This stay-home season is, for many of us grandparents, a time of extra stress. What food and supplies will we need in coming weeks? Where can we find those supplies? How will we pay for whatever we store up? How are we handling our loneliness? How far should we go in protecting ourselves from exposure to COVID-19?  How vulnerable are we personally, since seniors are less resistant to COVID-19 than our children and grandchildren?

Uncertainty. Anxiety. Panic. Fear. Depression. How can we respond wisely—and in ways that positively influence our grandkids in their own spiritual journey?

Step #1: Let’s reaffirm this vital principle of lifestyle worship in our heart’s convictions:

If God is truly the omniscient, omnipotent, and loving Yahweh of Whom we read in the Scriptures, then our response to this situation is more important than the situation itself.

How is your faith showing today?

Psalm 46:10-11 (ESV) ­­– “Be still, and know that I am God.” . . .

The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Step #2: Let’s reaffirm that vital principle in our mind’s attitudes, because: (1) God sees our heart and our mind (Jeremiah 20:12a)—there’s no hiding the truth from Him, and (2) our attitudes motivate our actions.

Step #3: Let’s demonstrate that vital worship principle in our actions and reactions to today’s situations. Example: Others may think it clever to sneak two of some item in the store when only one of that item is permitted per shopper. But we are not quarantined from God’s call for us to love our neighbors (Mark 12:31). Let’s respect the laws of the land and the needs of others.

We can also show our conviction about that worship principle to our grandchildren in our reaction to this season’s stresses: God wants us to do our best, and then just rest. Let’s let our grandkids catch us in the act of responding with personal discipline, kindness to others, and thankfulness to Him!

Let’s encourage our grandkids amid their stress, too. My wife Jan wrote out two scripture cards last week, one for each of our grandsons, for them to keep in their bedroom: Hebrews 13:5b-6a and 1 Peter 5:7. When they received their 3x5 cards, they immediately read those verses to each other.

Video conversations (via Skype, Zoom, etc.) are also super tools for family contact. This week we connected with most of our scattered family all at once. Part of that animated conversation involved each person—young and old—naming one or two things or people for which they thank God this week. Purposeful, encouraging fun!

Keep looking up.

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

The Lord  lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

© 2020 John Garmo

Dear Grandparents who care deeply about the spiritual health of your grandchildren,

Christmas season is, for many grandparents, a mixture of joy, sadness, and stress. If you are experiencing the joy of good and healthy relationships with your grandkids (whether biological or temporarily “adopted”), our one word of encouragement is “Alleluia!”

But often we, at the same time, experience higher-than-usual tension in other grandchild relationships­­. It overcomes our joy—and sometimes breaks our hearts. Satan loves to see that happen.

How can we protect, maintain, or regain our personal spiritual and relational balance in such situations? One crucial step is to stop allowing those stressful relationships to dominate our thoughts. Let’s focus instead on the most vital relationship in life: our relationship with Yahweh, our Father in heaven (Philippians 4:8).

How can we refocus on Him? One way is to ponder the timeless truth revealed in the ancient names and descriptions of God that we see in the Scriptures. Here are several of His names and descriptions; may He soothe your heart today with these realities:

• Are you being ignored, unnoticed by your grandchild? God is El Roi, “The Living One who sees me” – Genesis 16:6-14; Psalm 139:7-12.
• Feeling alone, abandoned, or even rejected by your grandchild or their parent(s)?? He is Immanuel, “God with us” – Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23. 
• Are you worried, anxious, or even depressed about your grandchild’s relationship with you or with God? “The Lord is my Shepherd” – Psalm 23:1-3; Philippians 4:4-8.
• Are you frustrated, unable to heal that relationship? Brokenhearted? God is Jehovah-Rapha, “The Lord who heals” – Psalm 147:3.
• Do you struggle with forgiving that grandchild who disappointed or offended you personally? Imitate the mercy, grace, and steadfast love of Jehovah – Exodus 34:4-7a; Luke 15:11-20.

What now? In the words of Romans 15:13 (ESV): “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

P.S. Does pondering these names of God encourage you? If so, then here’s another way to cultivate your legacy of spiritual influence on your grandkids when they need encouragement: Share one or more of these names of God with them!

(c) John C. Garmo

My good friend, Phil, recently asked how I "re-imagine" discipling in today's world. My reply to him, as you'll see here, does not point to trendy technology or novel approaches. It points instead to timeless truth and ancient paths -- for ourselves and our grandchildren.

  I re-imagine that we'd "zero-base" our goals and strategies for cultivating Christlikeness in ourselves and others. Starting at zero, we'd re-examine the Scriptures for key goals and strategies. Ten steps would emerge, which we'd take ourselves. Then we'd recommend them to other God-followers whom we influence:

1. Trust Jesus Christ--and Christ alone--for His redemption of your "wages of sin" (Romans 3:23).
2. Bask in the Bible and in the presence of God.
3. Ponder the interrelationships among, and implications of, these scriptures: Matthew 5:14-16; I Corinthians 13; and Ephesians 4 & 5.
4. Ask the RIGHT questions – the core, “Why?” questions -- about these scriptures.
5. In prayer and unrushed reflection, with God’s Spirit filling your heart and mind, embrace God’s answers to those questions.
6. Decide what you will say “no” to in your current swirl of goals and activities, so that you can say “yes” to focusing on and cultivating #5.
7. Go out and do it. Walk as a child of light (Ephesians 5:8-10).
8. As you walk, look for others whom you may influence in this same way.
9. Be available to them; develop a healthy, Christlike relationship.
10. Speak mostly with your life, not your words. As appropriate, share your journey with them in ways that encourage them to walk as “children of light” who influence others in their world likewise.

