Unlearning Tradition, Relearning Scripture

Tag: evangelism

  • Do it Rightly

    One of the remarkable prophecies in the Bible pertains to the arrival of the Son of God. Scripture proclaims, “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. From the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

    Christ, the incarnate Jesus, was born and lived a life much like ours—fully human yet free from sin, and, unlike us, fully divine. He shared wisdom inspired by God the Father, accomplished His mission, and willingly went to the cross for the redemption of our sins. He died and stayed in the tomb for three days and three nights, as He had prophesied (Matthew 12:40) and as foretold in Hosea 6:2. On the third day, He was resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:4). For forty days, He appeared alive (Acts 1:3) before being taken up into glory (1 Timothy 3:16)—not in a bodily form, as many had assumed. Stephen saw Him standing at the right hand of the throne of God (Acts 7:56) just before his martyrdom, indicating His reign. This fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7. Therefore, Jesus reigns now and forevermore.

    Scripture declared: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; what is the house that you would build for Me, and what is the place of My rest?’” (Isaiah 66:1) The idea of the third Jerusalem temple isn’t a Christian teaching, because God’s throne is in heaven, not earth. He reigns over all creation in heaven. Yet, God now dwells among us Christians; hence, Scripture said Jesus Christ and His Church is the New Temple (Ephesians 2:19-22). Temple  means to dwell, same with tabernacle. In other words, it means God dwells with His people, the church; hence, God’s people is the New temple. 

    The church then isn’t a place, neither is it an organization or institution, but an assembly of Christians. When would Christians, especially pastors, correct that misunderstanding? I hope it’s not due to the fact that you want and need to keep Christians coming into your congregation? Don’t get me wrong. I am not against collective gatherings of the church, for as long as the integrity of the church isn’t compromised. However, the question often asked “Where do you go to church?” is a misrepresentation of the true meaning of the church. 

    Christians invite people to embrace the Gospel, so it is wrong to say we can invite anyone to the church. It’s only after they have repented and believe, then they become a part of God’s church. Contrary to popular belief, God’s church is not a hospital. Instead, it is the gathering of the redeemed, who have been healed by the grace of God. Their perfection lies not in themselves but in the blood of Christ Jesus. Hence, Paul instructing Christians said: “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. ‘Purge the evil person from among you.’” (1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

    Again, Paul declared: “Do you not know that your bodies (i.e. the individual Christian) are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

    Once more, Paul declared: “Do you not know that you (“you” Greek plural, i.e. the church) are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you (“you” Greek plural, i.e. the church)? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

    Christians have overlook their responsibility to evangelize and disciple individuals before welcoming them into the church, the body of Christ. This oversight can lead to confusion and challenges when believers interact with those who do not understand the faith. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul advises the church, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” It is a serious error to allow a predator to infiltrate and prey on the flock.

    This leads to the conclusion that launching discipleship programs within the church, which include both believers and non-believers, is akin to putting the cart before the horse. Such an approach simply won’t be effective.

    Let’s be honest: do you often see familiar faces joining one discipleship program after another? There aren’t many new faces, are there? Evangelism and discipleship go hand in hand; they are intrinsically linked. One cannot truly exist without the other. However, it’s never too late to make a change. In John 6, many disciples followed Jesus, but when He began to teach the truth about Himself, the Scriptures say, “Many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him” (John 6:66). We must be willing to face the consequences of change.

    But of course, that’s unacceptable, epecially since the mindset of ROI (return of investment) has been instituted into the leadership. Therefore, the reality of the present-day churches would just persist, like a spinning carousel without stop, increasing its speed, until something gets detached, damaging its structure. 

    Like any God-fearing Christians in conventional churches, I also desire to see the church healthy and effective for evangelism and discipleship. But how can the church do her role, if Christians among yourselves are the ones receiving discipleship without end?

