Is That You, God?

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21

Have you ever seen a miracle? Some time back I saw a miracle happen.  God showed up in an impossible situation.  My oldest sister, who had significant lung and heart problems was in the hospital.  Her lungs had stopped working.  She was on a ventilator.  The hospital staff was trying to prepare the family for the inevitable.  The family had accepted the fact that our sister was not leaving the hospital alive this time.  While I was talking with my sister she wrote on a pad of paper, "I may go to heaven today"  She was ready. 

In 1976, as a brand spanking new Christian, I was blessed to participate in my sister surrendering her life to the Lord.  In the hospital, in preparation for her death, I had reminded her of that. Of whose she was, a child of the King.  That her hope was in Heaven.  That God knows her name, she is not forgotten. I had put the call out for prayer to the Saints. Her children and husband had asked me to pray for her, multiple times over the past few days.  They had a look of desperation in their eyes. They were helpless and perhaps, hopeless.  And then, God showed up. The unimaginable happened. The doctor removed the ventilator tube and she started breathing on her own.  The previous morning she was making her peace with God.  Saying her last goodbyes. Family was flying in, expecting the worst.  The next afternoon, she was sitting in a chair, eating and talking.

I was talking to her daughter after the miracle about faith and confidence in God.  So very often when we pray, we pray without real hope.  We are really not expecting God do intervene.  Oh, we would love it if He did, but we don't have the confidence that He will.  Perhaps He is not really listening.  I reminded her of Jesus responding to Peter on the water and the disciples in the boat … "Why did you doubt?' "Where is your faith?"

As I looked around the waiting room in CICU, I saw relief on the faces of those who loved my sister. But I was amazed to see that they missed the fact that Jesus had just showed up in their midst.  He reached out His hand and pulled Sherrie up from the water.  He had stretched out His hand and said, "Peace, be still." to the storm that was raging in CICU that day.  No glory to God. No recognition of God's answered prayer.  They focused on what happened - Sherrie was not going to die - and not why she was not going to die.  

This has given me pause to reflect.  Proverbs 3:5-6 are verses that are part of the scriptural foundation in my life.  That day, I was reminded that, for the most part, people don't trust in God but see the world in the light of their own understanding.  The lost, blind to spiritual things, are incapable of seeing God at work, although they do see the result of His working.  They just don't know why something happened.  But the Saints should have been shouting Hallelujah in the halls, instead they were looking for their car keys so they could go home and get some rest. 

I want to encourage you to be watchful and aware.  This faith of ours is not a vain faith.  The Bible does not just represent some nice thoughts that help us get through life.  God is real.  He still intervenes in the affairs of man.  He hears the prayers of the Saints. And from time to time, He shows up and does something miraculous.  This time, it was for my sister's good and for His glory. And I praise Him for it.  Hallelujah!

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

For Those Who Thirst

So many people I meet struggle with much pain in their lives.  Often, they turn to their own means of compensating or coping with it.  Many times their solutions are debasing and destructive.  They may not even know why they do what they do.  Is it something that happened to them?  Or maybe it is their sin nature?  Are they evil?  They fear it is one or all of them.  They feel helpless and hopeless.  Lost in the power of the hurt, habit, or hang-up. 

The Lord has been showing this struggle to me.  It is a lesson in understanding their feeling of futility.  The help and the hope people need seems just out of reach, but that is a lie from the pit of hell.  God is able to do more than we can ask or think.  He can make us whiter than snow.  He can give us peace .. he can give us a new understanding of ourselves and a vision for the future. If only ....

Very often - we on the outside - observing the lives of others wonder why they don't just fix themselves - change their lives - why they seem to be content with being enslaved to their circumstances and past hurts.  We might even take a position of judgement and condemnation. A position that is not ours to take.  Perhaps we fear that showing grace and mercy towards others might have the effect of enabling the behavior. When we show grace and mercy toward others it is never acceptance of the behavior but an understanding of the root cause and sharing the cure which is faith in Jesus.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already" - John 3:16-18

We must capture the essence of what it means to be a new creature in Christ.  It is the "in Christ" part that we miss so often. And then we must be ready to reach out and offer living water to those who thirst.

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

Oh Yes, I Am The Great Pretender

(These are some thoughts that I captured on paper in 2012 that I stumbled upon while clearing some files from my computer  -  in these 10 years the struggle remains the same. Such is the nature of mankind)

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2

I recently had a discussion about how someone can lead a spiritual meeting and all the while have unconfessed sin in their heart - be struggling with their own spirituality.  The Lord is showing me how.  We can appear to be right on the outside but not be right on the inside.  We all fall into sin from time to time.  Somehow forgetting that we must surrender to the Spirit .. to acknowledge our sin .. to confess it and to turn away from it.  But sin has an attraction to our flesh .. it can be strong and if we are not careful we will submit to it and then struggle to get away, but it has a firm grip on us.  I had the image a wrestler who has his opponent pinned to the mat.  No matter how the opponent tries, they cannot free themselves. 

The Lord will remind us that we have feet of clay and are never more than a thought away from captivity.  The Lord shows me my heart and my weakness apart from Him.  What He has me doing is for the purpose of bringing glory to the Father and showing many the way to the kingdom .. but the enemy is strong.  He has and will continue to come against us.  Sin crouches at our doorstep.  (Genesis 4:7) Satan knows our flesh is weak .. The Lord will show us our weaknesses and has warned us to turn from the temptation and to trust in His Word.

And yet, many of us choose to walk in fear of being found out that we are not perfect.  We can get comfortable with carrying sin around with us, not understanding that because of that sin we have no spiritual power. 

I am reminded of a song by the Platters. 

"Oh-oh, yes I'm the great pretender, Pretending that I'm doing well, My need is such I pretend too much, I'm lonely but no one can tell

Oh-oh, yes I'm the great pretender, Adrift in a world of my own I've played the game but to my real shame, You've left me to grieve all alone

Too real is this feeling of make-believe, Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal" - Buck Ram, 1955

To this, for myself I say, "I hear you Lord and will obey you.  Guard my eyes and heart Lord.  Give me wisdom that is from heaven so I can give the proper counsel to others.  Be my strength lest I fall." 

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

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

Making It To The Top - Almost

In Greek mythology Sisyphus or Sisyphos (/ Sis a fuss /); was the founder and king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth). Zeus punished him for cheating death twice by forcing Sisyphus to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity .

I don't know if you have read any Greek mythology when you were in highschool but  I did.  I won't go into any more detail than to say that I have used the myth of Sisyphus a number of times as an analogy for a number of life's circumstances.  One in particular is this new life in Christ that we live. What does it take to get it right? To get to the top of the hill. It seems that being the Christian we are supposed to be can be just out of reach. Just when you think have it figured out - you find out that you don't.  Do you remember the rich young ruler?

"Now behold, one came and said to Him, 'Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?' So He said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.' He said to Him, 'Which ones?' Jesus said, 'You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and your mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The young man said to Him, 'All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?' Jesus said to him, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.' But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." - Matthew 19:16-22

"If you want to be perfect" The young man thought that doing or good works was his ticket to heaven. Did you notice that Jesus did not mention the greatest commandment? Love God with all ... Or did He? In fact the only commandments he mentioned were the last 6 of the 10 commandments with no mention of the first 4. Or perhaps He did. When He told the man to sell everything, it was because there was something he loved more than the Father - possessions. The young man had rolled the stone nearly all the way to the top when Jesus stopped him in his tracks and the stone rolled back to the bottom of the hill - again! 

When the man started the conversations, call Jesus good teacher, Jesus pointed him to the Father knowing his heart was far from God.

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." - 1 Timothy 6:10

Being conformed to the image of the Son of God is a process - it can be a painful one.  God will demand that you let lose of the things that your flesh loves and depends upon. That can only be done by faith.  The secret is to stop trying to push the stone and trust the one who made the stone and the hill.  I know I have shared this quote before but I love it so.

"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 (he wrote Amazing Grace)

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

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

What My Life Is Like When Jesus Is Lord

While thinking about what my Christian life should be like - not what it is in actuality - I was reminded of the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. - Amen

My goal should be to live my life for God's glory and the good of mankind.  I don't know that I would want to give myself a grade in that regard. - a "C" maybe - would it be too proud to imagine a "C+".  We compare ourselves to other people when we want to feel good about ourselves - of course we pick people in the comparison who are deserving of an even lower grade. But when I compare myself to Jesus the One after which I call myself a disciple, I am reminded that I am but a jar of clay.  St. Francis' humble prayer reminds me that to fulfill my God-given purpose - to walk in a manner worthy of my calling.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. - Ephesians 4:1-3

So Jesus asked the Disciples who the people and then who the Disciples thought He was.  Peter answered rightly.

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

As a matter of fact, even the evil spirits knew who Jesus was and the spiritual power that He had as the Son of God.

Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!" - Mark 1:23-24

The question is - "Do I know who Jesus is?" not the baby Jesus lying in the manger, but Jesus crucified and resurrected.  The first born among many. My reconciliation to the Creator God. The Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). That recognition is not something I can figure out on my own - but must be revealed by God, the Father to me. 

The big question is this - what am I going to do about it? What are we going to do about it? 

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

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

The Chicken Or The Egg (Standing In The Shadow Of Love)

Thoughts love - from the world's perspective and from God's. I won't go into the definitional distinctions, I am certain you have heard or read them many times. Put simply in comparison the world is standing in the shadow of love. The Four Tops sang a song by that title. 

Standin' in the shadow of love

I'm gettin' ready for the heartaches to come

Don't you see me standing in the shadow of love

Just tryin' my best to get ready for the heartaches to come, (1966. Dozier Lamont Herbert, Holland Brian)

I will get to the point of mentioning that song in a minute. Do you remember Jesus asking Peter if Peter loved Him? 

" So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” “He said to him the second time Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My  sheep." John 21:15-17

This conversation happened after Peter had denied Jesus and Jesus was subsequently crucified and resurrected. Jesus asked Peter if Peter loved Him with the kind of love that the world has to offer and then finally with the kind of love that God showed through Jesus and offered to everyone who is born again.

