Patient in Faith 5

James 5:7-8

Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Everyone complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it.” It’s funny, but it’s true – and it’s true because there is nothing we can do about the weather. And who knows better than farmers?

They till their fields, plant the crops, fertilize and tend to them, but ultimately they must trust in the perseverance of the plants to endure no matter what the weather brings.

The same is true of the faithful believer. We can have faith. We can believe. We can pray and study Scripture, and we can strive to imitate Christ in our thoughts and actions. But we have no idea what is coming our way. We have no idea what all the challenges of life we will face. And sometimes there is nothing we can do to stop them. We just need to be ready to face them.

What does James urge us to do? What example does he give? What does he encourage in verse 8?

One obvious interpretation of this passage is that believers must be patient and wait for the Second Coming of Christ. The faithful are to wait with anticipation the Day of Judgment when all who love Jesus will be taken up to heaven.

But I also believe we are called on to be patient for the times that are coming before that final judgment. As farmers must wait for the yield of crops, we too must be patient to see the yield of our faith.

James urges us to stand firm. We are to stand firm in our faith, having complete confidence that God will be with us as we go through the hardships of life. God can give us the strength and peace to endure the challenges and temptations we face.

The Lord’s coming is near, and it is more than just the final day of mortal existence. The Lord will come to you – he is near to you – when situations challenge your trust in God or when troubles make you want to doubt or you see yourself as weak.

DAILY CHALLENGE: what can help you stand firm in your faith?

Patient in Faith 4

Romans 5:3-4

As a parent it may be difficult to watch your child grow and develop. It is part of the maturing process to try things, fail, try again, and ultimately succeed. Just as the saying goes – you learn from your mistakes – you also grow stronger as you repeatedly attempt certain activities.

Little children must learn how to walk on their own. You can’t walk for them, and as they learn there will be the occasional fall. But eventually those falls will become less and less as the child develops, grows, and becomes stronger and more able.

The same is true of faith. When we turn our hearts over to God we are given faith. We know in our souls that we are loved by God and we get that incredible sense of grace from the Lord. But that is the beginning. We must continue to grow and develop spiritually from that point. And along the way we will face challenges and possible setbacks, but these can help us become stronger.

Paul offers encouragement in the fifth chapter of Romans. Why should we rejoice? What does suffering produce? What does perseverance produce? What does character produce?

We certainly do not want or need to go out looking for trouble and challenges, but when they come our way we should meet them with confidence. Paul claims that Christians rejoice in their suffering. This is hard to do and may be an overstatement.

Rather than rejoice because we have troubles, we should rejoice in the opportunity of growth. When we face troubles we are given the opportunity to become better people, believers with a stronger faith.

When troubles and challenges strike we can have the confidence that God will work with us to overcome them and He will help to build us up. The challenges teach us to persevere, to keep plugging away and to hold on dearly to our relationship with Jesus. As we make it through our troubles we are stronger, our faith is deeper. Our relationship is proved to be valid and strong.

With that we have more character, a better, more sound and secure connection to God. And that gives us hope, hope that as we face future challenges we will again be able to rely on God and grow stronger in our faith.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you develop a sense of hope to face challenges and troubles?

Patient in Faith 3

Romans 12:11-12

In college I contracted mononucleosis, a debilitating illness that weakens the body so much that simply walking across a room can exhaust you. The remedy was to take medications, but also to rest. This was difficult to do because after several hours of lying in bed I felt that I had regained my strength. But when I tried to do anything I was worn out after the smallest activity.

I quickly learned that I had to be patient in my affliction. The best thing to do was to be sick, allowing my body to work through the illness until I improved.

In his letter to the church in Rome Paul has advice on faith. What are we to keep? What should be our attitude? What should we do?

It can be so difficult to maintain our faith sometimes. We are faced with temptations and challenges in life, and we may join in with the disciples who asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). But faith is not always something that comes in full force and in an instant.

We must learn to be patient in our faith. That patience may involve waiting through the difficult situations trusting that God will use those times to build us up. But being patient in our faith does not mean we sit by idly and watch.

Patience in faith requires attentiveness on our part and an investment of our hearts, souls and minds.

As we wait to be stronger in our faith we must work to build up that faith. We are called to have zeal – passion, eagerness – in our spiritual attitude. While we wait we must have joy in anticipation that God will be working with us and through us, and that God will resolve the issues we face.

The best way to achieve this is to be faithful in our prayers. We can pray for stronger faith. We can pray for the patience we need to wait for that time when God will finally call on us to act. We can pray to grow nearer to the Lord, to have our spirits draw closer to the Holy Spirit that we might be more Christ-like in our thoughts and actions.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you have zeal for God’s kingdom? How can you still have spiritual fervor even if this is a time of waiting?

Patient in Faith 2

Luke 6:20-21

Anticipation is not always a good thing. It can feel very frustrating to have to put off satisfaction until later. Preparing a delicious meal and smelling all the food cooking can really whet your appetite for what you will eat, but waiting can drive you to madness. Watching the mail for that check you are expecting or that package you ordered can seem an eternity.

But as I grow older I find that I am more willing to put off that time of reward and completeness and enjoy the time of waiting. It may seem odd, but there is a sense of thrill to be expecting something good that is coming your way. And the longer you can anticipate, the more rewarding is the arrival, it seems.

Jesus presents some concepts of anticipation in his “Sermon on the Mount.” Who is blessed? What can they expect to happen?

In his teaching Jesus went straight to the heart of the matter and talked about some real issues for the common person. He talked about poverty, not having enough money to make it comfortably from day to day. He talked about being sad.

When he talked about these things, though, he offered a promise that the people (and us) could hold onto. Things will get better. Be patient. God will move in wonderful ways and things will improve and be wonderful.

Just as I have grown older and learned that anticipating is something I can put up with and almost enjoy, so it is with those who have a maturing faith. Becoming a Christian and becoming a follower of God means that you are entered into a life and journey of expectation and anticipation.

As believers in God we are on a journey of faith. We can (hopefully) see our own spiritual strength and discipline grow deeper and better year after year. With each passing year we learn to expect more and more holy moments and encounters with God. We learn to anticipate more opportunities to serve God.

Ultimately, we are also living a life of expectation – expecting to be gathered home in glory. We anticipate a final return of Christ, and until that day we live a life expecting to see God moving in our lives and the lives of others. We expect to see God’s grace and mercy and justice.

This anticipation and expectation should bring us hope, and in that hope we should find joy.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can make it easier for you to put up with life’s struggles?

Patient in Faith 1

Psalm 37:7

Many years ago I went bear hunting at a small camp in a remote area of Canada. Although I never did even see a bear, let alone bag one, I got some valuable lessons from the experience. Bear hunting requires a great deal of control – sitting on a small perch in a tree for four to six hours, staying alert the whole time without speaking or going to the restroom.

We talk about how we trust God and how we can rely on God, but it is difficult to put our faith into real action. We watch the news and get aggravated at what is not happening to help the desperate people of Haiti. We watch what happens in our own government and feel angry that there is not more honesty, that more good work is not being done. Other issues in our lives and around the world upset us. And we forget that we are called to be patient in faith.

What does the psalmist advise? What should we NOT do?

The writer of Psalm 37 tells us to be still before the Lord. We are to call on our own self-control, our own trust, enough that we can calm our minds and our restless spirit. This is how we achieve stillness.

We are to wait for the Lord. We are to be aware that God has His own timetable and moves in His own ways, ways we do not understand. Our fretting and our worry need to be set aside, quieted. In their place we must put our own peace and trust.

Although we do not agree with what is happening around us, we must trust in God and wait for Him to guide. Although we do not understand the ways of the Lord, we must trust in God and wait for Him to move.

Some may feel that being still before the Lord is simple – you just give up hopes and desires and thoughts. But in fact, being still before the Lord requires more than just giving up caring about things. Being still before the Lord is more than inactivity. To be still before the Lord requires that we exercise control over ourselves, that we remain alert for God’s direction, and that we remain ready to step in where God leads.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can you do to find the stillness your faith needs?

Rely on God 5

Daniel 6:20-22

One of the best examples of relying on God comes from the Book of Daniel. In the sixth chapter there is the story of how advisors to the Babylonian king Darius planned the undoing of Daniel. He was, after all, a foreigner, brought into Babylon from Judah. But they could find no fault or flaw in him. He was devoutly religious and an upstanding servant to the king.

So these advisors used Daniel’s religion as a trap. They convinced Darius to make a law that everyone must pray to him and no other god for thirty days (Daniel 6:6-9). Those who did not obey were to be thrown to the lions.

Of course, Daniel was a devout Jew who worshiped the one true God of Israel, so he did not bow down to worship Darius. Now, caught in his own snare, Darius had no choice but to punish this servant he liked so well (Daniel 6:14-16).

What is the king’s concern and question the following day? What did Daniel answer?

It is apparent that the king recognized, or at least hoped in, the power of Daniel’s god. He asked if the one true god had indeed saved him from the lions, and in fact God had done just that.

Daniel was in a difficult situation to say the least. He was sealed up in a den full of hungry lions, but God sent an angel to keep the lions from killing Daniel. Daniel knew in his heart that he could rely on God for his protection. He knew he could trust God to save him.

But he also pointed out that he was innocent. He was a blameless victim of circumstances, and we can assume it was his innocence that was at least partly responsible for his salvation.

Few of us, if any, are as blameless and devout as Daniel, but we can still learn from his situation. He trusted God completely and his intentions were to always serve God. If we can pass through the trials of life, and the challenges and temptations of the world with a spirit devoted to God, then we can rely on God for assistance and protection with the utmost of confidence.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you rely on God as you face the lions of life?

Rely on God 4

James 1:5-6

I have heard so many prayers begin with, “God, if you are there . . .” or “God, if you are listening . . .” One of my first thoughts when I hear this type of approach is to have little confidence that these prayers will be answered. I suppose the person praying is being humble in some way, but it leads me to think that the person has no faith, no firm belief in God.

James gives us a quick and simple lesson on how to approach God. What should we do when we want wisdom? Why will God give us this? What should be our attitude?

Now the words of James are that God will give us wisdom if we ask, but I believe this same concept applies to anything we might pray for as long as it is meant to glorify God and serve His kingdom. If we need wisdom we can ask for it. God is generous and loving and He wants what is best for us, so He will grant us that wisdom.

But I think the same will be true when we ask for strength, guidance, a more merciful heart, or more ability to do good things. God is loving and generous and wants what is best for us. If we pray with the intention of being a humble servant of God I believe God will grant our requests.

We need to have faith in this. We need to be confident when we pray. We need to be bold in our requests and ask God for the things we need to be good servants of His kingdom.

This is part of relying on God. We must know that we can rely on God to supply us with what we need especially when it is meant for His glory.

And when we pray we must have strong faith. We should not doubt. When we doubt we find ourselves tossing back and forth between belief and disbelief, between confidence and fear. We need to be strong and steady in our faith, relying on God with firm confidence.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you have confidence in your prayers?

Rely on God 3

Proverbs 16:3

I caught a minute or two of a basketball game the other day, and I thought about the small square that is painted on the backboard above the hoop. The concept is that if you shoot the basketball and hit inside the square on the backboard the ball will almost always go through the hoop for a score. The square acts as a guide for success.

In Proverbs we have our own guide for success. What are we to do?

Such advice may seem too good to be true, and in some sense it is. I do not believe that if you pray to God before you buy a lottery ticket you are guaranteed a win. I do not believe that if you organize an event or ministry intended to help the kingdom of God you are guaranteed no problems.

Using the Lord for personal gain is no promise to success. Having the work of God in mind is no promise of success. We are subject to the laws of nature and we are bound to have good days and bad days, even if our intentions are completely pure.

