The seven churches: Sardis

When you were ready to choose a church to join, how did you decide which churches to visit? Did your choice follow an internet search, a friend’s advice, or maybe the congregation’s history of success? Jesus’ words to the church of Sardis speak to the importance of having a genuine, active faith and witness to the world, rather than simply relying on an appearance or a past reputation of faith.

Sardis was about thirty miles south of Thyatira and an important city for commerce and strategic military defense. A road ran through it, and because of its topography, it was used as a refuge when the people were threatened. Historically, the city had only been taken captive twice because natural, almost vertical rock walls surrounded it on three sides. The region was wealthy because of its commerce and trade, especially wool and other fabrics.

Sardis boasted an acropolis dedicated to Artemis and a large necropolis, or burial ground, just a few miles from town. Sardis was a strong city for the first two hundred years of Christian history, but was likely showing signs of decline when John received the Revelation.

Jesus identifies himself to the church in Sardis as the one “who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars” (Revelation 3:1a). Jesus wants the church to know two essential truths: 

  • He controls the seven spirits of God. 
  • His Spirit bestows the blessings, guidance, and judgment upon all the churches.

What did Jesus know about Sardis and want them to do?

Jesus said, “I know your works. You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1b). The city of Sardis was practically immune to attack from foreign enemies and comfortable economically. The city’s citizens were thought to be easily successful and generally unafraid. The city had an excellent reputation because of its history, but a closer look revealed the people had grown weak and apathetic because of the ease of their lives.

Apparently, the city’s apathy had also influenced the Christian church. Jesus told that church, “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God” (Revelation 3:2). 

Jesus knew apathy was a greater weakness than people realized. Jesus knew their works, whether they were of God or not. The church’s reputation was good with others, but not with God. 

Why is apathy unacceptable to God?

God’s standards for our lives are much higher than we tend to recognize. So often, we measure the success of our spiritual lives by the standards of those around us. We tend to compare our church programs with those of a sister church in the same city. Reputations are often gained by using earthly standards rather than God’s. Jesus taught Sardis that their works might be good in the eyes of others, but God disapproved of them.

Jesus said, “I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.” God’s biblical standards are the only standards we can use to measure spiritual success. Our works might earn us a good reputation with others, but if we haven’t been obedient to God’s Spirit-led guidance, our works are “incomplete” in his eyes. Our good ideas can earn us a good reputation, but following God’s plan is the only option for those who want to please him.

What is God’s solution for apathy?

Jesus clearly taught the church in Sardis what they needed to do:

  • “Wake up” and “strengthen what remains and is about to die.
  • “Remember” the teaching they had received and heard.
  • “Obey” and “repent” so they could return to God’s favor and blessing.

Jesus told the church, “If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” Jesus wanted them to know that God would judge their lack of genuine, Spirit-led faith if they did not change. They needed to stop accepting what was unacceptable to God. Their reputation was good with others, but it was God’s expectations they were required to fulfill.

What is God’s reward for those who remain strong?

It seems most in the church had relaxed God’s standards for their faith, but not all. Jesus pointed out that the church still had a few people who had not “soiled their garments” and walked obediently with Jesus in a pure way, wearing “white.” Jesus commended these, saying, “They are worthy.” (Revelation 3:4)

No church is filled with saints or hypocrites. Every church has both, and there is grace for the humanity we all wrestle to overcome. We can’t completely avoid sin, but Jesus told us that through his grace and power, we can conquer that sin.

Peter preached the gospel message to the Jewish people who had gathered in the temple portico. They had just witnessed the healing of the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful. Peter called on them to: “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19).

Those who accept Jesus can know their salvation is assured. But our faith can become apathetic over time. Just as Jesus told the church in Ephesus to return to their first love, he also told the church in Sardis that their garments had become soiled. Christians must notice when we have lost our ability to walk with Jesus “in white.” Everyone, including apathetic Christians, needs to repent of the sins we can easily accumulate. Those sins might not impact our reputation with others, but they certainly change our walk with Jesus.

What did Jesus promise those who conquer their apathy?

Jesus said, “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels” (Revelation 3:5).

The solution to spiritual apathy is to step into a vital faith relationship with Christ as our King. Those who are saved will be clothed in “white” and found “worthy.” A Christian’s name will never be removed from the book of life. And Jesus will stand with us before his Father and before his angels and confess our “name,” our character in Christ, to them.

We can lose the vitality of our daily walk with God. Thankfully, through repentance, we can gain it back. We can never lose our salvation, but we can lose some of the heavenly reward Jesus taught us to “store up” in heaven through our genuine, Spirit-led works here on earth.

Imagine hearing Jesus speak your name to God and the host of angels in heaven saying, “This name is written in the book of life.” Then hear Jesus share with God all you accomplished in obedience to his Spirit. Don’t we all long to hear our Abba say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

What do we need an ear to hear?

The Holy Spirit speaks these lessons to the seven churches in Revelation. Every church and every Christian has been given God’s Holy Spirit and his holy standards. We are called to evaluate our lives by those standards. 

What happened in Sardis still happens today. We judge people, churches, and even ourselves by a “reputation” when we need to use God’s biblical standards instead. We might appear better than some, but the only reputation that matters is where we stand in God’s eyes.

Let’s ask God to show us any areas of apathy in our spiritual lives. Then, let’s repent of our sins, praying for God’s forgiveness. After that prayer, we can put on those clean white clothes and walk closely with Jesus once again.

The seven churches: Ephesus

The seven churches of Revelation are located in Asia Minor, or modern-day Turkey. The Revelation is John’s letter that traveled to many churches, so his messages were for every church then and now. Yet, Jesus pointed out the specific strengths and weaknesses of each church, illustrating how those strengths and weaknesses can impact a church community as well as an individual’s walk of faith.

I remember the first time I walked through the streets of Ephesus, amazed at the beauty and grandeur of the ruins and antiquities. You can make a virtual “visit” if you have never been there. Ephesus was a favorite city for some of Rome’s wealthy leaders. It’s located on the Aegean Sea with cool ocean breezes, making summer heat more bearable. In addition, it was located on a river that brought a continual source of fresh water. The wealthy from Rome could have owned a summer home in the city and often retired to that part of the world. Ephesus was also a major port city, making numerous goods from around the world available to those living there.

Why might Jesus have started with Ephesus?

In his revelation to John, Jesus mentions seven key churches in Asia Minor. Paul visited most of these churches on his missionary journeys. Ephesus was central to the region’s commerce, culture, and politics, and most Christians receiving John’s letter would have traveled to that city at some point.

Ephesus, a cultural seaport city, was well known for its many pagan practices and temples. The temple of Artemis, or Diana, is considered one of the “seven wonders of the world.” Diana was the goddess of fertility, and “worship” in that temple usually involved prostitution. Many sacrificial altars in the city involved dark and evil practices. 

It is thought that John brought Mary, the mother of Jesus, to Ephesus when they were forced to flee from Jerusalem. There is a home that is thought to be where she lived. The ruins of the Basilica of St. John are located next to the site where the apostle is said to have been buried. John ministered to all the churches mentioned in the Revelation, but apparently, Ephesus was his “home,” and Jesus spoke to that church first.

What did Jesus say about the church in Ephesus?

Jesus said, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write, ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:1–3).

The “angel” is likely the pastor who would have read John’s message to the church. The words read are the words of Christ who walks among the churches—the “golden lampstands” (Revelation 1:20). The job of the church and its congregation was to share the light of Christ with others. 

Those in the Ephesian church were given reasons to be proud of their character. John praised them for:

  • Their works or their Christian deeds done for the sake of the church and one another. They “toiled” to serve Christ through the church with patient endurance.
  • They did not put up with the people who “called themselves apostles” but were actually “evil.” John had written letters to these churches warning them to pay no attention to the Gnostics, a group that distorted the gospel of Christ and the original apostolic truth of Paul and others. The Gnostics’ message was considered more popular in Greco/Roman culture, and they had successfully turned some people away from the truth. The Ephesian church had not grown weary of faithfully honoring the pure truth of the Christian faith.

Jesus also said, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4). It’s difficult to fully understand what Jesus meant when he spoke those words. We know these churches had likely existed for about forty or fifty years by this time. Many in the early church were convinced that Christ would return quickly, yet decades had passed without his final coming. Life as a Christian in Ephesus had become increasingly difficult, and many suffered physically, mentally, and financially to continue in the Christian faith. Jesus praised them for their patient endurance but then told them they had “lost their first love.” Quite possibly, their devotion to Jesus and to sharing the gospel message had changed. Jesus told them to “remember” and “repent” or turn back to the “works” they had done at first. 

