True Religion

The term "religion" get tossed around so much that it almost makes you want to cringe. To be referred to as a religious person is as likely to be an insult as it is to be a compliment in today's world. Ungodly influence and unrepentant sin play a big part of this, yet those of us who claim the blood of Christ have done our fair share to make "religion" an unpleasant word.

Thankfully, we can count on Scripture to help us with true religion--the kind that honors God and represents Jesus well. James 1:26-27 says, If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. These verses give us three focus points. First, we must watch our words; which can damage our testimony faster than anything else. Twenty-six places in Scripture there is a connection between our words and our heart; making our words an often accurate representation of our true thoughts. Uncaring words that we speak can actually lead us to more ungodly thoughts; making us completely unfruitful for God's Kingdom.

Secondly, we must help those who are unable to help themselves. In James' time, widows and orphans were literally the bottom of society and their needs were routinely neglected. By ministering to the afflicted, our focus is drawn away from ourselves and toward others; a fulfillment of the Great Commandment (Mark 12:31). And finally, true religion recognizes and seeks God's Word as the ultimate and only source of absolute truth. To remained unstained from the world means to not allow worldly values and priorities to undermine our thoughts and our knowledge of the truth.

True religion allows us to makes sure that our thoughts, words and deeds---the sum of who we are---is pleasing in His sight. And a much better representation of God to others.

Faith and Works

So much of Scripture speaks to the topics of faith and works and for very good reason. We can waste a lot of time and energy and we can render ourselves ineffective for the Kingdom if we don't understand the relationship between faith and works. As God's men, we need a clear understanding of how these two things work in our lives so that we can have true victory in our daily walk with Christ.

First and foremost, our salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone because of God's grace alone. There is absolutely no other way to eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus and not of our own works so that we don't have to earn our way into Heaven. Faith is critical, not only for our eternal security, but for the daily process of being transformed into the image of Christ. Faith is absolutely necessary for us to trust God and his eternal purpose and plan for our lives.

So if works can't save us or aren't needed to earn God's favor, then where do they fit in? James 2 provides us with answers. Verse 17 tells us that faith by itself without works is dead. In other words, we can profess faith in Christ, but if our lives and actions don't show a resulting change, our faith will point no one to Christ. James goes on to say that it is foolish to think that faith can be shown to others apart from good works (v. 18-20). Faith that saves not only embraces the Gospel, but responds in ways that show thankfulness and a desire to please God and serve others out of gratitude rather than obligation.

Abraham not only had faith in God, but he was also willing to obey Him; even to the point of willingly offering his son as a sacrifice. God spared his son and the Bible says his faith was active along with his works, his faith was completed by his works and he is called a friend of God (v.22-24). Because faith apart from works is dead, we have a clear picture of what is needed to live.

Connected and Growing

It was great being back at Ogletown on Sunday. As nice as it is to get away sometimes, I find that the more I grow spiritually, the more I miss my church family when I'm gone. I love my brothers and sisters in Christ who call Ogletown home and always look forward to being back with them when I return. Being connected to a body of like-minded believers who love Christ and seek to serve Him is a benefit beyond measure.

Recently, I blogged about making sure that the two or three men closest to you are walking with Christ so as to not hinder your own walk. I've also been thinking about some of the challanges men face in trying to build accountability and discipleship relationships in their lives. And then it hit me--if you are struggling to connect with other men to grow spiritually--have you considered your own inner circle? Yes, those two or three guys who are your closest friends. Have you tried to have a one-on-one accountability relationship or launch a small group Bible study with the guys closest to you?

The reason why many accountability and discipleship relationships fail is because there isn't a natural connection point. Choosing someone from your inner circle eliminates that hurdle. It can also help you gauge if the men you're closest to are serious about their walk with Christ. I'm not saying that you should write off a friendship because you are more serious about growing than they are. The light of Jesus that shines through you may be just what someone else needs who is struggling spiritually. But you also need to be mindful of the influence a close friend who isn't walking with Christ can have on you. Don't allow your faith to be shipwrecked.

Jesus himself promised that whenever two or more are gathered in His name, he is among them (Matthew 18:20). The benefits of getting together on a regular (preferably weekly or semi-weekly) basis with another man or small group of men only build from there. There is a wealth of solid devotional material available for men (like Men of Integrity--available here at Ogletown) or you can just start reading from a book in the Bible (I recommend John, James, Proverbs or Hebrews for starters). So go ahead and reach out to the men who are closest to you. Connect and grow.

Spiritual Endurance

Scripture has much to say about things like endurance, perseverance and steadfastness. A strong Christian walk--the kind that God desires for us that demonstrates Christ-like character--requires us to have spiritual endurance. So the obvious questions are why is spiritual endurance so important? How do we obtain it? What hinders us from having it?

James 1 tells us that the testing of our faith produces steadfastness (v.3) and that if we allow it to build in our lives, we will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (v.5). The testing of our faith comes through the trials we endure that God allows to help us grow in spiritual maturity. Although these trials may be difficult and painful, we are to consider them with joy (v.1) in knowing that they will ultimately strengthen us and helps us with what we need to live victoriously.

We obtain spiritual endurance by exercising our faith; by looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). When we read Hebrews 11, commonly know as the faith hall of fame, we see people who in many ways were flawed like we are, but remained steadfast in their faith. They were obedient to what God called them to do; even if the didn't completely understand why and they were sure and certain of what was promised to them by Him.

To maintain spiritual endurance, we must lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely (Hebrews 12:1). This means we need to eliminate the things in our life that hinder our endurance and keep us from following Jesus. Ungodly habits and relationships, unconfessed sin and meaningless activities and pursuits are the weights that drag us down that we must lay aside. Sin is always near and our enemy's goal is to keep us entangled, distracted and separated from the Father. We must never forget that above all else, God rewards faithfulness--the kind that produces endurance.

Freedom From Guilt

As believers, we know that Jesus Christ paid for our sins on the cross so that we wouldn't have to face death and eternal separation from God. That knowledge, which was meant to free us from the bondage of sin, doesn't always keep us from feeling guilty for what we have done. Is it because we somehow doubt God's grace which 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us is sufficient? Is it because we think our past mistakes which were dealt with at Calvary will somehow be revisited even though God himself declared that he will remember them no more (Hebrews 8:12, 10:17)?

In my recent devotions, I came upon Hebrews 9:14 which should settle this issue for us once and for all--how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Verses 1 through 10 explain how the animal sacrifices of the old covenant covered sin but didn't cleanse the conscience of the worshipper (v. 9). Under the new covenant, the Son of God was sacrificed once for all to secure eternal redemption (v.12).

Jesus Christ not only secured eternal life for us as the perfect sacrifice, he did something the old covenant couldn't do--he purified our consciences as well. The guilt trip has been cancelled. For good! We are not only free from guilt but also the flawed notion that we have to earn or sustain our salvation through what verse 14 calls dead works; making God's grace truly sufficient for us.

The Good News of the Gospel not only gives us eternal security but freedom as well. Freedom from sin. Freedom from guilt. And that's news worth sharing!

God and Enjoyment

It was very nice getting away for a week's vacation with my wife Cheryl and my daughter Amanda. As much as I enjoy being busy and having a lot of activities going on, I also enjoy time away to rest and recharge. During my morning devotions, I was pondering all the blessings I enjoy because of God's provision. Even though I always travel with my own copy of God's Word, one morning something prompted me to open the Gideon's Bible in our hotel room. On the first page, someone had written these words: There probably is no God so enjoy your life.

Several thoughts came to mind as I digested this flawed view of our Creator; written by someone who I'll refer to as Mr. X. Very few people will out and out declare that there is no God. Mr. X obvious isn't completely sure by using the word probably and this is likely where most non-believers fall. They're not really sure, yet they don't make the effort to find out. There are a myriad of reasons why Mr. X and countless others doubt God's existence.

Mr. X also seems to believe that God, if he really does exist, doesn't want people to enjoy life; which is completely contrary to John 10:10 which says that we are to live life and have it more abundantly. Maybe Mr. X knows that what he considers to be enjoyment is contrary to God's will, so it's the path of least resistance to doubt God's existence and do what he wants to do anyway. What was most ironic of all is that someone had drawn a line through Mr. X's words in the Gideon Bible. Was it a believer who wanted to refute Mr. X's misguided theology or did Mr. X himself cross out his words as if to try and blot out his own transgression?

As God's men, we must be aware of the many Mr. Xs that are out there who cannot grasp the truth that our Father--above all else--desires a relationship with us. We must be aware of the many who don't know God or have a completely misguided view of Him. Aware of those who would rather doubt His existence than seek His mercy and grace. Let us pray that the God who gives us abundant life will also give us the opportunities to shine the light of truth where darkness dwells.

Wise Counsel

Every single one of us, whether we want to admit it or not, is influenced by others. We make decisions, we set priorities, we weigh options, we move or we stand still based on how we've been influenced. So the big question is this--who has influence in your life?

Certainly, it is crucial that we start with a firm foundation that is rooted in Christ and strengthened through Scripture, prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. Then, as we begin to unpack the big question, we can really evaluate who is influencing us. Ask yourself, who are the two or three people who have the most influence in your life? And where are they in their walk with Christ? Do they even know Jesus as their Lord and Savior?

Now expand that circle to ten to twelve people who also have some influence in your life. And ask the same questions of your inner two or three. Based on this evaluation, how much godly influence do you have in your life? Gut-level honesty is now required. Six times in the book of Proverbs (1:7, 2:6, 3:19, 9:10, 15:33 and 21:30) we are told that wisdom comes directly from God. How then is it possible to get wise counsel from people who don't know God nor are walking with him?

The good news is there is wise counsel to be found in the body of Christ. Fill the holes in you inner circle with men who are walking upright and are serious about their relationship with Christ. Encourage another brother in Christ to walk with you and strengthen his relationship with the Lord. This is discipleship in action. And be on guard against ungodly counsel that can pull you away from the source of wisdom.

The Best Use Of Time

I don't know anybody today who isn't busy. Longer work hours, multi-tasking, juggling priorities and a never-ending calendar of events and obligations have made us yearn for more time to get things done. Just in case you thought retirement brings more free time, my father-in-law will tell you a completely different story.

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs the believers there to walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of time (4:5). He also asked for them to pray that God would open doors for them to witness to others; to declare the mystery of Christ (4:3). Making the best use of time to impact others for the Kingdom of God is one of the keys to discipleship that produces Christ followers.

Our busyness doesn't excuse us from making disciples. Rather, it gives us even more opportunity to touch others. Every day, we encounter people struggling with life's difficulties who need encouragment. People who whether they realize it or not, have a God-sized hole in their hearts that can only be filled by Him. People who have the opportunity to see Christ-likeness modeled in front of their very eyes by those of us who claim his life-saving blood.

How we manage our time has never been more important. Time is a non-renewable and uncertain resource. We can't get it back. We can't create more. We have no idea how much we have to spend. But maintaining a Kingdom focus allows us to make the best use of time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).

Childlike Faith

Men's Night 3031 was such a blessing to me. Nothing quite stirs my heart like men coming together to worship and lift up praises to God. To see men of all different ages, all different backgrounds and all different stages in their spiritual journey joined together as brothers in Christ is a great reminder of how our Lord works in and through us to minister to others.

I'm still thinking about Jesus' words in Matthew 18:4--whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I spoke about certain childlike qualities---trust that is undefiled by disappointment and unmet expectations, vulnerability that recognizes the need for security and protection and a neediness that requires the resources and provision of a loving parent---that should point us to our Heavenly Father. Yet I find still more things come to mind when I consider the idea of having childlike faith.

My daughter Amanda asks a lot of questions. Her 7-year-old mind seems to be constantly thinking and processing the things she sees and hears and fuels her desire for understanding. This has given me tremendous opportunity to pour into her and build a foundation that I pray will someday lead her to a personal relationship with Christ. It also reminds me of Matthew 7:7 where the Bible tells us to ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find it; knock, and it will be opened to you. Amanda comes to me with childlike faith and trust that I can provide her what she needs and likewise, I need that same faith and trust in my Father. I must ask, seek and knock; knowing He will provide what I need.

Childlike faith also recognizes that their parents' desire is ultimately for their good; even though it may not be a child's first choice. For us to have childlike faith in God, we must cling to the promise that He works all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28); even when we can't fully understand all the whys and hows.