One Thing

Curly, played by Jack Palance in the movie "City Slickers," said "the secret to life is this."  Then he held up one finger. The secret was found in one thing.  When asked what the one thing was, he said, "That's for you to find out."

A young man came to Jesus and he asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus said to him, "You know the commandments." To which he replied, "I have kept them since a child."  Then Jesus said, “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Mark 10:21).

There was this one thing that this young man held on to that prevented him from accepting the one thing he really needed.  In his case it was wealth. Wealth is a head turner. It turned his head away from being a disciple who would have been a part is Jesus' earthly ministry.  This one thing kept him from the company of men such Peter, James and John.

What is the one thing in your life for which you would pass on being a follower of Jesus?  What is that one thing, if asked to give up, would cause you to walk away sadly?  For some it is wealth, for others fame, it might family, perhaps a position, maybe it is pride.  What is the one thing that you just couldn't leave behind in order to follow Jesus?

We all struggle with this question - that is our humanity. But our goal, our aim in life must be to put Jesus first. And, when a line is drawn in the sand between Jesus and anything or anyone else, it is important, it is essential, that we choose Jesus. Even when your family draws the line, you must choose him. If you don't, how can you lead them to the Savior?  Even when big money is on the line. If you don't choose him, how can he bless you with true fortune?

This one thing is the real path of the disciple, like the young man, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples" (Luke 14:33).

Jus' Sayn.

Getting It Right

When I was young and cocky and dumb, I used to say, "I don't get mad, I get even!"  The truth of the matter was that I didn't get it at all. Carrying a grudge is equivalent to letting someone occupy your mind - rent free. You bear the entire burden while they go on about their business. To act out on your anger brings you down to their level and mires you in the same muck. Neither way ends well.

More importantly, neither way honors God or advances your purpose as a child of the King. Consider the words of the apostle Paul, "God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors" (Cor 5:19, 20).

As His ambassadors, we must be about His business of reconciliation not be about holding people at arms length or breaking down relationships in anger. Relationship is the hallmark of our personal relationship with God. In fact people "will know you are [Jesus'] disciples by your love for one another" (John 13:35).

Establishing, enriching and restoring relationships can be quite difficult. Walking away or lobbing verbal grenades can even feel right at the moment. But the work of God is clear and taking the easy path or personal comfort have little to do with accomplishing that work - we are to be reconcilers not wreckers.

How can you be actively engage in the eternal work of God while you are engaging in internal squabbles within the body of Christ. Or, how does one draw another to Christ while pushing him away from self?  When we won't forgive or won't try to reconcile, we stand in opposition to God's will. We must choose between God's will and our won't.

Jus' Sayn.

Judging The Righteous

It's called the Bema Seat Judgment.  It is said to be a judgment of those who are righteous, not to determine salvation, which is already sealed, but to expose failed opportunities in life and to determine the degree of glory one is to receive.   I have been shown 2 Cor 5:10 as a proof text for this doctrine. This passage reads, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

There are three things I have to say about this doctrine: 1) I am always suspicious of a teaching that comes from a single verse.  God wrote an entire Bible, which sets a context to guide our understanding of truth. 2) The passage says that "we must all" not we as Christians must appear before the judgment seat and it says "to receive what is due" not determine one's rank or amount of glory. And, 3) the passage concludes with "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (v. 17) and "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (v. 21).

If the old is gone and the new has come, upon what is the judgment made - the old or the new?  It would have to be the new. And what is the new?  The new, upon which we are judged, is "the righteousness of God," which is ours because "God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us."  We, who are disciples of Christ, are judged in accordance with His sacrifice. The question to be answered in judgment is regarding whether or not Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

I am not suggesting that what we do as Christian has no bearing on our judgment - what we do reveals who our Lord really is. If I accept His gift and follow in His steps as a disciple would do, my life will be changed. Otherwise, if I keep doing what I've always done, I prove I reject His offer of a new life and his sacrifice. In that case, I must stand before God on my own merits. And, as "all sin falling short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23), I will not enter into His glory after judgment.

Jus' Sayn.

Open Doors and Obstacles

Everyone looks for open doors of opportunity. As Christians, we believe that God opens such doors for his children, especially for ministry opportunities.  But just exactly how do we know when a door has been opened?  It would seem that when access is is available and the obstacles are removed would be a pretty good bet. That would make sense, right?  You may have guessed that my using right probably means wrong and you would be right,

The fact is that easy access may well be the work of Satan, who wants to trick you into making the wrong choice (cf. 2 Cor 2:11).  Remember the two paths of Matthew 7:13, 14?  Which path leads to destruction?  The easy one, which many choose.  Think of all the "shortcuts" and "get rich quick schemes" people have fallen for.  Isn't it much more in ticking to take a pill rather than change your lifestyle in order to get in shape?  Can you truly get in shape without reshaping your lifestyle?  Can you say "no way?"

The truth is, real growth usually is accomplished by overcoming obstacles.  Muscle is gained by the resistance of weights being lifted. Weight is lost by resisting tasty calories. It is in the hard work of plowing through resistant soil that a new harvest is achieved. When there seems to be no resistance, you may be falling for something.

Paul's ministry choices are good examples of this principle. Paul was arguably the most effective evangelist of his generation and one of the greatest of all time. Did he have an easy time of?  Did he choose ministry paths of least resistance?  Not at all.  Listen to Paul, in his own words, "a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me" (1 Cor 16:9).  Opposition or resistance did not deter him. It may have, rather, signaled a stronghold of Satan, which further inticed him to accept the challenge.

I'm not saying we should look for difficult ground to plow or pass on fertile fields.  I am saying that we need to be seeking God's direction and not worry ourselves with how many or how difficult the barriers may or may not be. We should concern ourselves with one thing only: What would the Lord have me do?  Relative ease or difficulty should not determine the Christian's path, God's will should.

Listen for His will in your quiet times of prayer and Bible study. Listen to the opinions expressed by trustworthy Christian friends and leaders. Pay attention to the Holy Spirit's nudges. Take notice of your life's circumstances and current events. Weigh all these factors out and seek God's will with all your heart - you will find it and you will be successful in God's sight. The world, however, may think you are crazy - many thought Jesus was, even his own family (see Mark 3:21).

Jus' Sayn.

Humility Rising

Getting noticed. Getting respect. Getting cred. Getting a prominent place at the table, so to speak, is a real concern for most people. We want to be the rising star, the person to know or the on the "A List."  We want the place of honor and we'll do what we have to trying to secure it. We're not above just inserting ourselves in a place of prominence or taking a better seat at the table, as it were.

Punk gang members who have never accomplished one truly productive thing in their lives will demand respect with the threat of violence. College students not having the character, grit or perhaps even the brain power will cheat to get high marks. In the workplace, some are not above taking credit for another's work in order to get praise or secure a promotion.

The problem is that personal promotion or stolen recognition is not built on a secure foundation. It is not substantive or even real. The truth will eventually come to light, your assumptive honor will be exposed and you will be assigned a lower place at the table - you will be humbled. You will "reap what you have sown" (Gal 6:7).

Jesus spoke of the foolishness of self-promotion using a table scene where a man assumes a high place at the table but is directed by the host to give it up to one more deserving and the humility he faced as he was sent to the least spot. Better, Jesus said, to humbly take the least spot and then let the host insist that you move up (cf. Luke 14:7-11).

The universal truth of the matter is that, "God opposes the proud but will lift up the humble in due time" (1 Pet 5:5, 6).   We don't need to elevate ourselves, God will take care of that at the right time. And, we can't truly assume a place at the table for God will humble us in due time as well.

It really boils down to a faith thing: Do you trust in God to honor you at the right time and in the proper way or, not trusting Him, do you insist on taking matters into your own hands now?

Jus' Askn.

Redeeming The Time

We live in a hectic age.  In the words of Tim Kimmel, the Little House on the Pearie has been replaced with the Little House on the Freeway.  There are so many activities constantly biding for our time. It is so easy to become too busy for God. We can even get side tracked from His will by religious activity. Say what?

Truth.  Not taking the time or expending the energy to listen for and discern God's will, we can flit from one program to another, latching on to the next popular religious program. Listen to Paul's warning, "Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. …" (Eph 5:15-17).

The wise are careful to make the most of life's opportunities because they strive to understand what the Lord's will is, not just follow along with the crowd. What is God doing around you that He is inviting you to join in with Him?  What are your life's circumstances equipping you to accomplish?  What is your daily Bile study pointing you toward?  What is the Spirit nudging you toward?  What are faithful Christians encouraging you to do?  The wise are weighing all these voices together to seek a clear word from the Lord - the foolish just allow the next thing to occupy their time, possibly using the.time God was calling them to something else.

Sometimes it is the good that stands in way of the better or best. It may be a family activity, a church program, a civic opportunity or any number of good things that take up the time which was needed to accomplish God's task for you. That new job may edge out a call to missions. Driving the kids to every extra curricular activity possible may make it impossible to drive down to the local mission house to donate time. Agreeing to that next church committee assignment may keep you tied up when God's assignment is revealed.

I'm not saying we shouldn't commit to things, but I am saying that we should not commit to so much that there is no time left for divine appointments. And, I am saying that we should be actively seeking God's will daily.

Jus' Sayn.

The Good Life

Despite the economic downturns we have faced as a nation, most have not given up on the dream of the "Good Life," especially for our children. We want them to get a good education, land a good job, buy a good house and have a good retirement program. It all sounds so...good, doesn't it?

And, it is even what Jesus wants for us as well, right?  He said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10) - that seems plain enough, doesn't it?  It is clear that Jesus wants us to have an abundant life, but is abundant life to be equated with a comfortable life?  In other words, if you get the education, job, house and retirement of your dreams, would Christ say, "We'll done, my good and faithful servant"(Matt 25:21), you have achieved the good I I have desired desired for you?

To put it yet another way, if you struggle with finances all your ice, if you never have an abundance of money, never own a house, never get a degree and find you have to work during your retirement years, would Christ be disappointed with your life?  If so, wouldn't he have been disappointed with the lives of the prophets, the apostles, with John the Baptist and even with his own life?  Hmmm.

Abraham was very wealthy and is regarded as our model of faithfulness.  John the Baptist lived on locust and wild honey but was regarded as unparalleled among men. The common denominator of what God views as abundance does not appear to be wealth or comfort. In fact, Jesus said, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God" (Matt 19:24).

The common denominator of the abundant or good life Jesus had in mind is not found in possessions but rather in purpose. The size of your bank account and the location of your house has nothing to do with feeling your life has meaning and that it is worthwhile. You can be rich or poor and have a full life or it can be terribly empty. The difference is found in fulfilling God's purpose, that must be your primary concern.  In point of fact, if you "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt 6:33).

Jus' Sayn.

Choosing Your Attitude

A couple of days ago, I picked p a book I haven't read in over 30 years, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. In it he talks about his personal experiences and observations as prisoner number 119,104 in the Nazi concentration camp system.

It is filled with terrible truths and awesome insights - I highly recommend it.  One particular revelation from his experience and observation that keeps rolling around in my head is that when the Nazis took everything from them, their freedom, their possessions, the clothes off their backs and even shaved every hair from their bodies - what alone remains is, "the last of the human freedoms, the ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances."

Satan, through the work of evil men or tragic circumstance, can rob you of every thing you you hold dear. He can reduce you to poverty or rob you of a loved one.  But your attitude, that remains in your control.

We often hear how that poverty is the root behind all the anger and rage of those who live in our inner cities. We hear how they are a product of their environment and can hardly be blamed for the violent acts they commit. However, some of the biggest smiles and deepest laughter cames from some of the poorest people I ever saw in Honduras and the Virgin Islands.

How do we explain this reality?  Attitude is a choice!  Jesus put it this way,“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matt 6:22-23).  In other words, if you choose to focus on the pain or the problems or the injustice, your attitude will become dark plunging your spirit into darkness. But, if you focus on the possibilities, the solutions and the good that can be found, your attitude will be brighter, lifting your spirit out of darkness.

Circumstances are often beyond our control but our response to them never is. Paul, writing from prison, wrote in Phil 4:12,  "I have learned the secret of being content in any circumstance."  That secret was revealed in verse 13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Regardless of Paul's circumstance, he chose to keep his eyes on Jesus and the victory that was assured in Him.

Its your attitude, choose wisely. Jus' Sayn.

Bit By Bit

In Deuteronomy 7:22, the Lord said something quite interesting, "The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you."  Their people had been in captivity 400 years, they had wandered in the desert 40 years - now was their time, they were ready to take the land. The reality was, however, while they were ready, they were not prepared. The land and the beasts therein, would have devoured them.

Do you remember when you were old enough to make all your oen decisions?  What were you, about 12 or so?  You were ready to take on the world, except that your parents knew the world would eat you alive. I didn't think I needed that last year of high school. I only stayed in for my parents' sake. I had no idea how much more preparation I would need to enter the land God had in mind for me. I had no idea of the "wild beasts" that crouched before me.

Many have jumped into a marriage without the slightest preparation for the difficulties they would face only to be devoured by the demands of the relationship. Others have accepted a promotion, thinking it was their time, but not having a clue of how much would be required of them and just how untamed the "beasts" around them would be - often to go from promotion to demotion or unemployment in rapid succession.

Solomon once wrote, "The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride" (Eccles 7:8).  That is to say that it is far less important when you begin than how you end. Patience on the front end, taking the time and expending the energy to be ready before launching out, will serve you much better in the end than pridefully running headlong into more than you bargained for.  

Perhaps you remember the Proverb,  "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (16:18).  A little humility now, admitting you are not quite ready and a bit of patience as you prepare for the future, will be so worth it then.  There's another, lesser know and not inspired, proverb you may have heard: How does one eat an elephant?  One bite at a time!

Jus' Sayn.

Meek Vs. Weak

I grew up on western movies.  John Wayne, Audie Murphy, Randolph Scott and the like.  Those movies didn't always have a preacher character, but when they did, he was usually as pale as milk toast and easily pushed around by the rough and gritty bad guys.  Preacher and Christians in general were typically cast in the Hollywood version of meek, which was equated as weak.  However, as is so often the case, Hollywood was dead wrong.

When Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek" (Matt 5:5), the imagery he drew from was that of a stallion trained as a horse of war. A stallion, in the wild, resists with power and fury any attempt to hold him down. It is dangerous and deadly to hem one in.  A stallion trained for war was very compliant to his master's will; however, it was far from weak or timid.  The war horse was a very fierce animal that would charge headlong into the fray. The animal was powerful and awesome, but yielding to its master.

Far from weak and timid, the Lord calls his disciples to "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong" (1 Cor 16:13).  We are not to run from evil but to don the armor of God and take our stand against the devil himself (cf. Eph 6:10-18).

The life Jesus calls us to requires strength, not weakness. Turning the other cheek is extremely difficult, demanding tremendous control. To refuse to retaliate when offended runs counter to every fiber in us. To love our enemies and pray for those who insult us does not go down well. To willingly take the last place, to allow someone to take what is rightfully ours, to risk rejection for our witness - all these and so much more, require strength and courage.

As Christians, we are to be fierce in our faith and courageous in our calling - not weak and fearful.  That is not to say we are to be pushy or demanding or surly; but tenderly firm, peacefully assertive and lovingly insistent on what is true and good and holy.

Do you think Jesus was a sissy?  We're the apostles wimps?  Are those who stand for their Christian faith as they face martyrdom today milk toast?  Is doing the right thing really to do the easy or safe thing?

Jus' Askn.

Spiritual Junk Food

Our bodies crave nutrition. We need and hunger for a balance of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Unfortunately, we often feed it junk. Seeking to satisfy our appetite instead of our hunger, we fill our stomachs with empty calories that titilate our taste buds but fail to satisfy our hunger. We paradoxily live in a land where we get all we want to eat but are left wanting in nutrition.

You know this, don't you?  We live in the bread basket of the world. We have the finest agricultural machine ever conceived by humans. We have an over abundance of dairy, meats, vegetables, grains and fruits. We are the envy of the world and we live on pharmaceuticals because we are so poorly nourished. Our state of malnutrition comes not because we do not have but because we bypass the healthy and grab the handy, the pre-packaged, the drive-thru, the taste tantalizing - we fill our bodies with junk, which leaves us craving and needing nutrition for which we take a pill. Sounding strangely familiar?

Like our bodies, our spirits hunger for nutrition. We crave "pure spiritual milk" (1 Pet 2:2), grow to need "solid food" (1 Cor 3:3) and  "hunger for righteousness" (Matt 5:6).  We crave manna from heaven but fill our spirits with quick and easy junk food, which titilates our senses but leaves us starving for lack of nutrition. Our mouths are full of the choicest treats, which Hollywood and the Internet dangle before us - sex appeal, glamor, looks, apparel, cars, comfort, style, etc. - everything except what our spirits crave: Righteousness and holiness.

