From the time I was a young child, my parents instilled in me the importance of doing a good job. When I finished playing with my toys, I was taught to put them away. When I made my bed, I knew I had better do it right. My parents had the habit of making me do things over when I did not do them right the first time. I quickly learned that it was much faster to do it right the first time than to have to do the chore again. By the time I was 12 or 13, I began babysitting. I really thought I had arrived when I had my first babysitting job over the summer. My mother had taught me that when I was babysitting, I should make myself useful. I should not be on the phone, and I should earn every dime I receive. I would wash the dishes that we used and pick up after the children. I also did some chores around the house. A word to the wise: I learned that when I went the extra mile meant I was called first next time they needed a sitter. Continue reading “Well Done”
Living our lives to the fullest is something the Christian life and worldly life will never fully agree on. Their idea of a rich and rewarding life is very different from ours. All rational people, whether Christian or not, long to live a good life and make each day meaningful. Importantly, this isn’t a topic only for the old; it’s a vital consideration for the young as well. After all, the ending of a life is often shaped by its beginning. Older people tend to be set in their ways. That isn’t a bad thing if those ways are good. It’s okay to have habits, as long as they are good habits. It’s fine to enjoy routines, as long as they are good routines. Continue reading “Living Well Until You Can Live Perfect”
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
Jesus spoke these words to His disciples a few hours before His crucifixion. He is making a profound announcement regarding His unique and solitary role in the Father’s redemptive plan. Our Lord makes several bold statements here in this verse. Continue reading “The Life”
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to read someone’s mind? I have often thought that it might be nice to know what people were thinking. Especially when someone I love is acting differently. However, I have come to terms with the fact that it is better not to know. I sure wouldn’t want anyone to be able to read my mind all the time.
When you became a Christian, your first act was to accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You dethroned yourself; you renounced the flesh and asked our Lord to take His rightful place on the throne of your life. It would have been ideal if that were a one-time event, but you know it wasn’t. Although your salvation was secure, it marked only the beginning of your transformation into Christ’s likeness. And since that day, every step you’ve taken has called for a new and fresh renunciation of self. Continue reading “Sorry, I Was Wrong”
As you begin the New Year, are you optimistic or pessimistic? Is the glass half full or half empty? Do you face life’s challenges with hope or despair? It has been said that an optimist sees opportunity in every problem; a pessimist sees a problem in every opportunity. When faced with two evils, the pessimist chooses both. Both optimists and pessimists matter. The story goes that an optimist invented the airplane, but a pessimist invented the parachute. We need both: optimists drive progress, while pessimists encourage caution.
From the time I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a mommy. I played with my dolls and took very good care of them. I always had baby girls because at that point in my life, boys were a nuisance. And it goes without saying that even though my babies were not always well-behaved, I was an excellent mommy. My pretend world took me to all kinds of places and into all types of adventures. My imagination evolved as I got older, but I was still the hero in every scenario. I always got the bad guy or saved the lost kitten.
Well, we all grow up and realize the world of pretend is a lot easier than the real deal. Our struggles begin with walking, talking, and being potty-trained. Those things don’t sound that serious, but to a child, they are monumental. Without those skills, the rest of life will elude us. Some children cannot talk or walk, so we need to be very thankful that we are blessed with these gifts. Lord, thank you for giving me a mom and dad who taught me so many things. Not just how to walk and talk, but about life and its principles.
When we enter school, we are taught that letters on a piece of paper make words. It is such a foreign concept. We also learn how to use numbers to add and subtract, and one day we discover that those same letters we used to read can represent numbers. What sense does that make? Without the struggle of learning to read or to add and subtract, the rest of my education would not have been possible. I have had so many teachers over my lifetime. They were so patient with me. I wasn’t someone who learned easily. I studied many hours doing homework and studying for tests. Perhaps that is why I am a decent teacher today. Lord, thank you for the teachers that you put in my life. The first ones were my parents, then the many other people you have put into my path, and most of all, my husband. Without them, I would not be serving as a teacher today.
I have also learned many things from books and other forms of literature. Before I got married, I read about being a good wife. When I became a mother, I read profusely. I read Christian books about raising infants to raising teenagers. As I came across different challenges in teaching, I read about various ways to reach children academically as well as behaviorally. The greatest source of wisdom is found in God’s Word. There is no area of life that the Scriptures do not address. “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”Proverbs 2:6. It is just sad that it has taken me so long to learn some things. Thank you, Lord, for the sacrifices and the struggles of the people who made your written Word possible.
As I travel through the memories of my life, I would be remiss if I did not thank the Lord for the struggles. It took a while, but I have learned that the way we handle the lessons that cross our paths will determine in which direction we grow. Whether we become a strong oak, a wilted flower, or a briar that hurts those in our paths is totally up to us. Our struggles will make us bitter or better. What choices are we going to make?
I have not always made the right choices, but I have learned quite a bit over my life. My parents always taught me I could do anything I put my mind to. They pushed me to be better than I was. I worked 30 hours a week, went to college full-time, and was active in church. I had to learn how to budget money and time and stay faithful to God. This may not sound important to you, but it prepared me for even bigger challenges I would face down the road.
As life progressed, I learned more and more that the only way I could do anything was if the Lord held my hand and carried me through. Throughout our marriage, there have been times when the cupboards were bare. My husband has always had tremendous faith, and many times, I hung on to his coattail. We trusted God to supply, and He never let us down. We were very frugal; our Lord stretched what we had, and our family never missed a meal. Likewise, in the ministry, there have been lean times. When we started the school and the radio station, we did not know where the money was coming from, but God always provided each step of the way. We never saw miles down the road, but just inch by inch. We have seen God provide through floods and lightning strikes. Thank you, Lord, for the struggles in the lean times that helped us to trust You.
In all of our lives, we experience emotional struggles that test our faith. A loved one is sick, and we aren’t sure if they are going to make it. We have a rebellious child who is distant from God, and we don’t know how to reach them. People in our lives are hurting, and we can’t help them. The circumstances are far beyond our control. I have had many difficult experiences over the years. Thank you, God, for allowing me to grow through life’s experiences.
I have observed many people over the years. Some have become very bitter and angry, while others seem sweet and kind even when they are hurting. Pondering over the different individuals and what makes each of them different, I realize there is one thing that stands out. They have taken the first and second commandments seriously and have grown so much that they put these principles into practice every day.
“Jesus said unto them, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matthew 26:37-39
These beautiful saints strive to love God more than anything else in their lives, which makes the second commandment fall right into place. They love others more than themselves. So, every decision and action they make is filtered through their love for God and their love for others. They are not selfish because they love others more than themselves.
Thank you, Lord, for the people who have shown me by their lives how to handle hardships and struggles. May I never grow bitter or angry because of difficulties. May I grow closer to you with each problem that I face? May my life show your love wherever I go.
I don’t want to be a grumpy old person. I want to be someone who lets Jesus shine in their life each day. What type of person do you want to be? It is a choice!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dr. Worthington has five children and twelve grandchildren. She serves as Principal of Pathway Christian Academy in Goldsboro.
No, no, no! This can’t be happening. I can’t squeeze in one more thing. I already have so much to do. With Christmas parties, family gatherings, shopping, decorating, mission activities, and the everyday responsibilities, I don’t have time for this. It is insane.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46
You might see a person with a successful career, houses, cars, and wealth. You might even see him helping the poor and being a friend to the hurting. He is known for supporting outcasts, standing up for his friends, and generously rewarding his loyal employees. You could label him as successful. Or, you could call him by his name. His name is Al…Al Capone.
He was successful, but we cannot call his “success” good because God was definitely displeased with how he achieved it. How do you define success? While many different answers exist, we all too often define it as the world does. However, as believers, we must always return to God’s Word and seek the biblical definition of success.
Some people believe that success means achieving financial freedom. For others, it signifies having more time or greater fulfillment. Success for us may also include being recognized by others as successful. As Christians, we need to return to the biblical foundations of defining success. We should focus on God’s definition of the kind of success that benefits His Kingdom.
Worldly standards do not define biblical success. Jesus, in many regards, looked like a failure to the world. True success should always reflect God’s purpose for our lives, the use of our spiritual gifts, and the opportunities God provides us to serve Him better. It is never simply about doing a good job or achieving something. Results do not measure success; it is measured by obedience.
May I confess something to you? According to the world’s standards, I have never been as successful in the ministry as I was in the secular world. I have never received the money, recognition, rewards, or approval in the ministry that I earned in the world. I received numerous promotions, awards, and bonuses. I continued in my secular job for about four years after I became a Christian, and during that time, I used my position to witness for Christ, leading several coworkers to our Lord. I used my income to support God’s work and help those in need. I was successful, but I wasn’t where God wanted me to be. Please let me make this clear, it was not where God wanted me to be. Such a place might be exactly where He wants you, but it was not where He wanted me.
I kept climbing higher and higher up the ladder of success until one day I realized my ladder was leaning against the wrong tree. The tree was not bad; it was just the wrong tree. My true ministry, the one God called me to pursue, could be best fulfilled within a ministry, a place dedicated to serving Christ. The company I worked for, the one that had been so good to me, the one that had given me the opportunity to succeed, was not in business to minister but to make a profit.
Now, as a capitalist, I don’t oppose any honest business making a profit. However, as a Christian businessman, my primary job, in which I worked about 60 hours a week, was not to serve Christ but to generate profits for my employer. Furthermore, if the business ever ceased to make a profit, it would close. Again, some very dedicated Christians could do that and be totally within God’s will, but, like so many other things, there has been a long list of things that God would not allow me to do. To accomplish my ministry, I had to work within the framework of a ministry, not a business. The question was not, with my spiritual gifts, where can I glorify God, because I could do that anywhere. Instead, the question became, where could I glorify God the most?
The path God gave me is most likely not the one you’re on; I understand that. However, God has laid out a path for you. You don’t need to keep throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. God has already prepared the way. The biblical definition of success is trusting God’s plan and the beautiful life God has already created for you.
In Matthew 13, we have a great collection of parables; mustard seed, leaven, buried treasure, pearls, dragnets, and more, all neatly packed into one place. We know they are about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like, but otherwise, their exact meanings are a bit uncertain. It is helpful to remember that the parables aren’t meant to have precise meanings anyway. Instead, they are designed to puzzle, to disturb, and to challenge our usual ways of thinking. They are encouraging us to keep returning again and again, exploring a wide range of interpretations. They provoke us to think more profound thoughts. They invite us to expand our imaginations and better understand the nature of man and of the God we serve.
Regarding parables and referring to Isaiah 6, the Lord instructs us in Mark 4:11-12 that the purpose of parables is to reveal the truth to humble hearts and conceal the truth from hard hearts.
As we look again at Matthew 13:45, it seems easy enough to understand. The merchant must be a disciple, and the pearl is Jesus. Or, perhaps Jesus is the merchant and the Kingdom is the pearl. Then again, could it be that the pearl is the church and Jesus is the merchant? Could it be any of those possibilities? Could there be even more? Maybe the parable is about our need to sacrifice what we have to follow Jesus, what we might call the “cost of discipleship.” If so, remember that the merchant isn’t just throwing everything away; he’s trading it in to buy something he wants more. He had a loss, but also a gain.
The Scripture also does not tell us what he does with this pearl. Perhaps he hides it away in a closet. Maybe he is not even sure why he wants this pearl so badly. Are you confused yet? We might see nuggets of truth in all the possibilities, but we know we need to do some digging. The truth is in there somewhere. Or, perhaps there is more than one truth hidden there; some Scriptures are designed that way.
One interesting facet about this story is that at the end, the merchant essentially withdraws from his business. Did you notice that? He appears to be giving up his livelihood. How is he going to make a living? By this decision, he is no longer a merchant. All he has is one pearl, which he does not intend to let go of. He has redefined himself by making one decision.
