Being in full-time ministry is definitely a family affair. God’s calling on a man with a family flows down to and affects each member. For a ministry to be lasting and effective, the family must be willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary and believe God to make up the difference. When our boys were 5 and 4 years old, we uprooted them, and we all lived on the road in an RV for 15 years. Though there were times of guilt on our part for our abnormal lifestyle, they rarely complained. What they missed of playing sports, having neighborhood kids to hang with, and having a place to call home, God replaced by growing a close-knit family and creating a strong foundation in their lives. Looking back, our guilt was unfounded because the only thing that is important in raising a child is that he comes to believe and receive the Truth and has a living relationship with his heavenly Father. They have now grown into men of integrity, not because of our expert parenting skills but only by the grace of God. Though Carson certainly has his unique gifts, Jared is blessed with the ability to express what God has revealed to his heart. We trust that it will bless your life and encourage you in the faith!

I have been hearing and seeing quotes about God holding us to a higher standard. I want to evaluate that quote a little bit. First, who is the “us”. The “us” could not be just the professing Christians, the “us” is everyone born on this planet. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, or what you are planning on doing, He expects complete obedience from everyone. Secondly, what is a “higher standard?” With God, there are no higher standards. There is just ONE standard and that is His standard. Different degrees of standards are set by people who make their own religions and denominations. The grace is there for anyone to be influenced by God’s righteousness to cause them to live up to His standard, the one and only.

The sons of God are not better people. We’re not doing God a favor by accepting His love. He’s doing us a favor. God is no respecter of persons. Look at this from Matthew 19 – “Now, behold one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ And he said to Him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me.’ But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” First notice that Jesus said that there is none good! Jesus even said that He wasn’t good! He said the only good one is God. Why do you suppose Jesus said that? He was without sin, right? So why would Jesus say that He wasn’t good when He never sinned? Wouldn’t someone who never sinned be considered good? Or is that just man’s standard? Is that a standard a religious person would look on Him and set? Perhaps this is the problem with standards.

Next notice how the man had kept all the commandments, yet he still lacked eternal life. Why was this? It was because God was not his Lord. His riches were his Lord. God was not his number one focus. See, this man thought his “standards” were perfect, yet Jesus told him, sell what you own, take up your cross, and follow Me. Jesus pointed him to the only standard that mattered, and that was God’s.

Jesus said that there is none good but God because it is true. The reason Jesus was without sin was because the grace of God was on Him. The reason that the apostle Paul came to live without sin was because the grace of God was upon him. The reason that anyone on this earth today can live above sin is because of the grace of God upon their lives! Jesus did not live up to a “higher standard”, He lived up to God’s standard. So many people seem to be missing the whole point of God. Jesus came to this earth to be the example, right? I’m sure everyone agrees with that. Okay, so Jesus came to be the example, yet most people think that His example is impossible to live up to? Why is this so? There are two reasons – unwillingness or deception. This next verse is powerful –“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was tempted in every single way that we are, yet He was without sin. Why was it possible for Jesus to live above sin, and not possible for us? Who told you that? Where does it say that in the Bible? The fact is, it doesn’t. In fact it says,“Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” It says that “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” It says that“Whoever has been born of God does not sin for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin because he has been born of God.” It says, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and present you faultless . . .” It says, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!” (Romans 6:14, 1 John 2:6, 1 John 3:9, Jude 1:24, Romans 6:1 & 2) 

Jesus was the example for us. Jesus was the first man to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in Him. If you reverse the word, “Holy Spirit”, it becomes the “Spirit of Holiness”. The reason Jesus was able to live a holy life was because of God. The same Holy Spirit that drove Jesus’ walk can now be used to drive us. Jesus died and rose again so we could be justified to have the Holy Spirit so that we would not walk after the lusts of the world, but for the pleasure of abiding in the Father. Jesus showed us the standard of God, and that’s all the standard anyone needs.

We are all born with a selfish, carnal nature, and the only way to be delivered from that nature is through the grace of God. There is a prophesy in Ezekiel 36 that says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (vs. 26-27). Notice it says He will cause us to do His will. This is the only standard that you, me, Jesus, Paul, or the ax murderer down the road are held to. It is the standard of God’s will. People who don’t want to have anything to do with God often point to “Christians” and say, “Look, they’re doing the same thing that I do. Why should I become a Christian?” They fail to realize that God holds them to the same standard that He holds those people they’re pointing the finger at.

I cannot stress enough how much faith has to do with this. Living up to God’s standard can only work through faith. You have to have faith that God actually gives you the grace to walk in His statues and keep His judgments. I just quoted from Ezekiel where it says that He causes us, right? He does! That’s where Jesus drew His power – it was from the Father. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19). Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). God really does want us to fully rely on Him for everything we need. This is how we live up to God’s standard. We leave it up to Him to give us the influence to do it.

Be aware that God doesn’t just zap you and transform you into this person who lives up to His standard. God supplies the grace, but this does not leave us in a passive state. We are to receive that grace and fulfill His will. We are to have faith that He will do this work in us and give us a new heart. Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”God’s goodness is what leads us to repentance (turning away from sin). “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). That’s what it’s all about. God working in us so that His will is greater than our own. Jesus tells us to not worry about tomorrow. When people look at living above sin as a lifetime event, it seems hopeless. However, if you can put your focus on God one day at a time, and do not worry about tomorrow, it gives you hope. All we need is faith the size of a mustard seed! Don’t forget Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”