February  2020: 

2/1/20                                               EMPTY THINGS                                         1

Do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit…for they are nothing. 1 Samuel 12:20-21 RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  NUMBERS 6:22-27  “22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,And be gracious to you;26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,And give you peace.”’27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

COMMENTS:  Recently Derry, NH celebrated the 50^th anniversary of the town municipal building.  An old safe was sealed in the corner of the building foundation and remained unopened for the 50^th years.   At the celebration, everyone gathered with great expectation waiting to discover what had been placed in the time capsule.  Some thought an old newspaper and maybe some memorabilia of Alan Shepard since he was a famous astronaut from Derry.  Town people had talked about the contents for many years and, of course, shared speculation of safe’s contents with many of those speculations becoming believed facts due to frequently being repeated so many times.

But great disappointment and even more questions arose when all discovered the safe was empty.  No one could answer the question as to if contents were stolen or simply never put into the safe.  Even the town librarian was surprised since those who were supposed to have put the items in the safe 50 years earlier, had passed.

Was the hoax a mistake or misunderstanding or deliberate?  Why go to the bother of placing the safe into the building structure at construction if not for that purpose, then for what purpose?

Such an example was a disappointment for the town but not a tragedy.   But there is a tragedy that plays out every day in every country and even in every community.  The tragedy of putting their trust in material things, pursuing success in profession or in accumulating wealth and things and popularity and physical strength and even in education.

We all are or know those who have or are spending their time and energy and life blood pursuing these things and titles and status’.   Spending all their lives – 50 or 60 or 70 or even 80 years chasing the dream that the world calls “success”.  God defines “success” differently than the world because the world has allowed satan to define “success”.

Satan came to steal and kill and destroy.  He came offering what looks and feels good and desirable but will not last but instead keeps the deceived from acquiring what is good and desirable and will last.   Satan convinces us to “look out for number one “and not our neighbor.  Satan convinces us to pursue what we want over what we need.

But God teaches us through the Bible – through the many examples of those before us written there but also in more recent times in the lives of others we knew or know or where known and reported to us by parents or relatives or friends or history book or newspapers or media.

We serve a great God who deserves to be first in our life. Seek Him. Let Him fill you with His blessings that will never disappear.  God gave His Word, the Bible, and made it accessible to the poorest as well as wealthy of us so all would have access to His Wisdom and Knowledge and Council.  So that all could know what He is like and how to get to know and follow Him.  To know the truth about satan and his schemes and the eternal consequences that even he knows.

God wants us to know His Plans for us and Will for us, but we must decide first if we want to know and follow that Plan and Will.  Until we surrender and listen with a mind ready, the noise of this sin sick world will drown out God’s voice and His written and spoken word.  As much as He wants us to come to Him and as badly and desperately, we need to, He only comes so far and waits for us to decide to come to Him. To come that one step to where He has been and continues to wait for us – for you and me and for everyone!

“In contrast to the darkness and death, tears and trauma, sorrow and stress, the blessings of God drop like quiet dew… jewels from Heaven’s treasure store.”         Anne Graham Lotz

2/2/20                            God’s Economy                                                           2

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given… to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things. Ephesians 3:8-9 RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 46:10    “10 Declaring the end from the beginning,And from ancient times things that are not yet done,Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,And I will do all My pleasure,’

COMMENTS: God’s economy and ways are so different from ours or what is logical or realistic or doable to us.  For example, we pick the most skillful or strongest or smartest or best educated or most experienced to do our tasks.   What employer will look over the applicants for a job and pick the least experienced or the one with the worst work history?   Instead God looks at our hearts and picks the one who needs Him and needs His employment most.  The one who will rely on Him for help and guidance the most. What employer will hire an employee to do work that the employer enjoys doing and has the time and ability to do better than employee?  What employer will hire an employee knowing He will have to do most of the work along side that employee? What employer would choose an employee to hire with the biggest job qualification being one who will rely and depend on the employer the most.  No, most employers want an employee who is self-motivating and needs the least amount of supervision, right?

1. God doesn’t hire us because He needs help doing His Work nor because He lacks the ability and energy and time or skills to do the Work, but because Work is an opportunity to have fellowship and a close relationship with us. He doesn’t call us to do His work because He needs the help, but because we need to be in closer fellowship with Him and we need to do His Work for our health too, both spiritual and physical health.

God’s economy is to take the least qualified but most dependent to do the greatest and most important Work.  God’s economy is to use the smallest and least valuable and most common coin (the widow’s mite) instead of the wealth of the wealthiest man or woman to do His greatest miracles or work.  Work that not only includes transforming and fulfilling His goals and dreams in the lives of others but in the life of His workers – His employees.  AMEN?  AMEN!

So, what work does He have planned for you and me this new year?  Truth is that God already owns everything and can fix or improve anything and everything by only speaking it.  He also can wipe out anything and everything and start over and speak that into perfect existence only by speaking it too.  It would be far easier and quicker to do just that.  But if He did that, He wouldn’t be in relationship with those who freely chose to love and follow and obey Him.  

When we look at the news headlines, we are tempted by discouragement and fear to believe God is dead or absent or simply sitting back and watching.  BUT IF WE TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK CLOSER, we will soon discover God working behind the scene with His followers. I invite and encourage you to take time and discover the many ways and miracles God works and does miracles each and every day.  Then look closer at impact of those miracles in the lives of others and even in your life.   Then look back and see how older miracles continue to have positive ripple effects and still do!!

“GOD IS NOT DEAD, NOR DOES HE SLEEP!!”  HE IS ALIVE AND WELL AND DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE WORLD EVEN WHEN OR ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DON’T SEE HIS INVOLVEMENT. 

Remember, His perspective is eternal and will bring the journey of even evil choices to a good conclusion or destination.  That is His promise to you and me and to all who trust in Him.   Don’t give up, we are still on the journey and will be until He says “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness” Matthew 25:23

When you read the headlines today, remember Who is really in charge of the economy.

“Nothing whatever surprises God; all things that happen are absolutely certain from all eternity because they are all embraced in God’s eternal plan.”           J. Gresham Machen

2/3/20                                         Simplifying Tithing                                                  3

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment. James 5:12

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING ECCLESIATES 5:4-7 – “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it;For He has no pleasure in fools.Pay what you have vowed—⁵ Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.⁶ Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.”

COMMENTS:  Some may wonder if it is better not to bargain or may a promise or pledge to God.  Promises like, “God, if you fix or get me out of this crisis, I promise to serve you until the day I die” or “…, I promise to give a tithe of all I earn or gain.” Or “…, I promise to ….”

Have you ever made such promises or bargains with God?  So did the Israelites of old but soon would forget their promises when crisis passed and life was good and peaceful again.   So, if you or I make and break our promises with each other or with God, we are in good company. But wait, let’s consider what would happen when they broke their promises.   Well, God would allow crisis to return to them but the other issue was their hearts became harder and they were less willing to repent.

So, making promises to God and not keeping them is dangerous and harmful not because God is quick to judge, because He isn’t.  No, dangerous because of the opportunities we give satan to influence and tempt us.  Opportunities God would rather not come to us but opportunities He allows because we do not choose to follow Him.

God doesn’t need our tithe or money to accomplish His Will or do His Work, but we desperately need His help and blessing each minute of each day.  Where would we be if He failed to keep the sun in just the right place to sustain life?  Where would we be if He failed to give us life and health for another day?  Where would we be if His guardian angels failed to shield us from dangers we never see or know because of His protection.

God has promised to bless and provide what we need if we tithe.  NOT WHAT WE WANT ALWAYS BUT WHAT WE NEED ALWAYS!  He has promised to shield us from dangers and consequences of bad choices satan tries to lure us to choose.   He promises to bless us with gifts more valuable to us in eternity that will not be taken from us or decay or fail this side of the grave.

So how does He provide what we give when we tithe? 

1. Consider how He then changes our attitude toward material goods and money so we begin to see and desire what is needed and give us desire to acquire unneeded things that will lose their luster soon after acquire. Wise choices tend to bring good results and prosperity and foolish choices tend to bring debt and hardship and “buyer’s regret” and other problems and even crisis.   Consider other problems and stress that comes from overspending and increasing debt brings.
2. God’s economy includes enabling or providing opportunities to make choices that bring blessing and insight to encourage us to make those choices. Likewise, insight to diminish or gain a more object perspective on temptations that come our way.  Temptations irresistible without God’s council and wisdom.
3. Wisdom and discernment are not tangible but are priceless. Evidence of their value are not evident before used or even when used but their value is huge and obvious later on.  
4. The value of saving instead of spending along with compounding affect of interest on interest over time is powerful. Discipline to save and delay spending becomes easier and more sustainable when give tithe to God first. Again, discipline builds strength and discernment and insight that motivates wise choices.
5. Fellowship with God and willingness to heed and follow His council becomes easier when begin doing so. Likewise, fellowship with Him brings greater joy and satisfaction and contentment with less possessions. 
6. With less possessions come greater freedom. Freedom from burden of maintaining and repairing those possessions that are unneeded.  Freedom to focus more on developing and maintaining a deeper fellowship and relationship with Christ, with family, with church, with friends and neighbors.  Freedom to give and help with funds and time not committed to pursue and maintain those possessions.
7. God equips and empowers and provides for those who, like the wise servants who were good stewards, who brought their master increase from them. In this parable Jesus gave (Matthew 25:14-30), He reveals that gives us resources and talents and time to use wisely and when we use them wisely, He returns them back for us to continue increasing.  Parable also reveals that He takes from us possessions we use foolishly or don’t use them wisely.
8. The Good News is God loves and forgives when we repent and gives us new opportunities. The Good News is also He provides His Word, His Holy Spirit, Wise people to council and guide and journey with us so we can make and sustain wise choices.  Choices that may still be difficult to make and do at times but doable.  We also have countless examples of those before us to convince and encourage us that God is Faithful and His ways and council is true and best for us and best for those we love and care about.

Parents who give children a weekly allowance of money do so for a variety of reasons, but a vital reason is to teach them good financial stewardship skills. Teaching children to save some, to share some, freedom to spend some—and discipline to set aside some for the Lord’s work first.  Wise parents not only guide their children to do so, but teach them by example by doing so too. Teaching children to tithe first by instruction and by example enables also achieving the other disciplines of saving and spending wisely with minimum debt and a proper understanding and use of debt.

God’s instruction is this, the tithe belongs to the Lord (Leviticus 27:30).

The easiest way to make sure we remain faithful to give the Lord His tithe is to build our personal or family budget around ninety percent of our income instead of one hundred percent. If ten percent of what we earn belongs to God, then we build our own savings and expenditures based on ninety percent of our income. Doing this diminishes the temptation to spend God’s tithe or setting ourselves up for failure by not planning a way to live on 90%.  We then no longer have to figure out how to tithe, it successfully happens first before paying any other bills.

That takes the decision-making out of the process. Setting aside God’s tithe first every month means our budgeting doesn’t include decisions about what is His.

Tithing to God is a step of obedience in the Christian life. And like all steps of obedience, faith is necessary to implement – faith that must be exercised before evidence of success is visible.  God will bless our faithfulness to Him but not before exercising our faith.

God demands the tithe, deserves the offerings, defends the savings, and directs the expenses.
Stephen Olford

2/4/20                                      Abundant Life                                                                      4

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING MATTHEW 7:11 – “¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! “

COMMENTS:  A common perception of non-Christians is that Christians do not have fun and criticize and judge those who do.  They lead a miserable life and want everyone to be miserable with them.  Maybe you have known some Christians that lack a joyful spirit, so can understand how some would believe that.

I can understand that but can’t help to also believe many use that excuse only to justify sinful behavior and sinful choices because they aren’t willing to give up their sinful lifestyle or admit they are wrong.

The truth is Christ came and died on the cross so any  who accept His gift of redemption can have life that is abundant and joyful and fulfilling (John 10:10)  There are many other verses in the New Testament that directly state that Jesus is the Christ who died and offers forgiveness and a personal relationship with Him that gives eternal life that is joyful and satisfying and fulfilling.  Life that give purpose and a positive eternal legacy instead of a life of regret as a legacy.

Christ doesn’t give a life deprived of joy but a life free from the sin that gives only misery and death.  Christians have more lasting and better fun than satan delivers through his temptations.  Sin may be enjoyable for a brief time but delivers only regrets and misery and death. If we could see clearly the consequences of sin when we are tempted, resisting temptation would be a lot easier, but satan blinds us from objectively seeing those consequences when he tempts us.  He knows he will fail.  But God gives us strength and help resisting temptation by reminding us of the truth. 

Jesus described Himself as the “Good Shepherd” in John 10.  The Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34. 

Are you enjoying a personal relationship with Christ?  Does that relationship bring you joy and fulfillment and purpose?  Are you conveying that joy by your life and conduct and even in your facial expressions?   Are you telling other people by your life and personality that or are you telling other people by your life that the Christian life is miserable and need to stand clear of it?

Well, there are times even Christians feel depressed or overwhelmed or discouraged or simply angry and irritable. Even non-Christians can understand and accept that and, yes, relate to that.  But how you and I conduct ourselves and allow our hope and faith in Christ give us strength and help us manage and gain victory over those negative emotions is where our greatest witness resides.  It is how we manage those times and then act towards those we offend is a powerful witness.  How we seek and give forgiveness and treat those who hurt us that is a powerful witness.  Not giving up when we fall is powerful because such gives an honest and realistic view of Christ and how He has and continues to work in us.  Hiding our struggles and weaknesses and only showing strength is not realistic nor believable. It only encourages others to doubt our sincerity and maybe even God’s existing or at least our integrity.

Are you enjoying the joyful, abundant life in Christ that God has provided? The same God who has given us Jesus Christ will give us all other things as well (Romans 8:32).

“Too many Christians envy the sinners their pleasure and the saints their joy because they don’t have either one.”  Martin Luther

2/5/20                        Better to obey God Sooner or than Later                           5

But why do you call Me “Lord, Lord,” and not do the things which I say?  Luke 6:46

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING HAGGAI 1:7-12 – “⁷ Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! ⁸ Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. ⁹ “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. ¹⁰ Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. ¹¹ For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” ¹² Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the Lord.”

COMMENTS: Jesus gave a parable concerning obedience recorded in Matthew 21:28-32.  The first son refused his father and did not work in the field but later repented and did go and work in this father’s field.  The other son agreed to obey but disappointed his father even more than his brother by simply not showing us to work.   The best choice was to obey when asked, but Jesus indicated that it is better to obey late than not at all.  There are consequences with disobedience but consequences are much worse if choice to disobey continues without repentance or change.

Every parent knows the pain and difficulties of parenting disobedient children.  Why is disobedience so ingrain in our nature all our lives, even with the youngest infants?  Why are we so resistant to obey authority – whether parents or other adults, whether school or government.  Consequences tend to be the only effective way of deterring disobedience.  The presence of police or enforcement authority is effective most of the time, a deterrent requiring frequent reminders or reinforcement.

As we grow older, we take on more responsibilities.  Those include employment, marriage and parenthood.  Also included are volunteer responsibilities such as church, giving time and money to God, but also to other causes too.

Our connection to parents is strong whether we had good parents or neglectful or even abuse parents.  Their influence continues long after they pass. The love and Christ centered example they showed and lived continues to guide and inspired me even though they both have been in heaven for many years.  Their council and insights continue to guide me because I was close enough and knew them well enough to understand their motives and reason for how they thought and reasoned and lived.  Christ was center in both their lives and the Holy Spirit guided them and their choices, which was very evident to my sister and myself.  I am also grateful my wife had opportunity to know them and our children for a good number of years.   I am also so grateful to have that same opportunity to get acquainted with my wife’s parents who were equally devout and faithful to Christ.

Well, the two sons reflect and example a motive of obligation or “have to” instead of a motive of want to out of love and gratitude, which should have been their primary motive.  If their motive had been more positive, result would have been both going to work in their father’s field early and far more passionately.  They both would have done far more work with less effort and much greater joy and energy if their motives would have been better.

Their father deserved their obedience, but they both would not only be honoring their father by obeying but would also be honoring their Creator and God too.  One of the 10 commandments is honoring our parents.  Doing, scripture says, brings joy and long life and prosperity. 

Young children do well to discover early that delayed obedience is still disobedience.  Ample examples of both disobedience and delayed obedience are given in scripture, especially Old Testament scripture.  Consequences of not only disobedience but delayed obedience for both individuals and for a nation are revealed.

God expects and requires our obedience.  When we obey early, results are much better for us and positive ripple effect is greater in our outreach and results of our labors.  When we delay obedience, we waist precious time and give satan more opportunity to make inroads into our life and lives of those we care about and those God wants our labor to positively impact.

When we disobey, we force God to choose another to do work He intended for us.  The blessing and reward for that work or labor then goes to another.

God’s Will will be done either with us or in spite of us.  Far better for us when with us.  Haggai had the responsibility or task of building God’s Temple or House.  The people weren’t ready to start work of rebuilding (Haggai 1:9).  They wanted to use God’s time and tithe for their selfish purposes for a few more months before focusing on building God’s house or temple.

Samuel was late coming to pray and offer sacrifice required before Saul would lead his army into battle.  Time was pressing, so Saul decided to offer sacrifice himself, believing he was justified in doing so.  BUT GOD’S COMMANDMENT WAS CLEAR AND ONLY SAMUEL WAS PERMITTED BY GOD TO OFFER THE SACRIFICE. 

When Samuel did arrive, he told Saul “God loves obedience more than sacrifice.”  God judged Saul for his disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22).

So, why not embrace and obey eagerly by starting God’s work right away?  He is there ready to carry the heaviest portion of the weight so our burden will be light and well within our endurance ability.  That is my council to myself too.  AMEN?  AMEN

“Obedience to legitimate authority is one of the fruits and evidences of Christian sincerity.”
Charles Hodge

2/6/20                          Ezekiel – Prophet of New Beginnings                               4

In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.  Ezekiel 1:1

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING EZEKIEL 1:1-9 – “Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. ² On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, ³ the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.⁴ Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. ⁵ Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. ⁶ Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. ⁷ Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. ⁸ The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. ⁹ Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward. “

COMMENTS: Ezekiel is prophet whom God revealed much concerning future events, much of which has yet to be fulfilled.  God didn’t reveal what was to come as we would like or expect but by using visions showing the underlying spiritual forces doing battle.   Ezekiel, as a young priest, was looking forward to serving in the Jerusalem temple.   Serving in Jerusalem was a great honor determined by age (30 minimum) and gifts and depth of devotion and likely relationships with other priests too.  Yet the qualification most important to God was level of obedience and devotion. 

Ezekiel had dreams but all that came crashing down when he was 25 when Babylon (Nebuchadnezzar) seized and enslaved, separating children from parents and families from friends and relatives.  Then dragging them off to an alien – pagan culture a long distance from home.  To a place that treating them as slaves or inferior people or worse speaking a language they did not know nor understand   Ezekiel was accustomed to following authority but not a pagan tyrant and not an army with no respect or regard for God or His temple or priests.  Ezekiel’s was bitterly disappointed in what his future looked like, to say the least. So, when Ezekiel reached 30 and beyond, he likely struggled with what God wanted him to do and what his calling was to be. 

Well, God often allows us to flounder awhile until we are willing to be focused and open – sincerely seeking His calling and instruction.  He often has to convince us to put aside our plans and dreams first before revealing His plans to us.  He did that for Ezekiel.  His first vision, recorded in Ezekiel 1, came while he was among fellow Jewish exiles on route from their home to Babylon. 

The vision God gave Ezekiel gave a puzzling view of the future without giving understanding of what that future would be or when it would happen.  The vision revealed the spiritual battle both underway and yet to come.

But the foundational message God was revealing to Ezekiel and the message Ezekiel was to convey to Israel (and to us generations later) is:

1. God is on His Throne with more than sufficient power and authority and will to do His Will.
2. God knows the future and is involved in His creation managing that future.
3. God’s Will has the primary purpose of revealing His nature and Goodness and Wisdom and Perfect Will. God’s work is always for ultimate good of His people and obedient followers. 
4. God permits His free choice to do good or evil, to follow Him or satan, to obey Him or reject Him. Freedom to choose but not choice of blessing or consequence of that choice still resides only with God.
5. God is just and judges sin but provides mercy and forgiveness to those who repent, turn back to Him, and obey His commands.
6. God did not abandon or leave them even during a time of judgment and punishment. God was still near and deeply involved in the lives of His people even in the midst of their world collapsing around them. Even while in exile to Babylon.  There would be more choices to make for the Israelites in Babylon.  Choices to continue their path of disobedience or turn / repent and follow God.  The choice of obedience would get harder and more costly the deeper into sin they would go, but the path back to obedience was clear and worth the journey back.  Daniel and his 3 friends would choose the path of obedience while in Babylon.  Their journey of obedience there is recorded for us in the Book of Daniel.  A journey of faith and real danger but also a journey of God faithfulness and abiding help and presence with them, even in a fiery furnace and in a lion’s den.
7. God had a plan He was implementing that would provide a fresh – new beginning for Ezekiel and for his fellow Israelites. He would be with them to guide and help and instruct them in a new and hostile country. God was using Babylon to administer judgement or discipline on Israel, but for a defined time that would allow give opportunity for redemption in His Time and Way.

“Ezekiel is the prophet of the glory of the Lord…. Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of Christ to the glory that should follow.”     J. Vernon McGee

2/7/20                                          ON THE ROAD                                                         7

The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.
Proverbs 16:17

RECOMMENDED READING:  ISAIAH 38:8-10   “⁸ “Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.” So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down.⁹ This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:¹⁰ I said,“In the prime of my lifeI shall go to the gates of Sheol;I am deprived of the remainder of my years.”

COMMENTS: Have you ever been on a narrow road without guardrails?  Such is especially unsettling when on a hillside or mountain with a steep drop off.  I’ve encountered such and had to leave room for a car coming opposite direction.   On foot I also experienced while hiking at the Grand Canyon in US a few years ago as a young man with my then young family.   Guardrails make a huge difference if are sufficiently strong and secure enough to hold.  But even the strongest guardrails can be broken or bent enough to allow vehicle to get past them if speed and size of vehicle is large enough.  But if reasonable speed and caution is followed, guardrails hold to successfully prevent damage or injury or death. 

Granted, normally driving even on narrow roads, we don’t come close to hitting guardrails even at normal driving speeds without concern or extra caution, but when guardrails are not present, risk of unforeseen things like a wet slippery spot on the road persuades us to be extra cautious.   Consequences are too great to ignore the danger.   Well, most people venture down life’s path without thought or regard for dangers or risks without safety of a guardrail.   Along life’s journey there is only one guardrail able to prevent us from falling.  THAT GUARDRAIL IS JESUS CHRIST.  He is our guardrail because He is:

1. God
2. Creator of all and sustainer of all
3. The One who bought our redemption and is our advocate with the Father and judge.
4. The One who warns us of and empowers us to avoid and resist danger and temptations. He also instructs us through His Word, through other believers, through life experiences of those before us and those with us and directly by prayer and also by His abiding Holy Spirit.  He provides sufficient protection and guardrails (lifeguards) to keep us safe and secure on life’s journey no matter how steep and high the drop-off or danger on that path.   He also provides clear road signs and roadmap to stay on the right path to destination He has for us and home He is preparing for us.   A home that will have a big “Welcome Home” sign and a multitude of loved ones to greet us.  A home He will be waiting at to show us His handiwork.

Also, there are times when it is dark and we can’t see the guardrails.  We may know they are still there but doubt may haunt and tempt us doubt they are there.  BUT THEY ARE AND HE IS STILL THERE GUIDING US EVEN WHEN AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE CAN’T FEEL OR SEE OR HEAR HIM because of noise and distractions of the world trying to distract or discourage us.

Can you relate and recall such times?  I can too!  God blesses us with memory so we can build on what we have discovered and learned from Him and from others and from life experiences.   We can learn from examples of His faithfulness to those before us and to us directly.  We can remember those examples and be able to trust Him for greater challenges and build on the foundation of faith we exercised in past with even stronger faith to trust Him more. 

1. To trust Him when the cliff is steeper and higher and when the road is less wide and steeper. To trust Him when our strength is giving out. 
2. To trust Him when the world tells us we are going in a wrong direction or need to take an easier path.
3. To trust Him when He tells us to take a turn as He directs.
4. To trust Him when we feel alone and tired and discouraged.
5. To trust Him when everyone else tells us not to.
6. To trust Him when we would rather take an easier and more enjoyable path.

