Category Archives: Personal Growth

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Do You Understand God’s Training?

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I am not asking much. I simply want to know what God is doing in my life to prepare me for whatever is down the road. I don’t need to know everything, but I would like for Him to explain His purposes for the frustration I often experience. If He would just explain His training plan to me, then I think I would be able to handle it better!

training

True For You?

Have you ever felt this way? Have you ever just wished God would explain your suffering (or training) and how it will play into His plans for you in the future?

If so, you are not alone. In fact, I would imagine that all of us have felt this way at one time or another. It is human nature to want to understand. Not only do we think it would help us to do better in the training itself, we also want to see that there is a higher purpose for the training.

Example From The Karate Kid

If you ever watched the movie The Karate Kid (the original or the remake!), then you have seen this dynamic illustrated. If you have never seen the movie, then I recommend you watch it.

In the movie, an older karate expert (Mr. Myagi), agrees to teach a teenager (Daniel) about karate for the sake of defending himself. Rather than take Daniel into a karate studio for training as expected, Mr. Myagi begins giving him various chores to complete around his house.

Included in these chores are sanding the floor, waxing his cars, painting the house, and painting the fence. Each chore is exhausting and takes several days to complete. The further along Daniel goes in doing these “chores”, the more frustrated he gets until he finally blows up at Mr. Myagi.

Training Revealed

It is at this point that Mr. Myagi shows all that Daniel has been learning about karate while doing the chores. Daniel’s training had been going on all along, but he was unaware of it. Not only did he do a good job of overhauling Mr. Myagi’s home, he also gained invaluable training in the basics of karate.

Same For Our Lives

Folks, it works the same way in our lives – whether in business, at church, or with family. God is training us for the future. In Romans 8:29, Paul describes it as conforming us to the likeness of Christ. In Jeremiah 18:1-6, this training is compared to a potter and his clay. In Malachi 3:1-4, it is described as a refining and purifying of silver.

In each case, this training we will endure can be very painful and difficult. We will not understand it at the time and will likely push back in one way or another. We will question God. We will pray for relief and ask Him to deliver us from it. We will probably even share our frustration with our small group and ask them to pray with us.

God Understands

Fortunately, God understands. He is not frustrated by our blindness. He does not give up on us, despite our weakness. He never stops loving us, even if we shake our fist at Him for our situation.

At the same time, He does not relent. He does not stop the training just because we are not comfortable with it. He does not deliver us from the training when we beg or get angry. No, He continues.

Why?

God’s Character

Because He is good. Because He loves us. Because He has plans for us.

God would be doing harm to us if He stopped the training. He would not be looking out for our best interests if he removed us from the struggle. He would be thwarting His own future plans for us if He relented when we asked.

So what is the answer to this?

Our Part

Trust.

Trust that He is good. Trust that He loves us. Trust that He has plans for us.

Simply trust God on a daily, even hourly, basis. Trust Him even when He does not reveal His plans to you. Trust Him and you will eventually see that the results of His training are worth it. Trust in His goodness, love, and vision. Then, when the training is complete, you will see the fruit of all He has done in you.

Is this easy? NO!

Don’t Forget!

No, this is something that we have to remind ourselves of over and over. It is not a once and done type of thing. It is something that you will understand this moment and forget the next. That is part of being human.

The cool part is that He has given us His Word as a reminder. If we will bury ourselves in the Bible on a daily basis, we will often come across His promises and we will get the reminder we need for that day! If we will bury His Word in our hearts, we can draw from it whenever we need it!

What training are you experiencing right now?

Have you asked God to explain?

Do you trust God’s character?

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3 Keys To Creating New Habits

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In my last two posts, I went into detail about a daily game plan that I am working on in an effort to avoid spiritual drift and remain focused on my life plan. While I am certainly seeing some results that are promising, it is also a struggle for me. In comment on the last post, fellow blogger Kari Scare mentioned this same struggle in creating a new habit.

new habit

Here are her comments:

I would love to consistently use something like this. But, something inside of me…keeps it from becoming a habit. In fact, I did use something similar to this for a while but ended up going back to my list method…I still wonder at my inability to stick with that.

I’m a driven person, very productive. I stick to the focus areas that my husband and I set. Yet, I realize how something like this would amplify my life. SO, maybe you could address some of what I struggle with in another post.

New Habit Struggle?

Do you experience this kind of struggle in creating a new habit? Do you get frustrated at your inability to remain consistent with a new habit even when you know it will improve your life?

If you struggle like this, you are not alone. Just visit a fitness club or gym during the first week in January and again in mid-March. There is a huge difference in how busy it is, right? The fallout is huge!

