Why Would You Ask For Help From A Drowning Man

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17

“Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind…is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected?” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

In today’s culture when someone says “Prejudice”, the narrow definition is racial prejudice or bias. But it could also mean that something that the culture embraces as truth is in fact a lie - contrary the the Word of God. Choosing to believe the Word over your culture might label you as a hater, a bigot, or prejudice.  

The root of the word -prejudice - has to do with having a biased opinion about something.  Typically that could be a negative thing - a dislike, even hatred, of people of other races or, today, other moral practices.  Racial bias is one of the prejudices that has been a bane to the Church.  It was said that 11:00 am on Sunday morning was the most racially divided hour of the week. Racial bigotry is part of our old nature. People have argued for years that one race is superior to another.  Typically it is the majority race in any culture that holds that view.  

So what does the Bible say? Well, mankind was created in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26) Genesis does not say only white or red or black or yellow or brown.  So God must not have been referring to skin color or national origin.  Paul wrote “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female” (Galatians 3:8) in the Body of Christ.  Jesus prayed “That they may be as one, as we are one" (John 17:11).  John wrote “If you say you love God and hate your Brother, you are a liar and the Truth is not in you.” (1 John 4:20)

We try to justify our prejudices – the opinions born out of our old nature – by turning to those who think like us to seek affirmation … and we will always find approval from those who have the same prejudices we do or at least are tolerant of our prejudices lest we fail to accept theirs.  

If you want someone to say your sin is OK ask another sinner.  But - when drowning, why would you seek help from someone who is drowning beside you?  The Word is the place you go to know what is Truth.  The Spirit is the one that affirms and confirms what is right and what is wrong … the Spirit convicts us of our sins. (John16:8)  I know a good number of Christians that hold on to opinions – prejudices that were born out of their old nature.  I am one, come to think of it.  So what to do.  It’s actually a simple solution that is impossible to accomplish by wishing it so …. it requires faith not will power. 

We must surrender the prejudices we embrace born out of our old nature – to God.  Offering ourselves, daily, as a sacrifice. Confessing our sins, daily. (1 John 1:9) As you develop your spiritual acuity, (one day you will have 20-20 spiritual vision) you will see those opinions or prejudices for what they are and abandon them by faith and through the power of the blood of Jesus.  “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.  What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

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

Sarah Laughed

And He [the Lord] said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. - Genesis 18:10-14

When the Lord called Martie and me to Haiti it was to do something that I have never done before - build an orphanage. We arrived in Haiti in July 2011 and I was asked to have the orphanage operational by October 1. The Lord provided everything I needed to accomplish the task - materials, construction expertise, equipment, manpower. What I provided was leadership and a willing heart to walk by faith. Not long after the work had begun, I was talking to a Haitian pastor. He asked me when the orphanage would be ready for the children. When I told him, he laughed and said "Nothing happens quickly in Haiti". To which I replied - "Pastor - Sarah laughed!" I can say from the expression on his face he was not happy with my response - it was a challenge to his faith - and that, frankly, was my intent. On the first of October the children walked through the gate of their new home. 

‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.  ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before [the Lord God]  you shall become a plain! - Zechariah 4:6-7

How is it that we can accept Genesis chapter one's creation story or John 1:1-3 but when we consider God's word to us, we doubt. Do you not know that Sarah conceiving was the Lord's will and not hers? She was resolved to a life of being barren - childless. Not that she did not long for a child. But the season for any possibility of that happening has long since passed. Recall when Jesus prayed in the Garden, He prayed - "Yet not my will but Your will be done" There is no heavenly drive-through where we can place our orders and then God puts them in a sack and hands them to us as we drive by. We must align our will with the Father and where our will is not aligned with His, we must yield our will to His. And that means picking up our cross and following after Jesus. 

Then He [Jesus] said to them all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. - Luke 9:23

Are you ready to do that? Even it means that you don't get what you want or things don't go your way? Really? My victory in the orphanage was followed by my contracting malaria, followed by chikungunya disease, and then followed by cellulitis. God is faithful - in good times and in difficult times. In the midst of it all, good and bad - God has been and will be faithful. Put your trust in 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

I Don't Love Your Choices But I Still Love You

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. - Proverbs 14:12

I am quite certain that you have someone, perhaps more than one someone, in your family who is struggling with sin. And very likely, you struggle with how you should respond to that someone. Well, I think that to find the answer you seek, you might have a look back at your own life. Was there a time when you and your heart were far from God? Of course there was.  Did you want people telling you that you were wrong and needed to go another away? Of course you didn't! 

So what changed in your life?  Did someone continue to love you? That is not to say they condoned the choices you were making. But they, still, did not "throw the baby out with the bath water!" 

Do you remember the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15?  When the son repented and returned to his father, his father saw him from a long way off.  That suggests to me that the father was always looking toward the hill for the son's return. But he did not go after his son. He loved him and waited for the son to have a change of heart. True spiritual transformation is not something that you can mandate or manipulate. Oh you might be able to influence someone's behavior when you are around them, but not change their heart. That is something that they must do. It is between them and God.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. - John 3:16-18

God has made a way for restoration but it takes each one of us yielding our hearts - repenting of our sin - and being restored to our heavenly Father through faith in Jesus. The life that we were living that led to death and eternal separation from God was saved because Jesus paid the price for our sins. I know some of my relatives are living their lives apart from God. They know the truth about God's love and yet they continue to live in a way that defies the Truth but makes sense to them. I have shared the Gospel on more than one occasion.  It is not that they have not heard the Truth. It is that they choose not to repent. There is nothing I can do about that. I can't make the decision for them.  But I will continue to love them, looking down the road, hoping that one day I will see them crest the hill as they return with a new heart.

My folks witnessed to me for 7 years - sometimes with words - but mainly with love and acceptance - living as examples of children of the King. They didn't love my choices, but they still loved me!  I heard their testimonies but there was another way that seemed right to me at the time, until one day - my eyes and heart were opened to the Truth - and my life was changed - forever. I was born again. If it can happen to me - it can happen to anyone. But it takes a divine - personal - revelation from the Father - Jehovah God.

