Remain Useful

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” - James 4:6

I once owned a car that had an intermittent flaw. Once in a while, the gas peddle would stick. There is nothing more unnerving that taking your foot off the gas peddle and finding the car is still accelerating. When a car becomes uncontrollable, it is useless and dangerous.

The same could be said of our lives. If we want God to make a positive difference through our lives, it is important that we remain useful.

Years ago, there was a popular license plate that read, “God is my Co-Pilot.” Typically, the license plate was on the front of a car owned by a well-meaning Christian. The problem is that God does not want to be your co-pilot. Instead, He should be the pilot. God is not interested in being second in command. As the old saying goes, God is either Lord of all or not Lord at all. Like that old car with the sticking accelerator, an uncontrollable Christian is rather useless and dangerous.

One of the worst sins in the church is pride. Sadly, ministers are often guilty of this sin. It is sad to see a preacher strut. An arrogant man is too proud to relinquish control of his life to the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that God resists the proud. He will not share His glory with another.

While God resists the proud, our text teaches us that He gives grace to the humble. Humble Christians are easily used by the Lord. If we wish to remain usable in God's work, we need to remain humble. The real problem with humility is that those who have it don't think they do and those who think they have it really don't. It is possible to be proud of your humility … and that is the worst form of pride.

I bought a pair of work gloves last year. I think there is a valuable lesson to learn from gloves. A person's life is just like a glove. Until it is properly filled, it is rather useless. That describes our lives without the Lord, doesn't it? Yet it is possible for a glove to be filled with dirt. A dirt-filled glove is rather useless, too. A worker must empty the dirt out before he will use the glove. When a man is rather proud, we tend to say, “he is full of himself.” Yes, the glove is full … of dirt. Only when we are emptied of sin and self can the Spirit fill us. Just like a competent hand in a work-glove, the Spirit fills a man, making him useful.

A talented worker can accomplish great things while wearing gloves. We can see great things done through our lives as the Spirit fills us and uses us, too. Even old, worn gloves can still be useful if a talented worker uses them.

There is a temptation for an humble man to get proud when he realizes that God is using him. He is tempted to take credit for God's work. Rather foolish, isn't it? A competent worker may build an impressive house. Yet no one ever praises the gloves he wore, do they? They always praise the builder.

When the Lord uses us, He alone should be praised. We're just useless gloves until He fills us. We remain usable to Him as we remain humble. When we get full of ourselves, we are not useful at all.

The key to a fruitful Christian life is found in a life of humility. Being used of God is an honor and privilege. Don't allow pride to ruin the experience.

Stay humble. That is how you remain useful.

Resurrection Day

 “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” - John 14:19

Today I take time away from my blog series to wish you and your family a happy Resurrection Day! I prefer the title, “Resurrection Day,” over “Easter,” because it is a more fitting title. Today, Easter has been reduced to a non-critical holiday celebrated by hiding and finding painted eggs. Instead, I want to emphatically state that this is a time of remembrance and celebration.

First of all, we remember an event over 2,000 years ago when Jesus died on a cross. We soberly remember His sacrifice. Because of His substitutionary death, believing souls find everlasting life through His shed blood. The cross is a reminder of two things: the horrific nature of our sins and the incredible love of God. May we never forget either.

Secondly, it is a time of celebration. Our Lord rose again the third day! This event is the most critical event in all of human history. His resurrection proves that His sacrifice on the cross was sufficient payment for our sins. Furthermore, His resurrection demonstrates that a person can live again after death. Finally, it guarantees that every believer will ultimately be resurrected by the One who rose from the dead 2,000 years ago.  Our Christian family members and friends did not die in vain --- and we won't either.

We celebrate knowing that our faith is valid, vital and vibrant. We celebrate knowing that Jesus has conquered death, hell and the grave. We celebrate because His resurrection power is at work today, making souls alive who were once dead in trespasses and sins. We celebrate because we know that because He lives, we will live also. Because He lives, our faith is certain, our focus is clear and our future is bright.

