Jesus wants us to experience all of His blessings, so He has gotten this amazing cycle of power started on our behalf. Don’t try to take this out of His hands, but keeping doing what He has empowered you to do.
“An indifference of spirit between truth and error, good and evil, may be called charity and meekness, but it is not pleasing to Christ.” —Matthew Henry, commenting on the Nicolaitians in Revelation 2:6
J. Warner Wallace correctly says, “One non‑negotiable was this: if Jesus is anything less than God, Christianity collapses in all the places that matter most.” He then points to several places in the Bible that unravel if Jesus isn’t God.
“Stand your ground like an anvil under the hammer.” —Ignatius, writing to Polycarp
“Arguments about Scripture achieve nothing but a stomachache and a headache.” —Tertullian
T.M. Moore notes, “In this…question regarding taxes, Jesus laid down a fundamental principle concerning the relationship of human institutions—in this case, government—to the divine economy. He made two important points.” Read more about how Christians are to use the things of culture to glorify God.
Ryan Dembeck reminds us that Christians should have an impeccable work ethic. In this post he says, “Over the years, after hundreds of interviews and conversations, I’ve observed three qualities of people who glorify God in their everyday vocation: resolve in the calling, grit because of joy, and dedication to others’ flourishing.”
Melvin Hodges studied religious revivals throughout history. Even looking at the religious fervor at the dawn of the New Testament church. He said, “The New Testament Church gradually lost the purity and power that characterized her apostolic beginnings, and became adulterated by worldliness, greed and paganism as she increased in numbers and influence. … We dare not ignore the lessons of history.” He identified three characteristics of a declining revival movement: 1) a diminishing hunger for God; 2) a lack of concern for holiness; and 3) the loss of the sense of mission and destiny.
Ever since encountering honeybees as a kid on my grandparents’ farm, I have always been fascinated by these amazing creatures. This new finding adds more reasons to stand appreciate the genius of our Creator! For further proof of the genius of honeybees, check out the mathematical and engineering genius God has given them—
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. Check out the video content in this post by clicking here.
Peter is giving us an important progression of virtues that supercharge our Christian testimony in the world and our ability to encourage fellow saints. We’ve looked at the first four (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control) and now I see a place for a warning.
A saint that is growing in their faith, in their goodness that shows itself as a Christian gentleman or gentlewomen, increasing in their knowledge of the things of God, and staying within the guardrails of self-control is probably starting to get noticed. They are seeing their own growth in maturity, and their old friends are also seeing it. This is a place to be on guard!
I think this is what Jesus described in Mark 4:3-7, 14-19.
A little knowledge can make us proud of what we’ve accomplished and tempt us to run too far ahead before we’re ready. This is the people with shallow roots.
The worries of life can be giving too much attention to what others say or think about us, or how they begin to treat us. We become unfruitful when we pay attention to those things.
Look at our progression in 2 Peter 1:2-6. The Holy Spirit inspired Peter to list perseverance in the perfect place in this progression!
This is called patient endurance in the NLT and steadfastness in the AMPC, but I like to call it stick-to-it-iveness. The Greek word is interesting: hypomone = by (hypo-) + abiding (-meno).
This word for remain or abide appears 11x in John 15:4-11!
Scripture teaches us, but hypomone turns truth into hope (Romans 15:4)
Hypomone keeps me living obediently to God’s Word (Hebrews 10:36; Revelation 14:12)
Hypomone turns the seed of God’s Word into a bountiful harvest (Mark 4:8, 20)
Hypomone keeps me peaceful—and therefore focused on God—during trials (Luke 21:19 AMPC)
When Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin, those leaders could tell they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13b), so too with Stephen (6:15). The virtue that follows perseverance is godliness. Peter has already used this word to describe Jesus (2 Peter 1:3) and so does the Septuagint in Isaiah 11:2.
The Greek word literally means “good worship” because godliness is a lifestyle—a lifestyle of worshipping God and magnifying the immeasurable worth of our Savior!
To fully describe this word, godliness in the NT is typically linked with another attribute:
Remember that make every effort is not my ability to supply myself, but my choice to ask, receive, and apply.
I must make every effort to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to persevere. I must make every effort to be sanctified by the Holy Spirit to display more Christlikeness.
