National Security?

     Nahum prophesied about Assyria and specifically Assyria’s capital city, Nineveh. The book is a sort of “sequel” to Jonah. About a hundred years before Nahum Nineveh had repented through the reluctant preaching of Jonah. By the time Nahum arrived on the scene things in Nineveh had gotten so bad that God had determined it was time for them to suffer one of the terrible “days of the Lord.”

     A wicked nation suffering God’s vengeful judgment (Nahum 1:2) is certainly not unique to Nahum. We can read of the prophets delivering God’s message of judgment to Edom, Philistia, Moab, Babylon, Egypt, and many others. In the case of Nahum’s prophesy, God seems to take special care to point out that it was when Assyria was as her strongest that He would see her humbled. Nahum 1:12-13 says, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds apart.”

     Truly Assyria was as strong as they were only because God permitted it. Though Assyria had destroyed Israel and provided a constant threat to Judah, God wanted His people to know that He was using that wicked nation as a chastening rod. When Assyrian iniquity became complete God broke Assyria’s yoke from off Judah’s neck and burst their bonds apart. The point I want us to get is this: there was nothing Assyria could do about it.

     Take a moment to read Nahum 2 (only 13 verses). Did you see listed all that Nineveh trusted in? Their walls were strong, their soldiers were mighty, their chariots were many, their officers were skilled, and their wealth was immense. They were described as lions! Yet verse 13 makes the one statement that rendered all of Assyria’s assets useless—“Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts.”

     Friends, when God is against a nation there is no such thing as national security. Nineveh’s wall could have stood a mile high, all of her soldiers could have stood as tall as Goliath, gold and precious metals could have filled the streets for lack of space to store it, all of her allies could have stood at the gates, her chariots could have numbered in the millions with the most skillful soldiers to man them, all of her horses could have been of the finest stock, and every nation could have trembled in terror beholding her. Yet the simple fact that she made God her enemy doomed her and all she trusted in for her security was as useless as a miniscule whisper of wind against a mighty oak. Because Nineveh’s security was not based upon God Nineveh was not secure at all.

     “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stay awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Friends, where is your security? Upon what do you base your trust? Jehovah prompted Nineveh to keep her trust where it had been and see the result. In Nahum 3:14 He says, “Draw water for the siege; strengthen your forts; go into the clay; tread the mortar; take hold of the brick mold!”  She had always trusted in her provisions and the strength of her city. Jehovah urged her to keep it up. Grab some water, gather the material to make bricks, and just keep strengthening that wall.  Surely no one could reach them! Verse 15 says, “There will the fire devour you; the sword will cut you off.  It will devour you like the locust.” 

     Nineveh’s national security was an illusion, nothing more. She rejected true security and was destroyed because of it. Her destruction was so thorough, so complete, that the location of that once majestic city was not discovered until 1842. Such is the “security” of those who reject God.      

"Let Us Make"

     In Genesis 1:26 we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.  And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 

     In Genesis 11:3-4 we read, “And they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.’  And they had brick for stone and bitumen for mortar.  The they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

     After God made man He blessed him and told him to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it” (1:28). This command was repeated to Noah and his sons after the land dried enough for them to leave the ark (Genesis 9:1). One reason God created man was for him to fill the entire earth and subdue it.

     By Genesis 11 we see man deciding that he did not like God’s command and choosing to do the exact opposite of what God had said. God told man to fill the earth and subdue it. Man responded that he did not want to be dispersed across the whole earth but would rather make a name for himself. God said go. Man said, “Not only will I not go, I am going to build a great city and dwell there.” God said fill the earth. Man said, “Not only will I not fill the earth, I’m going to build a massive tower that reaches up into the heavens.” God said subdue the earth. Man said, “Not only will I not subdue the earth, I will locate in a single place and make a great name for myself in the process.” When God said, “Let us make,” He did so for the purpose of creating man and blessing him tremendously. When men said, “Let us make,” he did so in rebellion against God with a selfish arrogance and a desire to become great.

