That Printer of Udell’s: A book that changed Reagan’s life, and mine

My husband Jim and I hadn’t seen the new Reagan movie yet. We thought we were just watching another film until it became more than that. The movie is well done and worth seeing, but the book I read after watching the movie is what most impacted my thoughts, and hopefully my choices in the future.

In the movie, Reagan’s mom and her preacher give a young Ron the book That Printer of Udell’s by Harold Bell Wright. It is such a brief moment in the movie that it would be easy to miss, but I was fascinated by the idea that a book changed Reagan’s life. I asked Jim to back up the movie and hit the pause button so I could write the title down. When the movie was over, I downloaded the book.

That Printer of Udell’s

This is what President Reagan’s presidential library said about the book: “After reading this book at age 11, Ronald Reagan said it had a lasting impact on his life, shaping his own moral sense.” 

Ronald Reagan wrote a letter to Harold Bell Wright’s daughter-in-law in 1984 and told her, “I found a role model in that traveling printer whom Harold Bell Wright had brought to life. He set me on a course I’ve tried to follow even unto this day. I shall always be grateful.”

John Fund, a Wall Street Journal columnist, said, “Many of Reagan’s accomplishments, as well as his outlook on life, can be traced back to that dog-eared copy of That Printer of Udell’s.”

Why did this book change Reagan’s life?

I have always been a fan of President Reagan. He is the president who shaped my ideas of what an American leader should be. After hearing that this book changed his life, I knew I wanted to read it.  This is a synopsis of the book from his presidential library:

Ronald Reagan noted that this book provided a lasting impact on his life, shaping his own moral sense. He identified with the central character, Dick Falkner. Falkner’s childhood was one of poverty and abuse from an alcoholic father. Recognizing his life for what it was, he ran away from his home, but he could not run away from all of his problems. Sixteen years later he found himself hungry of body and empty of spirit in a small Midwestern town.

Eventually, he is taken in by George Udell, a local printer and a kind-hearted man. George Udell gives the young man a job, and something more important: spiritual support. Through hard work and Christian morals, the man who becomes known as “that printer of Udell’s” rises above his past to a new life with God, doing what he could to change the lives of the town people.

Why did this book impact Ronald Reagan as it did?

The library says this about Ronald Reagan’s mom and dad, Jack and Nelle:

Jack was born in Fulton, Illinois on July 13, 1883, and raised in the Catholic Church. Nelle was born in Fulton, Illinois on July 24, 1883. The two were married in November 1904. Jack worked as a salesman most of his adult life and suffered from alcoholism. Nelle was deeply religious, and active in the Disciples of Christ Church.

The movie depicts Reagan’s mom and her pastor giving him the book so that he can understand he has choices to make about his future. He can follow in his father’s footsteps, or he can follow in his heavenly Father’s footsteps.

Ronald Reagan would be the first to say that he did not live a perfect life. Neither does the main character of the book. But, as the book makes clear, God and his true followers offer the grace we need to make mistakes and then move forward with better choices.

The book kept me home from church

That statement may seem like an odd thing for me to put in my blog post. Did I make a wrong choice after reading a book about making God-driven choices?

It was Sunday morning, and I woke up at 4:30 a.m. because I wanted to finish reading the book before church. I finished the final page at 6:30 a.m., leaving me plenty of time to get ready. People who know me know that I am a stickler for defining “on time” as five minutes early. In contrast, one of the most frequent arguments I have with my husband is because I married a man who thinks, “I can get one more thing done, before I have to leave.” I hate to be late. He hates to waste even one minute of time being early. We have been married for forty-four years so I don’t think either of us will change on this subject, so we now try to accept our differences.

Interestingly, on Sunday morning both of us were having the same struggle. He was rushing through some important moments with God, trying to be ready for church. I was also struggling with a multitude of God–driven thoughts about the book I just finished in order to get to church. Jim and I sat down together, talked, prayed, and both agreed we were supposed to stay home that morning. 

Sunday mornings are sacred times for worship. Why did God lead us both to stay home?

I want to recommend to you That Printer of Udell’s

If you have been a reader for a while, you know that I believe there is only one perfect Book. I would never say that a work of fiction should be considered in the same way as the Bible. However, That Printer of Udell’s is an inspired novel, even in its imperfection. It was published in 1902, and there are words and phrases about people that would not be acceptable today and might keep some from recommending the book. I recommend the book anyway because if you read carefully, you will see the author is often commending the character of the people, using words that were considered acceptable in 1902. It would be a shame to miss the message of this book because of when it was written. 

C. S. Lewis was referring to the wisdom of timeless literature when he said, “It is a good rule after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.” This “old” book is one of the best books I’ve read in my lifetime.

This week, I will teach some of my favorite verses in the Bible. I often quote Colossians 3:23–24, which says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Sunday morning, serving Jesus meant to sit quietly at his feet and listen. I’m still processing all that came from that time of spiritual worship and meditation.

Sometimes worship is about being alone with God and allowing his Spirit to author your thoughts and ideas. I can honestly say I hope everyone who reads this blog post will download That Printer of Udell’s. The book changed Ronald Reagan’s life, and I believe it will likely change each of our lives as well. It is a book about practical Christianity and the hard work it takes to live in this world with God-authored priorities. Living with those sacrificial Christian priorities is “our spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1–2).

Your life has infinite possibilities

In the book, Udell’s printer, the son of an alcoholic, works his way from homelessness to spiritual strength because of God. One of my favorite quotes comes from Udell himself. He greatly admired his employee’s difficult yet successful journey in life and said, “Truly, the possibilities of life are infinite. The power of the human soul cannot be measured, and no man guesses the real strength of his closest friend.”

This book is about the strength each of us has available to us through our closest friend, Jesus Christ. That Printer of Udell’s is literature, a work of fiction. But it is a work of fiction that God used to change a man like Ronald Reagan and a woman like myself. “The possibilities of life are infinite.”  

Have any of us reached our God-given capacities yet? This book can help us consider that question and then aim for God’s answers. 

I’m taking Solomon’s advice

In the book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon asks the question: “What gain has the worker from his toil?” (Ecclesiastes 3:9). Allow me to ask that question like I think Solomon intended it: What work are you doing that matters now and eternally?

Solomon was one of the hardest-working men in Scripture. He was tasked with building the temple in Jerusalem. After that, he built the city, the nation, Israel’s armed services, and a huge family. AI estimates King Solomon’s net worth in today’s culture would be about two to three trillion dollars! 

We have many reasons to be impressed with King Solomon, but his book of Ecclesiastes ranks at the top of that list. He was a wise, diligent man of God, so I take his advice to heart. For the next couple of weeks, I will take his advice about rest and toil!

What did Solomon say about our work?

What did the most successful man in human history say about our work? Solomon wrote, “I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:10–11).

In essence, Solomon was saying that all of God’s children stay busy with the day-to-day details of life, but we are always wondering about what the future holds. We are made in the image of God and, therefore, have the capacity to understand that there is an eternity. We will always want to know more about eternity than we are able to. Only God knows the future. Humans “cannot find out what God has done” or will do. 

So, what can we know about our work that matters now and forever? Solomon gave us that answer when he said, “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man” (Ecclesiastes 3:12–13).

King Solomon advised us to work hard, be joyful in our work, and do good through our work. That advice applies to every day of our lives. Taking pleasure in our work and the fruits of our labor is “God’s gift to man.” 

I have not loved every job I have had, but I have been blessed to enjoy most of them! Today, I get to study and teach God’s word. I have the great privilege of helping people know God’s word and grow in their knowledge of God. My work is a great source of joy to me! 

King Solomon also said . . .

I can sum up the first verses of Ecclesiastes 3 by saying, “God has given us time to accomplish all that he intends for our lives.” Whenever humans think, “Oh, I need to…” and then follow that statement with the words, “But I just don’t have time,” there are only two possibilities.

  • God wants you to do something, but you overplanned your schedule with things he didn’t want you to do.
  • Or it could be that God doesn’t want you to do that thing you don’t have time for.

Ecclesiastes 3 says, “There is a time to” and a long list follows those words. The rest of the book of Ecclesiastes is how the human race, in all our “vanity,” doesn’t understand the simplicity and joy of living the life God has designed for each of us. Therefore, we don’t live with joyful appreciation for our tasks and toil. If it helps, Solomon didn’t understand that truth for much of his life either. He learned most of the lessons of Ecclesiastes the hard way, by making mistakes and then changing course as he gained wisdom from his successes and failures. That’s why the book of Ecclesiastes is rich wisdom. The words were borne out of God’s Spirit through a man of great experience. He wanted his readers to learn the lessons that God had taught him.

I love my “toil” with our ministry, but I am taking to heart Solomon’s words that there is a time to work and a time to rest from my regular work so that I can do something else. For the next couple of weeks, you will see articles from previous weeks. I’ll be spending time outlining another book I feel called to write and working on the Bible study I am teaching in the Fall.

Are you finding pleasure in your toil?

I hope you are living with God’s great joy. Solomon said that joy is God’s gift to you. Receive that gift from God today. Slow down, speed up, or just rest and be still. There is a time for all of that. 

When we lack joy in our “gift from God,” we are reminded that we are doing something other than what God has called us to accomplish. We have been provided all the time we need to fulfill our calling. I hope those words encourage you today. The world will “chase the wind,” but we don’t have to if we will chase God instead. 

I close with Nehemiah’s words to God’s people after they had returned to Jerusalem from decades of captivity in Babylon. They were tired, uncertain, and had a wall, a temple, and a city to rebuild. It would have felt like an overwhelming call. Nehemiah told the people, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

If King Solomon had been in the crowd, he would have shouted “AMEN to that!” We should, too. This day is holy, and “the Lord is your strength.”

I’ll be back in a few weeks. Thank you for sharing my “toil” and helping me accomplish the Lord’s calling for my life. I am blessed to share his word with each of you.

George Strait’s gift

It’s been a month since the horrific July 4 storm parked itself over the Guadalupe River, and death and devastation occurred. As my husband has often said, “The grace of God means that he must redeem all that he allows.” Nothing can redeem the lost lives except the knowledge that eternity has provided the believers with a life that far exceeds the life they left here on earth. Please God, may the families and friends left behind experience the peace and hope of God’s redemption.

The apostle Paul was under house arrest in Rome, uncertain of his future, when he wrote: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Paul experienced a life-changing day on the road to Damascus. It took him years to fully process what happened that day, but Paul spent the rest of his life fully devoted to his goal. He knew Jesus had gifted him to teach and preach Christian theology, and his devotion changed the world. His words are still changing the world.

How do you use your giftedness to do the same?

George Strait’s concert

George Strait offered a concert to a group of people he knew could bless those whose lives had been devastated by a flood. At the time of this writing, the “Strait to the Heart” concert has raised more than $6.25 million.

The concert was held in an arena in Boerne, Texas. The arena floor held tables that reportedly sold for $1000 a plate. There was an assortment of guests, including Max Lucado, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and a surprise visit from Garth Brooks. 

In his Facebook post Governor Abbott wrote: “Last night, I joined the King @GeorgeStrait & @garthbrooks as they raised over $6 million for Texas flood victims. Texas will recover—by God’s grace & our grit. With this support, homes will be rebuilt, communities restored, & peace returned.”

The governor also spoke to those at the concert that night. He said, “There’s a saying that we’ve all repeated many times: pray as though everything is going to be taken care of by God, but act as though everything is up to you,” Abbott told the crowd. “While we have prayed endlessly, I want you to know that we have acted endlessly also. Texas first responders have rescued or evacuated more than 1,000 people. Lives were saved because of those first responders. Give it up for our fearless first responders.”

It seems as if everyone at that concert and many more throughout the country did “give it up” to help. According to AI, the final amount of donations raised will likely exceed one hundred million dollars. 

I’m proud to be a Texan, even with the heat of August!

George Strait’s example to all of us

According to a Wikipedia article, George Strait is one of country music’s best-selling artists. He has sold more than 120 million albums, and his songs have remained a staple on country music stations, but that is not what matters most to George Strait.

Strait eloped with his high-school sweetheart, Norma, in 1971. They married in Mexico and are still married today. Their daughter, Jenifer, was born the next year. A decade later, they had a son, George Jr., also called “Bubba.” 

George Strait and his wife experienced their own tragedy when their daughter, Jenifer, was killed in a car accident at age 13. They set up a foundation in her name to do charitable work that continues today. The Straits are people of faith but are also intensely private about their personal lives. Most articles about George will mention “faith and humility” to define his character.

When a person loses a child, that tragedy becomes a defining moment in their life. After the horrible tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary school, where twenty-six children and teachers lost their lives, Strait said in an interview, “I know what these parents are goin’ through. It’s the worst thing that can happen to you in your life. To lose a child, there’s nothin’ worse than that.”

George Strait, his son Bubba, and his writing partner Dean Dillon wrote a song after Sandy Hook titled I Believe that was included on an album, thanks to Norma’s insistence. I hope you will listen to the song and read the lyrics because it defines the strength and faith the Strait family leaned on after their own tragic loss. It is that belief that continues to motivate their lives today. 

We all should be inspired to use our lives for God’s glory and purpose in that same way.

How are you using your gifts for God’s glory?

It’s comforting to read about the faith of people like George Strait and how their faith can bring about so much good in our world. Greg Abbott’s faith is evident in his political work. So many people of influence can do so much good in the world.

But what about all of us “regular” people? We don’t hold a political office, we haven’t sold millions of albums, and our lives travel in much smaller spheres of influence. At least that is what we think today.

The apostle Paul wrote letters to small churches by today’s standards. He was under house arrest in Rome, and never in a million years could he have imagined that those letters would become our words of Scripture today. He knew God had gifted him and called him to a ministry. God was working through Paul’s life to help teach and guide the people in the first century, but he had no way of knowing how God would use him in every century to come. 

Paul knew he would use his life and gifts for God’s glory. George Strait and Governor Abbott are also aiming for that goal. Paul called it “the upward goal” of life, and he taught all of us to “press on” and aim for it. 

Our spiritual influence

Our success as Christians will not be measured by the size of our sphere of influence. Instead, our success will be measured by the aim we had. Our spiritual aim is our “upward calling,” and the effort we make to achieve that goal. Paul wrote, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

What has God called you to accomplish with your life? How has God gifted you to fulfill his calling? 

You will never know, this side of heaven, what God will accomplish through your faithfulness. George Strait grew up on a ranch, married as a teenager, joined the service, went to school to be a rancher, and then became an amazing country singer who has helped raise millions of dollars for people who need help. He used his gifts and his influence to serve God’s purpose.

ALL of us can share the same “upward call of God in Christ Jesus” in our own unique way. Again, success is measured by the aim of our goal and our effort to serve Jesus through our giftedness. 

I hope we all will have a faithful and brilliantly focused day today. George Strait, Greg Abbott, and the apostle Paul would cheer us on in that direction. So will Jesus.

God’s “back to school” advice

Most of the ads and emails contain back-to-school sales this week. I remember shopping for new backpacks, school supplies, shoes, and socks—especially socks! Summer camps and vacations took a major toll on my sons’ socks, probably because they wore them without shoes. I taught second grade, and every “back to school” season has some nostalgia for me. I enjoyed all the seasons of my sons’ school years, and now I enjoy watching them get their kids ready for that first day of class.

I rarely think a back-to-school ad is for me anymore, and that led me down a thought path that brought me to this blog post. I’ve read several articles on “aging” lately discussing how we can stay healthy and sharp as we age. Every article I read talked about the great need to continue to learn. My blog post last week discussed Peter’s encouragement to “increase” in our knowledge of God. 

One consistent lesson of Scripture is that God’s children should continue learning and practicing God’s word. Solomon taught, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” (Proverbs 1:5). Recent studies have proven that continuing to learn something new is crucial for aging well. Solomon agrees!

What is God’s advice about learning?

Kids will be excited to return to school this fall. When were you last excited to learn something new? Since we should never stop learning, what new thoughts and ideas can we learn, or re-learn from God’s word?

  1. Learn now, in advance of Judgment Day. We are going to see Paul one day in heaven. It would be a good idea to remember his advice about learning. He told Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). We need to be ready to answer biblical questions people raise. We should continue to learn God’s word for the sake of our souls and our witness. Better to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” than to hear Paul say, “I told you so!”
  1. The Lord is the best teacher. Register for his class. I still remember how exciting it was to pull an early registration time. There were always certain classes I wanted and almost always a favorite professor I hoped to choose. Imagine being able to sign up for a class led by the Holy Trinity! God said, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8). Would you register for a class that Jesus was teaching, knowing that his eye would be upon you? It’s an interesting thought. I think I would love attending his class, but I might worry a bit about the final exam. 
  1. Know the “prerequisites” for your coursework. Counselors were always available to help during the week of registration. It was always important to know if a class had any prerequisites. The counselors’ job was to help us get our classes completed in the correct order. We must consider a spiritual prerequisite as we continue learning God’s word. The apostle John wrote, “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9). Our education with the Lord requires us to live in obedience to what we have already learned. God may not advance us to the next class unless we have obeyed the lessons we have already been taught.
  1. Allow God to determine your schedule and interrupt your plans. I had two roommates in college who tried to schedule their classes and lunch break around their favorite soap opera. Occasionally, a required class meant they had to miss their show for a semester. (There was no DVR during those days!) God doesn’t tend to give us schedule options either. Instead, he gives us his Spirit and the inspiration to follow his commands. Often God’s favorite teaching time is in the wee hours of the morning, when you find yourself unable to sleep. That’s true for many people in Scripture as well. Isaiah wrote, “My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). When we “yearn for” God’s word we will want to seek it, even in the middle of the night!
  1. Be careful to pursue the right degree. I changed my major once in college. I had been studying for a business degree when a series of events led me to realize that God was calling me to become a teacher. That knowledge literally changed my life. I lost some class credits but have never regretted making the necessary changes to obey God’s calling. I’ve been a teacher for my entire adult life. What is the degree that God wants you to pursue? One thing is sure: obedience to God’s calling means you will accomplish his plan for your life. God’s calling is how he wants to accomplish his work through you. Pursuing the right degree will mean you accomplish your most important job. Jesus told his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). When we pursue the right degree, we graduate with the ability to be an effective disciple of Christ wherever we go. Jesus hands us a diploma, then walks beside us for the rest of our lives – to the “end of the age.”