  Questions for journaling or discussion:

1. Which particular steps (above) reflect Deuteronomy 6:4-7?
2. What scriptures come to mind in support of step #2?
3. What key goals and strategies do these steps suggest to you as you convey your spiritual legacy to your grandchildren?

(c) 2019 John Garmo

An alarming report recently grabbed my attention:

A seven-year study of the causes of death among teens in America observed that the top three causes of death were accidents, homicide, and suicide.* Almost half­ of those tragedies—about 68,000 deaths—were accidents, and most of those accidents—about 46,000—were by motor vehicle.

  Sit back for a moment and reflect with me. What led to those 131,000 deaths? Bad choices. The general principle: Bad choices take away life; wise choices add life.

  Those dramatic statistics help me focus on a vital priority in my “intentional grandparenting”: I need to help my grandchildren become wiser and wiser. They need to show in their attitudes and behavior that (1) they understand the consequences of their choices and (2) have the wisdom to choose well.

  My lead-off blog in this series about “intentional grandparenting” focused on the alarming message of Judges 2:10. It challenged us to engage intentionally in the ministry of “intergenerational discipling” by praying for—and influencing—each of our own grandchildren to begin their individual, redemptive relationship with God.

  Once they begin that relationship with Him, they need to nourish it by cultivating wisdom. God’s Word says much about living and choosing wisely. It is a lifelong commitment that builds on “fearing” the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) as a way of life.

  The Hebrew word in the Old Testament that is translated “wise” is used in various contexts. In the context of life in general, this word describes a person who is skillful and practical at living in harmony with God’s expectations. We find this word most often in the “wisdom literature”: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.

  How does wisdom show in our grandkids? Proverbs 3, 4, and 5 show us that the proof of our grandchildren’s developing wisdom is their increasing knowledge, understanding, and ability to make the right choices at the right time and in the right way. Are they understanding and choosing wisely in a few situations, or in many situations? Their consistency in this is a measure of their developing maturity.

  What difference does wise living make? Its impact is significant:

• A lifestyle of walking wisely is our highest offering of worship to God (Ephesians 4:1; 5:1-2; James 3:13, 17).
• Walking wisely brings personal peace in relationships and situations, rather than anxiety and chaos (Proverbs 1:32-33; James 3:14-18).
• Our wisdom is a witness to those living in darkness who watch us (Deuteronomy 4:6).
• Walking wisely helps our children and grandchildren set an influential example as they teach their future children and grandchildren the wisdom of loving and walking in harmony with God (Deuteronomy 4:9).

  Loving Father in heaven, please help    (name of each grandchild)    to take another step forward in Your wisdom this month. Please open my eyes to a way that I can be an example for them and an encouragement to them along their journey into the wisdom of honoring You by choosing well. For Your glory and in Jesus’ name, amen.

© 2019 John Garmo

* NCHS data brief, no. 37. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 2010.

God has no grandchildren.

Reading through the Old Testament book of Judges recently, a sentence jumped off the page and jabbed at my heart: After them another generation rose up who did not know the Lord or the works He had done for Israel (Judges 2:10 HCSB).

Really?! How could this happen to people whose parents and grandparents had “worshiped the Lord throughout Joshua’s lifetime and during the lifetimes of the elders who outlived Joshua,” and who had seen all that the Lord had done for them (Judges 2:7)? And what were the consequences?

The answer to that last question comes clearly and dearly in the next four paragraphs of Judges 2: They abandoned the Lord. They embraced idols. Their loving but justifiably angry God disciplined them through defeat by neighboring nations. Their hearts turned toward Him only when they were under duress. Whenever He intervened and relieved their stress, their hearts returned to their rebellious ways.

The answer to the first question, apparently, is that very little intergenerational disciple-making happened within those families — or it was very poorly done.

I thought about our grandchildren. Will they grow up not knowing the Lord or the works He has done for us, his chosen people (1 Peter 2:9)?

“Not on our watch,” my wife and I declared. Although their parents are a primary influence on our grandchildren, we as grandparents are a strong secondary influence on them in such matters.

This blog series outlines key steps that we, and other kindred spirits, are taking to become even more intentional about our spiritual legacy — our impact — as grandparents. We’ll focus on clear understandings, firm convictions, strategic tools in our grandparenting treasure chest, and fruitful outcomes. Let’s begin . . .

Our commitment to intentional grandparenting is founded on certain rock-solid realities. Our convictions drive our values, and our values drive our attitudes and behaviors. That so, here is one basic conviction (of several) that wise grandparents embrace:

It’s true: God has no grandchildren.

In Judges and throughout the Bible, we see that a person’s relationship with God is not “grandfathered” through someone else’s relationship. We may have a relationship with God that is similar to that of an ancestor or mentor—but our relationship with Him comes directly and only through God the Son.

“So what?” you may ask. One implication of this for grandparents is that we need to recognize that relationship as spiritual priority #1 for each grandchild. We need to pray for their saving and growing relationship with God. Then we need to enable or support it appropriately.

Questions for discussion or journaling:

1. In my situation, what are one or two appropriate ways to enable or support their relationship with God?
2. In my situation, what are one or two inappropriate or risky ways to enable or support their relationship with God?

O Father in heaven, please bring each of my grandchildren into a saving and growing relationship with You. Help me to enable that and to encourage them in appropriate ways that You ordain. In Jesus’s name and for Your glory in and through them, amen.

© 2019 John Garmo

“Follow God’s example . . . and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us. . . . Now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:1–2a, 8b–10 NIV).

