A PART OF SOMETHING ETERNAL!

Sunday, May 31, 2020

A PART OF SOMETHING ETERNAL!

Matt 10:42

42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

1 Peter 4:7-8

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

           We can’t always calculate the importance of our actions. When a tornado whispered past our church, it placed us in a position to make a difference in many lives. One man was visited by a Billy Graham Rapid Response Chaplain. For the first time in his life, he heard that God loved him and he responded to that love. Earth was shaken but eternity shifted for this dear man.

           When we are ugly, disrespectful, or violent, we are also impacting the lives of others but not for good. Neutrality is not possible in this eternal conflict. If you can only distribute a cool drink of water, God takes note of that. It may seem like nothing to you but it is a wonderful gift to the thirsty.

           Are your actions and attitudes covering sins or fostering them? Today we can choose to be Pharisees or Samaritans. God is watching.

Dear Lord, even in times of weariness and meager resources, let me make a difference in others. AMEN

RIOTING!

Saturday, May 30, 2020

RIOTING!

2 Peter 2:12-13

12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time.

Prov 25:28

28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

           I stayed up late watching our cities burn while giggling idiots carted away alcohol, electronics, and other toys. This, they say, was in response to a gross injustice and therefore made their injustice somehow just.

           Leaders will be evaluated by their response to the riots of the last three nights. I saw no response, weak response, and measured response. No control and self-control met at various barricades that marked the line that must not be crossed.

           Only three times in our English Bible do we find the word “riot!” Twice it is the Greek word asotia (as-o-tee’-ah) which literally means “unsavedness.” It infers an unwillingness or inability to control oneself. The third time the word is used, it is the Greek word truphe (troo-fay) which means “to beak up.” This is the word we see in Second Peter. So, we see rioters as being, or at least acting, in unsaved-ness while breaking things. This description will not shame rioters. They are proud of their shamefulness.

           My mind pictures the Gadarene who lived in the graveyard and wore no clothes. He could not be controlled because he was being controlled by a “legion” (from 3,000 to 7,000 troops) of demonic spirits. This is what I witnessed in our cities last night.

           Our first challenge is to control ourselves. It is hard to restrain the natural tendency to take matters into our own hands to quell a riot and to make things right. In doing so we become rioters ourselves.

           The real answer to rioting is to say yes to a controlling spirit – the HOLY SPIRIT. He is the Spirit of meekness and wisdom. Oh, how our world needs Him today!

Daniel Iverson wrote a simple hymn that is appropriate here.

“Spirit of the Living God”

Spirit of the living God,

Fall fresh on me.

Spirit of the living God,

Fall fresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God,

Fall fresh on me.

FEELING A BIT OVERWHELMED?

Friday, May 29, 2020

FEELING A BIT OVERWHELMED?

James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

           In addition to a curiously ambiguous and highly politicized virus scare, our tiny town has had to deal with the rubble and disruption caused by an EF-1 tornado! Yes, we are feeling a bit overwhelmed. Nevertheless we press on and some have found a new energy and purpose in serving.

           Erwin W. Lutzer said:  Jesus was not distracted with trivia. He was never in a hurry, for he knew his Father would not give a task without the time to do it. Christ was not driven by crises, feeling he must heal everyone in Israel. He could say, "It is finished,” even when many people were still bound by demons and twisted by disease. What mattered ultimately was not the number of people healed or fed, but whether the Father's will was being done. His clearly defined goals simplified his decisions.

           Most of our panic is produced because we fail to see our resources in God. We know that we are weak, and we fail to consider that He is strong. We know that we are bankrupt, and we fail to consider that He is rich. Our purposes seem unclear, but He is always in control.

           Elisha had become very unpopular and the king sent an army which surrounded him in the night. In the morning, his servant was thrown into a panic because he could not see God’s resources all around him. Elisha prayed that God would reveal himself clearly. Panic faded and confidence was renewed!

2 Kings 6:15-17

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord , I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord  opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Dear Lord, open my eyes today that I might see my resources in you. Take away the panic from my spirit and restore my confidence. AMEN