Kingdom Bites

As a parent of two growing children our house is very busy and rarely quiet. The rooms echo with the sounds of pattering feet, joyful playing, or sometimes exuberant fighting, and of course many, many questions. Often, they come in the form of a single word - “WHY?”

Regardless of what is said, this is usually the quickest response from my children, especially when the instruction set forth is undesirable to them. I did expect this. Yet, there is one question, asked many times, that I did not expect; “Dad, can you carry this?”

Now I know what you’re thinking, what’s wrong with that? At first glance this request seems innocent and would be if the item they were carrying was too heavy for them. But, usually it is not. This request is a result of an unwillingness to carry or hold whatever they currently have. Typically, because something more interesting has come into view, or they simply want all the pleasure of moving said item without any of the work. 

Sadly, many Christian’s spiritual life resembles this. They want all the benefits, the glory, the temporal and eternal blessings that come from a relationship with Christ without any of the heavy lifting. Don’t misunderstand, our salvation is solely based on God’s gift: Grace. Our redemption is found completely in Christ’s death and resurrection. There is absolutely nothing one can do that will ever please God, earn forgiveness, or make one a better Christian. However there is one thing Christ tells us that we must carry: our cross. In Mark 8:34 Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

In order to follow Christ, in order to truly be His disciple one must carry his own cross. But what does that mean? How do we do it? Often when one experiences trials or undergoes hardships in life they quote this verse and say with a badge on honor “I guess this is my cross to bear.” But is it? Is this what Christ was talking about? I don’t believe so.

The cross was a symbol of torture, suffering, and death. Carrying your cross was a symbol of shame. Instead the key is found in what Christ said first, we must deny ourselves. 

If we are to truly follow Christ, we must deny our sinful desires. We must put away our selfish pursuits; devoting and submitting our lives to Christ and His Word. Each day putting to death our old nature, drowning him in the blood of Christ. Then picking up our cross and following Him. Walking in obedience to His word, regardless of what others think or say. Bolding sharing the good news with others, even if they call us names in an attempt to shame us. Carrying our cross simply means being willing to bear whatever scorn, embarrassment, or loss comes our way because we wear the name of Christ. 

Albert Barns said it best decades ago when we wrote this. 

What are you carrying today? Selfish desires or Godly disgrace? 

Lord help us through the power of the Holy Spirt within to daily deny ourselves and carry our cross each day. 

With the mercury rising and the snow pack falling, many are suffering from the same condition as my wife - Spring Fever.  She’s itching to get out into the yard and begin to clean up the grit and grime left by the long winter. Yet it’s not only our yard that needs to be freshened up, our entire house could use a good “Spring Cleaning.” 

Before we wash our windows, shampoo our carpets, or rake our yards; there is another cleaning that many of us need to do. We are fully immersed in the season Lent. Although many people grew up with this custom, and celebrate it today; for plenty of Christians, Lent is a mystery. 

For some, it is simply a period of going on a diet; for others Lent is a time when their Catholic friends wear ashes on their foreheads and eat fish on Fridays. Although many are attracted to it, few know much about the Lenten season. 

Although, the word “Lent” is not found in the Bible, nor are we commanded to observe this season, it has been a custom which Christians have practiced for nearly two thousand years. I believe this season is still an important time in the life of the Christian and the Church. 

Lent comes from the Germanic word for springtime, and can be viewed as a time for “spiritual spring cleaning.” It is designed to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. A time for taking a spiritual inventory and cleaning out those things which hinder our relationships with and service to Christ. 

Just as dirt, grit, and grime cover our homes and yards during the winter season; bad habits, compromise and unconfessed sin stack up and dirty our lives as well. Lent is a wonderful time to stop, reflect, repent, and freshen up our relationship with Christ. The great news is, we don’t need to do the cleaning - God does it for us! 

2 Corinthians 7:9–10 states “Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

Lent should not be a time where we look at our sin and punish ourselves (or attempt to pay for our actions) though outward acts, but instead a time where we conduct a “spiritual inventory.” We invite God to search our hearts, and see if there is any wicked way in us. 

When He does search, we should not respond in worldly sorrow and despair, but Godly sorrow; confessing our sins, looking to the cross, and asking God to forgive for Christ’s sake, while at the same time being strengthened, renewed, and refreshed by His Word and Spirit each day. 

Would you take time to consider your need for Christ; and invite God do some “Spiritual Spring Cleaning” today?

May your “Spiritual House” be cleaner than your “Temporal one.” 

It wasn’t the same every year, and I can’t be certain it was always on February 14th, but my father always made sure he expressed his love for us during this time. I don’t recall all the ways he expressed his love for us over the years, but one Sunday near Valentine’s Day I can never forget. 

The car’s engine had barely stopped spinning, and I was halfway into our house. I couldn’t wait to get my “church clothes” off and get into something more comfortable. As I rushed in the front door and began to tear through house toward my room, I stopped. No, not by the voice of my mother telling me not to run in the house, rather by what I saw. 

Most Sundays after church, while mom and dad got dinner ready, it was the job of us kids to set the table with the “good (or Sunday) China.”  But not today; the table was already finished. Moreover, each place setting was topped off with ornate heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates. It didn’t take long to discern who was responsible for this scene; two clues gave it away. Dad’s plate was noticeably empty, while Mom’s plate was lost under the largest heart on the table.  Although Dad loved us all it was clear who was his Valentine. 

That didn’t matter, in fact in many ways it was refreshing to see how much my dad loved my mom. Besides, I know he loved me too. This clearly displayed how much by father thought of, cared for, and loved each of his five children. As I stood silenced by my Father’s actions, I felt loved - my dad thought of and cared for me. His actions plainly demonstrated it. I was special to him. I was my father’s valentine. In return, I couldn’t help but love him back. 

Yet, as wonderful as my father’s expression of love was, there is one Valentine’s gift greater still; given us by our Heavenly Father - the gift of Christ. I John 4:9-10 says, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

The first Valentine ever given wasn’t a box of chocolates or dozen roses, it was God’s one and only Son. Jesus was sent not simply to be our teacher, example, or miracle worker; but as our replacement, our redemption, our salvation. Because of our sin, we deserve death and can never enter into the presence of God. Yet, because of His great love for us, God wasn’t going to let that happen. As a result, He did the only thing that could change our condition. He sent His Son, who was without sin to pay for ours. 

Out of perfect Love, God gave everything so we could be with Him. Christ not only took our sin, but God gives us His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  God’s Love not only paid our debt, but credited our account as well. 

Yes. The first and greatest act of love came from God. According 1 John 4:19 “We love because he first loved us.”  We are only able to love others, because God first loved us! For God is the origin and source of all true love. When one has experienced His Love, the response is simple; he can’t help but love God in return. Moreover, our ability and capacity to love others overflows from God’s love in us. As we experience God’s Redeeming Love, we are enabled and excited to extend it to those around us.