Focus on Good News. . . .

A family member sent me an email last week that lines up with Piper’s devotional passage for today. His email said “Can’t help but feel the effects of the last days described in 2 Tim 3:1-5. I’m sure you feel the same. Very hard to watch the news these days… I am reminded to keep focused on the Good News that will help soften that bad news around us.”

He also said that it was not his place to say when the end would come. However, this passage does describe much of current news:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3:1–5)

I’m with him on focusing on the Good News. Piper didn’t do that at first. Instead he gave statistics that are three decades old and make me shudder. Men abuse women. Many abuse the police. Murder rates are high. Mocking Jesus happens and still does. Mass shootings, people driving vehicles into crowds, brutality and lack of self-control. It is all part of current world events including the abandoning of God both in public and in private.

But there is good news too. In our city, large shelters feed and take care of the homeless. The love of Jesus is taken to the streets by those who build relationships with those who feel helpless. Many groups take care of needy families with new babies. Others supply beds for children who have none. Several offer help and shelter for women who are in danger.

God calls His people to avoid those described by the above bad news. I could finger-point and shake my head in disgust at each newscast with the vanity that “at least I’m not like that” but my sin is just as disgusting to God as their evil behavior. Instead, He challenges me with verses like this:

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. (Ephesians 5:3–12)

The Lord does not want me to do such things, and not even talk about what they do. Instead, He tells me, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:26–27)

What is more challenging than to control what I say? Maybe to change my thoughts? Maybe to be occupied with doing good instead of bad-mouthing those without Christ who are helpless to do anything that pleases God? Maybe to show other Christians how to have a relationship with those who hit the news for the wrong reasons? To pay attention to words like:

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:16–21)

PRAY: Jesus, evil is not overcome by more evil, particularly the vanity of thinking I’m better than those involved in sin — and neglecting to glorify You as the only reason for anything good in me. You died for the world — while we were still sinners — and everyone needs to know You and Your incredible love, sacrificed to deliver us from sin’s deadly bondage.

 

Changes needed!

Lately I’ve been noticing how I respond to the actions of others. Another Christian told me that he gets very upset when he sees other believers do things “when they know better” yet in my journey in the family of God, I’m not certain if others actually “know better” or not. Once I asked a pastor about my role as a teacher. I was concerned that I taught what they already knew. He replied, “Teach it anyway. We are so prone to forget or ignore what we already know.”

This morning’s devotional reminds me of what I already know and yet I woke up not thinking about any of it:

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:15–18)

My first thought? Evil needs a solid definition. Most use synonyms like immoral, or nasty, which also need defining, but one online answer says evil is “taking pleasure in doing things that harm people.” This makes the Word of God startle me… do good to those who try to harm me rather than hurt them back has to include speaking ill of them to others, even complaining to God about their evil actions. Can I do good instead? This gives me a challenge to obey the next time someone says or does something that I don’t like!

The rest of this passage offers three responses to life, and certainly God gives me many reasons for obeying them.

‘Rejoice evermore!’ My sins are forgiven and Christ’s righteousness is imputed to me. In Him I am accepted, a child of God and joint-heirs with Jesus. I’m loved by my Creator who rules all things. He even gives me the joy He commands as a fruit of the Spirit. When I walk with Him, rejoicing is simply there — even in the struggles and trials that are part of life. I’ve no reason to ever be grumpy or complaining, and many reasons to rejoice.

‘Pray without ceasing!’ This is not about being constantly on my knees, but about having an attitude of reliance on God for everything, including how I interact with others. In includes the above reasons for rejoicing, yet also having that inner realization that apart from Him, I can do nothing that is good — by His definition of what is good. The entire Bible makes that definition clear, as does the wisdom of God in His dealings with me. I am to have that conscious dependence that turns to Him whenever something comes up that requires wisdom, grace, protection, strength, even forgiveness and certainly the ability to be thankful. So be prayerful all the time.

‘In everything give thanks!’ Some say this is not saying to be thankful for problems, but thankful for the positives I have in Him, but I am realizing that no matter what happens to me, it is included in “all things” because it isn’t just giving thanks that is His will for me, but faith realizes that whatever happens is controlled by my sovereign heavenly Father. That means all things, and giving things in every circumstance because those circumstances are also the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning me. So be thankful no matter what!

PRAY: Jesus, I’m so aware that the attitudes of my heart need to be governed by Your Spirit and not my flesh. In my mind, unkind people and blatant sinners do not deserve goodness, yet that is not the way You treat me when I act foolishly and out of Your will. You ask me to be more like You and I am so aware that without You, this is impossible. So, I am rejoicing that I know You, praying to be Spirit-filled each day, and thankful that You hear and answer this cry that enables obedience. It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.

 

Laying up Treasure

The National Archives houses the Declaration of Independence, The United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. As I looked at them and thought about the efforts of a nation to be free, these words from Jesus came to mind…

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31–32)

Freedom is not about absence of restraint or being able to do whatever I want to do. It is about living according to the truth of God.

Those buildings that make up the Smithsonian are valued in the millions, surrounded by security people, all armed and serious about protecting their contents. All have highly rated archival systems to prevent deterioration, yet the documents we saw are faded and almost unreadable. As I observed the evidence of big money and vast fortunes, also thought of what is eternally valuable.

Today’s devotional is about treasure and about how Jesus wants me to build a fortune. Again, this is not about having everything I could want, but about living with eternity in mind.

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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19–21)

I know how His freedom principle works; I say no to sin and yes to Him. The treasure principle is not as simple. Jesus illustrated it with a parable…

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’…. Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’ (Matthew 25:34, 41)

Between these two extremes are instructions for how to be an heir to His kingdom rather than face the consequences of fire…

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ (Matthew 25:35–36)

Though He is the Lord and doesn’t need my goods, He does want me to do something for Him. He has submitted to be hungry in the poor and looks for my response to the needy. This is part of what it means to lay up treasure in heaven. Freedom is departing from sin, but to be rich means replacing sin with doing good.

The devotional suggests that merely avoiding evil can be like the Pharisee who prayed saying he was a good man who didn’t do this and didn’t do that, but he forgot the next step… “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14). The ‘doing good’ part is more challenging, but vital. It isn’t enough to stop sinning…

Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. (1 Peter 3:10–11)

This makes me think of those sins that are most difficult to conquer. Sometimes I simply forget that “put off, put on” principle, that ‘depart from evil and do good’ command. The ‘do good’ is a vital part of winning the battle. Not only that, it is also part of laying up treasure in heaven, a treasure that needs no security guards or archival efforts because it will last forever.