wrong

my husband tells me i'm terrible at admitting i'm wrong.

he's right.

i hate it. i hate being wrong. and if i think i might be wrong, i hate saying the words. and when i think of the words 'i was wrong' in my head and try to say them out loud, it's like waging a war to force the words past my lips. and sometimes they never do make it out.

tonight i listened to a sermon (by Stuart Briscoe) about the first church - those who experienced the effects of Pentecost, who heard the message of Jesus and believed, repented, and joined the body of Christ. i'd never really thought into it before, but some of those people listening to Peter's message that day may have been the same people who were in the crowds days earlier yelling, 'Crucify Him!!!' about Jesus. now they were watching a little group of local men speak in languages they'd never heard before, and those listeners reconsidered their position against Jesus... they contemplated how they'd sentenced the Messiah of the world, Jesus, to death and they said, 'What have we done?!'

then they made the most important choice of their lives. they admitted they were wrong. they repented and became followers of Jesus.

that's courage.

i wonder if i would have done that.

~

over and over in the Bible God affirms that He listens to repentance. and He honors it. if you're truly repentant, admitting you're wrong and turning from it, He won't leave you hanging.

David, committer of one of the most famous Bible sins (killing a man so he could commit adultery with the guy's wife), wrote this in the Psalms. he knew it from experience:
"...a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17b

when Jonah finally brought God's message to the evil people of Nineveh, and they repented, the Bible says this:
"When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened." Jonah 3:10

King Solomon, a man who was given wisdom but struggled to act wisely, said this:
"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13

Saul (later Paul), a religious leader who made it his personal mission to seek out and kill ALL Christians (Acts 8:3), accepted Jesus as his King, even though it would cost him his job, his friends, his status, eventually his freedom, and possibly even his life. but he went on to write most of what we now call the New Testament.

key message of the whole Bible is this:
"Repent then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out." Acts 3:19a

~

why do i have such a hard time admitting i'm wrong?
pride. ego. sometimes i'm afraid that if i admit i'm wrong in one area, the person i'm talking to might think i'm wrong all over the place.

pride. basically it's me saying, 'i know everything and i am king of everything. you all answer to me! how dare you think you know more than me!'

but wait. who is Lord? me or Jesus? if i claim to be a Christian, then Jesus is Lord. and that means only He is always right. that means i am sometimes, if not most of the time, wrong. even if it's just a matter of my motives being wrong, that is still wrong-ness.

and that means i'd better get used to admitting i'm wrong. really, i should practice it in the 'small' areas, like when i'm talking to my husband about who put the peanut butter back on the wrong shelf. then when it comes to the 'big' stuff, like admitting to God that i failed the other day and listened to gossip, i won't be so out of practice.

try it yourself.

think about your actions and words and thoughts today. if something comes up where you notice you are wrong, admit it to that person (or to God) and tell them, 'i'm sorry. i was wrong.' and if it applies, add another most annoying sentence: 'you were right.'
ps if you're married: men really like to hear that last sentence. it's a really big confidence booster that will help them love you just a little bit more than they did yesterday. :)


"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:7-9

what does the world think of you?

• women wear make-up everyday. they are notorious for spending hours in the morning 'painting on their face' and doing their hair, coloring their nails and trying on outfits to get ready for the day.
• every t.v. show is splatted with advertisements displaying how good we will look or how superior you will feel or how accepted you will be if only you would buy their product.
• one disparaging sentence can crush your whole day... you'll think about the insult all day, whether it was meant or not, whether that friend or acquaintance or even stranger is upset at you or dislikes you.
• men can stand in front of the mirror day after day, inspecting their muscles, wondering how to get more strength, planning how they'll gain more definition, posing and flexing.
• over the centuries, our human minds continue to invent new vocabulary for insults and compliments, based solely on popularity: cool, hot, dorky, out, so-last-week, in...
• magazine after magazine and t.v. show after t.v. show and website after website are dedicated to following celebrities, those few humans who have 'made it' to where we all want to be.

what do all these things have in common? 

they illustrate how much we humans desire to be LIKED. from the time we are little kids on the playground, to the time we are elderly and in the nursing home, we desire the approval of others.

take a moment right now to consider: what does the world think of you? if your life story and your photo suddenly were highlighted on he news, what would the world's impression of you be? what is the main feeling the world would have about you?

this is what Jesus told His little group of followers the night before He died:

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:18-19

hate. 

was that the word that came to your mind just now when i asked how the world would feel about you?

not that we should be inventing ways to repulse the world. we should hope that people become attracted to something about how different we are. but if we are truly living our life modeled after Jesus, the world will turn its back on us and hate us.

'well then,' you might think, 'that must mean real Christians are annoying or prejudiced or snobby or SOMETHING! there must be a good reason the world hates Christians.'

but no. 

Jesus said, "They hated me without reason." John 15:25

and when you think of Jesus, whether you're a Christian or not, do you really think it made any sense that the people of His day hunted Him down in the middle of the night while He was praying, during their own religious festival, and then killed Him using a method reserved for the most evil of criminals?

are you willing to follow Jesus in the big and small parts of life, even if it means the world will hate you? 

~as a girl, will you wear clothes that aren't tight and don't show cleavage nor lots of leg, even if you don't look like your friends and don't catch the eye of that 'cute' guy? 

~as a mother, will you choose to follow through with your threat to discipline, even if your kid seems eternally angry at you?

~as a man, will you change the channel or look conspicuously away from the t.v. during that sexy scene, even if your buddies look at you funny? 

~as a pastor, will you choose to speak the whole truth, even if it means losing a few members?

~as a student, will you stand up for the girl everyone calls a geek, even though you'll never be accepted by the cool kids?

what is the worst that can happen in these situations? people look at you funny, they may even pick a fight with you, and you may lose some friends. if the world keeps on its course, we may soon be thrown in jail for these decisions, and maybe even killed. (already happening in other countries.)

but again, i ask: what is the worst that can happen to you if you are living your life with Christ as your Lord? regardless of the worst the world can throw at you, if you believe in Jesus as your Lord, your story will always end with you rising from the dead and living with Jesus forever in His spectacular and unimaginably awesome home called Heaven.

and you will see God. Revelation 22:4

and you will reign with Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:12

and you will understand things you never understood in life. 1 Corinthians 13:12

and you will be made new, a perfection you could only dream of here on earth. Revelation 21:4-5

meanwhile, if you choose to please the world and choose its affection over God's, the Last Day will come and Jesus will say, "Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:41 

and you will enter your eternal existence in Hell, forever separated from God.

what's your ending? it starts with how you choose to live now.

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

"I tell you, whoever acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns Me before men will be disowned before the angels of God." 

-Jesus (Luke 12:4-5, 8-9)

blessings through raindrops

"Pastor 'Ameen,' leader of the evangelical church movement in Iraq, said that before baptizing new believers he teaches them that they will face persecution."
- Voice of the Martyrs magazine, July 2012

Pastor Ameen tells them they WILL. he doesn't say it's just something that happened in Bible times, or to faraway believers in countries with scary governments.
why don't we teach the same thing here in the US?
why is it that we feel almost entitled to a peaceful life with no arguments?
why have we adopted the ridiculous notion that it's a faux pas to discuss 'religion and politics?'
why are we shocked when we hear that Christian kids are being bullied at school, or when atheists sue to remove 'in God we trust' from our currency, or when we make a Christian statement on the internet and get blasted and barraged with insults for speaking about Christ, or when you sit down to pray but immediately get inundated with phone calls and texts and knocks at the door and hunger pangs and the temptation to watch tv? (yes, persecution is not only bodily harm from ill-willed unbelievers; it is often attacks from Satan in the form of temptation or distractions, etc...)

Jesus clearly said we WILL suffer and we WILL be persecuted.

"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death,

and you will be hated by all nations because of Me."

- Jesus, in Matthew 24:9

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted..."

2 Timothy 3:12

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering,

as though something strange were happening to you.

But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ,

so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,

you are blessed,

for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you."

1 Peter 4:12-14

Pastor Ameen's approach brings home the gravity of the situation: when you choose Jesus, you need to be fully committed, and fully aware of the implications. there's no 'nominal' allowed with God, no situation where luke-warm is acceptable.

"In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus sends out His disciples on two occasions: in Matthew 10 and again in Matthew 28. On both occasions He gives the disciples specific instructions, but neither time does Jesus tell them to assess the risk. he doesn't tell them to ask permission to share the gospel or heal the sick. And He doesn't tell them to poll the villagers first to measure their receptivity to the gospel. 
"In fact, Jesus' words in Matthew 10 would not be considered hopeful or positive by the world's standards. He tells the disciples that they will be delivered up to government officials and will be 'scourged' or terrorized by religious officials. He tells them that families will reject them and even have them killed. To leave no doubt about how they can expect to be treated, Jesus summarizes their situation as 'sheep among wolves,' telling them that they will be 'hated by all' for His name's sake.
"Still, He said, 'Go!' and His disciples went. They had a mission to accomplish - reaching all nations with the gospel (28:19)."
- Voice of the Martyrs magazine, October 2013

"... Jesus wants His disciples to know that mission and persecution are inseparable. When done in the spirit of Jesus, you cannot have one without the other. When done in the spirit of Christ, mission has always taken place in the shadow of the cross. ... Survival, however, is not their prime concern. They are to be committed to accomplishing the purposes of God, even if it means their death."
- late Glenn Penner, former CEO of Voice of the Martyrs, Canada

yep. even if it means their/my/your death. i love how he says mission always takes place in the shadow of the cross. always. the meaning of the cross - its suffering leading to our salvation and thus our right relationship with God - is our whole purpose as Christians. Jesus, our perfect example, suffered unthinkably. why is it odd that we should follow in His footsteps, even the suffering ones?

