BEAUTY!

BEAUTY!

Prov 31:30

30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Prov 6:24-25

24 [Wisdom will] keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

          The English word “beauty” is found in the Authorized Version of the Bible 49 times! It’s first mention is in Exodus 28:2 and refers to the embellishment of Aaron’s priestly garments. In those places where physical beauty is mentioned, it is not well praised. Beauty can be deceitful because it may hide an ungodly character.

          Not many of us can claim natural beauty. In most of us there is a perceived blemish or flaw. We may be too tall or too short; too fat or too skinny. We may have unattractive features that eliminates us from being beautiful. In fact, we can’t really say what makes beauty beautiful. Even Merriam-Webster struggles for a definition when concluding that beauty is “qualities that give pleasure to the senses.”

          Adam Clarke, in his commentary, says that the Hebrew word for beauty in Proverbs 31:30 refers to: “elegance of shape, symmetry of features, dignity of mien [demeanor] and beauty of countenance.” He goes on to say that any or all of these may be ruined by sickness or accident, suffering and death. Beauty doesn’t last. The proverb goes on to say that “a woman [or man] that feareth the Lord shall be praised.”

          Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. Having said that, this little story comes to mind: Three people were visiting and viewing the Grand Canyon--an artist, a pastor, and a cowboy. As they stood on the edge of that massive abyss, each one responded with a cry of exclamation. The artist said, "Ah, what a beautiful scene to paint!" The minister cried, "What a wonderful example of the handiwork of God!" The cowboy mused, "What a terrible place to lose a cow!"

   --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 411.

Ps 90:17

17 And let the beauty of the Lord  our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Dear Lord, let those who look at me see the beauty of my redeemed spirit. Let them see YOU. AMEN

KNOWLEDGE!

KNOWLEDGE!

2 Peter 1:2-9

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

          Tonight begins a series of graduations in our community. We begin with the eighth grade graduation which propels the student into that murky but longed-for world of high school. Then there is high school commencement at the “big” high school in town which is followed on Saturday afternoon by the commencement of a smaller rural school. Additionally, there is a piano recital on Saturday night which, I guess, is another kind of graduation. All these will reward knowledge and proficiency in some field of study. The word knowledge, in our scripture portion today, is found five times! It is translated from the Greek word epignosis which means “recognition; full discernment.”  

          Knowledge strictly is the apprehension by the mind of some fact or truth in accordance with its real nature. The highest knowledge attainable is the knowledge of God! He has made Himself known to man so that man is without excuse when he does not know God. The lessons have been made so easy that the man who does not know God has failed the course!

Rom 1:19-20

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

          The key to moral and spiritual knowledge is a desire to know and to apply. We do not lack a volume of material to study because it is abundantly provided. We do, however, often lack the desire and motivation to know and do that which is right.

John 7:17 AMPLIFIED

17 If any man desires to do His will (God's pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from Myself and of My own accord and on My own authority.

I keep six honest serving men

(They taught me all I knew);

Their names are What and Why and When

And How and Where and Who.

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Dear Lord, let me apply myself to know you. AMEN

A WILD RIDE!

A WILD RIDE!

Prov 3:5-8

5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Ordinarily we think of trusting God as producing peace and calm but I see fierceness in the phrase “with all thine heart.” It’s the roller-coaster scream! I trusted the machine and the operator when I first boarded. It is a wild ride and very frightening but I know that I’ll be alright in the end and will probably get in line to ride again.

Life is sometimes like this. There are slow steep climbs and plunging falls and even a few jerks. We cling fiercely to the Lord. We trust with all our heart! To do this we must abandon our own understanding because there is a way that seems right to a man but the end of that thinking is disaster. We trust with all our heart! We grit our teeth and grip tightly to the promises of God.

All the while we acknowledge God. We are not ashamed to claim Him. We reveal Him and display him and present Him. We make him widely known! He keeps directing our paths, literally making our paths straight. He straightens things out for us as we acknowledge Him. Often we forget who is supposed to do what and we wear ourselves out trying to make the crooked paths straight. It’s not our job! Our job is to make Him widely known.

