Giving Credit

by Jason Park

If you think about the fruit of the Spirit, you notice that they are all character-qualities, virtues. You can love, be joyful or rejoice, and have or make peace, but before any of these can be expressed on the outside, they have to be residing on the inside, in our hearts. And because Christ does dwell in us, we do bear the fruit of the Spirit. 

But in all our fruit-bearing, in all our growth in godliness, who gets the credit? Who is the power-source behind it? Even when we’re doing well spiritually, there’s still enough evil pride left in us that we can look at our growth and our good works and secretly (or not) glory in ourselves. We never fully outgrow self-exaltation! 

That’s why when we consider growth in godliness (ours or anyone else’s), it’s critical that we give credit where credit is due. In Phil 1, we see Paul giving thanks to God for the Philippian church’s partnership in the gospel through thick and thin. Paul is confident in this church’s growth because God began a good work in them and will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (1:6). And at the end of his prayer, in 1:11, Paul affirms that they will grow more in love (for one another) because they’ve already been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. And since godliness comes through Christ who lives in them/in us, all the glory and praise go straight to God alone (1:11)! 

So, let’s summarize and tease out truths about our growth in godliness based on Phil 1:1-11:

1. Growth will happen because God is working in us through Christ.
   No matter how weak your faith is or how small your fruit may be, God is working and will not stop working in His children until we see Christ. 

2. Growth is not the result of my good works; my good works are the result of true, heart or character growth.
   This keeps me from spiritual pride. And it focuses me on true godliness, which is inner-Christlikeness; not just external conformity to God’s commands. 

3. When there’s real growth in my life, I will naturally focus on Christ and praise Him for it.
   When I trust in God’s work in me to grow me in Christ, I will be more grateful, more joyful, less self-absorbed, and less conscious of my good works. And in this way, I will give glory to the One who gives all the growth.  

Imitators of Christ Means Willing Submission to Others

by Jon Buck

"Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” ~ 1 Co 11:1.

Remarkably, Paul asked people to imitate him! This speaks volumes about his own walk with Christ, and his desire to see others grow. However, he also knew that he wasn’t perfect, and so, his command to imitate him came with a caveat. Paul ultimately wanted the Corinthians to imitate Christ, and so Paul became their example, insofar as he walked in righteousness and in the pattern laid down by his Savior. 

So just what exactly caused Paul to command their imitation? What was the specific thing that Paul wanted them to imitate? 

The Way of the Cross
To this point in 1 Corinthians, Paul had been considering all that the cross meant for life. It meant a life of being seen as foolish by Gentiles, and a stumbling block to Jews. It meant not being wise, mighty or noble. It meant being called to serve, even when reviled. It meant calling the church to unity, even as they hated him. It meant correcting and rebuking the church when they were in sin. 

But interestingly, the immediate point that Paul is making is found just at the end of chapter 10. There, Paul explains that he pleases everyone in all things and rejects his own profit for the profit of others so that they might be saved. 

Paul’s walk with Christ meant that he would happily submit to others for the sake of their salvation. In the context, Paul is talking about carefully protecting the consciences of his brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul could happily eat anything sold in the marketplace, but would not participate in idolatry. 

However, when someone else struggled with this, Paul willingly gave up that freedom for the sake of the one who was struggling. For Paul, his weekly menu was far less important than the souls that were around him. 

Following Paul, and Following Christ
We live in an age of strong opinions about many things. But Paul would call us to get in line behind him, and ultimately behind Jesus, in submitting ourselves to others for the sake of the Gospel. 

This doesn’t mean that everyone else will do the same. But this is our calling as we walk the way of the cross behind Christ! 

Word to Word

by Jason Park

Sometimes I pause for a moment in my heart before to telling someone who is struggling with sin to read the Bible. Not because I don’t believe in its inspiration or inerrancy or infallibility, but because it can sound legalistic or even just old-hat. 

I’ve tried reading. I’ve tried memorizing Scripture. I’ve tried meditating on it. And I know it’s good, and I should keep reading, but I need something else. 

Now, it’s true, just telling someone to read the Bible and leave it at that, as if the sheer act of reading automatically helps them overcome a sin-pattern, is unhelpful at best and harmful at worst. Because we can easily use the Bible to get what we want – to get immediate results in our sanctification. 

