Decision Making and God's Will

We have all faced those decisions where the "right" answer is not always a clear answer. How do we make decisions that are pleasing to God when Scripture doesn't specifically tell us what to do? When we are faced with options, how do we know that we are making the right choice? Here is some helpful advice to point you in a God-honoring direction. 

1. Where Do I Fit In?
The Bible is clear that our life is a small chapter that fits into a much grandeur story that God is telling. So while God is most certainly concerned with every detail of our life, His bigger concern is how the small details of our life fit into the larger story that He is writing. God's ultimate plan is to save mankind for the glory of Christ! In all the choices we make, we would be wise to weigh our decisions based on what will bring the ultimate glory to Christ. Is there an option or choice that we are given that will help us better align our lives with the gospel story? Is there a decision we are faced with that we can answer in such a way that allows our story to fit in better with the overall story of God's plan? Whether you are choosing a college, a house, a job or a spouse, one should ask which choice will ultimately fit you in better with God's plan for all of life?

2. What Is My Mindset?
While God does not always list for us the right choices to make in His Word, He does very clearly describe the type of mindset He wants us to have in making those tough choices we are faced with. Ultimately, God desires our sanctification, or our journey towards holiness, to be front and center when we are weighing out choices in front of us. In making decisions, are we motivated from a desire to see ourselves and others grow spiritually? Is there a choice before us that will push ourselves and others closer to Christ? God desires our sanctification. Are we desiring the same thing when making decisions?

God also desires that we remain content with His goodness rather than lusting in our selfish passions. Are we allowing God to be glorified in us by remaining content in Him or do we allow our passions, cravings and own desires to motivate our decision making?  Ultimately we are called to place others before ourselves. We are called to serve others rather than using others for our own gain. Are their options laid before us that would lead to greater opportunities to serve others?

3. What Are My Safeguards?
If we admit that a proper motivation is needed when making decisions that are honoring to God, how can we make sure our motives stay pure? It is easy to become blinded to our selfishness. What can we do to make sure we are making decisions that allow us to fit into God's overarching plan of saving mankind as we seek to serve others?

First, we must make sure that our desires are being shaped by the wisdom of God's Word and the leading of His Spirit, rather than the deceiving nature of today's culture. We need a renewed mind to choose the best things in life. Are we allowing our minds to be shaped properly so that we choose rightly? Are we allowing our minds to be saturated by His Word so that we are faithfully walking in the Spirit each day?

Second, we must protect ourselves from our own pride and ignorance by seeking the wisdom of others. God is good about placing wiser individuals in our paths to help guide us through the tough decisions in life. Are you faithfully seeking out others than can offer insight into the choices you are faced with? The book of Proverbs has much to say in the area of wisdom. One thing is clear, the individual who leans on the counsel of others will always be more steady than the one who trusts in his own knowledge. 

In Conclusion...
Be confident in making decisions that are being shaped by an inward desire to see God's plan of saving His people accomplished. When we desire the things that God desires, we are well on our way to being exactly where He wants us to be, doing exactly what He wants us to be doing. 

For additional insight and reading:
Ps. 1:1-2, Prov. 2:1-11, 3:5-6, 11:14, 13:20, 19:20, 24:6, Rom. 12:1-2, Eph. 5:15-21, Col. 3:16, I Thess. 4:1-8, 5:12-18, I Tim. 2:3-6, James 1:5-8, I Peter 2:13-15, 4:1-11, 19, I John 2:15-17

Gospel Faithfulness

The book of Acts describes a whirlwind of events surrounding the establishment and growth of the local church in the life of New Testament believers. You have Jesus ascending to heaven, the Holy Spirit coming on believers, disciples speaking in different languages, thousands getting saved, people selling all their stuff and you even have people dropping dead in church. What a crazy couple of weeks.

Two individuals stand out greatly to me in the early portions of Acts. The first is Peter. Peter had been radically transformed by seeing the resurrected Christ. No longer fearful of death, Peter seeks to boldly obey the Great Commission given to him by Jesus by preaching two of the greatest sermons ever. In Acts 2:41 Peter proclaims Christ and 3,000 people were saved. Then he proceeds to do even better the next time when in Acts 4:4 he preaches again and 5,000 get saved. I'm not sure in my lifetime if I'll ever see 8,000 souls saved. Peter saw it happen in a matter of days. And these aren't skewed numbers based on decision cards turned in. These are legit Bible confirming salvations that occur. Stephen is the other guy that stands out to me. He preaches a bold sermon in Acts 7 and his results aren't quite as impressive. Acts 7:57-59 records for us how his invitation went. Nobody gets saved and he gets stoned.

Was Peter more faithful than Stephen? What did Stephen do wrong? Both he and Peter preached from the Old Testament, both proclaimed Christ in their sermon and both accused their audiences of killing Jesus. One sees 8,000 saved and one is buried under rocks. What's the deal? Both were faithful to what Jesus commanded about making disciples but God had different ways of fulfilling His plan through them. God uses Peter to make a multitude of disciples immediately that would be the foundation of the early church but I believe God used Stephen to reach the greatest disciple maker the church has ever known.