Put away pride. Be not wise in your own eyes. Separate yourself from evil. Live a lifestyle that is godly. The result will be nourishment and strength.

Sit down, buckle up and hang on tightly. It will be a wild but safe ride. Trust in the Lord with all your heart!

Dear Lord, no matter how wild and rough life may be I know I can safely trust in thee. AMEN

ANOTHER PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY!

ANOTHER PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY!

Matt 24:37-39

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Memorial Day reminds me of an old song. “Pleasant Valley Sunday” is a song by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, most famous for the version recorded by The Monkees in 1967. Goffin’s and king’s inspiration for the name was a street named Pleasant Valley Way, in West Orange, New Jersey where they were living at the time. The road follows a valley through several communities among the Watchung Mountains. The lyrics were a social commentary on status symbols, creature comforts, life in suburbia and “keeping up with the Joneses.” (Source Wikipedia) Thoughtless consumerism is not a new phenomenon and neither is social commentary although both did spike in the sixties.

Jesus predicted that “the coming of the Son of man” would take place during a time of lazy luxury. People would be focused on the common affairs of daily life and that these concerns would crowd out any thought of morality, God or eternity. Jesus never recommended the abandonment of daily activities but He did warn against an irreligious life.

As we light the grill and slice the watermelon, let us remember those who died to give us the freedoms we enjoy. As we go about our daily activities, let us glance occasionally at the cross and give thanks to the One who died to purchase our salvation.

Dear Lord, let me not be so consumed with consumerism that I forget to remember your sacrifice. AMEN

SIGNS THAT MY FAITH NEEDS A REVIVAL!

SIGNS THAT MY FAITH NEEDS A REVIVAL!

Ps 78:35-38

35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.

38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

Most professing believers live their “Christian” lives in a way that is not much of a threat to the Devil’s plan. Their lifestyle tends to be trendy, upbeat, casual and convenient. There is seldom a confrontation with evil because theirs is a live-and-let-live philosophy. If your faith seems fruitless and tasteless perhaps you may see yourself in these following signs that your faith needs a revival.

1.      A MISPLACED MORAL AUTHORITY

Judg 17:6

6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

We have abandoned the Bible or church leadership as our moral guides. Our own opinions have become the final authority for determining what is right or wrong.

The reason we need a government that acknowledges God and His principles is not so that government will agree with us but so that government might not lead us down a path of greater immorality.

2.      BIBLICAL ILLITERACY

Isa 1:3

3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

2 Tim 2:15-16

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

We are doing exactly the opposite of what this verse advises us to do. We have stopped personal and disciplined study of the Word of God and have entered into an unending string of vain babblings. The Greek indicates that “vain babblings” are empty, useless and fruitless speech. If the Word of God is not spoon-fed to us in “touchy-feely” bite-size portions, we quickly lose interest.

2 Tim 4:3-4

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

3.      RELIGIOUS CONSUMERISM

We have become “buffet believers” picking and choosing the most pleasant portions of our church doctrines and ignoring or challenging the rest. If our current religious “provider” fails to cater to our personal desires and opinions, we scoot across town to one that will. We will acknowledge truth only if it pleases us and we readily cross denominational lines to sample the various dainties available. Personal commitment to a body of beliefs has become foreign to our thinking. This is the root, and perhaps the rot, of ecumenism.

4.      CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY

The pursuits, interests and even the attire of most believers are indistinguishable from non-believers. Our values, norms and modes of interpreting reality have been entirely emancipated from any dependence upon God. Overwhelmed as we are by the pervading culture, we have accommodated our beliefs to fit in with its norms and values to the point that our Christian witness has lost its authenticity. —Facts of the Matter.

5.      HEARTS DEVOTED TO MATERIALISM

Matt 19:21-22

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

We openly profess a strong distaste for “materialism” while greedily grasping for more and more. Our pious language does not fit our actions. We are enslaved by the reach for the “finer” things in life and we shun those churches that preach sacrificial giving to mission outreach.

Fortunately, Revival is available and waiting for us!

In view of the frequent modern use of "revive" and "revival," it is worthy of notice that it is to Timothy himself the exhortation is addressed. We too often merely pray for "revivals," forgetting that it is for us to "stir into flame" the gift of the Spirit which we have already received of God. It is ours from Him, but we let it lie dormant, as a slumbering ember merely. -- W. L. WALKER (from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia)

Dear Lord, please revive ME today. Revive our churches and our nation. Contain and restrain evil. Encourage and empower good. AMEN

A MEMORIAL FOR MIGHTY MEN!

A MEMORIAL FOR MIGHTY MEN!

1 Chron 11:15-19

15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.

16 And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.

17 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!

18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,

19 And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day in America, a day to remember the gallantry of those who fought and died to preserve our freedoms. There is perhaps a no more valiant story of individual courage than the one recorded here. David was holed up in a cave while the enemy occupied his homeland of Bethlehem. Three of his men were “recon quality” soldiers who overheard their King dreamily recall the sweet and clear water of Bethlehem’s well. The Technicolor words are full of action and adventure. They “brake through the host” to draw water out of the well.

Several things are interesting to us on this special day.

These Men were Highly Trained!

Judg 20:16

16 Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

One scholar says that these men were not so much “left” handed as ambidextrous. They could use either hand to sling a stone or wield a sword. Some say a good sling was effective at as much as 200 yards! In the rock strewn streets of the middle-east, the same kind of slings are used today.

They had Interesting Names!

Jashobeam = the people will return. Every time his name was spoken it was a testimony of the power of God to return his people to their promised land.

Eleazar = God is my helper! At every venture there was a reminder that God is a very present help in time of trouble.

2 Sam 23:11

11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.

Shammah = “Desolation!” I do not think you want to mess with this man!

These Men were Loyal!

David’s wish was their command. They ventured their lives to serve their King.

These Men were Honored!

1 Chron 11:18

18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,

19 And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it.

To the keen observer, Psalm 22 is a dramatic picture of the yet future crucifixion of the Messiah. Listen to Jesus as he hangs upon His cross.

Ps 22:14

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

Dear Lord, today let us remember and honor those brave ones who have purchased our freedoms. Let us also remember your own sacrifice that we might be free indeed. AMEN

LIVING A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE!

LIVING A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE!

John 14:15-21

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

          If you have a red letter edition of the New Testament these words are in red which means that they were spoken by Jesus and recorded for us by John. This adds a bit of force to the concepts listed here. Simply put, Jesus is saying that obedience is not only the requirement for but the demonstration of our love for God. Being an obedient child of God does not mean that you never make any mistakes it simply means that our heart is set to obey. What are the elements of a lifestyle of obedience? I think there are at least three.

1.      LISTEN TO HIM CAREFULLY!

John 14:26

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

          Unfortunately, God does not speak to us with a voice we can hear. He uses spiritual impressions and signals upon our mind. This requires a strong connection and careful listening to the “voice” of God. He speaks through many means.

2.      OBEY SYSTEMATICALLY!

Gen 12:1

12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

          Abraham was called to leave his home and to travel to an unknown destination. It is as if a parent plans a family vacation with pleasant stops along the way and a wonderful destination at the end. All the children know is that they are on vacation! That is why the kids are always asking “are we there yet?” Because we do not know every turn of the trip we must be willing to obey by taking the very next step.

3.      EXPECT A BUMPY ROAD!

John 16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

          Continuing our analogy of a family vacation, we understand that there may be delays along the way. Bridges may be out requiring us to take a detour and the road may be bumpy. However it is not the road but the destination that we must keep in mind. Let’s never forget that he said “I have overcome the world.”

