Tag Archives: faith

April 3, 2024 · 5:28 PM

Praying Like Jesus

Jesus prayed to Abba. Who is Abba?

Abba is an Aramaic word. Aramaic was the language spoken by Jesus and his fellow Jews in the first century. It had taken over from Old Testament Hebrew as the common language in Israel.

Abba was a familiar term in the first-century Jewish household for addressing one’s father. Some people equate it with our word daddy,but that might be too informal. Something like dad is a close English equivalent, maybe papa.

Other Aramaic words appear in the New Testament. Mark’s Gospel records Peter’s eyewitness accounts about Jesus’ life and ministry. In some instances, Jesus’ words had left such an impression on the fisherman, that he related them in Aramaic then translated them into Greek for his audience.

When Jesus raised a little girl from the dead, he said, “Talitha koum!” which is translated, “Little girl! I say to you: Get up!” On the cross, Jesus cried out, “Eloi! Eloi! Lama sabachthani!” which means, “My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?” These were certainly unforgettable events.

Abba is the word Jesus used to address God when he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane just hours before he went to the cross. “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup from me! But not what I want, but what you want.” In his humanity, Jesus struggled with the suffering he faced. Through prayer, he bowed to his Father’s will.

Jesus’ striking familiarity with God was a dominant feature of his ministry and teaching. In fact, Jesus irritated the Jewish religious leaders with his unusually intimate relationship with God.

It’s not that Jews or the Old Testament never spoke about God as Father. The Israelites did think of God as their Father. But Jesus did so in a new and remarkable way that made them uncomfortable.

And Jesus taught his disciples to do the same. “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father (Abba) in heaven.’” Followers of Jesus for 2,000 years have imitated Jesus in this practice. It is a sign of being Jesus’ follower, a sign of having a close relationship with God like Jesus does.

In Romans 8:15, we read that God’s Spirit enables us to cry out, “Abba! Father!” Of course, that’s just the beginning of the prayer. The content comes next. What is your prayer to the Father? How do you complete this prayer right now? Abba, Father! Thank you for. . . . Abba, Father! You are my. . . . Perhaps you have a cry for help. Abba, Father! Please. . . .

We have in our hearts the Spirit sent from the God of heaven and earth. And, we call the God of time and eternity our Father! The one who spoke the universe into existence and who gives us life, he is our Father!

Let’s rejoice over our privileged position before the Lord. And let us take full advantage of our access to the Almighty. Pray without ceasing!

May our Father in heaven always hear and answer your prayers,

Brother Richard

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March 1, 2024 · 4:07 PM

He Gets Us But Is That All?

He Gets Us. Jesus Gets Us.

Okay. So what? Why is that important?

“He Gets Us” is an ad campaign designed to remind people that the story of Jesus belongs to everybody. The ads have certainly stirred a lot of debate. Their most recent efforts included ads during the Super Bowl game. The ads featured several versions of a single theme. Each one depicts someone washing the feet of another person.

The idea of foot-washing comes from an incident in Jesus’ life which is recorded in the Gospel of John. The night before he was crucified, Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem. Walking on dusty roads made people’s feet dirty. Once indoors, a servant usually washed those dusty feet. On this night, the job was undone. So, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. He did the humble work of a lowly servant, even though he was their Teacher, their Master.

Surely the room was filled with silence by the time Jesus finished this menial task. Once he was back at the table with his disciples, he explained his act of kindness. It was symbolic of his servanthood, an attitude he wanted his disciples to adopt. If he was willing to serve them in such a humble manner, then they should serve one another in the same way, which includes far more than foot-washing.

On one occasion, Jesus said that he came not to be served, but to serve. His service was not limited to his close friends. Not only did Jesus wash his disciples’ feet, but he also reached out to people who were marginalized by the dominant cultural group at that time. Jesus courageously and lovingly crossed cultural barriers. The recent “He Gets Us” ads focus on this attractive aspect of Jesus’ life and teaching.

