Taking Integrity Over Popularity

In review of Luke 9:26 it says, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels”

Bottom Line:

If you disassociate yourself with Christ in this life, He will disassociate himself with you when he returns.

What this means to me:

If I back away, disassociate, publicly reject or become ashamed of Christ, then He will do likewise toward me when he returns.

Today's passage comes from Luke chapter 9 where Jesus predicts and tells of his death to his disciples. So Jesus starts off by warning them to not to tell anyone who he was. Then he said, "For the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things. He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead." Then he told the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it (you can’t keep your own way and still follow him). But if you give up your life for my sake, you will actually save it for eternity. What would you benefit if you gain this whole world but in the end are lost or destroyed? Therefore, If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father”.

Ultimately there will come a day in which I will be called to give an account of my life before God. Knowing that this is coming should prompt me to consider my life and long-term thinking  on how I conduct it. This realization should change what I say, do and even who I try to impress.  It will be a people-pleaser antidote.

So in my interactions and in my thoughts, I need to consider if God would approve or disapprove of what I just said or did.  Am I more interested in what others think or what God thinks?

Rick Warren had explained how he gets interviewed on lot of tv shows. Within those broadcasts, he will be asked the toughest questions they can think of. They want to put him on the spot and, because he believes a certain thing, make him look like a bigot or a fool. They intentionally try to get him to back down off of what the Bible says.

He then explains that when he’s in those types of interviews, his human nature is to want to be liked, much like mine would be. His human nature wants to compromise, divert, punt, and leave out the truth. He then goes on to explain how he has actually heard other guys being asked those same questions and they reply with, “I just leave that up to God” or “Everybody has to make up their own mind.” Responses like those are simply cop-outs! While politically correct, those people are not standing for the truth.  Rick then said that in those moments, when he could say something that would be politically correct and wouldn’t offend, it would be a lie. He then recalls these truths, and does three things:

First, remember what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross. He didn’t deny me. He didn’t back down for me. He died for my sins. I owe him my life. He created me. He saved me. He forgave me. He’s taking me to Heaven. I’m not going to deny him.

Second, I remember that one day I’m going to give an account to God. And at that point God’s going to say, “What did you say in that interview? What did you say in that conversation at work? What did you say to your friend at school?” I remember that integrity is more important than popularity. And I’m not going to give up my integrity.

Finally, I tell the truth, and I let the chips fall.

I can learn from this and do the same as I walk in faith with Jesus. This morning I pray that “the Holy Spirit will come to me in these times and help me remember what Christ has done for me, that I will eventually give an account and that my integrity is much more important being popular.”

Learning How to Get Past Regrets

In review of Isaiah 43:18-19 it says, “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands”

Bottom Line:

Don’t dwell on the past. Something new is starting to take place. He is opening new paths and opportunities.

What this means to me:

I should not dwell on what has happened in the past. Instead I should be alert and present in the moment. God is doing something brand-new. He is paving the way for better things.

Dwelling on the past is much like playing the “if only” game...  

. If only I could do it over again.

. If only I had listened sooner.

. If only I could erase the past.

. If only I could forgive myself.

I have learned that this is a foolish question, mainly because there is no real answer. Furthermore pondering it will never change what had already taken place. I will always have regrets. I have made bad choices and said foolish things. I’ve wasted time and hurt myself and others. I need to keep in mind that I am not perfect.

What I am learning is that I need to release any regrets. Here are some strategies I had tended to fall back on that simply put, do not work:

Burying It - Burying the past will never help me get past any regrets. I can try to minimize (“It wasn’t a big deal”), rationalize (“Everyone does it”), and compromise (lower my standards), but the regrets are still there, and if unresolved, they’ll keep coming back to haunt me over and over again like a creature in a horror movie.

Blame - This tactic is as old as Adam and Eve. When Adam sinned, he took it like a man: He blamed his wife! I have used blame to balance out guilt.

Beating myself up - I try to pay for my guilt unconsciously through illness, depression, setting myself up for failure, and other forms of self-punishment. The problem with beating up on myself is this: My conscience never knows when to stop! I’d rather not spend my life in self-condemnation.

So instead, here’s what I can do:

Admit my guilt - Own up to it. Don’t make excuses. “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance” (Proverbs 28:13 TLB).

Accept Christ’s forgiveness - He’s waiting to clean my slate. I can ask him to clear my conscience. Romans 8:1 says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (NIV).

Forgive myself, and focus on the future - “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands” (Isaiah 43:18-19 MSG).

Today I will consider, if there is anything I’m holding onto where I need to admit my guilt (or part in it), accept forgiveness and refocus on the future.

Settling the Score

In review of 1 Peter 3:9 it says, “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing”

Bottom Line:

Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you.

What this means to me:

I should not repay evil done to me with evil, nor should I replay an insult with an insult. Instead Paul tells me to pay them back with blessings for this is what God has called me to do. As I do, God will provide his blessings to me.

Today's verse comes from 1 Peter 3. Peter writes that all of us should be of one mind. We should sympathize with each other, and love, as brothers and sisters would. We are to be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. We should never repay evil for evil done to us. We should not retaliate with insults when we are insulted. Instead, Paul tells us to pay them back with a blessing for this is what God has called us to do. If we do, God will grant us his blessings.

I think that nothing crushes the spirit more than abuse; to feel devalued, unimportant, and misused. Jesus knows that. And he says, “I will care for you.”

What I’m learning is that the starting point in any healing is getting to know my Healer. I can start with, “Jesus, I don’t know how you did this, but you took the guilt for every sin in the world; the ones done to me and the ones done by me. I want to learn to love you. And I want you to come in and heal my heart and my mind and my body.”  And the good news is that he will.

When Jesus was abused, did he retaliate? Absolutely not! The Bible says, “Christ never verbally abused those who verbally abused him. When he suffered, he didn’t make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly” (1 Peter 2:23 GW).

I can count on the fact that one day God is going to balance the books and settle the score. One day God is going to right all the wrongs. At this point, the abusers will have to answer for their abuse. Based on my experience, I know that God is a truly just God. He can do a much better job at settling the score than I can. He wants me to leave it in his hands, because he’s God, and I’m not.

Today I will consider if I’m harboring anything against someone in my heart.  I will then turn to him with the goal of being tenderhearted and humble.

God’s Freedom

In review of John 8:36 it says, “If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free”

Bottom Line:

If the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

What this means to me:

Jesus, the Son of God has come and set me free. Because of this, I am truly free.

Our world defines freedom differently from God see it. The world defines freedom as a life without any restraint, it’s a “I can do anything I want to do and say anything I want to say without anybody telling me what to do.” While this may not benefit those around me, I would get to do it my own way. In this view, freedom means being totally selfish.

Yet, John reminds me that the only way to true freedom is through Jesus: “If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free” (John 8:36 GNT).  In this case, real freedom is a freedom from fear, guilt, worry, bitterness, and death. I’m free to quit pretending because I’m free to be myself. The fears disappear by letting God love me! John tells me that “there is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18a NIV).

It is only by realizing how much God loves me, is when I can begin to live in true freedom. I truly worship God when I recognize that “God is love.” It is an act of worship to agree that he is a loving, caring, generous God and that we can “rely on the love God has for us” (1 John 4:16a).

Since the Son has set me free, today I will examine where I have any existing guilt, worry, or bitterness in my life. What am I holding onto that I need to let go of?  Where am I not letting God love me?  What ways a I not relying on God’s love?

My Pain Will Often Reveal God’s Purpose For Me

In review of 2 Corinthians 1:4 and 6 it says, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others . . . When we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer”

Bottom Line:

The comfort we receive from God in the midst of trouble, we should share when others who are in similar situations. These things often happen so that we can comfort and encourage others.

What this means to me:

God comforts and helps me in my troubles so that I can comfort others when they are troubled. The things I suffer and endure happen so that I can in turn comfort others and and encourage them to endure.

Today's passages come from the 2nd letter Paul sent to the church in Corinth.  In it, he explains how God offers comfort to all. He tells us, that first all praise should go to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. Secondly that He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can in turn comfort others. For when they are troubled we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. The more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for the comfort and salvation of others. For when we are ourselves are comforted, we can certainly comfort other. Then they can patiently endure the same things we suffer.

I’m learning that the pain in my life often reveals part of God’s purpose for me. God never wastes a hurt! He wants me to help others going through similar hurts. God can use the problems in my life to give me a personal ministry to others. In fact, the very thing I’m most ashamed of in and resent the most, can become my greatest ministry in helping others.

After all, who can better help somebody going through a financial troubles than somebody who went through them as well? Who can better help somebody struggling with an addiction than somebody who’s struggled with an addiction? Who can better help parents of a special needs child than parents who raised a special needs child? Who can better help somebody who’s lost a child than somebody who lost a child?

The very thing I hate the most in my own life is what God wants to use for good. Today’s passages say, “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others . . . When we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer” (2 Corinthians 1:4a, 6 NLT).

One of the definitions of this is redemptive suffering. It is when I go through a problem or a pain for the benefit of others. This is exactly what Jesus did. When Jesus died on the cross, he didn’t deserve to die. He went through that pain for my benefit so that I can be saved and go to Heaven.

There are many different causes for the problems, pains, and suffering. Sometimes it's stuff that we bring on ourselves, such as making stupid decisions. For instance if I go out and overspend and buy things I can’t afford and presume on the future, and then go deeply in debt and lose a house, I can’t say, “God, why did you let me lose my house?” In short, I can’t blame God for my bad choices.

But in some of my problems, I’m innocent. I’ve been hurt by the pain, stupidity, and sins of others. And some of that pain is for redemptive suffering. God may allow me to go through a problem so that I can then help others.

Today I will think through and consider what are some of the problems I’ve had and how I can use these experiences to minister to others?

Learning to Not Give in to Fears

In review of 2 Corinthians 1:10 it says, “From such terrible dangers of death he saved us, and will save us; and we have placed our hope in him that he will save us again”

Bottom Line:

If you place your confidence in Him, God will provide the rescue you need.

What this means to me:

In my own life, God had rescued me from mortal danger in the past. I have no reason to doubt that he will rescue me again if it is in his will. And because of my own experience I place my confidence in him to rescue me when I need it.

What I have learned from personal experience is that God is watching over me. Therefore I do not need to listen to fears in my mind. Today’s verse in 2 Corinthians 1:10 says, “From such terrible dangers of death he saved us, and will save us; and we have placed our hope in him that he will save us again” (GNT).

God’s promise that no matter what happens to me, he will be working for my good, especially as I love and follow him. Scripture reminds me as a believer, that all things will be working together for my good; not that all things are good, but that they are working together for good.

Because of this, I can stop listening to my fears. There will be no difficulty, dilemma, defeat, or disaster in my life that God can’t ultimately get some good out of. Therefore there is no need to fear the future. If I give into my fears, then I am not trusting God.

Today, I will think through any of my existing fears that I might be holding onto. I will ask God to help me identify why I have fear in those areas. Then, I will ask him to help me substitute my fears with trust in him.

God Uses The Dark Times for Good

In review of 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 it says, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead”

Bottom Line:

Stop relying on yourselves and learn to rely only on God.

What this means to me:

When I face overwhelming odds or pressure, I need to stop relying upon myself, and learn to give it to and to rely on God.

As I think about it, it is very comforting to know that Jesus became human and experienced everything I experience, including suffering, loneliness, discouragement, misunderstanding, or unjust criticism.

In my life, I will never be exempt from these feelings, mainly because God is developing within me the character of Christ, and, in order to do this, he must take me through all of the circumstances in life where I learn to turn to him.

While God does not cause tragedies, he will use any of the dark and stressful times for my good. He uses them to teach me to trust him, to show me how to help others, and to draw me closer to others believers.

Today’s verse from 2 Corinthians 1:8b-9 says, “We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead” (NLT).

So, what should I do when I’m going through difficult times?

First, refuse to be discouraged. Then, remember God is with me. Finally, rely and lean on God’s protection and guidance.

Like others, I have and will continue to face difficult times. The difference is that I believe in Jesus and in him is the presence of light in the dark times.

There have been several difficult experiences in my life where God has used them for good. One of the more recent issues dealt with a serious health problem. I think because of my walk with him before this event, he granted me the peace of the Holy Spirit throughout the ordeal (I did not feel discouraged.) Even though what I had was serious, I never felt alone, abandoned or with the feeling of why me as he was with me. I felt an overwhelming peace that whatever happened he would be with and protect me. In this situation God miraculously healed me.

So today I will consider anything in my life that I have apprehension or concern over. I will consciously stop relying on myself, and turn it over to him.