     God says many things today and receives a similar response from men, often even His own people.  God says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Man says, “No. He got himself into this mess and he can get himself out.” God says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Galatians 4:26). Man says, “No. He upset me in the past and I’ll hold a grudge against him for years to come.” God says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted…” (Galatians 4:32). Man says, “No. I don’t have time for the needs and feelings of others.” God says, “Consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together… (Hebrews 10:24-25). Man says, “No. There are times when I’d just rather do other things.” God says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Man says, “No. I don’t like the person employing me so I’ll show him by doing lazy, shoddy work.” God says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” (Colossians 3:16a). Man says, “No. I’d rather fill my heart with the things of the world.” 

     We each offer our own “Let us make” statements every day of our lives. Through our thoughts and actions we say, “Let us make ourselves according to the desires and wishes of God, conforming more to the example of His Son”, or “Come, let us make ourselves more like the world we inhabit. Let its values and passions become our own.” This is part of the process of working out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).  Or…not.

     Man has the liberty to tell God “no” during this life. If that’s his choice then God will answer in kind when that man pleads for Heaven (Romans 2:6-8). But God made man specifically to bless and save him. Let us make ourselves the kind of people in whom our God delights (Psalm 1:1-3).                 

I Don't Always Understand

     We truly are but a single phone call from our knees, aren’t we? Just a little more than an hour ago my mother called. The moment I picked it up I could hear her broken, ragged breathing and knew what was coming. Through the tears she managed to tell me that Rachel’s cancer has spread into the lymph nodes. The worst case scenario has become the reality. I must be honest and tell you that I did not initially feel anything. For the first time in my life I learned exactly what people mean when they say they just went numb.

     As I think about it, this has not been the only first in my life since Jackie and I moved here less than six months ago. For the first time in my life I have experienced what it is like to have absolutely no control over the situations I have found myself and my family in. For the first time I know by experience what it means to be absolutely helpless to alleviate or fix the circumstances around me. In the short time that we have been here I have been in Central Baptist Hospital more than I have been in any hospital in my entire life. Jackie, struggling with what her doctor says is the worst case of hyperemesis gravidarum she has ever seen, has been admitted into Central Baptist multiple times since we’ve been here because it was simply impossible for her to keep anything down. I have watched her struggle to lift her head as she literally wasted away on the hospital bed. I have watched an entire team of nurses struggle to insert a needle in her arm because her dehydration was so severe that they could not find a vein. I did not tell her or anyone else, but it was killing me to stand by unable to do a thing to help. When she slept, I cried in the seat next to her bed.

     Jackie is not the only member of our small family making frequent trips to the hospital and doctors office. Alexander’s allergies are getting worse and his reactions more varied. His every cough causes the two of us to freeze in our tracks. No matter how diligent we are in seeing to it that the things he reacts to are out of his reach, he somehow finds a way to get into something. The emergency room doctor said it best when she said, “You live with a terrifying child.” Nothing is as terrifying as watching your child vomiting, breaking out in hives, swelling, and struggling to breathe as he stares at you wondering what is going on and why you’re not stopping it. Nothing makes you feel more helpless. These past few months I have physically felt as bad as I ever have in my life. I have been taxed emotionally more than I have at any point in my life. It is all because of the worry and stress arising from circumstances of which I have no control.     

     I was on the phone with my father a few minutes after talking to my mother. He broke down before he could get through everything he was trying to tell me. At that point I did another thing that I have never done before. I closed my eyes and asked God a single question. Why? Rachel is only 28 years old, recently married, and pregnant with her first child. Why is my little sister having to face this disease which her doctor told her was potentially fatal? Why must her husband, a brand new Christian, have such a test to his faith so early on? Why must my parents, who have come through years of emotional battles within the church, be forced to face this now? Why are the one’s that I love the most in this life, whom I would give anything and everything for, having to suffer while I am forced to stand by and watch? Why has all control been taken away from me? 

     Then it hit me right between the eyes. Control was never mine to begin with. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered” Matthew 10:29-30. No, brethren; I don’t know why all of these things have happened in such a short amount of time to the people that I love the very most. I do not know if God was seeking to teach me that I am not in control of every circumstance and that there are times when I will simply have to trust in Him and His mercy. Regardless, I have learned it and I thank my God for teaching me.

