TRUTH OFTEN TRAVELS IN SMALLER CROWDS

 

Friday, May 30, 2025

 

TRUTH OFTEN TRAVELS IN SMALLER CROWDS

 

Ex 23:2

2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

 

          Consensus is often viewed as confirmation that a selected path or belief system is right. How could it be otherwise since so many agree? To hold an opposing opinion or lifestyle proves that you are in error – doesn’t it? Well, not necessarily.

 

          Some youth, especially in metropolitan cities, will gravitate to gangs because they lack a strong family. The father is often absent, and the mother is overworked so no one is left to provide nurture and guidance. These troubled people huddle together and share a common aimlessness. I suppose it is more comforting to wander with a companion than to drift along in solitude. Peer pressure is a strong incentive to abandon reason.

 

          The Bible, in many places, advises an adherence to truth. “Ye shall know the truth and the ruth shall make you free.” (John 8:32). Unfortunately, the response was:” We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” They agreed together to abandon the memory of Egyptian slavery to declare that they had never been in bondage. This they did, not because they forgot Egypt but to side with those who rejected Christ.

 

           The word “decline,” in our text, is the Hebrew word natah which means “to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection). Do not stretch the truth! Do not follow a belief system that is illogical and unreasonable even though it may be ornate. Be careful of the gang you run with. Cultivate loyalty to family and, above all, adhere to truth – even if it means standing alone.

 

Eph 6:13

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

Dear Lord, help me to thoroughly research the truth and, when I find it, let me stand – even if I must stand alone. AMEN

 

CARING IS THE KEY TO UNITY!

 

Thursday, May 29, 2025

 

CARING IS THE KEY TO UNITY!

 

1 Cor 12:25-27

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

 

          The Greek word merimnao which is translated care in our text literally means “to be anxious about!” The idea is that I am anxious about someone’s welfare. This restlessness prompts me to charitable actions. If there is a need, I am prompted to share or to give. If there is a wound, I am prompted to bind it up pouring in whatever medicine is available. This kind of care is best pictured by the actions of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33) who stopped to render aid. There the Greek word compassion is even stronger.

 

          The Lord has given us a key to unity within that diverse body which is the church. Made up of many members from all walks of life, the church moves forward as one unit because of mutual care. The quiet “anxiety” that we have one for another keeps us focused on others instead of ourselves. If we ever lose the “care” we are in danger of losing the unity.

 

          Caring comes from above! It is not emotional or intellectual but spiritual. The kind of caring that Paul is talking about comes as a gift from the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). If I want unity in the church, then I will practice caring. But that kind of caring is super-human. Erwin W. Lutzer said: “Christianity demands a level of caring that transcends human inclinations.” If I am to be a caring person, then I must “keep myself in the love of God” (Jude 21). It is God’s love flowing through me which prompts my caring actions. I can’t even boast of my good works.

 

          The kind of caring exhibited by the Good Samaritan always costs something. It cost him time, convenience, and money. At a Police Chaplain’s conference in Dallas, I learned that first responders and primary care givers can become overwhelmed and burned out at catastrophic events like the bombing in Oklahoma City or the fall of the twin towers in New York. Caring is draining and – since it comes from God – must be renewed by close association with the Lord. First Peter 5:8 urges us to cast all our care (anxiety) upon the Lord because He cares for us (is anxious toward us).

 

Jesus, Lover Of My Soul

 

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall-Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.

 

Dear Lord, minister divine caring to thy church today. Let them respond with caring for one another. AMEN

 

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER!

 

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

 

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER!

 

Deut 1:37-38

37 Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

38 But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

 

1 Thess 4:18

18 Wherefore comfort [encourage] one another with these words.

 

          I am a plodder. I usually tackle a task with steady pressure and persistence, but I have been known to surge when encouraged. Most of us thrive on encouragement. Moses is about to transfer leadership to Joshua and requests that the people encourage him.

 

          The word “encourage” only appears four times in the Old Testament and not at all in the New Testament. In the Old the word is chasaq which has a variety of meanings such as “to strengthen; to help; to cure; to repair; and to fortify.” Even one such as Joshua needs to be strengthened when he feels weak. He needs to be cured when ill and to be repaired when broken. Generally, he needs constant fortification. This is encouragement!

 

          In the New Testament we find the word “comfort” which has the same force as the word encourage. It is the Greek word parakaleo which means “to call near with consolation.” When Jesus promised to send another comforter (John 14:16), he used the Greek word parakletos. The Holy Spirit is our encourager. He is present when we are alone and lonely. He strengthens us when we are weak. He repairs us when we are broken. He fortifies us when we are weak.

 

          We are supposed to encourage one another. It is the foundation of our relationship as members of a spiritual “family”, but it goes beyond that. It is more than friendship. It is a ministry, and it is obedience to a command. “Wherefore COMFORT and ENCOURAGE one another.”

 

Lord, thank you for the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and the many who encourage me. Help me to be an intentional and obedient encourager to others. AMEN

 

MIDNIGHT MELODIES!

 

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Fond Memories Classic

 

MIDNIGHT MELODIES!

 

Ps 42:5-8

5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

8 Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

 

          Many years ago, I used to host a short radio program called Midnight Melodies. It was devotional in scope and blended what I hoped would be my soft bass voice and some good Christian music. This program closed the broadcast day and what I wanted was to create an atmosphere of calm and to invoke the presence of the Lord before people closed their eyes in sleep. Yes, there once was a time when radio stations and television stations shut down at about midnight with the national anthem and some kind of devotional thought. I was the devotional thought. This local station offered five minutes of free time both morning and evening. I took advantage of both. The morning program, I think, was called Morning Devotions.

 

          Since Memorial Day is a day to remember, I began thinking of a few of the faces that formed my ministry in those days. I miss them and wonder if they think of me. One such friend was Jim Jacomino, a man who befriended me when I needed a special friend and a man who taught me how to produce a good quality program with my head and shoulders stuck inside a cardboard box, a nightlight illuminating my script, and a cheap Radio Shack microphone and turntable, I produced both programs onto a cassette. How things have changed. Another good friend was Rev. Linwood “Sonny” Benton who teased me by referring to my Midnight Melodies as Midnight Madness. I will never forget these two.

 

          In our text above there is an important change that is missed by one who doesn’t do deep study. In verse 6 and verse 11 the psalmist addresses his God as Elohim but in verse 8 he is addressed as Jehovah. Warren Wiersbe comments on this significant change:

 

“In verse 8, the writer used Jehovah instead of Elohim, and this was a turning point in his difficult experience. Jehovah is the God of the covenant, the faithful God who cares for His people. He is the God who showers His people with lovingkindness, gives them promises they can claim when they pray, and hears them when they praise and worship.” There is power in praise and worship!

 

Acts 16:25-26

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

 

Dear Lord, bless those whose faces haunt me in the quiet hours. Thank you for Midnight Melodies. AMEN

 

ANOTHER PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY!

 

Monday, May 26, 2025

A MEMORIAL DAY CLASSIC

 

ANOTHER PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY!

 

Matt 24:37-39

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

 

Memorial Day reminds me of an old song. “Pleasant Valley Sunday” is a song by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, most famous for the version recorded by The Monkees in 1967. Goffin’s and King’s inspiration for the name was a street named Pleasant Valley Way, in West Orange, New Jersey where they were living at the time. The road follows a valley through several communities among the Watchung Mountains. The lyrics were a social commentary on status symbols, creature comforts, life in suburbia and “keeping up with the Joneses.” (Source Wikipedia) Thoughtless consumerism is not a new phenomenon, and neither is social commentary although both did spike in the sixties.

 

Jesus predicted that “the coming of the Son of man” would take place during a time of lazy luxury. People would be focused on the common affairs of daily life and that these concerns would crowd out any thought of morality, God, or eternity. Jesus never recommended the abandonment of daily activities, but He did warn against an irreligious life.

 

As we light the grill and slice the watermelon, let us remember those who died to give us the freedoms we enjoy. As we go about our daily activities, let us glance occasionally at the cross and give thanks to the One who died to purchase our salvation.

 

Dear Lord, let me not be so consumed with consumerism that I forget to remember your sacrifice. AMEN

 

THE COST OF OUR LIBERTY!

 

Sunday, May 25, 2025

MEMORIAL DAY

 

THE COST OF OUR LIBERTY!

 

Mark 10:32-34

32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,

33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:

34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

 

June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France.

         General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.”

         More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies had gained a foot- hold in Normandy.

         The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded but because of that day more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.

Nothing in this life comes without cost...

 

2 Cor 8:9

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 

          Jesus emptied His vast stores of righteousness so that he might empty me of my vast stores of sin. I had no righteousness – He had no sin.

 

Isa 55:1

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

 

Dear Lord, on this special day of remembrance, let me honor the sacrifices that made my liberty possible. AMEN

 

WHAT AN AWESOME GOD

 

Saturday, May 24, 2025

 

WHAT AN AWESOME GOD

 

Job 26:9-14

9 He covers the face of His throne and spreads over it His cloud.

10 He has placed an enclosing limit [the horizon] upon the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.

11 The pillars of the heavens tremble and are astonished at His rebuke.

12 He stills or stirs up the sea by His power, and by His understanding He smites proud Rahab.

13 By His breath the heavens are garnished; His hand pierced the [swiftly] fleeing serpent.  [Ps 33:6.]

14 Yet these are but [a small part of His doings] the outskirts of His ways or the mere fringes of His force, the faintest whisper of His voice! Who dares contemplate or who can understand the thunders of His full, magnificent power?

AMP

 

          Scientists acknowledge eight planets in our solar system and nine if you count Pluto as a planet. There are approximately 3,916 solar systems in our Milky Way. However, estimates suggest there could be billions of solar systems which causes us to conclude that there are too many to count!

 

          So, where is heaven? To suggest that heaven, and therefore hell, do not exist is to declare that you have thoroughly inventoried the stelar heavens. Even if you subscribe to the “big bang” theory, you must concede that there was a substance big enough and dense enough to produce all that we observe by exploding. God seems at least equal to the possibilities.

 

Job 26:7

7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

 

Ps 139:8-10

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

 

Ps 8:1

8 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

 

Oh, God! All that I see helps me to trust what I cannot see. AMEN

 

THE HEART OF THE KING!

 

Friday, May 23, 2025

 

THE HEART OF THE KING!

 

Prov 21:1

21 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. KJV

 

Dan 2:20-22

20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. KJV

 

          Daniel served six kings! He had to be flexible! None of those kings were aligned with the King of Kings! He had to be careful while maintaining his devotion to godly principles. Several times that devotion threatened his life!

 

          Daniel had just been threatened with death if he did not reveal the interpretation of a dream which the dreamer had forgotten. Daniel prayerfully appealed to the only One who knew all secrets. Of this Mighty King Daniel said: “He is in control of the times and seasons. Climate change perhaps? He removes kings, even good kings, and replaces them with wicked kings according to his purpose. He gives or withholds wisdom and understanding.”

 

          The dream of Daniel’s earthly king was a prophetic timeline for all nations! It outlined the decline of human government and predicted the coming of the final Ruler. We seem to be at the fragment of the giant’s little toe. The Stone seems to have crushed the feet, the very platform of human rule. We may suffer its collapse, but we should not be greatly disturbed.

 

Dan 2:20

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

 

Dear Lord, let us not fear “though the earth be removed.” Let us serve our kings carefully knowing that You, O Lord rule in the affairs of men. AMEN

 

STRUGGLE!

 

Thursday, May 22, 2025

 

STRUGGLE!

 

Mark 6:45-51

45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

 

          This is one of my favorite portions of Scripture! It is full of instruction regarding our struggle in this world and our relationship to Jesus. Let’s highlight a few things this morning.

 

          This difficult voyage began as an act of obedience! The word “constrained” is the Greek anagkazo and means “to necessitate.” It was a command. Just because you are obedient does not guarantee a trouble-free journey. In fact, obedience can set off a torrent of opposition and trouble. The answer is not disobedience.

 

          Obeying God is sometimes inconvenient! The fourth watch, by Roman reckoning, is from 3am to 6am. These would be the hours the body and mind should be resting – not rowing.

 

          Jesus observes our struggles! “He saw them toiling!” I believe this is the only time the word “toiling” appears in the Bible! It is not a sin to struggle. It is not a sign that God has left you alone. It is a sign that you are moving in a direction in opposition to the current. That lonely feeling is a desire for God to bring peace. He’s watching. Never forget that.

 

          Jesus may allow you to struggle for a while! “He would have passed by them!”  At first glance this seems cruel, but it was meant to encourage them. He was not going to ignore them but to show himself to them. As you struggle watch for signs of God.

 

          Nothing happened until they saw Jesus! Jesus observed them in their struggles, but nothing changed until they saw Him. Nothing happened until they cried out! They thought Jesus was a ghost, a phantasma, walking on the water. Perhaps the spirit of some poor sailor lost in such a storm as they were in. Their terror was not at seeing Jesus but in misunderstanding what they were seeing. Ignorance can be terrifying.

 

          Jesus spoke immediately! Verse 50 says: “And immediately He talked with them.” He did not return the shout! He spoke what I think were soothing words. “Calm down boys. Everything will be alright. Quit screaming like a bunch of girls.” Well, maybe not those exact words, but something that would have calmed them and given them courage.

 

          Jesus identified himself! He said: “It is I; be not afraid.” At some point in your struggle; probably at the point of panic; Jesus will identify himself to you. You will be convinced at His presence. You will know it will be alright even as the wind continues to blow.

 

          Jesus joined them! He went up into the ship. The result was that the wind settled down and the sea became calm. The disciples were completely amazed. The word “wondered” means “to admire.” The result of all their struggles was that Jesus was elevated in their opinion. They had suffered no loss or damage, but Jesus had become larger than life. Let this be the result of all your struggles today.

 

Dear Jesus, reveal yourself to all those who struggle today. AMEN