Three Guiding Principles in Times of Uncertainty

Every week on Saturday morning, I meet with a group of men for prayer. It has been an enriching experience in many ways. This past week one of the brothers shared three biblical principles with us as a way of encouraging us to navigate the times we are living in. Here are the three truths for your encouragement.

1.      Be careful who you listen to

There is so much that is being said: some good, some bad, some true and some false. When there is a crisis, and there is a lot of uncertainty, what and who you listen to may determine how you handle yourself and may influence your perspective on matters. In Psalm one, the contrast between the wicked man and the righteous man boils down to who and what they listen to. There are voices you should block out and their people who should not have your audience. But just as important as listening to the right voices in our lives. Bad company corrupts, that is not only true for teenagers, but it is also true of adults. Be careful who you listen to, during these times. 

2.      Do not stop working hard

Yes, there are uncertainties. Several issues should be a source of concern for all of us, politically, economically, socially and spiritually. However, we should be wary of the paralysis of analysis. Our fears should not cripple us and plunge us into inactivity. Some respond to a crisis by panicking and overreact, and others are gripped with fear and stop functioning.  Ecclesiastes (11:3-4) warns us of the danger of waiting for ‘our’ ideal time to act and looking to signs before fulfilling our responsibility. Do what you need to do and do it faithfully and diligently. 

3.      Trust in the Lord

Thy that trust in the Lord are not moved or shaken. Their anchor is cast firmly deep in the steadfast love of the Lord. The storms of life hit them, but they are unwavering, they keep their eyes on the Lord. It’s easy to trust in God when all is well. It is a different ball game, on the other hand, to believe in the wisdom, love and power of God when life is in disarray. It is in the moment of crisis that our beliefs are tested and exposed. Heed the admonishment of scripture, trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path (Pro 3:5-6).

So, whatever situation you are in and whatever is going in your life. Whatever you decide to do or not to do. Make sure you carefully chose who you listen to, keep working hard and trust in the Lord your God. And we can be confident of this one thing, that the Lord will direct our ways.

Why we don’t evangelize

I may be wrong, but chances are most Christians will agree that we are supposed to evangelize. The Lord’s final words were in essence marching orders (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8). The Bible compels us to tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ which is the power of God to salvation (Romans 1:16). Yet, with all this truth in mind, our gospel proclamation is not what it should. We know we should evangelize, but we do not, and we often excuse, justify or rationalize why we do not tell our unbelieving loved ones and strangers about the gospel. Let me suggest five reasons why we do not evangelize.

We are afraid God will have compassion

This may seem strange, but we are sometimes guilty of Jonah’s attitude and fear. Jonah resisted going to proclaim repentance to Ninevah because he feared the Lord would have compassion and save them from their sins. We like Jonah know the power of the gospel and the heart of God to save sinners, but sadly we have a prejudice towards sinners that, if we were honest, we do not desire for them to be saved.

We are not persuaded of the sinfulness of the people

We believe people are bad and no one is perfect. Moreover, we may even use the word sinner, but we are not convinced of the hopelessness and helplessness of those who do not believe. We have been conditioned to think lightly of the wickedness of man. In fact, we blame people’s sinfulness on culture, circumstances and their relationships. In addition, because of this deficiency in our view of the sinfulness of people, we do not see the urgent need of the gospel. We are not compelled to plead with people to be reconciled to God.

We cannot clearly state the gospel

We have heard the gospel mentioned hundreds of times. We claim to believe it, but many evangelicals cannot clearly articulate what the gospel is. Invariably we are hesitant to tell people about it. Are you able to explain the gospel when called upon without planning? Can you summarize it in a minute or two?

We doubt the wrath of God

Do you believe in hell? Are you convinced that non-believers are under the wrath of God (Ephesians 2:3)? Part of the urgency of the gospel is the miserable condition that unbelievers are in and the sentence of judgement from God which is upon them. When we doubt the wrath of God, we lose the urgency of the gospel. 

We are too preoccupied with self

Many things preoccupy our attention. In addition, they seem more important and urgent. We have family, school, work and social responsibilities and commitments. Intentionally talking to people about the gospel is simply not high on the priority list or that important and urgent. 

So what is a Christian to do in light of these truths? For starters, it is clear evangelizing does not come accidentally; it calls for a deliberate effort on our part. Let me offer five ways we can cultivate a heart for evangelism. 

1.      Pray for the salvation of the lost with fellow Christians. 

2.      Apply the gospel in your life on a daily basis; the transforming power of the gospel should be evident in your life. 

3.      Talk about the power and impact of the gospel in your life with fellow believers. 

4.      Practice hospitality and invite people into your home with the goal of talking about the gospel with them. 

5.      Seize opportunities and be willing to take risks for the sake of the gospel. 

Facing a task unfinished

That drives us to our knees

A need that, undiminished

Rebukes our slothful ease

We, who rejoice to know Thee

Renew before Thy throne

The solemn pledge we owe Thee

To go and make Thee known[1]

---

[1]               https://store.gettymusic.com/us/song/facing-a-task-unfinished-song/

10 Traits of a Godly Man

A lot is said of what it means to be a man in our times. In addition, it seems to me with each passing year there is a growing despise for men or manly qualities. There also seems to be a decline of men with manly qualities. However, the Scriptures couldn’t be more emphatic in its call and demand of men. Be on alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). This past week I asked a group of men in our church to give a portrait of a godly man. Here are their ten traits with their one-sentence descriptions.

Relational: A godly man relates with others by accepting, forgiving, encouraging and admonishing them (Rom. 15:7)

Bold: A godly man takes a stand for his beliefs and is not ashamed of them (Prov. 28.1)

Responsible: A godly man takes responsibility for his actions without explanations or justification (Exodus 32:15-35)

Courageous: A godly man is willing to risk injury or insult to protect the vulnerable and to stand for the truth (Ps. 82:3)

Leads: A godly man leads the way and leads by example. If it means saying sorry when necessary he must do so. He leads his family spiritually. (Eph. 5:23-25)

Selfless: A godly man puts the interest of others first by serving them sacrificially. (Phil 2: 5-10)

Self-controlled: A godly man has the Spirit’s fruit of discipline over his appetites and temperament (Gal. 5:22-24)

Prayerful: A godly man prays confessing sin, confessing faith in God and dependence upon Him, sorrowing over sin and making resolution against it. (1 Tim 2:8)

Provides and Protects: A godly man labours to provide for the needs of those under his care and is alert to protect them spiritually, physically and emotionally. (1 Tim. 5:8; Prov. 4:10-15)

Fears God: A godly man fears God. This make s all other traits possible. (Prov. 1:7)

Biblical manhood is a high and hard calling. At its heart are the expectations to lovingly lead, selflessly provide and courageously protect those who are our relations and under our care. This is only possible by the grace that God provides, and Christ is our example. Dear Christian men, act like men, be strong!

Five Lessons from the Crisis

The COVID-19 crisis has been with us for a while now. It has wreaked havoc and changed the way we live our lives albeit temporarily. Like every crisis, it has evoked a wide range of reactions throughout the world. Every challenge comes with opportunities, and in this case, we have many lessons to learn. Let me propose five lessons we can learn from the COVID-19 crisis.

1. We are not in control

It is remarkable to think of the number of people and organizations, small and great, whose plans have been shattered. Events and programs that took years to plan for and that cost enormous amounts of money, in an instant, have been called off. If ever there was an illustration of how man is not in control of his affairs, COVID-19 is exhibit A. Hence, the Bible admonishes us in James 4 that our plans are subject to the will of Almighty God. If any among us was beginning to think highly of himself, this is coming as a much-needed dose of humility.

 2. We are fragile

The Bible reminds us of the frailty and brevity of our lives. It does not take much for us to lose the life we have now. We are here today, and we are a memory tomorrow. Thousands of lives have in the last four months gone just like that. They no doubt had plans and dreams, but they are no more. Dear Christian, what is your life? It is here today and gone tomorrow. 

3. We should seize opportunities 

The frailty and uncertainty of life should propel us to seize the opportunities. We cannot afford to live life with the handbrake on. It is pointless to go through the years and end up with lots of regrets. Tomorrow is not a guarantee; soon, our day will come when we breathe our last; our desire must be to hear these words “well done good and faithful servant.”  Until then, seize every minute you get to labour for your master. 

4. We should be responsible 

We are not in control, but that does not negate responsibility. We do not live in fear, but we should not be careless either. This period calls for us to evaluate our habits and observe some basic hygiene. We should take care of ourselves but also look out for our neighbour. That is called responsibility. The biblical principle is stewardship. May we be found faithful. 

5.  We should not despair 

A crisis is an opportunity to have our faith tested. It reveals what we believe, and in whom we trust. It shows us where one’s anchor lies. Many have responded to this crisis with fear and anxiety, and that soon leads to despair, a state of hopelessness. Yes, there is a pandemic, and we need to take it seriously, but no, we do not need to despair. We trust in God and commit the circumstances into his hands, and that is our source of comfort and assurance. 

What lessons have you learnt in the last few months? Do not waste this crisis. Make the most of it by learning as much as you can and seizing the opportunities. 

Antidote for a discouraged soul

Note: this is a repeat of an old post

I recently noticed that I was becoming disinterested in the events of life, my responsibilities, church meetings and people. I further noticed that I was getting mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually tired. So there I was busy with life and work, yet tired, disinterested and wondering why I should keep going. And the fact that everything was, by and large, going well simply deceived me into thinking all is well. However, the restlessness and the disinterest was not ceasing. Then one morning it hit me, I was discouraged! When I did a self-diagnosis, I found the cause was a combination of little things (i.e. persisting illness, failed plans, unmet needs/wants, etc.). I turned to God's word for comfort and encouragement for my despairing soul. So here are some antidotes that began the healing for my discouraged soul.

Repent of Pride

One brother called me to inquire what was going on, and after hearing me out said to me “you need to remember that you are dust and if you drop dead today, this world will go on just fine.” In other words, do your part and rest. There will always be something that needs to be done, but just because it has to be done does not mean I am the one who has to do it. Christopher Ash in a sermon preached at a pastors conference on burn out says, “There is only one saviour in the world and it is not you.” He later says, “God has already appointed his messiah and it is not you.” In my pride, I was beginning to think I am the god of my life, and if I did not get things going or get things done then the work will fail. I was rebuked to repent of my pride. As my dear wife likes to say, “stop thinking you are superman and rest!”

Remember and Savor the Goodness of God

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-3

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:1-5 (Emphasis added)

Meditate on the Gospel

We are often guilty of a narrow view of the gospel. Preaching through the book of Romans has given me a greater appreciation of the wonder and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the gospel, we (condemned sinners) are saved from the penalty of sin and the just wrath of God. Through the gospel, we are reconciled to God and have peace with him. The gospel liberates us from the power of sin and the law and secures us in Christ Jesus. Paul then asks if God gave us his son what else can’t he give us by his grace? He ends chapter 8 by assuring us that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even those times when trails are raging, the love of God is ever with us.

Take time to Sing

I love singing, and I find meditating on the great truths of the Scriptures through song can be quite encouraging for my soul. Jonathan Oatman’s old-time classic was a song in season. Listen to the first stanza.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.