Focus!

"I will lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? It comes from the Lord" (Psalm 120:1) "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead...this is my gospel" (2Tim.2:8). Two very good reminders to me that I need to keep my eyes fixed on my true source of protection, provision, and pardon during these tumultuous days.

Remembering Others in Our Prayers

"I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day" (2Tim.1:3). Paul's words to Timothy remind me of the importance to remember others in my prayers on a consistent basis. How very encouraging it must have been for Timothy to know of Paul's constant concern for him. I want to express and experience that encouragement.

The Worth of the Word

Reading through Psalm 119 there is so much to grasp, but the prominence of God's Word is hard to miss. One thing that impresses me is the Psalmists love of God's Word. He wants to observe God's law and keep it will all his heart (vs.34). He trusts in God's Word (vs.42). He loves God's law (vs.97), it is a lamp to his feet and light to his path (vs.105) and he wants his footsteps established in God's word (vs.133). These are just a few of the ideas communicated about God's word. I'm struck by how the Psalmist wants to be taught by, learn from, rest in, be revived by, and follow God's word. He meditates on it all day (vs.97)and it makes him "wiser than my enemies" (vs.98) and it's taste is "sweeter than honey..." (vs.103). I think if we are honest the Psalmists interest in and love for God's word far surpasses our own, but it certainly provides us with an example to follow and gives us many sincere prayers to pray. Oh that we would learn the worth of the Word from the Psalmist and begin to make his statements our prayers. Today I was especially struck by Psalm 119:133 "Establish my footsteps in Thy word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me."

God Cares.

So neat to see the Lord speak from His word what is needed at the time. Yesterday I was aware that several things could become sources of anxiety for me and I simply said, "Give me what is needed today." "The Lord is for me, I will not fear; What can man do to me? ...It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man" (Ps.118:6,8). Life is NOT all about me, but God does indeed care about what is happening in the daily lives of His children and for that I am very thankful.

Grateful for God's Mercy

"...that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all" (1Tim.1:15b). Paul shows me that Reflecting on the extent of my own sinfulness brings into clearer view the magnitude of God's mercy in saving me.

Cure for Ailing America

In Daniel's day, his nation suffered because of their abandonment of God. In lamenting their 70 years in captivity he truthfully states, "...all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth" (Daniel 9:13). The demise of any nation can be traced back to their abandonment of God. Daniel offers the remedy for what ails America. 1. Turn from our iniquity. 2. Start living out the truth of God's Word. Take your pick from any list of poisons plaguing America today--Pride, Dishonesty, Corruption, Deception, Extortion, Stealing, Laziness, Abortion, normalization of Homosexuality, Break down of the nuclear family, divorce, drug abuse, alcoholism, greed, materialism, teen pregnancy, pornography, poverty, racism, failure for individuals to take personal responsibility for their actions and their own provisions, a growing entitlement mentality, considering humans no better than any other created thing, murder, terrorism, and the list could go on. Bottom line is that each of these maladies has it's origin in the sinful heart of man. The further we get away from God and the truths of His word the closer to our own demise we come. The explanation for our challenges as a country rests squarely on our spiritual anemia. I'm not sure who said it, but I believe it is true, "If America ceases to be great, it is because America ceases to be Godly." This is not only true of America. It was true for Israel in Daniel's day. It is true for any nation today. Time to wake up to the fact that we are indeed running counter to God and His Word, admit our sinfulness and cry out to God for forgiveness. This begins with individuals turning from their sin and trusting Christ who died to pay the price we deserve so that we could be forgiven and and gain new life. As new creatures (2Cor.5;17) BELIEVERS have turned and continue to turn from their sin and seek to live according to God's Word. What America needs. What the world needs is a revival. Only when people are totally surrendered to God because they trusting Christ to save them from their sin will they have the power to live consistently according to His word, to deny self, to overcome greed, lust, jealousy, pride, etc. Only in Christ will we see all men and women created equal so that human life has dignity whereby we refuse to take innocent life in the womb or treat others as inferior because of the color of their skin. Life in society submitting to the will of God as outlined in his word is a society that lives in harmony. That is only possible if the individuals are personally reconciled to God through faith in Christ. It begins with each of us turning from our rebellious, self-directed life and trusting Christ's death in our place and then living in constant submission to God's Word. It begins with us praying for God to work mightily to forgive our sins, to convict those who sin, to turn people around and towards Him. It begins with us taking an active role in defending the truth and speaking against the lies of the enemy which is often times contrary to the politically correct thinking of the influencers of society.

