Author Archives: Pastor Tommy

We are all addicted to approval.  We want approval from our family.  We want approval from our friends.  We want approval from our colleagues at work.  We want approval from our neighbors.  We want approval from our church.  We want approval from the stranger on the street!  The problem with approval addiction is that it is never enough, and when it’s withheld, you go through withdrawal.

There is an answer to approval addiction, and it comes from the pages of Scripture:

[W]e have been approved by God.  (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

 The only key that unlocks the door leading to a life released from approval addiction is the certain knowledge that you are approved by God.  Knowing we are approved by God frees us from running on the perpetual performance treadmill of other people’s opinions.  We are no longer driven by what other people think of us because we know that we are the objects of God’s desire—so much so God sent His only Son to die on the cross for our sins.

When the approval of others is no longer driving your life, you can stop comparing yourself with others to see if you measure up.  In God’s eyes you always measure up . . . even when you don’t . . . because of what Jesus did on the cross. 

For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.  (Jeremiah 31:34)

I heard a saying many years ago that has stuck with me: “You wouldn’t care what others thought of you if you realized how little they did!”  We spend far too much of our time worrying about what others think of us, without ever realizing they are far too busy worrying about what others are thinking about them to be thinking about us!

Peter found himself obsessed with the approval of others (Jewish legalists) because he forgot the approval he already had in Christ. Paul explained,

When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.  (Galatians 2:11-12)

We all have a bit of Peter in us, giving someone more power over our lives than we entrust to Omnipotence.  In those moments we are living purely godless, horizontal, anxiety-filled lives, devoid of the power of the Gospel. 

Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man? 

(Galatians 1:10)

Living in the knowledge of God’s approval frees us to live for God and not for man.

So . . . who have you been living for lately—at home . . . at the office . . . in your church—God or man?  It is only by resting in the truth of the Gospel that we can live lives marked by the worship of God and service of others, because we know we are approved of God.  That can never change, and will never change . . .

“For I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6)

“I act and who can reverse it?”  (Isaiah 43:13 NASB)

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

The world says, “Bigger is better!”  A bigger house . . . a bigger car . . . a bigger bank account . . . a bigger slice of the good life.  These are the things to strive for in the world’s economy.  In God’s economy, however, what is bigger is not what is better, but rather whatever God is in. 

Aaron’s staff was not bigger than the staff of Pharaoh’s magicians, yet it was better.  Why?  Because God was in it!  Gideon’s band of 300 was not bigger than the army of thousands of Midianites, yet it was better.   Why?  Because God was in it!  David was not bigger than the giant Goliath who was taunting the Israelite army and blaspheming God, yet he was better.  Why?  Because God was in him.  The little boy with five loaves and two fish was not bigger than the marketplace in the surrounding villages, but he was better.  Why?  Because God was with him.  In God’s economy, what is better is whatever God is in. 

This should be a word of great comfort to you today.  God delights in using the small and insignificant to accomplish His work in this world.  You may not be “big” in the eyes of the world because you do not occupy a place of power and prestige.  You may not be “big” in the eyes of your coworkers because you aren’t invited to the important social events in your industry.  You may not be “big” in the eyes of your neighbors because you do not serve on prominent charitable boards in your community.  However, if you are working to glorify God and advance His kingdom, you could not get any bigger in God’s eyes. 

Zechariah provided a great reminder of this principle when he penned, “For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice” (4:10).  Christians are not to use the world’s standards to judge God’s work.  Gideon could not imagine beating the Midianite army with only 300 men, because he was judging God’s work by the world’s standards.  The apostles could not imagine feeding 5000 men, plus women and children, with 5 loaves and 2 fish because they were judging God’s work by the world’s standards. 

So . . . where in your life have you been judging God’s work by the world’s standards?  Where have you been thinking bigger is better?  You don’t need to be any “bigger” to be better in the Kingdom of God.  All you need to be is faithful to use what God has given you to advance the cause of His kingdom.

Jesus said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10).  Whether you can see it or not, when you are faithful to put in whatever little God has given you, the difference you are making is an eternal difference—and that’s what’s better! 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

Traditionally, today’s rhetorical question has been used to assign people to one of two groups: optimists and pessimists.  The question highlights two contrasting points of view when looking at the very same thing.  The optimist sees the glass as half full, demonstrating an attitude of gratitude and abundance.  The pessimist sees the glass as half empty, demonstrating an attitude of thanklessness and scarcity.

How is it for you?  Do you see your glass as half full?  Or half empty? 

Some people are uncomfortable with the question and respond tartly with phrases like, “It all depends on whether the person with the glass is in the process of filling it up or drinking it down . . . Just because I see the glass as half empty doesn’t make me a pessimist . . . Half of the glass is full of liquid and the other half is full of air.”

To be sure, your answer to this question is ultimately irrelevant; the important issue is your disposition as a child of the Most High God.  What is relevant is the way you live out your faith before others and how you reflect the joy of the Lord. 

“Half-fullers,” as I like to call them, see all of life as a gift from God.  They realize that everything they have is a gift—not because they deserve any of it, but because God is so gracious to give it to them.  “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever!” they exult; and the more they have, the more they give thanks and praise to the One who has given it to them.  We should always see our glass as half full, because it leads to living a full life before the face of God.

“Half-emptiers” are never satisfied with their portion, because they fail to see the Lord as their ultimate portion.  They are focused on the “stuff” of life.  If they have a job, they want a better-paying one.  If they have a home, they want a bigger one.  If they have a spouse, they want a newer one!  They view life with dissatisfaction, always hoping for something better to come along.  They live in the gloomy light of Murphy’s Law: anything that can go wrong, will!  Half-emptiers have the proverbial dark cloud hanging over their head. 

But this is not for you!  We do not need to speculate about what our attitude should be about the glass; Paul’s letter to the Philippian Christians provides clear instruction:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  (Philippians 4:11-13)

Those who preach the gospel to themselves every day always see the glass as half full.  In fact, they are simply thankful for whatever God has chosen to pour in their glass at that moment.  The celebrated Confederate general, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, once said, ““I have so fixed the habit of prayer in my mind that I never raise a glass of water to my lips without asking God’s blessing.”  “Stonewall” was standing on the Rock! He knew full well that we deserve nothing but judgment and condemnation; instead, if we have trusted in Christ’s atoning death on our behalf, we receive mercy and grace.  We should be overwhelmed that, while we were still sinners, God would raise us from death to life!  We should be awed by the inconceivable love of Christ and receive whatever comes our way with a heart of thanksgiving.  Does this describe you? 

Please don’t misunderstand me; I am not suggesting that we are to live lives devoid of dreams and desires.  God created us for increase and we should desire increase in every area of our lives that further the purposes of God.  What I am saying is that while we are dreaming, desiring, and doing everything we can to expand the cause of Christ for the glory of God, we should maintain an attitude of thanksgiving for whatever portion He delivers to us.

The glass is always half full for those who live Gospel-saturated lives, and their attitude of joy and abundance is evident to all who come in contact with them.  This is the best picture we can show a broken and hurting world of our good, glorious, and gracious God. 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

Today’s message is about the biblical theme of “Rock & Roll”—not the one popularized by the music industry in the 50’s and the 60’s.  There are many metaphors applied to God in Scripture; one of them is a Rock, which reveals aspects of God’s character. 

By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel.

(Genesis 49:24)

The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice.  A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.  (Psalm 71:3)

The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone.

(Psalm 118:22)

Rocks and stones are highly valued as building materials because of their strength and stability.  They are incredibly durable, hard, and resistant to erosion and weathering.  To be sure, even the hardest rocks and stones will eventually deteriorate over time, but this change is virtually imperceptible, making them great visual symbols for our eternal God.

The primary aspect of God’s character expressed by this metaphor is His immutability (unchanging nature).  This is beautifully set forth in the book of Malachi and echoed by the author of Hebrews.

I am the Lord, I do not change.  (Malachi 3:6)

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  (Hebrews 13:8)

When Jesus is the Rock upon which we have built our lives, we stand solidly upon an unchangeable and unmoving structure.  The respected Bible expositor Matthew Henry put it this way: “God is the rock, for he is in himself unchangeable, immovable, and he is to all that seek him and run to him an impenetrable shelter, and to all who trust in him an everlasting foundation.”  The strength and stability of our Rock is able to sustain us and strengthen us, regardless of the storm winds that are blowing. 

Instead of running from the storms of life, when we have built upon the Rock, we are empowered to roll with every difficulty life delivers.  Our Rock empowers us to roll over every obstacle.  Our Rock empowers us to roll through every problem.  Our Rock empowers us to roll around ever stronghold.  Is Jesus your Rock?  Is all of your life built upon Him?  Or are you holding back in some particular area?

The Scriptures present us with only two choices for building; one on sand, the other on Rock.  Sadly, many in the church build their lives on the shifting sand of professional success, personal relationships, the applause of man, or the pursuit of pleasure.   

