faith – Page 2

The Only Question That Really Matters

April 10, 2017 by Matthew Gaither Leave a Comment

I try not to pay much attention to politics or current events. I have a friend at work who, I am fairly certain, thinks of me as either willfully ignorant or somewhat uncaring about the world at large. Whenever he tells me about the latest plane crash, energy crisis or political scandal that is making the headlines my usual response is something like “hmm” or “oh, really?”

It’s not that I don’t care or that I am unconcerned about the world in which I live. It’s simply a matter of perspective and the difference between mine and his. He’s a professed atheist and I am not. I love the Lord Jesus, read my Bible daily and I try to view him and the world around me through the lens of God’s grace and redemptive plan.

He knows that I am a believer in Christ and that I attend church weekly but as a non-believer without a strong biblical background he doesn’t really understand my point of view. No one can, not unless they are first adopted into the family of God by faith and belief on the Lord Jesus Christ and the washing and remission of sins.

What I would really like to say to him is “God is in control, love and serve Him with all of your heart and leave the rest to Him” but as my desire is not to antagonize Him it comes out as “hmm” or “oh, really”.

I say all of that to say we need to be careful about not getting so caught up in lesser matters. What exactly is a lesser matter, you might ask? I leave the precise answer of that question up to your conscience and the leading of the Holy Spirit but for me a lesser matter is one that distracts from the message of the gospel and the good news that Jesus saves.

In terms of politics do I want a strong believer in the White House? Absolutely, I do. I pray for my country and its leadership often. But I am not open to entering into political debate on my position because ultimately it is going to lead back to my belief in Jesus Christ and in God’s plan for this world and for His people.

In terms of social matters, do I support gay marriage? Well, I believe the act of homosexuality is a sin and I also believe that marriage is defined by the Bible as the union between one man and one woman. However, our lawmakers, the ones in charge, have decided to extend the same rights and privileges to same sex couples as heterosexual couples and now I, as a believer, have a choice in how I will respond. Will it be a response that is filled with care and concern for the soul of each individual or will it be a bitter complaint against the sorry state of our world?

I will insert here C.S. Lewis’s response to a question about homosexuality just because it is such a good one: “I take it for certain that the physical satisfaction of homosexual desires is sin. This leaves the homosexual no worse off than any normal person who is, for whatever reason, prevented from marrying. Second, our speculations on the cause of homosexuality are not what matters and we must be content with ignorance. The disciples were not told why the man was born blind (John 9:1-3): only the final cause: that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” Notice how C.S. Lewis takes on the question of homosexuality? By answering it in the context of scripture and bringing the discussion around to God’s plan. And that is exactly how we should be striving to answer any and all questions about our society and our world.

In short, you can’t expect the unrighteous to live righteous lives and instead of focusing on the fruits of sin and the behaviors of the lost we should instead be focusing on God’s grace and doing everything in our power to point the lost to Him. I’m not condemning those who get involved in good causes and spend their time and energy to make the world a better place but I am saying that if we lose the message of the gospel or if it gets somehow overshadowed by our cause then we have lost everything that this world really needs. And at that point our cause amounts to very little.

The world we live in has issues but the reality is there is only one issue: Sin. And that means that there is only one question that really matters. Everything we do should lead up to and expand upon this one question. “Do you love the Lord and live each day to serve Him?”

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: faith, salvation, sin, the gospel

God’s Provision for a New Year

January 9, 2017 by Matthew Gaither Leave a Comment

Last year is over. A new year has begun. While making New Year’s Resolutions might be the popular thing to do, as God’s people we are assured that we don’t have to wait until a new year in order to turn over a new leaf. God says “Today is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2) and God’s help and provision are always present tense and available right now to all who would receive.

Maybe last year wasn’t a good year for us. Maybe there were circumstances that brought pain and sorrow or perhaps we found ourselves in a place of regret over mistakes that were made. Maybe we began this new year with a hope for something better but without a concrete plan for positive change.

