“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” —ISAIAH 55:8

There will be many times our thinking and our ways will be all together different from God’s thinking and ways. We will save ourselves a lot of trouble if we believe that, because we often try to measure what is going on from our own level of understanding, and inevitably become disappointed at some stage. That sometimes results in disappointment with God, but it is actually a disappointment of perspective. 

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Some translations say, “He will direct your paths.” God directs our paths if we fulfill the condition of acknowledging Him in all our ways. That is, we recognize that God is God, and are living in a spirit of humble submission to Him. And as we do, God says, “Do not lean on your own understanding.”

Isaiah 55:9 speaks of the contrast between our ways and thoughts and God’s ways and thoughts. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” How much higher are the heavens than the earth? The Milky Way, which planet Earth is in, is 100,000 light years away. The galaxy, Andromeda, which can barely be seen, is 2.2 million light years away, and the known universe is at least 156 billion light years across. In other words, there is an immeasurable difference between God’s ways and our ways.

We must, of course, use our minds and our understanding in discerning God’s individual will for us, but don’t lean on it for the simple reason it is fallible. The alternative is: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”, even though we may not know what God is doing. His wisdom is much greater than ours, and He has the right to operate in our lives without explaining Himself. 

Experiencing the personal will of God must involve three things; trusting the ways of God, which are higher than ours; seeking the wisdom of God, which is greater than ours, and relying on the Word of God, which is true. The Word of God and the will of God don’t serve one another, but are indistinguishable. That is why we must be people of the Bible, and as we live within the revelation God has given us in His Word, then the particular will of God, unique to each of us, will find its way.

Dear Father, keep me in a spirit of humble submission to You, and thank You for directing my paths.

How has God’s revelation in His Word been reflected in His personal will for me?

“Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.” —GENESIS 12:10

Many Christians will testify to the fact they have been caught up in a situation that has caused them to panic. From a practical, realistic standpoint, there seemed no way out, and devastating loss was pending. What is the answer to situations like this? How do we get through them? 

There is a fine line between faith and fear. This is clearly evident in Abraham’s life when he had sidelined God, and took it upon himself to resolve his threatening situation. Abraham was on a divine mission, orchestrated by God in which he was led to the land of Canaan. When he first arrived, he built an altar to the Lord at Shechem, and then between Bethel and Ai, he pitched his tent and built another altar to the Lord. In so doing, he was acknowledging that this was God’s business and it was God who had brought him there. 

But when a severe famine suddenly hit Canaan, Abraham panicked. He turned from acting in dependence upon God to acting in independence of God, and in the process, made the transition from a man of faith to a man of fear. The fine line between faith and fear lies between keeping our eyes on God, regardless of what is happening, or trying to figure out a solution ourselves. In doing the latter, our faith turns to fear.

Abraham made the mistake of looking at God through the famine instead of looking at the famine through God. What we look through becomes our reference point and determines the direction we take. If Abraham had looked at the famine through God, God would have been his reference point, which would have fed his faith. But he looked at God through the famine, and the famine was his reference point, which fed his fear. So Abraham bolted to what he thought would be a safe refuge in Egypt. Once we yield to fear, we rely on our own resources, which usually opens the door to selfishness, disobedience, manipulation and deceit. Abraham abandoned God’s mission, and while in Egypt, gained more wealth through deceitful means, allowing Pharaoh to believe his wife was his sister. 

Regardless of what famine we face, whether it’s food, shelter, love, finances, work or any other area of lack, if we remain rooted in God, our security remains intact. Our circumstances vary, of course, but God is utterly consistent and a secure reference point in our turmoil. Whatever befalls us, let us keep our focus on God.

Dear Father, grant me a fearless faith, one that is always trusting and dependent upon You, regardless of situations that threaten me. Thank You, Lord.

Has fear overridden my faith in choices I’ve made? If so, what has been the outcome?

“What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” —ECCLESIASTES 1:3

Most of us spend a minimum of 40 hours a week at our jobs, and sadly, there are many people who would relate to the words of Solomon regarding work. “So I hated life because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me” (Ecclesiastes 2:17). ‘Under the sun’ reflects a life lived purely from a humanistic perspective; what we can see, smell, hear, taste and touch. Solomon presents a very frustrating and disparaging view of work. Many endure the same monotonous routine of getting up, going to work, coming home, going to bed, getting up, going to work. “Meaningless!” says Solomon. “A chasing after the wind.”

What is missing here? Why does work zap the life and energy out of many people? Solomon gives varying reasons. Work is endless and leads to nothing. It’s like a hamster on a wheel, running fast and going nowhere. The more we work, the more we accumulate, which only gives us more to worry about. We can compete with others, but all that does is feed our egos. Everything we work for is only going to be left to someone who hasn’t worked for it and may squander it all. Solomon reflects a sense of futility, fatigue and failure about work when he says, “A fool’s work wearies him; he does not know his way to town” (Ecclesiastes 10:15). 

The one thing missing in Solomon’s outlook is hope, because everything we might begin to hope for comes to an end. Jesus speaks right into this situation when he says, “Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27). This involves a total re-orientation of how we perceive our work. Whether we are bus-drivers, factory workers, accountants or teachers, we are serving as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, and that means bringing the agenda of heaven into our workplaces. It’s about allowing God’s light to shine through us in our actions and attitudes. 

Paul tells us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24). As Christians, we have a higher master and a higher goal. To see our work from God’s perspective, we also have a divine agenda. That makes every day new and exciting, placed right where we are with limitless possibilities in which God will use us. Far from being meaningless, a divine agenda brings purpose, significance and motivation in doing our work and doing it well. 

Thank you Lord Jesus, that we do have a divine agenda in our workplaces, which bring meaning and purpose that last beyond the years of this life.

Do I bring the Spirit of Jesus into my workplace?

“These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here….” —ACTS 17:6

By whatever criteria we measure effectiveness in ministry, there is no question Paul was effective! People were converted to Christ in huge numbers, and despite constant opposition, churches were established throughout the Mediterranean world. To Paul’s opponents what was a negative notion of ‘trouble’ was to him a positive expression of ‘triumph’. He was turning the world upside down with the Gospel, demolishing the status quo, and bringing about a new era of life and liberation in Jesus Christ.

The effectiveness of Paul’s evangelism was not just a consequence of divine calling, but also of careful planning. An important principle he applied to his listeners was to teach what is unknown by means of what is known. If our attempts to communicate something new begin with the unfamiliar, we will almost certainly confuse our listeners and leave them disinterested. But if we start with what is already familiar and carefully build a bridge to the unfamiliar, we are likely to gain interest and understanding.

Paul looked for a common platform on which he could build a bridge that would take his listeners from their familiar territory to the unfamiliar truths of the Gospel. This meant he worked at becoming acquainted with the world of those he was speaking to. If we’re going to be fruitful in reaching people for Christ, we need to be familiar not only with the Bible, but cultural values, expectations and, if possible, personal circumstances of our listeners. We always should consider at what point they are at in their lives, and connect in a way they can relate to. 

In the one recorded Scripture of Paul preaching in a synagogue, he connects with his Jewish hearers by addressing them as ‘children of Abraham’, and begins to talk about the dramatic deliverance from Egypt under Moses, all very familiar territory to them. To a group of women in Philippi, worshipping a God they didn’t know, Paul joins them and introduces a positive message about a God they could know. To the pagans of Lystra, he finds common ground in creation, and how a living God sustains it all, putting food on their tables and joy in their hearts. To Greek philosophers in Athens, he refers to futile attempts of men to express God in terms of gold, silver and stone, and tactfully leads them to a God who gives life and breath.

When reaching people for Christ, our starting point should be in the thinking, culture and presuppositions of our hearers, so that we first get onto their territory. Then, like Paul, tactfully build that bridge that will lead them to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, help me to be sensitive to the position of others and present the message of the Gospel in a way they can relate to. Thank You, Lord.

In my witness for Christ, am I looking for common ground in which I can build a bridge to the Gospel?

“…fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.” —1 TIMOTHY 1:18-19

Much of our concern about sin is that it complicates our lives, often in very troublesome ways. We want to be forgiven and have our consciences clear, but in perpetuating our sin, we adopt this notion of the grace and love of God being unconditional. The idea, of course, is that it is better not to sin, but if we do, don’t panic, just come and get forgiven. In effect, what we are saying is that we can do anything we want as long as we come to the cross of Christ, say we’re sorry, and have our consciences cleared again. In reality, what we are doing is distorting the love and grace of God into something cheap and dangerous in our lives.

There is an old saying, “It’s easier to get forgiveness than to get permission!” Sometimes we bring that attitude to God and often overlook the fact that our sin is against God. The idea that God’s love and grace is totally unconditional is untrue of Scripture. What is true is that there is forgiveness, but there is forgiveness when there is genuine repentance. Repentance literally means a change of mind. It is a pre-emptive attitude against sin, which we have already decided upon. It isn’t something we feel, but something we think. 

One of the most important things we must do is maintain a pure conscience. Scripture tells us we can violate and even destroy our consciences. When we do something we know is wrong the first time, our consciences will scream at us; the second time, the scream won’t be as loud; the third time, a bus hasn’t run us over yet, and the fourth or fifth time, we begin to think maybe God doesn’t mind after all. Paul adamantly refutes this. He writes, “What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin. How can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2) 

The cross of Christ is the means by which we are able to live clean and godly lives, not just in His death for us, but in our union with Him in His death. When we are genuinely repentant, we can say with Paul, “I am crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Being sinless is not an option, of course, but what is wonderfully true is that our sin died with Christ, and we are given new life in which we can claim, “Christ is now my strength, my life, and the power in which I live!”

Dear Lord, thank you for giving us your Son and through Him providing the only means by which we are forgiven.

Have I become too lenient in my attitude towards sin?

“On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them….” —ACTS 14:27

In the days of the book of Acts, churches are being planted and rapidly expanding throughout the Mediterranean world. The overwhelming fact the book of Acts teaches us is that evangelism is the work of God. In working with God, we are the means He uses, but in working for God, we simply do our best in orchestrating our own plans. To depend on the measure of our own techniques and ingenuity will be the measure of our powerlessness. We may be able to persuade a few into a Christian position, but we will never make true converts or disciples of them.

Neither should we be inclined to think one size fits all; just anyone, anywhere, anytime, because that isn’t the case. If there is no spark that is responsive the timing is wrong. Many people are searching, but in the wrong places, and we can be quick to criticize them for that, rather than seeing the heart that is searching. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” This is because God is also seeking, and He puts within our hearts that appetite to seek Him and know Him. In working with God, we learn to recognize His voice and be keen observers of the opportunities He opens to us to witness for Him. He knows which hearts are ready, and it is His Spirit who draws them.

We live in a complex, pressure-filled world, so the problem for many of us is that we miss opportunities because of hardships we are facing ourselves. We tend to be upset and so engrossed in our own situations that we are no longer on the lookout for God-given opportunities. In Philippi, Paul and Silas had been arrested, severely flogged, cast into prison and put in stocks, yet were praising God. They saw their painful situation as another opportunity to advance the Gospel, which it did. God is not outwitted by any circumstance, and in troubling situations, we very well might be in the right place at the right time for God’s purpose. 

Salvation is always a work of God. As Christians, we need to make ourselves available to Him at all times, even in hardship, and in prayerful dependence upon Him we’ll begin to see things happen. Sometimes we’ll sow the seed, sometimes water it, and other times we’ll reap a harvest. Regardless of our problems, however severe they are, like Paul, we’ll be able to report all that God has done, and that’s a true disciple!

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to be so in tune with You and your agenda that I will recognize your voice and act at your calling. Thank You, Lord.

Am I working together with God even in my hardships? 

"The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.” —GENESIS 39:2

For the better part of Joseph’s early life, he endured hatred, abuse and violence. His father favoured him, but his ten older brothers thought he was arrogant, and were filled with jealousy and rage. With the intent to kill him, they threw him down a well, but instead sold him as a slave to Ishmaelite traders. He was auctioned off in Egypt and bought by a high official named Potiphar. Potiphar trusted Joseph and gave him complete command of his affairs, but Potipher’s wife continually made sexual advances, which Joseph refused. Having been rejected yet again, she falsely accused him of trying to rape her, and Joseph spent prime years of his life imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. 

How did Joseph not only survive through these tribulations, but earn the respect of Potiphar and others, including officers and inmates where he was imprisoned? Five times it says in Genesis 39 that in both his master’s house and later in prison, “The Lord was with him.” That does not mean in a general sense God was with him, but in the very particular sense that when you saw Joseph, met and interacted with him, you became aware that God was here; God was with this man. Joseph’s identity was completely secure in God and that was manifested in his character, his wisdom and his godliness.

When our circumstances are good, it becomes quite easy to draw our security from that. In fact, our health, family, work, finances and friendships could all be going extremely well, but what happens if just one of them falls apart? What happens if there’s a sudden illness, a job loss, marital breakdown or unexpected tragedy? Just one thing falling apart will usually have a snowball effect. What is the state of our security then?

We know Joseph was living in a situation he did not choose, but in times of trials and hardships, he knew God was with him. His security and identity was not in his work, but in the Lord. Entirely dependent and trusting of God, Joseph rose from a prison dungeon to become Prime Minister of Egypt, and for the rest of his life was held in high regard throughout the land. 

Many of us find ourselves in situations we certainly do not like and did not choose, but like Joseph, we need to live in an active, intimate relationship with God. When we are with God, He is with us, and particularly in the hardships, we have that deep inner peace, knowing our security lies in God alone and He knows what He is doing. 

Dear God, help me to be secure in You, so that regardless of circumstances, You are all I need. Thank You, Lord.

Where does my security lie?

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…” —1 THESSALONIANS 4:3

Part of God’s general will for all people is that we be sanctified. What exactly does that mean and how do we apply being sanctified to our lives?

Being sanctified is not directly about conduct, doing, but about character, being. The quality and nature of our conduct grows out of the quality of our character. The word ‘sanctification’ involves a simple idea, which is to set something apart for the purpose it was created. For example, to sanctify a pen is to write with it. That is the purpose for which it was made, but if we use it to stir our coffee, the pen is not being sanctified. To sanctify a car is to drive it, but if we keep chickens in it, the car is not being sanctified. When Paul states that the will of God is our sanctification, it is that we find the purpose for which we were created and live accordingly. 

The connotation of holiness in our contemporary usage is to be ‘squeaky clean’. Cleanliness is an aspect and consequence of true holiness, but the word ‘holy’ means literally to be ‘set apart’. When ascribed to God, holiness is in acknowledgement of His uniqueness. He is wholly different and set apart from the creation of which He is the Creator. In itself, the designation ‘holy’ says nothing specific about God’s character, but in the New Testament, when ascribed to human beings, it is to those who have been set apart to Christ for ‘the sanctifying work of the Spirit’ (2 Thessalonians 2:13). The sanctifying work of the Spirit makes possible that for which we were created in the first place - to be a physical and visible expression of the moral character of God.

The ultimate description of God’s moral character is found in 1 John 4:8, which states “God is love.” Not only is God loving, He is love. It isn’t one of His attributes like His omniscience (all knowing), omnipotence (all powerful), but is the very core and nature of His being. Having been created in His image, we should expect love to be an ultimate expression of His purpose for us, both in terms of our love for God and for one another. As there is no higher expression of God’s image in human experience than love, we can conclude that love is the highest expression of our sanctification. Everything else that is the will of God for us grows out of love, because love is the practical expression of the image and righteousness of God, which is the measure of our sanctification.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your work in sanctifying me for my purpose on earth. Help me to grow in your love, for which I was created.

Am I being sanctified by God’s love expressed in my interactions with others?

“I pray that out of His glorious riches, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being...” —EPHESIANS 3:16

The book of Ephesians deals with the biggest need that we have in the spiritual realm and it is this: there are demands made upon us, obligations and responsibilities given to us for which many of us feel we simply do not have adequate resources. As a result, we often find ourselves living in a state of tension, especially in difficult situations. 

If we imagine a set of weighing scales designed to balance things, and we put on one side ‘responsibilities’ and on the other side ‘resources’, we will find that in the book of Ephesians they balance. Now, we say, “surely the resources are much bigger,” and they are, but God ministers to us what we need, when we need it… the balance. 

If we look at living the Christian life by the imposition of demands made upon us in Scripture, we will become frustrated and discouraged, because we will soon discover we are unable to do it. The marvelous thing is that the resource we have for these demands is the presence of Christ within us, and His indwelling presence is what creates the very appetite for wanting to meet those demands. We develop a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and in Christ we are equal to it. 

Sometimes God may take us to the end of our own resources in order for us to discover our utter need for dependence on Him. A good example of this is the Israelites wandering the wilderness for 40 years in what should have been an 11 day journey. But every morning God fed them with fresh manna. It was just enough to nourish them for that day, no more, no less. God did not say, “Here’s a big pile of manna; whenever you feel like it, just help yourself.” No, “the manna is sufficient for today.”

When walking through the burnt out city of Jerusalem after the Babylonian invasion, Jeremiah writes, “I remember my affliction and my wandering… my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:19-23). That is being aware of our own inadequacies (my soul is downcast), yet strengthened in our inner being, (for His compassions never fail), and being confident in God’s provision. We are not to stockpile our blessings, but come to Jesus fresh every day for the appropriation and experience of what He already is in us… the balance for what we need this day.

Dear God, thank you for providing me with sufficient resources. Help me to live every day dependent on your daily provision.

Do I understand God’s ideas for what I need are often different from what I think I need? 

