Being a Disciple Requires Discipline

“The problem with everyday life is it’s so daily.” I don’t know who said that originally, but I’ve thought it many times. Life seems easy during the exciting moments – special events, lavish parties, vacations, travel to exotic locations. But the mundane functions of daily living can be hard. 

 

Emerging bed in the morning, getting cleaned up, eating a quick breakfast (if you have time), going to work, carrying out responsibilities and trying to solve problems, heading home to decompress from the day’s demands, then going to bed to do it all over again in the morning. Indeed, everyday life is so daily!

 

The spiritual life is similar. We might have a ‘mountaintop experience’ from time to time, we might hear a sermon that inspires us or hear a song that stirs our heart, but the reality of living for Jesus Christ every day doesn’t ensure thrills every minute. It’s a matter of obedience, faithfulness – and discipline – in the midst of what’s mostly mundane.

 

I like how my favorite devotional writer, Oswald Chambers, expressed it: “[it requires] the supernatural grace of God to live 24 hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus…. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy in the ordinary streets, among ordinary people – and this is not learned in five minutes.”

 

What Chambers is talking about is discipline, a determination of heart and mind to pursue God no matter what distractions or obstacles we encounter. Jesus offered a succinct description of what this looks like: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). To “deny himself and take up his cross” means to die to oneself, to say no to anything and everything that could steer us off course in our walk with the Lord.

 

We’re in the middle of football season, and those of us who are fans spend considerable time watching games featuring our favorite teams. We admire the speed, athleticism and skill on display (hopefully more by our team than the other). But what stands out most – or should – is discipline.

 

Offensive linemen get into their set positions and remain still until the ball is hiked. If they don’t, the referees are quick to toss their yellow penalty flags. Quarterbacks, running backs, receivers all take their positions as well. Once Mr. QB has the ball, everyone moves as the called play dictates, seeking to move the ball toward the opponents’ goal line. The running back must go in the right direction and receivers must follow their prescribed routes. Without discipline, the play won’t succeed. 

 

However, much of the discipline football players exert goes unseen, taking place long before game day. Practice, practice, practice. Doing the same things over and over until they become second nature. Add to that the hours of physical training, lifting weights, meetings, memorizing the playbook. Daily drudgery, designed for success on the field.

 

This principle is vitally important for all who desire to be disciples of Jesus Christ – true followers, learners, and spiritual reproducers. Just before His ascension to heaven, Jesus commanded, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). And to make disciples, as He instructed, one must first be a disciple. And you can’t be a disciple without discipline.

 

Unlike football or other sports, following Jesus isn’t a pastime, or a casual pursuit. As the apostle Paul wrote in Acts 17:28, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” These days we hear a lot of talk about one’s identity. For followers of Christ, He should be our identity.

 

For Paul, this was his passion, his motivation, the thing that drove him through the ups and downs of life – and he experienced many of both. Writing to believers in ancient Philippi, Paul expressed what we might consider his mission statement: “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11).

 

But Paul was quick to note that he hadn’t arrived, that his everyday goal of becoming more and more like Christ – and less and less like the person he was before encountering Him – was yet to be achieved. With honesty and humility, he stated: 

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it…. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

 

Whether we’ve been following Jesus for a week, a few months, a year, or many years, we should take Paul’s words to heart. We’re still ‘in process,’ and therefore we must press onward.

 

The psalmist wrote, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Whatever the day brings, we can have confidence that it’s another day God has given to us. With discipline we can grow in our faith and revel in opportunities to serve the Lord and those He sends our way.  

We Might Not Be Suns, But We Can Be Moons

If you haven’t noticed the visual wonders all around us, you haven’t been looking. Because everywhere we look it seems there’s something else at which to marvel. From region to region, state to state, city to city, there are always spectacular places to visit, incredible vistas to enjoy.

The earth is filled with natural wonders, and I’ve had the opportunity to see some of them in person. The Grand Canyon stands out in my mind, along with the Rocky Mountains, beaches on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the tulip fields of Holland, and the rolling hills of the Tuscany region of Italy.

 

It’s nice being able to travel and ‘see the sights,’ but to enjoy wonders of our universe we need look no farther than up. The countless stars in the sky boggle the imagination. For us they are beyond numbering, but Psalm 147:4 tells us God does: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.” The wonders of creation are all around us – and just over our heads.

 

One of those stars, the sun at the center of our own solar system, has enough splendor of its own. To me, there’s nothing more spectacular than a sunset or a glorious sunrise. Then there’s the moon, the earth’s satellite which has fascinated humankind through the centuries. Men have walked on the moon, but it’s still filled with mystery. Its phases, eclipses, nights when it seems larger and more brilliant than others. I wonder if we appreciate enough the grandeur on display in the sky above us.

 

In thinking about stars, our sun, and the moon, I’m reminded of exhortations we find in the Scriptures for all of God’s children. Did you know that to the unbelieving world around us we’re to shine like stars?

 

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, in a description of events concerning the end of times, it says, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

 

This is not the only place where followers of Christ are described in this way. Writing to believers in ancient Philippi, the apostle Paul encouraged their faithfulness “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved, generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…” (Philippians 2;15-16).

 

Reading these passages, it’s important to recognize we’re not told to be stars but to be like stars. There’s a great difference. The stars – our sun being one of them – generate their own light. The moon, however, does not. It merely reflects the light of the sun.

 

In a similar yet far more profound way, as we go about our daily lives – at work, at school, in our neighborhoods, as we travel – we’re to be similar to the moon, reflecting the light of One who said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5).

 

Because of this, Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

 

As we spend time with Christ in reading and studying the Word of God, praying and seeking to abide in Him (John 15:7) so that we increasingly come to know Him and not just know about Him, His light will shine increasingly in us and through us, bringing much needed light to an ever-darkening world.

 

Has anyone ever asked you, “What’s different about you?” or commented, “I’ve noticed something different about you”? Could it be that without realizing it, they’re seeing the light of Christ beaming through you? If not, pray and ask the Lord that it will be so. That’s what He desires of us.

Making Sense Out of Seeming Senselessness

Our world can be amazing and awesome. At other times, however, it can be confusing, confounding, sometimes inconceivable. Watching the evening news, reading a newspaper (online or the old-fashioned paper variety), or following social media for more than a few minutes can have us scratching our heads. Every day society seems to be creating a new form of crazy.

 

But it’s not just the violence, natural disasters, global conflict and political chicanery. It’s the befuddling stuff that goes on in our own lives. An excited young couple has their hopes dashed when the baby they’ve been preparing for is stillborn. A young man who has eagerly responded to a call from God to become a preacher falls from a cliff, leaving him a paraplegic. After years of working with diligence and excellence, a man is laid off from his job, a victim of ‘downsizing.’ A young woman’s fiancé is killed while deployed in the Middle East only weeks before their wedding date.

 

The list could go on. We’ve all experienced times when life just doesn’t make sense. Maybe you’re going through such a time right now. We can read Bible promises like Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” But in the midst of a great hardship or devastating heartbreak, those words might seem empty. “How is God going to work good out of this?!” we might wonder or even ask aloud.

 

Recently I was reminded of a wonderful song, "Trust His Heart," first recorded by Babbie Mason in 2001. Its message resonates as strongly as it did then. A recurring refrain in the song states, “So when you don’t understand, when you don’t see His plan, when you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.” 

 

In everyone’s life there are times we don’t understand, when we don’t see God’s plan in what’s happening, and when we can ‘t trace His hand – almost like He’s absent or indifferent. However, if we trust in the Scriptures and the assurances the Lord gives us through them, we know He hasn’t fallen asleep, gone on vacation or abandoned us.

 

Even in the midst of the most severe trial, we can cling to His promises, such as ones He gave through the prophet Jeremiah. For instance, in Jeremiah 29:11 He says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The outworking of this promise immediately follows: “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”

 

For many of us the senseless, unthinkable assassination of Charlie Kirk remains on our minds. We might wonder how such a thing could have happened – how God could have allowed it to happen. This tragic act ranks high among the things that don’t make sense.

 

The final chapter of Kirk’s life, however, has yet to be written even though he’s no longer living among us. His non-profit, Turning Point USA, remains very active and possibly more visible than ever. In some respects, it may be more vibrant now than when he was touring college campuses, holding forums, and debating some of the most pressing social issues of the day.

 

Sometimes for a movement of God to gain momentum, the death of a prominent leader is necessary. Jesus being crucified on the cross is the ultimate example. As He Himself said, predicting His own death, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24).

 

I’ve heard and read reports of numerous college campuses where evangelistic outreach meetings have attracted thousands of students, with many of them professing faith in Christ and even being baptized. I believe this is part of a much greater plan of God, with Kirk’s mission and vision being a small piece of what He’s doing across our nation and around the world.

 

We could cite countless other examples of how God has transformed seeming tragedy and great hardship into marvelous trophies of His love, grace and mercy. Hearing about those can encourage us as we go through our own trials and tribulations. 

It helps to remember what God has said about our incapacity to comprehend what He’s up to: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts'” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Trusting God’s heart, even when we don’t understand, can’t see His plan or trace His hand, will go a long way in enabling us to cling to hope in Him even when all seems hopeless. 

Temptation: Everyone’s Common Denominator

When you think about ‘temptation,’ what comes to mind? From the beginning of time, forbidden fruit has had great appeal. It started with Adam and Eve, who decided temptation wasn’t a bad idea and acted upon it. Nothing has changed since then. When children are small, telling them not to do something makes them want to do it all the more. Cookies in the pantry look very enticing, especially if mom or dad says, “No cookies before dinner.”

 

As we move through adolescence, into our teens and then adulthood, temptations may take different forms (the cookie jar remains tempting for many of us) but continue beckoning to us. In the Hollywood mindset, temptation can be a powerful tool. For the film or TV screenwriter, it can provide the basis for compelling story lines. For the film marketing department, temptation can attract many more viewers. After all, temptation is fun to dabble in, even in an imaginary, vicarious sense.

 

Poet, playwright and author Oscar Wilde famously said, “I can resist anything except temptation.” Have you ever felt that way? You’re having a good day, thinking and doing all the right things. Then temptation ambushes you, striking an area of weakness left unprotected.

 

Temptations come in all shapes and sizes. They can be something on your computer you know you shouldn’t be viewing – but you want to look at it anyway. Maybe it’s evening and you’re bored; after watching a parade of tempting food ads on TV, you find yourself staring into the refrigerator or the pantry, even though you’re really not hungry and had vowed to quit snacking to lose those excess pounds.

 

The workplace isn’t a refuge for escaping temptation either. If you’re in sales, it might be to promise more than you can deliver to close an important deal. Or you might be to make excuses for why you couldn’t finish a major project on time. You might find yourself wanting to spend more time with a coworker of the opposite sex than you should. Or you’re tempted to be creative with your expenses after a business trip.

 

Let’s face it. We’re all tempted, even though what tempts you might not be tempting for me. For instance, I’m never tempted to eat liver or Brussels sprouts – because I don’t like them. But crinkly French fries or a piece of cherry pie? That’s a different story. 

 

Being tempted is real and universal. The Bible even says so: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

 

That means when sorely tempted, we can’t claim the excuse the late comedian Flip Wilson’s “Geraldine” character often used: “The devil made me do it!” The Lord will provide the way of escape – if we’re willing to take it.

 

It’s also important to understand that temptation isn’t the same as sin. Temptation is being presented with an opportunity to sin. It becomes sin when, like Adam and Eve, we decide it’s too appealing to pass up. As the legendary preacher Charles H. Spurgeon wrote in one of his devotional messages, “There is no sin in being tempted, but there is sin in yielding to temptation.”

 

We have no greater example of this than Jesus Christ, who lived a life without ever sinning. That didn’t mean He never faced temptation. Matthew 4 recounts how the devil tempted Him three times, but each time Jesus relied on the powerful Word of God, refusing to submit to the temptations being presented.

 

This is good news, not only for affirming Christ’s purity and perfection, but also in informing us we can call on His strength in dealing with our own temptations. The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews states, “Because [Jesus] Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).

 

Later the writer adds, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

 

When confronted with temptation, whether for the first time or the umpteenth time, we can’t complain, “But Lord, You don’t understand.” Because He does understand. As the passage above assures us, He was tempted in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin. Because of that, He offers the mercy and grace we need to overcome whatever temptation we’re facing.

 

That doesn’t mean it’s okay to hang around situations that tempt us, just as it’s unwise to play with fire. If you struggle with alcohol, steer clear of pubs and open bars at weddings. If you’ve got a weight problem, stay away from all-you-can-eat buffets. But we argue, ‘God said He’ll provide a way out.’ Jesus addressed that while being tempted by Satan when He said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Luke 4:12). 

Years ago, a friend of mine who was a diabetic admitted he was tempted every time he drove past a popular donut shop. But he clung to the Lord’s promise to provide a way of escaping that temptation – and would continue driving straight rather than turning into the donut shop’s parking lot. 

Don’t Waste Your Life in the Pursuit of Seashells

Remember the old tongue twister, “She sells seashells by the seashore”? Recently I heard the story about a couple who apparently tried to live that out. They worked hard, saved diligently, and soon as they could started collecting Social Security, quit their jobs, sold their home and bought a beach house in Florida. Still in their early 60s, they determined to spend the rest of their life reveling in the sun – and collecting the most beautiful seashells they could find.

Some of us might be thinking, ‘Wow! That sounds like a pretty good idea to me.’ Might even seem like one version of the American dream: Leave the rat race of the workplace behind and start living a life of leisure while you’re still young enough to enjoy it.

 

Other similar scenarios might involve spending day after day on the golf course. Or sitting in a boat fishing. Or honing one’s tennis or pickleball skills. Or traveling across the United States, or around the world. Or just sitting on a front porch somewhere sipping iced tea and reading good books. 

 

There’s nothing wrong with any of those activities. Everyone’s entitled to enjoy their favorite pastimes. And after spending countless hours on the job, dealing with one frustration after another while trying to earn a reasonable living, aren’t we entitled to enjoy the fruits of our labors?

 

Yes, of course we are. But do we want the sum total of our lives to add up to a collection of seashells? Or golf scorecards? Tales about the biggest fish we caught? Doubles matches we won on the court? Or how many books we read?

 

I often think of the poem written by British missionary C.T. Studd, “Only One Life.” In it he states, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” When we stand before God one day – as the Bible teaches we all will – and He asks what we accomplished during our lives, do we want to proudly present a collection of seashells, or recount how many birdies we scored on the golf course?

