I Doubt You REALLY Believe in God

If 83% of people believe in God, then why do we have so much crime and immorality? Shouldn’t their belief impact their behavior and communities? – Clint Decker

83% of U.S. adults believe in God, according to a Pew Research article published this year. Despite numbers declining over the decades, it is still very high. During 30+ years of ministry in rural areas throughout the Great Plains, I have met many people who are a part of the 83%. Regulars at the local bar, businessmen, county jail inmates, greeters at the church, friendly neighbors across the street and politicians - they all believe in God. (Image by Freepik)

I have an honest question. If that many people believe in God, then why do we have so much crime and immorality? I think I have a point. Should not this belief make a difference in people’s lives, impacting their behavior and thereby their communities?

If I am right, then we are left to conclude one thing. There must be a misunderstanding about what it really means to believe in God.

The Bible is the original source for understanding the whole idea of belief in God. It did not originate from a pollster or rise from philosophical thought. A casual reading of the Bible reveals where it came from. The famous John 3:16 states this idea, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Additionally, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (Jn. 6:35) Then in another place, a man is told to, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31)

When we look at what the Bible says on the subject of belief, five truths surface. 1) Believing in God is synonymous with a belief in Jesus. Since He is God’s Son, to refuse to belief in Jesus becomes a pointless belief, for Jesus said, “And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (Jn. 12:45) 2) Believing in God is the recognition of Jesus, and accepting by faith His deity, virgin birth, death and resurrection, though you may not understand it all. 3) Believing in God is to trust in Jesus, meaning you are willing to entrust your whole life into His care and come under His authority. 4) Believing in God is to follow Jesus, meaning you are willing to do what Jesus and His Word says, no matter the cost—even unto death. 5) Believing in God is union with Jesus, meaning Christ is in you and you are in Him.

Too often when someone says, “I believe in God”, they are talking about an intellectual belief, or more accurately, it could be called an “acknowledgement.” They acknowledge God’s existence, and some details about who He is. And the same could be said about Jesus. This type of strange belief is far away from the Bible’s correct understanding of it.

People like the 83% were directly addressed in the Bible, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.” (James 2:19) The Devil himself and the demons of hell acknowledge the existence of God, but they go no further. They refuse to accept the supreme authority of Christ and come under His Lordship. They refuse to turn from their sin and place their full trust in Jesus. They refuse to reorder their life according to the ways of God.

The belief most have is a mere acknowledgement which does not lead to a changed life and a moral transformation, where the old has gone, the new has come because of the Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Today, move past a mere acknowledgement of Jesus and embrace a full-on, radical belief in Christ. Go beyond the superficial words of religion, and by faith, yield yourself totally to Him.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray you will bring people to move past the acknowledgements of Christ, and to a true biblical belief in you. May they humble themselves and come under your Lordship and follow you as their supreme authority in all areas of their life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Admit it. None Of Us Are Good Enough

Millions are convinced the good things they have done for the church, others, or their efforts at trying to do right, should mean something to God. – Clint Decker

Jesus once told a story about two men who went to pray. One was a high standing religious man, while the other was a despised tax collector that had extorted money from many. The religious man prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” (Luke 18:11-12, Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay)

However, the other man prayed much differently. “The tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” (Lk. 18:13)

Jesus was widely known for telling stories. They were not told just to entertain, illustrate nor to communicate some generic spiritual truth. Instead, they often had a hidden or very direct meaning. His stories (parables) would point out evil in the hearts of some in His audience which revealed God’s judgement upon them.

His story began with this statement of explanation “[Jesus]…told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt.” (Lk. 18:9) Then the story concluded with Jesus saying, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk.18:14)

The differences between the two men are clear. The religious man saw himself as a good person because of the good things he did. He was not like everyone else. He was better. Meanwhile, the tax collector saw himself as nothing. There was anguish in his soul, while shamefully admitting all the wrongs he had done. He believed he was so undeserving of God’s forgiveness that he felt he could do nothing but plead for His mercy.

Today, there are millions just like this religious man. Multitudes feel good about themselves because of their efforts at doing good things. They counter the wrongs they have done with imaginary moral insurance to soothe their conscience. They are convinced the good things they have done for the church or others, or upright moral behaviors they have tried to live by, should be pleasing and acceptable before God.

And like the religious man, they view themselves as better than the other guy, or even better than they once were. They are not like the drug dealers, like the ones convicted for indecent liberties with a child or like the slimy and corrupt politicians. They see “those people” as the ones who need help, not themselves.

These attitudes are dangerous! They produce an annoying and obnoxious sense of pride that rouses the anger of God. He hates it! This is why the spirit of the tax collector pleased God. Because he had a humble heart. He recognized the true condition of his soul, “None is righteous, no, not one…no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:11,12) The tax collector could have pointed to some good things he did in his life, but he chose not to. His sin. His failure before God was so overwhelming, he could not. One million good things could never wash away the dirtiness of his eternal soul. He believed that his only option was to plead for the mercy of God and hope He would hear and respond.

Praise God! This story from Jesus, points to His glorious cross. For the prideful, God will give them what they deserve, but for the humble of heart, He will graciously grant them what they do not deserve. His unmerited kindness will grant complete and total forgiveness for all their wrongs.

Walk in the humble spirit of the tax collector, call out for God’s mercy upon your soul. Then because of Jesus death and resurrection, freedom will be yours.

A prayer for you – Lord God, examine our hearts. If we have an ounce of pride, point it out that we might turn from it. And let us have the spirit of the tax collector. Bring us to humble ourselves before you and plead for your mercy upon our souls. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What Are You Searching For?

What burden are you carrying? If you want to find the peace you have been searching for, it is found in a person. Jesus. – Clint Decker

There are millions of people carrying heavy burdens across our world. They cannot sleep at night and wake up tired. They have regular appointments with their counselors. Their attempts at hobbies and exercise are strategies to find relief. What burden are you carrying? If you want to find the peace you have been searching for, it is found in a person – Jesus. (Image by Freepik)

Once He was invited to dinner at a religious leader’s home. Other leaders also came, and together they sat down at the table and began visiting. Jesus’ fame as a preacher had risen quickly, so word had spread where He was. A certain prostitute who was impacted by Jesus and His ministry learned of His whereabouts. She made her way into the house and found herself standing before Jesus and the other guests. She stood without saying a word, then began weeping. So much, that her tears fell on Jesus’ feet. Seeing that, she bent down and began wiping the tears off with her hair.

During the whole process, the religious leaders were incensed at the woman and Jesus. Noticing this, Jesus spoke to the dinner host and addressed his attitude toward her, then eventually turned back to the woman and said, “Your sins are forgiven.” (Luke 7:48) That incensed the leaders even more. Then He spoke one final word before she humbly slipped out, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:50)

This prostitute was looking for something, just like all those preachers in that room, along with all the people in her city, and those like you and me. Her life’s search took her into prostitution, but for others it goes in different directions.

When the prostitute heard of Jesus, something awakened in her that no doubt said, “This is it!” And she overcame the barriers before her to get to Jesus and when she got there, He did not disappoint her.

She found forgiveness for all the wrong she had done! The guilt and shame she had been trying to outrun was finally washed away. How did that happen? Faith. Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you.”

It was her faith that provided forgiveness. It is interesting to note, what Jesus did not say. He did not say anything about religion, morality, goodness or education. Just faith. He did not refer to anything about personal willpower, having a positive attitude, perseverance or working hard. Just faith. And what is faith? It was her belief, trust and confidence in Jesus.

We are all naturally wired to be independent and achieve. We want to earn what we have. Our culture is set up that way, from our parents and high school coaches to our professors and bosses. “Work hard and succeed,” is what we are told. Faith in Jesus is opposite. This woman simply had faith, and her life was instantly transformed. She believed Jesus was the Son of God. She believed she had done wrong and needed forgiveness. She trusted that Jesus had the power to forgive. She was confident Jesus was sufficient for all she needed.

Then Jesus said, “go in peace.” No doubt the immoral life she had led weighed on her. She not only needed forgiveness, but peace. Often the foolish things we do cause great amounts of stress and anxiousness. In one moment, her simple faith brought forgiveness and peace. Lay your burden down at the feet of Jesus. Have faith in Him.

A prayer for you - Lord God, I pray you will help people to end their search. Bring them to lay down their burden at the cross, and find forgiveness and peace in Christ through simple faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Tonight, Your Soul is Required of You

As we talked to person after person, we witnessed how the disaster became a pivotal moment toward the real priorities in life. – Clint Decker

Have you ever read The Parable of the Rich Fool? It is an ancient story Jesus once told. Crowds would often follow Him, and people would ask questions. A young man once asked Jesus to get involved in a personal matter and make his brother divide the family inheritance with him. In response, Jesus made a profound statement, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15, image by Freepik)

Jesus laid His finger on the real issue with the young man. He loved the “stuff” of life too much.

Jesus illustrated His point with a story. He told about a wealthy farmer that had a tremendous harvest. As a result, the farmer said to himself, “‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” (Lk. 12:17-19) But in the midst of his reasoning, Jesus tells the crowd how God spoke to him saying, “‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Lk. 12:20-21)

The story communicated that life is more than the possessions we own. Jesus effectively made the point when He told how the farmer was confronted with his own mortality, and how that all he worked for and owned would stay behind when he entered eternity.

My wife and I witnessed the devastating losses people faced following one of the worst hurricanes in American history. While doing relief work, we saw families who lost everything. All their possessions were suddenly ripped away. As we talked to person after person, we witnessed how the disaster became a pivotal moment toward the real priorities in life.

Why wait to discover this when facing a crisis? Our stuff can sometimes become a distraction. As a result, we may live for today and neglect tomorrow, or in other words, live for what is important to us, rather than what is important to God.

Maybe we do not live for God because we do not know Him. The farmer got a wakeup call to that when God declared, “This night your soul is required of you.” Since He has power over life and death and the present and future, we ought to heed His warning. Let us make knowing God through Jesus our highest priority.

A prayer for you - Creator God, we are sorry we have made things more important than people. We are sorry we have put more trust in the things of this life, rather than you. Take our heart. Wash it clean of all our sin. Become the number one priority in our life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Gambling Away Your Paycheck

Gambling is portrayed as a fun recreational activity that also provides needed public funding for education or other worthy causes. It is deceptively framed as good for society, but at its core gambling is a morally wretched vice. – Clint Decker

“Until my mid-30s, I went to casinos every now and then, maybe once a year. It was fun. But then…” This is the story of a single mom with two kids who was working as a medical professional but had a severe gambling problem. She managed to do it okay until a life crisis, then she started gambling more. Then with the rush of an occasional win, she would go deeper. (Image by Freepik)

During her lowest points, she writes, “I spent a six-figure court settlement in the span of three months and lived in seven places in less than a year. I dated men and essentially had sex for money so that I could continue to gamble. It got to the point where every time I drove back to the casino, I’d think about ways I could hurt myself. The wanting to die consumed me. I thought, ‘If I win, I’ll live. If I don’t, then I can always commit suicide.’ I tried to commit suicide three times.”

Nerd Wallet found that in 2023, 62% of Americans engaged in some form of gambling. In 2024, people forked out $172 billion dollars of their paychecks and retirement savings at casinos, on sports betting, scratch-off lottery tickets and other forms of gambling. Today, the scale of gambling is at a level like never before due to technology and public acceptance.

The gambling industry in partnership with government and business conspired together to produce a masterful public relations strategy. Together they portray gambling as a fun recreational activity that also provides needed public funding for education or other worthy causes. Consequently, it is deceptively framed as good for society, so it is given more access and acceptability. And through it all, the church remains silent.

On the surface it all seems innocent, but at its core gambling is a morally wretched vice. This evil is built on a flashy, well-orchestrated scheme of stealing. Mesmerized by the “get-rich-quick” idea, gamblers give the card dealer, the convenience store clerk or the online website their hard-earned money in return for a false hope, or an occasional jackpot.

This devilish vice is destroying millions of lives. One report I read stated that gambling costs the American economy $14 billion dollars annually, that includes court and healthcare costs along with credit losses to businesses due to gamblers unpaid debts and more. Additionally, gambling can lead to job losses, bankruptcies, fraud, depression, suicide, alcohol and drug abuse. Do you get the picture? Ask any family member of someone who has a gambling problem if they think gambling is just a harmless recreational activity that is for the good of the economy and jobs.

The Scripture is spot on when it comes to gambling saying, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:10). The love of money drives this evil of gambling, and its misplaced love has caused people to wander away from their jobs, families and God.

Stop saying, “Just one more time,” or “Just a little bit more.” Admit you have a problem and need help. And the first person you need to go to, is God. He is waiting for you to turn to Him. He sent Jesus to die and rise again for you. However, your love for money and “the rush” from gambling has pushed Him aside. If things remain as they are, then one day you will have to answer to God for what you are doing. But there is still time, and according to His grace and mercy, He offers you forgiveness through the cross of His beloved Son. Receive Him now. Then after you do, look up Gamblers Anonymous to get the additional help you need.

A prayer for you – Lord God, open the eyes of the public to see the dangers of gambling. Let them see the harm it is doing to people’s lives. I pray as well for those caught in its grasp. Deliver them this day. Do a miracle and rescue someone from its tentacles through the power of Jesus. In His name. Amen.

The Fight for Justice

Everyone, it seems, is passionately declaring this or that as just or unjust. It can be confusing. We must be wise and discerning and not easily deceived in our fight for justice. – Clint Decker

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” wrote Martin Luther King, Jr in his letter from a jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama. Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years imprisoned for speaking against South African apartheid, stated in a speech, “As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” And long before King and Mandela, the eloquent Fredrick Douglas said on the 24th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, “Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” (Image by Unseen Histories on Unsplash)

When the overwhelming powers of evil are against us, it is part of human nature to rise up and oppose those forces. This is the fight for justice, and throughout human history there have been many noble people who inspired others to stand for what is right.

But today, the fight for justice, or what many call social justice, has a fogginess that has descended upon its battlefield. There are new words and phrases, and new definitions for old words that make our modern call for justice puzzling and divisive. So let us go back to the basics. What exactly is justice?

Speaking about God, the Bible says, “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” (Deuteronomy 10:18) Then God Himself declared, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)

The whole concept of justice comes from God. It is part of who He is. He is holy, eternal, sovereign, and many other things, which are called His attributes. And among those, God is also just. In simple terms it means God is “right” in all He does and thinks. God is right in His judgements, decisions and spoken Word. The places where we see the justice of God is in His relationship with people, and in His expectations of how people should treat one another.

The measuring stick or standard of God’s justice is God Himself. It is what He deems is morally right or wrong, good or evil, just or unjust. The terms “justice” or “social justice” are used much today, especially in higher education, the church, and politics. Everyone, it seems, is passionately declaring this or that as just or unjust. It can be confusing. We must be wise and discerning and not easily deceived…even if someone uses Bible verses to make their case.

Let us ask three questions whenever we hear voices stir up the masses by alleging some form of injustice like racism, dehumanization, inequality, Christian nationalism or something else. Consider these three principles of godly justice.

1. Is the accusation of injustice truthful? Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Seeking the truth is paramount in the call for justice. We must resist immediate judgements based on what the crowds say. Take time to sort through the facts, and be willing to accept the truth, wherever it may lead.

2. Is the accusation of injustice impartial? The Scripture says, “For God shows no partiality.” (Romans 2:11) The pursuit of justice is the pursuit of truth, and that pursuit must be impartial. The call for justice must never favor one race over another, or one economic class over another. Justice must see the truth but be blind to favoritism.

3. Does the accusation of injustice consider the heart? “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) As we pursue the facts and examine if there be any partiality, we must also consider the motives of the heart. Too often we accuse people of injustice without regard to their intent. Instead, we judge.

A prayer for you – Lord God, in the era of social justice where accusations abound, help us to pursue godly justice. Let us search for the truth, be impartial and not judge the hearts of our neighbors. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

An URGENT Warning for Religious People

The only people Jesus ever accused of being hypocrites, were the religious leaders of His own nation. – Clint Decker

A Florida teenager once made national news after he was arrested for an impersonation stunt. Matthew, an 18-year-old, wormed his way into being a Physician’s Assistant at a local hospital. He had an I.D. badge, the right clothes and was even trusted by a doctor to do CPR on a patient. (Image by freepik)

Matthew was a fake, a pretender or an actor. In a word he was a hypocrite. It is a term often used in religious settings. Perhaps you have heard someone say, “Hey, that church downtown, they preach one thing and do another,” or maybe “I visited the church on main street once. I know many of them, and they’re a bunch of hypocrites,” or perhaps “Religious people are just fakes living by a double standard, that’s why I don’t go to church anywhere.”

Sometimes we can unknowingly associate hypocrites with God when we see sinful things in the lives of professing Christians. Know that it is with great force that God condemns them. Jesus once said, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:5) Another time Jesus directly stated, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matt. 23:25) Jesus also forcefully commented, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…’” (Mark 7:6)

In ancient times, actors and actresses in Greek plays wore masks to portray their characters. They were affectionately known as hypocrites. It was not a demeaning word like it is today but was just a simple term that described their professional craft. According to one source, “Hypocrite refers to a performer acting under a mask,” a “two-faced person,” or “someone who says one thing, but does another.”

The only people Jesus ever accused of being hypocrites, were the religious leaders of His own nation. They studied, were highly trained, considered experts in the Scriptures and bore the responsibility of teaching them to the people. Yet, as a group, they were considered hypocrites in the eyes of Jesus. How? Because they knew better, by teaching at times what they knew was a lie and what they did not practice.

This angered Jesus because of the harmful influence that had. He scolded them saying, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” (Matt. 23:13) Through the influence of their words and life, it was like they were slamming heaven’s door right in front of people’s noses. Jesus did not mince words. He was furious with religious hypocrites. He once told a story about a master that clarified where two-faced religious actors will spend eternity, “[The master] will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:51)

Outside of Jesus’, not too many of us can point fingers on this issue. There is a Bible verse I have prayed for myself many times, “O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me…” (Psalm 69:6) It is only by the grace of God that I am, who I am. The greatest fear of my life is that I will somehow misrepresent God in my teaching or fail Him in my choices, and cause others to reject Him. May God have mercy on me and you, if that shall ever be said of us. Today, by the grace of God, stop being a pretender and start being real.

A prayer for you – Lord God, may the work of your Holy Spirit convict men and women of any hypocrisy in their life. And if there is any, enable them by your power to repent and find mercy at the cross. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

America’s Sins and America’s Hope

The British Empire brought the evil of African slavery to America, but when the Founders separated from the Crown, they began dismantling the institution. – Clint Decker

John Adams was the 2nd President of the United States and signer of the Declaration of Independence. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, he reflected on the founding of America, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.” Noah Webster shared similar views. He was a Revolutionary War soldier and also known as the “Schoolmaster to America.” He wrote, “The moral principles and precepts found in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws.” (Image from standingforfreedom.com)

When one studies the speeches, diaries, and letters of the Founding Fathers of the United States and does the same for important documents like the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and others, he will see the principles of Christianity and the Scriptures embedded in them. The Founders were intentional with this, because they wanted to have a just and moral foundation for which their new nation would be built on. They knew just laws could provide a restraint on the evil actions of people and promote virtuous conduct.

This began on July 4, 1776. Prior to the date of independence, America’s 13 colonies were bound to the laws of Great Britain and were under the authority of King George. After Independence they were bound to their own laws, which were built on Christian principles. Between 1776 and 1804, according to Wall Builders, “nearly half of the states passed laws to abolish slavery”. Wall Builders also reports that “from 1790 to 1810 the number of free blacks in America increased from 59,466 to 108,395.”

The British Empire brought the evil of slavery to America, but when the Founders separated from the Crown, they began dismantling the institution. Why? Because it was inconsistent with the laws of God. However, only half of the states were for abolishing slavery, while the other half (southern ones), persisted in continuing the evil trade. This illustrates a point, that just because the Founders sought just laws did not mean it automatically created a just and moral people. The law can restrain evil in people, but it cannot eliminate it. This is why among some places in America slavery was held onto tightly, and why some in the government committed atrocities against the Native Americans. And today, this is why millions of women have aborted their babies, and why Jewish students are threatened and abused on some college campuses.

Laws, systems, structures, institutions…they can only go so far, and our Founders knew that. They knew we needed to encounter God personally. This is why from time to time there would be a call for days of prayer and fasting. On May 15, 1776, just weeks before America’s independence came, General George Washington stated, “The Continental Congress having ordered Friday the 17th instant to be observed as a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, humbly to supplicate the mercy of Almighty God, that it would please Him to pardon all our manifold sins and transgressions, and to prosper the arms of the United Colonies…”

Our nation needed God in 1776, and we desperately need Him now. Our hearts must be changed to rid our cities of the wickedness displayed in them. And the heart is where the root of our problems lay. Jesus said, “…out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” (Mark, 7:21-22) So many of the vile periods in our history and today, come from these sins. Because of this we deserve the judgement of God. But due to His mercy, He sent His only Son to be our hope. If we as a people, humble ourselves and call upon the Savior of all mankind by faith, then hearts of stone can receive new life.

A prayer for you – Lord God we confess our sins individually and as a nation. We all have sinned and are only deserving of your judgement. Come Lord, humble us this hour I pray. Bring a great and mighty move of your Spirit upon our country that millions would turn to you as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Stop Fixing Your Kid’s Problems

There has always been a tendency for parents and grandparents to try and swoop in to make things all better. That might be fine for a two-year-old, but when it’s a 20-year-old…that is a problem. – Clint Decker

Dr. Jeffery Bernstein tells the story of Jasper. He was a 26-year-old that could only hold down a job for a few months at a time. His explanations for quitting were “toxic environments”, “unfair management” and other excuses. But each time he quit, his mom would come in for the rescue. Feeling guilty, she would pay his rent to help him get on his feet again. It was a vicious cycle that was not getting Jasper nor his mom anywhere. Bernstein wrote, “If you try to "save" your adult child every time they are in trouble, you may be making things worse in the long run.” (Image by danabehavioralhealth.org)

Since the beginning of time, it seems there has always been a tendency for parents or grandparents to try and swoop in to make things all better. That might be fine for a two-year-old, but when it is still being done for a 20-year-old…that is a problem.

One author says, “Rescuing, also called enabling, happens when a person feels the responsibility to minimize the consequences of someone else’s bad choices.” As a parent, friend or co-worker we need to stop this. How will the people we love become mature, independent, responsible adults if we continually allow their problems to become our problems, that we solve for them.

• Why are you paying your 30-year-old son’s cell phone bill?

• Why are you giving money to a friend who has an addiction, and is likely using it to feed his problem?

• Why do you keep stepping in and contacting your daughter’s teachers or coaches, and making excuses for her?

• Why do you keep putting off having a needed conversation with a friend that keeps taking advantage of you?

When is this going to end? And ultimately, it is about…you. You feel guilty so you rescue. You do not want arguments or accusations, so you step in. The situation might make you look bad, so you fix it.

What does God have to say about this? He wrote, “For each will have to bear his own load.” (Galatians 6:5) Bearing a burden is one thing. In that, we come alongside people and help them carry what is troubling them. However, bearing a load is different. This speaks of personal responsibility, and things someone has to answer to God for. This is about teaching those we love and warning them, but then at some point, stepping back and letting them bear the load of the consequences from their own choices. This means not bailing your son out of jail again but letting him sit there. It means not putting gas in your daughter’s car again, because she did not manage her money well and forcing her to figure things out on her own.

The famous John 3:16 Bible verse speaks on this issue, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God is the ultimate parent here. He commands all people to believe in Jesus, then states what will happen if someone chooses not to…they will perish. This is about boundaries and consequences. We see this throughout the whole Bible.

Lovingly stepping back and choosing to allow someone to fail and experience pain is an unfortunate but necessary teacher. And when we step back, we are allowing someone else to step in…God. It is an act of love and trust. King Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) We should love someone enough to stop trying to rescue them with hopes they might change. God hung the stars. He raises the sun every morning. He provides the sparrow with its food. He can do this. Step back and allow God to work.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for the people who are continually rescuing and excusing those they love from bad choices. Help them to see how harmful their actions are. Help them to step back and release their loved one into your hands. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Accepting Sex as Part of Dating

Today, nearly 80% of young people are choosing to live together with someone before marriage. – Clint Decker

Allie Volpe, a reporter with Vox, tells the story of Matt and Aloria. The two began dating and soon started sleeping together most nights. Then after a couple of years they talked and decided they were committed for the long-haul, so a decision was made to move in together. Then a year later, Matt proposed and soon Matt and Aloria were married. (Photo by Chen on Unsplash)

Volpe begins her article with this story, highlighting how the young couple illustrates a new normal in dating. She states, “A 2021 analysis of National Survey of Family Growth data found that among those aged 18 to 44 who married between 2015 and 2019, 76 percent of couples cohabitated first; that was true of just 11 percent of marriages between 1965 and 1974.” Today, nearly 80% of young people are choosing to live together with someone before marriage. And also growing, is the number of couples avoiding marriage, and just choosing to live together.

Is all this just the changing of the times, similar to how technological developments, music tastes, or clothing styles change? Is that all this is? Do the older generations need to accept that sex and cohabitation are the new standard practices of dating? Do grandparents need to recognize that marriage was preferred for them, but for the up-and-coming generation, living together is the superior option? Or is there something more going on?

Sex outside of marriage and co-habitation are moral issues, unlike musical tastes and clothing styles, and the normalization of this is alarming and dangerous. God says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” (Hebrews 13:4) This is not about the views of the church or grandparents, this is ultimately a spiritual issue about what God has to say. He clearly says that sex outside of marriage is dishonoring to Him and the institution of marriage He created. He speaks very directly saying that those who persist in being sexually immoral will face His judgement. These are not meant to be harsh words, but instead a firm and loving warning.

God is not forcing anyone to do anything, because He created us with a sense of self-determination, where we can make our own choices. But God also recognizes the law of unintended consequences, where we do not know, what we do not know. Due to His all-knowing power, He can see into the future and knows the implications of our future actions. Therefore, out of love, He warns about the danger ahead. He sees the chance for an unplanned pregnancy. He sees the possibility of a sexually transmitted disease. He sees the risk of your boyfriend or girlfriend that you have given yourself to, just walking away. He sees the impact of the second, third or fourth person that you have given your body and soul to through sexual intercourse. He sees the likelihood of children being raised by unmarried parents, or multiple stepdads and moms or future boyfriends and girlfriends that come and go, affecting your children’s development with a lack of stability or prospects of abuse.

The Scripture says, “Surely there is not a righteous [a perfect] man on earth who does good and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20) If you have fallen short of God’s standard you are not the only who has failed. We are all guilty. If you have failed in the area of sexual sin, God opens His arms wide and says, “Come unto me.” He demonstrates this through Jesus, His beloved Son when He died and rose again. In Jesus, you can find freedom and sufficiency. He invites you to find everything you need in Him. Come to Jesus and find new life today.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray especially for the young in our nation. I pray for those who are choosing to not get married, but live with their boyfriends or girlfriends. Give them ears to hear your council. Draw them by your Spirit to trust in you and follow in your ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Oh Christian, Have You Been Born Again?

Even though I was a pastor’s son and had been in church since I was three, for the first time in my life I was seeking God on my own. – Clint Decker

Even though I was a pastor’s son and had been in church since I was three, for the first time in my life I was seeking God on my own. One morning as I was praying, suddenly it felt like a flash of light that beamed through my soul. Something had happened to me. I sensed instant peace, joy and love like I had never known. Then while at work I started weeping as the presence of God came over me. Soon I started listening to preachers on the radio, bought study books to help me better understand the Bible and began talking with others about Jesus, along with many other changes. (Image by Point of Life Church)

I had become born again.

This idea came from Jesus out of a conversation He had with a man named, Nicodemus. He was a gifted and well-known religious leader in Israel. He heard Jesus teach and became curious, so Nicodemus sought out Jesus saying to Him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” (John 3:2) Jesus responded, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:3).

Jesus was aware that Nicodemus, nor His own disciples, had heard Him speak of this before, so like any of us would have done, Nicodemus asked a very logical question, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (Jn. 3:4)

Jesus explained how He was using the birth of a child as an illustration, “…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (Jn. 3:5-6) Jesus was communicating how there is human birth (flesh) and there is spiritual birth (Spirit), and for someone to enter the kingdom of God, they must go through a spiritual birth.

What does born again mean? First, it is an illustration of life. All of us were born under the curse of sin, which means we were born spiritually dead. Therefore, to enter the kingdom of heaven we need to come alive. We need the supernatural life of Jesus to come dwell within us. Second, being born again, means that since we have been re-born, we also have become a new person. The new life Jesus has created in us has given a new way of thinking and living. Our values, choices and beliefs have all changed. Third, being born again means we have been re-born by the Spirit, not the flesh. Being re-born is something only God can do. Going to church, getting baptized, taking the eucharist, going through catechism – all those are good things, but they are done by you. You cannot be born again through those efforts, but only by the power of God. Jesus addressed this with Nicodemus, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (Jn. 3:7-8)

How can you become born again? Jesus told Nicodemus “…so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:14-15) Jesus said that He will be lifted up on a cross to die and rise again for all people, and it will be done to provide a way for all who are dead in their sin, to be re-born. And when they turn from their sin and trust in Christ with all their heart, they will be made alive!

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for spiritual leaders like Nicodemus and those who regularly attend church. May they humble themselves to examine their hearts if they have been born again, and if they have not, may they call upon you and be changed today. Help them to turn from religion and to Christ. In His name. Amen.

When I Forgave My Father

When my father suddenly passed away, I had no regrets. There was nothing but peace in my heart. Years earlier, I had forgiven him and accepted him as he was, not as I wanted him to be. – Clint Decker

My wife and I watched Ragamuffin, a movie about the life of Rich Mullins, a musical prodigy, and the difficult relationship he had with his verbally and emotionally abusive father. We also saw another movie, I Can Only Imagine, about the life of accomplished singer, Bart Millard, and the difficulties he also had with his father, who physically abused him. (Image by alivecounseling.com)

The movies connected with audiences because so many have stories of broken relationships with their fathers. Maybe similar to Rich Mullins and Bart Millard, it was abuse. For others their fathers neglected them while being gone a lot for work or hobbies. And for some, perhaps they grew up without their dad, because for whatever reason, he was gone and they never knew him or just had no relationship.

On the outside, it looked like I came from the perfect family. I grew up in a Christian home where my dad was a pastor, we went to church regularly and my parents never divorced. Yet, inside the walls of our home, it was a different picture.

My father was a complicated man who had strained relationships with nearly every member of our immediate and extended family on different occasions, including me. During a pivotal moment in my life, I excitedly shared that God had called me into the ministry. I anticipated words of encouragement. Instead he commented, “You’re going to need to go to college, and you weren’t a very good student. I don’t know how you’re going to make it.” From that moment until I left for college my dad was the greatest challenge I faced in my call to the ministry. The day I left home was one of the darkest days of my life. While driving away from my home in Fort Collins, Colorado, to begin my ministry studies, I screamed and pounded my steering wheel in a fit of rage.

However, that dark day turned to hope by the providence of God. Little did I know what God had in store when I arrived at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. One of my classes was Pastoral Counseling. Every day it seemed like Dr. Larry Fine was talking directly to me about the anger towards my father. That started me on a 26-year journey of learning to love my dad. That journey reached a milestone in my 30s when my dad and I were talking on the phone and came near the end of the conversation. It became quiet. Silence. My dad was still there. He had not hung up but was unable to speak. He was weeping. Eventually, he gathered himself and whispered, “I love you son.” Then I heard a click. It became the first memory of my father telling me he loved me. It was a powerful moment I will never forget.

On November 13, 2017, my father suddenly died of pancreatic cancer. When he passed away, I had no regrets. There was nothing but peace in my heart. Years earlier, I had forgiven him and accepted him as he was, not as I wanted him to be.

The Scripture says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:2) At one point in life my disobedience angered God and I deserved His judgement. Yet, He led me to turn from my sin and place my faith in Christ. He truly showed me mercy and undeserved forgiveness.

Consequently, as God showed mercy to me, I learned that I needed to demonstrate that same mercy to my father. God showed me that by His enabling power, I could forgive and show my father the same kindness God showed me in Christ.

There are too many who are living with unforgiveness toward their dads. If that is you, you do not need to live that way anymore. Humble yourself and ask God for His divine help to love and forgive.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for those who are angry toward their fathers. Enable them to forgive and release their fathers to you. To accept and love him just as he is. Do for them, what they cannot do for themselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Scheme to Silence the Truth

Because truth confronts the conscience and is offensive to the prideful, people scheme to silence it. They deceptively counter it with a phony love. – Clint Decker

The Cathedral of Hope, in Dallas, Texas, is a church that serves the LGBTQ community. The church outlines its purpose saying, “In a world where Christianity has been associated with intolerance, exclusion and hate, [our mission] is to proclaim Christ through faith, hope and love.” (Image by Unsplash)

Before ascending to the Roman Catholic Church’s highest office, Pope Leo XIV wrote about immigration explaining “Jesus Christ, loving everyone with a universal love, educates us in the permanent recognition of the dignity of every human being, without exception.”

Planned Parenthood promoted a blog post about a particular woman’s abortion where she revealed, “It has taken me a long time to get here, but I can now honestly say that I am grateful for my abortion experience. It taught me that even when love is hard, it is always the right choice.”

These quotes highlight three of the hottest topics in our nation, and each is framed around the same concept: love. Nearly every divisive moral issue of our day has supporters using the language of love where you will often hear part of the Great Commandment quoted, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) This is the Theory of Phony Love.

The theory frames God’s moral truth as negative while contrasting it with a positive message of phony love. The alleged negative message is, “Marriage is between a man and woman,” while the phony positive message is “Everyone is free to love whom they choose.” The presumed negative message is, “The only way to God is through Jesus” while the misleading positive message is, “We are all God’s children.” The theory depicts God’s moral truth as dividing, hateful and exclusionary, whereas the message of phony love is purportedly unifying, inclusive and compassionate.

Jesus was a victim of this theory. Despite being embraced by the common people, the political and religious leaders did not like Jesus because He continually exposed their evil ways. He once publicly declared, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single [convert], and when he becomes a [convert], you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15)

The leaders failed to silence Him so they resorted to a deceptive scheme to have Him executed. They went before the authorities falsely stating, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” (Luke 23:2) And they also made claims that, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” (Lk. 23:5).

The Theory of Phony Love portrayed Jesus’ teaching in a negative light, alleging it was divisive and dangerous for the nation. At the same time the enemies of Jesus deceivingly presented themselves in a positive light as doing what was supposedly unifying and good for the nation.

This ancient strategy first appeared in the Garden of Eden where God laid down His moral law for Adam and Eve. There, Satan came to thwart God’s efforts by depicting God’s message as bad, and conversely, presenting Satan’s own message as good for them.

When it comes to right and wrong, and good and evil, it is ultimately a spiritual battle over God’s moral truth. It is the standard by which men and women are to live, and one day will be judged by.

Because the truth confronts the conscience, is offensive to the prideful and reveals the need for a Savior, people scheme to silence it. They deceptively counter it with an intolerant, selective and a half-truthed phony love.

Their feel-good message is void of Jesus’ moral truth and amazing grace. For when the humble hear His truth, turn from their evil ways and to Christ, they are rescued from the penalty and power of their sin. They become liberated from the shackles of their evil passions. They come to experience the peace and forgiveness of Christ.

Be wise and reject phony love, while knowing and living out the transforming power of Jesus’ truth and grace.

A prayer for you – Lord God, give your followers wisdom and guard them against deception. Empower them through your Spirit to stand firm, as they continually share your unchanging and beautiful truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jesus was God – Truth or Fiction?

A good man cannot forgive your sin. A miracle-worker cannot remove your guilt and shame. A powerful teacher cannot redeem your life from eternal death. Only Jesus can. – Clint Decker

According to Barna, 92% of Americans believe in the historical existence of Jesus. And on a global perspective, all major world religions have something to say about Him. The Bible, in Christianity, gives Jesus’ own Words, where He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) The Quran, in Islam, says, “The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, is the Messenger of God.” (4:171). Rabbi Shraga Simmons says that, according to Judaism, “Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah.” (Image by Unsplash)

World religions, historians and billions of people agree in the historical existence of Jesus. Agreement gathers around what He did calling Him a good man, miracle-worker or powerful teacher. However, when we move from what Jesus did to who He was – there division arises.

The main point of tension is over the claim of His deity. His own statements speak for themselves on the subject. In one of His most straight forward assertions, Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), or put in other words, “When you see me, you see God.”

Did Jesus’ claim lead to His crucifixion? His fiercest opponents will agree He was murdered, but why it happened is where the tension is. Those who conspired to put Him to death give us some insight. Once when they were talking with Jesus, they picked up stones to kill Him. Jesus challenged their reasoning, to which they responded, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” (John 10:31-33) Though Jesus escaped from their presence, His opponents actually helped people to know who He truly was.

What are the facts? Jesus was crucified because He openly stated the truth of His deity for all to see and hear. However, what His opponents did not realize, is that His crucifixion would be the ultimate test of His claim. If He was truly God, how could He die and never live again? How could He allow Himself to be tortured to death, then put in a tomb to rot away?

Through a providential turn of events, the very thing Jesus’ enemies used to destroy and be rid of Him, became the greatest proof of His deity. On Friday afternoon, while Jesus’ bloodied and bruised body hung on the cross, the historical account states, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.” (Matthew 27:50) Just like any other human being, Jesus died and then was put into a tomb. His enemies were right. His claims proved false. Friday night and Saturday was a dark time for His followers. But then on Sunday morning as two women went to see Jesus’ grave, they encountered an angel that was sitting on Jesus’ tombstone, which had just been rolled away. The angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen.” (Matthew 28:5-6)

Jesus rose from the dead and nearly 2,000 years later He still lives. His resurrection validated all His claims that pointed to the truth, that He was God in human form.

What if an atheist who agrees in the existence of the historical Jesus, also believed He was God? What if a Muslim who accepts that Jesus is God’s messenger, also believed He was God? What if a Jew believed He was truly the Messiah? Jesus’ resurrection changes everything.

But what about you? A good man cannot forgive your sin. A miracle-worker cannot remove your guilt and shame. A powerful teacher cannot redeem your life from eternal death. Only Jesus can.

Do not just believe these facts about Jesus, but turn from trusting in yourself to fully trusting in the living Jesus with all your being.

A prayer for you – Lord God, open the eyes of people to the truth of who Jesus is. Bring skeptics to ask you their questions. Help them to understand and lead them to trust in your only Son. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Plea of a Foster Child

There are over 350,000 children in foster care, from infants to teenagers. Tens of thousands are on waiting lists in state after state hoping to be adopted. – Clint Decker

His mother gave birth to him while she was in prison. Consequently, as a newborn he was immediately placed with the state. Literally from birth, Davion Navar Henry Only was constantly in foster care. As the years went by, being shuffled from home to home and family to family, Davion had a dream. He dreamed of being adopted before he aged out of the system at 18. Time was getting short, so he shared his dream with his case worker and asked if she could find a church where he could make his desperate appeal. In sharing his story with the congregation he pleaded, “I’ll take anyone. Old or young, dad or mom, black, white, purple. I don’t care.” Then he politely stated, “And I would be really appreciative.” (Image by Unsplash)

Davion’s words quickly spread beyond the church and touched the hearts of millions. Soon Davion was adopted and achieved his dream.

Across the United States there are over 350,000 children in foster care, from infants to teenagers, just like Davion was. Tens of thousands are on waiting lists in state after state hoping to be adopted. They all have their own story in how they ended up in foster care. Some were abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents. Whatever the reason is, when children are taken from their homes and parents with law enforcement or state officials and end up in foster care, it is a traumatic, life-changing experience.

History’s first recorded adoption took place due to the death of a parent. In ancient times lived a godly man named Abraham. He had a brother, Haran, who died early in life. Upon Haran’s passing, he left behind an only son named Lot. Without hesitation Abraham his uncle and his wife, willingly took him in and looked after him throughout his life.

Abraham was simply doing what the Lord his God would want him to do. For the Bible says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit [or care for] orphans.” (James 1:27)

Why does God concern Himself with children like this? Because He created each of them and is the architect of the family. He created children to be raised in loving and godly homes. However, when tragedy strikes from the death of parents, or dads and moms make selfish and immoral decisions that endanger their children, boys and girls can end up without their parents. It is not supposed to operate this way, and it is no fault of their own. The children are a victim of circumstances beyond their control. Therefore, God’s heart is filled with compassion towards those who are suddenly without a family. As a result, He urges His followers to be His hands and feet to them. The Scriptures say of God that He is the “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows…” (Psalm 68:5)

Adoption is at the heart of God’s glorious gospel. His good news to the all the world is that He is the Creator of all and a Father to those who come to Him in faith and obedience. And in that sense, everyone who turns from their sinful ways and places their full trust in Christ, God adopts as His son or daughter and becomes their Father. And through His gospel when we become His child, we also become part of His family, the church, for it is the family of God.

Today, prayerfully consider becoming a foster parent or adopting a child. For others, perhaps you have lost your parents due to death or have gone through a difficult childhood. Right now, place your faith in Jesus, God’s only Son, who died and rose again for you. Become a child of God, be adopted into His family this day.

A prayer for you – Lord God, place a divine calling upon some to open their homes to foster children or to adopt a needy child. And if some feel like they have been abandoned, lift their eyes toward you and bring them to receive you by faith that you might become their adoptive heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Confronting Dangerous Lies

The world must have men and women of understanding who will courageously confront deceptive lies. – Clint Decker

The Great Fire of Rome took place in 64 A.D. during the time of Roman Emperor Nero. Following the horrific fire, Nero falsely charged Christians for the fire, then gave orders for their arrest and execution. The public supported the baseless charge and barbaric murders of thousands of Christians. (Image by unsplash)

During the 1930’s, when Adolph Hitler had taken the helm of Germany, he began a smear campaign against the Jewish people. Unjust laws were passed against them, Jewish books burned and boycotts were organized. Eventually it evolved into the genocide of millions of Jews with the public’s support.

Sun Tzu is known as a successful Chinese military strategist around 5 B.C. Some believed he wrote, “The Art of War,” where he stated, “All warfare is based on deception.”

Both Nero and Hitler used this tactic in their war on Christians and Jews. Who did they deceive? Their own citizens. In the Bible, King David spoke of being a victim of this kind of warfare, “For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.” (Psalm 109:3-4)

Merriam-Webster defines deception as “the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.” In the simplest terms, deception is lying. And who embodies this more than anyone? The Devil. Jesus said about him, “…there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) You can be sure, where there is deception, there is the Devil. For he has been doing this type of work since the beginning of time.

After God created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, He laid down moral boundaries for them. Soon the Devil came gently and persuasively, taking the truth God spoke to them and twisted it to get Adam and Eve to doubt God and reject Him; which they did. Afterwards Eve accurately stated what the Devil did to her, “The serpent deceived me.” (Genesis 3:13) And what was the effect? Incredible evil! It caused separation from God, death and destruction not only upon Adam and Eve, but all humanity following them until this very day.

Note where responsibility fell. If you read the story, you will find that though the Devil was doing the deceiving, both Adam and Eve were held responsible for their actions. Why? Because the deception involved violating God’s moral law, and despite being presented a package of lies, in the end, they made a conscious choice to disobey God.

Nero and Hitler engaged in massive scale government deception schemes, strategizing to lead astray their entire nation to bring death and destruction upon particular groups of people. There were those who actively participated, doing what they knew was wrong while others sat by quietly, and allowed the tragedies to move forward without objection.

At the beginning of the gruesome actions of the Roman and German governments, the citizens could not see into the future. This is why we need wisdom and discernment now, more than ever.

Today, due to the advancement of technology, deceptive messaging is all around us like never before. This is where the world must have men and women of understanding who will courageously confront deceptive lies through boldly speaking God’s truth. This is what Jesus, our Lord and Savior did. This also was the work of the Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles. Confronting deception can lead to the salvation of souls and to the saving of human lives and entire nations from death and destruction. However, the cost is great. The prophets and apostles were persecuted, Jesus was crucified, and those who stood against Nero or Hitler, like Germany’s Dietrich Bonhoeffer, were killed.

Be the one our world needs. By the power of God, stand for what is wise, right and good no matter the cost.

A prayer for you – Lord God, raise up wise men and women that can understand the times in which we live. Raise up people of courage that are willing to risk it all while doing the godly work of standing for truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Wives, Submit to Your Husbands.” No Way!

The only thing I am going to submit to my husband is a complaint. – Anonymous Wife                    

A husband and wife were having a disagreement and stopped speaking to each other when suddenly, the husband realized that the next day he would need his wife to wake him up at 5:00 a.m. for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me up at 5:00 a.m.," and he left it where he knew she would find it. (Image by pexels)

The next morning the man woke up only to discover it was 9:00 a.m. and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife had not awakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed that said, “It is 5:00 a.m. Wake up!"

When it comes to marriages, we can do our best to try and find some humor in the tension, even though at the time it may not be so funny.

A wife once jokingly said, “the only thing I am going to submit to my husband is a complaint.” What was her comment in response to? A Bible verse that states, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22) This verse can quickly strike up heated conversations in churches, academia and in politics.

Am I stepping on a cultural landmine? No, rather our society is. When we debate away God’ truth for the home, we are assuring its destruction. What the Scriptures say about husbands, wives and children is the cultural life preserver we need to help save our marriages and families.

Year after year, 40 to 50 percent of first-time marriages end in divorce, and for those who marry a second or third time, the likelihood of divorce climbs higher and higher. Do you know the percentage of children that will end up living in divorced homes? It is 40%, which amounts to millions of our kids. We have this mess because we are not building marriages and families God’s way.

Let me go back to Ephesians and read a little further, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church…” (Eph. 5:22-23) There is more, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” (5:25) And God does not leave out the children, “…obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (6:1) Can you see what God is communicating? Order and responsibility.

The concept came from our Creator. He made each of us with equal worth, but with distinct roles. It reflects the Holy Trinity. God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit are separate but one with different responsibilities. The Spirit submits to the Father and the Son, while the Son submits to the Father.

Likewise, God built the family. He appointed the husband as leader, the wife under his leadership, the children under the parents and all under Jesus. This also reflects divine order, and was God’s perfect plan before evil and lawlessness came into the world causing chaotic disorder. Then husbands began dominating their wives and children, some being passive and others putting their work and hobbies first. Wives started controlling their husbands and putting their children first, and children rose up in defiance to their parents. It has been, and still is, a battle for selfish control.

Jesus is the answer to this chaos. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, yet He humbled Himself, by submitting to the Father’s will to suffer, die and rise again. Why? So that we might be made new. It is not about male dominance or patriarchy. It is about the family coming under the authority of Christ the King with a willing and loving heart, as modeled for us through the cross.

These are hard truths, and will not be easy to follow, but through Christ it is possible. And today it can start with just one member of the family. Will you be the one? 

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for the families of America. End the chaos and the divorce epidemic. Bring husbands, wives and children to yield themselves before the one true King, and bring love, peace and forgiveness in their homes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Greatness of a Woman

I invite the people of the United States to display the [United States] flag…as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country. – President Woodrow Wilson

On May 8, 1914, Congress passed a joint resolution to establish the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day. Then on May 9th, the President signed the proclamation saying, “I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States…invite the people of the United States to display the [United States] flag…as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” (Image by pexels)

The proclamation said nothing about cards, candy and roses, but did encourage the flying of the American flag. Why? Because of the noticeable and indispensable patriotism of America’s mothers to their country.

During the years 1776 to 1914 America fought in numerous wars. The Revolutionary War (1775-1783), War of 1812 (1812-1815), Mexican-American War (1846-1848), American Civil War (1861-1865) and the Spanish-American War (1898). They combined to loose over 650,000 American soldiers, the majority of those being young men.

When President Wilson, congress and the American people celebrated the first Mother’s Day, they were thinking of the United States’ 138-year history, and the sacrifice of tens of thousands of mothers and wives that had become widows and single moms because their husbands and sons chose to go and fight for America.

This patriotic spirit continued in the hearts of American mothers following 1914. Just three years later they were called upon again during WWI (1917-1918). There, thousands more of young men perished on battlefields leaving a new generation of grieving mothers and young wives.

Since 1776, how could young husbands with children have gone off to defend this nation without courageous wives and mothers staying behind to manage the home and care for their children? Thousands of these women never saw their husbands come home and became widows at an early age.

The role of women in our nation has changed much since 1914. Today, America’s landscape is filled with wives and mothers serving throughout the military, in the church, business and elected office. The value of the service they provide in and outside the home has not changed. I think we can say, there would be no America if it was not for the sacrifice of our mothers.

What makes a great woman? Is it the mom that supports her son risking his life on the battlefield? Is it the hard work of a wife and mother to care for her husband and children? Is it the determination of a single mom who works two jobs to provide for her kids? We should applaud these types of women, but greatness goes much deeper. God tell us that, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30).

What is charm and beauty? It is all outside stuff. The form of a woman will grab the eyes of a man and grant her favor in his presence. However, it deceitfully masks the true condition of her soul. Additionally, it is all temporary as age, sickness and the trials of life will gradually sweep it away.

A woman may focus on all the outside things to measure her worth or success, but the fear of God is something of the heart. It refers to combination of a woman who respects the majesty and power of God, while being committed to keeping His commands. This kind of a woman may be overlooked by some, but she will be welcomed with honor into the presence of Jesus, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords. This is what makes a great woman! A nation filled with women like these will be blessed. The Bible scholar Matthew Henry penned, “The fear of God reigning in the heart, is the beauty of the soul [that] lasts forever.”

A prayer for you – Lord God, thank you for the women that have sacrificed their husbands, sons and themselves for this nation. I pray you will raise up a new generation of young women that will not seek the presence of a man because of her beauty but will desire a holy heart to please her Creator. Raise up women who will not look to others for their worth but will seek to walk in the fear of Lord all the days of their life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Man Who Changed The World

Jesus did not just change the world, He altered history, caused the rise and fall of nations and effected the eternal existence of billions of souls. – Clint Decker

Johaness Gutenberg, a German inventor, built a printing press in the mid-1400s that historians say brought about an “information age.” In 1455 he printed Europe’s first-ever book, a Bible. The printing press changed the world. (Image by Istock)

The United States Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, and provided a unique system of government unknown to any nation on earth. The opening lines of the constitution state, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." The founding of the United States changed the world.

Though these are consequential events in world history, neither has impacted humankind like the incarnation and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. He did not just change the world, He altered history, has caused the rise and fall of nations and effected the eternal existence of billions of souls.

The incarnation of Jesus occurred in Israel between 6 and 4 B.C. According to Webster’s dictionary, incarnation is a word that describes “the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthy form.” In particular, it refers to the birth of Christ, when the Lord God took on human form and became one of us. This is called the Doctrine of the Incarnation. It is said of Jesus “…the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) The incarnation is the moment in history when the God who made the heavens and the earth, made Himself a simple and normal looking man who came to live among us, in order to reveal who He is and deliver the world’s most important message directly to us.

The resurrection of Jesus took place outside of Jerusalem about 33 A.D. Before this miracle, day’s earlier Jesus was arrested and tried by authorities on false charges of blasphemy. The high priest demanded of Him saying, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Matthew 26:63) When Jesus told them the truth, they responded with rage, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.” (Matt. 26:64), Subsequently they immediately ordered the sentence of death upon Him. The day of Jesus’ crucifixion, history records as Good Friday, where He died a sacrificial death for the sins of all humanity; past, present and future. Then for three days He lay in a borrowed tomb. But early on Sunday morning, history’s most renowned miracle took place. Jesus had risen Himself from the dead and walked out of His tomb. He is alive and still is today!

Why is Jesus’ incarnation and resurrection the most monumental events in world history? Why is Jesus the most significant person to ever walk the earth? Jesus own words confidently and boldly state why, because “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6).

Jesus declared He is the way. All mankind is searching for meaning, purpose and direction. Jesus says to the whole world, “Come, follow me.”

Jesus declared He is the truth. Everyone longs to know what is right and wrong and how to live a life free from guilt and shame. Jesus is the standard for truth, balancing the scales of justice and raising up high the banner for holiness in an unholy and evil world.

Jesus declared He is the life. Every man and woman hungers for the intangible things that money, power and success can never buy – life, real life. Jesus proved He is the source and giver of real and lasting life.

A prayer for you – Lord God, help us to see Jesus as more than a good man. More than a moral teacher. Let us see Him as the Son of the living God who died and rose again that we might have new life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.