Spiritual Numbness

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 

You know that there are billions, perhaps even trillions, of fish that live in the sea. They live their lives surrounded by salt water. They take the water in through their gills and extract oxygen from it. But not the salt. Their flesh is salty even though they have spent their lives surrounded by salt water. God, in his design has insulated them from the harmful effects of the salt. In fat, put those fish in fresh water and they will die. Now, think of the salt that surrounds them as similar to the opportunity to sin for Christians, to embrace the carnal life, our old nature that surrounds us. Pastor Greg Laurie, speaking at a Promise Keeper's conference in 1993, said, in regard to temptation to sin, "You can't keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair."

In Pastor Laurie's analogy, for many Christians, sin had made a nest in our hair. But how? Are we not washed, sanctified, and justified by the Jesus and the Spirit. Washed by the blood of Jesus. Sanctified by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Justified before the Creator God by the work of Jesus on the cross by faith.

So what is the problem? I think that since we are "swimming" in a sinful world every day, it is possible to lose our spiritual sensitivity toward sin. To become numb to it. We must be alert to the insidious nature of sin. Resisting the temptation to rationalize our tolerance of sin for some superior benefit.  An example is with visual media (I know I harp on this a good bit) - television, movies, or maybe TikTok or most other social media offerings. We are tempted to minimize the bad by comparing it to what we consider to be the overall good. Not realizing that acceptance of the bad is numbing us to what is bad or worse. A little bit of leaven affects the whole loaf. (1 Corinthians 5:6) For example. Martie and I love "who dunnits". The problem is that with the mysteries come all sorts of opportunities to embrace the bad - sex outside of marriage, alternative life styles, foul language, the associated violence that comes with the genre.  Violence that is becoming more violent and more graphic every year. All the while like frogs in pots, we are being "cooked", desensitized to the next season which will prove to be worse than the last. But if we are numb, we may not notice. 

All of this makes book reading more attractive to me. Maybe with some music playing in the background. Martie and I have established a rule. When we are watching TV, the first instance of "salt" in a program, off it goes. No matter how entertaining it is. Compared to some of the things being said and portrayed, small indiscretions don't seem so bad. Another temptation. We may have to swim in it when we leave our home, but we do not have to allow it entry into our home.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." - Proverbs 4:23

We have a plaque next to our television with that verse on it to serve as a constant reminder to do that very thing. Christian singer, Steve Green, recorded a song - Guard your hearts. I will share some of the lyrics

Guard your heart, guard your heart
Don't trade it for treasure, don't give it away
Guard your heart, guard your heart
As a payment for pleasure, it's a high price to pay
For a soul that remains sincere with a conscience clear
Guard your heart

The human heart is easily swayed

And often betrayed at the hand of emotion

You dare not leave the outcome to chance
You must choose in advance
Or live with the agony
Such needless tragedy (Guard Your Heart, Steve Green)

You might want to listen to that song. Just a thought :) Friend what is my point in all of this? We are called to be a light - to be separate from the life we once lived. Be careful that you are not lulled into embracing what you have been saved from.

"Finally, brothers [and sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:8-9

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

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

Avoiding A Crossed Purposed Conversation

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." - Matthew 23:27-28

I was having a conversation just the other day with someone when a thought occurred to me after we came to an agreement. I wondered, "Are we talking about the same thing?" I had the distinct impression that we were not.  We were talking at "cross purposes".  Cambridge Dictionary : "If two or more people are at cross purposes, they do not understand each other because they are talking about different subjects without realizing this: I think we've been talking at cross purposes - I meant next year, not this year." We were not understanding each other and were coming to different conclusions about what we each were going to do.

Are you wondering why I am sharing this with you? Well, it is because sometimes Christians do the same thing. Jesus exposed the hearts of the Pharisees and their hypocrisy. He called them whitewashed tombs filled with dead men's bones. When they talked to people about faith, they were talking about a faith lived, but not by the Pharisees. The people heard one thing, but the Pharisees, as it applied to themselves, were talking about something else.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves." - Matthew 23:15

I have seen that acted out frequently among professed Christians. For example someone might say "Amen" to me quoting Matthew 22 - the second greatest commandment - or Colossians 3:11 - that there is no difference, in the spiritual sense, between people of different ethnic groups or cultures, if they are Christians. (Come to think of it, there is no difference spiritually for those who are not Christians, all have sinned.) But when it comes down to it, many times those same ones who said "Amen" actually believe that there is, a difference that is.  They understand the scripture in a way in which it is not intended. They make a distinction between Christians based upon the natural and reject the idea that we are all the same in Christ. Even though they might agree in principle, they don't in fact agree that we are the same. "Oh you may be a Christian, but are not like me." The truth is that we are all part of the same family of God. We have all been saved by grace and adopted - joint heirs.  We are all the same from God's perspective because He sees our hearts and not our skin. When I would speak at  churches in Haiti, I would often start with, "Mwen pa blan, mwen fre nou." Translated, "I am not white, I am your brother." I was pretty sure that they were having a hard time getting past my skin. So what causes the cross-purposes problem? Carnality.  The only way that you cannot understand spiritual truth is the absence of the Spirit of Truth in you. Now that is different than embracing spiritual truth. You may find you are speaking at cross purposes when one Christian is spiritual and the other is embracing carnality.  

Or maybe the conversation is about Jesus.  You think you have agreement, but the Jesus that someone is talking about is not the same Jesus that you are talking about. 

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

There are religious groups that promote Jesus, but they are not talking about the Jesus Peter was talking about. To avoid confusion and talking at cross purposes - you must ask the question that Jesus asked.  "Who do you say Jesus is?" It will clear things up, reveal the truth and give clarity to the conversation.

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

Does God Hear Me When I Pray?

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

Prayer is a conversation not a monologue. Me speaking to God and God answering back through His Word, circumstances, and other Christians. I was talking to a friend the other who is going through some difficult times. I told her that I would be praying for her.  (This a conversation using text messages on our phones.) There was a long pause and then she said, "I don't know Charley. I have been praying for years. I am not sure that anybody is listening." That may have been the time to tell her that God is, but is He? 

"Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” - John 8:47

I don't know if my friend is a Christian.  And if not, then except for the prayer of faith - and even then I think salvation has taken place before the person can speak and they are sealed by the Spirit - inhabited if you will as a temple - God does not hear the prayers of the lost. He is not their Father. Satan is.  (A harsh - biblical reality)

"Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do." John 8:39-44

If you needed some money to go out with your friends would you go down the street and ask a random stranger for the money? You would be told to go ask your father for the money. God is not obliged to help someone who is not His child.

But what if you are his child?

"Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God." - James 4:2-7

Perhaps your heart is not right. You want relief from your trouble but have little time for God. God sees your unrepentant heart. You think that all you have to do is ask - isn't that what the Bible says - and what all of those "so-called" Christians tell you? We approach God on our terms - mistake! And when He doesn't deliver - there is the proof - this faith thing is not real.  We want God to do what we ask with no real commitment on our part. And God is silent.  Or perhaps God answered and we didn't like His answer. Like the man on the roof in a flood praying for God to save him. God sent a boat which the man refused waiting on God to do what the man wanted. The man refused to get on the helicopter - again waiting for the "right" answer. Then the man drowned. Once in heaven he asked God why God had not answered his prayer. God said that He had but the man refused God's solution.

In Experiencing God being confronted with God's solution is called a Crisis of Belief that requires faith and action which leads to you making adjustments in your life to obey what God has said. Obedience is where we fail so often. If you have a trouble with obeying God it is because you have trouble obeying God.

There is so much more to this that what I have written, but I think I have written enough to get the idea across. I know that my friend knows about Jesus - but I don't know if she "knows" Jesus. Please pray for her. Please pray for her. First, pray that like Nikodemus she would know that she "must be born again" if she is not, and then like Paul prayed for the Church of Ephesus.

"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" - Ephesians 1:17-20

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

Silence Is Golden But Sometimes Difficult

"Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." Acts 8:30-35

Of course this is the story about the Spirit leading Phillip into the desert to meet with a man in a Chariot. The scripture the man was reading was about Jesus, the Christ, but he needed Phillip to help him understand that. Jesus silent before His accusers. 

Some years back, I was accused of doing things that I had not done. Everyone was shocked by it because they new the truth. Frankly I was at a loss.  Oh, I could have got into the "military mode" and admittedly was tempted. But, instead, I turned to a good friend and spiritual mentor to seek his advice.  He was aware of the situation. "What should I do?", I asked. He said, "Do nothing." "What should I say?", I asked. He said, "Say nothing, the Lord will vindicate you." I followed his advice and I was eventually vindicated.  What I came to understand later was the my friend was encouraging me to be like Jesus. Defending yourself by arguing with or confronting those who are speaking lies is futile. They cannot be reasoned with and certainly are not interested in a spiritual solution. Where silence is the best response - it is difficult when you have been wounded. Has that ever happened to you? Remember that the solution is spiritual and not a matter of doing your best to do the right thing. 

"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." - 1 Corinthians 1:26-30

So guess what. Just the other day, a friend was telling me that they had been unjustly accused and wondered how to respond. Any guesses what I told them?

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

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

I Surrender All - Almost

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2

In the Experiencing God study, Dr Blackaby said "If you have trouble with obeying God, then what you have is trouble loving God." Obedience is the result of love or devotion. Obedience is in its simplest form submission. Paul says that we should offer ourselves as living sacrifices. That means our hearts are fully devoted to God and His will.  Jesus expressed that when He prayed in the Garden.

"Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” - Matthew 26:39

It is a test of devotion when you obey the Father and it is not the way you would choose if given the option. It requires faith and love.

"Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." - Matthew 22:37

There is no room left. And out of that devotion will spring a desire to obey. Fortunately God has provided us with the Spirit, the Word and other Christians to help us along the way.

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 Render Unto Caesar

"Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." - 1 Peter 2:13-17

Today, perhaps more than ever in my life time, commitment to divine mandates are being tested. The question is when should we submit to the governmental authorities and when should we resist? We must be careful that we don't confuse differences in preference with those things that are clearly contrary to the Word of God. Whether we should obey man or God when we don't agree with God or man has been at question since - well since the beginning. As far as agreeing with man or God is concerned - this is what Jesus said.

"And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 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.'" - Matthew 22:16-21

Just because you don't like a law, a law that is not contrary to God's Word, does not give you the right to disobey that law. Jesus made that clear. So what about laws that are contrary to  God's Word. Rendering unto God what is God's. Much has been in God's name, even by Christians, where God had nothing to do with it - it was all man and his evil heart.

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.'" - Daniel 3:16-18

As an example of facing this dilemma, there was a law that said everyone must worship the Babylonian gods and the golden image. These guys, and Daniel too, refused to obey that law because it would cause them to sin against God. Was there a consequence? Yes - a furnace for three and a lions' den for Daniel. Were they spared from death? Yes. But avoiding punishment for your disobedience to man's laws is not guarantee. Disobeying man's laws in favor of obeying God's will have consequences. And God may not spare you from them. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego said even if God does not deliver them, they still will not disobey God in favor of man's laws. 

By the way, that is referred to as civil (or peaceful) disobedience. If you choose to disobey a law of the land because you disagree with it, but it is not contrary to the word of God, then you may feel you are justified in not obeying, but don't use God as your justification.  He's got nothing to do with it. That is your carnality showing through.

One last thing. In the military, we are taught to obey the orders of the officers appointed over us. In other words - respect their authority. I may not respect the person holding the position above me, but I was bound by the oath I had taken to submit to their authority - so long as their orders are lawful. The same goes for civilian authorities. We are bound by Jesus' words our our oath to follow Him and submit to his authority.

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 Is The Basis Of Your Faith?

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” - John 6:47-51

So the people of Israel wandering in the desert had to eat the Manna everyday to live.  Eating of the living bread, once for all time, means that you put your faith in Him and His work on the cross. Think about communion - the bread and the wine - figurative body and blood - remembering the cross, His sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection.

"The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” - Romans 10:8-11

You are a Christian because you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and having died on the cross for our sins, He was raised by the Father on the third day. Old news you say? My concern is that it is not news at all for some or perhaps many who merely identify with the faith.

"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

Salvation is a personal transaction of faith between the person seeking salvation and God. There is no other way to be saved. 

"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

There is no other way to the Father except by faith in Jesus. I have spoken to many people over the years about their faith. I am always interested in hearing about their journey to faith in Jesus and their spiritual rebirth. But, I have found that some people think that their salvation can be earned by going to church or by doing something like being baptized. Or maybe their parents were Christians or religious, so they are saved by virtue of their parents faith. Without seeing their into hearts, it is often difficult to make the distinction. Only God can do that. Being raised in a Christian home does not make you a Christian. Salvation starts with a spiritual revelation of who Jesus is and then a person's decision to embrace that truth and surrender their heart in faith. 

When people talk about being a Christian, but say they were saved some other way than personal faith in Jesus (maybe - they say they have always been a Christian) I become concerned. My concern being that perhaps they are merely religious (good people) and like the idea of the Christian faith, but are in fact not born again. Salvation requires spiritual revelation.  I can tell you the month and year that I was born again, even the details of the moment and those that lead up to it, but not the date. Knowing the date is not the point. Knowing Jesus is.

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

You may be able to tell me who Jesus is, but not know Jesus. Only when God reveals that truth - when He speaks to your heart through the Spirit - will you come to the point of spiritual understanding and decision. It is at that point you can receive the truth and be saved or reject the truth and continue on in your journey toward the gates of hell.  

So. Tell me about how you came to Faith in Jesus. I can't wait to hear it and rejoice with you.

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

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

Getting Control Of The Natural - Supernaturally

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." - 1 John 2:15-17

The Limbic system (that part of our brains composed of the Hypothalamus, Amygdala, Thalamus, and Hippocampus) is responsible for processing memories and regulating emotions. The Prefrontal Cortex is located in the front half of the brain. It is responsible for our focus, planning, impulse control, emotional control, empathy, judgment, and insight. 

Let's put this in context of 1 John 2:15-17. What part of the brain do you think processes the temptation to sin? The emotional part or the logical part. OK, I will assume you answered emotional. And what part of the brain has to do with understanding truth and obeying truth even in the face of your emotions saying to do otherwise? Defy truth and satisfy the flesh. Yep! The Prefrontal Cortex. Now a question you might be asking is, "So what?"

"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

What part of the brain do you use to meditate, focus, on the Truth? Yep! You got it.

"How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways." - Psalm 119:10-15

Same thing right?  I have often said that you cannot deal with an emotional person with logic. We must train ourselves to deal with sin with the Prefrontal Cortex and not with the Limbic system. Make sense? How do you do that? Read those verses again. The limbic system is weak and will deceive you. It makes you vulnerable. The Hypothalamus controls hormones which affect - body temperature, blood pressure, hunger and thirst, sense of fullness when eating, mood, sex drive, and sleep. Do you see the connection with 1 John? 

However - if you are a Christian - you have been sealed by the Spirit of Truth - the spiritual Helper. You have supernatural abilities to deal with temptation. To take control of natural impulses. Paul talks about what it was like before he was a Christian in Romans chapter 7.

"For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" - Romans 7:22-25

We have been delivered by faith in Jesus Christ.  

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

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

Playing Your Part In God's Love Story

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

When I have read those passages in the past, I have thought about them in relation to people. And I should. But loving people is the second of the two greatest commandments. And my ability to love in that way is totally dependent upon my being obedient to the first greatest commandment - to love God. I must have that level of love toward God - first - and God will then love others through me.

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest said, "The key to the missionary’s [and a Saint's] devotion is that he is attached to nothing and to no one except our Lord Himself. It does not mean simply being detached from the external things surrounding us. Our Lord was amazingly in touch with the ordinary things of life, but He had an inner detachment except toward God." 

Jesus was in touch with the ordinary things of life. Accused by the religious leaders of being a friend with sinners.  What they didn't understand was that as He walked among sinners, He had an inner detachment with the ordinary things of life because of being one with the Father. His purpose and our purpose?

"And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.'” - Luke 4:17-19

That is what Jesus was sent to do and what we, as Jesus followers, are commanded to do. Not just live our lives on this planet content with the knowledge that we are going to heaven when we die. Watching silently as those around us flounder and march off toward the gates of hell. God has a part for each of us to play in this new life of ours. What is yours and are you willing to play your part in God's Love Story? The curtain is up and the world is waiting and hoping to see you walk out on its stage! 

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 Jesus Calls

 "And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him." - Matthew 4:18-22

Have you given much thought to what these men did? They left the familiar - the family business, if you will.  The work that their fathers had taught them to do and followed Jesus, immediately. Ok - so you know that we are teaching Experiencing God. About hearing God's voice. That hearing bringing you to a crisis of belief. That crisis being to obey what God has said requires faith and action. Just agreeing that you should do what God, said and doing it, will always require faith and then action (another name for obedience). Just like Peter, Andrew, James and John.  Jesus said that His sheep know his voice.

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." - John 10:26-27

Dr. Henry Blackaby said that Christians know God's voice when they hear it. The question is, will they obey it.  After the crisis of belief comes the adjustments in your life. Don't you think that those fishermen had to make some adjustments? They were trying to catch fish in their nets, but Jesus was call them to catch people.  They had to make some adjustments in what they did. I would expect that their families might not have been convinced. Perhaps they might have been rejected. 

What is God saying to you? Perhaps not to change vocations. But maybe He is. But it might be as simple as rejecting those things that are contrary to the Word of God. Maybe changing people, places and things in your life. What is God saying to you?

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

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

The Sixth Sense - Spiritual Understanding

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

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

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

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

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

Paul prayed that the Saints "eyes of understanding would be enlightened." That they would understand the world, heaven, and their very lives in the same way that God does. Spiritual understanding is like a Sixth Sense that is denied to those who are not born again. God is not nearly as concerned about our natural lives as He is about our spiritual - eternal lives. What!!!! What are you most concerned about every day? You might know about the importance of our spiritual nature, but do you understand it? Do you embrace it. Do you live, make life choices, and react to every day circumstances in that understanding? 

Second point.  When a lost person dies a physical death, they are dead both physically and spiritually. God saw them as dead spiritually before and still sees them as dead spiritually after their physical death. (When a person is spiritually dead, they are eternally separated from God and bound for hell.) When a saved person dies a physical death, they are dead physically but alive spiritually. God sees them as alive before and after their physical death. When a Christian dies - it does not matter at what their physical age is, God sees them as alive. We see them as dead and therefore no longer part of the physically living. We mourn their loss because they are no longer part of our physical existence - five senses. I think what I hear often from Christians "We will see them again in heaven." is more of a hope than a fact in our minds - clouded by the pain of the physical loss.  But it is true, all the same.

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

Obviously, Paul got it. He was not cavalier about his natural life and its frailty. But he understood his physical life in the context of the Spiritual. I would like to think I am there with Paul. How about you?

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

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

How Are You Preparing For Your Future?

"And he [Jesus] said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.' And he told them a parable, saying, 'The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.  And he said to his disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.'" - Luke 12:15-23

I rose this morning with these verses on my mind. Actually with more, but I will get to them in a minute. For some time, I thought of the parable about the man and his barns as a description of the unsaved and their choosing the riches of this world which will be left behind over an eternal inheritance as a child of God. But, in context, Jesus went on to tell his disciples that they should not "be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing"

The temptation we all face is to be willing to give only some of our trust and devotion to God, but not all of it.  It is not really about the "things" that we have around us. The problem is that we trust in those things and not in God who made those things and us. Do you remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira?

"But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?" - Acts 5:1-3

Both Ananias and Sapphira died that day. I thought they were punished for their lack of faith and withholding from God. Then I connected what they did - withheld money to "build bigger barns" so to speak, but the Lord said to them (through Peter)  ‘Fools! This [day]your souls are required of you, and this money you have kept back for yourselves, whose will it be?’. The lesson is the same. We must be good stewards of what the Lord has given us, but not let our devotion drift to loving what we are stewards of more than God. A steward is someone who tends to things that they don't own. For the man with the barns and Ananias and Sapphira, God was saying, "You don't get it. You are worried about what is temporary and neglecting what is eternal. When you breath your last breath, only the eternal will be all that matters. And today is the day!"

We all have feet of clay and we all struggle with this problem. My point to you is to is that we must always be on our guard. Being good stewards can lead to the things we steward commanding our devotion. God owns it all.

"The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein." - Psalm 24:1

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 Consequences Of Our Choices

"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:14-15

Every person has a free will. Freedom to choose. Just like the people of Israel. And as a child of God, you are free to make choices. Agree so far? Good. But there is a catch. That catch is clarified in James chapter four.

"Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17

Does that put a little different perspective on your choosing? It does me! We know what the two greatest commandments are, right?  You might want to read Matthew 22:37-39 to refresh your memory. To know what to do and not do it - to choose something else - is sin. We can choose but there are consequences that come with our choices. When we know what the right thing to do is, and we choose do to otherwise - we sin. Jesus asked ... 

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” - Luke 6:46-49

As you are aware, we have been teaching Experiencing God. Central to that study is the teaching of seven spiritual principles. Principle 4 is hearing God's voice - knowing what the right thing is. Principle 5 is a crisis of belief. Being confronted with a choice that requires faith and action on your part (choosing to obey). Principle 6 is making adjustments because of your choice. Changing course, if you will. Going in one direction and then choosing to go in another. That is an often used description of repentance. In the case of Joshua, the people had to choose whom they would serve. Just like we do. It is not a once and done choice. It is daily, minute by minute. To know the good to do ... (you can finish 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

What God Really, Really Wants From Me

"He said “you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;  You do not delight in burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm chapter 51 verses 16-17

Facing the Prophet Nathan – David realized something about God.  So - what does God Really……. REALLY Want From Us?

Today I want to write to you about RESISTING THE TEMPTATION TO GIVE God what he doesn’t want AND, instead ….  Giving God What He really – REALLY wants  

“With what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” - Micah 6:6-8

I often quote Micah 6:8. In fact it is one of my favorite verses – along with Joshua 1:8-9, Galatians 6:2, James 1:27, Philippians 4:13 – I guess I have quite a few. Anyway, as I was contemplating what this devotion would be about today, my thoughts went to Micah 6:8 but then I read the verses before it and they gave context to the text. Did you ever consider the word “context”? In Spanish “con” means with – so I guess we could say the other text that goes “with” the text.

Micah was asking what he could give to atone for his transgressions. What could he do to undo what can’t be undone so he might be in the presence of the holy creator God? The answer – he needed a heart transplant – to love God and love others. Don’t you think it interesting how often that idea comes up in the scripture.

“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 22:37-40

The whole Law hinges on those two commandment. Do justly – love mercy (loving others) Walk Humbly (love God) It is not enough to think good thoughts. By the way, telling someone to “think good thoughts” is today’s euphemism to avoid saying, “Please pray for someone.” “Think good thoughts” It makes me sad, really.

So what does God really, really want from me – from any of us? He wants us To us to actually love others not just in thought but in deed and to love God sacrificially, not just in thought but in deed. That means less of me and more of God. We can’t love other people, the way that God intends, unless we first love God the way God demands. 

“I [beg] 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

God wants your heart totally devoted to Him. A heart turned toward God and away from the world.  And the result of that turning away will be that we love others the same way that God loves us. With mercy and grace. Pretty simple really. 

So if it is simple then why then isn’t it easy? Simply stated – it is the fault of our old nature – our desire to do what we want to do naturally and not do what comes supernaturally.

Jesus was telling us to do what people cannot do ….. apart from God. Certainly this journey started with a decision when we are born again – but it continues with needing to make that same decision every day – with every breath we take – choosing God and not the world. So what will you choose today?

Jesus told His disciples …… 

“If anyone comes after Me (Jesus), let them deny themselves, pick up their cross (every day) and follow Me.” – Matthew 16:24

Joshua told the people ….

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

I so hope that you will choose to serve the Lord

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

C'mon - Cut Your Brother And Sister Some Slack

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." - Matthew 7:3-5 

I am certain you are familiar with these verses - but this is not what you might think it is about. There was a man - a Christian - who was known for his faith in a community where we once lived in. He was set in his ways, like most of us are, but he was a kind man. He knew the Bible and was faithful to attend church. On one Sunday evening, the church we attended invited a speaker - someone well known in the State. My friend apparently knew him  - I don't know how well.  The whole time that the man spoke, my friend winked at him, clicked his tongue and point his finger at him. Subtly, but pointed it all the same.  The speaker seemed to pay no attention to him.  He did not even acknowledge him with a nod or a wave. Well, frankly my friends actions disheartened me. It was obvious that he wanted to be recognized and through that recognition elevated in stature among the "common folk" for being a friend of the speaker. I think the word I was looking for was disappointment. 

Ok so now Matthew 7. I was convicted by my attitude toward my friend. Recognition by the local community was obviously important to him. He wanted to be acknowledged by the speaker but was not. It backfired on him. I have told people in the past that the speck I see in someone else is actually a reflection of the log in me. Psychologists call it "projection" when we project our own faults onto other people. It is easier to deal with your problems in someone else's life. Like I was doing with my friend. Rather than have compassion for him - obviously there was something in him that he struggled with, I judged him. This is not about recognizing sin when we see it, but more of not condemning someone when we, ourselves, are not without blame.

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." - Matthew 7:1-2

We don't know what is going on in someone's life. What motivates them. What they struggle with. But God does. God loved us while we were yet sinners.  He showered grace, mercy and love on us. In spite of the fact that we were His enemies. He expects for us to do the same. The second greatest commandment that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 22, Luke 10 and Mark 12 is to love others. That love is fruit born from the seeds of the love we have for the Father.  

Even as I was drafting this post I was made aware of a situation - not too different from the one I shared. I was concerned about certain people not doing what they had committed to when I learned that each were struggling with significant issues of life. In Army discipline it is called "matters of extenuation and mitigation". Considerations that would temper the judgement and punishment given for the violations made. So it seems that there are some things that I am slow to learn. Lord help me! How about you?

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

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

When Life Fades

“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” - 1 Peter 1:25

That verse is actually a reference to Isaiah 40:6-7.  It was used in a sermon this past Sunday. Of all that was said that morning, this verse got my attention. We are to be like the prophet Samuel with respect to wanting to hear God speak by His Spirit.  

"And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” - 1 Samuel 3:8-10

Do you believe that God would speak to you through a sermon, the scripture, or other Christians? You should because He does. The question really is not "Does God speak to us?", but "Are we listening for His voice and will we receive what He says to us?"  Like Samuel. 

When I heard the scripture from 1 Peter, in my mind, I substituted the word "flower" with "life". The question that came to me was, "When my life has faded what will remain?" Only what has eternal value, is the answer. Our daughter, Mandi, proud of my service in the Army, decided that I should have all of my Army memorabilia on display in our guest room. So out of the closet and attic it came. And on to the walls it went. When I was in the Army, career soldiers often had what was referred to as their "I love me wall" where all of the going away mementoes were on display. A reminder of the various places they had served. And what does this have to do with 1 Peter? When I die - and I will one day, the significance of those things hanging on the wall will fade. In fact that process has already started - their significance might linger for one more generation in the hearts of our children.  What do you have hanging on the "walls" of your heart?

Don Moen wrote a song, "When it has all been said and done." 

"When it's all been said and done. There is just one thing that matters. Did I do my best to live for Truth. Did I live my life for You? All my treasures will mean nothing. Only what I've done for Love's reward will stand the test of time. You're my life when life is gone. When it's all been said and done."

Is that what you want to be said about your life? That is what I want to be said of mine - that my life glorified God. That I lived for Truth. That I lived my life for Him. Will you leave an eternal legacy when your flower fades? As the story goes, a man was looking at a tombstone. It read "14 August 1943 - 27 November 2021". He commented to his friend, the first date and the last date are not what is significant. It is the "dash" that tells the story and whether that life made a difference.

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

Gambling On Sin And Rolling Snake Eyes

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools .... Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!" - Romans 1:18-22, 24-25

Let me be clear, this is not about politics. It is about Christians living in a carnal world. That said, I was reading the news on line when a I came across an article about VP Harris. The title to the article read "VP Harris says Americans don't need to 'abandon their faith' to support abortion". That got my attention. Romans chapter one was brought to mind. Again, this is not about Democrats and Republicans. It is about Romans chapter one being lived out by Democrats and Republicans and Independents and ... well the list is all inclusive.  The Spirit reminded me that, there are none are righteous. No! Not one. (Romans 3:11) All we like sheep have gone astray, everyone to our own way. and the Lord has laid on him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

So back to the article. This is an excerpt.  

"[VP] Harris made the statement while speaking at an abortion rights conference in Connecticut, joining a panel discussion alongside Planned Parenthood president Alexis McGill Johnson and Rep. Johana Hayes, D-CT. Hayes pressed Harris to explain how a person might still support abortion rights even if their religious beliefs declare it immoral. 

"What would you say to someone who understands why abortion should be a personal decision between a pregnant person and whomever else they decide to include in the conversation, but believes they can't reconcile it with their faith?" Hayes asked, reading a question from the audience.

"That's such an important point to raise," Harris responded. "It is her choice and it should be her choice to make, if she chooses a consultation with a loved one, with a healthcare provider, with her faith leader."

"I say this: One does not have to abandon their faith or their beliefs to agree that the government should not be making that decision for her," she continued. "It's literally that basic."

VP Harris did not answer the question of resolving the tension between what the culture says is OK and what God has made clear as to what is not OK. She is a politician after all :) Instead she said that the government should not be making the decision for a woman considering abortion. It raises the question in my mind of what foundation our laws should be based upon. The answer is easy - it is on the consensus of the majority. Don't deceive yourself into thinking that the majority of the culture embraces the Word of God as the standard for right and wrong. There may be some agreement between the law of the land and the Bible, but today, that is more by coincidence than intentionality. And when there is a conflict between the two, the government will defer to majority opinion - or perhaps I should say the most influential opinion, which will not be the Word of God. God is only one, faint voice among many.

There is more to the story. Women do not conceive without the involvement of a man, with the exception of one. In 2020 there were 74,686 abortions in Florida alone. Did you know that only 120 of the 74,686 abortions in Florida in 2020 were the result of rape or incest. That is 3 ten thousands of one percent! The rest? 99.999 percent. Pregnancy as a result of consensual sex. Meaning there was a man involved and agreement between the two on sexual intercourse. (and you are thinking DUH!) So I wondered where is the man in this issue? He is invisible. Much like the man was when the crowd was going to stone the adulterous woman. [John 8] Another interesting statistic, that number, 74,686 represents 26 percent of the pregnancies that resulted in live birth or abortion in Florida that year. A baby had a 3 in 4 chance of surviving in the womb.

So to the root of the problem. The culture, the world really, has said that sex outside of marriage is OK. Even adultery is seen as normal. Don't believe me? Just watch any show on television or any movie. Sex outside of marriage - single or not is normal behavior.  Look - this is a very emotional issue. Once pregnant, the woman faces the consequences if the pregnancy is unwanted. The man is free to move on to his next "conquest". Both are complicit. Since contraception didn't work, given that was even attempted, then the woman either has the child and raises it, adopts it out, or terminates the fetus. Not many choices. My point is the real problem with abortion is the decision to have sex. This is an ancient problem by the way. The risk of pregnancy is minimized in the face of passion and emotion.

That is the nature and allure of sinful behavior. Taking a risk. Minimizing the bad outcome by focusing on the moment. And when you roll the dice and get snake-eyes - for the woman, it means she is pregnant. So what to do now. Do you remember David and Bathsheba? Snake eyes. The sin started with David on a roof top. The result, Bathsheba got pregnant. So David tried to cover his sin with more sins. That is what abortion is. A sin to cover a sin. 

So, what is the answer to this mess we are in? Jesus.  Sound simple? It is. But most will reject that solution and choose to go through the wide gate.

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many." - Matthew 7:13

As far as the abortion issue is concerned. I don't hold much hope for resolution - not until Jesus returns. As salt and light we must stand for the truth - but the whole truth. Not being influenced by the culture so that we lose our saltiness and have no value for the Kingdom of God.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." - Matthew 5:13

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 Stay Spiritually Healthy

"And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." - Mark 1:35

“[Some argue] I didn’t have to go to church to be a Christian, and they are right. Salvation is through faith alone in Christ alone. You also don’t have to go home to be married but you stay away long enough and your relationship will be affected.” Dr. Tony Evans

The same goes if you are not spending one-on-one time with God the other 6 days of the week and not just attending church. In Experiencing God, the second spiritual reality or principle is that "God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal." I think it is easier to imagine that God loved the world (John 3:16) but that He is interested in a personal relationship with me? That can be a bit of a stretch for some. And because of that, Sunday morning is enough time sent with God. Corporate worship and personal worship are not the same thing. We should not neglect either one. And if we do, there spiritual are consequences. Corporate worship - going to church - should be a culmination - the icing on the cake which is your spending personal time with God - through prayer and the Word. 

Prayer is you talking to God - the Word is God talking to you. It is an easy thing to neglect, too easy. One of the motivations for me writing these devotions is to encourage you to consider your spiritual nature - who you are in Christ. Jesus rose early to start His day spending time with His Father. Not a bad habit. Your flesh will give you plenty of reasons to stay in bed or do something that is more pressing on your time. Read the following verse and ask yourself "Do I really?".

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment." - Matthew 22:36-38

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

Managing My Mouth - Does What I Say Matter to God?

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

I heard a story once about the impact of what we say.  There was a man, we will call him Jack, who spoke against another person, we will call him Sam, - defaming Sam based upon hearsay. People respected and trusted Jack  and accepted what he said about Sam as true. Later Jack learned that what he had said about Sam was untrue. He went to Sam and asked for forgiveness and asked what he could do to undo the harm his words had caused Sam. Sam led Jack to the top of a hill behind Sam's house carrying a feather pillow. Once at the top of the hill Sam cut the pillow open and shook the feathers out into the wind. The feathers were scattered all over the hill and some even caught the wind and sailed out of sight. Handing Jack the empty pillow case,  Sam told Jack, "Now, pick up all of the feathers and put them back in the pillow." To which Jack replied, "It will be impossible to put back the feathers from every place they have landed." Sam said, "Yes and in the same way it will be impossible to take back the words you spoke from the ears of everyone who heard them."

My tongue directs where I go in my relationship with others. Which is why I must watch what I say. And it is not just the words, but the tone I use and my body language as well.

"When we put bits in the mouths of horses ... we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go." James 3:3-4

My tongue can destroy the relationships that I have and crush the spirits of those around me who look up to me. 

"How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." - James 3:5-6

"From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." - Proverbs 18:20-21

My tongue reveals who I am - my true nature - spiritual or carnal.

"With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water" - James 3:9-12

The reason I have a problem with my tongue is that I have a problem with my heart,

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

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

So what is the solution? We need a new heart! And if we are already born again, then we need to repent and, once again, yield our hearts to God by faith.

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

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”  - 2 Cor 5:17 

Ask God every day to help you tame your tongue. To help you manage your mouth!

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

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

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

God created us with two eyes, two ears and one mouth. That should be a hint. Watch, listen and then speak if necessary. Our words should be like God's word. To encourage not discourage.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" - 2 Timothy 3:16

Two people can say the same thing, in one case the person's motive is to tear down and the other it is to build up. The difference is the motivation of your heart.

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

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

Be careful little tongue what you say!

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

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

Spiritual Leadership In The Family

"For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." - Ephesians 5:23-25

That is not a popular thought in today's culture. The idea of the husband being over the wife from the world's perspective is anathema - abhorrent. Certainly not keeping in step with the "age of enlightened thinking and doing". But let me remind you that this is a spiritual charge that Paul was giving to the church at Ephesus (and to the Church as a whole) - not a natural one.  

"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

Don't try to interpret the Bible in the context our culture's wisdom. You will be wrong every time. To understand scripture requires revelation by the Spirit of God. 

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

So what does Ephesians 5:23-25 mean in its spiritual and intended context? God has set an order for a reason. He has given the husband primary spiritual responsibility for the family. Of course, in order to fulfill that responsibility as God intended, the husband must be born again. Otherwise he does not have the power or inclination to do what God has said do. 

With respect to the wife. Well, in my thinking, the single most important person walking on this planet should be your spouse - whether you be the husband or the wife. As the spiritual head of the family, the man is to love his wife like Jesus loves the Church. Sacrificially - willing to deny himself in favor of his wife. Of course, all of that being in concert with his walking in obedience to God.

"And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:27-28

So the husband should not have an expectation that he is to be served, as the "man" of the house - but that he should serve - just like Jesus. The great thing is, the wife - walking by the Spirit - will want to serve her husband in the same way - that's the second greatest commandment. The husband and wife should have a mutual and complimentary concern for one another. Placing their spouse ahead of themselves. Perhaps you remember the short story - "The Gift of The Maji" Della sells her beautiful hair in order to buy a nice watch chain for Jim’s beloved heirloom watch. When Jim comes home, he reveals that he has sold his watch to buy lovely combs for Della's hair. That is what our married lives, marriages as God intended, are supposed to be like. How is that going for you?

But there is more. One of the lessons I learned in the Army was that you can delegate authority (the power to do something) but you cannot delegate the responsibility for getting that something done. Like President Harry Truman said, "The Buck stops here!" The spiritual responsibility for the family "buck" stops with the husband. Very often spiritual training of the children is delegated to the wife as if it were her responsibility. In fact, the husband and wife are both to teach their children well. But it is the husband's primary responsibility. And that starts with showing the children how a husband should love his wife. How is that going for you? 

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

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

Biblical Perspective On Stress And Worry

 "May you always be joyful in your life in the Lord.  I say it again: rejoice!" - Philippians 4:4

Joy is a one of the spiritual fruit that is available to every Christian. Spiritual fruit is something that can be present in your life in spite of your natural circumstances, not because of them. The following are four simple steps you might consider.

Remember - the wisdom of God is foolishness to the natural man. God's ways are not our ways.

Step 1. Worry about nothing. yeah - right you say! It's biblical - I am not making it up.

"Do not be anxious about anything" Philippians 4:6

Here is an interesting definition of Worry :  Assuming responsibility for something that God never intended me to have.  Someone did research on what people worry about. 52% of the things you worry about never happen. 30% concern something that happened in the past. 10% are about insignificant - petty issues. 8% are for legitimate concerns. But all of it goes to God.

"casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you" - 1 Peter 5:7

To relieve stress we must live one day at a time.

"Therefore, don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough troubles of its own" - Matthew 6:34  

Step 2: Pray about everything. Take everything to the Lord in prayer

“But in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests  to God.” - Philippians 4:6b

There is no problem that is too big for God’s power or too small for God’s concern.

"You have not because you ask not …." - James 4:2  

Step 3: Thank God IN all things

“in everything, with thanksgiving" - Philippians 4:6

There is always something to be grateful for.

"Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." - I Thessalonians 5:18  

Step 4: Think about the right things.

“finally brothers, whatever is true .. noble .. right … pure … lovely …. admirable … If anything is excellent or praiseworthy … think about such things" - Philippians 4:8

Whatever I think about, I am becoming.

"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he" - Proverbs 23:7 

Do these things and you will have peace in your life - in spite of what is going on around you or what is happening to you.

"the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus" - Philippians 4:7

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'cha Thinkin' About?

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:8-9

I heard a sermon on personal holiness at church today. Most of it had to do with our struggle to be holy in an unholy world. Later in the day, I called our son and daughter-in-law to wish him a happy birthday. He said, among other things, they had gone to see the new Jurassic Park movie.  I shared that Martie and I thought it might be nice to watch that movie with our daughter and our granddaughter's family. We had seen the others. Not more than 3 minutes into the movie we heard the first expletive (cuss word). Our great grandchildren were sitting next to us at the time - trusting us. I immediately turned the TV off and explained why I had stopped the movie after I apologized for letting it happen. 

We can't prevent what their little ears [or our ears for that matter] hear when they are outside of our home, but we can protect their ears while they are in our home. I am reminded of the song we taught our children when they were small.  "Oh be careful eyes what you see, oh be careful little ears what you hear, oh be careful little tongue what you say. For your Father's up above and He is looking down with love, so be careful." 

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." - Colossians 3:2-5

We must be intentional in our steep and rocky journey toward holiness. It doesn't just happen all it once - but step by step. It takes effort - personal discipline. Since we are born again, we have been called to a new life and we must be wanting to live it and not just be satisfied with being saved and then indulging in the carnal life as if we were not. Sensing no compulsion to change the people, places and things that once kept us far from God.

"For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

I am sharing spiritual truth with you. It takes spiritual awareness and a yielded heart to receive it. Spiritually speaking we are a watchman on the walls for our families. Be alert my friend. Don't be afraid to make a warning call when you see the enemy approaching or worse, when he breaches the walls.

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." - 1 Peter 5:8

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

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