The Called Out Ones

"Then He [Jesus] said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19

"But Jesus said to him, Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” - Matthew 8:22

"As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, Follow Me. So he arose and followed Him." - Matthew 9:9

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." - Matthew 16:24

"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.” - Matthew 19:21

"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”- John 8:12

I have just started re-reading a book entitled, "The Call", subtitled "Finding and fulfilling the Central Purpose of your life" by Os Guinness. That book, among others including the Bible, of course, has been instrumental in helping my understand . My journey with God started well before I new I was on a journey and one day as I walked along the road of life, my eyes were opened and I saw the Lord. And He said, "Follow Me". Like Matthew the tax collector, the disciples, the rich young ruler and so many thousands after them and before me and many more thousands after me, by the Spirit of God, the Son of God challenged me to I lay down my nets and follow Him.

OS Guinness can be a bit academic and digs deep into the subject of calling - and my guess is that most of us would be happy with a simpler description - not simplistic ( that is treating a complex issue like God's calling of His children as if it is much simpler than it really is) I think we would prefer if he would just get to the "bottom line" - a quick but sufficient answer. As I would say, "Just tell me what time it is and not how to build a watch!" In my nice voice of course. So here goes.

We all have a primary and secondary calling. Our primary calling is what all of those verses that spoke of following Jesus are about. God has called us to salvation - through and by faith in Jesus. We are to follow Jesus - not just hanging out with Him and watching Him, but doing what Jesus does - becoming conformed to His image - an obedient child of God - doing the Father's will - adopting it so His will is our will. Loving God and forsaking our love for the "world". That we would have the mind of Christ. "We are called to Someone" - not to something like a denomination or legalistic religious ritual. 

The second calling, once being primary called by God to God, is that we should think, speak, live, and act entirely for Him. Many times we Christians confuse calling as a vocation associated with some form of ministry. Some are gifted by God for a specific purpose for a lifetime or a season and that, we think, is what it means to be called - like being called to missions or to preach. 

"I [Paul] was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." - 1 Timothy 2:7

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," - Ephesians 4:11-12

In limiting the definition of the second calling to what Paul describes as appointments in Ephesians 4, we essentially excuse ourselves from being called by God secondarily. Paul's travels are referred to as missionary journeys - but he was on mission to do those things he delineated in Ephesian (preach, teach, evangelize, plant churches) - fulfill his appointment. But what about the rest of us? God expects us to plant, water, and cultivate right where we are. To be the light of Christ in our homes, our neighborhoods, our schools, our work places. Someone in the Bible Study we attend asked that we pray that they would be bolder in their witness to the people in their workplace. We don't have to break out our Bible and stand on our desk shouting out the Gospel for all to hear to be a witness. And we may not have our job for long. Notice Paul wrote that those appointments are primarily to equip the Saints. The rest of us who are not limited to doing those things, but equipped - appointed to be a light - just like Jesus is the Light of the world  (John 8:12) - right where we are. To quote Pastor Rick Warren, God has SHAPEd (sic) us to fulfill our calling or purpose. SHAPE includes spiritual gifts, heart or passion, abilities, personality, and experience. In other words, not only has God called us - appointed us - but He has equipped us to fulfill our calling. All we must do is be faithful to work it out.

I suggested to the person in the Bible study that the next time someone shared something with them at work that they should ask them discretely if they could pray for them. To become spiritual aware of the opportunities let our light shine that we are given everyday. Martie and I have never had anyone refuse prayer - even waitresses in restaurants. God has called us out of a sinful world and has called us to be a light in that same world.   

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

A Ministry Or A Business

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ... By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. ....  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." - Hebrews 11:1, 7-10 

Faith-based non-profits. That is a curious moniker isn't it? We became a non-profit in the eyes of the federal and state governments so that we might receive funding - free from taxes to support our work. Free from taxes yes - but not only, it also provides a tax incentive to those who are donating the money. Seems like a good thing, innocent enough doesn't it? But it begs a question, at least in my mind. Would we be willing to do what we do if there were no tax advantages? Would people be willing to contribute to our work if they could not get a tax deduction? (I am confident for most Christians anyway - yes)

What is the primary factor that determines if you step out for God when you experience the Call of God? Is it faith or finances. Some ministries require a certain portion of annual support to be raised before they will allow someone to actively participate in their ministry. Laying out a fleece if you will. Money in the bank had become the litmus test for validation of the Call of God on your life. Is that from God or is it the wisdom of man?

We must constantly be on our guard that our work in ministry does not become framed in the boundaries of the conventional wisdom of man. I have shared this before. When Martie and I understood that God was calling us to Haiti for a season, a friend asked me if I was "crazy". Of all the places - not Haiti! I told him that it was not my idea, but God's calling to serve. 

God always asks us to do what is beyond us to do. God called Gideon - threshing wheat while hiding in a wine-press a "mighty man of valor". Then he told Gideon to reduce his fighting force from 10,000 to 300. Impossible odds if it were not for God.

"that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of 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 3:17-21

Do you believe that? Would you go when God says GO but man says NO - wait? Are you ready to do without so others may simply do? Or do you need to be financially secure and comfortable? Listen, there are many who have charged off into the night on their own volition - God had no part in it. And there are also those who refused, in the face of their calling, to go because of their lack of faith and personal fear of the personal consequences laying their life down.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:1-2

To follow God's calling you must have a change in your heart's devotion and in the way you see the world and your part in it. So many Christians have crammed their faith into a corner of their natural life. The first question when someone considering donating to a cause should not be "Is this tax deductible?" but rather, "Is the Spirit prompting me to help?" Recall what Jesus said about taxes?

"And He said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar’s.' And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'  When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way." - Matthew 22:20-22

I don't plan to turn our non-profit status back to the IRS, I just don't think financial benefit should be the first consideration for going and giving - and fear it is that for many.

