This Side Of The Grave The Lost Are Just Mostly Dead

"Martha, the sister of him [Lazarus] who was dead, said to Him [Jesus], “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go." - John 11:39-44

Have you ever seen the movie, Princess Bride? Martie and I have maybe a thousand times when our girls were small. In the movie, Westley - the hero - was dead - or so everyone thought, but according to Miracle Max - he was only "mostly dead". Like Lazarus - and spiritually like you and me - and everyone who is dead in their sins without faith in Jesus.  

"And you He [God the Father] 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." Ephesians 2:1-6

The Lost who are still living physically will not be completely dead until they face the judgement of the "quick (living) and the dead (in the grave)". For the lost who have already died physically, there is no hope. On the day of judgement, all who are lost will be condemned to Hell for eternity. Until that day - there is still opportunity for the Lost who are still physically alive to turn their hearts toward God. For the Lost on this side of the grave. Sometimes we are tempted to lose hope and count someone we know or know about as beyond hope - beyond salvation. I think that is just a sign of our frustration that we cannot, ourselves, save them - make them choose Jesus no matter how much we want to. And yet, salvation is available to them just as it was for us - by faith. There is nothing you can do for the Lost who are on the other side of the grave, but there is something you can do for those who are only mostly dead who are physically alive today. Be the Light and pray.

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

Swimming In The Deep End Of The Pool

"For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so, by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." - 1 Corinthians 8:10-13

These verses have to do with someone who believes that food offered to idols should not be eaten when, in fact, it does not matter. 

"But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do." - 1 Corinthians 8:7-8

In other words - food is food to God. It has no soul and no life. Whether you eat that food or not is of no consequence to God. The condition of you heart and your devotion to God are, however. But if someone wrongly thinks that eating that food is sin, then Paul is saying that he will not eat the food so as not cause his less mature brother to stumble in his faith. Hoping at some point that he matures and has a better spiritual understanding.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:12-13

I am certain that you are familiar with verse 13 in John 15. But what does that mean, "lay down your life for your friend"? Well verse 13 must be coupled with verse 12. It means that you should refrain from doing what is actually not sin if it will cause a weaker brother or sister to stumble in their faith. 

"For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so, by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." - 1 Corinthians 8:10-13

Being an example to other Christians goes deeper than you might think. Are you willing to refrain from some activity that is not sinful, perhaps that you enjoy, for the sake of a weaker Christian? 

That is what loving others the same way the Jesus loves us looks like. Sacrificially.

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." - Philippians 2:3-8

That is going into the deep end of the pool my friend. 

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

Life's Greatest Achievement Understanding And Knowing God

"Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord." - Jeremiah 9:23-24

What accomplishments are you most proud of? The world will praise you for being penny-wise. It will lift you up as a hero if you prove your athletic prowess. Or if you are wise in the eyes of man you will be revered. But that is the world's measure of significance. What man can make of himself. Ever heard of the term - "Self-made man'? And oh, how we all yearn for significance and recognition in this life. To know that we have value. But the Lord has a different measure?  

"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 6:8

One the one hand, the natural man focuses on himself and his accomplishments. On the other, as Christians, we are to focus on God and what He has accomplished and is accomplishing through us. God wants us to walk and live with an understanding that we are merely the clay, and He is the potter. (Jeremiah 18:5-6) 

I recently had the occasion to enumerate the significant events in my life - Milestones or spiritual markers, if you will. As I read through them, I was keenly aware that apart from God's provision - I have accomplished nothing of note. All that I am. All that I hope to be, can be sourced back to God the Father. The only credit I might take is saying "yes" to God as He has used this "jar of clay" for His glory.

We have all been called to ministry. "Ministry is an area of service in which you use your gifts, talents, and abilities to glorify God and edify the body of Christ." - Peter Finch, Elder McGregor Baptist Church, Ft. Myers, FL. 

In the Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren used the acrostic "SHAPE" to describe how God prepares us for His purposes. S - Spiritual gifts. H - Heart or passion. A - abilities. P - Personality. And E - Experiences.  God shapes each one of us for the ministry that He has in mind for us.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

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

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

The Trouble With Money

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." - 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Have you been watching the news lately? Politicians coming under attack because of questionable activities in a quest to have more money. A professional golfer can win as much as 10 million dollars for winning a tournament. For knocking a little white ball into a hole with fewer strokes than the rest of the players. Professional football, basketball and baseball players are getting paid millions of dollars a year for playing a game for the entertainment of other less talented people. The list goes on. Wealth has become the god of our age. People who have much want more. There is a quote attributed to John D. Rockefeller, "How much money does it take to make a man happy? Just one more dollar.” 

