Genuine Motivation: Young Christian Man May 2010

V GENUINE MOTIV TION MAY

2010

YOUNG CHRISTIAN MAN

A PUBLICATION OF ON MY OWN MINISTRIES WWW.ONMYOWNNOW.COM

PEST CONTROL FOR YOUR SINS Proverbs

28:13

HE WHO CONCEALS HIS SINS SHALL NOT PROSPER, BUT HE WHO CONFESSES AND RENOUNCES THEM SHALL FIND MERCY.

ROB BEAMES GM : 04

“YOU MUST INDISPUTABLY GIVE UP, BUT YOU CANNOT GIVE IN.” PG. 7

Unless you are still into Disney movies, you probably didn’t flock to the movie “Ratatouille” when it was first released. However, given its popularity, maybe you’ve heard of it by now.

It’s the story of Remy, a young rat living in Paris, who loves to cook, and is actually quite good at it. He realizes his dream when he finds himself in the kitchen of a four-star restaurant preparing food for humans. Some realism is infused into the movie when the health inspector threatens to shut down the restaurant due to a reported sighting of rats inside the building.

It seems almost customary anymore to see alligators or sharks portrayed as cartoon pets on the television, so it’s not surprising that a rat should play the part of an adorable, culinary hero in a movie. Yet, in the real world, a rat is nothing more than a pest. Such a rodent doesn’t belong in the kitchen of a first-rate French restaurant. It certainly has no business spreading disease all over food which people will ingest. How absurd to think that it would be handling cuisine, even if it could. No, a rat is a revolting, dangerous and often rabid pest!

Only in our imagination could we treat such a creature as an amiable friend.

As crazy as that seems, most of us are living with a similar dichotomy. We sometimes allow certain sins to run free in our lives, as if they were adorable cartoon characters. We find it difficult to completely remove them from our lives, so just as Disney/Pixar dreamed up a rat to become an admired chef at a fancy bistro, we sometimes allow sin to play roles in our lives it has no business playing. It shouldn‘t be this way, but for most of us, it is.

Each of us has different sin-pests, yet they all work the same way. There is no need to name them. They are well known to us. We can readily fill in the blanks. They are sins that repeatedly invade our house, so that our mind and body have to labor to be what God intended them to be: a temple of the Holy Spirit. Over time they can spawn hopelessness, or simply indifference. It’s at this point these sin-pests become especially dangerous. So how do we get rid of them?

We certainly won’t cover every exterminating technique, but hopefully as we discuss how we relate to sin-pests, and how the enemy works to use them against us, we will find new strength in the battle to rid our lives of them.

As we struggle with sin so deeply entrenched, it is vital to remember that we’re engaged in a grave conflict – it’s us versus them.

So, whatever you do, never say die!

Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who conceals his sins shall not prosper, but he who confesses and renounces them shall find mercy.” The first step in getting rid of sin pests is to admit they are lurking in our lives. We aren’t going to prosper by covering them up. While confession to a few trusted friends may be important to spiritual maturity, the context here is more of acknowledging to ourselves that these sins actually exist, and then confessing them to our Savior. Instead of hiding our sins, we should actively seek them out, so that we may receive God’s mercy. Put another way, we need to abandon our indiscretion to gain absolution.

We need to give up our offenses to obtain full pardon. We need to ditch our wrongdoing to get kindness in return. Yet, no matter how we phrase it, it’s still very difficult to throw out certain pesky, but deceitfully attractive sins.

Why is this?

GM : 05

SIN IS FUN One of the reasons we allow sin-pests to hide in the dark and breed is because, well, it’s fun.

If we are truly honest, we have to admit that some sins are enjoyable, for a time anyway.

Our enemy deceives us by convincing us that we don’t really want to be rid of these sins.

If we find some sins are a more powerful temptation to us than others, it’s probably because we especially enjoy them. They wouldn’t command our attention to such a degree, and summon intense resistance from us, if this wasn’t true.

It’s like the common scenario in which a young boy brings home a puppy, knowing that as soon as his father comes home, it will be discovered and taken away. So, the boy tries to keep the creature quiet and out of site. To the best of his ability he conceals his food, his chew toy and any evidence that the puppy is in the house. He knows he can’t keep it, but nevertheless tries to do so as long as he possibly can. Finally, when Dad comes home, he starts to sneeze while still in the doorway.

All of the boy’s efforts are useless. In the end, the boy knows he will have to “get that thing out of the house.”

