Truth matters – in every area of life. Someone once said, “Truth is always free – a lie is always costly.” History if full of examples where a failure to tell the truth has resulted in ruining lives, families, careers and even empires. One example comes to mind from the baseball world. In 1998, the Toronto Blue Jays hired a former major league player named Tim Johnson to be their head coach. But that year, he became famous for motivating his players by telling them stories of his military action while serving in Vietnam. After the 1998 season, the truth came out. Although he did serve in the military, Tim Johnson never served in Vietnam and never saw combat. He was based only in California. Once that lie was uncovered, many others followed, including many on his resume. He even claimed that he turned down a basketball scholarship to UCLA when none was ever offered. As a result, Johnson was discredited and dismissed as manager of the Blue Jays just before the start of the 1999 season. The truth is always free – a lie is always costly!
In 1988, a similar, more damaging lie ruined Democratic front-runner, Gary Hart. There were rumors that he was not faithful to his wife which he vigorously denied. At one point, he even challenged reporters to follow him saying, “”Follow me around. I don’t care. I’m serious. If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead. They’ll be very bored.” They did and they caught him with another woman in Miami and his campaign was ruined. The truth is always free – a lie is always costly! Truth always matters!
In 3 John, the apostle John speaks about truth 6 times in this short letter of 14 verses. John has been passionate about the truth in all his epistles. In 1 John 2:4, he says, “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” In 1 John 3:18, John says, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” He ends his letter with multiple references to truth: “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.”
Truth matters because it affects every part of our being and our character. Once we begin to lie and deceive, it becomes a pattern that is hard to change. In 3 John, we see how truth affected 3 men that John writes about. First, we see Gaius who was an example of Love (vv. 1-8). Then we see Diotrephes who was an example of Pride (vv. 9-10) and finally, we see Demetrius who was an example of Consistency (vv. 11-14).
Every superhero has a weakness. Superman may be powerful, but he is not all-powerful. Superman can still be defeated even by something as seemingly harmless as a rock from his planet Krypton. This is true of every superhero. But it is not true about God. He is truly All-Powerful in every sense of the word. And because He is all-powerful, we can have confidence that what He has planned for us will always come to pass. That’s why we can trust in Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for the god of those who love him, who have been called according to His purposes.” If God were not all-powerful, then this promise would be empty because we could never be sure that God can indeed work all things together for good.
But since God is omnipotent, our chaotic and constantly changing world doesn’t seem quite so scary. No matter how weak or ill-equipped we feel, no matter what challenges or problems we face, we can rest in this truth: God is matchless in His power, unconquerable, and always victorious. Our all-powerful God reigns supreme over all and He holds us securely in His hand.
When we say that God is omnipotent (omni=all, potent=power), we are proclaiming that He not only has ultimate power over all things, but He is also the source of all power. Though He sets limits on all of creation, He Himself is limitless in strength, wisdom, love, holiness, and the ability to perform His sovereign will. He has the power to accomplish all that He plans and all that He wants. No one can resist His will, and all of His plans will succeed because He is all-powerful. He alone is the All-mighty One! William Gurnall aptly put it this way: “One Almighty is more than all mighties!”
Freedom means different things to different people. To some, freedom means having no restraints and no responsibilities. But this is not true freedom. Real freedom always includes limits and responsibilities. If freedom meant no restraints, then everyone’s freedom would take away freedom from others. Still others think freedom means having no accountability. It means being able to do whatever you want without any consequences. This is also not true freedom. Freedom without accountability always results in anarchy, and anarchy always backlashes into totalitarianism – eventually taking away all previous freedoms. True freedom has consequences, responsibilities and restraints.
In his State of the Union address in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt articulated his view of what the world needed in calling for Four Freedoms that were essential for every human being – Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Worship, Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear. His speech was a call for Americans to recognize that such freedoms could only be possible in a democracy. It was a warning that the growing forces of Nazism and Communism would always seek to reduce and eliminate these freedoms. It was a reminder that people came to the United States seeking freedoms that they were denied in their homelands. It was a reminder that the very foundation of American life is rooted and grounded in freedom.
But there are some freedoms that are even more important than the ones outlined by President Roosevelt. All of Roosevelt’s freedoms can be taken away from us. That’s why we fought against Japan and Nazi Germany in the 1940s. That’s why America has stood for freedom against the Soviet Union during the years of the Cold War. That’s why the United States continues to stand against socialism and anarchism and other forms of oppression even today.
In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul reminds us that all believers have Four Spiritual Freedoms that can never be taken away from us!
First, believers have freedom from Condemnation. This is the most important freedom because sin and judgment is our greatest problem. In Romans 8:1, Paul tells us that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This is because all of our sins have been paid for by Jesus. If you committed a crime and someone paid that fine for you, then you cannot be convicted for that crime again. This does not mean that we are not sinners. It does not mean we are perfect. It means we are forgiven. It means that Jesus paid our debt in full – there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! John 5:24 also reminds us of this truth: “Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever hears my words and believes on him who sent me has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation …. The freedom from condemnation that Jesus gives can never be taken away!
Second, we have freedom from Emptiness. When a person trusts Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to take up residence in his life. (Romans 8:9 reminds us that all believers have the Holy Spirit residing in them: “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him”). Because of this, the Spirit within us makes us righteous before the Lord (Romans 8:10) and gives us the promise of future resurrection (Romans 8:11). Why? Simply because His Spirit now lives in you. But that’s not all, His Spirit in us gives us the power to defeat sin in our lives (Romans 8:12-13), makes us God’s children (Romans 8:14, 16), and sets us free from the spirit of fear (Romans 8:15). We may feel empty at times, but as believers, we will always have His Spirit dwelling within us crying out “Abba, Father.” We need never feel empty or abandoned again! That’s real freedom!
Third, believers have freedom from Discouragement– even from suffering. Every believer faces suffering – some more than others. But when we suffer, we know that “all things work together for good to those that are called according to His purpose.” In Romans 8:17-30, Paul reminds us that suffering is universal (“all creation groans”) – everyone suffers and even all of creation suffers with us. But we do not need to be discouraged. God has given us His Spirit and the Spirit groans with us in our suffering. But that is not all, even in our suffering, God has a purpose (Romans 8:29) – to conform us to the image of His son. And His Spirit comes alongside us and prays for us in words that are deeper than even our hearts understand. We may experience difficulties, hardships and even suffering and persecution, but God is working in all and through all for our good. That’s encouraging news – that’s freedom that can never be taken from us as long as we remember God’s presence with us and purpose for us in times of suffering.
Finally, we have freedom from Separation. Paul wraps up his reminders about the freedoms we have in Christ by reminding us that “nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In verse 38-39, Paul gives a comprehensive list of things in life that might try to separate us from the Lord – “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation.” In the verses before this, he even reminds us that even if we are “led like sheep all day long to the slaughter,” we are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Many situations, crises and people might try to separate us from the Lord, but in Christ, we have freedom from separation!
Every 4th of July, Americans gather to celebrate freedom. But as we celebrate our freedom in America, we need to never forget that our freedom came with great cost and sacrifice. All the signers of the Declaration of Independence put their lives on the line for our freedom – many lost homes and family and even their lives. Throughout our history, American soldiers have been willing to sacrifice so that the freedoms they love could be experienced by others in the world too.
As believers, we need to remember that our spiritual freedoms also did not come without sacrifice. Whenever we think about freedom, we should remember that Jesus came for one reason – to give his life as a ransom for many. He paid the ultimate sacrifice – not just death on a cross but taking our sins upon himself! He did so that we might be free forever. So, on July 4th, we praise God for the freedoms we have in America, but we need to realize that those can be taken away from us by one election cycle or culture change. But what we have in Christ can never be taken away from us. And that is true freedom!
Teaching and Ministry …
Last month, we completed our class on Research and Writing at Kyiv Theological Seminary. We are currently finishing up grading all the papers. The feedback from students was very positive. Many said that this class was one of the hardest they have taken but also one of the most helpful. I appreciated that many of the final papers dealt with topics related to ministry during a time of war. It shows that the students are actively applying what they are learning to their situations.
This week, I will be in Sarasota, Florida for the GlobalServe International (GSI) new missionary orientation. We are sending out about 25 new families! All of these will be heading to countries that are officially closed to missionaries. I am looking forward to meeting these new missionaries and getting to know them. I will be helping GSI with missionary care and training, so this is an important conference for me. Be praying for me as I try to see how the Lord can use us in training and caring for missionaries who are working in very difficult environments.
Even though my time is short, I decided to audit a Greek exegesis class from Southern Seminary in July. It is an online class covering the book of Jude. I’m enjoying getting back into using my Greek and looking forward to studying the book of Jude. I won’t have time for all the assignments, but I think it will still be a joy to work through the Book of Jude.
Time with Family …
May, June and July could be characterized as hospitality months! In early May, we began hosting a few families that were passing through the area and needed a place to stay. Then in mid-May, Katya’s mom came to be with us for 3 weeks. She left on a Thursday, and Joel and Ally and their family arrived to spend 3 weeks with us (they just left Tuesday). The week of 4th of July, Joy and Aimee came to join us and stayed with us until July 5th. Sean, Meredith and their kids came and joined us nearly every day during the 3 weeks that Joel was with us. At times, we were hosting as many as 16 people! But it was a great joy for all of us to be together. And we built this house so that we could be more involved in hospitality.
In June, we joined friends from Cornerstone Bible Fellowship in NLR on a float trip on the Buffalo River. Because it was so far from us in Fayetteville, we decided to camp at the landing for 3 days. The river was great for floating and for swimming. And we loved being able to camp and cookout. We especially loved being able to take Katya’s mom with us – she loves kayaking and camping!
In June, Sean and I worked on getting the front and back decks on the house. We completed the back deck just before Joel and Ally arrived. We finished the front deck while they were here. Most days, we worked from daylight until after dark. Needless to say, we were exhausted, but we still had time to spend with family on the Fourth and many other days.
We also got to enjoy multiple fireworks displays. First, on Sunday night, we went to a little church down the road from us to enjoy a relaxed fireworks display. Then we decided to stay home and have our own fireworks at the house. We got an extra surprise by being able to see some distant fireworks from our house too (we are on a mountain above Fayetteville and Springdale).
Pray for Ukraine …
Please keep Ukraine in your prayers. The news does not give many updates, but things continue to be very difficult. Even during our class meetings, students had to deal with electric blackouts that hindered their internet connections. Russia continues to destroy Ukraine’s energy and heating centers. This coming winter could be very difficult for Ukraine if Russia continues to target these energy sectors.
Also, pray for our students. Some are serving in the military, and all are helping to minister through humanitarian efforts. The war has opened many avenues for sharing the gospel and the love of Christ. Please pray that their efforts will produce fruit for eternal life!
Thank you for praying for us and for your support! As someone who grew up during the Cold War, I am constantly thankful that Ukraine is no longer under Soviet control and, even though there is an on-going war fight now, Ukraine is free from Russian domination. And I rejoice that many, many freedoms have returned to Ukraine – especially spiritual freedom!
By His Grace,
Jim and Katya, Kristina and Nadia
If you missed previous updates or just want to read some short theological reflections, you can find these at our website at https://teachingresources.org/ .
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Every time I teach the Prayer and Worship class, students have one big question (among others). I have a lecture called “Public Worship is More Important than Private Worship,” and most of the students disagree. On the surface, it seems like private worship should be what “feeds” our public worship. But upon further examination, I am convinced that, while private worship is vital to our walk with God, public worship has far more benefits and blessings than private worship. We posted this article a number of years ago. But I think it is worth revisiting this important topic – especially as more and more believers are tempted to neglect public worship by listening online. There are many ways that private worship, as important as it is, is not sufficient for our total spiritual growth.
Motherhood is simultaneously the greatest and the hardest thing. The job is difficult, unending, and heart-wrenching. Mothers are to be celebrated because of the tremendous influence that they have upon our lives and because of the unselfish love and care they provide.
I have always been surprised at how much affection and attention is given to mothers by everyone – especially professional athletes. I love watching football games. And it has never ceased to amaze me at how these great big football players often react in interviews after games. Now, I assume that most of these athletes owe a lot to their fathers for all the time they put into helping to train them so they can be professional athletes. And how much time their dads spent throwing and catching footballs with their sons. But whenever one of these athletes gets on camera for an interview, what do they always have to add at the end? “Hi mom. I love you.” I’ve never heard one say, “Hi dad. I love you.” I’m sure they love their fathers too. But moms hold a special place in their hearts. That’s why Mother’s Day is such a special day – because almost everyone wants to let their mother know how much they appreciate them for all they do.
Interestingly, the Bible says very little about what it takes to be a good mom. Do a search sometime to see what the Bible specifically says about being a good mother. I found numerous sites with titles like “50 Verses about Motherhood.” All the verses listed were general verses about godly wives, parents teaching their children, or God loving us as a mother loves her children. But nothing specifically about motherhood.
However, the Bible does show us some examples of a great mom. And one of those examples is Mary, the mother of our Lord. Mary is often idealized and even idolized within branches of the Christian church. This is understandable too because she was the mother of Jesus. In fact, Mary herself says, “all generations shall call me blessed!” This is not because she was unusual as a mother. It was because she was a woman who feared the Lord. But what are some characteristics of Mary that made her so extraordinary?
So what made Mary so special? And what are the characteristics of Mary that make her a wonderful example for all women and all mothers?
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