OK, back to standing in the shadow.  The love the world has to give is fickle, vulnerable to heartache - imperfect people trying to love one another - but very often dependent upon what each gets out of the relationship. Like giving you a gift but expecting something in return. Lost people are capable of demonstrating love - call it compassion - or passion - but it all comes from the natural. There are a lot of "good" - tender hearted people in the world who are not Christians. When natural love is shown those people are, in a way, fulfilling the second greatest commandment.  Do you remember Jesus answering the question about the greatest commandment?  

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:35-40

This is the chicken and the egg part.  Which comes first? Everything - who we are in Christ - God's creative intent, hangs on those two commandments in the order they were given. The first commandment is to love God (that comes first) and then the second is to love others. Spiritual love has a spiritual effect, natural love has a natural effect. Natural is natural - spiritual is spiritual. Natural can never be spiritual but it can look a lot like it - but its source - even the good - is a result of human will and effort. Works if you will. Not only that but .... 

"We love Him because He first loved us."  1 John 4:19

In order for us to love God - the first part - He had to extend His love to us through His Son. Jesus was not asking Peter if Peter loved Jesus the man (natural), He was asking Peter if he loved Jesus the Son of God (Spiritual).  Peter had denied Jesus out of fear for his own well being - conditional love. The love that we are capable of showing to others, the second part, is because we love God who loved us first - its unconditional love - supernatural.

Don't imagine that people who are not Christian are incapable of showing love, of kindness, and doing good things for other people and if they do, it must have some spiritual source - it does not. They are merely living in the shadow of love. 

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

Just Enough Truth To Hide The Lie

"Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" - John 4:5-7

I was watching a television documentary on the National Geographic channel. It was about the universe and the earth. There were 8 astronauts with Will Smith as the narrator.  A lot of credibility. I respect them all for their accomplishments. But as I listened to the "scripted" narratives I noticed that they were presenting ideas as facts. Ideas based on the assumption that the universe started without God and man, against all odds, was the product of the right thing happening at the right time and God was no where to be found. God was not mentioned or credited in any of the episodes.  It was easy to get caught up in the magnificent videos and the convincing descriptions of their experiences.

There is a principle in logic called the fallacy of a false assumption. "This fallacy assumes that whatever it takes to make a premise true is already there, even if it is really absent or unknown."  In other words, there is no proof of what someone is saying - it is an assumption presumed to be fact by consensus.  The presentation was replete with the assumption that something was proven to be true when in fact, it was merely an unproven theory. However it was presented as a proven fact and not an unproven theory.  And why are these theories promoted as facts? Because the world does not want there to be a God -  a righteous judge - a source of all truth. Mankind wants to believe the lie that there is no God. The credit goes to science, chemistry, and the roll of the dice.  Needless to say, Martie and I were sorely disappointed in National Geographic, entertaining but deceptive.

So back to Satan. When Satan was testing Jesus in the wilderness, he was testing the "man", his flesh, and not "God".  He was challenging Jesus to prove that He was indeed the Son of God. Satan even used scripture out of context to test Jesus. But Jesus, who is the Word, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, put things in context. "Don't tempt God - the Father" It would have been a prideful act - perhaps even the first step to doubt.  Remember the question Satan asked Adam and Eve, "Did God really say ..... ?"  Well, as a matter of fact, He did.

Be careful that you don't just take what the world says is truth as truth - but when pressed cannot prove it. The world doesn't start in the beginning -  it can't. It starts with today and works backwards to the beginning, coming up with "reasonable" explanations of how things might have happened with no proof that they actually happened that way. 

" .. who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever" -  Romans 1:25

Be careful what you believe, Christian. 

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

 

Released From Captivity

In the News: Missionaries kidnapped in Haiti escaped at night, walked for miles with stars as guide.

I am certain the you have heard about the prisoners escaping their captivity. There are 3 possible reasons for their escape, I think.

First, the gang realized that the gang would meet its doom if they harmed their captives and so let them slip away. A natural occurrence.

Second - they were incredibly lucky, the guards fell asleep and they were able to escape. A natural occurrence.

Third - It was a Peter moment - an answer to the prayers of the Saints. A supernatural occurrence.

"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him." - Acts 12:5-10

Do you believe the prayers of the Church matter? What does your heart tell you with regard to these Christians in Haiti? When the impossible happens. The world, of course, gives the captives the credit.

"And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, “It is his angel.” Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren." - Acts 12:13-17

Jesus came to set the captives free – that’s you and me!

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 Best Christmas Present – Is It Owned Or Loaned?

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” – John 10:29

Maybe this has happened to you too. I have been given a gift and then the person who gave me the gift asked for it to be returned. In two cases, after some time, I was no longer using the gift and decided to repurpose it – to give it to someone else who needed it more than I did.  The response of the original gift giver was that I should have given it back to them.  I don’t know about you, but when I am given a gift – in my mind, the ownership of whatever that gift is transferred from the gift giver to me, the recipient – permanently.  Thinking back on it, perhaps when I receive a gift from someone I should clarify if it is a loan or if I then owned the gift to do with as I please.  I hoped that was unnecessary, but for some, perhaps not.  Does this make any sense to you? 

