Sometimes, we are tempted to follow the letter of God’s law and ignore the spirit of His intended instruction. Personally, when I do this, the flow of God’s Holy Spirit seems to be affected in a negative way, and I feel less intimately connected to Christ.
FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF GOD’S LAW Following the letter of God's Law refers to adhering strictly to the written commandments without considering the broader context or the underlying principles intended by those laws. This approach often leads to legalism, where the focus is on external compliance rather than internal transformation. Jesus criticized the Pharisees and teachers of the law for such behavior. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." (Matthew 23:23-24 NIV) Here, Jesus highlights the Pharisees' meticulous adherence to the minute details of the law while neglecting its fundamental principles of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Following God’s literal law, without embracing its spirit, ends up missing His point of His law in the first place. I must admit, sometimes it is easier to follow the letter of the law than the spirit of what was intended. FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF GOD’S LAW Following the spirit of God's law means understanding and living by the principles and values that underpin the written commandments. This approach focuses on our heart's transformation and the intimate relationship with God, emphasizing love, mercy, and justice over mere rule-following. "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6 NIV) I notice that following the letter of the law dampens my intimacy with Christ. Paul contrasts the letter and the spirit of the law, asserting that the Spirit brings life. This life-giving spirit is echoed in how Jesus taught and lived, emphasizing the importance of internal attitudes over external observance. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV) The fruits of the Spirit represent the character traits that emerge from a life led by the Spirit, in contrast to a life bound by the letter of the law. These qualities fulfill God’s laws’ true intent by focusing on love and respect for God and others. CONCLUSION The distinction between following the letter versus the spirit of God's law is crucial for understanding the essence of our Christian faith. The letter of the law, while important, cannot bring life or righteousness by itself. It serves as a guide, but without the transforming power of the Spirit, it can lead to legalism and a focus on external behaviors rather than heart transformation. "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." (Romans 7:6 NIV) God wants us Christ-followers to live by His Holy Spirit, which fulfills the law's requirements through a life of love, joy, peace, and other fruits of the Spirit. By focusing on the spirit of the law, we are called to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God that transcends mere adherence to rules, embodying the law's true purpose through a transformed life. May we all have the courage to live like this. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 15, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. I’ve often heard it said, “Spouses that Pray Together, Stay Together.”
Valentine’s Day holds a special significance in our home. It's a day when Patty and I honor each other. While many couples celebrate with romantic gestures, perhaps igniting a flame of love that burns brighter, the challenge lies in keeping that love glowing brightly throughout the next 364 days. Allow me to share what has worked exceptionally well for us: praying together. PRAYING WHILE HOLDING HANDS Patty and I share a prayer ritual that we believe was divinely inspired. Each morning when we first see each other, we hold hands and pray together. We take turns, sometimes offering many sentences, sometimes just a few. Regardless, the essence remains the same – praying together in a connected way, serving as a spiritual glue reminding us of our identity in Christ (as spiritual beings) and our bond to each other (united by Christ in Holy Matrimony). I encourage you to try this with your spouse and see if it enriches your marriage as it has ours. It truly works wonders. SEEKING COUNSEL Before we were married, Patty and I began pre-marital counseling, and we've continued it ever since. Year after year, we meet with a counselor to navigate through difficult decisions. Personally, I find value in having a woman’s perspective on what my wife expresses, so our counselor has always been a woman. With the convenience of Zoom in this age, we easily fit these bi-monthly sessions into our busy lives. We ensure our counselor is highly credentialed and a committed follower of Christ. As a side note, I've noticed many Christian counselors overlook the practice of starting and ending sessions with prayer. I believe this is a missed opportunity. My suggestion: Take charge of your session and incorporate prayer. After all, Christ is truly your counselor, and hopefully, the earthly counselor you choose is aware of their limited role in comparison. LOVE LETTERS When I married Patty, I presented her with a leather-bound journal containing a love letter from me. Since then, on special occasions, I retrieve it from her drawer and pen another love letter inside. In times of doubt or struggle, Patty can turn to her journal and read these love letters. They're all in one place, arranged chronologically. In fact, I'm about to retrieve that journal and write in it now. And yes, I always conclude my letters with a prayer for my spouse. There is tremendous power in the written word. Many settle for signing pre-written greeting cards, but words from the heart hold much greater significance. CONCLUSION Anyone claiming to have marriage figured out is either dishonest or delusional, possibly not listening to their spouse! I don’t profess to have all the answers, only to be a student of marriage. I look to Christ and His teachings on marital conduct, which are substantial. I also learn from Christ-followers with marriages spanning 30, 40, or even 50+ years, for they exemplify endurance. Allow me to leave you with parting words from a well-known Scripture often read at weddings: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13 NIV) Let me correct my conclusion. There is indeed one who has mastered marriage: Christ our Lord, the author of all genuine love. May we love our spouses with His divine love. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 14, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Humility. Many of us need more of it. Scripture helps us become right-sized.
HUMAN DESIRE OR EFFORT IS FUTILE Consider this: “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” (Romans 9:16 NIV) My human instinct tells me my drive, ambition, energy, and focus will make me more acceptable to God. Reading this passage humbles me. Contrary to how I may think, it is not up to my desire or effort that I have been chosen by God to be His adopted child. God chose to have mercy on me, not because of anything I have done to deserve His mercy. No. He graciously bestowed this mercy on me who does not deserve this unfathomable, immeasurable, and priceless favor. Meditating on this is humbling. DAILY SURRENDER Day after day, God continues to show me that what He wants most from me is my full surrender. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV) God’s will for us is total and complete surrender. And no matter how many times I think I have fully surrendered to Christ, there always seems to be a little more surrender left in me. Or, to put it another way, there continues to be a little of my flesh still yet to be surrendered. Do you experience this same thing? Why can’t we just once and for all give Christ everything, without reservation? Why do we tend to hold a little of our old self back? GOD’S MERCY LEADS US TO LOVE OTHERS Now that we have been shown mercy, we should show mercy to others. For it is written: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8 NIV) As I fully surrender myself to Christ, I realize that I don’t have the right to withhold God’s love from anyone. I have been shown complete and utterly undeserved mercy. Therefore, I must surrender my perceived right to withhold mercy from others, and freely give the mercy I have received to others who are also undeserving. None of us deserve this tremendous gift of eternal life that God has so graciously bestowed upon us. How can we possibly withhold God’s mercy from others? A critical part of surrender to Christ is that of any perceived “rights” that I have. I no longer have rights. I never had them in the first place. I only thought I did, and every time they creep back into my mind, I must surrender them. This need to give up my rights and surrender leads me to a continual renewing of my mind on an everyday basis. For me, this time will be necessary until the day I go home to Heaven. From my experience, I need a daily renewal, and I find no substitute for an hour of time first thing in the morning. I cherish this time of connecting with God in intimate prayer, meditation, conversation, and reflection. Jesus gave us this model: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 NIV) CONCLUSION Attempting to fully grasp God’s mercy for us is a humbling experience and leads us to surrender to Christ. This surrender to Christ’s mercy and love leads us to love others and bestow on them the mercy and love we have received from Christ Jesus our Lord. What a glorious life we have in Christ. Praise be to God who has had mercy on us. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 13, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. It is right and just that we should enjoy our work.
"So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?" (Ecclesiastes 3:22 NIV) Work is one way for us to honor God. Through our labor, we not only provide for ourselves and our families but also contribute to the common good, reflecting God’s creative work in the world. RESTING FROM WORK In the very beginning, God set an example of work and rest, establishing a pattern for us to follow. "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day, he rested from all his work." (Genesis 2:2 NIV) Taking time to rest, and do other things besides work is equally important. Otherwise, work can become an idol that we worship, and we can define ourselves by the work that we do, instead of who we are in Christ – children of God. Work is a thing we do. It is not who we are. Resting from work helps us to remember that. OUR WORK IS WORSHIP As Christ-followers, we have a choice. We can glorify our flesh and work in our strength and for our glory, or we can glorify the Holy Spirit and work in Christ’s strength and for God’s glory. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV). This perspective transforms our work from a daily grind to an act of worship. When we dedicate our work to God, we find deeper satisfaction and purpose in what we do, regardless of our occupation. The Apostle Paul encourages us to adopt this mindset in all areas of life, reminding us that our ultimate reward comes from the Lord. WORK EMPOWERED BY CHRIST Recognizing that our work serves a greater purpose helps us to navigate work challenges and persevere through difficult times at work. The Scriptures offer comfort and encouragement, reminding us that God is with us in our labor. We can work in our strength or work with the strength of Christ. It’s infinitely better if our work is empowered by Christ! “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 NIV). By surrendering to Christ in our work, we allow God to do the work through us and guide us in all things related to our work. Therefore, it becomes easy to give Christ the credit, glory, and honor for the good things He does through us. ALL MUST WORK Everyone is called to do some form of work. Those who try to avoid work will suffer negative consequences. The wisdom of Proverbs highlights the value of diligent work and its rewards, contrasting it with the pitfalls of laziness. “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” (Proverbs 10:4 NIV) There is a balance all Christ-followers must attain, which we can call a “Healthy Work Ethic.” Keep work in balance with the rest of life. Don’t use work to build an idol, but rather use it as an act of worship. Don’t let it consume you, and engage in periods of rest as God has modeled this behavior. And avoid being lazy because those who don’t embrace work as a spiritual endeavor miss a great opportunity to bring praise and glory to Christ Jesus our Lord. CONCLUSION Our work is much more than a means to an end; it is an opportunity to worship God, serve others, and participate in God’s creative order. By embracing our work as a form of worship, we align ourselves with God’s purposes, finding joy and satisfaction in our labor. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3 NIV) Let us, therefore, approach our work with a heart of worship, seeking to glorify God in all that we do. For in doing so, we not only enrich our own lives but also contribute to the unfolding of God's kingdom on earth. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 12, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. What an ugly word.
There will always be those who speak maliciously against us. Slanderous attacks from non-Christians are more understandable. Those from fellow Christ-followers are much more painful. As Christ-followers, we are taught to respond to these attacks, no matter the source, with gentleness and respect. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” - 1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV OUR NATURAL NATURE I grew up close to midtown Manhattan. New York City can be a tough place, and when someone disrespects you there, a gentle, respectful response is highly unlikely. When I moved to Texas, I found a very different culture, and for years, I did not fit in because that tough New York mentality was firmly rooted in my flesh. Our natural nature leads us to respond poorly. Conversely, the Holy Spirit living inside of us urges us to turn the other cheek when we are slandered. We are also wired a certain way behaviorally. Our behavioral preferences can get in the way of Christ’s message of love, peace, and joy to those who know Him. If we are to “carry water” for the King of Kings and be faithful messengers of our Master’s teachings, gentleness and respect must be the guardrails in which we operate. WHEN WE FAIL When we fail to live up to this mandate to treat everyone with gentleness and respect, we must make amends. Doing this means much more than apologizing and saying, "I'm sorry." It goes beyond asking the person for forgiveness, although that is part of the amends-making process. Making amends starts with “I was wrong.” I must acknowledge that I failed to treat the offender with gentleness and respect. This is particularly hard to do when a sister or brother in Christ has spoken maliciously about us. Our tendency is to explain to them all that they did to wrong us, which is an attempt at justifying our lack of gentleness and respect. I am not instructed by this Scripture to respond in kind, and to equally mistreat the person who is harming me. Quite the contrary, I am told to keep a clear conscience by behaving in such a Christ-like way that the slanderer will be ashamed of their behavior. This is near impossible for me to do in my flesh. Every fiber of my being wants to point out the offense and how unwarranted that person’s behavior was against me. However, instead, I keep focused on my part, acknowledge where I was wrong, and allow the Holy Spirit to deal with the offender. Then, I turn and love my sister or brother, with Christ’s love. If I am doing this, it will be gentle and respectful, for love is like that. Here is what Christ says: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” - 1 Peter 4:8 NIV CONCLUSION Gentleness and respect are two qualities that are highly desirable and necessary for Christ-followers to be effective in carrying God’s message to the world. The love Christ has for us must be extended to all, regardless of how we are treated. There will always be people who slander us. The more we surrender to the mission Christ has given us, the more we will come under attack from non-believers and believers alike. Satan loves dividing and conquering. It is his demonic plan to cause strife, especially between fellow Christ-followers. Our job is to resist the enemy and treat everyone with gentleness and respect, no matter how we are treated. And when we fail, our job is to quickly admit our failure, seek forgiveness, and turn away from sinful behavior, doubling efforts to extend gentleness and respect to everyone, despite their behavior toward us. Here is a closing scripture: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” - 1 Peter 4:10-11 NIV Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 09, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Father God, thank you for the ACTS acrostic that helps us in our quiet times and other times of prayer to connect better with you. Also, thank you for Conversational Prayer and the fact that we can have a dialogue with you. It is a tremendous privilege.
