Understanding The Trinity - Who Is Who

Well here we go, we're at it again. That was the beginning of a Jody song we would sing as we marched to in the Army. But this is not the Army. My point is that I continue to hear misdirected references in prayers. So indulge me - please.

Most every Christian would agree that there is one God, the Father, Jesus, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are One but not so what is their purpose and relationship?

"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" - John 3:16-17

So who is the Son? It's Jesus! Correct. Then who is the Father? He is the Creator God. Right again!

"I [Jesus] am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." - John 17:11

So Jesus and God the Father are "one" but not the same. Jesus is not God the Father and God the Father is not Jesus. We will address us being one a bit later.

Many religions acknowledge the existence of Jehovah God. [Jehovah is a Latinization of the Hebrew יְהֹוָה‎ Yəhōwā, one vocalization of the Tetragrammaton [5 letters]  יהוה‎ (YHWH), the proper name of the God of Israel in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. The Tetragrammaton יהוה is considered one of the seven names of God in Judaism and a form of God's name in Christianity., [source Wikipedia] Much of the world understands that, but stumbles at the idea of Jesus, the Son and the Spirit.

“For God [Jehovah] so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Of course, you are well aware of that verse. Affirming that Jehovah God sent His Son - Jesus suggesting the He had authority over the Son. In fact, our faith hinges on that fact.

As a Christian, you know all about Jesus. Born in the flesh as a baby. Died on the Cross for our sins. Rose on the third day as our Savior and Redeemer. Ascended into heaven. Is at the right hand of the Father and makes intercession for the saints perpetually. He is our Brother, the first born among many, our Lord and also our high priest.

"This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." - Hebrews 7:21-26

So that is Jesus. What about the Spirit? God sent [again suggesting authority] the Spirit as a deposit in every believer sealing the promise God the Father has made to everyone who has placed their faith in the work of the Son. 

"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:13-14

The purpose of the Spirit in addition to Sealing us and Helping we Christians, also Convicts of the world of its sin.

"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me" - John 16:7-9

"the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me [Jesus]." - John 15:26

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things" - John 14:26

"the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." - John 14:17

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak" - John 6:13

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27

So who do we pray to and who is interceding for us?

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 God Gives You Opportunity

 "Preach the word!  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching."  - 2 Timothy 4:2

You never know when God is going to give you the opportunity.  Be ready.

I took Martie's car in for a service the other morning.  It was going to be a wait so they offered to drop me off at a store or restaurant and then they would pick me up.  The young man who drove was talking with me - idle banter - when he asked me what I did.  I told him and he said that he was from Salt Lake City and new a number of missionaries.  Although I did not ask, I assumed he was Mormon.  We chatted a bit about the life God has called Martie and me to.  Later, as it happened, he also picked me up to take me back to the dealership.  Our conversation led to discussing how to love your wife and how to deal with conflicts - differences of opinion.  I pointed him to scripture.  Before I got out of the car, he asked me if I was doing OK, if I was having trouble.  I told him that when you are in the center of God's will, you are always doing OK.  God provides. I gave him my card and encouraged him to look us up on the Web - planting seeds.

It doesn't end there.  It took a while longer on the car service so they asked if they could take me home and they will come back to get me when the car is done.  New driver.  We talked about our being from Alabama and why.  About how hot it was and I added that we were used to it having lived in Haiti for 4 years.  He asked if the Haitians were open to the Gospel.  That surprised me.  So I talked to him about Christians in Haiti and the openness to the Gospel there.  That morphed into a conversation about the small church he attends and the fact that they don't do much with missions.  I talked to him about Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts.  I encouraged him that his little church should be faithful in Jerusalem and trust that God will bring the increase and ministry direction.

All of this just because Martie's car needed a service.  My point to you is be ready .. but more be willing.  You never know when and where God will give you opportunity to speak life into someone.  Maybe today!

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

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

Leaving Your Comfort Zone

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

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

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

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

God is not “safe” but He is good.  He has our best in mind.  He will disrupt your routine, if you allow it. That is correct – He won’t make you abandon what is comfortable – but He will invite you to leave it behind for something much better.  What you see as “dangerous” depends upon the maturity of your walk of faith.  For a child, putting their toes in the water may seem like a great accomplishment.  For an adult, jumping off of the high-dive is a challenge.  Both require stepping into the unknown – the uncertain – the “anything but routine”  Jesus said “If anyone follows Me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24)  Are you a Jesus follower or Jesus watcher?  It is one thing to marvel at the person jump off of the high-dive and quite another to grip the end of the board with your toes right before you take that leap of faith. 