Magic Formula?

So what we really want to know is how to overcome this struggle in creating new habits. What is the magic formula for beating this part of us that resists new habits (at least the good ones!) and keeps us from improving?

Well, to start off, there is not a magic formula. I will not even try to convince you that I have the silver bullet for this problem.

New Habits Not Impossible

What I will tell you is that it is not an impossible feat to create new habits. People that are faced with decisions between exercising and facing life-threatening medical issues have proven this to be true over and over. Others have done it without the threat to life. So how do they do it?

As I said, I do not have a silver bullet, but I do have some simple insights. Take a look at the following three keys and see if they make sense to you. While this is not a guaranteed formula, I am convinced that if all three keys are present, your odds of successfully creating a new habit will increase exponentially!

#1 – It MUST Be A Priority To You

While this may sound overly simplistic, it is true. Either it IS or it IS NOT a priority for you. If you are absolutely confident that any given tool or habit will make your days better and your life more effective, then you just have to decide if that is what you want.

It cannot be a suggestion someone else is making for you. It cannot be something that would be “cool” if you did it. Nor can it be something you are guilted into doing.

You have to want it more than whatever else is currently occupying the time it takes to do it (e.g. exercise vs. 30 minutes more sleep). You have to want it more than it will cost you in time, money, effort, etc. If you want it badly enough, then you will make it work.

#2 – Enlist Accountability

Look back at Kari’s comments. What is the one thing she mentioned that she is able to stick to? Exactly, it is the focus areas that she commits to with her husband! I do not believe that is a coincidence.

Is this the only way? No. Can we develop a new habit without accountability? Sure. I did not say this is the only way. It will just increase your odds exponentially. So if that is the case, why not enlist accountability.

This step is not really that tough. The accountability partner does not necessarily have to be creating the same new habit as you are (though it would certainly be helpful if they did). You just need to have a relationship with them that would cause you to avoid having to admit failure to them.

Just explain to them what you are trying to do and how you need them to help you with it. Then set up regular intervals for follow-up conversations. Give them a list of several key questions you want them to ask you. You could even make it fun (and increase the pressure) by committing to buy their lunch (or a coffee) every time you fall short of the new habit!

#3 – Embrace Grace!

Sure, it needs to be a habit. Sure it is better if we do it EVERY day without fail. At the same time, even this habit will eventually become stale and you will risk becoming legalistic about it. Instead of feeling like a failure when we miss a day or only half-way complete it, we should just give ourselves the grace that God gives us.

Move on. Start again tomorrow. The world will not end. Your life will not suddenly become ineffective and worthless. Don’t buy into the lie that one miss means the whole effort is over!

Of course, if the missed days begin to equal or outnumber the days you complete the task, then you need to refer back to #1. IS it or is it NOT something you need to be doing?

Summary

I hope this discussion helps you as you approach a new habit. My prayer is that we all continue to look for ways we can weave new habits into our lives that will continue to help conform us to the likeness of Christ. At the same time, we cannot see ourselves as failures when we fall short. We just need to get up and try again.

Have you attempted new habits with all three of these keys in place?

What were your results?

What is your biggest struggle in attempting to create new habits?

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Pruning The Fruitful Branch

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Have you ever read or heard a specific Scripture many times before, but then one day something entirely new jumped out you – from that very same Scripture? I read something in my quiet time this week that stopped me in my tracks. It was about becoming more fruitful and I want to share it with you. Hopefully, you will see it to be as meaningful as I did.

fruitful

Fruit At Work

The book I was reading is called Fruit at Work, by Chris Evans. The Scripture that he referred to was John 15:1-8. In this passage, Jesus is talking about how He is the vine and we are the branches. He produces the fruit and we bear it. Without Him, we cannot produce any fruit of our own.

In the past, I have read and listened to Bruce Wilkinson’s Secrets of the Vine. This book has a great explanation of this same passage about the vine and branches. I was significantly impacted by Wilkinson’s book and wanted to be more fruitful.

Becoming More Fruitful

In going through this book, I learned in depth about how important pruning is to the production of fruit. Though painful, pruning makes the branch more fruitful. I could easily identify times of pruning in my own life.

In Fruit at Work, there is a similar quote from Evans on this same idea:

Even a well cultivated tree will only produce sparing fruit if left on its own. The way a gardner coaxes the most fruit out of a plant is by pruning. Pruning is a process of cutting back part of the plant, sometimes severely, to allow the plant to focus its nutrients in fewer places. Our master gardner does the same thing.

A New Perspective

I have read this John 15 passage literally hundreds of times, before and since. I have often thought about the process of pruning and becoming more fruitful. But what I do not know that I have ever recognized from a different perspective was one verse in particular. In verse 2, Jesus says the following…

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

What I do not remember from Wilkinson’s book is the following idea from Chris Evans. If this idea is in Wilkinson’s book, then I apologize. Evidently I was not ready to hear it then! Take a look at the quote from Evans:

As you bear fruit in your life, be aware that the areas where you are bearing fruit are subject to pruning. This may mean that a job you start to do well is replaced with another job that will challenge you to produce more fruit.

While this is uncomfortable, God knows what he is doing. You should see this pruning as encouragement that God is caring for you and is taking an active role in your growth.

More Specific Pruning

My understanding of the pruning process before did not get very specific. I just understood that I was going to undergo pruning to become more fruitful. As a branch in Jesus, I wanted to bear more fruit and knew that pruning would be a part of that process.

What I had never considered before was that God would prune in particular areas of my life, setting those areas up for a greater multiplication of fruit in the future!

Does that make sense to you?

While this is not a “salvation” epiphany, I do see it as having huge implications in two ways!

Implications

First, if there is an area in which you are bearing fruit, God is more likely to prune in that area so that you can be even more fruitful. This means you will certainly encounter difficulty and disappointment (symptoms of pruning) in your passion areas – like your Christian business! Expect it. Embrace it. Endure it.

Second, when you DO experience this pruning, take it as a sign that God is indeed caring for you and “taking an active role in your growth.” That should be extremely encouraging! Do not let the enemy whisper lies in your ear about failure. Thank God that He is working in you!

Have you experienced pruning in specific, fruitful areas of your life?

Have you recognized this process as being designed to make you even more fruitful?

Do you draw encouragement from this idea?

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Please Pardon Our Progress

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If you were to drive by our Honda dealership during the next week or so, you would likely see an empty lot (no cars), a vacant building, and a huge sign that says, “Please Pardon Our Progress!” The reason? We are beginning construction on a full renovation and upgrade of this building and are now housed in a modular office building a block away.

progress

Change Is Necessary!

This process began near the end of last year when we finally decided it was time to make the necessary changes to our dated facility. While it is certainly still functional, it just does not accomplish our purposes any longer. For that reason, we are making a change.

As you can imagine, it will be a major inconvenience to make this progress. It does not just happen overnight. There are many ripple effects to this progress.

Ripple Effects

Customers will be inconvenienced as we have to shuttle them from the Honda service department to a waiting lounge in one of the other buildings.

There will be frustrations galore for employees and customers alike as new and used car displays will not be as easily accessible as they normally are.

Progress Not Always Welcome!

People will likely have their own opinions about whether we should be making this progress in the first place! They won’t clearly understand what we are doing and why. Some will actually feel we should have left things the way they were!

In an effort to overcome some of the confusion, we have tried to go overboard on signage. We are also coaching employees to be aware that customers may be a little confused or frustrated during the progress. It is up to us to minimize their pain!

My Own “Progress” Sign!

You know what I wish I could do?

I wish I could wear a sign around my neck that said the same thing. I wish I could do something to indicate to those around me – at work, home, and in the community – that I am a work in progress!

I Need Improvement, Too!

See, I know I am not all that I should be. I know there are certain parts of my personality and mindset that need renovating and upgrading. Just like our Honda store, there are parts of me that are not accomplishing the purpose that God has for me.

I know this and I promise that I am working on it, but too often others around me are still inconvenienced, frustrated, or confused. I say things or do things that I do not like. I think thoughts that I wish I did not.

I wish I could just walk around with that sign around my neck to let everyone know that I am aware of the needed improvement and that I am working on it.

Minimize Ripple Effects

Until then, I am just going to do the best I can at making the continuous progress that I need to make and to be aware of the ripple effects on those around me. I will continue to try to minimize their frustration with my slow progress. Hopefully, they will begin to see improvement and cut me some slack!

What we cannot do as Christian business owners and leaders is to decide against making the progress. We cannot decide that the way we are today is good enough. We cannot determine that making progress is too tough.

Progress Is Necessary

God is calling us to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. While that is not an easy task, it is not optional for a true disciple. We must submit to the process and allow God to do His work on us.

Those around us will likely be inconvenienced, frustrated, or confused with us. Some will even think that we should not work to change, but should just stay the same as we were. While the short term may be easier if we agreed with them, the long term will not.

I encourage you to be a leader that is a work in progress. Wear the sign if you have to, but keep pushing ahead either way!

Are you a work in progress?

What areas are you struggling with the most?

Have you worked to minimize the effects on others?

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Wise Counsel In Unexpected Places

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When I set out to create this blog over a year ago, I really had no idea what would come of it. I knew something in me wanted to do it and I felt God leading me in that direction, but my expectations were very low. I just did not know what was in store for me. Now, roughly 14 months later, I can say that the benefits have been overwhelming. Today, I want to discuss one of the most unexpected – wise counsel.

wise counsel

Unexpected Benefit!

See, when I started the blog, I had the distinct feeling that God would use it to teach others about integrating their Christian faith into their work. What I did not expect was that He would also use it to introduce me to wise counsel from many other Christian business owners and leaders!

Isn’t it funny how God turns things on us? We know that Scripture says that it is more blessed to give than to receive, but we often forget how that plays out in our lives. Well, I can say that I have been the recipient of more FROM this blog and those I have met because of it than I have ever given TO it.

Wise Counsel Examples

I have had the fortune to meet a man in Chandigarh, India that has taught me a lot about doing intentional ministry with whatever tools you have at your disposal. He has taught me about joy in tough circumstances and praising God in trials.

I have had the opportunity to get to know a couple of other bloggers like Tom Tarver, Kari Scare, Michael Nichols, and Loren Pinilis. Each of these has taught me something different, but all have been valuable.

I have also had the pleasure of meeting several Christian business owners and leaders in person. In fact, over the past couple of weeks, I have spent an hour or two with three different individuals that have each taught me something. Two of these guys were complete strangers to me a couple of months ago!

Just this afternoon I had the privilege of talking with another CEO about similar struggles we are having. He called me for some input on an idea he had, but I was also able to learn a valuable idea from him during the conversation. His wise counsel is something I cannot find just anywhere.

Wise Counsel In Scripture

The Bible speaks a lot about wise counsel. Take a look at the following verses:

    Without guidance, people fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance. – Proverbs 11:14
    A fool’s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise. – Proverbs 12:15
    Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. – Proverbs 15:22
    Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life. – Proverbs 19:20

Different Opportunity?

Folks, I have obviously been blessed by God to have access to all of the wise counsel that I have mentioned above – and these are only the connections that have come as a result of this blog. I have other sources that are just as valuable.

The problem is that not everyone reading this blog right now feels they have the same opportunity for this amount of wise counsel as I do. Well, I have news for you.

You are wrong!

Pray For Wise Counsel

Listen to me before you puff up! I agree that not everyone has a blog that creates these opportunities. However, I did not have this source for wise counsel just over a year ago. It has only just recently become a source for me.

Even then, I had wise counsel available to me. I had it because I saw value in it and was committed to praying for it. That’s right, I have been praying daily for wisdom for years (as long as I can remember) and God promises that He will answer that prayer. He has been faithful to that promise for me.

    Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.
    – James 1:5

Expect Results!

In fact, I believe that one of the reasons God led me to start this blog was that He knew it would be another avenue He could use to provide me with wise counsel – an answer to my prayer for wisdom!

If you are sincere about wanting wise counsel (which will lead to wisdom – if you pay attention!), then all you need to do is start praying for it. Pray earnestly and consistently, with faith, and it will come.

While you are praying, start looking for it expectantly in the unexpected places. You will likely be as surprised as I have at the results!

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My Life Is Full Of Vegetables!

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Just the other day, I was sitting at dinner with my family. The entire family was together, which is a big deal with teenagers! My wife had prepared a fantastic meal for us and I was really enjoying myself – except for one thing. There were vegetables on my plate!

vegetables

Not A Vegetable Guy

See, I am NOT a vegetable guy. I am sorry, but I just do not like them. I know they are good for me, but I simply do not like their texture or the way they taste. I could go into details as to what I mean by that, but I will spare you the details.

Instead, I will just say that I do not care if I ever have another vegetable in my life! When I do get them, I am constantly trying to figure out how to get by without finishing them!

Wife Loves Vegetables!

Unfortunately, my wife loves them. She thinks (logically for her) that everyone else should feel the same way just because she does. She argues that I will eventually feel the same way if I will just continue to eat them. As a result, she insists on giving me a small serving of whatever vegetables she has prepared – every time she cooks.

I don’t know if this is true for you as much as it is for me, but I feel this is just dispels another myth I believed when I was a kid. I used to believe that once I grew up and became an adult, I would be able to eat anything I wanted! Now I know the truth!

Now, as an adult (physically, not yet emotionally), I find out that this is not true. The truth is that I have to eat what I am given. Sure, I could rebel and go get my own food, but we all know how THAT would end…not good!

Application to Christian Business

Having said all of that, let me come to my point as it relates to us as Christian business owners and leaders.

Think through all of the above, but this time substitute life in general for my meal and trials and struggles for the vegetables. And put God in place of my wife (she will love that part!).

Now, let’s relook at this. When we look at life from this perspective, many of us can identify with an otherwise odd-sounding statement – “My life is full of vegetables!”

Vegetables (And Trials) Are Good For Us

Folks, God tells us directly several times in Scripture that, like vegetables, trials and struggles are good for us. While they are not fun to go through, they make us better when we do. Just look at the following verses to validate this:

* James 1:12
* 1 Peter 1:6-7
* Acts 14:21-22

He indirectly tells us the same thing throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. Consider the stories of Joseph, Ester, Ruth, Peter, and Paul. In every case, God highlights challenges they face and how they are stronger as a result!

Trials Serve A Purpose

As our Christian lives reflect the process of being conformed to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29), trials and struggles serve a vital purpose. Just like vegetables, they are not always welcomed into our lives.

We certainly do not ask for them even though we know they are good for us. Even when they come, we are constantly trying to figure out how to shortcut them without having to endure the whole process.

Short-Cuts Miss The Point

The problem with this way of thinking, though it is certainly natural, is that we often miss the lesson God is trying to teach us. When we short cut the process, we may avoid some short-term pain. At the same time, we may find that it only means we will have to repeat the whole process again later!

The answer to this problem?

First of all, the answer is NOT found in the book of Daniel (1:12)! If you remember, Daniel and his friends committed to ONLY eating vegetables and water for an extended period of time! I am not advocating this.

Joy In Trials

No, I believe the answer is found in James 1:2-4. Here we are told to consider it joy when we experience trials. Notice that we are not told to ask for them. Nor are we told to pray for them.

However, when they come (and they will!), we are to consider them joy. We are to be thankful for the fact that we are going to grow stronger as a result of them. We are to thank God that He will walk through them with us.

Prayer In Trials

We are not to pray for them to be shortened or to try to escape them on our own (note v.4). We are not to complain to anyone that will listen. No, we are to praise God that He is still in control and will bring us through.

Remember Your Vegetables

When the election does not go your way or when the month-end results disappoint you, remember they are just vegetables. If you get bad news at the doctor’s office or an annoying co-worker is relocated to sit beside you, understand it is just a side of squash!

The next time you are tempted to say, “My life is full of vegetables,” remember that those vegetables are good for you! My wife says so!

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How Do We No Longer Deny Jesus?

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Let me start this post by confessing (again!). Over the past few posts, we have been looking at Peter’s decision to deny Jesus and what we can learn from it. This is a tough topic and may actually offend some people. I just want to begin by saying that I am just as guilty of this as anyone. I have not figured out how to completely avoid this behavior myself. At the same time, I am not going to let that stop me from trying to come up with a legitimate answer to the problem.

deny Jesus

No Longer Deny Jesus?

We have already discussed what it looks like for us to deny Jesus today. Next, we talked about WHY we deny Jesus. We have even talked about how we can be restored AFTER we deny Jesus. I think it makes sense for us to turn our focus now to how we can avoid this behavior altogether.

I will tell you up front that I believe I have our answer. I will also be transparent and tell you that I am not there yet. I have a lot of work left to do before I can testify that this answer has worked for me. I still deny Jesus.

At the same time, I believe I can show you how it has worked for others.

You Already Have The Answer!

The truth is that I have already given you the answer to this problem. It is my opinion that we deny Jesus for the simple reason that we do not know Him.

What I mean by this is that we know so little about the true greatness (our English vocabulary comes up short for proper adjectives) of this man named Jesus. Most of us can quote verses (or find them!) that tell us Jesus was fully God and fully man.

Head Knowledge

We can show verses that talk about the miracles He performed and how He created the earth. We can even show where the Bible says He was killed, but raised from the dead three days later.

So, what is the problem? We know a lot about how great He is, right?

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

Not TRUE Knowledge

The truth is that we may be able to quote or point out facts from the Bible, but we are very far from KNOWING these things about Jesus. Most of us are a long way from being willing to take a loss because of this knowledge.

How do I know this? How can I be so bold and say this about people I do not even know?

The World Would Be A Different Place

Because if we REALLY did KNOW, down deep in our core, these things about Jesus to be FULLY TRUE, then the world would be a very different place. It is that simple.

If we were confident to the point of being willing to stake our lives on it, then our circle of influence would be dramatically impacted. Our neighborhoods would have no doubt as to where we stand. Our fellow employees would not question our allegiance to Him. Our customers would be wowed by our overwhelming love displayed through the way we conduct business. We would not be guilty of continuing to deny Jesus!

