Wisdom for April Fools Day

April 1, 2024

Monday

Today is April Fools Day. No one knows its origin. We all like to participate. It's just a fun thing to do. It's okay to have fun as long as you really aren't foolish. In other words, have fun but don't do anything foolish. Use wisdom even on April Fools Day.

Pray for wisdom in this day and God will give it to you. All of us need wisdom. Too often, we have confused wisdom with knowledge. There are plenty of people who are able to explain some of the most complex mysteries of the universe that have no wisdom. Wisdom in knowing what to do. The main book I know where it can be found is in the Bible.

Yet, even knowing the Bible will not make you wise. The scribes in Jesus day knew the scriptures. They knew the law. However, they didn't recognize Jesus. It was those who were much more simple who overwhelmed the ranks of the believers. The educated scribes were too smart to see Jesus for who He was. Their knowledge got in the way.

Still, that is the way we fail to be wise. We allow our knowledge to get in the way. We read of the theories of how the earth began and stop believing that God created the earth. We declare ourselves wise and become fools.

Can we say that we are becoming more moral because of our knowledge? Can we say that we have a more joyous world that before? Can we say we are safer?  No, we can't because knowledge, though important, is not as important as wisdom.

So, pray for wisdom today. We can always use more.

James 1:5 (NASB 2020) ⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Encountering a Risen Christ

March 31, 2024

Easter Sunday

Women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus the Sunday after He was crucified. They were doing what they knew they were supposed to do. The spices place on His body would dampen the smell of a decaying body. It was something they may have done before. Death was no stranger to the first century. It was always final.

I find it interesting that they didn't know how the stone would be moved. They apparently didn't think of that until they were on their way. Wasn't there a Roman seal placed on it? Wouldn't there be Roman guards preventing them entering the tomb? Nevertheless, they are on their way with no expectation that Jesus is alive.

Upon arrival, they encounter an angel. The Roman guards are gone. The stone is rolled back so that the women can see that Jesus is not there. They were afraid. Fear and faith are often at odds with each other. They are told that He is risen and they should tell His disciples. Imagine that, the first evangelists are women. Who would believe them?

Yet, it would not be long before the disciples and the women would encounter the risen Lord. 

There were a couple of days that people said that Jesus was dead. Now, they knew He is alive. And for everyone who has met Him in salvation, they too rejoice because today we celebrate that He is alive. He is not just alive for the women or the disciples. He is alive for you and me.

Go tell someone!

Matthew 28:7 (NASB 2020) ⁷ And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

Ambassadors for Christ

March 30, 2024

Saturday

The Bible says that we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Merriam Webster dictionary defines an ambassador as: "An official envoy especially: a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment." Therefore, ambassadors are appointed to speak for their governments. They should be trusted enough to carry out the desires of those governments.

Are we taking our appointment as ambassadors seriously? We are living in a place that is not our home to conduct the affairs of God in this world. We remain servants and must be careful that our actions are in His Name and not our own. When acting truly in His Name we have all the resources and power necessary to act on His will in this world. There is no limit to what we can ask or do.

Of course, this depends on walking so close to Him that we know His will for us. Then, we identify with our God so that our purpose is clear. We are His ambassadors to do His will. He calls us to the tasks before us each day. We act under His authority to interact with this world so that His kingdom will come and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven. 

However, ambassadors don't always see the country they live in obey. We represent Christ and all He is to the world. The world does not know Him. It does not wish to acknowledge Him. Even so, we remain ambassadors for Christ. The world can only see Christ as we act in His stead. 

I certainly have told people that we need to witness to our world. We do, but we also must live lives like ambassadors so that those who hear our testimonies will see that our lives match this witness. Mahatma Gandhi said,   "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” That cannot be who we are.

So, we are to act in this world as who we are: Ambassadors for Christ. 

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NASB 2020)²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

God Will Provide

March 29, 2024

Friday

I wish that I could tell you that I didn't worry or take things at their face value when God has said that He will take care of me, but I can't. There have been too many times that I doubted that He would provide when I have never seen Him fail to provide when He called me to act in faith. Here is just one story of God's goodness.

My family moved to Brentwood, TN in June of 1989 as poor as anyone could be. I knew this is where God wanted me and agreed to be Brentwood Baptist's singles minister before I knew the salary. However, the salary seemed huge when I found out. But then, Brentwood is not a cheap place to live either.

We bought a house with an escalating interest rate because Brentwood had given their staff raises every year since the church was founded. The rate would go up for two years and then become a fixed rate. It was a challenge for us to pay the mortgage but I knew we would get a raise the next year that should cover the increase.

I had been there about ten months when the founding pastor of twenty plus years was called to work for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. The church, like most churches, froze all spending including raises for the next year. I was incensed. How could they have so little faith! Of course, I should have looked in the mirror for I was the one with little faith. I didn't know how I would pay my mortgage when it went up. The new year came and the mortgage went up.

One day near the beginning of the year, I went to the mailbox to get the mail and found an unmarked envelope with $300 in it. There was no note. There was nothing to indicate where it came from. That wasn't the only time it happened either.

I'll admit, going to the mailbox wasn't a chore anymore for me. I went, found money, and continued to see God more than provide for my family's needs. How can I be so faithless to think that the God who called me wouldn't provide for me. As I added up all of my "mailbox" money, I found it to be more than what I could have expected as a raise.

The church budget was prepared for the next, the staff was assembled to tell us that they were excited to tell us that we were getting a raise the next year. I thought, "I'm not sure that's such a good idea!" I liked going to the mailbox. It was better than a raise!

This is not the only story that I could tell you of God's provision. God has provided so many times that I am embarrassed to say that I still worried when I didn't see the money in the bank. I know that He provides but I have more faith He will provide for others than He will provide for me. Yet, I am the one who has seen Him provide again and again.

This morning I read the story of Abraham taking Isaac up to Mt. Moriah to supposedly sacrifice his son, Isaac. He knows that Isaac is the son of the covenant. He knows that God can restore his life. He knows that God will provide. What a statement of faith!

I know that God provides beyond what I have read in the scripture. I have experienced it so many times. I know that He will provide for anyone who reads this post and is in a situation. God will provide is something we need to embrace. He will provide to enable you to follow Him in whatever He calls you to do. Believe me, this is better than money in the bank.

Genesis 22:7–8 (NASB 2020) ⁷ Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” ⁸ Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

Be Filled with the Spirit

March 28, 2024

Thursday

I had a conversation with someone I consider a strong Christian about contemporary worship. He said that you can't find lamenting anywhere. He is right. I can't think of a contemporary song that I could claim has a regretful, grieving tone. I wondered why.

Surely, there are times that a Christian should grieve. He should grieve and regret his sin. He might grieve over the loss of a job, a bad decision, loss of a loved one or even the loss of a pet. These are all legitimate reasons for grieving or in some cases regretting what has happened. But it seems to me that a long lament is better explained with depression than lamenting.

Depression is a real issue for many people. Depressed people need medical attention. Simply saying they need to get over it is not a solution. Christians are no different in this. Thinking that you can just get over it because you are a Christian doesn't take into account Paul's "thorn in the flesh." I suppose some believers would have told Paul to "just get over it." I am sure he would have loved to.

Let's be clear: there are times when Christians should lament, but that should not be the predominant attitude that they have. I can't find lamenting or anything close to it in the fruit of the Spirit.

If you have read my blog for some time or have heard me preach, you know that I believe that there is one fruit of the Spirit. The fruit has nine characteristics. I compare that to a peach. It is one peach but it is fuzzy, sweet, juicy, orange, red, yellow, seeded and so on. We don't say we have fruits of the Spirit any more than we say we have fruits of the peach. The Greek word for fruit in that scripture is singular.

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB 2020)²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

There may be times when a characteristic stands out more than others, but those times will not come when the person is full of the Spirit. Those times may come because the Christian is depressed. That is why the Christian will still need medical help for depression. No one can truly be himself when he is very sick or injured. 

Make no mistake, I am saying that when a person is not incapacitated in some way he should long to be filled with the Spirit and experience the fruit of the Spirit. He does not produce the characteristics on his own apart from the Spirit. The characteristic that stands out when considering lamenting is joy. Lamenting should have a short shelf life. The Christian knows that this world is not his home. He knows that it will all pass away. He knows that all sin has been forgiven at the death of Jesus. He knows that victory is his through Christ's resurrection. Lamenting should not be the dominant characteristic of the Christian.

On the other hand, I can see a lot of damage done by simply trying to pump ourselves up. The fruit of the Spirit comes from being filled with the Spirit. He comes to us when we no longer resist or quench His prompting. He longs to fill us and we should obey Him promptly. Then, we have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

The Bible tells us that we should be filled with the Spirit. The word for "be filled" is an imperative passive. We are commanded to allow the Spirit to fill us. So, let us all be filled with the Spirit today holding back nothing from Him. Then, we shall see the fruit of the Spirit.

The Lord Directs Your Steps

March 27, 2024

Wednesday

There are two truly perplexing things that we can do. We can fail to plan. Thus, we let life go as life will go and simply react to what happens. We can plan. Thus, we are constantly adjusting our plans because things don't always go according to plans. Which of these is better?

Plans don't go according to plans because we can't see all that will happen. There will be opportunities and setbacks that we never accounted for but require that we make adjustments to our plans. There are life changes that can do so as well.

Let's say that a person made plans that he or she would be an engineer. He set out to study engineering but along the way he has an encounter with God that moves him in a different direction. He is led into a teaching career. Of course, he may not make as much money teaching and that may change subsequent plans after college. I had a young man in a church who believed God wanted him to go into the ministry. He entered college with that in mind but realized that he had made a mistake. His plans radically changed.

So, is it better to make no plans. While you maybe less disappointed when no plans are made, there is no virtue in failing to make plans. No plans represent no goals. No goals will result in doing the minimum because there are no plans for the future.

There must be a solution that has plans but knows that plans can be changed. That plan is one that puts all plans in God's hands. In other words,  You plan according to what and where the Lord is leading you. You are aware that there may be roadblocks and pauses in these plans. God may want you as a missionary for ten years and a teacher after that. God may require that you go back to school. God may require that you take less money in a new job. This is different between having no plans and having all plans. Your plan is to walk with God wherever He takes you. He tells you where to go with an overall understanding of the plan. 

Take Moses, for example. Moses knew he would lead the people out of Egypt to the Promised Land. He didn't know all the steps it would take to get there. He let God lead him all the way. The Apostle Paul knew that he was the apostle for the Gentiles. He didn't know all that he would encounter when he set off. He just knew that he wanted to know Jesus more. He knew that this meant he would walk with Jesus through whatever the Lord gave him.

So, get before the Lord and make plans with Him. Know that He might have some changes along the way. Ultimately, God wants you to walk with Him. No one loves you like God. Walking with Him draws us close to Him. When you look back at your life you will understand the pauses and road blocks. Then, you will realize that He was with you all the way.

Proverbs 16:9 (NASB 2020) ⁹ The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Why Go to Church?

March 26, 2024

Tuesday

Church attendance isn't what it used to be. Though I don't have evidence for my belief, I don't believe the reasons given for people stopping their attendance  is the popular excuses for why people don't go to church.

I don't believe that most people have stopped going to church because the church abused them. Make no mistake. Churches have abused people. I just don't think that people were so shallow that they stopped coming because they were abused. (I am not talking about sexual abuse here.) Most people are resilient. They understand that mean people go to church with the nice people. They understand that mean people do not represent the church even though they may be the leaders in a particular church. Sure, hurt people may change churches but they didn't abandon church because they were hurt in one church.

I don't think people stopped going to church because they church didn't call them when they were absent. Yes, they were absent. No, they weren't called. But most people take responsibility for their own actions. The members of the church didn't tell them to stay home. Absent people made that decision on their own. They know they shouldn't need someone calling them week after week to get them to come back. People don't want to be the reason so many members can't reach people who really need to be in church. They know that the efforts to get them back in church will keep people from being able to reach the unchurched.

Most people understand that they don't need to be made special to attend church. They may not have been welcomed when they first arrived. The church may have an unfriendly vibe but that doesn't mean that it is the only church in town. They could easily go somewhere else.

