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  • Walking in His Ways (Psalm 119:1-8)

    My toddler son loves to place his feet in my shoes and walks around saying, “Hi! I’m papa!” It is cute and sweet. Even more, it is a reminder to me of the truth we find in Psalm 119:1-8. The way is blessed for the one whose way is blameless. First off, no human can claim to have no fault. Only Jesus Christ has lived a sinless life. Yet, Jesus died the death we as sinners deserved and, as a result, we can live a blessed life above reproach by walking in the law of the Lord. It begins with repentance of sin and trust in Christ for salvation. As those saved by God, we can walk in His ways. God’s Word in Psalm 119 shows us the power and need of God’s Word in our daily life. We cannot approach this half-hearted, but we must seek Him with our “whole heart” (v. 2). Why is this the case? Because temptation will come. In order to fight it and not fall into sin, we must walk in His ways. That means being in His Word. How consistently do we need to be in the Word? Psalm 119 shows us by telling us to keep God’s precepts “diligently” (v. 4). My wife and I can tell when each other have not been in the Word, and we exhort each other in those moments, first by asking, “How has your time with the Lord been?” and then giving each other the time to spend time with the Lord. It truly is a lifetime walk. There will be moments where we fail, but that does not mean we are put to shame and dwell in our sins. Because of Christ, we find grace through the response of repentance and trust in His person and work on the cross. As we get back up after falling, we keep our eyes fixed and focused on living a life for the glory of God by following the Word of God. The result is not boasting in our faithfulness or goodness, but in praising God for His righteousness and His good rules (v. 7). After all, the only reason we are able to walk in His ways is because He is with us (v. 8). He does not forsake those who trust in Him but empowers them to follow Him. As we walk through Psalm 119, let’s listen to His Word and walk in His ways.

    Reflection Questions:

    1. Where do you need to confess that you have not walked in the way of the Lord recently?
    2. Who can you ask to hold you accountable so you may diligently be in God’s Word this week?

  • Firmes Juntos en el Evangelio (1 Pedro 5:12–14)

    El pastor Dale Eakes me dio mi primera gran oportunidad en el ministerio hace casi quince años. Desde entonces ha ido al cielo y ha recibido su recompensa celestial. Después de servir como pastor interino de jóvenes, vio mi potencial y me dio la oportunidad de servir como pastor asociado. Dale era único, un predicador entre predicadores y un pastor competente. Trabajar a su lado fue uno de los mayores honores de mi vida, y cuando murió dejó un gran vacío en mi corazón. Predicar con pasión y convicción era un sello distintivo de su ministerio. Procuré honrarlo en todo lo que decía y hacía, y estar unido a él en su visión para nuestra congregación. Por la gracia de Dios, permanecimos firmes en el verdadero evangelio y vimos muchas vidas transformadas.

    De manera similar, el apóstol Pedro exhortó a sus lectores a “permanecer firmes” en la “verdadera gracia de Dios” al final de su primera carta a los “elegidos expatriados” esparcidos por el mundo (5:12; 1:1). En su tiempo, muchos falsos evangelios se difundían como un cáncer desde los labios de falsos maestros. Poniendo las cosas en claro, la “Roca” de la iglesia fija nuestros ojos en Jesucristo. La verdadera gracia de Dios es el verdadero evangelio de Jesucristo, quien regresa para reclamar a su esposa. Pedro visualizó la hermosura de ese día y llevó a los creyentes a anhelarlo como agua helada en el calor del desierto. De su enseñanza para permanecer firmes emergen varias verdades clave. Primero, estén preparados. Debemos estar listos en todo momento para el regreso de Cristo. Segundo, permanezcan humildes. Debemos anhelar la humildad y aborrecer el veneno del orgullo. Tercero y por último, vivan juntos. Debemos vivir en unidad con otros creyentes.

    Permanecer firmes en la verdadera gracia de Dios es el latido del corazón de la primera carta de Pedro. Así como los creyentes del primer siglo que enfrentaron persecución, los creyentes de hoy deben moldear sus vidas alrededor del Maestro Alfarero. Mientras Él nos forma a la semejanza de Cristo, enfrentamos los fuegos de prueba del enemigo. Como exiliados escogidos, solo estamos de paso en este fugaz momento de la vida terrenal. Pedro tenía otros hermanos en Cristo que trabajaban junto a él en el ministerio del evangelio. Silvano, o Silas, probablemente fue el portador de la carta de Pedro a los creyentes dispersos (5:12). El apóstol escribió: “La que está en Babilonia, igualmente elegida, os envía saludos” (v. 13). Esto es una referencia a la iglesia en Roma. Babilonia era una referencia espiritual y simbólica a un poder mundial al cual Dios se oponía. Marcos, un hijo espiritual para Pedro, era Juan Marcos, quien registró el evangelio que lleva su nombre desde el corazón y la mente de Pedro (v. 13). Antes considerado inútil por el apóstol Pablo, recuperó su favor y se convirtió en una parte importante en la formación del Nuevo Testamento.

    Pedro concluye su carta con un llamado a que los creyentes se saluden unos a otros con amor y con una bendición de paz para todos “los que están en Cristo” (v. 14). Vivir juntos en humildad produce la unidad que Cristo honra. Además, la unidad se forja en los fuegos de la persecución. Los “unos a otros” del Nuevo Testamento dependen del amor sacrificial. Jesús murió para crear una unidad inquebrantable entre creyentes de todas las etnias, trasfondos, idiomas y estatus sociales. Reflejamos el corazón de Cristo cuando vivimos juntos anticipando su pronto regreso. Que seamos santos preparados, humildes y unidos, mientras permanecemos firmes en la gracia de Dios.

    Preguntas de Aplicación:

    1. ¿Cómo puedes servir mejor a tu iglesia mientras esperas con anhelo el regreso de Cristo?
    2. ¿Qué pecado en tu vida te impide estar plenamente unido con otros creyentes?

  • Standing Together in the Gospel (1 Peter 5:12-14)

    Pastor Dale Eakes gave me my first big shot in ministry nearly fifteen years ago. He has since gone to heaven and received his heavenly reward. After serving as an interim youth pastor, he saw my potential and gave me an opportunity to serve as the associate pastor. Dale was one of a kind, a preacher amongst preachers and a competent pastor. Working alongside him was one of the greatest honors of my life and when he died it left a huge hole in my heart. Preaching with passion and conviction was a hallmark of his ministry. I sought to honor him with all I said and did and to be united with him in his vision for our congregation. By God’s grace, we stood firm in the true gospel and saw many lives changed.

    The apostle Peter likewise urged his readers to “stand firm” in the “true grace of God” at the end of his first letter to the “elect exiles” scattered abroad (5:12; 1:1). There were many false gospels spreading like a cancer from the lips of false teachers during his day. Setting the record straight, the “Rock” of the church fixes our eyes upon Jesus Christ. The true grace of God is the true gospel of Jesus Christ who is returning to reclaim his bride. Peter envisioned the beauty of this day and led believers to long for it like ice cold water in the desert heat. Several key truths emerge from his teaching to stand firm. First, be ready. We are to be ready at all times for the return of Christ. Second, stay humble. We are to crave humility and despise the poison of pride. Third and lastly, live together. We are to live in unity with other believers.

    Standing firm in the true grace of God is the heartbeat of Peter’s first letter. Just as the first century believers who faced persecution did, believers today are to shape their lives around the Master Potter. As he fashions us into the likeness of Christ, we face the fires of testing from the enemy. As chosen exiles, we are just passing through in this momentary flicker of earthly life. Peter had other brothers in Christ that worked alongside him in gospel ministry. Silvanus, or Silas was likely the carrier of Peter’s letter to the scattered believers (5:12). The apostle wrote: “She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings” (v. 13). This is a reference to the church at Rome. Babylon was a spiritual and symbolic reference to a world power which God opposed. Mark, a spiritual son to Peter, was John Mark who dictated the gospel bearing his name from the heart and mind of Peter (v. 13). Formerly useless to the Apostle Paul, he regained his favor and became an important part in the formation of the New Testament. 

    Peter ends his letter with an appeal for the believers to greet one another in love and with a blessing of peace to all “who are in Christ” (v. 14). Living together in humility brings the unity that Christ honors. Furthermore, unity is forged in the fires of persecution. The “one anothers” of the New Testament are contingent upon self-sacrificial love. Jesus died to create unbreakable unity between believers of all ethnicities, backgrounds, languages and social statuses. We reflect the heart of Christ when we live together anticipating Christ’s soon return. May we be saints who are ready, humble and unified as we stand firm in the grace of God.

    Application Questions:
    1. How can you serve your church better as you eagerly wait for Christ’s return?

    2. What sin in your life prevents you from being fully united with other believers?