A TIMELY WORD

A TIMELY WORD:

Recently, a dear friend in ministry shared his experience of financial difficulties. He noted that some unforeseen expenses and sarcastically referred to it as “a really good day.”

I wouldn’t respond this way to just anyone, but because of his maturity in Christ, and because of our close relationship, I simply responded, “Psalm 118:24.”

His response: “There hasn’t been much ‘rejoicing’ knowing I’ve depleted our family’s emergency fund.”

Again, I wouldn’t have shared the following with just anyone, but because of the nature of our relationship I shared that “running on empty” has been the reality of my life since the year 2000. Two failed businesses, mangled credit, seminary debt, self-employment, waiting (im)patiently for God to provide a ministry opportunity, kids, medical expenses, legal stuff, etc., etc. I’ve been running on empty for over sixteen years now and it has been the most fulfilling and rewarding time of my life.

Every Christian knows Jesus’ prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread,” but our practical lives don’t typically reflect that kind of faith. Those are our “prayer” words, but our real prayer is something more akin to “Give me the winning numbers to the super lottery. Give me security. Give me safety and insulation from trials and testing.”

“Our daily bread” is exactly that - the absolute minimum amount required to finish the next “good thing,” which God has prepared for us in advance to do. Daily bread, like Israel’s manna in the wilderness, forces us to rely completely and exclusively upon God Almighty and His supernatural provision in all things at all times. That kind of systemically dependent life forces us to stay in vivid, intimate communion with Christ. Running on empty is exactly where God wants us to be for our benefit.

James wrote, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Peter wrote, “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

Paul wrote, “...but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger… through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”

The error of Job’s three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) and Elihu was not only their flawed theology, but more importantly in their timing and approach. In Romans 12:15 we read, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Job’s emotional and physical trauma (recent loss of his entire family and affliction from head to toe with a wasting skin disease) called for support, encouragement, and reassurance - not an impassioned theological discourse on the nature of suffering.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 informs us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to be silent and a time to speak...” God rebuked Job’s “friends” saying, ““My anger burns against you… for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” This has more to do with their timing and approach that merely the content of their theological worldviews.

Hebrews 10 tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Since you are here, reading this blog, you’ve given me some liberty to share with you. You’ve invited me into your life, albeit briefly, therefore I take great care in my approach and style of writing.

The application here is two-fold:

Firstly, consider the fact that God truly desires for us to depend upon Him for the good things of life. Isaiah 55:9 instructs us, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my (God’s) ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” As we strive to achieve independence of any kind - financial, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, physical - God is instead leading us toward complete dependence upon Him. Therefore, we are hopelessly straining at the oars rather than riding the current, which God intends for us.

Lastly, consider the timing and application of God’s truth. When a friend has lost his child in a tragic accident or their spouse to cancer - that is not the time to wield Scripture like a battle ax. “Hey Joe, I know your wife just died, but remember Romans 12:12 ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’” When Lazarus’ sister told Jesus of her brother’s passing we read, in John 11:35, one of the shortest and most profound verses in Scripture, “Jesus wept.”

Speaking truth graciously and timely is as essential to the fruitfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ as the content. Consider Proverbs 15:23, “Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!”

Love well. Always being an encouragement. Often that means using no words at all.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

ROOT OF DECAY

Root of Decay:

Do you know the context of this verse: “...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” If not, hold off on looking it up and hang with me for a bit.

Preaching is not only king in our Christian churches, but unfortunately it tends to be the comprehensive Christian experience in America. Preaching is not an option for the Bride of Christ, but rather a mandate given by our LORD. Romans 10:14 is explicitly clear regarding preaching. Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ provides the opportunity for people to hear, hearing affords the opportunity to believe, and believing manifests as a “calling out” to God. Therefore, without anyone preaching the love and grace of Christ no one can call out in desperation to our Savior.

Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ targets the heart. It is a supernatural “weapon” against our satan, accuser, and adversary. Preaching is the literal, mighty, and perfect Word of God manifest via imperfect human conduits, which instructs both the fatally depraved and the redeemed saints on what we must do. These divine instructions include actions like: repent, obey, believe, surrender, return, give, love, and serve.

