I often think of God’s response when Job questioned His actions. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand” (Job 38:4).

I enjoy being a substitute pastor at local United Methodist Churches. During these times, I often preach about a topic that is a struggle for myself and likely others in the congregation. Similarly, I often write blogs for similar reasons. This is now the sixth time that I have addressed the topic of waiting for God. I have made progress over the years, but as with many things, I am still a work in progress.

On one hand I have faith in God, but on the other hand I would really like some assurances that He is taking me to the place I want to go. True freedom comes when I stop asking where we are going and understand that wherever we are going, it will be better than whatever I had planned and we will arrive at the perfect time. For me the key to finding peace in the gap is to embrace the journey, forget my timeframe, and worship God rather than question Him or lobby Him to embrace my plan.

Prayer: Please forgive us for our lack of faith in You during times in the gap. Help us to embrace this time as a time to grow closer to You and lean not on our own understanding. We not only cast our cares upon you, but we also seek to fasten our yoke to you to lighten our burdens and keep our paths straight. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Use Conflict To Build Respect

“A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1 CEV).

We all have a desire to be respected by others. There are two schools of thought on respect. Some say that in any relationship, including parent-child or employer-employee, you have to give respect to get respect. These people feel that are entitled to withhold respect from their parents or boss until the other person first shows them a sufficient amount of respect. This group will point to Romans 13:7. “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” This verse is not teaching us to withhold respect to others but rather is commanding us to give respect to those that are in governmental authority. The reason is found in Romans 13:1. “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Others say that respect is absolutely required in certain situations. For example, as a father you love your child. They hopefully will love you also, but they certainly must respect you. I have had some young people tell me that they cannot respect their father because he is not a respectable person. My thought is that children do not have to love their father, although that would be ideal, but they must always respect both parents not because of their poor behavior but because they are your parents. Period. You probably have encountered some authority people in your life (e.g., political leaders, law enforcement, boss) that you do not like but you hopefully realized that you must respect their authority.

Malachi 1:6 reads, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master.” There are numerous Bible verses that command a child to honor their father and mother and there is a promise of a long life for doing so (Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16). The command to honor the parents is never predicated on if the parents are good, fun, honorable, respectable, etc., but rather is because the parents are the parents. I think we should show respect to our elders, parents, those in authority, and bosses regardless of if we feel they “deserve” our respect.

We all seek respect and desire a good reputation. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good reputation and respect are worth much more than silver and gold.” Sadly, you will likely encounter people that are envious of your good reputation and will act out of jealousy to try to harm your reputation. Those that know your true character will realize that this attack says little about your character but rather speaks volumes about the character of the other person.

In most secular relationships, respect must be earned. Any type of conflict presents an opportunity for us to gain or lose respect. People tend to “tune in” when they realize that you are in some sort of conflict. They will watch you carefully to see how you handle the conflict, and then you will gain or lose respect in their eyes.

The book of Nehemiah is a great example of someone who earned the respect of others by the way he handled conflict. Nehemiah was governor of Persian Judea under Artaxerxes. He responded to God’s call and left this position to lead the effort to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls in an astonishing 52-day period. He had to address a difficult situation in which wealthy Jews were profiteering off the plight of their working countrymen. Nehemiah addressed the profiteering issue in such a way to build respect. Below are a few key actions that he took that are beneficial for us today.

Nehemiah paused to think before he spoke

He listened to the complaints and charges the Israelites had against those who exploited them during a famine. Before he responded, he “pondered them in [his] mind” (Nehemiah 5:7). He thought before he spoke. How many times today do we all do the opposite? We all need to be

“quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20).

Nehemiah privately resolved the conflict

When Nehemiah realized the injustice that was happening, he did not start a slander campaign or publicly attack the offenders or start a whisper campaign to “plant seeds of doubt”. He first tried to build a bridge with the offenders who were taking advantage of the poor to increase their own net worth. He “called together a large meeting to deal with them” (Nehemiah 5:7). He addressed them face to face. That builds respect.

