The other day, as I was driving home with my son, he turned to me and said, “Dad, you’re a good dad!” I felt a rush of mixed emotions. At first, I felt honored, but soon shame settled in, realizing how far I fall short of being a good father. I began to think of all the ways I have failed him—being harsh instead of loving, not spending enough time with him, not listening attentively when he shares his heart and excitement. In my son’s innocent eyes, I may seem like a good dad, but I see my own shortcomings more clearly.
Recently, Jesus’s words about goodness have deeply impacted me. He said, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19). Our society often judges goodness based on the severity of our actions. We may consider ourselves good if we tell a few lies or have minor flaws, while we view those who commit serious crimes as evil. Yet, in God’s view, there is no such distinction—no one is truly good. Whether it’s telling a lie or causing harm, both fall short of true goodness.
People often claim to live a good life, but what does it really mean to be “good”? Is a good life enough? Jesus made it clear that no one is inherently good. In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), He outlined what it means to be good:
Anyone who is angry with a brother will be judged.
Calling someone “worthless” or “stupid” makes one guilty.
Looking at a woman with lust is committing adultery in the heart.
Divorcing for reasons other than unchastity causes adultery.
Marrying a divorced woman also constitutes adultery.
Make no oaths at all.
Love your enemies and do not resist an evil person.
Do good in secret, without seeking praise.
Forgive those who wrong you.
Avoid greed and do not store up treasures on Earth.
Do not worry.
Judge not to avoid being judged.
Treat others as you want to be treated.
This list is daunting, and I find myself guilty of many offenses. If these are the standards for being good, then I fall short. The perfect adherence to these principles seems impossible. Is there hope for us?
Romans 8:1 offers reassurance: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We are all sinners, inherently flawed. True goodness existed once when God created the world and deemed it “good.” But sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience, corrupting that goodness. We are now broken reflections of what goodness once was. Only God is truly good.
Without Jesus, we are lost. We cannot stand before a good God with our inherent imperfections. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of taking on our sins and imperfections so that we might be reconciled with God. Through His sacrifice, we are made righteous, and it is only through Him that we find hope and redemption.
No one is good except God alone. Despite our best efforts to live good lives, we fall short of good. Living a “good” life is a lie that our society has bought into. Being a “good” person is not enough, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Our only path to being reconciled to God is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In Him, and only through Him, can we be truly good.
It was just before seven o’clock in the morning. I was preparing for school during my second week of senior year, gathering books and papers into my backpack when my father burst through the front door. This was unusual, as he never came home that early. He rushed into the family room, and I heard the TV turn on. Curiosity got the better of me, so I went to see what was happening. As I rounded the corner, I saw an airplane crashing into the South Tower. My father and I stood speechless. I asked if it was real, and he confirmed that it was. After a moment of silence, he told me to head to school.
I jumped into my car and drove to school. Upon entering the classroom, I saw that the TV was on, and everyone was gathered, watching the news. By then, the Pentagon had been struck. I quietly took my seat and joined my classmates in watching the unfolding events. We watched in horror as the South Tower collapsed, followed by the North Tower twenty minutes later. The TV showed the dust, smoke, debris, and anguished screams. I watched people running in terror and wondered why this was happening, sitting in shock as it all unfolded.
September 11th will mark the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I must admit that it wasn’t until 12 years later, in 2013, when I became a firefighter with the Mountain Home Fire Department, that I truly understood the significance of that day. Through my work, I learned about the brotherhood of emergency services and the meaning behind the number 343. I saw what bravery, courage, and dedication truly looked like and witnessed the extraordinary capabilities of the human spirit.
As a firefighter and a teacher, I had the opportunity to explore and teach students about 9/11. Through this research, my respect for those involved on that tragic day deepened. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in just 14 hours. Firefighters and police officers, without hesitation, rushed into the buildings, climbing over 100 stories to save strangers from fire and entrapment, unaware that the buildings would soon collapse upon them. Strangers helped each other find safety, comforted one another, and cried together. September 11th, while a day of unimaginable horror, also revealed a side of humanity that seemed forgotten and, sadly, seems to have faded once again.
Twenty-three years later, we are more divided than ever. Whether we blame politics, media, or other factors, the truth is we all have a choice. On September 11th, 2001, there were no divisions—no black or white, male or female, Christian or atheist—just humanity. In that time of tragedy and loss, nothing mattered except our fellow neighbor. It seems we have forgotten what it means to love and support each other. We have lost sight of the importance of selflessness and sacrifice. If we’re not careful, we risk destroying ourselves.
We annually proclaim, “We Will Never Forget!”, but I fear that we already have. We’ve forgotten how to look out for one another, how to help selflessly, and how to make sacrifices for those around us. We’ve lost sight of our equality and the fact that our neighbors are not our enemies. Most of all, we’ve forgotten how to love each other.
On this 23rd anniversary of 9/11, I hope we begin to remember what it means to be unified, to stand together, and to love our neighbors. I urge you to break down walls of pride and embrace humility. Let go of selfishness and embrace selflessness. See your neighbor not as an enemy but as a brother, sister, and friend. Let us remember that we are all in this together and that, when it comes time to run into a “burning building” for our neighbors, we should do so without hesitation, hoping to save lives inside.
