We live in an age obsessed with outcomes.

Followers.

Influence.

Success.

Growth.

Achievement.

Recognition.

We celebrate the promotion, the platform, the championship, the acquisition, the launch, and the breakthrough.

What we rarely celebrate is the person who became capable of handling those things.

We admire greatness while overlooking the character that made greatness possible.

The result is that many of us spend our lives trying to become successful when God is trying to help us become faithful.

And those are not always the same thing.

The Difference Between Looking Great and Being Great

The more I read, the more I encounter messages about greatness.

How to have great ideas.

How to have greater influence.

How to build something significant.

How to maximize potential.

How to become exceptional.

If I’m honest, there are times I find that incredibly appealing.

But I’ve also learned to ask a different question:

Do I want true greatness, or do I simply want to be seen as great?

Jesus confronted that question directly.

In Matthew 23, He pointed to the Pharisees—men who carefully cultivated appearances.

They loved recognition.

Visibility.

Status.

Honor.

They did their deeds, Jesus said, “to be seen by others.”

Then Jesus turned greatness upside down.

“The greatest among you shall be your servant.”

Not the most admired.

Not the most followed.

Not the most influential.

The servant.

The kingdom measures greatness differently.

Ann Swindell summarizes it beautifully:

“Greatness is smallness, servanthood, humility.”

The greatest example, of course, is Christ Himself.

Philippians 2 tells us:

“He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.”

The path to true greatness runs through humility.

It always has.

Humility Is Not Thinking Less of Yourself

Many people misunderstand humility.

They imagine weakness.

Timidity.

Passivity.

Lack of confidence.

Scripture presents something very different.

Humility is simply seeing yourself accurately before God.

Neither inflated nor diminished.

A humble person is free from the exhausting need to prove themselves.

Which is why humility often creates better leaders, better friends, better spouses, and better learners.

Rhett Power observed:

“When you approach people with curiosity and humility, they feel validated.”

That rings true.

Have you ever spoken with someone who genuinely wanted to learn from you?

Someone who wasn’t waiting for their turn to talk?

Someone who wasn’t trying to impress you?

Someone who wasn’t treating your experience as merely useful information for their own advancement?

Humility creates space.

Curiosity builds bridges.

Together they allow us to learn what pride keeps us from hearing.

Success Begins with Learning

Michael Jordan famously failed to make his varsity basketball team as a sophomore.

That setback didn’t define him.

His response did.

He practiced.

Then practiced more.

Then practiced again.

Over time, extraordinary skill emerged from ordinary discipline.

Malcolm Gladwell famously summarized this idea:

“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.”

The same principle applies spiritually.

Many people want wisdom.

Few want training.

Many want maturity.

Few want practice.

Many want the outcome.

Few embrace the process.

Yet nearly every virtue Scripture commends is developed through repetition.

Patience.

Kindness.

Self-control.

Faithfulness.

Courage.

Wisdom.

None arrive fully formed.

They are cultivated.

The wise person understands that becoming better requires deliberate effort.

Not perfection.

Practice.

Bring on the Change

Most growth enters our lives disguised as disruption.

Rarely do we volunteer for it.

We lose a job.

A child leaves home.

A move becomes necessary.

A diagnosis arrives.

A relationship changes.

A season ends.

A new one begins.

We pray for growth.

God often sends change.

Sometimes lots of it.

At once.

The temptation during these moments is to focus entirely on what is happening around us.

But God is usually doing something deeper.

He is changing us.

One chapter ends.

Another begins.

The question is not whether change will come.

The question is whether we will trust God through it.

Character grows strongest when circumstances become uncertain.

Not because uncertainty feels good.

But because it forces us to rely upon Someone greater than ourselves.

Sometimes Winners Quit

There is an old saying:

“Winners never quit. Quitters never win.”

It sounds inspiring.

It just isn’t always true.

Sometimes wise people quit.

Sometimes maturity requires stopping.

Sometimes growth requires surrendering something we’ve grown attached to.

Brett McKay discovered this through his excessive caffeine consumption.

What began as a normal habit gradually became something unhealthy.

The evidence became impossible to ignore.

And so he quit.

The lesson extends far beyond coffee.

Wisdom requires periodic evaluation.

We need to ask:

• Is this helping or hurting?
• Is this producing the fruit I intended?
• Is this bringing me closer to God or further away?
• Am I holding onto something because it’s beneficial—or because it’s familiar?

