Summarizing the Gospel

 

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you…”

—1 Corinthians 15:1a

Did you ever ask someone a question and instead of receiving a direct and succinct answer the person you were asking gave you a long and involved explanation? My wife and friends tell me that I do this very thing all the time. Apparently, I am so enamored of the details of virtually any situation that I feel I must share every last one whenever I answer a question.

I recently watched a video on YouTube of someone trying to explain the Gospel of life-transforming redemption through the blood of Jesus. The speaker was someone who tended to follow that pattern that I am all-to-often guilty of myself: too many details shared in a very involved manner.

In contrast to this well-intentioned video teacher, the Apostle Paul had a unique perspective that gave him the ability to share the Gospel in a very clear and concise manner. For example, notice what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8:

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Wow! What a powerful presentation! That Paul: he really knew how to make things clear. If only I could take a lesson from this revered Apostle.

Dear ones, the Gospel really is just that easy to understand. We are all sinners. God loved us enough to send His one and only Son, Jesus, to die in our place and pay the penalty for our sin. Then, God raised Jesus from the dead. He appeared, not as a ghostly apparition, but as a gloried human with the ability to eat and drink, but also with the ability to pass through walls and to quickly move from one place to another. Next, Jesus ascended to heaven where now “He sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty making intercession for us”—to borrow words from Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25.

This day, let us not shy away from sharing this good news with those whom the Holy Spirit may prompt us to engage. This Gospel, this precious good news, is truly the greatest news mankind has ever received. And, God wants those of us who believe to share it with the world.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Frisday, June 29, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Are All Sinners

 

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

—Romans 3:23-24

I always cringe when I hear someone cavalierly say the words, “Well, I know I’m going to Hell!” Such a one talks about the place of eternal damnation like it might be a specially chosen location at the most beautiful sandy beach on earth. Of course, this is absolutely not the case.

Hell is someplace to fear—literally fear. “Well, I know I’ll have lots of company!” that same person opines. But, he or she doesn’t realize that as best as we can learn from Scripture, Hell is a place of eternal separation from God and from others. There will be no camaraderie in Hell. It will only be a place of torment, so severe that our human minds cannot conceive how truly awful it will be.

And, lest someone think that he or she has lived a “good” life and surely will be spared this awful place of eternal death, one only needs to take note of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the new Christians gathered at Rome, as recorded in Romans 3:23-24:

… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

We are all sinners. Every last one of us has inherited the sin of Adam through our parents. And, we have continued to sin from the moment we began to become aware of the selfish and deviant spirit that resides in all of us.

Sin is completely pervasive. Even when we look at a beautiful, new baby boy or girl, we must recognize that, from a spiritual standpoint, this little one is also a sinner. How we wish this were not true. But, wishes do not make it so. The Apostle Paul’s words ring down through the ages to us today.

But, notice that the Apostle Paul also states the wonderful truth that though we are sinners, we are also saved by God’s grace through the death of His Son, Jesus. We are reconciled to God through the shed blood of Christ on the cross. We are vouchsafed for heaven through Jesus’ resurrection. We have an advocate in heaven, as our ascended Savior sits on the very right hand of God the Father.

Every day, including this new day, we must not lose sight of the truth that we are sinners. But, we are also sinners saved by God’s grace. Those two truths, taken together, form the very foundation of our spiritual formation. And, that is a marvelously sure foundation upon which we may build our lives filled with abiding peace and great joy.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, June 28, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Take Up and Carry Our Cross

 

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

—Luke 9:23-24

Life can certainly be glorious, wonderful, exciting, and so much more. Life can also be hard work, difficult, and a real drag. Some motivational speakers would have us believe that the kind of life we lead is really up to us. If we would only think positively, our lives would bristle with delight. That may be so. But, many people do not experience daily life in that way.

Recognizing that almost every life has some burdens to bear, here’s one relevant question: “What is the source of that burden?” Jesus recognized that life does have burdens. As a result, He gave His disciples these wise words, found in Luke 9:23-24:

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t say: “Think positively.” Although, it’s quite possible that thinking positively does represent good advice. No, Jesus said: “… deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow me.”

When we take up our “cross,” we’re picking up our heavy burdens, setting aside our selfish desires, and following in the footsteps of Jesus. In so doing, we will become vessels of His love, as well as of His mercy and grace. We will extend kindness and gentleness to everyone we meet. We will offer words of hope and help promote joy in people’s lives.

Somehow, through this process of obedience, I believe our burdens—our “crosses”—will seem a bit lighter. And, that would certainly be a good thing. So, this new day, let’s follow Jesus’ advice and see if it works the way He knows it will.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

So That We Might Die to Sins

 

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

—1 Peter 2:24

Our sin nature that we inherited from Adam, plus our propensity to sin—gained over years of practice since we began to sin on our own—makes it very difficult for us to stop all sinning. Nevertheless, as we strive to live in obedience to Christ, it is our desire to minimize our intentional sins. It’s very hard to do this. But, we have an advocate, helper, and sponsor, who will point us toward righteousness. That is, of course, the blessed Holy Spirit.

It is this present reality of striving against sin that prompted the Apostle Peter, quoting from the Book of Isaiah, to write these words found in 1 Peter 2:24:

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

The fact that the penalty for our sin has been paid by Christ’s death on the cross is not a license to continue to intentionally sin. Rather, Christ’s loving sacrifice in our behalf stands as a motivation for us to honor Him by doing our best to put aside the sins that have us trapped. By allowing the Holy Spirit to have full sway over our selfish human wills, we can see victory over sins become a reality for us.

At the same time, almost inevitably, we will continue to sin. Fortunately, Christ has paid the penalty for all our sins. We can pick ourselves up from falling and continue our forward march toward righteousness. You see, it is the march that’s really important. Instead of bemoaning our failures, we need to strive ever forward. That is what pleases God the most. So, today, let’s very purposely keep on marching forward toward righteousness. Okay?

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, June 25, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

At Just the Right Time

 

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

—Romans 5:6-8

Have you ever heard someone say, “Timing is everything.” People usually make this statement when something happens at just the right time in their lives. Please allow me to illustrate:

Many years ago, a friend of mine came back from a trip and told his colleagues that he had met the most wonderful woman. The odd part of the story was that they met because she had arrived at the airport just one minute too late to board her scheduled flight. And, he had arrived at the airport several hours early for his flight because his business meeting had ended earlier than he expected and there were no earlier flights. They met in the now-abandoned gate area. She, dealing with the frustration of having missed her flight and he, dealing with several hours to kill before his flight took off.

He noticed she seemed very upset. He asked if he could help her. At first she said, “No, but thank you.” He could see how upset she was so he pressed her a bit. She finally explained what had happened. It turned out that this would have been her very first flight, ever.

He, being a very seasoned and experienced traveler, offered to help her. He opened his laptop and logged into his premium account with the particular airline. Soon, he had re-booked her on a flight that would leave from the gate just across the aisle, and at almost the same time as his flight would leave from the very gate in which they were sitting. Since they had more than two hours before boarding, he offered to treat her to lunch. So, off they went to the little cafe just a few feet away from their respective gates.

And yes, the story has an even happier ending. From those two hours together—and from many subsequent days, weeks, and months of long-distance communication—they became good friends, and then sweethearts, and finally husband and wife. Recently, they celebrated their twentieth wedding anniversary. They now have three lovely children and from all appearances are blissfully happy.

Yes, I know it sounds like the plot for a Hallmark Movie Channel story. But, real life is often even more glorious than life on the screen. You see, timing is everything! The Apostle Paul surely understood this when he wrote these words, recorded in Romans 5:6-8:

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Timing is everything! For us, it meant salvation through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ in our behalf. And, this wonderful salvation came at just the right time.

At the beginning of this new day, let’s be very thankful to God for His mercy, grace, and abundant love for us. And, let’s praise God that His timing is always perfect—a reality we can clearly observe, especially if we look for it every single day of our lives.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, June 22, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Look Like Jesus

 

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

—Hebrews 1:3

When you were a young boy, did anyone ever say of you: “He looks just like his father.” Or, when you were a young girl, did anyone every say of you: “She looks just like her mother.” Or, perhaps some long-term family friend remarked: “Your kids look just like their Grandma or Grandpa.”

If someone says something like that, they intend to indicate that the child they’re talking about is the very image of the person they have named. It’s intended as a sincere compliment. It’s intended to reflect glory on the child and glory on the older person, as well.

When we look at Jesus, Scripture tells us we are looking at God the Father. The image of the Father is reflected in the Son. If we want to know what God looks like, we only need to look at Jesus. The writer of the letter to the Hebrew Christians uses these words in Hebrews 1:3:

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Jesus is the “radiance of God’s glory.” Imagine if someone were to say to us, “You folks gathered here for worship and prayer look just like Jesus.” What a compliment that would be to us.

But, that is exactly what people should say about us. When they look at us, they should see Jesus. So, as we begin a new day, let’s keep in mind that because Jesus is the reflection of God the Father, so we are a reflection of Jesus. That’s an awesome truth—but a wonderful one, too.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, June 21, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Ask Without Hesitation

 

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

—Luke 11:9-10

“Daddy, may I ask you a question?” If I had a nickel for every time I spoke those words to my dear dad, well, I would have lots and lots of nickels.

I was always asking questions. I had—and still have—an almost unquenchable curiosity. This desire to know more and more and more has served me well throughout my career as a fire protection engineer. I will keep digging until I have exhausted the available information.

Whenever I would ask that question of my dad, he would always chuckle and respond, “Pally, you can ask me anything.” That was a real comfort to me. The fact that I could ask my dad anything gave me a sense of well-being. If there was something I didn’t quite understand, I could ask my dad and he would help me understand.

In our spiritual lives, none other than Jesus Himself has given us carte blanche (literally a white card or blank card) to ask anything we wish to ask of Him. Note His words, recorded in Luke 11:9-10:

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

As we begin another day of life under the watchful care of the Holy Spirit, we can step out with confidence into the world knowing that Jesus has given us permission to ask, to seek, and to knock. He will always answer, help us find, and open that door on which we knock.

I have shared this song from Scott Smith before. But, it is a particularly relevant to today’s Scripture passage:

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Thoroughly Cleansed

 

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

—1 John 1:9

Have you ever driven your car or truck into an automated car wash and sat there while the machinery washed your vehicle? Once the wash, rinse, and dry cycles are complete, have you then driven your vehicle out of the car wash, stopped, and carefully examined the results?

Sometimes, upon close inspection, you will discover that the automated system actually did not get every last bit of dirt and grime off your car or truck. Why? Because the system is only designed to do a “good enough” job. But, it is not necessarily designed to do a “completely thorough” job of washing your vehicle. As is often the case, “good” is the enemy of “great.”

When it comes to cleansing our hearts and minds from the ravages of sin, the blood of Jesus always does a perfect job of removing the sin stain. His washing is thorough. He leaves no part of us unwashed. The Apostle John put it this way in 1 John 1:9:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

The word “purify” means “thoroughly clean, all the way through.” That is very good news for us, as we begin a new day.

Through the sacrifice of God’s one and only Son, God has provided a means of thoroughly cleansing us from sin. Because of His mercy, grace, and love, we are absolutely clean, clear through. And that, dear ones, is a reason to humbly bow before God in thankful worship.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Only Our Triune God

 

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”

—Exodus 20:2-3

Today’s verse comes from the portion of the Old Testament Scripture that we frequently refer to as “The Ten Commandments.” These ten principles came as a gift from God to His chosen people, Israel, through God’s servant Moses. They were so important that God engraved them on two stone tablets. These ten absolute rules were to guard and guide His people along the pathway of their lives.

Of primary importance was the commandment to possess, honor, and worship no other gods in one’s life. And, while we may sometimes think about the secular gods of other religions, in our lives as followers of the One True God, this commandment indicates that we should have nothing that gets in between us and Almighty God. That means no human being, no possession, no desire, no achievement, nothing—absolutely nothing—must come between us and the God who loves us and sacrificed His Son, Jesus, in our behalf.

Here’s the verse from Exodus 20:2-3:

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.

God declares that He is the “I am.” He is the One who has accomplished anything and everything in our lives that merits any attention. He has brought us out of the slavery to sin and death and placed us before His throne as redeemed, covered with the cleansing blood of His Son. Surely, He merits our undivided hearts and undistracted minds.

As we begin a new day, let’s determine to remember that we can allow nothing to come between us and our Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He will not permit any other “god” in our life, but Himself. And, that, my dear ones, is a marvelous truth.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, June 18, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

God Gives Us Strength and Protection

 

“The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

—2 Thessalonians 3:3

Please allow me to begin this blog post with a true story from my past:

More than forty-eight years ago, I sat in the studios of Radio Station WIHS in Middletown, Connecticut, near the end of my Saturday morning shift, which had begun at 5:30 in the morning. Soon after I finished delivering the Noon newscast, I had the privilege of pressing a button that started a reel-to-reel tape recording of the 15-minute broadcast of “The Chapel of the Air.”

On this particular Saturday, Rev. Dr. David R. Mains—a man who would soon after become my lifelong spiritual mentor—began speaking about a passage of Scripture found in 1 Peter 5:8-11:

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev. Mains illustrated his point, in this first of what would become three messages, by insisting that Satan’s desire is to destroy. The enemy of our soul wants to see Christians crushed under a weight of sin and faithlessness.

I remember sitting in the control room, staring at the audio console, and thinking about how profoundly true this particular point was in my own life and in the lives of countless believers that I knew. As the 15-minute broadcast came to an end with the lovely bass tones of the program’s announcer Tedd Seelye, I made a note that I would have to be certain to listen to the next two broadcasts in order to hear the rest of the story.

I did just that. And, in those two follow-ups I learned that while Satan’s desire is to destroy, our opportunity is to resist and overcome, and God’s endeavor is to equip (us to do so). Those three broadcasts gave me the clearest insight I had ever had into the struggle that constantly goes on in the Christian life: We have a real enemy and he is definitely out to get us!

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul shared much this same truth with the Christians gathered at the church in Thessalonica, as written in 2 Thessalonians 3:3:

The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

As we begin a new day, let’s cling to the reality that God waits to protect us from the one who would damage our souls. Satan was defeated by Christ on the cross. It’s as if Satan doesn’t yet realize this truth and continues to wreak havoc among Christians.

It’s important for serious Christians to keep this lesson clearly in our minds. Prayerfully, let’s ask God to give us strength and to give us protection this day, and every day. We do well to remember that God is faithful. He will give us His strength. He will protect us from the evil one.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, June 15, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Holding Fast to Our Faith

 

They (Paul and Barnabas) preached the gospel in that city (Derbe) and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

—Acts 14:21-22

If you are looking for a true adventure story, let me urge you to read the entirety of the Book of Acts. Written by Dr. Luke as a sequel to his gospel, this Book contains the exciting stories that tell of the birth of the Christian Church during the first century A.D. You will find intrigue, as well as the story of how the gospel begins to penetrate the then-known-world, changing lives, pushing against the culture of the day, and exposing a secular society to the claims of the Son of God.

As just one example, here’s Dr. Luke’s account of part of the work of the Apostle Paul and his sidekick, Barnabas, as found in Acts 14:21-22:

They (Paul and Barnabas) preached the gospel in that city (Derbe) and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Imagine the information packed into these verses. Paul and Barnabas preach in the city of Derbe. As a result, a large number of people are welcomed into God’s Kingdom. Then, they return to three key cities in what was then called “Asia Minor” and we now know as the country of Turkey.

A major responsibility that Paul and Barnabas had was to strengthen those followers of Jesus, who had already responded to the gospel, by encouraging them to remain true to their new-found faith. This was very important because the culture of the society of that day was always trying to lure them back into former evil behaviors.

Even today, as we begin a new day, it is important for us to interact with our fellow believers in a manner that will encourage them to remain true to their faith in Christ. By strengthening each other, we can fulfill a significant responsibility we have toward our fellow believers. When we go through the hardships that will inevitably come, we can rest assured that, by giving and receiving support to our brothers and sisters in Christ, we can all continue to move forward along the pathway that God has laid out before us.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, June 14, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Be Exalted, O Lord

 

“Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.”

—Psalm 21:13

Whenever we read from the Psalms, we can take delight—great delight—from the fact that whatever we’re reading was intended as a song. Those of us who really enjoy singing, can recognize the privilege we have to sing along with the saints from the ages, including the millions of God’s chosen people.

