Today’s reading is Colossians 3:1-4:18.

Motivation. That’s what hit me the most in today’s reading.

Paul offers great motivation for all the changes he directs in our lives. He taught us to focus on heavenly things, not earthly. He said to put to death what is earthly in us. He said we should stop lying, get rid of wrath and anger, put away slander and malice. He said we should put on compassionate hearts, humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness and love.

But why?

Should we do this so we can be raised with Christ? Should we do this so we can die with Christ and our life be hidden in His? Should we do this so Christ can become our life? Should we do this so we can put off the old self?

No.

Paul says we should do these things because we have already been raised with Christ, because we have already died and our lives are already hidden in Christ, because Christ is already our life, because we have already put off the old self. We are God’s children. These things have already happened, now we need to live like it.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that if we continue to live in sin we won’t be reconciled to God (Colossians 1:23). However, once again I am reminded that a motivation of me trying to be good enough to get all these promises from Christ always ends in failure for me. If I’m trying to get into Christ by stopping my sin and being good enough, I won’t make it. But Paul is saying, I’m in Christ. I have Christ’s life. I’m not trying to get it. Today I simply need to live like it. I can focus on heaven. I can focus on Christ. I can draw near to Him and overcome. That helps me. I hope it helps you.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Romans 13:1-14:23.

Paul gives me some very practical help today. I need to read Romans 13:14 every day. “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Today, I must not make provision for the lusts of my flesh. Whenever I go on a trip, I have to make provision. I gas up the car. I pack some bags. I check maps. I print out directions. I run through the ATM. I pack snacks and purchase food. None of these things is the same as going on the trip. They are making provisions for the trip. 

Sometimes I make provisions for the lust of my flesh. Making those provisions is not the same as pursuing the lust of the flesh, but I’m preparing the way for it. I heard a great phrase to describe this. A friend of mine called it making “lust based decisions.” Making these decisions themselves may not be sinful. I can even justify making them because no one can prove they are wrong, but they are packing the bags and paving the way for sin.

Consider an alcoholic. Walking into a bar is not the same as drinking alcohol. I’m not sure anyone can actually prove that walking into a bar is wrong. Sitting at the bar when the restaurant is crowded is not the same as drinking alcohol. I’m not sure anyone can actually prove that sitting at the bar is a sin. But if I’m an alcoholic, what am I doing? I’m making lust based decisions. I’m packing my bags to drink. I’m making provision to sin. I must not be surprised when I actually do what I’ve committed not to.

Consider sexual lust. I’m thankful that alcohol has never been a problem for me, but lust has. I am learning to take God’s way of escape long before I get to the point of lust. I can’t walk down magazine aisles in grocery stores or book stores. I’m not saying that is a sin or that you can’t. I’m simply saying I’ve learned I can’t. For me, that is packing bags and providing to lust. That is a lust based decision because I know the magazines my eyes will find and what my mind will do with them. Is walking down that aisle the same as lusting? No. But for me it is providing for it. As much as I wanted to see it, I had to pass on watching the second Transformers movie. I had seen a trailer and learned very quickly that there was at least one scene that I simply couldn’t handle. Is it a sin to watch that movie? I doubt it. Can others watch it and not be bothered? I’m sure. But for me, going to that movie would have been packing my bags and making provision to lust. There are certain search terms I simply can’t put into Google images no matter how badly I need an illustration picture for a powerpoint presentation or blog post. There are certain streets I simply can’t drive down because I know the billboards that are there. I’ve learned I can’t drink coffee on the sidewalk of the downtown Starbucks in Franklin. You’d be amazed what some women wear down there. (I know some of you are saying, “Man, Edwin, you just need to buck up and get stronger.” I’ve tried that and it hasn’t worked for me. Instead, I’ve got to learn not to even pack those bags because I’m not strong enough to make provision for my lusts and then decide not to lust.)

What about other fleshly lusts? What about hanging around in conversations that have turned to gossip? What about going to lunch with those who slander the boss? What about continuing to listen in on conversations that belittle the church’s elders? What about listening to music or watching shows that increase wrath, vengeance, hate? 

Too many times I get caught up in arguments about drawing lines of what is actually a sin. I become convinced something is not a sin so I think I can pursue that, but eventually it leads me to sin and I wonder how it happened. The fact is, if I pack my bags to sin, if I study the map to sin, if I gas up my car for sin, if I make provision to sin, I’m probably going to sin. 

Today, I need to remember that half-measures will avail me nothing. I’m not trying to be good enough to get into heaven. I’m hungering and thirsting for righteousness and I don’t want to do anything that will turn me from that. So, for today, I’m going to put on Jesus Christ. I’m going to pave the way, pack my bags, and make provision to pursue faith in Him. That is part of why I’m doing this reading every day. I hope it is helping you as well.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Revelation 15:1-16:21.

This probably jumped out at me because just before reading today’s scripture, I was responding to a question about revenge and retaliation based on one of my sermons. How providential is that a few moments ago, I was reading and commenting in an e-mail about Romans 12:17-19 and then I come to Revelation 16:5-7.

“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord’” (Romans 12:17-19).

“And I heard the angel in charge of the waters says, ‘Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!’ And I heard the altar say, ‘Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!’” (Revelation 16:5-7).

Men will do evil against us from mocking us to betraying us to killing us. However, it is not our job to seek vengeance. That is God’s job. We can trust Him to accomplish it in His time. Let’s live in peace as much as depends on us and let God do His job when He deems it is the appropriate time.

***Question: What practical things do you do to help you avoid seeking vengeance?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Matthew 5:1-6:34.

It is tough narrowing down something to write about on today’s reading. After all, I’ve written an entire book on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. But there is one statement that almost always stands out to me as I read this sermon.

Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

That verse simply surprises me. Of course, there are the obvious things not mentioned here. It doesn’t say, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for money, wealth, health, fame, power, influence, pleasure, a good time, happiness…” It says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

However, there are some even more surprising omissions from this verse. Notice that it doesn’t say, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for mercy, forgiveness, grace, heaven.” That surprises me because those are usually the things I hunger for. However, that is not who Jesus claims is really blessed.

What is the real motivation for my action? Is my hunger simply to receive God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness? At times it is. Sadly, when my hunger is to receive God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness, I’m still satisfied with living in my sins. After all, it is my sin that increases God’s mercy and grace. Having sin is not such a bad thing when my motivation is just to receive God’s grace. I can even turn it into this great spiritual thing of “Look at how much I love God because of how much I have to be forgiven” (cf. Luke 7:47). Of course, I know this motivation doesn’t work because Paul said it didn’t in Romans 6:1-2.

Is my real motivation just trying to get to heaven? Sometimes it is. Sadly, when that is my motivation, I usually have a checklist mentality trying to earn something.

Consider the following self-conversation I might go through when my motivation is just trying to get to heaven. “Alright, what have I got to do today so I can go to heaven? Read my Bible; check. Prayed; check. Gone to church; check. Served someone; wait a minute, how much serving do I really have to do? I served someone a few weeks ago, surely that is enough to go to heaven; check. Have I done anything that will keep me out of heaven? Committed adultery; Nope. Committed murder; Nope. Stolen; Nope. Lusted; oops. Guess I better get my prayer of confession out of the way so that one won’t be on my record. Dear God, forgive me for sinning today. Prayer of confession; check. Alright I’m good. Now I can go on with the rest of my life doing what I really want to do.”

Do you see how that probably isn’t the best possible approach to serving God? 

However, what if my motivation were really that I’m hungering and thirsting for righteousness? My mourning is not because I’m going to hell, but is because I’m not righteous. I’ve fallen short of God’s glory. Now there’s some real poverty of spirit. My meekness is not merely enough to scrape by so that I can slide into heaven’s gates just before they come crashing closed. No, it is about surrendering to God because I know His way will make me righteous. When I’m hungering and thirsting for righteousness, I’m not interested in checklists or earning anything. I’m not interested in minimum requirements of holiness or maximum allowances for temptation and sin. I’m not trying to figure out how far down a path of immorality I can go before I’m no longer allowed to go to heaven. When I’m hungering and thirsting for righteousness, I’m interested in one thing. 

What does God want me to do next?

That’s it. That’s my only concern. I don’t get bogged down in arguments about have-tos, requirements, proof. I just want to know what is God’s next right thing for me. I won’t ask, “Haven’t I already done enough of that?” I’ll just do whatever is the right thing to do. 

When that is my motivation, so many of the modern religious arguments get flushed down the drain. Suddenly, I no longer have to argue about whether God’s way is the right way. I just do it because I know it is. I know His way will make me righteous.

Finally, when hungering and thirsting for righteousness is my motivation, I no longer compartmentalize my life. With the other motivations, I do. I try to figure out what I have to do to get forgiveness, when that is done, I move on to other things. I try to figure out what I have to do to go to heaven, when I’m done I can move on with the rest of my life. When my hunger is righteousness, it doesn’t end. Even after following God for weeks in His righteousness, I’m still hungry for that and so I’m still asking, “What is the next right thing?”

I have to ask myself, “What am I really hungry for?”

***Question: How do you increase your hunger and thirst for righteousness?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is Revelation 17:1-18:24.

Babylon, the great, the city which was the center of attack against Christianity is fallen. Among those who realize this book is about the persecution those early saints were facing, some suggest this city is Jerusalem and others Rome. Sadly, some today are trying to figure out which city of our future this will be. That is a mistake. But no time to discuss that now.