As I add goodness to my faith, and add knowledge to my goodness, and add self-control to my knowledge, and add perseverance to my self-control, and add godliness to my perseverance, people should see in me what John the Baptists desired: He must increase, but I must decrease.
My growth in godliness is best seen by an attitude to persevere to see even more godliness in me.
Check out all of the other messages in this series from 2 Peter called Friends of the Faith.
Even a Wolverine fan can acknowledge the quality leadership lessons that Urban Meyer (the coach of that football team to the south of us) provides in his book Above the Line.You can check out my book review by clicking here.
Below are a few quotes that caught my attention. My Patreon supporters have access to all of the quotes from this book.
“We teach our players, in response to any situation they face, to press pause and ask: What does this situation require of me? Pressing pause gives you time to think. It gets you off autopilot and helps you gain clarity about the outcome you are pursuing, the situation you are experiencing, and the Above the Line action you need to take to achieve the outcome.”
“Under pressure, we do not rise to the occasion. We rise or fall to the level of our training. When contact is made, it is too late to train and build skill.”
“Every team faces some kind of adversity. Mediocre teams are destroyed by it. Good teams survive it. Great teams get better because of it.”
“Resilience is one of life’s most important attributes. Because nobody wants hardship or adversity, but everybody gets it. It’s inevitable. No one escapes pain, fear, or difficulty. In fact, a productive and successful life involves some amount of necessary pain. When it happens, don’t run from it. Learn from it.”
“Performance cannot be declared. It must be led. Great results are initiated and sustained by great leadership. Not just leaders at the top, but leaders at every level.”
“Culture is what leads when no one is watching.”
My Patreon supporters have all of my notes from Above the Line, including the six “R” factors Urban Meyer unpacks in his formula E + R = O.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.
Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet. He pleaded earnestly with Him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put Your hands on her so that she will be healed.” (Mark 5:22-23)
The fact that we know Jairus’ name leads me to believe that he became both a follower of Jesus as Messiah and a part of the Church after Christ’s ascension.
Some might say, “Of course he was a ‘believer’—Jesus raised his little girl from the dead!”
True. But let’s not overlook some the events leading up to this miracle, including the role of an unnamed woman whose apparent interruption may have led to Jairus’ little girl’s death in the first place.
This woman “had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse” (vv. 25-26). Luke, a trained physician himself, adds that she had tried many remedies in her desperation “but no one could heal her” (Luke 8:43).
This desperate woman’s goal was just to touch the fringe of Jesus’ robe. She had no hopes of talking directly to Jesus because in her unclean status, her touch could make Jesus unclean too (Leviticus 15:25-27). This almost assuredly made people treat her as an untouchable leper.
Her touch did indeed provide a miracle for her! The words “immediately” and “at once” (Mark 5:29, 30) are the same Greek word. Jesus and the woman felt it simultaneously—she was healed!
Jesus—who was on His way to heal a dying little girl—stopped in His tracks.
The woman probably tried to melt into the crowd. “But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it” (v. 32). Fearfully, probably still kneeling on the ground, this healed woman told Jesus her full story. Jesus spoke lovingly to her, calling her “daughter” to assure her that it was her faith, and not His clothing, that had healed her.
Meanwhile, as Jairus waited (im)patiently, the news arrives: “There is no need to bother Jesus any longer. Your daughter has died. It’s hopeless. Please come back home.”
Jesus, knowing what the messengers had just shared with Jairus, looked at him and said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Maybe the words of Jesus were even something like, “Don’t be afraid, but just like this healed woman did, believe. Your faith can bring about the same kind of miracle for your daughter.”
As a synagogue leader, perhaps Jairus knew this woman. She would have come to a priest after every treatment and every doctor’s visit to see if she could be pronounced clean. Time after time the verdict was, “Unclean.” It seemed hopeless. And yet just a single faith-filled touch—right before the eyes of Jairus—had brought about a miracle that no one else could accomplish.
I think Jairus could turn his fear into faith because of what he had just witnessed. Without that miracle happening right before his eyes, perhaps his fear would have overwhelmed his faith, just like those who were mourning at Jairus’ house would later laugh at Jesus when He said, “The little girl is not dead but only sleeping” (vv. 39-40).
The faith and boldness of this woman unleashed faith in Jairus!
