Evil has no more Power

Evil has no more Power

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:12-13 NIV

I think that evil or sin, when it comes to its full maturity, is what sends us away from the presence of God and straight to Hell. Even though evil seems so pervasive, working itself out through the acts of men, evil is ultimately powerless. We know that evil was overpowered by the cross (John 16:33). We know that evil was undone by the empty grave of Christ. We know that where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20) for those who repent. And this same super-power that dethroned sin and uprooted evil lives in us! – 1 John 5: 4 & 5

Sin is the sore-loser that refuses to believe he has lost. Though sin rages on, always looking for a rematch, it has unequivocally failed and is doomed for Hell. Know that if we stand firm with Christ till the end, we will be saved. Know that to stand with Christ is to stand with the victor over every evil and every illness of body and spirit in this world. And the one that overcame sin and death lives in you through the Holy Spirit. Our hope has always been planted securely in Christ! And evil has no power to steal you from the hand of God when you have come to Him by way of Christ Jesus!

An Illustration of God's Love

An Illustration of God's Love

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:19 NIV

I was watching a television show where a mother and son were in the police department of a small town. The son was tearfully confessing to a vigilante killing, theft and an attempt to frame someone else for the murder. And as he sobbed his mother responded, "You are the love of my life, I love you son." The child responded, "I am a murderer and I don't deserve to be called your son." She sobbed and said, "You are my son and I love you."

Does this not look like God's love for us? Some of the more arrogant among us would say that we are better than or not as bad as a murderer. But the reality is that we have all fallen short of God's standards (Romans 3:23). We have all offended the righteousness of God and deserve hell-fire and brimstone, for eternity. And yet, God's response to our sin is to bludgeon His son, nail him to a cross and turn His back on him (Matthew 27:46). After we have done, said and thought enough things to be ushered right out of God's presence, He instead holds us close, looks us in the eye and whispers, "You are mine, and I love you."

In my opinion, love is not inherent, but is something learned. A person can learn to love incorrectly or in a twisted way that may seem well and good, but ultimately leaves a trail of false emotional connections to things that God does not accept nor approve. Now if a person learned love from God, then love presents itself in a way that is not self serving, breaks down barriers, lifts the lowly and restores the broken, even the worst of us.

Satan knows, but do we?

Satan knows, but do we?

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT

I began thinking of how nearly every effort to do something godly is interrupted by doubt and fear. If I hear God’s call to bear witness of His name, then I also have thoughts of inadequacy. If God prompts me to give, I also worry about my limited finances. It seems that for every good thing (or I should say every God thing) I also get burdened with the lies that only Satan would create.

One thought that has never occurred to me before is that; Satan believes something about us that we do not believe about ourselves. We believers have a way of judging each other that can sometimes dampen the message of Christ. We judge people by their education, their appearance, their financial status and sometimes even by their weight or their color. Too many times we have decided the value of others and let them know in no uncertain terms that they are unworthy, unusable and unnecessary. But God has never said that about you, or me or anyone that has committed their lives to Him.

Satan knows that we can do everything (some versions of the Bible say ‘all things’) through Christ Jesus because he is the one that gives us the Strength! The devil knows that we are in the hands of the one that empowers us with the necessary equipment to do the good works He has planned for us to do. Satan knows, but do we? Have we forgotten about that which God can do through us?

Lift up your brother and encourage your sister. They have good and godly works to do that they were ordained for by God our King. We should not stand in the way of that godly work, but encourage it! 

Restoration of the Saints

Restoration of the Saints

I will restore you to health and heal your wounds. Jeremiah 30:17 NIV

The enemy’s main mission is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). Evil always looks for ways to steal our hope in Christ and to destroy the work of God in our lives. But, our God has overcome the enemy with His own blood. And He will not let the plans of the wicked prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

It seems like such a long time has passed since we were healed, since we rejoiced, since we were at peace. It almost feels like the Lord has forgotten us, but He hasn’t. You may have been sick and you may feel beaten down, but you have not been forgotten. The Lord remembers and He has never taken His eyes off of you. The Lord will keep His promise of restoration and healing.

“I will restore you,” says the Lord. When He heals your wounds, praise the Lord! When He restores your finances, praise God! When the Lord frees us from the grip of our sins, we will praise God for what He has done! The hurt and harm of the enemy does not hold sway over the people that belong to God. The Lord will restore all those who belong to Him in Christ Jesus. 

Genuine Gospel

Genuine Gospel

I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 

John 14:6 NIV

What is the genuine gospel? Is it a message of works? Is it a message of positive thinking? Some spread a gospel of kindness and living in community. And there are others that have concluded that truth is in the eye of the beholder, or in other words, each person decides their own truth.

I think there is really only one truth and one gospel that the Bible teaches. The gospel is that - we were once alienated from God and were His enemies in our minds because of our evil behavior. But God changed us from enemies to family by the cross-work of Jesus Christ. He reconciled us by Christ's physical body through death to present us holy, without blemish and free from accusation; that is, if we continue in our faith, established and firm, not moved from hope (Colossians 1:21-23). And, that God will judge mankind for its unbelief in Christ (John 3:18). -  This is the gospel we have heard and it is what has sealed our hope. Since this is the gospel that is saving us, shouldn't this be the one that we proclaim?

The only gospel that has eternal value is that the world has access to God via no one else except Christ. If we offer any other gospel other than Christ then our words are meaningless and our message is counterfeit. The message of Christ delivers hope, joy and eternal life to all who will accept and obey. Surely, this is a greater message than any other. Isn't it?  

Don't Give Up

Don't Give Up

Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest. 

Galatians 6:9

A few times a year God brings me into a season of listening, learning and understanding. And my last lesson came as a message from a new believer. Before mentioning the lesson I should say that I was struggling with doubt. I was unsure if anything I did was useful to God…

Suzy asked me why I was downcast. I told her that I was considering an end date to any sort of ministry. I was unable to see any viability to witnessing and teaching. Suzy asked, “What am I, chopped liver?”

I attempted to wrangle together some sort of explanation that might calm her demeanor. She cut me off and said, “I learn every time we pray together. I pray aloud now. I call God Father now. I pray to Jesus because of you, and you don’t think you are doing anything useful?” Suzy turned on her heels, made some kind of  snort sound and walked away.

Don’t give up. You have no idea how God is using you to reach His people. We cannot judge why, when and how God will use the simplest of things to draw a person to Himself. My sin was trying to judge what God was doing through me before its time. One day, the Lord will bring everything to light, even if was done in secret (Eccl 12:14). That is why we can’t grow weary of doing good. If we give up now, how will we gain the blessing God has for us? If we give up others may loose out on the blessing that was meant to come through us. Persevere to the end and gain the crown the Lord promised.

A forgotten Celebration

A forgotten Celebration

Give Thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1 NIV

It is okay to ask of God, "What's in it for me?" This is essentially the same thing the super apostles asked of Christ (Luke 18:28-30). And the Lord was happy to assure them (and us) that there are plenty of good things in store. But we cannot get stuck there. A theology of consuming will always leave us spiritually wanting, like baby birds with mouths always open to receive, but never capable of giving. There is never anything wrong with receiving, but too often we forget to give. That seems to me, the forgotten celebration and a forgotten art among some genuine believers.

So, the question lingers in my mind; where is gratitude in the hearts and minds of the people that belong to God? If gratitude is lost in the believer, then there are probably two major reasons; Either we think that God could have done better when He blessed us, or our arrogance has taken over and we think we deserve all that we have. Either way, repentance is in order. We should give thanks and remember that everything we have came from Him, for He is where all blessings come from (James 1:17).

And this is not a discussion of “things” per se, and much more so a discussion of the spiritual and the intangible. So no matter if you are in a season of acquiring or facing hardships and losing everything; either way, we have the right, privilege and the responsibility to thank God for the great love he has already lavished upon us with the blood of His son. Such a love transcends mere tangibles such as a people, places and things. It reaches into the heart, saving the spirit and making peace between God and us. And this is what endures for all time, God’s love and our gratitude. The people of God will always recognize the works of God’s hands and give thanks in this world and they will continue to give thanks in Heaven.

The word of the Lord

The word of the Lord

This is what the Lord says... Jeremiah 2:5 NIV

Man cannot survive on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the Lord (Matthew 4:4). As believers, I think we have to make it a priority to make our entire lives, all of our opinions and thoughts subject to the word of God. If we only offer God our souls, but hold back our bodies and minds, have we truly given all to Him? Think of the thing most dear in your heart... if that person, place or thing is more important than God, then you are unfit for His kingdom (Matthew 10:37/Luke 9:62). God never settles for some, He wants the whole.

Believe me when I say that the opinions of this world will attempt to crowd God right out of your mind. And this is where we must guard ourselves at all costs. We don't (or can't) live on what the world says, rather, we live by what the Lord says because that is where light, understanding and life reside. Is it possible to harbor both the world's ideas and God's words and still remain obedient to God? My guess is that if we tried to meld the words of the world with the word of God, we would find ourselves constantly tossed hitherto, wishy-washy in our convictions (James 1:8) and fairly useless to God and quite possibly living completely against Him.

If we compromise on the word of God for any friend, family or loved one, doesn't that sort of void out the rest of the scripture in people's minds and in our own lives? If we compromise any part of the word, then inevitably people will try to compromise on Christ. But there is no other name given by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). There is no compromising Christ. We must study God's whole word and let Him write the same word in our hearts and in our minds (Hebrews 8:10) so that we will be capable of living it. Without the word of the lord, we’re lost. But with the Word, there is abundant life!

Holy Expedition II

Holy Expedition II

Happy (Blessed) are those whose strength comes from you, who are eager to make the pilgrimage to Mount Zion. As they pass through the dry valley of Baca, it becomes a place of springs.

Psalm 84:5 & 6a Good News Bible

In Holy Expedition part one we talked about the idea of traveling with God. How we are fully satisfied not by our accomplishments or by the things we buy, but by being fully at peace with God because we are in His presence. When we travel this life with God, we usher in the opportunity for others to know Christ. And when we do this, we fill the dry and barren with the living water of salvation.

I know people that when they walk in the room, you can sort of feel the unease. Just hearing their names conjures feelings of grief. But I was once treated to a wonderful gift. I was speaking to one of my sisters on the phone. She told her kids that I was on the line. All she said was my name and they roared with laughter and good cheer. This begs the question as to what do we carry from place to place? Do we live with sorrow, so we bring sorrow or do we live with joy and bring joy? As the word says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” - Romans 10:15

I think that our travels, when purposed by the Lord, are filled with many ups and downs. But the blessings tend to outweigh the trials. And when treading a path with God we should always leave in our wake a sense of joy, peace, understanding and an air of hope.

Holy Expedition

Holy Expedition

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have their hearts on pilgrimage. 

Psalm 84:5 NIV

By choice a person can live in a state of blessing or of destruction. If a man chooses to live by his own counsel, by his own power, does all of this without God, he is, even if he is wealthy and healthy, cursed. Ignoring the Lord will be his undoing. But if a man were to trust God and make a daily pilgrimage to Him in his heart, then he is blessed, that is, fully satisfied in God.

The blessing that God wants to give each person is a settled mind. We were once at war with God in our minds. We proved that we were struggling with God by the things we did with our bodies and how we resisted Him in our thoughts (Colossians 1:21). But now, we are blessed. Now we have been reconciled and settled in our minds because we hope in Christ! When we walk with God we are always in the process of removing our sin stained clothes and exchanging them for holy clothes, for righteousness. He is always leading us, whether into teaching times or into grace, or into a dark valley or into freedom; He is always preparing us for good works and for eternity.

It is peculiar how many of us are on a path to find something in God, not realizing that the real gift is that of proximity. Our blessing is not having done this thing or that thing in the Lord’s service. The real blessing is to have done this thing or the other with God at our side. The expedition is not the blessing or the service per se; it is having lived side-by-side with the creator of the Universe. He is our great expedition.

Bread and Wine

Bread and Wine

This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. 

Luke 22:19 NIV

In reference to the community of believers and communion, Dietrich Bonhoeffer said; "It is ‘our’ daily bread that we eat, not my own. The one bread that is given to our community unites us in a firm covenant. Now no one must go hungry as long as the other has bread. Whoever shatters this community also shatters the community of the Spirit."

Now, I readily admit that I sometimes struggle with the idea of Christian community. I have trouble seeing the "community" of believers when I take notice of certain things in ‘the church’; impenetrable cliques, racism and other prejudices that continue seemingly unabated. There are even individuals in my own church that do not reply when I greet them. How am I to see Christ in this? Where are the ‘community’ and the ‘Spirit’ in these things?

All of us may feel light-years apart from time to time. And that, I imagine, is quite normal. But the communion table is our gathering place. When the bread and the cup are in front of us we stop being greater or lesser, black or white, poor or rich, commoners or royals and are unified in our need for salvation. When we take communion we are looking back and remembering the cross work of Christ and we are also looking forward to the time when we say, "Blessed is the one who will eat bread in the reign of the Lord." Luke 14:15

We may have prepared on a personal level for communion. But have we readied ourselves for the bread and wine as a community?

The Gifts at Work

The Gifts at Work

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. All of these are the work of the one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

1 Corinthians 12:4, 5 & 11 NIV

I'd like to think that I am a teacher of God's word and an intercessor, praying for others in their time of need. At least, that is my opinion of myself and what I think my gifts are. But what is also true is that the Spirit decides when and which gifts he wants to use in you for service to others.

I was in the pre-op area of the hospital, waiting behind a curtained area with my wife. We could hear the complaints and sobbing of the patient across from us. She was alone, concerned about her illness and deathly afraid of needles. Ursula said, "Go talk to her, she needs help." So I walked over and peaked behind her curtain. I asked if I could sit with her and she immediately reached out her hand. All I did for the longest time was sit there, holding hands with a stranger. After a time, I asked her if it was okay if I prayed for her. She accepted and I whispered a prayer and closed with the name of Jesus. After a few more minutes she said, "You're really good at this. I don't feel a sense of impending doom any longer." We both chuckled and kept holding hands.

I look back at that moment and think that I could have tried to convert her, or be hyper-religious and “claim the victory” in Christ name over her illness. But all I did was hold a stranger’s hand, whisper a prayer of healing and of peace and then reminded her to pray because when she calls out for Jesus Christ, she will NEVER be alone. The moment Emily "complimented" me I knew she was actually speaking of the presence of God, not necessarily that I was a bringer of peace. At that moment, I got a bigger picture of what the Spirit does if we allow him to lead and use the gifts he deems necessary.

In His presence

In His presence

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body,
and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8 Holman Bible

My friend Al recently suffered the loss of a grandchild. It is not such a radical idea to suggest that the child is now enjoying the presence of Christ himself. Jesus said, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." (Matthew 19:14).

Now, what is a more radical idea is for an adult to leave this world and be present with the Lord. As grown-ups we have already done, said and thought enough things to be excluded from any audience with God. And yet, Christ gives weight to this far-reaching proposal by saying to a hardened criminal that, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Even more recent was the passing of a dear brother in the faith at my church. To speak with Brother Aaron was to find one’s self inevitably talking about the faithfulness of God. Now if you were to ask me if he is present with the Lord, then I would say “Yes” based on his faith in Christ. And I’ll go further and say that like Al’s grandchild, Brother Aaron is also at peace, filled with joy and overflowing with praise. Here’s the thing though, one day we will all gain an audience with God. But the manner in which you approach His throne is up to you. You can stand before God searching your mind for a loophole or vainly hoping that you have some kind of righteousness that far exceeds that of Christ’s blood. Or the other option is to start trusting, believing and obeying Jesus Christ and the entire word of God so that when you approach the throne you can do so with confidence. And not a confidence in yourself, but assurance in what Christ has already done for you.

