Early Recovery Tips

A week ago I had the privilege to speak on the topic of addiction at a training for ministers. Because addiction and recovery have been a large part of my career as a counselor I was happy to share my knowledge and experience with those in attendance. I packed a lot into my 30 minute time slot! Being now a bit removed from working with those in recovery, this experience made me miss the work- but it also gave me an idea to write this post as a resource for someone navigating the rough waters of early recovery. If this is you, wonderful! If addiction and recovery haven’t been your story, please read anyway; I’ve always found the principles of recovery apply to everyone, regardless of historical substance abuse. Of course, please share with anyone who may find this helpful 🙂 

Structure and routine are a key component of life in early recovery. And while not every single day will look exactly the same or have perfect balance, here are four staples to consider incorporating into your day:

  1. Time for movement. Movement means just that: movement. Please hear me! This does not mean joining a gym or working out for an hour every day. It just means you have to move! This could look like many things! Maybe it’s a 10 minute walk in the morning and a 10 minute walk at night. Maybe it means riding a bike, dancing in the living room, or doing a set of pushups and air squats. Maybe it means trying something new like pickleball or crossfit. 

Why movement? Making physical activity a part of your everyday routine helps ward off cravings and allows your brain to release natural endorphins (which ward off depression and anxiety). It’s also a way of taking care of your body, something that hopefully becomes a new (or renewed) focus in your recovery. Whichever way you look at it, movement is key! Best of all, it’s never too late to begin 🙂  

  1. Time for making and eating healthy food. Hear me out on this one! I don’t mean you need to now only eat organic, all natural ingredient food. I just mean making and eating food that isn’t chips and soda. There are many budget friendly, simple recipes available on the internet and social media- these are wonderful resources! Taking 30 minutes (sometimes less!) to plan and prepare food is a worthwhile and rewarding endeavor.

Why healthy eating? During recovery your brain is going through a healing process. Eating foods that are rich in nutrients can actually help the brain heal! We also know that our physical well being is not separate from our mental well being. Taking care of our physical bodies has a tremendous impact on our mental health. Plus, eating proper foods actually gives us more energy and motivation to do the things we want (and need) to do.  One more bonus? You might just discover you like cooking! For many, it becomes a form of relaxation and/or something to enjoy sharing with others. The reasons for this one are truly endless. If you haven’t already, get reacquainted with your kitchen today! 

  1. Time for connection with others.  I know this one is hard. Early recovery can feel lonely. When you’re in the space between having cut off old using friends and not having new friends, it can feel really awkward. But this one is a must. Connecting with others at this stage will likely mean attending meetings. It may also mean considering engagement with a church or another community organization. It will also mean being intentional about spending time with sober friends and family members. 

Why connection with others? As one of my favorite recovery quotes says, “Addiction is a disease of isolation: the anecdote is togetherness.” Like it or not, recovery happens in community. Genuine relationships not only are a predictor of life longevity, but are the anchor that sustains long term recovery. Remember, no matter where you fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum, we were all created for relationships! As much as we may want to be an island, the truth is, we were designed for connection. So don’t wait: Connect, Connect, Connect! 

  1. Time in solitude. This may seem antithetical to the previous point, but believe me, both are needed! Part of recovery is learning to be alone with your thoughts and learning to identify and process emotions. Like anything else, this takes some practice! In fact, it may be helpful to begin a time of solitude with some body relaxation and breathing. This can be as simple as taking a few moments to stretch and do some deep breathing. Time in solitude can then be used for journaling or for creative endeavors such as drawing or painting. These are all great ways to express and process what you’re experiencing internally. (Of course, prayer and Bible reading can also be done during this time- more on that in a follow-up post!)

Why solitude? Much of using is about avoiding thoughts and feelings. Recovery then, is focused on doing the opposite. By setting aside a bit of time each day to acknowledge your thoughts and feelings you become better equipped to identify personal signs of relapse. It’s also a way to begin to know your true self (an ongoing journey in the lifelong process of recovery!) Additionally, when we know our thoughts and feelings we can effectively communicate these with others- which in turn helps us cultivate much needed connection with others. Solitude will feel weird at first, so feel free to start small. But above all, start!  

Continuous Deliverance

*This article first appeared in the July issue of Faith on Every Corner Magazine.

A few months ago my 15-year-old daughter made a bracelet of her favorite Bible verse at a youth group event. With beaded letters she spelled out “Gal two twenty” (representing Galatians 2:20). Wanting to be cool like her, I insisted we go to Wal-Mart to gather supplies for making more Scripture bracelets. Since then I’ve made seven and have loved wearing these fun reminders of God’s truth! I decided to make one for my friend so I texted her to ask her favorite Bible verse. Her response was 2 Corinthians 1:10. 

Admittedly, I had to look this one up as it wasn’t one I knew off the top of my head. What I found was a sweet verse within one of the most comforting and encouraging passages of Scripture. In verse 3 of chapter one God is described as the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” What a wonderful reminder of who our God is! The Apostle Paul then describes the purpose of affliction and discusses how we can comfort others with the comfort we have received. 

Then in verse eight, Paul describes a time when he and his fellow ministers felt “utterly burdened beyond [their] strength that [they] despaired of life itself.” What an honest description of the burdens we often carry in this life! Contrary to popular belief, sometimes it is all too much for us. But Paul assures us there is a glorious purpose in these trials. He said, “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead” (v. 9). 

All of that brings us to verse 10- a glorious verse about the hope we have in God to deliver us: “He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” What a fantastic promise to cling to in times of grief, discouragement, and uncertainty. Our God has delivered us, and He will continue to do so until Christ comes again.  

I’m so thankful my friend shared this verse with me- and that I was able to share this Scripture bracelet with her! The words of “two Cor one ten” are words I will read again and again. I pray you find comfort in them as well. 

That You May Know

I don’t intend for this post to be long or elaborate, but only for it to speak truth and ignite an unwavering hope in the depths of your soul. Under normal circumstances I would say that’s a tall order- but considering the content is straight from the word of God, I feel confident in this endeavor 🙂 

In conversation with someone yesterday I had the opportunity to share about the saving work of Jesus. The person with whom I was speaking comes from a belief system in which works are primary for reconciliation with God and to garner eternal life. This person had no certainty of having a right standing before God. No certainty that she would be with Christ forever. This absolutely breaks my heart! If you share the belief system of this young lady, please listen to the words of the Apostles John and Peter and of the Lord Jesus himself. And if you are a possessor of the greatest hope in the world, I pray these words leave you again in awe of the love and grace of God. 

The Apostle John concluded chapter 20 of his gospel with these words: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). The same Apostle concluded his first epistle in similar fashion: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). All that John had written concerning Jesus- his miracles, life, death, and resurrection- was for the purpose of giving us certainty of our right standing with God. 

As the early Church emerged, the Apostle Peter preached this same good news to the Gentiles, saying, “To him [Jesus] all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43). It is through Christ alone that we are saved! There is no amount of good works we can do- nothing we can add to the cross to make us acceptable before a holy God. As the prophet Isaiah tells us, all of our good deeds are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). And as the Apostle Paul assures us, nobody is justified by works of the law (Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16). 

If this is not enough evidence that we are reconciled to God by grace through faith in Christ, consider the words of Jesus: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24); and, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). 

Of course, a true faith will show itself in a desire to obey the commands of Christ. As we abide in him, we will bear fruit and grow in holiness; we will walk in the good works prepared for us as God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). But please know these works are an outpouring- a result of our reconciliation with God and of the Holy Spirit living within us! As the Apostles and Christ have clearly stated, we can have absolute certainty that our sins have been forgiven. We can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are His and He is ours. 

*For more on the glorious truth of the Gospel, see my previous post: https://nicolebyrum.com/2024/04/22/apologetic-no-other-god-part-i/   

Wings and Worry

For the last 10 days or so, my family and I have had the privilege of watching a family of house wrens in our backyard. Initially, we were very pleased when two adult birds took up residency in the birdhouse our son made. But then! One day we heard a faint chirping from within the home. We were delighted to see (and hear!) that an entire family was now housed in the simple wooden lodging. Now, I wouldn’t say I’m an avid bird lover, but this whole situation has been quite fascinating to watch! Day and night the mom and dad continuously fly in and out of the home retrieving food to feed their babies. 

