Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.

James 4:15

As the years of my Christian life progressed through various towns and churches, there have always been precious friends around me who, whether in prayer with me or simply in daily conversation, use the phrase, “Lord willing.” It might be, “I’ll see you next week—Lord willing!” Or maybe, “I pray for perfect recovery, Lord willing.” 

When I was younger in my faith, I really didn’t get it—and, in truth, it could get kind of annoying. I thought our prayers are about asking God for what we want, especially if we’re fervently praying for a dire health or financial situation. And, why use “Lord willing” as an additive to general banter with regard to our habitual activity—isn’t that kind of overkill?

But, as my own faith has matured, my grip on “my way” has markedly loosened. When I accepted Jesus as my Savior all those years ago, making Him “Lord” was so immediate. The process of fully surrendering is just that—a process. 

When lifting up my family and friends, I still pray for my hopes and their ideals, whether it’s a job, healing, or freedom from some bondage. I pray for prodigals to return, tumors to shrink, souls to be saved. Of course, there are requests on my own behalf as well. But, through the years of highs, lows, challenges, blessings, and consequences, I have learned that God’s way is the only way I want to go. His thoughts are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8), and His will for me (and those I’m praying for) is perfect. When we live according to God’s Word and yield to Him in all things, the outcome will be for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28)—even if it’s nothing like what we thought it would (or should) be.

To be “sanctified” through our walk as Christians means to become more and more like Christ. So, there is no better example of “Lord willing” to emulate than that Jesus Himself. As fully God, Jesus knew exactly the agony awaiting Him on Calvary. He knew that His death would pay the price for all sin, once and for all, and that Satan would be defeated. He also knew the coming pain and suffering. He knew that serving our penalty would mean temporary separation from the Father—the most excruciating expectation for God the Son. In anticipation of what would happen, Jesus cried out to God—as fully man—for some other way. But He followed that prayer with, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” (Matthew 26:36-42).

And because Jesus surrendered to God’s will, we have eternal life in Heaven when we surrender to Him. That’s a pretty convincing reason to let go of our will, recognizing that everything will be better when we pray, plan, and profess, “Lord willing.” 

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.  

1 John 2:3-5

Every Sunday in this country, churches are filled with professing Christians. (Well, in most states, they can’t legally be “filled”—so we’ll just pretend it’s 2019 again.) And, whether in-person or virtually, men and women attend weekly Sunday School classes, Bible studies, and small groups. We post Bible verses on social media platforms and throw “Christianese” into our conversations with other believers. And we probably have one or two Bible apps on our phone, literally carrying the Bible with us at all times.

But here’s a challenging question for us Bible-believing followers of Jesus—a soul-searching, plank-in-the-eye-plucking assessment: Does our life really reflect what we say we believe? Don’t get me wrong. We all sin (miss the mark). Every day. But in knowing the Truth and, having the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, do we walk through our days with the intention of following Jesus’s example? Just as the great Apostle Paul admittedly struggled, we want to do what’s right, but we don’t…we want to avoid doing what’s wrong, but we do it anyway (Romans 7:15-25). But the key here is that we recognize it! We’re quickly convicted when those arrows of thoughts, words, or actions not only miss the Biblical bullseye, but fly right past the target.

The confrontation to all of us is not about the daily endeavor for righteousness in serving and glorifying our holy God. Rather, we need to look in the mirror for the excused sins, those choices we make—in secret or for the world to see—that are clearly antithetical to the Bible we profess to believe. Maybe you and your boyfriend are living together. Although you know this isn’t aligned with God’s Word, it’s ok for you because it “makes financial sense” or “his lease ran out, and we’re not getting married until next year.” Perhaps it’s that provocative TV series that we can’t wait to indulge in nightly. Yeah, it’s got profuse sex themes and scenes, but “it’s a great story” and “the character development is well written.” 

Brothers and sisters, let’s search our heart, mind, and daily walk for our “yeah but” ways. And once identified, let’s repent—turn back—to realign ourselves with God’s precious Word. Not only will it be for our good, but we’ll rightly reflect the One we claim to serve.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Show me where I am making excuses to live my own way and not Yours and help me turn back.

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James 2:18

I wrote last time about my three-decade effort to ensure my “good vs. bad” tally sheet was heavier on the “good” side so that I would be destined for Heaven. Whether it was by choosing to do the right thing or taking action to “undo” all those wrong things, it was my job to determine my eternal future.

Many of us—believers in Jesus Christ and unbelievers alike—have this mindset. For those who have not accepted the free gift of grace through Jesus but believe there’s a heaven, the matter to them is settled: Being a “good person” (defined by their internal, subjective scale) will get them “in.” This is sad, because the Bible is clear on this matter: There is one way to heaven, and that is by the cross of Jesus Christ (John 14:6). But what is sadder are believers who think that salvation is through Jesus and what they do or don’t do—their works.

Some even point to the book of James in the Bible to make their case, specifically chapter 2, verses 24 and 26, which say, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only,” and “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” 

It seems like James is advocating for “faith plus works for salvation,” which is in total contradiction to the words of Paul and the other writers—not to mention Jesus Himself. But, when we study God’s Word, we need to understand context, including the audience to whom the letter was being written. In James’s case, he was writing believers who were already justified by faith—they had accepted the work of Jesus for their salvation. And our omniscient, omnipresent, all-powerful God knew that. Before God’s throne, they were, in fact, accepted as righteous—they were “in.” 

The problem, he is saying, is that the people around us have no way of knowing we are saved by faith in Jesus unless we show them. We need to “justify” (validate, defend, support, substantiate) our faith outwardly and demonstrate our life in Christ. He’s saying that if we are saved, but our lives don’t give evidence of that amazing transformation, what impact can we have on this broken world? In verses 15 and 16, he writes, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”  

Jesus came to live the life we couldn’t live and die to take the penalty we deserved—He saved us. But if our salvation is the end game, why doesn’t God scoop us up to heaven the moment we surrender our lives to Jesus? Because we have work to do!Sealed with the Holy Spirit, we are able to step ahead in love, showing joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (often falling down, sometimes taking a few steps backwards)…but becoming more like Jesus as we walk through this world. And, as we show others our faith, we are to share the Good News with them! 

The bottom line is this: Why would someone want to know about Jesus if they can’t see the difference Jesus makes in our life? So, let’s show others what it looks like to live a life of faith. Let’s go do.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Growing up in the religion of my parents, my faith in God was all about negotiation. My prayers would sound something like, “God, please get me out of this mess and I promise never to _______ again.” Or “God, if you give me X, I’ll do Y.” Although my behavior was far from holy, I would acknowledge my ungodly choices after the fact, and beg God for forgiveness. I’d “be good” for a while, but it wasn’t long until I’d fall into the same immoral patterns. I’d give up beer for Lent but carry around a bottle of Vodka to parties—to me, that was a perfectly logical way to abstain. In my head, it was a constant scorecard tally between two columns: good and bad. And, of course, for all my mess-ups (at least the ones I decided to share in the darkened church confessional), a few “Hail Mary’s” and “Our Father’s” would wash away my sins and clear my conscience. (although the scoring continued). Whew. Good thing the priest and my acts of repentance were there to help ensure I didn’t lose my salvation.

Actually, when it came to guaranteeing a heavenly destination, there were quite a few boxes to check (perfect for my box-checking personality): don’t miss Mass—ever; don’t eat an hour before Mass, so you can take communion (because communion counted toward the heaven-bound transit fare); no meat on Fridays—the list goes on. 

So, after six years in our church’s school, ongoing church education, plus not missing Mass through high school, college, and beyond (even if it meant wearing my soccer uniform to hit the field right after communion or attending on Saturday night so I could sleep off a hangover on Sunday), I believed I had two saviors: Jesus and me. I knew Jesus died on the cross for me, but if I didn’t do my part, His part in the process was, well, futile.

But, praise God, like the man who Jesus healed in chapter 9 of John’s gospel, I once was blind, but now I see. I have one Savior—Jesus Christ. He lived a life of perfection that I could not, took the penalty of suffering and death that I deserved, and rose again—defeating death—so that I can be born into eternal life with Him. I will one day stand before God in perfect righteousness—not judgement—because of what Jesus did. Not because of anything I did (or didn’t do).

Friends, our salvation (our peace with God now and eternal life in heaven) is not “Jesus and ______.” No matter how you fill in the blank or what you’ve been taught…and regardless of what the enemy has hissed in your ear to the contrary, salvation is of the Lord alone—by His grace alone, through our faith alone. Period. Isn’t that amazing news? (Now, as James talks about in his Biblical letter, once we are saved by faith, justified before God, we demonstrate our faith to the world by works—but I’ll tackle that topic in my next blog.) 

What freedom! We don’t have to work for salvation—it’s not “do” but “done.” Have you received this gift by accepting the Way, the Truth, and Life—Jesus (John 14:16)? Why not make today the day?

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:7

Did that blog title get your attention? Maybe you think the words that follow will be about how we Christians need to fear the exponentially evil direction our culture is going. Or the horror that should seize our hearts at the onslaught of federal legislation nefariously undermining our Biblical beliefs (and our right to live them out). Perhaps I’ll delve into the global “pandemic” and how we must fear the virus, stay isolated, and constantly sanitize. Nope, none of the above.

This exhortation, friends, is to fear the Lord. 

As believers, we (hopefully) understand this principle of fearing God. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have peace with God and are justified to ultimately stand in His presence (“just-as-if-I’d” never sinned). But we must still fear God. Christian fear, however, is not terror and dread, but rather it’s the awe of the power and authority of the Creator, Judge, and King. Our fear of the Lord keeps us wise, moving in the right direction, and—ultimately—confident of our eternal home with Him. The Bible makes it clear:

• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).
• Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him (Psalm 33:8)!
• And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).
• Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor 7:1).

Brothers and sisters, in our fear of the Lord, we do not have to fear anything that’s going on in our upside-down world. Is it disconcerting? Yes! Is the enemy ramping up his efforts to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10)—yes!! But we know how it all ends. (If you don’t, it’s time for you to settle in and study the book of Revelation.)

Is “the end” near? It could be. Jesus could come back for believers today, next year, or next century. And at the end is a holy judgement by a holy God. So, for your family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers who do not “fear the Lord,” they have much more to fear than what the news is reporting. Without accepting the gift of grace through faith in Jesus, their eternal condition is horrifying. 

It is time to fear. Let us—with urgency—tell others. God loves them and wants no one to perish, but wants all to repent and have eternal life with Him (2 Peter 3:9). They must simply acknowledge their sinful nature, ask God for forgiveness, believe that Jesus paid their ransom, and make Him Savior and Lord of their life. It’s a free gift—no other to-dos involved! Let’s spread the word.

How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:29-31).

Lord, give me a sense of urgency to tell others of God’s love for them, instilling a fear that brings eternal peace.

You there! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.  

Isaiah 55:1

When you’ve been out for a walk on a warm day, working in the yard, or even just eating some salty snacks, there’s nothing like gulping down a big glass of cold water to quench your thirst. (Well, actually, for me it would be a big glass of lukewarm water—can’t stand to drink cold things. Weird, I know. But I digress.) It’s gloriously refreshing and satisfying. The thing is, after that glass is emptied, you will want—and need—more. In fact, human beings cannot survive without water for more than about three days and should ideally consume 11-15 cups of water per day. 

But beyond physical thirst, humans have an innate spiritual thirst within us. Some have called it a “God-shaped hole” that we will constantly try to fill. We pour on (and in) relationships, work, stuff, alcohol, drugs, or food. Something might quiet the craving for a moment, but it comes back, often with vengeance. The deep thirst is not quenched. (Believe me, I tried everything for almost 20 years.)

Brothers and sisters, nothing on this earth can satisfy the void we so desperately want to fill. We are created to be in communion with God, and since the Fall of man and woman in the Garden, the quest for “re-union” drives everything we do. To continue the “God-shaped hole” analogy: because it’s God-shaped, God is the only way to fill the void. 

There’s a beautiful event recorded in John’s gospel where our Lord addresses this exact issue. The story is about the Samaritan woman at the well, and it may be a familiar one to you. (This passage is actually chock full of amazing and astounding lessons, so please take some time to dig in!) The scene starts when Jesus asks the woman for a drink of water from a well. Now, when you read it, you’ll see that she’s been living a life of unsatisfying “void-filling-efforts”—and Jesus knows it. But He ultimately says to her: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).

What about you? Are you drinking from various wells of this life to find satisfaction? (To quote Dr. Phil, “How’s that workin’ for ya?”) Jesus Christ can quench your deep, soul-level thirst. And once you allow Him to do so, the wells of this world lose their appeal. Are you thirsty? Accept this fountain of the water of life given freely to anyone who thirsts (Revelation 21:6)…and never thirst again.

Thank You, Lord, for the soul-quenching gift You freely offer when we surrender to You. May I, in response, offer this refreshing Living Water to others.

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Romans 13:14

Moderation is a tough thing for me. From my perfectionist and control-freak personality, to my waning addictive tendencies, I am inclined to overdo—not to be moderate. In my BC days (that is, “before Christ”), I would never have used the word “moderation” for my behavior—praise the Lord for redemption and freedom. And, before several injuries (dare I say, Divine injuries) sidelined me, fitness was an idol I worshipped for hours each morning, prioritized over everything else. The battle for food moderation is a thing for me too—always has been. (This was another reason for the whole gym-rat activity—you have to balance your obsessions, am I right?) Then there’s work. I work a lot (present tense), not able to easily turn off that switch, because there are always other things that need to be done “now” and “right.” 

When it comes to exercise, food, work, and—for some—even alcohol, we all would probably agree with the adage, “all things in moderation.” I certainly do for most of this list and am in constant pursuit of that philosophical balancing act.

But, for Christians, moderation is not to be chased in all things. There is no moderation of sin. We are fallen humans, living in a fallen world, and we will sin. But we are not to find some warped sense of “balance” and rationale in the “acceptable” sins of the world. We are called to be holy and pure (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:15; 2 Timothy 2:22). Believers are called to chase after perfection—not in the control-freaky way I am so familiar with—but that of perfect righteousness. It’s an impossible task, until we are perfected in heaven, but we are to move in that direction. The longer we walk in faith, the sooner we recognize our unrighteous thoughts, words, and actions, asking for forgiveness quicker. And our moment-by-moment choices become more and more aligned with God’s Word. We recognize that there are no sin scales in God’s economy—a little white lie and murder weigh the same—and we don’t look to the culture to determine which sins are “outdated” and more acceptable today. 

The world will disagree. To them, there is definitely a sin spectrum, as well as moderation in ALL things. “Sin” is different for everyone, as is its level of pursuit. As long as it “doesn’t hurt anyone” or it’s “safe” or it’s “my choice”—well, then it’s ok (and “mind your own business” while you’re at it).

Brothers and sisters, let’s do a serious self-assessment. Are there sins that we feel are “ok in moderation”? That TV show that that glamorizes fornication or adultery? Using cusswords at opportune times because the situation warrants it? Hating our enemy because, well, they’re evil, and when Jesus said, “Love your neighbor,” He certainly didn’t mean that guy. Ouch.

Moderation is great—in most things. But when it comes to the pursuit of holiness to which we are called as believers in Jesus Christ, let us never put sin into that category.

Lord, may Your love abound more and more in me, that I may approve what is excellent and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Philippians 1: 9-10).

Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:13

In looking around, listening, and reading, do you sense it? There seems to be an acceleration of, well, crazy. Right is wrong, and wrong is right. A mob mentality is creating lemmings who aren’t thinking straight—or even thinking for themselves at all. And a “cancel culture” is allowing for the silencing of opinion (or truth) if it goes against the pushed narrative.

I’m not trying to get “political” here. This has all been a cyclical pattern throughout human history. And since the first century, Christians around the world have had to stand firm in the midst of their respective anti-God cultures. Believers have been a voice for the voiceless, a light in the darkness, and a thorn in the side of government and religious leaders. 

After His glorious resurrection, Jesus told his disciples He would be coming back soon. And from the first century until now, Christians have been certain that time would be during their lifetime. I believe it’s because they looked around at the insanity of their own world, and the only fitting response was praying for rescue (rapture) and Divine justice. 

Brothers and sisters, are you feeling the same way right now? I know I am. 

The bigger question is this: If the Lord returns today, are you ready? We are in the Biblical end times—of that there is no doubt. But these “times” could be completed within the hour, year, decade, or century. We don’t know—and neither does Satan. So, as it has been since the Garden, he is racing around with his millions of minions to stir up evil and multiply his army here on earth. Ultimately, Satan is going to lose his fight against the Lord—this he does know.

But what about you? Have you picked a side in the battle? Jesus won the war by defeating Death on Calvary’s cross and rising again in triumph. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—the only path to peace with God—and to victory over an eternity of torment. So, on whose side do you stand? And if you are with God, are you standing firm, not to be moved when the winds of culture come against you? 

Jesus is coming “soon”—it could very well be today. I’ll ask again, are you ready? You must “choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:14-15). If you have not yet made a decision to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, won’t you do so now? God loves you and wants you to have everlasting life (John 3:16), so He died for you (Romans 5:8)! By confessing you are not perfect (a sinner), God is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Believe this and give your life to Jesus as your Savior (the Way the heaven) and your Lord (the Priority of your life)—and you’ll be victorious in the battle for your soul (Romans 10:9)!

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:20

As I sit down to write this, I’m am actually taking a respite from unpacking boxes and trying to figure out—once again—what we really need and where we should put it all. You see, over my 26-year marriage, we have lived in three states, nine towns, and—seriously—16 addresses. (And, nope, not military…just crazy.) Our homes have varied widely, from an 1890 Victorian minor’s cottage in Colorado to new construction in Virginia—and assorted era styles in between! 

The funny thing is that every time we found a new place, we’d fall in love and think, “This is it! Our forever home!” And then some years later, we’d move on (for different “reasons” but always in an effort to listen to the Holy Spirit…that’s another story altogether). What we thought was permanent turned out to be merely temporary. We weren’t there to stay—we were just passing through. Plus, every time we start packing up to go, we lighten our load, giving away what we once thought was indispensable. Our grasp on “stuff” has gotten looser and looser.

Brothers and sisters, God’s Word tells us we should have this same mindset as we walk through this world. We are temporary residents here, just passing through (1 Peter 2:11; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 13:14). As believers, our ultimate home is in heaven, and the Lord wants us to keep our eyes on that destination. We are not to be conformed to the world (Romans 12:2), getting all cozy in the ways of the flesh.

The fact that we are sojourners here can also help us to lighten our grasp on the things of this world. We are exhorted to not love our “stuff” and make idols of it. Even Jesus warns us that we can’t serve money and God—being mastered by both is impossible (Matthew 6:24). But the “things of this world” go beyond home baubles, big toys, and bank accounts. It’s also the intangibles of culture that can keep us abiding in the wrong place. This is especially true today, when so many are looking to social media for affirmation, joining the various mob mentalities for acceptance, and even depending on the government and politics for salvation. (Satan is loving every minute of this, for sure.)

Christians, we are citizens of heaven, awaiting our Savior, who will transform our broken, sin-inclined selves and usher us into our true forever Home (Philippians 3:20-21). No matter how much “everything is falling apart” here, we should expect it, because the Bible tells us it will! But while we are here, our purpose is to serve and glorify God by loving others and sharing the gospel with them. We must ensure that, regardless of how many states, cities, or homes someone has lived in, that they’re ready for their ultimate relocation.

Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Psalm 2:12

Here’s a strange (and disturbing) thought: What if one of the world’s most evil criminals, having instigated horrific atrocities against men, women, and children, was finally convicted. However, after the judge’s gavel fell and a sentence of life imprisonment given, this heinous person was given the freedom to continue his evil pursuits until an undetermined time to come. Eventually, he will be locked away, never to escape or be freed—and his sentence includes excruciating torment to repay his actions through the years.

What kind of emotions are you feeling at that scenario? Maybe elation about his conviction and delight over his future torture mixed with awe and horror at the allowed freedom before he’s actually thrown in prison…perhaps a fear washed over you at what he will actually do in the world, knowing his time of potential devastation is limited.

This is not just a what-if scene. It is very real. The heinous criminal is Satan. And he has been wreaking havoc on mankind since the Garden of Eden when he hissed that first accusation against the Creator: “Did God really say…?” And as the centuries passed, Satan and his millions of minions have worked tirelessly to separate people from the Lord and thwart the promises of God. 

But Jesus. 

Jesus came to the earth, fully man and fully God, to live the life we cannot (sinless and perfect). Satan, knowing exactly who Jesus is and why He came, made valiant efforts to foil the plan of salvation throughout Jesus’s earthly ministry—he (Satan) was getting desperate. So, when our precious Lord was hanging on the cross, bleeding and dying to pay the penalty we deserve, Satan was probably doing a celebratory dance, thinking himself victorious. But a few days later, Jesus came out of the grave, forever conquering death and making a way to the Father for anyone who believes and trusts in Him.

So, this is where the scene described above kicks in. Friends, Satan has been defeated. He has been convicted—and he knows it. And he knows exactly how it ends for him, and it’s not pretty (he’s read the Bible too—see Revelation 19:11-21). Although it’s been 2000 years since his sentencing, he and his troupe of terrorists have spent every moment accusing us to God and accusing God to us in his efforts to keep people from Christ and to keep Christ-followers ineffective. 

I don’t know about you, but I believe that Satan’s incarceration time is near. As his time is running out and his ways and means of warfare are exponentially escalating, here are some things for us to take to heart: (1) Jesus already won. (2) If we believe that Jesus won and give our lives to Him, we are victors with Him and can rest in the peace of this truth. (3) For those who do not know Jesus or believe Him and His Word, the fear is very real…because the coming horrific judgement isn’t just for Satan. 

Brothers and sisters, Satan’s time may not yet be up—but, if you’re reading this, neither is yours! If you have not yet accepted Christ, “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Although God’s judgement is coming, He is (and has been since the Garden) in relentless pursuit of you. Won’t you turn to Him and choose victory today?