Author: Brian Burdett

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” – 1 Corinthians 15:33

This verse is a stark warning to every believer in Jesus. It sits in the middle of a long chapter responding to some in the church who had begun to doubt the most fundamental tenet of Christianity – the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that opened the way for all believers to rise to new eternal life in Christ. This verse emphasizes the truth that believers must carefully guard our minds and hearts from the influence of anyone undermining our faith by their words, actions, or lifestyle.

This is a tricky thing to navigate… Followers of Jesus should be in the world, engaging with non-believers, loving and caring for them while sharing the Gospel with them. We must not lock ourselves away from the unbelieving world. However, we must remain rooted in Scripture and hold firmly to the teachings of Jesus. Believers must understand the unchanging faith that has been delivered once for all time without letting ignorance, questions, or doubts from skeptics, seekers, or new believers undermine that. As Paul emphasizes throughout this entire letter, as newcomers enter the church, we must not let the ways of the world enter with them. Christians should hold firmly to their faith, not letting the morals and mindset of the world change the beliefs of the church or undermine her holiness.

How are you guarding your faith and character in Christ? What is your defense against the relentless way in which the world chips away at your pursuit of Christ, imitation of Christ, and obedience to Christ? Are you sharing Christ with others and also protecting your faith and practice of it? Are you regularly fortifying your soul with Bible study, Scripture meditation, prayer, worship, and meaningful fellowship with other Christians? If not, mark Paul’s warning well! #FollowJesus

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
– Psalm 51:17

King David had committed unimaginably terrible sins. He’d violated God’s ten commandments, indulged his lust, murdered a man who trusted and served him faithfully, and lied to cover it all up. There was no excusing it, explaining it, or defending it. He’d begun to suffer the consequences and punishments for his sins and by all rights, David was no longer fit to be king.

However, David was still a man after God’s heart, even after his fall into sin. David understood God’s amazing grace and mercy. He knew that just because he’d sinned terribly against God and many people, that didn’t mean God was done with him. God’s grace is always readily available. There is always complete forgiveness waiting for anyone who comes to the Lord with a broken, contrite heart. God will forgive everyone who repents of their sins and asks His forgiveness in the name of Jesus.

It was true then and it’s true today. No matter who you are or what you may have done, God will graciously forgive you when you ask for it through faith in Jesus. Nobody who still draws breath is too far gone for God’s forgiveness, blessing, and life. Nobody! David was right – God won’t reject or despise a genuinely repentant heart. He’ll accept the sacrifice of sorrow for your sins because He’s already accepted the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross in your place. #FollowJesus

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” – 1 Corinthians 13:1

No matter how gifted or talented you are as a speaker, writer, or linguist, if you lack love, you don’t sound good. Nobody does under those circumstances. Rude, harsh, callous, condescending, overbearing, or cruel words are always a cacophony of terrible noise. No matter how well-constructed, perfectly conjugated, or meticulously accented they may be. The point the Apostle Paul emphasizes throughout all of this famous chapter of Scripture is for followers of Jesus to major in love. Lead with love, follow with love, flood with love. Use your gifts and talents in love or not at all.

So, do you lead with love? Or do you often find reasons why you simply can’t “this time”? The Lord really isn’t too interested in excuses on this topic. Not according to Scripture. Live, speak, and act with love. #FollowJesus

“‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” – 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

In Christ, every believer has tremendous freedom. Free from death. Free from sin’s awful power. Free from having to try and reconcile ourselves to our perfect, holy Creator through perfect behavior. The question is, how does Jesus want you to use the freedom He died to give you? Is the grace of God your excuse to indulge every petty personal sin, knowing that God will forgive it in Christ? No! Is your freedom from having to try and save yourself by scrupulous rule-following your invitation to waste your life on pointless and petty indulgences? No!

The freedom given to you by your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ should be used well. It should be a source of blessing to others. It should build you up in Christ rather than wasting your life on trivialities. How can you use your freedom to help others gain that same freedom through faith in Jesus as their Lord? How can you freely give of your time, talent, and treasure to set others free through the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? How can you invest yourself in the spiritual growth of fellow believers? How can you pour out your life for the glory of God rather than your own glory?

These are the great questions that you are free to wrestle with and live out the answer that pleases Jesus. You are free to choose to make sacrifices, not out of fear, compulsion, or guilt, but out of the overflow of grace and joy in your life. You are free to voluntarily limit yourself to reach others with good news. You are free to build God’s Kingdom with excitement about the coming day when Jesus will return to complete it. What are you free to do for the Lord? Will you do it? Will you #FollowJesus?

“To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.” – 1 Corinthians 9:21

How far are you willing to go outside your comfort zone to share the Gospel with people currently facing an eternity in Hell? Seriously! Paul set the example for us to imitate. He showed how we should be willing to break out of our rigid patterns, comforts, and rhythms of life to reach people far from God. To go where they are with the hope of rescue. Not engaging in sin. Not breaking any command of God’s. But willing to be flexible about every matter of preference, taste, style, or practice in order to build relationships and introduce people to Christ.

All around you, people are facing an eternity apart from God. Thousands of them. Millions of them. Billions of them! Some know it. Some don’t. All need to hear the good news that eternal life is freely available to them through faith in Jesus Christ. What they do with that news is between them and God. But will you do anything and everything you possibly can to get that news to them? Yes? No? Maybe?

Is any sacrifice too much to rescue even one person from eternal damnation? Are you sure? What, where, and to whom is God calling you? #FollowJesus