The wise know when to start.

When to stay.

And when to stop.

Discernment requires all three.

How Bad Do You Want It?

One of the most fascinating stories in Scripture involves Jacob wrestling with God.

Jacob refuses to let go.

Even after being physically weakened.

Even after the struggle becomes painful.

He remains.

Persistent.

Determined.

Focused.

Why?

Because he wanted God’s blessing more than comfort.

Jon Bloom writes:

“There are times when God only releases his blessings on us after a season of prolonged and even painful wrestling with him.”

That challenges many of our assumptions.

We often want immediate answers.

Quick solutions.

Instant growth.

But God frequently develops depth through persistence.

The difference between liking an idea and truly wanting something becomes evident during struggle.

Anyone can like the idea of spiritual growth.

Few continue pursuing it when it becomes costly.

Anyone can like the idea of wisdom.

Few keep wrestling until wisdom is gained.

Anyone can like the idea of maturity.

Few embrace the discomfort required to achieve it.

Jacob did.

And he walked away changed.

Literally.

And spiritually.

God Is More Concerned with Who You Are Becoming

This may be the most important truth of all.

God often seems surprisingly unconcerned with our timelines.

Our urgency.

Our plans.

Our definitions of success.

Because He is focused on something deeper.

Character.

The person we are becoming.

The kingdom operates differently than the world.

The world asks:

What have you accomplished?

God asks:

Who are you becoming?

The world celebrates achievement.

God cultivates maturity.

The world rewards visibility.

God develops faithfulness.

The world promotes talent.

God shapes character.

Character is what remains when circumstances change.

When opportunities disappear.

When recognition fades.

When success fluctuates.

When plans unravel.

Character remains.

And character is precisely what God is forming.

Final Thoughts

Most people spend their lives trying to become successful.

Scripture calls us to become faithful.

Ironically, faithfulness often produces influence.

Humility often produces greatness.

Service often produces impact.

But those outcomes are secondary.

The primary work is becoming.

Becoming humble.

Becoming wise.

Becoming teachable.

Becoming resilient.

Becoming faithful.

Becoming the kind of person God can entrust with greater responsibility.

The greatest work God may do through your life will first require the greatest work He does within your life.

That work takes time.

It takes practice.

It takes humility.

It takes change.

It takes surrender.

It takes wrestling.

But in the end, becoming the right person is far more important than achieving the right outcome.

Because long after success fades, character remains.

And that is the kind of greatness worth pursuing.

It doesn’t take much to make us anxious.

A notification.

A diagnosis.

A job change.

A financial setback.

A difficult conversation.

An election.

A headline.

An uncertain future.

In a world where information travels instantly and uncertainty seems endless, anxiety has become one of the defining struggles of our age.

Ironically, we have access to more information than any generation in history and yet often feel less secure.

Perhaps that’s because information and peace are not the same thing.

We tend to assume that if we could just know enough, plan enough, prepare enough, save enough, or control enough, we could finally relax.

Yet anxiety persists.

Which raises an uncomfortable question:

Why do we continue to be anxious even when we know we shouldn’t be?

Be Anxious for… Nothing?

The command feels impossible.

Paul writes:

“Be anxious for nothing.” — Philippians 4:6

Jesus says:

“Do not be anxious about your life.” — Matthew 6:25

If we’re honest, those verses can create anxiety all by themselves.

Not only are we anxious, now we’re anxious about being anxious.

The issue, however, isn’t that Christians never experience anxiety.

Jesus understood human frailty.

Paul understood pressure.

The Psalms are filled with people crying out in fear, confusion, and uncertainty.

The command is not pretending anxiety doesn’t exist.

The command is learning how to respond when it does.

That distinction matters.

Anxiety may knock on the door.

We simply don’t have to invite it to stay.

Legitimate Concerns vs. Imagined Burdens

One of the first things anxiety forces us to do is separate concerns from worries.

Not everything deserves equal attention.

Some concerns are legitimate.

Bills need to be paid.

Children need guidance.

Health issues require action.

Relationships need attention.

These are real concerns.

But anxiety often takes a legitimate concern and transforms it into an imagined burden.

It asks us to carry tomorrow before tomorrow arrives.

It demands certainty about things God has never promised us certainty about.

Jesus points us toward a different response:

“Look at the birds of the air… your heavenly Father feeds them.”

His point isn’t that responsibilities disappear.

His point is that God remains faithful while we carry them.

Anxiety frequently begins when we attempt to assume responsibilities God never assigned to us.

Don’t Fake It

One of the more subtle temptations among Christians is appearing fine.

We learn the language.

We quote the verses.

We smile appropriately.

Meanwhile our hearts are racing.

Vince Miller makes an important observation.

Scripture says:

Don’t be anxious.

It doesn’t say:

Don’t look anxious.

Those are not the same thing.

God never asks us to pretend.

Anxiety often loses much of its power when it is brought into the light.

A trusted friend.

A spouse.

A pastor.

A counselor.

A prayer partner.

Sometimes peace begins with simply admitting:

“I’m struggling.”

Not because we’re weak.

But because we’re human.

God’s answer to anxiety is not performance.

It’s dependence.

Transfer Control

Most anxiety can be traced back to one central issue.

Control.

We desperately want certainty.

We want guarantees.

We want outcomes.

We want reassurance that everything will work out exactly as we hope.

The problem is that much of life exists outside our control.

Anxiety often emerges when we attempt to carry responsibilities that belong to God.

Philippians 4 provides a different approach.

Pray.

Ask.

Thank.

Share.

Notice what happens in that progression.

Control is transferred.

We stop acting as though everything depends on us.

We place our concerns into stronger hands.

The issue isn’t whether God is capable.

The issue is whether we’re willing to trust Him.

Pressure Is Not Always the Enemy

When life becomes difficult, we naturally assume something has gone wrong.

But Scripture often presents pressure differently.

Thomas Carlyle famously said:

“No pressure, no diamonds.”

That may sound like a motivational poster.

Yet it contains an important truth.

Diamonds are formed through immense pressure and heat.

The same is often true spiritually.

God regularly uses “high-pressure, high-temperature” circumstances to produce something beautiful in us.

James writes:

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial.”

Notice that James doesn’t say:

Blessed is the man who avoids trial.

Pressure isn’t always evidence that God has abandoned us.

Sometimes it is evidence that He is shaping us.

Guiding us.

Correcting us.

Strengthening us.

Deepening us.

The question is not whether pressure exists.

The question is how we respond to it.

Getting a Grip Under Pressure

When pressure increases, our ability to think clearly often decreases.

We become reactive.

Emotional.

Fearful.

Overwhelmed.

That’s why we need anchors.

Things to “grab ahold of” when life becomes difficult.

Determine if the pressure is necessary

Some pressure comes from life.

Some pressure comes from us.

Poor planning.

Overcommitment.

Unrealistic expectations.

Lack of boundaries.

Not every burden was assigned by God.

Part of wisdom is identifying what can be set down.

Care for yourself physically

Spiritual maturity doesn’t eliminate physical limitations.

Sleep matters.

Exercise matters.

Nutrition matters.

Rest matters.

Pressure becomes significantly harder to manage when our bodies are neglected.

Think correctly

Many of our greatest struggles begin in our thoughts.

We assume the worst.

Catastrophize outcomes.

Imagine scenarios that never occur.

Pressure often becomes heavier because of what we tell ourselves about it.

Right thinking reminds us:

God is present.

God is sovereign.

God is good.

Worship

When pressure rises, worship often becomes the last thing we think to do.

Yet it may be exactly what we need.

Worship reorients the soul.

It reminds us who God is.

It reminds us who we are.

It reminds us that God is not merely with us.

He is for us.

Trust: The Load-Bearing Wall of Life

I used to complain about the support poles in our basement.

They were inconvenient.

Always in the way.

Terrible for indoor hockey games.

It wasn’t until later that I realized those “stupid poles” were holding up the house.

Trust functions much the same way.

It is one of the load-bearing walls of life.

Relationships depend upon it.

Families depend upon it.

Churches depend upon it.

Organizations depend upon it.

Societies depend upon it.

When trust weakens, everything begins to wobble.

When trust collapses, everything else eventually follows.

Trust is priceless.

It takes years to build.

Seconds to lose.

And often years to rebuild.

Which is why Scripture places such a premium on truthfulness.

God cannot lie.

And His people are called to reflect His character by becoming truth-tellers worthy of trust.

Developing the Trait of Trust

Trustworthiness isn’t built through grand gestures.

It is built through consistency.

Reliability.

Truthfulness.

Integrity.

Small decisions repeated over time.

Ask yourself:

How reliable are you?

Do people know you’ll do what you say you’ll do?

How consistent are you?

Can people predict your character even when they can’t predict circumstances?

Do you deal in truth?

Do you prioritize facts over convenience?

Truth over spin?

Precision over distortion?

Are you honest?

Even when honesty is costly?

Trust grows whenever truth and integrity meet consistency.

Anxiety Reveals What We Trust

This may be the hardest truth in the entire discussion.

Anxiety often reveals where trust has shifted.

Vince Miller puts it bluntly:

“When we are anxious, we demonstrate lack of faith.”

That doesn’t mean every anxious person is faithless.

It means anxiety frequently exposes what we’re relying upon.

Our plans.

Our abilities.

Our resources.

Our understanding.

Our control.

When those things feel threatened, anxiety surfaces.

Not because we’re terrible people.

But because trust has quietly migrated.

Anxiety can actually become a diagnostic tool.

It reveals where our confidence has drifted away from God.

Peace Is Not the Absence of Uncertainty

Many people define peace as the absence of problems.

Scripture defines it differently.

Biblical peace isn’t found when everything becomes predictable.

It’s found when trust becomes greater than uncertainty.

The birds still face storms.

The disciples still sailed through rough seas.

Paul still sat in prison.

Yet peace remained available.

Not because circumstances improved.

Because God remained faithful.

Peace is not found through controlling life.

Peace is found through trusting the One who controls what we cannot.

Final Thoughts

We live in an anxious age.

There is no shortage of reasons to worry.

No shortage of pressure.

No shortage of uncertainty.

But anxiety was never intended to become our master.

It can become a signal.

A reminder.

An invitation.

A prompt directing us back toward dependence upon God.

The goal is not pretending we’re never afraid.

The goal is learning what to do when fear arrives.

Pray.

Ask.

Thank.

Share.

Trust.

And remember:

The same God who holds tomorrow is already present today.

The peace we long for is not found in certainty.

It is found in Him.

Wisdom Begins Before We Open Our Mouth

Most of us have experienced the regret.

The conversation ended.

The email was sent.

The text message delivered.

The comment posted.

And almost immediately we wished we could take it back.

The problem usually isn’t our mouths.

Our mouths simply reveal what was already happening elsewhere.

Words are often the final stop in a much longer process. Before words come thoughts. Before thoughts become speech, they become judgments. Before judgments are expressed, they are formed in the mind.

Which is why Scripture repeatedly points us back to the same place:

The battle for wisdom begins long before we speak.

Proverbs spends an extraordinary amount of time discussing words. The wise speak carefully. The fool speaks impulsively. The wise listen. The fool reacts. The wise exercise restraint. The fool vents whatever enters his mind.

What Proverbs reveals is that speech is not primarily a communication problem. It is a wisdom problem.

The issue is not simply controlling our tongues.

The issue is learning to govern our minds.

A Mind Ready for Action

Peter understood this connection.

Writing to believers experiencing persecution and hardship, he begins with a command that may seem unusual:

“Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 1:13

The image would have been immediately familiar to Peter’s readers.

The clothing of the day hung well below the knees. Before a man could run, work, or fight, he would gather up his garment and tuck it into his belt.

Only then was he ready for action.

Peter applies that same image to the mind.

Dr. Thomas Constable describes it as being “mentally ready for work or war.”

In other words, wisdom requires preparation.

It requires vigilance.

It requires intentional thinking.

Years ago, while we were homeschooling our boys, I came home from work and found myself in one of those conversations dads occasionally stumble into. We had been discussing the importance of learning, reading, and feeding our minds. As the conversation came to a close, I summarized everything with a phrase our boys still remind me of today:

“God can’t use you if you’re stupid.”

Now before you send me emails, let me explain.

The point wasn’t intelligence. The point was stewardship.

How useful can we be to God, our families, our churches, or our communities if we refuse to think? If we neglect wisdom? If we allow our minds to become lazy, distracted, or careless?

Peter’s command assumes something very important:

Right thinking leads to right living.

The opposite is equally true.

Wrong thinking almost always leads to wrong living.

Which is why he immediately follows “gird your minds” with another command:

“Keep sober in spirit.”

The idea is not merely avoiding intoxication.

It is being mentally alert.

Clear-headed.

Stable.

Not exaggerated, emotional, reactionary, or foolish.

A sober mind is capable of discernment.