Think about the account of Stephen. He is stoned by angry Jews as the Pharisee Saul oversees the execution. Saul needed more than a sermon to be converted. He needed the prayers of a prayer warrior so that his self righteous pride could be exposed by the glory of Christ's gospel. Stephen cries out to God, asking that He not hold the sins of his executors against them. Does God hear these prayers? Absolutely, as God converts Saul on the side of the road, changes his name to Paul and uses him to write most of the New Testament while planting churches throughout Asia and Europe. Stephen's sermon ended tragically yet God used the faithfulness of Stephen to grow His church just as He used Peter.

The Great Commission calls us to faithful obedience. We may not always see the results in our lifetime but we can trust God will always use our faithfulness to grow His church!

Some Thoughts on Starbucks

There is a lot of debate right now concerning recent comments made by the CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz. These type of cultural events always provide an opportunity for Christians to think and react in general towards sin and towards others who believe differently than we do. Unfortunately, if we aren't careful, we miss the opportunity to serve as salt and light and instead do damage to the gospel we are trying to promote. 

Here some thoughts I'm using to help me maintain a good perspective on whether to continue visiting my local Starbucks. 

(It should be noted that I hate coffee in general and only go to Starbucks if my wife is with me or if I have a gift card. Then I get the only drink on the menu that isn't influenced by coffee)

1. A Christian call to boycott Starbucks in this situation feels very contradictory to what Christians sought to fight against with the CFA situation brought on by Dan Cathy's comments. The outrage in that situation was over comments Dan made in support of traditional marriage. In addition, the situation became far more than it was because the comments were taken out of context. This too seems to be the case with Schultz's comments. Never does he suggest that he wants Christian customers/traditional marriage supporters to go elsewhere for their coffee. Instead, he suggests to a concerned stock holder, that if he is concerned about losing money over the company supporting same-sex marriage, he may need to look to buy stock in another company. In addition, Schultz implies the stock holder should keep his money in Starbucks because he believes the company is not suffering from it's stance on marriage. So in reality, the CEO Schultz was actually encouraging the man, who seemed mostly interested in the economic standing of his stocks, to keep his money right where it is. This is a big difference than some of the Christian headlines and Facebook posts suggesting that Starbucks has told us they no longer need our business. I am certainly not supporting his comments. But I do think it is important to clarify what he actually said. 

2. Boycotting in general seems to feed the perception that Christians are judgmental towards those that don't believe like them. I believe most of the "lost" world expects people to boycott when something goes against their beliefs. In fact, Pilate was shocked when Jesus did not react to false accusations being thrown his way before His crucifixion. If the lost world is known for it's boycotts to protest not getting their way, I'd rather believers be known for handling attacks against our beliefs in a different way. 

3. It's always better to evangelize those who believe differently than us than to try to force them to believe the way we do with our wallets. In addition, improving the morality of America will never produce the eternal change we say we long for in the lives of others. We have not been victorious with the gospel if we simply see same-sex marriage outlawed and the amount of same-sex couples decrease. Our task remains the same, those individuals must still believe and repent to be saved. Too often though, I'm afraid we fight for a victory that does not produce this type of change. 

So what should we do?
1. We should definitely be wise stewards of the money God has entrusted to us. If one were to feel that Starbucks would be a poor use of one's money, based on standards the company holds to, I see nothing wrong with a person choosing to buy their coffee elsewhere. I'm not a fan though of the public call to boycott. It's unnecessary and unhelpful in my opinion. I personally boycott the Hooters restaurant, no matter how many times I'm told their food is good. I feel the company as a whole is degrading to women, promotes lust and ultimately is a distasteful establishment. I feel no need to call for a boycott by all Christians on this though. It's a personal stance I take in striving to be both pure in my thoughts and wise with my money and my time. I want to be a good steward with my finances and choose wisely where I choose to spend my funds. My encouragement is that you be too, as you evaluate what that means for you personally, keeping in mind, most companies that sell products we enjoy probably support some cause that we disagree with. 

2. Continue to hate the sin of homosexuality. Not because we are intolerant of others but because Genesis 1 tells us that we serve a Creator who defines right and wrong for His creation. And let the hate for homosexual sin drive us to share the life giving, life altering message of Jesus Christ with those who suffer from the blindness of the god of this world. 

Here is a super helpful article from Russell Moore on the issue as well. 

Sometimes God Leads Us to Death

Excerpt from Nate Saint's Journal...talking about Operation Auca only days before his murder. 

"May God continue to put His good hand on the project and may we drop it when not fully assured of His direction. At present we feel unanimously that God is in it. May the praise be His and may it be that some Auca, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, will be with us as we lift our voice in praise before His throne. Amen."

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! What a joy it must be to sit in the presence of Lord Jesus with a group of people that were responsible for your death....knowing that it was only through your death that they are now sitting with you. 

When your life is all about the gospel...you can confidently be led by God to your own death, knowing that by losing your life, you gain it, and so many others may gain theirs as well. 

Mr. Weak on Sanctification

An encouraging quote from Mr. Weak - Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

"I am resolved to keep in the good way, to run when I can, to walk when I cannot run, and creep when I cannot walk; yet to keep my face toward Zion. My journey may be long and toilsome, and my mind and body weak; yet my heart is set on that fair City at the end of the way, beyond the river that has no bridge."

