“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” the Psalmist wrote (Psalm 119:105). Reading that verse today, we may not grasp the full impact of what he was saying. During his day, they did not have electrical power and exterior street lighting for you to see your way. At night, streets were pitch-dark. You could see your way only by candles or lamps. And what he was saying in this verse was that the Word of God was the light for the path of his life, lest he stumbled along the way or went awry.
The Word of God should play the same role in our life today. We are commanded to not lean to our own understanding, but to acknowledge God in all of our decision-making (see Proverbs 3:5-6). And I am sure that many of us claim that we do. But what about when there is a conflict of interest? In other words, what if the Word points you in a particular direction and that direction is diametrical to the way in which you are bent on going? In those instances, who wins, you or God?
Let me give you a couple of examples. One has to do with dating. For Christians, the Bible says we should not yoke ourselves with unbelievers (see 2 Corinthians 6:14). But what if you are a Christian, and you are dating someone whom you are crazy about, and would jump at the chance to marry him or her, but the person tells you he has no interest in the Christian faith? Having been a pastor who had members involved in those kinds of relationships, I know that can be a tough one. And, yes, I know that many marriages between two unbelievers turn out even better than some Christian marriages. I am not here to debate that point. The question on the floor is, to what extent do we allow the Word of God to be the light for our Christian journey?
Here is another example. This one occurs in the voting booth. One thing that baffles me is how many Christians vote with more loyalty to a political party than to what they say they believe as Christians. My purpose here is not to promote or bad mouth any political party. What I am talking about is much bigger than that. I am talking about Christians who don’t care about a candidate’s platform or his position on key social issues because their practice is to enter the booth and vote along party lines. I believe that when we allow the Word of God to be the light of our life, we will vote for politicians who reflect our values as Christians, regardless of their political affiliation. Our loyalty must be to Christ and not a political party.
The two examples I used here are among the more difficult ones. That was done on purpose. You see, most of the time, we don’t mind forsaking our way to embrace the direction given us in the Word of God—as long as it’s rather easy to do, and it costs us very little. But what about things we regard as sacred such as things that have been handed down to us by family tradition or our culture, to which our continued loyalty constitutes a failure to walk in the light of God’s Word. In those instances, who wins, you or God?
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
How to Fireproof Our Home
Being an effective parent can seem overwhelming to most parents these days. Through the constant barrage of technological advances that make our children incredibly mobile, their exposure to all kinds of influences via robust social networks, and a society that encourages us to do whatever makes us feel good, how can Christian parents lead and not follow? How can they keep God in their home?
The Bible refers to the devil as our adversary, and his goal is to seek to devour us (see 1 Peter 5:8). He wants to attack our home and destroy our marriage and the entire family. He can use all of the things I mentioned above to accomplish his end. But here is a novel idea: the Word of God, properly applied, still works and causes us to prevail. The question is, how can we use the Word of God to protect our home from the onslaught of our society?
First of all, it has to start with the parents. Consider what God said to the parents prior to taking His people into the Promised Land: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts” (Deuteronomy 6:6, NIV). The parents are the spiritual leaders of their home. Imagine if your pastor, being the overseer of the local congregation, did not have the Word of God in his heart. Such a church would have no chance of success. The same is true for parents as spiritual leaders of their home.
Secondly, God said, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road….” (verse 7). Clearly, from this verse, God is not talking about some passive teaching to our children. Rather, we parents must diligently teach the Word of God to our children. We must openly talk about the Bible around our home. This is not a call to fanaticism or legalism but to loving diligence.
As God continued speaking to the parents, He said, “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt” (verse 12). The reason He said this was because He was about to take them to a land flowing with milk and honey, a land with houses they had not built, and vineyards they had not planted, and wells they had not dug (see verse 11). You see, parents, as we walk with the Lord and He blesses us, one of the ways that we safeguard ourselves and our children from forgetting the Lord is by first getting the Word deep into our heart, and then diligently teaching them to our children. People who have a deep relationship with the Lord can enjoy His blessings without forgetting Him.
God also said to the parents, “Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you” (verse 14). You see, when God brought His people into the Promised Land, He did not drive all of the inhabitants out. Those who remained were serving their own gods. The Israelites back then were where we are today. At school, at work, on the park, on the Internet, wherever, our children are exposed to people who serve other gods. The only way we can safeguard our children from this land of unlimited gods is by getting the Word of God in our hearts, and then diligently teaching the same to our children. When we obey God in this regard, He will bless our efforts, protecting our home from the onslaught of this society.
The Bible refers to the devil as our adversary, and his goal is to seek to devour us (see 1 Peter 5:8). He wants to attack our home and destroy our marriage and the entire family. He can use all of the things I mentioned above to accomplish his end. But here is a novel idea: the Word of God, properly applied, still works and causes us to prevail. The question is, how can we use the Word of God to protect our home from the onslaught of our society?
