REPLACING GOD!

 

Friday, June 30, 2023

 

REPLACING GOD!

 

Ex 32:3-4

3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.

4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

 

          Moses was away receiving the Law from God. The people were busily abandoning all restraints. Moses was face to face with the Sublime while the people had fashioned the ridiculous. Moses was communing with the Divine while the people were enjoying debauchery. How does such a thing happen?

 

          Fast forward to today. We should have matured as a race beyond golden calves, but we have not. Because the blessings of God are not fresh in our minds, we abandon Him to things seemingly more tangible. We drift from our moorings and go after something that will fill what we perceive as a void. But what has taken the place of God in our lives?

 

          If God seems silent and distant causing you to ponder replacing Him, think of what you might insert into that blank space. Is it Holy? Does it rescue you when you are in the ditch? Does it love you with an everlasting love? Does it receive you and embrace you even in your imperfection? Does it hear you when you pray?

 

          I am learning that, in those times when God seems far away, He is working hardest on my behalf. He is busy for me even when He is not busy with me. I am learning that nothing can be inserted into that gnawing void. I am learning to wait. I am learning that there are some things I should not, cannot, and do not control. Who can adequately measure God for a replacement?

 

Acts 17:24-25

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

 

Almighty God, since I cannot measure all that you are, let me wait patiently for you to work out all your plans for me today. Let me not replace you with ridiculous things. AMEN

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR CHRIST FOLLOWERS

 

Thursday, June 29, 2023

 

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR CHRIST FOLLOWERS

 

Luke 14:26-27

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

 

Luke 14:33

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

         

          You can’t make a disciple of an unwilling subject. We could excuse some who fail at discipleship because there are so many distractions in our modern world. There is the constant prattle of television with so many bland options that our thumb may evolve to become as large as our great toe! And who can forget the variety of electronic gadgets and especially the cellular phone, which is the most personal of them all? Ours is the most connected generation ever and the loneliest. We could excuse those, but we won’t.

 

 

          The real culprit is a fear of ourselves and our own inner thoughts. We surround ourselves with noise and activity to drown out the sound of our own cries. Truly knowing God requires stillness so that we might hear His voice. In a time void of electronic communication, Jesus lists three hindrances to real discipleship.

 

         RELATIONSHIPS! – Jesus said “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Now, Jesus would never advocate a hatred of family because it would be a violation of the fifth commandment! The meaning is clarified when he adds “and his own life also.” Our love for family and other earthly relationships should seem like “hatred” in comparison to our love for the Lord. Love for God must be superior and preeminent.

 

         NARCISSISM! – Self-absorption will ruin discipleship. This person actually competes for attention with the One who should be worshipped. Paul highlights the right attitude in the following verse.

 

Acts 20:24

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 

         MATERIALISM – The accumulation of things greatly distracts from devotion. If you track a man’s love, it will lead directly to what he values most!

 

Luke 12:21

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 

          When Jesus said, three times, that “ye cannot be my disciple” he couples two Greek words. One indicates an absolute negative coupled with an absolute impossibility. The sense is that you absolutely cannot be a disciple of Christ unless careful attention is given to these three areas!

 

Dear Lord, I want you to be first in my focus. I want you to be the greatest of all my treasures. I want my life to be subjected to your will. I want to be your disciple. AMEN

AS A LITTLE CHILD

 

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

 

AS A LITTLE CHILD

 

Mark 10:13-16

13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

 

          The children didn’t know the rituals of religion. They worshipped without protocol. They simply crawled up into the lap of Jesus. That’s what I like to do! The older I get the more child-like I prefer my worship to be. It’s much more personal. Like the children, I want Him to take me up in His arms.

 

          The Samaritan woman at the well, argued that Samaritans worshipped on Mount Gerizim, but that Jews worshipped in Jerusalem. Samaritans used only the five books of Moses. Jews read from the prophets and the psalms. Which was right? Jesus explained that worship “in spirit and in truth” were both correct and comfortable. It satisfied both God and man.

 

          Some today are absolutely convinced that true worship can’t be done without special garments and sanctified tools. Their worship is structured and formal. It is the same every time. On the other end of the spectrum are those who seem to have no structure at all. One seems to have removed all emotion while the other seems to have removed all order.

 

Dare we let our spirits soar without some structure and order? Dare we maintain strict order and structure without heart?

 

Dear Lord, I love you. I do not love you enough and I fear that I am clumsy about it, but I love you. Receive my worship today and let it be acceptable in thy sight. AMEN

 

MY FAR-FLUNG FRIENDS

 

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

 

MY FAR-FLUNG FRIENDS

 

John 10:16

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

 

John 17:24

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

 

          These two Scriptures, probably ripped from their context, provide the launch for today’s thoughts. Easily seen in both is Jesus’ desire to gather and be WITH his friends. He made it a part of His High Priestly prayer. “Father, they are widely scattered. I want them to be with me.”

 

          As a retired pastor, I have a large collection of far-flung friends. In over a half century of ministry, I have called many regions home. I have friends in Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Boston, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Montana, Colorado, Papua New Guinea, England, The Philippines, Brazil, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Oh, how I would love to gather them together that they could be where I am. That would be heaven!

 

          I have learned that my enemies are fewer than I imagine and that my friends are far more. Greater Vision recorded a song that tells my story.

 

FACES

I dreamed my life was done

I stood before God's son

It was time to see what my reward would be

With love he reviewed my life

To count what was done for Christ

For that is what will last eternally

 

See I'd done my best to share

That Jesus really cares

And he would save if they just believe

Oh, but seldom did harvest come

And so few did I see won

Until the lord said, "turn around and see."