There are seasons in our life where sanctification is happening faster than others times...the important thing is that we continue to press on in our pursuit of Christ more and more each day. The true Christian perseveres, even if it means crawling at times.

When Jesus Won't Let You Go to the Mission Field...

There are times when God would actually have us stay home, rather than head off to the far reaches of the world, to share the gospel for His glory. Can you imagine that? God telling a willing and able body that desires to leave home not to go overseas to make Christ known to others? That is exactly what Jesus does to the demonized man of Mark 5. We aren't told the full details of this man's back story. But it's evident his past is troubled. His life has been wrecked by Satan. He had been torn from family and friends, isolated as an outcast among the dead. His future looked bleak and yet Jesus stepped in to radically change His life. He is set free from demonic possession, set free from a dead life, set free from torment and torture. Naturally, he wants to go with Jesus, learn from Jesus and follow Jesus wherever He goes. But Jesus won't let him. Shockingly, Jesus turns down this man's request to physically follow Him. Instead, he is told to go back home. Why? I believe Jesus knew that this man's family, friends and acquaintances needed to see first hand what Jesus could do to an individual's life. Jesus knew that a changed life needed to be seen by a lost world. Jesus knew that this man had been left for dead by all those closest to him. Now He wants these same people to see how Jesus raises the saved to walk in newness of life. 

Have you faithfully shared the gospel with those closest to you before you make plans to set off for the ends of the world? Jesus set the example. He went to Nazareth first, his hometown, and was rejected. He tells this man to do the same. If you aren't faithful to share the gospel here, you probably won't be faithful to share it there. Go to your home first and tell them. Then go tell the world. 

I Don't Believe What I Just Saw

There is a famous call by Vin Scully of the L.A. Dodgers that reflects what most of the sports world felt when a hobbled, over the hill Kirk Gibson came off the bench to win a World Series game in spectacular fashion (you can watch the video here) back in 1988. An improbable feat, as an unlikely hero homered off the most dominant closer in baseball at that time. Most people would agree with Vin Scully, "I don't believe what I just saw."

There was a group in Mark 2:1-12 though that witnessed something far more spectacular, making their similar comments to Vin Scully's much more meaningful. In this passage, Jesus heals a paralytic, a man who medically had been told that he would never walk again. And yet Jesus exercises His sovereign authority over creation to fix what was previously broken. But in more spectacular fashion, He heals this man spiritually as well. Most would say the miracle performed in this passage was the healing of his physical ailment. But Jesus draws attention to his ability to heal spiritually. By proclaiming that this man's sins were forgiven, Jesus worked a far greater miracle. As a holy God, Jesus forgives sins that would condemn this man for eternity. Yet with a spoken word this man is transferred from darkness to light instantaneously. Some in the crowd were angered over this proclamation. In their hearts they questioned how an ordinary man could forgive sins. It's precisely by this action though that Jesus revealed He was more than an ordinary man. He is qualified to forgive sins because He is God in flesh. 

The people that day left, overwhelmed by what they had witnessed. The passage tells us they glorified God (they made his greatness known) by proclaiming to others..."We never saw anything like this!"

May we be just as faithful to reveal the greatness of God to others as this group did that day! Because if we are Christians we have certainly witnessed an unbelievable, life changing miracle in our own life. 

7 Steps to Becoming a Backslider (Taken from Pilgrim's Progress)

1. Stop thinking about eternal things and become enamored with this world. 

2. Stop all spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible reading and especially fighting sin).

3. Stop hanging out with other believers. 

4. Stop putting yourself under the teaching of the Word, stop going to church. 

5. Start finding fault in other Christians, focus on things that they do wrong to make yourself feel better. 

6. Start hanging out with people who do not love Jesus, who doubt His existence and authority over life. 

7. Start practicing gross sins in secret, where nobody knows about them. 

Short Cuts Aren't Always Best

I'm thankful to serve a good, sovereign God that always knows best for His children. I'm also thankful that, even though Romans 8:28 is a huge encouraging verse, we find the same theme of God working goodness for His children throughout the Bible, not just in one isolated text. 

Journey with me back to Exodus 13. The children of Israel have just undergone their first "Passover" experience and are being rushed out of town...for the Egyptians now fear that Yahweh will kill them all unless they let His people go. (Exodus 12:33) We know the story - Moses and the children of Israel escape, make it to the Red Sea, walk across dry ground and begin their trek to the Promised Land of milk and honey. But tucked away amidst all those events is Exodus 13:17-18. Have you ever wondered why God led Israel to a dead end at the Red Sea? It may not be for the reason you think. 

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.
(Exodus 13:17-18 ESV)

Notice that God chooses to take His children the LONG way. No short cuts here. The verses are easily overlooked but they are dripping with God's goodness. Here's a God who isn't just concerned about taking His people to the Promises Land. He's concerned about the journey as well. God, in all His wisdom, has come up with the best route possible - the route that will serve Israel the most! Rather than exposing them to a potential fearful situation, He sovereignly redirects them around the Philistine area. It would be easy for Israel to complain about the longer route (and they do!) but just imagine the alternative. God knows what's best, even when it contradicts our own wisdom. The shortest route was clear. But the best route was needed. 

It's verses like this that encourage me during times when I'm unsure of why God is leading me in the direction that He is. While I don't have the advantage of seeing the "big picture" for my story, being able to see the "big picture" of stories like this help me with my own situations. I can rest in the assurance of God's goodness, knowing that God has me on a path that may not always include the shortest route to His goals for me, but it certainly includes the best route for me!

It's not about Esther

Have you ever taken the time to read through the book of Esther? I don't mean do you know the story of Esther...have you read it? Sometimes we discover that stories we have grown up hearing aren't always exactly in Scripture the way we heard them. Case in point, the story of Esther. Did you know that the book of Esther is the only book of the Bible that makes no direct reference to God? Seriously, there is no mention of God in the entire book! On top of that, there is no mention of prayer either.

But I would argue that the book/story of Esther is about God, not the winner of the beauty pageant. While the book doesn't mention God by name, His presence is evident everywhere you turn in the story. Ultimately, the story is about how God sovereignly directs every detail to ensure the continued existence of his people Israel. Remember, Haman is seeking to destroy the Jews because he hates Mordecai. But if Haman succeeds in destroying the Jews, then the Abrahamic Covenant is violated and there is no Messiah.

Instead, we see God faithfully keep His covenant to His people as he works every detail of the story for His glory. Here are some examples.

It's not coincidence or by accident that...

1. Queen Vashti has her crown removed. God needed a vacancy in the palace and He made sure there was one.

2. Esther was chosen out of possibly hundreds of girls. For whatever reason, the king picked her, whether it was her beauty, personality, etc. All those things would have been given to her by God. He made sure she would be the one picked.

3. The King found favor with Esther when she approached his presence. He hadn't seen her in a month, he could have easily been having a bad day and gotten rid of her just like he did with Vashti. But he didn't.

4. The king can't sleep one night and has his servants read to him the records of the palace, only to find out that Mordecai had recently saved his life. He finds this information out right before Haman wants to ask to hang Mordecai, thus stopping the wicked plans of Haman.

Oh, I'm sure some would chalk these events up to luck, but even Mordecai recognized that Esther had been positioned perfectly for "such a time as this." The book never mentions God. But it is indisputable that God is the one behind this entire story. We may call it the "Story of Esther" but trust me, it's a story about God. It's about His faithfulness to a covenant He established. A covenant that promises a Messiah who comes to save both Jew and Gentile. This story is good news for us. Praise God He keeps His covenant!

Does Jesus Hate Religion? Ask the Greek

Jefferson Bethke's video on YouTube continues to gain much attention, both on YouTube and on the blogosphere, examples here and here. Much of the backlash he has received centers on his perspective of "religion". Did Jesus truly hate religion, and if so, why?

I, for one, found the video thought provoking. But, as is often the case, when thoughts and feelings are communicated through poetry, much of the content is left for the hearer to interpret on their own. And this interpretation is usually the result of our context in hearing it. A poem is meant to communicate something, often feelings, emotions, ideas, thoughts and perspectives. Often full explanation is not divulged, instead the hearer is often left to draw some of their own conclusions and applications from what was heard.

Because of this, poems can be both dangerous and damaging. And in the case of dealing with what God's Word communicates, the responsibility is great. Bethke undertook a big task in addressing the topic of "religion" through poetry. Undoubtedly his poem was heard and understood in different ways, as a result of different contexts. This is why some would label his work as an attack on any organized religion, while others would see it as a call to true religion. But perhaps there is a third group, like me, that is left asking the question, "What is religion?"

The poem, liked or hated, rests on how one defines the word "religion". At first this seems easy, but the word is used differently so often today. A few ways I've found myself using it the past include...

1. Different ways of getting to God - we use the term "religion" when dealing with other groups of people who believe they are on a journey to God, in a different way than we believe. "False Religions" or "World Religions" is a way of defining clear, distinct belief systems of appeasing God and enjoying the afterlife. It can also be used for "our religion" for how we understand God's revelation. For Christians, we would understand both the Old Testament system and the New Covenant as "our religion".

2. Rules for getting to God - in our own Christian faith, often times the word is used in relation to a false mindset of "working our way to heaven". The better term perhaps is legalism. Basically, it's the idea of condensing the call to holiness down to a manageable (at least its perceived that way) list of tasks to be accomplished to ensure that God is pleased. At times the Old Testament Jewish system produced those who were guilty of this. These are the ones that Jesus addressed so sternly, and caused him so much anger. The Sermon on the Mount was Jesus declaration against this hypocrisy. It's "our religion" gone wrong.

3. Taking care of orphans and widows - a lot of times, when we want to use the term "religion" positively, we turn to James 1:27, where in some translations we are told that pure and undefiled religion is to care for the helpless. Sometimes forgotten, we are also told it means to remain unstained from the world.

4. Organized religion - sometimes the word is used as a reference to organized religion in and of itself, i.e. the local church, the call to holiness, the ordinances of baptism and Lord's Supper, the responsibility to meet with other believers and submit to godly leadership, etc.

