Such were some of you

Do you feel it? ... The pressure? I sure do, and it is steadily increasing. On the news, in my twitterfeed, and at the workplace. Everywhere I turn I see and hear discussion about the promotion of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Can I be honest about something: I'm a Christian man and I don't particularly enjoy talking about this subject.

But you know what? It is being crammed down our throats, and there is no way to avoid this issue. I wish that we could; I wish there was a way to not focus on this. But as Christians we should "always [be] ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence" (1 Peter 3:15b, NASB).

Therefore, if we want to be honest and engage the people around us with the gospel then this issue is bound to come up. The issue is partially about homosexuality, to be sure, but it goes deeper than that. Our message is one of hope for a lost and wicked generation: Christ came to save sinners and has accomplished His purpose on the cross of Calvary. Going beyond the brunt issue of sexual preferences, the underlying issue is the rulership of God over the lives of humanity. 

You see, God is the Creator of heaven and earth and He has the sole right to determine what is right and what is wrong. We shouldn't deny that homosexuals have same-sex attraction. In fact, the Bible acknowledges this. However, simply because one has a desire to do something does not mean it is morally good. For example, the thief has a desire to steal from others and this is declared as sinful in Scripture. Even though stealing might bring temporary happiness to the thieving person, it can only bring negative consequences. It harms others and himself in the long run. The same is true of homosexuality.

Paul, describing the church at Corinth, says: "Such were some of you..." (Emphasis MINE). This begs the question: what were they? He explains just prior to saying this, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." Corinth was a wicked city, full of wicked people. In God's free grace, He delivered many Corinthians from the consequences of their sins. Praise be to God that He did not just declare them not guilty of their iniquities! No; He then saved them from themselves and their sinful lifestyles! Notice: "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God."

What we have to proclaim to our fellow citizens is a message that everyone needs to hear: God is just and holy, and we are not. He gave us laws to obey, and we have broken them every day of our lives. Because of this we deserve to die, face His judgment, and be cast into Hell to pay for our crimes for all eternity. But God sent His one, unique Son - God in human flesh - to live the perfect life we could not, and die on the cross in the place of His people. We are commanded to turn from our wicked ways and trust in Christ to save us from our sins. We must count the cost, because Jesus requires the utter denial of ourselves in order to follow Him.

Ironically, the world doesn't have a problem with Jesus or with Christians, until we arrive at this point: repentance. Jesus preached it; He requires it of all people everywhere because there is a final Day of Judgment coming where we will all stand before His judgment seat.

Did Jesus shy away from this issue? Surely he must have known how unpopular it sounds to the culture (then and now)! 

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-3, NASB). 

Faced with 2 difficult scenarios, Jesus was asked whether the murder of innocents by Pilate, or the tragedy of a tower collapsing and killing people, meant that those people were greater sinners than the rest. The Lord put things in perspective for those asking and simply said this: "...unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." This is our message - the wrath of God abides on you. Therefore, turn from your sins, towards Christ, trusting Him to save you.

I say all of this, knowing Christ's message is a hard message. Even the disciples were frustrated about Christ's message: "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?" (John 6:60, NASB).  Here was Jesus' response to the disciples: 

But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” (John 6:61-65, NASB).

The Lord of all things, however, knew what he was doing - He still knows what he is doing. Rather than appealing to worldly wisdom to persuade the culture, Christ preached a message of repentance and faith in himself. This is our message to proclaim today.

Even though many who call themselves Christians keel over at the first sign of pressure from the world, we cannot do this. We can either be friends with the world or with God. My pastor said it best recently: 

"The only power the world has over you is what you give to it by loving the things in the world." 

Amen!

We need to be a people concerned about God's truth found in His inspired Word. We need to live lives consistent with the message we claim to believe in. We need to speak to our friends, family, coworkers and acquaintances about the gospel of Jesus Christ, all in humility and love. May we not shy away from the opportunities Christ has given us, especially while we have freedom to do so.

I will leave you with this, one of my favorite texts of Scripture: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58, NASB). 


Thanks for reading,
Rusty

Are you salt and light or are you good for nothing?

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

¹⁴  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5

So many people today who call themselves Christians are far too willing to throw God’s truth under the bus. They call things “political” or non-relevant to the gospel. They are unwilling to call sinful things wrong. I’ve heard things from professing believers such as,

 “Gay marriage is not a big deal. It does not affect me, why should I care? Let’s just love people and show them the gospel!” 

Jesus loved people by telling them they were wrong. He told them they needed to be saved, but he did not stop there, he also told people what they needed to be saved from. Lying, cheating, stealing, having no regard for the poor and those in need, the various kinds of sexual immorality, etc. You are going to have to talk about these things and call them evil and wrong if you are going to accurately represent the gospel. 

Salt is used to preserve things, and light is there to counter darkness. What are you preserving by surrendering to the culture? Does your light shine, or do you say “x sinful thing” is not a big deal? Christians should be shouting from the rooftops, “This is wrong!” We should be so unwavering in our commitment to the proclamation of the truth that the only recourse the world has is to throw us in jail. Are you salt that has lost your saltiness? I hope not, because Jesus says that you cannot be restored and that you are good for nothing. What does that mean for you?

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matthew 7

The Skeptic’s Annotated Bible and Daniel

Those that know me well know that I spend just as much time studying the “opposition” as I do studying my own views. So much so that I can probably argue against my positions just as easily as I argue for them. I also seek out the best opponents I can find, not just the famous or infamous. For instance, if I were an atheist I would not just read C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity”, come up with a few simple arguments against it, and be able to sleep at night. Lewis’ work is good enough on the surface, but as my friends and family can attest, I’ve been quite outspoken about how bad it actually is for several years now. I do this not because I hate C.S. Lewis. I do this because maintaining intellectual integrity is of supreme importance if we are going to genuinely search for truth.  That is why I am regularly astounded by the blatant lies and misrepresentations found in “skeptical” works on the bible. For instance, I have started to read the often cited (on the internet anyway) “Skeptic’s Annotated Bible” which is available online for free (link). I decided to check a couple of the more potent parts of the bible to see what they could possibly say about those sections of scripture.

I started with Daniel chapter 9. Anyone who knows the bible will know why I picked this book and this chapter. It predicts the Messiah’s first coming and His death to the very day and was written hundreds of years before the events. It’s a pretty shocking display of God’s power and authority over time, and it is also an undeniable proof of the authenticity of scripture and Jesus being the Son of God. So what did these skeptics say about Daniel 9? They quote almost the entire section between v. 21-27, file it under the “absurd” category and call it “compete gibberish” from Gabriel. Well gee, I’m convinced!

So I decided to check a few other things to see if I could find some “good stuff” that stumped me and forced me to do some research. In the Gospels I came across the usual attacks on the genealogies in Matthew and Luke, the same tired arguments that totally ignore the differences in the types of genealogies that are being presented and to whom and for what purpose. As well as other such arguments not meant to convince anyone who actually knows the bible, but to make those that don’t know it and don’t believe in it feel warm and fuzzy. So I went back to Daniel and started with chapter 1 verse 1. There’s a lot of history in Daniel and I wanted to see what, if anything, they could pick apart.

1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, 

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.

Their issue with verse 1?

“The third year of the reign of Jehoiakim would be 606 BCE, at which time Nebuchadnezzar was not yet king of Babylon. It was 597 BCE that Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem for the first time (without actually destroying it). By that time Jehohiakim was dead and his son, Jehoiachin, was ruling.”

That seems like a pretty good one. The problem with it is that it’s a bold-faced lie. The first issue is with the 606 b.c. date. The first year of Jehohiakim’s reign was 607 b.c. according to the accession-year system (which was the system used in Babylon and would no doubt be the system Daniel used since he was living in Babylon and trained in Babylonian schools) making 605 b.c. during the third year of his reign not 606 as they claim.

That still does not get us to 597 b.c. though. But what did happen in 605 b.c.  was Nebuchadnezzar’s conquering of all of the king of Egypt’s territories in Syria and Palestine. Although, other than Daniel 1:1, we don’t have a direct reference to Nebuchadnezzar attacking Jerusalem in 605 b.c. we do know that at the time he was in fact in Palestine with an army conquering, and that Jerusalem did belong to the king of Egypt at the time because its king (Jehohiakim) had been put in place by the king of Egypt. So it’s pretty safe to assume from the historical record and the biblical account that Nebuchadnezzar did besiege several cities in Palestine (including Jerusalem) even though they are not directly mentioned. Can you blame the Babylonians for not writing down “oh and we conquered Jerusalem too!” and just simply recording the fact that they took the whole land?  For instance, when we talk about Hitler’s invasion of Poland we don’t mention every town and city he went through, because there’s no point it’s just assumed he was there by proxy of his army.

Oh and by the way, Nebuchadnezzar did invade Jerusalem in 597 b.c and Jehohiakim was dead at the time. His son Jehoiachin was somewhere between 8 and 12 years old at the time. So hey, they got that part sort of right. Good for them.

