September 7
One of many major differences between Christianity and the religion of Islam is their completely opposite perception of confession as regards forgiveness from sin. The position put forth by Jesus is that when we confess our sin, God forgives our sin and cleanses us from it.
The Moslem view is that the sin that is hidden is the one that is least detrimental. They believe the sin that is veiled or covered or denied has less weight against the proponent of Islam when he stands before Allah’s great scale on judgment day where his good deeds will be weighed against his bad deeds.
The Bible says the opposite, “Be sure your sin will find you out,” stated in Numbers 32:23, is a clear declaration of God’s abhorrence of secret sins. Without confession and the cleansing that comes when Jesus is received as Savior and Lord, Christians believe no one shall see God. Beyond acknowledging our sins to God, the Lord adjures us to be straightforward with others regarding sin
James 5:16 says, “Confess to one another therefore your faults and pray earnestly for one another that you may be restored to right standing before God, for the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." This clearly says that we are to be transparent before our brothers in Christ and they are to hold us accountable—and to pray that we may be restored to grace when we have stumbled.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
September 6
Integrity is something that is lacking in many quarters today. We have become a people of expedience—do what it takes to get the job done—rather than a people of character who will sacrifice personal goals or desires in order to maintain God’s standard in our day-to-day conduct of our business and ourselves.
When believers in Christ succumb to the world’s standard, when we justify our slump into professional or personal compromise, we are denying the high calling to which the Lord has brought us. He expects more from His people because those who call His name in faith have Him to emulate for their integrity.
While ‘the world’ has only itself and its own values—which seem to worsen by the day—believers in Christ have an unchanging belief system upon which to build their lives and guide their actions and measure their words. If we do not employ His values in governing ourselves, we have virtually turned our backs upon Him. According to Psalm 15:4, 5, this is something we will not do if we are truly His.
It says, “The man who honors those who fear the Lord, who is inflexible in his commitment to His ways, who does not take usury against his own people or bribes against the innocent shall never be shaken.” If we have a true regard for the people of the Lord, if we constrain ourselves from employing unethical tactics in any situation, if we have an absolute commitment to Christ, we will be people who reflect His sterling character, not the compromised integrity of the world.
Integrity is something that is lacking in many quarters today. We have become a people of expedience—do what it takes to get the job done—rather than a people of character who will sacrifice personal goals or desires in order to maintain God’s standard in our day-to-day conduct of our business and ourselves.
When believers in Christ succumb to the world’s standard, when we justify our slump into professional or personal compromise, we are denying the high calling to which the Lord has brought us. He expects more from His people because those who call His name in faith have Him to emulate for their integrity.
While ‘the world’ has only itself and its own values—which seem to worsen by the day—believers in Christ have an unchanging belief system upon which to build their lives and guide their actions and measure their words. If we do not employ His values in governing ourselves, we have virtually turned our backs upon Him. According to Psalm 15:4, 5, this is something we will not do if we are truly His.
It says, “The man who honors those who fear the Lord, who is inflexible in his commitment to His ways, who does not take usury against his own people or bribes against the innocent shall never be shaken.” If we have a true regard for the people of the Lord, if we constrain ourselves from employing unethical tactics in any situation, if we have an absolute commitment to Christ, we will be people who reflect His sterling character, not the compromised integrity of the world.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
September 5
Where do negative attitudes originate and how can they be overcome? Negative attitudes. We would probably conclude without much contemplation that negative attitudes begin in the mind. The Word makes it clear that the way we think determines much about what we say and what we do (Proverbs 23:7).
Looking at that verse more closely, however, requires our coming to a different conclusion about the origin of our attitudes. It says specifically, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” We don’t attribute our thoughts to our hearts. We attribute them to our minds. So, exactly what is the Word telling us here?
Where do those negative mindsets—greed, lust, hatred, revenge, scorn, and all their ‘cousins’—come from? Proverbs 28:25 gives us a clue regarding the root from which ungodly thoughts spring. It says, “He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched and blessed.” It is within the spirit of an individual that evil schemes or benevolent actions are conceived.
The Word tells us that our bodies are to be the temples of the Holy Spirit. If we have Christ in our hearts, His Holy Spirit resides within us; our spirits are subject to Him. Apart from His presence, they are subject only to self. Our spirits, then, conceive the attitudes that our minds develop and our actions execute—whether for good or for ill—depending on whether His Spirit or ours sows them.
Where do negative attitudes originate and how can they be overcome? Negative attitudes. We would probably conclude without much contemplation that negative attitudes begin in the mind. The Word makes it clear that the way we think determines much about what we say and what we do (Proverbs 23:7).
Looking at that verse more closely, however, requires our coming to a different conclusion about the origin of our attitudes. It says specifically, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” We don’t attribute our thoughts to our hearts. We attribute them to our minds. So, exactly what is the Word telling us here?
Where do those negative mindsets—greed, lust, hatred, revenge, scorn, and all their ‘cousins’—come from? Proverbs 28:25 gives us a clue regarding the root from which ungodly thoughts spring. It says, “He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in the Lord shall be enriched and blessed.” It is within the spirit of an individual that evil schemes or benevolent actions are conceived.
The Word tells us that our bodies are to be the temples of the Holy Spirit. If we have Christ in our hearts, His Holy Spirit resides within us; our spirits are subject to Him. Apart from His presence, they are subject only to self. Our spirits, then, conceive the attitudes that our minds develop and our actions execute—whether for good or for ill—depending on whether His Spirit or ours sows them.
Friday, September 4, 2009
September 4
God promises to reward integrity. In Psalm 18:20 we are told, “The Lord rewards me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He will recompense me.” Oh, it may not appear that the Holy One has observed but not acted upon what He’s seen of the integrity of His people!
A wise friend has said, “God does not always pay His debts on Tuesday.” Those of us who are familiar with receiving bills on a schedule and paying them on a schedule sometimes expect God to follow our time table when it comes to issuing His rewards. He does not.
In fact, the individuals who seem to have reaped most abundantly of the rewards of earth may not be those who God intends to reward. Sometimes, God’s choicest saints are those quietly serving Him without fanfare. They seem to gain no advantage from their faithfulness. But there is a day coming when all God’s accounts will be settled.
Isaiah 62:11 says that when He comes, His reward will be with Him. Mark 9:41 assures that the slightest act done in the name of Jesus and for the sake of His Kingdom shall be rewarded. Nothing will have been too insignificant for His notice. If you are laboring for Christ and seem forgotten, soldier on! The One you serve knows—and His promise is that you shall not be disappointed.
God promises to reward integrity. In Psalm 18:20 we are told, “The Lord rewards me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He will recompense me.” Oh, it may not appear that the Holy One has observed but not acted upon what He’s seen of the integrity of His people!
A wise friend has said, “God does not always pay His debts on Tuesday.” Those of us who are familiar with receiving bills on a schedule and paying them on a schedule sometimes expect God to follow our time table when it comes to issuing His rewards. He does not.
In fact, the individuals who seem to have reaped most abundantly of the rewards of earth may not be those who God intends to reward. Sometimes, God’s choicest saints are those quietly serving Him without fanfare. They seem to gain no advantage from their faithfulness. But there is a day coming when all God’s accounts will be settled.
Isaiah 62:11 says that when He comes, His reward will be with Him. Mark 9:41 assures that the slightest act done in the name of Jesus and for the sake of His Kingdom shall be rewarded. Nothing will have been too insignificant for His notice. If you are laboring for Christ and seem forgotten, soldier on! The One you serve knows—and His promise is that you shall not be disappointed.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
September 3
One of the things that is most troubling to us is the notion that we are unheard, that we haven’t a voice. Husbands and wives tend to “tune out” their spouses. The lover who was attentive and hung on every word of his beloved has become deaf to the voice of his wife. Wives do it, too.
Children yearn to be heard by their parents, yet they lament that they are not. Parents long to communicate with their offspring, but the lines of communication are often down. The best of intentions seem unable to transcend an invisible generational barrier.
Politicians are incapable of recognizing the will of the people they have been elected to represent. They have an agenda that furthers their own objectives but they tune out the voice of the people. Election cycles do not go quickly enough for the disgruntled voter who is awaiting the opportunity to vote again!
But we have One who knows our hearts’ profoundest longings and hears our deepest cries! We have One who hears and cares. Psalm 10:17 assures us that the Lord, “…has heard the desire and longing of the humble and oppressed! He will strengthen their hearts.” No one is without a voice; creation’s God hears!
One of the things that is most troubling to us is the notion that we are unheard, that we haven’t a voice. Husbands and wives tend to “tune out” their spouses. The lover who was attentive and hung on every word of his beloved has become deaf to the voice of his wife. Wives do it, too.
Children yearn to be heard by their parents, yet they lament that they are not. Parents long to communicate with their offspring, but the lines of communication are often down. The best of intentions seem unable to transcend an invisible generational barrier.
Politicians are incapable of recognizing the will of the people they have been elected to represent. They have an agenda that furthers their own objectives but they tune out the voice of the people. Election cycles do not go quickly enough for the disgruntled voter who is awaiting the opportunity to vote again!
But we have One who knows our hearts’ profoundest longings and hears our deepest cries! We have One who hears and cares. Psalm 10:17 assures us that the Lord, “…has heard the desire and longing of the humble and oppressed! He will strengthen their hearts.” No one is without a voice; creation’s God hears!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
September 2
It is said that a man met with his pastor to tell him he planned to divorce his wife because he no longer loved her. The minister reminded him that the Word tells men that they must love their wives. He said he simply could not. The pastor replied that if he could not love her as his wife he must love her as his neighbor for this is admonished in the scripture. The man said he could not.
At this point, the man of the cloth said, “Well, then you must love her as your enemy, for the Lord requires you to love your enemies. Whatever you do, you must love her.” We sometimes find ourselves in the same situation as the man in the illustration. We know we are to love, but cannot muster love within us.
The first step toward loving is the realization that the Hollywood image of love is not real. Love is not butterflies in your stomach and happy-ever-afters. Love is a covenant. It is a commitment before God. It is a solemn contractual agreement that is sealed in the Court of Heaven.
Beyond the love we owe to our spouse, the Word adjures us to love as Christ loves. How is that? In Galatians 6:10 it says, “In so far as you have opportunity, do good to all people, caring for their temporal and spiritual advantage, blessing them with love—especially those who share your faith in Jesus.”
It is said that a man met with his pastor to tell him he planned to divorce his wife because he no longer loved her. The minister reminded him that the Word tells men that they must love their wives. He said he simply could not. The pastor replied that if he could not love her as his wife he must love her as his neighbor for this is admonished in the scripture. The man said he could not.
At this point, the man of the cloth said, “Well, then you must love her as your enemy, for the Lord requires you to love your enemies. Whatever you do, you must love her.” We sometimes find ourselves in the same situation as the man in the illustration. We know we are to love, but cannot muster love within us.
The first step toward loving is the realization that the Hollywood image of love is not real. Love is not butterflies in your stomach and happy-ever-afters. Love is a covenant. It is a commitment before God. It is a solemn contractual agreement that is sealed in the Court of Heaven.
Beyond the love we owe to our spouse, the Word adjures us to love as Christ loves. How is that? In Galatians 6:10 it says, “In so far as you have opportunity, do good to all people, caring for their temporal and spiritual advantage, blessing them with love—especially those who share your faith in Jesus.”
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
September 1
It is almost as though there are two realities of life for most believers. There is the reality of what we aspire to be and to do as we live fully committed lives for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and there is the reality of the deadness of our actual day-to-day surrender to Him.
Unfortunately, the plane of our good intentions exceeds the plane of our performance. We disappoint ourselves daily and fall far short of our spiritual goals. How can we overcome the wretched sense of disappointment we feel when we let ourselves down?
The first step is to realize that God isn’t disappointed in us. He is forgiving and He has chosen to put our shortcomings along with our sins into His ‘Sea of Forgetfulness.’ God does not badger us with our broken expectations—we do that to ourselves. But HE does have a remedy for the burden of guilt that our disappointment with ourselves requires us to carry.
It is found in Galatians 5:16 where we are told to, “Walk in the Spirit, so you will not walk in the lusts and desires of the flesh.” To avoid human failure, we must walk in spiritual power! What we haven’t the capacity to accomplish on our own because our flesh is dead to true godliness, we can achieve through the power of the Holy Spirit within us that will raise us as it raised Jesus from the dead!
It is almost as though there are two realities of life for most believers. There is the reality of what we aspire to be and to do as we live fully committed lives for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and there is the reality of the deadness of our actual day-to-day surrender to Him.
Unfortunately, the plane of our good intentions exceeds the plane of our performance. We disappoint ourselves daily and fall far short of our spiritual goals. How can we overcome the wretched sense of disappointment we feel when we let ourselves down?
The first step is to realize that God isn’t disappointed in us. He is forgiving and He has chosen to put our shortcomings along with our sins into His ‘Sea of Forgetfulness.’ God does not badger us with our broken expectations—we do that to ourselves. But HE does have a remedy for the burden of guilt that our disappointment with ourselves requires us to carry.
It is found in Galatians 5:16 where we are told to, “Walk in the Spirit, so you will not walk in the lusts and desires of the flesh.” To avoid human failure, we must walk in spiritual power! What we haven’t the capacity to accomplish on our own because our flesh is dead to true godliness, we can achieve through the power of the Holy Spirit within us that will raise us as it raised Jesus from the dead!
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