That's also the story of hearing a boring preacher. So, this one is boring. There must be one down the street who isn't. It is only a matter of time and visiting new churches that will lead them to the right one.

No, I don't think it is any of these "reasons" even though some of the non-attenders may claim these are the reasons. I believe the most common reasons are:

They haven't made a connection in a church yet. People need friends who will encourage them. They won't find them in every church. Sometimes they give up before they find people they can make connections with.

Many people are afraid to attend a church because they don't know what to do. It seems that everyone else knows when to stand and sit but they don't. Everyone else knows how and when to respond. They just don't want to be embarrassed.

Some people have no reason to attend church. They may say that they are Christians but that goes along with being patriotic. They can spout off their political views, their patriotic views and even touch on some faith just as well in their local bar. Why go to church when the bar is a whole lot more fun?

There are some people who are busy on Sundays. They genuinely have to work or have worked right up to Sunday morning. Sundays are not protected days from work like they used to be. They don't even think of coming when they have the opportunity because that is their day off.

My last reason is: It never occurred to them that they needed to be in church. Sure, church is a nice thing to do but it is never necessary. Laying around on Sunday is much easier.

The real reason people need church is to know the Lord. They can come to know Him without the church but they need others to stimulate them to grow in the Lord. They may know Him casually but they will never know Him intimately without others who will help them.

They need to know that others are just like them. All believers fail. I had a ten year old tell me this morning that he was not doing everything he was supposed to do as a Christian. He thought that he would be perfect after his initial coming to Christ. I encouraged by telling him that none of us has reached perfection. We are all on this journey together.

People need a reason for practicing their faith. Their relationship with the Lord grows more solid as they encourage others. Church is a wonderful place to help others along in their faith.

People need church because the church offers something the world can never offer them: Peace. It is offered because it comes from a living Lord who gives it to them.

Church also offers people rescue. Who will take your troubles to the throne room of God if not for the church. God is always where your help comes from. The prayers of others will help bring you there.

There are lots of reasons people aren't in church. There is probably someone you know that isn't attending church right now. Maybe you need to get beyond their excuses and listen to them. Maybe you should invite them. Caring people make a difference.

Hebrews 3:12–14 (NASB 2020) ¹² Take care, brothers and sisters, that there will not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another every day, as long as it is still called “today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ if we keep the beginning of our commitment firm until the end,

Let Us Be One

March 25, 2024

Monday

We are an extremely divided nation that continues to separate itself from others. Maybe that comes from the redistricting of voting areas that allow politicians to ignore what the other side says. Maybe that comes from people believing anyone different from them is evil. Maybe that comes from a disconnected people who can't have conversations face-to-face anymore. Maybe that comes from isolating oneself from hearing both sides of every story. Surely, social media, news stations and clustering in homogenous groups haven't helped.

Even the church is divided. The United Methodist recently had a split. The Southern Baptist are always having splits. Even individual churches have splits because people can't seem to get along with each other. The last time we were on the same page was right after 9/11 and that didn't last that long.

At least the church should know who our common enemy is. We should, but somehow we act as if our common enemy is each other. Truthfully, the stakes are too high for us to fight with one another when Satan is enjoying his victories. Sure, churches can grow by rallying all those of a certain political view but that does not bring one person into the kingdom. Satan doesn't care how big our churches are as long as we are only baptizing our own children and those who agree with us politically. As long as we aren't making disciples, he is as pleased as punch.

The only unifying factor must be Jesus. We must turn our eyes away from each other and focus our eyes on Jesus. We need to love Him in complete obedience. We need to realize that each political party needs Jesus. We need to realize that many of the things we are fighting about in our churches are not essential to accomplish our mandate of making disciples. We need to repent of losing the vision God has given us. We need to be sensitive to those who do not know Jesus rather than being critical of them. We must break down the barriers of race and music and whether or not we wear robes or worship in Levis that we claim makes us special before God. We should see every person as one whom Jesus died for.

Then, with our eyes on Jesus, I think we could be one. Frankly, I don't see another solution.

John 17:11 (NASB 2020)¹¹ I am no longer going to be in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, so that they may be one just as We are.

My Prayer for the Church

 March 24, 2024

Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday. It begins Holy Week before Easter. The most detail we have of Jesus' life is found in His last week before the resurrection. At one time, people would prepare to attend church on Easter Sunday. We were shut down in 2020 for Easter due to COVID mandates. I came to the church and found a policeman sitting in his vehicle. I wondered if he was making sure we didn't meet. Maybe people understood that Easter wasn't that important after all. They sat at home, believing that safety was more important than worship. They found that they had neither.

Complete safety is an elusive dream on this earth. Companies will tell us that "your safety is most important to us." Really? If that was true of the airlines they wouldn't fly. If that were true of car manufacturers, they wouldn't make and sell cars. Why not tell the truth? "Making a profit is most important to us. Your safety can help us do that." 

Can I say that someone in the will of God is safe? No, absolutely not when you consider safety to be no injury, pain or death. Many people in God's will gave their lives for their Lord. They were hanged, burned, beheaded, stoned imprisoned, tortured and a host of other things I'm sure I have never heard of. They walked with God regardless of the consequences.

Many Christians will say that worship is not so important that we should die for it. Believers in other parts of the world thought that it was. People have been executed for worship in the Soviet Union, China and in other parts of the world where Christianity is considered an abomination. These people met in secret until they were caught. They continued to proclaim Christ no matter the consequences. Their testimonies cost them their lives.

Maybe we don't appreciate worship because it costs us too little. It only takes a bit of time and all we do is tip the church out of our pocket cash. This gives us the right to complain. Our favorite songs weren't sung, the preacher wasn't entertaining and it was too cold in the sanctuary. Unfortunately people are looking at church attendance as a sacrifice rather than a privilege.

I hope that this is not what it is for you. I hope that you are or will be in church today. I hope that you will hear God speak to you. I hope that you will know the depth of His love for you. I hope that your attention is on Him and not on yourself. I hope that you will continue to pray for those who "don't get it." Pray that they will have an awakening with God. Pray that they will realize that He is greater than all they could possess.

Also, would you pray that the church will be the witness the church needs to be. Those in the church will live lives pleasing to the Lord. They will not decide on Sunday morning whether they are going to church. Pray that they realize that there is something immense missing in their lives. I pray the church can become one with Christ.

And pray for yourself. I pray for myself. I pray that I will let nothing stand between me and God. I pray that even my safety will take a back seat to His will.

John 17:20–21 (NASB 2020) ²⁰ “I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

One Thing to Get Right Today

 March 23, 2024

Saturday

Physicists have been searching for one theory that ties all the other theories together. This is called "String" or the "Unified" theory. They haven't found it yet, but they are still hopeful. What if you could find one thing that you could do that would put everything else in its proper perspective? Would you want to know what that is?

Jesus told us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. It is the first and the foremost commandment. The amazing thing is that when you get this one right all the other things are also right. If you love God first, then your dealings with other people will be right too. You will love your family like you should. You will work at your job like you should. You will treat everyone like you should. It won't keep you from having tough times but it will put those tough times in their proper perspective.

So, the one thing that I want to do today is to love God like no one else. I will know I have that right when I treat others like I should. I will know when I am not so full of worry when things don't go so well. I will know when I am not so full of myself when I actually get something right.

Now, if this was easy, everyone would do it. The world has a way of crowding out God. When we don't make sure that we love God above all else, other things take His place. This is the source of our disappointments. Making money may provide a temporary thrill but it will eventually mean nothing. Physical pleasures and our names in lights will do the same thing. Most of the very famous people I have met didn't care about being famous. They had been famous for so long that they were tired of it.

Those that love God with all their hearts and souls and minds never reach a level of saying there is nothing more. They walk closer to God each day and want to walk closer to Him even more. They obey Him so that they express their love with each passing day. They confess quickly when they sin because they love God so much that they want to continue in fellowship with Him.

Yes, this is the one thing you must get right today. If you do, it will be a great day!

“And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” (Matthew 22:37, NASB 2020)

 

Grace that Covers All Our Sins

March 22, 2024

Friday

Yesterday, I told a group of people about a sin I committed before I was a Christian. I told the story as if I wasn't responsible for the sin. After all, I wasn't a Christian. I realized later that I am responsible for that sin. It doesn't matter that it was before I knew Christ. It doesn't even matter that I didn't know it was a sin at the time.

Have we thought that sin isn't sin if we aren't aware that it is sin? Do I get to tell the traffic cop that I was unaware of the speed limit and am, therefore, not responsible? If I say something that hurts someone else, am I off the hook because I didn't know they were listening?

This morning two vehicles almost hit me as I rode my bicycle here. One was a garbage truck that was pulling out of a parking lot. The other was a minivan pulling out of a fast-food restaurant's drive through window. I was riding my bicycle on the sidewalk. They looked left only and not right where I was. The garbage truck stopped at the last second. The minivan kept going as I slid on my brakes. I am confident that each of these drivers were taught to look both ways before pulling onto a road. They were unaware I was there. I would have been just as injured whether they were unaware or not.

Before we come to Christ, we may be unaware of our sins. They are still not excusable. They must be forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus. We weren't such good people that Jesus died for us. We were such sinners that Jesus died for us. The fact that I wasn't a Christian when I committed some of my sins makes no difference. They are why Jesus died for me as much as the sins I have committed since.

So, before brushing off the sins BC (before Christ), we should realize the grace given to us. We are saved from the condemnation of sin. It began with a commitment to Christ as we realized He died for our sins.

Leviticus 5:17 (NASB 2020) ¹⁷ “Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, he is still guilty and shall bear his punishment.

Something Great with God

 March 21, 2024

Thursday

Ask someone what happened at church this past Sunday and they might answer, "Nothing." Maybe that's because they didn't expect anything to happen. Maybe they weren't looking.

God is not only present. He is working right now. We can walk through the day without seeing Him. We can meet Him face-to-face and not recognize Him. Our minds are somewhere else.

It is as if we search for God only during crises. We tell Him to leave us alone on the good days. The consequence is that we don't notice what He is doing most of the time. We miss the opportunities to join Him. We miss the fellowship opportunities.

I went into the ministry thinking that I would do something great for God. I planned what I would do. None of it has come about because I was doing all the planning and didn't need God getting in the way of my plans. He was not amused. He has never wanted my works. He has always wanted me.

Many of us want to something great for God when all He wants us to do is join Him in what He is doing. That would be great. That means that we must abandon all the great things we will do for God and seek Him. It will mean there will be times of waiting to see what will be produced. The important work is joining Him. It is walking with Him. It isn't that we do great things for God. It's just that He is a great God.

That means that today we must open our eyes to seek God. We should pray that we will see Him work. We should make the commitment beforehand that we will join Him no matter what the cost. Greatness is not found in our recognition or even in our works. Greatness is found when God works. He invites us to join Him. God hasn't stopped working.

John 5:17 (NASB 2020) ¹⁷ But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”

We Can't Lose Our Salvation

 March 20, 2024

Wednesday

Why is it seem that some people who at one time praised the Lord are now saying that that faith in Jesus is all a sham? The answer is really simple. Praising the Lord is not the criteria for being a Christian. Repentance, confession and commitment is.

I would never say that anyone can earn their salvation. That minimizes what Jesus did on the cross. It can't be works and Jesus' sacrifice for salvation. It is Jesus' sacrifice that paid the full price. But no response by us leads to universalism. This is the belief that everyone will some day go to heaven with or without Jesus. Universalists are saying that Jesus' sacrifice with or without the response of anyone at anytime makes no difference in eternal destination. That is certainly not what Jesus said.

Many times I read the so-called faith of celebrities. Some of them get it. Some of them don't. They say they believe in Jesus but do not reflect a faith in Jesus in the way they live. What is faith if it doesn't change the way you live?

On the other hand, there must be people who try to live the Christian life and do a pretty good job of it but do not have true faith. Just think of it. Your job or your marriage or your reputation is at stake. If you are a pastor or Christian musician or simply married to someone who would think much less of you, you just might do your best to appear Christian without truly believing. These people are committed but not to the Lord. When they got to the point where they no longer needed the income or their marriage fell apart anyway, they just couldn't pretend anymore. They got tired of trying to convince themselves of something they had never believed.

These people must be in the worst place imaginable. They have lived on the inside with true believers who didn't live as Christ-like as they have. They knew that they didn't believe and may believe that others are just pretending like they are. They have out preached, out sung and out written all those around them. They have created a huge following with some being just like them. How can they truly believe in Christ now? They have been inoculated against the gospel.

But just like the rich with whom it is as hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, God can do what seems impossible. So, I pray that God will do what only He can do in bringing them to Himself. It will not be what they had before. It will be glorious.

Should we listen to the sermons or read their books or enjoy the songs they have sung? These things are no less beautiful than they were before. We read and listen with discernment. If God can speak through a donkey, He can speak through those who don't truly know Him. When there are errors we need to recognize them. We may even need to point them out. When there are falsehoods we need to see them for what they are. They are the manipulations of people who may have been trying to convince themselves.

We cannot lose our salvation. We cannot evict the Holy Spirit (as if we are strong enough to do so). We do need to make sure that we have committed our lives to Christ. We do need to make sure the Holy Spirit lives in us. Our salvation doesn't depend on us holding on for God holds onto us and no one can make Him let go.

John 10:27–30 (NASB 2020) ²⁷ My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; ²⁸ and I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

I Fell Down Again

 March 19, 2024

Tuesday

Sometimes things are going great. You are walking with the Lord. You experience His joy. You have confidence before Him. Then, you wake up one day and allow the worries of the day crowd out your quiet time. You have very little thought of Him. Before the day is out, your old flesh begins to act. You realize that if you are going have victory over this flesh, it will be one day at a time.

It seems that in the works of the flesh, I still have a door. When I am stressed, I still act in the flesh. That weak spot or door to my flesh is found in fits of anger. I can get angry very quickly and express it so that I leave no doubt what it is. It's amazing how small the things are that make me angry. I am sure that the other works of the flesh would enter if I wasn't so convicted by my fits of anger.

Unfortunately, I leave the door open by neglecting my time with the Lord. It didn't matter that this morning I had a long must-do list. It was more important that I had this quiet time. It was more important that I guard my heart because when walking in the works of the flesh there is more where that came from.

Paul says that those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh. Why does my flesh still live? It is crucified in the sense that it has no power over me. It is crucified in the sense that I am no longer under its curse of condemnation. But the stench of the flesh still resides in me. The works of the flesh are not what I want to do but they are what I do when I neglect my time with God.

Thus, today, I get up from my fall. It hurts. I want to remember the hurt so that I will take extra care in making sure that I don't fall again. I have confessed. I have repented. I am cleansed from all unrighteousness. I am still His.

However, you didn't do what I did. You read this blog. You know who your Lord is. You have guarded your heart. God bless you for following the Lord, today.

Galatians 5:24 (NASB 2020) ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Made for Eternity

 

March 18, 2024

Monday

We were made for eternity. That knowledge is impossible to grasp. Each of the events in our lives have and end date. We started with birth. We grew until we went to school. We went to school until we finished. We lived in our parents’ homes until we were on our own.  We get jobs. We may get married until death do us part.  We may have children. They follow the same pattern. We retire. We die. We are all resurrected. We spend eternity according to our relationship with God. That never ends.

These thoughts might be unsettling if we could grasp them. We are created for now and forever. We are not expected to stay exactly the same as we are now. We are expected to prepare for forever. That will seem like a long way off until it isn’t.

So, how do we use today to prepare for forever? We take one step closer to the One who holds forever in His hands. This is when we can say that we love our God more each day. Love is expressed in obedience and what we can do today, we couldn’t do yesterday. We do not live on our past accomplishments. We do not retire from our obedience. We do not say that we have already done everything and don’t need to do anything when we still have the ability to do what He continues to call us to do. We have no more right to say that we can’t than Moses did when God called him to rescue His people. We have no more right to run away that Jonah did when he was to preach to Ninevah.

But we do not do this simply because it is an obligation or because we have been coerced to do so. We serve because we love Him. We obey the Spirit when He prompts us to act. We do this out of love. Love has no bounds when it is allowed to grow. Our love for God will grow throughout eternity.

This is what our eternity will be. Yet, today we take one step.

1 John 5:1–2 (NASB 2020) ¹ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the child born of Him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and follow His commandments.

 

Let the Living Water Flow through You Today

March 17, 2024

Sunday

Some people come to church with a bad attitude. They complain about everything. They don't like the temperature, the music, the way the preacher is dressed, and I could go on. I would say that a hot desert wind blows through them on all they come in contact with.

What can I say about them? They can't be walking with the Lord. 

Now, I know this is not you who are reading this because this is not what these gripers are going to read. You are seeking to walk with the Lord. You are praying that you can be used of God to do something so that you will walk even closer to the Lord. You bring life into the church. You invite life to come in. You give it to others because it flows out of you.

In one of the churches I served was a lady who blessed everyone she met no matter her circumstances. She was in the hospital for pneumonia and brightening up the hospital. The nurses all wanted to come by her room-even those who weren't assigned to her. She got the best care because she lifted up everyone who came to the room. Where would she spend eternity? While I am not the final say on this, the evidence is that she will spend eternity with the Lord.

On the other hand, I was asked to do a funeral for a lady who had no church several years ago. This lady's neighbors had the funeral home contact me. I did not know the lady but agreed to do the service. They did not want a chapel service, just a graveside. The cemetery was huge so I went early to make sure I could find the grave site. The neighbors came early too. I had never met them so I thanked them for having this service because the lady had no relatives alive and nothing would have been done if not for them.

They told me, "Look, we are only doing this because we promised her husband we would do it before he died. She hated everyone. She hated all her neighbors. None of them wanted to have anything to do with her. We didn't like her either. No one else is coming. So, why don't you just get this thing over with!"

It appeared that nothing but death flowed out of this lady's life. She lived in hell before she left this earth. She gave hell to all who came in contact with her. I am not the judge to determine where she will spend eternity but the evidence is not good.

Are those people who come to church grumpy going to heaven? I don't know. The evidence isn't in their favor. For those who know the Lord have living water flowing from their innermost being. 

That's you!

John 7:38 (NASB 2020) ³⁸ The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”

Saints Sometime Sin

 March 16, 2024

Saturday

I can never forget that I am a saint that sometimes sins. A lot of people want to emphasize that Christians are saints. I would like to balance that thought a bit.

Knowing that you have sinned keeps you from being puffed up. It doesn't take too long for us to think that we are more than we are. People who think they are sinless look down on the rest of the world. They may witness to the lost but also treat them like they are not as loved by God as the self-proclaimed sinless person. It is necessary to know that we were in the same place as they are. It is here that we know the grace of God and we have the grace of God to share with them.

People who think they are sinless see no reason to confess their sins. After all, they don't have any. Too many people will admit that they are sinners because they know that's the correct answer but cannot think of one sin. They lack confession because they have become calloused toward sin. They are no longer sensitive to its affect. Sure, they can still see the sins of others but theirs seem to be hidden. Daily confession brings sin to mind. Coupled with repentance God cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we confess. But confession must have a realization what must be confessed. Thus, the saint finds himself often in confession.

Realizing that you are a saint that sins reveals the word of God in you. There is an amazing contrast between what God's word says and what we actually practice. When His word is in us, we recognize our own failures. We call the Lord truth when this happens. At the time, that may not seem positive. But please consider the person who fails to see his sin. He has called the Lord a liar and God's word is not in him. Which one would you rather be?

Knowing that you have sinned but that the Lord offers cleansing simply by our confession which includes repentance (the true meaning of the word "confess") makes you realize the love of God and His abundant grace. Jesus paid for all of your sins but we separate ourselves when we walk in unrighteousness. We don't lose our salvation but we do lose that intimate relationship that we had. When we realize what we have done and confess we realize that we don't deserve to be forgiven again. We should have known better. Yet, God cleanses us once again and invites us to fellowship with Him.

I am not glad that I am a sinner. I am glad that I recognize it. This is the only way I can continue to walk with my Lord.

1 John 1:10 (NASB 2020) ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

Beware of Self-Righteousness

 March 15, 2024

Friday

When people believe they have become more righteous than others, they get mean. While the Bible does tell us to evaluate our fellow believers and help them overcome their sins, the Bible doesn't tell us that we are less sinners than the people we correct. We should always stay in constant knowledge of who we are. Except for the grace of God we could be in the sin that they are in.

Some people think they are righteous because they carry out every form of strict biblical rules. They believe that they are made righteous by this. They believe they will see God's glory because of their righteousness. They know that they can manipulate people by their superior "knowledge" of the Bible. They gather followers because people want to be on the side of righteousness.

Jesus had a particular disdain for people like that. They knew so much but knew so little. They were so right, but they were so wrong. They hurt people by straining at the gnats and swallowing the camels. When people have such self-righteousness, they can't see what they are doing.

We must strive to be biblically correct while showing justice and mercy to everyone. This means that I don't tell others that I go to a superior church because we don't do the things you do in your church. It is one thing for a church to approve sinfulness. It is quite another for a church to interpret a Bible passage differently than yours. You are not superior nor is your church nor your pastor because you practice the faith differently.

The very strict interpretation of the law with the belief that it made one superior is the fault of the scribes and Pharisees. They could not see who was right before them because they were so self-righteous and Jesus didn't say such nice things about them. They thought that the Messiah would surely recognize them for their righteousness and give them His glory.

There will be others whom you will meet that are self-righteous. Remember that you are not better than them. You are not superior to them. But don't expect them to be anything but mean. They think they have the right to be. After all, who is more righteous than them?

Matthew 23:23–24 (NASB 2020) ²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. ²⁴ You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

Human Reasoning and Eternal Decisions

 March 14, 2024

Thursday

Many times human reasoning can keep us from the Lord's will. Take for example the story of Saul offering the burnt offering when Samuel doesn't show up at the allotted time. Let's look at the circumstances.

The Philistines have gathered for a battle. Saul is trembling in fear. People are deserting him. He had already waited until the previously agreed time for Samuel to arrive. Samuel would offer the burnt offering. It was commonly offered before a battle. It was a statement of complete commitment to the Lord. Saul knows it must be offered before the battle. He, therefore, took it upon himself to offer the burnt offerings.

1 Samuel 13:8–9 (NASB 2020) ⁸ Now he waited for seven days, until the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him. ⁹ So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.

Human reasoning would tell us that Saul was in a predicament. He waited upon the agreed upon time. He took it upon himself because he was afraid to wait in longer. His men were already deserting. The battle would be difficult with the men he had. Losing more would almost assuredly mean a defeat. This is all human reasoning.

The burnt offering was not just a ritual performed so that the soldiers could fight with complete confidence. A complete commitment to the Lord is not found in the ceremony. A complete commitment is found in complete obedience. Offering the burnt offering without Samuel was the same as offering it without the Lord. There was no complete commitment for their was no complete obedience.

Saul was trusting in his army rather than the Lord. His human reasoning got in the way of obedience. People using human reasoning don't think that Saul did anything wrong.

I have heard the same argument made by ladies who do not understand why Mary could be praised for listening to Jesus while Martha was doing all the work. Their human reasoning says that Jesus should have made Mary get up and join Martha.

Luke 10:40–42 (NASB 2020) ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴² but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Human reasoning said that the meal must be served sooner rather than later. Human reasoning said that it was more important to prepare the meal than to listen to Jesus. Human reasoning was wrong. Can you imagine getting to sit and listen to Jesus? That would never be taken away from Mary while the meal that Martha was fixing would come and go.

The Bible tells us:

Proverbs 14:12 (NASB 2020)¹² There is a way which seems right to a person, But its end is the way of death.

Some things seem right to us and many others but they are not evaluated on an eternal level. They are seen to be the best we can do today. The Lord looks beyond today. He leads us to an abundant life. The life that stays on the human level is a life of death. We are not responding to the Spirit. We do not have the life God intends for us.

Make sure today that you live beyond human reasoning. Completely obey the Lord. Listen to what He tells you to do. Live for eternity.

Living Like the Lord Will Return Today

 March 13, 2024

Wednesday

I am a planner. I love to plan what the future holds. I would plan for the Lord's return if I knew the date. But I don't know when. No one who knows when. So, I must live like His return will be today.

Doesn't it seem strange that there have been many people who have predicted the Lord's return throughout history? They stir up the people. Some of their followers have sold all they have and gave it away right before the predicted date. They proved their faith in the date but the day comes and passes without the Lord's return. 

I just read the Parable of the Virgins:

Matthew 25:1–13 (NASB 2020) ¹ “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. ² Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. ³ For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; ⁴ but the prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps. ⁵ Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep. ⁶ But at midnight there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ But the foolish virgins said to the prudent ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ However, the prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the groom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. ¹¹ Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ ¹² But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³ Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.

The prudent virgins brought extra oil in case the groom was late. The others predicted when he should come. They did not have the oil needed to keep their lamps burning. This parable is not about what oil represents or falling asleep. It is purely about being ready for the Lord's return. It tells that there will be a day when the door to the kingdom of heaven will be shut. Those on the outside cannot get in because the Lord doesn't know them. They have never been His.

All of the virgins were surprised at the grooms coming. All of them had fallen asleep. But five of them were prepared for a late arrival. These are the ones who were admitted to the wedding feast. 

The Lord could come today. Those who do not know Him will not be meeting Him in the air. I am sure that some will come up with a scientific explanation for the event. They will soothe their fears with an assurance that science can explain this. Others will come to the realization that what they learned at one time was true even though they, themselves, had not trusted in the Lord. They will know they have been left behind.

So, I will use each opportunity the Lord gives me today to tell those who will listen about the salvation of the Lord. Salvation is a work of the Lord. Giving out a testimony for the Lord is my job. I want, as the Lord wants, all to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. I want others with me when He returns.

I must live like the Lord will return today.

The Words the Devil Hates

 March 12, 2024

Tuesday

Have you ever thought what strategies the devil is going to use against you? Let's realize who he is and that will indicate what he desires to do. 

The devil hates God intensely. He, therefore, hates all that God loves. He hates you and he wants what God has. Therefore, he desires to keep as many people away from God as he can. If he can't keep you from salvation, he will do his best to steal what salvation offers on this earth. He wants to steal your spiritual joy, your manifest presence of the Lord, your eternal rewards (not salvation but what you have earned), and your testimony of your relationship with the Lord. It isn't that those things don't exist. It's the fact that you don't know them anymore. 

What does the devil need to do to take these things from you? He needs to get you away from God's word, God's people and God's work. If he can do this, he is as successful as he will ever be. He is condemned. There is an eternity of judgement waiting for him. He just wants to hurt God as much as he can before he faces his eternity.

So, you are tempted to forego having a quiet time. It doesn't seem to be the end of the world. No one besides yourself knows that you did. Truthfully, you are now like most of the Christians in the world who missed their quiet times today. You'll catch up tomorrow, right? 

Do you think that telling the policeman that you will stop twice at the next light will work? No, you need that quiet time today for today. You can't have yesterday's quiet time today. It is subtle but it is an effective way to keep you away from God's word.

While there are lots of books saying that people are not attending church because they were hurt by the church in the past, that apparently isn't the main reason that people stopped going to church. According to surveys, the main reason is that they moved. They were either just too far away or moved to a completely different area of the country where they knew no one except their neighbors and co-workers who didn't go to church either. It was easy to fill in the time with going to the Y, grilling out and just relaxing. This is an incredibly effective way to steal your spiritual joy, your own awareness that the Lord is present and your testimony. Satan will probably leave you alone. There is no reason to upset what he already has.

Doing the Lord's work can be frustrating. It takes time. It prevents you from doing a lot of the things you would rather do. I, personally, have not had a three-day weekend in over forty years. That's the life of a pastor. Wouldn't it be great to take off when you want to take off and not have to worry about the hole you left in a ministry? You don't need a substitute because you aren't committed to anything. Sure, you go to church when you can. And you can when nothing else is planned. You don't even realize that all the rewards you have earned from serving the Lord can be lost. (1 Corinthians 9:27) The devil loves this. He couldn't be happier with you.

What are the words the devil hates to hear? He hates to hear of the joy of God. He hates to hear that God is well pleased with you.

 Matthew 25:21 (NASB 2020) ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’

So, he does his best to make sure that never happens.

The devil is seeking to devour you today. 

1 Peter 5:8 (NASB 2020) ⁸ Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

However, you have Someone he must answer to. You will have victory over him. You have had your quiet time. You will be in church to encourage and stimulate others to good works as they will encourage and stimulate you. You will hear the words that the devil hates.

1 Peter 5:9–10 (NASB 2020) ⁹ So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. ¹⁰ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Who Produces Much Fruit?

March 11, 2024

Monday

I heard the following story:

A dad and his son are on a road trip through Amish country. Upon seeing all the horse and buggies the son asks his dad why the Amish travel that way.

The dad replies, "Son, they don't believe in cars."

"But, dad," the boy exclaims,  "Can't they see them?!"

Now, I would like to relate that to the experience of abiding in Jesus. Anyone who has experienced the power of the Lord working in their lives must know that it comes by Jesus abiding in them and they in Jesus. What appears to be accomplished through natural talents will amount to nothing. What is done in the Lord is everything. Those who have natural intellectual or charismatic talents may see the works of the Lord all around them but they do not adopt abiding in Jesus because they do not truly know Him. They have a belief that they more than doubt because they assume the apparent results in numbers justifies their own relationship. They may see the works of the Lord but they choose not to adopt abiding in Jesus as the means to accomplish His will because they do not need to. They are doing more with their natural abilities than what appears to be happening with those who abide in the Lord.

This may explain much of the so-called de-conversion stories I have read from celebrity pastors. Each of them is much smarter than me. Each of them is able to do things that I would love to do. Yet, their own superior natural abilities have become a hindrance because they cannot claim that what they have done is a work of the Lord. They know it is because of their own abilities. Thus, claims of the Lord working are foreign to them. They can de-convert because they have not seen the Lord truly work in their lives. If they did, they would never turn their backs on the Lord.

On the other hand, we may not know the full impact that abiding in Jesus will have. The person we lead to the Lord, the discipleship group that we lead or the moment we are moved by the Lord to fund a Christian project may have results that we can't imagine. We know that the Lord has promised us much fruit if we will abide in Him. We may not see the results of what the Lord will do through us. However, we will know that it is the Lord working in us.

So, you and I may never have our names in lights. Thousands of people may never hear us speak or buy our books. But there is something much more precious than these things. We know the Lord is working in us. We know that He has promised to produce much fruit through this. For me, this is enough.

John 15:5 (NASB 2020) ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

The Importance of Setting the Mind on the Spirit

 March 10, 2024

Sunday

Have you ever seen a company fire most of its sales force when times get tough? Probably not because that company is about to go out of business. It is gone before you can know they fired their sales force. They must cut back and they hope that their previous customers will continue to buy from them. They fail to realize that any company not enlisting new customers is on its way out.

They resemble the man whose doctor told him that he must cut out some of his wine, women and song or it was going to kill him. The man gave up singing. Failing to recognize what's important will kill your business, your church and your walk with the Lord.

I have seen many people who become homebound from church. I visited one who told me that she could go shopping and to the beauty shop but just couldn't make it to church. That, to me, will be hard to explain when she stands at the judgement seat of Christ. Refusing to go to church simply because it is difficult will result in a weakened faith. That weakened faith will crumble when the true difficulties of life hit.

Maybe people have never thought of what the important things are. They just don't see how they tie together. Who suffers if they don't have a quiet time? Who suffers is the skip church? Who suffers if they don't order their lives in a walk with the Lord? Even though few others will notice at first, they will notice immediately if they have a close walk with the Lord. They lost their first love. Their relationship with the Lord grows cold. Yes, it is gradual but it is also assured when we refuse to do what's important.

What is the hardest thing to do in the Christian life? One man who had a quiet time every day for twenty years said, "Having a quiet time every day." Taking the time to acknowledge that this is the day that the Lord has made, listening to God's word as one reads it to himself and praying that this day will be filled with obedience to the Lord is extremely hard to do. However, it is worth it. It reflects who you love. It sets your day on the right path. Your mind is focused on the Spirit. It brings life and peace.

Romans 8:6 (NASB 2020) ⁶ For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

Where Does Greatness Lie?

 March 9, 2024

Saturday

Just about everybody wants to be somebody. From the moment we can talk, we want to call ourselves "big." Our high school days were spent making sure we were included. We wanted to be with the "cool" group. We wanted others to notice how important we were. (Or at least not call us worthless.) Eventually, most people give up. They may want to be treated well as a customer but they have no concern about becoming the boss.

Does this desire come down between being served and serving? If the flesh is against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh wouldn't the flesh want to be served while the Spirit will serve?

This is where we throw Jesus' disciples under the bus while acting the same as they did. The mother of James and John asks if her sons can sit on Jesus' left and right when He comes into His kingdom. He questions whether they can drink from the cup He will drink from. They say they will and He admits that they will. However, Jesus doesn't grant them the greatness that they desire. So, the rest of the disciples who also want to be great become indignant with James and John. So . . . .

Matthew 20:24–28 (NASB 2020) ²⁴ And after hearing this, the other ten disciples became indignant with the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and those in high position exercise authority over them. ²⁶ It is not this way among you, but whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant,²⁷ and whoever desires to be first among you shall be your slave; ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

The question for a believer is: "Where do you want to be great?" Do you want to be great in the world or great in the Kingdom of God?

I heard a televangelist say that he had heard that heaven was paved with streets of gold but he wanted his gold now. How short sighted can you be? Would you rather have treasures on this earth that you can't take with you or treasures in heaven that are yours forever? It appears that many people would rather lease heaven than to own it.

We must ask if Jesus greatness was on earth. He never wrote a book. He never traveled very far. He was abandoned even by most of His closest followers when He was in His greatest need. Yet, His greatness is beyond anything the world has ever known. He sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. All believers will one day be judged by Him for their rewards in heaven.

Even in church we recount greatness. Each special speaker is introduced by the books he has written, the places he has preached, the number he has preached to and the decisions made from his preaching. It seems we haven't learned what Jesus said. The greatest is not the one who is the most well known. The greatest is the one who has served like a slave. This is why Paul will address himself as "slave of Jesus Christ" at the beginning of Romans. This is where greatness lies.

So, instead of seeking to be served today. Do something great. Serve others. The rewards are out of this world.

Do I Really Have Time for a Quiet Time?

 March 8, 2024

Friday

I overslept this morning. I never oversleep. Of course, I can't really say I never oversleep because I just did. It threw me off my routine. I quickly got ready to ride my bicycle to work. I forgot my watch and cell phone. Now, I'm really going to have troubles. So, I go back home for them. I am late starting. I need to collect myself. I need to stop and take a breath. If I am not careful, I will not have a quiet time this morning because I have reasoned that I don't have time. I can turn a mistake into something much worse.

Each day things can happen that are not on all of our "to-do" list. These things must be evaluated, sometimes corrected and adjustments to the day must be made. The most important items that we must do still must be the most important items that we must do. I know this but in the hurry of being late, I may forget them.

I have made Philippians 3:10 my life verse:

Philippians 3:10 (NASB 2020) ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

I want to know Christ. If this is true, I should let nothing get in the way of knowing Him. I must adjust my schedule so that I have the time set aside each day that I may acknowledge Him. Letting what I will do for Him is not as important as being with Him. I can't let my work be my worship. I must always see Him as my worship.

I cannot let time be my master. I cannot let others be my master. Ultimately, I must always allow my Master to be my Master. Each day I must remember this. Each day I must call Him Lord.

Jesus, Himself gave us a great example to follow. The scripture records:

Mark 1:35 (NASB 2020) ³⁵ And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.

Jesus took time out of His busy schedule to seek His Father. The weight of the world was upon Him. His disciples would soon tell Him that everyone was looking for Him. However, He got away to have a quiet time.

Thus, I know I must keep the main thing the main thing. 

Make sure you have your quiet time too tomorrow and all the tomorrows you still have.