August 31
Life’s labors are often exercises in futility. When one has invested himself in his work, he might find it unrewarding in the end. An example could be the farmer who planted his seeds in the spring of the Year of 2012 only to find the drought of this summer is destroying virtually all of his effort.
Everyone who relies upon the food produced by the American farmer will share his frustration at the grocery store when prices have risen sharply due to the high demand and low supply. This will affect meat products as well as vegetables and grains because the cost of feed for animals will sky-rocket, necessitating their early slaughter.
Yet although life’s endeavors can come to failure in spite of our best effort, there is one area of work where we know we shall not labor to no effect. As Paul states in I Corinthians 15:58, “Stand firm. Let nothing move you from your purpose. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in His behalf is not in vain.”
Jesus fully intends that those who invest their effort into the work of His Kingdom will reap the reward of their labor (see John 4:35-38). Unlike the failed crops that are the scourge of natural drought, the Living Water that is Christ will cause the seeds of truth sown by the faithful to come to glorious fruition.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Satisfy and Sustain
August 30
Many people have noted the stamp found on most food products which states, “Registered with the Department of Agriculture of the State of Pennsylvania.” Though it may seem irrelevant to the casual observer, the fact of having been thusly stamped is a testimony to the cleanliness and safety employed in the production of this food item.
The stamp is found on most products, even foreign ones. It simply means the company responsible for the foodstuffs has complied with the stringent requirements of the Penna. Dept. of Agr. It means the food you are about to consume was produced under the most exacting of standards. This is a comforting assurance.
But Jesus said in John 6:27, “Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him, God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:48), and He is the required sustenance for eternal life.
Because God has sent Him, approved Him, and ordained Him as the Savior of mankind, each man who ever lives must receive Him in order to not only satisfy his appetite for spiritual food but also to sustain his spiritual life. To partake of the Bread of Life is to share in life’s only pure, abiding sustenance.
Many people have noted the stamp found on most food products which states, “Registered with the Department of Agriculture of the State of Pennsylvania.” Though it may seem irrelevant to the casual observer, the fact of having been thusly stamped is a testimony to the cleanliness and safety employed in the production of this food item.
The stamp is found on most products, even foreign ones. It simply means the company responsible for the foodstuffs has complied with the stringent requirements of the Penna. Dept. of Agr. It means the food you are about to consume was produced under the most exacting of standards. This is a comforting assurance.
But Jesus said in John 6:27, “Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him, God the Father has placed His seal of approval.” Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:48), and He is the required sustenance for eternal life.
Because God has sent Him, approved Him, and ordained Him as the Savior of mankind, each man who ever lives must receive Him in order to not only satisfy his appetite for spiritual food but also to sustain his spiritual life. To partake of the Bread of Life is to share in life’s only pure, abiding sustenance.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The Gospel of the Kingdom
August 29
The world admonishes its own to aggrandize themselves, to ‘look out for number one.’ If you don’t promote yourself, nobody will do it for you. If you don’t make sure the world recognizes how valuable you are, your worth will go largely unappreciated. Because everyone else is furthering his own prospects, if you aren’t managing your interests well, they will be lost in the dust of achievers whose efforts outstrip your own.
As with so much that regards the Christian faith and the mindset it requires believers to bring to the table of ideas, this one is anathema to the Lord who tells us, “…let your light shine before men so they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven,” (Matthew 5:16). Your achievements are not so much to extoll you as to lift God up.
The culmination of the idea of exalting the Triune Majesty is that, “The gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.” These words that Jesus spoke in Matthew 24:14 convey the entirety of His purpose in coming to earth. He came to lift the Father high in the eyes of the people so they would behold the glory of the One whom He had sent.
When the Lord was high and lifted up, His train filling the Temple (Isaiah 6:1) all Heaven magnified His name. This magnification of His name is the ultimate goal of Calvary. May we who call ourselves His people, who are called by His name, devote ourselves to the lifting up of that holy name among the lost—so they will be saved and He will be glorified as “…the Kingdom (is) preached and …Christ will return.”
The world admonishes its own to aggrandize themselves, to ‘look out for number one.’ If you don’t promote yourself, nobody will do it for you. If you don’t make sure the world recognizes how valuable you are, your worth will go largely unappreciated. Because everyone else is furthering his own prospects, if you aren’t managing your interests well, they will be lost in the dust of achievers whose efforts outstrip your own.
As with so much that regards the Christian faith and the mindset it requires believers to bring to the table of ideas, this one is anathema to the Lord who tells us, “…let your light shine before men so they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven,” (Matthew 5:16). Your achievements are not so much to extoll you as to lift God up.
The culmination of the idea of exalting the Triune Majesty is that, “The gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.” These words that Jesus spoke in Matthew 24:14 convey the entirety of His purpose in coming to earth. He came to lift the Father high in the eyes of the people so they would behold the glory of the One whom He had sent.
When the Lord was high and lifted up, His train filling the Temple (Isaiah 6:1) all Heaven magnified His name. This magnification of His name is the ultimate goal of Calvary. May we who call ourselves His people, who are called by His name, devote ourselves to the lifting up of that holy name among the lost—so they will be saved and He will be glorified as “…the Kingdom (is) preached and …Christ will return.”
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tried and True
August 28
The Apostle Paul was a man of singleness of vision. Whether he was traversing the countryside to persecute Christians prior to his conversion (see Acts, Chapter 9) or whether he was sharing the good news of Christ with unbelievers from his own rented house in Rome (Acts 28:30, 31), he did it with resolute purpose.
He stated his vision clearly in his letter to the Colossians 1:28, where he said, “We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” This determined man recognized his own inadequacy to please our holy God but was unwavering in his determination to do so through His enabling.
In I Corinthians 1:18-29 Paul states that the gospel may appear foolish to man in his smug assessment of life and its origins and its ultimate destination, but that the “foolishness of God is wiser than men.” The apostle states that the death of Christ on the cross may appear to be the weakness of God, but it is actually the ultimate manifestation of His matchless power!
This methodology is temperate but relentless as Peter clearly states in I Peter 3:15, 16, “Do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience so those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” If the two greatest proponents of the gospel who ever lived share this philosophy and vision, shouldn’t we who follow in their steps espouse their tried and true methods!
The Apostle Paul was a man of singleness of vision. Whether he was traversing the countryside to persecute Christians prior to his conversion (see Acts, Chapter 9) or whether he was sharing the good news of Christ with unbelievers from his own rented house in Rome (Acts 28:30, 31), he did it with resolute purpose.
He stated his vision clearly in his letter to the Colossians 1:28, where he said, “We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” This determined man recognized his own inadequacy to please our holy God but was unwavering in his determination to do so through His enabling.
In I Corinthians 1:18-29 Paul states that the gospel may appear foolish to man in his smug assessment of life and its origins and its ultimate destination, but that the “foolishness of God is wiser than men.” The apostle states that the death of Christ on the cross may appear to be the weakness of God, but it is actually the ultimate manifestation of His matchless power!
This methodology is temperate but relentless as Peter clearly states in I Peter 3:15, 16, “Do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience so those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” If the two greatest proponents of the gospel who ever lived share this philosophy and vision, shouldn’t we who follow in their steps espouse their tried and true methods!
Monday, August 27, 2012
No Alternative
August 27
What does it mean to believe in Jesus? That assertion, though valid for countless millions of souls, has more than one level of application. For some, it is a nominal assent, entailing essentially that a Man named Jesus is an actual, historical figure, that He was a gentle spirit, loving teacher, and helper of His fellow man.
To another, He is a claimant of the title of Messiah, although He neglected to accomplish the military victories required of the Conquering Messiah, and therefore His claim is not considered to be viable. To others, Jesus is indeed the Messiah who came to suffer for the sins of all mankind as foretold in Isaiah 54 and He will come again in great glory to defeat God’s adversary once and for all.
To believe passionately in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord places a man in a different category than does merely recognizing Him as an historical figure or a charlatan who’s made false claims to Messiahship. As Paul said in II Corinthians 4:13, to be an espouser of the Savior Christ is to, “…believe, therefore I have spoken; with that same spirit of faith you also believe and therefore speak.”
When one’s spiritual eyes have been opened, when the light of the reality of one’s need for salvation becomes clear, when one recognizes that there is only ONE who fits the criterion for being that Savior, that Messiah, that Holy One who left heaven to walk among us and carry our sin away from us, there is no alternative than to speak of Him, to share one’s faith in Him—so all may know and be saved.
What does it mean to believe in Jesus? That assertion, though valid for countless millions of souls, has more than one level of application. For some, it is a nominal assent, entailing essentially that a Man named Jesus is an actual, historical figure, that He was a gentle spirit, loving teacher, and helper of His fellow man.
To another, He is a claimant of the title of Messiah, although He neglected to accomplish the military victories required of the Conquering Messiah, and therefore His claim is not considered to be viable. To others, Jesus is indeed the Messiah who came to suffer for the sins of all mankind as foretold in Isaiah 54 and He will come again in great glory to defeat God’s adversary once and for all.
To believe passionately in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord places a man in a different category than does merely recognizing Him as an historical figure or a charlatan who’s made false claims to Messiahship. As Paul said in II Corinthians 4:13, to be an espouser of the Savior Christ is to, “…believe, therefore I have spoken; with that same spirit of faith you also believe and therefore speak.”
When one’s spiritual eyes have been opened, when the light of the reality of one’s need for salvation becomes clear, when one recognizes that there is only ONE who fits the criterion for being that Savior, that Messiah, that Holy One who left heaven to walk among us and carry our sin away from us, there is no alternative than to speak of Him, to share one’s faith in Him—so all may know and be saved.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Found in the Arc
August 26
Some religions have gained adherents through conquest. Some have gained them through quiet appeal to the sense of the serene for which man yearns. Christianity has been boldly proclaimed by people who have met the Living Christ, have a personal relationship with Him and have a profound longing within them to share the blessing they have received by God’s grace with everyone they meet.
Believers in Christ know they have been admonished by the Lord to do this; after all, they have Jesus’ own directive to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” Mark 16:15. And they know they are not tasked with accomplishing this amazing feat on their own. The Lord has promised His help in achieving the work.
So for over 2000 years, the faithful have been proclaiming Christ in their neighborhoods, in their institutions of higher learning, in their hospitals, and on the mission field. They reach out with Christ’s hands extended to help supply the needs of the poor, of the sick, of the oppressed, of the perishing. And they know they are not laboring for their own glory or for their own kingdom, but for the Lord’s.
They know, “All authority has been given to Me (Jesus) in heaven and on earth; therefore, go into all the world and make disciples of every creature…as I have commanded you, and surely, I am with you, even to the end of the age,” Matthew 28:18-20. When Jesus returns, many will be found in the Arc of Safety because He has empowered those who witness of Him to reach the lost with His gospel of love and salvation.
Some religions have gained adherents through conquest. Some have gained them through quiet appeal to the sense of the serene for which man yearns. Christianity has been boldly proclaimed by people who have met the Living Christ, have a personal relationship with Him and have a profound longing within them to share the blessing they have received by God’s grace with everyone they meet.
Believers in Christ know they have been admonished by the Lord to do this; after all, they have Jesus’ own directive to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” Mark 16:15. And they know they are not tasked with accomplishing this amazing feat on their own. The Lord has promised His help in achieving the work.
So for over 2000 years, the faithful have been proclaiming Christ in their neighborhoods, in their institutions of higher learning, in their hospitals, and on the mission field. They reach out with Christ’s hands extended to help supply the needs of the poor, of the sick, of the oppressed, of the perishing. And they know they are not laboring for their own glory or for their own kingdom, but for the Lord’s.
They know, “All authority has been given to Me (Jesus) in heaven and on earth; therefore, go into all the world and make disciples of every creature…as I have commanded you, and surely, I am with you, even to the end of the age,” Matthew 28:18-20. When Jesus returns, many will be found in the Arc of Safety because He has empowered those who witness of Him to reach the lost with His gospel of love and salvation.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Our Task
August 25
Proselyting is at the heart of some religions. Christianity is certainly no exception. One of the last things Jesus uttered to His disciples before He ascended into heaven was, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” Mark 16:15.
Jesus, better than anyone, knew the importance of His sacrifice and He, above all, wanted every man to know. It is no small thing that the Lord of glory left His throne in Heaven to trod the dusty streets of Jerusalem and to die on a cruel cross!
Because of His great sacrifice for man, man is tasked with the great commission. Those who believe must, as Jesus admonished, share the good news of His priceless gift with everyone who will listen, with everyone who will receive it. Nothing else that we do with the time on earth He allots to us has the importance of that one mission.
As we are told in Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news; who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation; who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” The good news becomes good news only when it is received into a heart. That is our task…to make every heart aware.
Proselyting is at the heart of some religions. Christianity is certainly no exception. One of the last things Jesus uttered to His disciples before He ascended into heaven was, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” Mark 16:15.
Jesus, better than anyone, knew the importance of His sacrifice and He, above all, wanted every man to know. It is no small thing that the Lord of glory left His throne in Heaven to trod the dusty streets of Jerusalem and to die on a cruel cross!
Because of His great sacrifice for man, man is tasked with the great commission. Those who believe must, as Jesus admonished, share the good news of His priceless gift with everyone who will listen, with everyone who will receive it. Nothing else that we do with the time on earth He allots to us has the importance of that one mission.
As we are told in Isaiah 52:7, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news; who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation; who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” The good news becomes good news only when it is received into a heart. That is our task…to make every heart aware.
Friday, August 24, 2012
The Glory of Wisdom
August 24
It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps that is at no time more obvious than when a man takes a bride. While the guests may criticize her selection of a wedding dress or her make-up or the jewels which adorn her, the groom sees only the beauty of the object of his affection. In his eyes, she is perfect. She is radiant.
The glow which he sees upon her is not so much emanating from her but from his own eyes which can find no fault in her. He sees in her the unique and exquisite love that she lavishes upon him. He sees the elevated status of his own esteem that he has enjoyed since she gave her heart to him. He sees her through the prism of his own feelings.
Objectivity is not part of the equation of falling in love. Ecclesiastes 8:1 asks, “Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man’s face and changes its hard appearance.” This is indeed true for the happy couple who exchange wedding rings and wedding vows on that happy day.
But, unlike marriage, which sometimes diminishes the allure that a man holds for his bride (and she for him), the beauty of wisdom continues to brighten the life of its possessor through a lifetime. The glory of wisdom is enhanced as it is employed in the ups and downs of life’s endeavors. Because the glory of true wisdom is God’s alone.
It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Perhaps that is at no time more obvious than when a man takes a bride. While the guests may criticize her selection of a wedding dress or her make-up or the jewels which adorn her, the groom sees only the beauty of the object of his affection. In his eyes, she is perfect. She is radiant.
The glow which he sees upon her is not so much emanating from her but from his own eyes which can find no fault in her. He sees in her the unique and exquisite love that she lavishes upon him. He sees the elevated status of his own esteem that he has enjoyed since she gave her heart to him. He sees her through the prism of his own feelings.
Objectivity is not part of the equation of falling in love. Ecclesiastes 8:1 asks, “Who is like the wise man? Who knows the explanation of things? Wisdom brightens a man’s face and changes its hard appearance.” This is indeed true for the happy couple who exchange wedding rings and wedding vows on that happy day.
But, unlike marriage, which sometimes diminishes the allure that a man holds for his bride (and she for him), the beauty of wisdom continues to brighten the life of its possessor through a lifetime. The glory of wisdom is enhanced as it is employed in the ups and downs of life’s endeavors. Because the glory of true wisdom is God’s alone.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Understand the Ultimate Truth
August 23
When we read verses like Proverbs 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold; to choose understanding rather than silver,” and Ecclesiastes 7:19, “Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city,” we know that God’s value system is far different than ours.
It is unlikely that those without a saving knowledge of Christ and the importance of the eternal reward He has purchased for us by His shed blood could hold in high esteem the simple commodity of wisdom. Without the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, man is disinclined to place anything above temporal wealth or power.
To be able to apprehend the value of the treasure of eternity, man must have the insight of God. James, the half-brother of Jesus says in 3:17 of his small epistle, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” God’s wisdom is unadulterated with the desire for wealth or power.
His wisdom loves and seeks peace. It will be graced by kindness and truth and the fruit it produces will leave a good taste in the mouth of partakers. Unlike the wisdom of the world, there will be no manipulation of God’s wisdom for selfish ends. His wisdom works to His glory, for it understands the ultimate truth that only that which is done in the behalf of the Kingdom of Christ will abide forever.
When we read verses like Proverbs 16:16, “How much better to get wisdom than gold; to choose understanding rather than silver,” and Ecclesiastes 7:19, “Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city,” we know that God’s value system is far different than ours.
It is unlikely that those without a saving knowledge of Christ and the importance of the eternal reward He has purchased for us by His shed blood could hold in high esteem the simple commodity of wisdom. Without the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, man is disinclined to place anything above temporal wealth or power.
To be able to apprehend the value of the treasure of eternity, man must have the insight of God. James, the half-brother of Jesus says in 3:17 of his small epistle, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” God’s wisdom is unadulterated with the desire for wealth or power.
His wisdom loves and seeks peace. It will be graced by kindness and truth and the fruit it produces will leave a good taste in the mouth of partakers. Unlike the wisdom of the world, there will be no manipulation of God’s wisdom for selfish ends. His wisdom works to His glory, for it understands the ultimate truth that only that which is done in the behalf of the Kingdom of Christ will abide forever.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
He Who Is Truth Promises
August 22
A very astute observation is made in Ecclesiastes 7:11, 12. It is not only insightful but also encompassing. Here Solomon says, “Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter, as money is a shelter, but the advantage of wisdom is this: it preserves the life of its possessor.”
Who can deny that it is an advantage to have money? Even if one is not the possessor of a vast inheritance, having something of a nest egg accrued by ones frugality or investment prowess is certainly an advantage in tough economic times. Though sudden calamity can devastate even vast amounts of wealth, there is a measure of security in possessing a ‘cushion’ against such an eventuality.
But Solomon declares here that wisdom is not only a good shelter from adversity for the one who possesses it, it is also a preserver of his life! No matter how many advantages we may observe to those who have either a sizable income or a vast investment portfolio, we cannot list extension of their lives among them.
Though wealth may afford them the best of medical care and the most respected of doctors, it does not allow them to buy one moment of time beyond that which the Author and Finisher of life allots to them. Wisdom, however, establishes a man in truth and HE WHO IS TRUTH promises to him eternal life in Jesus.
A very astute observation is made in Ecclesiastes 7:11, 12. It is not only insightful but also encompassing. Here Solomon says, “Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. Wisdom is a shelter, as money is a shelter, but the advantage of wisdom is this: it preserves the life of its possessor.”
Who can deny that it is an advantage to have money? Even if one is not the possessor of a vast inheritance, having something of a nest egg accrued by ones frugality or investment prowess is certainly an advantage in tough economic times. Though sudden calamity can devastate even vast amounts of wealth, there is a measure of security in possessing a ‘cushion’ against such an eventuality.
But Solomon declares here that wisdom is not only a good shelter from adversity for the one who possesses it, it is also a preserver of his life! No matter how many advantages we may observe to those who have either a sizable income or a vast investment portfolio, we cannot list extension of their lives among them.
Though wealth may afford them the best of medical care and the most respected of doctors, it does not allow them to buy one moment of time beyond that which the Author and Finisher of life allots to them. Wisdom, however, establishes a man in truth and HE WHO IS TRUTH promises to him eternal life in Jesus.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Blessed Future and Abiding Hope
August 21
A pastor once quipped that we shouldn’t be jealous of a rich man because his wealth is simply an evidence of his superior intellect. When challenged by someone who refused to see the rich man’s wealth in this light because it sprang from a substantial inheritance, the pastor retorted, “Well, that just means his daddy was smarter than your daddy.”
Regardless of how much money is in question, wealth does spring initially from someone’s innovativeness, intelligence, resourcefulness, and willingness to take a risk. Those who inherit wealth often lack the entrepreneurial skills of the progenitor of their fortune. They are simply advantaged by having been born into a wealthy family.
How blessed we are that wisdom is not the exclusive birthright of the brilliant or the well-born. How blessed we are that the Lord has offered wisdom to any who will seek it or ask it of Him (Proverbs 4:7). He goes on to say through Solomon in Proverbs 24:14, “Know that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off.”
Fortunes can be lost suddenly without warning. The Great Depression saw that happen to countless millionaires who were rendered penniless when the financial crash occurred. Those who invest large sums of money do so with the knowledge of the potential for loss. But the one who seeks and finds wisdom knows nothing can rob him of the blessed future and abiding hope that wisdom assures to him!
A pastor once quipped that we shouldn’t be jealous of a rich man because his wealth is simply an evidence of his superior intellect. When challenged by someone who refused to see the rich man’s wealth in this light because it sprang from a substantial inheritance, the pastor retorted, “Well, that just means his daddy was smarter than your daddy.”
Regardless of how much money is in question, wealth does spring initially from someone’s innovativeness, intelligence, resourcefulness, and willingness to take a risk. Those who inherit wealth often lack the entrepreneurial skills of the progenitor of their fortune. They are simply advantaged by having been born into a wealthy family.
How blessed we are that wisdom is not the exclusive birthright of the brilliant or the well-born. How blessed we are that the Lord has offered wisdom to any who will seek it or ask it of Him (Proverbs 4:7). He goes on to say through Solomon in Proverbs 24:14, “Know that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off.”
Fortunes can be lost suddenly without warning. The Great Depression saw that happen to countless millionaires who were rendered penniless when the financial crash occurred. Those who invest large sums of money do so with the knowledge of the potential for loss. But the one who seeks and finds wisdom knows nothing can rob him of the blessed future and abiding hope that wisdom assures to him!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Collections
August 20
It is understandable that people value the things with which their own ideals and achievements are most closely aligned. Bill Gates, for example, most certainly values technology. Most of us will never be invited to his home, but if we were to be thusly honored, it is highly probable that we would find more of the latest gadgetry there than in virtually any other private residence on earth.
Jay Leno, the extremely popular late-night talk show host, makes no secret of his love for automobiles. To visit his ‘garage’ would be to find ourselves in the presence of some of the finest and most beautifully restored vehicles anywhere. Those of us in lesser stations in life do the same thing but on a far diminished scale.
Some people collect salt shakers from everywhere they visit on vacation. Some people collect stamps. Some of us are notorious ‘pack rats’ who simply keep junk. But there is something the Bible admonishes us to take to ourselves and to cherish. It is said to be the most valuable thing a man can possess, aside from his salvation. The admonition to acquire it was spoken by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived.
Just as the man who loves technology and the man who loves cars collect the things they value, so Solomon collected and shared wisdom—and he admonishes us to do so. In Proverbs 4:7 he says, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.” A sagacious man knows that his ability to discern truth is the root of his wisdom.
It is understandable that people value the things with which their own ideals and achievements are most closely aligned. Bill Gates, for example, most certainly values technology. Most of us will never be invited to his home, but if we were to be thusly honored, it is highly probable that we would find more of the latest gadgetry there than in virtually any other private residence on earth.
Jay Leno, the extremely popular late-night talk show host, makes no secret of his love for automobiles. To visit his ‘garage’ would be to find ourselves in the presence of some of the finest and most beautifully restored vehicles anywhere. Those of us in lesser stations in life do the same thing but on a far diminished scale.
Some people collect salt shakers from everywhere they visit on vacation. Some people collect stamps. Some of us are notorious ‘pack rats’ who simply keep junk. But there is something the Bible admonishes us to take to ourselves and to cherish. It is said to be the most valuable thing a man can possess, aside from his salvation. The admonition to acquire it was spoken by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived.
Just as the man who loves technology and the man who loves cars collect the things they value, so Solomon collected and shared wisdom—and he admonishes us to do so. In Proverbs 4:7 he says, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.” A sagacious man knows that his ability to discern truth is the root of his wisdom.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Just Ask
August 19
No, God isn’t in the business of handing out Ph.D.s. He’s not going to miraculously increase your I.Q. and He’s not going to enable you to excel beyond others around you in the academic realm. If you aren’t above average in intelligence, you’re not a likely candidate to expound His Word through your oratory or through your writing skill.
That is not to say He will not use you to lift up His name among those with whom you associate. That is not to say He does not value your knowledge of Him or honor your witness of Christ or your personal testimony of His presence and power in your life. Yet, that is NOT to say He uses only your strength to glorify Himself. He also uses your weakness. He uses all His people to build His Kingdom!
When His name is lifted up through your weakness, it is an evidence of what Paul attested to have occurred in his life—“Christ’s strength is sufficient for me…for when I am weak, then I am strong (through Him)” II Corinthians 12:9, 10. If Jesus isn’t glorifying Himself through the gifts He’s given to you, He is using your lack of gifts to manifest Himself in your lives in spite of your lack of obvious talents and skills.
Wisdom is an entirely different area of understanding in which HE PROMISES TO ENHANCE YOUR NATURAL GIFTS. Knowledge is acquired through the intellect via books. Wisdom is acquired through the spirit via relationship with Jesus. James 1:5 says, “If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask of God who gives generously to all who will receive it from Him.” Want wisdom? Just ask.
No, God isn’t in the business of handing out Ph.D.s. He’s not going to miraculously increase your I.Q. and He’s not going to enable you to excel beyond others around you in the academic realm. If you aren’t above average in intelligence, you’re not a likely candidate to expound His Word through your oratory or through your writing skill.
That is not to say He will not use you to lift up His name among those with whom you associate. That is not to say He does not value your knowledge of Him or honor your witness of Christ or your personal testimony of His presence and power in your life. Yet, that is NOT to say He uses only your strength to glorify Himself. He also uses your weakness. He uses all His people to build His Kingdom!
When His name is lifted up through your weakness, it is an evidence of what Paul attested to have occurred in his life—“Christ’s strength is sufficient for me…for when I am weak, then I am strong (through Him)” II Corinthians 12:9, 10. If Jesus isn’t glorifying Himself through the gifts He’s given to you, He is using your lack of gifts to manifest Himself in your lives in spite of your lack of obvious talents and skills.
Wisdom is an entirely different area of understanding in which HE PROMISES TO ENHANCE YOUR NATURAL GIFTS. Knowledge is acquired through the intellect via books. Wisdom is acquired through the spirit via relationship with Jesus. James 1:5 says, “If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask of God who gives generously to all who will receive it from Him.” Want wisdom? Just ask.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Life's One Truth
August 18
Man tends to think quite highly of himself. And, why not? Look at all he’s achieved. Look at the skyscrapers that spiral toward heaven. Look at the giant aircraft that defy the constraints of gravity to circumnavigate the earth and traverse outer space. Look at man’s medical and scientific and technological breakthroughs and one can only wonder at the potential of the human mind.
In all his gaining of knowledge and in all his success at applying that knowledge to greater and ever greater discoveries and developments in every area of human endeavor, man must not allow himself to become arrogant. He must ever be mindful of the Lord’s words to Job when he questioned God: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4)
The clear implication of those words is that Job (mankind) was nowhere. All God performed to bring the worlds into existence was done without the assistance or the counsel of man. Once an individual acquiesces to that truth, he becomes humble before God and humble in his own eyes. Man’s accomplishments appear quite small when compared to creation. The things he’s discovered and the things he has not yet fathomed pale in significance when held before Jesus’ transforming gift to him.
