Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit 

—Matthew 28:19

Scripture:

Matthew 28:19 

While it’s true that not every person who makes a profession of faith is a Christian, it is equally true that not every Christian is a disciple. To put it another way, every disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is necessarily a disciple.

We shouldn’t say, “This doesn’t apply to me. I’m just happy that I’m going to Heaven.” A true follower of Jesus should want to be a disciple. And what is discipleship? It’s living the Christian life as it was meant to be lived. It’s living the Christian life as Jesus taught it and as the early church understood it. Discipleship is real Christianity.

However, I think that some Christians are reluctant to want to live that way because it seems, well, radical. They don’t want difficulty, so they take the path of least resistance. Discipleship is challenging, but it’s fulfilling. It’s hard, but it’s more than worth it.

Jesus said, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matthew 28:19–20 NLT).

But we can’t help someone else be a disciple of Jesus if we are not first disciples ourselves.

Here’s what it comes down to: Every follower of Jesus Christ should be a disciple. And we should either disciple someone who is less mature in the faith than we are or seek out someone who is more mature in the faith to disciple us.

Discipleship is all about growing up. It’s about going to the next level. It’s about really living the Christian life to its fullest, as Jesus meant for us to live it. It’s being a disciple and, in turn, going out and making disciples of others.

 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

—Ephesians 6:17

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:17 

Before I became a Christian, I read some of the Bible, but it seemed largely meaningless. After I became a Christian, however, the Bible came alive to me.

I remember reading it and understanding it for the first time. It changed my life as I discovered new principles every day for living the Christian life.

When the apostle Paul outlined God’s armor in Ephesians 6, the only piece he listed that is both defensive and offensive is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God (see Ephesians 6:17). With the sword we can block attacks, but we can strike with it as well.

The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible and illuminates the Scriptures for us. And the Holy Spirit enables us to know God’s Word, remember verses we’ve studied, and use them appropriately.

Jesus modeled this for us during His temptation in the wilderness. He responded to each temptation by quoting the Scriptures. He effectively deflected temptation using the sword of the Spirit.

Sadly, a lot of believers have all their spiritual armor in place but never use the sword of the Spirit. They talk about it. They study it. But they never actually use it in spiritual battle.

Meanwhile, the devil knows all too well the power and authority of the Bible, and he will try to keep Christians from it at all costs. He fears the sword. He knows the value of it.

What shape is your sword in? Is it polished from daily use and sharpened on the anvil of experience as you apply and obey its truth in your life? Or, is it rusty from a lack of preparation and dulled by disobedience?

If we neglect Bible study, our spiritual life ultimately will unravel. Everything we need to know about God is found in His Word. So, let’s follow the example of Jesus and use it.

 Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. 

—Zechariah 3:1

Scripture:

Zechariah 3:1 

On more than one occasion, the Bible describes Satan as an accuser.

We see this illustrated in the third chapter of Zechariah. The setting is a heavenly courtroom, God is the judge, and Jeshua, the high priest, is the defendant. Meanwhile, Satan is the prosecutor, trying to prove Jeshua guilty.

But then God says, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire” (Zechariah 3:2 NLT).

Satan also will accuse us before God when we have sinned. That is where the breastplate of righteousness comes in. In his letter to the Christians in Ephesus, the apostle Paul wrote, “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness” (Ephesians 6:14 NLT).

Paul was alluding to the armor that Roman soldiers wore. The breastplate, or “body armor,” was a crucial element of the armor, protecting the soldier’s vital organs. In the same way, the “body armor of God’s righteousness” is essential for our spiritual survival. It speaks of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.

God has saved us. He justified us. And He forgave all the sins that we have committed. He erased them and washed them away. Then He placed His righteousness into our account. God gives this righteousness to us. It isn’t based on what we do for Him.

The devil, however, has declared war on followers of Christ. He wants to keep us away from God. First, he tempts us and traps us. Then he condemns us and accuses us before God. He wants to make disobedient Christians doubly defeated.

Yet we are righteous in Jesus Christ through His finished work for us on the cross. So put on the “body armor of God’s righteousness”—and keep it there.

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 

—Ephesians 6:13

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:13 

Someone has defined integrity as what you are when no one is looking. We may come off a certain way in public, but what are we like when we’re alone, when no one is in the room with us?

That speaks of our integrity—or lack thereof.

Foremost in our Christian experience, we need truth. As followers of Jesus Christ, we need to be what we say we are, both privately and publicly. When the apostle Paul wrote about putting on the armor of God, he began with the belt of truth.

He said, “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth” (Ephesians 6:14 NLT). We could call it the utility belt of truth. This represents a life and mind that are pulled together and ready to serve for the glory of God. It speaks of integrity.

The opposite of integrity is duplicity. Duplicity is hypocrisy. It’s trying to live a double life.

This is what weakens so many Christians today. James says, “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God” (4:4 NLT). Trying to live in two worlds just doesn’t work.

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we join God’s army, so to speak. We’re no longer civilians; we’re under the command of the captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ. Of course, we have given up certain privileges, but we have gained far more.

If we haven’t put on the belt of truth, then all other pieces of spiritual armor will become somewhat irrelevant. We will be worthless and immobilized.

Duplicity and hypocrisy weaken our witness to a watching world. We need the belt of truth. We need integrity before God.

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 

—1 Corinthians 16:13

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 16:13 

Why is it so hard sometimes to read the Bible? Why is it so difficult to pray? And why is it so tough to make it to church?

Because Satan will stop us. He doesn’t always do this with obvious, demonic things. He uses little distractions in our lives—even things that seem to make sense at the time.

For instance, when you’re getting ready for church, he says, “It’s a beautiful day. Are you sure you want to go and sit in some building? Enjoy the splendors of God’s creation! You can always go next week.”

Then next week comes, and there’s a little drizzle outside. But you just washed your car, and you don’t want to get it wet. So, you sit it out again. The following week you have a little sniffle and think, “I’d better not go to church.”

Or, let’s say you reach for your Bible. The devil says, “You don’t need to read that again, do you? Didn’t you just read it in church four weeks ago? Why do you need to read it again?”

When it comes to prayer, he says, “You don’t need to pray. You prayed before breakfast. That’s good.”

He will do everything he can to keep you away from going to church, reading the Bible, and praying. Why? Because at church you get recharged with God’s people. And when you read the Bible and pray, you strengthen yourself in the Lord.

The devil knows that if he can separate you from God, you will become weak and vulnerable. That way he can pick you off, like a lion going after the weakest and most vulnerable animal in the herd.

We need steely determination that says, “No, I’m going to church. I’m reading the Word of God. I’m spending time in prayer.” Let’s be strong in the Lord.

O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help. 

—2 Chronicles 20:12

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 20:12 

King Jehoshaphat had the right idea when he was leading the army of Judah into battle against an enemy that greatly outnumbered them.

He prayed, “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help” (2 Chronicles 20:12 NLT).

In other words, “Lord, we’re depending on You. We’re standing in You. We’re looking to You.”

Then the Bible tells us that “the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah. . . . He said, ‘Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s’ ” (verses 14–15 NLT).

That is the best place to be—in complete dependence on God.

Sometimes it seems as though you can’t overcome the sin you’ve been struggling with for so long. It seems as though you can’t break free from the addiction that has had a hold on your life for many years. And it seems as though you can’t get out of that lifestyle you are trapped in.

God is saying that you can—but not in your strength. You can do it in His strength. So, admit your weaknesses and inadequacies. Then ask God to help you utilize the principles for spiritual battle from His Word.

Realize that in Jesus Christ, you belong to the family of God. Don’t let the devil cheat you out of that truth. The Bible says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 NLT).

Live as a child of the King and walk in close fellowship with Him.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 

—Ephesians 6:10

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:10 

God is omnipotent. God is omniscient. And God is omnipresent.

On the other hand, Satan is none of those things. Although he is a spirit being and has demons doing his dirty work, he is far from God’s equal. He has clear limits on his power.

God, however, can do anything that He wants to do, anywhere, and at any time. While God is omniscient, Satan doesn’t know all things. His knowledge, though vast, is still limited. In addition, he can only be in one place at one time.

Meanwhile, God can be present everywhere at the same time.

Satan is not the equal of God. And he wants to stop us from doing what God wants us to do.

The apostle Paul wrote, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 NLT).

We are in a spiritual battle against the devil and his demons, who seek to hinder God’s purposes and extend Satan’s power.

When the enemy is attacking, it should cause us to turn to the protective care of Jesus and cling to Him all the tighter, like a small child who clings to a parent when danger is near.

We must realize that in our own strength, we are no match for the devil. He is far more powerful than we are. That’s why we need to turn to God for help and strengthen ourselves in Him.

Satan recognizes that our power base is in our relationship with God. Thus, he will do everything he can to separate us from the Lord. The only thing the devil fears is the power of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. That’s why we must stand in God’s strength and not our own.

God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. 

—Genesis 22:8

Scripture:

Genesis 22:8 

Isaac came to his parents, Abraham and Sarah, much later in life. They were far beyond the age of childbearing. Yet God gave them a son as He had promised. And Isaac, whose name means “laughter,” brought much joy to Abraham’s life.

But one day God asked the impossible of Abraham. He said, “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you” (Genesis 22:2 NLT).

Of course, we know how the story ends. God did not actually require that. He was testing Abraham. As they were making their way up to the place of sacrifice, Isaac asked his father where the sacrificial lamb was. Abraham replied prophetically, “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son” (verse 8 NLT).

Most commentators believe that Isaac was probably between eighteen and twenty years old. So, Isaac could have said, “Now Dad, wait. The way I’m seeing this is that you’re going to offer me as a sacrifice. But I’m young. I have my whole life ahead of me!”

However, verse 8 continues, “And they both walked on together.” To Isaac’s credit, he went along with the plan. Father and son were in cooperation.

This is a perfect picture of what happened at the cross of Calvary. Even the area where Abraham prepared to offer Isaac was where Jesus died for us on the cross.

Yes, Jesus willingly went to the cross, but let’s also remember that God the Father sent Him. The Father had to watch His Son suffer. The Father had to watch as His Son was beaten beyond human recognition.

Father and Son were in cooperation. The Father sent His Son. And the Son willingly went.

As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 

—Luke 9:51

Scripture:

Luke 9:51 

At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples a question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13 NLT).

Different individuals came up with different answers. But then Peter, under the inspiration of God Himself said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (verse 16 NLT).

Jesus commended Peter for his answer, and everything was going wonderfully.

But then Matthew tells us, “From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead” (verse 21 NLT).

Peter, probably thinking he was on a roll at that point, privately took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him for making such statements.

But Jesus replied, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s” (verse 23 NLT).

Why so harsh? Jesus was speaking to the spirit that motivated Peter to say what he did. It was the devil who was saying to Jesus, “Don’t go to the cross. Think about Yourself. What about You?”

Yet nothing would deter Jesus from His course. That is why Jesus responded to Peter so strongly. In fact, Luke’s Gospel tells us that “as the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (9:51 NLT).

Jesus Christ came to this earth to buy back that which was forfeited in the Garden of Eden.

The cross wasn’t a mistake. Jesus knew it was coming and spoke of it often. He had to go to the cross because there was no other way to bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. The cross was Jesus’ goal and destination from the beginning.

 The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free. 

—Luke 4:18

Scripture:

Luke 4:18 

No doctor can heal a broken heart. He or she may be able to do other things for your heart, but a doctor can’t get to the source of your emotional problem. Only Jesus can heal a heart that has been broken.

Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free” (Luke 4:18 NLT).

Here are Jesus’ words in Luke 4:18 in the New King James Version: “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.” Jesus came to heal brokenhearted people. Maybe your heart breaks from the loss of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or perhaps constant failures. Maybe your family has let you down and it seems like no one cares. Let Jesus Christ heal your broken heart.

He came to “proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.” Are you crushed by life? Jesus can bring deliverance, but you need to want it. He came to free us—if we will go to Him, ask Him to forgive our sin, turn from it, and begin to follow Him.

If you have never done that, then why don’t you do it today?

The same Jesus who walked this earth and experienced the limitations of humanity loves you. The same Jesus who died on the cross, took the sin of the world upon Himself, and rose from the dead wants to forgive your sin.

Now is the time to take God’s lifeline. The Bible tells us, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12 NLT). Now is the time to find God’s forgiveness and His plan for your life.

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 

—2 Corinthians 4:4

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 4:4 

Some people today believe in conspiracy theories. But I believe there’s a conspiracy that goes much deeper than any of their theories: the devil is at work, and he is behind so many of the systems surrounding us today.

The Bible describes Satan as “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT). In fact, Ephesians 2, referring to Satan, says, “He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God” (verse 2 NLT).

That’s why all attempts to reform this world, this culture, this country, or this society apart from a change of the human heart are basically futile. Education won’t do it. Politics won’t do it. The economy won’t do it. Even morality, in and of itself, won’t do it. We need a change of heart that only God can bring when we follow Jesus Christ.

We need morality in our country, but how do we decide what is moral? How do we decide what is good? We need a greater foundation. The Bible teaches that God is truth. Although some people claim that all truth is God’s truth, some “truth” is not truth at all.

God’s truth is the only truth. And the only way to know whether what we are doing is true, moral, and good is to measure it by God’s standards.

When we look at this world and ask why God allows this or why God allows that, we must recognize that Satan, “the god of this world,” is the one to blame. He is the one who is responsible for the injustice, violence, and rebellion against God and His laws.

However, the Bible clearly says that “temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away” (James 1:14 NLT). The devil works with the combustible, sinful nature within every person. But he cannot bring us down unless we cooperate.

 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 

—Ephesians 5:8

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:8 

The Bible is filled with stories of people who allowed coveting to destroy them. Achan, for instance, coveted something that didn’t belong to him, and he lost his life. Judas Iscariot betrayed the Lord for thirty pieces of silver and ultimately took his own life.

In 1 Timothy we read, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (6:10 NLT)

Coveting is more than simply admiring something. It’s the mindset that says, “I’m going to get that, no matter what it costs me or anyone else.” It is an obsession with accumulation and possessions. Coveting can destroy us spiritually.

Colossians 3:5 warns us about covetousness, which is idolatry: “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world” (NLT).

Writing to the church in Ephesus, the apostle Paul said, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8 NLT).

Often, when the Bible tells us not to do one thing, it tells us to do another in its place. For instance, in Ephesians 4:28 we read, “If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need” (NLT).

In other words, “You who have stolen, stop stealing and instead do something productive so you can give to others.”

Coveting is a powerful and often misunderstood sin. It can cripple us spiritually and even destroy us. We must not underestimate it or leave it unchecked.

 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 

—Ephesians 5:3

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:3 

The ancient city of Ephesus was known for its wickedness. The capital of the Roman province of Asia and a busy commercial port, Ephesus was an affluent area. It was also the headquarters for the cult of the goddess Diana.

Thousands of prostitutes in the employ of the Temple of Diana combed the city. They essentially would sell their bodies to draw people to the temple, generate revenue, and promote worship of their false goddess.

Many believers in the church of Ephesus had come out of a very dark background. In their culture, prostitution and immorality were a way of life. Yet some who were professing faith in Christ had returned to their old ways of immorality. And some had never left it to begin with.

Writing to followers of Jesus living in this sex-obsessed culture, the apostle Paul said, “Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people” (Ephesians 5:3 NLT).

Paul was saying, “Stay away from immorality, adultery, and covetousness.”

The parallels to our culture are obvious. It is clear that we, too, are living in a sex-obsessed culture. Yet God is saying to believers, “As My children, as My beloved, as those who bear the family name wherever you go, stay away from immorality.”

I thank God for every Christian man and woman who is standing their ground in this wicked and adulterous generation. I thank God for husbands and wives who are saying, “We are going to remain faithful to each other.” And I thank God for each family that has drawn a line around their home, saying, “It stops here.”

As followers of Jesus Christ, we should not only avoid the very sin of immorality but also avoid anything that would bring us remotely close to it.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 

—Ephesians 1:5

Scripture:

Ephesians 1:5 

When John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, a voice came from Heaven saying, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (Matthew 3:17 NLT).

Then we read in Ephesians 1 that “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (verse 5 NLT).

The next verse continues, “So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son” (verse 6 nlt). Or, as the New King James Version renders it, “To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”

This means that as Christians, God loves us as much as He loves His own dear Son. Here’s what Jesus said to the Father: “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:22–23 NLT).

Before knowing Jesus Christ, we were without hope. But through Jesus, God has adopted us as His own beloved children. And now we are precious and dear to Him.

Yet God doesn’t love us because we are lovable. Rather, God loves us because we are in Christ. We have been made “accepted in the Beloved.” God loves us unconditionally, has accepted us, and has given us all that we need to effectively live the Christian life.

And because we have this special relationship with God, it should impact us in the way that we live.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 

—2 Timothy 2:22

Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:22 

If you will commit yourself to grow in your love for Jesus Christ and be enamored with Him and dedicated to Him, then you will see this world for what it is.

As the hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

The Bible warns us, “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts” (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT).

In other words, flee and follow. Run from anything that stimulates lust and follow anything that makes you want to do right.

Psalm 1 tells us, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night” (verses 1–2 NLT).

The best way to avoid losing ground is to gain ground. The best way to keep from going backward is to go forward.

The problem is that a lot of believers are not following after righteousness. They are not pursuing God. Instead, they are coasting along in spiritual cruise control. Meanwhile, there are mountains to climb. There is rugged terrain to navigate. There are opportunities for growth.

Yet many Christians are kicking back, and they will end up becoming spiritually lazy instead of moving forward. And sadly, it’s only a matter of time until they fall.

I have often said that the Christian life is like a greased pole. You are either climbing or slipping. How about you? Are you climbing? Are you growing and maturing? Or are you sliding backward?

Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 

—Ephesians 5:11

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:11 

In our culture today, no one wants to speak up for what is true. The motto of modern society could be “I can tolerate anyone except someone who is intolerant.”

If someone dares to say, “I think that is wrong” or “I disagree with that” or, even worse, “The Bible says, . . .” they are labeled as intolerant, judgmental, narrow-minded, and bigoted.

As Christians, however, we cannot tolerate sin. We are to confront sin with intolerance and speak the truth—but we must speak the truth in love. We need to compassionately and lovingly explain what is true.

The apostle Paul warned the believers in Ephesus, “Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them” (Ephesians 5:11 NLT).

I don’t envy the responsibility of doctors who have to deliver bad news to a patient. No doubt they would love to be able to say that everything is fine. But in good conscience, they can’t do that, because the test results say otherwise. It’s difficult. It’s uncomfortable. But they have to tell the truth.

We Christians must do the same. But we are dealing with something far more serious. We’re talking about eternal separation from God.

We love to tell people that God loves them and has compassion on them. And of course, that is true. Yet we are reluctant to say they are sinners who are separated from God. We need to tell the truth.

Our culture needs to hear the truth. Yes, it’s easier to blend into the background and avoid offending anyone. But do we want to offend God? If we don’t tell the whole truth, then we will.

Every believer is called to declare the whole counsel of God. He has called us to preach the gospel and to be His representatives. Therefore, we must do our part and be faithful to Him.

 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 

—Ephesians 4:15

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:15 

One of the worst scourges in the church today is that of hypocrisy. It probably has turned more people away from the faith than anything else.

In addition, some people are just waiting for Christians to slip up so they can conveniently hang their doubts on what we did or did not do to meet their standards of what a Christian ought to be.

Yet some Christians don’t even think about this. They aren’t even aware that someone might be watching their lives. And sadly, many are willfully ignorant of what the Bible teaches.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, “We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church” (Ephesians 4:15 NLT).

Perhaps the best translation of the phrase “speak the truth in love” would be “hold the truth in love.” It is the idea of speaking the truth, discussing it, and teaching it. But it is also more than that. It is living it.

Paul was saying, “You need to grow up. You need to find balance in your life as a believer. This means that you know the truth. But you also live the truth.”

It also means that we say what is true, even if someone doesn’t necessarily appreciate it. The streams of love must always flow into the bank of truth. It’s great to be loving, but there must be truth as well.

So, if a viewpoint contradicts what the Scripture teaches, we must warn people so they don’t fall prey to it. We must compassionately love them but also tell them the truth.

The Bible declares, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6 NLT). True love works closely with the truth.

 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 

—1 Timothy 4:16

Scripture:

1 Timothy 4:16 

Years ago, I watched a TV show in which a so-called magician revealed his secrets. I had always wondered about how these entertainers performed certain tricks, and it was fascinating to me.

At the same time, it reminded me of how the devil is a master manipulator. He wants to trick us, and we need to be aware of that. He tries to dazzle us with a lot of deceptions and temptations.

The Bible reminds us, “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16 NLT).

As Christians, we need to know what we believe. False teachers can trick and mislead us, especially when we are new in the faith and don’t have spiritual discernment.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. . . . Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth” (Ephesians 4:11–12, 14 NLT).

The King James Version renders the last part of the passage this way: “They lie in wait to deceive.”

That is how Satan is. He sizes us up, waits, and looks for the right opportunity. And then when he sees the opportune time, he strikes. We need to be aware of his tactics and make sure that we are spiritually mature. And we need to be firmly grounded in what we believe.

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 

—1 John 4:1

Scripture:

1 John 4:1 

When I was a new Christian, I wanted to find a shortcut to spiritual maturity. I didn’t want to wait fifteen to twenty years to learn and grow. I wanted spiritual maturity overnight. I was always looking for an angle: What can I do? Where can I go? Is there a book that I can read? Is there one experience that I could have in my life that would bring me to instant spiritual maturity?

That is a trait of youth. You want something, and you want it now. New believers can be that way, and so can immature believers. They don’t want to wait for something. They want it now.

Another trait of youth is they like new things. Young Christians can be that way too. They like things that dazzle them.

When the apostle Paul visited Athens, he met the high council of the city. They said to him, “Come and tell us about this new teaching. . . . You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about” (Acts 17:19–20 NLT).

The next verse adds this detail: “(It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas)” (verse 21 NLT).

That is typical of the mentality of youth. They like something that’s new.

However, we need to be careful. As we mature, we realize that just because something is new doesn’t mean it is better.

We can be looking for a new experience, truth, or revelation and get ourselves into a lot of trouble. Instead, we need to apply judgment and realize that we’re potentially vulnerable. If we can’t find it in the Bible, then we don’t need it from someone else. The Bible is the arbiter of truth.

I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. 

—1 John 2:13

Scripture:

1 John 2:13 

I like to be around new believers. I like the questions they ask and the statements they make. Best of all, I like their zeal. They’re excited about what Christ has done for them.

New believers are the lifeblood of the church.

Of course, they need older believers to help them get grounded spiritually. But older believers also need new believers to remind them of what really matters in life. Older believers need to maintain their spiritual zeal.

It’s cute for babies to be babies. There is nothing like a newborn, especially your own. And as babies get a little older, it’s fun to watch them do childlike things. But it’s not so adorable anymore when your child is eighteen years old. We cannot remain babyish forever. We have to grow up.

When it comes to spiritual growth, we need to remain childlike with the excitement and thrill of a new Christian. But at the same time, we need to mature and grow in our faith.

The apostle Peter dealt with this truth when he wrote, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation” (1 Peter 2:2 NLT).

New believers are often emotionally oriented. The Christian life is all new to them, and their emotions go back and forth. That is fine when someone is young in the faith.

But it’s sad when someone who has known the Lord for a period of years is still fickle spiritually. They have no clear viewpoint or direction in life and don’t really know what they believe. That is understandable when you are new in the faith. But it is tragic when you are not.