IT’S OKAY TO BE AVERAGE

 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)

                I am a pretty average guy. This was confirmed recently as I participated in a 5K run. Out of 38 runners I came in 17^th. Out of 20 male runners I came in 10^th. Out of the three men 60+ I came in 2^nd. I don’t think you can get much more average than that.

                In high school, I was slightly above average. In college I was definitely average. And throughout my ministry career, I would have to say that I have been an average pastor. In some areas, a little above average and in others a little below average.

                I used to attend a national leadership conference that made me think that being average was not okay. The impression given by the many speakers was that if you were not at the top of the curve then you were not doing your job. I stopped going to the conference. I got tired of being told that I didn’t measure up.

                But the truth is that most of us are average, and that is normal and okay. If we look at a standard bell curve, 68.26 % of us fall within the average category. 13.59% fall just above average and 13.59 % fall just below average. And only 2.14% fall into the exceptional category, while 2.14 % are failures. I don’t think that it is wrong for us to strive to be above average, but most of us will remain in the average category. It is just the way things are.

                If we look at the main characters in the New Testament, we see that this holds true even for committed followers of Jesus. There were 12 disciples who walked closely with Jesus. If we add Paul, Barnabas, and Apollos to the mix we get 15 people. We can place Paul, Peter, and possibly John in the exceptional category. Barnabas and Matthew would fall above average. Judas would fall in the utter failure category. The rest would fall in the average category. If fact, as far was we know, most of the other people we encounter as followers of Jesus in the New Testament would fall in the average category. We look up to Peter and Paul as models of genuine faith, but they are not the norm. They are the positive outliers on the bell curve.

                This should be good news for the rest of us. God has called us to be faithful right where He has placed us. Some of us will make major contributions to the cause of Christ. Most of us will represent Christ in more quiet and unspectacular ways. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive to be our best; we should. But for most of us, our best will be average.

                It is interesting that when Peter wrote to the churches, he didn’t instruct them to all be leaders or to all excel in ministry. Instead, he instructed them to live quiet and peaceable lives, and in so doing positively influence those around them.

                Because of my personality, I can feel guilty very easily. When I was in school, if other kids acted up in class, I felt guilty. In my ministry, if people failed, I felt guilty. Guilt is very real, but some guilt is genuine and some is false. I had to learn to distinguish between the two. Understanding that it is okay to be average has lifted a huge burden of guilt off of my shoulders. It has allowed me to celebrate what God has done in and through me, without having to compare my ministry to the Mega-church pastors of the world.

                It reminds me of a quote I have seen on several occasions. This is a paraphrase because I don’t remember the real name of the Rabbi. We will call him Rabbi Jacob. Rabbi Jacob said, “When I get to heaven, God is not going to ask me why I wasn’t Moses. He is going to ask me, why I wasn’t Rabbi Jacob.” When I get to heaven, God is not going to ask me why I was not like Bill Hybels, or Rick Warren, or Andy Stanley. He is going to ask me if I was the best Dave Banfield I could have been.

One of my favorite passages in scripture is found in Hebrews 12. After the writer of Hebrews has gone through the “Hall of Faith” in chapter 11, he turns his attention to us. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) I like to focus on that last phrase, “the race marked out for us.” God doesn’t expect us to run someone else’s race. He expects us to run the race He has marked out for us. And if we are faithful to that, most of us will live average lives as followers of Christ. Average is not bad; it is the norm.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

 

DO YOU HAVE A HAND-ME-DOWN FAITH?

 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)

                If you grew up in a family with more than one child, then you probably understand what it is to live with hand-me-downs. As the older child grows out of something, the younger child grows into it, and so on. It is a pretty common practice in families, and it really makes sense. But when it comes to our faith, hand-me-downs don’t work.

                I made a commitment to follow Jesus when I was 5 years old. I did it because I trusted my parents and my Sunday School teacher. They said it was true, so I believed them and said yes to Jesus. That decision didn’t really impact my life until I was 13. I attended summer camp for the first time. One night at the campfire, the speaker asked if we were sure about our faith. Something stirred in me and I stayed after to talk with the counselor. That night I prayed for an assurance of my faith, but that was not all. I began to realize that if I was a follower of Jesus, it should make a difference in the way I lived my life. I struggled to live up to my hand-me-down faith all the way through high school. It wasn’t until I went to college that my faith really became mine. I began to own my faith in more profound ways.