God does want us to enjoy and be joyful in our Christian faith and obedience.  He makes us joyful even during trial and persecution because He gives us hope of heaven and a “light at the end of the tunnel” but also much more.   He gives us peace of knowing He is going through such times with us enduring and experiencing what we do.  So, He relates to and understands our struggles and emotions and battles.

A lot of people are traveling down the highway of life with dangerous baggage. We enjoy making our own decisions, but our choices should be based on what God desires for us. Isaiah 35:8 says, “A highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it”

Are you carrying around too much baggage?

May the Lord get us through life wisely with godly choices. Let’s travel a Highway of Holiness for His glory without unneeded baggage or possessions that remind or tempt us by distracting us from keeping our eyes and focus on the road and attentive to Christ’s instructions / directions / council.

“Those who travel the “Highway of Holiness” do not care as much for the things of this life as their eyes are set on a greater goal—making it into Jesus’ loving arms inside of heaven.”
Mike and Susan Blankenship

2/8/20                        YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU                              8

But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.  Luke 12:20-21

RECOMMENDED READING:  MATTHEW 6:19-21  ““¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also..”

COMMENTS: The world teaching us that success and security and happiness are only fulfilled by acquiring power and money and respect of others.   Acquiring a job that provides these are the hope most youth and young adults.  The respect and status of those who gained such success by their own abilities and work have the greatest level of respect – being called a “self-made” woman or man.  Those who inherit or marry into money have less respect of others but still have opportunity to make a name for themselves by using the resources at their disposal to build their own legacy and make a positive difference in lives of others and community and beyond.  Of course, there are those who gained wealth and influence only to squander that wealth and power by satisfying their own selfish interests and wants and needs without regard of impact and consequences either in their own life or in lives of others.  Likewise, not seeking God’s council and then following that council give opportunity of much folly and evil.

In contrast, maintaining a life of integrity, and seek and following God’s council first and consistently each day, reduces and minimizes risk of fall prey to temptations and distractions satan and his demons and his followers in the world.  A temptation to lie or cheat or gamble or steal become less appealing and luring when we focus on God’s Word and seek daily fellowship and council from God by His Holy Spirit thru prayer and reflection on His Word, and by fellowship with other believers.

God gives another motivation and purpose to exist and work toward goals and success.  God give us the end goal of living and worshipping and working only to praise our Creator and Lord and Savior.  Our purpose is to give Him honor and praise.  We do so by word and by action or conduct.  We do so through our actions and deeds.   We do so by the choices and motives we demonstrate.

Ten years ago, Bill and Melinda Gates partnered with Warren Buffett to commit to pledge half of their wealth and material assets and challenge 200 other equally wealthy individuals and couple to do likewise.  The result of their work was a commitment or pledge of $500 billion from those who made this pledge with the Gates and Warren Buffett.

The Bible is full of example and value God places on those who work to gain material possessions instead of heavenly treasures.  Jesus verbalized God’s position very well through parables and brief stories and statements.  The parable of the rich man building bigger barns to store his abundance of crops. No regard was given to indicate rich man intended to tithe or give    away or share any of his harvest even though God was responsible for enabling that crop to yield a bountiful harvest.  A crop more abundant than the man or his family needed but sufficient to provide for them without any further labor for the rest of their lives.

Jesus warned that such selfish gratification and without gratitude or willingness to share with poor and needy.  Jesus also said “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be,” Matthew 6:21.

Proverbs 6:6-8 states that diligent saving is a wise habit but not for sole motive of self-security and contentment.  Instead, temporal and eternal hope and motive is in honoring and expressing hope in the Lord. (Psalm 146:5).

Instead, we are instructed to consider God as our employer, which means:

1. Our job description and work assignments are to support His Goals and Objectives and Mission. To give Him praise and worship and support Christ’s Mission of redeeming the World and the people who populate it.
2. The wage and income we receive directly by our earthly employer or by other means comes to us from God directly.
3. We are accountable to God directly and solely above all else.
4. The objectives and standards of conduct and work ethic and standard of integrity is far higher than standard our supervisor or world employer requires.
5. Our motive to please God drives more passion and enthusiasm and energy and positive attitude than a company or human supervisor can inspire.
6. The example Jesus mentored for us also provide a standard of conduct and ethic far above the best and most experienced mentor available.
7. Our Employer was alive at creation and did the creating. He has also been involved sustaining and expanding that creation ever since.
8. Our Employer has a long history of keeping His promises and exercising greater wisdom and intelligence and knowledge than any human who ever lived and offers and gives us access to that knowledge and intelligence and wisdom to complete work and objectives He gives us.
9. Our Employer not only provides for our needs from His abundant resources while living on earth in our human bodies, but is preparing an eternal home and new eternal bodies for us when our life concluded on earth. Heaven will also be a wonderful – beautiful place that we will not only enjoy with our Lord and Savior, but with our friends and relatives who received His forgiveness too.  And, yes, also with even our enemies who received His forgiveness too.  But then again, they will no longer be our enemies.  AMEN! 
10. Our Employer also gave His life in order to provide forgiveness and new opportunity to be in close relationship with Him and continue our employment even though we failed Him in past and are worthy of being judged and “fired” – “terminated”.
11. No earthly employer can or will offer the benefits and retirement benefits God does. God even offers to help us satisfy goals of our earthly employer far better if we do so using His help and following His council and instruction.
12. Look at how God has helped and blessed those before us who served and followed God’s lead and instruction.
13. Our Employer not only provides and helps us be successful but also loves and cares for us like none other is willing or able to.
14. Our Employer is eternal and has designed and created us to be eternal too. He also knows and controls the future so makes no mistakes and is more than prepared for the future.

“To forsake Christ for the world is to leave a treasure for a trifle.”     William Jenkyn

 

2/9/20                                   He is Our Everything                                          9                   

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.   Romans 10:17

Recommended Reading: EPHESIANS 2:8-9 “  ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

COMMENTS:  Faith is defined in scripture as “the assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1. 

Psalm 46:10 states “Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!”

John 8:24 “…unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”

Faith has always been a key ingredient to obedience to God’s commands.  Faith not only requires believing in something or someone but acting on that trust or belief. 

A story is told about a performer who walked across Niagara Falls on a tightrope pushing an empty wheelbarrow.  When asked the audience if he could do it again, they all cheered and said yes.  Then he asked one of the spectators if he would get in the wheelbarrow.  No one was willing.  The evidence of faith is not in profession but in action.  Validity of faith in not just in action, however, but if object or person our faith is in is genuine and worthy of our faith.

So where is your faith placed?   Is it in a job or employer or an object or even a person?   Is it worthy of our faith?  What is the past history of those before us who exampled the same faith before us? 

Consider another example of faith.   Winter in northern parts of the world command sustained temperatures to free lakes deep enough to drive a full semi-truck and trailer over.  In fact, in many areas of Canada, for example, supplies are conveyed by truck in just that way since roads are difficult to keep plowed.    But in the early days of winter, the ice is thin and not able to support the weight of one person let alone a semi-truck.

What is different about faith and action of those who walk on ice and how they discern how and when to act on their faith?   Well, genuine faith is not blind nor without reason and understanding.   Such if vital when discerning driving or even walking on ice.   Some more open winters, even walking on an ice-covered lake would be foolish and other more severe winters driving a semi-truck on that same lake would be as safe as land.   Weather and some well-placed bore holds is necessary before confidence of faith should be placed in that ice because the integrity of that ice needs proved.

Christ wants us to have that same confidence in Him but does not expect us to do so without proper searching and inquiring and study.   Far better to fully trust in Christ and embrace His offer of forgiveness and salvation after genuine seeking and exploring His Word, exploring the lives and change in lives of those who did so before us.  Validity and integrity of Christ’s life.  Many atheists and agnostics have done such a study and concluded Christ is genuine and worthy of faith and placed their faith in Him.   Lee Strobel is one of those atheists.   HE began his research with intention of persuading his wife to reject her recent conversion and new faith in Christ.   The end of his research was his own conversion and faith in Christ too.  Since then he has written powerful books recording his own journey to faith and guide in helping others in that journey too.

Well, I accepted Christ early, at age 10, due to influence of many in my family and church family who influenced me.  But during my teen years and early adult years, study and prayer and honest seeking drew me much closer to Christ and impacted my understanding and increased my faith in Him.  Yet there were still times when believing and acting on my faith was a struggle.  It still is at time.  

Then I ask myself if He is really asking me to step on the ice or to take a new but different path.  Influence and pressure from others may not be what He is asking or calling us to do.

For example, a number of years ago, I spent 3 weeks working with miners in a West Virginia coal mine installing and testing a prototype machine I was involved in designing.   During that time, I became good friends and had many good conversations with many of those miners.   One was a part-time pastor in a local small church.  During those conversations, I discovered that congregation practiced “snake handling” as part of their worship and way to develop their faith and trust in Christ.  He invited me to attend his church.  After much prayer and soul searching, I declined and reason for declining became a focus of some good conversation.

Since then, I have studied that practice and have learned much.  I have concluding such practices are a human way of trying to force God’s hand in order to justify and demonstrate faith instead of yielding to the way and purpose God chooses.  Scripture tells us to flee youthful temptations, not run to them.   A poisonous snake is something to avoid, not seek out.  But in the case of Paul, God protected Him until his time to go home to heaven had come.    Tempting God or trying to force God’s Hand is not exercising faith and generally does not reflect the spirit of obedience and faith I believe God is seeking. 

Instead, God is wanting and asking us to focus on seeking Him first and opening us to listen to His voice and direction. Faith that He will help and protect us when we step out in faith in Him.  However, consideration to impact on others is definitely worthy of thought and prayer.  God brings unity and relationship building and more Christ-like life building. 

When choices bring division or broken relationships or even heated debates in the church or in families, then stopping and reflecting individually and together is justified and critical.   Seeking God’s input in scripture and with wise pastors and counselors and in prayer waiting til God answers is important.   All too often satan will come as an “angel of light” seeming to be genuine but fruit is far from being angelic.

So, what acts of faith are genuine and what acts are not?    Not an easy or obvious answer in many cases.    Many churches who focused on worship practices or tempting danger in order to show faith tend to force “mechanical” ways to avoid disaster while participating.  We could use the same logic to incorporate walking off cliffs or stepping blindfolded onto a busy highway or climbing a mountain or a tall tree to worship as a normal practice.  The though or idea of doing so may seen genuine to some but God does not think nor reason or plan like we do.  

 Life is full of mystery. How the brain becomes the mind is a mystery. Love is often a mystery. And in the spiritual realm, how does faith rise up in the human heart?

The apostle Paul says clearly: “So then faith comes by hearing…the word of God.” Most modern interpreters suggest that “the word of God” refers to “the message of/concerning Christ.” When Christ’s Gospel and His teachings are embraced by the human heart, faith is the result. But Paul also says we are saved by grace through faith which is “the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8-9). So, faith is a gift from God and it is also the result of embracing the message about Christ and His salvation.

But how does the gift of God mix with the human response? The experience of salvation is not a science experiment that can be understood in a laboratory. It is a wonderful mystery that can be experienced though not totally understood.

Have you embraced the Gospel of Christ? And thanked God for His gift of faith? Don’t let the day pass without doing both.

The Word generates faith and regenerates us.
Joseph Alleine

2/10/20                                     Rich and Poor                                                    9

These women were helping to support them out of their own means…. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.   Luke 8:3 and 21:2,

Scripture:  LUKE 8:1-3   “Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, ² and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, ³ and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.”

COMMENTS: We do not know anything about Jesus years before age 30, when He started His ministry except for comments of Joseph taking Mary and Jesus, as an infant, to Egypt; and the instance in the temple at age 12.  No mention of Joseph or Mary except in these same instances before Jesus’ ministry began.   We presume Joseph died sometime after Jesus was 12, but presume he lived long enough to pass on his carpentry skills to Jesus.  We also presume Jesus worked and provided for Mary and Jesus’ younger step brothers during the years after Joseph’s death until Jesus began His ministry.    That may be one of the reasons why on the cross, Jesus looked to John and instructed him to care for His mother, Mary.

We can also only speculate how Mary and her family were provided for during Jesus’ ministry, but it appears family responsibilities did not go away nor forgotten or ignored when Jesus’ disciples started following Him.  Since this detail is not included in scripture does not mean it wasn’t addressed.

Well, let’s ponder the question of who financed Jesus’ ministry during His ministry and the work of the Church of Believers after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ?  If Jesus’ left His carpenter’s work and His disciples left their fishing and other jobs, how were their families and even their lives sustained and needs provided for?

We are given some clue based on the names of some of Jesus’ followers.  Some of them were people of wealth, like Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Susanna and a few others mentioned in scripture. Luke 8:1-3 tells us “After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, ² and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; ³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”  However, the bulk of needed funding likely came from small donations and tithes of poor believers giving a few coins like the widow who gave all she had, two mites (Luke 21:1-4).

God doesn’t just give the gift of giving to the wealthy but more commonly to the poor.  80% of charitable donations are given by the 20% who are the poorest.  Giving may be a gift, but all are called to give, and tithing (giving 10% of our income continued as a starting point after Easter as a response of gratitude and worship and faith instead of as a tax or obligation it often was sins Old Testament times.  Whether we are wealthy, poor, or somewhere in the middle, we’re responsible to be methodical, steady, cheerful givers to the Lord’s work.  God doesn’t need our money and time to do His Work but does want us to give for our benefit in building faith and sharing that faith and being involved in His work.  Doing so strengthens our relationship with Him directly and also strengthens our relationship with other believers, His primary goal.  He wants us to discover the extent of His generosity and blessing and provision to us so we become more generous and joyful in giving back.  Giving out of gratitude is a far more joyful and better way to give.

We can’t out give God, but we can out give our past giving.  If we wait til we can afford to tithe, we will never find a good time to start giving.  But if we just start tithing, we will discover God imparting discernment and wisdom in spending the remaining 90%.  He will also help in avoiding spending traps and indulgences that become money traps – spending on things we don’t need that need additional ongoing spending to maintain – things we don’t need but want.

We can only spend money we have and save but can’ t spend money we already have spent. 

“Tithing is not the last word in generosity; it’s the first word.”   John Ortberg

2/11/20                                  Robbing God                                                    11                                                     

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!   Malachi 3:8

RECOMMENDED READING:  MALACHI 3:8-12  ““Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say,‘In what way have we robbed You?’In tithes and offerings.⁹ You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed  Me,Even this whole nation.¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,”Says the Lord of hosts,“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.¹¹ “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”Says the Lord of hosts;¹² “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,”Says the Lord of hosts.”

COMMENTS:  Robbing is another word for stealing but carries a bit more personal meaning.  Stealing involves simply taking something from another without paying for it with money or labor or another form of agreed to payment like trading one item for another.  Stealing involves taking a desired possession from its owner without that owner’s knowledge or permission or agreed to form of payment.  The word stealing often involves taking something from someone the thief does not know personally but simply desires the possession of another and decides to take it without paying for it.   The motive or intent of stealing varies, but some common motives are:

1. Desiring something without means to purchase it.
2. Need for money to purchase something or a service needed but lacking resource to purchase it, so reverting to stealing to acquire things to sell or trade for what is needed. A common reason for stealing is to fund a drug habit.
3. Jealousy for those of wealth can be a motivation to steal with justification they won’t miss it or can easily purchase a replacement.
4. None the less, justification for stealing for any of the above reasons or due to another reason, is created and used by thief to remove any barriers in their mind hindering them from performing the theft they are contemplating. Guilt or fear of getting caught and punished needs diminished sufficiently to convince the thief that risk of punishment is worth it.

Well, truth is Stealing is a sin and identified among the 10 commandments God gave Moses on Mt. Sinai.   So, what is the difference between robbery and stealing?   Robbery is more personal because thief both knows the owner more personally and invades the owner’s living space to steal.   Stealing involves taking a possession but robbery often involves taking more than just possessions.

So, what motives cause an individual to rob another and what more is taken in a robbery?

1. Robbery involves the same motives and reasons as stealing.
2. Robbery also involves a betrayal of trust because the owner knows and trusts the robber.
3. Robbery includes taking a possession but also taking trust and damaging the friendship or other type of relationship between owner and robber.
4. Robber must conclude taking a possession is worth more than the relationship enjoyed with owner.

So, what do the above verses describe and mean related to robbing God.  What do we rob of God and why is the term robbery used instead of stealing?

1. The term robbery is used instead of stealing because of the relationship God has with us.  Betrayal of trust God has in us and with us is damaged by taking from Him.
2. We rob from Him the tithe.   Tithe denoted 10% of income God provides for us in the form of money or goods through an employer or individual working for.  Well, if God gives us money or goods we have earned, if we don’t give 10% back to Him, how is that robbery?  The answer is it is what He asks of us and affects our relationship with Him when we refused.  He asks it because He wants to use it as an instrument to build a closer and stronger relationship with us.   He doesn’t need what we withhold but does need and desires a closer relationship with us.  
3. God wants to use our tithe to build relationships with Him that includes bot us and those that tithe can help and draw to Him.  Giving a tithe forces us to trust Him more and depend on Him more and to hold and value possessions and our own strength less.

So, for whatever the reason or motive, stealing and robbery are sins that cost more than we realize and come at a cost greater than value of item being taken.

Tithing is God’s design to fund and create partnerships with us in doing His work.  He equips laborers to build His Church and to provide His Good News and redemption message to others.  He uses the tithe to enable those not able to a way of participating and investing in God’s Work too and be a part in it.  Result is growth and increase enable them to enjoy fruits along with workers with all being drawn closer together and closer to God together.

Malachi reminds the Israelites of importance and benefits of tithing.  Tithing is easily forgotten but is an act of obedience that doesn’t come by planning and praying for faith but comes simply by doing it.  The other supporting ingredients required like budgeting and wiser spending are necessary but motivation and being more open for God’s help only come as we obey God in this way first.

God promises to bless us and honor our obedience to tithe.  I have shared our personal experience with tithing but has been awhile. I never feel comfortable sharing our experiences but don’t want to deprive any help and encouragement such may provide others, so here goes.

As a teen and college student, I was intrigued at scripture and biblical teaching on tithing and promises God promised to those who practice tithing.  So, I began my working career and later our marriage and family committed to tithing our gross income, before taxes.   What I discovered is 90% was sufficient to pay necessities.   I also discovered a strong motivation and discernment that enabled me to be content with some different dreams and goals that my piers were not.  I accepted employment with an employer who remained  stable my whole working career  (nearly 40 years) located close enough I was able to not only able to care for my aging  parents but remodel an apartment to rent from my parents that would meet their needs later when we would buy their home.   That plan was more cost effective than building a new home and associated debt.   It also satisfied my parents dream of keeping their home in the family.  Our home was my great grandparents for 49 years, then my parents for 44 years and has been our home for 36 years.  The next-door duplex was originally the Clintonville school until 1917 and was bought by my parents in 1967.  It became the home for my parents in their elderly years, for my father’s sister after her husband passed, and now for my wife’s cousin and our son’s sister – in – law, so it has become tool for family to care for family.  The rich family history and old pictures bring a rich history and legacy that a shiny new house could not give that would have cost a lot more and resulted in more difficulty continuing to tithe. 

God also gave me a career that was fulfilling and provided for my family and even enabled us to give our tithe of money and time to the same church my parents and great grandparents did, another element of rich history and legacy.  Now, looking back seeing how God guided and blessed, I can confirm God has enabled us to give while acquiring more than we thought possible.  Such blessing has enabled us to give more than 10%.  

My father’s sister who moved into our upstairs apartment in 1999 and resided there until she passed in 2010, was also a faithful tither.  When she passed, we felt God’s nudging to continue her tithe in addition to our own.   We have been able to sustain that and continue to do so in spite of retiring in 2012 at a lower income. 

I am convinced the principle of tithing is sound but most Christians miss out on God’s full provision and blessing because they fail to tithe.  I believe our church has failed to fulfill all God intended and desired and its numbers have dwindled over the years in part because only a few of its members practice tithing.   I don’t know nor should know level of giving of others but my wife, as church financial secretary, has commented giving does not reflect tithing as a common practice of its members.  By contrast, the level of growth and devotion by my parent’s generation and my grandparent’s and great grandparent’s generation and faithfulness in tithing in spite of living modest and impoverished lifestyle was definitely related.  They were faithful tithers more commonly – giving money and time at a tithing level.    Their relationship of faith and joy with Christ and with each other’s was far greater and healthier than today.

For past 7 years, God through our daughter, inspired me to keep a devotional journal and share it with family and friends.  Then He guided me to begin a blog 4 years ago, which has grown both in number in US but in many overseas countries, enabling me to help in ministry and evangelism thru both writing and in giving in ways I would not have dreamed of but yet has come to pass in my retirement years.  God has opened His floodgates to me and believe He will for you too.  He doesn’t always provide all we want but always what we need and often a few things we want if His Will and desire to give what best for us permits.

“‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it’” (Malachi 3:10,).

This is the only time in Scripture we’re invited to test or try God. When we give generously, systematically, and cheerfully to Him, He will open “the floodgates of heaven.” What a promise! What a challenge! Imagine the floodgates of heaven sliding open!

God loves a cheerful giver.

“One of the reasons I tithe is because by doing it, every year and every month and every week, I am proving in my own heart that God’s truth is indeed trustworthy. He will take care of us.”
David Jeremiah

 

2/12/20                      TAKE THE LEAP!                                                   12

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.   Leviticus 19:18

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE:  MATTHEW 22:39 “³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’.”

COMMENTS: Love is a popular subject of books and contemporary popular songs today but that has been true for many generations and even in ancient times.  Love normally is viewed through the lens of lust or of selfish love focused on meeting our own needs instead of the need of others.  Worldly love focuses on meeting “my needs” and the object of our love is expected to fulfill those needs or likely more accurately “our wants”.    The motivation of seeking something or someone to love is to meet our wants which are misconstrued as “our needs”.  

But scripture identifies love not by what we need or want from others but what we need to give in order to meet their need.   Christ showed and taught us that love is not something to be sought but something to give.   Something to plant like the parable of the sower conveyed, ref. Mark 4:1-20.  

Stop and reflect a few minutes.  If we related this parable to Jesus command to love our neighbor, there are some valuable instructions and lessons to be gleaned.  Jesus did not say to only love our neighbors who loved us first or were kind and caring towards us.  He, instead also said to love our enemies.  He didn’t say love in order to receive love back but simply because He commands us to do so.  He didn’t say to invest our love only with those who will love us back or at least to those who likely will eventually love us.  No, He said to love our enemies even if circumstances indicate they will not likely ever return our love. 

So, what is Christ telling us.  He is saying it is not our responsibility nor within our ability to force or even persuade others to love or even like us.   Our conduct, if consistent in loving and caring and investing time as He directs, will be a powerful persuasive tool but not a sure thing.  Afterall, Judas sat and listened to 3 years of Jesus ministry and teaching.  He saw Jesus’ miracles and witnessed and experienced Jesus’ love just like the other disciples did.  But He still chose to betray Jesus.  Satan was able to deceive and persuade Him to make a tragically wrong choice.   He then decided to kill himself instead of having the courage to confront and seek the forgiveness Jesus showed and taught and ultimately paid the price to provide for us.

The ability to love comes from God and from knowing HE FIRST LOVED AND DIED FOR US!   We often forget that, which makes it nearly impossible to love those who mistreat us and even do and say hateful things to us or about us.  Matthew 5:43-48 underscores Jesus teaching, “⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The command to love our neighbor occurs 4 times in Matthew and 7 times in the New Testament, so it is an important subject and command in scripture.  It also occurs 2 times in Paul’s letters (Romans 13:9 and Galatians 5:14) and one time in James (James 2:8).

Jesus defined our neighbor not by distance away but by a fellow human living on our earth, which was a very modern perspective given His time period on earth.  So, the commandment to take the “love-leap of faith” is to love like we want loved without regard to how soon or ever will be returned back.   Our ability to love and energy to give and sustain that love without response is possible by tapping into the love Christ gives us.  He more than deserves our obedience and this is a command from Him.  Not an easy command to obey but easier for us than is for Him.  Why?  Well we can’t come close to His example but He still loves even the worst of us.  He loves all and offers forgiveness to all but benefits of that love do require the response to receive it. 