Courage NOT to Compromise

1 Kings 22 is one of my favorite stories of courage that doesn't compromise. The prophet Micaiah was called before two kings where 400 prophets were telling the monarchs to go to war. The messenger told Micaiah, "Please let your word be like the word of one of them and speak favorably" (verse13). No doubt with his life hanging in the balance the prophet said, "...what the Lord says to me, that I will speak" (vs.14) and that is exactly what he did. I'm inspired by this example to speak the truth of God's word at a time when there is increasing pressure to tell people what they want to hear.I can't imagine the pressure Micaiah must have felt as he encountered the ranting prophets all telling the kings to go to war and that they would experience victory. Micaiah was the lone voice prophesying defeat. In fact, He was so bold as to tell the kings that the Lord revealed to him that a deceiving spirit was speaking through the mouths of the other prophets. Micaiah set an example to follow. Regardless of the consequences or the pressure to compromise speaking what God has said is the path to follow. Lord, I only ask for courage not to compromise as Micaiah had.

Excel Still More!

"...as you received from us instructions as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more" (1Thess.4:1). Challenged this morning to consider the life God has called me to live--how I ought to walk based on God's word--and to excel still more. Not in a rigid or legalistic sense but out of Love for all that God has done for me in Christ. Trusting that "He who began a good work will perfect it until the Day of Christ."

Perspective!

Was praying for some perspective from the Word as I woke up this morning and this is what the Lord gave me. First of all, I read 1 Kings 20 where evil king Benhadad of Aram came out to fight the King of Israel (Ahab). Long story short is that the Arameans far outnumbered the Israelites, but God worked mightily on behalf of His people to defeat a much larger army. Point I took away was that despite the overwhelming odds against God's people, the Lord is still sovereignly and powerfully in control to protect His people. Even in our current desperate condition as a country with Christianity under fire, we can rest assured that God is in Control and working for our good. Then Psalm 104-105 both testimonies of God's great work on behalf of His people. God is in control :). "Glory in His Holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad. Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually" (Ps.105:3-4). Then I read Daniel 6. Daniel was so upright and blessed by God that his peers among the wise men of Babylon were jealous and sought to discredit him. They could find NO ground for accusation and no corruption in Him. So they sought to force him to compromise his religious convictions by forbidding the worship of any god or person other than king Darius. When Daniel knew the decree was set, he ignored the consequences and continued to bow down towards Jerusalem three times a day in prayer. He was caught and sentenced to the lions den. His courage to stand firm on his convictions knowing he would have to face the adverse consequences is encouragement to me and to every believer in the face of increasingly hostile conditions. Christians are under increasing pressure to compromise and our religious freedoms are under assault. Daniel provides a fitting role model and God's protection of Him is encouraging as well. A little perspective for my day.

Do I Receive it As the Word of God?

"...we constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God which also performs its work in you who believe" (1Thess.2:13). Does God's word "perform its work in me?" Do I receive it for what it truly is and not as the word of men?

Imitators of Christ?

Paul was praising the church at Thessalonica, "constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ...you also became imitators of us and of the Lord...you became an example to all the believers...For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you..." (1Thess. 1:3-8). Challenged by what would be necessary for these same compliments to be given to the church I'm apart of? Am I personally embodying what Paul is praising?

What am I devoted to?

"Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving" (Col.4:2). It is too easy to forge ahead in life in our own strength failing to realize just how much we need the Lord. Paul's words here are a good challenge to me, to devote myself to something that really does make a difference and to do so gratefully anticipating that God will work.

Guard Our Minds

I remember one of the few times my father actually wrote me a note while I was in college. In the text of the letter my dad referred to this verse. "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ" (Col.2:8). What a fitting warning to any student today, and especially to those studying at our public institutions. But this warning is not just for students. Paul writing to a church assaulted by those trying to turn them away from the truth penned these word which are just as fitting today. So many who follow Christ are being lead astray by worldly philosophies, deception, and the traditions of men. At every turn society is trying to mold and shape our values, priorities, and sensibilities. We are bombarded with the lies that say your physical appearance is what defines you, success is measured in terms of how much money you make, look out for yourself first, honesty and hard work are for losers, if you are economically worse off than others then those wealthier than you "OWE" you something, individuals aren't responsible for meeting their own needs or for their actions, it doesn't really matter what you believe about God, sin, death, or hell; freedom of speech no longer applies if you condemn homosexuality, abortion, immorality, dishonesty, corruption, and/or stealing. These are some of the destructive philosophies permeating our culture. There are many more that are contrary to Scripture. Think for example of the impact of Darwinian evolution and secular humanism. These ideologies and belief systems have stripped humankind of their God given uniqueness as the pinnacle of creation. Under these systems man is no better than any other creatures. This mentality justifies such atrocities as abortion, euthanasia, the holocaust. The foundation of the "Environmental movement" and the "animal activist" movements is a fundamental denial of the God-created distinction between man and the rest of creation. If we are, as God has stated, "Created in His image to rule and subdue the earth" then much of what we are being told today is absolutely in conflict with Scripture. Sadly, the idea that man is created in the image of God distinct from the rest of creation as a being designed to impact his/her is completely at odds with much of the social welfare system. When we reward people for NOT working and punish people who do work by stealing what they earn and give it to other people we are stripping human beings of their God-given dignity. God gave us work before the fall so that it is not a curse, but something that we do as image bearers. After the fall it is much more difficult, but work is NOT a curse. When will we see that able-bodied individuals are created with ingenuity, creativity, and energy for making a difference in society. Whatever system we impose that suppresses our God-given image dehumanizes us. I could continue down this road of contrasting current social engineering with Biblical teaching, but the point I want to make is that Paul's warning is so very important today. Both inside and outside the church Christians are inundated with erroneous ideas of what the Bible truly teaches. Only as we "See to it that no one takes us captive" will we truly be free. May we commit ourselves to be "transformed by the renewing of our minds" (Ro.12:2), pray for discernment, and learn to look for the faulty assumptions behind what the world tells us.

Expectation of Change

"...the gospel...is constantly bearing fruit and inceasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth" (Col.1:5-6). Paul commends the Colossians because the gospel was transforming their lives. God's truth when truly implanted in our lives grows; it changes us. There should be an expectation of change in my life as a believer and in the lives of all who call themselves followers of Christ. It is a sobering thought to realize that the natural course of life as a believer is one of growth in Christlikeness, of bearing fruit and "increasing." Sure, there are times when our zeal for the Lord waxes and wanes, when we lapse into fits of futility but as a general trajectory the life of a believer is moving in a Godward direction. This has implications in the church where we often excuse someone for just "being cantakerous", or gossiping, or unfriendly. Seriously??? We should not excuse those who say they have been Christians for a long period of time with NO measurable difference in their lives. Yes, I know we are not the ultimate judges of people's spiritual condition, but we are to judge ourselves and others. A living tree that produces no fruit is a contradiction. Best to begin with looking at my own life to see if there is genuine evidence of progress.

Comparison or Contentment?

We live in a society that feeds on comparison and competition so that contentment becomes a rare commodity. We have all seen someone else's new car, pickup, or tractor. We have witnessed others who are not as athletic playing while others more talented sit on the bench. We have all been over to a friends new or newly remodeled home. We've heard about a friend who received a generous scholarship to attend school or a young couple whose parent's bought them a new home. We have all been in situations where we look with comparison or competition on another person and feel a nagging sense of discontent. Paul's words in Philippians 4 give some much needed guidance and encouragement to those struggling with contentment. "...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am...I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:11,13).

When the Wicked Seem to Prosper...then what?

Easy to look at all of the evidence of the wicked prospering in their ways and rejoicing in pride over the righteous and then to despair. We are living in days when "evil is called good and good is called evil" and it can be disheartening. Psalm 94 brings perspective and I find strength in verse 19-- "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." There are some other encouraging words found in Psalm 94 for those of us beaten by the rise of wickedness. It's a good read.

Listening to the World or the Word?

The world says "look out for #1". The WORD says, "...let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil.2:3b-4). What a better world we would have if people listened to the WORD.

Walk as Children of the Light

"Walk as children of the light...trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord" (Eph.5:8,10). In these tumultuous days it is tempting to just "do what comes natural", to "live for self" but Paul challenges believers to live in a way opposite of the world. With the darkness (ways of the world) pressing in upon us Paul's reminder is timely. May the world see the Light of Christ in us.

Preaching Christ

In these days of consternation in Washington D.C. and serious unrest in the country I was reminded this morning by the apostle Paul of a couple of things when I read Ephesians 3. First of all, Paul was a prisoner of Christ--imprisoned because of his commitment to Christ. When I consider that there are nearly 200 cities/municipalities in the U.S. that have currently enacted legislation that makes it a crime to speak about homosexuality as the Bible does, it is very disconcerting. It means that in ordinary conversations those who declare on the basis of their moral convictions that same-sex marriage or relationships are wrong will be held in violation of a law. The first amendment seems to be thrown out in such cases. Let alone if a pastor enters a pulpit and publicly declares what the Bible says about what has been euphemistically labeled an "alternate lifestyle". To speak ill of homosexuality in these municipalities is not considered free speech, but a 'hate crime.' Christians need to wake up to the fact that Paul was imprisoned for his faith and if we are going to be true to the teachings of the Bible we are not far behind him. Secondly, Paul got to the heart of the ills plaguing the U.S. and the world--Godlessness and rejection of Christ. Paul understood that by the grace of God he had been called to "preach the unfathomable riches of Christ" (Eph.3:8). It is the unfathomable riches of Christ that so many need today. The forces of evil at work in the world are trying to loosen us from our moral underpinnings and are at war with Christianity. The only real answer is that "people need the Lord." May we not only be faithful to proclaim the gospel, but may we become increasingly intentional and zealous in showing God's love and sharing the truth of God's Word.

A Gift.

""For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Eph.2:8-9). Have you received the gift? If you have received it, do you rejoice in it?