Author Archives: bertlewis

To the Graduate

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A week from today, Kristin will officially be a high school graduate. One more summer is all that’s left before she goes off to college to begin a new chapter in her life. She has been a wonderful child and I know her time in college will be a great experience. Like most parents, I could see this day coming, but as it approaches, there are so many things running through my mind that I want her to know. Naturally, I want her to know how much Karen, Logan and I love her, how proud we are of her, and how much we will miss her being away from us. I’m sure as a parent; you share the same feelings about your graduate. As we get ready to let them go, I believe it’s normal to ask if we’ve done enough to prepare them. What more can be said that will serve to make this part of their lives as fruitful as it can be? I’m sure in all the advice I’ve given, I’ve left something out. I’m equally sure that Kristin had rather me keep some of it to myself, but there are a few more things I need to tell her. I would love to tell her that a college experience comes without any challenges. Sure, we know the typical challenges of time management, difficult classes and the usual distractions a college student faces. They’re a given. But there are other challenges as well, challenges that will test her faith in God. This is the reason for the list below. Spiritual challenges are the most important challenges that Kristin needs to be prepared for. All of our children will face these same challenges. It’s not that their faith hasn’t been tested before, it’s just that now, as a Christian parent you’re not there to guide them as you have been before. As parents, we are now at a point where we have to trust like never before and pray that they remain committed to the things they’ve been taught. With that said, here’s my list of things I’ve been thinking about and want Kristin to know. Maybe you want to share it with your graduate as well. 

  1. Be firm in what you believe about God because what you believe is likely to be challenged more than it has ever been before.
  2. With newfound freedom sometimes it’s easy to forget who you are. Remember not only who you are, but also who God created you to be.
  3. Influence can be a good thing, but it can also be harmful. God’s Word says there are things to run to and things to run from. Choose wisely.
  4. You were made to worship, both personally and corporately. Make finding a good Bible believing church a priority.
  5. Never will your temptation to stray from God’s will be greater than over these next years.
  6. It will take more than your best effort and self determination to fight against temptation. It will take the power of the Holy Spirit in you. Call on His power.
  7. Of all the books you read and study in college, the book that needs your greatest attention each day is the one written by God.
  8. Though I will not always be there to watch over you, your Heavenly Father will be (Psalm 121:4).
  9. Prayer will be a powerful weapon for you to carry. Use it daily.  
  10. Respect all people and be kind to them, but never let anyone tell you that a relationship with God comes any other way than through Jesus Christ alone (John 14:6).
  11. As much as I love you, it pales in comparison to how much your Heavenly Father loves you.
  12. Remember that God is faithful. Trust Him, seek Him and love Him. After all, He loved you first.

The Ground of Our Experience

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“A Spirit-filled church always studies the apostolic teaching. It is a learning church that grounds its experiences in and tests those experiences by the Word of God.” − James Montgomery Boice

At the end of the second chapter of Acts, after describing the coming of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, Luke began to write about things that characterized the early church (Acts 2:42-47). The first characteristic he mentioned was their devotion to the apostles teaching. The apostles were specifically chosen by Jesus to teach the Word of God. Therefore, they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry it out. Though they may not have completely understood it at the time, the night before he was crucified Jesus explained this to His disciples. He promised that the Father would send them another Helper, the Holy Spirit who would teach them and bring to remembrance all the things He had said (John 14:26). The promise proved true as evidenced by Peter’s sermon, where he boldly preached Jesus, the Holy Spirit moved with great power, and three thousand people were saved.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              In his commentary on these latter verses of Acts 2, James Boice makes the point that after such a miraculous work, the easiest thing for the church to have done would’ve been to look back at the experience of Pentecost and try to replicate it. There’s no doubt that what happened was an awesome experience. But what is found in Luke’s description is that as the church moved forward they devoted themselves first to apostolic teaching, the study of God’s Word. The Spirit of God works mightily through the Word of God.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            As believers, we do and should experience God, but we must be careful not to measure that experience based solely on how it makes us feel or appeals to our emotions. There’s great temptation and tendency to do just that. Boice’ larger point in the quote above is that our experiences alone are not the measure of what constitutes being Spirit-filled. Nor are they the measure of what constitutes true worship. Only when our experience lines up and flows from the Word of God can it be of the Spirit and thus considered true worship. Our experiences must always be kept in check by God’s Word.         