"And He [Jesus] said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." - Luke 12:15-21

At the root of our old nature - our flesh - is the want for more. Really it is a quest to fill what We have put our trust in ourselves over trust in God.  An abridge quote I have often heard is that "in every person there is a god-shaped void that only God can fill". In other words - money, fame, possessions will not. The quote is attributed to a number of people but the actual quote is by Blaise Pascal.

"What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself" - page 75 of Blaise Pascal’s Pensees (New York; Penguin Books, 1966).

Our eyes are fixed on the "here and now" - our mortal lives and not the "there and then" - the eternal. All along not realizing that the eternal is here and now. Our eternity with God started the day we trusted in Jesus by faith. Our struggle comes from the fact that we trust ourselves and not God. Paul said that food and clothes should be enough. Well - we might add shelter. But everything else is excess to our needs. It is not that we should not have things but that the things should not have us. Credit card debt in the U.S. has grown from $760 Billion in 2010 to $1.1 trillion in 2023. It has increased by 26% and is on the climb. That means that we are buying things that we don't have the money to pay for when we buy it. Like the old E.G Wentworth commercials, "I want it now and don't care that I will end up paying 3 times its value to satisfy my flesh today. "Now godliness with contentment is great gain". That contentment can only be found by faith and a vital relationship with our Father through the Son by the Spirit.

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

Nothing New Under The Sun

"But I have a few things against you [the church in Pergamos], because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam [bay-lum], who taught Balak [bay-lack] to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans [nick-o-laya -tons], which thing I hate." - Revelation 2:14-15

Reading about the seven churches in Revelation can be a little depressing and should be alarming. All but one of the churches had significant problems. The common problem was compromise with the world and accommodation of the desires of the flesh. And the church leadership promoted it. Sound familiar?

"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." - 1 John 2:16

The doctrine of Balaam is a teaching that encourages God’s people to compromise their standards and commit idolatry and fornication. It originates from the counsel that Balaam gave to King Balak, who wanted to destroy Israel. Balaam could not curse Israel, but he advised Balak to seduce them with pagan women and practices. This doctrine was later adopted by some false teachers and leaders in the church, who led their followers astray.

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans was a heretical doctrine that allowed Christians to indulge in sin and worldly pleasures. It was based on the false assumption that the human body was evil, and the spirit was good, and that grace and forgiveness were guaranteed regardless of one's actions. It was a form of antinomianism [an-tin-nohm-ian-ism], which rejected the Law of God as binding for believers. Jesus condemned this doctrine "which thing I [Jesus] hate".

Our struggle is that, unlike Jesus, we have a capacity and proclivity for accommodating sin while denying sin's impact on our spiritual lives. When confronted with the Truth, we have two options - rationalize our choices and continue in sin or confess and repent. 

Listen, we all struggle with our sin nature. The problem is not that, but that we have hardened our hearts to the conviction of the Spirit and have embraced the Truth with a lie.

I share this with the hope that you will have spiritual insight into the why's and wherefores of the troubles that face the Body of Christ. Troubles that are not new but that have plagued the Church since it was the Church and will continue to be a plague until Jesus comes back. 

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 Can Do Through You - If Only

 "Then Amos answered and said, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ Now therefore hear the word of the Lord." - Amos 7:14-16

We are leading an Experiencing God Bible Study, once again. The study is about knowing and doing the will of God. This study was a catalyst in the maturing of our spiritual perspective and subsequent choices to do what we never imagined. Probably one of the biggest hurdles that people who participate in this study encounter is believing that God would use them for His eternal purposes. It is much easier to believe that God would use someone else - but not them. After all - who are they. The prophet Amos was a herdsman and tree trimmer. He was not a part of a family lineage of prophets. Just a common man. Minding his own business - faithful to his duties and God. His heart consecrated to God. Then the Lord spoke. Reread the account of Jesus calling the disciples. He did not go to the temple or religious school to find them. We must be careful that we don't limit ourselves or God by deciding what He will or won't do in our lives. D.L. Moddy said - 

“The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him” 

In the context of Experiencing God, God will speak to us, as His children. What He says will challenge our thinking and perhaps the path we are following. The path that we are comfortable with and may feel the path on which we are destined to remain. That brings us to a Crisis of Belief which requires a major adjustment in our lives and/or our actions. Then comes the test of our faith - will we step out in faith and obedience to what we know God has said.  To calm your nerves, Paul wrote in Ephesians that God gave "some" not all to fulfill particular roles in the church. 

