Monday, April 30, 2018
Let God Lead
Verse of the day: Joshua 3:2-4 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”
Oh that we would be this careful in our day-to-day walk with the LORD. Joshua and the Israelites are getting ready to cross the Jordan, but he warns them that no one is to make that move until they first see the ark of the covenant of the LORD going before them, with God’s chosen leaders carrying it. So often, we let our own desires and ideas lead us rather than allowing God to lead. We fail to go to God with our plans, and then wonder why they fall through or fail. We fail to realize that the plans we make are our own and may not be what the LORD wants us to pursue. Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 19:21 further explains, “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.” It is our own failure when we go forward with “big” plans, but do not first go to God’s Word and prayer before putting our plan(s) into action. Even though Joshua was confident that God would deliver that land as He promised, he took steps to ensure that he and the people of Israel were doing it in accordance to God’s timing and leading. How much greater success would we have in serving the Lord and finishing our race if we took the steps to make sure that God is leading, rather than our selfish ambitions? The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” As God’s children, our desire should be as express in Psalm 143:10, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” When we seek God’s leading in any situation in life, we will never go wrong if we follow His leading. Even when it makes no sense to us, if God is calling us to go in a certain direction, we must trust His leading over our own understanding of a matter. Proverbs 3:5-7 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.” Serving God and walking the path He sets before us is an exciting venture, if we do it His way. There will be times when He will lead us on a path we have never walked before. In those times, just as Joshua stated, we must say to ourselves, “that I may know the way by which I must go, for I have not passed this way before”. Let us be a people who is known for seeking God at every turn, so that in whatever we do we can do our best to do it in a way that bring God the most glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). None of us has an excuse for not knowing what path to follow in life. God, in Christ, has provided us with the Holy Spirit, who indwells and seals us, and His Word, which the Spirit uses to guide us. God has also provided the church with leaders who are responsible for leading the people of God. It is wise for us to seek godly counsel as we are told in Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who checked everything the Apostle Paul told them against the Scriptures, we too should always check the advice, or guidance, given to us, even by those we view as wise counselors. Let us walk with the Lord with purpose and on purpose.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Sunday, April 29, 2018
The Scarlet Cord
Verse of the day: Joshua 2:17-18 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home.”
What a beautiful picture we have here of the atoning Blood of Jesus. Rahab, taking a step of faith in helping the two spies escape demonstrated that her faith was genuine. The spies promised that upon their return with Joshua (YAHWEH is salvation or deliverance) if the scarlet cord they gave her were visible in her window, she and all those who are in her home would be saved. Once Rahab took her step of faith, her first task was to go and reach her own family, tell them about how they could escape the coming judgment when the Lord would send Joshua and the Israelites to take the land. As we read this account, I am reminded of the blood of the Passover lamb placed on the doorpost which spared the Israelites from death (Exodus 12:13). Let us note something of great importance here in the life of Rahab. Let us not forget who she was, at the time, a harlot. Yet, when we read Hebrews 11:31 it says, “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace”. It appears that she not only told her family, but also told others as well, who did not believe. I cannot help but be reminded of the Samaritan woman at the well, who had five husbands and was living with a man who was not her husband at the time she had a life-changing encounter with Jesus in John 4. Both Rahab, and the Samaritan woman, seem to put their less than favorable reputation aside in order to tell others about the Messiah and of the coming salvation. With that said, what is our excuse for not telling others about Jesus and the coming judgment for those who reject the message? Not only did Rahab speak, in spite of her reputation, in verse 21, it tells us that she immediately put the scarlet cord out her window. Would this not give away the fact that she helped the spies escape? Would this not be a foolish move, humanly speaking? Would this decision not bring her persecution by the people of Jericho, and even bring the risk of death? 1 Corinthians 1:18 tell us, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” We can talk to people about God and they will tolerate it, but when we cross the line and talk about Jesus…all bets are off! We then become fools. Oh that we would be willing to be fools for Christ as the Apostle Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 4:10, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!” The fact of the matter is that when we preach the Gospel to others, we expose ourselves to persecution, ridicule, and in some cases around the world, martyrdom. However, Jesus already warned us that this would happen in John 15:18-25, but also promise us in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” When was the last time we were willing to do something that was humanly foolish, but heavenly wise and rewarding? What amazes me over and over when I read the life account of Rahab, is that God had a plan for her life that she would not have imagined when she put her faith and trust in the God of heaven and earth. However, that plan did not go into motion until she took a stand and not only announced her faith, but proved it by her actions. Are we waiting for God to show us what His plan for our lives is, but refusing to take that step of faith that will put that plan in motion? Are we stifling God’s plan for our life because we are more concerned with being accepted by family, friends, co-workers, and the like, rather than being willing to be branded a fool for Christ’s sake? Will we be silent with those we love and allow them to perish because we are too ashamed or intimidated to tell them the truth about eternity and what Jesus did to save all of us from eternal condemnation? Only God and we know. Are we willing to be as bold as Rahab and tell others about the Scarlet Thread that binds us to Christ, His Atoning Blood?
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Putting Feet to Our Faith
Verse of the day: Joshua 2:8-9 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
When I read about Rahab’s faith, it reminds me of what Jesus said about the faith of the Centurion who sought Jesus to heal his servant in Matthew 8:10-12, “When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Here was a woman who was not an Israelite, yet, we see in her statement to the spies that she was fully confident that the LORD would give Israel the land He promised. Amazingly, her faith was not the result of hearing the promise come directly from Moses or Joshua, but merely because she heard the testimony of what God was doing in leading the Israelites in the wilderness. What does it take for us, who are born again, to have this kind of faith in serving the LORD? Rahab’s first step of faith was that of confessing that God is the God of heaven and earth (v. 11). This was her saving faith. Hebrews 11:31 tells us this about her faith, “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.” However, she did not just declare that God was God of heaven and earth, but proved her faith by what she did to help the two spies. Rahab’s faith was not one of words alone, but one of action. If we say we have faith, does our life reflect that? What are we doing in serving God that proves what we say about our faith? We can tell others about our faith until we are blue in the face, but our faith will not be real to others until we put feet to our faith. James 2:14-17 puts it this way, “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James goes on to say of Rahab’s faith in James 2:25, “Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” James was not saying that our works alone save us. What he was saying is that once we are saved, by faith, our faith is dead if we do not put it into action. If we say that we have put our faith in Christ, but we have not stepped out by faith to serve God and serve others, then our faith is dead. I have heard far too many Christians talk a good game about serving God, but in the same breath make all kinds of excuses as to why they could not serve God “right now”. “I’m too busy with work, or I am too busy looking for work.” “I’m too busy with family. The kids’ games keep us running all the time.” “You don’t understand. I just don’t have enough to give or enough hours in a day.” “I don’t think I know enough to tell others about Jesus yet.” “I have only been a Christian for ten years. I don’t think I know enough to teach that class on Sundays.” Do I need to go on with the number of excuses I have heard from born again believers? What will it take for us to put our faith into action? We often complain that God is doing nothing in our lives, but we fail to mention that we have done nothing, by faith, to give God something to work with. We read of Rahab’s faith, to the shame of Israel, who wandered in the wilderness for forty years because they lacked faith. We read, in the New Testament, about the Centurion’s faith, again to the shame of Israel, because they lacked faith in accepting Jesus as their Messiah. Is this too to our shame as born again believers? It amazes me when I see the risks that the unsaved will take to accomplish things in their life, extraordinary things, simply because they have faith in their own abilities. Yet, we, the children of God, live ordinary lives because we lack enough faith to trust that God can do supernatural things in our lives, if we would just put feet to our faith. What is God asking us to do today that we are resisting? What excuse are we making to avoid putting our faith into action? What blessings are we robbing ourselves of, and others, because we are refusing to trust that God can do great thing in our lives, if only we will step out by faith?
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Friday, April 27, 2018
What Does Our Testimony Say?
Verse of the day: Joshua 2:11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Is our testimony making any kind of impact within our circle of influence? When people who know us, or do not know us that well, observe our life, is there any indication that there is something different about us? Can they clearly see God working in us and through us? The spies Joshua sent into the land hid in the home of a prostitute. This may seem like the last place that followers of God would choose as a hiding place, but it was actually a very wise choice. It was a place where they could hide easily, as it would not be unusual for strangers to visit. It is here that we are introduced to a harlot (or prostitute) who turns out to be a woman of faith that God uses greatly in His plan to give Israel the land, and later chosen to be in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Rahab was the mother of Boaz (Matthew 1:5), making her the great-great-grandmother of King David. In two other places in Scripture she is mentioned as an example of great faith (Hebrews 11; James 2), which we will discuss at a later date. Here, I want to draw our attention to what Rahab says to the two spies regarding the God they served. From her statement, we can see that she did not yet see God as her God when she said, “the LORD your God”. However, we see that the testimony she has already heard has made an impact on her, and now she is ready to become a part of God’s people. Quite often, we hide our testimony for the LORD because we are afraid of being persecuted. What we do not realize when we do this is that we put ourselves in a position to miss out on God using our testimony to make an impact in the life of someone who may be ready to accept God into their life. If we truly live life by faith, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us, serving God, serving others, and taking true steps of faith in following Jesus, He will use our life to show Himself in great ways. I often hear Christians share their testimony by telling others all the things they used to do and how they are living differently now. That is great, however, I know unsaved people who have made changes in their lives without Christ. What we need to be sharing is all the things that Jesus is doing in our lives. What people need to see is that there is such a change in us, in our words, actions, and deeds, that there would be no doubt that it is Jesus who is making the change and working in us. The change in us needs to be supernatural; this requires a willingness to take steps of faith that make people curious and make them question why we do what we do. The testimony of what God was doing in the midst of His people was so well known that this woman, a prostitute, took the first opportunity she was given to show her desire to be a part of God’s people. One of the saddest quotes I have ever read regarding the testimony of Christians came from Mahatma Gandhi, who said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” The fact of the matter is that God knows the heart of every person we encounter. There is no such thing as a coincidence when people cross our path in life. This encounter was one that these two spies did not expect, as far as Rahab’s profession of who she knows God to be, based on the testimony she has heard. As God’s children, we must always be ready to give an account of our faith. 1 Peter 3:15 tells us, “But sanctify the Lord God in your and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear”. As we serve God and walk the path He sets for us, we will encounter people who must see more of Jesus and less of us (John 3:30). We may be surprised how many people out there are really searching, and may even be right before our very eyes, but we may too busy hiding our Christianity to avoid persecution, rather than letting it shine and allowing God to draw others to Himself via the testimony of His work in our lives. Let us strive to do what Jesus told us to do in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Search Me
Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 31:16 And the LORD said to Moses: “Behold, you will rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.”
This is not only the sad commentary of Israel’s future rebellion against God, once again; but it is also a true statement that is still applicable to us today. How often we turn to other gods, forsaking our commitment to the Lord. We trust our own wisdom, money, status, and put others in the place where God belongs in our lives. God told Moses that in His anger He would hide His face from them, but He does not say that He will forsake them. Although His anger is kindled, His love and mercy remain. Psalm 30:5 says, “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 103:8 also says, “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” Until today, we see the consequences of Israel’s rebellion against God and rejection of the Messiah. However, God is still faithful to His promise that they remain His people, and that one day He will deliver them. As a matter of fact, God tells us in Romans 11 that Israel’s rebellion and blindness is in part for our benefit, and our salvation. In turn, the mercy God is showing us, in bringing salvation to us, is also the mercy He will have on them in the end. God’s mercy will go full circle. This is exactly what we are seeing in this chapter of Deuteronomy. Although God is announcing to Moses that He will hide His face from Israel, He is also giving Him a way for Israel to be reminded of God’s goodness to them. In verses 19-21 God says this to Moses, “Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. 20 When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant. 21 Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them.” Despite knowing they will turn from Him, He still brings them into the land He promised them. The purpose of this song is to remind Israel that they are the ones who have forsaken God, not God forsaking them. It was a reminder to them that God was good to them, yet they turned their back on Him. It was a reminder to them that they had no one to blame but themselves. However, it also served as a way to convict their hearts and turn them back to Him. This is where we see God’s love and mercy. Today, as born again believers, as God’s children, He has given us His Word. The Holy Spirit, who indwells us, uses the Scriptures to remind us of God’s goodness to us. He uses them to remind us that God does not turn His back on us, He does not forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but it is our own rebellion that causes us to feel that God is far from us; when in reality He is always near. Just like God did with Israel, He reminds us in 1 John 1:8-2:1 that we can repent, confess, and come back to Him. Jesus reminded us in the story of the prodigal son, that our Heavenly Father not only waits for our return to Him, but runs to meet us when we do (Luke 15:11-32). What gods are we entertaining in our lives? What pet sin(s) are we holding on to? Today, let us ask God to show us what we are harboring in our hearts that we should be giving over to Him. Let us go to the Lord right now and say to Him as King David, a man after God’s own heart, said to Him in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Be Strong and Do Not Fear
Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Fear can motivation us or paralyze us. Satan loves to use fear to keep us from living out God’s will and plan for our lives. He uses the fear of “what if” to keep us paralyzed or put us on a path where we begin to trust our own planning and scheming to accomplish what God is already working in our lives. It is that “what if” fear that the devils use to convince us that God cannot defend us or protect us when others have ill intentions toward us or try to blemish our reputation with their lies about us. Joshua has been chosen to continue leading Israel upon Moses’ death, and now he will be taking on a responsibility he did not have before. He will be navigating unchartered waters and the only assurance he is given is that God is with him. This is the very same assurance we are given today in Hebrews 13:5-6. God is not ignorant to Satan’s devices, and therefore reminds us that we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). In Isaiah 41:10 God said, “Fear not, for I am with you: Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Interestingly, the word “strong” God uses in today’s verse means to prevail, be firm, but it also means to cleave. In James 4:7-8a God tells us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” In other words, when we cleave to God, Satan has no choice but to flee because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Joshua is also to be “of good courage”, or to be secure, firm, assured. There is no greater assurance that we have in Christ than the fact that God not only goes with us wherever we go (because we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit), but He also goes before us. In verse 8 of this chapter, Moses repeats to Joshua, “And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” There is no situation that we will encounter in our walk with the Lord that He has not already been to before us. Before we encounter a trial, an adversary, or any situation that can potentially distress us, God has already been there, has already resolved it, but may not have chosen to show us the outcome. He may choose to use the situation to build our faith, teach us to trust Him more, and show us where we are in our walk with Him. When those times do arise that we begin to feel overwhelmed and distressed, God tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Jesus Himself said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” King David wrote in Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” The bottom line is that in all that we face our strength and courage comes from the choice we make to cling to God. Even in putting on the armor God has provided us with in Ephesians 6, we are told, in verse 10, to “be strong in the Lord and power of His might”. Whatever battle He allows us to face in life, whether unseen or foreseen, remember that the battle is ultimately His, and He will never leave us alone in the heat of it. When the enemy attacks and fear arises, let us remember the words of Isaiah 54:17, “‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,’ Says the LORD.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
