God Our Refuge - Closet Reflections: 2024

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.

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, 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!"

Saturday, February 10, 2024

What Would He Find?

Matthew‬ ‭24:36‭-‬39‬, 44-47 [36] “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. [37] But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. [38] For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, [39] and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

[44] Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. [45] “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? [46] Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. [47] Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

In these verses we see a small portion of Jesus' answer to His disciples about the timeframe of His return. All we have to do is watch what is happening today around the world to plainly see that the Lord's return is not far, and the taking up of His church can certainly happen at any moment. There are some who will read these words and scoff at them. But that's okay, because God's Word told us that would happen in these days. What I would like us to focus on is the fact that, like in Noah's days, people are carrying on with their lives as if God's judgment will never come. Regardless of wars and rumors of wars, regardless of how men's love has grown cold, and how many are falling away from the truth, the world mocks our warnings that time is running out for those who are on the fast track to eternal condemnation (eternity in Hell and the Lake of Fire, separated from God). For this reason, it is of utmost importance that we continue to proclaim the Gospel message. With that said, I would like us to focus our attention to those of us who are born again followers of Jesus. In the latter verses above, Jesus spoke a parable. In that parable He spoke of the faithful and wise servant who was found doing what he was supposed to be doing when his master returned. I must ask us all to stop and consider, "What will Jesus find us doing when He returns for His church? Will He find us sharing the Gospel with the lost? Will He find us serving Him and serving others? Will He find us doing what is right and making the most of our time, for the sake of the Kingdom?" Sadly, these days, I believe He would find many of us, who call ourselves Christians, wasting precious time. I believe He would find many of us chasing after the things of this world, neglecting His Word, not bothering with prayer, and allowing our closest relationships to fall apart, for the sake of worldly gain and fulfilling selfish desires. "What would Jesus find us doing if He came back today?"

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Where Has It Gone?

‭‭‭‭‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:18‭-‬20‬ [18] Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. [19] Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” [20] And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”

Where has it gone? Where has what gone? You know, that thing that was once so common amongst true believers. Oh, you mean sacrificial service? No. Old style music worship? No. Good old fashion fellowship with plenty of goodies to gobble. No. Well? Fear. Where has the reverent fear gone? It is truly amazing to read all the instances in Scripture where the responses to God or one of His angels was a paralyzing, reverent, fear. A fear that made man think twice about how we approached the Almighty God of the universe. A fear that made men careful to prepare themselves, their attitudes, and their motives, before they approached our Holy and Righteous God. How flippant we are today in using God's Name in vain. I often hear born again believers use God's Name without a second thought of how they are profaning it. Many of us sit with ease and comfort, watching movies and shows that use the Lord's Name as a cuss word. We flippantly refer to Him as the "Big Guy" or refer to Him as if He were one of our buddies. The Israelites were so terrified to be in God's presence that they preferred to hear whatever He had to say, through Moses. We wonder why the church has become what it is today. It is because there is no longer a real fear of our Holy God. Please understand, my friends, I know that God, in Christ, has adopted us and He is our Abba Father. I know that Jesus is our Lord, Savior, and Friend. However, these truths don't void the truth that we are to approach God with a reverent fear that makes us think twice about how we approach Him in prayer, or how we worship and serve Him with our lives. It is a reverent fear of the Lord that will stop us and make us think, and pray, before we cross the line of temptation, to sin. So I ask this simple question today, "Where has it gone?"

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

The One It All Belongs To

Exodus‬ ‭14:15‭-‬16‬, 21 [15] And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. [16] But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

[21] Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

These verses are a great reminder that as God's servants we are only tools, or vessels, in His hands. What does that mean for us when God uses us in any way, whether great or small? It means that whatever we do in service to our Lord, we are to remember that the glory always belongs to the Him because He is the One with the ability to do the supernatural. Far too often we steal the glory that belongs to the Lord. We seek to be lifted up, praised, and given the pat on the back. Jesus told us that if we seek praise from men, and we receive it, we have received our reward. Observe what happened in the above verses. God commanded Moses to lift up his rod, stretch out his hand, and divide the sea. The Lord's command gives the impression that Moses would be the one who would divide the Red Sea. However, note what verse 21 tells us. Moses did exactly as the Lord instructed, but we are told that God was the One who parted the Sea. That being said, let us never forget that whatever God calls us to do, in His Name, should always be done with a mindset and intention to do it for His glory, and not ours. When we lead someone to Christ, it's because the Spirit was already at work and the Father was already drawing that person to Christ. Our part is simply being the mouthpiece, obediently proclaiming the Gospel message. When we do something in our service to the Lord, whether leading a Bible study or mentoring someone, it is the Spirit working in the people that brings about the changes God wants to make in the lives of His people. We do not have the power to change anyone. So the next time the Lord uses us to be a servant and blessing in someone's life, in His Name; let us remember to humbly point the praise to the One it all belongs to.

Monday, February 5, 2024

The Edge of the Sea

Exodus‬ ‭13:17‭-‬18‬ [17] Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” [18] So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

The Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt, and while He could have led them to the Promise Land by way of a shortcut , the land of the Philistines, He chose not to. God already knew that they were not ready to face a time of war against the Philistines, and as a result would go running back to Egypt. Instead He led them on the way that would take them to the Red Sea; a place where they would see God do the impossible. The Lord led them in a way that would give Him an opportunity to build their faith and trust in Him. In the next chapter, God leads them on a path that would give Pharaoh and the Egyptians the perception that the wilderness confused the Israelites. God purposely gave Moses those instructions because His ultimately goal was to glorify Himself, and show Egypt that He is the only true God of the world (Exodus 14). What can we learn from all this? First of all, we see that shortcuts, when it comes to walking with God, are not always the best choices. Far too often we think we know better than the Lord and we end up choosing what we believe to be the path of least resistance in seeking solutions to life's challenges. However, what we often find is that we end up on a path that brings added complications and more problems. Why is that? Well, because we chose a path that was the opposite of the one the Lord was leading us to take. Secondly, we see, and are reminded, that God's ways and His thoughts are not our ways or our thoughts. His ways may appear to not make sense to others, and may not even make sense to us; but we have a God who sees the big picture and always does what He does with our best in mind, and with a plan that will bring Him the greatest glory. When we choose shortcuts, and when we make choices that make more sense to us, we rob ourselves of opportunities to see God perform miracles in our lives. We miss out on tremendous blessings that can only be received when we obediently trust Him and walk with Him on the paths that He has already set. Even when He leads us to our version of the Red Sea, where there seems to be no possible way to continue on; we have a God who can part any sea He leads us to, because with our God all things are possible. Therefore, we know we can always trust Him, even if He leads us to the edge of the sea.

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Let It Shine

Exodus 10:21-23 ”Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.” So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.“

Have you ever been in such a dark place that you couldn’t even see your hand in front of your eyes? It’s a scary thing because you can almost feel the darkness. There are many today that are living in this kind of spiritual darkness. They have been blinded to the truth, and the darkness of this world has overtaken their lives. Some have been given over to that darkness because of the hardness of their hearts, while others are in that darkness because of they are ignorant to the truth. Reading this passage we see that in the midst of this deep darkness, God gave light to His people. He set them apart by not allowing the darkness to overtake them. Today, Jesus, the Light of this world, has shined His light upon us, and within us. He has called us to be light in this dark world. We are to let His light shine in such a way that others see more of Him and less of us in our attitudes, actions, words, and deeds. We are to shine His light to the glory of our Father. There are those who have hardened their hearts, as Pharaoh did. But there are others who have not, and need someone like you and me to shine the light of truth in their lives. We have the truth, and if we are willing, the Lord will open opportunities for us to share the light of the Gospel and the love of God with them. We need to stop trying to hide our light, and we need to not let this world and life’s circumstances dim the light of Christ in our lives. Let us go forward and let the light of Jesus shine so bright that it dispels the darkness and blinds the enemy!

Friday, February 2, 2024

Time To Let Go

‭‭‭‭‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4:2‬, 20 [2] So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” [20] Then Moses took his wife and his sons and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. And Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

These two verses of the same chapter stood out as I read them. Even though I had read chapter 4 many times before, I only noticed a very important detail this time around. When Moses went to investigate the burning bush, and had his encounter with God, the Lord asked Moses what was in his hand. Stop and think about what he was holding...a staff, a rod, a stick. Yet God used that rod to perform great and mighty things in Egypt and in the wilderness. What made the difference? The simple answer is that the rod started out as the rod of Moses, but once Moses surrendered it to the Lord, it became the rod of God. I was reminded of the loaves and fishes in the Gospels that Jesus used to feed over five thousand people. Today's verses are a great reminder that when we give our lives to the Lord, by calling upon Jesus as Savior and Lord, and we surrender our talents, abilities, time, and material things (yes, including our finances) God can do great things in this world. He can use us to be a blessing to others, to win others to Himself as we share the life changing Gospel of Jesus; and even help us get through those wilderness moments in life. What is it that is in our hands that we are refusing to surrender to the Lord? Is it the things we "own", our time, talents, abilities, or even a relationship that needs to take a back seat to our relationship with Jesus? Whatever it is, we need to surrender it right now. To refuse is to ultimately rob ourselves of the greatest blessing we could receive here on earth; a close and intimate relationship with God, and opportunities to see Him use us in great and miraculous ways. So, I ask again, "What is in your hand that you refuse to release to God? Whatever it is, it is time to let go."

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Is It Dead or Alive?

‭‭‭‭James‬ ‭2:24, 26 [24] You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. [26] For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Is our faith a faith that is alive, and evident to those around us? More importantly, is it a faith that is evident to the Lord, and glorifying Him? It's very easy to say we have faith, and to boast of our faith. However, faith that isn't lived out is a dead faith. How often have we been left wanting when someone gave us lip service without works to back up their words or promises? The fact of the matter is that we often claim to trust God, and announce our faith for others to hear, but we fail to do those things that truly demonstrate our faith. We allow fear, pride, selfishness, love for the things of this world, and our unwillingness to step out of our comfort zones, to keep us from living out our faith by our actions. Abraham was willing to sacrifce his son of promise to prove his trust in, and love for, God. Rahab was willing to risk her life in order to prove her faith in the God of Israel. Sadly, many of us are not willing to sacrifice our time, talents or material things to prove that we trust, and have faith in, our God. What is God asking us to do today to prove our faith? What is He calling us to do that would loudly proclaim to the world that Jesus is not just our Savior, but also our Lord, and that we trust Him implicitly? What act of faith are we refusing to perform that could potentially open a door of opportuntiy to share the Gospel with one or many in our circle of influence? Is our faith in God just lip service and in need of being revived, or is it a faith that is alive and active for the glory of God?

Friday, January 26, 2024

A Demonic Example

Mark‬ ‭5:6‬ [6] When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.

If we read only this verse, we could point out how wonderfully this person responded to seeing Jesus, and being in His presence. We could talk about their dedication to Jesus and how much this person must love the Lord. They surely must be a great servant of God. Wouldn't we all agree? What if I told you that this person, in actuality was rotten to the core? What if I told you that this person was, and is, actually an enemy of you, me, and Jesus? You would probably raise an eyebrow, as you are right now. Well, it's true. But this is what happens when we pull just one verse of Scripture out of context. This verse, in the context of Mark 5, is the response of an unclean spirit named Legion, because there were many of them who possessed this man. Now for the rest of the story:

‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:1‭-‬10‬ "Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. [2] And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, [3] who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, [4] because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. [5] And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. [6] When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. [7] And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” [8] For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” [9] Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” [10] Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country."

There are many who say they believe in God. ‭‭James‬ ‭2:19‬ tells us, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!" The sad truth is that not everyone who claims to believe in God is saved. Not every "Christian" who claims to be one is one. Today is the day to come face to face with that truth and turn to Jesus. It's not too late to call on Him, by faith, and accept eternal life. For those of us who are born again and claim to love Jesus, but are best friends with the world, I say, "Isn't it a crying shame that demons fall down before Jesus and worship, but we refuse to bow our knees in prayer and surrender?" How sad is it that a demon is sometimes a better example than a so-called follower of Jesus in regards to how we should respond to being in the presence of the Lord?

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Upside Down for Jesus

Acts 17:6 ”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.“

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In Acts 11, the Bible tells us that in Antioch was the first time that followers of the Way (believers) were called Christians. This was meant to be a derogatory term, but in actuality it was a compliment, because it meant “a little Christ”. What earn them such an honor? Was it because they attended a local church? Was it because they performed religious rituals? Was it because they “believed” in God? Today, many people claim to be Christians, but get offended when we talk to them about Jesus. They want to talk about a “general” God, but have no desire for the Son of God, our Lord, Savior, and King, the One true God, Jesus Christ. You see, there in lies the difference. The Christians of chapter 11 were born again believers who were not only proclaiming the Gospel message about Jesus boldly, but they were also living life for Jesus boldly; so much so that they were turning the world upside down. Although persecution had scattered them, wherever they went the Good News was preached. So how are we doing? I mean, those of us who have believed and called upon the Name of Jesus, trusting only Him for eternal life? Stop and look around. Are we turning the world upside down, or are we turning our back on Jesus? Would the world around us recognize us as someone who not only claims to be a Christian, but also lives like one? Are we intentionally looking for opportunities to share the good news with a lost and dying world, even if it means that we’ll be persecuted and rejected; even by those closest to us? We are in a time when Christians are so afraid to offend others with the truth of God’s Word, that we are remaining silent and allowing loved ones and friends to perish without Jesus. We are so in love with the world and all the emptiness it has to offer, that people are actually surprised when they learn that we are followers of Jesus. To be called a Christian is to be an ambassador for Jesus. It means that we are taking up our cross daily, serving Him and others, and letting His light shine through us in this dark world. It means that we should be living in such a way that we are turning the world around us, our circle of influence, upside down for Jesus. How are we really doing?

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Whose "Stuff" Is It Anyway?

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24:1‬ [1] The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

Today, let us stop and take inventory of all that we have. How much of what we have is truly ours? The short answer? None of it! That's right, I said, "None of it!" Everything we have, we have because God has provided it. He was the One who gave us our talents and abilities. He is the One who gives us the health and strength to get up every single day, and enables us to go to work. There is not one single thing that we gained or obtained that we did of our own strength. Therefore, whatever we have, we have on borrowed time. Don't believe me? Try taking any of it with you when you die. What does that say about everything we have? It says that we are called to be good stewards of all God allows us to gain. It says that one day we will stand before the Lord to give account for how we used what He allowed us to have. Did we use it to bless others? Did we use it for the furtherance of His Kingdom, or did we hoard it and refuse to help and bless others? It's sad to say, but far too often we who are called God's children quickly recoil in disgust when the subject of giving is brought up. Yet, Jesus gives us eternal life. He gave His own life and spilled His own Blood for us, and in response we become angry and argue when the subject of giving is brought up in personal conversations or when we hear sermons on the matter. We hold on so tightly to the things of this world, when we have a God who gives us so much so freely. I remind all of us, again, that one day soon we will all give account for what we did with God's "stuff", because in reality none of this "stuff" is really ours; you know, the "stuff" that can disappear and be taken from us in the blink of an eye. The stuff that will be left behind on the day we die or the day that we are taken up out of here to be with Jesus. Yeah, that "stuff".

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 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 today (Romans 10:13).

Thursday, January 11, 2024

What Would Change?

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Genesis‬ ‭21:22‬ [22] And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do."

What geater words can be heard by one of God's children, here on earth, than the words spoken to Abraham by Abimelech? As I read them, I was reminded of the Lord's promise to us in Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." As we rise up each day and go about living them out, do we remember that God is with us? If so, how does it, and how should it, affect our daily lives? If God is always with us, that means He is with us from the very moment we open our eyes each day. Shouldn't He then be the One we first think of and spend time with each day? It means He is with us in the early morning hours when we awake for no apparent reason, other than for the purpose of lifting up much needed prayers for someone in desperate need of them. It means that when we go about our day, He is with us and sees all we do, and hears all we say. How should that affect how we live? How should it affect our attitude, how we treat others, and what we say? Would we live each day with greater faith, with a willingness to step out in such faith to bless others and live sacrficially for our Lord? Would it cause us to trust Him more and not lean on our own understanding? Would we trust Him more when the unexpected storms of life suddenly rise up? Would we lean on, and trust the One who calmed the storm with the three simple, yet powerful words, "Peace be still."? What would change in our lives if we truly believed, and were intentionally mindful of God's presence in every moment of our daily lives?

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Luke‬ ‭9:57‭-‬62‬ [57] Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” [58] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” [59] Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” [60] Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” [61] And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” [62] But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Just recently I read that God took Enoch, and he (Enoch) did not experience physical death. In a very corrupt and sinful world, before God destroyed every living thing with a worldwide flood, only Noah was found to be righteous. What set these two men apart? In both instances, Enoch and Noah walked with God. They both lived in obedience to God, preaching of the judgment that was to come. Today, we have the same opportunity to walk with God in obedience, and preach the Good News of what Jesus did for us, and warn of the coming judgment for those who reject the free gift of salvation being offered. What is stopping us from walking with God? What excuses are we giving the Lord for not walking with Him? Are we lacking faith? Are we more concerned with the things of earth than we are the things of heaven? Sadly, many of us will lose out on much heavenly reward, and miss out on the great blessing of having a true intimate relationship with Jesus because we refuse to let go of the things, and concerns, of this world. Far too many of us start to walk with the Lord, but then start to look back, much like Lot's wife did when God graciously and mercifully allowed Lot and his family to escape God's judgment upon, and destruction of, Sodom and Gomorrah. Today, let us stop and take inventory of our lives and ask God to show us what is hindering our walk with Him. What is keeping us from walking with and following after Jesus? It's time to stop making excuses and start making disciples. But before we can make disciples, we need to be disciples who don't make excuses for why we ourselves can't be disciples.

Monday, January 1, 2024

Small Steps to Know A Big God

Zechariah‬ ‭4:10‬ [10] For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”

Each year many of us start off by making a resolution that is aimed at improving who we are, and possibly moving closer to being who we desire to be. We make resolutions that we believe will improve our lives. We set goals and begin with great determination. What usually happens? We start out with great enthusiasm, only to eventually fizzle out. Quite often it is because we set unrealistic goals or become discouraged when our goals start out as fun, but end up being more work than we anticipated. Today's verses are an awesome reminder that the Lord rejoices even when we make small advances; when we take small steps. The Israelites had been released from captivity and were back in their land, rebuilding the Temple. However, when opposition came, the work stopped. Now they had another opportunity, and were restarting the work, but it was a major task that lie ahead for them. The Lord was encouraging them to move ahead, taking small step, as even the small steps were pleasing to the Lord because they were steps of obedience. My friends, I would challenge each of us who have called on the Lord to take the small steps necessary to get to know the God, who gave Himself for us, better. Rather than make resolutions that are aimed at "self", let us focus on taking small steps to get to know Him, and let Him take care of improving "self". Let us commit this year to the best outward goal that will do wonders to accomplishing inward goals. Get to know God by taking the small steps, like reading and studying God's Word, and praying. It might mean waking up a bit earlier than we did last year, or dedicating less time to thing that waste our time, and life; and dedicating that time to having intimate moments with Him. Do you want a resolution that will top any resolution any of us have ever made? Take the small pleasing steps of faith that will help us know the Big God who gave Himself for us. It will not only carry us through this year, but also the many years to come; should He tarry.