We Are All Called By God

"sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father ... Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ .... I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being" - Galatians 1:1,10, 14-16

As I read the first chapter of Galatians about Paul's calling to be the Apostle to the Gentiles, I was reminded of the path that led me to the place I am today.  I am by no means trying to compare myself to Paul, but rather to illuminate how God calls all of us to fulfill His eternal purposes. 

I felt the call of God even as a young boy although I was not raised in a Christian home. I can point to a number of times that I felt a spiritual "tug" on my heart. At the time, I didn't realize it was God calling. Not until I had started my new career in the Army did I come face to face with who Jesus is and, along with Martie, placed my faith in Him. That was my road to Damascus experience. 

During my Army years, I found myself in spiritual leadership positions, although I didn't know that is what it was. I didn't seek them out, but they sought me - or more correctly - the Spirit sought me. The time of total surrender was in 1992, after Desert Storm. The Lord called me out of the Army, before retirement, to take another path. I started and led a non-denominational men's ministry in 1993. Something I was not capable of doing, but the Spirit was. That led to serving as a state manager on a National Men's Ministry in 1995 which led to Martie and me, laying down our nets and going on the mission field in 2005.  That is where we remain today, many disasters, four states and one other country later. I often refer to Martie and me as "gypsies for Jesus".

And now the Lord seems to have something else in mind for us - we are still serving - wherever He leads. That reminded of a song - no surprise to you I am sure - "Wherever He Leads I'll Go." I'll follow my Christ who loves me so, wherever He leads I'll go.

The Christian life is all about surrender. Having no stipulations on our obedience to His call, whatever and wherever that is. That is what Paul modeled for us - my hope is that our lives follow His example as an encouragement to you.

Each of us has a place in God's plan and purpose. We need to pursue it - to be listening for the call to whatever that is and to be ready to walk in it by faith.  We are all knocking on the door of another new year. God knows what is in store for each of us. Don't be content with "just" being a Christian, having your ticket to ride on the train to heaven. Instead, strive to fulfill your God-given place in the Body of Christ.

"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

Remember that just like Paul, Jesus is the source of your new life.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

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 

Godly Sorrow

"For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done." - 2 Corinthians 7:9-11

What is the difference between sorrow and godly sorrow? You may be sorry that something happened - generally because of the negative consequences associated with it. But there is no decision to change. The desire is to do what you want to do and avoid any negative consequences.  The American philosopher George Santayana, in his work The Life of Reason: Reason in Common Sense, wrote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". I am sure you have heard some variant of that quote, and I know that I have "wrongly" attributed it to other famous people. There is another quote, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." that is most often attributed to Albert Einstein but there is no evidence he ever said it. It first appeared in a guidebook for addicts by Narcotics Anonymous in 1981.

I find it humorous that we can be so certain of a fact and be absolutely wrong about it. I suppose it is the same as people certain there is no God. Unfortunately, when they discover the truth, it will be too late to avoid the consequence.

So, godly sorrow. Godly sorrow is a spiritual phenomenon not a natural one. It happens as a result of the Spirit of God at work. It always takes us to a place of change - repentance - which leads to salvation - no feeling of regret to be confronted by the fact that we are suddenly confronted by our sinful nature. The light comes on, the burden is lifted, and we rejoice in our new life.  Do you remember the day? I know I do.

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 At The Root Of Our Faith

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Love looks out not in. It never asks, "But what about me?" "What about what I need?"  "What about what I want?"

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

When Jesus was being tested, He was asked what the greatest commandment was. His answer? Summed up in one word, Love. He said first love God the Father and then second, love others. There are no narcissists in heaven. People who put themselves first ahead of everyone, including God. 

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." - 1 John 4:18-20

When we love God, the overflow will be love for others. Our love for others is the demonstration of our love for God. Loving others the way God loves us is not natural, it is supernatural. Do you remember the story of the good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10? The man in the ditch was a Jew. The other, outwardly religious Jews who saw him lying in the ditch passed him by. Too focused on themselves to care about someone else - especially someone that would require them to go out of their way. 

But along came a Samaritan. Someone despised by the Jews. Looking past that, he had compassion on the man in the ditch and went above and beyond what the man deserved. On a better day, that same man in the ditch may not have even given the same Samaritan the time of day. He, himself, may have crossed on the other side of the road to avoid someone considered "unclean". Of course, you remember John 3:16. When Jesus crossed the heavenly road to help sinful mankind lying in the ditch.

As sinners we were enemies of God and yet, out of His great love, God sent His Son to die for us. To quote a song by Sam and Dave - God (my addition) "You didn't have to do what you did but you did, and I thank you! You didn't have to love me like you did but you did, and I thank you." He didn't have to cross the road when I was lying in the ditch bound for an eternity in hell, but He did - oh - I could go on and on. But you get the idea.  Hey, that brought another song to mind. 

"The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell; The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin. Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure— The saints’ and angels’ song." The Love Of God,  Frederick M. Lehman.

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

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

How Much Faith Do You Need

"The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you." - Luke 17:5-6

Faith. Have you ever known someone that you decided had a great faith? Meaning greater than yours. A faith that you aspired to but never really believed you could achieve it. Faith is something that you have or don't have. Faith in the providence of God is powerful. It is not like you have less or more than someone. The issue is whether or not you are willing to act on it.

Faith is a close relative to trust. I am sure you have heard someone say, "I don't trust him any farther than I could throw him." It is like the old song, "love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage." Faith and trust are much the same. In Luke 17 Jesus was essentially saying you don't any more faith than what you have. It's like the man to told Jesus that he believed but need help with his unbelief. 

Trust is surrender - placing yourself at the mercy of the person you are trusting. I have told my children that trust is an easy thing to lose but a hard thing to gain. It requires a demonstration of reliability - dependability. 

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for. The evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1

"Faith is the profound and ste­adfast conviction in something beyond the tangible­ realm. It e­ntails placing full trust and belief in the omnipre­sence and potency of God.

Trust is our willful and unwavering commitme­nt to God. When individuals place their trust in God, they are essentially acknowledging and affirming their belief in his constant reliability, truthfulne­ss, and omnipotence. Trust is a dee­p belief and reliance­ on God’s character, wisdom, and promises. It acts as a steadfast foundation, particularly when faced with trials that test one’s faith to its core." - (Biblezero.com)

Faith is "Do you believe?" Trust is "Show me!"

When Peter left the boat and walked on the water to join Jesus - he was exercising faith and trust. His focus was on Jesus. When his focus shifted to himself and to the laws and nature, he began to sink. The Bible is not explicit in describing what happened next - but Peter and Jesus walked back to the boat - on the water - together.

Proverbs 3 says to trust in God and not yourself. Faith and Trust are a spiritual context not a natural one. 

God gives us the faith we need for His purposes and our good. Romans 12:3 The question is not how much faith has God given me, but am I walking in that which has been given. We cannot live the Christian life in victory apart from faith - and trust - and obedience to the Truth.

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 

Do You Have A Disaster Preparedness Plan For The Coming Storm?

There is a storm in the Gulf of Mexico.  It is that time of year.  A tropical storm is strengthening into a hurricane and is headed for land and the people living in the communities on the coast.  It is an all too familiar story.  The people can’t change the storms intensity or direction, all they can do is get ready to deal with the aftermath of the storm.  Often many people are still “storm-shocked” from the last hurricane.  Any storm at all brings on fear and anxiety.  

That is the way it is with the storms of life.  Storms that are sure to come.  They will often have destructive power – relationships – health – wealth.  We need to be prepared for them.  We can certainly pray that the storm will be averted, that the problem will go away, but it doesn’t always happen. So what to do. Well, you need a plan.  Jesus said (John 16:33) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

Did you catch that? The best plan is faith in Jesus and peace through Jesus.  So long as you are walking on this planet and have breath, you will be faced with storms, with tribulation.  Remember the story about Jesus and the disciples in a boat.....

“Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "LORD, save us! We're going to drown!" He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” - Matthew 8:23-27

Look at the context. The storm was raging, and Jesus was sleeping.  He was at peace.  His disciples, understanding the natural danger they were in were panicked. How is it that the disciples didn’t pick up on that?  Because they were focused on the storm and their fear.  Their lack of ability to do anything about it.  They wanted Jesus to fix it.  Had they truly understood His sovereignty, perhaps they would have taken a nap as well.  

As a Christian, your ability to face the storms that will come your way is a function of the strength of your faith.  Jesus said they lacked faith and asked them why they were so afraid.  That was a rhetorical question because He knew their hearts and their faith.  And He also knows ours and asks us the same question.  My old friend Proverbs 3:5-6 comes to mind.  Trust God and not yourself.  In the Army we said “You fight the way you train.”  In other words, you need to be prepared for the battle.  Many of us put that off – that is until the storm comes.  Or perhaps like so many people do here when a storm comes, you run! Then we want to know where God is – Oh, he is sleeping.  It’s not a matter of God not caring, it is the point that He is sovereign – the master of the seas.  This is what King David wrote.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident" - Psalm 27: 1-3

Will there be consequences from the storm?  Most likely.  Can you survive it? Most certainly! That is if the Lord is your light and salvation, you will. You might be in a storm right now - trust in Jesus. He is right there with you in the boat! 

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 

Why It's Hard To Be Humble

"He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 18:9-14

Do you have reason to be proud of your accomplishments? Education, vocation, relationships, financial achievements, even benevolence toward others. There is a difference between pride and gratefulness. Think about this ... The natural man rejects the idea of a creator God to which he or she is accountable. If we have a creator, then who we are and the good that we do with who we are must be credited to the creator. Our part is to apply who we are to everyday life circumstances. When we do what we do that finds favor and admiration from other people, they merely see us applying the capabilities that God has endowed us with. And for what purpose did He give us those capabilities and opportunities? For His glory and the good of others. Not merely for us so we might feel better about ourselves or receive the praise of men. .

The true source of our pride is fear and insecurity. If our confidence and focus is on God, then there is no room for fear and insecurity. I am always taken back to Matthew 22:37 - I am to love God with all of my heart, soul, strength and mind. That does not leave any room for self-love. Perhaps you recall a song by Mac Davis, "Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble when you are perfect in so many ways."

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There are none righteous no not one. Humble yourself in the sight of God and He will lift you up.

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." - Matthew 6;1-2

What I am speaking to is a spiritual truth. To our need to keep a spiritual perspective. By rejecting the accolades of the world for what you do during this lifetime means that you have a true understanding of where the glory belongs. Be careful you don't rob God of His glory because you covet the praises of men.

But. if there is one thing that any of us can take credit for it would be that we said "Yes" to God.

"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 

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 

Missing the Point - Swallowing Camels

"On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." - Luke 13:10-14

"Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a  donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?" - Luke 14:5

Jesus healed at least 7 times according to what was recorded in the Gospels, but it also says at the end of the chapter in John 21 ....

"This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." - John 21:24-25

So what was the issue and what does it have to do with the Church in the 21st century? This most likely goes without saying, but you know that when I refer to the Church I am referring to the Body of Christ, corporate. Every person that has been born again, irrespective if the denomination or "non-denomination" that they are affiliated with. 

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." - Genesis 2:2

Do you think God was tired and need to take a break? I think that He had done all that He intended to do so on the 7th day He did nothing. So the seventh day - we might ask what day - a day in heaven or a day on earth. Oh, so many questions!

"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." - 2 Peter 3:8

But let us imagine that it was making reference to Earth days. You know that the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week - Saturday and Sunday is the first day of the week, right? So Sunday is not the Sabbath - Sunday is the day that Jesus rose from the grave. That is why most Christians gather on Sunday and not Saturday. Complicated isn't it?

So as far as the Jews were concerned on the Sabbath - Saturday you could do no work - and work was defined down to the tiniest bit of minutia. So, what Jesus healed on the Sabbath that was considered work, for which He was criticized. He reminded the leaders that they made exceptions to the rule - like getting the Ox out of the pit. That was work, but not really. See the contradiction. It was ok to help the Ox in the pit but it was not OK to heal a person. 

"And he [Jesus] said to them [the Pharisees], “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath." - Mark 2:23-28

Doesn't it make sense that if the greatest commandment is to love God and the next is to love others, that God would expect us to love others 7 days a week and not just 6. Jesus was trying to make that point. That is one motivation for saying that the Jewish spiritual leaders strained at gnats (the little things) and swallowed camels.

"[They] neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean." - Matthew 23:23-26

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 Cost Of Faith In Jesus

"Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." - Luke 12:25-33

When each of us made the faith decision to follow Jesus - to be born again by the Spirit (John 3) our focus was most likely on eternity and forgiveness.  But Jesus was explaining what our life should be like in the meantime - while we still have our feet firmly planted on Terra Firma. He was speaking to where our devotion should lie. 

If we truly believe that we love God with all of our hearts, minds and souls then that leaves no room for a greater devotion to something or someone else. Like "father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life". His reference to "hate" has to do with comparative devotion. Compared to our total devotion to God, we "hate" everyone else. God is first and everyone else is second or third or ... well you get the idea! 

Likewise, when it comes to the things of the world - devotion to wealth, possessions, position, prosperity in general, even our health are not to compete with our devotion to God. I am certain that you are nodding your head - perhaps in your minds - in agreement. If it were not for the fact that we still must struggle with the desires of our flesh, it would be a simple thing to do. But you know that living the sanctified life is far from simple. There is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. That is because they are incompatible.

"For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." - 1 John 2:16

I have written before that these are the same points in which Jesus was tempted after he had fasted for 40 days in the wilderness.  And he resisted the test. Being a Jesus follower is more than merely being a believer that Jesus is the Christ - the Messiah. It means following in His footsteps. Listen - this is a spiritual issue that manifests itself in the natural. In the Navigator ministry they use something called the Navigator Wheel to explain what we need to do to live the obedient Christian life. The center or Hub is Jesus. The four spokes are prayer, meditation on the Word, witnessing and fellowship with other Christians. Each spoke is important to keep the wheel (you) in balance. The spokes are connected to the Hub (Jesus). It is easy to neglect one or more of those spiritual disciplines. My goal in writing these devotions is to encourage you to keep your spiritual focus. 

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 

God's Intention - Man's Invention

"Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." -  Genesis 1:26

God's Intention. 

Give that [made in “our” image – the image of God] some thought. What exactly is the image and likeness of the Father, Son and Spirit? Well, there is a hierarchal order certainly. God, the Father, sent Jesus and the Spirit. Jesus returned to heaven and the Spirit stayed. But Jesus is coming back. 

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man." - Matthew 24:36-37

God established a hierarchal order for man - Jesus the Head, the Husband the head of the family, then the wife who was created to be a helper to the man. Meaning he was not complete by himself. That the husband and wife were to become one. 

There is holiness - the absence of sin. 

"When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed" - James 1:13-14

Man did not know sin until he decided to be "like God" even though he had been created in the image of the Godhead.

Then there is unity. What I suggested with the hierarchy. Jesus said 

"My [Jesus] prayer is not for them alone. I 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. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." - John 17:20-23

Man's Invention

So that was God's intention. But man came up with his own invention.

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised." - Romans 1:18-25

The majority of mankind would rather reject God and His intention for mankind than embrace God and His Son by faith. Most of mankind gladly chooses hell over submission to a benevolent God.  Life can be like watching a movie at times. You are watching one of the characters do something that you know will lead them to great harm and you might ever call out to them as if to warn them  - "don't open the door or go into a room" forgetting that you are responding to a projection on a screen. That the people in the movie cannot hear you.  And likewise, mankind cannot hear us apart from the intervention of the Spirit and a person's yielding of their heart by faith. In a way, watching the world and warning the actors is like watching a movie. 

Does that mean we should do nothing? No! We are the only light that the world will see until they stand before the Eternal Judge - Jesus. And like the song sung by Tennessee Earnie Ford, they will be almost persuaded, like King Agrippa responding to Paul. Almost persuaded but lost.

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 Can't Do It On Your Own

"Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." - Luke 9:12-17

God never asks you to do anything for Him that you can do without Him. I am reminded of a song that was popular among Christians years ago. 

"Without him, I could do nothing. Without him, I'd surely fail. Without him, I would be drifting. Like a ship without a sail" - Without Him Song by Josh Turner

Jesus said

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5

Apart from the power from the Vine, we can do nothing of spiritual - eternal consequence. Getting saved does not mean that you have your own spiritual power. Any spiritual act is a function of the work of the Spirit of God in and through you. Success in our new life requires submission of our will to God and the leading of the Spirit of God.

We cannot be the person that God intends just by trying to do better - to be better. Spiritual transformation is not the result of personal effort and resolve. It is a result of our pursuit of God. I recall one of our granddaughters when I would try to do something with her would nudge me aside and say, "I want to do it." It never went well. Well, that might describe all of us as we try to live out the Christian life under "my-will" power.

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

What is His good and perfect will? That we would all be conformed to the image of His Son. That we would be one as the Son and Father are One. (John 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 

Fixing Our Focus

"Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples. And he said to them, When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.... If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" - Luke 10:2-4,13

I was reading Luke 10 this morning. We are surely all familiar with the Lord's prayer. That prayer can almost become a "mantra", a statement or slogan repeated frequently, or incantation where the meaning is lost if we are not careful. Like we are speaking magic words - somehow irresistible to God. But then I read verse 13. What are we actually praying for. For God to give us what we need physically, financially or relationally? It was like a light that went on - "how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him". Jesus was not sent so that we might get more of what the world has to offer, but more of what God wants to give us.

The Holy Spirit is our spiritual enabler. God gave the people of Israel manna each day as they wandered the desert. Just enough for the day. If anything was left it spoiled at the days end. Jesus was telling the disciples to focus on God's spiritual provision and not their bellies.  I recall a song by Janice Joplin. One verse says "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends. So, oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? Oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV? Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me. I wait for delivery each day until three."

We, like the disciples, must fix our focus. As a child of God we are not given a spiritual debit card that allows us to draw on the treasures in heaven to satisfy our earthly desires. Rather, to have access to the fruit of the Spirit - the result of living a life focused on God and not us. 

"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:22-24

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

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

Understanding Your Role In The Gospel

"This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." - Luke 8:11-15

I skipped over the parable and went straight to the explanation.  Something of note is that the farmer did not do a soil analysis before he cast the seed. His job was to cast the seed - as is ours. We should not second guess the efficacy of casting the seed when we think it will "not do any good". That is not our call nor given to our discernment. You don't pick the field - you just cast the seed of the Gospel. It is the Spirit of God that works in heart. Not the eloquence of the presentation or the audience. The fact of the matter is that you don't know who is ready to hear and who is not. And if there is no fruit then that is of no concern to you. If I can be blunt - just do your God-ordained part in lifting up Jesus to the world.

"And I [Jesus], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." - John 12:32

Your ministry may be right where you live and not some distant land. Be faithful where God has planted you. "Bloom where you are planted"

"The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So, the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him." - Luke 8:38-39

He wanted to go where Jesus was going - do what Jesus was doing. But Jesus told him to go home and cast the seed there. 

"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

I don't know what the God-designed ratio is of shepherds to sheep. What I do know is that most of us will not be called to an equipping ministry - formally at least. I remember right after I was born again. I was a brand new "butter bar" - second lieutenant. That is the lowest commissioned officer rank - leader trainee. So I reasoned that if I was a "leader" in the Army and a Christian, well it made sense that I should be a chaplain. I set my plan into place. One day I was talking to another Christians who happened to be a Lieutenant Colonel. He said, "if you are a chaplain with a Christian Cross on your collar (we wore our branch insignia on our collars) then soldiers will expect that you behave in a certain way and only be surprised if you don't. But if you have a tank on your collar (I was an Armor officer at the time) then they will expect something much different and be surprised if you act like a Chaplain. You can have a greater impact on those around you if you are not a Chaplain." I took his advice. It was not until I left the army that I was called to full time ministry. 

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 

This World Is Not My Home

"For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children." - Luke 8:33-35

The world, those who call what is good - bad and what is bad - good, does not reject Christians because of what they do or say. The world is not rejecting people at all. The world is rejecting God. We are merely the messengers. When I call a business because of a problem I am having with a service or something I purchased, I am always careful to tell the person I am talking to that I know the problem I am having is not their fault. They are merely the representative. They are not the source of the problem.

And so it is with the us and the world. We are not the source of the problem. Sin is the problem. Man's enmity toward God because of sin is the reason for the problem. His desire to be his own god. So, it does not matter if I live the life of John the Baptist or Jesus - as far as the world is concerned, because I claim to be a child of God - saved by faith in Jesus - I am wrong. And to be pitied.

That is not going to change. The best we can expect is that we are tolerated by the world, and our message will be minimized and categorized as "just another religion". Wide is the gate that leads to destruction. Man's reasoning is that there, one, is no God or, two, if there is, there must be more than one way to get there. Mankind is desperate to prove that there is more to creation than this planet. That there are other intelligent life forms in the universe. That would allow him to justify his dismissal of his responsibility to a Creator 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 

A Reflection Of The Heart

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." - Luke 6:43-45

Does your continued propensity to sin bother you? Maybe even caused you to have doubts about your faith? Well, after reading what Jesus said about good trees (that's us) and not bearing bad fruit (that's sin) it can and should be disconcerting. IMHO (I am trying to catch up with the initial thing - in my humble opinion) we will not be perfected until we meet Jesus face to face. That may happen on this planet should He not tarry, but my guess is that is not likely at least for my generation.  So, what does that mean? Well, that is why John wrote ...

"If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9

David was called a "man after God's own heart" and yet he sinned. Psalm 51 was written after the Prophet Nathan confronted David over his sin with Bathsheba and having her husband put to death by putting him in the most dangerous place in a battle, so David was free to marry Bathsheba. Does that sound like a man after God's own heart or a man having a problem with lust. But this is what he prayed in Psalm 51.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; .... Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness." - Plam 51:1-4, 10-14

Is there hope for us? I would say the Bible says "yes"! Our righteousness is found in Jesus who was without sin and not in our weak and sin prone flesh. Does that mean that it's OK and God just winks at our sin from heaven? Absolutely not. But He has given us the Word of God and the Spirit of God to help us navigate temptation, sin, as we live out our days on this planet.

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." The "ALL" part has been problematic for all of us me-thinks, has it not? So, what should our outlook be?

I find myself in agreement with John Newton - former slave ship captain - writer of the song Amazing Grace - and instrumental in influencing the abolition of slavery in the United Kingdom - 

"I am not the man I ought to be, I am not the man I wish to be, and I am not the man I hope to be, but by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be"

Can I get an Amen? and maybe a 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 

When God Speaks There Is No Time For What-Abouts

"The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel said, Speak, for your servant is listening." - 1 Samuel 3:10

A couple points here. First, it took Samuel 3 times to understand that it was God speaking to him and then he needed Eli's help to recognize that it was God. Eli was a high priest of the Jews and the second-to-last judge of Israel. He served as a priest at Shiloh and became Samuel's guardian. Second, when Samuel knew it was God speaking, he responded without hesitation. There was no time for what-abouts.

"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." - Luke 5:8-11

So Peter, James and John were fishermen. Their lives, their father's lives were all about the fishing trade. Their future was sure - they would always be fishermen. And then Jesus showed up and called them another life.  Their response? The left everything and followed Jesus. Pretty radical don't you think?

"After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him." - Luke 5:27-28

Levi or Matthew was a tax collector. Not a popular thing to be back then. Then one day he met Jesus and Jesus said "follow me". And Matthew did just that.

Martie and I have been teaching a study called Experiencing God for a number of years. It's author, Dr. Henry Blackaby, suggests that there are 7 Spiritual Realities. The third reality is that God invites us to join us in what He is doing. Just like Samuel, Peter, James, John, Matthew, Paul - the list is quite long. The fourth reality is that God speaks by His Spirit through prayer, the Word, circumstances, and other Christians. Sometime, like Samuel, we are not certain that it is God speaking so others, like Eli, help us know that it is God.

That always leads us to a Crisis of Belief (5) requiring a major adjustment in our lives (6) which can only be released by obedience and faith (7) - like the fishermen. Most often our problem is not hearing God, but in obeying God. We come up with all kinds of "What abouts". We can think of a lot of "good" reasons why we should not go or at least wait for a better time.

"Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead. Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family. Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. " - Luke 9:59-62

" he [Jesus] said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:26-27

Obedience and the adjustments that will be required when God speaks can seem to be unreasonable - even unrealistic. Taking up our cross means we must be willing to sacrifice what our flesh wants in favor of what the Spirit requires of us. Abandoning what the world says is "good" for what God says is better.

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

Do you really want to Experience God in your life? Are your ready to lay down your "nets" for good? I do hope so!

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 

Recognizing Temptation

"For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." - 1 John 2:16

The temptation to sin is like the tick of the clock. It is constant. It is pervasive. Ever present - 24/7/365. We are presented by the opportunity to sin at every turn. It is not our Spiritual nature that is tempted but our old nature, our flesh. Temptation can be summed up in three ways. the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life

Jesus, the man, was tempted - since the Son of God cannot be tempted.

"When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;" - James 1:13

While in the wilderness Jesus was tempted in the same way we are.

"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil." - Luke 4:1-2

Lust of the Flesh - Satisfy What The Body Craves

"He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone." - Luke 4:3-4

Lust of the Eyes - Love The Things Of The World More Than God

"The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." - Luke 4:5-8

Pride of Life - We Can Do What We Want Because We Are Children Of God

"The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test." - Luke 4:9-12

I recall Pastor E.V. Hill preaching on Jesus being tempted. He said that each time Satan tempted Jesus - Jesus "hit him" [Pastor Hill's words] with the Word of God. At its root, temptation is a false promise - a lie. The Word of God is Truth. But unless you are ready for it, it is difficult to remember that when your emotions are saying "go" but the Spirit is saying "no"!

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways." - Psalm 119:9-15

Pretty simple - but not easy. It requires being intentional in seeking God and His Truth. Living a sanctified life in a sinful world and becoming spiritual mature is not a one and done the day we are born again. It is a process. 

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 

Chosen People Choosing Rightly

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor." - 1 Peter 2:9-17

I was driving in a small town in Alabama and missed my turn so I made a U-turn. It was a divided boulevard. I did it safely.  There were no signs posted saying not to make a U-turn there. But ... the next thing I saw were flashing lights in my rear-view window. The officer told me that I had made an illegal turn. I explained there was no sign telling me I couldn't to which he replied, "We have a statute in this town that does not allow any U-turns anywhere unless posted that they are allowed." He gave me a warning and let me go without a ticket, although ignorance is not an excuse.

The day we yielded our lives by faith to God, we became citizens of heaven. Yet Jesus, when tested, said give to Caesar what is his and to God what is His. (paraphrased) And if there is a conflict then we must obey the higher authority. Which is God.  Knowing there may be consequences from the lower authority - that being Caesar.  

The conflicts we will face will most often be with morality - not rules of the road. We must be willing to stand our ground and to be the light. Remembering that the wisdom of God is foolishness to the natural man.  

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 

Somebody Is Right And Somebody Is Wrong

"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 2:14

Before I launch into this post, I want to make clear that I believe that everyone has a right to believe something other than what I believe. That right was granted by the creator God and in the Garden, man chose poorly - but choose he did. It was that life that you and I were saved from - restored to God's intended relationship with Him through faith in Jesus.

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day. He was telling me about his belief in ghosts. Or at least his suspicion that they actually exist. That conversation drifted into other "paranormal" beliefs. This friend is very well educated. Interpret that to mean they are a very smart and experienced person. However, when our conversation drifted to spiritual matters, he expressed his doubts as to their veracity. 

That got me to thinking about 1 Corinthians chapter 2.  Why would someone who believes in the paranormal or supernatural is real, but when faced with the possibility of there being a benevolent supernatural being - the Creator God - well that is outside to realm of possibility. The short answer is that the natural world is at odds with the God - they are enemies. We don't like to think about it in those terms, I think because it seems so harsh - but it true, nonetheless.   

Unless you have the Spirit of God in you by faith, the idea that there is a benevolent God at work is foolishness. 

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."  - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

The thing is that they don't know they are blind - that their minds have been clouded - like Joe in the movie "Joe and the Volcano" blinded by with a brain cloud. The only solution is to have a personal encounter with the Spirit of God and rebirth.  My friend tolerates me and allows me to believe what I believe even if, in his mind, it is untrue.  He may even feel sorry for me, deluded as I seem to be. The thing is, I think the same thing about him. And most probably each of us is hoping the other one will see the light of the truth one day.  At least I am. Both of us will see the Truth, one day, but sadly then it will be too late for my friend.

You probably know people like that in your sphere of relationships - some may even be family. You can't argue them into heaven, but you might be able to love them there.  Be the Light!

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 

Be Careful Little Tongue What You Say

"Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." - 1 Peter 3:8-9

Have you ever gotten into verbal altercation? Something is said or done and you feel that you must defend yourself, someone else, perhaps right a wrong, or maybe just hit back because you have been hurt. Of course you have. It is part of the human condition. The temptation is to respond. The feeling that rises up in you is not reflective of the "spiritual you".

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

Your flesh will seek opportunities to dominate you. Your flesh is contrary to your spiritual self. Before you know it - something will come out of your mouth that is not reflective of the Spirit in you.

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.....  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control." - Galatians 5:18-23

James wrote about the tongue and the challenge to tame it. It is so easy to speak against someone and feel justified. Unless you read what the Bible says about it.

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of [c]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?" James 3:6-11

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 

Mutual Submission

"Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." - 1 Peter 3:1-7

I know that the idea of submission is a very popular subject. Particularly when it has to do with wives and husbands. The takeaway is that the wife is to submit to the husband like a servant. I can see how that can be understood if you just read verse 1. It is especially vexing if the wife is not married to a Christian. She is living in a relationship that is unevenly yoked. But that is a thought for another day.  Let's focus on a marriage where both are Christians.  

Read verse 7. In the same way as the wives, husbands are to be considerate to the wives. Treating them with respect and as fellow heirs and for the wonderful gift that they are. In my mind, from my perspective, the most important person on the planet. A precious jewel.  Does that sound like it is ok to "bully" the wife because the husband is "in charge"? Actually, the husband is responsible for the wife and children to God. With authority comes responsibility. God has established an order for His purpose. It is His design- not man's. But man seems to always have a better idea than God about how the family should work. Think about the implications of this verse.

"Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." - Ephesians 5:25

Or how about this one.

"How can two walk together unless they be agreed?" - Amos 3:3

Martie and I talk about this a lot. There must be spiritual agreement. In other words - both the husband and wife agree that it is the right thing to do. That does not mean that one or the other is not having their faith stretched by God. God will very often take us to places that will stretch us - make us sweat - if you will. There is opportunity for either one to miss the mark and sin. This only works if both the husband and the wife are "right" spiritually. It is not a natural thing - it is a spiritual thing. It is not a submission of the will to each other - well actually it is - but not before their will fully is submitted to 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 

New Heart Or A Clean Heart

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." -  Ezekiel 36:26-27

That was the Lord's promise to the people of Israel after they had been scattered because of their disobedience. Israel was and is a physical representation of something spiritual. Something that included people beyond the Jewish nation. It is referred to as "the" mystery in the New Testament.

"It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." - Romans 9:6-7

"This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." -Ephesians 3:6

As Jesus told Nicodemus - "You must be born again" by the Spirit. He would not find God on the basis of his natural birth. By faith God gives us a new heart and puts His Spirit in us. In you and me. We are faced with a choice every day - every second actually. Which heart will we allow to guide us. If we are not deliberate in focusing on guide and our new life then our old life will dominate our thinking and our doing. We will continue to cling to the fact that we are saved - but live like we are not. Our flesh is drawn to the world and what the world desires. 

"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

We are immersed in a world that we are no longer a part of - spiritually. Like walking through a mud puddle and not getting muddy. Is it possible? Yes. But impossible if we trust in ourselves to stay clean. We could not do it before we met Jesus, and we can't do it - by ourselves after. 

I write these devotional thoughts to encourage you in your faith and your day to day living. I am not seeking your mental - tacit - agreement with what I share - but spiritual agreement where your new heart says, "yes and amen". And more that you consider your ways - as I do every time I sit behind this keyboard - I write to myself before I share with you.

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

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

Jars of Clay

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." - 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

When we are born again and the Spirit of God takes up residence in us, our jar of clay if you will - That is a mystery that is not clearly explained in the New Testament. What we do know is that the Shekinah Glory - the visible presence of God was in the Holy of Holies over the Ark of the Covenant. The Bible does not make a clear connection between the Shekinah Glory of the Old Testament and the Holy Spirit of the new but Christians are referred to as the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19)

So, to my point. You are well aware that the presence of the Spirit in you does not protect you from temptation or from sin for that matter. The Spirit does convict us of sin and does seal us for the day of redemption. We are cautioned that we should not quench the Spirit and go our own way. 

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

Quenching the Spirit would be to ignore or deliberately disobey the leading of the Spirit. Jesus said the Father would send the Spirit to help us. Help us do what? Live our new life - our spiritual life. I have always thought of the Holy Spirit as the heavenly connector or adapter. When we were living in an RV in Mississippi, Florida and Texas our trailer was powered through a 30 amp circuit and a specific plug. Sometimes there was not 30 amp connection only a 50 amp connection that requires a different plug. So, we had to get an adapter (30 to 50) that allowed us to connect to the source of power.

That is like the Spirit in us. The Spirit gives us a spiritual connection so these Jars of Clay can connect to the Father. To give us the spiritual power we need to live our new life. Quenching the Spirit is like pulling the plug. We are on our own at that point. That is not to say we have lost our salvation - but we are living on our own power. Not a good place to be but it is all too easy to go there, as you probably already know if you have been a Christian for more than a week!

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 

Happy or Holy

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" - 1 Peter 2:9

I happened to see a post on Facebook that was a challenge to the Christian readers to consider the question - "Does God want us to be happy or holy?" I suppose a follow-on question might be - "Why can't we be both?"

The idea of being "holy" is to be consecrated or set apart, dedicated or devoted to serving God. Separate from the world and devotion to the things of the world. That possibility happens the moment that we are saved by faith. Another question might be - "What is the source of our joy or happiness?" Position or possession. Have you ever heard someone ask in frustration, "What does it take to make them happy?" There is a quote from John D. Rockefeller when he was asked how much money he needed. The answer, "Just a little bit more." The pursuit for the things of this world to make us happy is never ending. The desire is insatiable. People with a lot of many very often have lives that are relational disasters. 

"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." - 1 John 2:15-16

If you should find yourself in pursuit of "more" in your quest to be happy, you might very well have to deny your faith - obedience to the Word - your new nature - to acquire that which you desire. The Bible is a mirror, if you will. It reflects the nature of God and the nature of man. It is also about transformation - mankind cannot become like Christ on our own - but we need God's intervention. 

"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 12:2

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

The truth about happiness is that only way to be truly happy is to be holy. 

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 

Speak Lord - Your Servant Is Listening

 "And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down" - 1 Corinthians 14:30

Have you ever had that happen to you? You were not expecting it but "wham" you had a sudden realization. And more than that you knew that it was from God.  That happened to the Prophet Samuel before he was the "mighty" prophet. 

"(Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) 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 3:7-10

Do you believe that the Lord would ever speak to you? I hope you do. But you may not know it was the Lord just like Samuel. He had to seek the advice of someone who understood. Do you remember when CB radios were the thing. You do know what a CB radio is, right? Hey - you got your ears on good buddy!! Do you remember that. Channel 19 was the channel (there were 40) that the truckers used most often. That is how you knew if there were road hazards or if "smokey" had a speed trap set up.  Now you GPS tells you all of that. But I digress :)

In the study, Experiencing God, Dr. Blackaby says that there are 7 spiritual realities that, as Christians, it is important to understand. But more than that to embrace as we live our new lives in Christ. The fourth reality is that God speaks to us. He speaks by the Spirit, who is in us, through Prayer, the Word, circumstances and other Christians. I suspect that a number of people who we have led through that study had no problem accepting that truth - but putting it into practice well that is "a horse of a different color".

When I am listening to a sermon the thought I have is "Speak Lord, your servant is listening."  The pastor has been called by God to share Truth with the Believers and the Gospel with those who are lost. I am interested in hearing that Truth, but more I am waiting to hear from God as well. God does not speak because I decide it is His turn - but I hear because I am focused and listening for His voice. And when He speaks, it is always consistent with His revealed will and always requires me to exercise faith to respond. That typically means that something is about to change.

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

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

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

I'd Rather Burn Out Than Rust Out

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." -  1 Corinthians 15:58

When do you retire from active Christianity? I don't think it is possible. One of the things that Martie and I are sensitive to is the idea of being shuffled into a "pasture" for the "seniors" at a church as if you are incapable of making a spiritual contribution to the rest of the local body of believers. Do you think there is a time when the Lord says, "OK, I think you have done enough." If He does, then wouldn't it make sense for Him to just call you home? I mean - stick him with a fork - he is done! Unless I missed it, the whole idea of our being here is that we are to be salt and light in a sinful world - there is no age caveat with those verses. That as we accumulate spiritual wisdom, it is our responsibility to share that wisdom with less mature Christians. And if it is us'ns that are immature then Houston we have a problem. The book of Hebrews speaks to this problem - so it is not new.

"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness." - Hebrews 5:11-13

I think that part of the problem is that, at least in our culture, there is an expectation that our usefulness in the local church is used up by the time we are ready for social security. And many Christians just go along with that idea. Churches organize around it. What I tell people is that I would rather burn out than rust out. 

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

Does that sound like the Lord has a retirement plan for older Christians? I am thinking not. How about you? For Martie and me, when a certain work is finished the thought is never that we are done with service, but what does the Lord have for us next to do. One day it will be to join Him in heaven - but not this day. And like the prophet Samuel, we say, "Speak Lord your servants are listening."

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 Heaven - Not Like Living On Earth

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.  So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." - 1 Corinthians 15:42-50

Have you given much thought to what it means to have eternal life? More than that - what it means to live for eternity when this mortal life is over? I think I shared that Martie and I watch a television show called "The Repair Shop". The "shop" is in England and is staffed by expert craftspeople. I always stumble the words that end in "men" these days. If I write craftsmen it is not meant to disenfranchise women but just to use a word to describe both men and women and the word just happens to end in "men". But I digress and I will stick with "people".

The "shop" captured our attention because of the great care that the repairers showed in restoring whatever it was that was brought to them. In every case, the object had significant personal meaning to the families who typically brought it to the shop as a "last resort". No one else was able to repair it. Now to my point - very often the question to the owner after the repair would be something like "so what do you think your grandfather or other relative would say about the repair?" And more often than not the owners would say, "Well, if they are up there looking down, I am certain that he or she would be very pleased to see it repaired to its former glory". 

That comment got my attention. First it suggested that they did not know if the person was in heaven. Second that the person, once in heaven, would even care about something they left behind. Jesus gave us perspective on worldly possessions that we value in this life.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

Both Paul and Jesus spoke to the difference in what is valued in heaven in contrast to what is valued on earth. The owners of the items in the Repair Shop comments also serve to reveal that we, whose feet are firmly planted on this Earth are inclined project our natural thinking onto what life in heaven will be like. So why do I bring this up? Because the issue is not ever discussed among Christians - in my experience - and I have been a Christian since 1976. We tend to over value possessions, accumulation and relationships during this life. It will all be left behind. We must be careful that we don't have the attitude of Lot's wife who obeyed God physically but looked back on Sodom with regret. Like the song, I Left My Heart In San Francisco. 

I am reminded of a story about a very rich man whose last wishes were that on the day of his death - all of his wealth would be converted to gold and it would be buried with him. And so it was. As he approached the pearly gates, he was dragging his coffin behind him.  Saint Peter asked him what was in the coffin? The man told him it was all that he spent a lifetime accumulating and raised the lid to show him. To which Peter inquired "Pavement?" 

My point - set your heart on things of heaven and don't assume that when you are in heaven that you will just pick up your life where you left off while you lived this natural life. Understand and accept that living in heaven will not be like living on earth. 

"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." - 1 John 2:15-16

Believe it when the Bible says you cannot love God and money. You will love one and hate the other. And you can take that to the bank.

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 Up To What We Have Attained

 "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God....Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11,19-20

When I write these devotional thoughts (this one makes 3203 days that I have shared with you), my hope is not to necessarily reveal some spiritual truth that has escaped you, although that may happen from time to time, but to encourage you to remember who you are in Christ today - at this moment. I must add that the first reader is always me. That somehow it will give you renewed perspective as to how, as Christians, we should live our lives - how we are to act toward others and to live in reverence to the God who has saved us by grace through faith. 

My intent is to remind you that we are by no means perfect by deed or thought so long as we walk this earth but, at the same time, have been supernaturally perfected in Jesus. Not that we might then excuse our sin, but to understand that we were born into sin, our first birth. and will be tempted by sin until we breath our last breath. That you should not be discouraged by that thought but rather be encouraged knowing that He who has begun a good work in you, our second birth, will be faithful to complete. That on Christ the solid Rock you are standing - and all other ground is sinking sand. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians......

"... let us live up to what we have already attained." - Philippians 3:16

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 New Spiritual Life

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:9-11

So, as you already know, as born-again Christians, we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). If that was all there is to it, then all we would need to do is wait until this life is over and - presto - change-o we would be in heaven for eternity and we could begin our new life - which will be for eternity. But that is not what happened. At the point of our salvation - our new birth - we started our eternal existence as the children of God. God put His spirit in each one of us.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

It is the Spirit of God that "quickens" us toward God and enables our understanding of spiritual truth. We were sealed by the Spirit. God put His mark not on us but in us. 

"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

Unfortunately, we, all too often, forget that the Spirit is present in us. The presence of the Spirit is similar to what King David said of God. I love this psalm.

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." - Psalm 139:1-14

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 

We Are Family

"It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.  As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not." - Romans 4:13-17

I am certain that you have heard the expression, "blood relative". I don't think that I am understating it when I say that millions of people are trying to understand their blood relationship with others through genetic testing. There is something in us that makes us want to know. Adopted children very often feel compelled to find their birth parents. 

Jesus spent a good bit of his earthly ministry telling people to stop looking at their natural condition and use it to shape their world view - what they like - what they don't like - who they like - who they don't like - what they do - what they don't do. His speaking is summed up in His admonition to Nicodemus. 

"Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again." - John 3:5-7

As Christians we have a common blood relative - it is Jesus Christ.

"He [Jesus] has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." - Colossians 1:13-18

We have been adopted into the family of God. Grafted into the Vine. We are now called the children of God. The eyes of our hearts have been opened to spiritual truth. Our new birth has reshaped our world view (or should have) - so what we like - what we don't like - who we like - who we don't like - what we do - what we don't do - has changed and now is consistent with the will of God.

Stop looking at the outside of the cup to determine if someone is part of your family. It is the inside of the cup that determines that.

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

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

A Simple Message With Eternal Consequences

"For Christ did not send me [Paul] to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly 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 the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" - 1 Corinthians 1:17-23

At the church we are attending the pastor has been preaching on the Lord's prayer for a number of weeks. Speaking upwards to 40 minutes on each verse. The prayer on the surface is simple but there is a spiritual depth and application to the Christian life and perspective that is expansive. That is the same with the message of salvation. So simple that many think that there must be more to it. I mean after all do you mean to say that just a few words can have eternal consequences?

"But what does it [the Word of God] say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." - Romans 10:8-10

That is so simple - yet for many the simplicity is a stumbling block. I mean, nothing in this life that is of any importance is simple - right? When you share the Gospel with people there is something greater at work than the words that you speak. Although what you say is an eternal truth and THE mystery of the ages. That something is the working of the Spirit of God in the heart of the hearer. I do not know how many times I heard the Gospel, by very well-intentioned people. But the words rolled off like the proverbial water off of a duck's back. But then one day, my heart was quickened and I understood the truth of the Gospel - I believed in my heart. It was the work of the Spirit. Do you remember Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John chapter 3?

"Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 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.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?" - John 3:3-10

Spiritual truth cannot be understood through the wisdom of the world. People might understand the words in their minds, but it is only with the transformed heart that we can understand God's truth and recognize the Truth who is Jesus. The One Nicodemus was looking for was the One he was talking to.

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

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