Boice goes on in his commentary, pointing out the great blessings that have come to the church from deep study of the Bible. In answering why such is the case, he says, “It is because the closer men and women come to God the closer they want to get to where He speaks to their hearts, and that is in the Bible”. The Spirit of God lives in the heart of every believer, but we are filled with the Holy Spirit only as our hearts are yielded to His work in us. If this is to happen, we must first expose ourselves to God’s Word, and then, as was the case with the early church, the rest will follow.

Before the Day

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“In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3 NIV) 

Psalm 5 is a lament. The primary function of a lament is to ask the Lord for help in a troubling situation. King David had many situations that troubled him. As some of his psalms do, Psalm 5 doesn’t give the specific experience from which David wrote. We only know it was a troubling one. Though different than his, we have our own troubles as well. This world, the pressures of our jobs, personal relationships, struggles with illness and many other things can be troubling. They often consume so much of us that it makes worship impossible.

            Recently, I downloaded a song from iTunes that I first heard some years ago, but had not heard in a long time. It is called Before the Day. As it did then, it has consumed a lot of time on my personal playlist. There are two primary things I remember about the first time I heard this song: First was how beautiful the lyrics were and how fittingly softly they were sung. The songs theme centers on the value of beginning the day by spending time with the Lord. The second thing I remember was the story the singer told as he introduced the song on this live recording. He spoke of a friend who referred to his early morning quiet time as “Going steady with EDDY”. What this friend meant was that you do it Early, Daily, Diligently and Yielding. He then shared his own experience was that if he doesn’t have his quiet time early, it doesn’t happen at all. Before the Day was written and recorded by NewSong. You should listen to it. It will bless you!

            As far as I can tell, the Bible doesn’t prescribe a particular part of the day that’s best for our quiet time with the Lord. What’s most important is that we take this time every day. My sense however is there is no better time than in the morning. There’s no one better than Lord to help us prepare for the day and the anxiety that waits to rush in, sometimes even before our feet hit the floor. The morning offers a great time of refreshing, a time for us to focus on God, to speak to Him and to sit quietly while He speaks to us. Seek the Lord each day, dwell in His presence, carry Him with you wherever you go and trust that He will see you through.

What If There Was No Resurrection?

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“That he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4) 

Our appreciation for something is often greatest when we consider the consequence of it never having been. There are people who don’t believe in the resurrection because they don’t believe in Jesus Christ. There are also those who have a misperception about why He came and who He claimed to be. This was also true in the Apostle Paul’s day. Paul was always concerned about the integrity of the gospel, emphasizing the gospel he preached was that which he received from Christ. Of all the teaching in Scripture on the resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15 is the most comprehensive. In this passage, Paul mentions three elements of the gospel: Christ’s death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection on the third day. All of these elements are critical to Christ’s redemptive work, but His resurrection is what we consider here. Think for a moment where we would be without it.         

            “ …that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4). In this chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul tells us the consequences of there being no resurrection. He says that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then preaching is in vain, faith is in vain, God is misrepresented, sin is not dealt with, and all who have died “in Christ” have perished. He goes on to say that if it is only in this life that we hope in Christ then, “we (Christians) are the most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:12–19). Translation: If it is only in this life that we have hope in Christ, stay home on Sunday, throw away your Bible, and live as you please because we’re hoping in something that isn’t real. Our hope in eternity is built on the resurrection, and without it there is no reason for hope. But there is reason for our hope. There is reason because the Bible tells us that Jesus was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20).

            In church today, the resurrection is the least alluded to aspect of Christ’s saving work. I’m not sure why that is. Maybe we just take it for granted? The resurrection is a necessary pillar of the Christian faith, and its affirmation has everything to do with not only salvation and justification but also biblical authority. It’s often said that Jesus conquered sin on the cross, and I know what people mean when they say that, but His death alone is incomplete without His resurrection, as this is how we are justified before God (Romans 4:25). The victory was completed when Jesus rolled away the stone and came out of the tomb.

            Though as a church we may only formally celebrate the resurrection once a year, as Christians we testify to it every Sunday and can live it each day. As you consider and celebrate all that Christ has done, make sure to thank Him for the resurrection, for because of it you will never suffer the consequence of it never having been. But even more, thank Him for the resurrection because it confirms God accomplishing His plan, and because of that, we have hope—hope in this life and for eternity. What a great God and Savior!

 Prayer

God, I thank You for all of Jesus’ work in His life and death to save me. My sin is that great. But God, today I thank especially for His resurrection, for if that didn’t happen, I would be pitied and left without hope. But I have hope, all because of You. Help me trust Your Word as I live my life and as I testify about all of Jesus’ redeeming work. You are a great God and Savior!

The Greatest Freedom Ever Known

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“It is finished” (John 19:30) 

I suppose in some ways it doesn’t seem right to elevate certain passages of Scripture above others, particularly when those words carry the special significance of being spoken by our Savior. A search through the gospels reveals seven statements Jesus made from the cross, each one having their own unique purpose. On the cross, Jesus made provisions for His mother, entrusting her care to the apostle John (John 19:26-27). On the cross, Jesus fulfilled His teaching to love one’s enemies by asking His Father to forgive those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). On the cross, Jesus demonstrated His saving grace to a thief who hung beside Him, expressed anguish at separation from His heavenly Father as He bore the wrath for the sins of His people, fulfilled Scripture saying, “I thirst”, and voluntarily gave up His human spirit that it might return to the presence of God (Luke 23:43; Matthew 27:46; John 19:28; Luke 23:46). All of these statements speak volumes as to who Christ is, and to what He has done for us. But of these seven statements, there is one that expresses a freedom like no other kind. So, the intent is not so much to elevate what Jesus said in John 19:30 relative to His other sayings on the cross as much as it is to emphasize the implication of His words, “It is finished.”

            It is easy in our Christian lives to think we can move beyond the cross. Too often we can be so much in search of the “abundant life” or that certain “experience” that we forget from which they flow, the cross. The cross is a symbol of Christ’ atoning work on our behalf; not only does it symbolize Jesus’ death for sin, but also His perfect life and victory over the grave by His resurrection. One of my favorite songs expresses the truth of John 19:30 with lyrics that say, “It is done will shout the cross, Christ has paid redemptions cost. While the empty tomb’s declaring Jesus saves.” The song is appropriately titled Jesus Saves.

            Jesus does save; He saves perfectly and completely, and because salvation is in Him alone, it is secure for all eternity. Now that’s real freedom, the kind that frees us from our past, present and future sins, the kind we find only in Christ. That’s the kind of freedom that leads to genuine worship. So, today and every day, walk in the freedom of the cross and Jesus’ three word declaration from it, “It is finished!” 

Prayer

Father, thank You for the freedom You provide in Christ. Though that freedom will be experienced in full when we see You face to face, by Your grace we can experience it even now. Lord, help me to understand that You didn’t atone for my sin for me to remain in it, but instead, so I would respond to Your love by living a life that honors Your sacrifice and brings You glory. You are worthy of nothing less!

Preaching the Cross

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Charles Spurgeon once said about preaching, “Preach any text you want and then make a beeline to the cross.” Naturally, when we think about Jesus’ crucifixion, the scene that comes to mind is not a very pleasant one. It was horrific! Jesus was stripped and beaten almost beyond recognition before being nailed to the cross. Perhaps it makes us wonder, “Couldn’t there have been another way for us to be saved?” I suppose there could have been, but that’s not how God planned it.

            The truth is, our sin cost Jesus a lot. The greater truth is He willingly paid the cost. Pray that our preachers never get tired of preaching, not only the necessity, but also the sufficiency of the cross for salvation. Pray also that we never get tired of hearing it. When you envision the scene at Calvary, remember, it is love that flows from the cross because it was out of love that Jesus went to it. Our only proper response is to love Him in return. “And you who were dead in your trespasses…God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)

Joy that is Full is Found in Obedience

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“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11) 

There are many things that bring joy to our lives, our relationships, maybe our successful careers, perhaps even our possessions. We should find joy in those things. James tells us that every good gift comes from God (James 1:17). Our possessions, our successful careers, and our good relationships are ultimately from God, so thank Him for them. But what about obedience, do you find joy in obeying someone else’s will? I think most of us, at least to some degree bristle at the thought of obeying the will of another. And the thought that doing so could actually bring us joy is even more unlikely. But finding joy in obedience is not only what Jesus taught, but also what He demonstrated by His life.

             “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Jesus spoke these words to His disciples in the Upper Room. He loved them greatly. It was their last night together before He would be delivered up for crucifixion. The time for which Jesus had come was now upon Him. It was time to die. How could Jesus find joy knowing that, and how could He desire that same joy be found in His disciples willing obedience to the Father? Though He agonized over the cross and separation from His Father, Scripture is clear about Jesus’ desire to do the Father’s will (Matthew 26:39). As He lived and preached, Jesus always submitted perfectly to the Father’s will, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38). He also submitted in death. Doing God’s will brought Jesus criticism from others. It brought Him even more than that. His mission, to “seek and save the lost” was not always a welcome one.

            Doing the will of God will bring criticism, opposition and consequence for you and me as well. Worldly standards don’t care much for what God desires and people who delight only in what they can see will often remain critical of your choices.

            For Jesus, joy was never situational. Nor was it for the apostle Paul. A prominent theme of his letter to the Philippians was joy. He wrote it from prison knowing his imprisonment would ultimately serve to advance the gospel. Paul valued knowing Christ, everything else he counted as loss (Philippians 3:8-9).

            Do you find joy in obeying God’s will?  It’s an important question because God’s grace doesn’t leave obedience as optional (1 John 5:3). In fact, true grace plants the desire to do God’s will in our hearts. Is it planted in yours? The thought that obedience could bring joy may be contrary to the thoughts of the natural man, but you are a child of God in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. As such, your standards concerning obedience should be different? Let the motivation of your obedience be what God has done for you in Christ. Jesus wants our obedience to bring joy, joy that is “full”. Remember, it is only completed in Him.      

Prayer

Father, You are so gracious when we seek to find joy in other things. The thought that obedience to Your will could be all-fulfilling is contrary to what our world teaches. Thank You for teaching us the truth. Thank You for Jesus, whose perfect obedience atoned for my sin. Thank You that He overcame the grave. Let me find my joy in obedience to Your will that my joy may be full. Amen!

A New Creation

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“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

I love the drive from Alabama to the mountains of North Carolina. It takes about six hours, leaving plenty of time for reflection. This time always provides me with an opportunity to think, not only about things that are going well, but also areas of personal failure and regret. I’m not talking about regrets with respect to goals I set as it relates to my profession or any other matter. I’m talking about sin, those moments when I had the opportunity to glorify God but didn’t.  

            I imagine you have these sorts of opportunities to reflect as well. When you do, perhaps you also find failures and regrets. They may be of a different type, but the type we still call sin. It’s easy for us to get trapped in those moments and fail to live the joy salvation brings. It’s not to make light of sin. God has called us to be holy and through the practice of spiritual disciplines we should be growing in holiness. But we must also realize that there will always be those moments where we fail to glorify God, as every part of our being is touched by sin. So, as Christians, how do we reconcile what has happened behind us and look forward to what lies ahead?

            “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” To be in Christ or in union with Christ refers to the relationship between the believer and Jesus Christ. John Murray says that our union with Christ is “the central theme of the whole doctrine of salvation”. In Romans 6, the apostle Paul explains this union in the context of understanding the proper response to God’s grace as it relates to remaining in sin. The natural desire of a recipient of God’s grace is obedience to God’s will. God’s will is the desire of the believer’s heart.  

            As a minister of the New Covenant, Paul taught that it was only through Christ that one could be reconciled to God. The Old Covenant (Mosaic Law) was incapable of saving, but Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant could. A few verses later, Paul expressed how that reconciliation occurs, how we are justified before God. It is because of Jesus, “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). That’s the power of the cross. Paul’s focus in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is on the significance of the believers union with the Savior.

            I guess sin will always be somewhat of a companion in this life. But for those who believe; what Jesus accomplished on the cross has reconciled us to God and broken the power of sin in our lives. Be thankful for God’s mercies, they are new every morning. Be thankful for Christ because on the day He saved you, He didn’t just make you a better you, He made you brand new! 

Prayer

Father, on that cross You gave Your Son for my sins. Thank You! I know every part of who I am is touched by sin, but sin is not what my heart desires. The only appropriate response to Your grace is to live a life centered on Jesus Christ. By the power of Your Holy Spirit help me to look to Jesus each day and obey His will for my life; all for his glory and not for my own. Amen!

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

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“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all” (Romans 12:17) 

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “Where the rubber meets the road”. It’s used in many different contexts. It is used to describe the point in which after intense training, an athlete is tested in competition. It’s used in business where upon completion of all the planning, the time has come to act on that plan. And yes, this phrase is used in the Christian life as well as we are called to live out what we profess to believe. To use the phrase “where the rubber meets the road” simply indicates that the moment of truth or the point of when a plan or theory is put into action has been reached. I have a friend who refers to this as “reality”.

            One of the characteristics of the apostle Paul’s letters is they tend to flow from theological or doctrinal teaching to application. Through the first eleven chapters of Romans, Paul taught many wonderful theological truths to those in the church at Rome. From Romans 12 and throughout the remainder of the letter, he urged his brothers and sisters in Christ to live out those truths. In the first half of chapter twelve Paul expressed what was to govern their relationship with God, “present your bodies as a living sacrifice…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:1-2), that their spiritual gifts came by God’s grace and that they should not think too highly of themselves (Romans 12:3-8). And then, from Romans 12:9 to the end of the chapter Paul wrote of virtues that were to characterize those who called themselves Christian. Specifically in verses 17-21 he addressed the proper Christian response to one’s personal enemies. Paul set the tone for this section in verse 17, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all”. He then elaborated in verses 18-21, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…never avenge yourselves…if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

            There are no doubt area’s in our Christian lives where “reality” hits in such a way that it’s difficult to live what the Bible teaches and what we profess to believe. For the Christian, this is where the rubber meets the road. To not repay evil with evil is difficult, but it’s what God calls us to do and is a mark of genuine faith. If Christians are to be in the world, but not of it, then our lives have to be different and therefore, our responses to evil against us have to be different. “Getting even” cannot be our default response. Admittedly, this is difficult; in fact, it’s impossible without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. That’s why we must call on the Lord’s help daily. We must not be overcome by evil, but instead overcome evil with good.

            One commentary writer fittingly titles Romans 12:3-21 as Love Lived Out. After all, isn’t love where it all began? Not our love for God or for others, but God’s love for us. We were once His enemies, undeserving of His of His love, but He gave it anyway. It comes only by His grace and it comes in the person of Jesus Christ. Now that’s true love! Let us pray that the Lord would help us to show that same grace and love to others as undeserving of it as you and me. “So far as it depends on you…”  

 Prayer

Lord, way too often we take Your Word as if it is but a mere suggestion. It’s not! You call us to be different. Do I dare to be? In my own strength I know I will fail. That’s why I call on Yours. Help me live in a manner worthy of Your sacrifice. Help me to do what is unnatural in my humanity, but possible in Your power. Conform me more and more into the image of Christ that I may bring glory to His name. By all means, He is worthy!

Children: A Blessing and a Responsibility

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“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3) 

Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might”. As a parent, part of living that out is teaching our children what it means. Several times a year, as part of our Sunday worship service at church, we have what is called Parent-Child Dedication. It is a special time for our congregation to celebrate with these families the blessings of God their children represent. As our pastor began this time of celebration on this particular Sunday, he reminded these parents of the covenant they were making before the LORD, charging them to pray for their children, teach them sound doctrine and to be a godly example in their lives. He then read Psalm 127.

            Psalm 127 has as its theme the importance of the LORD’s influence on the family. “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Verse 3 speaks specifically of children as a divine gift, an expression of God’s goodness upon a parent’s life, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward”. Our children are a tremendous blessing from God. They are also a tremendous responsibility. As parents, it’s imperative we take this responsibility seriously. As with any learning that takes place in a parent-child relationship, it’s hard to teach what we don’t model. Our children will most likely not walk a path we ourselves are not traveling. This leaves us to rely on God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s work to help us model godly living.

            A word of encouragement, our walk will never be perfect in this life, but as we set our affections on Christ, let us trust that our children will follow. Imagine the blessing of walking side by side through this life of faith with those God has given you the responsibility of leading. Imagine, you yourself becoming more and more like Christ and at the same time watching those you love so much becoming more like Him to. In both cases, our God will be glorified.