So, why have the “He Gets Us” ads been criticized? Simple: The ads present only a fragment of Jesus. True, it is a lovely fragment, but it is far less than the real Jesus. The foot-washing ads reduce Jesus to a super nice guy who encourages acts of kindness.

Yes, Jesus engaged in acts of kindness. Jesus has nothing against acts of kindness. I would certainly agree that Jesus is an advocate of acts of kindness. But is that all? Is that what has made Jesus the most important person who walked the face of the earth in the past two thousand years? his acts of kindness?

Jesus said that he came not to serve but be served. But that’s not all. He also said that he came to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus not only gets us. He saves us. He transforms us. He makes us right with God.

The story of Jesus does belong to everybody, but not in the sense that anybody can rework and reinvent Jesus for their own purposes. The Jesus of history belongs to everybody in the sense that everybody needs the truth about Jesus, the real Jesus, the complete Jesus. Everybody needs the truth about Jesus because Jesus is God’s one and only Savior.

The reason we still discuss Jesus is not because he was a nice inclusive guy who advocated for random acts of kindness. The reason we still talk and write about Jesus is because his claims are off the chart.

He is sent by God. He is God’s one and only Son. He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. He is Lord of creation. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Jesus. He has power over death. He is coming back to take his followers to be with God in heaven forever. Wow!

Not only are Jesus’ claims of cosmic proportion. They are true. Jesus still has a commanding place in culture not simply because his story is compelling, but because Jesus is alive and he is Lord!

May the Risen Lord Jesus Christ reign in our hearts.

Brother Richard

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February 9, 2024 · 1:34 PM

Disaster Relief and Following Jesus

Jesus called people to follow him. 

Those who answered his call had the wonderful experience of watching and learning from the Master himself. They learned Jesus’ message. They saw his compassion for people. 

Then Jesus sent his followers out. He gave them his authority so they could represent him, so they could do as he was doing. He sent them out two by two so they could encourage one another, help one another, and hold one another accountable. 

After going out, Jesus’ disciples would gather and report to Jesus all they had accomplished. These were times of rejoicing and affirmation. They were also times of learning more from the Lord so they could go and do more. 

Gather then go. Go then gather. This is the rhythm of a healthy spiritual life. Jesus calls us to himself, to gather with other believers. While gathered, we are equipped, encouraged, and empowered to carry out the mission, to be ambassadors for Christ in this dark and corrupt age. 

The Gospel writers tell us what the disciples did when they were sent out by Jesus. Mark 6:12-13 is typical: “So they went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them” (CSB). In other words, they did the same things that Jesus was doing. 

They proclaimed Jesus’ message: “that people should repent.” To repent means to turn away from disobeying God and become followers of Jesus by putting saving faith in him. Christians are first and foremost a people with a message. Jesus sends us to tell others about the forgiveness and eternal life that is available because of his death and resurrection. We urge people to join us in following Jesus. 

The disciples also drove out demons from those who were demon possessed, and they healed people from their illnesses. Like Jesus, they helped people with both their spiritual and their physical needs. Meeting people’s needs was an expression of God’s love that highlighted their message and affirmed its validity. 

For two thousand years the church has tried to model the ministry of Jesus by proclaiming his message and expressing his compassion. Over the years, the church has developed many ways of expressing the Lord’s compassion by helping people with their physical needs. Hospitals and orphanages (now called group homes) are two examples among many. 

In 1967, Baptist men in Texas responded to the needs created by Hurricane Beulah. This marked the beginning of a ministry that has helped people caught in disasters for more than fifty years. When a need arises, Christians go and prepare meals, repair roofs, provide childcare, remove debris, wash clothes, rebuild homes, and tell folks the good news about Jesus Christ! 

This ministry is called Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. Members of Grace Baptist in Camden have participated in Disaster Relief after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and after Hurricane Harvey in Houston. 

Giving up a week of your life to go and help those who have suffered loss in a disaster is a sacrifice. It is also hard work. Some people cannot go because of their job or some other circumstance in life. But they can help by giving money to help send others and to help send much-needed supplies. 

