Crosswalk.com--The Devotional

[Judy Harder]

October 9, 2009

Who's Doing the Heavy Lifting?
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Raise your hand if you love carrying something heavy.

That makes neither of us, right?  I never relish towing a burdensome load, but it seems like there's always one sitting around just waiting for me to pick it up.

During my college days, I learned how to carry all of my heavy groceries up three floors from the parking lot to my campus apartment in just one trip--car to kitchen counter.  My continuing goal was to be "One Trip MacCorkle" and not to have to go back downstairs a second time.  Ever.

Back then, paper bags were still in heavy rotation and no one seemed to be toting reusable cloth bags quite yet.  That meant it wasn't always easy to carry all of one's groceries from store to abode (there were no handles, you see),  So it was precarious to say the least, but I took great pride in carrying all of my own bags in just one trip.

I remember another time years later when I was carrying some other heavy things.  I was racing to make a connecting flight in the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport with only about 10 minutes to spare between landing, de-planing, running through the various concourses and getting to my next flight--all while carrying a jam-packed tote bag, a heavy winter coat, a suitcase and wearing boots.  Yikes!

I don't think I'd ever run so fast in all of my life.  The coat and suitcase were flailing on either side of me, and I'm sure I clipped a passerby or maybe knocked someone completely over as I hoofed it full speed.  But the hour was late, I was traveling alone and I didn't want to spend the night in St. Louis.  So I muscled up and I did what I thought I had to--no matter who got hurt in the process.  By the time I got to the gate, I was a sweaty mess, very close to tears and ready to crumble in a heap. 

These acts of carrying heavy things are examples of what most of us go through internally each and every day.  We all carry something.  Either out of pride and feeling good about what we can do all by ourselves or out of fear and desperation because our situations look bleak and we don't know what else to do.

But you and I are not made to shoulder these physical, emotional or spiritual burdens all alone.  And when we try to, we hurt other people (and ourselves) as we start dropping things and falling apart.  So why don't we make an automatic beeline for Jesus and take his yoke upon us instead? 

"Jesus' yoke is not lighter because he demands less, but because he bears more of the load with the burdened" (Craig S. Keener, A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew). 

When we give our lives to Christ, when we ask him to be Lord of our lives and submit to him, when we give him whatever we are carrying, he will lead us and he will shoulder the heavier things. 

If you haven't already, invite him into your heart today.  And discover a new way of doing life with a gentle, humble Savior.  He is waiting and wants you to experience his rest.

Intersection of Faith & Life:  What is weighing you down today?  The threat of world war?  Uncertainty about your future?  Fear of losing your job or frustration in not finding one?  A relationship that is unraveling or one that hasn't yet materialized?  Whatever it is, ask God to help you enter into his rest, to take his yoke and to learn what he wants to teach you. 

Further Reading:

Psalm 55:22

Let Go of Your Burdens

[Judy Harder]

October 12, 2009

The Good Teacher
Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. Mark 10: 17 - 30


Autumn is still young, but it has already been filled to the brim with teacher-student relationships. I'm taking two classes and teaching another. Each class is a reminder to me of how difficult it is to be a good teacher... and a good student.

Take my anatomy and physiology class, for example. This particular teacher is gifted at what you might call "tough love." He challenges his students. 

This past Saturday was particularly tough. We began class with a difficult exam. The exam was followed by 6 hours of class lecturing and participation. Our professor likes to interact with his students, and if you don't know the answer to a question, you're not off the hook. He'll spend 10 minutes pulling the answer out of you. Most students panic when he calls their name.

As "bad" as this teacher may sound, a closer look reveals the negativity lies more with the students. Amid the grumbling, angst, and exasperation over this professor's teaching style, you can find one lost learning opportunity after another.

Case in point: many students drop his class, but those who complete his class are often some of the most knowledgeable students at the school. And he isn't mean. He tries to instill confidence in his students, and he gives you more study guides, clues, and outright answers to test questions than any other teacher I've known.

He's fond of giving this spiel over and over again:

"I am not here to make you feel bad. I am here to help you. You might not like me for it, but I know which methods work for mastering this material. Just trust me, do what I say, and you'll walk out of here with an A or a B."

Sometimes I feel Jesus, the Good Teacher, says something very similar to us. "Just trust me. I am here to help you. I am going to give you all the answers you need!" Yet even with countless pages of holy scripture to turn to and help from the Holy Spirit, we struggle to be God's students.

We can see the difficulties of the teacher-student relationship in the opening scriptures. Jesus answers this man's questions. But the man doesn't like what Jesus says and walks away.

Had the young man stayed, he would have inherited more treasures and wisdom than he could ever have acquired on his own. But he didn't stick around long enough. Like so many students in my class, he leaves before the learning has really begun.

How often do we feel like God has taken on the role of the impossible professor, expecting us to live up to standards we feel are unfair? How tempting is it to take out parts of the Bible that make us uncomfortable or don't make sense to us? Perhaps you even know someone who has walked away from the faith because of a hard teaching.

If you're struggling to embrace a teaching of the faith, I encourage you to stick around a little longer and reap the rewards of perseverance. Trust the Good Teacher with the answers you seek.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Instructing the ignorant is a spiritual work of mercy. If you know someone who is confused about a particular aspect of the Christian faith, help them find clarity.

Further Reading

Hebrews 4: 12 - 13

[Judy Harder]

October 13, 2009

Are You Walking the Walk?
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Entertainment Editor

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
1 John 2:6, NIV


A few years ago I bought a treadmill for my home. It wasn't the result of getting sucked into a late-night infomercial's claims. No, it was the by-product of some cost-cutting measures. 

You see, I had just moved into my first home and had just paid my first mortgage payment. Realizing that something had to quickly go in the ever-dwindling budget, I decided to cancel my gym membership. And thus, the treadmill was purchased so I could work out more inexpensively - and more conveniently - in the comfort of my own home.

For a while, I did what I said I would do and what I said I believed: I walked on the treadmill many times a week, and my health and fitness level were good. But pretty soon, the treadmill became more like a piece of sculpture sitting in the corner. I wasn't walking on it, and it only gathered dust.

My shake-up, wake-up call came many months later at my annual exam with my doctor. She noted that I had gained a few pounds since the last visit and that my cholesterol level was too high. Well, to say I felt like a failure is an understatement. I cried and was upset with myself, because I knew I hadn't done what I said I would do, and I was left with an unhealthy lifestyle and declining health.

I vowed to make exercising and a better diet a higher priority in my life. And now, over two years later, I'm pleased to say that I've kept to my word. I walk (or run) on my treadmill every other day, and I don't have to dust it nearly as much as I used to. Bonus!

A few years before this diet and exercise regimen transformation, though, I had a spiritual shake-up, wake-up call of sorts. After reaching a low point in my life and coming to a crisis of faith, I made a decision: I have to live what I believe... I have to walk with the Lord. Only He can heal me and make me spiritually healthy. 

I think I had been "stuck on the recliner" for many years before then, watching others exercise what they believed and seeing them grow in their faith. I wanted what they had, and I wanted to be filled with the joy of the Lord, too. I knew what I needed to do. But I just wasn't doing it.  Words + no action = nothing.

Slowly, but surely, the Lord drew me closer. I joined a Bible study and began reading Scripture. I listened more intently to the sermons at church. I began asking questions to older, more seasoned, believers. And God met me everywhere I turned in order to deepen my relationship with him. 

What about you? Are you purposefully walking the walk today? Or are you stuck in the "recliner" in your life? If you are willing, God will help you take a step toward the "treadmill" as you seek to truly live in him. 

Intersecting Faith & Life: Meditate on this verse-and the blessings from walking with the Lord-from the great hymn, Trust and Obey:

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Further Reading

1 John 1:7, NIV
Walk Around the Clock

[Judy Harder]

October 14, 2009

The Context of Stillness
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

"Be still, and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10


How many times have you heard this verse? A hundred? A thousand? This snippet of a psalm is a pet verse of mine. It constantly pops into my head when I start getting too busy or stressed out. Ironically, I hadn't taken time to read the whole psalm in months, and I had no recollection of the verses surrounding my favorite one-liner. Here's a sampling of the other verses in Psalm 46:

"Though the earth gives way..." (vs. 2)

"Though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea..." (vs. 2)

"The nations rage, the kingdoms totter..." (vs. 6)

"Be still and know that I am God... I will be exalted in the earth!" (vs. 10)


"The God of Jacob is our fortress." (vs. 11)

I had been picturing an idyllic, Psalm-23-ish passage as the context for my pet verse, but the context is completely different. The psalm is actually the meditation a man holding back fear with faith. In a setting of uncertainty, war, and all-around "trouble" (vs. 1), the psalmist focuses on the peace that comes from being the presence of God - even though the earth around him threatens to fall apart. The verse holds even more power in this context than in my imagined setting, doesn't it?

I love the Psalms because of their deep meditations on humanity confronted with God's holiness and faithfulness. I can see real men writing the lines, reminding themselves of the bigger context for their troubles. I see men who - like me - wondered what would happen next in this life. But every one of them comes to the realization that they serve a God who supersedes their worries and replaces them with worship. These men heard the command to "be still and know" and found that God blew their imaginations. 

I often look at the global economic crisis, America's own shaky position, etc. and start getting jittery, wondering about outcomes and impacts. In these times, I slip into this mentality that thinks "being still" and listening to God can only happen in green pastures. But the real context of Psalm 46:10 tells me otherwise. God's amazing peace works most powerfully when the world's craziness reaches a crescendo. Like they say, context is everything.

Intersection of Faith & Life: Look up your favorite one-liners of the Bible today, and read the surrounding passages and chapters. How does the context add to your understanding of the verse? What more does it reveal about living the Christian faith?

Further Reading:

Psalm 37

Be Still and Know

Where is God in the Midst of Crisis?

[Judy Harder]

October 15, 2009

"Whatever": Simultaneously the Worst and Best Word We Have
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

On the one hand, it's always good to get scientific affirmation for something you believe or suspect.

On the other, it's never fun when you've been planning to write a devotional or blog post about that same belief or suspicion for over a year and someone goes out and steals your thunder.

But that's okay - this Fox News report on a survey by Marist College on the most annoying words in American conversation just gives me the excuse to get around to it now.

The article states,

47 percent of Americans surveyed in a Marist College poll released Wednesday [found "Whatever" to be the most annoying word we use].

"Whatever" easily beat out "you know," which especially grated a quarter of respondents. The other annoying contenders were "anyway" (at 7 percent), "it is what it is" (11 percent) and "at the end of the day" (2 percent).

"Whatever" -- pronounced "WHAT'-ehv-errr" when exasperated -- is an expression with staying power. Immortalized in song by Nirvana ("oh well, whatever, nevermind") in 1991, popularized by the Valley girls in "Clueless" later that decade, it is still commonly used, often by younger people.

It can be an all-purpose argument-ender or a signal of apathy. And it can really be annoying. The poll found "whatever" to be consistently disliked by Americans regardless of their race, gender, age, income or where they live.

Exactly! I've felt that way for years. When someone uses "whatever" on me in a conversation or email, it's a kick to the groin of non-importance. Beyond annoying, it's rude and  dismissive. It's also ignorant, especially at the end of what was supposed to be a friendly debate or argument, because it illustrates that the person had no better retort and is now summarily ending the conversation with a parting shot connoting that nothing you just said mattered anyway. "Whatever!"

In a country sorely lacking in civility, manners, and conversation skills.. and ripe with apathy and self-importance, "Whatever" is the motto du jour.

Then again... what a powerful word it can be for our walk with Christ.

It's kind of like when you are reading a play, or preparing to act in one. You have the script before you. There are minimal clues for how any word in the text should be read. What inflection, what level of voice, what tone shall I use? What does the context and the setting and the personality of the character tell me in regards to how this word or line is going to sound? Ultimately, you and the Director decide.

And I've decided that "Whatever" can be, if we so choose, the defining word of the Christian life. Because while few other words carry the same potential for dismissive rudeness, no other words hold the same potential for all-out surrender and steadfast faith.

I find you guilty in your sins.
Whatever you say, Lord, I repent and accept the sacrifice of your Son who atoned for them.

This situation you're in is going to hurt.
Whatever. I know my faith will be made strong through trials, and that I can do all things through your strength.

You don't know what the future holds; only I do.
Whatever it is, you deserve glory and honor and praise. Bring it on!

I want you to [go to Africa / give to this homeless person / quit this job / plant this church / preach my Word]
Whatever!

I know you think this is unfair compared to that person's situation, but do not let comparison steal my joy from you.
Whatever, God. Whatever.

***

I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am (Phil. 4:11). Whatever you say.

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). Whatever you say.

Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap (Gal. 6:7). Whatever you say.

Whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free (Eph. 6:. Whatever you say.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Phil. 4:.

Whatever.

[Judy Harder]

October 16, 2009

Choosing Your Own Adventure
by Laura MacCorkle, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

Come, follow me, Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  At once they left their nets and followed him.

Matthew 4:19-20

I remember loving the Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was a child. 

At the end of each page or scene, the reader was given different options.  "Turn to page X to find out ______ or turn to page XX to continue _______."  You could control your own adventure and make it go any which way you wanted.  And then you could go back to the beginning and try it a different way.  And then do it again.  And again!  The possibilities were nearly endless.

Similarly, the possibilities for real-life adventure seem just as great.  I've experienced this many a time as an adult when I've chosen my own adventures over the years.  I've controlled as many variables in my circumstances as possible.  I've tried to think through every possible scenario and attempted to forecast what could or couldn't happen should I do this or should I decide to do that.  Basically, I've lived a lot of my life any which way I've wanted to.

Sounds empowering and freeing, but it's actually quite exhausting to live like that--always plotting and planning and manipulating events and relationships and opportunities that could affect my life.  Always looking for the pathway that will take me to the greatest happiness, the biggest reward and the most amazing adventure.

I was thinking about this recently when I shared with a close friend that I was tired of my life (again!) and was ready for "a new adventure."  "I want to live in a foreign country."  "I want to try something new."  "I want to feel like I'm reaching my potential."  "I want an exciting life!"

Well, all I can say is how blind I have been and continue to be most days.  It's a study in contrasts between my definition of adventure and what is God's.  In my book, it's about me going after what I want.  Me taking advantage of any and every opportunity I can to make my life more "exciting."  Me turning to whatever page I want and choosing to steer my life into whatever I want it to be. 

But in God's Book--the Bible which he inspired men to write for followers like you and me--it's quite different.  And if we are following closely, then there are simply no "choose your own options" ...

As Jesus walked beside the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  At once they left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:16-18).

So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him (Luke 5:11).

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.  When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"  When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus (John 1:35-37).

See any patterns here?  "At once" and "left everything" and "followed."  No one stopped to say, "Hold on, Jesus.  I need to look at my schedule first and make sure I don't have any conflicts with work or any previous social engagements."  Or "Jesus, wait just a minute.  I need to make sure I'm not missing the annual shoe sale at Macy's or the big college game next weekend."  Or "But if I follow you now, does that mean I won't ever get to get married, have children or buy that vacation home on the lake?"

In Christ, the adventure lies in the immediate obedience.  The instant trust.  The life-saving faith that was placed in someone who had come to change the world.  The yielding of our lives to Almighty God, who is sovereign and in ultimate control of everything that was and is and ever shall be in our lives.

Will you let God choose your own adventure today?  Will you drop your big dreams and important plans and follow wherever he wants to lead you?  Yes, there is a cost when you yield yourself--and your choices--to him.  But the outcome will be far greater and more exciting than any adventure you could ever imagine on your own.

Intersection of Faith & Life:  What's the worse that could happen if you didn't finish your to-do list today?  If you made time for coffee with a friend, even though your schedule is jam-packed?  If you listened and acted upon the leading of the Holy Spirit to give financially despite a low balance in your bank account?  Make it your mission to choose to open your heart to whatever adventure God wants to take you on today and see what happens.

Further Reading:

Matthew 10:39

James 4:13-15

[Judy Harder]

October 19, 2009

Fear Not
by Sarah Jennings, Crosswalk.com Family Editor

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
1 John 3: 1


You certainly don't need me to remind you that this is the time of year when our culture makes light of heavy subjects such as death, demons, witchcraft, and evil. Even if we want to avoid it, most of us can't. I learned this the hard way.