“…I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia…” —GALATIANS 1:16-17

Soon after the Apostle Paul’s conversion in Damascus, before he revisited Jerusalem and long before his first missionary journey, he went for a period of time to Arabia, possibly for as long as three years. The book of Acts does not record his time in Arabia. We know it only from Paul’s personal account he gave to the Galatians. He left for Arabia seemingly to come to terms with the radical transformation his life had taken on the Damascus Road, to have uninterrupted times of solitude in the Arabian wilderness, and above all, to meet with the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

We live in a totally different world from Paul, yet God’s moulding of him into a man of such remarkable influence holds lessons for us now. We do not know the details of Paul’s time in Arabia, but we do know that at its core lies an appointment with the risen Christ. Paul’s visit to Arabia is directly related to his claim to the Galatians that his Gospel is not second hand, for “I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12). Paul’s encounter with Jesus remains unique to him, but the principle of time alone with God is absolutely paramount for anyone who means business with God.

It is true we have no fresh revelation to receive from God and no original message to give, but there must be fresh personal encounters with God. Our message can be passed from one person to another, but our personal experience of God can never be received from someone; it always has to be firsthand. 

Paul had an overriding ambition that influenced every part of his life. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). Where did he obtain that? Not sitting in a pew and certainly not at the feet of his renowned teacher, Gamaliel. There is no substitute for the teaching of Jesus Himself and this knowledge is discovered only in personal encounters with Him. 

There are certain things we can encourage the pursuit of, but can never teach. We learn very little at the stage when it’s only notations on paper or propositional statements we have heard. This is necessary and should inspire people to want to meet with God, but it cannot replace individual encounter and personal relationship that is central to the Christian life. Time alone with God is absolutely essential if we are going to experience all that He will do in our lives and through our lives.

Dear God, I pray for more personal experience of You, and that our relationship deepen and strengthen in time I spend alone with You. Thank You, Lord. 

Am I spending enough time alone with God?

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” —JOHN 11:25-26

Most of the world’s religions are based on philosophical propositions. That is, if you want life to make sense and to work well for you, you need to know certain things and live in the good of those things. 

Four of the world’s major religions are personality based. Judaism regards Abraham as its father, and Abraham lived, died and was buried. Buddhism was founded in the 5th century B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the ‘Buddha’, who died at 80 years old in the State of Uttar Pradesh in India. Islam was founded on the teaching of Mohammed who died in 632 A.D. at the age of 61. His tomb is visited by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in Medina, and there has never been a claim that Mohammed rose from the dead.

There are two things in particular unique to the Christian message. The first is who Jesus Christ is. He was not merely a street preacher who got the ball rolling, nor did He just happen to be in the right place at the right time at the right moment with the right thing. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Secondly, Christ is unique in what He did on earth. He died, was buried and raised to life again. 

There are no mourners at the tomb of Jesus. The very substance of Christian life requires a living Jesus. In John 15:5, Jesus tells us that apart from Him, we can do nothing. That’s why His teachings were centered on Himself. Other leaders have said, “I’ll show you the way.” Jesus said, “I am the way.” Others have said, “I will teach you the truth.” Jesus said, “I am the truth.” Still, others have said, “I will show you how to find life.” Jesus said, “I am the life.” 

The cross of Jesus is not a martyrdom of a good man misunderstood, but is the offering of Himself as a perfect sacrifice to address the justice of a holy God who says sin must die. The resurrection of Christ vindicates the fact that the Father accepted the sacrifice of Christ in our stead, and more than that, made Christ alive to impart new life, so that all who believe in Him may live in the power of His resurrected life. 

Christ’s invitation is, “Come to Me” and then “Abide in Me.” The fact that He is alive sets Christianity apart in its uniqueness from every other philosophy or religion that exists. Because He lives, we also will live.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for imparting new life to me, and for being in me the way, the truth and the life.

Am I living in the power of the resurrected life of Christ?

“You are the light of the world.” —MATTHEW 5:14

The statement Jesus made to His disciples, “You are the light of the world” is intriguing, because in John 8:12 and 9:5, He said, “I am the light of the world.” In the latter verse, He qualified that by saying, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” The implication is clear. As Christians, what Jesus was on earth in terms of bringing illumination into the world, we are to be. 

How are we to be what Christ was on earth? It is not by imitation, but by derivation. If it is by imitation, then we are the source of the reproduced light. We may be congratulated or criticized on the quality of light, but the source is from within ourselves, so the buck stops with us. If this light is by derivation the source is outside of ourselves. To derive is to draw from an objective source. We bear clear responsibility for the extent to which the light is visible, but it is not self-produced, because it derives from a source. 

If I may impose an example of modern day electricity onto the ancient context of Scripture, we can see an obvious illustration in this. The light emanating from a bulb has its origin in the electrical source. Detach the bulb from its source and it ceases to give light. Whether it is light that comes from the wick in an oil lamp or a wick in a candle or a bulb in a battery operated flashlight, the consistency of light does not come from the wick or the bulb, but from the oil, the wax or the battery from which it derives its energy. 

With the indwelling Holy Spirit, our energy as light of the world is derived from Christ. The purpose of being the light of the world is always in bringing benefit and blessing to others. Jesus said, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15). It is because the origin of the light is in God, not ourselves, Jesus says in the next verse, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” 

It is to the measure that we allow Christ to live His life in us that His light will shine through us. The more consistently it shines, the more people will see our good deeds, but what they will recognize is Christ in us, and this is the light that has an impact!

Dear Lord, I pray that your light in me will shine consistently, and be a means of helping others and leading them to You. Thank You, Lord. 

Is the light of Christ evident in my interactions with others?

“You are the salt of the earth.” —MATTHEW 5:13

Jesus said to His disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.” As several were fishermen, they would have been extremely familiar with the use of salt as a preservative. Without packing the fish in salt, it would perish. When the Bible speaks of perishing it is not speaking of a future state, but a current condition. Perishing is a process, and there is only one alternative to the state of perishing, and that is to replace it with another process, which is that of ‘eternal life’.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” In 2 Corinthians 4:3, he says, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.” Paul is writing in the present tense and speaks about a process taking place in those outside of Christ, but Christ gives us the alternative. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). He also says, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one shall snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28).

It is the inception of eternal life that halts and replaces the process of perishing. God’s strategy is that the presence of His people be His means of activating the process of ‘eternal life’ by introducing Christ to others. It is as ‘salt of the earth’ God portrays His purity through people. The purity of Jesus did not condemn the sinner, but made Him attractive to the sinner. One of the remarkable features of Jesus’ life is that those considered to be in the gutters of society; the tax collectors, prostitutes and outcasts felt attracted by His company. Genuine purity does not so much expose impurities, as it raises people’s sights and stimulates them to seek that which is righteous. 

Salt also adds to the taste and creates a thirst. It draws out distinctive flavour, and it is the Christian with a sense of joy and vitality, who brings flavour to life in benefit to others. It is not only what we say that points people to Christ, but the quality of life we have found and enjoy that creates in others a thirst for God. 

The essential quality of salt is the difference it brings to the environment in which it is placed. It brings purity into decay, flavour to life and creates a thirst in others to know God. It is to display the righteousness of God, with its source in the Holy Spirit that we are called to be ‘salt of the earth’.

Dear Precious Lord, thank you for halting the state of perishing in my life, and giving me eternal life with You. I pray that for everyone, Lord. 

How does my life reflect being ‘salt of the earth’ to those around me?

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” —ROMANS 12:2

Many people have different views of the meaning of the word ‘repentance’. Some think it’s being extremely sorry for what they have done and promising never to do it again. Others think it’s turning over a new leaf, making a fresh start and vowing to do better. To some extent, repentance may involve something of this, but what it actually means is to change the mind. The word ‘repentance’ comes from the Greek word ‘metanoeo’; meta meaning ‘to change’ and nous meaning ‘the mind’ - ‘to change the mind’.

The key to God’s working in our lives is our thinking, and repentance is a change of thinking. It is not just feeling bad about sin and good about God, but changing our thinking about both. It involves turning from dependence upon ourselves to dependence on God. It’s realizing we cannot save ourselves from sin and acknowledging our need to confess it. The only way sin leaves our body is through our mouths. 

Our problem lies in the fact the only reason we commit sin is because we enjoy it, or it presents what seems to be a good way out of a situation. In due course, we may feel quite sorry and sad about it, but every sin we commit is because we wanted to at the time. If we weep over sin and not change our mind, we have not repented. On the other hand, people can change their minds about sin without shedding a tear, and they have repented. Tears are not a reliable indication of true repentance. We can shed many bitter tears over sin and failure, but not change our minds about it. 

A change of mind must lead to a change of behaviour. What we do reveals the truth of what we think, and our sins are the symptoms of an inherent sin nature, which we cannot change. This is why we do not have what it takes to live the Christian life. Hence, our need to turn from any sense of self sufficiency or self dependency, as that will eventually lead to failure. 

We are all as near to God as we want to be. We may not be as close as we would like, because we have never met the requirements of confessing our sin and turning from dependence upon ourselves to dependence upon God. True repentance is a genuine response of turning from sin, and changing our thinking to dependence upon God, which then enables Him to get into business in our lives.

Dear Lord, help me to live a godly life and keep me always dependent upon You. Thank You, Lord.

Is there sin I have yet to change my mind about?

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…” —PHILIPPIANS 2:6-7

It is one thing to be aware of the life Christ lived on earth, but it is essential to know how He lived on earth. We can deeply admire and worship Him for the way He lived, enough to want to emulate His goodness, but all that would do is frustrate and disappoint us.

To illustrate, a young man can be a good soccer player and envied by his friends because of it, but were he to play with seasoned professionals he would soon realize he was not as good as he thought himself to be. The higher the standard against which he plays and by which his skills are judged, the more aware he becomes of his inability. It does not take long for frustration and disappointment to set in. The same thing happens again and again in our Christian lives. The more we see ourselves in the light of the life of Jesus, the more we become aware of our inabilities and failures. 

Jesus said many astonishing things about Himself. Regarding His activity, He said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing…” (John 5:19). Regarding His judgments, He said, “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me” (John 5:30). Regarding His speaking, He said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am who I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me” (John 8:28). 

In all three areas, Jesus’ claim is that “He can do nothing”. It sounds anti-climatic and quite empty, yet remarkably it is an important word in the humanity of Jesus. In each of these statements, Jesus relates His dependency wholly upon His Father. He later clarifies this when He says to Philip, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work” (John 14:10). Jesus fulfilled His role as a man on earth with the understanding that the indispensable presence of God within Him would be the source of accomplishing His work. Just as it was the Father living in Jesus, doing His work, it is the indispensable presence of Jesus Christ, living in us, doing His work in us and through us.

Dear precious Lord, thank you for your presence in me. You’re all I need and I pray for your continual work in me and through me.

Am I living every day in union with Christ, enabling Him to work in me and through me? 

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” —EPHESIANS 6:12

The vast majority would agree there is evil in this world, but far less agreed upon is the existence of Satan. Is he real or isn’t he? Scripture is unambiguous about the fact that Satan is a literal being. He is mentioned in twenty-six books of the Bible, and Jesus referred to him on fifteen occasions. He is spoken of as one who acts, thinks and makes decisions. He possesses a mind, emotion, a will and purpose.

Still, there remains a philosophical haze surrounding the existence of Satan. Why would a good God create an evil devil? The answer is God did not create an evil devil, but the most beautiful angel, adorned with precious stones and jewels. He was named ‘Morning Star’, which in Hebrew means ‘Lucifer’. Ezekiel 28:15 says of him, “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.” And in verse 17, “Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor.” 

God did not create robotic angels anymore than He created robotic people. He gave us freedom to choose, and Lucifer chose to declare war upon God. God hurled him down to earth, lower than the angels, and with him a league of others who joined in his rebellion. 

