Blog - Do Not Depart

When God Sends YOU to Be the Minister

September 10, 2020 by Lisa Burgess 8 Comments

Don’t leave everything to the professionals. Every believer is called to be a minister.

One of your areas of ministry? The Reconciliation Department.

When Plans Change

They met in college. He was a pre-med student. He had plans to be a medical doctor, to heal people, to make a difference. She was attracted to him and his vision.

But then he met Jesus.

And he felt a different pull. To a different direction. To become a full-time pastor of a church. To heal in a different way.

It wrecked her plans. She didn’t want to be a pastor’s wife. Now what?

Leave It to the Professionals?

There are many things we leave to the professionals: cutting out our appendix; flying our airplane; plumbing our house.

And sometimes? Making peace with others. We’d rather the professionals handle it: the counselors and psychologists and pastors.

And often we DO need their help. Thank God they’re available.

But there is a ministry of peace-making that each believer is called to do: the Ministry of Reconciliation.

We may not feel qualified to reconcile conflicts and bring harmony in our world. There are many difficult relationships that need reconciliation every day (including racial reconciliations; read Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation).

You’re Qualified

But we each have the credentials to be a minister of reconciliation.

Because God reconciled us to Himself through the death of Jesus, clearing away our sins, He has equipped us to reconcile others to Him and to each other.

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

That’s not to say it’s easy to be a Minister of Reconciliation. But it’s possible. God sends us to the work.

4 Suggestions for Ministers of Reconciliation

Here are a few suggestions as we do reconciling work.

1. BE AWARE

Before we can minister to others, we need to know others. We need to be aware of their hurts, their strengths, their relationship with God. And be aware of our own hurts, strengths, and relationship with God.

We can’t aid in reconciling what we don’t know. But neither are we responsible for knowing it all before we try (because we never can know it all). Let’s remain alert to pains around us.

2. BE HUMBLE

As the ultimate reconciler, God had to reach down to reconcile us to Him. We couldn’t heal ourselves. We had to be humble enough to reach up to Him, to Christ on the cross. In our work as ministers of reconciliation, we can continue to demonstrate humility to help others reach up to God as well.

And in our relationships with each other? Humility is also needed. Whether we’re the hurt party or the party who has done the hurting, reconciliation work requires us to be respectful, to be unpretentious, and to remain God-centered, not self-centered.

3. BE VULNERABLE

Reconciliation also requires a certain daring. It takes courage to both (1) confess our wrongs and to (2) release the wrongs others have done to us. But if Jesus has entrusted this tender work to us, He also will give us the strength to open our hearts to each other.

4. BE LED

We don’t need to walk into this calling alone. We are led to it through the guidance of Jesus. First, in the reconnecting work He does between us and Him, and secondly, in the reconnecting work He longs to do between Himself and others, including our interpersonal relationships.

We Are All Ministers Here

There will be times we won’t succeed in bringing reconciliation.

Whether healing breaches in our own relationships or in helping others return to God, this work requires all hands on deck, and often not everyone is ready when we are (and sometimes we’re not ready ourselves.)

But a beautiful quality of ministry is this: planting seeds is considered valuable work in itself. Perhaps we’ll see the fruits of the harvest; perhaps not. It’s up to God to add HIs miraculous touches for the buds to bloom in ways we can’t imagine.

My friend decided that love for her boyfriend outweighed her distaste of being a pastor’s wife. So she married him. Along their journey, she discovered many ministries of her own as a result. God’s callings often multiply in many directions.

As we continue forward in our series of #MissionalLiving this month, remember that the mission to be reconcilers is something each of us can participate in.

We all are sent.

We all are ministers here.

Don’t leave everything to the professionals. You are sent to be a minister. #MissionalLiving

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Please share your thoughts in the comments about your ministry.

