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?

Jul 27

Down, But Not Out

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A few nights ago my two sons and I were watching my beloved Atlanta Braves play baseball. It was the top of the 9th inning and my Braves were losing by one run. They were one out away from starting the season 0-2. As the clean-up batter stood at the plate with two strikes, I told my boys the game was over, frustrated that through two games the Braves had only managed a couple of hits. Then with one swing of the bat, the ball sailed over the fence and the Braves tied the game. That hit seemed to spark the offense because they scored three runs in the 10th inning and won the game.

What a valuable lesson for my boys and me. Sometimes we feel like the game is over and our team is going to lose, but we never know what is going to happen with the next pitch. Our team just might hit a game tying or even game winning homerun. We must never lose faith.

Right now it is easy for us to be frustrated, anxious and maybe even depressed. We may see the news or hear reports and feel as though our team, the church, is losing. We may even feel like we can never come back and be victorious because our world is too messed up and life seems so different. At times it sure feels this way, doesn’t it?

However, I want to remind you of something that I too sometimes forget. You never know what is going to happen with the next pitch. And here’s the thing, I don’t know what is going to happen, but I do know this: God is still in control. He is still sitting on His throne and there is nothing that can happen in this world that will ever cause God to be removed from the throne (Psalm 45:6; 47:8; 103:19).

We may feel like we are in the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs and on the verge of losing. However, unlike our favorite sports teams, our spiritual team cannot lose (Dan. 2:44). We have the greatest manager in charge of our team. And no matter how inevitable a loss may seem, we must look up and remember we have the Lord on our side. He already has been victorious.

Jun 25

DON’T HIT “POST” JUST YET!

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A moment of heart wrenching pain. That moment you wish you could go back and do over. Ever had that feeling? The moment you realize you shouldn’t have hit the “post” button. Now others have seen what you have written. Maybe you have gotten a few likes  and comments for your post. Maybe someone shared your post for their friends to see. But you know the ugly truth…you should have never hit the “post” button.

Whether it was a social media post, an email or even a text, we have all hit the send or post message button a little too quickly. We have allowed our emotions and frustrations to get the best of us and posted something in a fit of anger or disappointment that we should have sat on a little longer. If only we would not have been so “post” happy. If only we would have fought the urge to post our thoughts immediately and just slowed down long enough to allow ourselves to think more rationally. If only we had… we would not be in the mess we find ourselves in.

We live in a time where we are able to post our thoughts and feelings for others to see in only a few seconds. With a few quick strokes on a keyboard and the simple push of a button, we can be heard all the way across the world. And while I appreciate our technological advancements and the great opportunities they provide, we must use such technology in a godly and wise manner. Paul said, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29).

Friends, before we send that email or make our post public, let’s be sure of our motives. Let’s pause and make sure our emotions are in check before firing off something in the heat of the moment that we may end up regretting. Instead, let’s be slow to speak (Jam. 1:19-20) or, in this case, let’s be slow to hit that post button.

May 27

May We Never Forget

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Earlier this week we celebrated an American holiday known as Memorial Day. This day is set aside to honor those men and women who have died while serving as a part of the United States military. Many people honored those who gave their lives for our country, visiting cemeteries or memorials and posting heartfelt messages across different social media platforms. We do what we can to honor those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom so they are never forgotten.

While we are thankful to each man and woman who has paid the ultimate price for our physical freedom, we should be even more grateful to the man who paid the ultimate price for our spiritual freedom. You see, we were in desperate need of a savior. Our sins caused us to be separated from God (Isa. 59:1-2). None of us could expunge our own sins or do anything to bring us back into a faithful relationship with God. We were spiritually dead in our trespasses (Eph. 2:1-3).

“But God.” Two small words that pack so much power. Even though we were spiritually dead and had nothing to offer God, because of His great love for us, He made us alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:4-5). Jesus laid down His life in self-sacrifice so we could have freedom from our sins (Jn. 10:17-18). He was willing to do for us what we could never do for ourselves.

I am grateful to all those who have given so much so you and I might live freely in America. These men and women have paid a great price and deserve to be remembered and respected by all Americans. However, even more so, Jesus deserves to be remembered and respected by ALL PEOPLE. He gave His life on the cross of Calvary so we, Americans and non-Americans, could experience a freedom like no other. He died so we could have the forgiveness of our sins. Friends, may we never forget the great sacrifice Jesus made for us.