Words Are Not Enough

"If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." - James 2:15-18

There are three "T"s, Time, Talent, and Treasure, that sum up the idea of Christian works. Works being actions taken by a Christian that are birthed out of their faith and more specifically, their love for God. We protect our time don't we. We treat time is as a valuable resource and we decide how it will be spent or allocated. That love manifests itself in love directed toward other people. Love is not an attitude it is an action. Our talents which are given by God are intended to be used for His glory and the good of others. If you could pull your talents out of your pocket to show the Lord that you have them - would they look like they were brand new? Or would they be crumpled and stained by your life's journey. We are given talents so they can be used for the benefit of others. Treasure - uh oh - here it comes! It is not just money but it can be money. Perhaps it is money that has been foregone because you rejected financial success for service to others. Perhaps it is money because your discretionary income was used to help others and not to feather your nest or enable to travel or buy the next thing that you might find joy and satisfaction in. Or perhaps like time and talents, to properly respond to the Spirit will require a sacrifice on your part.

"I  [Paul] appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2

Feeling sorry for someone and doing nothing - meaning that the Spirit prompted you to action and you chose to give them an encouraging word instead - or perhaps not even that - a kind thought. Or maybe worse - you decided to play the role of Job's "friends" and think they needed to deal with their sin to find God's favor again.  Well, those are temptations that we all must confront - recognize them for what they are and rebuke them.

That is not to say we must help everyone that comes our way. Jesus did not heal or feed everyone - but He brought a greater gift - salvation. Living water. Bread of Heaven. Spiritual healing. Our whole purpose is not just to bring temporary relief to others - although we do that - but to point them to Jesus.

"But Peter said, I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" - Acts 3:6

You may not feel you have much to offer, but you are a child of the King and His ambassador in a world that desperately needs saving. Words may not be enough but a life lived by faith to the glory of God is.

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

An Audience Of One

"I can of Myself do nothing. ........ I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." - John 5:30

Jesus said that.

"I live before the audience of One-before others I have nothing to gain, nothing to lose, nothing to prove." 

Os Guinness, a modern day theologian said that.

I don't know if Os Guiness was the first to say that in terms of how he lives his new life in Christ. I do know that Jesus was the first to say what He said. We are to live our lives with one focus in mind, to live and do for an audience of One - the Creator God. Many people - many Christians live their lives trying to impress or please other people. They are sensitive to rejection or criticism. Disheartened when relationships crash like a ship on the rocks, broken and unrepairable. People become dominated with the thought that what other people think is has primacy over what God thinks.

"for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God." - John 12:43

It is so easy to chase the approval of other people, even to the detriment of walking in obedience and finding God's approval.  People liking me or praising me is not the validator of my walk with God.  I don't do things so as to win the favor of other people. I do things out of obedience to God's call and will. Seem to lofty to you? It is the essence of our faith and new life. Of course you must be certain that it is God you are following and not your own imagination.

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" - Proverbs 14:12

Too often I have seen someone's faithful service derailed by the opinion or criticism of another person. In the face of that turmoil, God is removed from the equation. It becomes a carnal - a natural thing. Often the result is terminal with respect to that person's service.

Live for an audience of One. All other people are merely by-standers.  For some that is a tall order because they worry about what others think more than what God thinks. I think it is a form of co-dependency. Which is - a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person manifesting low self-esteem and a strong desire for approval has an unhealthy attachment to another often controlling or manipulative person. 

The low self esteem comes from a lack of faith and spiritual maturity. In other words, they lack confidence of who they are in Christ and their sufficiency in the eyes of God. Their feeling of well being is dependent upon how other people respond to them = even in the context of their new life in Christ.  

Be careful that you do not give credit and weight to others' opinions when that credit and weight is not due. When criticism and adversity comes - that is "when" not "if", you must be prepared to rebuff it with the Truth of who you are and Who you live for and serve.  

This word is for someone. Who, I don't know. It is meant to encourage. Not everyone wishes you harm. To you give spiritual perspective, read Galatians 5:16-26. It will give you some context on how people around you behave and what their underlying motivation is. Thinking of another song ...

"When it's all been said and done There is just one thing that matters Did I do my best to live for truth? Did I live my life for you?

When it's all been said and done All my treasures will mean nothing Only what I've done for love's reward Will stand the test of time" When It's All Been Said And Done, Don Moen.

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

Living By Faith Confounds The World – But Is Profound To The Body Of Christ

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death ..." Philippians 3:8-11

A few years ago, I was working at home damaged in Texas by Hurricane Harvey, when a man from the Gas Company came to turn the gas on.  I happened to be working by myself, as I do on occasion, and he asked me where my help was.  I told him that I was working alone that day and that was a segue for me to talk about Pathfinder Mission and God’s call to serve others.  He was intrigued and asked more questions.  I could tell by his expression and the language (words) he used that he was a Believer.  There was a connection between us. I don’t know if you have experienced it, but the Spirit resonates between Believers.  The spiritual connection was obvious but is unspoken and super-natural. He commented on the good thing we are doing and left by saying “God bless you in your work.” 

Listen – we are not to revel in difficult situations that we find ourselves in – but I was reminded that our light will shine brightly when we walk through difficult situations by faith. Martie and I live like we do by choice.  It is necessary to live like we do to do what we do. We could choose to do something else .. to live somewhere else .. to just walk away.  But this is the thing – we are compelled by God’s call to serve others.  That means we must be willing to abandon what many consider to be vital to their wellbeing.  

That is true for every Christian.  What that looks like in each person’s life may be different.  Martie and I are not wearing animal skins and eating locusts and honey, like John the Baptist, but in the view of many Americans we are not far from it.  The point today is that I want to encourage you to make your faith the thing that shapes your life and your desires.  One of our life verses is Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  That verse does not mean that God is some divine waiter – ready to serve up whatever you want. But when you make Him your first priority, He will change your heart and when He does that – what you want and think you need will also change. So today, sitting in this travel trailer in Florida next to a pond that has an alligator in it might not be so bad!  Not when He is all you need.  

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:11-13

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

Letting Your Light Shine Even When It Hurts Someone's Eyes

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." - Matthew 5:14-15

What means or measure do you use to filter life’s events? In other words .. what is the source from which you respond to what happens to you and around you?  Since this is a faith-based BLOG, the “right” answer would be - your faith.  But that may not be what actually happens. We might like it to be that way, but so often we stumble as we walk in the Way.  If we fail to embrace the primacy of our new nature in our life then we will put the natural in the front of the line .. at the top of the stack of responses to life.  

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 

The life I now live in the body .. means my natural life has been usurped by Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  How I respond to life, now, should always be based on who I am in Christ.  Romans 12:2 says don’t be conformed to the natural but be transformed by the supernatural.  Loving God with all of you does not leave any room for the flesh and the natural.  When Jesus said 

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:26-27  

That means that you must put the natural in its proper place and it cannot be ahead of Jesus and your new life. Most people want to be in harmony with their family.  Sometimes our faith gets in the way of that natural harmony.  Many people want the acceptance of their family more than anything.  If you are a Christian, that may not be possible if acceptance by your family means that you must be willing to compromise your faith.  

Have you ever “tucked your faith in your pocket” when you are around certain people so as not to offend them?  If you have, you put the natural ahead of the supernatural.  You chose to deny your faith in favor of  acceptance from the world .. and that, sadly, may include your family and friends.  You don’t have to be offensive, but you should also not be apologetic.  We are called to be salt and light.  Salt that has lost its saltiness …its ability to do what it was created to do … flavor and heal … is good for nothing and should be cast out to be trampled under men’s feet. (Matthew 5:13) That doesn’t sound good does it.

The world is trying hard to erase the Truth and substitute a lie in its place.  And in the face of that ... you and I are to be spiritual salt and light – what we were reborn to be (2 Corinthians 5:17).   Have you ever been in a dark room when someone opened the curtains or turned the lights on.  Did it hurt your eyes?  That is what you do spiritually when you are around other people who are living in darkness.  Be the light!  You don't have to be "in your face" with your faith, but then you should not be apologetic. 

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

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

A Particular Thought About What Love Is

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." -  John 13:35

Some mornings I wake up to a particular thought. A thought that was prompted by the Spirit, I believe, and I sit down at my computer to write it down.  Not so much for you who are reading this right now, but for me so I can capture the thought. The particular thought has to do with love and marriage. Martie and I will be married for 52 years next January. We were 21 when we got married which means that we have spent the majority of our lives together. The first day that I saw that really cute girl serving behind the soda fountain counter at Tobin Drug store I had no idea that she would be the one I would spend my life with. I could write much about that, and perhaps I will, later, but then I would not be writing about the particular thought.

Jesus brought a profound spiritual truth to light during His ministry on Earth.  He showed us what the love of God the Father was like by demonstrating it on the Cross and telling us that as God's children we should do the same. Many people confuse God's children with created mankind. All people are not God's children, spiritually speaking, but they are part of His creation. When Jesus said "Love one another", He was not saying "do the best you can". That is no different from the love the rest of the world has to offer. Reciprocal love. Speaking about that, Jesus said .... 

".... if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." - Luke 6:32-33

What the world offers is a kind of love that says, "I love you because you love me and if you don't love me then I am not obliged to love you back." In contrast, as a Christian, I love you because God's love flows through me. It is spiritually natural for His love to flow through me to you. Loving proactively not conditionally.

Back to that browned eyed girl behind the counter for a moment. At first I was physically attracted to her. We fell in love and got married before we were Christians. It was not until we both knelt next to the bed together and prayed the prayer of faith that I began to learn what love is the way God intended it to be. With respect to how we are to love our wives, men, the Apostle Paul said wrote this to the Church of Ephesus.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her." - Ephesians 5:25 

That could take us to a whole different devotion on how Christ loved the church. We won't "chase that rabbit" today. And BTW, Paul was not saying that wives do not have to love their husbands in the same way. They are. Jesus also said that by applying it to all Christians on many other occasions as did Paul. (e.g., John 15:13, Matthew 22:37-39). But here Paul was saying that husbands are to love their wives ahead of themselves. Husbands are the head of the wives just like Jesus is the head of the church. (Ephesians 5:23) And what did Jesus do? He went to the cross for us. And so, what are husbands to do for their wives? Yep - offer themselves as a sacrifice. Be head but be a servant at the same time. To be the head as being spiritually responsible to be an example to the wife and family, not as lording the fact that you are head over them. That is abuse of power - spiritually speaking. And unfortunately, it happens all of the time. 

I remember helping one particular family. The home owner was a widow. One day, her son - in his late teens, told me out of the blue, that he was the head of the household. I thought that was an odd thing to tell me at the time. But realized that he was letting me know that he was the bull of that pasture - establishing that he was the one in charge, not his mom. I thought, "Friend, you have no idea what that means." 

So, having said all of that, what was this particular thought? Here it is.

"... husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered." 1 Peter 3:7

The idea of "understanding", is that husbands are to be like students majoring in loving their wives. A wife is or should be the single, most important person on this planet to the husband. His life's work is understanding his wife - honoring her - knowing her strengths and her weakness. Her hopes and her fears. Readily showing her grace and mercy. Life gives me pop-quizzes everyday when it comes to loving my wife. Sometimes more than one a day! Personally, I want an "A" on my report card when I show it to my Father! 

Something I find peculiar about my brain is that often, I think a thought and then I remember a song. I will close this particular thought with this song that came to mind. It is about being a student of your wife. 

"Sometimes in the mornin' when shadows are deep I lie here beside you just watching you sleep

And sometimes I whisper what I'm thinking of My cup runneth over with love

Sometimes in the evening when you do not see I study the small things you do constantly
I memorize moments that I'm fondest of My cup runneth over with love

In only a moment we both will be old We won't even notice the world turning cold
And so, in these moments with sunlight above My cup runneth over with love" Ed Ames, My Cup Runneth Over

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

Living Like There Is Always Tomorrow

"Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" - Luke 12:16-20

I often think about that parable in the context of how I am living my life. What my priorities are. What I put my hope and confidence in. What I invest my life in. We are not promised our next breath and yet, we live like there will be a thousand tomorrows. That is until we are reminded by some malady that befalls us or someone we care about or learn of the unexpected death of someone we care about and especially when they are younger than we are.

"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." - James 4:13-15

In Haitian Creole the words are "Si Bondye Vle" meaning if the Lord wants or wills. The point, we should be living like each day is our last. With our eyes and hearts fixed on heaven and not earth. What would you have done differently today if you knew that you would not see tomorrow? Like the man building bigger barns, would you be feathering your own nest? It is not wrong to be a good steward of what you are given by God to steward. But it is so easy to lose sight of why you have been given it. Might be money or it might be time you are stewarding.

Some dear friends of ours live a relatively simple life by choice. They say that they live simply so others can simply live. There is a term that I learned in sociology 101 in 1971, "conspicuous consumption". The term might be another way of saying "building bigger barns". People buying things that far exceed their needs as a way of proclaiming their affluence to the world. Others may be impressed, even envious, but God is not. Not should you be.

So -- what would you do differently if you knew that today or tomorrow would be your last day? 

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

Why You Can't Get No Satisfaction

…All my springs are in you. —Psalm 87:7

"Our Lord never “patches up” our natural virtues, that is, our natural traits, qualities, or characteristics. He completely remakes a person on the inside— “…put on the new man…” (Ephesians 4:24). In other words, see that your natural human life is putting on all that is in keeping with the new life. The life God places within us develops its own new virtues, not the virtues of the seed of Adam, but of Jesus Christ. Once God has begun the process of sanctification in your life, watch and see how God causes your confidence in your own natural virtues and power to wither away. No natural love, no natural patience, no natural purity can ever come up to His demands. But as we bring every part of our natural bodily life into harmony with the new life God has placed within us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristic of the Lord Jesus." Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

I was watching a documentary of sorts on PBS one evening.  It was about people going back to the country of their ancestors.  They wanted to recapture the culture and the religious practices of that country.  To restore what was lost through the generations.  To cling to the “seed of Adam” as if somehow that would make them right with the world and satisfy a void in their life. Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician and philosopher wrote “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus”  Along the same vein, C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” To quote a famous "poet of our time" - Mick Jagger - "I can't get no satisfaction!" 

2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if we are “in Christ” – redeemed – save – reborn by the Spirit – we are new, the old has passed away and all things are becoming new – living the sanctified life.  Sanctified – set apart – consecrated for a holy purpose.  In our struggle to satisfy the yearning that God has put in each of us, our natural man turns to natural things … possession .. heritage … but never finds it - satisfaction that is.  That is because only God can fill the void through Jesus Christ.  The other solutions seem reasonable but are fleeting and fall short over time … but then God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts …

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

My encouragement to you is to keep this fresh in your mind.  To have a spiritual perspective on what is going on around you.  That your natural inclination is to try to find satisfaction through the things of this world - accumulation - wealth - heritage - the natural things - the things that the world tells us are the answer to our desires … but the truth is you will only find satisfaction in Jesus.  And if Jesus doesn’t do the trick, well – Houston you have a problem!  Perhaps it is an indication that you need to spiritually recalibrate your heart and mind.  To shake off the influence of the old and fully embrace the new.  It requires discipline and the pursuing the things of God through His Word, prayer and worship.  That is my hope for you.   But that is why I write these devotions - that you would be encouraged to understand and embrace this.

"You [Jesus] are my Strength when I am weak. You are the Treasure that I seek. You are my All in all. Seeking You as a precious Jewel, Lord to give up I’d be a fool. You are my All in all! Taking my cross my sin my shame, Rising again I praise Your Name. You are my All in all. When I fall down You lift me up. When I am dry You fill my cup. You are my All in all." - All In All, Dennis Jernigan 2004

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