Last weekend I visited a local amusement park with friends. We planned this outing because we had free tickets and were in the mood to relive our carefree, rollercoaster-riding days of childhood. It wasn't until we passed through the front gates of the park that we saw the Halloween set-up.

During the day, the pumpkin-and-haystack theme looked charming and festive. But as night fell, the park took on an entirely different appearance. Fog machines filled the air with mist while off-key carnival music began to play. As we wandered through the park, clowns of all shapes and sizes appeared.

Suddenly, the first screams rang out as a cackling clown chased a teenage girl through the crowd. As the pair raced past us, we got an up-close-and-personal view of the clown's gory make-up. These were not the friendly sort you meet at the circus.

My friends and I spent the remainder of the evening huddled together, moving slowly through the shadowy landscape designed to obscure demented carnival creatures. The only things the darkness couldn't conceal, of course, were the screams of terror.

After we'd made it safely to our cars (and the adrenalin stopped pumping through my body), it occurred to me that while I wouldn't go back inside even if you paid me, our experience might have actually held some real spiritual merit. Don't misread me - I'm not advocating the glorification of darkness or evil. But here are some thoughts I took away from that evening:

Life can be scary, but with God we need not fear. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.... Psalms 23: 4

God tells us to "fear not" countless times in Scripture. His frequent command indicates two things: (1) God anticipates that we will face scary situations, but (2) He is bigger and more powerful than any scary situation. We can find great comfort by taking God at His word.

Death is part of life. "For the wages of sin is death...." (Romans 6: 23)

My friends and I saw images of death and decay everywhere we turned. Skeletons hung on lamp posts, and well...I'll leave the rest to your imagination. As we wandered among the "living dead" I couldn't help but realize how different this experience would be if my friends and I didn't have hope in Christ. After all, every skeleton statue proclaimed our destiny. Yet, my friends and I knew we weren't staring at the end of the story. Paul's words come to mind here, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15: 55).

Evil can be attractive. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (Matthew 7: 13)

As my friends and I dug our nails into each other while attempting to avoid hoards of terrorizing clowns, the fact that this horrible set-up had been created to give people a night of fun did not escape me. And judging by the massive crowds who paid big bucks in admissions fees, the goal was accomplished. But outside the realm of silly Halloween festivities, how often do we see our fellow human beings attracted to that which is scary, dark, or evil? And how often do we see "wrong" masquerade as beautiful, attractive, or right? It is only through the light of Christ that we can discern clearly that which is truly good and that which only appears good.

Spiritual warfare exists. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6: 12)

A few weeks ago I wrote a little bit about the nature of angels. My experience at the park gave me a glimpse into the nature of demons. It's easy to get lost in the everyday worries of life, and forget the greater spiritual reality. The trip to "Fear Fest" was a tangible reminder for me of our need to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6: 13 - 18), and persevere in the faith.

Which brings us to the good and holy side of Halloween: All Saint's Day. I can't think of a more encouraging way to spend my Halloween than reflecting on the lives of fellow Christians who have fought the good fight, faced death, and now enjoy victory with Christ. Their witnesses inspire me to keep going even when the darkness closes in, when death threatens, or when evil looks like the better option.

Intersecting Faith & Life: I can't count the times reading the biography or writings of a Christian hero has deepened my understanding of what it means to live as a Christian in the world. Get out that list of books you've been meaning to pick up "someday" and read one of the greats of Christian literature. Need Suggestions? Try 131 Christians Everyone Should Know by Mark Galli and Ted Olson (Broadman & Holman, 2000).

Further Reading

Revelation 7: 9 - 10
Rethinking Halloween through 7 Scary Stories of the Bible
Christian Alternatives to October 31

[Judy Harder]

October 20, 2009

See the Sure Way
by Meghan Kleppinger

"Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always."
1 Chronicles 16:10, 11

It has become apparent that my dog, Keeper, has a bit of a problem. Basically, she has quickly morphed into a butterball.

Of course, the worrier in me immediately began compiling a list of possible reasons for this seemingly-overnight weight gain.

