Blog
Share this:
Our Christmas Prayer
Dear Family & Friends,
May God bless your Christmas season with faith, hope, and love by the power of His Spirit. We are so very grateful to count all of you as partners in the mission of the Gospel. Here’s our prayer for you this Christmas:
Our Father in heaven, we praise You for Your amazing love! Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, into this world so that we might behold the fullness of Your grace and truth, and receive salvation in Him. We pray You will reveal Your peace and joy to our friends and family, increase their faith, and fill them with a passion to serve on Your mission of Good News, by the power of the Spirit, for Your great glory, amen.
To view our 2012 Christmas Newsletter simply click here:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him and lean on His Word!
Love in Christ,
Michael, Stephanie, Hudson, and Everlynn Breznau
Luke 2:1-14 (ESV)
The Birth of Jesus Christ
2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should beregistered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Share this:
Confessing Imperfection.
Confession. Perhaps, for you, this term invokes images of a person sitting in a little, boxed-off room talking to a weary priest. Or maybe you immediately thought of an awful memory where you were forced (literally) to stand up in front of your peers and “fess up” to some prank, impropriety, or foolish decision. Gulp. That’s probably happened to the best of us at some point – even though we’d rather not admit it.
The term confession is sort of a dirty word these days. Some of us may remember Bill Clinton’s infamous “confession” about his relationship with a certain White House intern. Others may recall the numerous media-hyped confessions of various televangelists and celebrity pastors. Scandal and humiliation seem to fit “hand-in-glove” with public confession. And so we often shy away from confessing our mistakes, faults, and failures. Instead we choose to keep our issues privatized in the confines of the unwritten journal between us and God.
Yet confession is biblical. Confession, both personal and corporate, is woven into nearly every page of Scripture. The faults, failures, and mistakes of revered men and women in the Bible are hung out on a laundry line for all to see. Some of them admitted their sinfulness, while others tried to cover up their issues with a guise of piety. But in the end, it’s all there for us to see. The shocking honesty of the Bible is one of the greatest proofs for it’s validity and authenticity.
But still, most Christians try to hide their mistakes. I know I have… over and over again. No wonder people outside of Christianity see very little authenticity and sincerity in our lives. That’s the word I hear on the street, anyhow.
Yet open, honest confession is an action we are specifically encouraged to demonstrate as God’s people. The apostle James wrote to believers scattered around the Mediterranean area:
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16).
The context of James’ exhortation here is specifically related to physical illness. Nevertheless, the action of open confession is something all believers should practice on a regular basis. Healing and unity within the body of Christ comes only by the work of the Spirit through sincere humility; the kind of humility that openly confesses failure, faultiness, and sin.
Imperfect. For a slightly obsessive-compulsive perfectionist like me, it’s rather difficulty to let that adjective exit my mouth. But that’s what we all are: imperfect. You may be closer to “perfect” than me, but you and I are still less than perfect. And who has the “perfect” measuring stick anyway? Does this mean we just throw in the toil and forget about excellence and a strong work-ethic? Certainly not. God clearly directs us to live hard-working, disciplined lives.
However, if our pursuit of excellence becomes clothed with a facade that denies our imperfections, then we have fallen into a trap that’s void of humility. Suddenly we lose patience with others because we have forgotten how unbelievably patient God has been with us. We quickly become irritated with people who seem less-organized, less-thoughtful, less-disciplined, less-educated, less-mature, less-loving… less-perfect than us. And we forget the path God has so very patiently guided us down, year after year.
Pastor Tullian Tchividjian painted a shockingly accurate portrait of how this often plays out in the church,
“Instead of a hospital for sufferers, church becomes a glorified costume part, where lonely men and women tirelessly police each other’s facade of holiness. The higher up in the pecking order, the less room for weakness. Perhaps it should come as no surprise when we read headlines of pastors of legalistic churches acting out in self-destructive ways (Rom. 5:20).” [from “Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets you Free” pg. 79-80]
So I encourage you not to think about confession as being always linked with scandal, loss-of-reputation, or embarrassment, but instead to consider confessing your imperfections as a place of refuge. You see, humility isn’t throwing yourself on the sword of eternal humiliation; it’s finding refuge and peace in relinquishing your right to always be right… or perfect (see Proverbs 3:7-8; 12:15; 22:4).
