unwavering faith and obedience

When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:24-25

In the town of Nazareth, Joseph, a righteous and just man, faced a bewildering revelation. His betrothed, Mary, was found to be with child before their marriage was consummated. This discovery rocked Joseph’s world, challenging his understanding of righteousness and faithfulness to God’s law. Joseph’s response unveils a narrative of unwavering faith and obedience in the face of uncertainty and social disgrace. The news of Mary’s pregnancy presented Joseph with a predicament. The law dictated severe consequences for such circumstances, and Joseph, a man of honor and integrity, initially grappled with the decision to quietly end the engagement. His heart was undoubtedly heavy, torn between his love for Mary and his commitment to God’s law. His inclination was to act discreetly, sparing Mary from public shame. As he waited on God, Joseph was instructed to take Mary as his wife, so he did, though not totally understanding how his wife was pregnant with the Son of God. 

However, in the midst of this turmoil, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, conveying a divine message: “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” This divine intervention challenged Joseph’s understanding of the situation, urging him to trust beyond his human reasoning. He was remarkably faithful and obedient to God’s call. Joseph, though initially torn and embarrassed by the situation, chose to trust God’s revelation in the dream. His obedience to the angel’s message showcased his profound faith and commitment to God’s plan. Joseph instantly obeyed God.

Joseph’s obedience was not passive acceptance but an active response to God’s call. He took Mary as his wife despite the public ridicule and potential shame. His actions were a testament to his deep faith in God’s sovereignty, trusting that the child Mary carried was indeed part of God’s divine plan for salvation. By obeying God’s instruction and taking Mary as his wife, Joseph demonstrated a remarkable faith that transcended his initial embarrassment and fear. He embraced his role as the earthly father of Jesus, providing protection, care, and guidance to the child who would one day become the Savior of the world. Your family background may be confusing or embarrassing; if so, you are not alone. God can bless what seems like a mess.

Joseph’s unwavering faith and obedience serve as an inspiration for believers today. His willingness to set aside his initial doubts and fears, choosing instead to trust and obey God’s plan, sets a profound example. Joseph teaches us the value of faithful obedience, even when faced with circumstances that challenge our understanding or social norms. As we reflect on the Christmas story, may we emulate Joseph’s unwavering faithfulness and obedience to God’s call in our own lives. Let us trust in God’s guidance, even when faced with uncertainty or societal pressures, knowing that He holds the ultimate plan for our lives and the world. Better to suffer misunderstanding and obey God than to try to please people and miss out on the Lord’s best. God’s better purposes are sometimes best understood after wisdom is proven right over time!

“But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it” (Luke 7:35).

What pleases God

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. 

Ephesians 5:8-10

The call of the believer is to learn by grace to walk in the light and life of Christ. This language of light and darkness is scattered throughout the word of God. We find it in the opening pages, with the Lord’s declaration over creation: “Let there be light!” (Genesis 1:3). It is found in the heart of Isaiah’s prophetic vision: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light” (Isaiah 9:2). And it finds its fulfillment and true fullness in Christ himself, for as John reminds us, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4). 

Life is found in Christ, so what falls to you and to me is to learn to find our life within his, to daily move further and further away from the darkness of our world and the darkness that lurks within our hearts and instead learn to rest and find our home within all that is good, righteous, and true.

Take note of Paul’s words in verse 10 of today’s passage: “find out what pleases the Lord.” This deceptively simple phrase contains within it an entire world of wisdom. First, it reminds us that there is, in fact, a way of life that pleases God. Though we live in a world that embraces a vision of freedom that allows for infinite “truths,” this is not the way of Christ. Freedom is found, not in our self-created visions of “the good life,” but in our ability to accept the boundaries and limitations of God as for our good and flourishing. This is true freedom, yet it so often feels counterintuitive to everything we see and hear, and so we must learn to follow the second point of wisdom contained within this verse: find out.

Yes, there is a way of life that pleases God, yet it is not always self-evident and it requires disciplined and intentional searching on our parts. Of course, we are only able to search because we have first been filled with the light of Christ. However, a room can be illumined yet people within that room can choose to ignore what they see. Let this never be true of us! Christ has illumined our hearts with the light of God’s kingdom. Choose today to live in that light, and seek out the way that leads to freedom and life eternal.

Humble Wisdom

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

Jesus, our loving Shepherd, boldly sends us out among the wolves of the world. We are commissioned by the Lord Himself not to remain in our comfort zone, always surrounded by fellow believers, but to mingle among unbelievers and even engage those hostile to our faith. We may ask if this is loving of our Lord to launch us into the world of the unlovely. Indeed, it is, as this is what love requires of us. Love requires us to reach out to the lost and the outcasts of society and to bring them into the fold of the faith. God's part is to draw the unsaved to Himself and save them. Our part is to live among the lost, model true love, and share the life-giving message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Sheep satisfied with only eating among themselves grow fat and self-indulgent, but sheep (believers) who eat with sinners stay spiritually alive and engaged with God’s eternal purposes. The humble and wise obey Jesus and love the lost. 

Our saving Shepherd does not send us out without resources. He provides His very presence as He dwells within us, supplying abundant humility, confidence, wisdom, power and discernment. The wise walk with the Lord into unknown circumstances and people, ever dependent on Him for relational favor and insights into how to add value at work and home. We are to be wise as a serpent. How? Snakes quietly make their way, not trying to draw attention to themselves. There is wisdom in quietly, without fanfare, serving others in the name of Jesus, no expectation of recognition from people, only listening for the applause of nail-scarred hands. In addition, we are marked by the gentle and peaceful demeanor of an innocent dove. Not reacting out of fear and anger but with bridled strength, we bring calm to chaos and solutions to divisive situations. Like the dove blessing Noah’s Ark after the flood with the olive branch of God’s peace, we go forth among cultures at war with the gospel of Jesus Christ…God’s olive branch of peace and freedom for a warring world imprisoned by sin and sorrow. Humility, wisdom and quiet; loud foes. 

Where is the Lord leading you that seems scary, and where you are unsure of what to do? The mission field overseas could be His call for you. A new language, a strange culture and sacrifices of time away from family and friends. But the Holy Spirit can fill you with humility and wisdom to comprehend and adjust to a new language and people. The mission field at work or in your neighborhood may be low-hanging fruit waiting for you to serve in the relational fields nearby. Pray together with other believers before work or during the lunch hour, supporting one another through life’s challenges while praying for colleagues to come to know Christ as Savior. Bible study during the day in your home blesses your neighbors by helping everyone get to know one another and grow deeper in their understanding of God and His love for them. Your home does not need to be perfect; it only needs warm hospitality that makes a person feel accepted and known. 

Start by praying for the Lord to grow your humble heart and to fill your mind with His wisdom. The deeper and wider you are loved by God, the greater your capacity and desire to love people. Love cannot be contained in a heart full and overflowing with gratitude, joy, and peace. Love moves out of the familiar into the unfamiliar with a holy boldness that is attractive and effective. Where Jesus sends you…He goes with you. It is better to be on rough waters walking on the water toward Jesus than on the safe shore, absent of adventure and empty of the Spirit’s power.

“To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:19-21,

What do you say about yourself?

Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John 1:19-22

By this point in the year, chances are that the resolutions we made for ourself have either gone as quickly as they came, or we’ve doubled down, stayed the course, and are starting to think that maybe, just maybe, this will be the year that we stick with them. For most of us, the resolutions we make are tied to some form of self-improvement, whether that be physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual. Perhaps we want to drop a few pounds, learn a new language, or practice intentional kindness toward others. Whatever it may be, the aim is that when next year rolls around, we will be something more, something different than who we are today. 

These questions of identity and purpose come to mind as I reflect once again on the well known words of John the Baptist in John 1. More specifically, I find the Jewish leaders’ question to John to be one of utmost importance, not only for him, but for every person who has ever lived: “What do you say about yourself?” I am increasingly convinced that our ability to answer this question with clarity and purpose is the key to a life lived well.

It isn’t easy to know ourselves. This requires endless searching and examination. As the early Christian leader Gregory the Theologian once beautifully said in the opening stanza of a poem,

You have a job to do, soul, and a great one, if you like:

examine yourself, what it is you are and how you act,

where you come from, and where you’re going to end,

and whether to live is this very life you’re living, or something else besides. 

When faced with the question of identity and purpose, John the Baptist did what every one of us must likewise learn to do: he knew himself in reference to Christ. His meaning in life was found not in his own achievements or attributes but in his ability to point others to Christ. This was the reason for his existence and the only path to a life of deep fulfillment. With the words of Isaiah 40 on his lips, John summed up the whole of his life with these words, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’” (John 1:23). May we do the same, longing for nothing more in our lives than the life of Christ and for those around us to experience the same.

Generosity

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  2 Corinthians 9:11

Generosity is more than just giving; it’s a reflection of the heart. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody the spirit of generosity, mirroring the abundant grace bestowed upon us by our heavenly Father. God’s Word teaches us that everything we have is a gift from Him. When we grasp this truth, our perspective on possessions shifts. It is not about ownership but stewardship. We become conduits of God’s blessings, entrusted with resources to extend His love to others.

Generosity is not confined to material wealth; it encompasses our time, talents, and treasure. It’s the willingness to share what we have, whether abundant or meager, with a cheerful heart, knowing that our actions honor God and bless others. Jesus exemplified the ultimate act of generosity through His sacrificial love on the cross. He gave without expecting anything in return, showing us that true generosity flows from selflessness and genuine concern for others’ well-being. When we practice generosity, we cultivate a spirit of gratitude. We acknowledge God’s provision in our lives and express thankfulness by sharing with others. Through our generosity, others witness God’s goodness and experience His love tangibly.