God’s word says it clearly: “If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily foodand one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,’ but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16, CSB) Saving faith is an acting faith, not to earn God’s gift of salvation, but to cooperate with God’s salvation working in us. 

You can learn more about Disaster Relief at abscdisasterrelief.org. 

May God inspire us and enable us to be like Jesus in the world today, 

Brother Richard 

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January 6, 2024 · 12:13 PM

Honoring God His Way

King David wanted to honor God. He made extensive preparations. He gathered a large group of people. It was a big congregation. He put together some wonderful music. They used all the latest instruments.

At first, things went great. But all the enthusiasm and the music came to a bitter end. One of the men serving that day died in the middle of all the excitement. He was struck down by God.

They were moving the ark of the covenant up to Jerusalem. The ark was the ancient container that held the people’s copy of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments reminded them of their covenant relationship with God.

More than that, the ark was a symbol of God’s presence among his chosen people, Israel. They were blessed because the God of heaven and earth invited them to approach him and to worship him.

God instructed the people to keep the ark in the innermost room of the tabernacle, the room called the holy of holies. It was seen only by the high priest, only once a year, and only with the proper sacrifices.

When it was necessary to transport the ark, only Levites were supposed to carry it. When David moved the ark to Jerusalem, however, it was transported on a cart pulled by oxen. The oxen stumbled. Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark.

That’s when it happened. The Lord struck Uzzah down. David was angry. But David also feared the Lord that day. He seriously doubted the ark could ever be brought up. He left it in the house of a man named Obed-edom.

David could have let his bitterness grow and become a permanent barrier between himself and God. Instead, David learned from his mistake. He adjusted. He tried again.

On his second attempt, David made sure the ark was transported as the Lord instructed: not by a cart, but by the hands of the Levites. He also offered sacrifices to the Lord. By offering sacrifices, David was acknowledging that sinners can only approach a holy God by appealing to his mercy and his grace.

This time, things went well. David and the people had a wonderful time worshiping the Lord. The ark of the covenant was brought into Jerusalem where the temple would later be built. There, God’s people would worship him for many generations.

Success! But not perfection. After the worship was finished, David went home to bless his family. His wife, Michal, ridiculed him for his passionate public display of worship. David had been dancing before the Lord with all his might. Michal accused him of making a fool of himself in front of the people. What a disappointment!

David did not let criticism change his mind about worshiping God, even though the criticism came from someone in his own household. He was committed to honoring God with his very best.

This episode in David’s life reveals important truths about seeking and serving God. David learned to honor God on God’s terms. Even though it required him to make adjustments to his original plans. David was committed to passionate public worship, even though it required him to suffer criticism inside his own household.

Let’s worship and serve the Lord with passion this year. Like David, we may sometimes need to make adjustments. And, like David, we may sometimes face criticism. But the Living God who loves us and saves us is worthy of our very best.

Honoring God his way includes participation in regular public worship. And, as New Testament believers, we honor God with the Lord’s Supper. Remembering Jesus’ sacrifice with the bread and the cup is the premier act of worship for Christians.

Honor the Lord his way, passionately!

May we seek to honor God with all that we say, think, and do,

Brother Richard

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November 4, 2023 · 12:38 PM

My Dad Was A Faithful Man


My dad was Eugene L. Foster, known to most folks as Gene. He was born in 1935 and passed away October 8, just twelve days before his 88th birthday.

My dad was a faithful man. He was faithful to his wife, my mom Barbara. They were married in 1959. They made a life together until she passed away in 2014, fifty-five years. My dad was a widower for nine years, and it was clear that he missed his ‘better half.’

My dad was faithful to his family. Mom and dad kept their arguments private when we were young. Occasionally my siblings and I would be witness to one of their disagreements. Mom used the ‘silent treatment’ on my dad when she was angry. He would sometimes get so upset that he would leave the house. He always returned, but I wondered where he went.

Once, he took me with him. I guess he thought I was old enough to learn the secret of where he went and what he did when he left in a huff. On that occasion, we went and bought French fries at McDonald’s. While we ate them, he told me not to worry about their arguments or his going out to cool down. He promised that he would never leave us. He never did. He stayed with us, even when things got tough.

Once, when money was tight, he was forced to drive a lumber truck. That must have been difficult for someone who spent his life in comfortable offices, wearing business clothes, and working as an accountant. We always had what we needed. He provided for us.

My dad was faithful to his church. He was a member of the same Baptist Church in Euless Texas for more than forty years. He attended faithfully. He served as a deacon. He went on mission trips. He did more than I will ever know.

When Karen and I left Texas to serve at Grace Baptist in Camden, Arkansas, my dad visited us regularly. He and mom both came to see us until she passed away. After a while, I started to notice that dad visited us when the church was having a potluck, or our Sunday school class was going out to eat! But he worshiped with us, too.

Dad also went on mission trips with Grace Baptist. Once, when we were knocking on doors and doing outreach in a community near Memphis, a dog attacked him and bit him on the leg. His injury required a trip to the Emergency Room. I was mortified! I was sure that would be his last mission trip with us. It wasn’t. He took it in stride.

Dad made a lot of friends at Grace Baptist. In fact, the church family in Camden accepted him as an honorary member of Grace. He was encouraged by such love and acceptance, especially after my mom was gone. Dad was blessed to have two church families!

My dad was more than a faithful man. He was a man of faith. More than that, he was a man of the faith, the Christian faith. His trust was in Jesus Christ. His life was filled with service and worship of God and fellowship with other believers.

To all who trust Jesus, God’s word says, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians, 3:20, CSB). As his life in this world was slipping away, my dad was clear about his desire to go and be with his Lord. He wanted to go where his permanent citizenship is. He wanted to go home.

My dad is forever home now. I’m honored and proud to report that he leaves behind the witness of a faithful life.

May God in heaven inspire us to be faithful in all things,

Brother Richard

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August 2, 2023 · 10:48 AM

God’s Early Warning System

Nobody likes bad news. On the other hand, nobody wants to miss an important warning about impending danger.

In the ancient world, cities were surrounded by sturdy walls. They offered protection for citizens from hostile enemies. During the day, however, many people had to leave the safety of the walls and work in the fields. Some people lived outside the walls. They were vulnerable if an army attacked.

The watchman had a vital duty. He stood on the wall and kept an eye out for threats. If he saw an enemy army approaching, he blew the horn to warn everyone so they could take the appropriate actions.

If someone working in the fields heard the horn and failed to run for safety inside the city walls, then he had nobody to blame but himself. The watchman had done his job and given him the chance to avoid death or capture at the hands of the enemy.

The Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel was appointed by God as a watchman for his people. He was a spiritual watchman. Instead of blowing a horn, he was to speak the word of the Lord. When the people were in danger of God’s judgment, Ezekiel spoke in the name of the Lord and warned them to take the appropriate action.

The appropriate action for the people of Ezekiel’s day was to stop disobeying God. They were to trust and obey the Lord. If they refused, they would suffer the consequences of God’s judgments.

Jesus was a faithful watchman, warning those who heard him to repent because God’s kingdom had drawn near. Jesus did not hold back. He warned about eternal weeping in outer darkness for those who refused to seek safety in God’s grace and salvation.

His early followers were also faithful messengers of God’s word. They called on everyone to be saved from the judgment to come. Not everyone responded positively, but many did.

For nearly two thousand years, the church has been God’s watchman, warning people to find safety within the walls of God’s grace. Now it is our turn to be faithful in our generation. We are the ones entrusted with this vital mission.

It’s true that people don’t like to hear bad news. The church is accused of being too negative with its ‘fire-and-brimstone’ message. Should we ‘soften’ the message? make it easier for people to hear and accept?

When Ezekiel spoke to the people, he often included the words, “this is the declaration of the Lord God.” He boldly proclaimed the unedited words of the Lord. We must also be true to the word God has given us. The gospel is clear, those who do not trust in God’s Son Jesus will perish. Those who do trust will have eternal life.

In the ancient world, if the watchman failed to blow the trumpet when danger approached, he was held accountable for the lives that were lost. Ezekiel was warned by God that he would be held accountable if he did not faithfully report to the people all that the Lord gave him to say.

We, too, are responsible to our Lord for being faithful with the gospel message. Like Ezekiel, we are not responsible for those who refuse to listen. Nevertheless, I hope we are moved by compassion to continue praying and to continue looking for every opportunity to persuade everyone we can to find safety in God’s salvation.

May the Lord inspire us and enable us to be faithful with his words,

Brother Richard

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June 2, 2022 · 1:22 PM

God Saved Us To Do Good Things

The Bible verse for Vacation Bible School this year is Ephesians 2:10: For we are his (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we might walk in them.

The “we” in this verse refers to Christians, followers of Jesus. Immediately before this verse, we read about how to become Christians: For by grace you are saved, by faith; and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God, not by works so nobody can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Christians are saved by grace, not by works. Grace is the wonderful gift of salvation offered by God. He sent his Son Jesus to give himself as an atoning sacrifice, to die for our sins. He did this so that we can be forgiven.

Since God offers us salvation as a gift, we are not required to earn it by doing good works or by being good people. Jesus earned our salvation for us. This is good news. We would be incapable of earning a place in heaven. Why? Because only one who is perfect deserves heaven and nobody is perfect except Jesus himself.

God’s gracious gift of salvation comes to us through faith. Faith is the step of trust we take to believe God’s promise about Jesus and to ask him to forgive our disobedience. Faith includes a commitment to be a follower of Jesus, confessing Jesus as Lord. The result is God’s priceless gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

So, what about all those verses in the Bible that talk about obeying God and doing good deeds? After God’s grace saves us by faith, God’s plan lays out a path for us to follow which includes good works. It is vital for us to note that Ephesians 2:8-9 comes before Ephesians 2:10. We don’t work to get saved. We get saved to work.

Verse 10 starts by saying that we are God’s workmanship. It’s his work that saved us. He sent Jesus to die for our sins. That’s why it then says we are created in Christ Jesus. Jesus is our Savior, the one who died so that we can be a new creation. God also sent his Spirit to speak to our hearts and to transform us into the image of Christ.

Now we see in verse 10 that we are saved to do good works. God wants us to avoid spending eternity in hell, but his salvation is more than a rescue from eternal punishment. God’s salvation enables us to do good things that he prepared beforehand. Since he prepared these works, we know he will be pleased by them.

God prepared us for the works and the works for us. To be saved by faith in Jesus and to do the good deeds God prepared for us is to experience the fullness of a life well-lived. Since God prepared these works for us to do, we know that they will be meaningful, eternally meaningful.

The last part of verse 10 says that we are to walk in them (“them” being the good works). The Bible describes our daily lives as a ‘walk.’ We ‘walk’ through this world step by step, day by day, decision by decision. Our ‘walk,’ our daily life, has a direction and a destination.

The works prepared by God for us to do become a pathway that leads to a full and fulfilling life. By walking in the pathway laid out for us by God, we enjoy rich experiences of his presence, power, and blessing along the way. And we know that he is our great destination, to stand in his presence, to see him face-to-face, and to worship him with abundant joy!

What marvelous things God has revealed to us in his word! How abundant the blessings that God stands ready to pour into our lives!

May God always bless us with good deeds to walk in,

Brother Richard

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October 13, 2021 · 10:52 AM

Retreat From The Faith or Contend For It?

Some good friends invited me to attend a conference in Orlando, Florida in September. I agreed and went. I’m glad I did.

The conference was a meeting of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Many if not most of the attendees at the conference were licensed professionals with advanced degrees and real-life experience in helping people.

These counselors believe the science of psychology and psychiatry can be useful in guiding people to healing. They have taken the time and made the effort to acquire advanced skills so they can be effective in assisting those who have experienced traumas in life or who struggle with other personal battles.

But there is more. Note the name of this group: American Association of Christian Counselors. They believe that God’s word is the ultimate measure of truth; and they believe that God’s grace in Christ Jesus is the ultimate healing for humanity. While they value scientific understanding and insights, they measure all conclusions by God’s revealed truth in the Bible.

At the conference, the leaders of these Christian Counselors sounded a note of warning. Hostile forces in the academic and professional world of counseling are threatening to silence the voice of Christianity in psychology, psychiatry, mental health, and related disciplines. How? They are threatening to deny accreditation and certification to anyone with biblical convictions, especially about marriage and human sexuality.

Years ago, I noticed that academic institutions were coercing Christians into renouncing the truth revealed in God’s word. In some instances, they were told to change their beliefs or change their profession. They were denied the opportunity to follow their calling, to counsel people in need. Their degrees and certifications were being held hostage.

Unfortunately, attempts to silence Christianity in counseling are only part of the story. Our culture is changing its mind about religious freedom and freedom of speech in general. Any dissent from the dominant political doctrine is now being painted as hateful, violent, and worthy of being cancelled, that is, silenced.

Jude was a Christian. He was also a half-brother of Jesus. He wrote the short letter in our New Testament which bears his name. His message to his original readers was short and simple: Contend for the faith that was once-for-all entrusted to the saints!

Notice he writes the faith. He is calling on God’s people to do more than defend their personal beliefs, more than a generic ‘faith.’ The Christian faith is revealed in the Old and New Testaments. It is God’s revelation that the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ is his Son and our Savior. For this truth, we contend.

Why must we contend for the faith? Because the faith is under fire. False teachers from inside the church, hostile unbelievers from outside the church, forces that are committed to erasing God from public policy and discourse are active on all sides.

How do we contend for the faith? First, we must learn the faith. How can we contend for the faith if we don’t know what it is? The faith is not a matter of personal opinion, general consensus, or clever fabrication. The faith is a revelation from God recorded in the Bible.

Second, we must live the faith. Christianity is not merely a mindset; it is a lifestyle. Knowing about Jesus is insufficient. The faith tells us that we can know Jesus personally and walk with him daily through the presence of God’s Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts.

Third, we must proclaim the faith. Jesus has given us a mandate to make disciples of all peoples. Living the faith means sharing the faith. Someone told us about Jesus. Now we must tell others.

Once we know the faith, apply the faith, and share the faith, we will be faced with hostility from the enemies of the faith. These encounters require us to defend the faith. Defense of Christianity must not be surly or harsh, but it must be confident and unwavering. We speak the truth in love.

Jude calls this defense of the faith contending for the faith. Those of us who recoil at conflict may think we can simply remain silent. But each of us will eventually be forced to choose. Christianity is personal but it is not private.

Will we retreat or will we contend for the faith?

May God’s Holy Spirit give us the inspiration and the victory,

Brother Richard

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February 5, 2020 · 12:15 PM

World-Class Faith

Some people believe that faith is a very personal and private matter. In fact, they refuse to discuss it. If you try and speak with them about their faith, they get offended.

Other people see faith as a very public thing, even political. They are open and perhaps even aggressive at times. If anyone suggests that their faith is too pushy or partisan, they get offended.

Obviously there are different ideas about how to properly understand and practice faith. What does the Bible say?

Near the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome, he commends their faith because it is reported in the whole world. Political or not, their faith was very public and the apostle approved.

In Paul’s introduction to the Roman letter he reminded them that they were called to be saints. The word “saint” means holy. All Christians are called to live holy lives. God tells his people, “Be holy, because I am holy.”

This world is far from being holy. It is broken and sinful. Anyone who sets out to live a holy life will be pushing against the rushing tide of culture and society. It is impossible to live a life that is faithful to the gospel and remain invisible to the world.

After commending their public faith, Paul proceeded to write about his desire to visit the Roman believers. He wanted to share a spiritual gift with them so they would be strengthened in their faith. He also wanted to be encouraged by their faith.

Paul recognized that both he and the Roman believers would be stronger through Christian fellowship. He was humble enough to admit his need for their encouragement and caring enough to share his spiritual gift and encouragement with them.

A public faith will be opposed and can get battered severely in this unbelieving world. To maintain a strong public witness requires strengthening and nurturing from fellow believers, from participation in a local church. Biblical faith is practiced in fellowship, in church.

After stating his intention to visit the Romans, Paul testified that he was a debtor to all peoples, all nations. He was obligated to preach the gospel, to share the good news about God’s saving grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul was motivated by a strong sense of personal obligation, a sense of duty. His duty was expressed by proclaiming the gospel to all peoples, but ultimately the duty was an obligation to God himself. Paul felt obligated to God because God saved him despite his terrible disobedience.

What about love? Would it not be better if love inspired Paul instead of duty? Paul clearly loved God and he loved others. His passion and work are reminders that we should not think of love and duty as disconnected, as if they cannot work in harmony.

True love inspires great acts of duty. We feel a strong sense of obligation toward those whom we love, without any resentment. Jesus’ sacrifice awakens in believers an obligation born out of the deepest affection. Paul’s faith was intensely personal, between himself and God.

Our personal passion for God inspires us to seek out fellow believers and stay in fellowship with them, encouraging one another and living openly for God. As we do, the world notices. True faith is sparked by a personal passion for God, nurtured in fellowship with the local church, and noticed by the world.

May God’s love inspire us to live a world-class faith,

Brother Richard Foster

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March 4, 2018 · 3:25 PM

What Is A Disciple?

Jesus has given us a great mission. We are to make disciples of all peoples. But what is a disciple? Jesus’ instructions help answer that question.

First, he says that we should baptize disciples in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. So disciples are baptized believers. To make disciples, we bring people to saving faith in Jesus and baptize them.

Next, Jesus says that we are to teach disciples to obey all that he has instructed us. Disciples are learners. But they are not just learning information. They are learning to obey. Disciples don’t just know Jesus’ teachings, they apply Jesus’ teachings to everyday life. To make disciples, we instruct them in living the Christian life.

So far, so good. But can we be more specific? In our personal evangelism classes, we use a working definition of “disciple” so that we know what we are trying to accomplish. Here it is: A disciple is a baptized believer in the Lord Jesus Christ who is attending Sunday school regularly. Now that definition is simple, but it gives us something objective to shoot for.

Once disciples are made, they begin to grow spiritually. How do we define a mature disciple? Our definition must be more comprehensive. First, a mature follower of Jesus will attend church regularly. For Grace Baptist, that is Sunday school, Sunday morning worship, Sunday evening discipleship, Wednesday evening prayer (or working with children), and any other ministry activities that are necessary.

Second, a mature follower of Jesus finds a place of service in the church and serves faithfully. Many opportunities for service are available: Sunday school teachers, greeters, musicians, children’s workers, cooks, counters, property maintenance, drivers, and much more.

Next, a mature follower of Jesus gives tithes and offerings to the local church.

Also, a mature follower of Jesus reaches out to people outside the church, looking for open doors of ministry, looking for opportunities to talk about Jesus. Part of being a disciple is making disciples, that is, helping others come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Finally, a mature follower of Jesus is someone who faithfully attends to personal spiritual disciplines, like reading the Bible, prayer, worship, and fasting. These disciplines are spiritual sustenance to followers of Jesus. Without a steady diet of Christian spiritual disciplines, a follower of Jesus will be spiritually anemic.

So our goal is for every follower of Jesus to be faithfully attending, serving, giving, sharing and growing in Christ. All of this is done in the local church. We grow toward maturity in Christ together, in fellowship, a fellowship which provides the encouragement and accountability that each of us needs.

Making disciples is an ongoing mission. These goals are never finished in this life. No individual believer reaches perfection in this age. We always have room for growth. And, no local church should ever stop reaching new souls for Jesus. Those new believers must then be grown toward maturity. And God’s kingdom advances.

So, let’s be disciples and make disciples!

May God’s Spirit inspire and enable us to do great things for his kingdom,

Brother Richard Foster

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