Wanderer From The Fold

Dear Christian, It has been some time since we last spoke. My reason is two-fold. First, I became ill. Second, in my sickness, I neglected to depend on our Lord Jesus Christ. And when I forgot my Lord and Savior, forgot even His love for me, I grew anxious. I wonder, do you know the feeling of crippling anxiety? The type of anxiety that keeps you locked in your room, under the covers, with seemingly nowhere to go? Perhaps you have known some other ailment, either physical or psychological, that seemed insurmountable and without end. For me, procrastination could be an Olympic sport. Just the other day I was reminded of my inclination to become laser-focused on a task. Yet, when provided with the facts, and a stern warning, "Do not do this thing," I might just as well be commanded to do it, because I cannot, for whatever reason tear myself away from the thing that I am doing. It is quite exhausting to deal with my anxiety, not the least for me, but for my friends and family as...

Dear Christian, Why do you hold your brother to account for his sins? Were not yours and his both paid in full at Calvary? Understand this: the world we live in is an utterly broken one, though there is hope for the sinner. Those who are not of the faith are not conscious of their sin. They may believe they have done some moral wrong, but as to who authored the morality they affirm, they do not yet know Him. There is minimally an awareness of sin among all believers. Still, there is much more. For the genuine believer, there is mourning and weeping for his sin. He despises the log in his own eye and is also grieved by the speck in his brother's. But because of the great mercy shown to him by God he extends his hand to him with the sign of compassion rather than judgment. (see Matthew 7:5) I admit there are times we must speak hard truths to one another. Leaders and those in authority are exhorted to make just judgments between believers. We have at least two examples in Scripture (...

Dear Christian, Do you love the LORD? I mean really love the LORD? This question is the test for every true follower of Christ. And it can be answered with another like it: Do you love your neighbor? I will be honest. There are times I speak unkindly, or at least less than enthusiastically, about even my closest friends. Some of them may be unaware of my disposition to sin, but I hope they are not surprised. I am, after all, in desperate need of grace as a sinner sanctified by God. However, I am ashamed of my behavior when I act according to evil desire, because in my sin against others I know I have really sinned against God. It is the words of John I hear most clearly rebuke me, "If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." It is startling stuff when you read it the f...

Dear Christian, You are not alone. You are not alone in your suffering. You are not alone in your shame. The devil and his army are defeated enemies. They may taunt you today. Yet, they will not prevail. Psalm 143 is ascribed as A Psalm of David. Remember that David was a real person, with real problems. He felt pain and grief, both for his own sins and the sins of others. Second, remember that all the Psalms are prophetic of the Messiah. Whether speaking of Jesus, to Jesus, or as from Jesus, every Psalm rings of the blessedness of our Savior. This Psalm in particular is called My Soul Thirsts for You. Consider first how David is like you, a mere man. Whereas he is elsewhere described as "a man after God's own heart," he is self-described as "a worm and not a man." A righteous man? In one sense, yes. As one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. Nevertheless, he is declared righteous by another who is righteous. Next, consider Jes...