What a year 2011 has been! While obviously I couldn’t begin to list all of the things that happened, I thought I would devote a day to recalling some of the notable events of this year.
To begin with – I’m going in chronological order – on January 3rd I was informed that my favorite Christian artist, Rebecca St. James was engaged to marry a man named Jacob Fink (the actual wedding was in late April). I have been a fan of Rebecca since the year 2000 and I’ve always been very impressed with Rebecca’s voice for God and her Christ-like example. She decided that she wasn’t going to force God to adhere to her schedule for marriage, she was going to wait and let God lead in His own timetable. In His providence, God led her to Jacob Fink. I am so thrilled for Rebecca and Jacob! The Bible actually says, in Isaiah 64, that God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
The next notable occurrence was an event that I had an opportunity to attend on April 9th with former Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam as the speaker. I was struck with the large amount of Christian apologetics that Jason presented that day. In fact, I later blogged about it and I mentioned how important it is for a Christian to practice apologetics (check that blog out it was on 4/31, I entitled it “The Importance of Apologetics”).
The third highlight was on July 27th when John Stott died. He was 90 years old. You might find it odd that I call this a highlight. To be sure, many grieved him, but I still consider this a positive development simply because of the eternal bliss that John has been enjoying in Heaven since Stott had a right relationship with God through Christ. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. That’s where John Stott is now and for those of us who know Jesus Christ as Savior, that’s where we will one day be as well!
The final highlight is that Tim Tebow became the starter of the Broncos on October 23rd. I don’t mention this because of something as trivial as the game of football. To the contrary, I mention this because of how God is using this young man – he’s only 24 years old – to bring glory to Himself. Surely you have noticed that at the end of every game, whether it’s a win or a loss, Tim says, “first and foremost, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” I’m aware that this rubs some people the wrong way, but Tim is simply being the person that God made him to be. While Tebow himself is not perfect (as he himself has previously admitted), his lifestyle glorifies God just as much as anything he says after a football game. John Elway has publicly announced that Tim is going to stay a Denver Bronco, and so it seems safe to assume that Tebow mania is going to continue.
While it’s been quite a year, I’m looking forward to what will happen in 2012!
Kevin
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sunday, December 25, 2011
The most wonderful message of all
I’ve noticed that during this time of the year there are some who will bring up the fact that Jesus was born, but they don’t like to focus on how this same Jesus didn’t stay a baby; He grew up. The reality is Jesus lived the greatest life that anyone has ever lived. According to the Bible, He lived the perfect and sinless life that you and I could never live (John 8:46; 1 Peter 2:21-22). He preached the most remarkable sermons (Matthew 5-7 is devoted exclusively to one of them); He performed amazing miracles; He loved people even if they were social outcasts, and on and on we could go. Ultimately Jesus died a bloody, painful death by crucifixion, and three days later, He literally and bodily rose from the grave; victorious over death itself!
Near the end of the book of John, the writer makes this statement, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). When John says “believe” here, he doesn’t mean to give some kind of intellectual, cognitive assent or agreement. It’s not like if someone were to ask you, “Do you believe the sky is blue?” The word “believe” in the Bible means to trust or to rely upon. It is used other places in the Bible. For example, in Acts 16 someone asks the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” His answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (verse 31). He means “trust and rely on Jesus and you’ll be saved from your sins.”
That’s why I mentioned Jesus’ death and resurrection earlier. You see, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Not one of us can claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8). This sin separates us from God and excludes us from entrance into Heaven. We need someone to atone for our sins. Jesus Christ, God incarnate – God in human flesh – was the only one qualified to pay the price for our sins. On the cross, He actually cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Greek word Jesus used here conveys the idea that Jesus was saying, “The price of sin has fully and finally been paid.”
After all this, Jesus confirmed that this death on the cross wasn’t just like any other death by rising from the dead! He had predicted numerous times that He was going die, but that this wasn’t going to be the end, He was going to be resurrected (see Matthew 16:21 for just one example). He showed that He was no liar, because it all happened just as He said it would.
To be clear, everyone does not have an automatic pass to Heaven simply because of Jesus’ work on the cross; we have to make the decision to put our faith and trust in Christ. I invite you to read these words as if for the first time: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes (notice that word "believe") in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
It's interesting that John 3:16 is frequently cited, but the powerful subsequent verses are not quoted nearly as often. Look at verses 17 and 18 of John 3: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Christmas Day is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you from your sins? If not, don’t delay; please do it now. So today, Christmas Day 2011, it is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you? If not, don’t delay; please do it now. You may think I’m exaggerating, but the honest truth is it would be the privilege of my life if just one person saw their need for Jesus, and through simple words in a blog, someone chose to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. That’s my earnest hope and my sincere prayer.
Kevin
Near the end of the book of John, the writer makes this statement, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). When John says “believe” here, he doesn’t mean to give some kind of intellectual, cognitive assent or agreement. It’s not like if someone were to ask you, “Do you believe the sky is blue?” The word “believe” in the Bible means to trust or to rely upon. It is used other places in the Bible. For example, in Acts 16 someone asks the Apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” His answer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (verse 31). He means “trust and rely on Jesus and you’ll be saved from your sins.”
That’s why I mentioned Jesus’ death and resurrection earlier. You see, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Not one of us can claim to be without sin (1 John 1:8). This sin separates us from God and excludes us from entrance into Heaven. We need someone to atone for our sins. Jesus Christ, God incarnate – God in human flesh – was the only one qualified to pay the price for our sins. On the cross, He actually cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The Greek word Jesus used here conveys the idea that Jesus was saying, “The price of sin has fully and finally been paid.”
After all this, Jesus confirmed that this death on the cross wasn’t just like any other death by rising from the dead! He had predicted numerous times that He was going die, but that this wasn’t going to be the end, He was going to be resurrected (see Matthew 16:21 for just one example). He showed that He was no liar, because it all happened just as He said it would.
To be clear, everyone does not have an automatic pass to Heaven simply because of Jesus’ work on the cross; we have to make the decision to put our faith and trust in Christ. I invite you to read these words as if for the first time: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes (notice that word "believe") in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
It's interesting that John 3:16 is frequently cited, but the powerful subsequent verses are not quoted nearly as often. Look at verses 17 and 18 of John 3: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
Christmas Day is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you from your sins? If not, don’t delay; please do it now. So today, Christmas Day 2011, it is a great time to ask this question: have you ever believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you ever put your faith and trust in Him to save you? If not, don’t delay; please do it now. You may think I’m exaggerating, but the honest truth is it would be the privilege of my life if just one person saw their need for Jesus, and through simple words in a blog, someone chose to put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. That’s my earnest hope and my sincere prayer.
Kevin
Thursday, December 22, 2011
A song to help us celebrate Christmas
One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Oh Holy Night.” I want to encourage you to look up the lyrics to this marvelous song and soak in its truth as if you’ve never heard the song before. I say this because it’s easy to listen to a Christmas song – I suppose this is true with any song – and not stop and think about what it is that is being said. We get so familiar with some songs that we just go on mental auto-pilot so to speak, and we don’t even give any thought to what we are singing.
The truth is “Oh Holy Night” is a wonderful song that points us to the true meaning of Christmas. Incidentally, I didn’t include the link as I probably should have, but I recently heard the most phenomenal rendition of “Oh Holy Night” by Carrie Underwood that will really brighten your Christmas celebration. It’s obvious that has God gifted her with the most remarkable singing voice. Check it out at you tube.com.
Kevin
“She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins” - Matthew 1:21
The truth is “Oh Holy Night” is a wonderful song that points us to the true meaning of Christmas. Incidentally, I didn’t include the link as I probably should have, but I recently heard the most phenomenal rendition of “Oh Holy Night” by Carrie Underwood that will really brighten your Christmas celebration. It’s obvious that has God gifted her with the most remarkable singing voice. Check it out at you tube.com.
Kevin
“She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins” - Matthew 1:21
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Television show recommendation
Today I want to
endorse a new game show that fits in well with the spirit of the Christmas
season. It’s called “You Deserve It.” It’s a game where
the contestant doesn’t play for himself or herself, they are actually playing
on behalf of someone else; a person that they feel is worthy of the sum of
money that they accumulate. The catch phrase is, “This
is the show that believes it’s better to give than to receive.” I love watching game shows, but I’ve never
come across a game with this kind of concept!
I had the
chance to watch it for the first time the other night and I can say that I
will be a regular viewer of the show. I hope it stays on the air for
a long time. Of course, they are absolutely right: it is better to give
than to receive. This is found in the
Bible; specifically Acts 20:35.
Update: Not
surprising, this show only lasted for one season. R.I.P. “You Deserve It.” You were a rare jewel and you should have had
a longer run than you did. But the
culture apparently didn’t enjoy something that was all about giving, and
considering others. At least you did
have a short lived run, where you were able to convey an important message.
Kevin
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Focus on Jesus
I must confess that, at times, the commercialization that has overtaken Christmas is frustrating to me. Some of the traditions that we practice year after year have absolutely nothing to do with the real meaning for the season. To be clear: I’m not against any of these traditions per se. I love the Christmas trees, seeing the beautiful lights carefully adorned on the houses, the Christmas parties can be fun, and the gift-giving tradition encourages us to be more generous.
However, wouldn’t you agree that there is so much, too much, that needs to be done in December just to fulfill the Christmas tradition expectations? It can be absolutely exhausting. What’s more troubling to me is that in all of this hustle and bustle it’s very easy to lose our focus on the actual reason for the season: celebrating Jesus Christ.
I want to encourage all of us, in the midst of this very busy time of the year: let's slow down, take a deep breath and choose to focus on the birth, life, death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The external traditions of this holiday are great, but we can’t allow them to distract us from Jesus Himself.
Kevin
"Let us fix our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" - Hebrews 12:2
However, wouldn’t you agree that there is so much, too much, that needs to be done in December just to fulfill the Christmas tradition expectations? It can be absolutely exhausting. What’s more troubling to me is that in all of this hustle and bustle it’s very easy to lose our focus on the actual reason for the season: celebrating Jesus Christ.
I want to encourage all of us, in the midst of this very busy time of the year: let's slow down, take a deep breath and choose to focus on the birth, life, death, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The external traditions of this holiday are great, but we can’t allow them to distract us from Jesus Himself.
Kevin
"Let us fix our eyes of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" - Hebrews 12:2
Friday, December 16, 2011
An unusual occurrence
Yesterday afternoon, by God’s providence, I was able to be a Good Samaritan to someone. I was getting gas at a King Soopers when I heard a lady (perhaps in her forties) talking with the King Soopers attendant in a frantic tone. She was saying that she had locked her keys in her car. What’s more she didn’t have her cell phone to call a locksmith – you guessed it, the phone was also in her car. The employee was able to call a locksmith and ask them to get over there.
This lady's car was right next to mine so I walked over and offered to help in any way I could. She explained that the locksmith was on the way, but she would be greatly appreciative if she could use my cell phone to call her work and tell them that she would be late. Gladly, I gave it to her. She thanked me several times, and when I saw that there was nothing more I could do, I wished her well and went on with my day.
I tell you that story not to draw attention to myself (regular readers of this blog already know that’s not the kind of person I am), but rather to try to inspire you to do the same thing. The Bible says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). I’ll level with you: a part of me didn’t feel like getting involved. I had things to do, and places to go. But I decided to jump into action when I was struck with the thought that if I were in her position I would want someone to come over and see if I needed help. So that’s what I did.
Let me issue one important warning particularly for the ladies who are reading this (but this also applies to the men as well). It is important to use discretion and common sense before offering to help someone. We live in a dangerous, twisted world where bad things happen every day. Before you offer to be a Good Samaritan assess the situation as best you can. Be prudent and use your best judgment. Stay safe. Jesus said, "Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16).
That said, God has granted me the opportunity to be a Good Samaritan several times before; I can tell you that not only does the person being helped receive a tremendous blessing, the person offering the help also has their spirits lifted. You’ll have to contend with a number of things such as your schedule, fear, indifference, a bad day at work, and so on. Even so, I encourage you to be a Good Samaritan whenever God grants you the chance.
Kevin
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others” – Philippians 2:4
This lady's car was right next to mine so I walked over and offered to help in any way I could. She explained that the locksmith was on the way, but she would be greatly appreciative if she could use my cell phone to call her work and tell them that she would be late. Gladly, I gave it to her. She thanked me several times, and when I saw that there was nothing more I could do, I wished her well and went on with my day.
I tell you that story not to draw attention to myself (regular readers of this blog already know that’s not the kind of person I am), but rather to try to inspire you to do the same thing. The Bible says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12). I’ll level with you: a part of me didn’t feel like getting involved. I had things to do, and places to go. But I decided to jump into action when I was struck with the thought that if I were in her position I would want someone to come over and see if I needed help. So that’s what I did.
Let me issue one important warning particularly for the ladies who are reading this (but this also applies to the men as well). It is important to use discretion and common sense before offering to help someone. We live in a dangerous, twisted world where bad things happen every day. Before you offer to be a Good Samaritan assess the situation as best you can. Be prudent and use your best judgment. Stay safe. Jesus said, "Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16).
That said, God has granted me the opportunity to be a Good Samaritan several times before; I can tell you that not only does the person being helped receive a tremendous blessing, the person offering the help also has their spirits lifted. You’ll have to contend with a number of things such as your schedule, fear, indifference, a bad day at work, and so on. Even so, I encourage you to be a Good Samaritan whenever God grants you the chance.
Kevin
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others” – Philippians 2:4
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Happy Birthday, Mark!
Today I just want to say a few words about my younger brother, Mark, because today is his birthday. First of all, look at this picture, it was taken a few months ago back on Father’s Day. (Mark is the one on the left, Dad is in the middle, and I’m on the right).
I’m so thankful for my brother for many reasons. I’m thankful that he and I are still friends even after all these years. We spent a lot of time together growing up so you’d think that would make us sick of each other! I’m thankful that he and I have several of the same interests. For example, I can talk to him extensively about superheroes or video games without fear of thinking I’m boring him. I’m thankful that whenever I spend time with him, he makes me laugh. We all have our gifts, and Mark is definitely funnier and has better comedic timing than I do.
One thing I wanted to make sure I highlighted today is how my brother selflessly serves his family (Mark was married back in 2008, and it was a tremendous blessing for me to be his best man). Since then, I have observed how he serves his wife and their children tirelessly. I’m so proud of my brother for how he sacrificially gives of himself over and over again for the welfare and happiness of his family.
I love you, Mark. Happy Birthday; I’m glad you are my brother!
Kevin
I’m so thankful for my brother for many reasons. I’m thankful that he and I are still friends even after all these years. We spent a lot of time together growing up so you’d think that would make us sick of each other! I’m thankful that he and I have several of the same interests. For example, I can talk to him extensively about superheroes or video games without fear of thinking I’m boring him. I’m thankful that whenever I spend time with him, he makes me laugh. We all have our gifts, and Mark is definitely funnier and has better comedic timing than I do.
One thing I wanted to make sure I highlighted today is how my brother selflessly serves his family (Mark was married back in 2008, and it was a tremendous blessing for me to be his best man). Since then, I have observed how he serves his wife and their children tirelessly. I’m so proud of my brother for how he sacrificially gives of himself over and over again for the welfare and happiness of his family.
I love you, Mark. Happy Birthday; I’m glad you are my brother!
Kevin
Friday, December 9, 2011
Glorifying God in the storms of life
It’s easy to praise and worship God when life is going well. When the waters of life are still, calm and tranquil, we can easily proclaim that God is good. But it’s another thing entirely when adverse situations test us and shake us to our core. Yet, according to Tim Tebow, these seasons may be the most important times to being a strong Christian witness for God.
Tim, in his book “Through My Eyes” (a book worthy of consideration as a Christmas gift for the football lover in your life) writes this, “Sometimes, people see more of your witness when you’re facing adversity than when everything is going your way…when you are able to reflect God’s light during those times of great disappointment, it can have quite an impact.”
As a football fan, I am always keen on watching the reactions of players and coaches after a particularly difficult loss. Even more interesting is to watch how angry a coach is after a team loses a game that they should have won due to a controversial ending. The character and maturity of the person comes out in those situations.
For example, consider a game in week 4 of this year. The Arizona Cardinals lost a game to the New York Giants that they really should have won. Late in the game, a Giants player fumbled the ball and the Cardinals recovered. The Cardinals would have had the ball and killed the clock to win the game. However, the referees got it wrong stating that the Giants player had “given himself up,” which ended the play before he fumbled. Thus the Giants maintained possession of the ball. The Giants quarterback, Eli Manning, subsequently threw a touchdown pass to lift his team to a 31-27 victory. To his credit, after the game, Cardinals coach, Ken Whisenhunt, didn’t throw a temper tantrum or insult the referees. Although he was understandably far from thrilled, he simply declared, “It shouldn’t have come to that play.” If you’re interested, here’s more information on that game:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20111002022
On a more practical level than a trivial football game, let me try to wrap this up by stating this: trails, challenges, disappointments, and adverse situations will arise in life. Our reaction in those times is very important. The beginning of 1 Peter 1:7 says, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine” (NLT). Obviously, I don’t relish the thought of having to endure trials, but it is exciting to think about how my attitude and example in the midst of it will show that my Christian faith is real.
Kevin
“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” - 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV)
Tim, in his book “Through My Eyes” (a book worthy of consideration as a Christmas gift for the football lover in your life) writes this, “Sometimes, people see more of your witness when you’re facing adversity than when everything is going your way…when you are able to reflect God’s light during those times of great disappointment, it can have quite an impact.”
As a football fan, I am always keen on watching the reactions of players and coaches after a particularly difficult loss. Even more interesting is to watch how angry a coach is after a team loses a game that they should have won due to a controversial ending. The character and maturity of the person comes out in those situations.
For example, consider a game in week 4 of this year. The Arizona Cardinals lost a game to the New York Giants that they really should have won. Late in the game, a Giants player fumbled the ball and the Cardinals recovered. The Cardinals would have had the ball and killed the clock to win the game. However, the referees got it wrong stating that the Giants player had “given himself up,” which ended the play before he fumbled. Thus the Giants maintained possession of the ball. The Giants quarterback, Eli Manning, subsequently threw a touchdown pass to lift his team to a 31-27 victory. To his credit, after the game, Cardinals coach, Ken Whisenhunt, didn’t throw a temper tantrum or insult the referees. Although he was understandably far from thrilled, he simply declared, “It shouldn’t have come to that play.” If you’re interested, here’s more information on that game:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20111002022
On a more practical level than a trivial football game, let me try to wrap this up by stating this: trails, challenges, disappointments, and adverse situations will arise in life. Our reaction in those times is very important. The beginning of 1 Peter 1:7 says, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine” (NLT). Obviously, I don’t relish the thought of having to endure trials, but it is exciting to think about how my attitude and example in the midst of it will show that my Christian faith is real.
Kevin
“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” - 1 Peter 1:7 (NIV)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Thoughts on waiting
We live in a culture of instant gratification. Instant communication is available through e-mail, cell phones, and social network sites. Cravings for midnight snacks at your favorite restaurant can be satisfied because the drive through is open 24 hours a day (or at least very late into the night). Instant purchasing power is available through putting your acquisition on a credit card. Once again, it’s an instant gratification, have it right now, culture. Because of this it’s difficult to sell how God asks us to go through times of waiting on Him. Yet this is an undeniable reality.
For instance, maybe you are waiting for God to open a door of ministry. You feel like you want to serve the Lord, but the door just isn’t opening; God wants you to wait on Him. Or maybe you are waiting for God to lead you to your future wife or husband. You feel like you’ve been called to marriage, but the right person hasn’t arrived; God wants you to wait on Him. Here’s a practical example: maybe you are unemployed and you need work. But despite all you’ve done to try to find work, a job hasn’t presented itself; God wants you to wait on Him.
If you look at the pages of the Bible, you see the topic of waiting is brought up frequently. Hebrews 6:13-15 is one such example. It talks about how God promised many descendants to Abraham. Verse 15 is powerful: “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Isaiah 64:4 says that God “acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Psalm 37:7: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Dozens more could be cited.
Is waiting on God easy? The answer is absolutely not! I know this from personal experience. Frankly, I am waiting on God for many things at this point in my life, too many to get into right now. I know the agony that can often be associated with waiting on God. So if you are in a waiting period in your life, understand that I know exactly how that feels. Waiting on God isn’t easy, but the message proclaimed in the pages of the Word of God is that the choice to do so is unmistakably worth it! I’m convinced that God is able to orchestrate the details of our lives in a way that will make us fall on our knees and cry out in praise and adoration, “Lord, You are amazing! I’m so glad I chose to wait on You.”
