Chapter 15
HIS REMINDERS FOR YOUR FORGETFULNESS
and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
JAMES 1:24 NIV
139 Container Christianity
Sometimes grow bags shine. Sometimes they don’t. A zucchini plant in my garden plot produces significantly more than one in a grow bag.
On the other hand, consider grape tomatoes planted in grow bags on my concrete porch. They’re far less disease-prone than those planted in my blight-spore-infested garden.
In 2019, those planted in the garden died by August 1st. Those on the porch bore tomatoes into November. Where you plant seeds can make a significant difference.
In 2018 I planted grape tomato seeds in three-inch-diameter pots filled with potting soil. The soil was fertile but insufficient to feed a mature tomato plant.
I transplanted the seedlings into four twenty-inch diameter grow bags filled with nutrient-rich compost, perlite, peat moss, and fertilizer. I harvested about two thousand grape tomatoes from those four plants. Your faith’s rooting matters.
Christianity is like container gardening. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV).
Your faith doesn’t thrive in the 3-inch-diameter pot of regular church attendance. You need the 20-inch containers filled with the nutrient-rich compost of daily time in the Bible.
You need the perlite of daily prayer. You can’t neglect the peat moss of regular fellowship with other believers.
You thrive on the fertilizer of sharing your faith with others. Bearing much fruit brings glory to your Father in heaven and demonstrates you’re following Jesus (John 15:8).
You bear more spiritual fruit when you continually nourish your faith.
What is the next step you need to take to do that? Read 1 Corinthians 6.
140 Green Ice Parable
The variety of lettuce seeds I plant illustrates a serious life lesson. It’s called “Green Ice.” One day I saw a piece missing from a lettuce leaf. Then, I saw a half-inch-long worm eating that leaf.
Left to chew its way unhindered, it would’ve destroyed the plant. Seconds after I saw it, that worm was no longer a resident of my county!
So, what’s the serious life lesson? Destructive worms relentlessly squeeze into your life through cracks in your self-control.
They’re not friends despite their initial attractiveness. They’re like thieves who come to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10 NIV).
I played my brother’s track and field computer game for three consecutive hours in 1981. What’s the problem? It was an instant addiction. I recognized my weakness regarding that kind of entertainment.
I haven’t played a single video game since that day. I’m free to play (no law against it). But I choose not to, lest it controls me (1 Corinthians 6:12). That devouring worm won’t have its way with me.
Ignoring the worms in your life can lead to catastrophic consequences. Daily, people text while driving, resulting in vehicular homicide and premature death. Every day people kill themselves and others while driving under the influence of alcohol.
A friend who ignored a worm in his life for years found his legacy recast in one tragic moment. He moved from being a beloved pastor and teacher to multiple charges of child pornography.
If only he’d crushed that worm when it was small and vulnerable. Yours is not to throw stones at others. It’s to crush the worms in your own life. Remember the Green Ice parable. Crush the worms before they crush you!
What controlling worms in your life do you need to crush today? How will you do it? Read 1 Corinthians 7.
141 God’s Whittling Knife
Trusting God is an internal tug-of-war. During adversity, faith and fear pull you in opposite directions. Will you trust God in the middle of an overwhelming problem?
Will fear render you helpless, hopeless, and paralyzed? God uses adverse and favorable circumstances to evaluate and strengthen your faith.
It is for your benefit. He already knows what the outcome will be.
A faith test unfolds in Mark 4:35–41. Consider what happened before Jesus calmed a storm on the Sea of Galilee.
He told His disciples they were all going to the other side (verse 35). On their way, a furious storm exploded on them.
Monstrous waves broke over and filled the boat. The storm seemed to be in charge.
Jesus’ disciples rebuked Him (verse 38). He didn’t seem to care about the storm. To the panicky, trusting people appear apathetic.
Jesus’ disciples forgot He’d said they were going to the other side. Their doubts and fears displaced their trust in His words.
In verse 40, Jesus asked why they were so afraid. Where was their faith?
In a crisis, you easily forget that Jesus is Lord. You don’t recall that everything works together for your good (Romans 8:29).
You don’t remember that God didn’t spare His own Son. He delivered Him up for you. That guarantees every lesser gift needed for life and godliness (Romans 8:32).
God can camouflage His best gifts in a crisis. He uses circumstances to shape you.
From your perspective, your choices shape your destiny. But God knew that destiny before the creation of the world.
From your point of view, certain circumstances that led to decision A, in turn, led to decision B which led to C….
God’s focus is on the person you’re becoming. The people you meet, and the events of each day aren’t random. God is shaping you to be more like Jesus.
