Consoling the Grieving

 November 22, 2024

Friday

One Sunday evening several years ago, a lady came screaming into the church. She cried, "My baby's not breathing!" I turned to one of my deacons and told him that he needed to give the Sunday evening message because I was going with this family to the Emergency Room. There, the baby was revived. Today that child is in her twenties and very healthy.

The family overwhelmingly thanked me. 

Now for the strange part. I can't remember saying anything to them. Sure, I silently prayed on the way to the hospital and in the waiting room but I was silent when it came to saying anything that made any difference. A long time later I realized that when people are grieving or believing that something bad has or is happening, the words don't make as much of a difference as your presence.

Most people do not know what to say when they try to console someone who has lost a family member to death. They desperately want to make things better. Somehow they think they can say something that eases the grief. Of course, that means they will say what they have heard said. "If there is anything you need . . . I am so sorry for your loss," and etc. In their hearts they do not think they have made anything better.

It isn't what we say. It is that we are there with them. It isn't the flowers are the Hallmark card that we picked out. It isn't the food we might bring over. The grieving people just need to know that you are with them. Showing up in their grief is the greatest thing you can do.

Have you ever wondered why it was noted that certain women were there at the cross. They may have watched from a distance but that was a lot closer than those who were hiding. They were there with Jesus when He took our sins upon Himself. They were there when He was in unimaginable pain. They were there with Him when He died. They were with Him.

So, the next time you go to console a grieving person remember, this person may need a hug more than a word. They absolutely need your presence.

Matthew 27:55–56 (NASB 2020)⁵⁵ And many women were there watching from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while caring for Him. ⁵⁶ Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Characteristics of a Jesus Disciple

 November 21, 2024

Thursday

Ever once in a while, a disciple of Jesus must check to see if he has the characteristics of a disciple. Sure, there are lots of scriptures that people will turn to that indicate they are following Christ but there aren't really that many that point out what a disciple is. In fact, if you get these right the other things will fall in place.

John records what Jesus said about being a disciple.

1. A Jesus disciple abides in His word. That means that he is in it every day. God's word reveals the truth when the world continues to spread lies.  A Jesus disciple knows the truth and does it. He shares it with others. Therefore, others know he is a Jesus disciple.

John 8:31–32 (NASB 2020)³¹ So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

2. A Jesus disciple is characterized by love for everyone. He loves those that are easy to love and those who are hard to love. Love is measured in sacrifice .(Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.) Thus, a Jesus disciple is more than hot air. He doesn't merely say he loves us but works to meet the needs of others. Thus, people can see the love of a Jesus disciple.

John 13:34–35 (NASB 2020)³⁴ I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.”

3. A Jesus disciple bears the same type of fruit that Jesus bore. The fruit of the Spirit is evident in a Jesus disciple. There is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When all of these are present in a Jesus disciple everyone knows he is a disciple of Jesus. Thus, he will bear the fruit of others becoming Jesus disciples.

John 15:8 (NASB 2020)⁸ My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

If you can't say that you have these three characteristics, don't despair. Just confess and commit yourself to being a Jesus disciple. Let today be a step on your journey.

How to Walk with God

 November 20, 2024

Wednesday

Many believers have no idea what we are talking about when we mention walking with God. They may assume that it means going to church every Sunday. Unfortunately, that is just religion. Being religious is following a set of rules or patterns that the follower believes will please God. There is no walk with God in this. It is just repeating a pattern and trying not to do what has been prohibited. The God of these followers is impersonal and boring.

Walking with God requires a conversation with Him. It requires seeing what He is doing. It requires complete commitment to join Him no matter what the sacrifice might be. It has no lags in which the person does nothing for days or weeks or even years between these conversations. It is exactly what it says it is: it is walking with God and doing so daily.

Right now, I believe I am seeing God do something, but I am not sure. I will not join Him on a hunch. I must know that He is calling me to join Him in what I believe I see Him doing. So, I have entered into a prayer that asks God to specifically act in that calling. In other words, I have put out a fleece so that I can know that it is God. If nothing happens, I will know that it wasn't from God. Either way, this is an exciting way to walk with God.

Some people notice patterns. You must become one of those people to recognize that God is working. If three people come up to you and say that you are a natural speaker or teacher or something else, you must ask if God is in this. Is He moving you to do something with your spiritual gift or your talent. That doesn't mean that you immediately go to another country as a missionary. It means that you place yourself in God's hands by asking Him to specifically reveal if He is working where you think He is working.

If you want to walk with God, you must obey. You cannot be like Jonah who was told to go to Ninevah and took off for Tarshish. You cannot be like many of the Christians around you that never get beyond showing up at church on Sundays. While obedience is optional in the sense that a person must choose to be obedient, it is also required to walk with God.

I challenge you to look around and see where God is working. If you don't know, stop and ask God to reveal this to you. Then, ask God to let you join Him. He may say, "Come on!" You will absolutely need to act at that point. Don't let your feet grow cold. Tell someone what God has led you to do right away. Then, do what is necessary to join Him.

This is what it is to walk with God. It is what God wants for you.

Micah 6:8 (NASB 2020)⁸ He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Join Jesus Now

 November 19, 2024

Tuesday

I realized the other day why Peter called out to Jesus so that he could join Jesus walking on water. It is actually very simple. The Lord wants us to join Him in what He is doing. When Peter said, "If it is You, Lord, command me to come out to you on the water," he knew that only Jesus would be able to do that and even want that. Jesus wants us working with Him rather than for Him. He wants us joining Him rather than we think up things to do and ask Him to join us. Of course Jesus said, "Come."

If our eyes are open to the work of the Lord we will see Him working. The only thing we need to do is join Him. If we don't know if it is Him, then we must put out a fleece to make sure that it is. Putting out a fleece is not questioning whether the Lord will do what He has said He will do. It is making sure it is Him that you are joining.

Do you see the Lord working anywhere right now? Is He working on your heart to change what you are doing right now? Does He want you to change professions or locations so that you can join Him? Peter had to change locations when he got out of the boat to walk toward Jesus. It might be that scary. Peter had already changed professions to follow Jesus. 

True disciples do what their Master tells them to do. They must consider the cost and determine that they will finish the calling they are called to. The greatest reason the gospel is not being preached throughout the world with the power of the Holy Spirit is that most Christians never step out to join the Lord in what He is doing. The moment it looks like they must change what they are doing to join Him, they balk. They want Jesus to be there for them when they need Him rather than become disciples who join Him in whatever He is doing.

I wanted to be a missionary when I first went into the ministry. I even applied to become one. The problem was that the people at the missionary appointing board kept asking me about my calling. I didn't have one. Jesus was working on the mission field but He wanted me working with Him right in the US. That doesn't mean that I stayed in one spot. It also doesn't mean that I didn't do short term mission trips. It just meant that joining Jesus was not permanently overseas. At first, I was disappointed but over the years I have realized that I need to be where Jesus wants me to join Him.

Most people are retired by my age. Retirement isn't a biblical word. That doesn't mean that I must be paid to do ministry forever. It means that I am to join Jesus forever.

So, if you think that you see Jesus working, ask Him to command you to come to Him. That's what Peter did. He wasn't able to keep it up at that time. Yet, his life is not characterized by his failures. He is known for his faith. Be known as one that walks on water.

Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV) ²²  Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴  but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. ²⁵  And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶  But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. ²⁷  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” ²⁸  And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹  He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” ³¹  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³  And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”  

God's Method of Getting Rich

 November 18, 2024

Monday

There are plenty of preachers telling you how to get rich. They believe that God can be manipulated to cause riches to fall into your laps. Or, at least, that's how it seems. They pick on desperate people who will send them money so that God will cause a windfall in their direction. Of course, these people see these preachers getting rich and assume that they must know what they are talking about. Any investigation will reveal that these preachers are getting rich off of the money being sent in by desperate people.

Gambling is something that intrigues people. Some people might think: "Who knows? Maybe this preacher has something here. I don't mind sending him or her a thousand dollars with a ten or even a hundred time pay off."

It is interesting that each of these preachers use the same pattern though they try to change it up so that they can be unique. They all call it "seed" money but they will claim some divine knowledge of how much that money needs to be. Thus, some will choose some odd number like $1028 so that it sounds like they have heard a specific word from the Lord.

Of course, these preachers have branched out to those who aren't so interested in being rich too. Therefore, they claim that "seed" money which represents faith must be sent in to get your daughter off of drugs or see that your son is saved or heal your granddaughter from a terminal disease. Who cares how much money it costs if those things would come about? People send it in.

What they don't say, though they should, is, "I believe God is for sale." They are saying that His favor can be bought with money. No one answers the question: "What use does God have with money?" While it is true that money can keep a person from being committed to God, simply giving Him money will not buy Him off.

Too many times people who are rich enough do not depend upon God for anything. They sit back and relax. Their bank accounts are filled but their account in heaven is empty. Being rich on this earth will mean nothing to someone in eternity.

God's riches are found in hearts that obey Him. The heart that loves Him with everything it has puts more value in eternity that all the riches on this earth. The heart that walks with Him closely and struggles in the tests He sends puts treasures in heaven that will make all the money in this world pale in comparison.

If you want true riches, commit yourself to the Lord without reservation. Make yourself a slave to Him. Make yourself one who will obey without question. Make yourself someone who goes nowhere without Him.

Then, you will be rich. Really rich.

Luke 12:16-21 (ESV) ¹⁶  And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, ¹⁷  and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ ¹⁸  And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ ²⁰  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ ²¹  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Vengeance Belongs to the Lord

November 17, 2024

Sunday

People have no idea how ungodly they can be. They do not believe in true justice because they try to exact their own type of justice when they believe they have been done wrong. It amounts to vengeance. It takes a life all its own. Their actions have ensured that there will be no justice. 

Years ago, I had someone do me very wrong. He told me that he would give me a raise after three months of working for him. When I went in after four months he threatened to fire me for asking for the raise. It was a time that I was really short of money. I knew I could hurt his business but the Lord intervened. The Lord told me to leave him alone.

A few months later, I quit to do what I believed the Lord wanted me to do. I thought little about what had happened to me after that. I learned about a year later that the business he worked in closed. It was one of the largest of its kind just months before but it now no longer existed. This man who had refused my raise was now out of work himself. That was much worse than I could have done to him. I realized the Lord will deal with those who give Him the opportunity to exact justice.

Vengeance protects the person with whom you have a problem. The Lord does not step between you and your own efforts to claim vengeance. Your own efforts are limited but God's actions are not. He can make things much worse for the sake of redeeming the person than you can in condemning the person. Thus, if you want real justice, leave them alone. Allow the Lord to take over.

We will never overcome evil by evil. That means that you don't fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water! You act in the place of Christ to sacrifice before those who would harm you. If discipline must be performed on someone outside of your authority, you must allow the Lord to administer that discipline. 

Thus, you will have no regrets for the things that you have done and have said. Few people understand this.

Romans 12:19-21 (ESV) ¹⁹  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Bat Crazy People

 November 16, 2024

Saturday

I just read the testimony of someone who experienced road rage from another driver. I wondered why someone would get so irate at such a minor mistake. The person had not gone when the light turned green so a tap of the horn was used to "wake them up." At that, the person went bat crazy. This person chased the person who tapped the horn, making dangerous moves with their car and hurling obscenities verbally and visually. The other person suddenly turns to get away from that crazy person.

If this story only happened once, then we could chalk it up to one crazy person but we see this type of road rage continually. It is not rare to be passed by two cars chasing each other down the road at dangerous speeds while trying to cause each other harm. This is simply not rational.

So, I have an idea why this may be true though I certainly do not have the psychological or sociological training to back it up. I believe that people who do not know how to receive forgiveness also don't know how to give it. Thus, they have learned to overlook what has happened to them but have not learned to put these things away. This results in the accumulation of slights and hurts and even circumstances that went the wrong way. This accumulation sets them on edge. If their emotional meter has ten points, they have the anxiety, frustration, disappointment and discouragement of nine points before anything else happens. They cannot keep it under control if anything brings their emotional meter up two points because they don't have two points left. So they go crazy.

Our post Christian society thinks that it doesn't need God. Yet, this same society desperately needs forgiveness. Forgiveness is the most prevalent divine attribute of the follower of Jesus Christ. Knowing forgiveness is the catalyst for forgiving others. Forgiving others allows the Christian to release the pressure being built up by all of the stressors each of us face. It can mean that a Christian can operate with their emotional meter on a one or two rather than a nine. It can mean that Christian operating at this level will be able to absorb anything that would bring that meter up two points.

Forgiveness is so important that those who don't forgive also don't really have salvation. That doesn't mean that they must forgive before they become Christians. It means that becoming a Christian causes them to forgive. Just saying that they are Christians without forgiving is just lip service. That is why churches can be as violent as those in the world. They have not received forgiveness because they have not truly believed in Christ for who He is as the one who has taken away their sins. They overlook rather than forgive sins until they can't overlook it any more. Then, they go bat crazy.

The scripture that says that God won't forgive those who won't forgive has always bothered me. Now, I think I may have a grasp on it. Those who won't forgive have never received forgiveness.

This world will, therefore, become more violent as their is a smaller percentage of people who know Christ. There will be a smaller percentage who have received forgiveness. There will be a larger group that are running on nines on their emotional meter.

 Matthew 6:14–15 (NASB 2020) ¹⁴ “For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Just Be Generous

 November 15, 2024

Friday

We were created to be generous. Since we were created in the image of God and that image is in His attributes, generosity was created in us. After all, who has been more generous than God? He gave His only Son for us.

Then, why aren't all people generous. All of the attributes of God within us were corrupted in the Fall. Greed displaced much of our generosity. The Fall made us self-centered. A self-centered sin nature cannot boast having any good within it.

Still there is the remnant of God's creation in all of us. This is why so many stories have villains who show some good, some loyalty and even some generosity. It as if the world wants to say, "Hey, we're not all bad!" Yes, it is true that there is hardly a human who has shown no compassion or attribute of God at some time.

Generosity looks outside of ourselves. We give to others without expecting anything in return when God's attribute of generosity moves us to. We may not know the persons we give to but we know we must give to them. Thus, in a disaster the greatest forms of generosity come out of people who may not be Christian. 

People don't receive God's attributes when they become Christians. They receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moves people to give when He is not quenched.

On the other hand, many Christians are just as stingy or even more so than non-Christians. The Church records that very few people give to the Church as they should. Most people can't see the disaster of lost souls. They don't realize that millions of people are marching into hell even as they read this blog. They don't realize who has their hearts when they are stingy or greedy.

So, we should be generous. Generosity must have discernment but if we take an assessment of our giving to anyone or anything, most will not get near ten percent.

It could be that the lack of generosity is what keeps you from getting that close to God. Jesus told the rich, young ruler to sell all that he had to follow Him. Jesus said that because that was the very thing that was dragging him down. It is like holding onto a chest of gold as you sink below the ocean waves.

Be generous. It seems simple. Try it out and see if it is more blessed to give than receive.

2 Corinthians 9:11–12 (ESV) ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

A Little Pride Goes a Long Way

 November 14, 2024

Thursday

If I were asked what the greatest detriment to the Christian life was I would answer "pride." Pride can be found at the root of many of our other sins.

It is pride that keeps us from considering others advice. Pride tells us that others don't know what we know so we discount others advice and do what we think is best without outside opinions. Of course, that means we will never get beyond what we already know. That will keep us in a rut. And a rut is just a grave with both ends kicked out.

Pride keeps us from apologizing and giving forgiveness. Pride will not allow us to see our own errors. It points at the errors of others without understanding what they may have gone through. How dare anyone do anything against us. How dare we forgive them because of that. The lack of forgiveness and giving forgiveness hinders true Christian fellowship. It estranges people from each other and from God.

Pride causes us to refrain from asking for help. It doesn't matter if it is help from a colleague or from the Lord. It limits the strength we could have and it severely limits our effectiveness. When it comes to doing anything with the Lord, we can do nothing. Pride makes us less than we could be.

Pride demands attention. It bristles when ignored. It expects others to serve. It talks about itself incessantly. It turns others off and doesn't care.

But the greatest failure of pride is that it causes God to oppose us. We are a people that need grace. We need it always and pride turns God off so much that He withholds grace from the prideful.

The real problem with pride is that it hides itself from the proud person. Therefore, there is no problem of pride.  Even when there is.

James 4:6 (NASB 2020) ⁶ But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

When Fear Takes Hold

 November 13, 2024

Wednesday

Some of us are afraid all the time. We all know that the only fear we should have is the fear of God but that's not the fear I am talking about. I am among those who have anxieties that I have trouble overcoming. Maybe you are like me. 

God knows all of us. He knows the fearful ones too. He has told us what to do to dispel this fear. 

Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB 2020) ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

One of the reasons we are so afraid is our belief of what will happen given current conditions. We get afraid for the future because we see the future outside of God's hands. This is never the case! No, God knows what is happening and He keeps things from getting outside of the limits He has set on it.

This means that I must pray until I have peace. I don't know about you but I am pretty stubborn. I need to pray a long time to have peace. I have to come into His presence and receive His assurances that He will be there even if the worst case scenario comes true. I have to acknowledge that I am His- not partially, but completely His. I have placed myself in His hands. He owns me. He can do as He wishes. 

Of course, this means I trust Him. Just like my kids would jump into my arms in the swimming pool I must trust Him to take care of me when I don't know how to swim in the waters of fear.

God loves me. I must realize that. I also must love Him. Love is a two way street when it is made whole.

1 John 4:18 (NASB 2020) ¹⁸ There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Yes, I know that God has every right to do horrible things to me because of my sin. However, I do not know God in this way. I know Him as the One who loved me so much that He gave His only son for me. I know that this is His perfect love. This perfect love casts out all fears.

God assures me that He will uphold me. He upholds all of us who fear the future. He upholds all of us who fear our own failure. He gives His word on this.

Isaiah 41:10 (NASB 2020) ¹⁰ ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

After reading these verses (which I need to read a lot) I am not afraid. I am no longer depending upon my own ability to change the future. I am not afraid of the future because it is in His hands.

When this happens, I have peace. I hope you have peace, too.

If Possible, Be Forgiven

 November 12, 2024

Tuesday

I find that forgiveness is a universal problem. There seem to be as many people who need to forgive as those who need to be forgiven. (There may be more that need to be forgiven but they are so blind to what they have done that they do not realize they need to be forgiven. Maybe you know some of these people.) Let's just talk about those who need to be forgiven right now.

First, the person must realize that he has done something that is a violation of the other person. This may be as simple as hurting feelings or genuinely causing financial or bodily harm. The person who was harmed may automatically forgive but that will not make things right until this offense is acknowledged.

Second, the offending person must confess to the one who was violated. This is not informing the person what happened. More than likely, he already knows what happened. Confession expresses grief over the transgression. This is why it must not include excuses for the violation. Saying it was caused by stress or hunger or fear or anything else will not diminish the harm that was caused. Confession must be as pure as possible without any requirement of forgiveness being given. It may desire forgiveness but it can't expect it. The effort here is to make the transgressor vulnerable by confession. This means that the refusal to forgive after confession changes nothing in the confession. The confessor is at the mercy of the person who should forgive.

Third, forgiveness does not return things back to where they were before the transgression. Trust is not the same as forgiveness. Forgiveness is something that needs to be given. A gift is not earned or it isn't a gift. The person forgiving is administering grace. Trust is earned. Violation of trust brings trust down to zero. Building trust back is faithfulness plus time. It may take some time before things can return back to where they were before.

Many will argue that the one who was hurt may have also done some things that hurt the one confessing. That may be possible but as long as people are taking a tally of who was hurt first or who was hurt most, no one will receive forgiveness.

It takes a lot of resolve to confess to others so that you can gain their forgiveness. It means that you hold your tongue when they strike back. It means that you are silent when they accuse you of something greater than you did. You take these blows to make things right with the knowledge that they may never reciprocate. You cannot make someone forgive you nor can you make them recognize their own need for forgiveness. You must do what is in your power to make things right. 

It's in their hand after that.

Romans 12:18 (NASB 2020) ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.

Count the Cost

 November 11, 2024

Monday

Luke 14:26–30 (NASB 2020)²⁶ “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’

I hear so many people say that they need to put God first but that doesn't seem to be what the Lord tells us. Following the Lord is putting the Lord beyond a list of other things that are important. It is more like a whole other category than having other things that are the next on the list. I suppose there are people who love their cars but would they put that love against their own children? In other words, how far down that list would the car come after they had listed their children? It is a whole other category.

That's what it is like to follow Jesus. He is not in the same list with family or even your own life. He is a category that has no other members. 

This means that there will be no question when acting for the Lord. This means that nothing stands between the Lord and yourself. 

The problem is that many people are making the decision to love the Lord on a moment-by-moment basis. They need to make the decision that they will go the distance no matter what. Yes, it is counting the cost that says that the cost doesn't matter. It is saying whatever it takes. It says that convenience, possessions, family and even their own lives will be forfeited for the sake of Christ.

I remember having a speaker tell about the bravery of a young lady who was executed after saying she was a Christian. One of the people there stood up and said that this was crazy. He told his daughter to say that she wasn't a Christian if her life would be taken because of it. Unfortunately, that is the Christianity practiced by almost all Christians. It is the Christianity that is built on convenience. It is the Christianity that will allow the world to go to hell. It is the Christianity which has no testimony. It shows up at Christmas and Easter sometimes. 

But some people don't want that. A small number of people who call themselves Christians take the words of Christ seriously. They have counted the cost and decided that the cost doesn't matter. They are the Christians who are following Christ. They know Him intimately. 

Unfortunately, their testimonies make no sense to those who have never sacrificed for Christ. It is all nonsense to them. Those who walk with Christ know that the real nonsense is trying to hold onto their lives. They know that they cannot gain anything that way.

So, where are you? Have you counted the cost and determined it is worth it? Or, are you like most every other Christian who says the cost is too high?

Content with Heavenly Citizenship

 November 10, 2024

Sunday

To tell you the truth, I don't know how Paul did it. He had so many setbacks, so many discouragements and he kept plugging along. He must have set his eyes on a different goal.

I admit I have set my eyes on seeing people as the means of church growth. I feel like a failure when they don't come. I see others have the success I am looking for and feel badly that their success bothers me. This is the cause of much of my distress in the ministry. I have my eyes set on the things the world calls success.

 Paul set his eyes on God's kingdom. He had people leave him, too, but he looked beyond the moment to see his own success found in obedience rather than results.

Paul set his mind on heavenly things. The work of a Christian is to make disciples. The goal of a Christian is to live a life that will make those disciples. He would live that way even if others didn't follow his example.  He was satisfied with a life that pleased God without the accolades of the large crowds that would denote success.

Paul saw those who left his discipleship as those who did not know where their citizenship lay. Their god became their belly. This is the seat of emotions. They wanted what made them feel good.  And they felt good with their minds sated on the things of this world. Others who strayed from the faith bothered Paul but they didn't keep him from plugging ahead.

Paul saw that Jesus would transform his body to be like that of Christ's. He saw Jesus as having the power to subject all things to Himself. 

Yet, none of this keeps people from leaving. It brings pain to each of us to see people follow their emotions. However, we must realize that it causes God pain too. Still, God lets them leave. I guess no one gets dragged into God's kingdom.

I admit that it is hard to be content with obedience when it doesn't produce noticeable fruit. Paul learned that secret. We all must learn that secret. It is the same secret as being content with a little or a lot.

Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV) ¹⁷  Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸  For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰  But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹  who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 

We Are Wonderfully Made

 November 9, 2024

Saturday

I had my gall bladder removed last week. I didn't think it would be a big deal. I told people that this surgery was like getting a tooth filled. It was not. I was very sore, had pain at least nine days later and am still very tired. Since then, I have told people that I have been made president of the "St. Peter's I'm All Talk Society." Indeed, I look like I've been in a knife fight and I lost. There are four incisions. One of some two inches while the other three are one inch each. Today has been the first day that I have felt like doing anything.

The amazing part of this is that the surgeon took out the gall bladder. He doesn't make me heal. That happens because my body naturally heals. It is made to heal unless something interferes with the healing. I still have about four more days before my post-op appointment with him, but I think he will be pleased. 

I guess I always expected to heal. I didn't think the surgery would actually make me feel that bad. I didn't even think of the healing. I should have. The truth is we heal because we were made to heal.

The Bible tells us that we are woven together in our mothers' wombs. God is the weaver. He is the One who made us to be woven. It is truly amazing when you think about it. Why would the body know where to act and put itself together in the way it does if it wasn't created to do so? Wouldn't it make more sense to have an injury result in permanent damage? There wouldn't be any surgeons then. There would just be pain and suffering.

An interesting statistic is that about two-thirds of the time we will heal on our own even if we don't go to a doctor for treatment. That doesn't mean we shouldn't go to doctors. It is just statistic that reveals how well made we are.

Life so often heals itself. It is part of the miracle of creation.

So, I am healing because God made me that way. Of course, there will be a time when God will not heal me. That will be when He calls me home. That won't be so bad either.

Psalm 139:13–14 (NASB 2020)¹³ For You created my innermost parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I will give thanks to You, because I am awesomely and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

The Pursuit of Happiness

 November 8, 2024

Friday

When I ask what people want for their children, the answer is almost universal: "I want my children to be happy." It seems very natural to want this but this also can get in the way of children knowing what will bring them joy.

Happiness revels in the moments of satisfaction. Happiness can be created with a great meal, an adventure or even something sinful. Happiness has very little to do with morality.

Happiness is fleeting. It can come in a moment and disappear the next. Even winning the lottery doesn't bring lasting happiness as lottery winners will attest. Many of them say they wished it had never happened. 

Happiness is often attached to the things of this world. These are physical pleasures, money and possessions, and pride. These three things can be taken from us at any moment. It is as if life teases us with these things to make us believe that they are ours forever.

Happiness is a never ending pursuit. The toy you bought your child today will not give them the same happiness tomorrow. More toys become necessary. I suppose that is why it is hard to get through most children's bedrooms. Toys are everywhere. Parents kept trying to make them happy.

Well balanced people know that happiness is nice but joy is the real prize. Joy comes from doing what needs to be done rather than what will always make them happy. They sacrifice to put things in their proper order. Things out of order are part of the recipe for crisis. Dishes will pile up, clothes will go unwashed, bills will go unpaid, jobs will be lost, marriages will fall apart and the very things that brought happiness will be taken away.

The pursuit of joy goes beyond the moment. It tills the ground, plants, waters and reaps a harvest. It sees the work as necessary to have that harvest. It knows that every failure and test makes joy more reachable. People can, therefore, rejoice in those tests and failures even though these hard times  do not make them happy.

It would be more important to instill the value of joy in our children than to try to make them happy. But parents would need to be the example to their children,

In our church, we have parents take their children to worship with them at five years of age. That doesn't necessarily make the parents or the children happy. We know that the best people to teach the children how to worship are their parents. The children are often unruly for a while but they learn and they are always listening. We also know the statistics for children who don't go to worship after age five. They do not become solid Christians later in life. We are seeking joy rather than happiness and it has taken a toll on our attendance. Reaching joy is much harder than having happiness.

So, do what you need to do even if it steals your happiness. In the end, you will be much better off.

Proverbs 1:8–9 (NASB 2020)⁸ Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, And do not ignore your mother’s teaching; ⁹ For they are a graceful wreath for your head And necklaces for your neck.

How Do We Grow Spiritually?

 November 7, 2024

Thursday

Why are so many Christians never changed? They can give a testimony of trusting in Christ but they exhibit the characteristics of the world. Didn't God say that He would cause them to grow spiritually?

Philippians 1:6 (NASB 2020) ⁶ For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.

We can't blame our own stagnant Christian lives on God. We always have the ability to quench and grieve the Spirit. Thus, God is working to bring us to spiritual maturity but we are digging in our heels so that we won't grow.

But if you are reading this, that's probably not who you are. You want to know how God causes us to grow. Well, He does so in three ways.

God causes us to grow by giving us invitations to join Him.

Ephesians 2:10 (NASB 2020)¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

God planned the good works we should accomplish with Him before the beginning of time. He knew exactly what we needed to grow and He prepared these things so that we would grow closer to Him and mature in our faith.

God causes us to grow through commitments.

Hebrews 12:1 (NASB 2020)¹ Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us,

As we walk with God, we realize there are things that are holding us back. We both accept the things we should do and reject the things we shouldn't do to rid ourselves of those things. The question is, what is holding us back? It may be something we are spending time on that keeps us from doing what God desires us to do. It may be something that has become too important in our lives and skews our image of what God desires for us.

So, we make commitments to stop doing some things never to do them again . We make commitments to get things under control that we haven't gotten under control before. Some of them are plainly sinful. Others are just dragging us back. We make those commitments and grow spiritually.

God causes us to grow by allowing tests in our lives.

James 1:2–4 (NASB 2020) ² Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

We see God allowing tests in the lives of everyone who had spiritual growth in the Bible. We see it for Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Elijah, Peter, and Paul just to name a few. We will not pass all the tests. We will grow beyond the failures if we allow God to continue to work within us as we encounter new tests.

That is, unless we quit. Judas quit. He had no spiritual growth.

If you would like to hear these ideas fleshed out in a sermon, I will be preaching on this topic on November 24. Just go to www.thalialynn.com to watch the service. God wants you to grow. I believe you want to grow too.

Rejected by the World; Accepted by Christ

 November 6, 2024

Wednesday

We are among people who conform with others. Those who go against the flow are considered outsiders very often. When it comes to our faith, this is exactly who Jesus calls us to be. We are to be a distinct people who live our lives set apart for Him. We just can't go with the flow.

This is where it gets extremely hard for people who receive value from those around them. Fear arises in the prospect of loneliness. Ridicule comes from the crowd. It may seem that we have been erased from the world we once knew. The truth is that the world wants to have nothing to do with us. We will never satisfy what the world wants. We are of no use. 

Going against the flow makes us testaments of a different reality. If we can live our contrarian life joyfully, the world might question itself. It might wonder if it is right. Therefore, the world will seek to right itself before it is capsized. It excludes even the mention of lives changed by Christ when it can no longer attack that possibility. Many Christians return to the world. They may have even liked the attention when they were attacked but they can't stand being ignored.

To set out on your own without the world beside you is very scary at first. You push your rowboat into the ocean waters. You see the shore slowly disappear. It seems that you are all alone. Of course, you aren't but that is the way it seems.

I guess we thought it was like they told us at church. Give your life to Christ and you'll never have to make another gift again. They didn't say it that way but it sure sounds like they did. No one told us that walking with Christ would be this hard. 

Maybe we just wanted to go to heaven and continue to live the way we always lived. A little Jesus can go a long way, right? Too much of Him makes us weird. In fact, we are weird to the Christian community too. Christian people are bothered by a fully committed Christian, too.

What happens when you make that commitment to the Lord that says that you are holding nothing back. At least, you're not holding anything "known" back. You will enter into the closest of relationships with Jesus that He has reserved for those who hold nothing back. You will hear from Him. You will see Him work. You will be empowered by Him. You will know the joy of the Lord. You will sacrifice and suffer and call yourself blessed. You will be what the Apostle Paul longed for:

Philippians 3:8–11 (NASB 2020)⁸ More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, ⁹ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; ¹¹ if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Sometimes, You Need to Sweat the Small Stuff

 November 5, 2024

Tuesday

Small mistakes can make a big difference. In 1631, a Bible was printed that altered the seventh commandment. It read, "Thou shalt commit adultery." It left out one small word and was deemed the "wicked" Bible from that point on. The Challenger disaster was due to O rings They may have been among the smallest parts of the launch vehicle but they were the cause of the deaths of the entire shuttle crew.

Adam being quiet while Eve talked with Satan seems like a small thing. He just didn't object. He just didn't defend her. He let things go until they got out of hand. He took the easy road. This is the biggest disaster in all of human history.

I commonly hear people say, "Don't sweat the small stuff." However, first, everyone needs to be able to discern what the small stuff is. The printers of the 1631 Bible would say that ignoring the small stuff was disastrous. The people who went ahead with the launch of the Challenger would have said that ignoring the small stuff was disastrous. Adam must have said that too at some point. I think that we who have inherited a sin nature would agree that the small stuff sometimes makes huge differences.

Satan is subtle. He is not so "in your face" as he is depicted in movies. He maneuvers us to greater sins by getting us to make small concessions. Too many pastors have fallen into sin because they didn't notice the small stuff. They didn't notice that the counseling sessions were going toward personal sin. They didn't notice that they needed to flee temptation. They were convinced that they were impervious to the sin they would eventually cave into.

So, we confront Satan and flee temptation. We ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the small stuff so that we can act before it acts on us. There comes a point when it is very difficult to say no. Most will not if they don't notice the small stuff before it becomes a disaster.

Genesis 3:1–6 (NASB 2020)¹ Now the serpent was more cunning than any animal of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” ² The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; ³ but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” ⁴ The serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! ⁵ For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will become like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.

Live Like You Were Dying

 November 4, 2024

Monday

Life does not always give you what you expect. We make plans and have them destroyed almost every day. Yet, we remain a people who depend on predictions. We listen daily to the weather report even though it is often wrong. We read economic predictions from economists who hardly ever get it right. We learn that both of these professions depend upon making multiple predictions so that one of those predictions is right.

It is better to have safeguards than rely on predictions. It is better to have insurance than to depend on nothing happening. It is better to have more gas in the tank than is absolutely necessary to arrive at the destination. It is better to have a contingency fund for the unexpected expenses that can’t be predicted. The lack of these safeguards will eventually cause crises in our lives.

Jesus told a parable of a man who had a great harvest. He decided to build bigger barns and take it easy for the rest of his life. Jesus said that the man would die right away and wouldn’t get anything out of that harvest. The man did not prepare for his ultimate future. He could only see what was immediately in front of him.

People generally don’t prepare to meet Jesus face-to-face. They prepare for retirement. They prepare for their finances. They prepare for good health when they may not have one day of it left. Many people think that trusting in Christ is all they need to do to go to heaven. They are right. But will Jesus find them faithful when they go to meet Him face-to-face? What will happen when they stand before the judgement seat of Christ?

