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Our Selfish Reaction to the Selfless God

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By on Apr 6th, 2012

Many of us live with our cups only half full because we have given God only half our heart. Why are we afraid to do this?

We often have a wrong image of God. That’s why we fear His plan.

How we think of Him will always be the filter for our first emotional reaction. Unfortunately, when we think God is asking us to give up something (our private throne room) we conclude the worst. We forget that he gave up his own Son for us.

So we react badly. Often our first reaction is: “God knows I can’t do that, He is setting me up for failure. Why would God want that? That is so difficult. That doesn’t seem like fun. He’s a kill joy.”

If we don’t know our God’s heart for us, we will project our selfish hearts as His. If God’s love is what He says, God could never ask us for something that was not for our highest good.

God is looking into an absolute law that requires Him to only seek our good. So when God wants our hearts to have Jesus as the centerpiece, it’s not to make us less joyous, but more joyous … not to make us less satisfied, but more satisfied … not to make us less fulfilled, but more fulfilled.

Think with me. God knows the beginning and the end. He knows the blessings He wants to give us when we say yes to Him and the consequences when we say no. He has all the power and authority in Heaven and earth.

If every CEO, president, boss, general, and manager are under His feet, can’t we find many good reasons to offer our heart to Him? Look at what he says in Matthew 10:39:

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

How can my Lord say something like that unless He intends to pour out His marvelous blessings and presence upon us?

But to this we must respond, “Lord, my heart is for your pleasure.” Jesus certainly understood this when He prayed the words, “Not what I will, Father, but what you will.”

Lord Jesus, thank You for following the will of the Father and making your heart like the Father’s heart!

Because He gave His life, we may now live. As we reflect on this Holy Week, let’s take a chance on believing that whatever God is asking us to do is not only for His great pleasure but also for our best interest.

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.


 

Kings of Judah, Part 4

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By on Mar 30th, 2012

Kings of Judah is a series of devotionals from John Maisel. To catch up on this series, read Kings of Judah, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

To Die is Gain

The last time we discussed the end of Hezekiah’s life. When Hezekiah was appointed to die, God told him to get his house in order. This seemed to be a surprise to Hezekiah because he became very depressed about dying.

He asked God to remember all he had done and how faithful he had been. The text doesn’t say this, but I think he did this to get God to change His mind. Even though God granted his request with 15 more years, Hezekiah’s reaction leaves us with an important issue to consider.

In 2 Timothy 4, Paul is told the same thing by the Lord.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. —2 Timothy 4:6-8

Paul didn’t negotiate a few more years like Hezekiah did.  He accepts and even embraces the Lord’s will.

Nate Saint, one of the missionaries who died with Jim Elliot in South America said, “When it comes your time to die, make sure all you need to do is die.” Leave no unfinished business or unresolved conflicts … just die. Just like Paul, we should accept that our departure has been scheduled and say, “It’s okay Lord. I am ready.”

Now why am I being so hard on Hezekiah about his departure date? Because in the extended 15 years of his life, he gave birth to the most evil son that would ever be king of Judah—Manasseh. We read in 2 Chronicles 33 that Manasseh not only introduced child sacrifices but also sorcery and demonic worship. Scripture says he was more evil than any of the Kings of Israel.

But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites. —2 Chronicles 33:9

I believe there is an important lesson for us to learn from this. Let the Lord determine the number of our days. When He calls, we need to be ready to embrace the truth that “to die is gain.”

While we’re here on earth, we also need to teach the next generation about the Lord. Hezekiah had 12 years with Manasseh, and it looks like he taught him nothing about the Lord God of Israel and His faithfulness. What a lesson!

Brothers and sisters, fight hard to fill your heart with deep affection for Christ Jesus. So when our Father calls us home, our response will be one of joyous departure … because we really know that “to die is gain.”

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Kings of Judah, Part 3

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By on Mar 23rd, 2012

Kings of Judah is a series of devotionals from John Maisel. To catch up on this series, read Kings of Judah, Part 1 and Part 2.

The Mistake of Pride

We have been looking at the four kings that Isaiah the prophet served under. He saw good kings, bad kings, and kings that went from good to bad at the end of their life like Uzziah.

Hezekiah, in my opinion, was a great and godly king, but he might have made a major mistake at the end of his life. Let’s look at this follower of the God of Israel.

Second Chronicles 29:2 tells us:

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.

David was not Hezekiah’s natural father. Ahaz was. Ahaz is the king who, from start to finish, was evil and wicked in the eyes of the Lord. The Bible says Ahaz was “unfaithful to the Lord; and he sacrificed to other gods.”

Hezekiah was raised in this evil home … but God’s grace protected him in an unusual way. Although he lived and was raised under the wickedness of Ahaz, the Scriptures show us that David was his spiritual father.

How many times have you seen a grown man or woman living in a broken family, and God reaches in and draws them to Himself? Hezekiah was in that type of situation. But he became one of the greatest kings in the entire Bible because he turned to the living God.

Hezekiah brought about a sweeping change for his people. He followed God’s plans in every detail.

But yesterday’s victories don’t fight today’s battles. The Bible says:

But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. —2 Chronicles 32:25

Hezekiah led a revival. He had seen God respond to his cry and supernaturally intervene in a battle with the Assyrians. After God did this, Hezekiah made a big mistake. He let his heart fall victim to his pride.

God knows our hearts better than we do. Hezekiah looked good on the outside, but God saw his heart … and his heart was a little cocky.

I love Hezekiah. I am just like him. My biggest fight is with my own heart.

When Hezekiah saw his sin, the Scriptures say:

Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD’s wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah. —2 Chronicles 32:26

Isn’t that just like our Heavenly Father? Always quick to forgive. Always ready to move forward in fresh grace and mercy.

Hezekiah’s life also teaches us to trust in God’s timing in every part of our lives … even death.

God told Hezekiah that he needed to get his house in order because he was about to die. Hezekiah was somewhat accepting, but he really desired to live longer. God gave him 15 more years, but Hezekiah’s lack of trust meant that Israel would suffer the consequences.

We’ll look at those consequences in more detail next week.

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Kings of Judah, Part 2

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By on Mar 15th, 2012

Kings of Judah is a series of devotionals from John Maisel. To catch up on this series, read Kings of Judah, Part 1.

Spiritual Legacies

The second king Isaiah mentions was Uzziah’s son, Jotham. We know that Uzziah didn’t finish well, but Jotham learned valuable lessons from his father’s life. He knew that pride and self-importance couldn’t lead his life.

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices. —2 Chronicles 27:2

Even when most people he ruled weren’t interested in God’s ways, Jotham took God’s path. The result of his faithfulness: blessings from God.

Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God. —2 Chronicles 27:6

Just because you follow the Lord Jesus doesn’t mean your family or your friends will want to. I believe what we see in the life of Jotham is very important … God honors the heart of our leaders or people he puts in authority.

God continued to bless the nation of Judah even though their people had divided hearts and did not honor Him alone. God blessed them because their king followed the Lord steadfastly.

I don’t think we can draw any absolutes out of this, but I do think it should provoke us to “cry out” for godly leadership.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. —Romans 13:1

We need to pray for our leaders, because we are to be in submission to the authorities that God has established. The only time we do not honor the king is when the king asks us to violate God’s laws or God’s moral authority, but kings like Jotham should be saluted.

He lived with a godly father who got caught up with his own importance—eventually abandoning a humble heart and becoming prideful. Jotham learned from his family mistakes, and he finished well because he learned that everything came from God’s grace.

“He walked steadfastly before the Lord his God” as a young man and an old man. When he died, his son, Ahaz, became king. Ahaz had a good and faithful dad, but he chose an arrogant and immoral lifestyle. This is one of the mysteries in life … how from an evil parent, God brings forth a righteous son or daughter and at other times righteous parents bring forth evil children.

Ahaz didn’t learn from his father’s or grandfather’s legacies. He thought he could worship the Lord God and worship Baal to make sure all his bases were covered. 2 Chronicles 28 says that Ahaz did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Instead, he made idols for worshipping the Baals, made sacrifices to them on the altars, and even sacrificed his own sons in the fire.

Ahaz shows us that our hearts are capable of awful acts … but the Holy One of Israel will respond to his evil deeds. We’ll take a look at that next time.

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Kings of Judah, Part 1

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By on Mar 9th, 2012

Finishing Well

Isaiah begins his book by naming the four kings that reigned over Judah during his lifetime—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Each of their lives provide insight into the ways of God and man. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at their walks with God and reflect on their victories and defeats.

Uzziah started out right and was faithful to God’s commands. Because of this, God blessed him with an important position.

Uzziah served God faithfully for a number of years, but eventually got caught up and crashes at the end of his life because he began to think he was special. Scripture says:

But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God. —2 Chronicles 26:16a

When he started out, Uzziah “walked in the fear of the Lord.” He wanted to honor God, and God blessed him because of his faithfulness.

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success. —2 Chronicles 26:4-5

God’s purpose can only be accomplished as we walk in God’s ways. As we live by faith in God’s ways, our Heavenly Father is free to guide us in His purposes for our good and His glory. Listen to a few of the responses that resulted in humbling his way and doing things God’s way.

• “God helped him against the Philistines” (Verse 7)
• “He became very powerful” (Verse 8)
• “He had much livestock” (Verse 9)
• “He had a well-trained army” (Verse 10)

God said to Uzziah and the people of Judah, “Follow Me and I will be with you and bless you.” And Uzziah did. The text says that “His fame spread far and wide.”

But Uzziah got cocky. He thought he was special—He answered to no one, everything he touched worked out great, and he began to think that it really was about him and not about God.

Soon, Uzziah started stealing God’s glory. He thought God was fortunate to have him in this position and the Lord should be happy with all his abilities and successes.

Remember verse 16? With this pride came his downfall. Uzziah’s once humble spirit grew into an arrogant spirit. He began to think that what he did for God—instead of what God did through him—was the key to his success.

He thought that he was so powerful that he could do as he pleased—even play the role of priest, which God strictly prohibited. Uzziah paid the price of disobedience. He died a lonely, old leper who could never go into God’s temple again.

The first king under Isaiah didn’t finish well.  We need to learn from his life and walk humbly with God all the days of our lives.

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? —1 Corinthians 4:7

If God has blessed you: worship. If God has disciplined you: be grateful. If God has withdrawn from you: repent.

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Obedience, Part 3

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By on Mar 1st, 2012

Taking Risks in Faith

We all know the old hymn “Trust and Obey.” Those two words always go together. As we have been discussing this matter of obedience, it might be good to think about “faith.”

Faith involves action. The ordinary people in Hebrews 11 are only there because they did what God asked them to do. They were not “super saints.” They, too, felt inadequate, overwhelmed, and not qualified to do what God asked them to do. Just like for us, disobedience was a real option.

Think about a few of their concerns.

God said to Noah, “Build a boat. I am going to judge the earth with rain.” At that time, Noah had never seen rain. He could’ve easily said, “No. I’ll look crazy!” But he obeyed anyway.

You can think of all the “what ifs” … but they will steal the joy of saying “Yes, Lord” to God’s instructions.

If I were Noah, I would probably think: “What if” I don’t have enough trees to cut down? “What if” I got the boat done and no animals came? “What if” I do this and God doesn’t send the rain? I’ll look like a fool.

But the passage says, “By faith, Noah …”

He didn’t have a lot to go on, except God’s promise. We speak of Noah today because he cut down trees and started building the ark, and God did His supernatural part.

And what about Abraham? All settled in, great business, successful and good family ties. All of a sudden God said, “Leave it all and get out of your home base.”

Abraham: “But God, can I represent you in my home town?”

God: “Abraham, leave this city and go.”

Abraham: “Okay, God, tell me where I am going.”

God: “Abraham, leave. I will tell you later.”

And Abraham obeyed. He fought through the “if only” thoughts that came to him: “If only” I could serve you where I live. What if I go, risk it all, and God never speaks to me again? Lord, this is too risky.

His feelings were no different than ours would have been … but he obeyed. He was probably scared to death as he left all his contacts, family, and business opportunities to trust God.

Do you think Noah and Abraham would tell us today that it was worth it? Wondering if God would come through, risking everything—would they tell us that it was worth it? Of course!

Read here Romans 12:1-2 …

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Our lives are to be a living sacrifice—proving that God’s will is good, perfect, and trustworthy. We have to sacrifice in faith to point the world to Jesus.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. —Hebrews 10:24

Brothers and sisters, let’s encourage one another to obey the Lord in faith each day.

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Obedience, Part 2

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By on Feb 24th, 2012

Postponed Obedience

I believe that our motivation to obey God depends on our trust in Him. We are not going to be very motivated to do anything that will cost us what we think is important to make us happy … unless we trust them. It doesn’t matter if a person or God asks us.

