SIGNS OF LIFE!

SIGNS OF LIFE!

1 John 2:3 KJV

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 3:14 KJV

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1 John 5:12-13 KJV

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

          Notice that all three of these verses are from First John! John was all about confidently “knowing!” There are far too many unbelieving believers who are nervously searching the sky and their heart for signs of life. John offers two ways to really know. One is marked by “if” and the other by “because.”

IF – we keep his commandments! The absence of rebellion is a good indicator of true conversion. The war between your heart and the heart of God is ended with God as the Victor. A declaration of peace has been signed and we have yielded our sword. No longer do we demand our own ways but freely relent to his wishes. Along the way we learn that His ways are far superior to our own.

          BECAUSE – we love the brethren!  The love of which John speaks is not the natural love of friends nor is it romantic love. John says that another sign of life is a deep and unexplained love for other people of faith. We may meet a total stranger who speaks of his faith in Christ and we sense a comradeship that defies natural explanation. We love the brethren wherever we find them. We lean toward Christ and those who share our love for the Savior.

Ps 84:9-10 KJV

9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Dear Lord, today I desire to do Thy will and to obey Thy commandments. Oh, how I love others who love Thee! Such love baffles me but I can’t deny it. AMEN

YOUR FOCUS REVEALS YOUR HEART!

YOUR FOCUS REVEALS YOUR HEART!

Luke 18:9-14 KJV

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

          Do you see the difference between the Pharisee and the publican? The Pharisee was focused on himself. Actually two views are offered to explain the phrase “stood and prayed thus with himself.” One says that he stood aloof from the despised tax collector. This would have been the characteristic stance of all Pharisees as they thought themselves to be more holy than others. Another view is that the Pharisee stood and rehearsed the good deeds he had done which he supposed would win him favor with God. Five times he begins with the letter “I” in reminding God that he was worthy of being blessed.

          The Publican [one employed in collecting taxes and therefore hated] would not even lift up his eyes. Wycliffe says: “The Pharisee stood in the center of the temple area, where he would be noticed; the publican crept into a corner crying ‘God be merciful to me, the sinner.’ ” The Pharisee reached into his pocket to find good works which would impress a God who he thought required them. The Publican reached into an empty pocket and asked for mercy by virtue of God’s grace.

          Jesus Himself pronounced the result when he said “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” How sinister is the pride that stands while the humble and broken stoop. How vile is the pride that dares to look God in the face and demand blessings based upon a list of works. How charming and polite is the one who fears even the presence of God but pleads for mercy. How blind is pride?

Dear Savior, I know that today I am not worthy of the least of Thy mercies but I plead with you on the merits of Thy own Cross. AMEN

LIVE NOT IN CAREFUL SUSPENSE!

LIVE NOT IN CAREFUL SUSPENSE!

Luke 12:27-31 KJV

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

          The phrase in verse 29, “neither be ye of doubtful mind” roughly means “do not live in careful suspense.” We all can relate to that, can’t we? In spite of our best efforts at emotional stability and spiritual maturity we are often loaded down with care and suspense.

          We look to the lilies as models of calm confidence in their Creator. They do not anxiously toil to make changes in their circumstance. They do not spin yarn and weave fabric to make them clothing and yet they are clothed gloriously as they stand in total surrender to their Master. We protest that we are not lilies! We don’t simply stand mindlessly planted in the dirt while the sun beats down upon on us or we are drenched with rain. But are we not, when we think about it, as incapable of orchestrating the events of our lives? Are we not equally dependant upon the Lord for His mercies?

          The thought upon which to focus is that God cares more for us than he does for lilies and grasses. Nature is provided her need in faithful cycles. Wringing our hands murmuring “what shall we eat, or what shall we drink and wherewithal shall we be clothed” has no impact upon the hunger or thirst or nakedness. God looks down, sees our need and out of the riches of His character and nature provides exactly what we need in a timely manner. Your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

          The activity that should fill our time of waiting is prayer and reaching for the kingdom. Labor therefore to know your God intimately and to do His will and His work diligently. While you are at work at these pursuits God will, because He is God, provide all these things that cause you to live in careful suspense.

God, it is hard to set aside a lifetime of careful suspense and to replace it with calm trust – but I shall try. AMEN

WHILE WAITING, I WAITED!

WHILE WAITING, I WAITED!

Ps 40:1-5 KJV

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

          The Hebrew rendering of verse one is “In waiting, I waited.” The idea is that David’s prayer was not answered at once but the answer came after a time. Isn’t that our experience as well? Don’t we wait while waiting? In fact, isn’t that our only real option? Like fretful infants, we stand in our crib and cry awhile and then listen to see of mother or father will come to check on us. If they don’t come immediately we stand and cry a while longer and then listen again.

          But God did answer, David said, and heard his cry. The imagery is that he was lifted out of “a horrible pit.” The Hebrew rendering is “a pit of noise!”  The Septuagint renders it “a lake of misery!” We are lifted up by the unseen hand and deposited upon a solid rock from which we can see clearly His direction for our lives.

          The soul’s rescue provides a new and fresh occasion to sing! The liberated soul can’t keep from singing! Our attitude and outlook changes and others observe it because it can’t be hidden. Strangers are moved to trust by the change they see in us. Many shall see (not hear) and shall trust in the Lord.

          God’s blessings can’t be calculated or numbered up. Our mind is overwhelmed by the volume of His goodness. On another occasion the Psalmist said that the Lord “daily LOADETH us with blessings.” Think of it as being burdened down with packages and presents. We almost request that He slow the flow of His goodness.

          David was “down,” brought very low. While waiting he waited for the rescue of His God then God answered and dumped blessings upon him. His soul was lifted up, lifted out and could not keep from singing!

Dear Lord, today my soul is lifted up and lifted out. I want to sing! Let others see it and trust in you. Amen

HE HEARS OUR PRAYERS!

HE HEARS OUR PRAYERS!

Ps 66:13-20 KJV

13 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,

14 Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.

15 I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.

16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

17 I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.

18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

19 But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.

20 Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

          The guilt carried by King David for his tryst with Bathsheba haunted his prayer life. How could he ask anything of the Lord when he had become an adulterer, a murderer, and indirectly was responsible for the death of a child? There was only one prayer that seemed appropriate.

Ps 51:3, 14

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

          Doubters may not have these same nagging thoughts but for we who believe lingering sin constantly reminds us of our unworthiness to talk with a Holy God. On the one hand we feel a deep need to connect with our God while on the other hand we feel our prayers mired in the muck. David had both the means and the mind to give vast offerings but he knew it would not be enough.

Ps 51:16-17 KJV

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

          The absolute joy in Psalm 66 is impossible to miss. David, in verse 18, says “if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Then immediately he says, “But the Lord has heard me and has paid tender attention to my prayer! Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.” There is an old song that speaks to this kind of joy.

Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
Naught of this world's delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there's nothing between.

Dear Lord, today I want nothing to come between my soul and Thee. Wash me in the fountain of thy blood. Renew my spirit within me. Restore our fellowship. AMEN

JOHN THE STRANGE!

JOHN THE STRANGE!

Matt 3:1-6 KJV

3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

          Everything about John the Baptist was strange. He had a strange conception and birth having been born to parents generally thought to be too old to reproduce. When he began his preaching ministry he chose the wilderness of Judaea. The Greek word translated wilderness is midbar and indicates the country villages – places where cattle are driven – instead of the bustle of the cities.

          His preaching was strange because he urged heart-felt repentance instead of conformity to legions of liturgy. The land was full of religion but was totally bereft of repentance. Much of what passes for preaching today would be pretty thin soup without the props and graphics. Oratory has been replaced by truck loads of equipment. It was not so with John who painted portraits with voice and vocabulary.

          John’s lifestyle was strange and simple having his clothing made of camel’s hair. This was the garments of the prophets! We are currently experiencing a tempest in a teapot regarding appropriate clothing for preachers. The opinions run from ties to tee-shirts but it is clear that the dress of the prophet was distinctive and marked him.

2 Kings 1:7-8 KJV

7 And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?

8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

          The diet of locust or grasshoppers and wild honey sounds horrible to most of us but it was the food of the common country people. The locusts and honey (according to one scholar) would be ground together and fried in oil. Yet another scholar, Mr. Barnes, says they were roasted and salted and eaten much like we would eat peanuts. They were plentiful and could be conveniently carried in a pouch.

          There was a strange magnetism surrounding John. People came out to him from the cities to the country where he preached and baptized those who had demonstrated repentance. In fact the phrase “baptism of repentance” in Mark 1:4 indicates that baptism was not administered until a change had been clearly demonstrated. This is further indicated by John’s comments to the religious leaders.

Matt 3:7-8 KJV

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Dear Lord, help me to be distinctive in my manner so that I may attract others to the cross. AMEN

QUALITIES OF THE OVERCOMER!

QUALITIES OF THE OVERCOMER!

Ps 84:5-7 KJV

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

          There are some who allow the circumstances of their life crush them beneath the weight. They are overwhelmed! Still others suffer the same blows and bear up courageously. They overcome! What is the difference?

1. The Overcomer draws his strength from God!

2 Cor 12:9 KJV

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Ps 28:8 KJV

8 The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.

2. The Overcomer is fully committed to his God!

Isa 26:9 KJV

9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

James 1:6 KJV

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Ps 57:7 KJV

7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: [nailed down] I will sing and give praise.

3. The Overcomer makes bad things better!

Ps 84:6 KJV

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

The word for Baca is “mourning” or “the valley of weeping.” They dig a well in the dry places. God turns their journey into joy and all around them drink.

4. The Overcomer grows stronger and stronger!

Like the athlete who strains at his training, the discipline becomes easier and easier to bear.

Phil 4:13 KJV

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Isa 40:30-31 KJV

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Dear Lord, we are told to pray “lead us not into temptation” but if into temptation we are led – give us strength, wisdom and endurance. AMEN

THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION!

THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION!

          If you were God, which sin would prompt you to destroy mankind? If you say adultery, you forget that King David was an adulterer and added murder to it yet God said he was a man after His own heart. If you say murder, you forget that Moses was a murderer yet God used him to lead his people out of slavery. Twice God was moved to act in destruction.

1. THE FLOOD!

Luke 17:26-27 KJV

26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

          Their sin seemed to be eating, drinking and marrying! Their mind’s focus was on social and family things. What could have been so bad about that?

2. THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM!

Luke 17:28-30 KJV

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

          The frightening thing about these two destructive events is that our days are spent in the same pursuits! We eat, drink, enjoy family life, watch sporting events, build houses, go to work, come home and go to bed. These pursuits hardly seem worthy of destruction except for one small fact. In all these things we exclude God. He is not part of our family or our social lives. He is given no consideration in any of our decisions. We ignore Him altogether.

Ps 10:4 KJV

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Acts 17:27-31 KJV

27 [We] should seek the Lord, if haply [we] might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; [allowed it to continue unchallenged] but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness…

 Dear Lord, help me to include you in all my plans, all my thoughts and all my activities. AMEN

THE MESS WE’RE IN!

THE MESS WE’RE IN!

Isa 58:1-8 KJV

58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rearward.

1. Our Nation is in a Mess!

          Rules are broken and deals are made in huddled whispers against the sound advice of reason. Righteousness is sacrificed on the altar of riches and principled men are shouted down. Opulence clothes the inept. The people mourn unheeded. Our emotions are calloused to the shedding of innocent blood.

2. Our Families are in a Mess!

Parents give clear commands to four-year-olds and the youngsters ignore them. Parents wring their hands in futility. Husbands and wives have long forgotten their vows of betrothal and peace has fled the home. Marriage has become obsolete and has been replaced by relationships built solely upon sexual activity. Adolescents fail in the basic skills of life and remain dependent instead of becoming self-sustaining adults. Some never leave the comforts of a tolerant home.  

3. Our Churches are in a Mess!

No longer is holiness the mark of the Christian life. Political correctness and the religion of tolerance have replaced the penitent heart and the transformed life. We are hesitant to “judge” the actions of our fellow Christians and are told that one opinion is as good as another. Churches are like worn and wilted flowers trying to provide nectar for the fluttering and unfulfilled seeking entertainment. Sin is seldom challenged and rebellion is seldom dealt with. The mission of the church goes unfunded because resources are diverted to more glamorous things.

 Isa 58:13-14 KJV

13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; [ignoring the importance of collective worship] and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Master, speak in Thy church today clear words that cut to the heart. Challenge our sin! Convert the lost! Console the sorrowful. Be a companion to the lonely and fill the hungry with good things. AMEN

BITTERNESS AND ITS FRUIT!

BITTERNESS AND ITS FRUIT!

          Jonah, whose name means “a dove”, was very effective as a prophet to his own people. He animated the patriotism of Israel under King Jeroboam who restored the northern and eastern boundaries and cast off the bonds of the Syrians.

2 Kings 14:25 KJV

25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath-hepher.

          Amittai’s name means “truth” and we have some indication that this was the force of Jonah’s preaching. It was a patriotic time and Jonah fit hand-in-glove with his calling until God called him to share the truth with the enemy. That Jonah was unwilling to do!

1. Jonah skulked away in Rebellion!

Jonah 1:1-3 KJV

1:1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

2. Jonah caused trouble for others!

Jonah 1:4 KJV

4 But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.

Jonah 1:10 KJV

10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

3. Jonah prayed when in distress!

Ø     In the belly of the ship Jonah SLEPT.

Ø     In the belly of the great fish Jonah PRAYED!

4. Jonah was effective only when submitted!

Jonah 3:1-5 KJV

3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

5. Jonah sulked when God was merciful!

          Jonah had been the recipient of God’s merciful pursuit and salvation but now he is angry because this same God was merciful toward his enemies. He climbed a hill to joyfully watch the destruction of Nineveh. He built a booth from which he could watch the carnage but destruction never came. In the meanwhile God allowed a gourd vine to grow up and provide shade for Jonah – and then a worm to destroy the gourd.

Jonah 4:8-9 KJV

8 And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.

9 And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.

          Wow! Can you feel the emotion here? He wished that he might die! He was angry – even unto death! Anger was about to kill him – but why?

Jonah 4:1-2 KJV

4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

          Jonah was angry because God refused to hate the people he hated. God refused to destroy the people that he would have destroyed. God acted in mercy and Jonah became violently angry. He threw a tantrum – and Jonah is not heard from again!

Dear Jesus, I was worthy of destruction but you spared me! Help me to not be bitter towards you when you spare others – even my enemies. AMEN

ONE THING TO BE SURE OF BEFORE DEATH!

ONE THING TO BE SURE OF BEFORE DEATH!

          This week a missionary friend passed away in the Philippines after a frustrating and lingering illness. His mind was sharp right up to the end. I know it may sound macabre but I have a recording of one of his last phone messages. It is haunting. He asked for care for his widow and then closed with a simply “goodbye”.

          Maybe it’s all the birthdays, but I have recently received calls from casket manufacturers trying to sell me my final bed! Of all the telemarketers these are the most unsettling. What’s up with these people? If I bought a casket where would I store it? I hardly have room for the riding mower!

          Recently there has been a movie made about two men in a hospital room. Both are told they would die so they write out their “bucket list”, a list of things they want to do before they “kick the bucket.” I suppose there is any number of things that should be considered before one “passes” if we only had some clue as to how much time we had left. We don’t.

John Baptist was in a prison in Jerusalem because he dared challenge the morals of King Herod “for John had said unto Herod, it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.” (Mark 6:18) John knew it would not end well for him. He knew his life’s purpose and he had performed faithfully his assignment. It was time to go but one item of utmost importance plagued his mind. Had it all been for nothing? Was Jesus who he claimed to be?

Matt 11:2-3 KJV

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

          Here is one thing to put at the top of your “bucket list.” Find out who Jesus is! Make your calling and election SURE! With all your heart pray: “God, I thank you for loving me. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to die for me. I acknowledge my sins and repent of them. Please come into my heart and be my Savior. I give you control of the rest of my life.”

Dear Lord, because we can not know what tomorrow holds, help us to make sure to know the One who holds tomorrow. AMEN

CHRISTMAS RESIDUE!

CHRISTMAS RESIDUE!

          I was awakened this morning by a CD playing “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” a nice piano piece meant to softly stir me instead of blasting me from my warm bed. I haven’t changed the seasonal music from the bedside boom box. As I rubbed the sawdust from my eyes I remember that the Hotel still had ambient Christmas music playing from their ceiling speakers. As the elevator door opened Michael Jackson was rocking out “Santa Claus is coming to town.” As I readied the coffee maker the Christmas cactus in the east window was in full glorious bloom. A lone candy cane lay amongst some other hard candies and nuts in a bowl on the counter. Crumbs of Christmas!

          Like the well packed tree, Christmas can’t be easily put back in the box! It is like the joy felt by the heavenly host over Bethlehem’s Shepherd’s Field. Glory to God in the highest! Christmas is here to stay.

 Luke 2:10-11 KJV

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

          Christmas means a Savior has been born and still lives! The people that sat in darkness have seen a great light. Hope displaced despair and death had his stinger removed. Oh death! Where is thy sting? Oh Grave! Where is thy victory? Look around today. There are glorious crumbs of Christmas all about you. Rejoice for Christ has come.

Dear Lord, there is too much joy to cram back in a box. This is the day that you have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. AMEN

HUMILITY: WASHING DIRTY FEET!

HUMILITY: WASHING DIRTY FEET!

John 13:12-15 KJV

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

1 Peter 5:5-6 KJV

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

          Strong’s Concordance says that the word “clothed” in Peter’s epistle is egkomboomai indicates “to tie a knot” or to engirdle oneself (for labor) as if one were putting on an apron for service.  This is exactly what Jesus did in John 13:4 when he laid aside his garments and tied on a towel to wash dirty feet.

          I think Peter speaks to our culture when he reminds us of the impudence that is often found in the young. How this verse must chafe the young who have been trained for leadership and yet have not attained. They are still tying themselves up in submissive service. They have new ideas and answers to old problems! What they have not yet developed is the maturity and grace to keep on serving. Peter indicates as much in verse 6.

          Moses was humbly serving as a shepherd when God suddenly called him to lead a nation out of slavery. It was Moses’ “due time.” Joseph was in prison when suddenly he was told to wash himself and make himself presentable to the king. It was his time.

Gal 5:13 KJV

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Dear Lord, let me not search for ways to be served but to search for ways I might be a servant. AMEN

KINDNESS!

KINDNESS!

Eph 4:28-32 KJV

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

          Today my wife and I are holed up at a hotel in San Antonio attending a pastor’s conference. It would be wonderful if we both did not have a stomach virus! So far we have had two people volunteer to drive six hours to reach us and another six hours to bring us home. I shouldn’t be surprised because I pastor some of the best people in the world. Their Christianity is of the practical kind.

          Actually the word “kind” in verse 32 is the Greek chrestos which, literally, means “useful.” Now isn’t that interesting? If I want to be kind to someone then I need to find a way to be of some practical use.

Dear Lord, thank you for all the useful and kind people that I call friends. Help me to be useful to others today. AMEN

GUILTY OF POOR SELF-MANAGEMENT?

GUILTY OF POOR SELF-MANAGEMENT?

          I see it all the time and I am often guilty of it myself. It is poor self-management. It is the harsh and critical management of “self” that robs us of God’s blessings. You may recognize these four mistakes in managing yourself.

1. Self criticism!

          This is the familiar “I should have” or “why didn’t I” comments that rattle around in our mind. We set high standards for our self and then criticize our self for our perceived failure.

1 Cor 4:3-5 KJV

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

2. Self condemnation!

Having criticized our self we go on to pass harsh sentences. Our heart condemns us.

1 John 3:20-22 KJV

20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Rom 8:1 KJV

8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

3. Failure to accept God’s love unconditionally!

          So many of us do not feel worthy of His love and the result is a timid faith and a questioning security. We just can’t believe He loves us like He says.

Jer 31:3 KJV

3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Rom 5:8 KJV

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

4. Pushing away His Graciousness!

Isa 30:18-19 KJV

18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

Dear Lord, help us to stop struggling against your attempts to love us. AMEN