Addressing a Common Misconception: God's Creation vs God's Children

If I think back to the not so distant past, I can remember sitting in SAT review classes discussing the fact that all BMW's are cars, but not all cars are BMW's. Along the same lines as this would be a concept that I only recently considered, which is the fact that we are all God's creation, but we are not all God's children. Some might think I'm being overly picky, but the distinction is necessary.
Looking back at Genesis 1:27, we find that it states, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." This statement proves that God created each and every one of us. Those unable to accept this as fact are those who do not have the Holy Spirit residing within them, and thus, are lacking the necessary faith to believe, as mentioned in Hebrews 11:3 ~ "By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible." This lack of faith characterizes the unbelievers of the world, while being born of the Spirit is what distinguishes the believers, who are God's children.
Upon close analysis of Romans 8:5-8, there's a clear distinction between those who live by the flesh and those who live by the Spirit. Each and every person is born into a fallen world and has a sin nature that is opposed to all things holy. In that sense, all of Creation is on equal footing as we all fall short of God's righteousness. It is not until we are born again in the Spirit, as Jesus stated in John 3:3-6 that we are set apart for the Kingdom of God. It is only by God's grace that we are saved and able to be considered His children (Ephesians 2:1-10). Every Christian believer, therefore, is saved by God's grace and believes that Jesus is their Savior. Then, and only then, are they considered children of God and not just part of God's creation. John 1:12 clearly states, "But to all who did not receive him who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God."
The most significant characteristic that makes it evident that someone is a believer in Christ, rather than an unbeliever is the Holy Spirit. Those individuals who repent of their sins and accept Christ in their hearts as Lord and Savior have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. The Holy Spirit helps these individuals live according to the Spirit rather than the flesh, setting them apart as the true children of God. Proof of this is written in Romans 8:14, which says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." This is of noted importance because Romans 8:16 reiterates this point with different wording by saying, "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."
Many might claim to be Christians, but if there is no sanctifying proof of the Holy Spirit doing a work in their lives, they might be making false claims. Only those who accept Jesus as their Savior and through the help of the Holy Spirit try to obey God's Word are those who can be considered God's children and set apart for the kingdom of heaven.

When Truth is No Longer Accepted

Currently, there are numerous debates in the news between what is right and wrong. Many of these discussions focus on the "rights" of Americans and what should be regulated by the government. Everybody seems to have an opinion, and those with opposing viewpoints call their opponents narrow-minded or insensitive and immediately "lose respect" for anybody who refuses to be openminded enough to share their opponent's viewpoint or beliefs. I wish people would take a second to actually sit down and listen to one another, rather than hurling insults and opting to shutdown to alternative thoughts on matters. Accusations won't get people anywhere, and closing off lines of communication just because somebody has a different opinion is childish.
Part of the problem is that the modern world has lax discipline, which makes it difficult to convey definitive rights and wrongs to people. Sure, I could sit down with somebody and explain why they need a Savior, but if they don't believe they have ever done anything wrong and believe they are generally a "good" person, they will never accept Jesus into their hearts or believe in the teachings of Christianity. This is what happens when relativism seeps into the belief system of the majority. The defined lines between right and wrong get lost in the murky mire of personal beliefs. Along with that, too often Christians don't want to offend others, so they sway away from the definitive truths outlined by God in the Bible. Rather than accept God's authority on all matters, some opt to just let people be happy as long as it doesn't impact them. When this happens, it reflects what was expressed in Isaiah 26:10, which says, "If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the Lord." This is why discipline and teaching ones children is so important. If parents opt to be friends with their kids instead of having authority and disciplining them for their actions when necessary, they will never learn that certain actions are in fact wrong. Proverbs 22:6 expresses the importance of discipline by stating, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
What's unfortunate is that the typical response to a Christian trying to convey biblical truth is calling them hateful bigots who don't love their fellow man and are trying to shove their beliefs down other's throats. It's often misconstrued as Bible-thumping because nonbelievers do not understand that Christians answer to God, not our fellow man. In Matthew 28:20, God calls us to "teach them all that I have commanded you." Not all of humanity acknowledges the authority of God and the truth He speaks, which causes friction. I understand that, but if we show favor to those who are in the wrong, they will never understand or accept the truth. Allowing someone to continue on in their sin without acknowledging the eternal consequences in the opposite of love. I know it is not my job to judge those outside the church (1 Corinthians 5:12), but it is my duty to expose the darkness in the world, as per Ephesians 5:11, which says, "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." I myself struggle with ways to do this in a loving manner, but I know in my heart that speaking the truth in love is more important than gaining favor with man. I must pray for courage to talk to people and ask the Holy Spirit for the words to express my concerns to people in my life. I doubt this will happen overnight, but my hope is that I will be emboldened by the Spirit to speak the truth in love.
I must remember that there are only two options after death: eternal life and eternal condemnation. Reading Galatians 6:8, which states, "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life," illuminates that fact, which should serve as my motivator to sow seeds to be watered in the hopes that Christ will pluck them out of the darkness. I cannot just sit back and rest on my laurels, not expressing my concern to those living lives contrary to truth just because they feel it is right. I must be willing to take a chance and express the truth in love. It may cause some riffs and I might lose favor with some, but it's a chance I must be willing to take. You never know who just needs to hear the Gospel in a new light. God can soften hearts in those you least expect it, so trust the Holy Spirit to guide you. I will do my best to do the same. The least we can do is try in these dark times so that as many people as possible have the opportunity to accept Christ in their hearts and have eternal life.

If you have any interest in reading another post based on relativism's impact, feel free to read The Prevailing Age of Skepticism and Moral Degradation

Community Built on the Foundation of the Holy Spirit

This post is dedicated to ERobb for her friendship, kind contributions, and understanding/sharing my viewpoints on community and solitude.

Toward the end of Jesus' ministry, He began to talk about how he would be leaving the apostles. Thoroughly enjoying fellowship with Jesus on Earth, many of the apostles could not comprehend the necessity behind His departure. They insisted that Jesus remain with them, but in John 16:7, He responded by saying, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." The Helper that Jesus was speaking of was the Holy Spirit, which is contained within each and every believer in Christ. It assists us in many ways and is quite powerful because it is the living God in all of us. I've borne witness to its amazing power on some of my deployments with Samaritan's Purse because without the Holy Spirit, some of the volunteers would not be able to do what they were doing because they were so far out of their everyday comfort zone.
Not only is the Holy Spirit powerful enough to allow us to gracefully function outside of our comfort zones, but it is what holds the body of Christ together. What many may not realize is that the Holy Spirit binds us to one another, creating a great big family. As Chris Smith said in an article for the Gospel Coalition, "The New Testament reveals that family ties—the strongest human bonds—are redefined not by biological relationships, but by mutual faith in Christ." Through our love of Christ, we can discover and acquire an entire new family if we so choose. Unfortunately, our natural instinct is to seek solitude and avoid community because we are either pursuing our own selfish desires, or we don't understand the importance of a solid Christian community. Proverbs 18:1 warns against this solitude by stating, "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment." Obviously remaining within a community of believers must be important if it is included in the wisdom that Solomon chose to impart to others. Rather than be self seeking, we must focus on the Holy Spirit within us, which will draw us into community and fellowship with others. As C.S. Lewis put it, "No man can be an exile if he remembers that all the world is one city."
It is necessary to look back at the original Christian church to fully appreciate the bonds of community and how we are all tied to one another. Our goal should be to emulate the first century church in our interactions with fellow Christians. "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common," is what's written in Acts 4:32 describing this first century group of believers. The Holy Spirit provided them with a singular heart and mindset creating a commonality within the group. Their group dynamics molded them into a tight knit family. They wanted to live their lives in service to one another by reflecting the words found in Galatians 6:2 ~ "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." It is the duty of the community to help and assist one another in any way possible. This requires us to live outside of the walls of isolation and put other's needs ahead of our own. Though this may sound impossible at first, over time and through prayer, the Holy Spirit will give you the mindset to act in an unselfish manner. By putting the needs of others first, you will grow even closer to fellow believers.
The bonds we have with our fellow Christians are strong and unyielding due to our common faith. As the authors of the book Creature of the Word wrote, "Unity in the gospel is much deeper than surface uniformity." In the secular world, we maintain friendships in category subsets that have few, if any, overlaps. You might have friends who shared your college major, others who enjoy similar sports interests, or others with similar music tastes. An amazing aspect of great Christian community, though, is the fact that the Holy Spirit can transcend all boundaries and bind us together in spite of our differences. "The reason Christian love will stand out and bear witness to Jesus is that it is a display, for Jesus' sake, of mutual love for social incompatibles," is a really powerful and eye-opening quote from a D.A. Carson book. By analyzing the community of believers I surround myself with, it becomes evermore apparent that only the Holy Spirit binds me to them. That's because this group of believers consists of a retired firefighter, an accountant, a personal trainer, a registered nurse, a fashion designer, a jazz musician, an avionics specialist, an unemployed computer geek, school teachers, eye doctors, scuba enthusiasts, a marine helicopter pilot, stay at home moms, social workers, a fitness manager/custom painted shoe artist, a pharmacy tech, an outdoor recreation enthusiast, a 911 operator, a college professor, a concert pianist, and an engineering student, just to name a few. Each time I think of all of these family members, I consider the intricate plan that God formulated in order for me to cross paths with these individuals. I know that He has a hand in every aspect of my life and that these people were placed in my path for specific reasons, and for that I'm very thankful.
For a Christian community to be fully effective, the members of the community must not become apathetic about the ability to gather together, and they also must understand how to find a healthy balance between fellowship and solitude. In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brethren is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed." We aren't to neglect the blessing of community by forfeiting it out of laziness or selfishness. In the United States, there are no consequences for Christians who meet together and so we let community go to the wayside. In some foreign countries, though, Christian's who meet risk punishment or death, which is why they appreciate the sweetness of fellowship above and beyond those who can freely meet. Rather than becoming apathetic, let us constantly yearn to remain connected to a Christian community. As it is written in Hebrews 10:24-25, "Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Our motivation to love and care for each other should stem out of the knowledge that the last day is creeping closer and Jesus will soon be returning. Why not spend our days encouraging one another and glorifying God in the process?

One danger about community is that some might develop an unhealthy dependence on others. This is on the opposite side of the spectrum to those who have no desire to meet in any form of community. A balance must be struck in order to garner the benefits of fellowship while still being able to maintain a  sense of self. Some forget that solitude is necessary in order to build one's relationship with Jesus by reading the Bible. Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers an ample description involving the dangers of imbalance:  

"One who wants fellowship without solitude plunges into the void of words and feelings, and one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair." We must find solitude with Jesus so we can learn how to love others. Then we can bring that love into our communities in order to serve and love one another just like Jesus.
In closing, if you're blessed with a Christian community that becomes like family, don't neglect it or take it for granted. We need each other more than we know. "The physical presence of other believers is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer," is how Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it. In the past couple of months, I have discovered this joy honestly and truly for the very first time. At the moment, there is a ten hour distance between me and the majority of that family. It is my hope and my prayer, though, that God has a plan to provide me with a way to be put in closer proximity with them so that we can encourage one another and share the true joy of community that Bonhoeffer wrote about.

Steadfast Hope

"'I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.'" ~John 16:33

One thing we all need in order to survive and endure trials is hope. Desperate times can make people do crazy things or just drive them into a deep, endless depression. Only through hope in Christ can people spot the light at the end of the tunnel and keep persevering day after day.

Today in the trailer park we opted to utilize our time by going to various individuals who had given their lives to Christ back in November to see how they were coping. Many of the people were in need of encouragement and a reminder of the power of the Holy Spirit within them. There was one couple that my heart just broke for because of the situation they are stuck in. Mold has overtaken much of their trailer, the furnace doesn't work, their pipes burst in the cold snap so they have no hot water, and there are cracks in the roof which allows rain into their home during every storm. The living conditions have really impacted their health, with the one guy battling laryngitis every morning, along with constant wheezing due to the mold irritating his asthma. What amazed me, though, was the fact that neither one of them were angry. Their response was pretty much, "It is what it is." They admitted to being frustrated and Jim tried to remind them that their hope was in Christ and that He would provide a way to a better situation. The only saving grace is that they have a car, so they aren't completely trapped in their trailer.

Another couple that we visited were struggling with limited mobility and no form of transportation. I honestly think that the woman has only been outside a handful of times in the past four months because she is in a wheelchair. She is hoping that a ramp will soon be installed so she can at least go around the trailer park and enjoy the fresh air, rather than just sitting inside and staring out the window. We asked how her heart was and she admitted that she was dealing with some depression because she couldn't get the thought of a fight she had with her mother before she died out of her head. I liked the spin that Jim put on it, though. He asked how many years they had spent together and she said 64. Jim then said that she should focus on the happiness within those 64 years as opposed to the 5 minute fight she was choosing to dwell on. Honestly, it's all a matter of perspective, and the only reason you fight with someone is because you love them.

It was amazing to see God working today and utilizing us to provide hope in a broken community. God can overcome any hardship and any disaster that befalls our lives if we just open up to Him and communicate through prayers, allowing the Holy Spirit into our hearts. 1 John 5:4 states that, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." We must never forget that by our faith in Jesus Christ we have the power to tackle any obstacle along our path through life. Satan can try his best to wear us down and whisper lies to us in our despair, but through the power of our faith in Jesus, anything and everything can be conquered.

The Word Needs to Be Read

"How would you know to be Christ-like if you don’t even read the Bible to know how Christ is." ~Francis Chan

I had a bit of a wake up call the other day. One of my blog followers brought to my attention that I might be a bit weak in the faith department if I'm so easily influenced by my coworkers, allowing the world to slowly control my actions. His suggestion was that I needed to make sure to read the Bible everyday so that I'm constantly immersed in the Word. Some might have a knee-jerk reaction of anger, but I was actually quite thankful for the carefully worded rebuke and advice.

In Galatians 5:16, we are told, "...walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." But what I've come to realize is that one cannot understand the inner workings of the Spirit if the Word is not read. Only God can provide us with the wisdom on how to lead our lives and act in the world, and if the Bible is neglected, our faith weakens and we're easily influenced by the world that surrounds us on a daily basis. 

My follower suggested reading Psalm 51, which I found quite useful, particularly verse 51:10, which says, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Too often humans insist on going about their lives on their own without consulting God. Even though we are weak and sinful creatures, we continually insist that we know best. On the contrary, we are the ones most likely to bungle our lives and end up in a mess if we don't refresh our Spirit everyday by reading the Word and understanding how to walk as a Christian. It is my goal to make reading the Bible a priority in my life in order to help prevent being so easily influenced by the unbelievers who surround me on a regular basis.

Holy Week: God Longs for the Lost

"Then Jesus told them this parable: 'Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.'" ~Luke 15:3-7
During Holy Week, I think it's important to reflect upon Jesus as our Savior. Without the events that took place over two thousand years ago that led to His crucifixion and resurrection, we would not have had our sins paid for in full in order to enjoy eternal life in heaven through Christ. I opened with the Parable of the Lost Sheep because I think in today's society, it is easy for people, especially unbelievers, to feel unimportant to God. If trials seem to be a big part of your life as an unbeliever, you might feel as if God has forgotten about you or that He is trying to torment you for some unknown reason. The truth is, He may just be waiting for your acknowledgement of Him because as the parable states, there is much rejoicing in heaven for the one sinner who repents. God longs for the lost to find their way back to Him. There is proof in this when you open up to 2 Peter 3:9, which says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." The problem is, only those who know they are lost will ever figure out that they need a Savior.
Let me paint a picture for you. For those who are runners, you should be able to follow this analogy fairly easily. For those of you who aren't runners, bear with me and I also have a second analogy to further expand your thinking on the matter. In the sport of cross country, courses are marked with painted arrows on the ground, on trees, or with cones. When you're part of the visiting team, you walk the course before you run it in order to imprint it on your mind. One might run into trouble, though, if he or she wasn't paying attention during the course walk, or if there happen to be some faded markers from previous courses. By following these trails that are no longer utilized, one can become lost and stray off course. The problem is that it is hard to know you're lost in the woods when all of the trees look the same, and when you're convinced you're on the right path. You might have fans telling you to head back in the other direction because you've strayed, but if you're convinced they're wrong and you're right, you may not get back on track in time. Instead, you might end up at a Wendy's billboard on the edge of a highway and then you realize you were wrong all along. Things might have ended differently if you had listened to the fans, or if it was your coach who happened to tell you to turn back because the coach always wants what is best for you. This is similar to when you stray away in life. The fans, or your friends and family, might be telling you that you're heading in the wrong direction. Problem is, you don't always want to listen to them because you don't think that they know what is best for you. Only if the coach, or Jesus, points you back to the right path will you truly believe that you've strayed. But sometimes not everybody listens to Jesus because they don't feel they need help. Let's move on to my second analogy.
Technology seems to rule the world these days. The claim is that all of the devices make life easier for us, but I think there are some who begin to rely too heavily on technology, and there can be some severe consequences. It seems these days that a device that nobody can leave home without if they're going on a long trip is a GPS. Many people like to punch in the address on this device and let it guide them to they're destination. I much prefer maps because I prefer to do my own analysis of the route and know what other roads I'll encounter. Maps have been around forever and are always up to date and relevant for the times. A GPS relies on satellites and has the habit of not knowing what street you're looking for, so it finds something it deems "close." In a sense, the road maps and travel atlases are much like the Bible. It's an ancient text that provides detailed background on Jesus, our Savior, yet some don't feel like taking the time to study it because it's time consuming or confusing, like a map. Many more choose the GPS route for it's simplicity, but don't recognize that it doesn't always bring them to the correct destination, causing them to get lost. This is how the Prince of Darkness functions. He leads us astray by promising an easy route through life, but the destination is not what we hoped. Much like the GPS, we could be heading for a cliff and not even know it.
What needs to happen is to have that little beacon go off in your brain to signal, "Oh, crap I'm lost and need help!" It's only when we finally realize that we've gone the wrong way that we can receive help. If we constantly believe that we are not going the wrong way and don't need help, help can never be received. Those who have hardened their hearts to Jesus can never be rescued by the one and only Savior because they refuse to admit they need saving. It is true that we are saved by God's grace and God's grace only, but we have the free will to accept Him into our hearts or to banish Him from our hearts.
During this Holy Week, I urge you to really consider coming to Jesus and admitting you need saving if you haven't already. He is the only way into heaven, and there will be much rejoicing in heaven if you choose to lay down your burdens at His feet and repent of the sins you've committed. Be like the author of "Amazing Grace," who, "once was lost, but now I'm found; was blind, but now I see." Coming to Jesus is a real eye-opening experience, but it's also not an easy route. Becoming a Christian isn't a quick fix like the prosperity Gospel says. Instead, we are to share in His sufferings, just like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:5 ~ "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." We are to suffer for the name of Christ, but we are to remember that all glory, joy, and comfort also comes from Him. There is no better week to reflect on Christ's suffering than this, for on Good Friday, He was beaten and put to death for our sins. This was the greatest penalty that was handed out, but it was so the greatest gift could be given to us on Easter Sunday, through Christ's resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit. All the lost must do is sincerely accept Jesus into their hearts, repent of their sins, and there will be great rejoicing in heaven for the return of one of God's lost sheep to share in the eternal kingdom.

W.A.I.T. Part 10: Has Your Love for Others Become Conditional?

Back in the fall during the Occupy Wall Street Movement, I realized how much the people in this nation feel as if they are owed something. People right out of college were expecting extravagent salaries, instead of remembering that we all need to work from the bottom up. This frame of mind can soon become disastorous not only when looking for a job, but within the body of Christ.
Christ calls us to love each other, which doesn't seem like a terribly hard task at first. What some encounter, though, is that the level at which they demonstrate their love to another is not matched by the recipient. When this occurs, some have a tendency to become frustrated and begin to not want to act out of love because they feel as if they are getting nothing out of the deal. At times like this, we need to dive back into the Word, specifically Galatians 6:9-10, which says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." We should never stop being generous to others, especially fellow believers, even if it feels like a one way street. A sense of entitlement should never exist. In order to thrive as a Christian, we must continuously shower others with love, even when we don't feel like it. Our love should never be conditional (though it often is), and we should never hold high expectations of others. Each person expresses love in a different way, so comparing how someone acts towards you is futile.
I'm not saying that always demonstrating love to others is easy. My hope is that you will realize that as a human being, it's practically impossible to demonstrate unconditional love to all. This may be depressing to think about, but what should bring joy is the fact that God loves you with a perfect, unconditional love. None of us deserve it, but because we are His creation, He loves us.
In order to thrive in God's love, we must love Jesus as our Savior and then demonstrate love to those around us. Instead of focusing on how you feel others owe you for how kind you've been to them, remember that God loves you no matter what and has sacrificed His own Son to save you while you were an undeserving sinner. This thought should stir something inside of you to want to lavish others with love so that your life as a Christian begins to thrive once again. To serve as a reminder, read what Paul said in Acts 20:35: "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Through the grace of God, Paul was able to serve others as Jesus had commanded. We are also blessed with God's grace when we accept Jesus into our hearts, which will aid us in loving others above ourselves.

W.A.I.T. Part 9: Life Transformation and Associating With the World

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

Christians are meant to stand out from the world because Christians try to adhere to the Holy Spirit and not to the ways of the world. Lately, this might seem more and more difficult because Christians get such negative labels in the media and are accused of being narrow-minded. But don't let this sway you in your beliefs because you are here on Earth to serve God, not man. As the above passage suggests, we are to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and are not to conform with the world, as tempting as that may be sometimes. A lot of people try to assuage their sinfulness by claiming that everybody is a sinner and what they did really wasn't that bad. The problem with that way of thinking, though, is that you are trying to place blame elsewhere and not take Scripture seriously. In order to be transformed, we must be convicted in our hearts to abide by the Word of God. 

"When you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." These words from Ephesians 4:21-24 direct us to rid our lives of the evil desires within our hearts. Without the disposal of our earthly lives in which we do as we please with no thought to the negative impact of our actions, we are unable to come into a relationship with Christ and be born again. I'm not saying that the minute you decide to be a Christian you will no longer sin; that is impossible. But once you are convicted in your heart to follow Christ and abide in the Holy Spirit, blatant and outright sin will be reduced in your life gradually because of your awareness. Those who know Scripture try to follow it to the best of their abilities, and when they stumble, they repent of the sins they committed.

To gain a better picture of what it means to live by the Holy Spirit, lets look at Galatians 5:16-25 which says, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." These verses outline the desires of our sinful nature and states that we must squelch these thoughts and desires, which is no easy task. With the acceptance of Jesus in our hearts, though, we gain the ability to slowly follow the ways of the Spirit. Over time, somebody should be able to recognize the transformation that has occurred in your life once you become a Christian. If there are no hints of the fruit of the Spirit in your life though, there could be a problem. You might still be giving in wholeheartedly to your sinful nature and need to strengthen your relationship with Christ because without the desire to change and be more like Him, you never will overcome the ways of this world. 

When someone who claims to be a member of the Body of Christ still continues to blatantly sin, it is the church's job to rebuke this person so that they come to their senses. But what members of the church must remember, and unfortunately often forget, is that this rebuke of blatant sin should only be directed at those who are within the church of believers. We run into trouble when we rebuke unbelievers because that means we are not only stepping outside our "scope of practice" but we are actually stepping on God's toes. 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 says it this way: "But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked person from among you.'" Paul is very specific in telling us that we are to not associate with the blatant sinners within our congregations, not all of the blatant sinners outside of the church. Paul makes this point in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10 "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world."

Life on Earth is always this careful balance of trying to live by the Spirit, but not coming off as "holier than thou" to all of the unbelievers in the world. It is not our job to judge what they do, but it is our job to minister to them in the hopes that Christ can transform their hearts. Jesus said, "'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,'" in Matthew 28:19-20. I'm not saying that this will be an easy task, though. The state of the world is such that relativism thrives. According to the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, relativism is sometimes identified as the thesis that all points of view are equally valid. When people have this point of view, it is very difficult to tell them about their need for a Savior because in their own minds, they are doing nothing wrong and don't need to be saved. Nobody likes to admit that what they are doing is wrong, but most are willing to accuse others of doing something wrong. I think C.S. Lewis said it best when he stated, "If we do not believe in decent behavior, why should we be so anxious to makes excuses for not having behaved decently?" Getting somebody to realize this could possibly help soften their hearts and open them up to hearing about Jesus. 

Again, I'll reiterate that it is wrong for us to go out into the world and condemn it for all of its actions. By doing this, we would then fit the bill of the "narrow-minded Christian quack." I'm not saying that you should agree with how the world is behaving or that you should support the desired changes some are seeking, but I don't believe that condemning people for their lifestyles or actions when they are not Christians is the path to take. I think all we can do in these situations is to try and mirror what Jesus did when he lived. Referring to Mark 2:15-17, I believe there is much to be learned from this passage: "While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" 

The best way to check yourself to determine if you are shedding your worldliness is to compare your life to the fruits of the Spirit. As long as you are making progress over time to no longer conform to the worldly points of view and desires, you are on the path to thriving as a Christian. We will all have our days when we stumble, but just remember to confess those sins and ask for forgiveness. The desire to repent for wrongs is always a good sign. Only when you find yourself being apathetic towards sin and being blatant in your sinning will you run into trouble. Also, never forget to evangelize to those around you, but be careful not to condemn the nonbelievers. It is not your job to judge, but to plant seeds. Let God be the judge of those who choose to reject Him. Instead, focus on your own life and how to thrive in the Holy Spirit.

Shine Brilliantly

I am not sure who wrote the following article, other than it being a woman from Sullivan County, NY. It was in the local newspaper and my mother was kind enough to pass it along to me in the mail.

"I have read that the most precious and expensive jewels are displayed against a backdrop of black material so that when light shines upon them they appear to shine most brilliantly. They are best showcased in darkness.
Many times we may feel plunged into darkness as we experience the trials and tribulations, the sorrows and suffering and pain of life. I'm sure that's how Job must have felt. He was a very wealthy man who was God-fearing, upright and blameless. He suddenly lost everything he had - his ten children, his numerous herds, and finally his health. His wealth was reduced to nothing, and as he sat in the ash heap nursing his wounds, the darkness was closing in.
But Job knew God would never forsake him, and he continued to talk to Him about what was happening. He says in Job 23:17, 'Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.'
He came to the conclusion that, 'when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.' (Job 23:10).
When precious jewels are displayed in darkness, a light shines above them, causing them to shine and sparkle more brightly. When we find ourselves enveloped in darkness, we must keep our focus on the Lord, our source of light. If we look away, all will remain dark. But as we look to the light, we shine more brightly as God's light is reflected in us.
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made His light shine in our hearts...we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:6-9).
The darkness that God allows in our lives to showcase us in not an evil that will ultimately destroy us, but a darkness in which we may draw attention to the light within and let God shine through us. When the darkness has finished its work, we will come forth as gold. If we do not fight against the darkness, but learn from it and let God work in and through us, it will be removed when it has completed its purpose.
Job remained faithful to the Lord during this time of great darkness, even defending God to others. When the time was complete, Job had a better understanding of who God was and God removed the darkness.
All was restored to Job, and even multiplied. He had ten more children, and his herds and wealth were doubled. 'The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first' (Job 42:12). Never give up on God, no matter how dark things look. He is faithful to see us through."

Perspective to be Grateful

In this era of the Occupy Wall Street campaign, I feel that many people have lost perspective on what they do have. Instead, they tend to focus on what they don't have and then decide to use the world as their sounding board. They forget to listen to the words found in Philippians 4:6, which says, "Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Whatever happened to enjoying the little things in life? Why must we constantly belittle people with our rants that are self-focused? When did you need the best of everything in order to be happy? Our happiness should be within us because we have the Holy Spirit, not found in some material object or in having the most friends. Popularity never works and tends to backfire. As Aristotle once said, "A friend to all is a friend to none."
So instead of dwelling on what you don't have, focus on what you do have. I am thankful for loving parents, my generous brother, a great friendship with my roommate, the cutest kitty ever, an apartment to live in, a car to drive, electronic devices to help me communicate in this digital age, food to eat, clean water for a shower, clothing to wear, the ability to read, my health, blankets to keep me warm, the opportunity to gain a Masters degree in exercise science, the ability to exercise, etc. I'm sure I could go on and on, but then this blog post would turn into a novel. So I challenge you to make note of the blessings in your life instead of the shortcomings and either right them down on a piece of paper for yourself, or feel free to live a list in the comments of this post. I guarantee you will be able to come up with more to be thankful for than things to complain about.

