Finding Destiny In Disappointment

“The LORD is close to those who have suffered disappointment. He saves those who are discouraged” (Psalm 34:18-19 ERV).

You might have seen the above Scripture before worded slightly different with the words “broken-hearted” in place of “those who have suffered disappointment.” I like the ERV translation because it uses a word that resonates with me, and perhaps you, “disappointment.”

I fear that some of us have been so familiar with disappointment, that it no longer manifests as “broken heartedness.” Instead, we lower our expectations of ourselves and others to avoid disappointment. I recall as a child overhearing an adult say, “If you expect little of yourself and others, you will never be disappointed.” This is true, but this is not the life I want.

This life comes with few certainties besides death and taxes. One of them is we will face disappointment. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Hope in the face of disappointment is sometimes all we have but it is all we need to walk by faith. Amen!

Disappointment is the proverbial fork in the road of life. It is at this fork that we must choose to either remain bitter or not. The road absent of disappointment is indeed the road less traveled. This road is one that not only eventually leads the traveler to a deeper understanding of Romans 8:28, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8: 28). This road can also allow sojourners to discover their destiny, perhaps not as noteworthy as Saul discovering his destiny on the road to Damascus. However, each destiny in the Body of Christ is important.

All of us will cause disappointment in others, and this seems to be one of the rare talents that I have. The story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers is a great example of destiny coming from disappointment. Years later, he told them, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). The brothers’ wickedness was the tool to get Joseph to Egypt! Surely, Joseph was disappointed, and angry, at the jealous action of his brothers. However, he became the second-in-command in Egypt and saved his entire family from a seven-year famine. His destiny came out of disappointment.

Disappointment allows the Refiner of silver to burn away the dross as described in Malachi 3:3, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver…” The refinement is not an end to itself. The last sentence in Malachi 3:3 reads, “Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness.”

Disappointment is the proverbial fork in the road of life. It is at this fork that we must choose to either remain bitter or not. The road absent of disappointment is indeed the road less traveled. This road is one that not only eventually leads the traveler to a deeper understanding of Romans 8:28, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8: 28). This road can also allow sojourners to discover their destiny, perhaps not as noteworthy as Saul discovering his destiny on the road to Damascus. However, each destiny in the Body of Christ is important.

These periods of disappointment produce the good fruit of endurance and character. Romans 5:3-4, teaches, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” Hope is an infinitely precious commodity during periods of disappointment.

Moses circled the Sinai desert as he followed Jethro’s sheep for 40 years. He surely must have remembered his place at Pharaoh’s palace. Now, he is freezing at night and living in misery.

Suddenly, “destiny.” God speaks to him from a burning bush. God’s is molding a plan to return Moses to Egypt. Neither the disappointment of Joshua or Moses could stop their destiny.

Jesus certainly felt disappointment when He was denied three times by Peter. Also, He must have felt disappointed when He said on His cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”

As for me, I have had a good friend ask me after a bad experience, “Aren’t you angry at that person?” My answer is always “No, I am disappointed.” I am intentional, but not always successful, in not allowing others to stir up anger in me. I try my best to follow the wisdom of James 1:19-20, which instructs, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (emphasis added). The next verse provides the reason for the instruction – “Because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” Anger provides the enemy a “foothold” and opens the doors to sin, wrath, and poor choices. Good fruit will never be found behind any of these doors.

I have frequently been disappointed in outcomes, other people, and especially myself. I also know that I have disappointed others, and as the president of the people pleaser club, I deeply regret each occurrence.

During the periods in which we are disappointed in others, God, or outcomes, this is when we must yoke up with God and trust that our destiny lies beyond the disappointment. I have found that the sooner I am able to focus on my future destiny rather than my current disappointment, then the faster I can overcome my disappointment. In the past, I have spent years waiting on God to reveal my destiny, and I eventually realized that He was waiting on me to resolve my disappointment.

I mentioned above that God was waiting on me to resolve my disappointment. I resolved, and continue to resolve, my disappointment by standing steadfast on Psalm 37:4: “Take delight in the ways of the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart” and Romans 8:28. Destiny defeats disappointment, believe me. Be blessed as you are a blessing to others.

Prayer: Dead God, Thank you for providing us with a pathway out of the valley of disappointment. Send your Holy Spirit to comfort us when we are disappointed and send Your Spirit to comfort those that we disappointed. Help us, dear God, to pray for those that have disappointed us and for those that we have disappointed. In all circumstances, may Your name be glorified and may we be so blessed as to have our disappointment lead to our destiny. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Certified Lay Minister and Men’s Ministry Specialist through Francis Asbury Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA. He is a Board Member for Gulf South Men, an Action Team member for The Kingdom Group, and a Board Member for the Lagniappe Country Walk to Emmaus. Todd is a contributor to Project XII and Baton Rouge Parents Magazine. He is a Past President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and remains active in this and many other local, regional, and international ministries. Additionally, he’s the author of the inspiring book “Fathering A Special Needs Child.” Todd also enjoys filling the pulpit to share the Good News of our Lord and Savior. Todd is the proud father of Emma and Kyle and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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Ask God For The Impossible

“‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own’” (Jeremiah 33:3 MSG).

Have you ever found yourself in an impossible situation? I certainly have. At these times, our talents, logic, and education will not solve the problem. These are God-sized problems and only God can solve these problems.

Some people find the word “supernatural” to be odd or silly, particularly in a Christian context. Years ago, I was one of these people.

I now know that when facing an impossible situation, I can pray and ask for His supernatural help because that is the only adjective to describe His help.

John 14:13 teaches, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” This is why when we face an impossible situation, we are able to call upon God for His supernatural help.

God told Jeremiah, who lived at the same time as Daniel and knew what was happening in Babylon, “‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own” (Jeremiah 33:3). God wants to help us, but it is important to remember that His help comes in the Perfect manner and time.

Daniel asked God for spiritual wisdom when King Nebuchadnezzar asked him to interpret a dream. Daniel needed the Lord to show him what he would never be able figure out on his own. He could guess for a thousand years and never figure out the king’s dream. But God could tell him in an instant.

When we fail to call upon God for help, His help will not come. The Bible says, “You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it” (James 4:2). So many times we miss out on God’s best simply because we never ask Him for it. I’ve seen God do this over and over again in my life.

I’ve faced big odds that I couldn’t fathom solving on my own. So, I prayed, waited, and knew that His solution would be better than anything that I had in mind and would come at the Perfect time. And it did and continues to do so!

We can ask God for His best! Pray boldly and confidently even in the darkest valley. 1 Chronicles 4:10 is known as the Prayer of Jabez and is an often overlooked Scripture but is one that I have prayed for myself and my friends and family. “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” This is a powerful Scripture of the power of prayer and the power and love of our God.

Prayer without faith that God will answer is a fool’s errand. When we pray, we pray in faith knowing that God will answer. James 1:5-6 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt.”

Daniel believed he could interpret the king’s dream—but only with God’s help. So, he asked God for it and expected him to answer. When we show that kind of faith, God will generously give you what you need to do the impossible at the Perfect time and manner.

Prayer: Thank you for listening and acting on our prayers. Thank you for acting at the Perfect time and Perfect manner. Forgive us for the times when we lobby you to implement our solution. Give us the wisdom and patience to pray in confidence in every situation. You only God can rescue us from the darkest valleys, and we trust in You and You alone. Amen.

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The Burnt Toast Theory

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 KJV).

A friend recently sent me the story below about “The Burnt Toast Theory.” I think it is from an anonymous author. I will put quotations around the part that I received, and then offer a few of my own thoughts after.

“When things don’t go your way…. Last February, I had a flight out of Sydney that was cancelled several minutes after we were asked to get ready for boarding. The airline management announced that their engineer couldn’t get the aircraft to operate.

We were the only passengers left in the terminal. The airport had literally closed for the day already. You probably don’t know this, but Sydney International Airport has a curfew for flights. No aircraft is allowed to fly in and out between 11PM and 6AM.

We were asked to go through immigration again and then proceeded to collect our luggage. After which, we were given Uber vouchers so that we could all go home for the night.

Everyone started to be grumpy. Well, as expected.

But my first thought was to thank God they managed to identify the operational/technical issue of the aircraft before asking us to board and eventually take off.

This is where the Burnt Toast Theory comes in. It suggests that when delays happen or when things don’t go as planned, it could actually be a blessing in disguise. Those major or minor life’s inconveniences might actually be protecting you from something.

Essentially, if you burn your toast in the morning (something challenging happens), the time you spend making another slice may have saved you from a car accident or something bad.

Or maybe it causes you to be late for a meeting, but as you stroll in, you cross paths with someone who will become incredibly meaningful in your life that you wouldn’t have met otherwise. It’s kind of like the universe always has your back.

As what I always tell myself: If you get what you want, that is God’s direction. If you do not get what you want, that is God’s protection. You may not understand His ways, but you just have to trust His will. So, the next time things don’t go your way, always remember that you are being redirected to something better.”

I think this is a great story and raises a very interesting proposition for us all to consider the next time we are inconvenienced. The temptation for some may be to intentionally leave late for a meeting and then “assume” that God has saved them from some unseen tragedy if they had left on time. This approach does little to honor God.