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 16:16-17

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

Walking In Our Calling - Not An Easy Road

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." —Isaiah 6:8

“God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, “…who will go for Us?” The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude. Remove the thought from your mind of expecting God to come to force you or to plead with you. When our Lord called His disciples, He did it without irresistible pressure from the outside. The quiet, yet passionate, insistence of His “Follow Me” was spoken to men whose every sense was receptive (Matthew 4:19). If we will allow the Holy Spirit to bring us face to face with God, we too will hear what Isaiah heard— “the voice of the Lord.” In perfect freedom we too will say, “Here am I! Send me.”” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

 Jesus said (Mark 4:9) “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”  Whoever has the desire to seek God will hear.  Then once you hear God, the next step is to “do”.  We have all been called.  In Romans chapter 1, Paul referred to the Roman (Gentile) church as “the Called of Jesus Christ”.  Our challenge is to live in obedience to that calling.  It is not an easy road that we walk. But we don’t have to walk it on our own, thank the Lord.

So often we are interested in the eternal benefits of being a Christian, but we don't really want to yield fully to God. Instead we would like to negotiate with God. Maybe we can both sign a memorandum of agreement. Where we both give in certain areas.  We just want to hang on to a little bit of our old nature - the things of the world that we love. Is that so bad? Well the Word of God is clear. There is no wiggle room. No opportunity for compromise.  

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

Like the "song of the sirens" luring the sailors to their death on the rocks, our old nature calls to us to compromise - just a little. But James wrote

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. - James 2:10

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

Speaking To A Dead Man

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 16:13-17

Someone realizing who Jesus really is and who they really are is not something that can be reasoned out with logic or observation and study. It happens only by godly - spiritual revelation. 

As Christians, we have been anointed to proclaim the Good News - but salvation is between the hearer and God. We can convince no one of spiritual truth with logic or persistence. That realization is an act of faith. A revelation from God, Himself. Once heard - once someone feels the unction of the Spirit, they are faced with a choice of either yielding their heart and life to the Lord or continuing to stay on  the path, which leads to Hell and eternal separation. No matter how much I want someone to be saved - especially a loved one - perhaps a blood relative - part of my family - it is not up to me.

So what is my responsibility. I believe that it is to speak when the Spirit gives opportunity - to continue to pray for their salvation - to continue to love them - just like God continued to and continues to love me. I heard the Gospel for many years before I yielded my heart by faith. It is difficult to accept that not all whom I love will have their names written in the Lamb's Book of Life. But, thankfully, some will. God knows - I don't. And so I do what God has told me to do - Go and Tell. My place to is sew the seed - Only God knows the condition of the soil. I must be careful and not think that my words will convince someone - but God may use my words for His purpose. My willingness to share the Gospel must be unconditional - not conditional that someone must be saved when I speak or I have failed somehow. The sower does not stand in one spot but casts the seed as he walks along. And so should we.

Then He [Jesus] spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! - Matthew 13:3-9

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

Making The Choice To Not Be Angry - Part 2

This is a continuation of yesterday’s devotion.  I realize that many books have been written on this subject. Many people are in therapy for anger. Christian people.  Anger is a secondary emotion, meaning why we get angry is because there is something at the root – working behind the scenes – and a life situation serves as a catalyst for our anger to rise up.  

I also realize that people can find verses in the Bible that would suggest that anger is “OK”, it is not sin. But anger is like a loaded pistol.  The gun can go off by accident or can be used for harm intentionally.  It can be indiscriminate, hurting the innocent as well as the guilty.  Anger can be so dominant that the easiest thing is to yield to it and not resist.  My point is that accepting anger – even rage, is not consistent with your new life in Christ.

Most people are not looking for opportunities to be angry … Those opportunities come suddenly upon us, like an ambush, with ferocity.  Then it is over – the smoke clears – the causalities lie wounded all around.  And we say to ourselves “It’s not a sin to be angry.” In an effort to justify the harm we have done.  So what to do.

First – Understand, and Embrace the Truth, that Anger is not a fruit of the Spirit. 

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.   (Galatians 5: 19-23)  

These verses contrast the differences between your life in the flesh and your life submitted to the Spirit of God – the Spirit that is in you. 

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own -  1 Corinthians 6:19

How can we reconcile anger and the damage it does with our new nature and the fruit that it bears? I’ll answer that. We can’t!

Second – Have you ever heard or said “You make me so angry!”? No one can “make” you angry.  But they can provide the opportunity for you to express anger.  Everything is going fine then the ambush is sprung and you find yourself in the “kill zone”.  In "Ambush-eze", the kill zone is the place where most all of the fire power is directed. Anyone in that area when the ambush starts is a gonner.  The only way to not be a gonner is to do what makes no sense at the time, face the firing and charge it – fighting your way through it.  It is your only hope of survival. In this case, the best defense is a good offense! When you are getting angry, you need to recognize it immediately and deal with it spiritually.  Like salvation – you can’t succeed by trying harder.  You need to attack with the Sword of the Lord.  The ambush is within – it’s not the circumstance that gave rise to the anger.

Third – The best thing to do is to avoid the ambush altogether. To see the signs of danger and go another way.  That requires discernment which comes from the Spirit which requires the discipline of seeking God and hiding the Word in your heart (Psalm 119:11)  I recall an a time at ROTC advance camp at Fort Bragg, N.C.  It was my turn to lead the platoon during a training exercise in the woods.  I was leading the platoon on the most secure route and following the road was not necessarily the fastest route to our objective.  So, looking at the map, I decided that we would cut across difficult terrain.  I reached our objective without incident. Afterwards, I was told that there had been an ambush set up at an intersection along the road that I had bypassed that was waiting for us.  The thing is, we never showed up for the party.

You must be sensitive to the signs of an anger ambush and avoid them.  We choose how we respond to life – in the power of our flesh or in the power of the Spirit of God.  Your success will depend upon your training and preparation.  Most Christians lack an enthusiasm for spiritual growth and maturity. They are content with keeping a firm grasp on their ticket to heaven and talking about how much they love the Lord – around other Christians.  But when faced with the withering fire of a deadly ambush – they falter and fail.  

Perhaps you are thinking that avoiding anger is impossible. It is not any more impossible that the Son of God dying for your sin and you receiving eternal life.  If God can do that, why would you think that your problem with anger is bigger than that? You need to deal with the root of the problem. Paul talks about this in Romans 7:21-25 (read it) You don’t need to try harder – you need to Faith harder.  

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

Making The Choice To Not Be Angry - Part 1

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. - Ephesians 4:31

Anger – you know the feeling don’t you? That feeling in rises up inside of you? Like a jug quickly filling up with water until it overflows. You face is flushed.  Your heart is racing. But is it anger or frustration or disappointment? Often times they are indistinguishable and their expression through you is likewise indistinguishable.  Many people try to explain how they respond or excuse how they respond to life and problems by pointing to their ancestors and their family’s dominant country of origin.  

Some time ago, we ran into a plumbing snag at the house we were working on.  It’s fixable, but it might of cost one or two thousand dollars.  The plumber was talking to me on the phone, almost apologetically because he knows we are a ministry and the home owner has no money to pay for something like this. I could sense that he was expecting me to be unhappy and perhaps even angry.  I told him – “Man, I have been in two wars.  If someone is not dying – I don’t get upset about anything” I went on to say I know two things – “God is good” and “Jesus Saves”.  That brought perspective into the issue.  I told him that I was happy that I was dealing with this and not the home owner.  

Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

If you can’t quell your anger – not let your emotions rule – that is a pretty good indication that you are not fully submitted to the Spirit of God.  That is not a judgment, just an observation from my own life.  People often point to Jesus being angry in the temple as an excuse for their own anger.  I would say that the next time you go to church and the money changers and vendors are set up in the foyer – go ahead and drive them out with a righteous anger. But don’t use Jesus as a reason to make excuses for your flesh and sin.  Others looking for an excuse for themselves may buy it, but God doesn’t.  

But I [Jesus] tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you - Matthew 5:44

Hmmm.  How are you going to squeeze anger into that verse? Here is another for icing on the cake. 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. - James 1:2-3 

Letting the emotion of anger have its way is a temptation -  a fierce temptation – that will spring on you without notice – like an ambush.  The only way you will “survive” an ambush is if you fight your way through it.  To do that you must have prepared yourself for such an occasion beforehand.  How you do that I will defer for tomorrow's devotion. 

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

Reasons Why You May Not Be Content

By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain… —1 Corinthians 15:10

The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such as, “Oh, I shouldn’t claim to be sanctified; I’m not a saint.” But to say that before God means, “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are opportunities I have not had and so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.”  Always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all. There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

You must be careful to not compare yourself to other Christians and imagine that you can never be like them.  It’s true, you may never do what they do, but if you are born again .. you are exactly like them.  You are exactly like Paul … exactly like Billy Graham … it is just that you may be a different part of the body.  

… the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. […] The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it. - 1 Corinthians 12:14-25

God has purposed us (Ephesians 2:10).  You might decide to be a butcher, baker, or candlestick maker in the natural, but you do not decide what part of the Body you will be in the supernatural.  God does that.  Exactly like Paul and Billy Graham.  Now that is not to say that you might be envious of someone who is the mouth.  But that is your flesh at work.  Perhaps your insecurities at work or maybe your pride. I have known men who demanded that they have a certain leadership position in a local church.  Not because they were called to it, but because they lusted after it.  They want to be significant in the eyes of men or perhaps to overcome some feeling of inferiority or spiritual doubt.  

Or maybe you feel like God can’t use you because you have nothing to offer.  You do! You do!  You can and should offer … YOU.  Then trust that God will use you as He sees fit. It may be to fulfill a place that people won’t see or ever know about.  Is that OK with you?  If not, examine your heart.  If your desire is to glorify God .. the first step is to submit your life to Him and to His will.  A song you may be familiar with …

 “Yes Lord yes to Your will and to Your way.  Yes Lord yes.  I will trust you and obey.  When the Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree and I will answer .. YES Lord YES!” 

God will provide the opportunity for you to fulfill your purpose. You don’t have to make those opportunities.  Just do what God puts in front of you.  If it seems bigger than you are .. for whatever reason .. it is most probably God.  There was a man, Brother Lawrence, who was known for his spirituality.  He was a monk.  One thing he did not want to do was work in the kitchen.  He decided that.  Any guesses where God put him?  For 15 years.  During that time, he made a huge impact in many people’s lives.  He served faithfully where God put him and glorified God and blessed others in the process.  Are you ready to work in the kitchen? To set side notoriety and the praise of men.  

 [Jesus said] “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”  - Mark 9:35

My hope is this puts things in perspective for 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

Choosing Something Bad And Expecting Something Good

... by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. —Galatians 6:14

If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord … did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so much in the common everyday world that the religious people of His day accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard. Yet our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual power. The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (see John 17:16). Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is our part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God’s part. We must make a deliberate determination to be interested only in what God is interested. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

I have known a good number of Christians who have made tremendous errors in spiritual judgement.  Those errors have derailed their lives and brought grief and heartache … sometimes that lasts a lifetime.  And yet, they persist in making the same choices based upon their emotions … their desire to “fix the problem themselves or satisfy the need that seems to dominate their lives.  Although they may sing “Jesus loves me this I know” … time and again they choose their own path and solutions over the path that God has laid out for them (Proverbs 16:9) 

They quench the Spirit and listen to their flesh.  They ignore the Biblical counsel of their friends and family … and repeat the same mistakes that they have made in the past with, predictably, the same result. When I see this happening, my heart breaks because I know the joy they have rejected for the trouble that they will inevitably embrace as they meet the consequences of their choices.  Does that sound dismal? That’s because it is.  God has called us out of that life.  But our faith must be more than a philosophy … a “get out of hell free” card.  The great gift we have came with a price .. Jesus on the cross .. yet even that is a distant thought.  That Truth is not enough to motivate us to choose God .. to follow the Spirit .. to sacrifice the flesh.

So why does that happen? For one reason, most of us do not separate ourselves from our old life.  It’s one thing to be IN the world as a Christian.  It’s quite another to participate WITH the world.  To embrace what we know to be sin in an effort to secure the world’s substitute for God’s will and way.  The interesting thing is that although I might speak to the wayward Christian to encourage them to draw close to Jesus, only the Spirit of God can bring conviction to their hearts and only they can yield to that conviction and turn to God in repentance.  So what to do.  Well. Be an example.  Love them .. not their sin … like Jesus.  Pray for them.  And bear the hurt in your heart as you watch them struggle with the impossibility of the life they have chosen.  Jesus spoke to the problem … the Apostles wrote about the problem to the churches .. so it is not a new problem in our generation.  It is the struggle between the flesh and the Spirit natures.  The nature that you feed is the one that will dominate. 

After I got out of the Army, I stopped exercising.  While I was in the Army, exercise was part of my daily life. So, not surprisingly, taking in more calories than my body needed .. I started packing on the pounds. Before I knew it … I weighed 298 pounds .. unbelievable but true.  But then I came under conviction.  First from my doctor who was watching my weight gain and said “You are going in the wrong direction.”  Then there was the associated medical issues derived from being overweight.  I saw a friend, one day, who had lost weight ..  a lot of weight and I asked him how he did it. He told me and encouraged me to do the same. Nine months later, I weigh 199 pounds. I repented. Stopped making the wrong choices and disciplined myself.  I needed encouragement .. but I also had to choose to go another way. Well, that is the way it is with our Spiritual, emotional and relational lives as well.  The Spirit will bring a dissatisfaction and we must be willing to repent.  Today .. choose Jesus.  He is the Way and the Life and the Truth. (John 14:6) Stop doing what you know is wrong for you.  The only way you can do that is by the Spirit. “It’s not by might or by power but by the Spirit”(Zechariah 4:6) You might say “It’s not by MY might or by MY power but by HIS Spirit”.  You can do it!  With His help.  Do it today.

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 Insanity Of Choosing To Trust In Yourself And Not God

 “He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." —Hebrews 13:5

What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). “I will never…forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me.  As we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life. -  Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

 In my experience the greatest enemy facing me and my desire to follow God and yielding to His leading and ways is, well…. It’s me.  I find it so easy to agree with God and acknowledge His precepts as right, and yet, when faced with life I, consistently, turn to me and not Him. The phrase “Living by Faith” is not meant to be a plaque on the living room wall … or merely a pleasantry that we acknowledge as being right.  To live by faith – in God – means to trust Him first – no matter what.  Living by faith is not like one of the bodily functions controlled by the autonomic nervous system .. like breathing and heart beats … something that you don’t have to think about … Living by faith is intentional … It is an act of our will.  If you are struggling with living by your faith in a particular place in your life, it is most likely that the source of the struggle is you .. not your circumstances.  Like the man who said to Jesus “Help me with my unbelief” 

Jesus asked the boy’s father, How long has he been like this? From childhood, he answered. It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. If you can’? said Jesus. Everything is possible for one who believes. Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! – Mark 9:21-24

We know God “can” but the question is do we believe - He will? In this life on Earth, we are not spared from hardship or heartache, but … we can endure whatever life brings our way if we will only have faith in the One who sent His Son … Who created us from dust and breathed life into us. Once in our natural birth and then again in our spiritual rebirth when He sealed us with His Spirit – the Breath of God.  I know that trusting God in the midst of the turmoil of life can be difficult .. maybe you think impossible … This I know from my own life, if Christians neglect the disciplines of the faith … if Sunday is the sum total of the time they spend with the Father … then when the test comes . .and it will come, they will likely get a failing grade.  Not because God was not able to sustain them, but because they chose to ignore Him and trust themselves.  The depth of their faith is dependent upon good things happening to them and the avoidance or relief from bad things and not an abiding relationship with the Father. 

So why is something like living by faith, that seems so simple, so hard to do? Because it is our nature to trust ourselves even if it always leads to failure.  Remember that is the definition of insanity.

“Trust in the Lord and not yourself” – (my paraphrase of Proverbs 3:5)

Faith and trust in God demand that you surrender - now that can be problematic can't 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

Leaving A Legacy

The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. -  1 Chronicles 6:1-3

If you have read Kings or Chronicles in the Bible, you know that there are many names listed. Generational succession. And every now and again you come across names that you are familiar with like Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. But what about all of those other people? Was their existence just like the proverbial "hand in a bucket of water"? While the hand is in the water its presence is obvious. The hand displaces water, but when the hand is removed from the water and the ripples on the water subside, you would never know that the hand had been there.  

When you see a name on a building or street sign have you ever wondered about the person who bore that name? The street or the building was most likely named after them to honor them. But I suspect before that generation had passed - or most certainly by the next generation - the person was forgotten and their name was just a name on a sign. Of course, there are a few in history where their names and contributions to society are still remembered. They may be famous or infamous - but remembered, all the same. What is said about a woman in Proverbs can also be said for a man.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. - Proverbs 31:30

Our current president is wanting to make a visible mark, I think, so he will be remembered.  But, I suspect that like Gershon, Kohath, and Merari - it will not be much beyond this generation that people  will wonder, and then if only for a moment, "Who is that?" As Christians, I think that it is more important that the legacy we leave is not one of personal notoriety and temporal changes that can be upended as quickly as they were accomplished, but with changes that are eternal. 

Mankind, but our culture, in particular, is consumed with self-indulgence. With appearances. What the outside looks like. And from that, people draw conclusions about what the heart and character of that person are like. How disappointing to discover that the people we have put on pedestals of honor are found to have feet of clay - just like everyone else. And they too will be forgotten by the next generation.

So about that Legacy. Well - I think that the best legacy I can leave is that God is remembered and honored in the next generation. The thing is, in my experience, you may not know you have left a godly impression on the life of someone else. To be remembered - not because people saw me - but because people saw Jesus in me. The legacy I am referring to is not painted on a street sign or etched on the side of a building - but embedded in the hearts of others. A legacy of faith in 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

Like It Or Not - Our Words Reflect Our Hearts

“Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart….For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man…” —Matthew 15:18-20

Either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying any attention to. If I will take an honest look at myself, becoming fully aware of my so-called innocence and putting it to the test, I am very likely to have a rude awakening that what Jesus Christ said is true, and I will be appalled at the possibilities of the evil and the wrong within me. Purity is something far too deep for me to arrive at naturally. But when the Holy Spirit comes into me, He brings into the center of my personal life the very Spirit that was exhibited in the life of Jesus Christ, namely, the Holy Spirit, which is absolute unblemished purity. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

I often tell people that if you will listen to what people say, eventually, they will expose their hearts. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the heart speaks”  Perhaps it is a critical word, gossip, profanity, a coarse joke, a racial slur, the use of the Lord’s name as an negative exclamation or it might be a word of encouragement, a praise to God, the voice of compassion, the use of the Lord’s name as a positive exclamation … if you listen long enough, you will hear the heart.  Have you heard anyone, including yourself, say “Just kidding” after making some unkind, cutting remark?  What they really mean is that they didn’t mean for that thought to come out.  My heart is the source of my actions and words … David prayed in Psalm 51 that God would create a new clean heart in him … renew a right spirit.  Our words give a glimpse of the condition of our hearts.  Are we walking after the Spirit or after the flesh?  Galatians 5 describes what you will hear and see in either case … the acts of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit.  As Christ followers, we are to be a light of hope … pointing people to Jesus.  

“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” - James 3:10-12

“Be careful little mouth what you say. Oh be careful little mouth what you say.  For the Lord is up above and He’s looking down with love, so be careful little mouth what you say.”  That children’s song seems to suggest that we are the ones who can clean up our heart by being careful  .. but it is really God by His Spirit and Word that do the cleaning.  What we do, like David, is seek out the Spirit and the Word and submit to them …. Then like the Lord told Joshua …. 