Solution?

But since pictures like this are so rare, it is clear that the majority of us only have head knowledge of Jesus. We may be able to answer Jeopardy questions about Jesus, but we cannot answer for our lack of allegiance to Him.

Assuming this is true, then what are we to do about it? What is the solution?

The simple solution is to get to KNOW Jesus.

Wow, that is insightful, isn’t it?

Actually, it doesn’t need to be complex to be right. It doesn’t have to be cryptic to be life-changing.

Peter’s Example

Take another look at Peter in Acts, chapters 2-4. Peter, the same man that had just recently made the decision to deny Jesus three times is preaching at the risk of his life. He is thrown into prison, questioned about his healing and preaching, and boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus. Even when warned to stop, he maintains his allegiance and keeps preaching!

Who is this guy? What happened to him? Didn’t he just deny Jesus?

The resurrection happened to him.

Heart Knowledge

What happened is that he went from knowing a lot about Jesus to KNOWING exactly who Jesus was – the Living God! He went from a head knowledge to a heart knowledge. All of Peter’s doubts were blown away after the resurrection. He was no longer confused, but was committed to the core!

That’s great and we do not argue that. But since we cannot take Peter’s place and be a first-hand witness to what he saw, how do we achieve the same results?

I know you are likely hoping for a silver bullet method that will rocket you to an intimate knowledge of and relationship with Jesus. I don’t have one.

Instead, what I have is nothing new, but it is proven.

Solution?

Here are your answers:

Trust Peter’s Account

While we cannot physically put ourselves in Peter’s place at the empty tomb, we can trust his eyewitness account. We can spend consistent time in prayer about what we read in the Bible.

Seek Heart Knowledge

We can be consistent about reading about Jesus in the Gospels. We don’t do this for the purpose of more head knowledge, but to get our hearts transformed by what we read. We can pray that the Holy Spirit will do to us what He did to Peter at Pentecost – giving us the same boldness through true knowledge of who Jesus is.

This is not a typical 3-point bullet list normally found in self-help books today. It is not an ointment we can rub on our heart. Instead, it is a commitment to dig deep and give up our desire for everything else until we find it.

Must Be TOP Priority!

Unless we want this more than ANYTHING else, we will not find it. Unless we seek it regardless of the cost, we will let other desires and distractions derail our efforts.

When we succeed at doing this, we WILL have a TRUE knowledge of Him that will make it impossible to deny Jesus. This knowledge alone will have more of an impact on your business, job, family, and life than anything else you can do. Try it and see what you find!

Are you prepared to commit to this venture?

Do you believe you can have the boldness of Peter?

Do you want it?

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What Happens After We Deny Jesus?

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In the past few posts, we have talked about the decision we often make to deny Jesus. We started with seeing Peter deny Jesus leading up to the crucifixion. We have also looked at how we deny Jesus today and why that happens. Today, I want to turn to a reassuring truth – what happens after we deny Jesus?

deny Jesus

Deny Jesus? Guilty.

We have agreed (most of us) that we are all guilty of the decision to deny Jesus on an almost daily basis. We have agreed that this is embarrassing to admit and it is something we desperately want to avoid. Many of us may have made decisions to start anew in our mission to truly KNOW the Jesus of the Bible.

Jesus Understands!

However, many of us may still be sitting at the starting line. For some reason, we are frozen by the recognition that we are as guilty as Peter in our decisions to deny Jesus. For some, the guilt is unbearable. For these, as long as the guilt is there, corrective action is impossible.

I understand. Better than that, Jesus understands!

Folks, He created us and knows our weaknesses. He is fully aware of the temptations we face and the magnetic effect they have on our hearts. Jesus knows the pressure we are under and the distractions vying with Him for our attention.

Don’t Take It Lightly, But…

Now, don’t relax and think that He is okay with all of this. Don’t begin to think, “Hey, maybe I don’t really need to worry about this after all.” It is still a serious offense and He still takes it seriously.

He does not like our choosing popularity over prayer. He hates our decision to prefer temporal pleasures over eternal rewards. He is disappointed when we take time for television over time with Him.

At the same time, He loves us despite all of this and is willing to forgive us for our choices. Not only does He forgive us, but He also restores us!

Peter’s Example

When we look at the example of Peter, we see this clearly.

Peter was a leader within the 12 disciples. He clearly had influence and was always leading the charge. After his decision to deny Jesus, Peter likely felt nothing would be the same again. In fact, he went back to fishing, most likely in a effort to return to something he was sure he could do. He probably thought his leadership days were over.

Then we read in John 21:15-17 where Jesus asked Peter if he really loved Him. Three times Peter answered that he did love Jesus. Then, three times, Jesus charges Peter to feed His sheep.

Not Only Forgiveness, But Restoration!

Jesus did not stop with, “I forgive you, Peter.” No, instead He restores Peter to a position of leadership. Jesus did not just remove the sin, but returned Peter to his place at the head of the mission.

He wanted Peter to know that he was restored to the position of leadership, to the position of leading the mission of the church. Regardless of Peter’s failures, Jesus was willing to use him. Despite his past, Jesus had plans for Peter!

Same Restoration For Us!

Folks, He will do the same for us!

We cannot ignore the times when we deny Jesus. We cannot blow them off and say Jesus understands. No, we must repent and be determined not to let it happen again. At the same time, we can rest in the knowledge that even when we mess up, Jesus is there to restore us.

And as a result, we need to let Him do so. Then we need to get back on the horse and get to work. There is much to do and we have a part in His plan!

Have you needed to be restored by Jesus?

Has guilt kept you from moving on?

Do you see how Jesus can end that for you?

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Why Do We Deny Jesus?

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In my last post, I asked some tough questions of everyone (myself included). The main question was the toughest – Do you deny Jesus? For more details about exactly what I was talking about, please read that post before reading further here.

deny Jesus

Why Deny Jesus?

Now that you are caught up, I am assuming that you are among the crowd of those of us who do, in fact, deny Jesus (to some degree) on a daily basis. That being the case, let’s move into the second question of this series – WHY do we deny Jesus?

To help us determine the answer to this question, I would like for us to look back at Peter. Let’s first try to figure out what caused Peter to deny Jesus. Maybe then, we can shed some light on why we do the same thing.

Misplaced Expectations?

It is clear from Scripture that many of the disciples (Peter included) and other followers expected Jesus to rise to some sort of military power and overthrow the Roman rule over the Jews. In fact, many Jews today still believe that way, which is why they do not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

In an effort to attempt to discern Peter’s motivations, let’s look at a couple of quotes from Peter in the book of Luke.

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
– Luke 22:33

When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
– Luke 22:49-50

Mistaken Identity?

In both cases, it appears Peter is expecting (and looking forward to) a fight! Do you think anything Jesus has said to this point would cause him to think that? Or is it more likely that this was how Peter had assumed (along with virtually everyone else) the Messiah would rise to rule from His throne?

I think the latter is the case. I think Peter truly thought Jesus was going to show His true authority with some sort of rebellion and Peter wanted to be a part of it. If this is the case, how would this affect his behavior when Jesus willingly submitted to His arrest?

Peter’s Thoughts

Do you think Peter was confused?

Disappointed?

Scared he had misjudged Jesus?

I think this would easily explain his fear and subsequent decision to deny Jesus that night. In fact, this idea seems to fit the more I think about it.

However, even if this line of thinking is way off base, I think we can all agree that Peter was afraid of something when he decided to deny Jesus. He may have been afraid he would also be arrested. Maybe he was scared of how his association with Jesus would impact his own family. We cannot really know.

BUT, there is one thing we can be sure of.

Misunderstanding

We can be sure that Peter’s decision to deny Jesus came from one root misunderstanding. It is this same misunderstanding that I believe causes you and me to deny Jesus on a regular basis.

What is the one misunderstanding?

Peter did not fully comprehend WHO Jesus was and WHAT His purpose really was.

Drink that in a moment.

What If…

IF Peter had FULLY understood that Jesus was truly God in the flesh…

IF Peter had COMPLETELY grasped that Jesus created the very earth he inhabited…

IF Peter had TRULY wrapped his mind around Jesus’ mission here…

Do you really think he would have even considered the decision to deny Jesus?

Our Problem!

Please take this slowly. This is not just about Peter. I believe this is OUR problem!

We act the way we do because we have yet to fully grasp exactly WHO Jesus really is!

We go about our every day tasks, errands, and work. We raise our families and hang out with our friends. We do all the things that people do everyday, but most of us do not really behave in a way that reflects Jesus for who He is!

Do we REALLY act like disciples of the Jesus that created this world? Do we act like followers of the One that died in our place? Are we sincerely allowing Him to be Lord over ALL parts of our life (work/job/business, family, school, etc.)?

What About The Difference?

If so, shouldn’t there be a significance between us and those around us? I am not talking about having a fish symbol on your car, either. I mean different to our core!

If you are that different, again I say, “Congratulations!”

If not, like me, then something needs to change! We need to be about the business of learning WHO this Jesus truly is. I am not talking about the Americanized Jesus. I am talking about the real Jesus – the One in the Bible.

Let’s take the time to completely understand the real Jesus and His mission (and by extension, ours) here. Let’s agree to no longer deny Jesus and start boldly acknowledging Him in everything we do!

I promise you that He deserves it.

What are your thoughts at this point?

Am I off my rocker or does this make sense?

What am I missing?

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Do You Deny Jesus?

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Reader Beware: Todays post may contain questions that are not appropriate for the weak or immature. Please do not read any further if you are not prepared to be challenged, even questioned, about your loyalty to Jesus. If you are one that doesn’t think you can deny Jesus, then be warned. Don’t complain later to me that you were tricked into reading this post. I won’t hear of it!

deny Jesus

Peter’s Big Mistake

The basis for today’s post comes from the passage in Matthew 26 when Peter is found to deny Jesus three times. We are likely all familiar with this passage (if not, read Matthew 26:31-75). In fact, it is just as likely we have all judged Peter as being weak in this passage.

I know we usually look to the future after Peter is restored. We see his boldness and we “forgive” him for this cowardly act. We still feel that for him to deny Jesus was almost criminal, but we see how God uses him later and we accept him. If you have never had these thoughts, then congratulations. More likely, you have never admitted having these thoughts!

What About Us?

So if this is true – if we call it cowardice to deny Jesus – what does that say about us?

What does it say when we go from Monday to Saturday every week without actively acknowledging our allegiance to Jesus?

What does it say when we look exactly like everyone else as we go through our normal work day – when there is no recognizable difference between us and the guy next to us at the soccer field or in the school or at the office?

What does it say when so few of our daily decisions clearly reflect our allegiance to Jesus?

Active vs. Passive?

Do you see a difference between a decision (like Peter’s) to “actively” deny Jesus and our daily decision to “passively” deny Jesus?

I have to say that I do not see a difference. I do not see Peter’s public decision to verbally deny Jesus when asked about his association with Him to be any different than our decision to go quietly about our daily work or other duties without a clear acknowledgement that He is our Lord.

In case there is confusion as to what I am saying, let me try to clarify.

Actively Deny Jesus

A decision to “actively” deny Jesus is usually pretty easy to recognize. In the most extreme cases, we picture one of the students at Columbine High School in 1999 being asked if she is a Christian. As the story goes, she answered that she was a Christian and it cost her her life. For her to answer otherwise would have been to deny Jesus.

In a less extreme example, maybe we are asked a simple question about why we choose not to drink alcohol or participate in other activities that others see as the norm. “Are you a Christian? Is that why you don’t drink? Are you a goody-two-shoes?”

Maybe it does not get asked exactly like that, but you get the drift. The idea is that we are put in a position where it is uncomfortable to acknowledge Jesus as our reason for our behavior. If we answer “No” to their question, then that is a decision to deny Jesus.

Passively Deny Jesus

For most of us, this type of opportunity to “actively” deny Jesus is not our problem. In most cases, we have a problem with the “passive” denial of Jesus.

Most of us would argue that this decision to “passively” deny Jesus is not as clear to most people, but I believe that is really just an excuse.

See, I believe it is our culture that has conditioned us to believe that an overt, bold statement about our allegiance to Jesus – whether through our work or through our family decisions – is taboo. It is not politically correct to be an active Christian in our society today.

Obviously, this is more true in some areas of the world and less so in others. But even right here in the “Bible belt” of the southeastern United States, this kind of behavior is not popular. Just as obvious is the fact that there are many reasons for this to be the case.

But my point is not about the reasons why it is like this.

Conformity = Deny Jesus?

My main point is to question whether we realize that when we accept society to be like this and we simply go with the flow, we are making the decision to deny Jesus. I don’t care whether this is an active or passive denial, in my mind it is a denial all the same! What do you think?

I want to talk more in my next post or two about HOW we deny Jesus, WHY we do it, and how we can turn from that behavior.

Your Homework!

In the meantime, I encourage you to mentally replay your last week. Think about all of your activities, decisions, and thoughts. Pray that God will first clear you heart and mind of all distractions. Then pray He would search your heart and show you where you are denying the very Son that bought your salvation with His life.

As I said at the beginning of the post, this is not for the faint of heart. This is tough discipleship and no one will know if you bypass this post and keep going on the path you were on before. At least no one else will know – outside of you and God.

Unfortunately, that is exactly what we are talking about here.

Do you think I am off my rocker or do you agree?

If you agree, are you guilty of the decision to deny Jesus?

Why are we so slow to call it a denial?