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That’s Your Opinion | Part II

This is part two of “That’s Your Opinion.” In the first installment, we looked at the way in which the phrase, “That’s your opinion,” is often used as a strategy to prevent anyone from disagreeing with what’s being said by asserting the idea that all opinions have to be certified as valid in order to ensure an environment characterized by compassion and understanding. This is how bad ideas become culturally accepted methodologies. By posing as a victim of an overbearing and intolerant society, one’s viewpoint is embraced as comparable to every other mindset, regardless of what occurs when that perspective is put into practice.

It’s not a statement as much as it’s a strategy to conceal the problems associated with a particular approach.

To prevent this tactic from shutting down what would otherwise be a productive dialogue, you want to navigate the conversation using the techniques used by Christ.

In Part II, we’re going to recap what was discussed in Part I, emphasize the spiritual realities that characterize this contest and that look at some real world examples.

Here we go!

I) Intro: The Dilemma and the Diversion

As someone who subscribes to a perspective on a particular issue that when put into practice results in a world of pain and problems, you now have a dilemma…

You can’t defend your rationale directly, so you create a distraction by posing as an advocate for an open forum where everyone has the right to think for themselves.

This is what is happening when you hear someone say, “That’s your opinion.”

“That’s your opinion” creates a diversion in that you’re now no longer talking about the subject matter. The shortcomings that are inherent to your platform, which stand to be revealed in the context of a legitimate conversation, are overlooked in favor of what appears to be a noble defense of free thinking.

You’re no longer seen as someone attempting to justify your point of view. Now you’re perceived as someone who simply wants everyone to be heard and, because no one can logically challenge that idea, both you and your platform are embraced in the name of diversity and equality.

Meanwhile…

All the problems caused by the way you manage your thoughts and morals are processed, not as those things that are directly related to the flawed perspectives you insist on maintaining, but as pain inflicted upon you by an intolerant society, if they’re perceived as problems at all.

And while saying, “That’s your opinion” is an effective strategy in preventing an incriminating line of questioning from ever being included as part of the debate, it’s one of several phrases that have the same effect:

  • Not everyone feels that way.
  • You can’t force your beliefs on me.
  • Separation of church and state.

With each phrase you have the ability to conceal the flaws of your platform by framing it as an appeal for compassion and understanding.

It’s a brilliant strategy and one that can be identified as having played a crucial role in adding any one of a number of dysfunctional standards to the list of culturally accepted methodologies.

The best way to counter these tactics is to follow the example of Christ in the way He engaged His opponents and that’s what we’re talking about tonite.

II) It’s Not Against Flesh and Blood

Before we get started, let’s ensure we’re beginning with a biblical starting point:

Ephesians 6:12 says:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph 6:12)

Our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood…

The topics that we discuss in today’s society and the Truths that we would champion are more than just talking points. There’s a spiritual struggle baked into these debates that prevent an objective evaluation of the facts and however strong and compelling your logic may be, it will be labeled as flawed and even cruel because of the way the human race wants to see itself as its own absolute.

This is part of what Paul is addressing in the verse we just read.

The underlying question is, “Who’s in charge?” If Christ isn’t your starting point, the individual is basically running the show and anybody who disagrees with them is seen as someone who is challenging their authority and not merely questioning their logic.

This is why in order for real change to occur, you have to step back and allow God to do what only He can accomplish (Jn 6:65; 1 Cor 2:12).

The point of this discussion is not to suggest that a particular debating technique can be used as a supplement to Evangelism or to take away from the sense of urgency that accompanies God’s command to be an effective witness (Matt 28:19-20; Eph 5:15-16).

Rather, what we’re looking at are the spiritual realities that are at play and recognizing the tactics that are often used to shut down a conversation before it can get to a place where the Truth of God’s Word can be presented as Something that is both Strong and Superior to any competing school of thought (Is 1:18; Jn 17:17; 1 Cor 1:18).

The takeaway here is not a replacement for Evangelism, as much as it’s a method you can use to circumvent those strategies that are looking to prevent it.

That said, let’s take a look at how human beings tend to defend themselves when confronted with a Truth they don’t want to hear…

III) The Strategy of the Victim

  • When Adam was asked by God why he ate the forbidden fruit, he blamed Eve (Gen 3:12)
  • When Eve was asked why she ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, she blamed the serpent (Gen 3:13)
  • When Cain was asked where his brother was, he responded by insinuating it wasn’t his responsibility (Gen 4:9)
  • When Moses confronted Aaron about his willingness to create a golden calf, Aaron blamed his fellow Israelites (Ex 32:22-23)
  • When Samuel accused Saul of disobeying the Lord’s commands, Saul blamed his soldiers for pressuring him to compromise (1 Sam 15:24)
  • When Peter was identified as someone who knew Jesus, Peter insisted he was a victim of mistaken identity (Lk 22:54-62)

It’s typical for someone who has something to hide, as opposed to having something to say, to pose as a victim of extenuating circumstances and in that way, either justify their actions or conceal the self-absorbed agenda that motivates their behavior.

When you say, “That’s your opinion,” you’re asserting that all opinions need to be certified as valid in order to ensure a fair and equitable environment. Now, should anyone question the substance of your opinion, they are heard as being antagonistic to the idea of a person having the right to think for themselves.

To disagree with you in any way shape or form is now associated with an attitude that is unfair and unjust.

And you are now a “victim…”

The focus is now on rescuing you from the clutches of a totalitarian system and the fact that you’re driving on the wrong side of the road and justifying by saying you have the right to be happy is either overlooked or embraced as part of ensuring a proper degree of sensitivity is being applied to the wounds you have received at the hands of a tyrannical paradigm.

These aren’t topics, these are tactics. These aren’t subjects, these are strategies.

The validity of one’s perspective is ultimately gauged according to what occurs when that perspective is put into practice. If the result is fundamentally flawed, then not only is your opinion invalid, but it needs to be subordinated to a mindset that yields a better outcome.

But however logical that approach may be, it is anything but reasonable to a person who’s philosophically invested in their fallacy, which is why they will cling to a victimized status in order to avoid having to defend a mindset that cannot be validated as interchangeable, let alone preferable to those dispositions that produce a better result.

IV) Disable and Dismantle

When confronted with the “That’s your opinion” tactic, you don’t want to think of merely “countering” or “blocking.”

When you look at the way God handled all of the previously mentioned scenarios, you see the same technique happening over and over again.

  • Adam and Eve (Gen 3:13) – What have you done?
  • Cain (Gen 4:10) – What have you done?
  • Moses and Aaron (Ex 32:25-27) – Whose side are you on?
  • Samuel and Saul (1 Sam 15:21) – What does God prefer?
  • Peter and Jesus (Jn 13:38) – Will you really?

However the situation appears to obligate God to acknowledge the compromised status of those He is confronting, He maintains the true purpose of the conversation by simply asking a question.

Each question compels a response that does not allow for anything other than a direct answer. Whatever tactics or strategies that might otherwise be deployed in order to reduce visibility, so the consequences of their actions go unseen are effectively disabled and dismantled.

Jesus used this same kind of approach when talking with the Pharisees.

When they attempted to trap Him into saying something incriminating by asking if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, He replied by asking “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” (Matt 22:20).

When the Pharisees were convinced the Christ as committing blasphemy by telling a man that his sins were forgiven, He responded by asking, “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say ‘Get up and walk’?” (Matt 9:5).

Questions have to be answered in a way that resonates as complete and coherent. You risk your entire platform by coming across as evasive and manufactured.

And because a perspective lacking in practical substance can’t hold up beneath the weight of a revealing inquiry, you’re able to completely circumvent what would otherwise happen to the conversation when your opponent says, “That’s your opinion.”

V) Examples

There are any one of a number of issues in our society today that are labeled, “controversial” that remain in that category only because of the way they’re camouflaged as opinions that need to be adopted as part of maintaining an impartial marketplace of ideas.

It is possible, however, to uncover the troubled and sinister dynamics that characterize these topics by being like Christ and asking the right questions.

Bear in mind, though, that even when you’re able to bring certain things to light that might otherwise go unnoticed, the real battle is spiritual, and you want to remain sensitive and obedient to however God would work through you in order to ensure that it’s Him that is being clearly seen and not just a more well thought out worldview (Matt 10:19).

Below you’ll see some examples of how a particular approach to an issue can be revealed as being inconsistent with what’s both logical and True by asking the right question(s).

Use these examples to inspire your own rebuttals remembering that the battle is the Lord’s and your Strength comes from Him.

The negative health consequences of alternative sexuality are made more understandable by first recognizing the nature of the sexual practices at issue. A 1979 survey in the book The Gay Report revealed the percentage of gay men who engaged in the following practices: 99% oral sex, 91% anal sex, 82% rimming (analingus), 22% fisting, 23% golden showers (urination on another), 4% scat (defecation on another). 8 The book’s two authors were of same-sex sexual attraction. A May 2011 medical journal article found that felching (“sucking or eating semen out of someone’s anus”) was a sought-after practice in one-sixth of men’s profiles in “one of the largest Internet websites specifically targeting MSM looking for partners for unprotected sex.” (cmda.org)

Homosexuality

Is Homosexuality the best way to contract and proliferate the AIDS virus?

As of 2021, there are 32,100 estimated new HIV Infections. Of those, 70% were among gay and bisexual men.1

Homosexuality is engaged according to a collection of sexual practices that represent a breeding ground for all kinds of sexually transmitted diseases. In short, it represents a departure from the way the human species is designed. (Lev 18:22; 20:13; Rom 1:26-27)

Abortion

Will your baby live if you don’t have an abortion?

The argument that “It’s my body,” ceases to be a legitimate perspective once you realize that your baby is another human being and not a mere skin tag that can be disposed of. (Gen 1:26; Ex 20:13; Ps 139:13-16)

Socialism

Does everyone deserve a passing grade on a test – even those that didn’t study?

Not everyone has the same work ethic and, in that regard, Socialism doesn’t work because it fails to acknowledge the reality of fools. (2 Thess 3:10)

Christian theology with its idea of a fixed human nature infuriated Marx, who was not just an atheist but a God-hater who denounced religion as “the opium of the people.” His disciples, led by Lenin, always targeted the churches when they came to power. They initiated without apology a campaign of terror, shutting down churches, executing priests and bishops and violating nuns. The horrors were justified as part of the class-cleansing Marx envisioned.

The Founders of the American Revolution rejected those who believed that man was born without any imprint and sided with those who accepted that man was born in the image of God. As the Declaration of Independence states, all men “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” The Founders disagreed with those who thought man was perfectible and instead took the Christian position that man’s nature was fallen.2

 VI) Conclusion

Similar to “turning the other cheek,” 1 Peter 3:14-15 needs to be processed as something more than just being able to tell someone that they’re a sinner and they need Jesus:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Pet 3:14-15)

Among the best defenses of Christianity came from my father who was able to sum up a brilliant apology in two words:

It works.

Christianity is not just remedy for sin in the context of being able to avoid eternal damnation. Godly living puts you in a position of strength in the way you’re able to avoid the practical consequences of sinful behavior as well.

It works.

Those who want to maintain themselves as their own absolute do so at the expense of their own welfare. You can’t identify one “sin” that’s specified in the Bible from a moral perspective and not see how by abiding by God’s Instructions, you inevitably benefit.

You’re better off not being a Homosexual because of what you’re able to avoid in terms of sexually transmitted diseases, some of which are lethal.

You’re better off not having sex before you get married, so you’re not saddled with the kind of responsibility that was designed to be shared by both a mother and a father.

You’re not better off not stealing or murdering anyone because of the repercussions you’ll have to contend with in the aftermath.

As a committed follower of Christ, you’re better off!

It works.

And when someone says, “That’s your opinion,” recognize that, while it’s not always the case, in most instances that’s what someone says when they know they can’t disagree with what’s being said without sounding selfish or foolish. Reason being that the damage done by those things that occur when their opinion is played out in real time can’t compete with alternative perspectives that work out much better.

Hence the need to conceal the flaws in their argument by posing as a champion for an open forum, by saying…

“That’s your opinion.”

Don’t let these tactics silence the Strength of Scripture. Be ready to ask those questions that facilitate an objective evaluation of the mindset in question and let the lack of reason that characterizes their argument serve as a spotlight that can then be pointed at a better approach and ultimately to the Son of God Himself.

 

  1. “HIV Incidence”, “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”, https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/overview/in-us/incidence.html, accessed November 15, 2023
  2. “What Americans Must Know About Socialism”, Lee Edwards, Ph.D, December 3, 2018, “The Heritage Foundation”, https://www.heritage.org/progressivism/commentary/what-americans-must-know-about-socialism, accessed November 15, 2023

Muscular Christianity Bible Study

Muscular Christianity Bible Study

September 10th will be completely online! We will not be meeting at my home! Tune it to the broadcast on the Muscular Christianity Facebook page and catch the live broadcast! See you then!

Where: 2125 Maytown Circle, Thompsons Station, TN 37179

When: Beginning Sunday, September 10th from 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM. We’ll meet for four weeks!

What Do I Need? Bring a chair and a copy of the “Muscular Christianity 90 Day Workout Plan” I’ll have some copies available on the first day if you’re not able to get it from Amazon in time.

You’ll also need the handouts. Click on the links below to download and print the Listening Sheets for each session:

What Are We Doing? We’re going to be doing a workout featuring military grade calisthenics and combining that with a Bible Study that reviews the daily devotions you’re doing as part of the Workout Plan.

Sounds Great! How Do I Get Involved? Email Bruce Gust at bruce@brucegust.com and include your name and your contact info.

This is a fitness program that targets both your physical waistline as well as your spiritual gut. By the end of four weeks, you’ll be well on your way to being spiritually ripped as well as physically fit.

Regardless of your current fitness routine, this will make a difference in the way you look and feel. You’ll be learning about nutrition as well as working out using the kind of standard that’s utilized in the military. In addition, you’ll be popping the hood on the Word of God in a way that’s practical, motivating and easy to understand and apply.

See you Sunday!

We will also be broadcasting this live on the Muscular Christianity Facebook page! Buckle up!

Accountability plays a huge part in the realization of your goals. If you know of someone who might be interested in doing this Study, who you could also enlist as someone who you’re willing to empower with the right to ask you if you’ve worked out and remained consistent with your diet, invite them as well!

The Mechanics of Forgiveness | Part IV

What Was Dead is Now Utterly Alive

Because everything is tainted the way that it is, nothing really qualifies as “good” (Is 64:6). In addition, apart from Christ, you are “dead” spiritually, yet His Grace makes what was dead utterly alive…

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Eph 2:1-5)

And where before we were making choices based on a depraved mindset, now we are “slaves to righteousness.” (Rom 6:18)

What that means is that now we process things differently because we not only have the Holy Spirit to alert us to what qualifies as bogus (Jn 16:8), He also provides the resolve and the strength to stand whereas before we simply allowed Satan to play us as fools (1 Cor 10:13; Eph 6:10-18; Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8).

A New Creation with a Whole New Set of Tools

When you get to that place where you can connect the dots and realize that Christianity is not just a “tradition” and Christ is not just a spiritual regimen, but instead see it as a Truth that is both practical and profound and embrace Him as a personal Reality – at that point, everything changes.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor 5:17)

Understand that you’re a new creation not because you’ve changed your mind but because of the way Christ changed you.

 

You see that also in Galatians 2:20:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20)

You’ve got a new spring in your set and a different kind of Muscle that you can use to stand against what before would’ve knocked you down (Acts 1:8; Eph 6:10-13).

You’ve got the Holy Spirit living in you. This is what happens when you flip that switch and the authenticity of Christ goes from being a historical fact to a personal Reality. That’s the kind of belief referenced in Romans 10:9-10 and it’s then that the Spirit of Christ takes up residence in your heart and it’s His Preferences that become the determining factor in your life (1 Pet 4:2).

Lose Your Chains!

To be forgiven results in a feeling of relief and restoration. You may have some scars in the aftermath, but while before they were reminders that triggered regret, now they serve as altars to commemorate a debt that was paid on your behalf.

You don’t have to constantly rehearse the mistakes you’ve made and allow them to haunt you and impair every thought that would otherwise be pondered in the context of a clear conscience and an optimistic disposition. You can instead lose those chains that keep you shackled to your shame and let Christ restore and renew that mindset that sees first the empty tomb before your list of wrongs (Heb 10:22).

You have the option to ignore His Instruction and dismiss the Resources He offers, but not without the Holy Spirit creating within you a desire to make things right – not just with those who you have wronged, but with the One that is ultimately offended with every sin you commit (2 Sam 12:13; Jn 16:8; 2 Cor 7:9-10).

You can make it right, you can lose your chains – but you’ve got to ask for Forgiveness in the context of the mechanics outlined in the Word of God: Real confession, genuine reverence and intentional reprentance.

Short of that kind of approach, you’re pursuing a pointless imitation of humility (Jas 4:10) that masquerades as piety but, in the end, is nothing more than a resolve to maintain one’s self as your only absolute (2 Tim 3:5).

But, when you do draw to the throne of Grace, with confidence (Heb 4:16) and a single mindedness to “turn from you wicked ways” (2 Chron 7:14; Jas 4:7-10), you receive more than you could ever hope for and more than any of us could ever deserve.

Those are the Mechanics of Forgiveness!

Mechanics of Forgiveness | Part III

Slaves to Sin

In Romans, it says that prior to submitting to Christ, we are “slaves to sin…”

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Rom 6:15-18 [see also Jn 8:34])

Being a slave to sin doesn’t mean that you have no moral restraint – that you automatically submit to your most base impulses.

What it does mean is that you are governed by a paradigm that is fundamentally flawed. Whatever you do springs from a mindset that sees itself as its own absolute:

“There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15“Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.” 18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Rom 3:10-18)

Again, it’s not the sin itself that makes it the heinous thing that it is, as much as it’s Who you’re sinning against. Given the Substance and the Absolute Authority of Christ, to ignore Him represents a level of arrogance that is nothing short of nonsensical. Yet, that is our natural state prior accepting God’s free gift of Salvation (Eph 2:8-9).

After you’re saved, Scripture says you’re now “slaves of Christ (1 Cor 7:22; Gal 2:4; Eph 6:6).”

We associate the word “slave” with something inhumane. But in the ancient world, there was a relationship that sometimes existed between a slave and his master that reprented a special bond:

In ancient times, slaves were purchased or born into a slave family and served the master until they died or until the master decided to free them. Some slaves had developed such a close and loving relationship with the master’s family that they wanted to continue serving, even when they could go free. That’s the idea Paul and others were conveying when they referred to themselves as servants of Christ. The Lord has bought us with a high price (1 Corinthians 6:20), and those who come to know Him desire to abandon all rights to Him and choose to serve Him faithfully.1 

It’s not about whether you’re “nice” or “generous.” It comes down to your regard for the One Who created you and redeemed you and the extent to which you value His Love (1 Jn 3:1), respect His Authority (1 Chron 29:10-12; Ps 103:19; Is 40:21-23; Daniel 4:34, 37; 1 Jn 1:2-4) and rather than looking for ways to justify yourself, instead you’re looking for ways to honor Him.

Click here to read “The Mechanics of Forgiveness | Part IV.”

1. “What Does it Mean to be a Servant of Christ?” “Got Questions”, https://www.gotquestions.org/servant-of-Christ.html, accessed July 26, 2023

The Mechanics of Forgiveness | Part II

Sin

Sin is a debt, a burden, a thief, a sickness, a leprosy, a plague, a poison, a serpent, a sting.  Everything that man hates, sin is.  A load of curses and calamities beneath whose crushing intolerable pressure, the whole creation groans.  Who is the undertaker that digs man a grave?  Who is the painted temptress that steals his virtue?  Who is the murderess that destroys his life?  Who is the sorceress that first deceives and then damns his soul?  Sin.  Who with icy breath blights the fair blossoms of youth?  Who breaks the hearts of parents?  Who brings old men gray hairs with sorrow to the grave?  Sin.  Who changes gentle children into vipers, tender mothers into monsters, and their fathers into worse than Herods, the murderers of their own innocence?  Sin.  Who casts the apple of discord on household hearts?  Who lights the torch of war and bears it blazing over trembling lands?  Who by division in the church rends Christ’s seamless robe?  Sin.  Who is this Delilah that sings the Nazarite asleep and delivers up the strength of God into the hands of the uncircumcised?  Who, winning smile on her face, honeyed flattery on her tongue, stands in the door to offer the sacred rites of hospitality, and when suspicion sleeps, treacherously pierces our temples with a nail?  What fair siren is this who seated on a rock by the deadly pool smiles to deceive, sings to lure, kisses to betray and flings her arms around our neck to leap with us into perdition?  Sin.  Who turns the soft and gentlest heart to stone?  Who hurls reason from her lofty throne and impels sinners mad as Gadarene swine to run down the precipice into a lake of fire?  Sin. (Dr Donald Guthrie quoted by Dr John MacArthur)

Sin makes a man a slave. The Bible speaks of a class who are taken captive by the devil at his will. Many a man is a slave to his appetite or his passions. Mr. Spurgeon once made a parable. He said : “There  was a tyrant who ordered one of his subjects into his presence and commanded him to make a chain. The blacksmith obeyed. When he had finished the chain, he brought it to his ruler, who, upon examination, ordered him to go and make it twice as long. When the chain was brought the second time, the tyrant commanded one of his soldiers to take it and with it bind the man who had made it, hand and foot, and cast him into prison. That is what the devil does for men. ‘ He shall be holden with the cords of his sins. ‘ ” Proverbs 5 : 22. You can bind a man with a spool of thread if you use enough of it . Many men are slaves to so-called little sins. (Without Excuse – A Sympathetic Examination of Some of the Excuses Which Often are Made When the Spirit Beckons Men on to a Christian Life)

What is Sin?

It’s easy to lose track of the toxic characteristic of sin.

Sin puts you and I in hell (Rom 3:23; Rev 20:15), sin put Christ on the cross (1 Pet 3:18), sin is responsible for all the pain and the problems in the world (Gen 2:16-17; Dt 30:15-20; Jn 3:16-21) and sin is the lie that says, “I am my own bottom line (Lk 12:18-21; Phil 3:18-20; Jas 4:13-15).”

You never want to see sin as nothing more than an unavoidable handicap or an inconsequential discrepancy.

James spells it out in chapter four:

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (Jas 4:7-10)

It’s not just the sin and the physical consequences of whatever wrongdoing you’re guilty of. It’s Who you’re sinning against that makes it the heinous thing that it is.

Every sin requires you to go up to your Heavenly Father as He’s sitting on His Throne and telling Him to get out of your chair.

The Bible calls that idolary in that you’re replacing Him with another authority of your own making (Ex 32:1-4; 1 Sam 15:23; 1 Cor 10:13-15; [see also “There Are Only Two Options” as part of Central Truth | Part IV]).

The point, here, is that you don’t want to ever lose sight of what Sin is. 1 John 3:4 says sin is “lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4).” You’re casting off whatever guidelines and restrictions God would impose based on His Perfect Love and Wisdom and replacing them with a self-serving agenda. It’s belligerent, it’s nonsensical and, in the end, it’s lethal (Rom 6:23).

Again, it doesn’t matter if you’re cussin’ or you’re killin’. James 2:10 says:

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (Jas 2:10 [see also Matt 23:23])

Sounds pretty harsh, doesn’t it?

But when you break sin down to the mindset and the motives that have to be in place in order for said behavior to exist, given the Love and the Power of God, you’re looking at a form of rebelliousness that is pure poison. However the physical consequences may differ, the spiritual substance of sin is the same regardless of the form it may take.