What preaching, by the biblical definition, does NOT do is instruct the audience regarding “how” we are to accomplish repentance, obedience, belief, surrender, reconciliation, giving, loving, and serving. Instead, that falls under the category the bible refers to as “teaching.”

Consider the fact that with all of our technological advancements and access to the Bible and Bible studies, with the Bible being the #1 best selling book in American history, the freedom and ease of access to Christian churches in America - with all that - yet the number of unchurched people in the United States stands at nearly 115 MILLION people. According the the Barna Group that’s enough to populate the 8th largest country in the world. (Source)

That statistic may lead one to believe that 115 MILLION people have never heard the gospel preached, but that would be inaccurate. According to the Barna Group only about 23% of the unchurched in the U.S. have never identified as Christian. That translates to about 92 MILLION people in the United States who have attended church services, who have (most likely) heard the gospel, and who have subsequently returned to the world.

Consider that of the 323 MILLION people in the United States only 26% identify as evangelical Christians, i.e. those actively participating in, or supporting, the expansion of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.

So what’s the disconnect?

Imagine a school where the staff only tells children what they should do. That they should learn how to read, learn to solve math problems, learn about geography, social studies, economics, health & fitness, etc. Week-in and week-out students come, hear about their deficiencies, inadequacies, failures, and flaws, but the school doesn’t actually employ any teachers. The school never tells students “how.” The school only employs advocates of higher learning and support staff (admin, facilities, etc.). The school has a wonderful school mascot, colorful lockers, clean restrooms, numerous brochures on colleges, universities, and trades, pristine white boards, desks, etc., but not a single teacher.

Every week students arrive eager to learn, but instead they keep hearing the same message over and over and over and over, “You’re deficient in a whole host of categories. You should improve. You should aspire for bigger and better things.” There are numerous younger, naive, students filled with hope and vigor, but “oddly” there are few older/mature students. Initially the new students conclude, “They must all have graduated on to university!” But eventually, after weeks, months, or possibly even years of repetitive preaching on “doing higher education,” bereft of any actual training or functional knowledge, those starving students instinctively conclude “those answers” must reside elsewhere. Tragically, they return to the world and never return to this so-called “institution of higher learning.”

Consider the likes of the big name TV preachers in America. Now consider how many big name Christian teachers you know? Preaching is often fiery, electric, entertaining, and brief. Preaching fits into our tidy, comfortable lives, and our self-serving schedules.

Teaching, on the other hand, demands investment, transformation, improvement, maturation, discipline, effort, and forfeiture. In our culture of entitlement, comfort, security, and privilege is it any wonder why more and more of our churches are bereaved of teachers and devoid of classrooms? We’ll pay for musicians, stage lighting, instruments, sound equipment, etc., but if we a church even has teachers they are typically “volunteers” rather than paid staff.

We justify and rationalize it via the cost of land, buildings, staffing, etc., but ultimately it betrays our motives - entertainment and convenience. Consider our Christian lingo: We go to church, whereas the New Testament calls us to be the Church.

Take a look at any of the countless Christian ministry job/career sites: indeed.com, churchstaffing.com, vanderbloemen, etc., and you’ll find countless positions and descriptions for preachers, but very rarely any for teachers within the context of the local church. We have conveniently left the heavy lifting to para-church organizations.

Ask virtually any pastor at any church to quote the “Great Commission” from Matthew 28, and they will probably respond, “disciple every nation.” We rightly use that as biblical support for our local and global mission. Some pastors might even correctly continue the quote, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” which we use as biblical support for the ordinance of baptism.

But, tragically, the final portion is virtually universally truncated. Jesus’ imperative command to disciple (not “make disciples” -product oriented, but rather to “disciple” -process oriented) in the Great Commission concludes with “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The imperative command to “disciple” includes both manner, i.e. baptism/immersion in the character, community, and culture of our God of Holy Trinity (of which water baptism is merely a symbol), and method, i.e. teaching.

It is there, exclusively in our comprehensive obedience to His imperative command to disciple via baptism and teaching, that Jesus promises to become manifest in our midst as both LORD (“I am”), and IMMANUEL (“with you always to the end”).

We’re doing a marginal job at going. We’re great at getting people wet. But we’re horrible at teaching in our churches. Without teaching we proclaim that Jesus is neither LORD nor Immanuel in our congregations and communities.

92+ MILLION Americans have already heard the gospel of Jesus Christ preached. 92+ MILLION Americans have heard/sung songs of praise. Many of those 92+ MILLION Americans have been baptized. And those 92+ MILLION American have subsequently returned to the world.

Why? Why isn’t Christ manifest? What is the root of decay?

Our churches in America are frequently pristine institutions of religious preaching, entertaining music, and cultural convenience. We are perpetually telling people what they must do. Tragically, we are failing to instruct them regarding how.

Christ didn’t issue an imperative command to RightNow, seminaries, Bible Study Fellowship, or Zondervan to teach. He commissioned His Bride, the local church, with that privilege and promised that in doing so He would be with us, Immanuel, to the very end.

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

Practical Atheists

Practical Atheists:

First of all, thank all of you who prayed for the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ during our time in Ghana, Africa. I was incredibly blessed in many ways, and I am grateful for the opportunity, which God Almighty provided. The sheer volume and intensity of the experience makes it impossible to summarize at this point, but suffice it to say that I am forever changed.

Many passages of Scripture come to mind, but as I compose this entry one specific verse lingers heavily: Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus to do the good things, which God prepared for us long ago.”

So much of what we do with our lives reveals our infidelity, uncertainty, and wariness about God. So much of what we do with our finances, our time, our health, and our resources reveals that we have more concern and interest in building our personal kingdoms than anything God might have prepared for us.

When push comes to shove our true nature is exposed, and it reveals that we are Christians in name only, but practically - we are atheists.

After nearly ten years of waiting, God provided me with an opportunity to serve/minister full-time within a local church. A couple months ago my home church, Community Life (clifec.com) invited me to take part in our support of God’s mission in Ghana, Africa. I was filled with apprehension, doubt, uncertainty, and eventually fear when the time finally came to depart.

My greatest fear was malaria. I’m a mosquito magnet, and I was certain that I would be eaten alive by mosquitoes in Ghana since they’ve had an uncharacteristically wet season just prior to our arrival. Within hours of our arrival I’d already been “bitten” (yes, I know mosquitoes don’t really bite), and while I was already on anti-malaria meds - I was certain that I would be part of that small percentage of the population for whom the meds don’t work.

Prior to our departure I’d purchased every kind of mosquito repellent known to mankind. I had the little “OFF!” fan, wipes, sprays, bracelets, soap, and even repellent for my gear. What I didn’t account for was how much I would sweat in Africa. I sprayed the permethrin gear repellent on my pants - not realizing that it would soak through, get on my skin, and then into my bloodstream.

By the third day in Africa I was experiencing muscle tremors, spasms in my diaphragm, terrible headaches, chills, and intense nausea. At first I was convinced I had malaria, but after looking on the internet I realized I had poisoned myself with all the DEET sprays, wipes, and permethrin. It took about 36 hours for me to recover, but thankfully I was able to make all my teaching sessions at the Bible College in Navrongo.

For those of you who have been following this blog for a while you might recall that I went to Ghana to teach the gospel of Mark to the students at the Bible College. In chapter six of Mark’s gospel we read about the horrific death of John the Baptist, “And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter…” When we reached this section several of my students asked the question, “Why didn’t Jesus help John?”

We all ask the same question regarding our own lives, “Why didn’t Jesus help?” The answer reveals that we are practical atheists. When we are in the green pastures we lift up the name of Jesus and we herald Him as God and Savior of the world! But when the darkness of life’s circumstances come, when we are in prison like John, when we are lying sick in a bed in Africa, or when tragedy strikes we ask, “Why didn’t Jesus help?”

