It's Your Choice ... Choose Wisely (2 Peter 2:17-19)

Today’s scripture: 2 Peter 2:17-19

Peter used such descriptive language to describe those who choose not to follow God’s truth.

They are “springs without water …” They’re dry, useless, even harmful as others are drawn to their shores with the hope of quenching thirst—and there’s no water to be found.

They are “mists drive by a storm …” They themselves have no real influence, but the storm that drives them—sin—is powerful and enticing. They are shrouded in “black darkness.”

In their arrogance and vanity, they entice others, who are drawn in to the lure of flesh and sensuality. And this doesn’t just mean sexual sin. It means addictions to food or drugs or alcohol. It means being totally absorbed by media or television or the internet. Anything that pulls a person away from truth.

And then the sad part: Those who choose the attraction of sin think they’re free. They can do whatever they want whenever they want with whomever they want. But they’re really slaves. They’re tied and bound by whatever has entrapped them.

Because it’s very true: “… for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”

What “enslaves” you? Your flesh? Or the truth of God’s grace, mercy, and love. In history, slaves didn’t have a choice of who or what enslaved them. You do.

Choose wisely.

Dead People Walking (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Today's scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3

I have no desire to be who I was. Although I asked Jesus into my heart when I was six years old, I allowed circumstances to take me away from my child-like faith. I made very deliberate, very poor choices, and I became a “dead woman walking.”

I reveled in what the world offered—partying, drinking, dancing ‘til dawn. I indulged the lusts and desires of my flesh. It was all about me.

As I think about it now, I realize I’d changed my alliance. Instead of serving the God of the universe, I was serving the “prince of the power of the air.” Just writing those words just about breaks my heart. It’s one thing to say I chose not to follow God’s leading; it’s quite another to say I chose to follow His enemy.

Jesus was so very right when He said we can’t serve two masters. And if we’re not serving God, we’re serving Satan.

No matter whom we are now, at one time—before we chose to follow Christ—we followed Satan. The question is, how obvious is it that we are serving God? If someone were to look at us as we’re standing in a very long line at the grocery store, would they know we’re Christians? If they read our Facebook page, would they see Christ shine through us? If they heard us joke with our friends, would they hear the love of God?

Would the world still see us as “dead people walking”? Or would they see something different. Something appealing. Something like Christ.

Words to Live By (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Today's scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13

Paul is winding down his lengthy letter to the Corinthian. He has a few last greetings, which we’ll see in the next couple of days, but today, we’ll look at his last admonitions. Before we do so, I want to take a quick look at a couple of versions of this verse.

The New American Standard Bible, the version I’ve been using throughout this study on 1 Corinthians, says, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

The Message paraphrases, “Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping.”

And the Contemporary English Version interprets, “Keep alert. Be firm in your faith. Stay brave and strong.”

So let’s look at these last instructions from this letter:

Be on the alert. In another letter, Paul wrote, “Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack.” We are in a battle every day, and we need to stay awake, stay alert, be aware of the wiles and lies of the enemy.

Stand firm in faith. I did a quick search of the New American Standard Bible, and Paul uses the phrase “stand firm” 13 times. I particularly like how The Message puts it: we need to “… hold tight to [our] convictions.” We need to understand and stand on our faith in Jesus Christ.

Act like men, be strong. This doesn’t mean we should all be men. It means we need be strong and brave to withstand the attack of the enemy.

Let all that you do be done in love. This is the bottom line … we need to love each other. We need to go back to chapter 13 frequently. We need to be patient, kind, non-judgmental. We need to love as Christ loves. Unconditionally. Without fail.

No one ever said it was easy to be a Christian. But if we meditate on God’s word, and if we strive to live according to God’s commandments and admonitions in it, then we’ll become more and more the people God created us to be.

Thirsting for God (Psalm 42:1-3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 42:1-3

I have been a Christ-follower for a long time now ... and I love to talk with God and study His word. But I have to admit: I certainly don't "pant" or "thirst" for Him as I should ... or as I'd like.

I'm convicted.

We just celebrated Memorial Day on which we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. I "googled" the question: "How many have lost their lives for America's freedom," and a site came back with an astounding answer: over 1,346,000 ...

Think about it: over 1.3 million men and women have died so that I—and you—can freely worship as we choose. We can go to church without fear of arrest ... or even death. We can display our Bibles, wear our NOTW t-shirts, and ask God's blessings as we eat in public.

We are so very, very blessed. Other Christ-followers don't have anything like this. They worship in hiding. They risk everything to even own a Bible. They absolutely "pant" and "thirst" for God. You may have already seen this video, but this is such a pure example of thirsting for God.

I'm convicted.

Oh, that I would have a deep-in-the-soul hunger for God, to want to be with Him, to be saturated with His word.

Lord God, help me to pant after You, desiring an ever-deeper relationship with You. Let me hunger after You, needing You more than breath. Be my all-in-all. Be glorified. Amen.

Willing to Sacrifice (John 12:20-26)

Today's scripture: John 12:20-26

Jesus came to earth to bridge the gap between the Creator and the created. When Adam and Eve chose to follow their own willful path, a chasm was formed between them—and every other human—and God. The only way by which mankind could be reconciled with God was through the spilling of blood. For centuries, that blood came from a flawless lamb, sacrificed once a year for atonement for the people's sins.

God's ultimate plan for complete and total reconciliation, though, was through the death, burial, and resurrection of His own Son—part of the triune God.

In today's verses, Jesus spoke of His purpose. Just as in nature a seed must die in order for a plant to live and bear fruit, so Jesus would die to provide a once-for-all sacrifice for everyone who chooses to accept the gift of salvation.

But Jesus was speaking about more than His own death. He was also speaking about those who would follow Him. We too must be willing to "hate" our lives. I don't believe this means we're to abuse our bodies or denigrate ourselves. Rather, we're supposed to focus on the eternal, not the temporal. We need to be willing to give everything up—even ourselves—for God.

Jesus also made it clear that anyone who chooses to follow Him must serve Him. Again, this means we're to be willing to do whatever He calls us to do, whenever He calls us to do it.

Jesus provided the ultimate sacrifice for us—His very life. What are we willing to sacrifice for Him?

Called by Jesus (John 1:40-51)

Today's scriptures: John 1:40-51

In these verses, Jesus called the first four of the disciples. It appears that Andrew was first a disciple of John the Baptist, but when he saw Jesus, he knew He was the Messiah. Andrew immediately went to his brother, Simon Peter, and "brought him to Jesus."

I love the next "calling." Jesus "purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me.'" While Andrew found Jesus and brought Peter to Him, Jesus purposefully sought Philip and called him directly.

Then after Philip chose to follow Jesus, he too brought someone to his Messiah: Nathanael. And I love what Jesus says to him: "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!" Can you imagine how Nathanael must have felt when the Messiah Himself said such words? Nathanael knew Jesus was the "Son of God ... the King of Israel."

Oh, to have had the experience of Jesus' personal calling.

Guess what? We too have been personally called by Jesus. Each one of us has been wooed to be His follower. The Bible tells us that we have been called by name (Isaiah 43:1-2). We have been "called in righteousness" (Isaiah 42:6). Now these verses in Isaiah were written to the people of Israel, but I believe they apply to all of us. If there's any doubt, however, we Gentiles are also "called by [His] name" (Acts 15:17).

Each of us has been called to follow Christ. Each of us is His disciple. Each of us has a purpose: to glorify God and serve Him with all that we are.

Have you accepted Jesus' calling on your life? Have you surrendered your life to His purpose? I can guarantee that none of the first twelve (with the notable exception of Judas Iscariot) regretted following Jesus' call. And neither will you.

Confess Jesus as Lord (1 John 4:2-3)

Today's scripture: 1 John 4:2-3

When God inspired me to begin a speaking ministry eight years ago, I wrote my “statement of faith.” It’s crucial that anyone who asks me to speak understands my theological foundation:

* I believe in the triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
* I believe that the triune God created heavens and earth and all that’s in them; that God the Son—Jesus—died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin and rose three days later; and that God the Holy Spirit dwells within each one who accepts the free gift of salvation and eternal life.
* I believe that salvation comes only through the belief in and acceptance of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
* I believe that those who choose to follow Jesus will spend eternity with Him in heaven, and those who do not will spend eternal life separated from Him.
* I believe that God has uniquely gifted each of His children, and that we are to use those gifts to serve and glorify Him, serve each other, and ultimately grow His kingdom.

Having a ministry that shares God’s truth has made it easier to “confess that Jesus Christ has come.” People ask me what I do, and I tell them.

That’s what we’re called to do: confess Jesus as Lord. We can’t say we’re children of the one true God and not do so. To say we follow the God of the Bible, and in the next breath say Jesus isn’t the only way of salvation is, in truth, anti-Christ. We’ve talked about this before: If we’re not 100 percent for Jesus, we’re anti-Him. It just can’t be both ways.

Be for Jesus Christ. Confess Him as Lord. Tell others of the truth of His life, death, and resurrection. Share the good news of salvation boldly and joyfully.

Don’t be anti-Christ.

Born of God? Or Slave to Sin? (1 John 3:9)

Today's scripture: 1 John 3:9

Sometimes, old adages really illustrate a point well. Albeit very dark, "beating a dead horse" is one of them. Sometimes, it seems like overkill when John or Peter or Paul continues to reiterate a theme or a topic over and over. However, it's just as if they knew human nature. Hmmmm. And I believe they did. It's true: We can be very dense or resistant or downright hostile to truth.

And sometimes, the writers of the Bible knew they'd have to make their argument over and over in order for their readers to really "get it."

We've already read several times how we cannot serve God and still habitually sin. We cannot be Christ-followers and practice sin. One or the other will have dominance in our lives.

If we choose to truly follow Christ and seek the Father's will, then the Holy Spirit will convict us when we sin. If, however, we choose to practice sin, then our focus will be taken off of God and onto our sin. It might be gradual neglect or outright defiance.

You're either "born of God," with the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence, or you're a slave to sin.

So as I've written before, you must choose. Please choose wisely. Please allow God complete control of your life. It'll be the best decision you ever made.

Abide in Him (1 John 2:27)

Today's scripture: 1 John 2:27

When we accept the gift of salvation through the death and resurrection of God the Son, God the Holy Spirit indwells us. And He gives us wisdom to understand God’s word. He helps us to discern truth from lies. He convicts us when we sin.

But we can fight Him. Ignore Him. Still make our own decisions. Justify our sin.

I’ve certainly been guilty of all of the above. But the older I get, the closer I get to heaven, the more I want to allow the Spirit to work in me. The more I want to allow Jesus to shine through me. The more I want to allow the Father to work His will in and through me.

I want to abide in Him.

Can you honestly say you completely abide in God? That you believe in Him fully? That you want to live to honor and glorify Him and only Him?

Give it up. Give it all up to Him. Let God work through you. Let Him bless you as He sees fit.

Abide in Him.