Overcome the World

The world is a sinful place. There is no escaping it. When we let it lead our thoughts, we begin to lose our joy and happiness. Instead, we become infused with anger and doubts about every aspect of our lives. We are quick to jump the gun on judging others and condemning them for their actions before they can even explain themselves. It is at this point that we need to reference passages in Matthew 7 to remind ourselves how to regain our composure and live. Matthew 7:1-2 clearly state, "'Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.'" Jesus is telling us that it is not only not our job to judge others, but when we do so unjustly, we pile all of that unfairness onto our own heads that we must stand up under as well. This was illustrated well in a post on the blog Abundant Life entitled, "I can see your issues but not mine."
I forget where exactly, but I always remember hearing a quote along the lines of "what you don't like in others is really what you despise in yourself." This has been true of my life as of late. I have been frustrated by another's perceived selfishness, but when I look at the matter, the thoughts I have been thinking reflect my own selfish desires. I have also been aware that when I do get my way in a matter, I'm still never content in the matter. Instead, I find myself lashing out in anger, driving people away, just because the sin of pride has a grip on my heart.
So what is the best way to solve this matter? That would be to focus on the words of guidance found in Matthew 7:12, which recommend, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." This is more commonly known as The Golden Rule. But when you really read into the statement, you will realize that it goes way beyond what we are taught under The Golden Rule. We are not just called to not treat others poorly because we wouldn't want to be treated in that fashion. We are also called to treat others in a manner that we desire others to treat us, even if you feel that they don't deserve it. In this generation, we only desire to do good if we feel it will be reciprocated. It is almost impossible to act out in kindness when we know that we may never get anything out of it. And that is exactly the point that Jesus is trying to make. We can't do anything without the Holy Spirit and God's grace. It is not in our human nature to do good unto others. Instead, the only way to live out the words of Matthew 7:12 is to pray to God for His assistance.
Many will struggle with the concept of praying to act in good faith towards others. That is another deceitful ploy executed from our sin nature. It convinces us that we can do everything on our own, but in essence, this is just making us a fool. The best way to live out your life effectively is to turn to God and seek His wisdom on all matters. Solomon did this and he left the wisdom he gathered from God on the pages of the Book of Proverbs. From reading the first two chapters, I have discovered that there is a vast difference between knowledge and wisdom. My NIV Life Application Study Bible states that knowledge is "having the facts" while wisdom is "applying those facts to life." We all have the knowledge of how to act and how to treat others, but if we do not apply these facts in our life, then we are simple-minded fools. We must heed the warning within Proverbs 1:32-33, which says, "For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." Choose now to not be a wayward, simple-minded fool who believes that he/she has control over situations and shelling out kindness. We are all sinful creatures and nothing about us without God knows of kindness, love, or righteousness. Call on Jesus as your intercessor to live a fuller life and to get out of the clutches of this world. Don't live or desire to be apart of it. Instead, overcome the world with the help of a Savior.

Analysis: How I Relate to Switchfoot's New Album Vice Verses

“I can't just shut it up and fake that I'm alright.”           

“Cause everyday the world is made. A chance to change but I feel the same. And I wonder why would I wait till I die to come alive? I'm ready now.”

~Afterlife

There is no use pretending that you are fine. You are merely lying to yourself and to everyone around you. The best change you can possibly make is to center your life around Christ in order to become truly alive.

“Speak your mind up. Come on baby free yourself.”

“Free yourself; don't let nobody try and take your soul. You're the original.”

“So you say you're just a lost soul; I know you better than that.”

“So you say you're just a face in city race wasted and sick of it all.”

~The Original

When possible and when you gain the courage, always speak your mind. Don't let anybody suppress your feelings or opinions. We all feel lost at times, but with God on our side, everything will be alright. He knows what is on your heart at all times. Also, methodical living can always get you down, but your goal is to keep looking up.

“Breathe out let your mind unwind. Eyes on the ceiling, looking for the feeling.”

“Yeah, it's where the fight begins. Yeah, underneath the skin between these hopes and where we've been. Every fight comes from the fight within. I am the war inside.”

“I am the war I fight.”

“Ain't no killer like pride. No killer like I. No killer like what's inside.”

~The War Inside

We are all fighting an internal battle against demons. We get infused with lies that we can begin to believe if we don't ask for the strength of the Holy Spirit. The biggest killer is our pride because it drives us to convince ourselves that we are the most important things on this planet, so we must guard ourselves in order to prevent it from being a destructive killer.

“I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore; I’m looking for you. I am the one that you left behind, I am the thorn stuck in your side. I am the bored and clouded eyes looking for the well that won’t run dry. Running hard for the other side, the world that I’ve always been denied. Running hard for the infinite with the tears of the saints and hypocrites.”

~Restless

We all get restless here on Earth searching for more meaning to our lives. It is best to always run towards God and strive to know more about His character. Best to run from the worldly in search of Christ. The stronger the desire, the more tears shed if we are denied the other side.

“Hey girl, don't conform now. No one else's got soul like you. Hey girl, you're a strong one, but none of us are bulletproof.”

“Deep down there's a hope inside. You got wings but you're scared to fly. Wake up, wake up.”

“Still looking for the reason why. Still looking for the sun to shine.”

“All my life I've been living in the darkest night.”

“Deep down there's a hope inside brighter than the fears in my mind. I keep looking for the blinding light. It's a hope that keeps me alive.”

~Blinding Light
Our human nature desires to fit in, but as Christian's, we are called to be different. We are urged not to conform because we are all uniquely and wonderfully made. Fear also overwhelms us whenever change is inevitable. We need to spread our wings and be brave enough to fly instead of remaining grounded due to doubts in our mind. God's love is that blinding light that can ease the fears in our minds and bring hope for a brighter tomorrow.

“See, opinions are easier to swallow than facts. The greys instead of the whites and the blacks. If you shoot it too straight it won't come back.”

“I wanna believe you, I wanna believe, but everything is in-between. The fact is fiction. Suspicion is the new religion.”

~Selling the News
Satan has injected doubt into this age of technology. The ability to believe based sheerly on our heart's desire has been greatly impacted in this know-it-all generation. This mounting doubt has created a cloud of suspicion over almost every aspect of life.

“Been fighting things that I can't see like voices coming from the inside of me. Like doing things I find hard to believe in. Am I myself or am I dreaming?”

“No, I'm not alright. I know that I'm not right.”

“A warm body doesn't mean I'm alive.”

“Feel like I travel but I never arrive. I wanna thrive not just survive.”

“I try and hide it and not let it show, but deep down inside me I just don't know. Am I a man if I feel like a hoax?”

~Thrive
The voices inside us are derived from our sinful nature. It is hard to ignore them, which can lead us into a situation that we don't desire to be in and don't agree with. Sinful nature covers us like a cloud, which makes it hard to determine who we are and what we are doing. We are unaware of what's reality. It is also natural to question the strength of your faith and whether you truly believe or are just living out the lie of a hypocrite. We aren't truly living until we are living with Christ.

“I've made my mistakes, I've seen my heart cave in. I got my scars I've been to hell and back again. Born for the blue skies, we’ll survive the rain. Born for the sunrise, we’ll survive the pain.”

“Hey, you can’t count us out. We’ve been running up against the crowd. Yeah, we are the dark horses.”

~Dark Horses
We are all running against the crowd and we must continue to do so in order to please God. No matter what pain crushes your heart, it is best to remain in God's favor instead of striving to please other sinful humans who cannot bring us any true satisfaction in life.

“Here’s to the twilight. Here’s to the memories. These are my souvenirs; my mental pictures of everything.”

“So I close my eyes and go back in time. I can see you smiling, you’re so alive.”

“We were so young, we had no idea that nothing lasts forever.”

~Souvenirs
Life always runs astray. We can desperately try to catch up and maintain control, or we can let it go and ask God what path He desires for your life. You will always have your memories of happy times, but don't let the past prevent you from enjoying the present. Circumstances and people change and nothing lasts forever, so stop trying to prevent the change.


"I don't care what they're telling me. We could be what we want to be. Rise above it."
"Just because you're running doesn't mean that you're scared. Just because it's law doesn't mean it is fair. Never let another tell your soul what to fear."
~Rise Above It
Always follow your own heart and don't let anybody keep you from being who you want to be. It is better to take the high road than to argue with people's assumptions about your life. By running, one may just be looking for a new beginning and isn't actually scared of the circumstances. There's also the old adage that life isn't fair and we can't depend on any law on Earth to bring us peace of mind. Always look to God for guidance and not your peers. God knows your heart and what you truly fear. Everybody else can just make assumptions about your deepest fears, and few will truly care about them or help you face them.

“Looking for signs in the night sky, wishing that I wasn’t such a nice guy. Wonder what it means to live forever? Wonder what it means to die?”

“I know that there's a meaning to it all. A little resurrection every time I fall.”

“Every blessing comes with a set of curses.”

“The wind could be my new obsession. The wind could be my new depression. The wind goes anywhere it wants to, wishing that I learned my lesson.”

“Where are you in my broken heart? Everything seems to fall apart.”

~Vice Verses
After awhile, some begin to realize that the sinner seems to have it easier than the believer. This causes us to wish that we weren't so nice and caring in order to avoid pain. It is natural to desire to live forever and be scared of death while constantly questioning its meaning. We are all well aware that God has a purpose behind everything and we yearn for life's meaning. Life is full of blessings, but hardships tend to accompany them. Our souls desire to be free like the wind, which can consume us in obsession, though we might become depressed when we realize that we cannot let our soul go everywhere it is drawn. When we encounter numerous hardships and our heart breaks constantly, leading to our world to fall apart, we begin to question God's existence and whether He is aware of our pain. We must trust that He is there even when our world is caving in.

“Still looking for a home in a world where I belong. Feels like we're just waiting, waiting while our hearts are just breaking, breaking. Feels like we're fighting against the tide.”

“On the final day I die I want to hold my head up high. I want to tell You that I tried.”

“And when I reach the other side I want to look You in the eye and know that I've arrived in a world where I belong.”

~Where I Belong
On Earth, we hardly ever feel like we belong. Constantly, we feel lost and broken because we look for happiness in all of the wrong places. God desires for us to call on Him, but we fight against the tide because we convince ourselves that we can do it on our own. Eventually, we'll all realize how much we need God and we will desire to try and live in a way to please Him. Our end goal should be heaven, which is the only place where we will feel like we belong.

Use the Short End of the Stick as an Educational Tool

I'm sure everybody in the world has felt like he or she has gotten shafted at some moment in their lives; some more than others. It is definitely not a pleasant feeling when you feel like you got the short end of the stick in a situation. The first desired reaction is to lash out, or rant and rave. This may very well be warranted, but take a moment to think before you start spewing all kinds of information.
A few weeks back I was flipping through the book of Proverbs and came across a verse that was very insightful. Proverbs 10:18 states, "He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool." Initially, this verse put me in quite a predicament. Recently, I have found myself in a situation that I do not view as "fair" and I feel like I have been given the short end of the stick. My first reaction of course is the desire to vent my rage over my so-called injustice. This is sometimes not smart because it could lead to inadvertent slander, which would make me a fool. I also know that it is not smart to contain any hatred because that would make me a liar if anybody asked me how I felt about the situation and I claimed that it didn't bother me at all.
Many of you might be wondering what the other possible alternative is to alleviate any feelings of injustice. My answer is to turn to Jesus and pray about it. Not only does He know everything that goes on in your life (Psalm 139:1-4 ~ "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely."), but you are also very important to Him. This becomes apparent when reading Luke 12:6-7, which states, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." To top this all off, He is also very aware of what it feels like to suffer an injustice. Do not forget that He died for your sins, but He was a sinless man. Read the following verses to remind yourself what Jesus did for you:
Romans 8:3-4 ~ "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 5:21 ~ "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
1 Peter 2:24 ~ "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed."
In the grand scheme of things, any injustice you might face here on this Earth cannot possibly come close to the greatest injustice in history: Christ dying on the cross. What needs to be realized, though, is that this injustice was necessary for us to acquire the Holy Spirit and be able to receive eternal life through God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9 ~ "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and in this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.") With this in mind, there might be a reason behind any injustice you face in life, and it will be revealed to you at an appropriate time when you can learn from the circumstance.

Alone in a Faraway Land

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in a foreign country with hardly a soul who speaks in a tongue you understand? Ever wonder how you will convey your thoughts to those around you with the small bits of vocabulary and grammar you possess of the language in the country you are visiting? Currently, this happens to be my reality as I am in Germany with my brother visiting relatives from my Dad's side of the family for the next 10 days.
So far it has been quite an experience, but difficulties have presented themselves. For one, my German is nicht so gut (not very good). Then, of course, my brother is not only male, but a Muth male, making him a man of few, if any words at times, and those words are most likely in German as well. I love him dearly, but this makes life difficult for me when I tend to enjoy conversation and banter throughout my day. There is a chance he will read this or StumbleUpon this blog, so I apologize to you, Nick, but I am just trying to lay out facts, not criticism.
I'm sure God is greatly amused by my little predicament. It's almost like He is saying, "Hey, Kayla. Stop trying to rely on others or yourself so much and talk to Me." Maybe He is also trying to see if I will drive myself crazy talking to myself over the next 10 days. Anything is certainly possible, but it is a challenge I am willing to meet head on. I refuse to worry about what I might do because that is not how I am meant to spend my time whilst 3000 some odd miles from home. Matthew 6:34 says, "Therefore, don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." I can certainly relate to this because each day boasts its own new, unique challenges. These challenges range from eating what Oma cooks in order to help re-enforce the fact that I do actually like her cooking, navigating the streets of Frankfurt after the Women's World Cup Final, to trying to exchange currency. I also know my future will certainly have plenty because I am currently jobless and practically everybody I know is talking about wanting a change of scenery or location in life and these are just situations God will help guide me through and accept.
As much as I feel I can conquer each challenge, I still feel relatively alone in the matter. As I said earlier, Nick isn't one for socializing currently, and the rest of the family knows maybe 20 English words, tops. Which leaves me myself and God to talk to for the majority of this foreign excursion. Thankfully, I know and trust that God is always there to listen, especially in my frustration. The Holy Spirit is housed within me; even if I don't see it, I know it is there. Hebrews 11:1 states, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Just because we don't see God on a daily basis doesn't mean He isn't there. He has been with me every step of the way so far, that's for sure. He has kept me from being my usual, overthinking self, which is a blessing because I surely would have gone crazy by now if that wasn't the case.
I have come to realize that it is the times that I am most alone that God is probably the most present and He urges us to talk to Him in prayer. Prayer demands alone time, and I have taken advantage of such opportunities, especially yesterday on my 17 minute ride from Oberursel to Frankfurt on the S5. I prayed for greater understanding of the German language, patience with everybody, and the ability to consume any and all meals my Oma prepared. Thankfully, the words of Luke 11:9-10 (So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.) rang true in my life. I was able to hold a decent conversation with my Aunt Edith later in the evening, and actually received a complement on my improving German (which is a surprise because she is apt to be the most critical at times) and I was able to have my entire bowl of zucchini soup and fried potato pancakes (yes, you read that correctly, SOUP). All in all, a very successful day thanks to answered prayer.
So maybe, just maybe, I won't go crazy by the end of this trip, but we'll have to see what the next 9 days have to offer. The best advice, though, is to pray constantly to the One who can always provide help.

Sanctification is Perpetual and Demands Perseverance

Some of you might be new to reading the Bible, while others may have been doing it for years. Still others may have drifted from the Word, but are grasping at footholds to find their way back to Christ. Regardless of where you are in your journey, you are bound to come across John 17:17, 19, which say, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” If any of you are like me, you probably pondered what is meant by the phrase ‘truly sanctified’. As defined by The Westminster Shorter Catechism, sanctification means: “The work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.” I prefer the definition offered by my NIV Life Application Study Bible, which defines sanctification as, “The change God makes in our lives as we grow in faith. Becoming more and more like Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit.”

For some, this is a lot to fathom and digest. It is hard to imagine living like Christ because He was the only perfect being. We are not called to be perfect, though. We are called to live out Christ’s character to the best of our abilities. This does not mean that we won’t screw up because, believe me, you will. To serve as a reminder, refer to Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. On Earth, we are constantly at war internally against our sinful nature, and unfortunately, it occasionally wins.

I feel like I haven’t put much effort into defending myself against my sinful nature. Recently, I have drifted into a realm of self-righteousness where I feel I have become way too critical of others and am only concerned with my own wellbeing. This is definitely not a healthy place to be in. My wakeup call came when a close friend, and fellow Christian, rebuked me for my actions and felt it best I take some time to re-evaluate what is important to me before we speak in person again. As hurt as I was when this first came to light, I am now extremely thankful for her courage. I desperately needed to come to my senses and remember that it is necessary to always be on guard against sin, in spite of knowing I am saved through Christ. Another passage from Romans makes this clearer. Romans 6:1-2, states, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” The essence of this scripture is that, even though we are saved by grace, does not mean we should abuse that privilege. If you find yourself slipping into this unfortunate pattern, though, be thankful for sanctification.

Sanctification is a continual growing process. Our faith does not become as strong as iron overnight. Instead, it is a lifelong process. To better understand the roots of sanctification, read Titus 3:4-6, which states, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior”. The beauty of this is that no matter how often we screw up and lose our footing in faith, God has mercy on those who truly believe in Jesus as their Savior and repent for their sins. Again, we don’t have a ‘license to sin’, but we have a Redeemer offering His saving grace when we humble ourselves before Him.

Since it is inevitable that you will stumble in the process of sanctification, it is vital to develop a strong desire to persevere. The following three verses are critical in understanding the need for perseverance:

Romans 5:3-5 ~ “Not only so, but we^[c^] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

James 1:2-4 ~ “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a^] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 ~ “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

These three verses are strikingly similar, yet inherently different. All of these verses mention that we will endure trials or suffering. The key is that none of the verses say ‘if’, but ‘when’. We should always remember this key concept when enduring tough times because God reiterated the fact that we will face hardship due to our alliance with Christ at least three different times in the New Testament. So instead of grumbling or throwing a pity-party while being dragged through the proverbial mud, remember that all Christians must endure such situations in order to develop perseverance.

The inherent differences that we must grasp from these verses are the specific reasons for perseverance.

Romans 5:3-5 ~ Hope doesn’t disappoint because of God’s love poured into the Holy Spirit within us.

James 1:2-4 ~ The work of perseverance makes one strong and complete.

1 Peter 1:6-7 ~ Trials are endured to prove our faith is genuine.

In essence, we endure trials and should persevere in our sufferings in order to mature in our faith to prove it is genuine, and to gain hope through God’s love, which is present in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. Remember, in the race of life, you are never alone while enduring trials and hardships. So clothe yourself with the Holy Spirit and consider the words in Philippians 3:13-14: “…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” See you at the finish line.