Category Archives: Daily Living

Practical wisdom drawn from the teachings of the Bible.

Still A Candidate For Grace (Updated 03/28/19)

I wrote the following weeks ago, when it was revealed that Jussie Smollett had likely made up the story of being assaulted. This was before he was charged and long before the charges were dropped.

What Jussie Smollett did angers me, and he should be punished for it.

To fabricate a story that portrays a certain group as evil is beyond wrong. To continue to lie about it and waste tax-payers’ money on an investigation knowing it will lead to nothing is reprehensible.

Also, this whole story belittles the incidents where real discrimination, racism, and hate are actually involved.

But I have this sense that we should be praying for Jussie. A person capable of this much dishonesty and attention seeking is likely unstable. And unfortunately, this type of person could do harm to himself or others.

Usually, I would be trading political jabs, jokes, and points about something like this. And honestly, all that runs through my head. But I need to be a little more mature about stories like this.

I imagine Jussie has a grand-mother or two who’ve prayed for him since he was a little boy, I imagine his friends and family are heartbroken for him. I imagine a loving God who hurts with him at this moment. It doesn’t take away the repurcussions of his actions, but it helps me to not allow my heart to be hardened by cynicism and a media storm.

As a Christian, it shouldn’t take a revelation for me to pray for someone like Jussie. It should be my first instinct. But it wasn’t. I have to let God deal with my heart.

Jussie needs God’s grace, he needs healing, and yes he needs to make amends for what he has done. I’ll leave that last one up to the authorities.

As for me, I’m going to pray for him, and I pray that in the future, this is my first thought when something like this happens, not my last.

I still believe all of that, I need to see with compassion, think with mercy, and speak with grace. I need to pray for people before I talk about people.

But Jussie, like you and I, can keep grace from working in his life by refusing to admit he’s done anything wrong. God’s love is unconditional, but grace only works in a willing vessel. If anyone simply wants to avoid the consequences for their actions, grace isn’t what they need. Those people will find themselves worse off than before.

Today’s lack of accountability, brings a future lack of responsibility.

Societies have met their ruin by neglecting accountability.

What Jussie did still angers me, and Jussie’s continued lack of honesty only makes it worse. But I will continue praying for Jussie, he is still a candidate for grace. It is completely up to him to admit his need for forgiveness. The scary part is this, God won’t force any of us to admit that need.

So be angry if you want, I’m right there with you. But pray for Jussie, and pray that we don’t ever get to the point where we can’t admit it when we are clearly wrong.

It’s a dangerous place to be.

-Tom Wise

BIBLICAL CHARACTERS THAT HAD TROUBLE ACCEPTING JESUS #3 | HEROD

Herod is another character that can give a false impression.  He too was a man that held a position of power.  For a brief moment it seemed that he had the opportunity to do the right thing and let Jesus go.  However, Herod was deficient in character.  Not necessarily in the same ways as Pilate, but deficient none-the-less.

When Jesus was brought before Herod we are told that he, “was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him (Jesus), and hoped to see some miracle done by Him.”  It is implied that Herod was not looking for the truth, he was looking for a performance.

We are also told that, “he (Herod) questioned Him (Jesus) with many words, but He answered him nothing.  And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.  Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.” Continue reading →

BIBLICAL CHARACTERS THAT HAD TROUBLE ACCEPTING JESUS #2 | PILATE

Pilate is a very deceptive character in Jesus’ story.  At first glace, one might get the impression that Pilate is a strong calculating man.  A leader of men and a ruler of people.  A decisive man willing to take charge, if you will.

However, when we read the gospel accounts, we find that Pilate is a different kind of man.

Pilate is thrust into a decision making role concerning Jesus, after the religious leaders dumped Jesus on him, then demanded that Jesus be put to death.  After taking Jesus into custody, Pilate performed a thorough interrogation of Him.  Of his own admission, he could find no fault with Jesus.  He came to the conclusion that there was no merit to the claims that the religious leaders brought against Him.  Yet, Pilate lacked the courage to do what was right.  Instead of letting Jesus go, he shipped Him off to Herod as a way to relieve himself of any responsibility. Continue reading →

BIBLICAL CHARACTERS THAT HAD TROUBLE ACCEPTING JESUS | #1 THE PHARISEES

These folks found it hard to have a healthy relationship with Jesus because they were consumed with what they had to give up.  Jesus brought a different kind of message that turned things upside down for the religious elite.  These folks were concerned with power, affluence, and prestige.  Jesus message of servanthood, sacrifice, and selflessness challenged the way of life these powerful people were accustomed to.

I have spoken to a lot of people that only see a potential relationship with God through the lens of what they might have to give up.  If this is Your lens then you will  find it difficult to have a healthy relationship with God.

When I was under conviction by the Holy Spirit and considering my eternal future, I was someone that drank alcohol, and frequently got drunk.  I remember having a conversation during that time and expressing that I didn’t feel like I should have to give up alcohol to be a Christian.  I was viewing a potential relationship with God, through the lens of what I would have to give up. Continue reading →

THE RESURRECTION CAUSED JESUS’ BROTHERS TO BELIEVE

Photo by Jacob Meyer on Unsplash

These are the words of the Apostle Paul:

12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

— 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 (NASB)

Paul believed that the resurrection of Christ was at the heart of the Christian message.  Without it, he says, all is in vain.  Unfortunately, in our time, there are too many pastors that neglect this most important event in their teaching and preaching;  we hope not to be numbered among them. Continue reading →