    I have seen Christians leaving a congregation then starting a new one. They may have successfully drawn people into their congregation, but by repeating the same mistakes – bringing people to church without first evangelism and discipleship – in time they are back to square one. They intended to do a 180 degree change but ended up with a 360, finding themselves right where they left. Frustrating and disappointing, I can relate. 

    Stop concentrating only on numbers and instead adopt the methodology of Christ Jesus. Begin small and exclude those who are not ready. As we see in Scripture, the small group—including Paul, who was specifically called for missions outside of Judea—became the catalyst that, within forty years, reached the far corners of the then-known world – Rome. Ultimately, that was where Paul ended up, as we read in the book of Acts, wasn’t it?

    Many have not noticed, but Paul had repeatedly declared the Gospel reaching the end of the world. See passages below:

    (1) “But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for ‘Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.’” (Romans 10:18)

    (2) “but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.” (Acts 26:20) The Gentiles receiving the Gospel also implied the ends of the world. No one was excluded anymore. And that’s exactly what Israel refused to do, though it should have been their mandate from the beginning of their creation as God’s people. See Genesis 12:1-3, “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”

    (3) “This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.” (Romans 15:22-24) Rome, clearly represents the ends of the then known world. 

    (4) “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.” (Colossians 1:3-6)

    Again, it’s not too late to make the change, and do it properly. But sacrifices ought to be done. The first step, however, is recognizing that it’s been done wrong. 

    Jesus shared a parable saying, “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property” (Matthew 25:14). In this parable, Jesus represents the man who goes on a journey, which symbolizes His death, resurrection, and ascension. He entrusted His property—the church—to His servants.

    In the parable, each servant was given talents according to their ability (Matthew 25:15-18). These talents represent Jewish money or resources. Therefore, when the master returned and discovered that one servant had buried his single talent in the ground, he rebuked him, saying, “Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest” (Matthew 25:27).

    The command of Jesus Christ is, and has always been, to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20)—not just to construct buildings and label them as churches. Christians are given different talents for evangelism and discipleship. However, many have wasted their talents by focusing on activities unrelated to these missions.

    Concerning God’s church, Paul explained, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building (i.e., the church). According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1Co 3:6-11)

    The sole and true foundation of the church is Christ Jesus and His Word. Paul here called on Christians to be concerned and faithful to God’s Word. The ultimate goal of the church, God’s people, is to build a community of Christians. This is what Jesus mandates us to do. Unfortunately, some Christians, perhaps misled by tradition and practice, have prioritized physical structures over people.

    So, ask yourselves, according to the parable of Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30: how will you be received by Him—faithful or unfaithful?

    Note: Click on underlines and highlights for definitions or Bible references.

    Peter , in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!

  • A Love Letter to the Church

    Since June is an occasion for fathers, I am writing this letter to call on the attention of Christian fathers. Many Christian fathers are unable to minister to their families these days, perpetuating a cycle of decline. Since most Christian churches grow through birth rather than evangelism, it’s no surprise that we’re witnessing a decline in Christian leadership over time. To address this present dilemma, we must train the next generation in biblical interpretation. We should teach them how to properly explain Scripture, as people have been prioritizing communication skills over faithfulness to the content. Consequently, we see Christians adopting diverse and peculiar doctrines.

    However, since the deterioration in doctrine has been occurring for decades, if not centuries, defective doctrines have become the norm. Consequently, truthful biblical teaching has become indistinguishable to most Christians.

    The sanctity of the church hinges on two key aspects: right doctrine and Christian living, and these two aspects are intrinsically linked. How can we discern true Christian living if our doctrines are flawed? How can the church remain unified if each individual has their own interpretation of the church or its doctrine? Remember that Paul emphasized that true Christian unity rests on its doctrine. See Scripture below: 

    “As a prisoner for the Lord, I urge you to walk in a manner befitting your calling. Be humble and gentle, patient, and loving towards one another. Let us strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We are one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the ONE hope that belongs to your calling. We have ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all.

