Christ and Common Sense

Thoughts from a Central Valley Pastor

Category: Christ (Page 3 of 9)

The Bride of Christ

June 2, 2023 /

Imagine going to a wedding where the bridesmaids were given more attention than the bride. Wouldn’t it be strange to see the bridesmaids wearing beautiful white gowns while the bride was adorned in a plain dress? People wouldn’t know what to do. They would wonder “Who is getting married here? Why are the bridesmaids stealing the show?” They would be in an uproar because everyone knows the wedding is for the bride and groom. The bridesmaids are there to support the bride, not to take attention away from her. 

In Ephesians 5:25, the apostle Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” 

This is a great illustration to meditate upon. Ephesians 5 is telling us that a husband’s love for his wife is supposed to be modeled after the supernatural, sacrificial love of Jesus Christ! In the same way that he was willing to give his life up for the church, a Christian husband should be willing to love his wife and care for her. This is a weighty responsibility for every husband. It fits into God’s greater plan to use marriage to help the church become more holy. Think about it. Can a husband do a good job leading his wife in holiness if he is not pursuing a holy life himself? He needs to be setting the course for his wife and his children so that they can all be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

The main point of Ephesians 5:25-27 is to reveal what type of love a husband is supposed to have for his wife. A secondary point is that Christ is uniquely focused on the purity and spiritual growth of the church. He is like a groom that is waiting for his bride, the church, to be prepared for the wedding feast! Revelation 19:6-9 gives us a prophetic preview of the wedding feast where the bride will finally be presented to the groom, Jesus Christ. It says, ““Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 

These true words of God reveal that Christians are to think of their lives as a time to prepare for the marriage supper of the Lamb. The wedding dress of the bride is made up of the righteous deeds of the saints. This is a helpful image. God wants believers to see their work and recreation as either preparing for the marriage feast or not. Ephesians 5:15-17 says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 

The will of the Lord for believers living today is to live for the marriage feast of the Lamb. It is to be invested in the local church, which is the physical representation of the bride of Christ. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The day referred to in Hebrews 10 includes the judgment of God, but it also includes a view towards the eternal state, when the bride of Christ will be united with the groom, Jesus Christ. 

Personally, I find it helpful to think about life in terms of this wedding illustration. Am I thinking about the church being prepared as the bride of Christ? Or am I being lulled into complacency by only thinking about the church as a building that needs upkeep and maintenance? Do I know what role I am supposed to play as a part of the body of Christ? Am I being faithful in my role as a husband and father? Am I living in light of the wedding feast of the Lamb? Am I focused on preparing the bride for the groom? These questions will help us keep our focus on things that will last. Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) 

May God give us the grace and the strength to be able to keep our focus on the wedding feast of the lamb so that we might live in light of eternity, not the temporary world that we currently live in. 

ocean wave at blue hour
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The Power of Proverbs

May 26, 2023 /

I have been amazed at how helpful the book of Proverbs has been in raising our four children. No other book in the Bible has brought as many fruitful discussions to our family devotions. We keep coming back to its thought-provoking chapters and profound moral puzzles because they help our sons and daughters learn how to navigate the difficulties of life. Some of the wise sayings are straight-forward and simple to understand, but many of them make you stop and think through the implications of their ancient wisdom.

I have lost count of the times I have told my family, “A Proverb a day keeps temptation away.” Studying the book of Proverbs does not guarantee an end to temptation, but it does provide a Biblically approved path that avoids the minefield of sin and dangers that lie on either side of the road of righteousness. Proverbs 10:9-10 puts it like this, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (English Standard Version) The book of Proverbs also makes it clear that it would be foolish to try to learn from its pages without first submitting yourself to God. Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” There is a right way to read the book of Proverbs. It is to come with the attitude of a submissive learner, ready to learn from its ancient deposit of truth.

After studying the Bible for more than two decades, I have come to the conclusion that the book of Proverbs is an indispensable manual for gaining the practical wisdom needed to live the way God intended. It is an ancient book that was compiled by wise men during the reign of the Jewish king Hezekiah (circa 715-686 BC). The book of Proverbs is made up of 915 verses, which were written by at least four authors, of whom King Solomon is by far the most well-known. The fame of his wisdom is not surprising if one realizes that the Bible claims he was the wisest man to ever live (1 Kings 3:12, 28). During his lifetime, men and women of renown traveled great distances to listen to his teaching on a wide range of subjects, including biology, philosophy, and theology. 1 Kings 4:34 gives the following historical account, “And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.”

I am often convicted by how easy it is to take God’s word. Imagine what people who lived during king Solomon’s time would have thought if they could own a personal copy of a book that had almost a thousand of the wisest sayings in the world? They would have considered it one of their most valuable possessions. One way to not take Proverbs for granted has been by reading a chapter or a portion of a chapter every day. This is easy to do because the book of Proverbs is divided into thirty-one chapters, one for every day of the month. Whenever I meet someone who wants to read the Bible consistently, I encourage them to read a Proverb a day. This makes it easy to keep track of the reading assignment and it keeps the topic interesting because the topics often change from verse to verse.

Some people find it difficult to read through Proverbs because the topics change so often. That is one reason why I recommend Dr. Richard Mayhue’s book Practicing Proverbs: Wise Living for Foolish Times. It is an excellent guide that takes a thematic approach to the book. This helps the reader dive into different themes such as Family, the Marketplace, Personal, and Spiritual wisdom. Dr. Mayhue encourages people to take an entire year to read through the Proverbs, reading through the chapters repeatedly in order to soak up the wisdom of each passage.

Personally, I have found it is helpful to ask the following questions with each Proverb: 1) How is this principle shown to be true in the rest of Scripture? 2) How is the truth of this proverb illustrated in modern life? These two questions have helped our family delve into hundreds of proverbs. This approach is helpful because the discussion can be adapted to the age of the children, whether they are young or teenagers.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of reading the Proverbs with our family has come from seeing our children grow in wisdom and in stature with God and man. I am not saying that they have arrived at wisdom, I am saying that I have been able to see how God has used His word to convict them of sin and bring them to repentance. He has helped them to see their own tendency to be immature and that has helped give them a desire to grow in spiritual maturity. He has used the book of Proverbs to give them priceless warnings about the dangers of life, so they will be prepared when the difficulties of life and the temptations of the world try to disrupt their path. My prayer is that they would develop a habit of reading the Proverbs that will serve them the rest of their lives.

Proverbs 8:35-36 provides a classic summary for why we should all pursue wisdom, “For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Iron Sharpens Iron Conference

May 19, 2023 /

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” This famous verse, found in Proverbs 27:17 (ESV), captures the heart of the Iron Sharpens Iron (ISI) conference, which takes place every year at Hickman Community Church in Hickman, CA. 

I have been hearing about the ISI Conference for several years, but this was the first time I had the opportunity to make the two hour trip up Highway 99 to this special conference. The first reason it is unique is because of where it is held. As of 2020, the city of Hickman had an official population of 751 souls. Hickman Community Church has a good size facility so I wouldn’t be surprised if the city size grows by several hundred every Sunday morning! The church campus has plenty of space to make room for all the people who come, whether it is on a Sunday morning for a worship service or for a men’s conference like ISI. 

The second thing that impressed me about the conference was how many of the speakers are serving here in the Central Valley. All eight of the speakers came from Northern California. We had Tulare, Merced, Stanislaus, Sacramento, and even Nevada county represented at the conference. This may not be significant to many, but the fact that so many well-trained, godly speakers were available to speak was a great encouragement to me. My prayer is that this trend would continue as the conference prepares for the future. 

The ISI conference is built around four main sessions and three break-out sessions. These are spaced out evenly between three meals, dinner on Friday night, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. The theme of this year’s conference was on leaving a legacy for the next generation. Dr. Rick Gregory, from Grace Bible Church in Fair Oaks, did an excellent job keeping the men in attendance engaged and challenged from God’s word. The first session laid a foundation for leaving a legacy by emphasizing the importance of having integrity. A man’s impact on future generations will not have lasting power if he does not have integrity. The next session was focused on investing wisely in the next generation. The Bible has both positive and negative examples of how to pour into the lives of younger men (Positive 1 Thess. 5:11, Heb. 10:24-25, Negative 1 Ki. 1:6). 

Pastor Rick’s third session was on learning how to use Godly influence in each man’s legacy. He gave very practical guidance on how a father’s role in a child’s life needs to change as the child grows. The role changes from that of a lot of control, when the child is an infant and toddler, to that of a coach as the child grows older. Later, when the child reaches adulthood the role needs to change to counseling and once the child is married and has children, the father’s role should develop into that of a consultant, giving guidance as needed. I found this to be a helpful session because I have seen my children show a need for my role in their lives to change in a similar way to what Dr. Rick mentioned. The fourth and last session, was actually a Q&A with all the available speakers. This was helpful and I especially appreciated the restorative answer to the question of whether someone can leave a legacy if they have made major mistakes in life. The pastors expressed a need for men to acknowledge their mistakes, to repent of them, and then to sincerely seek to live the remainder of their life for the glory of God. Overall, the main sessions combined to make a forceful argument for men to carefully consider how they are investing in the next generation. 

I traveled up to ISI with two men from Grace Bible Hanford and one from Grace Church of the Valley in Kingsburg. Our brother from Hanford speaks fluent Spanish, so he was able to attend two break-out sessions in Spanish, the first was on Adoring God and the second was on Evangelism. The rest of us were able to hear two great sessions on sharing our faith and on family worship. The latter included a helpful description of Deuteronomy 6:4-8, which highlights God’s commands for parents to teach Scripture “diligently to your children” all the time. The session on sharing your faith was powerful to hear because it was given by a pastor who had seen God turn his life around, giving him the ultimate reason to share the good news of Jesus Christ. 

As always, one of the highlights of a men’s conference is hearing so many faithful men belting out powerful worship songs to God. We had several opportunities to be led in singing by the worship band and each of them were powerful times to sing of who God is and what he has done. 

The conference ended around 4:30 pm on Saturday. We thanked the hosts and got into our car for the drive home. We were able to talk about what we had heard and learned during the sessions. We set goals for how we would be able to implement the encouragement we had been given. I am happy to report that some of us have already had good conversations about the conference, which means we are already well on our way of pursuing the ISI goal to sharpen one another for the glory of God. Hopefully, we will be able to make a return trip next year. 

The Godly Woman of Proverbs Thirty-One

May 12, 2023 /

The Bible gives a refreshingly clear description of an ideal woman in Proverbs 31:10-31. It is refreshing because it is not focused on the outward appearance of a woman. The twenty-two verses in this passage are overflowing with colorful imagery and practical illustrations of the kind of woman who “is to be praised.” It is important to note that the Bible does not require women to be married to faithfully serve God (1 Corinthians 7:7-8). Those who are married have a specific role to play in God’s glorious plan, but the principles listed in Proverbs 31 provides guidance regardless of whether someone is single or married. 

Many Christians are aware of the importance of the passage, but what is not as well known is that every stanza begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, starting with Aleph and ending with Tau. One reason the original author created this abecedarian, was to paint a complete picture of a Godly woman. This helped the readers of Proverbs to grasp the attitude and actions that God wants woman to have. 

This ancient wisdom has been helpful for women of every generation that have had access to it. As a husband of one such woman, I can personally attest to the joy and peace that is brought into the world by women who seek to follow after these principles. My prayer is that this article will bring a renewed interest in this profound teaching about God’s view of a wise woman. 

One of the unique aspects of this chapter is that the author goes out of his way to highlight the unique value that a woman of God brings to her husband. The modern reader might be surprised that husbands are mentioned in a chapter about women, but this is no surprise to the informed reader of Scripture. Genesis 2:15-18 

specifies that God’s intention in creating Eve was to be a “suitable helper” for her husband. Ephesians 5:22-27 gives even more detail regarding God’s beautiful design for marriage. The author, the apostle Paul, commands each husband to love his wife in a sacrificial way, modeled after the incomparable servanthood of Jesus Christ. In verse 22, the apostle Paul specifies that each wife is to submit to her husband’s leadership of the family. Far from encouraging wives to subjugate themselves to the sinful domination of a worldly husband, this is a profound encouragement for wives to follow the loving leadership of a husband who is being held accountable by the perfect guidance of a good and gracious God. 

This picture of a Godly wife supporting her loving husband is masterfully displayed in Proverbs 31:10-31. The passage includes three references to the husband and each of them show the special value that a woman of God can bring to her husband. Verses 10-12 state that a Godly wife “is more precious than jewels.” She has earned the trust of her husband and he is convinced that his relationship with her will bring him success, and not harm, all her life. 

Verse 23 is the next place that mentions the connection between a husband and an ideal woman of God. It says, “ Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.” The verses above and below imply that his wife’s excellent work and remarkable industry are one of the reasons her husband has such a good reputation in the city. 

Verses 28-31 bring a nice bookend to the passage because they reveal that a Godly woman will be praised by her children and her husband, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many jwomen have done kexcellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” The last sentence implies that her husband is the one recognizing his wife’s remarkable service to him, his family, and the community. 

The majority of the chapter is filled with detailed descriptions of the activity and attitude of an ideal woman of God. She is actively involved in the oversight of the business of the home. She is sacrificial in her concern for her children and for the responsibilities she has been given. She does not praise herself or demand recognition. Her praise comes from the lips of others. Proverbs 27:2 reinforces the idea of measuring the value of a woman of God from the words of others, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” Ultimately, the value of each woman is only decided by the God who made her. Scripture is also clear that a woman does not have to be married in order to be faithful to God. In fact, the apostle Paul wrote that there was much value for both men and women to remain single (1 Corinthians 7:7-8). Regardless of someone’s marital status, each person can benefit by studying the example given in Proverbs 31 and each person can prayerfully ask God to help them live in a way that is pleasing to Him. 

