How Do I Stay Faithful to Jesus in the Little Things?

With all the problems in today's world. Why hasn't Christ returned yet.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Christian life every day.

You can call us right now with your question. At 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com, and during this the coronavirus crisis we have been doing our best to share a bit of good news with you each day and a drill here is a story that brought a smile to my face.

Love has no age limits and apparently it has no borders either. As you may have heard because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Many European countries have closed their borders temporarily, including Denmark and Germany, but that doesn't stop 89-year-old Karsten Hansen from bicycling to meet his 85-year-old Danish girlfriend Inga Rasmusson at the Denmark Germany border every day. While these two lovebirds met later in life and they have been dating for two years now. The couple used to trade off making trips to visit each other. Inga lives in Gallo, whose Denmark and Karsten in suitor Logan Germany. Now Inga drives to the border every day and Karsten rides his bike. Karsten says they always meet between three and five in the afternoon, no matter the weather. They chat and drink coffee while enjoying a few biscuits together that is so cool the power of love, was so sweet. Maybe you know hopefully someday you and your wife will be eating biscuits together between three and five yeah I will and I just hope I can write up I get that a pretty good health. Yeah hello. I love that story all right. Let's go to our first call of the day and I want to know about salvation and where and how works you don't have anything to do with our being faint and won't people just say I can do whatever I want.

Jesus has already thinking why would they want to work getting faithful Christians after work to help you. Hey, that's a really good and practical question and you just sort of piggybacking off of that wonderful story that Bill just told love really drives us to work. I think in a way that is honoring to the Lord. Right now, we sometimes have the most difficult time getting our kids to clean the room.

It's a battle.

My kids are 853 and one in, although it frustrates me. I started get it. I member when my mom used to tell me to clean my room. I shove everything in the closet under the bed rearrange things or hide the mess they just felt like such a duty.

Well, when I was 12 years old.

I had a crush on a girl named Alexandria. She was a cheerleader at night, played on the pop Warner football team when their parents agreed that she could come over and hang out with my family know what I did, I cleaned my room like a professional. There wasn't one thing misplaced. Why because it was driven by love will sort of went when our works are driven by love. They come naturally and John said we love God because he first loved us Ynez. In other words, your works should flow from the heart of thankfulness and gratitude because of what God is already done for you in Christ, he has saved you by faith and forgiven your sins, the free grace of God rather than make us lazy when we really get it.

What it does it produces love interests. It makes us eager to serve the Lord not because we feel like we have to earn our salvation because we were resting in the fact we've already received this grace from God. And so you know it's it's sort of a paradox, you know, we do think O'Boyle will if if my works don't contribute to my salvation will then I'm just going to get lazy. But the reality is this the more we understand the more you understand Ynez how good God is, how much she's loved you in Christ.

The fact that he has saved you and accepted you by faith into his family. I think that as we realize that what we just want to serve the Lord and we do it with joy. When asked about the flipside of that, a drill Dietrich Bonhoeffer talked about cheap grace where we don't really understand completely what God has done for us and don't respond in the way that the God that Scott honoring what you think about that he will II think that that is out there and certainly there are people who want to take advantage of the goodness of God. In fact, the apostle Paul. He says very clearly in the book of Romans you. He asked this question. Shall we sin, that grace may abound to work after he just sort of articulated in the first few chapters of the book of Romans that the glorious gospel of the free forgiveness of our sins.

Justification by faith is as though I know what you're thinking.

You're probably thinking now yeah will I guess that just means we can go on sinning because God is so gracious and how does Paul respond, he says in Romans chapter 6 verse two. By no means how can we who died to sin still live in it. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death, and so is really interesting. I think Bill about how Paul himself response to that. If he doesn't say okay you know I know you're thinking this but you just gotta understand that if you don't work, you're really not saved or something like that gnocchi third doubles down on the gospel. He says no, we don't continue in sin.

Why, because were tied to it in the gospel so he reminds us again of our identity in Jesus Christ. But again, brother. You're right there. There is this problem of sort of cheap grace that's out there and I think that the way we respond to is the same way Paul did we remind people of their identity in Jesus. What he's done so that they respond to him in love beautiful response and Ynez. Thank you for that question. I'm sure a lot of people grapple with that that issue on a regular basis. It really have a Facebook post from Lisa who says in second Peter three verses eight and nine it says that God is delaying judgment in the coming of Christ. I've never noticed this before. Can you explain it.

I'm in a really good question and also that I think many people wonder about right now because we look around. It seems like things are getting worse and worse in a win is the Lord coming what's taking them so long to listen.

What Peter said in second Peter 389. Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years. This one day the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any parish but that all should reach repentance immediate really what Peter is telling us is it's God's grace and mercy to you to us that causes him to tarry in the context Peter is his mentioning how some people are going to scoff and say you know where is the promise of Christ's coming. Why is he taking so long and even to begin to live in in ways that are ungodly. Mrs. know what we can't do that. The fact that Jesus is not yet returned is a mercy to all those who have yet to turn to him when Jesus comes. That's that's good news for God's people for the faithful. But if you're still farming Jesus is not good news for you. It's judgment. There's no coming back from that and so I actually think you know what we can praise God, and we long for the return of Christ as his people.

