Archives by: Gary Hoag

Then He said to them all: “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. Luke 9:23-24

“The question is not merely what we can feel but what we can do for Christ; not how many tears we can shed, but how many sins we can mortify. Not what raptures we can experience, but what self-denial we can practice. Not what happy frames we can enjoy, but what holy duties we can perform. Not simply how much we can luxuriate at sermon or at sacrament, but how much we can exhibit of the mind of Jesus in our intercourse with our fellow men. Not only how far above earth we can rise to the bliss of heaven, but how much of the love and purity of heaven we can bring down to earth. In short, not how much of rapt feeling we can indulge, but how much of religious principle we can bring to bear on our whole conduct.”

John Angel James in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 126.

The idea of bringing heaven down to earth motivated by self-denial struck me. Without self-denial we cannot be followers of Jesus. And what is our mission? It is to do the will of the Father, which is to bring the love and purity of heaven to every situation on earth.

Take a moment to assess your self-denial and your social interaction? It’s humbling to admit that days like today, when I travel, I can fail to bring heaven to my social interaction. I’m focused on my work. Remember the religious leaders who by-passed the needy person in the Good Samaritan story?

When our Christian faith informs our giving, our self-denial helps us see the needs around us and shapes our whole conduct and interaction. Open our eyes to this, Father, so that we bring heaven down generously, and so we shift from “happy frames” to “holy duties.”

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33

“Your only safety lies in placing yourself in circumstances which will make exertion necessary, and which will secure divine assistance. Never mind your infirmities. You have nothing to do with them. Your business is to trust, and to go forward. If you wait till the sea becomes land, you will never walk on it. You must leave the ship, and, like Peter, set your feet upon the waves, and you will find them marble.”

Edward Payson in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 125.

“Your business is to trust, and to go forward.”

What does this mean for you? Is it your aim to ride comfortably and try to weather the storms that come? Is it time to leave the ship?

For me it means to pack and head to Dubai. Today I am making final preparations for the inaugural GTP global gathering of 12 board members from 7 countries, 12 regional facilitators from 12 countries, and 4 staff from 3 countries. 28 people in all from 15 countries. I fly out tomorrow, arrive in Dubai late on Friday and convene with my colleagues on Saturday.

We come together with a shared purpose: In obedient service to Jesus Christ, GTP multiplies disciples of faithful administration and mobilizes peer accountability groups to increase gospel participation in every nation.

Over the past five years my work in this area has resulted in training God’s servants in 20+ countries and setting up ECFA type groups in 7 countries. Now this global team wants to collaborate to multiply that impact and mobilize more groups. Coordinating this effort is the step God has put before me.

What step is God calling you to take today?

Only when you step out of the boat do you find the waves as solid as marble. You don’t figure it out until you leave the ship. Risking everything positions you for divine assistance from God’s rich and generous supply. You may not be headed to Dubai, but it may be a big step. Whatever it is. Take it and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

“Your business is to trust, and to go forward.”

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

“If you cannot be great, be willing to serve God in that which is small. If you cannot do great things for Him, cheerfully do little ones. If you cannot be an Aaron to serve at the altar, or a Moses to guide the tribes, consent to be “a little maid ” to Naaman the Syrian, for the honor of God’s prophets, or a little child, for Christ’s sake, to be set by Him in the midst of the people, as an illustration of the sweetness of humility.”

S. F. Smith in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 123.

When we think of growing in generosity, our minds often wonder what greater things God would have us do for Him. Growth in the measure God uses looks altogether different. Often He wants to nurture in us a willingness to give in little rather than great ways and to do so with cheerfulness and humility. In that sense growth in generosity, the kind of giving that God loves, is not so much linked to ‘how much’ we give but ‘how’ we give.

How do you give? Do you find joy in giving in little ways? Do you give cheerfully with the sweetness of humility?

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:9b-11

“Learn these two things: never be discouraged because good things get on so slowly here, and never fail daily to do that good which lies next to your hand. Do not be in a hurry, but be diligent. Enter into the sublime patience of the Lord. Be charitable in view of it. God can afford to wait; why cannot we, since we have Him to fall back upon? Let patience have her perfect work, and bring forth her celestial fruits. Trust to God to weave your little thread into a web, though the patterns show it not yet.

George MacDonald in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 122.

MacDonald’s advice helps us stay the course. In life, good things just don’t get on as fast as we would like. In response, we must not be discouraged, and we must remain diligent. In the words of Isaiah, we must spend ourselves in doing good and in time, God will produce a well-watered garden through our lives.

I don’t know where you find yourself today but I am preparing for the first-ever GTP global gathering of 27 men and women from 15 countries. MacDonald’s wisdom spoke to me, as our progress is slow but sure. I often say that we are planting acorns for the oak trees of tomorrow. We must not get discouraged but remain diligent.

If God has you spending yourself on something that may take a long time to get on, don’t be discouraged. Stay the course. Give yourself and the resources God has supplied to that good work. In time you will see fruit. Our generous God is watching and working out something beautiful through your diligence.

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Mark 12:31

“If thou neglectest thy love to thy neighbor, in vain thou professest thy love to God; for by thy love to God, the love to thy neighbor is begotten, and by the love to thy neighbor, thy love to God is nourished.’

Francis Quarles in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 47.

Three words struck me in this statement by Quarles: neglect, profess, and nourish.

‘Neglect’ is what we tend to do toward our neighbor because we are too busy or self-centered. I am guilty of that, especially in busy times (like right now). But we can’t do that if we ‘profess’ to be followers of Jesus.

Today is the Block Party at church. We are nurturing community with those who live nearby. When we show love of neighbor, we nourish our love relationship with God. In this doing, God lifts us all up.

Don’t neglect, but do what you profess, and find that it will nourish you! This post also reminds me, it’s time to study God’s Word together and play dominos with my neighbor in the development where I live.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13

“There are multitudes in our congregations who are just waiting while they ought to be acting. They must work, if they would have God work in them. There can be no religion without obedience.”

Ichabod Spencer in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 122.

This is one of those mysteries of the faith. As we work our our faith, God works in us. The operative factor is obedience. We don’t figure it out until we live it out. That’s how the faith works in general, and specifically with regard to to teachings of Jesus on money.

Most people don’t obey them. Rather than enjoy and share all God richly supplies, most people hold on it money, and it takes hold on them. This was my story for years. In Spencer’s words, I was waiting instead of acting. Is that you and your story?

What might it look like for you to take a step of obedience? Sit with the Lord. Ask Him if there’s a teaching with regard to money you that you need move from waiting to acting on. Whatever comes to mind, do it. Don’t wait. The time for obedience is today.

Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. Titus 3:14

“While the passion of some is to shine, of some to govern, and of others to accumulate, let one great passion alone influence our breasts, the passion which reason ratifies, which conscience approves, which Heaven inspires, that of being and doing good.”

Robert Hall (1764-1831), an English minister, in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 121.

In today’s Scripture, Paul reminds Titus to help the people learn to do good and engage in good deeds that productively meet the needs of those around them.

Likewise, Reverend Hall some two centuries ago, urged his English congregants and readers of his writings to similar productivity, regardless of their place in the community.

Every follower of Christ needs to learn to embrace “one great passion” which is “that of being and doing good.” Who we are in Christ, our ‘being’, should impact, our ‘doing’, around us.

Does this “one great passion” flood your soul? As this is a learned behavior, think about who you are in Christ, your ‘being’, and live out the good works God has prepared for you today, your ‘doing’.

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender. Proverbs 22:7

“The Bible doesn’t call debt a sin, but it does warn us about its many unintended consequences.

When I was a young lawyer, we moved to Austin, Texas, and bought a home not far from downtown. We could barely afford the home, but reasonably expected my income to steadily increase over time. Even if it didn’t, Austin was a great real estate market, so we believed we could always sell the home at any time and get our money out.

About three years after we bought the home, I became convicted that my job had become unsustainable for my family and faith. Around this same time, the real estate market in the United States crashed. We couldn’t sell our house. To make matters worse, I couldn’t quit my job because I couldn’t replace enough of my income in another job to still afford our mortgage. I was trapped. I literally owned a home that prevented me from taking a different job or going where I felt God leading me to go.

For three more years, we were unable to change anything. Eventually, the market recovered, we were able to sell our house and were finally freed to follow where God was leading. I learned a very important lesson along the way — debt always obligates me to something in the future before I know what the future holds.

By using debt, we are pre-committing our future selves to pay for our current wants and needs. Not only that, we are restricting our ability to be generous both now and in the future. We have reduced the amount of money that will be available in the future to meet unanticipated needs. In essence, debt says that our needs and wants today are worth more than anything the future brings.

Our decision about going into debt today is about a lot more than whether we can afford the payment. The decision is about whether we can afford to limit our futures. Debt always has future consequences; the trouble is that we can’t know what they will be.”

Michael Blue in Financial Hope: Find Freedom in your Finances through God’s Word (Marion, IN: Ron Blue Institute, 2019).

My dear friend, Michael Blue, sent me a copy of this book, and I read it on my flights this week. It’s a winner! Click the link above to order a copy today.

What I like most about it is that each chapter starts with a story, and then Michael takes you into the Scriptures so you can make the lesson part of your story.

When he shared his own story and about how debt mortgages the future, I thought about people I know who are slaves to debt. They are stuck. Know anyone like this?

The world pummels us with offers to live beyond our means and take on debt. Each time with Michael let’s respond, “No, I am content with what I have. I refuse to limit my future!”

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

“The only satisfactory manifestations of religious character and life are associated with the reciprocal influences of spiritual experience and aggressive activity.”

J. M. Holmes in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 117.

Are you aggressive with regard to your spiritual life in Christ? With Holmes, I believe the only satisfactory manifestation of our faith is aggressive activity.

Some may balk at the ‘aggressive’ term, but we must all remember that James, the half-brother of Jesus Himself said we deceive ourselves if we are not hearers and doers of the Word.

Perhaps the word ‘aggressive’ throws you off? I get that, but consider this. Is there really any such thing as a passive response to Jesus Christ?

If you think so, I’ll let you explain that to Jesus. For those who aim to do what the Word says, act not passively, but rather, aggressively.

I have an important foundation meeting for GTP in Chattanooga today. Of course I pray it goes well. Why have this meeting? Why come all the way here?

I will engage with a foundation that wants to use the resources they steward to claim territory all over the planet for God’s kingdom. Now, that’s aggressive activity of the Christian generosity sort!

Go and give likewise!

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. John 15:16

“Life passes; work is permanent. It is all going — fleeting and withering. Youth goes. Mind decays. That which is done remains. Through ages, through eternity, what you have done for God that, and only that, you are. Deeds never die.”

F. W. Robertson in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 119.

“Deeds never die.” They represent, in the words of Jesus, “fruit that will last.”

Our work with God produces fruit that lasts. Generosity fueled by the Spirit of God has eternal impact. In the words of General Maximus from the movie Gladiator, “What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” We need to remind ourselves of this often.

Today, my wife, Jenni, flies from Guatemala City to Houston to Denver. Long day of travel. She’s been teaching and leading retreats, doing deeds that will never die, in Guatemala. I am rejoicing with her, because I am confident there will be fruit that lasts.

I head to Tennessee today for a big meeting with a foundation tomorrow morning. Traveling from Denver to Chicago to Chattanooga is not glamorous, but it’s just as important as the meetings I will engage in tomorrow. Why must I remind myself of this?

Most of our deeds for Christ are mundane. I will invest maybe 42 hours of my life for a 2 hour meeting. Why do it? Why make the sacrifice? It produces fruit that lasts. If you ever wonder if your work matters, remember that if it is done for Christ, then yes, it matters.

It matters for eternity.