First of all, it has to start with the parents. Consider what God said to the parents prior to taking His people into the Promised Land: “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts” (Deuteronomy 6:6, NIV). The parents are the spiritual leaders of their home. Imagine if your pastor, being the overseer of the local congregation, did not have the Word of God in his heart. Such a church would have no chance of success. The same is true for parents as spiritual leaders of their home.
Secondly, God said, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road….” (verse 7). Clearly, from this verse, God is not talking about some passive teaching to our children. Rather, we parents must diligently teach the Word of God to our children. We must openly talk about the Bible around our home. This is not a call to fanaticism or legalism but to loving diligence.
As God continued speaking to the parents, He said, “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt” (verse 12). The reason He said this was because He was about to take them to a land flowing with milk and honey, a land with houses they had not built, and vineyards they had not planted, and wells they had not dug (see verse 11). You see, parents, as we walk with the Lord and He blesses us, one of the ways that we safeguard ourselves and our children from forgetting the Lord is by first getting the Word deep into our heart, and then diligently teaching them to our children. People who have a deep relationship with the Lord can enjoy His blessings without forgetting Him.
God also said to the parents, “Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you” (verse 14). You see, when God brought His people into the Promised Land, He did not drive all of the inhabitants out. Those who remained were serving their own gods. The Israelites back then were where we are today. At school, at work, on the park, on the Internet, wherever, our children are exposed to people who serve other gods. The only way we can safeguard our children from this land of unlimited gods is by getting the Word of God in our hearts, and then diligently teaching the same to our children. When we obey God in this regard, He will bless our efforts, protecting our home from the onslaught of this society.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Christians Living in Post-9/11 America
I remember the morning of September 11, 2001. The wife of one of my colleagues called to the office where we were working, and told him to turn on the TV. She didn’t tell him what was going on. So we went to the break room, and turned on the TV. At that time, the World Trade Center towers had already been hit. As we looked at the total madness surrounding the burning buildings, it was obvious that something terrible had happened. When the reporter recounted the unthinkable, we looked at the TV screen in shock. None of us said anything to anybody else in the room for a few minutes.
That horrible event would forever change the climate in America. Since that time, we have been at war the Islamic extremists, mainly in Afghanistan and Iraq, while trying to foster better relationships with the general population of the Muslim community at home and abroad. But the tension is a high as ever, as indicated by the amount of news coverage of the Mosque that is planned to be built near Ground Zero, and the madness surrounding Pastor Terry Jones’ threat to have a Quran burning this very anniversary date. Moreover, the ideology that drives Islamic extremists is such that the ugliness of terrorism is here to stay.
But as Christians, we are not to cower in a cave or hole somewhere. We must continue to be about our Father’s business. He knew beforehand that we would be living in a world just like the one we are in. And we are called to make a relevant difference that only we can. Here are several things that we should be doing as the people of God in this post-9/11 era:
1. We should pray for our leaders: That is, “For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life….” (1 Timothy 2:2, KJV). Our political leaders are faced with unimaginable challenges. These tests are financial, physical, spiritual, etc. Some of these leaders do not even believe in God. But when the people of God pray, He hears and answers our prayers. He has the power to effect awesome changes in the political arena. In the end, our prayers will cause us to realize a greater measure of peace in our country.
2. We must labor to keep God on America’s conscience. Because of our country’s openness to every imaginable lifestyle and religion, and in our efforts to be accommodating to them all, we run the risk of become an amoral nation. In the name of separation of church and state, many of our political leaders would rather us not mention God and the Bible when debating social issues. But the Bible says that God will turn into hell “all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).
3. We must continue to carry out the Great Commission. Jesus said that as we go about to teach and disciple the nations, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NIV). As we go about carrying out this mandate, Christ is with us. We are laborers together with Him. He supplies the power and all the wherewithal for us to get the job done. He is ready, willing, and able to save the most hardened terrorist.
Yes, the face of America has changed since September 11, 2001. But man’s greatest need is still to know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s where we come in. Let us not lose heart or focus.
That horrible event would forever change the climate in America. Since that time, we have been at war the Islamic extremists, mainly in Afghanistan and Iraq, while trying to foster better relationships with the general population of the Muslim community at home and abroad. But the tension is a high as ever, as indicated by the amount of news coverage of the Mosque that is planned to be built near Ground Zero, and the madness surrounding Pastor Terry Jones’ threat to have a Quran burning this very anniversary date. Moreover, the ideology that drives Islamic extremists is such that the ugliness of terrorism is here to stay.
But as Christians, we are not to cower in a cave or hole somewhere. We must continue to be about our Father’s business. He knew beforehand that we would be living in a world just like the one we are in. And we are called to make a relevant difference that only we can. Here are several things that we should be doing as the people of God in this post-9/11 era:
1. We should pray for our leaders: That is, “For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life….” (1 Timothy 2:2, KJV). Our political leaders are faced with unimaginable challenges. These tests are financial, physical, spiritual, etc. Some of these leaders do not even believe in God. But when the people of God pray, He hears and answers our prayers. He has the power to effect awesome changes in the political arena. In the end, our prayers will cause us to realize a greater measure of peace in our country.
