“Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”

Luke 6:26

Everyone wants to be liked. Just last week, I took the dog for a walk and gave a friendly greeting to my neighbor hoping to start a conversation. He dismissed me with a curt wave of his hand and turned away to cut off any chance of a dialogue. It was deliberate… and expected. There is a history there that I won’t bore you with but it amounts to this: a few years ago, he came to me for advice and my counsel displeased him greatly. I tried to explain the Lord’s way and it offended him because, I think, it involved his repentance. Ever since, our relationship has been frosty. But it got me thinking. I get along great with all my other neighbors and I was genuinely upset that I had made it on this guy’s hit list.

In my sulking I at least had the presence of mind to pray about it, asking the Lord to restore the relationship. But even my prayer worried me. Was I praying for restoration so that my neighbor and I might be chummy again or was I praying for restoration so that he might come to know the Lord? In the recesses of my heart, buried beneath layers of self-justification, I detected an unhealthy craving to be liked. By God’s grace, I’ve mostly rid myself of this thinking but there are still remnants of the “old man.”

I wonder, do you also struggle with this? Psychologists explain the desire to be liked as a natural tendency to strengthen bonds within a social group. Since rejection could mean ostracism, it’s in our best interest to be “liked” (accepted). A certain amount of this is certainly true and good. Nevertheless, it rankled because if this social pressure becomes the primary motivation for our behavior, it can lead to such things as great anxiety, conflict avoidance at all cost, the inability to face rejection and the weakening of conviction—all things which will destroy a society. It’s at this point psychologist say that the key to overcoming our need to be liked is to “connect with your own self-approval and be your authentic self.” This is, of course, utter hogwash. The answer lies above us, not within us.

If you are a Christian, you cannot expect to be liked by everyone. Paul said, “if possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Rom. 12:18) That is, don’t go out of your way to make enemies. Not only are we to refuse to repay evil for evil (Rom. 12:17; Prov. 20:22), but we must take the initiative in positive peacemaking (Mt. 5:9), even if, as the two qualifications indicate, this is not always possible. The truth is, some people are not willing to live at peace with us or they may put conditions on reconciliation which involve an unacceptable moral compromise.

We are called to suffer as Jesus suffered, innocently, peacefully and faithfully (1 Pet. 2:21-23), entrusting ourselves to a faithful Creator while doing good (1 Pet. 4:19). If you are not liked because you are a jerk, that’s something you’ve got to work on. However, if you are not liked because you told someone an uncomfortable truth out of your love and concern for him, you should expect as much. In fact, we’re in good company when we face social rejection for our commitment to the gospel.

This brings us to our Lord’s words in Luke 6:26, “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.” True prophets were hated and mistreated, some even tortured and killed (Heb. 11:32-38), because their message was unsavory. Those who tell people what they want to hear (modern analogues to the false prophets of old) are regarded with honor by society. People spoke “well” of them. We, on the other hand, are “the aroma of Christ”; to those who are being saved, we are “a fragrance from life to life,” but to those who are perishing, a stench “from death to death.” (2 Cor. 2:15-16) There’s bound to be tension when saints live “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation,” shining as “lights in the world.” (Phil. 2:15)

Therefore, we ought rather to be suspicious (even mourn: "woe") when “all people speak well of [us].” A person is known by his enemies just as much as he is known by his friends. “Friendship with the world is enmity with God.” (Jas. 4:4) “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (Jn. 15:19) When we seek the approval of the world, we are not seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Mt. 6:33)

We all face decisions between doing what is comfortable and easy and doing what is necessary and right. If we choose to do what is right we are going to get knocked down on occasion. But don’t fret. The Lord will get you back on your feet. He calls you “blessed.” So don’t go chasing after the affections of others. Stay in the company of the righteous (Psalm 1). The key to overcoming this unhealthy desire to be liked is to seek to please the one who made you (Gal. 1:10; 2 Cor. 5:9). If you make this your single desire, his peace will guard you (Phil. 4:7).

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.”

Luke 6:22

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:1-6

One reason people write off Christianity is because of the narrow claims it makes. For example, take Jesus’ claim above. In context, Jesus is headed toward the agony of crucifixion and is “troubled in heart” (12:27; 13:21). Yet on the eve of his execution, Jesus is the one comforting the “troubled” hearts of his friends (14:1a). But what did the disciples have to be troubled about? After all, they weren’t the ones rushing toward the pain, isolation and shame of the cross. They were troubled because they were confused and uncertain about what Jesus had been saying, namely, that he would be leaving them soon (13:33, 36). Therefore, Jesus comforted them by telling them to trust in him as they trust in God (14:1b)

There was no need to be troubled because his departure was actually for their benefit. True, he was going away, but it was to their advantage; he was going away to “prepare a place” for them so that he could return and gather them up to be with him forever (14:2-3). “My Father’s house” refers to heaven. In heaven there are many “rooms,” that is, there is plenty of space for all. Thomas was struggling to comprehend the meaning of Jesus’ words. He didn't even know where Jesus is going. Without knowing the destination, how could Jesus say that they know the way? But Jesus insisted they do know way because they knew him (14:6).

Notice three things about Jesus’ claim in John 14:6.

First, it’s an exclusive claim: Jesus is the only way to God. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” That’s exclusive language. He is not “a” way to God (one way among many other viable ways) but “the” way. This may offend our inclusive, pluralistic sensibilities which have been taught to respect all religions equally and to deny any religion that claims such exclusivity. This spiritual arrogance, it is thought, leads to extremism. Therefore, tolerance has become the highest virtue.

But each religion makes contradictory truth-claims which cannot be true simultaneously. Whenever a truth-claim is made, it automatically excludes its rivals. Even if a religion claimed that all paths lead to heaven then it would be asserting that those that claim only some paths lead to heaven or only one path leads to heaven are wrong. No matter how we phrase it, the very nature of a truth-claim excludes that which contradicts it. The better question is, who is Jesus to claim he is the exclusive way to God?

Next, it’s a personal claim: Jesus himself is the way to God. Jesus is not claiming to simply blaze a trail for others to come to God, nor is he claiming to simply know the way so as to point others to it. Rather, he himself is the way. No other religious leader, philosopher, sage or guru makes such an audacious claim. Yet Jesus is constantly turning our attention to himself as the answer to all our problems. Who does that?

The Bible teaches that Jesus entered the world supernaturally, accredited himself with unparalleled miracles, amazed crowds and baffled the wise with his teaching, was possessed of a perfect moral character, made claims befitting God himself, treated others with love and compassion, died for the purpose of redeeming humanity and was raised bodily from the dead to restore our relationship to God. Therefore, when Jesus speaks with such confident self-awareness of being the only way to God, he speaks with unique authority and heavenly credentials. Every other world religion, if you replaced its founder with someone else, would remain intact. But not so with Christianity because it is built upon him personally.

Finally, it’s a consequential claim: Jesus is the way to God for us. Exactly how is Jesus the way? All of this language about “the way” and “coming to the Father” assumes we are disconnected from God and that we need to be reconciled to him to be made whole. This is the core narrative of Scripture. God created a perfect world and human beings in his likeness but we have turned away from him and plunged into sin, ruin and death. There is something now fundamentally wrong with us. Jesus has come to redeem us from our sins and provide that bridge between ourselves and God. Therefore, Jesus’ claim is consequential. We are all made in God’s image but that image has been marred. We are, quite literally, “damaged goods” and the only one who can restore us is Christ.

The path to worship begins with a HYMN. Paul lists three types in Ephesians 5:19, “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” It is impossible for a congregation to worship without a prewritten hymn. God wants the church’s worship to be done “decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). There’s nothing wrong with spontaneous worship but for it to be orderly there must be some structure to it. A hymn provides that structure. We can use readymade psalms from the Old Testament or write our own hymns with spiritual content. Hymns are the prescribed vehicle of expression in worship and provide the spiritual impetus and formal structure for worship because they are filled with biblical content that brings honor to God and exhorts the church.

Next, the hymn must stimulate the HEART of each worshiper. In the Bible, the “heart” is used to describe much more than how we feel. We can “know” with our heart (Deut. 8:5), “understand” with our heart (Deut. 29:4) and “wisdom” can dwell within the heart (Prov. 14:33). Our heart is where we think, making connections and discerning between truth and error (intellect). Our heart is where we make choices motivated by “the desires of our heart” (will) (Psa. 37:4; 2 Sam. 7:4). And of course, our heart is where we feel (emotion). Therefore, wisdom tells us to guard our heart “with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23)

The rest of Ephesians 5:19 says that we are to sing and make melody “to the Lord with [our] heart.” In order to worship with our heart, we must engage the various dimensions of it. We engage the intellect by understanding what we are singing. Paul says we are not only to sing praise with our spirit but with our mind also (1 Cor. 14:15). Colossians 3:16 qualifies that our expressions of worship must be “with all wisdom,” suggesting a certain level of discernment when we sing. Without this comprehension, our worship is an empty exercise that fails to glorify God or benefit the church.

However, this doesn’t mean that our worship should be entirely intellectual. We can be thoughtful in worship and careful to consider every word of the song, but unless that understanding provokes emotions like joy, love and gratitude within us, it proves just as vain. Colossians 3:16 says we are to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs “with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” The psalmist writes, “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.” (Psa. 84:2) We can’t directly hear emotion in worship (although we can guess at its presence or absence), but God knows if our heart is engaged (cf. Isa. 29:13).

When we sing with engaged hearts, our worship can glorify GOD. This is the primary goal of our worship. Romans 15:6 says that in unified worship the church “may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God loves to hear his people express their praise to him when they do so in the proper way and with the proper spirit. He deserves our praise because of who he is and what he has done and promises yet to do. Let’s never forget that the main objective of our worship is to praise the Lord.

As we “make melody to the Lord with [our] heart” in our hymns (Eph. 5:19) we are simultaneously teaching and admonishing “one another” (Col. 3:16). Just as we sing to God, so too are we singing to the CHURCH. We need to be aware that our singing is also a means of teaching. Because there is a horizontal as well as a vertical direction to our worship, our singing must edify our brethren just as much it glorifies God.

But the language of Colossians 3:16 suggests a two-way street. We teach and admonish “one another.” That is, just as we want to sing in a way that builds up others, we want to learn to consider their voice too. This once again necessitates engaging our HEART. This “one another” aspect to our worship sets up a feedback loop. As we consider what our brethren are singing, it moves us emotionally and intellectually to take our praise to a higher level. As they listen to our heightened praise, they also worship more intensely. The reinforcement we receive from the church is a powerful tool we can use to make our worship more pleasing to God.

Thus, the path to worship can be summarized in this way: The spiritual thought of a hymn provokes our hearts, which then sings praises that are heard both by God and by the church. In turn, the church sings to us, which stirs our hearts again. This is the pattern for praise that is pleasing to God.

These points were taken from Matthew Bassford’s “The Path to Worship”

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Paul concludes the first half of his letter to the Ephesians with this profound prayer for spiritual strength. It recycles and develops some of the same concepts of his earlier prayer for the church (1:15-19). He has been unfolding the eternal plan of God to unite Jews and Gentiles into one new humanity in Christ by breaking down the barrier that separated them (the law of Moses) and the barrier that separated all humanity from God (sin). Now he wants the Ephesians (and us) to have supreme confidence in God’s power so that our spirit would be strengthened to know his boundless love for us.

This is a big prayer. We hear the magnitude of his requests, the depths of God’s power and the eternal scope of his plan. The prayer is so big, it’s easy to get lost in it. Do your prayers sound like this? Perhaps, like me, your prayers seem awfully puny in comparison. That’s okay. Praying like this takes years of spiritual growth and maturity. Paul’s prayer is more than just a recitation of his requests; it is a model prayer for us. So where would we begin if we wanted to pray big like Paul?

The attitude of prayer: boldness — Praying big begins with our attitude. In the prior section (3:1-12), Paul outlines his ministry on behalf of the Gentiles. He said that “in [Christ] we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” (3:12) Because we are “in Christ” we have “boldness”—complete freedom of speech with God—and “access with confidence”—complete freedom to approach God. We have no audience, much less the freedom to speak so openly, to the important people of this world. Yet “through faith… in Christ” we have the freedom to approach the Creator of the universe with such boldness. Don’t mistake this boldness and ready access to God for a casual, familiar approach in prayer though. It is only through Jesus’ sacrifice that we can stand with such assurance in the presence of a holy God.

The content of prayer: spiritual — Praying big means reconsidering what we’re praying for. Because the focus of Paul’s petition is spiritual, not material, it is a monumental request. He is asking God to grant them power through his Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (1:19-20), so that Christ can take up residence in their hearts granting them the ability to comprehend God’s unfathomable love and filling them up with all the fullness of God. The scope of those requests is breathtaking! What are we asking for in our prayers? Many times, our requests reflect our preoccupation with this world, temporary concerns like financial stability, bodily wellness or a better job. Though it’s not wrong to pray for such things (Mt. 6:11; Phil. 4:6), if our prayers are solely focused on this world can we really say we are seeking the things which are above? (Col. 3:1-2) These concerns may seem important to us now, but in the grand scheme of things—which Paul has been laboring to describe in the letter—they are rather shortsighted. Praying big means focusing on the spiritual, unseen and eternal things (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

The basis of prayer: God — The introduction and concluding doxology of Paul’s prayer reveal how he could ask God for such big things. He is praying to “the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.” He is praying to the God who is abundant in “the riches of his glory.” He is praying to the God who “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.” He is praying to the God to whom belongs "glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.” In other words, Paul could pray big because the God he is praying to is so big. Sometimes our prayers are so small because our view of God is so limited. Paul illustrates God’s big-ness in the universal scope of his eternal plan, the limitless dimensions of his love and the cosmic power he works on behalf of his people—all things displayed in Christ.

In Christ, we have the freedom to approach God and speak openly with him in prayer, asking for big things all because we are praying to a transcendent, perfect and incomparable God.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

2 Corinthians 6:11-13

Who are your biggest influences? When we were younger, our parents were our biggest influence (for better or worse). We developed our worldview around what we learned from them. As we got older, our circle of influence broadened considerably to include teachers, peers and all sorts of other people we admire.

When I moved away from home, my greatest influences were my favorite college professors, married artists Scott and Gianna. I spent a lot of time hanging around them absorbing what I could. They had my ear because I had opened my heart to them and, for the most part, they were a good influence on me. But not everyone we open our heart to is an influence for good.

This, in part, is what Paul was concerned about in his second epistle to the Corinthians. Paul’s opponents challenged his apostleship by questioning his motives in organizing a collection for Christians in Judea (8:20-21; cf. 2:17; 12:14-18), questioning his personal courage (10:10-11; 11:21) and even arguing that his suffering was evidence he was not commissioned by Jesus (6:4-10; 11:23-30; 12:7-10; 13:3-4). Paul masterfully refutes these arguments while urging the Corinthians not to entertain the slanderous attacks of his enemies. His suffering and apparent weakness were, in fact, evidence for the legitimacy of his apostleship and a means by which God revealed the power of the gospel.

To reject Paul’s apostleship, therefore, meant rejecting the gospel itself. He warns them against being influenced by those who made such accusations: “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.” (11:3-4) He calls such people “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ,” going on to compare them to Satan himself, whom they serve. (11:13-15)

In the middle of the letter he makes a heartfelt appeal for the Corinthians to “widen [their] hearts” to him as he had left his heart “wide open” to them. (6:11-13) From Paul’s writing, we discover three criteria by which we can discern between good and bad influences. For whom should we “make room in [our] hearts”? (7:2) Who should we allow to influence us?

Those who genuinely love us — Throughout the letter, Paul reminded the Corinthians how much he loved them. Describing his last epistle to them, he says, “I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.” (2:4) Even though the goal of the letter was to produce “joy”, Paul’s heart was in “anguish” as he wrote it. He was so sad to receive bad news from Chloe’s people (1 Cor. 1:11) about all the division and sin within the church. Therefore, his letter was drenched “with many tears” but his motive all along was pure and unselfish love, even if it was a tough love. Paul’s “abundant love” for them is evident in his tenderheartedness toward them. There was no vindictive mean-spiritedness. All his stern words of rebuke were expressions of concern. Because love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with truth (1 Cor. 13:6), their sins caused him great anguish. Those who really care for us are the ones we want influencing us.

Those who sacrifice for us — Paul demonstrated his love by sacrificing for the Corinthians. Even though he had the right to be paid when he preached in Corinth, he waved that right and preached for free—in contrast to his opponents who demanded payment (11:7-9; cf 1 Cor. 9:14-15). He was afflicted for their comfort (1:6), delayed his travel plans to spare them (1:23) and gave himself over to death in ministry all to grant them life (4:7-12). Paul sums up his sacrificial attitude toward them like this: “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” (12:15) We should beware of any who seek to influence us when their ministry costs them nothing. How much more cautious ought we to be with those who seek to benefit from their ministry! Social media “influencers” hock products not because they really believe in them but because the manufacturers of those products pay them to do so. Likewise, there are those who think “that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Tim. 6:5).

Those who tell us the truth — Another determining factor of Paul’s love and sincerity toward them was his honesty in preaching. Again, in contrast to his opponents, Paul says: “But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.” (4:2) The false apostles were willing to bend the truth to gain a wider audience but Paul refused to water down the message because he knew the gospel’s power depends on its purity. Some people will tell you what you want to hear. Beware those who never have a cross word with you. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” (Prov. 27:6)

In these ways and more, Paul epitomizes the kind of person we want influencing us. Don’t give an ear to those who don’t love you, who don’t sacrifice for you and who are unwilling to tell you hard truths. Look for people like Paul. Even more, be like Paul in these ways so that you can influence others for good! (1 Cor. 11:1)