          Obedience is not automatic. It is a lifelong process and should become easier as we learn to trust and wait patiently for God’s guidance. At times the distant destination may be almost in view and at other times we may feel we are in a wasteland of confusion but we keep trusting and obeying.

Dear Lord, when today’s carefully laid plans are ruined by unexpected delays and detours – help me to trust the destination to you. AMEN

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES!

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES!

Eccl 1:14-15

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

Fourteen times in the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon concludes that “all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Solomon looked around and concluded that everything was futile and empty, a chasing after the wind. He doesn’t sound like the kind of guy you would want to be around!

Solomon said that which is crooked could not be made straight and the things that are broken could not be numbered. Cynicism may have good cause these days but it is a carrier of spiritual paralysis. The cynic soon becomes ineffective at ministering to others because he has lost hope and has become self-focused. He has become a bitter and brittle gripe who is always finding a fly in his soup. He feels short-changed, exploited and passed over.  

So how can we avoid the cancer of cynicism in our life? Let me offer a few suggestions.

Ø Become involved in ministering to others. This will change your focus away from yourself and give you a more balanced perspective. There is nothing more healing to your own wounds than bandaging those of another.

Ø Stop complaining about missed opportunities. Look for new ones.

Ø Don’t yield to the temptation to stop doing what is right.

Ø Do what you can and then leave the rest to God.

Ø Mentor and encourage someone of the next generation. They will take your place whether you like it or not. They may as well benefit from some of the things you have learned the hard way! Be warned, however, that they will not listen carefully.

Ø Don’t allow unresolved conflicts to remain. Apologize if you have done wrong. Forgive if you have been wronged. Practice reconciliation at every opportunity.

Ø Don’t fret about anything but pray about everything.

We are all headed for the “rocking chair.” Will we sit there sullen and alone or will we be surrounded by those who admire our peace and seek our advice. It all depends upon how we manage to live under the circumstances.

Dear Lord, please spare me from becoming sullen and bitter. Let me function firmly and positively even though the circumstances of life may be hard. Let me be an encouragement to someone else today. AMEN

EXPERIENCE MATTERS!

EXPERIENCE MATTERS!

1 Tim 3:2-6

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

          The word “novice” in verse 6 is the Greek word neophutos and literally means “newly planted.” New plants are tender and have not weathered the storms and trials of a more mature plant. Their “systems” are not functioning as they eventually will. Their fruitful season is still ahead of them.

          Experience and proficiency are demanded of us. Teens who long for their drivers’ license are tested to assure that they know the rules of the road and have the ability to handle a vehicle. They are frustrated to see the question of experience on employment applications. They are eager for experience but they don’t have much. They quickly learn that experience matters.

          Today, experience and age are dismissed as irrelevant in a world that is rapidly changing. Things no older than yesterday are considered antique. Everything is made of shine and plastic. Even the ministry comes packaged in slick smiles, bright lights and positive affirmation. Pastors grizzled with age and churches weathered by time are often shunned but we instinctively gravitate to experience when we are in trouble. We want our doctors to be not only experienced but experts in their fields of medicine. We don’t want a neophyte cutting into our bodies. When our lives and our homes are falling apart, we want a pastor who is mature. Experience matters.

          Experience is the knowledge and wisdom derived from long practice and observation. If you are newly planted, the first thing you must learn is patience and the next is to pay attention. If you are an aged old sage then find a young one to mentor. Pour yourself into him so that experience comes more quickly because experience matters.

1 Peter 2:2

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Dear Ancient of Days, thank you for being patient with me while I have grown. Let me pour myself into others that they may become fruitful. AMEN

WEARING DOWN!

WEARING DOWN!

Dan 7:24-25

24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Rev 6:9-10

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

          In the midst of his prophecy, Daniel describes the “wearing down” of the saints. The Hebrew word means “to afflict.” If you will pause for a moment for a self-check you might notice a few ragged edges around your soul.