So, what does this passage mean when it says “commit to the Lord?” I believe that you commit to the Lord what you do when the thing that you are doing is intended to help the kingdom of God. Service projects to help the needy, outreach events to spread the word of God, fund-raisers meant to make money for mission work – all of these can be committed to the Lord.

Committing yourself to the Lord is when your actions are intended to advance the kingdom of God, or your attitude is intended to benefit the Lord. Committing yourself to the Lord may involve an intention to stop sinning, to gain wisdom, to be more merciful, or to have a better prayer life. I believe God gives us success in these.

Some will say that even in these we are not guaranteed success. Sometimes the bake sale gets rained out. Sometimes people slam the door in your face. Sometimes the temptations are too much. But when you commit what you do the Lord, you may be surprised at how much success you will experience.

We may not always see what we have committed to the Lord be the success we want. What we see as success may not be the success God intended, and the success God gives us may not be something we see. What we must do is rely on God, trust in God for a success, and rely on God to know what type of success is needed.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can you commit to the Lord?

Rely on God 2

Psalm 16:7-8

At lunch on Sunday one of our members said she doesn’t always look at the “10/2 Grow” first thing in the morning. She saves it for that time of day when she needs a break from the pressures of work. She can step away from the troubles of her job and spend a few minutes focusing on God.

And I thought how very much that is a lesson for all of us. It isn’t that we should avoid doing our daily devotion first thing in the morning. Rather, we should remember that we need to spend time every day in communion with our God. God is the source of our comfort. He is the One who can impart wisdom and help us to know we are not alone in our struggles. There is no set time to be in the company of God. We are to rely on God at all times.

What specific time does the psalmist mention praising God? What confidence does the psalmist have?

Night is specifically mentioned in this psalm, because night is often a time of fear and worry. When the sun sets and light fades we can be fearful of those things we cannot see in the dark. Around us is the unknown, the unclear, the hidden. Yet, in this time of apprehension we can know that God is with us.

But perhaps night is not a time of stress for you. Perhaps night is actually a time of ease, a time when work is done and you can find rest in the comfort of your home. It may be that bright day is the time of trouble for you – a time when you are confronted with challenges and hardships, a time when other people or just the circumstances of life test your patience and push you to the edge of reason.

No matter. At any time of the day or night we must remember to set the Lord always before us. Remember that God is always beside you – day and night, work or rest – and the worries and stresses of life will not be able to overwhelm you. When you learn to rely on God you will not be shaken.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can remind you that God is with you at all times?

Help the Poor 4

James 2:12-13

In all my years of ministry I only remember one person coming to the church seeking help who offered to do work to earn the money. It can be very frustrating to see person after person who claims to be in dire need of financial help and wonder if they are genuine in their requests. And often those who are truly in need are chronically in need. They require assistance time and time again.

An initial reaction is to put a limit on how much help will be offered. But James has something to say about limiting our mercy. What attitude should we have in our behavior? What awaits those who are not merciful? What is his final comment?

“Mercy triumphs over judgment!” The words may need to ring in our ears and in our hearts as we face the needs of the poor all around us. Is it our place to judge the decisions they have made? Is it our place to judge that they deserve what they have?

According to James, the answer is “no.” We are to be merciful over all things. We should allow mercy to rise in our hearts and guide our responses.

With so much need in the world, with so much poverty, we can feel helpless in changing the world. But we need to put our faith in God and trust that He can use us in His kingdom. We must also recall the mercy He has for us. Perhaps that might guide our judgment.

With all the problems and struggles in the world there are ample places to show mercy and compassion. Let us each prayerfully consider where our hearts are at this time and ask God to lead us in our decisions to help.

While it is not our place to judge our brothers and sisters and the situations they find themselves in, we can use God’s wisdom and our own intellect to put our money and efforts into ministry that has long-lasting impact for the needy. Let your judgment be the judgment of choice, but let it be overshadowed by mercy.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Where and how do you feel called to contribute toward easing the suffering of the poor and needy?

Help the Poor 3

Isaiah 1:16-17

Look around you. Take stock of your surroundings. Do you live in a comfortable house – warm in winter, cool in summer? Do you have a job, an income? Is there food in your cabinets and clean clothes to wear?

