Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity… Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4: 12, 15-16)

We hear a lot about the end of the world as we know it.  Any time tragedies arise—tsunamis, wars, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, famine—we entertain ideas about the world’s demise.  The Bible teaches us that the “last days” have been upon us since Jesus’ death.  

But the reason for this instruction is never to worry or panic us.  It’s so we’ll be encouraged to stay on the Way of Holiness.  During His lifetime, Jesus told us the purpose of end-of-the-world events:  to keep us on high alert.  At times like these, Paul says, we need to watch our life and our doctrine closely.  It’s not either life or doctrine.  It’s both.

With so many roadside attractions and billboards distracting us toward a life of self-serving entertainment, a little end-of-the-world thinking reminds us of the destination and points us to the Bible:  a mirror showing us how we’re living.  Looking into the Word of God (our doctrine), we see clearly whether our lives reflect the Way of Holiness. 

In the last days where it might feel more comfortable to fit in with the crowd, to let the seductiveness of sin yank us off the Way of Holiness, or let good intentions lead us down a path to hell, Paul encourages us to persevere in Christian authenticity—a life that carefully reflects what doctrine we believe.

One of the world’s great criticisms of Christians is that we’re hypocrites.   This should never be.  Christians should watch our lives and our doctrine closely because our lives are the most visible testimony of what we believe.  People can’t read our minds, but they can observe our progress.  No thought bubbles appear over our heads, but our speech, love, life and purity follow us around as a vapor trail of the lives we lead.

As tragedies point others to fear and uncertainty about the future of this world, they should see Christians—alert, responsive, hopeful, encouraging, authentic, and real—and by observing our lives, see our hope in Christ.

Contentment.

There are few things in the Christian walk that make me squirm as much as contentment.  I don’t like to think of myself as a malcontent, but too often, I am.  I have unmet desires, unfulfilled hopes, unattained dreams—my days are filled with these things.

But that’s not what makes me a malcontent. 

What defines malcontentedness is how I answer this question:  Whose expectations am I seeking to have met?  The Apostle Paul tells Timothy “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

Here is the key:  I’m not contented when I expect things out of God that I have no right to expect.  God is not obligated—in any way—to grant my three wishes…or five or one. 

This is why Paul says that “godliness with contentment is great gain.”  When I trust God fully to give everything I need to live a life that honors Him, my job is to live that life.  He knows what I need.  And He knows the desires of my heart. 

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

This is godliness with contentment.  Not my doubting the resources or the goodness of God.  Not my being God’s backseat driver.  But trusting Him and taking Him at His word.

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.  Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:  He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.  Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.  Psalm 37:3-7b.

• Can we commit ourselves to God? 
• Trust in Him? 
• Delight in Him? 
• Wait patiently for Him? 
• Be content in Him?

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Hebrews 13:20-21

Everyone likes an atta-boy or atta-girl from time to time.  Being recognized for doing a good job.  Affirmed in something that we’ve worked hard to accomplish.  A cheer along the marathon of life saying, “Keep it up!  You’re doing great!” 

With the finish line ahead, sometimes the final lap can feel like such a struggle that if it weren’t for a good coach instilling in us the desire to finish the race, finishing strong would be difficult, if not impossible.

In our Lenten devotionals series, we’re in the midst of a marathon of New Testament writings and seeing how to walk on the Way of Holiness (Isaiah 35:8-10).  The Way of Holiness is our finish line and our finishing strong—even in the midst of persecution—is possible because of God’s protection.  Our goal is to be counted worthy to walk on the Way of Holiness.

Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.  All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering (2 Thessalonians 1: 4-5).

The Apostle Paul knows what he’s talking about.  Arguably, there have been few who suffered as much as Paul (2 Cor 11:23-12:10).  For us, reading the writings of the Apostle Paul can be likened to being coached by the world record holders for endurance in suffering: Jesus and Paul.

What do Jesus and Paul say about endurance on the Way of Holiness?

The keys to enduring suffering and being worthy of our calling are continually growing in both faith and love.   Keep up your pace!  No pain, no gain!  The hecklers will eventually eat your dust and you will be proven faithful.  So Paul calls out some encouragement to finish strong,

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

One of the sure signs of genuine Christian faith is how we react to suffering.  When the going gets tough, the Christian keeps going.

An irony of the Christian faith is: Historically, its growth was most marked in the very times in which it was under the greatest persecution.  Nothing reveals our trust more than when we have no logical reason to trust…at all. 

When all we get for our faith is trouble and heartache and pain, it witnesses in a peculiar and unexpected way that our hope isn’t in our circumstances.  Our hope is not in ourselves.  Our hope is not in a president or prime minister or government officials or programs of any type. 

     Our hope is in Christ alone.

I love today’s passage, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10, because it highlights this very thing.  These people—under severe persecution—had visible work produced by faith; visible labor prompted by love; and visible endurance inspired by hope in Jesus Christ. 

What was seen (their work, labor, and endurance) pointed to what could not be seen:  faith, love and hope.

Paul goes on to say that these Thessalonians welcomed the message with joy in spite of the persecution and suffering that accompanied it.  And it was their visible joy—without ready explanation in circumstances or of themselves—which was seen by a watching world as evidence of genuine faith.

You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7)

Do you want to have the kind of life that models hope for others?  I sure do!  The Apostle Paul says that it’s all about what you do—and where you turn—when the going gets tough.  It’s all about what is seen that reveals what is unseen.  Suffering—this is witness at its best.

The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia– your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead– Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath (verses 8-10).

If we’re walking on the Way of Holiness, what would be in our pack of provisions?  Today’s passage (Colossians 4:2-6) outlines a few possibilities:

A book of prayers—so you can be devoted to prayer as a way of life.

Reading glasses—so you can read your circumstances and look for Jesus in them.

Thank you notes—so you can cultivate a thankful heart for many blessings in your life, communicating your thankfulness to others.

Keys—so you can have open doors to minister to those in need.

Megaphone—so you can proclaim the Gospel far and wide.

Scales of justice—so you can wisely weigh your actions in relation to the opportunities that God gives you.

And a salt shaker.

In a day and age when salt is considered to be a food evil second only to saturated fat, we have lost sight of the wonders of salt.  There was a time when salt added not only flavor—making things taste good—but also it was a necessary preservative ingredient—making things last.

Do you want to be a winsome person and have wonderful relationships that last?  Consider what the apostle Paul says,

Let your conversation be always full of grace,        seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.  Colossians 4:6

Have you ever had someone dictate a list of things to you?  Perhaps a honey-do list?  A grocery list?  Maybe things you needed from the hardware store?  Just when you think they’re through and you have a nice long list, they say, “Oh, and one more thing.”  Colossians 3:1-17 reads kind of like that.

The apostle Paul, writing to the church at Colosse, gives instructions on how to live a Christ-honoring life.  Aim high, he says.  Your heart and your mind should be reordered for Kingdom purposes.  After all, you died to the old life and have a new life in Christ. 

There’s a new wardrobe to put on and the old one needs to be destroyed (not simply put in storage).  What did your old wardrobe have?  Paul says get rid of sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).  Oh, and one more thing.

“Anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (v 8).  And one more thing.

“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (v 12).  “Bear with each other and forgive” (v.13).  Oh, and one more thing.  “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  Ouch.  Anything else, Paul?

Now that you mention it, yes!  Verses 14 and 15, “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”  Piece of cake, yeah.

Oh, and one more thing:  “be thankful.”  Gulp.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (v.16).

Anyone feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task of living a Christlike life?

But there’s one more thing: “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (v.17).  Aim high with your heart and mind set on Him, then you’ll find what Paul found: 

The key to Christlikeness is actually simple: Follow Christ.  “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). 

Do you see yourself as a citizen of a kingdom?  That’s what the Bible says you are.  You either belong to the kingdom of this earth or you are a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.

Unlike the United States where you can be a citizen of two countries at the same time and have dual citizenship, heaven doesn’t work that way.  While babies born in foreign countries often can have the citizenship of their parents in addition to the place where they were born, heaven is an all or nothing deal: You’re either born into the kingdom of heaven or you’re stuck here on earth. 

The passport you carry shows where you’re from and where you’re going.  This is the basic message of today’s Scripture passage, Philippians 3:17-21. 

 The passport is issued by your governing agency: the world or God.  Using this analogy, a Christian’s “passport” is stamped throughout according to our visits and that is why Christians are encouraged to live according to heaven’s patterns.  This is the faith of our fathers and mothers—a pattern set before us by those in our history, dating back to Jesus Christ.  And while He lived the pattern perfectly, this pattern actually dates back even farther:  to God’s calling the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.  Being a God-honoring person didn’t originate with Christ even if He perfected it.

A passport merely records proof of our identity.  Our life’s deeds become our reputation, not who we are.  A passport will reflect our country of origin and citizenship.  We will be living in ways reflecting which place we call home.

By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.   (Matthew 7:16-20)

As we continue in this season of Lent, pause to ask yourself:

Do the stamps in your passport of life affirm your identity?  Are you a citizen of earth or a citizen of heaven by faith in Jesus Christ?

Long after the teacher had concluded her example of coffee beans in a glass of water, I continued to watch the visual as it sat on the sidelines through the rest of her talk.  No one probably noticed it but me.  Even now, I’m not exactly sure I remember what the visual was demonstrating—maybe something about being “in the world but not of it.”  I can’t remember because I was learning a totally different and far more powerful lesson.

As I watched, the cold water—once clear and pure—began to reveal that the coffee beans were leaching coffee into the water.  Clean and clear became stained as the coffee coloration arose from the beans and permeated the water.  While many would think it was nothing more than “every analogy falls apart when pressed,” the discoloration made me think about the opposite of whatever the teacher’s point was. 

I began to think about how even when we are unaware, a little anger and bitterness can flavor our entire lives.

In Ephesians 4:17-32, the apostle Paul talks about living as we’ve been taught.  Paul says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (verses 22-24).

Don’t even harbor a tiny bit of sin because it has no place in the new self.  Like coffee beans in cold water, we can deceive ourselves into believing that sin and anger and bitterness can be contained—compartmentalized in an otherwise new and spiritual nature.  Then Paul says it:

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.  Ephesians 4:26-27

While we may view it as being containment of hazardous waste (anger, bitterness, rage, malice), these things can pollute our lives in hidden ways.  That’s why Paul says to get rid of it all (v 31).  Don’t contain it; don’t hide it; don’t compartmentalize it; and whatever you do, don’t give the devil that kind of leverage in your life. 

As we continue our walk on the Way of Holiness, take a moment to ask, “Is there a coffee bean hiding in my soul?”