In their favor – perhaps the people I mentioned thought I was being ungrateful and their feelings were hurt.  In actuality, in their case –  I was very grateful at the expression of their love or affection toward me. But later when I saw that someone else had a greater need of it, I gave it to them. God has given us the gift of eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

When He gave me that gift, salvation was mine – forever. God was not going to take it back if I did something that was contrary to His will. He would not think me ungrateful and therefore unworthy to have such a gift. But – He does expect confession and repentance. My salvation is not something that I can give away but it is something that others need and I can share how they can receive their own gift from the Gift Giver.

“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’” – John 4:10

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” – John 7:38

Jesus talked about the Gift I have received as if out of my Gift flows Gifts for others. My Gift begets more Gifts.  Or it can, if I am indeed willing to share it and don’t hold a death grip on it. It is THE best Christmas gift anyone can receive. Don’t forget about Jesus this Christmas – and tell others. 

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

Understanding The Root Of The Problem

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries” – Galatians 5:19

Reuters quoted Pope Francis on Sunday (Dec 19, 2021) saying that acts of violence against women are "almost satanic" during a conversation with a woman who fled her abusive husband.

It is not too much of a stretch to believe that domestic violence against women, men or children are wrong – perhaps explainable as to why a person resorts to violence but nonetheless, inexcusable.  I would disagree with the Pope by saying it is not “almost” satanic – it is satanic. Satan is at the root of sin.  Domestic violence is sinful and therefore finds its source with the god of this world – Satan.

The original sin has its roots in Satan tempting Adam and Eve to believe a lie – to go against God. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23

Someone guilty of domestic abuse will not consistently demonstrate the fruit of the spirit. It is just too hard, impossible in fact, for someone living apart from God to exhibit spiritual fruit. Oh, they may feign it for a time – even deceive others making them think that all is well and they are a wonderful person, husband, father, but some trigger will cause them to shed their sheep’s clothing and reveal their true nature. And the abuse continues.

“Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” – James 3:11-12

I am not suggesting that this is the sin reserved for the unsaved. That a Christian is not capable of doing bad things to others. It happens all of the time.  Christians struggle with sin. Some might say that a person is not a Christian if they sin – that of course is not necessarily true. But, a Christian who sins habitually has spiritual problems and most likely is in need of counselling from a pastor, elder, or Christian counselor. Someone with spiritual wisdom and discernment. But more than that, the person must be ready and willing to repent – else the sinful pattern will continue.

“For men [people] will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 2 Timothy 3:2-7

Or perhaps the person is not a Christian at all, just religious. It is hard to distinguish between religious people and saved people.  At least in the sort term.  I have found that if you will but observe and listen, their hearts and actions will expose their spiritual condition. Religious people have never had a new nature – but are merely acting like Christians to gain favor. It is equally difficult to distinguish between the unsaved and Christians who have yielded to sin. Those Christians are merely letting their old nature rule.

This world is dark and needs light. The darker the night the brighter the light.  I may have shared this with you before. It is about when I flew helicopters in the Army, specifically in West Texas in the high desert at night. When I would turn north, away from the lights of El Paso, it was so dark that you could not see where the ground met the sky on the horizon. The soldiers on the ground practiced light discipline which meant that there were no lights shining at the encampments.  I would radio someone and tell them I was flying to their location. They would go outside and "break" a “chem stick” which glowed with a pale green or red light. As small and dim as it was, I could see that light from a long distance away and could safely navigate to their location. The darker the night the brighter the light! That is where I came up with that saying – a saying with spiritual application.  Your light may be small and it may be dim in your estimation, but it will likely be enough to guide someone to a safe place when it is fueled by the Spirit of 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 Trouble With Church

Almost every day, it seems, I have an encounter with someone which serves as a spark for a spiritual devotion.  Recently, I was talking to someone about how a particular church  had treated friends of theirs.  I have had many similar conversations in the past with other people in other states and places.  In fact I wrote about this very subject 3 years ago. Come to think of it – a great part of the Apostle Paul’s writings have to do with imperfections in the practices of local churches. 

The local church is supposed to be a haven of grace, mercy and peace.  A place where Christians gather together. A place where you can be vulnerable and find compassion and encouragement. I believe that was certainly the Lord’s intent.  The local church and its members are to corporately and individually be a reflection of Jesus and not the carnal culture from which it was saved. So what at the root of the problem – like Charlton Heston cried out in Soylent Green “It’s people!”

The local church can only function as it was intended when the people in the local church are first, born again Christians by the Spirit and second are being led by the Spirit.  When you are confronted with this problem there are, at least, 4 things to consider.

First.  Not all the people who attend a local church are Christians.  You can’t know them by looking at them.  Or perhaps even talking with them.  They may be faithful attenders.  Even tithers.  They may be involved on Sunday school or small groups.  Keith Green, a Christian singer, said being in a church building  doesn’t make you a Christian any more than being in McDonalds makes you a hamburger.  The church building is not what makes the Church the Church. Faith in Jesus and obedience to the will of God does that.

So, if you approach someone at church and expect them to be or do as a Christian is and does, when they are not a Christian, you will be disappointed .. and most likely disillusioned.  It is like when I go to Home Depot and ask someone with an orange Home Depot vest on a question about a tool or product in the store.  They don’t have a clue, but they do have a vest!  And yes, I am disillusioned with Home Depot.  And I have adjusted my expectation accordingly. 

Second.  Not every Christian attending the church is walking in obedience by faith.  There are many Christians, always have been, that are not growing in their faith.  They are so immersed in the world and the things of the world, they are indistinguishable from the those that are lost and headed for hell.  Expecting spiritual help from them is like one teenager telling another teenager “I will be there for you.”  What does that mean? One drowning person telling another drowning person, “I will be there for you.” I watch you drown as you watch me drown as we encourage one another. If a Christian is living a carnal life, they have nothing Spiritual to offer you.  Don’t be surprised when you ask for a fish and they give you a stone.  It is the best they have to offer.

Years ago, during a men’s prayer meeting I was leading, I encouraged them men to be open about their lives and pray for one another – a Biblical mandate.

“Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.” – James 5:16

One of the men said “No way! If I do that I will hear what I said from somebody that is not in this room!” And sadly, that may not have been too far from the truth.  Not everyone in the room was a Christian walking in obedience to the Spirit.

Third.  There is always the possibility that you are the problem.  I know that is a stretch.  But if you are dealing with the consequence of your sin and you have not repented, then you are part of the problem.  Jesus said (Matthew 7:3-5) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”  Often times we are not looking for spiritual solutions but merely relief. When we don’t get it, we blame others – even the local church.

Fourth. It is the duty of the local church to exercise discipline – starting with the Church leadership and, that failing, then moving on to the church body. That does not happen much anymore – at least in my experience over the past 45 years.

The bottom line.  Often we look to the church for solutions when we think we are looking to the Church.  Do you see the distinction?  Knowing the difference requires spiritual discernment on our part.  Very often church members take sides – that is called division.  My advice is to look for the fruit.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” – Galatians 5:19-23

Examine the fruit – is it carnal or spiritual? That will tell you what you are dealing with, just make certain your own heart is right before God when you do.  You are not judging the actions of others – you are just acting as a fruit inspector. Your conclusions, if its carnality at work may require you to consider your own circumstances.

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

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

What To Say When You Are Asked

 “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”  – 1 Peter 3:15

Talking to “Sally” the other day, she told me that she had told her friend, “Karen” about me. When Sally described me to Karen the first thing she said was, “He is very religious” I am not certain if that was intended as a compliment or if I was being “profiled” 😊 You know, put into a “category” to set the context of the conversation. I don’t mind, actually, but if that is the limit of my witness – I should be concerned. But then I thought about the “natural man’s” understanding of Christians and religious is as much as they understand. Karen asked Sally if I would be willing to talk to her about one of Karen’s relatives living a particular lifestyle. What the lifestyle was is not the point – Karen was trying to sort it out – was it right or wrong and how should she respond to that person. I told Sally, initially, that I would not because I sensed the point was to argue the rightness and something Karen was certain I would consider wrong. Why?

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” -  1 Corinthians 2:14

I don’t believe that, apart from the Spirit of God, people can understand spiritual truth. It is like have a conversation with a person who speaks another language – words are said but there is no understanding – it is just gibberish. But then I had second thoughts. What if this was a God-appointed moment. So I decided that I would take a different approach.  First, I would ask Karen if she believes there is a God and that He created all things.  If yes – that is common ground – if no – then at least she would know where my beliefs about right and wrong come from. Giving a defense does not mean convincing someone to believe what you believe, but explaining why you believe what you believe. 

Second, I would explain that I believe that the Bible is God’s written revelation to mankind.  That it is Truth.

“[Jesus speaking] Sanctify them by Your [God the Father] truth. Your word is truth.” – John 17:17

I am not making it up as I go – it is not my culture’s opinion – not based upon how I feel that day – Truth does not change. So if I want to know the Truth, I look to God as the source of truth.

Third – it is possible to love someone who is doing something that God says not to do. There is a difference between acknowledging the fact that someone is sinning and judging them for it.  I am not to judge others. I am to love others – that is hard for a world that is performance based and cannot separate the sin from the sinner – throwing the baby out with the bath water, if you will. It can feel like a compromise. Certainly there are sins that have greater consequences than others – but in the final analysis – sin is sin and Jesus is the only answer.

I am not going to argue with a person about the rightness of God’s word – it is only the Spirit of God who can reveal that to the human heart. And when confronted with the Truth – that person must choose to accept or reject it. I cannot make that decision for them – nor can you. I must not guilt them into a false confession with them hoping it will make me happy – but there is no heart change. That may be religious but has nothing to do with true conversion and salvation.