Sent with the Cross

September 8, 2020 by Jaime Hilton Leave a Comment

All this month on the blog we’re exploring what missional living looks like for us individually. As Cheli reminded us in the series introduction, “missional living” means “following Jesus and doing what he calls us to do”. Which leads us to the question, what does it look like to follow Jesus?

The Cross is Our Example

Typically when I think about being sent or living on mission, and what God uses to equip us, my first thought is the armor laid out in Ephesians 6:11-18. These tools – a sword of truth, a shield of faith, shoes made up of the gospel of peace -make sense and certainly have their use in how we carry out our calling.

Yet, when Jesus calls the people, he says,

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

The cross? Really? The cross was an instrument of death and those being executed were forced to carry it to the place they were to die. It was an excruciating experience as those condemned faced a long, difficult walk through ridicule and shame. Now it is a symbol of God’s love, representing our atonement. In it, we see a symbol of the forgiveness of sin so we can stand before Him, justified.

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God,” – 1 Corinthians 1:18

It is exactly this upside-down idea that characterizes the Kingdom of God A kingdom where the poor are blessed (Matthew 5:3), greatness is achieved through servitude (Mark 10:43-45), and life is found through death (Luke 9:24).

Jesus’ death on the cross gave us more than freedom from sin. In His obedience, He set an example for us to follow. In taking up our cross, we can make missional living a reality.

Jesus said, 'Take up your cross and follow me.' #MissionalLivingClick To Tweet

What Missional Living Looks Like

Jesus shows us that missional living is humble, valuing others over yourself. It recognizes that if Christ, the king of the universe, can lower himself to be human and to be executed by humans, we too can get on our knees to reach those who are less fortunate than ourselves.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2: 5-8

It is sacrificial, not only considering others as worthy but giving up your interests in favor of others. Putting someone else’s needs ahead of your own.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

It is marked by grace and peace, the fruit of our redemption. A missional life seeks reconciliation.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” – Ephesians 2:13 – 16

The cross is the ultimate expression of love and therefore the chief characteristic of a missional life.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

When we take up our cross we are dying to ourself, leaving room for Jesus to reign.

Are Christians Too Judgmental? {Matthew 7:1-2}

September 7, 2020 by Lisa Burgess 5 Comments

Are Christians too judgmental? Most polls say yes.

Memorize Matthew 7:1-2 with us this week: “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

The Billboard

The same billboard catches my eye every time. As I drive back and forth on Highway 280, the words loom large. They preach: “STOP JUDGING.”

I always wonder, “Who paid for this? And why?” Is it a progressive organization responding to a harsh church? Is it a Christian group striving to protect its reputation? Is it a political group making a point?

Last week I decided to find out. I made a note to look up the website when I got home: stopjudging.org.

It wasn’t what I expected.

Do You Judge?

This week we’re studying and memorizing Matthew 7:1-2 (you can join our memory challenge here).

Jesus said these words: “Judge not, that you be not judged”. It sounds so simple: Don’t judge. Don’t draw definitive conclusions about someone else’s opinions or behaviors as right or wrong.

We read similar thoughts from Paul and James:

“Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Romans 14:4

“There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”
James 4:12

Yet, we do it anyway. We judge.

Sometimes we judge based on political party or favored candidate.
We judge if someone isn’t wearing a mask or if they are.
We judge others based on accents, on clothing, on causes supported or not supported on social media.
We judge by church attendance, by doctrinal stances, by worship styles.

We assume our way is the right way. So if others don’t agree with us, they must be wrong. And too often, we let them know.

We frame it as “speaking the truth in love,” but others perceive it as obnoxiously spouting our opinions.

Don’t Judge

Yet Jesus is clearly saying here: “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

That doesn’t mean we can’t hold opinions and form beliefs. Jesus wants us to hold onto His teachings, to properly discern right and wrong. And to help others do likewise.

But there’s a line we aren’t to cross. Don’t pass judgment on a fellow human. We don’t know enough to do so. Only God sees what is in a person’s heart. He alone can properly read motives.