We can see Jarius’ fear turn to faith in the simple act of allowing Jesus to continue walking with him back to his home. As they approached his home, perhaps Jairus’ wife was angry and distraught that Jairus and Jesus had been so delayed in arriving. But as Jairus took his wife by the hand and said, “I believe Jesus can do something miraculous for our daughter,” his faith also unleashed her faith.
They walked into that bedroom with Jesus and saw their faith rewarded as they received their daughter back from the dead!
Are you facing a situation that seems impossible? Perhaps you have been to doctors and experts but no one can find an answer for you. Maybe you started to approach Jesus, only to be confronted by the cruel facts that what you had hoped for was dead. Or maybe it seems that the arrival of Jesus has been delayed for so long that there is no longer any need to seek His help.
If your fear is greater than your faith at this time, you can look to these examples recorded for us in the Scripture. Perhaps you can even look back in your own history, or the history of your family, to see a miraculous example.
There’s another great reason for you to continue to trust in Jesus. Just as the unclean woman sought an answer for years, the moment of her miracle was the moment faith was renewed in those who saw her healing. As you continue to seek your miracle, know that God’s timing is perfect. Your answer will come at the perfect moment to unleash faith in another wavering heart.
Keep believing in faith. Keep trusting in Jesus. Keep expecting your miracle.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. Check out the video content in this post by clicking here.
When I would be struggling with stick-to-it-iveness, my Mom would say to me, “Anything worth having is worth working for.” From a young age, she was encouraging me to grind through the tough work to get to the payoff on the other side.
This is a great leadership principle, not only for leaders but for the teams they lead as well. Check out this clip where Greg and I talk about the grind necessary to achieve greatness.
You can watch the full Craig and Greg Show episode where we discuss how the leadership builder of resilience can keep at bay the leadership killer of resignation.
My book When Sheep Bite will help pastors who are trying to grind through the painful experience of biting sheep. This book has helped so many pastors see the factors that led up to the bite, the biblical responses to bites, and the resilience we can discover to help these shepherd leaders stay faithful to God’s calling. Check it out!
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. Check out the video content in this post by clicking here.
An insidious killer may be stalking your organization. As you look around at your team some of them may have already resigned. They might be showing up every day, but mentally and spiritually they have already quit trying. Join Greg and I as we discuss how resignation can creep in, and how your example of resilience can help stave it off.
Greg and I have co-authored the first book in our new series Business By The Book. Get your copy today.
[0:00] Introduction
[1:07] Resigning isn’t as obvious as someone saying, “I quit!”
[1:55] The attitude of resignation starts way before someone begins their work career.
[4:20] As a leader, is there value in telling people your story of grit? Does that encourage teammates or does it discourage them?
[6:14] Is resilience innate or learned or both?
[8:12] Resilience is often a grind, but it pays huge dividends for those who will stick with it. I share a conversation he had with an NBA player.
[11:08] Greg shares examples of two professional athletes who demonstrated resilience, as well as his own resilience on the football field.
[14:02] Leaders need to push themselves farther and not give themselves an “out.” This is how they show resilience as an encouragement for others.
[15:56] Greg shares how he transitioned an organization from a quiet culture to a hungry culture. I then share how I have helped others become hungry and resilient.
[18:08] Tough times are going to come to every individual and every organization. Leaders need to help prepare themselves and their teams.
[19:53] Is there a time for resigning? I think it’s possible that resigning is sometimes a healthy resilience.
[23:13] Greg shares a quote about resilience being a gift.
[25:01] Leaders are a gift to their entire organization when they are resilient.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible. Check out the video content in this post by clicking here.
A storm is coming. What are you going to do: brace for it or run for cover?
“Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail.”
I also mentioned a previous related blog post entitled Faith Over Fear.
One of the storms many leaders face is the attack from those whom they lead. I address this topic extensively—and a better alternative to a fight-or-flight response—in my book When Sheep Bite.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.
Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (James 1:3).
Dr. Henry Halley noted, “Perseverance here transcends the idea of bearing affliction; it includes the idea of standing fast under pressure, with a staying power that turns adversities into opportunities.” The opportunity is to allow my life to be valuable currency for my King to use for His pleasure and purpose.