Friends, what follows is an intensely personal time with me and Christ. I share this with you to inspire you to have your own time of A.C.T.S. and conversational prayer. Blessings! ADORATION Blessed Trinity, God almighty, I adore you, for you are:
Lord Jesus, I confess I fall short of the standards you have set for me, and I repent of:
Christ Jesus, I am very thankful for:
Father God, Christ Jesus, Holy Spirit, the triune Godhead, I come before you to ask for certain things this morning:
Lord Jesus, thank you for this intimate time with you. Please help me wrap up this journaling time with a passage from your Holy Word. Dear child, this is one of our favorite verses: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV). Yes, Lord, I love this verse. Thank you. My child, I am with you to the end of your time on earth, and then you will see me face-to-face, and I will be more real than anything you have ever experienced. Christ Jesus, I look forward to that day. Thank you for this incredible gift of eternal life in you. It is nothing that I deserve and way better than I could have ever hoped or dreamed. Thank you for my relationship with you. Dear child, I am always with you. You can access me like this anytime throughout your day. Check in with me more often, and you will have greater peace. I’ll do that, Lord. Thank you for that advice. Your aspiring servant, Daniel February 08, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Our Lord Christ Jesus cares so deeply about us. He rejoices in our joy and mourns with us in our sadness. He allows us to endure trials on this earth to refine us and draw us closer to Him.
When was the last time you went through a severe trial? Perhaps you are experiencing one now. How we respond in times of difficulty is a truer measure of our character than our behavior in good times. For better or worse, our Christ-like character is revealed in moments of extreme challenge. HAVE EMPATHY FOR THOSE IN THE FIRE Our Lord Christ Jesus cares for us more deeply than we can comprehend. His profound empathy is beautifully encapsulated in the command: "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn." (Romans 12:15 NIV) Christ-followers are called to embody this same empathy and understanding toward one another. Though we often fall short, this is the standard set for all of us. TOUGH TIMES REVEAL OUR CHARACTER The trials we face on earth, however daunting and painful, serve a clear purpose. "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV) Our faith is incredibly precious to Christ. It is like a mountain of pure gold, refined and purified by fire. Our trials, though challenging, demonstrate the genuineness of our faith, leading to praise, glory, and honor for Jesus Christ. OUR CALL TO ACTION "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4 NIV) Our trials are part of a refining process designed to strengthen our faith and bring us to a place of spiritual maturity and completeness in Christ. This transformation occurs when we surrender to God’s refining fire. WE ARE REFINED Isaiah 48:10 declares, "See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." We are refined and purified by God’s holy fire. It is not punishment but preparation, equipping us to be stronger, more faithful, and effective disciple-makers. CONCLUSION Indeed, tough times reveal our character, but more importantly, they are used by God to refine and strengthen our character, drawing us closer to Him. As we navigate through God’s holy refiner's fire, let us hold fast to the promise that our trials are shaping us into the image of Christ, preparing us to shine as pure gold in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father, Christ Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit—the blessed triune Godhead. We are refined. We are being refined. We shall continue to be refined. Your aspiring servant for this refining journey, Daniel M. February 07, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Slow.
I’ve never been accused of going slowly. Yet, “slow” is often a godly trait, as in the case of becoming angry. In James 1:19, being “slow to become angry” is a mark of spiritual maturity. However, some of us have a mistaken view of anger, which can manifest in many different forms. MANY SHADES OF ANGER There are many types of anger. Here are ten, on a continuum, from the slight anger of being "annoyed" to all-out "livid" rage:
Do I speak aloud when I am angry? Do I keep quiet but sin in my heart against someone? Even if I am just annoyed, it is what I do with that annoyance that has the biggest impact on my spiritual condition. SHADES OF ANNOYANCE Here are some shades of slight anger that I normally don’t think of as “anger.” They include: Ruffled, disturbed, disgruntled, discontented, agitated, upset, provoked, offended, chafed, bothered, peeved, vexed, exasperated, irked, perturbed, and displeased. THE GOOD NEWS The good news is that anger is not necessarily sin. It is what we do with our anger that matters. Here is a scripture that is comforting for those who get easily annoyed: “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ... “ (Ephesians 4:26 NIV) So, if you are easily annoyed, irritated, or aggravated, it is not necessarily a sin. “What are we doing with that anger?” is the question to answer. THE SOLUTION There is a solution for an angry feeling. The short answer for me is to “give it to God.” When I have feelings of anger, I can try to deal with them on my own in my flesh, or I can give them to God and trust Him with the outcome. I can safely express my feelings to God, who always understands how I feel and will always calm me down and comfort me if I let Him. My flesh does not handle anger well. However, the Holy Spirit inside of me does. I just need to yield to the pull of God and resist the pull of my sinful nature. And, when I do sin, I must confess it quickly to God and then make amends with the person who experienced my anger. Thank God for this wonderful solution that Christ has given to us who follow Him. Be “slow” to become angry by staying connected to Christ. And I’ll remind myself and you that “The more I pray, the better my day!” It’s a saying worth remembering and practicing daily. For me, my daily quiet time is irreplaceable as a spiritual growth tool and means to connect with Christ. Every day, I spend an hour in a quiet time of prayer, meditation on His Word, and journaling. This helps me to start my day in the right way. This is not a panacea for anger issues, but it certainly helps a lot. CONCLUSION This “quick, slow, slow” dance instruction from the Lord applies in every situation. “Quick, Slow, Slow; “Quick, Slow, Slow.” Christ Jesus is teaching me how to dance through life. He wants us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. May it be so. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 06, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. In Part 2 of this three-part series, the Lord has me working on the first of two admonitions to go “slow.”