    Grace has been given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it says, “When He ascended on high, He led a host of captives and gave gifts to men.” (In saying “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

    He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and the teachers to EQUIP the saints for the work of ministry and to BUILD UP the body of Christ, the church. Until we all attain to the UNITY OF FAITH (i.e. beliefs or doctrines) and knowledge of the Son of God, we will mature into men, reaching the measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, human cunning, and deceitful schemes.” Rather than SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, we are to grow up in every way into Christ, the head of the church, from whom the whole body (i.e. the church), joined and held together by every joint, when each part works properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:1-16)

    Love, as defined in Scripture, encompasses, rather centers on, right doctrines. So, why has the church chosen to prioritize protecting its aesthetics over its inner self or constitution (i.e., its doctrines)? Until when will Christians continue to be pretentious, claiming that everything is well with the church?

    Lies, deceptions, or prosthetics can only keep those who are indifferent, naive in Scripture, or fatally attached due to relational bonds, but not the thinking, intellectually inclined, and truth-seeking Christians. Are you truly not aware of the reasons behind the church’s failures? The church has long ceased to effectively fulfill its mandate from Christ. 

    If you claim ignorance, then you don’t deserve to lead the church (1Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9) . However, if you are aware of the situation, your silence and indifference are harming God’s church. Let me remind everyone of Paul’s words: “If anyone destroys God’s temple (i.e., the church), God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)

    Each Christian is obligated to uphold the sanctity of God’s church, particularly ministers, pastors, elders, deacons, and those who claim to be reverends. 

    Quoting Paul’s words: “For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” (2 Corinthians 2:4)

    As the saying goes, “Sharing is caring.” Let’s consider this article in the context of loving and caring for God’s church. 

    Peter , in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!

  • Passover to Firstfruits

    One of the many incredible prophecies of Christ Jesus could be that of His death and resurrection. In Matthew 12:38, when challenged for a sign, Jesus stated, “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).

    In John 2:19, again being asked for a sign, Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). John explained that Jesus was talking about the temple of His body (John 2:21)

    The resurrection of Jesus after three days and three nights in the grave is clearly a central proof that He indeed was the Christ. Sadly, however, the modern church has diminished Christ Jesus’ declaration by insisting on a Friday death and burial, and a Sunday resurrection. This fascination with Sunday has no roots in the early church; rather, it’s a modern concept. Tracing its beginning almost always leads back to the time of Constantine. When politics and religion intermingle, there is always a risk. Christians should remember that Jesus Christ declared to the Jewish religious leaders, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36).

    It is indeed difficult to pinpoint the exact day Jesus was crucified. However, if He was to be the sacrificial lamb acceptable to God, He must have fulfilled Scripture. The slaying of the Passover lamb has always occurred on the 14th of Nisan, regardless of the day of the week. On the 15th of Nisan, that is always a special or high Sabbath (John 19:31; Leviticus 23:6-8). Christ’s body was hurriedly placed in the burial site before dusk, just before the special or high Sabbath, as no work can be done on a Sabbath (John 19:40-42).

    Since the 14th and 15th of Nisan can fall on different days, similar to how our birthdays shift each year due to the calendar cycle, the number of days between Passover and the Feast of Firstfruits will vary annually. Considering that Jesus Christ was fulfilling His prophecy of three days and three nights, these must be the exact days in between required to fulfill that prophecy.

    The Feast of Firstfruits, however, cannot occur on just any day; it always takes place on the first regular Sabbath following the High Sabbath or the 15th of Nisan. Yes, the resurrection of Jesus Christ did not occur on a Sunday but rather on a regular Sabbath. Refer to Leviticus 23:10-11:

    “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: ‘When you enter the land that I am giving you and harvest its crops, you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the (15th of Nisan) Sabbath, the priest shall wave it.’” Hence, Paul refers to Jesus Christ as the firstfruits in 1 Corinthians 15:23.

    As I have explained, during the Passover festival week, there would be two Sabbaths: the special or high Sabbath (15th of Nisan) and the regular Sabbath. Leviticus 23:10-11 refers to the day (or Sabbath) after the high or special Sabbath. How do I know this for sure? Because the following festival, the Feast of Weeks (commonly known as Pentecost), is counted starting from the day the wave offering of Firstfruits has been presented, which is the regular Sabbath. See Leviticus 23:15-16:

    “You shall count seven full weeks from the day (Sabbath) after the Sabbath (15th of Nisan), starting from the day (Sabbath) you brought the sheaf for the wave offering. You will count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD.”

    Contrary to common Christian teachings and traditions, Pentecost always falls on a Sabbath, not a Sunday. This distinction is significant for Jewish people. As a result, many modern Christians’ emphasis on Sunday observance has led Jews to reject Jesus Christ and the Gospel, as they believe Jesus did not fulfill Scripture.

    So here lies the cause of confusion: modern Christians have been observing the traditions of men rather than adhering to Scripture. Don’t we Christians realize that the words of Jesus Christ, spoken against the Jewish religious leaders, are very much applicable to our discussion here? See Mark 7:6-8:

    “Jesus said, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ‘You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.’”

    Whenever Christians neglect Scripture and follow the traditions of men, we misread and misapply the Bible. To further prove my point, let’s look at New Testament accounts concerning the resurrection. See Mark 16:1-2:

    “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Him. Very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.”

    Mark referred to two Sabbaths in his narrative. Here, the first one is correctly translated into English as “Sabbath,” pointing to the special or high Sabbath. The second, which is translated as “first day of the week,” actually refers to the first regular weekly Sabbath. A quick check on an interlinear Bible would show both terms, “Sabbath” and “week,” were derive from the Greek word #4522, “sabbaton.”

    Mary Magdalene and the other women visited the empty tomb on the regular Sabbath, not on a Sunday. This misinterpretation may have arisen during the time of Constantine, as the Romans had an affinity for the Sun God, Sol Invictus. I encourage you to conduct your own research on this topic.

    Jesus Christ fulfilled three of the feasts outlined in Leviticus 23. As I mentioned in a previous post, these festivals served as rehearsals, anticipating the coming of the Messiah. This explains the excitement of the Jews when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey (John 12:12-15).

    The three festivals are the Feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread (crucifixion), and the Feast of Firstfruits (resurrection). Please see Scripture for confirmation.

    Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8: “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

    Jesus Christ was the Passover lamb; through His sacrifice and offering, He made all who believe in Him righteous (unleavened) in God’s sight.

    Furthermore, Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 15:23: “But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ.”

    Without a doubt, Paul referred to Christ’s resurrection as the fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits, thus designating Jesus as the firstfruits.

    Before I conclude this discussion, I want to highlight what Luke’s Gospel reveals about the expectations of the Jews, particularly Jewish Christians. You can find this in Luke 24:13-27. In this account, the risen Lord Jesus Christ first listened to the conversation of two of His disciples before engaging with them. One of the disciples expressed their hopes by saying, “But we had hoped that He (Jesus) was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened” (Luke 24:21).

    Christ’s resurrection comes with the certainty that He would be buried for three days and three nights before rising from the dead. The Jewish religious leaders understood the significance of Jesus fulfilling His prophecy, which is why they placed guards outside the tomb to prevent any human intervention. You can find this account in Matthew 27:62-65. Ultimately, Jesus rose from the dead exactly as He had predicted—”on the third day.”

    The purpose of sharing this information is not to confuse or cause discord among Christians. Instead, it aims to educate, clarify, and explain the truths of Scripture, so that Christians may find unity in their faith. Also, it serves to affirm inerrancy of the New Testament Scripture.

    Many Christians may easily dismiss this discussion by saying, “Oh, it’s a small thing. The important thing is that I believe in Jesus.” However, we must remember that Christ Jesus warned us to be careful not to become a stumbling block for others in their faith. We live in an age where information is readily available, but both falsehoods and truths are prevalent on the internet. Those who evaluate, study, and scrutinize the Bible alongside Christian claims and practices often choose not to engage with Christianity due to inconsistencies in its teachings, claims, and practices.

    Each Christian is a defender of the faith. While being unable to explain God’s word is one issue, being part of the misrepresentation is another matter entirely. It’s essential to recognize that our belief in Christ Jesus comes with a responsibility to others. Jesus Christ and the apostles warned us about the consequences of causing others to stumble in their faith.

    The Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s power for salvation (Romans 1:16). We Christians possess immense power. Isn’t it often said, “With great power comes great responsibility”? This is the story of Jesus Christ presented in the Gospels from the Feast of Passover to that of the Firstfruits. We know Jesus is the Christ because He fulfilled Scripture.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!

  • Get Your Head in the Game

    This morning, we emphasized the importance of being like Mary, not Martha, and denouncing the treachery of Judas.

    Judas was a constant companion of Christ, together with the eleven apostles. In contrast, Mary would only be able to hear Jesus when He was at Bethany. While Jesus taught both the apostles and Mary, Mary had the right attitude and focused on His teachings whenever possible. She absorbed His words deeply (Luke 10:39). Could Mary have understood that Jesus’ discussion of His death referred to His fulfillment of the Jewish Passover? (Read Luke 9:22; Luke 9:44; Luke 18:31-34; Luke 24:26; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31-32; Mark 10:33-34; 1 Corinthians 5:7) Was that the reason behind her act of anointing His feet and wiping them with her own hair? Bear in mind, Scripture’s context has it days before the Jewish Passover Feast. Jesus responded to Mary’s devotion by saying, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.” 

    Scripture recounts Mary’s act of anointing Jesus’ feet with a pound of expensive ointment. While the ointment undoubtedly cost a significant amount, it held no financial value for Mary, as she perceived Jesus as far more precious. In contrast, Judas, despite being a constant companion of Jesus Christ, failed to recognize His worth. He prioritized the monetary value of the expensive ointment over Jesus. Christians should reflect on their priorities and ensure that they align with God’s will. In other words, “Get your head in the game”. Ecclesiastes 3:1 emphasizes that there is a time for every human activity under heaven. However, amidst the constant busyness of life, we often find ourselves preoccupied with trivial matters. In fact, Jesus Himself even admonished, stating, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37).

    To clarify, Christ Jesus is not teaching us to despise our loved ones; rather, He was emphasizing the importance of loving Him above all else. Keep in mind that the passage was in the context of Christ Jesus sending out His apostles to proclaim the Gospel. So, Christ Jesus is actually teaching us that nothing should hinder or distract us from sharing God’s Word. Similarly, if we truly care for our loved ones, we ought to let them know God’s Word, not compromising ourselves in the hope of getting their favor. Ultimately, Ecclesiastes concludes, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

    Know that Jesus Christ is far more precious than any material thing or other pursuit in this world. Even our loved ones would perish if they were not in Christ Jesus. As mentioned in Psalms 37:4-5, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act” (Psalms 37:4-5).

    Incidentally, Psalm 37:5 was the passage inscribed on the penholder my son gifted me. Perhaps I can say my son, guided by God’s Word, led me to Christ Jesus, even after his passing. I, too, was once consumed by life until God intervened through the death of my only son, allowing me to hear His Word.

    Do you yearn for your loved ones to embrace the faith of Christ? Paul admonished us to emulate his example, as he follows Christ’s (1 Corinthians 11:1). What did Christ exemplify for Paul to follow? Jesus Christ remained steadfast and exclusively spoke and obeyed God’s Word.

    We can only encourage people to enjoy basketball if they also understand the rules. Likewise, we cannot expect them to follow along if you’re too busy playing a completely different game with them altogether. So follow Jesus Christ and His Word, trust Him. Perhaps, by His grace, our loved ones would also find Christ and His Word.

    So, Paul admonished, “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes fairly and according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5). Life itself is a competition, but anyone who hopes to be in Christ Jesus must compete in His rule—that is, in His Word.

    For reference, our passage this morning starts at John 11:55 and continues until 12:8.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!