Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build.” – Ezra 4:4

If you stop to think about it, this is a profoundly sad statement. God had moved the spirit of the mightiest king on earth to send the Jewish exiles home to Israel to rebuild the temple. God had overseen their safe travel back and provided for the work. Nonetheless, when the locals got upset, the people of God became afraid to do what God had commanded and provided for them to do. They forgot everything God was doing in their midst and focused on the opposition in front of them. Fear defeated faith.

Sad as this is, this isn’t an isolated incident in the history of God’s people. Nor is it merely a relic of the past. When God commands us to act, it’s still normal for there to be opposition. In fact, if there were no opposition, we should probably make sure we’re actually in God’s will!

That said, when the opposition comes (and it will), how will you react as a follower of Christ? Will you live in fear? Will you be discouraged from doing what God has called you to do? No!

We must not let the discouragement of friends, family, neighbors, opponents, or strangers keep us from doing the work God has prepared for us. We must be diligent in sharing the Gospel, ministering to those in need, and advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth. Don’t let people discourage you from actively following Jesus every single day!

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:” – Ezra 1:1

There’s been an awful lot of angst-filled hand-wringing about leaders this year, hasn’t there? That’s certainly quite natural. However, desperation, anger, hatred, and fear about earthly leaders isn’t appropriate for Christians! Such an attitude misunderstands and even insults God’s power and sovereignty. Too many Christians act like functional atheists in believing that God needs help or that Christ or the church needs earthly protection.

God has always been completely clear: He alone makes nations rise and fall. He alone appoints leaders, both good and evil. He is 100% in control of history and uses even ungodly pagans like Cyrus to accomplish the things He promised and willed to do.

Christian, don’t put your love and hope in any earthly leader. Ever. Trust in God alone. Don’t compromise your Christian witness because of your dislike of any earthly leader. Be Christ toward that leader, toward those who disagree with you, and toward those who agree with you.

The world isn’t going to end because of some earthly leader. God is just as much in control today as He has always been. You do what Christ has commanded you to do. Let God take care of the rest!

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” – Revelation 7:9-10

What a glorious picture of the family of God, gathered together in heaven before God and Jesus! Can you imagine it? Try, right now. Picture countless millions or billions of people from every nation, every race, every ethnic group, every language gathered together to praise and worship!

It’s a glorious image reminding us of one of the wondrous truths of the Christian faith: that we are united by Christ in us. In Christ, all the labels and categories the world would use to divide us become irrelevant. We are new creation in Christ, one family, one people, one Spirit in us. In Christ, what unites us is infinitely greater than what divides us! We are the body of Christ in all the beauty of our many God-given colors.

So how do we live like this here on earth? How do we bring this aspect of heaven into our lives today? Christians have often done a very poor job at this but we need to do it. How do we earnestly live like every single person of every single skin color is beautifully and wonderfully made in God’s image?

How do we live in a manner that isn’t blind to the many colors God has given us and that doesn’t disparage, diminish, or mistreat others or ourselves because of skin color. How do we genuinely celebrate God’s diverse creation while whole-heartedly embracing our brothers and sisters of every color, every language, every citizenship, and every heritage? What step will you take to live this wondrous aspect of God’s Kingdom here today and every day?

“Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” – Revelation 6:11

Our faith in Christ often requires us to hold several things in tension. This naturally makes us uncomfortable and in our human weakness, we want to simplify our faith by oversteering toward one side or the other of the tension. We must resist that temptation. This verse is an excellent example of the tension we must carefully navigate as we follow Jesus.

As Christians, we’re called to do everything possible to live peaceably with EVERYONE (Romans 12:18). We’re called to pray for ALL leaders so that the church might enjoy peace (1 Timothy 2:1-2). This is God’s will for each of us. Yet it’s also His will that at certain times, Christians will suffer for our faith. Some will die for it. We must simultaneously seek, make, and pray for peace and be willing and prepared to suffer or die for Christ.

We must prepare ourselves mentally and spiritually for both. Some Christians focus so much on living peacefully that we aren’t prepared if persecution should come to us. If we aren’t prepared, we won’t endure. We’ll renounce or compromise Christ for comfort, safety, or social standing. Other Christians focus so militantly on their willingness to die gloriously that they refuse to seek or make peace. We must do all these.

Take time to reflect on which side of this tension is your preference and which is your weak area. Reflect on God’s call to do both. In the days to come, study, meditate, pray, and prepare yourself deep within your soul to be both an agent of peace and a bold witness for Christ, whatever the cost!

“I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” – Revelation 3:8

It’s easy to get stuck thinking about what we can’t do. That’s true for individuals and for entire churches. We view the possibilities of the world in terms of our abilities and resources, convincing ourselves that we’re stuck with the status quo. That isn’t how God’s universe works!

Christ asks His church and His followers to be faithful. He asks us to obey His instructions and confess our faith in Him no matter the cost. It isn’t easy, but it’s something we are all capable of doing. When we do that, Christ takes care of creating the opportunities. Christ takes care of giving the power. Christ takes care of providing the people and resources.

In a year characterized by things we can’t do, we mustn’t let that discourage us from doing what we’re called to do. 2020 was a revelation of our own weakness as people, as churches, as nations. That isn’t a bad thing! Let’s use this wake up call to draw nearer to Christ and commit to something we can control: being increasingly faithful to Christ this Christmas (and beyond).

Christ doesn’t ask us to be extraordinary for Him. He asks us to be faithful to Him, then He does the extraordinary. That’s His specialty!