What I couldn’t help noticing was why so many were enamored with the city. I couldn’t help noticing why so many chose this prostitute over the holy mother of Revelation 12. 

Revelation 17:11-17 shows the merchants mourning because there was no more cargo. The delicacies and pleasure were gone. We are often enamored with the harlotry of sin because of the momentary pleasures. Let’s face it. Sin is fun. It’s exciting. It offers a lot in the moment. We may even hang out there a while enjoying the spoils and pleasures of our immorality. But its end is death and judgment. Don’t be fooled.

Revelation 17:17-20 shows the shipmasters mourning because they could no longer get rich off the cities harlotry. We are often enamored with the harlotry of sin because it can grease our pockets with material goods. I can’t help but think of the e-mail I received this morning about Apple accepting pornographic apps for the iPhone now. Very sad. Folks don’t traffic in this harlotry because it is healthy, they do so because it can make them wealthy and they know it.

The key, however, is that all those who are enamored with this harlotry will be judged in one hour. One hour they will be living the high life (maybe) and the next, they will be judged.

Of course, there is an interesting verse in Revelation 17:16. “And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire…” That is interesting because these are the ten kings are integrally connected with the prostitute. They hate her but they will mourn for her in Revelation 18:9. How does this make sense? I see it as the trap of sin. It promises so much and so we are enamored with it, but it delivers so little. Therefore we hate it. But we keep thinking the next trick will provide the satisfaction. It’s a trap. We hate it and love it all at the same time. When we are trapped in the harlotry of sin, we see the damage it causes and want to stop. But we are enthralled with its promises and so we push farther in it, constantly disappointed. 

So, those enamored with Babylon the Great, may not be living such a high life. They may be caught in the ever spinning ratwheel of sin trying to catch the carrot of sinful satisfaction but only getting exhausted and falling into despair. Yet, they just won’t get off the wheel. Then judgment will come and they’ll mourn.

Remember, sin promises much. It provides little. And if you continue to be enamored with it, you will eventually mourn its destruction and your judgment.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?

Today’s reading is I Thessalonians 3:1-4:18.

I Thessalonians 4:3-8 says:

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Sex is a great thing. Sexuality is a natural desire. Sexual immorality is an abomination. There is no greater way to have intimacy than to commit your life totally to another person, getting to know them emotionally, mentally, spiritually and then celebrating that union physically. There is not greater cheat or destructive force than to take that great celebration and waste it on just a few moments of physical pleasure with someone to whom there is no commitment or union. Therefore, abstain from, avoid, flee sexual immorality. 

But do not stop there. It is not enough to simply say, “Well, I won’t have sex unless I’m married.” We have to know how to control our bodies or possess our own vessel as some translations say. We need to present our bodies in a way that befits holiness and honor. We must not present our bodies in a way that says, “Look at me, I’m sexual.” We must not present our bodies in a way that says, “Look at me, I’m aroused.” We must not present our bodies in a way that says, “Look at me, I want to arouse you.” We must shine forth holiness in the way we dress these bodies, in the way we walk with these bodies, in the places we go with these bodies, in the way we allow our bodies to interact with other people and their bodies. 

But do not stop there. It is not enough to simply say, “I’m going to present myself in a modest way.” We must not live in the passion of our lusts. We must work on our minds as well. We may follow the strictest of rules about bodily modesty, but if our minds are filled with lust and thoughts of sexual immorality for those around us, we are still not living in holiness. Men, we need especially think about this as we walk through the mall and the Victoria’s Secret store. We need especially think about this as we pass the magazine rack at the grocery store. We need especially think about this when we are firing up our computers and heading to the internet.

Then I notice the reasons why. First, so we won’t transgress against our brother. I think this is an interesting statement and perhaps I’m missing the point. However, since I see the issue being discussed as mostly a male problem, I think what Paul is saying is when I look at a woman to whom I’m not married to lust after her, if I present myself in a way to purposefully arouse a woman to whom I’m not married, or if I even pursue a sexual encounter with a woman to whom I’m not married, I’m not only transgressing against me and against her, I’m also transgressing against her husband or future husband.

Additionally, I should avoid these fleshly sins and attitudes because God has called me to holiness. He hasn’t called us into a special club in which we can mentally trade wives because we are all becoming spiritually intimate and vulnerable with each other in Christ. We may greet each other with hugs and even kisses, but they are to be holy hugs and kisses. They are not to be attempts to satisfy fleshly lusts. God has called us to holiness, not to cop a feel in the name of Christian greeting and relationships.

Finally, Paul says if we disregard this, we aren’t disregarding him, we aren’t merely disregarding the men and women against whom we are perpetrating our sins, we are also disregarding God. No matter how far down the path of lust, immodesty, and immorality we have traveled, we need to get back to God’s call of holiness. He will work with us if we will surrender to Him.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?