It is in those moments that we have the greatest opportunity to “walk by faith, not by sight.” As Oswald Chambers notes, “The most devout among us become atheistic in this connection; we do not believe God, we enthrone common sense and tack the name of God to it. We lean on our own understanding instead of trusting God with all our hearts.”

In the midst of my illness I found myself asking God, “Why would you bring me here to Africa only to allow me to fall ill and die (that’s how awful I felt)!” As I was spewing my prayers of selfishness and self-pity I exercised the discipline of 2 Corinthians 10:5, “...and we are taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Immediately my prayer was transformed to one of repentance and thankfulness.

God owes us nothing, yet at the Cross He blessed us with the opportunity for eternal life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can receive the gift of faith in Christ and walk by faith, not by sight.

God redeemed John’s insecurities while he was in prison when John asked, “Are you the one who is to come?” God redeemed my insecurities, doubts, and fears in Africa - graciously transforming them into opportunities for revival, evangelism, preaching, teaching, and service.

In what area(s) of your life are you refusing to walk by faith rather than sight? In what areas are you living as a practical atheist because you’re convinced that Jesus didn’t help? How are you using the resources that God has blessed you with in order to do the good things He prepared for you long ago?

Are you building your own kingdom on earth or are you being poured out for the kingdom of God and His eternal glory?

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

CONNECTING DOTS:

CONNECTING DOTS:

One of the greatest thrills as a student of God’s Word is seeing His handiwork throughout the Bible’s architecture / grand story. In preparation for an upcoming mission trip to Ghana, Africa, where we’ll have the opportunity to teach at a Bible college, I’ve studied Mark’s gospel deeper and more extensively than ever.

The following is not meant as a harsh judgment, but as encouragement for improvement: As Christians we spend little time in God’s word, and the time we spend is often rushed to fill in a blank for our curriculum -or- deliverance from our God-ordained circumstances. How often do we see the Bible as God Almighty’s glorious, inerrant, and omnipotent revelation, i.e. literal “revealing,” of Himself, His character, His nature, His purpose, His plan, and His mission? How often do we stop and ask Him, “God, what are you trying to teach me in and through this?”

I’ve been told that the Bible college students in Ghana have difficulty “connecting the dots.” Things aren’t much different anywhere else. If people truly understood God’s word, i.e. the Bible, thus allowing the omnipotence of God Almighty to be unleashed in our studies, our prayer life, our relationships, our occupations... then wouldn’t there be tangible evidence of His Presence and power? Wouldn’t we have powerful testimonies of lost people being redeemed from darkness into the eternal light of Christ? And in doing so wouldn’t we be encouraged to lean in, cast off all doubt and reservations, and live “recklessly” abandon to our holy and privileged calling as His friends, mediators, followers, and heralds?

Oswald Chambers’ words are fitting here, “We are not meant to be illuminated versions, but the common stuff of ordinary life exhibiting the marvel of the grace of God. Drudgery is the touchstone of character... The tiniest detail in which I obey has all the omnipotent power of the grace of God behind it. If I do my duty, not for duty’s sake, but because I believe God is engineering my circumstances, then at the very point of my obedience the whole superb grace of God is mine through the Atonement.”

Truth be told? Might it be that we are sorely disappointed in God for the lack of flair, production, influence, and power in our lives. “When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power too, so that anyone I lay hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.’” Like Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25), we desire the dramatic power of God, but we reject and resist His authority, His LORDship, and His process of purification in our lives. Rather than seeking Him we tap into our power and resources in order to return to mind-numbing comfort of homeostasis. Rather than calling out to God for transcendent transformation in order that He might be fully manifest in our lives, we feebly reply, “This hurts and makes me uncomfortable.”

Over the next several days, while in Ghana, my hope is that God will bless and redeem our time there as we teach, preach, evangelize, and make much of the name of Jesus Christ. If time and circumstances allow, I hope to be able to share some of those experiences with you as they are happening (if not then when I return the the U.S.A.). Meanwhile, I’ll be praying that God “connects the dots” for all of you - my friends in Africa, America, and across the globe “to the ends of the earth.”