Facing the Tarantula

Facing the Tarantula
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

I had an unfortunate incident years ago where as I walked into a spider web. The spider swung out on a single piece of silk like a pendulum only to return and land on my face. Since then, just saying the word "spider" would make me queasy. I dealt with my arachnophobia by facing the biggest and most ghastly spider I could find. My wife took me to a "Creatures of the Night" demonstration. After they displayed several nocturnal creatures such as an owl, a bat, a flying squirrel and a millipede, they pulled out a tarantula. The creature wrangler asked if he could let "her" walk on anyone. Every kid in the place screamed in horror. Moments later I realized I was one of the people screaming. After a brief prayer I lifted my hand in approval. As the spider man walked over to me, the children parted sort of like the Red Sea. He placed the spider on my leg and the children gathered around me. We all began to gasp as each of “her” eight legs began to edge her large hairy body up my leg and eventually onto my stomach. I called for our creepy bug guy and told him, "Man, you better come and get this thing! I am about to drop and roll!"

Fear is a powerful emotion. When it is rational, it acts as a protection device to keep us safe. But irrational fear entangles and imprisons us. I wonder if irrational fear is the tool that the devil uses to strangle the testimony out of the saints? While our salvation in Christ is the most exciting part of our lives, we oftentimes hide it away with a myriad of excuses. For some reason we tend to believe lies like, "I have not been called to witness to people" or "I don't have the intellect." And even worse, "What if I make them angry?" or "What if I mess it up?" More than anything else, I think that these excuses are based on irrational fears and less so on the power of God.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love. No matter if you are facing the big momma of arachnids or a person in need of Christ, there is no fear that has gripped you that cannot be overpowered by the Word and Spirit of God. Whatever you have to face, know that it has been overpowered and subdued by the blood of Christ. I faced my fear by literally coming face to face with a tarantula. I encourage you to take control of your fear and come face to face with those in need of Christ.

Determined Mind

Determined Mind
But when he asks [of God] he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
James 1:6-8 NIV

When God calls us to be His, He never accepts half. He calls for the whole. Maybe God calls for the whole person to try and remove their inner conflict, the indecisiveness that can reside in the heart of His people? Or, maybe the Lord knows that having half is like having nothing at all.

Can a person stand next to God and all the while envy what the world has? He or she must abandon one or fully commit to the other. If a person will find genuine godly peace, he or she must defy the ways of this world and become a stranger in a strange land, that is, someone who is in the world, but no longer of the world (John 15:19). When we put on the salvation of Christ, we release our hold on this place and become citizens of God’s Kingdom. We become His ambassadors in this world.

The double-minded person will never be able to fully understand God’s righteousness, judgment and salvation. But the fully committed will have the ability to see and understand these things and so much more. The determined mind will always remember that they rest in hands that will never let them slip away (John 10:27-28). They will hear and obey the Spirit and bring Christ to others with freedom and assurance in God. We have assurance that He will reign in the hearts and minds of the elect forever. And this is but one of the things a determined mind seeks, the reign of God in the world, but also for God to reign in our minds and in the whole of our being.

Meeting a Need

Meeting a Need
My brothers, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. James 1:2-3 Good News Bible

I have been facing some trials lately. I witnessed to around eight people; one is showing a mustard seed of promise. My wife and I have been doing some marriage counseling, one person out of the two is making an effort... sort of. So far this week, I was laughed at for being a Christian by three people and another person told me that "born again" people are nuts. Lastly, I had been praying with one woman for months, I thought I was helping her on her faith walk. She sort of shocked me by giving up on “the living” God in favor of following "Mother Earth". All of the effort and so little "reaping" have caused me to wonder if "living" for God is worth it? This wasn’t what I expected when I started sharing the good news of Christ...

One hard thing about following God is that you hardly ever have a sense of where you are, or how well you are doing. You have to listen for God and respond, listen and trust, listen and step into danger or pain. It is always a "faith walk" with God, never a site walk. As such, we cannot judge the outcome of our works. God uses our efforts, our tears and the sweat of our brows to lead those to Himself that are being saved. And the Lord also uses those same works to bring judgment on those who ignore or deride His word. We are not in control of the outcome of our service to God, The outcome and purpose of our work belongs to Him.

When I can't see the value of following God, I need to remember to trust Him. If I persevere in the faith even when I am laughed at or facing derision, then I have been blessed. If I unrelentingly hold to faith in the face of trials and pain, then I have gained endurance. And that may be the real blessing that God wants to give His children. God may not give us all that we want, but He ALWAYS gives what we need.

Singing His Song

Singing His SongHow can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?
Psalms 137:4 NIV

We live in times where people have grown hostile toward Christianity. The world is none too happy with those that try to live according to the scripture. I suspect their resentment stems from the fact that we remind them of God. We carry the aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15), and they just don't like it. They don't want to hear about their sin and God's redemptive love and His judgment. They want us to abandon the sound teaching of God and embrace their opinions, ideas and preferences. They want to silence anything that sounds like God by calling it hate, narrow-mindedness, and out dated thinking. They tell us, "Sing a song we like. Give us a word that will tickle our fancy." (2 Timothy 4:3)

It feels lonely to be the object of scorn. It feels even worse when you are scorned by other believers that hold a "world view", instead of a "Christ view." I admit to feeling a bit like my spirit has been broken, sort of disillusioned about God's call on my life. Is there a point to sharing Christ with people that only think of you as an old and useless religious fool? As a Christian, I feel like a foreigner in a strange land. How can I sing His song in this place, among these people?

I'll sing His song because of the hope I have in Christ! The day is coming when tears of pain will be a distant memory and death will have lost its sting (Revelation 21:4). When my circumstances are void of hope or joy, I will remember what the Lord has promised to those who trust in Him and persevere to the end. When I think of the goodness of the Lord, I feel a song coming on.

Simple truths, applied Faith

Simple truths, applied Faith
Therefore anyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24 NIV

I used to hear people use the term, "Intellectual Ascent" in reference to people that knew about the Bible, but did not believe it. I think that term makes sense also for people that know about Christ, but do not do what he says. Do you know people that participate in Bible study and church services, but they don't seem to act on anything they've learned?

“Simple Truths, Applied Faith”. That was the motto I wanted to use if I had become a pastor. I reasoned that if a person were to thrive in this life, that person would need to stick to simplicity and action oriented faith. If an idea or message is grounded in scripture and simplicity then the Holy Spirit can use that message to speak to the hearts and minds of the layman and the intellectual. In my own life, I have never learned more than when I had to apply my faith to everyday life.

I think that understanding and faith, when used together, become wisdom. Just knowing about godly things may produce frustration, thinking that God is reluctant and useless. Conversely, a person that works with no true understanding will become arrogant about their accomplishments. They will think that they have earned something with God. But I think that a balance of intellect and works produces wisdom. If the two are properly balanced in the follower of Christ, the outcome is the ability to not only withstand the tests we will face in this life, but also face the testing we must withstand when we meet God face to face.

How, Why and Who?

How, Why and Who?
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." Psalm 14:1 NIV

A very popular scientist and television host had these words to say about the theory of evolution; “And I say to the grownups, if you want to deny evolution and live in your world, in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe, that's fine, but don't make your kids do it because we need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future." And this same scientist had this to say about creation (Intelligent design), "It's just really a hard thing. You know, in another couple of centuries that world view, I'm sure, will be, it just won't exist. There's no evidence for it."

I think that the scientific community has always had trouble with faith because they seek to answer the wrong questions. Science can only answer the "how". Faith answers the "why" and the "who". Faith answers the question; “How were we created?” We were hand crafted by God as He gave us the breath of life (Genesis 2:7). “Why were we created?” To be the object of His affections, to worship Him and to do Godly good works. “Who created us?” Jehovah God.

God gave us science and minds capable of great understanding so that we can notice Him, in all that He has created (Romans 1:20). But the foolish looks at everything God has made and says that "There is no God." These people, these fools at heart, they are very much like men that look in the mirror and forget what they look like the moment they turn away (James 1:23-24). But you, you men and women of faith, you keep following what is right. If you persevere in your faith, God will keep His word and give you the Crown of Eternal Life (James 1:12).