          Lately I have been in an unacceptable mood. I am trying to learn to keep my mouth shut when this happens but often people will notice my silence and try to draw me out. The simple truth is that I don’t specifically know what the problem is. It’s just everything! Wickedness in the political world, pressure from the market place with prices skyrocketing, disillusionment with others and disappointment with myself. It’s just everything more than anything! Believers will find this world to be a progressively unfriendly place because our citizenship is in heaven (Hebrews 13:14).

Gal 6:17

17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

          Paul ended his epistle to the Galatians with an appeal to simply be left alone. The Greek word which is translated “trouble” actually means “to cut.” Paul had been worn down. Adam Clarke puts it this way: “Let me be grieved no longer with your defections from the truth.” What do we do when we feel the “cut” of a world that rejects our God and us in the bargain? We flee to the Rock!

Ps 61:2

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Sometimes I feel discouraged
And I think my works in vain
I'm tempted oft(en) to murmur
To grumble and complain
Ohh...but then I think of Jesus
And all he's done for me
Then I cry
Ohh...rock of ages
Hide thou me

Dear Lord, be my Rock today. AMEN

UNSEEN HANDS GUARDING ME!

UNSEEN HANDS GUARDING ME!

At the beginning of any normal day we may say our prayers routinely without suspecting the dangers that may lie ahead. At the end of an uneventful day we may conclude that no danger came near. At other times we may experience the chill of unexplained fear learning only later that we had, at that moment, been divinely protected from danger! These are Psalm 91 moments when we have been covered with His feathers.

Ps 91

91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Actor Jimmy Stewart found comfort in Ps 91. When the United States entered World War II in 1941, Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps and prepared to go overseas. Stewart's father, Alex, choked up when he tried to bid him farewell, so he wrote a note for his son to read en route. After being shipped out, Jimmy read the words his father had been unable to say aloud:

My dear Jim boy. Soon after you read this letter, you will be on your way to the worst sort of danger. Jim, I'm banking on the enclosed copy of Psalm 91. The thing that takes the place of fear and worry is the promise of these words. I am staking my faith in these words. I feel sure that God will lead you through this mad experience. I can say no more. I only continue to pray. Goodbye, my dear. God bless you and keep you. I love you more than I can tell you. Dad.

Jimmy Stewart returned home a decorated war hero, unharmed even though his record included 20 combat missions. During the height of battle, Stewart said he learned to lean on the words of his tattered copy of Ps 91, especially verses 1 and 2, which speak of God as a refuge and fortress.

Citation: Victor Parachin, "God's 911," Christian Reader (September/October 2000), pp. 67-68

Dear Lord, today I may never see the danger or the protection which you provide. I may end this day thinking it to be another uneventful day because I abide under the shadow of Thy wings. Thank you, Lord, for your protection. AMEN!

REASONS OR EXCUSES?

REASONS OR EXCUSES?

Luke 14:16-22

16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.

          In Jesus’ day, when a host gave a banquet, the guests would be told of the day but not the exact time. The host needed to know just how many people would be attending so that sufficient food could be prepared. Then, at about mealtime, the host sent his servants to announce that the banquet was ready and that they should come to the feast. In other words, each of the guests had already agreed to attend the feast but they insulted the host by offering first one feeble excuse after another.

          The word “excuse” in verse 18 is the Greek word paraiteomai and means “to beg off, decline, shun or reject.” The first excuse was that the man had to “go and see” a piece of property that he had already bought. In those days, buying property was a long process and there would have been many opportunities to see the land already. The second man claimed that he had to “prove” or literally “test drive” ten plow oxen. It is not reasonable to assume he had not already tested them prior to purchase. The third man claimed a marriage exemption!

Deut 24:5

5 When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

This parable was the text of the last sermon D. L. Moody preached, "Excuses." It was given on November 23, 1899 in the Civic Auditorium in Kansas City, and Moody was a sick man as he preached. "I must have souls in Kansas City," he told the students at his school in Chicago. "Never, never have I wanted so much to lead men and women to Christ as I do this time!"

