The Servant's Heart

The Apostle Paul was a servant par excellence. He could boast of his sufferings for Christ beyond measure and more than anybody else in the New Testament. Paul also said that he would boast of nothing but what Christ has accomplished through him. (Romans 15:18). You see, the most we could ever hope for no matter how much we suffer and no matter how much we do is that Christ says to us on that day well done thou good and faithful servant. Paul proved this by being down getting down and dirty just like Jesus did when he took up the tall and washed the disciples' feet.   He was not afraid that something was beneath him that is the servant's heart to be servant of all. Paul had no sense of superiority but he defended his right as an apostle appointed by Christ. the idea of a servant is that we have a master and we are obedient.  

When we call Jesus Lord that implies that he is our Master and that we will obey him.   In other words, to say no lord is a contradiction in terms. There could be no salvation apart from obedience. for instance, the Bible says to obey is better than sacrifice And God gives his holy spirit to those who obey him. obedience and faith are linked in scripture many times we adhere to the obedience of the faith.  God has given his Holy Spirit to those who obey him Acts 5:32

The Lord would not ask us about our achievements or accomplishments But he will be interested in what kind of persons we are. That is why Christ condemned those who posted before him on Judgment Day saying, "Lord have we not done this or that?" They were having faith in their works, not in the Lord. We should realize that we are only honored and privileged to serve God. Paul says it has been appointed unto you not only to believe in Christ but to suffer for his sake. (Phil. 1:29).   We also fill up the suffering of Christ. We are called to serve and when we do in Christ's name we should consider it an honor.

Would you worship a God who had no understanding of suffering? But Jesus Christ suffered more than anyone and God allowed his own son to suffer much more will he allow us to suffer for his glory. Then Christianity we find meaning and suffering unlike any other religion But of course, the true answer is not in philosophy but in the person of Jesus Christ. Now we are not to get a martyr's complex and think that the more we suffer the whole year we are or the more worthy we are. The faith doesn't us to become martyrs necessarily but to live for Christ and to present our bodies as living sacrifices. Many people will die for a Christ that they will not live for. Paul said that he would rejoice in his sufferings (Romans 5:3). 

As far as boasting goes, Paul said that he would boast in the Lord but he didn't do it to exalt himself but to put himself in Christ's shoes and think that doing something that Christ expects him to do. When we suffer and when we serve God, we are only doing what is our duty and we are even unworthy of that. Paul said that those who will be exalted must humble themselves.   And we do this by putting Christ first in our lives and making him our number one priority and letting all other things slide. 

One thing Paul did boast of saying that he was better at not just also at doing was that he was a servant of God. Yes, Paul did have a servant's heart, mentality, and mindset.  Paul did his boasting to be a fool for Christ. We all are fools and in a sense, but who's fool are you? Are you willing to be God's full and to do things that require faith not just the world's wisdom? Suffering can thus be a badge of honor but we must not use it to make ourselves better than others or to think of ourselves better than others or to think we are whole there than not type of attitude. All the suffering that we do is for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of the Name and we should be considered honored and privileged to be able to do it and that God is just using us for His glory!  Soli Deo Gloria!

You've Come To The Right Man!...

In our time of need we need to know the source of all blessing and comfort, the only One able to heal us of our infirmity or disability and we all have some deficiency that makes us imperfect--we all need improvement and have flaws and can get worse off.  Jesus gave a few commands that illustrate the abundant life in Him:  come to Him, follow Him, obey Him, serve Him, abide in Him, know Him, and even love Him.  These are interconnected or linked to the successful walk with Christ by faith in fellowship, obedience, and good works.  

To Christ there is no barrier to His love and outreach, we are within the boundaries of His grace and never at a distance or removed from grace.  We have all the resources we need if we know the Lord, but we must never get a big head that we are favored in some special way or that God is respecting us or showing partiality.  We all come to God under the same conditions: He has leveled the playing field.

What we need is a great God who can meet all our needs and this knowledge will give us great faith.  If your faith is small, get a bigger God! If you think of just the humanity of Jesus, your thoughts of Him are too human.   Jesus desires to get down and dirty with us to get intimate, sharing our sorrows and weaknesses.  Jesus knew how to get up close and personal with men and to see where they were coming from, identifying with them in their infirmities.  Jesus does care and we can know this by His infinite compassion towards us.  God's mercy towards us has no bounds!  We all come to Him on the same conditions of being sin-sick and beyond cure without His grace. 

God doesn't have to heal us or to have mercy, then it would be justice!  God is bound to save no one!  But no one is ever the same after encountering Christ, He has some impact, good or bad either to soften their heart or to harden it, but change will inevitably happen.  When we are transformed by grace, we cannot but talk of it: we get the "can't-help-its," like the apostles did in Acts 4:20, NIV, saying, "... we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard."  This was the effect on the multitudes after Christ would heal someone--though He admonished them not to spread the news, they couldn't help themselves to this wonderful event that they couldn't help but praise.

Jesus praised and recognized great faith when He saw it and would tell them that it wasn't superstition but their faith in Him that healed them.  But Christ didn't want to be known just as a miracle worker--that would not be a reputation that would change the world or save mankind.  He first came to be our Savior and His miracles were only signs of His deity and emphasized His attributes in particular, like being the resurrection and the life, so He raised Lazarus from the dead.

Jesus was the kind who believed in doing it right or not doing it at all and everything He did, He did well and it was of good report.  Anything well worth doing is worth doing well!  He was known for going about doing good.  "Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots?  Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil"  (Jer. 13:23, NIV).   But it is impossible for man to do good apart from God (cf. John 15:5; cf. Psalm 14:3; Isaiah 64:6) but we are only vessels of honor being used by God for His glory to do His works.  We are to be a godly people zealous of good works and we are saved unto good works (cf. Titus 2;14; Eph. 2:10)!  

We can only venture to speak of what Christ has accomplished through us (cf. Romans 15:18; Amos 6:13; Hosea 14:8 Isaiah 26:12).  God is not impressed with our self-righteous do-goodery.  As much as we tend to believe we can be good without God, it's impossible   The good news is that we can be ambassadors of Christ's goodness and mercy to spread the good word to the lost.  As Christ promised:  "Come unto Me all ye who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" (cf. Matt. 11:28).   "Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you, I do not give as the world gives.  Your heart must no be troubled or fearful" (cf. John 14:27, HCSB).  

In sum, we must acknowledge Christ as having sole authority to make us whole, complete, and free from any spiritual malady or defect: i.e., we must defer to His power and lordship for this to be effectual, whom alone to know is eternal life!       Soli Deo Gloria! 

Are Works Imperative?

There is a grand distinction between religion and Christianity: works out of a pure motive and not for applause; i.e., to ingratiate oneself or get brownie points with a deity. Christians are not "do-gooders" per se but do good deeds because they want to, not because they have to. The key is not "in order to" but "therefore." Good works logically follow a changed life, through which Christ lives. We are not saved by good works neither without them! We're not saved by good works but unto good works! (cf. Eph. 2:10). In a works religion, you never know how much is enough! Since salvation is a gift only in Christianity, the person is free to do good out of gratitude.

