Whom Will You Serve ... Eternally (Ps. 63:11)

But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.
(Psalm 63:11, NASB)

One day, the war will be won, and the enemy will be forever vanquished. Only God knows the time, but it will happen!

I can’t wait!

We’ll all—every single one of us, past, present, and future—bow down at the feet of our Lord God and worship Him (Phil. 2:9-11). But not all of us will experience the joy of worshiping and serving our Lord for all eternity. Some, because they’ve believed and spoken the lies of the enemy, because they’ve refused to follow the one true God, will spend eternity separated from Him (Matt. 7:20-22; 25:31-33).

As this year winds down, I believe that day is coming ever sooner. It could be today. It could be tomorrow. It could be years. But it will happen.

If Jesus returns soon, do you know where you’ll spend eternity? You will bow down at the feet of the Savior and worship Him. The Bible makes that very clear. But it’s your decision regarding where you’ll spend the remainder of eternity: with God or separated from Him.

If you haven’t made the decision to give your life to the God who loves you abundantly and offers you grace, then do so now. Start 2011 in a relationship with Jesus. Know Him … and know where you’ll spend eternity.

You're Not Alone (Ps. 63:9-10)

But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
(Psalm 63:9-10, NASB)

I believe God protects His children. I believe nothing happens to us that isn’t filtered through His love. That’s not to say bad things won’t happen to us, or we won’t go through times of crises. But even through the “shadow of the valley of death,” God never leaves us alone.

You may have lost a loved one or are struggling with ill health. You may have a wayward child. Or you’ve been abused—or worse.

You truly feel there are those who are trying to destroy you. And sometimes, you wonder where God is. Where is His protective hand?

I don’t know what particular battle you’re fighting right now. I don’t know what you’re struggling with in the deepest part of your soul. But I do know this—and I believe it with all my heart.

Your heavenly Father has not forgotten you. He has not deserted you. He has not left your side to fight your battles alone.

If you don’t feel His presence, He’s there. And even if you’ve turned from Him in your confusion or pain, He’s still there.

He’s fighting alongside you—and He will win the war.

The Lord, My Help (Ps. 63:6-8)

When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
(Psalm 63:6-8, NASB)

On Monday, I wrote that I desire to hunger after the Lord. I wrote that I should think of Him when I wake and just as I fall asleep.

Today’s verses speak to the very same thing. And I love that I’m given permission to lie in bed as I meditate on God and His word! In fact, I’m lying in bed as I write these words!

But why should I remember Him? Why should my thoughts be filled with Him?

Oh, for so many reasons, but right now, at this moment, I remember my Lord because He has been and will be my help. He gathers me under the shadow of His wing and protects me from the powers of this world. Just as a baby bird joyfully chirps under the safety of her mother’s wing, so I can joyfully sing praises to my Abba.

And as my own soul clings to my Lord, I can rest in the confidence that He’ll hold me through whatever today brings.

Praising God With Gratitude (Ps. 63:3-5)

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
(Psalm 63:3-5, NASB)

God loves you so very much. Do you really know this? He loves you so much He sent His Son—a part of Himself—to pay the penalty for your sins. He loves you so much He wants you with Him for eternity.

If you know this—really know this—what are you doing to thank Him? What are you doing to show your love for Him?

I love the psalms for their words of praise. I especially love the words of today’s psalms.

God’s love is better than life. His kindness to me, His grace and mercy, His protection and provision—they all remind me of His love for me.

I can’t begin to love Him as He loves me. But I can, in some small way, show Him how grateful I am for Him. I can give Him even a fraction of the love He has for me.

With my praises. I can determine to praise Him every day. I can bless His name and strive to glorify Him in my words, thoughts, and actions. I can sing songs of praise, lifting my hands to Him and my eyes to the heavens.

I can joyfully and gratefully praise Him for His mercy, His grace, and His abundant love.

Seek God Earnestly (Ps. 63:1-2)

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
(Psalm 63:1-2, NASB)

I can’t believe 2010 is almost over. This year truly has flown!

I’m finishing out this year with another of my favorite psalms, the 63rd.

Oh how I desire to seek after my God earnestly. I want to thirst after Him, yearn for Him. I want to see His power and glory in all places and at all times.

But sometimes I don’t. I don’t seek after Him. I don’t thirst for Him. I don’t yearn for Him.

I so often get caught up in my own day-to-day “stuff.” Housework. Ministry tasks. Home business to-do’s. Busy work. Necessary, yet, on the grand scheme of things, worthless.