So what the people that have put together the “Skeptic’s Annotated Bible” have ended up doing is proving themselves to be, at best, embarrassingly ignorant. As I continued to examine other passages from this mess of a website it became pretty clear that this was not the best material for trying to critique the bible. In fact, it was more of the same old garbage that I read again and again. My search for decent skeptical material on the bible continues and to no avail. The pure hatred for God and the bible from Atheists is astounding. They attack it and mock it relentlessly and in increasingly creative ways, and yet none of them can offer an actual argument against it. So keep it up atheists, because the only thing you’re succeeding in doing is creating that awkward moment when your attacks don’t destroy your opponent but instead fortify their position.

Sources:

Archer, Gleason. "Daniel" The Expositors Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1985

Archer, Gleason. A Survey of the Old Testament Introduction. Chicago: Moody Press, 1974.

Baldwin, Joyce G. Daniel. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1978.

The Babylonian Chronicles at the British Museum

2 Chronicles and 2 Kings in the bible

Strangers and Exiles on the Earth

I love going to a church where multiple times a year a sermon has the potential to become my new favorite. The Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church has been that kind of church since I began attending nearly 10 years ago. Today's sermon by my Elder James was one of these sermons that will rival for a place amongst my other top favorites. Today's topic: Hebrews 11, and Abraham's faith:

⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Hebrews 11:8-10, NASB).

The letter to the Hebrew Christians was meant to encourage those former Jewish believers to remain steadfast in their faith, and that there was nothing to go back to. You see, Jesus Christ had come to fulfill the promises given long ago; one of those promises was given to Abraham - that through Abraham all the nations would be blessed.

How strange it must have seemed to Abraham to receive this kind of promise, but even more than this the seemingly unclear way in which the Lord chose to lead him. He gave Abraham a command to go to a place he was unfamiliar with ... in fact, he didn't know where he was going! This might seem like a subtle point, but Abraham had an implicit trust in God and His commands. He didn't question God's wisdom, or make up a bunch of excuses to put off what he knew good and well what was demanded of him.

Hebrews chapter 11 is known well as the great Hall of Faith chapter because it serves as a reminder of the great cloud of witnesses that had come before who possessed saving faith. Although implicit and unquestioning trust is one part of faith, there is another vital element: obedience. Notice that when Abraham was called he obeyed God's command.

Remember the words of our Lord, "...unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3b, NASB). The true gospel of Christ includes repentance, a turning from sin and all desires contrary to what He commands. Now, I am not at all denying that we are justified by grace alone through faith alone, but just that a true faith is never alone, and is accompanied by obedience to God. It is this message of repenting from sin unto faith in Christ that our world needs to hear.

Something else was brought out about Abraham's faith that I never considered: he was patient. The author of this epistle goes on to say:

^"13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. ¹⁵ And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them" (Hebrews 11:13-16, NASB).

I don't know about you, but without all of the clear revelation we have now, it would have been hard for me to obey God the way Abraham did. He was told he would have descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore, and yet at one point, he was told to sacrifice his son! He had faith that God's promises would come to pass ... even though he never lived to see the fulfillment of these promises.

He saw the promises from a distance, and confessed he was a stranger and exile on the earth. He was looking for a heavenly city, and not an earthly city. Do you embrace that? Do you have the patience to know the promises of God even if you don't experience their fulfillment in your lifetime? These are some of the questions that the Holy Spirit used to convict me this morning.

Looking at our culture today, it is easy for me to believe that I am a stranger and an exile living in a foreign land. I don't belong here. I long for the heavenly city that is our promised future hope. But that day has not yet come ... and we need to be patient until the Day of the Lord arrives. May we be found faithful witnesses, so as to be not ashamed at Christ's coming.

We May Have Lost the Cultural Battle, but...

Unless you're one of the few who has never gone to a public school, worked for a large corporation, been to a coffee shop, watched television, or had access to the Internet ... then you've seen and heard the arguments by homosexuals being proclaimed from the rooftops.

Just what are the arguments?

(1) Same-sex marriage is marriage equality.
(2) It is a civil right.
(3) How can you honestly deny us happiness by denying us the same rights as straight couples?
(4) The only argument against it are religious reasons - don't try to force your religion on me.

The truly sad thing today is that any one of these arguments, by itself, would silence most opposition in our society. Especially the younger generation, who simply keel over at first hearing this kind of persuasion. No critical thought is applied whatsoever. I saw a poll on CBS that found 73% of people under 30 support gay marriage. I mean, what do you expect from an entire generation raised by a generation of secularists?

Since our President took office a second time, the realization hit me that we are losing the cultural battle ... if we haven't lost it already. We may have lost the cultural battle, but we have not lost the argument. More importantly, the gospel of Jesus Christ is just as relevant as ever, and we as the people of God ought to be eager to discuss sin, repentance, and the hope found solely in the Lord.

If it's okay with you, I'd briefly like to discuss the same-sex marriage arguments listed above. Because the first time I heard them, I was a bit surprised. After all, who wants to deny equality, civil rights, or the happiness of others? Or even, impose religious beliefs through legislation!

As a Christian man I don't hate homosexuals. But I do believe those behaviors are sinful, as described in the Bible. God is the Maker of heaven and earth, and He alone has the right to tell us how to live, who to love, and how to express that love. Furthermore, the Lord designed marriage as the first institution as that of one man and one woman. Marriage will always and forever be between a man and a woman, no matter how much our culture wishes to redefine it.

Redefinition is really what this is all about. Redefinition, and recognition. It is not enough that Christians tolerate homosexuals, we must approve of their behavior by calling it marriage. Others have rightly pointed out the inconsistency of the advocates of same-sex marriage who claim they want marriage equality. They don't want equality; not really anyways. If they did they would open the floodgates to allow anyone to marry any number of any thing he or she (or it) wants to marry.

But the vast majority of homosexuals would not support polyamory (polygamy), incestuous adult relationships, bestiality, or pedophilia. The question needs to be asked, however ... why don't you support these groups' civil right to marriage equality? They are also people with hopes, dreams and desires, who only want to be happy in this life. Do you want to deny them this? You're kidding yourself if you don't see the slippery slope the arguments for same-sex marriage have created. This is not to say that because paving the way for other redefinitions of marriage makes same-sex marriage sinful, it is just to point out that others will (and are) use the same arguments to further expand what marriage is.

The gay-marriage debate is not the Civil Rights debate from the 1960's. Christians are not saying that gays are unequal in value or human dignity as compared with the rest of the human race (unlike those 50 years ago). We are not denying services to homosexuals. What we refuse to do is redefine marriage to be something completely different. Because you claim to love someone does not inherently give you the right to marry that someone.

Are we trying to deny you happiness? If we hated homosexuals we would promote homosexuality and same-sex marriage, because it is sinful and is, therefore, the worst thing for you. But it is because we love God and our fellow man that we cannot endorse sin.

No amount of legislation, or government backing will make marriage something other than between one man and one woman. Western Civilization might call a same-sex relationship marriage, but it can never be marriage, not truly. God is the ruler of this universe, and has rightly ordained how His creatures should live.

So what message do we offer to the homosexual? What is our response to their arguments? Simply this: that they, along with the whole human race, are born sinful and guilty of the wrath of God. Homosexuality is a sin, and they are guilty of other sins as well. Because of their sin, they ought to be judged by the Lord, found guilty, and condemned to pay for those sins forever in Hell - where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Christians were born just as guilty as they are, and were once unbelievers who likewise hated God and refused to worship Him and give Him thanks.

But God, being rich in mercy, entered into His own creation and humbled Himself by taking the form of a man - Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity. Jesus lived a sinless life, and kept God's requirements of the Law that we are hopelessly unable to keep. He was also crucified on a cross to pay for the sins of God's people.

Death could not keep him, and three days later was resurrected for our justification.

Because we are hopelessly unable to keep the perfect standard that God requires of us, we all fall short of His glory and are deserving of judgment. If, however, you turn from your sins unto Christ, and trust in Him through faith (not by your own works/good deeds) to deliver you from the consequences and lifestyle of sin, you will have your sins forgiven, and a new relationship with the true and living God, being spared from the wrath to come. All those who have faith in Jesus have been justified - declared not guilty of their sins - and have a lasting peace with God that cannot be broken. Jesus bore His people's sins on the cross and fully paid for them; His righteousness is considered to be yours through faith alone, which is how you have a right-standing before God. Not by your own works, but by the works of Jesus Christ.

My prayer for you is that you will turn from your sins, unto the true God of the Bible. I pray that He might save you from your sins and your sinful lifestyle, and that you would come to know the one true Lord of all creation. I pray that the words of Paul, found in his first letter to the Corinthians would become true of you:

⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, NASB).

Thanks for reading,
Metzger

Time to Face the Music

Last night was one of the more solemn nights that I can remember in a long long time. I'm sure many of you felt the same as I did with the announcement of President Obama's victory. Flipping through various cable news networks, I realized it was official once FoxNews made their announcement. Long after my lovely wife went to bed I sat there watching the news in disbelief. I just couldn't wrap my head around how the incumbent President would be re-elected with the economy the way it is, or with unprecedented Presidential support for wickedness. Today I woke up and filled my morning with more news programs trying to understand why this happened.

Political commentators are stunned; Democrats reveling in their victory; Republicans fumbling over themselves as they try to salvage the party for four years from now. This morning I was thankful more than most days that I have re-calibrated my Twitter feed to include primarily Christian news and apologetics resources. Amidst the barrage of groanings and complaints, Frank Turk posted a letter from Reformed Baptist pastor, Tom Chantry. His article expressed exactly what I was feeling, and I can endorse it 100%. Please read it when you have time - I guarantee it will be an encouragement to you and very worthwhile.

Chantry resonated with me, especially near the end where he says:

Policies can address political circumstances, but they cannot address the fundamental weaknesses of the American soul. Where we stand today is not so radically different from where we stood in, say, 1980. We don’t need another Reagan; we need the Holy Spirit. If men are to turn from their sin and discover the wisdom that comes from serving God, they do not need better government, but the message which has been entrusted to the church. (Emphasis MINE).

For a variety of reasons, I am still a registered Republican (though significantly more conservative than my Party's official views). It is astonishing to hear about the two paths being discussed for our party's future. First, that we need an even more moderate and/or left-leaning candidate that is more "in-touch" with the American people. Or second, we need to have a true conservative run for office. While my gut is to agree with the latter, I took a step back and considered what Tom Chantry said: "We don't need another Reagan; we need the Holy Spirit."

Our nation has voted twice for increased taxes, unwise spending, the promotion of homosexuality and abortion. The election of President Obama was a wicked decision on behalf of our fellow citizens, there are no two ways about it. The America I grew up believing in doesn't exist today (and perhaps didn't truly exist in the form I thought it did while I was a child either). Christian morality has been utterly abandoned and it is time for us to accept that. I don't think I understood that until this morning. Until today, I had hope that my fellow citizens, when presented with clear evidence and facts would be able to make common sense decisions.

But as the Apostle Paul in the Scriptures writes:

²⁸ And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹ without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; ³² and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32, NASB; Bold MINE).

This national election was a demonstration of the judgment of God upon our nation. This is the only explanation for why our fellow Americans would have made the decision that they did. Even "common sense" to make decisions is a gift from God, one that He appears to have withheld at this time. I hear Christians talking a lot about how we are a small minority in our society, but I'm not sure we fully grasp how small a minority we are. I know of only two Christians at the workplace, and looking over some of the demographics and polling data from yesterday's election - it seems true Christianity in America is a lot smaller than we think.

I began to think about what all this means for me as a Christian in this kind of society. It seems reasonable that in the not too distant future, Christians will face forms of persecution probably in the form of financial discomfort - and we need to be ready to face that. Christ Himself said that we ought to count the cost of discipleship. But apart from any potential hardship, we have an abundance of opportunities to proclaim the gospel. My prayer today has been that I might be like Paul who was "eager" to preach the gospel to those in Rome. Where did the Apostle's confidence come from? He says, "¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16, NASB). 

There are changes I need to make in my life. I need to take my faith more seriously. I need to consider what it means to count the cost of being one of Jesus' disciples. I need to be more bold in my witness for the one true and living God. I need to not be ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, no matter their background.


As always, thanks for reading,

Rusty

Why do Christians pray?

Why do we pray? What’s the point? Jesus prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this ^acup from Me; ^byet not My will, but Yours be done.” – Luke 22:42 NASB  He prayed that the Father would make it so He did not have to be crucified.  “If there is any other way, please don’t do this to Me” He prayed. Yet He still went there, and He still had to die a very painful death. This was Jesus for heaven’s sake! The second member of the Trinity, God Himself in human flesh, and His request was denied.

Then we have Moses.  Shortly after God had freed the Israelites from captivity in Egypt He told Moses that He was going to destroy them because even though He had done this great work for them they were rejecting Him. Moses prayed to God and,” …the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.” – Exodus 32:14 NASB

So what’s the difference? In the first example we have the brutal torture and killing of the most innocent man to ever walk the earth. God rejected Jesus’ request, so that He might use the evil that those men intended for good. For the good of saving His people.

 In the second we have an evil people totally rejecting God despite the power He had shown them to free them. He used Moses’ prayer to save His people from His own wrath.

We pray because our prayer might be the thing God uses to change the direction things seem to be headed. But we do so with the knowledge that He is God and His purposes are beyond us. Trusting God is not trusting that He will always answer our prayers. Trust in God is the understanding that no matter what happens, if our prayers are answered or not, He is in control and it serves a purpose. We may not know that purpose, but we trust anyway.