Archives for April 2017

Stand Firm

April 28, 2017

The Light of God’s Word

My wife and I participated in Small Groups at our Church. The group we joined studied 1 Corinthians. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the last class over chapters 15 and 16. But I had studied it this past week, and I was convicted by the passage, 1Corinthians 16:13-14 and the phrase, “stand firm.”

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV) ¹³ Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

Today I was reminded of verse 13 by K – Love through their “Encouraging Word.”

I read verse 13 and 14, and I continued to the end of 1 Corinthians.

Final Instructions – 1 Corinthians 16:12-18

“Final Instructions” is the heading in my ESV translation for 1 Corinthians 16:12-18. As I said, the verses 13-14 got my attention. I was also taken by verse 18.

1 Corinthians 16:18 (ESV) ¹⁸ for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

Paul was speaking of three men Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus and the encouragement they gave him as well as the church at Corinth. I loved the passage; Paul said, “they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.” I just started thinking of all the people in my Church home and other brothers and sisters in Christ that I have met and how so many help me to “stand firm” with their encouragement and council.

Stand Fast – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

I thought of verse 13 and Paul’s words.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV) ¹³ Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

Now as I think about the words here I think of the unity of the Church and the need we have for each other. I read verse 12-18 again. Paul said something in verse 12 that got my attention.

1 Corinthians 16:12 (ESV) ¹² Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

It sounds like the folks of Corinth liked Apollos. It kind of sounds like they might have become a bit dependent on him, maybe a bit too much, so Paul pressed upon them to “stand firm in the faith.” He also reminded them of others in their congregation they could go to, specifically, Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus.

1 Corinthians 16:15-16 (ESV) they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— ¹⁶ be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

Then in verse 17-18, he reminded me of how I should look at those around me.

1 Corinthians 16:17-18

Paul found joy in His meeting with these three men. They refreshed his spirit. He reminded the Corinthians to give recognition to such men.

1 Corinthians 16:17-18 (ESV) ¹⁷ I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, ¹⁸ for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

I read all of 1 Corinthians 12-18 again and could not get past verse 13 and I meditated on “standing firm in the faith, ” and I looked at some cross-referenced verses.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 came first.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (ESV) ¹ Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

What power there is in this passage for me. I cannot get past “hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” This Word Paul spoke of is the good news of Jesus Christ – His death, burial, and resurrection which paid our debt and overcame death. But what a waste if we do not believe in the whole truth; and not just the truth, but the truth in love.

Closing

In all this discussion, I cannot help but return to verse 13.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV) ¹³ Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

Paul was very specific in this verse. He directed the Corinthians to be alert, stand firm, be mature, be strong, and to be loving. I prayed about this passage and the direction Paul set, and I just got stuck. But the Holy Spirit reminded me of a passage that gave me peace.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Prayer

Father, please help me to be alert, stand firm, be mature, be strong, and to be loving in the exercise of my faith.

Lord let me not forget, “since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!

The Power of God

April 27, 2017

The Power of God

This morning I tried to focus on simply one passage, but I just cannot seem to do it. As I read the verse, all I could think of was God’s power and grace. The original passage was Romans 8:38-39.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I read that passage and was so encouraged by this love and power of God and His love for me. But all I could think of was, “Ok, what else is he trying to tell me. This is great but there has to be more to it.” So I worked my way backward and started at the end of chapter 7. There Paul talks about the battle between the flesh and the Spirit.

In Romans 8:9-11 he reminds me who I am… but he does through a couple “if-then” statements in there just to give me pause.

Romans 8:9-11 (ESV)

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

I read this passage and give thanks to God. I was not always certain that this described me. It was a difficult thing to get my head around. But now I give thanks for all this promise. I still struggle. Paul talks about his struggles all through God’s Word; even the end of chapter 7 speaks of his personal battle. But you know I take great comfort in knowing that Paul was not perfect. He was a man who faced the same challenges I do, and in many ways, they were much worse. He went so far as to ask us not to worry about his struggles in Ephesians.

Ephesians 3:13-21

Ephesians 3:13 (ESV) ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

He asks us not to lose heart over what he suffers and then prays for us.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV) Prayer for Spiritual Strength

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

He prays for us and reminds us from where our strength comes. The Spirt he also spoke of in Romans 8.

Romans 8:31-39

That brings me back to the close of Romans 8 and the strength we have in the gift of the Holy Spirit. The passage is so moving for me. It shakes me to the bone when I think of all God has done for me.

Romans 8:31-39 (ESV) ³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When I think of what God has done to rescue me, how can I ever doubt His commitment to me? I have no sane choice but to give Him my all.

Closing

You know every day is fraught with challenges and trials. Some are small and even silly when we look back on them. But some are significant, like real loss of a loved one. The thing is when I look back on even the worst of trials I now can see that He was there, even when I denied Him or took Him for granted. His patience with me is beyond me, but I am so thankful for it.

Prayer

Father thank you for you Holy Word and promise. Help me that I may never lose sight of the price you were willing to pay for me. Thank you, Father, for reminding me that your power and grace cannot be overcome.

Help me stay close to you in lock step with every thought and desire.

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!

Be Ready

April 25, 2017

Be Ready for the coming of the Son!

The past few weeks have been challenging for me. Lots of challenges and adapting to change. I have just been cloudy headed, for lack of a better way to describe it, but this morning God gave me a little jolt. He reminded me that circumstances are temporary and inaction is not acceptable. Through a devotional by Oswald Chambers, I was reminded to be ready in season and out of season to preach the Word.

As I paused and reflected on things, I opened my Bible to 2 Timothy and read Chapter 4. I reflected on the past few weeks and the things that were bothering me. The things that made it hard for me to study and pray and to write. I soaked up the verses in 2 Timothy, and I stopped at verse 18.

2 Timothy 4:18

As I read that verse, I was reminded how powerful and mighty my God is. I thought about the challenges and remembered that there is nothing that God cannot bring me through.

2 Timothy 4:18 (ESV) ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord will rescue me, as He has done SO many times. The list is too long to share, and frankly, I am thankful, but what God brought me through He also took from me. These things shaped my character, but they are no longer who I am. I am a new man in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

I started thinking about the new man and the fact that the adversary would prefer I hold on to him instead of Jesus, but the thing is he is dead. I thought about that, and I did some searches paraphrasing verses that I knew, but could not recall. That took me to 2 Corinthians 5:16-18.

2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (ESV) ¹⁶ From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Yes, “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come,” and with that, I was changed and no longer am I to worry about my circumstances, but trust in Him who saved me. I went from 2 Corinthians to Romans 6.

Romans 6:6-11

Paul reminds me there again that I am not the man I was. I am a new creation; my old self was crucified with Jesus.

Romans 6:6-11 (ESV) ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

What a powerful reminder this is to me. I am not who I once was, and as such, I should not respond to my circumstances in the same way as I did in the past with worry and frustration. Instead, I must turn to God. I turned to Ephesians 6.

Ephesians 6:17-20

Ephesians 6:17-20 (ESV) ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, ¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

I read this passage, and my first thought is not my circumstances, but my strength in Jesus Christ. The next thought is to pray, and not just for my circumstances but for all who believe including our preachers and church leaders that they may stay true to God’s Word and “declare it boldly.”

Closing

I am so blessed. Even when I waiver in my trials and want to slip into self-pity my Lord Jesus is there. When I just do not feel like I can do, he shows me that I can, IF I will pray without ceasing and trust in His provision. He is faithful and true. He holds me up when I stumble and comforts me when I am shaken. All this he does in His Word. I am reminded of the quote from Oswald Chambers that started this.

“This verse says, “Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season.” In other words, we should “be ready” whether we feel like it or not. If we do only what we feel inclined to do, some of us would never do anything.” ‘Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers April 25^th devotional.

Now some may say that passage is intended for preachers. But I disagree. We must all tell the go

od news. We must all find our strength in the people and circumstances we find ourselves in. Sometimes it is a passage from a devotional. Sometimes a kind word from a brother or sister in Christ and sometimes in bad experiences. But all things He is with us and His Word is our comfort.

Prayer

Father forgive me for those moments when I drift from you and slip into self-pity. I know that is not a part of me anymore for I am a new man in Jesus.

Help me that I can withstand the attacks of the adversary and cling to Your Word and my sword and armor.

Thank you, Lord, for your gift of grace and the path of prayer. Thank you for the answers even the ones I do not understand at first. To you be the glory Lord. In Jesus name, I pray! Amen!!

1 Peter – Be Holy

April 22, 2017

The Light of God’s Word

I started reading 1 Peter yesterday. I just did not have the energy to post. Sometimes if things are too crazy I just run out of steam. So this morning I retraced my steps and traveled a bit further down that path I had started on yesterday. The part that stuck out to me is the act of striving to be Holy and set apart.

Yesterday I started out in chapter 2 beginning with the 18th verse. The heading of that passage in my ESV translation is ‘Submission to Authority’. I began with the 18th verse

1 Peter 2:18-25

I read verse 18 and was reminded of my career. I started working mowing lawns. My first tax paying job was 1972 and I thought about all the people I had worked for and some of them I thought were great and some… some just were jerks. I know Peter uses the example of the servant, maybe because it was the most challenging role of his time. But what I saw was a need to submit to authority and in this passage, he gave us both the promise and the example.

¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³ When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Peter speaks simply of our response to mistreatment. Sure if you do something inappropriate you may be treated unfairly, but that happens. The part that stands out to me is the was the instruction not to retaliate, but follow Jesus example. I get a cold chill when I read verses 21-24 and verse 25 reminds me of how the Holy Spirit, through discipline and encouragement, helped me overcome my past.

1 Peter 1:3-9

Like always, when the Word touches me like that I have to go back to where it started so I went to chapter one and read 3-9.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

As I read that passage I am thankful for God’s plan and the hope that is in Jesus Christ. I am thankful that when I was lost God called me and revealed all that He has through His Holy Word. There is no greater love than the Love of God. He called us to be holy like He is Holy.

1 Peter 1:13-25 (ESV) Called to Be Holy

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” ¹⁷ And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, ¹⁸ knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴ for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, ²⁵ but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you

These words that Peter shares from God are so powerful. This is serious business. We were bought at a price and that price was the blood of Christ Jesus. I love all of this passage, but verse 22-25 humbles me and I ache when I consider this gift that Jesus bought with His blood. I am so thankful. That brought be back to chapter 2. This chapter started with “So”. So God did all this for me now what is my part.

1 Peter 2:1-12 ‘A Living Stone and a Holy People’

Peter is clear about my part in this. He reminds me in no uncertain terms.

¹ So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. ² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

⁴ As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵ you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 1 Peter 2:1-8 (ESV)

But Peter reminds us that we that believe are different.

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

¹¹ Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:9-12 (ESV)

Why would I want to do anything but live an honorable life pleasing to the Lord. ?I stand on His Word. Not the heads of those that disagree with me. I leave the judgement to God and stand on His Wisdom and strive to follow the example of Christ Jesus.

Closing

And all that brings me back to Chapter 2 verse 13 where I started. As I reflect on these verses I realize that this world and its darkness are my current circumstances and as difficult as they may be they do not compare to the joy of my future. I am to live honorably and speak the truth of Jesus Christ who died, was buried and rose again. He overcame death for me; dying for my sins. I must honor Him and bring Him glory.

Prayer

Father, help me today and every day put your glory ahead of my pride. Help me that I might live an honorable life. Help me hold fast to the example of Jesus and the council of your living and Holy Word.

In Jesus name I pray, AMEN!

Faith

April 20, 2017

Dawn of a New Day

This morning I was trying to wake up a bit. Jersey Girl, our dog, needed to get up more than I did, but she won. As a result, I struggled a bit more to clear the cobwebs from my head. The prayers were long, and I was not sure what I was going to read, and I came across a verse in James 1 that lead me to James discussion of “Testing of Your Faith.”

I ended up reading the first chapter of James and bounced around a bit in other books of the new testament. Hebrew11:1-3 was one that came as I pondered all that I had read and prayed this morning. Chapter 11 is called the faith chapter in Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:1-3

I love the opening of chapter 11. It is one of those truths that are often taken for granted. But do we have it or is it simply easy to agree with without thinking about it too much? It is easy enough to do that James dedicated a chapter to testing it. What Is faith?

Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV) ¹ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ² For by it the people of old received their commendation. ³ By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Now when I meditate on these words my attitude toward faith, changes. If I believe as the writer of Hebrews says what is there that my God cannot overcome? He spoke the universe into existence. But James warns that our faith will be tested, and we should count that as joy.

James 1:2-4

James opens his book with an introduction, and the first words he writes are about trials, but he does not complain. He reminds us that we must “Count it all joy'”

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

For a long time, I did not understand this passage until I had my first serious health problem that ended up putting me on disability. It was a pretty emotional time. I was confused and frightened at times and all kinds of thoughts of how it might have gone ran through my head. But something amazing happened that changed my view.

Testimony

I could not do much the first few weeks I was home. But this Bible Study I had ordered a couple of weeks earlier arrived in the second or third week. I could not do much. I slept a lot. Things were just strange, so I decided to do this Bible study, and God consumed me with it.

It was a 12-week study, and I would do a week a day. If I was awake, I was studying and praying. I finished the 12-week study in 14 days. It would have been 12 days but in the last week I started rehab at Cardinal Hill and the first two days of Rehab just wore me out so I was not up to studying.

The thing is during that period I began to understand what James said in verses 2-4. I moved from frustration to looking at my health issue as a blessing. I was overwhelmed when this became clear. God did not cause my Stroke. That came from years of high stress and hard living, but He used that trial to draw me closer to him.

For me, the stroke started out making me feel very isolated with no real purpose left. But God showed me that I was not alone, and He revealed the purpose He had for me.

He reminded me how wonderful my wife Pat is and He showed me the need for my church family, and suddenly I was surrounded.

James 1:5-8

My Heavenly Father reminded me that I was not alone in fact I was surrounded and in that my faith grew. I became overwhelmed. Thinking this morning about all that history, I remember the content of my prayers. They came from verses 5-8

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

I asked for many things in those days, not the least of which was wisdom. I wanted to understand what was going on, but as I think about it this morning, I realize how long it took before I prayed in expectation. The adversary will use anything he can to deceive us, and he tried to convince me that I did not deserve answers to my prayers. But every day, through that study that guided me through His Word, God showed me I did.