This is also the way Jesus commanded His followers to handle conflict. Jesus said in Matthew 18:15, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.” Going public should be the last resort. Many of the most successful coaches in sports today will publicly praise their athletes and privately correct them. That shows character and builds respect.

Nehemiah appealed to their sense of honor

Nehemiah said to the rich Jews, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God . . . ? . . . but now let us stop this business of charging interest. You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes” (Nehemiah 5:9-11). They obeyed him because he had their respect and appealed to their sense of honor.

A good leader brings out the best in people and is therefore respected. A poor leader will lead by fear or prejudice but will never gain respect. People can sense your true goals and “If your goals are good, you will be respected” (Proverbs 11:27).

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the story of Nehemiah. Help us to use his example to gain respect and use our influence to do good and honor You. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

The Path To Forgiveness

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26 NIV).

Perhaps one of the most difficult things we are called upon to do as Christians is to forgive others. We all tend to be quick to ask forgiveness from God for our sins but slow to forgive others that have hurt us.

In the Methodist church the congregation recites these words prior to Holy Communion. “Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors.” We have indeed failed to be an obedient church and not loved our neighbors when we fail to do as instructed in the Lord’s Prayer, “forgive them that trespass against us” (Matthew 6:12).

I recall a sermon years ago in which the pastor said, “As you forgive those that have hurt you, the prisoner that is set free is yourself.” Amen!

Those that hurt us are often wounded people themselves. Hurt people tend to hurt people. Instead of giving emotional control to our attacker by feeling angry and seeking revenge, perhaps a better option is to wonder what has happened to this person that has caused them to act in such an evil manner? This is not done to minimize the hurt, but to facilitate our healing.

There are many paths to forgiveness. Sometimes it may be appropriate to tell the person directly that you forgive them. However, it is important to realize that they may not realize that they have hurt you and may not care. Another option is to ask the Holy Spirit to soften your heart and help you forgive the other person but do not tell the other person that you have forgiven them.

Forgiveness should be done as a spiritual practice to honor and glorify God. It is tempting to use forgiveness as an opportunity to rightly or wrongly play the victim, demonize the other person, and solicit public sympathy through social media or other outlets. This is not true forgiveness and does little to honor God, yourself, or the other person. Perhaps a better option for forgiveness is similar to what the Word teaches us for prayer. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:6).

Any discussion of forgiveness usually involves forgetting. The phrase “forgive and forget” is not found in the Bible. However, there are numerous verses commanding us to “forgive one another” (e.g., Matthew 6:14, Ephesians 4:32). A Christian who is not willing to forgive others will find his fellowship with God hindered (Matthew 6:15) and can reap bitterness and the loss of reward (Hebrews 12:14–15, 2 John 1:8). Speaking of social media, Beth Townsend, founder of Life on Purpose, posted the following on Facebook recently. “Forgiveness is a perpetual state of mind. A choice. If God can forgive and then forget, we can too. That is true freedom!” Now, that will preach!

Forgiveness is a journey and a process and often takes time. The process is more difficult as the offense is perceived to be more personal or severe. If you are showing signs of increased criticism, negativity, and impatience, you are still on the journey. Unforgiveness also hurts our relations with others due to our sour disposition, depressed attitude, and tendency to easily be annoyed. The hurt becomes water under the bridge when we achieve forgiveness. We then release the other person from the debt and no longer desire payback for the offense. We acknowledge that the hurt is real, but we also understand that our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Forgiveness may or may not lead to reconciliation, but it certainly leads to freedom and a closer walk with our Lord.

A common theme throughout Scripture is an invitation for us to (1) understand that Christ is already living in us and (2) accept the invitation for us to live or abide in Him. John 15:4 both invites us and informs us. “Abide in Me, and I in you.”

We also know that Christ is in us because in Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me (emphasis added).” Christ is in us because of the inherent nature of our bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19 teaches, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own (emphasis added).

I know I have hurt others, and I deeply regret that. Similarly, others have hurt me in such a deep and intentional manner that I am unable to forgive them. But because Christ is in me and I choose to be in Him, He allows me the strength to eventually forgive where I fall woefully short on my own accord. I long for the day when I can claim with confidence the words of the apostle Paul. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 3:20, emphasis added).

Prayer: Thank you for the blessing of forgiving our sins and life everlasting in a life lived in and for you. Forgive us when we fail to be an obedient church. Help us to forgive those that hurt us. By the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to be reconciled to you and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Attention Men: Insecurity and Jealousy Lead to Problems

Attention Men: Insecurity and Jealousy Lead to Problems!

“Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him but had left Saul. So Saul made David go away from him, and had him lead a thousand men. And David went out to the people. David did well in all that he did, because the Lord was with him. When Saul saw how well he did, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them (1 Samuel 18:12-16).

Insecurity and jealously has been around since the beginning of time and is well documented in the story of Cain killing Abel in Genesis 4 and also Joseph’s brothers selling him in Genesis 37. Another example comes later in the Bible in 1 Samuel and involves Saul and David.

Saul was the first king of Israel (c. 1021–1000 BC) and was chosen king both by the judge Samuel and by public acclamation. His primary purpose was to defend Israel against its many enemies, especially the Philistines. David was a solider under Saul and initially become a favorite of Saul. However, under the paranoia that David was seeking to usurp the throne, Saul attempted to kill David, forcing the latter to go into hiding for several years.

Saul becomes jealous of David because David slayed “the Philistine,” that is Goliath and the women praise David with the words, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). Saul’s decline is marked by the frequent visitation of an “evil spirit from God.” In his depression, he twice throws his spear at David (1 Samuel 18:10-11), and even makes David a field officer in the hopes of killing him. Nevertheless, all Saul’s plans crash to the ground as David’s success mounts: “for the LORD was with him.”

Insecurity always leads to jealousy which ruins relationships and hinders leaderships. An insecure person views the world through an insecure lens, which informs every decision they make.

Saul was a classic insecure leader. He was infuriated that the women praised David received more attention than him after David killed Goliath. Instead of being happy that David was successful in battle, Saul chose to spend of the rest of his years tracking down (in David’s words) “a flea.” His jealousy clouded his judgement, hurt his relationships, and separated him from God. I am sure that Saul thought he was doing the right thing. Perhaps he was living out Proverbs 14:12. “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” This story from Saul and David is not intended to be an interesting history story. This is Holy Scripture and as such it is “God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (emphasis added). So, what is God teaching us with this story?

I think the lesson here is that envy is indeed a deadly sin. Interestingly, David later wrote in Psalms 37:8, “refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” (emphasis added).

If you are insecure as a person, you how two options. Conquer it, or it will conquer you.

Below are some ideas that I ask you to prayerfully consider if you are an insecure person.

Identify A Father

Saul did not have a spiritual father. Samuel, a priest and Israel’s last judge and first prophet, served in that capacity for a while, but Saul’s actions eventually destroyed that relationship. We all need a spiritual father to affirm us and correct us. In the absence of a father, men tend to look to themselves for self-affirmation. As a boy and young man, when I had a great accomplishment, I wanted to first tell my father to hear him say, “Good job!” Of course, I wanted to tell my mother too! I still seek that affirmation, and correction, from my mother and my elder Christian brothers. If the spiritual father is absent in the life of a man, he will enter an endless loop of trying to prove himself to himself. The result is failure and insecurity.

Support Others

A jealous and insure person is constantly monitoring the accomplishments of others. If a “competitor” is mentioned in conversation, they will dismiss and downplay their achievement. A true leader empowers, encourages, and supports others. A great leader will go out of their way to publicly praise others but privately corrects them.

You may recall that Jesus told us that we would do even greater things than Him. Would an insecure person have made such a statement?

Where Do You Store Your Treasure?