Exemplary Husband, Excellent Wife

May 2, 2023 /

My conviction about the importance of marriage and family grows every year. When Lydia and I were first married in 2007 we were both in love with each other and with the idea of being married (I’m glad to report that both are still true!) We were committed to God’s design for a man and a woman to make a covenant to live together and to serve the Lord together. As each year has passed, our appreciation for God’s institution of marriage has deepened. Now that we are enjoying our sixteenth year of marriage, I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude to God for bringing my wife and me together and for using our marriage to help each of us grow more committed to God and to each other.

One reason I have been thinking about marriage recently is because my wife and I have been reading through two of the best books on the subject. The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott and The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace were written to help Christian couples grow and mature in their service to the Lord. As you can tell from their titles, these books have set the bar incredibly high for husbands and wives. Lydia and I have been challenged and convicted by what we have read. I thought it would be helpful to share a few of the points from The Exemplary Husband that God has used most powerfully in my life.

Before I go any further, I need to clarify that I am not claiming to be the exemplary husband. I certainly have many areas to grow in. I’m also not saying that we have a perfect marriage. I am saying that my wife and I are amazed at God’s design for marriage and we want to pursue the Bible’s high calling for as many years as he gives us together on this earth.

Stuart Scott’s book is built around four sections: A Husband’s Recognitions, Responsibilities, Resolves, and Regrets. The first section lays a strong foundation to help each husband understand their standing before God. He is the one who created marriage and he knows how it is supposed to function. Scott does a great job laying out the most important passages of Scripture for understanding God, man, sin, the purpose of relationships and marriage, and most importantly for this book, man’s role in marriage.

The second section is worth the price of the book because it is so rare in our society to find a clarion voice regarding roles in marriage. The Bible makes clear statements about the differences between men and women and about the specific role that husbands are to play in marriage. It was refreshing to see how Scott put a husband’s role in the context of worshipping God. Marriage is not about meeting the husband’s needs. It is about serving God and others. The chapters on love and leadership were convicting because it is so easy to want to cater to my own preferences instead of being sacrificial and self-less. The Exemplary Husband helps the reader think about marriage the way God does. This helps give each husband the justification and the motivation needed to think and act as a servant in marriage.

The section on a Husband’s Resolves relates to his commitment to tackle some of the difficult parts of marriage. It was convicting to be reminded of my pride and my hesitancy to be humble and serve my wife. The Biblical encouragement for husbands to “live with your wives in an understanding way” is one of the most important passages for husbands to understand (1 Peter 3:7) The chapter on “Helping Your Wife Deal With Her Sin” gets at the heart of why God design marriage. It is supposed to be used by God to mold both the husband and wife into the image of Jesus Christ. This is such a beautiful purpose for marriage and any Christian who has been married will attest to how effective the relationship is for showing us our sin and our need to be humbled and sanctified by God.

The last section is titled “A Husband’s Regrets.” It makes sure that the exemplary husband is aware of his own weaknesses and it gives a very effective warning on sins that can cut directly against the goal of pursuing God in marriage. This section, in particular, proves that the author does not shy away from addressing the dangers of weak husband. I found it encouraging and convicting to read Scott’s warnings against anger, anxiety and fear, and lust.

God has given humanity a wonderful gift in marriage. Some may be tempted to think of it as a utilitarian aspect of society, but we must never forget that it was instituted by God when he introduced the idea to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden (Genesis 1-2). Christians must take marriage seriously. They must recognize that the centerpiece of God’s design for humanity is marriage, the sacred union of a husband and wife. My prayer is that those reading would be motivated to study God’s word on marriage. I would highly recommend The Exemplary Husband and The Excellent Wife in pursuing that goal. I know my wife and I have been convicted and encouraged by what we have read.

Folded Cloth, Strengthened Faith

April 7, 2023 /

The most exhilarating message I have ever given was during a sunrise service at San Gabriel Community Church. I remember it so vividly because I was facing the rising sun while I preached about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. It was surreal to think about how the very same sun had risen on an empty tomb more than two thousand years ago.

That year, I had spent hours preparing to speak about how Peter and John discovered the empty tomb in John 20:1-10. John’s account begins with Mary Magdalene visiting the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark. She saw that the tomb stone had been rolled away! She ran to Simon Peter and immediately told him, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Naturally, Peter was concerned that someone had stolen the body, so he dashed out of the home and raced towards the tomb. We know from the Bible’s account that John joined Peter running to the tomb. They both raced towards the tomb to see what had happened to Jesus’ body.

We know that John was faster than Peter because John 20:4-5 tells us that he overtook Peter and arrived at the tomb first. John then stooped down to look into the tomb, but he did not go inside. The Bible gives very specific details about what happened next. It says, “Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.”

This reference to the folded face cloth is significant for several reasons. First, we know it is important because John goes out of his way to describe this smaller handkerchief that had been folded and left in the tomb. John could have just written about the burial clothes and the face cloth in general, but he didn’t. He drew the reader’s attention to the face cloth because he wanted to show that it needed to be considered differently than the other burial clothes.

The second reason the face cloth is significant is because it had been folded. Why would Jesus have taken the time to fold this cloth? You would expect most people would not be thinking about folding pieces of cloth that had just been wrapped around a dead body, especially if it was their own. Jesus was different. He was thoughtful and purposeful. He folded the cloth because he wanted to let the disciples know that his body had not been stolen.

If the body had been stolen, do you think the thieves would have taken the time to fold the face cloth and leave it in a prominent place? No. They would have been wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. If the face cloth was folded, it meant that criminals were not in charge of the situation. It was Jesus who was in control. He was not in a rush. He had taken off the strips of cloth that surrounded his body in the grave. He had put them in one place and he had removed his face cloth, folded it, and placed it in a different place so those coming after him would recognize what had taken place.

Peter and John arrived on the scene and began acting like amateur detectives. They were looking for clues and we know from John’s account in his gospel that they recognized the significance of the folded face cloth. The third observation makes this clear. John 20:8-9 says, “Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;” The third reason the folded cloth is significant is because John’s sight of the folded face cloth led him to believe that the body hadn’t been stolen and that Jesus had actually risen from the dead.

The second disciple to go into the tomb was John. He had been the first one to arrive at the tomb, but he didn’t have a clear view of the face cloth because he had not actually gone inside. It was Peter who went barreling into the tomb. He saw the burial cloth and the folded face cloth, but John’s gospel doesn’t tell us how Peter reacted. John’s account does tell us John’s response. It tells us that “he saw and believed.” The emphasis here is on the fact that John saw the burial cloths and the folded face cloth. We know he understood the significance of the face cloth because his account tells us that he “believed.” This idea of belief is to consider something to be worthy of one’s trust. He believed that Jesus’ body had not been stolen. He believed that Jesus had risen from the dead!

If you keep reading in John’s account you will see that the next part of the account describes how Jesus appeared to Mary and the disciples. First he appeared to Mary in the garden and then later that night he appeared to a group of the disciples in Jerusalem. The sequence of events is staggering to consider. Why didn’t he just appear to them right away? Clearly he wanted to let them see the empty tomb for themselves. He wanted them to have a visceral, powerful experience of having their faith strengthened by the hard facts of the gospel. They may have doubted that Jesus would rise from the dead, but now they had to believe it. He was alive! The tomb stone had been rolled away, the burial cloths had been discarded and the face cloth had been carefully folded and left as a memento that Jesus had risen from the dead!

I remember being deeply impacted by studying the significance of Jesus folding his face cloth and leaving it for the disciples to discover. It helped my faith in God and my appreciation of the work of Jesus Christ increase. My prayer is that you will take the time to study the historical account of Jesus’ resurrection so that you will be struck by the power of our risen Lord! He is risen. He is Risen Indeed!

Integrity Needed!

March 24, 2023 /

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” (Matthew 5:13 ESV) This famous passage has captured the imagination of followers of Christ ever since Jesus first taught it to a large crowd at the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus Christ wanted to give his followers a helpful illustration so they would understand how to influence the world around them. Salt brings flavor to food and salt preserves food. If it was low quality salt, then it would not have its desired impact. If it was pure and of high quality, then it would have a profound effect.

We often take salt for granted today, but in the time of the Roman Empire it was regarded as one of the most valuable commodities on the market. I was surprised to learn that salt was actually used as currency to pay soldiers in the Roman legion. Once month’s wage was called a solarium in Latin, which is actually where we get our English word “salary” from. We know salt was used to season food, but it had many different uses in the ancient world. It was used to preserve food so that it would not spoil. It was also used in small quantities in soil to help plants grow. The book of Judges gives proof that it was used as a form of punishment on a captured city. After Abimelech destroyed the city of Shechem the Bible says he “sowed it with salt.” (Judges 9:45) This would mean that nothing would be able to grow in the fields around the city for many years.

There is disagreement about which meaning Jesus was emphasizing when he referred to his followers as the salt of the earth. Was he referring to the purity of salt, the flavor enhancement, or the preserving property of salt? I believe Jesus could have been referring to each of these meanings, but I am convinced he was emphasizing the preserving power of salt. If salt loses its ability to preserve food then the meat would rot and become worthless. It would not be good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.


If you look at the context of the Sermon on the Mount it is clear that Christians will be persecuted for their faith. They will suffer for speaking the truth in love to those around them. Matthew 5:14-16 refers to followers of Christ as the light of the world. The darkness is great, but the light of God is able to shine brightly and keep back the negative impact of the darkness.


Recently, our Men of Grace group was discussing a chapter about integrity in Kent Hughes book, Disciplines of a Godly Man. The chapter was called “The Discipline of Integrity” and it was a call for men in the church to make a stand for what is right. The author gave many examples of how our culture celebrates sin and corruption. None of our men had to be convinced that we are living in a time of low moral integrity. Many in our society don’t think twice about stealing from the workplace or being dishonest with their taxes. The news is often filled with stories of embezzlement and fraud at the highest levels of government and society.


The moral morass of our society makes it even more important for Christians to make a stand for what is right. We are the salt of the earth. We need to use God’s word as our ethical standard. Leviticus 19:2 says, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” The follower of Christ looks to God for his definition of right and wrong. We need to constantly align our consciences with the word of God. That is how we will be able to stay pure and live in holiness. When we fall short we must repent of our sins, but we must always keep our standards high so that we may be the salt of the earth and point people to Christ.

The Faith of Samuel

February 24, 2023 /

I haven’t read much about Samuel outside of the Bible. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a sermon about this great man of God. It’s not surprising to see that he is mentioned in the Hall of Faith chapter in Hebrews 11, but it does seem unfortunate that we rarely hear how God used this humble man to lead Israel through some of the darkest days of their history. 

While reading through the Bible this year, I have enjoyed seeing what a dramatic difference Samuel made in the spiritual life of God’s people. He was born during the time of the judges when “There was no king in Israel; everyone did what which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25 Legacy Standard Bible). The time of judges occurred towards the end of the 11th Century BC. Eli was the chief priest at the time and the book of 1 Samuel makes it clear that his spiritual leadership was lacking. His own sons had been made priests and they regularly took advantage of the people by stealing from their offerings and by even committing adultery with some of the women who came to worship God. 

The historical account in 1 Samuel reveals that God’s patience with Eli came to an end. A man was sent to Eli to tell him that God was going to punish him for his sinful leadership. Both of Eli’s sons would die on the same day and Eli’s leadership would come to an end. In his place, God would raise up “a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him a faithful house, and he will walk before My anointed always.” (1 Samuel 2:35) 

The faithful priest mentioned in that prophecy was Samuel. His father was Elkanah and his mother was named Hannah. They were a godly couple, but Hannah was deeply depressed because she could not have children. She made a vow to God that if He gave her a son, she would place him in the priesthood to serve the Lord. God granted her request and so when he was old enough, she took him to Shiloh and he became a priest in training. 

Something happened when Samuel was young that revealed the foundation of his faithfulness to God. He was visited by God and Samuel responded by saying, “Speak, for your slave is listening.” Samuel’s willingness to obey God started from that young age and continued throughout his life. 1 Samuel 2:26 says, “Now the young boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with Yahweh and with men.” A similar phrase was used to describe Jesus Christ when he was young (Luke 2:52).

Samuel continued to grow in faithfulness to God throughout his life. His first major test came after Eli’s sons died while fighting the Philistines at the battle of Aphek in 1104 BC. Eli himself died on the same day and Samuel became the chief priest of Israel. 1 Samuel 7 describes how he challenged the people to be faithful to God. He said, “If you are to return to Yahweh with all your heart, then remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and set your hearts toward Yahweh and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Sam. 7:3) The people listened to and removed their idols and served God. 

Samuel gathered the people at a place called Mizpah, which is near the modern city of Jerusalem. There he led the people in repenting of their sins. The Philistine rulers heard that the Israelites were gathered together and they brought an army against them to attack them. We believe this battle took place in 1084 BC. Samuel could have told the people to flee back to their homes, but he didn’t. He bravely told the people, “Do not cease to cry out to Yahweh our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Sam. 7:8) 

The faith of Samuel was put on display at Mizpah because he did not tell the people to rely on their own strength. He did not look for a way to pay mercenaries to come defend them as other leaders often did at the time. No, he relied on the power of God alone. 1 Samuel 7 records how God caused the Philistines to become confused and their army was dispersed. As a result, the people of Israel were able to pursue their enemy down the mountain range as far as Beth-Car, which many believe would be at the edge of the plains and the foothills near modern day Nashon, Israel. 

The historical account in 1 Samuel tells us that Samuel’s stand against the Philistines led to many of the major cities in the plains being returned to Israel. This time of peace continued throughout much of Samuel’s life, which is a testimony to how God honored his faith. He spent much of his ministry visiting the people on a circuit that went from Ramah, where he lived to Gilgal and Bethel. He became a trusted and respected judge for the people of Israel. 

Later in his life he was used by God to help the people transition from a theocracy (ruled by God) to a monarchy (ruled by a king). He anointed Saul as Israel’s first king and he continued to call the people and the king to faithfulness throughout his life. His faith in God was shown dramatically in 1 Samuel 13 when the Bible records how Samuel confronted Saul’s lack of faith. He told the king, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which He commanded you.” As a result Samuel told Saul that the kingdom would be given to another, who we know from later accounts is king David. 

It is interesting that Samuel had the same weakness that Eli, his predecessor had. 1 Samuel 8 describes how Samuel’s two sons, Joel and Abijah, were also priests who were unfaithful to God. They were greedy and corrupt. Samuel, like every father, is ultimately not responsible for the actions of their grown children, but it is unfortunate that his sons did not recognize the benefit of living in a way that was pleasing to God. 

We don’t know exactly how old Samuel was when he died, but we know that he died before David became king around 1011 BC. 1 Samuel 25 records how all Israel gathered together in his hometown of Ramah to mourn his death. He was the last of the great priests before Israel became a monarchy. His life was marked by unbroken faithfulness to God. From his youth to his death. 

Personally, I think there is much to learn from his willingness to fear God and not man. His ability to trust in God in the face of impending doom clearly marks him as a great man of faith. My hope is believers will be inspired to trust in God the same way Samuel did. 

Praying at the Ag Expo

February 17, 2023 /

Did you know there is a prayer breakfast at the Ag Expo? I had no idea until I saw it on the program for this year’s schedule of events. I was already planning on going later in the day on Wednesday, but I decided to go earlier to see what it was like to attend this unique event. 

As soon as I entered the tent I was surprised by how well attended it was. There were circular tables filling almost the entire floor plan and from my vantage point it looked like every table was full of happy, talkative people. As I walked to the front I could tell people were enjoying the food they had been served. I filled through the buffet line and found a table right at the front. 

When I looked up on stage I could see some familiar faces. The Gilly Girls Band were playing to a full house. The band is comprised of two sets of twins who have been playing bluegrass and gospel music for many years. I was able to talk to them after the program and I was happy to learn that they are all believers who attend a local church here in the valley. 

As soon as they were done playing, the emcee, David Macedo, came up and introduced a documentary about the Riddle family, who were the guest family of the event. Personally, I thought this was the most meaningful part of the program because we were given insight into how God has worked in the life of this unique family. Kevin Riddle and his wife Ann explained the history of how Kevin’s family moved from Corcoran up to Orosi, CA. They were initially involved in the cattle industry and then in 1959 they began transitioning to a citrus operation. Kevin’s testimony was heartfelt and encouraging. He talked about how God has helped his faith grow through many of the difficulties and trials he and his wife have experienced. He gave credit to God for blessing their farm and their marriage. One of the most poignant parts of the video was when Ann quoted James 1:2-3 from memory. She said, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” 

After the documentary ended, the emcee invited the entire Riddle family clan onto the stage. We were told that there were twenty-nine people on the stage! Kevin and Ann, their four children and spouses, and nineteen grandchildren. It was a remarkable sight to see how God has blessed Kevin and Ann with godly children and grand-children. The oldest grandchild from each family stepped forward and read from different passages of Scripture.

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Riddle after the event. It was memorable experience to shake his hand and hear him tell me about the churches that he and his family are attending here in the valley. Later I learned that the Prayer Breakfast has been inviting a guest family to the event for many years. If I return next year, it will be to seek encouragement from the family’s testimony of God’s work in their lives. 

Next we were able to hear from the featured speaker, the Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux. His message was entertaining and thought-provoking. He told us about how he grew up in a small town in California. His father was a local officer and his advice to his son was to always look for what God was telling him to do. After thirty-three years in the service, Sheriff Boudreaux is still following that advice. 

He told us a powerful story of how God answered the prayers of a family whose daughter had just been kidnapped. Sheriff Boudreaux explained how he felt guided by God to make contact with a person who ended up being guilty of kidnapping the couple’s daughter. The couple had prayed to God, even before calling the police, and Sheriff Boudreaux had been led to intervene in the situation. He was able to make the arrest and return the daughter to the parents that very day. He told the audience that he believes in the power of prayer and many who heard him were in agreement. 

My favorite part of Sheriff Boudreaux’s message was when he referred to the Bible’s account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel chapter 3. He told the audience that he had been inspired by how those men were not willing to bow to the pressure of their society and Sheriff Boudreaux encouraged all those listening to follow their example. He encouraged us to stand firm and to not forget our convictions to God and his word. 

The Prayer Breakfast ended with a prayer and a farewell from the host. Overall, I was glad I attended the meeting and Lord willing, I look forward to being able to go next year as well. 

Mental Health and the Bible

February 6, 2023 /

Last week someone asked me for guidance on how Christians should understand the issue of mental health from a biblical perspective. I wasn’t surprised by the timing of the question because I have noticed an increased emphasis on mental and behavioral health in our community. I did some research about this and found that last year the government of California started a program that focuses on the mental health and substance abuse for children and young people.

In August of 2022, governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state is investing $4.7 billion to address “the issue of mental health and behavioral health once and for all in this state.” This is being done through several different initiatives. One program will seek to hire 40,000 more behavioral health professionals over the coming years. Another program will seek to provide “screening and support services” for youth up to twenty five years old. (https://edsource.org/updates/newsom-announces-plan-to-reimagine-mental-health-and-substance-abuse-services)
This increase in funding helps explain why we are seeing community organizations and the educational system emphasizing mental and behavioral health.

So how are Christians supposed to handle issues of mental health? How should believing parents interact with counselors and psychologists at schools and counseling centers? Some people may think the Bible offers no help for such modern problems, but the careful student of Scripture will recognize that the Bible is capable of addressing all issues of life, including everything that falls under the rubric of mental health. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

In order to understand mental health it is important to grasp the history behind the term. The word “mental” comes from the Latin phrase mentalis and refers to the mind and the intellect. The phrase started to be used in English in the 15th century and by that time the meaning included spiritual issues related to the soul. In the early 1900s the phrase became synonymous with being “crazy, deranged” because of the negative connotations associated with mental hospitals and institutions, which were often referred to as asylums and sanitariums. Clifford Beers pioneered the use of the term “mental hygiene,” which later became “mental health.” In 1909 he founded a non-profit named Mental Health America which is dedicated to “addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting overall mental health for all.” https://screening.mhanational.org/about-mha-screening/ Beers wrote about his traumatic experience in a mental hospital in the book A Mind that Found Itself. He started much-needed reform in the treatment of mental illness.

Later a psychiatrist named Emil Kraepelin pioneered a scientific understanding of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. Many of his ideas were used as a basis for the American Psychological Association’s classification of mental illnesses, which are updated in the 1,120 page DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition). This manual lists over three hundred different mental disorders. These included anxiety, depression, mania, and schizophrenia. All of these disorders can fall under the umbrella of mental illnesses or mental disorders.

The Bible is written from a very different perspective than the DSM-5. Instead of primarily looking for a materialistic explanation for people’s problems, the Bible looks for the spiritual cause and solution. The Bible recognizes that humanity was created perfectly healthy and whole before the Fall. There was no depression or anxiety before Adam and Eve sinned, as described in Genesis chapter 3. It was only after the Fall and after they sinned, that behavioral problems and the difficulties of life began to manifest themselves. The Bible makes it clear that Adam and Eve both felt guilt and shame because they disobeyed God. It also states that life after the fall would be full of pain and trials. Genesis 4 reveals that the first murder took place because of Cain’s jealousy and hatred towards Abel. As sin increased on the earth, so did the problems that mankind experiences.

The Bible has another dramatic difference from the DSM-5 because God’s word is willing to provide a spiritual solution for humanity’s most fundamental problems. The DSM-5 is written to help diagnose problems. It is not definitive on how to reach solutions for the problems. There are hundreds of different approaches to psychological solutions. The Bible brings a remarkable clarity to dealing with the problems of life. It does not try to remove all negative factors from someone’s environment. The Bible teaches believers how to have joy in the midst of trials (James 1:3). The Bible does not look for solutions in a person’s circumstances. The Bible gives spiritual solutions that are rooted in God’s love and mercy.

The Bible teaches that everyone is born with a conscience that is aligned with God’s definition of right and wrong. When people do something wrong, they experience a profound sense of guilt and shame because they have been created to feel that way. If they learn to confess their sin to God they can have that sense of guilt completely removed. God’s word says, “If we confess or sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) The Bible teaches that someone’s guilt can be removed because Jesus Christ paid for their sin on the cross. If they believe in the work of God, instead of their own attempts at doing good, then they can be saved. This is a supernatural truth that the Bible goes into extensive detail to explain (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10).

The saving truth of the gospel is something that Christians need to keep in mind when dealing with anything that might be diagnosed as a mental illness or disorder. This does not mean that Christians must reject psychological or psychiatric solutions. It means that all mental issues can have a spiritual issue connected to them that should not be ignored. The historic definition of a person’s mental livelihood included the existence of the soul. Instead of reducing a person to a materialistic framework of chemicals and proteins, the Christian needs to have a Biblical approach, which is wonderfully holistic. It recognizes that humans are made in the image of God and thus their bodies and souls are intricately connected and need to be in tune with the God who made them in order to achieve the true health, peace, and shalom that the Bible describes.

Jesus described this sense of peace when he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27). Jesus knew how to help people overcome the darkness they experienced in their lives. He knew that his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead would overcome the pain of sin and death. He brought the ultimate answer to the problems of the world. Instead of looking to materialistic remedies for help, Christians need to first and foremost look to God and his word that brings healing to our souls.

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