Living in the ‘Shadow of Death’

Danger may lurk in the shadows, but our Shepherd
promises to guide us into the light.

Candid admission: Even though I’m a career journalist and spent my first 10 years as a newspaper editor, I find difficult sometimes to watch the daily news on TV. There seems to be a prevailing mindset that events are only newsworthy if they send a shiver up your spine.

 

I remember a time years ago when news was a reasonable balance of humankind’s accomplishments and failures. Not so these days. Just the other day I tuned in the news, just to make sure there hadn’t been a shift in philosophy. All I saw was mayhem – fatal shootings; hurricanes and tropical storms either hitting or brewing, threatening to eradicate all life in their path; massive fires; new disease outbreaks; wars, and horrific traffic accidents. There was a good news item – the last two minutes of the newscast.

 

Some years ago, a prominent national TV anchor had one of those “hot mic” moments when he declared the role of today’s journalist is, “to scare the (heck) out of people.” Well, congratulations, sir! You and your cohorts are doing an excellent job at that.

 

Occasionally we hear or read reports about a significant escalation of mental health problems. It’s a complicated issue, and we certainly can’t fix blame in any single corner. But the relentless barrage of negativity surrounding us must be a major contributor to this development. We could easily conclude, “If it wasn’t for bad news, we wouldn’t have any news at all.”

 

Before you quit reading, thinking you don’t need another downer in your day, let me share some good news with you. Some very, very good news.

 

In Psalm 23, one of the best-known passages of the Bible, we read in verse 4 about something called “the valley of the shadow of death.” Sometimes known as “the shepherd’s psalm,” this magnificent and poetic chapter gives us the image of a flock of sheep obediently being led through a dark mountain pass. Sheep aren’t particularly intelligent animals, so their unquestioning trust in the shepherd might have been mixed with a bit by anxiety over what might be lurking in the shadows.

 

Realistically, shadows can’t hurt us. I’m reminded of the story of a father driving down the highway with his young daughter in the backseat. As they drive past a large 18-wheeler, its shadow falls across the car, momentarily casting them into darkness. It frightens the daughter. But as soon as they get beyond the huge truck, the shadow is gone, they’re back into the bright sunlight, and the father tells her, “See, there was nothing to be afraid of.”

 

The 23rd Psalm, of course, serves as a beautiful metaphor for how God watches over those in His flock. It provides a number of assurances: “I shall not be in want” – the Lord will provide for our needs. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters” – we will find peace and rest. “He restores my soul” – we can entrust our worries and concerns to Him.

 

In the section specifically concerning “the valley of the shadow of death,” we’re then told, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” Like a human shepherd, God is always with us, poised to protect us from whatever dangers we might confront. 

 

When we’re feeling anxious about forces that might be in opposition to us – physically, emotionally, spiritually, or ideologically – we’re assured, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Oil is symbolic of blessings and protective care, something both wooly and human sheep desperately need and desire.

 

Psalm 23 closes with the promise, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This reflects a confidence not only for today, tomorrow and next week, but also for eternity.

 

Interestingly, this psalm says nothing about politics, law enforcement, military might or any other “force” we might turn to for protection and safety. It’s saying that all we need is the Shepherd, whom we’re promised “guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Sometimes I forget this and start feeling overwhelmed by the non-stop “the sky is falling!” news of the day. 

Thankfully, God through His Spirit reminds me of the admonition from another part of Scripture: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…” (Romans 8:35-37).

This passage then concludes by observing that nothing – death or life, angels or demons, powers, “nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Regardless of what turmoil or chaos may arise, Our Shepherd is with us in the shadows, leading us out of danger and into life everlasting. 

‘Free Lunches’ and Other Misconceptions

Growing up I often heard the statement, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” But not long after I embarked on my newspaper career, that seemed to be untrue. Occasionally I would be treated to lunch, by the PR person with the local school district or at a luncheon provided for the media in conjunction with a press conference or news event. Lunch was free – at least it was for me.

 

But it wasn’t long before I realized that although there were occasions when I didn’t have to pay for my lunch, someone was footing the bill. Even if an organization’s press liaison took me to lunch, he or she was either paying for it using an expense account or they paid for it out of their own pocket. Free to me, I realized, didn’t mean free indeed.

 

These days folks seem to be clamoring for a lot of free stuff, not just “free” lunches. They want free healthcare, free education (some people call it “student loan forgiveness”), free housing, free transportation, and a host of other things. 

 

Then we have the advertisements and commercials promising “free” things when you purchase a product or service. Sounds too good to be true, right? That’s because it is. Someone has to pay, even if it’s not the immediate recipient. 

 

It might be taxpayers. It might be a business swallowing a cost, resulting in a decrease in its profits. When people talk about forgiveness of college loans, we know the universities aren’t going to say, “Okay, we overcharged you. We’ll just take the money out of our huge endowment funds and call it even.” Nope, someone’s got to pay the price and it’s not going to be Dr. Flammerstam in the chemistry department.

 

But my point isn’t to engage in the debate over what “free” stuff should be awarded and who should get it. My intent to underscore the reality that nothing in this life is truly free, not a single thing.

 

Early in my journey of faith I encountered a wonderful verse that nestled in my mind and took root years later. It was Romans 6:23 which in the New American Standard translation I read declared, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ our Lord.” Receiving eternal life as a gift was a novel idea for me back then, but the idea that it was a “free gift” was astounding. What it meant, I was told, we can do nothing to earn salvation, being welcomed into God’s eternal family.

 

To an extent I understood that because as a member of my human family, I would receive gifts from my mom and dad at Christmas and for birthdays. But I knew they weren’t really free. They were paid for with their money. The department stores didn’t just give them the stuff because they thought I was a cute little boy.

 

Nevertheless, over and over the Bible calls justification – being made right once and for all with God – a gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 asserts, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” The “gift of God,” given to us by God’s grace (His unmerited favor) unconditionally and without cost.

 

Even though right standing with God, not just for the present but for all eternity, is free to us that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a cost. In reality, the cost was greater than anything we could ever imagine on earth – greater than the biggest mansion, the most expensive car, the most state-of-the-art jet, or even the most elaborate cathedral.

 

We read it clearly in Romans 5:8, which says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This wasn’t some simple gesture, an act of pity, kind of like, “That’s okay. No problem. All is forgiven.” No, it was the Son of God – God incarnate – willingly going to the cross for our sins. When Jesus declared, “Tetelestai” (John 19:30), He was uttering a word that not only meant “It is finished” but also, “Paid in full.” The greatest debt in the history of humankind had been fully satisfied.

 

It's tempting to view artwork or statues of the Crucifixion with admiration but also with the shrug of our shoulders, failing to grasp the gravity of the price Jesus paid. Philippians 2:6-8 helps us to understand, saying about Jesus, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing…. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”

So, the next time someone offers you something free – or you hear someone demanding that they receive something free – we need to remember that in truth, nothing is free. Someone must pay the cost. And if we’re enjoying the “free gift” of salvation, let’s never forget, “You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]” (1 Corinthians 6:20, Amplified). 

Recapturing the Rewards of Repentance

“That’s the way I am, the way I’ve always been, and the way I’ll always be.” Have you ever thought that? I know I have. 

 

In some respects that statement is true. For example, I’m an introvert by nature; I’ve never been “the life of the party” and I know I never will. I admire extroverts, folks who have never met a stranger and find themselves energized by interacting with people. Me? I like people, but after a while I find my emotional battery running dry and have to retreat to my computer or a good book to recharge.

 

The same can be said for many skills. I’ve always loved sports, but God didn’t give me the physical tools to be an accomplished athlete, so I’ve been content with being a spectator, watching individuals able to run fast, jump high, and as a high school baseball coach once described it to me, “hit a round object with a round object square.”

 

Successful living means sometimes
being willing to turn.

We’re born with certain talents and abilities, as well as special areas of interests. We can seek to cultivate others, but much of the time we’re best when using and developing our God-given traits.

But there are times when “That’s the way I am…and always will be” is nothing more than an excuse. For instance, someone with a hair-trigger temper might excuse his or her anger as “that’s just the way I am.” Or an unfaithful husband might defend himself the same way – “I can’t help it. It’s just the way I am.”

 

The thing is, such cop-outs are unacceptable in the sight of God. There are no excuses for thoughts and behaviors the Lord has defined as sin. The Bible admonishes us to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:31). The Bible doesn’t add the caveat, “unless that’s the way you are.”

 

After speaking with religious leaders who were adept at giving the outward impression of being holy, Jesus Christ took His followers aside and declared, “from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7:21-22). But He didn’t offer an escape clause for anyone claiming, “that’s just the way I am.”

 

Our personalities and proficiencies may be hard-wired, but sinful, ungodly behavior is not. That’s why the Scriptures give us a term that’s too rarely emphasized these days: Repentance. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising for someone to ask, “What does ‘repentance’ mean?” 

 

In its purest form, the word means to turn from one thing and to turn toward another. Today we hear a lot about “asking Jesus into your heart,” but repentance isn’t always mentioned as a necessary part of that life-altering process. 

 

Biblical repentance involves a change of thinking as well as a change in behavior. Let me offer a personal example. Years ago, I had a penchant for reading horror novels. I loved a good scare and would eagerly devour works of authors like Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allan Poe and others. (I actually interviewed King once while I was a newspaper editor.)

 

At times the books would explore the realm of the occult fairly deeply, but I figured that was part of telling the story. ‘What’s the harm in that?’ I reasoned. Then one Sunday our pastor gave a sermon about the dangers of becoming involved in any aspects of the occult. At times it seemed he was speaking directly to me. It wasn’t one of those hellfire and brimstone, “heaven or hell, turn or burn” messages, but it felt convicting just the same.

 

So, I scheduled a lunch meeting with him to discuss this. I told him I read horror novels just for fun; I enjoyed the tingling feelings of suspense and spiritual conflict. My pastor listened and then, without any trace of judgment or condemnation simply asked, “When you read those books – are they pointing you to God, or pointing you away from Him?”

 

Soon afterward I realized I had to repent. Even though some of the novels would refer to God and present tales of the battle between good and evil, I realized they were not pointing me to the Lord. If anything, they were filling my mind with more information about the occult and satanic practices than anyone would possibly need to know. As much as I had enjoyed reading those kinds of books, they weren’t enhancing my walk with God.

 

I stopped reading those novels, discarded my horror collection, and began reading uplifting books that would enhance my spiritual growth. I began to practice the apostle Paul’s exhortation to believers in ancient Philippi: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).

Each one of us has things for which, sooner or later, we must repent – habits, thoughts, or behaviors we know are contrary to God’s will and standards – turning from those and choosing to go His way instead. As the apostle Peter stated, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19). 

‘Houses of God’ Going into the ‘House of God’

Every so often I hear someone refer to the building we go to on Sundays as the “house of God.” I understand what they mean. It’s referring to the place designated for believers to assemble for worshipping the Lord. However, if we look at what the Scriptures reveal, I’m not sure the sanctified structure in which we gather every Sunday, or any other day for that matter, can be regarded as the house of God.

Granted, in the Old Testament the Israelites had the Tabernacle where the presence of God could literally be seen, heard, and even felt at times. Then King Solomon built a grand temple dedicated exclusively for worship. However, that temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, never returned to its former glory.

 

Looking at the New Testament, we discover that while the rebuilt temple continued to be a place of worship, the “house of God” after Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost became something very different.

 

We see this emphasized in numerous passages. In 1 Corinthians 3:16 we read, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him, for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”

 

Just three chapters later, perhaps for believers in Corinth that might have missed it the first time, the apostle Paul told them, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

 

If that’s not clear enough, we have this emphatic statement from the writer of Hebrews, “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything…. Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory” (Hebrews 3:4-6).

