As I considered this issue, something I read on the Resurgence a while back on the topic kept coming back to my mind.

“If we rescued every victim today, we’d wake up to a demand for 100+ million new slaves tomorrow.”

It’s the idea of supply and demand: we have to get to the root of the problem. Finding all the victims, rescuing them, prosecuting the traffickers, all of that does nothing for the ultimate issue: the demand is still there.

The tragedy of human slavery is the tragedy of human hearts.

At the root of the human trafficking is human wickedness, demands from an insatiable imagination of evil. Ending human trafficking won’t end human wickedness. What has to happen is a change of the heart.

Not surprisingly the Bible deals extensively with slavery. But the Bible, unlike social activism alone, gets the bigger picture. The Bible tells us we all start as slaves. We’ll either die that way, as slaves to sin in our hearts, or we’ll be freed by the power of Christ to become His slaves.

At the heart of anti-slavery is the Gospel. Romans six tells us, “We know that our old self was crucified with him (Jesus) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” What the Gospel does for us is it gives us a new heart. It stops perverted desires and gives us new ones. It ends the demand for human trafficking.

Jesus died for freedom.

We’ve got a choice. We can either remain in the chains of slavery to our passions, the payment of which is death, or we can be bound by cords of love to the one who died for us.

“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

- Romans 6.17-18

Should Christians take a stand against slavery and human trafficking? Absolutely. But don’t stop there. Don’t settle for physical liberation. Press toward the higher, more important, liberation of the soul to freedom in Christ. Don’t settle for activism that leaves out the greatest remedy: Jesus.

The pendulum of the church has swung from one extreme (Don’t give ‘em nothin’ but the Gospel) dangerously towards another (just love them and they’ll see Jesus through your deeds, that’s enough). We have to be engaged in both; but never at the expense of the other.

There’s two things that has to come into play in a Christian’s understanding of fighting human trafficking: first, our primary tool is the Gospel and our primary purpose is propagating it. Secondly, the greatest need isn’t for physical freedom, but spiritual freedom.

Fight for freedom.

Freedom for the body: Freedom for the soul. Find the divine tension and work through it, act on the remedy of human trafficking: the Gospel.

Every year I take a little time and try to reevaluate and refocus this blog and it’s continuance. I want to make sure that it’s a worthwhile investment of my time and that I’m using it to the fullest potential to bring glory to God.

The last few weeks have been a story in recurring lapses in personal discipline and have proven to be the decay of this blog. But I’ve resolved to be more consistent with posts and continuing series that have long since fallen by the wayside.

2011 was a terrific year for me. I finished my degree, married the incredible Ashley Shope, and moved back to Florida where I’m working with First Palm Baptist Church of Palm Beach Gardens. Now, as I look ahead to 2012 and review what 2011 was about for this blog and in terms of personal growth, I realize that the goals I set for last year, in regards to my writings here, are still good. So the goals and aims of The World is Not Enough will remain the same with a singular addition (the first on the list).

Here they are:

• To share lessons that I’ve been learning personally in regard to my life, the ministry(ies) the Lord allows me to participate in, and my personal devotions.
• To bring practical applications for Christian living by offering practical insights, such as how-to’s, tips, and directing towards resources that will aid the believer in their pursuit of holiness.
• To bring a more focal presentation of the nature and character of God to provoke us to good works
• To offer resources that will provoke us to godliness
• To exposit the Scriptures to the glory of God
• To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ

So that’s what we’ve got to look forward to this year on the blog: I hope you’re as excited about the coming year as I am. For now, I look forward to diving into some studies and sharing what the Lord blesses me with this year!

This year, break the tradition of forgetting.

Today, at my wife’s grandparents, my father-in-law, Scott, talked about this exact thing: making a point of remembering what Christmas is all about. It’s not about the shopping, the food, the wish-list making, the Hallmark specials, the 25 Days of Christmas, or anything less than what Christ has done. If we would discipline our minds at all, we would realize that’s more than enough to keep our mind’s occupied for an eternity.

Here’s the exhortation:

So whether it’s tonight before you go to sleep, or tomorrow before surrendering to the bustle of strewn wrapping paper and hustle to get together with family, take your thoughts into captivity to Christ; remember Christ at Christmas.

Here’s a few things to keep in mind and incite you to worship:

• Christ is God in flesh – just wrap your head around that one and it’ll keep you busy
• God entered the human race
• Everything about Christmas was pre-planned by God
• Christmas is about Christ, not the characters in the story – how does that affect your understanding of the story

Here’s two other articles along the same idea to incline your mind to worship Christ this Christmas:

• 4 Things Not to Do This Christmas
• Scrooge Remedy

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.

- Psalm 119.129-131

It’s often the assumption that to follow Christ, or to obey God, is to be long faced, dull, and without happiness.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The simple reality is that God’s Word -His Law in particular- is wonderful;

it’s for our joy.

We can trace this truth back to the first chapter of Scripture when God creates man in His image. This God instilled responsibility, placed on man, to be God-like, is marred by sin. Yet there is a an imprint on the heart of man that we are made for more, we’re made with the law inscribed on our hearts. This law on our hearts, and the Law given at Mt. Sinai are never sufficient to save, but it is sufficient to create a yearning. This yearning drives us to find something greater, something fulfilling. Most end up fashioning a god of created things, but some, by grace, are led to the Lord.