The Greek word for “testing” has several aspects to it, but all of them point to this truth: God desires purity, and He is the final Judge on the value of my purity. It has been said that the only faith that can be trusted is a faith that has been tested—and passed the test!
James in this verse, and Peter in 1 Peter 1:7, are the only New Testament writers to use the Greek word dokimion, which means testing for purity and genuineness.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. (1 Peter 1:7 NLT)
These verses insist that God has a loving and specific purpose in His refining process. The Septuagint uses dokimion when David declares the absolute purity—and the standard of all purity—that is found in God’s Word: The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times (Psalm 12:6).
James says this purifying process “produces perseverance.” Paul takes this a step further in saying that perseverance produces character (Romans 5:4). This word for character is the word from which dokimion comes: dokime. This is defined as a proven character, or having received the the stamp of approval from God. Paul uses this word again…
Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand thetest and be obedient in everything. (2 Corinthians 2:9)
But you know [Timothy’s] proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. (Philippians 2:22)
All of this testing and refining and proving is to make me valuable for God’s use, and to be one who points others to Him.
Dokime comes from dokimos, which James uses this way: “Having stood the test” (James 1:12). Other translations of this phrase read:
When he has been approved (NKJV)
The man who doesn’t give in (TLB)
Proven to be genuine (NET)
Dokime means beings pleasing, acceptable, and valuable to God and men. It is money of undiminished value—currency of the highest purity. Just as monarchs would have their image stamped into the metal of the official coinage of their realm, the stamp of approval on my life comes from God but is seen by men and valued by men—
Because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval (Romans 14:18).
Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test (Romans 16:10).
For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends (2 Corinthians 10:18).
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
This is why I must “consider it pure joy” (James 1:2) when God puts me through His purifying process. He sees value in me that is not yet currency that can be placed into circulation. He wants my life to be spendable for His glory, so He loving removes anything that would diminish His image being seen in the currency of my life.
As the Christmas hymn captures: “Adam’s likeness now efface; stamp Thine image in its place”!
Make me valuable and useful for You, my King. Purify me and put me into circulation for Your glory.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run withPERSEVERANCEthe race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him HeENDUREDthe Cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who ENDUREDsuch opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
The words perseverance (v. 1) and endured (2x in vv. 2-3) are all the Greek word hupomone. This word means: not swayed from the goal, not hesitating to run the race, pushing forward no matter what.
These three verses also identify three thing that could trip us up:
Sin. Not just blatant sin, but any area where I am hesitating to respond to the Holy Spirit.
Shame. Paying attention to how I look in the eyes of others, and then feeling ashamed that I don’t measure up to their standard.
Opposition. The attacks from the devil and his willing agents.
Fortunately, this same passage also tells us the three ways to avoid these trip-ups:
Throw off the sin! Make the changes the Holy Spirit has shown me—do it immediately.
Keep my eyes on Jesus. After all, it doesn’t matter what anyone else things of me. If I keep my eyes on my Savior, I can be fueled by the same joy that kept Him from getting tripped up.
Consider the opposition. The Greek word for “opposition” is literally a combination of “anti” and “logic.” The opposition has opinions that are illogical, but I have the logical Truth in Jesus!
No regression. No hesitation. Only upward and onward every single day!
“When you teach a child writing, you hold its hand while it forms the letters: that is, it forms the letters because you are forming them. We love and reason because God loves and reasons and holds our hand while we do it.” —C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
“I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.” —Florence Nightingale
“Be like the brave Spartan who would never lose his shield, but would come home either with it or on it. ‘Cast not away your confidence.’ You trusted in God in those early days, and nothing seemed to daunt you then. ‘Cast not away your confidence.’ Rather, get more to add to it. Let there be no thought of going back, but may there rather be a distinct advance!” —Charles Spurgeon, commenting on Hebrews 10:34-35
“Nobody can imagine how nothing could turn into something. Nobody can get an inch nearer to it by explaining how something could turn into something else. It is really far more logical to start by saying ‘In the beginning God created heaven and earth’ even if you only mean ‘In the beginning some unthinkable power began some unthinkable process.’” —G.K. Chesterton
Jesus wants us to experience all of His blessings, so He has gotten this amazing cycle of power started on our behalf. Don’t try to take this out of His hands, but keeping doing what He has empowered you to do.