The other day, I watched a video of a pastor discussing the distance between Heaven and Hell. He started by pulling out a tape measure and asking the congregation to estimate the furthest distance in the auditorium—wall to wall, floor to ceiling. Then he posed the question: How far is the distance between Heaven and Hell? He extended the tape measure to around 14 inches and said, “I believe the distance between Heaven and Hell is 12 to 14 inches.” He held the tape measure up to measure the space between his head and his heart, explaining that Heaven and Hell are separated by whether we merely believe in God (head knowledge) or truly obey Him (heart knowledge).
Twelve to fourteen inches—it’s not a great distance. Most people take steps of 30 to 36 inches. We often imagine the distance between Heaven and Hell as vast and unmeasurable, picturing Heaven as above and Hell below. But in reality, the distance between Heaven and Hell is the space between our head and our heart.
Believing in God involves more than just words. As the apostle James says, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe—and shudder.” Consider that: the demons believe and shudder. Humanity often claims to know God without truly understanding His nature. The demons, having witnessed the fall of man and the events of creation, recognize the true power of Jesus Christ, which makes them shudder. The crucial difference between those who claim to believe in God and are truly saved and the demons who also believe in God is repentance.
What sets us apart from demons is our ability and willingness to repent. In the article “What Did Jesus Mean by Repent? The Hebrew Meaning of Teshuva” by Estra Wieja, she explains that the Hebrew word translated as ‘repentance’ is teshuva (תשובה, pronounced “teh-shoo-vah”). Teshuva means much more than a feeling of guilt or regret; it derives from the verb ‘to return.’ To repent is to fundamentally change our thinking, feeling, and being to forsake what is wrong. Repentance is necessary to escape Hell and enter Heaven. It is a heart action, requiring us to forsake our sinful ways, change our mindset, and submit ourselves to the authority of Jesus Christ.
If we live in sin, act contrary to God’s commandments, and lack repentance, we are like the demons who also believe in God. Repentance is the defining act that moves us from Hell to Heaven with Jesus Christ. Choosing not to repent makes us enemies of God. This is why it’s vital to immerse ourselves in the Word of God and listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. Ignoring the Spirit’s promptings distances us further from God. Truly believing in God means recognizing our absolute need for Him and understanding what it means to be apart from Him.
For those of us who wonder if we are doing it right, I am reminded of a story in Mark’s Gospel about a father whose son was possessed by a demon. The disciples were unable to cast it out, so the boy was brought to Jesus. The father said, “He has been this way since childhood. The demon often throws him into the fire or water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” Jesus replied, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” The boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:14-29).
This is my daily prayer: “Lord Jesus, help my unbelief!” Our sinful nature tends to doubt Jesus Christ’s words and commandments. This has been a human weakness since the dawn of creation, and the devil knows it well. This is why we are no longer in the Garden of Eden. It is crucial to engage with God’s Word daily. As the author of Hebrews writes, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
Don’t let twelve to fourteen inches keep you from being in the House of the Lord and enjoying His presence forever. Separation from God is a profound and painful despondency that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Set aside your pride, seek to truly KNOW Jesus Christ, and understand that it is through Him that you will have everlasting life. Face your sins, repent, and submit your life to God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Don’t be like the demons who believe but lack salvation or hope.
This blog is dedicated to my father who has been an amazing source of love and strength and has provided me a strong foundation in which to build my own character. He loved me at my lowest times and never gave up on me. He spoke truth and life into me even when I didn’t want to hear it. I am the man I am today because of the selfless love my father showed me.
I am a father to four incredible children: three girls and one boy. There’s a special bond between dads and their daughters—one that drives me to protect them fiercely. This commitment to protection extends equally to my son, though the expectations I have for him differ from those I have for my daughters. The father-son relationship often differs from the father-daughter dynamic, yet it’s crucial that a father remains just as present and protective of his son as he is of his daughters.
A father’s role is to raise his son to be strong, courageous, and brave. Equally important is teaching him to love selflessly, show respect, and embrace humility. The best example a son has is his father. Without this guidance, he might turn to social media, movies, video games, and other questionable influences for role models. This underscores the need for fathers to model these values themselves—showing love, respect, and humility in their own lives. Contrary to some beliefs, these qualities do not signify weakness but are essential to true strength.
For most men, being strong and brave comes naturally, but loving selflessly, showing respect, and practicing humility can be challenging. To love selflessly means to prioritize the well-being of one’s family over personal desires, often requiring a dismantling of pride and embracing of humility.
If a father fails to model these virtues, he risks failing his son and perpetuating negative cycles. Sons look to their fathers for understanding and guidance, especially in a world full of misleading ideologies. Fathers must walk alongside their sons, guiding them to live in truth and avoiding the detrimental messages about women, respect, and arrogance prevalent in media and culture.
Beyond instilling moral and ethical values, sons need the assurance of their father’s love and presence. They need to feel wanted, welcomed, and supported. Regular one-on-one time with your son—whether it’s mowing the lawn, playing video games, or cooking dinner—can strengthen this bond. Even if he declines your invitation initially, keep inviting him. Over time, he’ll come to appreciate and seek out this connection.
A father’s influence is profound. His responses to his son’s actions, especially in frustrating times, shape the son’s view of their relationship. A constant focus on criticism can erode a son’s self-confidence and distance him from his father. While it’s important to address mistakes and encourage improvement, how a father communicates—through kindness and constructive feedback—matters immensely.
Fathers, remember that you are pivotal in your son’s life. You have the power to build him up or tear him down. Strive to cultivate qualities of bravery, love, respect, and humility. There are no excuses for not doing what is right for our sons. We are accountable for the responsibility of fatherhood.
To those who lacked a positive father figure or whose fathers were absent, know that you can still provide a strong role model for your own son. There is a Father who has never abandoned you and who offers a perfect example of love, sacrifice, and humility. Seek a relationship with Him, and you will find guidance, forgiveness, and healing. If you want to learn more, please contact me.
We live in a world where the only thing that matters is “Me.” Following up on my last blog post about Harrison Butker, I have read many posts that have demonized his words toward women about finding value in being a mother and homemaker. Both men and women are calling his words chauvinistic, arrogant, and toxic. Why? What is wrong with encouraging women to find value in being a mother and homemaker? To put it bluntly, it goes against the very current of society: living for self. “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16).
This has been the sin that has been destroying the world since the dawn of time. “If it doesn’t support me or get me further along, then it’s not worth my time or energy.” How selfish is that? My favorite part about all the people throwing a fit about Butker’s words is that they were all children at one point who had nothing and needed nurturing. If it were not for a mother or father or both, who sacrificed their time and energy to raise and nurture them, they wouldn’t be able to throw a fit and complain today. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of “parents” who suck at their job. They are absent-minded, never around, stuck in their phones rather than investing in their children’s lives, but again, that goes back to selfishness and a lack of character and discipline.
Selfishness breeds nothing but destruction and evil. “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:16). A perfect example of this is the ideology of abortion. If it is inconvenient for me, then I’ll get rid of it” – disorder and evil practice. To those of you who want to argue that it’s just a clump of cells, all you are doing is trying to justify your evil and selfish actions. After all, the word “fetus” is Latin for “little one.” Moreover, if you want to argue that a fetus begins after the eighth week after fertilization, the heart begins beating five weeks after conception. That is just over a month after conception. Furthermore, with nine out of 10 abortions happening before week 12, it is still the murder of a “little one.”
As a husband and a father, my job is to provide for my family. It is to make sure that my wife and children are taken care of, have what they need, and are safe. That is my job. If my family were in danger, I would step in front of anything to shield them from the danger. It is the job of a man to lead and live selflessly. To watch over and protect those closest to him. This is what real men do. We invest, sacrifice, and work hard for those we love. I don’t care about making millions of dollars. I care about leaving a legacy within my family of honor, integrity, discipline, and Godliness. Nothing else is more important than that.
I believe that it is my responsibility as a man to provide for my family first. I believe that there is nothing more important than my wife being home with my children to invest in them and raise them up with Godly principles. When I am home, it is my job to be present with my wife and children, to invest in them, and teach them Godly principles through word and deeds. This has nothing to do with chauvinism or toxic masculinity. It has everything to do with living selflessly and sacrificing for the good of my wife and children. That is what we are called to do.
Selfishness breeds evil. It is the original sin that severed our relationship with YHWH. When we think and believe that our way is better than God’s, we begin to live further and further away from the Light, and the farther away we get, the darker our world becomes. We then justify our actions, choices, and decisions to make ourselves feel good about what we do and who we are. In reality, there is a feeling inside, a whole, that never gets filled. This missing piece was destroyed the moment we started caring about our selfish desires rather than listening and following the voice of God.
A candle flicker can be seen from 1.6 miles away. This means there is always a tiny amount of light amid darkness. However, the farther we get from the light, the darker it gets. We were all made in the image of God. This means that there is light inside of us, but for that light to shine, we must stay near the Light. We create the darkness in our lives. The more selfish and prideful we become, the darker our lives become.
It is sad how selfish and prideful this world has become. Instead of celebrating and encouraging selflessness, we have a world pushing for self-seeking, self-serving, egocentric living. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). When we care more about ourselves and not our neighbors, we build a society of hatred, dissension, arrogance, and pride. Moreover, as the Proverb states, pride comes before the fall.
It breaks my heart to see our society push to live a self-obsessed, greedy, and uncaring lifestyle. However, that is what you get when you have a Godless society. When you remove God and make yourself god, the only thing that is left is death, destruction, and chaos. I pray that God would reveal Himself to this generation and turn the heart of humanity back to Him!
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker. Cooper Neill / Getty Images file
This week, my social media has been flooded with Chief’s kicker, Harrison Butker, and the commencement speech he gave at Benedictine College. His speech went viral due to his remarks about encouraging women to be homemakers and mothers. He also called out false religion and religious leaders who do not live a life of sanctification. Butker stood up and said everything that is contrary to modern culture, and he is getting raked over the coals for it.