Remembering our “first love” for Christ is always a good idea—heartfelt gratitude and praise we felt when we realized our souls had been saved and heaven was our promised hope. We eagerly shared our faith with others, excited to share the good news. 

We are to love Jesus now, just as we loved him then. Jesus wants us to remember Easter and all he did to give us eternal life with God as our Father. 

The message to the Ephesian church reminds us that we can be faithful to our works or deeds at the church, yet forget to gratefully love and honor the One who is the reason for our church community of faith. 

Jesus told the Ephesian church, “I will come and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5). In other words, the light of God’s word is hindered or even extinguished if it does not shine through people who love its Author.

What does Jesus hate?

Jesus continued his message to the church in Ephesus with one last important message. He said, “Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate” (Revelation 2:6). 

Much study and writing have been done about the Nicolaitans, a group we don’t know much about. A Christianity Today article said, “The Nicolaitans appeared to conform to this Roman culture and seemed to encourage Christians in Ephesus to do the same in a time of dire persecution (1 Corinthians 6:12). In eating the food given to the idols. This implies they had gone to the temples to receive the food and would’ve had to engage in the immoralities there to acquire this meat.” Some believe a man, possibly named Nicolas, had led some in the church to compromise their faith to make their lives more bearable or pleasant. Jesus praised those who “hated” that behavior and said he hated it as well. The Christianity Today article also said, “Overall, the warnings against the Nicolaitans in Revelation emphasize the importance of maintaining the purity of the Christian faith and avoiding compromise with practices that are contrary to the teachings of Christ.”

The message to Ephesus

Jesus closed his message to the church in Ephesus, a message for every church, saying, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7).

Those who are Spirit-led are privy to the voice of Jesus in their lives today. Jesus promised those Spirit-led believers that they could look forward to an eternity in the “paradise of God.”

If your “first love” has faded, or if you have accepted teaching that is contrary to the pure perfection of God’s word, you can “repent” and turn back to a purer faith walk with Christ. All of us need to “have an ear” and “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” and to us.

These messages are timeless truth, directly from the teaching of Christ to John. We are blessed to read and study his truth. We will be abundantly and eternally blessed if we will listen and heed it today.

Paul’s Recipe for Daily Bread

What are you doing for Mother’s Day this year? 

We sure can’t crowd the restaurants this Sunday, so I have a bread recipe that might come in handy. Unfortunately, a new batch has to be prepared each day, but it is worth the effort. You only have to “taste and see” to know it is good.  

Not everyone bakes, however. So, you might want to make enough to share. 

There are a lot of hungry people out there 

Brandon Hicks’ mom is probably not going to feel like celebrating Mother’s Day this Sunday. 

Her son is sitting in an Austin jail, charged with a felony. He shoved a park ranger in the lake after the ranger issued him a warning to “distance” himself from his friends.  

The news is showing a lot of these stories lately. 

I remember the news clip of the woman grabbing toilet paper from another woman’s shopping cart. (Granted, the woman had filled two carts with toilet paper, leaving none for anyone else.) My guess is that neither of the shoppers was pleased to see the cell phone video of their argument on the news that evening. 

Then there was the video of the woman with her mask hanging off one ear, screaming in someone else’s face because they weren’t “distancing.” I’m sure her friends and family didn’t miss the irony when they saw that viral video. 

Some people are out of patience and causing problems. But most people are still continuing to make good choices. When the park ranger was shoved in the water, there were a lot of people who came to his aid. Brandon Hicks was quickly identified and arrested, and the ranger’s rescuers returned to their lives and their happy day at the lake. 

Everyone could use a little bread these days 

I can’t imagine I would ever shove a park ranger in the lake. I can’t imagine that I would choose to do a lot of the things I see people doing. 

But, I can imagine and, in fact, remember times I have run out of patience with someone and made a dumb choice. You probably can remember some of those times in your life as well.  

The virus is probably going to slow down, but it isn’t going to be gone until a vaccine is approved and supplied to the masses. A friend’s wife teaches school, and she was told to prepare to teach in the fall but to keep all her “homeschool” computer apps current. The district is assuming they will need to close the schools and resume the learn-at-home structure for a period of time this fall. 

People are looking for peace in the news, but it isn’t there. Luckily, we have a recipe in Scripture. 

If you want peace, ask Paul for his recipe 

The apostle Paul wrote great instructions for people seeking peace. He said, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). 

Paul’s words are a recipe for peace, which could be called our “daily bread.” 

Paul’s recipe for daily bread 

1. Mix one part joyful hope. 

Christians can find the patience to wait for things to improve because we know that we always have the hope of eternal life with Jesus. We have the assurance of this hope through his Holy Spirit, and we have the godly priorities that our hope of heaven provides. 

We can find joyful hope in our faith, even if we can’t find it in the news. 

2. Stir in one part patience. 

There are very few of us who have endured tribulation like Paul endured, yet he could write, “Be patient in tribulation.”  

People today are running out of patience because we want certain things that aren’t on the shelf. We want to see family, but not just on our phones and computer screens. We want to take a trip, but to where? We want to go to the grocery store, for Pete’s sake, without feeling like the plague could be resting on the bananas we pick up.  

Paul might raise his eyebrows at our “tribulation,” but he would tell us what he told those early Christians: Just be patient. Things will get better one day, and God has promised us things will be better every day, one day. 

3. Continually add prayer.

Paul’s final ingredient is prayer. Not just a prayer to begin and end our day, but days that are filled with prayer. How do we live in constant prayer?  

We can learn to “hang out with” Jesus. 

Realize that the Son of God wants to hang out with you! 

We can talk to him all day; ask him stuff all day; ask him for stuff all day. Ask Jesus to tell you things, guide your path, encourage your thoughts, and help you fight off Satan’s suggestions. Hanging out with Jesus is like having a friend, counselor, and companion—who is always present and always perfect. 

Prayer allows us to spend time with Jesus, at any time we choose. What an amazing gift! 

Daily bread, like manna, is only good for a day 

The Israelites escaped Egypt and crossed the desert, but God took care of them along the way. Each morning they gathered manna, but just enough for the day. If they gathered more than they needed, the leftovers just spoiled and became worthless. 

That lesson has become a lesson to every one of God’s children since that time. Daily bread, manna, is all we need for today, but it won’t be good for tomorrow.  

In Paul’s recipe, the ingredients for this bread of peace are hope, patience, and constant prayer. Paul would ask us to allow God to provide the ingredients and the measurements, mix them up, and then serve them at the right times during our day.  

Jesus taught us to pray

Take a minute and remember each word of the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9–13). The first thing Jesus told us to ask for was “our daily bread.”   

We need it, and so do a lot of other people. I hope someone will give Brandon Hicks a slice. He needs it and may not know how to find it. 

Is there a Brandon Hicks in your life? 

People are getting tired and need spiritual strength for these days. The Apostle Paul would tell us to start baking and enjoy the results. 

And . . . 

To all the moms out there: May you have a blessed and happy Mother’s Day. And keep baking for them until they start making daily bread for themselves. 

Reminder: Send your Christmas memories/stories to [email protected]. I’m looking forward to reading them! 

The Solid Rock Isn’t a Comfortable Place to Sit

I watched two boys swimming in the pond and wondered what to do. The younger boy wasn’t as good a swimmer as his older brother, and, when he was halfway across the pond, I started to worry about him. I was relieved to see him finally stand up and walk to the edge.

A few minutes later, the two boys were standing on their surfboard-like raft. The older boy was trying to take away the oar from his younger brother. He jerked at it and sent the younger boy into the pond with a splash, his head just missing the big rocks near the edge.

Added to that, my husband had told me a few weeks earlier to be watchful because he had seen a cottonmouth snake slither into that same pond. I looked all over for an adult who might be watching over these two, but, after several minutes, I still didn’t see anyone. So, I made a choice. I called out to the boys and suggested they should get out of the pond because we had seen a snake in there.

About five minutes later, my doorbell rang. The boy’s mom was polite, but I could tell she was “not pleased” that I had interfered with the situation. She informed me she had been watching from the balcony several doors down. I responded politely and told her about the cottonmouth snake. She said she was aware there were snakes, but that those snakes were afraid of people and she didn’t think that was a problem. I told her that I was glad to know the boys were being watched, introduced myself, and made a lame excuse, saying, “Once a schoolteacher, always a schoolteacher.”