I do so much that seems important now, yet when I look toward eternity, it doesn’t have much value. Not that I shouldn’t take care of what God’s loaned me on earth. It’s just that I need to focus on what’s really important.

My heart should always be God-focused. I should miss Him if I don’t spend time with Him every day. He should be my first thought upon waking and my last before falling asleep. His word should be daily soul-sustenance.

As we enter another year, I pray my heart will yearn even more for my God. And I pray the same for you.

Happy Boxing Day!

Citizens of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and some other commonwealths are celebrating Boxing Day today. For most, it’s a banking or public holiday. From my research, “its origins are found in a long-ago practice of giving cash or durable goods to those of the lower classes” (snopes.com). Wikipedia adds that gifts were also given to those who provided service.

What a lovely practice!

What if we do something similar? Give a little financially to those less fortunate than we are.

Or even better, give a little kindness to those who serve us. Today, say a heartfelt “thank you” to those who serve in your church. If you go out to lunch or dinner, recognize the hard work of your server. If you go to a store, give the clerk a sincere smile and let him know how you appreciate his help.

Let today be one of thankfulness and sincere giving in love. And let tomorrow—and all the days after—be the same.

A Love Letter for Christmas

Dear Jesus,

Words truly cannot express my gratitude for Your willingness to leave heaven and come to earth. You chose to …

Put on flesh.

Be born to a poor carpenter and a teenage bride.

Experience scraped knees and stomach aches.

Grow into awkward adolescence.

Sweat sawing and sanding wood.

Be tempted by the enemy—Your enemy.

Be ridiculed as You started Your ministry.

Be betrayed … arrested … denied … beaten … spat upon … scourged.

You chose to carry a cross.

You chose to die …

And You chose to forgive.

Words cannot truly express my gratitude. For Your love and grace and mercy.

But I do thank You.

Happy birthday, Jesus.

Love,
Your grateful child

Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NASB)

If Jesus’ being our Eternal Father is a comfort to me, this last attribute given our Savior brings me the most … well, peace. For He is, indeed, the Prince of Peace.

But for some of us, peace is the last thing we feel. Even as you’re celebrating our Savior’s birth, maybe you’re struggling with finances or your health, or maybe you’re struggling with a relationship.

I wrote a book a few years back based on Jeremiah 29:11-13, where God says His plans are for peace, not for evil. Regarding finding peace in spite of our circumstances, I wrote:

I promise you this: If you’re truly willing to give your life, your plans, your dreams to God, He will keep His promise. You will have peace. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but if you trust Him, you will have peace.

Don’t believe me? Will you believe God? There are quite a few references to peace in the Bible. Let me share one of my favorites. Read these words, hear them with your heart, and listen to what God has promised you:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 6, 7).

Do you know what this verse says to me? When I’m focusing on God, when I’m asking in His name, when I’m praying for His will, I can be assured of two things: I need not be anxious for anything, and I will have peace—a peace that surpasses anything I could experience without God in my life, a peace that surpasses anything that I could get from my earthly relationships, from my job, from my church, from my family . . . from anything else.

Isn’t that what you’re looking for? A peace that surpasses anything you’ve ever experienced? Ask Him. Ask Him now. Give your plans, your timelines, your dreams to Him. Trust Him to bring about that perfect will in your life. Then, and only then, will you have that peace. You will have that peace. I promise. More importantly, He promises.
[excerpted from The Best Laid Plans © Sauni Rinehart 2005]

If you’re seeking that heavenly peace we sing about this time of year, go to the Prince of Peace. He’ll cover you with a peace that truly surpasses our understanding.

Eternal Father (Is. 9:6)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NASB)

Of the four descriptions Isaiah uses of Jesus, this one is the most comforting to me. Jesus is our Eternal Father.

Frankly, it’s a mystery beyond our human understanding: The God we Christians worship is three-in-one. He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One God manifested in three persons.

And each shares the attributes of the others. I don’t fully understand, but I believe this to be true.

So even though we describe Jesus Christ as the Son of God, He is still, in fact, God the Son. And just as God the Father is eternal, so is Jesus the Eternal Father.

He is eternal—or what the New King James Version calls Everlasting. Jesus Christ has always been and will always be. He existed before time as we know it began, and He will exist when time as we know it ends.

He is our Father. He loves us with an unconditional love. There is nothing we can do or say or think that keeps Him from loving us. And He loves us whether we choose to love Him or not.

And if we choose to love Him, if we choose to believe in Him as our Savior and accept His gift of eternal life, He invites us to be in relationship with Him.

A relationship for now and for all eternity.

Mighty God (Is. 9:6)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NASB)

Do you feel weak? Out of control?

Do you feel powerless as you hear of friends with cancer, read of starving children, watch news reports of terrorist alerts?

Do you look at this world and wonder who’s winning the battle?

I hate to be the bearer of even more bad news, but you are weak. You are out of control. You are powerless. And sometimes the enemy does win some battles.

But the good news? Or should I say the great news? Our Lord Jesus is our Mighty God. And we know that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

He is indeed mighty, powerful, omnipotent. Just resonate with some of these assurances of our Savior’s might:

“Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle” (Psalm 24:8).

“For who in the skies is comparable to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the LORD”? (Psalm 89:6).

“More than the sounds of many waters, Than the mighty breakers of the sea, The LORD on high is mighty” (Psalm 93:4).

"How great are His signs And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom And His dominion is from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:3).

If you’re struggling, feeling as if the weight of the world is on your shoulders, remember your Mighty God. Your Savior will help you carry your burden (Matt. 11:30). His shoulders are more than strong enough.

Wonderful Counselor (Is. 9:6)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6, NASB)

In these few days leading to the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, I’m going to focus on four attributes of our Savior as described by the prophet Isaiah.

Today, we read about our Wonderful Counselor.

If you read the King James or New King James versions, the words “Wonderful” and “Counselor” are separated by a comma as if they’re two separate attributes of our Savior. But, while He is certainly wonderful, I believe the New International and New American Standard translations are more accurate: Our Lord Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor.

But I wonder. Of all the attributes of our Savior Isaiah could have chosen, why begin with this one?

I can’t say for sure, but I wonder if it’s because we have a need to know that our Lord and Savior truly understands. Even though He is fully God, which we’ll talk about tomorrow, when He came to earth, He was fully human. And in being so, He experienced the same pain and temptation and weariness we do.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NASB).

He can provide counsel, comfort, and peace to us.

I don’t know about you, but this attribute gives me great joy—and lifts my burdens. For I can kneel at the feet of my Lord Jesus and share whatever is on my heart and mind. And my Wonderful Counselor will listen and, through the Word of the Father, will sooth my soul.

Join me tomorrow as we look at the next of Jesus’ attributes: Mighty God.

Be On Guard (1 Tim. 6:20-21)

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"—which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.
(1 Timothy 6:20-21, NASB)

We must be on alert at all times. The enemy of our souls “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NASB). He’s out there just waiting to win a battle or two, and one of his tactics is to entice believers with “worldly and empty chatter.” While he is not omniscient or all-powerful or omnipresent, he does have a legion of demons just ready to do his bidding. And if he can use the lusts of the flesh against us, he will.

And he’s even infiltrated the church. People stand at pulpits each Sunday spouting false knowledge. Jesus wasn’t without sin. There are many ways to God. Pick and choose what you want from the Bible because, after all, it’s really not God’s inerrant word.

Indeed, many have “gone astray from the faith.”

The only way to combat the lies of the enemy is to be on guard. We must daily put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17). We must stand on the firm foundation of God’s inspired, inerrant word.

Are you armed and ready? Is your guard up? Or are you vulnerable to the arrows the enemy is firing your way?

Oh my friend, be prepared. For the battle will only grow more intense as we draw nearer to the end of the war—and we know who the Victor of that will be!

Riches and Generosity (1 Tim. 6:17-19)

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
(1 Timothy 6:17-19, NASB)

A few days ago, we read Paul’s warning that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Today’s verses are a reminder that riches themselves aren’t evil. It’s what we do with them that can be.

If you have monetary wealth, you are blessed—as long as you keep your focus on the Supplier of your wealth. Any riches you have aren’t yours. I know you may like to think otherwise, but everything you have, including your money, is on loan to you from God. He wants you to enjoy what He’s given you, but He also expects you to bless others as you have been blessed.

I read somewhere (where and when I can’t remember) that if Christians in the United States who are in the top ten percent of earners would really tithe to ministry-minded churches, we could wipe out poverty in the U.S. And if they gave twenty percent, it would take care of the world.

I mean, really. How much do you really need? And where is your money going?

Remember, you can’t take it with you, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to stand in front of God one day and show Him my financial portfolio. And I’m positive He wouldn’t care anyway. What I want is to be able to talk about the missionaries my tithing supported or the children who were raised in the Sunday school program that my church invested in.

Certainly, enjoy whatever riches you’ve been blessed with. But make certain you’re pleasing the Father by doing as Paul instructed: “do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.”

Be Encouraged (1 Tim. 6:13-16)

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
(1 Timothy 6:13-16, NASB)

I am so encouraged by today’s verses! Yes, there is exhortation: Timothy is charged to keep the commandment to be Christ-like. But look at the hope in Paul’s words.

Our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, will return! Only the Father knows the “proper time,” but the Son will return one day!

Jesus, our Overcomer (John 16:33), our Victor, our Redeemer, will return! And as I watch this world continue its downward spiral, I can’t help but think it’s going to be soon—or so I pray.

And so, with this confidence, I can join Paul in his words of praise.

Our Lord Jesus is the “blessed and only Sovereign.”

He is the “King of kings and Lord of lords.”

He is immortal, omnipresent, omniscient, all-loving.

He is “light and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

Oh, I hope these words encourage you as they’ve encouraged me. As we keep His commandments while on earth, we can do so with the confidence that we’ll be spending eternity with our Lord and Savior, with our Abba Father.

And with Paul, I give Him praise and honor. Won’t you join us?

Fight the Good Fight (1 Tim. 6:12)

Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
(1 Timothy 6:12, NASB)

It’s not by chance that Paul used the term “fight” when he wrote of the faith journey. We indeed fight a daily spiritual battle, but not against the government or our neighbor—or our spouse. No, as Paul wrote to the Ephesians:

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (6:12, NKJV).

We fight, battle, and wrestle each day to grow in faith, to be Christ-like, to reach the lost. And our reward for that fight? Eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s not easy, but then again, we were never promised it would be. The enemy of our hearts would like nothing more than to win a few battles now and again. And sometimes he does. As this world winds down, it seems he’s winning more and more.

Oh, but sincere, true followers of Christ know Who wins the war! Jesus assures us:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33, NKJV).

Yes, we’re in a daily battle, but we’re not in it alone. And one day, we’ll stand triumphantly with the Victor!

Two Exhortations (1 Tim. 6:11)

But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.
(1 Timothy 6:11, NASB)

Paul began to wrap up his first letter to Timothy with two exhortations.

The first is a plea: “… flee from these things …” Yesterday, we talked about pursuing riches and the love of money, and these are what Timothy is to flee from—and we need to flee from them as well.

Instead, Paul exhorted Timothy—and us—to “pursue” some specific things (Webster Dictionary definitions):

Righteousness: being in “accord with divine or moral law and free from guilt or sin”

Godliness: being “pious” and “devout”

Faith: “belief and trust in and loyalty to God”

Love: “unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another”

Perseverance: “continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition”

Gentleness: being “honorable” and “kind”

Oh, my … Paul’s not asking for much, is he? (Too bad you can’t hear the sarcasm in my writing!) Seriously, don’t you read lists like this and think, “How in the world can I even begin to be righteous or godly or gentle?” You wonder, “I have faith, but sometimes it’s hard to persevere.”

Well, you’re right. You won’t be able to fully flee the love of money and pursue the items on that list on your own. The good news? You’re not on your own!

The Holy Spirit is in with you—within you. If you seek His strength and guidance, He’ll help you to pursue those things that will make you more and more like Christ and let Him shine through you.

Love of Money (1 Tim. 6:9-10)

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
(1 Timothy 6:9-10, NASB)

First, let me say that I don’t think the Bible is against the rich. If God has blessed someone with wealth, and that person is generous to those in need and holds his riches loosely, I believe God is pleased.

However, our “more is better” society can truly “snare” people. In order to amass greater wealth, we’ve turned into workaholics, sometimes neglecting our marriages or our children. We live and breathe by the stock market. Our financial statements dictate whether we’re happy or miserable.

We begin to read the Wall Street Journal more often than we do our Bible.

I have to admit, I’ve fallen into the “snare” myself. Eight years ago, my husband and I got caught up with the “McMansion” hype, and sold our perfectly adequate 1200 square foot home for a totally unnecessary 3071 square foot home. Now I will say it served us well when we brought my mother-in-law in to heal after a couple of falls and a couple of surgeries. And we’ve watched God bless others as they’ve been able to stay here.

But now, we realize that bigger isn’t really better. After the blessing of my being laid off in February, we’ve begun to do without. We’re trying to simplify, and it’s been time-consuming and somewhat difficult as we sort through all the “stuff.” We’re beginning to see how much we have that’s unnecessary, and we’re even talking about down-sizing. We’ve learned that money can indeed be a trap, and we’re fighting our way out of that trap.

So ask yourself. Have you gotten caught up in the “more is better” mentality? Have you become consumed with having “stuff”? A bigger house? A nicer car? A fatter portfolio?

Confess to the Lord your preoccupation with the “mighty dollar,” and ask Him what you can do to make Him the priority of your life.

Basic Contentment (1 Tim. 6:7-8)

For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
(1 Timothy 6:7-8, NASB)

This is so very true … When we leave this world, we leave everything behind. When my husband and I were getting my mother-in-law’s house ready for sale after her death, we found some treasures, but mostly, we found a lot of clutter. Much of it was thrown into a dumpster.

That may sound heartless, but really, think about your own home? Is there anything of lasting value? Now there may be a few items of sentimental value for those you leave behind, but for you … will any of it matter?

Not at all.

What we have on earth is temporary. We might find temporary pleasure in our “stuff,” but none of it matters in eternity.

So, we must hold all our earthly possessions loosely. We can be thankful for anything God blesses us with, but we can also be content with next to nothing at all.

That’s true contentment. If you can sincerely be thankful for having your basic needs met—which God promises to do—then the rest is icing.

In fact, try this: Walk through your home and start “purging” it of those unnecessary things. Start decluttering and simplifying your home … and your life. Learn to live more simply. Then not only will you learn to be content with less, you’ll also leave less for your heirs to sort through!

This is a challenge for you—and for me, as well.

Finding Contentment (1 Tim. 6:6)

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
(1 Timothy 6:6, NASB)

Oh … contentment. Such a difficult concept for many of us, especially we who live in the United States. Our society is saturated with “bigger is better” and “supersize me” (although I understand if you saw the movie with the latter’s name, you’d never think the former, at least when it comes to food!).

We have a perfectly serviceable car, and then our neighbor gets a brand-new, bright, and shiny auto. And we want one too.

Our home is lovely and more than adequate … but then we visit a friend’s new house. It’s bigger. It has granite countertops and hardwood floors. And suddenly, our little home just doesn’t seem … enough.

And sadly, the spouse we’ve been married to for ten years one day does something that irritates us—again—and that new coworker, who treats us with respect, looks suddenly much more interesting.

Contentment—being satisfied with what we have—can be really hard to grasp.

I struggled with it for years. Even after I recommitted my life to the Lord over 17 years ago, I still couldn’t seem to be truly content. And I’d often make myself miserable.

Then, finally, a few years ago, I surrendered everything to God. I was really struggling with my health, and it shadowed everything else in my life. And so nothing seemed to bring me any joy. And when I finally said, “Take it all, Lord. Take my job, my home, my relationships, my stuff. It’s all Yours anyway.”

Ah, that's the key ... it's all God's anyway!

Now, I do sometimes wish for something else … but I find, I actually wish for less, not more. I want to simplify, declutter, value what’s really important. And even when things aren’t exactly what I’d hoped for, I can honestly say I’m usually content.

And in being so, I find joy, even in the difficult times. I still live with daily pain, and some days it’s really hard to find that contentment. But when I surrender again, God gives me peace … and contentment.

Loving Our Opposers (1 Tim. 6:3-5)

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
(1 Timothy 6:3-5, NASB)

Wow. Paul didn’t pull any punches, did he? Look at some of the words he used to describe those who “advocate a different doctrine.”

They are envious, cause strife, use abusive language … have depraved minds. They cause “constant friction” with those who they think use “godliness [as] a means of gain.”

When you read these words, can you think of anyone who is an illustration of this kind of person? I think of the “new atheist” movement, and how they actually renounce God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They accuse Christ-followers of being manipulative of others, brainwashing them to our way of thinking.

I once watched a debate between two of these “new atheists” and two evangelicals, and it just about broke my heart. In all honesty, neither side won. But the anger that spewed from the atheists was heartbreaking. I can only imagine how lost they must feel. It’s one thing to say, “I don’t know if there’s a God or not, but I really don’t feel it’s relevant to me.” It’s quite another to say, “There absolutely is no God. But if there is, and He’s the God you describe, then I’d rather be in hell then spend eternity with Him.” The pain that causes words like that … I can’t imagine.

Instead of condemning those who “advocate different doctrines” or who debate “controversial” topics, what if we showed them love and grace? What if we treated them with compassion? What if we quietly and gently were Christ to them?

Maybe—just maybe—we could influence even those farthest from God to see His truth.

It’s worth a try.