Take This Job and…

By Allen White

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

My parents made several trips to Costa Rica in the late ‘70s to help with construction of a Bible college in San Jose. They became friends with a missionary couple there, Bill and Hilda Bradney. As God would have it, a few years later, the Bradneys were missionaries-in-residence at my Bible college in the States.

One morning in class, Hilda held up a small brightly colored souvenir from Costa Rica. I immediately recognized it. My parents had brought several of these back from their trips.

This piece was a yoke like oxen would wear. Hilda explained how a poorly made yoke would cut into the neck of the beast making the work much harder and much more painful than it needed to be. A properly made yoke was smooth and would allow the animal to perform the task without injury.

This was exactly what Jesus was saying in this passage. There is a hard way of doing things, and there is an easier way. There is my way of doing thing, and there is God’s way. Now, please don’t misunderstand, either way there is work involved. The question is do we go about our work in a way that brings harm or in a way that gives life?

If we get to the end of our day exhausted from worry and stress, we have a heavy burden from a jagged yoke. If we feel the frustration from trying to please an unreasonable boss, client or customer, we haven’t acknowledged that there is a higher Boss that deserves our loyalty and who completely understands (Revelation 2:2). If we feel that our success is entirely up to us, then it certainly seems like we’re pushing a boulder uphill. All of this is the product of a rough yoke.

God challenges us to work hard (Proverbs 14:23), which is the kind of work that God deserves (Colossians 3:23). But, His work doesn’t leave us bruised or broken. Here’s the secret: you don’t have to change jobs to get a better fitting yoke. Your success in life depends more on what happens in you than what happens around you. That’s not merely a platitude. It’s a foundational truth in Scripture and in the business world. I just finished When the Mighty Fall by Jim Collins last night. He compares similar companies during similar time periods facing similar adversity. The companies that succeed are humble, diligent, methodical and assured. The companies that fail are arrogant, growth-obsessed, panicky and unfocused.

The question is not which company do you work for? The question is which set of qualities best characterizes you. One set is the result of a heavy burden, while the other is the result of an easy yoke.

I challenge you to lay down your way of doing things and your take on life and ask Jesus to show you His vision for your life. Ask for His perspective. Ask for His help. He is more than glad to give it to you.

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Caffeinated Water or Living Water

By Allen White

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39

We are a people obsessed with bottled water. It’s convenient. It’s healthy. It has become more expensive than soda at some places. It creates a lot of trash.

For a time someone was marketing caffeinated bottle water. I suppose it balanced things out. We could hydrate and dehydrate ourselves at the same time. But, if they ever come out with decaffeinated water, well, that’s where I draw the line.

Water was celebrated at the feast Jesus attended. During the first seven days, the priests and the people made a procession to the pool of Siloam with a golden pitcher. They collected water to pour on the altar, in commemoration of the water that God provided to the Israelites in the desert (Numbers 20), which was a symbol of Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4 ). (Source: The Fourfold Gospel: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/the-fourfold-gospel/by-chapters/john/john-7.html)

As the Jews were celebrating the water that God miraculously provided to His people in the desert centuries before, Jesus stood up and said, “Oh, by the way, this miraculous water, well, that comes from me.” While we need to thankfully look back and remember the times that God has provided for our needs, we also need to remember that the book on His miracles hasn’t been sealed. In fact, Jesus says, this living water, this flow of the Spirit is something that all believers possess.

The flow of the Spirit is part of the life of every believer. But, why does it seem more evident in the life of some believers, but not in others? The Spirit’s flow is not like a flood that sweeps us away. What happens in us and through us comes largely by our choice. Do we want to plunge into that river with abandon? Do we just want to stick a toe in? Or would we rather just set up an umbrella and a chair on the riverbank and just relax and enjoy the day?

The limitation on the unlimited flow of God’s Spirit lies with you and me. How do we enter that flow? We simply ask. We don’t need elaborate or spooky prayers. All that we need is a simple request like “God guide me in this decision.” “God help me in this relationship.” “God use me to touch others today.” Then, pay attention to what happens next.

