Part 1 Planting A Seed

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase..” – 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

The previous two devotional posts were about (1) those who were confronted with the Gospel but rejected it and (2) the transformation that takes place in a person’s life when they yield their heart in faith to the Gospel. I am going to share a story with you over the next two or three days about the seed of the Gospel planted and taking root in a person’s life.  Some of you may know that my parents divorced when I was 2 years old. That is a story that can be saved for another time. But both parents remarried. My three sisters and I lived with my mom and our step-dad, Don Pierson.  The story I am about to share is about my step-dad. I wrote this story in 2004 when Martie and I were helping a ministry called the Military Missions Network get off the ground. I was traveling with the director, Pastor Gary Sanders, to Norfolk, Virginia to meet with a group of Navy Chaplains to talk about that ministry.  As the story progresses you will see how that is relevant.

Would it be too confusing if I just take the word “step” off of the reference to Don Pierson? He was more than a person that was pinned on to my life like you might pin a note on a bulletin board. He was a dominant influence on my life – my character – my work ethic – the way I lived my new life. He was more like a father than my biological father was. That is another story as well. So I will refer to Don as dad from here forward. 

The real start to the story begins with this Bible.  The picture is of a young Marine, Don Pierson, holding a communist sub machine gun while in Korea. My mom contacted me and asked if I could find Chaplain Austin so she could thank him.  This was after Don had passed in November 1999.  They had been married for 45 years at that point. Unfortunately Chaplain Austin had since passed away, however I was able to obtain some information about him which I will share with you on another day. That bible rested on top of Dad’s chest of drawers for as long as I could remember, but I never knew the story behind it until after his passing.

Prelude. It’s the nature of the ministry in the military that most times, Christian chaplains are able to plant seeds of faith, but not see that seed take root and grow.  Not all chaplains are Christian – they are religious men and women who represent a myriad of faiths held by  service members.  How many  chaplains there are for a particular faith is dependent upon the number of service members in that Branch of Service that represent a particular belief system. This is a story of how a Christian chaplain planted a seed in a young Marine’s life, and how after nearly 20 years that seed grew into a mighty tree. DISCLAIMER: Since the exact words and thoughts between the young Marine and the chaplain were not documented I have taken some writer's liberty. The conversations between Chaplain Austin and my dad in this story are based upon true events and encounters and are consistent with conversations I, personally, have had with chaplains while serving in the military during peacetime as well as my experiences in Vietnam and Desert Storm.  The conversations between our family members are factual and accurate.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” – John 1:12

Planting the Seed.  It was June 1951. As part of the X (tenth) Corps offensive, the 1st Marine Division with the 7th Republic Of Korea (ROK) Division on their left flank and the 5th ROK Division on their right, drove northward past the eastern tip of the Hwach’on Reservoir against the 5th and 2nd North Korean Corps (communists).  By 20 June 1951, the 1st Marines had taken its portion of the X Corps’ objective; a ridgeline overlooking a deep circular valley in the Korean mountains nicknamed the "Punchbowl." Truce negotiations began after the battle ended, and the UN forces settled down into a defensive line. The following is an excerpt I found that described the battle.

June 10-16, 1951. Battle for the Punchbowl (vicinity Hwach'on Reservoir). The 1st Marine Division encounters heavy North Korean resistance,  but succeeds in taking its objective. Participating in the Eighth Army drive northward past the eastern tip of the Hwachon Reservoir. By 20 June 1951, the division had taken its portion of the X Corps objective, a ridgeline overlooking a deep circular valley in the Korean mountains nicknamed the Punchbowl. Truce negotiations now began, and the UN forces settled down into a defensive line.

Three days prior, on June 17, a 22 year old Marine, PFC Donald Pierson, was resting after a fierce battle with the North Koreans. Don had joined the Marine reserve after high school.  His unit had been mobilized and deployed as were so many others during the escalation in Korea.  Looking down the line, he could see someone approaching, the figure was taking a few minutes at each fighting position before moving to the next.  At first, Don thought it was Gunny, his platoon sergeant, but as the figure drew nearer, he could see that it was the Chaplain.  Like medics, there are no chaplains wearing a Marine uniform, they are naval officers, but these Marines considered him to be one of their own.  He was always there, right in the thick of it.    Encouraging them to stand fast in the midst of the roar of the battle. It was as if he didn’t know there was a battle raging.  He had their respect.

