Boyd Bailey: Fundamental Flaw…

“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:22-24

What is a fundamental flaw? It is an issue that, if left unattended, chronically disrupts. It may be a home with a cracked foundation. There will be a flurry of home maintenance repairs until the underlying cause is corrected. You may have a relationship that cannot connect because of a root of distrust. Perhaps your business or ministry is unable to get traction because your economic model is not designed for reoccurring revenue. It’s fundamentally flawed. Thus you are saddled with an unsustainable financial strategy.

Fundamental flaws cause frustration and reek havoc, and, if not addressed, will always provide an undercurrent of dysfunction. What issues have you been too busy to address, or have been in denial because of the pain you feel when you think about them? Ignoring fundamental flaws will only lead you into greater pain and confusion. So whether they infiltrate an institution, or are instilled within an individual, they need alteration.

In human beings our fundamental flaw is sin. The DNA of our nature is damaged and undone. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—“ (Romans 5:12). We cannot deny our sinful state any more that we can reject our gender. It is who we are. However, in Christ we are free from sin’s snare and punishment. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Wise people deal first with their fundamental flaw of sin by faith in their Savior Jesus Christ. Once you are transformed by the redeeming power of the Lord you have everything you need to build a successful life. When you build on a foundation of faith, you are able to withstand the wiles of the devil and life’s indiscriminate challenges.

Avoid the common mistake of addressing the symptoms of fear, guilt, pride, greed and anger without receiving first the grace of God. You live the Christian life the same way you become a Christian, “by grace through faith”. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Do I experience God’s grace by faith in Jesus Christ? What fundamental flaw do I need to address in my life or work?

Related Readings: Psalm 51:5; Ezekiel 37:23; Luke 5:8; Romans 8:1-17

Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey

Psalm 18:16 & 17

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me, He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me." Psalm 18:16 & 17

Boyd Bailey: Racial Reconciliation…

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Acts 22:21

Race divides. It inherently needs reconciliation. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are expected to be on the forefront of racial reconciliation. Christ is colorblind. There is no preference between Jew and Gentile, black or white, yellow or brown. They are all precious in his sight. Yet, every day, millions are disenfranchised or killed because of their cultural heritage and color of skin. Where pride and ego drove the human race into different geographical and racial directions, Christ reunites us. He is the racial reconciler.

The feet of Jesus are level for all races. Sin is the only explanation for one race’s sense of superiority over another. It breaks the heart of God. Jesus went way out of his way to love a racial outcast in the Samaritan woman (John 4). He was compelled by the Holy Spirit to reach out across class, cultural, and racial barriers.

In the same way and spirit, God is leading you to reach out to others different from yourself. He is calling on His disciples to be intentional in healing past hurts and serving current needs. Some will receive your sincere service, and others will question your motive. But when all is said and done, your part is to go and be a blessing, and God’s part is to facilitate trust and healing. You probably do not consider yourself a racist. That is, you do not feel or act better than another human being just because of your race.

However, to be silent or to not intentionally reach out to another culture is passive racism. It is subtle, but the same ill effects occur. The offended or disillusioned ones are still stuck in their inferior state of mind, economics, and education. It is not the role of government to figure this out. Rather, it is the mandate of the church because Christians know better. We can model the way of racial reconciliation as did Jesus and the early disciples.

Consider a weekly one-on-one study for a year with someone of a different race. Learn about their culture, history, and hurts. Indeed, racial reconciliation happens one person at a time and it happens relationally. Do not wait on someone else to come to you. You go to them. Yes, it is a little uncomfortable and yes, there will be misunderstanding. But Jesus is the standard bearer and the relational mediator. He represents all races, and He created the different races.

Let the Bible be your foundational source of racial reconciliation. Start today on a crosscultural mission. It may be someone at work or in your neighborhood. Invite their family into your home for a meal. Serve them every time you get a chance, and watch God work. Then the world will see—in technicolor—that you are truly disciples of Christ because you love one another; races will be reconciled and God will be glorified. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

Why is Christ colorblind? Who can I build a relationship with that is of a different race?

Related Readings: Genesis 11:1-8; John 4:1-42; Romans 10:12; Galatians 2:14

Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey

Boyd Bailey: Much Mercy…

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7

So much of the Christian life is reciprocal. You show love, you receive love. You extend generosity, you receive generosity. You listen to others, they listen to you. And so it is with mercy. You show mercy and you are shown mercy. Everyone desires it but not everyone gives it. Mercy requires action. It may not be deserved but it is preferred.

What is mercy? It is giving what is not deserved and it is giving what is deserved. A person may have wronged you, but you show them mercy because of the great mercy God has extended to you. Or you may be exposed to the poor and, because of their pitiful plight, you offer compassion, love and mercy by meeting their needs in the name of Jesus. Mercy is a mute point to the unredeemed, but to the saved it is being a mere Christian.

It is out of our heart felt cry to Christ for mercy that our capacity for mercy expands. A common theme in the Psalms proclaims, “O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief” (Psalm 143:1). Those softened by their humble supplication to their Heavenly Father experience mercy.

Has someone wronged you to the point of your anger boiling over into resentment and bitterness? If you are a child of God this is no place to live. Mercy is your mandate from your Master Jesus, “Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you’ (Matthew 18:33). Mercy melts away misery into joy and happiness. It makes peace.

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).

Do I go often to God’s throne of grace and receive His mercy? To whom do I need to be merciful in Jesus’ name?

Related Readings: Job 9:15; Proverbs 28:13; 1 Timothy 1:16; Hebrews 4:16

Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey

The Daily Verse: Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11

In some capacity, we've all been charged with being a good steward of a long-term plan. Take heart. Bit by bit, things will come together. Allow the experiences along the journey to be the true wealth you seek for the heart, soul and mind.

Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis

The Daily Verse: Philippians 3:13b

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead... Philippians 3:13b

Forward motion isn't always comfortable, but it is necessary. If you're pressing forward, be encouraged that you're on the right track - learning from but not living in the past - living in today with hope for tomorrow.

Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis

Boyd Bailey: Good News…

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Matthew 4:23

There never seems to be a shortage of bad news. Wars and rumors of wars populate daily newswires. The fear of terrorism tends to raise its ugly head when least expected. Disease, divorce, debt and depression attack every person on the planet in one degree or another. Our world defaults to bad news, but Christ’s Kingdom is filled with good news.

There is an unseen Kingdom where Jesus Christ is King and we are His grateful subjects. His Kingdom is full of grace and truth having conquered sin, death and Satan on the cross. In Christ’s Kingdom the light of His love outshines dark deeds. Grace replaces guilt, love overcomes lust, acceptance rejects rejection and faith jettisons fear.

Christ’s gospel is the Kingdom of Heaven’s charter. When you emigrated from the lost shores of sin and landed in Christ’s country of grace you received a new citizenship. In Christ you are free and forgiven and you enjoy the benefits of being a Christian.

“Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12-13). The cross of Christ is good news.

Christ was unashamed to share the good news of His Kingdom, and neither should we. He went to the cities, synagogues and the countryside sharing the gospel of the Kingdom. You and I have the same privilege and responsibility to not sit silently with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Good news, delivered in love, speaks louder and more forcefully than blustering bad news. Be a bearer of good news and see God give help and hope to the hurting. His gospel, delivered by faith, goes places we can never access in our own strength.

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:16-17).

Do I fully understand the benefits of being a citizen of Christ’s Kingdom? And do I share this good news with those bound up in the kingdom of this world?

Related Readings: 2 Kings 19:15-19; Mark 10:14-15; Colossians 1:12-13; Hebrews 12:28

Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey