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In the business world, a good job title and description can be extremely valuable. We often evaluate one another, and evaluate our own level of “success,” by the significance of our title and the importance of our description. We seem to have a great need to be esteemed; and employees have even been known to trade an increase in pay for a more important title.

The Apostle Paul received his call into God’s service in a very dramatic fashion. While traveling on the road to Damascus, “A light from Heaven flashed around him” (Acts 9:3). Jesus spoke directly to Paul and told him exactly who He was. A few days later Jesus said Paul was “My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

With this endorsement, Paul could have chosen any title he wished – maybe “God’s Chosen Instrument” or “Chief Name Bearer of The Almighty.” After all, Paul’s new boss was the Creator of the Universe.

But once Paul developed a close relationship with Jesus, he saw Him as one who was, “In very nature God” (Philippians 2:6). But at the same time, Paul saw Jesus as one who “made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). With this type of role model, Paul was proud to receive his new title.

Romans 1:1
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.”

There is no greater title in God’s Kingdom than, “Servant of Christ Jesus” – no more significant job description than, “Set Apart for the Gospel.” Once Paul understood how Jesus lived and obediently served all the way to the cross, he rejoiced and devoted himself to serving with every last breath; “I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well” (2 Corinthians 12:15).

It’s understandably difficult to maintain the walk of a servant. All our worldly training tells us to climb higher and achieve more; but God calls us to love Him and humbly serve as His Spirit leads – nothing more, nothing less. We have been set apart for the gospel, and our lives are to be lived as Christ living through us. We always fall short of God’s plan when we attempt to promote ourselves and take control.

There are many openings in the Kingdom of God, but there can be only one job title and only one job description. Our Heavenly Father has called and offered a permanent promotion which far surpasses anything this world could ever offer. Let’s put aside our “need” to be in charge. Let’s humbly bow and proudly accept the promotion to Servant.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

I need your help with an assignment. I am currently taking a few on-line seminary classes while we are on the road. One of the classes is focused on evangelism. I had thought this would be a relatively easy class but I’ve encountered an assignment which is much more difficult than expected. I need to present the gospel to five people who do not currently believe, or have never really heard, the gospel message. I am very comfortable with discussing the gospel, but without some kind of relationship, or at least an introduction, it is difficult to just stop someone on the street and ask them if I can talk with them about Jesus. I greatly admire those who have this ability but I do not seem to be able to make this connection.

I was going to just accept a poor grade but then I realized I might be able to use email to accomplish the assignment. Then, as I thought about it even more, I realized this might actually be a good opportunity to truly explain the gospel and interact with some people about God’s plan of salvation.

How can you help? Well, in the rest of this message I am going to outline what I believe are the essential portions of the gospel. First, if you have never really heard, understood, or believed this message, please write me with any questions. Also, please write if you find yourself believing this message for the first time. Second, if you know of someone who needs to read this message, please forward it to them and encourage them to write. My promise is to not be confrontational but to simply try to answer questions as best I can. Finally, if you already believe, please pray that God would use this assignment in a wonderful and exciting way.

So what is this “Gospel Message”?

The word gospel just means good news. As the word is used in the Bible, it refers to the good news which has been developed as a theme through most of the pages of the Bible. Right away this presents a problem. The good news is news about God and His plan as revealed in the Bible. If you do not first believe in God, you cannot believe in the gospel. And if you do not believe that the Bible is some kind of truthful message, then the gospel will have no credibility. If you do not already have a basic belief in God and the Bible then please write. We need to start at a different point and the following information might not be helpful without these beginning beliefs.

So with a basic belief in God and the Bible, let’s continue.

In the very beginning of the Bible we see God creating people to be in a relationship with Him. We don’t really know the full extent of this relationship, but we know it was close and personal, and intended to last forever. In other portions of the Bible, this relationship is confirmed as one where God loves and cares for people, and people love and trust God.

But there is a problem with this intended relationship; and that problem is called sin. God established a standard, and anything short of meeting His standard is sin. And here is the bad news…no one can meet the standard. The Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). When we think about who we really are we know this is true. Even without knowing exactly what the standard is, we know how we fall short and become selfish. Again, the Bible explains this as, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6).

Well, unfortunately, the bad news gets worse. This problem of sin has some real bad consequences. We are introduced to the consequences when the first sin occurred in the beginning of the Bible; “So the Lord God banished them from the garden” (Genesis 3:23). One of the clear messages in the opening chapters of the Bible is that sin causes separation from God. Later, we understand more about this separation, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Sin is bad news! It causes separation, permanent separation, from God. This separation is so bad that it is referred to as an eternal death. And the real bad news? We can’t do anything about it. God sets a standard which we can’t reach and one which results in terrible, eternal, consequences for failure.

But then, there is good news. God has made a way that the consequences of our sin can be removed. The way provided by God is called forgiveness. All through the Bible, God taught about the consequences of sin and the need for forgiveness. He made it clear that a price had to be paid, but that a sacrifice could be made to pay (or take the penalty) for the sin. God began by introducing a system of animal sacrifices which had to be continually made – because people continually sinned. He then presented a final sacrifice which would be made once to take the penalty for all sin, for all time.

To take the penalty for all sin would require a special sacrifice, one which would be a fair exchange for the penalty due to so many people. God loved people so much that He gave of Himself in the form of Jesus Christ to be that VERY special sacrifice; “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” (John 3:16). And in another place we read, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The good news is that Jesus paid the penalty so that we don’t have to. We don’t have to be separated from God. We can be brought back to the relationship God intended – right now and forever.

How?

The Bible uses words like faith and believe. This is our necessary response. Jesus Christ has paid the penalty, but our response is to believe; “…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). When we truly believe in the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, we are given a life which is eternally with God. Even though we will still physically die, we will be with God forever; “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him” (John 3:36).

What is the gospel message? Our sin causes separation from God. Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sin so we do not need to be separated. When we believe in the sacrifice of Jesus, the penalty for our sin is paid – we are forgiven and can begin a life with God.

So now what?

If you believe this message, tell God. Talking to God is called prayer. Talk to Him. Tell Him you believe…and thank Him.

There are other parts of God’s plan, but this is what I have determined is essential. After you believe, there are things you will probably want to do – like learn more about God and how you can tell others. But understand…separation is ended because of your belief in what God has provided through Jesus.

If you have any questions or comments, please write.

And thanks for helping with this evangelism assignment!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

Immediately after feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish, “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side” (Matthew 14:22). The disciples had begun to cross the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose which caused them to “strain against the oars” (Mark 6:48). It was the middle of the night, and after already rowing about three and a half miles they found themselves fighting against the wind and waves.

Why had this happened? The disciples had done exactly what Jesus told them to do and now they were facing a major struggle. They had clearly heard and obeyed but they were still confronting a very difficult situation. The story continued as Jesus walked on the water, called Peter out of the boat to join Him, and then miraculously calmed the storm. But couldn’t the struggles have been avoided by telling the disciples to simply wait until morning to travel?

This wasn’t the first time the disciples faced a storm with Jesus. During a prior boat ride, Jesus had been asleep when the storm arose: “The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!'” (Matthew 8:25). When Jesus calmed the wind and waves of this first storm, the disciples asked each other “What kind of man is this?” (Matthew 8:27). During the first crisis, the disciples saw Jesus as an amazing man. But now, in the middle of the night, when Jesus again calmed the storm, the disciples began to understand.

Matthew 14:33
“Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.'”

As was the case with the disciples, Jesus often sends us into a storm for the purpose of revealing Himself and drawing us closer to His side. While in the middle of a storm, we can see God’s love and witness His ability to protect, strengthen, and guide. “These {storms} have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7).

Our Father loves us very much. He loves us enough to give us His Son as a sacrifice for our sin; enough to give us His Spirit as our guide; enough to never leave us, and enough to finish the good work He began in our lives. Let’s receive His love and learn to rejoice in ALL things. Let’s learn to look with new eyes and see His hand working around us each and every day. Let’s praise Him and look for new revelations of His love, even as we are sent into the storm.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

In the message “Let It Shine” we considered our responsibility to shine the light of Jesus into the world. God will sometimes use powerful preachers to share the gospel message with thousands; but most often, He uses common people like you and me to share His love with one individual at a time.

Sharing the gospel usually does not come naturally. We fear being offensive or rejected, and mostly we fear not having the right answers. A portion of these fears are perfectly natural. But our fears are always magnified by the enemy who seeks to keep us silent. Satan hates for us to speak the truth!

God chose Jeremiah to be a prophet forty years prior to Israel’s captivity in Babylon. This was a difficult time to be God’s spokesman – His message was not at all pleasant. From his first days as a prophet, Jeremiah was told to speak of approaching doom; “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land” (Jeremiah 1:14). God was going to discipline the nation for their many years of sinful rebellion and Jeremiah was sent to warn and explain why.

Jeremiah had his own fears about sharing God’s message; “Ah, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). His words certainly match some of ours today. But Jeremiah was obedient and placed his trust in God’s promise; “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you” (Jeremiah 1:8).

After many years of proclaiming God’s message, Jeremiah’s life had become nearly unbearable. Nobody believed his message and, instead of repenting, the people mocked and ridiculed; “The Word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long” (Jeremiah 20:8). Jeremiah had every reason to walk away from his calling, but something wonderful had taken root in his heart.

Jeremiah 20:9
“If I say, ‘I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,’ His Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

For many years, Jeremiah had pressed close to God, seeking His direction and desiring to do His will. Jeremiah knew the presence of God and could not conceive of life apart from His Lord. Despite great hardship, he could no longer imagine his life void of ministering and proclaiming God’s Truth!

His Word is never a burden too heavy to carry. But we will continue to struggle until we draw close and fill our lives with His presence. When we can see nothing but His majesty and glory, His Word will no longer be contained. Only then will we truly shine. Only then will we be compelled to minister.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

We seem to spend an enormous amount of time evaluating questions about our future: what school we will attend, what job we will work, who we will marry, and where we will live. These are important questions and deserve careful consideration. But have we given proper thought to the question which determines our eternal future?

If the Bible is simply a collection of stories and the thoughts of crazy men, then there is no eternity and you need read no further – the next several years are all we have, so make the most of them. But if the Bible is God’s direct message, then there is nothing of greater importance! His message says we continue to live long after our physical body ceases to breathe. Though we pass from this earth, we continue to live – we either live in eternal joy and peace, or eternal pain and suffering. There is no greater question: Where WILL we spend eternity?

When Jesus died, He was nailed to a cross along with two other men. These men were thieves and both mocked Jesus for claiming to be the Son of God. But at some point during those long hours on the cross, one of the men demonstrated a changed heart and had his eternal future radically altered.

Luke 23:40-41
“‘Don’t you fear God,’ he said, ‘since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.'”

In the last moment of life, this common thief pointed the way to eternal peace. He recognized his sin and understood he deserved death. We ALL sin and fall short of God’s standard; and this sin deserves death, eternal pain and suffering. But praise God we need not dwell in this hopeless state. The thief turned from his sin, toward Jesus as the One who would conquer death; “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

Though the thief had nothing to give, he surrendered ALL. God’s Word never says there are specific acts which determine our eternal future. We are simply told to believe in Jesus with such a belief that we call out with complete surrender. When the thief recognized and turned from his sin, with humility toward Jesus as his only hope, Jesus answered as He promises to answer us today; “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

In that moment the thief had his answer. No longer a thief but a Child of God, he would live forever in joy and peace. Let’s not allow another day to go by without knowing where we will spend eternity! Have we recognized and turned from the sin within our heart? Have we humbly placed our life in His hands? Do we really believe? Today, let’s make sure we know the answer to the most important question.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries