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For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

⁃Romans 8:18

Summer’s coming and it’s time to plan a trip out of town. A not so fun doctor’s appointment is scheduled for tomorrow. Will it rain later or will the sun stay out? 

We don’t know what the future holds, so all we can do is imagine what might actually take place. Within this, we naturally build anticipation. Anticipation stems from being aware of future possibilities, preparing for them and the possible outcomes. 

Anticipation is a big part of our life. Since it’s a natural reaction to what and how we believe the future will unfold, we can naturally dedicate a lot of time to it. From anticipating what will come later in the day, to anticipating those things that might take place years from now, we cannot help but think about all the what if’s.

Anticipation is a two edged sword. It stirs all sorts of emotions in our life. Our anticipation can cause us to worry, fret and dread if uncertainty or a negative aspect of life seems unavoidable. On the other hand, we can become excited, even consumed as we anticipate a vacation, holiday or times with those we love. Many times our expectations are based on previous experiences and outcomes. Unfortunately, anticipation can cause us to react without thinking things all the way through. Many times when the anticipation gets too overwhelming, we can attempt to make things happen sooner than they probably should. 

God understands the effects of anticipation on our life. He also knows that in this world, we will have hardship, agony and trials. We will also have elation, happiness and bliss. The reality is, be it a positive or negative expectation, both can cause us to take our eyes off of the Lord. 

That’s why His Scriptures are filled with encouragement to set our minds and hearts on the only One who is above all things. The writers of the New Testament continually reassured their readers of the unbound reality of what is to come. No matter what life throws at us or seemingly gifts us, an eternal perspective grants us a stability and steadfastness to which nothing else can compare. Consider James’ words in James 1:12, Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. Even though life comes at us at a hundred miles an hour, we are blessed when we stay anchored to the Rock of our Salvation, knowing that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. 

Our faith should lead us to the greatest anticipation one can have. To be with Christ for eternity. If anticipation is affected by past experiences, then it is those very experiences we have had and are having with God, that builds our anticipation of all the glorious things to come to those who walk with and serve the Lord. In Romans 15:13, Paul admonishes the reader when he writes, May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

How often is our anticipation built in hope? Only the promise of Jesus brings hope into our life. So if you have been distracted by anticipating all those great things that this world might provide or your anticipation is bringing on anxiety, maybe it’s time to just take a breath, reflect on Christ and consider the great joy that is before us in Christ our Lord.

 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

– Galatians 1:10

Let’s be honest, keeping your yard looking nice takes a lot of time and effort. In many places, the desired look that people are after runs contrary to the environment they live in. For example, should those living in a more arid or desert area really set an expectation of having a lush green lawn? Or are there better options, more natural options that that particular environment would better sustain? The problem has become one of general influence. Because a standard has been established as to how a homeowner’s yard should look, the majority of people attempt to live up to that standard without even questioning the reasons why. The issue arises when the wants, needs and practicality of a homeowner is replaced by the fear of having the worst looking property in the subdivision. 

Now there is no doubt that yard work and landscaping is a hobby to some. They take great pride in how their lush green grass compliments the meticulously groomed flowers and shrubs they have carefully selected based on colors and shapes. Landscaping rock and brick is laid out in a manner that accentuates and draws in the onlooker. Trees are carefully and systematically planted in spots to add a vertical contrast. And weekly, sometimes even daily, there is a required manicuring and maintenance process. These properties are nice to look at, but unfortunately set false standards within that neighborhood. However inadvertently this standard has been set, it becomes a very overt, green, insurmountable standard.

We can liken this standard to a form of adult peer pressure. Instead of enjoying the process and fulfillment of a “nice” yard, the burden of keeping up with the neighbors becomes a heavy duty many are unable to satisfy.  

    

This is similar to what can happen in churches. Within our faith, we need to have a solid understanding of God’s Word and who we are in Christ. This establishes our identity as a believer. As silly as relating yard maintenance to adult peer pressure is, Christian peer pressure is a dangerous reality. 

Asking questions needs to be a normal and integral part of our faith. What do I believe and why do I believe it are two of the core questions we need to ask ourselves. We also need to come to a defined and genuine answer to these questions. Too many people align themselves with Christianity simply because in the past there has been a Christian standard. In a more personal aspect, family and friends can greatly influence our idea of Christian identity. There are some who identify as Christian simply because they don’t identify with anything else. There might be a knowledge of who Jesus is and a Bible in the house, but actually following Jesus is abstract and absent. 

Christian peer pressure may influence the desire for a faith description, but there is a defined lack of dedication. Anytime a relationship with Christ is built on anything other than Christ Himself, it produces a false reality of who Christ actually is.

Even the dedicated Christian can easily fall victim to peer pressure. Unfortunately in many churches, good people and good pastors have established a perceived standard of how a Christian should look, talk and act. If not careful, we then begin to measure ourselves against this standard and not the standard of Christ. Why we look, talk and act differently from the world has to be because of the power and fruit of the Holy Spirit in us rather than a man-made standard set before us. 

 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

– Colossians 3:23-24

So often in life we react and all too often, it is in an impulse way. Let’s face it, life throws a lot at us in rapid order and sometimes we feel like there is no time to think about it. So we react. Yet many times, if we are being honest with ourselves, we do have the ability to think things through, to ponder upon our response, our choices and their potential outcomes. Even if it’s only for a few minutes. 

The results when we leap before we look are unpredictable and uncertain. Unfortunately for many today, this has become a way of life. Simply reacting, bouncing from one questionable act to the next, driven by an emotional response that undoubtedly digs the hole a few feet deeper. 

Inherently we then wonder how we have come to such a place as the dilemma stares back at us. It is easy in these times to become a victim of circumstance. But are we really? Or did we react when we should have reflected?

Is this really how we are meant to be living our life? Is this how God created us to be? And how does this reconcile the abundant life Jesus talks about having in our life?

Becoming a follower of Christ does not mean putting your brain on auto pilot. It’s actually quite the opposite. We are told to take every thought captive. That’s our part. Submitting our thoughts to Christ opens us up to the availability of the Holy Spirit. This is not only in the hard times and the times of temptation, but in every choice and decision we are faced with.

When our choices and our decisions are guided by the Holy Spirit, everything we do, we do with the Lord in mind. Though Colossians 3:23 and 24 can seem like a daunting task, this yielding does in fact allow us to do whatever we do, heartily, as we are working for the Lord and not for men or ourselves. Liberation comes within the Lordship of Christ, destroying the captive bonds of this world. 

There is an old adage that in principle may make some sense, but in practice application falls apart quickly in our day and age. When we face a difficult situation or task, we say, it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. 

If we were to actually look for a needle in a haystack, that’s just not a good strategy. It’s a waste of time and effort. In our lives, we are each given a certain amount of time and ability on this earth. As believers, we are to steward all resources given to us by God. This includes our time and effort. 

To be a good steward takes deep insight and constant evaluation, not simple reaction. In the presence of the Holy Spirit, we begin to recognize His wisdom and discernment as it pertains to our stewardship.

One of the most difficult challenges we face in our life is evaluating our own effectiveness for the Kingdom. When presented with those God given opportunities, if we are not sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we can simply react and miss them. We justify away why the opportunity is not important or relevant because we have not taken the time to think about the potential impact in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

It’s hard to overcome our propensity to react because the need for change is always a looming reality. However, until we get to this point, we will continue to suffer with living out Colossians 3:23 and 24.

Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief].

-Matthew 10:34 (AMP)

Conflict, we all have it, but why and what do we do with it?

Conflict can be defined as a struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or external or internal demands. Conflict is interesting in that it is only a perception, meaning it only really exists if it’s acknowledged by both the parties that are experiencing it. That’s why it can be so frustrating when one person sees conflict while the other may not. There is no doubt that the world is full of potential conflict.

Opportunities abound for clashes of opinions, arguments and to pick up offence. The result, conflict between people, ideologies, assumptions and emotions. Conflict is right up the enemy’s ally. And he thrives if that conflict goes unresolved. Unresolved conflict fosters division, anger and alienation. Driven by a sense of pride and desiring all other views and opinions to align with ours, conflict can become a drawn out, nasty situation that only brings the worst out in people. On the other hand, when conflict is worked through and resolved, in a healthy way, healing and restoration takes place.

Within the faith realm, conflict gets interesting. There is no doubt that God allows conflict to come into our life. He will even cause conflict sometimes. Why? Because the conflict that the Lord exposes us to gives us the opportunity to come to Him or to come back to Him. In many cases it results as an opportunity to trust Him, work through issues and grow even deeper in our faith. 

A good example here is all the different times the Israelites went into exile because of their disobedience and idolatry. God initiated conflict through wandering in the desert, being conquered or taken to a forged land. But the Lord never deserted them and through these conflicts led the people back to Himself.

How we view conflict in the world and in our faith determines if we will become a slave to it or if it will become a means of growth and health.

So if conflict is unavoidable, what are we to do? First off, we shouldn’t ever seek conflict avoidance. That’s unhealthy and detrimental in many different ways. Instead we should seek conflict management that leads to resolution. 

In our relationships, resolution leads to restoration and restoration is God’s heart. When we open up ourselves to conflict management and eventual resolution, we follow God’s leading and His will and way is accomplished in our life. If we do not, the seeds of bitterness and unforgiveness take root. 

Conflict resolution takes effort, time and patience. Pride, hurt and fear are the chief adversaries here. Instead of avoidance, we must identify, acknowledge, address and pursue a godly solution.

Understand that conflict never resolves itself in the dark. Jesus is described as the light of the world (John 8:12), as the Word (John 1:1) and as the Truth (John 14:6). Among other things, these are conflict mediation titles. So the number one factor for conflict resolution is inviting and involving Jesus in every situation.

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

– Romans 6:3-4

Slang terms. Some of them we love, some of them we hate, some are idiotic, while others actually have a deeper meaning. Regardless of how we feel, we must accept the reality that slang terms become part of our language while reflecting our culture. One such slang term that, if you take the time to actually listen to what it is insinuating actually can carry weight as a follower of Christ.

Owning it. You need to own it. You are really owning it. The literal definition alludes to possessing something, usually materialistic or financial in nature. However, informal English has opened up this term to a personal aspect in our life. Owning it generally means accepting full responsibility for our actions, decisions, and their outcomes. It is confidently embracing our unique qualities and achievements. Owning it signifies accountability, taking ownership of a situation, positive or negative, good or bad rather than deflecting blame.

It is not hard to see how this slang term fits into our faith and the intensity we follow Christ. In reality, it is nothing more than a metric, a barometer so to speak that we can use when looking in the mirror. 

Unfortunately, many today have become content living off of others. Not so much from a financial dependance, though that occurs much too often. The far more tragic dependance involved here is living off someone else’s accomplishments, their successes and even their identity. The world has historically always had idols. As disastrous as that was, somewhere along the way, people and cultures have channeled their idolatry on those they, well idolize. These idols are elevated to royalty and seek to portray an image that is wrought with deception. It creates a machine with an insurable hunger that is fed off the insecurities and dreams of the public. 

In so many ways, history is repeating itself in that it is nothing more than worship of those people and things that, at a core level, only contain emptiness and despair. This idol ideology runs contrary to owning it. Instead of relying on others to establish your identity, your opinions, even your thoughts, to own it means that you grab hold, take the helm and steer your own ship, making your own path, even if it runs contrary to public opinion and cultural norms. 

It is not hard to see where this fits into our faith. Instead of living off someone else’s identification as a Christian, we choose to make Christ our own. Rather than sharing someone else’s testimony like it’s our own, we step out and live out what Christ has placed before us. In place of attending a church because someone you know goes there, a church becomes your own. And most importantly, Jesus has moved from the abstract to the intimate. Your faith becomes your own, testimonies begin to accrue as you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and you become an interracial, unique, beautiful part of the Body of Christ.

You are really owning it because you have made the choice to follow Christ.

As Paul so wonderfully puts it, We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.And now we understand that owning it means living within your identity in Christ.

“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 

– Matthew 14:28-29

As Americans, we like to evaluate aspects of our life based on comfort. Can we live and retire financially comfortable? When we get home from a long day, we like to change into clothes that are more comfortable. We choose a mattress based on comfort level. When we are having a hard day, we crave comfort food. Many Christian’s seek out and select a church that extends a level of comfort that they deem acceptable.

From a Biblical perspective, we see something very different. We don’t need to look any further than the New Testament to see that commitment to Christ and purposefully walking with Him actually brought the disciples to a place of worldly discomfort. Willingly, they gave up their home, their occupation, their cultural identity, not to mention personal safety and security. The teachings of Jesus in regards to following Him were upfront, a servant leader lifestyle engulfed in Christ, led by the Holy Spirit and contrary, even in opposition to the world.