You’re Saved

But you’re saved, right?

That means every sin you could ever commit – past, present and future – has been forgiven.

Just before Jesus died, He said, “It is finished. (Jn 19:30)” Meaning that the problem of sin had been solved and the old system of sin and sacrifices had now been replaced with a new arrangement…

 It is finished, that is, the work of man’s redemption and salvation is now completed, at least the hardest part of the undertaking is over; a full satisfaction is made to the justice of God, a fatal blow given to the power of Satan, a fountain of grace opened that shall ever flow, a foundation of peace and happiness laid that shall never fail. Christ had now gone through with his work, and finished it, (Matthew Henry)

You can see the comprehensive nature of Christ’s atonement in verses like Romans 8:1-2:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. (Rom 8:1-2 [see also 1 Jn 2:2])

You can also see the permanance of our Redemption later on in the same chapter:

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39)

So, as believers, we are forgiven and blameless in the sight of God because of our identity being defined according to our faith in Christ (Jn 14:20; 2 Cor 5:17; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27).

And yet…

We Still Sin

We still sin.

It’s tempting to think that once the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our heart and mind (Acts 1:8; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Tim 1:14), we’re suddenly transformed into these morally pristine individuals and we’re no longer prone to sin.

But that’s not the case.

You see that in Romans 7:21-24:

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom 7:21-24 [see also Gal 5:17; Jas 4:1; 1 Pet 2:11])

But here’s the thing: While we’re still having to contend with a default desire to establish ourselves as our own bottom line (Gal 5:17), we are no longer obligated to obey what amounts to a standard that is subjective at best.

Where before we were a “slave” to sin, now we’re a slave of Christ. Click here to read “The Mechanics of Forgiveness | Part III.”

Make It Sing | Part III

Welcome to “Make it Sing | Part III!”

In Part I we looked at how applying God’s take on any given issue is going to translate to the best possible outcome regardless of what the situation or issue may be. Using the illustration of the way an engine is sometimes described as “running like a song,” we want our relationship to not just “work,” we want it to “sing.”

In Part II, we looked at the nuts and bolts of reading God’s Word and how you don’t want to process it as a “noble chore,” but as something that’s done to ensure that you’re operating from a Position of Strength in everything you say, think and do.

In Part III, we’re going to look at the three things a woman needs in order for your relationship with her to truly “sing!”

Three Homeruns

Numbers tend to be symbolic. In Scripture, the both the number 7 and the number 3 represent “wholeness.”

You see it in Nature (height, width, depth), you see it in human beings (body, mind and spirit) and you even see it in God Himself (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

A woman needs three things to feel comfortable in a relationship:

  • Trust – it’s not just being faithful to her as much as it’s being faithful to your King (1 Sam 16:7). When your heart’s right with God, she can trust you in the way you’re going to treat her and subordinate your will to her welfare “…out of reference for Christ (Eph 5:21).”
  • Communication – she needs you to talk to her. Being “strong and silent” is appropriate sometimes, but she needs to know what’s on your mind and how you’re feeling. You also want to make sure that you’re building her up and letting her know that she’s your one great love (Prov 25:11; Eph 5:18-20; 1 Thess 5:11).
  • Security – women are wired for security.  You can see that in their “motherly instincts,” as far as being committed to the protection of their children. Females are genetically weaker than their male counterparts. Women, therefore, are looking to lessen the feeling of vulnerability that’s triggered by the presence of any kind of “threat,” be it a financial shortcoming, an emotional void or physical harm (Ruth 3:9). While there is no lasting sense of security or significance provided by any kind of human agency, men (husbands) are nevertheless commanded to protect and provide for their wives and their families (Gen 2:15; Eph 5:25; 2 Thess 3:10; 1 Tim 5:8).

At first glance, you can look at these things and not feel like they’re especially challenging. But you want to ensure that each of these qualify as legitimate homeruns and not just base hits.

Think of it this way…

The woman you claim to love is not just your girlfriend, she’s her father’s daughter and she is her Savior’s creation. You don’t honor their commitment and the sacrifice they made for the sake of her wellbeing by allowing yourself to be content with any kind of compromise that can damage her in any way.

Even the “appearance” of evil is specified in Scripture as something you want to avoid:

Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thess 5:22)

This isn’t just about the way things are, this applies as well to the way things appear – specifically the reputation of God and the ones you care about:

  • God’s Reputation (Matt 5:16; 1 Thess 2:12; Phil 1:27)
  • Her Reputation (Eph 5:33; 1 Pet 3:7)
  • Your Reputation (Prov 22:1; 1 Pet 2:15; 3:16)

Remember, “reputation” is not based not only on what people see, but what they’re led to believe. Granted, you can take that to an unhealthy extreme, but being sensitive to appearances compels you to expand your field of vision to include those things that can corrupt a relationship, yet go unnoticed apart from a wise appreciation for the corrosive effect of compromise (1 Cor 10:23-24; 1 Pet 5:8). Now you’re putting some points on the board and not just putting a man on base!

Something Changes

You ever notice how when you introduce the name of “Jesus” into a casual conversation, the whole mood of the room changes?

There’s something about that Name that effects even the very air you breathe – at least it feels that way.

I’ve always processed that “shift” in the way the tone of an environment changes when you speak the Name of Christ as indicative of His Reality.

You can say “God” or “Christ” and not perceive a noticable change, but say “Jesus” and it’s like you’ve opened the door of a dark room and the light now streaming in makes people have to adjust the eyes of their heart and mind.

Something changes…

Finding a wife is a good thing (Prov 31:10). You don’t want to gloss over the practical wisdom that’s coming from the One Who invented Humanity and Marriage to begin with. The verses and wisdom you see documented here in this essay aren’t just good little “cooking tips.” Rather, they represent a portion of the template that God Himself put in place and there’s no better Strategy for securing a successful relationship or living your best life than applying what God has to say about whatever it is you’re wanting to do.

Something changes when you love someone using the Perspective and the Power of the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 3:11. You’re no longer depending on the limited resources of your best intentions. Now you’ve got the True Muscle and the Perfect Knowledge of your Redeemer inspiring your thoughts and animating your actions.

Don’t just “make it work…”

Make it sing!

Click here to read “Make It Sing | Part IV”

Make It Sing | Part II

This is Part II of “Make It Sing,” a series about how to make your relationship with your sweetheart all that God designed it to be.

When an engine is running perfectly, you’ll hear it described as something that’s “running like a song.” We’re using that illustration to emphasize how you don’t want your relationship to merely “work,” rather you want it to “sing!”

In Part I we looked on how every aspect of the human experience stands to be significantly improved by applying whatever God has to say about it, given the fact that He’s the Author of everything to begin with (Col 1:16).

In Part II, we’re examining how to actually make that happen.

Get It Done

Everything that we contend with in life can be boiled down to a spiritual contest (Eph 6:12). Anger, disappointment, frustration, jealousy, fear, anxiety…Those are all emotional reactions to a spiritual tension.

Ephesians 6:12 says:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph 6:12)

You see where this is going?

You don’t read your Bible just to be able to defend your faith or be better prepared to smile and help when you want to scowl and fight.

Moral Courage

“Holiness,” from a purely practical standpoint, is doing the right thing at the right time in the right way for all the right reasons. It’s not just being “wise” or “moral,” it’s a perfect combination of the two.

That’s part of what makes God Who He is. (1 Sam 2:2; Is 48:17; Rev 4:8) and that’s the status we want to target in everything we say, think and do (Lev 11:44; Ps 19:14; Matt 5:48; 1 Pet 1:15-16). Not because we’re looking to simply be “nice,” but because we’re looking to secure the best possible outcome in every situation that we encounter.

And while the benefits are obvious, it nevertheless takes courage because much of the world is wired for compromise and what’s right and best is often exchanged for what’s easy and weak (Matt 7:24-27).

You want to be able to approach every aspect of your life from a Position of Strength (Is 41:10; Phil 4:13).

  • You don’t want to base your present disposition on just what’s apparent, you want to make sure it’s founded on what’s True (Rom 8:28; Phil 2:13)
  • You don’t want to just be “moral,” you want to be morally courageous (Ps 1:1-3; Phil 4:8 [see sidebar])
  • You don’t want to just be prosperous, you want to be both successful and prosperous (Josh 1:8; Prov 10:22; Matt 6:33)

You stay on top of your spiritual game in order to ensure that everything in your life is moving along briskly in the right direction, including your relationship with your sweetheart (Ps 19:7-9; 2 Cor 9:8)!

The Men’s Department

For Men, it looks like this:

Your job is to eliminate anything that gets in the way of your darlin’ girl’s relationship with Christ.

Again, this isn’t being overly “spiritual.” Her best life and the happiest relationship the two of you can enjoy is going to be facilitated by focusing on the foundation which everything in life is built upon.

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. (Heb 11:1-2 [The Message])

When you apply that Reality to relationships, you want to look at what it says in Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:25 says:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Eph 5:25)

If you refer to that graphic below, you’ll see that as the two of you grow closer to Christ, you inevitably grow closer together. And you’re not just “bonding” the way two people who are attracted to might gravitate to one another, you’re connecting at a level that’s deeply personal and goes beyond even the most transparent conversation.

That’s what happens when you pray together (Matt 18:20). When you’re both lining up the way you think about each other and life in general with the Truth of God’s Word, you’re not just “on the same page,” you’re completely in sync with each where the most important issues are concerned.

Click here to read “Make It Sing | Part III!”

Make it Sing | Part IV

The Bible is Your Best Resource

Welcome to Part IV of “Make It Sing!”

Where in Part III we were in the “Men’s Department,” in Part IV we are in the “Ladies Section.”

If you’ve read Part I, you know we’re talking about relationships and how you don’t want to just “make it work,” rather, you want to “make it sing (2 Pet 1:3).”

The expression “Make it sing” is something I remember my Dad saying when he was referring to the way an engine was running smoothly. It would “purr like a kitten,” or “run like a song” – regardless of what phrase he was using, he was describing something that was working exactly the way it was designed.

Given the fact that God Himself is the Author of Humanity as well as Marriage, it only makes sense that you would want to apply whatever He recommends in order to enjoy all the benefits a healthy dating relationship and, ultimately, a great marriage.

So, if you’re wanting a great relationship with your sweetheart – if you want to “make it sing” – then the Bible is going to be your best Resource.

Like Part I, much of what you’re reading is based on what my bride and I have learned as having been single and now on the other side of almost 30 years of a great marriage. However practical or obvious the content you’re about to read may appear, it has as its basis the Word of God and that’s what makes it both effective and reliable.

All Things at All Times

Previously I mentioned how it can be tempting to gloss over Scripture as something that’s reserved for those times when you’re needing something Profound to help you negotiate an especially challenging circumstance or when you’re feeling especially “spiritual.”

No.

2 Corinthians 9:8 says:

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor 9:8)

“All things at all times…”

There isn’t a single aspect of the human experience that doesn’t stand to be dramatically improved by bringing it into the Light of God’s Perspective (Jas 1:5). Rather than basing your approach on the limited resources represented by your best intentions, you can instead infuse your actions and your mindset with the Power of the Holy Spirit (Col 1:29) and the Mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).

You smell that?

That’s the aroma of excellence!

Submission…

In Part I, I enumerated three things that a woman needs in order for a relationship to be successful. In this part, we’ll look at the three things a man needs in order for the relationship to be a success.

This list comes from the premarital counseling your mama and I received when we were getting ready to tie the knot. While it resonated as logical at the time, after almost three decades, its logic has been verified repeatedly, not just with experiential knowledge, but also by being able to trace its wisdom back to Scripture.

Before we get into the three things a man needs, however, let’s look at what it means for a woman to “submit” to her husband.

This is coming from the book, “Perception Changes,” which goes into some of this in more detail. But the bottom line is that to “submit” to your husband, you’re not cowering beneath his authority as much as it means you are organizing your resources in a way to help accomplish a mission.

First of all, the man has the responsibility to care for his wife to the point where he’s willing to lay down his life for her.

Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. (Eph 5:24)

Ultimately, this is more than just financial provision. He is to be a spiritual leader that provides a holistic existence that allows her to thrive in every way – and this is to be a priority to the point where he’s willing to sacrifice his own life in order to make it happen.

To do this correctly, however, he needs more than just some assistance because, in the end, he’s not merely providing for her as much as he’s fighting a host of spiritual authorities that would prevent and destroy a mutually beneficial environment devoid of all sinful concessions and influences (Eph 6:12).

Eve is described as a “suitable helper.” While the tendency might be to gloss over those words as a description of a friendly secretary, the Hebrew word for “helper” is “ezerl” – the same word used to describe God Himself in Deuteronomy 33:29.

“Suitable” is “kenegdo” which is actually three words that, when combined mean a “similar opposite.” In other words, she is his equal that labors alongside him when he is acting honorably. On the other hand, when he is in error, she is facing him and functions as an agent of correction.

“Submitting” to this paradigm becomes both logical and advantageous in the way it facilitates a healthy relationship with God and one another. Moreover, it creates the ideal environment where sons and daughters can now grow without the distraction of sinful tensions that affect their total well-being.

And it should be noted that “submission” in this context is not the surrender of one’s personality or dreams in exchange for a life characterized by “duty” and “responsibility.” First of all, regardless of one’s gender, we’re all invited to participate in a holy existence that reeks of fulfillment and excellence (Eph 5:21; Col 3:17). Secondly, the Greek word for “submission” that’s being used here is a military term that refers to the organizing of one’s forces for the purpose of accomplishing a specific mission (see “Hupotasso” in the Greek by clicking here). In this instance, it’s about forming up your spiritual military for the purpose of ensuing that God’s Purposes are being accomplished in your spouse.

You see this illustrated in the diagram below:

Remember, Jesus was born of a woman. One of Israel’s first Judges was Deborah and the first person that the risen Christ appeared to was…

…a woman (Jn 20:14-16).

Too often, the female gender is regulated to a subserviant role. Even during the time of Christ, a woman’s legal testimony had no value. But that’s not what’s being promoted or even suggested in this context.  “Submission” is not so much resigning yourself to the authority of your husband, as much as it’s supporting him and his responsibility to protect and provide (see Part I) by organizing your spiritual resources in a way that combats those things that have the capacity to undermine his efforts.

 

So, how do you “submit” in the proper biblical context? Or how do you “make it sing?”

Three Homers

  • Physical Touch – physical intimacy is part of a healthy marriage. It’s not the defining factor, but it’s an important part of the way God created matrimony (Gen 2:24; 1 Cor 7:1-3). Men tend to have a stronger sex drive than women, so this qualifies as something you want to be aware of as a legitimate need and not just a senseless preoccupation. When you’re dating, obviously sex is off the table because of the way it’s designed to be something that a husband and wife can claim as something that’s exclusive to their relationship (Heb 13:4). But tenderness and affection is a special part of every romantic relationship and you want to make sure that dynamic is in place.
  • Respect – You see this in Ephesians 5:33. When you respect your husband, you are giving him the necessary confidence and courage he needs that oftentimes the world will deny him – especially when it comes to making those decisions that keep things in line with God’s Word.
  • Affirmation – Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” You will always be the one your husband wants to impress and please the most. Should everyone on the planet doubt his judgment, if he has you to help him stay true to his convictions by saying, “I know you can do it!” he becomes unstoppable. Speaking words of affirmation to your husband are a powerful manifestion of your love and respect for him.

You want to process these things as game changers. Again, going back to that aforementioned graphic, this is all done out of reverence for Christ. Given that as your underlying context, you draw closer to your man the more you obey Christ’s commands. That’s the signficance of the triangle and the all encompassing dynamic of submitting to one another.

So don’t settle for “base hits.” Put some points on the board every time you go to take a swing and by hitting a home run, you can know that the end result is a truly amazing relationship with the one you love!

More Than “Being Together”

You are in a season of life where Marriage is no longer a distant prospect. But Marriage is so much more than just “being together.”

When the “two become one flesh (Eph 5:31),” you are now operating in a way where, while you are two different people, you are now functioning as one person. Done right, your respective strengths come together in a way where the sum of the parts is greater thant the whole.

But that’s while “submitting to one another” is so important! Unless you have that dynamic in place in a manner that’s reinforced with the Power of the Holy Spirit, the natural inclination is to be selfish which leads to insecurity and unmet expectations…

…and it can be toxic.

You don’t want to settle for being merely “smart,” rather you want to be wise (Prov 9:10; Jas 1:5).

Don’t just “make it work,” make it sing by putting into practice those things endorsed by your Heavenly Father and enjoy all the benefits that go along with what He’s created and what He commands.

Make it sing!

Click here to read “Make It Sing | Part I

Make it Sing | Part I

I’m not sure where I first heard the expression, “…runs like a song,” but perhaps I heard it from my Dad who worked a lot on engines. When a motor was running in a way that was smooth and seamless, he would use phrases like, “Purrs like a kitten,” or “It runs like a song.”

We’re going to piggy back on that phrase and use it to describe a relationshp between a man and a woman. What we’re going to be looking at applies to dating as well as a marriage because in the end, regardless of where you’re at, you want your relationship to “run like a song.”

Hopefully, I’ll be able to take those things your Mama and I have learned after having been single and now on the other side of almost 30 years of wedded bliss and package them in a way that will not only benefit you, but give you something that you can hand your kids when it’s their turn to date and choose between “making it work,” or “making it sing.”

So, How do You do It?

How do you position yourself and your sweetheart in a way where you keep your unmet expectations from morphing into ugly dealbreakers? How do you manage the various temptations you have to negotiatate in a way where you’re able to rise above all of what would otherwise inspire some unhealthy concessions?

While there’s any one of a number of practical “tips” you could potentially learn and deploy, the fundamental starting point for relationships and life in general is, and always will be, your relationship with Christ.

Here’s the Thing…

Too often, one’s spiritual disciplines tend to be subconsciously categorized as noble chores – things you do when you’re feeling especially “religious” or when you’re in a crisis situation.

You don’t want to do that.

Think about it:

Money

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. (Dt 8:18 [see also Josh 1:8; Prov 23:4-5])

Fitness

Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: 20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, 21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. (Prov 23:19-21 [see also Rom 12:1-2; 1 Cor 6:19-20)

Work

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. (Ecc 9:10 [see also Eph 6:5-8])

There isn’t even the slightest nuance of the human experience that doesn’t stand to be dramatically improved by filtering it through your relationship with Christ.

And the same thing applies to relationships.

It’s not just being “moral.” That’s the shallow end of the pool (Heb 13:4; 1 Cor 6:18). Again, it’s not just making things “work,” you want them to “sing.”

So, what do you do?

Click here to access “Make It Sing | Part II!”

 

 

What vs Why

Years ago, a friend of mine captured what to me resonated as the best way to respond to a challenge.

You’re in a spot where circumstances have you looking at God and wondering…

…why?

And it’s often in the context of asking, “Why?” that you rush to relieve the pain and put in place those things that temper the restlessness that characterizes that particular moment.

Do Not be Anxious About Anything

You pray, you fast, you saturate your mind with Scripture – all for the sake of pushing back against the situation, resolving the issue and restoring a feeling of calm and confidence.

None of that is wrong. The Bible actually says:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil 4:6 [see also 2 Kings 20:5; 2 Cor 3:1-8])

But it’s here where my friend introduced a perspective that I hadn’t really considered before that, in many ways, brings to the table the whole of God’s Word and not just those verses that pertain to anxiety and pain.

Did I Miss Something?

Certainly you want to ask, “Why?” After all, perhaps there’s something that you missed that now has you “reaping what you have sown (Gal 6:7).”

It happens. You make mistakes, sometimes you even intentionally ignore the stops God puts in your path because, at the time, you were resolved to do whatever it is you had intended.

But there’s other times where you’re just caught off guard. You get blind sided by something you didn’t expect, or…

Maybe you feel as though you’re being compelled to wait on something that you know God could expedite just by saying the word (Lk 7:1-10). Or perhaps you’re ready to move forward and yet you can’t because of some things that “apparently” have to be done (.

It’s here where you don’t want to content yourself with merely asking “Why?” Rather, you want to include the question, “What?”

“What would you have me do?”

What Would You Have Me Do?

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (Jas 1:2-4 [see also Heb 5:13-14])

It’s not uncommon to read James 1:2-4 and process it as something that’s directed towards that situation where you’re being confronted with a major problem. Perhaps it’s a huge financial challenge, or maybe a health crisis.

But you don’t want to miss the way it starts by saying, “trials of many kinds.”

This isn’t just for the kind of challenge that’s prefaced by a major storm warning. This is anything that translates to any type of tension.

Patience is neither automatic nor intuitive. You see what you want, you recognize what you need and yet, you’re having to wait.

Wait for What?

Wait for what?

This is where it can get really frustrating. You feel like you’ve got all your “i’s” dotted and every “t” has been crossed. What’s being accomplished by being compelled to “wait?”

James provides the answer in the context of letting perseverance finish its work.

God doesn’t waste time (Ecc 3:1-8; Is 60:22; Rom 8:28). However you feel like you’re caught up in a never ending cycle of pointless activities, there is a Plan in place that’s going to include several seasons of training and education you’re going to need in order to fully engage this next chapter of your life.

Effective and Not Just Capable

The word for “mature” is teleios.” It can also be translated as “perfect.” The idea is that your heart and your brain are adequately prepped and positioned so you’re not just “capable,” but you’re truly effective.

And don’t kid yourself into thinking that being “capable” is enough. Going through the motions rarely equates to going through the process.

And here’s the thing…

When you embrace the idea that this waiting period is not just a dormant and foolish waste of time, but instead is a classroom and a gym where you’re being built up into a version of yourself that’s substantially better than what currrently stares back at you in the mirror every morning…

Now you’ve got a different attitude (Rom 12:10-2).

  • You’re not frustrated as much as you are interested.
  • You’re not indifferent, now you’re engaged.
  • You’re taking an inventory of who and what you are and letting God show you where there’s room for improvement and then letting Him make those changes in you.

Once you’re able to discern the purpose that characterizes this season you’re in, it’s an entirely different ballgame and you’re that much more inclined to let your Heavenly Father guide and grow the heart that you’ve now more fully handed over to Him.

It’s good stuff!

A High Point in My Professional Career

When I first reported to the Training Command I was assigned to after Boot Camp, I didn’t immediately see all of what was being accomplished and I initially considered attempting to expedite my training so I could get out to the Fleet and start doing my job.

But within a few weeks, I was able to, not only appreciate all that could be gained by fully immersing myself in the opportunites presented by the training that was being offered, but also realize just how much I needed to improve.

That school turned out to be a high point in my professional career and I often go back to that experience when I find myself having to “wait” on my King to move forward in the direction that I’m wanting to go.

I’m much better at asking “What? and not just “Why?” than I used to be because of the way I’ve been able to see over and over again that “waiting” isn’t always intended to be a stationary position. Sometimes, it’s the needed training program to prep you for that next adventure that’s going to require more of you than what you currently have.

If you’re not sure, ask (Jas 1:5).

But know this: All the days in your life were ordained before one of them came to be (Ps 139:16). This isn’t morning traffic where you can conclusively determine that you wouldn’t have to wait if you had taken a different path.

Maybe, maybe not.

God is in charge and that’s a good thing (Phil 2:13). Don’t just ask “Why? Be sure to also ask “What?”

Give Him the opportunity to show you how He wants you to use this time so you can take advantage of every “class” He’s offering so you can learn and become all that He created you to be.

Now you’re not just capable, you’re truly effective. Nor are you merely existing, now you’re genuinely living!

 

Bonus: Why You Want to be Spiritually Ripped