My trust is anchored in the deep-rooted belief that He loves me and what He asks of me is for my highest good. Most of us who are serious about our relationship and walk with Jesus won’t argue over what we know God may ask us. Our struggle is not found in a desire to be disobedient but in our “postponed obedience.”

Postponed obedience is when we say, “I agree with what God says. I want to do that. But not right now.” We decide we will do it, but that we’ll get all of the important tasks done first.

• Let me get the business built first.
• I need to get the kids out of school.
• I should look after my health first.
• I need to save more for my retirement fund then I can do what God said.

You see, these are not bad or evil things. They are all good, reasonable, logical motives to follow. The only problem is that they follow the Jesus of Culture more than the Jesus of Scripture.

When we postpone our obedience, several things can happen.

First and foremost, we don’t get to experience God’s presence as deeply if we don’t take the “risk of faith.” God never asks us to do something that He doesn’t intend to get involved in. He is inviting us to experience Him in a real way—for a specific agenda that He intends to accomplish through us.

Secondly, if we don’t obey His leading, He will simply get someone else to do it. We will “miss it.” Remember Esther when she was asked to risk her life in going to the king? Her uncle, said, “Esther, you’ve got to go in to the king. But if you don’t, God will raise up someone else.”

But it was Esther’s time. She was asked to risk her life … or risk missing out on God’s agenda for her. What if she had said: “I don’t feel like going to the king. Today is my spa day”? There would be no book of Esther!

Just like Esther could have, we can always find good and reasonable alternatives to God’s call. But we need to listen to the writer of Hebrews …

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. —Hebrews 4:7b

Do not postpone what needs to be done today.

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Obedience, Part 1

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By on Feb 24th, 2012

The Fight of the Heart

Usually those who read these meditations are Christians—engaged in the “fight of their hearts” to be the people God has called them to be. How do I know, as a Christian, if I am growing and maturing in my walk with Christ Jesus?

We should all know that the Christian’s life should always be moving forward—always growing, never static. Our Father is constantly revealing truth to us. We should be trying to download it into our lives. Our Father does not bless knowledge … only obedience.

I believe the lack of the personal experience of Christ in Christians today can only be explained because of our lack of obedience. When God gives us His truth, if we don’t intentionally act upon it daily, He takes it away. This is what Jesus calls “dead faith.”

Our disobedience limits us from receiving all that God wants for us and from experiencing Him. When our Father gives us light, He asks us to step into His light where He meets us with His presence.

Jesus asks us to trust Him with our lives daily … not for us to think it through and see if we have a better option than Him.

I passionately believe that the world is filled with followers of Jesus who not only walk but run to “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” on a daily basis. Quite frankly, those are the people I want to “run” with because they provoke me with their non-negotiable love for Christ. They delight in obeying Him … no matter what.

I tell my friends: “My biggest fight on a daily basis is with my own heart.” All Christians are called to engage in this “fight of the heart.” During this fight we are pulled in many directions and sent messages contrary to God’s ways.

There is no state of perfection for any Christian. Nobody ever arrives. Our depravity is too real, and we’ll only be free of it in heaven. But this fight of faith, men and women, is worth fighting.

When we choose Jesus’ ways, the Holy Spirit is free to get involved with our experience of Christ’s abiding presence. His power is always there. His presence is to be experienced. His commands are to be acted upon.

Obedience is never to be feared. When God commands us to move forward in His ways, His joy meets us when we say, “Yes, Lord.”

I challenge all of us to write down one thing that we will do in Jesus’ name that we have never done before. If we make our lives about His glory, it will be filled with His blessings.

The Christian’s biggest enemy is for the good we do to keep us focused on ourselves. This keeps us from the ultimate blessing—the heart that says, “Yes, Lord, have Your pleasure with me.”

Next week, we’ll look at another of our greatest enemies: postponed obedience.

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

Biblical Hope

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By on Jan 4th, 2012

Hope is an interesting word … especially in the Bible. How our culture thinks of “hope” is often not the way the Bible uses it.

Today we say, “I hope the Cowboys win”, or “I hope we get some rain”—meaning, maybe they will or maybe they won’t win or it may or may or may not rain. In the Bible this word always is seen in the context of certainty. It does not mean “maybe yes or maybe no.”

