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

Who I Was Is Not Who I Am

 “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am” ― John Newton

My heart resonates with John Newtons words. In case you are not certain - that is the same John Newton who wrote Amazing Grace and was the captain of a slave ship - buying and selling human beings before he met Jesus.

Well, I was thinking about my life - my life before I became a Christian - that day that I prayed in surrender by faith in Jesus one Sunday in  September 1976 and the path my life has been on since then. Oh - I was a pretty "good" and polite guy - as far as the people knew - but I had my demons - like everyone else. I was lost in my sin at the core. Another point of interest - my wife was kneeling at my side as we both prayed and were both born again that same night. God is good - all the time!

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 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 3:21-24

My children and others who have known me since my rebirth cannot believe that I could be anything other than what I am today. But my heart resonates with John Newton as I must echo his words

[Today - still] I am not what I ought to be, [most certainly] I am not what I want to be, [clearly] I am not what I hope to be in another world - [in heaven] ; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am - [to which I say - Thank You Jesus]

There is a song by Charity Gayle - Thank You Jesus For The Blood - these are the first 2 verses and chorus

VERSE 1

I was a wretch, I remember who I was  I was lost, I was blind, I was running out of time.

Sin separated, the breach was far too wide But from the far side of the chasm, You had me in Your sight

VERSE 2

So You made a way, across the great divide [You] Left behind, Heaven's throne, to build it here inside

There at the cross You paid the debt I owed Broke my chains, Freed my soul and for the first time I had Hope 

CHORUS

Thank You Jesus, for the blood applied  Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white

Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life Brought me from the darkness into glorious light

Can you sing that song or at least say the words and mean it?  Oh - I hope and pray so!

Can you echo the words of John Newton? Oh - I hope and pray so!

Or how about these words

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me

I once was lost but now am found

Was blind but now I see!

And if not - perhaps you are reading this because God wants you to know that He loves you and He has a bigger and better plan for your life. And it all starts by surrendering your heart and life to Jesus.

“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 that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:8-13

Does that seems too simple - too easy? Well .... 

God chose the lowly [simple] things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” - 1 Corinthians 1:28-31

If you are a Christian and John Newton's words or mine resonate with you - leave a brief note to let me know they do. 

Or if you were not a Christian but confessed and believed in Jesus as you read this then let me know that as well so I might rejoice with you and welcome you to the family of God my brother or sister. 

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

Repenting Is More Than Being Sorry

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

 “The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died” (Romans 7:9). The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless— “…sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God— it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

Understanding sin in the context of a holy God.  Until a person comes to the point of conversion .. coming under conviction by the Holy Spirit and having a sudden awareness of who they are and who God is, they will never experience a sense of guilt before God and their need for salvation. Many people are more sorry they got caught than the fact that they did something wrong.  They doing something wrong is an attempt to satisfy some need they have. Physical or emotional. Sin is an act of desperation.  Man trying to be his own god.  It all started in the garden.  

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  -  Genesis 3:4-5  

The Law brings an awareness of what is necessary to “be like God”, and it is impossible for sinful man, by himself, to be like God.  Recall that Adam and Eve were already created in God’s image and likeness.  (Genesis 1:26)  But they wanted more than that.  They wanted to be equal to God. They wanted to decide what is right and what is wrong. (Sound a bit like our culture?) 

So what about today .. for you and me. Does becoming a Christian make you sin-proof?  No.  But it does make you Hell-proof.  Sins can be both internal and external.  Jesus taught that.  We tend to focus on the external and try to manage those sins .. to keep them under control.  Not good enough!  If you compare what you do plus what you think to the holiness of God, you will quickly realize that you are not so “holy” as you hoped.  If most of your sinning goes on – on the inside, you may fool people around you, but not God, who sees the heart.  

The Law and our sin is a constant reminder that we need a Savior because we cannot be holy on our own.  We need a little – well more correctly – a lot of help.  God does not want you to live a life of guilt because you struggle with sin and the flesh .. He wants you to confess and repent.  But repentance is more than trying harder or being sorry .. it is trusting more … it is submitting more … it is “faithing” more. I don’t expect to be perfect in the flesh … but I also know that I cannot and should not ever be satisfied with my sinful nature.  

Some people say “That is just the way that I am!” in response to some attitude or action that does not glorify God and is hurtful to other people.  As if they can blame their sin on heredity … well they can, but then again, they can’t.  Adam and Eve may have started it, but we are each responsible for our own sin. So we need to own it, confess it, and repent of it.  Today would be a good day to get started.

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 Your Comfort Zone

“If anyone follows Me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Me.” - Matthew 16:24 

Everyone likes to be comfortable.  I can remember an occasions when Martie and I got to sit on a soft sofa after months of sitting on hard chairs in Haiti.  Seems like a small thing, but the feeling was exquisite.  We like routine.  Mainly because we know what to expect.  There is no uncertainty in routine.  Each day is like every other day.  Each day, week, month and year like the other. Routine.  People find comfort in that.  Being around people who look like you, believe like you, talk like you, do what you do … it is a comfortable place to be.  Watching a news report about a war in a different land or the ravages of a natural disaster allows you to be comfortable in your routine.  You may not be able to empathize – because you have never left your comfort zone – but you can sympathize – at least until the commercial, supper  or the start of your favorite program.  We like to be comfortable and we don’t like giving that comfort up.  

If you are a Christian – born again by faith in Jesus – even then you are most likely looking for the comfort found in a routine existence.  Going to church – sitting in the same seat or pew – talking to the same people – listening to the same sermons – routine.  We love it – crave it even.  But, like Pastor Rick Warren said “God is more interested in your character, than in your comfort.”   And how does God develop godly character in you? Not through routine.  God calls out of the routine for this world into the uncertain world of faith.  Not knowing what will happen tomorrow – next week, month or year.  But we live in confidence, by faith, knowing that God does.  

I have quoted this before but it bears repeating. It is from the C.S. Lewis book “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” Aslan is a type of Jesus. 

“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr. Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” 

God is not “safe” but He is good.  He has our best in mind.  He will disrupt your routine, if you allow it. That is correct – He won’t make you abandon what is comfortable – but He will invite you to leave it behind for something much better.  What you see as “dangerous” depends upon the maturity of your walk of faith.  For a child, putting their toes in the water may seem like a great accomplishment.  For an adult, jumping off of the high-dive is a challenge. Both require stepping into the unknown – the uncertain – the “anything but routine”  Jesus said “If anyone follows Me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Me.”  

Are you a Jesus follower or Jesus watcher?  It is one thing to marvel at the person jump off of the high-dive and quite another to grip the end of the board with your toes right before you take that leap of faith. 

As a first step, the Bible tells us to abandon our affection for the things of this world and the comfort we find in them.  To turn to God, the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) He may tell you to leave your “nets” and follow Him.  There is a song that comes to mind. Knowing You Jesus – Graham Kendrick 

“All I once held dear, Built my life upon.  All the world reveres and wars to own.  All I once thought gain, I have counted loss.  Spent and worthless now, compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You. There is no greater thing. You're my all, You're the best. You're my joy, my righteousness. And I love You, Lord

Now my heart's desire is to know You more. To be found in You and known as Yours. To possess by faith what I could not earn. All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh to know the power of Your risen life. And to know You in Your sufferings. To become like You in Your death, my Lord. So with You to live and never die”

As a Christian, God calls you to leave what is comfortable – what is routine for something greater – something eternal.  So come on – go ahead and put your toes in the water - then jump in.

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

Not Everyone Listens

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: “‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”  For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand  with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’- Acts 27:23-27

As you know we all have a "charge" from the Lord to go and share the Good News. There are a number of admonitions in the New Testament that tell us that the Gospel seed will not always fall on fertile soil. In fact, in the parable about the seed (Matthew 13) there were three places where the seed did not grow, yielding a crop - that being salvation. I am careful to not "fill in the blanks" as I wrote about the other day - but math would tell me that it is three times more likely that my sharing the Gospel will fall on deaf ears 3 out of 4 times.  

The point is - our responsibility is to tell - just like Paul did in Rome. In his case he always spoke to the Jews first and it was the Jews that were spiritually blind and deaf. Remember Jesus' words - Matthew 13:15-16

For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Oh that the people would see and hear. It is especially sorrowful when those people are related to you. They are part of your family. About that, Jesus also said - 

Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” - Luke 12:51-53

There was unity when no one believed or everyone believed. I don't tell you this to discourage you, but that you might understand that your testimony to you family is actually your heavenly obligation to the world - including your family. How they respond is between them and the Lord. No matter you will love them. I can tell you that my mom witnessed to me for 7 years and Martie 5 years, from the time we started dating. So don't give up but remember what your role is. You can't save anyone - no matter who much you want to.

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