When I’m in the flow of God’s Spirit, I am calmer (not necessarily calm, but calm-er). I find that I am more understanding of others. I tend to be more creative. When I am out of the flow, I am critical. I am negative. I am down on everybody and everything, even if I don’t let on.

My life is beyond my control. And, believe me, at times I have tried to desperately control my life only to drive myself crazy. My life is more than I can control. Giving up the control of my life to God and plunging into the flow of the Spirit gives tremendous freedom. Things that I worry about melt away. While I don’t always understand how God works, I do know that outcomes are in His hands, not mine.

What is blocking the flow of the Spirit in your life today? Is it not asking? Is it depending on yourself or something else? Are you just completely distracted by what’s around you that you don’t even think about it?

As a believer, there is a living, dynamic force available to you. He will elevate you beyond where your heart and mind typically go. He will empower you to be the person you’ve dreamed of being. He will enable you to overcome the adversity that surrounds you. Start the flow.

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Spiritual Growth is Not Self-Help

By Allen White

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16

It’s fun to discover something new about yourself. If you’ve ever taken a spiritual gifts test or a personality test, you get jazzed from the insight into what it is that God created for you to do. The Bible tells us that there are many parts of the body (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12: Ephesians 4). The parts are not identical, that’s for sure.

Every one of us is gifted and called to do a work (1 Corinthians 12:7). It’s great to find out how we can make our individual contribution to the Kingdom. But, this verse touches on something else related to our gifts.

Gift discovery is not just a means of feeling good about ourselves and our purpose in life. This verse adds some context to the use of our gifts: we are a part of a whole. Our growth is contingent on the growth of those around us. Spiritual growth is not merely a self-pace, self-help program. In fact, spiritual growth leads us to become more focused on others and less focused on self.

The key to our spiritual growth is connection. Not just connection to God, but connection to each other. Paul gets anatomical on us here, by evoking the image of ligaments that join and hold us together. “Ligaments are fibrous bands or sheets of connective tissue linking two or more bones, cartilages, or structures together” according to Dr. Keith Bridwell of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Without ligaments, the body of Christ would be just a bag of bones.

We would have all of the parts. All of the parts would be together, but the parts would like coordination. I would do my spiritual thing. You would do your spiritual thing. We would live in harmony as long as our spiritual things didn’t collide. But, sometimes the collision produces the growth.

Study, prayer and meditation on God’s Word are all wonderful things to help us grow. We certainly need to seek quiet and solitude at times to hear God above the din of this world. But, this type of spiritual growth is only one dimensional. Our spiritual growth must be integrated into our whole lives.

Yes, growth takes place in solitude. But, growth also takes place serving side by side and connecting in a small group. We gain much from the experience and insights of others.

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A Bland Christian Life is a Misinterpretation

By Allen White

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

The world paints the opposite picture. For a lot of people the idea of following God seems just as restrictive as following a family budget. The lie is that we lose of freedom by following Christ. Yet the truth is that only in Christ can we be truly free (John 8:36).

The Enemy’s purposes are clear: theft, death and destruction. Affairs don’t lead to better relationships. Pornography doesn’t lead to intimacy. Overeating doesn’t lead to satisfaction. Alcohol abuse only leads to hangovers. And, shopping binges only lead to garage sales. You don’t end up headed north by traveling west.

The easy answer creates more problems. The quick fix leads to greater damage. The wide path leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13).

Jesus came to give us a life that produces all of the fullness and richness that would completely satisfy us. Our frustration is that we can’t just flip a switch and have it. Fullness from God is carefully cultivated. Most of us are just too impatient with that. Our impatience causes us to turn to things that fulfill us temporarily. We believe in God’s promises, but then we pluck the apple off of the tree. Sure, it makes us feel guilty, but we’re in control over it. Or, so we think.

I am not writing this to judge you. I am writing this because I am one of you. I’m continually learning to resist the exaggerated pleasures of this life and look for the simple pleasures that God provides. I too am learning to lay aside the saccharin that kills and to reach for the sweetness that God provides.

Here’s the catch: we have to choose to neglect the quick fixes and the accessible diversions and choose to engage in things that truly satisfy. A lot of evenings I find myself vegging out in front of the television. I like to watch the Food Network. The food looks good. The people look like they’re having fun. They say it smells good, but it just smells like my house to me. They say it tastes good, but it’s not in my kitchen. I’ve looked.

I’m not going to forsake the Food Network entirely, but I have backed off. It makes me hungry, which ignites my overeating. So, last night, I just watched a couple of shows. I also painted my mailbox post. (Our HOA is a little intense about such things.) I also had a conversation with my wife, then I got my things ready to go to the gym after work the next day, so I wouldn’t be rushed in the morning. It felt more productive. It felt richer. It felt a little more satisfying even with less snacking.

Jesus didn’t come so you would lead a bland life. If you feel that a vanilla existence is more spiritual, then you have misinterpreted Scripture. Jesus died so that we can truly live the fulfilling life that God intended. Our job is to avoid the poor substitutes and embrace life that is truly life (1 Timothy 6:19).

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When Good Things Become Bad Things

By Allen White

Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Galatians 3:11-12

Most of my own efforts at spiritual growth have been rather pathetic. For many Januarys I have been inspired to read the Bible through in a year only to find myself stuck in the middle of Leviticus in the middle of February. End of story. I can follow the rules for a while, and then I just run out of steam.

Whether we’ve tried to break a bad habit or start a new one, most of us are only self-disciplined to a point. People celebrate our self-discipline. We might even impress ourselves: “I’m on the fast track to spiritual gianthood now.” But, if our self-discipline only produces pride in our ability to follow rules, then how much spiritual growth has actually taken place?

The rules don’t bring us closer to God. In fact, they often put up a barrier. Rule keeping may cause us to feel more secure, but it doesn’t necessarily make us more godly. If following the rules actually worked, according to this passage, it would only lead to following even more rules.

God is more concerned with your heart than whether or not you follow the rules (Isaiah 29:13). Even Jesus broke the rules to do the right thing. (Matthew 12:9-14). The Christian walk is about a relationship with God, not rules.

For some, rules can become an obstacle. For others, rules can become an idol. Anything that we depend on other than God is an idol to us. If I have a financial need and charge it on my credit card rather than asking God to provide, then my credit card is an idol to me. If I avoid sin to guarantee my place in Heaven, then my self-righteousness is an idol to me. If I believe that daily Bible reading will help me avoid temptation and do the right thing, then I’m in for a surprise.

So, what do we do? We surrender ourselves to God. As we give our ideas, our abilities, our problems, our opportunities, our ambition, our comfort, and everything else to God, He gives us something better.

What is it that you can’t live without? What makes you feel secure as a believer? Church attendance? Serving? Reading daily devotionals in your email? None of these things are bad, unless your effort begins to take the place of your dependence on God. As Michael Mack says, “God loves you too much to let you settle for less than him.”

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Why Don’t I Feel Like a New Creation?

By Allen White

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

I always wished that this verse was a little more automatic. “You are a new creation. Poof, the old is gone. Flip the tassel on your mortarboard. You have graduated to sainthood.” Then, we would all throw our caps into the air, and we would move on into our new lives. But, in reality, when I read this verse and look at my life, I think “not so much.”

Paul is describing a spiritual transaction. What once bound us to an eternity of punishment has been exchanged for an eternity in Heaven with God. Our destination has been changed. Now, our path must be re-routed.

Just like programming new coordinates into your GPS, your route is recalculated, often with the instruction to make a U-turn. If you depend on the GPS, you often find that the route is unfamiliar. Sure, it might be a shorter way, but it makes us uneasy. We’re not entirely convinced that the GPS is right. It’s just a machine. Even though it speaks, it doesn’t listen. The GPS doesn’t always get it right, but God does.

Some of us changed our destination many years ago. Often we get the feeling that maybe we should be a little further along than we are. Part of spiritual growth has to do with our availability and attention. The other part is being patient with the process.

You are a New Creation. God did that work in your life when you came to faith in Him. But, it’s also a work that God continues to work out in your life (Philippians 2:12-13). In the process, it’s easy to grow impatient with yourself and with others. God is at work. He’s guiding you in the right direction. Trust His guidance.

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Misunderstanding God’s Creative Process

By Allen White

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

I was driving down Cicero Avenue in Chicago a few years ago. For some reason, I thought that this would save a little time driving from I-90 to Midway Airport. The route was far from expedient, but it was educational.

The light turned red. I stopped and looked to my left. At that moment, I saw a man with ratty looking clothes and an unshaven face, lifting a bottle cloaked in a paper bag and taking a swig. This is not an unfamiliar scene. What was unfamiliar to me was my response. I didn’t think “That dirty old bum. I can’t believe people live like that.” The thought that instantly popped into my head was “This is not who God made you to be.” I surprised myself in that moment.

The light changed. I began to drive, but I also began to think about that man. Years ago, he was a precious baby cuddled his mother’s arms. Every person who looked at his little face couldn’t help but smile. I doubt that he receives many smiles his direction these days.

Most of us will never be a bum on skid row. But, in our thoughts, our attitudes, our actions, our priorities – are we who God created us to be? We are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece. We are not our own workmanship. Believers are not “self-made.” We are designed by God to do what God created us to do. The problem is that we often misunderstand God’s creative process.

Sure, we want to see how everything will come together. We all want to feel that we are living a life that’s worth living. We want what Joseph had. “He succeeded in everything that he did.” (Genesis 39:3) But, none of us want to be thrown down a well (Genesis 37:23-24), sold into slavery (Genesis 37:36), falsely accused (Genesis 39:17), and thrown into prison (Genesis 39:20-21). If we could skip the process and just get to the final product, that would be awesome.

I’ve always been fascinated by sculpture. The thought of taking a block of granite or marble, envisioning the sculpture, then carefully removing everything that is not part of the masterpiece is mind-boggling to me. But, this is the perfect picture of God’s work in our lives. When we go through trials and hard times, God is chipping away at the parts of us that don’t belong on His masterpiece. It’s not pleasant. Sometimes we wonder if God cares about us at all. But, as we trust His hand, we come to learn that His intent for us is for our good.

How is God chiseling away at your life these days? Do you feel like you are living the life God intended for you or is something getting in the way? Are you resisting the work that God needs to do? Are you resenting it?

God has a plan for you. You must learn to trust His hand.

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Oxymoron: Self-made Christian

By Allen White

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Galatians 3:3

There is a tension in the Christian life between what we do and what God does. While the Bible tells us that “without Him we can do nothing” (John 15:5) we argue back that “if we do nothing, it’s without Him.” Our Christian walk requires both our effort and God’s grace. It’s a lopsided balanced that depends on God much more than us. It’s not up to us. But, it does involve us.

If we fully depend on Christ for our salvation (as we should), but live however we want, then we have to wonder if we’re saved at all. Salvation should make a radical difference in our lives. If we say that we follow God, but we don’t have any desire for Him, then we should question whether we belong to God at all.

But, on the other side, if we feel that rule-following is the guarantee of our salvation, then we’ve got it wrong. The guarantee of our salvation is the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:21-22), not rule-keeping.

When the people of God live as if they don’t need God, then we’ve got a problem. I’m not talking about believers that are so caught up in the things of the world that they ignore God. I’m speaking of those of us who attempt to live our lives so perfectly that we don’t need grace and forgiveness. In our minds, we’ve done nothing wrong. If you’ve done nothing wrong, then you don’t need God.

The problem is that those who don’t feel the need for a daily dose of grace are living well according to a list, but it’s not God’s list. They put a heavy burden on themselves and attempt to live a life that God hasn’t called them to.

The Bible addresses the tension between God’s work and our work this way: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13). Who’s working? Is God working? Yes, God is working. Are we working? Yes, we are working. It’s not a competition. Believers and God work together to fulfill His good purpose.

Where are you tempted to depend on yourself for your spiritual well-being? What do you do or intentionally avoid to maintain your salvation? Are you fully trusting God or are you trusting your own efforts? There are no self-made believers.

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Can You Pass the Jesus Test?

By Allen White

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

2 Corinthians 13:5

When I was 16-years-old, I became a member of my home church in Topeka, Kansas. The membership application asked the expected questions about my salvation experience and whether I had been baptized. Then, it asked about whether I participated in the following:

1. Do you smoke or drink alcohol?

2. Do you go to movies?

3. Do you play cards or dice?

There might have been some other questions along those lines, but those are the ones that stand out to me. I happily responded that I did not participate in any of these evil activities. Fortunately, they didn’t ask about spiritual pride or self-righteousness. I wouldn’t have qualified for membership.

Most religious institutions are harder to join than God’s family. God isn’t so concerned with quality control. God is not worried about being embarrassed by us. God just loves us. His ace in the hole is grace. Grace keeps us. Grace helps us. Grace grows us. If salvation depended on human effort, then God would have plenty to worry about. Fortunately, He’s taken much of that out of the equation.

So, here’s the question: why did Paul challenge the Corinthians to examine themselves and determine whether they were in the faith? What is that test?

Here’s a possible test:

1. Am I depending on Christ for my salvation? (Ephesians 2:8-9)

2. Is the faith I profess based on the Word of God, the Bible? (Romans 10:17)

3. What evidence does my life give for my faith in Christ? (James 2:17-18)

If we feel that we pass that short test, then we should celebrate what we’ve received in Christ. We should embrace the fact that “Christ is in us.” The power that created the universe in a spoke word, the power that raised Christ from the dead, lives in you and me. What could stand in our way? What couldn’t be accomplished? What is God calling you to? Don’t be intimidated. Ask God to reveal His power in your life to fulfill His calling.

If you’re not sure that you passed the test, but you want to follow Christ, the solution is simple: ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin and surrender the control of your life to Him. If you’re not sure how, then just pray the words from the last sentence: “Jesus, forgive me of my sins and take control of my life.” It’s as easy as that, yet profoundly radical.

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We Should Worry If We’re Not Suffering

By Allen White

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

“We should be worried if we’re not suffering,” according to Francis Chan, the author of Crazy Love and The Forgotten God. If we fit into our culture so well that there is no friction between the way we live and the way the world lives, this is cause for concern. Have we been squeezed into the world’s mold? (Romans 12:2)

In my single days, I watched a lot of television…a lot. I didn’t realize how much television influenced me until after I got married and stopped watching as much television. Suddenly, television didn’t have the same appeal. After time passed, I went back and watched a few shows that I hadn’t seen for years. I was surprised by the language they used and the things they poked fun at. I was disturbed by what these programs portrayed. But, I was even more disturbed by the fact that I used to watch these programs and think nothing of it. I was the frog in the kettle. I was sliding down the slippery slope. Unaware.

Now this is not an effort to become some sort of goodie two shoes, holier-than-thou jerk. We don’t need any more of those. The point is that we were made for another place far from this world (Philippians 3:18-20). If we work hard to fit in with the world, then we have lost our reason for being.

The prophets of old followed God’s calling for their lives, and they suffered for it. Most of us would say, “Great. I thought that living in obedience to God would make our lives easier.” Here’s the news: following Christ is a harder path, but it’s a better path. It’s the path of salvation. At times, it’s not comfortable. At times, we suffer because of it. But, in the end, we become more like Christ.

Peter told us, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world” (1 Peter 4:12-13). This is the part that we’d rather skip. These are the pages of our Bibles that we would prefer to have left stuck together. But, it’s also a bit of a relief, because some of us are going through some stuff, and it’s good to know that God hasn’t forgotten us and that our pain has a purpose.

No one’s life is easy. My life isn’t easy. Neither is yours. Our purpose on earth is not to have an easy and comfortable life. But, finding and fulfilling our life’s purpose is more satisfying than comfort or ease.

As I was walking over the Liberty Bridge this morning on my way to write, I spotted a plant growing in a difficult circumstance over the Reedy River Falls. It’s a non-native plant. A gardener didn’t plant it here. It just began to fulfill its purpose: to grow roots for nourishment and to reach out to the sun. There would be much easier places to grow, but this was the spot where this plant grew. It didn’t really have a choice.

We are not called to live someone else’s life. We are not given a life that is problem-free. We are blessed.

How is your life blessed despite your circumstances? How has God given you joy and peace in the middle of trouble? Thank God for His blessings in your life.

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Persecuted for Being a Jerk

By Allen White

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Matthew 5:11

I knew a woman years ago who was a chronic complainer. She didn’t feel like anything in her life ever went right. Even her tone of voice betrayed this attitude.

If you’ve ever watched the movie Monsters, Inc. (you’ve either never seen it or you’ve seen it 5,000 times), there is a character named Roz, who was the clerk of the company. She would say in a drowl tone, “You didn’t turn in your paperwork.” This chronic complainer that I’m talking about sounded just like Roz. For the sake of this devotional, we’ll call her “Roz.” I wouldn’t want to give her something else to complain about.

Roz complained about her kids, her church, her life, her health and her job (substitute teacher) – things were going nowhere good. She didn’t seem to ever have a good day.

One day in a class at church, she launched into complaining about the school district and how they were against her because she was a Christian. They didn’t call her to sub as much as she would like. They treated her poorly. They acted like they didn’t even like her. She felt that she was being persecuted because of Christ. She asked if the class would please pray for the spiritual battle she was facing.

Then, someone in the class suggested that maybe she was being “persecuted” for being a jerk. The amazing thing was that she took those words to heart and immediately changed her ways. She saw herself as the source of many of her problems and accepted responsibility for her actions. Roz suddenly became a delight to be around. People couldn’t get enough of her. Okay, that didn’t happen.

So now, she was being “persecuted” by her own church. Roz eventually left the church and joined another church where she could celebrate her glass being half-full with other persecuted jerks.

Who are you? Is there spiritual warfare happening around you because of Christ (Ephesians 6:12)? Or are you in a tough spot because your actions and attitudes have created a tough spot? I must admit that I have been Roz more than I’ve been like Christ.

The blessing doesn’t come from receiving the consequences that we deserve. Blessing comes from belonging to Christ.

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The High Cost of Being Normal

By Allen White

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:10

Most of us are very comfortable living in the norm. Granted, we would all consider ourselves to be slightly better than the average Joe, but we prefer to not be extremely ahead or extremely behind. Slightly ahead of the middle is where we like to live.

No one wants to be considered extreme.

But, then we pick up a book like Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and we wonder, “Am I even a Christian at all?” Then, we put that book down and go back to reading something that feels a little more average. Now, we feel much better…a little Chicken Soup for our Souls. We’ll just keep a safe distance from the Tabasco for our souls.

But, here’s where we make the mistake. Jesus said we are blessed when we are persecuted because of righteousness, not self-righteousness. I believe that the self-righteous should be persecuted, but they aren’t blessed. That system needs to break down. Self-righteousness stands in the way of God’s grace, His blessing, and His presence in our lives.

Now, in this age of tolerance, Christians are to be tolerated for their faith as long as they keep it to themselves. Once your deal begins to interfere with my deal, the gloves come off. Don’t go trying to help people. Get back in the middle. It’s safer. It’s cozy in here. Don’t get all “Francis Chan” on us. That line could make us laugh, but what if the sentence was “Don’t get all ‘Jesus Christ’ on us”? Ouch. This is why the middle is safer.

No one wants to be persecuted. We don’t. In America, there’s not much persecution going on anyway. I know that there have been lawsuits over displaying the Ten Commandments. But, what if instead of displaying the tablets on our lawns, we displayed them in our lives? Organized prayer has been removed from schools. I prayed in school all of the time. And, it wasn’t lead by a non-Christian faculty member. But, these are merely token things.

Is anyone in prison because of their faith like Paul was? Not that I know of. I’m not saying that I want to go to prison like Paul. If I did, I would not be like Joseph, that’s for sure.

The reward for persecution because of righteousness is the kingdom of heaven. The reward for living in the middle of the pack is mediocrity.

Now, please don’t take this as a license to be a jerk. You’re on your own with the persecution that comes from that. But, where do you need to take a stand? When do you need to redirect a conversation, even among God’s people?

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Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church

By Allen White

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:3-5

Several years ago, Dean Merrill wrote a book called “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church.” He spoke about the evangelical culture and its presumed mission to condemn the wrongs of an ungodly world rather than to share the Good News. His point was that the battle was not in the political arena or over the airwaves, but rather the battle was in the hearts and minds of men and women in a lost world.

Ungodly people act in ungodly ways because they don’t have God in their lives. If a sinner sins, then he has done his job. We would be right there with them if we didn’t have God in our lives.

Paul points out that believers are ill-equipped to judge others. In fact, believers aren’t adequately suited even to judge themselves. We don’t have all of the information. We don’t understand others’ motives. Often, we don’t understand our own motives. Paul certainly didn’t have a grasp on his (Romans 7:14-16).

We may never understand why people do what they do. Sometimes they don’t even understand themselves. But, what we don’t understand shouldn’t keep us from being understanding toward them. We don’t have to agree with them. We don’t have to change them. God calls us to love them. The judgment is left up to God.

God is the only one who understands why we do what we do. God knows our hearts. We don’t (Psalm 139:23). God knows our motives. We’re not even clear on that sometimes. God loves us, and He would much rather reconcile with us than judge us.

Who are you tempted to judge? It’s not our place to pronounce final judgment on anyone. “But, they will never change.” We don’t know that, but what we do know is that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37; ESV).

Let this be our prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24, NLT).

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Can You Live in Peace with Everyone? Really?

By Allen White

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18

Live at peace with everyone – as far as it depends on you. For some people, we might wonder “How far do we need to be away from some people? A thousand miles?”

No one wants to embrace difficult people. They’re just so…difficult. We all have them. God has puts difficult people in our lives for us to learn to love. God has also put them there to do a little work on us. Now, if you’re thinking, “I don’t really have any difficult people in my life.” Well, guess what? It’s probably you!

When we encounter difficult people, the temptation is for us to be difficult in return. While we might feel justified by the situation, we can easily see that this will lead to no place good. Think about this: what if the people who bring out the worst in us are God’s tools for refining our character. Our problems and problem people are our teachers. Our impulse is that often we want to skip school.

If you’re still reading, you understand that these are not popular thoughts. Our prayers for difficult people, typically, are either that God would change them or remove them. Be honest. It’s true. But, our goal is not to be comfortable. God’s job is not to insulate us from the problems of the world. Jesus predicted trouble (John 16:33). Jesus’ life involved many difficult people: Judas, Herod, Pharisees, Sadducees, and the High Priest to name a few. He had some pretty despicable and powerful enemies. Jesus’ heart was always toward reconciliation.

Who is the difficult person who stands out in your life right now? What thoughts, attitudes and actions does this relationship evoke in you? You are being squeezed. What’s coming out? Rather than focusing on the difficulty of the difficult person, ask God how He plans to use this circumstance to refine your character.

If your difficult person is abusive or is threatening your safety, do not stay in that situation. Contact your church or a safe friend. Get help. Get out. Then, work from there.

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