I’ve been studying the Book of Judges lately, and in doing so, I came across two recipes: one for success and one for failure.

            The recipe for success is found in Judges 5:2, where we read the opening lines of Deborah’s victory song. Having just led the Israelites in a successful vanquishing of their enemy, Deborah declares that “when the leaders lead” and “when the people willingly offer themselves,” it is time to bless the Lord. Why? No doubt because only the Lord’s miraculous moving could effect such elements of victory.

            You see, “in those days there was no king [leader] in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” That, of course, is the recipe for failure: a lack of strong, godly leadership on the part of those who should have been setting the pace and the standard for the people, and a resulting lack of submission to leadership on the part of the people. When the people lack godly leadership, they will “do their own thing,” and the results will be disastrous. When godly leaders step up to the plate and the people “willingly offer themselves” to follow, victory is assured.

            In a time of history when we in America once again prepare to choose leaders for our temporary lives here on earth, this is a good principle to keep in mind: choose the recipe for success, not for failure. Even more important, however, is the need for we who are God’s people to keep this recipe in mind regarding our eternal lives. If we want victory in the spiritual realm, then strong, godly leaders must commit themselves to lead (whether or not that wins them any popularity contests!), and the people must commit themselves to follow. That, of course, means walking according to what God says is right—not what’s right in our own eyes.

            Whether called to lead or to follow, spend time in God’s Word and in prayer today so that you may know what God says is right—and then walk accordingly. Victory is right around the corner!

 

            Muchos de nosotros han visto la etiqueta adhesiva de parachoques que dice, “Los Cristianos no son perfectos, solamente son perdonados.” Técnicamente eso es cierto. Es un mentís my practico para tener atrás de tu automóvil si tu eres uno de esos Cristianos que ignoran los limites de velocidad.  

 

***Adaptado de mi próximo libro MÁS ALLÁ DE MÍ: Viviendo Una Vida De Primero-Tú En Un Mundo de Primero-Yo (New Hope Publishers, Junio 2008).

 

            Many of us have seen the bumper sticker that reads, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” Technically, that’s a true statement. And it’s a handy disclaimer to have on the back of your car if you’re one of those Christians who ignores speed limits.

            But it can also become a major copout when we get nailed for some bad behavior we would rather not change. I much prefer the statement that says, “God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way.”

            It is absolutely true that God loves sinners. In fact, Romans 5:8 declares that God demonstrated, or showed, His love for us “in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And aren’t we glad? If Jesus had waited until we were no longer sinners to die for us, it never would have happened. (Nor would it have been necessary.) If we ever managed to arrive at the point where we were no longer sinners, Jesus wouldn’t have had to die in our place because, not only would we have learned to control our behavior perfectly, we would have succeeded in changing our very nature as well. But that is a change only God can make.

            And only God can truly search our heart and show us those things that need to be changed—and we all have them. The Christian life is not about a one-time experience of asking God’s forgiveness and inviting Jesus into our heart so we’ll have our “fire insurance” when we die; it’s about the ongoing process of having our minds renewed and our hearts changed to become more like the One who gave His life to purchase that “fire insurance” for us. And that’s why we need to daily humble ourselves and ask Him to search our hearts, and then allow Him to make the changes that are necessary to enable us to become the disciples He has called us to be.

May today be a day of heart-searching and change for each of us, as we remember that God really does love us just the way we are—but He loves us too much to leave us that way.

 

***Adapted from my upcoming book BEYOND ME: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World (New Hope Publishers, June 2008).

            Santiago 4:7 nos dice “Someteos pues a Dios; resistid al diablo, y huirá de vosotros.” No podemos resistir al diablo con nuestros propios esfuerzos. Él es muy vivo y muy fuerte para ser derrotados por mortales finitos. Pero las Escrituras también nos prometen que aún en los lugares más oscuros, la luz de Dios siempre brilla triunfalmente – y la oscuridad no lo puede comprender. El significado original de la palabra “comprender” nos asegura que no solamente la oscuridad no puede comprender la luz de Dios, no la puede apagar. La Luz triunfa sobre la oscuridad – siempre.

            Únanse a esa gran y eterna verdad, mis queridos amigos; pasen su tiempo en la luz de la Palabra de Dios y Su amor, y la oscuridad nunca los va a abrumar ni a equivocarlos de camino o apartarlos del camino que Dios les ha dado.   

 

            I had an alarming email from a friend the other day, exposing something so dark and sinister that my first reaction was to recoil from the truth, to deny it and try to wish it away. But of course, I couldn’t, because even before receiving the email, I had heard much of this centuries-old conspiracy and knew it was a fact, though I didn’t know all the details. I still don’t, nor will I ever this side of eternity. I do know, however, that as dark as our enemy may be and as evil as his schemes, the One who is in us is greater—and He is the source of all light.