 

This question isn’t just for those currently living in their twilight years. Because no matter how old we are, we’ve already started writing the biography of our life, figuratively if not literally. The story about our family, career, personal relationships, and how we’ve used the experiences and opportunities God presented to us, is well underway. What’s it saying so far – and what will the next chapters have to say?

 

In the Scriptures we read a lot about the importance of vision and mission. “Where there’s no vision, the people perish” says one translation of Proverbs 29:18. In light of this, a reasonable question might be, ‘What’s the vision I have for my life?’ Does it revolve around stuff we’ve accumulated, or pleasurable experiences? Or is our vision to leave a mark, even a legacy, that will endure long after we’re gone?

 

The best way to do this is to recognize that, as C.T. Studd declared in his poem, “only what’s done for Christ will last.” The apostle Paul had spent the first part of his adult life seeking to wipe out anyone who professed faith in Jesus Christ. However, he made a 180-degree turn after encountering the Lord on the road to Damascus, had his eyes opened – literally and figuratively – and devoted the rest of his life to helping people discover the saving power of Christ. His vision and mission shifted dramatically, from eradicate to evangelize.

 

He expressed this urgency to believers in ancient Colossae, urging them to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

 

Several verses later, perhaps for emphasis, Paul rephrased that charge: “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).

 

God has created a wondrous world for us to enjoy, overflowing with beauty in many forms. And there are innumerable hobbies from which to choose that can occupy our free hours. But Jesus told His disciples, “…I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:16). Are our diversions, our avocations, the primary focus of our lives, such that they will bear fruit that will last?

 

At least once each year retail establishments will conduct an inventory of what they have in their stores. Maybe a periodic personal inventory of our lives would be appropriate to see what we’re accumulating. Are we producing fruit that will last? (Another translation says, “fruit that won’t spoil.”) Or are we just collecting seashells?

After ‘Famous Last Words,’ What Will Be the First Words?

Not to seem morbid, but when your time comes, what do you think your final words will be? That’s a sobering thought, because most of us presume we’ll be speaking lots more words before that moment arrives. But it’s worth considering.

Through the centuries, the last words from famous people just before their death have been archived. Some reflect a final attempt at humor; others are encouraging; and some are heart-rending. Consider these examples:

On his deathbed, famed composer Beethoven is said to have uttered these words: “Friends applaud, the comedy is over.” Legendary actor Humphrey Bogart quipped, “I should have never switched from Scotch to martinis.” Comedian Groucho Marx said simply, “This is no way to live!” Reggae legend Bob Marley made this final observation: “Money can’t buy life.” And Winston Churchill, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, muttered this last sentence: “I’m bored with it all.”

 

Nostradamus, the 16^th century prognosticator, is still studied for some of his predictions. At least one of them, on his death bed, was correct: “Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here.” Marie Antoinette was the wife of King Louis XVI and the last queen before the French Revolution. On her way to the guillotine, she accidently stepped on her executioner’s foot. The last words anyone heard her say were, “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur.” (“Pardon me, sir.”)

 

Then there were those who clearly had their focus on what would happen after their final breath. Blues singer Bessie Smith stated, “I’m going, but I’m going in the name of the Lord.” And when Harriet Tubman was dying in 1913, with family gathered around her, she said, “Give my love to the churches. Tell the women to stand firm. I go to prepare a place for you.” 

 

Apparently with some regret Leonardo da Vinci, the renowned artist, scientist and engineer, declared, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” The sister of Steve Jobs, the entrepreneur, inventor and co-founder of Apple Inc., reported his final words were, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” No one knows what that meant.

 

Recounting famous last words is interesting, but what matters exponentially more are the first words we’ll hear after our lives have ended. What will they be? The Bible gives us a good idea of what we’ll hear – or at least something similar. They should either excite us – or terrify us.

 

Jesus Christ told a parable about an owner who had entrusted three servants with his property while he was away on a long journey. He expected them to properly manage what they had been given. Upon his return, he found two of the three servants had demonstrated good stewardship and were commended. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:21,23).

 

We often hear these words spoken of stalwart followers of Christ when they pass away. They’re not reserved only for ‘super-Christians,’ but also for all who have been faithful in whatever circumstances God placed them, using the gifts and opportunities He provided for His glory.

 

However, not everyone who dies and stands before the Lord will hear words like those. Jesus warned that just because someone says the right things, that doesn’t mean he or she will be welcomed into the heavenly realm. He declared:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and in Your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

 

How can we know for certain which phrase we’ll hear? What if being ‘religious’ and doing some good deeds isn’t enough? The Scriptures say we can definitely know what to expect. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). But exactly how can we know?

 

The Bible addresses this in many ways, but here are three of them:

Do a self-examination. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you – unless you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). We could become hopelessly introspective, but it’s not a bad thing once in a while to ask ourselves what we truly believe – and why.

Are we living out what we claim to believe? James 1:22-25 admonishes, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks at the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” One evidence of saving faith is the desire to put it into action.

For whom are we doing what we’re doing? In performing good works, are we doing them to be commended by others, or are we doing them for God’s glory and in appreciation for all He’s done for us? “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

 

It's sobering to realize that when our earthly lives end, the first words we hear will either be along the lines of, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”, or “Depart from Me, I never knew you!” Which will we hear?

Applying the Remedy for Discouragement

Do you ever feel discouraged? Maybe the special meal you planned didn’t turn out as expected. Or the diet you’ve tried hasn’t produced the results you wanted. Or just when you thought you were getting your finances in order, an emergency threw your budget out of whack. 

Perhaps the source of your discouragement is more profound: After years of striving to be the perfect parent, following advice from all the ‘experts,’ a headstrong teenager has you worrying well into the night. Where did you go wrong? Or after watching too much news on TV, the current state of the world has your head spinning, knowing there’s absolutely nothing you can do to fix it.

 

Reasons for being discouraged come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes no matter how hard we try we can’t seem to overcome those feelings. By definition, discouragement means to lack encouragement. This is where we can step up to help one another. 

 

The anonymous writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews understood this, because he wrote one of the Bible’s most powerful passages about applying the remedy for discouragement: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” (Hebrews 10:23-25). 

 

There’s a lot packed into those three verses. We find it’s not a matter of, “Suck it up! Things will get better. Just be positive.” No, the primary reason we can feel encouraged – to have hope – is because of God and His character. He’s ever-faithful, doesn’t fall asleep on the job, and is busily at work, even when we can’t see exactly what He’s doing. He’s the source of confident hope, no ‘hope-so,’ wishful thinking.

 

Next, I like the phrase, “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” When I was a boy, I spent many hours watching cowboy shows – Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, Wild Bill Hickok, the Long Ranger. They’d ride about proudly on their “trusty steeds,” and when immediate action was required, would spur their horses into action.

 

Encouragement should work the same way. It’s not about engaging in a mutual self-pity party, commiserating about how bad things are. It’s prodding or ‘spurring’ one another into action, acting on the hope and trust we have in the God who in Jeremiah 29:11 says, “… I know the plans I have for you…plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.”

 

Circumstances might not change or improve immediately, but instead of acting like turtles and retreating into our shells we can continue moving forward, assured the Lord hasn’t forgotten about us.

 

Then there’s the part about “meeting together” to encourage one another. This life, as I’ve stated before, isn’t about mimicking the aforementioned Lone Ranger, living a life of isolation. We need one another, one day being the recipient of encouragement and another day being the one who offers it.

 

While it doesn’t use the word ‘encouragement,’ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 addresses this strongly: 

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

 

Where do we find encouragement? Where can we give it? It might be a close friendship in which two people are always there for each other; whenever there’s a need the other promises, “I’ve got your back.” It might be a personal accountability group, a handful of folks who don’t exchange pleasantries but are willing to ask tough questions when needed, along with offering timely help and support. Or it could be colleagues at work, ready to assist one another when workloads become too heavy or demanding.

 

One of my favorite people in the Bible is Barnabas, who’s introduced in the 4^th chapter of the book of Acts. His given name, we’re told, was Joseph. But he earned the nickname Barnabas, literally Bar-Nabas – “son of encouragement.” 

 

His very first act in the Scriptures was to sell a field and donate the entire proceeds to the work of the apostles, who had been commissioned to carry on Jesus’ work after He ascended to heaven. What a way to let the Lord’s closest followers know he believed in them and wanted to support what they were doing.

 

But his greatest moment of encouragement was when he came alongside Saul of Tarsus, after the one-time persecutor of Christians had encountered Jesus Christ while heading to Damascus, planning to carry out more mayhem. Saul – later renamed Paul – experienced a miraculous transformation, but the apostles weren’t buying it. We’re told, “…he tried to join the disciples, but they were afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple” (Acts 9:26).

 

In stepped Barnabas, who obviously spent considerable time with Saul to hear him out. Barnabas boldly stood up for the new believer, knowing his own reputation was on the line. Probably with reluctance the apostles allowed Saul to remain with them, and he proved to be a bold witness for Christ. Can you imagine how encouraging it must have been for Saul to have Barnabas vouch for his transformed life?

 

Their story doesn’t end there, but it’s a glowing example of the powerful impact of one person offering encouragement to another. Through the power of Christ, we can do the same. God might not send another apostle Paul our way, but even a brief time spent with a person needing a kind word or a generous gesture can have more impact than we could imagine. And we’ll discover that by encouraging others, we’ll be encouraging ourselves.

Forgiveness, the Ultimate Gift We Can Give – to Ourselves

“That young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did.”

 

Erika Kirk offers forgiveness at her
husband's memorial service.

That was the unexpected, maybe unfathomable statement voiced by Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, the Conservative activist and Christian apologist assassinated two weeks ago while speaking on the campus of a university in Utah. Her words were directed to the 22-year-old alleged assassin. 

More than 60,000 people heard her speak those words in person in the jammed Phoenix, Ariz. stadium for Charlie’s memorial service Sept. 21, and millions saw her say them on TV and in videos over the days that followed. Responses ranged from awe and amazement to disbelief, and some even felt anger. How could she forgive someone who killed her husband?

 

Everyone who saw the broadcast couldn’t help but react in some way. Erika’s words brought the concept of forgiveness front and center into public discourse. And rightfully so. Because in our angry world, where hateful words and vitriol are so prevalent, forgiveness seems in short supply. And not just at colleges, the halls of government, and the ubiquitous, high-volume media.

 

Every day, millions of people carry crushing grudges against people who have hurt them – physically, verbally, emotionally. Like a relentless cancer, refusal to forgive others takes a grim toll, not only on those who’ve not been forgiven but also on those who refuse to consider or extend forgiveness.

 

On one level this is understandable. When someone has harmed us grievously, the last thing we want to say is, “I forgive you.” What we want is for them to suffer consequences. We don’t want them to feel freed or think they’ve ‘gotten away’ with wrongdoings or wrongful words. We want them to ‘pay’ for what they’ve done to us.

 

However, to forgive does not mean to forget. Nor does it mean, as in the case of the assassin, that justice won’t be served. Because it must. To forgive does not mean to exonerate. What forgiveness does most of all is free us from suffering as perpetual victims, being haunted and wounded repeatedly by memories of how we were hurt.

 

Someone has said that refusal to forgive is tantamount to drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Or as author Lewis B. Smedes observed, “To forgive is to set the prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”

 

There’s an even greater, infinitely more profound reason for forgiving another person, regardless of what they’ve done. It’s as Erika Kirk said, “I forgive him because it was what Christ did.”

 

Hanging on the cross, having undergone false accusations, mocking and taunting, excruciating scourging, and experiencing the most hideous form of execution, Jesus managed to utter these words: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). The Son of God imploring the Father to forgive the truly unforgiveable.

 

This was not a singular, out of character moment for Jesus Christ. He spoke often about forgiveness and the importance of being able to forgive wrongdoing – whether committed by others or ourselves.

 

In what is commonly known as the “Lord’s Prayer,” teaching His disciples how to pray Jesus included these words: “…Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us…” (Luke 11:4, also Matthew 6:12). Other translations use the words “trespasses” or “debts” instead of sins, but the meaning is the same.

 

Forgiveness, Jesus was explaining, must be a hallmark of His followers. Because being able to truly forgive, no matter the magnitude of the offense, is possible only through the power of Christ. As He stated in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Jesus offered no exceptions to this admonition.

 

Once the disciple Peter, always pressing the point with Jesus, asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” To which Jesus responded, “I tell you, not seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-35). In explaining this, He was basically saying there is no limit to forgiveness.

 

Most important to consider is how much the Lord has forgiven us. If we’re honest, we know we’re just as sinful, just as broken, as anyone else. As we’re told in Psalm 103:10-12, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

 

In other words, through God’s mercy and grace we’ve not received what we deserved but rather, what we definitely haven’t deserved. The apostle John gave us this reminder: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

 

Jesus underscored the importance of forgiveness in another way: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37). Forgiveness, in a very real sense, is a gift we give to ourselves.

 

This doesn’t mean terrible crimes should be absolved of guilt. Our God of love is also just and righteous God. To forgive doesn’t mean release from consequences. This is why the Lord established the system of justice we utilize in our nation. We should always remember, “For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people’” (Hebrews 10:30).

 

It is with this confidence that an Erika Kirk can say, despite her grief, “That young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did.” 

Breaking Up and Reconciling – Both Are Hard to Do

Way back when there was a lilting tune by pop singer Neil Sedaka called “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” I remember silly words it contained: “dum-do-bee-do-dahm-dahm. Comma-comma-dum….” But as the title suggests, the song was about breaking up. Like many in the early ‘60s, it expressed the teenaged angst of love won and lost.

 

Yes, breaking up indeed is hard to do. All of us who have experienced it at least once – and who hasn’t? – know that no matter how many breakups you’ve gone through, it doesn’t get easier. When cherished relationships become broken, it hurts.

The flip side of this also is true: Reconciling can be very hard to do as well. Whether in a marriage, family, close friendships or long-standing business relationships, when those ties become damaged, it can be extremely hard to achieve true reconciliation. It requires humility and forgiveness – which can be difficult to muster when one or both parties have been deeply hurt or betrayed.

 

This is one reason the Gospel of Jesus Christ is so poignant and compelling. After defining a true follower of Jesus – “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) – the apostle Paul explains this is the perfect example of what reconciliation means:

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them…” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

 

When we think about a broken relationship we’ve had and how difficult it was (or would be) to become reconciled, imagine the magnitude of what these words express – God earnestly wanting to reconcile us to Himself, despite our rebellion, refusal to obey the commands He gave us for our good, and defiance in worshipping just about anyone or anything but Him. In a word, our sin.

 

Philippians 2:7-8 tells us that God “…made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and become obedient to death – even death on a cross.” These words sum up most profoundly what true humility, sacrifice and forgiveness look like.

 

It’s impossible to capture this in strictly human terms. Imagine one of us taking on the form of a caterpillar, or even a beetle. That certainly would be humbling, but even that image in no way conveys what it was like for the God of the entire universe to take on human form in the person of Jesus Christ. And yet, that’s the extent to which He desperately desired to become reconciled with wayward, willfully disobedient people. 

 

And going to the cross, dying in our place to atone for our sins as our Redeemer, was the only way He could accomplish that. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Perhaps we should keep this in mind when we struggle to become reconciled with another person who has hurt us deeply.

 

There’s one other thing I find in this passage that strikes me as amazing: God not only has provided the means for becoming reconciled with Him but also asks us as His children to become agents for this reconciliation. It states, “And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).

 

There’s so much that could be written about this, but through the centuries this is exactly the apostles, patriarchs of Christianity like Martin Luther, John and Charles Wesley, Charles H. Spurgeon, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, and even Charlie Kirk have been doing: Imploring men, women and children to be reconciled to God.

Best of all, since we also as children of God are given the title of “Christ’s ambassadors,” this is our privilege too. Who do you know that needs to be reconciled to the Lord, to learn that He loved them so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for them, as we’re told in John 3:16? After all He has done for us, isn’t that the least we can do for Him? 

Rescuing the Perishing, Caring for the Dying

What if somehow you stumbled across the absolute cure to cancer – no matter what form? Wouldn’t you want to tell everyone you could about it? Or just imagine you discovered an iceberg was directly in the path of an ocean liner on which you were traveling? (Think Titanic.) Wouldn’t you want to alert anyone in authority to take immediate evasive action?

 

In a real sense, this is one of the primary responsibilities of the Church: to warn people heading for death and destruction. We refer to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the “good news.” It definitely is. At the same time, telling people about Jesus and the Bible cautions them about the bad news – failing to receive the “abundant life” Jesus promised in John 10:10 and being separated from God for all eternity.

 

Words from a hymn written more than 150 years ago by Fanny Crosby state it well: “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.” We don’t hear this anymore in many churches, since it doesn’t mix well with drums, electric guitars and flashing lights. But Jesus Christ’s desire in Acts 1:8 remains unchanged. After His resurrection, Jesus charged His followers, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 

We find similar commands elsewhere in the New Testament: “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15).  And Jesus’ Great Commission to “…go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). Our faith in Christ isn’t to be kept to ourselves. It’s to be shared with others, anyone willing to listen.

 

The problem is many of us aren’t sure how to do this. There are lots of faith-sharing strategies out there. I’ve taken part in some of these programs. But no two people are alike and rarely do they match the examples presented during the training. Especially one-size-fits-all evangelistic approaches.

 

In the gospels we see Jesus relating differently to each person. He interacted with them according to who they were and their needs. The woman at the well, the rich young ruler, the woman caught in the act of adultery, people who were blind, crippled, or afflicted with leprosy. All came from unique circumstances, but the Lord knew exactly how to respond to each of them.

 

‘Well, that was Jesus. He had divine wisdom, being God incarnate,’ we might think. That’s true, and I can’t count the number of times I’ve thought, ‘Lord, I wish I could look into people’s hearts the way You can.’ Some people have the gift of evangelism, which I compare with someone walking through an orchard, grabbing fruit ripe for the picking. In a similar way, God sends them to individuals ready to hear about Jesus and respond to His offer of salvation.

 

Most of us, however, aren’t so gifted. We don’t encounter desperate spiritual seekers at every turn. But that doesn’t excuse us from being obedient to share our faith whenever an opportunity presents itself. The question is, how? The Bible gives many verses about sharing the Gospel, but two of my favorites address not the mechanics of evangelizing, but rather the mindsets and attitudes we should have.

 

The first is Colossians 4:5-6, in which the apostle Paul admonishes, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” There’s a lot packed into those sentences. 

 

We’re dealing with “outsiders,” not folks we typically encounter at church on a Sunday morning. We must be wise in how we handle an opportunity to talk with someone about Christ. How do we do that? By speaking with grace, kindness, compassion, and genuineness. They’re people, not projects. And we should do so in an engaging manner – tastefully – expressing the Gospel as palatably as possible without compromising the Truth.

 

The second passage, 1 Peter 3:15-16, admonishes, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give answer (make a defense) to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

 

Being prepared to “give an answer,” or as another translation puts it, “make a defense,” implies someone has asked a question, perhaps wanting to know what and why we believe: “the reason for the hope that you have.” Or they may have taken the offensive, presenting opposition to what we know to be true.

 

But as in the passage from Colossians, we’re to do so with “gentleness and respect,” not in an offensive manner. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus is – and always has been – “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense” (1 Peter 2:8). We should let Him be the one who offends, not ourselves.

 

For an example of someone who did this very effectively, look at videos of the late Charlie Kirk interacting with students on college campuses, as well as in public forums. While some regarded him as “polarizing and divisive,” viewing his public interactions we see that wasn’t his intent.

 

In most instances he was winsome, engaging, respectful, and willing to listen to other viewpoints – but always faithful to biblical truth. He spoke boldly about politics and social issues but always emphasized the importance of seriously considering the claims of Christ. While others spoke with strong emotions and opinions, Charlie stuck with facts and logic – and the truth. This is one reason he encountered strong opposition, ultimately to the point of someone taking his life.

Most of us won’t in the crosshairs of someone’s gun for talking about Jesus and the Bible, but Charlie continues serving as a model of someone who lived for Christ and whose heart’s desire was to point others to Him. I believe he would have echoed the words of the apostle Paul, who urged first-century Christians to “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:11).

Writing Things Down So You Won’t Forget Them

Do you like to compile daily to-do lists? Not a to-do list someone else makes for you (like a honey-do list), but your own listing of tasks and appointments for the day. For much of my adult life I’ve done that and take some satisfaction in crossing an item off my list, knowing it’s been accomplished. 

Years ago, my employer enrolled me in two days of time management training. Admittedly, time management is a bit of a misnomer, because we can’t really manage time. We can’t slow it down; can’t speed it up; and certainly, can’t save it for later use. 

 

If it's important enough to
remember, write it down.

However, we can ‘budget’ our time, prioritizing the most important things so they don’t get pushed aside by squeaky-wheel, “urgent” things. I learned to give an ‘A’ priority to items that must be done, ones that would reflect negatively on me if I didn’t complete them. Other things would get a ‘B’ designation – nice to get them done, but if not there’s always tomorrow. I still practice that kind of prioritizing today.

Another thing I learned was to keep one master to-do list, rather than having separate ones for work and my personal life. That basically solved the problem of overscheduling – committing to something for work that conflicted with an important family activity or appointment. 

 

But the most important principle I learned about scheduling and daily planning was to write everything down. Experts say our greatest expenditure of mental energy is repeatedly having to remind ourselves not to forget something. Writing tasks and commitments down eliminates that need – as long as we remember where we wrote them.

 

Writing things down also can serve as a great asset for growing spiritually. At a conference or attending a worship service, for example, we use our eyes and ears to take in whatever’s being said. But how often have you left an event, having heard a powerful message, and then struggled to remember the profound things that impressed you?

 

An easy solution to that problem is to write it down as you’re hearing it. Behavioral scientists tell us that the more senses we engage in an experience, the easier it is to remember. If we see and hear something and then repeat it orally, we’re engaging several senses. Writing down key thoughts is another step in the process of retaining important information. As someone has termed it, “In the ears and over the lips and through the fingertips.”

 

Being a writer, this is second nature, but I always attend a worship service with pen in hand, ready to make notes of anything the pastor says that I want to recall later. I don’t always revisit what I’ve written down, but the simple act of writing down key thoughts helps to impress them on my mind.

 

Some people maintain journals as part of their regular prayer and quiet times. They jot down specific prayer requests and reread them later to see how God has responded. They also write thoughts and ideas they have while reading and studying the Scriptures. 

 

This can also help in doing what King David wrote: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word…. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9,11). For people who find memorizing Bible verses to be a challenge, the physical act of writing down passages they want to remember can be very helpful. Again, the more senses we can involve in the ‘remembering process,’ the better.

 

The Bible’s final book was written by the apostle John, whom the Lord instructed to, “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later…” (Revelation 1:19). Much of the Old Testament, scholars tell us, originally was passed down through a very meticulous oral tradition, but over time the process of remembering what the Scriptures taught was made easier by writing down what God had inspired through numerous men.

 

Much of the New Testament consists of letters the apostle Paul wrote to believers in various regions. I suspect that in the process of writing, he not only communicated to his readers the truths God had taught him, but also reinforced for himself the doctrines and precepts he knew to be true. “This is why I write these things when I am absent….the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down” (2 Corinthians 13:10).

 

As Moses was beginning to conclude his leadership responsibilities and pass them along to Joshua, God commanded him, “Now write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them” (Deuteronomy 31:19).

 

In a similar way, when God teaches us something important – whether through a sermon, something we hear over the radio, at a conference, in a Bible study, during a casual conversation, or as we’re reading the Scriptures – one of the best ways for retaining it is to write it down. That way we don’t have to expend unnecessary mental energy trying to remind ourselves not to forget. You could say it’s the ‘write thing to do’!