Double Life

Double Life

2 Timothy 2: ¹⁴ Remind your people of this, and give them a solemn warning in God's presence not to fight over words. It does no good, but only ruins the people who listen. ¹⁵ Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth.

 

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Choosing a club to go to had some thought to it. “No one would know me at this club” I thought to myself. This way I could pick someone up and no one would know it. The next day I went to Sunday School to perform my assistant duties. “Hey! Didn’t we have a great time at the club?”, someone embarrassingly exclaimed in church. I didn’t know I was seen.

 

• I was ashamed of mentioning GOD when I was at the club.
• I was ashamed of mentioning the club when I was at church.
• I was ashamed of my double life.

 

Paul gives a stern warning to pass on through Timothy. Instead of having religions quarrels, “win full approval in GOD’s sight.” This requires only two things; not being ashamed and teaching correctly the message of GOD’s truth.

 

My Observations

• My life is flawed and through GOD’s forgiveness I am made whole.
• My life is shameful and through JESUS’ death, burial and resurrection I can live eternally.
• My life is broken and through the HOLY SPIRIT I am put back together.

 

All of us are sinners. I mean, if anyone says “I am without sin” he or she is really lost and does not know who GOD is. But there is one who is sinless, namely JESUS. HE is the only one who can forgive me for my sins.

 

HE sent the COMFORTER to live inside me when times get difficult. HE restores my soul. I am no longer ashamed to mention JESUS every day because HE is worthy to be praised.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer mean by “full approval in GOD’s sight?”
• Have you ever tried to please humans and what you were doing conflicts with the word of GOD?
• Will you resolve the conflict you have with GOD and not worry about what humans think so you can be “fully approved” by HIM and teach HIS true message today?

No Longer Ashamed

No Longer Ashamed

2 Timothy 1: ⁸ Do not be ashamed, then, of witnessing for our Lord; neither be ashamed of me, a prisoner for Christ's sake. Instead, take your part in suffering for the Good News, as God gives you the strength for it. ⁹ He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace by means of Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but now it has been revealed to us through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He has ended the power of death and through the gospel has revealed immortal life.

 

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“Would you take over the inspirational message?” was the question asked by one of my peers at work. We worked at a very large, well-known company and I was on the rise. I had a title to protect and sending an inspirational message, like this one, would not fit. Or at least that’s what I thought.

 

• I was ashamed to admit I followed JESUS.
• I felt that most of my time should be spent with JESUS hidden and covertly implying HIM.
• I thought speaking about JESUS would hurt my chances for advancement.

 

Paul addressed societal pressures Timothy may have faced. At that time, the church leaders had conspired against JESUS and killed HIM. They would never admit there was and is a risen Savior. They may have worked with business owners who would shut out those who mentioned the name of JESUS. Timothy needed “strength.”

 

My Observations

• Societal pressures to harbor worry, fear and hatred can make me ashamed of JESUS, BUT HE is the only way to true strength.
• My plans for “the next level” are laughable to GOD when I am ashamed of JESUS.
• Any plan that does not include JESUS could be used for HIS good, but not for “my” good.

 

GOD’s word will never return void. I mean, if I mention what a preacher said or a Bible verse says, That message will bring glory to GOD. But if I do not believe in JESUS, or believe that I do not need to speak HIS name publicly, especially when I am uncomfortable, I may not benefit from speaking scripture or saying what someone said.

 

Being ashamed of JESUS can come in many forms. I may go to church and mention HIS name boldly on Sunday and never mention HIS name out loud  the rest of the week. No one I know would even know I had a relationship with JESUS, but they will know what I ate yesterday or what “fun” thing I did, or what group activity I participated in.

 

GOD does want a sincere witness that sometimes is quiet, but HE seems to also want us to be bold in living for HIM. I gladly speak for CHRIST now and I am more ashamed of being places where I cannot.

 

Challenge

• What shame is the writer speaking about?
• Have you ever felt that being bold for JESUS is unnecessary or even a problem?
• Will you overcome any thoughts of hiding your relationship with JESUS because of your title, job or status and let GOD control your life so JESUS can be proclaimed boldly from your lips today?

Out of Sight Out of Mind

 

Out of Sight Out of Mind

Romans 6: ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. ²¹ And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. ²² But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

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Dirty underwear, toys and stuff I found outside were shoved under my bed. The directive was to “clean my room.” I cleaned the room in record time. I knocked everything onto the floor, pushed it under the bed and sat down with a grin. As long as no one looked under the bed, I would never be suspected of being a slob.