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry..." (James 1:19 NIV) SLOW TO SPEAK I’ve never been accused of being slow to speak. I only wish that would happen. I love jumping into the conversation, and it is only lately, over these past few years, that you could say I’m beginning to be more reserved when it comes to speaking what is on my mind. What I’ve found is what you probably already know about being slow to speak. If you're anything like most leaders, what to say comes naturally to you. It is easy to speak our mind, for God wired most of us with the gift of speaking our thoughts out loud. After all, that is the only way I know that we can lead others. We can’t expect them to read our minds, now can we? However, there are several skills that we must master to be the most effective leaders we can be, for Christ’s ultimate glory and honor. Some of them that come to mind for me to improve are:
Ouch. That hits home. While I don’t consider myself religious, and nor do I want to be, this passage clearly speaks to me. For me, religion is a set of “dos” and “don’ts” that can cause me to become spiritually prideful. I can develop a long list of great things I am doing, and tout those things for you, to say: “Look at me. Do you see what a great Christ-follower I am.” Yet, God intends me to have a governor on my tongue, and not do that, or any variation on the theme of being loose-lipped about anything that may puff me up, or put someone down. Where I feel complete freedom is encouraging Christ-followers and non-believers alike to deepen their relationship with God. For those leaders in the Christian faith, to continue growing into more obedient followers of the Way shown to us by Jesus Christ. To those people who have not yet put their faith in Christ, I am free to encourage them, but with these words of wisdom: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV) Gentleness and respect are excellent guardrails to keep me interfacing with others in a manner that honors Christ Jesus. CONCLUSION If I am slow to speak, then Christ-followers will be edified, as will those who have not accepted Jesus Christ. My witness honors God when I keep tight control over the words that come out of my mouth. And, of course, that implies that I am also controlling my thoughts, for out of my heart and mind spring forth my words. May they be a blessing to all who hear them. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 05, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. As I read James 1:19 this morning, it made me think of a ballroom dance instructor calling out dance moves. How awkwardly my feet move at times to this perfect rhythm of quick, slow, slow.
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry ...” (James 1:19 NIV) Many times, I am Slow, Quick, Quick. Perfectly opposite the directive we find here; it does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry is a perfect description of me in my earlier days as a Christ-follower. Then, I became a bi-vocational ministry leader and started taking this Christian walk more seriously. We are admonished: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV) While this dance lesson is good for all Christ-followers, it is especially important for any Christian vocational or marketplace leader. Just like in a dance, there is a right order of operations for a smooth, graceful flowing of the Holy Spirit through us and unto others. QUICK TO LISTEN It is so easy for intelligent leaders to finish other people’s sentences for them. Either out loud or silently, we all have done it. “I know where this is headed” is our corresponding thought, as our mind wanders off to formulate a response to what we are hearing. “Not so fast,” Scripture instructs us. Listen, and carefully hear what is being said. We need to hear not only the words but the meaning below the words. This demands our full attention. Recently, a friend told me he wanted to have a party at his home. He began to describe his vision for the gathering: “I’d like to have some friends over, as a real casual thing.” I completely missed the words “some” and “casual”, and my brain went right to a solution. “I’ll send out an invite to my network,” I offered. Ted said “yes” without realizing exactly what that meant, for he really did not understand, and nor did I explain, the sizable network I was planning to access. My “instant idea” was to introduce my new friend to many other friends and acquaintances. After all, wouldn’t that be a good thing? My promotion of the party went well and produced a result that I thought was fantastic: 50 people confirmed for the party tomorrow at Ted’s house. However, yesterday I asked him if he was pleased with the guest list. It was then that he shared with me how unhappy his wife was with such a large crowd coming to his home to eat. His vision was a small, intimate gathering of friends, and not a big party. Ouch! I was slow to listen and completely missed the mark. ACTIONS TO TAKE How often does that happen to you? Are you doing your own dance moves like I sometimes still do, or are you dancing in step with the Holy Spirit? If you need to be “quicker to listen” like me, what actions can you take to do so? If you already have the “quick to listen” part down, how can you help us “Ready, Fire, Aim” kind of leaders to slow down and better hear what you are saying? We all can improve in this area, can’t we? CONCLUSION Being quick to listen is the mark of a mature Christ-follower. Especially for those in leadership, we need to model this behavior of “Quick, Slow, Slow” to others. For those already accomplished at the “Quick to Listen” part, you can help others by speaking up when you are not being fully understood. The technique that works well in both cases is called “Active Listening.” Grossly over-simplified, here is what you can do to practice this. Repeat back to the speaker what you are hearing, paraphrasing what is being said, to ensure you are hearing correctly. And, when someone does that for you, be vocal about correcting the paraphrased statement if that is not what you are saying. Often, the differences are very nuanced, and we have to listen carefully and with our full attention to pick up on subtle cues that can mean big differences in outcomes. Tomorrow, I’ll take on the second of these three powerful instructions: “Slow to Speak.” Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 02, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Our drive to perform is often self-serving. Conversely, Christ teaches us to be other-serving. Leading in a Biblical way invariably involves servant leadership, best exemplified by Jesus Christ.
In Mark's Gospel, Jesus teaches, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be a slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:43-45 NIV). This servant-leader approach contrasts sharply with worldly views of success and highlights the importance of humility and service in leadership. I should re-title this article “Driven to Serve.” May God help those of us who are driven to perform, to channel some of our energy into serving others like Christ demonstrated countless times throughout his brief, three-year earthly ministry. Biblical leadership and success are far more about the quality of our character, our relationship with God, and our impact on others than about our achievements or productivity. Scriptures like Micah 6:8, Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 16:26, and Mark 10:43-45 guide us to a deeper understanding of success - one that values justice, mercy, humility, spiritual fruits, eternal perspective, and servant leadership. As leaders in any field, aligning our definition of success with Biblical principles leads to a more fulfilling and God-honoring journey. The drive to perform and get results is common to most leaders. This human quality, if channeled correctly through the filter of servant-leadership, helps us to better serve Christ and our fellow Christ-followers. The key is to surrender our drive to Christ, acknowledge that He is the decider of all results, and God alone gets the glory for anything good that the Holy Spirit produces through us. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17 NIV) Soli Deo Gloria. (To God alone be the glory) Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. February 01, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Success is a major driving force for pastors, ministry leaders, marketplace leaders, and everyone else, for that matter.
TWO VIEWS OF SUCCESS As Christ-followers, we have two views of success: • Our own paradigm, formed by our upbringing, culture, training, profession, station in life, and more. A myriad of factors form our view of success from a worldly perspective, and no matter how much we don’t want to admit it, even the most obedient, surrendered Christ-followers are still influenced by this worldly paradigm. • God’s paradigm, taught to us in the Scriptures. It tells us what true success is and is not. We are all driven to perform. The question is, “How much of our drive aligns with God’s paradigm of success, and how much is it our worldly view?” TRUE SUCCESS In the realm of leadership, the Bible offers profound guidance on what constitutes true success. One of the key scriptures that sheds light on this is found in the book of Micah. The prophet Micah succinctly defines what the Lord requires of us: "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8 NIV). This scripture suggests that success in leadership is deeply intertwined with our character - justice, mercy, and humility before God. Additionally, the Apostle Paul's writings offer valuable insights into the concept of success from a Biblical standpoint. In his letter to the Galatians, he talks about the fruits of the Spirit, which are a true measure of spiritual success. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV). These qualities are crucial for leaders who wish to align their success with God's standards. Furthermore, Jesus Himself provides a fundamental understanding of success in the Kingdom of God. In the Gospel of Matthew, He reminds us: "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?" (Matthew 16:26 NIV). This powerful verse encourages leaders to evaluate their achievements not just by worldly standards, but by the eternal value they hold. CONCLUSION Let us continue our journey to ever-increasingly define success according to Biblical standards and ever-decreasingly rely on the world’s standards to measure our performance. At the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is the Lord Christ Jesus’ voice, welcoming us into Heaven, saying: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 31, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. While results are important, sitting at the feet of Jesus is more critical to our success.
TRUE SUCCESS The question we have to ask ourselves surrounds this topic. What is success? Is getting things accomplished a way of measuring my value? How does Jesus answer these questions? In the Gospel of Luke, we find a profound lesson in the story of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy with all the preparations, but Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His teaching. Jesus said to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV). CHRIST IS SUFFICIENT This passage reminds us that being in the presence of Jesus and absorbing His wisdom is often more valuable than the busy work in which we often consume our time. Success in leadership, according to the Bible, is not measured by the quantity of our achievements but by the quality of our relationship with God and our faithfulness to His calling. ACTIONS TO TAKE For me, I will purpose to spend more time at the feet of Jesus, listening and learning. Every morning, I will open God’s Word and spend time in prayer and meditating on Scriptures upon which He leads me to reflect. How about you? Do you allow yourself to get worried or upset when things don’t go your way? Why does Jesus say that “few things are needed—or indeed only one”? What is the one thing that is most needed? Are we pursuing that one thing, or the many things that don’t matter, and neglecting that “one thing”? SURRENDERING TO CHRIST’S SUFFICIENCY May we all spend more time at the feet of Jesus. And may we all realize that our drive to perform can get in the way of our willingness to surrender, sit with Christ, and be fully satisfied that it is sufficient. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 30, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Are you driven to perform?
Many leaders are. We seem to be constantly striving to achieve more. It appears to be an internal drive within most of us. Whether you are in vocational, bi-vocational, or workplace ministry, there is a natural tendency to be overly driven to produce results. By the way, if by chance you don’t think any of these preceding three categories describe you, please consider this scripture: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV) ALL OF US ARE IN FULL-TIME MINISTRY We are all called to full-time ministry, wherever we are and whatever we are doing. If you are reading this, you are working. And, our work, in and of itself, brings glory and honor to Christ. From changing a diaper to transforming a country, whatever it is that we are doing is able to bring honor and glory to Christ. It depends on our attitude and how we approach the work. ALL OF US ARE LEADERS Likewise, if you don’t think you are a leader, please think again. The word “leader” is often misunderstood, and we conjure up pictures in our minds of larger-than-life leaders, compare ourselves to that image, and quickly dismiss the idea that we are one. Not so fast. Try this idea on for size. The synonym for the word leader is “influencer.” And everyone has the capacity to influence others in their own way. Some influence (lead) our youth, some influence adolescents, and others influence adults. Some have small circles of influence, and others have very large ones. It matters not the size. God cares equally about our work, and He cares most about our attitude toward it. ALL OF US WANT TO PERFORM We all want to perform to some degree. The question is: “Who are we performing for?” May our answer be Jesus. May we realize that he cares more about our heart and attitude toward work than he does about what we actually produce. CONCLUSION All of us are called to full-time ministry. There is no one exempt from this commission by Christ. Likewise, all of us are leaders in our own sphere of influence, and as Christ-followers, we want to perform good works for the glory of Christ. The key question to answer is this: “Am I performing for the Lord?” Am I trying to please Christ, or man? And, how can I move more toward pleasing Christ, and be less concerned about pleasing myself or others? Until we meet again tomorrow, I remain your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 29, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. There is much more that can be said about conflict resolution, God’s way. I have barely scratched the surface in this four-part series on conflict resolution. Please allow me to pause here and ask: “What else would Christ Jesus want to say to us about conflict resolution?"
Here are some promptings, perhaps of the Holy Spirit, that are rising to the surface:
Creating Less Conflict:
Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 26, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Whenever I find myself in conflict with anyone or anything, I need to look at my part. There is almost always some personal culpability. It’s a very helpful practice in resolving conflict, but often very hard to do.
When we find ourselves in interpersonal conflict, many of us have a tendency to look at the other person and what they did or did not do to cause the conflict. I grew up in a household where my parents were the referees when my brother, sister, and I had conflicts over toys and the like. There was always an inquiry into who did what. We each had to give our side of the conflict - our version of the events - to the authority that was going to make a judgment. Who was right? Who was wrong? Consequently, we became good at making our case for “I’m right; they’re wrong.” I became very skilled in this process from a young age. Often told I should become an attorney for my skill in arguing and proving culpability and fault, I was pre-law in the first year of college. Thanks be to God I changed careers! What does Jesus Christ say about our desire to determine “who is right” and “who is wrong”? Let’s look at Scriptures together and see. I will not say anything more on the subject, but let God’s Word inform me and you. See what you think. WHAT SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT FINDING FAULT WITH OTHERS? "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3 NIV) WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TAKE THE SPEC OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE FIRST? "First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5 NIV) DO I EVER GET TO TAKE THE PLANK OUT OF MY FELLOW’S EYE? "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted." (Galatians 6:1 NIV) CONCLUSION The teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament offer profound wisdom on the subject of conflict resolution. They emphasize the importance of self-reflection and personal accountability before addressing the faults in others. By first examining and correcting our own shortcomings, we become better equipped to help others with kindness and understanding, embodying the spirit of compassion and humility. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 25, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Today, we will delve into the internal resolution of conflict within ourselves. Many pastors and ministry leaders may appear calm, peaceful, and serene on the outside, while internally experiencing turmoil due to conflicts with others. We can resemble ducks on a still lake, portraying tranquility, yet beneath the water, our feet are rapidly paddling away from perceived threats to our well-being.
The slightest conflict with someone can throw off my day. I can forget who I am (a child of God) and to whom I belong (the creator and ruler of all things, seen and unseen). Does this happen to you, too? My work with pastors and ministry leaders over the past few decades has taught me that even the best leaders struggle with this topic. So, if conflict and strife cause you angst, you are far from alone. For me, three reasons explain why this happens:
CARING TOO MUCH WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK When we find that someone does not like us, agree with our opinion, or is critical of us, it can cause a host of human emotions that disturb our peace in Christ. If we live our lives based on what others think, then we are worshiping the false god of public opinion. We cannot be effective Christ-followers and Christian leaders if we live our lives in pursuit of the acceptance of others. Scriptures that support this include:
Many of us like to believe that everyone likes us, and we often go out of our way to ensure that it is the case by doing or saying things to others to gain some type of positive affirmation that we are liked and accepted in our social circle of influence. The truth is, not everyone likes us or how we are. People that don’t know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior particularly may not like us if we express our love and adoration for God, and our commitment to being a Christ-follower. Scriptures that support this include:
It is easy to think that our value comes from what others say about us. Self-esteem, the esteem we give ourselves, has to be solely based on God’s Word, for us to avoid this tendency of over-valuing the opinion of others. What God says about us is that we are fully and wholly loved children of the most-high God of all, and we are totally loved and accepted by Him. As Christ-followers, we need to lean on Scripture for our identity. Scriptures that support this include:
When we are judged, disrespected, criticized, ostracized, or simply “not liked,” it is an opportunity to review what God says about us and realize that no human defines us. Only God our Father, Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit - The Blessed Triune God of All - only He defines us. Therefore, when we run into conflict, as we all do, we can remember who we truly are and to whom we truly belong. Praise God for this wonderful fact: We are eternal beings having a human experience. Our home is in Heaven, with God, who loves us perfectly, today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen. (NIV) Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 24, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Dear Friends,
God is leading me to work on conflict resolution. As is my custom, the work journaled here has always been what God is showing me, primarily for me to learn and grow. Consequently, sometimes it gets very personal. I pray this transparency will bless you. WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CONFLICT RESOLUTION Conflict resolution is a significant theme in the Bible, with various scriptures addressing how to deal with conflicts in a Christ-honoring manner. Here are some key scriptures that provide guidance on this topic. Personally, I have a conflict right now that I am trying to resolve, and I am using this prayer time over the next few days to prepare myself for resolving it in a way that will hopefully honor Christ the most. These are the scriptures I will be studying this week:
These scriptures collectively provide a comprehensive Biblical framework for addressing and resolving conflicts in a manner that aligns with Christian principles of love, forgiveness, humility, and peace. If you are needing to resolve a conflict with someone, I would encourage you to look all of them up as part of your quiet time and see where Christ leads you in this process of conflict resolution. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 23, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. WHO IS THE REAL ENEMY?
We are not each other’s enemy. From the micro-level of two Christ-followers trying to get along, to the global followers of Christ, we are the only army that shoots its own wounded. Whether in two groups in a church, different factions inside a denomination, or even among different denominations, vilifying each other is wrong. Seeing each other as an enemy is sinful. Unity in the body of Christ is essential to stand against the real enemy, Satan. Pastors and ministry leaders must lead the way in modeling this behavior for other Christ-followers to emulate. We must gain and maintain this mindset of “the real enemy.” Consider this Scripture: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV) Satan and his demons want to create strife and destroy relationships. WHAT ARE WE CALLED TO DO? We must be strong and fight back, lest our defenses are penetrated, and the enemy wins the battle of the moment for our mind. I call it “stinking thinking.” The conclusion of this powerful passage in Ephesians ends with: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV) So, if we have an issue with someone, or some group, or some entity, let us pray, keeping in mind who is the real enemy. Let’s be clear: Satan is the enemy; not each other. Let’s always keep an open mind and heart to those who see things differently than we do. May we, who have been called into vocational or bi-vocational ministry, set a good example for others, lest we too fall into sinful behavior dishonoring to Christ our Lord. WHAT’S GOD’S WARNING? We are clearly warned by God: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV) Having a sober mind requires us to control our negative self-talk and our thinking about others. Scripture guides our thinking: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV) Let us always give our brothers and sisters the benefit of the doubt and always remember the war that is raging in the spiritual realm, between Christ and Satan. CONCLUSION “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV) How could I possibly add anything to summarize this topic? Wow. Scripture says it all. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 22, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Are you a human doing or a human being?
For me, I have spent much time being the former and missed out on being the latter. “Being” is a great word. To simply “be.” Generally speaking, I believe men have a harder time with this discipline than women. Most men seem to be wired to “do, do, do.” Perhaps we want to see that we have produced results. It is a sweeping generalization, but we can think of us men as the hunters. We want to slay the beast and drop it on the dinner table. Many women seem to have more patience and are willing to plant seeds, cultivate the soil, and grow a harvest to provide sustenance. My point is that, much of the time, men have more difficulty just “being.” So, if you are a man reading this, you should pay particular attention. And if you are a man who is a leader, even more so. Let’s see what Scripture instructs in the process of “being.” “Come and see what the Lord has done ... He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God ... I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us ...’” (Psalm 46:8-11 NIV) I hear this as a call to pause our busy lives, stop striving, and recognize God's sovereignty and presence. In a world that often values doing over being, these verses remind us that our identity and worth are not tied to our productivity. Similarly, Jesus' words on this subject offer a powerful perspective on "being" in Him. And the result of that “being” is a deep, profound, restful peace. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV) Jesus' yoke is easy, and His burden is light, suggesting that our doing should flow out of our being in Him, rather than being driven by our own efforts. Being versus doing is a “Mary and Martha” comparison. Doing is not a sin, but being at the feet of Jesus is better. “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV) Jesus said: “…–or indeed only one.” What do you think he meant there? What is the “one” thing that Christ cares that we most care about? I believe Christ is saying that we need to prioritize our relationship with God and being in His presence over getting caught up in the busyness of tasks and duties. BEING IN CHRIST Being in Christ is what empowers our doing (John 15:4-5). We must stay connected to the vine of Christ and be with Him on a daily basis. A daily quiet time before the Lord is one way to spend more time being with Christ. What are some other ways you can think of to improve in this area? Lastly, in Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul explains that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one can boast. However, he also says that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This passage beautifully captures the essence of the relationship between being and doing - we are first and foremost God's creation, valued and loved, and out of this identity flows our action. CONCLUSION Christ teaches us that our worth and identity are not tied to our achievements or what we produce. He invites us to find rest, identity, and purpose in Him alone. All our actions should flow from our relationship with Him. As we focus on "being" in Him, our "doing" becomes more meaningful and aligned with His will. We now see that this concept of "being" versus "doing" is deeply rooted in biblical teachings. The Bible emphasizes the importance of stillness, reflection, and understanding our identity in God, rather than just focusing on our actions or achievements. Enjoy your “being” in the presence of Christ. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 19, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Two weeks ago, God led me during my quiet time to journal about what Jesus says about discipleship. This grew into a 10-part series on the subject. I am certain there is much more we could explore on this topic. One thing I learned during this series is the vast amount of references Christ made to the many aspects of being His disciple. He provided us with a tremendous amount of guidance, and we have only uncovered a small part.
REVIEW Here is what we did cover:
PRAYER Let’s pray. Dear Lord, thank you for your leadership and guidance on being your disciple. We want to do that, Lord, and each of us has various strengths in this area that needs to be leveraged for your glory and honor. Equally, each of us has shortcomings and weaknesses in aspects of being your disciple. We humbly pray that you transform those issues and make us mature, whole, and healthy disciples of yours. Help us to:
Lord, you get all the credit, glory, and honor for anything good that comes out of us, your servants, and your disciples. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 18, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. No discussion on what Jesus has to say about being Christ’s disciple would be complete without addressing multiplication. That is, after all, the heart of Jesus’ method for maturing those who follow Him.
SEVEN PROGRESSIVE, COMPELLING POINTS Here are seven points. Each one builds on the previous one and makes a case for you to make a greater effort to get more involved than you already are in Christ’s multiplication process for all true disciples of Christ.
Go. Make. Disciples. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 17, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. The first seven parts of this series have covered the critical elements of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ:
Luke 14:26 states, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26 NIV) This hyperbolic statement (using 'hate' to mean 'love less by comparison') emphasizes that loyalty to Jesus must come before all other relationships and personal interests. We can define these as “false gods,” which I will address in the following sections: • False gods for pastors and ministry leaders • False gods for everyone else WHO IS REALLY THE GOD OF OUR LIFE? It is easy to give lip service and claim that we worship God. Before I got sober and surrendered my alcohol abuse to Christ in March 1996, I was an expert at keeping up a facade. On the outside, I would claim Christ as Savior and Lord. However, the truth is He was only my Savior. I was the Lord of my life. Money was Lord. Fame was Lord. Power was Lord. I had many Lords. I bowed to many false gods but had not surrendered to the God of All, Christ Jesus. In 1997, I became a pastoral coach, dedicated a significant portion of my time to ministering to pastors. Then, seven years ago, I went a level deeper and formed the non-profit SOLIDpastors.org to better serve pastors and ministry leaders. As I have shed layers of selfish, self-centered behaviors, I have continually renounced the world, which appears to me as a daily process requiring a significant amount of time devoted every day to that endeavor. Like the layers of an onion, I continually see there is another layer Christ is peeling away, bringing me, little by little, into ever greater surrender to Him. I think we are all on this journey, and we will never “arrive” until we are home in Heaven. What do you think? Have you “arrived” at a place where you have no false gods in your life? Before you answer this, please read on. FALSE GODS OF PASTORS AND MINISTRY LEADERS I have met with many pastors and ministry leaders as I turned my life over to serving Christ and serving them. My bubble has burst so many times when I listened carefully and heard these pastors talk about their gods, small “g.” So many have been consumed with: • False humility: they were so self-effacing on the outside (their words and actions to the outside world) and yet inwardly were filled with spiritual pride because of the high degree of humility. They worshipped the god of the “appearance” of holiness. • Power: they had a great deal of personal power and were drunk on the elixir of fame. Their name was on the cover of many books that they gladly had others read, but on the backstage (interior) of their lives, they were a “dirty cup.” The outside was sparkling clean and had a brilliant shine. On the inside, it was a mess. • Approval: they were consumed with wanting the approval of others. Their low self-esteem got in the way of their worship of the one true God, and instead, they worshipped the god of what others thought about them. Passionate about maintaining a positive reputation, they worked overtime to ensure you liked them, and that they had a good relationship with you. But their fragile self-esteem was easily shattered and left behind broken relationships with themselves and