And when we refuse to stop judging? When we remain judgmental?

We reap what we sow: the world judges us back. Unfavorably. It reflects bad on us. It reflects bad on Jesus.

Our judgmental attitudes need to go.

Love More

When I arrived home last week, I looked up the website from the billboard, stopjudging.org.

It discovered it is a statewide campaign launched by the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Alabama Department of Mental Health. The goal? Stop judging those with mental illness and substance disorders. Stop piling on shame and ridicule. Start healing instead.

The site gives a list of resources. It gives a list of vocabulary we can use to change the way we talk, to change the way we’re perceived, and to change the way others feel perceived by us.

I think they’re on to something. They’re encouraging conversations of kindness and understanding, to help free people from unwanted behaviors, to promote healing for illnesses.

I think it’s what Jesus was saying, too.

Jesus didn’t need a billboard to say it. He said it in a sermon on a mountain.

But maybe He also is using this billboard to remind us of His message: Stop judging.

We have many opportunities every day to practice this. We’ll improve our reputation (and by default, His reputation) by loving more, judging less.

That’s how people will know we are His: by our love, not our judgments.

Are Christians too judgmental? Let’s love more, judge less. Opportunities abound for practice. #Matthew7

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Have you ever felt judged? Done the judging? Share your thoughts in the comments.

We’ll Read, Memorize, Study—Sign Up Today for 10 Weeks in Matthew 7

September 4, 2020 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

Want to sign up to memorize Matthew 7, but haven’t yet?

Today is your moment. You’ve got nothing to lose!

When you register, you’ll get links to our resources and a weekly email for 10 weeks.

Memorize with us every week. Or just read and study alongside us.

Quick signup here:

Spend 10 weeks in Matthew 7:1-14. We’ll read; memorize; study. Sign up today! We start September 6. #HideHisWord

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Get more details here.

Sent With Presence and Power

September 3, 2020 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

All this month on the blog we’re looking at the concept of Missional Living, and today’s post looks at how we are Sent with the Presence and Power of Jesus to share the Gospel and live as ambassadors for Christ.

Jesus commissioned Believers to “Go therefore…” and make disciples. Why? And how, specifically, can we do this?

Why Are We Sent?

The reason why Jesus sends us is multifold. Finding the answer starts with asking: Who am I?

That question may be easy or hard to answer. Perhaps you’re a woman, mother, grandmother, sister, or friend. (Or a combination of those.) Maybe you’re known for being intellectual, shy, or outgoing. There are many ways of answering that question because we humans are such intricate creatures.

But when we’re answering the “Who am I?” question, we must start at the beginning.

Ultimately, God has created us to glorify Him. No matter who we are, we are “purposed” to do His work. One very important part of that work is sharing the gospel with those who don’t know about Jesus. It’s really amazing, isn’t it, that God has designed us to glorify Himself? He will use us the way He’s intricately created us to do what He’s called us to do.

So, part of why we’re sent is because He’s created us to bring Him glory.

Another reason why is because He tells us to go.

I love the short version of the Great Commission in John 20:21. (This is called the Johannine Commission.)

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

Jesus makes it really simple there, doesn’t He? He tells us quite plainly that we are sent because He was sent. We get to continue sharing His message.

Most of us are familiar with the longer version of the Great Commission found in Matthew:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

These instructions have more details. We’re sent to continue sharing His message, and Jesus gives us the instructions on how specifically to do this.

How?

Ultimately the how (as in “the instruction,”) is found above in that Matthew passage.

How do we fulfill the Great Commission? We do it by going, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching them to observe Jesus’ commandments.

But it’s that very last part that tells us more about how. (As in, “How is it even possible!?”)

I imagine myself standing there listening to Jesus. When He gets to the “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” part, I see myself nervously raising my hand about chin high, sorta hoping not to be seen, clearing my voice, ready to ask, “Do you mean me, too, Jesus? Because I’m shy. I get super anxious and sometimes I feel like passing out under pressure. I don’t think I’m enough for this task!”

