When You Say Yes Lord, But Your Children Say No

"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." - Ephesians 2:8-9

If I say that you must be born again by the Spirit - like Jesus told Nicodemus and that the only way you can be saved is by grace through faith - I don't think that any Christian would argue with me. But - if I went on to say that it also applies to your children and you being a Christian does not guarantee that your offspring will be Christians - you would likely struggle with that thought. For good reason. You love your children and you want them to have eternal life by faith.  You might even think that somehow you are responsible if they are not Christians. I will address that but want to share a factoid with you first.  Did you know that there were 41 kings beginning with King Saul until the end of the reign of kings in 586BC. Of those 6 were faithful to God (good kings), 7 were on and off in their faithfulness (good and evil), and 28 were unfaithful (evil). Not a very good track record was it.  Wouldn't you think it would have been better than that? I did until I did some research.

Some perspective. God loved the world and sent His Son. (John 3:16) While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us - all of us. (Romans 5:8) Jesus lamented over Jerusalem for because of the people's rejection of the Way and Truth and Life. (Matthew 23:37)

So back to our kids. Certainly children born into families where the parents are Christians are without excuse. Meaning that they could never say they never heard the Gospel or never heard about Jesus. But having Christian parents does not guarantee that the children will be saved or not that their lives will not go off the moral rails at some point. Do you remember this verse.

"... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - Romans 3:23

How about this one.

"As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one" - Romans 3:10

Another verse.

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" - John 6:44

I would say there is a high probability of a child becoming a Christian when the parents are Christians, but it is not a guarantee. The reason is that salvation is an individual experience between the lost person and God.

I hasten to add that it is not uncommon for a child who has been saved to wander from the Way - especially as a teenager and young adult. That does not mean that they are not saved or have somehow lost their salvation. What it does mean is that the child has stepped out of the "umbrella of faith" of the parent and is now swimming on their own. Sometimes there is a great struggle and sometimes not. Our role as the parent is to be faithful to live our lives rightly as a witness to our children and to love them through that difficult time. You don't condone their choices, but you don't stop loving and praying for them.

I may have quoted this before, but it merits being said again. We don't take big problems to God but take our problems to a BIG God. The father of the prodigal son knew where his son was but waited for the son to repent - loving him all the while.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Confess 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 Bridge Builder - Leaving A Legacy

I read an article some years ago about some local fishermen who drowned in a river while fishing. What caught my attention was the last sentence in the article. "They were good Christian men." I don't know the men or their ages, but I do know that they left a legacy as faithful Jesus followers. Which gave me pause to consider my own life. 

When we are saved we are made perfect in the eyes of God because of His Son not because we are perfect in all of our ways. We all have others' eyes on us. People, I think, are desperate to know that our faith is real. We are living testimonies to that reality. They are looking for proof. That proof is the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit in us.

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Galatians 5:22-25

When our mom was saved, the four older children, including me, were skeptical. We knew what she had been like before. So we waited for proof that what she said she was wasn't true. The the old-mom was still there. But time proved to us that the old-mom was no more. That didn't mean that she lived a perfect and sinless life - but the change - the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit - was undeniable. So it could have been said at her passing, like those fishermen, that "She was a good Christian woman."

She, and my step-dad, left a legacy for their children. And so it is incumbent upon us to do the same. My children don't know what I was like before I was saved - but I do. I know that my grandchildren are watching me and Martie as we live our lives. We want to be bridge builders - legacy leavers for future generations pointing them to the Lord.  The way, the truth and the life.

I read a poem the other day that brought this home to me. The Bridge Builder - by Will Allen Dromgoole, written circa 1900

***

" An old man, going a lone highway, Came, at the evening, cold and gray, 

To a chasm, vast, and deep, and wide, Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim; The sullen stream had no fears for him;

But he turned, when safe on the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim, near, "You are wasting strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day; You never again must pass this way;

You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide- Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head: "Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,

"There followeth after me today A youth, whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm, that has been naught to me, To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building the bridge for him." End

***

So who are you building a bridge for? Or are you just making your own way and have decided by choice or neglect that those who follow must do the same?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Confess 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 Trouble With Temptation

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." - Titus 2:11-14

There is a difference between being faced with temptation and succumbing to it and embracing those things by which we are tempted. So long as we live and breathe in this "earth suit" we will be faced with temptation to sin. I have not met a person who does not face the struggle. In fact the Word speaks directly to it. 

"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

Everyone is tempted. We are not all tempted by the same things but there is something or many things that tempts us to sin. God has provided a way to resist the temptation. To be clear, temptation is not sin. But sin is always preceded by temptation. Remember David and Bathsheba. 

"It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child." 2 Samuel 11:2-5

If we break this down. David was supposed to be with his men who had gone off to war, but he stayed behind. He was not where he was supposed to be. On his rooftop David saw a woman bathing and rather than turn away he looked at her, letting the temptation get stronger, and then called for her. He knew she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. He acted on the temptation and he had sex with her and she got pregnant. If you read further - David compounded his sin by trying to cover it up. First by bringing Uriah back from the war so he could have sex with his wife and then David could claim it was Uriah's child not his. Turned out that Uriah was a man of character and would not lay with his wife when the rest of his comrades were fighting in a war. So David had Uriah moved up to the most dangerous place in the battle and Uriah was killed.

Do you see how when we yield to temptation, sin takes root and then gives birth to more sin. Psalm 51 is about David's response when he is confronted by the Prophet Nathan recorded in 2 Samuel 12. David came under conviction and repented before the Lord.

In Psalm 51 David cried out to the Lord - "Create in me a clean heart oh Lord and renew a right Spirit in me. Do not cast me from your presence. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation." Living with unconfessed sin - with an unclean heart and hands stifles fellowship with God. Nathan told David a story and David said the man Nathan talked about should be punished. Nathan said, "You are the man!"

Don't think you are above temptation and the sin that follows.

"Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." - James 1:13-15

Guard your heart! 

"But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:18-27

When you see that your next step will be on the path to sin, take another path.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Confess 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 

Who Decides What Is Good? - God Does Not You

To him who overcomes… —Revelation 2:7

I just read a post the other day saying that most Christians think they are like King David - whole hearted for God, but are really like King Saul - serving God half heartedly. 

Most Christians don’t struggle with those things that are blatantly “evil”, but with those things that seem, on the surface, to be “good”.  Good as defined by our culture and our traditions, not God. There is a movement in our culture, in particular, to redefine the definition of “good” or what is not sin. Isaiah wrote …  

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” - Isaiah 5:20

Today, centuries later, men continued to strive to be like God and define what is good and acceptable.  Paul wrote in the beginning of his letter to the Romans .. 

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. … they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools… And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." - Romans 18,20-22,28-32

When the young man called Jesus a “good teacher”, Jesus responded 

“Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." - Matthew 19:17

In other words, Jesus was saying “My Father is the only source for what is good”. He is the only One who decides what is good - what is right.  However most cultures reject God and choose to define their own morality and embrace their own definition of what is good and right.  Jesus accused the Church of Ephesus of being lukewarm in Revelation 2.  They wanted to have their cake and eat it too.  That is embrace God and embrace the world, at the same time.  When there is a clash of definitions of good and sin, God is often abandoned in favor of the culture's definition of good.  God is rejected and the culture is embraced. Those Christians who do it feel justified. It is the temptation of “Everyone is doing it”  or "Going along to get along" 

His Spirit convicts us of sin, but we have within our capacity to quench the Spirit. We are in a spiritual battle that manifests itself in the way people live and believe.  My encouragement to you .. 

 “Choose this day whom you will serve .. but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" - Joshua 24:15

 Make it more than a catch phrase or a plaque on your living room wall.  Make it a commitment … everyday … and more than that … do live like you mean it!

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 

Life Is A Highway

"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling" - Psalm 46:1-3

I heard a great sermon on these 3 verses today. The emphasis was that we will not fear EVEN THOUGH things may not be going our way. Like our three friend Shadrach,  Meshack, and Abed Nego - we feel the heart of the furnace - we can respond with confidence that God is with us. Another preacher, last Sunday said - we don't take big problems to God - we take our problems to our BIG God. The word for God in the first verse of Psalm 46 is Elohim - the transcendent Creator of all things. Let me remind you what God's word says.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:11-13

Our present circumstances don't change that truth.  Jesus said

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." - John 16:33

Don't believe that being a Christian shields you from problems in this life. It doesn't. Paul wrote ....

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you." - 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

As the pastor said today, "We are on a journey. We know where we started from. We know where our destination is. But most often we don't know where we are at the moment. Jesus said don't worry!

