After they won the silver medal in synchronized platform diving at the recent Olympics, David Boudia and Steele Johnson were interviewed by a reporter for NBC. They expressed their joy over winning the medal but they made clear it wasn’t the most important thing in their life. Their joy and and their sense of who they are was not determined by whether or not they won a medal.

Boudia spoke of how if he went into the competition thinking he was defined by his diving “then my mind goes crazy. But (Steele and I) both know that our identity is in Christ.” Johnson added, “The fact that I was going into this event knowing that my identity is rooted in Christ, and not what the result of this competition is, just gave me peace.”

They don’t believe that now they are people of worth because they have an Olympic medal. They weren’t going to think they were worthless if they failed to get a medal. They know they are people of value because they are loved by Jesus.

It is tempting to look to what we do and the results that come from our efforts to find our identity. Some look to their job to define who they are. They work hard hoping success in the workplace and praise from others will help them feel good about themselves. Some parents look to their children to give them identity. If their kids are doing well they feel like a success, but if the kids are struggling the parents get tempted to feel like failures. Others look to a talent or ability they have and feel like they have value because of what they can do.

What happens when you can no longer do what you used to do? When your hard work and best efforts don’t meet with success by the world’s standards, do you still have value? If you lose your job or lose the competition, do you lose your worth?

We can find identity in Christ. We have value because God made us, Jesus died for our sins and has saved us to be His. Our worth is not determined by what we do but by what God has done for us in Christ. Our identity isn’t based on whether people like us or not, but on the incredible truth that Jesus loves us. For that reason we can have peace, whether the world judges us to be a success or a failure.

The Bible says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God” (I Peter 2:9). That is who we are by faith in Christ. We can rest in who He says we are. Sometimes the world chooses us and says we’re worthy of a medal. Sometimes it looks at us as unwanted failures. But we’re chosen by God. We belong to Him.

In the Gospel he was inspired to write John did not identify himself by name but instead identified himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 20). That’s how we get to identify ourselves: not primarily by what we do or by our success or failure. By faith in Jesus you can look in the mirror and say: “What makes me, me? Who am I? I’m one that Jesus loves.”

According to recent news reports ISIS terrorists have put together a “kill list” of 15,000 Christian leaders they want to eliminate. I don’t have a death wish or anything, but if there is a list like that I’d kind of like to be on it. I’d like to be considered someone who is making a difference for Jesus, proclaiming His Word and pointing people to Christ. I’d like to be somebody who the forces of evil consider to be a threat to their efforts. I’m more interested in impacting lives for the Lord than just staying safe.

Erwin McManus decided to not just pray for his son to be kept safe. His son had been told about demons and it made him scared when it came time for bed. He pleaded, “Daddy, would you pray for me that I would be safe?” His father’s answer wasn’t the expected safety-first reply most parents would have probably given. “Aaron, I will not pray for you to be safe. I will pray that God will make you dangerous, so dangerous that demons will flee when you enter the room.” His son’s reply was, “All right. But pray I would be really, really dangerous, Daddy.”

The Lord is not wanting us to be dangerous in the sense that we commit acts of violence. He wants us to be dangerous to the profits of pornographers by sharing about the real love that is found in Christ and causing their business to go down. He wants us to be dangerous to the cash flow of drug dealers by pointing people to the power of God and helping them to stop buying what the dealers are selling. He wants us to be dangerous to terrorists who try to entrap people in fear. We proclaim the good news that God is able and willing to protect us. “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. … If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent” (Psalm 91:5-6, 9-10).

We confidently let all those who oppose the cause of Christ know, we are not afraid to be put on their list. What is far more important is that, when we have faith in Jesus and His death for our sins and His resurrection from the dead, we are on God’s list of those who are saved. By faith in Christ we “are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (I John 4:4).

Because we know the One who is greater and able to keep us safe, we are not frantically searching for safety. We boldly go to the world with the good news that freedom from fear can be found in Jesus.