If Karen is a Christian, my advice to her would be, love the person but stand your ground on not agreeing that their lifestyle is OK. If Karen is not a Christian, then I would tell her that according to God’s word, the lifestyle is not OK and like Nicodemus – knowing that Karen must be born again to understand why it is not OK and how she can still love the person without condoning what they are doing. Perhaps our conversation is a stepping stone on Karen’s path to salvation. Either way, my responsibility is to embrace the Truth and share it when given the opportunity.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

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 A Time Of Our Choosing

“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years…. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John… And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years..”  – Luke 1:5-7, 13,18

I heard a comparison made between the encounter that Zacharias and Mary had with the angel, Gabriel. Gabriel is one of the primary archangels and as considered the Angel of Revelation in Islam. (Are you surprised that the Muslims know about Gabriel and angels? Read about Isaac and Ishmael in Genesis 21.) Both Zacharias and Mary were confronted with God’s plan to use them when it was an impossibility from a worldly perspective. It was not possible for a virgin to conceive and it was unheard-of that a man and woman of a very old age could conceive when their bodies no longer functioned as they once had. But  God, the One who created all things, is not limited by his creation – 

God did not intervene because Mary and Zechariah had sought Him out for His favor and their benefit.  He was intervening because He chose to on behalf of the whole world – all of creation. The conception of Jesus had to happen without the seed of Adam – which was corrupted by sin – but not so for the conception of John the Baptist – Jesus’ cousin.

“And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” – Luke 1:41

There was a spiritual connection between Jesus and John the Baptist – a divine purpose the predated their meeting in the River Jordan.  What about you?  Do you think that there might be a divine, spiritual purpose for you? 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10

Think about your conversion – your new birth. You and I were saved, but not at a time of our choosing. Do you see that your conception had to happen apart from the seed of Adam? That the Spirit is in you today and before your professed your faith, He was not? That it was something that God did and not man.  We have been created, born again, for “good works” not just so we had a guarantee of eternal life. We are a new creation – yet we are still living in the same world – facing the same issues of life.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

While we are living on this side of heaven – we have a God-given purpose. To represent Jesus to a world that believes it doesn’t need Jesus. Christmas is upon us.  People are more concerned with what gifts to buy than the fact that we celebrate the birth of Jesus – well at least in this country they are. We live in a country that argues about the rightness of displaying a manger scene at the courthouse. The Christian faith is losing its influence in this culture – but it must not lose its voice. Like John the Baptist – we must a voice crying in the wilderness. Not in an offensive way, but by living our lives that reflects our faith.

The best gift you can give your family is your life dedicated to loving and serving God and loving others (that does not mean liking what others do.) If you are not certain how you do that – stay tuned for tomorrow’s devotion.

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

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

Satisfy The Longing

“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. The woman said to Him, Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?”  – John 4:10-11

Have you ever been thirsty? Really thirsty? Of all the things there are to drink, there is nothing that satisfies thirst like water,  no matter what the advertisers might tell you. Our bodies are made of 50 to 75 percent water. Did you know that you can only live without water for 3 to 5 days. Did you know that sometimes when we need water, we think we need food so they eat rather than drink. It’s true.

God created us in such a way that the body craves what it needs – but so often – we are mistaken and don’t give our body what is needs – but what it wants. 

St Augustine wrote: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

Blaise Pascal (French mathematician, physicist, religious philosopher, and writer) wrote in his book Pensées (Thoughts): What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself.”

This emptiness has been described as a God-shaped void. In other words, God designed in us the desire for Himself. It remains a void until it is filled by Him by faith. Man tries to fill it with all things worldly, but cannot – only God can. That is what Jesus was saying to the woman at the well. Her life was a mess. She went to the well in mid-day when no one else was around because of her shame.

“The woman answered and said, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly’” – John 4:17-18

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, of the Rolling Stones, wrote the song “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.” The song goes – I try, I try, I try, and I try but I can’t get no satisfaction.... Just like the woman at the well. Jesus saw the void and what she was trying to fill it with in the woman and offered her Living Water – what she needed, and the only thing, that would fill the void – bring satisfaction. You and I see so many broken lives – people who need the Lord. And yet, they refuse the “Living Water”, preferring a substitute that never quenches the thirst – satisfies the soul. I am well aware that I can’t fix people – nor can you – we can only point them to the one who can. They must come face to face with Jesus, as it were – surrender their hearts – allow God to fill the void by faith – and decide to stop trying to fill it themselves.  To do the impossible.  They must be born again.

You may know people like that – we were all like that once upon a time – and we still struggle with the temptation to embrace that which does not satisfy. It is part of our old nature – our flesh – to seek the things of the world as a substitute for spiritual sustenance. We can but speak the truth in love to them, just like Jesus did – not trying to convince the person that what you say is truth – that is the Spirit’s job. Our responsibility is to be ready to give a reason for our faith. To tell others about the Living Water – Who is 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

Trusting The Truth

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.’”  – John 11:5-7

You know the story about Lazarus, Jesus' friend.  The story is in John chapter 11.  Jesus was friends with Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus.  It seems while Jesus was ministering some distance away from his friends, Lazarus became sick.  Mary and Martha got word to Jesus.  They knew that Jesus was able to heal the sick, cast out demons … But when Jesus was told about Lazarus He did not go right away … in fact He waited … waited until Lazarus died. 

 Can you imagine the confusion and disappointment when Jesus did not show up to help Lazarus.  Jesus helped absolute strangers, people He had never met before …. but when His very close friend was sick and dying, He did nothing. Why?  Both Mary and Martha told Jesus that if He had come “in time” Lazarus would have been healed and would not have died.  This is what Jesus said about Lazarus.

“When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’” – John 11:4

But from the world's perspective, Lazarus did die and he was buried. Have there been times in your life when you expected God to show up and He did not, causing you to wonder and maybe even doubt?  Perhaps your experience wasn’t like King Hezekiah’s where God intervened in a mighty way immediately, but it was more like Lazarus.  You wanted to know where God was.  Why didn’t He come when you most needed Him?  Why didn’t He come in time.  Why didn't He do what you wanted him to do - if He was really God. The truth of the matter is that God is always on time.  He always does the right thing.  We may not think so .. it may not feel like it … But it is true …

This is the Truth.  God is sovereign in all things.  Just because you don’t understand what is going on .. or think that things should go another way does not change that Truth.  For Lazarus there was a bigger purpose . .a God glorifying purpose in Jesus waiting for Lazarus’ death.  Do you remember what happened?    Jesus came after Lazarus was buried in a tomb. Lazarus’ sisters didn’t want him to die .. they wanted Jesus to do something .. but he died … now it was too late … But it is never too late for God … do you believe that?  It is never too late for God …

This is the same God that spoke and the planets and stars were made.  The same God that formed man out of dust and breathed life into him.  The same God that knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb …

So What did Jesus do?  He did what man could not believe was possible.  The sisters said, Jesus you are too late.  Jesus said roll away the stone .. the people said Lazarus has been dead 4 days .. the body will smell

And what happened … Lazarus came out of the tomb … that was not supposed to happen .. the people had already decided that it was impossible … Have you ever done that?  Decided that it is too late .. that it is impossible .. that things won’t ever change?  That all is lost? That not even God can help you now? 

King Hezekiah turned to God when he faced a hopeless situation.  People were trying to convince him that all was lost.  But he did not give up hope in his God.  Mary and Martha believed the Jesus had let them down .. had somehow failed … that their hopelessly impossible situation was even impossible for Jesus. But then the impossible happened … God was glorified in both stories … the people understood that God had intervened … and had done what no man could do …

So what about your life?  Are you willing to trust God even in the most difficult moments of your life?  When it feels like God has forgotten you or forsaken you?  Are you willing to be used for God’s bigger purpose.  A purpose  that goes beyond your comfort, maybe your physical health?  Are you willing for God to be glorified through your life and your troubles?  To do that requires trust and obedience … you must live for God and not yourself.

Proverbs 3 verses 5 and 6 says, Trust God and don’t trust yourself.  God is the source of all truth .. God is faithful .. God is able … God can do anything … God loves you …

You ….  must trust God and live in obedience to the truth.  Do not believe the lie that it does not matter how you live.  God said “be holy because I am holy”  Don’t think you can live anyway you want and then when trouble comes ask God for help.  Your heart must be right before God. 

You must repent of your sins and turn to God.  Maybe you have been living for yourself.  Doing anything that you wanted, anything that felt good, and now you have troubles in your life.  Repent 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

Believing The Truth

“Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.”  – Isaiah 37:20

There was a great king from a country called Assyria.  This king had a powerful army.  He was going from country to country, defeating the people and making them slaves to his country.  One day, he came to Judah . Hezekiah was king of Judah .  This was after Israel was divided into Judah and Israel.  The country was divided because King Jeroboam, Solomon’s son, who rejected the truth and choose to believe a lie .. and so the tribes of Judah and Benjamin left and formed the nation of Judah . Bad things always happen when we reject the truth and follow a lie. Israel had already fallen to the Assyrian king – it looked like Judah was next.  It seemed that nothing and no one could stop the Assyrian army.

The king of Assyria sent a man from the army to speak to Hezekiah and to the people.  The man told them that God could not protect them from the King’s army any more than the gods in the other countries had protected the people in those countries before they were defeated.  He said they must surrender or die. The problem was that this man did not realize that there is only one God .. that the gods the other nations worshipped were made by men’s hands out of wood and stone.  They had no life, no power … There is only one God … Jehovah

But, still the people of Judah were very afraid … they did not want to die .. they did not want to become slaves to the king of Assyria.  Then the prophet Isaiah spoke …. He reminded them that God is sovereign.. God reigns over all creation … He was sovereign over the Assyrian king.  That God is the source of life and the source of truth. 

The people could see no way that they could defeat this king and his armies. But King Hezekiah did not look at the great Army .. he looked at His great God.  He prayed “Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone." And God heard Hezekiah and answered him through Isaiah "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: 'He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it.  By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city,' Says the LORD.”

God sent an angel and without a battle, the King of Assyria left without attacking Judah. Hezekiah had prayed that God would use this problem to be glorified among all of the nations.  It was not just for the sake of the people, to avoid trouble and its consequences, but so God would be glorified.  This is a great story about God’s faithfulness.  It teaches us that we should not fear …that God is with us. It also teaches us that our focus should be on God and not on ourselves.  Do you want God to be glorified in your life? Do you believe that He can be?

There are three things I want you to see about King Hezekiah … he rejected the lie, trusted God and obeyed God.  He was not living his life any way he wanted to and then when trouble came he looked to God for help.  He lived in obedience to God and His truth.