()

Then he showed me the faces of the ones who'd come because of me

So many faces that my life had led to Calvary

All those years I thought nobody saw as I labored in lowly places

That's when Jesus smiled and showed me all the faces.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhBoTAYbRuI

 

Blessed art Thou, O Lord my God, King of the universe, who blessed me with far-flung friends. AMEN

 

 

MY LAST RESORT

 

Monday, June 26, 2023

 

MY LAST RESORT

 

Ps 69:13-18

13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

16 Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

 

          Some of the calmest, sweetest, most gracious people are those with miserable circumstances. No doubt, they cried out for healing or relief, but were given grace instead. It seems a cruel bargain.

 

          Paul prayed three times for the removal of “a thorn in the flesh.” He does not tell us what it was, and some wild speculation is the result. One reasonable theory is that he had an eye disease, and another even suggests it might be a troublesome wife.

 

          Jesus encountered a sick woman who crept up behind him to touch the hem of his robe because she had determined in her mind He could heal her. That is how “last resort” hope works. She was instantly healed and both she and Jesus felt it. Jesus said, “virtue is gone out of me.” (See Luke 8:46) When strangers meet us, shake our hand, or touch our clothes, are they benefited?

 

          We borrow all these pleading Psalms whenever we need a “last resort” answer, but this is a Messianic Psalm. We can see that from the following portion.

 

Ps 69:20-21

20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

 

          Last night, while watching THE CHOSEN, Phillip said to another man “Try Jesus. If it doesn’t work out, I will refund your misery.”

 

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth peace from suffering. AMEN

THAT YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE!

 

Sunday, June 25, 2023

 

THAT YE MIGHT HAVE LIFE!

 

The phrase “that ye might have life” was spoken three times in the King James Version of the Bible; all three times it was used by John! It was John’s mission statement and life purpose that others might have life through Jesus the Messiah. However, each of the three times, John also speaks to a different powerful force.

 

1. THE POWER OF MAN’S WILLFUL REFUSAL!

 

John 5:40

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

 

There is a mighty power in man’s ability to freely choose. In John’s fifth chapter Jesus spends considerable time defending himself against unbelieving Jews who “sought the more to kill him because He had once again relieved human suffering on the Sabbath and because He had made himself equal with God.”

 

Those who were thoroughly unconvinced mingled with those who were nearly convinced but the decisive result was that they refused to come to Jesus that they might have life. To put it another way, a horrible way, they did not have and would not have life. It was a momentary decision with eternal results.

 

Throughout our lifetime this awe-inspiring gift of choice remains ours. In a thousand opportunities we must choose wisely.

 

2. THE POWER OF SATAN’S SINISTER SCHEME!

 

John 10:9-10

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

The scriptures say of Jesus that “in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5) and John might here say of Satan “in him is no light whatsoever.” Satan’s total focus is to steal – to kill—and to destroy. The opposite is true of the Savior. He has come to give – to give life in abundance – and to repair and restore.

 

3. THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD!

 

John 20:30-31

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

Why would a rugged fisherman, a “son of thunder,” chronicle the life of a carpenter and itinerant preacher named Jesus? He answers for himself when he says that he wrote so that his readers might be convinced that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God and that in that believing they might have life, eternal life, through his name.

 

Our own powerful gift of free and willful choice will either doom or deliver us! Satan will influence and manipulate that choice if he can, to accomplish his purpose of stealing, killing and destroying but God has given us a living Word that we should read and heed…that ye might have life.

 

Dear Lord, may your Holy Spirit guide me and protect me today as I make life altering choices. AMEN

THE MIND OF CHRIST

 

Saturday, June 24, 2023

 

THE MIND OF CHRIST

 

1 Cor 2:14-16

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. KJV

 

          When you pray, do you offer God handy suggestions as to how to proceed with the answer? When you are confused by God’s behavior, would you like to sit down and teach Him a more acceptable way to behave? When God says He loves you but your circumstances contradict Him, do you wish for a consultation with Him so that you can give Him good advice? If these questions seem foolish to you, then you are beginning to understand verse 16. “Who knows the plans and purposes of God so that he may instruct Him?”

 

Isa 40:12-13

12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? KJV

 

          Paul said “But [yet] we have the mind of Christ.” We have been given the Spirit who guides us, explains God’s ways to us, and helps us to either understand them or accept them. In fact, that is the sense of the word “receiveth” in First Corinthians 2:14. The word means “to accept” or to agree to. The un-spiritual person does not have the Spirit to help him understand. So, he rejects those things. Even those who are “spiritual” find God’s ways and purposes confusing.

 

1 Cor 13:12

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. KJV

 

Dear Lord, give us a clearer understanding of the Scriptures. AMEN

GOD FORGIVES

 

Friday, June 23, 2023

 

GOD FORGIVES

 

Ps 51:1

51 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

 

Heb 10:17

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

 

          The Bible teaches that God completely forgives sin – not universally – but by invitation (Isaiah 55:1). This invitation may be accepted or rejected and sets in motion corresponding consequences.

 

          The initiative comes from Him! (John 3:16; Col. 2:13) He stands ready to forgive (Luke 15:11-32). Forgiveness is part of His essential nature (Neh. 9:17; Daniel 9:9).

 

          In his book, Lee: The Last Years, Charles Bracelen Flood reports that after the Civil War, Robert E. Lee visited a Kentucky lady who took him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by Federal artillery fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning the North or at least sympathizing with her loss. After a brief silence, Lee said, "Cut it down, my dear Madam, and forget it." It is better to forgive the injustices of the past than to allow them to remain, let bitterness take root and poison the rest of our life.

 

Matt 6:12

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

 

Dear Lord, help us to remove our monuments to pain and forgive those who caused it. This we will do in your strength and not in our weakness. AMEN