Moreover, generosity begets generosity. Giving freely inspires a ripple effect, touching lives and prompting others to do the same. It creates a community marked by compassion and support, where needs are met and hearts are uplifted. However, generosity isn’t always easy. The call to give sacrificially challenges our natural inclinations in a world consumed by self-interest. Yet, God promises to bless those who give willingly and cheerfully, multiplying their generosity and providing for their needs. When stretched to give sacrificially, our faith is stretched.

Generosity is a reflection of our faith in God’s faithfulness. When we give with open hearts, we declare our trust in His provision and sovereignty over our lives. May we cultivate hearts of generosity, embracing the joy found in giving. The measure of our lives is not in what we keep for ourselves but in what we invest in God’s Kingdom. As we extend love, kindness, and resources to those around us, may it be a testament to the abundant grace of our heavenly Father.

Grow your generous heart by being around other generous hearts. My wife, Rita, and I attend an annual Celebration of Generosity, which is a gathering of families from around the country who love Christ and whose heart is to live a life of radical generosity. In addition, twice a year, we host an experience with authentic conversations called a Journey of Generosity. A group of 15 Jesus followers meet to pray, hear compelling stories of generosity, and dig into God’s Word. Your generosity is an act of worship that glorifies God as others give thankful praise to Him!

“Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).

Endurance

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Hebrews 10:35-36

In countless ways, our society values endurance. We marvel at couples that have been married for 50+ years. We eagerly buy new phones that promise 50% more battery life. And we run marathon races to test the limits of our bodily endurance. Yet the older I get, the more I find myself deeply moved by the witness of men and women who have followed Christ with steadfast faith for the whole of their lives. 

Though I grew up in Church, have fellowship circles, pastor, and am surrounded by peers who were involved in the rhythms of church life in one way or another, I’ve lost track of how many friends have walked away from the faith, or so deeply deconstructed their faith that nothing remains other than a vague and vapid agnosticism. This trend of deconstruction has been widely studied and extensively documented by groups such as Barna, and it is outside the scope of this blog to dive into it more deeply. I mention it simply to say that in the face of any cultural trend, there is always a counter-trend, an upstream current that can be found for those who take the time to look. 

The life of the believer in Christ demands nothing less than the whole of our life. It is an invitation to die to ourself in order to truly live. As such, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this invitation isn’t accepted by the masses. Like the Rich Young Ruler, many may hear the call of Christ, consider the cost, and simply walk away in order to pursue their own passions and pleasures. Yet there are others who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), and therefore commit their way to Christ, day after day after day, refusing to let go of their childlike confidence in Him, even when life’s storms leave them battered and bruised. No, theirs is an enduring faith, one that keeps its eyes set on the “heavenly prize” (Philippians 3:14). 

I thank God for the witness of men and women in the past and in our own day who have clung to Christ and, by their example, invite us to do the same. Let us join them, responding with a courageous and enduring faith.

Worth of His Kingdom

 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 2 Thessalonians 1:5

The kingdom of God is the aim and destination of every believer’s journey in faith. It breaks into the present and will one day be perfectly known and inhabited as we live eternally under the peaceful rule and reign of God. As such, we must learn to view every moment of life, every season and stage as preparation for our entry into the kingdom of our Lord.

The Lord, in his kindness, gives us many opportunities to encounter the life of his kingdom. When a man and woman come together in marriage, they in a sense become kings and queens of their own tiny kingdom, what we call “a family,” and this tiny kingdom is filled with potential and possibility, either to lose sight of its purpose and be a kingdom of selfishness and discord or to be a kingdom that in miniature reflects the values of the true and eternal kingdom. 

While this may be an easy example to embrace and celebrate, for we immediately see the goodness and virtue of family life, we must remember that our Lord also uses countless other situations to prepare us for eternity, even those that are painful and on the surface unwanted. 

I think of this when I read the words of 2 Thessalonians 1:5, where we are reminded of the truth that the suffering that this early Christian community endured was allowed by the Lord, at least in part, to make them “worthy of his kingdom.” 

It is for this reason that history is filled with stories of men and women who rejoice in their trials, even going so far as to give thanks for them. How convicting this truth is, for so often when we face difficulties in life, they can cause us to grow bitter, confused, and even angry. We may be tempted to wonder if God loves us or is near to us in this time of trial. Yet if and when we learn to see our trials and suffering as a momentary burden that shapes us and makes us worthy for eternity, we not only are set free from grumbling and frustration, we are able to endure with joy, considering it an honor to in some small way share in the sufferings of Christ, who reveals to us the truth that death is defeated and must, in the end, give way to life.