Even if we only sing privately, perhaps while beginning our day in the shower, we can recognize that God delights in the songs of His people. That’s right. God delights in the songs of His people. As we begin this new day, let’s look at just one verse from Psalm 21:13:

Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.

It’s as if King David, the author of this song, wanted to tell the people, “Now, listen up! This is what we’re going to be singing about today!” Then, he proceeds to tell them, and God as well, that today’s song will focus on exalting God because of His incredible strength and praising His unimaginable might. God is so very strong and so very powerful that we do well to praise Him for His strength and might.

Let’s not lose sight of the great joy that is ours in singing praises to this powerful and mighty God who loves us with His everlasting, unfailing, unending love. And, let’s keep fully in our minds and hearts at all times that God delights in the songs of His people.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Guarding Our Behavior

 

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

—1 Peter 2:12

More and more in the days ahead, Christians will come under criticism and false accusations. Because of Christians taking a biblical stand against evil, those who perpetrate evil will do every possible thing in their power to vilify those who follow Christ. This is not a new phenomenon. It has happened over and over down through the pages of history.

What should a Christian’s response be to such a hostile environment? The Apostle Peter offers these words in 1 Peter 2:12:

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

We believers must focus on doing good and on being good. We must live our lives above reproach. Even when we are accused of hatred, we need to keep loving those who accuse us. Even when some people make physical attacks against us and try to destroy us, we must show the gracious love of Jesus, as we respond to their attacks.

While some may think things are getting better and better, this defies what is actually happening in our world. Values held dear by followers of Jesus are constantly under a severe attack. If we are to remain faithful at the beginning of this new day, and every subsequent day, we must determine to follow Peter’s advice. We must focus on living lives that will honor Christ and show His faithful love in all that we do and say.

Even when we speak against evil—or, perhaps, especially when we speak against evil—we must do so with humility, tenderness, and kindness. It is possible to take a strong stand on behalf of righteousness, but to do so in as loving a way as possible.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday June 12, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Doing the Will of God

 

“The world and its desires pass away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

—1 John 2:17

As a young teenager involved in the ministry of Youth for Christ, the number one question that always came up in discussion sessions regarding our Christian faith was: “How can I know the will of God?” That was a legitimate question and one that seemingly troubled many teens.

We understood that the God who loved us expected us to obediently follow His will for our lives. But, we weren’t at all certain how we were to actually discover and know the will of God. Our leaders secretly wondered this same question themselves.

If I were able to go back more than 65 years and talk to my young teenaged self, I would offer these suggestions as answers to this puzzling question:

1. Make certain that you spend time reading, studying, and meditating on God’s written Word, the Bible.
   
   And, in that regard, become as familiar as you can with the actual words of the text. Study the Old Testament for the context it gives on how God relates to His chosen people, Israel. Learn from these ancient texts the foundational truths about who God is and what He expects of those He has chosen to belong to Himself.
   
   Concurrently, study the New Testament to see the “God-with-us” Jesus. Study how He relates to His Father. Examine carefully how He relates to His friends, enemies, and every other person with whom He comes into contact. Pay very careful attention to the words of Jesus, for He is, after all, God the Son.
   
   Read carefully the instruction given by the Apostle Paul and the other New Testament writers. Learn how they put their faith into practice and take note of the besetting sins about which they warned their fellow believers.
   
   
2. Before and after you spend time studying God’s written Word, pray. As you begin, ask God to illuminate the truth of His Word. And, as you finish, ask Him to seal His truth in your heart and mind.

If you have taken the time to invest in these two rather simple steps, in every situation you encounter in this life, you will know more surely what God wants you to do. By making God’s written Word a deeply woven part of the fabric of your life, and by bathing your study of God’s written Word in prayer, you will have such a strong sense of the way God normally leads those He chooses to follow Him that you will make the right choice in your own life.

Why is it important that we follow God’s will for our lives? The Apostle John put it this way in 1 John 2:17:

The world and its desires pass away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

As we begin another new day, let’s make this a day of seeking to know God more through His written Word and following God more completely by allowing His truth to fill our hearts and minds. As Richard of Chichester wrote:

Day by day, day by day,
O, dear Lord, three things I pray:
to see Thee more clearly,
to love Thee more dearly,
to follow Thee more nearly,
day by day.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, June 11, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

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God: Solid and Unmovable

 

“Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.”

—Psalm 93:5

Do you like things to mostly stay the same? Said another way, do you prefer things that do not change?

The Gregorc Mind Styles™ Model defines four distinct ways in which people are pre-wired to take in information, process that information, and then order that information out. One of those Mind Styles is called the “Concrete Sequential” or “CS” Mind Style.

The dominant CS individual does not like change. Rather, the more steady, more solid, more unmovable something or someone is, the better. The dominant CS individual likes rules and regulations very much.

In contrast, the “Concrete Random” or “CR” Mind Style is always looking for something new. This quest for newness drives the dominant CR individual to look for ways that change can provide him or her with new energy and excitement. The dominant CR individual believes that rules do not apply to him or her.

While Dr. Anthony Gregorc asserts that every human possesses all four Mind Styles, each individual has a dominant Mind Style from which the person normally interacts with himself or herself and the world around him or her. When circumstances require, each person can pull a non-dominant Mind Style up onto the stage and operate within that Mind Style, at least for a time.

As a dominant CS, I can attest that the more solid and unmovable someone or something is, the more comfortable I am, the more at ease, the more at peace. I really don’t like change.

One of the huge contrasts between Christianity and many of the other world religions is that our God is solid and unmovable. He doesn’t change. He stays steadfast. We don’t have to wonder in any given moment what mood He will be in, or what feelings He may have toward us when we approach Him. The Psalmist puts it this way in Psalm 93:5:

Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.

A significant part of God’s holiness is His unchanging nature. He is always the same. His holiness is often expressed in His rules or statutes. Those rules do not change because God does not change.

As we begin a new day, we can do so with the sure knowledge that God loves us and that He will always love us. He has a plan for us and He will always have a plan for us. He has desires for us to become holy and He will always desire this. Knowing that God doesn’t change should help us more easily fall into His arms of love and grace. And that, dear ones, is so very, very good.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, June 8, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Original Sinner

 

“He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

—1 John 3:8

When we talk about “original sin,” we always think of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and their disobedience against God’s one and only command. I’ve written about that encounter frequently on this blog because it is often greatly misunderstood. Nevertheless, the first human sinners were Adam and Eve. And, their sin has passed down to each of us, thrugh our parents, upon our birth.

But the real “first sinner” in history, the one who set disobedience into motion by rebelling against God, was not a human. No, it was an angel named Lucifer—the one we know today as Satan, or the Devil, or the Evil One. He was the real first sinner (see Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14 and please click here for more explanation). The Apostle John gives this report in 1 John 3:8:

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

From this passage of Scripture, we learn that the work of the devil is to destroy humankind through sin. In fact, it’s to destroy humankind through their own sin—the sin they inherited from Adam and Eve, and the sin they have committed all on their own. But, the blessed work of Jesus is to destroy the devil’s work. Jesus has already done this by bearing the price of our sins on the cross. In unwavering obedience to His Father, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. Then, He rose from the dead to conquer the eternally sealing power of death.

When we purposely sin, we act as if Christ’s work was in vain. We temporarily take the devil’s side in this great spiritual battle. Even though we will be stained by the sin curse until we die and pass on to our eternal life, at which point we will become glorified (Romans 8:29-30), with the help of the in-dwelling Holy Spirit, we can obediently work at putting away the besetting sins that plague our lives.

When tempted to lie, we can tell the truth. When tempted to covet, we can rejoice that others have something we do not have. When tempted to gossip, we can hold our tongues. When tempted to react in anger, we can react with kindness. When tempted to lust, we can mentally turn our backs on that lust. When tempted to … Well, we can insert our particular sin here and we can also insert the opposite of that sin because we know what that is, as well.

Struggling against sin takes spiritual discipline. It’s hard work. But, it’s good work. It’s worthwhile work. It’s challenging work. It’s work that pleases the God who loves us. With the enabling of the Holy Spirit, it’s work we can determine to tackle, as this new day begins.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, June 7, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

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Hiding Our Sins?

 

Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?”

