Abortion is one of many social issues that are causing great division, hatred, and confusion in our culture today! While you won’t find the word “abortion” in the Bible, God’s Word addresses every issue we face in life either directly or indirectly. I’m writing this primarily for believers in Jesus, those who have surrendered their lives to him and who, through the leading of his Holy Spirit, are trying to live in obedience and service to the life he has called us to. So, how should we as Christians be talking about this and relating to others?

Understand there is always a spiritual battle for our hearts and minds playing out in everything that happens to us!

Imagine that above any issue or problem we struggle with, there is a spiritual battle going on in the unseen spiritual realm between God and Satan. God wants to bring us forgiveness, hope, truth, and a new life, while Satan will lie, deceive, and do anything to distract us from Jesus and lead us away from God into confusion, darkness, hatred, and eventually into death and separation from God! Jesus confronted the religious rulers of his day who had closed their minds and hearts to him by saying, ⁴³ Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.⁴⁴  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.  -John 8:43-44 (NIV)

What this means is that ALL of us are in constant danger of being deceived on this and any other issue by Satan, who always makes his lies and deception look appealing and seem reasonable.  So please remember that even though you may strongly disagree with those on the “other side”, they may sincerely think they are right and caring in their approach. Remember, the enemy is not each other, it is Satan who desires to destroy us all! As Paul says in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

THE ABORTION DEBATE COULD BE DESCRIBED FROM 2 OPPOSING VIEWS TODAYS, OFTEN CALLED “PRO-CHOICE” VS. “PRO-LIFE”, EVEN THOUGH FOLKS ON BOTH SIDES MAY CLAIM SOME OF THE OTHER’S TERMINOLOGY.

Rather than re-hash cultural talking points, I would like to share what I believe the Bible, God’s written Word to us, actually says about the issues.

Let’s begin with the “Pro-choice” arguments:

A) The Pro-Choice approach:

Many of us remember that when Bill Clinton was running for President, part of his platform was to make abortion “legal, safe, and rare”.  While that appealed to many back then, it has certainly not been “rare” since that time, and today has become celebrated by many. It has now morphed into a women’s rights issue, as well as more recently a women’s health issue and a reproductive rights issue. Many believe a woman has the right to “choose” what happens to her body and has bodily autonomy, and since women are the ones who get pregnant, some even say the men have should have no say or opinion on this! So, what does the God say about this in the Bible?

First, God IS pro-women! When Jesus was on earth in the Roman Empire, men were dominant, controlling, and ruled over women and children. Men even had the right at times to have their own children put to death if they desired! Jesus countered that by treating women with dignity and respect.  He broke all cultural protocols by talking with a scandalized Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), resulting in her becoming his follower and even bringing many in her village to faith him as well. He healed Mary Magdalene of 7 demons, and she followed him and was the first person to see him resurrected! He befriended prostitutes and other outcasts and brought them the hope of new life, salvation, and a new identity and hope. And as for children, when his disciples rebuked parents for bringing children to him, he said, ¹⁴ “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”- Matthew 19:14 (ESV)

The early church leaders, led by God’s Holy Spirit, were empowered to see ALL people, whether male or female, Jew or Gentile, slave or free, as precious and of equal value to God! (Galatians 3:28) In marriage, God created men and women equal, but with distinct roles and responsibilities. Women alone were given the awesome, miraculous role of nurturing a developing baby in their womb, and men were given the responsibility of protecting, encouraging, and doing all they can to help the wife become the fulfilled person God intends them to be. In the abortion debate, many women are afraid, alone, and hurting in many ways because the “father” of the child, the boyfriend or husband, is negligent, abusive, or just leaves, and in many cases is actually the one who pressures and  insists that they get an abortion. No wonder the rise and appeal of “women’s rights” issues! Men have too often miserably failed at being the men God designed them to be! Too many men in our culture are weak, self-centered, abusive, and controlling of their wives and sometimes children as well. This is the cause of most broken families, and often leads to poverty, more abuse, divorce, young people involved in crime, and the overall destruction of our society. And the burden is often left to single mothers who often do wonderful jobs but still need more love and support!