I'm sure there are others, but those are probably the most common uses I am aware of in my context. How Bethke's poem is heard and responded to will greatly depend on how the word "religion" is defined by you. I heard his poem in the context of an attack on the legalistic mindset of working for God's favor and priding oneself on religious accomplishments. Perhaps, because I am currently studying that topic for myself. The gospel frees us from work. In fact, its the very idea of not working or ceasing to work that leads to our salvation. (Rom. 4:5) If Bethke's purpose was to attack the good works mentality that won't be abolished until Jesus returns, then I wholeheartedly endorse that message. If he is attacking the "our religion gone wrong" mindset, then I say "Amen!" Others perhaps heard a more wide sweeping attack on religion to include both the organized church as a whole. If his message is to call us to a more spiritual approach to life, absent from the "religious" responsibilities of aligning ourselves to an organized body of believers, that regularly participate in the activities the Word calls us to, then his message is destructive. I'm convinced he wasn't trying to communicate that at all based on what I know about him from his other works.

But what does God's Word say? Did Jesus hate religion? I guess it depends on not so much the definition, but the word we are using. The trouble we are experiencing in answering this question lies in the fact that we are having this discussion in English, when the New Testament is written in Greek. Why is that problematic? Kevin DeYoung rightly stated in his article that the word "religion" appears five times in the English Standard Version. Were you to do a word search in another version, it would appear more or less. But I think it's a mistake to then base our understanding of the word on such a search. Most who want to say that Jesus did not hate religion, will turn to James 1:26-27. Here, as we've already said, we are given a picture of true religion or right religion. But is the word "religion" being used the same way here as it is in the other four passages in the ESV word search? Did you know that the Greek word for "religion" in James 1:26-27 is only used in two other passages of the New Testament? And it's only used in one of those passages that results from a word search in the ESV? Let's look at both...

1. Acts 26:5 -They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.

2. Colossians 2:18 - Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,

Those are the only two uses of James word for "religion" anywhere in Scripture, when you do a Greek word search. Notice in the second usage of the same word from James, the translators of the EVS use the word "worship" instead of religion. Again, this is the only two times the Greek word in James is used elswhere in the Bible.

What's my point? That I don't think we can clearly define Jesus' views on "religion" if we are trying to make religion mean one thing. The word doesn't have one clear definition or usage as revealed in Scripture. On top of that, it is an English word that is being applied to Greek words. And as we just saw, sometimes the word religion isn't even applied consistently to the same Greek word. I think Kevin DeYoung makes a mistake when he says, "Religion is all law and no gospel. If that’s religion, then Jesus is certainly against it.But that’s not what religion is. We can say that’s what is has become for some people or what we understand it to be. But words still matter and we shouldn’t just define them however we want." Because that is exactly what he does. He defines it differently that what he perceives in the poem because he understands it differently. The fact is that word "religion" does mean different things. It is used differently based on what we are trying to communicate at the time. And on top of that, I can't think of anyone who wants to be known as "religious", which means no matter how much we wish that word didn't have negative connotations, it so often does. Jesus often rebuked those who thought they were "religious" but the Scripture is so silent on affirming people who were "rightly religious". Meaning the N.T. writers never praise churches for being "religious". Instead they use words such as "faithful", "called", "child" and "loved".

Bethke's poem is certainly not perfect, nor is it absent from things I personally would have said differently. Bethke perhaps could have done a better job of defining what he meant and didn't mean. I think the important thing to clarify is that whether you liked the video or not, everyone I talk to agrees on the same things. We hate false religion and we embrace "right religion" whether we call it that or not. We love Jesus, we hate the damning message of Satan that says "good works will get you to Jesus" and we all embrace the call to love the church of Jesus and serve this world faithfully until Jesus returns.

Learn about Hebrews

My friend Rob Conti from Snowbird is starting a series on the book of Hebrews for the Snowbird blog. I would encourage you all to follow along. The big of Hebrews is deep (meaning it's hard to understand) and rich (meaning it's worth the effort to understand) and I know Rob will do a great job of passing a long tid bits of truth from this wonderful, Christ-exalting book.

Did you know that when the New Testament canon was being finalized that the book of Hebrews was up for debate because no one new who wrote it? Ultimately though it was determined that the book was so Christ exalting that it had to be written from God.

Follow along with Rob's blog on the side bar under our Recommended Blogs. You won't be disappointed.

Another 24 Books Complete!

At the beginning of last year I made the commitment to once again read two books a month. By God's grace I was able to find the time to complete 24 books for the year. I've listed the books I completed below and would encourage you to pick up any one of them this year to read. I was encouraged greatly by all of them. Let me know if you would like a specific review on a title. As always, use caution and discernment as you read as these men are not inspired.

1. Basic Christianity by John Stott

2. Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney

3. The Prayer of Jesus by Hank Hanegraaff

4. A Life of Prayer by Paul Cedar

5. Alone with God by John MacArthur

6. A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller

7. Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

8. Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung

9. Crazy Love by Francis Chan
10. Radical Together by David Platt

11. Money: God or Gift by Jamie Munson

12. The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel

13. Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

14. Doctrine by Mark Driscoll

15. Christian Beliefs by Elliot Grudem

16. Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem

17. Money, Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn

18. The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn

19. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever

20. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer

21. Christ and the Future by Cornelis P. Venema

22. Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

23. Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

24. Letters to a Young Calvinist by James K.A. Smith

Balaam and the Abrahamic Covenant

I've been reading a lot lately through the book of Numbers. When you come to Numbers 22 you find a story that sounds more like Shrek 5 than you do something in the Bible. A talking donkey? For real? What's even more bizarre is that Balaam, a well known prophet, just starts talking right back to the donkey. I mean is Balaam from some fairy tale reality where this type of deal is considered normal? Who strikes up a conversation and responds to a talking donkey?

