Tag Archives: Christians today

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Yea, I’ve got some good news. Especially if you’ve been singing the blues because you don’t know what God‘s will is for your life.

First off, let me say I’d never recommend not praying. Of course you should pray. You must pray! But your prayers should be more about Thanksgiving and something the Bible calls supplication. Prayers shouldn’t be always about asking for things.

Unless you’re asking for wisdom and discernment. There’s a lot of good reasons to believe God likes that kind of prayer.

Anyway…

From time to time I hear Christians (on the radio and in person) who say you need to seek the will of God for your life. Some say things like “It isn’t always easy, but it’s so important.” Or they say, “Pray and ask God to show you His will for your life.” On the surface, sound like good advice. But dig a little deeper and you discover something very important.

And it’s even OK to ask Him for the intangible things like more love in your life, or more fruit of the Spirit, or even a calm heart. However, you don’t need to ask Him for His will for your life. He’s already told you.

God wants to set you apart from this world. His word says…

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification…”

Two words. Your sanctification. Simple. To the point. No long-winded, expansive, voluminous explanation. And only one mildly difficult word: sanctification. What does that mean? Like I said…to set you apart. Apart from what? All the dirty darkness so much of the world seems to prefer. God doesn’t want you to be weighed down, dragged down, or pulled down into that darkness. He wants you to stand up, reach up, and look up…to Him. Doing so sets you apart. It sanctifies you. The dictionary defines sanctify like this: set apart as or declare holy.

When you ask Jesus into your heart, God declares you holy. Wow! How cool is that?! And that, in a nutshell, is the will of God for your life…to declare you holy. And when you’re holy, you will live forever in a place so glorious your imagination can’t conjure it up.

All the day-to-day tasks, your job or career, whether you should buy the green shirt or red one, or where you’ll go for dinner…these are all decisions you’re free to make for yourself. God doesn’t need or want to micromanage your life. That isn’t His will. He certainly wants you to lean on His understanding, not your own, and that’s because His wisdom is infinitely deeper and higher than yours. But He doesn’t make your daily decisions for you. You’re fearfully and wonderfully made. God designed you with your own will, your own brain, and your own abilities. He delights in seeing what ways you’ll use them to declare Him to the world.

So…what ways are you declaring the good news of Jesus to the world? Use the skills or talents you have and tell somebody about Him today…or this week…or this month. And don’t be afraid. Remember, the will of God for your life is sanctification. Since He sets you apart and declares you holy, I guarantee you can do it. And when you send His Word out, it won’t return void. I’m pulling for you!

I’m pulling for you, and so’s the Lord.
He’ll keep your soul securely moored
Until it’s time to set your sails
Filled with his word that never fails.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

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I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

People sure seem to get a big kick out of attacking Christians. From so-called “honest” atheists, to outright God haters, to muslims, and to everyday garden variety heathens. People consider us fair game and open targets. So I say power to the people under the steeple.

Yeah, power to the people who know THE Truth.

Because we are the salt and light of this world. And that Truth has set us free for all of eternity.

Those of us Christians, who share the grace message from God’s word, freely, are accused of thinking we’ve cornered the market on truth. And they don’t like us to speak in absolutes with total unblinking confidence. But that’s exactly what we can do. And should do. Because, if the Bible isn’t the word of God, and the message of Jesus isn’t true, then we are the biggest fools.

But since it is the word of God and the message is true, then we who believe in trust in it are the only ones who aren’t fools. And since we know, it’s true, and we know that God wants us to share the truth with anyone and everyone who will listen, we have an obligation to speak up. After all faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And He gave power to the people who believe and trust in Him right there in his word. Wow, somebody should write a song about that. Oh wait. I did. Way back in the 90s. Here are the lyrics. And I’ll share the song in Rhyme and Reason Podcast:

The Power of the Word

So you’ve been thinking that you’ve got a whole lot to fear
And you keep asking, “What on earth am I doin’ here?”
Well I wouldn’t tell you it’s as gloomy as you’ve heard
You just need the power of the Word

I know you’ve heard that if at first you don’t succeed
Just keep on trying and you’re bound to fill the need
But you don’t believe all that stuff applies to you
And without the power what can you do

Well the power of the Word takes an ordinary bird
And it gives him songs to sing and wings to soar
With the power of the Word even when your vision’s blurred
All your dreams will be fulfilled forevermore

Numbers are crunching and seconds are ticking on
Your hopes are fading until you wonder where they’ve gone
But you wouldn’t worry that your life could be deterred
If you had the power of the Word

Chorus

And if you’re asking, “What’s in it for me?”
Well, give up your soul and I think you will see….
Eternity…eternity…eternity……….

instrumental…repeat chorus to end     © 1993-2011 TF

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotionaldelivered to your inbox for free.

I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

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The first century Christians were committed to one another. Christians today? Not so much. Sure, there are small cliques. But, as a whole, it’s a divided faith. And splintered, sometimes, by just the meaning of a single verse. Or even a single word. Want an example?

OK. Christians today split up over the word, tithe.

I just scanned an article with this title: “Which denomination tithes the most?”

And that, inadvertently, addresses a big part of the issue. Because human nature seeks to “be number one.” And that includes the giving department. So, the article shared lots of demographics from a 10 day study of denominations. How ’bout I share just a few snippets?

“Eighty percent of people who attend a worship service at least four times a month agreed that tithing is a biblical commandment compared to 72% of respondents who attend a worship service one to three times a month.”

Hmm. Wonder how many tithing messages the first group hears as opposed to the second group.

Here’s an age-related stat. 66% of young adult respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 were less likely to believe tithing is a Biblical commandment. And I think that’s interesting. Because tithing IS undeniably a commandment (or law) found in the Bible. But it’s crucial to understand where it’s found and why.

Then, the article shared some numbers about amounts.

Before I share that, it’s important to know (if you don’t) that tithe means a tenth. And that’s the command God handed down to the Jews. To give a tenth of all they had.

So, on that note, notice what Christians today, and even many of those Jews, do and did.

“Thirty-one percent told pollsters they give a tithe and 19% said they give more than 10% of their income. Meanwhile, 16% said they donate less than 10% of their income to their church. Nine percent of respondents reported that their financial situation makes it difficult to give, and 2% said that they did not give.”

Yeah, if God says give a tenth, then I should give more. Because, well, because I say so. And if it feels good to me, then I’m sure God will be even more impressed with me. Or at least other people will once I’ve informed them that I give even more than God says.

I know, from personal experience, that Christians boast about giving their tithe AND even more. Because benevolence should be spotlighted. Right? Wait. Wasn’t there a left hand right hand thing?

Now, I would never urge you to believe what I say just because I’m a trustworthy guy. I believe I am, but I’m not the authority. You find that in the Bible. And if it says “the law kills” and that the Grace of God is “not of works” (which includes the tithe), then that’s the truth. My goal is to agree with it. And to keep “rightly dividing the word of truth.” And I urge Christians today (you and me) to…

Take A Stand

If you take a stand and you stand for the Way,
You might never be rich.
But no gold here beats the treasure in Heaven,
And you’ll know which is which.

Angels are gonna rejoice,
And we’re gonna get to see how
The Lord will judge the ones who wait.
So better take a stand right now.

If you take a stand and you stand for the Truth,
You could lose a good friend.
But if you lose the whole wide world
And keep your soul, you win in the end.

All eyes are gonna look up.
All knees are gonna bow,
And when that time comes it’s too late.
You gotta take a stand right now.

If you take a stand and you stand for Life,
People might laugh and make fun.
And Jesus didn’t say it was gonna be easy,
But you’ll be with Him when this life is done.
No more livin’ like this;
By the sweat of your brow,
And if you want God’s paradise,
You better take a stand right now.

© 2008