Men, the problem of abortion today lies mainly in the failure of men to be what God calls us to be! In Ephesians, 5, Paul lays this out clearly:

²⁵  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶  that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷  so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. ²⁸  In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ³⁰  because we are members of his body. ³¹  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” – Ephesians 5:25-31 (ESV)

What Paul is saying to men is that it is our first priority in marriage, or even dating, to be willing to give up our rights and interests in order to love and encourage the woman we are committed to! Jesus literally gave his life for each of us so that we could have the opportunity to be forgiven and given new life, and men are distinctly called to give up our “lives” in the sense of putting the interest of the woman we love above our own desires or agenda. If men were as spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially supportive of women as Jesus is for all of us, I believe there is no woman that would not respond positively to that sacrificial love! One of the greatest needs today is for Christian communities to make a major priority of teaching men how to be biblical, Kingdom men as God designed.  (and girls and women as well!) And after that, for those adult men to become mentors to younger men. This could do more to change and heal our culture than all the laws and programs we see today, which are only band aids to cover the results of our sinfulness. If your church or men’s ministry would like to pursue this, I suggest a great book I read and used recently by Dr. Tony Evans called “Kingdom Men Rising”.

So, what about “my body, my choice” ideas? While it’s true that part of being made in God’s image involves moral choices, there is also great consequences for making the WRONG choices! The original wrong human moral choice in the Garden of Eden to disobey God resulted in physical death for ALL human beings. Thus, the idea that a woman has the moral choice to kill her own baby in her womb has no biblical support. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches that once we surrender our lives to God, everything we are, including our bodies, belongs to God now. Not only that, but as you trust in Jesus, God’s own Holy Spirit now dwells within our bodies, empowering us and helping to become more like Jesus. Paul explains this in I Corinthians 6:

¹⁹  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.-  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)

B) The Pro-Life Approach:

But what about abortion itself? Is that biblical? What does God say?

The Pro-Life crowd would say abortion is killing of pre-born babies, and biblically, that is undoubtedly true. While there is great support for women in the Bible, there is absolutely nowhere in the Bible that remotely suggests that God would think the act of abortion is ever justified. (Except in a case that would result in the mother’s death).  In Genesis 1:26-28, God indicates that humanity is unique among all creation, because we alone are made in the image of God himself, to reflect and bear that image as we live. Even though sin has scarred us all, we still bear that unique divine image from conception!

What we Christians SHOULD be doing, and don’t always do well, is to have a “Whole Life Agenda”, often described as respect for life from the “womb to the tomb”!

One of the best known passages to describe God’s love and involvement for pre-born babies is Psalm 139:13-16:

¹³  For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

 -Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
(other similar verses are Job 10:8-12, Job 31:15, Psalm 22:9-10, Jeremiah 1:4-5, and Matthew 1:20, which refers to Jesus himself in the womb!)

Notice that in Psalm 139, it not only says that God is intricately involved in our development in the womb, but that in verse 16 it says that God has ALREADY determined a destiny for each of us and has determined a set number of days for each if us. Sadly, abortion, disease, tragic accidents, murders, wars, etc. (the effects of sin) can cut short those days God has planned for us. But the great hope is that he uniquely created each of us with a destiny to pursue, and we have a purpose and God behinds us, if we will surrender to him and let him help us! Thus, a “whole life agenda” seeks to care for human life and dignity from the womb up to the grave. We are to care for, love,  be a voice for, and work for dignity and justice for the pre-born babies, fearful pregnant women, orphans, widows, homeless, poor, sick, mentally ill, elderly, immigrants, etc., literally EVERYONE! Jesus died for every human life, from the womb to the tomb, and he has called his church, the body of Christ on earth, to be his hands and feet to offer redemption, hope, and power for a new life forever to ALL.

SO, what can WE do?