For all of the recent bird watching, I can’t help but think of two particular times Jesus referenced birds in his teachings. The first came during the sermon on the Mount when he preached to not be anxious. “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26). The second came a few chapters later when he spoke to his disciples about the persecution they were sure to face. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father…fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29,31). 

In both of these passages, Jesus uses the example of birds to demonstrate the Father’s love and care for His creation. But in these verses, he clearly teaches that we- His children– are of infinitely more value than these precious winged creatures. He assures us that we can trust the Father to take care of us and that nothing can happen to us apart from His will. 

As I’ve typed these words on my backyard patio, I couldn’t begin to count the number of times the wren parents have come in and out of the home, each time offering nourishment to their little ones. They have tirelessly flown to and fro for only this purpose! If this is how a .38 ounce animal takes care of its young (and how God provides for even the smallest of animals) then we should have no trouble accepting the above words of Jesus! 

And yet, how often we forget. How often we fear with failing faith. In these moments, we must return again and again to the words spoken by our Savior- both those he spoke regarding the birds as well as those spoken to the disciples, who, like us, often doubted in times of difficulty. 

When they were frightened by the storm (and before Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea) he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26) And when they were terrified at the sight of him walking on the water, he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Finally, upon hearing the voice of God at the transfiguration, the disciples (rightfully!) fell to their faces and were very much afraid. But Jesus said to them, “Rise, and have no fear” (Matthew 17:7). 

Our Savior absolutely quashes the idea of living a fearful, anxious life. Though we will be tempted to worry in life’s uncertain moments, we need look no further than our own backyards to be reminded of the love and care of our heavenly Father. To be reminded, as Civilla D. Martin wrote, that “His eye is on the sparrow, and He watches over me.” Indeed! The Overseer of our souls does not sleep nor slumber, and He will not forsake His own. Rather, He calls us who are of more value than the birds to rise and have no fear. 

Apologetic: No Other God (Part IV)

Identity and Purpose.  Identity has been a bit of a buzzword these days, but I think that makes this point all the more important! In a world in which individuals seek their identity in wealth, status, race, and sexuality, the Christian faith uniquely offers an identity that is rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This is an identity that is rock solid- one that can never be shaken, and one that, unlike anything else, offers true meaning. And while people of other religions may find a sense of identity in their belief systems (for example, “I’m a Muslim and this is important to who I am”) only Christianity can actually produce a change in one’s identity!

Apart from Christ, we are enemies of God and by nature, children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). But, oh! When we by grace through faith place our trust in Christ alone for salvation, we become united to him! The apostle Paul put it this way: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Additionally, throughout his epistles, Paul frequently used the phrase, “in Christ” to describe the believers’ union with him. This unity with Christ is what changes everything! Consider the following changes to our identity: 

From enemies to children.  In our union with Christ we are adopted into the family of God as His beloved children. Think of it! Through Christ, we are the beloved children of God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth! Even more, as His children we are given a glorious inheritance- we are actually heirs with Christ! The following verses proclaim these truths: 

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1a)

“In love He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will” (Ephesians 1:5)

“But you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons…and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:15, 17a)

From enemies to friends. Through Christ we are reconciled to God and are able to have fellowship directly with Him! This reconciliation means we have been forgiven and are at peace with our Creator. What a blessing to know that God the Father and Christ the Son look upon us as friends! As such, we are loved, enjoyed, and invited into continuous communion. Consider: 

“More than that, we also rejoice in God through out Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:11)

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15) 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20)

From slaves of sin to slaves of righteousness. Outside of Christ we love darkness and cling to our sin. This we do, not realizing that the thing we love and view as freedom is actually our bondage. In this state, sin is our Master- we have no power over it. However, once we are in Christ, this is changed! Rather than be controlled by sin, we are now controlled by the Holy Spirit and become slaves of righteousness. While this might sound contradictory (for who likes the word ‘slave?’) it is actually the way of true freedom. Check out the following!

“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?…and, having been set free from sin, [you] have become slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:16,18)  

“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” (Romans 6:6)

“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6)

As I close this section, I want to leave you with two considerations: 1) These changes to our identity are permanent. They cannot be undone! Because Christ can never change, once we are in him, we can never not be his! Because of our union with Christ, our identity is eternally changed and secure. And, 2) No other religion offers this radical change of identity! The teachings of Islam, Hinduism, or Buddha cannot offer you an identity like this. Certainly, there is no identity given by “the energy of the universe.” Only in Christ are we given this amazing identity!

Before I end this post, I wanted to touch just briefly on one more aspect of our union with Christ- purpose. As followers of Christ we are given the most glorious purpose of all: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. While much could be said on this topic, let me just say (as John Piper has so famously said) that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. We glorify Him most when we love Him supremely! Because such love is demonstrated by action, we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will live out His word and fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations. Now that is a purpose unlike any other! Truly, we are here not for ourselves, but to make Christ known. And nothing is better than this!

One more thought: perhaps the best thing about our purpose is that we fulfill it out of love, not out of fear. We live our lives unto God because of His amazing love for us- because He has taken us from the muck and mire and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places; because He has made us sons, daughters, and friends. This is why! Not because we must work to earn heaven or to escape God’s judgment! We live for Him out of our joy and freedom. And let me tell you, this only exists in the Christian faith! Only the God of the Bible radically transforms our identity and equips us for the most glorious purpose imaginable! 

What Christianity offers is unmatched by any other worldly teaching/belief system. All that has been discussed in these posts flows from the truth of Christianity: the truth of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the truth of God’s word. I pray these posts have encouraged your heart- but I also pray they have provoked some questions. If this has been the case for you, I encourage you to dig in, ask the hard questions, and earnestly seek the answers! In doing so, I firmly believe your faith will be strengthened and your witness emboldened. In this, we will proclaim, “Glory to God, alone!” 

Apologetic: No Other God (Part III)

The Humble Love of God. The idea of a humble God is one that simply doesn’t exist in other religions. God (or gods) as all-powerful, sure. But humble? Not so much. Yet, in the Christian faith we see the humble love of God demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:3 and Colossians 1:15 tell us that Jesus is the exact imprint of the nature of God. This means that in order to know who God the Father is, we can simply look at His Son. 

As the eternal, uncreated Son of God, Jesus stepped down from his heavenly glory to take up residence in the womb of a woman, and ultimately, here on this earth. Even his birth was characterized by humility as he was birthed in a stable, placed in a manger, and visited only by lowly shepherds. Furthermore, he was not born to wealthy parents, but to a carpenter and his bride who could afford only pigeons for the temple offering (Luke 2:22-24). 

The humility of Jesus extended throughout his upbringing as he submitted to the authority of his earthly parents, obeying them perfectly as commanded in the Law (Luke 2:51, Matthew 5:17). Furthermore, he perfectly loved, honored, and obeyed his Heavenly Father and perfectly loved others, just as God commanded His people to do. Truly, Jesus lived a life of humble obedience and servitude in thought, word, and deed. 

The night before his crucifixion, in what may be his most famous act of servant love, Jesus washed the dusty, dirty feet of his disciples to demonstrate the kind of love that makes someone great in the kingdom of God. He taught his disciples to humble themselves, just as he had done, by taking the form of a servant. Jesus did not lord his authority over others and he commanded his disciples not to “lord it over” others as well (Luke 22:25-27).  

Though I love the account of Jesus washing feet, I love the account of Jesus making breakfast even more. In John chapter 21 Jesus appeared to his disciples for the third time following his resurrection. The disciples had been fishing all night and upon reaching the shore, they saw Jesus with a charcoal fire with fish laid out on it, and bread. As they came closer, Jesus greeted them, saying, “Come and have breakfast!” (John 21:9-14). How amazing! Our Savior is the kind of Savior who makes breakfast on the beach for those he loves. No god of any other religion can say the same. 

Of course, we can’t talk about the humility of Jesus without talking about the greatest act of humility to ever exist: Jesus dying a cruel death on the cross in our place. What should have been our punishment he took upon himself. What should have been our shame, our humiliation, he bore in his body on the tree. He became the curse our sin deserved. The One who is preeminent over all creation; the One by whom and for whom all things are made- humbled himself to die for his sheep. This is a love unlike any other! He is our God who has ransomed, redeemed and reconciled us to Himself. 

One more thought. Jesus is also our sympathetic high priest who knows what it is to walk in our shoes. Though truly God, he also walked this earth as true man. This means he knows what it is to feel the agony of a friend’s betrayal, as well as the heartache of grief. He knows what it is to be hungry, sick, and to be rejected by those he cared for. He is truly our God whose entire life here was characterized by humility. He walked the same struggles we do, and in this we find great comfort! As Hebrews 4:15-16 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” 

Praise God for his humble love! I am so thankful that our God relates to us and loves us with the love of a humble servant. He is Lord of all – and yet, He came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). What a beautiful truth that cannot be found in any other god, but only in Christ. 

Apologetic: No Other God (Part II)

God, Triune, and our All in All. The God of the Bible is unlike any other depiction of God. Only in the God of the Bible do we see God revealed as a personal, triune God. From the Scriptures, we learn that God is one Being in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All three persons of the Godhead are eternal and co-equal, each with a role in creation and our salvation. In all our religions, God is presented as one Person. Even if other religions profess Christ, they deny his eternality and/or deity. This is the marker of false Christianity!  Consider the following: 

“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

“When Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16-17). 

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). 

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20). 

Not only is our God three in One, but our God is personal, relating to us in every relational capacity. He is our all in all. No other religion says this! For example, some wrongfully say that Allah (of Islam) is simply another name for God. However, it only takes a small amount of research to quickly learn how untrue this statement is! Not only does the Islamic faith deny the deity of Jesus (and therefore the triune God of the Bible), but the God of Islam is not personal and does not relate to his creation as a Father, but only as a distant creator and judge. Be it Allah, Buddha, Confucius, or the “energy of the universe,” none of them relate to us! None of them resemble anything like who our God is to us. Consider: 

God is our Father. To be united with Christ is to be in him. As Colossians 3:3 says, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Through union with Christ we now become children of God, forever adopted into His family. Think of it! Because Christ is the Son of God, through our union with him we become sons and daughters of God! As His children we can confidently and unashamedly bear our souls to Him in prayer, knowing that He hears and cares for us. We can also know that as our perfect Heavenly Father, He works all things for our good and His glory. His heart toward us is always that of a loving Father! 

God is our Comforter and Counselor. 2 Corinthians 1:3 describes God as “the God of all comfort.” What a beautiful description of the God who loves us. He knows just how hard life can be, and how we struggle with sin, loss, worries, and discouragement. During these times, He has promised to come to us as One who lifts us up; as One who brings hope and peace to our troubled souls. After all, Jesus himself promised to give rest to all those who come to him weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28). One last consideration: the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter and Counselor – and whoever is united with Christ has the Spirit within him (John 14:26, 1 John 4:2). Indeed, our wonderful triune God has promised comfort to His people. 

Jesus is our Bridegroom, Brother, Friend, and Shepherd. I love how many ways Jesus relates to us! He is the bridegroom who rejoices over his bride, loving, protecting, and sanctifying her (Matthew 9:15, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:7-9). Yet, he is also our elder brother because through him we are a fellow heir and child of the Father (see also Hebrews 2:11, Romans 8:29, and Mark 3:34). In this role, our Savior leads and protects us and shares his inheritance with us! Still, he is also a faithful friend who consistently walks with us and who demonstrated there is no greater love than to lay one’s life down for his friends (John 15:13). Lastly, he is our shepherd who tenderly brings back the strayed, binds up the injured, and strengthens the weak (Ezekiel 34:16). 

I am so thankful to be loved by a triune God who cares for and relates to me in all of these ways! Again, no other religion offers this because no other religion presents God as He truly is. Only the God of the Bible depicts the immeasurable love of God and all He is to us. In Him, we have a God who is truly our all in all. 

Apologetic: No Other God (Part I)

Have you ever heard someone say that all religions are basically the same? When pressed on this point, most people will say something to the effect of, “Well, all religions teach that you have to be a good person to go to heaven.” Or, “All religions are just about following rules.” Whether these answers reflect your own thinking or that of someone you know, I invite you to consider the following points. It is my prayer you will see – even in this short writing – just how radically different the Christian faith is from all others. Most of all, I pray you will see the beauty and glory of our triune God.  

The Radical Difference of the Gospel. Outside of Christianity, all religions have one thing in common: they are works-based. Pick a religion, any religion, and you will find that attaining any form of after life, or reconciliation with God, is all dependent on you and your works. It’s about what you have to do to earn it. And let’s face it, this certainly appeals to our human flesh! We love to be told how worthy we are, and we love the feeling of working hard to accomplish our goals. So of course, the idea of earning something as glorious as heaven sounds great, especially to our pride. Until…

Until you start questioning, how good is good enough? How many good deeds does it actually take to get to Paradise? To Nirvana? To be reincarnated into something as majestic as a lion? What a world of anxiety this opens! This is why the gospel is so radically different! The gospel says we are fallen, sinful, and helpless, that there is nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven or into the arms of God. While other religions teach that man is basically good and capable of lifting himself up, the gospel says that we are sinful, depraved, and separated. And deep down, we all know it.  

So herein lies the radicalness of the gospel: It says that reconciliation with God is about Him. It’s about what He has done to save and redeem us. It’s about coming from spiritual death to spiritual life! Consider the following: 

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Romans 3:23-25a). 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).

God, in His love for us, sent His Son, Jesus, to take upon himself the punishment for our sin. As truly man and truly God, he died the death meant for us, so that we could be restored to a right relationship with the God who created us. But not only that! Three days after his death, he was raised by the power of the Holy Spirit! This demonstrated that his sacrifice on our behalf was acceptable to God. It also signifies that Christ is victorious over death – and that just as he was raised in power, so shall we be when he comes again. 

This is the most glorious truth ever! No other religion says this! At best, other religions offer fear and uncertainty. At worst, they offer an arrogant, false sense of security. The gospel, however, offers true certainty that we are reconciled to God and will dwell with Him forever, not because of our works, but because of the work of Christ. To be sure, the gospel flips all of our human inclinations upside down. It requires us to lay down our pride and receive by faith the free gift given to us in Christ. For truly, no person will stand before God boasting in himself. For those in Christ, our only boast, now and always, is him. 

A Delivered People

When we are in the eternity of God I sincerely hope we’re privy to a larger than life replaying of biblical history. I want to see it all! I want to see Creation, Samson catching foxes, David slaying Goliath, and Elijah calling down fire from Heaven. I want to see the night sky breaking wide open with a multitude of angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest.” I want to see the lame leap, the dumb speak, and the demons cast out. And I want to see our Lord walk right out of that grave. 

Also, the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery. 

This key account detailed in the second book of the Old Testament is foundational to the rest of redemptive history. It tells us how God delivered a people out of bondage and called them to be His own. How He bound Himself to them in covenant love and redeemed them from a life of physical and spiritual slavery. But even more, it prefigures how Christ would make us his own; how through his blood he would redeem a people for his own possession; how he would make dead men alive and free. 

In the re-play scenario I mentioned a moment ago, I would love to witness the unfathomable events of nature- the frogs, the darkness, and the waters pushed back by the strong east wind. But before the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, there was a promise. So maybe even more than the wild miracles of nature, I would love to hear those glorious words the first time they were pronounced: “I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God” (Exodus 6:6b-7a).  

As beautiful as this promise was, the Israelites failed to grasp it. They failed to see that the greatest act of all was not to be the plagues or the parting of the Red Sea, but God making them His treasured possession. Verse 9 says, “But they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirits and harsh slavery.” Imagine! The God of the universe declared His desire to make them His own, promising deliverance from their oppressor- and rather than tears of happiness and shouts of joy, they felt discouraged and angry. 

Yet, in the Exodus account we clearly see the love of God set upon His people. Even their hard hearts and broken spirits would not deter our faithful God from doing what He said He would do! He had declared Israel to be His firstborn son and promised the death of the Egyptians’ first born if His son (Israel) was not released from slavery (Exodus 4:22-23). As the plagues unfolded, God made good on this promise. The 10th and final plague was the death of the firstborn of Egypt. 

To demonstrate the distinction between Egypt and Israel, God instructed the Israelites to cover their door frames with the blood of a sacrificial lamb. All homes covered with blood were spared this great loss. The angel of death passed over them and they were unharmed. The remainder of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) gives the detailed account of how Yahweh fulfilled His word by bringing the Israelites from slavery into the Promised Land. There, He dwelt with them as their God, having redeemed them from the hand of Pharaoh. 

As I said earlier, this true and historic event foreshadowed the fullness of the gospel. In order to bring the Israel of God to completion, God delivered those He set His love upon from the bondage of sin once and for all. This He did through the life, death, and resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. His blood was the ransom needed to redeem us from the curse of sin; the only thing that could save us from the wrath of God; and the only means by which His Spirit lives within us. 

Think of it: the same God who brought the Israelites to Himself with an outstretched arm and great acts of judgment is the same God who has made us His own. In Christ, we are a chosen race, a holy nation, and a people for His own possession (1 Peter 2:9). We are blood-bought people, fully delivered and fully redeemed. 

And so, just as the Apostles preached to repent and believe the gospel, I entreat you to do the same! Don’t let your hearts be hardened or discouraged. Rather, see the love of God demonstrated in Christ! Trust in his all sufficient death and resurrection so that you may be a child of God, wholly loved, living forever in His marvelous light.  

Holding Fast the Word of God

In a television interview two years ago, Pastor Rick Warren was asked to identify our number one purpose in life. This was his answer: “Your number one purpose in life is to let God love you. Not to love God, but to let Him love you.” Oof.

If you wonder why I bring this quote up now, it’s because this kind of heretical teaching parades around Christian bookstores and social media all the time. And let’s be honest: it’s appealing to our flesh. Of course we want to be the center of God’s world! Of course we want it to be all about us! But the big beautiful truth is- it’s not. 

So what should we do when we find ourselves drawn to “me-centered” teaching? First and foremost, we should evaluate what Scripture teaches. In the case of Mr. Warren’s answer, Scripture clearly demonstrates something entirely different. Let’s do a quick examination, shall we?

The very first commandment God gave Moses was, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). Nothing was to be more important to the Israelites than the God who brought them out of slavery. Later, God again commands His people to love Him with all their heart, soul, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5). God’s people were first and foremost to love Him with everything that was in them. The Son of God, Jesus, echoed this truth when asked by the Pharisees to name the most important commandment. He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).

At the end of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon (the wisest man to walk the earth apart from Christ) summarized our purpose in this way: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Interesting… no mention of “letting God love you” from Solomon, God the Father, or God the Son.

From cover to cover, Scripture repeatedly declares that we are here to love God and to serve Him and obey His commandments. I love how The Westminster Catechism addresses this truth. It asks and answers the question, “What is the chief end of man?“ in this way: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” 

Clearly, we were created to set our love on God and to glorify Him alone. When we turn that truth around- when we make it about us and our exaltation, our loveliness, and our glory- we go horribly awry, failing to see ourselves and God accurately. Make no mistake brothers and sisters, where truth is denied, sin abounds and peace dissipates.

So then, we rejoice in the truth of the word of God. That by loving and serving Him supremely, we find all the love, joy, peace, and freedom that our hearts desire. It’s not found in the glorification of self. It can’t be! But only in the glorification of a holy God. 

One last consideration related to Mr. Warren’s answer: We don’t “let” God do anything! He is completely sovereign and does all that He pleases (Psalm 115:3). Furthermore, Scripture repeatedly declares that God has already set His love on His people (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:20). We don’t need to “allow” Him to do this- He’s already done it! We have a God who sought us and bought us with the blood of His Son. Our love for Him is a response to His love and what He has done for us in Christ! Such love compels us to live a life wholly devoted to Him and His glory.    

As I close, I want to emphasize the point of this post was not merely to call out the poor theology of one particular pastor, but to encourage us to faithfully read Scripture. Be assured, poor teaching and heresy abounds in this world! But friends, take heart!  Knowing the truth of God’s word guards our hearts and minds from worldly philosophy and empty deceit (Colossians 2:8). Our Heavenly Father has given us all we need to not be led astray! Let’s hold fast to His word today, and always.