Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Have I Prayed Seriously about It?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 29, 2020 

            What does it matter if my decisions are made only after serious prayer?

The short answer: God knows when your heart is sincere versus just saying words.

            The first recorded instance of prayer came after the birth of Adam’s grandson (Seth’s son), Enosh, when “people began to call upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 4:26).

            Perhaps this resulted from the example Adam set by giving God credit for the birth of Seth after Abel’s murder (4:25). Adam and Eve had a lot of things they could have stayed bitter about besides their banishment from the Garden of Eden. But their willingness to move ahead with God may very well have set the tone among family and friends to acknowledge their Creator and have a sincere prayer relationship with Him.

            The theme of submitting to the Father’s will is carried into the New Testament where Jesus set the ultimate example of humility: dying on the cross for our sins. Jesus applauds this quality in the parable of the self-righteous Pharisee and the humble tax collector who had both gone up to the temple to pray. Pharisees were among the religious elite. They were well-studied and strived to follow God’s law to a tee which resulted in the sin of having a “better than thou” attitude. Tax collectors were often known to be dishonest. But in this parable, it was the tax collector who exhibited sincerity, humility, and deep embarrassment over the life he was living as he approached God in prayer. In the end, it was the tax collector’s prayer that God accepted.

            “11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’  13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner’” (Luke 18:11-13).

            In the famed Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his disciples against practicing righteousness such as good works and public prayer for the purpose of impressing others:

            “7 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words” (Matthew 6:5-7).

            Public prayer leaders, teachers, and servants of various kinds are much needed. In fact, just one chapter before this, Jesus tells us to let our light shine, but with an attitude that would glorify God and not ourselves (Matthew 5:14-16).  

            It really is about the heart, whether a prayer is public or private. Our motives for offering prayer matter (James 4:3), as do our efforts in walking God’s path during our faith journey here in this life (James 5:16, 1 Peter 3:12, 1 John 1:7).

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Are my motives selfish or unselfish?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 22, 2020 

            What does it matter if my decisions are based on selfish or unselfish motives?

The short answer: God wants us to think of others first.

            James 4:3 tells his readers that the reason they did not receive from God what they asked for was because they asked with wrong motives. James said their motive was strictly pleasure. He said we cannot be friends with the world and with God. In fact, James said, “Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

            God not only places this much importance on our motives in dealing with the subject of prayer and our intent when we approach Him, this frame of mind is also important in our everyday life. God cares about our motives, not just what we do and say, but why we do and say.

            Remember, God is patient with us and does not want anyone to lose their soul. That is why He urges us to pattern our lives after Jesus and walk by His Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit, and verse 25 tells us we should stay in step with the Spirit. None of the Spirit’s qualities such as love, joy, and peace have anything to do with selfishness, and in Philippians 4:8, we are told to think about things that are pure and lovely. Selfishness somehow did not make the list of things to think about.

            The apostle Paul said that when the Lord comes, He will expose motives of the heart and give praise to those who prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). I sometimes wonder if any of us would live our lives more faithful to God if punishment for wrong motives and disobedience were immediate. I don’t know. In the Old Testament days, God was more immediate in this regard, but it did not seem to have any effect. People have always been stubborn and rebellious. But make no mistake about it, just because people are not punished immediately for sin does not mean God has forgotten.

            In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul hits this topic head on:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5).  He proceeds to write about the humility Christ showed by putting His own comforts aside in order to save us.

            Paul told a much younger Timothy that devoting himself to God’s word would not only result in salvation for himself but for those who learned from Timothy’s example (1 Timothy 4:15-16).

            Our motives really do matter. So many times, people we thought were honest turn out to be dishonest, or were only doing something for selfish reasons. That is so disheartening. May we all strive to be pure in heart in everything we say, do, and think. Have a great week.

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Can it be done in Jesus’ name?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 15, 2020 

            What does it matter if my decisions can be done in the name of the Lord Jesus?

The short answer:  As God’s chosen people (1 Peter 2:9), we should have a Christlike attitude and feel confident that if Jesus were physically standing here with us today, he would agree with our words and actions. We should be able to say, “Jesus told me to” or “I checked with Jesus and he said it is okay.”

            The apostle Paul said, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

            Why would Paul say something like that? Well, he tried life the other way and it did not work for him. Paul wound up being struck blind by Jesus himself on his way to persecute Christians. It was by experiencing temporary but total blindness that Paul learned to see spiritually as well as regain his physical sight (Acts 9, 22, 26).

            Paul spent the rest of his life following “the Way.” Acts 9:1 is the first time this term is used to describe Christians “belonging to the Way.”  It comes from a Greek word meaning road, highway, or way of life leading to salvation or the true way of life in relation to God. The expression occurs throughout the book of Acts.

            Today, we can read stories of “the Way” of Jesus and apply those solid Biblical teachings to help us distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14).

            As we read God’s word, our faith in God and our hope through Jesus Christ is strengthened. Those who put their faith in Jesus “clothe yourselves with Christ” by being “baptized into Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). This is when God adds you to His church (Acts 2:41, 47). This is accomplished with God’s power, grace, and work, not ours (Colossians 2:12, Ephesians 2:8-9).

            Being clothed in Christ allows us to follow the example of Jesus. We are to live as he lived and do the good works that God gave us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

            New Christians and even those of us who’ve been around for a while need to be reminded of what it means to “Do all in the name of the Lord.”         

            In Colossians 3:1-17, Paul took the opportunity to tell his readers exactly how to do this and win the ultimate prize of appearing with Christ in glory (3:4). Paul said to “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

            Next, Paul does two things. He makes list of sinful activities such as impurity, idolatry, and lying that Christians need to put to death in their lives. Then, he makes a list of good qualities such as kindness, compassion, patience, and humility to apply in the lives of those who are clothed in Christ.

            At the end of Paul’s list, he tells us to “forgive as the Lord forgave you” and “put on love,” which unifies everything else (3:14).

            Doing things in the name of Jesus involves more than just saying his name before you say or do something, it involves careful decision-making, leading to a life reflecting the love, joy, humility, and compassion of Christ. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Does it bring glory to God?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 8, 2020

            One might ask, “What does it matter if my decisions bring glory to God?” The short answer: Jesus brought glory to the Father by serving others and we should too.

            If you are a Christian, it is Christ who lives in you (Galatians 2:20). He lived here to do the will of the Father (John 6:38) and to bring honor to Him (John 17:1, 4, 18, 19). As disciples of Jesus Christ, we should also strive to bring glory to God by doing His will (John 15:8).

            It is by studying the Bible that we learn how to bring glory to God, and at the same time learn to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14).

            In 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, the apostle Paul said that everything we do should be to glorify God, no matter what it is. This kind of life seeks the highest good of other people, and in the end will result in the salvation of souls that would otherwise be lost.

            God has never been a fan of lip service and man-made traditions presented as God’s law. People have always tried to trick God into believing they are bringing honor and glory to Him when it was really only about making themselves look good or doing what was convenient for them.

            In Matthew 15:7-9, Jesus refers back to words written 700 years earlier by the prophet Isaiah: “The LORD says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught’’” (Isaiah 29:13).

            Jesus uses this passage to scold the religious high and mighty of the day (Pharisees) who took an over-abundance of pride in doing things right while pointing out others’ faults. The Pharisees failed at applying the heart of God and the intent of God’s law in real life situations. Most often, the Pharisees failed with regard to compassion, mercy, and just plain old common sense such as when Jesus explained the hypocrisy of the Pharisees when they criticized Him for working on the Sabbath when He healed a man’s sickness.

            "If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?" (Luke 14:5)

             In Isaiah 1:13-20, the prophet expressed God’s disgust with a rebellious nation whose sacrifices were considered by God to be “meaningless offerings.” Even their prayers were ignored by God because their check-mark religion of offerings and ceremonies did not change their heart to be like God’s. Their religion was shallow and did not translate to their willingness to live right, defend the oppressed, and seek justice (1:15-17).

            False religion does not bring glory to God. It is worthless (Jeremiah 7:1-11).

Using God’s blessings for evil, like Israel did, is also a good way to get on God’s bad side (Hosea 2:8-13). And in Malachi 1:6-14, God is disgusted with Israel for offering Him inferior sacrifices and thinking God won’t notice or care that they were not giving Him their best.

            It is just as important to honor God today as it was thousands of years ago. And just like back then, glorifying God is not about pumping up God’s ego and self-esteem. It is really all about serving others in such a way they will also want to trust God’s word and walk the path of righteousness that leads to salvation.

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Would Jesus do it?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
November 1, 2020 

            So why does it matter if your decisions are based on whether Jesus would do it?  In short, if He wouldn’t do it, then we shouldn’t either.

            The apostle and writer John quotes Jesus as saying, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father expect through me” (John 14:6).

            Now THAT is some serious motivation to do as Jesus did and to speak as He spoke. Jesus made sure we have all we need to do just that.

            When Jesus left this earth, the Bible says He sent his Holy Spirit to be with us: “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).

            Jesus knew what He was talking about. After He had left this earth, the Holy Spirit (or Helper) did, in fact, make His presence known during the Jewish feast known as Pentecost. About 120 of Jesus’ disciples who had gathered, both men and women, began to miraculously declare the wonders of God in other languages (Acts 2:11) that could be understood by thousands of people from various nations who had come to the feast (Acts 1-2).  

            Peter explained to the crowd that this miraculous event was foretold by the prophet Joel, and that King David wrote about the resurrected Messiah long ago, the very Jesus “whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). The message and miracles were so convincing that three-thousand previously non-believers now believed in Jesus as their only hope of salvation. They repented, were baptized, and the Lord added them to the church that very day (Acts 2:41, 47).

            The New Testament tells us the Holy Spirit is available to help, guide, comfort, and even intercede for us when we do not know what to ask of God (Romans 8:26-27). Peter says every baptized believer receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Yes, your body can become a temple of the Christ’s Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 8:9-11) and have available all the qualities of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that Christians are supposed to stay in step with (Galatians 5:25). Paul warned early Christians to not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). So yes, it is possible to throw away such a magnificent gift.

            The writers of the 27 books of the New Testament were inspired by Christ’s Holy Spirit in the words they wrote down for everyone since that time to read and receive instruction from God (2 Timothy 3:16).

            Hebrews 5:14 tells us those who consume the Bible’s message can distinguish good from evil. And why wouldn’t this be the case since Jesus’ Holy Spirit inspired the very words of the Bible, and Jesus himself is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)? He experienced the best and the worst of life on earth. He showed us how to live by faith, obeying and trusting the Father to save us even when life gets complicated (Colossians 3:1-4).  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Decision-Making Principles: Is It Biblical?

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 25, 2020 

            “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

            So why does it matter if your decisions are based on what the Bible says? According to the writer of Hebrews, it is because your chances of making the best decisions possible depend on having knowledge of God’s word, the Bible. And when we apply God’s word daily to our lives, we get better at identifying right from wrong, unholy from holy, sin from righteousness.

            The question of whether something is biblical is important because the Bible, after thousands of years, has continued to prove reliable in every way: geographically, historically, archeologically, and societally. We still base years in history on their relation to Christ’s time on earth: B.C. or A.D.

            We can trust the Bible, Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT). People such as Josephus, Polycarp, Ignatius, Tertullian, and Origen who lived within a few years of Jesus to 300 years afterwards spoke about Jesus, made lists of the books of the NT, and quoted the NT thousands of times.  

            Writers of the NT made 103 references to Old Testament (OT) scriptures, of which, 60 referred to Genesis. Jesus himself quoted and made reference to the writings of at least 14 books of the Old Testament including Genesis and the facts about creation (Matthew 19:4, Mark 13:19, Gen. 1-2), and Cain’s killing of Abel (Luke 11:51, Gen. 4:8), marriage defined as the coming together of a man and a woman (Mark 10:6-8, Gen 1:18, 2:22-24), Noah and the flood (Luke 17:26-27, Gen. 6-9), and the story of Jonah being swallowed by a big fish (Matthew 12:39-41, Jonah 1).  He also made reference to OT people including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, Elijah, the prophets Isaiah, Daniel, and others.

           In the NT, Colossians 1:15-17 and John 1:1-14 place Jesus with God in the beginning where creation is described in Genesis 1-2.

            John 5:39 quotes Jesus himself making a strong connection with the OT:

            He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:

Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the

Prophets and the Psalms” (John 5:39).

            All of this serves to remind us that though we are New Testament Christians today, the writers of the NT and Jesus clearly believed in the wisdom, credibility, accuracy, and reliability of the OT. In fact, 2 Timothy 3:16 says “all scripture is inspired by God,” and that would include the NT as well since 2 Peter 3:15-16 refers to Paul’s NT writings as “scripture.”

            This world throws us a lot of distractions. But God has given us his holy word to guide us every step of the way. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Let God’s word guide your decisions

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 18, 2020 

            As the end of October creeps closer, trick or treat sweets and the mysteries of Halloween are without a doubt two of the main things on people’s minds, kids and adults alike. But unlike most years in history, the biggest mystery to be solved this time around is the question of exactly how to do Halloween or whether to do it at all.

            From the Old Testament through the New Testament, the Bible is filled with stories of people who were faced with dilemmas of the how’s and why’s and should I’s.  Peter had to decide whether he would get out of the boat and try to walk on water to Jesus. Esther had to decide whether to risk her life and approach the king to save her people. Abraham had to decide whether he was willing to give up anything and everything including his own son to prove his trust in God. David had to decide whether to sin with Bathsheba. A young boy had to decide whether he would give Jesus his lunch of five loaves and two fish.

            While issues such as social/physical distancing and masking up before going out to beg for candy is not exactly a hot Bible topic, the Bible does give us principles to live by when making any kind of decision.  The writer of the book of Hebrews encourages believers to not stop at just consuming the basics of Christianity, but to dig deeper so they would be prepared to see Satan coming long before it’s too late.

            “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

            Just like physical food, spiritual meat or solid food supplies your needs for the long haul while the shallower Bible topics characterized by milk may head you in the right direction for a while but not keep you full enough to survive those rough spiritual challenges. That is why Jesus told his listeners in the Sermon on the Mount to “hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

            It is only when we fill ourselves with solid food from God’s word that we gain the knowledge we need to fight the spiritual battles we face every day. The apostle Peter encouraged his readers to escape the corruption of the world by growing in the faith.

            “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance Godliness, to Godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (1 Peter 1:5-7).

            Applying these virtues to our daily lives strengthens and supports our commitment to Jesus Christ and our mission to draw others to Him. You see, when we put Jesus (instead of us) on the throne where He belongs, decision-making becomes a lot easier. Have a great week!