But before I can speak, I hear Him say, “And behold, I am with you always…”

It’s a bit of a mic drop. My excuses and reasons? They don’t matter a hill-a-beans because: He. Is. With. Me.

And I don’t feel embarrassed about my thoughts; instead, I feel loved. I feel empowered. I feel like maybe I can after all. Because? He’s with me. He who calls, equips.

He will equip me for the specific task He asks of me.

We Each Have a Part

The Lord has given us each a part.

13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:13-15)

God has a part for each of us to play in sharing the gospel and in living missionally for His Kingdom. The specific ways He sends me might look different from the ways He sends someone else to share Him. But He will use me the way He’s created me and in the way He’s chosen to empower me for the task of bearing witness to His beautiful name.

I get to go, live as an ambassador, love others, and share Jesus with them when and how He asks me to. One way I get to do that is by “proclaiming His excellencies” in my current relationships and as I make new ones.

“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (I Peter 2:9)

I have so much learning and practicing to do when it comes to being missionally-minded. I am still challenged on a daily basis to live with increasing mission-ality (I think I made that word up), but I aim for obedience and I thank Jesus for stretching me out of my comfort zone for His glory. And the times that I’ve been successfully obedient have made me braver. (That’s growth!)

I’m thankful that He sends me with His presence, and with His power. Look at what Jesus told the disciples when He sent the Holy Spirit to them:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Yes! The very same Holy Spirit that empowered the disciples to bear witness to Jesus right there in their city, their area, the neighboring areas, and the ends of the earth has also empowered me.

Friends, we are sent with His presence and His power. How beautiful and encouraging! And, wow! What a privilege!

Things to Think About

Make a plan today to follow Christ outside your comfort zone and share Him with someone.

Think about this statement: “If you don’t participate in sharing the Gospel, God is still going to save people, but you will miss out on being part of God’s good plan.” (S. Heleman)

Does the Great Commission challenge you? Does it pull you from your comfort zone? Thank God that He sends you with His presence and in His power!

In Christ,
Ali

Does the Great Commission challenge you? Does it pull you from your comfort zone? Thank God that He sends you with His presence and in His power! #Sent #MissionalLiving

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“So SEND I You:” Missional Living

September 1, 2020 by Cheli Sigler 2 Comments

Happy September! We look forward to engaging with you via the blog and/or our Do Not Depart Community on Facebook.

“Missional living” is a current buzz word in various Christian communities, but it is not a new concept. My church decided to move from being an “attractional” church to being a “missional” one. My church is growing the church by sending believers to BE THE CHURCH in the community. The current pandemic has given our church the perfect opportunity to put this into practice, and it has been wonderful to watch God work.

Missional Living Defined

We can understand what “missional” means for the church, but this month we are exploring what living missionally looks like for you and me. Essentially, a “missional” life is following Jesus and doing what He calls us to do. GotQuestions.org puts it like this: “In truth, every disciple of Christ should strive to be an agent, a representative of the kingdom of God; and every follower should try to carry the mission of God into every sphere of his life. We are all missionaries sent into the world.”

Sent as Jesus was Sent

Carrying out a mission implies a sending. Jesus was on a mission for God, the Father. Jesus confirms this in his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane:

“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” (John 17:3-4)

After His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples and commissioned them:

“…Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21, KJV)

Jesus sends us. He is our commissioner. It is and can be a difficult mission, but it is not an impossible one. We can have peace that in commissioning us, He equips us to do what he asks of us.

Join Us

All month long, join us as we explore “missional living.” We’ll be share what it looks like in our lives and how it challenges us, stretching our faith. Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect each week in September.

All month long, join us as we explore “missional living.” We’ll be share what it looks like in our lives and how it challenges us, stretching our faith. #MissionalLiving

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How to Be Consistent in Memorizing Scripture—Sign Up Here!

