Honesty

Years ago, I wrote a very long poem about the importance of honesty. I’d become a Christian and was impressed by Jesus who said, “I am the way and the truth. . .” because my memories still hurt of people who had lied to me.

Later, this conviction about honesty included integrity, not just in others, but in myself. Being the same person on the outside as I am on the inside is high on my priority list. However, I realize the subtlety of trying to make a good impression, of hiding how I really feel for fear people will reject me, even the subtlety of not knowing how I genuinely think and how those elusive thoughts and feelings can affect my behavior.

Jesus knows. It seems to me that this is the biggest reason for a question He asked His disciples. He had just spoken to people who seemed to follow Him regarding their depth of commitment. He included a figure of speech about ‘eating my flesh’ and ‘drinking my blood’ which they took literally and were offended, even repulsed.

“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’” (John 6:66–67)

Jesus puts similar questions to me, particularly when I am tired, discouraged with my spiritual progress, frustrated with not seeing answers to prayer, or simply fed up with the lack of reward in following Him. Sometimes I have felt like turning back also.

Christian history tells of some who seemed to be disciples of Christ, but they did not stick with it. I know a few of them personally. Does this mean they once believed and were saved only to lose their faith and salvation? I don’t think so. They started out well but became offended at the cost, then left. Of them, the Bible says:

“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:18–19)

The theme of 1 John is how to identify true, genuine faith. The description includes love for other Christians and obedience to Christ, but also that endurance lacks in some who follow for a while then fall away. They are “of us” in the first place, and as soon as following Jesus became uncomfortable or too costly, much like those Jesus spoke of in John 6, they turn back also.

In His love for me, every now and then there is ‘check-up’ time. Jesus puts questions to me, not necessarily in these words, but in circumstances, in emotions, in the way I view the life I now have. Is it too hard? Am I tired of giving up what I want to serve others? Are the trials of life no longer a challenge but a pain that seems to be avoidable if I just go my own way?

When I was saved, God restored my power of choice. Without the Holy Spirit, I could not choose to be godly; my only option was sin. After Christ came into my life, His power and presence enable me to say yes to Him and no to sin. These trials and that question really ask if I am willing to keep going on with Him. Love is always about choice and He wants me to follow Him with a willing heart, not because it makes me look good, or is comfortable, or is the ‘thing to do’ or for any other reason except that I love Him.

When a new Christian, I was not so much aware of my own weaknesses and inabilities as I am now. Back then, I could imagine running my own life and being free from the trials of being a Christian. Now, I have to admire the answer Peter gave Jesus. There are no other options:  

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.’” (John 6:68–69)

The integrity part is admitting the reluctance, those thoughts of running away, the fatigue of following. In all other fields, a ‘perfect’ example or model is to me at first an inspiration, but soon turns into a hopelessly discouraging and unreachable goal. The people who pray with King James English silence me. Those who win every soul they speak to (or claim they do) make me feel like quitting. Those whose teaching methods seem flawless dampen my enthusiasm to share Christ with His people. But someone with integrity enough to admit their fears, failures, and sense of weakness give me a desire to rely on Christ and to give them a hug. If that is the result of their honesty in me, then my honesty to others becomes far more of an important issue than ever.

^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, don’t get me wrong. Your perfect example does not discourage me because I know that You are not deceptive or self-deceived in any way; You are sinless and without flaw. Not only that, Your way is not merely to imitate You. Instead, You come into my life and give me Yourself so that I have what I need to persist, to carry on when living for You becomes difficult. Thank You for saving me. Thank You for continuing to save me. Thank You for holding on to me, even when I feel like letting go.

To Live is Christ — Hand-picked and grafted in

Today’s devotional reading is from the same chapter as the past few days, John 15. In it, Jesus tells His disciples that they are like branches grafted into a vine (Himself) and as long as they abide in the vine, they will bear fruit and get their prayers answered. The verses for today emphasize that Jesus selected them; they did not graft themselves into Him.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. (John 15:16–17)

God chooses believers or believers choose God? The sovereignty of God to save souls vs. the free will of man to choose salvation has been debated for centuries. The only reason for such a debate is that humanly speaking, it seems one or the other has to be true. However, the Bible teaches that both are true.

Yes, God selects us. Jesus says so in these verses. However, we are not chess pieces on some cosmic board where God moves us about. He gives us volition so we can make choices. He tells us to choose to serve Him.

God cannot be partly sovereign — no more than a woman can be partly pregnant or a race partly won. He is either all powerful or not. Yet in His sovereign will, He determined that we have freedom to make decisions. We can make both wise and foolish choices, but because He is all powerful, He can use all the choices of those who love Him for our good (Romans 8:28-29).

These verses from John 15 are about salvation. I don’t understand why God chooses some and not others. My understanding of sin and human rebellion make me ask why He bothers to choose anyone! We all deserve eternal punishment. No one earns or merits being picked. Yet for His own glory, Jesus not only picks people for Himself, but appoints those He picks to go and bear fruit. He teaches us to abide in Him so we do this fruit-bearing in His strength and with His resources. That kind of fruit is so powerful that it lasts forever.

Besides the wonder of that, He also allows us to use His name to ask the Father for what we need, and the Father gives it to us. Consider how remarkable this is! God picks me? God sends me to do things for Him? God produces spiritual fruit in my life? God gives me all that I need?

These outstanding declarations from Jesus Christ are made even more outstanding by the choice He then expects from me — and this is indeed a choice — He tells me to love other Christians.

There are days when I don’t slow down long enough to let His Word hit me in the heart. This is not one of them. These are awesome thoughts that make me shake my head and bow my knee. I’m grateful to be chosen — and I am grateful for the privilege of being able to choose.

What shall I wear today?

Every morning I go into my closet and make a decision. What will I put on? Of course, the decision depends on the day. Will I be hoeing weeds? Do I have an appointment? Will friends be coming for supper?

This morning, God reminds me that I’ve another choice about what I will put on. In the following verses, the Greek word is literally ‘to sink or plunge into a garment.’ In other words, I’m to jump right in, not casually put them on, but do it with intention and enthusiasm.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:12-14)

To obey these verses means making a conscious choice to be tenderly merciful, kind, humble, meek, patient, forgiving and loving toward others. That Greek word, to plunge in, might cause some to say that this means ‘falling in love’ but no one falls into the other virtues. Each one of them, including love, is a choice.

Because Christ lives in me, I can choose to be patient. I’ve noticed this time and again while driving in heavy traffic. If someone cuts me off, or won’t let me into the lane, or is going too slow or too fast, Christ offers me His attitude instead of mine — patience. The choice is easy because impatience changes nothing and only raises my blood pressure.

Being merciful and kind require the same choice. For many people, it is easier to become angry, or simply ignore those who need kindness, but a Christian can choose these virtues.

Humility is a bit tougher. I struggle with pride. I want to do well and make a good impression. I don’t want to look bad, but humility is not about putting myself down or looking bad. It is more about not thinking of me at all. This decision is more difficult, but not impossible. Because of Jesus, I can focus on others.

Choosing love is not impossible either. I can do that, particularly in the big things. If someone is hurting or in need, I can put aside ‘me’ and care for them. It’s the little things that reveal my propensity for selfishness. 

For instance, in my love is tested when my spouse puts the tea pot away in the wrong place and I search for ten minutes trying to find it. It is tested when the telephone rings and I am in the middle of something (as if I’m never in the middle of something). It is tested when I invite family and they are too busy to come.

Most of the time, making the choice to love (or not) is a habit. I’m thinking that the habit of selecting something to wear each morning could be a good reminder to select the virtues that I will also plunge myself into for the day. These verses have just become a poster to hang in my closet! 

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