Monday, February 28, 2011

Work--Watch--Be Ready

Matthew 25:1-30 contains two parables describing the kingdom of heaven. The first parable tells of the ten virgins; five wise and five foolish. The five wise virgins went out to meet the bridegroom fully prepared—carefully putting forth their best effort taking whatever was needed and plus, in case of unforeseen events. The foolish virgins however, exerted little effort. The next parable is the parable of the talents.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” Matthew 25:14-15, NKJV
The servant with the five talents worked diligently and doubled his master’s money as did the servant given two talents. However, the servant given one talent, like the foolish virgins, exerted minimal effort and was only able to return to his master the original talent.

The results: the wise virgins went into the wedding with the bridegroom while the foolish virgins were unrecognized and shut-out. The servants who worked diligently were told, “Well done”; called “good and faithful” servants and “welcomed into the joy” of their Lord, (v. 21, 23). The unprofitable servant was called “wicked and lazy” was cast into “outer darkness” (v. 26, 30).

Are you planning carefully, exerting your best effort with the talents with which you have been entrusted? In order to be good stewards of the talents we’ve been given means using those talents for the sake of the kingdom and to the glory of God. On the other hand, when we do nothing with our talents we can be considered disobedient, rebellious, wicked and lazy servants.

Colossians 3:23-24, NKJV, reminds us, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

We are to serve to the Lord with integrity, diligence, enthusiasm, and humility. Merely gracing God with our presence at one church service on Sunday mornings is simply not enough. We should be doing so much more—working, watching, and preparing.

In 1854, Anna Coghill penned these words—Work, for the night is coming…When man’s work is o’er. Are you ready?
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. Revelation 22:12, NKJV
Come quickly Lord. God Bless!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Spiritual Renewal

Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
   may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
   innocent of great transgression.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
   be pleasing in your sight,
   LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:12b-14, NIV
Have you reached a stage of maturity that allows you to look back and identify what you have sown and reaped? God’s word states clearly man reaps what he sows, Galatians 6:7b, NIV. Job 4:8, NIV, says those who plow evil sow and reap trouble. Hosea 10:12 implores us to sow righteousness and reap unfailing love.

I wish I could tell you all my reaping and sowing has been of the righteous kind, but alas, I cannot. Like some people, I had a somewhat troubled childhood and for many years I also had a challenging marriage relationship. Along the way I gathered together many small bundles of unhappy memories and repressed anger which matured into a big bag of bitterness.

In order to deal with my bitterness I simply boxed it up and stored it in the back of my mind. I knew it was safe there and I could bring it out whenever I wanted to do so. I believed this a neat and orderly way to take care of my issue but the problem was occasionally the bitterness would pop-out without permission and proceed to run amuck in my life. Hence, I was not in control of my bitterness; it was in control of me.

And the Evil One loved it! I had fooled myself into believing I had “handled” my bitterness properly—when actually, I had done nothing. All of that bitterness was still a living-breathing part of my life. I had carried all my unpleasant, hurtful memories around inside of my head and my heart for years instead of placing them at the foot of the Cross and walking away repentant, forgiven and cleansed.

For years I had walked around with unconfessed, hidden sin within me and it was ruling over me. I had welcomed the prideful sin of self-reliance into my life thinking I had dealt with these personal issues on my own terms. In reality, I had failed miserably. Because of my hidden faults and unconfessed sin my Christian growth had been stunted and impeded for years.

We cannot hide sin. God sees all and His Holy Spirit convicts our hearts and guides us to a place of confession, repentance, and (Praise God!) healing. Too often we attempt to live in our own strength. However, the Christian life is defined by Christ living His life in us and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We sit, soak, and stew in our own juices and become sour, tough, and hard-hearted when we allow unconfessed sin to rule our lives. Our Christian growth is stunted and we become spiritually stale and useless. Fortunately, confession, repentance, and healing are only a prayer away.
 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called…” 1 Timothy 6:11-12b, NIV
Blessed Holy Spirit—search me, test me, try me to see if there is any offensive way within me. I confess all to you, right now, in full repentance. Keep me from willful and presumptuous sin. Mold me and make me after your will. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart always be pleasing in your sight, My Rock, My Redeemer, O Lord, My God. Amen.

God Bless!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Reward for Obedience; Otherwise…

If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will…Leviticus 26:3-4a, NIV
In Leviticus 26 the LORD tells the Israelites that if they are careful to obey His commands then:
·         they will have rain when it is needed, allowing them to eat all the food they want;
·         they will live in their land in safety and peace—no one will make them afraid; they will slay their enemies;
·         the savage beasts will be removed from the land;
·         they will be fruitful and increase in numbers; and
·         their harvests will be plentiful.

However, if they do not carry out the commandments of the LORD then they will have terror, diseases, plant their crops in vain, be defeated by the enemy, wild animals will rob them of their children…and if they continue in their rebelliousness the punishments will become even greater.

God loves His children. He created us to have a close, personal, loving relationship with Him. However, He tells us throughout His word that He is a jealous God. He holds us accountable for our behavior, attitude, and actions. Like any good father, God disciplines and corrects His children in order to bring them back into the fold.

God wants for you everything He created you to be. But in order for us to become what we were created to be, we must be obedient to God our Father. Obedience to God should always be our highest priority.

God does not change. Just as in the days of Moses leading the Israelites in the Wilderness, God still promises to reward our obedience. When we are loyal and obedient to God, He protects us and empowers us against our enemies and the dangers and pitfalls we will encounter.

Surrender your all to Him today and begin your walk of faith and obedience.

God Bless!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Be Still, Wait, Listen

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10, NIV
There are times I struggle to know and do what God wants me to do. I think we all go through those moments. Yesterday I had one of those moments all day long. It was one of those days where there seemed to be no cohesiveness to the day; no flow; no direction. Then late last night this verse popped into my head, “Be still, and know that I am God”.

It was then I realized I was trying to make things happen; the day had been all about me and what I was going to do. When we take over out of our own strength and attempt to push through of our own volition it never works—never. I was not allowing the Holy Spirit to order my day or my thoughts and I ended the day exhausted and frustrated. My end of the day message was “be still”.

When we push through of our own accord we are saying to God, “I know best”. The “I can do it myself” attitude is one of pride, unbelief, and disobedience and it is sin. Sin disrupts our fellowship with God—always.

This morning I was reading from “The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Daily Bible.” Dr. Stanley says we must be willing to wait or walk away when the way before us is unclear; obedience to God requires us to remain firm.

Remain firm. Don’t stubbornly plow ahead doing what you think best but realize there are times when we must simply be still, wait, and listen in order to know what God wants us to do next.

Precious Lord; Almighty Father—please forgive my fidgety, impatient and self-reliant moments. I know you have a plan for me. Help me to be still as I listen and wait on You. In the blessed name of Jesus’ I ask this, Amen.

In closing I leave you with one of God’s promises from His Word.
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.” Exodus 19:5, NKJV
God Bless!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Divine Intervention Plus Practical Protection

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17
The Lord protects us supernaturally through divine intervention (as in the verses above) but the Lord also protects His people practically as well. Proof of the practical care God has for His children can be witnessed in the laws set down in the book of Leviticus for the Israelites.

Laws are given in detail regarding what was considered clean and unclean—what particular animals, fish, birds, insects, etc., could be eaten and those that were not to be eaten because they were considered unclean. The process regarding the steps to be taken for becoming clean again if someone (or something like an eating or drinking vessel) became contaminated or unclean are also given in great detail.

The priests were given in-depth instructions regarding skin diseases, infectious, spreading or otherwise. Regulations about mildew in homes and on clothing are given as well as many other instructions involving health issues. While reading through all these various laws is somewhat tedious, it is obvious these regulations were given by God as a means of practical protection for keeping His people safe and in the best of health, (Exodus 15:26).

God loves us and provides His best for us. He created the world, gave man rule over it (Genesis 1:28) and then when man lost this rule because of sin (Romans 8:20-22), God loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son to make atonement for our sins (John 3:16, Hebrews 2:17). Thank-you dear Lord for all your provisions on our behalf. AMEN!

God Bless!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Rich, the Brilliant, the Incredibly Gifted

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:23, NIV
Matthew 19:16-30 records the story of the rich, young man who came to Jesus asking Him what “good” thing he could do to inherit eternal life. Being apparently more enamored with his possessions than with eternal life, we’re told the man left Jesus “sorrowful”. It is here Jesus tells his disciples how difficult it is for a rich person to “enter the kingdom of heaven”.

The same story could be told substituting someone extremely brilliant for the rich, young man. You might also substitute someone incredibly gifted with a particular talent (athlete, musician, actor, politician, etc.) for the rich, young man and still tell the same basic story.

Why—pride. Those with riches or the extremely gifted have a tendency to become exclusively self-reliant. It is this tendency to rely upon their own resources; the “I don’t need you—I’ll do it myself” attitude, i.e., pride, which keeps them from trusting in our all-sufficient God.

Do notice Jesus used the word “hard” in verse 23, not the word “impossible”. Certainly there are those rich, brilliant, and incredibly gifted that have accepted the gift of salvation—the point, however, is that pride can be a huge stumbling block for many. In fact, verse 30 of the same chapter says, “many who are first will be last, and the last first” –further dialog concerning the proud versus the humble.

This same theme is found many places throughout the Scripture including 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. We are told God uses the foolish to confound the wise; the weak to confound the strong; therefore, if we are to boast in anything, we are to boast in the Lord. We can always trust in the sufficiency of our great and awesome God.

God Bless!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The One Who Redeems

“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’” Exodus 6:6-8, NIV
The background for the above verses is that upon instruction from I AM (YHWH—the Self-Existent One—the LORD) Moses, along with his brother, Aaron, go to Pharaoh and give him the message, “The LORD, the God of Israel says, ‘Let my people go.’” Pharaoh, the Bible’s poster child for hard-heartedness and pride replies, “Who is the LORD that I should do what He says; I don’t know Him and I won’t let the people go.”

Pharaoh increases the already punishing work of the Israelites. The Israelites apply to Pharaoh and then to Moses, who wisely returns to the LORD. Moses is instructed by the LORD to tell the Israelites He has heard their groaning and remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But further, God Almighty’s message to the Israelites includes these words: “I am the LORD, I will bring you out, I will free you, I will redeem you, I will take you as my own, I will be your God and I’m going to give you the land I swore to your ancestors as a possession.”

The Israelites soon discover, God always keeps His promises; His words never return to Him void; He never changes; and He is always faithful. Pharaoh, because of his hard-heartedness and pride, leads his people to destruction and ruin and the judgment of Almighty God.

What about you? Who will you trust today? Will you fall to hard-heartedness and self-reliance or will you trust the One who never fails; the One who is always faithful; the Only One who is able to redeem you? Will you accept the gift of grace, forgiveness and salvation?
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.  For he says,
   “In the time of my favor I heard you,
   and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:20—2 Corinthians 6:2, NIV
God Bless!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Love in Action

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:9-18, NIV
I recently visited my daughter and her husband and three children. The typical routine when I visit is for me to sleep with my older granddaughter in her room. One night, I awoke to the sound of the bedroom door opening and then my grandson climbing into bed with us.

I didn’t object and his sister was sleeping too soundly to register an objection. I was now tightly sandwiched in between two children sleeping soundly and I feared if I moved around too much I might awaken them.

As a grandmother, I considered the situation a precious one. On the other hand I was in pain and it was getting worse with each passing moment.  I have chronic back problems and change positions frequently in order to keep the pain in my back and hips to a tolerable level. Even though I was in pain I did nothing to disrupt the sleep of my sweet grandchildren.

God is so good to allow us a tiny glimpse into His great love for us through the love we feel for our own children and grandchildren. With that little glimpse into the depth of His love for us, He shows us the great joy love brings but also shows us that love includes acts of selflessness, sacrifice, and honoring others before ourselves.

God calls on us to employ great love—sincere love—active love for Him and others; He calls upon us to love sweetly and completely. We are to love Him with all our heart, mind and soul, and we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, Matthew 22:37-39. Furthermore, Jesus said we would be known as His disciples through our love for one another, John 13:34-35.

Romans 12:9-18 lists acts of love in action. Regularly practicing these acts will demonstrate your love for others and for your Heavenly Father; for without love, we are nothing, 1 Corinthians 13:2.

God Bless!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Help from Above, Temptation Elsewhere

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  Matthew 16:16-19, NIV
Jesus was questioning his disciples about what others said about him; specifically how they identified him. Next he asked his disciples who they thought him to be. Peter answers brilliantly, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” (v. 16). Christ goes on to tell Peter this has been revealed to him by the heavenly Father and tells Peter, “on this rock I will build my church,” (v. 18).

How excited and pleased Peter must have been at this. Peter was a person capable of great emotion—filled with the capacity for great love, but at times perhaps, could be somewhat over zealous.

Later, Jesus began to explain to his disciples how he would suffer and die and be raised again the on third day. However, popular thinking was the Messiah would overthrow the enemies of Israel and set-up an earthly kingdom. Upon hearing Jesus speak about his death, Peter took Jesus aside to set him straight by telling him, no, this would never happen, (v. 22).

This time there are no accolades for Peter from Jesus, but rebuke. Jesus tells Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns,” (v. 23).

Like Peter, we have our highs and lows. And like Peter, Satan loves to attack us when he sees us growing in Christ-likeness. Throughout our earthly journey, Satan will be there to try to coax us into displeasing God. However, as Christians, we can be comforted in knowing God lives within us and blesses our attempts to grow closer to him:
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:7-8a, NIV
God Bless!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

God Prepares Us

Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. Exodus 35:30-34, NIV
God was preparing the people for the building of the Tabernacle and we are told in Exodus 35, verse 21, that everyone who was willing and whose heart was moved came.  God will always moves in the hearts of His people. He does this because He loves us and He is preparing us for His service.

Another way God prepares us for His service is that He equips us. A common phrase among Christians is, “who God calls, He equips.” This is certainly true but the point I want to make to you is that God equips us BEFORE He calls us—not to even mention, when He does call us, He calls us by name!

In the Exodus 35:30-34, we find that God chose Bezalel and “HAS filled him” with His Spirit and with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge AND given Bezalel and Oholiab the ability to teach others. (Isn’t that amazing?!) You may recall God had already spoken to Moses about Bezalel in Exodus 31:1-6, saying then, “I HAVE filled him…” and also told Moses at that time Oholiab would assist in the work to be done.

Consider for a moment how much time we spend worrying needlessly. We serve a great, powerful, and awesome God! He loves us, He knows us by name, He prepares us, equips us, then calls us, directs, defends…in short, He takes care of everything. He just asks us to be faithful and obedient. Now tell me again, why do we worry?

God Bless!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Glowing for God

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. Exodus 34:29-30, NIV
Exodus 33 ends with Moses asking to see the glory of God. After agreeing to this, Moses is warned by God that because His glory is so great, Moses must be sheltered by God’s hand while Moses stands in the cleft of the rock, (v. 18-23).

The next chapter of Exodus closes with Moses coming down from Mount Sinai, having spent the last 40 days and nights in the presence of God receiving instructions for the people. (This is the second time Moses spent 40 days with God on the Mount receiving these instructions—written by the hand of God. The first account takes place in Exodus 32 and does not end well, i.e., the golden calf.) Moses is told by the LORD He is making a covenant before the people and that He will do awesome wonders never done before, (34:10). (I’m sorry I really must interject—WOW! When the Creator of the universe says this to you—I mean REALLY—WOW—to the infinite degree!! That’s what I call exciting!)

No wonder Moses comes down from the Mount with a radiant face! His face was so radiant, even Aaron, his brother, was afraid to come near him, (v. 31). Moses had to put a veil over his face. He did not wear the veil when speaking to the LORD or when telling the people what the LORD had said, but otherwise, Moses would cover his face.

Extraordinary!—but should it be? Shouldn’t we all look as though we have been in the presence of God? As God’s people we are called to be different—IN the world but not OF the world, (John 15:19, James 4:4) Not only are we to act differently, but shouldn’t we look differently as well? I’m not suggesting that others should be afraid of us because of how we look, but I am suggesting we should be different enough that the difference is recognizable.

We should all be walking-talking-advertisements for Jesus Christ. How about you? Are you glowing for God? In the words of the Apostle Peter—Always be ready to tell everyone the reason for the hope that lives inside of you, (1 Peter 3:15)!

God Bless!

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

The Friend of God


"If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:13-17, NIV
Exodus 33:11 tells us the LORD would speak to Moses as speaking to a friend. What keys unlock the door to that type of relationship? I believe they are faith, obedience, and dependence upon God. Those factors are most certainly still relevant today.

In a relationship of any kind, there is always one person who makes the first move—God always initiates the relationship; it is never us. John 6:44, Jesus speaking says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.” God’s pursuit of Moses is displayed in Exodus 3:4, via the burning bush.

God introduces Himself to Moses by the divine Name; I AM, telling Moses that He is the God of his ancestors; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses faith begins to take shape as he follows God in obedience. Throughout the book of Exodus you see the faith and obedience of Moses building and you witness a great crescendo moment in Exodus 33 when Moses is called the friend of God.

Moses complete dependence and submission is evidenced by his saying to God, “teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you, (v.13).” And more of that faith, obedience and dependence upon God is witnessed when Moses says to God if He doesn’t go with them they will not be distinguishable as God’s people, (v. 15-16).

Moses demonstrated his love and faith to God through obedience. Jesus expects the same of us and tells us in John 14:15 that if we love Him we will keep His commandments. In verse 21 of the same chapter Jesus repeats this adding, “The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Loving Father, please forgive me where I fail you. I thank you that you know me by name. Thank you for your continuing work in me through the power of the Holy Spirit, making me more Christ-like each day. I pray I submit myself fully to you each day so that I too, may one day be called your friend. Amen.

God Bless!

Monday, February 7, 2011

God is in the Details (JEHOVAH-JIREH, The Lord is Provider)

Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent—the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand—and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you.” Exodus 31:6b-11, NIV
As you read through Exodus (and the other “books of Moses”), you find a great many details as to the laws the people were to observe, details concerning sacrifices, the setting up of the altar, the setting up of the tabernacle, etc. In fact, there are so many detailed instructions, it completely boggles the mind. I always find myself wondering, “How could they possibly keep up with all this?”

The answer to the question is that God is in the details. When God said to Moses in Exodus 31:6b, “I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you”, He was telling Moses, “don’t worry, I’ve got your back; I’ve got this covered.”

When God directs us to do something, He quips us for the work. Stir clear of the dangerous trap of self-reliance and claim Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV, for your own: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

God Bless!

Friday, February 4, 2011

Reading the Bible is Vital to Christian Growth


Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105, NIV
Reading the Bible is vital to Christian growth, development, and maturity. As spiritual newborn babies, we NEED the milk of God's word in order to grow, (1 Peter 2:2, NIV) Also, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16, NIV.

Pastor Greg Laurie has written an article entitled, The Value of God’s Word which may be found at biblestudytools.com. The article lists five points to sum up the value of God’s word: it is perfect, it transforms us, it gives us wisdom, it is right and therefore, keeps us on the right path, and following God’s word keeps us happy. Laurie closes by saying the key to successful Christian living is to read, study, memorize, and obey the word of God.

Popular theologian, Chuck Swindoll, (http://www.insight.org) says the Bible is food for Christian development no matter what stage of life you are in and you can never exhaust its storehouse of nourishment.

Consistently and earnestly study the word of God. Worship God daily and submit to His authority in your life. You’ll be eternally glad that you did! The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:9, NIV, “It is written, ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those that love Him—”. AMEN!!

God Bless!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

United with Christ--What's the Next Step?


Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Philippians 2:1-2, NIV
Accepting Jesus Christ through faith is not an ending—it is a beginning; you are a new creation in Christ, (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV). It is an exciting time—so much to learn and so many blessings to enjoy. In the opening text, the Apostle Paul is telling us we need to focus on becoming more like Christ—having the same love for others—being of like-mind and of like-spirit with Christ.

How do we accomplish this? It is a growth process. Babies aren’t born eating solid food and running foot-races. We must grow in the faith and we do that by focusing on the things of God. We do this through prayer, Bible reading, and we form relationships with others that will help us to grow spiritually.

Prayer is essential to living a successful Christian life. Take time to be alone in with God each day through prayer. God seeks a personal and intimate relationship with us and prayer—communication—is essential in any relationship. Don’t just talk, but listen also.  Learn to recognize the different ways God speaks to you: in prayer, through His Word—the Bible, through others, and also through situations and circumstances.

Reading your Bible is vital to Christian growth, development, and maturity. That is not surprising because, after all, the Bible is the Word of God. As newborns babies, we NEED the milk of the word in order to grow, (1 Peter 2:2, NIV) Also, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16, NIV.

The obvious place to find and form relationships with other believers is in church. A church should not be thought of as a building but a group of like-believers. Look for a church that is a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. Talk to a pastor or seek recommendations from friends. Today many churches have web-sites on the Internet which may be helpful to you.

I also encourage you to be baptized. Baptism is not necessary for salvation but it is an act of obedience and a public profession of your faith. The Apostle Paul tells us through baptism we are “buried with Him (Jesus Christ) through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life”, Romans 6:4, NIV. By being baptized you identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

As you seek Christ and submit to His authority, He will do amazing things for you and through you. Unwavering obedience and worship not only pleases God but also influences those around you.

God Bless!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

YOU Must Choose

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15, NIV
When it comes to important decisions of life we must make a stand; we must choose; neutrality is not an option. This is never truer than when you are faced with issues of where you will spend eternity. You either accept the gift of salvation or you decline it. There is no contract to be negotiated by a team of litigators; there is no neutral facilitator with whom you may consult and there is no labor union to support you. Your family cannot decide for you; nor can your friends. The choice is yours.

Salvation is by grace through faith; God’s gift of grace, accepted or rejected by you. The offer is on the table; will you accept the offer by faith in Jesus Christ? Jesus told the Pharisees, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30, NIV

What will you choose? We cannot assume a neutral stand in the contest between the Lord and His enemies, even though there are those who would attempt to convince you otherwise. Paul said in Ephesians 6:12-13, NIV, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Joshua’s declaration is no less valid today than it was that day so many, many years ago. You MUST choose. I pray you make the right decision. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.

God Bless!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Are You Seeking Christ?

Someone has said we all have a God-sized hole in our hearts we are seeking to fill. Are you seeking a personal relationship with Christ but you aren’t sure how to go about it? You may find help in the letters, A—B—C.

A—Admit that you are a sinner

Sin is defined as separation from God. Since the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and the introduction of sin into the world, we have all been born into sin and have a sin-debt that must be satisfied. Until the sin-debt is paid we will continue to be spiritually separated from God. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23, NIV, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” which means we have all done things which are displeasing to God.

The punishment for our sin is being eternally separated from God. Romans 6:23, NIV, tells us, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God in His infinite love and mercy provides us a way of escape from the “wages of sin”. He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, NIV

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He paid our sin-debt by willingly giving up His life for us on the cross. Jesus died in our place and was resurrected proving His death was sufficient to pay our sin-debt because through the cross He overcame both sin and death. “God made him who had no sin to be sin (or be a sin offering) for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV

B—Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and accept God’s gift of forgiveness from sin.

God grants forgiveness and salvation to all those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. By placing your faith in Jesus; trusting in Him as Savior; believing His death on the cross was sufficient payment for your sins, you will be saved. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16, NIV

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God offers us salvation as a gift. No amount of good deeds will ever save you; you cannot save yourself, it is a gift of God. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV

C—Confess your belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Romans 10:9, 10, and 13, NIV, tells us, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

There are no magic words to recite. Salvation is by grace through faith; God’s gift of grace, accepted because of faith in Jesus Christ. You must believe—you must believe sincerely and from the heart. Romans 10:17, NIV, says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

In Matthew 12:34, NIV, Jesus said, “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” You should and you will want to communicate your faith in Christ through prayer, praising and thanking God for His love, mercy, and grace. Thank Jesus Christ for paying your sin-debt in full and paving the way for your salvation.

You may wonder what next? Accepting Jesus as Lord is just the beginning of the faith journey. Strive to grow more and more in the likeness of Christ by following Christ’s example in baptism (Matthew 13:3); find and join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church; where you can fellowship with other believers and grow in faith (Hebrews 10:25); also, continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ through prayer (Romans 12:12) and Bible study (2 Timothy 3:16).

May God richly bless you as you pursue Christ daily and the abundant-full-life (John 10:10). May the knowledge of Jesus Christ; His character and His ways permeate your heart, your mind, your soul, your actions, and your attitude. AMEN.

(NIV=New International Version, ©2010, Biblica, INC.)