We need to believe in the existence of this invisible realm as much as the existence of the world we live in. There is a domain of fallen angels under Satan’s control and direction, whose primary interest is to drive the will of man to live at enmity with God. Paul writes, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). 

Some English translations have modified Matthew 6:13 of the Lord’s Prayer to read, “deliver us from evil,” but most translations say, “deliver us from the evil one.” The night of His arrest, Jesus prayed for His disciples, saying, “My prayer is not that you take them out of this world but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15). Scripture warns us we are in a battlefield with an enemy in our midst. If we think we are prepared in ourselves, we are hugely underestimating the power of Satan. If we are second guessing his existence, we will not even see him coming, but to know what Scripture says about him, we are equipped and prepared in advance to stand our ground in the strength of Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus, when temptation comes my way be my strength. Protect me from anything that attempts to lure me away from You. Thank You, Lord.

Am I prepared and equipped to counteract the lures of Satan?

“And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” —EZEKIEL 36:27

The law of God has a very interesting history in Scripture. When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, it was the only part of biblical text written by the finger of God Himself. The rest of Scripture was written by men carried along by the Holy Spirit, but the law of God came down from Mount Sinai with the highest pedigree possible.

The historical books of the Old Testament record the law as the plumb line for measuring human behaviour. The poetic books meditate on the law. The prophetic books preach the law, and when you get to the end of the Old Testament, the law is still in a highly esteemed position. When Jesus came on the scene, He affirmed the law. It remains fully intact until you get into the epistles of Paul where it suddenly becomes a harsh word with negative connotations. Galatians 3:10 says, “All who rely on observing the law are under a curse…” And verse 13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law...” The law that came from God and highly regarded for generations has now become our jailor and oppressor.

This change in perspective was not because of any problem with the law, for the law is a revelation of the moral character of God, and God does not change. The problem was that the law was given to Moses on tablets of stone and was externally applied. It could demand righteousness, but could never accomplish it. All the law could do was house train people. This is actually the opposite of faith. It’s the enemy of truth in the sense that it is the jailor that imprisons us.

The New Covenant which Ezekiel writes about does not impose a law from the outside, but places the law of God on the inside. It is no longer a response to what we will do, but what God will do. Not only is there a high priest in Jesus Christ operating for us, but there is also a new power operating in us by the Holy Spirit. It’s exactly the same law, but based on different locations. The difference between the Old and New Covenants is that in the Old Covenant, the onus was on the people to keep the laws, but under the New Covenant, God says, “I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” The onus is now on God. The first indication that God has placed His Spirit in us is that He imparts a hunger and thirst for righteousness, which is what gives us the desire to keep His law.

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for indwelling me and giving me the desire for a godly life. Help me to fulfill that more each day. 

In what ways has a hunger and thirst for righteousness changed my life?

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” —JOHN 1:14

The term “glory of God” is used in the Bible with slight variation of meaning. Whatever the precise meaning within different contexts, it primarily speaks of the nature and acts of God in self-manifestation; that is what God essentially is and does.

Paul tells us in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The word ‘sin’ comes from the ancient world of archery, and literally means ‘to miss the target’. Whether we miss the target by a millimeter or a mile is irrelevant. James 2:10 says, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” The law James refers to is the Ten Commandments, which reveal the moral character of God. Therefore, the moral character of God is the glory of God, and the target we fall short of. This immediately rings true, because it was to express the character of God that human beings were created in the first place. It is in our failure to fulfill that purpose which constitutes our sin. 

Because the target which sin is measured against is the glory of God, it is only as we discover how we can be what God created us to be that we can deal with sin. Goodness is an absolute in which we were created, and goodness is the moral character of God. It is not an arbitrary notion in that each person has equal right to decide what is good and bad. Neither is good and bad determined by consensus. Jesus declared what is good when a rich young ruler asked Him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good - except God alone” (Mark 10:17-18). Something is only good because it is consistent with God, and conversely, something is only bad because it conflicts with God. 

In contrast to the failure of mankind, it was the constant hitting of the target that made Jesus Christ the perfect Man. In everything He did; work, leisure, family and interactions with others, Jesus portrayed accurately and consistently what God is like. The writer of Hebrews says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and exact representation of his being…” (Hebrews 1:3). What God is the Son radiated. What God does, the Son represented. And in God’s love for us, He has offered us the ultimate blessing and privilege of having the life of His Son indwell us, not simply to forgive our sin with the promise of heaven, but so that something of the glory of God may be revealed in us. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the incredible blessing of Jesus in my life. I pray for His Spirit to fill me completely.

Do I have an accurate understanding of the glory of God?

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” —MATTHEW 6:33

The myth of our day is that happiness is found in satisfying our physical desires and appetites. These may be entirely legitimate, but the engine room of each human being is the spirit which is designed to be inhabited and governed by God. It is for this reason Jesus said, “Seek his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”; ‘these things’ being physical necessities of food and clothing.

The Bible teaches we are made up of three parts; body, soul and spirit. Some prefer to think of human beings as bipartite, merging the spirit and soul, rather than tripartite in which the body, soul and spirit are separate. The body is the obvious physical part of us. We feed it, clothe it, bathe it, exercise it and rest it. The soul is the life which indwells our bodies; our personalities, likes and dislikes, and consists of the mind (ability to think); emotions (ability to feel), and the will (ability to decide). 

The spirit, however, is an additional dimension unique to human beings. It is that part of us which prompts us to reach outside of ourselves to something much bigger for answers that will give meaning and purpose to life. Though we are born separated from God, and spiritually dead, we retain spiritual capacity. This capacity is designed so that we might connect with God, and enjoy a personal relationship in which we come to know and experience Him.

The teaching of Jesus works from the spirit to the soul and out to the body. The norm of our day reverses this process, and tries to satisfy the deep needs of the human spirit by focusing on physical satisfaction. Satisfying the body is never the source of true happiness, because it is not the seat of our true appetites. Our true appetite is expressed in the famous prayer of Augustine, “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.” For this to become reality, we need to discover the kind of happiness which gives us lasting peace and contentment regardless of circumstances. 