 

We also have the declaration made by Paul that “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands” (Acts 17:24).

 

“We are His house,” the Bible declares, as well as “the temple of the Holy Spirit.” Hmm. What are we to do with this, since the custom for many of us as we go to church Sunday mornings is to think we’re going into “the house of God”? 

 

Why is this even important? Couldn’t we just acknowledge that the building in which we worship is dedicated to God and since He ultimately is owner of all things, it’s “God’s house”? In one sense that’s true. But it’s of far greater import that we understand – and remain continually aware – that “[our] body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” – that we ourselves are God’s temple and His Spirit lives in us. 

 

I remember years ago, in my pre-Christian, “churchian” days. I’d enter the sanctuary with a mindset that it was the house of God. I’d act appropriately reverent, singing the hymns, repeating prayers and listening to the sermon. But as I exited the door, it was as if I were leaving God behind until my next visit the following week.

 

Only much later did I discover that as a born-again believer, I was indwelt by God’s Spirit and He was going with me wherever I went. He wasn’t confined to the four walls of a structure where worship services and Bible teaching were conducted.

 

I’ll never forget a pastor I had years ago. After teaching about Ephesians 4:11, which talks about the spiritual gifts God gave – “some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers” – he focused on the following verse that explains the reason for those gifts: “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

 

This pastor said people often would ask him, “Where is your church?” expecting to hear a specific street or area of the city. However, he would reply, “My church is at the school, in the hospital, working in the supermarket, conducting business downtown.” He understood the biblical view of the Church as being followers of Christ in dispersion, found in every part of the community, representing Jesus as they went about their everyday lives.

Understanding the church is the building where all the “houses of God” come together to “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and [we] sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in [our] hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16), when we’re done we can return to our homes and workplaces knowing the Lord’s living in us and working through us for His glory. 

Wisdom and Folly, Both Clamoring for Attention

I’ve long contended the Old Testament book of Proverbs is one of the most easily applicable parts of the Bible. My book, Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace, focuses on principles from Proverbs that can enhance one’s life and work.

 

One of the Bible’s “wisdom books,” Proverbs emphasizes just that – wisdom. It opens by stating its purpose, “for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair…”(Proverbs 1:2-3). 

 

Then it makes what some may view as an audacious statement, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). Throughout Proverbs we find comparisons of wisdom and foolishness, underscoring the truth that to reject wise teaching inevitably leads to foolish decisions and calamity.

 

Proverbs’ 9^th chapter talks about two contrasting “women,” one named Wisdom and the other named Folly. Both, the chapter declares, are actively beckoning for our attention. Which we respond to is literally a life and death decision. 

 

The chapter opens, “Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars…she calls from the highest point of the city. ‘Let all who are simple come in here!’ she says to those who lack judgment” (Proverbs 9:1-4). We find a similar image in Proverbs 1:20-21, “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech.”

 

We encounter the contrast to Wisdom a bit later in Proverbs 9: “The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city; calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. ‘Let those who are simple come in here!’ she says to those who lack judgment. ‘Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!’” (Proverbs 9:13-17).

 

At first glance we might think, ‘Okay, but I don’t see the big deal.’ That was my thought too, until July 9, 1997, when I was traveling in Eastern Europe with my uncle and aunt. We had just finished several days in Hungary, along with brief stops in Vienna, Austria and Prague, Czech Republic, and were looking for somewhere to spend the night.

 

I had just read Proverbs 9, the “Proverb of the day” portion of my daily Bible reading routine. We were on a highway driving past a city called Teplice. We had momentarily considered stopping there, but for some reason it did not seem inviting, so we continued on our way.

 

As we drove up a hill leading away from the city, we saw some small buildings along the road. They looked like the drive-through coffee shops we see in our communities today. Outside these little “shops” were women frantically waving to capture the attention of approaching motorists. At first, I thought they were part of the advertising strategy for the businesses, but as we got closer I realized, based on their skimpy attire, they were obviously engaged in a different type of “business.”

 

There were several of these “establishments” along the highway. The sight was shocking to me at first, but then the verses from Proverbs 9 came to mind again. Like both Wisdom and Folly described in the passage, those women were calling out to “all who are simple…those who lack judgment.”

 

What a vivid metaphor for what confronts each of us every day as we navigate this adventure called life. Whether we live in a city made up of hills and mountains or a town with flat terrain, Wisdom and Folly are shouting at us, clamoring for us to come near.

 

Each day we make choices whether to pursue wisdom or to engage in the folly of our times. Even if we faithfully attend weekly worship services, it’s so easy to forget the teaching and challenges we hear and proceed into the week living as if God doesn’t exist. And our society isn’t at all shy about offering godless alternatives.

 

The sad part is that to forgo wisdom, choosing foolishness instead, we risk a devastating outcome. After the empty promise that “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” come the sobering words, “But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave” (Proverbs 9:18).

 

The most obvious application here is sexual immorality, but it applies equally to anything we worship or idolize, anything that receives our devotion other than the one true God. As it says in Exodus 20:5, in the midst of Ten Commandments, “for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Proverbs 9:10 gives this assurance: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The question each of us must consider is whether we will pursue Wisdom, or whether we will yield to the enticements of Folly. How we answer that question makes all the difference, both for now and for eternity. 

The Power of Practice and Repetition

In high school I enrolled in a personal typing class, probably one of the most practical classes I ever took. More than 50 years later, I’m still typing almost every day. The computer keyboards I use today are a far cry from the manual typewriters I learned on, but the keys are still located in the same places.

 

I remember the repetitive exercises for learning where the keys are without looking. Typing “ASDF-space” ad infinitum seemed boring at the time, but now I appreciate the value of the daily practice and repetition. When I could successfully type, “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog” – using all the letters of the alphabet without glancing at the keyboard – I felt I had achieved something.

Those typing skills assisted me through my last years of high school, five years of college and grad school, and prepared me for a long and varied career in journalism and writing. Not to brag, but after countless hours of fingers tapping keys, I can type faster than many administrative assistants. When you’re writing a newspaper article on a tight deadline, it helps not being a slouch at the keyboard.

 

The interesting thing is, while it took much tedious effort and time to learn where the individual keys are, today I couldn’t tell you where a specific key is without looking. My fingers, however, know exactly where each key is. It’s called “muscle memory,” training acquired through many hours of practice and repetition. It’s simply doing the same thing over and over and over until it becomes second nature. 

 

This is true for athletes, musicians, drivers, surgeons, CPAs and just about any other discipline. Whatever skill sets they need, the more they put them into use the more proficient they become. The combination of time, practice and repetition are indispensable for gaining competence at virtually every pursuit we could imagine. What about spiritual growth and maturity?

 

It seems to me that appropriating the power of practice and repetition is just as crucial for learning to become fruitful followers of Jesus – “Christ’s ambassadors” as 2 Corinthians 5:20 terms it. Living a life of faith doesn’t come naturally; it demands determination, consistency, and repeated practice day after day. In effect, developing spiritual “muscle memory.”

 

This isn’t to gain salvation, which the Bible says is an unconditional gift of God’s love, mercy and grace – “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy…” (Titus 3:5). We can add nothing to Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross. However, we do participate in what theologians call sanctification, the lifelong process of becoming more and more like Christ.

 

Romans 12:2 admonishes us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” The term “transformed” comes from the same Greek word that gives us the word “metamorphosis.” 

 

In this context it means we should outwardly be showing more and more the changes that God through His Spirit is bringing about in our inner persons. Just as a caterpillar doesn’t transform into a butterfly instantaneously, Christlike character only develops in us over time, practicing day after day the principles and truths the Lord has revealed through His Word.

 

We see this clearly expressed in Philippians 2:12-13, in which the apostle Paul admonished believers in ancient Philippi to “continue to work our your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” This doesn’t mean working for our salvation, but working out – almost like squeezing a sponge – what God has been working into us.

 

As I’ve learned, it’s one thing to participate in a worship service or attend a Christian conference and leave feeling inspired. It’s quite another to engage in the hard work, which is often tedious and repetitive, to put into practice and sustain what the Lord has been teaching us.

 

Writing to his protégé, Timothy, Paul urged him, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Again, the apostle Paul wasn’t challenging Timothy to earn God’s approval, but to demonstrate his understanding of what the Scriptures teach and live out those precepts in practical, everyday ways.

 

How do we do this? What are steps we can practice and repeat so we can “present ourselves approved to God”? Those are questions to address at another time. But something you can ponder for yourself. 

Finding Intimacy in a World of Superficiality

Suppose someone asked you to describe our society with one single word. How would you respond? That would probably be a hard assignment, with many possibilities, but I would submit the word, “superficial.”

 

Everywhere we look we can find evidence of widespread superficiality. Social media serve as a prime example. We might have hundreds of “friends” or “followers,” but how many of them do we know personally? If we were to bump into them on the sidewalk or in a shopping mall, would we recognize them? Would they recognize us and know our name?

 

But social media aren’t the only culprit. Work relationships also tend to be superficial, functional only as long as we’re on the job together. When we go home, most of those relationships are forgotten at least until the next workday. If we leave for another position, or if someone else is terminated or finds other employment, the relationship typically ends.

Even when we attend church, how often do we venture beyond the usual, “Hi!” “How are you?” “I’m fine” exchanges? That’s one reason churches – especially large ones – have embraced the use of small groups (or whatever they choose to call them). By meeting together regularly, group members hopefully can probe below the surface. Even then, however, success is hit-and-miss.

 

As followers of Jesus Christ, we’re called to venture far beyond the superficial. We’re called to pursue intimacy, first with God and then our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

Our society often sees intimacy through a sexual lens, but even physical closeness can remain confined to the superficial – as we often see portrayed on TV and in films. People perceiving one another based on outward appearances or only in terms of how they can benefit one another.

 

Someone has defined the biblical view of intimacy – a cure for superficiality – as “Into Me See.” This is exactly how the Lord approaches relationships with us. We see it expressed in 1 Samuel 16:7 when God tells the prophet Samuel, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

 

How unlike us, right? We’re all about the outward appearance: Is she pretty? Is he handsome? We evaluate people by how they dress, how they speak, whether they project confidence, what kind of outward success they have achieved. In other words, the superficial.

 

Throughout the Scriptures, we find the Lord isn’t like that at all. The book of Proverbs offers some examples. It says, “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord” (Proverbs 16:2). Similarly, Proverbs 21:2 declares, “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.” His concern is our “inmost being,” described in Psalm 51:6, Psalm 139:13 and other passages.

 

Perhaps the most moving example of all is recounted in John 21:15-23, the exchange Jesus had with Simon Peter along the shore of the Sea of Tiberius, following the Lord’s resurrection. Peter had denied Jesus three times during His trial conducted by the religious leaders. Clearly he still carried the burden of betrayal.

 

After Peter, Thomas, Nathanael and two other disciples had consumed a breakfast Jesus had prepared for them, the Lord took Peter aside and asked him, “Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?” Peter replied, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Twice more Jesus asked, “Simon son of John, do you truly love Me?”

 

Each time after Peter responded, Jesus said, “Feed My lambs” or “Take care of My sheep.” In effect this was to reinstate the disciple and assure him that his fearful denials were forgiven. Having spent three years, 24/7 with Peter and the other disciples, Jesus emphasized He wanted not superficial allegiance, but total, from the heart devotion in delegating to them the greatest mission of all time.

 

What about us? We understand the Lord wants us to follow Him wholeheartedly, establishing an intimacy with Him that surpasses any other relationship. That’s a challenge for us in itself. But experiencing intimacy with many people, even fellow believers, isn’t just impractical. It seems impossible. That’s why the Scriptures tell us to be careful in choosing our closest friends.

 

We sometimes hear folks describe relationships in terms like, “I’d go to war with him” or “He’s someone I’d want to be with me if I were walking in a dark alley.” These imply a sense of trust. But biblical intimacy calls for even more. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves for all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” 

 

The contrast between superficiality and intimacy is evident in Proverbs 18:24 which observes, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” 

 

We’re all in a spiritual war for our hearts and souls. “Friends” on social media may entertain us, make us laugh, or even offer inspirational thoughts. But we need a few true intimates we can rely on to stay with us through the proverbial thick-and-thin. Do you have anyone like that?

Presenting Music to God’s Ears

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mom loved music of many kinds and often played LPs on our hi-fi at home. LPs? Hi-fi? What are they, right? She had learned to play the piano as a girl, and we had an electric organ in our living room that she played. 

 

I have a black-and-white photo of myself as a toddler, holding little drumsticks. As a pre-teen I would pull pots out of the cupboard and bang on them with a spoon. Finally, Mom bought me a cheap snare drum since I was always drumming up business. When I stuck with it, she paid for drum lessons and bought me a drum set.

That led to my joining the percussion section of our high school band, where I received exposure to different kinds of music in the marching, dance and concert bands. I enjoyed performing Sousa marches, jazz tunes and light classical music. Although I never became a polished musician, music has remained a significant part of my life.

That being said, it was a bit of a challenge to adjust to contemporary Christian praise music being presented in many of our churches today. My childhood church experience was with the old hymns, like “Rock of Ages,” “The Church’s One Foundation,” “A Mighty Fortress” and “Blessed Assurance.” Even before I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, I appreciated the theological richness of their lyrics.

 

Like many people, the first times I heard guitars and drums during a worship service were a shock – even with my background as a drummer. Some praise songs, I’d have to say, caused me to wonder who the object of praise really was. Their lyrics contained pronouns like “me” and “I” and “my” a lot more than references to God. They seemed more concerned with “me-ology” than theology.

Thankfully, over time I’ve discovered there are quite a few Christian artists who understand the importance of emphasizing that our praise should be centered on the Lord and who He is with less focus on what He can do for us. 

 

There’s even a tune called “This Is My Song” we’ve sung a lot at our church, originally performed by Health Balitzglier, Mac Powell and North Point Worship. The lyrics, interestingly, consist primarily of the titles of old hymns many of us seasoned in the faith remember. It begins, “I remember those melodies, the words we sang when I first believed….” 

 

It continues, “And I sang in Christ alone my solid ground, Oh, amazing grace, how sweet the sound, on that rugged cross Jesus paid it all, because He lives this is my song….” It’s sad that many younger believers have never actually heard the old hymns referenced. However, increasingly some of the vintage hymns and songs are being reconfigured into more upbeat rhythms without losing their theological depth.

 

Thinking about this “evolution” of church music has caused me to wonder what God thinks about it, what He considers to be music to His ears. Music in the sanctuary can be one of the dividing points for many congregations, but if the music is intended for the Lord, His opinion should matter most.

 

A couple passages, while they don’t directly address the progression of musical traditions and styles, seem to give us insight into what God thinks. One of them, as translated in the old King James Version, says, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord…. Come into His presence with singing….” (Psalm 100:1-2). Even years ago, I found this very encouraging, because my singing at best can be described a “a joyful noise.”

 

Some might yearn for the “olden days” when pipe organs and pianos were the primary instruments for worship. For them, amped guitars, keyboards and drums might seem merely as “noise,” but if the musicians are playing “unto the Lord,” I suspect He is pleased.

 

The other passage is Colossians 3:16 which instructs us to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Since it cites “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,” this seems to acknowledge there are many kinds of music that can be utilized in our worship to the Lord. 

The greater question might be, are we singing with gratitude in our hearts to God? If we are, then I believe God is pleased whether we’re singing acapella, to the resonant notes of a pipe organ, the accompaniment of a piano, or the reverberating sounds of guitar, keyboard and drums. As the next verse in Colossians continues, “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.” 

What does It Mean to ‘Make Disciples’?

In my most recent post I observed that many congregations and followers of Jesus are failing to pursue Jesus’ Great Commission, to “go and make disciples…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded them” (Matthew 28:19-20). Some may wonder, “What’s disciple-making, and is it the same as discipleship?”

 

There’s a very significant difference between the two, in my view. Discipleship focuses on the everyday, unending process of becoming more and more like Jesus Christ in thought and deed. Campus ministry Cru defines discipleship as “a journey of intentional decisions leading to maturity in one’s relationship with Jesus so that you become more like Him in your attitudes, focus, and ultimately, behavior.”

 

This could – and should – include such things as consistent time reading and studying the Scriptures; praying; joining other believers for worship and fellowship; sharing one’s faith with others; and striving to live out biblical principles on a daily basis.

 

Disciple-making includes this but adds the dimension of leading, teaching and helping others to grow in their own faith, then to pass on what they have learned so others may become mature Christ followers.

 

My own experience with both discipleship and disciple-making started years ago in a small group Bible study that used materials developed by The Navigators. Founded by Dawson Trotman, the “Navs” joined evangelism – seeking to introduce people to Christ – with a discipling dimension that many other ministries lacked. This dual focus remains their mission today.

 

Jesus’ command to “make disciples” was not simply to make converts – people who once were heading one way spiritually and had turned toward Him. It also meant to invest in people “life on life,” developing disciples by helping them understand and apply truths of the Bible in relevant, practical ways.

 

We have the Lord’s own example. During the three years of His formal earthly ministry many people followed Him, but Jesus focused His attention of 12 individuals. He even had an inner circle of three men He spent more time with – Peter, James and John – discipling them through example and purposeful instruction. That was why, moments before His ascension to heaven, Jesus confidently instructed them, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations….”

 

My understanding of disciple-making expanded when I joined the staff of CBMC (Christian Business Men’s Connection) in 1981. Influenced by The Navigators, CBMC had developed its own discipling resources called “Operation Timothy,” named after the apostle Paul's admonition to his protégé, Timothy: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

 

This passage offers a word picture of multi-generational discipling. Paul had invested many hours in teaching Timothy (2^nd generation). He was telling him to entrust what he had learned to “reliable men” (3^rd generation) who then would teach others (4^th generation). This underscored the reality that discipleship and spiritual growth aren’t automatic – they require intentionality and support.

 

Perhaps the best biblical metaphor for disciple-making is parenting. Spiritual ‘converts’ essentially are spiritual infants, unable to do much on their own. Human babies spend much of their waking hours eating, crying and making messes. Often, a new believer isn’t much different. He or she needs to be ‘parented,’ having someone to care for and comfort them, serve as a confidant, offer counsel, and help to clean up messes they’ve made in living contrary to Christ’s teachings.

 

In 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 the apostle Paul recognized this, writing, “but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” Just a few verses later he added, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

 

How often have you heard about becoming personally involved in making disciples? For most of us, not much if at all. We hear about talking with non-believers about Jesus, but rarely receive exhortation to come alongside others and assist them in their spiritual journey.

 

We might feel unqualified, like we need to grow ourselves before we can help others. Making disciples also takes time, energy, and even personal resources. As Paul wrote, sharing “not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” This is a considerable personal investment but the dividends are wonderful – and eternal. And it’s the Lord’s desire for us.

 

Nearly 40 years ago I attended a conference where the speaker talked about making disciples. Inspired, I earnestly prayed for God to guide me to one man I could meet with on a regular basis to help with his spiritual growth. Within two months, the Lord had brought TWO men into my life. I had the privilege and blessing of meeting with each man almost weekly over many months, and I maintain a close relationship with one of them to this day. Since then I’ve had the privilege of meeting with a number of other men.

One day, pointing to a vineyard as an object lesson, Jesus told His disciples, “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Then He declared, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last” (John 15:16). If we’re willing to obey Him in making disciples, Jesus will enable us to bear more fruit than we could imagine.