                Almost all of us begin our spiritual journey with a hand-me-down faith. Someone shared the Gospel with us, and because we trusted them, we put our faith in Jesus. As a Chinese friend of mine once put it, “I had to trust you before I could trust your Jesus.” The foundation of our spiritual journey was based on the faith of others. Paul even points to that in his counsel to Timothy. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV)

                But just as we eventually grow out of the hand-me-downs of our childhood, so we must grow beyond a hand-me-down faith. We can continue to live with a hand-me-down faith, but our spiritual life will remain immature and shallow. When the storms of life come to test our faith, we can be shaken. As I did in college, we need to own our faith. That means that we need to examine our faith, ask hard questions, and learn for ourselves the depth and breadth of our faith.

                As with any endeavor in life, growing strong in our faith takes effort and discipline. It begins with intentionally studying the Bible.  We need to discipline ourselves to do more than just read a little in our Bible every day. When I was in college, it was common for us to do a quick read through Our Daily Bread and call it good for the day. Instead of a quick glimpse in the Bible, we need to actually engage with the Bible, seek what God wants to teach us through the Bible, and look below the surface to understand the truths of the Bible. When Jesus taught the crowds, He used parables. He explained to his disciples that He did this to test people’s hearts. Those who were not really interested would just take the parable at face value. But those with the heart to really encounter God would discern the meaning behind the parable. The stories in the Bible are not there for our entertainment. They are there to teach us about God, about sin, about ourselves, and ultimately about Christ and His salvation.

                In addition to studying the Bible, we need to listen to one another. The Christian life was never intended to be a solo journey. We are to live in community with one another. There are practical applications for this as we support and encourage one another. But God has also gifted some in the body to be spiritual guides, teachers who can help us understand and apply God’s word and wisdom to our lives. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

                The goal of the Christian life is not to just hang on until Jesus comes. The goal of the Christian life is to grow deep into the love and grace of God and to share that with the world around us. We cannot effectively do that with a hand-me-down faith. We need a faith that is truly our own, that is woven into the very fabric of our lives.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)

CAN YOU DEFEND YOUR FAITH?

 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

                I just finished reading “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” by Nabeel Qureshi. I was struck by Nabeel’s determination to defend his faith in Islam. He was well schooled in the classic arguments for Islam and against Christianity. Often, as he engaged Christians regarding their faith, they were unprepared to defend what they believed. Many of them were basing their faith on second hand knowledge. God brought a young man by the name of David into Nabeel’s life who was able to effectively engage Nabeel. After a number of years of back and forth, Nabeel surrendered his life to Christ.

                As I read this young man’s story, I couldn’t help but ask myself, how prepared am I to defend my faith in Christ? Peter wrote that we should always be prepared to give people an answer for the hope we have in Christ. If you were confronted by a Nabeel, could you effectively engage him in spiritual dialog?

                If we are going to effectively defend our faith, we need to be diligent students of the Bible. The Bible is foundational to everything we believe. It is not enough for us to know the basic facts from the Bible. We need to understand how the Bible is put together. We need a clear understanding of the truths of the Bible, that means we need to do the hard work of studying theology and doctrine. We also need to be able to defend the authenticity and authority of the Bible. As Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

                Not only do we need to be students of the Bible, we also need to be students of other faiths and other cultures. Many Christians are afraid to study other religions for fear that it might weaken their faith. If we are going to effectively proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to understand how other people view the world and spiritual matters. Without an understanding of other faiths, we do not have a basis for a meaningful dialog.

                We also need to have sound instruction from others. One of the assets of our faith is the body of Christ, the church. As we come together for worship and instruction, we can encourage and strengthen one another. As it says in Proverbs 27:17, As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. We are always stronger together. When we get discouraged, others can lift us up. When we don’t have the right answers, others can help us to find them. When we feel alone, other can assure us that we are not. As our society becomes more and more secular, our need for one another increases.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

                But we also need the courage to engage others in spiritual conversations. When I was doing my research for my Doctorate, I discovered that many international students were surprised that Americans are reluctant to talk about their faith. First, many international students are under the misconception that all Americans are Christians. In other countries, religious faith is so integrated into the social and political fabric of the country that there is not separation. Internationals students are surprised when this is not so here in America. Second, international students think that it is only natural that a person should talk about their religious faith, because it is a part of their culture. If we were to visit them in their country, they would automatically share their faith with us. So when Americans are reluctant to speak about their faith, it is confusing to them.

                The first step toward being equipped to defend our faith is to go back to the source in prayer. We need to ask God to give us insight, discernment, and wisdom. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, He will equip us to be what He called us to be, witnesses of His glory.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)

AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST

 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)

                I have been reading “Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” by Nabeel Qureshi. In the first section of the book, he shares his upbringing as a Muslim. He talks about how their faith was such an integral part of their everyday lives. When he was in seventh grade, his mother sat him down and impressed upon him the importance of projecting a positive image of what it means to be Muslim. “They will always see you first and foremost as a Muslim. That is your identity, and you must embrace it.” From that point on Nabeel saw himself as an ambassador for Islam.

                The way his faith was integrated into his life and the way that he saw his responsibility to reflect the most positive image that he could really challenged me. Do we, as Christians, have the same level of commitment to Christ? Do we see ourselves as everyday ambassadors for our faith? When people look at out lives, is the image their perceive positive or negative? Unfortunately, today many people see all Christians in a very negative light. This is not necessarily because they are rejecting Jesus, but because we have not been positive examples of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

                What does it mean for us to be positive ambassadors for Christ in our world? It begins with how we treat one another. Jesus made it clear that the evidence of our faith is the degree to which we love one another. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 (NIV) Too often, when people look at the church, they do not see love demonstrated, but conflict. Jesus has called us to love each other as He has loved us, unconditionally. If we are going to change the image of the church in the world, it must begin within. We need to humble ourselves, repent of our bickering and backbiting, and ask God to empower us to truly love one another.

                As we learn to truly love one another, we can begin to extend that love to those outside of the church. As we interact with the world around us, we need to treat people with respect and grace. Although we may disagree with their life choices, we can still extend the love of Christ to them. Afterall, Jesus was known as a friend of sinners. Can we say that about his followers?

                Paul tells us that we need to learn a better way of interacting with the people around us. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV) If we are going to change our world for Christ, we need to change the way we approach those who do not yet believe in Him. Although Paul is writing specifically to the believers in Ephesus, his instructions can apply to the way we interact with unbelievers as well.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 4:31-32, 5:1-2 (NIV)

We can expect people who are not followers of Jesus to misunderstand us and even to oppose us. They way make fun of our faith. They may actively oppose the expression of our faith. But in all of this, we need to refrain from pushing back. Instead, we need to disarm their opposition with genuine kindness.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)

As followers of Christ, we do not wear any special clothes that identify us as believers. The only way another person will know about our faith is through our actions and our words. And we all know that our actions speak louder than our words. When Jesus left his disciples for the last time on earth, he told them that they would be his witnesses throughout the world. The question for each of us is, what kind of a witness am I being for Christ?

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)

 

WELCOME TO THE FIRST CENTURY

 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42 (NIV)

                From time to time throughout my ministry, I have heard people expound on the idea of being the first century church all over again. I understand what they mean, but I wonder if they have really thought through the implications of that wish.

                Acts 2 gives us a snapshot of the first church. In many ways, it seemed idyllic. But upon closer examination we see that everything was not a bed of roses. In fact, the early church faced many of the same internal struggles that we face today. Ananias and Sapphira vied for prestige without sacrifice. There was division between the Grecian Jews and the Hebraic Jews over who was being taken care of. Later in Paul’s letters we see infighting, arrogance, self-righteousness, and unforgiveness in the church.

                If we step back a little farther, we can see the landscape in which the early church lived. They lived in a world that was decadent. The elite minority ruled, while the majority lived subsistence lives. There was a small middle class and a large number of slaves and servants. The church was a religious minority, persecuted by both the Jews and the Romans. They often became social outcasts. They had no political, social, or economic power. Many in the early church were martyred for their faith.

                In many ways, we have returned to the first century. The world in which we live has become increasingly decadent. More and more the elite minority makes the rules and everyone else is expected to fall in line. The church is increasingly marginalized and often vilified. Within the church, we see disunity, strife, and arguing. In some cases, we have become arrogant and self-righteous, reflecting more the persona of the Pharisees than followers of Jesus.

                What made the flawed first century church stand out from the crowd and eventually flourish? I think there were four basic things that propelled the church forward.

                First, they staked their lives on the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The early believers embraced the foundational truth of the Gospel; that Jesus was the Son of God. They placed their hope in the reality of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

                Second, they were totally dependent on the power of God. Worship was at the heart of their life. Acts 2 tells us that they met daily in the Temple courts praising God. They were devoted to prayer and to the teaching of the Apostles. Their worship shaped the rest of their lives. They knew that they were powerless without the power of the Holy Spirit within them.

                Third, they were dependent on one another.  Acts tells us that they were devoted to the fellowship. They shared meals together. They met in their homes to encourage and support one another. As the church expanded, hospitality became an essential aspect of the life of the church. The only people they could count on were other believers. They were willing to sacrifice for one another.

                Fourth, they led by example. The early church had no political power. They were viewed as a fringe group at best. Yet, they changed the world by the way that they lived out their faith. In a world that abandoned unwanted children, the church rescued them and raised them as their own. In a world that devalued women, the church gave women a place to grow and thrive. In a world that saw slaves as expendable, the church gave value to every person. In a world of elitist classism, the church broke down the barriers of class, race, and social standing. They did their best to love each other with the love of Christ, and people outside of the church took notice.

                In the environment in which we live today, we the church need to get back to being the church. First, we need to repent of our arrogance and self-righteousness. We need to repent of our love affair with political and economic power. We need to repent of our internal bickering and back-biting. It is time to humble ourselves before God and ask for His forgiveness and mercy.

                Second, we need to get our focus back on Jesus. For too long we have given lip service to Jesus, while depending on our own strength and ingenuity. As it says in Hebrews 12:1-3, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

                Third, we need to recommit to being the body of Christ in our world. Jesus said, by this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. That is the place to start. Instead of trying to change the secular world around us, we need to change the church. We need to get back to being devoted to one another, to sharing with one another, to supporting one another. If we really want to change our world, we need to start to live out our faith in tangible ways. We need to build a community that attracts sinners by demonstrating a better way to live.

                In some ways, I think God has answered the prayers of those who have wanted to go back to the first century church. Unfortunately, it isn’t the ideal place that they thought it would be. Just like the first church, we are flawed. We are jars of clay that God wants to use to display His glory. It is time for us to actively be the salt and light that Jesus commanded us to be.

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

 We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 

                Pretty much every American recognizes the statement above. It was become a rally cry for any number of causes; often causes at odds with each other. There is great truth at the heart of this statement. Unfortunately, it has been so distorted that that truth has been lost.

                At the heart of this statement is the truth that all people are created equal. Ironically, when this statement was adopted, there was a large segment of people who were excluded, primarily blacks and Native Americans. The foundation for this statement comes right from the Bible. In Genesis 1 it states that all people are created in the image of God. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (NIV) There are two essential truths here. First, we have been created by God. Second, we have been created by God to reflect His image in the world. This applies to all people.

                Because we were created by God in His image, we have certain “unalienable” rights; life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. If we examine each of these rights, we can see how they have been distorted and how God intended for them to be exercised.

                Everyone has the right to life. If seems clear and obvious, yet it isn’t honored. Just yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe vs. Wade, the case that allowed for legal abortion. Since that monumental ruling, millions of babies have been denied the right to life. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who believe that when a person gets to a certain advanced age and they can no longer take care of themselves, that we should end their life.

                In contrast to this, Jesus offers a different path. In John 10:10 Jesus states, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. The life that Jesus offers is more than just physical life, it is life eternal. The life that Jesus offers cannot be taken away from a person. Because of eternal life, a person can live a full life in the here and now, without fear of the future.

                Everyone has the right to liberty. For most people today, that means that they can do whatever they want to do. Liberty is seen as the elimination of restraints. That kind of living is appealing to many, but in the end, it leads not to true freedom but to bondage. As Paul says, Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16 (NIV) A life lived without restraint ultimately leads to bondage.

                Jesus offers genuine freedom. He offers freedom for condemnation. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1 (NIV) He offers freedom from the power of sin. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:18 (NIV) He offers the freedom to be who God created us to be, to live out our purpose to glorify God and to experience His love, grace, and mercy.

                Everyone has the right to pursue happiness. This is one right that I think many people misread. It does not guarantee happiness. It guarantees the right to seek happiness. In our society today we are obsessed with seeking happiness. Anything that makes me happy becomes valid, whether others see it or not. My happiness trumps everything else. But the pursuit of happiness is an insatiable hunger that only grows the more we feed it.

                Jesus offers us genuine happiness. He calls it joy, and it is not bound by our circumstances. True joy is found in relationship with Jesus. He made that clear as He prepared His disciples for His death on the cross.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:5-11 (NIV)

                God has created us with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Life: not just physical life, but eternal life through Jesus Christ. Liberty: not the freedom to do whatever we want to do, but the freedom to be who God created us to be. Happiness: not the temporary happiness we find in our world today, but a genuine happiness that wells up from within us because we are in a secure relationship with our Creator.

 

THE GOD OF RESTRAINT

 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.

Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

                In preparation for preaching a series in the Gospel of John, I have begun to reread Philip Yancey’s book, “The Jesus I Never Knew.” In one of the chapters, Yancey explores the temptations of Jesus. He makes the point that Jesus demonstrated unprecedented restraint when He was tempted. Satan offered Jesus a short-cut to His end goal, but Jesus refused. Satan offered Jesus the means to influence the world through miracle, mystery, and authority. Jesus could have had it all, if only He would give in, but he refused.

                One of the things that struck me as I was reflecting upon the temptations is that Jesus showed even greater restraint in allowing Satan to tempt Him at all. Jesus could have easily banished Satan. He could have rebuked him in a way that would have sent Satan running for his life. Instead, Jesus endured the temptations on our behalf.

                Throughout Jesus’ life, He continually refused to give in to the temptation to use miracle, mystery, and authority to accomplish His purpose. He did miracles, but refused to leverage them. He inspired and amazed people, but refused to allow them to make Him their king. He spoke with authority like no one else, yet He did not use his authority to subdue His enemies. Jesus continued to show heroic restraint time and time again. The question then is, why?

                Jesus could have overwhelmed the world with His power and glory. But instead, He chose to love the world in a way that would transform people’s lives. In God’s sovereignty, He created humanity as free moral beings. He gave us the power of choice. In fact, He gave the power of the ultimate choice, to love God or not to love God. God has restrained His power not because He is powerless, but because He had a higher goal in mind. He wanted those created in His image to turn to Him of their own free will. Because the very essence of God is love, He valued the love of those He created above their submission.

                C.S. Lewis and others make the point that love is real and genuine only when it is freely given. Love that is coerced or forced is not love at all. Without the freedom to choose we become simply preprogrammed robots. God created a world filled with creatures that simply obey their basic instincts; in a way, they act as they were programmed to act. But He set one part of His creation apart, He created one being in His own image; humanity. In creating us in His image, He gave to us the freedom to choose our course.

                Many people in Jesus’ day wanted Him to use His power and authority to overthrow Rome and restore the nation of Israel. But Jesus refused. Many today want Jesus to use His power and authority to overthrow evil or whatever they see as evil, but still He refuses. He has chosen to restrain His power in order to win the hearts of people, not just their submission. There is a day coming when everyone will stand in His presence. On that day, every knee will bow and ever tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Some will do that with joy and delight. Many will do it out of fear. But until that day, Jesus restrains His power that whosoever will may come to Him in genuine faith.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)