Yes, it is possible that a minor (or major) inconvenience may save us from a tragedy. However, the more likely scenario is that our inconvenience will probably just result in us being late.

Regardless, these times of inconvenience give us the opportunity to view the situation from one of two perspectives. One option is to be irritated that our plans have been changed without our consent. A better option is to be open to the possibility that God has allowed this situation to occur to redirect our focus away from our trivial daily tasks and take a moment to worship Him, without knowing the reason for the inconvenience. Perhaps the reason was to save us from a tragedy or perhaps the reason was for us to stop and say, “God, I am not sure why this has happened, but I trust you and know that something good will come from this at the Perfect time and place.” The lens by which we view the situation will determine our thoughts about the situation. As for me, I will try to be intentional to use a Christ-based lens rather than a me-based lens to view all situations.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the times of inconvenience. Help us to use these times to remember that You are in control, and we are so very blessed that You are indeed in control. Amen.

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Is Your Heart Right?

“Put your heart right, Job. Reach out to God . . . Then face the world again, firm and courageous. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more” (Job 11:13, 15-16 GNT, emphasis added).

The Book of Job is a 42-chapter book in the Bible that explores the theme of unmerited suffering and how to trust in God during difficult times. The book is named after its main character, Job, who is the subject of a wager between God and Satan about how much he can suffer while remaining loyal to God.

During Job’s continuing suffering, his friends tell him how to get rid of painful memories and move on with his life. They say, “Put your heart right, Job. Reach out to God . . . Then face the world again, firm and courageous. Then all your troubles will fade from your memory, like floods that are past and remembered no more” (Job 11:13, 15-16, emphasis added).

A key phrase of this Scripture is to “put your heart right.” So, what does that mean and what does that actually look like in practice? Please notice the emphasis is on “your heart.” We have no control over the heart of others and sometimes are forced to deal with unpleasant situations that we did not create. The key at such times is to control what we can control – our own heart. It is imperative to do the right thing when those around us are insistent on doing the wrong thing. For example, it is always the right thing to forgive those that hurt us. This helps us to put our heart right. Of course, we should remove ourselves from dangerous situations and forgiving does not mean we forget the offense or else we run the risk of suffering the same fate again.

Once our heart is right, we should reach out to God and invite Jesus into every room in the house of our heart. Often, we’ve invited him into the front room (by accepting Jesus as our Savior) but not the entire house of our heart. Psalm 51:10 reads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” A clean heart and right spirit open the door to all the rooms in the house of our heart. As the Spirit fills our heart with His love, mercy, and grace we are better able to focus on Him and not the adversity of today. This is the key to claiming the peace that transcends all understanding.

Finally, it is important to remember that life is to be lived today. Today is indeed the day that the Lord has made, and we will indeed be happy and rejoice in it. We do not hide in bed or withdraw from society to avoid any additional pain. Instead, we get back to living and move forward. This can take time, but there is life on the other side of adversity. Go (re)read the book of Job to see my point.

Your past is not your present or future. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, who you’ve done it with, or how long you’ve done it. Throughout Scripture, God forgives murderers, adulterers, and slackers, and he uses them to do His work in the world. Hebrews 11 is a great example of this.

You and I both have a great future ahead of us. Please join me by daily putting our hearts right, reaching out to God, and facing the world again. God will heal the wounds of the past, give us peace in the present, and has already prepared a blessed future for us. He did this for Job and can do it for you too!

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the story of Job. Send your Holy Spirit to us to reveal all the sin that separates us from you. Help us to repent of the sin that clings so tightly and turn to You. Create in us a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within us. Amen.

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The Only Thing Left To Do Now Is Pray?

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

Have you ever been in a hospital when the doctor tells the family, “I have done all that I can do. The only thing left to do is to pray?” Or maybe you have heard these words in a dramatic scene in a television show or movie?

I find these words sad because I wonder if the message that is “heard” by the family is something along these lines – The doctor has run out of options, so I guess we should now turn to God and see what He can do for us.

Prayer should not be viewed as the last option of a desperate person but rather a constant part of a Christ-centered life. Each day, a Christian actively seeks a closer walk with God by praying. In fact, we are all called to pray without ceasing. Since prayer is the foundation of everything we do, nothing changes when we go to the hospital. Before and after we know something is wrong, we pray. While the medical team is at work, we pray. If the medical team elects not to proceed, we pray. And regardless of the outcome, we pray. Of course, we would all prefer to lift a prayer of thanksgiving after a successful outcome.

Sometimes, the result is not what we want, but we are still called to pray. At times like this, we may cry out in anger or frustration, which is the theme of some of the Psalms by King David. Or perhaps we are too tired to offer anything more than wordless groans, but we are grateful for the intercessory prayer of the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Stan Purdum is a Biblical scholar, and he wrote the following. “So, if we believe God is all-powerful, praying for the impossible makes sense only if we also believe that God wants things to be different than they are. We cannot by ourselves bring about world peace, end all racial discrimination, eliminate hunger, and make all Christians one as Jesus and the Father are one. We may be able to accomplish small parts of those things, but only God can make them happen in a complete way.

What we do know, however, is this: In praying for everyone who follows Him to be united and one, Jesus asked for the seemingly impossible. When He taught His disciples the prayer we call “The Lord’s Prayer,” He included the petition, “Thy will be one,” which is another seemingly impossible thing when applied to the population as a whole.

If Jesus prayed for the impossible, is there any reason that we who follow Him should not? Is not the act of praying for the impossible an expression of that mustard seed of faith that Jesus said was crucial? Is it not, in the end, a way of saying that we believe that whatever happens, ultimately, we are in God’s loving hands?

Yes, hospital scenes can be grim, but Job’s trials were also grim. His story is a great example of a faithful person who remained steadfast in prayer when the enemy was determined to try to break his faith. I think of Job as I read James 1:3-4. “Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

If we believe that possibilities are limited and the boundaries are set, then praying for the impossible makes no sense. At a minimum, it is wasted effort. But even more, it is evidence of how ridiculous we are. But if we believe in God – in God’s power, love, and goodness – then our prayer is cooperation with God’s will. It may even be that our prayer, which is a new element in the situation, will be part of how God’s will is done.”

So, returning back to the hospital scene. I was told years ago that everybody who goes to the hospital gets healed. Some are healed, and others are Healed. This means that the doctor heals some of them, and they go home. Others are Healed by the Great Physician, and they too go Home.

The advances in medical science are amazing! Miracles occur at hospitals every day, yet Isaiah 2:22 teaches, “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” Returning back to King David, he echoed the words of Isaiah in Psalm 118:8. “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans.” I believe that doctors are often the Hands of Jesus. However, we would be wise to put our ultimate trust in God and pray while in the valley and on the mountaintop.

Prayer: Dear Lord, Forgive us for the times when we turn to You as a last resort. Help us to live a prayer-based life that remains steadfast regardless of our circumstances. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and a Certified Lay Speaker with the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is a Board Member for Gulf South Men, an Action Team member for The Kingdom Group, and a Board Member for the Lagniappe Country Walk to Emmaus. Todd is a Past President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and remains active in this and many other local, regional, and international ministries. Todd is the proud father of Emma and Kyle and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Additionally, he’s the author of the inspiring book “Fathering A Special Needs Child.” Todd also enjoys filling the pulpit for pastors to share the Good News of our Lord and Savior.

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Lessons Learned Under A Broom Tree

“A voice said to him, Why are you here, Elijah? He replied, “I have been most zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, but the Israelites have forsaken your covenant. They have destroyed your altars and murdered your prophets by the sword. I alone remain, and they seek to take my life.” (1 Kings 19:13-14 NIV).

The broom tree is a desert shrub that grows across Arabia and throughout the Judean wilderness. Its deep roots draw in the moisture of land that is otherwise barren. In the Bible, desert shrubs such as the broom tree appear in moments of despair as well as times of divine encounter.

Chapter 21 of Genesis describes a young mother who was sent away into the wilderness. With little to sustain her, she wandered until her water supply completely ran out. Placing her son under a broom tree to die, she then sat down and wept. Job describes the broom tree as a place of desolation, ruin, and abandonment (Job 30:3-4). The Psalmist connects the broom tree with mourning, distress, and punishment (Psalm 120).

For many Christians the broom tree is most often associated with Elijah. Elijah is first mentioned in 1 Kings 17, where he proclaimed a drought as penalty for the evil deeds of the kings of Israel.

Elijah later presented himself to King Ahab, telling him to summon the prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mount Carmel, along with all the people of Israel. He confronted the people and told them that if they prepared a sacrifice and called on Baal, he would prepare a sacrifice and call on the Lord. Whichever caught fire would then demonstrate who was the true God. The worshippers of Baal prepared their sacrifice and called upon him from morning until noon, with no answer.

Then Elijah rebuilt the altar of the Lord, prepared the sacrifice, and poured four jugs of water on it. He called upon the Lord, and the Lord answered him by sending down fire to consume the altar.

