“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.” (II Corinthians 2:14-17 NIV)
The radio show, “This American Life,” did a feature a few years ago on “bait and switch” schemes, which included an interview with a self-described former evangelical Christian. He told of using “surveys” on campus to initiate conversations with students, the goal being to lead the discussion toward talking about Jesus. The reality is there was no real survey. No data was being collected for research. It was just a technique used to start a conversation. A former student e-mailed me and told me about the show and said she remembered how much I hated that approach to evangelism. I still do.
Many years ago, I was at home leading a Bible study group when the doorbell rang. When I opened the door, in front of me stood a few high school youth. They told me they were from a certain church and wanted to talk with me. I told them I was in the midst of a Bible study and didn’t have the time. I thanked them for stopping by. As I was closing the door, one of the students said, “Can I ask you one question? If you were to die tonight, do you know if you would go to Heaven?” There it was. The question they were supposed to ask. Never mind I had told them I was a campus minister and was leading a Bible study group at that very moment. It didn’t matter. Their goal for the evening was to visit as many people as they could and ask that question. I could have just found out there was a death in my family or I had just lost my job and I don’t think it would have mattered. They were going to ask that question because that was what they were there to do.
In Paul’s day, men were preaching the Gospel for the sole purpose of making money. They weren’t interested in the people; they were interested in their enterprise. It is the same with the “survey” and the question. They become the focus and the people are mere objects to conduct our business. Is it any wonder people are turned off by Christians trying to evangelize them, or Christians are repulsed or fearful to reach out to others with the Gospel?
The Gospel is about bringing hope to people in need of it. That’s it. And the most effective way to do that is by being authentic with people in telling them what Jesus has done in our lives. As Peter instructs, give the reason for the hope that is within you (I Peter 3:15-16 ) in an authentic and gentle way. It’s really that simple. We don’t need, and people don’t want, gimmicks. Make it personal; make it real. Then the people with whom you share can freely decide what they want to do with it.
Today, recognize true evangelism is not done by deceit or by some developed method. And it’s not done to make you feel better or more spiritual. It’s done out of love through the sharing of your life and the transformation Jesus has made in it.
© Jim Musser 2014
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” (Romans 7:5-8 NIV)
Being successful requires living with intentionality. Even the most talented athlete has to work at his sport to be successful. In order to graduate, students have to discipline themselves to go to class, complete projects, and pass exams. Careers are built with effort. Few of us can gain much without really trying.
Being successful in spiritual growth and maturity is no different. It requires effort and discipline. Paul tells us that in order to live the way God wants us to live we must have our minds set on what He desires. There is a sense of focus and intentionality. Our minds naturally go toward our human desires. Without any effort in the other direction, our thoughts go toward lust, greed, envy, fear, hate, selfishness, etc. If there is to be a change, we must intentionally set our minds in a different direction. It is a lifelong struggle about which Paul writes later in this chapter. It is the struggle to break the hold of our sinful nature on our lives.
So how do we accomplish this? First, we must recognize we cannot do this alone; we need the Lord’s help. So we acknowledge the difficulty of the battle and ask for His help. Secondly, we begin to shift what we are putting into our minds and filter what does come in through the truths of God’s Word. Thirdly, when we are unable to prevent ungodly thoughts from entering our minds, we follow Paul’s instructions (II Corinthians 10:5) and take them captive and give them over to the Lord.
Is this a lot of work? Of course. If you think following Jesus requires little or no effort, you are badly mistaken. We face an enemy that seeks to destroy us. When we change sides, do not think he will merely give up and let us go. He will pursue us and harass us. We will have to fight him.
Today, recognize if you want to grow and be successful spiritually, you are going to have to be intentional about it and work at it. The Lord will help you, but you first have to set your mind to it.
© Jim Musser 2014
“For some say, ‘His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.’ Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.” (II Corinthians 10:10-13 NIV)
This morning I read a post on Facebook from a mother who lamented her struggle with comparing her life to those seemingly perfect lives posted on Facebook and vowed to stop doing it. She is far from alone.
We all see the posts and images of our friends and acquaintances and it is easy to conclude their lives are perfect. Husbands/wives are without flaws; children are always cute, adorable, funny, and never frustrating; friendships are wonderful without ever any tensions; vacations are always fun and exotic. You get the picture.
