Are You Who You Say You Are?

I think God was trying to get my attention. He started last week in Sunday school. Our class began studying a video series by Craig Groeschel. Groeschel, an author and pastor, calls himself a recovering “Christian Atheist.” He called himself a Christian all his life, but he didn’t always live as if God existed. He says millions of professing Christians fit into that category.

That really got my attention. I believe in God, but do I really know Him?

“Many of us look the part,” Groeschel is quoted in an article for The Christian Post. “Or we think we’re Christian because, you know, it’s not like we’re Buddhists. We believe in God, but our lives don’t reflect who He really is.”

 

If you grew up in church like I did, we may think we’re OK because we go to church every Sunday, pray before meals (if we don’t forget) and occasionally read a chapter in the Bible. We can know about God without ever really surrendering our heart to Him.

 

The Bible says even the demons believe in God. So, obviously there is more to the whole Christian thing than just believing in God, Groeschel points out.

 

He says Christian atheists say, “I believe in God but I want to do whatever the heck I want to do. I want enough of God to keep me out of Hell and enough of God to get me into Heaven, but I don’t want so much of God that it makes me change my lifestyle.”

 

That’s a dangerous mindset. Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven.... Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers!’”

 

How tragic it would be to hear those words, “Depart from me. I never knew you.”

 

Are you really who you say you are? Groeschel hopes those who simply believe in God but live an atheist lifestyle will examine their lives and see that there is a better way to live. God desires an intimate and personal relationship with us, and He requires wholehearted devotion. He doesn’t just want to be in our thoughts. He wants to live in our hearts, too.

Friends

NOTE: I originally wrote this column in 2009 and am re-posting it now as it appeared in The Pampa News last week.

You can make a difference in someone's life by being a friend. As followers of Christ, we're called to help the widows and the needy and to encourage each other. Proverbs 17:17 says a friend loves at all times and is willing to share in adversity.

 

People come into and out of our lives all the time. We should cherish the time we have with our family, our friends and others in our lives because we never know how much time we'll have with them. I think of a few of those who have made a difference in my life by being a friend:

 

I think of that friend from childhood who didn't look at my differences but just wanted to spend time with me. Our differences didn't matter to him when we were riding bikes together (or when we crossed that highway we weren't supposed to cross). We just had fun.

 

I think of that high school teacher who devoted extra time to help me develop my writing skills. She saw something in me that no one else saw and worked to bring it out in me.

 

I think of the one in college who was a true friend to me during the loneliest time of my life. When no one else was around, he was there to listen and encourage me. He was in my life for just a short season, but I will remember him for a lifetime.

 

I think of that college professor. He pushed me to try harder and go further, and that has made all the difference. He could be hard on me at times, but I needed that. I wouldn't be where I am today if not for him.

 

I think of that friend who sat by me in church. This simple act of kindness meant so much to me and showed me that someone does care.  I think of the Sunday school teacher who taught me who I am in Christ. He showed me the meaning of John 10:10 and what it means to live life to the full. My life has been made richer because of him.

 

I think of that family who reached out to me. This very special family is a true example of what it means to be Christlike. I am honored to know them.

 

And there have been many others who, whether they realized it or not, have had a definite impact on my life. I thank God for these, and I pray that I can be that kind of friend to them and to others.

Remember God While You're Young

I've always tried to live life in the moment. Living with the physical limitations caused by cerebral palsy, I learned to take nothing for granted. I want to live each day to the fullest, making the most of every moment God gives me.

When I was young (or at least younger), I saw each day as a great adventure. I would jump on my three-wheel bicycle and head out to explore the neighborhood. There seemed to be no limit to the things I could do, except maybe my parents' summons to be home before dark!

The older I get, though, I am quickly realizing I can't do some of the things I did when I was younger. I guess that's true for all of us. Time takes its toll on our bodies.

This should remind us that everything in this world is temporary. Nothing lasts. Our bodies and even our homes in this world are only temporary. It is only beyond this life that we will receive our permanent home. That home will either be with God in heaven, or it will be separated from God forever in hell.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 is a pointed narrative that describes how a young person becomes old, and, in the end, that person dies. It teaches us that we should remember God before we are too old to appreciate His goodness.

 

 

The writer of Ecclesiastes urges us not to delay. He says the right time to remember God is now. Then, you can remain grateful to Him for the rest of your life. Troubles will certainly happen to all of us, but we can't let these hard times cause us to forget God or to neglect our relationship with Him.

 

 

 

If you are young, remember God’s kindness now! Give your life to Him; do your best to serve Him all the days of your life. But if you're getting older, you still have a duty to serve God. Love God with your whole heart and trust Him completely. Remember, He created you, and He loves and cares for you.

 

 

We must remember God! After death, He will be our judge; so we must have a right relationship with Him today.

Hope for Tomorrow

We can probably all quote the familiar words in Matthew 6:34, "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself." But how many of us actually try to live by those words? It's not easy.

It's only natural to get so caught up in the challenges of our everyday lives that we start to worry, but God never intended for us to live a life of worry. The Bible is full of examples that encourage us to place our trust in God and give us hope for tomorrow.

