written August 25, 2008
A good friend of mine reminded me of something that I had been losing sight in these writings and in my life that I feel is necessary to address.
The life that we Christians live is a direct result of the real and active relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ is alive in my life today and every day. I have been moving away from this idea and writing about God making Jesus seem far less important than in fact He is. It is only through Jesus living in my heart here and now that I have any hope of connecting with the Father. For this reason, I fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. I don't wish to think or speak in generalities, but speak in the name of Jesus, for it is He who saved my life and lives in my heart revealing God's Truth.
Lie: Small compromises in my thoughts and actions are no big deal. I can still keep "innocent" worldly things in my life and be ok.
I cannot count high enough to tell you how many times I have made "minor" compromises with my eyes or thoughts or heart because it was easy, or, scarier yet, because I didn't think it was wrong to do so. Satan wants us to love the things in this world because they keep us from Godly pleasures. It's amazing how much I want to cling to silly things like movies, magazines, music, and anything I see, hear, or think about that is of this world. When I finally listened to the conviction that Christ put on my heart to change, I was very nervous, jittery, even scared to rid my life of things that I thought I needed. Jesus calmed me and took these feelings leaving something so much beyond anything of this world.
Truth: All sin begins by believing a lie. The tiniest hint of compromise against God's Word can be the spark that lets sin become a stronghold.
I felt stupid getting rid of some of my favorite movies and making the decision to stop buying Men's Health magazines even though it was only because I was believing Satan's lies that I was so attached to these things. Even as I was hauling off 30 DVDs to the trash, I was struggling because who really has trouble watching Tommy Boy or The Rock? Or trying to reason that Men's Health magazines are ok because of the diet tips and workout techniques even though the magazine has sex tips and video ads. How easy it was to try and rationalize worldly things that I enjoyed simply because they were entertaining or even arguably valuable on some levels. It was all a lie. There is something inconceivably better with Christ. Paul tells us to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ" in 2 Corinthians 10:5. Radical? Absolutely! Now, if I am in doubt about something in my life and it's relevance, I seek the Truth that Christ taught. "Finally, brothers, 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." (Philippians 4:8) One must conclude that if any of his/her possessions don't cause him/her to think about pure, admirable, and lovely things that he/she probably should get rid of them and he/she most certainly doesn't need them! Radical change.
"Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend to the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4
I looked up enmity because my vocabulary skills aren't the greatest. Websters basically said that enmity was a mutual hatred. That really struck me. So basically if I love anything of this world, not only am I making myself an enemy of God, it is actually as bad as me hating God. Do my possessions and, more importantly, my life reflect my love of Jesus Christ or my love of this world? I desire them to reflect the love I have for my Lord and Savior!
Lie: I am defined by what I do or what people say I am. I have to be great at something in order to be successful.
This lie continues to hold me back. I am a trumpet player. I am a disc golfer. I am a guy with a bad temper. I am a fat guy. I am a great person. I've wanted to define myself by some of these statements for most of my life and I've dreaded the thought of people thinking the others.
I have to be better at trumpet. I have to lose weight. I have to be able to make more putts in disc golf tournaments. I have to make everybody like me. There isn't a better way to be consumed by pressure and never reach my full potential than to obsess over these things. Yet, that is exactly what I do so often!
This lie has led to a lot of prideful thinking on my part. When I first got here to Japan, I would take offense at most attempts of a superior to correct me or explain how the music should be. "Don't you know how much studying I've done in music?" would be one of the first thoughts I would have. It would make me angry! I was miserable and I thought it was their fault for not being aware of just how smart I was. HA! I was miserable because I wanted to be acknowledged as great and wonderful. "Might as well promote Matt to Master Chief because he's obviously the smartest guy ever to come through the Navy music program!" Pride is a scary thing! And that's not even my favorite part!
My brother Russell and I had a good laugh about this frequent display of pride in my heart:
Most of my life I can remember getting very upset whenever I would lose. People would call me a poor sport or even go as far as to stop wanting me around for games or sports or whatever it may be. I've also struggled with a bad temper as far back as I can remember when I wasn't performing up to my ridiculously high standards of excellence. I finally realized that when I am not having a good trumpet day or I'm hitting every tree on the disc golf course, throwing a fit is my answer. Why? Because somehow I believe it will make people think I am a fantastic trumpet player or a terrific disc golfer. (Please don't disregard all of my blogs because of this logic!) Satan deceived me to the point it got into my heart that if I get upset when things are not going well, people will assume that I must be much better at whatever it is I'm mad about because I'm mad. "Well, he must be in the Philharmonic because he's so upset about missing notes." Pride. Satan's lie. A hardened heart far removed from Truth.
Truth: I am defined by who God says I am! A successful life is a life devoted to the ministry of Jesus Christ.
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (Romans 8:16)
"Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential for your success at living a victorious Christian life!" --Dr. Neil Anderson, Living Free in Christ
Who and what does God say I am? My brother Erik gave me a bookmark with several statements regarding who I am and you are in Christ.
I am God's child.
I am a saint.
I am complete in Christ.
I have been redeemed and forgiven.
I can be confident that the good work that has begun in me will be perfected.
I am the salt and the light of the earth.
I am God's temple.
I am God's workmanship.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
Soak this Truth in! Let it be burned onto your heart daily. Always be mindful of who Jesus says you are. This is what I am trying to do with Christ's help to combat the lies of the evil one. The more I learn from Scripture, worship, brothers and sisters who hold me accountable, and prayer, the more effective I become for the Kindgom. Jesus wants me to know these truths. I want what Jesus wants. I want my hope to rest in the Truth of God revealed to me through Jesus Christ.
Radical change. A transformed life. A man after God's own heart. Freedom in Jesus Christ.
Seek and yee shall find.
Lord Jesus, thank you for saving my life. Thank you for your living and active role in transforming my life to reflect your Truth. Continue to open my heart to your call and make me a light that leads people to you. I give you all of me so that this life is no longer mine, but yours. May I boast in nothing but the cross. Lead me to the Truth so that I may know you! Amen.
A good friend of mine reminded me of something that I had been losing sight in these writings and in my life that I feel is necessary to address.
The life that we Christians live is a direct result of the real and active relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ is alive in my life today and every day. I have been moving away from this idea and writing about God making Jesus seem far less important than in fact He is. It is only through Jesus living in my heart here and now that I have any hope of connecting with the Father. For this reason, I fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. I don't wish to think or speak in generalities, but speak in the name of Jesus, for it is He who saved my life and lives in my heart revealing God's Truth.
Lie: Small compromises in my thoughts and actions are no big deal. I can still keep "innocent" worldly things in my life and be ok.
I cannot count high enough to tell you how many times I have made "minor" compromises with my eyes or thoughts or heart because it was easy, or, scarier yet, because I didn't think it was wrong to do so. Satan wants us to love the things in this world because they keep us from Godly pleasures. It's amazing how much I want to cling to silly things like movies, magazines, music, and anything I see, hear, or think about that is of this world. When I finally listened to the conviction that Christ put on my heart to change, I was very nervous, jittery, even scared to rid my life of things that I thought I needed. Jesus calmed me and took these feelings leaving something so much beyond anything of this world.
Truth: All sin begins by believing a lie. The tiniest hint of compromise against God's Word can be the spark that lets sin become a stronghold.
I felt stupid getting rid of some of my favorite movies and making the decision to stop buying Men's Health magazines even though it was only because I was believing Satan's lies that I was so attached to these things. Even as I was hauling off 30 DVDs to the trash, I was struggling because who really has trouble watching Tommy Boy or The Rock? Or trying to reason that Men's Health magazines are ok because of the diet tips and workout techniques even though the magazine has sex tips and video ads. How easy it was to try and rationalize worldly things that I enjoyed simply because they were entertaining or even arguably valuable on some levels. It was all a lie. There is something inconceivably better with Christ. Paul tells us to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ" in 2 Corinthians 10:5. Radical? Absolutely! Now, if I am in doubt about something in my life and it's relevance, I seek the Truth that Christ taught. "Finally, brothers, 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." (Philippians 4:8) One must conclude that if any of his/her possessions don't cause him/her to think about pure, admirable, and lovely things that he/she probably should get rid of them and he/she most certainly doesn't need them! Radical change.
"Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend to the world makes himself an enemy of God." James 4:4
I looked up enmity because my vocabulary skills aren't the greatest. Websters basically said that enmity was a mutual hatred. That really struck me. So basically if I love anything of this world, not only am I making myself an enemy of God, it is actually as bad as me hating God. Do my possessions and, more importantly, my life reflect my love of Jesus Christ or my love of this world? I desire them to reflect the love I have for my Lord and Savior!
Lie: I am defined by what I do or what people say I am. I have to be great at something in order to be successful.
This lie continues to hold me back. I am a trumpet player. I am a disc golfer. I am a guy with a bad temper. I am a fat guy. I am a great person. I've wanted to define myself by some of these statements for most of my life and I've dreaded the thought of people thinking the others.
I have to be better at trumpet. I have to lose weight. I have to be able to make more putts in disc golf tournaments. I have to make everybody like me. There isn't a better way to be consumed by pressure and never reach my full potential than to obsess over these things. Yet, that is exactly what I do so often!
This lie has led to a lot of prideful thinking on my part. When I first got here to Japan, I would take offense at most attempts of a superior to correct me or explain how the music should be. "Don't you know how much studying I've done in music?" would be one of the first thoughts I would have. It would make me angry! I was miserable and I thought it was their fault for not being aware of just how smart I was. HA! I was miserable because I wanted to be acknowledged as great and wonderful. "Might as well promote Matt to Master Chief because he's obviously the smartest guy ever to come through the Navy music program!" Pride is a scary thing! And that's not even my favorite part!
My brother Russell and I had a good laugh about this frequent display of pride in my heart:
Most of my life I can remember getting very upset whenever I would lose. People would call me a poor sport or even go as far as to stop wanting me around for games or sports or whatever it may be. I've also struggled with a bad temper as far back as I can remember when I wasn't performing up to my ridiculously high standards of excellence. I finally realized that when I am not having a good trumpet day or I'm hitting every tree on the disc golf course, throwing a fit is my answer. Why? Because somehow I believe it will make people think I am a fantastic trumpet player or a terrific disc golfer. (Please don't disregard all of my blogs because of this logic!) Satan deceived me to the point it got into my heart that if I get upset when things are not going well, people will assume that I must be much better at whatever it is I'm mad about because I'm mad. "Well, he must be in the Philharmonic because he's so upset about missing notes." Pride. Satan's lie. A hardened heart far removed from Truth.
Truth: I am defined by who God says I am! A successful life is a life devoted to the ministry of Jesus Christ.
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (Romans 8:16)
"Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential for your success at living a victorious Christian life!" --Dr. Neil Anderson, Living Free in Christ
Who and what does God say I am? My brother Erik gave me a bookmark with several statements regarding who I am and you are in Christ.
I am God's child.
I am a saint.
I am complete in Christ.
I have been redeemed and forgiven.
I can be confident that the good work that has begun in me will be perfected.
I am the salt and the light of the earth.
I am God's temple.
I am God's workmanship.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
Soak this Truth in! Let it be burned onto your heart daily. Always be mindful of who Jesus says you are. This is what I am trying to do with Christ's help to combat the lies of the evil one. The more I learn from Scripture, worship, brothers and sisters who hold me accountable, and prayer, the more effective I become for the Kindgom. Jesus wants me to know these truths. I want what Jesus wants. I want my hope to rest in the Truth of God revealed to me through Jesus Christ.
Radical change. A transformed life. A man after God's own heart. Freedom in Jesus Christ.
Seek and yee shall find.
Lord Jesus, thank you for saving my life. Thank you for your living and active role in transforming my life to reflect your Truth. Continue to open my heart to your call and make me a light that leads people to you. I give you all of me so that this life is no longer mine, but yours. May I boast in nothing but the cross. Lead me to the Truth so that I may know you! Amen.
Matt, I've enjoyed reading your Lies and Truth blog and appreciate your honesty.
ReplyDeleteI do want to mention though that you need to fix the font in part 2 here.... something seems to have gone amiss with it. I had to copy and paste it into a text document to read it.
Anyway, thank you for your faithfulness to our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael