The Peace Given by our Lord

The Peace Given by our Lord

Mat 11:28-30 NLT - [28] Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

Our Lord not only promises salvation, but peace. For it is written that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it” (John 3.17). If our Lord intends to save us, He certainly means to grant us peace eternal. He proclaims this in Saint Matthew 11 when he dares those in need of rest to “come to [Him], all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and [He] will give you rest.” Jesus’ promise is not only a promise of eternal security, but of an everlasting peace that ought to overwhelm us. He confirms this by imploring us to “take [His] yoke upon [ourselves].” Normally a yoke holds an animal into the reigns of its master. It bears down on the animal and leads it in the path its master wishes. But what does our Lord’s yoke do? It lightens us. It directs us in the paths of righteousness and favor with the Lord. Christ explains that “[his] yoke fits perfectly, and the burden [he gives] us is light.”

The paradox of a light burden and a freeing yoke are indicative of the perplexity of our Lord’s reign on our lives. Peace in the midst of a chaotic world appears a wishful and fruitless dream, but it is so through the Holy Spirit’s power. Jesus promises us that, if we follow Him, “[we] will find rest for [our] souls.” The rest of God cannot be oversold. The subtle yet powerful sustenance we are given by Jesus each day delineates the power of the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives.

Christ’s yoke and burden are easy and light. Will you accept the peace of our Lord? Recall it each day, for it is most needed each day. There is never a time where peace cannot help us. Let Jesus’ peace sustain you today, tomorrow, and forever more into eternity. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

The Faith of Abraham

Hbr 11:8-16 NLT - [8] It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. [9] And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith--for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent. And so did Isaac and Jacob, to whom God gave the same promise. [10] Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. [11] It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise. [12] And so a whole nation came from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children--a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them. [13] All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. [14] And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. [15] If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. [16] But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.

Faith is not a mere belief, but a lifestyle. Hebrews 11 reminisces on the great heroes of faith. Their actions were not merely one-time events, but a pattern of living that reflected they were “looking forward to a country they [could] call their own.” One such example is the faith of Abraham. Such a popular example this is that Abraham is often called “the father of faith.” Why? Abraham’s story is not only a story concerning the origin of God’s nation, Israel, but a journey revealing God’s faithfulness to man and man’s faithful response to God.

Notice the Scripture immediately states that “Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and to go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.” Without question, God’s children ought to follow Him. I do not mean that Abraham likely questioned where God was leading him or how he would get there, but that Abraham went knowing that God would provide a location and a means of travel. Hebrews says that “he went without knowing where he was going,” and that “even when he reached the land God had promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent.” Even when we do know where God is leading us, truly faithful men and women will “live there by faith.” Through trials and tribulations, the man of faith continues to camp in foreign lands because God has a plan for him.

Also recognize that God provides for Abraham during his journey. Verse 11 says that “it was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren. Abraham believed that God would keep his promise.” Even when we are exactly where God wants us to be, it is natural for us to have desires and needs. We often worry that God will not provide, but Genesis 15.6 explains that Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD declared him righteous because of his faith.” Abraham knew he had needs. He knew, however, that God would provide for him. We need men and women of such faith! We need to believe God is our provision even when the world is crashing around us. Remember that when the impossible needs to be done, God does the impossible. If God can give a barren aged woman a child, He can provide for your needs. We must only trust Him!

Verse 16 says that the heroes of faith “were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a heavenly city for them.” Abraham was looking ahead to a day where he was with God. That is our true home. The weaker Christian thinks of eternity and imagines a life trapped in an infinite array of floating clouds with an old bearded man. The man strong in the Lord sees an eternity spent with the One he is mad over—the One he is infatuated with and can’t stop thinking about. Faith means believing that we will receive such a kingdom. That is why Hebrews 11.1 says that “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” What do we hope for? Do we hope for a day where we will be forever with Christ? Let us be men and women of faithfulness—men and women who seek God continuously, and long passionately and obsessively about that day when we shall see eternally His face. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Generous Salvation—It's Not What We Earn

Generous Salvation—It's Not What We Earn

Mat 20:9-16 NLT - [9] When those hired at five o'clock were paid, each received a full day's wage. [10] When those hired earlier came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day's wage. [11] When they received their pay, they protested, [12] `Those people worked only one hour, and yet you've paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.' [13] "He answered one of them, `Friend, I haven't been unfair! Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? [14] Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. [15] Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be angry because I am kind?' [16] "And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then."

Mat 11:27-30 NLT - [27] "My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." [28] Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

Grace is the foundation of Christianity. Without it, Christ’s death is meaningless because it does not address the issue of what is to be done with human wickedness. Many people are surprised to hear this term, “human wickedness.” “Are we not,” they ask, “essentially good?” That is the great danger of humanism thought—the idea that humans are essentially great, moral agents who do what is right at their core. But I once had a psychology professor who awakened me to the reality of what Christianity teaches: we are not good at our core. He explained, quite rightly, that the Bible says Man became corrupted with sin after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thus, humans are fallen creatures in desperate need of a complete transformation.

Our Lord provides us a way out. He teaches us this in Saint Matthew. His parable explains how, in spite of some workers working only a few hours compared to others working a whole day, every worker received the same pay. Economics teaches us this is impractical. Law teaches us it is unjust. Grace teaches us it is precisely correct. The employer in the parable asks, “Should you be angry because I am kind?” He explains that he “wanted to pay this last worker the same as [the previous worker].” Jesus wants to grant us repentance. Grace is within His nature; it is the God we serve. His salvation is generous.

Of course, humans, still in their fallen state, struggle to accept grace. It is, I will admit, a difficult habit to accept. We are taught that we get nothing for free; indeed, even the laws of the universe teach us that. And yet here is our Lord promising to give us something for free: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11.28). He does not prefix or postfix the gift with any requirements other than belief in the Father and Son. Indeed, His “yoke fits perfectly, and the burden [he gives us] is light” (Matthew 11.30). As Christians, we must learn that salvation must be taken freely. Our mistakes and misgivings, our ill attitudes, our bad days, and our flaws are all acceptable to Him. He did not die for the perfect, but for the imperfect. He died for you and me. He has “taken us in.” He does not say, “Clean yourself, then come to me;” He immediately proclaims, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens.” Jesus wants you just as you are so that He can make you just as He is. That is the nature of grace. The unconditional willingness to do so is the nature of love.

If you have been trying to live your life like the first workers, trying to earn your wages, don’t attempt it. It is futile to earn anything before God. I heard a pastor once say, “You don’t owe God anything, and He isn’t asking you for anything.” All Jesus asks is our life. Let His generous grace and mercy sweep over you. “Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down over me,” a worship song goes. Is His grace sweeping over you? Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Christian Faith

Christian Faith

Hbr 11:1-3, 6 NLT - [1] What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. [2] God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. [3] By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. ... [6] So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Mar 11:22-24 NLT - [22] Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. [23] I assure you that you can say to this mountain, `May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. [24] Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.

My favorite Star Wars scene occurs in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. In it, Jedi Master Yoda requests that his mentor Luke Skywalker pull his ship out of a swamp using the force. In desperation, Luke proclaims the task impossible. The wise Master Yoda, however, exclaims, ““Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.” After Yoda pulls the ship out of the water, Luke shouts, “I don’t believe it!” “That,” Yoda replies, “is why you fail.” You can watch the clip here(http://bit.ly/ax06v5).

There is an eerie parallel to this story with the sort of faith Christ calls us to have. In Mark 11, Jesus tells us to “have faith in God.” He “[assures us] that [we] can say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and [our] command will be obeyed.” Most of us assume this passage is metaphorical, but I believe our Lord meant it literally. He tells us “all that’s required is that [we] really believe and do not doubt in [our] heart.” Yet it is always doubt which clouds our faith, isn’t it? We are taught to be skeptical of nearly everything, and while there is perhaps nothing wrong with this, if we are not taught to also believe in what has been proven trustworthy, our lives will be lived in miserable mistrust.

The writer of Hebrews explains that faith “is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot see. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” Why are we confident in the unseen? What evidence is there of our Lord? A simple little hymn proclaims, “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.” We have faith in God because He goes with us every day. He has never left us or forsaken us, even in our times of darkest gloom and deep despair. In our greatest hour of need, He has comforted us. In times of joy, He has cheered us onwards. In seasons of stagnation, He has kept our spirits bright. In droughts and famine, He has brought us food. In the strongest storms, He has given us shelter. “What a mighty God we serve!”

Yes, Christ proclaims we can move mountains. The real question, however, is if we could do it if He asked. Most of us are not there yet, not because we are unable, but because of our unbelief. Jesus says, “Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.” It is not the prayer that concerns us, nor the receiving, but the belief aspect. Doubts are like cracks in the surface which slowly grow and undo the foundation above it. Doubt can destroy our entire request. That is why faith is so crucial to a Christian’s life.

Will we have faith today? Can we move a ship out of a swamp, a mountain into the sea, or even the salvation of a loved one? “Size matters not,” Master Yoda examines. Does God see our prayers differently depending on the size? Of course not! We can just as well raise the dead to life as we can heal a sour attitude. What do we lack? Faith. Let us have faith to do the seemingly impossible. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Listening to the Lord's Voice

Listening to the Lord's Voice

1Sa 3:9-10 NLT - [9] So he said to Samuel, "Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, `Yes, LORD, your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went back to bed. [10] And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Yes, your servant is listening."

Biblical history informs us that those men and women on whom God took the most favor have generally been individuals willing to listen to His voice. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and an innumerable collection of others all succeeded in accomplishing the Lord's will because they listened to Him. Here in 1 Samuel, we see a rather unique example of that. Samuel is called up from bed three times by the Lord. Finally, after Eli realizes this is the voice of the Lord calling Samuel, he instructs the boy to “[g]o and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say 'Yes, LORD, your servant is listening.'” What wise advice. The man or woman who wishes to do the Lord's work must be willing to listen to His voice. What man goes to learn a subject while putting headphones in his ears while the professor is lecturing? What does one expect to learn from a sermon if he is too busy catching up on his sleeping deficiencies, or too unwilling to go altogether?

In this same manner, it is of critical importance that the Christian be willing to listen to the Lord's voice. Like Samuel, we need men and women who lie down at night asking the Lord to work through them. People just waiting to hear a message from God. When the Lord calls, “Samuel! Samuel!”, are we willing to reply, “Yes, your servant is listening?”

And yet we live in a world filled with such noise--“Cling and Clatter” one lyricist put it. Our music gets louder and louder every year. Our little iPods are maxed out at full volume. Our tweets and social networks and televisions are all blaring. There is nothing inherently wrong with any of these things, so long as we are able to draw away from it and listen to the Lord. I encourage all of us to take some quiet time to spend with the Lord. Turn of the television or stereo, draw away from the crowds, and spend some time listening to the Lord's voice. I feel like too many times we spend so much time telling God the things we want and need, that we forget that conversation is a two-way street. What is the Lord speaking to us? Not only will you receive instruction from the Lord, you will be relieved. The stress of life will not seem so burdensome. You will learn things from the Scripture, from life's lessons, and your relationships with others. You will learn how you've been acting lately, and what you need to work on. Yes, listening to God's voice also means listening to our own heartbeat. What is our heartbeat saying? Are we doing the Lord's work? I encourage you to spend some time each day to listen to God. The chaos of the modern world will suddenly be transposed into the ordered, peaceful harmony of a world where we are in tune with Christ and His will. Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

Walking with the Lor

Walking with the Lord

Pro 3:5-10 NLT - [5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. [7] Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil. [8] Then you will gain renewed health and vitality. [9] Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. [10] Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with the finest wine.

Gen 5:24 NIV - [24] Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Gen 3:8 NIV - [8] Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

One of the things that has always struck me when referring to the fellowship between God and Man is this idea of “walking with God.” We first see the phrase implied in Genesis 3, where God is said to have been “walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” The implication is that God's presence was in the garden with Adam and Eve. They walked with God. Again in Genesis 5.24 we see a similar reference, although likely not literal: “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” The New International Version says Enoch “walked with God,” but the New Living Translation translates this passage as “[Enoch] enjoyed a close relationship with God throughout his life.” Both versions place an emphasis on this idea of fellowship with God.

But just what does it mean to walk with God? The writer of Proverbs explains it: “trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek [God's] will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” Walking with God means trusting Him. It means seeking Him with all that we are. It means that we rely on His plans and His own self to sustain us. In this sense, it is perhaps better to say that God carries us. You will very likely find this implication when speaking with a Christian who has rooted himself deeply in the faith. This sort of man will speak often about how God is providing for Him, what wonderful things He is doing in his life, and what good things He has planned for the world. In other words, the man who walks with God is optimistic. He does not know where the path ahead lies, but He knows who is leading Him. That is why the Scripture says “He will direct your paths.” Many Christians like to see it the other way. They wish to direct their own path and drag God alongside them, or chain Him behind them. But this is not what it means to walk with God.

Walking with God means that we focus our lives on Him. He is not something we drag along as a good luck charm, a mere object of comfort or intellectualism, or a bodyguard in times of stress. No man who really loves a woman will marry her just because she happens to conveniently be good at cooking and providing pleasure. The carnal man will say such a thing, but Christians ought not even joke about them. Likewise, the Christian must not joke about His relationship with God. It must not be a mere “get out of jail free card.” Just as the man who really loves His wife spends time with her, makes sure to treat her with love and gentleness, so the man who really loves and walks with God will pursue passionately a relationship with Him. We must remember that it was Christ who first walked this journey: He is the one who stopped to bring us along with Him. Just as He led the disciples, so He leads us daily.

May we allow God to direct our paths. May we, like Enoch, walk with God in fellowship and in love. God, let us be a generation that passionately pursues your face! Let us be the Psalm 24 generation! Walk with Jesus every day. He will comfort you, instruct you, and love you. Most of all, He will lead you to His home, and He will help you find others to begin the journey. Let's start walking! Amen.

With love in Christ,

Austin Aldrich

"Hi, I'm a Christ Follower"

“Hi, I'm a Christ Follower”
Act 16:22-34 NLT - [22] A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. [23] They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. [24] So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. [25] Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. [26] Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! [27] The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. [28] But Paul shouted to him, "Don't do it! We are all here!" [29] Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. [30] He brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" [31] They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household." [32] Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household. [33] That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. [34] Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.

A major contemporary problem in Christianity today is the prevalence of Christian culture in place of Christianity. I was talking with a friend today about how focused we have become on getting as many people we can saved and in the church building, but we are not interested in changing them. We live in a nation where we are taught to “get saved and get right with the Lord.” Rarely do religious discussions go beyond this. In many places, church is a contemporary social activity, whereby one gains acceptance into the community by engaging in that society's ritualistic habits. Yet if this is what we label Christianity, we have missed the point, and we are no different than the pagans who sacrificed every year to the Corn King because it was expected to uphold their family and community's sense of honor. A parody video of the “Mac vs. PC” ads illustrates this point with the “Christian vs. Christ Follower” advertisement. In it, one man shows all external appearances of being a good Christian: he is dressed to the nines, decked out with Christian bracelets, bumper stickers, and a mountainside of theological books. Proud of his appearance, he asks a young, casually dressed man what he wears to show Christ. The man replies, “Well, nothing, I guess. I don't know, I just try to follow Christ in the way I live my life.” The video can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RtfNdg1fQk.

The point of this video is to show what true Christianity looks like. Unfortunately, our culture has really begun to believe that being a good Christian means merely going to church every Sunday, praying before supper and bedtime, and not cursing or stealing or doing any of those sorts of awful things. In other words, Christianity has become a mere external shell by which a man's commitment to Christ is shown only in his willingness to dedicate two hours of his Sunday and 20 seconds of his meal.

But is this the Biblical picture? Can we really keep playing Church and playing Christianity? Can all we are really be reduced down to a line in a typical country song or a stereotypical portrayal on a film? The Scripture doesn't seem to think so. Isn't it interesting that every time we see an instance of persecution, witness, or salvation in the Bible, it involves a radical transformation and dedication of one's life? It is a continual pursuit of God that often leads to great suffering and death.

In Acts 16 we see yet another scenario. Paul and Silas, after casting out a spirit from a fortune-teller, are thrown into prison for upsetting the profiteering occurring from the fortune-teller. Notice especially the spirit of Paul and Silas in prison, however. They “were praying and singing hymns to God.” Now, this certainly shows us why we sing those hymns, be they modern or antiquated. Now we see why we pray. We pray and sing because the joy that is within us from Christ overflows and overfills us even in times of desperation. It has been in the moments of suffering, in the moments where I believed God should be furthest away, that I felt Him closest to my heart. Following Christ fills us with an overwhelming love that can't be contained. It spreads out. The scripture says “the other prisoners were listening.” True Christianity doesn't need t-shirts and bracelets, though they may often times be used to help spark an interest in unbelievers or serve as great reminders to us. True Christianity doesn't need a pew, nor a building. It simply needs Christians. If Paul and Silas can worship in a prison cell and impact the prisoners, you and I can do the same! Wherever we are, we must remember who we are following. God's true Church is filled with love and compassion. It is filled with godly men and women willing to die for the truth than to live in separation from God. Christians are so concerned with people that they can't stand to allow the world to live in eternal separation from God.

I hope the picture you see from Paul and Silas presents clearly and precisely the image of the true Christian. Becoming a Christian isn't just a goal. It isn't just something you check off a list and write in your Bible. It isn't something you appeal to occasionally for some cultural value but then do not actively live out. Christianity cannot not be lived out. We must be very concerned about those who have proclaimed Christ as their Lord and yet live for years in sin, never acknowledging Him. The Scripture says of them: “if they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them” (2 Peter 2.20-21). Beloved, we must not allow depravity to invade our lives. We must not become cultural Christians, but become Christ-Followers. We must also do everything we can to bring back those who have become that way. If you have become a mere cultural Christian, won't you turn back to God today? Won't you see what it is like to fully and passionately follow Christ in a relationship that is based on love and commitment, not on guilt and social acceptance? Amen.

With love in Christ,




Austin Aldrich