John Baker

Many young children could tell you the story of Jonah — he was the prophet of God who refused to preach to the people of Nineveh (Jonah 1:2-3). His stubborn refusal to obey God’s will led him to seek a place, “away from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:3).

Sadly, there are many modern-day Jonahs: people who know the truth, but refuse to obey. Just as the real Jonah found a ship where he thought he could hide from God, these modern Jonahs may board a variety of “ships” to attempt to cover their sin.

Some “Hide” by Moving On — In areas where there are many congregations of the Lord’s church, people who are guilty of sin and subject to church discipline (cf. Gal. 6:1-2; 1 Cor. 5:1-13) sometimes try to “hide” by simply placing membership at some other area congregation where their background is not known. After spending time in the new congregation their consciences become comfortable and no one seems the wiser. There may well be occasions when it is right and necessary to leave one congregation for another, but hiding personal sin should never be a motive for such a move.

Some “Hide” in the Background — Some brethren seem to believe that they can “use” the church at their convenience, and then drop out of sight as soon as some commitment on their part becomes evident. How many well-intentioned Christians have been chastised over the years for not properly “ministering” to brethren who have hardly been involved in the work of the local church, yet suddenly find themselves in a time of personal crisis? Mark these words: all members of God’s church bear a personal responsibility to other Christians from which we cannot hide (cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-18). We are being as stubborn as Jonah when we hide in the background and selfishly allow others to fulfill the work for which God has called us all (2 Thess. 2:13-14; Eph. 4:12).

Some “Hide” in the Water — Baptism is the point at which an alien sinner comes into contact with the saving blood of Jesus Christ (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3-6). However, some in the Lord’s church erroneously teach that baptism eliminates a need for repentance. The subject of divorce and remarriage has been the focal point of this particular argument. It is sometimes argued that a couple in an adulterous union (cf. Matt. 19:3-9) can be baptized and cleansed of sin without breaking that sinful union; therefore they can continue to live as a married couple despite God’s clear teaching to the contrary (cf. Eph. 4:28; 1 Cor. 6:9-10). Brethren, how can one truly be saved without bearing any, “fruit of repentance” (Matt. 3:8; Lk. 13:3)? Baptism washes away sin, not previous marriages (read Matt. 19:3-9).

Some “Hide” by Falling Away — One of the more popular, though false, ideas arising among our brethren in recent years is that a Christian can practice the Christian faith in isolation. Such a claim is purely the work of Satan. When God saved people in the New Testament, He added them to the church at the very same moment (Acts 2:47). Thus, God’s word teaches the essentiality of living in community and fellowship with others of like precious faith. It is arrogant in the extreme to believe that we can get along in this life without our Christian brothers and sisters (Heb. 3:12-13; 10:24-25). Jonah thought he could hide from God by leaving the people of God and going to sea. Are there modern-day Jonahs among us who believe that they do not truly need the church, the blood-bought body of Jesus Christ?

“The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth…” (1 Chr. 16:9) —JB

Satan has done his homework. He knows how to confuse, distract, cloud, and hide the truth from people. Sad thing is, most people let him do it. Jesus confidently declared that we can know truth (John 8:32), but knowing God’s will takes effort on our part. Tragically, most men give very little thought to eternal things. Why is this the case?

Some don’t believe that now counts forever — Jesus said, “The word I have spoken, the same will judge you in the last day” (John 12:48). We will all give account of our deeds to God one day (Rom. 14:12). Unfortunately, many are so caught up with the “here and now” that they do not give thought to the eternal consequences of their actions. One of Satan’s great lies is to tell us that what we do today will not matter in 100 years, to say nothing of eternity. God’s word says that one righteous individual can have a profound impact on their culture and indeed in eternity (see the examples of Ruth and Esther).

Some believe that “good” and “bad” are on a relative scale — It is incredibly dangerous to go through life comparing ourselves to others (cf. 2 Cor. 10:12). Sadly, some men give little thought to eternity because they see themselves as “better people” than most. This is exactly the same kind of thinking that Jesus rebuked in the Pharisees: “except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no wise enter the kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 5:20). The Pharisees’ problem was not that they were “bad” people, but rather that they put themselves on a scale and measured their righteousness by how “good” they were relative to others. They, in their own minds, became the measure of what is good! Jesus flatly told them that unless they accepted Him, they could not be truly righteous. We may well be good, moral people, and yet we must understand that eternity is a question of whether we have obeyed the will of God in our lives.

Some believe more in comfort than character — God earnestly desires for us to develop genuine Christian character (Matt. 5:3-12). Satan, on the other hand, wants us to be pragmatic — just do whatever works. One of his deceptions involves making us busy. When we, like Martha, are busy doing good things, it becomes exceptionally difficult to see what’s really important (Luke 10:38-42). Character takes time and effort to build. It’s often much easier to justify things (in our minds) that make us more comfortable than it is to do things that make us more like Jesus (Gal. 2:20). Make no mistake, however: God is infinitely more concerned with our character than with our comfort. Seeking comfort above the kingdom leads inevitably to compromise (Matt. 6:33). God wants us to be transformed (Rom. 12:2) and conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). As we truly put His kingdom first, He has promised to bless us abundantly.

Some do not believe He is coming back — Many are skeptical of the Lord’s return: “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Pet. 3:4). So we busy ourselves by tearing down barns to build bigger ones, and we say to our souls that we should seek comfort and be at ease because life is grand. At times it is so easy to believe that we have heaven on earth that we may forget where true citizenship lies (Phil. 3:20). Jesus is coming back one day (1 Thess. 4:16-18; Heb. 9:27-28). Are you prepared for eternity?

Jesus Christ rebuked short-term thinking when He said, “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Too many people spend their lives thinking short-term. May our desire always be to live each day with a view to the reality that we will spend eternity somewhere! — JB

Titus 1:2 tells us flatly that, “God cannot lie.” While Paul here states one of the greatest truths about God’s character, many seem to have a problem with it. After all, don’t we believe that God can do anything? Doesn’t the Bible teach that God is all-powerful?

Indeed it does. God is the Creator of all things (Gen. 1:1-27) and is the One who sustains the very laws of nature (Hebrews 1:1-3). God is the only self-sufficient Being in the universe. Everything and everyone else (plants, animals, humans, and angelic beings) depends on Him for existence and survival (Acts 17:24-28). God is indeed all-powerful.

Why, then, does an omnipotent God tell us through inspiration that He cannot lie? We must look to His character to find the answer. You see, everything God does and says is truth (John 8:32; John 17:17). In fact, He Himself IS truth (John 14:6). Therefore, to say that God cannot lie is to say that God cannot be something other than God! It is one thing to say that Bill cannot go to the store, while it is quite another thing to say that Bill cannot be Jim. Bill does not, nor will he ever be able to possess the character and personality of Jim. Likewise, God cannot lie because to do so would mean that He would cease to possess the character and personality that makes Him uniquely God. Let’s examine the implications of a God whose character is such that He cannot lie:

Morality is not subjective — These days it’s popular to believe that the “ends justify the means” where moral behavior is concerned. The Bible rejects this thinking (Jer. 10:23). God’s law did not come from an authority higher than Himself (1 Tim. 6:15), and neither is His law determined subjectively. God did not arbitrarily decide that behaviors like lying and adultery are wrong. The reason they are wrong is because they are in conflict with and an affront to His character! John says that, “he who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8). If we expect our moral behavior to glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31), then we must look at His character revealed in Scripture to determine what is right and wrong! Ethics is not situational. Right and wrong are determined by who God is, and lying is wrong because it is opposite of His very nature (Titus 1:2).

Promises can be believed — When God makes an unconditional promise, it is impossible for Him to break it. We Christians anchor our entire hope in God’s perfect character. Concerning our promises, the Hebrews writer says that, “because God could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself” (Heb. 6:13). God is going to keep His promises to Christians because it is His nature to do so. What a contrast to other world religions! An educated Muslim scholar once remarked, “I fear that even though I have shown faithfulness to Islam, at the end of my life, Allah may choose to condemn me anyway.” One important difference between Allah and the God of Christianity is that Allah is capable of lying, but Christians can, with utmost assurance, believe in God’s promises (Heb. 6:13-18).

Trials can be overcome — “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). God will not allow us to reach our “breaking point” where trials are concerned (1 Cor. 10:13). We know this is true because God cannot lie. He has promised that He, “will never leave us nor forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5). Because God cannot lie, no problem exists that He and I can’t handle together (Phil. 2:13). His strength works through me (2 Cor. 12:7-10), and I can overcome all things by His power (Rev. 12:11). Thanks be to God that HE is the standard of right and wrong, that HE can be believed, and that HE will help us through every storm of life!!! — JB

 As we scan the horizon, we see nothing but more ominous dark clouds gathering.  Another storm approaches.  There have been many storms lately — too many.  Too many illnesses, and too many financial problems.  Too much stress and weariness and grief.  Too many loved ones departing this life and leaving us lonely, heartbroken, and destitute.

The Psalmist is urgent in his cries: “Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord (Psalm 44:23)?”  At times like this it seems as if God is a million miles away while we suffer here on Earth. 

Our eyes remain fixed on the clouds around us. We focus on the distant rumblings of more troubles on the way.  We cringe and cower as we anticipate the next blow to come.  The Psalmist desperately announces the obvious, “We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter (Psalm 44:22)!”  And still the winds howl and the storms rage.  Our situation seems desperate and hopeless.  We have weathered many storms, but all we can look forward to, it seems, is more of the same.  Giving up on God actually crosses our mind.

Suddenly, the apostle Paul sees our plight and begins to speak: “We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

“Of course we’re like sheep about to be slaughtered,” we cry, “that’s what the Psalmist said as well!  Look at all of the problems that keep coming our way!”

Paul, as if he didn’t fully hear us, continues: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).”

Our eyes turn back to the storm clouds.  The words of Paul still ring in our ears: “In all these things we are more than conquerors.”  Suddenly, we remember who we are.  We’re not reeds to be shaken by the wind (Matt 11:7), we’re a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)!  Jesus died in our place, and in His love we live and conquer all the storms of life!  All at once something else Paul said comes back to us: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).”  The storm clouds continue to gather and rumble, but because of Paul’s words we take renewed confidence in our Shelter — the Son of God.

You see, storms say an awful lot about our relationship with God.  Being in a covenant relationship with God has never eliminated suffering, but our relationship with Him does give us strength to overcome: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13).”  Sometimes God seems to be asleep (Psalm 44:23) that we might be awakened spiritually.  It seems that God is ignorant of our plight when really it is our own faith that is weak: “Master, carest Thou not that we perish (Mark 4:38)?”  What about you?  How are you responding to the storms in your life?                                                                     — John Baker

Christians ought to be greatly interested in praising God.  It will be the primary activity of heaven (cf. Revelation 4:8-11), and it ought to be something that consumes our interests in this life.  Mary, upon learning that she was to give birth to the Savior, said this: “He who is mighty has done great things for me (Luke 1:49).”  True praise begins with true thankfulness. Let’s consider Mary’s statement as we resolve to give God praise:

God is powerful — Mary sang praises to God because of His power.  We do not serve an idol made with human hands, but rather we are children of the living God.  Our hope in Him is more than just wishful thinking — it is an earnest expectation that He will deliver on the promises He makes (1 Peter 1:3).  What other god can make promises and keep them?  Our God works through human history to accomplish His will, and yet He never interferes with us to the point that we cannot choose whether to serve Him (Joshua 24:15).  What a mighty God we serve!  No wonder the seraphim of heaven cannot keep from shouting, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts!  The whole earth is full of His glory (Isaiah 6:3)!”  God’s promise to Mary was not yet fulfilled (cf. Luke 1:45), but Mary knew that God cannot lie (Titus 1:3).  Praise Him because He is powerful enough to deliver.

God has done great things — Mary mentioned the past as a reason to praise God.  His blessings have fallen on the world in the past, just as they do in the present.  Everything good comes from God (James 1:17).  The same God we serve is the same God who delivered millions of people from slavery, kept them alive in a desert for forty years, and helped them conquer a land He had promised to them four centuries earlier.  We serve a God who created the universe with His unfathomable power (Psalm 19:1).  Our God took a shepherd boy with a tender, honest, and courageous heart, and used him to slay a nine foot tall giant with an army behind him.  God used an orphan named Esther to save His people from destruction.  No doubt, Mary praised God because of what He had done for His people.  The past is full of God’s mighty works; how we need to remember them!

God works in the lives of individuals — Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55 is one of praise and gratitude.  You see, Mary did not count herself deserving of the high honor God granted her (cf. Luke 1:48), and yet she realized that God was indeed doing great things for her.  She alone was present at Jesus’ birth and His death.  She knew Jesus better than almost anyone, and following His resurrection she saw the salvation He provided (cf. Acts 1-2).  Though we may not live lives comparable to Mary, can any of us really say that God has not been active in our lives?  His mighty deeds are not only done on behalf of others, they are done for us.  Our relationship with God is personal, and through His Son’s blood we have direct access to His throne (Hebrews 4:14-16).  Truly, all of us should realize what Mary said is true: “He who is mighty has done great things for me.”  Let us all resolve to praise God for who He is, what He has done, and what He is doing on our behalf. To God be the glory!

— John Baker

“And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7).

In ancient culture, prayers were something of a public spectacle. People wanted others to hear what they had to say to the “gods.” Archaeologists recently found one such prayer inscribed in a public place: “I conjure you up, holy beings and holy names; join in aiding this spell, and bind, enchant, thwart, strike, overturn, conspire against, destroy, kill, break Eucherius the charioteer, and all his horses tomorrow in the circus at Rome…” The ancients apparently believed that such prayers, publicly uttered and inscribed, brought them nearer to happiness and fulfillment.

Even in Judaism there was a strong emphasis on public prayer. Remember the story of the Pharisee who prayed in public (Luke 18:10-14)? The Pharisee essentially read a list of his religious credentials before God and men as he sought to justify himself. Jesus made it clear that such prayers do not justify a single soul.

And today, prayers can become something of a public spectacle if we are not careful. In our day, “interfaith prayers” for political reasons are all the rage. Even in many churches, it sometimes seems as if those who are praying never get around to addressing God, but are instead preach mini-sermons to their brethren! Some seem to desire to pray, but in reality just want to be heard for their much speaking (Matt 6:7).

Spiritual disaster can result when we fail to grasp the real purpose and power of prayer!

Jesus thought differently than most about prayer. A Man of deep prayer Himself, the Lord taught His disciples the power of a heartfelt petition before God. And more than that, Jesus taught that the vain repetitions of His day were not effective in reaching God’s ears!

Now, God will listen to repetition. Repetition is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. Hannah repeated her petition (1 Samuel 1:12), and Jesus repeated Himself on more than one occasion (Matt 26:36-42). The emphasis of Matthew 6:7 is on the wordvain. Jesus said it is possible for Christians to pray lengthy prayers that never get higher than the ceiling. What we need more than flowery words is a pure and sincere heart.

Avoiding vain repetition in our prayers takes time, effort, and dedication. Think of it this way: by praying as we ought, we are fostering a deeper, more meaningful relationship with our Creator. He alone is our audience, and He alone determines whether what we have said is from the heart and according to His will. Too many people think that their spirituality can be gauged by public opinion. Too few really concern themselves with what God thinks about their prayer life.

Vain repetitions are an easy trap to fall into. When prayer becomes routine, our words may well become routine. The warning of Jesus, “do not be like them” should cause us to pause and consider what we are in fact doing when we pray.

Some think that prayer is like ordering room service. Others think prayers can gain them political advantages. Still more people vainly utter lengthy prayers without thinking of what they’re saying. What about you? Are you praying fervently in all righteousness (James 5:16)? Are you praying like Jesus? — John Baker

Jesus Christ came to Earth to ransom man from sin (Lk 19:10), and His life leaves us a powerful example to follow (1 Pet 2:21). Jesus was the greatest teacher this world has ever known. Everything He did was focused on helping others get to heaven one day, and because of this, “the common people heard Him gladly (Mk 12:37).” Since Christ is our great example, shouldn’t we consider what made Him such an effective teacher?

Purity of Life — No one will listen to a hypocrite very long. Fact is, truth sounds rather nonsensical in the mouth of someone who will not live it. Jesus was no hypocrite, however. He was tempted to use His supernatural power for selfish and sinful reasons and refused (cf. Matt 4:4). When invited to leap off the temple and test His Father’s word, He declined (cf. Matt 4:7), and when He was offered the “easy” road to Kingship, He boldly told His adversary, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve (Matt 4:10).” At the close of Jesus’ life Pilate would exclaim, “I find no fault in Him (Jn 19:4).” What makes a great teacher? A great example marked by faithfulness to God’s word!

Passion for Souls — Jesus was willing to leave paradise to save souls (cf. Phil 2:6-7). Being like Him means that all of us need to leave our own “comfort zones” to reach someone with His saving message. When His popularity was at its peak and He had a proverbial, “bird nest on the ground,” Jesus again forsook His own comfort to reach out to more: “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also (Lk 4:43).” Jesus was constantly on the move — always looking for someone else willing to listen. Folks, that’s a great Teacher!

Openness — Jesus was truly willing to listen to His students and be compassionate. The case involving a Syro-Phoenician woman demonstrates Jesus’ approachability. In Mark 7, this woman petitioned the Lord to cast a demon out of her daughter (v.26). By doing this, the Syro-Phoenician woman went against all the prevailing social grains of her time: she was a Gentile addressing a Jew, a woman addressing a man, and a student addressing a teacher. Jesus responded that helping her daughter was not part of His immediate purpose. The woman quickly added, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs (v. 28)!” Jesus cast the demon out of her daughter and proved that one mark of a good teacher is to be open, approachable, and compassionate!

Organization — One of the greatest hindrances to good teaching is a lack of organization. Great truth without good structure functions like “jello” — it’s relatively easy to eat, but not very filling. Wherever He went and whatever He said, Jesus Christ always had a plan. He once asked Philip, “Where will we buy bread (Jn 6:5)?” But even as He asked the question, He had a plan (cf. Jn 6:6). Jesus understood the need for preparation, and so He spent a lot of time preparing His followers (read John 14-16). His great sense of purpose and planning made Him the Master Teacher.

Gentleness — As a teacher, Jesus had incredible patience with people who were not always easy to forbear. His gentleness still draws men to Him (cf. 2 Cor 10:1; Matt. 11:28-30). Often, the world gives us the impression that gentleness is a sign of weakness. Fact is, being gentle when we have the power to do otherwise is a sign of incredible strength and maturity. When He was touched by the woman with the issue of blood (see Mark 5:25-34), one harsh or unkind word could have crushed the woman’s fragile spirit, but Jesus spoke words of gentleness and compassion to her: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction (v.34).” Though Jesus was mighty, He kept His power under control as He taught others. Let’s follow His example and be gentle as we teach others!

Unfailing Logic — Great truth is often lost on people because the teacher fails to effectively argue and prove his point. God has given us the ability to reason, and He expects that we will use our abilities to, “prove all things (1 Thess 5:21).” Jesus, the Master Teacher, always proved that His words and deeds were both logical and true. When asked why He ate with sinners He answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick (Mark 2:17).” He so adequately answered those who challenged Him that, “no one dared ask Him any more questions (Mark 12:34).”

Imagination — Jesus had a remarkable ability to take lofty concepts and communicate them in a meaningful way. His parables are an excellent example of how a teacher can use His imagination to teach others about God’s will. Jesus would use earthly ideas to help His followers understand spiritual principles. Just consider how many ways He described the kingdom of heaven: as wheat among tares (Matt 13:24-30), as a mustard seed (Matt 13:31-32), as leaven hidden in bread (Matt 13:33), as hidden treasure in a field (Matt 13:44), as a pearl of great price (Matt 13:45), and as a drag net cast into the sea (Matt 13:47-50). Jesus was a great teacher because He always looked for fresh ways to aid His hearers in their understanding of spiritual principles.

