This Little Light

“If this Jesus thing is so important to Christians, why aren’t they obsessed with it?”

“You shouldn’t talk so much about the Bible and religious stuff. If I wanted to hear it, I would go to church!”

I was listening to an old podcast this morning during which the host mentioned a couple of emails he received, two of which are paraphrased above. While he often received letters from atheists telling him to stop talking so much about God, he was somewhat shocked to receive one from a man professing to be a christian. Why would a christian say something like that? The comment from the atheist was also eye-opening. If Jesus, life eternal, following His commands, and everything that goes with it means so much, why doesn’t it consume every part of Christian’s lives, or at least appear to do so?

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is not longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

~Matthew 5:14-16 ~

What happens if you put a lamp under a bowl? Not only will the light be useless to everyone who needs it, the light will go out. Yet this is exactly what we Christians have done with Christianity. We go to church, hopefully, and then go out into the world with a cap over that flame as if it didn’t exist. Where has our fire gone? Where has our love and passion for the Gospel gone? The letter from the listener really convicted me. Why is this joy not always on my face, the praise for my Creator and Savior not on my lips? Why is prayer mostly relegated to mornings and evenings? Why does anger fill my heart at times? Why do I respond to accusations and discomfort with hate? Is this light inside of me shining for others to glorify God?

A lot of important subjects have been relegated to the back seats of our lives. After all, what are the things you are “never supposed to talk about”? Sex, money, politics, religion. What are the things we most need to talk about? Those very things. They are important as they have an enormous impact on our day-to-day life. For one in particular, the impact is also on the life to come. Yet we have decided that God, Jesus, and religion is just for church! You don’t need to talk about it with friends, family, on podcasts! In a way, as this podcaster mentioned, our churches have become secular and our lives atheistic.

Scripture says, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” But how do people recognize us today?  Do we care for the people around us regardless of who they are? Do we show the love of Christ and His effect on our lives? Where is Christ evident in our lives?  In all honestly, I struggle to see a difference in the lives of many Christians from those of the world. We are to be in the world, of course; how else are we to minister to those who need to Gospel and God’s love? But we are not to be of the world. Somewhere along the way, we have confused our mission on this earth. We are letting our flesh win.

Think of what the early church was like. The world around them saw Christians as being starkly different. Some called them cannibals, or baby-thieves, or anti-government, or heathens who didn’t worship any gods, or as just plain confusing for the love they demonstrated. They didn’t understand who would willingly die instead of simply bowing down to Caesar or an idol. They were so different that the world didn’t really know what to do with or make of them. But they came to know one thing for sure: Christians were followers of Christ.

I know more about the political beliefs, and sometimes even the sex-lives, of my friends and family. Those around are not shy to speak their opinions. In some ways, this is good. People should be open about what they believe, what their values are, and why they believe what they do. I am not saying we should not talk about these other things. Yet we are still missing our core. There will always be one thing or another to be outraged about, another crisis to plunder, another candidate to disappoint, another opinion to state. But do the people around us Christians know about their Creator who loves them? In fact, the Creator who loves them so much that He died for them? Do they know that they can lay their burdens at the foot of the cross? Do they know that they are forgiven? Do they know that hope and peace can be found?

I don’t think they do. I think they see us for the hypocrites that we are. We hide the light of Christ while professing to be one of His followers and live our lives like the rest of the world: unloving, ungodly, uncompassionate, hateful, blaspheming, slandering, unwelcoming. We display what the world does instead of what we were called to be. How can they know that there is a Savior who loves and cares for them if we do not love and care for them? Not shove the Bible down their throats or tell them that they are wrong, but to really, truly care for them. We don’t shine like stars in the darkness of this world. This is not to say we are perfect. Not by any means! But we are being sanctified and are called to live godly lives in holiness and reverence to God. Is Christ evident in our lives? Do we preach the Word in all seasons? Do we live like redeemed children of the Lord Almighty? He will reward each person according to what he has done. Are we going to be like one escaping through the flames? Or are we going to ask for forgiveness are start living our lives as if this Jesus thing really matters?

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

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Works Referenced 

Matt Walsh Show – Ep. 66

Speak in Love

We who are in the Church and are Christians often forget that those who are not in the Church are not Christians. I know this sounds obvious, but I think it is something we should better keep in mind when we are sharing the Gospel. This is what I mean: those who do not have Christ can do no good work. Even our good works are only good and we are only capable of doing good because of Christ. But what of those outside of the Church? They do not act like Christians because they are not. So why do we so often expect them to do so?

Before we had Christ in us, we were full of blame, covered in shame, and seen only by our sin. It was Christ who worked in us and saved us from our sin. He redeemed us, washing us, taking upon Himself our shame by nailing it to the cross. because of His sacrifice, we are now spotless and He lives in us. This makes us Christians. This is why we know that it is wrong to steal, to lie, to commit adultery, to kill, to hate, to blaspheme, and to do anything that is not of God. We know what sin is and what wrong is. Even if the sinful nature works against us, we have the Spirit of God working in and through us.

But what about those who do not have Christ in them? Can we really expect them to act in a way that is pleasing to the Lord? Even we, who have now been made rich in mercy, were once filthy with sin and did not know right from wrong. With this in mind, of course we cannot expect those outside of the Church to act in accordance with His will! That would be ridiculous. So then, why do we go to each unbelieving sinner we know and point out their faults? They are already mired in the Law. Even if some are a law unto themselves, as the law is written on our hearts, that does not mean they are walking in Christ’s steps. This is our calling and response to God’s love. We know that we are forgiven of our rebellion. But here is the key: they neither know that they have rebelled nor that they need to be forgiven.

In short, they do not know the Gospel. And this, dear friends, is why we must share the Gospel with them. Even now I find this difficult. I am giving a command, instruction, because of our shortcomings as followers of Christ. How much so do we need mercy! How much do we need His grace and forgiveness daily, nay, every moment! It is He who sustains us. As the Scriptures say, thanks be to God for His marvelous gift!

This is why we must share the Gospel with the lost. The world and all the people in it are mired in the Law. Whether they recognize it or not, they experience the consequences of sin, be they immediate or far off. All will die an eternal death without Christ; this is the Law of sin and death. Thus, we need to tell them that Christ came down and gave Himself up for us. That is how much they are worth: God’s own and only begotten Son. We are not the sum of our talents, or our strength, or what we have done. We can do nothing. In fact, we did not know that anything needed to be done. Instead, while we all were sinners, Christ came and died for us. The same is true for all unbelievers. We must tell them that in Genesis, while mankind lived in perfection, we rebelled. Yet God promised a Savior even then. This rebellion is why we need forgiveness; this is why we needed a Savior. Thanks be to God that He sent His Son to us, undeserving though we be. The Gospel is what the lost need to hear!

When we tell people about Christ, do not start with the law. We can correct those in the Church, and we should. But for those outside the Church, they still need Love. They do not have it yet, even though they crave it. They want it, but do not know where to find it. How terrible it is that we, who know God’s Love and share in His blessings, are known as being hateful, unforgiving. While sin is still sin and wrongdoing is wrongdoing, let us not begin with the Law in hopes of turning people from their sin. Let us begin by showing care and grace as we were shown. We love because Christ first loved us. Let us not put any more stumbling blocks in their way, thus doing the Devil’s work. Let us speak the truth in love, with gentleness and respect, so that all may come to a knowledge of the truth. Let us speak so they may know the riches of His mercy and grace. Let us speak to that they may know the Savior who loves them and made them worth everything.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example  for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

~ 1 Timothy 1:15-17 ~

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose

Finishing Strong

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made you good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

~ 1 Timothy 6:11-12 ~

What does it mean to fight the good fight of faith? It is easy to fall into the rhythm of life and forget we are fighting a spiritual battle. After all, we fight “not against flesh and blood” but against the darkness and evil of the spiritual realm (Eph. 6:12). This is a battle, not only with the struggle we face as Christians in a sinful world, but also against the Devil and his schemes, his flaming darts and minions (Eph. 6:11).

We are reminded that this is a battle when we are told to put on armor, like a soldier would before the fight (Eph. 6:10-11). And what is this armor? It is: Truth, wrapped around us like a belt; peace, fitting our feet with the readiness to share the Gospel; Faith, to shield us from the deception and flaming darts of Satan; Salvation, which guards our hearts and minds like a helmet; the Word of God, which is the Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:14-17). Furthermore, we are to be in constant communication with our Commander, Jesus, by praying in the Spirit always (Eph. 6:18-20). This is how we will be strong in the day of evil.

But what else are we to do? We do not only go out into the world to fight, but also must stand our ground and be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, not our own (Eph. 6:10). Even after everything in us is spent, and we have fought, we are to stand in the Lord (Eph. 6:13. This is the good fight of faith: that we not only fight during all our days to falter at the end, but finish strong.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

~ Ephesians 6:13 ~

We are to fight the good fight of faith and to hold onto that faith so that our faith might not be shipwrecked on the rocks on life and doubt; this is why we wear our armor (1 Tim. 1:18-19). Many will come and try to deceive us, so this is why we must faithfully be in the Word and to know the reason for the hope that is in us (2 John 1:7; 2 Pet. 3:15; Eph. 5:6; Col. 2:4). Not only this, but we  must also be careful that as we run, we bring Christ with us. If we run ahead and teach without Christ, we do not have God with us; we must watch ourselves and others so that we do not lose what we have (2 John 1:8-10).

 

While the first letter to Timothy was written while Paul was still traveling and preaching around the world, the second letter was written as he was nearing the end of his life, and he knew it. He knew that his race was almost over, yet he had finished strong. What does this look like?

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

~ 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ~

Paul’s point is made in the second sentence: Run in such a way as to get the prize. The Olympics were of greater importance to the Corinthians, who were Greek, than to us today, yet we know what Paul was talking about. We know the strict training it takes to be even qualified to run a race, then the endurance to finish such a race. Do we recognize the same things apply to running the race of faith? And like Paul says, they run for a temporal crown of glory. But what race or fight do we want to finish strong? The fight of life and faith and eternity! Our crown of glory will be eternity with Christ after we shed this mortal flesh. But how do we get there? Do we get there by running aimlessly or becoming lazy in reading and preaching the Word? Certainly not! On the contrary, as Timothy was instructed, so are we commanded to do:

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.

~ 2 Timothy 4:2 ~

And why do we do this? It is not only for ourselves – as we should invest ourselves in the Word lest we fall away, forget, and do not do what we have been taught (Jam. 1:22-25). No, it is also so that others may see Christ in us and that they might also come to a knowledge of the Truth (1 Tim. 4:16). And why is this?

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

~ 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ~

So what are we to do? Thankfully, Scripture gives instructions on how to fight this good fight. Paul tells Timothy in his letter, as the opening verse states, to flee from ungodliness and pursue righteousness, faith, endurance, and love (1 Tim 4:11). He also instructs him to  keep his head “in all situations, endure hardship” and to preach the Word to all (2 Tim 4:5). We are to do our best to present ourselves to God as a “workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) We are to press on to the prize which God has called us heavenward (Phil. 3:12-14).

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

~ Hebrews 11:2 ~

 

So what does it mean to finish strong? It is not enough that we say we are Christians, but also that we live a life worthy of our calling, keeping the faith, following Christ’s commands, and preaching the Word (2 Thes. 1:11). This is what we are to do so that, like Paul, we may say that we finished the race and kept the faith. We also may look forward to the crown of life that awaits us, the life that will forever be spent with the Lord. We must keep the end in mind as we run this race and fight this good fight of faith. Keeping these things in mind, we can finish strong

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

~ 2 Timothy 4:7-8 ~

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown. 

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 

~ Revelation 3:11, 22:12 ~

 

Blessings to you and yours,

~Rose