James 1:9-11

I continued reading this morning, and I got stuck on 9-11. It took prayerful thought as I read it several times.

⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

I realized that before the stroke I did believe. I had a faith, but pride was getting in the way. I was the rich man, not that I had a lot of money, but I had a good job, and I was a workaholic. I realized that I had come to define myself by striving to be the best at what I did; even at risk to my health. In fact, I did “fade away in the midst of my pursuits.”

Matthew 19:24-26

There is one thing about a guy like I was, and Jesus speaks to the disciples about that guy in Matthew 19 and those verses, I found more hope.

Matthew 19:24-26 (ESV) ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Verse 26 is one burned into my heart. Not because I still carry that attitude about my work, but because of exactly what Jesus said in that verse and what He did for me. Now humbled, I can do nothing but praise Him and do all I can to bring Him glory.

Closing

I read the rest of chapter 1 and pondered all the things that had changed in my life. I thought about whether I was a hearer or a doer. I know all good gifts come from God, even those that are first not to be a gift.

This morning I give thanks for it all and am reminded of 2 Corinthians 5:7

⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight.

I know I still struggle sometimes with that verse. I will find myself out ahead of God on things rather than waiting for His guidance. I will sometimes pray and doubt that He might answer. But then I have a day like today, and He reminds me how foolish that is to doubt and struggle. But when it comes, and it does, I remember this last passage and the example of my Savior Jesus Christ and the example of faith that He showed me and let that be my prayer this morning.

Prayer

2 Peter 1:3-21

April 19, 2017

Hope and Encouragement

Yesterday was a tough day. Doctor’s appointments in afternoon wear me out. I was struggling with my study this morning. Then I was reminded of 2 Peter 1. This passage is one of those that just tugs at my heart and reminds me of the truth and love of God’s Word.

I am humbled by the Word of God and the message… it is just so powerful. The promises and the guidance just set me on my knees. I just want to go through this and share how it touches me this morning.

2Peter1:3-4

The first two verses just remind me of the gifts we have received through Christ Jesus. There are not words for me to describe how powerful that is. Just thinking about it as I meditate on them.

³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, ⁴ by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Christ Jesus, through His divine power, has granted to me all things that pertain to life and godliness. How did he do it? By revealing Himself to me, and I am thankful that I finally heard Him. Sometimes it is easy for me to wonder how many times I missed His call, but today what matters is that I finally listened, and it has changed my life.

Through Him, I have escaped the chains of sin. I have escaped the corruption of this world. I still struggle with temptation at times, and I do mess sometimes. But now God has given me the gift of the Holy Spirit to remind me when I do and to offer me a path to repentance through grace, and I am thankful. I see why Peter goes on the rant that he does in verses 5-7

2Peter1:5-7

These verses were the first to attract me to this passage. I love the wisdom that Peter shares here.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Each step builds on the last. Each one is a piece to the heart of my faith. Each is a trait of my example, Jesus. All are traits that I desire. They are gifts from God to build on. I love how Peter explains it in the next piece of the passage.

2Peter1:8-9

He is clear. He does not hold back. These are our qualities, and they SHOULD be increasing, and they keep us from being ineffective.

⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

They are so important that if I lack them, I am not only nearsighted but blind and have forgotten, in my mind, most everything I have learned from the Word. Then Peter gives me an assignment and a promise.

2Peter1: 10-11

¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As I read that passage, I am filled with this desire to not forget the teachings of God’s Word and to cling to not only 2Peter but every truth from Genesis to Revelation.

I am amazed by this next passage by Peter because he makes it clear that his time on earth is short and he chooses to preach on these words with passion.

2Peter1: 12-15

¹² Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. ¹³ I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

This passage; a confirmation of my election and calling, is to Peter the thing that Jesus has told him to focus on in his last days. As I read that all I can think is shouldn’t I be doing the same. Following those building blocks and encouraging others to do the same.

Reflections

As I meditate on these verses, it is clear to me that I can do none of these on my own nor can I expect anyone else to do it either. We need each other and the strength that comes from unity of purpose and brotherly love for each other. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Isn’t that what Peter is saying in this passage. I do not think the writer in Ecclesiastes is simply speaking of the physical, but also of the spiritual. We need spiritual encouragement, in my mind, more than the physical, and that lead me to the why in closing verses of chapter 1.

2Peter1:16-18

I look at verses 16-18 and see the why of it all. We are not counting on man’s word, but we count on God’s Word through the testimony of men that walked with Him and heard God proclaim who Jesus was.

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” ¹⁸ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

God knew that man would, with the help of the adversary, would try to turn the truth into just a story. These Apostles were witnesses and our conformation does not simply come from them but from the Word of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to help us discern the truth. And Peter does not hold back in verses 19-21.

2Peter1:19-21

Peter lays it out as to the source of his understanding and offers us a warning that we would do well to listen.

¹⁹ And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, ²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. ²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

There is nothing that I can say that describes the urgency of this passage and it’s authority. I just keep mulling it over and give thanks to God for the help of the Holy Spirit to walk me through it. All I can do is give thanks to the Lord!

Closing

This chapter in 2 Peter gives me strength and purpose. I know that as a member of the body of Christ I depend on every member and they depend on me. We can do all things through Christ Jesus, but the first is to love. I am reminded of John 13:34-35.

³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What a gift we have in this commandment.

Prayer

Father, thank you for these Words that you speak to me daily. Thank you for the love you share and the guidance Your Holy Word provide.

Father let me be constant encouragement to those whom you place around me and never lose sight of your precious Word. Let it be engraved on my heart! In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!!

“The Lords Chosen Servant.”

April 18, 2017

Yesterday I read and studied but did not write. Things just did not seem to come together. I read much in Isaiah from chapter 40 thru 46, and I got hung up in Chapter 42. The title in my translation for chapter 42 is “The Lords Chosen Servant.”

In that passage, I see Jesus foretold by the Lord through Isaiah. There are so many places where that is true. As I read God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation, I see the Book like the path of the sun.

In the Morning as the sun rises in the east the shadows are cast toward the cross. Virtually every Scripture speaks of Jesus. When Jesus is here on the earth, the shadows grow shorter as He approaches the Cross. When He gives His life on the cross, there is no shadow. The sun is directly above the Son. From the resurrection forward is afternoon and the shadows are cast back toward the cross.

Isaiah 42:1-4

As I read 42:1-4 I saw Jesus and the task that God had planned for my salvation. I saw a quiet man. I think of the power of God in the body of Jesus and think of the self-control and obedience of Jesus to the Father.

The Lord’s Chosen Servant

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
3 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law. Isaiah 42:1-4 (ESV)

What an amazing example is Jesus. What Joy there is in seeing Him in His Word and just soaking it up.

I love this passage, but I am taken with verse 4.

“He will not grow faint or be discouraged
till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.”

As I think of all that he endured and all He was capable of I am brought to my knees. No one killed Jesus. No one put Him on the Cross… He did it all.