There was a throbbing in his chest, and he had to hold to the organ to keep from falling, but Moody bravely preached the Gospel; and some fifty people responded to trust Christ. The next day, Moody left for home, and a month later he died. Up to the very end, Moody was "compelling them to come in."

(from The Bible Exposition Commentary.)

Dear Lord, let me not insult you with feeble excuses. Let me faithfully invite others to the gospel feast. AMEN

THE MODEL CHRISTIAN!

THE MODEL CHRISTIAN!

I know that many new believers are anxious to find a short cut to spiritual maturity and quickly search for a “model Christian” after which they may pattern their lives. I can think of no better model than the Apostle Paul. In fact he recommends himself as such. He said: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”  1 Cor 11:1 But, if I am going to follow this model, I want to investigate him a bit. Let’s see just what things I need to copy and make part of my life.

THIS MODEL CHRISTIAN HAD A SINFUL PAST!

1 Tim 1:12-13

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Paul had a history of being shamelessly, outrageously and aggressively insulting to Christ and Christianity. That is what blasphemy is and many people come TO Christ having come FROM such a past. For Paul this was not just an attitude but a campaign of injury to believers and the church. He had arrested them and had some killed! Do not think that your past prohibits you from becoming a MODEL CHRISTIAN.

THIS MODEL CHRISTIAN STRUGGLED WITH SIN!

Rom 7:18-19

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Paul discovered that sin is powerful and hard to defeat. The things which he now hates are the very things that he continues to do! The new principles of Christianity were hard to add to his daily habits. He saw himself as a very weak Christian.

1 Cor 15:9-10

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am:

THIS MODEL CHRISTIAN LEARNED THE SECRET OF COMMITMENT!

Rom 6:11-13

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

The words “reckon”, “let” and “yield” are words that indicate personal decision and determination. He actually suggested that the new believer act as if he were dead whenever tempted.  

THIS MODEL CHRISTIAN ALSO STRUGGLED WITH GOD’S DIRECTION!

Acts 16:6-7

6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

On at least this one occasion Paul’s noble plans were vetoed by the Holy Spirit. He wanted to travel to Asia but God made it clear that was not where he should go. We never see God explain Himself further! So, if you want to follow a model Christian, you need to know that you will probably struggle with God’s will for your life.  

THIS MODEL CHRISTIAN BECAME A CLOSE FRIEND OF GOD!

Paul’s desire was declared in Phil 3:10 when he said: “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

The Amplified New Testament puts it this way: “that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly.”

Great God, help me to know my sinful past is covered and forgiven as I struggle with lingering sin in my life. Help me to make the sacrifices needed to become faithful. Most of all, Lord, be my close Friend today. AMEN

HEARTY COUNSEL!

HEARTY COUNSEL!

Prov 27:9

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

          When our own decision-making abilities are damaged by hurt and grief, it is wonderful to have a true friend come alongside to give us hearty counsel. The word “hearty” is the Hebrew word nephesh and literally means “a breathing creature!” Often we long for advice, not from a book or resource but from a friend who genuinely cares about us. He cares not only for the outcome but the process.

          Two things are needed from my counselor. First he or she must genuinely care about me. I need to be assured that the advice given, even if the process is painful, will ultimately be for my good. Next, he or she must be in harmony with God. There is no good advice apart from the mind of God. These two requirements thin the field of possible advisors but it also insures that the advice is useful.

          As Jesus was trying to explain to His disciples that he must “go away,” He knew that his absence would leave a huge empty place where good counsel used to dwell. He went on to explain that He would replace himself with Someone who would not go away.

John 14:16

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 

John 16:7 & 13

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 13 when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

          The word “guide” which is used in verse 13 is the Greek hodegeo which means “to show the way.” Oh, how we need some faithful guide to show us the way; someone who truly cares for us and is interested not only in the outcome but also the process. Jesus’ own Holy Spirit has been given to us as that guide. Praise the Lord!

He Leadeth Me

Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

Refrain

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Sweet Holy Spirit, thank you for your faithful counsel. AMEN