God Our Refuge - Closet Reflections: 2024

Thursday, August 15, 2024

The Hamster Wheel of Shallow Confessions

Ezra 10:1-4 [1] While Ezra prayed and confessed, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, an extremely large assembly of Israelite men, women, and children gathered around him. The people also wept bitterly. [2] Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, an Elamite, responded to Ezra: “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the surrounding peoples, but there is still hope for Israel in spite of this. [3] Let us therefore make a covenant before our God to send away all the foreign wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the command of our God. Let it be done according to the law. [4] Get up, for this matter is your responsibility, and we support you. Be strong and take action! ”

These verses give us a great picture of confession and repentance. Far too often, we confess our sins, not because we are truly broken over the fact that we sinned against God, but that we got caught. At other times we confess in hopes of escaping the consequences of being caught. Even if God is gracious and allows us to be forgiven without any life altering consequences; the fact that, shortly thereafter, we repeat our sinful behavior, is evidence that our confession was shallow and our repentance was nonexistent. True confession is viewing our sin as God sees it, with no excuses or attempts at justifying our actions. It is acknowledging that the main Person we sinned against is God Himself. Repentance comes from a heart that determines not to repeat the sinful behavior. It is a turning away from whatever it is that has motivated us to sin against God. It is about submitting under the authority of God and His Word, and walking in obedience. Does this mean that we will never stumble? Of course not. However, it does mean that our pet sin is no longer a pet, and that what was once a lifestyle is now the exception, and not the rule. When we sin, we must acknowledge it, confess it, and prayerfully set boundaries for ourselves. We must do our best to keep those boundaries in place, in the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not strong enough, in our flesh, to live a victorious Christian life. Nonetheless, God knows our heart when we truly desire to turn from sin, and completely turn to Him. Only when we surrender our will, in repentance, will we find the strength to release those pet sins that keep dragging us down and keep us on the hamster wheel of shallow confessions.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on the Name of Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation (Romans 10:13).

Saturday, August 10, 2024

Seeing With Eyes of Faith

Romans 4:20-22 [20] He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, [21] because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. [22] Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.

Abraham had much in the physical realm that could have easily caused him to doubt God's promises about what He was going to do, in the future, for him and Sarah. Yet, he viewed God's promises through eyes of faith. Like Abraham, we too have many things happening in the world around us that can cause us to doubt God's promises regarding the rapture, His Second Coming, the establishment of His Millennial Kingdom here on earth, and the role we will play in ruling and reigning with Him. However, like Abraham, we can also view all of God's promises through eyes of faith. Regardless of what the world reports, and regardless of what this world's agenda wants us to believe, the fact of the matter is that none of God's promises have failed thus far; and the ones that are left to be fulfilled will also not fail. Why? Because our God is faithful to His Word and He will fulfill what He has said, right to the letter. Peter told us that in these last days people will scoff and mock the promise of the Lord's return. Today, many within the church scoff at the truth that one day soon, at any moment, the Lord Jesus will fulfill His Words in John 14, when He promised that He was going to prepare a place for us, and return to take us to where He is. The Apostle Paul told us to comfort one another with the fact that at an unexpected moment the Lord will take us out of here to be reunited with loved ones who have gone before us, and together be reunited with Him. My question to us is this, "Will we believe the lies and agendas of this world, which is ruled by Satan, or will we use our eyes of faith to believe the promises of our God, who is always faithful and cannot lie?"

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

A Lack of Humility

2 Chronicles 33:10-13 [10] The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they didn’t listen. [11] So He brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria. They captured Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. [12] When he was in distress, he sought the favor of Yahweh his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. [13] He prayed to Him, so He heard his petition and granted his request, and brought him back to Jerusalem, to his kingdom. So Manasseh came to know that Yahweh is God.

2 Chronicles 34:26-28 HCSB

[26] Say this to the king of Judah who sent you to ask Yahweh, ‘This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel says: As for the words that you heard, [27] because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I Myself have heard’ — this is the Lord’s declaration. [28] ‘I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place and on its inhabitants.’ ” Then they reported to the king.

As I read the stories of both King Manasseh and King Josiah, I was reminded of what both James and Peter wrote, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5) The interesting thing about these two kings is that one, King Manasseh, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; while the other did what was right before the Lord. Yet, God responded to both with grace, when they humbled themselves before Him. Jesus was the ultimate example of humility. Our God came to us, as a Man, and humbled Himself under the authority of His human parents. He then humbled Himself under human authority to the point of allowing men to falsely accuse Him and put Him to death in one of the cruelest ways imaginable. In the end, the Father exalted His Name above all names. If we are to truly draw near to God, and if He is to be found by us, it will take more than desire. It will also take humility. Satan was one of God's most powerful created beings. Yet, this cherub's pride caused his downfall. The Bible is clear that pride comes before a fall. However, humility before God brings salvation, fellowships, anf a true walk with Him. When we come before Him, acknowledging that all our works of righteousness are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and call upon Jesus, in faith, relying only on His finished work on the cross, and His resurrection, God will save us, by His grace alone. As followers of Jesus, if we will truly seek Him, in humility, submitting ourselves under His mighty hand and authority, only then will we find Him. So today, let us stop and ask ourselves (both unsaved and saved), "Is my lack of humility, and my unbelief, keeping me from finding salvation in Christ?" "Is my lack of humility, as a follower of Jesus, hindering my walk and fellowship with Him?"

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Let Us Be Wholehearted Followers

2 Chronicles 25:1-2, 14, 20, 27 [1] Amaziah became king when he was 25 years old and reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. [2] He did what was right in the Lord’s sight but not wholeheartedly.

[14] After Amaziah came from the attack on the Edomites, he brought the gods of the Seirites and set them up as his gods. He worshiped before them and burned incense to them.

[20] But Amaziah would not listen, for this turn of events was from God in order to hand them over to their enemies because they went after the gods of Edom.

[27] From the time Amaziah turned from following the Lord, a conspiracy was formed against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. However, men were sent after him to Lachish, and they put him to death there.