As for the title of this post. I have had the privilege to serve on staff with a number of non-profits. The question that I always end up asking is this, "Is this a business or a ministry". In the course of growing the ministry there is a tipping point where preservation of the organization - buildings - staff - programs becomes the primary concern and the focus on the reason for the ministry is diminished. For disaster relief work - organizations are the most effective in the midst of a disaster. During blue-sky days they are pretty much looking for something to do. The problem - the staff must be paid or let go. Ruth and Edwin Messerschmitt, retired missionaries, were our mentors in the late '90s.  They told us to always remember that "Where God Guides, God Provides".  It's true. The challenge is to know when the provision has stopped because that season has ended.  It is at that point that organizations often become a "virtual" business and stop looking to God as the provider and decide to do it themselves. Remember why King Saul lost his anointing?

"Saul’s first act of disobedience was recorded in 1 Samuel 13:8-14. He made a presumptuous sacrifice without waiting for the prophet Samuel to show up. His second act of disobedience was recorded in 1 Samuel 15. Saul spared king Agag of the Amalekites and some of the animals for sacrifice." (www.bibleissues.org)

"And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” - 1 Samuel 13:13-14

Receive 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

Gods' Clock Is Ticking

"And he [the Angel Gabriel]said, “Look, I am making known to you [Daniel] what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be." - Daniel 8:19

Daniel was having prophetic visions over a period of several years. In this instance, the angel Gabriel was sent to explain on particular vision.  I have never been much for chasing after Eschatology - the science or study of last things - the end times. Some people make it their life's work to figure out what will happen, how it will happen and when it will happen. I always go back to what Jesus said - two things specifically come to mind actually.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Matthew 6:34

"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, 'Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?' And Jesus answered and said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. .... Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. ..... But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.'" - Matthew 24: 3-8, 23-25, 36

There are some things that will remain unknown until they are revealed by God.  The world as we know it - for the saved and unsaved is on God's Clock. He has set the time when mankind will no longer have a choice of heaven or hell. The choosing time will be over. Time will be up - like taking a test and the teachers announces "Time is up! put your pencils down on your desk and hand in your tests." 

"But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." - 2 Peter 3:8

There will be no more goats being transformed into sheep. Each generation of man has had a limited time on this earth.no one knows how long they will live. Many live like there is no tomorrow but secretly hope that they will see another sun rise.

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" - Hebrews 9:27

We don't know how, where, or when - we just know that one day our natural man will die. No one, thinking rightly, hopes to die. Christians know they will die but have an eternal hope beyond this natural life that has an end date - so long as the Lord tarries. We know that our spiritual man is eternal. A truth that is difficult to take in - requiring faith to rest in its truth. Because we have eternal life in Christ, like Paul we can say ...

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21

And so we can live in confidence in a world that has gone crazy with sin. Although many of us hope for a miracle - for an awakening that will bring the world - or at least our country - to its senses. Unfortunately history tells us that it is doubtful. As much as we would have it that everyone would be saved - that is Jehovah God's desire - Jesus said 

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." - Matthew 7:13

So what to do? We let our lights shine - do not falter and embrace our culture and its ways that lead to destruction - we testify to God's saving  grace through His Son by our words and lives. With the assumption that some will here and yield their lives to the Way and Truth and Life, The resurrected Jesus.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Receive 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

Letting Circumstances Dominate Your Life

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." - James 1: 2-8

I am certain that you are familiar with those verses. Do they strike you as impossible? Perhaps true and attainable - but not true and attainable for you. So often we find ourselves "under" our circumstances (which are never good circumstances) and not above them - filled with joy - being patient in our affliction. So often, our life experiences - our circumstances - not our faith - define us. They impact how we think about ourselves, about others, how we treat others - what we believe about our new life in Christ. We are not overcomers but are overcome by what life throws our way.

I think James is telling us that it doesn't have to be that way. But for those verse to be a reality, we must exercise faith in the face of the lion - which is our circumstance. We are not to deny the pain - perhaps the loss brought on by the events in our lives, but we are rest in the sovereignty of God. We cannot do it on our own, but need other Believers in our lives to encourage us - pray for us - love us. Unfortunately many times what we do is isolate ourselves from others - withdraw - like a turtle in its shell.

It is so easy, as one preacher put it, to allow our circumstances to become our god. That which we submit to - allow to dictate how we respond to the world around us - to defeat us - drain us of all hope and confidence - peace. Just the opposite of what the Spirit offers.

"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

So what is it that you have allowed to dominate you - has defeated you - sapped you of your strength and confidence - even perhaps your faith? Your first step to overcoming is to look up, not down or around!

"These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the  protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you." Psalm 42:4-6

Receive 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

Information or Revelation

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

When I listen to a sermon on Sunday at church - I am listening for the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart. Certainly I listen to the preacher, but more I am waiting for the Spirit of God to penetrate my heart with spiritual truth. The word "inspiration" in some translations is rendered as "God-breathed" or "given to the writers by inspiration of the Spirit of God".  The Spirit of God has also been called the Spirit of Truth. Jesus said - 

"They [the disciples and those who were to follow] are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." - John 17:16-18

We are sanctified - strengthened through the reading, and in the absence of the written Word, by the hearing of the Word. The Word of God is a critical element to the maturity of our faith. They are tied together.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17

I made note of several "nuggets" that were shared from the pulpit this past Sunday.  The man bringing the Word of God, was not trained in a seminary or Bible college. 

"It is far better to be plain in speech, yet walking openly and consistently with the gospel, than to be admired by thousands, and be lifted up in pride" … Matthew Henry

I told him that he was anointed by God to preach and teach the Word some months ago. That always seems to unsettle people when I call out an anointing or gifting that I see at work in and through them. But they should be affirmed - not so my words would puffed them up - no - but so that they would be encouraged and humbled by the knowing that God has chosen to use them - the wretch that they were before Jesus met them on the road to wherever they were going. It is a fearful thing to speak for God all the while knowing that you are but a mere mortal.

The first truth that was illuminated in me heart was that we should not listen or read for the purpose of accumulating spiritual information. We should listen or read so that our hearts might be illuminated so that we would find it "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that [we as the children of God] may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

It requires the Spirit of God for that to happen. It also requires a heart that is open to receiving the Truth and letting that Truth do its transforming work in us. Jesus said that the Father would send the Spirit for that purpose, but not for that purpose alone.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." - John 14:26

Does your heart burn when you hear the Truth of God? I hope so!

"They [two of the disciples] asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” - Luke 24:32

With the Apostle Paul -

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength." Ephesians 1:18-19

Receive 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

Don't Let Spiritual Opportunities Pass You By

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers" - 2 Timothy 4:2-3

You never know who is listening to you. Nor the impact that you might have on someone. God has blessed Martie and me to be a blessing to perhaps thousands of people since we left the Army. recently, we have been going through boxes of pictures in an effort to organize them. In one of the boxes I came across a single letter written by a friend from California in May 2008. He was a volunteer in Mississippi during Katrina. At the time Martie and I were working 16 hours days - seven days a week and had littles time away from our duties unless it was to sleep.  To my regret and shame I did not answer that letter. That friend passed away a few years ago so I will not have the opportunity, this side of heaven, to see him and talk to him about what he wrote. 

There are two points here. First - cherish the people that God brings your way. Second - don't let relationships go fallow - live a life of no regrets because of valued relationships that faded with time.

"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." - Colossians 4:5-6

I am going to share the letter my friend sent to me some years ago with you. I thought it might by instructive for you to read it as a life lesson that you never know - and personally don't need to know - who you impact as you walk in the Way. You may not agree with everything he wrote, but it was supposed to be a dialog. One that never happened. That is on me! I will add comments in [brackets].

Hi Charley

How’s your coffee? Fine? Good. [ I am known for drinking copious amounts of coffee and rose early to make coffee for the volunteers]

Subject: Earl [Earl was volunteer from Vicksburg, MS]. When Earl talked I was hanging on every word & still couldn’t get them all. After he left I told Jim [another volunteer and a mutual friend] “He has an accent you can cut w/ a knife.” You got me. You said I was the outsider in Miss. He didn’t have an accent. You were right. I could understand the people in town but I had difficulty w/ him. Why?? That got me thinking. We put the accent w/ the talker when it should be w/ the listener. You said the further out you go, the heavier it gets- Why? Your coffee still hot?

Got another one: I figured out something that I don’t think is debatable yet I haven’t heard anyone approach it from that angle. 95% of who a person really is – is on the inside. 5% (or less) is on the outside. We go all day passing judgement (directly or indirectly) on people based on that 5%. The outside that we see may or may not be that person at all. The inside is made up of culture, upbringing, geography, DNA and some other stuff I am not thinking of right now. (also good or bad experiences in life) I think prejudice is almost officially gone. It now exists on an individual basis. We are what we’re taught & that’s difficult to change. As long as people have insecurities (which is forever) they will try to build themselves up by putting someone else down. People have a tendency to go along with the crowd.

Anyway these are things I thought about. The 1st subject off and on since last Dec. The second subject for much longer than that. I’ve got some strong feeling about politics but I won’t lay that on you. Wish I could get your input.

No fair counting the misspellings.

The life lesson? I think my friend had gained a new perspective on how to receive people. Making value judgements based about what people look like or how they talk is dangerous - it can lead you to false conclusions. I think this was a spiritual revelation for my friend. So many volunteers that I have met over the years on the "field of battle" have told me that their lives had been changed because of their experience.  Maybe you are one of them. 

Oh how I wish that I could sit down with my friend - over a cup of coffee - and talk about his letter and the Lord. This was a life lesson for me. We must be alert for opportunities that God gives us as we walk through this life. Maybe there is a conversation, phone call, letter, email, or text that you need to respond 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

Is Your Jesus on the Dashboard?

"The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of a personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Every other kind of so-called Christian experience is detached from the Person of Jesus. There is no regeneration— no being born again into the kingdom in which Christ lives and reigns supreme. There is only the idea that He is our pattern. In the New Testament Jesus Christ is the Savior long before He is the pattern. Today He is being portrayed as the figurehead of a religion— a mere example. He is that, but He is infinitely more. He is salvation itself; He is the gospel of God! Jesus said, “. . . when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, . . . He will glorify Me . . .” (John 16:13-14). When I commit myself to the revealed truth of the New Testament, I receive from God the gift of the Holy Spirit, who then begins interpreting to me what Jesus did. The Spirit of God does in me internally all that Jesus Christ did for me externally." Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

There is a Maranatha praise song that goes …… “ More like you, Jesus more like you .. Fill my heart with Your desire to make me more like You.  More like You, Jesus, more like You, Touch my lips with holy fire And make me more like You.   Lord You are my mercy.   Lord You are my grace and all my deepest sins have forever been erased”

Jesus is more than an example to follow … the danger is that the reality of who He is will fade in our hearts and He will become a symbol .. like the plastic Jesus on the dashboard of an automobile.  I pray that your relationship with Jesus and your awareness of who Jesus is will remain fresh … in your mind and your heart.  That every day you will be in awe of who Jesus is and what He has done for you through His work on the cross and resurrection.

I recall making a trip to Port au Prince, Haiti from Jacmel with a friend, Junior. I noticed that he had an English New Testament on the dashboard of the truck. I asked him if he could read English and he told me no. Perhaps it was there to remind him of his faith or perhaps it was there for luck. When we got back to Jacmel, I gave him a copy of Bib La (the Haitian Creole translation - I gave many copies - hundreds while in Haiti) That is the picture of Junior you see in this post. Another song comes to mind.

 “Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus, Vast unmeasured, boundless, free! Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me! Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love. Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above! “ Samuel Trevor Francis

 Let the reality of His love roll over you like a mighty wave in the ocean. Don't let the place of Jesus become a place on the dashboard of your life or the Bible a dusty book on a shelf.  

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

Jesus Knows All About Our Struggles

"The only way to find yourself is in the fires of sorrow. Why it should be this way is immaterial. The fact is that it is true in the Scriptures and in human experience. You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find that he has plenty of time for you. But if a person has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, having no respect or time for you, only turning you away. If you will receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people." - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

You don’t have to look far to find someone who has dealt with sorrow in their life.  Perhaps they are still struggling with it and “it”, the source of the sorrow, has shaped their view of life.  Perhaps they have lost hope .. they cannot see the promises of the Lord because of the burden they carry …. They may have forgotten that … 

“He [Jesus, the Messiah] was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not.” - Isaiah 53:3

 People don’t need your words, they need your love.  Remember, “we love because He first loved us”.  1 John 4:19  We give comfort to others because He first comforted us. God uses us … jars of clay who have met sorrow ourselves … to minister to others … 

“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

Our job is not to fix people, but to understand the burden of sorrow and to love them.  Usually when people greet you and ask how you are doing, they really don’t want to know the details … a simple “I’m fine” is what they are looking for.  You must willing to go beyond that … Ask them how you can pray for them … don’t try to identify with the particular source of their sorrow … The balm of Gilead referred to in Jeremiah 8:22 was used to heal wounds.  Jesus is the Balm for our sorrows, for our wounds.  “There is not a friend like the lowly Jesus, no not one. Jesus knows all about our struggles, He will guide till the day is done.” Being Jesus to someone is who we are to be. And that will cost you something. Your challenge is being willing to pay the price for the good of someone else - just like 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

R-E-S-P-E-C-T-ing People (more than just a little bit)

"So Cornelius said, 'Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.' Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality [is not a respecter of persons - no partiality]. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.'" Acts 10:30-38

This was the culmination of story about Peter going to a Gentile's house to share the Gospel after having a vision on a roof top. 

"The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' But Peter said, 'Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.' And a voice spoke to him again the second time, 'What God has cleansed you must not call common.' This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate." - Acts 10:9-17

Peter was of the opinion that salvation by faith in Jesus the Messiah was for the Jews only. All non-Jews were considered unclean. This truth was what was called one of the "Great Mysteries". Peter's attitude had been taught to him and practiced for generations before him. Did you know that the 11:00 hour on Sunday has been called the most segregated hour of the week while Christians of different ethnicities, cultures and skin hues gather to worship? We worship the same Father God and praise the same Jesus, yet we cannot bring themselves to embrace one another - even during corporate worship. 

You know, of course, that Jesus was born a Jew and grew up in the Jewish culture, right? He did not look like majority of those who call Him Savior and Lord. Just who do we think we are to separate ourselves in such a way? What God has cleansed you must not call common. Who are we to contradict God? Do you recall what Paul wrote in Galatians chapter 5?

"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" - Galatians 5:19-20

Showing bias - contempt -  towards others when God has said to embrace them is an act of the flesh. It is sinful. You might want to justify it with a spiritual coat of paint - but beneath the paint is sinful flesh. I have found that preaching that truth in some circles - no matter what congregation - red and yellow, black and white - will not make you very popular.  Many Christians are unwilling to let "a-loose" of the traditions passed down by their fathers. But we have been called to preach the reconciliation of all people to God through Jesus. Red and yellow, black and white - they are all precious in His sight.

"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 RECONCIELD US to Himself through Jesus Christ, and HAS GIVEN US A MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Doesn't leave much wiggle-room does 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

Staying Right With God

"Now I [Paul] rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" - 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

When you sin, are you sorry? Maybe so. But merely being sorry is not sufficient. Being free from the sin is not the point - you know, when you consider invoking 1 John 1:9 is sufficient to move on from your Biblical infraction. 

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -  1 John 1:9

Like God is telling us forget about - move on with your life. That is not the point. 

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" - Romans 6:1-3

What got me thinking about this was a sermon on 2 Samuel 12:1-23 and Psalm 51. Recall it was when King David was confronted over his sin - adultery and murder - by the prophet Nathan. David had apparently moved on with his life.  He had yet to feel the full consequence of his sins - but he would. Yet he did not have godly sorrow - that is until the day the the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to see him.

That is what we often do when we sin, as if it has not spiritual consequence. Most often we are more concerned with the physical consequence. We would just as soon that no one would know about it.  We might be sorry we did it but not sorry enough to repent before the Lord. to cry out like David did.

"For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight — Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit." - Psalm 51:3-4, 10-12

That is what godly sorrow leading to repentance looks like. We might succeed in hiding our sins from other people, but God sees the heart. And if you should be one that can rightly say, that is not me, then I would say be ready to encourage other Christians who struggle to not think that merely saying "I am sorry" and then moving on is good enough - it's not even close.

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

Uncompromising Faith

"'Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?' But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, 'Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money.' So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar’s.' And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way." - Matthew 22:17-22

There has always been a tension between what God says is right and what the world says is right. That is not to say that there is no agreement between the two - there is. But there are some points of man's law that are contrary to the Word of God. Jesus was asked if it was right to pay taxes to the Roman government. His answer was "yes". But we are only to obey that which is in the domain of the government that is not in conflict with the domain of the Creator God. (Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.) So what to do when there is a conflict between the two. 

We are studying the Book of Daniel at church. This week we were in Chapter 6. Daniel had found favor with King Darius. There were those in the government that did not want Daniel to be successful so they plotted against him. They couldn't find anything that he was doing wrong so they attacked what he was doing right. That which was in conflict with the laws of man.

 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

"So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: 'King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.'" - Daniel 6:6-7

Daniel who was faithful toward God - praying three times a day. He was told that he could not pray to God for 30 days but must pray to King Darius instead because of a new law enacted by the king. Failure to obey would result in his death. There is that tension I talked about. So what did Daniel do.

"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days." - Daniel 6:10

He knew that the law was put in place and was irrevocable. That it did not matter who disobeyed it - they would be punished. The king would have no choice but to kill the violator. And yet, Daniel continue to worship God as if the king's edict did not exist. His devotion was to God first. And so he was tossed in the lions' den. You know how the story ends. But what if it didn't end that way? Would you still be willing to follow Daniel's path of obedience to God? Reading Bible stories can be academic. By that I mean that we might say "Oh, yes, that would be me!" when we read the story - but it is quite different when we are actually facing the threat of the lions' den. Perhaps crowds of protestors outside your house. Losing your job or worse. Are you willing to accept the consequences for disobeying the laws of the land by embracing God's declaration of what is right and wrong. (That is what is known as civil disobedience)

I think that for Daniel, and his buddies Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego the king's edicts were irrelevant. (by the way, nothing is mentioned about the other three men continuing to pray to God - but I think if they were willing to go to the furnace - having a meeting with lions for lunch would have been a calk walk!) They never even considered forsaking God even if it meant their death. So what is the difference between us and them? I would say most probably the strength of their faith as compared to ours. There may come a time, and it may not be too far off, when our culture declares what God says is good to be bad in the eyes of men - unlawful even. There may come a time when we or our children may face the threat of the furnace or the lions' den. If our faith is weak, we will most likely choose poorly and side with the culture.  

I will leave you with a couple of verse references for some biblical perspective to prepare your spirit for the days ahead.

"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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:8-9

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" Ephesians 6:10-18

One last thought - politicians are not the solution - Jesus is.

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

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

Redeeming The Time

"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." - Colossians 4:5-6

There is a mean spirit that is running through our country.  You can see it everywhere - the vitriolic language on television, social media, and news media - words willed with anger and fear - I think. The worst of profanity being printed and spoken with impunity. People don't know what to do - how to turn the ship except by a mutiny of the crew. Mutiny in the country known for its Bounty. Well I guess someone already tried that didn't they.  Violence has been embraced as a means of expression - in our schools - in our streets - even in our local, state and national government - in all three branches in Washington. As Christians we are encouraged to redeem the time. Letting our speech be full of grace - seasoned with salt. If you recall salt does three things - it adds flavor, it preserves, and it heals. We are encouraged to speak to others in the way that we ought - in a way that brings glory to God.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." - (Jesus) Matthew 5:13-14

That is our calling in these dark days. Salt and light. There are no lasting answers to the problems the world faces except one.  One that transcends the generations. That would be Jesus.

I [Jesus]  must work the works of Him [God the Father] who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.  As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”- John 9-4:5

There will be a time when the light will no longer be available to the world. For now, Jesus is the light through us - the Body of Christ - so long as we walk and live by the power of the Spirit. We all need wisdom to know how to speak to those who are in the darkness as well as those Christians who struggle with letting their light shine. Some have laid their faith aside to join in with those who incite the craziness that reigns. Resist the temptation to join in the madness that has engulfed the world. Be the light you have been called to be. Be a peculiar people, a holy nation.

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 It Means To Be Like Jesus

"Jesus did not commit Himself to them…for He knew what was in man." —John 2:24-25

“Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be— absolutely perfect and right. Never trust anything in yourself or in anyone else, except the grace of God. Put God’s Will First. The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the “needs” of God and His will. Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Is it the desire of your heart that your life would be a perfect reflection of Jesus?  It’s a question I had to ask myself.  Oh I want to be a Christian.  I do love God.  I want to and have decided to follow Jesus.  I am spending my remaining days serving others. But .. do I really want to be like Jesus?  Most every Christian I know would say “yes” if I asked “Do you want to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength?” (Matthew 22:37) Then I am reminded that Jesus asked 

"Why do you call me, 'LORD, LORD,' and do not do what I say?”  - Luke 6:46

God’s intent is that we all become conformed to the image of Jesus.  

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." - Romans 8:29

That means being a "mirror image" of Jesus with respect to our obedience to the Father and His will.  Personally, I have a long way to go.  If we are honest, we all do. The question is, since you have not arrived, are you moving toward that goal .. each day … or are you content with being where you are?  To be like Jesus means to be willing to lay your life down .. to crucify your old nature … nail it to the cross and no longer be subject to it .. attracted by it .. content with it still having its way in your life.  Treating others the way Jesus did and not the way your ego, insecurities, and emotions cause you to treat them.  Showing the world what grace and mercy look like without compromising your faith in or obedience to the Father.  

That requires spiritual wisdom which can only come from God, a result of your devotion to God.  Devoting yourself to seeking out the Father’s will – every day.  That is the life that I want but it is also the life that I am prone to neglect if I am not careful.  Take some time to examine yourself this morning and then spend some time with the Lord.  Then let the world see what Jesus looks like in the life of a Believer.  Fulfill the purpose for which you are destined.

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 Practice Of Thanking God Without Gratitude

"The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught." - Isaiah 29:13 (referenced by Jesus in Matthew 15, Mark 7) 

My wife and I make a habit to pray before we eat, no matter where we are. After hearing a sermon on praise and thankfulness this past Sunday, it made me think about the sincerity of my prayers before each meal. In some ways those prayers have become a formality. Something I need to get out of the way so I can eat my food.  As I write this, I wonder how can that be? How did it happen? But then I recall the last time we prayed and I was less intent on focusing on Jehovah Jireh (God the Provider) and more on television and my stomach.  Please don't get pious on me.  I am sharing this because I believe it is common pitfall. 