But that’s not why the Bible was written. If we simply read the Bible (or memorize it), thinking this act automatically and perhaps even quickly solves our heart problems, we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment.  

We read the Bible because it is “the word of Christ”; we read it because it points us to Christ. We read it because in the very words that God breathed out through His Spirit through human authors, we can know and experience Christ – His glory and His grace. 

The written word feeds our faith in Christ (Rom 10:17) and enables us, by the power of the indwelling Spirit, to spiritually see the Truth, specifically the Truth of the glorious excellencies of Christ our Lord and Savior (2 Cor 3:18).  

In other words, the written word gives us the living Word (John 1:1; 1 John 1:1). Through the Bible, we get Christ; we see His glory; we experience His love, grace, and power; we know Him more and more. The written word testifies about Christ (John 5:39) – and when we hear it with faith, we have fellowship with Christ in our hearts. 

Read the Bible, by all means. Read it everyday. But read it expecting not just to know more about its history or its doctrines. Read it expecting to know Christ more. The written word feeds us Christ Himself, the source of all life, righteousness, and wisdom. So, enjoy Him and the intimacy of His fellowship as you read the Bible.     

Don’t Fret the Election—Your True King is Coming

by Jon Buck

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ Phil 3:20

Perhaps you’re like me and you’ve been watching the news on the presidential election. I can tend to watch news reports, read stories, and track polls when the election draws near. 

Inevitably, I find myself tempted to anger with the opinions of others. Those who are on the opposite side politically can tempt me to anger when my position is being mocked. Those on my side of the political spectrum can tempt me to anger when they say and do things that hurt the cause. 

Either way, the election can cause me temptation to anger. 

The Root of Anger—Fear
The root of my anger is, of course, fear about what will happen in the coming election. I worry that a candidate will win who will cause problems for our nation. 

As I watch the news, I find myself fretting over both sides of the aisle, growing increasingly concerned. This can quickly drive me to anger. 

The Cure for Political Fear—Jesus
Interestingly, Paul probably had some understanding of what this would have felt like. As a Roman citizen, Paul had rights, and during his lifetime, the Roman political world was in some chaos. 

Certainly everywhere he went, other Romans had opinions about the current state of politics. A host of different viewpoints must have confronted him. 

But remarkably, Paul didn’t fall victim to the political wrangling of his day. Instead, he happily affirmed that his citizenship was in heaven. Paul had one true King—the Lord Jesus Christ. He understood that Caesars would come and go, but Christ would remain forever. 

And for that reason, when Paul considered his citizenship, he looked right at Christ, seated on the right hand of the majesty on high. Paul knew that a day would come when Christ would return and take His rightful place as King of the world. 

When he remembered that, he couldn’t help but wait eagerly for Jesus to come! 

In America

You may find yourself like I do—thinking about politics. That isn’t wrong. It isn’t wrong to vote, or have opinions on any number of political matters. 

But if you find yourself fearful or angry, remember—you are a citizen of heaven first. Just like Paul, you can remind yourself that your Savior, Jesus Christ, is coming to rule the world. When that happens, you can rest and trust that the Lord will do what He pleases.

COVID Can Kill Our Church!

by Jon Buck

"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.” ~ Romans 14:13

My dear friends, I write this blog today with a heart of petition before God for each of us. We are in the midst of unprecedented times as a church family, and I want to appeal to each of you regarding the current COVID crisis. 

The title of this blog is designed to shock. COVID-19, regardless of the statistics that seem to change daily, represents a serious global health crisis—perhaps the largest of this generation. 

But COVID-19 is not the most deadly thing for churches in America. Neither is cancer, heart disease, or any other sickness for that matter. 

The most deadly thing for churches in America right now is the polarization of the church in areas of conscience. 

Friends, don’t judge! 
Regardless of your perspective on the COVID crisis, the wearing of masks, or the California Health Department, we must be convinced in our own minds. But these issues can do FAR more than hurt our bodies. 

They can destroy our church and tarnish the name and glory of Jesus Christ. 

And the way that will happen is if we allow ourselves to judge one another in our hearts. 

Paul’s point in Romans 14:13 is just that—the stumbling block that we can place in front of another person is through judging them in areas that are conscience issues! Paul, amazingly says that rather than judging each other, we should judge ourselves that we don’t hurt our brothers and sisters!  