It took everything thing in me to keep the promise I made with my vet to stay away from researching rare canine infirmities on the internet (seriously, last time I brought Keeper to the veterinarian, I had a list with ten possible diseases my dog could be suffering simply because her skin was dry... turns out it was just dry skin).

So, in a very Meghan-like fashion, this problem with Keeper began to consume my thoughts.

Was it her meds?

Was it some disease?

Could she have eaten something that was causing her to retain a lot of water?

The rescue place told me she was spayed, but maybe... um, better not go there.

Could it just be that she was fluffy from not having a haircut? I had her groomed, and with the fluff gone, she just looked like a clean and sleek butterball, instead of a furry one.

Minus the already-ruled-out fluffy hair theory and the possible pregnancy, the weight gain honestly could be due to any of these previously mentioned things.

When I stopped to breath and actually think this thing through for a moment, I realized that yes, the extra pounds could be a result of an illness, or it could be from her epilepsy meds, but I admitted to myself that I really should start my investigation by looking at the typical and less serious causes for weight gain.

For example, one of those obvious and frequently overlooked causes is... oh yes, me.

Apparently when you feed your dog too much she will gain weight.

Oops.

Don't we do that all of the time? I mean when something goes wrong in our lives, we look for the culprit, but rarely do we start by looking at ourselves as being the problem.

If we can label something that is amiss in our lives as an illness or better yet, if we can find someone else to blame, don't we? Why call it sin, when we can get a doctor to write a prescription or tell us an addiction isn't our fault?

I'm not saying mental illnesses, addictive tendencies, and bad people don't exist. They do. and I'm a firm believer in outside intervention and treatment for them. Unfortunately, I also think too often we swap words like "addiction," "sin," and "lack of discipline" for less offensive terms like "illness" and "disorder."

Back to Keeper, it's possible that it could be a medical concern that has caused the weight gain (and don't worry... I'm still looking into it).

But what if it's not? Wouldn't it be wrong and irresponsible to medicate my dog for a problem that doesn't exist? I don't want to put a band-aid over something that can be easily remedied.

I'll never forget something the grandfather in the movie Misty told his grandchildren about gentling horses. He told them that there is the quick way and then there is the sure way to do it. The same is true when we seek solutions to the troubles in our lives.

Many times, we think the quick way - medication, the blame game, etc. - is the easy way to solve a problem. The truth is, if the problem is with us, we're only masking the issue.

We need to admit the problem is with ourselves and then seek the sure way. Jesus is the sure way and He is much better than any human-made band-aid we use to cover our sin issues.

Intersecting Faith & Life: Consider this - "God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them." C.S. Lewis

Further Reading

Hebrews 10:26
1 Peter 3:11
If We Confess Our Sins

[Judy Harder]

October 21, 2009

Adoring the Gospel
by Katherine Britton, Crosswalk.com News & Culture Editor

"... showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior." -- Titus 2:10, ESV

Which part of a diamond ring is more valuable: the diamond or the setting?

The diamond determines the price of the ring, but without a good setting, the stone won't look too special. A good setting props up the stone in such a way that it catches the light better, giving it that exquisite sparkle. The setting can't really add value to an intrinsically valuable gem, but it can determine whether that gem catches your eye or not.

As my pastor talked about "adoring the Gospel" recently, I found a new way of relating grace and works. We're saved by grace alone, and we can't add anything to the Gospel. At the same time, our Christian walk does what a good setting does for a gem - it displays the real beauty more fully. As Paul encouraged Titus and the church at Crete, how we live "adorns" the truth of Scripture. He packs a lot into Titus 2, but here are just a few examples of what "adorning" the Gospel looks like.

Be sound in love and steadfastness. We have the ultimate model of steadfast love in Christ, in the God who kept pursuing us through all our sin. What kind of love are we offering to those around us? Is it love that puts others ahead of ourselves, whether they are family or that certain unlovable someone? This kind of love impacts relationships closest to us, and how we serve those that we barely know.


Practice sound doctrine. "It is the normal state of the human heart to try to build its identity around something besides God," Soren Kierkegaard said. Similarly, we start to make God in our image, with our convictions (or lack thereof), leaving out the full biblical picture of who he is. Unless we're constantly studying the Word for ourselves, and sitting under solid teaching, our image of God warps to fit our whims. What does that do to our understanding of the Gospel?


Cultivate self-control. Titus mentions two examples in this area: excessive drinking and unbridled tongues. That's just the start of the list. Being self-controlled goes beyond the basic notion that "we probably don't gotta have what we think we gotta have." Keeping our desires in check and not letting them have free reign opens up a whole new realm. It gives us freedom to serve Christ, because those other things don't have so much of a hold over us.


Model good works. Again, we find the ultimate model in our Savior, who spent his time with sick, the needy, and the destitute. As others have written, we don't need a ministry degree to have a ministry. What needs has God pointed out to you? What household could use that hospitality? What child needs that mentor? What family needs that anonymous Christmas donation? We know that God has gifted each of us in different ways. Let's not waste the talents the Master has given us.


Speak in a way that "cannot be condemned." That's a high standard! As James so aptly points out, a small spark can set a whole forest ablaze. How are we guarding our tongues? Paul exhorted the Ephesian church to speak "only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29) Are we encouraging those around us, or breathing negativity into their space? Most importantly, are we ready to proclaim with our mouths that Jesus is Lord?

We can't add anything to the Gospel, but we can choose how we display it. Are you adorning the Gospel in a way that is attractive to others?

Further Reading

Philippians 2:14-15
Christian Cosmetology

[Judy Harder]

October 22, 2009

Tough Decisions Ahead? Ask for Advice
by Shawn McEvoy, Crosswalk.com Senior Editor

Don't go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many counselors.
Proverbs 24:6, NLT


How do you make decisions? Do you jump in with both feet, or do you paralyze yourself with what-ifs and fear of potential regret? Are you overly impulsive, or are you wise? Do you take time to pray, or do you lean on your own understanding? There are all sorts of methods, and all of those methods and our usage of them have brought us this far, whether for good or for ill. Either way, here we are now.

And "now," unfortunately, is a very tough time for a lot of people. The stakes are probably higher for a lot of choices you must make. What to do? I don't intend to answer that for your specific case today, of course, but I do want to encourage you not to forget those who are in the fight with you, and those who have gone before!

Decisiveness is a strength of mine, one I'm very glad for. Many's a time I have watched a colleague or peer twist in the wind over something while already being comfortably down one road or the other myself. My wife meanwhile... well, her strength tends to be less in making the decision than in gathering (and gathering, and gathering) the research that presumably is supposed to aid in the making of the decision. We like to call it a good balance, and part of the reason we make a good partnership.

But neither of us alone nor even together complete the circuit. God is to be sought, both in His Word, and in prayer and listening. But even then, we still aren't using every resource He has given us.

Have we forgotten that Christianity is a team sport, rather than an individual one? This applies to practicalities like doing ministry and missions, as well as to more of the "theory" of Christian living, like thinking about the meaning of certain passages and doctrines, encouragement, prayer, and the passing on of wisdom.

Henry Ford was once asked the key to making good decisions. He said, "How do you make wise decisions? Experience. How do you get experience? By making stupid decisions."

Ha ha, true. Thing is, though, we don't always have to be the one making the stupid decision. One of the great things we redeemed sinners share is a litany of bad decisions in our pasts. Don't let those go to waste. Ask about them, and offer them regarding yourself to others.

As our verse today says, don't go into war without guidance!

Intersecting Faith & Life: What's the best piece of advice you ever received? Pass that along to 2-3 other people this week. If you're in need of advice, seek out someone who has lived through your current stage of life and just listen to what they have to say. Whether you accept their counsel or not, chances are it will guide your eventual decision one way or the other. And should you feel led to share unsolicited advice with others, perhaps you'll first accept this piece of advice from Logan Pearsall Smith: "The true secret of giving advice is, after you have honestly given it, to be perfectly indifferent whether it is taken or not, and never persist in trying to set people right."

Further Reading

Proverbs 20:18
Luke 14:31
Free Advice for the College Bound
Learning to Give Great Advice
Finances: Finding Good and Godly Counsel
Worthwhile Advice for the Engaged and Newly Married