Common-sense Christians live what they believe

I asked the Google AI how often the groundhog got it right. Google’s response: “Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, is right about 39% of the time when predicting the length of winter. This is based on his predictions since his first recorded prediction in 1887.” 

Common sense tells us that the odds of getting it right would be greatly improved if the mayor of Punxsutawney simply tossed a coin!

I’ve enjoyed the news reports that say things like, “It’s just common sense” for Americans to think this or that or choose to do this or that. Americans enjoy hearing about the groundhog’s shadow. Still, I think most of us know not to actually believe the reports and make any choices based on a groundhog’s shadow. Who wants to plant a bunch of flowers only to see them ruined later by a heavy frost?

Common-sense Christians understand that Scripture has provided timeless teaching and wisdom for every generation of God’s people. Yet, why have so many people refused to follow God’s teaching throughout history?

I think Billy Graham answered that question when he told Christians, “We are the Bibles the world is reading; We are the creeds the world is needing; We are the sermons the world is heeding.”

In other words, if Christians don’t live what they believe, people won’t believe what is necessary to live eternally in heaven. As we continue to look at the book of James, let’s notice that James and Billy Graham taught the same lesson.  

Hearers need to be doers

I was teaching my Bible study last week using 1 Corinthians 2. In many ways, Paul, James, and every Spirit-led preacher before and after, have all taught this very important truth to their congregations: It is always going to be a spiritual challenge for God’s children to live their faith.

We are often content to know God’s word. We often measure a person’s spirituality based on the amount of Scripture they know. We are often more impressed with a preacher’s delivery than we are with the actual results of their message. We often rank faithfulness by attendance rather than obedience. We are human beings and tend to function with human judgment, even in spiritual matters. Paul taught the Corinthians to value the Holy Spirit’s leadership in their lives. Simply said, we must submit our common-sense judgment to the uncommon wisdom of God’s Spirit. Paul asked those in Corinth, “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” Then Paul reminded them of a crucial fact: “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

It is overwhelming to consider that every Christian has been given God’s Holy Spirit, and we are, therefore, able to think, judge, and discern with the mind of Christ. So, what hinders us from utterly changing the world because we have the ability to think like Jesus?

James answered that question, saying, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:22–25). 

Common sense tells us that if we look in a mirror and see a problem, we ought to fix that problem before we head out. I liken it to someone who is at an important dinner table and excuses themselves from the table for just a few minutes. Before leaving the bathroom, a quick glance in the mirror reveals that their front tooth is covered with a piece of Brussels sprout they just enjoyed. Common sense tells them they ought to fix that before returning to the table.

All of us have heard an important truth in a sermon or Bible lesson, realized that the Holy Spirit was talking to us, and knew we needed to obey the Spirit’s leading. But an hour or two later, we just walked away from the church the same way we walked in. We heard God speak, looked in a mirror, and left the church with a big ol’ piece of Brussels sprout on our front tooth.

No wonder people can’t hear our words of witness! Our lives are distracting their thoughts. It isn’t what we know about God that will impress people with our faith; our lives preach our faith.

Pure religion is preached with a pure mouth

It isn’t just the Brussels sprout stuck to our front tooth that matters. It’s also the fact that people can’t see past it to hear our words. If our lives are a distraction to our message, common sense tells us to fix the problem.

James said, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (James 1:26–27).

In full confession, I really hate those verses from James. I never read them, teach them, or write about them that I’m not required to throw myself, yet again, under that really big bus. Teaching is one of my spiritual gifts. Teaching is the thing I do that most allows God to use my life for his Kingdom purpose. The same mouth that teaches God’s word is the same mouth that sometimes teaches something less. 

My greatest spiritual failures usually come from words that fly out of my mouth. The only verse I like less than the verses above is James 3:1, which says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” 

The good news is this: I own a “spiritual mirror” through the Holy Spirit. I can teach with some Brussels sprout on my front tooth or clean it off ahead of time. When I live and speak through the power and wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit, he can change, encourage, and direct people’s lives. The same mouth that can distract people from my religion is the same mouth that God has been able to purify and then use to teach his word. I try to live with a spiritual mirror because I “presume to teach.” But I also know that I can teach people how to know God when I teach using “the mind of Christ” rather than my own thoughts. I consider that my highest calling, and being used by his Holy Spirit is definitely my great joy.

How can you purify your religion today?

I would ask a blunt question that requires you to look in your spiritual mirror. What in your mirror requires some clean up before you head out into the day and preach your religion to the world? None of us will ever be perfect this side of heaven. All of us can hear James remind us to keep ourselves, “unstained from the world.”

I would teach all of us, myself included, to pause before heading into our day, choosing not just to hear or read God’s word. What will you do today differently because God’s Spirit, the actual “mind of Christ,” is changing your thoughts into his and changing your actions as a result?

Common sense tells us that Christians live what they believe. Our witness to the world is changed when we live as both hearers and doers of his word. Have a blessed and fruitful day!

The stability of our times

I’ve been working on a big project this summer and, in the process of writing, I ran across a passage that was new to me. It amazes me how the word of God can be “new every morning.” The passage is from the book of Isaiah, chapter 33. Isaiah’s words are directed to foreign powers who were successfully invading Israel and bringing God’s people harm.

It’s increasingly common, even popular, for God’s people to feel as if their beliefs are under attack these days. It occurred to me as I studied Isaiah’s words that the discomfort some of us might be feeling today doesn’t really compare to what a lot of Christians endure in the world. I’ve never feared for my life because of what I believe. On the other hand, the instability raises questions for the future. 

Are times changing? If so, will they change again toward God’s direction at some point? 

The stability of our times

Isaiah’s words were directed to the chaos God’s people were experiencing, knowing there were those outside their faith who wanted to do them harm. The prophet reminded the people, “The Lᴏʀᴅ is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lᴏʀᴅ is Zion’s treasure” (Isaiah 33:5–6). 

Sometimes I watch the evening news and just shake my head. “Stability” doesn’t seem to describe much of what I see and hear. Granted, news has become an entertainment industry as opposed to an informative industry. Angst sells, so we will see a lot of that offered. 

The key to the stability Isaiah was speaking of is found in the first few words of the passage. Whom do we exalt? Isaiah reminded his people, “The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high.” 

The word exalt means “to lift up, to elevate.” We exalt what we praise, who and what we consider higher than ourselves. Sometimes we exalt those whom we consider smarter than ourselves. Isaiah would remind us that it is the Lord we should exalt because only God has a perspective from “on high.” 

It won’t be politicians who fill our nation with justice and righteousness unless those politicians have been filled with God’s Spirit. God needs to be the stability of our times. It will be very important that we don’t “exalt” people instead.  

What does stability look like?

I hear the word stability used most often these days to describe financial security. Certainly, inflation is a much-discussed problem today, but financial security isn’t the stability Isaiah was describing. The prophet described the stability God would bring this way: 

  • There would be an abundance of salvation.
  • There would be wisdom and knowledge.
  • And the “fear of the Lord” would be Zion’s treasure. 

If Isaiah were giving advice to God’s people today, he might instruct us to measure our success by our stability. History would support Isaiah’s message as well. Our country, a democracy, was stronger as a nation when the majority of our citizens shared Isaiah’s values.  

The road of stability

Isaiah would encourage our churches today to focus on the message of salvation and the mission of evangelism. William Temple was an Anglican priest a century ago. He said, “The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.” Would the pastors and priests of churches today be able to say that about their congregations? 

Stability requires knowledge and wisdom. Isaiah was speaking about the knowledge of God and the wisdom faith in God provides. How can people follow God’s word if they are not taught God’s word? 

One of my life verses is from Hosea, and I’ve often said his words are the reason I teach Bible studies. God told the prophet Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). The people who walk with knowledge of God and seek his wisdom are those who make Bible study a high priority. 

Stability provides the joy and security all of us should seek to have. We aren’t secure because the bank statement says we are. We aren’t secure because of the alarm systems in our homes and cars. We are secure because our treasure is the presence of God in our lives. We are rich when God is enthroned as our King, highly exalted in our thoughts and values.  

Stability is a powerful witness

It’s easy to get caught up in the rhetoric of our day. Debates are interesting, and we like to listen to whichever news makes us feel like we are on the right side of a topic. Isaiah would remind us that the right side is only defined by God as the righteous side. God wants us to stand with him and for him, and that will never be measured politically. 

If someone were to ask me who I would vote for, I hope I would say, “Whoever will bring about stability.” Then, I hope they will give me a chance to define that term like Isaiah defined it for us. 

God “will be the stability of our times.” That has always been the truth, and it always will be. The Holy Spirit is the presence and power of God in your lives. Those who “walk in the Spirit” will bring God into every room they enter.  

Does the room sense the stability of God when you enter? Is there an “abundance of salvation” in your witness? Do you speak with a knowledge of God’s word, and are your words filled with his wisdom? Do you revere God and treasure his preeminence in your life? Are your home and your heart filled with the stability of God?  

God told Hosea, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” The apostle Paul told the church, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Jesus told his disciples, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  

Why is there instability in our world and in our nation? Are God’s people exalting God or something else? Someone else? 

Let’s define treasure as Isaiah taught. Let’s value what will bring about the stability we most want for ourselves and our nation.  

We need God’s blessings and God’s stability. We need God to work through his people to accomplish his will. Isaiah said, “Here I am! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). Will you echo those words in your own heart and life? 

Christians shouldn’t be looking for answers. We should know instead that we are God’s answer and live accordingly.