“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you… You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.” (Lev. 25:35-38, emphasis added)

In commanding them not to exact interest on loans to their poor brothers, God reminded his people under the Law of Moses to mirror his own generosity. He had given them the land of promise—and plenty more besides—and he asked them to live similarly toward each other.

In Jesus’ sermon in Luke 6, he makes a similar requirement of his disciples. “Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back” (Luke 6: 30, emphasis added). He commands us to give—to do good—not so we expect repayment either now or int the future, but simply because we can do good. It is an attitude of grace and generosity that mirrors the grace and generosity of God both under the Law of Moses and since the time of Christ.

We would do well to put these principles to work toward our families first. Give some deep and honest consideration to the following questions. How much are you willing to GIVE for your family? Are you willing to do good when it goes unnoticed? What about when it is rejected? What about when family members hate you for doing what is right? Will you continue?

How much are you willing to GIVE for your family? Are you willing to be wronged when you’ve done right? Are you willing to forfeit your rights and pleasures for someone else’s best interest? Are you willing to love or respect your spouse more than yourself or your children? Are you willing to love your children by putting their needs above your own? And are you willing to do all of it without demanding to be repaid for the good that you have done?

Don’t keep your family members in debt to you. Just be a giver. And in doing so, you will teach them what God has already done for all of us.

- Dan Lankford, minister

Faith necessarily has blind spots in it. That is why we cannot walk by faith and by sight at the same time (2 Cor. 5:7). But there is a surprising amount of evidence for believing in Christ. This past week, we enjoyed a great series of lectures on the evidences for a designer that can be found in the natural world. Those evidences bolster our faith, and I hope that you found them both helpful and enjoyable.

Take a moment to consider another interworking of evidence and faith. Just as evidence of intelligent design drives us to believe in a designer, evidence of spiritual deliverance drives us to follow a Deliverer!

James 2:17 tells us that “faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” That is not to say that works will justify anyone before God, but it is to say that faith simply isn’t faith unless it is active and obedient faith. It is this kind of faith which I believe must also be based on evidence—the evidence of deliverance. Every single time that God has told his people to behave in a particular way by faith, it has been best for them. Every single time God has made a promise to his people, he has kept it. Every single time that God has explained a situation in a  way that seemed incorrect to men, God has been right. Every single time a challenge has arisen against God, he has overcome it. Every single time he has attempted to give life, he has had the ability to do it.

Though it is perhaps not the kind of evidence of which we normally think, all the occasions upon which God has proven himself faithful ought to give us ample reason to trust him and to simply do what he says. If he has made it work in the past, do we not believe he will make it work in the future? We trust that the sun will rise every morning simply because we have seen it do so without fail for so long. The evidence of its history compels us to believe such. Does the evidence of God’s history not compel us even more to believe in him and to act in complete faith—to walk by that, and not by sight?
 

- Dan Lankford, mininster

This week, as I logged into Netflix, the ad you see to the right popped up for a show they’ve recently added. The blurb was what really caught my attention: “What if you knew somebody with the tricks, tips, and shortcuts for getting the results you want in life? Now you do.”

The internet is awash with marginal ads for similar stuff. Ads that promise “one easy trick to lose 50 lbs. fast,” or “the secret tip banks don’t want you to know to get rid of your debt,” or “this 1-minute conversation will change your kids’ behavior forever.” It reveals our insatiable need for instant gratification when you consider that just a few years ago, ads for workout plans touted, “just 15 minutes per day for 30 days,” and now they try to sell on the promises of 3-6 minutes per day for only two weeks.

I’ve seen various “hacks” online, and I’ve used them here and there to make my own life a little easier (this old one is pretty cool). I’m not opposed to learning better ways to do the tasks of life. But I do have a serious problem with believing that easy tips, tricks, and hacks are the way “for getting the results you want in life.”

The Holy Spirit says, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall” (2 Pet. 1:10). The need for diligence tells us the process of true Christian life will not be a quick and easy hack—it will take work. And this should not surprise us; those who are great at anything make a habit of dilligence and discipline in their chosen pursuits. Harry S. Truman said, "In reading the lives of great men, I found that they first victory they won was over themselves. Self-discipline, with all of them, came first."

The reason I thought to write this article in the first place was because the Netflix blurb just sounded so overstated. “Really? We’re just gonna blatantly say that ‘hacks’ are the way to get all you want out of life?” When Christians read anything that promises you can “get all you want out of life,” and it isn’t talking about Jesus, that should jump off the page at us. Promises like that will cause some serious mental friction for those who truly have faith in God through Christ. I do not mean to say that various hacks are completely useless, but I do mean to unequivocally proclaim that if you're looking to them for "all you want out of life," it won't work.

One quick conversation doesn’t make well-behaved children—long-term, consistent training does. A certain type of schooling won't guarantee your children's superior intellect—teaching them to be disciplined students will. Bible software doesn’t make a skilled preacher—disciplined study of the Word of God does. Reading one business book won’t make you CEO of a Fortune 500 company—that takes a disciplined work ethic. There is no quick fix to becoming debt-free and independently wealthy—it takes disciplined spending & saving habits. There is no “one easy trick” that will bring about a deep, soul-mate kind of connection and a vibrant sex life in your marriage—it takes time and effort to humbly meet each others’ needs. One quick burst of exercise does not create rippling muscles and Olympic strength—it takes consistent, hard work to train the body and bring it into subjection to the will.

And there is simply no “hack” to being a disciple of Jesus Christ—it takes total devotion, hard work, sacrificial living, and long-term discipline. Because of this, there will never be enough "hacks" to get the results you want in life. It's not that easy. It's not meant to be. But it is doable, by the grace of God. Dilligence and discipline to seek true righteousness will bring us closer and closer to being holy as our heavenly Father is holy.

- Dan Lankford, minister

Every leader must be a follower of something. Franchise owners follow corporate policies. School administrators & teachers follow standards from boards of education. Judges take oaths to strictly follow and administer the imperatives of law.

As many writers have observed, Christians are called to a life of leadership by the very nature of our calling—to lead the world to Christ, to lead by example of integrity, and to lead the world in applying the Biblical principles of diligence, courage, and love. In all this leadership, however, we have a higher calling to be followers. The call of Christian faith is to follow the commands & the example of Jesus as thoroughly as is possible. It is this call to follow that wholly defines us, teaching us to lead just as Christ would lead.

Following him means devotion to understanding his word. It means continually reading our Bibles, asking good questions, and most importantly, doing whatever we find in its pages. When God speaks of our attitude toward obnoxious neighbors—“love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8)—we follow his will. When God speaks about how we should not use alcohol—“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery” (Eph. 5:18)—we follow his will. When God speaks of how our churches are led—“put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you” (Titus 1:5)—we follow his will.

Jesus plainly said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV). How much do you love Jesus? How much do you actually know about the Bible and his commandments found there? How much of your life are you devoting to following him? If you want to be a leader as a Christian, you need to look at some of the hard answers to these questions. If you want to be a leader as a Christian, are you following Christ as fully as possible?

- Dan Lankford, minister

One of my preaching mentors wrote: “I have been with my current congregation for 18 years. On my first Sunday in the pulpit, I promised the church that I would never stand before them unprepared. I believe I can say with integrity that I have kept that promise. Could I ‘wing it’ after three and a half decades of preaching? Yes, I could. But I would know, and God would know…”

How does he do that? He simply works diligently enough all the time to be prepared at any time. That perspective is one which he did his best to instill in me, and I am willing to make the same promise to my church family at Eastland. I will never stand before them unprepared.

That perspective is obviously noble when it applies to preaching. It also makes for a great perspective on living. Jesus said, “the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt. 24:44). In the course of the next chapter, he went on to give five reasons why his followers must work diligently enough all the time to be ready at any time. He asks us not to stand before Him unprepared.

I think sometimes we imagine that the end of our time will come like the end of Paul’s time. We will see our end on the horizon and be able to calmly say, “I have fought the good fight… there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). But Paul’s circumstance was unique. He was a prisoner, facing the death penalty. Paul could see his end coming. We are not likely to find ourselves in that same situation, but we can live with such diligence that we are ready even today to say, “I have fought the good fight… there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.”

That same preaching mentor was wont to say, “Sunday will come every week, whether you’re ready or not.” It only took about 1 month of full-time preaching before I realized how right he was.

Take this simple reminder to heart: The final day will come once (Heb. 9:27), whether you’re ready or not.

Be diligent to be ready… today.

- Dan Lankford, minister

When it comes to our desires to do the will of God, I believe most believers wish for the kind of devotion of which the psalmist spoke:

“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” 
(Ps. 40:8)

But it would not surprise me to learn that many believers more frequently do what is right out of a sense of duty—because we have committed to follow Christ and want to keep our commitment. Or out of a sense of fear—because we are afraid to be lost. While I do not believe either of these motivations is inherently wrong (there are times when they are both used as motivators in the NT), I do believe that as we mature, our motivations for serving God should also mature. As we grow in our faith and our character improves, our desires for what is right should grow as well.

A preaching friend of mine recently commented on the idea that a shepherd “has to desire the position.” He said, “The first qualification is not that a man wants it. If you are a mature Christian… If you’re convicted… You’re supposed to want this. We are in an army, and if you have the ability to lead, it is cowardice to say, ‘Oh, I don’t want to do that.’ Please understand that maturity means I am willing to step up and fulfill the role that the congregation needs. If you’re not qualified, work toward stepping into this role. This is mature Christianity.”

The same principle applies across the whole of a Christian’s character. Whether they are young or old, whether they are male or female; mature Christians desire to do the good that others need, and they desire to serve God from the depths of the heart. We should be the kind of people who long to serve God, who enjoy what is good, and who delight in making choices that honor God whether anyone notices or not. This kind of "want to" is what we hope to accomplish.

But, it is almost always an excercise in futility to tell others how they should feel. The reality is that it so rarely actually works. We don't usually just decide to feel happy and then feel it. However, we do learn to feel more inclined toward the characteristics & activities of maturity when we think mature thoughts. For example, when we think about the benefits of managing our money well, we learn to desire the choices that get us out of debt or build our portfolios. When we think about the benefits of staying healthy, we learn to desire more healthy food and a more active lifestyle. When we think about the benefits of having a thriving family, we learn to desire the time we spend reading our children's favorite stories or playing with them.

That's why the Bible's perspective on Christianity is more than just saying, "You should want to be godly." The Holy Spirit essentially tells us, "When you think about how good this gospel plan truly is, you can't help but want it!"

I understand that it rarely does much good to tell someone how to feel, but it does do good to tell us how to think. “Let those of us who are mature think this way” (Phil. 3:15). I believe that the more we learn to align our thinking with God's thinking, the more our desires will fall in line with his. The more we think about holiness, the more we will desire to live holy lives. The more we think about salvation, the more we will desire to teach the gospel to the lost. The more we think about service, the more we will desire to be servants—not bosses—in our families, our communities, and our churches.

Let us think often about how good it truly is to serve God! And let us be glad for the opportunity to glorify him and bless others!

DL

In an election season, it is certainly prudent for believers to be aware of our country’s political climate. This past week, many believers were sorely disappointed by Dr. Ben Carson’s surprising decision to endorse a presidential candidate who so obviously resists his political ideals and his moral standards. Since a great deal has already been said in the news this week, I will not repeat it here. But I would like to offer this piece of biblical perspective:

“Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not 
turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!” (Psa. 40:4)

In any season of life, it is crucial that God’s people put their trust in God above all others. That we find our assurance in God above all others. That we seek peace and security in God above all others. Because the harsh reality is that people will let us down. It has always happened, and it will continue to happen as long as we have weaknesses.

Your spouse will let you down. Your dream car will break down. Your favorite coach will make a mistake. Your favorite TV star will fail at some point. Your perfect church family will eventually face disappointment from some source—maybe you. The greatest doctor money can buy will not save everyone. Your insurance company cannot always be there for every eventuality you face. And the leaders of the country’s government—an organization instituted by God (Rom. 13:1) but run by mankind—will let you down.

There is one hope that truly provides the “Blessed Assurance” written about long ago. That one hope is the Lord God. While people are too finite to be perfectly dependable, God is simply too big to fail. Everything else that promises absolute security—no matter how bold the claims may be—is, at best, a well-intentioned lie. “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!” (Psalm 40:4)
 

- Dan Lankford, minister

This week's Family Report featured an entry from Gary Henry's excellent devotional book, "Diligently Seeking God." While I do my best to write a considerable amount of material for our church family to think about, this was simply too good not to share. I hope you are blessed by it.

- Dan Lankford, minister

“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’”  (Luke 9:23)

In our effort to live in consistent obedience to our Heavenly Father, we sometimes try to make it easier than it can ever be in this life. We suppose that there must exist some state of holiness where right conduct has become automatic. Yet no such state exists. As G. Campbell Morgan cleverly put it, “Holiness is not the inability to sin, but ability not to sin.” Obedience is never anything less than a choice on our part, and we may as well face the fact that the choice will sometimes be very hard.

There are certainly means by which we can minimize the number of hard moments that come our way. It would be foolish not to do all we can to establish godly habits and patterns of obedience in our lives. When we do this, we gain the advantage of a “momentum” that is going in the right direction. But there will be a certain number of hard moments that still have to be faced, and it’s precisely at these moments that we find out how much commitment to God we really have. If we only obey when the momentum is favorable, what kind of commitment is that?

We should not be so foolish as to underestimate the devil’s diligence. If we ever did get to the point where we could turn our backs on the common temptations with relative ease, our adversary would simply up the ante and hit us with harder choices. Until we’re on the other side and out of his reach, the Evil One is not going to give up on us. It’s naive to look for some stage up ahead where saying “No” to him will have become so easy as to be automatic.

Modern avionics are such that today’s aircraft will, for all practical purposes, fly themselves. In the spiritual realm, however, there is no such thing as an autopilot that will take the hard work out of decision-making. Obedience will always require moment-by-moment choices. Even those who live a long time and make much spiritual progress face this reality: there is never anything more than a decision standing between us and obedience.

“Jesus did not say, ‘Come to me and get it over with.’ He said, ‘If any man would come after me, let him take up his cross daily and follow me.’ Daily is the key word.” -Louis Cassels

Showing love is a risky endeavor. What if it is rejected? What if I do it wrong? What if it is accepted, but not returned? It is much easier to play it safe and choose not to show any love, but not to show any rejection either. If we are reserved with our efforts to love another person, then at least we risk less disappointment and pain. And so perhaps we do not speak too highly of our loved ones for fear they may think it strange. Perhaps we do not show physical affection to our spouses because we fear it is the wrong timing. Perhaps we decide not to give up our free time for other members of the church because they may not appreciate the sacrifices we’re really making.

But is this the Christian way? Is it our responsibility to watch out for ourselves and keep ourselves insulated from risk and from pain? Quite the opposite, Christian love is meant to mirror the love of Christ—a man who did not insulate himself in any way from damage that others could do to him by rejecting his passionate attempts to help. Even in his earliest teachings, he told that those who show love to the world will be persecuted (Matt. 5:11-12). There is an inherent risk in the way that we love others, and there must be a risk or it is not the kind of true, sacrificial love of which Jesus spoke. Only that kind of love—love without reserve—truly imitates him in his nature and his purpose.

Practically speaking, this means if you know the best way to love someone, do it. Say the words they most desire to hear, go to the places they need you to go, make the sacrifices they need you to make… even if you’re putting yourself at risk of rejection by all of it. This is the very definition of humility. It is not just that we think of ourselves as lowly, although there is that aspect of humility, to be sure. More than that, it is that we make the decisions necessary to risk—and even sacrifice—self in whatever situation we can for the sake of someone else! Can you love the people in your life like Christ loves us?

- Dan Lankford, minister

In just six days, God brought the universe into existence by the power of his words. On the seventh day—the very first Saturday, God himself took a day of rest. This Saturday of rest became a pattern for the people of God through the time of Moses, David, and into the time of Christ.

However, when Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week, Sunday suddenly became an exceedingly special day to Jesus’ disciples—those who believe the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in him. His resurrection makes every Sunday a day of crucial importance for Christians.

On Sunday, we honor Christ. Above all else. We celebrate the coming of God's light into this world. We rejoice in the power of his light that could not be overcome by the darkness of death. We worship God as the source of all creation and the source of our new creation in Jesus Christ. We listen intently for his word; wanting to know all we can about his nature and our responsibility toward him. We honor him as our Lord with adoration and song and humble obedience from the heart. On Sunday, we honor Christ.

On Sunday, we spend time with family. When Jesus was told that his mother and brothers had come, he plainly taught that his true family are those who need him, who follow him, and who obey him. The same is true of us. We are brothers and sisters with each other because of our common connection with him. Christians of all eras have understood the tremendous value of fellow Christians in their lives. Especially in view of the facts of Sunday—that Christ was raised and that we will be raised together with him. We need these connections, and we get to enjoy them on Sunday.

And on Sunday, we look forward to heaven. Because of the resurrection of Christ—because light was not overcome by darkness, we have hope firmly set in the presence of God in heaven. And it is not the kind of hope that world gives. That kind of hope can disappoint. The kind of hope we have is an anchor for our souls. It keeps us focused. It reminds us to be joyful. It gives us strength to see the light even when it seems most dim. This hope makes us long for more Sundays here, but even more than that, it makes us long for our own resurrection—when we can forever be with the Lord!

- Dan Lankford, evangelist