Here’s where the Law is seen as our joy: apart from the Law we wouldn’t have known we needed a Savior.

After having met the Savior, Jesus, and placing our faith in His perfect fulfillment of the Law in His incarnation, His substitutionary death on the cross, and His securing of life in resurrection,  we are enabled to keep the Law. What is the Law’s role after salvation? To guide us in how to be God-like.

The Law, prior to salvation, acts as a guide to show us just how un-God-like we are. After salvation, the Law serves to show us how to be God-Like, and the Spirit, given to us at our new birth in Jesus, when we place our faith in His life and work, enables us to fulfill our role as image bearers.

God’s Law, therefore, serves to help us accomplish our created purpose:

it’s for our joy.

So the question comes, are you finding joy in the Law of God? Are you panting for the commandments? If not, why? Have you not met the Savior? The One who transforms the Law from an accuser to a helper?

Do you have joy in the Law?

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

- Luke 1.76-79

I just plugged in the Christmas tree.

Ashley loves waking up, coming out of the bedroom, and seeing the lights are already on. Christmas lights are one of my (and probably most other people’s) favorite parts of the season. Whether wrapped around a tree, draped across the house, yard, shrubs, windows, bookcases, it doesn’t matter – Christmas lights are something lovely to see.

But instead of just seeing creativity, great skill, or a high electric bill (raises hand) when you see Christmas lights this year, instead of stopping at being awed by the beauty of the lights, instead of just enjoying the cozy feeling Christmas lights give you, once they’re untangled: remember the true Light this Christmas.

Think of the Light Zechariah talks about in his song at the birth of his son John (later to be known as John the Baptist). It’s the Light, Zechariah prophesies, that shines on us in our darkness, awakening our souls and giving us a savor of life; it’s light that brings us to peace with God.

Think of the Light Isaiah spoke about so often in his writing. It’s the great Light that the people who dwelled in darkness would see. It’s the Light that Isaiah and all the other people of Israel longed for in chapter sixty. The Light that will come and shine and bless all nations. It’s the Light that in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, harkening back to Isaiah chapter sixty, that would make the sun and moon obsolete.

Think of the Light John talks about in the opening words of his Gospel record, introducing Jesus:

In him (Jesus – the Word) was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

- John 1.4-5

So this Christmas, next time you see a brightly lit lawn, or tree, or window; remember the Light that came to men, shining in the darkness, bringing us to the way of peace, bringing us home to God: think of Jesus.

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

- Colossians 1.28.29

I’m not sure anyone can ever claim that they talked too much about Christ. One might be accused of speaking too much or too highly of Christ, but I don’t think it can be done. Paul, in the book of Colossians, essentially says the same thing. Bringing Christ immediately to the forefront to say, Christ is not only at the center, at the forefront, of Biblical ministry, but is it’s whole. Biblical ministry is all about Jesus. Colossians teaches that whether it’s salvation, ministering, or in day to day walking Christianity is all about Christ.

• These two verses, at the end of chapter one, sums up the nature of Christian ministry. Jesus is the subject; “Him we proclaim.”
• Everyone is the audience; “warning everyone.”
• Teaching is the mode, or the method of communicating Christ. “teaching everyone.“

- Side note – to claim lifestyle evangelism as the primary means of communicating Christ is a cop out. It’s contrary to Scripture and the methodology of Christ Himself. Now, you’ll never have true Christianity without life exhibiting change, but you also cannot divorce Christian ministry with teaching. 

• Wisdom is characteristic of the means. “with all wisdom.”
• The goal is Christ. Christ is the only measuring rod for success. Presenting the audience in the image of Christ is the objective. “that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
• The power, the impetus that drives all Christian ministry, is Christ working (powerfully) in us. Not our own passion, not our own drive, these synergistically combine with the affection that Christ implants in us, but it originates in the power of God working in us to accomplish His goal. “Struggling with all HIS energy that He powerfully works within me.”

Consider these characteristics in ministry that you’re involved in, or that you lead? Do these realities, these truths, define your ministry?

Maybe you’re not too familiar with “Advent,” maybe you aren’t a teacher and don’t NEED to have materials for lessons, or maybe you just haven’t ever really focused any effort on preparing your heart for this special season of the year.

If you fall into any of the above categories, here are some links to check on how (and why) to make the most of this Advent season.

• Both Desiring God and The Resurgence have posts about the season of Advent, if you’re not familiar with it or if you’d just like a refresher on some ideas for celebrating.
• The above Resurgence link also deals with some great ways to celebrate Advent. As does Ligonier with a great article on not being a Scrooge about Christmas. DG also drop several good posts about the Advent season, including this great one about Advent candles.
• For some good sermons on Advent check out these:
• For God So Loved the World - John Piper
• The Messiah is Born - RC Sproul
• Sermon for Christmas Eve – Martin Luther
• The Two Advents of Christ – Charles Spurgeon

If you’re a teacher, or if you want some really good resources for your own Advent studies, these are some great tools.

• How to Prepare a Christmas Message
• What is the Hypostatic Union
• Jesus is Still Human
• Enhypostasis: What Kind of Flesh Did Jesus Become?

And finally, here are two devotionals that might be good for you to consider reading through this season:

• Advent Guide 
• For Yonder Breaks a New and Glorious Morn

I passed by the field of a sluggard,by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;the ground was covered with nettles,and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.

The writer’s just out for a walk. But it’s an educational one, he’s not wasting his walk: he’s learning from what he sees; and so should we.

When we hear about things in the headlines, let’s learn from them.

Paterno

You’ve been living under a rock if you haven’t heard of the Sandusky allegations and the havoc it’s wreaked at Penn State and beyond. The action of at least one individual and the inaction of dozens of others has brought down the reputations of dozens of individuals and several organizations, along with the jobs of half a dozen people including coaching legend Joe Paterno. It’s not what he did, it’s what he didn’t do that cost him his job.

Cain

If one scandal in the headlines wasn’t enough, the allegations of misconduct against Herman Cain from four different women have been vying to stay alive in recent weeks. At least it distracted from a campaign and called the republican hopeful into question, at most it may cost him big-time when it comes nomination time.

We can learn from this

 So, here’s a few things to learn from the downfall of JoePa, and the accusations against Herman Cain:

1. Passivity is deadly

There’s a lesson in the story of Joe Paterno’s inaction when he heard from a graduate assistant that Jerry Sandusky was molesting a child: it’s the lesson that passivity can be deadly. We need to remember that just because we do the bare minimum doesn’t exonerate us, Jesus called it going the second mile. Also, doing nothing can sometimes cost more than doing a little more. For JoePa, it cost him his job. For believers in Christ commissioned to tell others the Gospel, it means death to those we don’t tell.

2. Integrity is priceless

Herman Cain and countless others, especially men, put themselves in situations where their integrity and their reputation can be compromised. We may never know the truth of what happened in dozens of questionable situations that we hear about. But the shadow of doubt that looms can be just as deadly. People assume the worse, so why give them ammunition? Don’t needlessly put yourself in a situation where your actions, your integrity, and the Gospel can be called into question. Again, we can look at the Bible where David shouldn’t have been on the roof when he saw Bathsheba, the young man in Proverbs 7 shouldn’t have been going down the street where the promiscuos woman was waiting.

3. Blamelessness is essential

Both of these situations point to a bigger concept of blamelessness. Not going in an office or a car with a woman alone where integrity can be questioned, not acting when you should because it’s inconvenient of uncomfortable, all go back to whether or not we’re keeping our reputations and our relationship as someone changed by Christ without blemish. Time and time again in the Bible we’re called to be above reproach, blameless, spotless, without blemish and they’re all the seeking the same thing: live in such a way that you’re not dragging down the name of Christ.

These men lived in a way that their reputation and those associated with them are now bearing shame. Let’s not be that way by the grace of God.

Let’s live a life without blemish, for the reputation of Christ and the Gospel.

C.H. Spurgeon

“Christ is the power of God. Omnipotence dwells in him who once was slain, but now ever liveth, and he is able to save unto the uttermost them that come unto God by him.

Here is our comfort under all the assaults with which the Christian faith is threatened, and under all the disappointments which the Christian church has hitherto undergone; Emmanuel, God with us, is still our strength.

We are persuaded that the ultimate victory of the cross is absolutely certain, for ‘the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’”

- C.H. Spurgeon,

Victor Emmanuel, Emancipator

via Of First Importance

Seven billion people. That’s a bunch. Last week the news was buzzing that the estimated seven billionth person would be born. National Geographic has been keeping that buzz going and even really started it at the beginning of this year promoting it with ads and special videos. NG is using the news-buzz to alert the different concerns and geo-centric problems that such a huge population might pose.

National Geographic even launched an app about the 7 billion mark. The app is a special iPad magazine that focuses on the concept of seven billion people inhabiting Earth. The title is, “7 Billion: How Your World Will Change.” It’s chock full of great helps and information to understand and really wrap our minds around the idea of 7 billion people.

But when encountered with the reminder that, oh yeah, we’re getting number 7 billion soon – and looking through the 7 billion app, I was reminded of something I read in Psalms recently.

Your hands have made and fashioned me…..

- Ps. 119.73

Which led me to look further into this idea of God’s individual involvement in the creation of each person.

To God, we’re not just numbers like THX 1138 or something; we’re special creations – special image bearers.

Did not he who made me in the womb make him?And did not one fashion us in the womb?

- Job 31.15

We have a separate sanctity from animals. God spoke them into existence, He formed man out of the dust of the ground, and He made them in His image. We’re the image bearers, the creature reflection of the Creator. Dozens of other passages in the Bible speak about our individuality and the sanctity of the creative involvement that God takes on people in their formation in the womb.

So baby #7,000,000,000 isn’t just a face with no name, no purpose, no personality. God knows that baby. God has a plan and a purpose for that baby.

So as you explore the 7 billion app, consider the wonderful personal God and what He has for you and the other 6,999,999,999 people on earth.