 

• Many times I have hidden things I was ashamed of.
• Many times I shoved what I was ashamed of, into hidden places.
• Many times I hid the garbage to have the appearance of looking clean.

 

Paul explains that we are no longer slaves to sin. He tries to reason with everyone about the temporary nature of sin. It brings on pleasure for a moment, but causes people to do things that remain hidden. If the thing was so “good” then why not say it to everyone? Paul then provides the right way, namely to do those things that lead to holiness.

 

• GOD wants me to step out of the dark, hidden places and show HIS light.
• GOD wants me to do things that I am not ashamed of.
• GOD wants me to be bold enough to accept HIS free gift of love which is eternal life through CHRIST JESUS our LORD.

 

Shame causes me to seek more shame. I may even find a group of people who accept the shameful things I do so I can feel “good” about myself. BUT GOD wants something different.

 

Instead of seeking destruction, covering it up and pretending everything is fine, GOD wants me to seek HIS path which leads to HIS holiness and HIS eternal life. Giving up sin is sometimes hard, especially when I practice hiding it. BUT GOD helps me by providing courage to express my sin, little by little. I am grateful for JESUS who freed me from my path to death.

 

• What are you shoving under your bed?
• Do you pretend to be “good” or do you seek a crowd that will accept what you do?
• Will you seek what GOD wants for you so HE can guide you to an abundant everlasting life?

Disassociation

Luke 22: ⁵⁴ Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶ A servant-girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, ‘This man was with him.’

⁵⁷ But he denied it. ‘Woman, I don’t know him,’ he said.

⁵⁸ A little later someone else saw him and said, ‘You also are one of them.’

‘Man, I am not!’ Peter replied.

⁵⁹ About an hour later another asserted, ‘Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.’

⁶⁰ Peter replied, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ Just as he was speaking, the cock crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times.’ ⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly.

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Wanting to be part of the organization, I went along with the idea of shoplifting some pants. I had no money and this certain pants was a requirement. I was used as a distraction while the others loaded up on our “uniform.” Later, while walking back to our apartment, I was stopped and questioned. “Were you with them?” “No” I replied in a bold faced lie.

• There were times when I lied to save my hide.
• There were times when I disassociated myself from others in order to stay out of “trouble.”
• There were times when I went with the immediate thought, never considering what would happen next.

Bold impetuous Peter, who showed strong faith, denied any association with JESUS. He did this three times only feet away from HIM where JESUS could see and hear him. Peter was reminded of JESUS’s prediction when the rooster crowed. He had officially renounced any association with GOD.

• JESUS wants me to tell people that I am associated with HIM.
• JESUS wants me to shine my light before all humans in order to bring people to HIM.
• JESUS wants me to put HIS life ahead of mine in order to bring those around me to HIM.

Protecting my association with GOD is important to HIM. HE said “For whoever is ashamed of ME and MY words, of him the SON of Man will be ashamed when HE comes in HIS own glory, and in HIS FATHER’s, and of the holy angels.”

It takes practice to not go along with the crowd and to say “yes” to what GOD wants me to do. Usually it means not sinning this time and to help someone in need. Instead of a vacation, maybe GOD wants me to go serve for a change. The world would call me crazy, but GOD loves my attempt to relate to HIM.

• Are there areas of your life in which you have disassociated yourself from GOD?
• Do you go along with the complaining, lustful, power hungry crowd?
• Would GOD say you are telling people about HIM regularly?

Excuses

Luke 14: ¹⁵ Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

¹⁶ Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, ¹⁷ and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ ¹⁸ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ ¹⁹ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ ²⁰ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ ²¹ So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ ²² And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ ²³ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. ²⁴ For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

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“Will you tell people about GOD in a 30 second message?” someone asked me. Afraid of offending my following and for fear of my job, I said “Not this time, I believe someone else should do this.”

• I remember times when I was too important to speak about GOD.
• I can recall moments when I could have spoken about GOD, but did not.
• I reflect on times when GOD wanted me to speak on HIS behalf, but something “I” wanted got in the way.

JESUS seems to be telling a statement rather than a story as HE speaks to the crowd. HE spoke of three people who made excuses for not coming to the “Great Supper.” Possessions, business or jobs and family were the excuses made for not answering the Master’s call. What should I do when GOD calls me?

• GOD wants me to respond when HE calls me to do something for HIM.
• GOD calls me to serve HIM daily, all I have to do is listen.
• GOD wants me to be excited about speaking about HIS SON, especially to those who will hear it.