Butker, who is 28, spoke to a graduating class at Benedictine College, which is a Catholic College. Butker, himself, is a devout Catholic and took the opportunity to share his heart. As a 28-year-old young man, he spoke about ideologies and principles contrary to those of the current culture. He stood his ground and called out immorality and unethical behavior in the church and society. He spoke about his own life and his relationship with his wife. He talked about the importance of women in the home and the undeniable value they have in being homemakers. Overall, Butker gave a speech that called out the destructive ways in today’s society and culture and is getting hated for it.
Jesus Christ said, “They hate you because they first hated Me.” Butker is getting canceled over his unpopular opinions. What’s ironic is that the people who want to cancel him are the ones who preach inclusion and acceptance. He took a stand on his principles and faith. He called out the sin within society. He challenged the young people in the audience to consider what truly matters. Nothing that he said, I feel, is wrong, out of line, or unjustifiable. He spoke the truth, and the current society, which hates the truth, wants to see him destroyed for it.
If you haven’t heard or read Butker’s commencement speech, I have a copy of it linked HERE. I encourage you to read the entire thing. Too many people are only showing snippets of what he said to fit their agenda. Like most things in today’s society, what people say will be taken out of context. This is exactly what has been happening with Butker. Sadly, the current society doesn’t know how to think for themselves and will only read headlines without seeking out the whole story.
When a young man stands in front of a graduating class and shares his faith and beliefs and encourages morality, ethics, and right living, then there is nothing left for me to do than to stand with him and give him my full support. Butker shared opinions contrary to today’s society and culture, which is exactly what is needed. It is refreshing to see a young man stand for morality, ethics, faith, and Christian values. I believe we must support and encourage these young adults who take a stand for what is right and true, and that is exactly what I will do.
Our current society is running hard toward humiliation, debauchery, corruption, and ultimately, destruction. There are no longer moral or ethical values in our society. When truth is whatever you want it to be, then truth is nothing more than a falsehood. There is only one Truth, and that Truth was rejected and despised by humanity over 2000 years ago. He hung on a cross, cursed, and died for those who hated him. He laid down his life so that we might live. Sadly, the Devil has been hard at work pushing humanity to deny and reject the Truth. However, there are still those who will boldly speak the Truth amid a society that hates, abhors, and denies the very essence of it.
I applaud Harrison Butker. He stood among giants, spoke the truth, and did the right thing. This society will do everything in its power to cancel him, but it will lead to God’s glory. Cancel Culture will push their agenda to cancel Butker, but they will never be able to cancel Jesus Christ and His Truth. With that said, I stand with Harrison Butker, and I applaud him for doing what is right in a culture that praises evil.
What do you think? Do you stand with Harrison Butker or do you side with today’s culture and society? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Over the past few blog posts I have written, I have focused on what it means to be a true believer and follower of Jesus Christ. I have discussed my opinion on the viral Super Bowl commercial from “He Gets Us.” I have talked about the arrogance of humanity and the unseen war we are fighting. I have talked about the importance of obedience and not just giving lip service. Through everything I have written, I want to clarify that the love, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ outdoes any sin that we choose to be slaves to. Being a Christian has NOTHING to do with religion or religious acts. It has everything to do with a relationship with the Creator of the Universe and His Son, Jesus Christ, who paid the ultimate price of death so that those who turn and accept Him will have everlasting life through Him. Salvation has nothing to do with works. Salvation is accepting and following Christ, repenting of our sins, and obeying Him by denying ourselves and following Him. Works are the byproduct of salvation.
My job as a Christian is to be Christ to the World. This means I give grace, show love, and serve others. However, it also means I call out sin and injustice in the World. I call out false doctrine, false ideologies, and demonic intent in our society. It means I speak truth, and that Truth is the Truth found in the Word of God. I am not accepting of the sin that is in this World. I do not share the same mindset as the World; instead, I hold to the mindset of Christ, which states that He is the Way, Truth, and Life. As a Christian, I speak Truth in love. I don’t get it right every time because I am still a sinner and make mistakes daily. This is why repentance is a crucial component of being a Christian.
Jesus made it clear what being His follower looks like. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). He also said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). In the book of Micah, YHWH says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). The Apostle James writes, “Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:21-22, 27).
Before God came to live among His creation through Jesus Christ, YHWH used prophets to speak His words to the people. The prophets’ main job was to call out the sins of the nations. God used them to warn the nations of the impending doom of God’s wrath upon them if they did not repent and turn from their sinful ways. People and nations hated these prophets for speaking the Truth. Some listened to them, while most accosted, beat, and abused them. Today, God has not only spoken through the prophets of the Old Testament, He has also spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Apostles. We have a collection of writings, books, and letters that speak the Truth of YHWH and His commandments.
We tend to believe that the God of the Old Testament differs from the New Testament. We like to think that Jesus was all about love and acceptance, which God is all about. This is a dangerous and very ignorant ideology. As I have written before, Jesus Christ was the peace offering, the olive branch, between YHWH and all creation. He was YHWH’s last resort in bringing all people unto Himself. However, just as the prophets of the Old Testament were accosted, beaten, and abused, Jesus Christ would bear the same fate and even be put to death. Jesus spoke to this saying:
“A man planted a vineyard and put a wall around it, and dug a vat under the wine press and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, in order to receive some of the produce of the vineyard from the vine-growers. They took him, and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another slave, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and that one they killed; and so with many others, beating some and killing others. 6He had one more to send, a beloved son; he sent him last of all to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those vine-growers said to one another, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!’ They took him, and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine-growers, and will give the vineyard to others.” (Mark 12:1-9)
The slaves Christ mentions are all the prophets that came before Him. The son he refers to is Himself, the Son of the Most High God, who planted the vineyard. Do you not see the final statement Christ makes in this parable? “What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will destroy the vine growers and give the vineyard to others.” Those who reject Jesus Christ will be destroyed, and those whom the vineyard is given to are those who repent of their sin and turn and follow Him. Just as the prophets in the Old Testament were hated and despised for speaking the Truth of God, Christ Jesus was also hated and despised and eventually killed by the people He came to save.
The warning must continue. The love we like to speak about in the Church is genuine, but this love does not accept the sin of the World. I saw a video the other day of Dylan Mulvaney claiming that he was trying to maintain a relationship with God. He said, “I’m going to say something that might make people feel a little bit uncomfortable: I’m trying really hard to maintain a relationship with God. I don’t think He made a mistake with me, and that maybe one day, I will actually be grateful for being trans, that this isn’t some curse, but it’s just a different path to the same destination.” Many Christians might look at this and approve of what Mulvaney is saying, and if that is the case, this is where there is a significant problem in today’s Church.
There is no such thing as multiple paths to the same destination. There is only one path – Jesus Christ. He stated, “I am the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” God is clear in His expectations. Sin is sin, and you cannot live in sin and have a relationship with God. It is impossible. The false ideology that Dylan is sharing is straight from the mouth of the Devil. He has been blinded to Truth and has accepted the lies of the Deceiver. As a Christian, I love Dylan. He is made in the image of God, as all humanity is, but he has chosen to listen to the lies and deceit of the Devil and has chosen to accept sin rather than repent of it. My heart breaks for Dylan. He doesn’t know the one true God. Unless he repents of his sin, accepts Christ Jesus, and follows Him, there is no way he can have a relationship with YHWH, which means when he stands before the throne of the God he claims to have a relationship with, YHWH will say, “Depart from me, for I never knew you.”
I do not believe that he is a lost cause. I believe that God can break through every and all schemes of the Devil. Dylan can be saved from the sin he chooses to live in. I believe the lies of the Devil can be destroyed, but it is only through honest, earnest prayer that this can happen. I am reminded of a story in the Gospel of Mark:
“When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him. And He asked them, ‘What are you discussing with them?’ And one of the crowd answered Him, ‘Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.’ And He answered them and said, ‘O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!’ They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. And He asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!’ And Jesus said to him, ”If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief.’ When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.’ After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead!’ But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up. When He came into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, ‘Why could we not drive it out?’ And He said to them, ‘This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.'” (Mark 9:14-29)
There is much to discuss in this one story, but I want to focus on the last thing Jesus said, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”
Why do I say all of this? I have noticed that the weakness of the Church and most Christians lies in accepting and allowing false doctrine and ideologies. Most would say that we need to love Dylan. I agree, but we must not stop there. Real love is speaking the truth and not allowing people to live in a delusional mindset perpetuated by lies from the Devil. Our job as Christians and believers in Christ Jesus is to speak Truth. We must speak Truth in love and not condemnation and judgment, as it is not our place to condemn or judge. However, calling out sin is not judgment. It’s how we break the chains of sin. Only when we know and understand the problem can we begin to fix it. However, if all we do is “love” and accept people, we do them a disservice by allowing them to continue in the sin that we know will lead to utter destruction.
Christians must share Truth AND love. These go hand in hand. When done correctly, it can lead to repentance and salvation. When this is done poorly, it can lead to a destructive disconnect between humanity and God. I implore you, as a believer, to stop pushing the love and acceptance that is being discussed and approved of in today’s Christian circles and start preaching truth, so that those who live in sin might be broken from the bondage of sin and be set free through the power and love of Jesus Christ. If we do not speak about the problem, the problem will never be corrected.
Father God, I ask that you embolden your people to speak Truth to a dying and lost World. I ask that your followers would take up the obligation of speaking against the Devil and the lies and deceit he tries to push. I pray that the eyes of humanity would be opened to see the Truth, to see you, Lord Jesus. I pray that you will help me speak in love and truth. I pray that your Holy Spirit speaks through me in ways that bring light and revelation to the lost, break the chains of sin and destruction, and bring Truth and salvation to the lost World. You have overcome the World. The cross was the ultimate statement of truth, power, forgiveness, and salvation. I believe there is nothing that you cannot do. I believe in your Word and all that you have said. I pray that you show yourself to the lost. Show yourself to those who have accepted the lies of the Devil. I also pray that you would bind the Devil and his demons, in the name of JESUS CHRIST! I pray that you break down the selfishness and pride of humanity so that they might turn to you and live in humble obedience to you. I ask all of this in your Holy Name, YHWH!
Throughout scripture, we are told to fear God. Over 140 references throughout scripture talk about the fear of God. Even Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). It is clear that humanity has been told to fear God. However, humanity does not even come close to understanding what that means. We walk around thinking that we know better than God. We consider our thoughts higher than His, ignoring that He is the omnipotent, all-powerful Creator. How arrogant are we that we would live in direct opposition to Him?