So let’s choose to be radically honest with one other. Confess your imperfections, faults, and sins. Receive the confessions and imperfections of others with grace and humility. I think we’ll be shocked by the healing, unity, and peace God will bring.
Paul reminded the church in Colossae about the same need for open confession and humility when he wrote:
“So as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14)
Let’s walk in the love of God as we openly confess our imperfections, for the sake of unity and God’s great glory.
Here’s My Confession: I am that Hypocrite. Click on this link to read my confession: https://www.graceexposed.org/2012/12/08/i-am-that-hypocrite/ or simple locate the article entitled “I am that Hypocrite.”
Michael J. Breznau – 12.14.2012
Share this:
The Cross as our Compass
Identification with “status” is all around us. We are daily inundated with the world’s system and orientation – which screams for more attention, more fame, and more prestige. Unfortunately, we also live in a way that all too often abides according to the world’s system of social status and “professional” association. This way of thinking creates arrogant divisions and prideful discord among the Body of Christ. Churches have been torn apart, leaders have fallen, and ministries have hit the dust as a result of this pervasive sin.
In a world of status symbols, self-adulation, and independent thinking; how can you and I build-up unity within the Body of Christ, rather than tear it apart with our own pride? As followers of Christ and those being followed as leaders in the Body of Christ, how can we avoid the devastating effects of division and disunity?
Our penchant for pride runs deep. I know mine does. We can be driven to want the world’s style and status of success. In many ways this mentality is not any different than the believers’ in ancient Corinth. You see, they also were enamored with personalities and worldly prowess. And, as a result, the church there was also riddled with horrendous division and disunity. Why? They were finding their headship in a personality rather than the Person: Jesus Christ. So, let’s take a look at 1 Corinthians 1:10-17…
In Christ Alone,
Michael J. Breznau
Click on the player below or subscribe to our iTunes station to listen to my full message entitled, “The Cross as our Compass” [1 Corinthians 1:10-31], delivered at Evangel Baptist Church in Taylor, MI.
Share this:
I Am that Hypocrite.
I am that hypocrite who arrogantly barked at people for their use of drums in church music, yet rationalized my way into ignoring my anger and lust problems.
I am that hypocrite who wore a sharp tie and sports jacket to church on Sunday mornings, yet pounded the steering wheel and mumbled frustrations about the slow drivers I encountered as a raced to be on time for Sunday school.
I am that hypocrite who would argue for hours with the Jehovah’s Witness kid down the street about his heretical beliefs, and moments later get into a screaming match with my mom about why I didn’t want to do my chores.
I am that hypocrite who proudly carried a big annotated Bible to worship services, yet would rarely pick it up between Sundays… unless I needed to argue with people over an interpretation issue.
I am that hypocrite who openly decried the use (and the people who adopted the use) of Medicaid and Welfare assistance programs, yet rarely cared to donate – above the “required 10%” – to any missions or charities who assist people in their real times of need.
I am that hypocrite who spent 15 minutes making sure his hair was just right, but rushed past more than one person stuck on the side of the road on my way to worship Jesus.
I am that hypocrite who looked down my nose at friends who held hands or kissed before marriage, yet I tried to cover up the fact that I even liked girls. 
I am that hypocrite who perfectly recited every Bible memory verse at VBS and Sunday school, all with just the slightest smirk of pride on my face and pervasive arrogance in my heart.
I am that hypocrite who sang loudly and lifted my hands in praise to Jesus on Wednesday nights, yet totally ignored God’s mission to the lost on Thursday mornings.
I am that hypocrite who winced in pride when another church soloist would go off-key; yet all the while tell my own admirers, “All glory to God, I sing for Him alone.”
I am that hypocrite who openly criticized churches who changed traditional methodologies in order to reach the rapidly growing “un-churched” population, yet daily ignored Christ’s command to share His hope with those who didn’t know Him.
I am that hypocrite who went to India to share the love of Jesus Christ with the hurting and lost, yet ran from a poor, destitute leper like a scared kitten…with my hand on my wallet.
God is Satisfied.
I am that hypocrite. Imperfect in every way. A sinner to the core. Pride was my game and perfection was my claim to fame.
Yet now I cling to the only One who is righteous, the Just One who died for the unjust (see 1 Peter 3:18).
A hypocrite I am, yet a Savior I have received. And by His grace my faith does not stand in who I am or in what I know, but in Who I know… and He is everything to me. Praise Him, not me.
And here’s the crazy thing: God is satisfied. But He is not satisfied with me – I cannot satisfy Him by anything that I’ve done, am doing, or will do. He is only and perfectly satisfied in His Son. Therefore, God is satisfied because when He looks at me He sees His Son. And He says that everyone who is in His Son has everything that is the Son’s – His life, joy, peace, love, and wisdom, but most of all a relationship with the Him, the Father. Wow. That’s grace.
I know that God cannot and will not be satisfied with me, a two-faced, messed up sinner. So I cling to the Son. I Trust in the Son. He is the only One who could satisfy the just demands of the righteous Father. And the Son, Jesus Christ, is Enough.
The apostle Paul triumphantly declared these words to the followers in Corinth, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17; italics added for emphasis)
What about you? To what are you clinging?
– Michael J. Breznau 12.8.12
Share this:
Following the Mission of our Messiah – Mark 8:22-33
People, situations, or even the circumstances of life are not always as they seem. Such was the case for a young, charming woman – a woman who happens to be the personal hero of my wife. This youthful, smart, and witty young girl had a bright future. All seemed refreshingly exciting.
She grew up in a supportive family in the good old Midwestern town of Boone, Iowa. At just ten years of age she was prompted by the Lord to serve Him on the mission field and this desire never left her. Early in her college years she met her would be husband who also had the same desire for ministry. After language studies, Darlene Diebler-Rose and her dear Russell headed off to Papua New Guinea. And they, along with several other families set up a thriving outpost for ministry in the surrounding villages around the small island of Celebes. She was overjoyed with being a part of Christ’s mission.
However, in one short day her life changed drastically for the worst. The dawn of the Japanese invasion of WWII had come to the West Indies. Swiping down island, village, and jungle, the Japanese cleared all that stood in their path – along with the isle of Celebes.
Darlene hurriedly threw some basic necessities into a pillowcase and ran out the door. Her husband was already carted up in a truck headed for a concentration “work” camp. As she reached up to give the pillowcase to her dear Russell, he leaned over and whispered, “Remember one thing dear: God said that He would never leave us nor forsake us.” As the truck drove away only one thing coursed through Darlene’s mind, “What about now, Lord?”
All she felt was abandonment. She would never see her husband again.
She and all the other ladies ended up in a prison camp in Kampili. Over and over Darlene questioned the Lord about her suffering and agony. About one year after she and her husband said their goodbyes, she received notice he had died from dysentery in a labor camp. At 26 she was now a widow. Again she cried out in utter frustration, “But what about now, Lord!?”
When the Bottom Falls Out…
As much as Darlene strained through the frustration, she still could not clearly see how God could place her in such a position of suffering. She could not understand how this suffering that she was going through could be a part of Christ’s mission. In a similar way, you and I may have an incomplete or blurred picture of our Messiah’s true Mission. When the bottom falls out, when the preacher down the road is driving a Mercedes-Benz and you instead are being ridiculed for preaching the clear message of God’s Word, when the stressors of life are overwhelming: who is Christ to you?
Is He your present, earthly savior who you expect will come to rescue, save, and guard you from the suffering of this life? You and I may think we understand what it means to follow in the mission of Christ. But the stark truth and the testimony of most believers tells a different story. Following in the Mission of our Messiah does not offer the “best life now,” or grant us seven keys for success. Following in His mission does not even offer or guarantee the simplest of earthly comforts. If this were the case then Jesus Himself would have lived a very different kind of life.
However, mature followers of the Messiah must clearly understand His mission. We must Clearly See the Mission of our Messiah. Furthermore, we must understand that the Messiah’s mission is one of Suffering before Glory….
This is precisely what Christ unveils for us in Mark 8:22-33. Here in Mark 8:22-33 we find that those who had been following Jesus for quite some time and witnessed many powerful miracles still had an incomplete understanding of their Master and His Mission. However, Jesus would not let them remain in blurry understanding. Thus He unveils for them and us, just how one is to clearly see His true mission and wholeheartedly follow Him. So now turn with me to Mark 8:22-33….
Simply click on the audio player below to listen to the full message from Mark 8:22-23, entitled “Following the Mission of Our Messiah.” I delivered this message at Grad Night 2010 at Evangel Baptist Church, Taylor MI.
Share this:
Never Enough
“We never really have enough; do we? Everyone always wants something more…” Those are the words I heard come from behind the counter at a Five Guys hamburger joint late one evening. This eons-old sentiment came from an aging man, probably in his late 40s or early 50s. With a decent smile for 9:55pm, he told me he had been up since three o’clock in the morning and was ready to hit the sack.
“But,” he said, “That’s what ya gotta do, when the economy’s down and you always want more.” This hamburger flipping expert then went on to tell me that he works two jobs seven days a week, with zero break in between – just several hours of sleep – and then it’s back to work again. “Wow,” I said, “I remember what’s its like to work two or three jobs – as I did when I was working on my master’s degree, but somehow I managed to get a solid night’s rest. Your schedule sounds brutal!”
Soul-Longings..
And that’s when he said it. That longing deep within every human soul – “Well, we are never really happy with what we’ve got – it never seems to be enough.”
As I stood there stunned by this brilliant summation of the human condition, I thought to myself, “Man, I wish most two-timing church-goers would be this honest.” What really arrested my attention is what he didn’t say. He didn’t say, “Well, I’m trying to provide for my family” or “Hey man, I’m just trying to pay the bills and bring home the bacon.” No. He said, “We are never happy with what we’ve got…we always want something more.”
As he scanned my face for a response, I asked, “Yeah…why is that? Why do we always want something more? Why does what we have never seem to be enough?” The man shrugged his shoulders and remarked, “I dunno.” “Yeah,” I thought out loud, “it’s like we were built for something more – something beyond what this life offers.”
Just then we both noticed the storm kicking up outside (and I remembered my family waiting for me in the van and the rapidly cooling fresh hamburgers in my hand). So with a quick goodbye and a smile he headed back to the griddle and I headed out into the rain. But I couldn’t shake the thought that we seem to be built for something more.
When this life – with all its appeasements and entertainment – never seems to be enough, such is the moment when we realize there must be something more… something more to live for and hope for.
Something More…
I am reminded of Augustine’s grand confession about this inherent part of the human condition: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” (From Augustine’s Confessions, Lib. 1,1-2, 2.5,5: CSEL 33, 1-5)
This longing for real, lasting satisfaction and rest in God is what drove the apostle Paul to shout out, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain! (Philippians 1:21)” He had found what every person longs for. Jesus wasn’t just an end to living a better, easier life. No! He is the end – the end to all our searching, hoping, and striving. Jesus is the end in Himself. Paul was so jazzed about the Gospel of Christ and the mission of Christ that it infused every part of His being. If everything else was ripped from his life on earth, Paul knew Christ was and ever will be enough. He is more than a thousand ecstasies, more than myriad happy moments, more than all the pleasures the world can offer. Jesus is the end to never enough. Jesus alone is enough.
To the fledging church in Colossae, Paul encouraged them to center their hope and life on Jesus Christ:
“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with Him.” (Colossians 3:3-4; italics for emphasis)
Only in Jesus is true and abundant life found. Only in Jesus can life be lived as it was meant to be. And one day when Jesus Christ returns we will then live on a remade earth in resurrected bodies, in the same manner in which Jesus was resurrected. Wow. Those are huge concepts to wrap my mind around.
Yet I believe, in my finiteness, that this is what we were ultimately made for – we were made for something more. We were designed to live in community and relationship with God and His people. And the void everyone is trying to fill with the glimmering yet fading things of this age only proves we long for something only our Creator can provide. It is as if all creation is pointing toward God’s offer of new life in Christ (see Rom. 8:18-25). Yes, it is.
Unfortunately, my conversation at Five Guys restaurant had to come to an abrupt end. But perhaps my hamburger-flipping friend will think about the life-altering idea he raised. Maybe my question will spark a search into the meaning of life. And perhaps, just maybe, I’ll see him again and have the chance to offer the message of hope that puts an end to thenever enough cycle. You just never know. After all, I do like Five Guys.
Did you hear the longing for something more today… in a co-worker, friend, or relative? How did you respond? I’d love to hear about!
In Christ Alone,
Michael
10.23.12
Share this:
Irrational Grace
This past Tuesday, I attended the funeral of Homer Edmonds, a long-time and faithful member of the Evangel Baptist church family. His passing was met with much grief and sorrow, but also with much celebration. He was a faith-filled man who had placed His trust in Jesus Christ alone. And the story woven throughout the service was that the grace of the Gospel was continually on display in his life. He was the kind of man who loved others like Jesus and lived what he preached.
He was the real deal. He lived the Gospel life. His daughter, Debbie, beautifully painted this picture for us as she relayed a story about Homer’s irrational, Gospel-oriented grace….
One day Homer went out for a drive, and it just so happened that a young woman accidentally hit his car, while he was parked. The woman quickly jumped out of her automobile and immediately asked him to not call the police or file a claim with his insurance company. Instead, she said, “let’s exchange our contact information and after you get an estimate for the repair, I will give you a check for the work.”
Well, after he collected an estimate from a local collision shop, he contacted the woman and arranged a time to stop by her home to pick up the amount for the repair. Later that afternoon Homer drove out to her house and pulled into the driveway. But something made him pause for a moment and then, strangely enough, he decided to turn around and drive back home without picking up the check.
Upon his arrival back home, Homer told his wife, Janet, “Dear, I just could not walk up to that house and take that woman’s money after seeing her terribly poor living conditions. I just couldn’t do it. And you know what? You know what I think I’m supposed to do? I believe we should go back to her house not to take a check from her but to bring her one. And that is just what he did…
Irrational grace: The kind of love and kindness that doesn’t make any sense to normal human goals or plans, but instead leaves the Gospel as the only explanation (cf. 1 Peter 3:14-18). This is gospel-living – displaying the totally unexplainable grace of God and offering it to people who will be driven to ask us, “WHY??”
Sure, Homer deserved that check for the collision work. Certainly, the woman deserved to pay for the damage she had caused. But grace says otherwise. It’s underserved, unearned, and free for all to receive.
How will you be as gracious as God is…today?
In Christ Alone,
Michael
Share this:
Focus on His Face ~ Everlynn’s Lesson for Daddy
Life can cause us to lose our focus. The busyness of this life and the myriad stressors we often place upon ourselves can blur our vision of what really matters, what really lasts, and what ultimately satisfies.
We run up the ladder, tighten our schedule, and race to the next meeting or project in order to gain that extra capital, pay that impending bill, or plan for our possible retirement. Or maybe for some of us our focus is blurred by less trivial concerns: the pile of laundry that is turning into a mountain, the unruly toddler who won’t stop tearing the house apart, or the broken head-gasket on an aging vehicle. All these sharp edges of life can slowly (or sometimes rather quickly) pull our attention off the One who has given us life and away from the beauty of the love-relationship we have in Him.
Now to be clear, the tasks of the day and the stressors that life can pile up cannot be ignored. Neglecting personal responsibility is not a sign of genuine spirituality; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. The apostle Paul wrote, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)
So the duties of the day and the depth of our devotion to Jesus Christ are not to be at odds with one another. Instead there must be a holistic joining of the sacred and the secular. Rather than a “work life” standing separate from a “church/Christian life,” all of life is to be completely joined with the Way of Jesus and driven by His grace and truth. Scrubbing pots and pans, chasing toddlers, fixing a car, and closing a sales deal are all to be spiritual acts of worship… in relationship with the One who has given us new life. But seriously now, how does this actually work? To be honest, I all-too-often find myself grappling with ideas rather than putting them into real-life practice.
Everlynn’s Smile Lesson
Over the last six months we have been filling almost every spare moment of every week with all sorts of house repair projects, attempting to make our new-ancient house (built in 1870) into a clean and comfortable home for our little family. As our excitement turned to exhaustion I felt my focus slipping away. Can you identify?
My fuse grew shorter. My joy dissipated. Peace turned to worry and anxiety. Financial pressures tightened my stomach. It was not a pretty picture and I couldn’t stop looking at the picture. All I could see was the pile of problems and tasks and issues flooding our path.
And then our little Everlynn reminded me of a lesson I thought I had learned long ago… Each morning our now three and a half month old “baby princess” wakes up with a beautiful, big smile. Her sparkly eyes light up with the morning sun and spread joy around our house. But there is something unique about Everlynn’s infectious smile: she first sets her gaze on the eyes of those who love her. And when her eyes meet ours, then her smile beams from deep within and spreads its joy around. The amazing thing about Everlynn’s smile is that it will come no matter where we are and nearly regardless of what is going on (even if our toddler, Hudson, is screaming at the top of his lungs). When she sets her gaze on the eyes of those who love her, the smile is sure to come.
This past week God used Everlynn to remind me that the way to peace and joy in the midst of stress, anxiety, or chaos is to focus on the face of Jesus Christ. Somehow in all of the busyness of life I forgot that real joy comes when we set our gaze on the eyes of the One who loves us.
There is something unique and amazing when you and I focus on the incomparable beauty and worth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Fear dissipates. Worry subsides. And the smile of His joy returns.
So I encourage you: let’s focus on His face through this picture of Jesus Christ:
“For He [the Father] rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom [Jesus Christ] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the chief heir of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind and engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach…” (Colossians 1:13-22)
Just as Everlynn finds a simple, infectious smile when looking into the eyes of those who love her, let’s focus on the One who loves us and has given us new life in His name. Instead of living a two-part, polarized life with a work-face and a church-face, let’s look at His face and live out our love for Him, regardless of where we are or what may be going on around us.
Find in Him life in all its fullness. Rest in Him through His grace. His smile may surprise you.
In Christ Alone,
Michael
Share this:
The Beauty of Grace
:: The Beauty of Grace ::
“The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair…” ~ Dr. Glenn Kreider
The evening before I headed back from Dallas after my last seminary class on “last things” (how ironic, yet wonderful), I prayed a simple pray that God would be pleased to bring me an opportunity to share the Gospel of grace with someone during my journey back home. Little did I know what would transpire…
When my flight arrived in Chicago for a short stopover, most of the passengers exited the plane, making way for dozens of new passengers for the short flight to Detroit. As I sat pondering the recent discussion I had during the prior flight with a rather liberal professor from Eden Seminary, a young woman with a big smile sat down next to me. I returned her smile, politely said hello, and thought about getting back into a text I was reading on interpreting the book of Revelation.
However, in short order, she asked me how I was doing, where I had come from, why I was going to Detroit – which led to a half a dozen more questions. In return I asked her where she was from, her background, etc… and this is where it just became astounding. It just so happened that she was raised in the small city of St. Clair (just south of Port Huron, MI), where my family lived for several years. She was also a friend of some of my best friends from childhood there. Still more amazing, I realized I had played pick-up football with her brother when he occasionally joined in with some of my good friends when I was just 11 and 12 years old. And one more thing: she turned out to be the exact same age as me. I probably competed with her in the junior track and field competition when I was a kid. It truly is a small world. Or do we, perhaps, serve a big and amazing God?
As we discussed life and these crazy connections, I kept noticing her glance over to my Bible that I had placed on top of my laptop case. I silently prayed there would be a chance to share the Gospel with her. She went on to tell me she had left St. Clair after finishing up college, had decided to be a nanny for a year in London, met an Italian guy – whom she then ended up living with for six years. They traveled and lived in various places in Europe and Australia, and eventually wound up in California where they planned on getting more graduate-level education and “settling down”. Yet life did not quite go as planned. She went on to explain how their relationship ended, how she then transitioned to a new job in Chicago, and how she was currently going through a rough time emotionally because of several “let down” experiences.
The Karma Equation
As I sat quietly listening to her story, she suddenly interjected with a question, “So, what do you think about God and stuff? You know, since that’s what you’re studying at the seminary thing.” I briefly explained the hope of Christ and the Gospel, and then asked her, “So, what do you think about all that?” She responded, “Well, I basically believe in Karma… you know what goes around, comes around. Like, when you do a nice thing for someone, you will eventually get a return “nice thing” too… and when you doing something uncaring or unkind, that will eventually come back around, too.” She then went on to tell my a detailed story about how she had recently experienced her version of Karma, in relation to not helping a friend through a break-up experience, and then finding the same treatment when she found herself in a similar situation….
Then it hit me, this is the biggest difference between the Gospel of grace and the message of any other religion or “belief system” like Karma! Grace does not operate on a “fair scale”! If we got what was fair, we would all be facing death and eternal punishment right now. I then asked her, “So, with this idea of Karma, what hope is there if you do something really bad?”
Her response, “Well, I don’t know, I guess you would get a really bad return?”
Crazy Amazing Grace
And then it hit me again, the Gospel is a message of hope because it offers TOTALLY underserved, unmerited, kindness – grace to anyone who receives this gift of God. I then asked her, “So, what about the guy I met in the Huntsville prison complex in Texas, who was just a few years older than me, and had been sentenced to 325 years in prison for murdering two people and involvement in narcotic sales? Is there any hope for him? Or is there just one big, whopping “bad Karma” waiting for him?”
You see, as I was then able to share with Jessica that morning on a flight back to Detroit, the message of the Gospel is different than any other religious offer because it is a message of grace. As my teacher, Glenn Kreider says, “The beauty of God’s grace is that it makes life not fair.” No other religion offers undeserved, unmerited, unearned, divine favor. So, even for a guy who has committed the most grievous offense – there is hope. Even for a young woman who has messed up her life and knowingly rejected what she knows to be “right” – there is hope in the Gospel of grace. We are not bound to a vicious cycle of duty. For the believer in Christ, what goes around doesn’t come around, because the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ has circumvented the vicious cycle of our sin and says, “no more!” And when the Father looks at us He says, “What sin? What sin? It is as far away as the east is from the west.”
This unbelievable and beautiful grace has been offered simply because of God’s great love. You see, as I shared with Jessica that morning, God doesn’t expect us to be like a selfish guy who buys a dozen roses, an expensive bottle of perfume, a box of fancy chocolates, and a five-star dinner for his woman, only in order that he might get a good “return on his investment” later on. Nothing is more irritating to women than when a man simply lives for a good return, instead out of pure love.
God loves us because He loves us. Pure and simple. He doesn’t love us because we can do nice things for Him. He doesn’t love us because of anything we can do. He loves us so much that He died for you and for me. That is grace. We can’t earn it and we can’t buy it. We simply must believe that it is really true. Believe in grace instead of Karma. Live in grace instead of duty. Administer grace instead of legalism. Grace is not a good return on investment. It is a gift of God’s love. In this Gospel of grace anyone can find hope.
The prophet Nathan understood this grace (see 2 Samuel 7:1). King David understood this grace (2 Samuel 12:1, 11-13). Paul understood this grace – maybe that’s why he couldn’t stop talking about it and living in light of it – he mentioned the grace of God more than 150 times (see Acts 7:54-8:3; 9:1-8; 19b-30)!
If God’s blessings are earned through our actions, then they are not blessings but wages. God gives blessings by His grace.
There is a huge difference between being motivated by love and being motivated by fear or duty. The Gospel is a Gospel of grace, not fear. It’s a gift, not a laundry list! Let’s rejoice in the shocking and radical grace of our great God and thank Him that life in Christ is not fair.
In Christ Alone,
Michael Breznau
Listen here to the Podcast “The Beauty of Grace” for the full message. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Share this:
Shouting the Gospel… Without Words
Imagine with me for one moment… that you cannot speak.
You have completely lost your ability to sing, speak, or even utter one audible sound. Through a strange and irreversible virus, you have totally become mute. This crazy virus, weirdly enough, only attacked your vocal chords, numbing the nerves that control your voice box, and you’ve been left with only an indiscernible whisper.
It was a great and tragic shock to my system when a vocal specialist, from the U of M medical complex, told me that I had contracted a virus similar to the one described above. During my time in India, a virus infected my body and left me with a semi-paresis of my upper-superior laryngeal nerve. That’s just fancy medical language for this: a nerve that helped control my left vocal chord was semi-paralyzed or numb.
Croaking sounds that resembled a bullfrog seemed more common out of my mouth than normal human sounds, let alone my previous 2.5 octave range. For more than 8 months, tears streamed down my face on a regularly basis, as I wondered if I would ever be able to speak or sing normally again.
But What If…?
By God’s grace my condition did not last forever, nor was it ever as far-reaching as our moment of imagination above. I never completely lost my ability to speak, although my voice was severely limited for quite some time. But think about this: what if I had become entirely mute? What if I lost complete control of my voice box? What if I had been left with only an indiscernible whisper?
What if you and I became entirely mute, unable to speak? Would we be unable to ever again share the Gospel of grace with the lost? How could they hear the Good News from you, if you could not be heard? Remember, in Romans 10:13-14 the apostle Paul wrote, “For ‘whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” So it would seem the Gospel has to be audibly heard in order for someone to be saved. And this would be an accurate supposition from this text. The lost must hear, understand, and believe in the truth of God in Christ in order to be saved.
Shouting without Words…
But I wonder if there is another way to shout out the Gospel… without using words. Certainly, the special revelation of God, the Bible, is necessary for saving faith in Jesus Christ. Yet we would all agree that we could betray the amazing value and worth of Christ by the way we live. We can choose to put ourselves first, live for our desires, and run after our passions instead of God’s will. Yet on the flip side, we can display the amazing value and worth of Christ by the way we live as well! In this way, you and I can shout out Christ through beautiful “good” works.
We can proclaim the immense worth and power of Christ without using words. In fact, the myriad lost people across our country seem to most often “hear” more loudly through what they see, rather than through what they catch in their eardrums.
I believe this is exactly what Peter was getting at when he wrote to believers scattered throughout a hostile environment:
“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good [kalos – “beautiful” or “excellent”] deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11-12)
The dozens of on-lookers who watch you from next door, across the classroom, or in the neighboring cubicle may actually come to recognize God as God (“glorify God…”) through the way you and I live. Wow. Certainly, we are saved through the Gospel of grace, not good works; however, good works show that the Gospel of grace is at work in us. So let’s take the challenge from God’s Word to not betray the amazing worth of Christ, but instead shout out Jesus Christ through what we do with our hands and feet, and not just with our mouths.
Most people are “sick of hearing it.” For far too long, people who claim the name of Jesus have been all talk with little action. So let’s give them something to “hear” with their eyes. The impact of shouting the Gospel without words might leave you and I quite amazed… and make God known in this world.
How will you shout out the worth of Christ with attractive actions?
In Christ Alone,
Michael Breznau
Click below to listen to the full message entitled “Shout out Christ with Attractive Actions” (1 Peter 2:11-12) from the series First Peter: Radical Living in the Hope of Christ. I delivered this message to the 7-12th graders of Evangel Baptist Church on 4/4/12.
Shout out Christ with Attractive Actions (1 Peter 2:11-12) [ 26:32 ] Hide Player | Play in Popup | Download (1293)
