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What Paul knew to be true

The Apostle Paul testified that the resurrection of Jesus was true. And he held to this truth at great personal cost to himself.

It’s one thing to hold a position when it brings great benefit. It is much more significant, and much more persuasive, when a person holds a position in spite of great pain.

Paul wrote this about Jesus:

“…Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”  1 Corinthians 15:3-8

We can HANDLE what LIFE dishes out today!

Let's Stop Being So Thin-Skinned

Sometimes I hear or read things with which I disagree, or, I encounter something which casts groups with whom I am affiliated in a negative light and I find myself thinking, “Hey, what’s going on here? This is not fair. The person(s) responsible for that communication need to apologize. That bothers me!”

But then—when I’m thinking right—this type of realization occurs to me, “Hey, relax. People are allowed to express opinions even if you don’t agree with them. Lighten up. Everyone doesn’t think the same way you do. Everyone doesn’t see the world the same way you do. Don’t be a baby.”

My dear friends, I honestly believe it will be in our own best interests for all of us to stop being so overly sensitive. (Including me.) Also it will help us to stop treating everyone like wimps who cannot handle any type of disagreement with their views and opinions, or any criticism of groups with whom they may be associated.

Please understand, I am not endorsing disrespectful, dishonest, hateful language. I believe it is important for us to be loving, gracious and respectful toward each other. I really do.

Also, I am not writing this post in anger. I would honestly like to be helpful. I am concerned. I write this in an effort to offer some thoughts about the general direction of our culture. It seems we are becoming overly sensitive, unable to confront any type of communication which might challenge our thinking or point-of-view. This inability to hear any challenge to our position on matters will not serve us well.

Of course, this cultural over-sensitivity is only likely to change if people will stop claiming to be victimized by any minor remark with which they disagree. As I admitted earlier, I know the feeling. I don’t like hearing ideas that challenge my positions. It is easy to feel defensive and cry, “You can’t say that! I’m very delicate!” But come on, we can handle some differing opinions once in a while, can’t we?

In the book of Acts there is a story about Paul debating Epicurean and Stoic philosophers while he was in Athens. It also mentions that Paul went out to speak in the public square “daily.” In other words, he was sharing the gospel message with people who had not heard it before. He was using reason, logic and sharing evidence from his own eyewitness testimony. Everyone did not believe him. Everyone did not agree with him. In one passage we are told the philosophers said this about Paul: “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” (Acts 17:18)

Paul did not respond to these comments by crying and trying to create a safe zone in which no one could respond in ways that challenged what he was saying. He did not say, “They called me a babbler. That’s it, I’m going to get a lawyer.”

He kept on going back and talking, listening, reasoning, debating. He realized everyone would not agree with him. Reasonable, mature adults understand this reality.

I acknowledge that some language can be incredibly mean, hurtful, inappropriate, rude, irresponsible, offensive and even destructive. Again, I am not condoning such behavior. But I’m concerned we are becoming too small, too weak, too insular and too willing to be sheltered from differing ideas and opinions.

We need to be bigger than this. I say this with love: Our culture needs to grow up.

The Value of Knowing Christ Jesus

This is an interesting thing for an intelligent, educated person to write:

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” Philippians 3:8-9

This was written by a man named Paul. He wrote it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Is it true? Yes, it is. This passage is providing us with helpful knowledge. Nothing we do in life is more important than knowing Christ Jesus.

The Joy of the Lord

The word “joy” is used many times in the Bible. Those who walk with Christ will experience joy. In fact, joy is one of several characteristics which, together, are known as the fruit of the Spirit. In other words, joy is a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in us.

The Apostle Paul offered a prayer which is recorded in the book of Romans chapter 15, vs. 13. Here is what it says: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The joy being described in this passage is not referring to a type of temporary, circumstance-dependent happiness in which we are rolling on the floor laughing because the external conditions happen to be just right. This joy is a prevailing sense of cheerfulness in the heart. In the Greek lexicon part of the description of the word is “calm delight.”

This joy involves an inner peace which would remain with a person even in the midst of difficulty. And, so, we can find this joy—believe it or not—being mentioned in a verse which deals with the troubles life may bring: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” James 1:2&3.

If a joyful state of mind is dependent upon a continuous series of happy circumstances we will frequently be disappointed and real joy will tend to elude us. On the other hand, if a joyful state of mind is based on the assurance of God and the hope we have in Him then we can experience joy in the midst of any circumstances.

Please understand, I am not claiming this truth has been perfected in me. But I have seen people live this truth, I trust God, and I write about it because in attempting to express and explain it, I hope to understand it better and to experience it more fully.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Peter 5:16-18

A Minute And A Half of God Stuff Podcast - No. 56

Followers of Jesus are His ambassadors.

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Don't Be Discouraged

A guy named Paul wrote the following words:

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”  2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Some of the most optimistic people I know can, sometimes, look at the conditions of our world and be discouraged.  Or, they may be dealing with circumstances in their own lives that seem overwhelming and, again, a sense of despair can occur.

Paul’s circumstances were about as difficult as they get.  Discouragement would have been an understandable response for him.  But he did not descend into despair.

Paul writes further on the matter, based on his faith in Christ:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

You Can't Intimidate Someone Who Is Not Threatened By Death

One of the reasons for the courage of the Apostle Paul is that, because of God’s presence with him, he did not fear death.  Paul wrote these words that are recorded in his letter to Philippi, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.  It is extraordinarily difficult to intimidate a person who is not threatened by death.

The Source of Paul's Message -- Audio Podcast

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Pondering The Greatness of Knowing Christ

The Apostle Paul said that everything in the whole world was “rubbish” compared to knowing Christ.  In other words, nothing else has any importance or value in comparison with the greatness of knowing Christ.  Hmm, think about it, Paul wanted to know Jesus more than he wanted anything else in life.  Could we honestly say that we feel that way, too?  I’m pondering that truth today.