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man" - 1 Corinthians 10:13

We all struggle with the same things. The discipline of prayer requires intentionality to keep our hearts focused on God. Praying before eating a meal should not be like flipping a spiritual light switch on then flipping it back off when we have "gotten the prayer out of the way." I am reminded of a song written by Don Moen - "Give Thanks"

"Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, 'I am strong'. Let the poor say, 'I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us'"

Does that sound redundant to you? "Give thanks with a grateful heart." My point (and perhaps his) is that it is possible to give thanks with an "ungrateful" heart. You might be in a public place and people seeing you pray might think that you are being a witness when what you are doing is being religious for the sake of impressing those around you having no real focus on the One in whose name you are praying. King David understood this when he wrote - 

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." - Psalm 19:14

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

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

Where You Fit In A World Gone Mad

“[I, Paul] … do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” – Ephesians 1:18-23

What I see happening in our country and around the world is certainly troubling - disconcerting. Pandemics and social unrest seem to rage.  But then I thought of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians. That the Church would have spiritual eyes to see and with that clarity of vision, a heart to understand.  Paul went on to remind us that …

“we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” – Ephesians 6:12

The real issue is not COVID 19 or the social unrest. It is the awakening to the fact that the God has called us out of, but kept us in, a world that that is driven by sin.  We expect good to reign in a world dominated by the effects of sin.  In recent days, we have been shocked back into reality. God has been saying, shouting even, “OPEN YOUR EYES CHILDREN!”  We have become blind – insensitive to sin. Sin that the fallen world accepts as normal and good, even. And if you should disagree, then you are labeled as evil yourself. But why would we care if we are rejected for embracing the Truth, unless we prefer acceptance by the world over embracing the truth and the Father – the Source of all truth. 

Shining a light in someone’s face in a dark room, hurts their eyes. It makes them uncomfortable.  They may even shout, “Turn that light off!” On the one hand the world wants harmony among people, but it is not just gender, racial, cultural or national harmony – it is acceptance of all people no matter what their life choices are – nothing to do with gender or race. The world wants to redefine what gender is.  The world wants to redefine when a human becomes a human. The Church is a thorn in the world’s side. Or at least it should be.  The Church should be a reminder to the world that the harmony they seek can be found, but only in the context of God’s truth and salvation through Christ.  That is if the Church is indeed being the Church. The problem is that in many respects the Church is indistinguishable from the world it is supposed to be a witness to.

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1

Questioning the Word of God. We know what God said, but did He really mean it? Isn’t it open to interpretation? An interpretation that will accommodate what we want to do. Desires that are born out of our sinful nature. Something we can put a spiritual coat of paint on and argue that it is part of God’s truth and revelation in these advanced times.  The truth is that the times have not changed. Sin has not changed. How we live, how we look, technology all that changes with the generations – but sin does not. And neither does God.  The Church – Christians need to wake up and take a look around. It is sin that is raging. It is the light of Christ that needs to be shining even brighter. Loving God and loving each other. If you ask a Christian to repent of not caring about the plight of other Christians in this country – you may well be told that they do care – but the care is as effective as seeing a starving child on a commercial on TV and feeling sorry for them.  But that’s it – feeling sorry for them is enough – it’s not.  You will not speak up for them.

“Bear one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

That verse applies to more than your circle of friends or the people in your family or local church.  God has given us a bigger group of “one-another's” than that.  If a person’s heart has been sealed by the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus, they are your Brother or Sister. It does not matter what color of skin they have, how much money they have, where they live, what language they speak – they are family! Open your eyes – yield your heart.  We have a lot of “coined phrases” – Christian-speak, that we use when speaking with others – but they don’t go very far – God bless you – I’ll pray for you – I love you.  Well how about adding this one – “I will lay down my life for you!” That one you might not be willing to say so readily if it is coming from your heart. But you should.

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of 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.’” – John 21:15

If you really love God, He wants you to show Him to the world through your life – not just talk about it.  Talk is cheap. Sacrifice is expensive. 

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” – John 15:13

And if you are wondering – “Who are my friends?”, you have not been paying attention.

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

Bringing The Christian Life Into Focus

“I urge you therefore, [brothers and sisters], by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  – Romans 12:1-2

I have noticed in my reading of the Word of God that there are some significant truths that rest on the same chapter and verse of certain books in the Bible. I can be a little weird sometimes – in fact one granddaughter said I was the king of the planet weird.  That may help you gain insight into how my brain works! At any rate I want to share a few with you. Today it is the first couple of verses in chapter 12 of Romans, Hebrews, and Luke.  My hope is that it will cause you to consider your new life in Christ in a deeper way – perhaps for the first time and for most – as a refresher.

To start, to bring context, I must deviate slightly by quoting John 17:14-17.

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” – John 17:14-17

To begin – we must remember that we have been called out of the world.  Our tendency is to first identify with our natural selves – who we  are nationally, ethnically, regionally, economically, or even denominationally.  Identifying in the context of our worldly distinctives. It is natural for us to do that. That is to consider who I am naturally before I consider who I am spiritually. The natural having primacy over the spiritual. It is an indicator of our hearts' devotion. And a validation of the struggle that the books in the New Testament, in specific, the epistles – letters to the churches address.  Some people speak and teach the word of God as if it is merely a story about people in some other place and time.  In fact – it is a book of lessons for all generations.  Lessons that describe the nature of man and the struggles that Christians will endure in every generation until Jesus returns.

In John 17, Jesus, in His conversation with His Father, the One who sent Him to save those who would be saved by their choosing, Jesus said that we are not of this world.  Do you believe that?  Do you live like that?  Are your devotions to God and the Saints – no matter who they are  - what color they are – how poor they are – what language they speak – or – are your devotions to the natural. Do you believe that you have been sanctified by the Word of God and sealed by the Spirit of God? Set apart in the world to be a testimony of the Grace and Mercy and Power of God? That is the context in which you must consider the verses I am about to share.

“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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

As Christians we will struggle with the temptation to sin – to return to that which is natural for us – we run this race – live this new life by the power of the Spirit and a submitted heart. We have to keep our focus on our faith in Jesus and not on the world around us.  This world of ours is in turmoil.  It is not the first time nor will it be the last.  Christians have been, are and will be complicit in the sins that rage.  Why? Because they choose to embrace the world – and often use the Word of God to justify what they do.

“Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” – Luke 12:1

Some Christians and evangelical denominations embrace the natural and justifying it by corrupting the Word of God. Just like the Pharisees.  Great wrongs – social injustice has been condoned and encouraged by those who call Jesus Lord .... thinking that they were justified and acting righteously.  But what they did was from the flesh.  From their sinful nature.  And when confronted with the truth, by the Spirit in their hearts – many seek to resist the Spirit – ignoring the revealed truth and justify their actions rather than confess their sin and repent. Remember, the Pharisees crucified Jesus and felt justified in doing so. Religion, without God the Father, Jesus and the Spirit, is dangerous, malicious, and dividing.

Living the Christian life, successfully, requires a daily – perhaps minute by minute – effort. The influences of the world and our old nature are constant – they never let up. Like leaven in the loaf – yeast – is starts in the hearts of each of us and then spreads. We must rededicate ourselves every day as living sacrifices to God. And what does that mean? To abandon our devotion to the natural and embrace the Truth – God’s intent for mankind – what we can only find in this world by the supernatural – by faith with hearts fully devoted to God.  That means rejecting our natural affections – nationality – race – economics – what the world has declared to be right that is contrary to the Word of God. 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:24-35

We would like to change the world – but that is not going to happen. We will not eliminate the effects of sin – only Jesus’ return will do that. So long as there are those who reject God and embrace their sinful nature – there will be injustice.  The world wants peace.  The world wants justice.  The world wants harmony and equality.  If that was achievable by human effort – Jesus could have stayed in heaven.  But it isn’t and He didn’t.  The world is socially and morally corrupt. The world needs Jesus – but wants what He has to offer and not Him.    So what should I do as a Christian? Reveal the glory of God through my transformed life – how I live and how I love. By demonstrating unity with other Christians that defies the failures of the natural world and peoples. It is all about Jesus and all about Grace.

“The next day John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” – John 1:29

The world needs to see Jesus in us individually and corporately, so God will be glorified and that some might be saved.  

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 Great Divide

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.... Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." - Genesis 1:1-2, 26-27

We live in a world where some people believe the Genesis account of creation and most do not. The idea that there is a Creator God to whom mankind is accountable is soundly rejected by much of the world. People's world view is either self-centered or God-centered.  I think it is important to understand that most people you meet don't think like you and I do - don't believe what you and I, as Christians believe. And so, you should expect that they will not embrace what God revealed in the Word of God as truth. That is the first great divide.

There is a second source of division. There are those who DO believe in God but they DON'T believe that Jesus is who Christians and the Bible claim He is. 

"He [Jesus] said to them, 'But who do you [the disciples] say that I am?' Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.'" - Matthew 16:15-17

Many religions and cults acknowledge that there was a Jesus but don't agree with Peter. Instead they agree with the other disciples. Anybody other than the Son of God.

"He [Jesus] asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' - Matthew 16:13-14

What got me thinking about this was a gift from my sister. It was a rug for your living room. A Persian rug. There was a name woven into the rug and I got curious so I had a talk with "Mr. Google". The name is Abu Bakir (or Abu Bakr). It seems that he was Mohamed's best friend and the first Caliph  -second in charge.  He was the founder of the Sunni Muslims, who followed the Caliphs, versus the Shi'ite Muslims, who believe that Ali, Mohammed's son-in-law, was the proper heir of Muhammad and would only follow leaders descended from him. Be that as it may, no Muslims believe that Jesus was who the Bible says He is. That God, the Father, sent Jesus, the Son, to save mankind from the consequence of sin.

"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." - John 3:16-17

Nor that faith in Jesus is the only way to have eternal life.

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" - John 14:6

".. if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

We have many reminders in our home concerning God, Jesus and the Word. But now every time I look at that rug I will be reminded that there are millions of people - billions - that are bound for hell - convinced that they are not.

Does that matter to you? I hope it does. 

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

Your Children's Spiritual Future

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6

I have wondered about this verse many times. Wondered, hoped actually, that if Martie and I were faithful in teaching our children about faith in God - trusting Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life - that they would somehow be saved by our faithfulness. Perhaps our faith would be sufficient for their salvation - even if they wander a bit. We just needed to disciple them. Doesn't that make sense?

But then I thought about that the fact that our children were included in "ALL" and "NONE" referred to in Romans. That salvation is a "GIFT" of God and not the parents.

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

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

"For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23

Dr. James Dobson said that, for our children, Christian values are "caught" and not "taught". Our teaching is not so much through our words but in the way we live our lives. Does our WALK match our TALK. No one knows that better than our family. We can fool some of the people on Sunday - but we have an audience in our homes the rest of the week. Perhaps the worst lesson that we can teach our children is how to be a hypocrite. That it is OK to behave one way at home and another way in front of people you are trying to impress.  

Children raised by parents who are not Christian become Christians. Children who are raised by parents who are Christians live their lives out lost and headed for hell. So my conclusion - my family is the first place of ministry - but - the choice to yield their lives in faith is theirs alone. As a parent I can make them do things that Christians are to do - until they leave home, but I cannot make their hearts want to do them - especially as teenagers :) We can pray for them, encourage them, love them. We can be Jesus to them in all but one respect - We can't save them. I know that God loves them, even more than we do. But in the final analysis, they are just like Nicodemus. This one thing I know. If our children do choose to wander - should they come back, we need to make certain that we are in the right place for them to come back to. Not geographically but spiritually.

"Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” - John 3:3

"Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus answered and said to Him, 'How can these things be?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?'" - John3:5-10

Nicodemus was a teacher of the Jewish Faith - but he lacked one thing - He was not born again. He lacked faith in his heart. We have a responsibility toward our children but we are not the way and truth and life - Jesus is.

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

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

When Your Fear Overcomes Your Faith

"Samuel answered, 'Speak, for Your servant hears.'" —1 Samuel 3:10

“ I show God my lack of love and respect for Him by the insensitivity of my heart and mind toward what He says. Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week? If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus, I would not have deliberately disobeyed it. The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me (see John 11:41). If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God all the time through the devotion of hearing. What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of my life. The attitude of a child of God should always be, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice at certain times. At other times I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things— things which I think I must do.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Have you noticed that Paul devoted much of his writing telling us about what we "should" be and not what we "should not" be?  The epistles in the New Testament are replete with admonitions about the problems with our old nature and encouragement to pursue our new nature.  It’s a daily struggle for us to keep our focus on God and not ourselves.  I received a call from a friend who told me that a loved one was about to pass and I could hear the great sorrow in his voice.  Like the disciples in the storm or Peter walking on the water … when trouble comes, our first response is often self-reliance … the reality of an impossible situation in the face of our inability to overcome it.  That is where my friend was … so what to do?  I pointed him to Jesus.  I reminded him of God’s love and power and sovereignty.  Of the peace that passes understanding when we find ourselves in impossible situations.  

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27

That peace is not found through denial, but by faith.  Listen, there have been, are and will be circumstances that will overwhelm us if we are depending only upon our wits to navigate through this life.  Speaking spiritual truth to a lost person is like speaking a foreign language to them. Hearing from God in times of trouble is impossible for them … but His voice will be drowned out for Christians if we are focused on finding a solution on our own.  Our fear will prevent us from exercising our faith.  What problems are you facing today that seem like giants that make you feel like a small insect or a stormy sea that is tossing you about? Trust God. 

“Now to Him who is able [and ready and willing] 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

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 And How Do You Love Jesus?

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of 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 again a 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

I normally shy away from comparing verses to the original Greek in the New Testament.  But in this case, I think it is interesting in understanding the question Jesus asked and the answer Peter gave. (Not to take credit for this understanding, my brother Rick, who has a doctorate in theology, shared this with me years ago when I was but a tadpole in my faith.)

The English language is a marvel. One word can have many meanings. Like the word "love". Without the understanding of the Greek behind the word translated, Love, it would appear that Jesus asked Peter the same question and Peter gave Jesus the same answer to that question. In fact Jesus asked - twice - if Peter loved Jesus with spiritual - unconditional love - "agapas" and Peter answered twice with "philō", brotherly affection. Third time Jesus asked if Peter he did indeed love him with brotherly affection - and Peter answered the same way the third time. 

There would come a time when Peter understood what Jesus had been asking but it was not that night! To love Jesus sacrificially would have meant that Peter would not have denied Jesus, but would have laid down his life for him. Peter did not have the faith or capacity to do that, yet. But the time would come when he did.

We do not have the capacity to love Jesus with the same love that God, the Father, and God, The Son, showed toward us without saving faith and the power of God in us. We can love the idea of the Christian life, loving God and loving others. But when it comes to sacrificing everything of ourselves because of that love - well, often times, the best we can come up with is brotherly affection. It is the only thing our flesh can offer.

Without the Love of God at work in us - we will not be willing to pick up our crosses and follow Jesus. We will not be willing to lay what we value in this world down at the foot of the cross. Instead, we will try to be "good people". We will have a form of godliness - but, all the while, denying the power that comes from offering ourselves as living sacrifices.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:1-2

Do you think that is reasonable to lay your life - your plans - your preferences - your dreams aside to walk the path that God has called you to? If your love for God is limited to "brotherly affection" then the answer will be "No!" What you are willing to lay down  or are you satisfied with being merely friendly toward God and not passionate in your devotion to Him? You don't need to answer out loud. Your life is already telling the story. 

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" - Matthew 16:24

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

Responding To The Fruit Of The Flesh

  " ... hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions" - Galatians 5:20

Have you ever known someone who just loved to "stir the pot" - start arguments - say hurtful things to others - were just mean spirited? Those attitudes are expressed a lot on social media - especially since the people don't have to look face to face with the person being disrespected. Paul wrote about the works of the flesh to the Galatians, about - hateful people - contentious people - jealous people - angry people - people who only care about themselves - people who love to cause dissention. It is what I call the fruit of the flesh.

Sad to say there are many Christians who act the same way. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The polar opposite of the fruit that the flesh produces. When we were in Haiti, I had the occasion to preach in churches from time to time. If you have ever been to a country in the Caribbean you know that they abound with fruit trees. In Haiti, it's especially mango trees.  So, using mango trees as an analogy, I would tell the people, "if someone told me they were a mango tree (living by the Spirit) and I walked up to the them to get a mango, but only found sour oranges on their branches, I would have to believe that they were not a mango tree at all, but they were, in fact, a sour orange tree." Pastor Greg Laurie said that when he calls that out in a person he is not being a judge but merely a "fruit inspector".

And so, if someone professes to be a Christian but I see the "fruit of the flesh" hanging on their "branches", demonstrated by  the way they talk and treat other people, then I will be compelled to believe that they are not walking after the Spirit but after the flesh.

"I [Paul] say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." - Galatians 5:16-17

Don't make excuses for people like that. They are merely exposing their hearts.

 "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." - Matthew 12:34

In fact I would suggest that you just walk away - ignore them. Pray for them certainly, that they would have a heart change - but even if they are a Christian - have nothing to do with them. You don't have to enter in to what ever it is that they are doing. Don't feel compelled to convince them to think otherwise. Their goal is not to build you up in your faith - just the opposite. What they need is the conviction of the Spirit of God and then to surrender their hearts. Show them meekness. Meekness is not weakness. 

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