What Really Matters

Some things we are really wrapped up in just won't matter in five years or five days. It's not that we are way off base, just mildly myopic. We dial in on things like a pit bull with a tennis ball. We have got to ease up, relax, let go, and listen to God's words in Psalm 46: "be still and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10). What really matters? The three P's: People, Preaching and Prayer. We seek the salvation and flourishing of all people, we preach the gospel of the grace of God in Christ, and we dependently pray, seeking God's strength, wisdom and blessing; all for the glory of God. God's Word and people last forever. We are to "devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word" (Acts 6:4). The "grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever" (Is. 40:8). Paul told the Thessalonian beleivers: "Being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us" (1 Thess. 2:8). Focus some time today, on what really matters.

Following Jesus and Learning Humility

We are to obey God when human authority clearly instructs us contrary to God's Word. We must obey God rather than men. Bless when we want to curse. But our pride gets in the way. We know what we are supposed to do. We just don't want to do it. Everything in us fights against the right. We desire to curse. To pay back. Retaliate. It's just further proof of our depravity. We want to make someone hurt; make someone pay. Fueled by seething pride we nurse our wounds and feed our anger. And we scheme. We plan revenge. We wage war. An all-out frontal assault on a perceived and feared enemy. How can we who are accustomed to getting our way learn the Jesus-loving humble gospel truth? We have something to learn from the Medgar Evers South. We have humility to learn from Jesus and the hidden people in every city who labor in obscurity and absorb blow after hateful blow of unfounded prejudice. We must entrust our souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right (1 Peter 4:19). We have Jesus to learn and miles to go before we sleep. (Read 1 Peter 3:13-17)

How Should We Respond to Ungodly Authority?

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." Romans 13:1 (ESV) It is one thing to acknowledge Jesus' good, right, appropriate and just authority and align ourselves with Him. We were dead in sin (Eph. 2:1), committed to evil, and unable to help ourselves. Once we take the leap of faith it is our joyful privilege to now in obedience to the Good King. We struggle with 'authority issues', even with our perfect Lord Jesus. We want to be in charge. Life in Christ is a process of learning we are not the boss. But what about the valid struggle we have with submitting to self-seeking authority, authority that only cares about itself and not about God's glory and our good? What if you sincerely want to please God but the human authority over you is unjust, ungodly, uncaring, unloving or self-proclaimed? What then? How are we to respond, what are we to do? We are instructed in Scripture to resist evil, even flee from it. We are told to rebuke the unruly and correct a factious man. This is a very real "where the rubber meets the road" issue for many. Think of those impacted by unjust rulers, or husbands who wield authority like a club, or parents who run roughshod over their kids? Basically, what should we do with those who abuse their authority?  Can a person submit, with reverence for God and respect for man, to government, a boss, a spouse, even a parent, that does not share our faith or our values? What should we do when faced with similar challenges? We must "entrust our souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right" (1 Peter 4:12-19).

UNRIVALED: Christ's Authority in a Rebel World

An unsettling by-product of our fallen human nature is our tendency to have issues with authority figures (aka ‘authority issues’). We often find ourselves resisting, rejecting and recoiling at the thought of listening to someone else!  So we can understand the religious leaders of Jesus’ day sinfully challenging His authority, can’t we? We get it because we are so similar it isn’t even funny. But by the grace of God change is possible. When God gets a hold of us, the gospel changes us from the inside out and Jesus transforms us into people who love to obey His Word. Sin still rears its ugly head but God’s grace conquers our sin. Victory is assured in Christ.