Hugging A Porcupine

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” – Matthew 5:43-45

It is easy to love people that love you back. Like sitting in a comfortable chair or hugging a teddy bear. All warm and snuggly, but that is not always the case, is it? Sometimes – perhaps more times than you would like, you encounter people that are unkind, unloving, perhaps even hateful and mean spirited.  It might even be someone in your own family or group of friends.  Pastor Rick Warren said, “Hurt people – hurt people.” It is more than the turn of a phrase – though it is that – it is truth. I am certainly not suggesting that you should be a punching bag – literally or figuratively, or a pin cushion – but, rather, I am suggesting this.

As Christians, we have the capacity and the opportunity to show the love of God to people who are lost and or hurting. That is if we have the right perspective on the situation we find ourselves in.  For nearly all of us, our “go to” is to defend ourselves when people curse us, hate us, spitefully use us or persecute us. Particularly if we are innocent and not complicit in some sin or wrong doing. I was just having this conversation with someone yesterday. They have a loved one who is hanging on to life by a thread. The loved one and their spouse, the whole family really, are stressed – fearful – and worn out. They have been on an emotional and physical roller coaster for several years.  In the midst of a recent critical medical incident, there were some things said that were unkind to my friend.  They were struggling with the hurt it caused and the fact that what was said did not have a seed of truth. They were struggling with the hurtful words that were said to them. With the rejection they felt.

The person I was talking to was clearly hurt and told me that they had done no harm. My advice was this – “You need to absorb that and not hold it against them. Think of it as a gift to them. A sacrifice that you are making as you see them struggling to just hang on. It was not really a personal attack – even though it felt like it was. Almost like a betrayal.  Remember that together they have been facing impending death for years. It has taken its toll on them.” I was thinking of the words, “Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for them.” I find it interesting that, as Christians – being a reflection of Christ – salt and light – we can agree that the Word of God is good and right until we are offended. Then it is “Katy bar the door!”

“… But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another..” – Galatians 5:22-26

What I was asking the person to do was spiritual not natural. To ask someone who is not a Christian to do something that is inherently spiritual, is asking them to do the impossible. The fruit of the Spirit is something that is independent of our circumstances and flesh but totally dependent upon our spiritual condition.  If we live by the Spirit – and if you are born again you do – then walk in the Spirit – under the influence of the leading of the Spirit. The Spirit enables us to respond supernaturally and not with our flesh. I did not give this advice as though it was theoretical – something that I had read somewhere – “Do as I say, not as I do.” Some years ago – I was the one under attack and a Brother told me to not respond – that God would vindicate me – that I should “hug the porcupine”. And so I did. That memory, just now, brought to mind another scripture …. Something else was at work in this conversation – I was passing along the comfort.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ..” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

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

Flying Solo

“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” – John 16:5-7

In most Army helicopters, there are two pilots – there is always a PIC – Pilot in command and a co-pilot.  Commercial airlines call that person, the Captain.  The other pilot – the co-pilot – is given tasks to do to help the PIC safely traverse the skies.  I could always tell when the person I was flying with was used to flying by themselves in a single pilot aircraft.  The tell was that they tried to do everything on their own and I was just along for the ride.  Things can get busy in an aircraft – there is a reason that there are two seats up front.  In some aircraft there is a third seat behind the pilots for a navigator. So …. to my point!

Many, if not most of us, are living our lives as if we were flying solo. Like living the Christian life – keeping our old natures and its desires in check – is totally dependent upon our will and moral courage and strength.  The fact is that living the Christian life, successfully, is impossible if I try to live it on my own. God, the Father, sent the Holy Spirit, to be the means by which we are able to do that which is spiritual.  Perhaps you remember the bumper sticker that said “God is my co-pilot”.  Well that is close but not accurate.  God is, in fact, the PIC in the aircraft that we call our mortal life. The Spirit is His presence and enabler in our lives.  We treat the Spirit like a co-pilot – perhaps listening to His suggestions – but then choosing to do what we think is best – even when it goes against the Spirit’s leading.

“… 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

We live as if only one pilot is necessary – we live our new lives as if successful living was totally dependent upon us and our choices.  And when the Word is clear that we are to live and walk by the Spirit and not the flesh – we dismiss it. Like Adam and Eve, we want to be in charge. This is not a new problem and it is not just me or you that struggles with it. 

“Do not quench the Spirit.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:19

God saw fit to include that admonishment for a reason. Got any idea what that might be?  God sent the Spirit as a help and guide – but so very often our response is “Talk to the hand!” I don’t need any help – no matter the struggle I am facing. I can do it myself – I want to do it myself – even if I fail – and then I might ask – “Where is God when I need him?” So what are you facing today – are you flying solo? Again?

“…. Trust in the Lord .. and do not lean on [trust] your own understanding … acknowledge Him in all your ways …. He will direct you.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

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

Presence Of Temptation Spiritual Disorder (PTSD)

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle [battle] against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:10-13

“Our Lord’s making of a disciple is supernatural. God does not ask us to do the things that are naturally easy for us— He only asks us to do the things that we are perfectly fit to do through His grace, and that is where the cross we must bear will always come.” Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Martie and I were chatting the other day when she mentioned that the pursuit of our spiritual life is like a battle. I was immediately reminded of Ephesians 6:12 and putting on the “full armor of God”.

Girded your waist with truth – so as to avoid becoming entangles in the affairs of this world and your culture.  Put on the breastplate of righteousness – to protect your vital organs – that being your heart. Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace – so wherever you go you bring the influence and presence of the Spirit of God. Take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one - temptation. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful. But most importantly – be ready to Stand and Fight the spiritual battle.

Suited up for battle – fully equipped to deal with what the enemy brings you way.  I read an article the other day on thoughts about why the Afghan army failed and the country was lost to the Taliban. The write, an instructor at Army War College, said that it is not that they were not trained – they had been trained for the past 20 years – it is that they lacked the heart – the dedication to fight and even die in that fighting.  [Or perhaps they do not view loyalty to their country in the same way that the Western Culture does] It is not that they were not equipped – they were – it is that they failed to use the training and equipment when the battle was upon them – when they came face to face with the enemy. Instead of fighting – they gave up. It was the story of the Mouse That Roared, a 1955 Cold War satirical novel by Irish American writer Leonard Wibberley. If you recall, a tiny European country defeated the United States in a war without firing a shot.

Each of us, Christians, is faced with a challenge every day – the battle is raging around us.  Satan – the mouse – does not have the power to defeat us – but we have the ability to pay our weapons down because we lack the heart – the will – the faith to stand against the wiles of the devil.  We are willing to lay our lives down – but instead surrender to a weak enemy. We will yield to PTSD because if we are not committed – not devoted fully to God.  We are in a battle my friends – a spiritual battle. My encouragement to you?

“…. by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” – Romans 12:1-2

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

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

Christians Are A Spiritual Work In Progress

“I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” – Romans 7:21-25

For the first 2 years in Texas, we lived in a travel trailer in a church parking lot – on a major highway – on the approach/departure end of an airport.  The highway is under construction and has been for years.  For local residents, it seems like the work has been going on since they can remember, with no end in sight. Not too different from the process of sanctification that happens in a Christian’s life.  That change – that construction – just doesn’t seem to happen fast enough in other people – not in me – other people.

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

Martie and I were watching a church service last Sunday – holed up in our COVID cave – and the preacher said “No one has to be taught how to sin, we are all born with that nature.”  It was then that I was reminded that what I wanted to see in my children and their children was a change in their nature and then a change in their heart and then a change in their life choices.  

(2 Corinthians 5:17) says if we are in Christ – born again – the old nature will decrease and the new nature will increase.  The most important thing you can do for your child is lead them to Jesus – but the choice to yield their hearts to God is theirs, not yours. Oh – and to clarify – our lives are no different than theirs.  My mom felt the very same way about me and the other 6 children in our family.  Our three children have all professed faith in Jesus.  And we all still make poor choices – all of us.  We have a new life that is under construction.

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

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

BTW – this applies to other people you know – not just your kids! Maybe your spouse 😊

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

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

When God Gives You Opportunity

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

You never know when God is going to give you the opportunity.  Be ready.  As it happened I was reading Ecclesiastes chapter 3 this morning.  There is a time or season for everything.

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

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

All of this just because Martie's car needed a service.  My point to you is be ready .. but more, be willing.  You never know when and where God will give you opportunity to speak life into someone.  Maybe today! And if you should think that you are not gifted and knowledgeable enough – you are because what I am talking about is spiritual and totally dependent upon the Spirit of God and your submission to the Spirit. You don’t have to convince anybody – but you should be ready to tell everybody!

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’s Eye’s Are Resting On Us

“… And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” – Matthew 24:6-8

Jesus was talking to His disciples about the second coming – when the Messiah returns for His Bride, the Church.  I have heard many Christians suggesting that the end is near – that Jesus’ return is on the horizon.  They say this, I think, out of an awareness that the world is shrouded in darkness.  All of our technology and medical advancements have not changed the fundamental problem in this world – sin.  Man’s efforts will always fall short of being the solution for peace and prosperity. It doesn’t matter what governmental system is put in place, what societal norms are embraced – sin will always mess it up. John Lennon sang a song with the words, “All we are saying is give peace a chance.” The peace that the world is looking for is only found in hearts devoted to God by faith in His Son.  Peace is a spiritual reality … not merely the absence of wars but the absence of hate which is to say the presence of love – the love that comes from God. So – if the world is not reconciled to God then it will not know the love of God and so will not have the peace of God. 

Today we see wars raging – rumors of new wars starting – famine – pestilence or plagues or pandemics – earthquakes.  We are in the middle of all of that! But “these are the beginning of sorrows.” A number of people have been asking me about how to respond to the earthquake in Haiti – how can they help.  The catalyst for our going to Haiti was the earthquake in 2010.  This is an unedited message I receive from Jeanne Pierre, a Haitian woman who served as a teacher and director in the school we helped launch in Bossier just outside of Jacmel. Jeanne was just married and moved to Les Anglaise with her husband to enter into ministry there. 

“It’s where i am living after my weeding [wedding] with my husband now we are slipping [sleeping] in the yard because a lot of house are down and the les anglais church too. [Les Anglaise is on the Western tip of the Southwest peninsula of Haiti – not far from the epicenter of the earthquake] There are some children who are died it is so sad for the comity [community]of les anglais. Some families are criying. Parents and children together are died. It’s sadness where I just arrive two weeks about. Where we are preparing for les anglais ministries. I am from Jacmel but now in the ministry I leave Jacmel to go to live les anglais.”

That is a tragic story – please pray for Jeanne Pierre Amady and her husband, Thony Amady.  They are part of Lemuel Ministries, https://www.lemuelministries.org/, [a Haitian ministry] in an area that may very likely be overlooked because it is not a population center like Les Cayes.  My point in sharing this story is that  what Jesus was talking about is more than hyperbole or mere words. It is about the struggles that people face. A tropical storm is bearing down on Haiti and many people are sleeping outside afraid to be in buildings.

So what does this have to do with you and me?  As Christians we are to be salt and light in the midst of the rumors of new wars starting – famine – pestilence or plagues or pandemics – earthquakes (an other natural disasters). We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It is too easy to read a post on Facebook, like it, and move on to the next post. Or to watch a news story and feel sorry for the people who are in the midst of it and then wonder “What’s for supper?” like the man in the mirror, forgetting what you just say.  Are you your brother’s keeper? The answer is “yes”.

“ ... I [God] looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one...” — Ezekiel 22:30

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

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

What I Am And What I Am Not

“ ... But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles...” — Galatians 1:11-16

So that was who Paul used to be and who God called him to be. So what am I? First, I am not the Holy Spirit – neither are you.  Very often we try to be just that.  Thinking that we can change someone’s heart and their behavior or even save someone. It is important that we keep them in mind. If you think that – or try to do that – do something that is inherently spiritual by your own devices and designs you will be frustrated and disappointed. We must be aware, and accepting, of who we are and who we are not. 

“… some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” – Acts 19:13-16

My point in referencing this scripture is that there is a spiritual reality that we live in. What is accomplished by us, spiritually, is actually being accomplished through us, by the power of the Spirit of God. As Christians we all have spiritual roles and responsibilities. Counselor, Pointer to the Truth, Encourager, Ambassador for Christ – Salt and Light, Brother. You are to represent Jesus to the world around you, at your place of work or study, to your friends, to your wife, to your children, to the lost, to the saved. You are not the Holy Spirit but you are sealed by the Holy Spirit, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, lead by the Spirit, taught by the Spirit, corrected and convicted by the Spirit.  You are a sinner saved by grace who faces temptation every day and falls frequently, having trusted in your own strength and will power to overcome something that has a spiritual root. You are a cracked pot – a jar of clay, having flaws that are deep rooted, born out of the sins of others and your own. You are an adopted son or daughter. Your adoption was paid for by the blood of Jesus. It didn’t cost you anything but it cost Jesus everything. You are tempted to treat your new life with indifference – like it does not matter to you.  And perhaps most of all – you are loved with an everlasting love by the God who created you from the dust – who knew you before you were yet formed in the womb – and who has a plan for you to prosper in this life – a prosperity that has nothing to do with money and everything to do with obedience, living by faith and walking in the power of the Spirit in you.

“ …. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

To paraphrase a quote by John Newton that I shared yesterday – “ We are not the people we ought to be, we are not the people we wish to be, and we are not the people we hope to be, but by the grace of God, we are not the people we used to be.”

If you are not satisfied with where you are in your Christian life – good! If you are disappointed in your lack of consistency in your walk – good! In my mind, that means that the Spirit of God is at work in you. That you have a spiritual awareness.  That is not to say that you should be content in knowing that but that you should rejoice that God has not forsaken you.  I am reminded of something Paul wrote in Romans 7

“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” – Romans 7:14-25

Don’t be surprised by the struggle. Remember who you are in Christ and the life you have been called to live – the responsibilities we have been shaped to fulfill. The great salvation that is yours for eternity.

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