Godly Peace

Godly Peace
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Colossians 1:19-20 NIV

When I think of peace, I oftentimes think of David's 23rd Psalm. I imagine being lead to safe green pastures. I can almost taste the cool refreshing waters that will restore me. This is the place where goodness and mercy will be my constant companions. And all at once I am shaken from said peace to the sound of nails and hammers, the pinch of a thorny crown and the weight of the Lord's cross. Where is the peace that God promised?

It "pleased" God to bring us peace by the blood of Christ. Or in other words, this was the necessity that destroyed enmity between God and mankind. I wonder... is this the flaw Christians have in understanding peace, if not Christianity as a whole? If you are a believer for more than a few moments, you will quickly come to the realization that there has to be more to "peace" than green pastures, still waters and the absence of hostility and danger. Maybe godly peace is not the absence of chaos, pain or danger. Maybe, godly peace is knowing that your relationship with God is secure. No one and nothing can unhinge you from God, and I think that creates a kind of "well-being" within our souls that cannot be moved by any circumstance, even the threat of harm or death.

I think we foolishly assume that godly peace equals security while on planet Earth. Maybe God intends for us to traverse the difficult paths so that we can lead others into something worth more than mere safety; to lead others to Christ, to grace, to mercy, to God our Father and into service, in spite of the circumstances.

Performance Christianity

Performance Christianity
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12 NIV

Do you ever get caught up in "Performance Christianity"? I know I do. Far too many times I think that my relationship with God is measured by every "good act of service". If I do Christian things and think Godly thoughts then God loves me. If I do sinful things and think selfishly, then God loves me not. Some may even think that doing good things adds points and bad things take away points from the love bank. But that is not how God interacts with those that love Him.

At work, my daily performance determines whether I can remain employed. In sports, performance determines whether you can remain on the team. But with God, your relationship with Christ is the determining factor. You are His by Christ, or you aren’t. If you belong to God, then your life should reflect that, should reflect the Father living in you. If we place all our trust in Christ and develop a life attitude of confession and repentance, then we are indeed separated from the guilt of our sin. How far are we removed? Well, what is the distance between the end of the east and the start of west? And this removal of sin is not a reflection of our piety; it reflects the work of Christ!

I you are facing some hard circumstances in life you might think that God has forgotten about you. You may think that He is angry with you over your failures. Or even worse, you may think that you need to earn God's love. But if you love Him, repent and believe in His son, and there will no longer be any resentment. God was never surprised at our failures. That’s why we have grace.

Our Holy Father

Our Holy Father
"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Matthew 6:9 NIV

As Christians, we have a privilege that no one else in the world can boast; we get to call God our “Father”. But I wonder sometimes if familiarity (this gift of son ship and daughterhood) has caused us to take God for granted? Maybe we sometimes forget the rest of this sample prayer; “Holy is your name”?

God is “Father”, but He is also holy. There is no one like Him. Or, you can think of it this way… Before Christ, we were the children of wrath. We represented everything that God isn’t. Or, have you forgotten that there is not a person on earth that does right and never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20)? God is Holy and He cannot make His home with someone that is not covered with the blood of Christ. You may ask, “Is God loving?” The answer is yes. You may wonder, “Does He forgive?” And the answer is yes, yes. But all of the things we need to get close to God are out of our hands, other than a total and radical reliance upon Christ. And a radical reliance on him shows itself in a changed mind, a changed heart and a changed life.

I am thankful for the ministry of Christ (taking the guilt of mankind on himself in order to reconcile us to God). I am grateful that God is a worthy and exalted Father. For I cannot imagine anyone else who could (or would) make me innocent by the blood of His son. Who else would give so much to buy His enemy out of the grip of sin? None but a heavenly Father, whose name shall always remain holy.

Helping God

Helping God
He must become greater; I must become less. – John the Baptizer
Taken from John 3:30 NIV

It is a simple thing, less of me and more of Him. And yet it continues to be an issue for me. It isn’t even a sense of arrogance as much as it is zeal. I want God to work more quickly, I want Him to use me for His purposes and I want Him to see how urgent the need is and how late the hour. And as serious as this is and as short as the time is, I think the Lord sort of chuckles at me and tells me with a smile in His voice, “I know, I know. But this depends on me, my son, my Spirit and my time, not yours.”

So I find myself having to ask for God’s forgiveness. I have wanted to “help” God along in His ministry instead of walking where He leads. There may be a necessity for my duty to increase, but not for me to increase. If I am really serving my purpose in God, it is as one who points the way to Christ. I have failed to do this when anger, impatience and self-recognition become paramount. It is time for me to decrease and time for God to increase. And when others see me, I pray that they merely see a sign that points to God the Father, to Christ His son and to His Holy Spirit. And if I do that with sincerity, God might call me a good and faithful servant.

Living Martyrs

Living Martyrs
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60 NIV

I was listening to Pastor Mason one morning as he spoke about martyrs. In my mind, saints and martyrs are sort of related. So I began thinking of the names of Saints. My wife has a saintly name; I already knew that there was a Saint Ursula. I did a search of my neighbor’s names and found a Saint Marcia (spelled differently though). If you can believe it, I even found her husband’s name, Saint Ralph. But there was no saint Eric to be found. I can hear the voices of my closest friends in my mind saying, "Of course there is no St. Eric. All people named “Eric” are bad."

In the Bible, people that follow Christ are considered saints (Romans 8:27). Or in other words, you don't have to be dead to be a saint or a martyr. A good redefining of martyr might be "Someone who volunteers their life for the gospel of Christ." While "living Martyr" might sound like an oxymoron, I think it further explains what we are as new creations in Christ. We "new creation" folk are new because of the Holy Spirit's indwelling, presence and power. Pastor Mason went on to say that martyrs are living co-witnesses that are empowered to testify for Christ (John 15:26-27), that we convict the world of sin (John 16:5-11) and that we are assured to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-15). These are the things that define the healthy life of a saint and living martyr.

In today's verse, Stephen didn't die a martyr; he lived as one. He was a Saint long before his passing. He was a saint because he volunteered his life for the Gospel of Christ. God may not be calling you to die, but I think He may be asking you to live vibrantly, and to volunteer the time you have left for the Gospel.

Unexplored Love

Unexplored Love
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV

I think that there are two kinds of love in the world. The one we are most familiar with is one that is strictly human. We love our family and friends, and they love us back. But now I have a question; does this type of love have any eternal value? If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them (John 6:32 NIV).

Now, there is a different kind of love among us too. This other type of love serves humanity and comes to us by Christ. This love not only reconciled man to God, not only permanently removed our sin, but also made us co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). This new love, this very much-unexplored love pushes us beyond our "love borders". Instead of loving just the ones that love us, God calls and pushes us to imitate His love in this world. His love is not content with the ones that seem deserving, but with the ones that seem like they are beyond all love and grace.

Both loves have, as Bonhoeffer put it, the same power, passion and exclusivity. But they both have radically different goals. The first is centered on I, and Me. The second is centered on God and my neighbor. I think the second kind of love is the one that will garner the attention of the world. And when they examine this love, they will inevitably be led to God.

Watchman

Watchman

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself. Ezekiel 3:17-19 NIV

I read about a minister that gave instructions to other pastors on how to grow their church membership. One of his main points was to "never talk about sin". If your only purpose is to grow membership in a club, then I guess this makes sense. But if you are preparing God’s people for works of godly service then this is truly a disturbing idea. And let me offer what might be an equally disturbing idea; Sin is necessary. Without a revelation of sin (that we get from God’s Word), we would not be able to see that we are living in opposition to God. Or let me put it a different way; When we are made aware of our sin by the standard set in God's Word, that sets us on a path. We either take the path toward salvation in Christ or we trod the way of rejection and spiritual death. It may be a bit of a stretch, but I will ask the question; Without an understanding of sin, is faith in Christ even possible?

Silence on sin is the equivalent to telling a person to "Go to Hell." I mean that literally. Think of it this way, if you really love them, if you give a care as to where a person will spend his or her eternity, then ask God to help you minister to them in love, integrity, godly wisdom and with the scripture. We who have God's word and salvation inside of us have a great position in life, but we also hold the responsibility to share God’s gift of salvation with a world in need.

I remember one time where I felt God tugging at my heart about witnessing to a man in the hospital. At first I thought to myself, "What happens to him is between him and God." But I don’t think like that anymore. After thinking of Ezekiel’s call to service, after considering that I could be partially responsible by remaining silent, I have decided that what happens between a person and God isn't only between them and God, it also includes the person that knows God and remains silent.

The Glorious Quest

The Glorious Quest And my God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NIV In the past I have had the mind-set that God should bless me... and "bless" means money and prestige. And like a child, if I saw someone else with a blessing, I wanted one too. I think that sometimes we get engrossed by a "Me too" Theology that only leaves us wanting, and feeling short-changed. Have you ever looked at godly provision this way? I think it is okay to ask God for anything. I think it is okay to ask, seek and persistently knock. But what might it be like for God when we who have so much, ask for more? What might it sound like to tell God that what He has given is not enough, and might I have better please? And what if God answered, what might He say? He may tell us that we have misunderstood the meaning and purpose of His blessings. When God desires to meet our needs, it may have little to do with money and much more to do with "glorious riches". You know, what might be interesting is if "the need" that God promises to fulfill is the one where we are trying to share the good news of Christ Jesus with others. It may be that God has promised to help us along in ‘that’ glorious quest, to make Christ known to all.

A truth about Money

A truth about Money
Out of the most severe trials, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. They gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability... Entirely on their own they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
2 Corinthians 8:2, 3b, 4 NIV
There is one saying that you will probably never hear in a church that is devoted to money..., "It is better to give than to receive." Money has a peculiar way of infecting our minds in regards to true biblical teaching about wealth and making it into something that is, in my not so humble opinion, of very poor taste. Maybe money theology isn't so much "wrong" as it is useless in the grand scheme of things. It brings no one into the presence of God in order to gain salvation. And if money and money teaching can't do that, what good is it?
In the scriptures, money appears to be more of a tool for advancing the gospel than for reflecting God's favor with a person or group. The Bible teaches that generosity welled up in God's people because of the overflowing joy of salvation. People weren't satisfied with merely obtaining salvation in Christ, but saw it as a blessing to support ministries that shared the good news. And apparently they did this in spite of their meager fiscal condition. For these people generosity was not so much a responsibility as much as it was (and still is) a privilege. They wanted to share with others the same gospel that was saving them. Doesn’t this sound a bit more genuine?
When it comes to money, I try to remember that God knows what I need even before I ask (Matthew 6:8). Money is a necessity in this world and He knows it. He isn't blind to my needs, no matter they be spiritual, physical or fiscal. And the one need that God has deemed most necessary is spiritual. That is the blessing that makes even the poor and disenfranchised to be rich!

Godly Disillusionment

Godly Disillusionment
It was he (God) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV
I think that many of us have an idea in our minds of what Christianity should be like. We fantasize about the aspects of the "right church", about a "better" theology and the way we think God's people should be. Some of us church-hop to find this ideal church or worse, try to force our point of view on the church we are attending. I also think that many of us sometimes experience a level of frustration because our idea of Christianity (and sometimes our idea of God himself) seems to never materialize. Is following God what you thought it would be?
Maybe we are unable to find our ideal church and maybe God seems to fail us because we are experiencing ‘Godly Disillusionment’. Maybe God is allowing frustration to set in, to shake us out of wishful ideology that does not benefit His Kingdom? Maybe God is shaking us out of ideas that are not consistent with scripture? If this is true, then it shows us the kindness and wisdom of God. He is so kind that He will not allow us to find comfort in a lie, in a dream or in wishful thinking. God is a God of truth (John 14:6). And anything less than the truth is not good enough for the ones that He loves.
I think that the unity of believers isn't a sense of being the same, looking the same or acting the same. I think the unity of believers is that we are finally working for the same goal, to glorify God, to experience His nearness and His love and finally to tell someone about Him. We bring glory to God by testifying about Him to all others that we come in contact with. We bring glory to God when we love and commit to each other. We bring glory to God when we remember that Christ will always be with us (Mark 28:18-20). Could be that these things remove us from disillusionment and into the whole measure of fullness in Christ.

Taking on a new Burden

Taking on a new Burden
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28 NIV
I remember an old gospel song that we sang in the Baptist church of my youth. The pastor would say, "The doors of the church are now open." As people came down to the front of the church to accept Christ as savior, the parishioners began to sing, "Come to Jesus. Come to Jesus, just now, just now." And they continued, "Only trust him. Only trust him, just now, just now". At the time I think I had certain expectations of "coming to Jesus". What do you think it will be like if we were to come to Jesus on bended knee, and full of trust?
I admit that the idea of taking off the yoke of this world and putting on the yoke of Christ seemed like a pretty good deal, but I got more than what I bargained for. Once in the fold of Christ I was made to suit up like a soldier. I learned that I needed to put on the full armor so I could stand my ground. I was given a helmet (salvation), belt (truth), a vest (righteousness), a shield (faith), boots (readiness) and a sword, which is the Bible (Galatians 6:10-17). Becoming a private in God's army is not exactly the rest I expected. But maybe God is being kind... The Lord is equipping me to stand. After I have done all I can do, putting these gifts into practice is what it might look like to just stand.
Jesus said that "My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). Jesus isn't promising that we would be without burdens. But maybe he is suggesting that he will be with us to help and he will equip us to carry our portion of the burden. Maybe he is promising that once we take on the ‘Christ-burden’, we will find his nearness. And having Christ in close proximity makes the load not so heavy. Think about it, Christ already carried it all on the cross... How much more do we really need to lift and carry?

Fighting Repetitive Sin

Fighting Repetitive Sin
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate to do. Romans 7:14-15 NIV
"What I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep doing." Paul~
Paul sounds like a man that is horribly torn. He wants to do well, but is unable to. Try as he might, the bad he is attempting to avoid keeps surfacing. Paul seems perplexed as to why he leans into sin, while trying to do God’s will. I will be honest and say that I have the same identical struggles. Not that you should, but do you struggle with repetitive sin too?
Believe me when I say that I have tried all of the fixes. I prayed the prayers and quoted the right verses (in their right context). The elders have prayed for me (and a few non elders too). I have been anointed with oil, received the Holy Spirit and my cup ran over. I have even been anointed by a Catholic priest and went to confession..., and I am not Catholic! And guess what? After all of that stuff, I still sin! What a wretched man I am (Romans 7:24)!
While I cannot deny that God heals us of many troubling behaviors, I think it is also true that God might use our sin proclivities to turn our minds toward Him. Or in other words, God may leave us with some repetitive sin in order to make us look up to see where our help comes from (Psalm 121:1). I think that when we are facing our old and familiar sins God offers two most important answers: ‘My grace is sufficient’ and ‘My Son is sufficient’. I can't ignore the thought that each of us has a responsibility, we must each of us carry our own cross (Galatians 6:5/Luke 14:27). And likewise, it is the same with troubles. We need to go into troubles and temptation knowing that if the Lord has allowed it, then we have His confidence that we can handle it. And for all of the other times that the load becomes too much to bear, for all of the times that we did not follow the escape route; repentance, grace and blood are sufficient.

Unleashing God's Compassion

Unleashing God's Compassion
When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. Jonah 3:10 NIV
Over the years I have noticed that there are fads that come and go, even among Christians. At one time there was a preoccupation with angels. Then, healing powers were all the rage. Now there is a focus on financial blessing. Tomorrow, there will be some other whim that will fade. But, underneath the fads, fame and star powered religion, there is a genuine faith in God at work too. I am speaking of people that seek out His friendship more than the fame. There are people that search for faith more than finances. And above all, the most sought after gift of God by His people is His salvation in Christ. What is it that you want most from God?
The truth is that some religious popularity trends are actually genuine promises from God. But when God's promises are abused in order to earn a dollar, maybe they become a passing fad that disappears from the hearts and minds of His people. But when taken in the right perspective, those things, those blessings are really what God intends to give us, when He has decided it is best for us to have them. And maybe these blessings God has stored up for us can only be unleashed by a true need, not necessarily only a want? There are so many books on the market about unleashing blessings but what about unleashing God's compassion, love and salvation? Are these valuable commodities too?
I have been in times where I needed to unleash the power of godly healing. I have called out for godly financial blessing. And God has sometimes blessed me with a yes and sometimes with a no. But the blessing I have always been able to unleash in my life is compassion. God cannot refuse a repentant heart (Psalm 51:17). Or in other words, other things may be 'yes' and 'no', but there is always a yes in Christ!

Morning Time Belongs to the Lord

Morning Time Belongs to the Lord
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
As of late I have been in extremely difficult circumstances. A fair few have accosted me with verbal attacks on my character. A few others have made every effort to antagonize me about my theology. While their criticism chases after me, it seems joy is also in hot pursuit of me. To me, this is no coincidence. If joy has revealed itself in the midst of turbulent circumstances, it cannot be a mere coincidence. It has to be the Lord!
Today I am reminded that I am alive because of God's great love. My sins should have consumed me years ago. But by the blood of His son, He has caused me to be at peace with Him. Now, I am no longer an enemy, but a friend, an adopted son, an heir, a confidant and a servant. Even though my circumstances are difficult and my heart is heavy, the Lord lifts me up! Many may be able to tend a hurting man, but who can tend to his heart? For this, the Lord is great indeed!
Today, I am reminded that the Lord's compassion is new every morning. Just as the sun breaks through the darkness, so the joy of the Lord breaks in to my sorrow. In the morning, before the troubles of the day, before the curses and cries begin, I will remember that the morning belongs to the Lord. Though there is grief, the Lord shows compassion and love because He doesn't willingly bring pain or grief to His people (Lamentations 3:32-33).

Blessed Assurance

Blessed Assurance


For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Romans 5:10 NIV
After several years of faith walking (or maybe the truth is that the Lord has been carrying me) I still sometimes wonder, still sometimes ask of God, "Do I really belong to you?" Do you ever have doubts about your relationship with God?
You may wonder how a person can doubt his or her faith? Well, when a believer does or says things that don't represent God (and we all do that from time to time) the doubts can sometimes come rolling in. Or maybe we sought God on some specific need and He did not answer the way we expected…, more doubts can arise. When we see the "care free" attitude of those that don't love God, we might wonder, "What's wrong with us? Why am I missing out on the fun?" And after a time of enduring personal failures and disappointments, you may now see how worry and doubt could set in. If you are filled with worry and doubt, I have one question; "Have you accepted Christ as savior?"
If you answered yes, then consider the fact that you have ceased being an enemy of God and are now wrapped in the blessed assurance of salvation that exists nowhere else but in Christ. If God sought us out and saved us while we were His enemies, how much more are we assured of hope and salvation in the resurrection of Christ? Or, let me put it this way, now that we have been reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Christ, there isn't anything too high or too low, any principality or powers, not anything in the future or past that can separate us from the love of God that comes by way of Christ!

Greater Joy

Greater Joy
You have filled my heart with greater joy... Psalm 4:7
If one were to rub shoulders with the affluent, he or she might only find joy in what can be bought. Other people may think that the best joy in life is in a higher education or in fueling their wildest fantasies. Are these the things that make for joy in the hearts of God's people? What gives you joy in this life?
I think that joy derived from purchases, circumstances and accomplishments is fleeting at best. Those things haven’t any eternal value, which is my guess as to why they sparkle for a little while and then, over time, loose their appeal. Maybe a blessing from God that has been horded, that is, used beyond its purpose, will turn to rot in our very hands? And isn’t it also possible that the good-life that God has given us isn’t meant to be used for any other purpose than to bless others and to glorify Him?
I think that God has blessings for us that transcend anything that this life may have to offer, if we would just ask. While it may be okay to ask God for stuff, don’t stop there. Seek out things that have value in eternity. Ask for things that lead to greater joy. Tell God that you want to know Him. Ask God for His Spirit to be a constant companion. Ask for the forgiveness that only comes from the cross of Christ. Ask for Biblical understanding. Ask Him for an opportunity to serve. If the Lord answers any of those prayers, you might find out what Greater Joy is...

Divine Necessity

Divine Necessity


Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. John 3:14-15 NIV

Someone once said to me, "I follow God in my own way." Maybe this was a polite way to turn down my invitation to church and Bible study? Maybe that person really does worship God at home in a way that is personal between them and God…, but I doubt it.

Isn't it possible that their answer was more about obstinacy and arrogance than anything else? A person always thinks that he or she is doing “well enough.” But when we bring the word of God into our minds, we begin to see our depravity, our desperate need for redemption and that God is ready and willing to respond to a contrite heart.

The truth of the matter is that if my own way of following God was good enough, then why would God offer up His own son to breach the wall of sin that separated us? Why make the divine offer, or I should say, why make Christ the Divine Necessity if “good enough” was good enough? Do you know that you need Christ or do you honestly think that following God in your own way will be good enough?

Do what you should

Do what you should

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV

There seems to be no short supply of people that think I work in the complaint department for God. When they start in about God's failures and shortcomings it feels like I am being stung by a hundred bees. Their venom makes me want to lash out or at least get them to think logically. But most people in full throttle anger are hardly ready for reason and correction.

One person told me that he was angry because God did not protect him from pain while he was sinning. Yes, read that sentence again because it says exactly what you thought it did. He was angry because God didn't stop the pain (or consequences) of living a sinful life. I once read a piece of "peculiar" news where a man had kidnapped a husband and wife. Later, he sued the couple for not helping him evade the police. It just doesn't make sense... but this is what our country or maybe our world has degenerated into. There are too many people that will not take responsibility for their own actions. There are too many that refuse the good counsel of scripture in exchange for false truths and irresponsibility.

After some time had passed I shared a few thoughts with this man. One thought was, "If you do what is right, you will gain the reward that God has for you. Do what is right so that you can avoid the stinging pain of sin." We have to be diligent in serving and in obeying the Word of God. I can't help but notice the pain and penalty we bring on ourselves by ignoring the word. Maybe in this society it is no longer obvious that sin has consequences. Maybe it is no longer obvious that diligence in following God with integrity has its rewards. I just hope that they figure it out before it is too late…

Grieving God

Grieving God
The Lord was grieved that he made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
Genesis 6:6 NIV
How can a person grieve God? We suffer God by fighting His word, a sort of kicking against the goads (Acts 26:14). At least, that is what my “friends” seemed to be doing in their defense of gay people and gay marriage. They recoiled at God’s word and said to me; "Your thoughts are archaic. You have a closed mind." And in a feeble attempt to reason with me my friend asked, "What do you care what others say and do? Those people are good people, better than most. Who are they hurting?" My answer was that, "They are hurting themselves… they are hurting God."
My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). The ideas, thoughts and ways of the world are in direct contrast (opposition) to that of God. And to embrace the world’s ways is to reject the way of God. Do you think that the rejection causes God pain? Does it hurt Him when we out-and-out ignore His word for social acceptance? Is God pushed into misery because we prefer our own way as opposed to following His truth?
I have spoken to a lot of non believers (and a few believers) that look down their noses at me and think I am a miserable weak-minded fool for believing God and His word. But someone once reminded me that they aren't rejecting me, they are rejecting God. And though it is true, that their rejection is ultimately pointed at God, I have to say that this time I think I know just how God feels. And it isn’t a good feeling.

Gathering His Own

Gathering His Own
I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people.
Micah 2:12 NIV
I think that God is on a mission. He has a desire that must supersede all other things in the world. God's plan has been in place since the beginning of time. Slowly but surely He directs, creates and orders lives for His purpose. God is doing all things in order to gather His people. Kind of like a sheepherder, moving His flock into the pen, the Lord is gathering his flock from the four corners of the earth, gathering His flock from the ages until all that belong to Him have been brought into the ‘Safe Place.’
We may wonder how long before God is finished with His work? We may think that evil has reached such an apex that surely God's return is imminent. But He is still gathering, still giving men and women the time and opportunity to repent. He is still giving us time to do His will in this world, telling others of Christ.
What would you think if I said that the Lord's mission and plan were to use everything to win others to Christ? Maybe the Lord uses your damaged reputation, your money, your children, your barrenness, your intellect, your successes and mistakes, your kindness, your very life to gather His sheep? Consider that the wounds of Christ were used to heal us of physical and spiritual disease (Isaiah 53:5). The wounds of Christ gathered (and they are still saving and gathering) multitudes to the Father. Maybe, the things we suffer, or even the things we are blessed with, are the sole property of God, and He has a right to use these things to gather His own? Maybe, the things we endure, no matter if they are fair or not, are like treasures in the Father's eyes because they accomplish the task of assembling, calling together all that belong to Him?

Judging God

Judging God
“You have said harsh things against me,” says the Lord. Malachi 3:13 NIV
I recently watched a movie named "God on Trial". It is a depiction of a group of Jewish prisoners in Auschwitz that decide to literally put God on trial. The charges raised against God were murder and breaking the covenant (contract) with the Jewish people. I told my wife that if there was such a person that could bring judgment toward God, it might be a Jew in Auschwitz or Warsaw during WWII. Ursula responded that, "On one hand, maybe they can judge God because of what they have endured, but on the other hand, how dare they." In the face of trouble we almost feel compelled to question or insult God in a quest to find answers for our suffering. But is it really fair (or safe) to judge God?
It may seem like a peculiar question, asking “Is God guilty?” While some are unwilling to admit it, I think the truth is that we have all pondered the question at one time or another. We wonder if the troubles we are in are a punishment for wrongdoing or if God is being a bully? We ask, “Why did God do this to me?” But, do you really think God would send His son to die for us, just so He can pick on us? If Jesus wasn’t immune to suffering, why should we? And do you really think that this life is supposed to be without affliction?
If you are ready to judge the Almighty from your limited vantage point, brace yourself. God may want to ask you the same questions He asked Job… Do you know where light lives? (Job 38:19) Does rain have a father? (Job 38:28) Who endowed the heart with wisdom and gave understanding to the mind? (Job 38:37) Perhaps you would rather discredit God’s justice in order to justify yourself? (Job 40:8) Maybe it is best to remember that the Lord watches over the way of the righteous (Psalm 1:6). All we can do, or maybe I should say that the best we can do is trust the Lord, because even in perilous times, He is our safe harbor and He is worthy of our trust.

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People

Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? Galatians 4:16 NIV
Jesus commands us in Matthew 28:19-20 to tell others the truth of God and His son and when they believe, baptize them. He wants us to teach them God's ways so that they will obey God. And we should do all of this knowing that Christ will always be with us. Now, if you want to know how to lose friends and alienate people, keep Christ's command.
People will most certainly hate you for repeating the words of the Bible, for thinking like Christ and “God help you” if you live a little like him... who knows what might happen?

Life long friends may abandon you. Family may call you crazy. Neighbors may refer to you as, and I actually like this title, the “neighborhood Jesus Freak". And it has been my experience that even other Christian's will burn with anger and lash out because you told them the truth. But a time is coming when some people will even hand you over to be killed and they will think they are doing God a favor (John 16:2). And if you can believe it, all of this is normal for the followers of Christ.

Though you may lose a friend or your family, you will gain a new family in Christ. Anyone that does the will of God will gain new mothers, brothers and sisters. In Christ, you will gain a Heavenly Father that loves you enough to sacrifice His own son to save you. Though you may lose a few, you gain so much more in Christ.

Lot in Life

Lot in Life
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him - for this is his lot. Ecclesiastes 5:18 NIV
Have you ever noticed that people seem to be so very hungry for what they do not have? I really want to blame our culture for the sickness. We live in a culture that glorifies riches instead of integrity and stardom over moral fortitude. And it doesn't help when you can completely abandon any sense of responsibility and make a fortune in the process. Remember the person that placed a flimsy cup of hot coffee between her legs while driving? She burned herself, and then sued, and she won her lawsuit! I wonder if that scenario signaled an end to personal responsibility and primed the world to walk in complete selfishness?
Our society seems a good culprit for the loss of contentedness, but I don't think that is the case. I think that human-kind has always had a sense of restlessness about it. It started when Adam and Eve had been given the world (literally), but they longed for and grasped the one thing that did not belong to them. And today, we are the same. We look past the blessings of the Lord to get what we think is better. I wonder why we feel that God has shortchanged us?
I know this will sound ridiculous, but I think gratitude is an art. I don’t think it is something we are born with, I think it is learned. And, I need to recognize that what the Lord has given me is what HE HAS DECIDED is best for me. Maybe putting down what I have is a smack in God’s face? Maybe, never being satisfied with my lot in life is like asking God for the gift receipt so I can exchange His gift for what I really want?
I am not a rich man, but I am certainly not held down in poverty either. So maybe I should be satisfied that I eat well, work hard and that I know the Lord. If a person must work hard, then it is a gift to work. That is what the Lord has given. And if a person can get a better job or live richly, by all means enjoy it as that too is a gift of the Lord. But more than anything else, it is better to know the Lord and live well in whatever He has given. Isn’t that the lot of every man and woman under the sun?

Don’t you even know me?

Don’t you even know me?


I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
John 13:15 NIV

I was watching a movie where a grandfather asked his grandson about the fight he was in. He asked his grandson, “Can you forgive the person that gave you that shiner?” “No.” said the young boy. “He doesn’t deserve forgiveness.” Grandpa said, “No, I didn’t ask if he deserved forgiveness. I asked if you can you forgive him?”

It seems to me that forgiveness is not fair. People deserve payback for the evil they commit. They deserve to be held accountable. But the type of forgiveness Jesus calls us to moves beyond accountability. I think that Jesus is more so speaking to the inner workings of a person’s heart. I think that Jesus is asking us if we can turn the other cheek or walk the extra mile for the sake of the offender’s own salvation.

It seems to me that there are a lot of folks that call Jesus Lord, but they have no idea who the guy is. Jesus laid out an example for us to follow. He expects those that call him Lord, Savior and Friend to obey him. He expects us believers to “look” like him, to remind people of him by the way we live. And yet there are so many that won’t forgive an insult or a slap on the face. Christ’s example was that he forgave the guy that drove a couple spikes into his flesh. He forgave the guys who spit on him and pulled the hairs from his beard. He forgave the men that beat him into a bloody pulp. And we, the followers of Christ can’t forgive a bad word or a cross look. Jesus has to be wondering, “Don’t you even know me?”

Different Kind of Wound

Different Kind of Wound


If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship... But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Psalms 55:12, 13 & 16 NIV

No matter if the intent was malicious or misguided benevolence, we have all of us endured injury from others. None of us are surprised by evil from an enemy. But the wounds of a friend or family... well those are entirely different wounds. Who can defend against an onslaught of evil from the ones that are supposed to love us?

When thinking of injury from friends I can't help but think of Christ. He was wounded by the very ones he was sent to save. He knows what it is like to be wounded by the ones he loves. "If someone asks him, 'What are these wounds on your body? He will answer, 'The wounds I was given at the house of my friends." (Zechariah 13:6). I think that friend-wounds are worse than others because you placed your complete trust in them. You gave them parts of yourself that no one else had the privilege of owning. Their hurtful acts against you cause you to feel undervalued, embarrassed and gullible. What's worse is facing the prospect of doing what Jesus says, "Pray for those that despitefully use you." (Luke 6:28)

When I pray for the ones that have hurt me I have this slightly arrogant feeling; that I have taken the high road and have somehow made myself better than they are. But the truth is; keeping the command to pray for my enemies is not a call for arrogance or revenge, but a call to bless my foes. When I pray for my enemies it is like taking them by the hand and pulling them before The King in order to plead on their behalf for having hurt me. And that is something that we are only capable of doing if God's Holy Spirit resides in our hearts and minds. Prayer for enemies isn't "taking the high road"; it is only a part of walking the path that was plodded by Christ on the way to the cross.