Are you struggling with fear today?  Is there a great army of problems facing you?  And you do not have the strength to stand against them?  Trust God … put your faith … your confidence in Him.  Stop living for yourself and trusting in what you can do … stop ignoring God and His truth and the new life He has called you to until trouble comes. God blesses us in our obedience not in our sin. 

I have to tell you  … God does not always answer in ways that you want Him to.  His ways are not our ways … His thoughts are not our thoughts.   What is happening in your life right now? Do you want to hear a word from God?  Do you want some kind of reminder that He is near and that He cares about you. This is it.

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

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

How To Know The Truth

“For this cause I [Jesus] was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  – John 18:37

When God created the heavens and the earth, there was only truth. But then, in the Garden … Adam and Eve were faced with something that was not from God, it was the lie of Satan. Jesus called Satan the father of lies because Satan gave birth to lies – that which is not Truth. 

"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." – John 8:44

In the Garden, Satan said that God was deceiving Adam and Eve … but God is Truth. There can be no lies that come from God .. only Truth. It was Satan who lied. There is no life in Satan, only death. Adam and Eve chose to believe the lie, and death entered in through that sin.

So why is that important for you and me? Because if you want to know what is true – it is so hard to know nowadays – you must look to the author – the source of Truth – Jehovah God. Jesus came into the world to bear witness that God is Truth. If you want to know what is right and what is wrong .. do not look to the world .. to men … look to God.

Many people in the world call the United States a “Christian Nation” – but it is not.  There are some things that the people in this country believe to be truth that is truth. But, there are many things that the people in this country believe that are true, that are not true – at least not according to the Giver of Truth.

“Pilate said to Him [Jesus], “What is truth?”” – John 18:38

Pilate, I think, was saying to Jesus that truth is relative – it is whatever the people agree is truth. There is no absolute truth.  Wanting something to be true because it is convenient or fits what you want to do or not do does not make it truth.

“God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” – Romans 1:24-25

I am certain that you think of examples of this happening. But more than knowing the Truth – we must trust and obey the Truth. That can be difficult – but you already know that don’t you ? Many times we face problems in this life that just seem to be too big for us.  Many of you reading this are carrying big problems in your heart.  You face pressure from family, friends, your culture to embrace a lie or pay the consequence of being rejected or labeled – intolerant.  The intolerance about which I write has to do with not accepting that which God makes clear is and is not Truth. There has been much sin that Christians have embraced as truth that was clearly not truth.  But being found to be intolerant is like the story the Scarlet Letter. The scarlet letter was the letter “A” for adulteress. Hester Prynne was found guilty of adultery and had to wear that letter so everyone knew.  Her sin was written on her clothing for all to see – and she was shunned. So maybe someone who intolerant will have to wear the letter “I”.

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me [Jesus]  before it hated you.” – John 15:18

Do not expect the world to jump for joy when you expose a lie for what it is. Your quiet and gentle witness of the truth is a testimony of your faith.

“we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love” – Ephesians 4:14-15

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

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

The World Needed A Heart Bypass

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ” – John 3:16

Most of the people in the United States are at least familiar with the scripture reference. I heard an interesting take on the Christmas story this past Sunday. It was the fact that everyone in a position of religious, political, or cultural power was bypassed at the birth of Jesus. It was as if God saw that the world needed a heart bypass. (Coronary, or heart, bypass surgery is a procedure that restores blood flow to the heart muscle by diverting the flow of blood around a section of a blocked artery in the heart. The incarnation of the Son for the salvation of the world would not and was not received well by those in power and influence.

“Herod, seeing that he had been outwitted by the astrologers, flew into a great rage, and he sent out and had all the boys in Bethlehem and in all its districts killed, from two years of age and under, according to the time that he had carefully ascertained from the astrologers.” – Matthew 2:16

And so He chose a girl of no reputation or position and a manger used for livestock as the means and method to bypass the powerful and bless the world with the Gift of grace and mercy. The three wise men who sought Jesus out – following the Star – were not from Jerusalem – but from other lands with no interest in position and power in Bethlehem or Jerusalem. 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says 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

Once Jesus was grown – and began His ministry, ending in His death, he had to deal with those in power. He was seen as a threat by the “clogged artery” which would prevent Jesus from fulfilling His purpose by killing Him – but His death, in fact, fulfilled His purpose on earth.

“For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.” – Romans 6:10

Times have not changed – the blood in the hearts of sinful mankind runs cold toward God. Those in power still do not want anything to do with Jesus. They are blind guides, hungry for more. Repulsed and threatened at the thought of living for God. Christmas was a time to celebrate with birth of Christ and hope for the world. But the world has changed it into nothing more than a month long worship service honoring the world’s god – mammon.  Jesus is not welcome to the Christmas celebration  - even though it is His “birthday”. Imagine someone planning a birthday party for you and then telling you that you are not welcome to attend. The message is clear. 

Black Friday is aptly named – not because the stores accounts will be in the “black”, but that Christmas – for its original meaning and purpose is dead  - as far as the culture is concerned.  How about for you? What excites you about Christmas? Each of us must answer that in our own hearts – our actions will speak for themselves.

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