It was my great honor and pleasure to record a podcast with Brodie and Andrea Taphorn—Upper Arlington Lutheran Church (UALC) staff members—about my new book, Working in Us What Is Pleasing to Him. It was so fun interacting with these talented co-hosts as they elicited my thoughts about the book and shared their own insights as well. They did a wonderful job. I hope you enjoy this podcast. -Paul
My second book was released two days ago. It explores different ways God changes us over time to be more like Jesus. I really hope people buy the book, read it, and share it with others, and I hope all who read it grow more in trust and rest more in peace. Yet something has been nagging at me lately, and that is this: It is very easy—a temptation even—to spend so much time learning about God’s Kingdom that we spend very little time working to grow God’s Kingdom. Reading and studying is important: we must discern what is true and renew our minds accordingly. Yet as a pastor once shared with me, there is more to Christianity than just being right.
Throughout the Bible, God defines His relationship with us through His promises and His commands, often speaking both at the same time. To Abraham, for instance, He commanded, “Go . . . to the land I will show you,”1 and promised, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you . . .”2 At His ascension, Jesus commanded His friends, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . .”3 adding then this promise: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”4 Again, God defines our relationship with Him on His terms. Then what is our role? We respond. We say “yes” to God’s promises by believing them, and we say “yes” to God’s commands by obeying them. These are hardly separate from each other, in fact, the apostle Paul blends them in referring to “the obedience that comes from faith,”5 which is to say, when we really believe God, when we trust in His amazing character and receive His intimate love, our spirit leaps in response. Our enlightened faith in God pours out in effective obedience to God.
Does this mean we run around doing things “for” God in order to gain His favor? No, we ask Him to lead us in the works He has “prepared in advance for us to do.”6 Do we stop learning and focus on doing? No, that would be a false-choice alternative—there are other options between the two extremes. Instead, Peter charges us “to make every effort” to grow in godly character for a purpose—to “keep . . . from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”7 We draw near to God through His Word, so that as He calls us, we will go. And as we go according to His promises and commands, we will be effective and productive. He promises.
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Luke 11:18)
Father, quiet our hearts before you, that we would trust in you and go in your Spirit. Bear fruit through us, Your people, today. In Christ we pray. Amen.
1 Genesis 12:1
2 Genesis 12:2-3
3 Matthew 28:19 ESV
4 Matthew 28:20 ESV
5 Romans 1:5; 16:27
6 Ephesians 2:10
7 2 Peter 1:5-8
My new book, Working in Us What Is Pleasing to Him, is released today! See below how you can purchase copies for yourself, family and friends.
Here is my heart in writing this book. Virtually every time I sat down to write, I thought about how we as believers try so hard to change ourselves in our own strength, grit and determination, as though we can become more Christlike through mere behavior modification. We come up empty-handed every time, because it is God who transforms us from the inside out. Our role is to cooperate with Him and to follow the Spirit’s lead in our daily life. This book comes alongside believers in a relatable way to show how God “works in us what is pleasing to Him.” Read the back cover for more!
Like my first book, Christ in Me, this new release is well suited for personal reflection, and its structure makes it an ideal resource for small group discussion.
If this theme resonates with you personally, if you know family and friends who are trying to change in themselves what only God can change, or if your small group is looking for a helpful growth resource, please help spread the word that God is Working in Us What is Pleasing to Him. You may obtain a paperback copy through Amazon, directly from my publisher Xulon Press, or through my website. The $14.99 price is the same through each. The Kindle version is available through Amazon for $7.99; the Apple iBook version is available through Apple’s app store for the same price.
Blessings!
Paul
Paul Nordman—Author 