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

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

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

Relief Or Relationship

"Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear." - Mark 4:3-9

No - I am not going to exegete the parable of the Sower. Consideration of those represente4d by the soil that did not receive the seed sown is what I am focused on today. We received a phone call the other day. Someone asking us for prayer. As the conversation progressed, I was not certain if the person was really interested in who they were asking we would be praying to as much as finding relief for the person we were praying for.

After listening to the truly tragic story, I took them to the root of the issue - their spiritual condition. So often people are only interested in God when they are in some sort of trouble brought on, very often, by choices they have made. Not always, but very often. And like the seed that landed on bad soil, there was no desire for spiritual fruit, that is a relationship with the One they wanted help from. But they knew that we knew a Guy, if you will. And so I realized that the Gospel seed might just lay there - dormant on a heart that was as hard toward God as Texas soil after a long drought. 

So what do you do. Well, what you don't do is imagine that God cannot use that moment for His purpose and He won't move to soften the hard heart of someone who desperately needs Jesus and a new life found by faith. 

"Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he [Jesus] said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God." - Luke 18:26-27

So you share what you know. Encourage the person to turn to Jesus. Try not to be cynical and judgmental. Not condemning them for their sin but imagining that they are not too far gone!" Fulfilling your role as a messenger and a seed sower. Letting the Spirit do His work and not worrying about the ground upon which the seed falls. After all - my place is not to save people - that is the Spirit's. My place is to tell people!

"He [Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered 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

The heart understanding who Jesus is - their need to repent and be saved, is a revelation from God through His Spirit. Teh Spirit who brings conviction of sin which leads to repentance.

"Nevertheless, I [Jesus] tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged." - John 16:7-11

Never pass up an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus and how to be saved and healed spiritually. And when you walk away, know that it is all about Jesus and all about grace. And don't be surprised if one day you even happen to toss some seed on good soil. God is Good All the Time.

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

Doing Church Or Being The Church

"I [Jesus] know your works, that you [Sardis] have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. " Revelation 3:1

I heard a pastor say the other day that "it is easy to do church and not be the church." Being a Christian is so much more than doing good things in the world. Lots of people who are far from God do good things. And those good things, magnified by a billion are not good enough. Like a young child who draws a picture of the family using stick figures and shows her mom. "Look what I did mom!" The child declares. Proud of the accomplishment. The mom praises the child for the wonderful art work. Although it was the best the child could do, it would never find its way into an art museum to be hung among the "masters". It was good for the child. The best she could do. But not good enough. 

"a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." - Matthew 10:17-18

The failing of man is the belief that salvation depends upon his effort - doing the right things that would please God enough that God would say, let that person in. The Bible tells us on a number of occasions about people who wanted to know the way, the method, the formula for receiving eternal life with God and escaping eternal condemnation in Hell. Not even the fact that you go to church will make you good and does not make you a Christian. Although it will expose you to the Truth and many come to faith when they go to church. But just being in the building is not enough. I recall a Christian singer from the '70s, Keith Green, said "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds make you a hamburger. It is not merely sitting in a pew but yielding your heart by faith to the Son of God that makes the difference. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may 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

Pretty simple when you read it but hard to remember when you are challenged with living it.  It's grace plus faith not our works plus more works. It was God's plan all along - it was man's idea that there must be something more he must do besides that.

Why do I share with you? Christians who have already yielded their hearts. Because you may meet someone who needs to hear it who is trying to be good enough, struggling in life. Someone who needs Jesus. 

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

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

What Does God Say About (Fill In The Blank)

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

I can remember what my dad would say to someone when they were seeking his counsel, "Well, let's see what the Bible says about it!" Before I elaborate on that, indulge me while I pause for a minute. A word to dads who are dads in a blended family. My dad was actually, legally my stepdad. My folks were divorced when I was 2 years old. My three sisters and I lived with my mom after the divorce. She remarried a few years after her divorce. My stepdad wanted to adopt us but could not because my biological father refused. My stepdad would not allow me to call him "dad" out of respect for the fact that my dad was living. In my opinion, that was a mistake, well intentioned, but a mistake, nonetheless.  My stepdad was my dad in every respect. Calling him dad was not something he required, it was something that I wanted - needed. That didn't happen until about 1995 or 1996 (40 years alter) when I received a book from him, "What Makes A Man" but Coach Bill McCartney. Coach McCartney was the co-founder of the Promise Keeper ministry. At the time, I was on staff with Promise Keepers as the State Manager for Alabama and Mississippi. On the inside cover "dad" pasted a note encouraging me with my work. At the end, he wrote "Love Dad". That was the only time, before or after, that he acknowledged the truth of our relationship.  Why did I share that? Because I want to encourage dads to be respectful and yet mindful of the great - significant place they are in and the opportunities that they have every day to show some child what a dad that loves Jesus and them looks like.

So back to the title of this BLOG. There is so much confusion about what is right and what is wrong. Always has been and always will be until Jesus returns. The Bible is God's revealed will for mankind. If you want to know what is right, go to the Word. For those who are living their lives in rebellion toward God and choose to do what is right in their own eyes, they will never agree with the Truth. They will reject it and call those who do not haters and evil. 

When faced with a cultural dilemma just ask yourself the question, "What does God say about it in His Word?" Then look for the answer which you are sure to find.

"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." - John 17:14

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

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

Are You In Denial

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." - Matthew 16:24-25

I am certain you are familiar with that verse. Have you thought much about what it means to deny yourself or why Jesus said we would have to do it if we had any hope of following Him? Well first, let's think about what following Him means. Jesus was all about doing the will of the Father and not His own. In fact, He so synchronized His will with the Father that he said in John 17 that He and the Father were one. 

"that they [disciples and those who will believe in Him] may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me" - John 17:21

Did you catch that? We are to follow Jesus' example so that the world will know that God the Father sent Jesus the Son. The Way and Truth and Life. Our lives and the way we live and life choices we make should shout out that Jesus is our Lord. That we are so closely identified with Jesus that we are indistinguishable from Him. That we have denied our old - natural self and are walking in obedience to God's revelation for mankind by the power of the Spirit. Denying yourself also means that you no longer love the world or the things of the world.

"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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." - 1 John 2:15-16

If a choice must be made between God or the things that the world has to offer, we should and must choose God. That is denying your old nature and what it wants in favor of God's revealed will looks like. The source of the power to do that is spiritual not a product of our natural will. Being like Jesus is a result of relationship not effort. 

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

Went Or Sent?

"My [Jesus] prayer is not that you [Father God] take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." - John 17:15-18

So just as God, the Father, sent Jesus (John 3:16) - Jesus sent out the disciples and those who, later, believed through the message from the disciples. 

"I [Jesus] pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I am in you." John 17:20-21

That would include you and me that Jesus was referencing. After Pentecost the promised Spirit of God, sent by the Father, sealed and indwelled and empowered those who believed the message (the Gospel) and were born again spiritually by faith (remember Nicodemus in John 3). Likewise, we must be empowered by the Spirit because we cannot do what God has purposed for us and sends us to do apart from God and the power of the Spirit of God. 

"So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." - Zechariah 4:6

But I know there some, perhaps many, people who went but were not sent. That never ends well by the way. You cannot do anything for God apart from God. We are joining Him in His work. There are those who attempt to do things in the name of Jesus that don't know Jesus. They are not born again, or perhaps they are but have struck out on their own. God is part of it in name only. Do you remember the seven sons of Sceva?

"Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding." - Acts 19:13-16

God has a purpose and plan for each of us. We are to walk in obedience to it but not on our own, not apart from Him.

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

Looking Good Is Not Good Enough

"You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. ... Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." - Revelation 3:1,4-6

Do you know what it means to be a nominal Christian.  You can probably guess. Nominal means "in name or thought but not in fact or not as things really are". Nom as the root of the word is French and Haitian Creole for name. It is "nombre" in Spanish. "Nome" in Italian. "Nomen" in Latin. Enough of the etymology lesson. To my point, to be a nominal Christian is to wear the "name tag" that declares you are a Christian - having the reputation, but you are not living the life. Your heart is not truly devoted to God. A Christian in name only - nominal.

