Defining Good and Bad

How bad is too bad? That is a relative question. It has too many variables to answer clearly and decisively. The world has developed too many definitions for the word bad. What is bad for one person may not be so bad to another or may be worse than thought to yet another. And, the same can be said of the word good. We all like to think that we are a good person, or at least most of us would. However, we may think that we are better a person than others think of us and vice-a-versa. So, how do we understand or define bad?

To do that we have to have a set standard that is the same for everyone, everywhere, all the time. No human, no government, no association, no one anywhere could ever set such a standard. So, this requires a belief in something bigger than us, someone who is perfect, blameless, perfectly good. Only this person could set such a standard. Once we have a set standard of what is perfectly good then we can know what is bad. Bad is anything opposite of what is good. The trouble then is that in our humanity we weigh out various levels of good and bad and therefore we are confused about what good and bad are, why we have so many different definitions.

If we rely on simply one definition, one standard, then we can properly gauge our goodness and our lack thereof. Like darkness is merely the absence of light so bad or evil is merely the absence or lack of goodness. All good and perfect things come from God. Jesus is the light of the world. We cannot be good. All mankind has sinned and fallen short of the standards God set forth in His Son Jesus. We can never live up to those standards on our own. So, Jesus did it for us and then died to pay the perfect blameless, spotless, sinless price that we could not. Thus, he is our example on how to live and he is our helper, by the power of his Holy Spirit, guiding us and correcting us, teaching us and encouraging us. He doesn’t leave us, and he doesn’t give up on us. But it is a choice, our choice.

We cannot be good enough, but we can be better, and we can continually become better. We can strive toward goodness and our hearts can be trained to be good. But to do that we need a trainer. The good news is, God has given us three sources for training so that we can be fully equipped for every good work. 1.) First and foremost, God has offered to all who will believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior and submit to Him in all things the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus in Spirit form taking up residency in our hearts and minds. This was promised to us by Jesus himself. 2.) Secondly, God gave us his inspired word. The word logos literally means God breathed. The breath of God as he spoke gave to us an inspired word that not only instructs us but also relates to us. 3.) Lastly, God designed the church as a sort of training ground or boot camp, a place where we could gain community, a vulnerable place where we can feel safe as we navigate life and gain friendship, support, accountability, correction, acceptance, encouragement, etc.

Most importantly, God never calls us to fix anything or to get anything right. He only calls us to himself. He wants us to accept him, trust him, rely upon him, call on him. He knows all, hears all, sees all. He knows our thoughts and he has seen our every action. Therefore, nothing is ever hidden from him. Guilt and shame are a good thing because they let us know that we need forgiveness. They are like sensors in our hearts and minds. But we should not sulk in our guilt and shame. When we sulk in it, we begin to contemplate how we can fix it and we can’t. We must turn it over to God and strive for something better through Him. We must lean on his strength and love and not on our own understanding or abilities.         

Strength Through Weakness

Paul describes one of the most difficult things for us to grasp and believe about the life of faith: God purposefully blesses us with weaknesses for the sake of our joy being found in His strength rather than our own independence.

2 Corinthians 12:5-10

Paul referred to his struggles and sufferings with terms like lashings, beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, danger, hunger, exposure to nature’s elements and to personal conflict and danger. The reality of is that Paul was a man who had tremendous faith, brains, guts, and endurance; and a work ethic second-to-none. Compared to Paul, I am a sorry excuse for a Christian. That is the danger of comparison though.

But, above all that he endured that danger was exactly what Paul feared most. He knew the temptation of comparison would cause him to become distracted. He didn’t want anything to take his eyes off the prize. In moment’s like these when we are tempted to compare ourselves to others we are also tempted to look away from the cross. We lose sight of the sufficiency of grace. It is all we need. He is all that we need.

In our fallen nature we crave glory and recognition. We seek the admiration of others. We love superhero story because deep down we all want to be a hero. We want our successes to be known, our strengths to shine and our failures to be hidden, our weaknesses to go unseen. When others around us gain status and achieve success, we are tempted to believe that they earn the favor of God above us.

Paul knew that it was not his achievements that brought glory to God and displayed the grace of God. It was his weaknesses, his inabilities, his helplessness. That was where God was made known. That is where received glory.

Like us, Paul didn’t immediately recognize the thorn as a gift. We don’t look at our inabilities and think of them as gifts from God. Neither did Paul. He pleaded for deliverance. But Jesus replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”

That was a paradoxical statement. The idea that God showed His strength through weak things. But it is a notion that was laced all throughout the history of God’s creation, culminating in the cross.

Paul said, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong”

Are you content with the weaknesses you live with? Are you thankful for your weaknesses? Can you see them as gifts, blessings from God?

We all live with diverse kinds of limitations and inabilities. The more aware you are of God’s grace, the more you can begin to rely upon His abilities rather than your own. This kind of awareness can only occur when you own up to your weaknesses and embrace them. He doesn’t want to leave you there. He merely wants to bring out of it. When He does, He will use the strengths he has given you to great things in His name. It is in your weakness that you make the strength of God known to the world that surrounds you.

Exaltation Through Humility

What is humility?

In Philippians 2:8-9 Paul explained that Jesus’ example of humility was sacrificial, authentic, and it  impacts everyone and everything.

I want to let scripture, do the talking on this one…

Personal Application

Matthew 23:11-13 –

The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

1 Peter 5:5-10 –

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Proverbs 11:2; 15:33; 29:23 –

a.      When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

b.      The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

c.       One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

What does exaltation mean?

It brings wisdom- we will be recognized for our ability to give wise counsel and make wise decisions.

It brings honor- people will give us honor even when we don’t deserve it sometimes, because people see us as being full of wisdom and humility… they will honor us more than simply respecting us.

It brings grace- God shows grace through the shed blood of Jesus but scripture teaches that God bestows extra measures of grace on those who serve him well and do so humbly. Our humility brings God’s favor and grace.

It brings us into the presence of God and allows us to have favor and a personal connection to and relationship with him. It allows us to lead others in doing the same.

Lastly… It makes us more like Jesus! This is the “ultimate” goal of every believer, to mature in our faith and become more like Jesus. This is spiritual maturity and it is what we are to strive towards daily.

Final Thought

I am reminded of an old song we used to sing as kids at church or camp. It goes, “Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord. Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord. And He will lift you up. Higher and higher… And He will lift you up.”

The only way to be lifted and exalted with God, by God, is to humble ourselves, to submit ourselves to His Lordship. He will humble us when needed. Its much easier when we do it.

The Faith of Abraham

"Go." WHERE? "I'll tell you later. Just go." (Gen. 12)

I am reminded of a song that was popular at one point in time. It said, “I’ll go where you send me, go where you send me. I want to be your hands. I want to be your feet.” Or, something to that affect. It is easy in the best of times to say that we would go wherever God called us to go. But that is usually assuming we have an idea of where exactly it is, we are to go. Then we could at least research the place and brace ourselves for what was ahead on the journey. But God was asking Abraham to just start walking. Abraham is saying, “Lord, I will do it, you know I will, but can you just give me an idea of a direction? Like, where do you want me to go?”  I wonder if we would be so bold as to say “Yes,” without knowing where we are to go. Would we just take off in any random direction trusting that God has already set our feet in motion towards His intended destination? Would we have that kind of blind faith?

"You will have a son." HOW? "I'll tell you later. Just trust." (Gen. 15)

Isn’t that so indicative of how we respond to God when He calls on us to trust Him? He offers to bless us, to give us the desire of our hearts, to fulfill our dreams, to mend our brokenness, and we respond with distrust and unbelief. His word is chalk-full of promises and its like we don’t pay any attention to them. We rationalize our faith and compartmentalize it into a controllable part of our chaotically managed lives when it should be our whole life and guide every aspect of our life. He is the God of miracles. I have never seen anything that indicates that He stopped performing miracles. Chris McClarney in the song God of Miracles sings these words, “Let faith arise In spite of what I see Lord I believe but help my unbelief I choose to trust you no matter what I feel let faith arise…” Abraham and his wife were really old even by today’s standards. They were in their 80’s and here God is telling them they are going to have a son. They have wanted this for so long. They prayed for so long that God would give them a child. They had good reason to doubt. Or, did they? He is still God after-all. They did believe in Him. He had already done so much for them. What would God have to do in our lives in order that we may have such faith and trust? Would it even be enough?

"Offer up your son on the mount." WHY? "I'll tell you later. Just climb." (Gen. 22)

What is up with this word, “why?” My kids ask this question all the time. My answer is usually, “Because, I said so!” Why is that answer so hard to accept? Like, I am the boss! I m the father and in the infamous words of Bill Cosby, “I brought you in this world and I can take you out of this world!” Like, just do what you are told already, if for no other reason than I said so. After everything I have done, after all that I have given you, after all this time, you are really going stand there and ask me “why?”  You see, obedience is key. Its not faith that is the lesson to be learned from Abraham. His faith waxed and waned with the change of seasons. His obedience though was his saving grace. His obedience to do all that God instructed him even with looming questions, massive oppositions, and mounting pressure – he was obedient. Faith without obedience is not saving faith that usurers in grace. We are saved by grace through faith, a faith that is credited to us because of our obedience. If Abraham had not been obedient, he would not be in the book of Hebrews as an example of faith.

Ultimately, the faith of Abraham is about having a heart of "yes" before the question is asked. It is about being willing to run with scissors, to tickle a hyena, to grow some coconuts, and to just do, without hesitation or reservation. Its not as blind a faith as you might think. In fact I would argue that this faith is a very calculated faith with several millennia of facts, miraculous provision, answered promises, and fulfilled prophecies to support our actions. 

Up Your Antioch

In 1^st John 4:17 we find our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment:when we stand before the throne of God, because, as Jesus was and is, so are we to be in this world. This thought gives purpose to my days. It identifies my responsibility and it guides me in all my ways

With the Holy Spirit to strengthen me

I must be Jesus to those in need

This simple command of love and service

Overshadows every Creed

Christ wishes to be there every time

A heart is broken and sad tears flow

But the handkerchief used to dry those tears

Must be delivered by my hand I know

Whenever folks are found wanting

And they cry from hunger’s pain

When they are homeless and in need of a shelter

To shield them from the cold and rain

Don’t you know Jesus wants to feed them?

To give them comfort and care?

I have food and shelter in abundance

I can do nothing less than share

As HE is in this world, so are we to be!

We must be about the work of the Son

Until we stand before the judgment seat;

And hear him say, "Well done faithful one!”

- Jim Curry (Edited by Ty Curry)

They were first called "Christians" at Antioch. The term was a form of mocking. The early church was being made fun of but it stuck. They liked it because it was after all what they new their purpose to be. It was their chief desire. To become like Jesus the Christ. Being labeled "like Christ" was a compliment to them. They wanted to serve, to love, to work, to give, to suffer all as Jesus had done. Do you? Are you like Jesus in your marriage, raising your kids, doing business, handling your finances? Are you like Jesus in seeking to save the lost? I am reminded of a saying some in my circle say, "Up your Antioch!" Let that be my charge to you...

Yielded Vessel

Yielded Vessel

When we become a Christian, all old things are passed away

We become a brand new vessel, and a vessel we will stay

Initially we’re clean and new, the Spirit fills us to the brim

We are yielded to our Father’s will, we wish only to serve Him

Soon our will gets in the way, with the world we begin to flirt

Instead of the cool, refreshing, water of life, our vessel’s now filled with dirt

The spirit’s pleading finally gets through, we decide to let Him in

He works with us and teaches us and cleans us up again

The Spirit’s job is to bring us through, to seal us ‘til Christ comes

Yet we grieve Him and we quench His fire as He tries to lead us home

A vessel to be useful must be yielded and clean

Filled with the Spirit that we might dispense Him to a world that’s lost and mean

Will you take a moment with me right now, think only of God and be still

Whisper these words, “I yield myself as a vessel God, do with me as You will.”

-Jim Curry

He could sure pen some words and string them together. That was a poem from my uncle several years ago. he wrote many and I find myself reading through them. This won't be the last I share, i assure you. Though he and I did not see eye to eye on everything, he and I did have one heart. It is the same heart as the of our Lord. Uncle Jim's greatest desire as was my father's and my own, was to see that trans-formative moment when a sinner's heart is changed forever and the Holy Spirit enters them. The passion that burns in a new believer is an amazing sight to behold and being a catalyst for such a thing is even more intoxicating. There is no better high on earth. may we have a spirit of "yes" before we are even asked, when it comes to serving at the pleasure and will of God.