An insecure person is always trying to outdo everybody else for money, status, and recognition. The root cause is valuing the opinion of man more than the rewards of God. This life is only temporary, but upon our death, we will live forever. Our reward comes in heaven. Your income and status will mean nothing in heaven. If we only sought to enrich ourselves on earth, I think Jesus will say, “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.” (Matthew 25:45).

Jesus values our heart more than our money. The Word teaches us, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20).” The next verse gives the reason for this instruction. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). The approval of man is fickle, but the approval of God has eternal implications.

The bottom line is you CAN and MUST conquer insecurity or it WILL conquer you. David was an imperfect man, like all of us, but Scripture tells us twice that he was a man “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). The right next step is to surround yourself with men like David, not Saul and seek affirmation from God, store up your treasure in heaven, and publicly praise others every chance you get.

Prayer: Dear God, Forgive us for the times our insecurity leads to acts of jealousness. Give us a new heart and a new spirit that seeks to honor and glorify You in all that we say and do. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Fire Consumes or Purifies

Fire Consumes Or Purifies

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2 NIV).

One thing that is as certain as death and taxes is that in this fallen world is we will have problems. Jesus said these words in John 16:33 many years ago, but they still ring true today. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” To me, this means that our earthly troubles are temporary but our Lord and Savior reigns forever and in Him and through Him we have life and victory over sin and death. What sort of life does He offer you may wonder? Well, as we return back to the book of John in chapter 10, verse 10, we learn the answer. “I have come so that they may life, and have it abundantly (emphasis added)”

Our troubles often appear overwhelming when we focus on the discomfort of the problem rather than the provision and protection of God. Also, our troubles can consume us when we try to face them alone rather than with a group of fellow followers of Christ.

Problems and trouble come in many forms, but they always bring some sort of “heat.” It is important to understand that the flame that is causing the heat is never intended for our harm. Of course, a fire that destroys a house is terrible, but such a fire would not come from God. My house was not destroyed by fire but was badly flooded in 2016. I was devastated, but I watched God work through human hands and eventually my house was repaired, and my furniture was replaced. Now, I have a powerful testimony to His faithfulness.

Everything that is good about a fire can be listed as a blessing of the Holy Spirit. Fire is a purifying force, and the Holy Spirit is the ultimate purifier. Rev. Max Lucado wrote in a recent devotional – “We need the cleansing, sanctifying work of the Spirit of God.” As I first read this devotional from Rev. Lucado my mind drifted to Malachi 3:3. “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Silver is refined through heat to burn off the impurities. Similarly, we are refined through our troubles as we grow closer to God and then emerge with a strong testimony of His faithfulness. I think it is interesting that a silversmith knows that all of the impurities are gone when he can see his reflection in the molten silver. As we are refined, our face begins to “look” more like Christ and we begin to seek the same things that He is seeking for us.

While we are in the valleys of life, life is certainly hard. The stress can take a toll on our bodies. However, this is the best time to invite this refining fire to finish its work in our hearts. A wildlife in the forest brings immediate devastation, but eventually there is new growth and renewal. The fires in our lives also bring about spiritual renewal in spite of our physical condition, which I think is the message of (2 Corinthians 4:16). “Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

The next time you feel the heat of life, stop and realize that God is at work in your life. If you turn toward Him, you will not only emerge on the other side with a closer walk with our Lord, but also a testimony that is a powerful witness in a world that so badly needs powerful witnesses. Don’t let the fire consume you but rather let it purify you.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for refining us. Forgive us for the times we turn from you and help us to embrace the fires of life and yoke to your Holy Spirit to find joy in all circumstances. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Am I Forced To Condone Or Condemn?

Am I Forced To Condone Or Condemn?

“Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, Sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” (John 8:10-11 NIV).

Division in society has been around since the enemy came as a serpent into the Garden of Eden to cause division between humanity and God, and the consequences linger to this day. The church universal is stronger when it is united and when that unity is focused vertically to wordship God and horizontally for evangelism and discipleship to the Body of Christ (others). The enemy certainly is aware of the tremendous power and potential of the bride of Christ and seeks to hurt our unity and hinder our evangelism and discipleship. The Word in John 10:10 warns, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy….” That warning is as valid today as it was years ago.