it is shallow to think the Christian life will and should be easy.

it's human nature to look for the easy road. we like the world to be in a perfect, predictable pattern. we want 'follow these 5 steps to get this great outcome.' that's why the false gospel of health, wealth, and prosperity is so successful. be good and God will bless you. send money to the poor (often it doesn't even reach them) and God will send you money. like we can con God into blessing us. like we can force His hand. like He owes us 'the good life' if we're doing good deeds.
WRONG!!!

Jesus told a story about a guy planting a farm. he threw down seed as he walked. and if you know gardening, you know that not every seed you plant will grow. there are different reasons for non-growth: weeds, rocks, no dirt...
Jesus likened the seeds and soil to people who have received His message; some will take it and grow, like they are in rich soil. but some act like seed planted in rocks, which support a beginning growth but have no room for roots, and the plant dies.

"But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. 

When trouble or persecution comes because of the world, 

he quickly falls away." 

Matthew 13:21

how do we get that root? how do we survive the rocks of persecution and trouble? we must choose God first every day. spend time with Him. read His word, if you have a Bible. listen to His voice. worship Him as you drive to work or as you sit in your back yard. what would you do with your best friend? - do those things with God.

the good things you do should be from a motive of worshiping Him and growing your faith, not to get earthly pleasures in return. 

and sometimes, though you do all the right things, say all the heart-felt prayers, read all the right verses, God will still allow hardships to come your way. He has the freedom to bring prosperity or to allow evil to visit you. 

and sometimes we actually learn better when we are facing hardship than when everything is going swimmingly. why do you think the gospel thrives and expands in countries where persecution is most rampant (like China)? persecution brings out the true believers, and forces those on the fence to make a decision.

"blessings" ARE a blessing, but sometimes so are hardships.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; 

perplexed, but not abandoned; 

struck down, but not destroyed."

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

"... We also rejoice in our sufferings, 

because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 

perseverance, character; 

and character, hope." 

Romans 5:3-5

i love the words of this song about blessings coming in ways we don't want or expect. God has promised blessings, but often they're not the pleasures and wealth we're looking for here on earth. sometimes even the suffering is the blessing, if it leads us to learn or grow.

Blessings by Laura Story

we pray for blessings, we pray for peace
comfort for family, protection while we sleep
we pray for healing, for prosperity
we pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
all the while, You hear each spoken need
yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
what if Your healing comes through tears?
what if a thousand sleepless nights 
are what it takes to know You're near?
what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

we pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
and we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
we doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
as if every promise from Your word is not enough
all the while, You hear each desperate plea
and long that we'd have faith to believe

when friends betray us
when darkness seems to win
we know the pain reminds this heart
that this is not, this is not our home

cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
what if Your healing comes through pain?
and what if a thousand sleepless nights
are what it takes to know You're near?
what if my greatest disappointments
or the aching of this life
is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy?
and what if trials of this life
the rain, the storms, the hardest nights,
are Your blessings in disguise?

persecution is hideous. it's not what God's world was supposed to look like. it's a result of the sin cancer.
but God is still present, and He still desires that every human being would turn from sin and selfishness to discover Him.
that is why Christians find joy in suffering. for the joy set before us. that's why Jesus endured the taunting and the spitting and the jeering and nailing and the piercing and the gasping for air and the excruciating separation from His Father and the dying - for the joy set before Him.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, 

the author and perfecter of our faith, 

who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, 

scorning its shame, 

and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." 

Hebrews 12:2

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, 

whenever you face trials of many kinds, 

because you know that the testing of your faith 

develops perseverance. 

Perseverance must finish its work 

so that you may be mature and complete, 

not lacking anything." 

James 1:2-4

Jesus' joy was conquering death so that He could bring that same power to us. All true Christians will conquer death!!!!
Jesus' joy was bringing life so that we could enjoy that same life forever with Him.
Jesus' joy was sitting at the right hand of God after enduring.
our joys are similar:
-the joy of some being saved through our lives and words
-the joy of knowing we are on the right path: on God's path
-the joy of being saved now and being part of God's kingdom
-the joy of personally knowing God's voice and His leading hand

-the joy of reaching heaven one day and God saying, 'well done, good and faithful servant!'

do you have that joy?
are you willing to suffer persecution and hardships in order to claim Christ as your own? if you choose Him, you WILL suffer.
if you're looking for the easy road on earth, choosing Jesus isn't guaranteed to get you there. but it IS guaranteed to bring unspeakable joy, immense security, and eternal life in the long run.

JOIN US!!!