Rather, LOVE! 
Just like the speed limit, when it comes to masks, social distancing, and church gathering, we may approach what obedience looks like differently. Nevertheless, each of us will give an account to Christ for what we have done. 

However, if we judge each other in these areas, we are sinning against the Lord Jesus Christ. And, if we allow ourselves to judge, we will eventually tear away from our brothers and sisters, and go find others who share our conscience perspectives. How sad to see us lose love for the sake of COVID! 

The only way to fight this danger is through love! 

If we love one another, we will joyfully keep our opinions to ourselves, and love those who have different opinions than we do. 

And so, my prayer today is that during these challenging times, we would love one another well, and we would guard our hearts against judgment. This is the only way forward that will bring glory and honor to Christ! 

Loving His Appearing

by Jason Park

When you have suffered some trial, did you just want to push the “eject” button and get out of it? 

Now, what if you knew that if you stayed in the trial, it would one day end and you would be eternally better for it? Would that restrain your finger from pushing eject? 

There were many motivations that kept Paul fighting the good fight of the faith (2 Tim 4:7) – all of them centered on Christ and the gospel. Instead of pushing eject from his sufferings, he endured, not in his own strength, but “in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 2:1)…a heart-sustaining and shaping grace accessed by faith in the truths of the gospel. 

The graces that flowed out of Christ like a river of pearls filled His heart with joy and peace as He drank them all in. And in that state, he endured; he fought; he finished; he kept…all while suffering immensely. 

But there’s another grace that kept Paul keeping on – a future grace from the very hand of Christ: “the crown of righteousness” that would be awarded Paul on the day of Christ’s “appearing” at His glorious second coming (2 Tim 4:8). 

He eagerly looks forward to that prize as his death looms. He loves it, in fact. And not only Paul, but all believers do love His appearing…not mainly for the relief it will bring from our flesh and from the world, but primarily for the consummation of the union that we now experience with Christ in the Spirit. On that day, as the crown of righteousness is granted us, we will experience the fullness of our union with Christ. Union and communion will be one forever. 

And what we experienced as heavy suffering will become so light as the eternal weight of glory that we experience in our new bodies in the presence of Christ awarding us out of His love will enrobe us and fill us to our unending delight (2 Cor 4:17). 

Don’t push eject on your trial. I know it can be so painful, so crushing…But don’t. Christ is not judging you. He’s purifying you to experience deeper levels of joy in Him. And, He’s also waiting to be with you to reward you. There are many aspects of Christ to focus on as we endure trials…in this case, let His future grace hold your heart together.       

God Hears Our Prayers

by Jon Buck

I love the Lord, because He hears
My voice and my supplications.
~ Psalm 116:1

David begins this psalm with a stunning statement. God hears his voice and his prayers. 

Sometimes it can feel like the sky is made of brass and all our prayers simply bounce off and back to earth. 

Prayers for change seem to go unanswered.  Prayers for souls seem helpless.  Prayers for healing, for rest, for strength…and silence. 

But the Scriptures resolutely tell us that God hears our prayers! He hears each request,  and often answers them and does far more than we can ask or think. 

But notice that David’s statement has little to do with the answer. Why does he love God? Because God hears his prayers. David doesn’t say, “I love the Lord because He always gives me what I ask for.” That would be faithless. 

Instead, the very fact that God hears his prayers is enough to lift David’s heart in love to His God. 

Why? 

Because there is absolutely NO reason that God should hear our prayers. In fact, quite the contrary. He should ignore our prayers, and punish us for our sins. But instead, He is attentive to us, hears us, and answers us according to what is best. 

Why does He hear our prayers? Because He loves us! What a stunning thing that God loves His children so much that He would listen to their pleas. David loves God because God loved him first. 

So - when you’re sorrowful about your life, and lift your heart to God, know He hears you. Whether He gives what you ask or no, He hears, and will always give you what is best. 

“My” Ministry?

by Jason Park

Maybe you’ve never said those words, but perhaps you’ve thought them, especially if you’ve served in church for any period of time. If you’ve taught, if you’ve led, if you’ve been in charge of some sphere of church life…especially then. 

Has it ever crossed your mind…It’s “my” ministry? But is anything wrong with that thought?  

Now, I want to be careful not to judge motives; however, to conceive of service to Christ as “my ministry” can be a dangerous thing. That one word, “my,” is often pregnant with dangerous spiritual impulses and desires that turn ministry from Christ-service to self-service.  

We have to be extra-careful when it comes to serving the church. The more you serve, the more you lead, the more public your role becomes, the more dangerous ministry can be to your spiritual health (consider James’s admonition to those who want to teach in James 3:1).  

Why? Because we’re all infected with pride. It’s in our blood. We think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. We compare our flaws with those of people we know are worse than we are (think speck and log from Matt. 7:1-5). We’re quick to deny or defend when criticized or rebuked. And when we do well, we’re overly happy with ourselves. We praise ourselves, (contra. Prov 27:2). Even our modesty upon being thanked or praised can cloak an insidious pride that loves approval (consider the Pharisees who looked haggard in public as they fasted – Matt. 6:16-18). 

Specifically, regarding service in the church, pride can show up in at least the following ways. For example…You always have to have your way in ministry. You don’t listen to the input of others you’re serving with or especially serving under. You have to serve in the ministry you’ve served in and are resistant to letting go or changing. You have to serve in specific ways but not others. You’re more about parachurch ministry than church ministry. You wonder why people don’t listen to you. You wonder why others aren’t serving as much as you are and with the zeal that you possess. You’re condescending or harsh (even just in your own heart) when someone doesn’t do something the “right” way. 

As I write these responses, they sound terrible; they really sting because I’ve been guilty of all of them. And I know that I can think and do any one of these but for the grace of God. Apart from Him, none of us are safe – safe to serve, safe to lead, safe to follow. 

That’s why we need to daily remember Christ and His gospel. It reorients our hearts to the fact that all of life and ministry are founded on His grace, not on our performance. It reminds us that our faithfulness and fruitfulness are not as important as His faithfulness and His power to bear His fruit in and through us. 

The cross cuts our pride at the knees. It shocks us back to our senses to think rightly – that ministry is never “mine.” That all ministry is a response of love to the One who loved me and died for my sins and called me, purely by His grace to serve in whatever capacity right now  for the good of His church and for His glory.   

Devotional on Love, Part 17 - Love Endures All Things

By Jon Buck

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Serve Because You ‘Get’ To, Not Because You ‘Have’ To

by Jon Buck

“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”  ~ Eph. 3:8

Paul’s ministry was anything but easy. A quick perusal of the book of Acts, along with the list of 2 Cor. 11:16-29 should make it clear that Paul understood suffering.  These trials weren’t just the basic things—long work days, exhaustion, poverty—Paul was truly persecuted in incredibly painful ways. 

When Paul considered his ministry, though, he didn’t see it as a cause for grumbling or complaining. Instead, Paul was stunned that the Lord would allow him to serve! He says that it was a ‘grace’ that he didn’t deserve. 

He saw himself as the least of all the saints, and therefore unworthy of the blessing of the ministry he received. He had killed Christians and persecuted the work of God. How blessed and graced he was to be able to now serve the very One against Whom he had rebelled. 

This is instructive for us. When God’s love for us, and His grace to us in Christ, is truly known and loved, it produces a willingness to serve Him. 

None of us will likely face the kind of pains that Paul did (though some may!). But we  will nevertheless have struggles in service. Even in the most trying of circumstances, we have the great privilege of worshiping and serving Christ! This isn’t something we are forced to do, but something we receive as a gracious gift from God. 

Blessed Having Jesus, No Matter What

by Jon Buck

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. 
~ Psalm 16:5

This text is fascinating. David had lived a life of wide variation. At the time of the writing of the Psalm, he was likely king in Jerusalem. And yet, he had lived in the desert in caves, fleeing for his life. 

Nevertheless, whether in the wilderness or on the throne, David states that the Lord is his portion of inheritance and his cup. These two refer to God as his sustainer and his true possession. David was now the sole monarch over Israel, but his true possession was still only God alone. 

That God protected this inheritance gave David great peace. His ‘support’ of David, and His promise to protect their relationship was his hope.

But of course, this begs the question—if David was now king, wouldn’t that be David’s source of joy? After all, God had promised him this blessing! And yet, David acknowledges that no matter what he owns or where he is, God remains his true portion. 

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.
~ Psalm 16:6

Interestingly, the next verse expresses David’s feeling about having God as his only inheritance.