And discernment is desperately needed in a world where everyone has an opinion and very few people are willing to think carefully before expressing it.

The Problem with “Judge Not”

Few verses are quoted more often—or understood less accurately—than Jesus’ words:

“Judge not.”

It’s remarkably useful.

A ready-made defense for almost any situation.

Question someone’s behavior?

Judge not.

Challenge an idea?

Judge not.

Express concern?

Judge not.

The irony, of course, is that most people using the phrase are making a judgment while condemning judgment.

I once saw a yard sign that proudly displayed several moral declarations while simultaneously demanding that nobody question those declarations.

A judgment about judgments.

Apparently their judgments were exempt from being judged.

This is why one of the most helpful Bible study principles remains:

Read on. Read often.

When we stop at the first two words, we stop short of Jesus’ actual point.

Here’s the fuller context:

“Judge not, that you be not judged… Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” — Matthew 7:1–5

Notice what Jesus does not say.

He does not say there is no speck.

He does not say the speck doesn’t matter.

He does not say we should ignore problems.

In fact, He fully expects us to help remove the speck.

But first?

Deal with the log.

John MacArthur explains it well:

“Jesus indicated that taking a speck out of your brother’s eye is the right thing to do—as long as you first get the log out of your own eye.”

The issue is not judgment.

The issue is hypocrisy.

The issue is self-righteousness.

The issue is holding others to standards we refuse to apply to ourselves.

As Jon Bloom observes:

“We are quick to take tweezers to another’s eye when we need a forklift for our own.”

That may be one of the most accurate descriptions of human nature ever written.

Learning to Judge Wisely

Because life requires discernment.

Parents judge.

Leaders judge.

Employers judge.

Pastors judge.

Friends judge.

We evaluate situations every day.

The question is not whether we judge.

The question is whether we judge correctly.

Judge Yourself First

Humility is the starting point.

Before evaluating another person, evaluate yourself.

What role have you played?

What blind spots might you have?

What weaknesses are you overlooking?

Self-examination creates the humility necessary for proper discernment.

Judge Slowly

One of the best principles Jon Bloom highlights is this:

“The greater our distance, the greater our ignorance.”

How much do we actually know?

How much are we assuming?

How much information are we missing?

Wisdom resists rushing to conclusions.

Judge for Restoration

Even when correction is necessary, the goal should never be destruction.

The goal should be restoration.

Growth.

Healing.

Help.

Winning an argument is not the same thing as helping a person.

Biblical discernment is always governed by love.

Be Ready to Receive Judgment

This may be the hardest part.

If we’re willing to evaluate others, we must be willing to be evaluated ourselves.

Criticism is often uncomfortable.

Sometimes unfair.

Sometimes inaccurate.

But often there are nuggets of truth hidden inside feedback that God intends to use for our growth.

The wise person learns to receive correction.

The fool rejects it.

What Comes Out of the Mouth

Eventually, all of this arrives at the same destination.

Speech.

Our thoughts become judgments.

Our judgments become words.

And our words reveal our hearts.

Years ago, our oldest son sent a text message to one of his friends that included language he knew wasn’t acceptable.

When confronted, his defense was fascinating.

He wasn’t trying to be cool.

He was simply trying not to be uncool.

Apparently profanity had become social currency.

If you didn’t talk that way, you risked exclusion.

It’s funny how often we invent reasons for doing things we know we shouldn’t do.

Adults are remarkably creative at this as well.

We simply use more sophisticated explanations.

The issue, however, is not merely specific words.

Paul goes deeper.

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” — Ephesians 5:4

Notice what Paul condemns.

Not simply vocabulary.

A way of speaking.

A manner of communication.

A posture of the heart.

General George Washington recognized the same issue.

In a memorandum to his troops in 1776, he lamented the growing practice of profane speech and called it:

“A vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character detests and despises it.”

Washington understood something modern culture often forgets.

Words are a matter of character.

Speech reveals who we are becoming.

Word Choice Starts in the Heart

One of the greatest mistakes we make is treating speech as merely a behavioral issue.

As though a swear jar will solve the problem.

As though enough self-discipline can transform the heart.

Jesus consistently taught the opposite.

Words emerge from what fills us.

Which means:

Improper use of the mouth is in direct proportion to the improper filling of our hearts.

The issue is not merely what we say.

The issue is what we love.

Paul frames Ephesians 5 around walking in love and imitating God.

Profanity, foolish talk, and crude joking are symptoms.

The deeper issue is affection.

When our hearts are filled with gratitude, worship, humility, and love for God, our speech begins to reflect those realities.

Paul’s alternative is striking:

“Instead let there be thanksgiving.”

Not merely less profanity.

More gratitude.

Not merely cleaner language.

A transformed heart.

Thoughts, Judgments, and Words

The progression is simple.

Thoughts become judgments.

Judgments become words.

Words become habits.

Habits shape relationships.

Relationships shape lives.

Which is why Proverbs continually returns to self-control.

The wise person does not merely control his tongue.

He learns to govern his mind.

He disciplines his thinking.

He evaluates carefully.

He speaks intentionally.

He chooses words that build rather than destroy.

He corrects with humility.

He listens before speaking.

He thinks before reacting.

Most of all, he remembers where wisdom begins.

Not in the mouth.

Not even in the mind.

But in the heart that has been transformed by God.

Because a mind fixed on Christ produces judgment marked by humility and speech marked by grace.

And in a world increasingly defined by outrage, reaction, and careless words, that kind of wisdom shines brighter than ever.

The Pressure to Fit In

Nobody likes being the outsider.

We may say we don’t care what other people think, but most of us know better.

We want acceptance.

We want approval.

We want belonging.

The pressure begins early.

As teenagers, we learn how quickly a person can be excluded for saying the wrong thing, wearing the wrong thing, believing the wrong thing, or refusing to participate in what everyone else is doing.

Unfortunately, the pressure doesn’t disappear when we become adults.

It simply becomes more sophisticated.

The workplace has its expectations.

The culture has its assumptions.

Social media has its unwritten rules.

Even churches can develop preferences and traditions that quietly shape how people think and act.

The pull toward conformity is powerful because conformity is usually easy.

As Brian Kim observes:

“Conforming is one of the easiest things to do, and more often than not, the easiest thing to do may not always be the right thing to do.”

Scripture repeatedly reminds us that the easy path is not always the faithful path.

Jesus Himself warned:

“The gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” — Matthew 7:13

That should cause us to pause.

If the road is crowded, if everyone is moving in the same direction, if resistance feels unnecessary, wisdom at least requires us to ask:

Are we conforming because it is right, or simply because it is easy?

God’s People Have Always Been Called to Be Distinct

One of the great misunderstandings about Christianity is that God merely wants people who follow rules.

The Ten Commandments are often treated this way.

A list.

A checklist.

A collection of restrictions.

Do this.

Don’t do that.

However, the commandments reveal something far greater.

As Kevin DeYoung writes:

“The commandments not only show us what God wants; they show us what God is like.”

The commandments reveal God’s character.

They reveal His priorities.

They reveal what matters to Him.

Joe Rigney points out that every command contains both a negative and a positive dimension.

Every prohibition points toward a greater pursuit.

Every “you shall not” reveals a corresponding “you shall.”

The commandments were never intended to merely restrain behavior.

They were designed to shape a distinct people.

A people who reflect the character of God to the world around them.

The question, therefore, is not simply:

“What am I forbidden from doing?”

The better question is:

“What kind of person is God calling me to become?”

Distinct in Worship

The first commandments establish the foundation.

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

In a culture filled with competing loyalties, God’s people are called to worship Him alone.

The challenge is that idols rarely announce themselves.

Most begin as good things.

Success.

Comfort.

Politics.

Relationships.

Possessions.

Influence.

We slowly elevate something beneficial into something ultimate.

We begin protecting it.

Defending it.

Trusting it.

Depending upon it.

Until eventually it occupies a place that belongs only to God.

Distinct Christians refuse to place anything above God.

Not because they are trying to be different.

But because they know nothing else is worthy of worship.

Distinct in Character

God’s people are also called to reflect His character.

We honor His name.

We respect life.

We tell the truth.

We keep our word.

We practice contentment.

We honor legitimate authority.

We remain faithful.

These are not merely moral behaviors.

They are reflections of God’s own character.

The Christian life should look different because the Christian serves a different King.

In many ways, the Ten Commandments provide a picture of what Micah later summarized:

“To do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”

The world should encounter something different when it encounters God’s people.

Not perfection.

But distinctiveness.

Why Distinctiveness Matters

The answer becomes obvious once we talk about a word many people would rather avoid.

Sin.

Even mentioning the word can feel uncomfortable.

Modern culture prefers softer alternatives.

Mistakes.

Poor choices.

Personal truth.

Growth opportunities.

Missteps.

Almost anything except sin.

The problem is that avoiding the word doesn’t eliminate the reality.

As Derek Rishmawy writes, sin is not a minor habit or harmless flaw.

It is:

“A serious, soul-destroying plague with real-world repercussions.”

Scripture speaks so seriously about sin because sin is not merely the violation of a rule.

It is rebellion against God.

John Piper describes it this way:

“Sinning is any feeling or thought or speech or action that comes from a heart that does not treasure God over all other things.”

That definition takes us beneath behavior.

It reveals the deeper issue.

Every sin ultimately begins with misplaced worship.

Something becomes more important than God.

Something becomes more desirable than obedience.

Something becomes more valuable than holiness.

Sin is not merely breaking God’s law.

It is preferring something else over God Himself.

The Danger of Conforming Badly

This is why conformity becomes so dangerous.

We rarely drift toward holiness.

We naturally drift toward whatever the culture celebrates.

Whatever receives applause.

Whatever requires the least resistance.

Whatever allows us to fit in.

The danger is not simply that we may become unpopular.

The danger is that we slowly become indistinguishable.

There was a time when nonconformity was often viewed as rebellion against what was good and true.

Today, many of the pressures have reversed.

The pressure increasingly comes against biblical convictions.

Against truth.

Against holiness.

Against distinct Christian living.

The challenge facing Christians today is not whether they will experience pressure.

The challenge is whether they will remain faithful under it.

Wise as Serpents, Innocent as Doves

Years ago, while discussing Wisdom In All Things with my wife, I found myself trying to describe what I hoped this ministry would help produce.

The best description I could think of was surprisingly simple:

A little bit Clark Kent.

A little bit James Bond.

The kind, innocent, do-right character of Clark Kent.

Combined with the discerning, courageous, evil-confronting resolve of James Bond.

It reminded me of Jesus’ instruction to His disciples:

“Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

The serpent’s wisdom is not its morality.

It is its awareness.

Its discernment.

Its ability to understand the environment around it.

The dove represents purity.

Gentleness.

Harmlessness.

Integrity.

Jesus insists we need both.

Dr. Thomas Constable explains:

“Innocence without prudence becomes naivete.”

A Christian who possesses conviction without wisdom becomes reckless.

A Christian who possesses wisdom without innocence becomes compromised.

We need both.

How to Live Distinctly

Remaining distinct in a conforming culture requires three things.

Clarity

Know what you believe.

Not what social media believes.

Not what your political tribe believes.

Not what is currently popular.

Know what Scripture teaches.

The stronger your convictions, the easier it becomes to withstand pressure.

Conscience

Pay attention.

Can you see the situation for what it is?

Can you recognize when the culture is demanding allegiance to something contrary to God’s Word?

Discernment begins with awareness.

Courage

Eventually, clarity and conscience must become action.

At some point, faithfulness requires movement.

Speaking.

Standing.

Refusing.

Obeying.

Remaining silent when silence is wise.

Speaking when silence would be compromise.

Courage is often costly.

But history repeatedly demonstrates that one faithful person willing to stand apart can influence countless others.

A Distinct Life in a Conforming Age

The goal of the Christian life is not isolation.

Nor is it assimilation.

Jesus never told His disciples to hide from the world.

He sent them into it.

As sheep among wolves.

As lights in darkness.

As ambassadors of another kingdom.

The Christian life is neither hostile withdrawal nor cultural surrender.

It is faithful presence.

We are called to worship differently.

Think differently.

Live differently.

Speak differently.

Love differently.

Not because being different is the goal.

But because following Christ inevitably produces distinction.

The world does not need Christians who merely blend in.

It needs Christians who faithfully reflect the character of God.

Wise as serpents.

Innocent as doves.

A little bit Clark Kent.

A little bit James Bond.

And wholly devoted to Christ.

The reason that is significant is that one of my ‘goals’ for the year was to welcome challenges.  And if I am going to do that, I should have a plan to respond to them the right way.

Challenges aren’t just unavoidable; they’re purposeful. Each one is a moment God gives me to confirm His work in my life, glorify Him through my response, and inspire others to that same end.

Thanks for joining me on the journey!

Scott

His wild excursion helped me put into perspective a new book I’m reading, called Tiny Experiments, by Anne-Laure Le Cunff *.  While I’ve thought daring thoughts, I’ve not always (read: almost never) pursued the wild unknown with reckless abandon.  However, her book isn’t about cliff-jumping or sky-diving, but rather, that we’re not to assume or settle on living our lives with the mindset of a linear path to achieving our goals.  Life isn’t a ladder.

The ‘dare’ is to allow yourself to explore and discover by conducting Tiny Experiments. I liken her recommendation to my understanding of Benjamin Franklin. He was a printer, a postmaster, an ambassador, an author, a scientist, and a Founding Father. Franklin explored, tested, observed, tried, failed, and moved himself and the world forward. Hardly a straight path toward a pre-determined destination.  

I really like the idea of letting myself leave the path to do a little sightseeing. Allowing ourselves to intentionally wander could do us some good, and who knows, our tiny experiments could lead to some significant breakthroughs.

Thanks for joining me on the journey!

Scott

* If you’re interested in getting her book, I want to mention that my reference to or recommendation of a book, product, or article is not necessarily a tacit endorsement of their beliefs, but that I believe they provide good arguments to challenge our thinking on a particular topic— and that’s a good thing.  And, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Wowza.  As I read David Bahnsen’s book, Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life, it took a while for me to settle into his declaration.  But he does make a good argument from Scripture in his defense.

He can make this proclamation because, well, in Genesis, God says so.  When we properly understand work, David says, we “discover our purpose, we create community, and we reveal our God-given dignity” and avoid being unhappy, which he believes is because we’ve “been cut off from the purpose and earned success that vocational calling offers.”

Purpose, “earned success” sounds like some pretty good living.

It is right and good for us to see how being created in God’s image means we are here as co-creators with Him to “work, make, and serve.”

Thanks for joining me on the journey!

Scott

Part of me is a little jealous of the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) people.  

It’s really not an option for me at this point in time, but I have to appreciate some of the thinking: prioritize cutting expenses, saving, and investing with the goal of retiring early or gaining more financial freedom  

It’s the retiring early that I wonder about specifically, as it relates to work in general.  According to David Bahnsen, we’ve been led to believe that work is something to be tolerated and ended as soon as possible.  That is, do what you have to, for only as long as you have to, so you can stop working and enjoy your life.

He’s got a new book out.  I just ordered it.  Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life argues that “we were created to work, and our work provides unique meaning and purpose in our lives. Yet today we are living in a crisis of apathy and ignorance regarding work’s theological and existential nature.”

Though it may seem a little late in the game for me to be taking a hard, in-depth look at this, I’m intrigued by the idea that though we’re not financially independent and won’t be able to retire early––that probably wasn’t the right plan anyway.

I’ll let you know what more I find out.

Thanks for joining me on the journey!

Scott

If not, you still may have heard about tight end Mark Andrews.

If not, he dropped a pass in the end zone, to tie the game and send it into overtime (Not to mention his “pivotal fumble in the second half”). There were thousands and thousands of people watching this NFL playoff game.

I’m so glad people can’t watch me work. Though there are cameras in our building, at least the ‘coverage’ isn’t televised.

Aside from the many things we’re not aware that we do, there are those things that coworkers will never forget: scratching your head with a glue gun… blasting your music not realizing your headset isn’t connected to your phone… “replying all”… so glad those things don’t go worldwide.

In light of their loss and Mark Andrews’ performance in particular, coach Jim Harbaugh had this to say: “We wouldn’t be here without Mark Andrews… Mark will handle this fantastically because he’s a high-character person, a tough person, and a good person. Proud of him like I’m proud of all the guys.”

We’re all going to blow it.  We can only hope for a boss who responds like that.

Thanks for joining me on the journey!

Scott

Since the Vikings playoff game against the LA Rams was moved to AZ due to the fires in California (2024), and he and his brother are currently living in AZ, why not fly down to spend time with them and watch the Vikings—in a playoff game?!

Well, if you watched the game or later heard the score, you know why not.

Nearly 100% of the time I watch the Vikings, they lose. Not only do they lose, but they also play like a bad high school team. Nevertheless, we grabbed a flight, a couple of nights in a hotel, and joined in the Wild Card game hype.

At least half of my son’s idea worked out well. We had the absolute best time hanging with our boys in our whirlwind trip to AZ. Even if the Vikings had won, it isn’t the event, but the people you’re with that make life wonderfully meaningful.

Thanks for joining me on the journey!

Scott