     I don’t know what is going to happen with my sister from here on out. My prayer, and the prayer of thousands, was that Rachel be completely cancer free. That was not God’s plan and I don’t understand. Then again, I don’t have to, do I? It is mine to trust Him. Whatever decision He makes is the right one and I will rejoice in it. The following days will be difficult one’s for my family. They will be very difficult for me and I ask your understanding if I do not appear myself. However, these last few months have been wonderful months for me and I anticipate the next few will as well. My faith and reliance on God has grown ten-fold. Even when the tears start flowing, especially when the tears start flowing, I hear that whisper in my ear: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

     Five years after the writing of this article Rachel is cancer free, Jaclyn and our 3 beautiful children are doing wonderfully, and our entire family is has grown in faith and trust. We serve an awesome God. Never forget it!

Evangelism: Eight “Do’s” and “Don’ts” In Preparing For Conversations

“Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.”

     Most Christians know that we need to talk to more people about Jesus Christ. Most of us recognize that we need to extend more invitations to worship assemblies, to Bible studies, to singings, and to anything that teaches one about the Lord and focuses upon the condition of the soul. Most of us freely admit that there is nothing more important in this world than preparing for the next. Yet, for a number of reasons, we are often hesitant to do much about it in terms of talking to others. This very broad statement is certainly not meant to encompass the entirety of the brotherhood but you'll know if it describes you.

     The biblical pattern for evangelism is found in the above verse from Acts 8:4. At the end of the day, we’ve got to open our mouths and speak to people about the Lord. What stops us from doing it? This is the first of a series on evangelism focused specifically upon conversations. Before the conversation ever begins there are several things to bear in mind.

Four “Don’ts”

1. Don’t saddle yourself with arbitrary restrictions. I have noticed that nearly every restriction that prevents us from beginning a conversation with someone about the Lord is a restriction of our own devising. Located on a college campus, I have seen these arbitrary restrictions fairly often and have even created a few of them myself. Here’s what I mean: a student passes by with several books and a purposeful walk. Clearly this student is too busy to speak so I’ll just let her pass. Another student is strolling along with his ear buds in mouthing the words of the song on his phone. Clearly he’ll not appreciate an interruption so I’d best let him go on by. This next fellow looks like a professor. Clearly he will not be interested in what I have to say. I’d better not approach him. Here comes a group of students laughing and talking loudly. I’m certain they won’t appreciate me stopping them. I’m just going to let them go on by.

     Do you see the problem here? Each restriction is entirely arbitrary. The truth is we have no idea how any of these people will respond until we speak to them. Friends, if we’re not careful we’ll saddle ourselves with so many arbitrary restrictions that the only person we’ll speak to is the one who walks up to us and asks us to tell them about Jesus. Honestly, how often does that happen?

2. Don’t decide for the person before ever speaking to them. This happens far too often. This man has too many tattoos; he won’t care one bit about Jesus. This woman is cursing up a storm; she’d laugh at me if I mentioned the Lord. Those teenagers are talking about their latest sexual exploits; they’ll certainly not be willing to give the gospel a hearing.

     Do you see the problem here? Before ever speaking a word to any of these people I’ve decided for them that they’ll not be willing to hear. I’m certainly glad Christians did not do that to me, aren’t you? Making our own decisions is enough; let’s not take up the business of deciding for others as well. We’re simply not qualified.

3. Don’t be afraid of rejection. Let’s just be honest about this: the vast majority of people who hear about the Lord will reject Him. This should never come as a surprise for our Lord Himself warned us it would be this way (Matthew 7:13-14). So what do we do when someone flat out rejects the gospel? We buck up, pray that they’ll change their minds in the future, and move on to the next person. Rejection is not a failure on our part; quitting because of it is.

4. Don’t be afraid of questions. Questions are a wonderful thing! If someone takes the time to question us it demonstrates that they’ve given at least a little thought to these matters and they care enough to ask about them. This is the person we’re looking for. Now’s the time to rejoice, not retreat!

     “I don’t always know the answers.” Neither do I. No one knows them all. Don’t be afraid to tell someone that you can’t give a thoughtful, Bible answer at the moment of the question. Tell them you’d love to study it with them or, if they’d prefer, you’d be happy to study it yourself and get back to them. I have found that the questioner is almost always a contact. Embrace questions; don’t fear them!

Four Do’s

1. Do remember that we work for and with God. The Creator of the Universe has commissioned us. There is no greater authority than His. Not only has He commissioned us; He has equipped us to carry out the task (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Indeed, Paul shows that we work with God, not just for Him (1 Corinthians 3:9). This is a reason for great confidence and joy. Even when we seek conversations without the aid of fellow brethren, we know that God Himself is working with and through us. With this thought firmly in mind, what is there to fear?

2. Do pray often. Do you need to pray more? Become evangelistic and I promise that your prayer life will blossom. When Nehemiah stood before Artaxerxes, the King asked him what he requested. At that very moment Nehemiah uttered a quick prayer to the God of heaven (Nehemiah 2:1-4). This prayer must not have taken more than a few seconds but it emboldened Nehemiah and filled him with confidence. It will do the same for us.

     A quick prayer for wisdom, courage, and proper attitude takes only a few seconds. Say one every time you prepare to speak to someone about the Lord. When the message is rejected, pray for continuing boldness and receptive hearts. When someone stops to speak to you, pray for wisdom in speech. When someone asks you a question, pray for clarity of thought and message. When someone agrees to study, thank God for having found this person. The evangelistic life is the praying life.

3. Do see everyone as a potential candidate for salvation. As long as the Lord’s invitation to come to Him continues to apply to every person willing to do it (Matthew 11:28-30), we must see every person as a candidate for salvation. Will Christ reject the individual who is a little rough around the edges should that person choose to become a Christian and submit to Him? Of course not! Then how can we reject them as candidates for salvation before ever delivering the message? Even the most unlikely may someday become a stalwart in the kingdom. Just ask Saul of Tarsus (1 Timothy 1:12-16).

4. Do get out of God’s way! Ultimately I suppose this is what it comes down to, isn’t it? The greatest hindrances to God’s message being spread in this world are often Christians themselves. In inventing restrictions, prejudging who will and will not hear, and fearing to speak at all we often stand paralyzed. It is only when we recognize that the sufficiency and power is in God that we will get out of His way and let Him work. Ours is to plant the seed while God causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). The seed won’t grow unless it has been planted. Let’s plant and let God do His work!

     May every saint plant bountifully, faithfully, and zealously!

Finding Time To Read The Bible During A Busy Day

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the scared writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17

     Occasionally I’m asked what I believe to be the most important activity a Christian can engage in on a daily basis. I suppose such a question could be answered in several ways. A Christian should serve everyday, pray everyday, evangelize everyday, and just generally let their lights shine. However, I firmly believe that the single most important activity a Christian can engage in each day is Bible reading. In His Word God guides us, instructs us, and reveals His extraordinary plan to save us. Would we see spiritual growth in our lives? Getting ourselves into His Word on a daily basis is the way to do it.

     Most Christians know they should read the Bible every day and I believe sincerely desire to do so. However, many days come and go without the Scriptures receiving a single glance simply because our days are so full. Indeed, “I just don’t have the time” is the most common complaint I receive when it comes to daily Bible reading. It is my firm belief that the time does exist in every case, we’ve just got to have our eyes open to find those windows and our hearts prepared to take advantage of them. The following suggestions have been helpful in my life and in the life of many Christians.

Suggestions

-Train yourself to find opportunities. Daily Bible reading is a habit. Habits are formed and developed over time. Do you frequent a particular news site on your computer or phone? Perhaps you still take the daily paper? Do you find the time to read it every day, regardless of how busy your day is? If so, you’ve developed the habit and always manage to find time in your day to do it. The same is true of daily Bible reading. Write yourself notes, put a reminder into your calendar, program your phone to send you a reminder at the same time every day. Habits are learned over time and through regular practice. So, too, will this one.

-Leave a Bible program open on your computer (work and/or home) at all times. A site like biblegateway.com is wonderful for this sort of thing. Just choose the translation you wish to read from and start reading. If the program is always open, and you spend a great deal of time on the computer each day, then it will always be right in front of your face. Take advantage of it.

-Download a free Bible application on your smart phone. Most of us these days have smart phones that travel with us wherever we go. Simply go to your “app store,” type in the word “Bible,” and choose the application you wish to download. Many of them are free and even offer daily reading plans. Again, my preference is Bible Gateway but any application that lets you use the Bible will work. We cannot always carry around the Holy Scriptures in book form but we can keep them with us in digital form at all times. Downloading the Bible to your phone or tablet creates countless opportunities throughout a day. If you’ve not done it, do it now.

-Keep your eyes open! Do you have a couple of minutes between meetings at work? Pull out your phone/tablet and start reading. Do you have a short window before you need to return from lunch? Pull out your phone/tablet and start reading. Does your walk from one class to the next take a couple of minutes? Pull out your phone/tablet and start reading. Are you filling up at the gas station? Set the pump to automatic and pull out your phone/tablet and start reading. Are you in a long line to check out in a store? Pull out your phone/tablet and start reading. Obviously this list could go on for a very long time. These few minutes add up and several chapters can be read throughout the day.

-Get out of bed twenty minutes earlier or stay up twenty minutes later. Not all of us have smart phones or tablets, right? What are the one’s who can’t carry a Bible around with them all day supposed to do? If need be, get up earlier and get down later. If you get out of bed twenty minutes earlier, go through your morning routine to prepare for work or school, you’ll have twenty extra minutes before you’ve got to go. Don’t turn on the television or computer, pick up your Bible and read for twenty minutes. Can’t get out of bed twenty minutes earlier? Stay up twenty minutes later and use that time to read.

-Never fail to read because you don’t have time to study! It is quite popular these days to hear it said, “Reading the Bible and studying it are not the same thing!” Unfortunately, that’s often said in a way that seems to deemphasize the foundational importance of simply reading God’s Word. That’s a grave mistake! It’s reading the Bible that creates a hunger to study it. Never imagine that because you don’t have the time to engage in a word study that you cannot benefit from simply reading God’s Word.

     Technology has allowed us to carry the Holy Scriptures around with us digitally wherever we go. Opportunities to read the Scriptures, if only for a few minutes at a time, abound. Busy Christians (and don’t most of us fall into that category?) have found these suggestions and techniques helpful in finding time to read their Bibles each day. May you benefit from them as well! 

How Can Busy Parents Serve The Brethren?

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” 
Galatians 5:13

“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Romans 12:13

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Galatians 6:10

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.”

John 13:14-15

     The New Testament is quite clear: saints are to be servants. We are to consider the needs of our brethren, seek out opportunities to fill those needs to the best of our abilities, and live as selflessly as we can. However, there is a time in the Christian’s life when being a servant to the brethren becomes especially difficult, not because of an unwillingness to do it, but because the demand on our time is constant and so very demanding. I am speaking of the years when our children are very young, very needy, and always requiring attention.

     For those of us who have young children it is very easy for our world to shrink to the confines of our own homes. We feed them, bathe them, play with them, bandage them when necessary, comfort them after a scrape or bruise, clothe them, hold them, put their pajama’s on, tuck them in at night, love them always, and then repeat the process the next day. Sometimes we even lose track of the day as they begin to sort of run together. This process is repeated daily for several years.

     I have seen in my own family how easy it is to stop being a servant to the brethren when young children are at home. It is not because we love the brethren any less or have no desire to serve them; it is simply that the demands on our time are so stringent. If we’re not careful our world quickly extends no further than the walls of our own home. As the above verses demonstrate, that’s quite a problem. Saints are servants; even when young children are in the home.

     So, how are busy parents to find the time to serve their brethren and others? Below are several suggestions that I have found helpful and hope you will as well.

Suggestions

1. Do not discount the service you can render without stepping foot outside your home. Make sure you listen to the announcements before worship to see who is in need of thoughts and prayers. If the congregation of which you are part prints a bulletin containing a list of those in need, make sure you take one home with you each week. Mention those people in your private prayers, but then take the extra step of giving them a call or sending them a card. If you’re especially busy and often lose track of time, write yourself reminders and put them in prominent places throughout the house. Write a different name and phone number on each reminder and give that brother or sister a call, preferably the moment you see the reminder. It may not seem like much to us, but it can make someone’s day to receive a call from a loving brother or sister, especially when they can hear the little one’s tearing through the house on the other end of the line.

2. Check with certain brothers or sisters before making the family grocery run. It is not easy for some of our brethren to get out these days. A simple visit to the grocery store can take about all the energy they have. There may be an item or two they could really use but just haven’t been able to get out to pick it up. Perhaps we can do it for them.

3. Prepare an extra serving and provide a brother or sister with dinner. This is such an easy thing to do and really lets the brethren know that we’re thinking of them. Often brethren who are hesitant to ask someone to make a grocery run for them greatly appreciate a prepared plate of dinner.

4. Make a drive through town to serve a brother or sister in some way a “family night.” I have noticed that often our children don’t really care what we’re doing as long as we’re doing it together. Taking a meal to someone, even if they don’t leave the car, is often great fun for the kids simply because they’re out of the house and driving around with mommy and daddy.

5. Have brethren with young children over to the house for a meal and conversation. With your children tearing through the house, it can make inviting brethren over seem a bit intimidating. We worry about how the children will behave and how many messes will need to be cleaned up. Inviting brethren with children about the same age provides the children some friends to tear through the house with, and provides the parents some adult conversation. It’s also a wonderful way to get to know brethren better and serve their needs.

6. Incorporate the children into your serving. As they get a bit older, start making a point of showing them what service looks like. Take them to hospitals and homes to visit. Have them write a note to a brother while you’re writing one to a sister. Start asking them what can be done with the extra food from dinner. Start asking them why we do these things for people. The sooner they learn what service looks like, the sooner they’ll come to understand the love and compassion that motivates it.

7. Read the Bible, sing songs, and pray with your children every night. I know we’re tired. I know they’ve been bouncing off the walls all day. I know we’re counting down the moments until they’re tucked safely in bed and we can collapse onto the couch with an exhausted sigh. However, let’s make sure our days are not complete until God has been allowed to speak to the family through His Word. Let a different child choose their favorite song each night (We’ve sung Trust And Obey more often sitting on the floor at home than in any building). Ask the children to say their own prayer before going to bed. Every night one of our children asks, “Daddy, can we do our reading now?” There is no surer way to teach them about service than in letting them hear it directly from the mouth of God.

   

     Parents of young children, we can be servants to our brethren. I hope these suggestions help you as much as they have helped me.

Be Not Overcome With Shame

     Romans 6:20-21 says, “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed?  For the end of those things is death.”  Many years ago I was in the home of an evangelist when a brother in Christ came to his house in tears, devastated and ashamed that he had given in to a particular temptation. Over the years I have seen many Christians in similar situations. Indeed, what Christian among us has not felt great shame at having committed an individual sin or a series of them?

     Shame at sin is good and something all Christians should feel. After all, Christ died so that we could be freed from bondage to sin and inherit salvation. Christians do not live in sin (Romans 6:15-18) so none of us should ever maintain a nonchalant attitude toward it. Paul reminds us that godly sorrow  (of which shame is part—see Psalm 51) leads one to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).

     However, sometimes Christians have been so overwhelmed by shame that they convinced themselves that God could not forgive them for what they’d done. I have heard Christians state that they no longer felt they could do “enough” to make up for the sins they had committed, that God could not be convinced to forgive them. Herein lies a sad misunderstanding of God’s grace. None of us, not even the most godly and righteous, can do enough to earn God’s forgiveness. What does “enough” mean? Who determines when “enough” has been achieved? Paul said, “Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20). The wonderful teaching of this verse is that the greater the need for God’s grace, the greater the supply becomes! We can’t do enough to earn God’s grace, but because it is grace we don’t have to! Remember, “if it is the adherents of the law (those relying solely on their own ability to achieve salvation--AL) who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise void” (Romans 4:14). To walk by faith is to recognize that one’s own ability can never save him but only God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8).

     All of this means that God does not require absolute perfection on our part (if He did who among us could ever be saved?), but a life lived in Christ. This life is no mystical, indefinable thing. It is the life of one who has “become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed” (Romans 6:17). This means that one’s practice is to walk in the light (1 John 1:7). They are not perfect but they are quick to repent of sins knowing that they will be forgiven because God’s grace is strong enough to forgive any sin (Romans 5:20) and has promised to do so (1 John 1:9)!

         So by all means, let us feel shame at sin. There’s a problem if we don’t! But let us always remember that we will not be saved on the basis of our own goodness and ability, but the grace of God as our lives continue to be those of faith. Praise God for that!