I am reminded of the Israelites when they were led out of Egypt to the promised land. They were shown wonders and miracles that I could only dream of witnessing. They saw a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of cloud during the day, both containing the presence of God. They witnessed manna from Heaven, water from a rock, and many other great miracles. However, they constantly grumbled, complained, and blamed God for their misery. Even after watching some of their people get swallowed up by the Earth after disobeying God, they still chose to complain and blame God for their misery. Their arrogance toward God kept an entire generation from entering the promised land.
There was no fear of God within the Israelites. I would suggest that the only person who truly feared God was Moses. He saw the burning bush, spoke with God on Mount Sinai, and was used to proclaim the will of God to the people. Moses had first-hand knowledge of the power of God. He knew what he was truly capable of. It was he who was changed by standing in the presence of God. However, near the end of his time, he allowed the complaints and selfishness of the Israelite people to anger him so much (which I honestly don’t blame him) that he disobeyed God, and rather than speaking to the stone as he was commanded, he struck the stone. What was his consequence for disobeying God, even though he had put up with the selfish, entitled nation for over 50 years? He was not allowed to enter the promised land. The promise of a land flowing with milk and honey was taken from him because of one disobedient act.
Some may say that God is unjust because of this act. I say we should pay attention to the consequences of what one disobedient act against God can bring. Seeing that God doesn’t mess around should bring a sense of humility inside us all. God is not unjust! We are responsible for our actions and choices. If we allow ourselves to be swayed by the actions and words of others, we are still responsible for what we do. Consider the following story from the Book of Acts:
“But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.” (Acts 5:1-11)
Did you notice the church’s reaction to what happened to Ananias and Sapphira? “Great fear came over the whole church.” Both Ananias and Sapphira decided to claim that they sold their land for a specific price, and what they were giving to the church was the total price of what they sold their land for. Instead, they sold it for much more than they told Peter and the Apostles and tried to keep some for themselves. In other words, they were trying to cheat God. What was the consequence? Immediate death! The people who witnessed and heard what had happened were filled with fear.
What makes us think we are above God and can outthink Him? He is GOD, and we are not. He created us – not the other way around. Humanity walks around with their nose to the sky, thinking that they know better and can do better than God. Some even choose to consider themselves so much higher than God that they refuse to believe in His existence. How arrogant are we!
Throughout scripture, there are only two groups that genuinely feared God—the prophets, who were used by God, and the demons. The prophets warned of God’s wrath on those who disobeyed or did not follow His commands. God performed many miracles through them, and even one never saw death but was taken to Heaven in a chariot of fire. However, none of that was enough to change the arrogance of humanity to humble themselves before God. The other group who truly fears God and knows what He is capable of are the demons. Listen to how the demons responded when Christ came near them:
“Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” (Mark 3:11)
“Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me! And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain. The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.” Jesus gave them permission.” (Mark 5:6-7,10-13a)
“Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 35But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm.” (Luke 3:34-35)
“Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.” (Luke 4:41)
Demons were and are terrified of Jesus Christ. They know His power and what He is capable of. They understand Him better than we do. The Apostle James said, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19). Instead of watching and learning from the interactions between the demons and Jesus Christ, we continue to walk around arrogantly without any real fear of Jesus Christ and YHWH.
We preach that Jesus Christ is all about love and acceptance. Not only is this a half-truth, as Christ never has and will never accept the sin we choose to live in, but He specifically warned us of the condemnation we have placed on ourselves due to our selfishness, pride, and arrogance. We like to quote John 3:16, but we can’t just stop at one verse. Look at what it says after John 3:16:
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” (John 3:17-21)
John the Baptist said, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” How much more do we need to truly understand that the demise and downfall of nations, societies, families, and ourselves are all due to our arrogance and lack of fear and obedience? Jesus Christ came as an olive branch between YHWH and humanity. Those who turn to Jesus, repent of their sins, take up their cross, deny themselves, and follow in obedience will have an abundant life and life everlasting. To those who choose arrogance and selfishness, condemnation and wrath are upon them.
Let us repent of our arrogance and realize the true awesomeness and power of Jesus Christ and YHWH. Let us stop thinking that our ways are higher or better than His. Let us bow down before the Lord our God our Maker and humble ourselves before His throne. Let us remove the sin that is destroying us, and let us turn to the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ.
Lord, I pray that the demons of arrogance and pride be bound and removed from the hearts of humanity. I pray that we would turn our eyes to you, humble ourselves before your awesome power, and live in obedience to You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray this prayer today! Amen.
The Church likes to quote John 3:16 and then stand on the doctrine that all it takes is belief in Jesus to earn salvation. This is a false doctrine and false ideology. The translation of John 3:16 into English is weak and misses a lot of context from the original language. The word for “Believe” is translated from pistévo (πιστεύω), which means “to put one’s faith in, trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow.” Notice the last part of that definition: “with an implication that actions based on that trust may follow.” Believing is more than just believing.
The Apostle James speaks to this in his letter. “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (James 2:19). The Apostle gives a sarcastic tone here. He follows this up with, “But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” (James 2:20). There is a strong emphasis given that believing is more than just believing. If there is no change in action or repentance of the heart, then one’s belief is just as good as the demon’s.
Even some translations of the Bible remove the emphasis of true belief from their pages. For example, people usually stop reading at John 3:16, but if you continue to the end of the chapter, you will read, “He who believes (pistévo) in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, the the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36 NASB). Some translations, such as the most popular translation, the New International Version, remove the emphasis of obey: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36 NIV). The CEV translation says, “Everyone who has faith in the Son has eternal life. But no one who rejects him will ever share in that life, and God will be angry with them forever.” Without the emphasis on obeying, “believe” is not represented accurately.
When we water down or mistranslate words in scripture, we risk not sharing the whole truth. Churches teach that belief is all that is needed to be saved. This is just not the case. The scripture is unequivocal that without obedience, there is no salvation. Belief is a change in perspective, not only in our minds but also in our hearts. This belief is then lived out in obedience to Jesus Christ and His word.
Obedience was explicitly expressed in the Old Testament. The nation of Israel was commanded to obey God and all He commanded. They were also told that steep and tragic consequences would follow when they chose to disobey. Israel was conquered time and time again and was taken captive due to their lack of obedience to YHWH and His word.
The Messiah that was prophesied about throughout the Old Testament came to remove the penalty of sin – DEATH and eternal separation from YHWH. However, that penalty is only removed once one turns to Jesus Christ, repents of their sin, and lives in obedience to Him. The same expectations that were placed on the Israelites are on us today. Repentance of sin and obedience to God’s Word is essential to salvation and freedom. When the nation of Israel repented of their sin and turned back to God, it was then that they were set free.
If the God of the Old Testament is the God of today, and if He is a God that never changes, then why should we assume that His expectations for His people would change? Obedience is still required. The prophet Samuel stated, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). Paul wrote the following in his letter to the Roman gentiles:
“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’ Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” (Romans 11:17-22)
Paul said, “Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches (Israelites – His chosen people who rejected Him), He will not spare you, either.” He continues, saying, “Behold the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity. But to you, God’s kindness, IF you continue in His kindness.” That “IF” is pretty significant. The nation of Israel was promised salvation IF they continued in obedience to YHWH and his commands. When they strayed from His commands, they were overtaken and placed in captivity. The Lord brought peace and prosperity to Israel through repentance and their return to YHWH and His commands.
In the Old Testament, multiple sacrifices needed to be made by the high priests to atone for sins. When Jesus came, He became the ultimate High Priest for all mankind. His sacrifice on the cross covered all sin for all eternity. This means we no longer have to go to a high priest and ask for a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus’s sacrifice paid it all. However, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we are still responsible for obeying all He has commanded us. Jesus Christ is our atonement for sin, but we still must live according to His word.
In some Christian denominations, there is a theological view that once someone accepts Christ, they are saved for life. I used to believe this, but the older I get and the more I invest in understanding the depth and meaning of salvation and what it means to have a relationship with Christ, I don’t see how “once saved, always saved” is a biblical theological view. To say that we believe in God does nothing. After all, James wrote, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” (James 2:19-20). He goes on to say, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:24, 26). It is through obedience that we belief is made whole.
Consider Christ’s own words:
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.” (John 15, 1-3, 5-6).
The Greek word for abide is μένω (méno), which means “to stay.” Menō describes something that remains where it is, continues in a fixed state, or endures. For example, a marriage is only when a husband and wife stay together, endure hardships, and remain faithful to each other. The moment one or both break that commitment to each other, the marriage is no longer a marriage. A man can believe in his wife all his life, but the belief in his wife is not what makes him married. Only when that man stays, remains, endures, and continues in a fixed state with his wife is he indeed married. In other words, he is devoted to her with everything he has. He refuses to let anything or anyone come between him and his wife. The same applies to our relationship with Christ Jesus, who calls us his bride.
We have a responsibility as believers in Christ. Believing in Jesus is more than recognizing His existence, ministry, and historical significance. To believe in Jesus is to obey Him. The beauty of Christ is his faithfulness to us when we are not faithful. This doesn’t mean that we continue in our salvation if we follow after other gods or choose to ignore or make excuses for why we don’t follow His commands. His faithfulness is shown when we repent of our sins and return to Him. Without repentance, there can never be salvation. Repentance is the acknowledgment, both in the heart and actions, that we have missed the mark and need the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ and God the Father, and we return in obedience to YHWH. It is then that we have realigned ourselves with YHWH. If we continue in sin, making excuses for our choices and actions, we are not abiding in Christ; neither are we true believers in Him.
I encourage you to check your heart. To believe in Christ is to obey Him and abide in Him. You will always be in a battle between your selfish desires and God’s commandments. Just remember, because humanity listened to their selfish desires in the first place, we are where we are today. Believe in Jesus Christ and YHWH by obeying and abiding.
With all of this talk about the Super Bowl commercial, “He Gets Us,” I thought I would share my take on the subject. If you haven’t seen the commercial, I will do my best to summarize. The commercial is filled with pictures of people washing other people’s feet. It is clear that the people washing the feet are “Christians.” There is a picture of a cop washing the feet of a criminal, a priest washing the feet of a prominent homosexual man, a woman washing the feet of another woman outside of an abortion clinic, and many other controversial pictures. The commercial ends with, “Jesus didn’t teach hate. He washed feet.”
There are a lot of different viewpoints that have been shared about this commercial or campaign. Because if we were honest, “He Gets Us” is a religious campaign. I have heard people speak in support of the commercial, and I have heard people speak out against the commercial. Of course, the ones who are the most boisterous about the commercial are from the “Christian” faith.
I have heard people express their support for the commercial in that it teaches that Jesus is love, and we need to love more. I have also heard people share their approval, claiming that Jesus wants us to serve others, so we should wash each other’s feet. Ultimately, the people who support the commercial express their approval of showing love and that we are called to love and serve others.
Those who speak out against the video have shared how it is a false gospel and does not at all portray the real Jesus or His teachings. They quickly point out that Jesus only washed His disciple’s feet and commanded them to wash each other’s feet. People against the ad have also stated that Jesus doesn’t tolerate or approve of sin but calls us all to repentance – something the commercial did not communicate. Overall, those against the commercial speak against the false doctrine and lack of a call to repentance found in the true Gospel.
And then there’s the Christian community who eat their own by bashing each other for their statements, opinions, and beliefs, which is quite ironic when both sides state that we are called to love and serve. Here’s the bottom line: no one is perfect; we all fall short every day, which is why we ALL need Jesus. But what, then, does that mean for the Gospel and what Jesus teaches?
I didn’t know what to think when I watched the commercial. I didn’t know what to make of the pictures and what was being portrayed. A part of me liked the idea of serving others, as we are called to serve. However, I also struggled to see how washing the feet of someone living and choosing to live in sin was a good representation of the whole Gospel. Jesus teaches us to love others; the old adage, “Love the sinner but hate the sin.” However, He never calls us to tolerate or accept sin. He calls us to repent, be baptized, and turn from our wicked ways. This message is not being shared in this religious campaign.
I am reminded of a time when a man and a woman lived in a beautiful garden and were told not to eat from a certain tree in the middle of the garden. They were told that if they ate the fruit from the forbidden tree, they “would die” (Genesis 3:3). However, a serpent came and tempted the woman by telling her, “You will not certainly die. For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). From there, the doom of the world was established.
I have found that the Devil does an excellent job of watering down or twisting the words of God to make it make sense but still be a false ideology. Our society, and even the Church today, has watered down the Gospel to the point of “Love everyone!” I’m sorry, but this is not the Gospel. The Gospel calls sinners to repentance and to turn from their wicked ways. The Gospel is clear that those who live in sin have no inheritance in the Kingdom. The Gospel does not tolerate sin nor allow excuses to be made for sin. No, the Gospel calls out the deeds of darkness and shines light on sin.
“But didn’t Jesus say, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?'” He sure did. He also said, “Many will say to me on that day (Day of Judgement), ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers” (Matthew 7:22-23). And again, Christ says:
“Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:1-5).
The Gospel is about love, mercy, and grace, but there is more to it. The Gospel is also about changing one’s heart to obedience to Christ and His word. Many quote John 3:16 and say, “See, all you have to do is believe.” However, this is only part of the whole truth. Again, this watered-down truth sounds really nice but is a false ideology. If you keep reading John chapter 3, you will find that the last verse holds the truth to it all: “He that believes in the Son has everlasting life, but he that does not OBEY the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).
The Devil does an excellent job taking the Word of God and subverting it to fit his agenda. If we, the believers and followers of Christ, think that we are doing the world a favor by sharing only part of the Gospel, what might come of us when we stand before Christ in the last days? If the Gospel is to repent, turn from our wicked ways, and obey God, then why isn’t that the Gospel that we are sharing?
Jesus said, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil” (John 7:6). Again, He says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26). Jesus lived a life full of love and compassion, but He never hesitated to speak truth to a world filled with sin. He didn’t cater to sin; instead, He called it out.
If we want to say that all it takes is love, then why did Jesus call the rich man to sell all that he had and follow Him?
“A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:18-30).
The Gospel is not merely to give love, even though this is very important. The Gospel is about submission and obedience to God and His will. Jesus said He did not come to write a new commandment but that the old might be fulfilled. What, then, is the old commandment? In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses commanded the Israelites: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one, Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Fear the Lord your God and serve Him only. Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you. The Lord commanded us to OBEY all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 13, 18, 24-25). The Gospel is not just love but also obedience.
If all we preach is to love and serve one another, we only give part of the Gospel story. We are saying that all you need to do is love others, and Jesus will accept you, but that’s not what scripture says. As Samuel stated in 1 Samuel 15:22, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice.” Micah says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). You see, it doesn’t stop with love and mercy, it is summed up with obedience and walking with God.
When Jesus stood on the mountain with his disciples before he ascended into heaven, he gave this final command, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to OBEY (my emphasis) everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20a).
So, what is missing in today’s Gospel message? Obedience to God. Serving others and giving love represents our heart toward God, as he has commanded us to love and serve others. However, if all we do is teach that all we need to do is love and serve others and neglect to share the most critical piece, obedience, we are saying, “You will certainly not die. God will accept you no matter what. All you need to do is love others.”
Selfless Leadership Is Purposeful Leadership 