"...Set an example of good works yourself..." (Tit. 2:7).
Americans have fallen prey to the misconception that achieving the "American dream" is the ideal and living the "good life" is a "salvation." God requires perfection so any attempt to earn our way is in vain--we need grace and heaven is that gift which is by faith alone, but only a living faith.

Some misguided souls subscribe to the credo that since salvation is by grace alone works aren't necessary (we say that grace is necessary and sufficient and that faith is a gift according to Rom. 12:3; Acts 18:27; 2 Pet. 1:1: John 6:29; Phil 1:29; Acts 14:27). The Reformed doctrine is that salvation is "by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." Works equaling salvation is the essence of religion and mixing works with faith for salvation is legalism. The prevalent view that grace is both necessary and sufficient--there's no place for merit) without any evidence will suffice is erroneous. This is known as Antinomianism or "no-lordship salvation."

Nota bene that if you don't have good works to "work out" or a spiritual workout (cf. Phil. 2:12) your salvation is suspect. The kind of works I am referring to is good deeds--not works of the law. We are not saved by works; but not without them either--but unto works! Works prove, validate, and authenticate, faith to others, God, as well as yourself (cf. Isa. 32:17); but are not the substitute for it. We must put our faith into action--as James would say, "The faith you have is the faith you show."

There is no irreconcilable difference between Paul and James; they saw two vantage points: Paul was dealing with those who couldn't do enough and thought the law was necessary; James was dealing with "do-nothing" libertines. Paul would say, "I'll show you my works." James would counter, "I'll show you my faith." Paul talked about being "rich in faith" (1 Tim. 6:18). James talked about being "rich in deeds" (James 2:5). James says, "But someone will say, 'You have faith, I have deeds,' Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do" (James 2:18).

Faith doesn't have a dormant or inert stage; it can't be left in mothballs! Faith and works are distinguished, but cannot be separated. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).

Our works will be judged (for reward) not our faith since faith is a gift (cf. Rom. 12:3)! We are judged according to our works, not our faith (cf. Romans 2:6; Prov. 24:12; Psalm 62:12) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" the Bema or tribunal) (1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:10). "[God] 'will reward each according to what he has done'" (Rom. 2:6). Our works have to do with our testimony (Matt. 5:16; Tit. 1:16, 2:14)--"By their works they deny Him." We are to be a people "zealous of good works". We are to be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" and "are created unto good works" (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10).

It is important that we give glory to God (Soli Deo Gloria). "I will not venture to boast of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me" (Rom. 15:18). Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing, " (cf. John 15:5). Isa. 26:12 reads, "All that we have accomplished you have done for us." The reason God blesses us is so that we can bear fruit (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8). No fruit means no faith. We are known by our fruits. We are commanded to do good works (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:12). Most of all the importance of it all is summed up: "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10) [Note how they are correlated.]

NB: WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS, NOR WITHOUT THEM EITHER. WORKS VALIDATE FAITH AND WITHOUT THEM OUR FAITH IS SUSPECT! Soli Deo Gloria!

When No Man Can Work

"But I said, 'I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all.  Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God'" (Isa. 49:4, NIV).  "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me..." (Psalm 138:8, ESV).  "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work you gave me to do" (John 17:4, ESV).

The night will come when labor ceases and no man can work (cf. John 9:4), and evaluation or judgment takes place, the reward according to our deeds.  Some people of great faith made good on it and produced labors worthy of their God-given faith, which was God's gift to them, not their gift to God, just like our righteousness is by grace.  We are all here for a purpose to fulfill and if the bugle doesn't give a distinct call, no one will be ready for battle (cf. 1 Cor. 14:8). The psalmist said that the LORD will fulfill His purpose for him (cf. Pss. 138:8; 57:2).  We are all here for a reason and we must find our calling to be fulfilled persons in the will of God.

The only happy people, according to Albert Schweitzer, are those who've learned to serve.  It is in serving that we find our mission; only those who've never ventured out of their comfort zones and tried to serve don't know of any spiritual gift or grace from God.  We must even serve if we don't think it's our gift and make ourselves available, for availability is the greatest ability.  God does indeed call us to faithfulness in what He does bestow and not to success, which is up to Him to make the seed grow and provide life.

Paul was aware that he must suffer many things for the sake of the cross.  The more God blesses us, the more is expected from us, for to whom much is given, much is required (cf. Luke 12:48).  Paul said, "The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me" (Acts 20:24, NCV).  It may seem that our work is in vain, but Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:58 that no work done in the name of the Lord is in vain.

Sometimes we don't comprehend the purpose of our efforts or the seeming fruitlessness, and it all seems in vain, as Isaiah said in Isa. 49:4 that his work seemed "useless."  This is merely a test of faith to see what our true motives and intentions are, just as God withdrew from Hezekiah to see what was on his heart (cf. 2 Chron. 32:21).  It has been proven that a person can endure nearly any trial if he sees purpose in it; Job was put on trial for no fault of his own and shows us the ultimate in patience in testing and the lesson that God is always just in the end and will reward us for the year the locust has eaten (cf. Joel 2:25) or make it up to us for the bad years with good ones (cf. Psalm 90:15.  We are never in a no-win situation with God and it always pays to trust in the Lord and lean not unto our own understanding (cf. Prov. 3:5).

The most rewarding epitaph we can have is "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!"  To know that the Lord will be pleased with our labors and that we will be deemed good and faithful servants of what He entrusted us with is an intrinsic reward in itself.  True holiness, according to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, is doing the will of God with a smile!  We are formed to serve God and can only find fulfillment in doing that; a "non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms," according to Rick Warren.  When we leave to our reward let us be like Jesus, who said, "I have finished the work You have given me to do" (cf. John 17:4).

We were created to be servants and will only find fulfillment in finding service!  Even Jesus came not to be served, but to serve (cf. Mark 10:45).  We don't serve to be noticed or to make a name for ourselves, but to bring glory to God and to do it in His name!   Many people are willing to serve, but for the wrong motive--we must be pure before God and do it by the power of the Spirit, as Zechariah 4:6 says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit."

We must be willing to keep a low profile and not draw attention to ourselves when the real glory belongs to God.  Some people are merely people-pleasers or work with eye service to gain the approbation of man, like to curry favoritism, but we must focus on the eternal goal and serve in light of eternity, where we will be rewarded--for some, their reward and portion is in this life (cf. Psa. 17:14).   See yourself as a special agent of God on special assignment or in the secret service!  Remember we are created unto good works and are expected to fulfill the mission assigned us faithfully, which was even foreordained for us and planned out by God (cf. Eph. 2:10).

The right mental attitude is one of excellence and of doing our best for the Lord, for there is a curse on one who does the Lord's work with slackness (cf. Jer. 48:10).   We ought to have the frame of mind to do our utmost for His Highest.  It's all right to have godly ambition, but "selfish ambition" is forbidden and worldly, not spiritual (cf. Jer. 45:5; Phil. 2:3).  In other words, do not "seek great things" for yourself, but look out for the Lord's interests and expect big things from Him as you attempt big things [plans or projects] for Him, as William Carey said.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Where Is Boasting Then?