Sacrifice — Teaching that costs nothing is more than likely worth nothing. Jesus understood the sacrifice involved in helping others get to heaven. In order to fulfill His ministry, Jesus stayed up late (Mk 1:32-34), and woke up early (Mk 1:35). He endured the scorn of those who thought Him a fool (Mk 5:40), and the contrived questions of those who thought Him a liar (Mk 12:13). Because of His teaching, He faced denial by people He knew and loved (Mk 14:71), and the betrayal of one of His closest followers (Mk 14:45). Our Master sacrificed much to draw others to Him. How much are we willing to sacrifice to be like Jesus — the Master Teacher?

John Baker

Scripture teaches that Christians are to observe the Lord’s Supper on the first day of every week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:17-34; 1 Cor. 16:1-2). As is always the case when Christians try to engage in something that brings glory to God, our enemy Satan seeks opportunities to discourage us from observing the Lord’s Supper properly. The fact that the Lord’s Supper is observed every week can breed a sense of complacency if we are not careful. Also, some Christians may allow their minds to be distracted by any number of things (kids, noises, worldly cares, etc.) during the Lord’s Supper. In addition, some people may not be fully aware of the purposes for which we observe the Lord’s Supper. Scripture warns about being disciplined during our observation of this solemn feast: “Whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:27).

The purposes of the Lord’s Supper include a commemoration of the death of Jesus on the cross (Luke 22:19), a communion or fellowship with Christ and with fellow believers (1 Cor. 10:14-22; 11:33), and a proclamation to the world that we trust in what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross (1 Cor. 11:26).

Having said all this, what are some practical things Christians could think about during the Lord’s Supper?

Scriptures — In order to really reflect on what Jesus has done for us, many Christians choose to read or reflect on Scripture during the Lord’s Supper. Every Lord’s day we here at Edgewood have a Scripture reading to help us think about the Lord’s sacrifice for us. Some wonderful Scriptures to memorize, read, and meditate on during the Lord’s Supper are: Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19; Romans 5:6-11; 1 Cor. 11:17-34; Ephesians 2; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 9-10; and Revelation 5. There are many, many more passages that deal with the greatness of Jesus’ death for us, but these are likely some of the more familiar and popular.

Songs — Another way to discipline our minds to truly and properly observe the Lord’s Supper is to think about songs that express the true meaning of what is being done:

    “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus…”

     “Alas and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that Sacred Head for such a worm as I?”

   “See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down, did e’er such love and sorrow meet,        or thorns compose so rich a crown?”

   “I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean…”

   “O, the love that drew salvation’s plan! O, the grace that brought it down to man, O the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!”

   “Jesus paid it all; all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

   “…It tells me of a Savior’s love, who died to set me free; it tells me of His precious blood, the sinner’s perfect plea. Oh, how I love Jesus!”

   “Oh the depth and the riches of God’s saving grace, flowing down from the cross for me…”

May all who are Christians truly worship God by their worthy observance of the Lord’s Supper. —JB

 If you are like most people, your prayer life could probably use considerable improvement. The Bible speaks of our need to pray (Phil. 4:6; 1 Thess. 5:17), and yet many Christians seem to marginalize prayer in their busy lives. What we need to know is that improving our prayer lives demands time, effort, and a growing knowledge of God’s word. Even those who spent time with Jesus once begged, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). To pray more effectively, Christians need to be aware of several potential prayer killers — attitudes that will hinder our prayer lives.

Prayer should be effortless — Some Christians falsely assume that if a person is truly spiritual, prayer should just flow out of that person without any effort. That is just not true! Scripture teaches that prayer is a learned behavior (cf. Luke 18:1). The process of learning to pray involves work, study, and time invested in communicating with the Lord. Nothing about Jesus’ prayer live even hints at the idea that His prayers were effortless. He rose early to pray (Mk. 1:35), He prayed all night (Luke 6:12), He prayed while fasting (Mt. 4:1-11), and He prayed so earnestly that He was physically affected (Luke 22:44). Real prayer, just like real spirituality, takes effort!

Prayer should only be concerned with the needs of others — Other Christians believe that prayers must never ask things for oneself. This attitude hinders prayers because of a misunderstanding of the word, “selfish.” James warns against selfish prayers (James 4:1-4), but there is a difference between covetousness and legitimate needs and desires (cf. Ps. 37:4). True prayer is ultimately concerned with God’s will (Matt. 6:9-15; 26:39), and so it is not wrong to petition God for things we believe will better enable us to accomplish His mission for us on this earth. We ought to intercede for others in prayer (Jas. 5:16), but we are also commanded to ask for our “daily bread” in prayer (Matt. 6:11).

Prayer doesn’t really change anything — Another prayer killer is the notion that everything would happen exactly the same regardless of our prayers. These folk mistakenly reason that if God knows all things in advance (Matt. 6:8), there is no use in praying. Brethren, the Bible is crystal clear that God hears and answers the prayers of His saints (1 John 5:14; cf. Isa. 38:1-6; Jas. 5:17-18). The idea that prayer does not change things is often the result of Christians shutting their eyes and ears to the marvelous work of God in providence. When we lose sense of the idea that God is working through us and in us (Phil. 2:13), it’s very easy to forget that prayer really does move the Hand that moves the world!

Prayer is embarrassing — Frankly, some people just don’t pray because they are too embarrassed. What would my family think if they caught me in prayer? What would my co-workers think? What would the other people at a restaurant think if they saw me giving thanks to God before eating a meal? Daniel was obviously not embarrassed to pray to God, even at the risk of his own life (Dan. 6:10). Hannah was not embarrassed to be thought a drunk because she prayed quietly before God in the temple (1 Sam. 1:13-16). Paul and Silas were not embarrassed to sing and pray to God in the hearing of other prisoners (Acts 16:25). None of these individuals prayed publicly in order to receive glory from men, but each of them made a tremendous difference in the lives of others because of their willingness to pray to the God of heaven. What kind of a difference might you make if others found you in prayer? More importantly, what kind of difference would prayer make in your own life? Let’s resolve not to let these “prayer killers” abide in our attitudes! —JB

What does it really mean to forgive? Forgiveness may be one of the least understood topics in Scripture, and yet God says our willingness to forgive others will have a direct impact on where we spend eternity (cf. Matt. 6:12-15). It’s one thing to talk about forgiveness, but really practicing it is a humbling, maturing, difficult experience. When we are hurt by someone else, how difficult it can be to truly forgive!

What happens to Christian fellowship when the will to forgive is not present? Paul answers this question in Ephesians 4:31-32. He first lists six evidences of a failure to forgive, and then he shows how true blessings result from a will to forgive.

Evidences of an unforgiving heart (Ephesians 4:31):

Bitterness – Someone has well said that hurt is what others do to you, but bitterness is what you do to yourself. People who lack the will to forgive frequently revisit past hurts. These people are miserable, dwelling on the wrongs of others sometimes to the point that they actually begin to enjoy the misfortunes of other people! Christians had better be careful of taking frequent “mental trips” to revisit their pain – that’s likely evidence of an unforgiving heart.

Wrath – The Greek word translated “wrath” in Ephesians 4:31 carries the idea of a seething desire for revenge. This person may seem calm on the surface, but inside they are like a pressure cooker about to explode. When we are full of this kind of rage, it is impossible to truly forgive someone else; worse yet, it is impossible for God to forgive us (Mark 11:25-26)!

Anger – “Anger” differs from wrath because it involves a sudden outburst of rage. Rather than a heart that tries to hold rage inside, anger seeks every opportunity to show itself. Like a lightning bolt out of a cloud, the angry man unleashes his fury upon everyone he thinks has wronged him. Christians beware: our tempers might well keep us from heaven.

Clamor – This word describes a brawling, argumentative, adversarial spirit. One who is full of clamor will seek every opportunity to air their grievances with offending parties and anyone else in the vicinity. Loving confrontation when we have been wronged is commanded (Matt. 18:15ff), but clamor is a contentious attitude that confronts others solely for the purpose of “getting even” or “winning.”

Evil Speaking – When an unforgiving heart is present, so often is the desire to speak evil of others. Some people really seem to enjoy taking every opportunity to say unkind and ungodly things about those who have wronged them. One common temptation when we’ve been hurt is to gather a circle of friends around us and to “justify” ourselves while condemning those who have done wrong. Jesus said that we will give an account for every idle word we speak (Matt. 12:36), just as we will give account for having a heart that refuses to forgive.

Malice – The Greek word behind “malice” indicates one who possesses a “bad heart.” One who is full of malice harbors a general feeling of ill will toward the one who has wronged him. How can we claim to be followers of the One who said, “Father, forgive them,” when our every thought and wish is for our enemies to get exactly what they deserve? Woe to those who will stand before God with unforgiving hearts! —JB

Having a Heart of Forgiveness (2)

Forgiveness is truly one of the most difficult things God commands His people to do. How many people have difficulty forgiving when they’ve been wronged or hurt? When there is no forgiveness, there can be no fellowship like God intended Christians to enjoy (Eph. 4:31-32). Worse, when there is no forgiveness, the work of the Lord is hindered and souls are at stake (Matt. 6:12ff). Oh, how Christians need to be willing to have a heart that truly forgives!

Biblically speaking, forgiveness involves two parties. There is to be an acknowledgement of sin for true forgiveness to take place (cf. Psalm 51:3, 16-17). However, it is also Biblical and right to say that the will to forgive must be present, even when sin is not acknowledged. Our Lord showed a will to forgive even while His enemies nailed Him to the cross (Luke 23:34), but true forgiveness (the condition in which the relationship between Jesus and His executioners was finally mended) did not take place until their sin was acknowledged (cf. Acts 2:36-38).

Kindness – Even if sin is not acknowledged, Christians are to have the will to forgive, and this will expresses itself in kindness. God’s kindness is seen in the fact that while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Eph. 2:7; Rom. 5:8). God didn’t wait to be kind until you and I acknowledged our sin before Him. He showed kindness when He blessed us with His only Son (John 3:16). When Christians have been wronged, we are not to wait until sin is acknowledged to be kind. Kindness is evidence of a heart that knows true forgiveness!

Tenderheartedness – Not only is the forgiving heart kind, but it is tender and sympathetic to the needs of others. Especially is this true when forgiveness must take place. It is humbling to forgive, but it is more humbling to ask for forgiveness from someone we’ve wronged. When someone asks for forgiveness, they are making themselves extremely vulnerable, and a tender heart is needed to respond properly. What a blessing when Christians truly possess a tender heart.

Covering of sin – Paul concludes these two verses by telling Christians to forgive, “even as God in Christ forgave you.” But how does God forgive? God forgives completely, freely, and quickly. Most of all, He promises NOT to dwell on our forgiven sins: “I will remember them no more” (Heb. 8:12). Thus, when Christians possess a forgiving heart, they will choose not to dwell on sin. Forgiveness “covers up” sin so that what has been forgiven is not continually brought back to our remembrance (Psalm 32:1-2). A heart that truly forgives will not go about mentioning the offense in the presence of others, nor will it continually bring up that offense before the offender, except for his or her benefit. If God chooses not dwell on our past sins, how much more should we choose to cover those offenses that have been forgiven?

The pews in our brotherhood are often filled with bitter, angry people who stubbornly declare, “I’ll never forgive…” or, “I’ll forgive, but I’ll never forget.” All the while the words of Jesus clamor for our attention: “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, that you love one another” (John 13:34-35). An unforgiving heart is worse than any cancer because it eats away our very souls. Conversely, a forgiving heart is better than any balm of healing because it restores in kindness and tenderness with a will to cover a multitude of sins. Brethren, let’s pray for more forgiving hearts in the church of Jesus Christ!—JB