—Isaiah 29:15

Have you ever watched a young child who did not like peas carefully place them under the far lip of the plate to make it look as if he or she had obediently eaten this dreaded vegetable? Because the child can’t see the hidden peas, he or she firmly believes that no one else can see them either. That’s how some people view the things they do, in the course of their lives, that they know are questionable, even sinful. They believe that if they hide what they do—if they sneak around and perform their deeds in secret, or in the cover of darkness—no one will know what they have done. But, it just doesn’t work that way.

The Prophet Isaiah conveyed these words, as found in Isaiah 29:15:

Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?”

It doesn’t matter what lengths to which we may go to keep our sins secret. God always knows what we have done. And, in many cases, our sins will be revealed for everyone to see. Please, let me share a personal example:

Reportedly, my birth mother—a thirty-year-old single woman left, like so many young women of that time period, without any prospects of a husband with so many young men off fighting World War II—became involved with an older married man. He was the pastor of her church. She was the church organist.

Naturally, he took great steps to hide their affair. They met in secret, all the while believing that no one would ever know. Perhaps he told her that he was in an unhappy marriage, that he loved her, and that he would divorce his wife and marry her. But, their secret was taken out of their control. You see, my birth mother became pregnant with me.

For nine long months she hid her pregnancy from everyone. She was a obese woman and was able to totally conceal the additional weight of her pregnancy by wearing bulky clothing.

But, on one fateful day in early August of 1947, she called out in pain from her bedroom. Her mother went to check on her and, upon seeing her condition for the first time, quickly summoned the doctor. He arrived promptly, as doctors did in that time period, and delivered me.

I was immrfiately whisked away to a nearby nurse who sheltered babies being placed for adoption. I joined ten other newborns in her home and stayed there for the state-mandated six weeks until the lovely, older couple, who adopted me, came to pick me up.

How do I know this story? The nurse in whose house I stayed for the first six weeks of my life became a dear friend of my adoptive mother. When the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania made a mistake and sent my adoptive mother my real birth certificate with my birth mother’s name on it (but with the space for the birth father’s name left blank), my mother showed it to the nurse.

Several years later, the nurse felt moved to supply the details to my adoptive mother who shared them with me when I turned 18 years old. (I should hasten to add that I always knew I was adopted. In fact, my parents made a really big deal about the fact that they had “chosen” me out of many other babies they could have adopted.)

I share this personal story as just one example of the reality: we cannot hide our sin from God and others. Sin will always become revealed. That’s why we, who follow Christ, should guard ourselves against besetting sins. No matter how hard we try to hide them, they will always step into the light.

Think of all the corruption that our current political climate has revealed. Do you think any of those involved would have ever thought what they had done or said would come to light? In fact, some of them are so cleverly habitual in their bad behavior that they have spent a lifetime honing the skill of concealment. Yet what they have done has stepped out into the light. That’s a lesson for all of us.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, June 6, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Come Home to God

 

“Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

—Malachi 3:7

I have shared on this blog before that, to me, one of the most telling stories in all of Scripture is found in Luke 15:11-32. Editors of the New International Version have titled this passage of Scripture: “The Parable of the Lost Son.” Most of you probably know this story of Jesus quite well.

A younger brother chaffs at having to stay at home and help his father and older brother. He asks his father for his inheritance—a great insult in a Jewish household, since the entirety of the inheritance would typically go to the oldest son upon the death of the father, but never before that death. The father grants this highy unusual request. The son promptly goes away to a far country and squanders the money. Eventually ending up feeding pigs, the runaway son realizes he has sinned. He repents, determines to return to his father, and plans to offer to live as a servant in his father’s household.

Meanwhile, every single day since the younger son left home, the father has gone to a lookout point that faces the road on which his son departed. There, day after day after day, the father scans the horizon, looking for some glimpse of his returning son.

After months and months, one day the father sees his son in the far distance. While the son was still a long way off, the father rushes to greet the son and welcomes him home. The son acknowledges his sin and asks for forgiveness. The father responds by forgiving his son, treats him like royalty, and hosts a banquet to honor his son.

That story, told by Jesus to his followers, is exactly how God relates to you and me. Becuase He has chosen us—before the foundation of the world—to belong to Himself, He lovingly stands on a hilltop, watching to see if we will come to Him. He calls us to repent of our sin and enter into His protective fold. The Prophet Malachi put it this way in Malachi 3:7:

“Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

This is a call for revival: it’s a call to come to life, again. It’s a call of spiritual returning. It’s a call for you, and for me, to daily repent of our sins and return to God, with hearts cleansed by the blood of Christ our Savior.