The Biblical standard for following Jesus remains the same over two thousand years later. 

For us today, we may face different challenges and situations, however they must lead us to the same point. This includes a place of wonderful discomfort.

Dying to ourselves moves us into a place where we can truly live for Christ. Our flesh takes a stand here and the battle can be harsh and distressing. It really is a place of wonderful discomfort. And then, in a similar fashion, there is the lordship issue. To come under the lordship of Jesus goes beyond taming the flesh and means we do the things Jesus commands us to do. 

The choice to obey brings a wonderful discomfort into our lives. The conviction of the Holy Spirit is never painless. He lovingly shows us our sin, our disobedience and those things we need to bring before Christ. As hard as conviction is to face and respond to, it is always wonderful discomfort. Sometimes we struggle in prayer. When our heart is broken or we are in despair, when anxiety seeks to strangle us, when anger or uncertainty seems to abound, it can be hard to go before the Lord. But we know we need to. What a wonderful time of discomfort because we know that He is always there, always waiting for us.

Then there are the Kingdom decisions that we face throughout our life. The opportunities that the Lord places before us. These are the times we have to make a choice. A choice to follow where He is leading, even if it brings displeasure or uncertainty. It’s okay, even normal to wrestle with God before making a decision. The wonderful discomfort in these times brings clarity and commitment. 

 

When Peter chose to step out of the boat, it was a wonderfully uncomfortable experience. Choosing to trust in Jesus despite a lifetime of living on the sea and understanding the water. Instead of trusting his years of experience, Peter had to unlearn his reliance upon himself and choose to trust Jesus. That’s wonderfully uncomfortable. Stepping out of the boat onto and not into the sea. There is a wonderfully uncomfortable experience when the uncertainty in yourself intersects with the unlimited confidence and ability of God. It is a place that even though we have full trust in the Lord, we have to reconcile it within ourselves. It is a place of choice that often leads us into the realm of the wonderfully uncomfortable.

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

– 2 Corinthians 10:12

All cultures and societies have some degree of an imposed standard, a measuring stick so to speak. Some are more overt while others are closer to an unwritten rule. Whether this is intentional or it simply evolves, the norms that influence the customs of a nation or ethnicity become apparent. At its most basic level, it becomes an accepted standard of measure.

As history tells us, there can be negative effects with any imposed standard of measure. The most evident of these is the inevitable establishment of a class system. Again, throughout history we see some in society elevated simply because of birthright or social status while many are depressed into a peasant, servant or slave role. From this point, bigotry and racism are but a short step away.

The basis of many wars and oppression are founded in some degree of an imposed social measurement. To a believer, this should come as little surprise. The prince of this world seeks to deceive and divide mankind. One of his primary tactics is tempting us with pride and envy, two edges of the same sword. Tragically, this tactic is not only effective from a nationalistic or ethnic standpoint, but it is also prevalent in our personal lives. 

The main difference here is that one is culturally imposed while the other is self induced. Without a firm foundation, it becomes easy to over inflate or conversely devalue ourselves or those around us. This brings us back to the issue of pride and envy. The results are predictable, we either think too highly of ourselves or we find fault in everything we do or are.

How did we ever get to a place where the standard of measure has become such an effective weapon bringing division amongst each other as well as within ourselves?

As a follower of Christ, one of the wonderful changes that occurs is that we are no longer bound to a worldly, sinful, fallen standard. When we are born in Christ, not only are we a new creation, the old measuring stick is abolished. Because of the Holy Spirit, we move away from how the world sees us or even how we see ourselves and begin to see ourselves through God’s eyes. Not only does the Father see Christ in us, we see Christ in us and in our brothers and sisters in the faith. However, we must guard against falling back into our old ways. 

One of the most important questions we need to be asking ourselves is, what or who am I measuring myself against? Paul becomes a relatable example here. Before his radical encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul had every reason to elevate himself above those around him. When Paul met Christ, a humbling followed his surrender and with that a new measuring stick was given to him.  

Consider Paul’s words to the Philippians found in chapter 2 verses 3 and 4, Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

The new standard of measure that we receive when we are born again is summed up in the Great Commandment, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

What measuring stick are you using in your life?