"[Y]ou who rejoice in the conquest of Lo Debar [nothing] and say, Did we not take Karnaim by our own strength?" (Amos 6:13, NIV).
"... [A]ll we have accomplished is really from you" (Isa. 26:12, NIV).
"But, the one who brags, should brag in the Lord" (2 Cor. 10:17, CEB).
"For who makes you different from anyone else?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" (1 Cor. 4:7, NIV).
"My hope is built on nothing less, Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name." --Edward Mote

We must come to the eventual realization that we have nothing to boast of in God's eyes--our righteousness is not our gift to God, but His gift to us (cf Isaiah 45:24)!  If we choose to boast, Jeremiah makes the point:  Let it be done in the Lord, that we know Him.  Israel had a problem with pride in their conquering of lands in Amos 6:13; however, God said it was nothing they had done at all.  Paul stresses that he would boast of nothing but of what Christ had done through him as a vessel of honor (cf. Rom. 15:18):  "I will not venture to speak of anything but of what Christ has accomplished through me..." (NIV).

It would've been a temptation for Paul to boast since he had nearly single-handedly converted the Roman empire through his missionary journeys, and he didn't even brag of his visit to the third heaven (cf. 2 Cor. 12:2). But Paul was forced to be braggadocio (cf. 2 Cor. 12:1) because he was defending the integrity of his credentials and ministry.  But the difference with his boast is that he knew it was all grace from beginning to end, grace was not only sufficient but necessary!  Just as Jesus said in John 15:5 that we can do nothing apart from Him.  Paul seized the day (carpe diem in Latin) and foretold of his weaknesses, not his strengths or accomplishments--for God is not interested in our achievements as much as our faithfulness and obedience! 

What we have accomplished must be done for the sake of the Name and in the power of the Holy Spirit or anointed by God to be worthy of reward.  Paul wasn't against good works at all, even his own, just those done in the energy of the flesh (cf. Rom. 8:7-8).  No matter how great, they are not good enough to boast of. Our righteousness is as filthy rags (cf. Isa. 64:6).  Paul was ready to embrace the grace that was his and that God always met his needs and when he had God, Paul had the confidence that he had all he needed.  God reminded Paul after he had prayed to have the thorn in his flesh removed that God's grace is sufficient for him--God knows our limits and strengths too (this evidently kept him from getting a big head!). 

Why boast of our weaknesses, as Paul suggested?  Because God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the strong, and not many mighty are called by God for this reason--God's power can use anyone and empower him to His glory. God likes to use ordinary men like the twelve were.  The lesson goes that the weaker we are, the greater the grace that is manifest and thus the greater glory for God.  We are never to play one-upmanship and try to compare ourselves with each other by some common, invented scale. 

The more we learn to lean on Jesus the more we credit Him for our deeds and realize that it is by the grace of God that we are what we are, as Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:10.  George Whitefield was asked about a criminal going to the gallows and remarked:  "There but for the grace of God go I!"  This is the right attitude: that we are no more worthy than anyone else and cannot merit our salvation or even being used by God as a vessel of honor. 

It is so important that we become grace-oriented and realize that we don't deserve our relationship with God (we have no claim on His friendship), we cannot earn salvation, and will never be able to pay it back.  Christ is the one who paid the penalty He didn't owe for a people who couldn't pay.  When we realize that the price is of infinite value we will awaken to the value of the grace of God on our behalf:  IT IS FINISHED! or PAID IN FULL!   It is done!   Praising God and worship are a form of boasting in the Lord and giving Him the glory He deserves, although we share in it and will be glorified in eternity (cf. 1 Pet. 5:10; Psa. 84:11; Rom. 8:30) just as Christ is in us for the hope of glory (cf. Col. 1:27).

Worship, though, belongs to Him alone, for He is worthy and has paid the price by His blood, obedience, submission, and humiliation for our salvation.  God will get all the credit for our salvation (to God alone be the glory, Soli Deo Gloria!), from beginning to end, start to finish, as the author and finisher of our faith (cf. Heb. 12:2), because it's a work of God in us, not of cooperation, or a joint adventure, but of the grace of regeneration to convert us from hearts of stone to hearts of flesh (cf. Ezek. 36:26). 

Note that even our faith is the gift of God, it's not merit-based work, for we have "believed through grace," according to Acts 18:27.  At judgment hopefully, we will gleefully sing the hymn, "Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling."   Soli Deo Gloria! 

Performance-oriented Christians

"For Christ's love compels us..." (2 Cor. 5:14, NIV). 
"He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly" (2 Chron. 25:2, NIV)--the epitaph of Amaziah
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25, NIV).

The Christian life is not a test to compare ourselves with others (cf. 2 Cor. 10:12); however, God is testing where our loyalties lie and our motives.  We tend to become performance-minded and think that it all depends upon our personal efforts and goals; however, it's more trusting than trying if you will; e.g., "I wonder who the best preacher, singer, or writer is?"  Some Christians try too hard and never learn to let go and let God take over in faith.  That is the essence of faith:  reliance and trust;  it's not being rules-obsessed as the Pharisees were.

Christ is at work within us and gives us the power to live the obedient Christian life--for without Him, we can do nothing (cf. John 15:5).  However, God is always working within us (cf. Phil. 2:13).  The Christian life, they say, is not hard--it's impossible! It's not a code of conduct, a system of ethics to live by, or philosophy to embrace, but a relationship in knowing a person--the unique personhood of Christ indwelling us.  We aren't presenting a creed to believe or recite, but a person to know!  The wonderful thing about our faith is that Christ gives us the power to live it out for Him and we don't have to rely on our own strength; we don't achieve, we believe!

We can never achieve the perfection of the Father, though that is the goal--direction is the test and perfection is the standard (cf. Matt. 5:48) that we will never meet in this life short of glory.  We must learn as Paul said in Gal. 2:20 that the Christian life is not a successful life of imitating Christ, but an exchanged life of Christ living in us--the substituted, surrendered and relinquished life only Christ can offer.  Some people try too hard and never achieve this trust that we must rely on the Holy Spirit for renewal to come (cf. Job 14:14). This is why it's ill-advised to compare ourselves with other believers because they don't have the same gifting or calling and are accountable to God not us for fruit-bearing.  We plant, water, and reap; however, God makes it grow--what a concept!  A fruit tree doesn't require effort to bear fruit, it comes naturally!  And so when we are filled with the Spirit, fruit comes second nature and we are not trying to bear fruit, but do so naturally.

We must learn to walk with Christ in the Spirit and to rely on His strength, not ours.  Strong people are the last to learn to lean on Jesus because they don't have the weaknesses that weaker believers have, who more readily learn to surrender and live in the Spirit.  A fruitful life is giving back to the Lord what He has invested in us and letting God have His way with us, giving up ownership of our lives to the One who bought us.  We owe a deep debt of gratitude to our Lord for His redemption of us and we must trust Him to guide and use us for His glory.

