Getting A Good Report Card

 GETTING A GOOD REPORT CARD

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.” - Hebrews 11:1-2

When I was in grade school, I was an under-performer. I didn't try very hard at school. My grades reflected my lack of effort. My report cards weren't impressive. I never enjoyed showing my report card to my parents. They expected better grades than what I brought home.

I changed schools when I got to the seventh grade. I put more effort into my studies and, as a result, I got better grades. It felt better to bring home good report cards.

The writer of the book of Hebrews records that the Old Testament saints, “obtained a good report.” God, the Father, was pleased with their report card.

John was commanded to write to seven churches in Asia. Only two of the churches received a good report card. If God sent a report card to the American church, I doubt it would be very good.

But what about your life? If your character, conduct and conversations were graded, what kind of report card would you receive? Would be satisfied or embarrassed?

One day, every believer will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. There, our works will be tried. Are you looking forward to that event?

What notable fact to do we learn from the Old Testament saints? How were they able to get a good report card? The writer of the book of Hebrews gives us the simple answer. They obtained a good report --- by faith.

Faith is a word that is often used, but understand by few. Biblical faith is more than just “believing” data. A person may believe facts from the Bible and still not have Biblical faith.

Biblical faith is believing God, trusting Him and taking Him at His Word. Genuine faith produces outward obedience. The Old Testament saints obtained a good report by faith. Their faith is described in Hebrews chapter 11. In each case, it was “by faith,” that these saints obeyed God and were used by Him. They received a good report card because they trusted God --- to point of obedience and even sacrifice.

Today, many people have superficial faith. They merely believe the facts of the Bible. They believe there's a God in heaven, but not to the extent that they are willing to surrender to Him. The demons believe in God, but they are still demons. James wrote, “Faith without works is dead.”

Let me be very clear. I do not believe in salvation by works. Neither do I believe in salvation by grace plus works. Salvation comes by grace through faith. But genuine faith produces works. That's why Paul wrote, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” In other words, there should be an outward work from an inward faith.

To be honest, we have more reasons to exercise Biblical faith than the Old Testament saints had. We have the whole canon of Scripture available to us. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit. We have the local church as a powerful resource to aid us in our faith. The Old Testament saints had less resources, but they trusted God and their lives reflected this.

Does your life demonstrate a genuine faith in the Lord Jesus? Are you living by the Word of God? Is the fruit of the Spirit obviously seen in your life?

Ultimately, I want my Father to be pleased with me. He sees the good and the bad. He knows if I trust Him enough to obey Him.

When I stand before God, I want to have a good report card.

Heroes

HEROES

“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise.” - Hebrews 11:39

Do you have a hero? Is there someone, living or deceased, that you look up to? There are several people that are heroes of mine. While a few may be well-known, most are obscure believers that will never be popular.

What makes a person a hero? Our unbelieving world worships athletes, musicians and actors. Although it isn't specified, unbelievers tend to worship people because of their appearance or talent.

For believers, we can fall into the same trap. Many mega-church pastors are heroes to their flock or TV audience because of their accomplishments or gifts.

The problem with heroes is that they are mere mortals. They are human like us. They make mistakes. They fail at times. They are far from perfect. Thus, we are disappointed when our heroes have character flaws or fall into moral failure.

As I get older, I am more impressed with such qualities as faith, character and courage. Obviously, these characteristics can be imitated by people. A minister can act pious when he is behind the pulpit, but his true character often rises to the surface when he faces temptations, trials or trouble.

We should be careful about the people we include in our list of heroes. Furthermore, Christians should be careful to maintain a proper perspective about our heroes. While we may respect our heroes, we should never worship them. Unbelievers tend to turn heroes into idols. As followers of Jesus, we should never be guilty of such a sin.

Although there are people I greatly respect, I don't follow them around from place to place. Neither do I have pictures of them hanging in my room. I am very aware of the fact that these individuals have feet of clay like I do.

You may be a hero to someone else. It could be a co-worker, family member or old classmate considers you to be a hero. More than likely, you really don't know about it. Most of the time, people keep their hero list personal and private.

Whether you are on someone's hero list or not, you should live a life that won't disappoint others should you be their hero. Be the real thing. Be a better person in private than you are in public. Be a person of integrity. Model Christianity through your character, conduct and conversations. When you do make mistakes, seek forgiveness and restoration. You'll never be perfect, but you can a faithful follower of Jesus.

Let me tell you about a hero of mine. He is hated by most. He modeled love and forgiveness. His Name is Jesus. Yes, there are others I respect, but none of them measure up to Jesus.

Jesus is the hero I want to model my life after. He lived a perfect life. He cared for the poor. He healed the sick. He raised the dead. More specifically, He went to the cross and died so I may live. I love Him because He first loved me. Although He died, He rose again. He is interceding to the Father on my behalf. He is coming soon to take me to live in His home. That's my hero!

Jesus is more than a hero. He is God! It is wrong to worship human heroes. Yet it is wrong if I fail to worship Jesus. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He deserves my adoration, honor and praise.

Let me recommend Him to you. Believe in Him. Trust Him. Serve Him. Follow Him. Love Him.

Jesus is a hero that will never disappoint us.

Practice What You Preach

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

“You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?” - Romans 2:21

If you see an obese man selling a weight-loss plan, you probably have two questions. First, does he use the plan? If so, it doesn't seem to work. Secondly, if he doesn't use it, why not … or more to the point, why should you?

It is interesting that a car dealer may be eager to sell you a car. Yet the model he drives may be completely different than the one he is selling. A financial advisor may suggest you invest in certain stocks or bonds, but he may be investing in something completely different himself.

We like people who practice what they preach. This is especially true in the Christian community. Some who have preached about the highest form of conduct have been exposed for living in the lowest depths of sin. We've come to expect this of our politicians, but it is heartbreaking to see this occur in the lives of Christians.

As Christians, we are called to live at a higher standard than the unbelieving world. We are called to live holy lives. As followers of Jesus, we should strive to grow and become more like Christ in our words and deeds. I can't speak on your behalf, but I know I fail at this often.

Although we cannot achieve perfection in this life, we should be responsive to the process of sanctification. The Lord is actively working to make us holy. He expects us to cooperate with His work as we obey His Word. Yes, it should be our desire and goal to practice what we preach.

But are we practicing what we preach?

Practicing what we preach is dependent on two things.

PREACHING WHAT IS RIGHT

The reason many church members never face criticism is that they are not verbal witnesses for Jesus. A person can't practice what they preach if they never preach anything.

Many want to simply go under the radar and never be scrutinized for their Christian walk. For them, it is safe to be silent. They simply want to be secret Christians that never put themselves on the line for their faith. While it is true that they are rarely criticized for their faith, their cowardice also keeps them from being effective in the Lord's work.

We are called to be bold for the Lord.

Although you may never pastor a church, conduct an evangelistic crusade or preach a sermon in church, as a Christian you are called to be a vital, visible and verbal witness for Christ.

It is imperative that we boldly share the Gospel. We shouldn't be pushy or arrogant. Instead, we should lovingly speak the truth, with love.

PRACTICING WHAT IS RIGHT

Speaking the truth is vital. But it is also important to live the truth. We need to practice what we preach. The best doctrine falls flat before an unbelieving world if they fail to see godliness in our lives.

Practicing what we preach isn't easy. If you're like me, you make mistakes and fail often. Yet even in these moments, we can still practice what we preach. When we practice genuine repentance, ask for forgiveness, make restitution and go the extra mile to make things right after a failure, we are practicing what we preach.

We should never be secret saints. We should never be silent Christians. Some want to be known as Christians without saying anything. Others want to be bold witnesses without modeling the message they are conveying. God has called us to share a message and fulfill a mission. We need to be faithful in both.

We need to practice what we preach.

Change Is An Inside Job

CHANGE IS AN INSIDE JOB

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Americans tend to enjoy new things. We like new cars, new homes and new opportunities. We appreciate new friends, new clothes and new computers. Many of these “new things,” are rather expensive and difficult to obtain. Yet think about some new things you are blessed with today. We have a new year, a new month and a new day.

This message is being posted a few days into a new year. Many Americans tend to make New Year's resolutions, hoping for better things in 2024. I believe most of us look upon a new year as a time to make positive changes. Yet I am convinced that we tend to overestimate New Year's Day and underestimate today. Most diets begin on the first day of a New Year. The first day of January is the day targeted for a new exercise routine. Yet when the “new” wears off the year (which takes just a few days), our plans go down the drain. So much for change.

We do overestimate January first, but we underestimate today. Today is the best day for change. Even if yesterday was a disaster, change is still possible today.

Our problem is that we expect change to occur outside of us and somehow work its way into us. A new page on the calendar doesn't change us. Neither does another birthday or anniversary. Change doesn't occur from without, but from within. Change is an inside job.

Don't expect New Year's resolutions to last. They don't. Typically by the middle of January, resolutions are broken. People tend to slide back into normal behavior after just a few days. Old habits are hard to break. New habits are even harder to maintain.

In spite of our failures, change is needed in our lives. I want to be a better man in 2024 than I was in 2023. I want to be going forward, not backwards. I want to experience growth and reach greater heights. The Apostle Paul put it this way, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

I seriously doubt that Paul wrote these words on New Year's Day. He had a desire to grow... that day. He want to go forward … that day. He want to be advance in the Christian journey … that day. Today is the day for change. While Paul writes about a high call, this call was felt within. He was changed after a personal encounter with Jesus one day. Change was an inside job. Behavior modification sounds wonderful, but it takes a change of heart for this to really occur.

God is in the business of changing hearts. The most important change that can occur in a person's life doesn't take place at a fitness gym. It occurs in the heart. Here are some changes God wants to implement in your heart this year.

SALVATION

First of all, if you are not a born-again believer, He wants you to believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus. Salvation changes a person's heart. A person may join a church, get baptized and attend a worship service weekly, yet never experience change. Outward expressions of faith do not change the heart. Only Jesus can do this. This is the most important change that can take place. Let me encourage you to turn from sin and trust Jesus, alone, to save you. The change He implements is an inside job that will transform your life.

SOLITUDE

As Christians, we experience change when we get alone with our Bibles and talk to God in prayer. I know it sounds rather trite, but prayer and the Word are major tools that God uses to change us. In the coming year, read from your Bible daily. Spend time in prayer every day. Like Mary, we need to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His Word. Daily communion with the Lord is a vital way that He changes us within.

SANCTIFICATION

After you look to Jesus for salvation, He begins a work of sanctification. In other words, God continues the change process by molding your character to be more like Jesus. This is a life-long process that is challenging, yet powerful. A truly converted person should desire to live a holy life. The Spirit's work within us produces the fruit of the Spirit. It is an internal work that produces outward results for all to see and appreciate. I want to walk closer to Jesus, reflect a life more like His and express His love in more tangible ways. What about you?

The only change that really matters, is the change the Lord makes in our lives!

Today is a great day for such a change!