We want to see the Lord.

We want to be with the Lord.

We also long to see our family and friends who don't know Jesus turned to Jesus is so in one sense you.II say Maren not to come, Lord Jesus, but in another sense, and it's what Peter is talking about here. I say Lord have mercy on those who do not know you right now use the circumstances that were experiencing all around us to turn people to you to bring them to repentance.

That's what Peter is saying and so I think when we consider this fact that the Lord has carried that he hasn't come back yet what that should cause us to to recognize is that God is still drawing people to himself and we are to long to see the Lord draw our loved ones to the faith as well. And so it's an opportunity for us to do evangelism to reach out and to love the people around us know I've been struck by how many believers are using this whole coronavirus situation to reach out and love to serve others, and some very powerful ways and it's really a testimony to the church of Christ and how when bad times do come.

We step up and that we seen that throughout history we sought in the early days of the faith in Rome and it's just it's a wonderful opportunity for us right now to draw others to be actively involved in that work of God drawing others to himself through our love and our service.

I praise God for that to Bill and me, and there really has been some silver lining with with all the things going on that there is a sense in which not just the church but society as a whole has sort of rallied around each other and wanted to come together and of course there's all sorts of still you know debates and and frustration but but the reality is this. When something like this happens work all confronted with our own mortality and it brings us together in a way that that we typically aren't brought together and were reminded of our ultimate need and that's where I think the church can really come in and say hey we know the one who conquered death, let me introduce you to to have you know his name is Jesus a man.

Well, let's go to another call that we received a drill this one from David my how good, no, all the animals of the world on the ark. I don't understand how I got every animal in the world and every species on the ark. Hey David, thank you for that excellent question. I don't know how many species there are in the world but I know it's a lot any of those species happen to be fish, but that still leaves us with some questions, doesn't it.

The fact of the matter is I think we just have to recognize that God was the one who was orchestrating this thing is sometimes a lot of times I have a hard time getting four of my own kids loaded up in our Honda Odyssey loading at Clark full of animals, predatory animals, is nothing short of a miracle. And that's what I embrace. This was a miracle orchestrated by the Lord of God can tell a official whale to swallow up Jonah. He has no problem hurting animals onto an art and I think that this is recording real history. I don't think that this is just some sort of allegory for salvation or something like that.

There was a real art with real animals on it and were told that all of this happened because of the judgment that came upon the earth.

And I think that's what we really don't want to miss what this story is meant to communicate to us isn't wow look at how great of an animal whisper, God is its wow, look at how sinful we are and how merciful God is God essentially starts from scratch and through the ark saves Noah and his family and that's a type of the salvation that we experience, and the gray fits exhibited to us and in things like baptism, you know Peter in first Peter chapter 3 verses 20 through 22. Listen to what he says they formerly did not obey when God's patience waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water baptism, which corresponds to this now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with Angels, authorities and powers having been subjected to him so brother it is a great question.

I think we just have to say look this this was a miracle of God is orchestrating this thing.

It's a picture of the salvation of sinners and it's what we experienced the reality that we experience in Jesus Christ by faith in things like baptism, so thank you so much for your question.

Hope that's helpful. We have an email question that came in from Michelle and she says what advice do you have for being faithful to Jesus in the little things I'm a stay-at-home mom and I love my children but a lot of the time it can feel hard being stuck in the house and watching the kids and not having much adult conversation hey Michelle, thank you so much for your question. I've had this conversation with my with my wife and we've talked about this in a where would the church be without faithful mothers like you, Michelle.

I think of Paul's words to Timothy in second Timothy chapter 1 verse five, Paul told Timothy, I am reminded of your sincere faith of faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother, you Nice and now I am sure dwells in you as well.

Think about Timothy. He went on to be a traveling missionary right-hand man to the apostle Paul and pastor in Christchurch and yet Paul says I'm so thankful for your grandmother and your mother taught you. The Scriptures perhaps might get a one of my favorite stories is the story of St. Augustine you he he shares in his autobiography, which is a Christian classic. It's called the confessions, Augustine is probably the greatest theologian of the Western church's writings are still being read today, but you know what he didn't come to Jesus until later in life effect. The first part of his life was spent in revelry living dominant sinful ways, but he had a mother Monica, who was faithful to pray for him every day, often with tears and got hurt her prayers.

Michelle God hears your prayers to and he sees everything you're doing even the little things you have one of the most important jobs in the world, raising children in the Lord. I want to say God bless you and God bless every mom who seeking to faithfully love their families raise their children in the Lord and I think that that's the first thing you have to realize sister is what a blessing. What a privilege it is that God is given to you in the fact that your work is so meaningful.

You can't underestimate that. But I also know that it is hard to be stuck at home and I think a lot of us are seeing this more these days than ever right because were facing the sort of lockdown orders and I would say you have a conversation with your husband talk to your husband. See if you can't get out from time to time.

If there aren't ways that you guys can encourage each other. I know for me and my wife shall tell me she'll still be honest with me as a I just need to go and take a walk or I'm in a run to target and maybe just in a walk around the aisles or whatever, but I think it's really important for you to feel the freedom to be able to have those kinds of conversations and say hey I need some me time or I need some some grown-up time.

I think that that's so important as well and so sister and I want to encourage you.

God bless you for the work that you're doing the Lord sees all the little things and he hears your prayers and they're going to bear fruit.

Michelle, we appreciate you so much and I know during this coronavirus.

It's particularly tough for her stay-at-home moms without a lot of interaction, and so we just pray for you and your family that God will sustain you during this time and help you to know what a powerful job that God has given you your listing to core Christianity. Our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can actually leave a message on our special voicemail box 24 hours a day and you can record your question for us by going to core Christianity.com/radio look for the low microphone box there on the right-hand side you can leave your question force and you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com. Now Israel.

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We would love to have you join the inner core. It means so much to this ministry and we know will provide a blessing in your life as well write it or let's go back to the phones and this call came in from Dan. I've been a Christian for 47 years.

The Bible tells us that God is the same today always and forever. I will explain that when at one time he came to earth and became a man, not count to contradict. Thank you Dan thank you for that question. You referring to Hebrews chapter 13 verse eight Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Go back to verse seven and read this in its context, because I think it will help to illuminate the passage for you back in verse seven, the author, the Hebrews begins.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. And then he says this. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods which have not benefited those devoted to them. The point that the author of the Hebrews is trying to make here is is really specific is not necessarily focusing on God's nature per se. Although we believe that God is unchanging, immutable, that's the technical term for this doctrine. Theologians often talk about.

He focusing on the fact that the gospel is this unchanging message that we don't want to drift away from.

That's what he says in verse nine do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings of Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever. The message that was preached. The hope of the gospel and of salvation that does not change. That's the point that the author, the Hebrews is trying to make their specifically in that passage now related directly to your question, how do we talk about the incarnation of organist age uses the same yesterday today and forever, and God the son took flesh assumed humanity for us will is is that a contradiction is that a change we tell you how the church fathers talked about is sort of a paradox, but I love this line.

Often times you hear the church fathers.

That is, the early Christians who spent a lot of time talking about discussing these really core Christian doctrines related to the incarnation of the Trinity. They said he became what he was not without ever ceasing to be what he was kind of a mystery God. The word, the eternal son of the father became what he was not. He assumed humanity added humanity to his person if you will, without ever ceasing to be what he was that is the mystery of the beautiful mystery of the incarnation number to get a little bit technical here. Bear with me and hopefully I can bring it home for you in a Practical Way, God of the sun, the eternal word of the father didn't transform into something he wasn't. He took flesh from the womb of the Virgin Mary, he assumed humanity without ever ceasing to be the divine son of God, the divine person, why so that he might bear our sins. This is what we call Christology Dennis. It's the doctrine of Christ and sometimes people think. Okay, now you're splitting theological hairs. Man can't we all just love Jesus but the truth is we can't love Jesus.

Unless we know who Jesus is the doctrine of the incarnation is directly related to your eternal salvation mind to Jesus assumed humanity so that he might live the perfect life in your place and paid the penalty for your sins. If Jesus wasn't truly human. He couldn't do that if he wasn't truly God. He also can do that. The eternal word satisfied our need by offering his precious blood for us, so there's no real contradiction here. It's a mystery brother, one that we embrace and a door. What a beautiful response to Dan's question Israel thank you for really helping all of us understand that we had an email question that came in from one of our listeners.

Cornwall nope I'm saying your name correctly and he says how am I supposed to know God's will for me when everything in the Bible seems to be unrelated to my life. Thank you so much for that question and I just watched a movie with my kids the other day that I loved as a as a boy, is the never ending story is a sort of a fantasy movie based off of the book in that movie.

There's a boy bastion who comes across this fantasy book that he can't put down, and as he's reading it.

He comes to realize that somehow he has a part to play in the story. The characters in the book begin interacting with him speaking to him the story of the Bible is all about Jesus its redemptive history, his story focuses on Christ from Genesis to Revelation what he's accomplished for us.

But you know what all of the characters in Scripture, including Jesus speak to us after talking about all of the great heroes of the faith and in Hebrews chapter 11 Hebrews 12 begins by saying therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders us the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance, perseverance the race set before us. It's as if you think all these witnesses to me what witnesses do they testify testifying to us. There speaking to you about Jesus.

How are we supposed to know God's will would when it seems like the Bible is unrelated with what we have to do first is understand the word of God is not immediately about. It's about Jesus.

What he's done for us. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33 core when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together