Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Look at your life. What kind of picture does it portray of the Christian life? Does the likeness in the picture of your life resemble Christ and the fullness of life in Christ? Is it a picture that glorifies God?

The Big Picture of a Life That Glorifies God

For our lives to truly glorify God, the whole of our lives needs to be about Him, for Him, and done through Him. Who we are on Monday at work needs to match who we are on Sunday at church. Who we are around our unsaved friends and family needs to resemble who we are around fellow believers in the Body of Christ.

… whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31)

If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Pet. 4:11)

That takes authenticity, not merely speaking or acting the part. Life in Christ can’t be compartmentalized if we truly want our lives to be a picture that glorifies God. And, let’s remember that it isn’t just what we say but how we say it (Eph. 4:15). It isn’t just about what we do but how we do it (Col. 3:17). The big picture of our lives matters.

It begins with what’s in our hearts. — “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. … A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Lk. 6:43-45) — Take time to pray, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:23-24)

What Happens When Our Lives Glorify God

When we let our “light shine before others” they see our “good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:14-16). The way we live spurs others on to glorify Him as well.

Sure, we may still have critics and people who continue in their disbelief despite how good of a picture we portray. Let’s not get disheartened. First, glorifying God is about the effect of our lives on Him, not on ourselves. Second, just because people don’t respond as we wished in this lifetime, doesn’t mean it’s been in vain. In the end, all knees will bow in accountability to Him (Rom. 14:11-12). So, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (1 Pet. 2:12)

Self-striving is about our human effort to make something happen or to become who we should be. Sometimes it stems from comparing ourselves to others and finding ourselves to be inferior. Our insecurities may drive us to self-striving to try to measure up rather than find our significance in the Lord. Whatever the cause, we’re basically over-estimating our own abilities to change or make things happen and under-estimating God’s ability. And so, self-striving equals self-reliance.

The Bible Warns Against Self-Striving

God makes it clear that no amount of striving will save us.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

He also exhorts, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col. 2:6-7). We continue to live by grace, which in essence, is God doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves. — “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6)

Scripture also describes self-striving in our day-to-day physical lives as meaningless. It just leads to anxiety and stress.

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves. (Ps. 127:1-2)

What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.(Eccl. 2:22-23)

Scripture Exhorts Us to Cease Striving

God said, “Cease striving and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10, NASB).

As we “behold the works of the Lord” and acknowledge that “the Lord Almighty is with us” (Ps. 46:7-8), we realize that we have an “ever-present help” (Ps. 46:1). We don’t have to rely on ourselves when the One of whom there is none greater is with us. No one can truly fathom His greatness and understanding (Ps. 145:3; Isa. 40:28). That’s what makes Him God. It only makes sense to heed the instruction in Proverbs 3:5-6 to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him”.

The Hebrew word for “cease striving”, according to Strong’s concordance, suggests that we sink down or relax. When we sink down into God’s sovereignty as the Lord Almighty, we can relax knowing He’s in control and that He is fully capable to take care of all that pertains to us. When we rely on the Almighty God rather than our own strength, we find peace (Phil. 4:6-7) and contentment (Phil. 4:11-13)

While we do find places in Scripture that seem to suggest we strive for certain things, it’s still not self-striving but rather God working in and through us. We must interpret Scripture with Scripture.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Phil. 2:12-13)

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Col. 1:29)

Rather Than Strive, Do This

Do you want to change and get better? Do you want to do what really matters? — Cease striving. Know that He is God.

Here’s the starting point: Trust God instead of worrying. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:25-34)  As you do, pull on His power. It isn’t necessary to strive when the Almighty God is with us. Pull on His power by …

• walking in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16-26),
• relying on His grace (Titus 2:11-12),
• abiding in Christ (Jn. 15:4-5),
• and finding your strength in the Lord (Phil. 4:13; Isa. 40:31).

For more on various means through which He empowers us, go to: The Source of the Church’s Power

A lot of different religions exist in this world. What makes biblical Christianity so different is the Person of Jesus Christ at the center of it. Even the Old Testament of the Bible, not just the New Testament, points to Jesus throughout its pages (Lk. 24:27, 44; Jn. 5:39; 1 Pet. 1:10-13). He makes Christianity so much more than a mere religion. What He offers goes way beyond a religious experience.

Jesus is So Much More Than Mere Religion

If everything revolves around Jesus, then He must be someone great enough to truly make a difference in people’s lives.

1. Jesus is more than a religious figure like a prophet. He is God come in the flesh (Matt. 1:23; Jn. 1:1-5; Phil. 2:6-7; Heb. 1:3), — a divine Person.

2. He did more than come and live on this earth once upon a time. He died and rose again and is now seated at the right hand of the Father in the heavenly realms (Eph. 1:19-21; Col. 3:1), — a living Person.

3. Following Jesus is more than adhering to a creed, certain moral principles or ideals. We follow a Person, Jesus Christ, whom we can get to know and love (Jn. 1:10-13; 17:3; 1 Jn. 4:13-19;  Rev. 3:20), — a Person with whom we can relate.

4. Jesus is more than a good example to pattern our lives after. He is a Savior, the One who died on the cross to take our sin upon Himself so we can be made right with God (Isa. 53:5; Jn. 14:6). He is the Sovereign Lord who ascended back to heaven after His resurrection from the dead, the One to whom every knee will one day bow (Phil. 2:10), — making Him a Supreme Being to whom we owe not only our eternal destiny but also our love, service, obedience, and worship now.

Jesus Offers So Much More Than a Religious Experience

While Jesus does give eternal life to those who believe in Him (Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 5:13), He offers so much more. Jesus IS eternal life (Jn. 14:6), not just something He promises we will one day possess. He extends Himself to us, not just a promise or possession so we can be in a relationship with Him.

He wants us to live in the fullness of who He is (Eph. 4:13), abiding in Him and bearing fruit (Jn. 15:1-8). He offers us Himself so we can walk with Him in a love relationship. We obey His commands because we love Him (Jn. 14:15, 21; 1 Jn. 5:3; 2 Jn. 1:6), not to earn His favor (Eph. 2:8-9).

Jesus offers more than a future hope to us. He gives us purpose and meaning to live right now, considering us His co-workers (1 Cor. 3:9). He came to give us an abundant life, one to the full (Jn. 10:10).

All of this is so much more than a mere religious experience. It’s a relationship with a real Person who is ours now and through eternity.

Do you have a tendency to compare yourself to others? Playing the comparison game could take you in unhealthy and ungodly directions. We’re calling it a game because it isn’t always based on reality. Our next step usually depends on the actions, or reactions, of another person. It usually ends with winners and losers.

Results of Playing the Comparison Game

We may find ourselves to be inferior, superior, or equal enough that we feel we can be compatible.

• Comparing and Finding Ourselves Inferior

Not measuring up to others can lead to insecurity and discontent. This can result in self-striving to make ourselves better.

• Comparing and Finding Ourselves Superior

Assessing ourselves to be above others can lead to pride and arrogance. This can result in self-exaltation so others see us as better.

• Comparing and Finding Ourselves Comparable

Finding people of the same measure as us can lead to a sense of security. This can result in self-protection from those deemed better or worse.

Getting caught up in comparing ourselves to others, no matter what we find, can result in self-centered living. That isn’t what God wants for us.

What God Says About Comparing Ourselves

God tells us to fix” our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:2) but it’s not about comparing ourselves to Him. We’ll lose that game every time because we all “fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). We keep our eyes on the One who died so we could be made right. He offers transformation, not a mere self-improvement plan (2 Cor. 5:17). — Grace

God’s economy is so much different than the way of the world. Rather than finding ourselves superior to those who may seem weaker than us, we raise them up. — “Those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” (1 Cor. 12:22-25) — Mercy

In Christ, as new creations, we are all equal. In Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). Outward appearance, accomplishments, intelligence, strengths, and weaknesses are all peripherals. Equality isn’t based on whether we match up to each other. Community in the Body of Christ isn’t a matter of finding those with whom we’re comparable. It’s about bringing all of our differences together and becoming better because of each other. It’s about caring for one another no matter how different we may be. — Love

Rather than play the comparison game, let’s extend grace, mercy, and love to one another … maybe even to ourselves. That’s the healthy and godly way

In a previous post we determined that God’s character forms the basis for why we can be secure in the Lord. Out of who He is comes how He relates with us. Understanding that should further cement our sense of security.

Find Security in How God Relates with His People

How God relates with us grows out of His view of us. Created in the image and likeness of God, we have an inherent worth as the highest of God’s created beings. God’s loving thoughts toward us are too numerous to count. He values us so much He sent His Son Jesus to die for us so we can be in a close relationship with Him. The sin that mars us is covered over by the precious blood of Jesus so that when God looks at us, He sees His Son’s righteousness and not all that is wrong with us. Our security rests in His grace, not our personal merits.

Reflect on these verses:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Ps. 139:14)

How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand – when I awake, I am still with you. (Ps. 139:17-18)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9)

Along with God’s view of us, He promises us His constant presence. With an awareness of His presence comes a sense of security. Reflect on what God told Joshua after Moses died and Joshua was left in charge of a group of people with a track record for being rebellious. Confidence was possible because of God’s continued presence. It wasn’t because Joshua was a great leader or because he was well-liked by others. It was because he could rely on the Lord’s power and wisdom that came with His presence.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Josh. 1:9)

What It Takes to Be Secure in the Lord Based on These Realities

We need perspective. When fears and insecurities set in, we need to remind ourselves of these truths:

1. Our identity is based on how God views us. What He thinks about us and who He says we are matters more than what we think of ourselves or how others may view us.

This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (1 Jn. 3:19-20)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Rom. 8:1-2)

2. The Almighty God is always with us. With His presence comes the help and protection we need to be secure in Him, along with resultant peace, contentment, joy, and blessing.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Ps. 46:1)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isa. 41:10)

.. be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Heb. 13:5)

The God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Rom. 15:33)

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Ps. 16:11)

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.(Ps. 89:15)

Resources to help you gain the right perspective:

• 40 Day Challenge for Maintaining a Healthy Perspective by Ministry Tools Resource Center (This link will take you to a page where you can get a free copy of the challenge, or you can order a discussion guide with it.)

• Search for Significance by Robert McGee. (This link will take you to one of our affiliate stores where you can learn more about this book.)