Author: Brian Burdett

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” – 1 Corinthians 4:3-4

If only we all lived with the freedom and humility of Paul! We would accomplish extraordinary things for God’s Kingdom with that mindset. Paul wasn’t concerned about what any person thought about him. Not Christians. Not pagans. Not friends. Not enemies. Not government officials. Although he regularly examined himself, he also wasn’t satisfied with his own opinion of himself. He knew that while he touched many lives, he truly served just One. He was concerned for the opinion and evaluation of the Lord Jesus and no one else. There is so much power for God’s Kingdom when we live that way!

Many Christians limit themselves and their Kingdom efforts out of concern for what others will think, say, or do. Will we seem weird or fanatical? Will we offend? Will we lose friends, family, or employment? Will we get in trouble? We’re often more concerned about the worldly consequences of sharing Christ, correcting believers, and defying ungodly rules and laws than about the approval or disapproval of King Jesus. It is appropriate to respect employers, government officials, and family members. However, their opinion of us should never, ever limit our faithfulness to the call of Jesus!

Likewise, Christians can sometimes become so righteous and awesome in their own eyes that they lack the humility to admit that they may still be missing the mark. We can plunge ahead with what we stubbornly believe to be right without stopping often to listen for the Lord’s voice. We must be determined not to limit ourselves because of other people but must also make sure we’re absolutely and always submitted to Jesus.

Jesus will be our final judge. He will review everything we’ve done and failed to do. Everything we’ve said and failed to say. His judgment will be just and it will be gracious. We need not fear it but should live prepared for it. So examine yourselves today and often. Consider what you know Jesus to have commanded you in Scripture. Consider what Jesus has called you to through gifting and the Holy Spirit. Are you doing His will and work wholeheartedly and without fear of other people? Are you doing it humbly and in ongoing submission to His will? #FollowJesus

“If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” – 1 Corinthians 3:14-15

The work that we each do for the Lord will be tested by our Lord. He will judge it with perfect knowledge and wisdom. This is true for EVERY Christian. Have we made disciples like Jesus commanded? Have we taught them well and accurately from Scripture? Have we built on the foundation of Jesus Christ and the Word of God revealed to the Apostles and Prophets? Great reward awaits those who do. Great loss awaits those who don’t.

This isn’t about salvation. Paul is very clear about that. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is truly and eternally saved. If Jesus is truly your Lord, you don’t need to fear for your soul. This is about the rewards you will (or won’t) enjoy in Heaven. Regardless of what disciple-making looks like for you, if you have built well on that everlasting foundation, you will be rewarded. If you haven’t built well or you haven’t built at all, then there are wonderful rewards you will miss out on. Heaven will still be eternally and completely satisfying but you will have missed an amazing opportunity!

Faithfully make disciples of Jesus Christ. Understand what that looks like for you. Understand what God has called you to do to make disciples for His kingdom (that could include evangelizing, engaging with missions, teaching Christians of various ages or stages, mentoring, counseling, serving, etc.). Do whatever God has called you to do. Don’t hold back. Do the work and do it faithfully, building on the truth of God’s Word as written in the Bible and revealed in Jesus Christ. Work for the pleasure of God and the joy of the rewards that are waiting for you in Heaven. Don’t arrive in Heaven smelling like smoke! #FollowJesus

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14

If you’re a Christian, you’ve received the Holy Spirit and He lives within you. The Spirit does many things but one of the most critical is help you understand God’s Word. Because the Bible is spiritual in nature, we need God’s Spirit to really understand it. A person without the Spirit can know many things about the Scripture, but will never truly understand it. Why? Because truly understanding Scripture demands a response – worship, obedience, faithfulness. Head knowledge about the Bible that doesn’t provoke that response indicates a lack of genuine understanding.

What’s far more important is the other side of this reality… If you have the Holy Spirit in you, then you have the most important thing you need in order to read and understand Scripture for yourself. You don’t need to be a great scholar to understand, respond to, and be changed by the Bible. You just need the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit unlocks Scripture for us. Study, learning, and practice can certainly help but if Jesus is your Lord, then Scripture is for you and you CAN understand it. Don’t let anyone (including yourself) convince you otherwise!!!

If you’ve always believed that you can’t read or understand the Bible for yourself, trust God’s Spirit and start reading. Make sure you have a good translation you can understand. Get a reading plan to systematically read a little Scripture every single day. Pray for God’s help to understand before you read. Ask for God’s help to understand after you have read. Start reading every day and spend a few minutes thinking about, asking questions about, and reflecting on what you’ve read. If you’re diligent, the Spirit will help you begin to understand what you’re reading more and more. The Bible will begin to change you more and more. Why? Because God’s Spirit opens your mind to understand the Scriptures He’s given you for your blessing, benefit, and transformation. #FollowJesus

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” – Romans 16:17

You will encounter Christians who seem to regularly drive a wedge between you and other believers, even your oldest and dearest friends in Christ. These individuals may be smart, well-educated, and charismatic. They may sound very wise and compelling. However, if they’re regularly giving you reasons to separate from fellow believers in your church, avoid them! If they’re complicating your faith with additional rules or requirements beyond what the Bible teaches, avoid them!

Such people may be theologically persuasive, particularly if you aren’t a deep Bible scholar yourself. However, if they’re routinely criticizing your brothers and sisters in Christ, they should be avoided. No Christian is perfect – it’s easy to find fault with every believer. Those who habitually do so with the purpose of diminishing your love and respect for fellow church members must be avoided. The unity of the local church is unimaginably precious to Jesus, the Lord of the church. Unity in the church is infinitely more important than you think! That is why Jesus prayed for our unity before He was arrested. That is why Scripture repeatedly commands us to be united in the church.

Recognize those who create division in the church. See them for what they are. Warn them and try to reason with them from Scripture. However, if their negativity, critical spirit, and efforts to divide won’t stop, avoid them and embrace your brothers and sisters in the church. Our love for each other is supposed to be our sign to the unbelieving world, not our division! #FollowJesus

“And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation” – Romans 15:20

It is vital that every generation of Christians cast vision and raise up faithful missionaries and evangelists with this same ambition to preach the gospel where Christ is unknown. Jesus has given the church the command to make disciples of every nation, tribe, and language. Revelation 7:9 shows us the fulfillment of that vision and mission in heaven as followers of Jesus from every nation, tribe, and language worship Jesus side-by-side.

Until that day comes, faithful churches must be praying, calling, and equipping those called to go to the distant, difficult places where there are no churches to make disciples who make disciples. Their task is to preach the gospel, translate the Scriptures, disciple those who believe, and stir them up to multiply disciples and churches. However, they cannot do this alone! There are over 7000 distinct ethnic groups (3.5 billion people) with little or no access to the Gospel. Every Christian must be part of fulfilling Christ’s vision. Every Christian!!!

Every follower of Jesus should be praying for this to happen. Praying for specific people groups and nations. Praying for specific missionaries. Praying for the completion of the Great Commission. Every Christian should find ways to sacrifice their own lifestyle to support the work of these missionaries. Invest in discipling young Christians called to go out. Financially support missions generously and sacrificially. Learn eagerly about the progress of the Gospel in the world. Welcome missionaries with love and curiosity as they return from the field. Encourage them while they’re on the field.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you have a role to play in supporting and sustaining those with the same godly call as Paul. Do you know your role? Are you fulfilling it? #FollowJesus