God Knew It Would Take Effort

Three of my favorite words in the Bible are found in the book of Hebrews. Whenever I see them, I breathe a sigh of relief because those words reveal God’s expectations. Those three words are found at the beginning of Hebrews 12:14.

The NIV version says, “Make every effort . . . .”

The Lord knew that living our faith was not going to come naturally. It would take effort.

Who wrote those words?

We don’t know who authored Hebrews, but I would like to meet him one day in heaven.

Theologians think it was probably Barnabas or Apollos, and that would make sense. Those men spent a lot of time with Paul, learning Christian doctrine, traveling from city to city, and teaching Christianity to people from many different backgrounds.

If you study the life of Paul, you’ll learn that he was highly respected, was loved and appreciated by many, but probably was not the easiest person to live with. He burned everyone’s candles at both ends.

Barnabas and Paul argued over John Mark and went their separate ways for a time. First Corinthians seems to reveal that some tension existed between Paul and Apollos. No one was better at Christian doctrine than Paul, but no one caused quite as much trouble as Paul either.

Is that why theologians think the author of Hebrews was Barnabas or Apollos?

God expects us to make an effort

Whoever the Holy Spirit inspired to write the book of Hebrews really understood the Christian life in a non-Christian world. God has very high standards for his children, and all of us are going to struggle to live up to his expectations. But, then again, God expects us to struggle.

What God is really asking us is to “make every effort.”

The New International Version of Hebrews 12:14–15 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Our salvation doesn’t depend on living up to God’s standards. We were saved by his grace through Christ because we couldn’t live perfectly. Our witness, however, does depend on our efforts. And a LOT of Christians are making a great effort to “live in peace” and be “holy” because they want people to see the Lord.

A different way to view the news

I decided to look at the news a bit differently and was surprised by the thoughts that followed.

There was another mass shooting, this time in Virginia Beach. I was appalled at the pain that one man’s massacre left behind. I was impressed by his coworkers and the law enforcement who risked their lives to stop him from killing more.

I also wondered if, in the aftermath, there were Christian coworkers who were wishing they had made “every effort” to lead that man to the Lord.

After those thoughts, I decided to consider the story from a different point of view. I wondered how many news stories do not exist today because of the Christians who have made every effort to make sure that “no one falls short of the grace of God.”

The unreported news

We normally hear about the failures, but, one day in heaven, we will learn of all the successes.

If I see things from a new perspective, I’ll realize that there are hundreds, thousands, and maybe tens of thousands of people who have lived full lives because somewhere, sometime, a person made every effort to live like God requested his children to live.

I know there are countless millions of people who will live eternally because Christians made that effort.

For every shooter, there are billions of people who are not evil. For every human being who falls short, there are humans who don’t. There are a lot of people making an effort to live in peace with others and be holy. As a result, there are a lot of people who will get to meet their Lord one day.

Growth that isn’t good

There is one more word from the author of Hebrews. He knew what comes naturally for Christians who make an effort to live holy lives while surrounded by people who don’t.

Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Do stories like the Virginia shooting increase your efforts to share God’s grace or do they feed the “bitter root” that grows up and causes trouble?

I know I’m guilty of the latter. I almost can’t watch the news these days without my “bitter root” growing another few inches. I need to make a greater effort not to fall short of living with the presence and power of God’s grace. I need to make every effort to help others find that blessing in their lives as well.

Praise God for the news we don’t see

It is a different way to view the news. Most of the news does not reflect holy living. Praise God for all we don’t see on the news that does. There are people who are making every effort to live with God’s standards, and people come to know God’s salvation every day.

Does your bitter root need a little tending to?

If so, make every effort to live a holy life and lead others to faith. That effort will be rewarded here on earth and in heaven. People are rarely bitter at a baptism!

Today, you will have the opportunity to be an example of God’s grace to someone. It was an effort for the author of Hebrews, and it will be an effort for us. But someday the good news will be known.

Let’s joyfully and faithfully be part of those headlines.

Marie Kondo’s Advice

Who is Marie Kondo?

I kept noticing a beautiful Japanese woman popping up on various news programs and talk shows. Her name is Marie Kondo and, apparently, I’m late to her fan base. Marie Kondo has written a best seller titled The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and has a hit show on Netflix.

That book title grabbed my attention. I’m known among family and friends for being a stickler for cleanliness. So, I investigated her website to learn more about this woman. Marie Kondo, as it turns out, is making a fortune encouraging people to clean up and simplify their surroundings by choosing to keep only the things that give joy.

The concept was intriguing. Even as I type, I’m looking around and realizing that, if I were to take her words to heart, I would get rid of several things, just in this one room. I’m sixty. I’ve been married for thirty-eight years and we have accumulated a lot of “stuff.”

Six rules for a tidy life

Marie Kondo has six basic rules to tidying:

  • Commit yourself to tidying.
  • Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
  • Finish discarding first.
  • Tidy by category, not by location.
  • Follow the right order.
  • Ask yourself if it sparks joy.

Marie teaches, “If you properly simplify and organize your home once, you’ll never have to do it again.” (And yes, I checked. She does have children.)

A lot of what she teaches makes good sense. I started making a home in the 1980s. Back in those days, we couldn’t put enough “stuff” on our shelves. Every stack of books required a small brass pot with a plant on top. And every wall was to be a collage of something rather than one giant canvas of one giant flower. And, we were taught to find our joy in God and in people, not things.

God’s rules for a tidy life

I teach Bible and therefore believe that the highest joy is a product of knowing God and walking in a right relationship with our Creator. But the Bible also teaches about the importance of simplicity and not being consumed by the “stuff” of life.

Paul taught Timothy to keep things simple in his life, writing, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:6–8). I think people in our culture would be happier today if we took these verses to heart in our lives.

Interestingly, Marie Kondo teaches that the first place a person should simplify is their clothes closet. The second step is their books. I’ll be honest, I’m really “tidy” except for my clothes and my books. Maybe Marie is onto something here! I don’t think I will become a Marie Kondo disciple anytime soon, but I do think she inspires some healthy thinking.

If you are like me, you probably have too much “stuff” cluttering your life and home as well. Maybe spring cleaning this year should be a little larger in scale.

A clean life and a clean soul

A few weeks ago, I sent around an idea on my Facebook page. A friend had shared the idea with me and I thought it was a great one.

Christians have a tradition of “giving up” something for Lent. The season of Lent begins in one week. The Facebook post suggests that we all take boxes and bags, and, for the forty days of Lent, give up at least one thing we don’t use anymore, that someone else could. At the end of those forty days, we can donate those things to a ministry or resale center.

As I look around my home, I could probably do this every day for a year! One thing, each day, that we can give to someone else. How will that choice simplify our lives and bless others?

To that I would add this idea: The “stuff” Christians give shouldn’t always be material. What would happen if we added a second commitment?

What words can you give away each day as well? Easter is a time when people are more aware of Jesus and his sacrificial gift of salvation. Whom can you share the joyful hope of Easter with this year?

Marie Kondo instructs people to only keep those things that give them joy. I think there is some value in her thinking. But, there is a higher value in God’s thinking, and I want to close with his words.

Isaiah 55:1–3 reveals the compassion of God for his people. God told Isaiah to tell us:

Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live.

I’m going to choose something nice each day of the Lenten season that I can give away to someone who needs it more. I also want to commit to inclining my ear to God’s voice for those forty days. I want my closet and home to look a little better by Easter, but, even more, I would like my soul to be better as well.

Will you join me in choosing some of Marie Kondo’s advice and all of God’s?

We can bless other people with what we give up and give away. Our homes, our lives, and our souls will look a lot better for Easter this year if we make that commitment for the season of Lent.

That First Fire of the Season

I peeked at the thermostat and shivered. It was 48 degrees on Saturday morning at Possum Kingdom Lake. So, I turned on the coffee and reached for the fireplace remote. A few minutes later, I sat quietly with my warm mug, watching the flames and enjoying every moment of the morning.

October was a blur. Travel always seems to do that. Those days in Israel were amazing, but sitting in my favorite spot at the lake was a great reminder that my life is abundantly blessed. It’s November and I have a lot to think about. A warm fire and a hot cup of coffee create a perfect setting for those thoughts.

I’ve always been an early riser, but my parents were up even earlier. Almost every winter morning, I would come down the hall and see my mom and dad sitting by the fireplace, drinking their coffee. I remember thinking, “One day, when I get married, I’m going to sit in front of the fireplace and drink coffee with my husband too.” That didn’t work out very well. Jim gets up earlier than I do. He finishes his daily article, posts it to send, podcasts the content, and then takes off for his morning walk. AND, he doesn’t even drink coffee! (That’s probably a good thing . . . I’ve often remarked that no one would want to try to keep up with Jim—after caffeine.)

That said, God has provided me a lot of mornings to sit quietly, alone with my thoughts, a good cup of coffee and a fire on cold winter days. It is during these moments that God is most likely to place a person on my mind who needs prayer or a quick email of encouragement. God often uses these moments to direct my thoughts to what I should teach, write, or say that week. I read different devotionals and emails, and I almost always read Jim’s article and Craig’s First 15. I’ve found that if I can have my morning moments, the rest of the day just seems to work better.

I’m picturing all of you today, reading this email after listening to the morning news. I’m sure the news reports are filled with election results and opinions about those results. Some of you are waiting on your kids to get downstairs so you can run them to school. Many of you are grabbing your cup of coffee in a commuter cup so you can drink it on the way to work. I encourage all of you to carve out some moments of quiet in your busy day. God made us to be still.

Scripture doesn’t suggest “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Scripture flat out commands it. I’ve often said that if we don’t find time to be still, other things will become a god to us. If work or family needs are more urgent than spending time with God, then work and family have become gods. The television, the computer, social media, and cell phones can all become gods if we take time to be still with them instead of the Creator of all things. God doesn’t demand we spend time with him. Instead, he taught us a result of spending time with him. We will know that he is God.

I’m grateful that you read this blog each week, and I hope you will continue. But, I want you to close the computer and be still with God as a result. He has so much to say to you, from the pages of your Bible and from the quiet thoughts the Holy Spirit will author as you take the time to be still with your Creator. Quiet is a powerful spiritual discipline. No wonder our world seems to get a bit noisier and a lot busier with each passing year.

Each year I write an Advent devotional for our ministry. I hope it will help you include a word about Christ into each day of your busy holiday season. The title of the devotional this year is Joy to Your World. Joy is an ongoing theme in the Christmas story and throughout Scripture. This year I rewrote Joy to Your World so that kids could have the devotional for themselves. That edition is available as well, offered from our ChristianParenting.org ministry.

If you would like to request a copy of either edition, we would love to send it to you. The children’s edition has a limited quantity, so don’t wait too long if you want that one. I hope these Advent devotionals will be a blessing to you and your families.

The quiet moments with God are the most important moments with God. I hope you will find some time to “be still” and embrace the joy of spending time with your heavenly Father. He adores you and wants nothing more than to fill those moments with his Presence.

I don’t sit by my fire with Jim in the mornings, but I don’t sit by my fire alone. Set your alarm, get the coffee ready to go, and crank up the fireplace if you have one. It just takes a little effort to be still, and God is waiting to make himself known to you in new and fresh ways. I wish you his great peace for today and the holiday months ahead.