Jesus lets His followers know, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). But He doesn’t say, because you might be persecuted, go find a bunker and hide. Instead He says, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). He sends us into a dangerous world with the promise of His protection. To the forces of evil that want to make people slaves to fear, we are dangerous as we tell people of the refuge they have in Jesus. To the forces of evil that want to keep people full of guilt and entrapped in their sin, we proclaim the good news that they can be set free and forgiven because of Jesus. To the forces of evil that try to intimidate we boldly declare that the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ reigns over all creation, now and forever, and because we know Him we are not afraid.

Some of us might hope we’re on the list of those considered dangerous by the forces of evil. Most importantly, by faith in Jesus we can know we’re on the list of those who are loved, saved, protected and cared for by the Almighty God.

Last month I had the chance to see some of God’s most beautiful works of art. I visited Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota and Glacier National Park in Montana. I saw some unique rock formations, majestic mountains and beautiful lakes. It was good to take some time to look upon these wonders God has created.

In front of these beautiful sights you often find plaques that claim these things are the result of millions of years of the evolutionary process at work. How sad and foolish it is that some people think the intricately designed beauty came about by chance. As you look at the lake and the mountains and the jagged peaks and the snow and glacier glimmering in brightness as the sun shines upon it, you know a skilled, artistic designer had to have been at work. In art museums they do not have plaques saying a brush and a paint can happened to bang together and this painting came into being. They give credit to the artist, and we should do the same.

Many of us do not take much time to simply admire God’s artwork. We stop, snap a picture and move on. We have a schedule to keep, important things we think we have to do and places we have to be. We rush about as we try to do so much, and we fail to dwell on how much God has done.

The psalmist expressed his desire: “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).

Gazing upon the beauty of the Lord doesn’t sound very productive. Our to-do list is long and gazing upon beauty usually isn’t on the list. We like to get things done that give us a feeling of accomplishment. Gazing upon beauty sounds like taking it easy, and what you do only if you have nothing else to do.

Gazing upon the beauty of the Lord won’t give us a sense that we have accomplished something; but it gives us things far more important. It can fill us with joy and awe as we think about what God has accomplished. The majestic mountains give us a sense of the greatness of God. A field full of wildflowers of various colors and kinds gives us a sense of the creativity of God. The vast ocean gives us a sense of the power of God. Gazing upon the beauty of Jesus as revealed in the Bible helps us to see God’s love and grace and great salvation.

Gazing upon the beauty of what God has done in creation and gazing upon His beauty as revealed in His Word are things we need to take more time to do. It’s okay to pause from being productive once in a while. Gaze upon our “Beautiful Savior, King of Creation.” Take a little time to think about how good and loving and gracious Jesus is. It can be truly productive time as it produces encouragement, strength and life-transformation.

At our recent church body’s annual conference, during one of the discussions about a resolution, someone asked, “Where is the gospel?” The resolution was about the church’s opposition to certain things going on in society. The first draft had a lot about what people thought others were doing wrong and what we should do in response to that. The speaker was concerned there wasn’t anything in the resolution about what God has done.

The gospel is about what God has done, in particular what He has done in Christ giving His life for our sin, saving us and giving us new life. That gospel message of what God has done is the most crucial message the world needs to hear. We ought to be continually asking the question, “Where is the gospel?”

In declarations we make as a church body and as individuals, it is important to ask, “Where is the gospel?” The world needs to hear the convicting word of God’s law that tells of our sin and brings us to repentance. But if people only hear that they’re doing wrong and they don’t hear what God has done, they’ll never find salvation in Jesus.

In our teaching of children and youth and in the guidance we give to them we need to ask, “Where is the gospel?” If all we go is give dos and don’ts and instruction on how to be moral, but nothing about the good news of Jesus we have failed to share with them the source of power and strength and wisdom to live a transformed life.

In our conversations about the news of the day, where is the gospel? We who know that Jesus is the King of kings, on the throne forever, in control of what is going on in the world, need to do more than just moan and groan about the political and economic situation in the world. The world is longing to hear good news and we have the best news of all. Instead of constant complaining we celebrate the good news that no matter who is in political office, no matter what happens to our country, our future is full of hope when our faith is in our loving Savior and Lord.

In our sharing with our neighbors, our community and our world let us keep on asking, “Where is the gospel? Have I shared with them the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done?” “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). The gospel alone has the power to transform lives. We need to continually remind ourselves and others of the gospel of Christ crucified and risen again for it is “of first importance” (I Corinthians 15:3).

Where is the gospel in your mind and heart? Is it the truth of first importance that gets you going in the morning and brings you peace at day’s end? May the gospel of who Jesus is and what He has done be what stirs our heart the most, occupies our thoughts the most. For it is the gospel that brings a joy, a love, a hope and a peace that is found nowhere else.

“Loser” is an insult that has been used a lot during this political season. Opponents have been described and dismissed as losers. The term seems to be looked at as a powerful tool to use to knock somebody down and make them seem small in the eyes of others. In sports and business as well, if somebody wants to truly insult somebody else, they call them a loser.

Nobody likes to be called or seen as a loser. We are often trying to let others know how successful we have been, or at least give people that impression. Books have been written on “How to Dress for Success.” We want to look like winners.

Who would choose to look like a loser? Jesus did. “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men … we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:2-3). He willingly came to a world that He knew would reject Him.

Our world seems to think popularity is everything and the factor that determines right and wrong. Some people care deeply about how many “likes” their Facebook post receives. Jesus knew becoming the suffering servant would not get Him a lot of likes. But He chose that path anyway.

As He hung on the cross He looked like one of the worst failures the world had ever seen. “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads” (Mark 15:29). Some of what they said to Him would most certainly be translated “loser.” He lost the affection of the crowd that wanted Him to keep multiplying bread and fish and feed them lunch. He lost the respect of those who wanted Him to be a political Messiah and take on the Romans. He lost even one of His disciples who betrayed Him.

Jesus willingly became a loser in the eyes of the world to win our salvation. The cross looked like a defeat, a complete failure. What really happened was our sin was paid for and evil and death were defeated. “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 3:15).

We joyfully follow the One who humbled Himself and took on the appearance of a loser. Following Him may lead to us looking like losers to the world as well. That is fine for we know true life and victory is not found in gaining worldly power and popularity. Life is found in following the path of the humble servant. Jesus said, “… whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25). We become losers in this world, but by the power of His cross and resurrection, we become winners in life, both now and for all eternity.

After the recent death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, his fellow justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote about his passing and described the two of them as “best buddies.” They had been friends a long time. They ate meals together. Their families vacationed together. They attended the opera together. This all in spite of the fact that Scalia was a staunch conservative and Ginsburg a staunch liberal. They had sharp disagreements over some of the cases they tried together. They had different philosophies regarding the law, but they maintained a close friendship.

Their admirable friendship stands out as unfortunately unique in this day when too many people look at those who have different beliefs than they do as an enemy to fear and defeat. I expect a lot of those who admired Scalia and share his beliefs would only have dinner with Ginsburg if they could tell her how wrong they think she is. Likewise some of those who admire Ginsburg would want no part of sitting down to a meal of good Italian food with Scalia.

Jesus shocked the religious leaders of His day when He went to a dinner party at the home of Matthew the tax collector. “When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?'” (Matthew 9:13). They wouldn’t have dreamed of eating with such people.

Jesus spoke strongly against those religious leaders, and yet when one of them invited Him to dinner Jesus “went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table” (Luke 7:36). Jesus disagreed with this Pharisee, Simon, and even during the meal Jesus pointed out how Simon wasn’t doing things God’s way. But Jesus was still willing to go there and talk with him.

Scalia and Ginsburg talked of how they wrote better opinions on cases because they had been challenged and tested by the other. We miss out on growth opportunities if we only interact with people who think just like we do. My faith in Jesus has been strengthened when I’ve been asked tough questions by people who don’t believe like I do and I’ve had to think through the answers.

Those who differ from us in their spiritual or political beliefs or in other areas are not to be viewed as the enemy we run from or try to conquer. The Bible calls on us to view each person as somebody loved by God and valuable to Him. We seek to understand them and what’s going on in their lives and why they believe as they do. Those of us who trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior hope for the opportunity to explain why we believe as we do and why we are convinced that trusting in Jesus is the best possible way for each person to live. The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins so that each one who believes in Him is given a place at God’s great table of grace.

In October some of us had the chance to visit Bethlehem. Bethlehem is under the authority of the Palestinians, so everyone who enters the city has to go through a security checkpoint.

In the Christmas carol we sing: “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.” It wasn’t still the day we were there. A lot of people and a lot of traffic were trying to fit into a little town. It didn’t resemble the words of the carol: “How silently.”

A church is now over the site where it is believed Jesus was born. A big restoration project is going on at the church. Scaffolding was up and construction crews were at work. That resulted in even less space for the many tourists who were there to squeeze into. Some of the tourists from other countries were more accustomed to squeezing into tight spaces than some of us Americans who like to have our own personal space. There is one doorway into the Nativity site. It is purposely low so everyone who enters will be forced to kneel as they come to where the King of kings was born. Only one person can get through the entryway at a time.

It was coming toward the end of the day and the church was only open for a limited time. But we all got into the room and saw the spot where it is believed the birth happened and the baby was placed in a manger. Now it is ornate with icons and candles and chandeliers hanging all around. How different it is now from how it must have been 2,000 years ago.

It was far from ornate back then. Groups weren’t competing over who had ownership of the spot like they are now. When Joseph and Mary arrived it was the one spot in Bethlehem that was available to the young family. Some shepherds and later some magi were the only people who paid attention to what happened at that site. Now people flock there from all over the world.

Bethlehem was a busy, crowded place back then as people came from various other places in Judea to comply with the Roman census. The crowds didn’t pay much attention to this young couple giving birth to their firstborn son. It is similar today. We can get busy with other things and not pay attention to the Baby born in Bethlehem.

The crowds, the tour buses, the politics and the security issues can make present-day Bethlehem a bit chaotic. The crowds that came for the census made it chaotic back then as well. “There was no room for them at the inn” (Luke 2:7). But the Son of God was still willing to come. He is willing to enter our lives, even though they can be complicated, crowded and chaotic. We don’t have to get everything straightened out before He comes. Our lives at times can look like Bethlehem – a place with confusion and strife. But Jesus is graciously willing to come and bring peace and healing.

May He come to your home and life and bless you with a wonderful Christmas!

Those who believed Jesus was the Messiah didn’t have an easy time of it in the land of Israel 2,000 years ago. Still today, Israel isn’t an easy place to be a Christian. Evangelicals are welcome to come as tourists, but they are not so welcome to come as missionaries.

I had the opportunity recently to visit Israel and met some evangelical Christians who live there. The ethnic background of our group’s tour guide is Jewish, but her spiritual beliefs are Christian. One evening we met with another “Messianic Jew.” He also is ethnically a Jew but he believes Jesus is the Messiah. He pastors a church in Israel and told about other Christian churches in the country. He told of how, when he was a young man, he was living in the United States but he felt called to move to Israel and serve the Lord there.

A number of years ago I met a man who had received a similar calling. He was a missionary, showing the Jesus film in Israel. I’ve known missionaries in Africa and India who have shown that film and entire villages have come out to see it. This man in Israel was happy if he could get together a few people in a living room to watch it.

During our trip we visited Bethlehem, which is under Palestinian authority. Our Jewish tour guide couldn’t go with us there, so after we went through security checkpoints, we were met by a Palestinian guide. He is a Christian who faces serious challenges, living in a Muslim-dominated society. He isn’t interested in leaving the area, however. He believes it is where God has called him to be.

These Christians in the cities where Jesus was born and died have been called to serve the Lord in situations that are certainly not easy. It’s tempting for them to dream of moving to a place where the audience will be more receptive to the gospel and the chances of seeing fruit for their service are far greater. But sometimes God calls us to be His servant in hard situations.

The Lord warned the prophet Ezekiel he was being sent “to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me …. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. … the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate” (Ezekiel 2:3-4, 3:7). It was clear Ezekiel couldn’t expect to receive a lot of gifts during prophet appreciation month. The world wasn’t going to be impressed with the numbers he had coming to listen to him. But he needed to fearlessly declare God’s Word. “You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen” (Ezekiel 2:7).

The mission God calls you to might not be to an audience that is immediately receptive. He might call you to serve people who don’t seem to be at all interested in the good news of Jesus. We aren’t to look for what place is the easiest and where is the chance of success the greatest. Even when the place is hard and challenging, joy and peace is found when you’re in the place to which God has called you.

Last year I had the chance to visit the 9/11 memorial and museum. In some ways it was sad and inspiring at the same time. It was sad to think of the parents who lost children, the children who lost parents, many who became widows and widowers. I saw the remains of a fire truck that had been destroyed on that day. 

It is a reminder of how severe the destruction was that day. Even more so, it is a reminder of the firefighters and other first responders who courageously tried to save and serve as many as they could that day.

As we remember 9/11 we remember that evil is real. Some want to deny the existence of evil but events like 9/11 won’t permit us to do that. When sin gets ahold of a human heart incredibly cruel things can result.

Remembering 9/11 is also a time, however, to remember ones who were willing to make brave sacrifices in service to others. At the 9/11 museum they have a prayer written by Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain in the New York Fire Department: “Take me where you want me to go. Let me meet who you want me to meet. Tell me what you want me to say. And keep me out of Your way.”

Chaplain Judge believed the Lord was taking him to the site of the World Trade Center on 9/11 to pray for the firefighters and provide encouragement and the hope and love of Christ. When the South Tower collapsed, some of the flying debris struck the chaplain in the head and killed him. He was considered the first official victim of the attacks.

We remember the reality of sin. We remember sacrificial love. We do the same when we remember Jesus. We remember the reality of our sin that made the cross necessary. And we remember His incredible sacrificial love. Chaplain Judge went to the site of danger to serve. Jesus went to the cross for us.

May we always remember.

The Special Olympics World Games that were recently held in Los Angeles received a lot of great coverage on TV from ESPN. They told some amazing, heartwarming stories of people from around the world who have intellectual and physical disabilities, but they courageously face their challenges and do some impressive athletic feats.

Oliver Doherty has limited use of the left side of his body but he doesn’t let that stop him from playing golf. Using just his right arm, he drives the ball and putts better than most of us who use two hands. Kirk D. Wint from Jamaica got out of his wheelchair to compete in the 50 meter race. He is unable to stand on his feet so he uses his hands when he runs. He was still able to finish fourth.

Their stories are inspiring and encouraging. They are great examples of perseverance, even when it is hard. The athletes had people come alongside them to support and encourage them. They have faced big challenges all their lives, but they don’t give up. The TV commentators telling the stories of these special athletes admitted this was one of the most inspiring events they have ever been involved with.

I wonder what great stories might have been there, but they weren’t because they were aborted. When I watched athletes with Down’s Syndrome joyfully and skillfully compete, I thought of how it is estimated that 92 percent of women who find out that the baby they are carrying has Down’s Syndrome choose to have an abortion. Some of those babies might have been another swimmer or basketball player with an infectious smile and a heart full of enthusiasm.

The lives of those at the Special Olympics haven’t been easy, but they are glad they got to live them.

As celebrations were held over the lives of those at the Special Olympics, an article appeared in the news about somebody who wants to end lives. Katie Hopkins is a British TV personality and columnist. She made news recently by advocating that “euthanasia vans” be developed. She believes the vans should go to the homes of some of the elderly and infirm and bring them to an end. “We just have far too many old people,” Hopkins said. “It’s ridiculous to be living in a country where we can put dogs to sleep but not people.”

Let us celebrate human life – even if the life has special needs and serious illness and severe challenges. The Special Olympics athletes show that some of those who have faced the greatest trials can be great teachers about overcoming and enjoying life. Each life is knit together by God and fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). Instead of trying to end lives like Hopkins suggests, let us serve lives, learn from them and celebrate them.