After this, the prophets of Baal were seized and killed. When King Ahab told his wife Jezebel what Elijah had done, she vowed to kill him. Elijah was terrified and fled into the desert, where he prayed for the Lord to take his life, then fell asleep under a broom tree. A messenger from the Lord came to him twice, urging him to eat and drink. After doing so, he journeyed 40 days in the wilderness to Mt. Horeb, where he hid in a cave. Then…..

“A Voice said to him, ‘Why are you here, Elijah?’ He replied, ‘I have been most zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, but the Israelites have forsaken your covenant. They have destroyed your altars and murdered your prophets by the sword. I alone remain, and they seek to take my life.’” (1 Kings 19:13-14 NIV). Elijah was anxious, angry, and tired.

The good news is that God met with Elijah at the broom tree. He revealed himself to Moses in a thorny acacia. He also heard Ishmael’s cries from beneath the bush and directed his mother to a well in the desert. He rescued Isaac by revealing a young ram whose horns were caught in a bush so Abraham could sacrifice it instead of his son, Isaac. God shows up in some very thorny situations.

The lesson of the broom tree is that sometimes when God meets us in the desert times of our lives, God provides us relief like a broom tree. The shade is not enough to last us forever, but enough to help us take the next steps. It is enough for us to sit under for a few minutes to draw strength for the next step and then the next step. The journey is not always short, sometimes it takes a long time to get through it. Elijah’s journey took over a month to go from Judah to Mt. Horeb in the hot Egyptian desert. When he met God at Mt. Horeb, he was still struggling, still searching for a solution to his problem. God did not make his circumstances disappear. God did not give him much sympathy. However, God did give Elijah direction, sustenance for the road, a renewed purpose and later, in that same chapter in 1 Kings, a companion on the road—all things that kept Elijah going.

The broom tree also offers us an image for our mission and ministry. We, like broom trees, spring up in all kinds of places. We can provide shade for those in need of encouragement and sustenance. Some will come and stay and plant roots in our shade and become part of the plant (Body of Christ) that offers even a little more shade to others. Others may only stay for a moment, just long enough to get the energy to take the next step. Sometimes a brief rest, a kind word, a simple sandwich may be just what God uses to help someone take the next step. It has been said that sometimes we are the windshield and sometimes we are bug. Similarly, sometimes we are the broom tree (the giver), and sometimes we are the traveler (the taker). Sadly, some in life are forever determined to remain as the latter.

When we are exhausted or depressed, we can be strengthened under the broom tree. It is there we can find shade when we are traveling through the dry, hot wilderness. It is there we can find warmth when we are cold and miserable. It is there we can find nourishment when we are hungry and thirsty. It is there we find communion with God, as His angels minister to us, like they ministered to Elijah, serving him the bread and water. This world needs more broom trees providing random acts of kindness and kind words.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the broom trees that you provide us in our time of need. Help us to be rooted in You in such a way that the Fruits of Your Spirit are manifested in our words, thoughts, and actions. Help us to remember that our strongest witness is often absent words but rather in simple acts of kindness. Amen.

Meet the Author

Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and a Certified Lay Speaker with the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is a Board Member for Gulf South Men, an Action Team member for The Kingdom Group, and a Board Member for the Lagniappe Community Walk to Emmaus. Todd is a Past President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and remains active in this and many other local, regional, and international ministries. Todd is the proud father of Emma and Kyle and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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In Search of Equity in the Vineyard and Today’s Society

“But He answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’” (Matthew 20:13-15 NIV).

The terms “equity” and “fairness” are often used to support an argument in favor of one person that has less resources and against the other person who has more resources. As a result of our actions in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3, we live in a fallen world and as such there is pain, injustice, and unfairness. I really wish Adam and Eve had made a roux and turned the snake into a coubion stew!

Now, greed, injustice, and unfairness are prevalent in our society. There are winners and losers in a zero-sum game for resources. My understanding of Scripture is such that God is less interested in equity on earth than He is in us accepting Him as Lord and Savior and leading others to Him.

For those who have been blessed with many resources, they would do well to be generous and remember that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). Also, they would also be wise to heed the words of Micah 6:8, “ O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

Yes, the Lord wants us to do nice things for each other – to practice justice, love, and mercy. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, summed it up with the three rules: Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God. On our better days, we all make progress in all three categories, but sadly, on other days we fail. The good news is that although we are all prone to greed and other sins, God’s love remains steadfast, and we are reminded in Psalm 118:8 to put our trust in Him, not men.

I think God also knows that as sinners, we will fall short, and all of our “good” acts are in reality “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) in His presence. In short, good deeds are a manifestation of our faith in Him, but there is certainly no salvation through works. Jesus is the way, not our good acts.

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard in Matthew 20 is a powerful reminder that God uses a different metric than us to decide equity and fairness. If we work longer than a peer, we want more money than our peer and we will argue that it is not “fair” or “equitable” to pay our colleague the same as us since we have more seniority. The reality is each worker in the vineyard agreed to work for a given wage, and at the end of the day they received what they were promised.

I wonder what would have happened if someone had formed a union among the vineyard workers and negotiated a raise for all workers and a bigger raise for those that work longer hours. Would this person truly be showing love to these workers if he/she was exclusively focused on collective bargaining and did not point the workers to Christ for eternal salvation? Would the workers be better served in the long-term by the extra dollars on earth or by life everlasting with the Father? As I typed that last sentence, my mind was drawn to Mark 8:36. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

If the owner of the vineyard wants to give the new hires the same wage as those with more seniority, that is at the discretion of the owner. The owner is the owner, and we are not. God is God, and we are not. Clearly, this parable is also teaching us that those that come to Christ later in life after years of denying Him will also receive the same reward as those that came to Christ early in life – the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting with the Father. There is no extra reward in Heaven for life-long Christians as compared to those that recently accepted Christ prior to their death. The reward for the life-long Christian is that of an entire life spent in and for Christ.

A lack of equity and fairness can rob us of our peace, but a life lived in Christ and for Christ will grant us a peace that transcends all understanding. A lack of equity is certainly one of the many troubles that we face on earth, but we can take comfort in the Words of our Lord and Savior in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The pursuit of equity and fairness is a noble pursuit but one that will always come up short. I do not like a lack of equity or fairness and understand that sometimes those with less resources are responsible for their situation and sometimes they are not. Regardless, I suspect that the enemy smiles when we continually forgo our calling for evangelism and discipleship in pursuit of chasing the ever-elusive goal of equity and fairness.

Jesus told us that the poor will always be with us. To me, he was telling us that we will always have inequity and unfairness and we should indeed do all the good we can to help them and in doing so we are showing the love of Christ. Just because the poor will always be with us is not an excuse to become complacent but rather it is an acknowledgment that equity and fairness will never be found on this fallen earth.

Yes, we will always lack equity in resources, but we do not lack equity in our ability to be in covenant with God and reach Him through His word and prayer. We all have equity in our ability to submit ourselves to God and live out our faith by daily showing the Fruits of the Spirit. Salvation is equally available to all, and this is the greatest equity to be found on earth!

Prayer: Dear God, We have not been an obedient church and we fall short in so many ways. Life is often unfair, unjust, and resources are not distributed in an equitable manner. Help us to understand that true equity exists in our access to reach You through your Word and through prayer. Grant us discretion on how to best use our time to bring honor and glory to You and to show true love to our neighbor. Amen.

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Grace Or Truth?

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17 NIV).

One of the more interesting debates in contemporary Christian circles is the debate regarding two terms – grace and truth. The question inevitably becomes – Do you stand for grace or truth? My progressive friends tend to favor grace, and my conservative friends tend to favor truth. My Christian friends understand that this is a false question and favor both.

I don’t mean to be trite, but I certainly can sympathize with Pontius Pilate’s response to our Lord and Savior after He identified His purpose as coming into this world “to testify to the truth.” As we all know, Pilate infamously responded, “What is truth?”

Sometimes no answer to a question is the best answer. Jesus did not respond to the question from Pilate, but I wonder if He considered offering the same response that He previously offered to Peter after He had explained in Matthew 15 the parable of food and cleanliness. “Are you still so dull?” Jesus said to Peter. I suspect the proponents of grace are thinking the same of those advocating for truth and vice versa.

One can selectively select Scripture to make an argument for either grace or truth. However, Scripture is not intended to be selectively harvested to advance anything or anybody of this world.

In Christian theological terms, grace without truth is incomplete or distorted. Grace, which represents God’s unmerited favor and forgiveness, is inseparable from truth, which encompasses God’s revealed Word and moral standards. Without truth, grace may lose its transformative power and become a license for unrighteousness or a distorted understanding of God’s character and purpose. Thus, a balanced and coherent Christian theology recognizes the indispensable relationship between grace and truth.

Grace without truth can become a form of permissiveness or indulgence. An exclusive focus on grace allows one to unwisely feel secure in a life of unrepented sin due to the absence of the

refining and correcting element of truth. This can lead to moral relativism where any action or belief could be considered acceptable, regardless of ethical or doctrinal standards.

On the other hand, truth provides the foundation, the rules and guidelines for understanding our world and our faith. It allows us to navigate our spiritual journey with clarity and purpose.

However, truth without grace can become legalism, an adherence to the letter of the law without the transformative, compassionate, and forgiving spirit of grace. The truth is we are all sinners and all fall short of the glory of God.

Therefore, grace and truth are not mutually exclusive but complementary. In Christian theology, this is exemplified in Jesus Christ, whom the Gospel of John describes as full of “grace and truth” (John 1:14, emphasis added). Grace forgives and heals, truth guides and corrects.

Together, they form a balanced and holistic approach to faith and spirituality. Either term without the other is incomplete.

God reveals His divine nature of grace and truth to each through Holy Scripture. Our understanding of God and His nature is exponentially increased by inviting the Holy Spirit to be with us as we read, study, and meditate on His Holy Word and ask the question – Dear Lord, What message are You teaching me this day?

From a Wesleyan perspective, grace without truth is insufficient for sanctification. John Wesley believed in sanctification, or the process of becoming more like Christ. Grace without truth is insufficient for sanctification because it does not provide the moral and theological guidance necessary for a believer to grow in holiness.

Grace without truth is also contrary to the means of grace. Wesley outlined means of grace, which are practices that draw us closer to God and allow us to experience His grace more fully, such as prayer, Bible study, and communion. Grace without truth can be contrary to these means, as they all require an understanding and application of biblical truth.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for revealing your nature of grace and truth to us through Holy Scripture. Equip us dear God with the Sword of the Spirit and the complete Armor of God as we stand strong not in our strength but rather in Your mighty power and Your righteousness against all principalities and powers that do not submit to Your authority in heaven or earth. All honor and glory is Yours. Amen.

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A Quest For Peace

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

For most of us we want nothing more than peace. However, there are some that seem to thrive in drama and chaos, but I suspect that if they ever embraced the kind of peace that Jesus offers, they would likely have a different outlook on life. As I think about those that seem to be void of peace, I see one thing that they have in common – they want immediate satisfaction. But the more they pursue immediate satisfaction, the more that the peace of God alludes their relentless pursuit. I think Romans 8:6 provides the answer to this dilemma. “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” The life of a Christian is led by love of God, neighbor, and self. The life of a narcissist is led by love of self and immediate satisfaction of fleshly desires. Perhaps the Apostle Paul was warning Timothy, and us today, of such people when he wrote, “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people” (2 Timothy 3:2-5, emphasis added).

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John. 14:27). Note, this is just not any kind of peace but rather it is “His peace.” And His peace transcends all understanding and allows us to renew our minds.

You may be struggling with a major decision or dealing with a huge problem, and unable to calm your mind. As you lay in bed at night, your mind may be telling you that you can’t overcome this situation, this problem will never end, etc. It is important at these times to realize that these voices in your mind are seeking to rob you of peace and are not from God. Voices come from either God, flesh, society, or the enemy, and a voice that seeks to rob you of peace is clearly not from God.

You may wonder what does this “peace” actually look like? How do I actually get it? The peace that Jesus is offering in John 14:27 is a gift. Jesus said, “My peace I give to you (emphasis added). Every gift needs a giver and a receiver. We must step out in faith and receive His peace and hold it tightly as a highly treasured gift, which it is!

We all know that our words have power. This power is never greater when we use our words to rebuke thoughts that not from God. Just as Jesus demanded calm on the Sea of Galilee we can rebuke thoughts in His name that seeks to rob us of our peace by using the Spirit within us.

For most people gifts are transactional. I give you this because either you gave me something (and I feel obligated) or I am giving you this proactively because I want to receive something from you. Jesus said “… not as the world gives do I give to you.” We can never provide a return gift that is commensurate with His gift. So, our best response is to receive the gift and rejoice in the victory that comes with it.

As I think about His peace, I think about spiritual warfare because this is where peace is won or lost. The Apostle Paul understood this when he said, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians. 4:7, emphasis added). In Biblical times, to guard something typically involved a garrison of soldiers.

It is important for us to follow the teaching of 2 Chronicles 20:15 and understand that “…for the battle is not your’s, but God’s.” When we turn a problem over to God, His peace is an army of angels (garrison of soldiers) protecting our hearts and minds. Spiritual warfare is vastly different from traditional war. 2 Corinthians 10:3 reminds us, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.”

There is nothing more peaceful than a calm river in the early morning. The peace of God is the Fruit of obedience to Him. Scripture teaches us, “Oh, that you had paid attention to my commandments. Then you would have had peace like a river…” (Isaiah 48: 18). In Biblical times, rivers were vital to life. Jesus told us that when we receive the Holy Spirit, “out of our heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7: 37).

Peace is not easy. However, Jesus never promised us an easy life. What He did promise was, “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).” Step out in faith and receive the gift and cling tightly to it!

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the gift of peace. Help us to recognize Your voice and rebuke all others in Your name. Guide us as we seek the peace that you offer and forgive us for the times that we seek peace in ways that do not bring honor and glory 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.

