Misplaced Trust In Traditions

You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by [vain] traditions from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. - 1 Peter 1:18-19

Can you of something that your parents taught you that their parents taught them? I will call it generational truth. That is not a bad thing so long as it is not in conflict with or opposed to the Word of God - His revealed truth. Sometimes we think that what we have been taught to believe has in fact lost its meaning over time.

I recall a story about a wife always cutting off the end of a roast before she cooked it. When her husband asked why, she said "Because that is what my mother always did." Later he had the occasion to speak to her mother and he asked her why she cut the end of the roast off before she cooked it. Her answer - "Because her baking pan was too small for the roast." 

When I was in grade school - I don't remember which grade - 5th maybe (but that is one of those facts that are irrelevant to the point! - sorry) Our teacher told the class that we should not eat the very ends of the bananas because spiders lay their eggs in the ends of the bananas and it will make us sick. To this day, I don't eat the ends of the bananas. Well, before writing this I had a conversation with Mister Google about bananas and he confirmed that eating the end of the bananas is not dangerous - it is edible. How many banana ends have I tossed out over the years? Traditions, when firmly rooted in our world view of right and wrong can dominate our choices - even in the face of a "greater truth".  Some are trivial - like the ends of bananas. Others are contrary to God's revealed Truth and to follow them is sin.

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. - Proverbs 16:25

That is what Peter was saying to his generation and all generations that followed. As children of God, our primary devotion is to God and His Truth. We should embrace His truth by faith and resist our tendency to defer to our fathers' traditions. Another example just came to mind.

Do you remember Tevye [Tev-Yuh] the lead character in Fiddler of the Roof? He spoke as to why the men always wore hats - he boiled it down to one thing - Tradition!

Traditions can drive behavior - we don't even have to think about - it is a natural response - but Peter was contrasting the old nature to our new nature. Paul also addressed the issue.

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, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

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

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

Things That Hinder Our Hearing God

“Who are You, Lord?” — Acts 26:15

“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.” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest, January 29.

Knowing what is right to do … the God-thing … and what you actually choose to do are often two quite different things.  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, you have settled for less than God’s best for you. It may bring satisfaction for a moment, but God deals in the eternal ... not the temporal.  The heavenly not the earthly.  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 suggested – 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.  The Scripture is replete with examples of disobedience. Hearing God and doing something else because they thought they knew better.

When Paul, then Saul, met Jesus on the road, Saul’s world was shaken. He was convinced that he was doing right in persecuting Christians – convinced that they were wrong.  They had to be! What they believed violated all that he accepted as right. But he was wrong.

For the Christian, 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.  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, they are acceptable 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 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 … 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

Standing Your Ground

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. - Ephesians 6:10-16

This is probably not a popular view - but we are to stand our ground against the world and what it says is right and good. Instead, we are to embrace the Truth as revealed by God through His Word by His Spirit. Standing our ground has the sense of leaning forward - not willing to budge as we face the onslaught of the temptations the shot at us, like fiery darts, from the natural world.  The world we were saved from.

Every day we are challenged to compromise the Truth in favor of what the world - and most of the people we meet every day says is OK to say and do. Go along so you can get along. Think about that in light of what Jesus said.

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. - Luke 14:26

It is one thing to think of those you reject as being someone you don't know - but your relatives? The idea here is that if your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, or others that you care about are not Christians - but are a reflection of that which you have been saved from - then your affection for them must not be what guides what you do - how you live your life. That does not mean that you do not show them Jesus - or abandon them. It means that your primary devotion is to God. 

Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. - 1 Peter 1:17-21

In other words, we must stand against the temptation to yield to the traditions of our fathers - who trust in the values of men - who rejected God - and put our faith and hope in God. Am I saying that our fathers could not teach us what is good? No - but apart from God - it is not possible to be truly good. 

Now as He [Jesus] was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God." - Mark 10:17-18

You see - from an eternal perspective all goodness comes from the source of good - that is Jehovah God. Anything that might be called good in this world is but a shadow. We must see things as God sees them. Only those who are born again are capable of doing that. Don't expect the world to fully embrace what God has said is truth as truth. And so we must be ready to stand our ground. 