Kevin
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” - Psalm 27:14
For instance, maybe you are waiting for God to open a door of ministry. You feel like you want to serve the Lord, but the door just isn’t opening; God wants you to wait on Him. Or maybe you are waiting for God to lead you to your future wife or husband. You feel like you’ve been called to marriage, but the right person hasn’t arrived; God wants you to wait on Him. Here’s a practical example: maybe you are unemployed and you need work. But despite all you’ve done to try to find work, a job hasn’t presented itself; God wants you to wait on Him.
If you look at the pages of the Bible, you see the topic of waiting is brought up frequently. Hebrews 6:13-15 is one such example. It talks about how God promised many descendants to Abraham. Verse 15 is powerful: “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." Isaiah 64:4 says that God “acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Psalm 37:7: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Dozens more could be cited.
Is waiting on God easy? The answer is absolutely not! I know this from personal experience. Frankly, I am waiting on God for many things at this point in my life, too many to get into right now. I know the agony that can often be associated with waiting on God. So if you are in a waiting period in your life, understand that I know exactly how that feels. Waiting on God isn’t easy, but the message proclaimed in the pages of the Word of God is that the choice to do so is unmistakably worth it! I’m convinced that God is able to orchestrate the details of our lives in a way that will make us fall on our knees and cry out in praise and adoration, “Lord, You are amazing! I’m so glad I chose to wait on You.”
Kevin
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” - Psalm 27:14
Monday, December 5, 2011
The futility of human pride
I’ve been studying the book of Proverbs a lot lately. There are several topics that are repeated numerous times (for instance, the vital characteristic of wisdom) but one topic that presents itself a lot is the futility of human pride. There are blunt words on the subject, just consider these verses.
- “He [that is, God] mocks proud mockers, but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34)
- “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
- “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5)
- “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12)
- “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!” (Proverbs 21:4)
As you might imagine, there are a lot more than just these five I’ve quoted. In fact, I’ve only scratched the surface. When I first started collecting my thoughts for this particular blog, I was tempted to quote them all, but the point is made just with these few.
The question is this: why is pride viewed in such a negative light in the book of Proverbs (and in various other places in the Bible)? C.J. Mahaney is his phenomenal book “Humility: True Greatness” puts it quite well when he writes, “The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to receive.” What a statement! Let that soak in for a moment.
Obviously the opposite of pride is humility. This is a trait that is somewhat misunderstood. For instance, some live as if humility means to verbally talk yourself down, and belittle yourself. That is not humility! As I see it, humility is to simply boast of God rather than to boast of yourself. Thus we don’t go around saying, “Look at me and see how great I am.” Rather we say, “Look at God and see how great He is.” I think we can still comment that we have gifts and abilities, but we know that God is the one that gave us those gifts and that keeps us from flaunting ourselves.
Kevin
- “He [that is, God] mocks proud mockers, but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34)
- “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
- “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5)
- “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12)
- “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!” (Proverbs 21:4)
As you might imagine, there are a lot more than just these five I’ve quoted. In fact, I’ve only scratched the surface. When I first started collecting my thoughts for this particular blog, I was tempted to quote them all, but the point is made just with these few.
The question is this: why is pride viewed in such a negative light in the book of Proverbs (and in various other places in the Bible)? C.J. Mahaney is his phenomenal book “Humility: True Greatness” puts it quite well when he writes, “The proud person seeks to glorify himself and not God, thereby attempting in effect to deprive God of something only He is worthy to receive.” What a statement! Let that soak in for a moment.
Obviously the opposite of pride is humility. This is a trait that is somewhat misunderstood. For instance, some live as if humility means to verbally talk yourself down, and belittle yourself. That is not humility! As I see it, humility is to simply boast of God rather than to boast of yourself. Thus we don’t go around saying, “Look at me and see how great I am.” Rather we say, “Look at God and see how great He is.” I think we can still comment that we have gifts and abilities, but we know that God is the one that gave us those gifts and that keeps us from flaunting ourselves.
Kevin
Sunday, December 4, 2011
This is a good song
Today I just wanted to share a song that Taylor Swift wrote entitled “Christmas Must Be Something More.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUYNm12nHw4&feature=related
Honestly, I don't know a whole lot about Taylor Swift, but I give her a lot of credit for writing a song that points us to Jesus!
Kevin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUYNm12nHw4&feature=related
Honestly, I don't know a whole lot about Taylor Swift, but I give her a lot of credit for writing a song that points us to Jesus!
Kevin
Friday, December 2, 2011
A gift for Jesus
I find it somewhat ironic that on the day that we observe the birth of Jesus Christ, we exchange gifts with our family and friends. Don’t get me wrong: I absolutely love the concept of gift-giving at Christmas. I think it’s a great thing that we are able to express our love and appreciation to others by bestowing them with a present. Jesus Himself said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). I know from experience that this sentiment is true.
But having said all this, it’s Jesus Christ’s birthday celebration, right? So why do we give gifts to everyone else except Jesus? Have you ever thought about giving a gift for Jesus this Christmas? I’ve immediately lost some of you. You are thinking, “How exactly do you propose that we give a gift to Jesus?” Admittedly, this is a bit of a challenge. However, I believe that we can do something that is exclusively for Jesus and Jesus alone.
For example, when Jesus was on the earth, He loved little children. So perhaps you could sponsor a child through a reputable source like Compassion International or World Vision. Personally, I’ve been the sponsor of a child through Compassion International for several years. I can attest that you do obtain great joy as a result of sponsoring a child. But perhaps I shouldn't have even mentioned that, because it’s not about what feelings we derive; it’s simply about presenting Jesus with a gift.
Perhaps the Lord will prompt you to forsake a sinful habit. Our gift to Jesus doesn’t have to be monetary. It would thrill the Lord if you finally discard that nagging (and ultimately harmful) sin. Or maybe He will ask you to serve in a soup kitchen this holiday season or at some time in the new year. It's so easy for us to get lost in our own little worlds. I would wager that Jesus would love it if we were to take our eyes off of ourselves and devote some of our time to serving someone who is less fortunate. Maybe He will say, “You know what I'd really like for My birthday? I’ve given you all these gifts and abilities; I'd really just like you to pledge to use them for My glory rather than for your own.”
Really, I don’t know exactly what Jesus would want. I’ve just been rattling off suggestions as they come to me. But I don’t think it’s wrong to just ask Jesus Himself! Just as we ask the person who is having a birthday what he/she would like, you and I can simply ask Jesus what it is He would like in prayer, and then listen for His answer. This is an exercise that I’m practicing this Christmas season (and by the way, to give credit where credit is due I first heard this notion of giving Jesus a gift from my mother; I’ve just taken her idea and ran with it). Perhaps you will be inspired to join me.
Kevin
But having said all this, it’s Jesus Christ’s birthday celebration, right? So why do we give gifts to everyone else except Jesus? Have you ever thought about giving a gift for Jesus this Christmas? I’ve immediately lost some of you. You are thinking, “How exactly do you propose that we give a gift to Jesus?” Admittedly, this is a bit of a challenge. However, I believe that we can do something that is exclusively for Jesus and Jesus alone.
For example, when Jesus was on the earth, He loved little children. So perhaps you could sponsor a child through a reputable source like Compassion International or World Vision. Personally, I’ve been the sponsor of a child through Compassion International for several years. I can attest that you do obtain great joy as a result of sponsoring a child. But perhaps I shouldn't have even mentioned that, because it’s not about what feelings we derive; it’s simply about presenting Jesus with a gift.
Perhaps the Lord will prompt you to forsake a sinful habit. Our gift to Jesus doesn’t have to be monetary. It would thrill the Lord if you finally discard that nagging (and ultimately harmful) sin. Or maybe He will ask you to serve in a soup kitchen this holiday season or at some time in the new year. It's so easy for us to get lost in our own little worlds. I would wager that Jesus would love it if we were to take our eyes off of ourselves and devote some of our time to serving someone who is less fortunate. Maybe He will say, “You know what I'd really like for My birthday? I’ve given you all these gifts and abilities; I'd really just like you to pledge to use them for My glory rather than for your own.”
Really, I don’t know exactly what Jesus would want. I’ve just been rattling off suggestions as they come to me. But I don’t think it’s wrong to just ask Jesus Himself! Just as we ask the person who is having a birthday what he/she would like, you and I can simply ask Jesus what it is He would like in prayer, and then listen for His answer. This is an exercise that I’m practicing this Christmas season (and by the way, to give credit where credit is due I first heard this notion of giving Jesus a gift from my mother; I’ve just taken her idea and ran with it). Perhaps you will be inspired to join me.
Kevin
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