The lines were boundary markers for land, and David’s reference to them is a comment on God as his portion. He says that the lines are pleasant to him, and that his inheritance is beautiful. 

When David considered that God alone was his inheritance, he didn’t have to resign himself to that. Instead, he saw it as a pleasant and beautiful blessing! God was enough for him! 

David isn’t unique. The author of Psalm 73 felt the same (see vv. 25-26), as did the Apostle Paul (Phil. 3:7). In fact, when we ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’, we discover that He is enough for us. When we discover that we are loved by Him, our inheritance is beautiful. 

Devotional on Love, Part 16 - Love Hopes All Things

By Jon Buck

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Lacking Community? You’re Called to Love, Because You’re Loved

by Jon Buck

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”  ~ John 15:13

I’m not a naturally outgoing person. Ask my wife. She’ll affirm that I tend to be socially awkward and struggle with conversation. Put me in a room of people I don’t know, and I’ll go home exhausted. 

I genuinely envy those who are able to carry on a conversation without struggling. We all know them - the dear folks in church who ask the best questions, have great conversations, and get to know others quickly. These things are remarkable gifts from the Lord—I just don’t have them! 

The problem is…
However, the fact that I don’t have that gift, and that I can struggle at times, can turn into an excuse quickly. I can begin to ‘let myself off the hook’ easily, patting myself on the back by thinking that my gifts are different. 

While that is true, it comes with a dangerous result. I can eventually begin slouch into never reaching out, never getting to know, and always having the excuse of my ‘gifts’ to fall back on. 

This can quickly lead me to blame others for my lack of relationships. I can dangerously begin to look at others and demand that they love me. After all, the church is supposed to be about community! And why shouldn’t others offer that to me? 

But, of course, the problem isn’t everyone else. The problem is me. 

The solution is…
Notice that Jesus commands the disciples to love one another. That’s a command to all of them, but a command to each of them individually. They are EACH to love the others. When they do that, they’ll love one another. 

Christ doesn’t command them to BE loved, but commands them to love. 

But of course, how is that possible? One of the disciples in that room heard that command and later told us how to keep it. John explained that ‘We love because He first loved us.’ (1 John 4:19)

All that you lack in love…all the soul-satisfying community you desire…all the care and comfort you need is found in Christ’s love for you! The One by Whom the universe exists LOVES you, and died for your sins! 

Let that sink in. 

As you’re satisfied in that reality, you’ll reach out in love because you’ve been loved. 

Devotional on Love, Part 15 - Love Believes All Things

By Jon Buck

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Seeing Ourselves Rightly

by Jason Park

How do we see ourselves?  

Not just in terms of Christian identity – child of God, brother or sister in Christ, royal priest, etc.  – but in terms of Christian service.  

Whether someone has a formal position or not, we’re all vital members of the body of Christ (cf. Rom 12:4-6). And Christ, through His Spirit in us, has given each believer different gifts for the building up of His church (cf. Eph 4:7-13). 

So, how do we see ourselves as we exercise our gifts for the good of the church? Leaders? Teachers? Volunteers?  All of these titles are perfectly fine, but what gives each of them (or any other designation) its proper perspective is Spirit-produced humility; humility wrought in our hearts as we realize that we are nothing apart from Christ (cf. Jn 15:5). 

We see such humility in Paul as he describes his apostleship (a high position if ever!) as granted “by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 1:1). He goes on in 2 Tim 1 to recount how he was saved by God, not according to his works but according to God’s own purpose, and grace “which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (v. 9). Yes, I’m an apostle. But first and foremost, I was a desperately wicked sinner saved by God through the gift of His Son. This personal coming to grips with the gospel of grace humbled Paul and cast a huge shadow over all he did in his service to Christ. 

And so, as he saw himself clearly – through the lens of the gospel – he saw that he was a nothing but a “workman” (a laborer; 2 Tim 2:15), a household “vessel” (like serving dish; 2 Tim 2:20-21), and a “bond-servant” (a slave; 2 Tim 2:24). Yes, the apostleship set him apart from nearly every other believer, but in that function, he was no better than Timothy in his service to Christ…no better than any of us in our service to Christ, whatever our respective sphere of labor. 

It’s an amazing privilege to be called any of these titles. Seeing yourself as a workman, vessel, or slave is less about demeaning yourself and more about magnifying the One who has called us, gifted us, and brought us into the good works that He prepared beforehand for us (Eph 2:10).  

If we’re just laborers or vessels or slaves of Christ, we’re just infinitely beloved and blessed by God to carry forth His life-changing gospel to our church, our families, our neighbors, and our world.  

Take Heed! Put Confidence in Christ Alone

by Jon Buck

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” - 1 Cor. 10:12

Paul spends three chapters in the book of 1 Corinthians calling the church to turn from idolatry. His argument culminates in chapter 10, where he reminds them that the majority of the wilderness generation also received many blessings, but were not actually saved. 

The argument reveals Paul’s concern for the church. They had professed Christ, but were moving into idolatry with arguments about freedom and knowledge, rather than with genuine reliance on Christ. 

Paul’s warning in 10:12 is a stark reminder that externals simply don’t matter. The wilderness generation had participated in crossing the Red Sea, had received supernatural sustenance, and had heard the voice of God on the mountain. 

Still, they quickly fell when Moses left them, and their bodies fell in the wilderness. 

Paul connects these events to the Corinthian church, and to every successive generation. The warning is simple—external participation in the body of Christ is no guarantee. 

This is what Paul means when he says ‘him who thinks he stands’. The one who believes he is standing because of his external conformity is actually not standing at all. Instead, he is resting on things that simply won’t support him in the end. 

Instead, Paul’s warning has a message of hope. The one who stands on Christ—who truly knows and loves the Savior—will stand and not fall. 

Confidence in our righteousness or our participation in religious things is empty. But confidence in Christ and His finished work is certain and sure. 

Paul’s warning should send our hearts back to Christ. Where is our confidence? Do we trust in Him and His finished work and love for us? Or have we allowed other things to become our hope? 

What Do You Need to Suffer Well?

by Jason Park

What do you need to suffer well?

Good friends? Family stability? More security – money, a safe and secure home, and material possessions? 

None of these are bad things in and of themselves. But will they truly help you endure trials? 

What about a good church? Spiritual discipline? Obviously, these aren’t bad; they’re very good things. And with them, we’re closer to the real answer to our original question. 

Paul gives his ministry protégé, Timothy, the one thing that all Christians need to handle trials well: Jesus Christ. 

By the time he penned 2 Timothy, Paul is in prison suffering for the gospel (1:8, 16). And Timothy, pastoring the church at Ephesus, was struggling with shame over Paul’s imprisonment for the gospel. In fact, he was wary of fully engaging in the ministry he was called to for fear of facing the shame and disrepute of suffering for the gospel. That’s why Paul exhorts him to not be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul’s testimony (1:8), to guard the gospel entrusted to him (1:14), and to suffer hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2:4). 

But to motivate Timothy properly for future gospel-sufferings, Paul undergirds his exhortations with Christ – the grace of Christ that strengthens us (2:1), the grace of Christ that gives us wisdom through His Word (2:7), and the grace of Christ in His death and resurrection that saves and sanctifies us (2:8). So, what Paul is telling Timothy, and us, is this: to suffer well, you need more of Christ. We need to remember Christ – who He is, what He did for us, and what He is doing for us now.  

The church family is critical for helping us suffer well in our trials. Good Christian friends…also critical. Bible reading and prayer…absolutely vital. But at the center of all those things, what makes all those powerful to give us heart-strength to handle trials well is Jesus Christ, risen from the dead (Savior and Lord), son of David (Messiah/King), and the faithful Shepherd who will ever remain faithful to us even when we are faithless (2:13). 

Even when we are ashamed of the gospel in front of hostile or skeptical people. Even when we struggle with unbelief about the power of the gospel to change us or others. Even in all of our instances of faithlessness, Christ remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself, and so, He cannot deny us. We know this to be true because He suffered the greatest suffering of all for us on the cross and is now, and forever, never ashamed to call us His brethren (Heb 2:11). 

So, remember Christ…before you enter a trial. Meditate on His glory as Lord and Savior. Believe that He died for you, rose again from the dead for you, and will one day have you reign with Him in His kingdom forever and ever. 

Unity: The First Fruit of Biblical Truth

by Jon Buck

“…being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” ~ Eph. 4:3

Paul’s letters often reflect a similar flow of thought. 

He spends a lengthy part of the beginning of each letter describing the theological points he wants to communicate to the recipients. He then applies that theological grid to practical situations, calling for a change of life in response to the truths he has shared. 

The most clear example of this type of literary structure is in Ephesians. Paul there spends three chapters explaining truth (the ‘indicatives’ of chapters 1-3), and three chapters applying truth (the ‘imperatives’ of charts 4-6). 

This structure is important because it puts a spotlight on the truths that Paul saw as most important. In Ephesians, that truth is the unity of the body of Christ through the Holy Spirit. 

In Eph 4:2, Paul tells the church about the heart attitudes that should flow from the blessings of life with Christ. These are humility, gentleness, patience, and love. 

But these heart attitudes should produce a diligence in maintaining the unity of the body of Christ! The first fruit of a heart that is changed by Christ is a life that seeks to maintain unity. 

Unity is hard, but central
The reason Paul says to be ‘diligent’ should be painfully obvious. Unity requires labor because we are prone to polarization and division. 

There are a host of things to divide over. We can disagree over politics, church practice, individual decisions, conscience choices, and much much more. Many a church has split over the color of the carpet in the new sanctuary. 

However, no matter how hard, unity is the first and critical component for all true believers. This is why Christ taught the disciples to have love for one another as the first fruit of the upper room discourse (John 13:34-35). This is why the Apostle John repeated this truth as the central command of his letter (1 John 3:11), and Peter did as well (1 Peter 1:22). This is why Paul’s letters always mention unity and love as central realities (Gal 5:4, 1 Thess 4:9, others). 

The writers of the New Testament had learned from Christ Himself that unity and love for the brothers was hard. But they saw it as the central component in our Gospel witness. 

We live in an age of polarization. Opinions on a massive variety of topics vary greatly within even small local congregations. However, we need to be careful with our pet doctrines, tribalism, or personal beliefs. 

The Gospel, embraced by true faith, must produce a genuine love and care for those who also trust the Gospel. If it doesn’t, the witness of church will collapse, even as we seek to support it through our personal theological perspectives. 

Nothing Lasts

by Jason Park

Nothing lasts. Have you noticed that? You buy a new car and a week later you get a scratch or a tiny crack in the windshield. 

Your favorite team lands that coveted free agent. A year later, he wants out.  

You start a new job. You’re excited for the change. Then COVID-19 hits, and you’re working remotely for a supervisor you met once and co-workers you can only see online.  

Beyond that, there are more serious realities of aging and death.  

Nothing lasts. The world, and all it contains, is impermanent. And as creatures of this world, so are we.  

Moses says in Psa 90:10 that our life is but 70 years, 80 if we have strength. Better hygiene, nutrition, and medicine has prolonged that to even 90 or 100 (in blue zones like Loma Linda!). But in the end, the pride of man “is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away” (v. 10). 

In the midst of all this transitoriness, all this fading away, how should we see our lives? Moses tells us in v. 12: we need to ask God to teach us to number our days so that we may present to Him a heart of wisdom. In light of the brevity of life and the eternity that awaits us in God’s presence, we need to see and evaluate our lives appropriately. We need to let eternity remind us what’s actually valuable, what actually should be our treasure. It should be God. It should be Christ. It should be the Holy Spirit. 

Apart from Him, nothing we do or gain here on earth lasts; nothing matters. Everything will be swept away (Psa 90:5). But in Christ, our good works are not in vain, so we should abound in them (1 Cor 15:58). 

And we should go to God and say, “You are the everlasting God, who doesn’t change, and You are my dwlling place” (Psa 90:1). When we believe that, we’re safe; we’re not anxious; we’re at peace. We know who is in control over all this flux. And we know where we’re headed – straight into His presence, where His lovingkindness will wash over us for all eternity.   

John Newton’s Advice During Times of Controversy

by Jon Buck

“Controversies, for the most part, are so managed as to indulge rather than to repress his wrong disposition; and therefore, generally speaking, they are productive of little good. They provoke those whom they should convince, and puff up those whom they should edify.”

There have been times of controversy in the church since the book of Acts (see Acts 15, for example). When controversy comes, how should we handle those who may take a different side of an issue than ourselves? 

The answer can be found in a host of places, of course, but the words of the English pastor John Newton in a letter to a friend ring very true. 

If you have the time, read it. It’s worth a careful read in times like these. 

https://www.ligonier.org/blog/john-newton-on-controversy/