If so then you are better off than millions of people around the world. And when you hear about the poor and needy in the world, starving children in Africa, orphans in Bosnia, displaced families in the Middle East, or even a struggling family down the street, it is easy to reach in your wallet and pull out a few bills to help them out. But what then? Are the problems solved?

The prophet Isaiah was speaking the words of God when he addressed a people living in comfort, celebrating their own lives and special holidays with abundance and ignoring the problems of the needy living among them. What does God command? What should we do for the oppressed? What about the poor families?

There is nothing wrong with expressions of mercy and compassion, even if they are in limited amount. A few dollars here and there, a donation of canned goods and used clothing can make a difference in the lives of the very poor. But it can’t solve the problems faced each day by so many people.

Isaiah urges his listeners to learn to do right. He tells them to seek justice and encourage the oppressed. We are called to defend the needy and plead their case.

Donations to address immediate needs are necessary and helpful when dealing with the poor, but it must go beyond that. Need and struggles are symptoms of a larger problem, the problem of chronic poverty. The solution is to address the core issue of poverty. To do that we as Christians need to put our time, talent and efforts into changing the way things are.

One time gifts or occasional giving is not enough to stop poverty. We are called to find justice and fairness for the underprivileged, to offer training and education to those stuck in oppressive societal conventions. If we will live out the teachings of Christ we will take action to teach and train, to change our society to be more helpful to the needy so they may achieve a better life.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What long-term solution can you and your church work on to help end poverty?

Help the Poor 2

James 1:27

The other night at Bible study I commented that I felt James was a Methodist. It is part of the Methodist heritage, initiated by John Wesley about 300 years ago, that we not only pray for and have compassion for people in need, but we also do something about the situation. In other words, we can’t simply sit around feeling sorry for the plight of people. We need to get out there and try to make things better.

What is James’ comment on religion? How might we do these two things?

James is blunt and perhaps has over-simplified our faith. His claim is that what God wants, what is acceptable to God as pure, is a faith that takes care of the needs of others. In this specific instance James refers to widows and orphans, but I believe this comment can be extended to anyone who is struggling and poor.

James urges us to “look after” these needy individuals. I don’t think he is referring to dropping in on them from time to time to see how they are getting on. I believe he means for us to be active in improving their situation. Looking after another might involve helping them get a better life.

In Matthew 26:11 Jesus tells those around him, “The poor you will always have with you . . . .” There is indeed no shortage of needy persons. There are desperate poor in Africa and Asia, in the Middle East, and in Eastern Europe. We have recently been made aware of the poor in Haiti.

But you don’t need to go beyond the borders of our country to find people who are struggling. I would wager that you don’t even need to go beyond your own community, maybe your own neighborhood, to find someone who needs help.

The questions are, do you see the need, and will you do anything about it?

If we will be followers of Jesus then we must live out our faith. If our faith is to be pure and faultless, if our faith is to be acceptable to God, then we should be looking for ways to assist those in need. Being active in your expression of God’s compassion can help you to remain free from the spiritual pollution of the world.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Can you find a ministry that helps the poor and become involved in it?

Help the Poor 1

Mark 12:38-40

We recently saw the movie “Up in the Air,” with George Clooney. The movie centers on a man whose job it is to down-size employees – lay them off, end their employment. Watching the uncomfortable scenes of employee reactions to the fact that they are no longer employed reminded me of the times when I faced down-sizing myself.

In that moment a person feels that they are nothing but a number, a cipher, a dollar amount that is completely expendable to the corporation. In that moment a person feels little worth.

Jesus addresses the attitudes of religious leaders in his time. How does he characterize these teachers? According to verse 40, how do they treat the poor? What will be the result?

There is little any of us can do to bring a sense of humanity to the bottom line of corporate America, but in this lesson from Jesus we can see what not to do in the life of our faith. Just as business owners and corporate managers may view people as a number that must be removed or spared, there are many Christians who can take a cold attitude when dealing with people in need.

It often surprises me when I encounter Christians who do not even seem to take notice of the needy around them. It is all too easy to see these working poor, these struggling individuals as objects. It is too easy to not have any compassion for them.

So often help to the poor is seen as a drain on what we have. We must give up something and that is hard to do.

But if we will truly imitate Christ in our lives then we must open our eyes to the poor. If we will live a life of compassion and mercy we must recognize that those who are suffering and struggling are people with real feelings and real worth.

As followers of Jesus we need to be willing to abandon the lofty appearances of devout believers, a look and behavior that may separate us from the needy, and treat all people – even the poor – as children of God deserving of our help and compassion.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How many poor people do you see every day during the mundane activities of life? How do you treat them when you see them?

Self-Control 4

Matthew 15:11

Whenever we need our children to set the table, empty the dishwasher, or sit down to eat we must remind them to wash their hands. It is the best way to prevent the spread of disease and avoid illness. The germs and dirt we gather on our hands can be brought into our bodies through contact with food and dishes.

But sometimes our worries about contamination remain focused on the outward and not on what is on the inside. What does Jesus have to say about the Jewish concern of uncleanliness? What makes us unclean?

I don’t think Jesus was telling us that we need not worry about washing our hands or observe regular cleanliness practices for our health. I do believe he was addressing the common problem of the outside not matching up with the inside.

The simple fact that we call ourselves Christians automatically presents an outward appearance that others may perceive. As Christians people expect us to be caring and kind, sacrificial and humble. And there are many who are skilled at giving the appearance of righteousness – in their dress, in their superficial behaviors, and in their words. On the outside so many may look pious and pure, but it is the inside that we must be concerned about.

Some think that if we avoid associating with people who are not Christian or even blatant sinners we can remain holy and pure. While I do not endorse immersing yourself in a culture of earthly pleasures, I do believe that we need to be aware of what is inside our hearts as much as we are with what is around us.

The best way to be in control of how you are perceived and how you behave is to be in control of what is in your heart. We need to do more than tame our tongues. We need to tame our hearts and make them full of the love of God, so that love might overflow from us into the world around us.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Evaluate what is flowing out of your heart. Is your attitude one of loving kindness?

For our friends who have expressed concerns regarding HIS Home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti – we have heard from Hal and Chris, who operate the orphanage. There were a few cracks in the walls of the houses and one of the walls surrounding the yard suffered some damage, but the orphanage is okay and all of the children are safe.
As of Thursday, January 14, they had not heard from one of their employees, a man named Junior who lived in a neighborhood hit hard by the quake. Please continue to pray for all of them.

Self-Control 3

Luke 6:45

It is very disturbing to take a big drink of milk only to discover the milk has gone sour. You were expecting some cool, refreshing, wholesome milk, but instead you get a mouthful of nastiness. Sometimes the unexpected shock of it is more disturbing than the taste.

In Luke Jesus has a comment on the words of believers. What comes from a good person? What comes from an evil person? Where does this good and evil come from?

It is no surprise to know that good comes from a good person and that bad comes from an evil person. The twist is at the end of the statement. This evil that wells up comes from the heart.

Maybe that doesn’t shock you. But what may shock you is when a person who claims to be a Christian has evil spew from his or her mouth.

We encounter it all the time. There are many people who go to worship, carry a Bible, attend small group studies, and call themselves Christian, yet they are the same people who spread rumors about others. They are the same people who make disparaging and bigoted comments about people of other races and nationalities. They are the same people who verbally run down people of different lifestyles.

It seems they are not aware that we are all God’s children. We are all loved by God and all saved through Jesus, because Christ died for all the world.

As Christians we should be speaking words of love and compassion, performing acts of mercy, and spreading peace. But sometimes people who say they are Christian allow evil to flow from their lips. And where does that evil come from? That evil is in their hearts.

If we will be true Christians we need to not only control what we say, but remove the evil that lies within our hearts. Our love of others should be genuine.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you be certain that the source of your words – your heart – is full of good and not evil?

Self-Control 2

James 3:9-10

It wasn’t until I was a high school freshman that I realized teachers are human. I saw one of my English teachers, one who was always so prim and proper, wearing jeans. Oh, my goodness! Jeans! How could it be that someone so dignified and well-dressed all the time could wear something so casual?

My experience was just part of growing up and I can see now how silly the whole ordeal was. But sometimes the Christian believer can present two faces, and one of them might shock other people.

James mentions controlling the tongue in James 1:26, but also has a great deal to say about taming the tongue in the third chapter. What do we do with our tongues? According to verse 10, what comes out of our mouths?

Many examinations of what James has to say about taming the tongue centers around gossip. Gossip is certainly one of the sins that is very easy to fall into and a sin so often overlooked among Christians. But I believe James’ warnings go far beyond mere gossip.

While it is bad enough that we share stories and lies and rumors behind the backs of others, the attitudes we may express with our mouths can be even worse. On one hand we offer praise to God. We thank God for the gift of salvation and we give honor to our heavenly Father in song and prayer.

But on the other hand we utter curses and oaths against other people, those we are angry with and those we don’t like. As James says, “this should not be.”

If we will live out the life of a Christian then we need to exercise some control over what we say. And our control needs to be over not just the words that we use but our attitudes as well.

If we will be Christians then our attitudes, expressed in the words and tones we use, should show mercy and love and not prejudice and hatred. We should not express judgments and condemnation of others, but be welcoming and gentle in all that we do and say. We must remember that other people are also children of God, made in God’s likeness, and we should treat them with respect and care.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Are there words that need to be removed from your vocabulary? What about your attitude in saying certain things?

Work 5

Matthew 7:15-17

There are many plants in the world that have beautiful leaves and flowers and berries that may seem very attractive to the eye, but which are in fact very bad for us. I think immediately of the rhubarb plant. The stems and roots are good to eat but the leaves are poisonous, even if they are showy and impressive.

Unfortunately the same can be said of people who dress themselves as Christians, but who are in fact quite malicious. It is this type of person Jesus warns about in Matthew. What is his warning? How will we know good people? What will a truly devoted Christian produce?

Most everyone is familiar with the expression of a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” The concept is that outwardly the person looks nice and friendly, but on the inside there is wickedness and corruption. Although Jesus was talking specifically about those who teach about faith, the same can be said of many people who fill the pews on a Sunday morning.

By appearances one might say this person or that is a Christian, but we must look beyond the outward appearance and examine the fruit – the actions and attitudes. It has been said that sitting in a church pew doesn’t make you a Christian any more than sleeping in the garage makes you a ’57 Chevy.

To be a Christian we must believe as a Christian, think as a Christian, and act like a Christian. We must guard against allowing ourselves to be like the false prophets. We must guard against our faith being superficial – merely attending church and toting a big Bible.

To be Christian we must look intently into the perfect law of God, keep ourselves firmly rooted and directed by the teachings of Christ, and follow the example of service and care that Jesus has set for us.

Living a life as a Christian – showing mercy and care for others, sharing the love of God to others, having a truly compassionate and caring heart, being willing to sacrifice for others – will ensure that we bear good fruit for God’s kingdom.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Examine the fruit you produce. Is it good fruit? How do you know?

Work 4

John 13:14-15

Becoming a Christian doesn’t happen overnight. We may have a conversion of the heart that changes us in an instant. We may turn our souls over to God and let Jesus into our hearts so the Holy Spirit will work within us, and that only requires a moment, but to become mature in our faith requires time and learning.

I think back on all the people who have influenced me over the years. My desire to be in ministry, to focus on outreach and mission, to show compassion, to teach have all been developed by the example of other Christians. Watching and learning and imitating the good work of others may make us into strong and “fruitful” Christians ourselves.

In John’s account of the Last Supper Jesus wraps a towel around his waist, gets a large bowl of water, and washes the dirty feet of his disciples. It was a moment of caring, of offering cool refreshment and cleansing to those he cared for. What did Jesus want his disciples to learn? What had Jesus done? Does his lesson go beyond dirty feet?

In that time of foot-washing Jesus set an example for his disciples. In that moment he humbled himself to them, taking on the position not as Lord and master, but of a lowly servant. He met their physical needs through his own work. Then he commanded them to do the same.

The lesson was not that these followers should go about washing the dirt from everyone’s feet, although that may be required now and then. The bigger lesson was that true followers of Christ would imitate the attitude.

If we will follow Christ and live out lives as Christians, then we need to be humble enough to be willing to serve other people in their need, even if that means doing some dirty work. It means that we should find the need and then answer that need, correcting the problems and helping in very practical ways as well as in spiritual ways.

It also means that we should be the ones doing the work. We don’t identify the dirty feet and suggest that they be cleaned. We should be the ones who kneel and wash. We should be the ones who put our whole selves into the service of others.

DAILY CHALLENGE: Can you identify “dirty feet” that need to be washed? How will YOU do it?

Work 3

John 15:5

Clearing away clinging weeds in our garden several years back I was struggling at getting all the tendrils and branching vines pulled from the plants we wanted to keep. Then it dawned on me that all I needed to do was pull out the root of the weeds – easy to find – and that would kill the weed, even all the vines that were intertwined among the good branches of the plants.

Without the source of food and strength in the root the rest of the plant could not survive. And so it goes with our faith.

What comparison does Jesus make of himself? What happens with the faithful person who remains rooted in Jesus? What happens if we do not keep our faith in Christ?

It is a simple fact of nature that a plant draws its strength and nourishment from the root system. It is the root that gives the food and energy, and therefore the ability, to the rest of the plant. With strong and functioning roots a plant may produce a great deal of fruit.

If we are to produce fruit in our faith – fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience and kindness (see Galatians 5:22-23) – then we must remain rooted in Jesus. Jesus is the vine from which we branch out. Following the teachings of Christ and acting in the same way that Jesus did allows us to grow as good Christians and enables us to produce the fruit of our faith.

When we look intently into the perfect law of God, when we study Scripture and spend time in study, fellowship and communion with one another and God, then we are able to live out a life as a Christian. We are strengthened in faith and ability.

Without Christ, without that spiritual root that gives us power in our faith and guidance in our actions, we can do nothing. And if we continue reading in this passage of John to verse 8 we will see that it is to God’s glory that we bear much fruit and show the world that we are truly deserving of the title “Christian.”

DAILY CHALLENGE: Are you rooted in Christ? What part of your connection to the Lord needs strengthening?

Work 1

1 Corinthians 13:12

Recently, while looking into the Book of James, it struck me that this letter tucked away near the end of the Bible was a great “how to” book. James seems to be an instruction manual on how to be a Christian. And so, I thought looking at how we can be stronger Christians might be a great way to begin a new year.

There are so many people and so many different approaches to worship all under the same umbrella of the “Christian” label. Is one group right and all the others wrong? What is the best way to be a Christian?

I am certain every person has his or her own answers to those questions. For myself, there are various degrees of Christianity – various stages of maturity. If we will be truly Christian, if we will truly follow the examples of our Lord Jesus Christ, then we must achieve some level of maturity and growth in our faith.

One important aspect of being a Christian is loving other people. Today’s passage comes from what has been labeled as the “Love Chapter” in 1 Corinthians. It talks about all the different aspects of love and how to show it and share it. What image is presented here? How is this a lesson for expressing love?

To be a Christian we must grow into Christians. And that requires that our faith must go beyond the simple confession of faith. It is essential that we believe in the sacrifice of Jesus and that we recognize Jesus as our Savior, but if our belief does not go beyond that point it is very shallow indeed.

All who know and accept Jesus are Christians. Those who work on their relationship with Christ are maturing. And those who are able to live out their faith, as is talked about in James, are more mature in their faith.

If we will show the love of Christ and share the work of being Christian, then we are doing more than looking into a dim mirror. We are opening our hearts and souls up to deeper understanding and inviting God to be part of who we are.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How would you rate your faith? What evidence can you offer others and yourself that you are at the level you see yourself?