The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#226: The Complications of Neglect Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

The other day, I came out of my office at the end of the day to find one of the back tires on my car was almost flat. I live close to the church and there was enough air in the tire for me to make it home. After taking off the tire, I saw that I had run over a screw. Slowly, throughout the day I lost air pressure causing the flat tire.

I remember reading a statement once that said “moral failure and spiritual decline are a lot like a flat tire. Most flat tires don’t occur as the result of a blowout. They occur because air leaks out over time. We’re not aware they exist until perhaps the car is difficult to steer.

The decline of our spiritual life can occur the same way.

David, for example, did not wake up one morning in shameful compromise. He began by giving responsibilities that should have been his to other people, by indulging himself in little things, and he ended up as an adulterer and murderer. Judas didn't determine overnight to betray the Lord. He began compromising in small ways, and finally he was willing to sell the Savior for a pocketful of money. It is that little decisions lead to consequences.

I recently finished reading the book of Nehemiah. In the final chapter, Nehemiah gives the people of Jerusalem a stern warning by asking a powerful question. In verse 11 he asks, “Why is the house of God neglected?”

After the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem, after rebuilding their homes, after hearing the word of God and repenting of their sins, the people find themselves becoming complacent and they begin to neglect the things of God.

Neglect brings complications. It can also bring spiritual decline.

Think about it. If I neglect my health by ignoring my diet and never exercising, I’ll suffer the consequences in my physical body. If I neglect my wife, our relationship will deteriorate. If I neglect my finances, I will find myself in a place of instability.

But the same is true in my spiritual life. Neglect leads to spiritual decline.

I love Hebrews 2:1. It says, “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1)

Years ago, I was fishing with friends of the Texas coast. We took the boat out of the marina. We went out a ways and began to fish. We were blessed that day because the red fish were biting. But without doing any we were drifting and we didn’t even recognize it. We were preoccupied by the fun we were having catching fish. When I looked up I was amazed. The marina was no where in sight.

Think about neglect. Typically it is not deliberate. It is not willful. It is not intentional sin. It is something that happens because of familiarity, or distraction, caused by one having too many things going in one's life.

I’ve met people who have drifted spiritually. They have experienced spiritual decline. But I’ve never met anyone who did this intentionally. It happened over time by neglect.

The person who is neglecting his salvation is not deliberately setting his mind to turn away from God or His way of life. He is simply, through neglect, allowing himself to drift in that direction. He does not plan to go that way. He gets distracted by things in his life—by hobbies, work, raising children, and so many other things. No matter what it is, he allows himself to neglect what has been given to him.

But listen to this instruction from the Word of God:

Psalm 119:16 - “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”

Hebrews 2:3 - “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation”

1 Timothy 4:14 - “Do not neglect the gift that is in you"

Today’s Challenge: As you pray, ask God to reveal if there is any area of your life in which there is neglect. The Holy Spirit is faithful to reveal those areas that need to be reestablished and recommitted.

#225: Reflections on Turning 50 Mar 24, 2021

Show notes

I’d like to take a few minutes to do something a bit different today. Usually we talk about discipleship and following Jesus, but today is my 50th birthday and if you’ll allow me to, I’d like to share some reflections with you.

50 is an interesting age. I always wanted to live to be 100 years old, so I guess I have reached the halfway mark. I remember think 50 was pretty old. Now I know 50 is not as old as it used to be. Birthdays are a good time to count your blessings.

I’ve been so blessed in my life. I have wonderful parents who are still living. They raised me to serve God and I’m so thankful. I have three brothers and two sisters, all who love God.

I have a loving wife. This year we celebrate 28 years together. We have three amazing daughters who are all just about grown up now.

Though, I faced a health challenge this year, I am grateful to be healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

My life has been so enriched by wonderful friendships. I have ministry colleagues who challenge and encourage me.

I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to serve as the lead pastor of Pacific Christian Center, here in Santa Maria, California. I absolutely love my church and my city. Everyday I thank God for bringing me here.

Several people have asked me, “How does it feel turning 50 years old?” If I feel any sadness in aging it is that I only have one life to serve the Lord. God has been so good to me, sometimes I wish I had another life I could give to God.

As I look back, to be honest I do have some regrets. There are times I wish I had been more decisive in my leadership. I wish I had cared less about what people thought about me. I wish I had showed my wife and children more love and had given them more of my time. I certainly wish I had prayed more.

But life is a journey and we learn as we go along. As I enter this new season of my life and start the 50’s, there are five things I want to focus on.

I want to finish strong the race God has set before me. I want to end my journey as a man of integrity, honesty, faithfulness, and dedication to God.

2. I want to remain faithful to my wife and to my children. The love of my wife is more important to me than the love of the world. I would rather be famous in my own home than famous to the world. My most important discipleship is at home. With all of my heart I want my wife, my children and I to go to Heaven together.

3. I want to see lost people find faith in Jesus. In this next season I want to do everything I can to lead people to the savior. I want to lead our church to be evangelistic and to see our families, friends, and neighbors find salvation in Jesus.

4. I want to invest my life in the next generation. I’m reaching an age where the younger generation sees me as a father figure. I want to disciple, to mentor, to teach, and to train the next generation to follow Christ, to find their purpose, and to make a difference.

5. I want my life to bring glory and honor to Jesus. I’m not worthy of his grace and his mercy. He loved me enough to give his life so I could live. I want my every breath to honor Christ. I want my life, my words, my example, my attitude, and all I am to give Him glory.

Finally, I just want to say thank you for joining me on this podcast journey. We started this 5 minute thing last August, not really knowing what we are going. God has blessed this work and amazingly over the past eight months the podcast has been downloaded over 75,000 times. I pray this ministry continues to bless you and that it inspires you to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

#224: Learning to Wait on God's Timing Mar 23, 2021

Show notes

Do you like to wait? I didn’t think so. I can’t remember ever hearing someone say they enjoy waiting.

We know that patience is a fruit of the Spirit, but nobody actually likes to wait. Yet everyday we’re forced to wait – sometimes for things we need and sometimes for things we want, and often we have to wait on people.

Statistics show that the average person spends close to an hour everyday waiting for something – elevators, traffic lights, your turn at the intersection, your turn to pay at the grocery store, a cup of coffee, a table or your food at a restaurant, the computer file to download, and even the microwave…which is supposed to keep us from waiting for the oven!

When you add up all that waiting over a lifespan of 70 years, the average person will spend more than 3 years of their lives WAITING for something to happen.

But as difficult as it is to wait on ordinary things in life, it’s really hard to wait on God. It’s my guess you are waiting on God right now. You have a need you have praying about and you are waiting on God to answer. I believe that is true for most of us. Maybe you are waiting on:

An opportunity or an open door
A place to serve God
God to provide a spouse and someone you can share your life with
An opportunity to go back to school
We all are waiting

Today is was reading in Exodus and I came across a small verse that stopped me in my tracks. It’s found in Exodus 7:7. It says, “Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.”

Let that sink in for a moment. Moses was 80 years old and Aaron was 83 years old when their ministry began, not when it ended. They were finally old enough to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives.

Our culture today puts a lot of value on youth. We all understand this. There is something powerful about having your life ahead of you with all of the possibilities and opportunities. But this focus on youth should not be to the exclusion of those who are older in age.

I want to speak to those of you who are listening who may be in your sixties, seventies, or even eighties. You are not to old for God to use your life. In fact, you might just be getting started with what God wants to do in your life.

If you have read the story of Moses’ life in the Book of Exodus, you know he tried to take God’s timing into his own hands. He saw the Hebrews being oppressed so he killed an Egyptian and buried him in the sand. This was not God’s timing or his plan.

Moses learned what we have to learn. It’s not easy to wait for God’s timing.

God knows what he is doing. His delays are always on purpose. When we dare to live by God’s timing, great things happen.

Psalm 27:13-14 - “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

There is something wonderfully freeing about trusting God. It is exciting to see what God will do. When the doors seem closed it is important to wait and see what door God will open. When the door is open it is exciting to see how God will equip you to meet the present challenge. The life of faith is an adventure.

Lamentations 3:25 - “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”

Today’s Challenge: Are you in a season of waiting on God? If so, recognize that waiting can be a part of God’s purpose. Give God your frustration and ask him for contentment. Decide to trust his plan, his purpose, and his timing.

#223: Overcoming Unbelief Mar 22, 2021

Show notes

I remember a difficult season my wife and I had some years ago. We were struggling financially and I was deeply discourage. I still had faith in God, but I was struggling. Why were we going through this situation? Why wasn’t God providing for our needs quicker.

I remember an argument my wife and I had where I expressed to her that I didn’t think God cared about us anymore. She responded by saying, “Loren, you know that’s not true.” She was right. I knew it wasn’t true, but it was how I felt at the moment.

I wish I could say I have never struggled with my faith, but that would not be true. Sometimes we are weary. We are tired. Sometimes it’s hard to hold on. Sometimes we don’t see God’s hand at work.

Sometimes we hear the lie of the enemy telling us God is not there. He doesn’t care.

There is not a person here today, or watching online who hasn’t at some point, struggled with their faith. “Doubt is a virus that infects all people.” - Lee Strobel

Mark 9:14-29 - “So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

Our hearts go out to this family. Their son is possessed by a demon. The demonic spirit has made the boy mute. He cannot speak. The demonic spirit throws the boy on the ground, he foams at the mouth and gnashes his teeth. The demonic spirit causes the boy to jump into fire or water to kill him. The poor boy is tormented.

“…if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (Mark 9:22)

It’s not that he didn’t believe…it’s that he had some doubt. A little doubt is better than no belief. Bring your faith. Bring your doubts. Bring your struggles. God can handle it.

He did believe in Jesus’ power to deliver his boy – after all, why else would he have come to Jesus? But he also recognized his doubts. So, he tearfully plead with Jesus: Lord, I believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

Maybe after the family has been through, it just seemed to good to be truth that Jesus could heal and deliver the boy. Maybe the father didn't want to get his hopes up only to be disappointed once again.

Ask God to give you faith and to help you believe.

Understand that faith is a choice, not a feeling.

Act on your faith, not your unbelief.

That’s what Noah did when he built the ark. It’s what Abraham did when he offered Isaac. It’s what David did when he faced Goliath. It’s what Joshua did when he marched around Jericho. It’s what Nehemiah did when he built the wall.

Do you think these men had perfect faith? No way. They didn’t know in advance how everything was going to work out. But why took a deep breath and decided to trust God, and they acted on their faith, not their doubts. That’s what we must do today.

Today’s Challenge: It’s okay to tell God you are struggling in your faith. He already knows. Be like the father in this story and tell God, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.” I believe God will strengthen your faith today.

#222: Living with Generosity Mar 21, 2021

Show notes

I have a pastor friend who is one of the most generous people I know. He lives his life looking for ways to bless others and to add value to their lives. He speaks words of life and kindness to others. You can’t be in his presence and not be encouraged and uplifted.

I’ll never forget preaching at his church one weekend. Not only did he invite me to stay in his home and share a meal with his family, but the next morning when I woke up. He was outside washing my car. I thought…who is this guy. He is a very normal guy, but he has determined to live his life with an intent to be as generous as he possibly can be. I left that day thinking, I want to be more like that.

There is an interesting verse found in Proverbs 11:24, the Message paraphrase says “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” What’s he saying here? That when I’m generous it enlarges my heart it, enlarges my perspective, it enlarges my impact. When I’m generous it enlarges my influence.

King Solomon is not just talking about money here. Generosity is far more than just financial giving. Money is an important part of our lives, but overall, it’s a small part. God wants you to learn to live generously as a lifestyle.

Scripture teaches us to be generous in every area of our life. We’re to be generous with our time. We’re to be generous with our praise. We’re to be generous with our sympathy. We’re to be generous with forgiveness. We’re to be generous with our love.

Think about it…We can be generous with our compliments. We are to be generous with our kindness. We are to be generous with our attention – paying attention to the needs of people. We are to be generous in listening. We can be generous is so many ways!

But generosity is far, far, far more than just simply about giving money. It’s about living life that is unselfish. It’s about living a life where you’re a giver not a taker, in every area of life.

One of the amazing things about living with generosity is that it fills us with joy. It is enjoyable. We are not generous because it is our duty. We don’t it out of guilt. We don’t give out of pressure. We don’t give out of compulsion. We are not generous because it’s our obligation. It gives us great joy to be generous.

In the New Testament Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Have you discovered this in your life?

The mark of maturity is when you switch and you begin to understand that there really is more joy in giving than in getting.

It’s not by accident that the word “miser” and “miserable” come from the same word. That when you’re miserly you’re going to be miserable. The happiest people in the world are givers in life. The unhappiest people in the world are takers. All they do is take. They’re self-centered. They live for themselves.

But the amazing thing about all this is that God is not asking us to do something that he himself doesn’t do. He is saying, “Be like me!” He is our example of generosity. And while we don’t give to get, he is so gracious to bless us when we are generous. And he does it in so many, many ways.

Today’s Challenge: Ask God to help you live your life with generosity. Learn to make it a part of your daily life. Consider who you could be generous to today. In this way, your life can truly make a difference.

#221: Investing Your Life In Others Mar 20, 2021

Show notes

Recently my wife and I reviewed our retirement savings and our financial plans for the future. We took a look at how much we set back each month and how it’s invested. We talked about our plans for increasing our savings and what our financial goals are for our retirement years.

God willing, we still have quite a few years ahead of us before retirement, but we recognize that investing now is essential. We can’t wait until we retire to think about how we are going to live. We have to plan now. As the old saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

While we recognize the importance of financial investment, it’s not our most important investment. Not even close.

There is another kind of investment on which we are working hard everyday. It’s an investment that will bear a return far beyond our time here on earth. It’s our prayer that the investment continues to produce dividends for generations or until Christ returns.

What kind of investment and I talking about? The investment in other people.

This is what discipleship is. It is the personal investment in the lives of others to help them grow to maturity in Christ.

As we look in the New Testament at the ministry of the Apostle Paul, often we see that he is spending time with others. He is raising up others to follow Christ and serve in the ministry.

I noticed in the opening lines of 1 Thessalonians he writes, Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Paul’s mention of his two companions gives us insight into his strategy. He was very conscious of his responsibility to pass on the faith. He chose people to be with him so that faith could be imparted in the context of real life. And the investment in people’s lives was over a long period.

When Paul assigned Timothy to serve as a pastor in the city of Ephesus, he wrote to him and said in 2 Timothy 2:2 - “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

Paul’s instruction was this: Just as I have invested in your life, you find others to invest in.

Paul did not select Timothy because he could carry his luggage. He saw in Timothy a sincere desire to know and serve Christ.

I have a conviction that God has called each of us to invest in the lives of others. I believe this is a calling for every Christian. If you are a parent, your most important discipleship is at your dining room table. As a believer you can invest in the lives of your co-workers, your neighbors, your friends, new believers at church, and others God brings across your path.

You might be thinking, “Yes, but how do I do that?” Great question.

The good news is that you don’t have to be a theologian. You don’t need a seminary degree. It’s not necessary to have a lot of Bible verses memorized or even to feel that you understand it all.

Discipleship is a journey. You go on it together. You spend time together over a period of time. You share what you know about Christ. You impart what you have learned and what you are learning. The process of discipling others will cause you to grow even more.

I don’t think there is anything more rewarding than helping others know and serve Jesus. Yet, if the statistics are correct, very few Christians are involved in reaching and discipling others. Imagine your life having an impact, not only here and now, but for eternity.

Today’s Challenge: I’m praying that every person who listens to this podcast will not only be a disciple of Jesus, but that you would be disciple others. Would you be willing to pray a courageous prayer? Jesus, show me who you want me to invest in? Who do you want me to disciple. Listen for his voice. Look for his direction. He will give you direction.

#220: The Importance of Daily Prayer Mar 19, 2021

Show notes

I was reading recently about Samuel Chadwick, a Methodist preacher in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. He was known to be a man devoted to prayer. Of Samuel Chadwick it was once said:

“He was essentially a man of prayer. Every morning he would be astir shortly after six o’clock, and he kept a little room which was his private sanctum for his quiet hour before breakfast. He was mighty in public prayer because he was constant in private devotion. When he prayed he expected God to do something. At the end of his life he wrote, “I wish I had prayed more, even if I had worked less; from the bottom of my heart, I wish I had prayed better.”

In his writings, Chadwick once said, “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.”

In Luke 18:1 the scripture says “we should always pray and not give up.”

According to Jesus, prayer is not something we only do on Sundays at church, or in the event of an emergency. Prayer is something we are to do everyday.

The importance of daily communication through prayer cannot be overestimated. It is so important that it is mentioned over 250 times in Scripture.

Daily prayer gives us an opportunity to share all aspects of our lives with God and it gives us the chance to express our gratitude for the things He provides.

There is a strength we gain when we spend time with God in prayer. It’s a spiritual strength that cannot be found anywhere else.

I remember seeing an article online that asked if you could talk to five people from history, who would be on your list. Hundreds of people commented giving their lists of those they wish they could talk to. Common names listed were George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Isaac Newton, Mother Teresa, C.S. Lewis, and Winston Churchhill.

While it’s fascinating to think of talking with well know people from history, we have the opportunity everyday to talk with the God of the universe. If we could only see what a tremendous blessing this is.

The opportunity to pray is one of the greatest blessings in your life. Think about it. We get to talk with God.

We come to God because He alone can meet our needs. He is the one who give strength. He is the one that breaks the power of sin. He is the one who can turn our darkness into light. We need a relationship with God more than we need anything else.

You’ll never know God in a deep and personal way without prayer. Prayer takes us into the presence of God. Prayer brings us to the place where we can hear God’s voice, where we can be led and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Whether you are a new believer or you have served God for a long time, prayer should always be considered necessary. Imagine not speaking to a loved one or a close friend. How long would the relationship last? Prayer is the means by which we seek and pursue a close relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Colossians 4:2 says, “Be devoted to prayer.” I believe this is God’s will for you and me, that we would be devoted to prayer.

This means we should always be ready to pray. Pray when you feel like it, pray when you don’t feel like it. Pray when you believe in it, pray when you doubt it. Pray when your heart is filled with faith, pray when you do it by habit. Be devoted to prayer.

Today’s Challenge: Determine to make prayer a daily part of your life. Decide when and where you will talk with God. If we don’t plan for it, it’s not likely we will do it. I believe as you do, your prayer life will be deeper and more meaningful.

#219: Is It Well With Your Soul? Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

Horatio G. Spafford was a successful lawyer and businessman in Chicago with a lovely family - a wife, Anna, and five children. However, they were not strangers to tears and tragedy. Their young son died with pneumonia in 1871, and in that same year, much of their business was lost in the great Chicago fire. Yet, God in His mercy and kindness allowed the business to flourish once more.

On Nov. 21, 1873, a French ocean liner was crossing the Atlantic from the U.S. to Europe with 313 passengers on board. Among the passengers were Mrs. Spafford and their four daughters. Although Horatio had planned to go with his family, he found it necessary to stay in Chicago to help solve an unexpected business problem. He told his wife he would join her and their children in Europe a few days later. His plan was to take another ship.

About four days into the crossing of the Atlantic, the French ship collided with a powerful, iron-hulled Scottish ship. Suddenly, all of those on board were in grave danger. Anna hurriedly brought her four children to the deck. She knelt there with Annie, Margaret Lee, Bessie and Tanetta and prayed that God would spare them if that could be His will, or to make them willing to endure whatever awaited them. Within approximately 12 minutes, the ship sank beneath the dark waters of the Atlantic, carrying with it 226 of the passengers including the four Spafford children.

Anna was floating on a piece of debris and was rescued by a life boat. They were picked up by a larger boat and taken to Wales. From there, Anna sent a telegram to her husband informing him of the devastating news.

Mr. Spafford booked passage on the next available ship and left to join his grieving wife. With the ship about four days out, the captain called Spafford to his cabin and told him they were over the place where his children went down. While on the journey he wrote the words of a beloved hymn.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

When I read this story I was reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul found in Philippians 4:7 - “And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts, your minds through Christ Jesus.”

There is a peace that comes from God that surpasses understanding. Even when we can’t possibly understand the circumstances of life, there is a peace that God can give. This peace protects our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Can I ask you a question: Is it well with your soul?

Life is full of ups and downs, mountain top experiences and also the valleys. We battle temptations, trials, obstacles, stress, physical illness, financial hardships, difficulties in our relationships, and pressure on every side.

Yet, in spite of it all, we can experience a peace so beautiful that it causes us to recognize that it is well with our soul. It is well between me and God.

Paul talks about this amazing peace we can experience. It is a peace from God. It is a gift. Peace is not the absence of problems. We can experience God’s peace during our problems.

It’s also a peace with God. Because of Jesus’ death and the salvation it brings, we now can have peace with God. Our relationship has been restored. There is nothing that would separate us.

Charles Spurgeon said “God’s peace is the unruffled serenity of the infinitely-happy God, the eternal composure of the absolutely well-contented God.”

Today’s Challenge: Is it well with your soul? There is a calm assurance we can find when we bring every need to God. This peace will guard your heart and mind. I believe if you ask God for it, he will provide.

#218: Knowing the Love of God Mar 17, 2021

Show notes

One of the greatest theologians that ever lived, Karl Barth, was asked to be a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago Divinity School. At the end of a captivating closing lecture, the president of the seminary announced that Dr. Barth was not well and was quite tired, and though he thought that Dr. Barth would like to be open for questions, he shouldn’t be expected to handle the strain. Then he said, “Therefore, I will ask just one question on behalf of all of us." He turned to the renowned theologian and asked, "Of all the theological insights you have ever had, which do you consider to be the greatest of them all?

It was the perfect question for a man who had written literally tens of thousands of pages of some of the most sophisticated theology ever put into print. The students held pencils right up against their writing pads, ready to take down verbatim the premier insight of the greatest theologian of their time. Karl Barth closed his tired eyes, and he thought for a minute, and then he half smiled, opened his eyes, and said to those young seminarians, "The greatest theological insight that I have ever had is this: "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Experiencing God’s love is the most life changing thing a person could ever encounter. God created us to love us. Yet, many feel that because of their mistakes and failures God couldn’t possibly love them. The great news is that God’s love is unearned and undeserved.

So, what is the love of God? How do we define it?

Human love is generally a response to conditions and circumstances around us. We love because someone pleases us, or because they seem attractive, or because they pay attention to us, or because they make us laugh, or because we feel fulfilled around them.

But God’s love comes without human cause. He loves because that is the kind of God He is. Nothing in us causes him to love us. Not our beauty, not our wealth, not our wisdom, not our good deeds, and not our promise to love him back.

Romans 5:6-8 gives us a better understanding. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God does not love us because we are so lovable. There really is no reason for God to love us. No reason except this: That is the kind of God He is. He loves you and me because God is love and he can’t help loving us, even when we are his enemies.

His love is greater than our sin, and in spite of our sin. He really shouldn’t love us, but He does. Isn’t this amazing?

No matter how you are, where you are from, what you have done, how many times you have failed, and even if you don’t love yourself, God still loves you!

Motivated by His love, God provides a solution to our sin problem. God’s decision goes beyond human reason and comprehension. Only God could come up with a plan like this.

God’s amazing demonstration of love is this: Christ died for us.

The death of Jesus is the complete and final proof of God’s love. Sometimes in this crazy, mixed-up world, people say, “Where is the love of God? We see so much killing, so much heartache, so much tragedy, so much pain, and so much anger. Where is the love of God?”

But today if you will lift your eyes to the cross of Christ. It is there that you will see the love of God.

Today’s Challenge: God’s love calls for a response. We either receive his love or we reject it. It’s my prayer that today you would receive the love of God and that you would respond to his grace. Jesus loves us this we know, because the Bible tells us so.

#217: Our Need for Discernment Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

I have had the opportunity to visit New York City a few times. If you are ever in the city and you venture close to Chinatown, you will soon be confronted with a number of people trying to get your attention. They will try to attract you by showing off items they have for sale - watches, purses, jewelry, sunglasses, perfume - all sorts of items. What will surprise you, though, is their pricing - only in these venues are you able to purchase a Louis Vuitton purse, A Rolex watch, Ray Ban sunglasses, and some Chanel No. 5, all for about the price of dinner.

Sounds like a great deal, right? Its all good, unless you actually think you are purchasing a Louis Vuitton purse, A Rolex watch, Ray Ban sunglasses, and some Chanel No. 5. In reality, what you are getting is a genuine imitation, a fraud, a hoax, a rip-off, and a hustle.

I have realized that for almost everything genuine in life, there is a counterfeit.

Spiritually speaking, Christians are often faced with this dilemma when it comes to doctrine and teaching. For just as there is sound doctrine to be taught and understood from scripture, there are a number of counterfeits that seek to make their way into the church.

So, to stay on track, we need discernment. Now discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. The ability to think with discernment is synonymous with a capacity to think biblically.

It is the ability to see issues clearly. We desperately need to cultivate this spiritual skill that will enable us to know right from wrong. We must be prepared to distinguish light from darkness, truth from error, righteousness from unrighteousness, and purity from defilement.

In Ephesians 4:13-14, Paul says, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

Paul is saying here that it is God’s desire that we grow to a place of spiritual maturity. We grow spiritually to a place where we have a strong grasp of the scripture and biblical doctrine. It’s then that we will not be carried about by every wind of doctrine.

I have always loved an obscure verse of scripture found in Acts 17:11. It says, Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

Notice what this verse says… They examined the Scriptures. It was worth it to them to work hard, and to investigate what the Word of God said, and how Paul’s teaching matched up with it.

They also examined the Scriptures every day to find out what it said. It wasn’t a one time, quick look. They made it a point of diligent, extended study.

This is how we gain discernment. This is how we avoid being deceived by false teachers, false prophets, and false doctrine. We can easily be led astray if we are not rooted and grounded upon the truth of God’s Word.

Today’s Challenge: I hope you will join me in praying a prayer found in Psalm 119:125. It says, “I am your servant; give me discernment.” Let’s ask God to help us see, know, understand, and apply the truth of his Word. And let’s ask him to guard our hearts from deception.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected