Category Archives: Christianity

Dec 09

Less of Self, More of Others

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Let’s be totally honest for a moment. Our world, as a whole, is very selfish. You may be saying, “That’s not a nice thing to say, Justin!” But let’s face it, it’s true. We think and care more for ourselves than we do for others. We are all humans, and human nature says one should take care of self above all else. While this is how most of our world behaves, is this really what our heavenly Father expects of His people?

In the letter to the Christians in Philippi, Paul wrote, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Did you catch the inspired words of Paul there? He said that Christians ought to look out not only for their own interests but also for the interests of others, even considering others more significant than themselves.

While the world may teach people to look out for themselves above all else, that is the exact opposite of what the great Apostle Paul taught. Paul’s remark is contrary to human nature, so why would he make such a statement? If we continue reading in Philippians we find the answer: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:5-8).

Paul was encouraging Christian to do what Jesus did. Jesus wasn’t thinking about Himself when He left the glory of heaven and came to earth to eventually die on a cross. When He came to earth to fulfill the plan of God through the giving of His life, Jesus was thinking about others more than himself. Jesus came and died because He was focused on you and me.

Right now we are living in one of the most difficult and stressful times in our nation’s history. Some people are scared, some have lost loved ones, others have lost their jobs and are living off their savings. We’ve lived like this for 8 months, and the end still doesn’t seem to be in sight. Right now is the perfect time for us as Christians to stop thinking so much about ourselves and to start thinking more about the people around us. I get it, I really do. We have rights and needs and opinions; we all do. But let’s never forget what we are called to do. God has called His people to think less of ourselves and more of others.

Jesus is the great example Christians are called to follow (I Peter 2:21). We must live and act as Jesus did if we are to be followers of Christ. We must do our best to follow in His footsteps and look for ways to meet the needs of others. Jesus was dedicated to placing the needs of others above His own. Are we as His people willing to do the same?

Dec 19

The Most Unlikely People Pt. 2: The Shepherds Were Overlooked

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Pen, Diary and Glasses                                              Photo Credit: Generationbass.com via Compfight cc

Yesterday, I asked the question, “Why would He pick them? Of all the people in the world, why would God pick some of the most unlikely to be a part of some of the most amazing news?” If you did not have an opportunity to read that article, click here.

One of the reasons I believe God picked the shepherds was because they were overlooked. I know this may sound like an oxymoron, but consider this with me for a moment. The shepherds were overlooked because of who they were…shepherds. I know there have been many respectable shepherds throughout Jewish history, but at the time of the birth of Jesus, shepherds were anything but respectable. They were looked down upon because of their occupation. Shepherds were considered simple, uneducated and most often poor. They were definitely not the kind of people one would expect God to use to reveal such amazing news.

Not only were they overlooked because of who they were, the shepherd were overlooked because of what they did not have. Remember, a lot of shepherds were poor. Think about a lot of the nativity scenes you see this time of year. Most of them do not even have the shepherds present at the manger. Instead, most nativity scenes have the wise men present with their gifts. The problem with this is the wise men never went to the manger. They went to see Jesus in a house at a later time (Matt. 2:11). If this is the case, then why would a lot of nativity scenes have the wise men at the manger instead of the shepherds? Perhaps the reason is because unlike the wise men, the shepherds had nothing to offer. Jesus was the King of Kings, the expected one who was to come. He deserved the very best people had to offer. Sadly, for those shepherds, they probably had nothing to offer to the great King of Kings.

You see, the shepherds were overlooked because of who they were and what they did not have. And yet, God chose them anyway. Why? Why not choose people of greater importance?

By picking the shepherds God was demonstrating the importance of such people in his plan.

Remember what the angel told the shepherds? “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

God chose the shepherds to teach us a valuable lesson. God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34-35). We are all the work of His hands (Job. 34:19).

Like the shepherds, there is nothing special about most of us. We are just common, ordinary people who have nothing to offer the King of Kings. And still, we have a place in God’s story. No matter who we are, what we do, or what we have or do not have, we all have a place in the story of the savior. The savior came to bring good news of great joy for ALL people, including people like you and me.

Praise be to God for His decision to choose such unlikely people!

Now that’s Something to Think About!

 

 

Oct 31

Is Your Christianity A Costume?

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Kids' Halloween Costumes 2013

Photo Credit: Clintus McGintus via cc

Tonight, if they haven’t already, many children will go out and trick or treat around their neighborhoods. Most all those who do this will dress up in a costume or put on a mask and pretend to be something they are not. Some of the costumes will be cute, some will be funny, some will be scary, while others will be flat out hideous. Yet, it does not matter how different each costume may appear, they all have one thing in common: they are used so people can pretend to be someone they are not.

Many times I’m afraid people do the same thing with their Christianity. They dress up in a costume and pretend to be something they are not. Each Sunday they put on their best clothes, grab their Bibles (if they can remember them), put a smile on their faces and attend worship service. They try to trick people into believing they are devoted followers of Christ although the kind of life they live during the week is anything but one devoted to following Christ. They say things they shouldn’t say, do things they shouldn’t do and neglect things they should be doing.Then they come to church on Sunday and pretend to be someone different than they really are the rest of the week, someone who is holy, hoping no one will notice that their Christianity is nothing more than a costume they put on that morning.

When God sent Samuel to Bethlehem to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as king, Samuel was sure God was going to anoint Eliab as king. However, God told Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Sam. 16:7).

God passed on Eliab and chose David, the youngest son of Jesse, to be the next king because God saw in David what Samuel could not see: his heart. When gathering with the church on Sunday, remember that while we may be able to trick most people, we can never trick or fool God, for He does not see as man sees. God can see our hearts!

Friends, God knows whether our Christianity is genuine or simply a costume. Let’s make sure the kind of lives we are living during the week match the kind of lives we live on Sundays.

Now that’s Something to Think About!