To be continued – tomorrow – Part 2: The Sower Casts The Seed

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Then I Met Jesus

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11

Paul had just described the behavior of lost people to the Corinthian Church. People who were dominated by their sinful nature – without hope – defiant toward their Creator God. Doing what they pleased – the way they pleased.  Thinking all the while that the way they lived was normal and right.  He pointed out that even though the people who comprised the church in Corinth were born again, they, themselves, had once lived the same way – until they met Jesus along the way. I am certain Paul could see himself in his own words – even as he penned them. It is what I thought about as I read those verses about myself.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

When I describe what my life was like before my salvation,  my children cannot imagine it.  Since they were either born after or were too young to remember, they have never seen the “old me”. But I know it all too well.  I would drink until I was stupefied – cussed freely and often – but careful to not use some words around women and children – smoked two packs of cigarettes a day and lived for the day and my pleasure. No my children would not believe it – I can hardly believe it.  But then I met Jesus along the way and my life changed forever. I don’t even want to image what my life would have been like if I had remained the same.

I am sharing this because I want to encourage you to look back on your life. Some of you met Jesus – were born again and had lived very little of your old nature – but many of you, like me were adults or new adults when you were saved by faith. You know what your sin nature is capable of – and perhaps live with regrets for some of the things you did and said and thought during those days. And, like me, today you rejoice in knowing that what you could not do – God did do and redeemed you from your sin – adopted you – and began to make all things new in you by the power of His Spirit and your obedience to the Spirit.

So why did Paul write those words to the Corinthians? He had to remind them of the hazards of living in a place where the predominate number of people were not born again. To warn them that they would be tempted to embrace a sinful lifestyle and exchange the Truth of God for a lie.  The lie being that sin was not sin. Nothing has really changed has it.  Oh, what man has been able to create out of what was already created changed with innovation and technological advances, but the heart of man and how that is manifested has not changed. To quote King Solomon.

“That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, ‘See, this is new’? It has already been in ancient times before us. There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.” – Ecclesiastes 1:9-11

To say that someone is a Progressive is actually to say that their thinking and doing is regressive.  “There is nothing new under the sun.” A rose is still a rose under any other name and sin is still sin no matter how you package it and try to sell it.  

Take some time today to think about how your life has changed “Since Jesus Came Into Your Heart”. Rejoice in your salvation and the hope that is in you. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Almost Persuaded - Almost But Lost

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’” – Acts 26:28

This week we have had two family members pass – a sister and sister-in-law. (In know the first was a Christian and suspect the second might have been) As tragic as their deaths are, there is something that is more tragic than their mortal death – a mortal death with no hope for life. As a Christian you are very aware that your faith has value during your mortal life. But there is also a life beyond that lies beyond the grave. I have heard pastors say that the most difficult funeral service is for families who have lost a loved one with no hope for life with the Creator God. You are very familiar with John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God ” – John 3:16-18

Saved to what? Everlasting life. Saved from what? Not having everlasting life. I will avoid a discussion of what being condemned to apart from God for eternity means.  Suffice it to say – it is not a good thing. Perhaps the understatement of all time – but a spiritual truth that will not be fully understood until we face that day – that moment – when our heart beats its last beat – when our brain thinks its last thought – when our mortal body is but a lump of clay with no life in it.

Have you ever felt desperation for someone that was lost – most likely a family member – but perhaps others you may or may not know? Do you feel helpless to do anything about it.  What you be surprised to know that your responsibility is not to save them? You can’t you know – save them that is. You can’t argue them into heaven.  Salvation is a spiritual transaction that takes place between the individual and the Creator God.  So, when I share the Gospel with someone – I have fulfilled my responsibility toward them – spiritually speaking. Well mostly – I also have the responsibility to live the Christian life as a testimony to the transforming power of faith in Jesus and the power of the Spirit in me. When I pray for that the person it is that the Spirit will bring conviction and they will yield their life to the Spirit? And so the reference to Paul speaking to King Agrippa. Agrippa was almost persuaded. I think Paul did what Paul was asked by God to do – share the Gospel. Perhaps Agrippa felt the conviction of the Spirit but then rejected it – quenched the Spirit like putting out the light of a candle. 

When I was in Vietnam in 1969, I started receiving letters from home – from my mom – and she was sharing about faith in Jesus.  I had my doubts because I knew my mom and being mom a Christian was hard to imagine.  When I returned home from Vietnam, I found a home that was strange to me – it was not the home I had left. My folks shared their lives and the Gospel with me for 7 more years – to no avail – but then one day I heard the Gospel one more time and my heart was convicted by the Spirit and I surrendered by faith. My point is that you should not give up – even while knowing that some and not all will be saved. It is a particularly difficult thing when the person that is almost persuaded is a loved on. Be faithful to your part – speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15)

There was a popular singer by the name of Tennessee Ernie Ford who sang a song – “Almost Persuaded”.

Almost persuaded now to believe; Almost persuaded Christ to receive; Seems now some soul to say, Go, Spirit, go Thy way, Some more convenient day On Thee I’ll call.

Almost persuaded, come, come today; Almost persuaded, turn not away; Jesus invites you here, Angels are ling’ring near, Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wand’rer, come!

Almost persuaded, harvest is past! Almost persuaded, doom comes at last! Almost cannot avail; Almost is but to fail! Sad, sad, that bitter wail— Almost, but lost! – Philip P. Bass Public Domain

Do not bear the burden of someone else rejecting faith in Jesus – but let that thought be your motivation to be found faithful in what you do, say, and pray.

“…. by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

The Spiritual Value Of Temptation

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

Right after my rebirth, I recall the man that I will call my spiritual dad saying to me, “Your struggle has only just begun.” He was referring to the fact that the day before I surrendered my life by faith I there was no conflict between right and wrong – I only had one nature -  a sinful nature. But, the day that I was born again I had a second, spiritual nature, that would be at odds with my old nature for the rest of the time I lived on this earth. The struggle is not merely one of self will or moral discipline, but is spiritual.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:12-13

Before there was nothing contending for my soul – the devotion of my heart. After my rebirth – the old refused to give up its hold on me. The temptation to choose my sinful nature over obedience to God’s declared truth is always there.  Some days the beat of its drum is almost deafening – other days it is but a faint noise in the distance – but it is ever present, and I must always be on my guard.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” – Romans 7:18-25

Paul described his struggle with sin – wouldn’t you think that meeting Jesus on the road – called to such a great mission – taking the Gospel to the Gentile world would mean that he would no longer struggle with worldly temptation? None of us are exempt from temptation.  None of us.  And if any of us should forget that – we will fall into the snare – again – just like Paul.  Paul was telling us that the solution is spiritual through faith in Jesus – he tried to do right yet the temptation to do the wrong thing was stronger than Paul – stronger then you – stronger than me.  It is spiritual. Do you remember when Jesus was tempted in the desert?

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, (1)‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’’ Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, (2) ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’’ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, (3)‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’’  Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” – Matthew 4:1-11

In each case Jesus’ human nature was tempted – God cannot be tempted (James 1:13) – there is no sinful nature to be tempted. It is our flesh that is tempted in three ways – lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. (1 John 2:16) If you notice those are the three ways Jesus – the man – was tempted in the desert. Notice also how Jesus responded – not with His self will or determination but with the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God. Unfortunately, many Christians venture out each day spiritually unarmed. We don’t see resistance to temptation as a spiritual issue – but merely the need to try harder not to do whatever we are being tempted to do.

I am not aware of any Christian who has lived a sinless life after their conversion. Any Christian who has gotten a pass on being tempted.  If there is one thing that comes from my struggle and perhaps yours is that my daily struggle is a reminder that I need a savior – that I cannot be right before God standing on my own merit and by my own effort. That it is ….

“…. by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them..” – Ephesians 2:8-10

We are His workmanship – our new life is by faith and the power of God.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Believing A Lie To Be Truth

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.’” – Romans 1:18-25

God has revealed Himself in and through His creation sufficiently for all to know that He exists and desires relationship with us. In fact He has provided additional revelation over the centuries. Why? We do not know – but only that He chose to. Today He continues to send those who might speak for Him. Not just pastors, preachers, or missionaries, but those who are not schooled in seminaries and colleges, but in the schoolhouse of life, faith and obedience. Christians just like you and me.

God speaks through the Bible. Truths like those in Romans 1 are not meant to be critical but descriptive. Knowing that people who are seeking fulfillment in life through a way other than Jesus and faith in God are going to behave in a certain way should be enlightening.  We should not be surprised by the decadence, immorality, prejudices, inequality, and violence that is creeping around the world – devouring nation after nation.  I read a headline that said, “Christianity in the United States is Dying”. I don’t think it is dying – I do think that the heart of man is being revealed and many who called themselves Christians were merely religious. They too quickly abandoned the faith, as they understood it, and “exchanged the truth of God for a lie.”

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?’ And the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” – Genesis 3:1-5

The great deception. It started in the Garden. Satan’s suggestion that God would deceive us and tell us that something was true when it was not. That God was merely trying to keep us from being fulfilled.  And if God would lie about one thing – well then you could not really trust anything He said.  Do you see what Satan was doing – what he is doing?

Look around you Christian – the world believes the lie – that people can do what they want – that they will not surely die. But apart from Jesus – they will indeed surely die. Their ability to continue in their sin is not proof that they are independent – free from judgement. Just because man declares something to be true – that is contrary to the expressed revelation of God – does not make it so. What God has declared as truth cannot be made a lie – it can be ignored. “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie” Don’t think for a minute that you are immune to the temptation to do the same. We are bombarded with temptations every day. But there is good news.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13

How exactly – more on that tomorrow.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Thoughts About Our Rebirth

“Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” – John 3:5-7

As we were flying back from Illinois, I closed my eyes and thoughts about Rebirth literally scrolled through my mind. It was rather strange to be honest, almost like a vision. I hesitate to use that phrase for fear that you might think me being dramatic. Having said that, I do think it is important for Christians to understand and be ready to articulate what the Bible says about spiritual rebirth. Knowing that most who read anything on Facebook or on a BLOG prefer short writings, I caution you that this is lengthy. I am not writing “ex cathedra” (a Latin phrase which means “from the chair.” It refers to binding and infallible papal teachings which are promulgated by the pope when he officially teaches in his capacity of the universal shepherd of the Church a doctrine on a matter of faith or morals and addresses it to the entire world.) but sharing a synthesis of scripture that we should be familiar with, in a progressive order. 

1. There is a difference between being religious and being a Christian.

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…  Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?’” John 3:1-3,10

The purpose of this story about Nicodemus was to tell us that it does not matter how much religious education you have – how often you go to church – what religious holidays you celebrate – to have eternal life requires spiritual birth. Nicodemus thought that he was doing what was necessary – but Jesus said he was lacking something. Spiritual rebirth. Whenever I hear someone say I am a “fill in the denomination” and not a Christian, I think of Nicodemus. 

2. There is a difference between doing good things and being a Christian.

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ –  But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. -   The young man said to Him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what 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.” – Matthew 19:16-17,20 -22

The young man believed that if he did good things that would be sufficient for God to let him into heaven.  But Jesus said “No”, it is not enough.  There can be no room in your heart for anything but love and devotion to God for you to have eternal life – to be born again.  Everything else– how you live and love and treat others – flows out of that love. What you possess is inconsequential – spiritually speaking. The fact was – the young man loved money more than God.  Jesus saw his heart.  When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was (read Matthew 22:37-39) he said – love God above all and then love people more than you love yourself.  I suspect that the young man was more than willing to give out of his excess but not out of what he thought he needed for himself.  The problem, the young man trusted in himself, and the world more than he trusted God.

3. Spiritual truth cannot be understood apart from personal spiritual revelation.

“These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” – 1 Corinthians 2:13-14

Both Nicodemus and the young man understood that what they believed to be the way to heaven was not, according to Jesus.  But they could not understand the truth of what Jesus said and what they needed to do in response without the conviction of the Spirit of God. You cannot argue someone into heaven.  They must come under the conviction of the Spirit of God and yield their hearts to that conviction.  Very often, a struggle ensues.  That struggle is between our old nature – sinful – rebellious – self dependent – independent of God and the spiritual revelation that comes from the Spirit of God. 

4. We can share the Good News with people, but we can’t save them – they must come under the conviction of their sin which only the Holy Spirit can do.

“And when He [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” – John 16:8

5. Once we surrender to that conviction by faith – God, the Father – seals us with the Holy Spirit who then dwells in each Believer. 

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” –  Ephesians 1:13

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19

6. The only way to be born again is by confession in Jesus by faith – having a change of heart.

“if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” –  Romans 8:9-10

“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  – Ephesians 2:4-10

And that is the vision I had – that I was writing these verses and thoughts down to make it plain to Christians and perhaps to be used by the Spirit of God to those who do not believe.  While on the plane, I noticed the lead stewardess wore a cross on her necklace.  When I had the opportunity, I asked he if she was a Believer. She looked surprised at first then looked down at her necklace, touched it with her hand nervously, looked at me and said, “Yes, I am.” I told her that her necklace was a silent witness to her faith. 

Now for the “rest of the story”. In my vision, I saw only the order of the verses and then that I was sharing this with many people – groups of people who do not believe.  I don’t know what that means –  yet. Perhaps it is simply my sharing it with you and you sharing it with others, as opportunity presents itself. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

It’s Not The Hair It’s The Heart

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” — 1 Samuel 16:7

I stopped in a barber shop the other day – my hair was touching my ears – some part of the military me seems to still be with me.  As I was waiting for my turn, I noticed a young man getting his hair “coiffed” in the current style of the day for young men.  He paid his bill with a smile and gratitude - $97.  It was then that 1 Samuel 16:7 came to my mind.  Do people really notice a hair cut? The shape of your haircut – its presence or absence even – a haircut should not be the foundation for a relationship with others and never will be with God. A certain style might help you identify with a particular group of people – but that is all superficial to what really matters in life. 

We worry about what people see on the outside because we think it is a visual clue on what is on the outside. It might be clothes, hair, or maybe skin color – but, although it may give you some idea of what the person is like on the inside – it is not reliable.  That is what the Lord said to Samuel when he was going to anoint King Saul’s replacement.  It turned out to be David – the runt – the least likely. The one that did not have the faintest resemblance to Saul. Thinking about it, the only person that has ever commented on my haircut is my wife. I have never had someone say – “Great haircut!”, now it could be that I never have had a great haircut – but I don’t think people really notice – not really. The Barber asked if I wanted the back of my hair blocked or tapered. I told it didn’t matter, I can’t see it and no one has ever commented on it when it was one or the other. So it was the Barber’s choice. (I still have not looked)

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” – Jeremiah 7:9-10

People don’t really know what anyone is really like until they express what is in their heart through what they do and say. That was the Lord’s point.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” – Luke 6:45

Watching and listening brings discernment.  If you watch and listen – everyone will eventually express their heart.  Everyone can portray a good heart for a season – but it is so hard for those who do not have a good heart to pretend for long.  Eventually the heart will reveal itself. It is not judgement I am suggesting, but looking for the fruit that comes from the person’s heart. We can love others the way God loves us because He first loved us and we first love God. And what does a loving heart look like you might ask?

“Love is patient and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”– 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

So I said to the Barber, when she asked me how I wanted my hair cut, “You know, it is not about the hair, it is about the heart.” And then I said – “I don’t want the hair to touch my ears and my wife said to not let you trim my eyebrows.” I think she thought I was a just a little strange, but she obliged me.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone