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One Thing to Prioritize

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It can be difficult to prioritize that which is truly important in life when we are faced with a myriad of choices each day. According to research, you will make 35,000 choices today, and about 225 of those decisions will be about what you eat and drink. Your entertainment decisions (what you will watch or listen to) are countless. Hundreds of television channels offer a copious schedule of dramas, comedies, and sports…not to mention more than a billion options for music, video clips, movies, video games, and some of the best gaming apps to make money. Did you know that there are more than 29 million different podcast episodes available? You could play them twenty-four hours a day your entire life, and it would still take you 3,310 years to listen to them all. Are you planning to live that long? I’m certainly not!

Are you facing weightier choices right now, such as deciding on where you will live, work, or go to school? Are you pondering relational issues about your friends, significant other, or coworkers? How complicated is your financial situation, your health, or the health of someone you love? Let’s throw in politics. It seems as though every day a new pressing issue shouts at us to form an opinion or to take a stand or to join one side or another. When numerous and legitimate social causes are thrown our way, it can be difficult to know which one deserves our focus.

On top that, spiritual decisions are the most important, yet often go ignored. I would argue that spiritual decisions are most important because they have eternal consequences. Therefore, the choices we make about our relationship with God should be prioritized above all else.

In Mark 10, a rich young ruler ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees before Him. Then he asked the Lord what he needed to do in order to inherit eternal life. This man was not only sincere, but also practically perfect in his observance of the Jewish law. However, Jesus—the truly perfect Son of God, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords—points out “one thing” the man lacked: he didn’t want to let go of his love of money in order to fully serve and follow God.

What is one thing that may be lacking in your walk with Christ? What is the one thing you have difficulty walking away from, in order to wholeheartedly follow Jesus? And if you are missing one thing, would you want Jesus to point it out to you?

Jesus reminded the rich young man of the Ten Commandments, and the man declared, “Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy” (Mark 10:20). Then Jesus said, “One thing you lack…Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The Bible says, “At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

This interesting exchange challenges us to take an honest inventory of our hearts. Christ invites us to examine what our number-one priority really is. Are we striving for perfection through an endless religious to-do list while overlooking an unhealthy attachment to temporary, worldly things—or are we wholeheartedly committed to Christ?

Take some time today to pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you your “one thing” you need to surrender to Him. There’s no need to walk away sad like the rich young ruler, because there is so much joy and satisfaction awaiting you when you get rid of your idols and make Jesus your first priority. Christ is always the best choice!

 

Adapted from Pastor Dudley Rutherford’s upcoming book, One Thing: Rediscover a Simple Faith in Our Complicated World, available for preorder now on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

 

One Thing to Seek

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What do you desire most in life? If Aladdin’s genie were real, and you somehow obtained his lamp, what would you wish? Many of us would request wealth, health, or happiness—or perhaps all three! (After all, according to the classic tale, you get three wishes, right?) However, I just want you to narrow down your number-one desire above all other things. The truth is, your wish reveals a lot about what is inside your heart and about what you believe is the key to you finding contentment in this world.

In Psalm 27:4, David says,

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord, and to seek him in his temple.”

What you desire and what you seek are inextricably tied together. If you want something bad enough, you’ll seek it out. David not only desired to dwell, to behold, and to inquire of the Lord, but he also sought after these things. Today, life offers an abundance of pursuits that compete for your time and affection. But to draw close to God is truly the one thing that will satisfy the soul. What are you searching the world—turning over every rock and looking around every corner—to obtain? What is that thing you think will satisfy you and bring you true peace and joy? Let it be God! In Jeremiah 29:11–13, God declares that He knows the plans He has for you, and those plans are to prosper and protect you—and to give you hope and a future.

Psalm 27 is filled with riches and wisdom as we get a glimpse of the eternal satisfaction of David’s one thing. Within this great passage, you will find blessings beyond measure as your desires begin to shift toward the things of God. For the purpose of this article, I’m going to highlight the first part of this passage of Scripture, which encourages us to “dwell in the house of the Lord.” We dwell in God’s house by remaining close to Him. I believe there are three important principles that enable us to do just that:

1. Read the Word.

You become close to another person not just by being physically near them but also by spending time and talking with one another. You get to know the person’s character and the things that make that person unique. In the same way, you become close to God by first reading God’s Word, which is how you get to know His character, His truth, and His will for your life. Do this daily, even if it’s just a chapter a day. Your life will be so enriched by the treasure of God’s wisdom. His word is a light to your path (Ps. 119:105).

2. Pray.

Prayer is how you communicate with God. Closeness with someone means being open, honest, and vulnerable, so in your prayers, tell God your worries and cares. Pray and ask Him for wisdom and guidance. Pray and ask God for forgiveness of your sins and to help you forgive others who have sinned against you. Pray for your loved ones and even for the difficult people in your life.

3. Connect.

The next step is to become involved in the local church in order to deepen your relationship with the Lord. The church is often called the “house of the Lord” or “God’s house.” Why? Because it is where the family of believers gathers together to worship God. Church is where we study the Bible and where we fellowship with one another. Hebrews 10:25 instructs us not to neglect this important habit. Even if your church is closed due to a pandemic, the brilliance of technology is that you can still stay connected with the body of believers through your phone and the Internet. Whenever he was imprisoned—and it was quite often—Paul stayed connected to the church by writing letters. There is really no excuse not to draw close to God through the local church.

I hope that you are inspired by Psalm 27:4 to deepen your relationship with the Lord and to truly make closeness with Him the one thing you desire above all else. He never disappoints! God is good, light, and love, and He is so worthy of our awe and our devotion.

Adapted from Pastor Dudley Rutherford’s upcoming book, One Thing: Rediscover a Simple Faith in Our Complicated World, available for pre-order now on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

 

Freedom from Anger

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Do you ever get the feeling that we’re getting angrier as a society? Just read or watch the news on any given day, and you’ll see stories of road rage, violence within families, and senseless bloodshed. The anger caused by politics seems to be on another level in recent years, and the ease and anonymity of the online comments sections (including social media) have emboldened so many to voice their anger in astonishing ways.

On a personal level, do you struggle with anger? Are there moments when you lose your temper with your family, or while driving, or when dealing with uncooperative inanimate objects? It’s like the guy who finally received in the mail a thesaurus he had ordered online. When he opened its pages, they were all blank. He had no words to describe how angry he was! All jokes aside, many of us struggle with some form of anger, and it’s a serious issue. If you are a Christian, it can ruin your witness and give the devil a foothold in your life.

In the Bible, we see anger rear its ugly head for the first time in Genesis chapter four in the story of two brothers: Cain and Abel.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’”

But Cain did not get control over his anger and jealousy, and as a result, he murdered his own brother. Perhaps this one reason why Jesus placed anger on the same level as murder in Matthew 5:21-22—because if left unchecked, anger can lead to tragedy. Proverbs 29:22 says,

“An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.”

When we’re angry, some of us blow up while others of us clam up. Whichever way you normally respond to upsetting situations, there is no question that anger hardens the heart. Ephesians 5:26-27 instructs us in this manner:

“‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Colossians 3:8 says, “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

Here are four steps to conquering anger:

  1. God’s fruit. When you give your life to Jesus and follow Him, you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:19-26 tells us that the fruit of God’s Spirit working in our lives is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. These virtues are in complete opposition to anger. Consistently feed your spirit through Bible reading, prayer/quiet time with God, worship music, and serving others. In doing so, your spirit will win out in battles against the flesh, including defeating outbursts of anger.
  2. Glorify God. Before you speak or act, you should always ask yourself one question, “Will this glorify God?” If each of us did this important self-check, it probably would cut our words, actions, and social media posts in half. First Peter 2:12 says that we are to live such good lives that when Jesus comes back, those who didn’t believe can’t help but to give glory to God.
  3. Get the plank out of your own eye. We often critique everyone else, yet fail to see our own flaws and faults. This skewed view of other people lacks grace and compassion, and it leads to anger. In Matthew 7:5, Jesus said we need to get the plank—basically the 2’x4’—out of our own eye before we try to take the speck out of someone else’s eye. This takes humility and self-reflection; it also involves staying in the Word of God so that it, like a mirror, can show you the things that needs to change within your life—by God’s grace.
  4. Give forgiveness freely. Lastly, we are called to forgive others just as God, in Christ, has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation, but it brings grace and peace to the heart, which extinguishes anger like a bucket of water dumped on a campfire. God only knows how much better we’d all be if we could extend more forgiveness and harbor a whole lot less anger, and hope these tips will encourage and equip you to do just that.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of the upcoming book, One Thing (available for pre-order on Amazon), and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Are You Hot or Cold?

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As the final book in the New Testament, Revelation is filled with frightening beasts, epic battles, natural disasters, and coded language. It documents the ultimate struggle between good and evil, and it contains many harsh warnings such as Revelation 3:16. Yet, it is also a love story with a timely message of encouragement and hope.

Revelation was written by the apostle John, a devoted follower of Jesus, while he was imprisoned on the island of Patmos. He was sent there by the Romans as punishment for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. John wrote Revelation as a letter in a coded language called “Apocrypha” in order to get God’s message past the Roman guards and to its intended recipients—the seven churches that were located in Asia Minor.

It’s also important to understand the purpose of Revelation, and in order to do so, we must consider the adversity John experienced at the hands of the Romans and what was going on in the Church at the time. Christians were not only facing severe forms of torture and persecution by the Romans because of their faith, but also were being influenced more and more by the sinful things of the world. John tells us that some of the churches were compromising their beliefs and becoming lukewarm and lethargic, like the Laodiceans in Revelation 3. There was rampant sin and immorality to the degree that it was becoming difficult to see the difference between those who professed to know Christ and those who did not.

John wrote this letter to warn those who had lost their way that the Day of Judgment was coming and to encourage the faithful to resist worldly temptations. In spite of his suffering and imprisonment, John possessed patient endurance in Jesus (Revelation 1:9).  He wanted to embolden the Church to grab a hold of this same resolve.

Revelation 3:16 focuses on the church at Laodicea, which is a lot like the church in America today. Located in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), the church in Laodicea was overrun with materialism. They put their trust in their gold, wool, and medical advancements. They weren’t on fire for the Lord, and Jesus said that their lukewarm Christianity literally made Him sick. These are difficult and convicting words to hear, but as is always the case in God’s Word, this story will end with hope and encouragement.

If you are a lukewarm Christian—neither on fire for God, nor cold—the good news is that God still loves you, and He wants you to repent. Our God is so loving and patient. He is waiting for you to turn from being lukewarm to becoming on-fire for Him, so He can give you the abundant joy that only comes with serving Him wholeheartedly. Won’t you do that today? Hebrews 3:15 says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Open your heart to the Lord and let him come in and be not only your Savior, but also your Lord.

John’s message is just as relevant today as it was back then. It is a message about repenting, turning back to God, and living a life that is honoring to Him—so that we will be found in good standing when He Son Jesus returns to defeat evil once and for all.  In this story of unusual creatures and scary beasts, John tells us not to fear (Rev. 1:17). In this drama with tyrannical Roman emperors and Christian persecution, John tells us to remain steadfast in Christ because the Almighty will return soon with a reward for us (Rev. 22:12). To learn more about following God with your whole heart, please join us for weekend services at Shepherd Church.

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

For God So Loved the World

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It has been said that the entire Bible can be summarized in one verse, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Of the more than 31,000 verses in God’s Holy Word, John 3:16 has likely been quoted most often and has led to life-changing decisions in the hearts of countless men, women, and children throughout the history of the world. I want to share with you the context of this profound scripture, as well as the eternal implications of the compassion of God through the cross of Jesus Christ.

1. The Context.

In John 3, we meet a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. He had political influence and clout. He was wealthy. A guardian of the rules. A keeper of the laws. He represents the people who believe that they are somehow saved or made righteous by attempting to keep all the rules. And yet Nicodemus visited Jesus one night because he was probably very intrigued by Him and had a restlessness in his soul. He wanted to learn more about the things Jesus had been teaching. Nicodemus was searching.

Jesus and Nicodemus had a conversation that was very difficult for Nicodemus to understand, even though he himself was a teacher of the law. Jesus basically told Nicodemus that though he had been born physically, he needed to be born spiritually. Nicodemus had been taught since he was a child that the law is what saves, but instead, this man named Jesus—who performed many signs and miracles and taught God’s truth like no other before or after Him—had come along and declared, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This would have been stunning news at that time in history, and it is immensely Good News today!

2. God’s Compassion.

As much as we try to obey all the rules and do enough good deeds, the reality is that we’ve all sinned and fallen short of righteousness (Romans 3:23). “For God so loved the world” speaks of God’s immense compassion for humanity. His love is undeserved, unconditional, and unsurpassed. He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him and, by His grace, did what the law was incapable of doing. In spite of our lostness, disobedience, division, and irreverence for God, there’s a God up above who’s compassion never fails, whose love never fades, whose mercy endures forever.

3. The Cross.

The next part of John 3:16 says, “…that He gave His one and only Son.” God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is the Messiah about whom the Old Testament prophesied for generations. He was the sinless sacrifice and atonement for the sins of the world. Romans 6:23 asserts, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus was the substitute—He paid a price that you and I couldn’t pay by dying on the cross in our place.

4. The Certainty.

The final part of John 3:16 reveals, “…that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Eternity is in the balance. Our lives extend beyond this earth. When Jesus conquered sin and death when He rose from the dead on the third day and was seated at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:32-33), He became the bridge for anyone who believes in Him to spend eternity in Heaven. The Apostle Paul wrote of the temporary nature of the body, but the eternal nature of the spirit in 1 Corinthians 4:16: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” And in 2 Corinthians 5:1, Paul explained, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” Heaven is real, and everyone is invited! (See Revelation 22:17 and 2 Corinthians 6:2).

Acts 4:12 proclaims, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Won’t you come and accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ today? There is no other love like His.

                                                                                                             

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

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Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 23, which is one of the most well-known, oft-quoted psalms of all time. Line by line, it is astonishing to see all the ways that Jesus Christ fulfilled the words of this great and prophetic psalm. It shows us—a thousand years before the Messiah was even born—that He would lovingly provide for, guide, heal, and protect every person who puts their faith and trust in Him. Are you in need of provision? How about guidance in the storms and uncertainties of life? How about spiritual, physical, or relational healing? How about protection? If any of these ring true for you, I want to encourage you to trust in the Good Shepherd for four reasons:

1. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

When we have Jesus, we shall not want because He is the Living Water (John 7:37) and the Bread of Life (John 6:35). He satisfies the longings of every heart and every soul. This truth is described by King David of Israel when he wrote in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1), which foreshadowed Jesus’s words in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus laid down His life on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of everyone who puts their faith and trust in Him (see John 10:17-18).

2. When the Shepherd is near, there is no need to fear.

Psalm 23:4 declares that, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,for you are with me…” One of the shepherd’s jobs is to protect his sheep from danger—whether it is predators, perilous landscape, bad weather, or thieves. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, protects His sheep as well. When we follow Him, there is no need to fear because all authority has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). He conquered sin and death (2 Timothy 1:10), and He is the light of the world (John 8:12).

3. The Shepherd prepares, bestows favor, and blesses.

Psalm 23:5 reads, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.” Here we see God’s abundant favor and blessing bestowed upon those who acknowledge and revere Him. Jesus said He is going up to Heaven to prepare a place for us (John 14:2-3), and He describes Heaven as a great banquet (in Luke 14:15-24). The oil and an overflowing cup are also symbols of favor and blessing. Barnes’ Notes on the Bible explains that “the custom of anointing the head on festival occasions, as an indication of prosperity and rejoicing.” Joy and rejoicing come with the Shepherd’s preparation, blessing, and favor!

4. God’s goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

This is the first half of the promise of Psalm 23:6. The word “follow” comes from the Hebrew word radaph, which means “to chase down.” The Good Shepherd pursues you relentlessly, just as an earthly shepherd would pursue a lost sheep from his flock. Jesus describes this very situation in Luke 15 in the Parable of the Lost Sheep, in which a shepherd left his ninety-nine sheep to go after the one sheep that was lost—and he rejoiced greatly when that sheep was found. God’s mercy and lovingkindness will hunt you down, no matter your past mistakes. So, why waste your time running away from God? Let Him clean you up, protect, lead, and guide you in this life and for all eternity (“and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” the second half of the promise of verse six). No place is safer than in the Shepherd’s care.

                                                                                                              

Pastor Dudley Rutherford is the author of Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith (available everywhere books are sold online) and the senior pastor of Shepherd Church, which has three campuses in the Greater Los Angeles area. You can watch services online or connect with Dudley at dev.fishhookcms.com/ and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.