That was the many in the Church of Sardis. Doing good things perhaps but all the while being spiritually dead. The world can see their works, good in the eyes of man - but God sees the heart. 

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

What does a nominal look like in the world today. Well, a person who does not spend time with God apart from Sunday church service, if that. They have no hunger for the Word of God. The only scripture they are exposed to is what is projected on a screen at church. They seldom pray. Perhaps they will toss a prayerful "bone of gratitude" when they eat a meal. But they don't see the need to pray before the appetizer. Appetizers don't count - just the main meal - maybe. Or they pray when they are having some trouble and then they call on God like He is a 911 service. They seldom mix it up with other Christians unless they happen to run in the same social circles or see them at work. Nominal. They don't really have time for God - just can't seem to squeeze Him into their schedule. Nominal.

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" - Matthew 7:21-23

Does this seem harsh. The truth is that the only way you will be rejected by Jesus is if you are not a Christian. Not a born-again believer. If you bear the name but don't carry the cross. You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. This is not about losing your salvation. It is about never being saved - just acting like you are. Believing that looking good is good enough. 

Like our pastor said last Sunday. A nominal Christian should either repent and change their ways or change their name.

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

Let Your Yes Be Yes - Not Maybe

 “But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.” – James 5:12

Have you ever given that verse much thought? In my experience, very often people, Christians, will commit to something - perhaps even make a resolution. The only problem is that the commitment or resolution lacks something - Resolve. To be resolved, in this sense, is to reach a firm decision about something. To be committed to seeing it through "come hell or high water". Nothing will sway you from accomplishing whatever it is that you have said "yes" to. But so often there are many things that can sway us from that commitment. From that resolute decision to do some - thing.

In the case of the church there are some implications that we fail to take into account. The times when we have agreed to do something or committed to do something that has a spiritual nature or context to it. All too often we treat those commitments as lightly as our agreeing to mow the grass on Saturday only to be invited to play golf with friends. Well, we can mow the grass another day, can't we? Yes, if God gives us another day that is. That reminds me of one such account in the Book of Acts, Chapter 5.

"Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God. When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died." - Acts 5:1-5

What! You ask. He died? Does that seem a bit extreme for simply deciding to keep for himself that which he was his to begin with. Did you catch Peter's words? "How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit - You have not lied just to human beings but to God." Lied to the Holy Spirit. When you agree to do something for God - which may be a simple commitment at church - which represents the Body of Christ - to then choose to not do it is to lie to the Spirit. 

Why does this happen - all too frequently I might add? I think it happens because when most people say "yes" they are really saying maybe. Like choosing between mowing the grass or golfing. For God there is no maybe. It is either yes or no. To say yes and not do it is the same as lying to God. Make you uncomfortable? It should. It does me. This is what Jesus said to the Church at Laodicea.

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." - Revelation 3:15-18

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

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

Living Behind A Glass Wall

"Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." - Luke 14:25-27

Salvation can bring separation. When Jesus was saying that your love for your family must look like hate compared to your love for Him - that is a hard thing to imagine.  I have written about this before. Matthew 22 says we are to love God first. Exodus 20 says we are to have no other gods (people or things) before Him. God demands to be first. But that is really not what this BLOG post is about. It is about rejection. Being rejected by your family or friends because of your faith. It is about being put in a position where you are challenged to choose. Faced with a choice of acceptance by God or acceptance by people you care about.

Some of you reading this know what it is like to be distanced from your family because of your new life in Christ. Held at arm's length. Being sent out to the other side of a glass wall. Tolerated perhaps but not embraced. Almost as if you were dead or a stranger - not part of the group anymore. Such a weight to carry. Jesus minded us that - 

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." - John 15:18-20

That doesn't mean your heart won't hurt. That the thought of the loss won't make your heart weary. But you see, it is not really you that they have put on the other side of that glass wall. It is Jesus that they want no part of, and you remind them of Jesus and more than that, of their sin. So why would they want you around. They do make you an unspoken offer - reject God - be like us and you will be embraced once again. Resist the temptation. 

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:28-31

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 Will Jesus Return?

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." - Matthew 24:36-44

Each morning, I scan Yahoo News headlines on the internet which is a compilation of stories from other news sources. The headlines speak of war, corruption, death, social unrest, and political turmoil. Very little "good" news, rather a vivid reflection of what is happening in a world that is far from God and devoid of faith in His Son, Jesus. 

With all of the turmoil in the world I have heard a number of Christians talk about the imminent return of Jesus. His coming in the clouds.  It seems to them that surely it will be soon, The Tribulation and the Rapture seem to be just around the corner. There is no question about whether it will happen one day. But what day? Bondye Konnen - only God (the Father) knows. Jesus said that. Oh, how we would like to know - but we won't until the moment it happens. 

Many people in the world do not dispute there is a God and for many, even that there is a Savior, His Son. But they are willing to wait to embrace those truths, perhaps for a more convenient time. Putting it off until they are ready, which is often never. And unfortunately, for most, death will come before they make their final choice and then it will be too late. 

I think the four greatest events in the history of mankind are God creating Man, Adam sinning in the Garden, Jesus rising from the grave, and Jesus returning one day for the Church. Returning for both those who are alive and those who physically dead who were saved by faith in Jesus. Three are in the past, and the fourth is yet to come.

Until that Day, life will go on. There will be wars and rumors of wars as one people group attempts to impose their will on another people group. Sin will reign over the world. Christians will continue to see and hope that the events are a sign of Jesus' imminent return - but He will not return until the Father sends Him - like God sent Him the first time - but this time not as a baby in swaddling clothes, but as King Jesus.    

In the meantime, we must continue to be faithful and be the light. Martie and I just witnessed the solar eclipse - at least the last if it. We had stopped at the Texas Welcome Center on our way back from Lake Charles. The staff was offering the use of the special glasses to anyone who wanted to see the eclipse. When I looked, I saw the shadow of the moon overlapping the sun. I was reminded that although the moon was casting its shadow temporarily it has no lasting power over the sun - just as sin has no power of the Son. The god of this world will try to overshadow the Son, but to no avail. And just like the sun, the Jesus WILL prevail.

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, He who keeps Israel [the spiritual Israel, Romans 9:6-8] Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore." Psalm 121 

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

Knowing When and Being Willing To Say Yes

 "Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" - Matthew 5:36-37

We have worked alongside volunteers - Christian volunteers - for many years. Since 1993 - that's 30 years - wow - a long time. Martie and I have often said that one of the joys of the path that the Lord has called us to walk is that we have met so many wonderful Christians. People who are willing to set their lives on the back burner to serve others. Living out the second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39) and giving visible, tangible testimony to the greatest expression of love which was shared by Jesus in John 15:13. 

I find something else at work in many churches. The Christians are more interested in living their lives - focused on themselves. Willing to help but only if is convenient and is not in conflict with some other event that was, I think, more interesting to them. Ministry is not convenient. Ministry requires you to give something up - you - your time - your devotion to other things. When the opportunity presents itself, you know if the Spirit is prompting you. You know if it is God speaking to your heart. The question is will you obey His voice.

"Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.  So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise." - Luke 10:30-37

You must be willing to be inconvenienced - letting your daily routine and plans be interrupted by God. That is not to say you should say "yes" to every request by man - but "yes" to every call by God. How will you know the difference? By drawing close to God and listening to His voice. Like the Prophet Samuel.

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

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

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

 

You Are What You Eat

"Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. " I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore, I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:97-105

This may pre-date you, but there used to be a commercial encouraging good nutrition that said, "You are what you eat." Meaning that if you eat the wrong foods, your body will be affected in a negative way. Conversely, if you eat the right foods then your body will be healthy. In Psalm 119 David told the Lord that the Word of God was sweet to his taste - sweeter than honey. Taking the Word in regularly ensured that David would be spiritually healthy. It is also a light and lamp so as to keep him from stumbling in a dark world. 

In verse 11 of that Psalm, David said, "Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you." The Word of God is called the Sword of the Spirit - good for both spiritual offense and defense.  (Ephesians 6) It was given to us for both our spiritual and natural benefit. It is like an operator's manual for our human and heavenly existence. But wait there's more! It contains a great manufacturer's warranty - signed by the Blood of the Lamb and sealed by the Spirit of God.

The Lord admonished Joshua in the Book of Joshua that as Joshua walked in step with the Word that he would be prosperous and successful. Prosperity and success not necessarily according to the world's standards but promised by God's design and promise.

"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

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

In It But Not Of It

"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." - 1 John 2:15

I was reading an article about the worldwide response to the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel's counterattack, specifically in England. This is an excerpt. 

"Which brings me back to Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s speech. When she criticized “multiculturalism”, she was not criticizing the countless immigrants who, like her own parents, have happily integrated into British society. She was criticizing those who haven’t integrated. Those, in fact, who refuse to integrate, and who actively reject British values. Or, in the Home Secretary’s phrase, those who are “in the society but not of the society”. -Then, on Sunday, as hundreds of pro-Palestine activists marched through Manchester, one attendee said she was “full of joy [and] pride” at what had happened. And, at a similar demonstration in Brighton, a woman described Hamas’s attacks as “beautiful and inspiring”."

When I was in grade school the United States was described as a "melting pot", a blending of many cultures and races, all embracing one another and the ideals penned in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. But for some time, like Great Britian, our country has also struggled with the challenges brought on by multi-culturalism. The U.S. is longer a melting pot, if it ever really was. 

Radin that article I wondered, "what if the underlying issue in Britain is religious and not nationalistic?" Suppose those Islamic immigrants view their Islamic faith as having primacy over their allegiance to the United Kingdom. And what if the enmity having its origin being between Ishmael and Issac, the Arabs and the Jews, dominates those immigrants thinking and beliefs.  I suspect what we are watching is, at its roots, a religious issue and not a national allegiance issue.  

So, let's consider our faith for a moment. As Christians we have been called out of the culture we live in. Only rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's and withholding that which is God's. There may come a day, and it may be nearer than you think that we Christians will be called out as cruel, haters, unpatriotic even by our own national culture because of a stand we must take in obedience to God's revealed will. We are commanded to not integrate into the culture, but we, instead are to live alongside those who do not share our beliefs. 

The difference between our response and that of Islam is unlike those of Islam who hate people who do not share their faith and revel in their deaths, we are called to love them, in spite of what they put their faith in. Why? Because God loves them. We are not to participate in their sin and disobedience.

"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I [Jesus] have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." - John 15:19

How long will Christians be tolerated? I don't know. But I do know that the Bible says there is a day coming when we won't be. My counsel to you is the same as the Lord's encouragement to all of us. 

"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 1:9

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

What Are You Passionate For?

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

What are you passionate for? What, when you think about it, causes your enthusiasm to rise up - anticipation and excitement to stir in your heart. Those things that you hold most dear that you are willing to set all else aside for. Re-read the verses you may have just skimmed through and tell me what you think the right answer - the spiritually correct answer is. Yeah - its God first and then others. Now the rationalization starts. Am I suggesting that it is wrong to enjoy sports, or entertainment or being with the people you care about? Nope. What I am saying is that you can't love those things more than you love God if you are serious about your faith.

I don't know too many Christians who would admit to not being serious about their faith and love for God to themselves let alone to another Christian. The Bible speaks to the tension between the things of this world and the things of heaven. The things of this world contend for our devotion and appeal to our flesh - old nature. The Bible warns us about having a divided heart. Loving God more requires you to sacrifice your affection for the things of this world. Not to love like the world loves. Paul wrote - 

"I beseech [urge/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

Why is denying yourself, picking up your cross and following Jesus' example reasonable? Because Jesus died on the cross so that we might live in an eternal relationship with the Father.  So, we should not love like the world loves but allow the Spirit of God to renew our minds, our thinking, our doing that we can demonstrate to the world what is God's good and perfect will for mankind. 

"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

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

Living In The Dark As Silent Witnesses

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16

In the Book of Revelation, chapter 2, Jesus spoke against the church if Thyatira for compromising its faith, tolerating and accommodating sin and lacking in its devotion to God. In Matthew 5 Jesus said that we are to be the light of the world. When you get up, you turn the light on so you can see the furniture that is hidden by the darkness. As Christians, our light, the Spirit of God, shines in the darkness that surrounds us, revealing that which is sinful and contrary to what God has made plain that is right and good. Jesus encourages us to not put that light under a basket - quenching the light (Spirit) and keeping it from accomplishing it's intended purpose. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." 

"Do not quench the Spirit." - 1 Thessalonians 5:19 (Paul)

We Christians can get along admirably with our culture - and really with any culture if only we will agree to put our light under a basket. Agree to keep our faith and our God to ourselves. Agree to be willing to tolerate and accommodate what the Bible makes plain is sin and contrary to God the Father. Agree to be silent witnesses. In other words, go the way of the church of Thyatira. Go along to get along.

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

Faith Without Follow-Through

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:14-18

Something that Martie and I have been noticing of late is the lack of discipline or follow-through in many Christians we know.  They can nod their heads in agreement when reminded of the Word of God, but cannot be found when it is time to demonstrate the truth and commands from the same Word of God. If it is convenient then they might do thus and so, but if there is a ball game on or they can think of somewhere else to be, well - the Christian in them will just have to take a back seat.

Thinking good thoughts is not enough. If you are prompted by the Spirit, you should act then and do what the Spirit is telling you to do. As an example, we teach a Bible study called Experiencing God.  It requires about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week to complete the lessons and be prepared for the next meeting. So often we have seen that after some of the people sign up for the class, they show up with no work done in their book. A book they paid for. We can make time to vegetate in front of the TV for several hours but not 30 minutes to spend time with the Lord. I am not being critical of the people, just forlorn by what I see as their lack of interest in growing spiritually. And a lost opportunity to go deeper in their relationship with God. 

James wrote about the lack of follow-through about 2000 years ago. Just saying that people have not changed that much over time. Technology is about the only difference I can see between then and now. If you have a problem with finding time to practice the disciplines of the faith, you don't have a time problem, you have a love problem. You love the world too much and God not enough. You are living with a divided heart. Like James suggested - it doesn't matter how much you talk about faith if you don't live it out.

Yes, we are saved by grace through faith and not of works. That would be putting the works-cart in front of the faith-horse. But good works are a natural outflow of an abiding faith. "Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

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

Laying It Down Once And For All

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" - Matthew 16:24-26

Our lives as Christians are to be lives offered up to God, the Father, by faith. Willing - living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Like Isaac when Abraham built the alter and prepared Isaac as the sacrifice. We lay our lives down - our wants and desires in favor of living for God. What that means is that we live humbly before God and men understanding that we have no hope apart from Jesus. That we are saved by grace through faith and not works. No amount of trying to be good will makes us good enough for the kingdom of God. Our righteousness, our right being before the Creator God, is in Christ and Him alone.

"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption." - 1 Corinthians 1:30

I was listening to a song today by Lauren Daigle - Once for All. Might I suggest that you offer the words to this song up as a prayer for yourself. I did.

"God, I'll give You what I can today. These scattered ashes that I hid away. I lay it all at Your feet.

From the corners of my deepest shame. The empty places where I've worn Your name. Show me the love I say I believe. Oh, help me to lay it down. O Lord, I lay it down. Oh, let this be where I die. My Lord, with Thee crucified. Be lifted high as my kingdoms fall. Once and for all, once and for all." - Lauren Daigle - Once and For All

Amen

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

Yielding to God and Not to the World

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which, you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." - Ephesians 6:11-18

Seems like I just wrote about this!  I recently read an article about a nationally prominent pastor who has apparently and surprisingly yielded to the pressure of our culture to embrace the idea that if what God has made clear is sin is too hard to resist, it is ok to give in and live in it. 

When I read the article, I was reminded of what happened in the Garden.

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

Satan is affecting the thinking of Christians to make them believe that living the Christian life is not sustainable. Sinning is inevitable and so you might as well just give in. Paul asked a rhetorical question in Romans chapter 6.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" - Romans 6:1 - and Satan says "absolutely!"

Certainly, we sin but we must not resolve ourselves to a life of sin - instead we must repent and seek forgiveness - no matter how often - but never resolve to just submit to sin and not God because it seems to hard to resist. We have all been there!

Read Romans chapter 1 starting in verse 18 for a glimpse of what is happening in this country.

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

The darker the night - the brighter the light - it is so important for Christians to let the light of the Gospel shine in this spiritually dark land! And resist the devil!

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

Yield To Caesar What's Caesar's But Not What's God's

"Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you." - Romans 6:13-14

Watching the news recently, one report had to do with allowing certain books in public school libraries. Books with explicit sexual content and violence that minor children would be allowed to read even if their parents said they should not have access to them. The reasoning is that at our country's core is the right to free speech - unfettered by anyone's moral code. 

"The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. It prohibits any laws that establish a national religion, impede the free exercise of religion, abridge the freedom of speech, infringe upon the freedom of the press, interfere with the right to peaceably assemble, or prohibit citizens from petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. It was adopted into the Bill of Rights in 1791. The Supreme Court interprets the extent of the protection afforded to these rights. The First Amendment has been interpreted by the Court as applying to the entire federal government even though it is only expressly applicable to Congress. Furthermore, the Court has interpreted the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as protecting the rights in the First Amendment from interference by state governments." - Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute

Although Biblical principles may have been at the root of what our country was founded on, as the generations have passed, the culture we live in has wandered far from the intent of our founding fathers. Actually, those ideals were corrupted, by the flesh, from the beginning in that the freedoms we proclaimed, selectively applied and were not really extended to all people. 

As citizens of this country, we are bound by its laws unless those laws or their implementation contravene those of a higher authority. That being the Creator God. Each citizen cannot, on their own, decide what is right and wrong - there are civil laws that provide boundaries on behavior. Just try driving 50 mph in a 25-mph zone. And just as there is higher law above the individual, there is a higher authority above the civil law. Do you remember when Jesus was asked if the Jews should pay Roman taxes?

"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

Sounds simple enough - when it comes to paying taxes anyway. But what about moral issues? Who establishes the boundaries for moral behavior? As a Christian you would or should say God does. But I fear that your culture would and does not agree with you. Man, and collectively, man's consensus is their supreme authority.

When there is a conflict between "thus saith man" and "thus saith the Lord", if you cannot change the law by gaining consensus, then you will not have the power to stop your children from having access to inappropriate content in the books on the shelves of their library or worse in public schools.  As Christians we must draw a line. But what can you do? I will leave that to you to think and pray about. It might start at home by not allowing the wrong content from entering your home through television, the internet and cell phones where your children might have access to it. I will also leave that to your prayerful consideration. But this might be a start. The Word says .... 

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

Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus On The Family, said that values are caught and not taught. How do you train up a child? It starts by walking your talk. Being a living example of who you tell them they should be. Standing for what God says it right and proper. Standing against what God says is not. All of that while demonstrating the love 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

Sheltering In Place Spiritually

"knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." - Romans 6:6-14

When a natural disaster comes to a community, quite often there is an alert message that is broadcast telling people to stay in their homes - to hunker down - and ride out whatever malady is knocking on their doors or maybe to evacuate - to run. Here in the Houston area, on top of the hurricanes and tropical storms, there are occasional leaks and fires at the oil refineries and chemical plants that send pollutants and hazardous vapors into the air. When they happen, we are sometimes told to "shelter in place", stay indoors and are even told to shut off our air conditioners and close our windows until we get the "All Clear" signal. 

There is a spiritual storm that is raging. One that we need to protect ourselves and our family from. If we are not on our guard, like the vapors from a chemical fire, its pollutants can seep into our lives, minds and hearts. If we have not prepared for the storm, it will find its way through the cracks and crevices of our lives through television programs, the internet, our cell phones, public education, politics, and people we associate with. Things, on the surface are good, but also promote the culture and its values. Things that can be very useful to promote good and glorify God but, at the same time, have the capacity to be very harmful. Protecting yourself is not as simple as turning your air conditioner off and closing your windows. 

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

Because it is a spiritual struggle, it is difficult to lay some of those things down - put them behind you - have nothing to do with them. Instead, we often make excuses as to why it's OK that they are a persistent influence in our lives - necessary evils, if you will. Because they can be used for good, we are willing to risk the evil. There is nothing inherently wrong with sugar unless you are a diabetic. 

"Satan, himself, transforms himself into an angel of light." - 2 Corinthians 11:14

The temptation that leads to sin on the surface may appear harmless. We resist the idea of rejecting the things we enjoy simply because of the potential harm it may bring to us or to the people around us.  We can manage it. It's really OK. It's not a problem. But the Bible it replete with warnings about the dangers that are lurking - waiting for the opportunity. Sin is like a fisherman who presents a bait - temptation - that the fish thinks will satisfy its hunger and so instinctively takes a bite, but it is to its doom.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." - 1 Peter 5:8-9

We must be spiritual aware. See things as God sees them. Be willing to put the world and the things of the world behind us. Not follow our heart but the Word. Our hearts often don't want what is good for us - the Word always does.

"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." - 1 John 2:15

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