But in everyone’s life, there are always blanks that need to be filled in—with reality. I think this is basically Paul’s message to the Corinthians. Some were comparing him with those among them that were claiming greatness for themselves in the areas of speaking and leadership. I can imagine them sitting around boasting of their rhetorical prowess, painting a picture of how wonderful they were. Who was Paul compared to them? But Paul, echoing Jesus, warned them of boasting beyond proper limits. In other words, beyond what their lives truly were. They were trying to paint a picture of themselves that was not reality and comparing themselves with one another. Paul says they were unwise to do so. Perhaps because it smacked of arrogance and pride. Though he was derided, Paul was content with his life because he trusted the Lord and didn’t need to prove himself. People boast out of pride and insecurity, but Paul knew his shortcomings and was secure in God’s love for him. We would do well to follow his example.
It is not wise for us to look at Facebook and compare our lives with those portrayed there. The impressions given by Facebook posts are, though usually unintentionally, a form of boasting beyond proper limits because they fail to project reality. No life is perfect. Spouses and significant others disappoint us, kids can test our patience beyond what we think we can bear, and friendships are sometimes fraught with challenges. Life is often hard, frustrating, and disappointing, but one will rarely get that impression from Facebook. But if we struggle with pride or insecurity, we will be tempted to compare ourselves with these portrayals, feeling guilty and needing to keep up with them.
Today, as Paul wisely instructs, do not compare yourself with those who paint, intentionally or unintentionally, their lives in ways that are beyond reality. Instead, fill in the blanks and know that everyone struggles and that no one’s life is even close to being perfect. Instead of comparing yourself to everyone else, recognize you are loved by God and be content with the life He has given you.
© Jim Musser 2014
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV)
There is a lot of weariness on campus these days. The answer to “Are you ready for Thanksgiving Break?” is always a resounding “Yes!” A life of classes, papers, and tests wears students down over the course of a semester. It is a lesson for life in general.
Post-college life can also wear us down. There are the eight, ten, or 12-hour workdays and no three-month long summer breaks. There are the stresses of finances in tough economic times. There are the sleepless nights with sick children and the stress that comes with raising them into adulthood. Add to that any number of possible crises that may arise along the way and even a good life can wear on us.
Weariness is something we will often have to deal with throughout our lives. And the Hebrew writer has a simple solution in how to cope—look to Jesus. Don’t try to handle it yourself; fix your eyes on Jesus. Look to Him for encouragement and strength.
The context of the writer’s directive is persecution. Followers of Jesus were suffering in many ways for their faith. The writer knew the difficulty of their struggle and knew they were weary. While you may not be suffering persecution for you your faith, his principle still applies. The grind of life can best be handled by focusing on Jesus.
It is always easy when we are tired to focus on our immediate circumstances. Problems become bigger and bigger as we grow more weary. They can seem overwhelming. That is why we need to take our eyes off our struggles and fix them on Jesus. He proved He could handle any struggle and has promised to overcome ours (John 16:33).
Are you weary of the grind of life? Then know Jesus is there to strengthen and encourage you. What you have to do is fix your eyes on Him.
© Jim Musser 2014
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)
This Psalm is about the noise of upheaval and destruction. There is trouble afoot. There are earthquakes; mountains are collapsing; the oceans are roiling; nations are in the midst of upheaval and some are falling. The world appears to be at the brink. But in the midst of all the trouble, the Lord says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
This Psalm likely resonates with you because there is so much troubling noise in the world. There’s the minor background noise of entrenched politicians who seem unable to act civilly or do what is in the best interests of the country; cable news shows that handle debate like third-graders; coverage of Kim Kardashian and other celebrities, and the constant din of social media, which typically is filled with plenty of snark. Add to that the noise of our own lives, the responsibilities and challenges we face. Then add to that the serious noise of ISIS, Syria, Ebola, Ukraine, climate change, etc., and one can begin to feel life is one constant distraction or crisis, putting us in a mode of continual anxiousness. Do we just tolerate it or is there a better way?
I find it comforting that the Lord takes it all in stride. The world may appear to be falling apart or on the brink, the noise may be overwhelming, but God is not fazed. “Be still.” “Know I am God.” Like the father who grabs his child that’s stuck on a slippery rock in the middle of stream, saying “I’ve got you” as he wraps his arms around him, the Lord is saying to us, “Trust me, I’ve got you.”
No matter the noise in our lives, stilling ourselves to reflect on the bigness of God to handle any situation is always the best way to manage it. Like focusing on conversing with one person in a crowded room, the noise of other conversations slips into the background. The more we still ourselves to hear God, the quieter our worlds become.
Today, when your noisy world becomes overwhelming, remember the way to still the noise is to still yourself and focus on the Lord. As you do, no matter how loud the noise, it will fade into the background and you will hear His comforting voice more clearly saying, “Trust me, I’ve got you.”
© Jim Musser 2014
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:9-14 NIV)
It happened again this week. As the headline implied, there were shocking new revelations about Jesus. Two scholars have written a new book claiming Jesus married the Virgin Mary and that they had two kids! Absolutely shocking, isn’t it? Who knew?
I am never surprised or shocked when these claims appear in the media or in the classroom. Ever since His resurrection, people have made attempts to diminish the divinity of Jesus. The Jewish leaders were the first when they began spreading the story that Jesus’ disciples stole His body and hid it in order to perpetuate the fraud of His resurrection (Matthew 28:11-15) Many have followed.
The 20th Century theologian Rudolf Bultmann claimed the resurrection of Jesus was mythical rather than historical. In his view, the story gives Christians hope, but didn’t actually happen. Some churches today, when they talk about the resurrection, view it from Bultmann’s perspective. Some college professors seek to bring Jesus down to size by claiming His divinity was invented by the early Church, since the New Testament was written after His death. A psychology professor I had in college called the resurrection and the miracles of Jesus “pure foolishness.”
Some are much gentler. They call Jesus a great teacher and moral leader, but still deny His divinity. C.S. Lewis dealt with this decisively when he wrote in his classic book, Mere Christianity: “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
There are some today who do reject Jesus outright, claiming He never existed, except in the minds of those who made Him up. But most seek to make Him merely human. In this way, by claiming He lived an ordinary life—with a wife and kids—He can be reduced to a mere man with no claims on us whatsoever. And it is those claims that are so threatening. If indeed, as John says, He came into a world that was His own, that it was made through Him, then the world and everyone in it belongs to Him. In other words, He is Lord. And, thus, why it is important for them to prove that to be a myth and untrue.
Many would rather live as lord of their own lives than to submit to the Lord of life. So they must bring Jesus down to the human level; make Him a mere man and strip Him of His authority.
So today, don’t be surprised when people try to make Jesus merely a man. It is their way to deal with Him so they can continue to be lord of their own lives. But know one day they, along with all of humanity, will bow down and confess who He truly is—Lord of all (Philippians 2:9-11). In the meantime, if you have received Jesus, know you are His child, secure in His loving arms.
© Jim Musser 2014
“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 NIV)
It turns out image was everything for Andre Agassi. The tennis great revealed in his autobiography, Open, that he hated tennis for much of his life, considered a loss in a French Open final a win because his faux hair piece didn’t fall off during the match, and lied about the reasons for a failed drug test because he was embarrassed by his crystal meth use.
In his prime, Agassi was the main spokesperson for Canon and the iconic line he repeated in commercial after commercial was, “Image is everything.” From revelations in his book, we now know that was more than a slogan he mouthed in exchange for a multi- million-dollar endorsement. It was his modus operandi for life. He projected a love for tennis while passionately hating the game. His famous locks were beginning to fall out by age 20, so he got a hair weave in order not to disappoint his fans. While appearing very much in control of his life, he was actually going down a dark path in which he turned to a recreational drug in order to cope.
Like so many, Agassi carried his burden alone. Few knew of his internal struggles and none sought to help him. For much of his life, he maintained an image of a reality that didn’t actually exist. And he fooled everyone.
Agassi is really no different than many of us. We seek to maintain an image of what we think people will like or need to see, while the reality for us is very different. I recall a student whose father was a pastor. Early in his collegiate career, he was involved in our campus ministry. As time went on, he began to party, but still was somewhat involved. Then he pretty much dropped out altogether. After graduating, he told friends he was done with Christianity and that his spiritual commitment had been an act because his dad was a pastor. Keeping up the image finally became too much for him.
We fall into the trap of maintaining an image because we fear what people will think if they know the truth about us—that we’re depressed, that were struggling with some sin, that we are experiencing something that is causing us to doubt God. Thus, we pile another burden, maintaining our image, on top of our existing burden.
The burden of maintaining an image that does not fit the reality of our lives is a heavy burden indeed and grows heavier the longer we seek to maintain it; thus, there is much wisdom in Paul’s words to the believers in Galatia. We are not meant to carry our burdens by ourselves. We need others to help us. Yet, in order for others to help us, we must let them know we have a need for help.
Today, if you are carrying a heavy burden, don’t pretend that everything is okay. Don’t maintain an image that doesn’t match reality. It will only make your burden heavier. Instead allow others to help you. The only image you need to maintain is one that is real.
© Jim Musser 2014