I cannot predict what will happen in anyone’s life. I can tell people to always be prepared. Be known as someone who is always reaching others for Christ. Then, when the time comes, you’ll have something to show your faithfulness.

Luke 12:16–21 (NASB 2020)¹⁶ And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. ¹⁷ And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. ¹⁹ And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!” ’ ²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’ ²¹ Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.”

A Serious Commitment to the Lord

 November 3, 2024

Sunday

I remember the night I stopped drinking alcohol. I had been far away from the Lord, being more sinful than I was before I was saved. I realized that I was missing the relationship I had with the Lord. I got on my knees and made a serious commitment to do whatever the Lord told me to do. Immediately, as if audible (but not audible) the Lord told me to go downstairs and pour out all of my alcohol. I suppose this was a test of my freshly stated commitment to the Lord. I poured it down the sink and have not had alcohol as a beverage since that night. (I have been surprised by alcoholic wine when observing the Lord's Supper in Israel. I have had Nyquil when I have been sick.)

I supposed that my commitment must be everyone's commitment. I preached against drinking. I chastised those who did. I have learned that the Bible does not prohibit drinking. However, that doesn't change my commitment. My commitment stands. It represents setting myself aside for the Lord's use. It is holy though I am not always acting holy. Holiness is being set aside for the Lord. It isn't about being perfect. The point is that abstaining from alcohol is not everyone's commitment.

Yet, there are some who do need to make that commitment. Their relationship with alcohol is getting in the way of their relationship with the Lord. Their testimony has been damaged by their drinking. Their families have been damaged, too. They need to make that commitment because it would be best for them and those around them. 

These people may not be what some call alcoholics. Some think that an alcoholic can't stay away from alcohol. Though that may be true in some cases, I have seen many more people go without alcohol for periods of time. They may still be alcoholics but still able to abstain for short periods. Alcohol lingers in their thoughts, though. They plan for the moment they will be able to drink again.

On the other hand, there are people who are able to drink in moderation nearly all of the time. They may have "one too many" but those occasions are somewhat rare. Alcohol isn't affecting their lives. It is something they do like overeat at Thanksgiving. They normally don't overeat either. These people can be committed Christians without abstaining from alcohol.

I went to the movies with a bunch of men to watch "The Forge." In that movie, the main protagonist is told that coming to Christ means he will need to sacrifice something. The young man gave up video games. It was controlling him. He needed to give it up. But the truth is that people will go to heaven just as easily without giving up anything. They are changed by the Lord but not so committed that they will do without anything. They will never be true disciples of the Lord but they will go to heaven. The only reason to give up something is because the Lord has led you to give it up. It is getting in the way of your relationship with Him.

We all, probably, have something that was getting in the way of our relationship with the Lord when we made a serious commitment to Him. We just need to listen to the Lord with our eyes open. He will lead us to give up that which gets in the way. He will lead us to make a serious commitment if we choose to do so.

Do you want to make a serious commitment to the Lord? Is there anything that you know right now that is getting in the way of your relationship with Him?

1 Corinthians 10:23 (NASB 2020) ²³ All things are permitted, but not all things are of benefit. All things are permitted, but not all things build people up.

Living Life to the End

 November 2, 2024

Saturday

Some people have trouble finishing. They are great starters but they come to a point when they think they have done enough. I have seen that with people in their marriages. They come to a point when they think they have done enough so they quit working on it. Their marriages may not end in divorce but they do end in nothingness.

Of course, that is true when people consider their Christian life. They think that they needed to do some things at the church while they were younger but now that they are older they need to turn this over to the "young people." This is not found in the Bible, but it is found in our society. Retirement seems to be what many people want to talk about after they reach fifty or so. Somehow, that translates into their service to the Lord. I want to travel and not be tied down. I want to do what I want to do. This is the sentiment of the world creeping into our relationship with the Lord.

On the other hand, many Christians never made a commitment to Christ that required their own sacrifice. They give out of abundance, when they want to see a cause forwarded, when they are seen as givers and when they feel guilty. Some make what they would call sacrifices to the Lord when they want Him to do something for them. These aren't really sacrifices. They are investments.

Do they miss anything when they never answer God's call to be a living sacrifice to the Lord? Yes! They miss that intimate relationship. They miss the purpose that God has for them. They miss the joy of walking with the Lord. They miss seeing God perform miracles. They miss the assurance of their faith. They miss the strength of the Lord. They miss the confidence that comes from believing.

There were a couple of diving platforms over the pool of my college. I watched many people climb the stairs and walk up to the edge, only to walk back down the stairs. They were afraid of making the commitment of diving or jumping off of that platform into the pool. They missed the absolute thrill of making a dive from that height.

So, whether you have done a lot for the Lord in the past or never made the commitment of sacrifice to the Lord in the first place, there is still a lot of relationship left. We can finish the race or quit before we finish. We can run to win or just conserve our resources and come in last.

How do you want your life to be when this life is over?

Philippians 1:21–25 (NASB 2020) ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. ²³ But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; ²⁴ yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sakes. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,