What will “back to school” look like in your life?

This is a good time of year to evaluate your spiritual growth and decide how to get back to a life of learning. We do not stop learning about God until we stop living on earth and meet him face to face. Maybe we will even continue to learn in heaven. Imagine signing up for the “newcomers class” in heaven, taught by Jesus and the apostles! I’m smiling at that thought!

Until then, what do you need a refresher course in? What class have you never taken because you thought it would be too difficult? Is there a course you haven’t taken because it interferes with something else you want to do? When graduating well is our goal, we will carefully sign up for every class needed. Thankfully, we have a wonderful counselor who makes sure we are able to complete everything necessary to graduate one day, with honors.

Allow all of the back-to-school ads you see serve as reminders that we all still have more to learn. The psalmist wrote, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalm 143:10). Continuing to learn is essential to aging well, for our bodies and souls. 

The good news is that graduation day will be a celebration like no other!

Peter’s list of valuable virtues

A CEO gets caught on the mega screen embracing a woman who is not his wife. As it turned out, she worked for him at what used to be his business. The Epstein files just won’t go away, and a lot of wealthy people could find themselves in a lot of trouble because of them. The nightly news provides reminders that we live in a culture where virtue grows increasingly rare. Moses told his people, “You have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). His words are equally relevant to our world today.

Why do we want to know about the sins of others? Why do we want to read about their failures? I suppose there are a lot of different answers to those questions, but maybe there is a better question for us to ask. We know from Scripture that everyone sins and falls short of God’s highest standards (Romans 3:23). What can we remember that will help us maintain God’s standards in our lives?

We know we will occasionally trip up, but how can we catch ourselves and keep from falling? Peter listed seven qualities we can pursue and act on that will minimize our mess-ups. Peter said, “If these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8).

Let’s look at Peter’s list today and make his words more than just lessons to learn. We need to make his words our lessons to live by.

A little background to this list

Whenever I teach from the letter of 2 Peter, I remind those listening that these verses are among Peter’s last words to the churches and congregations the apostle had nurtured, taught, and loved for many years. By this time, these churches were filled with both Jewish converts and Gentiles, but mainly with Gentiles. 

Peter likely expected his death to be imminent at this point because Nero had begun to persecute Christians in vile and heinous ways. Therefore, when we look at Peter’s list of Christian virtues and understand that these words were to encourage a steadfast faith in people whose lives were being tormented, we can better understand the significant value of these truths. 

Peter wanted his people to survive, but even more, he wanted them to thrive and one day, arrive in heaven having lived on earth for the glory of Christ.

How do we do that? Let’s look at Peter’s list of valuable virtues.

Peter’s list of valuable virtues

Peter wrote, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2 Peter 1:5–7). James taught, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Peter teaches us to add virtuous works to our faith so that we will not be “ineffective” and “unfruitful.” We need to look at Peter’s list and consider his teaching to be the best instruction for protecting our witness and living our lives for Christ’s glory.

Peter’s list:

  • Knowledge – the best way to know God is through his word and through his Word—his Son. God’s word is “the lamp to our feet and the light to our path” (Psalm 119:105). Haven’t you noticed that when your personal Bible study grows weak, so does your witness? Bible study is the best way to know all the practical truths God knew we would need. Read your Bible and listen to the words like God is speaking them directly to you – because he is!
  • Self-control – which is literally a “God-controlled self.” God gave us his Holy Spirit so that we would have his word, his strength, and his help 24/7 if we would just “keep in step” with God’s Spirit (Galatians 5:25). It isn’t hard to notice when we get out of control and start to lose it. How quickly will you breathe out the angst and breathe in the presence of God’s Spirit? Imagine having spiritual eyes to see Jesus standing right beside you! That one vision would likely impact everything that happened next.
  • Steadfastness – the ability to not “grow weary in well doing.” When does your spiritual drive wear out? Weariness happens to all of us, especially after a busy time of ministry. God wants us to allow the Holy Spirit to be our strength, so we are designed to wear out without him. God wants to spend time with us, so we are created with an enormous need and hunger for his presence. Steadfastness is fueled by our time with God and reliance on his power.
  • Godliness – the qualities of God infused in us. Godliness is “God’s likeness” in our character. 1 John 4:8 tells us, “God is love.” When we are infused with God’s love, his very character and qualities can overflow from our lives into the lives of others. Godliness is abnormal, which can cause us not to seek that virtue. There has been a lot of emphasis in recent decades on showing ourselves to be “normal” in the eyes of the world. Christians have the Son of God indwelling their lives. We are abnormal because we are already eternally saved and are being sanctified by our Creator. Godliness will sometimes cause others some discomfort, but it is also the quality that will show them who God is in our lives and what he can do in their lives. We are still on earth and sometimes fail, but we don’t have to fail as often. We need to trust and rely on the power of God to infuse our lives with his character. God is love, and we can provide his love to others.
  • Brotherly affection – Jesus said, “All people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). He told the Pharisees and Sadducees that loving God was the first commandment, and the second was like it – to love your neighbor as you love yourself. You can know you are living for God when you realize you are loving others as God would.
  • Love – this is “agape love.” Human beings cannot produce the love of God. We must receive his agape love if we want to give that love to others. We cannot love perfectly like God, but through his Holy Spirit, God can love others perfectly through us.

The result of living with valuable virtues

Peter told the first-century Christians to live with those virtues because God’s rewards are eternal. He told the churches he loved, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:10–11). If we live with the virtues that Peter has listed, we will “never fall.” That is a powerful promise from an apostle of Christ. Every act of obedience to Peter’s list provides you with eternal life filled with God’s riches. We will never be perfect, but if we seek the Spirit’s help, we can definitely live perfected lives. 

Which virtues do you want the Lord to strengthen in your spiritual life? All of us are better at seeking some than we are at others. That said, Jesus was perfect at living with all of these virtues. His Spirit is ready to respond if we just yield our lives to his power.

The evening news will continue to highlight people’s flaws and mistakes. Virtuous goals can highlight Jesus as the light, the strength, and the source of our Spirit-led lives. We can’t do it without him, but we can do it with him. 

Spiritual Longevity

I’m not sure how AI figured out I was officially a candidate for anything about aging and longevity, but I have been inundated with emails. Every morning, I wake up to product ads seeking to sell me anything that will make my joints feel better, make my brain more alert, or provide a solution for all the wrinkles, etc. AI is looking for all of us, and eventually we will be found. Maybe I should spend some time googling baby strollers instead of knee braces, but who am I kidding? I would just get more emails. However, it would be fun to confuse AI, even if just for a while.

I recently read some excellent articles on aging and longevity. I thought about including the links for all of you, but if you clicked on even one of those articles, your inbox would fill up in a hurry. Those articles did inspire the path I want to take with this blog post. 

As I read those articles and learned what I should and shouldn’t do, what I should and shouldn’t eat, and more things that I already knew, but didn’t always practice, I began to think. People put a lot of effort into helping us age well physically, but do we get the same attention to help us maintain our spiritual lives? 

Our souls are eternal, and frankly, our bodies are not. Are we feeding our minds, exercising our spirituality, and caring for our souls so they will stay strong and vibrant until the day we enter heaven’s reward?

What can we do to maintain and increase our spiritual longevity?

What should we be consuming?

Those articles I read were full of information about the foods we should and shouldn’t eat to keep our bodies and minds strong. To sum it up, eat what your grandparents ate, and you’ll be better off. The articles were good reminders, but not new information.

So it is with what we need to feed our minds. We know that Paul taught us “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

How would our souls be impacted if we treated our media consumption the same way we treat our food consumption? We know what happens to our bodies if we eat French fries, cheesecake, onion dip, and donuts. So it is with our souls when we watch too much opinionated news, too many movies with foul language and angry violence, and too many comedians who want us to laugh at someone else’s expense.

The old adage is, “You are what you eat.” We are being warned to limit our processed foods, and we need to limit processed thinking as well. We can consume too much processed “spiritual” food. That’s what Paul was talking about when he told the Corinthians, “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready” (1 Corinthians 3:2). 

The “milk” Paul spoke of was mother’s milk, fed to an infant. The mother eats food, which her body then processes into milk. An infant is unable to consume anything else. Paul’s lesson: Many in the Corinthian church had remained spiritual infants because they had not yet learned to consume God’s word of truth for themselves, through the power of the Holy Spirit. They had not learned to walk with a personal relationship to God. Like a small child, they still needed someone else to hold their hand to keep them from tripping.

I’m grateful to all those who read this blog post. But my goal in writing is always to teach God’s word so that you can consume Scripture more easily. As we age, we can grow weaker spiritually if we rely on what we already know or receive from others. When did you last open God’s word and hear him speak directly to your heart and mind?

How should we be exercising our faith?

Physical longevity requires us to keep working our muscles with daily exercise. If we sit too much, we grow weaker. Spiritual longevity requires us to exercise our faith.

Paul taught, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). It’s easy to convince ourselves that we have worked hard our entire lives and now it’s time to let someone else carry the load. Scripture teaches us never to grow weary of doing good. There is never a time when we can give up sharing the gospel message with others. There is never a time we are allowed to only hang out with “saints” and let someone else handle the “sinners.” 

Have you grown weary doing the work of your witness? We have planted thousands of seeds into the lives of others. Our job is to keep nurturing the growth, pulling the weeds, and continually bringing the water of life to their souls. We aren’t done until the harvest. We aren’t done until they have produced the fruits of the Spirit in their lives. When your “crops” bear fruit, it’s time to hoe another row and plant more seeds. The work of our witness isn’t complete until we wake up in heaven one day!

My mom is in memory care now, and every morning they do their stretch classes, as most of them sit in their wheelchairs. Some can barely follow and barely lift their arms and legs – but they keep trying. I love to sit with them sometimes and cheer them on. They are close to the finish line but aren’t there yet! One of the ladies was married to an Assembly of God preacher, and she also did a LOT of work in their churches. It’s a joy to encourage her as she tries to do ministry in memory care. She can’t remember many things, but the Holy Spirit still speaks the word of God through her. She is still working her witness, and I am blessed to know her.

How will you pursue spiritual longevity?

One of the things I often read about in those longevity articles is the importance of continuing to pursue something new. The articles suggest a new hobby, a new book, a new exercise, or a new class. We always need to be learning and trying new things. How will you do that spiritually? How might you pursue God in a new way? Who is a new friend or family member that needs to grow spiritually? How will you share God’s wisdom and your time with that person?

Spiritual longevity should be pursued with as much, or more fervor, than we pursue our physical longevity. Those articles I read will probably cause me to take a few more steps, eat fewer sweets, and learn new things. I hope this article will help us pursue a lot more that is “new” for us with God, too. 

Hunter Thompson has a quote that works equally well for our earthly lives and our eternal souls. He said, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body. But rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘WOW! WHAT A RIDE!”

Now there’s a way to enter glory that will make Jesus grin! I look forward to seeing that smile, don’t you?

When “Why” Has No Answer

Our faith is in the God of all creation, the God who is love (1 John 4:8). His will is sovereign, and according to Ephesians 1:11, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” So then, if all things occur according to the counsel of his will, why did our perfect God allow the river to rise and people to perish?

What do we do when our “why” questions have no answers? The only solution I’ve ever settled on is this: When we can’t understand God’s sovereign will, we can pray for the strength and wisdom to accept it. That is the prayer that God will answer.

Joni Eareckson Tada was severely injured as a teenager in a freak diving accident, and she never walked again. Her journey with God has been unique, making her words all the more profound. She said, “Real satisfaction comes not in understanding God’s motives, but in understanding His character, in trusting in His promises, and in leaning on Him and resting in Him as the Sovereign who knows what He is doing and does all things well.”

Why do we feel grief for these we don’t know?

At church on Sunday, many spoke about their heavy hearts and the tears they had shed over the news of the flood victims. Christians in the state of Texas and around our country are grieving. Why does the loss of so many innocent men, women, and children cause our hearts to break? Most of the people were strangers, although almost everyone in Texas had a connection to someone whose life was impacted by the flood.

I was listening to the news when they said, “A Christian camp,” and I realized why my feelings were actually grief, rather than just sadness and concern. Those at Camp Mystic and many others who died were our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and that spiritual relationship explains our grief. We are God’s family, and we need to remember that the Lord grieves the pain of his children, too.

First-century Christians believed Christ’s return would be imminent. When some began to die before Christ returned, Paul addressed their doubts, saying, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as the others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Christians grieve with hope. But we also need to remember that hope is not the same thing as healing.

Why is hope not healing?

I read a friend’s post about the flood on Facebook. This friend lost her husband to suicide and later lost her daughter in that same way. She is a strong Christian but has experienced the depths of grief more than most people ever will. I wanted to share her words with all of you because while our lives were impacted by grief, there are many whose lives have been changed forever. How can we help people who lose a person they love, especially a child? My friend answered that question well, saying:

Everything has changed for the parents of the lost children. They will need gentle loving compassion for the rest of their lives. They need us to remember their child’s name and to speak of them often. They need the grace to heal in their way and their time. Remember, grocery shopping will be a nightmare as they see all the things their little one ate, maybe ask if you can do that for them for a while; church will be both comforting and painful, they will struggle with the life-long concept that their child is gone, and even though they know she’s in Heaven, they want their child here with them much more; the 4th of July will take on a new meaning for the parents, while the rest of the country celebrates, they will mourn. The best thing you can say to the parents is, I cannot imagine what you are going through. Because it is true and validating. Yes, God is close to the broken-hearted; it’s a good thing because otherwise the loneliness and grief would be too much.

As Christians, we should take a moment to pray and ask God to give us a heightened sensitivity to everyone we know who has ever lost a child. We watched a horrific tragedy on our television sets. Those friends re-lived their grief because it will always be part of their lives. All around us today are people who will need to receive our compassion and, once again, choose to trust God’s hope one more time. We need to be careful not to “move on” or move away from the people who will return to their grief for the rest of their lives.

Why do we need to act on our grief now?

Grief for others is a powerful motivator that draws us nearer to God with a compassionate desire to serve. We are also fallen human beings. Chances are, when the news speaks of the floods less often, we will think of the flood victims less often as well. The time to act is right now, as God prompts us, not when we plan to get around to it.

  • Remember, every news story can prompt us to pray. Pray as you watch the story, listen to the victims speak, and hear about their needs. Don’t wait to add it to your prayers later on because those prayers often don’t happen.
  • Pray for everyone to be found. Their families just want them back, even if it is just to make plans for their burial. 
  • Pray for the hearts and minds of the first responders. One man serving as a search team diver said, “It’s always hard. No one I ever search for under the water is still alive.” 
  • Give to the organizations that provide relief efforts for these tragic situations. My husband and I like to give to Texans on Mission because, in addition to their amazing ability to serve physical needs, they also give Jesus to meet spiritual needs.
  • Pray for God’s Spirit to author your words and fill your life. There will be many conversations about this flood, and it’s natural for people to want to blame other people. It’s more comforting to find blame in others than admit we live in a fallen world we can’t control. You know Jesus, and you received the power of his Holy Spirit when you made him your Lord. Do not underestimate his ability to author your words and your character, and use your knowledge of his word to bring light and hope into a conversation. Speak when Jesus wants to speak through you, and others will hear his wisdom in your words.
  • Pray not to “grow weary in well doing.” Christians are the light of the world, and dark days are redeemed when his light in us draws others to seek Christ. We can be kind, loving, patient, and giving. And then we can be all of those things again and again.

The “why” has no answer, but our witness will speak volumes

Paul said, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Work hard this week to bring Jesus into the difficult conversations. Let your love and patience stand out like a light in a dark room. Allow the Spirit of Christ to guide your path. Let’s all do without something to give that money to those who need it the most. Even the widow’s mite works wonders with God’s blessings. And let’s pray without ceasing for those whose pain will never cease here on earth.

I don’t know why God our Father allowed such a flood. I do know that he has promised to redeem the pain if his children will be called to his purpose (Romans 8:28). How will you follow his calling and seek his redemption this week?

Our history as one nation under God

Ronald Reagan was speaking at a Dallas Prayer Breakfast in 1984 when he remarked, “If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.” I’m admittedly a huge fan of Ronald Reagan. Last year, I enjoyed reading That Printer of Udell’s, the book Reagan said changed his life. Like anyone, he wasn’t perfect but genuinely tried to be his best.

So much of Reagan’s character was a product of his own journey with God. He was a natural leader and gifted in his ability to craft the words he spoke. The quote above is a good example of that. I often wonder about, and look for, the next Reagan who will lead our country with great strength and an effort to aim at godly morality.

Reagan was the president who most influenced and shaped my political opinions about who should or shouldn’t be our country’s leader. There have been many imperfect presidents in our history whom I would have been proud to vote for.

Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson is an interesting man, and I have wondered if he were to run for president today, would he be elected? He, like Reagan, was a wordsmith with a persuasive personality. His personality and character were problematic in those early years, and he likely would never have survived today’s media scrutiny. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to imagine what our Constitution would sound like if it had been written by someone else.

It was utterly necessary for people who had to use a quill, ink, and parchment paper to give great thought to their words before writing them down. They had no easy way to delete anything from a piece of parchment; therefore, the words were so often profound in their depth of thought.

It was Thomas Jefferson who penned, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

If we carefully consider Jefferson’s words, we can learn much about the thoughts that formed the essential doctrines of America’s foundational beliefs.

  • Truth should be self-evident.
  • All people are created equal, even though people are not the same.
  • There is a Creator who has created us with certain unalienable rights.
  • Everyone created has the right to live their life.
  • Everyone created has the freedom to make choices in life.
  • Everyone created has the right to pursue happiness.

God created us in his image with the freedom to make choices. Then, God gave us his word, the truth, so we could make the right choices as we pursue our freedoms. The truths of God’s word become self-evident when we submit ourselves to our Creator’s laws and lessons.

Thomas Jefferson was a great mind and politician, but in many ways, not a great man by today’s standards. He would most likely not have been elected in today’s political climate. However, Americans would have missed a lot if we hadn’t listened to Thomas Jefferson.

John Adams

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were close friends who worked together to create the founding principles of America’s Declaration of Independence. They were lifelong friends who held one another in high regard but had strong political disagreements. Did you know that they went a full decade at one point without speaking to one another?

An interesting article stated, “These friends had a fight that temporarily ended their relationship. In the election of 1800, Jefferson beat Adams and became the third President of the United States. Their feud began when Adams gave political appointments to some of Jefferson’s enemies right before Jefferson took office. Jefferson felt that Adams had betrayed him. After this fight, the two did not speak for the next ten years.”

Later, friends helped the two men reconcile, and they remained friends for the remainder of their lives. It seems that a lot could be learned today from a healthy knowledge of our country’s history. Both men believed in a Creator, yet history shows us that Jefferson’s faith was much less biblical than that of John Adams.

John Adams understood that Scripture was the foundation for truth and that every word was of God. Jefferson actually created his own Bible by cutting out every reference to miracles, the divinity of Jesus, and his resurrection. Jefferson appreciated the morality of the Christian faith, but Adams appreciated biblical faith and the truth of God’s word.

John Adams said, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” Adams understood that biblical Christianity offered truth that could consistently endure and govern people for all time, if they chose it as their guide.

Ronald Reagan

As we celebrate our nation this week, it’s good to realize that we are an imperfect country led by imperfect people. That has always been true. I have always been a fan of Ronald Reagan because he worked hard to aim at the highest standards for himself and others. He learned to do that because he was raised by a father who did not live with those aims. Ronald Reagan was a young man when his mom and her preacher handed him That Printer of Udel’s by Harold Bell Wright. I have to admit that the book impacted my own life as well.

I think Reagan was also a gifted wordsmith and someone whose quotes I like to read. Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.” Jesus said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). The apostle Paul wrote, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). 

As we celebrate our freedom this week, let’s remember what the Lord set us free to accomplish. We are called to be his disciples and inspired by the Holy Spirit, whose truth transcends all politics. 

Our great political leaders have never been perfect. Our Creator, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is never anything except perfect. If we vote first for his causes and serve his truth, the rest of our lives will be greatly blessed. May you celebrate Independence Day governed by God’s freedoms.

How should we pray for Israel and ourselves?

It’s been a busy week, filled with breaking news. Tensions are high, but so is the praise for those who planned and executed the attack on the nuclear facilities in Iran. Most of the world is grateful that Iran’s capabilities were minimized, but the future remains uncertain. We have many reasons to be in prayer during these tense days.

Israel has always known it needed the help only God could provide from his heavenly throne. Because of its key location, others have always coveted the land. Much of today’s news highlights the brilliance of the Israeli people and their military leaders. I’ve repeatedly said that David’s “genetics” can be seen in many of their war strategies. 

King David led many battles during his lifetime and was known for his keen ability to strategize. Why was David such a successful and powerful leader? The answer to that question can help us navigate our questions these days. We should consider praying like the Israelites were taught to pray for King David when we pray for Israel. Psalm 20 has some well-known verses that I find myself praying for Israel today, and those verses are essential for our own country as well.

The timeless wisdom of Psalm 20

Psalm 20 was written by David and used by his people as they prayed for him in times of battle. The psalm begins with the prayer, “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!” (Psalm 20:1–2). 

Psalm 20 also says, “Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:6–7). 

A lot of news has explained the munitions of the countries involved, and many of the war plans are made with great consideration to those bombs, planes, etc., in mind. You might say that those munitions are the “chariots and horses” of our day. 

Most of us still trust in chariots and horses, but David’s psalm would encourage us to trust instead in “the name of the Lord our God.” God’s name is God’s holy, perfect character. When we trust in God, we trust him for his perfect help.

I’m grateful to live in a nation with powerful weapons that our enemies should respect and fear. I’m grateful that we can help discourage or prevent the world from engaging in nuclear war. I appreciate our “chariots and horses,” but choosing to carefully trust only in God is an effort. What are God’s plans for the world and all the people who are living in danger today?

Living in a Tom Clancy novel

Jim and I re-watched The Sum of All Fear, the movie based on Tom Clancy’s novel. When the movie was over, I was surprised at how relevant it felt. I didn’t feel like I was watching a work of fiction as much as I felt like I was viewing actual possibilities. I often feel the same way when I read a Joel Rosenberg novel. The images on the screen and the words of the novels depict nuclear explosions that bring harm to this country and others.

Recognizing that these possibilities are real isn’t comforting. However, living in fear of those possibilities would be wrong. God’s word clearly commands, “Do not fear.” It’s helpful when we can gain some comfort in our government’s ability to keep us safe. They have amassed many “chariots and horses.” But even advanced intelligence-gathering techniques cannot equal the amazing abilities of our Creator, God. 

God perfectly understands every moment of history, and the same “right hand” that created this world continues to accomplish his perfect will for it.

Everything on earth has a beginning and an end

God has made it clear that this world is not his permanent plan. He told the prophet Isaiah, “For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Jesus told John in the Revelation, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more” (Revelation 21:1).

Those important passages can give us an eternal perspective on everything we see on our screens. It is amazing to realize that when we get to heaven, the “former things will not be remembered.” God told Isaiah that they wouldn’t even “come to mind.” When we think of heaven, we think of it with earthly images and ideas. When the Bible describes heaven, the words used are limited to our earthly vocabulary and ability to comprehend. Heaven is so much more than we can understand today.

Everything on earth has a beginning and an end. Every world power, city, person, and tradition or practice will one day end. Some things will last longer than others, but nothing on earth was made to last forever.

How do we pray for Israel today?

We need to pray that Israel will turn to Almighty God for every answer they need. We also need to pray that Israel will seek a right relationship with God through their Messiah, God’s Son. We need to pray for those brilliant people to recognize their overwhelming need for God’s blessings through Jesus.

Psalm 20 is speaking about David’s enemies when it says, “They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. O Lord, save the king! May he answer us when we call” (Psalm 20:8–9). Jesus taught us to pray to God, saying, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus didn’t simply teach us to ask that of God. He taught us to pray those words so we would want Jesus, our Messiah, to be our King. All people involved in this war today need to choose that relationship so they can be Spirit-led in their prayers and ideas. We can and should pray that God will save our kings. The more necessary prayer, however, is to pray that the people of our world will make Christ their King and want his will and purpose for these days.

This world will not last forever, but those who choose Jesus as their Lord will. God so loved this world that he gave us Jesus, and anyone who believes in him as Lord and Savior will be saved. The single greatest need anyone has is their salvation. 

Who needs you to pray those prayers for them today? May God bless our prayers in miraculous ways for our nations and the sake of his perfect name.

The seven churches: Thyatira

Thyatira was a much different city than the first three addressed in the Revelation. Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum were all critical cities in the Roman Empire and home to some of Rome’s most influential leaders. They were favored cities by Roman officials and for those involved in commerce.

Thyatira was about forty-five miles further inland and east of Pergamum. It was known for its many industries. The city manufactured what was purchased and shipped from the ports of Ephesus and Smyrna. Christ’s words to Thyatira represent the strengths and weaknesses of the people living in that city and the Christians in the early church there.

Jesus wrote to the pastor of the church in Thyatira identifying himself as, “the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (Revelation 2:18). This is the only time in the book of Revelation that the phrase “Son of God” appears. The emperor worship included the phrase “Caesar the son of god,” and quite possibly, Jesus is emphasizing his character to those in the church who were dabbling in that cult worship. 

Jesus’ eyes were described as “a flame of fire” to indicate his ability to burn through the outward appearance and discern the truth. It’s challenging to know what his feet as burnished bronze was intended to mean, but working with bronze was a significant trade in Thyatira and something they would have been familiar with. Those words could refer to the immoveable perfection of Christ and his words.

Jesus wanted the church in Thyatira to know him as God’s perfect Son, able to discern the truth in each person’s heart and mind.

Who in the church did Christ commend?

Jesus said, “I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.” Jesus knew those who were the faithful in Thyatira. Their lives were filled with Christian character and Christian service. They were people who had remained faithful to the truth of the gospel teaching, even under persecution. They were people who chose to endure and withstand the influence of those who were teaching a different message. They were also people who had grown stronger in their relationship to God, evidenced by their latter works exceeding the first.

The letter of 1 Peter was written to and circulated among the churches in Asia Minor. It’s possible that the faithful in Thyatira knew and remembered what Peter had taught them in 1 Peter 2:2: “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” Jesus commended those in the church who had continued to grow in their faith.

An article on spiritual growth from Christianity.com quotes Oswald Chambers’ words from his classic devotional, My Utmost For His Highest. Chambers said this about our need to grow and mature as Christians consistently: “It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death. He wants you to be a ‘living sacrifice’—to let Him have all your strengths that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus (Romans 12:1). This is what is acceptable to God.”

Will our “works” today exceed those of previous years and be judged acceptable to God? Christians are like the trees of this world. If we aren’t growing in the Lord, then our faith is beginning to falter and die. Jesus commended those in Thyatira whose latter works exceeded their first works. They were models for our spiritual growth.

Jesus’ words to those whose faith had changed course

Some in the church of Thyatira had ceased to grow spiritually, and their works proved that. Jesus told them, “I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:19). There was a woman in the church who was believed by some to be a prophetess, a person who was able to speak for God. Women who taught and preached in the first century were valued and respected as messengers of God. In Thyatira, however, there was a woman who some people had assumed to be a prophetess, but she, like Jezebel in the Old Testament, had led God’s people to believe wrong teaching.

According to Jesus, this influential woman, this Jezebel, was “seducing” the weaker members of the church “to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.” Like most of these Roman cities, there were plenty of places where cult worship was offered. Apparently, this “Jezebel” had taught the people in the church that it was fine to tolerate, and even participate in, the so-called worship offered at these idolatrous places.

Jesus doesn’t condemn these practices without offering the way out of them. The first thing Christ offers those who have fallen away from the true faith is the chance to repent. Jesus tells them what will happen to the “Jezebel” and those who have listened to her saying, “Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works” (Revelation 2:22). Jesus is definite about the fact that God will judge those who falsely speak for God and those who tolerate or follow wrong teaching. But, before judgment, there is the opportunity to repent, to stop and turn back to God.

Why will God harshly judge Jezebel and those who follow her if they do not repent? Jesus said, “And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:23). Jesus, with eyes of blazing fire, can discern the hearts and minds of all people. His purpose in bringing judgment on the unfaithful is that people may recognize him as the Son of God and worship him by following his word. Consequence for our sins is often the best road to repentance. Discerning what is false is often the road to truth. The word of God is clear. God will not allow people to misrepresent his character or his word of truth to others. At some point, there will be judgment for that sin.

Who is an overcomer?

Jesus said, “But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden.  Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations” (Revelation 2:24–26). Jesus encouraged the Christians of Thyatira, and every Christian, to hold onto the purity of God’s word. Our steadfast faith in God’s truth will help us conquer our sins and continue to serve God until the end. Jesus has authority over the nations. He will rule over and even destroy every sin, or every person that comes against his children. When we remain faithful, we remain under the authority and protection of Christ himself.

The final promise to the overcomer

Jesus said, “And I will give him the morning star” (Revelation 2:28). Jesus reminded those who had remained faithful that he would give them the hope of the coming day. The morning star was the last star seen on the horizon as the sun rose. The morning star was the promise of no more darkness. That promise was also for those who would, in obedience, repent and turn back to faith.

To all of us concerned about the churches in our culture who tolerate teaching that is not biblical truth, hear Jesus say: Do not be influenced by their teaching. Continue instead to grow with a steadfast faith in the pure truth of Scripture. Jesus also would want us to have ears to hear, “I am your Morning Star,” your promise that one day there will be no more darkness. 

Let’s commit our lives to a continued effort to grow, and may our growth be seen in the works we do for others. Jesus calls and equips us to be overcomers. We have an eternity with Jesus, the Morning Star, to look forward to someday.