Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:1

One of the unfortunate realities of our fallen humanity is that it’s really easy for us to do good things for bad reasons! The fact that sin affects (and infects) every aspect of our mind, body, and emotions means sin threatens to taint even the best things we try to do. We always need to be aware of why we do the good things we do.

Are we helping people, giving to those in need, caring for the vulnerable, etc. because it’s the right thing to do? Because Jesus commanded us to? To make God visible and famous? Or are we doing it because it makes us feel good? Or because we think it gives us leverage or status in God’s eyes? Or, perhaps, because we enjoy the applause of people who know what we’re doing? Do we do good things because we like the thanks and approval of others: those we serve, those in our circle of friends who will hear our stories of sacrifice and virtue, or those leading the organizations we serve or give to? Do we give, serve, and love to be approved by God or because we enjoy the approval of others?

Jesus isn’t warning His followers against doing good things. We’re supposed to be doing good things! Jesus is warning us against the creeping tendency for our motivations to either begin wrong or become wrong such that we do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Live at all times to serve and please God. Period. If others praise you, thank you, or celebrate you, then humbly accept the accolades of others, but don’t let those sneak into becoming a major reason you’re doing the right thing.

“And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” – Acts 7:59-60

Could you do it? Could you be like Stephen, the first martyr of the church, forgiving those who were stoning him to death as he was being struck by those stones? Could you pray for those actively killing you in that moment, earnestly asking Jesus to forgive them?

It goes against every bit of our natural being. That’s the point, of course. Stephen could forgive those who were killing him because Jesus had forgiven those who killed Him. As Jesus hung dying on the cross, He prayed for His killers to be forgiven.

Every follower of Jesus is called to imitate Jesus. So, because Jesus forgave His executioners, Stephen forgave His. What about you? Are you ready to forgive and pray for those who mistreat you? Who mock you for your Christianity? Would you find strength in the Holy Spirit to pray for someone killing you for your faith? Think about it!

Stephen’s death played an important role in the advance of God’s Kingdom. It was an event that touch the life of one of his killers, a young man who would become the Apostle Paul. There is tremendous Kingdom power and impact to be made by every follower of Jesus who can set aside their natural response to hard situations and instead embrace the supernatural response made possible by the Spirit of Christ within them.

Think about this passage carefully. Think about your response carefully. Pray for God to help you change from a natural response to a supernatural response in every situation. Pray for God to give you the grace and strength to forgive those who wrong you, mistreat you, and persecute you, praying that through your forgiveness they might come to know Jesus for themselves.

“The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.”
– Psalm 12:6

Indeed they are! God’s words are perfect and glorious. They are truth that confronts, convicts, and heals our souls. They reveal God and point us toward salvation in Jesus Christ. They encourage us when we’re down and they humble us when we’re riding high. They teach us the ways of God. They correct us in our sin and error. They train us in the righteousness of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. And they’re neatly organized for us in the Bible.

We live in an era when we enjoy what would have been an unimaginable luxury to our spiritual predecessors and what remains so for billions around the world today. We have in our ready possession the Bible. In our own language. In an enormous variety of excellent translations. Available for free on our phones or for a small price just about anywhere books are sold.

The tragedy is that for English-speaking Christians, we have this abundant access to God’s words in the Bible, yet too few actively read those words. Are you in the habit of reading God’s Word for yourself each day? Truly reading His words, not just reading about them. It’s not enough to enjoy a good devotional or two each morning. Devotionals are like an appetizer at a restaurant. The Bible is the entree, the main course. It can’t be replaced! Do you read and enjoy God’s Word for yourself each and every day?

If you don’t, choose a daily reading plan – on your phone, from this church, wherever. Or make a plan of your own (perhaps one chapter of the New Testament each day for 9 months). Then start reading the Bible for yourself. Today. Then read it again tomorrow. And the next day…

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16

We like to make things complicated, but this command of Jesus is quite simple. As followers of Christ, we’re the light of the world. If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’re the light of the world. You have the light of Jesus Christ within you and you need to consistently shine it wherever you are in this world so that non-believers can see the goodness, kindness, holiness, love, and mercy of God through your good works. This will change their impression and understanding of God, leading them to praise and give glory to Him. It’s that simple.

Obviously, we live in challenging times. It’s easy to get frustrated, discouraged, and angry about the world situation and your own personal situation. That’s natural, but it doesn’t shine your Christ-light before others. It’s tempting to hunker down and spend time only with your closest believing friends. That’s natural, but it doesn’t shine your Christ-light before others. It’s tempting to give your spleen, give people what for, and let your disappointment, anger, fear, or frustration hang out – either in personal interactions or in electronic interactions. That’s natural, but it doesn’t shine your Christ-light before others.

It’s time to astonish the world by your good works, your good heart, and your good spirit! It’s time to shine that Christ-light, even when you’re angry, upset, discouraged, or frustrated. The Holy Spirit within you gives you that power. Discipline yourself never to pour out your darkness in public but to always shine your light of Jesus around others, so they too may know and give glory to God!

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:3

Who are the poor in spirit? What is spiritual poverty? Why does it result in people receiving the kingdom of heaven? Spiritual poverty isn’t about money. Rather, spiritual poverty is a deep awareness of what you lack spiritually: true righteousness, genuine holiness, and authentic goodness. Spiritual poverty is the profound awareness that when you come before the Lord your God, you have nothing to offer to your credit or in your defense. Spiritual poverty recognizes our desperately hopeless spiritual condition before the God of absolute holiness, righteousness, and purity.

Those who aren’t poor in spirit boast in their goodness: good deeds, righteous rule following, generosity, and church attendance records. They see the good they imagine to be in themselves and offer that to the infinitely perfect and holy God of the universe. However, the imperfect can’t ever be perfect and our efforts can’t ever save us. We are spiritually bankrupt in fact. The question is whether we recognize this reality.

The spiritual poor know with every bit of their soul that they can’t save themselves. They know that despite their best efforts, they have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. They know that even their best efforts are themselves tainted by sinful attitudes of pride, applause seeking, and a desire to manipulate God.

It’s only when we’re poor in spirit that we stop trying to save ourselves and cry out for a Savior. It’s only when we’re spiritually poor that we’re at last willing to kneel humbly before Lord Jesus and ask for Him to save us. It’s only when we’re spiritually poor that we’re willing to quit trying to pick ourselves up by our bootstraps and simply cry out to Jesus, confident that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This is why the Kingdom of Heaven belongs only to the poor in spirit. Are you poor in spirit???