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit


Fully satisfied in God are the ones that recognize their spiritual poverty, the inability to do spiritual things for themselves, for they are now citizens of God’s city. The Lord reigns in their hearts and minds. Matthew 5:3 Key Word Translation

One might think that Christ would be intelligent if he called the rich, famous and the good to serve him. It is only natural to select individuals that have the greatest resources. But Christ is not making the natural choice; he is making a supernatural choice. Christ calls all. He extends his invitation to societal outcasts when he said that the poor are blessed. So again, God calls all, the great and the good and the bad and the infamous. And maybe this is why Jesus is so compelling. The intellectual and the layman can come to Jesus on the same terms. The powerful and the powerless, the strong and weak all come to Christ with the same spiritual poverty. And Christ, thankfully, accepts all who recognize their need for him.

(Except from Key Word Study – Beatitudes)
Author: Eric Montgomery
Copyright ©2013 Eric Montgomery. All rights reserved
Key Word Translation written by Eric Montgomery
At amazon.com, download the (FREE with Amazon Kindle) Key Word Study booklets; Beatitude, Seven Churches and Creation

Knowing God

Knowing God


I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. Jeremiah 24:7 NIV

I read an article about an intelligent, beautiful and famous actress. When asked about religion she said, "I am an agnostic, even though I respect and am interested in all religions. If there's something I believe in, it's a mysterious energy; the one that fills the oceans during tides, the one that unites nature and beings." She believes in“energy” that inexplicably unites life... I remember speaking to a woman about God. I made a comment akin to the idea that we get to know God intimately because of Christ. She responded by literally yelling at me, "That's blasphemous! You can't know God! It is impossible to know him!"

Do you think that God would give up His son just so He could purposefully remain shrouded in mystery? I have a hard time accepting that God is cloaked, only revealing Himself as a "mysterious energy". I think that the opposite is true. Not only is God showing His true identity, but also He intends for us to know Him fully and unequivocally. I am not speaking of religion and rules. I am speaking of intimacy and truth. Why else would so many people in the Bible give God nicknames? Some called Him “Healer” and others called Him “Redeemer”. And yet many others called Him Lord. You can’t call God these names if he is unknowable or a mysterious force of nature. God created everything in the universe to call attention to Himself (Romans1:20). God isn’t hiding, He wants (or maybe demands) to be known.

I think that knowing God is always first-person; you can’t know him through the experiences of others. Knowing God is impossible apart from Jesus; for He is God incarnate. And I think that God will slip through your fingers without reading the Bible, God’s primary means of communicating with us. Without God’s Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, without Christ to bridge the gap, it is impossible to know the one true and living God.

Worth dying for

Worth dying for

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19 NASB

Have you ever tried to do the “right thing”, but it seems to blow up in your face? Sometimes it seems like we plant good seed, but all we reap is trouble. It seems abnormal, but Christ confirms that when we make attempts to take on his persona (or I should say his Spirit), people will hate us for it (John 15:18-19).

I admit that too many times I have dealt with the insults and the exclusions without a sense of grace. Instead of rolling with the punches, I start to feel unimportant and foolish. Sometimes I just feel like giving up. And just at the right time God restores me. He lifts me up by sending something wonderful, something grand, something so Him.

At just the right time, God reminds me of the value He has placed upon me. And, His reminder overwhelms me like the current of a rushing waterfall. When others deride and ridicule, God reminds me that my worth is more than gold and silver. I am so valuable to Him that dollars and cents won't due, but only blood. The Lord reminds me that no matter what others think of me, to Him, I am worth dying for.

What you pawned, I’ll redeem

What you pawned, I’ll redeem

Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you.
Isaiah 49:15 God’s Word Translation

My wife and I like to peruse antiques shops. That is a fancy way of saying that we sometimes check out the stuff that other people have thrown out. In a sense, it is trash picking. People may no longer have a use for that old cabinet or a dented metal container. So they pile the broken and abused items into their cars and drop them at a pawn shop, or a mission of some kind. And that is where I show up; looking at each unwanted item and trying to re-imagine its purpose. For you it is an unwanted bottle, but I might see it as a vase for flowers. I remember picking up a broken piece of a dressing table. I turned it into a glass door apothecary cabinet. Sometimes, old trash heaps have the most incredible finds if you are willing to put some of yourself into them, help them become something greater than what they are.

And likewise you may feel broken, dented and abused. You may feel like you are ready for the trash heap. You may not think you have any value or beauty at all. And you may feel discarded… Maybe you feel like the child in today’s Bible verse, abandoned by the one that is supposed to love and care for you. But know that if all others have abandoned you, God would never forget you!

I think that God sort of goes trash picking, looking for valuable finds. He looks at us and re-imagines us, creates a new purpose for us. To the world, we may not be worth much. We may be easily overlooked, but not to God. The world may see us and say, “They will never amount to anything.” But God sees us and thinks, “Mmmm… I can do something with these!” If we allow the Lord to have His way with us, He will make us into something so wonderful, purposeful and magnificent! What they pawned and counted as loss, the Lord will redeem. And He wants to do that for you right now.

Witness to the Truth

Witness to the Truth


Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. John 18:37 KJV

When I say that I am a Christian, I admit that in the back of my mind there is a preconceived definition at work. You probably have your own idea as to what the word “Christian” means. For many people "Christian" means that one should be good, be kind and generous, which sounds to me like nothing more than good manners. But when I take a peek at Christ from the perspective of scripture, I am forced to see that Jesus ignored social etiquette in order to proclaim the truth. When I think about it, Jesus may not even live up to ‘our’ idea of Christianity… Based on our modern social standards, his manners were reasonably atrocious. He was often incredibly disrespectful of the religious leaders of his time. And, the friends he kept (sinners and prostitutes) would probably never get through the doors of some of today's churches. But in spite of these things, Jesus always proclaimed the truth of his Father.

I think a real and complete declaration of Christ is in a balance of word, thought and deed, not one or the other. And that has nothing to do with being politically correct or following the unwritten rules of respectability. I think that the only way to fully represent Christ and be a witness of the truth is to be consumed with the Gospel (John 2:17), that is, being consumed by God Himself. Then, the words, thoughts and deeds that pour out of us will be befitting of the Jesus we claim.

But truthfully, we believers can not be identified by decorum or appearance; we are believers because we hear and respond in obedience to the voice of Christ. If we speak and live what we hear from the Lord, then maybe that is what makes us His?

The Verdict

The Verdict


He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 NIV

I know a man that had been dragged to court because of his transgressions. The verdict was undeniable…, guilty. He was sentenced to death. The judge addressed the court, explaining that the law is absolute. “The law” he said, “must always be satisfied in the face of injustice.” Then the judge stepped down from his bench and demanded that the cuffs be removed from the defendant and applied to his own wrists. Then, face to face, he addressed the man and told him, "Remember me." The judge handed the man some papers, "Here, read my love letters. These papers will explain why I am doing this for you. I have also laid out a path for you to follow. I want you to do whatever these letters tell you to do. They will lead you through hard times and the good, but the best is yet to come. I have to go now… You won't see me for quite some time, and then you will see me again because I am making a place for you."

I am the guilty man and Jesus is the righteous judge that took my place. Now that I am liberated from the judgment I deserved, how will I spend my freedom? Will I squander my freedom by depending too heavily on grace instead of good sense and responsibility? Will I abuse the freedom that cost Jesus everything? Or, will I follow God's love letter, listening for His explanation on His words and living them with near reckless abandon? Will I pray for others, love others and forgive others? Will I become salt and light for a tasteless and dark world?

The verdict of the court is that I am guilty. The verdict handed down from the cross is "penalty paid". And the final verdict is that as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15)! Where else can I go than to Jesus? Only He has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). And because of Christ, I will live in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).