Pages

Monday, April 30, 2018

NEARER!


NEARER!

Rom 13:11-12
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

           There are some things we just do not know! We do not know when Jesus is going to return (1 Thess 5:1-11). We don’t know when we may die (James 4:14). We don’t know what shall be on the morrow (James 4:14a). Uncertainty is the only thing certain.

           Paul gave several admonitions in light of the Lord’s return. He said that it was high time to awake out of sleep! The Greek word for “awake” is egeiro which essentially means “to collect one’s faculties.”

           Next Paul said to “clean up!” Because of the uncertainty of life and time, we should “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.” Appropriate spiritual garments are a constant analogy used in Scripture. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” ( 1 John 3:3)

           One thing we know for sure! Another day is past. We are nearer to the end of this earthly life than ever before. Now is not the time to slumber.

Lord, let me rouse myself from sleep and be fully awake. Even so come quickly, Lord Jesus! AMEN

Sunday, April 29, 2018

HE MAY NOT!


HE MAY NOT!

Luke 9:23-24
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

           Do not suppose that becoming a believing Christian will repair everything that is torn in your life. The results of sin damage everything and life may never be rainbows and gumdrops. Jesus warned us that following would require a cross.

           He may not keep you from suffering pain and humiliation! Peter and his friends were jailed, beaten and then sternly warned to never speak in the name of Jesus again. At this point they had a choice and their choice was Jesus.

Acts 5:41
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

           He may not heal the rift in your family! Remember that each family member has his own personal responsibility to either follow Christ or deny Him. Pain may remain and continue in your family but now the difference is that you have the peace of God that passes all understanding.

Matt 10:34-36
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

           He may not line your pockets with wealth nor bless your body with health! The prosperity gospel is deceitful and brings prosperity only to those who espouse it. Many times Paul suffered the lack of supplies when churches forgot his support. On at least one occasion he had to resort to his trade as a tent maker to provide for his needs. God did not give Paul every convenience but He gave him contentment instead. 

Phil 4:12-13
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

           He may not always punish your enemies! We are told to pray for our enemies and to persevere in a steady walk with God. We are to walk through the difficult and dry places and make a difference for others.

Ps 84:5-6
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.

Dear Lord, let me be a refreshing drink to the thirsty today. AMEN

Saturday, April 28, 2018

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.

           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.”

           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.

Heb 13:20-21
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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

Friday, April 27, 2018

THE WASTE OF WORRY!


THE WASTE OF WORRY!

Matt 6:26-27
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

           Worry is the opposite of faith yet we all have been guilty of it. The words “taking thought” is translated from a single Greek word. It is the word merimnao and it literally means “to be anxious” or “full of care.” It is much more than simply pondering some problem.

           Jesus is the speaker in our text and he humorously asks “can you grow taller by worrying about hour height?” The answer is “of course not!” Why then do we worry about such things?

           Jesus, the Carpenter, abandoned his craft for an itinerant preaching ministry. He lived off the offerings randomly donated. He was invited to dinner on occasion and ate with sinners and self-proclaimed saints. When he was tired he laid down to rest. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus often invited him to spend a day or two in their home in Bethany. Day by day Jesus’ Father provided for his needs. God offers us the same deal.

 Ps 37:3
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Dear Lord, let faith drive worry far away today. AMEN