Grieving Not the Holy Spirit (Part 1)

Verse of the day: Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

The best way to start this is to first make it clear that the Holy Spirit is not a thing. He is God, just as much as the Father and the Son is God. It is the Spirit who gives spiritual gifts to men, as He wills (1 Cor 12:11). He is described in the Bible as being omniscient (1 Cor 2:10-11). There are many verses of Scripture that show us that the Holy Spirit is truly God and a Person; by His work in creation (Gen 1:2). He is Teacher, Comforter, Guide, intercedes for us in prayer, and convicts the world of sin (Jn 16:13; 14:26; 16:8; Rm 8:14; 8:26). With that said, because He is a person, He can be grieved by our actions and behavior as born again believers. In verse 30 we are told not to grieve (to make sorrowful, affect with sadness, or offend) the Holy Spirit. As born again believers, the Holy Spirit begins a work in us to make us more like our Savior (Rm 8:29). The process by which we are transformed is called sanctification. However, this process can be hindered and slowed down if our actions are contrary to who we are supposed to be in Christ; not to mention the fact that we make the process more painful than it needs to be. In verses 22-24, we are told to put off the old man (and his ways), and put on the new man (in righteousness and true holiness). The verses that follow give a description of what some of the actions are that we are to avoid in order that we reflect the new man and avoid grieving the Holy Spirit who indwells us (1 Cor 6:19). The Apostle begins this list with the one thing that we would think needs no mention in the life of a believer. In addressing those that are newly saved and have come out of a paganist lifestyle, lying is a practice that was normal and often difficult to get away from. However, as God’s children, we must know and acknowledge that lying lips are an abomination to our God, and one of the thing listed in God’s Word that He hates (Pro 12:22; 6:16-19). Just as God hates lying, so we, as righteous and holy people in Christ, must also hate lying (Pro 13:5). For it is a lying tongue that causes division and strife within the body of Christ. It is a lying tongue that will also serve as a false witness, which God tells us not to bear against our neighbor (Ex 20:16). In the Book of Mark (14:57), it was a false witness who lied about Jesus in order that He might be condemned and crucified. In Acts 6:13 this was recounted. So my question to all of us is, do we want to be counted with those who bore false witness against our loving Savior and Lord? God forbid. Yet, how easy is it to excuse our lies by dismissing them as “little white lies”? I believe God would classify (and we could too) a lie as a lie, regardless of how big or small we may try to classify it as.  The fact of the matter is that we, as God’s children, must be honest and true with our words. Sometimes, we use our lying lips to try and escape the consequences of our wrongful actions. We live in a society where it is easier to lie than it is to take personal responsibility for our choices and actions. This ought not to be amongst God’s people, regardless of the consequences; more so in dealing with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. The Apostle makes it a point to stress that we are all members of one another. We belong to one body, the body of Jesus Christ, the church. We are to speak truth and love truth. We ought to be known both within the body and without the body as people who will be honest under any circumstance, and that our words can be implicitly trusted. The difficulty comes when we find ourselves in a situation when something happens at work or in some other situation where telling the truth may bring trouble to us, a co-worker, or someone we know and may be dear to us, resulting in the possible loss of employment or a rebuke from a loved one (or for a loved one). This is when we have a tendency to compromise and pull out the “little white lies” that we believe can be justifiably used based on the circumstance(s) and desired outcome. We then justify it by convincing ourselves that the lie helped us avoid hurting someone’s feelings or causing them troubles we do not desire for them. I ask you then, will God bless a lie? Can God not use our honesty to ultimately bring a good end to whatever the situation, regardless of what kind of conflict may come out of refusing to lie? Sadly, too many Christians will condemn someone who is a murderer, rapist or child abuser, fornicator or adulterer, but overlook those that have lying lips that cause division and strife amongst us. Yet, God very clearly tells us that it is an abomination to Him. In all of this we discount the fact that this is one of the sinful actions that saddens the Holy Spirit who indwells us and knows what is in our hearts and minds. No matter what we try to conceal with our lies, the Holy Spirit sees what we have done and what we are either hiding or falsely accusing others of. Let us strive to always tell the truth, and leave the consequences and outcome to God who will always work all things together for our good (Rm 8:28).

Our God never had lied to us, and never will; for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one come to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6). He extends an invitation to you today to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

God Honoring Behavior (Part 8)

Verse of the day: Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Again, the Apostle Paul, on the basis of love without hypocrisy admonishes the church to be of one mind. Throughout the New Testament we see the command to be in unity. Division within the body of Christ is one of the most effective and destructive devices the devils use to hinder the spreading of the Gospel; and sadly, too many Christians fall into the trap because of pride, selfishness, and worldly ambitions. The admonition to “be of the same mind toward one another” is directing us to want for one another what we want for ourselves; to love our neighbor as ourselves. In 1 Corinthians 1, Philippians 2 and 3, and 1 Peter 3, we are told to speak the same thing, in order that there is no division among us, that we be joined together, having the same love, having compassion for one another, being courteous, and loving each other as brothers in Christ. One way to accomplish that is to not be so mindful of worldly gain and attaining worldly goals; going after those things that are not God’s will for us or in His plans for our lives. When we love the things of the world, the love of the Father is not in us; and we chase after those things that are temporary and have no eternal value (1 Jn 2:15-17). We are to live in humility, even as Jesus did when He was here among us (Phil 2:5-8). In the beginning of this chapter the Apostle reminded us not to think more of ourselves than we should (v. 3); and in Philippians 2:3 he reminded us that we are to think of others as being better than ourselves, and not be conceited or as he states it here, “Do not be wise in your own opinion”. Too often, our pride and desire to be someone that we are not, or our desire to advance and seem like we know something no one else does, causes us to value our opinion over everyone else’s and stand on that opinion, even if it causes unnecessary offense or division. This is the very thing that God despises; for He tells us that one who causes discord amongst the brethren is an abomination to Him (Pro 6:19). The bottom line is that humility must be the foundation for our attitude within the family of God. We must not think of ourselves too highly because it is the grace of God that has given us eternal life. Nothing, in and of ourselves, earned us the right to be part of God’s family. We are adopted into His family because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and His righteousness. We have no righteousness or holiness of our own that we can claim as the reason for elevating ourselves above anyone else. We who are born again are all sinners saved by grace. We are saints because we have trusted in the finished work of Jesus, and His blood was the price that was paid for our redemption. His blood washed us and made us pure, and has wiped the slate clean in respect to the sin-debt we owed. Therefore, let us strive to be humble and be united in humility (Phil 2:1-4); forsaking the world, and following after that which will promote, together, the furtherance of the Gospel.

Jesus, our God and Savior, humbled Himself, even unto death, for us. Today, He calls us to be a part of His family, and He extends an invitation to accept His free gift of salvation (Ro 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Ro 10:13).

God Honoring Behavior (Part 7)

Verse of the day: Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Our ability to truly rejoice or weep with others is connected with how genuinely we love one another. When we love as Jesus loves us, we will be genuinely concerned with the well-being of others. Without hypocrisy we will be happy for the successes and joys of others when we see good things happen to them; when we see them succeed in whatever the Lord allows them to succeed in, rather than react with pride and envy (that we will try to hide with our fake smiles and congratulations). It is far too easy to compare what God is doing in someone else’s life and feel like we too deserve that kind of success our brothers/sisters are experiencing and enjoying. This can cause us to superficially congratulate, all the while complaining within ourselves at our own lack of prosperity. We are to truly rejoice and share in the joy of what happens in the life of our fellow family members in Christ. Our hatred of evil should cause us to truly weep and mourn with those who suffer loss or who suffer the trials of this world. Our willingness to give to others and desire to be hospitable should make us ready, not only to weep with those who weep, but also allow God to use us to meet whatever need necessary to help in that time of suffering. The Word of God tell us that when a member of God’s church suffers, the church itself suffers; and when a member is honored, the whole body rejoices (1 Cor 12:26). In Romans 12:4-5, the Apostle reminds us that although there are many members, with different offices within the body, we are part of the same body. Therefore, when one part of the body is affected, the whole is affected. Sadly, too many of us have been taught to be “tough” and hold back our tears. However, weeping is what helps us to release the pressure that builds when we experience painful situations. There is nothing sadder than a Christian, who is supposed to be part of a loving group of people, suffers quietly and in loneliness; there have been some that have reach such a point of despair that it has even caused them to think of taking their own lives. This ought not to be with a child of God who not only has Christ, but should also have a church family who cares about his/her well-being. Our concerns to rejoice or weep with our brothers/sister should come from the fact that we are not only from the same family (God’s family), but also from the fact that we are all subject to the same trials, sufferings, and temptations (1 Cor 10:13; 1 Pt 5:8-9); and for this reason we should be able to sympathize with one another in our suffering and stumbling. Jesus, being our High Priest, can sympathize with our trials and temptations because He too experienced such things, and yet was without sin (Heb 4:15). Lastly, because we live in a cold world that cares not about the things of God or the sufferings of the Christian (and often seeks to persecute us, and cause us suffering), we as God’s children must take extra care to make ourselves available to support one another. This does not always mean that we have to have or offer the solution; for in many occasions all we need is for someone to quietly sit with us and weep with us while we allow God to help us work through whatever situation He is allowing at the moment. Our God rejoices at our prosperity (Ps 35:27), but He also afflicted in our afflictions (Is 63:9). The bottom line is that we are to be toward each other as our Savior is toward us. Rejoice with each other in true love, without hypocrisy or envy when prosperity and happy occasions enter the lives of our brethren; and out of a hatred of evil, and a genuine concern for the well-being of our brethren, weep with them who weep, and be ready to be used to help in any manner God chooses to use us, to carry His blessings into the life of another; which may just be a tender, listening, and sympathetic ear.

God saw the need we had when we were lost. He wept for Jerusalem because of their sad state and their rejection of their Savior. When just one lost soul comes to Him, not only does He rejoice, but the angels in heavens rejoice. Today, He calls us to be a part of His family, and He extends an invitation to accept His free gift of salvation (Ro 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Ro 10:13).

God Honoring Behavior (Part 6)

Verse of the day: Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Here is one that will test us to the core; our ability, in Christ, to not retaliate when someone wrongs us. Our flesh and our pride will get the best of us almost every time someone offends us or commits some act of wickedness toward us. The restraint we must show is truly supernatural, as our natural tendencies and thinking is contrary to how Jesus told us to respond to our enemies and those that persecute us and use us (Mt 5:43-48). The Apostle Paul reiterates the same thing here in this chapter. We are to bless those who persecute us. In this passage the word bless means “to ask God’s blessing on a thing”. In other words, even in blessing those who stand against us, we are to bring it under God’s authority, taking it out of our own hands. Can God choose to use us to be the blessing in that person’s life? Yes, He can. Jesus told us not only to pray, but to do good to those who hate us (Mt 5:44). We are not to curse them, but ask for God’s blessing upon them. King David was a great example of someone who refused to retaliate, even when the opportunity presented itself, against King Saul. Although there were instances when he publicly rebuked Saul, he refused to kill him. What was King David’s motivation in refusing to take vengeance against King Saul? It was the fact that he was God’s anointed. In other words, his fear (reverence) of God caused him to refrain from taking King Saul’s life. We can learn a valuable lesson from that when we are facing those that persecute us for our faith. In verse 17 of this same chapter, the Apostle Paul continues to give us instruction on how we, as God’s children, are supposed to respond/behave toward those who commit evil against us. We are not to do the same to them, and rather than return evil for evil, we are to resist evil. When we respond in kind to those who persecute us, we sink to their level. God receives no glory from us losing our temper and saying or doing things that the unsaved say is right to do in these cases. The reaction from the unsaved world will, on the one hand, be that of amazement if we show restraint, and the person who is persecuting us will be the one who looks foolish in the situation; and on the other hand, we will be mocked by those who believe that we should stand up for ourselves and not let others push us around and get away with whatever they did. This is when we must stop and think about our response. Do we dishonor God and show a lack of fear for God? Do we allow our ego and pride to be stirred up to the point that we throw what we know about how God wants us to respond to the wind? Whether or not we succeed in doing what God has directed us to do really comes down to what we choose. This would be the time to remind ourselves that God commands us to leave vengeance to Him. He further directs us to live at peace with others (yes, even those that want to cause us harm) as much as lies within us; and even take the step of feeding them if they are hungry or giving them to drink if they are thirsty. In doing so, we will not be overcome by evil, but instead, in Christ, we will overcome evil with good (v. 17-21). I once heard a gentleman, who used to be an atheist, tell the story of his conversion. He tells of how he caused physical harm to a young man who used to talk to him about Jesus. The young man never tried to retaliate, but instead showed him kindness and continued to talk to him about the Lord, until one day this man who claimed not to believe in God called upon Christ as his Savior. Today, he still serves the Lord as a pastor. When we are obedient to God’s Word, and trust Him to take care of us, and those who would seek to persecute and harm us, we will be surprised at what God can do in the heart of those whom we choose to show the love of God toward, rather than respond foolishly (based on how our flesh, our pride, and the world would move us to respond). What may seem like foolishness to the world, is what will ultimately bring God the most glory, as we give Him room to show us, and those who come against us, that He truly is God and is fully capable of taking care of us when evil men come against us. On a final note, humility before God, and our obedience in forgiving others, as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us, plays a major role in our ability to bring these types of instances to God, and leaving them with Him.

If there is anyone who deserves to not be forgiven and deserves eternal condemnation, it is each and every one of us (Ro 3:23). However, rather than destroy us, while we were yet sinners, and God’s enemies, He proved His love for us (Ro 5:8). Today, He calls us to be a part of His family, and He extends an invitation to accept His free gift of salvation (Ro 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Ro 10:13).

God Honoring Behavior (Part 5)

Verse of the day: Romans 12:13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

The Apostle goes on to address the topic of giving and being hospitable. Sadly, we have become a society that is self-absorbed, and even as Christians have taken on the attitude of the world in that we take care or #1 first, and if we can, we may consider the needs of someone else. Amongst God’s people this ought not to be; for when we behave in that manner what we are communicating is that we do not trust God to provide for our needs while He uses us and the material wealth He blesses us with to be a blessing to those around us that are in need. One of the consequences of being poor stewards of what God blesses us with is that we limit what we can do for others, especially for our brother and sisters in Christ, when the opportunities arise. We then find ourselves in a position where we have to choose between helping someone else or being too afraid that our own needs will not be met. The Apostle Paul is very specific as to whose needs we are to give to freely; the saints (or true born again believers). As members of the same family, we are to treat one another as such, and always be ready to help those who have genuine needs, regardless of whether the need is unexpected or because the brother or sister are poor and unable to obtain what is needed. Let us also keep in mind that the need may not always be material, but may be in the form of prayer, advice, time, or the giving of our talents and abilities. Regardless of what that need, the Scriptures are clear that if we have the means to provide this world’s good to a brother in need, and we do not, how does the love of God dwell in us (1 Jn 3:17)? Not only are we to give, but we are to give bountifully, for if we give sparingly we will reap sparingly (2 Cor 9:6). Let us not be forgetful that we can never out-give God, and when done with the right heart, God will take care of rewarding our sacrifice; in other words, give not seeking the praises of men, but obediently and out of duty to the Lord (Mt 6:1-2). We must give out of love for our brethren (1 Co 13:3), and do so willing, cheerfully, and thankfully (2 Co 9:7); thankful because all that we give to others, we are giving back to Him (1 Chron 29:13-14). There may even come a time when the need may that the brother/sister needs a meal or a place to sleep. One of the things that I have enjoyed over the years is opening our home to host missionaries or have family members stay with us and even inviting people who normally do not get invited to people’s homes to break bread and share a time of fellowship. Sadly, I have seen unsaved people of other cultures who are more hospitable than many Christians I know. Yet, God calls us to be some of the most hospitable people on earth, just as He is always willing to take in whomever will come to be a part of His family (Jn 1:12). The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we are to be always ready to even entertain strangers, as we may be ministering to angels unawares (Heb 13:2). We are to be hospitable to one another without grudging (1 Pt 4:9); this is expected especially from a bishop (1 Tim 3:2). When we receive one another, we receive Christ, and when we receive Christ, we receive the Father (Mt 10:40-42). The saints of old were well known for being hospitable (Abraham, Lot, Job; Gen 18:1-8; Gen 19:1-2; Job 31:16-17). During Jesus’ time here on earth this was a common practice (Lk 10:7). Even today, in eastern nations it is still commonly found, again even amongst those who do not profess faith in Jesus. How much more should we then, as God’s children, also be hospitable toward others? The bottom line is that whatever we own, whether material (this world’s goods), home, car, money, time, talents, abilities, it all belongs to the Lord, and He has blessed us with these thing in order that we might bless Him by allowing Him to use us to bless others; and maybe be the means by which He answers someone’s prayers in respect to a need or a number of needs they might be praying about. Yes, giving to others and being hospitable does occasionally come with its challenges, as it may put us outside of our comfort zone, and may call for great sacrifice. However, when we trust God fully to take care of our needs and burdens, we are then able to freely help others with their needs and burdens; knowing full well that God sees all and know what we need even before we ask it (Mt 6:8).

God has already met our greatest need; our need for salvation. He calls us to be a part of His family, and He extends an invitation to you today to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

God Honoring Behavior (Part 4)

Verse of the day: Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

What we believe about God and His promises greatly affects our daily attitude and behavior. To wholeheartedly put our faith in what God promised will come to pass will enable us to rejoice because of the hope we have relative to eternal life and the fact that one day we will either go to Him or He will come back to get us to be with Him (Jn 14:1-3). We can rejoice in the hope of forgiveness, as we are confident that we have been forgiven of our sins (Ps 32:5). We rejoice in knowing that regardless of what God allows in our life, He will work all things together for good (Rm 8:28-29). We rejoice in that we can never exhaust God’s grace toward us, and it is enough to carry us through whatever difficulties we encounter in this lifetime (2 Co 12:9). We rejoice in the hope of knowing that we, and our loved ones will be resurrected and spend eternity with our Lord and Savior (1 Co 15:19-20). It is our Living Hope, and the hope we have in respect to God’s promises that we can endure patiently in tribulation. Rather than panic, stress, and lose control of our emotions. To be patient during trying times is to resist murmuring against God for allowing those times to enter our lives. Job, even when he lost all his riches and his children, did not sin against God by falsely charging Him (Job 1:22). When we are patient in tribulation, we will choose to praise Him rather than fall into despair (Ps 42:5). One of the traps that we can fall into is seeking whatever means possible, even dishonest ones, in order to escape difficult times. When we rejoice in hope, knowing that God will keep His promise to see us through, and we patiently wait on Him, He will open doors for us to shine His light before this dark world; and give us many opportunities to share Christ with those around us. By being patient we learn to be give thanks in all things, knowing and trusting that God has allowed it for a reason that we may not understand or see. Sadly, I just recently heard a preacher say that God is not the One who allows bad things to enter our lives. That kind of thinking sets us up for panic and desperation, as it implies that somehow something got past God and is tormenting us; not to mention that the Scriptures are very clear that it is God who determines what tribulations He will allow us to face or not (Job 1 & 2; 2 Sam 16:10-12). When God is the One who decides and controls what trials we are to be tested by the hope exists that He will be with us through it, and that He will allow that trial to work out for my good in order to make me more like Jesus. The key to holding on to the hope we have in God’s promises and patiently enduring in tribulation is prayer. We are told to pray without ceasing, as well as rejoice always and give thanks in all things. However, we are not just told to do this, we are told that this is the will of God (1 The 5:16-18). It is in prayer, and praying the Word of God, that we draw near to God. It is in that time of fellowship with the Lord that He speaks to us, comforts us, and empowers us to apply the truths of His Word. It is in prayer, as we see Him answering and working, that our faith and confidence in God and His Word grows. The bottom line is that without consistent and continual prayer, we will lose hope and fall apart in the midst of trials that can be overcome in Christ (Jn 16:33). Rejoicing in hope and being patient in tribulation, with prayer, will help us to love without hypocrisy, hate evil and hold on to what is good. It will help us to react to our brothers and sisters in kindness, and look out for their good (regardless of what we may be facing), as well as help us to continue serving the Lord (regardless of where we are at) with fervency; and all for His honor and glory.

God has made many promises that He wants us to receive and enjoy. However, the only way to inherit these promises is through a personal relationship with Jesus. He extends an invitation to you today to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

God Honoring Behavior (Part 3)

Verse of the day: Romans 12:11 not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

As we continue our study, we see that the Apostle also addresses the issue of diligence, fervency and service to the Lord. Let me ask this question; if someone were to ask our co-workers, employer, or business associates what they thought of us as a co-worker, employee, or someone to do business with, what would be the overall consensus? Would our co-workers complain that they always have to pick up the slack for us because we are negligent in carrying out our duties? Would our employer complain that we are always tardy and leave too early, take too much time off or have to constantly be told to complete a project? Would they miss us if we left or would they be happy to get rid of us because we are too much of a burden on our employer or company? Would those we do business with see us as someone who is a person of their word who fulfills what they say they will do, and work hard to meet deadlines? Are we the type of employee that uses company time to accomplish more of our personal tasks than actually doing work we are being paid to do? Do we value the time we have as employees or employers? Too many of us compartmentalize our lives and live as if God is only interested in certain parts of our lives and we are solely responsible, and accountable to ourselves, for other parts. However, God calls us to glorify Him even in what some call “secular” work. The truth of the matter is that whether we are at a “secular” job or serving within the church, we are serving God. Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us that “whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might”. In other words, with a fervent spirit; as we are supposed to carry out our duties with zeal. That means that we must be willing to go the extra mile, if necessary, to get the job done. We should be known as those that are willing to do whatever is required, even if no one else will step up to do it. Too often, especially today, I hear many people complaining about tasks they are supposed to do, and are being paid to do; and sadly, some of those people loudly and proudly proclaim that they are Christians. This ought not to be so. We are to have zeal in our hearts and minds, and be known as someone who diligently labors and is not lazy and whiny. As born again believers we need to constantly remind ourselves that wherever the Lord places us in this world, we are to represent Him with honor. In this we are serving Him. Think about how much time we spend at work. It is at least forty hours of our week. In those forty or so hours we are interacting with many unsaved people; people we are called to share Jesus with. How we serve the Lord at our jobs will make or break our ability to do what God has called us to do; to carry out His will, which is to preach the Gospel to every creature (Mk 16:15). Regardless of whether or not we like being in our current employment situation, it is where God has us, and where He expects us to be faithful in serving Him. We are to glorify God in everything that we do (1 Cor 10:31). We are to serve those in authority over us as to Christ (Eph 6:5). Whatever we are doing, we are to do it in the Name of Jesus, giving thanks to God our Father (Col 3:17). We are to carry out our responsibilities in the fear of God, knowing that we are actually serving Him and not men, and confident that our faithful service is ultimately rewarded by the Lord Jesus Christ (Col 3:22-24). To further illustrate what I am saying, let me just list a few men who served God while serving in a “secular” capacity; Joseph, Moses, King David, and Daniel (just to name a few). These men served the people, but it was their relationship with God and their service to Him while they served the people that made them great men of God. The bottom line is that we cannot, and should not, separate our “secular” life from our spiritual life, as there is really no difference. We serve God whether we are serving amongst God’s people, inside the walls of the church building or whether we are at work, gathering at a social event, or any other aspect of our lives. We are to always be mindful of God’s glory and how that is reflected in our diligence, our work ethic, and the fervency in which we serve Him and others.

The Lord submitted to human authority, and still accomplished the Father’s will for His life here on earth; which was to give His life for us (John 8:29). He extends an invitation to you today to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

God Honoring Behavior (Part 2)

Verse of the day: Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

The Apostle Paul goes on to explain what a God honoring relationship amongst Christians looks like. He tells us that we are to “be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love”. The word used for kindly affectionate, according to one commentator, is used in no other place in the New Testament. It means to have affection toward one another as between a parent and a child. Again, this ties back to loving one another, as most parents would lay down their lives for their children; and as Jesus has already done for us (Jn 13:34-35). The Apostle John wrote that we cannot say that we love God while hating our brother; for how can we love Someone we have not seen, but hate someone who has been created in His image, and we have seen (1 Jn 4:20)? Sadly, God’s children have often failed in this area, and have given the unsaved world the impression that we, as God’s people, cannot get along; yet, we preach love, forgiveness, peace, and joy while putting each other down, criticizing each other, gossiping about one another, and in too many instances refusing to forgive and fellowship with one another. For this reason we must not only be kindly affection in brotherly love toward each other, but we must do it seeking honor for one another. This is contrary to how the world thinks. The world is all about “taking care of #1”; regardless of what it takes or who gets hurt in the process. This ought not to be so amongst God’s people. We are supposed esteem others as being better than ourselves, without selfish ambitions, and being careful to be mindful of the interests of other over our own interests (Phil 2:3-4). This is where the enemy and our pride can not only cause us to fail in carrying out God’s command, but also use our selfish pride and ambitions to cause strife and division within God’s church (Pro 11:2; 13:10). We can be so focused on gaining honor, and respect, for ourselves, that we begin to look down on others and put others down, being critical and judgmental, so that we look better, and more important, than others. This can be true even in ministry where we might seek to be in the spotlight and gain a following, making ourselves no better than the religious people of Jesus’ day who were often angry with Jesus because people were following Him and not them; it was this jealousy that led them to hand Him over to be crucified (Mk 15:10). We are to seek the honor of others, amongst God’s people, over pursuing our own honor; for in due time, when it is appropriate, and in accordance to God’s plan for our lives, He will exalt us if we humble ourselves (1 Pt 5:6). It may very well be that this honoring may not come until we stand before Him to receive the rewards He has reserved for us, for our humble service here on earth; and that will be greater than any honor we can receive here on earth from any person. The bottom line is that we are to avoid being wise in our own conceit (Pro 26:12). We are to be humble, even as Jesus was humble, and submit ourselves to one another in the fear (reverence) of God, always thinking better of others and putting aside our own selfishness, pride, and high thoughts of self (Eph 5:21; Phil 2:1-8). This is the kind of fellowship that the world needs to see from us so that God is honored and the Gospel is not hindered.

God set the example of humility when He humbled Himself, even unto death on the Cross. He now extends an invitation to you today to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

God Honoring Behavior (Part 1)

Verse of the day: Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

As God’s people, our aim in life is to honor God with our lives, for His glory. King Solomon summed up the Book of Ecclesiastes by telling us that we are to fear God, keep His commandments because He will bring every work into judgement, whether good or bad (Eccl 12:13-14). Before I continue, let us be clear that our works, in and of themselves, gain us nothing. Our salvation comes by faith and faith alone (Eph 2:8-9). However, as a Christian, we are not exempt from following and applying God’s Word to our lives. Jesus said that if we love Him we will obey His commandments (Jn 14:15). James tells us that by our works we will demonstrate our faith (Jm 2:18). Our works and God honoring behavior should come as a result of our faith, and not as a means to try to gain favor and salvation from God; as all our works of righteousness (in and of themselves) are like filthy rags to God (Is 64:6). As God’s children, we are ambassadors of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:20); we are to be salt and light in this dark and lost world (Mt 5:13-16). If this is so, then how do we season this world and bring light into this world and the relationships that He allows us to develop here on earth? First, the foundation for any relationship begins with our relationship with Jesus. Only through the working of the Holy Spirit in us, and through us, will we be able to truly honor God with our behavior. The Apostle Paul beseeches us in the beginning of this chapter to be living sacrifices to God; dead to the world, but alive to serve Him (12:1). We are to renew our minds and not be conformed to this world’s ways (12:2). In other words, in order to truly live in a way that honors God, we must first allow God’s Word to change how we think, and what we think about the things we will face each day as born again believers. In today’s verse, we see that our love must not be like the world’s love. The unsaved will only love when they are loved. We are called to love as Jesus loves; unconditionally, regardless of whether the person is friend or foe. Our love is to be without hypocrisy, in other words, it is not to be just in word or profession, but it must manifest itself in deeds of kindness and a willingness to sacrifice, seeking nothing in return. We are to hate that which is evil (malicious or unkind). This is not saying that we are to hate those who do what is malicious or unkind, but we are to hate their actions. Love dictates that we love and pray for those who are unkind and malicious toward us (Mt 5:44); and hating evil we are to avoid returning evil for evil; instead, returning good for evil (Rm 12:17; 1 Thess 5:15). In hating what is evil, we are to cling to what is good. We are to be glued to that which God says is good toward all people, not just some, and not just toward those that show good toward us. This is to be done consistently, actively, and decisively. Being glued to what is good is to always seek to do that which leads to God’s glory and the good of others. Although the principle is simple, the act will not be easy. In doing what is right before God, we will be challenged by this world system, Satan, and our own personal battle with our flesh, and for this reason we must be consistent with our prayers, study of God’s Word, and active application of God’s truth. The task is not impossible, because nothing is impossible for the God who saved us and indwells us.

God demonstrated for us what love without hypocrisy looks like. God gave us His Son, while we were yet sinners (Rm 5:8) in order to save us. He extends an invitation to you today, to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Proper Response To His Promises

Verse of the day: 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

What promises is the Apostle Paul referring to here? He is referring to the promises stated in chapter 6 (6:16-18). The promises, in their context, relate to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (6:14-15). The Word of God tells us that we are in this world, but not of this world (Jn 17:16). Therefore, we are not to be mindful of the things of this world, nor are we to entangle ourselves in the things of this world (Jm 4:4; 2 Tim 2:4). The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we have nothing to do with those who still belong to the devil (6:15-16). Please keep in mind that we are in the world to serve God and share the Gospel with the unsaved. This does not mean that we cannot, or should not, associate with unsaved people; as then we only become Pharisaical in our approach to Christianity. How will we win the lost if we isolate ourselves from them? What the Apostle is speaking of is avoiding intimate relationships with the unsaved to the extent that the unsaved world becomes our primary source of fellowship and company. The Christian sets himself/herself up for failure when they marry an unsaved person, go into business with the unsaved as partners, or choose unsaved friends as their source of advice. In the beginning of each relationship there will be some “give and take”, but once the “honeymoon period” is over, there will be a clash of beliefs and how things should be done, based on those belief systems. For this reason we must avoid relationships that will potentially lead us down a path of dishonesty, idolatry, and sinful thinking and behavior (1 Cor 15:33). With all that said, the Apostle reminds his readers that God promised that He will dwell in us, and be amongst us. He will be our God and we will be His people. However, He goes on to say that we are to come out from amongst the unsaved (not be unequally yoked), and He will receive us. He will be our Father and we will be His children. Because of these promises we are to then cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the world (both flesh and spirit). We know that salvation comes by faith alone, but as born again believers, because we are saved, we are to strive to work out our salvation (Phil 2:12). When we called upon Jesus as Savior and Lord, we began the process of becoming more like Jesus, through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives. However, that does not mean that we just sit around and wait for this process to take place without effort and battling on our part. We are responsible for resisting temptation, choosing righteousness, and living a life that is obedient to God’s Word. We are to resist the filthiness of the flesh, which are our corrupt passions and appetites. We are also to avoid the spiritual filthiness that can overtake us, such as pride, desires for revenge and sinful ambitions that begin with corrupt thinking. For this reason we are encouraged to not be yoked to people who will influence us to indulge in these thoughts and behaviors. Too many Christians make light of, and do not take seriously, the admonition to not be unequally yoked with those who do not believe in God or reject Jesus as Savior. Sadly, I have seen many Christians who have disobeyed this portion of Scripture, justifying their decision by saying that they were going to change the unsaved person or going to lead them to Christ; when in reality it was their own unwillingness to heed God’s warning, and their stubbornness to do what pleases them at that moment. The end result in most of those situations was long term suffering for a Christian who chose to marry an unbeliever; a once dedicated Christian who no longer serves God because they are too busy living like the world, with their ungodly companions, and Christian businessmen who have traded in honest dealings for profits and worldly success. When God warns us to avoid a certain paths in His Word, He does it not for our hurt, but in order that we have the joy and peace that He desires for us. In all things that we do it is our responsibility is to glorify God (1 Cor 10:31). All of this is to be done in fear and reverence of God and His Name. We must remember that we are always in the presence of God; and the fact that we are in His presence should cause us to refrain from indulging in sinful behavior and strive for righteous and holy living. Stop and think for a moment. I have seen grown men and women who have refrained from using corrupt language around a child, or men who are respectful avoid making lewd gesture or telling inappropriate jokes in the presence of a child or woman. Such respect and reverence is obviously not impossible when we set our minds and hearts to doing it. So why, if we know that God is always present, would we not be mindful, and strive, to avoid that which is not pleasing to the Lord or that which dishonors His Name?

God promised that if we believe and call upon His Son, Jesus, for eternal life, He will save us and we will spend eternity with Him (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Repent, confess your sins, and be saved. Receive Him and His free gift of salvation today.

He Is Never Too Busy

Verse of the day: Mark 10:49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”

In the Book of Matthew there is a similar account of Jesus’ encounter with two blind men. Here, Mark focuses on Blind Bartimaeus more specifically. In both accounts there are a few things that stand out. First, how those that were following Jesus responded to the blind men’s cries; they rebuked them. It is a sad thing when those of us who know Jesus, and are following Him, neglect those around us that have a desperate need to know the Savior. We encounter people every day that are poor and blind; although they may possess all the riches of this world, if they are without Jesus they are poor. Regardless of how much knowledge they have, how many degrees they possess or how of this world’s wisdom they possess, if they do not know who Christ is or are ignorant of the Word of God, though they may have their physical eyesight to see and understand the philosophies of this world, they are blind (2 Cor 4:4). In some cases we may even encounter people who are truly poor and blind; both destitute in the things of this world and blind to the spiritual truths of God. These are all the people, who we encounter every day, which we need to stop and reach (Mk 16:15). However, like the people going through Jericho, we get so focused and so busy with our own plans, and in our own "hurriedness" to go “nowhere fast”, we ignore and even become annoyed by those that we need to stop and speak to most. Too often we act as if, just because we are too busy, that Jesus is too busy to meet the needs of those around us. The fact of the matter is that if we stopped and took a genuine interest in the people we know and meet, we may discover a Bartimaeus in our midst. We will find that there are those around us who are seeking, and may very well not know that the One they are seeking is Jesus. We see, secondly, in both accounts that the more the crowd rebuked the blind men, the more they cried out to Jesus. There are people today, that when they hear the good news of what Jesus has done,  who will accept the invitation to call upon Jesus, but in order for them to get to that point they need to first know that Jesus is calling to them from us (Rm 10:14). However, know that our enemies will create all kinds of distractions and interruptions to keep us from sharing the Gospel. It will take perseverance on our part in not allowing those interruptions to hinder our opportunities to share Jesus. Thirdly, we see that once Bartimaeus is acknowledged by Jesus, he casts his outer garment aside in order that nothing stop him from reaching the Lord. Bartimaeus immediately responds, in spite of his being blind, and makes sure to remove from his life the one thing that might hinder him most, his outer garment. Even those of us who know the Lord can learn something from this blind man who had enough insight to cast away what had the potential to trip him up. There are those times in our lives when we allow so many things to keep us from growing in our relationship with Jesus and following Him; the busyness of life. We get focused on making money, gaining status, and going after material things, chasing hobbies (just to name a few), and even make other relationships a priority. The end result is that these things become the “outer garments” in our lives that trip us up in our relationship with the Lord. In all of what took place, the one thing that stood out most was that, unlike everyone else, Jesus did not see stopping and being still, in order to call Bartimaeus and the other blind man to Himself, a hindrance or interruption in His day or His ultimate plan. Instead, He had compassion on them, and when they responded to His call He gave them what they needed. Jesus’ desire is that we come to Him, first for salvation, and thereafter to know Him and follow Him. In verse 52 it tells us that Jesus sent Bartimaeus on his way, but instead he chose to follow Jesus. Knowing all that we have gained in Christ (far more than any of us deserve), should we not also cast aside all those things that weigh us down, and hinder our ability to follow Him? What has been keeping you from following Him? Know that He cares and is standing still, calling, and waiting for us to remove those things that so easily beset us and hinder us from effectively following Him (Heb 12:1). Jesus is never too busy to hear our prayers and meet our needs. He is certainly never too busy to stop and guide us in our obedient attempts to lead others to Him.

Just like Jesus stood still and called us to Him, He wants us to now give others that same opportunity. God promised that if we believe and call upon His Son, Jesus, for eternal life, He will save us and we will spend eternity with Him (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Repent, confess your sins, and be saved. Receive Him and His free gift of salvation today.

Jesus’ Omnipotence & Our Faith

Verse of the day: Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6). That is a truth that cannot be repeated enough in our hearts and minds. In this chapter of Luke, Jesus commends a Roman Centurion for his faith, telling those that followed Him that He had not yet seen such faith from the Jews, His chosen people, in all Israel. The Word of God tells us that great things can happen if we even have a mustard seed-sized faith (Mt 17:20). Even when we have faith that may be intermingled with a bit of our unbelief/doubt, God will still move to work on our behalf, as Jesus did with the father who sought healing for his son who was being tormented by an unclean spirit (Mk 9:23-24). What did the Centurion see/recognize about Jesus that gave him such faith? It is the same thing that we need to recognize in Christ, as His followers, which will increase our faith in Him. The Centurion trusted that Jesus could heal his servant because he recognized Jesus’ authority and power; he recognized Jesus’ omnipotence. He compared his own authority over his soldiers and servants, who obeyed his commands, to Jesus’ authority to command whatever needed to be done, and it would be done. One of the biggest stumbling blocks we have in any troubling situation or circumstance is that we sometimes see our trial as being bigger than what God can do; mostly because it seems impossible in our own mind and thinking. When we focus our attention on circumstances they always seem bigger than they really are, and we forget that nothing is impossible with God (Mt 19:26; Mk 9:23; 10:23). Our Jesus is the same Jesus who has power over death, the grave, sin, and nature itself. This Jesus is the same Savior who rose from the dead. He defied the laws of gravity and walked on water; and with just a word calmed a raging storm on the Sea of Galilee. This is the God who promised never to leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5-6). He is the One who is with us in all circumstances and has power and authority over all that has been created because He is Creator (Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:17). It never ceases to amaze me when I read the Gospels and Jesus confronts someone who is possessed. The demons all react the same way, in fear and trembling because they know who He is, and they know the power and authority He has over them and all creation (Mt 8:28-29; 9:32-33; Mk 5:1-7). Knowing that Jesus possesses all power, and all authority has been given to Him (Mt 28:18), we must not doubt His ability to accomplish the impossible in any situation or circumstance. All of God’s creation is under Christ’s authority. This means that He is in control of what happens in nature, amongst men, and in the spiritual world when our enemies come against us; for even Satan and his demons are under His authority and subordinate to Him. When Jesus chooses to allow a situation to continue, regardless of how negative it may seem, He is allowing it for a reason beyond our understanding, and we simply have to trust, by faith, that He is working things together for our good (Rm 8:28). When He chooses to allow an illness to continue or to allow a loved one to succumb to an illness, He has a reason that is beyond our understanding, and He will eventually glorify Himself through those circumstances. We often get so caught up in claiming the promise that all things work together for our good that we forget that it is really primarily about His glory. We forget that as painful as it is to lose someone dear to us, especially if they are young and may even be a Christian, to God their passing into eternity is precious because they are going home to be with Him (Ps 116:15). The bottom line is that we must not let our faith waver when we see God do something that is contrary to what we are praying for, because He has the power to do whatever He pleases and no one can stop Him from carrying out His will and plan for any situation or circumstance. In the end, it is always better to suffer in the center of His will than to seek our own resolution and be outside of His will and plan for our lives, for in the end the latter will be far more painful and unprofitable for us. When we become confident in Jesus’ omnipotence, it will help us to be at peace knowing that God can, and will, move any situation in any direction He so desires in order to bring it to an end that is best for us (resulting in increased faith), and will bring Him the greatest glory.

If God overcame death to give us eternal life, how will He not be able to overcome the troubles in our lives? However, in order to be under God’s protective shelter, we must first put our faith in the finished work of Jesus on Calvary. God gave us His Son in order to save us. He extends an invitation to you today, to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Is He More Than Just Savior?

Verse of the day: Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

Can I say right from the start that Jesus is NOT just fire insurance? In other words, Jesus is not just a way of escape from Hell. Yes, He gave His life for us, and has saved those of us who truly put our faith in Him from eternal condemnation; but our relationship with Jesus is more than just escaping Hell and the Lake of Fire. A relationship with Jesus means that He is more than just Savior; He must also be Lord of our lives. There are too many today who get comfortable in having Jesus as their Savior, but even though they claim He is Lord, their lives say something different. We say that we love Him, but He told us that if we love Him we will obey His commands (Jn 14:15). If we claim that He is Lord, and we are His followers, then we must be willing to take up our cross daily and deny self (Lk 9:23). So what does a Christian who truly acknowledges and has Jesus as Savior and Lord of their life look like? First, Jesus tells us in this chapter of Luke that we will be known by the fruit of our lives (v. 43-45). A true follower of Jesus, who lives with Him as Lord, will be one who obediently allows the Holy Spirit to not only produce fruit within, but will show that fruit without (Eph 5:8-9; 9:22-23). A Christian who claims to know Jesus as Lord, but refuses to submit to His commands or allow the Spirit to grow fruit in his/her life must stop and reevaluate their relationship with Jesus. Jesus goes on to tell us that a person who truly sees Him as Lord will hear His sayings and do them, equating them to someone who builds their house on a firm foundation, a rock (Jesus is our Rock). To the person who hears His sayings and does nothing, he equates to the person who builds their house on sand, a foundation that is shaky and unstable. The difference between those two types of believers is that when the storms of life come, regardless of what type of storm, that believer who has built his/her life on the truths and principles of God’s Word will stand. Though they may be tossed to and fro, they will withstand the storm; much like a tree that is well rooted and sways in the storm, even though it may lose a leaf or two, it remains standing. The believer who only sees Him as Savior and fails to build their life on God’s Word will waver and fall apart when the storms of life hit them. Like a house that has a poor foundation or a tree that is not well-rooted, he/she will be uprooted and fall hard. This is the person who is crushed under the pressures of life, and although they claim to have a Living Hope, they respond as one who is hopeless. The truth of the matter is that even if we are obedient to God’s Word the storm that results may very well be the persecution that comes from living a holy and righteous life in Christ. However, even in that, the well-rooted believer knows and is encouraged by the fact that if we endure suffering for the sake of our Savior and Lord, there is great reward that awaits us (v. 22-23). The bottom line is that the Christian who truly sees Jesus as both Savior and Lord will be the born again believer that will experience and demonstrate joy and the peace that passes all understanding, regardless of what the Lord allows into our lives (Phil 4:6-7). Not only will we stand, but we will grow and the roots of our faith will anchor us deeper and deeper so that in Christ we will be able to stand in whatever storm attempts to bruise and batter us. Remember, we follow the One who calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee simply by saying, “Peace be still” (Mk 4:39). Let Him be the One who also calms the storms in our live by simply saying, “Peace be still.”

If God overcame death to give us eternal life, how will He not be able to overcome the storms in our lives? However, in order to be under God’s protective shelter, we must first put our faith in the finished work of Jesus on Calvary. God gave us His Son in order to save us. He extends an invitation to you today, to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

What Are We Willing to Forsake?

Verse of the day: Luke 5:11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

What are we willing to forsake in order to follow Jesus? The fact of the matter is that if it is costing us nothing to follow the Lord, then I would ask myself, “Am I really following the Lord?” Jesus was very clear that in order to follow Him we must take up our cross daily, and we need to count the cost of what it means to follow Him (Luke 14:27-29). Becoming a child of God is exciting! We start out with such fervor for the Lord, especially as we begin to see Him working in our lives and the lives of others. The disciples saw a miraculous thing take place when they cast their nets, and from that point forward they forsook all and followed Jesus. We do the same, except that when the rejection and the trials come, we shrink away and fade into the woodwork. We become pew warmers and refuse to get out of our comfort zones. God forbid that God should ask us to sacrifice our time, material goods, or favorite hobby for the sake of serving Him or being a blessing in someone’s life. All of a sudden He is just asking too much from us. Can Jesus really ask too much from us? Is that something that we have that did not come from Him to begin with? Is there something He is asking us for that could ever repay what He has done for us? Even if we are called to leave job, home, country, or be martyred, is that enough to repay His goodness in giving us eternal life? The Lord may not call all of us to be a pastor or missionary. He may not even call us to be a teacher within the congregation. However, it is quite possible that He would, and in the process ask us to give up our current life to live the life He has planned for us. How can we go wrong being in the center of His will and plan for our lives? What are we willing to give to live that life? Did He not promise that He would give us life more abundantly (Jn 10:9-11)? He gave His life for us. Is it too much to ask that we give our lives back to Him? Are we not bought with a price and now belong to Him (1 Cor 6:19-20)? We just celebrated a pivotal holiday for us as born again believers. We offered up thanksgiving and praise for what Jesus did for us. Is that the extent of our worship for what He did, or are we willing to do whatever it takes to follow Him, in appreciation for what He first did for us? We must stop and evaluate our lives today. If we claim that we are truly following Jesus, what have we given up in order to take up our cross daily and follow Him? Are we holding on to something that He is telling us to let go of (whatever that might be; an idol in our lives, a relationship that is hindering our relationship with Him, a hobby, habit, or sinful behavior) and is keeping us from living the life He wants us to live? Have we been willing to forsake all and follow Him, or are we still lord of our own lives? Only we and the Lord know the truth behind the answer we give.

God gave it all to save us. He extends an invitation to you today, to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

This World’s Riches and Hell, or Jesus?

Verse of the day: Luke 16:31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

Today, as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, I would like us to consider, and ask ourselves, “What exactly did Jesus save us from?” Those of us who know Him as Savior know that because of His sacrifice we were forgiven of our sins, adopted into God’s family, and given eternal life. However, as much as we proclaim that, too often we fail to proclaim what it was that He saved us from. In Luke 16 Jesus tells the story of two men who lived two very different lives and whose lives ended quite differently. Lazarus, a poor, homeless, sick beggar, sat at the gate of a rich man who fared sumptuously every day. Lazarus desired to have even the crumbs that fell from that man’s table (v. 19-21). When both these men met the day of their deaths, their journey differed like night and day. Lazarus was carried away to Paradise to be in Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man opened his eyes, being tormented in Hell. I have often heard this rich man referred to as the evangelist from Hell because he desperately wanted Lazarus, the one whom he ignored in life, to go back and tell his brothers about Hell so that they would not end up as he did. The reality of life on earth is that some day it will come to an end, and not one of us knows when that day will come; it could be today or tomorrow; for none of us are guaranteed tomorrow (Jm 4:14). What did it profit this rich man to have all those earthly riches? What was his wealth able to do for him on the day of his death? What will we give in exchange for our soul (Mt 16:26)? What does the world have to offer that can add one more day to our lives? What earthly thing or relationship have we given a place of importance over Jesus? Lazarus, although he lived a life of suffering, went on to a life of glory. We are told that our suffering here on earth is only for a little while until we are taken home to receive our inheritance in Christ (1 Pt 1:3-9). Sadly, the rich man learned a lesson that he should have heeded while still alive; that Hell is real and that without faith in God, nothing could prevent his condemnation, not even all his earthly riches. Today, as we celebrate what Jesus did for us in laying down His life and taking it back up, in order to give us life eternal; let us also remember to praise Him because He has saved us from eternity in Hell and the Lake of Fire. Roman 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death; not just physical death, but spiritual death. However, the wonderful gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. The bottom line is that there is no such thing as soul sleep. When we die we will either open our eyes in Hell or, as the Apostle Paul said, we will be absent from this body and present with the Lord (2 Cor 5:8). The choice must be made here and now before our appointed day comes. Today, as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and life eternal, the truth that Abraham related to the rich man still stands; although one rise from the dead, still many will not be persuaded. Nonetheless, let us not end our celebration and appreciation for being saved from eternity in Hell once we leave church or this day passes. Instead, let us continue our celebration by submitting in obedience to God and His Word, and taking every opportunity to tell others what Jesus did for us, and them.

Jesus came here to lay down His life and give it as a Sacrifice and payment for our sins; and save us from eternity in Hell and the Lake of Fire. God promised that if we believe and call upon His Son, Jesus, for eternal life, He will save us and we will spend eternity with Him (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Repent, confess your sins, and be saved. Receive Him and His free gift of salvation today.

It Was Part of His Plan

Verse of the day: John 9:11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

This is one of my favorite verses in the Book of John. It is a reminder that nothing happens, no matter how tragic we may see it from our point of view, without God allowing it as part of His plan for our lives (Prv 16:9). It is also a reminder of how prideful we as humans can be. Pontius Pilate, having the authority bestowed upon him by God (even though he may not have acknowledged God as the Authority-Giver for his position), thought that he was really the one who had the power to release Jesus or sentence Him to death (Rom 13). Let us make no mistake about it, he made his choice freely, because we all have free will to choose, but the fact of the matter is that it was God who put him in that position, and then used the fact that Pilate was a weak leader, and would cave as a result of his fear of stirring up the Jews who were seeking Jesus’ crucifixion (Dan 2:21; 37). The truth of the matter, as stated by Jesus, is that Pilate had no real power in this situation. Instead, it was his own pride, probably based on how he viewed his own talents, abilities, and power of his position, which caused him to think that he had the power to release or condemn Jesus. The whole idea of having free will and God’s providence working together can be confusing to our carnal minds. It really comes down to having faith that God is always in control, in spite of our decision-making, and will always accomplish His will and plan, regardless of what we choose. I am thankful for those times when I chose to go one way, but God still worked circumstances out for my good and His glory (Rom 8:28-29). Jesus was clear that Pilate could exercise no more power than what God would allow for this situation. The same is true in respect to our enemy Satan. In the Book of Job, Satan had to go before God and give an account of what he was up to. Even though he made accusations against Job, in each instance God allowed Satan to torment Job, but set the boundaries that he could not cross, and amazingly, Satan dared not cross them (Job 1:1-2:10). There simply is nothing that happens in our lives, regardless of how tragic we view it, which is outside of God’s control, or outside of the boundaries He has set. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus’ deliverance to be crucified was in accordance to our Heavenly Father’s foreknowledge of what was going to take place and what He was going to accomplish through it (Acts 2:23). Jesus came for the purpose of laying down His life, and God would use a weak leader, such as Pilate, whom God placed in that position of authority, to carry out His plan (Mk 10:45). In all that took place, even though it was all part of God’s plan, and in line with His providence, each person involved would still have to answer to God for their sinful decision in betraying, falsely accusing, falsely sentencing, and unjustly condemning an innocent Man.  The bottom line is that each person involved, Judas, the high priests, and the Sanhedrin, all had the ability to choose what was right. Their ultimate sin was that they misused God’s authority (because it was God who promoted Pilate, and gave him his authority) to crucify the Son of God; therefore Jesus clearly stated to Pilate that those who delivered Him to him had the greater sin. Just like God the Father had a plan for His Son, and it all played out as He wanted it to; God also has a plan for each and every one of His children that will play out just as He wants it to (Jer 1:5; 29:11-13; Gal 1:15). This however does not excuse us from being lax in seeking the Lord’s will and plan for us through the study of His Word, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in applying God’s truth to our lives.

God’s plan for each of our lives begins with Jesus. Our purpose in this life, and worth here on earth, is all rooted in the Savior of the world. God extends an invitation to you today, to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Victory in Death

Verse of the day: Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Imagine for a moment that we are watching a boxing match. It has gone all ten rounds, as we cheer for our favorite boxer. Suddenly, and without warning, after a tremendous fight, our boxer decides he is just going to lie down and allow himself to be counted out. I can only imagine the things that would be said about that fighter by those watching the match. However, imagine that even though he laid down and was counted out, he stands up and the referee raises his hand in victory. Anyone who knows anything about boxing would say that was a foolish and absurd decision! Yet, the Word of God tells us that this is exactly what the Jews and the Greeks see when they view the Cross…a stumbling block and foolishness (1 Cor 1:23). There are many, still today, that see the message of the Gospel as foolishness. They cannot see the wisdom in someone laying down their life, and dying, to give us something they believe cannot be given freely but must be earned. The day of Jesus’ crucifixion was not the day of His defeat, but on the contrary it was the day of His victory, and ours. Satan and his demons saw the Cross as Jesus’ demise and defeat, but it was exactly what God had planned in order to purchase our salvation. The battle began, and was announced, at the fall of man (Gen 3). Satan took a few swings at Jesus, but none of them ever landed a solid punch; his attempts to tempt Jesus failed (Mt 4; Lk 4), as Jesus countered with God’s Word. He tried to use Peter but only earned a rebuke for himself (Mt 16:23). The ultimate power of darkness was felt in the Garden, after Judas’ betrayal, at Jesus’ arrest (Lk 22:53). However, Jesus had already announced the foe’s defeat, stating that “now shall the prince of this world be cast out” (Jn 12:31). Jesus made it clear that no one took His life, but that He was voluntarily laying it down (Jn 10:17-18). Satan thought that he had finally defeated Jesus when He was nailed to the Cross, but that was the beginning of the end, as Jesus was actually publicly defeating His enemy, and ours. The shame He openly experienced and despised was the open display of victory Satan did not expect (Heb 12:2). In allowing Himself to be nailed to the Cross, for our sins, He stripped Satan of his power. He no longer has power over those of us who have called upon Jesus. The bondage we were in because of sin and death has been destroyed, and taken out of Satan’s hands (Heb 2:15). Like a king would parade the spoils of his victory for all to see, Jesus, our King, openly paraded the spoils of His victory over Satan via His crucifixion and resurrection. While from a human perspective the Cross is a picture of suffering and shame for many; from a heavenly perspective it is about victory and glory. It is about defeating the enemy and breaking the grip of bondage. It is about reconciling us to God, and being at peace with our Creator. It is about making a way for us to gain eternal life and becoming sons and daughters of God. Jesus administered the ultimate and fatal blow to Satan, sin, and death, when the hammer pounded the nails into His hands and feet, and He later announced, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30).

Jesus came here to lay down His life and give it as a Sacrifice and payment for our sins. God promised that if we believe and call upon His Son, Jesus, for eternal life, He will save us and we will spend eternity with Him (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Repent, confess your sins, and be saved. Receive Him and His free gift of salvation today.

The Greatness in Serving

Verse of the day: Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

What does it take to be a great servant of Christ? The disciples, even though they walked with Jesus, had a skewed view of what it meant to be elevated in the Kingdom of God. John and James’ mother went to Jesus requesting that they be given a position of importance in the Kingdom. The request was made out of pride, and the other disciples in hearing what was requested became angry with John and James. It was plain to see from their request, and desire, to be placed in a position of importance that they had no clue what it really took to be considered great before God. Sadly, even today we see people who elevate themselves in ministry, filled with pride, vanity, and false ambition. They walk into a room and expect people to look up to them, admire them, and even bow to them. The “name it, claim it” bunch that use the Word of God for their own profit and elevation. Unfortunately, too many followers of these people, who equate outward success as success in the Kingdom and being “blessed” by God, lead those who have been called to suffer for the cause of Christ to think that they are doing something wrong because God is not “blessing” them in the same way. The Apostle Paul, who was one of the greatest missionaries (outside of Jesus), was called to suffer for the cause of Christ (Acts 9:15-17). The Apostle recognized that his suffering here on earth was nothing compared to the glory that was to come for his humble service to the Lord (Rom 8:17-18). Jesus, in response to John and James’ request, quickly steered their thinking of being elevated in the Kingdom to the fact that they would need to suffer, which they were not mindful of when they made their request. James was martyred, and John, after much suffering, was exiled on the Island of Patmos (Acts 12:2; Rev 1:9). As God’s servants, it is okay to look ahead to our rewards, but we must also realize that those rewards may require much suffering on our part (Mt 5:11-12), and we must also realize that it involves serving God, and others, in humility. Jesus reminded them that the world’s view of greatness had to do with people being lorded over by those that are placed in positions of “importance” and “greatness”. It usually ends up with those who have been elevated looking down on those that they do not consider their equal, because they do not have the same material things or status in society. Let us not forget that it was pride that was Satan’s downfall. The two who asked to be elevated were the same two who asked Jesus, in anger, if He was going to rain fire down from heaven on the Samaritan village that refused to receive Him. Jesus’ rebuked them and told them that did not know in what manner of spirit they were asking that (Luke 9:50-56). In serving God, and seeking greatness, we must seek success and greatness based on what God considers successful and great. Even Jesus washed the feet of the disciples; yes, even the one that would betray Him (Jn 13:11-17). Serving God and serving others in humility is what the Lord seeks from us. Whether or not we receive or gain material wealth and success here on earth is for the Lord to decide and bless us with, if it is part of His plan for our lives. We must keep in mind that whatever God allows us to have here, whether much or little; we are called to be good stewards. Jesus ultimately gave them the answer to greatness. He reminded them that He, the Lord, even though He was Master, came to serve, and not be served, even to lay down His life for us. The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus was the Great Servant whose example of humility was to be followed (Phil 2:5-11). The bottom line is that greatness before God has to do with submission to God and His Word. A willingness to submit to whatever suffering He calls us to, knowing that our greatest reward may not come in the form of elevated position or wealth here on earth; but is secured for us when we stand before the Lord to receive the rewards we gain when we serve Him here in humility, submitting ourselves to His will and plan for our lives.

Jesus came here to lay down His life in the ultimate example of servitude. God promised that if we believe and call upon His Son, Jesus, for eternal life, He will save us and we will spend eternity with Him (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Repent, confess your sins, and be saved. Receive Him and His free gift of salvation today.