I’m here to tell you, God has what you need. In his letter to the church at Philipi, Paul offered encouragement and Godly wisdom which is still applicable to us today and can completely transform our lives if we will put it in to practice.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NASB)

Thankfulness in all things and in all circumstances is the first step. No matter what’s happening and no matter how we feel at the moment, we can express our thanks to God. Not that all things are good or desirable, but that God Himself is always worthy of our thanks and that His salvation and Spirit sustains us even in the midst of the darkest days. And with that thankful heart we are then in a perfect position to offer up our prayers and requests to God who is able to provide for all of our needs.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NASB)

Once we have decided to be thankful (and it is a conscious decision that we must make) and offered up our earnest prayers to God, then God Himself will provide an incredible peace which is able to do a miraculous thing for us. God’s peace will “guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”! This is a wonderful promise because a heart and mind that is guarded by God’s peace is one that is not easily moved or swayed by the evil of this world and can begin to be a light for others. In other words, this is the foundation for a vital and growing faith that we must exercise and put to daily use.

Ultimately it is God who controls our circumstances and much of what happens around us is outside of our ability to change. What is possible and expected of us is to become all that God would have us to be by putting His word into practice. We must trust God with our lives and with our needs and most importantly, with our hearts and minds. There is no blessing that God will withhold from the one who is completely surrendered to Him and there is no power in this world that can overcome those that are committed to doing His will.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: faith, Philippians 4, provision

How Genuine Faith Is Formed

August 15, 2016 by Matthew Gaither Leave a Comment

Have you ever said to yourself “I don’t like this, I don’t understand why it’s happening and I wish it would go away!” If you are like me then you have likely uttered similar statements or had similar thoughts on more than one occasion. It seems to be part of our human condition to face adversity and to be in the midst of difficult circumstances no matter who you are or where you might be.

From a Christian perspective, we should understand it is Sin (notice the capital “S”, as in the fallen state of all creation) that is the root cause of the trials that we face but that knowledge doesn’t necessarily help us cope. No, we need more than knowledge of the problem to stand firm and strong in our faith when we are facing a trial. We need that constant connection to God the Father through the Holy Spirit in prayer and meditation on His Word, the Bible.

And the Bible, being one of the first and most important places to go in our distress, has a lot to say about the problems we face during this life. In the 1st Book of Peter, we find the following:

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith,being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,⁹receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NKJV)

I’ve included verses three through nine because they form a complete thought and need to be read and understood together but take a closer look at verses six through nine. In the midst of our rejoicing (because of what is coming and is yet to be revealed, God’s ultimate gift to us!) we might be grieved (troubled) by various trials, if need be. And why would we need to be troubled? What purpose is served by the problems we face and then overcome with God’s help?

Genuine faith! God works through all circumstance, good or bad, to produce in us a genuine faith that is more precious than gold and has as its goal the praise, honor and glory of God. And what is the end of that faith? What is the sum total of all that God is working in and through us? The salvation of our souls and eternity with our savior.

Something that is genuine is true. It is the real deal. When placed under stress its true colors shine forth and there is nothing fake or artificial about it. If it’s real, God knows it and people can see it in us. Can people see a real and genuine faith in me? Can they see it in you?

To get to that point of having a real and genuine faith we are going to have to go through some things that we might not like and that might be painful. During those times it is only natural to search for answers. As we are searching, I pray we would remember the Apostle Peter’s words to us as recorded in First Peter verses three through nine. God’s still working on us. He’s not finished yet. Hang in there and keep the goal in sight. It will be well worth it all.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: 1 Peter 1:3-9, faith, suffering

Alpha Predator Author Interview with Steve Taylor

June 13, 2016 by Matthew Gaither Leave a Comment

Back on June 19th, I posted my book review of Alpha Predator: How to Be Victorious Over Life’s Ultimate Adversary and What to do When You’re Not. If you have read the review then you know that the book and the man who wrote it holds a special place in my heart.

Today I am excited to be able to post a summary of a telephone interview that I got to do with Steve last week. Steve was gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule to give me a call and to bless me with his words and his wisdom; he has given me permission to write about that call here on Matthew515.

The first thing you need to understand about Steve Taylor is that even though he is a retired missionary he is still working full time for God. He is currently a full time pastor in Pratt, Kansas and during our conversation he was power walking for exercise in preparation for his upcoming return to Zimbabwe, Africa on a mission trip. More on that later. Let’s get to the interview.

Me: “How did the idea for the book come about? Where did that idea begin and how did it take shape?”

Steve: “I was in a difficult ministry situation at the time. It was very challenging and I was in contact with people who were really struggling. I wanted to tell the story of Africa in the midst of challenging circumstances. Writing was cathartic and it was an outflow of my life experiences through words on a page. My Dad really encouraged me to take what I was writing and turn it into a book so I attended a writer’s conference in Denver, Colorado and came back with a passion to write the book.”

Steve: “Being a full time pastor, Alpha Predator was mostly written between the hours of 10pm and 2am after everyone had gone to bed and the world had gotten quiet. I needed that time that was free of distraction so that I could really hear God speak to me. During those times my thoughts could coalesce into something solid as they appeared on the page. Even then, it took nearly two years to finish Alpha Predator.”

Me: “And did I hear that you were perhaps considering a follow-up?”

Steve: “Yes, two actually. One would tell more of how God called Shirley (Steve’s wife) and I to the ministry and our early years getting settled in Africa. The other will be a Study Guide or Workbook to go along with Alpha Predator.”

Steve: “A copy of Alpha Predator found its way into the hands of a prison chaplain in Texas and that chaplain has shared with me that he is having great success using it as a teaching tool with the inmates there. These are men who live very close to the evil that is described in Alpha Predator. The Workbook is a direct request from the chaplain and others who are using Alpha Predator as a teaching tool.”

Steve: “Speaking with that chaplain and my experience with writing Alpha Predator really got me thinking. Distractions are everywhere and we need quite time alone with God to really hear Him. Old disciplines of the ancient saints like solitude, silence and fasting are necessary. We have an entire generation that does not know how to be still and know God. Solitude and alone time should be a blessing, not a punishment!”

Me: “I agree with you, Steve. I feel like the theme of my life these past few weeks has been prayer and alone time with God. I’ve never had a greater desire to talk to God and to get away from the distractions of this world than I do right now. I think God is trying to remind His people of something.”

Steve: “God wants to reclaim His children. That’s one of the main reasons I wrote Alpha Predator. I feel like there are many Christians out there who have made mistakes and just don’t know how to come back home. The story of the Prodigal Son is a story about a Son who left, made many mistakes, but then came back and was restored by his father. It’s not a story about a lost person, but about a believer. We have many Prodigal Sons today and the Father wants them back.”

Me: “I feel the same way. I had a gentleman in my Sunday School class a few weeks ago tell me that the Lord had given him a thought to give to me. This was right after I started Matthew515 and what he said really affirmed my ministry. He said the Lord told him “My people perish for lack of knowledge” and that’s exactly how he relayed it to me. It just underscored the seriousness of what the Lord had asked me to do and motivated me to not hold anything back.”

Me: “You make an annual trip back to Zimbabwe and I know that is coming up soon. Is there anything you would like to share about that? Are there specific prayer requests that you have about your trip that I could share on Matthew515 in with my church?”

Steve: “Every year I take a small group of men to the Zambezi River Valley near where I lived while I was in Africa. We can’t go in as missionaries anymore so it has to be for the purpose of tourism and sight-seeing but we do minister as we are able. Last year we started 4 churches and had 227 professions of faith in 18 days.

Steve: “We go into the deep bush, 200 miles from the nearest electric light and deliver basic necessities and medical supplies while teaching and preaching the gospel. Through these trips we’ve started 28 churches and have trained men to take them on after we are gone and ensure that the ministry continues.”

Steve: “You should make the trip with me sometime. It would change your life!”

Finally, Steve has asked that any who read this would pray for the safety of those who are going and for safe passage through the many check-points and roadblocks that they will have to navigate on their way into the bush. He also asks that we pray for the well being of the team while in the bush because (in his words) “everything in Africa bites”.

*Follow-up: Although this post is nearly three years old, everything in it is still relevant. Steve Taylor is still taking yearly trips to Africa and is still very much in need of our prayer. I re-post this interview from time to time because I love Steve Taylor and respect the wisdom that he imparted to me through our time together.*

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: alpha predator, evangelism, faith, missions, review

Faith: The Hope and the Evidence

April 4, 2016 by Matthew Gaither Leave a Comment

The day that God called me to write and speak His truth was a turning point in my life. What had previously seemed like a difficult period was actually preparation and training for the most exciting plan that God had ever shared with me.

Although I was full of passion and optimism I knew that what God had just asked me to do was far beyond my abilities. I knew absolutely nothing about starting and maintaining a website or creating content. I didn’t have the first clue on how to go about being a blogger or using the written word to reach an internet audience. To get where God was asking me to go was going to take a lot of faith.

I’ve been a regular church attendee for most of my life. I know the definition of faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen” (Hebrews 11:1). Even so, knowing the definition of faith was not going to be enough. I was going to have to live out what I had learned. I certainly hoped that God would bless my efforts as I labored to learn all I needed to know about being a blogger. And I believe that hope in God is always rewarded as we strive to do His will.

But what about the evidence of things unseen? Matthew Henry, who was a Presbyterian Minister in the 17^th century, wrote “Faith proves to the mind, the reality of things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye”. I certainly had no physical evidence to support God’s claim that I could do what He was asking me to do. And if I had waited on that physical evidence to show up before I began I would never have started. But by exercising my faith in God I trusted that He would give me what I needed exactly when I needed it.

This is God’s way. We can see this pattern in the 16^th Chapter of Exodus when the Israelites were in the wilderness and were in need of food. They cried out to God and each day God caused manna from heaven to fall to the ground. With this provision came the instruction to take only what was needed for that day. God wanted His people to see His provision as fresh and new every single day and so it is with us.

I have also seen this in my own life. In my 2^nd year of college my family was facing some financial difficulties. As I approached the end of the first semester it looked as if I was not going to be able to come back because we simply did not have the money to pay for tuition. We prayed for God’s will and provision and with about a week to go until the end of semester I got a call from one of the college deans.

As I sat in his office that afternoon he asked me why I had not enrolled for the following semester. I explained what was going on with my family and he listened. As I finished he told me that it was his desire for me to stay in school and that I would be the beneficiary of a financial gift that had been provided by someone outside the school who just wanted to help a student in need. This gift had just come in the mail. It was just enough to keep me in school and it was just in time.

God grew my faith that day.

God is still growing my faith. I look back at the last several months and I can see how God provided for me at every turn and how every day it is He who is giving me the message and providing my direction.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Day by day I am learning the truth of Hebrews 11:6. If you are reading this it is my prayer that you also know the truth of Hebrews 11:6 and the power of a life lived by faith in God alone. He loves you; He died for you and the life He now offers you is richer and fuller than you could ever imagine. All you have to do is take that first step of faith. God is waiting.

What step is God asking you to take on faith today?

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: faith, god's will, hope

Worth Thinking About

May 18, 2015 by Matthew Gaither Leave a Comment

I’m going to give you a quote from a recent article on CNN and let you think about it for a moment. Once you’ve done that please continue reading and we’ll discuss what I think it means and why it is important.

“Christianity in the United States hasn’t done a good job of engaging serious Christian reflection with young people, in ways that would be relevant to their lives.” said L. Gregory Jones, a senior strategist for leadership education at Duke University in North Carolina.

If you would like to read the whole story (which I recommend) the article in question can be found here. http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/12/living/pew-religion-study/index.html

It’s an article about young people and millennials (the “millenial” generation is defined by most as people born between 1981 and 1997) in particular leaving the church. What’s interesting is that the article states that many of the millenials who now claim no faith or religious affiliation were raised in homes where the parents claimed to be Christian. The takeaway being that this generation has in large part rejected the faith of their fathers in favor of a much different world view.

While it is the atheists and those who outright reject belief in God who often get most of the attention in Christian circles the article goes on to state that many more millenials profess to be agnostic or unsure about their belief in God rather than atheistic. And even among those who profess to believe in God they are still leaving church pews empty because they do not find the traditional church service and church programs to be relevant or engaging. Another quote from the article is relevant here:

“If it is the case that millennials are less ‘atheists’ than they are ‘bored,’ then serious engagements with Christian social innovation, and with deep intellectual reflection (and these two things are connected), would offer promising signs of hope,” Jones said.

The truly amazing thing about all of this to me is that a vibrant, growing faith in Jesus Christ is the most relevant and engaging experience that a human being could ever hope to be a part of and somehow “the church” has made it seem boring, old fashioned, misguided and not at all relevant. And lest we cast all of the blame at the churches’ feet we have to remember that a good portion of the millennials that this article is addressing were raised in homes where the parents claimed to be Christians. Since education starts in the home and God’s Word tells us that if we “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) then what we really have is a failure to educate and train our kids both at church AND in the home.

I don’t think this is a new problem, either. I think this is a problem that is as old as humanity and Christianity. The devil is always going to come after family units and will always try to distract us in any way that he possibly can and he’s been doing that for thousands of years. The fact that we have more media coverage and more distractions nowadays is just causing the problem to get more attention and more coverage.

But make no mistake, we do have a problem. We, as Christ’s church and Christ’s body need to do a better job at communicating why the gospel is still so relevant and so powerful. We need to emphasize the relational aspect of our faith with a loving heavenly father who has forgiven our sins and longs for us to be with Him. And we need to be bold in proclaiming that not making a decision is the same as rejecting God and carries grave consequences for an eternity without hope.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: education, faith, proverbs 22:6

Faith In The Rabbit Hole

April 27, 2015 by Matthew Gaither 1 Comment

Confused? Yes. Dismayed? Yes. Uncomfortable with your situation? Yes. Irritated and annoyed? Yes. Unsure about your direction? Yes. Lacking in confidence? Most assuredly.

This describes me. Does it describe you? Ok maybe it isn’t every minute of every day but those descriptors certainly fit me often enough for me to notice and feel bad about it. After all, I am a Christian, a saved child of God who is honestly trying his best to love the Lord and walk in righteousness. Aren’t I supposed to have it all together at this point? Shouldn’t I be mature enough in my walk that I am armored against such things? Apparently not.

At times, I feel like I am living in Alice’s rabbit hole.

Wikipedia says the expression “down the rabbit hole” is a metaphor for an entry into the unknown, the disorientating or the mentally confusing and can also refer to an initial page or clue that opens a persons eyes to an alternate reality. I think that’s a pretty good explanation for certain aspects of life as a Christian.

The flesh in me wants to act out so badly and sometimes, unfortunately, I let it. And because I’ve let my flesh have its way I then berate and beat myself up about it instead of resting in God’s grace and immediately seeking His forgiveness. This process of being fixed by God for His glory is described by the fancy word “sanctification” and sanctification, at least for me, is hard.

See if this sounds familiar to you. Through prayer and life experience God reveals a weak area that needs attention. You confess it, ask for God’s help in it and begin to see some progress in growing out of it. But then you slip up and the old man, that old sin, comes right back to the forefront. I think the apostle Paul understood this very well.

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. (Romans 7:15-20) NASB

How frustrating it is and how dismayed I am with myself when I do those things that I know I shouldn’t do and don’t do those things that I know I should! Some days I just want to cry out to God to take this sin out of me and make me like Jesus, perfect and holy as He is.

But that isn’t how God works with us, is it? This is a process. The route of sanctification isn’t a short, straight line from point A (start) to point B (finish). It’s more like a meandering path through hills, valleys, deserts, rivers, oceans, caves, jungles and an erupting volcano or two before we reach our goal. At each new sight and at each bend in the road God is there to guide us and teach us something new, if we will let Him. If I will let Him.

That’s where the alternate reality of the rabbit hole comes in. Although we walk on this earth we are not of the earth and our destination can’t be found on any map. Our spiritual eyes have been opened and we long for a home that we have never seen. We long to be with our savior and to be like Him.

It is that dissatisfaction with who we are now versus who God wants us to be that can sometimes drive us to distraction but can also be a catalyst for great change. Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic wrote “Dissatisfaction is the mother of change, and only change can drive improvement.” Although he was speaking in a secular sense, there is still spiritual truth in his statement. God does not want us to be satisfied and comfortable in our sin and until we hate it as much as He does there will be some things that we will not be able to overcome. I am convinced of this.

This life we live can be weird, trying and downright exasperating at times. Sometimes, the thing I am most exasperated with is myself. Even so, I have faith that God is still working and that the process of sanctification that He started in me will be completed in His good time. Until then I need to hold on and keep believing. You hold on and keep believing also. Don’t loose your way and don’t loose your faith in the rabbit hole. God knows exactly where we are and He has a perfect plan to bring us home. What we need to do now, is help each other get there.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: faith, flesh, Romans 7:15-20

The Hope That Does Not Disappoint

January 12, 2015 by Matthew Gaither 1 Comment

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)

Everybody faces disappointment. It is a simple fact of life. If you live you will at some point be disappointed by someone or something.

Disappointment comes in many forms and from many places. They can be small or large. They can come singly or all at once. But come they will, whether we are ready for them or not.

Knowing this, we have two choices. We can choose to live life to the fullest, bravely and boldly and full of love as God intended. Or we can choose to live in such a way that we avoid all possible people and situations that might lead to disappointment in the future.

The thing is, avoidance is not God’s way. God embraces. God encompasses. God gives generously and liberally to all who ask. And so should we.

We need to be out there, in the world, showing God’s love to all and meeting their needs in His name. And if we live in this way then we risk being disappointed when we are rejected and especially when God’s free gift of salvation is rejected.

But thank God, we have a remedy. We must realize our disappointment is temporary. Any disappointment tied to this life will ultimately pass away when God takes us home to be with Him and all things are made new. We have that promise and no temporary defeat or setback in this life can diminish it. God won the victory and while there is much work still to be done, the outcome is assured. One day we will be with Him and there will be no more tears or sorrow, no more suffering or pain. Look forward to heaven, child of God. It will be glorious, indescribable and beyond all expectation.

This is our hope. But it is not only a future hope. It is a hope that lives and makes a difference right now, right here. Like Romans 5:5 says above, our hope does not disappoint (notice the present tense!). It does not disappoint because God’s love has been poured out directly in our hearts and lives through the gift of His Holy Spirit.

His Holy Spirit ministers to us and provides comfort and peace in times of trouble. His Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and directs our steps as we trust in Him fully. If we stumble and fall it is because we are not taking advantage of the wonderful gift that He has given us through His Spirit but even then He stands ready and willing to forgive us and re-establish us if we will confess our sin to Him.

Are you living in disappointment? Is your hope diminished? Have the troubles and cares of this life brought you down? Turn your eyes on Jesus and focus your heart on Him. Confess your failures and disappointment to Him and cast all your cares upon Him. He will never leave or forsake you and your hope is safe with Him. Come and see, Jesus never disappoints.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: disappointment, faith, hope

Have You Ever Asked God Why?

December 15, 2014 by Matthew Gaither Leave a Comment

I think every single believer has at sometime in their life asked “Why, God?” “Why is this happening to me”?

We see our circumstances and we feel the effects of fear, doubt, and worry as we desperately try to find a way out. Sometimes we are sick. Sometimes we are lonely or hurting emotionally. Sometimes we may even be in physical danger or suffering from life piling a whole bunch of trouble on us all at once. Regardless of the cause our first response is usually to seek relief as we repeatedly ask “Why?”

We have a word that we use in the South sometimes to describe something that is just off. Something that is weirdly messed up in a strange way we call wonky. “Now that is just wonky!” Your neighbors car won’t start because a squirrel decided to build a nest inside it and ended up chewing some really important parts while leaving acorn remnants all over the motor? That’s a pretty wonky story! (I promise this is related, bear with me)

Have you ever really thought about the circumstances surrounding the Christmas story? The whole thing could be described as wonky if you look at only the circumstances. Mary and Joseph have already been told that they are going to be the parents of God’s only son and they have been obedient in preparing for their life together. But then something happens that turns all of their preparations and plans on their heads.

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1-7)

Mary and Joseph have to leave their home and travel (mostly by walking and on the back of a donkey) to Bethlehem because some Roman official got the idea that it was time to take a census. And of course when they arrive they can’t find a place to stay. Everything is booked. So they end up bedding down with the barn animals in the stable and Mary gives birth to Jesus and places him in a feeding trough that serves as his first crib. Do you think they, during all of this, ever asked God “Why?”

I think they did. I think they needed constant reassurance that they were right in the middle of God’s plan and that He was taking care of them despite their wonky circumstances.

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2 15-20)

Not only was God actively providing for Mary and Joseph during the birth He was also announcing the arrival of His Son to some very unlikely candidates at the very same time. Angels appeared to some very important shepherds in a field nearby (I say very important because God specifically chose these men to be the very first witnesses of the Christ child) who immediately left their fields to go and see Jesus. After seeing Jesus what did they do?

They “made it widely known” and “all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds”. God understood the importance of including “the least of these” into His plan and at that time anyone who was a shepherd was considered the lowest in terms of societal position. I believe God picked them specifically because He wanted the world to understand that everyone, no matter their station, was to be included in His plan. And it was “the least of these” that started the important task of telling the world about Jesus’ arrival.

Viewed from a human perspective the Christ child’s birth may seem to be a strange (wonky) series of circumstances and events. But viewed from a Godly perspective we see that God had a plan and carried it out using ordinary, lowly people who in turn did amazing things for God’s Kingdom. So next time you are tempted to ask “Why” instead ask “What are you doing, Lord?” and “How can I make sure that I stay in the middle of it so that you can use me?”

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: Christmas, faith, Luke 2

How Faith Grows

April 14, 2014 by Matthew Gaither Leave a Comment

When writing, I find it sometimes is better not to start with a title or even a strong idea for a topic. Sometimes you really don’t know exactly what is banging around inside your own head until you sit down and just let the words flow.

Being a reader I would imagine that this is making you nervous. You are thinking, “if even the author doesn’t know exactly where this is going, do I really want to hang around for the ride?” And honestly, that’s a valid question. I would answer it like this: if you regularly read this site and trust the content that is presented on a normal basis to be factual, inspiring and (hopefully) interesting then I hope you will trust me enough to see this piece through. If you’re new here or just don’t care for what I normally post then I would encourage you to look elsewhere. Life is too short to spend it doing things that don’t inspire you, help you grow or enrich you in some way.

With that out of the way, I can now hopefully express to you what is on my heart. And that expression would have to start with my own gratefulness. If there has been a central theme to my Christian walk this past year it would have to be God showing me just how blessed I am through His redeeming power. No matter how badly I mess up or how inadequate I feel at times, God’s redeeming power is greater. His grace is greater than all my sin; always has been and always will be. This is a great comfort to me every single day.

Learning to trust Him and His unseen hand is sometimes hard for me, but God is patient and kind. Through circumstances, the teaching of other mature believers and the ministering of the Holy Spirit, I am discovering what a joy it is to be able to put all of my trust in the Lord. My nature is to fret and to over analyze everything and then try to control and plan for all possible outcomes. Not only is this exhausting, there is absolutely no peace of mind when trying to live this way. This is not God’s will for my life and it is not God’s will for your life either. He wants you and I to learn to trust Him absolutely and without reservation.

There is a process and an order to growing in the faith, just as there is a process and an order to all of God’s creation. God is a God of order; chaos is not in His nature or part of His plan. Just as a seed is planted in fertile soil and then through water and sunlight grows little by little in to a mighty tree, so must our faith grow. Being the impatient man that I am, I want quick results and dramatic displays of maturity. Wouldn’t it be better if this whole life of faith and journey towards Godliness could be accelerated somewhat?

All I can say to that is our sanctification and our holiness is a God-designed process and must not be rushed through. God’s Word tells us that we grow from “faith to faith” (Romans 1:17) and that we should count our trials as joy because they are producing Godliness in us (James 1:2-4). On hard days verses like those help to remind me that God is still working on growing my faith. My part is to simply trust and obey.

I tell you this because I know that life is hard. At times, joy and laughter can be in very short supply and if you are like me, the weight of your responsibilities can seem overwhelming. But God is greater. When I choose to focus on Him and make Him my priority He takes all of my burdens and cares and replaces them with peace and joy. He wants to do the same for you, right now, today. Commit to learning to trust Him with your whole heart and hold nothing back. Let Him begin the work of faith in you and be patient as He grows you into the man or woman that you were always intended to be.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: faith, persecution, trials