Age, race, gender, time, health, finances or worry are all great reasons for me not to speak about GOD. I mean I’m only one person right? Kinda. GOD wants me to see I will always have an excuse not to speak about HIM. There will never be a good time for me to talk about HIM. BUT GOD is still worthy to be praised.

HE wants me to see opportunity to speak about HIM on a daily basis. No longer am I ashamed of JESUS and HE is no longer ashamed of me.

• Are you making excuses for not speaking about GOD?
• Do you speak about GOD only during times of plenty?
• Can you stop being ashamed of GOD and speak of HIS grace today?

Pressure to Deny

Mark 14: ⁶⁶ Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. ⁶⁷ And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.

⁶⁹ And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it again.

And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”

⁷¹ Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”

⁷² A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.

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Crash, bang, slam were the noises the heavy sleds made as they tumbled off the shelves. I wanted to see one of them and all of them tumbled down. “Were you in that section of the store” was the question posed to me. “I don’t know” was the best answer I could give. I mean was I in trouble?

• There were times when I did not want to face consequence.
• There were times when I denied the truth so I could get out of trouble.
• There were times when I did not want to admit I was the cause of the trouble.

Peter faced a life or death situation. If He told the truth about being with JESUS, he would be captured, tortured and killed. He did what most would do, try to save himself by lying. Unfortunately, I would have done the same.

• JESUS wants me to mature to the point where I will not deny HIM.
• JESUS wants me to grow up so I will not forsake HIS ways.
• JESUS wants me to understand that following HIM means I will be ridiculed by HIS creation.

There are no front page stories about people who dedicate themselves to CHRIST. Even if there is not a word of judgment spoken, people find ways to look at innocent followers of GOD in a bad light.

I get lumped into political “Christians” simply by not doing what others are doing. If I say “I will never drink again”, people look at me as if I had a drinking problem that must have gotten out of control instead of saying “Wow, you are dedicating yourself to GOD.”  JESUS values what I do for HIM and does not want me to be ashamed of HIM so HE will not be ashamed of me.

• Is society pressuring you to hide your relationship with CHRIST?
• Do you feel pressure to act like everyone else so you will fit in?
• Can you stop trying to fit in and listen to GOD who made you for HIS purpose today?

I Can and I Will

Matthew 16: ²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

²⁸ “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

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“What will they think of me?” was my question when asked to go to church. I was the life of the party for a change. I had been “Goody-goody” for a long time. It seemed like I should be able to do some sinning for a while.

“What will they think of me?” was my question when asked to send a simple faith filled voicemail throughout the company. I mean I was the leader of a very large and influential portion of the company. I had to protect my perception right? Wrong!

• I have been embarrassed to speak about JESUS.
• I have been too filled with sin to speak about JESUS.
• I have been so proud of my accomplishments that I did not want to risk losing “my” position to speak about JESUS.

GOD says to me “If you are ashamed of ME then I will be ashamed of you” and I was truly ashamed of HIM. Human standards got in the way of my living for CHRIST. I bowed to the thought of “You can’t pray here” or “We don’t want you to even speak about JESUS here” even though no one said those words to me.

• JESUS wants me to shine my light before men on a daily basis.
• JESUS wants me to be salt in a world where salt is rejected.
• JESUS wants me to take up my cross by denying myself.

Losing my life means a lot. It means I can pray for all who pass me in the hallways. It means I do not have to be angry at “those” people, instead I can ask GOD for “our” forgiveness. It means I can open my home to my neighbors for JESUS’ purpose instead of hiding my affiliation with HIM.

GOD wants my family, my business, my job, my school, my house, my car, my clothes, my wealth, my desires and lastly my health. HE can do with them as HE pleases and I should learn to praise HIM when I try to hold onto any of them. HE can pry them from my hands in a hurtful way or I can freely give them to HIM, praising HIM along the way.

• What are you holding onto?
• Can you give GOD your home or your office or your school by inviting others into it to learn from HIM?
• Will you take GOD to work with you today and pray for all who pass you?

No More Shame

Isaiah 29: ²² Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the descendants of Jacob:

“No longer will Jacob be ashamed;
    no longer will their faces grow pale.
²³ When they see among them their children,
    the work of my hands,
they will keep my name holy;
    they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob,
    and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
²⁴ Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding;
    those who complain will accept instruction.”

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“Move out of the way, it’s my turn” were the words that caught my attention as I saw a small group of guys huddled next to doors that were not exit doors. My curiosity climbed so I went to investigate. When I got my “turn” I peeked through a hole carved in the crease of the door. I got a glimpse of nakedness that made me want to stay there the whole day!

• There have been times where I tried to hide my thoughts.
• There have been times that I tried to cover up my actions.
• There have been times I tried to pretend I had not fallen, but I had truly fallen.

Late for class I decided to get a better glimpse. I wondered why there was no one around. Then a gym teacher came in and caught me. I was ashamed. I am glad I was caught, because I was headed down the wrong path.

• GOD says to me “You will no longer be ashamed.”
• GOD says to me “I will open your eyes and heal your heart.”
• GOD says to me “I will help you gain understanding and guide you with MY instruction.”

He simply yelled, “Get away from that door!” and off I ran. He gave me a strange look every time he saw me from then on. They fixed the door and I was glad. BUT GOD fixed my life. HE put me on a better path that includes acknowledging my need for HIM. By confessing, the sin no longer has power over me. I give the power to GOD who in turn gives it back to me.

• Do you feel powerless?
• Do you feel like your prayers are not being heard?
• Can you acknowledge the hidden things in your heart?
• Will you confess your sins and enable GOD to heal your soul?

Praise to Everyone

Psalm 57: ⁹ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

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Ambivalent was my emotion towards airing my beliefs at work. On one hand I have a large crowd who I spent an immense amount of time, on the other I had people who worked with me who “may have” gotten offended by my show. GOD put it on someone’s heart to challenge me to leave the daily spiritual voicemail that would go around the company. “No thanks” was my answer. I mean, what if someone got offended?

• There have been times where I hid my relationship with GOD.
• There have been times where my job was more important than showing my relationship with GOD.
• There have been times where I was ashamed to mention GOD.

Money and power have a strange way of squeezing GOD out of the picture in my life. If I praise GOD daily I look like a religious freak. If I mention GOD in public I would be ridiculed and labeled as a nut. BUT GOD loves praise.

• GOD says to me “Praise ME to the nations”
• GOD says to me “If you are ashamed of ME then I will be ashamed of you.”
• GOD says to me “Sing about ME among the peoples.”

“Praise GOD” seems like a canned response but really should be said daily. As a person who follows GOD, I should make it known to everyone that I am HIS regardless of the position or the place. It’s easy for me to say this, living in a country who allows me to speak about GOD freely. BUT GOD has enabled me to speak about HIM in other places around the world where HIS message was not wise to speak. GOD wants me to open my mouth, speak about HIM and never be ashamed.

• Are you hiding your relationship with GOD because of your status?
• Do you feel embarrassed speaking about GOD?
• Can you praise GOD in public without feeling embarrassed?
• Can you drop the feeling of embarrassment by opening your mouth and saying JESUS to someone, knowing there is power in HIS name?
• Will you praise GOD today regardless?

Standing Firm

Esther 3: After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. ² All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

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Each morning I would perform my ritual of listening to a well thought out GODLY message at work. One person took it upon himself to start a network where he would give the message and people would forward the voicemail to people throughout the company.

When that person left the company people looked around for another person who would take on this daily daunting task. When they asked me I thought to myself “I can’t show I follow JESUS, I may offend my employees who do not believe.” I declined.

• There have been times where I have been ashamed of GOD.
• There have been times where I have hidden my beliefs in order to gain whatever.
• There have been times where I have backed away from GOD because I was in a business setting.

I went to church so wasn’t that enough? I mean the company policy says we need to have extreme diverse views so I had to be quiet, right? Wrong!

• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid of humans who can harm the body but fear GOD who can harm the soul.”
• GOD says to me “If you are ashamed of ME then I will be ashamed of you.”
• GOD says to me “I raised you up to certain levels for MY purpose.”

God did not put me in a job just to become rich and hide who HE is. HE cannot be secondary to my life, but many times I treated HIM like HE was a closet genie. I would pull HIM out in secret and put HIM away when HE fixed the problem, meanwhile I could sin and be part of the crowd. It seemed like a pretty good life.

GOD wants me to follow HIM, proclaim HIS word, profess HIS SON and when someone threatens my livelihood, move on knowing HE will protect me. GOD is the answer, not mankind.

• Are you bowing down to the god of money?
• Do you fear being as bold as GOD is calling you to be?
• Do you think you will hurt someone’s feelings if you spoke up about your relationship with GOD?
• Can you start by confessing your relationship with GOD, having no expectations of people converting to your beliefs right away?