2. We must labor to keep God on America’s conscience. Because of our country’s openness to every imaginable lifestyle and religion, and in our efforts to be accommodating to them all, we run the risk of become an amoral nation. In the name of separation of church and state, many of our political leaders would rather us not mention God and the Bible when debating social issues. But the Bible says that God will turn into hell “all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).
3. We must continue to carry out the Great Commission. Jesus said that as we go about to teach and disciple the nations, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NIV). As we go about carrying out this mandate, Christ is with us. We are laborers together with Him. He supplies the power and all the wherewithal for us to get the job done. He is ready, willing, and able to save the most hardened terrorist.
Yes, the face of America has changed since September 11, 2001. But man’s greatest need is still to know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s where we come in. Let us not lose heart or focus.
Monday, September 6, 2010
The Power of Unbelief
The Bible says a lot about the importance of our faith in God. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, people accomplished the humanly impossible through their faith. The eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews, for instance, tells us of many of God’s servants who did great things through their faith in Him. One way for us to grasp the importance of our faith is by looking at the impact that unbelief has on our relationship with the Lord.
When Jesus was among His disciples, He rebuked them a number of times because they fell short of His expectations. When He revealed to them the reason for their failure, oftentimes, it was not a matter of immorality but of unbelief (see Matthew 17:20, Mark 4:40, for examples). In the Lord’s expression of His disapproval of His disciples’ performance, He is revealing to us a vital key to successful Christian living. That key happens to be our faith in Him.
One day Jesus visited His hometown, and the Bible says, “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:5-6). His inability to do great things at home was not the result of His having lost any of His awesome power that He had demonstrated in other places. Rather, there must be an environment of faith present in order for Him to work mightily among His people. When the spirit of unbelief prevails, as it did in Jesus’ hometown, His hands are virtually tied. Note, the verse does not say He would not do any great works there, but He could not. Hence, we can see the power of unbelief.
The greatest tool we have for warring against personal unbelief and growing in our faith in God is the Word of God. Here is one thing I can promise you: if you seldom pick up your Bible and study it, you will have serious problems with unbelief. I am not speaking to your salvation or the lack thereof. Salvation is one thing, but positioning yourself to receive from God is something totally different. And the fact is, if you fail to live a life characterized by genuine faith in God, you have placed limits on what God can do in your personal life. Hopefully you are like I am in that I don’t want to just be saved and go to heaven, but also I want to enjoy the Lord’s blessings while I am here.
We may attend church and study our Bible regularly, but how much of what we read and hear preached do we believe and act on? God is not a respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of our faith. That’s one of the reasons the biblical accounts of how God dealt with His servants and His people at large are so important to us. When we walk in faith toward God as they did, He will deal with us in a manner consistent with how He dealt with them. By the same token, if we walk in unbelief, as the Israelites did when God told them to take the Promised Land, we will miss out on many blessings.
All of us pray about things that only God can help us with. He stands ready, willing, and able to meet every need in our life. But it is our personal responsibility to make sure that we don’t tie His hands with our unbelief.
When Jesus was among His disciples, He rebuked them a number of times because they fell short of His expectations. When He revealed to them the reason for their failure, oftentimes, it was not a matter of immorality but of unbelief (see Matthew 17:20, Mark 4:40, for examples). In the Lord’s expression of His disapproval of His disciples’ performance, He is revealing to us a vital key to successful Christian living. That key happens to be our faith in Him.
One day Jesus visited His hometown, and the Bible says, “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief” (Mark 6:5-6). His inability to do great things at home was not the result of His having lost any of His awesome power that He had demonstrated in other places. Rather, there must be an environment of faith present in order for Him to work mightily among His people. When the spirit of unbelief prevails, as it did in Jesus’ hometown, His hands are virtually tied. Note, the verse does not say He would not do any great works there, but He could not. Hence, we can see the power of unbelief.
The greatest tool we have for warring against personal unbelief and growing in our faith in God is the Word of God. Here is one thing I can promise you: if you seldom pick up your Bible and study it, you will have serious problems with unbelief. I am not speaking to your salvation or the lack thereof. Salvation is one thing, but positioning yourself to receive from God is something totally different. And the fact is, if you fail to live a life characterized by genuine faith in God, you have placed limits on what God can do in your personal life. Hopefully you are like I am in that I don’t want to just be saved and go to heaven, but also I want to enjoy the Lord’s blessings while I am here.
We may attend church and study our Bible regularly, but how much of what we read and hear preached do we believe and act on? God is not a respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of our faith. That’s one of the reasons the biblical accounts of how God dealt with His servants and His people at large are so important to us. When we walk in faith toward God as they did, He will deal with us in a manner consistent with how He dealt with them. By the same token, if we walk in unbelief, as the Israelites did when God told them to take the Promised Land, we will miss out on many blessings.
All of us pray about things that only God can help us with. He stands ready, willing, and able to meet every need in our life. But it is our personal responsibility to make sure that we don’t tie His hands with our unbelief.
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