WHAT TO PRAY FOR!

WHAT TO PRAY FOR!

Rom 8:26

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Listening to prayer requests can be revealing and sometimes entertaining as people ask God for some interesting things. Too often we sound like Janis Joplin singing: “Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz.” Perhaps it would be helpful to take another hard look at our prayer list. Even when he walked the earth Jesus refused to overturn a decision in an inheritance squabble.

Luke 12:13-14

13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

I am told that Billy Graham had a list of worthy things for which to pray. Borrowing a bit from his list let me make these suggestions.

1. Pray against spiritual coldness!

Heb 3:12-13

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

2. Pray for doctrinal purity – that you are not drawn into believing false doctrine!

Eph 4:14-15

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

3. Pray for those with whom you have personal conflict and for those who hate you!

Matt 5:44

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

4. Pray that the Gospel will be effective in these last days!

Col 4:2-4

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5. Pray against sexual impurity!

1 Thess 4:3-4 & 7

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel [how to control the urges in his own body] in sanctification and honour;

7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

6. Pray against a greedy love of money and possessions!

Eccl 5:10

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase:

7. Pray for peace!

2 Peter 1:2-3

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:

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.

8. Pray for the salvation of the lost!

Rom 10:1

10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.

9. Pray for those in authority!

1 Tim 2:1-2

2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

10. Pray for daily provision of needs!

Matt 6:11

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Matt 6:31-32

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Dear Lord, forgive me for my selfish praying and teach me by your Holy Spirit what to pray for. AMEN

ONLY ONE CANDLE OF LIFE!

ONLY ONE CANDLE OF LIFE!

Luke 8:16

16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

          The analogous candle is a familiar Biblical example of the life of the believer. We have been set ablaze by our faith in Christ and in Him is “no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). That a man would light a candle and then cover it with a vessel, or put it under a bed is foolish. Yet it is clear that Jesus sees us doing exactly that with the candle of our life.

          A most interesting word in our scripture today is the word “vessel.” It sometimes means “household goods” or “stuff.” Oh, I see it often! A talented believer sometimes has his light hidden beneath the accumulation of his stuff.

The word is also used to designate the human body as in “he is a chosen vessel.”  How often is the light of the gospel dimmed by our indulgence of the body’s needs or the concern for the body’s safety? We do not speak for fear of enduring some deprivation of accustomed pleasure. We will not venture far to share the gospel for fear of personal safety. The light has become darkness.

Luke 11:33

33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

          Jesus again, as recorded by Luke, says that it is unthinkable to place a lighted candle in a secret place. Now, the word that is translated “a secret place” is the Greek word krupte (kroop-tay) and means “a place concealed or a private place.” How often is the gospel hidden simply because it is viewed as my very own private light? The nature of light makes this thought even more ridiculous.

          The believer is a candle to all and has been set ablaze by his faith in Christ. His design and purpose is to shine so that others may see the light. If we hid ourselves under material stuff our light becomes darkness. If we keep our light selfishly private then no one will see.

Matt 5:16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Dear Lord, set me on fire and put me in a prominent place that I may give light to those in darkness. Amen

IS HE COMING SOON?

IS HE COMING SOON?

Matt 24:3

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

          Jesus spends 47 more verses, an entire chapter, in answering this question. His first warning was against imposters and hucksters that would try to capitalize on the promise of His return. Religion can be a huge cash cow for those without scruples. It can be lethal for those who follow the little messiahs and drink the kool-aid. Orthodoxy and the clear interpretation of Scripture provides a safer haven.

          Wars and rumors of wars will mark our time of waiting. We shall experience pestilences, earthquakes, and all sorts of natural disasters. We shall suffer famine and the insufferable challenge of plenty. The point is that none of these things are necessarily indicative of His coming. Don’t let them trouble you, Jesus said, but they certainly do trouble us. We look around and wonder how much longer can it be?

          Religious persecution will also mark our time of waiting. It has always been so for the true believer! More and more we are losing our religious freedoms in our country and yet we have not come close to the suffering experienced in some parts of the world. We hear news reports that becoming a Christian in some parts of the world simply means death. But this is not a clear sign either.

Trouble and waiting is purifying His church! Our local church is becoming a melting pot for those who have abandoned other denominations. It requires courage and patience as these newer members gradually grasp balanced truth. Trouble is also bringing the Jews back to their homeland in what appears to be the fulfillment of prophecy.

Jer 29:14

14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord : and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord ; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

“The coming of the Christ will consist of two phases-a coming for His church, the Body of Christ (1 Thess 4:13-18; 1 Cor 15:53; 2 Thess 2:1; Rev 3:10), and a coming with His church (Rev 19:11-16). His coming for His church will result in its removal from the earthly scene to heaven. This climactic event will usher in a period of trouble at the end of the age, known as Daniel's seventieth week.” (from The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright © 1988.)

          Jesus could come FOR His church at any moment. We wait expectantly for Him. The time of our rescue must surely be soon.

Rev 3:10-11

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Dear Lord, we see “signs” everywhere and yet we are warned that these are not signs at all. Yet we sense a disturbance in our world. The world is politically corrupt, morally bankrupt, and violence fills every corner. We arm ourselves because our protectors are overwhelmed. Lord, we anticipate your coming. Please come soon. AMEN

BETTER IS PEACE!

BETTER IS PEACE!

          Kenny Rogers, in his country song The Gambler, advised that “you never count your money while you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.” I find myself on many occasions taking inventory of my circumstances and too often I fail to count properly. This morning I decided to check with Solomon who seems to be an expert in the matter. He comments on many things in this life and introduces each one with the words BETTER IS…

Eccl 4:6

6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

         We live in a grasping world and competition is fierce. Only two people prevail. One is the obvious winner of the race and the other has simply found peace. Of all the trophies a man may collect peace is the most prized. Solomon, of all men, would be able to speak to this issue.

Eccl 6:9

9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

         Solomon had accumulated power and wealth enough to cause envy to cease and boredom to move in and unpack her bags. He had hundreds of wives and that should have provided enough to make most of us blush. But it was peace that seemed to elude him and it was peace that he highly prized.

         Peace comes when we know that our pursuits are pure and our methods are honorable. None can accuse Jesus of anything but success whether he was feeding 5000 on a hillside or speaking with only one tortured woman at a well. Jesus was relational in His ministry. He touched lepers, hugged children and formed a spit ball to restore the blind. He was a hands-on guy. It is hard to look a crowd in the eye!

         Peace comes when one’s pace is slow enough to observe beauty. No music is sweeter than the timpani of thunder and the rain on a roof. No beauty is more lovely than the flowers when they grow. Solomon must have longed for his childhood when the pressures of the kingdom did not assault his ears and sully his view.

Eccl 4:13

13 Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

Dear Lord, regardless of my age, let me be like a little child. Let me carefully avoid becoming an old and foolish man who thinks he knows it all. Let me pursue peace and find it.  AMEN

A LONGING FOR GOD!

A LONGING FOR GOD!

There are single words that evoke strong emotion in the hearts of man regardless of his status or station. Words like home, family, mom and dad all involuntarily produce a sort of homesickness in our heart. Perhaps we should add another single word, God. This one word should make our souls homesick.

Ps 73:28

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Isa 55:6-7

6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Men, by nature, are set adrift from God. They may never openly admit it, or even clearly identify it, but there is a longing for God placed in the heart by the Holy Spirit.

Rom 10:8

8 But what does it say? The Word (God's message in Christ) is near you, on your lips and in your heart; that is, the Word … of faith which we preach.

AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT

The thing which we long for is “on your lips and in your heart.” It is on the tip of your tongue and buried deep in the emotions. It will not be ignored nor can it be scoured away with the fiercest scrubbing. It is like a thorn in your sock. God wants to meet with you!

Isa 1:18

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (The Living Bible says “Come, let’s talk this over!”)

Several years ago Focus on the Family produced a video series called Turn your Heart Toward Home. At the beginning of each video was a song, hauntingly sung, that always succeeded in bringing a tear to my eye. The words to the song go something like this. Turn your heart toward home! Turn your heart toward home. You’ve been gone so long. Turn your heart toward home. It is time to turn your heart toward God.

Dear Lord, I feel the deep sorrow of my disconnect from you and I need you in my life today. Come near me now and stay. AMEN

A GOOD THING!

A GOOD THING!

Prov 18:22

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

Gen 2:18

18 And the Lord  God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

          Solomon, who wrote these proverbs, had 700 wives and 300 concubines! In spite of his evident difficulty, he certainly was right when he said “whoso findeth a [true] wife findeth a good thing.” It is hard to imagine the home life of this man!

          The word thing is not actually part of the original Hebrew. It was added to make things more readable to the English reader. Literally it reads: “findeth a good…” Our mind says, “a good what?” So the translators added the word “thing” to help us out. I suppose it has offended a few ladies. Well let me put those ladies’ minds at ease.

          The word good is the Hebrew word towb (tobe) and means, among other things, “beautiful, bountiful, cheerful, fair, gracious, joyful, kindly, loving, merry, pleasant, pleasure, precious, sweet, well-favored.” My wife is all those things.

          Several things come to mind as I think of what is meant by finding this “good thing.” I think we must begin with a good woman with chaste morals, incorruptible virtues and a tender heart. A good woman, however, would not necessarily be a good wife to all men. In Genesis the word “meet” means “a part opposite; a counterpart!” This speaks of a perfect fit. The idea is compatible temperaments, tastes, habits, culture and goals. This lady is hard to find and so Solomon gets it right when he says that the man who finally finds her has obtained favor from the Lord.

          I have found her! She said yes! Forty-six years ago today a beautiful and talented young lady became my wife. My first sight of her literally caused me to tremble. I had found a treasure. I knew immediately that my search was over but I was sure that God would have to cloud her vision against my ugliness and darken her mind to my faults. Oh, dear God, could it be? She said yes!

Prov 19:14

14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Dear Lord, thank you for the rich treasure you have given me in my wife. AMEN

NO STRINGS ATTACHED!

NO STRINGS ATTACHED!

Matt 6:1-4

6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Prov 22:9

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

          Last night a friend walked into the restaurant where my wife and I were eating. We exchanged greetings and smiles and then they took their seat at a table not far away. My wife and I finished our meal and were about to leave when the waiter said that our meal had already been paid for. I was surprised but not shocked because my friend is a generous person.

          Earlier in the week we were the recipients of another very generous gift. It was very kind and totally unnecessary. That’s what made the gift so special. I seem to be surrounded by very generous people.

          I find it curious that our modern word “generous” is not found in the Bible anywhere! The concept is there, however, in many places. Often you will find the word “liberality,” or, in one case, “a bountiful eye.”

          I have noticed something about generous people. They are, as 2 Corinthians 9:7 calls them, “cheerful givers.” They are happy people. They take great delight in being kind and helpful to others.

Acts 20:35

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Dear Lord, I have received gifts from generous people. Let me find opportunities to be generous today. AMEN

FEELING MY AGE!

FEELING MY AGE!

2 Cor 4:16-18

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Ps 71:17-18

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

          I remember when my father turned 60 years of age. In that same year I turned 30. I thought to myself that I was now half the age of my father. The next year he was 61 and I was 31. I was now more than half his age! It was a curious mathematical reality.

The word translated "hope" in Psalm 71:14 means a long and patient waiting in spite of delays and disappointments. These are the things that make us “old” but they are also the things that make us mature in our faith. If we trust in the Lord, the trials of life will work for us and not against us. Each experience makes us wiser and that wisdom is marked by certain physical signatures.