The invitation of Jesus is, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). True happiness is found in rest for our souls, which can only be met in filling our spiritual capacity with Jesus Christ. When in humble repentance we come to Him, acknowledging “I can’t, but You can”, we make an eternal connection with God, which, as we abide in Him, dissolves the myth of our day, and meets the deepest needs of our hearts.

Dear Lord Jesus, You meet every need of my heart, and give rest for my soul. Thank You, Lord, for indwelling me.

Am I nourishing my spiritual side in a loving relationship with Jesus?

“The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” —1 THESSALONIANS 5:24

Many Christians, in their heartfelt endeavours to please God, become more disillusioned, disappointed and discouraged in time. They start off with sincere motivation and wonderful intentions, but their expectations fizzle out. Why is it that in our genuine desire to please God our endeavours often seem to fall flat on their faces? 

We know both Abraham and Moses experienced something like this in their endeavours to please God. They had dedicated themselves to serving Him, but in their eagerness, had attempted God’s work without Him. After ten years of hearing God’s promise of a son ringing in his ears, Abraham agreed to Sarah’s suggestion of sleeping with their handmaiden, Hagar. They bore a son and Hagar was told by an angel of the Lord to name him Ishmael, meaning ‘God will hear us’. Ishmael was not conceived in an act of rebellion against God, but in an attitude of agreement with God. 

At the age of 40, Moses realized his destiny was to free his people from Egyptian captivity. When no one was looking, he took it upon himself to kill an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew slave. When Pharaoh heard of this, Moses was forced to flee Egypt, and spent the next 40 years of his life on the back side of the Midian Desert, herding sheep. Moses would be 80 years old before God would pick up the pieces of his life.

From the burning bush on Mount Horeb, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites; ‘I AM’ has sent me to you’.” (Exodus 3:14) God made Himself known to Moses as the Eternally Present One; not a God who was at the burning bush, giving instructions; not a God who will be at the final destination, but a God who is at all times operating in the present tense, and is always sufficient, always available. 

Paul writes, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” This is a fundamental principle of Christian living. God is always the means of accomplishing His will through us. It is not our strategies or plans He is looking for, but our willingness and availability to implement His plans into our lives. Like Abraham and Moses, we all have to learn to wait patiently upon God. But when we live with a disposition of heart that says, “Lord, I’m willing and available”, we can be sure He will use us, but it will be at God’s calling, not our own, and in His timing.

Dear Lord, help me to recognize your timing and lead me along the path of service You have chosen for me. Thank You, Lord.

Do I attempt to initiate work for God under my own ingenuity?

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” —ACTS 2:36

Many people tend to speak in very subjective terms when talking of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We talk about “making” Christ Lord of our lives; however, the Bible speaks in objective terms. It speaks of the Lordship of Christ as an objective truth, which does not become true because we believe in Christ and submit to Him, but remains true whether we believe in Him or not.

Imagine you were driving along a road and the speed limit said “30 mph”, but you are travelling at 50 mph. A patrol car pulls you over, an officer steps out and approaches you. “Do you realize how fast you were going?” he asks. “Yes, I do,” you reply, “but I want to ask you a question. Who decided that I should not exceed 30 mph on this road?” The officer answers, “It’s government legislation.” You breathe a sigh of relief and say, “Well, then it does not apply to me, because I do not like this government, do not agree with it and did not vote for it.” Despite your adamant protests, you would be duly fined, because whether or not you agree with the government does not make its laws invalid. The laws are an objective reality, and the issue is not whether you agree with it or not, but that you submit to it.

Similarly, the Lordship of Christ must be understood as an objective reality. He is not Lord because we make Him Lord, but because God has made Him Lord, and whether we like it or not, all of history is going to end up at His feet and be answerable to Him. Paul tells us, “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). 

The Bible teaches that the Lordship of Jesus Christ is an established fact; so much so that in the course of time every person who ever lived will come to recognize this as truth. The issue is not one of making Christ Lord, but of submitting to Him as Lord. We may refuse to submit to His authority, but we are still subject to Him along with all of humanity. We have one basic choice with Jesus Christ; submit to Him freely or under compulsion when “every knee will bow and every tongue confess”. If we wait until then, it will be too late. That’s why it’s imperative everyone hears the Gospel.

Dear Lord, help me to live under your authority, and remain true to the fact You are Lord, not only of my life, but of all creation. 

Are there areas in my life in which I need to submit more fully to the Lordship of Christ?

“After Jesus had finished instructing his disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.” —MATTHEW 11:1

Teaching is primarily addressing the mind, and the end result of good teaching is that people know something. This should be the basis on which any significant response to God is made. We must be careful that we are not emotionally driven, but adequately rooted in an understanding of who God is, otherwise our faith will be short-lived. 

As teaching is primarily addressing the mind so people will know something, preaching is primarily addressing the will so that people will do something. The subject of Jesus’ preaching was ‘the good news of the kingdom’. The good news only becomes good news when the will is made to respond. Minds may be stretched, stimulated and even dazzled by impressive teaching, but lives are only changed when the teaching becomes preaching, and hearers are motivated to do something. On the Day of Pentecost, the hearers of Peter’s preaching were cut to the heart, and compelled to ask, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)

The necessity of both teaching and preaching is kept in balance throughout the New Testament. Between the first and second missionary journeys, Paul and Barnabas, on return from the meeting of the Council in Jerusalem, “remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord” (Acts 15:35). The book of Acts concludes with Paul in Rome, and says, “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 28:31). On another occasion, Paul exhorted Timothy, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of scripture, to preaching and to teaching” (1 Timothy 4:13).

Teaching is the foundation to preaching, and the two must not be divorced from one another. To teach and not preach may produce a wealth of knowledge, but will leave lives dull and barren. To preach and not teach may evoke a response that is in danger of being little more than seed that springs to life, but without being rooted, withers and dies.

We can settle down with our Bibles every day, and fill our minds with knowledge of God, but without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that knowledge remains dormant. The Holy Spirit is the Good Teacher who plants the seeds of truth into our hearts, and they spring to life. The end result - good preaching…. and we are compelled to do something.

Dear Lord, I pray for a deeper work of your Holy Spirit in me so that I may be a means of motivating others to want to know and experience You. Thank You, Lord.

How did I first respond to the truths of Scripture coming alive in my heart? 

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” —JOHN 1:4

It is through people indwelt by the life of Christ that God intends His righteousness be revealed, and their lives become part of the message He has for this world.

When Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms, he declared him “…a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32). John describes Jesus as, “The true light that gives light to every man” (John 1:9). The whole thrust of light is that it exists for the benefit of others. Putting our own interests first and finding personal fulfillment by shining in what we do has little to do with our function as light. Its function is ultimately as Jesus said; that we might be to people “the light of life” (John 8:12).

There is only one possibility of being the light of life and that is through a relationship with Jesus Christ, which allows Him to be in us what He was Himself on earth - the light of men. He does not teach us how to shine as a technique, because He is Himself the light. Jesus said of John the Baptist, “John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light” (John 5:35). John was the lamp, the instrument through which the light of Christ went before Him. As Christians, we are the instruments God uses for the light of Christ to shine in this world. 

Paul tells the Christians in Philippi to be “blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe” (Philippians 2:15). In Biblical times, stars were used on the seas and on land to navigate a course of travel. We are to be like pinpricks of light in the night sky for the lost and lonely to find their way home. In the words of Paul, we then show we are “a letter from Christ… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:3).

When Francis of Assisi sent his men out to evangelize, he would tell them to preach Christ by every means possible, but if necessary, use words. It’s our actions and attitudes that gives evidence of Jesus Christ living within us, and that gives credibility to what we say. In other words, people will see our good deeds, but what they will recognize is Christ within us, and their focus is drawn to God. Our behaviour then ceases to be explained in human terms, but is the consequence of deity at work in and through us.

Precious Lord, I pray for a deeply enriching work of your Spirit so that your light in me will guide many people to You. Thank You, Lord.

Am I seeking opportunity to serve as a light for Christ?

“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed you are still not ready. You are still worldly.” —1 CORINTHIANS 3:2-3

John describes the essential nature of being worldly when he wrote, “Do not love the world nor anything in the world… For everything that is in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:15-16). The more poetic language of other translations, ‘the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life’ describes the disposition that is in conflict with Jesus Christ. 

Being worldly is an attitude to be resisted at all costs. It seeks fulfillment of our own desires, satisfaction in our own agendas and the feeding of our egos. This has very little to do with the environment in which we live and work, but has everything to do with the attitudes that govern us within them. It is a mistake to see our main battle grounds as external, because they are internally sourced. 

We may so engineer our circumstances to live in isolation from the world at large, yet be completely worldly. The motivation for detachment from the world may even be the ‘pride of life’. Worldliness is to be resisted, but the world itself is our workshop. It is in our places of work, at home, in our schools, communities, churches and social circles where our attitudes, relationships and behaviours become an exhibition of either the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives or the absence of Him. 

For some people, isolation from the world has been what they believe to be a feature of the Christian life. They could not be more wrong. In every age bracket and sect of life, Christians have withdrawn from the world rather than be characterized by a true sense of mission. It’s safer to be defensive rather than venturing into new territory with God, and far less demanding to be re-active than pro-active. Paul tells the church in Corinth, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.” They were believers who were still living their own way, bickering and quarreling amongst each other, and causing dissension within the church. 

Like the church in Corinth, we need the centrality of Jesus Christ in our everyday lives. The Christian life is lived in union with Him, and He came into this world not only as Saviour but as Lord. When we have shown that we have made Him Lord and dispensed with worldly concerns, we are likely ready for solid food, because it’s then our lives have become characterized by an everyday sense of mission for Christ.

Lord, give me self-control and the discipline to stay away from anything that lures me away from You. Grant me “a sense of mission” every day of my life. Thank You, Lord.

Have I tasted solid food in my union with Christ? 

“…he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” —PHILIPPIANS 2:7

Most people cannot help having a reputation, but it is wise to keep distant from it. Once we become interested in establishing a reputation, we then have to work at maintaining it, and therein lay the seeds to hypocrisy.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us to be careful not to do acts of righteousness to be seen by men. He rebukes the hypocrites in their giving, praying and fasting for the purpose of being honoured by men. Rather than acts of righteousness, it becomes a performance for self-gratification, and Jesus says of them, “they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:2); their reward being a reputation they worked hard to establish with people, but leaves them bankrupt where it really counts before God. 

After Jesus’ baptism, He was led by the Spirit for 40 days in the wilderness, and was both tested by God and tempted by the devil in His attitude towards reputation. On His 40th day, Satan took Jesus to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God, he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone’.” (Matthew 4:5-6) In other words, “Get yourself on the map, Jesus. No one knows who You are. Jump down from here and it will spread like wildfire who You really are.” But reputation was of no interest to Jesus. He answered, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’.” (4:7) 

The devil’s intent was to weaken Jesus by getting Him to act independently of His Father, but God’s intent was to strengthen Jesus for what lay ahead. During the course of the next three years, Jesus’ reputation would be torn to shreds. He would be abused, scorned, mocked, betrayed and crucified, but Jesus had proven in the wilderness that He did not care what others thought of Him, only that the will of His Father be done.

And that is God’s intent for us – that His will be done, regardless of what others may think. Any act of righteousness we do to be seen by others glorifies ourselves, and will not win favour with God. Caring about reputation and trying to maintain it will only serve as a ball and chain, weighing us down. It becomes a tiresome obligation that leads to hypocrisy as it maligns God’s true intent and purpose. Our concern should always be for the will of God, and we leave our reputations in His hands.

Dear Lord Jesus, help me to be focused on your will being done, and not in acquiring and maintaining a reputation that pleases me. Thank You, Lord.

Am I hindering my walk with God by trying to maintain a reputation I like?