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. - Joshua 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

Spiritual Parenthood - Who Is Your Daddy?

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 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 3:14-18

OK - Have you read the full chapter of John 3? I mean really read it beyond embracing John 3:16.  Let me see if I can paraphrase verses 14-18

God loves the world and wants mankind to be restored through faith in Jesus. Jesus who was lifted up on the cross for our sins, died and was resurrected by the power of the Father. When we place our trust in that truth which is a spiritual revelation from the Father, then we have eternal life. And so, people who do not put their faith in Jesus - are not born again by the Spirit -  are already condemned. 

In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” David recognized that even at conception he was a sinner. When anyone is born, naturally, they are not spiritually fatherless. Because of what happened in the Garden, we are all born spiritually dead toward God - as children of the Devil.

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. - John 8:42-44

Now - we don't want to think that. We want to imagine that we are perhaps somehow neutral, spiritually speaking, up to some age and then we are accountable for our sin.  

"It is possible that God applies Christ’s payment for sin to young children and others incapable of faith, but the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject about which we should not be dogmatic. God’s extending grace to those who cannot believe would seem consistent with His character. [A reasonable] position [might be] that God does apply Christ’s payment for sin to babies and those who are mentally handicapped, since they are incapable of understanding their sinful state and their need for the Savior." - that is a quote from Got Questions Ministries (but again - "the Bible does not specifically say that He does this") 

With respect to accountability for sin, I suppose the takeaway is that those who are not born again spiritually are already charged as being guilty. One day they will hear the "strike of the gavel" and their sentencing and that will happen at the Great White Throne Judgement. But the lost don't know it.  I am certain that you are comfortable with your understanding of the verses in "Romans that tell us that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." "There are none righteous no not one" There is no exception in either verse. All means all. None means none.

We must be careful about interjecting what we hope to be true into what we know is Biblical truth. Jesus told Nicodemus - "You must be born again". When you are born again your "name' is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, have already received a pardon and will not be judged on that day. Hallelujah. Thank You Jesus!

Does it bother you that people are headed for hell but don't know it or perhaps accept it?  Did you know that as a Christian God has entrusted you with the Gospel - the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus? And that is a serious responsibility and must not be ignored or diminished.

But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. - 2 Thessalonians 2:4

That is not to say that you should stand on a street corner with a sign saying "Turn or burn!" but you should be praying for those who are not Christians - starting with those who are close to you. Share your testimony about the difference that God has made in your life. And, of course, share the Gospel - planting seeds.  

Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear -1 Peter 3:15

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

God Can Hit Straight With A Crooked Stick

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

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus - Romans 3:23-24

We attended a church some years back where the pastor, Morgan Bailey, would often say "God can hit straight with a crooked stick". Meaning that there is not a human being that has not sinned, but God through His Son has forgiven, restored and enabled those who are born again by faith. 

So - does that mean that if you are truly born again you will never sin again? What does your personal experience tell you?  OK - so we all still struggle with sin. We all need to have our "feet washed" and not our whole body again like Jesus told Peter. 

After that, He [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed [that is saved] needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” - John 13:5-10

So what is the impact of our sin after salvation? Think of it like being on a sports team but you are injured. You are taken out of the active roster (meaning you can be sent in to play) and put on the injured list until you are healed and your health is restored. Then you are back in the game. That is a simplistic example of what it means to be a Christian with unconfessed sin - and unrepentant. 

Sin cannot be ignored or trivialized if we expect to get off of the "injured list". God's purpose for me does not change - but my capacity to fulfill my purpose because of my sin, has. And how do I get off of the injured list? I must repent. That was the fundamental difference between King Saul and King David. The first tried to justify his sin and did not repent the latter acknowledged his sin and sought forgiveness and restoration.  When confronted by the Prophet Nathan over David's sin with Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite, David's' response was recorded in Psalm 51. 

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned ....  Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.- Psalm 51:1-4, 10-13

So can you still do things that have to do with being a Christian and be living with unconfessed sin - unrepentant. Yes - but like those that Timothy wrote about - 

They (have) a form of godliness but deny its power. And from such people turn away! - 2 Timothy 3:5

What you do when you are "spiritually injured" lacks the power of God. You may look good to others, but not to God - the One that matters.

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 The Supernatural Life In A Natural World

“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet, not I but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” – Galatians 2:20

Supernatural living in a natural world.  That is what we are born again into, a supernatural life.  Does that statement seem strange when you read it?  Excessive? Well read on!

“Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 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.” – 2 Corinthians 5:16-18

The supernatural life – our new life – is one that is totally dependent upon the One who saved us.  For most of us, the events that we face in life are not any different from any of the people around us who are living natural – unspiritual lives. We face the same things.  We do many of the same things.  We work in the same places.  We suffer through the same tragedies of life. But that is where the similarity ends and the difference begins.  The difference between the natural and the supernatural, the Spirit of God.  

You, Christian, have at your disposal the power of the Almighty.  You do not have to face this life alone.  You have the power to stand when others fall.  You can endure life with confidence when others wither under the pressures that this mortal life brings. And why can we be so confident?

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.  Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:31-39

That’s why !   

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

Telling Others All Is Well When It Isn't

We make it our aim…to be well pleasing to Him. —2 Corinthians 5:9

We make it our aim…. It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only “to be well pleasing to Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul spoke of the importance of controlling his own body so that it would not take him in the wrong direction. My worth to God publicly is measured by what I really am in my private life. Is my primary goal in life to please Him and to be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how lofty it may sound? - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Living by faith and walking in the light does not just happen. It requires personal commitment and discipline. 

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.  Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. - Philippians 2:12-15

Our new life of faith requires effort of the heart… to submit to the Lord requires us to lay our very lives - public and private - down on the altar before God the Father - every day.  Working out our salvation is not self-effort .. trying harder to be “good” …. it’s submission. 

So many people are satisfied with working on having a good-Christian appearance and miss the joy and peace that comes from living in obedience to the will of God.  I know too many people that are struggling with life and refuse to trust God.  (perhaps you do too) If you ask them, they may well tell you that “all is well”, when all is not well. They just want it to be - hope it will be - in spite of their personal struggles. Perhaps living in willful disobedience. There was a news report today about a pastor who was just arrested for child sex abuse. He had just preached at his church the Sunday before. How could that be you ask? That may be an extreme example, but it reflects the same spiritual struggle. 

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! - 2 Timothy 3:2-5

Desperation because of the circumstances you are enduring can subvert your faith and divert your walk.  Unless you are willing to trust and obey.  I wish I could do that for others, but I can’t, just for me. I can only watch their struggle, pray for them and hope they look to God for answers instead of trusting in their own designs. Continue to trust in themselves even thought those designs that have consistently failed them in the past.  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. - Proverbs 3:5-8

And I can be ready to be an encouragement to them if the 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

So - You Want To Be Like Jesus - Really?

When they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples. —Mark 4:34

Jesus doesn’t take us aside and explain things to us all the time; He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves. That is always the last bit of pride to go. The only One who understands us is God. The greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride. He will allow us to experience heartbreak or the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded. He will reveal numerous misplaced affections or desires— things over which we never thought He would have to get us alone. Many things are shown to us, often without effect. But when God gets us alone over them, they will be clear. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

For those whom he [God the Father] foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. -  Romans 8:29  

Have you ever given any thought to what being conformed … molded .. changed … means?  Well, first you know it is a spiritual change, right?  Second … you know that the process is going to be contrary to your flesh. There will be resistance to it. God will show you things through the Spirit that you may not want to see or admit, even to yourself.  (One of the Spirit’s missions is to convict the world of sin.  The Spirit plus the Word of God are the “one-two” punch in the sanctification process.  The knock-out punch is when I surrender my will)

You know that there are certain aspects of your old nature that you want to hide or cling to.  Adam and Eve tried to hide themselves in the Garden… you know how that worked out for them. The only ones you can hide your sin from, for a season, is man.  The Word says (Numbers 32:23) “Your sin will find you out.”  God knows everything .. so why must we confess our sins (1 John 1:9) .. confess means to “agree with” not to reveal. 

The goal of this transformational – conforming process is not to make you miserable, but to bless you .. to make you better.  The pain or difficulty you experience is from the battle between the flesh and Spirit. My encouragement to you is the same as Paul’s to the Romans.  

I 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

God won’t make you do that.  You must surrender your will voluntarily.  Will 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

Living The Supernatural Life Of Faith In A Natural World

“I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet, not I but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” – Galatians 2:20

Supernatural living in a natural world.  It is a life that is so very often in conflict with what the world says is right and true. That is what we are born again into, a super-natural life.  Does that statement seem strange when you read it?  Excessive perhaps? Maybe - but it is Biblical.

“Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 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.” – 2 Corinthians 5:16-18

The supernatural life – our new life – is one that is totally dependent upon the One who saved us.  It is no longer our will but His will. For most of us, the events that we face in life are not any different from any of the people around us who are living natural – unspiritual lives. We face the same issues.  We do many of the same things.  We work in the same places.  We suffer through the same tragedies of life.

 But that is where the similarity ends and the difference begins.  The difference between the natural and the supernatural, is that as sons and daughters of the Creator God, we are sealed and indwelt by the Spirit of God.  And so, you, Christian, have at your disposal the power of the Almighty.  You do not have to face this life alone.  You have the power to stand when others fall.  You can endure life with confidence when others wither under the pressures that this mortal life brings. And why can we be so confident?

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.  Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:31-39

That’s why !   

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

Trust - Not Understanding Is The Prerequisite For Obedience

"Let us go to Judea again." The disciples said to Him, "…are You going there again?" —John 11:7-8

Just because I don’t understand what Jesus Christ says, I have no right to determine that He must be mistaken in what He says. That is a dangerous view, and it is never right to think that my obedience to God’s directive will bring dishonor to Jesus. The only thing that will bring dishonor is not obeying Him. I know when the instructions have come from God because of their quiet persistence. But when I begin to weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate enter into my mind, I am bringing in an element that is not of God. This will only result in my concluding that His instructions to me were not right. Many of us are faithful to our ideas about Jesus Christ, but how many of us are faithful to Jesus Himself? Faithfulness to Jesus means that I must step out even when and where I can’t see anything (see Matthew 14:29). But faithfulness to my own ideas means that I first clear the way mentally. Faith, however, is not intellectual understanding; faith is a deliberate commitment to the Person of Jesus Christ, even when I can’t see the way ahead. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

Knowing the “why” before they act is a big deal to many people. For most, before they will do something they want to know the reason. Why? Because they want to know so they can decide if they agree with it. And so it is with receiving God’s direction often times.  

What we are asked to do may not make sense …. Get out of the boat and walk on water … walk across a flooded river … march around a fortified city 7 times … wash yourself in the river 7 times … put your faith in Jesus and walk … draw from the well that never will run dry … trust in the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding … confess and believe and you will be saved.  

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. - Isaiah 55:8

When my daughter was taking Algebra in school, she asked me how to solve a particular problem.  I showed her but then proceeded to explain to her “why” we solved the problem that way.  A page and a half later, her eyes were glazed over and like Charley Brown listening to his teacher, all she heard was “Wah Wah Wah Wah Wah”.  OK - maybe I could have done it in half a page. :)

The only way we will understand the “why” when God speaks is by the Spirit of God, and truth be told, we may still not “get it” fully - even then.  But, with God, understanding is not the prerequisite for obedience, trust is.  Our mental capacity is not adequate enough to fully understanding God.  He is the potter and we are the clay. 

But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. - Isaiah 64:8

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

Serving God Without Conditions

It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be abased…” (Philippians 4:12). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket— to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted— not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Personally, my greatest desire is to always walk in the will of God (Matthew 26:39) and fulfill the purpose that God has planned for me. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Have you ever known someone who had to have things go their way or they would withdraw from whatever was going on?  It might be a game, work, ministry, or perhaps a relationship.  Or maybe you are that person. If we live our lives as Christians in that way, we have a conditional faith? Demanding that things go our way if we are to comply with what God has called us to.  While serving in Haiti, I visited a pastor in a remote village in Southwestern Haiti some years ago, Donglise (Dawn gleece).  The pastor was not well.  I prayed for him.  Not to just that he be healed but that God would give him the health he needed to do what God had called him to.  It is not important for any of us to be completely healed of our infirmities, although that would be a good thing.  But we should ask that God would give us the strength we need to accomplish His purposes through us.  And if He does nothing, some would say it is because we lacked faith.  But I would contend that the healing does not matter with respect to our call from God. We must continue to serve in spite of it. 

For the past three days, I have been working with a good friend who is helping me with a task the Lord has given me. The task. in and of itself, may see small. I am making napkin holders from oak wood with the engraving of a Cross and the word "Faith" on the front. The purpose is that the recipients, widows, would be reminded daily that God is faithful and we must live by faith.  We are working outside and the temperatures have been over 100 degrees. I told my friend that it matters not that the ones who will be gifted these holders may never know our names or that we labored in sweltering heat so they might be encouraged. My joy is found in my obedience to our Lord's call to visit the widows in their affliction - James 1:27. With that thought I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth.

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 

The absence of adversity is not affirmation that you are in the will of God. Steadfast obedience in the face of that adversity 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

Things That Hinder Our Hearing And Obeying God

Who are You, Lord? —Acts 26:15

“The Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand…” (Isaiah 8:11). There is no escape when our Lord speaks. He always comes using His authority and taking hold of our understanding. Has the voice of God come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you. God speaks in the language you know best— not through your ears, but through your circumstances. God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. We say, “I know that this is what I should do” — and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. My way will not be to foster a meek and quiet spirit, only the spirit of self-satisfaction. We presume that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord— “I delight to do Your will, O my God…” (Psalm 40:8).” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Knowing what the right thing … the God-thing … to do is and then doing it are two entirely different things.  Just like knowing you should not cross the tracks when a train is coming and deciding to wait for the train to pass are two different things.  When you approach the tracks a thought comes to mind … “I think I can beat the train to the crossing.”  Sometimes you are right and other times .. you are dead-wrong.  That is the way it is with believing and obeying God.  God offers His best, and even if you beat the train to the crossing - that meaning, something bad does not happen, you have settled for less than God’s best for you. 

Your decision may bring satisfaction for a moment, but God deals in the eternal .. not the temporal.  The heavenly not the earthly.  The spiritual no t the natural. I have shared this before, Dr. Henry Blackaby, in Experiencing God, said that God speaks to us in four ways – by His Spirit (the still small voice saying “This is  the way”) – through prayer – by His Word (the sword of Truth, a light and lamp for us to see the way) – through other Believers – and, as Chambers suggest – through circumstances.  

Dr. Blackaby went on to say that our problem is not in knowing what God said to us – the problem is obeying what God said to us.  The Scripture is replete with examples of disobedience.  People choosing to go their own way and expecting God to bless it or at least tolerate it. Hearing God and doing something else because they thought they knew better. 

So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice - 1 Samuel 15:22

Hearing God requires two things to be true.  First, our heart must be right … unconfessed sin will hinder your hearing.  Second is the practice of spiritual discipline in our lives .. if you don’t pray .. if you don’t read the Word … if you don’t associate with other Christians who are doing those things … if your focus is on yourself and not God as you live life, then don’t expect anything more than the conviction of the Spirit. 

To obey requires that we be submitted to the will of God - like Jesus in the garden. We may have a preference, but we yield our will to His.

All too often we want to be our own god and decide what is best for us.  We won’t accept any advice that is not consistent with what we have decided is the best for us.  “I am going to beat that train and you are bad if you don’t agree with me!” We ignore our sins .. having decided they are really not that bad. In fact, they are acceptable, and perhaps preferred, as far as we are concerned.  We pray asking only for things that support our plan for peace and fulfillment.  We avoid other Christians who will not agree with us.  

The fact of the matter is that we are practicing vain religion.  We have a form of godliness but deny the power of God in favor of our own devices.  In short we are carnal but are convinced we are spiritual.  My best and only advice to a Christian who is living like this is repent – you need more Jesus and less you.  You have accepted a life that falls short of God’s plan for you  .. and one day … sadly ... predictably .... you won’t beat the train.

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

Looking For Jesus - Take The Path On The Right

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus 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 10:8-10

For background - each morning I pray that the Lord will give me the opportunity to share Jesus with someone.

A friend of mine sent me a text today after listening to someone on Facebook explain the plan of salvation from Romans 10. They texted me writing - "If that’s all ya gotta do….I'm good" 

To which I replied - 

With respect to the first part of your text, – Yes – that is all there is to it. Romans 10:8-9

1. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and 

2. Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

But wait, there are a couple of things to consider.. 

First

In Matthew 16, when Jesus asked the disciples who people said He was  - eleven of them said the people thought He was a teacher or a prophet. But Peter said “You are the Messiah – the Christ – the Son of the Living God” to which Jesus replied to Peter – “man has not revealed this to you but my Father in Heaven”

The point is that confessing as Peter did and as you have comes by a Spiritual revelation from God – not us figuring it out with our human wisdom.

The second thing -as simple as the way to salvation seems to be – 

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. - 1 Corinthians 1:18

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. - 1 Corinthians 1:21

But the natural man (an unsaved person) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God (like who Jesus is), for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. - 1 Corinthians 2:14

So – when you believed and confessed that was a spiritual experience and a spiritual birth. You were born again. 

We can share the Gospel with others, but it is like planting seeds or watering what has been planted - it is God who brings the spiritual increase. We can't save anybody but we can do our part and tell everybody.

My mom wrote a poem some time back that she entitled, "How Do I Find A Savior" which I recently converted to a song. Take a listen below

Click Here

Oh - and try not to be surprised when God answers your prayer :)

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

Reasons Why You May Not Be Content

By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain… —1 Corinthians 15:10

The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such as, “Oh, I shouldn’t claim to be sanctified; I’m not a saint.” But to say that before God means, “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are opportunities I have not had and so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.”  …. always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all. There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

You must be careful to never compare yourself to other Christians and imagine that you can never be like them.  It’s true, you may never do what they do, but if you are born again .. you are exactly like them.  You are exactly like Paul … exactly like Billy Graham … in your position as a child of God, but you may be a different part of the body.  

The body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. […] The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it. - 1 Corinthians 12:14-25

God has purposed us (Ephesians 2:10).  You might decide to be a butcher, baker, or candlestick maker in the natural, but you do not decide what part of the Body you will be in the supernatural.  God does that.  Exactly like Paul and Billy Graham.  Now that is not to say that you might not be envious of someone who is the mouth.  But that is your flesh at work.  Perhaps your insecurities are at work or maybe your pride. I have known men who demanded that they have a certain leadership position in a local church.  Not because they were called to it, but because they lusted after it.  They want to be significant in the eyes of men or perhaps to overcome some feeling of inferiority.  Or perhaps they needed validation that the old had indeed passed aways and all had become new. 

Maybe you feel like God can’t use you because you have nothing to offer.  You do! You do!  You can and must offer … you.  Then trust that God will use you as He sees fit. It may be to fulfill a place that people won’t see or ever know about.  Is that OK with you?  If not, examine your heart.  If your desire is to glorify God .. the first step is to submit your life to Him and to His will.  A song you may be familiar with … “Yes Lord yes to Your will and to Your way.  Yes Lord yes.  I will trust you and obey.  When the Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart I’ll agree and I will answer .. YES Lord YES!” 

God will provide the opportunity for you to fulfill your purpose. You don’t have to make those opportunities.  Just do what God puts in front of you.  If it seems bigger than you are .. for whatever reason .. it is most probably God.  There was a man, Brother Lawrence, who was known for his spirituality.  He was a monk.  One thing he did not want to do was work in the kitchen.  He decided that.  Any guesses where God put him?  For 15 years.  During that time, he made a huge impact in many people’s lives.  He served faithfully where God put him and glorified God and blessed others in the process.  Are you ready to work in the kitchen? To set side notoriety and the praise of men.  (Mark 9:35) [Jesus said] “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”  Hope that puts things in perspective for you. And gives you a reason to find contentment in your new life in Christ.

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

I Have A New Life Just By Trusting My Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. - Proverbs 3:5-8

That is the message of the Gospel - turn you heart to the Lord. But trusting God is not a "one and done" thing. Even a cursory reading of the Old Testament you can see even the greatest fell away - trusting in things other than God - influenced by relationships with people and the culture they were immersed in. It is so easy to shift your eyes toward something else. "In all your ways" does not give us any wiggle room. We may think that ALL does not really mean ALL. Surely there are some things that are not under God's dominion. Just think about that for a moment. Times up. There is nothing in the universe that is not under God's dominion - the Creator of the universe. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. - John 1:1-5

What we are talking about is a spiritual truth not a carnal one which can change with the popular opinion of man. It is not the confidence that someone might have in their experience and thinking in some-one or some-thing. It is entrusting our body, soul and spirit to God. Returning to Him that which was stolen by sin. That kind of trust is tied to and dependent upon faith in God the Father.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. - Hebrews 11:1-2

Our challenge is not trusting solely on the day of our salvation  - if that were not significant enough - but to continue to trust God - Jehovah Jireh (the God who provides) every day in everything thereafter. And as you know it is too easy to not do that!

As an inheritance - my mom entrusted some poems she had written to me two years before she passed. Over the years, I have written some poems as well - some about faith and some about my love for my wife.  I have converted some of hers and mine to songs. Like the song I shared with you the other day that I wrote using AI to create the music and voices to go along with the words.  Mom passed in 2010 long before people were putting the letters A + I together. She would be amazed to hear her words set to music. This is one of her poems put to music about Trusting God.

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    |       Click Here        |   

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Who do you know that needs to trust Him?

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

Leaning Foreword In The Foxhole

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." - 1 Peter 5:8-10

"Leaning Forward In The Foxhole" is a term used in the Army to describe being ready for an enemy attack. Most of you reading this have probably never dug a foxhole, let alone been in one with a weapon. But in a similar way, as Christians we must always be ready for the enemy's spiritual attack. It can be so subtle. You might not even see it as a threat because it appeals to your natural sensibilities. It can be an idea that seems reasonable, even though it is clearly contrary to the Word of God.

You might be surprised to learn that only about 9 percent of Christians actually use the Bible as the measure for what is right and acceptable behavior in their culture. That is called having a Biblical World View. Seeing life through the prism of God's revelation to mankind. That means that 91 percent use some other measure to determine what is right and what is wrong. That thinking started in the Garden when the enemy, the devil posed the question, "Did God really say?". Planting a seed of doubt in the minds of men and women. Encouraging them to exact another measure of what is right and wrong - that being, human reasoning and consensus of opinion. 

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4), he used scripture either misstated or out of context to try to tempt Jesus to sin.  People, today, do the same thing. Satan is called the father of lies. People who are not born again are said to be the his children.

"Why do you not understand My [Jesus] speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me." - John 8:43-45

Does that thought make you uncomfortable? It should. We live in a spiritually dangerous culture and world. But so many live as if there is no danger having their faith compromised and their witness neutralized.  

"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

Be alert and ready to engage the enemy - lean foreword in the foxhole. 

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

What Will You Be When You Grow Up?

When you were a young person, do you remember being asked what you wanted to be when you grow up?  A teacher, a doctor, a fireman – like your dad or your mom. As you grew older. Perhaps your resolve became more defined as life opportunities came your way or they evaded you. The reasons why you would or could achieve your dream either presented themselves or never materialized. Perhaps your interests changed – or perhaps possibilities that you never thought possible presented themselves. Life is complicated and can be unpredictable and our dreams can be elusive – sometimes reality but very often just dreams.

However – when you factor in your faith – well there is a much bigger question than what do you want to be.  That question is – what has God purposed you to be.

the Lord said “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  - Jeremiah 29:11

The Lord spoke those words when Israel was taken captive by Babylon.  Our takeaway from that promise is that God has a plan for us too.  As Life unfolds – good things and bad things befall all of us – but still, in the midst of it, God has a plan and a purpose.

Do you remember the Apostle Paul’s story? Paul said ..... 

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord - Philippians 3:4-8

Paul was born into a family of Pharisees. His future was set. Or at least he thought it was and then he met Jesus on the road ad Paul – the Saul – pursued what he considered his purpose. But then – seemingly our of nowhere- Jesus shows up!

Now you might be thinking  “But that was Paul – perhaps the greatest of the Apostles - what does that have to do with me?” Well ……. , let me suggest that it has everything to do with you.  

When you were born again – God set your feet on a different- eternal path. A path that leads to a life that you will live along with your natural life.  To live that life – to be what God has purposed us to be - He has gifted each of us to accomplish our role in the Body of Christ on this earth.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. – 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Those gifts are exercised as we are salt and light in the place on this planet wherever God has planted us.  And beyond those gifts, God has called some of us to places of leadership or perhaps better said – specific places of service.

Christ himself gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, {WHY?} to equip his people for works of service {that He has purposed for them}, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. – Ephesians 4:11-13

Some of those people are called out to serve full time in those capacities and some are “part time” or bi-vocational. Having 2 vocations does not lesson the significance, giftings or the specific calling.  It is just that the context of service is different. In all cases those positions are recognized, acknowledged and confirmed by the Body of Christ and are not merely established by “self-declaration”.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. - Matthew 7:15

You might be tempted to discount how God might use you – knowing that you have “feet of clay”

Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? - Romans 9:21

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. - 2 Corinthians 4:7

This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. - Zechariah 4:6

In Christ we find our eternal purpose and identity!

I wrote a song some time back about the nature of the people that God calls  – 

Give a listen and then look to God for what He has purposed for your life – like me – you might be surprised.

The Life Of A Preacher Man

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