“STRANGELS” – ANGELS UNAWARE!

 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

 

“STRANGELS” – ANGELS UNAWARE!

 

Gen 18:1-8

18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

4 Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

 

Half snoozing in the shade of his tent flap was the man who would become the father of two nations. A few things are not explained to us and so we speculate that Abraham might have been praying for a child – a son to carry on the family name. The appearance of three strangers might have alerted Abraham that his prayer was about to be visited with an answer. Or maybe not!

 

Abraham could simply have been a very hospitable man. These strangers were walking in the heat of the day – a time when travel was usually suspended until the sun was more favorable. These men would have needed shade first of all and so Abraham suggests they cool themselves under a tree. Water was brought to wash and cool their feet. A morsel of bread (to comfort their hearts) was promised but instead turned into a fatted calf. The only response to all this was “so do, as thou hast said!” That seems a bit strange to me and perhaps to Abraham as well because the meal preparation turned urgent – as if these men might vanish in the heat swirls of noon day. But these weren’t spirits because verse 8 says “they did eat.”

 

The next question of these three men would chill any man as they asked, “Where is Sarah, thy wife?” These three men, all strangers, not only asked about the wife but called her by name! Now, that is spooky. The next statement was even stranger as they announced that Sarah who was “old and well stricken in age” would be having a baby as the cycle came around.

 

The next exchange was even more chilling as one of the men identified himself. This was the Lord – big capital “L” – the Son of God in human form and he is not happy with the laughing response to the birth announcement.

 

Gen 18:13-14

13 And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

 

So, in the half-asleep existence of our lives – in the prayers that we little expect to be answered – let us be hospitable to strangers – “strangels” if you please.

 

Heb 13:2

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

 

Dear Lord, awake me to your presence in my life today and help me to be hospitable to all I meet. AMEN

 

FIRST, GROW UP

 

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

 

FIRST, GROW UP

 

Eph 4:11-15

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

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:

 

          Gone are the days when a young man launched a new church with only enthusiasm and a few basic skills, oh, and God. I “started” two such churches. I even have a certificate of congratulations. I now admit that most of my contribution was about ninety percent enthusiasm and maybe ten percent skills. Or maybe it was just all God.

 

Paul entered the ministry a bit later in life and was spared the brashness of youth. In fact, most of the disciples were men of maturity who had been involved successfully in other ventures before God’s claim on their life.

 

Paul presented a past that should remain in the past and be forgotten, a present full of activity and a future of even closer association with the Master.

 

Phil 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

Dear Lord, be close to me today – and let me be closer to you. AMEN

MODERN UNDERSTANDING OF MISSIONS

 

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

 

MODERN UNDERSTANDING OF MISSIONS

 

A recent poll found that mission givers can be classified as:

 

Yeppies: Activism fed by social media. These give to food banks, Red Cross, Etc. Good works and good workers driven by emotion.

Rapid Responders: Project giving on an individual basis - they relate to the need. These respond to disasters but are not as interested in long-term solutions to on-going problems.

The mission-minded: Older Americans who are faith-driven. These understand that a structure needs to be built to sustain a Christian culture where none previously existed.

 

Jesus outlined the difficulties of mission endeavor in these following verses.

 

Luke 10:2-7

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.

 

In a nutshell, this is what Jesus said.

 

1] The opportunity to present the Gospel and to reach people is much greater than those who are willing to actually go and to do the work.

2] Mission workers are the result of prayer. Imagine that!

3] The work is dangerous – “lambs among wolves” – this requires caution and wisdom – there will be some casualties.

4] This is guerilla warfare. Don’t carry too much “stuff.” Provisions will be made available along the way.

5] Don’t become distracted – “salute no man by the way.”

6] Go where you are invited.

7] God will lead you to those prepared to receive the Gospel.

8] Don’t spend too much time grieving over those who reject – “if not, your peace shall turn to you again.”

9] Be satisfied with the results your culture provides – “eating and drinking such things as they give.”

10] Receive your “pay” matter-of-factly – the laborer is worthy.

 

Mission efforts are expensive and dangerous. Mission giving does not appeal to quick fix, soothe-your-conscience people. Mission involvement is for those who understand it is a long-term investment.

 

Dear Lord, today please protect and provide for our missionaries. Help me to have both the heart and the resources needed to partner with them. AMEN

 

TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND

 

Monday, February 26, 2024

 

TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND

Matt 8:2-3

2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

 

          It was ringing in my head at four o’clock this morning. A poem written by Myra Brooks Welch called The Touch of the Master’s Hand and put to music by many southern gospel artists.

 

          I am not young, and neither are most of my associates and friends. All of them have a story anxious to be told of redemption, usefulness, and finally retirement. Some who had long thought retirement was akin to sin have now been forced by age, illness, and a dramatically changing culture to withdraw. One dear friend has lost his wife, an unthinkable circumstance for anyone who has deeply loved. Another is on Hospice and surrounded by family and friends. Yet, we still sing!

 

          I suspect most of you have heard the song at one time or another, so I won’t include all the lyrics here to conserve space, but I want to remind my friends and myself that our value is not in us but in the MASTER.

 

You know there’s many a man with his life out of tune,

Battered and scared with sin and he's auctioned cheap,

To a thankless world much like that old violin,

Oh, but then the Master comes,

And that old foolish crowd they never understand,

The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought,

Just by one touch of the Masters hand.

 

Master, your first touch gave me life. Many such touches after gave me purpose. Now your touch gives me peace. Thank you, Lord. AMEN

 

A GOD SO BIG!

 

Sunday, February 25, 2024

 

A GOD SO BIG!

 

Job 37:23

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

 

Elihu, one of Job’s “friends” had come to watch Job suffer and to try and make some sense of it all. It simply did not make any sense! Job, by all observation was a fastidious and righteous man and yet he was suffering as if he had awakened the wrath of God. Job’s sin, if there was a sin, could not be determined although measured by the actions of God it must be huge and horrible.

 

Job had steadfastly proclaimed his innocence and had complained that God was acting in a way that seemed contrary to His nature. Did not God punish sin and reward righteousness? Why, then was Job suffering if he was guiltless? Neither Job nor his friends could have imagined the conflict in Heaven or of God’s grand purposes.

 

Adam Clarke’s commentary says of the phrase [He will not afflict.] Lo' yªaneh, he will not ANSWER. He will give account of none of his matters to us. We cannot comprehend his motives, or the ends he has in view.

 

When we try to force God to be thoroughly understood by our minds we make Him so small that he can’t act as He must. Majesty is lost and glory fades in our shrinking of God to our own human size.

 

Rom 11:33

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

 

1 Tim 6:16

16 Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

 

Dear Lord, when we contemplate your majesty we agree with the Psalmist who said “what is man that thou art mindful of him.” Yet you bend low to attend to us and you condescend to care for us. Thank you God! AMEN

 

HOW IS THE WEATHER?

 

Saturday, February 24, 2024

 

HOW IS THE WEATHER?

 

Matt 16:1-3

16 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

 

          After the coffee is poured, the first question of the day is usually, how is the weather outside? It often determines our plans and our comfort. Watermen have observed a pattern in the sky. They say, “Red sun at night is a sailor’s delight and a red sun in the morning, sailors take warning.” Even Jesus noted our obsession with the weather and our ignorance of other signs of the times.

 

          The Pharisees asked for a sign regarding the person and work of Jesus. Jesus responded by pointing out that their observance of the signs of the times were faulty. What about the political climate? It is corrupt and cruel. What about the moral climate? It is obscene. The economic climate is unsure and inflated. The religious climate is polluted. All the signs were, and still are, present but we cannot see and do not consider that God is at work and our time is short.

 

          Modern technology has greatly enhanced our ability to discern and predict weather, but, if anything, our ability to understand what God is doing is even more greatly eroded. My generation and that of my children and grandchildren must seek a greater and not lesser connection to God.

 

Ps 4:2-3

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. [leasing is kasab which means falsehood and untruth]

3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

 

Dear Lord, let us prepare our hearts as surely as we prepare for today’s weather. AMEN

 

FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED – FREELY GIVE!

 

Friday, February 23, 2024

 

FREELY YE HAVE RECEIVED – FREELY GIVE!

 

Matt 10:8

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

 

Jesus was in the process of commissioning His twelve to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The full range of ministry was delivered to them to distribute. He reminded them that they had received freely so, freely give.

 

Whenever people expend themselves, they want results. If they lay down their life, they want someone’s life raised up. If they empty themselves, they want someone to be filled. They want their efforts to bear fruit. It is not the physical effort that exhausts the laborer; it is the lack of results.

 

Ezekiel was given a huge and discouraging task when the Lord commissioned him to preach to people who would not pay attention to his preaching.

 

 Ezek 2:7

7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.

 

 

What seemed even worse is that Ezekiel’s listeners truly “liked” their speaker. He had a pleasant speaking voice, and he was a nice guy to be around.

 

Ezek 33:32

32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

 

However, the motivation for ministry is not results! Ministers sacrifice for others because they are the recipients of sacrifice. We love because we have been loved. So, the words of Jesus are well understood, “Freely ye have received, freely give!” So, the following verse pushes us onward.

 

Gal 6:9

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for not giving up on your way to Calvary! Let me not be weary in well doing today. AMEN

 

NO FEAR

 

Thursday, February 22, 2024

NO FEAR

1 John 4:17-19

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

 

          Too much of our culture, politics, economy, and information outlets are driven by fear. Our two-party political system spends its time telling us to fear one side or the other and generally we respond by fearing both. Sellers of gold and silver warn us that paper money is worthless so that we can buy their products with worthless paper money. Sellers of drugs tell us that if we do not buy their product, we will be sick and then die. We respond by adding poverty to sickness and death.

 

          It is interesting to me that the word “fear” in verse 18 is preceded by the definite article “Ho” which means THE fear. Therefore, the fear John is talking about is a specific fear and he identifies it as worry regarding the day of judgment. Only Christ and His church offers a remedy for this kind of fear, and it is love. When we acknowledge and respond to God’s love and assume His character by loving others, we lose the fear of judgment.

 

Ps 56:11-13

11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

 

Dear Lord, deliver me from this culture of fear by reminding me how much You love me. AMEN

 

CONSIDER THE LILIES!

 

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

CONSIDER THE LILIES!

 

Matt 6:28-34

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

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.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

 

Both Matthew and Luke (12:27) were so taken by this speech of Jesus that they included it in their gospels. It is a rebuke for me and perhaps for you in our time and culture. It is easy for us to worry and fret because nothing in our current economy seems sound and sure. The icy fingers of winter has choked and covered the lilies with a heavy weight of snowy death. But spring always returns the lilies to their glory! As soon as their feet are warmed, they put forth their golden blooms. I’ve never seen one worry.

 

Both Matthew and Luke accurately quote Jesus as saying “consider” which is the Greek word: katamanthano (kat-am-an-than'-o) which means to learn thoroughly, i.e. (by implication) to note carefully. So, there must be much to learn.

 

As we consider, we see that the lily cannot move. It does not have our mobility. If things become uncomfortable for us, we can change our geography and many do. We are a people constantly on the move searching for a better place. Lilies do not and cannot work. We can and we do. We labor, manufacture, and produce. We market and sell and make profit. Lilies are peacefully idle.

 

Lilies are completely at the mercy of the heavenly Father. So are we, although we do not think so! Lilies, if they think, never worry about the future. If they are able to trust, then lilies have learned to trust in the NATURE and RESOURCES of the heavenly Father. Perhaps it is we who do not think. Perhaps it is we who cannot trust.

 

The point of Jesus’ speech is clear. The nature of the Father is kind, and the resource of the Father is rich. Let us trust Him today.

 

Dear Lord, forgive me for my fretting and my worrying. Help me to consider the lilies and to consider my safety and security in YOU. AMEN

 

I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW!

 

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW!

 

Rev 21:5

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

 

I awoke this morning with a wonderful thought that all that I am will one day be made new. The body first demanded attention because of various aches and pains but next the mind understood that it needed refreshing and then the spirit finally acknowledged its need of revival. Stubborn spirit!

 

A new BODY

 

This earthly vehicle which carries the true me is wearing out. The knowledge of that fact can cause disappointment, even anger, but one day it will be made new.

 

Rev 21:4

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

A new MIND

 

The mind seems to be the devil’s playground, hiding false motives and evil intentions. The steel teeth behind the smile lurk in the mind. There is often a hidden motive behind even good deeds. Yes, the mind needs a renewal.

 

Ezek 11:5

 I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.

 

Rom 12:2

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind , that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

Eph 4:23-24

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 

A new SPIRIT

 

The Greek word for “spirit” in the following verse is the word pneuma and means the rational soul.

 

2 Cor 2:12-13

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother:

 

So we rightly sing: “My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea, so burdened by sin and distressed. Then I heard a sweet voice saying ‘make me your choice’ and I entered the haven of rest.”

 

Dear Lord, thank you that one day salvation will make all things new. AMEN

 

LIQUID PRAISE

 

Monday, February 19, 2024

 

LIQUID PRAISE

 

Ps 56:8

8 You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle — are they not in Your book?

AMPLIFIED BIBLE

 

Luke 7:44-45

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

 

          Yesterday was a wonderful day. Illness had kept me from church for more than five weeks! Oh, there was online worship in my pajamas, but nothing compares with all-five-sensory worship. Church! How refreshing.

 

          Some folks raise their hands in worship. I am uncomfortable doing that because it seems, to me at least, to draw attention to me instead of God. Worship, to me, is so intimate and personal that I demonstrate it with tears. When I am “blessed” I cry. I can’t help myself. Part of me thinks it is unmanly but the rest of me says, “who cares.”

 

          The practice of collecting tears is called Lachrymatory and has been around for a thousand years before Christ. Tear bottles were common in Roman times and were placed in burial tombs as a sign of respect.

 

The Isaacs recorded a soulful song titled “He understands my tears.”

 

It's hard to believe he still loves me

Knowing how wrong I have been

When all I can say is, "I'm sorry"

When all I can feel is my sin

 

He understands when all I can do is cry

He feels the hurt that no one can see down inside

And when the words get in the way

I know he stills hears

For he understands my tears

 

Dear Lord, when I think of who you are and what you have done for me, all I can do is weep. Thank you for observing, collecting, and recording my liquid praise. AMEN