This certainty is true, but it cannot be seen. Scripture tells us that something is not “hope” if it is seen. Once something becomes “seen,” I don’t hope for it—I have it.

Look at Paul’s reasoning:

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? —Romans 8:24

In Romans 4:18, when talking about God’s promise to Abraham to have a son we find a “play on words” about hope when God gave Abraham this promise:

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations …

Despite a hopeless situation, Abraham embraced God’s certainty. He knew that he could believe and trust that God’s promise would be fulfilled.

We are told in Hebrews 11:1 what faith is:

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

I believe when we live with Christ-like confidence, it’s because we have a deep conviction that what is said in Scripture is certain. When we come to that point, we will step into whatever situation God has placed us in knowing that, because of God’s word, I can be certain it will happen. I will step into it being confident that His Presence is real and certain—even though I cannot see Him or feel Him.

When you and I step into a circumstance that may be difficult, God is there. Even though I may be trembling with fear, I can always count on the “Jesus Factor.”

The Holy Spirit wants to work through us. We have to step into the place of certainty with God—even when the situation looks hopeless. Let’s take a look at what that means.

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:12 …

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech.

Our hope gives us boldness. Remember, we walk by faith not by sight. All of Scripture is applied by faith. When the Scripture says, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” I can live with certainty. Wherever I am, my “hope” is that God is with me … even though I cannot see Him.

An overriding principle of this life of faith is found in the following statement: “Only what I do, really tells me what I believe.”

I can say I believe something about the sufficiency of God’s power and presence in my life, but if I don’t step into the ring to fight for my faith in light of this truth, I don’t really believe it. I have to combine my hope in God with the boldness Paul speaks of.

The “Jesus Factor” can only happen if we go public with Jesus. It is only then that we can only experience the blessing that God desires for us. If you don’t, your “hope” is not biblical hope … and your “faith” is not biblical faith.

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.

A Time of Peril or Promise

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By on Dec 7th, 2011

I believe that you and I as Christians are living at a very unique time in history . . . and it’s no accident. Scripture is clear that God specifically determines the place we are born and the time we live.

Paul clearly gives us this perspective in his remarks on Mars Hill.

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. —Acts 17:26-27

We, as Christians, should be excited and living with a sense of godly expectation in this time.

Let me list a few exciting facts for you.

1. We live at a time when over 75% of all the Christians who have ever lived are alive today.
2. 50% of all the people who have ever lived are alive today.
3. Through technology and the World Wide Web, we have a global reach than spans the four corners of the earth.
4. We are the first generation in the history of the world that can really say, “We have everything we need to finish the Great Commission.”

Wow! The world is changing rapidly. Now a new sense of urgency exists for the Church to rise up instead of retreat.

The Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema) awaits all of us as we are called to give an account for our role in getting the gospel to as many people as possible in our lifetime. But there is another judgment called the Great White Throne judgment—where the unbeliever is judged and sent to hell.

And Hell is forever. There is no second chance, as the writer of Hebrews states:

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. —Hebrews 9:27

Brothers and sisters, these are the issues . . . and they are huge.

I personally believe that the next three to five years are of strategic importance. We stand at the crossroads of great “peril” and great “promise.”

We need to be like the Apostle Paul who begged people to come to Christ.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  —2 Corinthians 5:20

None of us can feel adequate to do this, especially when the truth of Christ usually splits public opinion. Paul saw the hostile divide that the love of Christ brings when the gospel is given.

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God. —2 Corinthians 2:15-17

Do you see how Jesus splits the opinions of people? To some we are the “fragrance of life” and to others we are the “stench of death.” Even though we may face opposition and rejection, we need to clothe ourselves with grace and deliver the message of the saving love of Christ.

May God take each of our hearts to a new level of submission for the purpose of getting the gospel to as many as we can—for the glory of God.

Spiritual Reflections is a weekly devotional written by John Maisel, Founder of East-West Ministries. Read other devotionals in this series and past issues of Spiritual Reflections: www.eastwest.org/SpiritualReflections.

John MaiselJohn Maisel, Founder and Chairman Emeritus of East-West Ministries International, resides in Dallas, Texas. He has authored books such as Is Jesus God? and Radical Trust that challenge all people to radically rely on Jesus Christ.
Buy John Maisel’s latest book: Radical Trust. All proceeds benefit East-West Ministries.