We all see division in society today in all forms. Many people live and attend churches that are divided along racial, ethnic, and socio-economic lines. I see great value in healthy discussion and polite disagreement in the areas of politics, religion, and social issues. The Church has an invaluable role to play in championing social justice, while being mindful of its primary mission of the Great Commission. Inevitably and sadly, when it comes to social issues inside the Church, we typically assume a contemporary, secular approach rather than a Christ-like approach. Sadly, society has had a greater affect on the Church than the Church has had on society.

A current social issue in the church, particularly my denomination of United Methodist, is how to properly address the issue of homosexuality. Of course, there are two schools of thought on the issue and both sides have been very clear on their position, which is fine. What is not fine, is that both sides tend to focus inward to condone each other on their “team” and then focus outward to condemn those that are not like-minded.

It has recently gotten to the point that a clergy member posted a video on a private Facebook page for clergy of a highly non-traditional church service featuring a drag queen talking to children and simply asked his peers, “Are you OK sanctioning a highly non-traditional worship service as a representative of the UMC? Looking for a simple yes or no. Edit to clarify: This is a poling question. Nothing more and nothing less.” The clergy member that asked the question was immediately condemned by others that supported the service because he simply asked a question. We can no longer have civil discourse and polite disagreement on social issues without somebody being offended and condemning somebody. That is sad. We as a society and as the Church universal have failed to live out Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world…”

I feel this begs the question – What would Jesus do? We do not need to wonder because our Lord and Savior has already shown us another option when He encountered the adulterous woman at the well (John 8:1-11). He did not condone her sin, nor did He condemn her. He offered her grace and left her with these wise words that still resonate true to this day — “‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.’”

This woman had led a sinful life, but Jesus was not concerned with her past, but was focused on her future. He called her to a higher standard of living. A standard that involves repenting from our sin and living a Christ-centered life rather than a self-centered life . Jesus knew that sin was sin and it separates us from God and leads to death. As modern Christians, we too are called to the same standard as the woman. Jesus is telling us today, “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Sadly, many do not want to repent from their sin but rather want others to join their effort to condone their sinful behavior and move the activity from the sin category, as defined by Scripture, to the ok category, as defined by society.

I think we spend too much time trying to lobby others to “reclassify” what God has clearly already classified as sin because we are “wiser” than Him, or we live in a new age and have new insight and perspective. Yes, God gave us experience, tradition, reason, and personal feelings to aid us to interpret Scripture. However, the caveat is that when any of those conflict with the Bible, they must be dismissed in favor of Scriptural authority. I feel that 2 Timothy 4:3 was written for times such as these. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

On the other hand, if somebody has a different interpretation of Scripture than mine, I acknowledge that perhaps they are right. However, I certainly don’t think it serves the Kingdom for me to condemn them because we differ. We are all Christians, and we hurt the Kingdom when we condemn each other. Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman so why should we condemn fellow Christians because we disagree on a particular social issue? Romans 8:1 reads, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

All Christians are in Christ Jesus, but all Christians will never agree on various social issues. I would love to see the time, money, passion, and energy that is spent on disagreement over social issues to be spent on evangelism and discipleship.

Prayer: Dear God, Forgive us for spending time and money on issues that do not bear good fruit and do not honor You. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at His heavenly banquet. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Who Is Your Authority?

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-5, 14 NIV).

There is a long history of division and unrest in the Church. Many of the Epistles of the Apostle Paul addressed division and sinful lifestyles. So, current division certainly falls into the category of there is nothing new under the sun.

The Church is the bride of Christ and at its best has the potential to do even greater things than Jesus did (John 14:12). The enemy knows of the power and potential of the Church and seeks to introduce issues into the Church to divide, deceive, and destroy. So, the Church at its worst will focus its efforts and resources inwardly on issues that will not bear good fruit nor facilitate evangelism and discipleship. The teaching of the Apostle Paul on this topic is still relevant today. “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels” (2 Timothy 2:23).

I understand the value of social issues and appreciate the fact we all have different opinions. Diversity of thought is healthy and necessary. I recently had a nice visit with a good friend regarding a contemporary social issue. He told me that he had a problem with me and my position. My response, was, “Brother, you and I don’t have any problems. However, it appears to me that your issue is with God because you don’t like parts of Scripture that are contrary to your personal beliefs.”

Different people can read the same Scripture and have different interpretations. I have read the same Scripture over the years and sometimes come away with a new revelation about God, myself, or others. These new revelations happen because “the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). As I gain new insight from Scripture, I realize that the Word has not changed, but by inviting the Holy Spirit to be present and teach me as I read, my understanding may change. 1 Peter 1:25 reads, “… but the Word of the Lord endures forever.”

I have talked to some people that have told me they understand what the Bible is teaching but based on their personal opinion they reject the Scripture. Sadly, they are our rejecting our Lord when they reject Scripture. Matthew 10:32-33 reads, “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). The Apostle Paul also warns against the perils of denying Christ. “If we disown Him, He will also disown us” (2 Timothy 2:12).

When we reject God, we do so in favor of personal autonomy. Dennis F. Kinlaw was a Wesleyan-Holiness Old Testament Scholar and former President of Asbury College. He wrote, “Satan disguises submission to himself under the ruse of personal autonomy. He never asks us to become his servants. Never once did the serpent say to Eve, I want to be your master. The shift in commitment is never from Chris to evil; it is always from Christ to self. And instead of His will, self-interest now rules and what I want reigns. And that is the essence of sin.”

Our goal as Christians is not to try to attempt to convince others to reclassify what God has already classified as sinful behavior. Rather our goal is to embrace our inherent need for the Word as stated in 1 Peter 2:2. “Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow up into your salvation.” I struggle with my sins, but I think it is in my best interest to grow in my salvation to partner with the Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ to repent and turn from my own wicked ways.

It is certainly possible to read the Bible and not get anything out of it. You need certain keys to unlock Scripture. One of those keys is accepting its authority and understanding its Author. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible says it’s God’s Word: “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). There is no need to challenge the Word because, “Every word of God is flawless (Proverbs 30:5).

One of the reasons why there is so much confusion in the world today is because people are listening to so many different authorities, and everybody’s asking, “Who’s right?”

Whether you realize it or not, you have an authority for your life. It’s what you use to make your choices. Your authority may be yourself, society, etc.

There are four unreliable sources of authority that people often use instead of Scripture.

Culture (Experience). People who follow this authority source say, “But everybody’s doing it.” Yet Exodus 23:2 warns against it: “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”
These people say, “But we’ve always done it that way!” Jesus told some of the religious people of his day: “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions” (Mark 7:8).
This unreliable source says, “Well, it seems logical; it seems rational.” But Scripture warns against using our intellect as our authority source: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 16:25).
Personal feelings. Throughout the United States you’ll find people saying, “I believe it because I feel it.” But the Bible tells about a time when the world was in anarchy because of this attitude: “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

The four sources above are all inwardly focused and have some value. However, the caveat is that when any of those are in conflict with the Bible, they must be dismissed in favor of Scriptural authority. I encourage you accept the Bible as the final authority for every issue in your life. When you accept that authority, you’ll start to get more out of the Bible and be obedient to the first part of Proverbs 3:6 “in all your ways submit to Him. The benefit of submitting to God is contained in the second part of Proverbs 3:6, “and He will make your paths straight.”

Prayer: Dear God, Forgive us for the times that we reject your Word as the final authority in our lives. Help us to not only accept your Word but to spread the Good News contained in your Word to all that we meet. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Liked this post?

Do You Know A Proverbs 31 Woman? I Do!

“When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the LORD, and the LORD will pay you back” (Proverbs 19:17 GNT).