Make sure you are in church on Sunday morning. Let us gather and worship this crucified Savior, risen Redeemer and soon-coming King!

The Mirror Principle

 “Thou art the man.” - 2 Samuel 12:7

I've been writing about great men of the Bible who were used to make a positive difference in this world for the glory of God. When we consider such men, we are tempted to be awe-struck by their accomplishments. It is easy to feel very inferior to such individuals. I know I do. However, we need to remember that, with the exception of Jesus, all the men we studied were flawed men just like us. They sinned. They needed the same Savior we do. Yet the achievements we read about weren't really theirs. God performed these deeds through them.

While it is has been great to think about these men of faith, we need to examine our own lives. Can God use us to make a positive difference in this world? If so, how can this occur?

I want us to consider this in the coming weeks. We'll begin by focusing on some basic principles of impact living. We start today by looking at the most fundamental aspect of making a difference. It comes down to this simple principle: if I want to see a difference be made, it needs to begin in me first. I call it the mirror principle. If you want to see a positive change take place, it needs to begin with the person you see in the mirror daily. Change needs to occur within me before it can happen through me.

Change is often a difficult subject to embrace. The theory is simple to understand but it is challenging to implement. It is easy to see the need for others to change, but we are often blind to the fact that we need to change ourselves.

It may sound selfish to focus on yourself before you do others. Yet God begins that way. He often works on us before He works through us. It begins with salvation, but then progresses through practical sanctification. In reality, a Christian is a work in progress. We are being changed through the ongoing work of God in our lives.

Sometimes it is painful to face criticism. Constructive criticism is an underrated blessing. Such critique can come from a family member, minister or boss. There are times the Spirit shows us our sins and reveals hidden secrets and deceit that tie us down. We need to be made aware of such hindrances.

When you look in the mirror and see a dirty face, it awakens you to the need for water and soap. Ridding yourself of the dirt in private is better than ignorantly going into the public sector with a filthy appearance.

In a similar fashion, God often shows us the dirt and grime that pollutes our lives. It is a wake-up call that should lead us to repentance so cleansing may occur.

King David's life was an unholy mess when the prophet Nathan confronted him. David was aware of his sinful conduct. But there was something about the confrontation that rattled him. When David heard the words, “Thou art the man,” it began a time of personal repentance that saved him from ultimate ruin.

It is wrong to expect others to change when you refuse to change yourself. It is hypocritical to demand others to repent when you won't even confess your own faults. If I want to see a positive change in my world, it must begin with positive change in my own life. What others need to see is my own life in transition. When they see me become a better man, perhaps it will lay the groundwork for their change.

I am not naïve. I am not as smart, wise or strong as my pride would have me think. I need God every moment. If any good is accomplished in me, He must do it. Of course, I need to trust and obey Him, but real, lasting change is a work He must do. He deserves the credit for it, too.

It is easy for me to criticize others, but it is more beneficial if I held myself responsible for my own sins. It is wrong for me to expect others to do what I am unwilling to do myself.

With this in mind, let me be candid. I want to be a better man than I was a year ago. I want to be a better Christian than ever before. Instead of expecting others to change, I want to focus on the area that obviously needs change the most.

It's the man in the mirror.

The Divine Difference

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” - John 3:17

I have been writing about Biblical characters who were used of God to make a positive difference in this world. While many of these men have made an impact in the lives of others, we must admit that the greatest difference-maker of all time is Jesus Christ. He has made a divine difference that has impacted the lives of millions. His impact is still being felt today.

The Old Testament saints trusted that such a difference-maker would arrive and provide redemption of sin. The New Testament saints recognized Jesus to be the Son of God, trusting Him alone as Savior and Lord. Today, believers look to Him alone for salvation.

We tend to over-estimate the impact of others and under-estimate the impact of Jesus. Our ungodly society glamorizes and worships actors, musicians and politicians. We admire and praise gifted individuals and exalt them for their talent. Yet their contribution to mankind is tiny and fleeting. On the other hand, Jesus made an eternal difference that has positively impacted millions of lives, and continues to do so today. We should reserve our praise for Jesus, who literally gave His life to save people from destruction.

Some will pay large sums of money to enter a ballgame and sit for hours. The same people will complain about sitting in church for an hour and putting money in the offering plate. That goes to show how we over-estimate the contributions of men but vastly under-estimate what the Lord has done.

Why is Jesus the greatest difference-maker of all time? Why can I make such a claim? There are so many answers to these questions, so let me just give a few.

1. HIS POSITION

First of all, Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus, God in the flesh, is much more different than any human before or since. Yes, He was human. But He was, and is, God. He did not possess an earthly title, but He stands out because of His divinity. He was a prophet, priest and King. Although He was a good teacher and miracle-worker, He was much more. He was the Redeemer, the Savior and Lord of all. From these roles, He had authority to do what no one else could do. He was and is special. His impact upon humanity came as He embodied humanity while remaining divine. As a man, He walked among men so He could minister to men. He willingly took a step down to come as a human that He may be a servant to mankind. Referring to Himself in Mark 10:45, Jesus said, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” That's the kind of difference He came to make.

2. HIS PASSION

While most people prefer to study the teachings and miracles of Jesus, it was His death that made the greatest difference of all. Typically, people try to side-step the story of His crucifixion. Yet this one event has made a tremendous impact upon millions of lives. It is through His sacrificial, substitutionary death that salvation was secured for us. Technically, we are not commanded to remember or celebrate His birth. However, we are commanded to remember His death. His death teaches us some important lessons. First of all, we learn the significance and severity of our sin. Our sin is so great that it requires a steep penalty. The cross is a reminder of our sins. Our sins are so bad that it required God to die in our place. When we properly understand and appreciate the cross, we realize that our sins are far worse than we ever realized. Secondly, we learn the depth of God's love for us. God so loved us that He gave His Son to die, so that through His death we would have eternal life. Jesus told us that He came to give us life and have it more abundantly. Yet this life came at the expense of His own life. The Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep. That is love.

3. HIS PROVISIONS

Finally, we must consider the great blessings He has provided to us. We tend to take them for granted, but we shouldn't. James wrote that all good and perfect gifts come from above. Our Lord Jesus purchased our freedom and pardon through His death upon the cross. We must admit that His death upon the cross has purchased for us all the spiritual blessings that we enjoy. We didn't earn these blessings. We don't deserve them. They are free gifts from the generous hand of our Lord. The Holy Spirit, the Bible, and the fellowship with other believers are among the many blessings we owe Him. We continue to be impacted and blessed by His countless provisions. Let us give Him the credit for them all.

No one has impacted humanity --- or our lives --- like Jesus Christ. We should never forget the impact He has made in our lives. As His Gospel continues to spread, we rejoice over every single soul that is gloriously saved by His grace.

That's the divine difference that Jesus makes.

From Persecutor To Preacher

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” - 1 Corinthians 15:10

Persecution of the Christian faith seems to be on the rise and getting closer to home. In many nations, it is illegal to be a Christian. In these nations, Christians are forced to go underground, putting their lives at risk as they worship and serve God. Even in nearby Canada, preachers have been imprisoned as they publicly worshiped during the Covid outbreak. Here in the United States, there are many who wish to hinder Christians and suppress the Gospel message.

In times like this, it is important for us to realize that God is still in control. He has the power to change lives, including the most ardent persecutors. An excellent example of this is Saul of Tarsus. Saul was a zealous persecutor. He made it his life mission to silence Christians and stop Christianity. Yet Saul had a dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus. The persecutor soon became a preacher.

I've been writing about those who've made a positive difference in this world for the glory of God. While my writing has not included an exhaustive list of Biblical characters, we have looked at a few great men that God has used to make an impact in this world. We would be amiss to address this kind of subject without mentioning the Apostle Paul. Early in the book of Acts, he was referred to as Saul, but after his conversion, he was referred to as Paul.

Paul seemed to be a one-man spiritual dynamo. Although he had been a zealous sinner, after his conversion he became a zealous preacher. Why was Paul used so mightily to make a difference? Let me share just a few reasons.

1. A DRAMATIC CONVERSION

First of all, Paul had a dramatic conversion. I don't know of anyone with a conversion story like Paul's. In order to get his attention, God had to literally stop him in his tracks. With a blinding light from heaven, he was forced to see things differently. The persecutor was made to know that when he persecuted the people of Christ, he was persecuting Christ Himself. There in shock and awe, Paul met Jesus Christ. This profoundly changed his life. More than once, he would later share his salvation experience with others. A dramatic conversion made a dramatic change in his life.

2. A DIVINE CALLING

Secondly, Paul had a divine calling on his life. The persecutor became a preacher. Even though had a fiery zeal in his persecution of Christianity, he had a greater zeal in spreading the message of Christianity after his conversion. He was called to preach the very Gospel he had resisted. He was called to suffer for the very Gospel he made others suffer for. The persecutor would become the persecuted. The one who sought the death of Christians was now a Christian that others sought to slay.

3. A DETERMINED COMMITMENT

Finally, Paul had a determined commitment. He counted everything as loss in comparison to knowing Jesus Christ. He was sold out to the Lord. Once he would be stoned and left for dead, just to rise up and go forward preaching the next day. He suffered beatings, imprisonment and shipwreck. He knew what it was like to go hungry. Yet in spite of it all, he remained faithful to the Lord. Ultimately, he wrote much of our New Testament. He had a determined commitment.

Paul's influence is still being felt today. Although Peter was the first to preach the Gospel to Gentiles, the thrust of Paul's ministry was aimed at the Gentiles. The Gentile world has been impacted with the Gospel because of the Apostle Paul. As a gentile, I am grateful for Paul's ministry, writing and influence. What about you?

Despite temptations to be proud of his accomplishments, Paul gave credit where it really belonged. “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Writing to the Galatians, Paul wrote, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

What a testimony from a man that God used in remarkable ways!

Twelve Chosen Men

“And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles.” - Luke 6:13

These days, modern ministers emphasize numbers. Take a look in a Christian bookstore. The popular authors are typically pastors of mega-churches or huge para-church ministries. Our Christian sub-culture recognizes and even idolizes men who lead large ministries. It seems that numbers matter.

Of course, in one sense, numbers do matter because each number represents a person. People matter. However, numbers can easily become an idol that diverts a minister's attention to men rather than the Master. Instead of worshiping God, we can easily focus on the size of the congregation.

Think about our Lord's ministry. Early in His ministry, He chose men to be His apostles. He only chose twelve. Why not fifteen or twenty? Why not a hundred or a thousand? By today's standards, bigger is always better. Or is it?

In Luke 6:13, the Bible says that the Lord called his disciples and chose twelve to be His apostles. Yet consider the ones He chose. He chose rough fishermen and a tax collector to be among His apostles. These weren't highly respected members of the community. A tax collector, for instance, would be a very unpopular man in his neighborhood. Jesus did not go to a college or among the wealthy to choose His apostles. From a worldly perspective, the choices He made didn't make sense. Many modern ministers would balk at His choices. Yet eleven of these men would be used to turn the world upside down.

Just twelve men were chosen by Jesus. In spite of the large crowds that followed Jesus at times, their devotion was often fickle. They liked to see the miracles, hear His teaching and get free food from Jesus. There was a time when His teaching was so strong that all of them forsook Jesus. All that remained were the twelve apostles.

Ultimately, Jesus would die, rise again and ascend back to heaven. The message of the Gospel would be entrusted to His apostles. They were given the Great Commission. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, these men took the Gospel to the world. Despite their limitations and imperfections, they were used to make a powerful difference that is still being felt today.

It is time for us dismiss our worldly thoughts about ministry. God does not need huge crowds to accomplish His work. He is just looking for a few devoted people. When Gideon was about to go to battle, he had many soldiers at his disposal. Yet God chose just three hundred men to go into battle so that when victory was achieved, only God would get the glory for it.

I think there are lessons to be learned from our Lord's choosing of twelve apostles.

First of all, God can use small numbers to accomplish great things. It isn't the size of the crowd but their willingness to obey that makes a difference. God will use one surrendered saint more than a thousand fickle followers. D. L. Moody once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.” Moody was used in a mighty way to spread the Gospel in the 19^th Century. God is not impressed with large numbers of people, but He loves to use a few consecrated followers.

Secondly, God uses weak people more than strong people. Strong, powerful and proud people tend to receive and enjoy the accolades and praise that only belong to God. The twelve that Jesus chose were not brilliant, popular, or powerful men. These were weak and flawed men. Through their weakness He showed Himself to be strong. He can use weak people like you and me.

Third, God sees more than a man's outward appearance. He knows our hearts. He knew, in advance, that one of His disciples was a thief and would eventually betray Him. Think about this for a moment. Judas walked close to Jesus, heard His teaching and saw the miracles. Yet He still rejected Jesus. The Lord knows who is really devoted to Him.

After our Lord ascended back to heaven, the apostles were unleashed upon an unbelieving world. The Spirit used these men to spread the Gospel and impact many lives.

He can use us to do the same today.

Unsung Heroes

“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.” - Hebrews 11:32

I've been writing about Biblical characters who were used of God to make a positive impact in this world. We studied some well-known people like Abraham and Moses. Also, we've thought about lesser-known men like Enoch and Josiah. These were men of faith that were used greatly by the Lord to make a difference in this world.

As we think about their lives, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. How many people do we know that we'd put on the same level as Moses or Abraham? I can only speak for myself, but I don't belong in such a class of men. Yet I find it refreshing to know that God uses people of all backgrounds. Regardless of your educational background, financial situation or professional credentials, God can use you. But I need to clarify something. He can use us if we don't get too big for Him to use us. Let me explain.

When we think about making a difference, there will always be a temptation to seek the spotlight. Pursuing the applause of men is a counterproductive motive. So many fall into this trap. They want to make a difference --- as long as they get public credit for what is accomplished. Such pride is shunned by our Lord. The Bible says that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Moses, for instance, was known for his meekness, and God used him. It was his pride that kept him from entering the promised land. Our usability is contingent upon an humble attitude that leads us to realize our frailties and seek God for help. In such a situation, He alone gets the glory.

The Bible has many stories of unsung heroes. Some are named but get little attention from us. Others are unnamed, remaining obscure in spite of God's involvement.

The writer of Hebrews gives us a summary of heroes in the 11^th chapter of the epistle. As the chapter winds down, the writer goes into a list of people who were valiant and victorious in the faith. Many of these are not named in the text.

Let's be honest. Most of the people reading this will never be famous. Our names will never mentioned in history books. Yet it is better to make a positive difference in obscurity than to be well-known for all the wrong reasons.

If you really want God to use you to make a positive difference, you have to leave your pride and reputation at the door. God specializes in using humble people who seek to glorify Him.

President Ronald Reagan is credited for saying, “There is no limit how much good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.” Glory seekers tend to grab the attention of others, sometimes taking credit for the accomplishments they didn't even do. Such vanity is empty and useless.

I'd rather be a positive difference-maker than a glory-grabbing hypocrite who does nothing for anyone else. Politicians fight over who gets credit for economic good news. They are just as quick to blame others if the news is bad. No wonder we have so little respect for politicians. Let's resolve to never be like that.

Be an unsung hero in your home, work, church and community. Others may wish to take the credit for what you do, but keep in mind that God sees it all. The deeds we do, especially in secret, will ultimately be rewarded by Him.

In heaven, the unsung heroes won't be unsung anymore. God will honor and reward them. I want to be among that crowd, don't you?

Ultimately, all the glory belongs to only One. Let's work for His glory each day!