But if you focus on the talking donkey then I think you miss the point of the whole story. Let me set the context for you...

Israel is on their way to the Promised Land. God's chosen people have been wandering in the wilderness for years now because of their disobedience but now they are beginning to position themselves to enter the land that was originally promised to their forefather Abraham. Now the people of Moab are getting freaked out. The drive to the Promised Land is starting to pick up some steam as Israel is conquering nation after nation on their way. So naturally the people of Moab are greatly concerned.

Enter King Balak of Moab. Knowing that he is probably doomed like the rest of Canaan, Balak makes a last ditch effort to win this coming battle. He summons for Balaam, a well known prophet who is supposedly effective at cursing large groups of people.

Two things to note...

1. Don't miss the importance of v. 2. "They were many" - this side comment has eternal relevance for us as believers. This is God fulfilling his covenant with Abraham. Remember way back in Genesis 12? "I'll make you a great nation." God goes on to say that He will multiply the offspring of Abraham so that his descendants will be like the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. GOD IS DOING WHAT HE PROMISED! "They were many!"

2. Balak sent his men to recruit Balaam for this cursing ceremony. But when the men reach Balaam he tells them he will have to consult with Yahweh. God tells him in v. 12 "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." GOD IS DOING WHAT HE PROMISED AGAIN! Remember he told Abraham, "I'm going to bless you." This is God being faithful to the covenant once again.

3. But why is that important? Why should I care if God is keeping promises to Abraham? Because God promised our salvation when He made that promise to Abraham! Remember, God said, "in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." Galatians 3:8-9 tells us how this part of the promise is fulfilled. God planned to save Gentiles (which is most of us) through what He promised to Abraham. Ultimately, Jesus Messiah was promised through Abraham as the ultimate blessing!

So as you read the Old Testament find encouragement in reading it in context of this important covenant. Yes there was a talking donkey...but don't miss the main point of the passage - God's faithfulness! Every time you see God's faithfulness to this covenant, let it reassure you that God is going to be faithful to save you, just like He promised.

Worldly Grief = Death

Have you ever shared the gospel with someone, felt like the person was getting it, and then a few weeks later they seem to have no interest in following Christ? It can be hard to share the gospel faithfully when we continue to see people respond positively, but only for a short period of time. I personally long to see more and more people come to Christ because of my ministry. And I long to see those people follow Christ for the long haul, not just for a few days.

While it can be discouraging to see people reject the gospel, it should not surprise us. Jesus himself had many who heard him teach, yet walked away unchanged and unresponsive to following him. The apostle Paul testified of men he had poured his life into, who abandoned him later in life to return to the things of this world. Many faithful Christians have shared the gospel, only to see people ultimately reject a new life with Christ.

The Bible tells us that this kind of conviction and response is not genuine. II Cor. 7:10 says that some experience sorrow or grief about their sin, but it isn't motivated out of a genuine desire to turn from it so that they can please God. Instead, many people will initially respond to the gospel for fear of hell and punishment. Not that hell and punishment are bad motivations for salvation. But for many, the thought of hell is quickly gone, and after a few days, they become unconcerned once again with the punishment and wrath that awaits them. They initially say "yes" to Jesus out of fear, but once the fear goes away, it is back to loving the things of this world, which will one day lead to death.

Pharaoh, unfortunately, serves as a good example of this type of sorrow. In Exodus 9, God is continuing to pour out plagues on Egypt because of Pharaoh's rebellion and stubbornness. As the hail storm rains down wrath upon Egypt, Pharaoh begins to cry out and acknowledge his sin. He says, "This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I am my people are in the wrong. Plead with the LORD, for there has been enough of God's thunder and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer."

This would seem to be the response that Moses and God had been waiting on all along. But this repentance isn't real. This type of repentance only comes because there is regret due to the punishment. Once the punishment is removed, the sin and rebellion comes right back. Moses even says, "I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God."

Don't be discouraged as you share the gospel and see people ultimately reject it. You can expect this to happen, as we see it happen throughout Scripture, but in the Old and New Testaments. But you can also expect the opposite. Lest we forget, the book of Revelation proclaims a scene where people from the entire earth, a number that no one can count, standing before the throne of God in worship. People will be saved. And we can expect it. As we spread the seed of the gospel, remember much of it will fall on good soil that will spring up and last. As Paul says in I Thessalonians 1:1-5, when the gospel comes in the power of the Holy Spirit, true conviction will happen and we will be able to rejoice over real salvations.

Have You Ever Worshipped a Golden Calf?

Exodus 32 reveals a startling picture of how "off" many can be in their worship of God. The children of Israel have just been rescued from 400 years of slavery and bondage to the Egyptian people. And this was no ordinary rescue. This rescue operation had been supernaturally engineered by the Creator of the universe. Yahweh Himself had gotten personally involved in the lives of this people, freeing them from a ruthless Pharaoh through a series of miraculous plagues, splitting open the Red Sea so they could pass right through and then graciously providing both food and water in the middle of the wilderness where there was none to be found. And now this nation of Israel has been led to the foot of a mountain, a scene that the Bible describes as terrifying with smoke, fire, lightening and rumblings all providing the backdrop for where Israel will be given the holy standard of God's Law.

As the days pass the people begin to grow restless. Rather than taking the time to know God through His revealed Word, they craft their own version of Yahweh and decide for themselves how he will be worshipped and known. The account of this is astonishing. Notice that in Exodus 32, this golden calf that is molded from gold is not called Baal or any other foreign god name. This calf is called Yahweh. Aaron leads the people in giving credit to this "created god" for their rescue from Egypt. In addition, a worship feast is played for none other than Yahweh, whom they will choose to worship the way they want to worship him, with pagan dancing and activities that they have learned from the world. They aren't claiming to worship a false god, they think they are worshipping the one true God. These people, in their own ignorance, believe they are worshipping the God who is on the mountain, but their worship and knowledge is based on THEIR ideas, emotions and reasoning, not on God's Word.

Have you ever been guilty of the same thing? Have you ever allowed your understanding of God to be shaped by your own reasoning, your own thoughts, your own ideas and your own emotions? Have you ever heard people disregard truths about God by saying "I just can't believe in a God who would do things that way"? Are you guilty of believing things about God that others have told you but that aren't rooted in His Word? Have you been worshipping a calf in your mind, rather than worshipping Yahweh? Have you chosen to "know" God through your own reasoning, rather than taking the time to search the depths of who He is in His Word? Are you sure what you think about God is the same thing that God says about Himself?

I know for myself, especially over the past 5 years or so, that I have had to wrestle with hard truths about who God is and how He runs His universe. It's hard to believe, at times, in a God who judges people with hell, in a God who allows evil and suffering to wreck lives, in a God who does things differently then I would choose to. One thing I've learned though over the years though, I'm thankful that I worship a God who isn't the type of god I would create. I'm thankful that as I search the Scripture to know God more, He ends up being everything that my sinful, selfish, arrogant, prideful self doesn't want him to be. He is a God who loves holiness, who won't let me stay in my sin, who forgives others as much as He forgives me, who is concerned about His own glory more than He is mine, who is concerned with dealing with Satan, sin, pain and suffering in His own timing. I'm thankful for a God who is infinitely better than anything I could ever craft out of gold in my mind. He is everything that I would do differently. And I'm eternally grateful for that.

Let us not be guilty of worshipping a god who doesn't exist. Let us instead shape our minds, deepen our knowledge and worship in truth as we understand the God who has rescued us supernaturally from sin. Know God through His Word. Be challenged when the God you find is something you didn't expect. Be encouraged when you find God doing things you wouldn't do. A God who is hard to understand at times makes more sense than a god we create.

Pray Expectantly

I was sitting at Stevie B's Pizza yesterday with Lauren, Jen, Maggie, Jack and my mom. Maggie (3 years old) expressed a desire to pray for us before the meal so Jen suggested some things to mention in her prayer. She was careful to tell Maggie to thank God for the time we were getting to spend with family today and asked her to pray that God would give Adam and Lauren and mommy and daddy wisdom as they make decisions for buying a house.

Maggie's prayer "thank you God for giving us wisdom for buying a house." I love that. Obviously Maggie doesn't understand but I loved the thought of her praying/thanking God for something that He has already promised to give us. (James 1:5). Let us all pray more expectantly in our prayers, especially when we are praying for something that God has told us to pray for and promised to give us when we ask.

Worship Check-Up

A couple of months ago I had the awesome opportunity to study the topic of worship in depth to be prepared to teach a series in MainEvent. In my studying I continually ran across a common theme that seemed to shout..."Everyone worships something!" All people - believers, pagans, thieves, soldiers, children, scientists, etc. - everyone worships. However, this did not mean that humans were created by God with a "capacity" or "ability" to worship. It wasn't that God created the human and then downloaded the "worship software" to be run whenever we wanted to use it, nor was it that He gave us a circuit that we can turn on and off like a light switch on a wall when we are ready to offer worship. No. Instead humans are continuous worshippers always reflecting what we value most. Harold Best refers to us as "continuous outpourers" meaning that everyone was created by God, every single person, as a worshipper who is "continually outpouring" worship to something or someone. Remember worship or "worth-ship" happens when we attribute worth and value to someone of something and allow that value to have an impact on our joy. Whether this is the God of the universe in the face of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, or the latest technological gadget or human relationship that misdirects our loving affections, we all worship.

So... why bring all this up again? Well, I believe that as we daily feast on the Bible, remind ourselves of the Gospel, and preach to ourselves Christ crucified and resurrected, we should also develop the habit of asking the Lord to reveal to us where we might be going in our giving of our affections... our "worship direction" I might say. This is consistent with the Psalmist cry for the Lord to reveal his "hidden sins" (Psalm 19:12). We want the Lord to show us where we might be going wrong before we go wrong. It is like us getting a medical check-up to see if everything is still going in a right way before we see symptoms of sickness; it is like preventative lawn care instead of waiting until your overrun with weeds. We can ask the Lord to help us take a healthy look at ourselves just long enough to see what we have been giving most of our time and affections to as well. We are continually overflowing worship like a fire-hydrant. We need the Lord's help to make sure we are overflowing in the right direction. Let's ask the Lord to help us direct the wellsprings of our souls towards Him, the Fountain of Living Water.

I was looking into a Christian music artist this morning that I have never heard of before and ran across one of his blogs which offered a humbling perspective about true success for music ministers. However, I believe his blog post can serve us all this morning . Whether you are someone who believes God has gifted you to serve His local church with musical gifting, if you are someone who just loves Christian music, or if you are someone who desires sometimes to serve in other ways that are more "visible" in the church, I believe you will benefit from reading it. This post was a good tool for me to use to check my "worship direction" for today. Here are just a few questions I asked myself:

1. When I love, am I giving myself to God or am I outpouring myself to ministry? (Am I a Mary or a Martha? Luke 10:39-42)

2. When I sing, am I in love with the God that the lyrics point to in music, or am I wrapped up the actual music? (Do I think Jesus is awesome or do I think drum fill and electric solo is awesome?)

3. When I serve, do I desire to be used by God in whatever capacity He wants, or do I desire to be used in a place that makes me visible before lots of people?

I was humbled as someone who is involved with music on a more regular basis than some, but I hope that as you read it you can use it to ask yourself healthy questions about your own perspectives about Christian music. However, whether you read it or not, let me encourage us all to have a worship check-up this morning after we have eaten from the Word and drank from the Gospel. Let's ask God to help direct our worship to where it belongs.

This guys blog (while you're there check out his music): http://mattpapa.wordpress.com/2011/04/02/so-you-wanna-be-a-rock-star-by-keith-green/

Salvation? I Do!

I heard Francis Chan say something today that really clicked with me. He equated God's offer of salvation to that of a man proposing to a woman. I began to think of the cost of following Christ. Sometimes people think that salvation or the Gospel offers eternal life freely with no responsibility. It's as though we can accept Christ and enjoy salvation but continue living as we want. We mistake salvation as being free in the sense that we never have to do anything. In a sense we can enjoy the benefits of Yahweh, the God of Israel, while also serving/living for all the other gods we enjoy.

But salvation really is like a proposal. I remember sitting down with Lauren before we made the decision to marry. In fact this conversation happened before we even started dating. I laid everything out on the table for her. Told her my plans and dreams and where I saw my family going in the future. I then asked her if she would consider being a part of that life. Would she be willing to forsake all other men and all other future plans that those men might would have for her and instead commit her life to me as my wife and follow me, submit to me, love me, remain faithful to me for as long as she lives. Thankfully she considered my offer worthy of giving her life to. She weighed the costs and determined that loving me and following me was the life she wanted.

This is God's proposal to us. We are to surrender to him in faith and repentance and enjoy salvation from our sin. But in that proposal is the offer to come and forsake all other gods, to follow him, submit to him, love him, remain faithful to him for as long as we live.

It's not that salvation isn't free. It's as free as the offer to Lauren was. She didn't pay me anything to marry her. I've never asked her for anything. But part of being my wife means that she devotes herself to me. And I commit to doing everything I can for her good. The offer from God is the same. He doesn't ask us to pay anything or earn the right to join ourselves to him. But he does expect our devotion, while he promises to work for our good.

24 Books Complete!

At the beginning of last year I made the commitment to read a book a month. By God's grace I was able to find the time to complete 2 books a month. (I finished #24 for the year this morning). I've listed the books I completed below and would encourage you to pick up any one of them this year to read. I was encouraged greatly by all of them. Let me know if you would like a specific review on a title. (Note: Special Awards given)

1. Forgotten God by Francis Chan

2. Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond edited by Darrell Bock

3. Heaven Misplaced by Douglas Wilson

4. The Smell of Sin and the Fresh Air of Grace by Don Everts

5. What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert

6. You Can Change by Tim Chester

7. Death by Love by Mark Driscoll

8. Refuel by Doug Fields

9. Church Planting is for Wimps by Mike McKinley (I Never Thought I Would Need Book, but I definitely do now)

10. Standing Strong by John MacArthur

11. Saved Without a Doubt by John MacArthur

12. Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers by John Owen (Most Difficult to Read Book)

13. What Does God Want of Us Anyway? By Mark Dever

14. By Whose Authority? by Mark Dever

15. Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

16. Love that Rescues: God’s Fatherly Love in the Practice of Church Discipline by Eric J. Bargerhuff

17. Radical by David Platt (Most Convicting Book)

18. Finally Alive by John Piper (Best All-Around Book)

19. Jesus: The Only Way to God by John Piper

20. Humility: The Journey Toward Greatness by Andrew Murray

21. Humilty: True Greatness by C.J. Mahaney

22. The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose (Must Read by Any LU Student Book)

23. Lord Foulgrin’s Letters by Randy Alcorn (Most Surprised by Its Goodness Book - I cried reading it)

24. Choosing to Cheat by Andy Stanley