Reflection

As I pondered this all yesterday, I just got stuck. I could not move forward. I thought of one of my favorite passages in Matthew. It is found in Chapter 11:25-30. I tried to copy that passage out of my digital Bible to paste it into my writing and I could not. Instead, every time I tried, I got Matthew 10:16 – 11:30 and I was done… I got frustrated, but then I took some time to read the passage God clearly wanted me to cover, but I was still stuck. So, I prayed and reflected on it all day yesterday into this morning.

Matthew 10:16 – 11:30

I read this passage through again, and I saw something in it that I had not seen before. We all know the Great commission that God gave as his last command before he ascended. It is in the last chapter of Matthew.

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV) ¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

As I read 10:16-11:30 I saw that passage and in more detail. Jesus was sending out the Twelve Apostles, and with the assignment, He gave them warning and encouragement.

Persecution Will Come

He warns them about how men will persecute them, and the trials will be very difficult. They will be flogged and beaten, but he tells them not to be anxious.

¹⁸ and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. ¹⁹ When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ²⁰ For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

I know that passage strikes a nerve for me. For so long I was reluctant to witness to people or speak to people about Jesus. But this passage is reassurance that I need not be anxious. I must trust in God to give me the right words to say. What He did for the Apostles He will do for me.

Have No Fear

Jesus warns the Apostles not to fear what they might face. Do not fear men who can only kill the body. He warns that there are far more serious things at risk.

²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

That is a sobering warning, but I never cease to be amazed that with a warning so often comes encouragement.

³² So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, ³³ but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

What more can be said than trust in God’s promise? Hold fast to Him, and He will Hold fast to us.

Further Guidance

Jesus continues His instruction in the remainder of chapter 10, and the chapter closes with the Rewards.

⁴⁰ “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. ⁴¹ The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Christ Jesus goes through that then Chapter 11 opens with John the Baptist.

Chapter 11

John is in prison, and he asks disciples to inquire of Jesus to see if He is the one and I love Christ’s reply

⁴“Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

He answers them with the Word of God. He quotes Isaiah 35:5-6. How amazing that is. He does not expect these men to accept Him on His own. He points out the prophecy of Isaiah and closes with a blessing to those who are not offended by Him. I am reminded of Paul’s teaching in Philippians 2

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV) ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

How amazing is He? King of Kings and obedient even to death on a cross.

Closing

I read the rest of this chapter through my favorite part in verses 25-30 and the promise Jesus gives there, and I am overwhelmed at the guidance that He wanted me to see. He warns me that the task of testifying to the truth of the Gospel will not always be easy. But He will always be there with me. Nothing I face, will I face alone. This world is harsh, but God is with me.

Psalms 23:4 (ESV)
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

If He is with me who can stand against me.

Prayer

Father thank you for your Holy Word. Thank you for your patience with me. I love you and praise you, and I thank you for your faithfulness and trust in me.

Thank you, Father, for the patient pruning and tilling of my heart as You teach me more about you. Help me never to become complacent but always be hungry for Your Word and knowing that You will never leave me. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!

Endure all Things In the Strength of Jesus

April 15, 2017

The Enduring Light

“Peace with God Through Faith”, that is the heading of Romans 5:1-11 in my Bible; English Standard Version. This morning I ended up here from a verse I read this morning. You know we focus a lot on Good Friday and Easter as well we should, but what about that Saturday. I wonder what it was like for those whom Jesus seemingly left behind. How did they endure from Friday to Sunday morning? I cannot get my head around it… but they did endure.

Now years later we endure, but we are not alone. We need not face all the uncertainty that had to be devouring the disciples. Jesus had warned them of what was to come, but it is clear that it did not really sink in.

Then fast forward through Pentecost and the growth of the Church that followed and think about what Paul is saying in Chapter 5 of the letter to the Romans.

Romans 5:1-2

I opened the Word at Romans 5:1-2 and read it.

‘Peace with God Through Faith’

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

When I see the word “therefore” in the Bible I have to go back and read what preceded it. So I went to Romans 4 and I read 13-25. Paul spoke of promise to Abraham and his endurance through faith. Verses 20-25 touched my heart.

²⁰ No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. ²² That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” ²³ But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, ²⁴ but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ²⁵ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

That is the reason for the “therefore”

The Promise

Abraham was promised to be the father of many nations and he never waivered. He endured by faith. He knew God would fulfill His promise and because of that example, we must not waiver either.

The Holy Spirit

It does not stop there. Because we received a gift that surpasses my ability to comprehend. A gift so precious that I must praise God in all circumstances. I love Romans 5:3-5

³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

What a glorious gift we have been given through the Holy Spirit. This gift was made available to us amid our sin. We did not have to straighten up to get it. We had to believe and with His help and guidance we would straighten up.

For the Weak and Ungodly – Romans 5:6-11

God did all this while we were still living in sin and darkness. I love Romans 5:6-11

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

From man’s perspective, this is crazy… But I am thankful that it is God’s Plan, Not man’s. He is perfect and true, the essence of love. That is why all this is a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks.

Closing

I think about this passion week and all that must have been running through the minds of the disciples and I am thankful for it all. What these followers endured by faith. The mighty gift of the Holy Spirit that came on Pentecost and the Word of God left for me and the Holy Spirit to guide me through God’s Word. My heart nearly bursts with thanksgiving. Without Jesus, I would be lost.

Prayer

Father, thank you for all your provision. Thank you for the gift of salvation through faith. Thank you for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you, father, that I do not live in that Friday nor the day after but in a time filled with Sunday’s praising and glorifying you!

In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Repentance and Surrender

April 13, 2017

The Light of the Son

This morning I listened to a couple of sermons as I tried to focus and clear my head. The first was by Charles Spurgeon and the second was by A.W. Tozer. As I listened, I began to ponder the two subjects. Spurgeon spoke of the Seven Churches of Revelation, and I thought of repentance. Tozer spoke of where God ranked in my life and spoke out of Psalms 57.

I listened, and half heard the first sermon by Spurgeon. It takes a while for the clouds to clear. But I came to this point where I paused the sermon and picked up my Bible, and I read Revelation chapter 2 and 3. I read these two chapters and let the warnings and the cure soak in.

Listen

As I read chapter 2 and 3, I listened to the judgments and the warnings. Each church was given an account by God, and all were commanded to repent except Smyrna and Philadelphia; they were cautioned to hold on.

I did not make it through the entire Spurgeon sermon, but after I had read the two chapters in Revelation, I leaned back in my chair just to reflect on the words I had read. I was just letting it soak in when one of my devotionals, Tozer on Christian Leadership, caught my eye, so I picked it up and read it. The title for today was ‘Take Time to Listen.’ The referenced verse was Psalms 119:130-131.

Psalm 119: 130-133

I opened my Bible to 119 and read the two verses Tozer referenced, but I could not stop there. I read on to 133

130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Psalms 119:130-133 (ESV)

Tozer devotional spoke of our need to slow down and take the time to listen to what God has for us in His Word. We can strive to seek Him but if we are not careful our quest to know God becomes a punch list of items that we need to fix and we do not stop long enough to meditate on what His Word leads us to.

Reflection

I stopped and thought about the first two verses.

130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commandments.

That is how I feel about God’s Word. They are light and they impart understanding. There are times through the day that I just long for that understanding. Then I read the last two verses and I was humbled.

132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

If I am so busy how can I ask God to turn to me and be gracious to me? It is not enough to simply long for the Word of God to light my path. I need to keep my eyes always on Him and listen for those subtle corrections; for that still small voice that Isaiah spoke of when the Lord came to him.

Tozer’s Sermon

I took a minute to look up and YouTube was up on my PC and the next sermon was Tozer’s and the title was ‘The Secret of Victory’. So, I hit play and let it run. He opens the Sermon on Psalm 57:4-10

He points out that in the midst of trouble David lifts God up in praise and glorifies Him. He exalted God. He goes on to preach and ask where God resides in our lives when compared to money, ambition, friends and struggles. He speaks of how God must be first in all things, and it may cost us many things of this world. But then he speaks of Jesus.

He reminded me that Jesus humbled himself to the point of death on the cross and He had the power of creation in his hands but he did not use that. He was obedient to the Father and He gave his life for me.

I paused that sermon and I thought about the example of Christ Jesus. That brought me back to Revelation. Where I had started this morning.

Revelation 2-3

I looked at all the churches and reread the two chapters. I saw that all but Smyrna and Philadelphia were warned to repent and Smyrna and Philadelphia were encouraged to hold on. How humbling that is to see that of 7 major Churches only two were not warned to repent. They held on to Jesus and did not abandon Him. He was their priority over everything else.

Smyrna was suffering and Christ tells them, ¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Philadelphia is warned to hold on to their crown. All the rest are warned to repent and turn back to God. Of all the warnings in these two chapters, Laodicea is the most grievous. But after Christ confronts them with their sin He offers the most detail on how they can turn it around through repentance.

Laodicea

Laodicea was lukewarm, and because of that God had to spit them out. They thought they had everything under control. They were wealthy and in need of nothing but God shows them the truth of their delusion

¹⁷ For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Revelation 3:17 (ESV)

But he does not leave them there. He tells them what they must do to be forgiven. He spells out the steps they must take and when He is done he shares with them a promise.

¹⁹ Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. ²¹ The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. Revelation 3:19-21 (ESV)

Closing

I looked at these passages and all I could see was God’s desire for us to be with him. He asks only that we put Him first. That we make Him our King, Lord and Master. That we surrender our will to follow Him.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV)

How can I not put Him first? How can I allow the desires and ambitions of this world to get in front of Him like the Church of Laodicea did?

Prayer

Father, thank you for the gift of repentance. Lord, I thank you every time you correct me to keep me on the path that leads to you. Thank you, Lord, for the correction that you give when my pride steps forward, and selfish desires work in my heart.

I thank you, Father, for the strength you give me to humble myself. To let loose the trappings of this world and focus on you. Forgive me Lord for my rebellion. Thank you for the refuge of your wings.

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!

A Watchman Waiting on the Light

April 11, 2017

Waiting on the Light

It is so easy for me to get out ahead of the Lord. I can be very impatient. It is easy to get an inkling of something and be ready to go when what I should be doing is waiting on the Lord. This morning is one of those mornings. I was working on a Bible study I am participating in and got this excitement from this passage and thought I knew what I wanted to share but God put something in front of me to slow my roll… that I might wait on Him.

I read some passages in response to questions in this study; Psalm 119:97-104, Psalm 131:1-3, Psalm 130:3-6 and Isaiah 55:6-11, and I had figured out what I needed to share this morning. But I was wrong.

I have a schedule to print a test page with my photo printer, and it came up today. Normally I would postpone it until I am finished with my studies, but today I did not, and that was just enough to slow down and rethink things, and adjust my focus.

Psalm 131

I had all my scriptures laid out in the order I wanted to discuss them, but Psalm 131, which was lower in the list, kept pulling at me and I reread the short Psalm, and that is when I got a little realignment.

1 O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore

I read this three verse Psalm over and over. All I could see was God asking me to slow down and trust in Him. Pride will go after all of us if we are not careful. I need not go after that which God has not chosen to share with me. I kept thinking of this passage by Paul in Philippians.

Philippians 4:11-12 (ESV) ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

I had always considered this something that spoke of physical needs. This morning I just kept thinking that this passage is so much more. It speaks not only to my physical needs but my Spiritual needs as well.

Mountains, Valleys, and Planes

You know I have the mountain tops when I feel so close to God. He gives me some insight that overwhelms me. Baptizing my Daughter and Son-in-law was a mountaintop moment, and I am so thankful for that moment. But I have also had my valleys.

The valleys can be hard, but in them, God is sharpening me and building my faith. He is teaching me endurance. He is showing me His presence, and in many ways when I am in the valleys He draws me even tighter IF I will listen and seek His face in the Word and prayer.

The planes are the most challenging place. That is the everyday flat travel. Things are going ok, and I am not facing a lot of struggles. Those are the times when I must be patient, and I must be diligent in seeking the Lord. I want the mountaintop moment, but I must be content with my circumstances. Psalm 131 affected me there.

In the flat land, if I am not careful, I can become like a nagging child wanting more mountain top moments. That is the time when I must be patient and trust in the Lord. That is the time when I need to remind myself, “I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.”

Psalm 119

In the flat lands of life I need God’s Word as much as In the Peaks and Valleys; sometimes more. I need it more because when things are going well, it is easy to wander off from God’s side. Like a child learning to walk and climb we tend to get into mischief, and we are easily distracted by the shiny things in this world.

The study brought me to Psalm 119:101-104

101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
for you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.

As I read these words, I realized that I must cling to the teachings of my heavenly father regardless of my circumstances. Through His teaching I am kept from “every false way” and His words and precepts are not bitter rules but, “sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

His Word brings me Joy and Contentment in little or abundance.

Psalm 130

Looking back on Psalm 131 I found myself reading Psalm 130. Reading this Psalm further convicted me that I must wait on the Lord.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

I read 5 and 6 over and over, and there was this peace that came to me in these words. I realized that my contentment is not found in getting ahead of the Lord seeking after what He knows I am not ready for, but in these two verses.

If I am watching and waiting like a watchman waiting on the morning, I will see it when He chooses to reveal it to me. That lifted a load off my shoulders this morning and put me in mind of Isaiah 55

Isaiah 55

I kept thinking of verses 8 and 9 as I contemplated everything this morning. These verses are humbling.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

There is such truth in these words but so many times my impatience will get the best of me, and I will strike out ahead of God instead of waiting on Him and trusting that whatever plan I may have, His is better, regardless of how I am feeling at the moment.

Closing Thoughts

I give thanks to God for his wisdom and patience with me. I am thankful for His Word and promise. As I was finishing up this post, I was drawn to read a bit further in Isaiah 55. I read on through verse 10-11, and I was filled with thanksgiving.

I am so thankful for His Word. I am thankful for His plan for my salvation. I am thankful for Jesus and His willing sacrifice and the guidance and encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Father, thank you for all you do. Thank you for the promise of your Word and the assurance that it will not come back empty.

Thank you, Father, for the healing water of life that I find in Your Word. Help me, Lord, to be patient and trusting in you always

Let me not get out ahead of You but wait for the understanding you offer when I am ready for it.

This I pray in Jesus name, Amen!

The Battle for the Mind

April 10, 2017

The Light of God’s Word

I listened to a sermon this morning by Dr. Martin Lloyd -Jones called “The Battle for the Mind.” Jones was born on 20, December 1899 and died 1, March 1981. As I listened to the sermon, I got a cold chill and thought what this sermon might say if he were still alive. Dr. Lloyd-Jones based the sermon on 1 Peter 1:13.

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV).

Now I listened to him speak, and I read these words, and as I read I thought of something Pat says often, and I am paraphrasing, “God gave us a mind, and we should use it.” So that is what I did… I saw the “Therefore” at the beginning of this verse, so I went to the beginning of chapter one.

1Peter 1:3-12

In these nine verses, Peter speaks of the glory of God and the gift He gives us to know Him and worship Him.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ¹¹ inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Meditating on the Words

As I read and meditate on these verses, I am filled with joy and thanksgiving. My mind goes to Ephesians 2:8-10

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

As I ponder all this I am humbled by God’s love, and grace. I cannot help but be overwhelmed by verse 12 in 1 Peter 1.

¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. 1 Peter 1:3-25 (ESV)

That passage takes me to the “Therefore.”

Therefore 1Peter 1:13

¹³ Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV).

What a powerful verse. Peter tells us that we must prepare our minds for action and be sober minded. Instantly I go to Gods Word. There is no other source of absolute truth… there is no other source of true wisdom. In God’s Word are the answers to all my questions, but I must seek them out. It is not enough to let others tell me about God. I must seek His face. I like what James says in James 4:7-8.

⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-8 (ESV)

Through Peter God warns us to be sober-minded and through James, He tells us to resist the devil and he will flee from us. Both situations require serious action on our part.

Brain Washing and Group Think

Dr. Jones, in his sermon, speaks of brainwashing and the effort by the adversary to try to get us to stop thinking for ourselves. He spoke of how the World caters to our every desire. We no longer makeup games or challenge ourselves we look for others to do that for us and we prefer to be entertained rather than an active participant.

I thought of how I played as a kid. We made up games and challenged ourselves to come up with ways to entertain ourselves, but as I got older it became easier to listen and watch than do.

Jones also spoke of “submitting to the expert”. My thoughts automatically went to global warming. Regardless of which side you are on the debate we rely on what the “experts” say to reinforce our position.

These same experts introduced evolution and deny the flood, and if I disagree with the experts I am labeled a “flat Earther” or bigot of some sort.

… and that takes me back to God’s Word.

1 Peter 1:13-19 the Therefore

Therefore, I turn to God’s Word and seek His sound counsel revealed through His servant Peter.

God paid my debt with the blood of Christ. Jesus was without blemish or spot, but He took on my sin and paid my debt in full. Given that how can I do anything but strive to know him by prayer and study? I owe Him so much more than to simply be entertained on Sunday or Wednesday. I need to pray and study for myself.

1 Peter 1:20-25

I read the close of this chapter in Peter and my heart aches. I think about all the times I have claimed to be too busy or too befuddled to seek God in His Word and then I read this passage.

²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Busy- Being Under Satan’s Yoke

My wife Pat learned this acronym for BUSY in a women’s small group many years ago and as I listen to Dr. Jones sermon and studied God’s Word it seems fitting. All too often I get busy. Busy watching TV or busy surfing the net or busy getting caught up in what the talking heads say about the world.

It is easy for me to get sucked into the relying on the experts instead of seeking to understand on my own. That includes relying on my preacher or small group leader or Sunday school teacher to tell me what to think.

Closing

I must use the mind that God gave me and His full armor to seek the truth. For that I will turn to God’s Word.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (ESV)

Prayer

Father help me that I should not become complacent. Stoke the fire that burns in me for your Word. Help me that I do not allow myself to become comfortable in being entertained, but test everything and hold on to what is true.

In Jesus name, I pray! Amen!

Prayer and Study

April 7, 2017

The Light of the Word

Every morning I pray. Sometimes long prayers sometimes shorter, but always I ask for wisdom and understanding before I read God’s Word. I did not always do this. I was pretty much task oriented. I read the Word of God to complete the task of reading it. But that approach changed for me when I participated in a small group study of a book by John MacArthur called, ‘WHY BELIEVE THE BIBLE?‘.

In this book, MacArthur discusses the importance of praying for understanding before reading God’s Word. He goes so far to say it is almost blasphemy to do otherwise. That was one of those things that had a lasting impact on me and changed the way I studied. That prayer and trust that comes from it have opened my mind to God’s Word in ways that I do not think would be possible without prayer.

My Start

Most mornings I struggle to know where to start in my study or what to read. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will guide me through the Word and show me the path for the day one step at a time. I do not have a plan. I just start. Most mornings It is with the K-Love verse. Then my Oswald Chambers devotional or Tozer.

This morning was no different in how I started. I read K-Love and Utmost for His Highest. The verses and teachings led me into different passages, and I was convicted once again of surrendering to God and following His Guiding Spirit as I study.

Proverbs 16:21

I read this K-Love verse and read the proceeding verse as well.

20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. Proverbs 16:20-21 (ESV)

As I read these verses, I felt the need to know God through His Word and the need to allow God to share Himself with me through His Word by asking Him to open my heart and mind to His teachings. As I meditated on these things my heart filled with joy and understanding that refreshed me.

There was this reoccurring thought. Listen and Learn. I went from the K-Love verse to ‘Utmost for His Highest.'. The title for today was “Why We Can Lack Understanding”

Why I Can Lack Understanding

The devotional in “Utmost for His Highest” today, April 7, had a pretty harsh title. As I read it, a sinking feeling came over me. It forced me to do a bit of self-examination; not to see if I lacked understanding, but if I was humbling myself before the Lord when I studied and surrendered myself to His will for me this morning.

I read the devotional, and I went to each passage referenced in the text and read them in context. First was Mark 9:9.

Mark 9:9

Jesus and asked the disciples, Peter, James and John were coming down from experiencing Jesus’ transfiguration. Jesus gave them very specific instructions as they walked back to join the others.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Chambers references Mark 9:9 and suggest that we should do the same; we should wait until Jesus is in our heart. Until our hearts and minds are truly opened to understand His teaching.

Growth

Chambers talks about the need to being filled with the Spirit and allowing Him to guide us through God’s Word. I like this sentence from the devotional.

“When you grow and develop the right condition inwardly, the words Jesus spoke become so clear that you are amazed you did not grasp them before. In fact, you were not able to understand them before because you had not yet developed the proper spiritual condition to deal with them.”

He goes on from there to reference John 16:12

John 16

I read John 16:12-15

¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:12-15 (ESV)

Jesus tells them of the Helper that will come after He is gone and all that He will reveal to us if we listen, and I was overwhelmed by His presence in my heart and the need to ask in prayer and listen for His answers in the Word.

Tozer

As I was meditating on all this and writing my opening thoughts, I got this nagging feeling that I needed to read Tozer’s devotional for today. The book “Tozer on Christian Leadership.” I opened it to April 7th. The referenced verse was Psalm 1:2. I read it, and I needed a bit more to get the context, so I read verse 1 as well.

1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalms 1:1-2 (ESV)

Tozer goes on from there to discuss the very thing that I had been convicted of this morning. He reminded me to meditate on the Word and wait for my faith to grow and for the Holy Spirit to bring me an understanding of God’s Word.

As I read it, I got cold chills… For this moment I thought, “How can this be.” I start my study with this one thought that I must begin in prayer asking for the Spirit to guide me and every passage I read reminds me of my first thought.

Repetition

I prayed and just asked for understanding, and all I could think of is the word repetition. I realized that I was given this first thought this morning and the Holy Spirit did not want me to forget how important it was for me to practice it. He did that by reminding me that in everything I read I need to seek His guidance and He will reveal to me what I need for that day.

Closing

I know that prayer is an essential part of studying God’s Word. But God reminded me this morning that knowing it is not enough. It is too easy for the knowledge to become practice and the practice to become routine, and in routine, we can become complacent, and there is no place for that in our search to grow closer to Him.

He reminded me this morning that there is nothing routine about God, and there must be nothing routine in the way that I seek Him. Each moment must be fresh and new. I cannot do that on my own. I must earnestly seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It must be the whole desire of my heart.

Prayer

Heavenly Father forgive me for taking my time with you for granted. Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that there is nothing routine about you and there must be nothing routine in how I come to you for guidance.

Father, you are my Hope and Strength. Let me always remember these Word from the Psalm.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth. (Psalms 121:1-2 ESV)

Father to you be all the glory.

In Jesus Name I pray, Amen! Thank you, Father!!!

The Cross, Prayer and Worship

April 6, 2017

My Circumstances

This morning is a collection of thoughts that have been coming together over the past week or so. I have been feeling scattered, and struggling with headaches, and I have been a bit down just because. But there has been this consistency in all my selfishness, and that is Jesus.

I woke this morning about 2:30 AM very suddenly. It was a need to repent for a series of selfish thoughts that have been getting the best of me. The one that God used to wake me was my response to the issues with electricity going out last night.

When I got jarred awake, the first thought I had was how selfish I had been. I tried to rationalize it, after all, I had this horrible headache. And without electricity, I cannot go to bed. I have to sleep sitting up because I use a C-PAP. And the list rolled on. I was just so selfish, and it was enough that God woke me with this feeling of… “Quit it, Enough already.” I was humbled by this thought of how selfish I was being, and I need to make things right with God. I needed to repent and be thankful.

I have to admit that I was embarrassed. I have so much to be thankful for, and I could not see it because I focused on my circumstances instead of Christ Jesus. Instead of being thankful for the linemen making the repairs I was allowing the adversary to use my headache and being very tired to turn my thoughts inward. But it did not stop there.

“Here I am to Worship”

I have been waking up every morning for at least a week singing the refrain from a song by Michael W. Smith. The part that has been rolling through my head has been the part about the cross.

“I’ll never know how much it cost

To see my sin upon that cross

I’ll never know how much it cost

To see my sin upon that cross.”

As I sang that song to myself this morning, I was humbled again. I thought about Jesus and all that he did for me. It turned my prayer time upside down, for lack of a better way to explain it, and I had this flood of disappointment in my behavior. But I prayed, and I pushed forward. I read Utmost For His Highest.

“The Collision of God and Sin”

The title of today’s devotional is “The Collision of God and Sin, ” and the closing paragraph got my attention.

“The heart of salvation is the Cross of Christ. The reason salvation is so easy to obtain is that it cost God so much. The Cross was the place where God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision and where the way to life was opened. But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart of God.”

I read that passage several times, especially the last sentence. I cannot fathom the pain Christ Jesus took for me. For my salvation.

Reflection

Jesus endured all this because of His unselfish love for me. No one on earth could make Him do this. He made the final decision, and He humbled Himself in obedience to His Father for me. That sacrifice paid my debt. All the cost and pain of the collision between God and sin was absorbed by the heart of God.

My Hope

Conclusion

I ran all these thoughts over in my head, and I realized God had forgiven me the instant I came to Him in repentance, and I needed to let it go. Sure the thought is there still but it is not a punishment it is a reminder for the next time I feel sorry for myself. This phrase kept running through my head, “far as the east is from the west” so I googled it.

I found it was Psalm 103:12 I read 103:7-14

⁸ The LORD is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

⁹ He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

¹⁰ He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

¹² as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

¹³ As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

¹⁴ For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust. Psalms 103:8-14 (ESV)

I will never stop being amazed by how God guides me with whatever tool he chooses to use to keep me on the path. It can even be a song lyric, but it always ends in His Word.

Prayer

Father thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirt and your discipline when I need it. Thank you for your love and grace. Thank you for the gift of repentance.

Father, I praise you! I thank you, and I cherish your forgiveness.

Lord please never stop correcting me to keep me in step with you.

I pray this all In the name of your blessed Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Mentoring and Fellowship With our Children

April 5, 2017

Cross-Training Kids

This morning God kept nudging me with a bit of a different topic for the blog. It is about fellowship and mentoring.

Yesterday my routine was a bit different. I got up at the regular time, and I prayed, and I read a bit, but I had to get ready to go fishing with The Cross-Training youth group by 9:00 so I did not have time to post, but It was so worth it. I got to church a bit before 9:00 as the crowd of kids shuffled in to go fishing at a farm pond that belongs to a member of the church.

It was fun watching the kids as they signed up for the trip and got ready to load up for the short trip to the farm pond. Before we loaded up the vans to make the trip, there was some discussion about the rules, and we all prayed together before we hit the road for the short trip to the farm.

The pond was located a good piece back, so when we got there, the church vans had to be abandoned for a tractor and hay wagon and a few 4-wheel drive trucks to pack people and supplies for fishing.

A Wagon Load

Sharing God’s Word

The kids piled into the wagon, and we traveled slowly back to the pond, but instead of the mad dash to the pond at the end of the ride Scott, our youth minister, gave a lesson to the kids. As the resident photographer of the trip, I snapped photos of everyone as they listen to the lesson, and my heart melted a bit as I listened. The kids were engaged and listened. Many were speaking up when Scott asked a question, and these Kids are the preschool to 5th grade.

I cannot help but think of Proverbs 22:6 this morning as I write this Blog this morning.

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.

There is this tremendous responsibility we have to our children, and we do not always get it right. Sometimes we blow it. But this fundamental teaching is so important, and even if we blow it sometimes, if we keep it in our hearts it will bear fruit, and I got to see a lot of that yesterday. I could not help but think of Isaiah 55:10-12

Isaiah 55:10-12

This passage is one of my many favorites, and it played out yesterday.

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 “For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:10-12 (ESV)

When children are exposed to the Word of God, it is certain to bear fruit.

Let the Fishing Begin

When Scott had completed his lesson, the kids headed to the Pond. The first thing they had to do was complete some things that Scott had asked them to do, and then they found a spot to fish.

Now, most know that I cannot trek around a lot and a friend got me a chair to use, and I set up on one side of the pond prepared to watch kids fish and take photos. That is where I saw the fruit of the lesson. It was everywhere, and I was so blessed to capture it. I want to share 3 of my favorite.

A Daughters First Fish

Father and Daughter

There was a young girl and her Dad, and he was helping her cast her line and teaching her the fine points of fishing. But you could see the smiles and the heart of the father working with his daughter and the moment she caught the fish it was difficult to tell who was more excited. It is a memory that they will both share, and it was so precious because God was there. He gave the father patience to work with his daughter, and she trusted him unconditionally.

The photo tells the story better than I could.

A Helping Hand

A bit later I watched a young man; I am not sure how old he is, show love and kindness to another. He was catching fish one after another, and a young man next to him had not caught anything. This young man asked the adult there if it would be ok if the next time he hooked a fish, the younger boy could reel it in. Well, it took about five mins for him to hook a fish and the next thing you know these two kids are working together to pull in this fish.

It reminded me of Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

I loved the moment I could capture of those two boys working together, and that leads me to my last story

Wise Council

Wise Counsel

The last story came from a shot I took across the pond. There was a young man a teenager, sitting with a younger boy. As the younger boy was sitting and fishing the two were smiling and talking. I thought of the times where God tells us of the importance of wise council, but I could not remember the verse this morning. So, I did a Google Search and found Provers 27:9

As I looked at the photo, I thought of this verse and the two boys. One close to manhood and the other so young and my heart smiled as I looked at the two. All I could think as I captured the photo was a mentor and friend relationship and this verse fit.

⁹ Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Proverbs 27:9 (ESV)

Closing

These were but a few of the joys I witnessed yesterday, and I am sure there were more that I missed, but I ran out of steam and had to go home while I still had the juice to drive.

The thing about the morning that gave me joy was the kindness and love that God let me see. I could not help but think of the passage in Matthew.

² And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³ and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, Matthew 18:2-5 (ESV)

What an awesome opportunity we must teach our children. What an awesome responsibility.

Prayer

Father, please help me that I might be a good example to the children around me. I pray that I might be an encourager as they grow and Lord humble myself to be like a child when I come to you in Your Word and prayer.

In Jesus name, I pray, Amen

Love and Forgiveness

April 3, 2017

Light in through the Fog

Ok, this morning I experienced a bit of pruning by the Holy Spirit. It came after reading the K-Love Encouraging Word for the day. The verse was Luke 6:31, it is the Golden Rule verse. When I was a kid nearly every classroom in Elementary School posted it on the wall. In a moment, I realized that this truth was one of those that I had heard so many times that it had lost its weight and significance.

I read through it quickly and dismissed it with the flippant… “everybody knows that” response and went on to look for more serious scripture… but the Lord was not going to let me off the hook.

After reading the verse. I read a few other things and then prayed for guidance and understanding as I began my Bible study. That was when I was reminded of Luke 6:31 and I read it again; this time in the ESV translation.

Luke 6:31 (ESV) ³¹ And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Context

As I opened my Bible and read the passage, I noticed that it was part of a bigger command by Christ Jesus. In my ESV translation, it was under the heading ‘Love Your Enemies’, and that made me pause and read all the passage. The context of the whole passage was significant. You know single verses are catchy, and they make me feel good, but the Holy Spirit reminded me this morning that the Bible carries a powerful message that I must take care not to pick and choose these single verses but look at the context.

Luke 6:27-36

I went back and read the whole passage.

Luke 6:27-36 (ESV) Love Your Enemies

²⁷ “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. ²⁹ To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰ Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. ³¹And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

³² “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. ³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶ Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

As I read the two paragraphs, I realized the “Golden Rule” was a transition phrase connecting the two paragraphs in this passage together. It summarizes what Jesus was saying about loving my enemies and takes me to the next thought that defines the meaning of truly loving my enemies.

Part 1 “Who do you love”

I reread verses 27-30, and it was humbling.

First off, He was not speaking to everyone; only those that could hear him. If you look at Strongs hearing is not a casual half listening. It is hearing to understand. It requires paying attention with a desire to learn from the process. So, to those that were listening, he defined who to love.

Jesus listed a list that most of us struggle with loving. I know I am better at this than I was, but I have so much more to do. Jesus did not say tolerate those who hate you. He said to love them. Then He shares the Golden Rule.

Transition

Jesus closes that thought and proceeds to tell us the list of those that are included. He says in verse 31;

³¹And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

He tugs at that emotion we have to be liked and treated with kindness, and He is very direct in telling us what to do. But in the next paragraph, He lists those whom we should include in this love list.

Part 2 “Who do you Love”

The next paragraph lists the who, how and why of this command.

Luke 6:32-36 (ESV) ³² “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. ³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶ Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Christ spells out how we are to set ourselves apart in how we love. It is not enough to love as the sinners do. There is nothing holy about that kind of love. That is easy. We are to love those that hate us and mean us harm. When I look at this seriously considering each piece to the command, I realize it is daunting, but Christ never leaves us hanging. He explains why we should love like this in the second half of verse 35-36.

“^35band you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶ Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

What an awesome gift. If we love like this, we love as God loves us and with the mercy for others like He shows us. And we will be children of the Most High! But it did not stop there for me. I read the next passage. That passage was titled ‘Judging Others, ‘ and I am sure that Jesus did that on purpose.

Judging

I looked at that passage, and I was reminded how natural and easy it is to make a quick judgment of someone and how wrong it is to do so.

Luke 6:37-38 (ESV) Judging Others

³⁷ “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸ give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

I read this a couple of times and recognized the power in this passage… the strong warning. So, I looked up “Judge” in my Strongs, and I will spare you the Greek and share what It says about the words used to define “Judge.”

g2919. κρίνω krinō; properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish: — avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.

That definition is not easy to read, but after a few times through it, I realize that this judgment thing is serious. To do it is to take God’s job. The condemn and punishment job is not mine. Only God knows my heart and only can He judge me or anyone else. I am to love and forgive and share the Gospel. That is my job.

Teaching

This does not mean I ignore it when I see someone sinning. It does not mean that I ignore it when I see a Christian Brother or Sister in rebellion. Jesus tells us how to do that. Paul also defines it in several places. I think my favorite is in 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

We have a responsibility to stand on the truth. We must not be afraid to speak out when we see someone rebelling. That does not mean to tell someone to take care of it. It means to go to the person in love and discuss it with them. Jesus tells us step by step in Matthew 18:15-20 and Paul also in 1 Corinthians 5. We have an obligation to stand on the truth of God’s Word in love and confront brothers and sisters who sin against us.

Closing

As I look at these passages this morning, I know that without the Holy Spirit in me I could not possibly do any of these things as God has laid them out for me, but with God all things are possible.

I know that I cannot accomplish anything if I am not connected to Him through His Word and prayer. If I actively listen, He will guide every step I take. I am thankful for Him and His love and guidance. Praise God and to Him goes all the glory.

Prayer

Father, help me today to listen and obey. Help me that I may not take a single word or passage from Your Holy Word for granted. Help me to remember every word of scripture is “God breathed.”

Let all of them be carved in my heart. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!