What must not age in the believer is his hope and his ambition. David had known the Lord from his youth and from that time had declared God’s wonderful works. Now he desired strength enough to tell God’s story to his own generation and also to the one that was to follow.

Dear Lord, this morning I am feeling my age! Let me be young in my heart and mind. If need be, let my hope and ambition drag along this unwilling body until my assignments are done. AMEN

CONVICTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!

CONVICTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!

Mark 6:17-28

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

          What we call political correctness is not that at all. It is instead the weak-kneed acknowledgment of a lie to insure personal gain or safety. Killing a baby, whether born or unborn, sounds so much like murder that we redefine the procedure and call it abortion. The reason a stereotype is a stereotype is that the condition, whatever it may be, occurs frequently enough to identify it as such. For instance, turtles are slow. It is simply a fact of observation and not meant to hurt the tender feelings of the poor tortoise.

          John Baptist was not politically correct! He had no political ambitions. His life purpose was to tell the truth and prepare a way for Messiah. There was no time for small talk. Along the way John made friends of those who loved truth and he also made some bitter enemies of those who took advantage of lies. It cost him his head.

          I have personally observed that strong convictions prefer to abide in the breast of the aged sages rather than younger people. Yes, I know that statement is not politically correct, but it is a personal observation nonetheless. Struggling in myself to see the reason for this, I came across a quote from Stanley Hauerwas quoted in “First Things” (May 1955). Here is the quote: “The ministry seems captured in our time by people who are desperately afraid they might actually be caught with a conviction at some point … that might curtail future ambition.” Where neither ambition nor much future exists, convictions have room to grow.

          Let us have no ambition but to be like Jesus! We have no guaranteed future! Let us therefore lovingly tell the truth, the whole truth knowing that in doing so we may pay a price for it.

Dear Lord, you are my only ambition and my only real future. Let me, therefore, hold fast to the truth. AMEN

WHAT IS TRUST?

WHAT IS TRUST?

Ruth 2:11-12

11 And Boaz answered and said unto her [Ruth], It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

12 The Lord  recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord  God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

          There was something different about Ruth. Unlike her sister-in-law, Ruth refused to return to her family after the death of her husband. She begged Naomi to let her remain with her and to travel with her to Bethlehem. She committed her future and her very life to Naomi and to Naomi’s God. It’s a marvelous thing and we wonder why she did it.

          Boaz gives us a simple answer when he says that Ruth had “come to trust” in the God of Israel. This God was not the god of her youth or her upbringing. She had been a gentile but all that she had observed and experienced as the wife of a Jew had caused her to trust in the God of Israel. This is even more remarkable since she, her mother-in-law and her sister-in-law were all now widowed. In spite of all the difficult circumstances, she had placed herself under the sheltering wings of the God of Israel.

          Trust is gradually earned as faithfulness is observed and enjoyed. We seldom analyze why some people are our friends and others are not. True friends, with all their blemishes, are consistent. They are the same every time we are with them. They have shown interest in us; have been kind to us; enjoy our company and we enjoy theirs. We have “come to trust” them to help in time of trouble. We help them when they are in need. It is a relationship that grows with experience. Unfaithful and inconsistent friends are first treated with suspicion and finally discarded. We don’t trust them (see Proverbs 25:19).

          Trust prompts behavior that seems strange to those who do not trust! Ruth went out to collect daily bread that was dropped on the ground by the harvesters. This seems reasonable but Ruth also went out searching for her future. She “trusted” that God was going to bring in to her life someone who would transform her circumstances. She and Naomi had discussed this. They had probably prayed about this. Trust waits expectantly.

          Do you trust God? Have you observed His faithfulness? Has He been good to you in the past? Do you see Him blessing others who trust in Him? Trust is earned and then learned. Ultimately, it prompts a change in behavior that seems strange to those who do not trust.

“There was no need for Ruth to worry, for the wealthy lord of the harvest would care for her and Naomi. How did she know he would care for her? He gave her his promise, and she knew he could be trusted.”

-- Warren W. Wiersbe.

Dear Lord, all that I’ve ever observed tells me that you are trustworthy and faithful. I place my trust in you today. AMEN

ON THE WINNING TEAM!

ON THE WINNING TEAM!

1 Sam 25:13

13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.

1 Sam 30:22-24

22 Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.

23 Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the Lord  hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.

24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.

          A full one third of David’s 600 soldiers were too weak to continue the battle! They stayed behind and watched the stuff. David honored them upon his return. Verse 21 says: “and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.”

I’ve played enough high school football sitting on the bench to understand how it feels to finish the game with a clean uniform! Yet all 52 players on the Super Bowl winning team get a Super Bowl ring, no matter if they played every single snap in the regular season or no snap at all.

          Have you been long on the bench? Maybe your uniform is clean yet you have practiced and you are ready. Perhaps you have played your quarter and have been badly beaten up! The Coach has benched you, not because you are a poor player, but because you are spent and need a rest. Victory is assured because we are on the winning team! They also serve who only stay by the stuff!

Dear Lord, let me dirty my uniform on the field or, at least, let me practice to be ready! Let me hear you say “well done.” AMEN

COLATERAL DAMAGE!

COLATERAL DAMAGE!

Heb 12:14-15

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

          When modern Americans read these verses, we most often think of the mental and emotional meaning of the word bitter which means to be unforgiving, disagreeable; to hold a grudge. Certainly those things are bad enough in themselves but the writer is specifically talking about wrong teaching!

          The Hebrews referred to all poisonous plants as “bitter.” These bitter plants grew alongside the good crops and if they were ingested would contaminate the whole. The context obviously refers to a teacher holding unsound doctrines. The whole church is contaminated.

          Our beliefs, attitudes, and choices have far reaching consequences. A wrong teaching results in a wrong practice. The Bible uses two words which need explanation. A licentious person is one who has taken grace to the extreme. He believes that grace enables him to continue in his sin and, in fact, the more liberty we practice, the more grace is honored (see Romans 6:1 & 2). Lasciviousness is lawlessness and wanton immorality. This is the result of the person who believes that grace trumps all law. He does not restrain himself in any way and teaches others to throw off restraints as well. He has defiled many.

          The coin has another side! There are those who will labor to adhere to the strictness of certain laws. Like the Pharisees, they will tithe from the herbs of their garden but omit the more reasonable teachings such as judgment, mercy and faith (see Matthew 23:23). These people create an entire culture recognizable by curious dress and practices. They, too, have defiled many “teaching for doctrines the traditions of men” (Matthew 15:9).

James 3:1

NOT MANY [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].

AMPLIFIED NEW TESTAMENT

Dear Lord, put a guard on my lips and a guide for my feet that I do not defile those who listen and follow. AMEN

WISDOM & PRUDENCE!

WISDOM & PRUDENCE!

Prov 8:12-14

12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

13 The fear of the Lord  is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

          Merriam-Webster says that wisdom is “good sense” and prudence is “the shrewd management of practical affairs.” Both are handy skills to have in this evil day. These skills are products of a relationship with God! As that relationship grows stronger, evil is revealed to be what it is and is hated. Humility replaces arrogance and godly talk replaces cursing.

          Wisdom flees “the evil way” and will not be the companion of arrogance and pride. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5 and James 4:6). Replacing a proud Democrat with a proud Republican only insures that government will continue to be void of “good sense.” God is the Source of understanding. The shrewd management of practical affairs does not dwell in the halls of congress. It dwells in the hearts of the humble.

Prov 2:6-7

6 For the Lord  giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

Dear Lord, I humble myself before you today and seek the good sense that only you can give. Please guide me in the shrewd management of practical affairs. AMEN

SERVICE INTERUPTED!

SERVICE INTERUPTED!

Beginning today, and for the next five days, I will not be posting any Morning Devotions. I need some maintenance!  I will be washing myself with the “water of the Word” (Ephesians 5:26). I will drink from its sincere milk (1 Peter 2:2).

          I will be spending some time with friends so that I might be refreshed (Acts 27:3). I will surround myself with family members. I will watch the sunrise – or maybe sleep through it. I will sit with a cup of coffee and watch the sunset – or not. I will carefully plan not to plan anything. I will not ride roller coasters!

Rom 15:32-33

32 That I may come unto you (again) with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

SQUEAKY CLEAN!

SQUEAKY CLEAN!

Jer 2:22

22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God .

Mal 3:2-3

2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord  an offering in righteousness.

Isa 1:16

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

          The Jewish nation, like our own today, had become unclean. Warren Wiersbe says: “In the Law of Moses, God provided three ways for people and things to be cleansed and made acceptable to God: water, fire, and blood.” Malachi prophesied the coming of John the Baptist who would prepare the way for Messiah. Messiah would provide the cleansing of blood.

Zech 13:1

In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

Launderer's soap was used to remove impurities and unclean elements from clothing and other items. The soap described here is the alkali that comes from the ashes of the iceplant, a succulent which was found in Babylonia but not in Syro-Palestine. As a child I heard much about grandma’s lye soap and Daddy always had a bar of Lava soap which contained, according to the advertisement, pumice from volcanoes. It was scratchy but effective in making one clean.

Jeremiah was clear that we are unable to wash away our own stains. God, in his mercy will provide whatever means needed to cleanse us, whether it be water, fire or blood. Jesus told Peter: “He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all” (John 13:10). Daily washing by the Word is needed as we trudge through the filth of this world.

Whiter than Snow

James L. Ni­chol­son, (1872).

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Dear Lord, wash me clean and make me acceptable in Thy sight. AMEN

SHEPHERDS AND SHEEP!

SHEPHERDS AND SHEEP!

Isa 40:11

11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Luke 15:4-5

4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

3 John 4

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

          The church’s transformation into a theater has unintentionally transformed congregants into theater goers. Shepherds have become ringmasters in a circus that must add even more daring performances. The ancient relationship of shepherd and sheep has been cruelly altered. Shepherds have forgotten their office and sheep have forgotten that they are sheep.

          Pastors are unusual creatures and some more unusual than others. If they are good shepherds, their standards are different from leaders in any other enterprise. Shepherds are not CEO’s. Their relationship with the sheep is much more than commerce. There is a tenderness and even a bit of sacrifice in the relationship. His “bottom line” is different from most and what makes him most happy is a healthy flock with none missing.

          In Bible days, owners of the sheep often tended the flock themselves. The loss of any sheep was intensely felt. It was a personal loss. He that is an hireling (John 10:12) knew that he would be paid regardless of the condition of the flock. The sheep were often neglected or even abused.

          If Jesus is my shepherd (Psalm 23) and I am His sheep, what can I do to make his job easier? I can take care not to stray away. I can listen carefully to His voice and follow closely as he leads me. As John said in the verse above, I can walk in truth. This is the shepherd’s great reward.

Here is an excerpt from Easton’s Bible Dictionary: “The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like Palestine were very onerous [troublesome]. "In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. Here he watched them all day, taking care that none of the sheep strayed, and if any for a time eluded his watch and wandered away from the rest, seeking diligently till he found and brought it back. In those lands sheep require to be supplied regularly with water, and the shepherd for this purpose has to guide them either to some running stream or to wells dug in the wilderness and furnished with troughs. At night he brought the flock home to the fold, counting them as they passed under the rod at the door to assure himself that none were missing. Nor did his labours always end with sunset. Often he had to guard the fold through the dark hours from the attack of wild beasts, or the wily attempts of the prowling thief.”

Dear Lord, help me to be a good shepherd. Let me not fear the night nor shun the cold. Show me the green pastures and still waters. But I am also one of your lambs. Help me not to stray. AMEN