others. I could go on and on, but I won’t. The point is that we can have the appearance of a surrendered life and yet not have one. That is why Christ tells us not to judge others. Not only does He say it in the negative sense, for example, accusing someone mentally of a wrong motive. Christ also tells us not to judge in the affirmative sense and making up our minds that we know a certain person is holy because of what they appear to do on the front stage (the public) side of their lives. You never know, my friend, what you will find when you pull back the curtain on many of these supposedly Christ-following leaders. Those who coach, mentor, and disciple pastors would shock you with the horrendous stories of idol worship in the world of vocational and bi-vocational ministry. FALSE GODS OF EVERYONE ELSE We must not have any false Gods before the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The single authority over all that is seen and all that is unseen. Christ is Lord, Master, and Ruler of all. Anything we put ahead of Christ is an idol. The entire Old Testament can be summed up in this phrase: “God said only worship me; man continually disobeyed and worshipped false Gods.” I’m no theologian, but it seems pretty straightforward to me why Christ came. And yet, even those who preach about Him on Sundays or who lead ministries large and small continually put up idols of worship. For those of you not vocational ministry leaders, look at some possible idols for yourself: • Net worth; money; financial stability; security; having ‘enough,’ which is just a little “more” than you have right now; the god of More. • Children; living for them; putting them first ahead of God; worshipping them in subtle ways that appear like good parenting but in the end is idol worship. The god of children. • Time; having free time to do what we want when we want and using our time to indulge in pleasure after pleasure, distraction after distraction, and putting “free time” on a pedestal, ahead of Christ and His Great Commission. We can give lip service to it, but are we involved in Christ’s initiative to reach a hurting and dying world, or are we just doing enough to “look good” to our fellow believers. The god of free time. Like with the list for pastors and ministry leaders, I could go on and on. I won’t. You get the idea. Anything. Repeat: Anything that we put ahead of Christ is an idol. Any activity can turn into idol worship. That is why Christ tells us to “renounce all.” It is a decision of the heart. Nothing can be more important to us than our intimate, personal, day in and day out, continual communion-type relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord. Let us daily renounce the world and all its possible idols and false gods, and let us surrender to God the Father, Christ Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 16, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. We have been exploring what Jesus says about discipleship in this multi-part series. Today, in Part 7, we will look at “Counting the Cost.”
In the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 14, Jesus Christ has a great deal to say about discipleship, as He does throughout Scriptures. As we look at all that it means to be a disciple of Christ, several things have become apparent:
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’” (Luke 14:28-30 NIV) It is not the cost of starting on the Christ-following journey that Christ is addressing here. He is urging us to look at the cost of finishing well. Sadly, many Christian pastors, ministry leaders, and missionaries do not finish well. Likewise, many marketplace Christ-followers fail in this area too. As it has been said: “Anyone can start something; only a few can finish well what they have started.” FINISHING WELL “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV) What is this prize? I think the prize on this earth is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). And, of course, the prize in Heaven is eternal love, joy, peace, and more. WARNING FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS Friends, we all need to count the cost of following Christ. This especially applies to anyone who is a vocational Christian leader or has the gift of leadership. We are warned by Scriptures: “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1 NIV) For those of us in ministerial leadership roles of any sort, we must be willing to be transparent and accountable to those we lead. That “cost” comes with the job, and the privilege of teaching God’s Word comes with great responsibility and a heavy cost for failing to follow Christ’s Scriptures in our own lives and with those closest to us. STEADY PATH, SAME DIRECTION The metaphors (building a home or finishing a race) are wonderful reminders that finishing well is what counts. An unfinished house or race is not a noteworthy accomplishment. In order to be an effective disciple of Christ, I need to pace myself to make sure I cross the finish line of this life with accomplishments that are wholly pleasing to Christ Jesus. My works do not save me. But as we know: “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17 NIV) If we follow Christ in a “steady path in the same direction,” we will arrive where He wants us to go. That obedience is like a thousand-mile walk. It’s accomplished one step at a time. May we all have consistently vibrant relationships with the living God who calls us to be His faithful disciples. CONCLUSION Let us all count the cost, and let us finish well, as good and faithful servants and true disciples of Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 15, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Bearing fruit is a main marker of being a true disciple of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 15, there are myriad expectations laid out for us that prove to ourselves and others if we are actual disciples of Christ or simply along for a walk with Jesus, following behind, out of earshot of what the Master of the Universe is saying to his disciples.
Let’s get close and listen in. This is what we hear from Christ: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8 NIV) And then we hear Jesus say: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16 NIV) After many more expectations being set for us to be considered true disciples, he finishes with this: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27 NIV) MISTAKEN FRUIT For many years, I mistakenly believed that the ultimate “fruit” was someone receiving Jesus Christ as their savior. I see this erroneous belief play out in the lives of fellow Christ-followers as well. If we are not super careful, we can let pride enter in as we subtly brag: “I led that person to Christ.” God taught me that this is not true, and that Christ leads people to Himself. My fruit is simply that I was used by God to facilitate the conversation. This scripture is what the SOLIDpastors ministry is based on: “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19 NIV) The relevant words here regarding “mistaken fruit” are “The Lord knows those who are his...” – Christ is doing the work of drawing people to follow Him. I am simply to be a servant to my Master, humbly being obedient to the work he sets before me. So if this is not the ultimate “fruit” of discipleship, what is? As always, we can find the answers to our questions in the sacred Scriptures. ULTIMATE FRUIT The phrase "bearing fruit" in the Bible is often used metaphorically to refer to producing good works or positive qualities as a result of one's faith and relationship with God. Consider this scripture: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:22-26 NIV) This is the ultimate model of spiritual growth and character development. A disciple bears fruit in his or her character. I would say that is the ultimate fruit. OTHER FRUIT Here are four other ideas along the same lines, for your consideration:
“Bearing fruit" is a rich metaphor that encompasses the production of good works, development of Christian virtues, evidence of true faith, and living a life that is in line with God’s will and purposes. And most importantly, it defines a true disciple of Christ. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. January 12, 2024 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at Daniel@SOLIDpastors.org. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. |
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