Over and over again, in the Old Testament, we read about kings that either did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, or did what was right in the sight of the Lord. However, even when many of them started out doing right, they ended up going sideways, and ultimately ended their walk with God badly. In Amaziah's case, he did what was right, but God tells us that there was something that Amaziah lacked that led to his downfall. Amaziah's mind was bent on doing what was right, but his heart never caught up to his mind. Sadly, there are many of us who are no different. We have received Jesus as Savior, and we proclaim that we are His followers; but somehow, that doesn't seem to penetrate our hearts. What results is a life of compromise, where we try to walk with one foot in Christianity, and one foot in the world. We build a facade that looks good on the outside, and makes people think we are walking with God, but in our hearts we are far from Him. We indulge in our secret sins, and eventually the corruption that is in our hearts slowly begins to erode the facade we worked to build up and display before the world. We must not be fooled. Our God sees right through what we try to portray outwardly. Like Amaziah, God will allow circumstances to develop that will eventually expose, to our shame, who we really are. I praise God that He is a forgiving God who is willing to restore us, when we repent and confess our sins. Amaziah's choice to not be wholeheartedly committed to God ultimately led to his death. Let us not let our lukewarm commitment to God lead to the death of our testimony for Him; for when we bring shame to ourselves, when He exposes us, we also bring shame to His Name. Let us do right in the sight of the Lord, not just for outward show, but let us do it wholeheartedly for the glory of God, in true appreciation for what Jesus did for us.

Friday, July 26, 2024

It ALL Comes From Him

I Chronicles 29:12-17 NKJV

[12] Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. [13] “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name. [14] But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. [15] For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope. [16] “O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. [17] I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.

What a wonderful reminder for all of us that all that we have comes from the Lord. Time, talents, abilities, wealth (great or small), all come from the Lord. So why do we hold on to these things as if we had not received them, but acquired them with our own strength? Even the ability and talents we have to go out and earn a living comes from Him. The health and strength we enjoy comes from Him. Yet, we often selfishly hold on to all He has given us, when He only asks for a little in return, in order to use us to bless Him and others. What are we holding onto tightly today that we need to let go of? All that we hold dear, in this world, will one day perish, and can disappear in the blink of an eye. Is it not best to place it in the hands of the One who can do more with a little than we could ever do with a lot? Lest we forget, I simply want us to be reminded that it ALL belongs to Him and comes from Him.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Is It Truly Our Desire?

I Chronicles 28:9 [9] “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever."

If we seek Him, He will be found. In Jeremiah 29:13, he wrote to those exiled in Babylon telling them that if they sought the Lord with all their heart, they would find Him. In the New Testament, James 4:8 tells us that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. Stop and think about the undeserved privilege we have in Christ, that each of us can truly have an intimate relationship with God, if we so desire. The Apostle John was "the disciple Jesus loved". When we consider that any one of the disciples could have been that disciple, we only see John leaning on Jesus, and the only one at the foot of the cross, when Jesus was crucified. Today, those of us who seek the Lord with all our heart, will have the opportunity to experience a close and intimate relationship with Jesus. Sadly, what is mostly seen today is a Chistianity that treats God like a "genie in a bottle" who we summons whenever life goes sideways, or we are looking to gain a worldly blessing. We say that we love God, but we never seem to have time for Him. The real reason being that we don't make time for Him, because we don't truly want to seek Him. So what will it take to have an intimate relationship with the God of the universe? It will take our willingness to commit and submit. It begins with having a true relationship with Jesus; receiving Him as Savior and Lord. It means that He becomes a real priority in our lives. What does that look like, you ask? It means that we seek Him early in the morning, even if it means that we go to bed earlier, so that we can rise earlier; and if that's not possible, it may mean that in the afternoon or evening, we set time apart to be in His Word and in prayer. Yes, that may mean putting down our phones and not playing a video game. It might mean not watching a sporting event or a TV series. It means that we will actually have to make every effort to be doers of the Word, and not just hearers. It means that we actually stop and consider our words and attitudes when dealing with others, and making a real effort to allow Him to increase in our lives, and we decrease; so that others see more of Him and less of us. Much of this will not be easy, at first, but because we have God's Spirit, it's not impossible. Do we really want true intimacy with our God and Savior? Then it's time to stop making excuses and start making a true effort. The level of intimacy we have with our God will depend on the level of desire and effort we put forth, in Christ, and by His Spirit.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

It’s Not Always About the Action

I Chronicles 21:1-7 [1] Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. [2] So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it.” [3] And Joab answered, “May the Lord make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?” [4] Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. [5] Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David. All Israel had one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and Judah had four hundred and seventy thousand men who drew the sword. [6] But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king’s word was abominable to Joab. [7] And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel.

Oh how easy it is to fall for Satan's deceptions. The devils cannot force us to sin against God, but they can tempt us and cause our flesh to rise up against God's commands. 1 Corinthians 10:13 it is very clear that with every temptation God gives us a way of escape. However, it is up to us to take it. In this instance, God gave David a way to avoid sinning against Him, through Joab's counsel. Nonetheless, David chose to follow his own arrogance and pride. Instead of choosing to remember that it was God who gave him the many victories he experienced, he chose to count the size of his armies and find assurance in the strength of those numbers. There is a valuable lesson in what God recorded for us here, because David's sin was not in what he did. The census itself was not sinful, for God called for a census to be taken in Numbers 1 and 2. David's sin was in the motivation of his heart. The census he commanded did not originate with God, but came from the pride that was deep within his heart. We must always be careful to examine the motives of our hearts when we do the things we do. In the Gospels, Judas rebuked Mary for what she did for Jesus, in washing His feet with expensive perfume. He used the excuse that it could have been sold and the money used to help the poor. Yet, we are told that his true motivation came from the fact that he held the money bag, and was a thief. We may be able to mask our intentions and motivations from others, but God sees straight to the motivation of our hearts, and He always knows why we do what we do; even when we do not initially see it ourselves. The next time we choose to do something for someone else, or "for the Lord", let us stop and and ask the Lord to show us the true motivation of our hearts. We may find that the action itself may not be sinful, but the heart with which we do it may be what crosses the line and causes us to sin against God.

Friday, July 19, 2024

How Will They Know?

Romans 10:13-15 [13] For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [14] 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? [15] And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Let me ask us all a question to consider. What if we found out, personally, that there was a sure cure for cancer, and it was the only way anyone could be cured 100%? How many people would we tell? How many things have we boldly shared with others, not even really knowing it was true, but moreso because it was our strongly held opinion? Some of us have even shared things, only to later find out that what we shared was not true. If this is so, why are we so hesitant to share the one truth that will do more for anyone than any number of medical break throughs? The single most important message we could share with others has become the world best kept secret...the Good News of what God did for us. The bottom line is that we have a message that can change lives for eternity. We have been called to preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). We have been sent to proclaim what Jesus did for a lost and dying world, and that means that we should be looking for every opportunity to share the only cure for the deadliest disease that exists today...the cure for sin. That cure is salvation in the only Way to the Father; the only Name by which anyone can be saved...Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords. There is only one Way, and one Cure. We hold the truth that will bring ultimate healing to anyone who believes and is willing to put their complete trust in the One who purchased salvation for us with His Blood. It is far past the time that we stop allowing the enemy, and the world, intimidate us. We need to pray for boldness and humility, and begin to open our mouths, before it's too late. How will they call on Him, and change their eternal destination, if we won't open our mouths and tell them?

Thursday, July 18, 2024

He Will, If We Will

Acts 17:6-7 [6] But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. [7] Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another King—Jesus.”

As I read these verses today, I had to stop and seriously consider, and ask myself, how much of an impact is the church making in society? Are we, as ambassadors and followers of Jesus, turning the world upside down? Quite honestly, I don't see that happening today. Instead, If we are honest, we have to admit that even though there are some local churches that are striving to truly make a difference in this world, the good majority are lukewarm. So I must ask you all, and myself, what kind of impact are we making, personally? Are we turning our own circle of influence upside down for Christ or have we settled for being lukewarm? Have we focused so intently on the things of this world, that no one would know we are a follower of Jesus, unless we happen to mention it in passing, or they happen to catch us leaving the church building on Sunday? How will we have any spiritual influence in this world if we are not sharing the Gospel with others? How will we show them Christ if we are not loving and serving Jesus as we should? We cannot control what the church does as a whole. However, we can choose, individually, to seek the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul; and choose to share the Good News wherever we go, and with everyone we possibly can. Do this, and watch Jesus turn our world upside down for His glory. There is no doubt that He will, if we will.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

More Listening and Less Talking

Acts 16:6-7 [6] Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. [7] After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

Who or what is guiding our daily lives? Today, far too many of us have lost the art of listening. Most of us are more interested in speaking our minds and opinions, than we are in truly listening to others who are trying to communicate with us. As born again followers of Jesus, many of us have taken that attitude with us when we approach God's throne. We are eager to tell the Lord what we need and want, and tell God what He should be blessing in our lives; but we fail to be still long enough to hear what the Spirit wants to say. Romans 8:14 tells us that all who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. So why are so many of us not hearing from the Spirit in our daily walk? Well, I would have to say that it is not because the Spirit is silent, but rather that God's children are not listening. We have allowed the busyness of this world, and all the noise around us, drown out the Spirit's voice. Far too many of us are so busy trying to bring our own plans to fruition, that we are ignoring the Spirit's leading. When things don't work out the way we expect them to, we blame God for our failures; when in fact, we were following our own desires and plans. If we expect to hear from God, and expect to be led by His Spirit, then we need to get back to learning how to be still and start doing more listening and less talking. God wants to hear from us, but He also want us to be still, and silent, long enough for Him to get a word in edgewise.

Monday, July 15, 2024

Take Time to Digest It

(A Devo by Christine Serrano)

‭‭‭Deuteronomy 32:45-47 [45] Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, [46] and he said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. [47] For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.”

It is amazing how much the Lord draws near to us when we draw near to Him (James 4:8). It is something we cannot explain with mere words, but instead, it is to be perceived more comprehensively when experienced. You see, when we sit quietly, purposefully studying Scripture everyday, the Holy Spirit reveals details and aspects of God's Word we never understood or even noticed before. Scripture becomes alive and ripe with insight because it is the Living Word. The Lord speaks to us, guides us, and provides wisdom in our current circumstances through His Word. If you ever asked "How can I know God's will?"; this is God sharing, directly with us, what is on His Heart and Mind for each one of His beloved children! It is hard to gleen God's discernment and direction when we quickly read through a few passages or say a fleeting prayer just to check off our to do list. Our faith becomes grounded and deeply rooted when we spend time understanding the Lord's purpose for our existence. Our perserverance becomes steadfast as we weather the storms of life knowing Jesus is our Anchor. We cannot gain the peace that passes all understanding when we rely on our own limited knowledge regarding this difficult journey called life (Philippians 4:7, Proverbs 3:5). We must look to God's Omniscience. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work (2 Timothy 3: 16,17). It is our Bread of life (John 6:35). It nourishes our souls, it sustains us in our weakness, it calms our hearts, and focuses our minds on God's truth. It provides safety and security, reminding us that we can hide under the Shadow of His Almighty Wing (Psalm 91:1) when we need rest. The Bible is God's love letter to us! May we take time to digest and comprehend God's plans and desires for our lives through the daily meditation of His Word.

Sunday, July 14, 2024

He Was, Is, and Will Always Be

Proverbs 16:4 [4] The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

Here is a reality many of us have a difficult time accepting. God has made EVERYTHING for Himself. Yes, even the wicked. God uses everything and everyone He created for His purpose and for His glory. We are living in times when we are seeing God's Word unfolding right before our eyes. We are seeing the wicked rise up, the devils increasing their activities, and it just seems like the world is falling apart. However, for those of us who are students of Scripture, and who are students of what is to come, we know the world may seem like it's falling apart; but in actuality, all things are falling into place. They are falling into place exactly as the Lord is directing and allowing. So, regardless of what is being put before our eyes by the media and social media, know this...our God always has been, is now, and always will be in control of all things.