In the same way, our Father doesn’t want us to hide anything, either. He wants those disgusting things out of our house. He waits anxiously to show us mercy when we turn from our sin, even the pesky ones.

SIN CAN SEEM SAFE Another tactic our enemy uses against us is a mirage of safety. We are more easily persuaded to conceal our sin when we believe it’s not dangerous to our spirit. It’s like that common ploy we see in action movies – a beautiful woman distracts the hero by physically caressing him for the purpose of disarming him. It usually works, sometimes more than once! The evil one often uses the same maneuver on us – and we fall for it! When we feel we are in a safe environment, we tend to let down our guard. We often walk into spiritual battle as if we were walking into a roomful of friends. Feeling safe, we set our weapons down, when we should rather be firing them like a crazed lunatic, considering what’s at stake.

GM : 06

It can feel safe to sin, especially when our acts do not appear to harm anyone. If our sin is not discovered, we may think no one was hurt.

But this is an illusion, as well. Even if we don’t appear to hurt anyone else, we are causing pain and anguish to our own souls.

Remember the encouragement given to us by the apostle Peter: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:7-8). It is by the grace of God we don’t immediately pay for every sin we commit. Rather than vent our anxieties through some evil pleasure, we should carry them to Him. Our calling is to be in control​ of our bodies and minds, and to be alert to the deceptions of sin, so that we will not come to ruin.

THE GUILTED GUN God has given us a conscience for the purpose of directing us to Himself and away from the destructiveness of sin. But at times, the adversary can use this powerful weapon against us. Our conscience is transformed into a gun, guilt provides the ammunition, and it’s pointed directly at our hearts. We can be enticed to dwell on our failures until we are so disheartened that we return to the very thing we find disgusting.

Scripture uses the image of a dog returning to its vomit to describe a fool in Proverbs 26:11.

Perhaps the dog does this out of hunger, desperation or because it likes it. Whatever the case, it is foolish to return to something we know is repulsive, even if we do like it, or we feel like we can’t do any better. And in returning to it, we begin to assimilate it.

Don’t think yourself immune – even superheroes are vulnerable to this attack strategy. In Spiderman 3, Peter Parker begins to seriously doubt his motives regarding fighting crime, thinking perhaps he has had selfish ambitions in the past. With the help of a strange, alien symbiote, he decides to embrace his newly discovered, evil ambitions and to use his powers to promote himself for once, rather than help out others.

He becomes increasingly confident in his “no more Mr. Nice Guy” image, and decides to embrace evil, rather than combat it.

Today’s music is loaded with this theme as well. In a popular song, the band Disturbed asks, “In a world beyond controlling, are you going to deny the savior right in front of your eyes?” The savior of which they speak is the symbolic evil called “the night.” This aptly named band then answers their own question by echoing: “Give in to the night!”

As we dwell on our disappointments, especially as we struggle against sin, the adversary cleverly uses our acute “spider-sense” against us. Designed to protect us, instead it is used to destroy our resolve, so that in our hopelessness, we forget the purpose of resisting sin. Our enemy knows full well the warning found in James 4:7, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” He is eager to deploy any tactic to get us to stand down!

In the midst of the conflict, it’s important to remember God’s purpose cannot fail in our lives. Although we fail, He is faithful. As 2 Timothy 2:13 tells us, “If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” God remains resolute to the primary purpose He has for us: to conform us to the image of His Son. The enemy may make us doubt this, but the guilt we feel should serve to drive us to God’s throne of grace, and to let His Spirit and Word testify regarding His unfailing love for us. We should run to the protective shadow of His wing, rather than to the open arms of further sin. The quicker we realize this, the less of a stranglehold our greatest weaknesses will have on us.

GIVE UP, BUT DON’T GIVE IN So how do we finally renounce these stubborn sins which don‘t seem to go away? This is going to sound insane, but here is the secret formula the enemy does not want us to possess. It’s the proverbial can of Raid bug spray, from which sin-pests tuck tail and run: Give up! That’s right, just throw in the towel. (Stay with me now.) We have to acknowledge that no amount of effort, tracking or self-degradation on our part is going to rid us of these

tenacious sins. Rather, we should cry out to God, who has the power to save us from all of our sins, even the ones as nagging as an ingrown toenail. Every other attempt at ridding our lives of sin-pests is about as effective as chasing cockroaches around with a flyswatter.

We could do that forever and never be rid of them. But God’s way will not fail.

Paul put it this way, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Paul realized he was totally helpless against the power of sin. Are we more spiritual than Paul? When we give up and become intensely aware of our inability to overcome even the most base and embarrassing of sins, we are finally where we need to be. Although our efforts are exhausting, we find out alone, they have no power to resist the enemy. From this point of ultimate surrender, we start to see a glimmer of hope. This is when we hear, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

When we have come to end of ourselves, we realize only His Spirit can cause us to see sinpests for what they really are – repulsive.

It may not happen overnight. We may have a long road to travel, exhausting our methods and mental tricks, but it will most certainly come to pass. Might as well be sooner than later – so go ahead and do it. Tell your Father you can’t fight on your own anymore.

As soon as He hears this, He will act. You must indisputably give up, but you absolutely cannot give in. We still have to fight like there’s no tomorrow against these pests. But we can fight with confidence, knowing we will win. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord” (Prov. 21:31).

Only in our thoughts, would we could consider such destructive, evil activities friends.

Every sin should be exterminated, like a rat, not enjoyed. Yet, only God’s Spirit can rescue us from this delusion and give us the control we need to live as God has planned. So, keep wrestling with your sin-pests, while you rest in the fact that God is intentional about removing these sins from your lives. God wants to rid your life of them even more than you do.

And the last time I checked, God gets what He wants!

GM : 07

on the couch

by Randy Kosloski

“THE PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS LIKE THE FIRST GLEAM OF DAWN, SHINING EVEN BRIGHTER TIL THE FULL LIGHT OF DAY.” Proverbs 4:18

THE ISSUE WITH NED As a therapist, I once had a young client named Ned who was dealing with issues regarding his masculinity.

These same matters have shaken me many times, and having dealt with them personally, I found it difficult to act as Ned’s guide while he explored these emotional issues. It was only slightly less frightening to deal with these issues vicariously than to deal with them myself.

Even so, my conversation with Ned was one of the most productive therapy experiences I have ever had.

What made Ned particularly susceptible to this temptation was the fact that he did not view his father as a trustworthy model for masculinity. Ned was a foster child, and although he had a stable father figure for his entire life, he did not trust him since he was not his biological father. The effort this role model made as a foster parent failed to earn Ned’s trust. Without a trustworthy male role model, Ned turned to the culture around him to learn how to be masculine.

Ned’s masculinity issue was manifesting itself through a pornography addiction. I find that pornography is the perfect maladaptive symptom, because it touches every one of a man’s insecurities, providing sexual satisfaction without intimacy, pleasure without sacrifice, and the illusion of power without faith.

The male model that our culture asks us to emulate is a powerful one both physically and emotionally.

Society conveys that he must be uncaring, completely fulfilled, and willing to sacrifice none of his own desires.

Never measuring up to the cultural icon, Ned turned to fantasy to feel masculine. Enter pornography, which fulfilled the fantasies and allowed Ned to feel masculine, even if it was short-lived.

Ned was continually moving from one relationship to the next, always dragging these issues along with him. He was also very blessed with intelligence and fortitude. He taught me more than I ever taught him.

He taught me that purity is a path rather than a target.

Although, at times, we may fall off the path and land in an overgrown mess of trees, shrubs and dirt, we must courageously pick ourselves up, brush ourselves off, and keep walking on the path of purity. In their book Every Man’s Battle, authors Arterburn and Stoeker address the intense struggle of sexual temptation and how, in fact, every man will deal with this issue. They don’t say, “If we are just holy enough, we won’t be affected by this temptation.” Rather, they warn us to “start swinging,” because this is a real fight.

“purity is a path rather than a target”

“Society conveys that he must be uncaring, completely fulfilled, and willing to sacrifice none of his own desires” I wished I could have given Ned an injection of the healing he needs, like insulin through a syringe. If I could, I would take a hit as well. What I did give him was the understanding that all men have inadequate male models. Even if our father spent all sorts of time with us, provided for us and completely protected us, it would still be inadequate. All men must look to their Father in heaven and His Son Jesus Christ for the appropriate male example – the only comprehensive one that exists. This is not a discredit to the fathers of the world who are doing the best they can. Rather, it gives the glory to Jesus, who did everything perfectly.

GM : 09

RUN

by BILLY LORNE can you relate

People run all the time. They run in sports events, run errands and even run from the police (hopefully that’s not you!). But the running I’m talking about has nothing to do with sports, errands or crime. I’m talking about running from inappropriate sexual behavior. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee from sexual immorality,” or sexual sin. What kind of sexual immorality we talking about?

Get your running shoes on, because here we go.

1

BEHAVIORS TO RUN FROM JOKES // Everyone likes to laugh, but when jokes include a woman’s body parts, or other sexual innuendos, they are inappropriate for followers of Christ.

You’ve heard someone reply, “That’s what she said,” haven’t you? This play on words turns an innocent comment into a sexual one. More often than not, these jokes radically expose the intent of our hearts.

More specifically, they point out to us that much of the focus of our eyes and of our minds is on immoral subject matter. These aren’t wholesome jokes meant for enthusiastic laughs. They are lewd jokes meant to spark lustful longings into sexual fulfillment.

SEXTING // This involves the art of flirting and making advances via text messages. Lately, sexting has taken a turn for the worst as many have sent nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves over the phone. I recently heard of a story where a girl received a sex message, while talking to her group leader after a meeting at church.

It turned out to be from a male member of group who didn’t make it that night! The girl described the guy as one who pretends to be on fire for God while at church, but behind closed doors, he burns with fire for other people.

GM : 10

PETTING // We’re not talking cats and dogs here, but rather the hormone-driven, sex-on-the-mind guy and the girl he likes so much that he cannot - or will not keep his hands off her. Any and every chance he gets he touches her shoulder, rubs her arm, and embraces her to feel his body pressed against hers. Hugging is one thing, fondling is another. The first says “hello” (or “good-bye”), the latter is a lustful spark igniting a sexual flame. In groups, where guys and girls play games with each other, which includes tickling, or some sort of physical interaction, these situations often start off innocent enough. Unfortunately, unquenchable lustful sparks many times can turn into an inferno.

CANOODLING // This gets the flame really burning hot!

It involves kissing and cuddling. It’s just a matter of time before there is sexual intercourse - if there hasn’t been already. Many think they can stop anytime.

Most are wrong.

PORNOGRAPHY // If jokes are lustful longings aching for expression, and petting is the spark igniting sexual fire, then pornography is the fuel that keeps it all ablaze.

This fire is sometimes extinguishable, and sometimes not. Pornography is the quickest way for men to ruin themselves. You think not? Don’t be fooled. Consider all the great men in ministry who have fallen under its power. Chances are you have a friend who was caught in its trap.

What are we to do? Run! Or, as Paul said to the Corinthians, “Flee.” Paul simply says we should run away or escape. There is no meandering or looking back when it comes to sexual sin. His advice is get out of there, beat it, make a quick exit! The longer one stands around or lingers, the greater the chances are of committing a regrettable sin.

2

PLACES & PEOPLE TO RUN FROM MOVIES, TV & MUSIC // It should be a no-brainer that we, as men, need to filter the movies we watch, (including television shows), the music we enjoy and magazines we read. But unfortunately, it needs to be said. Research has shown that Christians are indistinguishable from nonbelievers in their media consumption. We watch the same movies, TV shows and listen to the same music. We do watch and listen to the occasional title labeled “Christian.” But which is the most powerful influence, Christ or secularcentered media?

PEOPLE // Paul’s advice means we should run from the cute girl who makes our insides shake, and whose conversation is nothing but a flirt-a-thon. This also means running from the guy who encourages, tempts and persuades us to miss the mark, or to sin sexually.

We should flee from anyone who provokes sexual feelings within us; from those who couldn’t care less about our sexual purity, or our relationship with Jesus; from those who have no vision for our future.

Jesus said He came to give us an abundant, or full life (John 10:10b). That fullness includes integrity, a clear conscience, respect for yourself and receiving respect from others. We should desire this respect, especially, from the woman who might one day be our wife.

CHURCH // This should be no surprise as many girls dress provocatively at church, knowingly or not.

Guys soak it up. God made men to take in pleasure visually. So, until women begin to dress more modestly at church, we’ll have to “flee” by turning our eyes away, rather than running out of the sanctuary.

SCHOOL // People who claim to be believers, at both Christian and public schools, but have not committed themselves to Christ and are not living in the Spirit do as they please. The Bible refers to these people as living in the flesh. This type of living includes sexual immorality (Galatians 5). Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 5:11 not to even eat, let alone hang out, with such a person, who claims to follow Christ, yet is sexually active outside of marriage. Why is that? Well, the old adage still holds true: we become the person with whom we hang out.

As Scripture puts it, “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

WORK // There are plenty of opportunities to get entangled in sexual sins at work. This may be because we usually spend more time there than with our families or other believers. Forty-hour workweeks make places of employment fertile breeding grounds for flirting, infatuations and a target for women out for a “good time.”

So when (not if) we find ourselves in sexually charged situations that threaten to destroy our purity and testimony, remember this advice: run!

Father, please help us to run when needed, to keep our hands to ourselves, and to honor the women we come into contact with, recognizing them as Your daughters, and possibly the future wife of another man. Amen.

GM : 11

FA I T H& E FINANC

by Matt Fraser Ever know someone who went nuts over a cute dog, and then the next time he saw puppies for sale in a parking lot, he just HAD to buy one? Did he find out a short time later that cute, little Fido had an appetite for leather dress shoes and an affinity for pulling out all the foam from couch cushions? Maybe he even eventually discovered that what was supposed to be a Chihuahua/Tea-cup Poodle custom breed, actually grew into a part Pit Bull/part Great Dane mutt.

Then when he started paying more for dog food than his own food, and fixing holes in the drywall became a nightly ritual, he started to realize what he had done. Stories like this usually end up with a sad trip to the pound for what was supposed to be man’s best friend. The dream of having a sit-on-the-couch, ears-ready-to-scratch, fun-in-the-sun buddy is gone!

Maybe that scenario is a little extreme, but how many times do we make decisions based on how we feel, how we think we should feel, or how we think we are going to feel, if we can only do or get such and such? How many times do these types of decisions make a lasting, positive impact in our lives? Take a moment for some self-examination. ...Surprised? Don’t be. If you watch TV, listen to the radio or surf the Web, you’re under a constant barrage of advertisements trying to get you to purchase based on emotion.

Falling for an emotional-based appeal to buy cologne or food is one thing, but major financial decisions made on a roller coaster of emotion are dangerous.

When I say “finances,” feel free to imagine anything you consider valuable under your control, and the physical and emotional ties to it. Finances touch almost every aspect of our lives. I would venture to say they are the strongest cords that bind us to the world. The same money that buys groceries to sustain us can pay for a visit to a porn site. Our tithe can easily go to buy beer. The flight miles we earn with a credit card can be used on a mission trip, but at what cost?

We might have dug ourselves so deep in debt in order to earn them that we become bound to that same credit card company for life.

GM : 12

I sometimes think of finances as similar to driving.

Just as a car has a steering wheel to direct it, a gas pedal for acceleration, brakes to stop it, and mirrors to watch out for the potential obstacles as it travels along the road, there are many tools available to help us control our finances. Maybe no one ever really taught us how to drive, but we have to get to work, so we are doing the best we can. Maybe we think we have it all under control, but then suddenly, our car is careening down the highway heading toward a cliff. We never even saw that patch of ice we just hit. Good driving takes practice and knowledge. These are both essential to healthy financial living, as well. The plan is to cover these topics in future issues, but first it’s important to think about our starting point.

The starting point is the destination. I know, that sounds contradictory, but if we don’t know where we are going, although we may be a good driver, we’re worse off than being lost: we’re just wasting gas. Allow me to offer more than advice – let me state the obvious truth. At some point each of us will cast off all we own, all that represents our identity in the world, and stand before the One who created us. If we trust Christ alone for our salvation, we will pass from death into life.

That will be a marvelous transformation. If not, we will experience eternal separation from God. The ultimate crash.

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This reality should color the way we conduct ourselves financially here on earth. If we are bound for heaven, is it acceptable to throw our money around however we feel like at the moment?

“Why not?” you may say. “This world is only temporary; I’ve got a permanent place in heaven waiting for me. I have 60 some years left to live, if the Lord gives me a full life. I only get to enjoy it once, right? Why not leverage what I can with loans and credit cards?”

That would be just fine if God didn’t care, if He did not have plans and expectations for us. God has given us a promised destination, but on the way He’s given us rules of the road and errands to run.

The Bible is God’s revealed Word. Much of it tells us what God expects from us as His children.

In addition to God’s revealed Word, we may have a special burden that God has given us to direct our lives – a calling that is only for us. When we examine our financial life, we need to look at how our financial choices line up with God’s revealed Word, or a direct word He has given to us, personally.

I leave you with a question that I hope bothers you until you can give a confident answer: How do your financial decisions positively support your relationship with Christ and the goals He has given you? I’m writing this and thinking to myself, “I’m not sure if I can answer this question and be proud of my answer, either.” Looks like we’ll be travelling down this road together. It may not always be a joy ride, but thanks be to our Lord and Savior who gives power and wisdom to those who seek Him.

GM : 13

TOP

CORNERED BY GRACE

INDICATIONS

YOU

Proverbs 29:23

PHARISEE

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

No.

by RO B B E A M E S If you were alive when Jesus walked the earth, would you have been a Pharisee? We cringe at the thought.

Most of us enjoy the feeling of superiority we have over the Pharisees due to their obvious hypocrisies.

But perhaps we have more in common with these teachers of the law than we would like to admit. If you’re walking around with a plank sticking out of your eye, you may already realize you have something in common with this notorious crowd, but for everyone else, here are the top ten indications you might have been a Pharisee.

No.

10

YOU CONSTANTLY TEST GOD

Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to testing by an expert in the law (Luke 10:25). Occasionally God asks us to test Him, such as with our tithe (Malachi 3:10), but more often it is God who does the testing. He is approachable, and He welcomes our questions. However, we should be careful not to use the same approach the Pharisees used with Jesus, as they tried to manipulate Him to say or do things that they could use for their own purposes. God does the testing. Our job is to trust.

It works best this way.

GM : 14

MAY HAVE BEEN A

9

YOU ARE MOTIVATED BY FEAR

The first time we meet the Pharisees in the gospel accounts, John the Baptist is asking them, “Who told you to escape the coming wrath?” Apparently, they only desired to be baptized due to their fear. However, we read in 1 John 4:18, “…perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” Sometimes we forget this truth, and approach our service to God with an attitude of avoiding punishment. Yet, our Father truly wants us to be inspired by a zealous love for Him and for others. Fear often motivates us, but God doesn‘t use it to prompt His children.

No.

8

YOU FIND COMFORT IN YOUR RESUME

Repeatedly, the Pharisees cited their lineage to justify themselves. Most of us don’t have a noble pedigree, but it’s still easy to forget that our spiritual track record, family, church or denomination, doesn’t provide a trace of entitlement to the kingdom of God. Only our direct relationship with the Father qualifies us to share in the inheritance of His kingdom (Col 1:12).

We are qualified by our faith in the work of Christ alone. God isn’t impressed with our efforts, any more than He was with those of the Pharisees.

No.

7

YOUR IMAGE IS EVERYTHING

Jesus called the Pharisees whitewashed tombs in Matthew 23:27. By this He meant that they look clean on the outside, but inside are rotting, dead carcasses.

As men, we strive to keep the appearance of strength and confidence, subscribing to the phrase, “Never let them see you sweat!” However, God is much more concerned with what’s going on inside. He continually exposes our motives and compels us to walk in humility, not hypocrisy.

No.

6

YOU JUSTIFY YOUR DISOBEDIENCE The Pharisees were famous for having detailed regulations to protect them from breaking any one of God’s commands, but Jesus exposed their true intent.

They made specific laws which were easy to keep, so that they did not have to live by the higher imperatives which were directed at the heart. We might not murder our brother, or even curse him out, but it’s much more difficult to show him love and compassion. How well we perform the bare minimum!

No.

5

YOU SAY, “YES, SIR, I WILL,” BUT DON’ T

In the parable of two sons (Matt. 21:28), the first son said he would not do what was asked of him, but later did it. The second said he would do it, but never did.

The Pharisees were like the second son. They had a long history of talking about what God expected of them, but rarely did they actually do any of it. In our status quo world, many times we do the same. We tend to be ready to talk, rather than act.

No.

4

YOU SCOFF AT OTHER’S DEEDS

The Pharisees constantly judged Jesus for His association with undesirables, for breaking the rules or for simply being unconventional. Yet, no one could deny the effect He had on so many. People felt loved. We often find error in the way another group is showing love to others, because it doesn’t square with our theology, methodology or maybe we just want a reason not to do what they are doing. We do well to reserve our judgment and support ministries which share the love of Jesus in unconventional ways.

No.

3

YOU FIND COMFORT IN RULES

The Pharisees had rules about rules in order to keep them from breaking other rules. Why was this?

Probably because following rules takes little faith.

Perhaps, we like to have our boundaries just a little too clear, as well. It’s attainable to do a specified amount for God and we can feel justified in this effort.

Doing everything He asks us to do, while staying closely connected with him no matter what happens, now that’s much more difficult. Only the kind of faith which comes from God can accomplish these things.

No.

2

YOU FEEL YOU ARE DOING ALRIGHT

It’s easy enough to read the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, (Luke 18:9-14) and scoff at the Pharisee who thinks he is better than the tax collector.

But how different are we, really? Do we make it through a day without feeling the need to be justified?

We have a natural propensity to compare ourselves to others, so that we feel better about ourselves – as if we could satisfy the minimum criteria. But in fact, we cannot do enough, or avoid enough, to be justified.

Even if we were “better” than everyone on the planet, we would still miss the mark. Like the tax collector, when we truly believe this, we can be declared righteous by faith in the redeeming power of Jesus’ finished work.

And the number one indication you might have been a Pharisee…

No.

1

YOU FAIL TO REALIZE THE SEVERITY OF YOUR SIN

A woman once washed the feet of Jesus with tears of helplessness and remorse over her sin (Luke 7: 36-50). It’s a rare moment that we grieve over our sin in the appropriate manner as did this woman, and yet an important Pharisee looked on in disgust at her selfdegradation. Admit it: We like to think we’re somebody important. Recall, however, that “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

Did you see yourself in any of the above? We might have fit in more easily with that group of proud teachers a little better than we would like to think.

(I believe he wanted me to remind you.)

GM : 15

PRESS ON THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS

BY WILL DOLE

GM : 16

Why Press On? Press on. What kind of name is that for a column?

As I thought more about this proposed name, I decided it fit well with the topic about which I most enjoy writing: the pursuit of holiness. This name was inspired by the words of the apostle Paul at Philippians 3:12, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

Paul tells us he has not obtained his goal; in other words, he isn’t perfect, yet he keeps pressing toward his goal. This begs a few questions: What is his goal? What does he mean when he says Christ took hold of him for this purpose? And, what exactly does pressing on entail?

We find the answer to the first question in the previous verse where Paul talks about leaving the things of this world behind. In verses 3-11 of chapter 3, he is chasing after the righteousness of Christ – a righteousness that does not come from following the law, but through faith in Christ. Elsewhere, Paul states that righteousness comes by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

Paul explains that this goal is the very purpose for which Christ took hold of him. The pervading sense in our current-day church culture is that Jesus died on the cross to save us from hell, but that’s not Paul’s focus in this passage. He says the very purpose for which Christ took hold of him was to mold him to righteousness.

This is consistent with what we find elsewhere in the New Testament, most notably in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.”

“we should not only claim him as savior, but worship him as lord, and be transformed by his power.”

Jesus calls us to discipleship. We often think of the Great Commission as a mandate to convert sinners, but it is also, in fact, a call to discipleship. Christ wants to draw us to Himself and call us His very own.

We should not only claim Him as Savior, but worship Him as Lord, and be transformed by His power.

Jesus’ work on the cross provides us with a lot more than a life preserver to keep us from hell. He provides, through faith, grace and strength to live our lives in a way that honors Him. (See also James 1:22, Phil. 2:12, 1 Peter 1:15-16 and Habakkuk 2:4)

So how do we press on toward this transformation that brings honor to Him? Paul sums it up quite nicely in the latter half of verse 13, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…,” or as he also says, putting off the old man, and taking on a new self entirely (Ephesians 4:22-24). If our purpose is to be molded into righteousness, if our very salvation is for that purpose, then everything else ought to reflect this fact. We are called to focus upon God and His word, in order to prioritize our goals and purpose. We can’t live compartmentalized lives, putting God in a box that is pulled out when we find it convenient. On the contrary, God is to be the very center of our lives, and we must press on, waging war against our sin nature in order that we might serve Him alone (Ephesians 6:12).

“we are called to focus upon god and his word, in order to prioritize our goals and purpose.”

Sounds great in theory, doesn’t it? But don’t assume that this is all rhetoric – nice Bible stuff that has no real-world application. The opposite it true – this is the ultimate real-world application. Here’s a fact: life sucks. We live in a broken, sinful, messed-up world. We’re all dealing with garbage – maybe relationship problems, stress at the workplace or in school, a loved one with cancer.

Whatever it is, if we are trying to live through it without God – His love, peace and hand in our lives – we will become overwhelmed. I know, because it happens to me more than I care to admit.

Later in Philippians 4, Paul tells us not to be anxious, but to take it all to God (4:6). This is the key to pressing on in following Christ: He knows that we, in our own power, cannot live like Him. Our Savior understands – He has walked the same road we walk. Our pressing on is not an effort to somehow earn God’s pleasure or His love.

He already poured out His love to us in a way that we could never measure, by giving His Son. No, we press on out of love.

Jesus Christ laid down His life and was separated from His heavenly Father so that we might walk in a Father / son relationship with God. Wow! No, we don’t need to earn anything. We press on in love and gratitude for this Savior who gave us His all. He calls us to be holy as we follow Him. He’s not doing this in an arbitrary way, but because He loves us and wants what is best of us.

Isn’t that amazing?

In view of all this, press on is the least I can do.

GM : 17

THE TOOL BOX

IF YOU CAN’T REMEMBER IT, FAKE IT

by JEFFREY BRIDGMAN

To compensate for my hit and miss memory, I’ve had to learn to be more on top of things. Here are some tools that worked for me. It turns out (to my horror) that even though I look like I’m 20-something, my mental capacity for actually remembering anything is fairly equivalent to an 80-year-old man. I’m constantly forgetting appointments with my advisors, stuff I need to buy at Wal-Mart, e-mails I need to write, forms I need fill out and things I meant to do for my friends. And as if it’s not difficult enough coordinating myself, there are these things called group assignments that require working together outside of class and coordinating with others. If there are four people in my group, and each of us forgets to meet 25% of the time, that means, almost every time, at least one of us will fail to show up. Yikes!

STICKY NOTES ARE LIFESAVERS

Sometimes, all it takes is a well placed sticky note to remind me of something. If there’s something urgent I need to do first thing in the morning, I can put a sticky note on my wallet or my computer monitor. (Can anyone say computer-based-lifeform?) I’ve more than once put a sticky note on the steering wheel of my car, so I don’t forget to gas up before leaving on a long trip through remote areas.

I also use sticky notes as a general scribble pad. I jot down ideas, make shopping lists, write reminders and keep to-do lists. When I’m done, I rip ’em off and throw them away.

CALENDARS ARE YOUR FRIEND If your school is anything like mine, each semester they give you a nice “agenda” to help you “organize” your life.

And if you’re anything like me, you’ve never used it. Turns out these things can be rather handy after all. My school’s calendar is a giant, letter-sized spiral book, which is difficult to handle. Previously, I’ve opted for buying a smaller calendar to keep track of assignments, important events and tests. Lately, I’ve started using a Google calendar, which has a lot of handy features to help organize and keep track of what’s going on. You can set it up to notify you by e-mail regarding particularly important events, and you can even share your calendar with your friends.

This comes in handy with those group assignments.

If you have a fancy phone, you can sync your calendar, so you have a copy with you always. Even if you have a cheap phone, like I do, it probably has some basic calendar feature. I use mine as a backup to my Google calendar to remind me of really important meetings and appointments.

TIME TO MANAGE CLUTTER Organizing can take so much time that it’s hard to get anything else done. On the other hand, if your desk, in-box, car, room, fridge and life in general is ridiculously cluttered,

it can take a toll on you. It’s a catch-22. Personally, I tend to get lost in the clutter after a while. When my desk is a mess, I can’t concentrate. When my inbox is cluttered, I miss important e-mails that require a timely response.

Clutter attracts clutter, like a magnet, and it just keeps getting worse until you show no mercy and exterminate it.

That’s why, with my e-mail, I practice an Inbox-zero policy.

Show no mercy with e-mails. They should not survive long before they are deleted.

There are five ways to manhandle e-mail: DELETE: Some e-mails are not worth reading, or sending a reply. You can also archive it.

REPLY: You should deal with it immediately in the appropriate manner. Keep it short, simple, and keep the ball in the air, as in the game Hot-Potato.

DELEGATE: If there’s someone who can better deal with the e-mail, forward it!

DEFER: If you have to wait, and only if you have to wait, let the e-mail live for another day.

DO: If the e-mail requires action, don’t put it off, do it right away.

COORDINATING EVENTS Finally, for managing others while you manage yourself, there’s Doodle, which allows you to set up an event with various options for times and dates. You receive a link you can post on Facebook or send by e-mail to the others involved in the event. They click on the link to choose the time/date that works best for them! This makes getting the group together for work on the assignment a relatively sane process.

From the low-tech sticky note to the Google-enabled Droid, there’s an organizational tool that can streamline every life and keep us feeling like the young men we are … even if we’re not technically remembering things on our own.

GM : 18