We will be tested and can pass with flying colors if Jesus is ruling our spirit and we are walking with Him, but we inevitably will learn our lesson somehow, either through the school of hard knocks or the easy way--via the Word of God.  There will be no braggadocio at the bema of Christ, but God fully rewards us for the work He accomplishes through our willing obedience. It has been well said that we are Christ's ambassadors:  His feet to go for Him; His hands to help others; His voice to speak for Him; His ears to listen and hear for Him, and His heart to love for Him.

The final test of our efforts are not the results, for they are up to God, but our submission--God gets the glory as we are vessels of honor and He is using us to glorify Himself--it is wrong for a minister, after a sermon, to ask, "How did I do?" for it was the Holy Spirit at work through the sermon that brought conviction and opened hearts!  Mother Teresa of Calcutta, 1979 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, now canonized, says God calls us to faithfulness, not success.

Obedience is the only true test of our faith, as Bonhoeffer said: "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes."  Disobedient Christians are a contradiction in terms--we can fall short and disobey, but not permanently--we must live lives in line with the Spirit's leading, for those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God (cf. Rom. 8:14).

We should emulate King David who did what was right in the sight of the LORD (cf. 1 Kings 15:5), Joshua and Caleb who followed the LORD wholeheartedly (cf. Josh. 14:8), and even King Hezekiah who earnestly sought the LORD and worked wholeheartedly (cf. 2 Chron. 31:21) because the eyes of the LORD are everywhere looking for those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (cf. 2 Chron. 16:9) in the manner of serving God with gusto and with all our might!  This may mean going the extra mile and being willing to go all the way with the LORD no matter what the cost.  

We should emulate King David who did what was right in the sight of the LORD (cf. 1 Kings 15:5), Joshua and Caleb who followed the LORD wholeheartedly (cf. Josh. 14:8), and even King Hezekiah who earnestly sought the LORD and worked wholeheartedly (cf. 2 Chron. 31:21) because the eyes of the LORD are everywhere looking for those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (cf. 2 Chron. 16:9) in the manner of serving God with gusto and with all our might! This may mean going the extra mile and being willing to go all the way with the LORD no matter what the cost.

Therefore, we must desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (cf. Phil. 3:10).  The essence of the Christian life is simply "Christ"--without Him, it's disemboweled. One can illustrate it by an "inhabited life", not an "imitated" one.  In the final analysis, God doesn't want our performance or even achievements--He wants our obedience and full surrender so He can do with us whatever He wills to His glory and live through us (cf. Isa. 43:7).   

Caveat:  Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried (G. K. Chesterton).  Soli Deo Gloria!

The Goody-Goodies

"Trust in the LORD and do good, Then you will live safely in the land and prosper"  (Psalm 37:3, NLT).  

"All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit [motive]"  (Prov. 16:2, ESV).

"Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever"  (Psalm 37:27, NLT). 

"For who sees anything different in you?  What do you have that you did not receive..." (1 Cor. 4:7, ESV).

"All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one good, not even one"  (Rom. 3:12, ESV).  

"Who has given me anything that I need to pay back?  Everything under heaven in mine"  (Job 41:11, NLT).  

This is the dangerous lie of New Age worldview or mental outlook:  "You do not become good by trying to be good, but discovering the good inside."  

God alone is good by definition and He invites us to let Him authenticate Himself, as the proof of the pudding is in the eating:  "Taste and see that the LORD is good!  ..."  (Cf. Psalm 34:8).  

We are to repent in the manner of ceasing to do evil and learning to do good, but Jeremiah 13:23, NLT, says that the evil cannot do good:  "Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots?  Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil." The problem in a works religion is that you never know how much is enough!  I am not against works per se, but only those done in the energy of the flesh without the Spirit's enabling.  What I mean is that you can distinguish faith and works, but you cannot separate them, God has made them go hand in hand and not to be divorced.  (Mark 10:9 says, "What God has joined together, let not man put asunder.")  Therefore, man can do nothing to please God, or gain His approbation by good behavior, but can only be used by God for His purposes.   On the other hand, a Christian is one whose mind thinks for Christ; whose heart loves for Christ; whose voice speaks for Christ; and whose hand helps for Christ.

There is no inherent goodness in man, in the Fall we have ceased to be good, but haven't ceased to be human.  Our dignity and goodness are extrinsic due to being in the image of God and we are merely enabled by the Holy Spirit to do good.  We all have feet of clay and a dark side to our character, but Jesus sees through the veneer and loves us despite this fact just the way we are.   The problem with man is that he thinks he can be good enough to be saved--au contraire, we are never good enough to be saved, but bad enough to need salvation, and we cannot know how bad we are until we've tried to be good, and we must know how bad we are to be good (the catch-22 of C. S. Lewis fame).  We are in a dilemma and under the delusion, we are good and must be convicted of our sin--man doesn't see his sin without the work of God (cf. John 16:8).

The reality is that God doesn't grade on a curve--we're all in the same boat and have fallen short of the glory of God.   Man is mistaken to compare himself with others and do not realize the majesty, glory, and goodness of God that should humble him. Of course, you may look like a saint, comparing yourself to the likes of a ruthless dictator or tyrants like the leader of North Korea, or Hitler, if you know your history!  We tend to look down on the likes of Judas and think we are much better, but George Whitefield said it best when he saw a man go to the gallows:  "There but for the grace of God, go I." To humble believers, it must be pointed out that they were not saved because they were good in any way; for nothing in them merited salvation!  In a works religion, you never know how much is enough; and the ironic thing is that "man is incurably addicted to doing something for their salvation," according to Charles Swindoll.

We are not called to be goody-two-shoes, or people who are do-gooders with an affectation or pretense (note that these are slur words and used in a derogatory manner).  Our good deeds spring from faith, as the direct fruit of the Spirit and as a result of walking with the Lord in fellowship (fulfilling all that He has ordained for us to do per Eph. 2:10).  Good deeds automatically follow saving faith and are its evidence, not its substitute.  Works are fruit, and no fruit implies no faith.  We shall know them by their fruits, by the way, and so we are fruit inspectors (cf. Matt. 7:16).

Some merely get converted to the program, not to Christ and are not spiritual at all but just out to make an impression as a people-pleaser.  We ought to do everything in the name of the Lord and to His glory, and then there will be justified reward for our efforts (note that the success is up to God). There are many do-gooders out there who have gained a reputation and name for themselves, but it cannot be rewarded due to the motive behind the deed.  Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart and sees motives (cf. Prov. 16:2; Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2).  We are not in a position to judge where someone is spiritually, but there are many wolves in sheep's clothing out to devour the flock and lead it astray, and their chief methodology is that they try to do good and be good without God in the equation.

There is no such thing as good without God, who alone defines goodness and is good (note that this is the essence of God and not just a description of His acts).  Our righteousness is as "filthy rags" according to Isaiah 64:6, and that means that it's useless and good for nothing. Lost man's good deeds will not be rewarded on Judgment Day, for they fall short of God's standards.  Our righteousness must be God's gift to us, not our gift to God (cf. Isa. 45:24; Hos. 14:8; Isa. 26:12; Rom. 15:18)!  We don't give God anything in our good deeds but only are used by Him as vessels of honor to bring Him His glory.  Yes, it's ironic that God rewards us for working through us!  Even if we could be good, it would profit God nothing, for He alone defines and delimits what it is. God has nothing to gain--the glory belongs to Him despite us.

The only good that counts is that done in the power of the Spirit. Remember that Jesus said that no one is good but God and we mistakenly think we are good.  Genuine saving faith produces works or it's not validated; as the Reformers taught: We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone!  Works must be the byproduct and prove the reality of faith, otherwise, it's bogus and suspects.

James says that faith without works is dead; you can have worked without faith, but not faith without works!  It must be stressed that we are not saved by works, but unto works, we are not saved by works, but not without them either!  If we had to do some good work, we'd fail! James would say that he'll show you his faith by his works, while Paul the converse:  showing you his works by faith.   Or it's also been said that Paul teaches that works must spring forth from faith and James teaches that faith must be proved by works.

Note that Jesus didn't come to make bad people good, it is said, but dead people alive!  He came to give abundant, eternal life (cf. John 10:10) in the Spirit and to share His life with us as we live for Him, not ourselves--we are never out to get the spotlight, the attention, or the applause of others, but to bring glory to Christ in all we do.  Don't celebrate or boast that you are doing something for God, but that He is using you for His glory!  If you boast, boast in the Lord, according to 1 Cor. 1:31. We are enabled by God himself;  Jesus told the disciples:  "Apart from Me you can do nothing"  (cf. John 15:5).  Elihu sums it up in Job 35:7 as follows:  "If you are good, is this some great gift to him?  What could you possibly give him?" And yet again the LORD speaks to Job in Job 40:11, saying, "Who has given me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is mine."   Soli Deo Gloria!  

Saved Unto Good Works

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them"  (Eph. 2:10, ESV).

We are not saved without works to prove our faith.  We are saved by faith alone, but not that kind of faith that is alone, via the formula of the Reformers.  Faith is the gift of God (2 Pet. 1:1; Phil. 1:29; Rom. 12:3), but we are expected to put it into action. You can distinguish faith and works, but cannot separate them because they go hand in hand as being complimentary!   Actually, faith is knowledge in action!  We don't have faith, we do it and show it!  We are not saved by faith plus good works, as legalists believe, but faith unto good works.  

But Works prove faith, but are not the substitute for it.  If you have no good works, your faith is bogus or suspect!  Actually, we are ordained to do good works for God's glory as of the fulfillment of our faith (cf. Eph. 2:10). This is called putting your faith into practice or walking the walk!  John 13:17 (ESV) says, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

The problem with a works religion is that you never know your status and cannot have the security and assurance of salvation.  We are incurably addicted to doing something for our salvation (cf. John 6:28-29), and Jesus said the work of God is to believe in Him.  We are not saved by good works, it is said, but we are not saved without them either.  Works is just evidence of our salvation, and not a means of salvation.  Paul would say, "I'll show you my faith by my good works," while James would counter:  "I'll show you my good works by my faith!" James went on to say that faith without works is dead in James 2:17, 20.  

Note, works are important, for we are judged by our works, not our faith (cf. Romans 2:6).  We are not saved by our service, but unto service.  We were "created unto good works," or you could say we are His workmanship and our works are destined beforehand.  As we do good works we glorify God and represent Jesus to the world, as Dorcas was "full of good works and acts of charity" (cf. Acts 9:36).

Antinomians would have you believe that we are saved by faith minus works! The reason that we are saved apart from the works of the law and therefore we can live in a lawless manner.  We are not lawless and never receive the right to live according to personal whim.  We never have the right to do or live as we please or to do what is wrong!  God doesn't grant the license to do what's right in our own eyes, as Israel did in Judges 21:25 ("Each man did what was right in his own eyes...").  

There is a close relationship between works and faith--they can be distinguished, but not separated.   Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that only he who is obedient believes and only he who believes is obedient.  Obedience is the criterion for genuine faith and the only measure of it.  Feelings and ecstasies are not the measures of faith, but obedience is, and faith is the only thing that pleases God!

The Scripture equips us for all good works and gives us all we need to do God's will His way (cf. 2 Tim. 3:17). If we were saved by good works, it is argued, we would have reason to boast in God's presence. In the final analysis, the faith you have is the faith you show!  There is such a thing as works without faith, but not faith without works in God's eyes.  We must translate our creeds into deeds!  We must take the leap of faith in obedience:  "But they have not all obeyed the gospel..." (Rom. 10:16, ESV.

In sum, let me quote two verses:  "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works" (Titus 3:8, ESV).  God wants to "purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works" (Titus 2:14, ESV, emphasis mine).  Soli Deo Gloria!

Differing Functions

"Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are not wise"  (2 Cor. 10:12, ESV).
"...We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done" (Luke 17:10, NASB).

We are all "members, one of another," and individually too, as God preserves our personality and works with what we have to make us different one from another (cf. Romans 12:4).  There is no "one-size-fits-all" method of serving the body, but everyone must find their domain of service and praise God accordingly, for it doesn't matter the gift, but the spirit in which it is used.  Everyone fits in someway! Like Mother Teresa, the ultimate caregiver, said, "It doesn't matter what you do, but how much love you put into it!" Galatians 5:6, NIV, says that "all that matters is faith working through love."  We all are built differently and should be faithful to the faculties, inclinations, and turfs we have been granted.

And so we are not to compare ourselves one with another and think we are meant to be clones of each other--even children are individuals with a personality and gift all their own.  We do not all have the same function and are built differently, to relate to Christ's body as He sees fit--actually, it's the Holy Spirit who assigns gifts to each of us individually.  Paul goes on to say that one who leads, should do so in zeal accordingly.  We all are given a measure of faith (cf. Romans 12:3) and are required to make good on it and bring forth fruit as its byproduct.  Jesus has a lot invested in us, and likewise, we are to venture to take stock of how much we have invested in others and be faithful.  We are not going to be rewarded according to our faith, but according to its byproduct, our good deeds, according to Romans 2:6.

There can be jealousy and factions in the body if the members are maladjusted or trying to do something they aren't designed for--this is the ultimate in frustration and can lead to discouragement.  Never are we to let it go to our head that we are a cut above other believers by having a superior gift, and they are but poor specimens, because of whom much is given, much is required (cf. Luke 12:48). Some members are highly affectionate and demonstrative in emotional appeal and sentiment as part of their disposition; while others are naturally stoical and inhibited, maybe because they haven't gotten out of their shell yet or realize their potential.

Cultures vary quite a lot on the amount of touch permitted or approved.  I know I wouldn't like it if some man walked up to me and gave me a kiss!   We are free to love Jesus as we know how and we don't have to be someone else or try to pretend affection or have an affectation--love must be genuine. Natural affection is suited best to the body and believers need to just be themselves--God can and will change people over time, but it's not to be under duress or coerced.

People are wired differently; some are natural servants and helpers, and see ways to help and be of service; others are born leaders and know how to take charge and show it convincingly.  The point is that we are not to think we have a superior gift, though some have more responsibilities, and some have higher callings (but there's no caste system in the body) like missions, evangelism, and ministry, but the body is to fit together in unity to fulfill the Great Commission. Romans 12:3 says, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned."

When you look at the story of Mary and practical Martha, and how Jesus rebuked her in that Mary had "chosen the better part" (to express her love and devotion), and it "will not be taken from her." It is obvious that Jesus wants us and not our service--He wants to be with us in fellowship, taking time to be holy.  I have heard it said that He doesn't want our achievements, but our obedience. The obedience demanded is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith (cf. 1 Tim. 1:5), which is the fulfillment of the Law of Moses as Paul said in Rom. 13:10. What does He require, but to love Him and to love our neighbor--especially our brethren in Christ?

We can show love in many ways:  e.g., giving and receiving gifts; words of affirmation; quality time spent; physical touch and gesture; and by acts of service and devotion.  In short, we are all unique persons in Christ and express our love in many ways or all ways, but certainly in some way!  I believe there is no one certain way of expressing love that trumps the others, they are all subject to the personality of the giver and recipient.   We need to see how God has equipped us and serve Him accordingly.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ, we can joyfully hope to hear that we are good and faithful servants, and have done that which was required.   In sum, what Jesus wants is you, so be yourself--you're not fooling anyone!    Soli Deo Gloria!

The Everyday Do-Gooder...

But as it is written: WHAT NO EYE HAS SEEN AND NO EAR HAS HEARD, AND WHAT HAS NEVER COME INTO A MAN'S HEART, IS WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."  (1 Cor. 2:9, HCSB, boldface mine).

"[Who] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began"  (2 Tim. 1:9, HCSB, italics mine).

You might have heard someone say that his religion is the Golden Rule or the Sermon on the Mount. When you reduce Christianity to a formula, creed (you aren't saved by creeds, but by trusting in the person and work of Christ), or list of dos and don'ts (legalism), you make it a philosophy or religion (they all deny grace and are based on good works for merit), but Christianity is essentially a living, growing, vital relationship with the Savior Himself--knowing Him and making Him known! Two persons of different faiths can feel unity in that they have the same creed:  Do all the good you can! (borrowed from John Wesley).  But this is not salvation!

Many people actually believe that living a righteous life is living the good life, achieving the American dream--that blessing is a sign of God's approbation. However, some people's reward is in this life (cf. Psalm 17:15).  We are not saved by service but unto service.  Good deeds is a sign we are saved and have faith, not the substitute for it. We cannot merit or earn our way to heaven by self-reformation. The new life in Christ is not an improvement, but a transformation!   We are new creatures in Christ, behold, all things become new (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17).

Religion says, "Do!" Christianity says, "Done!"  We don't do good works because we "have to" but because we "want to."  There's a world of difference:  We don't say, "In order to..." but "therefore!" The believer's works are a byproduct of his faith and not the way to gain approval with God, however, he wants to please God and wonders, "What would Jesus do?" in the situations of life.   There's a big difference because we cannot reach out to God, He has to reach down and condescend to us and make the first move.  James and Paul said complimentary comments about their works: James would say, "I'll show you my works by my faith!"  

Paul would counter, "I'll show you my faith by my works."  James was dealing with people who were do-nothings and needed to realize that that kind of faith doesn't save ("Faith without works is dead," per James 2:17).  Paul dealt with the other end of the spectrum:  Those trying to earn their way in by obeying the law of Moses and legalism--they were doing too much and had no faith either--begun in the Spirit, but finishing in the flesh (cf. Gal. 3:3)! They were nullifying grace or as Paul says to the Galatians 5:4 (HCSB), "... [You] have fallen from grace."

The point is that if you have no good works, your faith is suspect and no fruit means no faith, because we are known by our fruits.  We will be judged by our deeds, not our faith (cf. Romans 2:6)!  We are not saved by works, however, but not without them either--they go hand-in-hand and can be distinguished, but not separated.   The Reformed formula of salvation was: "Saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." Works are the natural result of true faith just like apples from an apple tree. They prove the faith is genuine and not bogus.  There is a difference between a profession of faith and the reality of faith.

Faith is not something you have, but something you see and do, and it is abstract and must be demonstrated: "By faith Abraham obeyed...." We must put it into action, according to the measure of faith God has granted us (cf. Rom. 12:3).  The book of James, not the epistle of straw that Martin Luther thought it was before he saw the reconciliation, shows us that the faith you have is the faith you show!  We must not just talk the talk, but walk the talk and put it into action--faith is a verb and has feet!   It is well put that "only he who is obedient believes, and only he who believes is obedient," by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, et al.  We must bring forth the fruits of salvation and we can distinguish them but not separate them:  There's no such thing as faith without works, but there are works without faith (the kind that doesn't please God, for all our "righteousness, is as filthy rags," per Isaiah 64:6).


We are not saved by our service, but unto service, as we are vessels of honor being used by God for His glory.   Paul said in Romans 15:18 that he ventured not to speak, but of what Christ had accomplished through him!  God crowns His own work done through us by His Spirit and power.  It is a futile and vain hope to believe you can be good enough to merit salvation or do enough good deeds---God's requisite is perfection and the standard is Christ Himself.  Some people's creed is to do all the good they can, but no one does good according to Romans 3.  I'm not against good deeds and sincere works, but only those done in the energy of the flesh.  The problem with doing good deeds is that God sees the motive and most people just do them out of self-interest or to gain the applause of others or get attention or approval.

You cannot tell an unbeliever to "do good," because he is incapable (Paul declares that no one does good in Romans 3:12); only believers can do the works of God, which is to believe in Jesus (cf. John 6:29).  The best motto or creed would be to determine to be used by God and submit to His will and be obedient and willing to do it--God doesn't want works, He wants us!  Submit and see what He can accomplish through you in the power of the Spirit!

Don't ever let someone add something to grace, such as merit, because (the Reformed formula says) we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, God alone be the glory, and on the authority of Scripture alone. You are saved through Jesus alone; not Jesus plus works, which would be moralism; nor Jesus plus feeling, which is emotionalism or sentimentality; nor Jesus plus knowledge, which is intellectualism or the cult of Gnosticism.  Remember this:  A motto to do all the good you can is a good and rewarding philosophy, but it won't bring salvation.  Soli Deo Gloria!

An Offering To God

God is looking for us being living sacrifices (God wants us to live for Him, besides being willing to die for Him) and all for His glory.  We are not saved by martyrdom.  We offer ourselves to Him to fulfill His will and to glorify Him (cf. Is. 43:7)  We don't have anything of our own merit to offer, such as righteousness, good deeds, morality, or philosophy, but nothing but brokenness and strife--in short, our sin!  We come to God only as the lowest bidder with nothing in our hands but Christ's righteousness.

We received Christ as an unworthy sinner who had nothing to offer God, being at His mercy:  The sinner's prayer in Luke 18:13 says, "God be merciful to me, the sinner."  He threw himself on the mercy of God,  declaring spiritual bankruptcy, and saw himself as unworthy!  John Bunyan wrote, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners--see how he appraised himself!  Paul never stopped thinking of himself as the chief of sinners (he said "am" not "was" foremost among them--cf. 1 Tim. 1:15).

The problem with people is their opinion of themselves--they won't let go and refuse to see their sin (Martin Luther said it is our job to make them see it). This is not the same as having low self-esteem, but of having no merit for salvation in God's eyes. This is God's estimation of man, not man's estimation of man. We are as bad off (not as bad) from being worthy as we can be, and as far away and removed from God as imaginable. In Luke 5:8 (NASB) Peter says, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" Genuine repentance and saving faith entail cognition that you are a guilty and vile sinner in God's estimation.

Our offering to God is us--He wants us, not our gifts or merits. He wants us with all the wrinkles, blemishes, pimples, warts, bald-spots, missing teeth, eating disorders, disabilities, tears, and all our sins.  We must come to Him as we are to get a changed life; we don't change our life and then come to Him for approval. Our righteousness is all as filthy rags (cf. Is. 64:6). We don't come for approval but for change!   God can clean up our act and we can't.  Who has anything that God should desire?  God loves us despite all this and sees potential in us for His ultimate glory.

We must realize that God rewards us for what He has done through us:  "... Since You have performed for us all our works" (Is. 26:12, NASB);  "For I will not presume [venture] to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me..." (Rom. 15:18, NASB);  "You who rejoice in Lodebar [naught], And say, "Have we not by our own strength [without God's] taken Karnaim for ourselves [they are boasting]?"  (Amos 6:13, NASB);  and "... From Me comes your fruit [fruitfulness]" (Hos. 14:8, NASB).

We were chosen according to His purpose and grace and according to the good pleasure of His will (cf. 2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 1:5).  I must emphasize:  We don't impress God!  It is grace that He even uses us as vessels of honor rather than vessels of dishonor.  We fit into His plans; we don't fit Him into ours. The kind of sacrifice God wants is for us to live our lives for Jesus, but take up the cross and be willing to die too, if He wills.  

Before we give our "offerings" we must first give of ourselves or they are worthless, because it is a privilege and honor to be used by God in giving offerings as sacrifices of worship. We come to Christ on His terms of absolute surrender to His Lordship and ownership of our lives, giving up the throne of our heart to Him so that He can live through us!     Soli Deo Gloria!

To Be Seen By Men

Jesus mentioned how the Pharisees loved to be noticed praying on the street corners to be seen by men and said they have lost their reward (cf. Matt. 6:1).  We need to keep our righteousness between us and God as much as is our control.  I remember the first time I witnessed of my faith after being saved in the Army and found out that being a braggadocio is a no-no. God is not impressed with our filthy rags and we shouldn't be impressed by them either.  Caveat:  "For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends"  (2 Cor. 10:18, NASB).

Ironically, the way up is down like John the Baptist said:  "He must increase, and I must decrease." The person who humbles himself shall be exalted, not the person who presumes to be someone when he isn't.  We are not to have low self-esteem or to think less of ourselves, but to think of ourselves less!  Like the actor who gets one role and thinks he is a star or the person who writes one poem and thinks he is a poet or the person who preaches one sermon and thinks he is a preacher, so we all tend to think we've arrived, even though Paul never assumed this:  "I do not claim to have laid hold of it yet..." (Phil. 3:12).

When you've preached a hundred sermons dare call yourself a preacher, though others can and may--don't toot your own horn; or if you've witnessed hundreds of times call yourself a faithful witness--let others praise you and not yourself, or if you have done whatever God has called you to and been faithful in it--success doesn't come overnight.  It is paramount that the Lord give His blessing to your endeavor and you be called to it, because you must have an anointing to do it in the Spirit--there are even preachers who do it in the energy of the flesh and are just great speakers or very scholarly, but not called by God or filled with the Holy Spirit.  I do not think preaching is a production or a show but a calling that must be blessed by God.  I know of storytellers, great public speakers, or even comedians who parade as charismatic preachers but are wolves in sheep's clothing and should get out of the ministry, despite their following--preaching is not just academics but spiritual.

Some people serve for the applause of man as people-pleasers (cf. Eph. 6:6, KJV), and some seek the glory of God and give it back to Him.  Praise is merely the test of a man's spirit to see what he is made of.  I make it clear when my Bible class claps for me that it is of God and He is the one to praise, but they still insist because they really believe it's a good Bible study; but I have learned not to trust the opinions of man and I seek only to please God and not man--I certainly don't want praise to go to my head. Watch out for those who want the approbation of man, and not God's favor and smile on their endeavors.   We don't do favors for one another as if they might owe us one in return, but we are servants of Christ doing it out of the pure motive of love for Him.  Soli Deo Gloria!

Competent For Every Good Work

It is the Word of God that gives us the expertise to do His will and accomplish every good work (cf. 2 Tim. 3:17: (We are "thoroughly furnished unto all good works!")  We have everything we need and this is what is meant by God supplying our needs-to equip us for His will.  2 Cor. 9:8 says we may abound in every good work because of the grace of having sufficiency in all things!  If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.  We will never be overwhelmed in the Lord (i.e., if we are doing His bidding and will) and God will be with us in the storm and when we pass through the waters He will be with us (cf. Is. 43:2).

We can never boast that we have done something for the Lord, but only that we are counted worthy to be used as vessels of honor for His glory.  "I venture not to speak, but of what Christ has accomplished through me"  (Paul, in Romans 15:18).  We should be humbled that God used us for glory and not shame because He has a purpose for everyone in His plan, even Judas was decreed to betray Him and went according to what was written.  

The people of Israel became haughty and prideful that they had done something worthy of praise, but God downplayed it and put them in their rightful place:  "You who rejoice in Lo-debar [Hebrew for "nothing"], who say, 'Have we not by our own strength captured Karnaium [nothing] by ourselves?'" (Amos 6:13, ESV).  That means they had an overrated and exaggerated opinion of themselves and needed to be brought down a peg after their victory and give the credit and glory to God.   "[Y]ou have done for us all our works" (Is. 26:12, ESV, cf. Hosea 14:8) or "all that we have done God has accomplished for us."  Isaiah knew that it was just God using them and they should give Him the glory.  Colossians 1:29  (ESV)  is Paul's explanation:  "For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

The whole purpose of our life is to glorify God according to Isaiah 43:7 and "... God will equip you with everything good that you may do his will"  (cf. Hebrews 13:21, ESV). According to the Shorter Westminster Catechism, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."   In the end, we want to accomplish great things for God, and believe God for greater things, knowing that if we are in His will He will provide all we need to perform it.  St. Theresa said she was intending upon building a convent.  They asked her how much money she had as resources.  When she said only twelve pence; they said that even Saint Theresa couldn't do much with twelve pence.  "However," she said, "God and Saint Theresa can!"

"To whom much is given, much is required" and this also goes for needs.  It's not that some people inherently need more, but are attempting more in God's will and God wants to see them through in these needs.  God is really supplying all His needs according to His purposes and we don't realize it.

In conclusion, God is able to multiply our "loaves" exponentially into enough to feed "multitudes," and we are to turn stones into bread and walk on water if that is the obstacle to God's will and completing the mission that He has given us.  Truly, we shall be able to do greater things than the Lord in greater dimension and magnitude than He was able to reach out to. (Per John 14:12 in the ESV:  "... [Whoever] believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.")  Thus, we are all competent to do what God has designed us to do; the key is to find that out and where we fit into God's framework and design. Soli Deo Gloria!

The Bema Of Christ

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death unto life"  (John 5:24, ESV, emphasis added).

Paul said, "For each of us shall give account of himself to God" in Rom. 14:12.   Before that in the context, he says, "For we all shall stand before the judgment seat of God [Christ]."  For the Father has given all judgment to the Son.  Note that there are two judgments:  One for the believer and one for the unbeliever. 1 Cor. 3:13ff describes how a believer's works are judged as to their due reward--they must remain after being tested by fire!  He has appointed a day to judge the world (this is the Great White Throne Judgment mentioned in Revelation 20:11). That refers to the lost and the "books" will be opened to judge their works.  By their own words, they will be condemned--they are all hypocrites. Christians have nothing to fear of a judgment day because there is no condemnation for the believer (cf. Rom. 8:1). Our words will justify us and not condemn us!

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned"  (Matt. 12:36-37).
The so-called "day of judgment" is the one appointed by God at the last day and is called the Great White Throne Judgment.  Christians will not be present here but at the Bema.  Note that Christians will be justified by their own words (testimony and witness) and unbelievers will be condemned by their own words and testimony.

Bema is the same as tribunal or judgment seat in Greek and Christ will judge our works and test them by fire whether they are silver and gold, or wood, hay, and stubble which will burn up (NB: There is no double jeopardy).  Our sins have been forgiven past, [present, and future, and we fear no future embarrassment of reprimand, but God is able to present us blameless before His throne with great joy (cf. Jude 24).  Many Christians try to put the fear of God in their brothers by telling them they will be judged, but God has already judged our sins and they are deleted from His memory bank, never to be brought up again.  The judgment we face as believers is to how much reward we are worthy of and how much we glorified Christ with the opportunities, resources, talents, gifts, and time that God conferred on us by grace.     Soli Deo Gloria!

Orthodoxy And Orthopraxy

This means "right belief" and "right conduct" and they are both vital to a growing faith. The faith you have is the faith you show. If we are just satisfied with being theologically correct without applying it we miss the boat. Theology by itself is necessary for a sound Christian life, but it is not sufficient. It can lead us cold: Would you debate the Trinity to ease depression? Doctrine can make us grow in our apprehension of God and His Word, but the aim is to fulfill the Law by loving God and our neighbor. It can leave us cold, even if it impeccably correct. Romans 2:6 says: "God will repay everyone based on their works."

At the Bema (Judgment Seat or Tribunal of Christ for purpose of reward; cf. 1 Cor. 3:12-15) we will not be interrogated as to our school of theology or our so-called philosophy, but our works will be evaluated by fire. In my Bible study, I realize I will be under stricter judgment and must practice what I preach to be effective, but God is looking for faithfulness and He will provide the increase.

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and I will reject the intelligence of the intelligent" (1 Cor. 1:19). There is such a thing as spiritual pride in thinking we have cornered the market on truth or have a monopoly on orthodox doctrine. No one is infallible in the body of Christ except Jesus, the head of the body, who is the cornerstone. We all need each other but the wise and bright are not a cut above the other believers who may be simple-minded or common folk. "Not many noble" are called says, Paul. It is too easy for a brilliant expositor to "wow" his flock with his scholarship and blow them away, taking the eyes off of Jesus. Jesus was known for keeping it simple so that the common people heard him gladly.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta is an example of a saintly woman who had a simple faith and applied it to the utmost in helping the untouchables. We are not called to debate theology but to catch people and make followers or learners (disciples) of Christ. It can be fun to debate doctrine but this is not the true goal of genuine fellowship: we should strive for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). Psa. 133:1 says that it is "pleasant" when brothers "dwell together in unity."

In Christ's high priestly prayer in John 17 he prays that we will be one as he and the Father are one. It quenches the Spirit to quarrel and we should agree and find common ground and that is what fellowship is: two fellows in the same ship. To sum up: it is paramount that we get our heart in the right place and apply what we know, rather than have theoretical knowledge.   Soli Deo Gloria!

What Proves Our Love For God?

"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20). "...And they spoke the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31b). When we have the filling of the Holy Spirit (God grants anointing at His discretion to do His will) we will be led to share the good news of Christ, and will have what's called the "can't help-its." We speak of what is in our heart and our tongue, which cannot be controlled, betrays us. 2 Cor. 4:13 says, "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believed and therefore speak." Philemon 6 is a blessing on us to have the ability to share the gospel.  (See also Psalm 51:15:  "O LORD, open thou mine lips....")   The door of utterance must be opened, it isn't automatic--we are not to be "machine-gun" evangelists (aiming en masse and not individually targeted), but "sharp-shooters (at a specific target)." And so witnessing is a sure sign of love for God; it is obeying the Great Commission.

Some people describe their conversion experience like "falling in love" with Jesus. This is commendable, but usually what the case is, is that this wears off, like a honeymoon in a marriage, and things become more normal. (However, it is wonderful to be around a baby Christian that has just found salvation.) When one is in love one supposedly talks about that person (but hopefully he talks to that person more). One does talk about things he is interested in or cares about--if you love sports, you will discuss it. But one can love and not talk about someone but to someone. For instance, I love my mom very much and talk to her virtually every day for lengthy discussions, but I do not go around talking "about" her. If you are married, do you want your wife talking about you or talking to you? Actually, you would rather have her submit than talk about you.

1 Sam. 15:22 says that "to obey is better than sacrifice...." Jesus also said, "If you love Me you will keep My commandments." Nowhere does it say if you love Jesus you will talk about Him (Jesus said to Peter, "Do you love Me?...Feed My sheep!)--it is implied that if you witness and share the gospel that He will come up, but you don't necessarily go on a mission to talk exclusively about Jesus, like a Jesus freak. A balanced Christian talks about many subjects, and lets God open doors and waits for His timing--earning the right to be heard, not forcing oneself on someone.

I spent several minutes today talking about King David; however, I cannot say that I love him--I love the Lord. (Just talking about something doesn't mean you love the subject--you may just like to talk, and this even applies to discuss theological topics.) "Falling in love with the Lord" is not biblical terminology. Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, to feed His sheep, not to talk about him, there is a difference.

If you fell in love is past tense, "do you love" is present tense. The point is, is that we are not to live in the past on some experience but to evaluate the here and now. One could fall in love, and also out of love to extend the analogy. The unbeliever is a "son of disobedience," not a silent person. Talk can be cheap and some people are just talkers or have the gift of gab. We are to love not in word or in a tongue, but in deed and in truth, according to 1 John 3:18. We are to be a people zealous of good works and to love the brethren and so prove our discipleship.

A relationship based upon emotion is shallow, indeed; God wants saving faith that results in true heartfelt love, not emotionalism per se (faith, not emotionalism pleases God). There is a command to delight in the Lord through: "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the delights of your heart" (Ps. 37:4). This called Christian "hedonism" by John Piper; true faith always results in love for the Lord.   Soli Deo Gloria!