PLUS

NOTE: I posted this PLUS on September 6, 2018. It was immediately after I was publicly (though only reputationally and legally) attacked for my faith. Instead of my intended post for today, I thought a repost of these thoughts would be particularly relevant to the challenging times we now face seven years later.

Matthew 5:44-47 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?”

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Because we are Christians in America in 2018, there are those who will oppose us. They will curse us. They will hate us. They will despitefully use us. They will persecute us.

In reality, this isn’t unique to American Christians in 2018. It has happened to believers throughout history.

As we stand strong and unwavering in our beliefs, Jesus gives us the perfect checklist to follow. As we are cursed, hated, used, and persecuted, we are to respond in a way that is refreshingly different and distinct from the world. We are to do good to our opposition; we are to pray for them; we are to love them.

After all, this is the checklist that Jesus Himself followed. He loved those who opposed Him. He did good to those who hated Him. He prayed for those who despitefully used Him.

If we are to make the impact that God intends for us, then we are to follow His ways. They are greater than our ways!

PLEASE PRAYERFULLY RESPOND TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE US IN A WAY THAT FOLLOWS JESUS’ ADMONITION AND EXAMPLE. Maybe by doing so, we can have the impact that Jesus intends for us. Maybe by loving our enemies, we can prompt revival in this land!

II Corinthians 5:20-21 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

I Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear”

Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Matthew 5:13-16 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

During our first military assignment in California, we bought a home off base. It was on a wonderful piece of property and we had the benefit of a very big lot at the end of a cul-de-sac.

Shortly after our move in, a kind neighbor who lived at the base of our street stopped by to say hi. He owned a landscaping business and offered his services at the market rate to take care of our yard. With a young family and a busy job, it was a welcome opportunity to shed some workload, but we weren’t ready to commitment until we got a bit more established.

A few days later, we took a walk around the neighborhood and noticed something important – his property was a disaster. The landscaping was non-existent, the yard was overgrown in some places and dead in others, and the property was an eye-sore. This quick observation made it obvious that we wanted nothing that he had to offer in the landscaping and yard maintenance realm. We weren’t looking for perfection, but at least a modicum presentability and respectability.

How is your spiritual landscaping? Is your testimony an eye-sore? I’m not talking about perfection, but at least a modicum of presentability and respectability. If not, people won’t interested in anything you have to offer.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS, STARTING WITH US, TO LIVE LIVES THAT ARE FITTING AS AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST. It is important to remember that people are always watching to determine what they think about what you say you represent. It is critical that we live out genuine testimonies that includes at least a modicum of presentability and respectability.

I Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Whenever someone thinks of the name Neville Chamberlain, they often think of the word appeasement. Whenever someone thinks of the word appeasement, they often think of the name Neville Chamberlain. They are linked together in a way that is permanently inseparable and that conjures up images of international affairs and national security failure.

As the British Prime Minister in 1938, Chamberlain signed the Munich Agreement that gave large portions of Czechoslovakia to Nazi Germany and its leader Adolf Hitler. Chamberlain was convinced that such concessions would harmlessly satisfy the Germans and end their desires for future conquest. He saw it as the pathway to “peace for our time.” In the end, the British Prime Minister’s actions likely only enticed Hitler who saw the agreement as a sign of weakness. His appeasement was a steppingstone for future aggression and a gateway for malignancy.

Christians often cling to the strategy of appeasement. We believe that small activities that are misaligned with God’s will and His word are harmless. We are convinced that such concessions will harmlessly satisfy the flesh while ending the devil’s desires for future conquest. In the end, our actions likely only entice the devil who sees our agreeability with the ways of the world as a sign of weakness. Our appeasement is a steppingstone for future aggression and a gateway for malignancy.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO STEADFASTLY RESIST EVEN THE SMALL ENTREATIES OF OUR ADVERSARY. By putting on the whole armour of God, we can avoid the entrapments of appeasement that lead to spiritual failure.

Matthew 23:27-28 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

I Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Psalm 51:1-4 “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

Eugene Patterson was a well-regarded journalist and journalistic leader. He eventually rose to be the managing editor of The Washington Post and the president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors. He was also awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1967.

During his time as the editor of the St. Petersburg Times, he and the newspaper owner were determined to promote hard-hitting journalism that was fearless in its coverage. They especially sought to expose the shortcomings of those whose privilege typically allowed them to escape scrutiny.

On the way home from a dinner party, Eugene got into a small accident and was nabbed for a DUI. Ashamed and embarrassed of his decision to drive while intoxicated, he did something that was remarkable. He insisted that the newspaper run the story on the front page. Even though his staff resisted, he was determined to ensure that their culture of courageous journalism allowed no one to escape public visibility into their ethical and legal lapses. He refused to be a hypocrite.

Christians are often tagged by secular society as hypocrites. And while I do not suggest that we print our ethical and legal lapses on the front page of the local newspaper, we must passionately strive to align our words, our beliefs, our thoughts, and our actions. And we should follow the wonderful example of Paul who acknowledged his state as a sinner while pointing those who were well aware of his shortcomings to the surreal sacrifice of our sin-scrubbing Saviour.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH CHRIST WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING OUR DESPERATE NEED FOR A SAVIOUR. Doing so won’t land us on the front page, but it will instead give Christ the headlines He deserves.

ADMIN: I won’t be publishing a PLUS blog next weekend, but please keep praying faithfully for widespread revival in the United States of America!

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Psalm 51:1-4 “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

Chuck Colson was a Marine, a lawyer, and special counsel to President Richard Nixon. His life provided a roadmap for rapid advancement and temporal success. Yet as things were peaking in his career, he found himself caught up in the Watergate scandal. It was at this time that he was exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, repented of his sins, and accepted the free gift of salvation.

While he was innocent of the Watergate-related crime of which he was indicted, there was something that continued to nag at his conscience and stir his soul. There was another crime for which he was guilty that was not on the court docket. In order to honor the Lord, though against the strident advice of his lawyer, he felt compelled to admit to this transgression and plead guilty to something that had not yet surfaced.

It was a bold step that publicly acknowledged his sin, though the price was seven months in prison and the diversion of a promising career from its rocketing upward trajectory. He knew that it was the right thing to do to honor his Lord and to seek first the kingdom of God. It was also a necessary step to ultimately open doors for service to God that would have been otherwise closed

We are all sinners, and while we may not face the type of situation that Colson did at the pinnacle of his career, we must always focus on staying right and getting right. It is a necessary step to ultimately open doors in service to God that would otherwise be closed.

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO GET RIGHT AND STAY RIGHT TO MAXIMIZE OUR USEFULNESS TO OUR MATCHLESS LORD. Though it forced him to spend time behind bars, Chuck Colson’s willingness to honor God ultimately opened doors to serve Him.