Scripture is full of stories of women that have played essential roles in advancing the work of our Lord. These prominent women include the Matriarchs Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, Miriam the prophetess, Deborah the judge, Huldah the prophetess, Rahab, Esther, and many more. Many of these women are recognized in the Faith Hall of Fame found in Hebrews 11.

Proverbs 31 describes the many virtues of Godly woman. The Proverbs 31 woman can be commended for all the wonderful things she does, what is most important is that she loves the Lord. She lives her entire life to honor and serve Him. This and this alone is what makes her a virtuous woman.

I recently enjoyed coffee with my good friend Mark. As we discussed how God has blessed us, I told him that he was particularly blessed because his wife is a Proverbs 31 woman. Her love for the Lord is evident in all that she says and does. If you spend five minutes with her, she will tell you what God has done for her today. As I speak with her, my mind is often drawn to Luke 6:45 “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Her heart is full of a love for God. She lives a Spirit-led life, and the Fruits are manifested in her love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

My Sunday school class has been watching a series of videos entitled Pearls by Kristi McLelland. In a recent episode, Rev. McLelland emphasized the need to “zachar” as a means of moving forward. The word “zachar” is a Hebrew word that means to remember. The Jewish people would often take time to look back and remember God’s faithful presence in their lives and that would help them to move forward through difficult times in the present. The Psalmist was remembering God’s past faithfulness when he wrote, “My soul is downcast within me; therefore, I will remember You (Psalm 42:6).

As I speak with my friend’s wife, I often hear the zachar in her words. If a storm is coming, she will talk about how God rebuilt her house after the flood of 2016. If her car needs a major engine work, she will mention that the car itself was a gift from one of God’s angels. None of her present problems are impossible because she remembers her past victories, which she quickly and wisely attributes to God.

Her life is dedicated to loving God and her neighbor (e.g., everybody). She is not rich by secular standards, but she is rich beyond measure because of her continual efforts to store up her treasure in heaven. In fact, Scripture says that a Proverbs 31 wife of noble character is “worth far more than rubies” (Proverbs 31:10).

There are few things in this fallen world of which I have confidence. However, I am confident that when this kind lady is Healed and meets the Father, she will pass on the right Hand of God with the other sheep. How do I know this? Because she is actively serving the least, the lost, and the hurt. God commands us in Matthew 25:34-36 to show compassion, kindness, and hospitality to all, particularly those on the fringes of society. The Word says, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me’” (Matthew 25:34-36). This is her calling in life. It is real and powerful.

We all know that there is a gap between asking God for something and receiving it. This is the inevitable period of waiting. During this period, I have seen this Proverbs 31 woman living out Proverbs 3:5, which teaches, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). Initially I was not sure how this woman was so successful in her prayers. Then I finally realized that she is also living out the instruction of the Psalmist. “Delight yourself in the ways of the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).” Her prayers are answered because she wants the same thing for her life and her family that God wants for her and her family.

Do you know a Proverbs 31 woman? I am blessed that I do. Her name is Vickie Lubbock, and there is no stronger solider in God’s army than this Proverbs 31 woman.

I can’t think of a better conclusion than the last three verses from Proverbs 31.

“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate” (Proverbs 31:29-31)

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for all the Proverbs 31 women of the past, present, and future. Their life is a powerful witness to your enduring love and grace. Amen.

Meet the Author

We welcome your comments below.

Thank you for visiting. We trust that you have enjoyed reading our articles.

Use Advent to Guide Yourself And Your Family Toward Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

The Best New Year’s Resolution

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

Waiting For God In “The Gap”

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

Use Conflict To Build Respect

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

The Path To Forgiveness

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

Attention Men: Insecurity and Jealousy Lead to Problems!

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

Fire Consumes Or Purifies

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

Am I Forced To Condone Or Condemn?

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

Who Is Your Authority?

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...

Do You Know A Proverbs 31 Woman? I Do!

Liked this post?

Read more below or search for more topics...