If you want to live a Rock-solid life and roll with the punches, commit all of your life to building only upon the Rock.  When the storm winds blow, you will no longer have to run for higher ground . . . because there is no better ground upon which to build than the Rock of Ages.

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! 

If we are to be disciples of Jesus we should be like Him in every way.  Now, that does not mean we will be like Him in His perfection, but rather His practice.  The life we live should resemble the life He lived, and there is no better portrait of His life than the one found in the book of Acts in five simple words.

As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  (Acts 10:36-38)

There are three things I would like to highlight in those remarkable words: HE WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD! 

1.  HE went about doing good.  To be sure, Jesus had His disciples whom He sent out to do good, but He never neglected to do good Himself.  The King of kings and the Lord of lords did not neglect to do good Himself.  In today’s language, it’s one thing to write a check in support of ministry needs; it’s another thing altogether to show up personally and meet that need physically when possible.    

2.  He WENT ABOUT doing good.  He did not set up shop in the center of Jerusalem waiting for others to come to Him.  He went out to them, meeting people in their place of need.  He went to the sick.  He went to the hurting.  He went to the lame.  He went to the broken.  He went to the poor.  He went to the outcast.  He went to the demon possessed.  He went on errands of eternal good for the lives of so many, in spite of distance, difficulty, danger . . . and ultimately death. 

3.  He we about DOING GOOD.   The portrait of the life of Christ makes it clear that the gospel was never intended to meet only spiritual needs.  Jesus came not only to redeem, but to restore.  His rescue is far reaching with the intended good of all of the broken creation.  He went about doing good as a portrait of His ultimate goal of making all things new; And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).   

My pastor, Tullian Tchividjian, wrote in Unfashionable: “God wants us to join him in his work of renewing people, places, and things.  He wants Christians to renew their cultures to the honor and glory of God.  God wants those he’s redeemed to work at transforming this broken world and all its broken structures—families, churches, governments, business—in a way that reflects an answer to the Lord’s Prayer: ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10).” 

The life of Christ makes it clear that what we are positionally (a child of the Most High God) needs to be lived out practically (going about doing good).  The only way we will ever become what we already are is by surrendering our lives to the service of our Savior, so that He, by His grace, can paint a portrait that matches our profession. 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

If you were a notorious criminal in the days of the old west, someone like Billy the Kid or Jessie James, your name and picture might be printed on “Wanted” posters offering a reward for your capture . . . whether you were DEAD or ALIVE.  The law didn’t care if you were brought to the courthouse sitting upright on your horse or lying face down across the saddle.  The proclamation meant that anyone who chose to shoot you in the back without warning, as Robert Ford did to Jesse James in 1882, was entitled to a cash reward for doing so. This was one poster you did not want to see your name on!

Today there is a similar “poster” that you DO want to see your name on—posted not by the law but by our Lord: WANTED DEAD AND ALIVE.  Jesus wants you . . . He wants you both dead and alive! 

The irony of the Christian life—the first shall be last and the last shall be first; you must lose your life in order to find your life—is profoundly proclaimed in this peculiar saying: WANTED DEAD AND ALIVE.  The Christian life is to be marked by the following:

• Dead to sin . . . alive to righteousness
• Dead to evil . . . alive to good
• Dead to self . . . alive to the Savior
• Dead to worldly wisdom . . . alive to God’s wisdom
• Dead to selfish ambition . . . alive to sacrificial service

What a remarkable condition for the blood-bought child of God, to be both dead and alive at the same time!  Scripture instructs Christians to “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).  Please understand that this does not mean that believers no longer sin.  To the contrary, 1 John, which was written to those who believe in the name of the Son of God, asserts that “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).  The only Christians who no longer sin are those who are already in glory with Jesus.

Paul’s instruction to the Roman Christians meant that we are to be dying daily to our old, sinful self and becoming increasingly more alive to our new, saintly self.  We are slowly being conformed to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29). You desire less and less of what this world offers and more and more of what Christ offers. 

So . . . does this describe your life today?  To be sure, sin remains in the life of the Christian, but it no longer reigns.  Jesus has taken over the throne of your life; He calls you to die daily to yourself and to live for Him.  When you are living for Jesus, you are able to live above and beyond your little kingdom, the one marked by self-protection, self-absorption, and self-reliance.  The grace of the Gospel frees you to expand the borders of your life past the narrow boundaries of physical comfort and personal concerns.  You begin living in a place where His goals are your goals . . . His plans are your plans . . . His desires are your desires . . . His purposes are your purposes.