1) Begin your discussions and action with God’s love and hope, NOT with condemnation. Jesus came to bring, forgiveness, new life, and hope, not to condemn (John 3:16-17, Romans 8:1)

2) Find common ground with those you disagree with, especially in helping the hurting young women (and men) who are fearful and feel they have no resources to deal with in having a baby. Volunteer when you can, and certainly financially and sacrificially  support groups and ministries that aid young women (and fathers) not only through the birth process, but then help them find support financially and emotionally to begin as successful parents (or, in some cases, go through a helpful adoption procedure).  Invite them to your church and form groups you can invite them to that includes other young parents going through the same struggles.

3) Work in your families, churches, and communities to teach and encourage young men and women how to become responsible, caring, humble, other-centered individuals, based on God’s values for Kingdom living.

4) PRAY for YOUR attitude and for your actions, that God would be able to use you in this cultural battle to reflect his true image of humility, love, and compassion for the hurting people in EVERY stage of life! And never stop ceasing to pray for your family, your church, your community and especially for those you disagree with! God will use the prayers of a humble, God honoring person in powerful and effective ways, and will use you to turn others back to God and redemption and hope that will take us all the way into eternity with Jesus! (James 5:13-20)

FINALLY, REMEMBER THAT JESUS HAS ALREADY WON THE BATTLE OVER SIN IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES AND CULTURE, FROM THE WOMB TO THE TOMB!

God has “got this” in every area of life, if we trust him and let him empower us to be part of his HIS agenda and plan. Although many will refuse his offer of forgiveness, redemption, and hope, God can use each of us to bring many others into his Kingdom of eternal hope and a new amazing life forever! My late wife Claudia put a saying on our refrigerator that says “God’s part I cannot do; my part He will not do”! (It’s still there.) Don’t try to tell God how to deal with this issue or any other; his plan is better than yours! Are you willing to do YOUR part in his agenda for life, from the womb to the tomb, for ALL people? I pray and hope so!

I close with a great prayer from Ephesians that seems to relate well to this issue, and reminds us that God is all-powerful and can do more than we can ever imagine!

¹⁴  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸  may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹  and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  -Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)

Ever since I retired 8 years ago, and especially since my wife Claudia died 22 months ago, I have wrestled with the question “What does God want me to do with the rest of my time here on earth (maybe 15-20 healthy years, hopefully)?And that’s a good question for all of us to consider, no matter how old you are!

Many people my age assume that because we have had a lot of experiences in life and have gone through many trials, we automatically have gained great wisdom and insight, and therefore the world really needs and of course, WANTS to hear our wisdom and opinions! Sometimes that might be true, if we are fortunate, but probably not as much as we might think, lol! And frankly, I know many people who are older (and younger) who may have a lot of knowledge about certain things, but they lack wisdom, discernment, and common sense, and are blown back and forth by every new opinion they hear from their favorite sources on the internet, on cable news, or  at college! With social media today, it’s easy for everybody to have an opinion on anything and everything, and every human opinion is just that, an opinion. It may have some truth, or no truth, it may be a good idea or a foolish one, but BIBLICALLY, FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE, no human opinion that disagrees with what God has said is true, no matter how many other humans praise that opinion and agree with it! Now, the majority of people in our culture would reject that thought, and our present culture is actually very anti-Christian in what it emphasizes on most issues today.

We live in a time very similar to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament when the book of Judges was written. It says in Judges 17:6 “In those days Israel had no King: everyone did as they saw fit”.  They had long ago rejected God’s rule over their lives and nation, they wouldn’t listen to prophets or judges, and they had no King to rule them. So they did whatever seemed good to them. Like today when people say “my truth” works for me, and “your truth” works for you. Of course there is no real “truth” with that statement; it’s just believing what makes you feel comfortable and justifies any lifestyle you want without feeling guilty.

SO, for the rest of my life, I’ve decided to continue to focus on what is GOD’S truth as revealed in the Bible, through the leading of the Holy Spirit. God has spoken directly or indirectly to every topic of debate on our culture, and I’m going to try to share His truth through teaching groups, writing, and just casual conversations with others. (And all the while enjoying all the other joys of life God has granted us, such as enjoying family times, golfing, boating, beaches, going south in the winter, good meals, friends, etc.! Life is meant to be enjoyed, with God and each other!)

SO, FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED, HOW DO WE DISCERN GOD’S TRUTH IN ORDER TO LIVE BY IT AND SHARE IT IN A LOVING, HUMBLE WAY?

• BEGIN WITH A BIBLICAL DEFINTION OF TRUTH!

In his excellent new book “Kingdom Values: Character>Chaos”, Dr. Tony Evans explains it this way:

“Truth is an absolute standard by which by which reality is measured. Truth is God’s view on any subject matter. Truth lives outside of you. In other words, if it’s true then it doesn’t matter if you agree with it. It doesn’t matter if you feel it or don’t. If it’s truth, it is, because God said so.”

SO, THAT IS WHY MY OPINON DOESN’T REALLY MATTER AND NEITHER DOES YOURS. WHAT REALLY MATTERS, FIRST AND FORMOST, IS WHAT DOES GOD SAY ON ANY SUBJECT!

• RECOGNIZE THE VALUE JESUS PUT ON TRUTH! 

Not only did Jesus claim to be THE TRUTH himself, he said the truth is what will protect us and enable us to be transformed. In praying for his present and future followers (us), he prayed:

¹⁵  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  -John 17:15-17 (NIV)
To sanctify means to set apart and transform us. Truth from God is the agent that will change us to become more like Jesus, and his Holy Spirit will empower us to make that change.

• RECOGNIZE THAT GOD’S THOUGHTS ARE PERFECT AND BETTER THAN OUR BEST IDEAS AS HUMANS, AND THEREFORE UNDERSTAND THAT FOLLOWING HIS THOUGHTS ARE WHAT WILL LEAD TO THE BEST POSSIBLE LIFE AND OUTCOME FOR US!

⁸  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. ⁹  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. ¹⁰  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹  so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:8-11 (NIV)

A true biblical perspective, God’s perspective, means understanding that God created the universe, he created us as marvelous creatures in his own image, but he is God and we are not! And because sin affects us all, our very best thoughts and ideas are light-years away from his thoughts. So, it’s imperative that we study the Bible and learn what God’s truth is, and be able to share that truth in love, humbly, even though it will offend and even anger some who don’t want to hear what God says. As Tony Evans said in his book, “No amount of ignoring the truth is going to set people free from the bondage of lies.  We are called to speak the truth in love. We are not called to support a lie in love.”

• FINALLY, AS KINGDOM DISCIPLES, LEARN TO ABIDE IN JESUS AND KNOW AND LIVE OUT HIS WORD!

Let’s be honest… sometimes we believers do not do a great job of sharing the truth! We may be good at quoting a Bible verses here and there, but we also can come across as condemning or judgmental if we don’t share the truth in humility and with true love for others who are lost and confused. Jesus says in John 8 that we need to “abide” in him (The Word) and also abide in the written Word of God, the Bible.

³¹  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³²  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”-  John 8:31-32 (ESV)

To abide means to “hang out, stay, or remain in”. It’s possible to learn the truth in the Bible but not live it out in your own life. And when you’re not “hanging out with Jesus” in your own lifestyle, it can come across as pretty shallow when you try to tell others the truth of Jesus that will likely be a challenge to them as well. The best witness we all have to the truth is to share how God has changed us for the better through the years and, step after step, set us free from the bondage to sin and the lies of this world. And then humbly admit that we are not yet close to being like Jesus, but we will continue to abide in his love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness, knowing that he will never stop loving us even when we stumble from time to time.

So relax, hang out with Jesus daily and study his Word, let his Spirit transform you from the inside out, and let the truth set you free. Don’t seek to share your “opinion”, but rather seek to share Jesus’s truth and love that will set us all free. Then humbly, and thankfully, share what God has done for you as you share his truth with others! Be the Kingdom man or woman that God calls you to be, now and into an amazing future with Jesus forever!

In chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to the Philippian church, he encourages us to live in a way that is very counter-cultural to what is encouraged today (and in any generation, for that matter)! He tells us to be like Jesus: to be humble, to serve others without complaining, and to put other’s interests before our own! In contrast, the message we hear today is something like this: “It’s all about you, your feelings, and what you want in life!  You have all kinds of human rights, so fight for and grab the life you deserve, by any means necessary. If you hurt others along the way, it doesn’t matter, because you’re a great person and you deserve the best.”

Paul contends that when you surrender your life to Jesus and live like he did, you will actually find joy, peace, contentment, and a bigger purpose for life than you will ever find trying to follow the deceptive, clever lies we hear screaming at us every day in our culture!

SO, HOW DO WE POSSIBLY BEGIN TO LIVE LIKE JESUS IN THIS VERY ANTI-CHRISTIAN SOCIETY?

Paul gives us some very specific guidelines on how to live a life like Jesus, the life we were created for, and the life we long for in the deep recesses of our heart!

• This life begins with being part of a supportive Christian community!

¹  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,²  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. – Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV)

Sorry, but you can’t have encouragement, comfort, fellowship, tenderness, compassion, and be one in spirit and purpose by yourself! There is no such thing as a “lone-ranger” Christian, and reading your Bible every day and trying to serve God by yourself will not work for very long. You will be chewed up and spit out quickly by a culture that is anti-God and prides itself on believing their human solutions and wisdom are somehow better than God’s (which is the very core of what sin is!)

SO, you need to be part of a local church! Jesus established the church as his living BODY on earth, and this is the way he will change the world and usher in his coming Kingdom! He will not ultimately change the world through passing laws in Congress, by decisions of the Supreme Court, and or by throwing billions (or trillions) of dollars uselessly at every problem. He will change the world by transforming the lives and hearts of his followers. And those followers will then share the love, forgiveness, and hope for an eternal future with Jesus to the world. Many will believe and accept God’s gift and enter into his Kingdom. And those who reject Jesus and his gift will be separated from him forever.

So, join a church that believes the Bible is God’s Word, and teaches that God’s Spirit can change your life and make you into a new person!  (I know… churches are full of hypocrites and imperfect people. Don’t worry, you will fit right in!)

• Be like Jesus! Put others’ interests above your own!

³  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷  but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross! ⁹  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   -Philippians 2:3-11 (NIV)

Paul tells us to “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit”. Wow, if our culture actually followed this principle, most of our politicians, pundits, professors, “experts”, scientists, doctors, and even some pastors would resign or be fired! Most of our culture today is about groups of people trying to gain money, power, and control over everybody else so they can advance their beliefs and agenda. They always claim to do things to benefit others and advance society, but it usually ends up benefitting them and their agenda the most. This is not new, and sadly has been the history of most governments and “elite” leaders throughout the history of fallen humanity.

Jesus, on the other hand, was God himself, but he loved us so much that he was willing to temporarily give up his rights of glory and power as God in order to obey his Father and humbly serve us, give his life in our place, and enable us through his death and resurrection to be forgiven, redeemed, and restored to the hope of a wonderful future forever with him!

In today’s culture, we constantly hear talk of “human rights” and people demanding and creating more of them. We debate fiercely the rights found in the Constitution & Bill of Rights, as well as other rights recently declared and created by humans. Many of these rights are good and helpful to all people, while others seem more designed to benefit a particular group and their agenda. But ALL of there are “human” rights, created by humans, and are NOT God-given rights, as much as some want to claim to justify their position!

In the Biblical narrative, God gives us life and all the blessings of life as a GIFT, not as a right we deserve. He first breathed his life and spirit into our bodies in Genesis 2:7, and then Jesus came to give and restore an abundant, eternal quality of life to us through his resurrection. Just as Jesus gave up his rights to serve us, we are called to serve others in love and put their interests above our own, even giving up our perceived “rights” so that we might bring others into God’s Kingdom!

• Don’t complain or argue, but shine like stars in the darkness!

¹⁴  Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵  so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe ¹⁶  as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. – Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)

Today, people love to complain and argue about what’s wrong! Then they demand their right to have what they think they deserve. Jesus took the opposite approach, and saved the world from sin by doing it! And as his followers, that should be our approach as well.

 Through our actions, attitudes, and words, we are to reflect the love and character of Jesus. That means living with a sense of moral integrity, honesty, humility, sacrificial love for others, and a sense of peace that only comes from knowing God! And when we live as true followers of Jesus, we will “shine like stars” in a “crooked and depraved generation”. WHY?… because we will not be pointing to ourselves and demanding what we deserve! Rather, we will be pointing to Jesus and reflecting his forgiveness, restoration, and hope of an amazing new life that he offers to all! We will have peace and contentment in our hearts, we will not fear the culture and what evil can do to us, because we know the future! It already belongs to Jesus, and we belong to him!

The world screams at us daily to take up their causes and agendas!… agendas of political control and power, labeling and identity politics that leads to division and mistrust, and just fear and doubt.

Jesus, on the other hand, offers us a better invitation with better results:

²⁸  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Which agenda and outcome for life will you choose?

I choose Jesus!

Nobody likes hard times! In his letter to the Philippians, Paul writes from prison to thank that church for their generous support and to encourage them to remain joyful in every circumstance, no matter what they face in life at the moment! Paul is an older, wiser man here, reflecting on all he has faced in life, which is more than you and I will ever face: shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonments, riots, sleepless nights and hunger, humiliation, poverty, mocked as an imposter, rejection, and constant hardship and distresses! And yet the summary of his entire letter can be found in Phil.4:4, which says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near!”

All of us want to be happy most the time, but life doesn’t work that way! What happens to us when “the wheels come off”? When money is scarce, when health deteriorates, we lose a job, or a loved one gets sick or dies? This beautiful letter to the Philippian church shows us the great difference between the world’s shallow definition of “happiness”, and what the Bible defines as “joy”.

 In the introduction in my “Life Application Bible”, it says, “True joy is deep and strong, not superficial. It is the quiet, confident assurance of God’s love and work in our lives— that he will be there no matter what! Our happiness should not depend on what happens to us, but on what happens in us— the transformation that takes place when we put our trust in Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit comes to live in us, giving us God’s perspective on life and all the ups and downs that come with it.”

In chapter 1, Paul gives us four major guideposts that can bring us true joy and peace as we face life’s adversities, disappointments, and pain.

1) BEGIN EVERY DAY AND SITUATION WITH THANKFULNESS AND PRAYER FOR YOUR FAMILY AND OTHER BELIEVERS THAT GOD HAS GRACIOSULY BROUGHT INTO YOUR LIFE!

³  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴  always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. -Philippians 1:3-6 (ESV)
Paul reminds us that we are not alone, and God is working in our friends’ lives as well to bring about his greater purpose for our lives together. Also, we find comfort in knowing none of us “has it all together”! But God is working continually in our lives to help us grow together and become, slowly, more like Jesus. God will not give up on us, and we should not give up either!

Remember, joy consists of internal stability in spite of external circumstances!

⁹  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰  so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.  -Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV)
Paul encourages us to pray for each other that we have God’s knowledge and discernment, so we end up doing the right things the right way, as God leads us!

2) EVEN WHEN LIFE IS UNFAIR AND YOU ARE TREATED WRONGLY, GOD WILL USE EVERY SITAUTION TO ADVANCE HIS PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE AND TO ADVANCE HIS KINGDOM IN THE WORLD!