If you have someone in your life who has strayed far from God, why not spend some time today praying for that one. Ask God to speak into the depths of that one’s heart and mind and call that one to come home. No greater joy exists for God, and for us, when one of His own returns to Him. May this be a day of that happening for someone we know and love.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, June 5, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Triumph and Victory

 

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

—Colossians 2:15

The significance of the cross on which Jesus died holds so much rich detail that it has prompted thousands of writers to pen volumes about this most significant event in human history. Jesus’ death in our place gave us victory over sin. His resurrection gave us victory over death. His ascension to heaven gave us an advocate who sits at the right-hand of God the Father, making intercession for us.

One of the most daring aspects of the cross is described by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 2:15:

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Jesus was a man of victory. He defeated every attempt that Satan made to trick Him. Unlike Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, where Satan seemingly easily convinced the first humans to disobey God, Jesus held firm to His place of preeminence.

As we begin a new day, we can take comfort in the fact that we belong to a victorious King. He has never lost a battle. He has defeated the most terrible of foes. And, He has done this in our behalf. So, let’s press onward along the pathway that God has laid out for us. And, let’s more and more become people of victory—victorious over sin in our lives and victorious in representing our Savior well to a world that needs His healing touch.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, June 4, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Choosing Rightly

 

“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”

—Proverbs 20:1

Whenever a verse like today’s verse appears in the list I use as source material, I always have to smile, because I know how unpopular such a verse is in today’s Evangelical Christian culture, not to mention the culture of the secular world.

As I have shared on this blog previously, my dear Grandma, who went home to be with her Lord nearly 50 years ago at the ripe old age of 92, was a long-time leader in an organization that I’m sure many of you reading this have never heard of: The Women’s Christian Temperance Union or WCTU. She came by that role quite naturally.

You see her husband—a man who was plagued by alcoholism at a time, back in the early part of the twentieth century, when people just called this disease “perpetual drunkenness”—in a fit of remorse over once again having squandered his meager paycheck on booze, committed suicide.

As a result of this incident that took place more than 25 years before I was born, I grew up in a home where the use of alcoholic beverages was absolutely forbidden. I was taught that the best way to avoid falling into the trap of alcoholism was to never take a single drink. To further reinforce this position, I grew up in a Fundamentalist church, where we had a long list of forbidden behaviors. Then, I attended and graduated from a Christian university where, at that time, a similar long list of forbidden activities were rigorously enforced.

Next, I entered the business world of insurance, where drinking alcoholic beverages was not only tolerated, it was strongly, even vehemently, promoted. Still, I quietly, without any fanfare, held my ground and refused to take even a single drink. When pressed, I would simply say that my religious beliefs forbade my use of alcohol.

Imagine my chagrin today, in our current Evangelical Christian culture, where even the most ardent believer will have an occasional glass of wine. In fact, getting a “little buzzed” at the end of a long, hard day, is seen as “wise” and “with it.” I am even more of an “odd man out” than I was fifty years ago.

Let me hasten to add that I do not judge my fellow Evangelical believers for their use of alcohol, as long as they don’t become drunk, or fall into the pit of alcoholism. They must answer to God for their behaviors, just as I must answer to God for mine. And, I am well aware that I have my own significant list of besetting sins that mark my life, and for which I am constantly trying to overcome. I have neither the time nor the inclination to condemn my fellow believers in the matter of what they choose to drink, as long as they do so in moderation.

I do find it rather interesting that King Solomon apparently had observed the effects of indulgence to the point where he was prompted to write the following, as found in Proverbs 20:1:

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

The lesson for all of us from this verse is to make certain we are aware of the effect that our behaviors have on our lives, and potentially on the lives of others. It becomes a matter of choosing rightly.

Have any of the things we do in our lives become a “must do, or else”? If so, perhaps we should examine the grip that a particular behavior has on us. Such obsessions are rarely healthy, and often are very destructive over the long haul. Instead, we should choose to promote healthy habits that will feed our spiritual needs. For once our spiritual needs are met, our other needs seem to fall into proper perspective. At least, that’s worth considering.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, June 1, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

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