The story of Lot’s wife in the Bible is a vivid reminder of what disobedience to God really costs. In Genesis 19:17 the Bible says, “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” (Emphasis mine) God simply and pointedly ordered Lot and his family not to look back; however Lot’s wife disobeyed. Our sin problem is not with the difficult or uncertain commands but with the plain commands of God.

Often, people dismiss disobedience. It’s no big deal. I know I shouldn’t, but does it really even matter? We hear preachers all the time talk about how the path of sin is a deadly path, but our small choice to disobey seems rather harmless at the time.

But, when we look at how God responds to disobedience through the example of Lot’s wife, we find a colossal consequence. Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt! The Bible says in Genesis 19:26, “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.” By being turned into a pillar of salt she became useless. Salt is not useless in itself, but a pillar of salt certainly is. As a pillar of salt, Lot’s wife was no longer useful to her God or her family. Sin makes us useless. It renders you and me ineffective in our service to our Lord. Our disobedience will not only make us useless it will also bring about great shame. Forever Lot’s wife is known for being turned into a pillar of salt. It is amazing how simple disobedience can change a person’s reputation. What will you be remembered by? Remember “…to obey is better than sacrifice…” 1 Samuel 15:22.

The Apostle Peter was a man who had his share of problems. And probably because of that fact, Peter is probably the one disciple that most of us can easily relate to. It seemed like he was always messing up. He became afraid and jumped ship, then he sank when he tried to walk on water, he denied when called to testify, and he forsook when called to be faithful. After Jesus’ death, Peter finally walked away from it all and went back to fishing. No more Jesus, no more religion, no more ministry, and no more surrender. He quit. And in reality, if it were you or I, we would have been done with Peter.

Yet after His resurrection, Jesus sought Peter out. In fact, Jesus prepared a supper of fish for all of His disciples who followed Peter’s abandonment and beckoned them to come in from their backsliding and eat with Him. As Jesus welcomed His disciples, He no doubt motioned for them to be seated by the fire and eat with Him. Surprisingly, Jesus decided to sit by Peter.

Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times. As Peter responded, his will subsided and his devotion thickened. Jesus had exercised grace in Peter’s life and he was no match for its power. It is so amazing—even when we do not choose Jesus, He chooses us. It is this amazing grace that not only saves us but also empowers us. Peter went from this table of grace to grow into a useful, faithful servant who eventually died for the One he once denied. Peter grew in grace.

Who better than Peter to challenge us to grow in grace. In 2 Peter 3:18, Peter challenges every believer to grow in grace. Something profound happened in his life between his denial at Calvary and his declaration at Pentecost. What was it?

Peter was willing to face his failure and grow through his mistakes in the grace that God would so willingly bestow upon his submissive heart. God never desired to set Peter aside, and His grace, like a powerful magnet, drew Peter in once again. It was in this safe harbor of grace that Peter’s spiritual life finally began to flourish.

God’s grace is sufficient to grow you spiritually as well. No matter where you come from, what you have done, or how you have messed up, God chooses to grant you the space of grace (Ezra 9:8) necessary for solid, lasting spiritual growth in your life. But you must be faithful to take advantage of His grace and not waste it (1 Corinthians 15:10) or consume it on your lusts (Galatians 5:13). We must be willing to ask God to give us grace to grow in three important areas of our life:

1. We Need His Grace to Focus

We must focus on what matters in our life. It is easy to become distracted by success, ambition, desires, possessions, employment, trials, and whatever other “temporal” distraction the devil wants to send our way. Peter told the believers of his day that everything we consider important will one day melt and fade away (2 Peter 3:10–14). So why focus on what is temporary? Focus on the eternal. Focus on holiness and godliness. Focus on using God’s grace to grow.

2. We Need His Grace to Be Faithful

Some people wrestle with the truth of God’s Word (2 Peter 3:16) because they are unlearned and unstable. The Word of God is our guide for life, and growing in grace means growing in faithfulness to God’s truth.

3. We Need His Grace to Be Formed

This is asking God to take us as we are and mold us into something that we cannot become on our own. God desires to form you into the image of His Son! And it will take the grace of God growing in your life to allow you to have the surrender necessary for spiritual formation.

Peter was used by God because he learned not to ignore or take for granted the grace by which God works in our lives. He learned to rest in God’s grace and grow in its fertile soil! Determine to grow in your relationship with God.

Pastors carry many burdens. That is why Paul said, “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). Paul had many difficulties. He had physical handicaps, he had been persecuted severely for the faith, he had been marooned on an island in the middle of a storm. In short, he bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus, yet the care of churches weighed more heavily upon him than his own burdens.

Most Christians never think about it, but your burdens are on your pastor’s heart when he is driving down the road, awake in the middle of the night, working at his desk, visiting people, walking down a hospital stairwell, listening to the choir sing, playing with his children, or at any other place at any other time of day.

Here are some points to keep in mind when you do not understand why your pastor does not do something the way you would do it:

• Your pastor must be willing to be misunderstood or misjudged in your eyes because he cannot divulge certain confidences. You see the part; he sees the whole.
• The only thing you have to go on is faith in God and in your pastor’s integrity to do the right thing. It is a matter of trust.
• Because of providential circumstances, your pastor will not be able to do some things you would expect him to. Remember he is following his Pastor – the Chief Shepherd.
• Your pastor’s love for your family should not be put on trial because of perceived oversight on his part in a particular matter.
• Your pastor’s forbearance of you will outweigh your forbearance of him.
• Your pastor will be the first to forgive and the last to be forgiven.
• Your pastor’s family is suffering silently with him in a certain matter while others suffer openly and receive necessary reassurances.
• Your pastor will not ask you to sacrifice in a matter that he has not sacrificed in already.

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you: And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13

(Adapted from an article written by a fellow pastor.)

The Bible declares that God made the world out of nothing—He created! He did not make something out of something—He created something out of nothing. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). I marvel that the “theory” of evolution is still being taught by supposedly intelligent people, when it has been proven false time after time.

Someone might ask, “But what about the tests that show certain things, such as rock formations, are millions of years old?” How old do you think Adam was when he was created? He was an adult, right? Therefore, he was created with age. Would it not be logical to conclude that God also made the rocks, trees, and animals with age as well? The fact that something dates back a million years does not disprove Creation.

As Bible-believing Christians, we believe that God spoke the world into existence. “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:6–9). Yes, when God said, “Let there be light,” that light came out of nowhere, for it was created—spoken by God into existence.

Someone once said, “God made the world out of nothing. It is only when we become nothing that God can make something out of us.” We have no trouble believing that God made the entire universe out of nothing without any help from anyone or anything else. Yet, we struggle with the thought that God can accomplish something great in our lives without our help.

In our selfish pride, we want to believe that God needs our talents or our personalities to accomplish His work. The truth is, we have nothing outside of Him! The Apostle Paul poses the question: “…and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Whatever you and I possess by way of ability or opportunity is a direct gift from God. “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (John 3:27). Jesus said, “…for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

It is when God gets us down to nothing that He can make something from us. We used to sing a song in our teen department when I was young that I understand a lot more now than I did back then.

One by one He took them from me,
All the things I valued most.
Until I was empty-handed;
Every glittering toy was lost.

And I walked earth’s highway grieving,
In my rags and poverty;
’Til I heard His voice inviting:
Lift your empty hands to me.

So I held my hands toward Heaven,
And He filled them with a store
Of His own transcendent riches,
’Til they could contain no more.

And at that I comprehended
With my stupid mind and dull,
That God could not pour His riches
Into hands already full.

Why don’t you empty yourself today of everything “you” are—your will, your goals, your dreams, your agenda? Pour it out before the Lord and confess to Him that you are nothing. Then step back and watch God take “…the things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:28–29).

-Adapted