This is living for the Kingdom of God; and this is the only place where life is worth living.  This is the gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1)

Today is “Black Friday,” the day widely regarded as the first official day of the Christmas shopping season. On a day when many are resting and recovering from massive overindulgence in food and football, retailers open early and stay late, hoping to entice crowds of shoppers to their establishments. It has been suggested that the term “Black Friday” originated from retailers’ hopes that their books will be solidly “in the black” after their registers ring all day.

So . . . as many will spend this day engaging in uncontrolled eating and spending, we might do well to take a moment to consider the words of the prophet: “He who has no money, come, buy and eat!” Here is one of those lovely contradictions between the ways of the world and the ways of God: the world is calling us to come, spend as much money as you possibly can!  And don’t forget the plastic!  Christ calls to those who have nothing to offer. . .

How easy it is to make the stuff of this world more important than our Savior!  You see, the desire for more is not bad; God set this desire in our divine design.  The key, however, is to know where we should be seeking to find “more.”  Adam and Eve were designed by God to seek more of Him.  He was to be the object of their deepest desire.  He was to be their greatest love.  He was to be their first priority.  And they were to seek more and more of this each day.  It was not until Satan slithered into the picture and offered them more outside of their relationship with God that they considered striving for “more” beyond their divine design.
We have been doing the same ever since, and there is no better example than Black Friday.  Now, I am not saying that looking for a bargain is a bad thing.  Taking the time to prayerfully consider and purchasing things on sale is a good thing.  It reflects good stewardship of the resources God has provided.  But as I have said in the past, good things become bad things when we make them ultimate things.  When was the last time you heard about a congregation lining up Saturday night to get a good seat in the sanctuary on Sunday morning?

Because of our sinful nature, we must be careful how we approach the shopping season.  Instead of bigger barns, we need bigger hearts that are sold out for Jesus.  He will tolerate no rival, nor should we.  We are blood-bought and grace-filled, and our lives should shout these facts to the world!

Consider this exhortation: “We ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1).  Now there is a desire for more that brings joy to the heart of our heavenly Father!

Remember that “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).  It is my prayer that this “Black Friday” we would all remember the very first black Friday, when darkness covered the land between the sixth and the ninth hour . . . the day when our Lord purchased us with His precious blood.

Let us covenant together, you and I, to spend all that we have in the pursuit of knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10).  This is the gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

Sandwiched between ghosts in flight and Silent Night . . . a witch on a broom and an inn with no room . . . is Thanksgiving.  For many, it is a time of fellowship with family and friends, fabulous food, and a little football—OK, in some homes, maybe a lot of football!  The day is marked by hours of preparation, fifteen minutes of eating, and hours of clean-up.  It would be hard for a stranger to our culture to recognize the season of Thanksgiving, because as soon as the Halloween decorations come down, the Christmas decorations go up!  Only grocery stores get excited about Thanksgiving.

Because Thanksgiving is not a major money maker for the department stores, we may not give it the attention we should. If we are not careful, we can confine Thanksgiving to a mere day of feasting, rather than a way of faithful living.  Here are three practical steps to help us move from Thanksgiving to Thanks-living.

LIVE THANKFULLY 

The first key in moving from Thanksgiving to Thanks-living is to live thankfully.  This will only be done when we re-orient our focus from ourselves to our Savior.  With our focus firmly fixed on our Savior, our thoughts will ultimately rest on His cross.  When the crucified Christ is the center of our lives, we can live in no other way than thankfully.

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  (1 Corinthians 2:2)

LIVE WORSHIPFULLY

The second key in moving from Thanksgiving to Thanks-living is to live worshipfully.  Once the cross becomes central in our lives, worship becomes our way of living.  To use a theological term, it is living doxologically before the face of God.  We live grace-filled, Gospel-saturated, God-centered lives.  We worship Jesus—not only on Sunday, but every day, everywhere, and in every way.  We sing His praises in the boardroom, living room, family room, bedroom, schoolroom, lunchroom, and locker room. 

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.  By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.  Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!  (2 Corinthians 9:12-15)                                                                                                                                                        

LIVE GENEROUSLY

The third key in moving from Thanksgiving to Thanks-living is to live generously.  What do you have that you have not been given? (1 Corinthians 4:7.)  If everything we have is a gift from the hand of God, how can we live in any other way than generously?  The more we have, the more we are in debt to the One who has given it to us, and the more we should be driven to meet the physical needs of others.  It is a mistake to think the Gospel meets only the spiritual needs of the lost.  To be sure, it does that, but it also meets physical needs as well.  If it did not, how would we explain the two loaves and the five fish that fed thousands instead of Jesus sending them away hungry?  How would we explain the miracles of Jesus in making the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the sick well, the dead alive?  When we get the Gospel deep down into the marrow of our bones, we live lives marked by generosity, remembering that God loves a cheerful giver.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  (2 Corinthians 9:7)

As you enjoy your Thanksgiving Day in whatever way you choose to celebrate it, take a moment to reflect on these three keys that will take a day of Thanksgiving and turn it into a life of Thanks-living. 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

As we enter into the week of thanksgiving it would serve us well to take a moment to reflect on the countless blessings our Lord has given to us throughout this year.  At the Boland home we write down our individual blessings and share them with each other every Thanksgiving season.  Our four children really look forward to doing this, and we are building a wonderful treasure for them, as we file each list away every year so they can be reviewed.

We have a tendency to clearly remember “the bad stuff” that happens throughout the year; it is all too easy to forget about the all the good that God has done for us.  A blessing list helps to bring God’s goodness into focus and provides a great record to look back on in years to come. 

We have a great time reviewing our lists together as a family; when we are done, we always return to what the psalmist said in Psalm 119:57—“The Lord is my portion.” This anchors the key to thanksgiving.  If we are not careful, we can consider God’s blessings to be rooted in possessions rather than a Person . . .

• Family
• Home
• Health
• Job
• Friends

Yet no matter how full our wallets or how large our homestead, when the Lord is our portion, we have everything!  You can have all the gold in the world, but without God you are the poorest person who ever lived. 

Sadly, many Christians seek to find their portion in the things of this world.  They crave the applause of men.  They work for the approval of others.  They long for the affection of another.  And when they get it, they have received their reward in full.  At the end of the day, unless the Lord is your ultimate portion, your life will leave you empty and aching.

May these words from the great Charles Spurgeon inspire you this Thanksgiving season:

But when thou hast God for thy portion, thou hast more than all else put together.  In Him every want is met, whether in life or in death.  With God for thy portion thou are rich indeed, for He will supply thy need, comfort they heart, assuage thy grief, guide thy steps, be with thee in the dark valley, and then take thee home, to enjoy Him as thy portion forever.

I encourage you to take a few moments to prayerfully consider all that God has blessed you with this year.  Write it down and share it with your family.  Make sure that at the very top of your list you have the Master as your portion, because when you have Him, you do indeed have everything.

This is the gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

If a brother or sister in the Lord asked you what they could do to live a life that is pleasing to God, what would you tell them?  For most, the answer would likely be related to behavior: read the Bible more; spend more time in your prayer closet; show up to church every Sunday; increase your service to the church; expand the reach of your fellowship with other believers.  Yet the key in drawing near to the Lord is found not in behavior, but in belief!  So what are you believing about Jesus today?

In a remarkable passage in Scripture, the crowds asked our Lord, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”  Jesus’ answer just might surprise you!  It certainly did me when I first studied this passage years ago.  As a coach for many years, my default mode is to increase my discipline in order to improve my results, whether physical or spiritual.  A runner needs to run more.  A cyclist needs to cycle more.  A swimmer needs to swim more.  When my spiritual gas tank starts running low, the first thing I think of doing is doing . . . not believing. But what do the Scriptures say?

They said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.”  (John 6:28-36)

Notice how Jesus tells the people that living a life that is pleasing to God is not about their behavior but their belief!  It would serve us all well if we understood the Christian life is more about what we believe than what we do.  To be sure, we must actively engage in performing the spiritual disciplines.  The desire to do these things is one of God’s great gifts to His people.  But the key to living a life that is pleasing to God is rooted in what we believe about God.

This is the point of preaching the gospel to ourselves every day.  What we believe about the person and work of Jesus Christ is the key to heart transformation, which ultimately works itself out into living a transformed life that is pleasing to God.  Here are just a few things the gospel promises to those who believe:

• You are loved
• You are forgiven
• You are adopted
• You are set apart

The gospel promises a life of unimaginable joy to those who believe, because everything your heart desires—affection, approval, acceptance—has been given you in Jesus.  You were sought, caught, and bought by the blood of the Lamb, and have been freely welcomed into the family of faith.  Every sin has been nailed to that dirty tree, having been paid for in full by the life and death of Jesus Christ.  Believe it and live a better life.  Believe it and be blessed by God.  Believe it and your behavior will follow. 

This is the gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!