Category: Formation

When I hear a member of a local body of believers – a church – say something to the effect of, “you’re judging me” or “judge not lest you be judged”, it gives me great pause. I’m talking about when one believer holds another believer accountable. The intent of accountability among followers of Jesus is not to judge one another. Nay, it’s to help one another. It’s to bring clarity in darkness. It’s to expose cancer that is eating you away. It’s one beggar helping another beggar find food.

As someone who has claimed Jesus as my Lord and Savior, being a “christian” is a declaration that I want to be made like Him, to live like Him, to act like Him, to speak like Him, to think like Him. I do not want to walk in sin, live in hypocrisy or willfully do anything that continues to bring offense to my God and my King. When I am caught in the trap of willful or unrepentant sin (or even unconscious sin), I WANT my brother (or sister) to come to me with the Word of God and lovingly point out where my behavior does not match that of my Savior. That’s not judgment – that’s LOVE!

This act of love should bring me to repentance and confession, filling me with joy and fulfillment…not anger, bitterness or contempt. It should not bring me to lash out and accuse my brother or sister of judging me nor of being a hypocrite.

When I am the one that observes sinful behavior or questionable motives in another brother or sister, the Bible instructs me to FIRST take the log out of my own eye…keep my own sinful heart free of sinful cancer FIRST, and then I will be able to see clearly through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to take the speck out of my brother’s eye. I want my surgeon to have rest (and coffee) before he starts operating on me or my loved ones. I want the chef to have clean hands before he prepares my meal. And I want my beloved friends in Christ to have clean hearts when they come to expose sin in my own heart.

This is what it means to be the body of Christ…the family of God. This is why we covenant together with a body of believers…for love, encouragement, support and accountability. We don’t want someone to just keep cheering even when we’re doing poorly and struggling. We need a coach or a teammate to step up and show us that we’re holding the bat or the club wrong, we’re positioning ourselves on the field in the wrong place, we’ve got our eye on the wrong opponent, our stance is incorrect or we’re missing the bigger picture on the whole field of play.

This separates those who are followers of Jesus from those who prayed a prayer for their “get out of hell free card” or joined a club for the benefits. This is what it looks like to be “being transformed into the image of His Son”.

One of the greatest lies of the enemy of the cross today: “You go to church for you.” This makes YOU the arbiter of whether or not YOU think YOU NEED to “go to church” or whether YOU can pursue more worthwhile events and agenda on Sunday. How many times have you heard “I didn’t get a lot out of church today.”?

It’s not about YOU…it’s ALL about HIM!

The same enemy that convinced YOU that it was about YOU, he goes to church every time the doors are open. The Church does not gather in assembly because of what WE need.

The Church gathers in assembly – like a family – because of what their Father deserves: glory, glory, glory. When we make it about HIM, He ensures that we get everything that we need…and more.

I don’t care how you voted or why you voted for whoever it was. I don’t care which party you claim or denounce. I don’t care if you’re left or right, liberal or conservative, extremist or moderate, whether you believe in absolute truth or relativism. I don’t care if you believe that a fraud was perpetrated upon our nation in 2016 or if it was perpetrated in 2020. I believe it was probably both.

Each of those things are important when weighing with whom I’ll have missional connections and with whom I’ll “do life”. Many hold values and beliefs that I cannot embrace and MUST denounce. However, they have no bearing on whom I will show honor, dignity and respect.

Our citizens on both sides are displaying a complete lack of trust, lack of confidence and lack of credibility in our institutions. I don’t blame them…I feel the same way. This is not who we have told the world that we are as a nation and people are angry about it. I get it. The great American experiment is currently in dire straits.

Yes, this country is made of patriots…but there are people who believe they are patriots for each narrative being written. You cannot allow for patriotism on one side without expecting it from the other side. Everyone thinks THEY are right and everyone who disagrees with them is wrong.

For the most part, those of us in middle America have been completely cut off from the actual truth due to a complete corruption and bias of all media upon which we depend for our news. I’ve watched multiple sources this week creating their own narrative rather than reporting what is playing out.

Interestingly, neither political/social narrative that exists today wants to acknowledge or be linked to their side’s extremists. I know I don’t – not socially, politically, religiously – they don’t represent me.

At the same time, both sides link and stereo-type their opponents by the extremists of that party/perspective and their actions.

First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

What has happened all around our country since May and in DC on Wednesday, January – out-of-control, violent and destructive demonstrations, protests, riots and mobs are ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE behaviors and should not be tolerated by our law enforcement, national guard or our elected officials. Each individual breaking the law through abuse of power, defacing private or public property, threatening the safety and security of citizens or public officials, burning, looting and rioting should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. There should be no exceptions…not even the lawmakers and elected officials themselves.

This truth is not relative. Every citizen knows what is legal and what is not….and if in doubt, DON’T!

Do we expect more? Yes…because we’ve believed the enemy’s lie that all men are basically good. However, we really should expect nothing less from a population full of self-absorbed, pagan flesh and blood that denies Jesus as Creator, Lord and Savior.

This is just another of many, many sad days here in our country. God have mercy on us. We are an unholy people.

In spite of ourselves and the attacks launched against us by the enemy, 2020 was an absolutely PHENOMENAL year for our family (meaning both my church and blood relation)!!!!

• God was merciful, gracious, and loving to us. We deserve far worse than we received and received far better than we deserved.
• He provided for our every need. He has blessed beyond our right to request.
• He tended to our every wound and heartbreak.
• He protected us from every enemy, foreign and domestic.
• Every hardship we faced, we learned from and grew to depend on His strength more.
• In spite of some deep losses, He has established His way and given us cause for celebration.
• In a time of division and nasty behavior all around us, He has strengthened us in numbers, in faith, in our love for one another and in our dependence upon Him.

I love Him more today than I ever have. I love His people more than I thought I ever could. I love the lost who need Jesus with greater fervor and determination.

My life will not be measured by the number of days I survived on this earth. My life will be tried by how I lived and leveraged the days He entrusted to me.

 Leveraging who we are and what we’ve been given to reach our neighbors, our city and our world with the Gospel — so others may hear…AND live!  

This is my testimony.
#SoliDeoGloria

The enemy doesn’t need to destroy you, though that’s his ultimate goal. If he can’t destroy you, he’ll defeat you. If he can’t defeat you, he’ll discourage you. If he can’t discourage you, he’ll distract you. I know a great number of people that are at various stages of the enemy’s strategy against them.

The Apostle Paul draws a contrast between life apart from Christ and life in Christ so as to magnify the power and grace of God in salvation. In so doing, he tells us that the devil is not our only enemy. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are at war with “the course of this world”, “the passions of our flesh” and “the prince and the power of the air”.

Ephesians 2:1-4 ESV
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

Colossians 2:13-15 ESV
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, [14] by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. [15] He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Sometimes our greatest enemy is our own fallen nature, which Christ has subdued. It is a resilient foe, however, that remains until we are completely conformed to His image…which won’t be complete until the Resurrection. The world doesn’t have to tempt us and the devil doesn’t have to ensnare us. We (our flesh) are often our own worst enemy. We must mortify (crucify) the flesh. There are ungodly trends in the world — materialism, naturalism, desire for instant gratification, and more — that once ruled all of our passions but are now defeated in Christ. No longer our ruler, the world still appeals to our remaining sin, so we must maintain our guard lest we fall back into bondage. Satan is the leader of all that opposes God stirs up trouble all over the world, and he even endeavors to infiltrate and disturb the church. The devil is fierce but easily sent running when we resist him by the Spirit, as Jesus has triumphed over him.

1 John 2:15-17 ESV
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life— is not from the Father but is from the world. [17] And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

ARM YOURSELF as we end this year and begin 2021…a GIFT from God that we must not take for granted. Victory is in JESUS…the power and the presence of His Spirit through submission, obedience and commitment to His Word and His Way.

Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14] Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15] and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16] In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17] and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

I highly encourage folks who find that they are often engaged in battle against the world, the flesh and the devil to make a regular practice of praying on the armor of God. You would be amazed at how actually walking out this prayer (not just saying it aloud or to yourself) but actually stepping it out will secure who you are IN CHRIST.

1 John 5:5 ESV
Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

John 16:33 ESV
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

James 4:6-10 ESV
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Romans 6:12-14 ESV
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. [13] Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. [14] For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

It’s easy to fall into the cultural narrative, mimicking what you’ve heard like a mina bird…saying what you think others expect to hear. We say so many things without really thinking, filling empty space in conversation with empty words. Often, in our attempt to make a point or agree with a point, we say things that are so untrue, unwise and frivolous. We do so without crucifying the flesh, without taking our thoughts captive, and thinking on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. I really think that if we did these things before we speak, we’d probably have a lot less to say and we’d learn a lot more.

One thing we all hear daily is trashing on 2020, wishing it away, as if it was the actual calendar that delivered an apocalyptic year of unfortunate circumstances. Did 2020 really do anything to you? Will a New Year’s Eve party, followed by a plate of cabbage and black-eyed peas remedy the situation in which you find yourself?

I heard someone say – a professing follower of the Christ, mind you – “There is nothing about 2020 for which to be joyful.” This is an incredibly painful incite of professing believers in churches today. That statement demonstrates a real lack of regeneration (rebirth/new life) and Holy Scripture power through the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. We will never find joy in a year. We will never find joy in a holiday. We will never find joy in a relationship, a child, a house, a car, a job or a hobby.

John 15:11 ESV These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Psalm 16:11 ESV You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

James 1:16-18 ESV Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. [18] Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Our joy comes from Jesus. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of God who takes up residence in each regenerate follower of Jesus. Pages on a calendar cannot remove joy. Bad relationships cannot remove joy. The list of what you can’t afford or have or what you have lost cannot remove joy.

James 1:2-4 ESV Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, [3] for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [4] And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Psalm 16:1 ESV Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

So why is it that so many believers are missing out on joy? Let me say this as a parenthetical, I don’t believe that a person without Jesus can have true joy or contentment. Sure, there are many without Christ who find temporal pleasure, satisfaction and happiness in circumstances, relationships, themselves…just like many followers do. But these are fragile, fleeting and often fraudulent and it sets us up for disappointment and even despair when it disappears. I know…I’ve experience this many times. But if Jesus is the giver of true, lasting, impenetrable joy, then only those who know Him can have it. So how does the follower of Jesus find joy? Ask.

James 1:5-8 ESV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

How does one navigate through a season like we’ve experienced in this year without losing their joy? Well, first of all, let’s be honest and say that it isn’t completely packaged into one calendar year. Much of what has robbed the church of joy this year was brewing months and years before 2020. It’s not just a virus that just came on the scene in March. The virus is just the catalyst that revealed the pig beneath the lipstick, the stink and emptiness inside the white-washed tomb. And if we’re transparent, it’s not going to disappear on January 1, 2021. So, how do we navigate through combative and confusing times without losing our true joy?

James 1:12-15 ESV Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. [13] Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

If Jesus is the source of joy, and He is unchanging and everlasting, then the source of our joy never changes. Jesus is constant. The Holy Spirit’s presence is constant. We forfeit joy when we forfeit His presence and His power, His provision and His protection. We forfeit our joy when we look inward instead of upward. We forfeit joy when we place our faith in what is temporal rather than what is eternal. We forfeit joy when we feed the flesh instead of mortifying it. We forfeit joy when we starve our Spirit of the things of God.

If we are going to have joy, truly joy, then we have to look behind the gifts we enjoy when days are easy, look to the God who gives them. And when days are dark we have to look beyond our painful circumstances to the God who loves us and strengthens us.

To find true joy you must look to the Lord Jesus, find beauty in His character, fall in love with His work, stand in awe at what He has done for you and the future you have in Him. In Him we have joy inexpressible, especially in the midst of trials and temptations.

I’ve never been a fan of “doing the bare minimum” or “whatever’s easiest and takes the least amount of effort, setup and cleanup”. I don’t have a problem with simple. Sometimes less is more. I have a problem with easy because easy usually means lazy and if you’re going to be lazy, why even bother?

I’ve always believed that anything worth doing is worth doing well…joyfully. Do it right or don’t do it. If you’re going to decorate, go all out. If you’re going to host a dinner, be a gracious, hospitable host. If you’re going to be romantic, be a hopeless romantic. If you’re going to accept a job, do it right, do it well and be the best at it. Don’t cover up your dirt; clean it.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, [24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Ephesians 6:7 ESV
rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

Romans 14:8 ESV
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

As she was giving all she had to live on, the widow wasn’t disappointed that the others were only giving of their scraps…their spillover…their leftovers. When she gave it all, she was fixated on the One to whom she was giving it.

There is no doubt that it is a challenge when…
…you are giving yourself completely in your marriage and your spouse treats the marriage like it’s a convenient store
….you give your job 110% and your co-workers only engage when the boss is watching
…you’re killing yourself to honor and care for your aging parents and your siblings act like it’s your responsibility
…you’re fully engaged in the work and support of your local church and others treat it as a hobby that they dabble in when they have time.

Keep your head in the game, your eye on the prize, your gaze fixated on the King.

Mark 12:41-44 ESV
And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. [42] And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. [43] And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. [44] For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

I do not long for death. Nor do I run from it and certainly do not fear it. I embrace life and want to maximize every minute of it for as long as God chooses to let me use this earthen vessel. I hear of so many people wasting their lives trying to avoid death.

Death of this body means nothing but life for me. If death comes knocking at my door with notice (not always the case), DO NOT mourn for me. Celebrate with me. Jesus died and rose again to remove the sting and the victory from death. Please don’t dishonor Him by adding it back in.

I’ll promise not to cease striving to maximize every breath that God gives me for His glory and the good of His people, leveraging who I am and what I’ve been given for the sake of the Gospel. You promise me not to waste your life trying to save mine. Don’t talk about life ending too soon…it’s a lie. First of all, because of Jesus, my life will not end; it will just be transformed to something far better. Second, my birth and my death were appointed by God and no man has the power to save it. I promise to take decent care of the vessel that the Creator has entrusted to me. I won’t go before my appointed time. But when Jesus is ready to bring me home to be with him, sorry, but I’m not hanging around here with you. That’s why I want to make sure that you know how to enjoy the same eternal life to which I look forward.

But when it comes, if you have it in your power to make it less painful, I’d appreciate it. I’m not afraid of dying…but I am a wuss when it comes to pain.

Until then…for me to live is CHRIST; to die is GAIN.

I often hear people declare that we should treat one another how Jesus treated people or told us to treat them…this is often done while questioning or condemning one person’s behavior toward another person. I have no doubt in my mind that we should treat people exactly as Jesus instructed and modeled. What I think most people (who desire to glorify and obey Jesus) often struggle with is…which example?

– how he treated or spoke to the Pharisees?

– how he treated or spoke to the rich young ruler?

– how he treated or spoke to the disciples?

– how he treated or spoke to Peter?

– how he treated or spoke to the woman caught in adultery?

– how he treated or spoke to the money changers in the temple?

– how he treated or spoke to Mary Magdalene?

– how he treated or spoke to Martha, the sister of Lazarus?

– how he treated or spoke to the demoniac of the Gadarenes?

– how he treated or spoke to Judas?

– how he treated or spoke to the multitudes?

A couple of friends shared their answers in this way:

“Jesus always said what was best for them to hear (Agape love), not what made them feel good in the heart (Phileo love). No doubt we need the Holy Spirit to help us discern how to say and do what is best for others and not necessarily what makes us feel good about each other. I’ve missed it more times than I care to admit.”

Mike Gonzales

“Jesus knew the heart and circumstances of each person to whom He spoke. He always gave the perfect response because of His divine nature. Different people required different responses to get the point across.
How can we emulate Christ? We aren’t divine. However, we have the Holy Spirit inside of us. We need to let Him guide us. In boot camp, the DI’s told us to engage our brain before we engage our mouth. That is good advice for anyone. Even more so for Christians.”

Gerald Griggs

What are some other examples?
How did Jesus see each instance differently?
What did Jesus see differently?
How can we love, exhort and rebuke just the way Jesus did?