Saturday, September 23, 2017

So Flawed

Ecclesiastes 7:20 - For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.

Short one! 

People can believe in their hearts they are good people by comparing themselves to murderers, thieves, perverts, you name any thing that is wrong, but there is none that is good, none. 

As human beings we are flawed, so flawed. It is proof, and the reason why, we need a Savior. 

God will not have us apart from salvation through His Son, Jesus. Plain and simple. Jesus said He was the truth and the way to life. I would not say this, but God does...those who reject His Son are fools. 

The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.  
The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. (Psalm 14:1-3, Romans 3:10-12) 

Fool: one who acts unwisely and imprudently (Websters)...stupid fellow, dullard, arrogant one, according to a Bible dictionary.

The Gospel message is one of admitting we are fools, unrighteous, dead in our sin and in need of a Savior. God provided that way to life eternal by sending His Son Jesus. By His death He took upon Himself every sin imaginable of every person, past, present and future. We can't fathom that. This is our Savior, who was, is and is to come. This is why it isn't just about knowing who He is but knowing Him in our hearts and spirits. He will receive anyone. But we must put aside our pride and arrogance and admit we are no good! 


1John 1:8 - if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Prepare for the Worst, Hope for the Best

Mark 8:36 - For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

The statement to prepare for the worst, hope for the best, has been used a lot these past couple of weeks with all the intense weather that has occurred. 

Other statements recently heard:
Once the storm comes it's too late to take action, so do what you need to do before it comes. 
•You can replace the material things, but lives cannot be replaced. 
•Err on the side of caution.
•Evacuate or die. (Yikes)

These are all true statements for life situations. It is also true when it relates to the salvation of our souls. Many believe God is not important in ones life...it's okay to believe in God, in their own way, or whatever god they desire, but there is only one true God who can provide the hope in our salvation and His name is Jesus. 

He requires an intimate relationship with Him, like a father to a child or husband to wife. He requires a repentant heart, not sacrifices or head knowledge of Him. Denomination means nothing to Him. He wants your heart. He wants your commitment. He doesn't just want you on Sundays but everyday. He wants you in your home, at work, at play. He wants your complete focus and devotion. 

Salvation is real and important. It's serious business. Those who have experienced it know! They know the changes that have taken place. They know the voice of the Lord. They know His power. They are gaining wisdom and revelation of who this God is. 

There will always be controversy about this subject. Remember, even Jesus encountered scoffers and persecution. Why would He have gone through all this if His Gospel message of salvation wasn't true? We are to seek Him while He may still be found, not wait, because we don't know when our last day will come...we must be certain today. I understand some think this thing about salvation through Jesus might be a myth. Then this: If what I believe is wrong, then I have nothing to lose. But if I’m right, then those who think contrary have everything to lose. Reread the opening scripture.

So, when the storms of life come, whether natural disasters or personal ones, who do you turn to? Doctors, science, government or anything of man can do just so much and I'm not saying we shouldn't seek their help when necessary. But when the chips are down and we consider where we will be when we die, do we have peace and hope in what Jesus did and what He tells us we have to look forward to? Our physical lives, once done on earth, cannot be replaced... People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)... unless we have received Christ as our Savior. There's nothing wrong with erring on the side of caution. Have we been evacuated from our worldly lives leading to death or have we sought the One who has died that we might live? Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15)

Straight from Jesus: 
He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25)
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:17)  
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) 

Hope comes only from Jesus. Spiritual life only comes through Jesus.  He came that we may have eternal (spiritual) life. He came to give us hope and peace. We will still encounter storms of life, but we can know our hope is secure, even if we die. How about others? How fearful might they be? Consider the list of statements above and consider Jesus, the one who saves.

Jeremiah 17:5-7 - Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Food for the Soul

Proverbs‬ ‭24:13-14‬ ‭- My son, eat honey because it is good, and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste; so shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; if you have found it, there is a prospect, and your hope will not be cut off.


The Proverbs were written by King Solomon. He was the wisest man of his day. He prayed for God to give him wisdom over anything else and it was granted to him. It is something we all should seek (from God) everyday.

We all know honey is a thick liquid, sweet and easy to eat. If anyone has eaten the more solid honeycomb it requires a bit of chewing yet also provides much deliciousness. 

This reminded me of another scripture that tells us we need to grow in maturity in the Word. When a child is born it only has milk and soft foods. As it grows it develops a taste for solid foods. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:13-14‬)

It is God's desire that we fill ourselves with His Word. By it comes wisdom. That wisdom shows us who God is, what we are here for, what we should do, how we should do it and the difference between good and evil. It shows us all we need to know for a good life, not necessarily one that will be easy, but how to get through those times...by calling on God, His Word. It is food for the soul.

True wisdom, from God, gives life. It gives hope. I'm certain nearly everyone is given the opportunity to get this. It comes through the power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Receive Him when He beckons. Take in the sweetness of the Word, Jesus, and learn true wisdom. 

This says it all: ‭

Psalm‬ ‭119:103‬ ‭- How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Am I Pure From My Sin?

Proverbs 20:9 - Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?

Other scriptures tell us our deeds are as filthy rags, that no one is good, not one. For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin. (Ecclesiastes 7:20) 

It's why Jesus chose to go to the cross. God so loved us and He wishes none to perish. But we have our own choice. Go to the cross as Jesus did and die to sins and ourselves...or not. One leads to life, one to death. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Jesus made the way. He is the Way. This is the truth, and He is that Truth. He alone brings life. He is the Life. There is no other way to eternal life but through Him, through believing in His death, and knowing that death alone paid the debt. Not by our good works. Again...For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.

Some churches encourage works, drum it into a person so they feel obligated to give. Money or offering up sacrifices of time will not work. Jesus comes first, not the church, not the pastor or priest. We should do good, for God first, out of love for Him and others...not to grant us access to heaven. Jesus comes first. He's always first. Not self. ...not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:9) ...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

This is all scriptural and because the Bible is the truth, how can we deny it? 2Timothy 3:16, 2Peter 1:20, John 17:17. When we deny these words, we deny God. The Bible tells is this too! Mark 8:38

Peter denied Jesus three times in a very short period, but he grieved so deeply that he had and repented. I denied God for most of my life by immaturity, believing in God, and that Jesus was His Son who died for us and thinking that was all I needed. And not attending church. Huh, I’d even been baptized as a child. I thought I was good to go. I considered myself a good person compared to others. This could be all of us until a day comes when the right words are read or heard that touch a person's heart or conscience...and like Peter, repentance takes place. Praise God!

These words might bite: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:8-9) No one wants to believe they are sinners. But the truth is, we are and we must humble ourselves before an Almighty God, either now while we have a chance, or some day soon when He returns. Now leads to life; later leads to death. Choose Jesus now or the enemy, heaven or hell, life or death. Only He can cleanse of unrighteousness. 

By the way, why all the scriptures, you might ask. Because they point to the truth. They are direct from God, every one of them. The Bible was written so that we might know God and come into relationship with Him. If you are not ready now, will you be soon? 

2Timothy 1:9 - …who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began…

Friday, September 15, 2017

Resurrection and Life

John 11:3-4 - Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha and all were very close friends with Jesus. When Lazarus became ill his sisters called for Jesus to come and heal him.

Jesus didn't go immediately but lingered where He was. In the meantime, Lazarus died. The sisters were consumed with grief and disappointment because they believed had the Lord shown up sooner, He could have healed their brother.

But God...has perfect timing in any circumstance. As noted in verse 4 above, His timing would glorify God! That's His way. There are things we absolutely cannot do on our own, but when God, Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit steps in, BAM, it is finished! It is done.

Lazarus was raised from the dead, even after he was wrapped in burial cloths and put in a tomb. Though Jesus seemed to be late, He did show up. And all He was call out: "Lazarus, come forth!" I think it was our pastor who said he'd heard, or he surmised himself, that had Jesus not specifically said the name of Lazarus, all the dead might have come out of the tombs!

This is what Jesus does for us. We are all dead in this life until He calls us to come forth. To come out of our tombs, to follow Him that we may have life. He called me. He has called others and He may be calling you.

We cannot get to God in our own ways. It has to glorify God, not ourselves. It has to be through Him. Last Sunday we had a mother and son water baptized in church (Fleet Farm water trough!). Both had been delivered from hard lives. She from a life of lust and drugs, he from crime, at 17! What joy in the faces of both when they committed themselves to this baptism, death to life in and through Christ. Nothing they did apart from believing He would remove them from their lifestyles, relying on Him, trusting in Him and maintaining their lives in Him.

When Jesus died He said, "It is finished." His death would bring life to all who would humble themselves and accept His free gift of life through Him alone.

The old lives are finished for this mother and son, providing they do not turn their backs on Jesus. They walk in the newness of a life in Christ.

Like Lazarus walked out of his grave clothes and the tomb into a resurrected life, so does anyone who chooses to live by, through and for Christ. Has this happened to you? Do you recall a time when a drastic change took place?

Jesus is no more than a call away. He will hear if you are serious. Is He calling, "Come forth?"

James 1:16-18 - Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.


Thursday, September 14, 2017

But God

2Chronicles 20:6 - “…O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?”

Whatever the situation, one can find a BUT GOD... He is In.Control.Of.All.Things. He is sovereign, having supreme power and authority. Despite what happens in the world and in our personal lives, our God reigns! Look:

The LORD shall reign forever and ever. (Exodus 15:18)
The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, and the LORD sits as King forever. (Psalm 29:10)
BOTH riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (1Chronicles 29:12)
The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)

I was with a friend from church for a couple days on a fun road trip. As with any time with a fellow believer, discussion turned to the things of God. In one instance she said she truly stood strongly on the words, BUT GOD. 

I just want to list a few of them. They are encouraging for whatever the situation. God is in control of all things. I know it's a lot of scripture, but take the time to read them. Maybe they will speak to an area in your life. 

His rightful authority:
But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3)

God as Judge
But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. (Psalm 75:7) 

His presence:
And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him... (Acts 7:9)

His strength
My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

His love and mercy:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) 
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us… (Ephesians 2:4)

As Creator
…but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it… (1Corinthians 12:24)

Our warrior
But God will wound the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses. (Psalm 68:21)

God's choice:
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty… (1Corinthians 1:27) 
But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. (1Corinthians 12:18)

His way of salvation: 
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. (1Corinthians 3:6-7)

His faithfulness:
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. (1Corinthians 10:13) 
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. (Genesis 50:20)

His power:
The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; But God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, and be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. (Isaiah 17:13) 
The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness. (Proverbs 21:12)
My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26) 
But God raised him from the dead… (Acts 13:30)

Scripture doesn’t lie because God can’t lie. All He has written for us through the power of the Holy Spirit in men, is true. Try Him out. Think you’re too guilty of your sins? But God… Think He wouldn’t love you? But God… Think you don’t need Him? But God… is able to transform us into the man or woman HE knows we can be in Him. His plans are for good, not evil. His plans are perfect. His ways not like ours, but a whole lot better.

Our God reigns…forever. We can too if we give Him a chance. 

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

All of Creation

Isaiah 40:26 - Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing.

I know I can be very simplistic in my view of God. (Come as  little children, Jesus said.) Yet there is a very deep understanding that wells up in my soul.

It is hard for some to understand that all of creation was made by the Lord. Not by His hands but by His very voice. He commanded and it was so. It's something we just have to take at His word. 

If we cannot fathom God creating, it may be that we have missed this point...that all we have, all we are, all we will be given is because of Him. 

Oswald Chambers in My Utmost for His Highest urges us to look beyond ourselves, our things, our own strengths and look up at Who is the Creator. We can do in our own strength but it is truly God who gives us what we really need. We may be missing out on many things in this life if we have not sought Him in all things.

Do we ask if this is what the Lord would want us to do? Is this the right decision to make? Is this the direction to go? Is this purchase the right one? Do we really need this? 

We can begin to understand God just by taking in all we see around us. Take a good hard look. Don't let another day go by without seriously contemplating just the things of nature. Chambers suggests we turn our imagination "aright:" If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in Nature. In every wind that blows, in every night and day of the year, in every sign in the sky, in every blossoming and every withering of the earth, there is a real coming of God to us if we will simply use our starved imagination to realize it.

Starved imagination. Wow. Have we come to a place where we have taken nature for granted? Do we look and think, ho hum, when we see something outside even the living room window? Or do we become excited again at even the most common occurrence? Can you quiet yourself at all during the day and think about Him and what He has done for you? Have the things of each day consumed your thoughts? Has something else become more interesting than a relationship with the God who created you and has a great plan for your life, one you cannot imagine? The simplicity of it all...the childlike faith...the enjoyment of the small things. 

If this is you, Chambers suggests we may be caught up in ourselves. Is your imagination looking on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Your work? Your conception of what a worker should be? ...when you are (finally) up against difficulties you have no power, you can only endure in darkness...do not look back to your own experience; it is God Whom you need.

Our lives should be consumed with thoughts of God. Where is He in this circumstance? Did He leave you or might you have left Him? When tragedy strikes where do you first turn? Do you call out to God for strength first? Do you ask for His guidance, peace, comfort? Or do you call on help from family, friends, or even internalize and attempt to draw from your own so-called wisdom or strengths. God will provide what you need but you need to seek Him above all things.

God is real. He is powerful to those who seek Him. He is always there for any need. He may not always answer in the way you would want, but He knows what's best, what we need most. 

Even in the throes of illness we need to focus on what His will is. He can heal if He so chooses, but if the choice is death, He is in that as well. The illness did not come as a surprise to Him. It is our attitude during this time that might be God's test for us. Do we still draw His strength for the moment or the day? If we are His children and in right relationship with Him our greatest assurance that no matter what we endure, we are His.

Are our imaginations starved for God as Chambers asks? Take the time to ask Him directly to help you get a grip on who He is and of what benefit He might be to your life. He is more than willing to listen if you are truly interested in knowing Him. You may not realize it but I think we are all starved for God at some time in our lives. That's when He begins to show up in little things in our lives that don't make sense...yet. The people who are put in your path, the things you begin to hear and might even be annoyed about. It happened to me; it can happen to you.

Let your imagination go and let it consider the truth of who He is, He who was and is and is to come. Start with taking the time to view nature. That's where He began before He created Man. Consider the intricacies of it all. Consider the depth of wisdom it took to create it (which is nearly impossible because of the enormity of it all) and then consider the intricacy of even your own creation, your birth. Nothing was made by accident. Not even you. Rejoice in the fact that being here, today, in this lifetime, can give you the opportunity to know this incredibly awesome God.

Psalm 102:25-28 - Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end. The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.



Monday, September 4, 2017

What Shall I Render to the Lord?

Psalm 116:12-17 - What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me? 
   I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 
   I will pay my vows to the LORD now in the presence of all His people. 
Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints. 
   O LORD, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. 
   I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

What does all this mean? As I read this this morning I thought of all the people who have gone before the Lord and received their salvation. They have met with God, recognized Him, called upon Him, chosen His free gift of salvation and now serve Him.

What happens when this free gift is received? The main thing is outright acknowledgement of God our Father, Creator, Redeemer. We recognize Him as sovereign over all. We see His hand in all things. Our hearts and minds change through Him. We grow in the knowledge of our Lord. We begin to know truth. Yesssss. We recognize how flawed our thoughts and hearts once were. And this is all good.

We will pay our vows...we will bring to Him a heart of thankfulness for what He has done in us. We will rejoice in our salvation, which only comes from Him. In this world we can be successful, but it ends when our lives end. Salvation through Christ brings a different, lasting type of success. Wise Solomon came to this conclusion:  “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?” Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3,13-14)

There truly is nothing more important in this life than to walk with God. Only one who has chosen this course can understand this. 

At first it seemed curious the statement: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. In the context of the other verses, I see this as the rejoicing that God and the angels do when one comes to Christ. We are now His saints and we have given up our old lives, the old man has now become new. We have died to ourselves and have become alive in Christ. This is precious to Him. 

I am reminded of the one stray sheep Jesus referred to:
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!" I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:4-7)

I imagine He leaves that sheepfold daily for that one lost sheep. That prodigal son or daughter. That one Saul who would be made Paul. He knows them all by name. 

When we give in to His calls, His outstretched hand, He loosens the bonds of this world and its lies and death. As the song goes: 
All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now compared to this...
Knowing You, Jesus

We become His! The price of His death was paid for us. Can we even fully understand this? God Himself came down from the throne of heaven to live on this earth that He might die for all mankind...all who would seek and serve Him. Who does that? This is hard: He is God to those who do seek Him. If one does not, He is not their God and we are not His child. He died for all, but not all will receive. Not all will give up that old life for a new, sure, everlasting life. 

So, He continues daily to call. Daily He reveals Himself. He works to break hard hearts, that none would perish. He longs to hear the call of the seeking heart and the final words of joyful thanksgiving for the free gift, His salvation. Will you render your life to the Lord? To render means to give up and yield, break down. Will you render to the Lord for the benefits He offers you? His gift. His life. Freedom in Christ. Everlasting life.

Psalm 107:8-11 - Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons—because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High...