Let God be your guide in life. In Psalm 48:12-14, it says if we permit Him, God will be our guide. We permit Him by opening our heart to the Holy Spirit and living in obedience to His word. We don't have to fear tomorrow. Hebrews 13:5-6 says the Lord is our helper, and we shall not fear what man may do to us. In Romans 8:30-32, Paul tells us that if God be for us who can be against us.

David tells us in Psalm 31:1-5 to put our trust in the Lord for He is our rock and fortress. In Psalm 73:24-28, it says God is our guide and shelter. With God as our guide, fortress and shelter, we have nothing to worry about.

We should learn to be content in what God has provided for us. In life, it's easy to get caught up in our desires for the “things of this world,” but we should just be thankful and happy with what God provides for us.

In Luke, Jesus tells us not to worry about the basics because our heavenly Father knows our needs. He says in John 3:16-17 that God loves us so much that He gave His only son for us. If we have a God willing to give up His only son as a recompense for our sins, how can we spend time worrying over the future?

With all of these promises, we should be comfortable that our future is in God's hands which brings us hope for tomorrow.

Defend The Faith

In a time when the message of the Gospel is coming under attack more and more, it's important that we not only know what we believe, but WHY we believe it, and we must always be ready to defend our faith.

As Christians, our first responsibility is to take God's message of salvation to a lost and dying world. In Matthew 10:27, Jesus tells us to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. However, there's another responsibility that's often overlooked and neglected by many Christians: Defending the Gospel.

Giving reasons for our faith is an important part of our Christian witness, and the Bible compels us to do so. In 2 Corinthians 10:5, it says that only by meeting honest objections with biblical answers can we reasonably contend for the faith.

Peter urges us to be prepared to give an answer for the reason of the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. In 1 Peter 3:15, he tells believers to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have with gentleness and respect."

The apostle Paul rigorously defended the faith whenever challenged, and he instructed Timothy to defend the faith also.

In Romans 10:14-17, Paul says in order for people to recognize the love of Christ, they need someone to tell them the good news. If we just stand by and aren't willing to defend the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how will they ever accept Jesus as Lord and savior?

This is not the time to be passive. As many in the media and political world try to attack Christianity, we must be bold and step out to defend our faith. Christ paid the price for our sins, and He prepares a place for us in heaven. As Christians, we want to see all who are made righteous through the blood of Jesus enjoy eternal life with us and the Lord!

Start Your Day Off Right

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It prepares us for the day ahead Yet, many of us skip breakfast because we're too busy. Some of us skip spending time with God for the same reason. Starting each day in the presence of the Lord is key to starting each day off on the right foot.

 In our busy lives, it's easy to fall into a habit of starting the day without giving any thought to God. We hit the floor running without taking time to thank God for the day or to ask Him to direct our steps.

I was that way for years. I'd get up and jump right into my morning routine, without taking time to pray or seek the Lord. "I'll do it later," I always told myself (and told God). At the end of the day, I found I'd gone all day without spending time with the Lord. I'd lay down at night, mutter a quick prayer and drift off to sleep.

It shouldn't be that way for Christians, and it doesn't have to be that way. We can make God a priority in our lives. There are some simple things we can do each day to show God that He is first place in our lives:

Start the day in His Word. Just a few short verses or a chapter a day in the morning is a great way to open our hearts to God and get in tune with His plan for our lives.

 

Pray in the mornings. Prayer helps relieve stress and brings us closer to God. You can do this while driving to work, and you'll be amazed what a difference it will make in your day.

Stay positive. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the morning with the challenges of the day. So start your morning by counting your blessings. This will help you start the day in a positive way.

Leave all your worries at the foot of the bed. It’s easy to start the day dwelling on negatives of yesterday. As believers, we shouldn't dwell on our past mistakes and failures but concentrate on our future with the Lord. Cast all your cares on Him and make a fresh start each day.

Just spend time sitting in God's presence. What a great way to start the day!

Finding The Will of God

It's a question most of us ask at some time in our lives: "What is God's will for me?" I've asked this, especially during hard times or times of change in my life. We may say things like "I really don't know what God wants me to do." The Bible has a lot to say about finding God's will for our lives.

Romans 12:1 tells us to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

From this verse, we learn there are three desires that God has for each of us. He wants us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. He wants us to reject the evil ways of the world and to be transformed to holiness, and He wants us to renew our minds and focus on what is good and perfect in the eyes of the Lord.

 

Another question we often ask is "What is God's will for my future?" We don't need to worry about the future God has for us. Certainly, we would all like to know what God wants for our future, but it's more important to know what He wants for us today.

If we trust God to direct our path day by day, He will take us where He wants us to be and will use us as He desires. By living for God each day, we are open to be molded by God into the person He wants us to be. In Ephesians, Paul tells us that we are called to serve the Lord and to be like Jesus. If we are open to His will in our lives and we ask Him to lead us, He will direct our steps.

This reminds me of one of my favorite verses in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

If you are uncertain about the future, look to God's Word and He will show you the way.