"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

He may not be telling you to quit work, sell all you have - leave your nets - and follow Him to the mission field. He is at work all around you and can and will use someone just like you that is consecrated to Him right where you are. Someone who is willing to choose God wherever it might lead.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers [Christian], by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2

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

Our Prime Directive

"Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Our Christian life is supposed to be so much more than getting saved, living a good life with our family and being kind to others.  All of those things are good things, but there is a greater expectation - God towards us and us towards the world. We were reconciled to God the Father by faith in Jesus. We have all been given a ministry of reconciliation. Ambassadors for Christ. Imploring the lost to be reconciled to God in the same way we were reconciled.

Do you consider that to be someone else's job? I mean doesn't the Bible say that God calls some to be evangelists and preachers? Yes - but why?

"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

For what purpose? Two purposes actually. First - for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry. Second - for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ. Oh, so we all have a common ministry that we need to be equipped for. Uh - yeah! The ministry of reconciliation.

"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" - Romans 10:14-15

Does the thought of that make you uncomfortable? Nervous even? It does me. But that is when I am focused on myself. What I can do and not what God can do through me. This ministry is from God and requires the power of God. We are merely messengers - ambassadors - representatives. We tell people about Jesus and the cross. We don't save anybody. What they do with the message is between them and God. We are not responsible for their decision - only to do our part which is to go and tell.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." - Acts 1:8 

We all have been sealed by the Spirit of God and empowered by that same Spirit to fulfill our primary purpose, our Prime Directive, if you will indulge the Star Trek reference. Which is to lift up the name of Jesus and glorify God the Father as ministers of reconciliation to a world in desperate need of a Savior. 

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 Good Is Not Good Enough

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

Of course, you know don't you, that a person can never be good enough to be saved on their own merit? I have known a good number of good people in my life. People that would run into a burning building to save a child. But even as good and noble as that might be, that is still not good enough. For other mortals it might be. The one who risked their life for another would be hailed as a hero. But even getting recognition for others and maybe a medal still would not be good enough. By the way, getting baptized will not save you either - it is a public profession of your salvation by faith.

"Now behold, one came and said to Him [Jesus], “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God." - Matthew 19:16-17

There are two possible points to Jesus response. First - that mere man can never attain the level of good that God requires. Only God is that good. Or two, perhaps He received being called Good because Jesus is the Son of God and was sinless. But mankind is not and that is why Jesus was here to begin with.

Our righteousness is in Jesus. We are made to be "good" by the grace and mercy of God the Father through the sacrifice of the Son - Jesus. In my experience, I struggle with sin enough to be reminded that I have feet of clay. That if going to heaven was dependent upon my goodness - my effort - I would still be headed for hell. 

We need to remind ourselves every day that God is good and we are not apart from His Son and our faith in Him. Not trusting in our own efforts but wholly on God the source of all that is good. There is a song sung by CC Winan - The Goodness of God

I love You, Lord For Your mercy never fails me
All my days I've been held in Your hand
From the moment that I wake up Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
'Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

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

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

The Spiritual Chain Of Command

"one of His [Jesus'] disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John [the Baptist] also taught his disciples.” So He said to them, “When you pray, say: "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation. But deliver us from the evil one." - Luke 11:1-4

I was listening to someone praying and they addressed both God the Father and Jesus the Son in the same prayer as if they are the same. They are one but are not one and the same. There is a chain of command, roles and order of authority if you will. It got me thinking about the Trinity - something you don't hear much about these days. The Father, the Son and the Spirit. The Father sent the Son. [John 3:16] The Son returned to Heaven and then the Father sent the Spirit to replace the Son. [John 14:26] Jesus told his disciples to pray to the Father - just like Jesus did in the Garden [Matthew 26:39] and on Mount Calvary. [Luke 23:34] God the father begets life - He is the Source of life.

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." - 1 John 3:1

Jesus is called the firstborn among many brothers and the Head of the church. [Ephesians 5:23]

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 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. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." - Romans 8:28-30

Jesus is our high priest making eternal intercession for us. Recall the high priest offered a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the nation. It is Jesus' own sacrifice and blood offering by which our sins are atoned - forever.

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." - Hebrews 4:14-15

Jesus gives us access to the Father.

"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

The Spirit seals us [Ephesians 1:13], dwells in us [1 Corinthians 6;19], enables us spiritually [1 Corinthians 12] and prays with us and for us - to the Father.

"Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." - Romans 8:26

There you have it. A quick reminder of God's provision and order of things. 

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

 

Bending The Truth With Rational Lies

"They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world." - John 17:16-18

Do you believe that the Bible is the source of moral and natural truth, the inerrant Word of God? For Christians, it is (or should be) the standard by which we live (or strive to live) determining what is right and wrong, truth and untruth. The authority of God's word is under attack. The determination of what is right and wrong, truth and untruth is no longer derived from the Word of God in this country but is based on the moral consensus of the culture. That means what God has said is right and wrong will be subordinate to what mankind decides is right and wrong - true and not true. Paul wrote about this in Romans. 

"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. ....  they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" - Romans 1:18-21, 25

What does that mean in a practical sense - living day to day? It means that our culture, and the rest of the world, has and will continue to adopt laws, policies and practices that seem reasonable - rationalizing their choices which are contrary to the Word of God. I once heard someone describe "rationalize" as "Rational Lies". We convince ourselves that what we are doing or want to do is OK because of how it feels or because other people are doing it and say it's OK to do. It is glamorized and promoted, even legislated.

An example, what determines if you are male and female is no longer genetics and physiology - but personal choice. 

This is what science says. "X and Y chromosomes determine the biological sex, reproductive organs, and sexual characteristics that develop in a person. Females inherit one X chromosome from each parent, but males receive an X from their mother and a Y sex chromosome from their father. Individuals having two X chromosomes (XX) are female, while individuals having one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY) are male." 

"When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created." - Gen 5:2

But our culture is redefining what makes a person male or female. We decide by choice and not God through conception. That redefinition may be valid before men - but not the Creator God who designed all creation. For further validation of the redefinition there is an effort to allow for birth certificates to be changed to reflect a person's gender because they have identified as a female versus a male or vice versa. 

The desire for self-determination of what is right and true started in the Garden when Adam and Eve chose their way as opposed to God's. It is mankind's nature to try to justify or validate sin. 

So what to do. Be ready and willing to stand for what is right. Take a stance not just by what you say but how you live and love. Remember - Jesus died for all of humanity. But only those who believe will be saved. Be the light. Understand that the world needs Jesus so show Jesus to 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

Christians Are A Work In Progress

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

When we first arrived in Houston in response to Hurricane Harvey, we lived in a travel trailer parked next to a church – on a major highway – on the approach end of an airport.  The highway has been under construction and has been for years.  For local residents, it seems like the work has been going on since they can remember, with no end in sight. Not too different from the process of sanctification that happens in every Christian’s life.  Sometimes, that change – that construction – just doesn’t seem to happen fast enough in other people – not in me of course! – in other people.

Don’t you wish you had the power to change someone – quickly.  I mean – change their behavior – cause them to do what you want them to do? I have thought that many times with respect to our children and their children.  If I could only get them to see the truth of what I say and the danger and consequences of the choices they are making.  Unfortunately, their understanding only comes after they are suffering the consequences of poor choices. If only I had the power to change them and get them to see so they could avoid the heartache that is sure to come. Of course, as a parent, your heart hurts for them. And sometimes, you may even wonder – “What did I do wrong?” – “I feel like a bad parent because I could not get them to change course.”

Martie and I were watching a church service on the internet one Sunday – we do that sometimes – holed up in our little missionary cave – and the preacher said “No one has to be taught how to sin, we are all born with that nature.”  It was then that I was reminded that what I wanted to see in my children and theirs was a change in their nature and then a change in their heart and then a change in their life choices.  (2 Corinthians 5:17) says if we are in Christ – born again – the old nature will decrease and the new nature will increase.  The most important thing you can do for your child is lead them to Jesus – but the choice foy others to yield their hearts to God is theirs, not yours. Oh – and to clarify – our lives are no different than theirs.  My mom felt the very same way about me and the other 6 children in our family.  Our three children have all professed faith in Jesus.  And we all still make poor choices – all of us.  We have a new life that is under construction. 

So, today, I don’t want to change my kids or their kids – I want them to fully yield their hearts to the Lord and let Him do the supernatural work of sanctification.  You may have heard this before – my mom told me that her mom told her “When children are young, they step on your toes, and when they are older, they step on your heart.”  It is the nature of things.  “Nothing new under the sun ..” (King Solomon).  

The take away here – love your kids – you don’t have to like what they do. Pray for your kids. Be an example for your kids of what a Christian is supposed to look like – be like – behave like – love like.  Dr. James Dobson says values are “caught” not “taught”.  What do you value? God’s truth or the culture’s truth?  If they make poor choices – you don’t have to pretend they were good choices – you just keep loving the one who made them. (that phrase is what is called a double entendre). 

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

Hugging A Porcupine

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So, what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.  And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." - John 8:3-11

I have been thinking about the terrible and dark place the world has become. Sin is running rampant. People are calling evil good and good evil. If you challenge the "new" good as evil, you, yourself, are labeled as evil. So, what to do. Then I thought about Jesus. Jesus confronted sinners with love. He called sin - sin, evil - evil, but He never left it there. He always pointed the sinners to the Father - called them to repentance. 

Quite often we use the threat of punishment as the motivation for repentance. "Turn or burn" But Jesus promised love and grace and mercy when the sinner repented. So often we want to throw the baby out with the bath water. We find it difficult to separate the sinner from the sin. I have written about the connection between forgiveness and repentance in the past.  That was in terms of restored relationship. What Jesus did was confront the sin and encourage repentance. In the case of the woman in John 8, He understood her sin nature and her need for salvation. She could not be saved from her sin without faith.

I often say "It is hard to hug a porcupine." And so it is with sinners. We see their "spines" and want to keep our distance lest we get "stuck". 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." - John 3:16-18

God, the Father, loved the world full of sinners - not their sin and wanted to restore them to Himself through Jesus' sacrifice. Our love for God compels us to love others. Not to embrace their sin but call them to repentance because we love them.

When you share Christ with someone it is for their benefit, not yours. You should not want them to become a Christian so you don't have to be around a sinner and their sin. Your motivation should be your love for them and desire that they should have eternal life and be restored to God the Father through faith in Jesus the Son. 

"We love because he [God] first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." - 1 John 4:19-20

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

You Who Are Spiritual

"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts."  -Zechariah 4:6

I have been writing much of late about the differences between Christians and those who are not. I have a friend who has cancer - well several actually. Looking at them from the outside you would never know that there is something inside of them that is threatening their health and very lives.

Walking the aisles in a supermarket, I pass many people. They all look the same insomuch as they are in the store to buy groceries just like me. I can't see their hearts to know whether they have yielded them by faith to the Lord. There is no pillar of fire or cloud hovering above their heads to tell me that they are a child of the Creator God - sealed by the Spirit of God for eternity.

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" - 1 Corinthians 3:16

The primary way that we would know if someone was born again by the Spirit is by the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit.

"But the fruit [the manifestation of the Spirit in me] of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" - Galatians 5:22-23

But there is this other "thing". That still small voice that confirms the presence of the Spirit of God in another person. Does that sound mystical? Other worldly? It is - at least for me. It has happened to me a number of times over the years. Knowing but not knowing why you know, except that it is a revelation from God by the Spirit of God. There is a spiritual connection between me and another Believer. 

I suspect that most Christians don't think much about their spiritual nature. The nature given to us the day and moment that we surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus by faith.

"Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, 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 its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." - John 3:5-8

I am certain that every Christian would say that they know that truth - but do they walk in it - live with that reality ever present in their thinking and doing? We have been given "spiritual DNA" that we might be new creatures. Saved by faith and enlivened toward God by the Spirit.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Spirit is not in us simply as proof of our salvation, as if that were not enough, but we are sealed by the Spirit so that we might be transformed. Enabled to live our lives as God intended on the day that He created Adam. 

"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 that I have said to you." - John 14:26

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 Whole World Lives By Faith - But Faith In Whom

"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" - Romans 1:19-22

I am certain you have heard of global warming. I think it became a thing, at least visible on the national stage, and to me, when Vice President Al Gore was in office. I might be wrong about who it started and when.  But, don't get me wrong, I do think our industrialization and dependence on fossil fuels is not doing harm to the environment. Is global warming happening - could be. But did you know that people did not have the ability to officially record temperature data until 1880. So, we are taking 140+ years of data and coming to conclusions about weather patterns since the earth was the earth. More, that this is the first time that when temperatures are getting hotter and it's our fault. 

Are you familiar with the idea of correlation versus cause and effect? Is it possible that the earth is in fact warming as part of a cycle that has happened before but perhaps not for thousands of years? And, at the same time, we are exacerbating the occurrence by creating an environmental crisis through pollution? That would be the correlation of two events that are happening at the same time, but one is not causing the other. Cause and effect would mean that our polluting the environment and eradicating the rain forests is what is causing the warming. Since environmental data had not been collected empirically before 1880, we don't have much evidence to prove it .. and cannot really disprove it either - so at this point it is a theory more than a fact. But we cannot risk rejecting it just because we lack empirical data. We are responding to what is observable over several generations. And that is what is called a conundrum - A conundrum being a question or problem that has no clear or easy solution. It can be fanciful, paradoxical, insoluble, or difficult. It can also involve political, economic, environmental or social issues. 

OK, so there must be a spiritual point to this - you are hoping.  There is much that the natural man receives as truth that cannot be proven. A lot of it is theoretical that, over time, has been adopted as truth without proof. "they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools" While there is evidence for the 2000 years that the Christian faith is built on fact - that "what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them." The natural man would prefer to believe a lie - facts that are in dispute before they will embrace the idea of a Creator God and a Redeemer whose name is Jesus. They have rebellious hearts - preferring to serve the god of this world. 

"When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore, they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I [God] would heal them." - John 12:36-40

And so ....

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

Everyone lives by faith. Faith in themselves and the god of this world or faith in God the Father and redemption through the Son.

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

You've Got A Call- It's Jesus!

"While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And 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, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. " - Matthew 4:18-22

Up to the day that Jesus was walking by the sea, Peter and John were doing what their fathers did - what their family did and would be doing, probably for future generations - fishing. I am certain, to that point, they had no dreams of being anything more than what they were - professional fishermen. 

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." - Acts 4:13

Sometime later, when those two fishermen stood before the Jewish religious rulers and elders and scribes who had gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest. Peter and John were as astonished as the educated Jews were with their boldness and knowledge, knowing that "they [Peter and John] were uneducated, common men." So what happened between Matthew and Acts? In short - Peter and John met Jesus and followed Him.

You know that already do you? Well, "riddle me this Batman"! Do you know that you are no different than Peter and John. Do you know that it is not religious education that makes you who you are in Christ? You are just a common person like them. It is the result of your faith and the presence of the Holy Spirit that others see - Just like Peter and John. 

What keeps many Christians from going any further in their Christian walk and work? I think that they are like the Jewish leaders and are astonished, meaning cannot believe, that God could or would use someone like them, "uneducated and common" for His eternal purposes. If your outward life is not distinct from that of other - unsaved people, it might be that you have chosen to relegate your faith and life to living it for your own personal benefit. You have your ticket to heaven. That thinking is counter to the teaching in the Bible. 

"consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

So what are you waiting for? An Invitation? You have one.

"And he [Jesus] said to them [the Called], “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." - Matthew 4:19

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 Words Expose Your Heart

"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. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 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 3:6-12

I have heard it said that the Lord gave us two ears and one mouth expecting that we would listen twice as much as we speak. I have known, and currently know, people who hardly listen but are always ready to speak. Any names come to your mind? :) The tongue can be sharp as a knife - cutting people down while at other times it can bless others.  But what is in your heart will find its way out through what you say. You may try to control it but "no human being can tame the tongue". 

"The good person [Christian] out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person [Someone without Christ] out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." - Luke 6:45

I make it a point to practice listening to others first. You listen long enough, and you can hear someone's heart. It does not matter what we profess on Sunday - but what we say on Monday and the other 5 days of the week. It always amazes me at how easily profanity can roll off of the Christian tongue. But they are just words you say?

"Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." - Ephesians 5:4

This is especially a problem with men. If I were to ask those men if they know that we are to love God and love others - they would surely say "Of Course!" If they know we are ambassadors for Christ - "Absolutely!" But how does what we say measure against our commitment to love God and be salt and light. 

"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

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The words we speak might take the form of gossip, carnality, harsh criticism, condemnation, spite, ah, the list is long. As much as we might feel justified in what we say, God sees the heart. You might fool other Christians who are not around during your carnal moments, but God is always around. Don't you know that you are the living temple of the Holy Spirit? 

"And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." -  Luke 16:15

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

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

Getting Along With Others

"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." - Romans 12:18

Is there someone who just does not like you? There can be a number of reasons for the conflict.  May be something you did or didn’t do. May be personality, or something more nefarious like race or geographic origin – maybe you’re a Yankee or not from Texas? So what are you supposed to do Christian?  Have you ever said “that is their problem”?  Just distanced yourself from the issue.  Like an ostrich with its head in the sand.  The problem does not go away, you just don’t have to look at it.  

"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." - Hebrews 12:14

As Christians we must make the effort to be reconciled.  Seek to be at peace with them.  And if you are rebuffed in your attempt?  You move on with your life.  Broken relationships are not like broken bones. They may not mend, ever.  You might wish they would, but the fact is that a restored relationship is dependent upon both parties.  Don’t allow bitterness to take root, but let forgiveness abound instead.  

"Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times." - Matthew 18:21-22

Jesus proceeded to tell the parable about the unforgiving servant.  The servant had been forgiven much but refused to forgive others in the same way.  This isn’t about a restored relationship but a right heart attitude.  Restoration may happen, but it is not a pre-requisite for forgiveness.  Repentance is necessary for restoration.  Without repentance, the relationship will remain broken, but not on your account.  And be careful, receiving someone when they have not repented is a sure-fire recipe for more brokenness.  Like the Father of the prodigal son – you may be waiting – watching – hoping that the relationship will be restored on day.  Your heart may hurt – especially if it involves a family member.  Turn to the Father – the God of all comfort. And let the love of God and the fruit of the Spirit rule in your heart.

"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. Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

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

Manifesting The Fruit Of The Spirit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Galatians 5:22-25

The fruit of the Spirit is manifested as a result of our rebirth and is a reflection of the nature and character of Jesus. When you look in a mirror whose reflection do you see? The fruit of the Spirit is within the reach of every Christian. Do you find yourself making excuses for why one or more of the fruit would not or could not be used by someone to describe your character?  

To digress for a moment, there is an important distinction between encouragement and criticism. That distinction is the motivated underpinning the comment. Do I point something out because I love you and want to encourage you to live out your faith or do I point something out to criticize you and condemn you intending to tear you down. When we hear the truth, we very often receive it as the latter (criticism) but if it is coming from another Christian in whom we have confidence, then we should receive it as the former (encouragement). 

Back to the point. Manifesting the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is a result of our walking in the Spirit - living surrendered to the Spirit's influence if you will. We have that capacity by virtue of being born again. What is needed on our part is our commitment to yield our hearts to the Spirit.  Being committed requires discipline. Discipline requires intentionality - determination - effort. Being disciplined means making sacrifices and establishing priorities. Being intentional or purposeful and not just stumbling along in our new life. 

When I spoke in Haitian churches, some years back, I would often use the analogy of mango trees to make this point. Mango trees are everywhere in Haiti. And so are sour orange trees. Sweet mangoes are a favorite fruit to eat and sour oranges, being sour, are used to tenderize meat.  I would say to the congregation, "Bearing Spiritual fruit is like you were a tree and told me that you were a Mango tree. So, I came to you to pick a mango from your branches but instead found sour oranges. If sour oranges are hanging on your branches, then I must think you are not a mango tree at all. You are really a sour orange tree pretending to be a mango tree. The same way, if you tell me that you are Christian, but when I come to inspect the fruit on your branches I find the fruit of the flesh and not the fruit of the Spirit, I think maybe you are not a Christian at all." What is the fruit of the flesh?

"Now the works [fruit] of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these." - Galatians 5:19-20

As you know, it is an everyday struggle to not give in to the fruit or works of the flesh. Your "old nature" will want to rise up in you. Wanting to push the spirit aside and "flex" its power over you. Remember that you could not save yourself but were saved by faith and made alive by the Spirit. It is a spiritual struggle.

"we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil 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 firm." - Ephesians 6:12-13

I don't know about you, but I am sorry to say that I am not always successful in that wrestling match. Which reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by John Newton, author of the song "Amazing Grace" and former slave ship captain. 

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

There is hope and God is faithful, able and willing. And to that I say Amen and Hallelujah!

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

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

Love Is An Action Not An Attitude

"For I [Paul] do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack." - 2 Corinthains 8:13-15

I recently heard a pastor say "You cannot love without giving but you can give without loving." 

"I [Paul] speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."- 2 Corinthians 8:8-9

We are able to be Christians because of the love of God the Father (John 3:16) and the love of the Son. And, because of that love, we are compelled to love others in the same way. (Greatest Commandment - Matthew 22:37-39)

"If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" - 1 John 4:20

Hate meaning you have no compassion for people in need - whatever that need might be and you have the capacity to help. What does that look like? Like crossing the road when it is not convenient. (The Good Samaritan - Luke 10:25-37) 

So many Christians have a person, internal, self-focused and self-gratifying faith - meaning they spend their blessings on themselves. Not understanding that we are called to have an external faith - manifested in how we live and love others. Thier external "faith meter" is resting on Zero. 

"Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2

Watching our great granddaughter Vera crawl and waddle around our house, I am reminded that we must crawl before we can walk and walk before we run. If people never crawl there may be negative consequences.

It seems that crawling boosts gross and fine motor skills (large and refined movements), balance, hand-eye-coordination and overall strength are just a few. The development and refinement of these skills will assist your child later in life with activities such as running, jumping, writing, fastening clothes, and throwing balls. The strength they build also boosts their posture and prepares them for walking. Crawling helps improve a child’s problem-solving skills and abilities like catching, driving, or copying words off a board.

Spiritually speaking, we must not just lay in our crib and wait to be fed and changed. If you have not yet begun to crawl in expressing your faith toward others, don't try to make up for lost time by running. Trust God and "crawl" into the next opportunity to love someone. to be Jesus to someone. Just step into the water and wade out to your ankles. You will be swimming in the deep end before you know 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

Are You Committed Or Merely Interested?

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 [building up - strengthening] of the body of Christ" - Ephesians 4:11-12

In golf there is a term "hacker". (Today, that term has taken on a new and more ominous meaning associated with cyberspace) A hacker is someone who is interested in golf, but not interested in doing what is necessary to be very good at golf. Like anything else - to be "good" at something requires some mental or physical capacity, commitment (practice and study) and sacrifice (time). I read that professional golfers spend 3 to 4 hours a day just driving the ball from the tee (long game) and spend an equal amount of time on their short game. 

In 1993 I attended my first Promise Keepers conference in Boulder, Colorado. Dr. Howard Hendricks, a nationally known seminary professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, was one of the speakers. It seems he played the piano - you might say he was a "hacker" at playing the piano. He said that his favorite concert pianist was Van Cliburn. A golf equivalent might be Tiger Woods. Dr. Hendricks said he always wanted to play the piano like Van Cliburn. (Van is his first name BTW). Well, a friend of Dr Hendricks got stage passes for he and Dr. Hendricks to meet Van Cliburn at a concert in Dallas. When he met Van Cliburn, Dr. Hendricks asked, given his mastery of the 88 keys, how many hours a day Van Cliburn practiced the piano. The answer - 8 hours a day. It was at that point that Dr. Hendricks realized that he really didn't want to play the piano like Van Cliburn.

The point to the story? There is a vast difference between being interested and being committed. Many are interested but few are committed. Being committed requires discipline. Discipline requires intentionality - determination - effort. Being disciplined means making sacrifices and establishing priorities. 

You may not have been called to be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher, but we are all saints who are called to and must be equipped for some ministry. We all have a God-given purpose - the spiritual place we have been given in the Body of Christ.

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

My goal, given your spiritual capacity, is not to encourage you to aspire to be like some famous Christian - like Billy Graham - but merely to be determined to be who God intends you to be doing what He intended you to do. To be like Jesus! And that will take determination and discipline and sacrifice and most of all submission to the Spirit of God who is your capacity.  

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son" - Romans 8:29

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

Fools For Christ

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." - 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

To understand the truth of the Cross requires spiritual insight. I went for many years knowing about the cross - about Jesus - mostly as a baby at Christmas, but did not understand their reality and personal significance until I met Jesus on the road in 1976. I don't know if I thought it was foolishness exactly, but I did not see it as relevant to my life or of any interest. It was fine if someone else believed it - but I did not - until.....

"These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:13-14

It is impossible for the natural man to understand spiritual truth. We must have the Spirit of God in us to do that. That is why it does not matter how much scripture you memorize or how eloquent you are in the presentation of the Gospel or how much you want someone to see the light - the seed you cast will not take root until the Spirit of God stirs the heart of the one in whom the seed has been planted. And even then, the person may choose to reject the unction of the Spirit and continue in their sin to their detriment. 

On the whole - what God says is right runs contrary to what the world says it right. You may have heard someone say, "the heart wants what the heart wants". Think about that for a minute. That essentially says that we have no control over our desires. It's true. 

"In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." - Judges 17:6

As Christians we have a moral compass - the Word of God revealed by the Spirit of God who indwells every person who is born again by faith. Not so with the world. To know what is right they rely on man's laws (which can be changed to suit the times), consensus, and teachings from other people. We are to be salt and light in the world - but anyone and everyone who is born again is saved by their faith and their surrender to Jesus as Lord.  When you espouse God's truth to the world that is blinded by sin you become an antagonist. As the light of Christ, you hurt the eyes of the hearts of the lost.

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. .... He who hates Me hates My Father also." - John 15:18-19,23

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