Lauren Daigle wrote and sang a song - O' Lord - that makes the point - 

"Though times it seems. Like I'm coming undone. This walk can often feel lonely. No matter what until this race is won

I will stand my ground where hope can be found. I will stand my ground where hope can be found

Oh, O' Lord O' Lord I know You hear my cry. Your love is lifting me above all the lies. No matter what I face this I know in time

You'll take all that is wrong and make it right. You'll take all that is wrong and make it right

Your strength is found. At the end of my road. Your grace it reaches to the hurting. Still through the tears and the questioning why

I will stand my ground where hope can be found. I will stand my ground where hope can be found

Oh, O' Lord O' Lord I know You hear my cry. Your love is lifting me above all the lies. No matter what I face this I know in time. You'll take all that is wrong and make it right."

Stand your ground Christian!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. 

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

Obedience To God Will Bring Adversity

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

 <Journal Entry>  13 Jan 2011.  Another day working in the [new] church. It was the 1 year anniversary if the earthquake in Haiti. [Leogane was at the epicenter] The temporary church was using tarps for a roof. It was full of people praising God – for 4 hours or more. They used a generator to run a sound system. As we built – they worshipped – It was a good picture of the provision of God. He sent His Spirit to connect the hearts of the people – in worship and work. It is good for me to be here – it is sharpening my focus on what it is that God wants me to do.

The men on the team are not well organized for the work. Not many can wield hammers well – so the work is slow – but as I told John the foreman – there is more to it than construction – the experience is changing lives – the work will get done – but more importantly God will be glorified in it.  Nehemiah put Hananiah in charge “because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do” (Nehemiah 7:2) Lord that I would be counted among the likes of Hananiah – known for my integrity and more love and dedication to You, Lord than any skills I might have. After Nehemiah established security, he turned his focus to rebuilding homes – first example of disaster relief work.

There was order and standards. Nehemiah struggled with opposition, opposing agendas, jealousy – but he kept his focus on his calling – I need to do the same – I am not to turn my head to the left or right by keep my eyes fixed on the prize – the goal of my upward calling. (Philippians 3:14)

My Utmost for His Highest – January 11 – “I can disobey God and it might bring relief – but it will grieve God – but if I obey – He will care for those affected by my obedience – so obey and leave the consequences to Him.” < End of Journal Entry>

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” - Luke 18:27

As I re-read the words I wrote over 16 years ago, I can see how God used that trip to shape my thinking – my understanding – my vision.  I have often said that “ministry would be easy if only people were not involved!” God did not say that we would not face adversity nor that what He calls us to do would not be impossible for men. Today we live in difficult – spiritually perilous times – every day there are challenges to our faith and beliefs.  The days seem to be getting darker. We must keep our eyes fixed on Him. We must resist taking the easy path because it seems less stressful and does not require much faith, if any. That should give us a clue about the rightness of our choices!

The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. - Proverbs 14:11-12

Shine Bright my friend and glorify God with your life.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. 

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

Christians Have Six Senses Not Five

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." - Ephesians 2:1-7

I heard someone say something that took me aback - made my "little grey cells" (as Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie's detective would say) come to life. So what was it? They said, "God does not see us as dead or alive - He just sees us alive." [in Christ]

I wondered, at first - "Is there Biblical proof that statement is true?"  My second thought was - "So if that is true, what are the implications for how I live my life?"

First. According to Ephesians, God saw us as dead - Spiritually before we were born again. The spiritual me is superior to the natural me. Most of us don't think of it like that.  We see everything through the lens of our natural existence - our five senses. Jesus came to redeem the eternal - spiritual me. 

" .. making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling. " - Ephesians 1: 16-17

First Point. Paul prayed that the Saints "eyes of understanding would be enlightened." That we would understand the world, heaven, and our very lives in the same way that God does. Spiritual understanding is like a Sixth Sense that is denied to those who are not born again. You know the five senses most of us are born with - touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. Not surprisingly, God is not nearly as concerned about our natural lives as He is about our spiritual - eternal lives.  What!!!! What are you most concerned about every day? You might know about the importance of our spiritual nature, but do you understand it? Do you embrace it. Do you live, make life choices, and react to every day circumstances in that understanding? It is the Spirit of God that gives us our sixth sense while we walk on this planet. The Spirit helps us understand spiritual truth - the Word of God - connects us with the Father.

Second Point.  When a lost person dies a physical death, they are dead both physically and spiritually. God saw them as dead spiritually before and still sees them as dead spiritually after their physical death. (When a person is spiritually dead, they are eternally separated from God and bound for hell.) When a saved person dies a physical death, they are dead physically but alive spiritually. God sees them as alive before and after their physical death. When a Christian dies - it does not matter what their physical age was, God sees them as He did then and always. We see them as dead and therefore no longer part of the physically living. We mourn their loss because they are no longer part of our physical existence - five senses. 

"according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:20-21

Obviously, Paul got it. He was not cavalier about his natural life and its frailty. But he understood his physical life in the context of the Spiritual. Our sixth sense gives us a heavenly- eternal perspective on life. To the person who is not born again by the Spirit - our faith is foolishness.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. - 1 Corinthians 2:14

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

Being A Silent Witness - Letting Your Life Speak For You

 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. - Deuteronomy 6:6-9

If you depended upon your life to proclaim the Gospel instead of words - would it have anything to say?

Spiritual maturity cannot be measured by knowledge alone, but by how you live out your faith. That is a rough quote from a sermon I heard recently in the church my son and daughter-in-law attend in Mesa, Arizona. Essentially, my testimony should not be limited to how much knowledge I have about what the Bible says, information about the Truth, but rather how much of what the Bible says is demonstrated in the way I live my life, daily application of the Truth.

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." - James 1:22

You know what people call a person who says one thing and then does another - yes that's right - a hypocrite. Recall Jesus' words.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. - Matthew 23:27

That same pastor, Jeremy Gills, said "Faith that lives at church will not survive real life because God designed (intended) faith for your walking not just your worship." When I was with the Promise Keeper ministry, I described what I saw some men who attended the annual conferences as using their attendance as a "Promise Keeper Pill". In other words, thinking if you attend one conference a year then you will be good to go spiritually until the next conference. And yet, I had wives tell me that their husband returned from the conference a "new man" but after a couple of weeks they drifted back to be the same old man. The glory faded because there was not real change - just a hope that somehow there had been real change.  

There is a song written by Steven Curtis Chapman and  James Isaac Elliot called "The Change". 

Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believe I got letters on my bracelet to serve as my ID
I got the necklace and the key chain And almost everything a good Christian needs
I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator door And a welcome mat to bless you before you walk across my floor
I got a Jesus bumper sticker And the outline of a fish stuck on my car
And even though this stuff's all well and good I cannot help but ask myself--
What about the change What about the difference What about the grace What about forgiveness
What about a life that's showing I'm undergoing the change 

For those guys who attended the conferences it was a t-shirt or a hat. They changed the look of the outside of the cup - but there was no heart change. Let me add - that many men did experience real heart change - but like some of the men - many Christians count on Sunday morning worship to be their "weekly pill"

Pastor Gills went on to say that "you don't drift into spiritual strength - you drift into spiritual weakness" It would be like being on a boat and casting off the lines from a dock and trusting that the wind and waves would take you to your destination. It will require effort on your part. "Rowing" until you arrive.

Would people you are around every day be surprised to discover that you are a Christian? Does your life speak 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 

Anger Is A Choice - Part 2

This is a continuation of my recent devotion on anger.  I realize that many books have been written on this subject. Many people are in therapy for anger. Even Christian people - go figure!  As you know, anger is a secondary emotion, meaning why we get angry is because there is something at the root – working behind the scenes – and the life situation you are facing merely serves as a catalyst or opportunity for our anger to rise up.  

I also realize that people can find a number of verses in the Bible that would suggest that anger is actually “OK”.  Suggesting that it is not actually a 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.  But 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, hoping it is true, that “It’s not a sin to be angry.” Often in an effort to justify the harm we have done.  So what to do.

First – understand, and accept, that Anger is not a fruit of the Spirit but of the flesh - our old nature.  (Galatians 5: 19-21)  “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.”  (Galatians 5:22-23) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  

These verses contrast the differences between your old life in the flesh and your new life submitted to the Spirit of God – the Spirit that is in you (1 Corinthians 6:19) “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” 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 along 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.

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

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 not necessarily on the fastest route to our objective.  That meant that we cut across difficult terrain.  I reached our objective without incident. Afterwards, I was told that there had been an ambush set up and waiting for us at an intersection along the road, (the most obvious and easiest route) that I had bypassed.  The ambush didn't happen because  we never showed up.

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 than 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 

I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

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 

Glorifying God With All My Words

"We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." - James 3:2

What the Bible says about why I must watch what I say - the words I use - no matter the provocation or situation. 

1. My tongue directs where I go. 

"When we put bits in the mouths of horses ... we can turn the whole animal." - James 3:3

"Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go." - James 3:4

2. My tongue can destroy what I have. 

"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire - James 3:5

“Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;  good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest. Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose”  Prov 18:20-21 

"... it sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." - James 3:6b

3. My tongue reveals Who I Am. 

“We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself.” - James 3:9

"Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." - James 3:10 

"Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ... can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs?" - James 3:12

4. The root of the problem is with my heart.

"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." - Matthew 12:34." 

“After Jesus called the crowd to him, he said, “Listen and understand what I am saying.  It is not what people put into their mouths that makes them unclean. It is what comes out of their mouths that makes them unclean.” - Matthew 15:10-11 

5. The solution to the problem is to Get a new heart!

"Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit!" - Ezekiel 18:31 

“Therefore, 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 

6. We must make it a practice to ask God for help every day.

"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." - Psalms 141:3 

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer”    - Psalms 19:14 

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. “ - Proverbs 4:23 

7. We must think before we speak

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." - James 1:19

8. We must be careful what we watch, what we read, what we listen to. 

"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

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.” - Philippians - 4:8-9 

So does it matter what I say? Yes - It matters. Do the words I use reflect my heart and faith - yes they do. Is it OK to use profanity in my speech - no it is not. 

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 

Seeking Truth From The Word Not The World

 Don't 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. Actually the root of the word has to do with having an opinion or bias about something.  That could be a dislike, even hatred, of people of other races.  That is one of the prejudices that is part of our old nature. Let’s use that as an example.  Men have argued for years that one race is superior to another.  Typically it is the majority race that holds that view.  It is part of the old nature.  So what does the Bible say? Well, man 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 mone" (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.  When drowning, why would you seek help from someone who is drowning beside you?  The Word and not the world 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 our prejudices – 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

God's Comfort Is Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water Wednesday 11 March

When He was alone…the twelve asked Him about the parable. —Mark 4:10

“When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship— when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us. Notice Jesus Christ’s training of the Twelve. It was the disciples, not the crowd outside, who were confused. His disciples constantly asked Him questions, and He constantly explained things to them, but they didn’t understand until after they received the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26). We think we understand another person’s struggle until God reveals the same shortcomings in our lives. There are vast areas of stubbornness and ignorance the Holy Spirit has to reveal in each of us, but it can only be done when Jesus gets us alone.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” - James 1:2-4

Pastor Rick Warren said it this way, “God never wastes a hurt”.  We are saved for eternity, but we continue to live out this life in a fallen – sin-sick world.  What we experience in this life, both good and bad, God uses to shape us into the image of His Son.  We gladly accept the fact that Jesus suffered and died for us, but we often have a problem with accepting pain and suffering in our own lives.  Like God is supposed to prevent that from happening.  Job said 

 “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;  I will surely defend my ways to his face.” - Job 13:15 

The first half of that verse is quoted often .. the second half … not so much.  There is nothing wrong with asking God for understanding … but don’t lose hope in the asking.  Don’t doubt God .. even though what you are experiencing is difficult to endure.  

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Do you believe that? Well, you may doubt it in the midst of your trouble, but it is no less true.  If you seek God and put your hope in Him, you will find comfort.  If you blame God and turn away in your heart, you will not. Jesus said 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Paul wrote 

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  -  Romans 8:38-39

And that my friend is the Truth!

As I was thinking up a title for this post a song by Simon and Garfunkel came to my mind.  Bridge Over Troubled Waters.  "When you're down and out. When you're on the street. When evening falls so hard I will comfort you. I'll take your part, oh, when darkness comes. And pain is all, is all around. Just like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down. Just like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down"  That's what God is like!

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

Getting Angry Is A Choice

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. Or maybe someone made me angry - it is not my fault.

Yesterday we ran into a plumbing snag at the house we are working on.  It’s fixable, but it may 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 another 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

Deciding What Is Most Important

Charles Hummel wrote a book “Tyranny of the Urgent”  The idea behind the book is that we often let what seems urgent be the deciding factor with respect to what we do.  What is “important” is juxtaposed with what is “urgent”.  (OK hang with me here!) There are 4 possible combinations of life situations that we will encounter  – Urgent/Important – Urgent/Not Important – Not Urgent Important – Not Urgent/Not Important.  

So what does that have to do with our faith?  Emotions are tied to urgency.  Something happens and our emotions – "Spidey" senses – tell us that this must be acted upon immediately, it's urgent.  The key is knowing what is actually important and keeping life in perspective with respect to that knowing.  So, Christian, what is important to you?  The text-book (Bible) answer is God, others (world, culture, family), and lastly you. (Matthew 22: 37-39, Romans 12:1-2, Mark 9:35) There are many other references, but those are sufficient for my point.  So what is important is determined first by our relationship with God and our willingness to trust and obey – and not by our feelings/emotions.  

The difficulty starts with the tension between the old life and the new life.  That tension exists because we live in a physical world but have a new spiritual reality that is supposed to be our primary perspective.  Our Spiritual world view is the filter by which we should determine what is important and what is urgent.  In the context of Hummel’s book – Our relationship with God is the determinant with respect to deciding what is important and what is urgent.  For some Christians – it’s OK to agree that we should not love the world or the things of this world (1 John 2:15) but what about retirement – the children’s college – my new car – my job.  Where do they fall into the mix?  

What my point is, friend, is that all of that falls into its proper place when God is in His proper place.  A classic question is “Do you believe that what you believe is really real?” If you do – God will always be first – and if you don’t – God will often be left in the dust in favor of what is urgent – what your flesh tells you is important.  We are faced with these decisions every day.  But – if we are not spiritually minded – we are bound to choose poorly.  If the Chief End Of Man is indeed to “Glorify God and Enjoy Him Forever” then God must be first and must be the One who determines what is important and what is urgent.  

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:25

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” - Galatians 5:16

You are going to be challenged today with this dilemma – choices about what to respond to and how to respond.  If you are a Christian – the choices are clear but require faith and obedience to respond correctly.  Keep the things of life in their proper place … don’t let your emotions rule .. that place belongs to God.  

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path. - Proverbs 3:5-6

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 Don't Believe We're On The Eve Of Destruction? - Maranatha!

I wrote this originally in 2018 - with all that is going on in the Middle East I thought it might be good to publish it again. And no - I don't think our generation is facing the Tribulation. 

"Make your ambition to a lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, so you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need" - 1 Thessalonians 4:11

"So far as it depends upon you, be at peace with all men." - Romans 12:18

Every day I see so much strife in people's lives - people living in the power of their flesh and in their struggle for self-preservation.  They live in constant fear, and rather than loving God and loving others, their love for themselves dominates them and everything they do or aspire to do.  If people don't meet their expectations or don't dance to their tune, they are considered to be the enemy.  They seek consolation and relief from their fears and insecurities by accommodating their flesh and what it desires.  Turning to things that promise peace and consolation, but, in the end, only bring pain and destruction.

Our culture seems to be imploding.  Consuming itself.  Looking for answers to the problems that dominate us, but unwilling to acknowledge the true source of those problems.  We criticize aberrant - wrong - hurtful behavior and encourage it at the same time. We condemn men for making sexual advances to women and exploit women in the media and add sexual connotation even in television commercials about everyday products.  We wonder why there is a problem with violence in our country and the majority of the most popular television shows and movies are dominated with stark violence and death.  As I watch this going on I feel helpless to change it.  But that is because the source of the problem spiritual .. and most often misdiagnosed as a natural - relational problem. And being a spiritual problem, it can only be solved with a spiritual solution.  My wanting my children's behavior, for example,  to be different will not make it so!  Only God can do that - He is in the "business" of changing hearts.  And their hearts can be changed, but only if they will submit to His call and yield their lives in faith to the Lord.

 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:18

The solution is so simple, but the truth is, the majority of the world will reject the Truth. 

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator .. " - Romans 1:25

 I am not making this up.  God has revealed the Truth to us through the Word of God, by His Spirit and through His Son and His sacrifice.  The world, our culture, rejects the idea that the problem has spiritual roots and a spiritual solution.  

 “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”  - 1 Corinthians 2:14

What a dilemma.  What to do? The answer is simple.  Don’t expect the world to get better … it is running pell-mell into darkness … headed for destruction …

There was a song written in the mid-60’s, a protest song, but I think it was prophetic.  It was written by PF Sloan, during the Vietnam war, and sung by Barry McGuire who later became a Christian. It speaks to the calamity that rages in this world, but stops short of a solution.  Barry McGuire found the solution … you know the answer too - it's Jesus. My encouragement to you …. Be a light in this dark world … if people seem to be looking for answers .. point them to Jesus .. most will ignore you .. but that is between them and God. Your obligation is to tell the world. The Spirit will do the rest.

Eve of Destruction by PF Sloan. 

The eastern world, it is explodin', Violence flarin', bullets loadin', You're old enough to kill but not for votin',
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin', And even the Jordan river has bodies floatin',
But you tell me over and over and over again my friend, Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.
Don't you understand, what I'm trying to say? And can't you feel the fears I'm feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there's no running away,

There'll be no one to save with the world in a grave, Take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy,
And you tell me over and over and over again my friend, Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Yeah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin', I'm sittin' here, just contemplatin',
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation, Handful of Senators don't pass legislation,
And marches alone can't bring integration, When human respect is disintegratin',
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin', And you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Think of all the hate there is in Red China! Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama!
Ah, you may leave here, for four days in space, But when your return, it's the same old place,
The poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace, You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace,
Hate your next door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace, And you tell me over and over and over and over again my friend,

You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction. No, no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction!

Jesus is the answer ... always was and always will be!

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

Dealing with Doubts

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him [Peter], “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” - Matthew 14:31

Up front – Some may think that devotions should be short.  A few sentences.  I write what the Lord lays on my heart.  Sometimes, like today, it can be lengthy.  No apologies, just know that is not likely to change.  

Have doubts about your faith? Join the club friend. I was talking with someone the other day.  The matter was concerning what seemed to be the imminent death of a loved one.  He said, “I sure hope that when I die, I find out this (our hope in heaven) is really true.” (Have you ever had that thought?) That statement set me back for a second.  I never thought of him as having any doubts about his faith, but there it was. The stress of the death or grave illness of someone you care about seems to have the effect of removing inhibitions from people.  Those situations reveal things that they typically keep hidden, and you wonder “Where did that come from?” or “I had no idea they felt that way!”  But to the point …

We are on a journey of faith – like in Pilgrim’s Progress.  We are jars of clay, formed from dust.  There is something called the Law of Thermodynamics, actually there are 4 laws, like Newton’s 3 Laws of Motion, except different. “Energy cannot be created or destroyed. In other words, in a closed system, the total amount of energy that can be taken out of the system will be equal to the total amount of energy that was put into the system.” That might be why people think that they can be reincarnated.  If you leave this form, you will “pop-up” in another form.  Zero sum.  Whatever is taken away is put back in.  (Hang with me, I am almost finished with the physics lesson!!!) 

My point is that these “laws” are nothing more than man’s observation of God’s creation.  The truth is that God can do what He wants to do, whenever He wants to do it.  He operates on an eternal clock and we operate on seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Hey, we do the best we can.  

Here is the problem. If we try to figure God out on our own, we are doomed to failure.  

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  - Isaiah 55:8-9

You, with your mortal natural mind, cannot figure God out.  

 “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” - 1 Corinthians 2:14

You see, in order to not have doubts, you must see the world as God does, and you can only do that by the power of God’s Spirit in you. We are given an account of a young boy being healed by Jesus.  The boy was apparently beyond human help. 

“So He (Jesus) asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You (Jesus) can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” - Mark 9:21-25

All of us have or will or will again face impossible situations. Situations that challenge the promises of God and our faith. Hebrews 11:1 says that Faith is about things hoped for and not seen.  If you want to strengthen your faith you can do two things.  First, Be reminded of when God showed up in impossible circumstances. Second, keep your heart and mind fixed on Jesus.  If you don’t do that you will suffer spiritual atrophy and when that happens you will be plagued by doubt. 

“Trust in the Lord in all your ways and not your own mental capacity.” Proverbs 3:5-6 

In one of the Indiana Jones movies, Indy was confronted by a huge man with a huge sword.  Then Indy remembered that he was carrying a gun, so he shot the man with the sword. Well, in a way, Indy is me and you. Faced with impossible circumstances, we must remember that we are “packing”.  We have the Holy Spirit in us .. the Creator God is on our side .. and He is faithful to His promises. That you can believe!

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 Is The Wind Beneath My Wings

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

Many people have turned back because they are afraid to look at things from God’s perspective. The greatest spiritual crisis comes when a person has to move a little farther on in his faith than the beliefs he has already accepted.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

When I was in the Army, we would do a lot of physical exercise as a unit.  I can remember with one particular unit in the Aviation Squadron of 3rd Armored Cavalry in El Paso, Texas,  I had a squadron commander that trained us for war.  Not just physically, but mentally.  We had a saying “you fight the way you train”.  Well, in one case he used our physical training to help us with mental toughness.  We were used to running a particular route.  Early in the morning – 5:30 early – we call it O-dark thirty. We knew the land marks for our 3 to 4 mile run.  We knew when we were half way and we knew when we were at the finish. By then, we were ready to hear “Quick time – march”, which means – stop running and walk in civilian vernacular.  Well, one day we got to the “finish line”, but we kept running.  We were always exhausted by the time we got to that point, but he kept running.  You are already thinking I can’t go on, and I am thrilled we are at the finish line – but the squadron commander kept us running right past the point where we could not go on!  We ran for another half mile or so.  What was the lesson?  We can do more than we think we can.  War is very demanding on the body and the mind.  You must be able to go beyond yourself. God will also call you to go beyond yourself ... how will it be possible ... He will be your second wind. And such is our life of faith.  

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  - 2 Timothy 4:7

 Paul said that in the face of great personal trials. He had gone beyond himself many times, running on faith – Spirit power, and not his own determination and wisdom. 

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.”  - 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

Not falling out of the run requires discipline and faith.  In our runs in the Army, there were always people who would fall out, who could not go on, who lost heart and confidence.  They fell by the wayside.  The same way with our faith.  I am not talking about loss of salvation.  The people I mentioned were still in the Army, they needed more physical training so they could serve in the manner that was expected of them.  And so it is with us as Christians.  There are many who don’t have the faith to keep up with where God wants to take them. They need more training .. more confidence .. more encouragement.

I remember taking a PT test in the Armor Officer Basic Course.  That test is something you must pass.  Well, a friend of mine stopped running during the two mile run.  He had a look of pain and exhaustion on his face.  I stopped too so I could encourage him to finish.  The evaluators called out to me and told me to keep going and leave him behind.  I could not and would not.  He finished .. passed, barely.  But he passed.  So did I, but helping him cost me something. 

“No greater love has one man than this, to lay down his life for his friends”  - John 15:13

I am not bragging, I am making a point.  We are supposed to encourage one another to love and good works. 

 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”  - Hebrews 10:24-25

Some need more encouragement than others . .who do you know that needs to be encouraged in their faith .. to continue to run and not fall out .. even when they think they can’t go on?  But know this .... helping them will cost you something.  Be willing to pay the price and bring glory to God.

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

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

The Insanity Of Trusting In Yourself

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 yield 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 turn to me and not Him.  

Is the phrase Living by Faith is meant to only 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.  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 … an act of the will.  

 If you are struggling in your faith, it is most likely that the source of the struggle is you .. not your circumstances.  Like the man who asked Jesus  for help with his lack of faith or belief in Jesus. 

“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

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 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 more like impossible! … 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.  Why is something that seems so simple, so hard to do? Because its our nature to trust ourselves even if it always leads to failure.  Remember that is the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome.

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

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. God will show you things through the Spirit that you may not want to see or admit to, even to yourself.  (One of the Spirit’s missions given by God the Father 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 the surrendering of my will to control my life.

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 

“Your sin will find you out.” - Numbers 32:23

God knows everything .. that is why when we confess our sins (1 John 1:9) .. it means that we agree with God not to reveal something He doesn't know. The goal of this transformation – this 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 willingly, completely surrender your very life to Him by faith.  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

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 

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.  I recall visiting a remote village in Southwestern Haiti some years ago, Donglise (Dawn gleece).  

The pastor was not well.  I prayed for him.  Not to just 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 me to be completely healed of my infirmities, although that would be a good thing.  But I ask that God would give me the strength I need to accomplish His purposes through me.  And if He does nothing, some would say it is because I lacked faith.  I say the healing would be good, but does not matter because I will continue to serve in spite of it. 

 “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

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

Don't Lose Your Witness

Jesus says, in effect, “Don’t worry about whether or not you are being treated justly.” Looking for justice is actually a sign that we have been diverted from our devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will only begin to complain and to indulge ourselves in the discontent of self-pity, as if to say, “Why should I be treated like this?” If we are devoted to Jesus Christ, we have nothing to do with what we encounter, whether it is just or unjust. - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

When you read those words, does it seem right to you?  I mean shouldn’t you be shown kindness?  Shouldn’t people that treat you poorly be dealt with – divinely?  Wouldn’t that make you feel better?  What did Jesus have to say about it?

But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.  To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.  Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.  And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. - Luke 6:27-31  

If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.  But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.' - John 15:24-25 

Most of us will agree that concept is good ... but when you are being treated poorly how do you feel ... what is it that you must control?  I sometimes say, tongue in cheek, ‘I don’t want to lose my witness’ ... what I am really saying is I don’t want to act on what I am feeling and wanting to do.  You know what?  It’s too late at that point.  I have already missed it (the mark). I have already sinned in my heart.

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. - 1 John 3:15  

We love Him because He first loved us.  If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?  And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. - 1 John 4:19-21  

You see it is the attitude of your heart .. sin finds its roots in the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

You don’t have to act on your sin to sin.  Thinking that it's OK so long as you didn’t do what you were thinking has stopped short of sin is not right thinking.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.'  But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. - Matthew 5:27-28  

Remember David on the roof?  He had already sinned before Bathsheba ever entered his house.  Pretty high standard isn’t it.  It cannot be achieved through determination .. will power .. or won’t power … but only by the power of God in us.  Are there things - thoughts in your life that you have been accommodating? Pretending that they didn’t matter .. Get your heart right … do not sin … James says that sin begins in our heart when we are tempted 

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. - James 1:12-15 

That is where it must end … It is only when we are spending time in the Word and with the Lord will we be able to stand against the temptation to sin, but … that is another devotion for another day …

Shine bright 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