¹²  I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, ¹³  so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. ¹⁴  And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. ¹⁵  Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
¹⁶  The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷  The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸  But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹  for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

 – Philippians 1:12-18 (ESV)

Paul was falsely imprisoned, but instead of whining and demanding justice, he basically said, “Hey, guys, it’s all good! God is doing a great thing in spite of this unfair junk!”  The guards that had to stay with him heard the gospel from him and many became Christians. He also wanted to encourage others on the outside to be strong and bold in their faith!

There were other church people who were jealous of Paul and were secretly glad he was in prison! They wanted to take credit for the work of the church instead of Paul. I know, it’s hard to believe that church people would do that (lol), but backstabbing is nothing new to Christians who are weak in character and whose motives are wrong! Paul was strong and gracious enough to let this roll off his back and say “Hey, Jesus is being preached and that’s the most important thing, even if it’s coming from selfish Christians!” God works with imperfect people, including us!

3) GOD WILL PROVIDE WHAT WE TRULY NEED IN THIS LIFE, AND PROMISES AN EVEN BETTER LIFE BEYOND THIS ONE! WE NEED THAT ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE TO REMAIN JOYOUS AND PUT OUR PRESENT HARD CIRCUMSTANCES IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE!

²⁰  I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²²  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴  but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵  Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶  so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.  – Philippians 1:20-26 (NIV)

This is one of my favorite passages!! After my wife Claudia died 20 months ago, I have come to look at death a little differently. Don’t get me wrong! I hope to live maybe another 18-20 years and enjoy my family and friends, enjoy God’s creation, maybe share life with another wonderful partner, and in all ways serve Jesus and share the good news of his beautiful Kingdom!  But like Paul, I have come to see the eventual death of my body not as something to fear. Rather, it will be a transition into a whole new, wonderful existence in the presence of Jesus! And soon, all of us as his followers will return to earth with him as he establishes his new, amazing Kingdom forever, without sin, sickness, and death! So if you are a believer in Jesus, you will NEVER die! Your feeble body will die, but YOU will live forever, and then we will get new bodies that will never get sick or die! So, like Paul says, it’s great to be here now, but it will be even better in the new Kingdom! We have absolutely nothing to fear on this earth, because Jesus has already overcome every evil force, and justice will be done when he returns!

So, relax in Jesus, love him, love each other, love creation, and just enjoy the life he has given you!

4) BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR US, WE ARE CALLED TO ALWAYS LIVE A LIFE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL, AND LIVE WITH THE JOY AND PEACE THAT ONLY JESUS CAN GIVE US!

²⁷  Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel ²⁸  without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved–and that by God. ²⁹  For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, ³⁰  since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. – Philippians 1:27-30 (NIV)

Paul is saying that even though you are going through hardships, disappointments, and suffering (and we all will at times), live in a way that honors and reflects what Jesus is doing is your life and what he has already done for us through his death and resurrection! Too many Christian are afraid of what experts, politicians, governments, and pundits say today. And sadly, way too many get caught up in the negative, destructive words and attitudes that are destroying our culture today. Rather than building each other up, we are often tearing each other down!

Paul is telling us to live like Jesus did! Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you (or today, those that try to “cancel” you), and forgive those who sin against you, just as God forgives you. And most of all, don’t be afraid!! Jesus has already won the ultimate battle, and we are on his side forever! Paul says if we Christians can live with peace, joy, calmness, and act in love in the midst of today’s chaotic culture, people will notice. Some will see our fearless behavior as a sign that they also need to change or face God’s judgement. Others may scoff and ridicule us, but there is really NOTHING they can ultimately do to hurt us or keep us from God and his future Kingdom!

So, whatever your circumstances are today, whether difficult or good at the moment, relax and fully trust in Jesus, and he will give you all you need to live a life of true joy!

Remember, it’s not what’s happening around us that matters; it’s what God is doing IN us that makes all the difference!

Relax, trust only in Jesus, and let him lead you into the life that he has designed uniquely for you in this world!

Jesus offers us a wonderful invitation:

²⁸  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  -Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
 

I pray you accept this invitation, and find his joy and rest for your soul!