Author: David Ashworth

per·se·ver·ance

1. persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 CSB “Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches—about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions that you are enduring. It is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering, ” 

The Thessalonian Christians and Christ-followers today can relate with one another rather poignantly. The Thessalonian believers were living out their faith in a time of growing violent opposition from pagan culture yet, they pressed on and leaned on the strength of our LORD. From that, they showed persistence in living out their upward calling in the face of mounting difficulty.

We today do well to remember and aspire to their example. 

The year 2020 and the opening days of 2021 have been demonstrative of the fact that the wider mainstream culture is becoming all the more openly hostile towards the principles that make our Christian faith so distinct. While we in the U.S. may not be getting slaughtered for our faith in contrast to other parts of the world, there is no denying that it is becoming more and more difficult to live your life for Christ in this decaying and pluralistic society we find ourselves in. 

However, this is exactly the time where we must remain steadfast. We must not abandon our post. History has shown us that the greater the opposition to God’s church, the more she thrives. 

I know when you hear the word perseverance, you may want to emit a sigh of exasperation or weariness… or both. However, a source that we can look to for confidence, reinvigoration and resolve for God’s Kingdom is upon Christ Himself. Believers know the story of Christ’s trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, and within that, there lies one of the most vividly-beautiful truths about our faith in Christ: There was great hardship before His world-altering triumph.

Jesus was and still is the ultimate example of perseverance. He knew what the Father had predestined for Him to carry out:

2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Despite knowing full well all that His divine mission entailed, Jesus saw it through to its violent and world-changing fulfillment. You and I must remember though we might live in a world that deems us intolerant and narrow-minded, Christ knows exactly what being accused of all those things feels like. 

Jesus warns us of this:

John 15:18 CSB “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.”

We must remain dogged in our dedication to living and preaching the Gospel in our communities and the world over. We are entering a day and age where it is abundantly clear where to live for Christ will garner no approval from the world. Yet, we know that this is exactly the time to have a sense of urgency to spread the Good News.

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah‬ 55:11‬ NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬

I’ve always loved this particular verse of scripture from the Prophet Isaiah, with The Lord God’s declaration of His spoken word completing the task which The Lord has purposed. This verse doesn’t just apply to the spoken Word but also the written Word. This verse speaks of The Lord’s sovereignty and control over all circumstances and situations. “His will be done” This is a proclamation of comfort and peace to the weary hearts and minds of those that have put their faith and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ. That all the promises of The Lord God are guaranteed for all time and eternity. We need not worry or fear the political, financial, cultural, and moral degradation that is happening in the world around us. No person or thing will ever hinder the plans of The Lord God and we can rest in His loving hands with full assurance of Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

May The Lord God Almighty bring peace and comfort to you and your loved ones this day and every day, through every trial and tribulation with the blessed assurance of Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord, Amen.

1 Peter‬ 3:15‬‬ ESV‬‬‬ “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

Beloved follower of The Lord, Christ Jesus, we must always be mindful of how you walk in this world, “not straying to the left or the right”, but honoring The Lord God, with your words, actions, and thoughts, regardless of your emotional or physical circumstances. Through the indwelling of The Holy Spirit, we must prepare each day to share the truth of Christ Jesus to a lost and broken world with the testimony of our words and our lives. Finally, let us fill ourselves with all that The Lord God is and let His love, His peace, and His gentleness flow through us like “streams of living water”.

Gracious Heavenly Father, in this new year, grant us the determination to be bold and courageous in how we honor You. That when this world looks at us, they only see You, Lord, in all your goodness and graciousness. We pray, Father, that your Holy Spirit will guide us to do Your will and to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, in Jesus’ Name Amen.

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite gifts my parents gave me was a record player.  Yes, I know that dates me, but I’m okay with that, so hear me out.   I was an only child for the first 6 years of my life, so I would love to go into my room and play records on that player.  I would be in there for hours at a time.  Never getting bored just totally in my zone listening to whatever current album my parents would let me listen to.  At times, my Mom would pop her head in my room, just to make sure I was okay and she would find me playing and singing to my heart’s content.  I remember literally wearing out the 45 rpm single record “Amen” by Larnelle Harris.  

You see I have always had a love for music and most of all worship music.  Worship music stirs my soul and it quickly will change my mood when I hear one of my many favorite songs.  There is just something about singing songs to God that fills my heart and draws me to Him like nothing else can.

I recently started reading a book on worship and it has challenged me.  It has challenged me to examine my heart.  I’ve asked myself the questions, 

“Is God pleased with my worship?  

“Is God my source of worship?”   

“Am I giving my absolute best, undivided heart and attention to God each time I worship?”

I am reminded of the song “The Heart of Worship” by Matt Redman.  To be honest, this particular song does not fall into the category as ‘’one of my favorites,” but the lyrics truly convey my understanding of how important it is that we examine our heart with regards to worship:

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus

There have been times that I didn’t feel like worshiping God.  I might not have liked the worship song we were singing.  I will even go so far as to say I’ve had moments where my heart was not in a good place to worship God, but I realize that has to stop.  

What I learned is that Matt Redman was right.  Worship should have never been about me or my moments but focusing on who God is in my moments. Jesus tells us that true worshipers will worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This means we both worship from the heart and also in truth the way God has designed it. 

Genuine worship is not about me or my preferences.  It’s about God and who He is over all creation.  Even in our moments, that is the unchanging truth and because of this truth, we have every reason to give God what is due Him.

Confession is the expression of our greatest need, in that God would forgive us and in this, give us the power to forgive ourselves.

“Whenever you see sin or failure in your life, immediately look by faith to Christ and seek His forgiveness; and keep on looking to Him. The more you look at yourself, the more discouraged you will become. Focus on His perfections, not your own imperfections.” – Warren Wiersbe

This is an incredible statement, but hard for us to process.  When we see God in the midst of our failures, the point is that a transfer of trust is happening.  We no longer rely on our inconsistency for righteousness.  We rely on His perfections, so when we see them, we have a confidence, not of our ourselves, but that God is capable to forgive because of who He is.

It takes something with imperfection to clean something dirty.  God’s perfections are capable to cleanse us.  That process begins with wanting to be made clean.  It begins with confession.

Confession is the precursor to real surrender, where a heart that has been humbled comes before a perfect God able to forgive sins.  Confession is always a beginning in someone’s life.  Confession is how change happens in a person in such a way that genuine confession becomes the beginning of healing, restoration and even growth.

Augustine says it this way:

“The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” ~ Augustine

For an evil to end in a person’s life confession is the means by which we can close the door of its impact on the heart and invoke change.  The most damaging sin is hidden sin.  It is confession that brings it to light to be dealt with.

There is an empty confession.  That kind of confession is genuine coming from a person’s mouth, but not genuine in the person’s life.  It’s a form of hypocrisy really.  Confession alone is no substitution for holiness, but genuine confession will lead to holiness if it invokes change.

A person who sees their confession through with their actions arrives again and again at the destination of holiness, not because they are perfect, but because a loving God has made them clean.  

Confession without a changed heart will never lead to a changed life and we must understand what is at stake.  Imagine a Christian life where a person is ignorant of their own sin or unrepentant of their own sin.  What kind of Christ life is that?  Does it take a person anywhere?  Of course not, but many people choose a Christian life lacking in the holiness that confession initiates.

As we fast, use this time to go before God, whether confessing sin or confessing your need to draw closer to Him.  A Christian life without holiness is as useful as a car without gas.  What is it in our lives that we need to confess before God?  Use this fast to invoke real change.

What does it mean to be a true follower of Christ?

Does it mean to go to Church every Sunday? To read your Bible now and then? That if you were baptized everything is fine and you don’t have to do anything else? 

What does being a true follower mean to you? 

Mark 8:34 – And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” 

Surface Christianity is not a true following of Christ. In your heart and your mind, if you have a true love for our Savior, you should pick up your cross daily to follow Him. Jesus should be a part of your life, not just on Sunday. We should be in the word, be living it, showing it to others, and following Christ. Unfortunately, with all the distractions of everyday life, this is becoming less and less. 

John 12:26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. 

It starts with our hearts, with our free will, we must make that decision. As humans though our automatic decision in our hearts is to choose ourselves first. What can I do for me? Me, me, me. The heart can defy us and make us think negative or sinful things. 

Matthew 15:19 Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” 

God gave us free will to choose Him. To be a true follower, we must choose Him every day. Serving Him and following Him is all a part of that. We are to be His light that shines every day. 

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Are you truly living with Christ in your life? Or are you going through the motions? It’s easy to say that we are just too busy, or you can do something later. But Jesus showed us the way. He wanted us to follow Him, pray to the Father, know the word, and share it with others.  

God calls to us every day, we must take up our cross daily and show the world His amazing love. Move beyond surface Christianity and what we think will make US look better. It’s not about us…. It’s about Him. 

Elton Trueblood relates the story of a man who had the crazy idea he wanted to walk a tight wire across Niagara Falls, pushing a wheelbarrow with a man in it. The wire walker erected a simulated practice situation in his backyard. Daily the determined person practiced, first with a balance bar, later without it. Eventually, after long, tiring weeks of hard work, the “wire-walker” became very good. At last, the day arrived for the hazardous undertaking. Neighbors and persons from the press assembled. Looking nervously across the rushing water the stuntman said to an admiring friend, “Joe, do you believe I can do it?” 

“I absolutely believe you can.” 

The performer looked out over the falls one more time: “Joe, do you really believe …?” 

“I really believe you can.” 

“Fine, you’re my man. Get in the wheelbarrow.” 

Imagine the question was given to you:  Would you believe enough to get into the wheelbarrow?

Most of us would say no.  But isn’t this an accurate analogy of the invitation of the Christian life?  We either have enough faith for it, or we don’t.  We get in or we don’t get in.  We admire others in the wheelbarrow, but we would never actually take such a risk ourselves.

Unfortunately, it’s how we treat faith today.  We’ll show up to the event; we’ll admire others with enough faith to get in; we may even be willing to pay a price for admission, but we would never actually get in ourselves.

We are inspired by the faith of others when we hear their stories, but we never imagine living them out ourselves.  Consider this:

What are you doing right now in your life that requires faith?  What are you doing right now, that if God doesn’t come through, it won’t work?  Do we live with this kind of faith or are the lives we live much more controlled than this?  We almost manage ourselves out of our need for faith until a crisis hits and then when it does, we lack the faith we need to face it.

The time has come where we need to test our faith.  The time has come to believe big things for God’s glory and see if He comes through.  It’s time to pray and ask God to increase the faith we have.

I believe we have lived too long on selective faith where we choose the terms by which faith happens or doesn’t happen in our lives.  It’s time to take away the terms and restrictions of our faith and allow God to move in your life unconditionally.  

We know when faith is accomplished, God is glorified and our lives are meant for that very thing.  

James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

In the past year we’ve seen protests, riots, shootings, and bombings. Yet everyone says they want peace. People were looking for peace when Jesus walked the earth, and they looked to him to bring it. What they didn’t understand is that he did bring peace, just not in the way they expected. It wasn’t through physical force or overthrowing the Roman government. He gave them peace in their hearts and minds.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”     ~  John 14:27 NIV

There is only one way for us to have true peace – when our hearts and minds are turned to God. The closer we get to Him, the easier it is to experience His peace, despite the chaos that reigns all around us.

When I look at social media, I see so much worry and fear. Even those who are Christians seem to spend more time worrying about things that are outside of our control. Where are we placing our hope and trust? Some look to an elected official, a government ruling, or the Constitution. Some look to their families or spouse. Others put their trust in financial security. If we have our hope in the wrong place, we will never experience the peace that Christ brings. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”     ~  John 16:33 NIV

In 1918, Helen H. Lemmel wrote a great hymn that is so relevant today. 

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace”

This time of fasting is a perfect way to keep our eyes fixed on God and make our time with Him a priority. As we deny ourselves something that usually takes up our time or our attention, we can grow in our relationship with Him. As we get closer to God and find His peace, we can then share it with a world that is in desperate need of peace.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”      ~  Isaiah 26:3 NLT

John 1:14
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.

The Word became flesh, not just a word but The Word. The Son of the almighty God, the second member of the triune Godhead, humbled Himself and came as a baby, to grow, fulfill prophecy, die on a cross to pay the penalty, and redeem us from the debt that made us slaves to sin, and rise again. The God of heaven and earth loved us this much.

Just as the Shepard’s found the baby Jesus, and worshipped Him showing adoration towards Him, we are also called to give Him all adoration. Adoration is “The act of paying honors to a divine being; the worship paid to God; the act of addressing as a God.” (Noah Webster) We do not just respect or acknowledge the existence of Jesus, but we are called to worship Him with all we have. 

We are told that the very heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1), that if we do not worship Him the very rocks will cry out in praise (Luke 19:40). When we realize the magnitude of what God did, for each one of us, how can we not worship Him with all we have. We owed a debt to sin that we could never pay, the only payment was our death. Christ, by being born and living as the spotless lamb, took our place. He was beaten, tortured, mocked, and eventually killed yet He looked at the very ones that placed Him on the cross and prayed, Father forgive them. (Luke 23:34)

As we reflect on the gift that began at Christmas and echoes, still today, throughout the lives of every Christian, we cannot help but bow in worship. We cannot hold back but we must give all we have in worship to Jesus.

Lord, I thank you for Your gift to us. I thank you that we are able to worship you with all we have and that Father you walk with us. I thank you that our debt was paid, and we can now live in the right relationship with the almighty, sovereign God. Let our worship and our adoration be pleasing to You. I pray we never waver or falter God but that we continually worship you with all we have to give, and we magnify Your name among all people! We thank You that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and tongue confess that You are Lord! Guard our hearts and our minds through this Christmas season and always keep the reason for celebrating this season at the front of our minds. In Jesus’ name.

 

Sources:

• https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/what-are-advent-readings.html
• The Chosen Christmas Special, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paOjgZZDads&ab_channel=TheChosen
• Reformation Study Bible ESV
• http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/adoration

John 3:16-19
16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Love is a word that is carelessly tossed about in our society. I love that new song, or I love that restaurant, or I love that new coat. We tend to cheapen the word by overusing it for everything. Yet, love, in its true form, is something we all seek after and desire. It is an emotion that God created us to need in our lives. Love is needed in our lives at our very core because God is love. While many tend to look everywhere but Jesus for the love, they know they need, the only love that can fill that desire, that void, is the love of Jesus Christ.

In Ephesians 5:25 Paul writes for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul emphasizes the necessity of love in the life of the Christian. Paul writes that we can do all manner of good works, spiritual practices, and wherever we feel led but if we do not have love doing so then whatever we do is worthless. As followers of Christ, we are called to show the love of Christ to everyone we come in contact with. What is the love of Christ though?

Jesus taught that greater love has no man than that he gives up his life for his friend. (John 15:13) In Ephesians Paul continues the call for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. (Ephesians 5:25) The love of Christ is not the shallow love that our society knows, it is a soul level love. It is a love that cannot come from anything of ourselves but can only come from Christ working in us. It is a love that prays for our enemies and those that persecute us. (Matthew 5:44) It is the love that John wrote in chapter 3 of his gospel, “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son…” (John 3:16) It is a love that sacrifices all, gives all, endures all, and in doing so it never fails. That love came down for us and now walks with us in everything we do and everywhere we go. Let us show that love to those around us always!

Father let the love of Christ always shine in our lives to everyone around us. Especially at this time when we celebrate Your Son coming to earth, let us not get caught in the trap of commercialism and desires that are not from you, but Lord let us demonstrate the love and grace you have shown and given us to every person we come in contact with. Let the words of our mouths and the actions from our heart be filled with your grace and mercy. We thank you Father that Your love for us is so incredible and that it is never ending. Walk with us and let our lives be lived entirely in Your love and for Your purpose. In Jesus Name

“Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.”

Poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti

Sources:

• https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/love-came-down-at-christmas/
• https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/what-are-advent-readings.html
• Reformation Study Bible ESV

Matthew 2:10-11
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Joy – “The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.” (Noah Webster)

Every year we sing joy to the world, but do we understand what that really means? I love Websters definition of joy, “The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good……exhilaration of spirits.” Imagine the joy of the magi when they saw the star in the sky. While different thoughts vary on who they were it is now thought most likely these were part of a mystic order in what would probably be modern-day china. They were “guardians of an age-old prophecy that a star of indescribable brightness would someday appear “heralding the birth of God in human form.” 

Can you imagine spending your entire life searching for this star from prophecy and having so many generations before you that had been looking for this star, when Matthew says they “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” I don’t think our minds can even comprehend how great this joy was. The prophecy was fulfilled! This joy was so great that this group traveled for 2 years before finding the Christ child. 

As we celebrate the birth of Christ how much more should we have this joy, because we have the expectation of good. We rejoice because Christ came down to provide a ransom for our sins. We rejoice because we are not alone, but Jesus is with us always. We rejoice because we know this world is not our home, we are strangers in a strange land, with a heavenly home we are journeying to. We rejoice in the family that God has surrounded us with. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

“Father God, we thank You and praise You today for the miracle of Your Son’s birth. Thank You for bringing great JOY to the whole world! Thank You for giving us the assurance that because You came to us in the form of a human, we who believe in Jesus can know with absolute certainty that we’ll spend eternity with You. We thank You, Lord, for the many reasons we have been given a merry Christmas. And we rejoice for each blessing. New life. New love. A home. A job. New opportunities. Second chances. And more. We know, Lord, that You bring the sun and the moon and set the stars in motion. You tell the ocean where to stop and the snow when to start. And we thank You for the mighty gift of Your creation.

Thank You, Father, for spiritual leaders and faith-filled friends who keep encouraging us when we are close to giving up. And although we have many reasons to rejoice today, Lord, we also know December 25th can be not-so-merry for a whole host of reasons. We pray for those who are experiencing loss during Advent: relational, financial, spiritual, and physical. We pray for those who are coping with loving a prodigal and our friends and family members whose hearts are far from You. We pray for those dealing with unemployment and addictions and chronic sickness… and unending pain and frustrations of all kinds. Thank You, Lord, that You are The Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace, even in the midst of our not-so-merry circumstances. Finally, Lord, we ask You to grant us peace. Peace in our homes, peace in our churches, and peace in our hearts, when the world all around us spins out-of-control. Help us to stay focused on You, this Advent season and always. Thank You for loving the whole world enough to send the greatest gift, Your Son, so that we might truly have a very merry Christmas. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
~Steph Raquel, from “A Christmas Prayer for the Merry… and Not-So-Merry, Prov. 31 Ministries

Sources:

• https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/12-advent-prayers.html
• https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/what-are-advent-readings.html
• http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/joy
• https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/bible-scholar-brent-landau-asks-who-were-the-magi/