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- Thread starter RiverOL
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Lifelong Leadership Development
Lifelong leadership development requires different skills. Let me ask you: Have you ever felt like there are skills that you have used in every job you have had? Are there a set of skills that you see being repeatedly used in different context and for different people?
The Bible teaches that God uses my gifts and abilities by letting me develop them in different ways and in different places. As one moves through life, God helps a person use and improve those skills so that they can be used to their maximum effect.
In this passage we see that Joseph is thrown into prison based on an accusation from the Pharaoh’s wife. Yet, while in prison God uses Joseph. Psalm 105 describes the circumstances with these words:
“He had sent a man ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with shackles; his neck was put in an iron collar. Until the time his prediction came true, the word of the Lord tested him.” (Psalm 105:17–19, CSB)
It says that “God was with Joseph” a cue that God was protecting Joseph for a greater purpose. While one usually associates Joseph with interpretation of dreams as his primary spiritual gift, his primary ability was clearly organizational leadership. God stirred up the gift of leadership and organization in Joseph, even while he was in prison. He was the “Executive Pastor” to the entire prison ward, just under the Warden.
Notice some ways that we see this leadership develop:
God gives me the testing ground for my leadership talents to grow (Genesis 39:20)
“and had him thrown into prison, where the king’s prisoners were confined. So Joseph was there in prison.” (Genesis 39:20, CSB)Prison would not normally be considered a great testing ground to test the leadership talents of a person. The entire point of prison is that you must submit to the leadership of someone over you the entire time you are there. Yet, in this case, God gave Joseph the perfect environment to test his leadership qualities.
Incarceration as a Testing Ground
Like Joseph, some have experienced preparation for ministry as a result of undeserved incarceration. John Sung, though not as well known as some of his contemporaries, was one of the great revivalists of the twentieth century. His pivotal role in the Chinese revival from 1927–1937 earned him the epithet the “John Wesley of China.” Sung was converted to Christianity as a boy and in his late teen years came to study in America. In a little over five years, he earned bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, even though he had to work full time to support himself. At the same time, however, his seminary studies led him away from his childhood faith into the critical skepticism of his professors.When John Sung finally took a step back and looked at who he had become, he realized that he was a person of doubt, not of faith, and that he had lost his love of the Lord. He recommitted his life to Christ and began preaching to his classmates and professors with a fervent zeal. As a result, they concluded he was mentally unstable, and he soon found himself committed to an asylum for the mentally impaired. For six months he was thus unjustly imprisoned with only his Bible.
This turned out to be a time of spiritual incubation that was instrumental in his preparation for ministry. He emerged with a strong resolve and fiery zeal that launched a decade of revival in China. He died of tuberculosis at the age of forty-three, just a few years before the communist takeover in that country, but his work can be said to have laid the foundation for the church in China to survive the dark days that lay ahead.
Wicked People as God’s Tools
“Do you know why Satan is so angry all the time? Because whenever he works a particularly clever bit of mischief, God uses it to serve his own righteous purposes.”“So God uses wicked people as his tools?”
“God gives us the freedom to do great evil, if we choose. Then he uses his own freedom to create goodness out of that evil, for that is what he chooses.”
“So in the long run, God always wins?”
“Yes”
“In the short run, though, it can be uncomfortable.”
There are testing grounds that God gives me to give me the chance to “kick the tires” of my leadership potential. The environments are generally not idea to the ambitions of the leader: small groups, people with no upward mobility, no chance to move to a better position. Yet, God still wants to use you, even if you are not destined to go to some grand place for leadership. God tests your leadership wherever you are.
God gives me favor with the right relationships (Genesis 39:21)
“But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him. He granted him favor with the prison warden.” (Genesis 39:21, CSB)Joseph can develop the right relationships with the right people to maximize his leadership potential. Here, we see that God helped Joseph by giving him “favor.” This is a word that means that Joseph was naturally able to build the right relationship with the right person. In this case, God allowed Joseph to build a relationship with the head warden of the prison.
God gives me a responsibility that fits my talents (Genesis 39:22)
“The warden put all the prisoners who were in the prison under Joseph’s authority, and he was responsible for everything that was done there.” (Genesis 39:22, CSB)Next, we see that Joseph is placed with a responsibility over prisoners. The warden was delegating responsibility to Joseph. Joseph was so talented in the warden’s mind that Joseph was given responsibility over everyone in the prison. Joseph had the run of the entire prison. In the movies, this makes it look like the prisoner is the “top dog” but in this case, it showcased the natural leadership talent that Joseph had.
God gives me the ability to allow my talents to flourish (Genesis 39:23)
“The warden did not bother with anything under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him, and the Lord made everything that he did successful.” (Genesis 39:23, CSB)The key phrase here is that “the chief of the prison did not bother about anything.” This tells you how good Joseph was in his role. He was so good that the warden didn’t worry about how Joseph did the job. The warden gave Joseph free reign with his organizational skills. The warden knew that Joseph was good. As a result, the warden was wise enough to give Joseph the room he needed to get the work done.
This illustrates the effective leadership of the warden. He knew when to leave someone doing a good job alone. While the warden clearly showed some wisdom in how he worked with Joseph, God was the one who allowed Joseph to be successful.
We see later that God uses the supernatural gift of interpretation of dreams, alongside the natural gift of organizational leadership to prepare Joseph for the purpose of overseeing the people of Egypt during a time of crisis, to quote Mordecai “for a such a time as this” (Genesis 41:32-46).
God used Joseph and his lifelong leadership skills to be used for the proper time. He will also do the same with you as well.
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4 Ways to Keep Romance Alive Even When You Feel Like You’re Dying
I recently read an article that said childbirth is a bigger factor in divorce than infidelity.
You’re more likely to split up because you had a baby than because one of you cheated.
According to the Relationship Research Institute in Seattle, within three years of the birth of a child, about two-thirds of couples find the quality of their relationship declines.
Five years after the birth of a child, 13 percent of couples divorced.
What’s up?
You did all the work and
You carried a baby for 40 weeks, you packed on 30 pounds, your tummy is now the shape of a deflated balloon and he wants to divorce you?Are men just jerks and unable to relate to the changes women go through after childbirth?
Even when both parties are on board for babies, the article states, the reality of taking care of a newborn and raising children can sometimes lead to irreconcilable differences.
Raising a child definitely leads to differences. I’m not sure I’d call them irreconcilable.
Differences like:
- A change in priorities
- Both spouses feel unappreciated
- Mom’s sexual desire declines
- Most of Mom’s attention is dedicated to the baby
A baby complicates life.
It’s a huge change. And most women start showing up a little differently in the marriage.
More tired. More frustrated. Maybe even a little resentful because her husband isn’t experiencing the same emotional, physical and hormonal changes she is. Life for him appears to roll as normal.
Except that his wife is more focused on the baby than on him.
And she might seem less fun.
Many woman laser focus on the kids and take attention off the marriage, which can leave him feeling left out.
“They’re just jealous,” one mom in the article hypothesized. “They can’t stand the thought of someone else taking their wife’s attention.”
That may be partially true. And natural. If his attention was focused disproportionally on work or sports or on anything other than her, she’d feel a little left out, too.
Being a mom to littles is exhausting. Some days you feel like you may fall over at any minute, which doesn’t do much for intimacy.
But keeping the flame alive while the sparks are small (or mid-sided or teenagers), will pay off in the long run.
Keep your marriage strong and healthy by:
- Finding ways to make husband and wife time a priority. If things go as planned, you’ll be a wife much longer than you’ll be a mother to young children.
- Teaching your children to respect your time with your husband. Everyone wants happy well-adjusted kids, and they’ll be happy and well adjusted when they see that Dad and Mom are priority in each other’s lives.
- Carving out time to talk each week.
- Making time for yourself. You’re much happier when you’re rested and refreshed.
Having a baby doesn’t have to be the last nail in the coffin on your marriage.
While caring for a child may take most of your time, it does not have to dominate your universe. Find ways to stay connected and emotionally intimate and reduce the chances of childbirth leading to a split.
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Releasing Your Spouse’s Potential After Sin
Sin is the ultimate destroyer of relationships. Not only does it make people do stupid and irresponsible things, but it distracts us from our purpose, dilutes the bond God created in marriage, and causes untold damage to families.
But if we live out the Ephesians 5 model for marriage—if husbands love their wives as Christ loves the church (v. 25), and if wives submit to their husbands as they submit to the Lord (v. 22)—we begin to disable our basic sin natures.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve did not commit the same sin. The way each sinned reveals to us the different sin natures of men and women.
Satan tempted Eve in the form of a serpent. God had told Adam and Eve they could eat of any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This particular tree was off-limits, but it made Eve curious. Satan tapped into this curiosity with lies.
“God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened,” the serpent told Eve, “and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4). Eve ate the fruit. Then she convinced Adam to do the same. Both disobeyed God.
Though Adam was with Eve in the Garden, Eve never took the time to ask his opinion, nor did she wait to ask God about it. She made this monumental decision on her own—and it forever changed her relationship with both Adam and with God.
Eve’s sin was one of prideful independence. She wanted to be in charge and to know as much as God. That dynamic is still alive today. A woman’s basic sin nature is to usurp authority, to take the reins and put helself in charge—even when she knows it’s wrong.
That’s what got Eve in trouble in the Garden, and it’s what gets families in trouble today.
What about Adam? He was likely somewhere close to Eve as she decided to disobey, yet he didn’t make any attempt to stop her. Then, when she offered the fruit to him, he gave in without a fight. Submissively, he relinquished the responsibility God had given him.
Adam’s sin was one of passivity, and it’s one that still plagues men today. God has charged men to lead their homes, to provide, protect, and initiate. Men are tasked with guiding the family, overseeing their financial security, shepherding their kids, and nurturing their wives.
Men aren’t to dominate their wives and children, but should be steering them toward holiness and godly living. But too often, men become passive. They don’t embrace their leadership role. The sin of man is to let others take charge.
I’ve counseled many couples whose marriage problems began when they let this kind of role reversal into their homes. These sins feed off each other.
But when a man follows the Ephesians 5 model, he leads his family and loves them as he should. When a woman follows this model, she respects her husband’s authority, encourages and respects him, and doesn’t tempt him to give that role away.
When one member of the marriage obeys God’s plan for marriage, it helps the other. That’s how the Ephesians 5 model helps disable the sin nature.
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What’s in Your Backyard? (Digging up the Past)
As a boy, I was once bullied by a bigger kid down the street to help him dig in his backyard for “treasure.” We worked diligently for a week after school. Although the labor was coerced, I was certain I would find enough money for a new bike or maybe enough to help the family with our rent. Digging, sifting, and turning piles of dirt yielded little but old bottle caps, nails, and twisted metal. I did find an old bone and took it home, excited that I had found a grave or a missing dinosaur relic. But Dad told me it was just a dog bone buried by the neighborhood mutt.
I was reminded of my quest when I read about a man in Australia, , who was turning dirt in his backyard and unearthed hundreds of pieces of centuries-old jewelry, some as old as 600 years old.
The trove consisted of more than 200 rings, brooches, ornate belt buckles, gold-plated silver plates, and other pieces or fragments, many encrusted with pearls, fossilized coral, and other ornaments.
Where did they come from? Did someone hide them — and then forget? Were there bandits going house to house, and the family treasure was hidden?
What’s buried in my backyard?
I’m sure I have something buried in my five acres. Like the nine-year-old me, I could go about with a shovel looking for similar loot. I could buy a metal detector and be like one of those intense, lonely men with headphones walking along the shore, hoping for a big find. But at this point, I’m not interestedThe past is an interesting thing. It’s part of who we are. It’s our history. It’s what fashioned a good part of our personality.
Our past is like driving a car. It’s okay to check the rear-view mirror every once in a while to see where you’ve come from, but it’s dangerous to use the mirror for navigation.
There are plenty of memories. I have some wonderful memories that I am warmed by. And then there are things I never want to think about again. Sins I’ve confessed that still find ways to sneak into my brain at the most opportune times. Buried back there are words that I wish I had never said, actions I should have never done, and bitterness I’ve tried to hide.
Every once in a while, someone hands me a shovel and says, “Dig.” While the past is important, unearthing it serves little in the current demands of life. I’m God’s child who is living for this day, determined to make a difference for eternity in my life and others.
How about you? Do like the past? Do you run from it? How do you balance it with present realities?
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Quiet Wins: The Hidden Strength of a Slower Life
We live in a culture that often embraces a “go big or go home” way of thinking, not quiet wins. This phrase, used by many, implies that success is found only when we take bold, often illogical leaps for greatness, visibility, fame, and success. Over the past few years, I’ve seen a rise in people using hashtags to communicate this mentality—#riseandgrind, #hustleharder, and others like them. For too many, value and identity are tied to a nonstop pursuit of work, productivity, and achievement.
Platforms, Products, and the Pressure to Perform
Though I enjoy reflecting through blogging, I’ve not tried to pursue building a brand. Yet, there’s hardly a moment when I’m not engaging with other bloggers or designers without encountering the idea that we are all cultivating platforms and marketing ourselves as products. Brands, we’re told, define health and success. Brands are everywhere we look right now.
Our driven world thrives on a battlefield confession that says, never settle. But this busy and chaotic world undermines the holy contentment Paul calls us to in life. These ways of being prioritize the prizes found in performance, pursuit, platform, pace, and power. The Scriptures, if we allow them, will reorient us toward a different set of values and visions—ones defined by peace, trust, and faithfulness rather than flashiness.
The Sacred Strength of Slowness
In a world obsessed with loud opinions, fast results, and constant noise, the quiet life is often overlooked—or worse, misunderstood. But there’s a sacred strength in slowness. This blog features a lot of reflections and resources on what it means to live by a different set of priorities. When I started the Lead a Quiet Life blog on Patheos a few years ago, it was rooted in a verse that I felt God had highlighted for me—1 Thessalonians 4:11–12. Since then, I’ve been pursuing what it means to lead a quieter life at a slower pace—to discover a simple life and faith that embraces downward mobility in a chaotic world and a church culture often obsessed with excess.A Pilgrim’s Journey and Calling
I’ve had the privilege of serving in both the church and nonprofit sectors, each bringing unique challenges and opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. And while I continue to grow, I remain the same spiritual pilgrim who set out on this adventure years ago. Over time, though I’ve felt an increasing call toward innovative teaching, mentoring, strategic thinking, and helping others see Jesus, life, and everything in between from a fresh perspective—at the core of it is a call to lead a quiet life.This blog is shaped by that calling. It recognizes that 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12—and the teachings of Jesus—invite us to lead a quiet life. Not one driven by the battle cry of never settle, but one where success isn’t measured by achievement. Leading a quiet life means learning to live with stillness, defined by waiting on God. It’s a life not distracted by the world’s standards or the busyness of others, but one rooted in faithful presence—working with our hands, not to get something or get ahead, but to give, to serve, and to be Jesus to others.
My Daily Filter
The Apostle Paul urged the Thessalonians to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” (1 Thess. 4:11, NIV). For several years now, that phrase has stuck with me. It’s not passive or apathetic—it’s an intentional pursuit of faithfulness over flash, of depth over drama. This verse is written inside my journal. I try to read it daily, and I return to it at least several times a week. Without a doubt, it’s a verse I wrestle with often.Over time, this simple instruction has become a filter I use when new opportunities present themselves or when I’m considering stepping out in some way. The challenge to lead a quiet life has become the goal—and everything else is weighed in light of that. In that aim, I find a daily challenge to live in a way that is still, and to know that God is God.
I’m not there yet. But I believe that by making this my goal, I will continue to grow toward it. It’s a place I can reach. And at the very least, it gives me clarity. It tells me what to say no to.
A Life That Lasts
The call to lead a quiet life isn’t the kind of life that trends. It won’t get you viral views or build a platform overnight. But it does build something lasting—within our souls, our relationships, and our communities.Though I am human and I wrestle with that. I want to be liked. I spent many years trying to be someone—working with bands, chasing recognition, striving for something bigger than the life I had. And while much of who I was no longer defines me (in the same way my upbringing doesn’t), I do know what does define me now. And I know what I want to define myself. I even know what I hope will define you.
The Battle Beneath the Surface
I hope the Church is defined by a Kingdom-seeking, righteousness-seeking, not-leaning-on-our-own-understanding sense of purpose—a way of life that values nothing more than quietly and faithfully following God for the sake of others.Spiritual formation, as M. Robert Mulholland once said, is being formed in the image of Jesus for the sake of others. But the truth is: I still love carnal pursuits. I still love my sin. Every day is a battle—a battle to say no to what I can gain through cleverness instead of honest labor; a battle to avoid gossip in the workplace; a battle to resist the desire to be seen.
I’m learning, through every failed attempt, to pray not my will but Yours. And maybe Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 are best turned into a prayer:
Lord, teach me to lead a quiet life, to mind my own business, and to work with my hands—so that I might gain the respect of outsiders, for the sake of Your Kingdom. For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Confessions from a Small Church Pastor
I keep hearing that people want this—something simpler. A quieter life. A simpler church. I’m told the trend is moving toward smaller, more intentional communities of Jesus followers. But I rarely see it lived out.I pastor a small church community. People tell me they long for authentic simplicity and belonging. They say they’re tired of performance-driven church, tired of the noise. And yet, many still chase after programs and prestige. They confess they want a slower life—one rooted in stillness and Sabbath—but their schedules and choices are defined by pursuit and pressure (Side note, we’d love for you to check us out at River Corner Church).
I can’t pretend those things don’t tug at me, too. I wrestle with them. But deep down, I’m driven by something else—something that reminds me I don’t need success, recognition, or scale. I don’t want it. I don’t deserve it. And I don’t think the Kingdom looks like that.
When I pray, Your Kingdom come, I know it doesn’t look like noise and hustle.
An Invitation to Rest and Trust
So, friends, maybe you’re tired. Burned out. Worn thin by the pace of everything and everyone. I get it. I’ve lived it. Maybe you’re wrestling with what it means to say yes to a quiet life.But here’s what I’m learning: Quiet is not failure. Stillness is not laziness. Simplicity is not scarcity. These things are an invitation. To rest. To listen. To trust.
A Path of Resistance
Leading a quiet life doesn’t mean retreating from the world—it means showing up differently within it. It’s a protest against the noise. A path of resistance shaped by peace.And maybe that’s exactly what the world needs more of right now.
Learn to say yes to this quiet way of resistance and revolution.
Final Reflections from Scripture
So let us remember:These aren’t just verses to read—they are invitations to live differently. May we have the courage to say yes to that kind of life.
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What Does The Right Hand Symbolize or Mean In The Bible?
Is there special meaning or significance to the “right hand” in Scripture? What does the right hand symbolize?
The Hand of Authority
You’ve probably heard the phrase “he’s my right hand man” but where does this phrase come from? I believe it comes from the Bible. This words “right hand” occurs 166 times in the Bible so it is no accident that the words “right hand” has significant meaning. God inspired Isaiah to write “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you” (Isaiah 41:13). The right hand signifies strength, perhaps because most people are right-handed and that is the hand that normally has their greatest strength. Most people write with their right hand, they do the most difficult things with their right hand, and it is the hand where the strength typically occurs.
The religious leaders were constantly trying to trap and trick Jesus into enigmatic questions so He once told them “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool” (Luke 20:42-43) which, being at the right hand, is the place of authority to whoever sits on the throne, and in this case, it was about God the Father and Jesus being the one who was to be and is currently seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus made reference to this during His illegal trial saying “from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God” (Luke 22:69). That is where the Son of God is presently at. This is mentioned in Mark 16:19 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”
James and John once came up to Jesus and asked Him “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (Mark 10:37) but Jesus responded “to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared” (Mark 10:40). The other disciples knew what this meant which was why “they began to be indignant at James and John” (Mark 10:41) so it is evident that being at the right hand is symbolic of having authority and power. This is seen throughout the Scriptures as in Paul writing about God that He “raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1:20-21).
The Hand of Blessing
The ancient patriarchs usually blessed their children and grandchildren with their right hand as with the case of Jacob, whose name was later changed by God to Israel, for example when “Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn)” (Gen 48:14).
The Hand of Strength
I mentioned that the right hand is the one which, for most people, has the greatest strength and that is symbolized in many Scriptures when it refers to God as in Exodus 15:6 “Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy” and often used against His enemies as in Exodus 15:12 “You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them.” Just prior to Moses’ death He blessed Israel with this blessing, “The Lord came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand” (Duet 33:2). These “ten thousands of holy ones” are likely speaking about God’s holy angels. When John saw Jesus he “fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying “Fear not, I am the first and the last” (Rev 1:17) so by His right hand He strengthened him. Isaiah provides further evidence of this by writing “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).The Sacrificial Significance of the Right Side
When Aaron and his sons performed animal sacrifices, God instructed them “you shall kill the ram and take part of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tips of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the great toes of their right feet, and throw the rest of the blood against the sides of the altar” (Ex 29:20) and at another time Aaron took the sacrifice and “he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot” (Lev 8:23). Even in the anointing of the oil was done on the right side as when they took “some of the oil that remains in his hand the priest shall put on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering” (Lev 14:17).The Hand of Sovereignty
In the Book of Revelation we see Jesus using His right hand throughout like “in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals” (Rev 5:1), and having taken “the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne” (Rev 5:7), He held the “scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea” (Rev 10:2), and “In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength” (Rev 1:16) of which the stars represented the seven churches. The right hand and the right foot both symbolize sovereignty and authority.Conclusion
Clearly we see that the right hand is symbolic of ruler-ship, authority, sovereignty, blessing, and strength and is significant in Scripture. We even see this in separating the sheep from the goats at the judgment as Jesus said “Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left” (Matt 25:32-33). Being on the right side is critical to our eternal destiny and fatal to those on the left. For all who trust in Christ, they will be placed on the right hand side of Christ because they will have imputed to them the very righteousness of the Son of God (2 Cor 5:21).
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Psalm 20:1-9 Trusting God in Prayer
Living next to the Gulf Coast has sensitized me to “the calm before the storm,” that eerie moment of silence just before the winds and rains crash in upon us. The skies become leaden. The wind subsides momentarily. The smell of rain is in the air. It is as if nature pauses before its holocaust breaks loose. Similarly, life has its moments of calm. Battlefields lie quiet; then the bombardment begins. Anxious reporters freeze as news of the president’s condition comes from the emergency room. Marital strain can grip a family in silence before the cracks appear.
Psalm 20 is such a pause. Israel is ready for battle; the “day of trouble” has come. The legions with their banners are ordered for war. But while pagans trust in chariots and horses, God’s people trust in His name. In “the calm before the storm,” the commanders go up to the temple with their troops where the king offers his sacrifice and Israel is blessed for battle. Only when spiritual preparation is completed can the opposing forces be joined.1
Many people want to have victory in life. They want to see success in everything they do. Here, David prays for victory in the oncoming battle. He asks for God to hand him victory. He admits that other people trust in other things to gain victory. David only trusts God.2
But just because he doesn’t trust in other ways for success, that doesn’t prevent him from making the “big ask.” Eight times, David claims that God can do something for him to provide him victory. David prayed to God for victory in his circumstances. God helped him. David was in a very tight spot. But God helped him. Just as God helped David, He can also help you.
I agree with John Calvin about this psalm. He said:
Many interpreters view this prayer as offered up only on one particular occasion; but in this I cannot agree. The occasion of its composition at first may have arisen from some particular battle which was about to be fought, either against the Ammonites, or against some other enemies of Israel. But the design of the Holy Spirit, in my judgment, was to deliver to the Church a common form of prayer, which, as we may gather from the words, was to be used whenever she was threatened with any danger.3
These requests were from a king who was ready for battle against a national foe. I believe that we can personalize these requests from a child of a king who is ready for battle against a spiritual foe. So I want us to look at these prayers as petitions we can ask from God in our own lives.
EIGHT WORDS I CAN PRAY TO GOD
I SAY:
1. Answer me (Psalm 20:1, 9)
“May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.” (Psalm 20:1, HCSB)
“Lord, give victory to the king! May He answer us on the day that we call.” (Psalm 20:9, HCSB)
I don’t know about you, but I expect God in general to answer my prayers. God promises to answer when I call upon Him. In general, we want answers from God. So the first way in which praying to God can help me is because God answers prayer. He will answer if you ask Him.
2. Protect me (Psalm 20:1)
The psalm turns from the general call for answer to a specific type of answer: protection. It also establishes the immediate context; it is a “day of trouble,” a day of “distress” or “pressure.”4
Everyone has their days of trouble. Everyone has times in their life when they want protection.
“May Yahweh answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob’s God protect you.” (Psalm 20:1, HCSB)
In this case, God protects me when I call for help. He even protects me when I don’t realize it.
Ira Sankey was traveling on a steamer in the Delaware River when he was recognized by some passengers who had seen his picture in the newspaper and knew he was associated with evangelist D. L. Moody. When they asked him to sing one of his own compositions, Sankey said he preferred the hymn by William Bradbury, “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.”
He suggested that everyone join in the singing. One of the stanzas begins, “We are thine, do thou befriend us; be the guardian of our way.”
When he finished, a man stepped out of the shadows and asked, “Were you in the army, Mr. Sankey?”
“Yes, I joined up in 1860.”
“Did you do guard duty at night in Maryland, about 1862?”
“Yes, I did.”
“I was in the Confederate Army,” said the stranger. “I saw you one night at Sharpsburg. I had you in my gun sight as you stood in the light of the full moon. Then just as I was about to pull the trigger, you began to sing. It was the same hymn you sang tonight. I couldn’t shoot you.”5
When he finished, a man stepped out of the shadows and asked, “Were you in the army, Mr. Sankey?”
“Yes, I joined up in 1860.”
“Did you do guard duty at night in Maryland, about 1862?”
“Yes, I did.”
“I was in the Confederate Army,” said the stranger. “I saw you one night at Sharpsburg. I had you in my gun sight as you stood in the light of the full moon. Then just as I was about to pull the trigger, you began to sing. It was the same hymn you sang tonight. I couldn’t shoot you.”5
The word, Israel, means “Governed by God.” The word, Jacob, on the other hand means “Heel Snatcher.” Therefore, when you read about the God of Israel in the Old Testament, the reference is to the nation when it was obedient to God. When you read about the God of Jacob, the reference is to the nation when it was following its sinful tendencies. Thus, David’s prayer is, “May the Lord hear you even when you’re not doing as well as you ought.”6
3. Help me (Psalm 20:2)
“May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.” (Psalm 20:2, HCSB)
There are many times in my life when I need help. What do I do? I call on someone I know who can help me. If it is my car, I call a mechanic. If there is something wrong in the bathroom, I call a plumber. I call upon the right person to help me depending upon the situation. You can look at God as the Everyman helper.
“God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, HCSB)
4. Sustain me (Psalm 20:2)
“May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.” (Psalm 20:2, HCSB)
God doesn’t just help in times of need. He sustains me. He gives me the strength to get through the situation. When you depend upon someone to sustain you, you place your trust in that person to provide all of your needs. God has promised to do that:
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19, HCSB)
God has a large enough supply to sustain me.
5. Remember me (Psalm 20:3)
“May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah” (Psalm 20:3, HCSB)
David came to this situation with a long history of worship to God. He had built a strong relationship. David wanted God to remember that relationship now that David needed God’s help. David expected God to intervene because David had been loyal to God.
What we do day by day in times of peace prepares us for times of war. When our devotional life is a habit we are well served for the battle.7
As I build a relationship with God, there will be times when I want to recall that relationship to remind God that He should help me. This isn’t selfishness. This is a reminder of my dependence upon God. This leads naturally to my next point.
6. Give me (Psalm 20:4)
“May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.” (Psalm 20:4, HCSB)
If I am dependent upon God daily, then when the tough times come, God will help me and give me what I need. Jesus this clearly:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” (Matthew 6:33, HCSB)
When God gives to help me, it is not for my selfish endeavors. God gives to fulfill His purposes in me.
7. Fulfill me (Psalm 20:4)
“May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.” (Psalm 20:4, HCSB)
God doesn’t just give to me to make me happy. He gives so that He can fulfill what He wants to do in my life. God wants to be my source in life. That is why God wants me to come to Him in prayer.
8. Lift me (Psalm 20:5-8)
“Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May Yahweh fulfill all your requests.” (Psalm 20:5, HCSB)
God wants to give victory in your life. It doesn’t matter what kind of difficult or challenging situation you encounter, you just have to ask God for His help. He wants to lift you up. Just as the people of God would raise a banner in God’s name, I can raise a banner of hope in God’s name.
All of these answers are conditional. They can only happen if we ask God for help. We can’t trust in ourselves, our power, our strength. We can only trust in God to answer us in our time of trouble. So when we ask these requests, God’s answer is always: “trust Me.”
GOD SAYS: Trust Me
“Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of Yahweh our God.” (Psalm 20:7, HCSB)
We should insist that this is not a formula for defeat but a formula for trust. Human resources are needful, but they can become a substitute for God’s help.8
God is the One who can solve our troubles. We can stand firm because we know God will answer (Psalm 20:8).
“They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm.” (Psalm 20:8, HCSB)
His answers don’t take long. He answers on the day we call Him (Psalm 20:9).9
“Lord, give victory to the king! May He answer us on the day that we call.” (Psalm 20:9, HCSB)
We can trust God, not to remove all crises and difficulties from our lives, but to bring us through them, and, in so doing, to achieve his purpose in our lives as well.10
God will answer our prayers. All He asks from me is: “Trust Me.” But this prayer from Psalm 20 is also a great prayer to pray for others. Take these phrases and change it to the name of the person you are praying for. You can use Psalm 20 to pray for someone else. John Barry gives us this insight in his devotional Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan:
“I’ll pray for you.”
We say it often, but how many times do we actually remember to do it? Our biggest downfall might not be a lack of compassion—it’s probably just not taking time to write down the request and not having a model of praying for others.
When I pray for God’s will in my life, I’ve found that using the Lord’s Prayer works well when I’m having trouble praying. But I haven’t adopted a model for praying for others. Psalm 20 contains such a model, and the psalmist offers some beautiful words for others:
“May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble.… May he send you help … May he remember all your offerings … May he give to you your heart’s desire … May we shout for you over your victory” (Psalm 20:1–5). And then the psalmist goes on to proclaim God’s goodness and that He will answer (Psalm 20:6). And this is the line I think I love the most: “Some boast in chariots, and others in horses, but we boast in the name of Yahweh, our God. They will collapse and fall, and we will rise and stand firm” (Psalm 20:7–8).
“They will … fall … and we will rise.” We must pray for others with this kind of confidence.11
When I pray for God’s will in my life, I’ve found that using the Lord’s Prayer works well when I’m having trouble praying. But I haven’t adopted a model for praying for others. Psalm 20 contains such a model, and the psalmist offers some beautiful words for others:
“May Yahweh answer you in the day of trouble.… May he send you help … May he remember all your offerings … May he give to you your heart’s desire … May we shout for you over your victory” (Psalm 20:1–5). And then the psalmist goes on to proclaim God’s goodness and that He will answer (Psalm 20:6). And this is the line I think I love the most: “Some boast in chariots, and others in horses, but we boast in the name of Yahweh, our God. They will collapse and fall, and we will rise and stand firm” (Psalm 20:7–8).
“They will … fall … and we will rise.” We must pray for others with this kind of confidence.11
1 Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 166.
2 Jim Erwin, “Prayer of Victory in Life,” Lectionary Reflections C (2015-2016), Logos Bible Software Notes, 16 March 2016, found at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jimerwin/2016/03/16/prayer-victory-life/ accessed on 15 April 2016.
3 John Calvin and James Anderson, Commentary on the Book of Psalms, vol. 1 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 333–334.
4 Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 167.
5 Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 342. From Kenneth R. Hendren, “In the Gun Sights, Men of Integrity (April 17, 2001).
6 Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: Volume Two: Psalms-Malachi (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2006), 23.
7 Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 168.
8 C. Hassell Bullock, Psalms 1–72, ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton, vol. 1, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015), 146.
9 Jim Erwin, “Who You Gonna Call? My Troublebuster!” Lectionary Reflections Year B (2014-2015), 3 June 2015, http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jimerwin/2015/06/03/gonna-call-troublebuster/, accessed on 15 April 2016.
10 Roger Ellsworth, Opening up Psalms, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2006), 173.
11 John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).
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God both exceeds and undermines our expectations
Matthew 13 serves as a compelling montage for ministry wisdom, presenting Jesus’ parables about God’s kingdom. The parables, in their simplicity and depth, provide a multifaceted view of what it means to be a part of God’s Kingdom, defying and redefining the expectations of those who follow Him.
Through these narratives, Jesus intricately weaves a vision that is both comforting and challenging, familiar yet profoundly revolutionary. The chapter offers a fertile ground for reflection on the nature of God’s divine work, especially within the context of missions and ministry.
Jesus Upends Conventional Expectations
At the heart of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 13 is the paradoxical nature of the Kingdom of God. Jesus artfully upends conventional expectations, suggesting a Kingdom that is both less and more than what might be anticipated. He introduces the Kingdom as something that starts insignificantly, like a mustard seed or a bit of yeast, yet grows into something unexpectedly grand.This dichotomy is not just a matter of scale but speaks to the qualitative difference in how God’s work manifests compared to human expectations.
Jesus’ parables correct the human tendency to measure divine approval and success by worldly standards—numbers, size, and immediate impact. Through the parables of the sower, the wheat and the weeds, the mustard seed, and the yeast, Jesus tempers expectations of a dominantly triumphant Kingdom manifest in power and majesty, suggesting instead a Kingdom that grows quietly, almost imperceptibly, through acts of love, service, and the transformation of individual hearts.
Simultaneously, Jesus urges his listeners to expect more—not in terms of material success or visible dominion but in the transformative power of the Kingdom to change lives and societies from the inside out. The hidden treasure and the pearl of great price illustrate the incomparable value of the Kingdom, suggesting that its true worth surpasses all human ambition and desire, requiring total commitment from those who seek it.
Implications for Missions and Ministry
This nuanced understanding of the Kingdom has profound implications for missions and ministry. Jesus’ teaching invites us to reconsider what it means to be successful in God’s work. The natural inclination is to equate success with quantifiable outcomes—conversions, church plants, and the expansion of resources.Yet, Jesus suggests that the true measure of success in the Kingdom of God lies not in numbers but in the depth of transformation—both within individuals and communities.
In missions, this perspective shifts the focus from mere expansion to the quality of discipleship. It underscores the importance of cultivating communities that embody the values of the Kingdom—justice, peace, and love—regardless of their size. This approach recognizes that God’s work often unfolds in ways that defy human expectations, working through small, seemingly insignificant beginnings to effect profound changes.
Moreover, Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 13 highlights the reality that the path of following Him may lead through suffering and frustration. These experiences, while challenging, are not signs of failure but tools in God’s hands to refine and sanctify.
The parable of the wheat and the weeds, for example, reminds us that the Kingdom grows amid challenges and opposition, and its ultimate fruition is in God’s hands, not ours. This understanding calls for a radical trust in God’s sovereignty and timing, recognizing that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.
A Needed Change in Perspective
This perspective is particularly relevant for those engaged in missions and ministry, where the temptation to become discouraged by apparent setbacks or lack of visible progress can be strong. Jesus’ teaching encourages us to see beyond immediate outcomes and to trust in the slow, often hidden work of the Kingdom.It invites us to find joy and fulfillment not in numbers or achievements but in faithful obedience to God’s call, knowing that He is at work in ways we can’t always see or understand.
In light of Matthew 13, those involved in missions and ministry are called to a posture of humility and openness. We are reminded that our plans and expectations must always be held loosely, submitted to God’s greater wisdom and purpose. This does not mean abdicating responsibility or refraining from diligent effort but recognizing that the outcome belongs to God. It means being faithful in the small, everyday tasks, trusting that God multiplies our efforts in His own time and way.
Ultimately, Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13 offer a vision of the Kingdom of God that is both a challenge and a comfort. They challenge us to let go of our limited human perspectives and to embrace God’s expansive vision for His Kingdom.
At the same time, they comfort us with the assurance that God is at work in ways beyond our imagination, using even our trials and setbacks for His purposes. In missions and ministry, as in all aspects of Christian life, we are invited to participate in this divine work, trusting that God will do more than we expect, but in ways that we might never have anticipated.
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What motivates obedience when I don’t want to obey?
What does true obedience to God look like—and what doesn’t it look like? This isn’t just a theoretical question. It goes to the heart of what it means to follow Christ.
Many of us know we’re supposed to obey God, but have we asked, “Why am I obeying? What drives my obedience?” Is it born from genuine faith, or is it a disguised form of legalism— an attempt to prove ourselves or earn God’s acceptance?
True obedience isn’t about external compliance or religious performance. It isn’t about checking spiritual boxes or keeping up appearances. Instead, real obedience flows from trust—a living faith that says, “Because I believe You are good, wise, and for me, I will follow You even when I don’t understand.”
But many of us slip into what I call “fobedience”— false obedience that looks right on the outside but is driven by fear, pride, or self-doubt. Let’s explore what that looks like, and how real faith motivates true obedience, even when we don’t feel like obeying.
False Obedience (“Fobedience”)
“Fobedience” is obedience in form, but unbelief in spirit. It’s when we obey to secure something for ourselves—whether peace of mind, approval from others, or God’s favor—as though our works could secure our standing before Him.Yes, Christians are called to good works (Eph. 2:10). But there’s a world of difference between obeying because we trust God and obeying to prove ourselves. Fobedience obeys to earn love; real obedience obeys because of love.
Before we can understand what drives obedience when we don’t feel like it, we need to address three common ways people wrongly approach obedience:
Some of us obey because we want to reassure ourselves that we’re “really” saved. We think, “If I can just do enough good, maybe I’ll know I’m right with God.”
But when obedience is about proving ourselves, it’s not about God at all—it’s about managing our anxiety. This path leads to endless striving and exhaustion, never real peace. True peace comes not from examining our works, but from trusting in what Christ has already done.
Sometimes, we obey to look good in front of others—to seem holy, mature, or devoted. But this is obedience driven by fear—fear of rejection or exposure. Jesus warned against this: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people to be seen by them” (Matt. 6:1). If our obedience is about keeping up appearances, we’re not loving God—we’re using Him to protect our image.
Perhaps most dangerously, we obey as if to convince God to love us—as if our works could earn His acceptance. But this denies the gospel. Our acceptance with God is because of Christ, not because of us. Obedience that tries to “prove” something to God turns Him into a cosmic employer and our works into a résumé. True obedience comes from resting in who Christ is and what He has already done.
Delight or Duty?
Another confusion we face is whether obedience should flow from delight or duty. Some say obedience must be joyful to be real; others worry they’ll never obey if they wait to feel joy.Scripture offers a balanced view: Ideally, obedience grows into delight. But often, it begins with duty. In a fallen world, our desires are disordered. If we wait until we feel like obeying, we’ll rarely obey—especially when God’s commands require sacrifice.
Think of Jesus in Gethsemane. He didn’t “delight” in going to the cross. He obeyed because He trusted the Father (Matt. 26:39). Abraham didn’t feel joy in preparing to sacrifice Isaac, but he trusted God enough to obey.
Over time, as we obey, God reshapes our hearts. What feels like duty now may grow into delight later, as we see God’s wisdom and love more clearly.
How Faith Actually Motivates Obedience
So what makes real obedience different from legalistic compliance? Outwardly, both may look the same. But the difference lies in the heart, in the relationship that drives obedience.True obedience flows from trust in God—from faith that says, “You are wise and good, and I’ll follow You even when I don’t understand.” It’s not about proving how much we can suffer or how strictly we can keep rules. It’s about trusting God’s character.
If we wait until we want to sacrifice our time, energy, or desires, we’ll never start. Obedience isn’t about waiting for perfect feelings. It’s about trusting God’s wisdom over our own.
Obedience isn’t “legalistic” when motivated by two things:
- A desire to honor God because of who He is.
- A longing to become like Christ, who obeyed the Father even unto death.
Consider Abraham. Everything in him must have recoiled from the command to sacrifice Isaac, yet he obeyed because he trusted God. If Abraham could obey such a terrible command, surely we can trust God enough to obey even when His commands feel costly or confusing. Godly obedience often feels difficult, even arbitrary, at first. But God sees what we cannot. Sometimes, it’s only after a long season of obedience that we recognize the wisdom of God’s ways.
If we wait until obedience feels good or makes sense, we’ll stay stuck. But if we believe Jesus is King— if we trust His love and authority— that is reason enough to obey. Faith doesn’t focus on the commands themselves but on the God who gives them. Faith says, “I don’t need to know why, because I know Who.”
Like a child trusting a parent, faith obeys even when it doesn’t understand. And faith looks beyond present sacrifice to future reward. Like Moses, who “considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt” (Heb. 11:26), faith sees that God’s promises are better and lasting.
If you’re struggling to obey in some area, don’t wait for perfect motivation or feelings. Obey because you trust that Jesus knows what you do not. And as you walk with Him, what felt like a burden may become a joy—not because it’s easy, but because you’ve come to know Him better.
Faith Acts
Hebrews 11 is often called the “hall of faith,” but it could just as easily be called the “hall of obedience.” Each person listed acted because they trusted God. Abel offered. Noah built. Abraham went. Moses refused Egypt’s treasures. Rahab welcomed the spies. Here’s a question worth asking: If Hebrews 11 were still being written today, what works of faith—what costly acts of obedience—would be written next to my name?At the end of the day, faith justifies not because it is a work, but because it magnifies Christ. And real faith will always produce works. Not every good deed comes from faith—people do good things for all kinds of reasons—but only the works that flow from trusting God are acts of true obedience.
And yes, love that comes from faith is not perfect. It stumbles and wavers. But it tries. Like Roosevelt’s “man in the arena,” real faith gets into the fight. It may not always win, but it steps into the struggle because God is worth it.
So instead of asking, “Is my obedience perfect?” ask, “Is my obedience growing out of faith?” Am I trusting God enough to obey, even when it’s hard? The obedience that God delights in says: “I trust You, even when I don’t see.”
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When Losses Hit We Must Walk Hand In Hand With God
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?
Psalm 13: 1-2
This week was full of losses. Material losses. Political losses. Health losses. Relational losses. Each and every one made my heart and mind ache for relief. I felt like yelling, “I give!” to God so that He’d put a stop to the pain (and the losses). I so wanted to do a rewind and replay for a different outcome in each of these areas. But as much as I desired different, even better more favorable results, I realized something. As much as these losses stung, there was something deeper amiss in my heart.
Every Heart Harbors Idols
A single word. Idols. From the loss of the election to some financial slippage to a recent relational tangle which made me feel heartsick (and body sick,) I realized that in every single one of these situations I had made an idol out of getting the results I wanted (craved?) Idols. As one theologian said, our hearts are idol factories. We manufacture one after another throughout our lives and each time we do, they come crumbling down and we look at the mess in grave disappointment because we were so hoping they’d come through for us in a way deeper level than they were ever intended to do so.Hope In God Alone Never Disappoints
As much as I desired what I believed to be right and true and honorable results in my losses, I also had to admit after the fact, that it wasn’t just the multiplication of loss that was getting to me. It was the accompanying disappointment. In life. In myself. In God. I have to continually remind myself that life and losses go hand in hand throughout this broken world. No amount of hoping, wishing, or praying otherwise is going to change the fact that we all live in a dying world. But once we accept that truth, our losses make more sense and they don’t take us by surprise so much. Loss upon loss, we need to walk hand in hand with God through it all. And yes, it’s still going to hurt and sting like crazy.God Will Draw Close In Our Loss
Losses come to us all. Sometimes those losses are our own fault. Other times we experience loss at the hands of others. Often, losses come by no fault of any person, it’s simply part and parcel of this damaged, sin-ridden world. But when the losses come, we have to be prepared. Each of has to know what we believe before the storms hit. Otherwise, we’ll tumble and fall deeper and faster and farther than if we’d been prepared on the inside of our hearts and minds.How does one prepare for the inevitable without sounding like a naysayer? By becoming a student of the Bible and rightly understanding what God’s Word says about life on this planet. Scripture clearly teaches that we will have trouble but that we shouldn’t let it overcome us. Why? Because Jesus overcame the world. That’s the good news! The bad news is that we’re going to experience trouble, pain, and loss upon loss.
God’s Promises Are Faithful
Once we come to accept that struggle is part of life, every life, then we’re much more ready to respond to life’s difficulties and disappointments with a grace-laced answer. What does a grace-laced answer look like? One that speaks the promises of God’s provision aloud, out loud, by faith, and keeps on speaking out the truth that God said He would provide. Period. It’s true, we often don’t understand why these losses come to us, but we can bank on a single truth found in God’s Word through them all. Those who trust in the Lord will not be disappointed. He said it, we need to believe it before, during and after our losses.
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Top 7 Bible Verses About Raising Money or Fundraising
Third John 3:5-8 “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”
If not for the Gentiles, many of the Jews would have never heard the gospel but it was because of “strangers” who supported the work of God that they were able to share the gospel with the Jews so the Apostle John reasons “we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth” and by their effort, through for example the Scriptures, we are reaping what others have sown.First Corinthians 16:1-3 “Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.”
The Apostle Paul apparently wanted the collect for the saints to occur during their worship services and so when they gathered together on Sunday, the first day of the week, they were directed to make a collection for the persecuted and starving Christians in Jerusalem. Apparently Paul had directed the churches in Galatia to do the very same thing.
Second Corinthians 9:7 “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Here is evidence that there is not a specific amount that we must give. The Old Testament taught, and some still believe, that we should give 10% of our income to God. If someone asks, “Is that gross or net,” I doubt they understand. Everything is God’s. None of it is ours, including our money. Name one thing we did not received from God (1st Cor 4:7). We should give, not out compulsion, guilt or that we “must tithe,” but out of a cheerful heart. Let each one decide for themselves what to give and they won’t be doing math; they’ll be giving cheerfully. It might be more than 10% or it might be less. That is up to them. It may depend on what they’re able to give.Matthew 19:22 “When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
The rich man who came to Jesus to find out what he must do to receive eternal life didn’t get it. It’s not about what you do but about what Jesus did. Many of the world’s religion are “do, do, do” or “do this, this, this and then that.” It is only in Christianity that it is “done” in Christ; once for all time (Eph 2:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1st Pet 3:18). Instead of following Jesus, the young man followed his own god…money. The young man had money and Jesus, knowing his heart, may have known that money was his god and by not helping the poor, it was sin since “whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).Luke 8:1-4 “Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.”
Most people might not realize that the primary financial supporters of Jesus weren’t the disciples or other men but women. These included “Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others.” How many is not clear but many would mean more than were just mentioned. In God’s eyes, even the widow’s mite was more than all the others since she gave all that she had. That is a sacrificial giving that the rich never had to experience. What was worse, they gave so that everyone would see them. No one noticed the poor widow who gave so little, yet she out-gave them all!First Timothy 5:18 “For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
If you have ever seen an ox at a grain-grinding mill, you might notice that they don’t put a muzzle on them. Some cultures do but God’s law forbids it because it’s inhumane to expect an animal to work producing food and not be able to eat at least some of it. If someone is obviously laboring for the Lord, why would we not want to support him or her? It seems cruel to send out a missionary and then not give them any provisions on which to live.First Corinthians 9:13-14 “Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”
Here is where Paul clearly indicates that those who proclaim the gospel should receive their living by the gospel as Paul wrote, “If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you” (1st Cor 9:11)? There were times though that Paul had to work, as a tentmaker, and today we’d call a pastor or missionary, bi-vocational. That’s a hard road to travel because Paul, after working all day, then likely taught the believers in the Scriptures till late at night; especially knowing Paul (Acts 20:9).Conclusion
Jesus tells us that what we treasure the most is what is closest to our hearts. Our priorities can be far from right though (Matt 6:33). Sometimes, our hearts can be tied to our wallet. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21) and so He tells us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt 6:19-20). I hear the security system up in heaven is second to none; your treasures are safe.
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Diabetes Is One of the Best Things That’s Happened to Me
In July 1985 I became an insulin-dependent diabetic, and my first book, Money Possessions, and Eternity, was published. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me—becoming a diabetic, I mean. Getting published was good too, but it didn’t do nearly as much for my spiritual life as getting sick did.
I had always been a strong and healthy person. Suddenly, four to five times a day, I needed to take blood tests and stick a needle in my side to inject insulin. (In the last few years, I’ve transitioned to a pump.) I’ve kept that up for forty years, every day without exception. There are times when I feel pretty lousy. I’m often tired, and my blood sugar sometimes swings up and down. When it’s up, I feel very tired; when it’s down, I get weak and become confused and disoriented. I begin to say things that don’t make sense. (A friend of mine teases me about this, but I point out to him that in those moments I’m acting like he acts all the time.)
So why do I say becoming an insulin-dependent diabetic was one of the best things that’s ever happened to me? There are a lot of reasons. One is that I understand weak, sick, and hurting people in a way I never did when I was strong and healthy. There’s a tendency for the healthy to have one basic response to the sick and weak, and that’s “suck it up.” Now, I’m all for sucking it up, and often that’s very good advice, but it’s also true that some things are outside of our control.
Gaining a sense of recognition of how my life has been outside of my control all along has had a profound effect on me. I had always been self-sufficient and independent, more like my father than I care to admit. He was an independent, self-sufficient unbeliever, and I was an independent, self-sufficient believer. But neither of us would be characterized as needy, at least not on the outside. We were in control, and we took pride in being in control. I was a decent pastor, and I could usually count on my mind working well. (I’m so grateful my dad admitted his spiritual need and came to faith at age 84.)
God has been very gracious to allow me not to experience the debilitating effects some insulin-dependent diabetics undergo. I’m still active—I do a lot of cycling and I played tennis for years. Hopefully my mind is still operative (though I may not be the best person to judge that!). But in any case, I look at life differently than I used to. I don’t take for granted what it means to feel good. I don’t assume I can just get out and handle any situation that comes along. Sometimes I need to rest or get help, or eat something to get my blood sugar up. I used to skip meals, and never felt weak as a result. Now I can’t do that.
In other words, I’ve become less independent and self-sufficient. I also think God has done for me what He did for Paul when He sent him his thorn in the flesh, which Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 12. Paul acknowledged that his physical illness was a messenger from Satan. But he realized that Satan, in turn, was on God’s leash. God sovereignly governs the acts of Satan. Therefore, Paul could see the hand of God in his disease. That’s why he said that his physical problem was given to him to keep him from becoming conceited (2 Corinthians 12:7).
Paul might have been tempted to believe all the great things people said about him. His thorn of the flesh was a reminder he was completely dependent upon God. Paul says God’s word to him was “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
So this is what I’ve learned from being diabetic: all I have to offer is the weakness. God alone offers the strength. When I go on a speaking engagement, when I travel, when I sit down to write, I am acutely aware that I don’t have the skill or the power to pull this off. If it’s going to impact lives for eternity, that will have to be a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. I just don’t have what it takes.
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the possible exception of sickness…. If some men that I know of could only be favoured with a month of rheumatism, it would, by God’s grace, mellow them marvelously.”
Though he sought to avoid suffering, Spurgeon said, “I am afraid that all the grace that I have got of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours, might almost lie on a penny. But the good that I have received from my sorrows, and pains, and griefs, is altogether incalculable…. Affliction is the best bit of furniture in my house. It is the best book in a minister’s library.”
I can vouch for what Spurgeon said. Understanding my insufficiency and dependence is the best thing that ever happened to me. Without the disease God gave me, I wouldn’t have learned that truth. That’s why I stopped praying years ago that God would take away my diabetes. Of course, if He did, I wouldn’t complain, but the truth is that if I were given the power to snap my fingers to take the disease away, I wouldn’t do it. God knows far better than I that He has given me diabetes. This may sound strange when you hear the health and wealth gospel that promotes the belief that God wants us all healthy. As God demonstrated in giving Paul his thorn in the flesh, He sometimes has better things in mind than our health.
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3 Signs You’re Wrecking Your Marriage
I was wrecking my marriage, and I didn’t even realize it.
Five years in and I was ready to give up.
I thought the problem was my husband. If he’d just “shape up,” we’d have a great marriage.
He didn’t want to spend time with me, and he didn’t seem interested in meeting my needs.
Here’s why.
Almost everything he did was met with my disapproval. I thought he’d changed. He wasn’t the guy I’d married.
In reality, I was the one who’d changed. I went from being loving and fun to being critical and cranky.
I went from thinking he was smart and funny to thinking he was irresponsible and immature.
Even though he was a military guy and was responsible for hundreds of soldiers, I thought he was careless.
If he feels like can’t do anything right, he may stop trying
As our communication broke down, the whole relationship started to crumble.I didn’t have skills to build intimacy or the wisdom to know my behavior was driving him away.
I didn’t see his behavior as a sign, I was pushing him away.
If you’re wrecking your marriage, the signs are usually there.
Your husband may be distant or defensive. He may make excuses so he doesn’t have to spend time with you.
Thankfully, I’ve learned a few things. I now have skills to communicate with him.
I now understand what he needs and how to get what I need. And my marriage is better because of it.
You can learn skills to have a better marriage, too.
Here are three behaviors that were wrecking my marriage. They may be ruining yours, too.
1. You try to control everything
I thought I should tell him how to do just about everything: drive, cook, clean. I told myself I was “helping.” I’d speak for him and make decisions for him. When I wasn’t telling him what to do, I tried to control him with non-verbal cues. I’d sigh, roll my eyes or give him disapproving looks. I was silent, but I just as annoying.
2. You think he’s the problem
I thought he needed to straighten up. All of our problems were his fault. If he’d just do things my way, pay more attention to me and learn how to communicate, our lives would be easier. The more I focused on his flaws, the more flaws he seemed to have. I was so focused on his shortcomings, I couldn’t see how I was pushing him away.
3. You have an attitude
I was critical all the time. When you’re critical, your husband may feel like he can’t do anything to please you. If he feels like he can’t please you, he may stop trying. Criticism also makes you unsafe. He may not feel like he can confide in you when he’s unsure of what you’re going to say.
I had to learn skills to be a loving wife. You can learn wife skills just like you can learn anything else.
What if you baked bread and it always turned out terrible. It didn’t rise or it burned on the outside and was doughy in the middle. Then someone showed you how to make bread. They gave you the skills you needed to do it right. And you practiced.
Suddenly you bake great bread.
Marriage isn’t much different. It’s about learning skills. You can learn how to be different. You can learn how to connect with your husband and build a strong marriage.
Men feel successful when their wives are happy. If you’re constantly complaining or criticizing, he’ll feel like a failure. He’ll feel like he can’t please you. He may stop trying and start spending his time in front of the TV instead.
You may not have the skills to build a great relationship, but you can learn. Identifying marriage wrecking behaviors and correcting them may mean the difference in the life or death of your marriage.
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Combatting Unhealthy Fear
Psalm 19:9 says, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever!”
I have now lived fifty-four years.
I have spent forty-five of those a follower of Jesus Christ.
I have spent thirty-six of those preparing or serving as a pastor.
I have spent twenty-eight of those at the same church in Colorado Springs, Vanguard Church, a Southern Baptist Affiliate.
Here is what I know, I have never not been afraid about something or someone.
Fear is real.
Fear is normal.
Fear is constant.
Fear was, is, and will be a part of every day of our lives.
You can’t escape it.
It is human to fear.
What or who you fear determines if it is a sin or not.
The only difference between my youth and my fifties when it comes to fear, is this, I know now more than I did then, and my list of fears has grown. I don’t fear fewer things in my fifties compared to my twenties when my wife Tosha and I started Vanguard Church in 1997.
My list of fears is longer now.
I am currently in my 105th reading of the Bible and each character in the Bible shows me faithfulness or unfaithfulness and honestly things to fear.
I fear moral failure like King David, I fear betrayal like Jesus experienced from his friend Judas, I fear failure like Peter, I fear being wronged like David’s son Absalom did to him, I fear being misunderstood like Paul in the book of Acts, I fear being arrogant like Hezekiah, I fear being attacked by those who hate me like Nehemiah was, I fear God asking me to do something I don’t want to do like Jonah, I fear not seeing God’s promises fulfilled in my life like Abraham did, I fear losing my temper at the sin of God’s people and being angry like Moses, I fear God allowing me to suffer unjustly like Job, I fear being asked by God to do something seemingly impossible like Mary, I fear the success of my life going to my head and causing me to fall off the deep end of sin like Solomon, I fear being forgotten like Joseph, I fear a lifetime of sorrow like Jacob, I fear being falsely accused like Joseph and Jesus, I fear being left alone in my prophetic sorrows and prayers like Daniel, I fear being killed like Esther, I fear being overlooked like Peter, I fear being not the greatest like the disciples, I fear being ignored like Jeremiah, I fear what others will think of me like King Saul, I fear not listening to wise counsel like Rehoboam, I fear letting go of my faithfulness to God like King Asa, I fear betraying a close friend like David did Uriah for my own personal gain.
I could go on and on and on with my fears. As you can see, I have many and the list is growing.
How do you combat unhealthy fear?
The answer may surprise you. You combat unhealthy fear with healthy fear.
Psalm 19:9 says, “The fear of the Lord is clean, and endures forever!”
Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
If you want to be wise, you must fear the right thing.
You must fear the Lord.
What does it mean to fear the Lord?
We get the best understanding of this from the opening of the book of Job. God speaks of Job and sees him as the greatest example of a holy human on the face of the earth at his time.
God says in Job 1:1 “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of anything or anyone else is the beginning of evil.
Job feared the Lord. Because of this he turned away from evil. Because of this he was seen by God Almighty as blameless and upright. Not sinless! Not perfect! Blameless and upright.
The Psalmist says in Psalm 15:1 “O Lord, who shall dwell on your holy hill?” God answers in verse 2, “He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart (to himself) …and 4 honors those who fear the Lord.”
God is watching to see who will fear Him and who will honor those who fear Him.
He sees.
He is watching and rewards those who do these two things with residence on His holy hill.
I don’t know about you, but I want to live on God’s holy hill.
This requires me to fear God more than anything or anyone else. If I fear the Lord, I will first turn from evil, and this is the beginning of wisdom. When you turn to God, you turn away from all your fears, concerns, worries, and people who may mistreat you, malign you, or falsely accuse you, even condemn you for things you have never done.
Injustice is a part of every person’s life who chooses to fear God more than the unfair things that could or will happen to them.
Job proves to us you can’t be “good enough” to avoid suffering for the good you do in this life. The point of the book of Job is not he was sinless, because he wasn’t. The point of the book of Job is, “Good people suffer unjustly because God allows the enemy to have at them from time to time to show His glory in them and His blessings to them.”
You like me are a fearful being.
The only way to combat unhealthy fear is with healthy fear. The fear of the Lord!
It is clean and when all other fears consume you, this one will enable you to endure forever!
Fear the Lord!
It will save your life, forever!
Blessings,
Pastor Kelly
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