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Matthew 6:25-34

We are to live by faith and not by sight. Easy to say, but it requires deliberate submission to the Spirit of God and full trust in God. So what are you facing today that you did not expect? Trust 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 

Keeping Politics Out Of The Church

"And He [Jesus] said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." - Matthew 22:20-22

Jesus made it clear that there are two domains of authority. God's domain and Caesar's or mankind’s domain. What should we do when they are in conflict with each other?

The Pharisees plotted on how they might entangle Jesus in His teachings. So they sent some of their henchmen to ask Jesus about the legitimacy of paying taxes to Caesar.

That confrontation speaks to an important issue that faces the Body of Christ. What to do when there is a conflict between the God’s and man’s domains. In other words – the worldly domain says something is right when God has made it clear that it is wrong or, conversely, the worldly domain says something is wrong when God has made it clear that it is right.

There are times, of course, when there is no conflict, and in those cases, Christians should render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. Like paying taxes.

But should a conflict arise between the two on some other issue then, as children of God, we are bound to yield to God and not man. And although we would be right in the eyes of God, we would be wrong in Caesar's eyes and may well suffer legal consequences for our actions and decision to obey God.

However, as salt and light we, Christians, have a biblical responsibility – a mandate if you will - to speak up and stand in agreement with God.

So why bring this up? I recently read a post about the separation of church and state and whether it is permissible for a pastor to speak out against actions taken by the government from the pulpit. 

You may not have given this much thought – but you should. We – the body of Christ - live in spiritually perilous times.

So, when is it OK to speak about the moral conflicts that arise and when should Christians, and pastors in particular, be silent? 

There are two aspects to this issue. One is what the First Amendment to the United States Constitution says and second is what the IRS Tax Code has to say about it.

Let’s talk about the First Amendment

The First Amendment to the Constitution says : Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion (meaning no national religion), or prohibiting the free exercise thereof (freedom of religion); or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

So, you see, the intent of the First Amendment was and is to keep government influence out of churches practicing the Christian faith – or any other religious faith for that matter and not attempt to keep the influence of our faith out of the government. 

No matter which religion is being followed, if the government enacts laws or policies that are contrary to the beliefs of a particular faith, the people following that belief system face a conflict of obedience to follow their belief system and not the government’s laws or policies.

If they choose their religious beliefs, then the term for that is peaceful civil disobedience.

As an example, I am certain you remember the dilemma that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego faced in Daniel chapter 3. 

When King Nebuchadnezzar was told that they had refuse to bow before his golden statue he was furious. He confronted the 3 men and gave them another chance to comply or get tossed into the fiery furnace.

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." - Daniel 3:16-18

In this case, God had made it clear that His children are to serve no other gods and have total devotion to Him. And the 3 men were not willing to sin against God no matter what the worldly consequences. And as you know there were consequences but when the king looked in the furnace, he saw 4 men not three. God was with them.

Ok so that is the First Amendment which does not limit what the Pastor says from the pulpit or in writing. But does not absolve people from the consequences of disobeying man’s law in favor of God’s law.

People no longer get tossed into furnaces for choosing their faith over the Caesar – but they can land themselves in jail or have to pay a fine. 

Second is the IRS Tax code

Personally, I think this is where some of the confusion about separation of church and state may arise because of a rule the IRS has about 501(c)3 non-profit organizations and their being banned from political campaigning.

If a church wants to avoid paying taxes it must apply for a 501(c)3 exemption from the government. When Churches are designated as 501(c)3 non-profit charities they don’t pay Federal taxes and the donations or tithes they receive are not taxable for the donors

However, Section 501(c)3 of the IRS tax code prohibits organizations who are granted the exemption from explicitly supporting candidates and/or parties. So the Church is effectively agreeing that it will not explicitly support candidates or parties.

Before I elaborate on this, I must add that in 2020 there were 370 religious bodies, over 350,000 congregations in the United States. My point is that this restriction, in my view, is virtually unenforceable. Churches that have lost their status was because of financial issues, not faith issues.

So what is the ban on political campaign activity?

The ban on political campaign activity is a requirement imposed by Congress for the privilege of being recognized as exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Tax Code says for an organization to be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) it cannot “participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” Charities, educational institutions and religious organizations, including churches, are among those tax-exempt organizations restricted.

That means that per the written agreement with the IRS a pastor cannot tell his congregation either verbally or in writing to vote or not vote for a particular person or party. Since the IRS cannot really provide oversight of 350,000 congregations, it becomes a matter of integrity on the part of the church and the pastor.

The ban on political campaign activity does not restrict leaders (pastors) of organizations from expressing their views on political matters if they are speaking for themselves as individuals. But frankly in my experience this is hard to do as a leader. Most people see a pastor as always expressing the position of the church and not just his own.] Nor are leaders (pastors) prohibited from speaking about important issues of public policy.  (like abortion or gay marriage)

A pastor can encourage the congregation to vote, fulfilling their civic duty, but not who or what party to vote for.

If Caesar has instituted a policy that is in conflict with God's Word then a pastor is free, and I would say obligated, to speak against it (First Amendment) so long has it does not take on speaking against political parties which would be promoting one over the other (501(c)3). If that happened then the church could lose its non-profit status.

I hope this brings clarity to the Church and State conundrum. 

Both Pastors and Christians do have a responsibility to speak to the moral issues of the day. Pastors must help their congregations understand the moral issues that are embedded in the political process and laws. They should equip their congregations to embrace a biblical worldview in a world that hates God and ignores His law. 

It is the responsibility of the pastor to help the congregation become like the sons of Issachar, mighty men of David) who understood the times having spiritual discernment. To not only embrace a biblical world view and understand the times but be willing to stand against those things in Caesars domain that are contrary to what belongs to God. For that – like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego it requires conviction of your beliefs, moral courage, and a devoted heart to 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

Trusting God - Even When Things Don't Seem To Be Going Your Way

I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. —Genesis 9:13

 “Waiting for God to act is fleshly unbelief. It means that I have no faith in Him. I wait for Him to do something in me so I may trust in that. But God won’t do it, because that is not the basis of the God-and-man relationship. Man must go beyond the physical body and feelings in his covenant with God, just as God goes beyond Himself in reaching out with His covenant to man. It is a question of faith in God— a very rare thing. We only have faith in our feelings. I don’t believe God until He puts something tangible in my hand, so that I know I have it. Then I say, “Now I believe.” There is no faith exhibited in that. God says, “Look to Me, and be saved…” (Isaiah 45:22). When I have really transacted business with God on the basis of His covenant, letting everything else go, there is no sense of personal achievement— no human ingredient in it at all. Instead, there is a complete overwhelming sense of being brought into union with God, and my life is transformed and radiates peace and joy.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

You may have heard the saying “Those who can’t do, teach.” Well, that may be true for some, but there are many teachers who are masters at their discipline and have chosen to teach others in that discipline, communicating their skills and knowledge they have gained  in “the real world” in the classroom.  In the same way, I could not write the words that I do, had I not experienced what I write about.  That is the nature of discipleship.  I can study books that tell me about flying, but unless I actually have flown, it’s all hypothetical.  God has called Martie and me to a life that is unfettered from conventional wisdom.  In other words, we do things that don’t make sense to “reasonable-rational” men … for example you wouldn't do what we have done if you want a secure retirement and to live the American dream.  Nothing wrong with those things .. that is unless they are the source of your saying “no” to God.  If that is the case, they are stumbling blocks and should be tossed aside.

The most important question for a Christian to answer is .. “Do I trust God?” The antithesis is “Do I trust something else .. like my 401K, more?”  Right now we are in Texas.  I left a good job … with no guarantee that I would have enough money to pay my bills in a month. We lost our health insurance … with no assurance that Medicare would be sufficient to meet our health needs.  We left our family .. again … with no assurance that we would ever enjoy the family dynamics that all families look forward to.  We  lived in a travel trailer that rocks as the wind whistles around it.  But wait .. there is more!  We came to Texas because God said “Go”.  The people here wondered where the rest of the volunteers were.  As if it was the volunteers that would “save the day”.  They seemed to be waiting for us to get started … and some days .. we were waiting for the same thing … It is in that context that I read Chamber's devotion … and heard the Lord ask me, “Do you trust Me?  We do and God has provided all along the way.

Abraham followed God and did not know where he was going.  He trusted God without seeing.  Life is like that.  We should not presume that we can get ahead of God. Martie and I are in the center of His will for us, of that we are confident.  We are doing what He called us to do.  Worldly consequences are not the measure of the “rightness” of the call.  If things don’t seem to be going the way you thought they would … will you still follow God and walk in obedience to what you “do” know? People asked Noah where the rain was.  God was holding it back. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we must be obedient to what we know today.  And when we are asked … will volunteers come to help us … our answer will be “Bondye Konnen” – God Knows. Si Bondye vle – God willing, they will come – or God will provide in some other way.  But even if the volunteers didn't come, right now, we must rest in our knowledge of God’s faithfulness. 

I often use Proverbs 3:5-6 as an encouragement .. but wanted to share the wisdom that is wrapped around those verses … 

 “…. do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you;  bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones." - Proverbs 3:1-8

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

Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Will Provide

"Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided." - Genesis 22:13-14

When Abraham took Isaac to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him, Abraham had an attitude of total dedication and dependence on God. There was nothing in Abraham's heart that was withheld from God. When Abraham was about to plunge the knife into his son, God stayed his hand. Abraham had passed the test of faith. In Abraham's heart - his only son was already sacrificed. And Abraham's faith was reconned unto him as righteousness.

We must be careful that we don't approach God half- heartedly. Devoted partly to God and partly to ourselves. Then expect God to bless us for the portion of devotion we are willing to "toss" His way. The Word is clear!

"Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation."- Psalm 24:3-5

Abraham named that altar, "The Lord Will Provide" or Jehovah Jireh. And He will - but be careful lest you forget we have access to the throne of grace on His conditions and the sacrifice of His Son and not on ours. 

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

Going To Church

 "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another" - Hebrews 10:25

I used this verse to start a BLOG post about understanding that the church building is the place where the Church or Body of Christ assembles. The Spirit of God does not reside in the building, but in each and every Believer. What makes the church building special is the assembling of the Church in that building.

"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." - Matthew 18:20

What I did not want to make clear was I was not suggesting that it is not necessary to assemble for corporate worship. I recall a story about Chuck Colson. He was an American attorney and political advisor who served as Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1970. Once known as President Nixon's "hatchet man", Colson gained notoriety at the height of the Watergate scandal, for being named as one of the Watergate Seven and also for pleading guilty to obstruction of justice for attempting to defame Pentagon Papers defendant Daniel Ellsberg. Chuck was born again while serving a prison sentence for his offenses. He subsequently started a ministry call Prison Fellowship.

After his release from prison, Chuck met with a man at Chuck's home.  The man was telling Chuck that he didn't need other Christians - just Jesus. Chuck got up from his chair, went to the fireplace and pulled am ember from the fire with tongs. He waled back to his chair and silently stared at the ember until it died out. Then he told his friend, "That is what the Christian life is like for the one who thinks that they don't need other Christians!" 

We come to church to worship the Lord in song and prayer, listen to the Word of God preached, fellowship with other Christians and receive training in the faith. 

"As iron sharpens iron, So a man [one Christian] sharpens the countenance of  his friend [another Christian]." - Proverbs 27:17

Assembling together is important to the health of our faith and spending time alone in the "garden" is also important to the health of our faith. We should not neglect either one of them. 

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

We Are In A Battle

 “I am a Soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.” -  George S Patton, Jr.

Does that seem like an odd way to begin a Christian devotion? Perhaps - but I guess you should consider the source. I spent a good bit of my life as a soldier. Being a right minded soldier is about being ready to serve with the proper attitude and devotion. Being a right minded Christian is the same thing. Paul often used the analogy of Christians being like soldiers.

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." - 2 Timothy 2:3-4

The life we live once we are born again is a constant battle. We are in constant spiritual warfare. It may not feel like it all the time, but is true nonetheless. As children of God we are enemies of the god of this world and at odds with people who are not born again.  It may not feel like it all the time, but is true nonetheless. We are told to "suit up" in preparation for the struggles we will assuredly face.

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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 6:11-13

We fight many battles in this new life - we don't win them all - but we have won the war through faith in Jesus Christ over sin and death. 

"So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?" - 1 Corinthians 15:54-55

We had a saying in the Army - we fight the way we train. If you want to be successful in your new life you must put on the full Armor of God. What are we told to do?

"Stand. Gird our waists with truth. Put on the breastplate of righteousness. Shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Take the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Be watchful to this end with all perseverance." - Ephesians 6:4-18

All of those admonishments are deliberate - intentional - actions. They don't just happen on their own. We are not children where someone must dress us, pin a note on our shirt and send us off to school - we are soldiers. Born for battle. Ready to stand our ground. Our eyes fixed on the Lord of Hosts. Our hearts devoted to only One - the Creator God. 

We have no reason to fear. 

"Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, Here I am." - Isaiah 58:8-9

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

We Don't Go To Church - We Are The Church

"not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another" - Hebrews 10:25

Martie and I heard a great sermon some time back.  The preacher was from Indonesia.  Christians from other countries, particularly Third World countries have a different perspective on the brand of Christianity from what is prevalent in the United States.  He said that we define Church in one of three ways.  1. As a Gas station.  That is where we go each Sunday to “fill up” spiritually so we can get through another week. 2. As a Cinema.  We go each Sunday to watch a show, maybe have an emotional response to what we see or hear, but take away nothing that might influence how we live. Or 3. As a super-market.  A one stop shop.  We have a need that must be met … we go have that need met. The bottom line in all three, it is all about us and what we get out of it .. for us. And we are never satisfied. Actually, attending the church service is a celebration, not the be all end all.  It is a gathering of His Church.

I remember a rhyme I learned as a child. Folding my hands together and intertwining my fingers I would say "Here is the church and here is the steeple. Open my hands as see all the people." The world should not have to go to a building to see the Church. Many if not most Christians in the United States don’t understand what the Church, that has Christ as the cornerstone, is all about.  The main purpose of the Church is to expand the Kingdom and to bring glory to God.  Not make me comfortable and feel good. The local church building is an equipping center not a haven from a sinful world. The reason Jesus wants you to be a disciple is so you can be a fisher of men (people) like Jesus, not merely to make you a better person, better than your neighbor.  Jesus said “Go!”  Jesus said “Pick up your cross and follow Me.”  Do what Jesus did.  Jesus said “Lay down your life for others.”  Jesus said “Love God with everything you have.”  Jesus said “If you love Me, then do what I say.”  When Joshua wrote that he must obey God's Word and then he would be prosperous and successful, does your mind of material wealth as success? (Joshua 1:8-9) That is your flesh speaking.  The Word says do not love the world or the things of this world.  Love God.  So how does that fit your idea of Christianity and the Church?  The proof of your belief is not in what you say you believe, but in how you live that belief out day by 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

How Do You Spell Blessed?

"Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power? Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves without miscarriage. They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance. They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice to the sound of the flute. They spend their days in wealth, And in a moment go down to the grave. Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?"- Job 21: 7-15

There was a TV commercial some years ago that asked the question - "How do you spell RELIEF?" The answer was R-O-L-A-I D-S (Rolaids - tastes like a mint, works like a miracle!) Who says that advertising doesn't make an impression on our minds???  Reading in the Book of Job as he grappled with the disasters that had befallen him - trying to reason it all out. He had lived a life that honored God and yet one disaster after another had come upon him and yet when he looked around he could see people who did not honor God with their lives living - essentially - trouble free. 

"for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." - Matthew 5:45

The fact of the matter is that living a trouble free and financially prosperous life is not proof of righteous living. On the other hand it is not necessarily a sign of unrighteous living either.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." - 1 John 2:15

Having things is not the problem. The things having you is the problem. It is easy to become convinced that the proof being right with God is being financially prosperous and being trouble free physically and relationally. But that reasoning  is what a friend of mine would call "stinkin' thinkin'". Supplanting spiritual truth with the world's definition of success. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was He did not say make sure you invest in a good 401K.

"Teacher [Jesus], which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." - Matthew 22:36-37

When you love God with your whole heart then there is no room for another love. And if you make room - then God will be edged out. You may praise Him with your lips but your heart will be far from Him. (Matthew 15:8)

You will make decisions to secure the things of this world to the detriment of your devotion to God. At the same time, convincing yourself that your prosperity is proof of your right living. Most of the Body of Christ is not rich in the treasures of this world and it is not because they are sinful. 

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

According to the World Bank, almost half the world’s population is living in poverty, subsisting on less than $6.85 per day. If you are healthy and or wealthy you are more of an exception than the rule. The second greatest commandment is to ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ We have a moral - even Biblical - responsibility to "cross the road" and help those in need. And not just build bigger barns for ourselves. (Luke 12:16-21)

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