Looking At The Outside Of The Cup

"My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" - James 2:1-5

Have you ever looked at someone and based upon what you saw decided in your heart that they were not worthy of God's grace and mercy? That they were somehow less than another person who didn't have quite so many "obvious warts"? That is the natural way of things in this world. But we live supernatural lives from the day that we were born again by the Spirit and faith in Jesus. Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesus.

"making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding [heart] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." - Ephesians 1:16-21

In other words, that we would see things the way God sees them. That we would have a spiritual perspective and understanding.

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

People look at the outside of others and make assumptions about them without even knowing them. God sees the heart. My wife and I were sitting in church yesterday right behind an elderly woman. She could not stand when the congregation stood. She was moving constantly apparently trying to find a position where she could get some relief from her pain. At times she would lay her head on the back of the pew. No one was sitting next to her. In fact, the people on the pew were giving her "wide berth". When we were singing, I could hear her singing along. Her voice weak and out of tune with the music -but sing she did. She was there to worship. When the service was over, she struggled to stand. But stand she did. and then slowly walked out of the sanctuary to find her walker. The sermon she preached was stronger than sermon the pastor shared from the pulpit. 

Lord that I would love you like that woman does. That I would seek you out no matter what trials I am facing. That in me you will find no complaint about the minor inconveniences I must deal with every day. And like her ..... 

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

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 

Asking For Help For All The Wrong Reasons

"You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." - James 4:2-4

I wrote about "foxhole religion" the other day. When someone prays to God with the only motive being to get themselves out of a tight spot. Very often we pray to find relief from the consequences of our sins. Of course, we don't see it that way.  To do that would require that we admit that we have sinned and then repent of our sin. In all fairness, I don't think most people see life that way. Cause and effect. I make wrong choices and then face the consequences of those choices. Instead of confession we offer excuses or try to shift the blame onto someone else. There was a comedian named Flip Wilson who would say, "The devil made me do it." The truth of the matter is that the most the Devil can do is make the offer to sin. The choice to sin is ours and ours alone.

"each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." - James 1:14-15

Because we live in a sin-sick world, we, and everyone else on the planet, will face adversity that is not of our making. Certainly, we should pray for our relief from the adversity and for others. But we should approach God as a loving father, holy God and not a heavenly waiter.

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much [powerful and effective]" - James 5:16

Did you notice the caveat was "a righteous man". Why would we think that we could approach a holy God with unclean hands? With unconfessed sin. Worse, that ask God to relieve us of the consequences of those sins without addressing the fact that we have sinned against the One we are praying to? James wrote ....

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." - James 1:2-4

Not getting relief but instead learning to be patient is probably not what you want to hear when you feel the breath of the lion on your neck!

We should be like King David when he was confronted with his own sin by the Prophet Nathan. David wrote this in Psalm 51. Confession and repentance.

"[Father God] Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit." -Psalm 51:9-12

To do any less is to treat our salvation and Jesus' sacrifice with contempt. Harsh statement? Yes! But it is a harsh reality.

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 

An Attitude Of Ingratitude

"On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.  Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:11-19

Before you think harsh thoughts of the nine. We can easily be just like those other nine lepers. We just want relief. We want to live our lives free of trouble and consequence for our actions. When we need relief, or when everything we tried or trusted in has failed us, we turn to God as a last resort. And during the times when we don't need relief.  He is a distant thought, and maybe not thought of at all.

Unfortunately, I am not just referring to the lost. In war there is something called "fox-hole religion".  As some of you know and the rest can imagine, warfare is full of terrors. After all people are trying to kill each other. It is not uncommon for people, even those who are far from God, to make promises to God when bullets are buzzing over their heads. "God if only you will protect me and keep me safe from bodily harm. If you do God I promise I will go to church!" And once the battle is over, the promise is forgotten. I got what I wanted. Like the nine lepers.

Are you thinking that you would never be like that? Think again. There is something called Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. They are (in order of importance) 1. Physiological Needs: Essential for survival (e.g., food, water). 2. Safety Needs: Protection and stability. 3. Love/Belonging Needs: Social relationships and connectedness. 4. Esteem Needs: Recognition and self-respect. and 5. Self-Actualization Needs: Achieving personal potential. 

When we are in trouble our focus is on 1 and 2. Did you notice the God is not listed as a need? Thinking about God might be #3 or maybe #5 need. But, when you are focused on the first 2 needs, you forget about the others until the first 2 are satisfied. It's all about you. It is so easy to lose spiritual perspective.

"The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:5-7

Do you believe that? It's true whether you do or not. If you have not prepared spiritually, you will most certainly struggle. If you are ready, then your heart will resonate with James' words.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." - James 1:2-7

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

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

Gaining Spiritual Understanding

"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." - Luke 24:45-49

One of our biggest challenges is to not try to figure spiritual truth out with our natural wisdom. 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9

Do you see the implication from that verse. It is not possible to understand spiritual truth with our mortal minds. Like trying to explain some complex mathematical theorem to a 3-year-old. They may hear the words but don't have a clue about what they mean.

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

Do you see the implication here when trying to explain spiritual truth to a lost person. They do not have the capacity to understand apart from revelation from the Spirit of God. Their first revelation being the day that they are born again.

"Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, 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, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." - John 3:3-6

Do you see the implication here of ever having a hope of understanding God's Truth? We need help to do that. And God made a provision through His Spirit and the Word of God.

"I [Jesus] will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." - John 14:16-17

And when does the Spirit of God come to abide with us?

"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance." - Ephesians 1:13-14

The Spirit of God is in every Christian. We cannot live the life we have been called to without Him in us.

"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 6:19-20

Knowing all of this, it is important to remember that we always have the option of ignoring the spiritual and embracing the natural.  It is so easy - after all it comes naturally to us. Like the old Bick Owens song, "All You Got To Do Is Act Naturally". That is why we are given this admonition.

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. [ignore the Word of God] Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

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

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

Faith & Love - The Only Thing That Counts

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." - Galatians 5:6

Is that what you believe? Really? I have quoted Dr Tackett from the Truth Project many times in the past. He asked the question, "Do you believe that what you believe is really real?" Or is it a "pie in the sky" notion that gives you a "warm and fuzzy feeling, but has little to do with how you live your life?  Is that where your faith is in your order of priorities for your life? Number 1 in the order of things? But Paul did not stop there. The natural expression of faith is love. Love for God and love for others. And how is that expressed? Well, by putting yourself last in the order of priorities.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." - John 15:12-14

Jesus said that our mandate is to love others sacrificially. The "pecking order" is God - others - me or you. So often we look for reciprocity in our relationships with others. You love me and I will love you. That is not what Jesus said to do.

"But I [Jesus] tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." - Matthew 5:44-48

We are to love the way God loves. We cannot do that through determination but by being submitted to God. Laying down our life and natural affections to the glory of God and the good of others.  And if the extent of you love is limited to your social circle - you have missed the point. With that attitude you will never cross the road. If you think that it is too hard to do what Jesus asks of us - you are correct. But that is why Paul wrote - 

"I can do all this through him [Jesus] who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:13

Like Peter walking on the water.

Christmas is a time for us to remember the magnitude of God's love for us with the advent of the Messiah. My appeal is not that you resolve to love others more. Rather it is an appeal to love God more. And when you do, the spiritual result is that you will love others more.  It's about the cross.

https://youtu.be/aKmUQHhyYwE

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 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