The Servant of the LORD
Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD
When the day of our appointed time arrives, how will we be remembered? Are we so busy trying to accomplish our own goals in our “service to God” that we are missing the mark of what it truly means to be a servant of the LORD? Far too often, we put our plans before God and ask Him to bless them, rather than go to God first and let Him lead us to accomplish what His plan is for our life and service to Him. Moses could have been remembered in many ways, and with many titles. However, at the end of his life God identified him as “the servant of the LORD”. I see a lot of people who want to serve God, but in reality are looking for notoriety and for others to serve them. A leader, whether a pastor, deacon, elder, teacher, or any other position within the body, should be willing to show up and mop the bathroom floor if they find that the toilet overflowed. If they are not willing to do that, but instead task someone else with that duty (because it is beneath them or their “position”), then they are not really in the local church to serve. Moses, although he was not perfect, and even had moments when God wanted to kill him (Exodus 4:24), was a man who did whatever God directed him to do, and was willing that God blot his name out of His book for the sake of God’s people (Exodus 32:32). With all the Israelites put Moses through, he remained faithful in serving God by serving them. A true servant of the LORD is one who is willing to serve others, even those who are ungrateful and even troublesome. Our greatest example of servanthood was our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. He said this in Mark 45:42-45, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” He not only said this to His disciples, but He also demonstrated it for them when He washed their feet, and ultimately gave His life at Calvary. The one thing that always stands out when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet in John 13 is that He also washed Judas’ feet; the disciple that He knew was going to betray Him. He did not wash all the others’ feet and skip Judas. He demonstrated what it truly means to be a servant of the LORD. What does our service to the Lord look like when we compare it to this? I would have to admit that in comparison, at times, my service is at best shameful. A servant of the Lord does not see any task or mission God sends him/her on to be beneath them. Any opportunity to serve someone else is an opportunity to glorify God and allow God to humble us so that no task becomes too menial to perform in our service to Him. If we seek to be known as a servant of the Lord at the end of our time here on earth, then we must model what Scripture tells us. Matthew 23:11, “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Philippians 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Let us put aside our attempts to make a name for ourselves within our Christian circles; instead, let us do all we can to glorify His Name. When all is said, and done, let God give us the title that is more valuable than any title we, or man, can ever give us that it may be said of us, “He/she was a true servant of the LORD.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Monday, April 23, 2018
Contend for the Faith
Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 18:21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’
How many false teachers would there be in our midst if God still required that they be put to death immediately upon being discovered, as He did with false prophets? I would imagine that very few would be willing to take the risk. However, part of the reason that false teachers are not afraid to peddle their false doctrines, and use God’s Word for their own gain, is that we do poorly in studying God’s Word or verifying what we hear preached. The greatest example of what kind of students of the Scriptures we should be is illustrated for us in Acts 17:11 where it tells us this about the Bereans, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Ephesians 4 tells us that God has equipped the church with ministers whose duty is to equip the saints. There are preachers and teachers today who preach and teach the Word of God for what it is. However, it is still our responsibility to take what we hear and go back to our Bibles, on our own time, and do further study. 2 Timothy 2:15 clearly tells us, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We are told to dig deep into the Word of God, dissecting it, in order to find those precious truths that the Holy Spirit will illuminate when we put forth proper effort. Jesus said in John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” Sadly, there are far too many born again believers who have been Christians for many years, but are still immature in their faith. The writer of Hebrews wrote this relative to spiritual immaturity in Hebrews 5:12, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” Not only should we diligently study the Word, we must also meditate on it (Joshua 1:8). It is both sad and maddening when we who love the truth of God’s Word hear messages that are filled with false doctrines and messages that do nothing more than fill the pockets of those spewing them and leading people down the road of condemnation. Today, we have too many “feel good” prosperity preachers who basically teach that we can force God’s hand to bringing riches into our lives if we give our money to their ministry. Others preach “love, love, love”, but speak nothing of sin, repentance and the consequences of rejecting the Gospel message. I have even seen Christians get upset when they hear a preacher preach a message about hell and eternal condemnation. The one comfort we do have is that God tells us that these false teachers will not escape His judgment. James 3:1 tells us that teachers of His Word will be strictly judged. The Book of Jude has much to say about false teachers and their fate. Jude 1:14-15 says, “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’” The bottom line is that we must do our part in avoiding the trap of following false teachers, or being a false teacher, by spending time in God’s Word and truly studying it. Romans 16 tells us to mark those who teach false doctrine and avoid them. If there are those who claim to know Jesus, but insist on teaching false doctrines, we are not to receive them into our homes (2 John 1:10). God warns us in His Word that in these last times people will not endure sound doctrine, but will seek teachers who will tickle their ears with false teachings and fables (2 Timothy 4). Those of us who are trying to be faithful must stand firm in the faith and proclaim God’s truth without compromise. Let us be diligent to take to heart the exhortation given in Jude 1:3-4, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Sunday, April 22, 2018
The Corrupt Will Pay
Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 16:19 You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
Where do I even begin? Society, politics, and our justice system, in general, have all strayed far from this command. Even those who profess to know Christ have followed the corrupt ways of this world. I have all too often seen the same corruption that exists in society permeate the church. This is not to say that any of us are perfect…we are not. If we were, we would not need our Savior. However, what we see today is a blatant disregard for what is right, fair, and just. Today, more than ever, we need to be on our knees, praying for those who lead our country and have authority over us. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 clearly tells us, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” Sadly, those who are in authority over us, who receive their authority from God, are working tirelessly to remove God from the system. Romans 13:1-7 reads as follows, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Today’s corrupt system is the same one that far too many Christians turn to in their attempts to settle their differences. Yet, the Apostle Paul, by the leading of the Spirit, penned these words in 1 Corinthians 6:1-6, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? 6 But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!” Instead of seeking justice in a corrupt system of unbelievers, the Word of God encourages us to settle our differences within the church, where we are supposed to be the people who stand for justice, not pervert it. We are supposed to be the ones who do not show partiality, but treat everyone fairly and judge a matter through the filter of God’s Word. We are supposed to be the ones who cannot be bought, and be able to draw wisdom from God who we can ask and He will give it generously (James 1:5). What ultimately happens is that we create division within the body of Christ because we refuse to give in to one another. We insist on getting our “pound of flesh” at any cost, and in essence look no different from the world in our behavior. The solution? Romans 6:7-8 gives us the solution, “Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? 8 No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!” Sadly, too many of us would be too proud to let the other person have their way. Having been involved with government entities throughout much of my years of work, and seeing (up close and personal) how people in power have cheated and used the media, a naïve society, and people who are ignorant of the spiritual battle behind all of this corruption, to their advantage, I have had to learn to look ahead to the day when they will all stand before a just God. For us, the born again believer, 2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” For the unbeliever, Revelation 20:12 warns, “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” In the end, no one gets away with anything, because our God is holy, just, and right, not showing partiality (Psalm 25:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:6).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Joyful Mourning
Verse of the day: Deuteronomy 14:1-2 “You are the children of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave the front of your head for the dead. 2 For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
One of the most painful things we can experience is the loss of someone we love. This is especially true for those we know who have chosen to reject Jesus, because we know that without Christ their end is eternal condemnation. With that said, are we doing all we can to share Christ with family, friends, and loved ones? Will our mourning be even more bitter knowing that we passed up opportunities to share Jesus with those we loved because we were too busy, or too afraid they would reject us and not talk to us anymore? On the other hand, if we have done all we can, and they choose to reject the Gospel message, what else is there for us to do other than pray and trust the God is in control? What if the person who dies is a born again believer? The bottom line is that whether the person who passes is a Christian or not, we always have hope. Therefore, we are not to mourn as those who have no hope. God instructed Israel not to mourn for their dead in the same fashion that the idolaters and unbelievers mourned. They were not to follow superstitious and pagan rituals in mourning or honoring their dead. Instead, they were to mourn as those who belong to the Lord. This does not mean that they could not weep for those who died. However, they were not to mourn in such a way that their sorrow led them to do things that were clearly prohibited by God. I have seen many Christians who have allowed the sorrow of their loss override what they believed about God, and even change their theology regarding death and eternal life. Many turned away from the Lord, cursed Him, and allowed their sorrow to turn them to hopelessness and send a message to the unsaved world that there is no real hope in Christ. This is not what we want to portray as people who proclaim that there is eternal life and hope in Jesus. In those moments when we must face the fact that a loved one has died without Christ, we must find comfort in knowing that the Lord is close to those who are brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). Revelation 21:4 promises, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Psalm 147:3 tells us, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” When we suffer such great loss, we will find true healing in Christ alone. For those of us who have family, friends, or loved ones, who also know the Lord, our separation is temporary. We find great comfort in knowing that we will be reunited with those we love, who also know Jesus as Savior. The Apostle Paul reminded the church in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 when he wrote, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” Life on earth does not last as long as we think it does, and death can visit us at any moment, as we are not guaranteed tomorrow (James 4:13-15). An opportunity missed today to share Jesus with someone we know and love may not come our way again. Therefore, we must do all that we can to live a life that honors God so that our message is not hypocritical, and always be ready to share Christ with others. Ultimately, if we are still here to witness the death of someone we love, whom we have led to Christ, it can be a celebration (joyful mourning) of their “home-going” with full assurance that we will meet again.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Friday, April 20, 2018
Lost Without the Shepherd
Verse of the day: Numbers 27:16-17, “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
Whenever I read this verse, or the one in the Gospel of Matthew (9:36), where it is written of Jesus, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd”, I am reminded of a trip to Mexico from years ago. I had spoken to many people who were walking around in the center of one of the villages we had visited. I approached this one woman and asked her if she had ever heard of Jesus. She replied that she had not. As I continued to speak with her, she said something that pierced my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Even now as I write this my vision clouds. Her statement to me was, “I have never heard any of this, and our people here have not. How will we hear this if we have no one to tell us?” The words of Matthew 9:36 immediately flooded my mind and my heart. The Lord allowed me the opportunity to lead this woman to Him, as well as a number of others in that village center that day. That experience has always stuck in my mind. The fact of the matter is that the entire world needs to hear the Gospel message. Whether it is a small village in Mexico, or any other part of the world, those who do not know Jesus are like sheep without a shepherd. However, how will they know about the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) unless we are the ones who are telling them? How can we who have a personal relationship with Jesus neglect such great a treasure, and allow our own insecurities and fears to keep us from opening our mouths and speaking His Name? How can we neglect such great a treasure by bringing a blemish to the Name of Jesus by our words, attitudes, and behavior, which dishonor the Lord, when others desperately need to hear the Good News? Romans 10:14 asks us, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” We, all of us, who are born again believers, are the preachers. Jesus commanded in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Sheep, left to their own devices, are in great danger of wandering into situations that will lead to their deaths. They will walk to the edge of cliffs and fall to their death. They will fall into pits and ditches and meet their demise. If they fall over onto their back, they cannot right themselves on their own. This is only a short list of the troubles they can find themselves in when left on their own. There is a reason God refers to us as sheep. Left to ourselves, we will choose paths that lead to death, not just physical, but eternal also. Even as born again believers, some of us have a tendency to wander into dangerous areas that can bring us great harm, especially spiritually speaking. Sadly, what I see more and more today in Christianity is that far too many Christians are self-absorbed, and more concerned about self. “What can I gain while I’m here?” “How can I have a bigger house, better car, and more toys?” “How can I make more money to buy things for myself and live more comfortably?” Far too many of us Christians have allowed the “me, myself, and I” syndrome to creep in and infect our mindset, much to the demise of those who need to hear the Gospel message and receive Christ. How can we say that we know and love Jesus, and yet have no compassion for those who are wandering around without Him? The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” Does the fact that we were once dead without Jesus but, because of His love for us, now have life eternal drive us to share Him with others? Are we still living for ourselves rather than for the One to whom we belong to, because we have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and will give account to (Romans 14:12)? When was the last time we truly looked at others through the lenses of compassion, and felt moved to do whatever we could to share Jesus with them?