We know we are empty, we feel the hunger pangs of the soul but instead of turning to heaven for manna, we turn to our TVs and our IPads and our GameBoys and our credit cards - we fill ourselves with spiritual junk food and wonder why our souls are so hungry, why we feel so empty. We live in a land where we have everything we want but fail to get anything we need.

We have dollars but no sense. We make love without having love. We have all the modern conveniences but always feel inconvenienced. Surrounded by time-saving, labor-reducing, output-producing machinations of every stripe - we have no time, we feel more stressed and never feel caught up.

Why does this happen?  Because, despite the warning of Scripture, we have been sold a bill of goods that is worthless. We have been duped into believing that we have all the answers and can satisfy our every need. Although we have been clearlly warned, "Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights … (Jas 1:16, 17), we keep looking below to satisfy the craving our our spirit. It's time to look up.

Jus' Sayn.

Joyful Not Happy

One of the things I've often heard people say, especially when they were about to give in to a selfish desire is, "My god just wants me to be happy."  The small "g" in god was intentional to reflect the smallness of their god, who is not the God of the Bible but rather a god of their own making.

How can I say such a thing?  How can I be so sure and so....so judgmental?  I'm certain because the Word is so clear about this matter. And, I am  not being judgmental.  I'm not judging the individual as worthless or evil, I'm inspecting the fruit being borne as the Lord instructs us in Matthew 7:16-20. Happiness is not a "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:22, 23), "joy" is.  This "happiness" one gets when being selfish is not the "joy" that comes from a selfless heart.

The emotion which derives from getting what we want often comes at the expense of what we need and what God truly desires for us.  James said to "consider it pure joy...when you face trials of many kinds (Jas 1:2).  Paul said to "rejoice" in difficult situations (Phil 4:4-7).  It was "for the joy set before him that [Jesus] endured the cross" (Heb 12:2).

True joy comes as a fruit of being in the center of God's will not in the self centeredness of your own. Often joy or His blessing comes as a product of enduring painful situations - "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matt 5:4).

Here's the deal: God wants us to be "Holy" (cf.  1 Pet 1:16), which produces true joy. Satan wants us to selfishly focus on the pursuit of personal happiness at all costs to others and ultimately to ourselves   Have you ever noticed that temptation promises happiness?  And are you not aware just where this temptation originates?  "Could it be Satan!" (Sorry couldn't help quoting the Church Lady from SNL).  Note Matthew 6:13, "Lead us not into 'temptation' but deliver us from the evil one."

If you want the happiness that truly comes from God, which is what the Bible calls joy, "Take delight in The Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Ps 37:4).

Jus' Sayn.

Richly Poor

The more I understand golf, the clearer it becomes that it is a game of opposites. The way you hold the club doesn't seem right at first.  Planting my left foot instead of turning with the swing required I go completely against my intuition. And, the very idea of driving down to get the ball to go up, well, just didn't seem right at all. Nevertheless, up is down, stuck is fluid and less is more - go figure.

The more I understand the kingdom of Christ, the clearer I see that it too is a kingdom of opposites. One in particular is found in Matt 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  The world pitied the poor. We recoil so much at being poor that we have declared a war on poverty.  Good people every wish to stamp out poverty. And yet, the Lord says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."  Hmmft!  Sup with that?

It is not in becoming poor or in being poor that the blessing is found for were are encouraged to "buy gold from me" in Revelation 3:18.  Rather, it is in realizing that you are impoverished. Return with me to Revelation - "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing .’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. …" (3:17-18).

Those who recognize they have nothing apart from Jesus are the ones who will continue turning to him and receiving his blessing, his riches. The poor in spirit do not trust in their wisdom, their position, their resources or their power; they trust in the Savior. They, therefore inherit true riches.

Jus' Sayn.

Help For Today

In the Exodus of Israel from Egyptian slavery, the Lord led them through a desert.  Having no food and no way to gather or grow any, God gave them manna, which was rained down from heaven (Ex 16:4). They collected what was needed for each day only as it was provided just for the day - any more than that would spoil and develop worms.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he told them to ask only for their daily needs (cf.  Matt 6:11). In the same vein as the Exodus, Jesus teaches them to ask for  their "daily bread."  You notice He didn't tell them to ask for a secure job or a vested retirement or even enough to guarantee tomorrow's needs. Jesus tells them to ask for today only.   He would advance this point in verse 34 in saying, "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Why would God want us to live in the day rather than plan and prepare for the future?  What would be wrong with securing our future?  To begin with, let me say that I'm not suggesting that God is against savings or retirement - I am, rather, questing the premise of "securing tomorrow."  To begin with, one cannot truly secure tomorrow. Retirement accounts can be lost (remember Enron?), the best jobs can be lost and even your life itself may not make it to the future.

More important, when we feel "secure" in ourselves, we tend to not rely on God. Security, therefore, can draw us away from God rather than cause us to praise Him. Trusting in God daily, keeps us connected to Him daily. Therefore, living in today, asking for daily sustenance, is a faith builder, which also increases our trust factor.

Go ahead and buy insurance, invest in a retirement plan and put a little in your savings account. But don't put your trust in them for they are not trustworthy - only God is trustworthy, only God can secure your life.

Jus' Sayn.

The Coming Kingdom

Thy kingdom one, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  You probably do know that phrase is part of the Lord's Prayer. You may even know it is found in Matthew 6:10.  But do you know what is being asked and how it will be fulfilled?

In haven, there are no rebellious ones. There are none who do not accept Jesus as Lord. Everyone is eager to serve God without question. Whatever the Father says is accepted without question. Every thought, every word and every deed is in accord with the will of the Father.In heaven, God's will is fully embraced by everyone.

On earth - not!  On earth, many do not believe there is a God. Of those who do believe, too many do not really want to serve.  Instead, they want God to serve them. We, His children,  question the validity of His choices at times. We say things like, "How cold you let happen?"  We choose to do other than what we know He wants..

Here on earth, we need a revival. We need to be reconnected with our God so that He might fully reign in our lives.  We need to better connect with the world around us that they might become connected to the Father and that ultimately, He might reign in every heart.

That might seem like an impossible task. And "with man this is impossible, but for God, nothing is impossible" (Matt 19:26).  I know God can do this but I do not know if or when. I also know that it would take a revival in His people. We need to be praying that God will revive us and draw the world to Him through us so that the kingdom can come on earth as it is in heaven.

Jus' Sayn.

Truth and Consequnces

Truth: "all sin and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23).  Consequence: "Sin leads to death" (Rom 6:16). Adam & Eve were the first to find this out when they disobeyed God in the garden.  Falling from His glory, they landed outside the gates of Paradise and separated from the Tree of Life.

Many an adulterer has come to fully understand this truth and consequence as a judge brings the gavel down,  bringing finality to his/her marriage. Chronic gamblers roll the dice and turn the cards on a collision course with financial ruin and often the destruction of their family. Drug addicts snort, pop, smoke and inject away their health, wealth and wisdom until they are left broke, sick, stupid and alone. I could go on to talk about liars, thieves, cowards, gluttons and more, but you get the point.

God sets a standard and calls us to pursue it in obedience. To the degree that we live up to that standard of conduct, that is the degree to which we experience life found in the positive consequence of walking in His glory. I'm not talking about perfection, I'm talking about choosing a path upon which we stumble and rise, experiencing life along the way and by grace received through faith, experience the full glory of the Lord in heaven.

There are always two paths set before us. One path leads to life, the other leads to death (cf Matt 7:13, 14). The paths you choose daily make up the path of  your life, which ends in final death or ultimate life. At any moment, you are choosing to follow the path the Lord lay before you or choosing one that diverts you away from it.

The choice is always yours but the truth is that there are always consequences and not always what you really want.

Jus' Sayn.

Hallowed Be Thy Name

Remember the opening words of The Lord's Prayer?  "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..." (Matt 6:9)?  Has a nice ring, doesn't it?  You feel a bit more religious just saying it.  But what do we mean by it?  I'm not asking what does the word "hallowed" mean, per se. I'm asking what do we mean to say by using it?

The word itself means "holy or honored."  But when we use it, what do we mean by it?  Anything?  If I say "holy or honored" be His name, what is my intention?  Do I have any?  Is it just a word we say because it was a word we were taught or does it have significance for us?

Think about this with me - if I say "honored be your name," what.do I do to honor it?  Do I simply say the word honor?  Or, is there not some call upon my life to bring honor to His name in that statement?  We say the word but do we honor the Name?

Does your life honor God?  When people know you bear the name of Christ (Christian), do they, in seeing how you live, think what an awesome God He must be?  When others bear witness to your worship, are they drawn to praise His name?  Does your life draw your children closer to Him or drive a wedge?

Do you, in word, thought and deed, bring honor to the name of God or raise questions about His goodness or even His existence?

Jus' Askn.

Dead Man Living

Temptation is very compelling, but only up to a point. The point at which it no longer has any power is death. Try as you may, one simply cannot tempt a corpse. No amount of wealth, power or fame can turn the head of one who is dead. Sultery women can't catch his eye, drug dealers can't wet his appetite and not even "death by chocolate cake" appeals to him - a corpse can't be tempted.

This was the apostle Paul's argument to those rejected grace suggesting that it would give people a license to sin. Paul's response was very clear, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Rom  6:1, 2).  He went on in chapter six to argue that we have died and were buried in death with Christ, freeing us from the power of sin.

That is not to say that we can never be tempted or that we never can sin. It is to say that the power to overcome both is in our dying to self and being raised up with Christ. The closer I walk with Jesus, the less I am tempted to do wrong. For me to sin at all requires that I allow the old self to be resurrected. When I am dead to self, allowing Christ to live in me as Paul explains in Galatians 2:20, I am not under the power of temptation and sin but rather the Spirit of Christ.

I wish I could say the old me died completely and I now live completely under the control of the Spirit, but that simply is not the case. The old man is resurrected from time to time. But I can say that it takes more to raise him up and less to let him die as I yield more and more to the presence of Christ's Spirit. While I'm not always successful, I choose daily to no longer live but let Christ live in me. When I bow to His presence, I am dead to temptation and sin.

Jus Sayn.

Forgive and Forget

I'll forgive him but I will never forget what he's done to me. Translation: I'll keep my anger in check but I'm going to hang on to inside forever. True meaning: I'm never going to truly forgive and let my inward hurt go. Problem: I have a difficult time believing in or accepting forgiveness.

It is difficult to forgive at times. I think it is especially tough when it was someone close who offended us. It seems that Christians often have a bigger problem forgiving other Christians than unbelievers - we tend to expect more of them. I get it. Unfortunately, God does not accept it.

His Word is very clear on the subject: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Eph 4:32).  Notice the "one another?"  The Lord is specifically saying that Christians are to forgive other Christians - the very ones whose offenses we feel least inclined to overlook.

Why would that be so?  Even given that He says, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matt 6:14, 15), why other Christians in particular?  I mean we, like the Prodigal Son's older brother, have a right to remain angry - don't we?  Not!

How we deal with one another in Christ tells the world around us what we truly believe about Him and this whole redemption thing for which He came and died. Our treatment of each other as Christians is so telling that Jesus proclaimed, "they will know you are my disciples by your love for one another" (John 13:35).

So, what's a disciple to do?  Forgive!  Forgive and forget so that the last ounce of anger and resentment is purged from your heart and soul that you might truly follow Jesus in this matter - that you might truly shine as His disciple.

Jus' Sayn.

Pleasing God

Right at 30 years ago, I took a personality survey, which identified me as a "Golden Retriever."  The significance of that designation was that I tested positive as a people pleaser. Being a people pleaser has the advantage of people tending to like you. A disadvantage would be that some people would take advantage of you. A greater significance would be that one can be torn between the desire to please people and the call to serve God - those two desires can be polar opposite at times.

Paul set them in bold juxtaposition in Galatians 1:10, "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."  Paul is not saying that  you cannot please people and God at the same time, but he his clearly insisting that when in conflict, disciples must choose to obey God.

This truth was clearly taught in the apostles' response to being reminded they were instructed to no longer teach in Jesus' name: "Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!"  Likewise, we must please God rather than man.

There is a constant pull by others away from God. Sometime it's from our work, sometimes our friends or family, and sometimes the pull is even to please ourselves. Regardless, the answer is the same, we must serve or please God rather than man.

Sometimes it is very difficult to resist that pull. However, it helps to realize that to please God is to serve others for God's will is always best. To give people a model of true discipleship is a wonderful gift that better affords them a glimpse of faith in action. Your righteousness may be the thing that ultimately draws them to Christ. We can either follow people in error or lead them in righteousness.

There is only one good choice, only one sensible decision: please God.

Jus' Sayn.

Don't Give Up

If you are like most of us, you've reached a point where you've thrown up your hands thinking, "What's the use, I've blown it again. I might as well give up. I'll never get it right."  You may hav been trying to lose weight, stick to a budget, maintain a relationship or any number of goals that you have set before you and failed to reach.

Even our faith walk falls prey to this thinking. You accepted Jesus as Lord, you determined to really change your life but then you slipped back into old patterns.  Once again you're thinking, "What's the use?  I'm never going to change. I am never going to live up to my faith. I'll never get this right."

The Children of Israel came to this same point. They had, once again turned away from God's will they had really blown it. It would have seemed it was the last straw.  But Samuel's word for them blew a different note entirely, replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart" (1 Sam 12:20).

This is the Lord's call to - to not give up or give. God is not done with you just because you have failed again, "Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Pet 3:9).  When Peter asked if he should forgive another wrong seven times, Jesus said, "No, but seven times seventy times"  (Matt 18:22).

God's position is to keep on forgiving as long as someone keeps coming back. As long as you have the breath of life, His call keeps calling to you. You are never too far past due so as to become unredeemable in this life.

That truth applies to all of life, by the way.  Start again to gain control of your weight, take a new run at giving up cigarettes, begin setting aside quiet time like you've tried before, go back to college, try to restart that friendship, step back through the doors of the church - don't give up or give in. In the words of Yogi Berra, "It ain't over til it's over."

Jus's Sayn.

Overcoming Temptation

Mark Twain once quipped, "I can resist anything except temptation."  Jesus warned his disciples, "Watch and pray so that you don't fall into temptation. For the spirit is willing but the body is weak" (Mark 14:38).  In The Lord's Prayer, we find the petition, "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil one" (Matt 6:13).  Obviously, temptation is nothing to play with - as in the old adage, "If you play with fire you might get burned."

And yet, the married business man chooses to have an "innocent" lunch date with the "attractive" new secretary.  The young mother, struggling with her weight chooses to stop at the pastry shop after leaving the gym "just for coffee."  Ever go to the animal shelter "just to look at the puppies?"

The problem with temptation is us. We're not watching out for it, we're not resisting its pull with active prayer and we're not fleeing from it. We kid ourselves thinking, "I can handle this."  Or we flirt with the notion "just this once won't really hurt."  Too often, we play with the fire and then wonder how we got burned.

You've heard the stories of the alcoholic who keeps a bottle in the cabinet or the nicotine addict who keeps a pack of cigarettes in his pocket - both thinking it will steel their resolve and both falling prey to the temptation. They fell because they we walking near the edge to begin with.

To watch and pray is to pay attention to our surroundings and when alerted to temptation, then resist, retreat or remove. We can resist by bringing the Holy Spirit along side in fervent prayer. We can retreat by turning our back on it and moving toward what is good instead (the business man could have phoned his wife instead of taking his attractive secretary to lunch, for instance).  We can remove by getting cable out of the house if TV causes you to stumble or empty your house of junk food if it trips you up.

Consider this: Every time you are tempted to do wrong, you have an opportunity to choose right. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and make him Lord of our lives daily and instead of allowing the lure of temptation to reel us in, choose rather to look for "what is pure, noble, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy" (Phil 4:8).

Jus' Sayn.

Defective Sacrifice

Animal sacrifices were an intrical part of the ancient Jewish devotion to God. There were any number of sacrifices, depending on one's reason for sacrifice and personal wealth. There was one common thread, however, woven into every sacrice offered: It must not have "any defect or flaw in it, for that would be detestable" (Deut 17:1).

This requirement was not arbitrary or capricious, it was meant to forecast the perfect sacrifice of God's Son at Calvary (cf. 1 Cor 5:7-8).  God gave His "one and only Son" (Jn 3:16) as sacrifice for our sins - our response cannot be half-hearted or less than our best. True devotion and authentic sacrifice cannot be realized while holding back our best and offering what we do not really value.

Digging into your pocket to see what's left over to put in the offering plate is an offense to God.  Doing everything else that you wanted to do and then seeing if you have any time left to devote to kingdom work is an affront. Offering to God what you don't really need or want is no sacrifice at all - it indicates little or no devotion.

Try offering your fiancée or your spouse your leftovers or things of no value to you. How loved or valued do you suppose she/he would feel?  Moreover, when you deeply love someone, do you even want to give him/her leftovers or things of no real value?

The disciple's call is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt 22:37) and to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness" (Matt 6:33).  Where does God rank in the priorities of your heart?  What is reflected by the amount of time, energy and resources you offer to Him?  What does your offering to God say about your devotion to Him?

Jus' Askn.

The Time Is Now

Sometimes, what Jesus says takes us back a bit. Matthew 8:21, 22 is one of those times. A man, wanting to follow Jesus, said, "Let me first bury my father and then I'll follow you."  To which Jesus replied, "Follow me and let the dead bury their own dead."  Wow!  Really Lord?  Sounds callous and harsh.  And, it doesn't seem to jive with the apostle Paul's warning, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Tim 5:8).  Sup??

What's up with that seems rather non-Jesus like until we understand His words in their cultural and kingdom context. In ancient times, it was expected that a son would provide for his elderly father until his death. This man was asking Jesus for a temporary pass until such time as his father died and he was relieved of that duty. Sounds reasonable and even honorable from a cultural and ethical point of view.

However, we must also view this from a kingdom context. Jesus was not telling this man that he could not be saved unless he turned his back on his responsibility.  This man was identified as "a disciple."  He was already saved.  Jesus was extending an invitation to join him in the kingdom work that he was about at that point in time.  If the man did not come then, if he waited until some unknown point in the future, after his father had died, the time for this opportunity would have passed.  The man would have to choose between his father and Jesus' call to action. He would either have to entrust others to provide for his father or miss out on this opportunity.

When the Lord calls us to a ministry opportunity, the time to obey is now, not some convenient time in the future.  That person who is open to hear as you share your faith may no longer be available to you. The person who needed the financial help you could have provided may be beyond that help. The mission trip your heart felt pulled to joined may be over. Do you see the point?  The only time to say yes to kingdom opportunities is when they are open to you. To put them off is often to pass them up.

And, as the disciple in this passage found out, there are even times when doing good (taking care of Dad) competes with a greater good (accepting a call from the Lord).  That disciple likely had other opportunities to serve in the kingdom but he would never again have that opportunity. Jesus knew there were others to provide for this disciple's father.  And, he knew that God had opened the door for the work to which he was calling him. It was not an easy call, but it was a clear one and one that would not wait for a more convenient time.

Perhaps your heart is being pulled toward a ministry opportunity but you have other things you want to do first or even feel it's your responsibility to do first. However, understand, to put off saying yes to that ministry opportunity may well be to pass it by.  Choose prayerfully and carefully.

Jus' Sayn.

A Jealous God?

There is a very curious proclamation in Deuteronomy 4:24, "The Lord is a consuming fire, a jealous God."  Consuming fire, jealous God - really?  Is this to say that the Green-eyed Monster drives the God of the universe into a heated fit of jealousy?  What kind of god would that be?  Not the God of the Bible.  Let me explain.

The context of Deuteronomy 4 is the choice between the God of Abraham and the false idol gods like Baal.  Jehovah God is the God, the One who spoke to them out of the fire, which led them out of Egypt. Following the practice of idol worship would pull them away from Him into the corruption of the world around them - to a man-made god, created to satisfy the lusts of ungodly people.

God's love for them was pure like the fire from which He spoke and just as consuming. This is the kind of love a parent has for a child. Our love for our children is pure. We do not love them for ourselves but for them. Our love seeks to provide for and protect them, especially from the dangerous pull of those who would bring them harm.  We are jealous for them  against gangs, drug dealers and posers of all stripes. We know that we are their real family, the ones who really love them and with whom they are safe.

God knows that He is the only true God, that He is the One who truly loves His children and that He alone can ultimately provide for us and save us from the ruin and destruction of the world around us. As the apostle Peter, full of the Holy Spirit said, "There is no other name given under heaven by which men can be saved" (Acts 4:12).  To carelessly allow us to wander off to follow that which can only end in destruction is not something a loving parent or God can do.

God loves you, just the way you are, regardless of how far you have wandered from Him. But He loves you too much to just turn His back and leave you there. He jealously calls you away from a life of following false promises that only leave you empty and separated from Him.

Jus' Sayn.

Unfailing Promises

An old man, wanting to give Israel something firm to cling to after he passed, Joshua calls them together and reminds them, "not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled" (Josh 23:14).  The promises were not necessarily fulfilled immediately or in the way they always imagined, but they ultimately never failed.

David was promised to be king of Israel. It certainly didn't appear that would be the case as he was on the run, hiding from King Saul, who was intent on killing him. Nonetheless, David ruled over Israel for 40 years. Imagine the difficulty of a ragtag band of slaves, wandering in the desert 40 years, holding on to the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey, and yet they did occupy that very land in Joshua's lifetime.

The Lord promises his children, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (Jojn 14:18).  You, however, may be up to your neck in the swirling waters of calamity, feeling quite alone, wondering where God is just now. How do you think Abraham felt 24 years after being promised a son that hadn't come?  And how do you suppose he felt in the 25th year as he heard Isaac's first cry?

God often passes on coming early, but He never comes too late. Sometimes He comes when it will be clear that only Gid could have worked one's problem out, sometimes He comes when the solution includes others who needed more time to be ready for His deliverance, sometimes He comes bringing a different solution than we imagined; but God never fails to come to His children.

You don't have to know how it will work out or when, you need only trust that God will not leave you to work it out alone.

Jus' Sayn.

Standing in the Holy Place

The psalmist asks, "Who may stand in the Holy Place?" (Ps 24:3b).  Who is it that God accepts as righteous?  Who is it that can lay claim to being Christlike or truly Christian?  We tend to answer that question in terms of church attendance and compliance to doctrine. The one who attends church regularly, gives faithfully, worships God correctly, performs the right rituals religiously, etc.

We place a high premium on what one does at the church building. We even say things like, "She's so faithful - always there every time the doors are open."  Or, "He such a fine Christian - one of our most faithful givers."  If you speak up in Bible class regularly, that's a bonus.  But is all that how God determines our faithfulness or righteousness?  Not really. You can do all that and be nothing more than a hypocrite or what many today would call a poser.

For God, the question is answered more outside the church building than in. In Psalm 24:4, He reveals that it is, "The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god."  In other words, the one who treats other justly out of good motives while trusting in God rather than worldly alternatives such as money, power or fame (our contemporary idols).

God is concerned with why you do the right thing, not just that you do it. He is concerned that you have faith in Him not just a belief He exists. God looks much deeper than the action or the words we use, He looks all the way into the heart and soul (1 Sam 16:7; Heb 4:12, 13).

It is not really what you do or what you believe, it is who you are and how you live. To put it in the words of the contemporary book "Not a Fan," it is not in being impressed with Jesus on some level, it is truly being a follower of Jesus that we are drawn to God. Your thoughts, words and deeds change because you heart is changed. You go and do what The Lord of your life leads you to.

Who or what is your life devoted to?

Jus' Askn.

Taking The Hill Country

There are lots of phrases to describe it, like "Easy Street," "Fat City," or "Made In The Shade."  The notion is simple: Not wanting to struggle, we want a life where things work to our advantage and go along without constant bumps in the road.   Anyone would want that, wouldn't they?

Not Caleb. Caleb was the one man who stood with Joshua ready to take the Promised Land while everyone else said it was too difficult. 45 years later, after Israel finally conquered the land and drove their enemies into the hill country, Caleb (now 85 years old) asked Joshua to let him take the hill country.

Really?  Take the hill country?  The battles were won.  The good pasture lands were free of enemy control, but the difficult hill country was where they retreated.  You want the hardest land to develop, which is filled with adversaries?  That was precisely what Caleb was wanting.

Why would he want such a thing?  What could he possibly be thinking?  Caleb, unlike others of his day and ours for that matter, did not want a life of ease, rather he wanted a life of victory as he trusted in the Lord to protect and provide. Listen to his own words, "Give me this land the Lord promised me...the Lord helping, I will drive them out" (Josh 14:12).

Caleb did not want a life where he would be tempted to trust in his own strength.  He wanted the life he had always experience, one that called him daily to trust in the Lord.  He sis not want to walk by sight but rather by faith.  The apostle Paul would, centuries later, affirm this choice in Romans 1:17b, "The righteous will live by faith."

I' not suggesting that we should look for difficult places to live or create hazardous condition in which to conduct our daily affairs. But I am suggesting that we, like Caleb, desire "the land God has promised," which may very well be characterized by difficulties. In other words: Instead of seeking out Easy Street, "Seek first the kingdom of God" (Matt 6:33). Be a follower of Jesus, first and foremost. Let Him empower you to deal with the giants in the hills.

Jus' Sayn.

The Battle Is The Lord's

In Joshua 10, the Gibeonites were being surrounded by the five Amorite logs from the hill country. Gibeonites sent word to Joshua. Facing five warrior king with their standing armies, the Gibeonites call upon the leader of  the sons of freed slaves who had spent their entire lives wandering in the desert. An interesting choice, don't you think?

Interesting though it might be, it was the right choice for Joshua came to their aide and routed all five armies, killing each of the five kings. Joshua succeeded in conquering all those warrior kings in one campaign because "the Lord God of Israel fought for them" (Josh 10:42).  Joshua succeeded against the odds because "the battle was not his but the Lord's" (2 Chron 20:15).

Joshua knew that God would fight for him. He called upon the Lord and fearless in faith went against the odds. God was faithful and Israel was given the victory.

You may be facing long odds or what appears to be a stacked deck. However, ou do not have to fight the battle, whatever it is. You can, as promised in Psalm 50:15, "Call on me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you."  If you will let go and let God have your troubles, trusting Him to save, He will give you the victory. Victory may not look like what you imagined, for the Lord may be working things out for you that we're beyond your imagination at the time.  James tells us that even trials can work for our good (Jas 1:2). And Paul says that agod can work all things for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28).

The point I hope you take from this is, regardless of what you're facing or how daunting it may look - if you are in Christ, the battle is not yours but the Lord's and He will win the victory.

Jus' Sayn.

In God We Trust?

From the meager penny to the hefty $100 bill, all of our currency declares, "in God we trust."  The way most American work for, worry about and wrestle with their money or lack thereof, shows that we, in fact, tend to worship the "Almighty Dollar" instead.

This was certainly King Asa of Judah's problem. When under siege by King Baasha, instead of turning to The Lord for help, he robbed the treasury of the Lord's temple and sent it to Ben-Hadad, king of Damascus to purchase his partnership against Baasha. He thought this gold and silver would buy him peace, instead it insured that he would never be free from the threat of war (cf. 2 Chron 16:9).

Is it any different today?  When we put our trust in the pursuit and gathering of money to insure our peace, don't we instead remain fretful. We plan, dream and scheme about ways to build up a stash of cash in order to pay off this bill or fix that thing or finance that need but the wants and the needs keep coming and your reserves seem always to be at risk or already depleted. Sound familiar, maybe a little too familiar?

I used to dream that by my age I'd be debt-free, including a paid-off mortgage and enough retirement funds banked to actually retire. However, the realities of life proved to be anything but that as I was stripped of everything a few years back.

Like Asa, money would not bring me the peace I desired. But unlike him, I chose not to put my faith in finances or anything material. As King David wrote, "Some trust in horses and some trust in chariots, but we will trust in the name of The Lord" (Ps 20:7).  I chose, and continue to choose, to trust in God instead of currency. As a result, I do not wrestle, wrangle or worry with the money-siphons of life. I know that God will provide as he always has.

In what or whom do you trust?

Jus' Askn.