KLOVE Radio Features – August 2023

WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT YOURSELF? 

When thousands went out into the wilderness to be baptized by John the Baptist, Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed . . . I am not the Christ. . . . What then? Are you Elijah? He said I am not. Are you the Prophet?. . he answered, No. They pressed him further. Who are you? What do you say about yourself? What an opportunity! Crowds were thronging him. People think, “He’s the man!” He could have boasted and said something grand about himself. But John humbly responded, “I’m just a voice crying in the wilderness.” (John 1:19-23) WOW! They flattered him to go “high,” but John chose “low.” Amazing! What does that say about him? What would you and I say about ourselves? That would say a lot about us.

IGNORANT OF GOD’S WORD

While 176 million Americans claim to be Christians, which is 69% of the population, only 6% of U.S. adults (or 9%) of those identifying as Christians have a biblical worldview, believing the Bible is accurate and reliable. (Barna, Cultural Research Center) The truth is, ignorance is NOT bliss and never has been. Billy Graham said, “If you are ignorant of God’s Word, you will always be ignorant of God’s will.” When I hear people say, “The Bible is boring.” I know it’s because they’re not reading it and seeing how it applies to who they are, what they think, and how they live. When I do that every day, apply the Word to ME, it spanks me, hugs me, provokes me, and turns my heart and mind upside down. Boredom comes from not seeing our lives from God’s perspective. Read and believe the Bible every day, and you’ll live the Great Adventure.

BEING TRULY GOOD

Deep in our hearts, each of us would love to be truly good. Amazingly, the Bible describes three ways we can do just that. Micah 6:8 says, “…do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” Simple and sublime, but daunting to live out. I like to walk this equation backward. We are humbled when we receive the Lord’s mercy, even though we know we’ve not done what is right. That’s why receiving mercy when we’ve done wrong feels more right than receiving praise for doing right and being proud. It’s the reason mercy triumphs over judgment. Do what God says is right, not man. Believe what God’s Word says is truth, not people. Be merciful and forgiving to others because God has been so gracious and forgiving to you. Rick Warren says, “Humility isn’t denying your strengths; it’s being honest about your weaknesses.”

PATIENCE IS PERFECT

I remember the first time I read that patience was a fruit of the Spirit in the Book of Galatians. Candidly, it bummed me out. No one’s ever said to me, “Boy, Francis, you’re a patient guy.” At times, I act like a waffle iron. My life’s heating up, and all I want to do is lift the lid and move on. But if I want a perfect waffle, I need patience. The Bible says, “…the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:3, NKJV) There it is, “Perfect,” a rather lofty goal. But a challenge from God, nonetheless. How many marriages were rescued, children trained, cures for diseases discovered, and souls saved because somebody added a massive dose of patience to words and actions? 

YOU’RE SO BLESSED YOU’RE BORED

You would think a society with entertainment on demand, fast food in minutes, search engines immediately answering obscure questions in seconds, and face-to-face communication with anyone, anywhere in the world, wouldn’t be bored. But we are. We’re the most bored generation in history. We’re so blessed we’re bored! Our unwillingness to pay the price of brutal honesty and embarrassing humility in relationships has resulted in many of us living boring, distracted, and uninspiring lives. The adventure God envisioned for our lives only becomes a reality when we step out and follow God’s leading, not our own will. If you want to make your life boring, imagine it. If you’re going to make it exciting beyond your wildest dreams, let God envision it. Boredom results from being unwilling to see life from God’s perspective. 

WASTEFULNESS OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS

“A life IS a terrible thing to waste.” I believe it more and more. If a loving, all-powerful God created us and purposely planned a marvelous script for each of our lives, far beyond our wildest dreams. Yet, because of ignorance, stubbornness, and selfishness, we are not willing to believe and receive it; this would have to be wastefulness of biblical proportions. The only person responsible for us not experiencing the Abundant Life Jesus promised is ME. He specifically wrote into His will for my life, the best of all options for my future. However, He has intentionally allowed access to this script only to those willing to have a relationship with Him by faith. It is the substance of everything we are hoping for and the evidence of the magnificent life He has envisioned for each of us.