I still don’t know if I did the right thing or the wrong thing speaking to those boys, but it didn’t feel right to just stand there and watch either.

I’ve always loved Edward Mote’s hymn that says, “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand . . . all other ground is sinking sand.” The unsung truth about a solid rock is that it really isn’t possible to sit on one for very long. Solid rocks don’t make for comfy places to rest for long periods of time. After a short time, the only way to feel good is to stand up and move around a bit. I spent some time applying the wisdom of the hymn to my situation with those two boys.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

I wish I had said a quick prayer and asked Jesus if I should have spoken to those boys. I might have done the same thing, or I might have been led to just watch them for a while longer. I didn’t take time to trust the situation to Jesus, so I don’t know if I did the right thing. I didn’t lean on Jesus because I was too busy thinking I should fix it myself.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

I didn’t know the right thing to do, so I acted out of fear for those boys. How often have I made decisions from a place of unknowing darkness only to find that it would have been better to wait? Sometimes the storms of life produce fear, and fear is rarely a right motivation for action.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

I didn’t see anyone watching those kids, but it didn’t mean there was no one watching. Sometimes it seems like God isn’t there or isn’t enough, and so there is nobody else to fix it. Scripture, and the words of this hymn, would argue that point. God has promised he is always there and always enough — and that should always be our hope.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

I doubt that will be the last time I jump in to fix something that probably didn’t need to be fixed. I just hope that the next time I see something I think is a problem I will ask God what to do before I think I know what to do. I’m grateful for the grace God has offered me in Christ Jesus, and I look forward, with joy, to the day I enter eternity and no longer need it. I look forward to being “faultless” before his throne.

In closing, I will say this. I function with the philosophy that once a person knows the right thing to believe and do, they should think it and do it. Whatever consequences come with a right choice are the consequences we should accept. Christ truly is our Solid Rock. But that rock isn’t a place where Christians are supposed to rest and do nothing.

I am trying to learn my lessons along the way about how to stand. I’m just hoping the next time I “jump” is because Jesus told me what to do and how to do it. Once we know we are supposed to jump, the only questions are how far and how high.

Enjoy your week. But one word of wisdom from the teacher in me: I still think it’s best not to swim with the snakes. Think about that and you will understand the deeper thoughts behind this blog post.

The Small “g” gods

We recently spent time on the island of Kauai and enjoyed learning the history and culture of the island. We chose Kauai because it was the quieter and slower paced island in Hawaii. It’s called the Garden Island, and it is easy to see why.

We left Los Angeles and flew over the water for about six hours. All of us were excited when the pilot announced we could see Hawaii over the left wing. There is something comforting about seeing land. I can only imagine how Captain Cook felt when he first spied the islands. I was happy after six hours; he had been sailing from one land mass to the next for almost two years.

Cook landed on a beach in Kauai in 1778, becoming the first European to ever visit Hawaii. He named the series of land masses the Sandwich Islands, after the Earl of Sandwich, who had sponsored his explorations. Cook was in search of a Northwest passage around the North American continent when he ran across the Hawaiian Islands.

Cook and his crew arrived at a unique time for the native Polynesian people. They were celebrating the harvest, and Cook’s ship, with its large mast and size, caused the people to think Cook was associated in some way with a god they called Lono. As a result, Cook and his men were treated with the highest regard. Unfortunately, the European “guests” took advantage of the native people while they were there. Cook and his men stayed on the island for a month before setting sail, and a great deal of abuse took place during that time.

Captain Cook and his men encountered a strong storm shortly after setting sail. They were forced to turn back to Kauai. When the ship came into view, the people saw the mast had been broken and determined that these men could not be gods after all. This visit was filled with tension, and one of Cook’s long boats was stolen. Cook decided to kidnap the tribal king and hold him until the boat was returned. But the king’s warriors killed Cook and several of his men in retaliation. Those left on Cook’s ship watched the attack and then escaped to tell the story.

As I listened to the tour guide tell the story of Captain Cook, I wondered how one group of people could consider another group of people as gods. According to the narrative of history, the ship caused the confusion. The Polynesian people had never seen steel before and were convinced that it had to have been made by a god. The European men used the steel nails they had on board to trade for all kinds of things, including immoral favors with the local women.

False gods can wield great power if people choose to take advantage of the lies.

When God issued the Ten Commandments, the first one said, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). The next commandment said, “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them” (Exodus 20:4–5). The European sailors held up a nail and used it to manipulate and abuse other people. They knew it was just a nail but allowed others to consider it an idol. If God listed those two commandments first, could it be that he knew that false gods and idols would always be the most pervasive sins of people?

Most museums hold icons and carved images of things that native cultures considered gods. The Greeks and Romans had a pantheon of gods. Native Americans worshiped things in nature. The Polynesian people carved gods out of bone and were quick to assume what they did not understand could be explained as a god. I wonder how different the history and culture of the Hawaiian people might have been if those European sailors had told the truth. I wonder if Captain Cook would have lived to sail other voyages and create other maps.

All cultures know there is a power and force greater than themselves. Paul wrote, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:18–23).

Ungodliness and futile thinking produce false gods. Creation was supposed to remind the created that there is a God who is far superior to any man or woman. Yet, every culture has created false gods in order to feel wise, even powerful in themselves.

I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the idols or false gods I might have created. I know there is only one true Creator God. I believe in the salvation he provided in Jesus. I believe the Bible. I don’t have a carved image I worship as a god. So, do I really have a problem with the first and second commandments?

I think the answer is found in Psalm 115:4. That verse says, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.” Everyone tends to create and worship idols we have successfully produced in our own life. As I sit typing this blog, with a view of the same vast ocean that Captain Cook sailed, I am reminded of the true power in this world and the smallness of everything else. I appreciate all that human hands have made, but I will do my best not to worship those things. Every culture has idols, but God has given us his creation to remind us that he is supreme. Let’s choose to worship him today and give him the glory for all he has provided.

The God Daniel Knew

March is a great time to live in Texas. While much of the country is still shoveling snow, Texans are watching the early hints of spring sprout from the ground and bud on trees. We have almost turned the corner on another winter and spring is on the way. The seasons measure the forward progress of time, and they remind us of the constant and consistent work of our divine God.

The prophet Daniel is one of the most exceptional people in the Bible. I’m sure he made mistakes; he was a human being. But Daniel had a faith-walk with God that gifted him with wisdom and abilities only the Holy Spirit could provide. Daniel knew God and he helped others, even King Nebuchadnezzar, to know God as well.

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him. He called for his advisors in the middle of the night and demanded they offer him an interpretation. When someone asked him to describe his dream, the king refused. Nebuchadnezzar believed that a true prophet would be able to know the dream as well as the interpretation. The men said it was impossible to do what Nebuchadnezzar was requesting. The king was so angered that he ordered the execution of these men who served as his advisors.

When Daniel heard what the king was planning to do, he called his friends together and they prayed. When Daniel went to sleep, God gave him a vision with the answers he needed to save himself, his friends, and the other Babylonian leaders as well. Daniel knew and understood the king’s dream.

Before Daniel went to speak to Nebuchadnezzar, he offered words of praise. Those words are one of the finest Old Testament descriptions of who God was, is, and always will be. Maybe it has been a while since you paused to praise God or consider his greatness. Maybe Daniel’s words should be yours today.

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king” (Daniel 2:20–23).

 What did Daniel know about God?

  • God is unchanging and worthy of praise. When was the last time you truly praised God?
  • God is always wise, always powerful. Do you search for wisdom and power somewhere else?
  • God is moving time forward, changing the seasons as a reminder of that progress. Do you embrace the progress or wish you could delay it?
  • God is the one who controls the “kings” of this world. Have you worried that things seem “out of control?”
  • God gives wisdom to those who are wise enough to seek it. How often do you ask God for his perfect wisdom?
  • God gives knowledge to people who will think like him. Do you know what to do with the wisdom God gives you?
  • God reveals deep things that we could not know of apart from his revelation. What was the last great truth or calling God revealed to you?
  • God is light, dispelling darkness. Does God light up the room when you enter?
  • God gives us the abilities we need to serve him and others. Do you know and trust you are able because you know and trust that God is able?

Daniel was who he was because he knew God. The secret of Christian success is not measured by all we accomplish for God. Instead, it is measured by all that God accomplishes through us. Our success begins with knowing God like Daniel knew him.

Take some time to praise God using Daniel’s words. And keep praising until the truth is proven true in your life. Daniel knew God. We can too. How many times will God manifest himself in your life before the leaves that are just beginning to bud fall to the ground next fall?

Time is moving forward. Praise God and serve him well.

Lessons from Daniel, Tim Tebow and Tony Dungy

Who would you rather have dinner with on the cruise ship? Daniel, Tim Tebow, Tony Dungy, Mike Pence or Joy Behar? If you have the gift of evangelism, you probably said “Joy,” but the rest of us would likely vote for one of the others. There is a lot of verbal slander these days from the non-Christian viewpoint but Christians should find a lot of comfort in recognizing the power of the Christian influence in our world.

Joy Behar made news a couple of weeks ago for slandering the Vice President’s faith. She said Pence’s religious beliefs were “scary” and a kind of “mental illness.” Those comments were a response to an interview on The View with Omarosa Manigault. Manigault said that Americans should be worried about Pence because he thinks Jesus speaks to him. Behar said, “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you.”

I won’t spend my time blogging about those comments. If you read this blog, you don’t need any convincing about which side of the argument has merit. Joy Behar would consider us mentally ill and scary. Omarosa would probably be worried about all of us who believe the Bible and God’s Holy Spirit are his voice. I pray both women are given the chance to recognize and know the voice of Jesus before they stand before Him.

I think it’s important for us to consider the power of a godly witness. I’m teaching Daniel, chapter one this week. I’ve often said that two of the people I look forward to meeting in heaven are Daniel’s mom and dad. The prophet was a young man when King Nebuchadnezzar’s soldiers captured and enslaved him. The first wave of captives were the best and the brightest from Israel and Daniel was in that group.  Daniel and his friends were powerful influences to the pagan Babylonian culture, and to every culture since.

Tim Tebow is the only minor league ankle sprain making headlines today. He recently tripped on a sprinkler and his opening game appearance has been delayed for several weeks. Tony Dungy received a lot of criticism for his pre-game interview with the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, Nick Foles, because they discussed the confidence that his Christian faith gave him for the game. Each of these men have lived with a vocal and influential Christian witness to our culture.

What lessons do these men teach us that we should learn and help others to learn?

We should speak up for our faith. Mike Pence was quick to respond to Joy Behar saying, “It’s just simply wrong for ABC to have a television program that expresses that kind of religious intolerance.” Tim Tebow received criticism for bowing to pray, wearing John 3:16 on his football black-eye paint, and for his position on sexual abstinence until marriage. Tony Dungy has been criticized for “preaching on air.” We should all be so lucky. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11).

We should recognize the powerful impact of an enduring witness. Daniel was a prophet in Babylon for about seventy-five years. Tebow was raised in a strong Christian home and continues to live with his convictions. Tony Dungy was an undrafted player in 1977 and was fired from his head-coaching job twenty-five years later. He preaches that God has always turned his trials into blessings. Dungy was honored at the age of sixty when elected into the Football Hall of Fame. During his acceptance speech he said, “The Lord has truly led me on a wonderful journey through 31 years in the NFL—through some temporary disappointments to some incredible joys.” The goal for every Christian is to be able to reach the end of our lives saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Separate your life from the things that are ungodly. Daniel and his friends didn’t eat the food the Babylonians put in front of them. Instead, they honored their faith and only ate what was considered “clean” food. They were stronger and healthier for living in obedience to God and separating themselves from the unclean ways of the Babylonians. I don’t watch The View so Joy Behar has little, to no influence in my life. But I know the show is popular with a lot of people. I know the Christian women who have been hosts don’t stick around very long on that show. That ought to influence the Christian viewers to do the same. The word “holy” means to be set apart or dedicated to what is sacred. One of the common denominators of Daniel, Tim Tebow and Tony Dungy is the outstanding influence of their witness. They all stand out in the crowds, not for just what they say, but for their lives that give their words power. St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

If I’m ever on a cruise ship with Joy Behar, Tony Dungy or Tim Tebow I will probably just pray about where I am seated. But I can’t help but think the Baked Alaska will taste better if I get to share dessert with Tony or Tim! For today, it is a good idea just to consider the opportunities we have. Help us Lord to preach your Gospel with our lives and, when necessary, with our words. We want to, and can, lead powerful lives of Christian influence.