Now, we see what is happening. He has become a new man. He is not the same old merchant he used to be. He’s now the guy who knows he possesses something of great value, and he is not about to give it up! What’s more, he knows that if this “pearl” is something beyond all the other fine pearls, it can only increase in value. He will literally be able to live off the interest. This can change the way we look at all the other things he has been chasing! All the other stuff, whether they be diamonds or money, the right schools, the right job, the right neighborhood, the perfect family, all of those things he’s been trading for, fine as they may be, still left him with an unshakable feeling that he was missing something. This man has finally concluded that he must divest himself of all the things he has been chasing to make room for something of even more profound and lasting value. Is this story about you? I know it is about me! I found the great pearl and ceased to be a merchant. That’s simple enough.
That is what God wanted for me. I was to let go of every ounce of my self-righteous certainty and divest myself from all those fine pearls of what I thought defined me as successful, and have the courage to grab onto a deeper identity. I was to lay claim to something greater, even before I was sure what it was.
My carefully contrived self-image had to be relinquished. If I were no longer restrained by being a merchant, what else could I be? What else could you be? That doesn’t mean you can’t continue serving God right where you are. I could not do that, but I clearly understand that many can. If it is God’s will for your life, I applaud it and respect it. But perhaps even within the confines of where you are right now, God still wants you to place a higher priority on representing Christ. After all, He is a treasure of priceless value.
However, although I have purposely presented our Lord in this light to help you understand the multiple layers of the parables, I need to tell you that in this parable, Jesus is not the pearl of great price; you are. Now, let’s get back to our Scripture.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
I said earlier that the parables aren’t meant to have a clear meaning. Instead, they are designed to puzzle, to disturb, and to challenge our ways of thinking, encouraging us to keep returning again and again, exploring a wide range of interpretations. Parables reveal truth, sometimes in many layers, to those who seek it, while concealing truth from those who don’t really want it.
Verse 44 obviously refers to Israel, hidden, found, and hidden again until God comes to redeem the field. However, in Verses 45-46, the pearl of great price is the church. It is you and I, whom the very lifeblood of Christ has purchased. Have you noticed how often God instructs us to do as He does? He tells us to love as He loves, to work as He works, and to forgive as He forgives. Here we have the same principle. Here, He asks you to value Him as He values you. Serve Him and cherish Him, as He serves and cherishes you. In these verses, you and I are the pearl, and Jesus gives His very life to redeem us for Himself. But now, here is where it turns around; now you and I should be willing to do the same for Him.
So, here is the message: if you are where God wants you to be. If you are where your ministry can best shine, where you can serve Him fully and wholeheartedly, then you must shine right where you are. We need believers out there shining in the world. However, for others, you might shine better, or have more opportunities to shine, or better utilize your Spiritual gifts somewhere else. Perhaps like me, your ministry might need to be linked to another ministry to flourish. If so, that is where you need to be. After all, you belong to Christ, and you have been bought with a great price. You are His pearl, and He should be yours.
Dr. Worthington has been in the ministry for nearly fifty years and serves as President of Pathway Ministries and Christian Bible College.
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” Hebrews 12:28
I have numerous concerns about the changes the modern church has undergone over the past 50 years. For example, the architecture has undergone a significant transformation. Isn’t it interesting that on our Christmas cards, we still prefer images of old-fashioned churches? I’m not against the new look. I’m just saying that things have changed. Technology has also advanced. Most churches today are equipped with technology to enhance the engagement of their worship services. The music has drastically changed, and the Bibles most churches use are constantly being revised.
I can imagine if my granddad came back and visited one of our modern churches, he would be in a state of shock. It might be hard to predict what would shock him the most, but one of the things he would immediately notice is the change in what people wear. I don’t just mean the natural changes in style over 70 years. What I mean is that for many people, there is no difference between how they dress at church and how they dress any place else. Additionally, even if someone has to wear a suit or uniform to work, they often don’t dress up when they go to church.