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The Sniper

^“Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32 NIV).

I recently watched a documentary in which a sniper was sent to kill a foreign head of state. The sniper was wearing camouflage from head to toe and found a spot over a mile away from his target and laid and waited for the perfect opportunity. During this period, the sniper could not eat, drink, or move – only wait and watch. Then, the opportunity finally presented itself, and the sniper estimated the distance to the target and adjusted for wind, grain of the bullet, air pressure, altitude, temperature, angle to the target, and other factors, and squeezed the trigger to deliver the kill shot.

I think we all see snipers in our daily lives. The “bullet” are words, and the target is somebody that the sniper is unhappy with. The word may be true, partially true, or completely false, but that is not nearly as important as the goal because the ends justify the means. The means is to discredit the other person by firing off seeds of doubt. The fingerprints of the enemy are evident in the attack. Just as “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10) so too does the sniper.

In the documentary I watched, the sniper was well camouflaged to blend in with his surroundings, which reminded me of the warning from Matthew 7:15. “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” The modern sniper has much in common with the false prophet as both perceive they are more effective if they are able to influence as many people as possible.

The sniper uses his or her words to attempt to “kill” the target. Proverbs 18:21 teaches: “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Our words can either speak life, or our words can speak death. Our tongues can build others up, or they can tear them down. The sniper may be active in the church but is in fact spiritually bankrupt and is cut from the same cloth as the narcissist. The sniper intentionally choses to live in unrepentant sin and disobey 1 Peter 4:11. “If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very Words of God.”

The sniper is also a defiler. Matthew 15:11 warns us, “What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” To defile something is an act of great disrespect toward God and/or others. The sniper attempts to slander others but in reality only defiles themself and dishonors God.

Sometimes we are the target of the sniper, and our initial gut reaction is to seek revenge. However, if we are honest with ourselves, sometimes we are the sniper. When we are the sniper, we feel justified because the target has hurt us, so we feel the need to hurt them back. We feel the need to speak negatively about this person to try to hurt their reputation, job, and friendships.

The sniper will seek to “kill” the target by speaking words of death to anybody that is close to the target – friends, neighbors, clergy, etc. A character assassination often does little to hurt the character of the target but speaks volumes about the character of the sniper. A sniper is essentially showing all with eyes to see and ears to hear exactly what is in their heart. Consider the words of our Lord from Matthew 12:34. “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

A lie from a sniper does not become truth just because it is repeated like a fully automatic weapon with a large magazine. Most people that hear the accusatory words will dismiss the attack but if the goal is to sew endless seeds of doubt, then eventually one or two will eventually grow even in unfertile grounds. Others may choose to believe the sniper, and that is sad but their choice. However, if you are a follower of Jesus you know that nobody or no sniper can separate you from the love of God as found in Christ Jesus (Romans 8).

Most people that hear the accusatory words will dismiss the attack, but if the goal is to sew endless seeds of doubt, then eventually one or two will eventually grow even in unfertile grounds. So, some may choose to believe the sniper, and that is sad but their choice. However, if you are a follower of Jesus you know that nobody or no sniper can separate you from the love of God as found in Christ Jesus (Romans 8).

King David was attacked emotionally, verbally, and physically. As a young man, he was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king of Israel, but Saul was still king. Even though David served him loyally, Saul became jealous of David and decided to kill him. David had to hide from Saul in caves while lies were being told about him across the kingdom. Yet David never said a bad word against King Saul. He never retaliated. David was a sinner, but he was also a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

David modelled a proper response to attacks for us today by writing, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5). David trusted God to defend him. I can imagine that David wanted to rise up and do something about the attack, but he trusted God to be his defender. In short, David was living out two Bibles verses. First, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Secondly, “For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15).

The best response to a sniper is to stop and read the two Scriptures above and remind yourself that this person is acting out of some sort of unresolved anger and/or mental disease that has come into their heart, found fertile ground, and manifested in words. Then, pray that God will release them from this bondage, and they can find victory and freedom in His grace and peace. As you release your anger and disappointment, a peace will fall upon you and the victim that is truly set free is yourself. The sadness may linger for a period, but the sniper has actually brought you closer in relationship with the Father as you remember, “the LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Prayer: Dear God, Forgive us for the times that we are the sniper and speak words of death regarding others. Forgive us for the times that we become complicit when others speak words of death regarding a brother or sister in Christ. And, forgive us when we are the sniper and seek to deceive, divide, and destroy. We know that others will recognize us by our fruits so help us to show the fruits of your Spirit in our words and actions. Amen!

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The Sniper

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