Posted on by jwlozano

The Difference is Grace

Lately, I have found myself thinking about the way Christians respond to the world around us. It seems that everywhere we look, there is criticism, judgment, and condemnation. People are quick to point out the sins, mistakes, and poor choices of others. Yet when I read the life of Jesus, I see something very different.

Jesus never ignored sin, but He never lost sight of the person behind it.

One of my favorite verses is found in John 3:17:

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Jesus came on a rescue mission. He came for the broken, the hurting, the confused, the deceived, and the lost. He saw people not as they were in their sin, but as they could become through His grace.

That perspective should change the way we view the world around us.

Too often, Christians can become frustrated with unbelievers. We wonder why they do not understand God’s ways. We shake our heads at the choices they make. Sometimes we even hear people use harsh or derogatory language when talking about those who are far from God.

But Scripture gives us a different lens.

2 Corinthians 4:4 says:

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”

Think about that for a moment. The Bible says they are blind.

If we met someone who was physically blind, we would not mock them for being unable to see. We would not laugh at them for stumbling. We would not criticize them for needing help. We would show compassion. We would offer guidance. We would patiently help them find their way.

Why should our response be any different when it comes to spiritual blindness?

The lost are not our enemies. They are people who need Jesus.

One of the most powerful reminders of this truth is found in Titus 3. Paul writes:

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us…”

It is so easy to forget where we came from.

The longer we walk with Christ, the more tempting it can be to look at someone’s current situation and forget that we were once just as lost, deceived, and in need of grace. We were not saved because we were smarter, more moral, or somehow better than everyone else. We were saved because God, in His kindness and mercy, reached down and rescued us.

When I read Titus 3, I am reminded that the difference between me and someone who does not know Christ is not my goodness. The difference is His grace.

God’s kindness led me to repentance. His patience gave me time to grow. His mercy covered my failures. And if that is how He treated me, then that is how I should treat others.

The next time I am tempted to judge someone who is far from God, I want to remember where I came from. I want to remember the patience God showed me, the grace He extended to me, and the countless times He pursued me when I wasn’t pursuing Him.

The world doesn’t need more condemnation. It has plenty of that already. What the world needs is for Christians to reflect the heart of Jesus.

May we never forget that we were once blind too. And may we be willing to lovingly help others find the Savior who opened our eyes.

Check out more encouraging content below

Posted on by jwlozano

BASIC TRAINING

Listen to the podcast episode for this blog post: Welcome to my Podcast! https://anchor.fm/jasmine-lozano4/episodes/Welcome-to-my-Podcast-euiitg

Christians are often called the army of God. We sing songs as kids about being in the Lord’s army; we are told in scripture to fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:10); we read about God strengthening his followers’ hands for battle (Psalm 144:1).

The Bible is filled with language and imagery about battle and war. There are few groups that form the bond and unity like the military. While one of my least favorite genres of movies is war movies, I have seen my fair share of them (often not of my own volition). 

Consider the United States military. There are different branches and ranks. Soldiers are equipped to perform different tasks based on their abilities. There are snipers and skilled weapons specialists, but there are also clerical and medical experts. There are soldiers who disarm bombs and soldiers who prepare meals that are the bomb (I’m from the 90’s, sorry!).

But there is one thing every member of the military has in common; THEY ALL COMPLETE BASIC TRAINING.

Basic Training or boot camp is designed to prepare military recruits for service.  Depending on the branch of the military, recruits are put through months of training tailored to that branch to give them the basic skills they will need to be able to perform effectively.

The different branches vary in what is required physically to complete Basic Training. The Navy has a requirement that recruits must be able to tread water for 5 minutes. But all branches require a timed run ranging from 1.5 to 3 miles. 

Whether a soldier is swabbing the deck (I got that from a movie, though it may have been a pirate movie) or filing a report, they all need to be able to run. They all need to be able to endure long distances.

As the church, it seems we have discounted the importance of Basic Training for the believer. Once someone finds their faith and is planted in church, it is crucial to train new recruits in what’s required and expected in the army of the Lord.

Could you imagine joining the Army and immediately being put on a plane to a combat zone, given a gun and dropped off? You would be totally unprepared. 

But unfortunately, the church does this to many new believers as they sign up to join the Army of God. They come to church and are bombarded with cliches and theologies when they can’t even find the book of Matthew yet.

If we want to be effective in sharing the gospel with hurting people, we have to be trained in the basics of our faith.

When I was saved 15 years ago, I was very privileged to be at a church that invested in Chrstian education. I was able to take classes about prayer, serving, and evangelism that helped build the foundation I needed to be able to serve the Lord and run well.

This is an area of faith I am so passionate about. Teaching believers the basics of faith. How to pray; how to study the Bible; why we give and serve. For many people, the benefits of the Christian life stop at the point of salvation. They can trust Jesus to save them from hell, but are not taught how he can sustain them on earth.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a Boot Camp series on basic training for Christian living. God has such a great life planned for his children and we learn about it through his Word, fellowship and prayer. 

My prayer is that you will not jog casually through your faith journey, but run well with endurance. I hope you can join me in the comments for some good discussion!

Posted on by jwlozano

When He Saved Me

As I reflect this Easter Sunday, I think of the goodness of God in my life. I sing on the praise team at my church and it’s not uncommon for people to come up to talk about worship after the service.

I’ve been asked more than once how I have so much energy during worship. I usually credit it to caffeine and the Holy Spirit, both of which help. But the main reason I have so much “energy” is because of my gratitude for all God has done.

Have you ever seen a video of a lottery winner? They are usually screaming, crying, or jumping in disbelief. Why? Because they know they’re lives are about to radically change.

Every opportunity I have to lift up the name of Jesus, I do it with everything in me because I remember when he saved me.

I remember how I rejected him for years. I remember how I pretended I didn’t need him. I remember how despite the truth that I ignored and disrespected him, he still reached down and pulled me out of the pit.

When he saved me, my life changed radically; and like the lottery winner, whenever I think about that change, I celebrate.