  With our Bibles open to 1 Corinthians 13, we began our 12-step meditation about God’s top priority for every disciple with this statement: “The most fulfilling journey in life is the path of a person who has an intimate relationship with God, and who faithfully follows Him. Is it the easiest path to walk? No. Is it the inside track to popularity? No. But is it the inside track to joy? Yes, for eternal reasons.”

  As we now conclude our contemplation, let’s recap several highlights and then relate them to eternity:

1. Our life on earth is mostly about relationships. And our life in eternity is all about one key relationship: our relationship with God.
2. Any disciple who focuses only on growing in knowledge and skill will fail sooner or later. Why? Because “Knowledge + Skill – Character => Collapse.”
3. A true follower of God is known for reflecting His love. The evidence of His love in that disciple will be Christlike character:                                           “Knowledge + Skill + Character => Worship!”
4. Our walk with God is our greatest witness to the work of God—and our worship of God.

  Looking forward, we learn that our lifestyle values and choices on earth today impact rewards that God wants to give us in heaven tomorrow. For example, He virtually underlines His priority on Christlike character as He identifies various “crowns” that He will graciously grant to us:

• 1 Corinthians 9:25 speaks of an everlasting crown for running our race with self-discipline.
• James 1:12 describes a crown for enduring in our walk of love even under great duress.
• 2 Timothy 4:8 tells of the crown of righteousness for finishing our race with trustworthy integrity, not compromising our faith.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19 reveals the crown of joy for diligent ministry through which souls are won and faithful walks matured.
• In 1 Peter 5:2–4 we learn of the crown of glory God has for disciples who set examples of kindness as they selflessly care about and help others.

  “So . . . what is the bottom line?” you ask. Here’s what matters most to God: His will for you and me is that we make worship a lifestyle; that is, we honor God acceptably with our heart, mind, and strength. That is how we will “walk in love.” His Spirit in us will enable us. Alleluia!

Shall we?

© 2018 John C Garmo

“Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:7–8a NIV). Love doesn’t quit!

  As He continues speaking to us through the pen of Paul, God identifies four ways that distinguish a maturing disciple who reflects His enduring agape love. All four are related to our relationships—which is not surprising, since life is mostly about relationships.

  First, love protects. A maturing disciple neither slanders others nor encourages it by gossiping with slanderers.

  Rather than gossiping about their faults, whether suspected or true, the disciple protects and preserves the reputation of others by keeping silent in public (Proverbs 10:12; 1 Peter 4:8). This helps “cover” or shield the person from attack. Any appropriate confrontation is initiated personally and privately (Leviticus 19:16,17; Matthew 18:15).

  As a young boy, I recall a teacher’s wise advice about careless talk: “Before you say something about someone else, ask yourself three questions: (1) Is it true? (2) Is it kind? (3) Is it necessary?”

  Second, love trusts. A maturing disciple chooses to believe the best in others. Unfair though it may be, when a rumor begins about the bad attitude, word, or action of another person, people often believe it too readily. I know that at times I have accepted a rumor too hastily, and I also know of times that I’ve been victimized by rumor. Have you? Either way, it hurts people and it harms relationships.

  God calls on His disciples to believe the best in others, not to delight in their demise. Is that rumor true? What is the other side of the story? How would I want others to respond if that rumor was about me? True or not, how does God want me to “cover” that person with His agape love?

  Trusting others, however, does not mean that God wants a disciple to close their eyes to realities around them. Like Paul, a disciple sees problems and discerns solutions that will help others move forward in their relationship with God and with others. That’s how we build each other up.

  Third, love hopes. Coupled with trust in others is the firm conviction and expectant desire that a person—even one who has severely missed the mark—can change. This, too, is evidence of agape love.

  How many times have you heard or experienced the transforming impact of a parent’s trust in the value of an errant child, a teacher’s encouragement of a struggling student, or a coach’s praise of an athlete’s potential? It’s because of loving hope that the parent sets and enforces rules at home, that teacher still gives challenging assignments, and that coach still runs demanding workouts.

Fourth, love perseveres. The maturing disciple stands firmly beside that other person. He or she does not abandon that disappointing friend, neighbor, or family member.

“Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:7–8a NIV). Love doesn’t quit!

How’re you loving as you walk through this week?

© 2018 John C Garmo

“Love . . . does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail” (1 Corinthians 13:6 AMPC).

Throughout this series on 1 Corinthians 13, we see clearly that what matters most to God in a disciple is that person’s agape love.  

Verse six identifies another way in which that love shows. A disciple can be trusted to do what is right and say what is true. That is, this person has trustworthy integrity.

This disciple does not deceive, does not slander, and does not behave in unwise ways. We can describe “integrity” as “showing we can be trusted to do what is right and say what is true.”

Earlier in this letter to Corinthian Christians, Paul confronted them with their toleration of—and perhaps their devious delight in gossiping about—something that was blatantly unrighteous: immorality within their congregation (1 Corinthians 5).

He also called them out on their embarrassing mismanagement of disputes with each other. Rather than settling disagreements within their family of believers, they took each other to court—weakening their witness by airing their dispute in front of a pagan judge and a pagan public.

“Your lawsuits show that you’ve lost [to Satan] already. Why not be wronged or cheated, rather than retaliate by wronging or cheating your own family of believers?” asked Paul (I Corinthians 6:7–8).

Here’s some good news in tough situations: When—not if—someone or some situation tests our commitment to do what is right or say what is true, it gives us another opportunity to worship. To worship is to “honor God acceptably with our heart, mind and strength.” When pressured to compromise our integrity, we can worship by standing firm on this reality: Since God is sovereign, my response to this situation is more important in His eyes than my situation itself.

God’s Word is clear about His countercultural desire for us to do what is right and say what is true:

Lord, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain?
The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness,
and acknowledges the truth in his heart —
who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,

who despises the one rejected by the Lord but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his word whatever the cost,
who does not lend his money at interest or take a bribe against the innocent —
the one who does these things will never be moved. (Psalm 15 HCSB).

Privately or with some friends, here are several questions to ponder:

• How does our trustworthy integrity reveal our convictions about God?
• On whom are we focusing—and not focusing—when we compromise our integrity?
• How is trustworthy integrity an act of worship?
• How do you expect that your commitment to trustworthy integrity will be tested this week?

© 2018 John C Garmo

“Love . . . keeps no record of when it has been wronged” (1 Corinthians 13:5c NLT).

Love . . . forgives. Graciously.

As we continue meditating on what matters most to God in a disciple, let’s ponder the scope and path of forgiveness that we began previously.

God’s Word is clear about His countercultural desire for us to forgive:

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”

(Luke 6:35-36 NLT).

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31 ESV).

Other questions emerge, in addition to those raised in our previous segment.

First: Other than other persons, who else might you and I need to forgive?

Many of us need to forgive ourselves. Satan, our accuser (Revelation 12:10), revels in discouraging us with unrelenting accusations, in God’s ear and in our hearts, about one past failure or another.

Other times we blame God, consciously or subconsciously, for emotional or physical pain that we experienced. “God, You gave me an abusive mother and an alcoholic father. It’s no wonder that I’m a wreck. Who I am today is Your fault, not mine.”

Whether or not you or I understand a wrenching trauma that we experience, we truly worship when we stand firm on this reality: Since God is sovereign, my response to this situation is more important in His eyes than my situation itself. Forgive Him—as He forgave you.

Second: For God’s glory, Satan’s defeat, and our stewardship of life, how can we “forgive” well?

1 John 1:9 summarizes the way God forgives us:

“He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

That is, we can trust God: (a) to honor His own laws justly, (b) disregard our offenses—because of Christ’s atonement—and (c) purge our record of wrongdoing.

So . . . can those who hurt or offend you or me trust us to stand firm and: (a) honor God’s commands, (b) let go of our anger and vengeance—because of Christ’s atonement—and (c) “keep no record of when we’ve been wronged”? When Satan accuses you or me about some past failure, can we stand firm and resist Satan in the manner of 1 John 1:9?

Privately or with some friends, how would you answer these questions?

• About Christlike convictions: What does our forgiveness reveal about our trust that God is our Protector and Avenger?
• About Christlike kindness: On whom are we focusing—and not focusing—when we rehearse wrongs done to us by others?
• About true worship: How is forgiveness an act of worship?

Do you want to honor Him, and do what matters most to Him? I do. Let’s forgive others, forgive ourselves, and forgive God as He forgives us.

How do you expect that your commitment to forgiveness will be tested this week?

© 2018 John C Garmo

“Love . . . keeps no record of when it has been wronged” (1 Corinthians 13:5c NLT).

Love . . . forgives.

“What,” you may ask, “does ‘forgive’ mean?”

“Forgiveness,” wrote an anonymous but skillful wordsmith, “is me giving up my right to hurt you for hurting me.”

Is there anything harder for a disciple who imitates the character of Jesus Christ than forgiving?

I’ve taught these true values on five continents of the world. It happens every time: Regardless of race, status, wealth, or renown, when we begin publicly pondering the issue of forgiveness, the participants get very, very serious.

Why is forgiving so important? Because virtually every living person has been wronged—hurt—by someone else. And nobody likes it. When wronged, we tend to respond with anger and other emotions that drive our thoughts through dark alleys. And angry people do foolish things. Unchecked, we are vulnerable to taking revenge—trying to “get even”—in ways that eventually destroy the lives of both offender and offended.

How do we “keep record” of who wronged us and what they did? One way is by rehearsing those wrongs in our minds, imprisoning them there for easy retrieval. Another is by recording them in a journal or an electronic notebook, as we might a grocery list. A third way is to recite those wrongs to listening ears, telling others about how someone has hurt us.

Whatever our method, harboring unforgiveness triggers a vicious chain-reaction. The angry and bitter unforgiveness that we imprison in our heart captures us and puts us into bondage. It messes with our mind and distracts our heart. The soldier who hides a leaking chemical agent vial in his jacket—which he intends to use against his enemy—will himself be destroyed by the toxin.

Adding to this tragedy is another reality: Two significant others are also involved. In ongoing spiritual warfare, both God and Satan care about our response as disciples when we are wronged (Colossians 3:13 et al.).

“Okay,” you say. “I know the Bible tells us that God cares about our response to life’s wrongs. But Satan? Really?

Really. In 2 Corinthians 2:5­–11, Paul specifically challenges that church to forgive a particular offender—as a counteroffensive move against Satan’s destructive schemes. Paul knew that unforgiveness acts against us just as the chemical agent would against that soldier.

Other questions emerge:

• Other than other persons, who else might you and I need to forgive?
• For God’s glory, Satan’s defeat, and our stewardship of life, how can we “forgive” well?

We’ll ponder those matters as we continue this series on what matters most to God in a disciple.

© 2018 John C Garmo

“Love . . . is not easily angered . . .” (1 Corinthians 13:5b NIV).

Potentially the most impulsive—and most destructive—weakness in your life and mine is poorly controlled anger. We are inundated with angry incidents that—if we are not careful—can lead us to give ourselves “permission” to imitate those lapses of control: fiery dialogue in politics, fist fights at supposed sports events, rage on the roads, violent actions and reactions in media “entertainment,” and vicious words at home.

  God’s call to Christlike calmness in this 13^th chapter is connected to Christlike patience, which we discussed in an earlier segment of this series. In fact, since patience, humility (also an earlier topic), and calmness each require significant self-discipline, this is an appropriate time to talk about self-discipline in general—albeit in the context of anger management.

  Think of self-discipline as “focusing on worthy goals instead of on distractions.” A person who is self-disciplined is, first, not easily angered. Second, if that person does become angry, the anger is controlled, subordinate to that person’s focus on a related but worthwhile goal.

  God’s warnings against angry outbursts are ancient and changeless. In Proverbs 14:17, for example, He says, “A quick-tempered man does foolish things. . . .” How well we know.

  Interestingly, the same Greek word used by Paul in this warning against anger in 1 Corinthians 13:5b is used by Dr. Luke to describe Paul himself in Acts 17! What happened?! Did his own actions contradict his teaching?

  On the contrary, his actions demonstrated his words. Acts 17:16 tells us that Paul became very angry at the many, many idols worshiped in Athens. He knew they distracted people from knowing the true God.

  However, he did not throw a temper tantrum for the public to see. Instead, he reasoned with others about this issue in the synagogue and marketplace. He disciplined himself. His mind ruled his emotions. He was “not easily angered,” but when provoked by that widespread worship of false gods, he managed his anger and channeled it into robust apologetics.

  Privately or with some friends, how would you answer these questions?

• Conviction: What does our self-discipline reveal about our trust that God loves and leads us?
• Kindness: On whom are we focusing—and not focusing—when we lose control and allow ourselves an angry outburst?
• Worship: How is self-discipline an act of worship?

  Do you want to honor Him and do what matters most to Him? I do. Let’s cultivate self-discipline—especially over our anger.

  How do you expect that it will be tested this week?

  How do you expect that it will be tested today?

  What will you do to discipline anger when you feel it building up inside?

© 2018 John C Garmo

“Love . . . does not boast; it is not arrogant. . . .” (1 Corinthians 13:4b ESV).

As we continue our journey of discovery into what matters most to God, there is a fourth quality that God seeks in the hearts of His followers. It is a quality that we all wish other people would show toward us, but that we sometimes only grudgingly show toward others: humility.  

In his letter to Corinthian believers, Paul describes a believer’s potential lack of humility in a couple behavioral ways. First, he says that bragging does not reflect the love of God in one’s heart. Considering the context of the prior and following chapters, some believers may have been bragging, drawing attention to themselves about their ability to speak in tongues. Paul says that being a self-promoting windbag is not loving others as Christ loves us.

Second, he says that arrogance does not reflect the love of God in one’s heart. This same Greek word pops up earlier in Paul’s letter. Several times in chapter 4, and again in chapters 5 and 8, he warns about the wrongness of being puffed up in one context or another.

A puffed up person is a disappointment to God. Knowing that the eyes of Almighty God are on us, how dare we become so full of ourselves, so pride-filled, that we act arrogantly toward others?!

Stated in the positive, a person who does not boast and who is not arrogant is a person who is humble. Think of humility as “honoring others by drawing attention to them instead of to our self.” Think not, however, that meekness means weakness. Meekness—humility—is actually strength that is self-controlled. Humility is one of the special ways that we can show respect to others.

One of the best examples of humility is Jesus Christ Himself. Philippians 2 gets very specific about the ways that Jesus—“Emmanuel”—demonstrated humility. Again while praying on the Mount of Olives before His imminent crucifixion, Jesus said:

Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me.

Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.

(Luke 22:42 ESV)

His example is sobering and powerful.

Privately or with some friends, please ponder the relationship of humility to these issues:

• Conviction: What does our humility reveal about our trust that God loves and leads us?
• Comparisons: On whom are we focusing—and not focusing—when we stoop to bragging about our self and/or acting arrogant toward others?
• Aspiration: How does Christlike humility (e.g., Philippians 2) relate (or not relate) to our personal and professional aspirations?
• Thankfulness: How does thankfulness affect humility?
• Worship: How is humility an act of worship?

Do you want to honor Him and do what matters most to Him? I do. Let’s take our eyes off ourselves and fix our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. Let’s cultivate humility.

This week.

Today.

© 2018 John C Garmo

“. . . I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11b ESV).

If you just joined our journey of discovery into what matters most to God, we are taking a reflective walk through 1 Corinthians 13:4. The third quality that people see in followers who reflect Christlike love is the absence of envy.

The envy noted here is not a casual desire to match someone else’s house or professional status. It is a strong word expressing a hot jealousy about—and a craving to have—the advantages, perks, possessions, or success that someone else has. Not desirable in a disciple . . .

Stated in the positive, a person not consumed with envy is a person who is content. Think of contentment as “wanting what I have rather than having all I want.”

One of the best examples of Christlike contentment in the Bible is the apostle Paul. Although imprisoned and life-threatened, he does not express envy of other Christ-followers who enjoy freedom and comparative safety. Rather, he writes:

. . . I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.

In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret

of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me”

(Philippians 4:11b­–13 ESV)

That final line explains how such a counter-cultural response to life’s situations is possible: God is with us. God works in us. God works through us. He is our Enabler. Without Him, we are unable to embrace this lifestyle.

Significantly however, Paul says he has learned to be content. Christlike contentment does not automatically appear in our lives simply because we trust Christ as our Redeemer. A disciple is, by definition, an active learner and practitioner—not a passive receptacle. If Paul needed to learn and cultivate Christlike contentment, it is no surprise that we need to learn and actively cultivate it, too.

Privately or with some friends, please ponder the relationship of contentment to these issues:

• Trust: What does our envy of others say about our trust that God loves and leads us?
• Comparisons: On whom are we focusing—and not focusing—when we succumb to envy?
• Aspiration: How does Christlike contentment relate (or not relate) to our personal and professional aspirations?
• Thankfulness: How does thankfulness affect contentment and envy?
• Worship: How is contentment an act of worship?

Do you want to honor Him and do what matters most to Him? I do. Let’s take our eyes off others and fix our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. Let’s cultivate contentment.

This week.

Today.

© 2018 John C Garmo

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him” (Luke 10:30-34 NIV).

In our journey of discovering what matters most to God, let’s continue to ponder what He says in 1 Corinthians 13. The second quality identified in 1 Corinthians 13:4 is that a Christian who reflects Christlike love is kind. Think of kindness as “selflessly caring about and helping others.”

The foundation for kindness includes two principles. First, kindness is a choice. A Christian can respond to a situation or person in any of three ways: kindly, unkindly, or absentmindedly. God calls us to the highest of those choices: Be kind.

Second, kindness is an action. In God’s eyes, it is not just the thought that counts; that thought must morph into action.

Christlike kindness comes in many models. For example, a committed Christ-follower is:

• Friendly: Accepting others as they are, welcoming newcomers warmly, listening to others, and protecting others
• Compassionate: Caring for and helping others who are in difficult circumstances
• Generous: Willingly helping others with gifts of time, money, encouragement, or other resources
• Forgiving: (Stay tuned for more on this major act of love in Part 8 of this series.)

In these and other ways, that person reflects to others the lovingkindness that God extends to us day-by-day. The world’s rule may be “Do to others before they do it to you.” But God’s golden rule is “Do to others as you’d like them to do to you” (Matthew 7:12).

In that context, let’s review the ways kindness shows up in Luke 10. The priest bypasses a person in severe need, perhaps having just led in an impressive public sacrifice at the temple. The Levite responds likewise, maybe on his way to taking a break from temple duties for a couple days. God shows no pleasure in either of these two men despite their religious status and ministry at “church.”

In contrast, that humble Samaritan—disrespected by most Jews—responds with Christlike kindness. He was friendly, interrupting his plans to reach out to a stranger. He was compassionate, treating and bandaging the unknown victim’s wounds. He was generous, using his time and resources to (a) remove the wounded one from more danger, (b) find a place for him to recover, and (c) provide for the victim’s needs.

Do you want to honor Him and do what matters most to Him? I do. Let’s befriend another person we’d ordinarily ignore. Let’s be compassionate. Let’s be generous. Let’s forgive. In short, let’s be kind.

This week.

Today.

© 2018 John C Garmo

Parts 1 and 2, in this series about what matters most to God in a disciple, focused on a very challenging reality: For a person who places their faith in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior from “the wages of sin,” following God means much more than learning about Him and skillfully studying the Bible.

In fact, the disciple who focuses only on growing in knowledge and skill will fail sooner or later. Formula: Knowledge + Skill – Character => Failure.

1 Corinthians 13 identifies what matters most to God: A true follower of God reflects His love as a lifestyle. That love reflects outward in Christlike character. This is the light that Jesus welcomes in Matthew 5:14–16: “You are the light of the world . . . Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

This is also the highest form of worship that a disciple can offer to God. It is the offering of that disciple’s heart and lifestyle to Him. Knowledge + Skill + Character => Worship!

As a light beam refracts when passing through a glass prism, God’s love beams into the heart of a disciple and reflects outward to others in various “colors” that comprise a “spectrum of love.” Those colors are qualities of Christlike character.

Through the pen of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, God names several specific character qualities included in agape love. Immediately, He gets personal: Love is patient.

“I should be patient with whom?” you may ask. Answer: With others, of course. But—as arrogant as it is to do otherwise—we must also be reverently patient with God. Let’s ponder these briefly.

Godlike patience with others includes, but exceeds, letting another car cut in front of us on the freeway or slowing our walk to fit the pace of an older or younger companion. It means responding mildly, with self-control, when someone challenges our opinions or acts other than the way we prefer. It means we are habitually slow to get angry with someone, or to resent them.

Godlike patience also means that we are slow to punish. If we are in a position requiring us to enforce consequences for someone’s wrong behavior, we discipline ourselves to do that responsibly, not impulsively or angrily. Interestingly, God led Peter to use that same Greek word for “patient” in 2 Peter 3:9 as he describes God’s patience toward us. And aren’t we thankful!

Some tests of our patience may be more severe. What if someone maliciously and intentionally offends us, provokes us, or somehow harms us? Godlike love endures it. Paul shares his pilgrimage and patient endurance in 1 Corinthians 4:11–13.

What’s more, James 1:2–4 challenges us to accept such trials with joy. Wow—we do not see that kind of response in popular movies. Yet Christ Himself is our example (Hebrews 12:1–3). He patiently ran His race. He did not lose heart along the way. He knew the joy that was coming.

Looking upward, we who follow God must be reverent and patient with God. Like Job, we feel frustrated when our prayers are not answered as we wish and when we wish. How ridiculous and rebellious is that attitude toward our almighty, all-knowing, and loving God?! We honor Him when we discipline ourselves to cultivate deferred gratification—wait patiently for His answer.

Do you want to honor Him and do what matters most to Him? I do. Let’s run our race patiently. Let’s not lose heart. Let’s let our light shine even brighter by trusting and resting in Him. His Spirit will then bless us with more of His patience.

Thank you for continuing this journey into what matters most to God about a disciple.

© 2018 John C Garmo

Part 1 in this series about what matters most to God in a disciple began: “The most fulfilling journey in life is the path of a person who has an intimate relationship with God, and who faithfully follows Him.” Does this seem to you a reasonable description of a true “disciple”?

That description implies a commitment to learning, which includes growing in our knowledge of God (2 Peter 3:18 et al.).  “Learning” also includes developing our skill as a disciple, such as our ability to study the Bible, or teach God’s Word correctly and effectively to others (2 Timothy 2:15 et al.).

But the disciple who focuses only on growing in knowledge and skill will collapse—fail—sooner or later: “Knowledge + Skill – Character => Collapse.”

Worse yet, God warns in 1 Corinthians 13 that such a person will lose God’s approval for focusing on secondary matters instead of on what matters most to Him.

So, what does matter most to God in a disciple? 1 Corinthians 13 answers that crucial question: A true follower of God reflects His love in their life. The evidence of His love in that disciple will be Christlike character: “Knowledge + Skill + Character => Worship!”

Do you know of a 19^th-century scientist and evangelist named Henry Drummond? He was a young man in Scotland who became a good friend of D. L. Moody and assisted Moody in his evangelistic meetings. He was also a thoughtful author. It brought him wide recognition, and he apparently touched millions of lives through his pen.

One of his most significant writings was a booklet titled, The Greatest Thing in the World. It is the result of his study in 1 Corinthians 13 about love. Insightfully, he compares a light beam, a prism, and an array of colors with God’s light, a person’s heart, and agape love. The first is the spectrum of light; the second, the spectrum of love.

God’s love, beaming into the prism-heart of a disciple, reflects outward to others in various “colors” that comprise the “Spectrum of Love.” Those colors are qualities of Christlike character. What a wonder-filled word picture!

Christ-follower, dare we get personal for a few moments? If so, please ponder and answer these questions personally:

• Where does agape love rank among the top five priorities of your church?
• Where does it rank among the top five priorities of your church’s discipleship ministry?
• Where does agape love rank among the top five priorities of your life?

In Part 3 of this series we will begin to explore specific characteristics of agape love that God includes in 1 Corinthians 13. Welcome to this journey into what matters most to God about a disciple!

© 2018 John C Garmo

The most fulfilling journey in life is the path of a person who has an intimate relationship with God, and who faithfully follows Him. Is it the easiest path to walk? No. Is it the inside track to popularity? No. But is it the inside track to joy? Yes, for eternal reasons.

Step one, for any person who yearns to experience this journey (i.e., a “disciple”), starts at the cross of Jesus Christ (John 3:16). It includes genuine conviction, humble repentance, and new loyalty. It is more than salvation from “the wages of sin”; it is also birth into a new family—with that family’s new purposes and new responsibilities,

But what are good “next steps” of this journey into joy? A short answer is that the disciple commits to learning and becoming. “Learning” includes growing in our knowledge. For example, God tells us in 2 Peter 3:18 to “grow in the . . . knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

 “Learning” also includes developing our skill as a disciple. For example, 2 Timothy 2:15 reminds us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman . . . who correctly handles the word of truth.” As a woodcrafter skillfully wields tools of that trade to create wooden works of art, a disciple of Jesus Christ develops and applies skill in Bible study and in teaching or preaching to present God’s Word correctly and effectively to others.

But note this: The disciple who focuses only on growing in knowledge and skill will collapse—fail—sooner or later. Why? Here is a formula for failure:

Knowledge + Skill – Character => Collapse

Think of five people who experienced failure in ministry, whose stories you know well enough to understand basically what went wrong. Were those failures related mostly to a lack of that person’s knowledge? Unlikely. A lack of skill? Unlikely. As a seminary president once commented to me, “When any of our graduates fail in ministry, it is almost never for lack of knowledge or skill. It is almost always for lack of Christlike character.”

So what matters most to God in a disciple? Does He care most about that person’s knowledge—even knowledge about the Bible? No. Does He care most about that person’s skill—even skill in witnessing to others? No. Does He care most about that disciple’s use of spiritual gifts? No.

Please know this well: God says that a disciple’s knowledge, skill, and use of spiritual giftedness are very important. His Word consistently encourages His followers to grow in those areas of spiritual and practical life.

But 1 Corinthians 13 presents what matters most to God in His disciple. God is love (1 John 4:8). His steadfast love permeates all He is and all He does. In His eyes, this is the foundational reality on which a disciple must build, or risk eventual collapse.

What matters most to God is that His love in that disciple’s heart reflects outward to others; it permeates all that the disciple is and does. The evidence of His love in that disciple will be character, showing in that person’s Christlike kindness, humility, thankfulness, integrity, and other qualities that characterize Jesus Christ.

We were born to worship (1 Peter 4:10–11). Put that together with 1 Corinthians 13, and we have a better understanding of the fulfilling journey into joy that God graciously gives His followers: Our walk with God is our greatest witness to the work of God—and our worship of God.

We may also express that path in a heart-nourishing formula:

Knowledge + Skill + Character => Worship

Alleluia!

© 2018 John C Garmo

I noted in last week’s post that Christianity experienced a seismic paradigm shift when Martin Luther and other reformers essentially zero-based the church’s traditional doctrine of salvation and rebuilt it using only God’s Word—“Sola Scriptura.”

Then I stepped back from the details and considered applying that same strategy to discipling ourselves and others. I asked you, “If we zero-base our understanding of what it means to disciple ourselves and others, and then rebuild our understanding Sola Scriptura, how will our strategies—our “discipleship programs”—differ from what it is right now?

Why ask such a question? Because a recent Barna Group survey of discipleship across America (Dec 2015) alerts us to a disturbing situation: Despite our numerous church and parachurch discipling tools, programs, and activities, research reveals “the disconnect between how people think about their spirituality and what’s actually happening in their lives.” Among their conclusions: “Church leaders and congregants need better methods of thinking about and evaluating their discipleship efforts.”

Our key problem is this: People outside the church see woefully little difference between “Christians” and non-Christians. We need to discern that, acknowledge that, and change that. We need to make disciples who make a difference. Further, we must begin with ourselves, and only then influence others as disciples.

If we apply that zero-based strategy, here is what I envision we’ll remember and return to:

• We’ll honestly and intentionally make love our aim. Agape love is a disciple’s distinctive feature (John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13).
• We’ll more clearly discern the relationship of discipline (e.g., solitude, prayer, memorization) and process (e.g., one-on-one, small group) to outcome (agape love, which shows in our Christlike character). Disciplines and processes are many and flexible; the outcome God desires is fixed. God challenges us in His Word to focus more on being than doing; on becoming more purposeful than process-full (Psalm 19:14; Matthew 15:8-9). And knowledge (e.g., theology) plus skill (e.g., Bible study) minus Christlikeness (agape love) leads to collapse.
• Our testimony—in sharing our faith and in discipling—is more about what others see in you and me than what we say (Matthew 5:14–16). Again, let’s make love our aim. Let’s walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1-2; 5:1-2).

This week, 500 years ago, marked the start of the Protestant Reformation. Could this week in 2017 mark the start of a Discipling Reformation? “Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.”

How special it is for us to be alive 500 years after the Protestant Reformation began in Wittenberg! This is an excellent time to thank God for what He did during those years to revolutionize peoples’ understanding of His Word, transform their hearts, and move them from uncertainty and fear through the church to confidence and freedom through Christ.

The core outcome of the Reformation was the revolution in scriptural understanding and worship by parishioners through direct access to God and His Word. As people across Western Europe read and studied the Bible themselves—in their own language rather than Latin, which very few understood—God gradually opened their eyes to uncluttered truth. It generated a paradigm-changing upheaval in faith and practice that is comparable to a magnitude 9.9 earthquake.

Especially the truth about salvation. Beginning with his “tower experience” and study of Romans 1:16–17, Martin Luther and then others realized this: According to the Scriptures alone, we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God’s glory alone. They essentially zero-based their traditional doctrine of salvation and rebuilt it using only God’s Word.

This enlightenment exposed various unscriptural church practices, starting with the church’s abuse of indulgences by selling them to raise money for building a big cathedral. It grew to protests against several traditions that cluttered or countered the truth of God’s Word. It led also to the development of Protestant churches and networks.

What does all this have to do with discipling today?  First – The best way we can celebrate the Reformation is to personally re-embrace these realities—and their implications—and then lead those we influence/disciple to do the same: According to the Scriptures alone, we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God’s glory alone.

Second – Let’s ask each other a question: If we zero-base our understanding of what it means to disciple ourselves and others, and then rebuild our understanding Sola Scriptura, how will our strategy, our “discipleship program,” differ from what it is right now? I have an idea on that; I’ll share it for your consideration in my next post.

Prayer: “Almighty God and loving Father, we thank You for Your deep love and amazing grace! Through Your Spirit in us, please help us care so much about these realities that we will personally re-embrace them and rest in their reality. And please help us share this re-commitment with at least one or two others around us. In Jesus’ name and for Your glory alone, amen.”

Our tragic Hurricane Harvey has a golden lining: thousands of people praying, caring, & sharing their faith while working together to rescue lives and meet needs caused by that crisis.

But what do you suppose will happen when the spotlight shifts to the next public crisis? Yes, you're probably right: Emotion, money, and momentum will move mostly to that next media moment. And then the next one after that.

As a fellow disciple with you, and in the context of discipling others whom you influence, may I suggest some brief, basic observations and recommendations?

7 Observations:

   • Many non-Christians are also significantly helping victims of Hurricane Harvey.

   • It is common to care in a crisis.

   • Although it is both practical and vital for Christians to care in a crisis, that alone does not distinguish Christians from people of other faiths. (Ponder 1 Cor 13:3.)   

   • Selfless love [agape] -- the "love" in 1 Cor 13 -- is steadfast. It takes that critical 1st step of care, but continues beyond it. This love continues after the media spotlight turns away. That is one of its distinguishing features. Like the steadfast love [hesed] of God toward us.

   • Effective disciples cultivate agape love (1 Cor 13). This alignment of heart/attitude/behavior is directed upward to God as a daily act of personal worship.

   • But selfless love (secondarily)also provides a distinction, and a model for mentoring other Christ-followers (John 13:35).

   • One significant way we can bring a smile to our Father's face is for us, as influencers of others, to pray & plan wisely for the post-crisis phase of this trauma.

So . . .

3 Suggestions - Thru your church, parachurch ministry, and/or an informal group:

   • As you pray, care, & share in your response to Harvey's tragedies, embrace and embody agape love as an act of personal worship to Him.

   • Model Christlike character [agape] to another of His disciples, mentoring and including that learner as a participant in your response to Harvey.

   • Plan and delegate where possible the continued discipling of Harvey victims. As God's Spirit works, bring them (1) to faith in Christ and then (2) to maturity in Christ.

Your thoughts on this? (comment below)