He has used circumstances since the beginning of time to move history according to His purposes. He will graciously use you in the process. That’s why you can give thanks to Him in all circumstances.
What circumstances has God used to make you more like Jesus?
Read 1 Corinthians 8.
142 No Signal
When I blocked my dad’s line of sight, he’d say, “You make a better door than a window.” I remembered that recently while I was eating breakfast.
Our kitchen TV isn’t on cable. Reception depends on audio and video waves transmitted through the air. They’re easily blocked.
My daughter was blocking the signal while working at the kitchen counter. I was trying to watch the news. “No Signal” appeared on the screen. She was a better blocker than a transmitter!
Concerning transmitting God’s messages, I’m sometimes a better blocker than a transmitter. The message of God at work in me should be love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
All these should flow from me like a pure, refreshing mountain stream (Galatians 5:22–23 NIV). It doesn’t always happen.
Self-absorption pollutes or dries up those messages—no signal! In my heart, I want to be God’s 24-7 transmitter. But I also want to do my thing. When I do, there is no signal!
I’m assigned to pass on the life-giving Gospel message to others who can pass it on to others (2 Timothy 2:2). When I become preoccupied with lesser things—no signal!
I’m to implore people on Christ’s behalf to be God’s friends (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV). When I don’t because of fear, there is no signal!
God prompts me to love others by giving my time, talents, treasures, and energy to meet their needs. But if I have a “better” idea—no signal!
I want to be a better transmitter! How about you? Let’s stay connected to the source of the signal (John 15:5). No signal living is living in vain.
In what situations are you most likely to demonstrate no signal living? How can you change that? Read 1 Corinthians 9.
143 A Cup of God’s Grace
Imagine a cup that represents your life. It’s inverted because you live with morally and spiritually upside-down values.
You don’t love God and put Him first. You think of yourself first. You go your own way. You do your own thing. You live as if God doesn’t exist.
Your downward focus is on the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Your understanding of spiritual realities, great or small, doesn’t affect how you live.
Even if God tried to rain down his blessings on you, your upside-down cup is in no position to receive them.
God works in your heart. You come to your senses (Luke 15:17). You decide to flip your cup. It often occurs when you’re desperate— coupled with a new understanding of the perils of your rebellious condition.
You can’t flip your cup without God’s enabling grace (Ephesians 2:8–9). You decide to go God’s way instead of your own. Your downward/inward focus slowly changes.
Progressively it becomes more upward and outward. Flipping your cup (repentance) is the necessary first step. It puts you in a position to receive God’s blessings and to bear spiritual fruit (Matthew 3:8, John 15:8).
The process of conforming to the image of Jesus begins (Romans 8:29). You become more like Jesus by thinking like Him.
You see the world with new eyes. You love with a new heart. His Son fills your cup (Colossians 2:9–10).
His word (Colossians 3:16), His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), faith (Acts 6:5), and Christian fellowship (Hebrews 10:24–25) become priorities. You joyfully serve others. You share with them what God is pouring into your life.
Trials, losses, disappointments, and heartaches drill holes into your cup. You love best when God’s love pours out of those holes. You’re a wounded healer and limping lover.
God’s grace equips you to love sacrificially (Matthew 20:28), bring good news (Luke 4:18–19), be good news (John 10:10), and explain His ways to others.
God created you to serve Him, your neighbor, other believers, and your enemies (Matthew 22:37–39; John 13:34–35, Matthew 5:44). Upside down cup—flipped cup—filled cup—leaking cup—all by God’s grace!
How has adversity equipped you to be His channel of grace and love to others?
Read 1 Corinthians 10.
144 Never Quit
Persevering people endure and don’t turn back as many of Jesus’ disciples did (John 6:66). Perseverance trusts and obeys Jesus despite unending resistance.
It strains to finish the race despite exhaustion. It plods on despite voices within and without that scream, “Stop!” Because you’re uncomfortable, unappreciated, unrecognized, unproductive, unsafe, unrewarded or your service is unsustainable, you’ll consider quitting. Don’t.
You naturally desire comfort and pleasant circumstances. Everyone does. Unfortunately, God doesn’t promise a road with no potholes.
Instead, He comforts you amid adversity in the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4) through His promises (Psalm 119:50) and unfailing love (Psalm 119:76).
You’ll want to quit because others don’t appreciate your work. God cares about both how you serve Him and why.
One “Well done!” from Him more than makes up for a lifetime of unnoticed service (Matthew 25:21). Only His appreciation matters.
You might want to quit because your service brings no recognition. Jesus recognizes humble servants, who, like Him, live to serve (Matthew 20:26–28).
You might want to give up because you aren’t making any difference. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV). Sowing is your responsibility. God is responsible for the harvest.
Don’t stop living for Jesus because it’s unsafe. Here and now, it might be. But it’s the safest thing you can do for the long haul. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37).
Feeling unrewarded tempts you to quit serving. Remember Whom you’re serving! “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23–24 NIV).
You might want to quit because you think you can’t sustain a life of self-sacrifice indefinitely. You can (Philippians 4:13). It’s the only path that brings soul-deep satisfaction (John 10:10)!
What most frequently tempts you to quit following Jesus?
Read 1 Corinthians 11.
145 Which Garden Are You Tending?
Like political kingpins, vegetable gardens have enemies. I’ve battled slugs, cutworms, cucumber bugs, squash bugs, aphids, cabbage worms, harlequin bugs, zucchini worms, tomato hornworms, carrot weevils, white flies, and carrot root flies.
I’ve fought tomato blight, powdery mildew, brown spots, blossom end rot, sunscald, and anthracnose. I’ve struggled with weeds, frost, windstorms, and drought. Deer, groundhogs, squirrels, and rabbits have come uninvited to my garden table.
Producing spiritual fruit is even more challenging than harvesting homegrown vegetables. The parable of the Sower describes fruit-opposing forces (Matthew 13:1–23).
In Matthew 13:18–23, Jesus explains the deeper meaning of the birds eating up the seed sown along the path. The evil one snatches away God’s word that you sow in hearts (v. 19).
That word makes absolutely no sense to them. It leaves no tracks in their hearts. They hear it on May 29th. By May 30th it’s gone. The devil erases it. No comprehension. No obedience. No fruit.
God’s word falling on rocky soil illustrates those who joyfully receive the word initially. But then they turn back from following Jesus. They go their way because of trouble or persecution (v. 21).
The seed is sown on May 29th. It germinates on June 2nd. It looks healthy for a while. It never blossoms. It never produces fruit. Partial comprehension. Conditional following. No fruit.
God’s word falling among thorns describes those who don’t bear fruit. The worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth distract and preoccupy them. They never get around to the main things—loving God and others (v. 22).
The seed is sown on May 29th. It germinates on June 2nd and grows for a while. But misdirected energy and priorities utterly crush any chance of its bearing fruit.
The devil designed the world system. It provides what the flesh wants and resists what the Holy Spirit wants.
It caters to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Yielding to its temptations derails you from the straight and narrow track.
Finally, to bear spiritual fruit you must overcome one more formidable foe. Your sinful nature persistently resists God’s will.
It’s self-sufficient, self-seeking, and self-satisfied. It’s self-directed and self-destructive. Your garden and your glory compete with God’s garden and God’s glory. You only have time to tend one garden. The choice is yours.
What are encouraging signs of spiritual fruit in your life?
Read 1 Corinthians 12.
146 Your Homework
In prayer, my pastor referred to the beautiful sanctuary where we were worshipping that Sunday morning when the theme was “focus.” That got me thinking.
I thought about my house. People in the United States have spent considerable money during the pandemic to make their houses more beautiful.
My father taught me to focus more on function than appearance. A house is a shelter from the elements, not a means to impress others. Houses require upkeep, but that housework is not your homework.
I thought about church buildings. Commonly, sanctuaries in the United States have stained glass windows, beautiful pews, and impressive pulpits.
Contrary to popular opinion, the bethel where you worship isn’t God’s house. Its upkeep diminishes the congregation’s ability to minister to others.
As many as one in five churches will permanently close in less than two years because of the realities of Covid-19.1 A bethel requires upkeep, but that housework is not your homework.
I thought about a beautiful house Covid-19 can’t destroy. It’s the real church.
It’s an incredibly diverse collection of Jesus’ followers all around the world throughout all time. God uses these living stones to build a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:1–25). It’s constructed on a chosen and precious living Cornerstone, Jesus Christ.
Beautifying that house is God’s primary focus and should be yours as well. You do it by not conforming to your former evil desires. You make it more attractive by setting yourself apart for God and His purposes (1 Peter 1:14–15).
You make it more winsome when you sincerely love other “stones” in that house (1 Peter 1:22).
You adorn it by not practicing malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander (1 Peter 2:1).
The more pure spiritual milk (God’s word) you consume and apply, the more beautiful you make it! (1 Peter 2:2).
That housework is your homework.
How can housework interfere with the homework that matters?
Read 1 Corinthians 13.
147 Warning Wise
One day, I slept until 6:00 a.m. for the first time in years. I awoke to an unfamiliar sound. I finally traced it to a clock. The alarm was ringing. I’d never intentionally set it. Somehow it was set for 6:00 a.m.
It could have rung at that time every day for years! No one heard it. No one had been in the bedroom at 6:00 a.m. for a long time.
That got me thinking about warnings I ignore. A fishing equipment catalog contains the following: “Warning: The following products can expose you to chemicals such as lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.”
It contains another warning about using products that can expose me to DEHP and DINP. I pay no attention to those warnings. I use the products anyway. That’s just the beginning of the warnings I ignore. I’m pretty sure you do the same thing!
Why do you do that? It’s because you’re special and those warnings don’t apply to you, right? You function as if they don’t.
The message of multiple Old Testament prophets to the people of Israel (and you) reduces to one word. Repent (Ezekiel 14:6). Give up your ways for God’s ways.
The consequences of ignoring God’s warnings are severe. I’ll still ignore the fishing catalog warnings. But I’m taking God’s warnings more seriously. How about you?
How can thinking that warnings don’t apply to you get you in trouble with God? Read 1 Corinthians 14.
148 The Incredible Edible Story
The Lord’s Supper reflects the whole gospel. It reminds you how you got where you are.
You were stubborn as a Missouri mule. You lived for yourself. You rebelled against or ignored your heavenly Father. By all rights, He should’ve written you off.
However, He doesn’t want you to reap the fruit of your foolishness. His love for you remains unfailing (John 3:16). He provides a way of escape (Romans 5:8).
The bread and cup explain how God could legally forgive you. He gives only good and perfect gifts (James 1:17). His best gift releases you from sin’s penalty and power. But it cost Him dearly—His Son’s death instead of yours.
The bread and cup symbolize God’s commitment to you. The breaking of the bread represents the bruising, crushing, and wounding of Jesus for your sins (Isaiah 53:5). The cup reminds you that God justly forgave your sins because Jesus paid the death penalty they deserved (Hebrews 9:22).
In Jesus, you have all you need to overcome the downward pull of the world, flesh, and devil. He’s the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). He’s the bread of life (John 6:35).
He gives life and is your life (Galatians 2:20). He’s the bread from heaven that provides spiritual strength to do the Father’s will.
The Lord’s Supper reminds you that when Christ died on the cross, so did you (Galatians 2:20). God’s purpose was that you would live a new life and no longer be a slave to sin (Romans 6:4–6).
The Lord’s Supper is an opportunity to thank God. When Jesus instituted the Supper, He gave thanks for the bread and cup (Matthew 26:26–27).
Meditating on what Jesus has delivered you from stirs flickering coals of gratitude into flame. Jesus is still setting you free from all that keeps you from being like Him.
He’s given you a purpose and hope! Give thanks!
Eating one loaf with other believers demonstrates that you’re one body (1 Corinthians 10:16–17). You’re united with Christ and with other Christians.
Your relationships with them should reflect oneness. Live interdependently. You’re all part of Jesus’ team!
What has following Christ cost you in recognition, praise, esteem, respect, comfort, and financial rewards you might otherwise have achieved?
Read 1 Corinthians 15.
149 Baptism
Water baptism isn’t an indifferent matter. It isn’t essential for salvation. God saved the criminal on the cross apart from it (Luke 23:39–43). Yet, F.F. Bruce wrote, “The idea of an unbaptized Christian is simply not entertained in the New Testament.” 1
Does salvation depend on baptism? Yes. Do you have to be baptized in water for God to save you? No.
The essential baptism is described in 1 Corinthians 12:12–13 ( NIV): “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body-whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
Water baptism isn’t necessary for salvation, but it’s vitally important. Jesus commanded it in Matthew 28:18–20.
Baptism is your public identification with Jesus and His church. It advertises that you’re following Jesus.
The thief on the cross is the exception to the rule. The Apostle Paul expected only baptized Christians (Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 1:13; 12:13). There was no other kind.
Baptism symbolizes the death and burial of the old self-centered life and the resurrection to new life. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4 NIV).
Baptism is your public testimony. You’re renouncing your old life of self-centeredness. You’re identifying yourself with Christ. You’re following Him in the fullness of strength He provides.
Immersion was the mode of baptism for at least the first hundred years of the faith. In the middle of the second century, pouring became an option for baptism if better options weren’t available.
The earliest account of the mode of baptizing is in the Didache: “Now concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: having first uttered all these things baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, in living water. But if thou hast not living water, baptize in other water; and if thou canst not in cold, then in warm. But if thou hast neither, pour water upon the head thrice in the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost.” 2
Have you been baptized? If not, when will you take your public stand with Jesus? Read 1 Corinthians 16.