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Acceptance of Consequences
Verse of the day: Numbers 27:15-17, Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying: 16 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
Some time back we discussed the consequences of Moses’ disobedience in striking the rock in the wilderness rather than speak to it as God instructed (Numbers 20). Here, as a consequence of his actions, Moses is given the opportunity to see the Promise Land, but not enter it. God has a plan for each of us, and we could be faithful for a long time in following the path He has chosen for us. However, all that can change in the blink of an eye, if we are not careful in our walk with Him. Moses’ response and attitude are an example that we can all follow in dealing with, and accepting, the consequences of our sins. He did not try to change God’s mind or complain that the consequences were too severe. Rather than concern himself with what was happening to him, he was more concerned with the well-being of God’s people. Our ability to accept even the most painful consequences will depend on how much responsibility we are willing to take for our own actions, and how much contentment we have in what God allows or does not allow in our lives. There will be times when God will allow consequences for what we have done that seem far too harsh for whatever our actions or inactions were. However, God is always far better to us than we deserve when it comes to how He chooses to discipline His children. Although we may vehemently complain about the method He chooses to get our attention and put us back on the path we belong, He is the One who knows exactly what it will take to get us to put our eyes back on Him. He knows what consequences will get us back on track and moving away from our sinful behavior. His discipline is actually His way of showing us that He loves us and that we belong to Him. Hebrew 12:3-11 clearly reminds us that we are disciplined because we are His children. It also clearly reminds us that it is for our profit so that we may partake of His holiness, and be trained by it, yielding the peaceable fruit of righteousness in our lives. I must note here that accepting God’s discipline in our lives does not gain us a pat on the back. Although we can use those opportunities to allow God to openly display His peace and joy, in us and through us, for the world to see, it is not an opportunity for us to seek a “congratulatory high five” from God. 1 Peter 2:20 tells us, “For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.” Instead, accepting the consequences of our sins, if they are harsh, is an opportunity for us to learn contentment. In my own life I have suffered great loss because of sinful choices. Yet, these past years have been some of the happiest of my life. Why? Because the consequences God allowed in my life turned me around and put me on a path that drew me closer to Him. It is training me and teaching me to be content with my life, no matter what God allows. In Philippians 4:12-13 the Apostle Paul wrote, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” In 1 Timothy 6:6 he also wrote, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” The consequences God has allowed in my life are teaching me that regardless of whether a trial comes from my own sinful decisions, or whether I am affected because of something I had nothing to do with, God is in control and He is allowing it and will work it for my good; that ultimate good being that He is working in my to make me more like my Savior (Romans 8:28-29). We must do all we can to walk in righteousness and be holy as our God is holy (1 Peter 1:16), but when we have those moments in our lives when we “go sideways” and God disciplines us, allowing what might seem like harsh consequences, rather than complain, let us see it as an opportunity to let Him teach us to walk rightly and learn contentment. Once we are back on the right path, let God use it for His glory as others see the peace and joy we have, when to them it makes more sense that we should be falling apart.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Christian Equality
Verse of the day: Numbers 27:7 “The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.”
Genesis 1:27 tells us, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” In a day when women are fighting to be seen, and treated, as equal with men, it is important that we understand this one thing, at the cross, in the presence of God, men and women are equal (Galatians 3:28). God has established roles for each of us, but when it comes down to it, we are equal. The greatest example of this equality and distinction of roles is God Himself. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are equally God, yet they each play a specific role in our lives. They do not try to outdo one another in an attempt to be superior, as they are equally God, and are God Himself, but respect the role that the other plays in our lives. In this passage, I must say that I respect the approach taken by the daughters of Zelophehad. They were not boisterous, or disrespectful. They were not looking to have more rights than men, and they were not looking to be given special treatment. They were simply looking to protect their rights as it pertained to honoring their father. In return, God honored their request. As Christians, we should be treating one another with love and respect. Before God tells the woman to submit to her husband, and a man to love his wife, He says this to us, as Christians, in Ephesians 5:21, “Submitting to one another in the fear of God.” The Apostle Paul goes on to spell out the role of both the wife and the husband in respect to how they are to treat one another. The wife is to submit to her husband, and the husband is to love his wife (Ephesians 5:22-32). Sadly, there has been a mindset within the church that says that submission means that the person who is submitting is inferior (the wife), and must obey every command of the one who is superior (the husband), even if the request is unreasonable and ungodly. This has led to many abusive relationships, and men who essentially bully their wives. In an attempt to come out from under this kind of behavior and treatment, women have taken on the mindset of the world, and essentially doing what Eve did in the Garden and taking on the leadership role that has been assigned to the man, and doing all they can to portray men as sheepish, ignorant, and incapable of leading. Men, we must stand up and lead as God has called us to lead, and doing it in a way that honors God. This means that we must treat those whom we are called to lead with respect and honor. 1 Peter 3:7 reads, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” Notice that the Apostle Peter did not say, “Treat the wife like the weaker vessel”; he said, “giving honor to the wife”. In other words, esteem her, treat her with worth, and praise her; protecting her, providing for her, and letting her know how much she is appreciated. It is no secret that most women have been created physically weaker than men have; however, this does not mean that they are weaker in their ability to think. Women can be as talented as men, and in some areas even more talented. The roles that have been assigned to each of us as Christian men and women, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, are not to be looked down upon as being inferior or look upon as superior to one another; for in Christ we are all equal. Galatians 3:28 clearly states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” If we carry out our roles, as God has assigned them, we will receive reward in due time. Women were created for God’s glory, just as much as men were. When a man follows the Lord and does his best to lead righteously, in accordance to God’s Word, and a woman follows, in righteousness, and is the helpmate that God desires her to be, they both honor God. If a Christian woman feels she is being treated unfairly or abused, by a Christian man, she has the right to bring her concerns before God, and to the ones who are called to lead the church as under shepherds of Christ. That is what these daughters did when they brought their concern and request to Moses. As God’s people, we must not allow ourselves to be foolishly drawn into the world’s thinking when it comes to what “equality”’ between men and women means. We must do all we can to preserve the roles that were laid out for us as Christian men and women so that our lives and relationships model that of the relationship that exists with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; so that God will be honored in our lives and before the world.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Monday, April 16, 2018
Eyes of Faith
Verse of the day: Numbers 27:4 Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers.”
It is very easy to overlook a very important perspective in reading this passage relative to the daughters of Zelophehad. As we discussed yesterday, Zelophehad had no sons, and his daughters now go to Moses to request that their father’s name not be removed from among the family because of this fact. They desired that his name live on by way of them receiving the inheritance of land that would have gone to their brothers (had they had any), once they entered the Promise Land. The key perspective that can be easily overlooked in this passage is that they approached Moses with eyes of faith. They had not yet inherited the land in Canaan; yet, they inquired about their inheritance with certainty that it would happen. This kind of faith is what we need to exhibit in our walk with Christ. We must live our Christian faith as if God’s promises are true…because they are (and whether or not we believe it does not change the certainty of His promises). I recently saw someone post a meme regarding faith that read, “God said it, I believe it, that’s it.” I would say, “God said it, that’s it.” Our belief in what God says is not the basis for the validity of His promises. However, His promises are what gives validity to our faith. These daughters of Zelophehad approached Moses with the certainty that there would be an inheritance, because God said there would be, and they did not want to be left out. The bottom line is that obtaining salvation and living the Christian life is all about faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Nothing that we have done, or can do, will ever earn us eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 puts it plainly, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” As born again believers, who have trusted Jesus for eternal life, we must run the race set before us by faith. These daughters demonstrated what faith is as defined by Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Our greatest desire should be to live a life that not only honors God, but one that is pleasing to Him. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” It was faith that caused God to call Abraham His friend (James 2:23). It was faith that granted Moses the privilege of having God speak to him as a friend speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11); and it was faith that made David a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). In the Book of Hebrews, chapter 11, many of God’s servants are recorded as men and women of faith, because they believed and served God completely trusting that He would fulfill His promises to them (even though some of them did not actually see those promises fulfilled in their lifetime. Are we truly living our lives for the Lord by faith, or are we living out our “faith” as Thomas, the disciple of Christ who said, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe”, John 20:25? If so, let us remember Jesus’ response to Thomas in John 20:29, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Although this example of faith by the daughters of Zelophehad may seem small in comparison to other examples in Scripture, let us not forget that Jesus said that faith as small as a mustard seed will move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Let us serve God, face adversity, and live our Christian life, knowing that regardless of what God allows to come our way, by faith in Christ we can overcome, knowing that our inheritance we look forward to in Christ is sure, because He is our Living Hope (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Sunday, April 15, 2018
The Best Path for God’s Glory
Verse of the day: Numbers 27:5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD.
Where do we draw wisdom from? When we find ourselves on a path that we have never walked before, who do we turn to for wisdom and guidance? The biggest mistake we can make as God’s children is to make decisions on our own without turning to the Lord. Sadly, that usually involves trusting someone, oftentimes, who does not even know the Lord, or someone who spends little time with the Lord personally. This is usually a recipe for potential disaster. James 1:5-8 tells us, in respect to allowing the trials of life to be profitable, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” God should always be the first Person we turn to when things go sideways and we do not know what to do. The daughters of Zelophehad went to Moses about their coming inheritance once they entered the Promise Land, because Zelophehad had no sons. Moses, although he was a leader, and had been making decisions throughout Israel’s wanderings, did not think more of himself in thinking that he could resolve this issue in his own wisdom. Instead, he showed great wisdom by turning to God. We must not be lulled into thinking that just because we read our Bibles every day, or hold a position of leadership amongst God’s people, that we have all the answers; and even if we already think we know which way to go, we should still turn to the Lord in prayer and search His Word to confirm that the path we are about to embark on is the one God desires for us. I am reminded of two instances where men of God assumed they knew what God wanted when they made decisions, but found out soon thereafter that they were mistaken. The first was Nathan. In 2 Samuel 7:1-3 tells us, “Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.’ 3 Then Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.’” In that same chapter, verses 4-17 tell us that the Lord went to Nathan that very night and corrected his assumptions about King David building the Temple, and sent him back to the king with His plan for who would build the Temple. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul set out to do something that in his mind would be honoring to God, and was certainly not the wrong thing to do, in and of itself, but God had different plans. In Acts 16:6-10, the Holy Spirit forbid Paul from preaching in Asia and Bithynia, but instead led him to Macedonia. This was not because God did not want the Gospel preached in those places; but we must remember that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and He always knows which is the best route for us to take, and what are the best choices to make, when we are serving Him and walking the path He has set for us. God always knows the best advice to give others when they come to us, but we must be willing to say, “Let me pray about this and get back to you.” There is much wisdom in not always being so quick to give an answer just to boost our own ego or get a pat on the back, if things work out well. The bottom line is that we must be continually seeking God in the decisions we make each day, because our choices not only affect us, but potentially, and almost always, affect others (for both good and bad). Even when an immediate answer is required, we can pray and ask God for guidance and favor. Nehemiah, when he went before the king to request that he be sent to Judah to rebuild the broken-down wall, said a prayer as he was going to make that request. Nehemiah 2:4 tells us this about what he did just before he spoke, “So I prayed to the God of Heaven.” The bottom line is that we should always be mindful of God’s presence in our lives, and the fact that He is always ready to hear from us and give us guidance, if we take the time to seek Him. The best advice we can follow in seeking God’s wisdom and guidance is found in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Psalm 119:105 also tells us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God will always receive the greatest glory when we apply His wisdom and follow His path.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Saturday, April 7, 2018
A Time of Rest
Verse of the day: Mark 6:30-32, Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
In this chapter of Mark, Jesus sent the disciple out two by two to go out and preach repentance to the people (v. 7-12). Upon their return, they told Jesus all that had occurred, and now Jesus invites them to take time to be by themselves and rest from their labor. The reality of serving the Lord is that there is much work to be done, but we must not be so busy that we neglect taking time to stop, be by ourselves with the Lord, and allow Him to refresh us so that we can continue in His service. Ministering to others, in any way, shape, or form, can be exhausting. Even here in Mark, when they attempted to go away to be alone, the people, having a desire to hear from Jesus arrived at the location they were going to before they did (v. 33). As a result, when Jesus saw the multitude, He had compassion on them and began to teach them. Even the disciple now had a time where they could sit and hear Jesus’ teachings. It is of utmost importance that we take time to be refreshed, and take in the Word of God. Far too often, those of us who serve, give, give, give some more, drain ourselves, and burn out. However, if we do not take time to allow God to fill our cup so that it runs over, what will we have to give others? With that said, we will be taking a short vacation, during which time we will rest, relax, and take in God’s Word, praying and getting recharged. Lord willing, we will continue serving the Lord in writing and distributing the daily devotional once again on Saturday, April 14th, 2018. Until then, as we enjoy a time of rest, relaxation, and restoration, pray that the Lord will also open our eyes to those moments when we will have opportunity to share Christ with others. Even during times of rest, opportunities will arise when we can tell others about the One in whom we can all find ultimate rest from our labors (Matthew 11:28-30). May the Lord bless you and keep you always.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Friday, April 6, 2018
Nothing Escapes His Eye
Verse of the day: Numbers 26:65 For the LORD had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
We live in a world, thanks to sin and death, where something can go wrong at any moment. None of us are immune from bad things happening to us or someone we know and love. Trials will come, persecution will come in one form or another, and we may encounter at any moment someone who is wicked and cruel. We will be treated unfairly, and we may be the victim of injustice. However, for us, the child of God, there is one thing, one Person, we can always count on. He is always faithful, and He always keeps His Word. He is our Living Hope. I am sure that many of us have experienced the frustration of watching the unjust seem to get away with doing things that are hurtful, dishonest, cruel, and just outright wrong, with seemingly no consequences. It is even more frustrating when we, or a loved one, are on the receiving end of such wickedness. What the Lord said to Moses here serves as a reminder to us that God is faithful to His Word and always keeps His promises. When all in life fails us, we can ALWAYS count on the Lord God to follow through on what He promises us. In this instance, we have an account of the census taken before Israel enters the land of Canaan. God, being true to His Word, came through on His promise that none of the generation of those who murmured against Him in the wilderness, and discouraged everyone from going forward into the land God promised them, would enter it. The only two who would see the land of Canaan would be Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 1:19-45). God’s promises to that generation, and to Joshua and Caleb, should be encouraging to us from two perspectives. First, when God told them that they would pay for their rebellion and disobedience, this should encourage us in that God will not allow the wicked to go unpunished for their deeds. Regardless of how much planning and scheming man comes up with, or how many join together to carry out their wicked devices, God’s justice will prevail. Proverbs 11:21 promises, “Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.” In Isaiah 13:11 God promised, “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” Secondly, when God promised that only Joshua and Caleb would enter the Land of Canaan, this should encourage us in that we have hope in the promises of what is to come for the children of God. God’s promises of deliverance are found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 34:4, 17-18, “I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” 1 John 5:4-5 reminds us, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” Regardless of what God allows us to face here on earth, He promised us victory over the ultimate killer…death. 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 tells us, “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ 55 ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” I could go on and list every promise that God made to us, but it would be easier if we each just took the time to read our own Bibles and studied them ourselves. There are so many that we would not have to read for too long before we come across a promise or two. The bottom line is that whatever injustice we have experienced, are experiencing, or will experience, God will know every instance, and everyone involved will give an answer and pay the price. His justice and deliverance will prevail and be seen by all in His time (2 Peter 3). In Christ Jesus, we have the ultimate victory over the wicked, over sin, and over death.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Attack with Vengeance
Verse of the day: Numbers 25:16-18 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 17 “Harass the Midianites, and attack them; 18 for they harassed you with their schemes by which they seduced you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a leader of Midian, their sister, who was killed in the day of the plague because of Peor.”
Prior to giving Moses this command, the Lord disciplined Israel for their sinful behavior and idolatry. When Phinehas killed Zimri and Cozbi, God stayed his hand against them and restored them (v. 6-9). What a wonderful picture of God’s forgiveness, love, mercy, and grace toward His people. We know from 1 John 1:8-9 that this is the same forgiveness, love, mercy, and grace God shows toward us today when we truly repent and confess our sins. In these verses we see God’s punishment for those who caused the Israelites to sin against Him. God showed no mercy toward those who oppressed God’s people and led them down the path to sin. This is the same approach we must take in our battle with temptation and sin. Just as God commanded Moses to be brutally aggressive toward the Midianites for their role in Israel’s sin, and just as He commanded the annihilation of the Amalekites for attacking Israel when they came out of Egypt (Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 25:17-19), we too are to be this aggressive in opposing temptation, sin, and those who would lead us down the path of sin. We must be aggressive in setting boundaries to separate ourselves from the things of this world that draw us away from God, and toward sinful behavior and living. 2 Corinthians 6:14, 17 tell us, “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness?” 17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns us, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’” Therefore, we must aggressively set boundaries and reinforce what company we keep, or not keep. This does not mean that we cannot have friends and acquaintances that are unsaved; it simply means that our most intimate relationships should not be with unsaved people. There may even be times when we have to break fellowship with those who call themselves Christians, but live like the world. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11 gives us this guidance, “I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.” Jesus described the aggressiveness with which we are to combat the sin of adultery in our hearts in Matthew 5:29-30, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” It is with this kind of aggression that we are to attack temptation and sin in our lives. Because the battle is spiritual, the Apostle Paul instructed us this way in 2 Corinthians 10:5-6, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” The reality of our battle with temptation and sin is that we must not be nonchalant about it. A quick thirty second prayer and a skimming of God’s Word is not enough to keep us from stumbling and falling to sin, or escaping and having victory over the enemies’ attacks, and the flesh’s desires. We must pray fervently, study the Word of God diligently (and apply it), and set real boundaries in our lives as to the company we regularly keep and the activities we choose to get involved with. Know when to stand and fight, and like Joseph, know when it is time to run (Genesis 39). Let us truly live out our Christianity in the way we have been instructed in Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Real Zeal
Verse of the day: Numbers 25:10-11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 11 “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.
How often do we hear someone say, or do we say ourselves, “I love Jesus”? May I ask this question? If we say we love Jesus, does our life reflect it? I mean, does our life TRULY reflect it? If so, is it evident by the zeal with which we serve the Lord? Do people see a passion within us, demonstrated outwardly in the way we deal with life, and with others? Phinehas, in his zeal for God and the things of God, took the life of an Israelite and a Midianite woman for their gross and idolatrous behavior (v. 6-8). God responded to this act by praising and rewarding Phinehas and his descendants. Did God do this because of Phinehas’ obedience? No…He did it because of the zeal in Phinehas heart for God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. We may serve God out of obedience, but we may do it with a less than honorable attitude or intentions. Psalm 106:30-31 tell us, “Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stopped. 31 And that was accounted to him for righteousness to all generations forevermore.” What I see amongst Christians today is truly sad. Far too many of us are lukewarm when it comes to serving the Lord. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5, when He said this in Luke 10:27, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” In other words, we are to love God with all that we are, and above all else. As God’s children, this should be reflected in the way we pray, read and study our Bible, and in the effort we put forth in becoming more like Christ in our behavior and the way we interact with others. In being zealous for Christ, Romans 12:11 tells us, “Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord”. This is the kind of fervency the early church toward the thing of the Lord (Acts 2:40-47). The reality of the matter is that many of us demonstrate more zeal toward hobbies, and our favorite sports teams, than we do for the Lord or the things of God. We will sacrifice life, limb, and even our families, in our zeal to gain that which the world has to offer and distract us with. I have known Christians who were more than willing to camp out outside a store, waiting for the latest gadget or game console, but not have time to attend a prayer meeting, church service or an evangelistic church event. We can remember the lyrics for the most ungodly songs, but we cannot quote a verse of Scripture or remember where in the Bible to find the ones we do know. We overlook sin in the life of others, and justify our own sinfulness. God rewarded Phinehas because he had zeal that was God’s zeal. He despised the sinful behavior openly demonstrated by Zimri and Cozbi with the same hatred that God did. It seems that his zeal came from a genuine love for God, and genuine knowledge of what God expected, and not an ignorant zeal. This is one of the problems with today’s Christianity; those who are zealous are often zealous without knowledge. The Apostle Paul wrote this in Romans 10:1-3 in respect to Israel, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” The Apostle Paul himself was one who was fervent in serving God, but did it in ignorance, persecuting followers of Jesus Christ (Acts 8). I have seen far too many Christians walk away from the church because their brothers/sisters in Christ, in their ignorant zeal, have bulldozed those who have stumbled in their faith, rather than sternly, but lovingly, and humbly, trying to restore them back into fellowship (Galatians 6). The bottom line is that we must re-evaluate what is truly important in our lives. Are we truly zealous for the things of God? Colossians 3:23-24 tells us, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Martin Luther King once said, “Until a man finds a cause for which he’s willing to die, he is not fit to live.” This is the kind of zeal Jesus had for us. He was willing to lay down His life for us in order to save us. Do we have the kind of zeal that makes us willing to take up our cross and die for Him daily? Would we be willing to literally lay down our life for the sake of the Gospel?
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Attack from Within
Verse of the day: Numbers 25:1-3 Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel.
What a sad account we read here. Balaam, in all his attempts to curse Israel in exchange for the riches and fame that Balak promised, utterly failed until now. However, his ability to bring a curse upon Israel was of their own doing. God thwarted every attempt Balak made, using Balaam; yet, in the end, Balaam gave him the perfect “in” to get them to curse themselves. This still holds true today. Our enemies, Satan and his demons, will do all they can to bring a curse upon God’s people. He, Satan, will launch attacks from without, to keep us from speaking the Gospel. He will get people to label us narrow-minded, intolerant, and prejudiced haters, but we will, in many cases, band together and do all we can to get the message out there. Unbeknownst to the Israelites, God was shielding them from the attacks of their enemy, just as God protects us from the many dangers that many of us are not even aware of. While we live out our everyday lives, there is a spiritual battle raging around us that we are often oblivious to. In the end, we eventually become our own enemies, and instigate our own defeat. Balaam, knowing that there was no way he could bring a curse upon Israel, as we know from Numbers 24:1, 12-13, gave up his attempts, but says this to Balak in Numbers 24:14, “And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” What advice did he give Balak? Revelation 2:14 tells us, “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” Israel brought a curse upon themselves by falling for the “sin trap”. They allowed themselves to partake in the worship of idols, in eating (as part of that worship) and bowing down to the gods of the Moabites. As if this were not enough, they committed sexual sins with the women of Moab (which was common practice in idol worship). When all else fails, personal sin, and sin within the church, will ruin the testimony and effectiveness of the church. When we become careless in our personal lives, and we allow sin to go unchecked in the local church, Satan accomplishes that which he could not with attacks from the outside. James 4 outlines what often cause strife and division within the body. Worldly behavior, such as pride and pleasure seeking, within the church body, unchecked, will cause strife (James 4:1-6). James warns the church not to be busybodies in the lives of others, judging one another in areas that are not our concern. James 4:11-12 reads, “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” James was not saying that we were to overlook sinful behavior. We must avoid hurtful gossip, and speaking about things that are to the hurt of our brothers/sisters in Christ. If we are made aware of sin in someone else’s life, the Word of God gives us guidance on how to deal with that individual, in love, with the intent of restoration (Galatians 6:1-5). He was warning against finding pleasure in spreading stories that may not be true, or exposing sin in someone’s life in an unloving manner that does not honor God, but brings about division. Not only does this kind of behavior bring about division within the body, but also it encourages persecution from the world, as they criticize our inability to get along amongst ourselves. God made it clear that He hates that which causes division (Proverbs 6:16-19). Balaam taught Balak that the easiest way for Israel to stumble and bring a curse upon themselves was to cause them to sin against God. Today, it is no different. God’s desire is to see His church advance for the cause of Christ. His desire is to bless us, not curse us, but we so easily bring a curse, persecution, and tribulation upon ourselves when we sin against God. The best way to avoid this is to follow James’ advice in James 4:7-10, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Let us be vigilant, knowing that the enemy wants us to fail in our relationship and service to the Lord. Let us be careful not to allow sin to creep into our lives, and into the local church. If it does, repent, confess, and help others be reconciled to God and one another with humility.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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