Category: Make it count

The Secret to Running the Race of Faith Successfully-

Lisa M. PriceLeave a comment

So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil- Ephesians 5:15-16 NASB

Every so often, I come across a verse or passage in Scripture that hits me in an unexpected way.  These verses tend to be in the Old Testament; they ALWAYS make me weirdly self-reflective, as a result, I spend a lot of time meditating on them. It happened the other day when I came across this gem in Isaiah:

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple- Isaiah 6:1 NASB

It was the first eleven words that got me:  in the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord. Isaiah appears to be implying that in order for him have an encounter with God where he really saw and understood God in all of His glory Uzziah had to be out of the picture. In other words, Uzziah’s presence in this world kept people from seeing God clearly. 

Yikes. 

If my understanding of this verse is accurate, (and I suspect it is) it says a great deal about Uzziah and how he finished his race of faith (1st Corinthians 9:24, Hebrews 12:1). Uzziah began both his reign and his spiritual race with good intentions (2nd Chronicles 26:1-15). Uzziah had a heart for God and a desire to make Him known. For most of his life Uzziah was God’s guy. Nonetheless, the more successes he experienced the more arrogant he became. He made a classic error: he started to believe he was as awesome as everyone told him he was. He started taking credit for things that he had nothing to do with; at the same time, he stopped giving God the glory that was rightfully His.  Uzziah began to feel he was above obeying God and following rules all the less important people were required to follow (2nd Chronicles 26:16-21). All the while, Uzziah was blissfully ignorant to the changes taking place in his heart. He saw himself as the same old Uzziah he had always been. In reality he was so bloated with pride he truly believed no one (including God) had the right to tell him what to do.

Not good Uzziah. Not good at all. As I pondered all this, I began to wonder if I am doing or not doing things that make it difficult, or even impossible for people to see Jesus in me. 

It’s a relevant question. 

 Anyone who wants to successfully run their race of faith should consider this question (2nd Corinthians 13:5).  Uzziah’s story proves it’s easy to run the race of faith successfully for a long time and then just kind of hit the skids from a spiritual perspective. Unknown spiritual derailment was not just an Old Testament problem. The Apostle Paul saw the same issue in the Galatian Christians (Galatians 5:7). The Galatian believers started their spiritual walk out with a lot of hullabaloo but were eventually tripped up by legalistic people and bad theology. The Galatians were completely blind to the impact those influences were having on them.  Apparently, feelings are not a great indicator of our overall spiritual health.  

Sigh.

Spiritual success isn’t about dumb luck. If we live intentionally, with our eyes on the prize of eternity we will succeed in all the ways that really matter in life (Philippians 3:14, Matthew 25:21). Prayer is key (Matthew 26:41, Proverbs 15:8, 1st Thessalonians 5:13). Specifically, it is critical we make a point of asking God to show us our blind spots. Asking God to show us our sins and shortcomings (and meaning it) is a tough thing to do, mostly because God ALWAYS answers that prayer (if we mean it). God is not like our friends. He does not feel a codependent urge to make us feel better about ourselves when we are wandering in places we don’t belong or adopting attitudes that will ruin us (Matthew 7:21-23). There are also signs we can be alert to: dusty Bibles, a less spiritual set of friends and skipped prayer times say a lot about what’s going on in our hearts. We can also ask a few people we trust to tell us the truth about ourselves. This kind of accountability is priceless. However, in order for it to work we must be willing to humble ourselves and hear hard things sometimes. 

None of those things come easily to fallen people. 

I have concluded that humanity is so messed up that spiritual success would be impossible if it weren’t for God. We play a part in our personal sanctification (Romans 12:1-21, Colossians 3:1-17, 2nd Peter 1:3-11, Philippians 2:12). However, if God were not good, kind and merciful even when we are foolish, wayward and distracted we would all fail (Ephesians 2:1-9, Titus 3:3-7, Psalm 36:5). God roots for our success and He works in us and on us all the time to make us spiritually fruitful (John 15:1-5). I am convinced God wants us to win the race of faith more than we want to win the race of faith (Joshua 1:8). Spiritual success comes, not when we try harder but when we choose to follow God as closely as possible. That’s where Uzziah went wrong.  He lost his way because he lost sight of God.  When we choose to walk in holiness and stay in close proximity to Jesus, God does the rest. 

The Spiritual Lies that Keep Christians from Experiencing “the Abundant Life” Jesus Promised-

Lisa M. PriceLeave a comment

 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind.  And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it- John 1:4-5 NASB

In John chapter ten Jesus makes a truly incredible statement about Himself, salvation and how the Christian life is intended to work itself out in the lives of His followers. Jesus calls Himself the door to life and says that if anyone comes to Him that person “will have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:9-10). 

It’s an astonishing declaration.

Seriously.  There’s a reason there are so many tee-shirts, throw pillows and refrigerator magnets emblazoned with John 10:10.  However, current reality begs a critical question: if Christianity is all about an abundant life why are so many Christians so dang miserable and obviously not experiencing this “abundant life”?

 It’s because we’re doing it wrong. 

Really, we are. My goal here is not to be offensive just honest. It is true there are some Christians are doing the Christian life right but most just aren’t. This demonstrated by the fact that many Christians (by my estimation eighty percent or more) live double lives. They struggle with a big giant ugly sin or problem they don’t want anyone to know about. It might be a cruddy marriage, a drug or alcohol problem, a porn addiction or some other issue with sexual immorality. Some secretly battle debilitating spiritual doubt. These and other issues prevent believers from enjoying the benefits of the abundant life Jesus promises. 

There are all sorts of reasons Christian’s struggle. Usually, at the root of the problem there is a lack of proper discipleship training coupled with belief in one or more common spiritual lies. 

Starting with:

I can do what I want-

Christians have been taught for decades that it doesn’t really matter what we do because God is going to love us no matter what. Like most spiritual lies this one has a seed of truth at its center. God’s love is immutable (unchanging, unalterable, permanent). This means there is nothing anyone can do to make God stop loving them. Period. However, the aim of the Christian life is not to simply to be loved and adored by God (being loved by God is a byproduct of the Christian life not the goal). The aim of the Christian life is to be transformed into God’s image (Romans 8:29, Romans 12:1-2, 2nd Corinthians 3:18). Here’s the thing: ultimately, we are the sum of our choices. We become what we do (Psalm 125:4-5, Jeremiah 4:22, Jeremiah 13:23, 1st Timothy 6:17-19). If we want to live an abundant life, we need to do our best to live the life God calls us to live in Scripture (Colossians 3, Romans 12, 2nd Peter 1:3-11). Choosing to ignore scriptural teaching is direct disobedience that keeps us from becoming like Jesus. Disobedience is also the fast-track route to becoming an ineffective and profoundly miserable Christian (1st Samual 15:22, Psalm 51). 

The right thing can wait-

 Oftentimes we (me included) are fully aware there is something specific God wants us to do (forgive, pray, connect with someone, help someone). Because God almost never asks us to do anything that’s easy or convenient, we will put the thing off until “later”. Too often “later” means never. When we don’t follow through on God’s instruction, we never experience the elation of having God work through us. Experiencing God’s power working through us is the most satisfying thing in all the world. It always leads to a desire for more (Psalm 119:60). 

It’s okay to do the Christian life alone-

One of my routine spiritual practices is to say the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) every day. It reminds me who’s in charge and what life is really all about. One surprising feature of the Lord’s Prayer is that there are no singular pronouns such as “I”, “my” or “me” in it. Instead, Jesus uses the plural pronouns “us” and “our”. This is not an accident, poor translation or crummy grammar.  It’s a clue we should pick up on.  Christianity (if it’s done right) is not just a private thing we do with God, it’s a corporate thing we do with God and the “the body of Christ” in community (Romans 12:5, 2nd Corinthians 12:12-27). On a practical level this means all of us should have a church we routinely attend, at least one close friend with whom we can be honest about our sins (James 5:16) and a group of Christians we love and feel accountable to. 

I don’t have to apply all the truth I know-

You do.  At least if you want to hang on to that truth. Jesus makes it clear that wisdom and truth are “use it or lose it” propositions (Luke 18:18).  Furthermore, the more willingly we apply the truth we know the more truth we will be given. Unfortunately, many Christians (me included sometimes) believe they can hear a truth and ignore it until obedience becomes expedient. The problem is that obedience is NEVER expedient and so we will never obey if we wait until it works for us. 

And finally,

Holiness is legalism.  

It’s not.

Holiness is a powerful state of existence we get invited into by the most powerful creature in all of existence (Ephesians 1:4,1st Peter 1:15). Holiness is choosing to be like God: set apart, unique and different in the very best sense. Holiness is partnering with God to fulfill His purposes in this world. Holiness is living out what we were made for and it’s the secret to doing Christianity right. 

Making Life Count-

Lisa M. PriceLeave a comment

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God- Hebrews 6:1 NASB 

Humans are made in the image of God and God wrote eternity on the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11-13, Genesis 1:28). Consequently, all humans want make their life count by leaving some sort of legacy. This might mean leaving behind an organization so big and complex it alters the course of history. Or it might be as basic as being remembered as a decent human who treated others well.  

This universal ache is even more intense for those who follow of Jesus. 

Christians want to leave behind a legacy just like everyone else. However, those who truly know Jesus as Lord also want to leave behind a spiritual legacy that has lasting eternal value (1st Timothy 1:9). This might be as big and complex as a huge Christian ministry, or it might mean a simple legacy of good Christian works and/or raising kids who love, obey and worship Jesus. 

Christians are saved by faith in Jesus and what He did on the cross (Ephesians 2:8, Hebrews 10:38-39, Romans 1:17, Romans 3:22-26, Philippians 3:8-10).

However.

Christians were saved for the express purpose of doing good in this world (Romans 2:6-11, Ephesians 2:10, James 2:14-26, Matthew 5:15-16). Works are a key way we glorify God (Matthew5:13-16). The works we do also become a part of the legacy we leave behind in this world. We will be judged for the quality of the works we do. This view isn’t “works theology”, “anti-grace” or “legalism”. It’s scripture (Revelation 20:12-13, Matthew 3:10, 1st Corinthians 4:3-4, James 3:1, Hebrews 10:31-32). Good works would include (but are not limited to) preaching the word, leading the lost to Jesus, providing and caring for the less fortunate and loving the unlovable (Matthew 10:8, 2nd Timothy 4:2, Matthew 25:31-46, 1st Peter 4:8). 

 The Bible makes it clear the only legacies that have any real value are those that have eternal value. Therefore, it’s critical we avoid what the writer of Hebrews calls “dead works” (Hebrews 6:1, Hebrews 9:14). Paul describes in detail the end result of dead works:

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work.  If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.  If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire– 1st Corinthians 3:10-14 NASB

Yikes. 

Dead works are works people do in the name of Jesus’ that ultimately help no one and have no eternal value. Even a good work can be a dead work. Dead works are good things done for the wrong reasons or with the wrong motivations.  A dead work is:

A work we do to impress people rather than God-

A work we do with the wrong heart attitude- 

A work we do with ourselves at the center-

There’s a lot of easily discernable bad news in this situation. 

Pretty much everyone has been guilty of the sin of people pleasing (Matthew 6:1, Colossians 3:23). We want people to think well of us. As a result, sometimes we do good things hoping to gain the esteem and favor of our peers. Or maybe we do good works because we hope (secretly) our good work will bring us something beneficial in return rather than just doing it to honor, obey and glorify God.  I, for one have been guilty (on more than one occasion) of doing the right things with a smile on my face and a crummy attitude in my heart (1st Samuel 16:7). Furthermore, most (all) of us have been guilty of doing good works secretly hoping people will think we are awesome (Isaiah 2:22, Proverbs 29:25). 

We all fall short of the glory of God. 

Sigh.

Thankfully, what is impossible with man is possible with God. Mainly because He’s awesome and totally willing to work with us even in our fallen, messy, self- aggrandizing state. Because God is good, and good to us we can do good works that have eternal value. We can please God.  God is not a cruel taskmaster judging us for every wrong thing we do. God doesn’t want us to be stuck with a bunch of dead works without any eternal value. God really wants every single one of us to hear “well done my good and faithful servant. Come and share in your master’s happiness” when we see Jesus for the first time (Matthew 25:21)

But.

We must be willing to do our part. 

This means asking God to give us the right heart. It means examining our motives on a regular basis and confessing any self-aggrandizement or selfish-ambition we may be harboring (Philippians 2:3, Galatians 5:19-21).  Our part in the area of good works is to humbly ask God to help us do the right things with the right attitude, for the right reasons.  Then we just have to keep on keeping on until Jesus calls us home.

When we do those things God takes care of the rest and we can not help but bring Him glory (Philippians 2:13).