August 31, 2020 by Lisa Burgess 14 Comments

We took an unofficial poll in our scripture memory group, Hide His Word. How would you fill in the blank?

“The hardest thing for me about memorizing scripture is _____.”

The #1 difficultly we had with memorizing scripture? Being consistent.

Beginning September 6, 2020, we’ll start a 10-week challenge to memorize Matthew 7:1-14. We’ll finish the week before Thanksgiving.

How can we be consistent from week to week to transfer these words from paper to our heart?

4 Ways to Be More Consistent in Memorizing Scripture

Here are 4 ways to be consistent in memorizing scripture.

1. TAKE BABY STEPS

Set small but specific goals. Keep them reasonable.

Our challenge is to learn 1-2 verses a week. That’s all. Set aside 5 minutes a day. Simply say the verses to yourself 3-5 times a day, looking at them when necessary, looking up when you can.

Some people prefer learning one phrase per day. Others use 1st letter prompts. Or practice the verses by typing them. (We’ll send you lots of resources and links to help you when you sign up to learn Matthew 7.)

Whatever your preferred method, keep it quick. You’ll be more apt to do it.

2. ELIMINATE OBSTACLES

Make it easy. Make it obvious.

If you have to dig out your Bible or chase down your 3×5 memory cards every time you want to memorize, you’re less likely to do it. Place copies of the text now in several places. Where are you most likely to see them each day? Perhaps on the bathroom mirror, on the refrigerator door, by the remote control.

If you’re a morning person, recite in the morning before tiredness becomes an obstacle. If time is a problem, listen to the text on audio during your daily commute or while you’re making your coffee.

Think ahead about excuses you’ll use. Then defeat the excuses before they defeat you.

3. SET REMINDERS

Often we just forget to memorize. How can you remind yourself?

First, create a schedule. We’ve created a schedule here for Matthew 7:1-14.

Then, try these suggestions. Maybe an accountability partner can help you remember. Make a weekly date to recite to each other. Or set a daily timer on your phone to spend 5 minutes with your verses. Create an item on your digital task list to recite the verses.

We’ll also be here to remind you. We’ll send you a weekly email with the current verses and first letters. We’ll post a Monday morning devotional here at the blog. We’ll ask you on Facebook each Monday about the verses you’re choosing to learn that week. And check in with you on Fridays about your progress.

4. FOCUS ON THE GOAL

Why do you want to memorize anyway? Memorizing is great exercise for your brain. But higher goals are (1) to grow closer to God, and (2) to love others better.

Spending time with Jesus in His words is a great way to connect with Him, not only in the minutes you’re actually memorizing, but deep in the night when you wake up or when you’re seeking wisdom in the middle of the day.

Study the context. Read the surrounding chapters of the Sermon on the Mount. Use a YouVersion reading plan to stay connected (we suggest this 10-day plan).

Talk to God in your prayers about these words. Let it be material for conversations with Him as well as for conversations with others about Him.

Is It Time to Try?

Don’t think you’ll memorize perfectly. No one can.

But an imperfect attempt to memorize is better than a perfect failure to try.

Only by the grace of God can any of us memorize scripture and allow the Spirit to use His truths for our transformation.

If scripture memorization is something you’ve wanted to improve on, this can be your time.

Get more details here.

Then sign up here with your email address. It’s easy.

It’s a baby step but a step in a positive direction toward spiritual growth!

We’ll be here with you every step of the way.

Want to be more consistent in memorizing scripture? Here are tips. Then practice with us in Matthew 7. Sign up today.

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What’s the hardest part about memorizing scripture to you? Share your thoughts (and any tips!) in the comments.

Anchored by Hope: Series Wrap-Up

August 28, 2020 by Jennifer Hong Leave a Comment

This month on Do Not Depart, we have been considering what it means to be Anchored by Hope, to have our hope planted in the character of God and the truth of the Gospel rather than our ever changing circumstances.

We began the month asking, “What do you hope in?” and looking at the image of an anchor, designed to protect a boat from drifting away or from crashing into danger. A well-designed anchor becomes set firm when it is pulled against, just as our hope, when anchored in Christ instead of our circumstances, will hold true.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:19-20)

With a look at Esther’s story, Ali reminded us of God’s sovereignty. “Even in the most dire situations, and even when our limited human perspective just can’t see it, God is working His good and perfect plan!”

Jaime showed us that, “like Joseph, we are looking forward with hope. Not in the dreams God has placed on our hearts, but in God himself, who never leaves us.”

When we see God’s faithfulness and goodness in our past, we can relax in the present and look to the future with hope. Lisa pointed us to the last verse of Psalm 23:

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6)

In a beautiful depiction of hope bursting through despair, Cheli said, “in his darkest hour, Jeremiah remembers God’s enduring presence, unfailing love, and abiding faithfulness.”

Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:21-23, NIV)

God, making all things new, brings new mercies and refreshing provisions when they are most needed. His transformative grace is renewing us, to worship in the fullness we were created to.

That grace is our hope for both forgiveness for our sins but also victory over sin. As Kelli shared, “We can either 1) focus on ourselves and our sin (setting our minds on things of the flesh) or 2) focus on Jesus and all that He has done on our behalf (setting our minds on things of the Spirit).”

He Will Deliver Us

As my husband and I talked about stories of hope in the Bible, he reminded me of the hope held by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When confronted by King Nebuchadnezzar over their refusal to worship idols and threatened with death in a furnace, they answered,

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. (Daniel 3:16-17)

They were confident in His deliverance, and yet their faith extended even further, beyond the specific outcome for which they hoped.

“But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:19)

May our hope be likewise deeply grounded in the goodness, sovereignty, and faithfulness of our God who is the giver of all good things.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)

Hope for Overcoming Sin

August 25, 2020 by Kelli LaFram Leave a Comment

Fed up, tired, ashamed, hopeless — these are just a few of the emotions I experience when I’m dealing with this one nagging sin that I can’t seem to kick to the curb. We all have one, right? One sin (maybe more than one if we’re honest) that we just can’t seem to get a handle on. A sin that rears its ugly head every time we think things are going well. A sin that reminds us how weak and inadequate we are.

For me, one of these sins is gluttony. My particular “lust of the flesh” comes in the form of my desire to over indulge my taste buds — to completely refuse to exercise any self-control and eat until my belly hurts and my head is hanging in regret. Food: it’s the addiction I don’t know how to quit.

Now, before you start to think this post is about my sinful relationship with calories, let me make it clear that it is not. This post is about our struggle with sin and the hope that we have to overcome it. And let me give you a little hint in how we overcome it: the hope is not found in ourselves, it’s found in Jesus.

We are Death-bound Sinners

Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. We also know that we can’t keep God’s law, because “whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10). On our own, we are down-right, good-for-nothing sinners. It’s been part of our human-nature ever since Adam and Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit. We can’t help it. Apart from Jesus, we are each a slave to our sins (John 8:34).

And because we are sinners we deserve punishment. Not just a small punishment either. The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a). According to BlueLetterBible.org, the original Greek word for death can be defined as “death comprising all the miseries arising from sin, as well physical death as the loss of a life consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth, to be followed by wretchedness in hell.” In other words, death is eternal, everlasting separation from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Good, Good News

But that isn’t the end of the story. Did you notice the ellipses, the three little periods at the end of the verse I just quoted? The entire verse says “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, emphasis added). Yes, we filthy sinners deserve death, but God offers us eternal life through — and only through — His son Jesus.

But God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~Romans 5:8

Here is the good, good news: even though each and every one of us deserve hell we don’t have to end up there. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves from sin, but God has provided us with the free gift of salvation — His son living a perfect life, dying our death, and rising again to justify us. All because He chooses to love us.

But We Still Sin

But we still sin, don’t we? Yes, we are forgiven and justified, but we still sin! Struggling with sin is nothing new. Paul wrote about it extensively in Romans 7. He says “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do” (v 15). In other words, Paul is saying no matter how hard he wants to stop sinning he can’t. Even though he knows the law of God, he can not keep it. And because he can not keep it, he sins time and time again.

Oh, I can relate! Can’t you?

Hope in His Faithfulness

But there is hope! If you take the time to read Romans 7 you might notice that Paul continually uses the pronoun I. The focus of that chapter is himself and his ability (or inability) to keep the law. It is through this focus on self that Paul teaches us that when we rely on our ability to overcome sin we will fail every single time.

Every. Single. Time.

Instead we need to focus, rely, and trust in Jesus.

After Paul confesses that he can not keep from sinning he writes:

“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-5)

Paul is making it clear that we have a choice to make. We can either 1) focus on ourselves and our sin (setting our minds on things of the flesh) or 2) focus on Jesus and all that He has done on our behalf (setting our minds on things of the Spirit).

Let me explain it another way. I’m a food glutton and when I think about all the food I should not be eating, guess what? My craving for those earthly things increases. When I repeatedly rely on my own ability to exercise self-control and deny my cravings, my cravings grow stronger and my self-control buckles under the weight of my desire. This is me setting my mind on things of the flesh.

However, if I choose to set my mind on things of the Spirit it’s a different story. When I focus on Jesus I find strength and satisfaction in Him, not in food. My desire to be a glutton diminishes and my desire to be like Christ flourishes.

There is one verse that I am constantly repeating to myself. It reminds me that the struggle with sin will not last forever. The verse is 1 John 1:9. It says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

What a promise!

Yes, we will sin, but if we confess our sin we can rest and take hope in the promise that Jesus will forgive and cleanse us completely.

Lord in Heaven, you are more good than I can fathom. Your promises are more hope giving than anything I can find on this earth. Thank you for not expecting me to take care of my own sin. Thank you for meeting me in my struggle, forgiving me, and promising to make me clean. Help me to rest and trust in all that you have done and continue to do. Amen.

Sign Up to Memorize the Red Letters {Matthew 7:1-14}

August 24, 2020 by Lisa Burgess 6 Comments

What’s Your Source?

Where do you get your news? What’s your source? We hear a lot these days about minding our sources.

For our next memory challenge, we’re going straight to the original source.

We’ll be memorizing red letter words, the words spoken directly by Jesus as recorded by the writers of the New Testament.

SIGN UP HERE!

Memorize Matthew 7:1-14

In the past, we’ve memorized portions of Matthew 5 and Matthew 6.

In this challenge, we’ll memorize Matthew 7:1-14, to complete our journey through sections of all three chapters of the Sermon on the Mount. (Here are resources for Matthew 5 and resources for Matthew 6.)

Whether this will be your first time memorizing scripture or if you’ve memorized a lot, this is a great portion of scripture to learn.

We’ve discovered it’s much easier to memorize in community than on our own.

We go at a comfortable pace (or you can create your own schedule). We’ll memorize 1 to 2 verses per week for 10 weeks between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, with a one-week break halfway.

Matthew 7 include verses such as,

1 Judge not, that you be not judged.

7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Sign Up Today

If you want to go straight to the source too, sign up today and memorize with us.

Here are the details.

• Schedule
Memorizing begins September 6, 2020, and ends November 21.

• Reminders
We’ll send you an email each Monday morning with memory tips for that week’s verses. We’ll also post a short devotional on each verse here at the blog on Monday mornings. Our Facebook community, Hide His Word, participates actively as well, strengthening each other with friendship, insights, and prayers.

• Resources
We provide several resources you can print. After signing up, you’ll receive an email with links to 3×5 cards you can print, 1st letters page, journal pages, etc. (All our resources are in ESV, but you can memorize in any version you prefer.)

Click here to see the full schedule.

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