I hope and pray you’ll stay tuned…

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

AFFECTIONS:

AFFECTIONS:

“You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections.” -2 Corinthians 6:12

How often do we truly find ourselves raptured up in the reality of reconciliation with God Almighty? Some of us are moved to tears by songs of praise during services, a movie like RISEN or The Passion of the Christ, but to what end? Is our affection for our Savior who took our place -or- is our affection for the experience of being roused to tears?

The test comes through abiding in obedience and yieldedness. Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”

We are quick to “obey” and “yield” where and when it suits us, our selfish agendas, and our private affections, but we know nothing of denying self, shouldering our cross, giving up entitlements, and relentlessly pursuing Christ. Rather than being/becoming new creations we look more like the lost people around us.

Is our affection for improvement, change, renewal, deliverance, wisdom, success, influence, or a whole host of other potentially noble (or ignoble) pursuits? Or is our affection for Christ our Savior?

When our affection is truly for Him then we realize, as Oswald Chambers notes, “There is no condition in life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.” We have little, if any, control on the circumstances of our lives, but what we can control are our affections. This is not secular self-help or self-improvement nonsense, but gospel truth because Jesus said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate (Παράκλητον) to help you and be with you forever--”

Our affections can never be roused beyond the lusting, rusting, rotting, decaying dust of this world. But when we are born anew of the Holy Spirit “who is the guarantee of our inheritance,” then the Advocate’s affections for God Almighty erupt within us and cannot be squelched.

Does the heart, mind, will, and love of Christ fill your dreams, your desires, your vocation, and every facet of your life? Or are you merely a hypocrite (literally ‘actor’) masquerading around as His while sitting atop the dung-heap-throne of your own heart buying time?

“You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections.” -2 Corinthians 6:12

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com

ENTHUSIASM!

ENTHUSIASM!

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

-Matthew 12:30

It wasn’t long after God graciously blessed me with the gift of faith that I began teaching others about Jesus and His Word. The testimony of God’s grace irrupted into my life in May of 2003, and by 2004 I was teaching at a church in San Antonio, Texas.

When one of the pastors of the church asked me if I would prayerfully consider teaching, I was shocked. I was 36 years old and had never read the Bible in my life. Sure, I’d flipped it open a few times (literally selecting a page at random) and thought that somehow the page I’d flipped to would have the “magical” and immediate solution to all my troubles. But I’d never read it. I’d never studied it. I’d never took the time to marinade my soul in it; and I certainly never surrendered my life to the One who inspired it, the eternal Word/Logos - Jesus Christ.

When Pastor Robert asked me if I’d consider teaching - I let him know that I was grossly, grievously, and terrifically deficient and ill-equipped for the task. I let Pastor Robert know that I’d never read the Bible growing up and had just started that wonderful journey. Robert smiled and said, “Kevin, I’d take one of you over ten biblical scholars for whom the Bible has become old, stale, and boring.” Robert encouraged me again to prayerfully consider it. So I did.

God not only gave me a peace about teaching, but the Spirit lit a holy fire inside me that has never been squelched. Our church was about to begin a study of the book of Exodus, so I cracked open the new study Bible I’d purchased at Costco and began reading Exodus 1:1... “These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; each came with his family…”

There I was, just one verse into my study of Exodus and I’d already gotten “sidetracked.” I’m asking myself, “Who is Joseph? Why are they in Egypt?” So I found myself backtracking into Genesis…

Well, Sunday was coming fast and I absolutely COULD NOT WAIT! I was coming out of my skin and bubbling over with utter jubilation. I was so incredibly eager to share with the class what I’d discovered (i.e. what the Holy Spirit had illuminated)!!!

Joseph ended up in Egypt by God’s providence! Joseph was one of Jacob/Israel’s sons who had been sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. That led me to another question so I backtracked ever farther…

I found out that Jacob/Israel had tricked his brother Esau into giving up his birthright and blessing. That led me to another question so I backtracked even farther…

I found out that Jacob/Israel was Isaac’s son - the VERY SAME Isaac whose father, Abraham, had obediently placed him on an altar to demonstrate his faith in God’s promise - the VERY SAME Abraham who had formerly been known as Abram; to whom God had promised to use as a blessing to “all the peoples of the earth!” The VERY SAME Abram who was the descendant of Noah - the VERY SAME Noah who was a descendant of Seth - the VERY SAME Seth who was Eve’s offspring, and through whom God’s promised serpent crusher of Genesis 3:15 would eventually come... But why did humanity need a serpent crusher in the first place? There I went asking another question! Now I was reading, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” I’m glad they weren’t doing a study of the book of Revelation.

Sunday was upon me and while I’d read nearly the ENTIRE BOOK OF GENESIS I’d only read one single verse of Exodus. I was convinced that I was the worst Sunday School teacher ever, but when class began something amazing happened! All the joy and ENTHUSIASM of my studies and time with God spilled over to the people in the class. Up on the board I was writing names, drawing lines, showing relationships, charting timelines... I was sharing with everyone about God’s faithfulness and the integrity of His story, and everyone was loving it!

At the end of the lesson I stood up there perspiring, no SWEATING, and I was exhausted. Afterward someone from the class said, “Kevin, you realize we already know all this right?” Without hesitation I responded, “Why didn’t you tell me?” I didn’t mean “Why didn’t you tell me you already knew so we wouldn’t ‘waste time on old material.’” No. What I meant was “If you already knew, then why did I have to wait 33 years for someone to share the gospel - Good News - of Jesus Christ with me?”

My inquiry was given in a spirit of sincerity, and it was received that way. The person just looked back at me in reflective bewilderment - as if they’d never even considered that question before. After a few awkward moments they said, “I honestly don’t know. Hey, great job today. I’m really looking forward to next week!”

Later that day at lunch Robert asked me, “So, how’d it go?” I hesitantly told him that’d I’d only covered one single verse of Exodus. Robert shrugged, unconcerned, and reiterated the question: “How’d it go?” As I shared the enthusiastic story, Robert beamed with a subtle smile of approval and contentment.

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The etymology of the English word enthusiasm comes from two Greek words: 1) en (Strong’s 1722) - in, by, on, with, among; and 2) theios (Strong’s 2304) - divine, manifesting the characteristics of God's nature. Therefore, to truly be “enthusiastic” about something means that one is literally manifesting and revealing the divine nature, character, and person of God.

So what do you have a passion for? Teaching, golf, LEGO, comic books, renovation projects, gardening, dogs, stamps, nutrition, woodworking, horses, Hot Wheels... Now ask yourself if/how that zealous passion literally and tangibly manifests and reveals the divine nature, character, and person of Jesus Christ.

We can get/be excited, passionate, inspired, roused, zealous, ardent, or thrilled about virtually anything - that’s the easy part. But the truth is we can only be enthusiastic about something if it literally reveals the divine nature, character, and person of Jesus Christ our LORD, Savior, and Friend.

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Eve was vehemently passionate about the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She “saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it.” Eve was incredibly passionate, overwhelmingly convinced, and so roused by the prosperous benefits and advantages of the fruit that she even convinced Adam to partake. “(S)he also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”

Now take a look at your Facebook page, the stuff you tweet about, your Instagram and Snapchat selfies, your automobile, your home, your library, your bank statements, and your credit card receipts...

Then ask yourself: “Am I enthusiastic, i.e. literally and tangibly revealing the divine nature, character, and person of Jesus Christ so as to intentionally and obediently participate in His will and His mission making Him known to the ends of the earth -OR- am I like Eve: passionate about stuff for my personal benefit, for my throne, for the advancement of my kingdom and actually distracting, dissuading, and derailing others from their relationship with Jesus?”

Are you enthusiastically gathering or are you passionately scattering?

"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

-Matthew 12:30

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com