There was once something called your “Sunday best,” and these were your special clothes that you kept reserved for special occasions, like going to church. Today, tank tops, tights, and flip flops are not uncommon at many churches. How should one dress for church? The modern answer is to dress the way you want to. Dress cool, comfortable, and casual, regardless of the occasion. A typical response is that God doesn’t care what clothes you wear, as He looks into the heart, and that’s what’s important. The heart is indeed essential, but the idea that God does not care about how you dress for worship is not entirely accurate. In this old man’s opinion, the growing trend of dressing down for church is not a good one.
First, let me remind you that it is a tremendous privilege of divine grace that we can begin each week by attending church to worship our Lord. What an incredible gift it is to enter into His presence. To truly appreciate our worship, however, it helps to understand a bit of its background and history. After God freed His people from Egyptian bondage, Israel was excited to meet God at Mount Sinai. But before they could come into His presence, God commanded that they consecrate themselves, wash their clothes, and stay away from the mountain. This demonstrated that God was holy and deserved respect and fear. It also showed that it mattered to Him how His people appeared before Him.
He demanded consecration. This was meant to be a break from their usual routine. We don’t have many details about exactly how this consecration was to be carried out, but clothing is mentioned. They didn’t have to wear different clothes, since many of them only had one set, but they did have to wash them. Since they were appearing before God, He requires holiness and respect, and this must be visible in their clothing.
This divine concern for how one appeared before God was also evident in the worship at the tabernacle and temple. There were graded levels of holiness surrounding these sanctuaries. The priests could enter the Holy Place, but only the High Priest was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies. To approach God, they had to dress according to God’s dress code. This was very detailed for the high priest (Exodus 28:1-39). The ordinary priests were required to wear linen clothes that, like the high priest’s, were made for “glory and beauty”(Exodus 28:2).
The point is, that the clothes were meant to reflect the fact that the priests were in God’s presence. The importance of proper dress is emphasized by the fact that even if a priest was doing something as simple as cleaning out the ashes of the burnt offering, he had to wear the clothes that the Lord had specified for this task (Leviticus 6:10-11). All of this is relevant today as we recognize the new dispensation we’re in. God has now freed His people from the law. You are now also a priest, and when you worship in spirit and in truth, you join with the worship of angels and the saints of old. You come to church to join thousands upon thousands in a joyful gathering. The angels are clothed in radiant glory, the saints are dressed in white apparel, and you, well, you have on your Jack Daniels T-shirt.
But it gets even better. Because of the sprinkled blood of Christ, we as priests to God are permitted to do what only the high priest in the Old Testament could do. As we worship and call on the Lord’s name, we can enter the Most Holy Place! (Hebrews 10:19-22). Who can fully understand and appreciate what this means? This vital truth influences the clothes we choose to wear when attending church to worship in God’s presence. If God cared about how the priests approached Him in the Old Testament, would He be less concerned today when the priestly privileges of the Most Holy Place are available to all believers? Our God remains the same. He expects us to approach Him with awe, reverence, and in our most respectful attire.
In line with the age we live in, the age of grace, God leaves the details of our dress up to us. We shouldn’t need to create rules for how to dress for worship, because the Lord our God has already given us the ability to make those decisions. Most of us know how to dress for a formal wedding or funeral. Every leader in the world except Zelenskyy knows how to dress when meeting the President at the White House. We should be able to figure this out.
I know it is very easy to become unwittingly influenced by the pagan culture around us. We have this desire to fit in. But the Bible says we are to: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:1). When we enter a church, we are entering a space specifically set apart for worship. We step into the special presence of God, and the clothes we wear must reflect this profound reality. We sometimes wonder why the world has lost its respect for God; could it be that to the world, it looks like we have lost our respect for God?
It may be understandable for an unchurched person to attend without being respectfully dressed, but not for us. When we consider that even our current worldly culture values dress codes to ensure proper attire for all kinds of occasions, even playing golf at some courses requires a particular form of dress. Let us not lose our sense of awe and wonder at being in God’s presence. It is a privilege we must not take for granted. While the condition of your heart will always be more important than your outward appearance, your outward appearance still makes a statement about what is in your heart. You have been taught that God communicates His word to you in many different ways, and each of those ways is protected.
He usually communicates through the Bible, through the Holy Spirit, through His prophets, and through types and illustrations. We also communicate through various forms. We might do it with our words, our writing, the places we visit, and our general attitudes and ethics. However, we also communicate through our appearance. Our Sunday best was often a reflection, a physical sign of the inner preparation we had made before entering worship. It also showed respect for God and reverence for the sacredness of the worship service. I understand that we must avoid legalism. We also need to create a welcoming environment where everyone can feel comfortable, regardless of their attire. However, we can also go too far in the wrong direction.
Some might remind us that the Bible teaches us that during this dispensation, every day is holy. We are taught that we should honor God every day. Sunday is no more sacred than Monday or Tuesday. The New Testament also teaches us that every place is holy (John 4:21, 23-24). So, if every day, every place, and even every hour is sacred to the Christian, does that mean being at church is no different from being at a ball game? No, I don’t think it is at all. In fact, I believe for most of us, the hours we spend at church are the most holy moments of the week.
First, it is a command to attend church (Hebrews 10:25). God didn’t command you to go to school or to the restaurant after church. He doesn’t command you to go to Disney World, but He does command you to be at church.
Second, the church is the best place to surround yourself with champions. It is a powerful environment filled with influential people. I dress up out of respect for God, but also out of respect for other people I wish to honor.
Third, this is a place where Jesus has promised to join us in a most profound way.
So, if this is the most holy hour of the week, then do you suppose God has some guidelines for our behavior while we are here? I think so. Acceptable worship is accompanied by reverence and fear, with respect and awe. Our modern generation has lost the heart that aligns with what this sacred hour deserves. We see this in our church leaders, the very ones who should be setting the example. They know what the Scripture says, and they understand the meaning of the words. They just don’t apply them. I believe church leaders should set the tone and guide the church away from casual worship toward something more honoring and fitting for the holiest hour of the week.
This cannot be fixed simply by creating rules; it should be addressed by awakening internal, heartfelt reverence. We don’t outlaw the atmosphere of super-casual, entertainment-based gatherings; we just gently steer in that direction. Leaders initiated this downward spiral, and leaders must now correct it. Pastors must approach this hour with a total Godward focus. This is a moment of God-centered seriousness. People come to hear a man share a message that our souls, when not deadened by human emotions, has been craving for. Most of our people don’t realize this because they’ve never experienced the real thing. Something deeply stabilizing, strengthening, refining, and fulfilling at the core of our being, that’s what people yearn for. They have tried to fill that need with casual entertainment. They won’t understand what they’re missing until they are shown it over time.
Some of our readers remember the old-time Pentecostal Holiness churches. Most of them have changed now, but back then, they were known for emphasizing modesty, humility, and the clear distinction between men and women in their dress. Although not an infallible guide, they knew that outward appearance was often a reflection of an individual’s respect for God and of their inward spiritual state. Part of the problem is that pastors may be amazed at what God does, but they are no longer amazed at who He is. Everything else is secondary. He’s the ultimate treasure, the primary value, the brightest hope, the one they are all willing to live for and die for.
God’s grace will never seem as incredible as it should be if our people do not tremble at God’s purity and holy wrath against sin. Did it bother you how Zelenskyy dressed when he met with the President? It bothered me. If it does bother you, you might consider the implications at every church service, when your Pastor tries to take you into the presence of the King of Kings. Church leaders should remind God’s people that they are supernatural beings. Church is not a place for ordinary folks to gather for business or entertainment. Instead, it is a place where blood-washed, supernatural beings come together to worship the King. Once we grasp this, I believe God’s people will be eager to encounter Him in a way that makes flip-flops seem a bit out of place.
Dr. Worthington has been in the ministry nearly fifty years and serves as President of Pathway Ministries and Christian Bible College.
