Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Daily Life

Love is… Honest

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In this the final installment of looking at some of the key attributes of love, today I would like to discuss honesty. Honesty is the foundation of love; if we are not honest, then our love is not genuine. If our love is not genuine then we fail another test of love, that of integrity. A lack of integrity will inhibit us from demonstrating any of the other aspects of love we’ve discussed. All of the facets of love are intertwined and wrapped around the core of honesty. If we are not honest, then we are not trustworthy. Without trust, there can be no love. If we didn’t trust that God was who He said He was, and that everything He says is true, then we would be hard pressed to love Him. The same is true for our earthly relationships. Love requires trust, and trust is built on honesty.

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Unity Amidst Persecution

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I recently saw video of Christians in India being beaten because of their faith in Jesus Christ. With fists and sticks they were pummeled simply because they refused to deny their Savior. The buildings in which they were meeting were set on fire even as the believers were still inside. A couple of days later I received a magazine with a girl on the cover whose face had been badly disfigured when someone threw acid on her; the reason for such a heinous crime? She was a Christian. All over the world, every hour of every day, our brothers and sisters in Christ are harassed and tortured. I think that the word “persecution” has lost much of its sting as we have numbed ourselves to the atrocities occurring around our planet. These are real people, just like you and me, subjected to real torture. As I write this, I continue to debate how far I should go in describing the horrors these brave and courageous saints are experiencing. I want to be sensitive to the varied ages of those who read this blog, while at the same time not shy away from the gravity and urgency of the situation.

In a large number of countries in our world, converting to Christianity is illegal. Christians are not allowed to gather together and must meet in secret. Most of us have never experienced anything like this in our entire lives. We read the stories and are scarcely moved. The depth of our faith is of pitiful size when compared to that of these believers. Many travel long hours at night just to reach a place where they can talk with other Christians under cover of darkness. If they are caught, they will be arrested, beaten, tortured and often killed. The brutality of their attackers is unimaginable to many of us. Yet our brave brothers and sisters consider the risk acceptable for the sake of honoring their savior. They do not shy away from the pain, but rather embrace the suffering, knowing that they endure it all for the sake of Jesus. Their lives are lived within the tension of telling others about Christ and wondering if today will be the day they are killed for that same witness.

In contrast, Christians in America and throughout the West live lives of relative comfort and ease. We don’t worry about a knock on the door or being attacked on the street simply because of our faith. We are free to worship in any manner we choose. Every weekend we drive to our places of worship and gather with other Christians without fear of reprisal. Occasionally we’ll hear mention from the pulpit of those Christians in other nations who live in constant peril, and we might even take up an offering and offer a prayer for them; but there is little connection between our lives and theirs. Our biggest problems tend to be if we have enough Sunday school space for a certain age group; this becomes such a devastating issue that we determine the need to spend millions of dollars to rectify the problem. Meanwhile the Church outside, the bride of Christ, is huddling in dark forests to avoid detection; they seem not to be bothered by their lack of facilities. While we vacillate over proper parking and Christmas decorations, the Bride outside is being mutilated and slaughtered. We are blind to the plight of God’s chosen people and we are numb to their needs. We are so concerned and obsessed with our own growth that we neglect the things that are of true value to God. How can we sit idly by and let this happen?

Who will stand in the gap and cry out to God in a loud voice? Who will stand in the face of oppression and declare the justice of the Lord? If not His people, His Church, then who? We are admonished in Scripture to come together in unity as one people (Ephesians 4:1-6), but we have set a dividing line between “us and them”. We who are blessed with so much are blessed so that we might serve those who have so little. We have taken the gifts of the Master and buried them in our own land so as not to lose what we have, rather than taking those gifts and investing them in the lives of those in need. What must God think as He looks down on our lavish buildings and busywork programs and then looks out at those who are starving, beaten and killed even as they gather under a single tree for the sole purpose of worshipping Him? We are responsible for the condition of the Church, and that goes far beyond any walls we might construct. The unity of the Church must be achieved so as to prepare the Bride for Christ. Refuse to sit back any longer; engage your pastors and everyone you know. Implore them to lead in a way consistent with the Gospel and to serve the needs of the entire Church rather than just their congregation. It is time for each of us to mobilize and become the hands and feet of Jesus. Pray for our brothers and sisters who are in chains and torment for the sake of the Gospel. Give all you can to relieve their pain. Stand up and be heard, be a voice for those who cannot speak. Write to your newspapers and your congressmen. God is a God of justice and we are His people. Work for justice and do not rest. Repent with me over what we have allowed to happen on our watch. Linger here no longer, but rather in the name and power of Christ, go out into the world proclaiming His truth and His salvation. Stand in the way of ruthless men and break the chains of injustice. This is our calling and mission as followers of Christ. Stand in unity with your brothers and sisters and prepare the way of the Lord.

In This Season

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I am often compelled to pray prayers of gratitude in the morning as I reflect on all the blessings in my life. One of the main triggers for me is a warm shower. It is at once soothing and invigorating, yet I am reminded of all those who don’t have warm water or any water at all. We often take such simple luxuries for granted. Last week as I was thanking God for His kind provision, I was moved to add the words “in this season” to my prayer. Instead of saying, “Thank you for the warm water you have provided for me”, my prayer became, “Thank you for the warm water you have provided for me in this season.” The change was subtle, but both freeing and eye-opening. It added a lack of permanence to the blessing. I actually became more grateful as I understood that at this time in my life I have been blessed with warm, running water. Tomorrow may be different; tomorrow I may find myself in a situation where I do not have such a luxury. By praying, “in this season”, I believe that should I find myself without this particular blessing in the future, I can look back on this time with a sense of sincere gratitude rather than a sorrowful longing over what I have lost.

I think it’s easy for us, particularly we who live in the West, to assume we will always have at least what we have today. Ours is a society that has been marked by consistent improvement throughout our history. But today is no guarantee of tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1); life can change in an instant for any of us through a variety of events or circumstances. The key then is to learn to be content in all situations, just as the apostle Paul learned to be (Philippians 4:11-13). By being thankful for what we have been entrusted with “in this season”, we can hold loosely to it, realizing the temporary nature of all earthly blessings. When we move into a more difficult period of life, we can then find things for which we are thankful in that season as well as joyfully reminisce about the good things we have been allowed to experience in seasons past.

When we assume that all we have today we will have forever, it becomes easy to take those things for granted. This makes us somewhat arrogant, because we come to expect that which God has elected to give us as a blessing. It becomes easy to lose sight of why we are blessed and who has blessed us. At that moment we are not only ungrateful, but we are also becoming prideful. All of this is in stark contrast to the person God calls us to be. Instead, we should humble ourselves to the point of being overwhelmed by everything He has entrusted to us. As we recognize the various blessings we have in the current season of our lives, we can better see how to share those blessings with others who are in different seasons.

Holding loosely to luxuries is a wonderful experience. No longer are we afraid to lose that which we cannot keep. Instead we become joyful for being able to experience it for the moment; we become aware of and thankful for the privilege. A heart that holds tightly to Christ and Christ alone is a heart that He can use for His glory. As long as we remain unaware of His blessings, our heart remains hard and our hands remain closed. God desires tender hearts and open hands so that they might be shaped for His glory and used to further His Kingdom.

I encourage you to begin being thankful for things “in this season”. In the same way recognize that the struggles you are going through are also only “in this season”. Earthly struggles and triumphs are always temporary, and both are necessary to refine us into the people we have been created to be. Thank Him for the blessings He has provided in this season of your life, as well as for walking with you through the trials you are experiencing in this season. As you develop a temporal view of earthly matters, you will come to further appreciate the eternal perspective of Heavenly affairs. All that we experience in life is for the ultimate aim of carrying on the mission of Jesus Christ. We can all be used in this season if we will only surrender everything to Him. Hold loosely to the things of this earth and cling tightly to the one who is Truth and Life. Live in gratitude with a thankful heart and the realization of what you have been given. All we experience can and should be used for His glory. Take nothing for granted, but rather live each moment in humble awe of what He is doing through you. Be thankful for the blessings you have been given in this season.

Love Is… Generous

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Nothing demonstrates love more clearly than generosity. When we are willing to give of ourselves to another, we exhibit the character of God who was so generous as to give His only Son for our salvation. Generosity is rarely easy as it involves a sacrifice of some sort. It is by this sacrifice that we show our love to the object of our giving. To truly demonstrate love, our generosity must be done with the proper attitude. If we give to someone out of obligation or guilt then we have missed the point. I Corinthians 13:3 says that if we donate everything we have to feed the poor, but don’t love the poor, then we have gained nothing. So while love is generous, generosity can only be expressed through love. It’s a beautiful example of how true love always comes full circle; it is complete and whole.

One way we can choose to be generous is by giving of our time. Taking a few minutes to stop whatever we are doing to focus on a conversation with someone else is a great gift. In today’s society we have become so busy and self absorbed that listening is becoming a lost art. Merely concentrating on what someone else is saying ascribes great worth to that person. You are letting them know that at that moment they are the most important person in the world. I know of someone in my fellowship who visits an elderly, home-bound woman every single Sunday; the woman has no family, yet she is loved through the tender generosity of another giving up her Sunday afternoons to be with her. What a beautiful picture. Putting the needs of someone else before your own always involves sacrificing your time. I guarantee it will be time well spent.

Another way we can demonstrate love through generosity is by giving of our abilities. All of us have skills, gifts or talents that can be used to help someone else. Look for opportunities in the lives of others where you might interject yourself in ways that will bless them. If you’re a good listener, invite a troubled person out for coffee and just let them talk. If you are handy, consider doing odd jobs for elderly or poor folks who have no other means of getting the work done. Perhaps you are a savvy mechanic; why not walk around your neighborhood looking for troubled vehicles you can help repair? If you can sew, you could take in mending from your neighbors. There are countless ways to be generous with your abilities; don’t keep them to yourself!

Of course we can be generous financially as well. If you have the luxury of a roof, clothing and food you are truly blessed. Why not give to bless others in the same way. Millions are homeless and billions are hungry. With nearly half the world earning less than $2 per day, think what a difference even small financial gifts can make. How easy would it be for most of us to find a way to give $2 a day to someone in need? Just imagine, we could effectively double the annual income of someone with little sacrifice to ourselves. Think what we could accomplish with a large sacrifice! We truly do have the ability to change the world if we will only release what God has given to us and generously give it away to someone who has less than we do. Pay for someone’s groceries at the store. Randomly hand some money to a person who is obviously struggling. Leave large tips for service regardless of the quality. Generous giving is both fun and contagious.

We cannot love by keeping it all to ourselves. Love compels us to share what we have with others. Jesus poured out His blood, His very life, for you and for me. It doesn’t get more generous than that. This week focus on how you might generously give of the time, abilities, and money God has entrusted to you. I recommend writing down some tangible ways you will demonstrate the love of God through your own generosity. In fact, I encourage you to leave a comment below to share how you will be generous this week, and then check back and let everyone know how it turned out. Your tales of generosity will inspire others as well, so you can begin being generous simply by sharing your ideas. Love is generous; it holds back nothing for itself. Jesus gave everything for us, the ultimate example of generosity. Actively look for ways in which you might give of yourself to others through acts of generosity. In this way you will demonstrate the love of God to someone in need. This is what it means to follow Jesus; this is what it means to love.

Modern Idolatry

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I am struck by how the Church continues to grow at impressive rates in countries that are altogether hostile toward Christianity, yet in the Western world the same Church is falling in a rapid decline. How can it be that Christians who are free to worship their God and to tell others about Him are trapped in a malaise while those who face great trials for sharing their faith are doing so with a rabid zeal? One of the great mysteries of Christianity is that it has always flourished under persecution. The more others have tried to stamp it out, the faster it grows. As a follower of Christ it is encouraging to see what is happening around the world, yet very discouraging to look in my own backyard. How much longer will the Western Church slumber? What must be done to bring a new awakening to our congregations?

Part of our problem is the abundance of our blessings. While this should be a good thing, we have instead indulged selfishly in what God has entrusted to us. What He intended to be used for His glory, we have hoarded for our own. In the Old Testament, the peoples would go up to the high places and worship their Asherah poles. God commanded that His people should no longer worship those, and indeed that they be torn down (2 kings 18:1-7). Today I believe our church buildings bear a marked resemblance to the ancient high places of worship. We fancifully adorn our buildings and often build them in desirable locations so that people can come from all around to worship there. Paul tells us that greed is a form of idolatry (Ephesians 5:5), which makes all us greedy people idolaters. I cringe at the notion that I have engaged in any form of idolatry; yet how can we not admit our greed when we spend lavishly on our own comforts while around the world children lie sick and dying, and while billions have never heard the message of the Gospel? We have been given much and we are clutching tightly to it. We do not share, but rather toss scraps to those in need. How can we imagine God is pleased? Is it any wonder the Western Church is in decline?

There is a cure for our troubles; there is a path away from our idolatry. The answer is Jesus Christ and a life lived fully for Him. We can no longer accept the traditions of the generations that have come before us. The Gospel has been systematically watered down until now it is good news only when it benefits us. We ignore passages of Scripture that would bring conflict or discomfort while we cling tightly to those that promise peace and rest. True peace and rest are found only in Christ, and will not reign in this world until His return. If you would have comfort in this world, the only means of obtaining it is by throwing yourself with total abandon into the arms of Jesus and allowing Him to lead you along His path. If we indulge in the pleasures of this world, then this world will be our reward. Look around at your inheritance; is it worth giving up Heaven for a place that daily plummets further into despair? If we will seek only the pleasure of following in the way God has commanded, then Christ will be our reward. Compared to anything else, I’ll take Jesus every time.

We have too long lived in darkness masquerading as light. The way to God is narrow, but it is well lit; the path is clear. Do we desire Jesus more than anything this world has to offer? Are we truly willing to sacrifice everything we have and know to follow in His footsteps? Can we let go of the idols that have insinuated themselves into our lives? We need to forget all that we think we know and learn to live only in the manner in which Christ instructed us. No more empty religion, no more alibis, and no more pretense. The call of Jesus is serious; it demands your total devotion and it demands your life. Are you willing to pay the cost? Am I? It’s time to throw away the dead and worthless idols of our greed and apathy. Let’s cast everything aside for Him; let’s truly follow Jesus.