The most awesome aspect of all the Lord has done, the salvation of the souls of men who will receive Christ as Savior, becomes more significant than any human endeavor or invention or discovery. Salvation puts into perspective the words of Paul in I Corinthians 1:25, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” The ‘foolish’ idea of One Man dying for all, and His moment of ‘weakness’ on the cross, become the only vital truth a man can apprehend.
Man tends to think quite highly of himself. And, why not? Look at all he’s achieved. Look at the skyscrapers that spiral toward heaven. Look at the giant aircraft that defy the constraints of gravity to circumnavigate the earth and traverse outer space. Look at man’s medical and scientific and technological breakthroughs and one can only wonder at the potential of the human mind.
In all his gaining of knowledge and in all his success at applying that knowledge to greater and ever greater discoveries and developments in every area of human endeavor, man must not allow himself to become arrogant. He must ever be mindful of the Lord’s words to Job when he questioned God: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4)
The clear implication of those words is that Job (mankind) was nowhere. All God performed to bring the worlds into existence was done without the assistance or the counsel of man. Once an individual acquiesces to that truth, he becomes humble before God and humble in his own eyes. Man’s accomplishments appear quite small when compared to creation. The things he’s discovered and the things he has not yet fathomed pale in significance when held before Jesus’ transforming gift to him.
The most awesome aspect of all the Lord has done, the salvation of the souls of men who will receive Christ as Savior, becomes more significant than any human endeavor or invention or discovery. Salvation puts into perspective the words of Paul in I Corinthians 1:25, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” The ‘foolish’ idea of One Man dying for all, and His moment of ‘weakness’ on the cross, become the only vital truth a man can apprehend.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Jesus Loves You
August 17
You are loved today, you are honored today, you are lifted in prayer today. Even if I were not loving and honoring and praying for you, Jesus would be, because YOU are precious to HIS HEART. Because He keeps you as the apple of His eye, you are guarded and protected. Your life, your mind, and your spirit, are secure in Him.
Think of the magnitude of that promise, "He keeps you as the apple of His eye." The eye is so precious that the structure of the face is designed to protect it. The forehead, the bridge of the nose, the cheek bones, the eyebrows, eyelids, eyelashes--all are in place to protect the eye! YOU are the apple of His eye. By that analogy, He is telling you that the resources of Heaven surround you to protect you!
The wind will surely blow dust and debris into the face of the believer in Christ, but his eyes are protected because of the Lord's brilliant design. Just so, the wind of adversity will blow into his life, but his life is protected because of the Lord's amazing love for him. "...He keeps him as the apple of His eye." Deuteronomy 32:10
God bless you always. Abide in the power He says is resident in you. Use it to pull down strongholds wherever you find them—especially when they are within you. Never allow yourself to forget for a moment that the God of the universe touched you, claimed you as His own and keeps you. You are “the apple of His eye”!
JESUS LOVES YOU!
You are loved today, you are honored today, you are lifted in prayer today. Even if I were not loving and honoring and praying for you, Jesus would be, because YOU are precious to HIS HEART. Because He keeps you as the apple of His eye, you are guarded and protected. Your life, your mind, and your spirit, are secure in Him.
Think of the magnitude of that promise, "He keeps you as the apple of His eye." The eye is so precious that the structure of the face is designed to protect it. The forehead, the bridge of the nose, the cheek bones, the eyebrows, eyelids, eyelashes--all are in place to protect the eye! YOU are the apple of His eye. By that analogy, He is telling you that the resources of Heaven surround you to protect you!
The wind will surely blow dust and debris into the face of the believer in Christ, but his eyes are protected because of the Lord's brilliant design. Just so, the wind of adversity will blow into his life, but his life is protected because of the Lord's amazing love for him. "...He keeps him as the apple of His eye." Deuteronomy 32:10
God bless you always. Abide in the power He says is resident in you. Use it to pull down strongholds wherever you find them—especially when they are within you. Never allow yourself to forget for a moment that the God of the universe touched you, claimed you as His own and keeps you. You are “the apple of His eye”!
JESUS LOVES YOU!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Wise in That First Thing
August 16
Everyone wants to be wise. Everyone wants to have the assurance that he is astute enough to execute his role in life with due diligence and acumen. If we are not perspicacious in a particular area of endeavor—financial management, household organization, tax preparation among a few—we seek skilled assistance in those areas.
The one vital aspect of life that we tend to neglect is our relationship with the Lord. Regarding this extremely important area of our existence, the only one that transcends time and encompasses eternity, we are often complacent at best and indifferent at worst. Our lack of concern causes us to leave a crucial piece of life’s puzzle unplaced.
When we don’t get that defining part of our life aligned with the will of the God who fashioned us to rule and reign with Him for eternity (II Timothy 2:12), we doom ourselves to eternal loss. How can we, who desire the best things of life for ourselves in the realm of time, deny ourselves the blessings He would lavish upon us forever?
According to David in Psalm 111:10, the best things come when we, “Fear the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom; all those who follow His precepts will have good understanding and extoll the name of He to whom belongs eternal praise.” If we are wise in that ‘first thing,’ He will enable us to exercise insight in all other things.
Everyone wants to be wise. Everyone wants to have the assurance that he is astute enough to execute his role in life with due diligence and acumen. If we are not perspicacious in a particular area of endeavor—financial management, household organization, tax preparation among a few—we seek skilled assistance in those areas.
The one vital aspect of life that we tend to neglect is our relationship with the Lord. Regarding this extremely important area of our existence, the only one that transcends time and encompasses eternity, we are often complacent at best and indifferent at worst. Our lack of concern causes us to leave a crucial piece of life’s puzzle unplaced.
When we don’t get that defining part of our life aligned with the will of the God who fashioned us to rule and reign with Him for eternity (II Timothy 2:12), we doom ourselves to eternal loss. How can we, who desire the best things of life for ourselves in the realm of time, deny ourselves the blessings He would lavish upon us forever?
According to David in Psalm 111:10, the best things come when we, “Fear the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom; all those who follow His precepts will have good understanding and extoll the name of He to whom belongs eternal praise.” If we are wise in that ‘first thing,’ He will enable us to exercise insight in all other things.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Trust Him In All Things
August 15
Apart from the Lord, no one has the assurance of tomorrow. Apart from the Lord, none of us can be sure of even our next breath. Life is tenuous at best. The news is replete with the stories of soldiers killed by roadside bombs, of young students being taken by tragic accidents, of living, breathing souls meeting our Maker suddenly, unexpectedly.
The tragedy of loss is one that has been borne by all humankind. There is hardly a person on the planet who has not, through his own experience or vicariously through the experience of someone close to him, felt the anguish of the shadow of death as it fell across a loved one.
The inevitability of our ultimate demise is one we confront unwillingly. We endeavor to fill our lives with pleasant things—the joy of relationship, the pride of achievement, the confidence of power, the exhilaration of victory—but even these things cannot completely assuage our dread of the unknown tragedy that may await our next step.
The Lord’s half-brother, who, after years of living in the same home, knew Jesus better than all others who wrote about Him said, “You should say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we live and do this or that,’” James 4:15. The brother who loved Him, believed Him, understood Him, knew better than to presume anything of Him, but trusted Him in all things.
Apart from the Lord, no one has the assurance of tomorrow. Apart from the Lord, none of us can be sure of even our next breath. Life is tenuous at best. The news is replete with the stories of soldiers killed by roadside bombs, of young students being taken by tragic accidents, of living, breathing souls meeting our Maker suddenly, unexpectedly.
The tragedy of loss is one that has been borne by all humankind. There is hardly a person on the planet who has not, through his own experience or vicariously through the experience of someone close to him, felt the anguish of the shadow of death as it fell across a loved one.
The inevitability of our ultimate demise is one we confront unwillingly. We endeavor to fill our lives with pleasant things—the joy of relationship, the pride of achievement, the confidence of power, the exhilaration of victory—but even these things cannot completely assuage our dread of the unknown tragedy that may await our next step.
The Lord’s half-brother, who, after years of living in the same home, knew Jesus better than all others who wrote about Him said, “You should say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we live and do this or that,’” James 4:15. The brother who loved Him, believed Him, understood Him, knew better than to presume anything of Him, but trusted Him in all things.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Silence Accusations
August 14
There are some people in high places who seem to be totally oblivious to what is going on around them. They are in a position to be aware of the foundation of grass roots movements as well as of the methods of pursuit of their goals that these activists pursue in their efforts to change things.
They know all there is to know about ‘Occupy Wall Street’ and ‘The Tea Party,’ but they utter pronouncements that cause them to appear totally lost and in the dark about what the participants in these movements believe and therefore, what motivates them. Even believers in Christ have come under scrutiny.
Some lawmakers believe that faith in Jesus goes hand in hand with subversion. Perhaps their misunderstanding is rooted in their lack of familiarity with the gospels and with the admonition of Paul to his young disciple, Timothy, “I exhort you to pray…for all men, especially for kings and those who are in authority over you, that we may live peaceful lives in all godliness…” I Timothy 2:1,2.
It is not the intention of the Holy One that believers in Christ should be among those who challenge the law or denigrate elected authorities; it is His plan that believers should pray for them. As the impetuous Apostle says in I Peter 2:15, “It is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” When we are suspected of subversion, the goodness of Christ in us should silence all accusations.
There are some people in high places who seem to be totally oblivious to what is going on around them. They are in a position to be aware of the foundation of grass roots movements as well as of the methods of pursuit of their goals that these activists pursue in their efforts to change things.
They know all there is to know about ‘Occupy Wall Street’ and ‘The Tea Party,’ but they utter pronouncements that cause them to appear totally lost and in the dark about what the participants in these movements believe and therefore, what motivates them. Even believers in Christ have come under scrutiny.
Some lawmakers believe that faith in Jesus goes hand in hand with subversion. Perhaps their misunderstanding is rooted in their lack of familiarity with the gospels and with the admonition of Paul to his young disciple, Timothy, “I exhort you to pray…for all men, especially for kings and those who are in authority over you, that we may live peaceful lives in all godliness…” I Timothy 2:1,2.
It is not the intention of the Holy One that believers in Christ should be among those who challenge the law or denigrate elected authorities; it is His plan that believers should pray for them. As the impetuous Apostle says in I Peter 2:15, “It is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” When we are suspected of subversion, the goodness of Christ in us should silence all accusations.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Holy and Honorable
August 13
We live in an age of promiscuity. That’s nothing new. There is no sin that catches God off guard. As a dear pastor once put it so clearly, with a smattering of humor, ‘God’s eyebrows never go up.’ We can’t take Him by surprise with our new morality, which is an up-dated version of the old immorality which He condemned long ago.
Does this mean we are relegated to a state of disfavor in God’s eyes? Does this mean we have no hope of approaching His throne and placing our sins under His blood and finding a place of forgiveness and refuge under His wing? It does not. God is in the business of forgiving all our sins and healing all our diseases (Psalm 103:3).
The fact that the plan of salvation is woven through the pages of the Old and New Testaments from its earliest pages (see Genesis 3:15 for God’s statement to the serpent that the Promised Child of the woman would destroy him and his works) is our assurance that the Lord’s promised hope of deliverance from sin stands forever.
In I Thessalonians 4:3, 4, Paul clearly tells us, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified, that you should avoid sexual immorality, that you should control yourself in a way that is holy and honorable.” It is not His plan that we be promiscuous; He wants us to be faithful for a lifetime, but if we are not, He wants us to be redeemed.
We live in an age of promiscuity. That’s nothing new. There is no sin that catches God off guard. As a dear pastor once put it so clearly, with a smattering of humor, ‘God’s eyebrows never go up.’ We can’t take Him by surprise with our new morality, which is an up-dated version of the old immorality which He condemned long ago.
Does this mean we are relegated to a state of disfavor in God’s eyes? Does this mean we have no hope of approaching His throne and placing our sins under His blood and finding a place of forgiveness and refuge under His wing? It does not. God is in the business of forgiving all our sins and healing all our diseases (Psalm 103:3).
The fact that the plan of salvation is woven through the pages of the Old and New Testaments from its earliest pages (see Genesis 3:15 for God’s statement to the serpent that the Promised Child of the woman would destroy him and his works) is our assurance that the Lord’s promised hope of deliverance from sin stands forever.
In I Thessalonians 4:3, 4, Paul clearly tells us, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified, that you should avoid sexual immorality, that you should control yourself in a way that is holy and honorable.” It is not His plan that we be promiscuous; He wants us to be faithful for a lifetime, but if we are not, He wants us to be redeemed.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
The Epitome of Folly
August 12
Some people feel that humankind is meritorious. Their idea is that goodness is the dominant trait of our species. Several thousand years of history must be ignored in order to arrive at such a conclusion, but through juggling of archaeological and historical data, as well as defying common sense, an argument toward that end can be put forth.
Espousing such a presumption requires also that one totally dismiss the cross of Christ as unnecessary. If, indeed, man is good, he hardly needs a savior. If he isn’t in the quagmire of sin and he isn’t incapable of extricating himself from it, he doesn’t need a sinless God/Man to extend His hand to lift him out of the miry clay.
This is at total variance with the Word of the Lord in the matter. Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians 1:3-5, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present, evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory forever and ever.” Paul establishes in this passage that God’s grace and peace are extended to us when Jesus rescues us from sin.
As we contemplate the virtual lack of grace and peace among a preponderance of humanity, perhaps we realize that the dearth of these virtues is attributable to man’s belief that his own goodness does not require him to believe in Christ’s substitutionary death that washes him clean of sin and makes him new. If man’s goodness is sufficient, Christ means nothing. Coming to such a conclusion is the epitome of folly—and the loss it entails is eternal.
Some people feel that humankind is meritorious. Their idea is that goodness is the dominant trait of our species. Several thousand years of history must be ignored in order to arrive at such a conclusion, but through juggling of archaeological and historical data, as well as defying common sense, an argument toward that end can be put forth.
Espousing such a presumption requires also that one totally dismiss the cross of Christ as unnecessary. If, indeed, man is good, he hardly needs a savior. If he isn’t in the quagmire of sin and he isn’t incapable of extricating himself from it, he doesn’t need a sinless God/Man to extend His hand to lift him out of the miry clay.
This is at total variance with the Word of the Lord in the matter. Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians 1:3-5, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present, evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory forever and ever.” Paul establishes in this passage that God’s grace and peace are extended to us when Jesus rescues us from sin.
As we contemplate the virtual lack of grace and peace among a preponderance of humanity, perhaps we realize that the dearth of these virtues is attributable to man’s belief that his own goodness does not require him to believe in Christ’s substitutionary death that washes him clean of sin and makes him new. If man’s goodness is sufficient, Christ means nothing. Coming to such a conclusion is the epitome of folly—and the loss it entails is eternal.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
The Best Exchange
August 11
Jesus was totally focused on His Father’s will. He stated emphatically that it was His Father’s will, not His own, that He had come to perform (see John 4:34). This sentiment was repeated perfectly by the Nineteenth Century English Pentecostal Pastor, Smith Wigglesworth who allowed himself, “…no mind in the matter.” Wigglesworth, like Christ, wanted only the Father’s will in every situation.
If we study the lives of those who are devoted to the will of the One who is “high and lifted up and whose train fills the temple” (Isaiah 6:1), we will discover they have a singleness of purpose—that being the salvation of souls. Jesus expressed that purpose clearly by His words and by His sacrifice on the cross.
Certainly, to have laid down His life, to have suffered the penalty of death and hell so man would never be required to endure that punishment, is the profoundest of evidence that Jesus loves men—in spite of their sin—and came to cleanse them from it stain of guilt and shame. He washed them clean from sin and made them “white as snow” (See Isaiah 1:18).
In John 6:40, Jesus’ words in the matter are recorded by the beloved apostle: “My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at that last day.” When man’s proclivity to sin is exchanged for the Lord’s matchless standard of righteousness, the world’s best transaction has taken place: freedom for bondage; beauty for ashes; life for death.
Jesus was totally focused on His Father’s will. He stated emphatically that it was His Father’s will, not His own, that He had come to perform (see John 4:34). This sentiment was repeated perfectly by the Nineteenth Century English Pentecostal Pastor, Smith Wigglesworth who allowed himself, “…no mind in the matter.” Wigglesworth, like Christ, wanted only the Father’s will in every situation.
If we study the lives of those who are devoted to the will of the One who is “high and lifted up and whose train fills the temple” (Isaiah 6:1), we will discover they have a singleness of purpose—that being the salvation of souls. Jesus expressed that purpose clearly by His words and by His sacrifice on the cross.
Certainly, to have laid down His life, to have suffered the penalty of death and hell so man would never be required to endure that punishment, is the profoundest of evidence that Jesus loves men—in spite of their sin—and came to cleanse them from it stain of guilt and shame. He washed them clean from sin and made them “white as snow” (See Isaiah 1:18).
In John 6:40, Jesus’ words in the matter are recorded by the beloved apostle: “My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at that last day.” When man’s proclivity to sin is exchanged for the Lord’s matchless standard of righteousness, the world’s best transaction has taken place: freedom for bondage; beauty for ashes; life for death.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Predestination
August 10
The word ‘predestination’ sends a shudder through the spirit of Christians who firmly believe in the ‘free will’ God has given to mankind. We are empowered by the One who holds all power to exercise total control over the way we will live our lives and the place we will spend eternity.
Then we read that word and suddenly we’re not sure how to reconcile it to what we believe. Paul, in Ephesians 1:11, 12 says, “In Him we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ might be for the praise of His glory.”
May I pose a suggestion that might set the matter to rest—at least in some hearts and minds. What Paul might be saying is that his generation of Jewish believers were predestined to be given the honor and privilege of ‘jump-starting’ the new religion of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Until that time, Jewish scholars and scribes had meticulously kept the words of God— the law, the poetry, the prophecy—in their minds and chronicled in their scrolls, but none had been given the admonition to go “into all the world and preach the gospel of Christ to every creature,” Mark 16:15. That was predestined for Paul’s generation to do.
The word ‘predestination’ sends a shudder through the spirit of Christians who firmly believe in the ‘free will’ God has given to mankind. We are empowered by the One who holds all power to exercise total control over the way we will live our lives and the place we will spend eternity.
Then we read that word and suddenly we’re not sure how to reconcile it to what we believe. Paul, in Ephesians 1:11, 12 says, “In Him we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ might be for the praise of His glory.”
May I pose a suggestion that might set the matter to rest—at least in some hearts and minds. What Paul might be saying is that his generation of Jewish believers were predestined to be given the honor and privilege of ‘jump-starting’ the new religion of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Until that time, Jewish scholars and scribes had meticulously kept the words of God— the law, the poetry, the prophecy—in their minds and chronicled in their scrolls, but none had been given the admonition to go “into all the world and preach the gospel of Christ to every creature,” Mark 16:15. That was predestined for Paul’s generation to do.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Jesus Alone
August 9
Many adherents of the religion/world view of Islam believe that upheaval, world strife and war are a necessity if their Twelfth Mahdi is to manifest himself on earth. Generating the conditions required for the appearance of the one they believe will usher in the great caliphate where Islam is the only religion on earth and all people are believers, is their responsibility.
Understanding this foundational belief gives great insight into the bellicose actions we see on the part of leaders of ‘rogue states.’ In their minds, they are not corrupt, evil, bellicose men, they are the instruments of Allah in ushering in his will. And the whole world suffers because of this deception that the enemy of men and of the One True and Living God has perpetrated in the spirits and minds of those who espouse this concept.
Yet we who believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of the Holy One who inhabits eternity, realize that HE is still in control; nothing happens without His knowledge or His permission. Just as Pharaoh breathed out threatenings against the children of Israel (see Exodus), but was ultimately an instrument in God’s hand, so those who rattle their atomic sabers today must bow before His unfathomable power. Does our great God of love desire war?
No, but man’s hardened heart demands that end times events play out until, “God makes known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ to put into effect when the times shall have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and earth—together under the headship of Christ,” Ephesians 1:9, 10. When the wrath of man has spent itself and the evil schemes of the wicked one have been brought to nothing, JESUS ALONE WILL REIGN!
Many adherents of the religion/world view of Islam believe that upheaval, world strife and war are a necessity if their Twelfth Mahdi is to manifest himself on earth. Generating the conditions required for the appearance of the one they believe will usher in the great caliphate where Islam is the only religion on earth and all people are believers, is their responsibility.
Understanding this foundational belief gives great insight into the bellicose actions we see on the part of leaders of ‘rogue states.’ In their minds, they are not corrupt, evil, bellicose men, they are the instruments of Allah in ushering in his will. And the whole world suffers because of this deception that the enemy of men and of the One True and Living God has perpetrated in the spirits and minds of those who espouse this concept.
Yet we who believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of the Holy One who inhabits eternity, realize that HE is still in control; nothing happens without His knowledge or His permission. Just as Pharaoh breathed out threatenings against the children of Israel (see Exodus), but was ultimately an instrument in God’s hand, so those who rattle their atomic sabers today must bow before His unfathomable power. Does our great God of love desire war?
No, but man’s hardened heart demands that end times events play out until, “God makes known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ to put into effect when the times shall have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and earth—together under the headship of Christ,” Ephesians 1:9, 10. When the wrath of man has spent itself and the evil schemes of the wicked one have been brought to nothing, JESUS ALONE WILL REIGN!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
I seem to have confused my 'August 8 with my other August 8'--sorry.
August 8
The Bible says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he,” Proverbs 23:7. In Matthew 12:34, Jesus said, “O, generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!” The Word establishes the undeniable truth that sooner or later, the meditations of ones heart will be manifested in his words and actions.
People are good at feigning kindness, love, devotion to family, faith in God, but ultimately, unless Christ is truly on the throne of a person’s heart, the attitudes that reign there will become profoundly evident. The old joke is that being in church doesn’t make one a Christian any more than being in a garage makes one a car. Funny way to say it, but it certainly is a true statement.
Whether one is openly indifferent to the teachings of Christ and His gospel of love and kindness and salvation or whether he is a hearer of the Word who spouts Christian dogma without allowing Christ’s love to permeate his heart and mind and spirit, he is an enemy of Christ, for Jesus has said that anything but fervent commitment to Him is unpalatable to Him (see Revelation 3:15, 16). In order to be on fire for Jesus, in order to be pleasing in His sight, an individual must be, “transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to evaluate and approve what God’s will is. You will know the Lord’s good, pleasing and perfect will when your mind is surrendered to His,” Romans 12:2.
Until then, all a man can be is a counterfeit of a believer in the One who causes men to become like Him. He will hammer people with the law but never lavish them with the Lord’s love. He will spew doctrine but never hold out hope. He will be an empty shell of the man a Christian is supposed to be. As he judges others without mercy, he is inviting God’s judgment upon himself. Allowing himself to be a self-proclaimed judge in God’s stead, he becomes the devil’s dupe.
August 8
The Bible says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he,” Proverbs 23:7. In Matthew 12:34, Jesus said, “O, generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!” The Word establishes the undeniable truth that sooner or later, the meditations of ones heart will be manifested in his words and actions.
People are good at feigning kindness, love, devotion to family, faith in God, but ultimately, unless Christ is truly on the throne of a person’s heart, the attitudes that reign there will become profoundly evident. The old joke is that being in church doesn’t make one a Christian any more than being in a garage makes one a car. Funny way to say it, but it certainly is a true statement.
Whether one is openly indifferent to the teachings of Christ and His gospel of love and kindness and salvation or whether he is a hearer of the Word who spouts Christian dogma without allowing Christ’s love to permeate his heart and mind and spirit, he is an enemy of Christ, for Jesus has said that anything but fervent commitment to Him is unpalatable to Him (see Revelation 3:15, 16). In order to be on fire for Jesus, in order to be pleasing in His sight, an individual must be, “transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to evaluate and approve what God’s will is. You will know the Lord’s good, pleasing and perfect will when your mind is surrendered to His,” Romans 12:2.
Until then, all a man can be is a counterfeit of a believer in the One who causes men to become like Him. He will hammer people with the law but never lavish them with the Lord’s love. He will spew doctrine but never hold out hope. He will be an empty shell of the man a Christian is supposed to be. As he judges others without mercy, he is inviting God’s judgment upon himself. Allowing himself to be a self-proclaimed judge in God’s stead, he becomes the devil’s dupe.
Secrets of Antiquity
August 8
Some things are timeless. Treasures of a by-gone era still have the power to excite us today, as evidenced by the great interest we have in the exquisite finds that have been made in the remains of the Titanic, which has been on the ocean floor for a century. Archaeologists are perhaps the most interested among us in the riches of antiquity.
Recently found in the Jewish village of Huqoq, was an ancient mosaic which depicts an unusual scene from the story of Samson, the Biblical character whose amazing strength lay in his uncut hair. The mosaic is believed to date back to 400-500 A.D. but it is exciting much interest all these hundreds of years later.
Believers in Christ value those things outside the Bible which give evidence and insight into the veracity of their faith. They believe that because the Word of God is true, because Jesus is indeed who He claims to be, the historic and archaeological evidence will ultimately substantiate their faith. Because they already have the confirmation of the Holy Spirit within them, they do not require such substantiation, but they value it because it has the power to persuade unbelievers to the saving truth of Jesus.
And when the confidence they have placed in the Lord is confirmed in the unbiased record found in the secrets of the earth that have been buried for hundreds of years, the Word of God as found in I John 2:17 is again proven true, “The world and its desires shall pass away, but the man who trusts in Christ lives forever.” This is the cry of the heart of Jesus—that all men trust in Him—and as He allows the secrets of antiquity to be revealed, many are drawn to His arms of love and to His salvation.
Some things are timeless. Treasures of a by-gone era still have the power to excite us today, as evidenced by the great interest we have in the exquisite finds that have been made in the remains of the Titanic, which has been on the ocean floor for a century. Archaeologists are perhaps the most interested among us in the riches of antiquity.
Recently found in the Jewish village of Huqoq, was an ancient mosaic which depicts an unusual scene from the story of Samson, the Biblical character whose amazing strength lay in his uncut hair. The mosaic is believed to date back to 400-500 A.D. but it is exciting much interest all these hundreds of years later.
Believers in Christ value those things outside the Bible which give evidence and insight into the veracity of their faith. They believe that because the Word of God is true, because Jesus is indeed who He claims to be, the historic and archaeological evidence will ultimately substantiate their faith. Because they already have the confirmation of the Holy Spirit within them, they do not require such substantiation, but they value it because it has the power to persuade unbelievers to the saving truth of Jesus.
And when the confidence they have placed in the Lord is confirmed in the unbiased record found in the secrets of the earth that have been buried for hundreds of years, the Word of God as found in I John 2:17 is again proven true, “The world and its desires shall pass away, but the man who trusts in Christ lives forever.” This is the cry of the heart of Jesus—that all men trust in Him—and as He allows the secrets of antiquity to be revealed, many are drawn to His arms of love and to His salvation.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Trust in Christ Forever
August 7
Some things are timeless. Treasures of a by-gone era still have the power to excite us today, as evidenced by the great interest we have in the exquisite finds that have been made in the remains of the Titanic, which has been on the ocean floor for a century. Archaeologists are perhaps the most interested among us in the riches of antiquity.
Recently found in the Jewish village of Huqoq, was an ancient mosaic which depicts an unusual scene from the story of Samson, the Biblical character whose amazing strength lay in his uncut hair. The mosaic is believed to date back to 400-500 A.D. but it is exciting much interest all these hundreds of years later.
Believers in Christ value those things outside the Bible which give evidence and insight into the veracity of their faith. They believe that because the Word of God is true, because Jesus is indeed who He claims to be, the historic and archaeological evidence must ultimately substantiate their faith. Because they already have the confirmation of the Holy Spirit within them, they do not require such substantiation, but they value it because it has the power to persuade unbelievers to the saving truth of Jesus.
And when the confidence they have placed in the Lord is confirmed in the unbiased record found in the secrets of the earth that have been buried for hundreds of years, the Word of God as found in I John 2:17 is again proven true, “The world and its desires shall pass away, but the man who trusts in Christ lives forever.” This is the cry of the heart of Jesus—that all men trust in Him—and as He allows the secrets of antiquity to be revealed, many are drawn to His arms of love and to His salvation.
Some things are timeless. Treasures of a by-gone era still have the power to excite us today, as evidenced by the great interest we have in the exquisite finds that have been made in the remains of the Titanic, which has been on the ocean floor for a century. Archaeologists are perhaps the most interested among us in the riches of antiquity.
Recently found in the Jewish village of Huqoq, was an ancient mosaic which depicts an unusual scene from the story of Samson, the Biblical character whose amazing strength lay in his uncut hair. The mosaic is believed to date back to 400-500 A.D. but it is exciting much interest all these hundreds of years later.
Believers in Christ value those things outside the Bible which give evidence and insight into the veracity of their faith. They believe that because the Word of God is true, because Jesus is indeed who He claims to be, the historic and archaeological evidence must ultimately substantiate their faith. Because they already have the confirmation of the Holy Spirit within them, they do not require such substantiation, but they value it because it has the power to persuade unbelievers to the saving truth of Jesus.
And when the confidence they have placed in the Lord is confirmed in the unbiased record found in the secrets of the earth that have been buried for hundreds of years, the Word of God as found in I John 2:17 is again proven true, “The world and its desires shall pass away, but the man who trusts in Christ lives forever.” This is the cry of the heart of Jesus—that all men trust in Him—and as He allows the secrets of antiquity to be revealed, many are drawn to His arms of love and to His salvation.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Lay Aside Politics
August 6
Politicians differ regarding their recommendations as to how the economy may be put back on track. Some believe ‘redistribution of wealth’ is the answer. It is their contention that when those who have more share with those who have less, the playing field will be leveled and everyone will have a greater opportunity for success.
One cannot help but observe that these politicians, who are wealthy in their own right, seem far less eager to bestow their own fortunes upon those less advantaged than they. The public coffers are fair game for their schemes, but their own sizable investment portfolios are not.
Countering their schemes are those who strongly feel that prosperity can be restored if entrepreneurs are given freedom from excessive taxes so they can invest without fear of incurring penalties for their success. Without taking sides in this debate, one Biblical principle becomes apparent.
Proverbs 11:14 says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls but wise counsel makes victory sure.” Nations that are on the brink of economic disaster are in desperate need of true wisdom. Leaders who desire recovery for their faltering financial systems must lay aside politics and personal opinions and apply the tried and true methods of success.
Politicians differ regarding their recommendations as to how the economy may be put back on track. Some believe ‘redistribution of wealth’ is the answer. It is their contention that when those who have more share with those who have less, the playing field will be leveled and everyone will have a greater opportunity for success.
One cannot help but observe that these politicians, who are wealthy in their own right, seem far less eager to bestow their own fortunes upon those less advantaged than they. The public coffers are fair game for their schemes, but their own sizable investment portfolios are not.
Countering their schemes are those who strongly feel that prosperity can be restored if entrepreneurs are given freedom from excessive taxes so they can invest without fear of incurring penalties for their success. Without taking sides in this debate, one Biblical principle becomes apparent.
Proverbs 11:14 says, “For lack of guidance a nation falls but wise counsel makes victory sure.” Nations that are on the brink of economic disaster are in desperate need of true wisdom. Leaders who desire recovery for their faltering financial systems must lay aside politics and personal opinions and apply the tried and true methods of success.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
No Scheme of Man
August 5
Man strives for ascendancy. He devotes himself to the course of action he believes will lead him to the goals he desires to attain. Whether by his own genius or by schemes he contrives that he believes will afford him success, he is resolute in his determination to grasp the prize.
Whether in the professional, romantic or political realm, the individual who is driven to achieve greatness will do all it takes to attain his goal. A believer in Christ assesses the efforts of those around him who are not bound by the scruples that his faith requires of him and he perceives himself to be at a disadvantage.
Because he cannot place his desires at the pinnacle of his existence, he feels he is limited in the level of success he can achieve. But his adherence to the principles of the Kingdom of Christ does not impede his progress toward his goals; rather it enhances them. The Bible makes this truth clear. In Proverbs 21:30, 31, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived shares his irrefutable wisdom in the matter.
He says, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. The horse is made ready for battle, but victory rests with our God.” No scheme of man, no weapon of warfare (the war horse was the super weapon of its day) can prevent the person of faith from achieving the goals the Lord our God has ordained to be his. The man who follows Christ knows He will guide him to victory.
Man strives for ascendancy. He devotes himself to the course of action he believes will lead him to the goals he desires to attain. Whether by his own genius or by schemes he contrives that he believes will afford him success, he is resolute in his determination to grasp the prize.
Whether in the professional, romantic or political realm, the individual who is driven to achieve greatness will do all it takes to attain his goal. A believer in Christ assesses the efforts of those around him who are not bound by the scruples that his faith requires of him and he perceives himself to be at a disadvantage.
Because he cannot place his desires at the pinnacle of his existence, he feels he is limited in the level of success he can achieve. But his adherence to the principles of the Kingdom of Christ does not impede his progress toward his goals; rather it enhances them. The Bible makes this truth clear. In Proverbs 21:30, 31, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived shares his irrefutable wisdom in the matter.
He says, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord. The horse is made ready for battle, but victory rests with our God.” No scheme of man, no weapon of warfare (the war horse was the super weapon of its day) can prevent the person of faith from achieving the goals the Lord our God has ordained to be his. The man who follows Christ knows He will guide him to victory.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Victory Over Death, Hell, and the Grave!
August 4
The desire for immortality has compelled man to seek life beyond life in. For sheer human indulgence, perhaps the Moslem concept of heaven offers the most persuasive lure to those who are unsure of just which belief system affords the most enticing view of the afterlife.
To those who are unfamiliar with the Islamic perception of what heaven will be like, it is difficult to fathom how viable young men can detonate bombs for the purpose of killing everyone within range—including themselves! Student of even the most rudimentary tenets of Islam know the answer to that perplexing question.
The adherent to shariah law believes that when he has given his life for Islam, he will have assured himself a place in a lush, verdant paradise where he will enjoy the eternal attention of 72 lovely women who will be ever-virgin. They will have silky black hair and inviting brown eyes. Exquisite in face and form they will be unequaled in the art of love.
Contrast this very sensual paradise with the Christian belief that, “When perishable has been clothed with imperishable and mortal has put on immortality, then will be fulfilled the saying, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory!’” (I Corinthians 15:54) What Jesus offers isn’t a perpetuation of human pleasure; He offers victory over death, hell and the grave!
The desire for immortality has compelled man to seek life beyond life in. For sheer human indulgence, perhaps the Moslem concept of heaven offers the most persuasive lure to those who are unsure of just which belief system affords the most enticing view of the afterlife.
To those who are unfamiliar with the Islamic perception of what heaven will be like, it is difficult to fathom how viable young men can detonate bombs for the purpose of killing everyone within range—including themselves! Student of even the most rudimentary tenets of Islam know the answer to that perplexing question.
The adherent to shariah law believes that when he has given his life for Islam, he will have assured himself a place in a lush, verdant paradise where he will enjoy the eternal attention of 72 lovely women who will be ever-virgin. They will have silky black hair and inviting brown eyes. Exquisite in face and form they will be unequaled in the art of love.
Contrast this very sensual paradise with the Christian belief that, “When perishable has been clothed with imperishable and mortal has put on immortality, then will be fulfilled the saying, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory!’” (I Corinthians 15:54) What Jesus offers isn’t a perpetuation of human pleasure; He offers victory over death, hell and the grave!
Friday, August 3, 2012
More Than Conquerors
August 3
Early believers in Christ suffered much for their faith. Like believers today in some countries where religious freedom is neither accepted nor tolerated, they often endured severe persecution and even death for their belief in the Messiah-ship of Jesus and the salvation attained through His sacrifice.
So these early Jewish believers went forth from Palestine, taking the Gospel “…to the uttermost parts of the earth” Acts 1:8. Of course, they had been told by the risen Lord in the first part of that verse that, “You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you and you shall be My witnesses…”
Though their way was fraught with persecution, especially from the Romans who detested both them and the traditional Jews because they refused to bow the knee to the emperor, they went forward to the lions of the Coliseum and to the chains of the galley ships with His love in their hearts and His gospel on their lips!
They did not flinch from Caligula’s cruel practice of using them as human torches to illumine his orgies! No! They reminded themselves that their cruel and unjust punishment was temporary but their victory was eternal! They trusted Paul’s words, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us” Romans 8:37.
Early believers in Christ suffered much for their faith. Like believers today in some countries where religious freedom is neither accepted nor tolerated, they often endured severe persecution and even death for their belief in the Messiah-ship of Jesus and the salvation attained through His sacrifice.
So these early Jewish believers went forth from Palestine, taking the Gospel “…to the uttermost parts of the earth” Acts 1:8. Of course, they had been told by the risen Lord in the first part of that verse that, “You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you and you shall be My witnesses…”
Though their way was fraught with persecution, especially from the Romans who detested both them and the traditional Jews because they refused to bow the knee to the emperor, they went forward to the lions of the Coliseum and to the chains of the galley ships with His love in their hearts and His gospel on their lips!
They did not flinch from Caligula’s cruel practice of using them as human torches to illumine his orgies! No! They reminded themselves that their cruel and unjust punishment was temporary but their victory was eternal! They trusted Paul’s words, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us” Romans 8:37.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
August 2 Addendum--VICTORY!
August 2 Addendum
Many of the battles we face are not war related, except that there is an on-going war being waged by the forces of the enemy against God and His people and His purposes. That warfare evidences itself in ways that the enemy-strategist plots to use to undermine the faith and effectiveness of the people of God.
God’s arch-foe endeavors to cause the Lord’s prayer-warriors to be so engulfed in their personal battles that they haven’t time to think about praying for the major concerns of salvation for the lost and the setting up of the world stage for the end-times events that loom on the horizon.
The enemy’s strategy involves persecution by unbelievers that reaches an intense degree in lands that are controlled by the force of the evil one. The evil one’s strategy also includes personal attacks that can be against the believer’s physical well-being or emotional stability.
Today, I lift up people of faith in all circumstances where the enemy’s onslaught has come against them! I bind the mischief of the evil one, grind him and his minions to fine powder and scatter them impotent to the wind. I release power into the prayers of the people of Christ!
I command strongholds to topple and captives to be set free. I loose everyone bound in darkness and command that they see the glorious light of Jesus! I command that those who hold believers captive will themselves be set free from the clutches of the evil one so they will become the protectors and defenders of people of faith in Christ.
I pray that those who are bound by sickness and disease and despair will be set free to focus on the beauty of Christ who is boundless in His mercy and in His power. I pray that His power will be released into the lives of believers in a way that exceeds anything they have ever yet known.
I pray shackles will be broken and captives will be set free to love Jesus, to live for Jesus and to extoll the name of Jesus in the beauty of HOLINESS! I pray that when unbelievers look upon people of faith, they will not see the individual; rather, they will see the Lord HIMSELF, standing before them; meeting them at their point of need!
Many of the battles we face are not war related, except that there is an on-going war being waged by the forces of the enemy against God and His people and His purposes. That warfare evidences itself in ways that the enemy-strategist plots to use to undermine the faith and effectiveness of the people of God.
God’s arch-foe endeavors to cause the Lord’s prayer-warriors to be so engulfed in their personal battles that they haven’t time to think about praying for the major concerns of salvation for the lost and the setting up of the world stage for the end-times events that loom on the horizon.
The enemy’s strategy involves persecution by unbelievers that reaches an intense degree in lands that are controlled by the force of the evil one. The evil one’s strategy also includes personal attacks that can be against the believer’s physical well-being or emotional stability.
Today, I lift up people of faith in all circumstances where the enemy’s onslaught has come against them! I bind the mischief of the evil one, grind him and his minions to fine powder and scatter them impotent to the wind. I release power into the prayers of the people of Christ!
I command strongholds to topple and captives to be set free. I loose everyone bound in darkness and command that they see the glorious light of Jesus! I command that those who hold believers captive will themselves be set free from the clutches of the evil one so they will become the protectors and defenders of people of faith in Christ.
I pray that those who are bound by sickness and disease and despair will be set free to focus on the beauty of Christ who is boundless in His mercy and in His power. I pray that His power will be released into the lives of believers in a way that exceeds anything they have ever yet known.
I pray shackles will be broken and captives will be set free to love Jesus, to live for Jesus and to extoll the name of Jesus in the beauty of HOLINESS! I pray that when unbelievers look upon people of faith, they will not see the individual; rather, they will see the Lord HIMSELF, standing before them; meeting them at their point of need!
Ultimate Victory
August 2
The Old Testament is replete with stories of battles. The history of the Jews, God’s chosen people could not be complete without the tales of the enemies they encountered on their way to the Promised Land. In fact, even in our day, their restoration to the ancient land of Palestine which God gave to them involves an on-going contest between them and their Arab neighbors as to whom the land rightfully belongs.
That small piece of real estate, until it was re-established as a Jewish homeland, was virtually a no-man’s land where wandering bands roamed without claiming citizenship to any nearby country. When it was decided after WW II that the Jews needed a safe haven where they could be free from persecution, their arrival to this wasteland provoked an immediate, negative response from those surrounding countries.
Upon their arrival, these diligent and determined Jewish souls set about to thrive and prosper in this inhospitable desert—they literally brought to pass the Biblical prophecy that the land would, “…blossom like the rose” Isaiah 35:1. In order to make that happen, they waged a virtually continuous warfare with not only the elements but also with their bellicose neighbors. Though some of those neighbors live within the borders of Israel and thrive there, most continue to conduct subversive acts against them.
Today’s believer in the Lord, like the Jews, is surrounded by hostile neighbors who are not prospering in their current belief system, yet have no desire to assimilate into the family of faith in Christ. As the believer encounters conflict, he is encouraged by the words of the Beloved Apostle in I John 4:4, “You, dear children, are God’s and you have already overcome, because greater is HE who is in you than he who is in the world.” God promises that though His people may be required to fight, they will ultimately have a great victory.
The Old Testament is replete with stories of battles. The history of the Jews, God’s chosen people could not be complete without the tales of the enemies they encountered on their way to the Promised Land. In fact, even in our day, their restoration to the ancient land of Palestine which God gave to them involves an on-going contest between them and their Arab neighbors as to whom the land rightfully belongs.
That small piece of real estate, until it was re-established as a Jewish homeland, was virtually a no-man’s land where wandering bands roamed without claiming citizenship to any nearby country. When it was decided after WW II that the Jews needed a safe haven where they could be free from persecution, their arrival to this wasteland provoked an immediate, negative response from those surrounding countries.
Upon their arrival, these diligent and determined Jewish souls set about to thrive and prosper in this inhospitable desert—they literally brought to pass the Biblical prophecy that the land would, “…blossom like the rose” Isaiah 35:1. In order to make that happen, they waged a virtually continuous warfare with not only the elements but also with their bellicose neighbors. Though some of those neighbors live within the borders of Israel and thrive there, most continue to conduct subversive acts against them.
Today’s believer in the Lord, like the Jews, is surrounded by hostile neighbors who are not prospering in their current belief system, yet have no desire to assimilate into the family of faith in Christ. As the believer encounters conflict, he is encouraged by the words of the Beloved Apostle in I John 4:4, “You, dear children, are God’s and you have already overcome, because greater is HE who is in you than he who is in the world.” God promises that though His people may be required to fight, they will ultimately have a great victory.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
August
Some people yearn for a good fight. You know the type…the guy at work who’s always in competition with you even if you’re not playing the game. He tries to best you at every turn so he’s always looking over your shoulder to see how he can improve on your work as he copies your ideas.
Or it might be the fellow who isn’t content until he’s convinced everyone that his point of view on any given subject is irrefutable. He will argue until everyone concedes that he is right—or actually, until everyone is so tired of being badgered by his arguments that they simply relinquish to him the perceived prize for which he’s vying.
Most of these contests simply aren’t worth the time they take to compete in them. Unless the matter is of some profound consequence, the preferred course is to walk away at the onset. Even if the debate is a spiritual one, if you have posed your position previously, it is hardly worth the expenditure of energy to go through the argument again. Jesus said in Matthew 6:6, “…Cast not your pearls before swine...”
His point was that the wisdom of God is not valued by those who have purposed against it in their hearts; therefore, it’s an exercise in futility to waste your breath attempting again to convince them of the error of their thinking. Ultimately, as David said in Psalm 60:12, “With God we will gain the victory and HE will trample down the enemy.” Our part is to do our part then wait for the Lord to bring the endeavor to His conclusion.
Some people yearn for a good fight. You know the type…the guy at work who’s always in competition with you even if you’re not playing the game. He tries to best you at every turn so he’s always looking over your shoulder to see how he can improve on your work as he copies your ideas.
Or it might be the fellow who isn’t content until he’s convinced everyone that his point of view on any given subject is irrefutable. He will argue until everyone concedes that he is right—or actually, until everyone is so tired of being badgered by his arguments that they simply relinquish to him the perceived prize for which he’s vying.
Most of these contests simply aren’t worth the time they take to compete in them. Unless the matter is of some profound consequence, the preferred course is to walk away at the onset. Even if the debate is a spiritual one, if you have posed your position previously, it is hardly worth the expenditure of energy to go through the argument again. Jesus said in Matthew 6:6, “…Cast not your pearls before swine...”
His point was that the wisdom of God is not valued by those who have purposed against it in their hearts; therefore, it’s an exercise in futility to waste your breath attempting again to convince them of the error of their thinking. Ultimately, as David said in Psalm 60:12, “With God we will gain the victory and HE will trample down the enemy.” Our part is to do our part then wait for the Lord to bring the endeavor to His conclusion.
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