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Time to Examine and Rethink

‭‭‭Revelation 1:12-18 [12] Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, [13] and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. [14] His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; [15] His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; [16] He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. [17] And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. [18] I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

There is a very subtle danger lurking in how we view Jesus today. This view has been programmed into our brains by the way Jesus has been portrayed in the many movies and series that have been produced over the years. Yes, Jesus came as a Man, a perfect Human Being who was both Man and God. He came to seek and save those of us who were lost, and still seeks those who remain lost. However, we who have believed and called upon Him have lost sight of one very important detail of who Jesus is today. He is the God who is not only coming back to get us on the day least expected, which could be today, but He is also the God who is coming back to judge this world and those who do not believe, and will not believe. That being said, how did John describe Jesus in the Book of Revelation? Did he describe Him like the Jesus that many say they will confront to ask, "Why this and why that?" Did he describe Him like the God who some refer to as, "the Big Guy in the sky" or by any other name that lessens who He really is? No. He described the Risen Christ as Someone who John could not even stand before. The presence of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, made John fall at His feet like a dead man. That should cause us to seriously rethink how we approach God's throne every time we pray. That should cause us to rethink who we think we are offending when we choose sin over righteousness. It should cause us to examine and rethink how we live for, and represent, the One who gave His life to save ours.

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Praise That Glorifies God

Psalms 50:16-23 [16] But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth, [17] Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you? [18] When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers. [19] You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit. [20] You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son. [21] These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes. [22] “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver: [23] Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

As I read these verses, all I could say is, "Wow." God was speaking to those who were religious outwardly, but rotten to the core on the inside. I must ask this of each of us today, "Do we praise God, correct others, and pretend to be godly outwardly while living like the devil when no one is looking?" Do we look for every opportunity to correct others in their walk with the Lord, while we barely limp along in our own walk? The Scriptures tell us to remove the plank from our own eye, before trying to remove the splinter in our brother's eye. The bottom line is that we cannot walk in darkness, agree with the wickedness of this world system, compromise our faith in order to "get along"; then show up on Sunday morning, or Wednesday evening, to praise God, lifting unholy hands to a Holy God. We may be able to put on a good show for people, but we cannot hide what is in our hearts. Let us offer praise that glorifies God, praise that comes from a heart cleansed by the Blood of Jesus; a heart that strives to obey the Word of God, by living a life in obedience to His commands.

Monday, July 8, 2024

Our Greatest Regret

‭‭Psalms 49:16-20 [16] Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; [17] For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him. [18] Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself), [19] He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light. [20] A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49 is a good reminder of what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, in 1 Timothy 6:7, reminding him that we were born with nothing and will take nothing with us when we die. So, why do we, who know the Lord, waste so much precious time chasing after fame, fortune, and the things of this world? How important would it all be if we were told today, at this very moment, that we only have a few days to live? What have we traded? What have heavenly, eternal, blessings have we forfeited for the sake of gaining what will eventually perish? Sadly, there are those who will reject Jesus, and refuse to believe, because they have been blinded by their own desires to gain the world. What is equally sad is the fact that many born again followers of Christ have also chosen earthly gain over the opportunities to gain heavenly rewards. We need to stop and ask ourselves, "Am I laboring to gain what is fulfilling my selfish desires, and my own plans for my life, or am I truly seeking the Lord, His will and His plan for my life; even if it costs me some earthly gain?" I guarantee that on the day when we take our last breath here, our greatest regret will be that we could have done more to serve the Lord, but we chose instead to serve ourselves and our desires to gain more of what this world convinced us was most important. Let us strive, today, and going forward, to avoid the foolishness of believing that the world has more to offer than the One who gave it all so that through Him, and in Him, we could gain eternal life, and eternal riches that will never perish.

Monday, July 1, 2024

No Other Treasure Compares

Matthew 13:44-46 [44] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. [45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, [46] who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

How do we view the salvation that God so freely offers through Christ? Is it a cheap salvation that we simply see as "fire insurance" to keep us out of Hell? Do we pray a prayer of salvation, just to pray a prayer? Did we see salvation as something that we add to our earthly life so that we can continue to live life as usual, and think that at the end of our earthly existence we could simply pull out our "get out of hell free fire insurance policy", and be all set? I must remind us all that the salvation being offered by God was not a cheaply purchased salvation. It cost the Father His Son, and cost the Son His life. He loved us, as His treasure, to the point that He was willing to give it all to purchase our redemption and pay for a debt we could not possibly pay. Should we not then be willing to give it all in appreciation for the salvation we have received in Christ, if we are born again followers of Jesus? Let me make one thing clear, we can NEVER earn salvation. We have a sin nature, and all our works of righteousness are like filthy rags to God. We are told in Scripture that salvation comes through faith and given to us by grace. Not one of us can boast before God. So let us consider this...if the Kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden in a field, how many of us would give up whatever necessary to live a life worthy of such a great salvation? If we are one of Jesus' followers who claims they would do this, would it be evident if our life was closely observed? How much we value the wonderful treasure of our salvation will become evident when we live a life, in Christ, that honors and exalts Him in such a way that He increases, and we decrease; so that others see more of Him and less of us. The bottom line is that there is no earthly treasure that compares to the value of having the salvation that is freely offered in Christ.

Friday, June 28, 2024

Spiritual Pretenders

Acts 5:1-3, 7-9 [1] But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. [2] And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. [3] But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?"

[7] Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. [8] And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” [9] Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

Who are we deceiving when we pretend to be more spiritual than we really are? Does not the Lord see right to the heart? What we see in what Ananias and Sapphira did back then is no different than what many in the church do today; and at some point we are all guilty of this. We put up the religious facade, pretending to be someone we are not, spiritually, when we get around others. The Apostle Peter wasted no time getting right to the heart of the matter. Satan put it in their hearts to lie, not to men, but to the Holy Spirit. When we pretend to be someone we are not, in Christ, we are choosing to lie to the One who sees our hearts, knows our hearts, and clearly sees our attempts at deception. We may be able to "pull the wool" over people's eyes, but we are only deceiving ourselves. God is not interested in our religiosity. He wants a genuine relationship with us, and He made it possible for us to have that by way of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. So, the next time the devils tempt us to put up a fake religious front, stop and realize that God sees who we really are. He simply wants us to be who He is molding us and shaping us to be; and when it comes down to it, we are all a work in progress. Let us not be spiritual pretenders.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

The Day Is Coming…Soon

Acts 2:16-21 [16] But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: [17] ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. [18] And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. [19] I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. [20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. [21] And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

Quite often when we speak of Peter's first sermon at Pentecost, we speak of his boldness, and about how many were saved. What I have never heard was the fact that Peter's first sermon not only was one of invitation to accept Jesus as Savior, but was also a grave warning that one day Jesus will return to judge. When he spoke of "the day of the Lord", he spoke of a time when Jesus was not coming as One who would seek and save, but One who will come in judgment; and because the remnant of Israel will see God's judgment poured out on the earth, that remnant will finally call upon Jesus as their Messiah. The Prophets Zechariah, Jeremiah, and others clearly prophecied about this, including the Apostle Paul. For us today, the day of salvation is today. The fact that we are seeing prophecy unfold before our very eyes, today, should motivate us to do all we can to share the Gospel message with family, friends, and anyone the Lord gives us opportunity to speak to. The Lord could return for His church at any moment. The rapture, or taking up, of the church could take place today, tomorrow, and in the blink of an eye. Who do we know that would potentially be left behind to endure the horrible things that will take place during the Tribulation period to come? If you have not put your trust in Jesus for salvation, do not wait! The time is now! If you have, what are you waiting for to tell those around you? Know this...the Day of the Lord is coming...soon!

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Why the Suffering?

(Devo by Christine Serrano)

‭‭‭‭‭Psalms 119:71 [71] It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

Friend, do you ever wonder why we suffer? Why do we experience difficulties in life that filter into our thoughts and behavior? Why do we face trials that challenge the way we see ourselves and others?

Psalm 119:71 not only tells us exactly why but it says our suffering is good! How could suffering be good? It is good because it turns our attention back to God. It reminds us that our Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent Father in Heaven allows all things to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Our suffering draws us to the One Who suffered the greatest. The One Who was rejected by His own creation yet willingly placed Himself on an old rugged cross in order to pay the price for our sins. He shed His precious Blood and died in our place so that we may have everlasting life.

Our suffering brings us back to Jesus Who understands our sorrow and our darkness. He says, "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. My yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11: 28, 30). Jesus also says, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. I give not as the world gives so do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).

Jesus loves us so much in that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) so that we may have overwhelming victory in Him. So why is suffering good? Because it brings our attention back to Jesus Who paid the price for our sins, Who wants us to rest in Him, Who gives us His peace, and tells us not to be afraid because He has overcome all suffering 💜

Monday, April 8, 2024

A Dead Life That Lives

Romans 12:1-2 [1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The previous chapter of Romans makes it clear that God has not forsaken His promises to Israel. Their state of unbelief will one day be shed, and a remnant who survive the Tribulation will finally be saved, when they all recognize Jesus as their Messiah. In the meantime, their partial blindness has been a blessing to us who have been grafted in, with Israel, and we are now known as the church. Please do not misunderstand this. God has made promises, specifically to Israel, that He will fulfill to them. We, as the church, also have promises made to us that will also be fulfilled. The Apostle Paul tells us, because we have been given this wonderful undeserved opportunity, and blessing, we should be willing to lay down our bodies, on God's altar, as living sacrifices. How can a sacrifice be living, when a sacrifice that is put on the altar is supposed to be put to death first? I'm glad you asked. Very simply put, we are to be dead to the world, its ways, and all it offers; and be alive to God, in Christ, ready to serve Him in accordance with His will. That means that God, His Word, prayer, and serving Him, should be of greater priority than fulfilling our lustful and selfish desires for the empty promises the world makes us, day in and day out. Far too many of us have sold out to the world, chasing after money, status, popularity, and all kinds of prosperity; only to find out that all those things are ever fleeting. Even when we achieve these worldly goals, it all still leaves an emptiness that is never filled. We try to fill it all kinds of perversities, but it all usually ends in destruction of relationships and even the taking of one's own life. The only true life of satisfaction, here on earth, is a life lived for Jesus. It is a life that is dead to the things of this world, and has crucified its desires for them. It is a life that, though it be dead, is focused on heavenly things, and lives for the glory of God.

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Onward to Victory

‭‭Luke 4:13-14 [13] Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. [14] Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

My friends, here is a fact that we must never forget. The devils may flee for a time, but know that they flee only to wait for an opportune time to return to do battle. As long as we are here on earth, our enemies will continue to launch their spiritual attacks against us. The Bible is clear that all of us who are born again believers have not only been adopted into God's family, but we have also been enlisted into His army. The enemies will do everything within their power to steal our joy and our peace, kill our testimony for Christ, and destroy all the relationships we have, starting with our relationship with Jesus. Praise be to God that we have a Lord and Savior who promised to never leave us, nor forsake us. However, this means that we must heed Peter's warning to be sober and vigilant, because our adversary, the devil, walks about seeking whom he may devour. My friends, that is you and me, who have put our trust in Christ Jesus. Note that in today's verses, Jesus returned, after resisting the devil, in the power of the Spirit. God promised that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. The result will be that the devil will flee. If we want to truly walk in the power of the Spirit, as Jesus did, then we must put on our spiritual armor (put on Christ), resist the temptations thrown at us by taking the way of escape that God provides with each temptation; and always remember that our enemies may retreat for a time, but will relaunch their attacks the moment we let our guard down again. My brothers and sisters, we must always be ready for the fight. We must put on our armor every day, pray without ceasing, read and study God's Word every day, and be doers of the Word, not just hearers. Only then will we be able to walk in the power of the One who indwells us, and the One who is greater than the one who is in the world. So for today, suit up, pray up, study up, and onward to victory!

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Why, Why, Why?

‭Acts 16:37-38 [37] But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.” [38] And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.

Have you ever asked yourself, "Why did this happen?" "Why did this happen to me, or my family member or friend?" "Why did God allow this?" I'm sure many of us have asked one or all of these questions at some point in our lives. The verses above contain what may seem like an insignificant detail. Yet, it is a most important detail. That detail is the fact that the Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen, even though he was a Jew. I recently heard a message that told an interesting story about that detail. You see, back in those days, it was not a common thing for a Jew to have Roman citizenship. However, God, in His sovereignty, many years before Paul was born, allowed Paul's great great grandparents to be forcibly moved from Jerusalem to Tarsus, and given citizenship status in that place. I'm sure his great great grandparents questioned why God would allow that to happen to them. "God, why?" During the time that Paul's parents lived in Tarsus, there was a rebellion against Caesar, led by Brutus and Cassius. Tarsus became their headquarters. Upon their defeat, Rome honored the citizens of Tarsus, for their continued loyalty, by making them Roman citizen. Hence, the Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen by birth. The unfair jailing and public punishment Paul & Silas suffered, in Philippi, put them in a position where Paul could bring charges against those magistrates that sentenced them. So even though the magistrates begged them to leave, they could return at any time and seek legal charges. By the way, this incident also put the magistrates in check, should they decide to persecute the local church Paul established while in Philippi. Why does this matter today? Well, it answers the question, "Why?" You see, the truth of the matter is that God may allow things in our lives that we may not understand. However, we see what happened to Paul, and how God used what He allowed to happen to his great great grandparents, so long ago, to benefit the church at Philippi; keeping them from possibly being persecuted. My friends, everything that happens to us in this life has a purpose. Nothing is ever wasted, and the fact is that what happens to us today, may end up being for the future good of our family, friends, or even a coworker. We simply have to trust that it's all under God's sovereign control.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

At Any Moment

II Timothy 2:1-4 [1] You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [2] And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. [3] You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [4] No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Jesus gave us the command to go out and make disciples. That requires that we go out and share the Good News of what He did for us. However, He also warned us that in this world we would have trials and tribulations. He warned us that we would face hatred and opposition; not because of who we are personally, but because we represent Him. The Apostle Paul gave the same command and warning to Timothy. The truth of the matter is that we have been left here on earth to proclaim the life-changing message of Christ, His death, resurrection, and return. He paid the ultimate price so that we could be reconciled to God and be given eternal life. The mission we have been given sends us out into a spiritual battlefield, and that battle manifests itself in the physical world. Therefore, the Apostle reminds us that we are to be mindful of Who enlisted us, and what our duty is while we are here, as strangers and pilgrims. He warns us not to be entangled in the cares of this world. Instead, we are to focus on the mission and remember that when we called upon the Name of Jesus, we were not only adopted into God's family, we were enlisted into His army. We are to proclaim His message, make disciples, and endure trials, tribulations, and do what pleases Him. Jesus promised that even though we will experience suffering in this world, we have His peace, and in Him we have already overcome the world and its way. So my brothers and sisters, today we must go forward proclaiming the Good News, and enduring whatever hardships He allows. His return is near, and we will only have to endure for a short while; as our time to be reunited with our Savior, Lord, and King could come at any moment.

Sunday, March 3, 2024

A Much Needed Reminder

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭John 21:1-6 [1] After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: [2] Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. [3] Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. [4] But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. [5] Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” [6] And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

How do we handle the disappointments of life? The disappointments that come from circumstances beyond our control, or the ones that come as a result of personal choices and failures? The disciples had forsaken everything to follow Jesus, only to find themselves in a place where they experienced great pain and disappointment, when the One they had been following, the One they believed was their Messiah, was crucified. Now, in the midst of their confusion over what took place, Peter, the one who denied Jesus, decided to return to his old life, his old ways. Note that this was after Jesus had reappeared to them twice already, after His resurrection. How often have we found ourselves in this place of temptation? The temptation to return to the old ways of life, even after the Lord has shown Himself in our lives over and over. We experience those instances of disappointment and we seem to forget all that we know about who God is and what He has already done for us. We forget how faithful He is in keeping His promises, and we walk back toward our old life, sulking because things didn't turn out the way we expected. As I re-read this account, the one thing that stood out was that Jesus showed His disciples, once again, that life without Him was a life void of real blessings. When they went off on their own, they caught nothing. When they followed Jesus' command, they were blessed. What spiritual blessings do we forfeit when we choose our own way, after being disappionted, or when we walk away after making a sinful choice? The fact of the matter is that we need not put ourselves "out of service". Instead, we need to turn back to Jesus, with repentance and confession, and let Him restore us, just as He did with Peter. We should not allow the disappointments of life to cause us to forget the blessings of walking intimately with Jesus. There is nothing we can do that will separate us from His love, and there's nothing we can do that will go beyond the reach of His grace and forgiveness. Peter went back to fishing those things that escaped him that night, and would not last; but Jesus reminded him that He had called him to fish for those things that had eternal value, and would live forever; the souls of men.

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Only He Is the Lord

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Leviticus 22:31-33 [31] “Therefore you shall keep My commandments, and perform them: I am the Lord. [32] You shall not profane My holy Name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, [33] who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.”

These verses were a wonderful reminder, today, that the Words God spoke to His people Israel are just as applicable to us. How do we show and prove our love for Jesus? Jesus told us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. He is Lord. As followers of Jesus we should not profane His Name. This means that we are not to live in such a way that we bring shame to His Name. May I also remind us that we do not glorify His Name when we use it in vain, use it as a cuss word; or entertain ourselves with any kind of televison program, video game, or any form of media that uses it as a cuss word. We are to reverently fear Him as the holy God that He is, and as the only God we are to worship and serve. He is the One who gives us eternal life. Jesus is the only Way. He is the One who has brought us out of the world and made Heaven our home. Only He is the Lord.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Simply Open Our Mouths

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Philippians 1:3-7 [3] I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, [4] always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, [5] for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, [6] being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; [7] just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

Today's verses should cause us to ask ourselves, "Are we truly partnered with the local church and the missionaries we support?" Well, that is, if we give to support the local church and missions. Nevertheless, I'm not referring to financial support. Although, that is of great importance. What I speak of is the spreading of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul gave God thanks for the church at Philippi, not just because they supported him financially, but because they supported him in sharing the Gospel, from day one. They did not waver. Sadly, I hear far too many Christians make the excuse that they don't know enough to be able to share their faith with others. Yet, in its simplest form, all we need to tell someone is that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us, to pay for our sins; and now we can have eternal life, if we believe that Jesus die for us and rose again. It's very easy to explain to someone that we are all sinners, and that we can confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness for our sins, and ask Jesus to give us eternal life, and change our life and eternal destination. As we grow in our faith and the understanding of our faith, we can then go deeper, as God gives us oppprtunity. The bottom line is that we cannot say, with all honesty, that we love Jesus if we aren't willing to obey His command to share the Gospel with others. Not only that, but one day we will stand before Him and give an answer for whether or not we were good stewards of this wonderful, life-changing message He has entrusted us with. So, I ask us all, "When was the last time that, in obedience to Jesus, and because of our love for Jesus, did we partner with and support our local church and missionaries; simply by opening our mouths to share the Gospel with someone?"

Monday, February 26, 2024

Pied Pipers

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭I Corinthians 2:1-5 [1] And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. [2] For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. [3] I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. [4] And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, [5] that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

We who preach and teach the Word of God would do well to follow the example of the Apostle Paul. We accomplish nothing if our aim in preaching the Word of God is entertaining the masses. The Apostle was not concerned with whether or not people were impressed with his speaking abilities or whether or not he had enough humor in his message. His concern was that he preached the Word of God for what it was, and that the Spirit of God would move and convict the hearers. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2-4, ‭‭"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; [4] and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." Sadly, today, we see the church growing lukewarm because many of the messages preached today lack the power that can only come from God. The message has been watered down in hopes of making it more acceptable to a society that has no real interest in hearing God's truth. Mostly because it goes against, and condemns, how people want to live; yes, even so-called Christians. God did not give us His Word so that we can be left with a "feel good" sensation. The Word of God should be preached and taught so that God has room, through the power of His Spirit, to move us by His conviction. God's message should cause us to consider how we live for Him, and drive us to repentance and confession, so that He can make the changes in us that He desires; as He molds us and shapes us to be more like Jesus. The Word, preached, should bring the lost to a place where they realize that they need Jesus. If it doesn't cause them to rethink their lives and realize that they are on a path to eternal condemnation, then words have been wasted. If they don't hear the message that Jesus loves them and that His desire is that they seek His forgiveness for their sins, and that He is the only Way to the Father, then we have failed to do what we are called to do. The bottom line is that God gave us His Word so that we will know what Jesus did for us, and so that once we have put our faith and trust in Him, we can know Him intimately; and know how to live for Him, for His glory. Preaching or teaching His Word for our glory or for the sake of entertaining the masses, in order to fill a building, is only playing the role of a pied piper who is tickling ears and funny bones of their audience, and leading the general population on a path straight to the Lake of Fire.

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Our Real Family

‭‭‭‭‭‭Mark 3:21, 32-35 [21] But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

[32] And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” [33] But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” [34] And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! [35] For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

John 1:12-13 tell us, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." It is an awesome thing to be forgiven of our sins. However, what truly is the greatest thing about receiving Christ as Savior is not that we are forgiven, but that we have been adopted into God's family; making God our Father and Jesus our Brother. There is no greater privilege than to be called a son or daughter of God, and a brother or sister of Christ Jesus. Yet, how little we think of such an undeserved honor. That lack of appreciation is often demonstrated in the way we choose to live out our Christianity. Far too often we fail to demonstrate that we now belong to a new family. Sadly, we profess to belong to God, in Christ, but we continue to behave in our actions, words, and deeds, as if we are still in Satan's family. Mary, Jesus' brothers, and His sisters, all tried to keep Him from carrying out His mission here on earth, because they thought He was "out of His mind". When they finally found Him and inquired of Him, He responded that His family was not necessarily those who were His blood relatives, but those who were His spiritual relatives who were obedient to the will of His Father. What is the Father's will? The Apostle John put it clearly, in John 1:12-13, that those who believe and receive Jesus as Savior and Lord are true members of God's family; and Jesus Himself told us that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments. So today, if we are truly thankful to be brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ (and other born again believers), let us reflect it in our desire to spend time with God, and truly reflect which family we belong to by the way we treat each other in word, attitude, and actions. We represent Jesus, our Brother, so let us prove it by being salt and shining His light in this dark world we are called to be ambassadors in until we are finally home, gathered with our real family.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

How Much More

Mark 1:35 [35] Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

As you read this, I ask you, "Have you taken time out, today, to have some quality time getting to know God? Have you put all else aside and focused on drawing near to the Lord in prayer and the study of His Word?" If not, why not? It amazes me that we read that Jesus, God Himself, took the first part of the day to be alone, away from everyone and everything, to talk to His Father; yet, we can come up with one hundred excuses as to why we can't find that time. Well, let me help us find some time. How much time do we waste on social media? How much time do we waste watching meaningless, mindless, ungodly, television shows that often use the Lord's Name as a cuss word? How often do we waste hours playing video games filled with corrupt language and scene that do not glorify God, and depict scenes of violence against people who are created in God's image? How often will we spend an entire afternoon watching sports, and put important things aside so we can watch our favorite team play? This is not to say that we can't do some of these things in moderation (the things that don't corrupt our minds). But when we say that we don't have time to be with the Lord; then waste hours doing things that don't promote an intimate relationship with the One who suffered a cruel punishment and an agonizing death, for us, that, my friends, is a slap on the face of the One whose love drove Him to the cross. All I can say is, if Jesus, the Son of God, needed to have that kind of intimacy and connection with God the Father, how much more do we need to be purposeful and intentional in spending real time with our God, Lord, and Savior?

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Is It Salted?

Colossians 4:5-6 [5] Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. [6] Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

As I read these verses, I had to stop and seriously consider whether the words I speak each day honor God or cause others to raise an eyebrow; especially if they know or find out that I am a born again follower of Jesus. Hebrews 13 reminds us that we are to offer up the sacrifice of praise, and the fruit of our lips, which is thanksgiving. In the previous verses of this chapter in Colossians, the Apostle Paul requested prayers so that he would have opportunity to share the Gospel and know the words to speak. We are told to be wise about how we live out our faith amongst the lost, but we are also instructed to be careful with our speech. We are to be kind with our words, and speak the truth in love, showing grace. Salt was used to slow the decaying process, and was also used to add flavor. In the Old Testament it was used to indicate that a covenant made was a permanent one. In the Book of Leviticus, God commanded that every grain/meat offering was never lack salt, as part of the offering. Does our speech add flavor to the life of others? Does it preserve relationships or break them down? Does it reflect the permanent covenant that exist between us and God, because of what Jesus did for us, lifting Him up? Does it encourage our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ or does it discourage? Would we be ashamed of our words if Jesus suddenly appeared in the middle of our conversations? The bottom line is that it is better to be silent than to speak words that bring shame to the Name of Jesus. There is so much that can be said about the tongue and the words we speak. However, I will simply ask this question, "Can we, with a clear conscience, offer up the words we speak to others, to the Lord, as speech that is salted and reflects the holy relationship we claim to have with Jesus?"

Saturday, February 17, 2024

What Is Hindering Us?

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭I Kings 19:19-21 [19] So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. [20] And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” [21] So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

Have we forsaken all that needs to be forsaken in order to truly follow Jesus? There are many examples in God's Word of people who forsook all in order to allow God to fulfill His purpose for their lives. Abraham was called to leave his father's house and go to a place that was not specified in the beginning of God's call on his life. Yet, Abraham trusted God and went. Moses was willing to leave the comforts and prestige of Egypt to be with his people. God later used him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The twelve disciple forsook all to follow Jesus. God used them greatly. What are we holding onto in this life that is keeping us from surrendering our lives for the Kingdom? What has the Lord asked us to let go of, so that He could use us completely for His purpose? It has become so easy for us to say that Jesus is our Savior and Lord. Sadly, the fact is that for many of us He is Savior, but we have not allowed Him to become Lord of our lives. Some, if not many, of us, are holding on tightly to pet sins, video games, social media, career choices, material things, selfish desires of prosperity, and other idols that are taking up precious time and robbing God of worship and service that belong solely to Him. Elisha turned around and went back home, after Elijah threw his mantle on him, and made sure he sacrificed whatever would have kept him from following God's call on his life. My question for us today is this, "What do we need to willingly sacrifice in order to allow God to fulfill His call on our lives?" Instead of thinking about what earthly thing we would lose if we followed Jesus; we need to think about what blessings and heavenly rewards we will gain by obediently submitting our will to the One who gave His life for us.

Friday, February 16, 2024

He Knows the Pain of Betrayal

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:50‬, 56 [50] But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. [56] But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

I talk to many people who no longer fellowship with other believers because of painful experiences of being betrayed or hurt in some fashion by people who were supposed to be brothers and sisters in Christ, and friends. They hold onto the bitterness and refuse to forgive; only to allow those very same people to unnecessarily "rent space" in their heads. We who are born again followers of Jesus have One who completely understands this kind of pain. During the Last Supper, Jesus gave Judas a place of honor at the table. He gave him several opportunities to turn from his act of betrayal, to include washing his feet. In today's verses, we see that Jesus, in the Garden, made one last attempt to give Judas another chance to repent of what he did, by calling him "friend". At this point, it was too late, as all the rejection of these opportunities ended in Judas being possessed by Satan himself. We don't often stop to think of the pain that must have caused Jesus, as He loved Judas as much as He loved the other eleven disciples. We then read that at the moment Jesus needed the support of His followers, they all forsook Him and fled. How many of us have ever been in a place where we were dealing with a hurt, going through a time of depression, or battling a dark season in life, and needed others to come and at least stand with us? How many of us found that instead we discovered that those we called "friends" turned out to behave like enemies or like strangers who did not care? May I remind us all that in those times there is One who sticks closer to us than a brother? He is the One who wad betrayed and abandoned in His time of greatest need. Yet, He is the One who keeps His promise never to leave us, nor forsake us. The truth of the matter is that there will be times in life, for many of us, that the Lord will allow such betrayal and abandonment so that we realize that there is One who is always with us, and desires that we draw closer to Him. Our God will sometimes allow us to be forsaken and left all alone so that we come to the realization that we are never alone; and that the One we need most in times like these is Jesus Himself. So when those times come, forgive, turn to the Lord, and know that He is the only One who truly understands the pain of being betrayed and forsaken by "friends". He is a "Friend" who never forsakes His own.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

We Can At Least Find One

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:1‭-‬7‬ [1] Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. [2] And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” [3] So He spoke this parable to them, saying: [4] “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? [5] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ [7] I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

In Luke 19, Jesus said that He came to save that which was lost. My question for us today is this, "Do we have that same desire, and are we living with the intentionality needed to seek out those who are lost, and need to hear the Gospel message?" What do we seek each day as we live out our lives here on earth? Are we walking with Jesus with such intimacy that His desire that none should perish has become our desire? Sadly, I can truly attest to the fact that we, as born again followers of Jesus, have fallen way too short of letting the Lord develop that desire in our hearts. We want God to fulfill the desires of our heart, but we do not want to delight ourselves in Him. The result is that we want our desires to become His desires for us, and fulfill our selfish wants. We want God to fulfill our misguided desires for prosperity, an easy life, and worldly success. These desires, in part, have been ignited in us because of some of the false teachers we have chosen to follow and listen to. However, deep down inside, the real reason is that we have neglected our prayer time, our time in God's Word, and have failed to let God transform our desires so that they line up with His. I believe that we will come to the tragic realization, when we finally stand before the Lord, that we passed up many opportunities to share Christ with others and lead them to Him; because we were to busy chasing after our own selfish desires and the things of this world. My dear fellow brothers and sisters, let us stop today and re-evaluate why we rise each day to a new day and opportunity. Let us start each day asking the Lord to bring those people to us that He is convicting and drawing near to Christ, and give us the wisdom and sensitivity, in the Spirit, to recognize those opportunities. Then, let us be like the one in Jesus' parable who left the ninety nine to find that one lost sheep. The fact of the matter is that if we cannot find at least one in our lifetimes, it's not because God didn't bring them to us. It's more likely because we didn't care enough to be intentional in trying to find one. That, my friends, is a tragedy for both us and them.

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Let It Shine, Let It Shine, Let It Shine

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Exodus‬ ‭27:20‭-‬21‬ [20] “And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually. [21] In the tabernacle of meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the Lord. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel.

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine! This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine! This little light of mine I'm gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!" How many of us remember having sung that with our children? Some of us may have even sung it as children ourselves. It is interesting that the Lord, when giving instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle, told Moses to take up a material offering, for Him, from the people who were willing to give. Yet, when it came to the oil needed to keep the light of the lampstand burning, God told Moses to command it from the children of Israel. Jesus told us that we are the light in this dark world. However, it is not our light that we are called to shine. It is His light shining through us. What we need to understand is that this was not an optional request that Jesus made. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us, [14] “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Just like the priests' were to keep the light burning in the dark hours of the night, we too are commanded to let the Light of Christ shine, through us, in this dark and dying world. "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!"