Will our love be received and returned?  Even Christ’s love wasn’t, so we shouldn’t be discouraged nor give up when it isn’t for us.   Instead, we should put our hopes and results in His hands.  Our job is to love and leave it to Him to manage results.   He still allows free will in others and in us.  We still have a choice of what to do.  He has control of benefits or consequences of those choices, so we can have peace of knowing that responsibility is not on us, even for a loved one.

Keep in mind, He desires the redemption of each of our rebellious loved ones far more then we even do, so praying and working with Him to that goal is well within His Will and partnership goals with us.

So, let’s partner with Him to love and leave it to Him to manage results. I’m sure we will be amazed and motived to praise Him even though the timing of those results may take longer than we or even He would like.   Afterall, if we all are together in heaven 100 years from now, will it matter if they repented today or 50 years from now?  Sure, now is better both for blessing that immediately follow and for positive input in other’s lives that follow, but still later is better than never. AMEN?  AMEN!

By the way, is it better for our enemy to “burn in hell” 100 years from now or be with us in heaven transformed into our friend?  Be careful of your answer.  We were once Christ’s enemies, right?

“In Jesus and for Him, enemies and friends alike are to be loved.”  Thomas a Kempis

2/13/20                                           PACKED WITH PROPHECY                          13

The hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel.  Colossians 1:5

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  COLOSSIANS 1:3-8  ^“3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ⁴ since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; ⁵ because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, ⁶ which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; ⁷ as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, ⁸ who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.”

COMMENTS:  Bible prophecy comprises a good part of scripture (both Old Testament and New Testament).  Old Testament books like Daniel and Zechariah and Isaiah are packed with glimpses of future events God revealed to these prophets.   New Testament letters and books like 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Revelation, Matthew, and 2 Peter are also full of glimpses of future events God revealed as well.  Prophecies warning of coming persecution and hardship and temptations and dangers not intended to fill us with panic but faith and confident hope that He will help and protect and bring us through any and all times of trial and hardship.  We don’t know what they are but He does.  We don’t know when but He does.  We don’t know how long we will endure but He does.

By giving us a glimpse of future events, He is telling us that He knows and is ready and prepared and in control so we can rely on Him and know He will safely bring us to the shore of heaven.   He tells us He won’t leave us but is also preparing a home in heaven for us even now.

So, then why is prophecy so confusing and worded in ways that keep it a mystery?  Only God can answer that completely, but fulfillment of past prophecies now fulfilled give us a clue.  God wants most of all that we follow and obey Him, developing faith to trust Him more and more, which means following Him even when we don’t see the destination nor see the sharp turns and cliffs without guardrails along the path ahead of us.

Prophecy is a bit obscure so He can give us assurance He knows and is in control and we are not. Trusting Him means we don’t need to fully understand, but need to understand sufficiently in order to trust and follow Him until we do fully understand.  He also is telling us that, like a distant mountain becoming clearer as we approach it, so does prophecy become clearer as we get closer to its fulfillment.  

Prophecy enables Christ followers to be optimistic when current events cause panic and despair.  God wants us to be concerned enough for the future to prepare and equip ourselves so we ready.   He wants to do so by coming to Him and following His instruction. To follow our own ideas or ignore danger and lack preparation can be disastrous, so studying prophecy has significant value.  

Today always goes better in the light of God’s tomorrow.

“Bible prophecy helps us to better understand the future and realize the urgent need to spread the gospel. It motivates us to personal purity and gives us hope in a hopeless age. “ 
Tim LaHaye

2/14/20                      BROTHERS AND SISTERS                       13                                           

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE:

Isaiah 63:7-9   ⁷ I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us, and the great favor to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
⁸ For he said, “Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely”; and he became their savior  in all their distress.
It was no messenger^[a] or angel but his presence that saved them;^[b]
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

 

Hebrews 2:10-18   ¹⁰ It was fitting that God,^[a] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.^[b] For this reason Jesus^[c] is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,^{[d] 12} saying,

“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,^[e] in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”  ¹³ And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.” ¹⁴ Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. ¹⁶ For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters^[f] in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Because he himself was tested by what he suffered; he is able to help those who are being tested.

 

COMMENTS:  Christmas was a time of church and family gatherings.  If your celebration was anything like mine, you got to see friends and family, you got to eat some of the best foods, and you got to share some great stories with those that you may not see as often.  I hope your celebration was filled with love and laughter, no (to little) stress, and the time with family and friends re-energized you after the long hours of preparation, shopping, wrapping, cooking, and everything that goes along with the day!

I hope you made time to think about the day – to think about the Advent services Pastor Denise has shared during Advent.  I hope you thought about the Hope that was provided through the birth of the Christ Child; the JOY that came into the world on that night; I hope you felt the LOVE of the Lord surround your table; and I hope you felt the TRUST and PEACE in your home knowing that the Lord was there with you in celebration. 

As we look back on the last few weeks, we realize that the scripture today is perfectly selected to set the course ahead.  That course was determined from the very beginning for that small child wrapped in cloth and placed in the manger.  Born into this world so innocent, but born with a heavy purpose – born a King, a Savior; born the Son of God. 

Now we know the Christmas story so well, but let’s take a moment to bring it to the front of our minds:

• An angel of the Lord appeared to a young woman in the little town of Nazareth
• Mary, a young woman strong in her faith, accepted the calling of God to bear a child
• Now Mary was not yet married, and her fiancée was troubled to learn that she was with child
• Just as Joseph, Mary’s fiancée, decided to dismiss her quietly from the marriage he was also visited by an angel and told that the child was conceived of the Holy Spirit and that he was to take Mary as his wife and name the baby Jesus
• Now it was ordered that Joseph and his family was to register for the census, so they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem as was ordered by the Roman government
• The cities were crowded due to the census order, and there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph, so they were given a small place to stay
• Mary went into labor and bore a son, wrapped him in swaddling cloth and laid him in a manger
• At that moment an angel of the Lord appeared to a group of shepherds that were tending to their flocks nearby and announced the birth… “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” And a great host of angels appeared singing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  The shepherds left their flock and found the baby in the manger just as the angels said; they praised God and told everyone the story as they left.
• On the eighth day the baby was presented at the temple according to their custom, and Joseph named him Jesus.
• The Magi traveled from far corners of the nation to find this child born a king.  They saw his star in the sky and was led to Jesus.  They bowed down and worshiped him, presenting him gifts of gold, incense and myrrh. 
• And Jesus grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. 

Now I recount all of this to put the scripture in Hebrews into perspective.  This innocent child, born in a stable should become the pioneer of our salvation.  This child conceived of the Holy Spirit and so nearly denounced by his earthly father Joseph was and is the Son of God.  This child fulfilled the scriptures of old in every way, and was destined for glory. 

It is that glory that was shared through Him and freely given to each one of us.  Through the suffering and pain endured by our Savior at the cross, He was sanctified because He was blameless, without sin, and took on our sins freely.  As we give ourselves to Christ, we too are sanctified – laying all our sins at the cross and resting in the reassuring embrace of Jesus.  It is at that moment we become brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Jesus knows all too well the pains and sufferings of this world.  He knows the temptations that surround us.  He was sent to become flesh of this world, to bring about an awakening within His people; He was sent to atone for the sins of this world.  He was sent to relate to us in this world, to know, to experience, to overcome this world, and to overcome death.  Through Jesus we find complete and total peace; He remains our Hope, Joy and Peace!

The Love that has been offered through Jesus cannot be put more simply than what is written in John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” 

Therefore, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become Children of God; we are welcomed into the Family of God as Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  The moment you enter that family life changes in a real way.  Now we all know that this life is not without struggle and pain, but God understands that struggle through His Son.  

The amazing thing is that God has provided for us through Jesus.  We come to know a personal relationship with God, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  God has also provided for us through our Brothers and Sisters.  We have a family – much like what you had around that Christmas table a few days ago. 

I generally relay a story relating our scripture to something of current day, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized the story is right here.  Take a look at those sitting in your pew; take a look at the pews throughout the church; these are your Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  We live our own story of Faith each and every day. 

What are your struggles in life?

Who do you turn to for guidance and direction?

When you have days where you feel down or defeated, who is it that lifts you up?

There is not one person sitting here today that has had a worry-free life; there is not one person sitting here that has not known pain; there is not one person sitting here that has not faced some type of struggle in their life. 

The difference is that we have found support, encouragement, understanding and love from those sitting here in these pews.  As we look for that support and guidance we also look above – don’t we?  How often to you raise a prayer when you face hard times?  How often do you raise a prayer of thanksgiving for your Brothers and Sisters?  How often do you raise a prayer for your Brothers and Sisters when they face hardships? 

I hope each one of you realize how special you are to one another.  I hope each one of you realize how much you are loved.  I hope each one of you feel the love of God surround you each and every day!

Look around one more time…these are your Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  That was pretty easy to determine, right?  They are all here with you in worship.  How do you determine who your Brothers and Sisters in Christ are outside of this building? 

We do not walk around with visible labels, or name tags.  Finding a Brother or Sister in Christ requires a personal commitment on our part – each of us individually.  It requires us to live a life of goodness and righteousness; a life open and given to the Holy Spirit to lead us in life.  We should not be closed off and resistant to personal interactions – we need to be alive in the Spirit and willing to share our story and faith in every instant. 

Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ are living the same way.  It’s funny how you can come across someone at random that radiates with the light of Christ.  Have you found someone like that?  Someone that has a certain shine that is unmistakably the light of the Lord?  We should all strive to let that light shine! 

As we search out those Brothers and Sisters, how do we provide each other support and encouragement?

This question becomes important for our collective growth.  I will leave you with this list of 10 key ways are called to treat others: 

1. Put Them First

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3)

Self-denial lives at the center of love. True love denies self and supports another. Putting others first should be more than an act of humility, but an act of affection. It’s not that we think so little of ourselves, but that we feel so warmly toward our brothers and sisters in Christ that we are happy to lay aside our interests and preferences so that another may experience blessing.

2. Seek Their Good
   “always seek to do good to one another” (1 Thess. 5:15)

Love does more than put someone else first. One’s desires may be destructive, or their path may lead to danger. Love will seek their good, their betterment, their advancement. The questions we ask must be, “How can I personally help my brother do well?” “How can I serve my sister so that she prospers in faith and life?”

3. Ask for Their Forgiveness/Forgive Them
   “forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Col. 3:13)

If you love your fellow saints then you will ask for their forgiveness when you sin against them, and will freely forgive them when they sin against you. Sin grieves the heart of a believer for in it we know we have sinned against the Lord, hurt someone made in the image of God and recreated in the image of Jesus Christ. And as a people who have been forgiven of far worse crimes than have been committed against us, we must also forgive those who sin against us.

4. Listen to Them
   “be quick to hear” (James 1:19)

Love listens. Just as God hears us when we call to him, so must we listen to others. We need to listen in order to gain understanding either of truth, or of the one speaking. Until we listen to another, we are ill-equipped to know their needs and seek their good.

5. Include Them
   “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Pet. 4:9)

Hospitality is a welcoming of others into your life. Love includes; it draws near to others and invites them in. It will not dismiss people because they are different or difficult, but will pursue them and offer them a place at the table. Love looks around, sees the uninvolved or unknown, and extends a hand of welcome.

6. Be Generous
   “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way” (2 Cor. 9:11)

God has given you what you have for more than your own personal enjoyment. You are called by God to steward what he has entrusted you by sharing it with others. Love seeks to give, and give big. As John Calvin said, “the legitimate use of all our gifts is a kind and liberal communication of them with others.”

7. Sacrifice
   “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:13)

Generosity is important, but it’s easy to pick and choose what we will be generous with. Many today have an easier time parting with their money than their time. They would rather be generous with their wallet than their calendar. Such “generosity” is giving without real sacrifice. Love, in denying self, goes farther than an easy offering. Love gives until it hurts. If you love your brothers and sisters it will be seen in your willingness to sacrifice what you have, and even yourself, for their good.

8. Tell the Truth
   “let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Eph. 4:25)

Love doesn’t lie. In fact, it speaks truth. This isn’t about offering true opinions, but truth itself. It is willing to offer hard words when needed. Love corrects, rebukes even, but not from a mere love for truth. It is also connected to a sense of concern and compassion for people.

9. Encourage Them with the Gospel
   “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11)

Love doesn’t flatter, but it does encourage. Biblical encouragement is a kind of preaching; a gospel word offered to those who need it. Love points people to Jesus Christ, in whom we see love in its brightest display. Those around you need to hear how the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, remains good news for them today. It’s not just for the lost. It is for the found. For without it we drift back to false hopes, doubts, and fears.

10. Pray for Them
    “pray for one another” (James 5:16)

If you love your brothers and sisters you will pray for them. It is sad that we so often quickly promise, “I’ll pray for yak!” only to walk away and never approach God on their behalf. Even sadder is that those who need the prayer are happy enough with the false promise. They appreciate the nice thought, and think it’s better than nothing. But it’s not. It’s just nothing. Love prays. It seeks God’s action in their lives. It pleads with God for greater grace on behalf of others. And to this God responds.

There are many other ways in which we should be loving one another in the church, but here’s a start. Let us love not “in word or talk but indeed and in truth.” (1Jn. 3:18) We can do this because we have come to know the love of God through the death of Jesus Christ. We have been saved by love (Rom. 5:8) and for love (1 Peter 1:22).

Let us love, encourage and support one another in the name of Jesus – Amen. 

2/15/20                                     THE COMING CONFLICT                                                   15

Behold, the day of the Lord is coming…. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem.   Zechariah 14:1-2

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 14:1-9: Behold, the day of the Lord is coming,And your spoil will be divided in your midst.² For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;The city shall be taken,The houses rifled,And the women ravished.Half of the city shall go into captivity,But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.³ Then the Lord will go forthAnd fight against those nations,As He fights in the day of battle.⁴ And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives,Which faces Jerusalem on the east.And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two,From east to west,Making a very large valley;Half of the mountain shall move toward the northAnd half of it toward the south.⁵ Then you shall flee through My mountain valley,For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal.Yes, you shall fleeAs you fled from the earthquakeIn the days of Uzziah king of Judah.Thus the Lord my God will come,And all the saints with You.⁶ It shall come to pass in that dayThat there will be no light;The lights will diminish.⁷ It shall be one dayWhich is known to the Lord—Neither day nor night.But at evening time it shall happenThat it will be light⁸ And in that day it shall beThat living waters shall flow from Jerusalem,Half of them toward the eastern seaAnd half of them toward the western sea;In both summer and winter it shall occur.⁹ And the Lord shall be King over all the earth.In that day it shall be—“The Lord is one,”And His name one   Zechariah 14:1-9

COMMENTS: Today’s scripture is a reminder from ancient history of how brief life is and how fragile and easily lost material possessions are.  We work all our lives to possess a come and provide for ourselves and our families. The most we can hope for is to pass on our money and possessions to our children or heirs.   But truth is, things demand time money to maintain them even after purchase and any debt is paid off.  The greater freedom is not owning things debt free but in owning the least number of things and giving away the most as God directs.   Tithing is the starting point of giving scripture instructs us, but He desires for us to be a conduit by while He can give and bless both us and those we interact with far more.  He doesn’t need our help to accomplish He Plan but His Plan includes not only redeeming the world bus us.

Satan knows his time is drawing short, and yet he is working as hard as he can to inflict as much destruction as he can to bring as much misery to God and his creation and especially His faithful children as possible, as he did to Job long ago.

But God knows exactly what satan is going to do long before he knows himself.  If we are about to enter the end times Daniel wrote of and Ezekiel told of and John told of, we will see God knew and is well prepared for both that time, equipped to help and guide us through that time, but also bring us safely to the other side.  He promised to do so and has given us the end of story – the defeat and judgment of satan and all his demons and all his human followers.

History is indeed reflecting fulfillment of prophecies foretold long before fulfillment.  More recently, on September 6, 2007, an Israeli airstrike destroyed a mysterious military site near the Euphrates River in Syria. There’s little question why—Israel acted to keep Syria from developing nuclear weapons. But what about now? Iran and North Korea are working day and night to create their own nuclear weapons. Turkey may be seeking the same. And Hezbollah claims its goal is to have 500,000 missiles aimed at Israel. History is hurtling toward a global conflict, and the Middle East is ground zero.

Scripture tells us in the latter days satan will gather the nations together to attack and destroy Israel.  Israel’s future will seem to be hopeless until God shows up and fights her battle for her.  The evidence that the world is preparing for that day is reported nearly every day in the world news.   God told Abraham long ago that He would make his descendants too many to count and a great nation.   Those who would bless that nation would be blessed and those who curse that nation would be cursed.   THAT NATION IS ISRAEL AND THAT PROPHECY IS STILL IN FORCE.  That prophecy has been fulfilled century after century.   Every nation who tried to destroy Israel have inflicted great damage but ultimately were destroyed and Israel survived and continues to survive.  

Israel was intended by God to be the light of God’s redemption and Grace to the world, but has failed to do so time after time after time.  Yet God still used even their rebellion and sin to show the world He will forgive sin when confessed and repented.  Israel has repented many times in scripture followed by rebellion a few years later.  When Christ died and rose, He bought the redemption of all who will accept it, both Jew and Gentile.  Even though Israel was unfaithful, Christ’s teaching and life and the life ministry of the disciples and Paul recorded in the New Testament all reveal the deep love He has for all people, Jew and Gentile.  He is longsuffering but just.  The choice to receive God’s redemption or judgment is a choice each individual must make.  Because of Easter, God offers redemption to all who have breath, but warns that unforgiven sin can not go unpunished forever, either by a nation or by an individual.  We serve a wonderful all-powerful God who is everywhere and owns all but holds each one of us more precious than His own life.   HE IS SO WORTHY OF OUR LOVE AND PRAISE AND WORSHIP BUT ALSO SO WORTHY OF OUR OBEDIENCE AND FAITHFULLNESS.  We have a future not to fear but with anticipation.  Heaven is our future and sin and sickness and death will no longer be!  AMEN?  AMEN!

John F. Walvoord wrote, “The importance of prophecy should be evident, even superficially, in examining the Christian faith, for about one-fourth of the Bible was prophecy when it was written. It is evident that God intended to draw aside the veil of the future and to give some indication of what His plans and purposes were for the human race and for the universe as a whole.”¹

We should keep our eyes on the headlines and our nose in the Bible.

In the nature of Christian faith, a solid hope for the future is essential. Christianity without a future would not be basic Christianity.
John F. Walvoord

 

2/16/20                    FAITHFUL FROM CHILDHOOD                                                 16       

I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might.
Daniel 2:23

Recommended Reading:  DANIEL 2:20-23  “²⁰ Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,For wisdom and might are His.²¹ And He changes the times and the seasons;He removes kings and raises up kings;He gives wisdom to the wiseAnd knowledge to those who have understanding.²² He reveals deep and secret things;He knows what is in the darkness,And light dwells with Him.²³ “I thank You and praise You,O God of my fathers;You have given me wisdom and might,And have now made known to me what we asked of You,For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”

COMMENTS: Today’s scripture recorded in Daniel 2 reflects Daniel’s reaction and gratitude and worship to God after receiving the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream.   Daniel’s response was before going to King Nebuchadnezzar and before King’s reaction.  King Nebuchadnezzar had a deserved reputation for being hot tempered and violent and even brutal when angered, so there was no guarantee Daniel would survive the interpretation.  But He knew and trusted God enough to believe God would protect him and his friends and would use the interpretation God have Daniel for their good and God’s purpose.    Daniel gave God rich praise and worship even after experienced the brutality and enslavement of Nebuchadnezzar’s army.  Daniel had much to complain about but realized he was enduring judgment because he was part of Israel that was enduring God’s judgment for nation’s sins.   Daniel wasn’t guilty of committing the sins Israel was being punished for, but he realized he too was a sinner deserving of God’s judgment too.  But Daniel enjoyed a deep personal relationship with God, which empowered and inspired and energized him to a level of courage and insight not common by many of his own countrymen.   

Well, Daniel did take a stand when it counted.   Daniel became the example to inspire his countrymen and all, including the king, in Babylon to discover and worship and obey the God of Israel instead of the gods of Babylon.

Daniel continues to be my favorite and most admired Bible Character, other than of course Jesus.  Daniel remained faithful his entire life even in the midst of certain death.  God protected him miraculously and faithfully, but not without withholding evidence of His protection.  Daniel had to act without that certainty first.  He didn’t know if God would reveal the interpretation of the King’s dream or if God would   keep him from being eaten alive by lions years later.  But each time God intervened served to increase and strengthen Daniel’s faith and faith of fellow Israelites who knew him.  Daniel’s life and words are recorded in scripture to encourage and increase our faith too, but also to expose us to the prophecies God also gave Daniel.

Daniel was a youth when separated from his family and dragged off to Babylon by the Babylonian army.   Daniel also recorded the impact Daniel had on 3 of his friends who also were committed to remain faithful too.  They too had opportunity to demonstrate their obedience by refusal to worship the Kings   image, which kindled Nebuchadnezzar’s anger and resulted in they being thrown into a hot burning furnace.  They were not converted to pagan worship by   their conquers either. Their example inspired us to be and remain faithful to God when in good times or bad because God is faithful to either protect us from or go with us through   adversity with promise of an eternal   home with Him in heaven.  Daniel and his 3 friends had that assurance, which sustained them as they faced Nebuchadnezzar or that fiery furnace or that lion’s den or the many hostile captors in between.  We can do no better than that.

“At great risk to himself, again and again, [Daniel] maintained his undivided devotion to God. In turn, God gave him knowledge and skill.”   Anne Graham Lotz

2/17/20                                          POWER WASHED                                                          17

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.   Ephesians 2:10,

RECOMMENDED READING: EPHESIANS 1:1-10 “ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, ⁹ having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, ¹⁰ that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. ”

COMMENTS: Take a few minutes and reflect on the above verses from Ephesians.  Stop and think that God knew us long before even creation and had a plan and dream and purpose for each of us.  A purpose and plan unique to us and tailored to our gifts and personality and abilities and passions.  He also has a job or vocation or mission for each of us.  A mission that may seem overwhelming too difficult but then again, stop and think about what God has done for us and maybe through us in past. 

We see people in desperate situations in every community.  Some of those situations are caused by their own sin or foolish choices but all too often cause is out of their control.   We also see young and old attempting suicide because they lack hope or a reason to live or purpose while Christians enduring much worse circumstances demonstrate confident hope and even joy because of their relationship and trust – faith in Christ.  They know heaven awaits them after this life.

Ecclesiastes gives laments of Solomon, who possessed great wisdom and success from his youth but backslide from his faith due to influence of many pagan wives.  In his senior years when he should have been enjoying memories of a life faithfully serving God along with a bright future of heaven, he lamented about how meaningless life and life’s work was because it doesn’t last and concluding all end up dead and buried whether good or evil.  

He knew better and have opportunity to live that life of good like none other.   He had the opportunity of leaving a legacy like Daniel, who instead of ruling as king but serving as a slave under the authority of an evil pagan king.  Yet Daniel lived a life of integrity no one could deny and ultimately impacted many of his enemy including their king to become followers of Yahweh too.   Solomon, instead, indulged his selfish appetites and allowed pagan women to make him forget about his God and calling. But before Solomon strayed, he completed the work of building and dedicating the Temple in Jerusalem that David dreamed of building and gave a powerful message of praise and worship and prophecy to the people at that dedication. 

Read Solomon’s message at that dedication recorded in I Kings 8 and then read Ecclesiastes

Well, truth is if we work volunteering by helping and encouraging others, doing so also encourages and gives us purpose and joy.  But doing so as a way to praise and serve and honor God gives us even more purpose and fulfillment and joy.  If we had to earn our way to heaven, doing so would loose it’s fun or joy and become an obligation, but since salvation is a gift free of price, we work and serve and volunteer out of a spirit of gratitude and desire to please Christ and encourage others to receive His free gift of redemption too.

Everyone has or will face many different challenges and even dangers or even tragedies during their lifetime.  Some are financial, some are physical or health, some are family problems, some are career or job challenges, some are church problems or challenges, and list goes on and on.  But our attitude and can and does make all the difference between success and failure.  Accepting God’s help and council thru His Holy Spirit dwelling in us and seeking fellowship with other believers and in His Word and in prayer all serve to give us wise council to make wise choices and strength and help enabling us to succeed.  By accepting help, we also give others joy and purpose in too. Finding a meaningful purpose can put a smile on our faces and help our moods. That’s especially true when we know God is leading us to engage in good works, He planned in advance for us to do.

He power-washes our souls with His blood, then uses us to help others. Challenges needn’t defeat us. They can strengthen us and lead us to helping others.

”Our lives have purpose and meaning. God has a path for us to follow, a path that He marked out ahead of time. He already knows the way through every difficulty we will face.”
Larry Richards

2/18/20                                     PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT                          18

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  James 4:7

RECOMMENDED READING:  1 CORINTHIANS 10:12-13 ” ¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

COMMENTS: What is the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever?  From the unbeliever’s perspective, here are some common answers to that   question:

1. The Christian goes to church every Sunday and puts up a good front and acts as though they don’t do anything wrong while   the unbeliever knows he is not perfect but admits it but does enough good to hope he will earn his way into heaven.
2. The unbeliever may pray every day or at least when in difficult situations, but resists going to church so won’t be a hypocrite or at least prefers to wait until a bit more successful in dealing with   wrong things he still does.
3. Some unbelievers refuse to acknowledge the existence of God or the need to receive His redemptive gift of sacrifice and redemption. Others believe in God and in Christ but settle for living a decent life and think leaving a positive legacy is enough to buy a place in heaven.   They think accepting Christ means give up freedom . 
4. Some even think being a Christian is like having company in their house and having to be on their “good behavior” but with no end in sight to when that company leaves and things “get back to normal”.  In other words, some reject Christ because they don’t want their lives to change.
5. Some unbelievers simply think God demands too much sacrifice from Christians to want to become one.

How does the Christian view himself and the unbeliever?

1. Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.   Heaven is not a place for those who earned passage but a home available to all who simply accept Christ’s gift and believe in Him.
2. Unbelievers are everyone else.   But to know Christ’s forgiveness and be in fellowship with Him.  To know our sins are forgiven and know freedom and joy of being in fellowship with Him, enjoy and receiving fresh insights from the Bible, to pray and sense God’s presence and receive answers in our soul.  All this and more are what an unbeliever may notice different in the life and attitude of a genuine Christian but can’t understand until finally surrendering to Christ and let Him into their soul too.
3. Christ accepted the hard work so we can enjoy His mercy and fellowship easily.   Other religions and world views may recognize life after death but all settle for believing heaven is a reward earned and not a gift offered that only needs accepted.

So, who is right?  Well, both sides need some adjustment. 

1. Christians do not earn their way to heaven, but doing good / doing God’s Work – including loving and having compassion and doing acts of kindness to others is a way of showing gratitude and love and praise to Christ for all He has done and continues to do.  Christians are to judge good from evil but not to judge people.  Finding balance so can encourage others to accept Christ without judging them or condoning sinful behavior.
2. Unbelievers need to explore scripture without prejudging Christ based on errors and judgmental attitude they experience from those who called themselves Christian.

God has designed both our bodies and souls to work in community, which means with other believers and with Him most of all.  Consider how our bodies work.  Cells and organs are interconnected and wired to work together.      

Habits, both good and bad, are reinforced and become stronger with repetition.  Pier pressure and encouragement of others drives each of us to follow that pressure.  When in a Christian community / church with a common desire and drive to obey and follow Christ, then together they are able to strengthen each other’s weaknesses and gain stronger direction and purpose.  Likewise, God’s plan and commands become clearer and more accurately interpreted and understood.  Danger is a misguided or satan influenced leader can be a powerful mis-guider if gone unchecked. 

But God intends for us to be in community with both Him and with fellow believers accountable to Him and to each other.  Satan is a skilled deceiver and is capable of deceiving each of us at our weakest place unless we take advantage of others to warn us when we begin to wonder from the straight and narrow path God leads us on while in this life journey.

Resisting satan’s temptations does get easier the more we resist Him but is a battle we never are free from this side of the grave or His return.  James tells us to “resist the devil and he will flee from us”, but this promise also includes a warning that yielding to temptation enables temptation to take deeper roots and inflict deeper damage in our soul and body.

So, when you and I face temptation, as we will, will we resist while keeping our eyes on Him, our hand in His, and close to a friend we are accountable to, or will we try to resist alone without any help.   To resist without help will result in failure.

The cost of sin is loss of eternal life and replaced with eternal punishment.  The price was paid but gift of forgiveness must be accepted.   To continue in sin may shorten our life and cause misery  to both sinner and to those influenced by  that sin.  At what point in continuing to sin will one forfeit received salvation.  Theology and scripture has been used to debate both ends debate.  Some believe once receive, salvation can not be forfeited  while others believe deliberate sin and choosing to stop fellowship with Christ will forfeit salvation. 

Some applicable scriptures on subject:

1. John 15:6, 1 Cor. 15:2, 2 Tim.2:12, and Heb. 10:26
2. Romans 8:31-39, John 10:28-29, Heb. 12:2, and Phil. 1:6

I invite you to read the above scriptures but also to do your own search related to question “Can salvation be forfeited?”

I believe the question “Can salvation once accepted be taken from us?”  I believe the answer supported by scripture is no and above scriptures are a few that support  that answer.

The next question that logically follows is “Is there a way the believer could forfeit his salvation?”

This is a more difficult question to answer but there is some scriptural support  to answer yes but only under certain circumstances.  If   we look at examples from the old  testament like Israel over and over again or King Saul or King Solomon, or King David  we conclude a conscious turning from God.  We know David repented again and his salvation was restored.  Solomon we are not so sure but have hope he repented again too.  

But then again, after Easter Sunday everything changed.  Ok, but what about Judas or the Laodicean Church or Ananias & Sephira or Peter when he betrayed Jesus or Demas.  Paul also identified a few who also turned from the Faith and into sin or to a false teaching or doctrine as recorded in 1 Timothy 1:18, or 1 Timothy 5:11-15, or 2 Timothy 4:10-19, and also by disciple writers in Acts 8 or James 4 or John 6:66 to mention a few.

In each case, there was a conscious and deliberate choice to turn from God and from His salvation message and either turning back to previous sin or to a false teaching or doctrine. In the case of David in OT and Peter in NT, God found a way by a prophet or another believer or by Christ Himself to confront the rebellious nation or individual to repent.

Would David’s or Peter’s eternal destination been different if they would have refused to repent?  We could debate whether those like Judas really were believers or not.  We could debate this question using scripture on both sides of the issue and likely not convincing either side, but instead unchecked causing division.  Such has caused harm and division in the body many times in past.

Instead, I would like to conclude it is better not to wonder too close to the cliff of judgment.  God’s light helps us stay on His path for us, not to enable us to determine how far we can stray before facing God’s judgment.  Sin always has consequences if only for a time, but unchecked brings death.

So, why would we want to disobey God who has done so much for us and works so hard for our best?  If we continue in sin out of weakness, God has assured us He is there eager to help – give strength – and focus sufficient to say no to temptation but assurance of forgiveness when we fail to resist temptation.  To say we are living the perfect sinless life Jesus demonstrated would be a lie, but turning from our first love – Christ puts us on a trajectory back to a dangerous and dark place where regrets and destruction lurk to pounce. 

So, the last question is not how close to the cliff of God’s judgment can we go and still be saved?   Or a better question is how far from that cliff can we go with God’s help?  To go away from that cliff, we need to turn our mind and eyes and feet from temptation and toward Him and take the next step He is nudging and encouraging us to take.  What temptations do you still struggle with?  Habits that still distract and sap precious time and energy from you?   He knows and understands and is ready to forgive and empower victory.  We just need to want that victory more than desire to “enjoy sin just one more time”.   Addictions are powerful temptations so common today but are definitely on God’s list He so wants us to conquer to live the life He intends for us to live and accomplish all He has called and planned for us to do.  

The examples given us in scripture show how long and how much God helped and guided and strengthened those who chose to turned back from sin, back to Him with a pentetant heart.  King David is a clear example of one who knew God and then chose sin over God but was reawakened to his desperate state when Nathan delivered God’s warning to him.  When David repented, he was restored, but it he hadn’t, he would have faced God’s judgment, to his own peril. 

We shouldn’t be filled with fear or lack confidence of our salvation.  But sufficient concern to make sure we stay in His Word, stay disciplined in prayer each day and be accountable to faithful followers so we hear His warnings and heed them.  He is not eager to judge us but is always eager to forgive and heal us. AMEN?  AMEN!

 “Each temptation leaves us better or worse; neutrality is impossible”.  Erwin W.

2/19/20                                 Love:  Take the Leap!                               19                   

He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.
Proverbs 17:9

Recommended Reading: JAMES 5:20  “²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

COMMENTS: It is human nature to hide sin from those we respect or love.  To do so at least shows shame and guilt for sinful conduct.  But more and more sin is becoming socially acceptable or even a protected right.  Shame and guilt are even viewed to be “mental illness” and any organization or individual who identifies any behavior God judges to be sin as “sin”, are judged to be a “hate group” and worthy of criminal prosecution.

Well, be careful.  God historically has little patience for those who justify sinful behavior and refuse to repent while He expresses great compassion and patience to those who confess their sins and seeks forgiveness with a repentant heart.   But God also has little patience for those who try to hide their sin and act as though they are living rightly living. 

Covering up sin or denying sin is so foolish.  Like it or not, God has authority and power and resolve to do His Will.   Like it or not, His definition of sin and plan to redemption is the only way.  Like it or not, any other more appealing or more popular or more socially accepted way simply will not work since each is based on an imaginary or impotent teaching originating with one or group that simply don’t have power to implement what they promise.   God not only keeps His promises but has more than enough power and authority to continue to do so and more.

He is the creator and owner of everything in and outside both known and undiscovered corners of the universe.

Sin can be covered-up for a time to everyone except never from God.   He knows and sees and hears all.  When the sinner, offender, confesses, and repents; healing and restitution come into view that not only heals the offender but the offended – those harmed by the sins of others.  The cover-up of love instead of denying sin, chooses not to gossip but instead chooses to let healing progress. Gossip only services to harm and divide.

Confession is admitting our own sins with intent of changing and doing better.  Gossip is admitting the sins of others with result of hindering change and healing and inflicting further harm on both guilty and innocent victims.

 

2/20/20                                       STAND FIRM                                                        20

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.  2 Thessalonians 2:15

Scripture: PHILIPPIANS 1:27-30 “²⁷ Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, ³⁰ having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.”

COMMENTS: Daniel is one of the very few examples in scripture of one who stayed faithful and trust to God, and had a close relationship with God, from his childhood thru very old age.  He was likely was taken to Babylon as a 14-year-old boy and remained there until his death likely in early 90’s.  He took a firm stand of remaining faithful almost immediately after arrival in Babylon by refusing the rich pagan foods of Babylon, which God forbid in scripture. 

Daniel faced, I believe, more threats and challenges to His faith and convictions but the only other recorded one was refusing to worship the image of the king and refusing to only pray to him.   Refusal landed him in a den of hungry lions.   The conspiracy against Daniel was planned and implemented by some jealous officials who didn’t want Daniel to gain more authority and favor with the king.  The fruit of their evil plot was that Daniel not only was spared but gained even more favor with the king, who then had those evil officials thrown into the den and devoured by the lions they intended to devour Daniel.

Persecution of God’s faithful – devout people has been evident in every generation since Adam and is even more widespread and severe today.  The early Christian church faced severe Roman persecution but also severe persecution from orthodox Jewish leaders.   They both saw Jesus and His followers as a threat to their way of life and religion.   They both saw the powerful impact of their world view and life transformation their faith inspired.

But those faithful Christians were not the threat their persecutors feared.  Instead, they demonstrated a level of kindness and forgiveness and community that would change the world for good and not evil.  Not by conquering but by persuasion.

  We are fighting a war for the life and souls of each and every soul in the human race.   The battle is between God and satan and we all are pawns in the fight.  Satan knows how much God loves and cares for humans, which is why satan is “pulling all the stops” and implementing all his tricks and schemes and lies to destroy God’s faithful people.  Satan appears to give favor to those who follow satan’s lies, but God warns their end is disaster and death.  God also promises those  who suffer and endure persecution and even death or martyrdom because of taking a stand for God, like Daniel, will be ushered into heaven where  they will  enjoy God’s  reward of an eternal home  there, a new eternal body, and eternal fellowship with fellow followers, including family and friends and His faithful followers  of old, but most of all eternal fellowship with Him without obstacles and distractions sin and temptation satan torments us with.

But God gives us powerful tools and help to guide and help us through dark and difficult area along life’s path.  Tools like scripture and prayer, and help like fellow believers and the Holy Spirit.  Satan tries to deceive us with lie that scripture is obsolete and prayer doesn’t reach God because God doesn’t care or want bothered or is unable to respond.   Satan would have us think we are on our own or success is defined by money or power or physical beauty or ….  He doesn’t want us to believe all of these do not survive this life and God does and will keep His promises in His Way and Time, which is best for you and me.

Daniel’s story is timeless telling us God is faithful and worthy of our trust and obedience.  Daniel’s story tells us to stand firm on God’s Word and instruction and stay true both in bad and good times, when Christianity is popular and when it is not.   When friends and family share and support following Christ and especially when   they don’t.

I think of many Muslim parents who forbid their children hearing the Gospel let alone accept Christ’s forgiveness.  Shunning or even killing children who become Christian is common in Muslim dominated countries and cultures.  Enemies of Christianity claim the Christian world view hinders freedom of religion and customs and practices of other religions.  They claim Christians are hostile against other religions because they believe their Jesus is God and the only way to salvation.  They claim Christianity is anti-women because abortion and homosexuality are considered sin by them.  They claim Christians are a dangerous group.

Well, if Christ is God and what He taught is true, then His Gospel is the only way to salvation and all sins (including abortion and homosexuality) are harmful and separate people from God.  But Christ also including adultery and murder and lies and stealing and all the other sins identified in the 10 commandments as equally sinful.  He also identified pride as the worst sin because it was the first sin, the sin that separated satan from God in the first place.  But the big difference is Christ cared for and had compassion for individuals who suffered under the consequences of sin but seeking a way out.  He saw and identified each individual (rich and poor – young or old – woman or man – big or small – Jew or gentile – follower or persecutor) by their God given potential and purpose.  He offered forgiveness before earned and freed each willing to do good instead of defining good as a way of earning salvation.   Jesus taught by words and by example. 

God has proved Himself to be All Powerful, All Wise, All Knowing, All Loving, and All present.  He has proved Himself faithful and in Control, but also longsuffering and patient.  He does typically require us to exercise our faith before He shows evidence of His response and involvement, but never lets us succumb to disaster without knowing He is there for us and will catch us when we fall.

So, don’t wait until in a crisis before seeking help in scripture.  In other words, getting involved in scripture and prayer seeking God’s council and preparation for coming need is the best approach instead of only coming to God for help when overwhelmed with life’s problems.

Daniel’s council to us is, but also Christ’s council is: Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring…. When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever… If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all…. Stand firm, and you will win life…. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you….. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong…. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ (Exodus 14:13; Proverbs 10:25, NIV; Isaiah 7:9; Luke 21:19; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 1:21).”

We cannot remain firm in a belief if it’s based on the shifting sands of daily life. We must stand firm upon the Rock!

“We are to stand firm in our faith with the certain knowledge that the battle is the Lord’s. Our faith in His victory—a victory that is already accomplished on the cross—is what overcomes the world.”  Ray Stedman

2/21/20                                  PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL                               21                                                     

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.  Proverbs 16:18

RECOMMENDED READING:   PROVERBS 16:18-21  “Pride goes before destruction,And a haughty spirit before a fall.¹⁹ Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,Than to divide the spoil with the proud.²⁰ He who heeds the word wisely will find good,And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.²¹ The wise in heart will be called prudent,And sweetness of the lips increases learning.”

COMMENTS: Is this scripture talking about self-respect or personal confidence and positive self- image or is it talking about something else.   Well, people with a positive self-image tend to walk and work with more efficiency and energy.  They tend to have better posture and feel stronger and better.  They tend to be more successful in work and achieving personal and professional goals.  They also tend to live longer and healthier lives.  Well, much of this success may be superficial and masking emptiness or disappointment felt privately, but many successful people do lead fulfilling lives energized to continue.

So, what is the above scripture talking about with statement “pride goeth before the fall”?   Pride identified in these verses identifies a form of pride that Lucifer experienced that caused him to be alienated from God and from heaven.   This form of pride caused Nebuchadnezzar to endure living like an animal for 7 years until he repented of that pride.   The pride God judges and warns us of is “self-centered, boastful, haughty, and selfish”.  This form of pride causes those infected to only think of themselves and work to satisfy their own ambitions and goals without regard to needs and goals of others, especially of God.  This form of pride causes those infected to think themselves better than others and even better than God.  Granted, that may not be a conscious resolve but is still evident in choices and conduct.   Selfishness and intolerance of others are common symptoms of those so infected.

This type of pride is considered by God to be the worse type of sin because it blinds us from seeing ourselves as sinful and in need of God.  This pride makes it impossible to repent or demonstrate Christ-like humility or compassion on others.

So, having pride in accomplishments and in family and in self is healthy only if under the control and influence and guidance of God thru His Holy Spirit.  When satan is allowed to influence and corrupt healthy pride, it then becomes a cancer that destroys its victim and those influenced by it.

Healthy cells become cancer cells and if not cut our or killed, will spread eating or corrupting healthy cells until the death of the body infected stops that process.  Only if medical treatment or procedures to kill or remove the cancer are implemented will the body be restored to health.

Pride is such a cancer that infects our soul if allowed to grow.  The pride God provides is called humility because healthy pride recognizes what God accomplishes in and through us to benefit us but also others.   Humility motivates us to praise and worship and thank He and give Him the credit.  Humility also motivates us to allow others to receive credit for accomplishments before us.  Satanic pride demands we get credit for accomplishments – even those that others achieved.

Stop and reflect on examples of both humility and sinful pride you have witnessed in the lives of others.  Then take a deep look in your own life and identify both in your life.  Be honest and as exhaustive as you can.

It would be good to even ask a spouse or trusted friend to give you      an honest evaluation too.   Afterall, those who know us will see our strengths and weaknesses much clearer than we can.  But first, pray and ask God to soften your heart and prepare you to hear both His evaluation as well as the criticism of others.   If you and I will do this, I am confidence we will be humbled and compelled to grow and seek more specific Christ-like characteristics missing in our lives, some of which we might falsely think we already possess BUT DON’T!

Hold your head high, but keep a humble heart.

“Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than other people…It means freedom from thinking about yourself one way or the other at all.”  William Temple

 

 

2/22/20                          RESTFULL SLEEP OR NIGHTMARE?                         22

Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.   Daniel 2:1

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE  PROVERBS 3:24   “²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet..”

COMMENTS: Dreams are mentioned 80 times in Old Testament scripture.  Even pagan kings believed their gods would reveal important events to come or information to them through dreams.  Daniel 2 records the first dream God gave King Nebuchadnezzar.  The dream was vivid in the king’s memory and he knew it was showing him something of vital importance, but he wanted to make sure anyone who would interpret the dream and had an unreasonable but ingenious way of filtering out the genuine interpretation.  He called his wisemen and asked them to tell him his dream and its interpretation, but without telling them the dream.  Only he and God knew the dream.   He demanded them to figure it out or face execution.   Daniel was not present but was included when execution order went out.   How could anyone find out the dream let alone interpret it, but then again anyone able to discover the dream would have creditability in its interpretation, wouldn’t they?

Daniel heard about request and when the executioner came, Daniel was calm and reasoned with executioner to allow him to seek the answer to the king’s dream.  The king did not allow his own wisemen extra time but he did Daniel.  Already, Daniel had begun winning the respect of the king’s servants and was about to confront the most powerful and feared king in the world at that time.

Daniel called his 3 friends together and they prayed all night seeking God’s answer.   It took some time for God to prepare Daniel and them for the answer, but the answer came in the morning.  Daniel did not run to the king proud of knowing what no one else knew.  He took time to give God praise and worship with a humble and grateful heart.  He also knew how he would represent God would be how the king and his court would discover who God is and the expectations and purposes God rules by.  Daniel knew God was the ruler over all, including King Nebuchadnezzar.   He also knew the king was not used to admitting anyone or any God had authority over him but was used to brutally killing anyone who questioned his authority or commands.

Does God use dreams today to reveal Himself or future events or important truths?   Well, science believe dreams are the brains way of consolidating and reviewing memories and life experiences.  Sometimes those dreams are sweet and sometimes they are bitter and dramatic.  Most of the time our dreams are forgotten quickly after awaking but sometimes they are so vivid that we either remember them or have lingering emotions tied to the dream without recalling the dream.

Acts 2:17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

God has a perfect purpose in all He does and when He does it.  Sometimes He reveals that plan and purpose in mystery through dreams and visions that may require another to interpret.   Sometimes He gives clear direction directly.  Sometimes He simply asks us to take a step of faith without knowing the plan or direction, but then revealing a bit more as we continue in those steps.

I compare the way God works to an automobile with headlights that only shine a few hundred feet ahead.    If the light lens is dirty or scratched, the light is obstructed and is more limited than intended, requiring driver to drive slower so can still avoid or stop for danger ahead.  But it is still amazing the headlights give just enough light so driver can drive the automobile safely at near daytime speeds but at night.   The light continues always ahead illuminating enough distance so the driver can steer or stop the car before reaching obstacles or danger.   But if the headlights go out, it becomes impossible to drive the car.

Our walk of faith in Christ is like that.  God provides enough light and direction to travel the path He directs us on at speeds impossible without Him.  Just as we grow dependent enough to drive a car at night with confidence, so need we learn to trust Him enough to journey His path of obedience with humility but also with confidence knowing He may delay full knowledge but will provide what is needed when it is needed faithfully until He welcomes us home in heaven.  Then the journey of obedience will continue without satan’s distractions and all will be revealed.  What an awesome – wonderful day that will be.  But in the meantime, God intends the journey to have great purpose in preparing us and in preparing others along the way too. 

We can rest at night knowing He is guarding and watching out for us.   Planning tomorrow’s labors is wise but we should always look for opportunities and distractions He gives us for His greater purpose.  Afterall, at life’s end those opportunities or distractions will likely be what matters more than the work we had planned and prepared for, but God intends for both to honor and praise Him if we take time to do that.  AMEN?  AMEN! 

And as the psalmist prayed: “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

We sleep in peace in the arms of God, when we yield ourselves up to His providence.
François Fénelon

2/23/20                                           WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE                          23                  As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.   Daniel 2:29

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  DANIEL 2:24-30  ^“24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”²⁵ Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”²⁶ The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”²⁷ Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. ²⁸ But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: ²⁹ As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. ³⁰ But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.”

COMMENTS: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to know the future in details.  Movies depicting such stories of travel into both past and future have been very popular over the years.  What choices would have been different if you had pre-knowledge of their consequences?  What would you have done differently if knew the outcome of those choices?

Well, we may not have knowledge of outcome of many life choices but we do know One who does.  God not only knows the future but, since He is not limited to or bound by time, He already resides not only in the present but in the past and future. So, why would we not want to seek His council and help?  

Well, God does use His foreknowledge in order to guide and help and encourage and even compel us to   take a certain path, but does not force us to make those choices even knowing the consequences of those choices.  He allows some of those consequences to encourage us to repent, seek His forgiveness, and turn back to the right path again.

God revealed much about the future to Daniel and helped Daniel reveal the meaning, but He withheld much of the interpretation from Daniel.  We only know the reasons in part but leave it to know God chose wisely.  Daniel, like all, needed to make his own choices in life based on his faith and trust in God and seek God’s council for each choice instead of making foolish human choices that would still happen even if knew future clearly. Not knowing   the day of our death helps us walk each day making choices He guides us to make.  Why?  Well, because He knows and has plans based on that time.  Plans best for us and best for those He desires for us to impact positively.

Some have worked hard to discover secret information on companies in order to   make investment choices before information is available to public.  That is illegal and called “insider trading” Allowing such practices gives some an unfair advantage in making such choices.  “Get rich schemes” also come from the same sinful – selfish desire to gain wealth at cost to others.   Christ, however, plans our future based on His foreknowledge not just for our benefit but for everyone’s who put their trust in Him and obey His council and commands.

Daniel had foreknowledge God revealed (Daniel 2:27-28) but was diligent to use and share that foreknowledge as God directed Him and he was diligent to give God alone full credit and praise for doing so.  Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar about the kingdoms who will come after him centuries in the future – Medo/Persian Empire – Greek Empire – Roman Empire.

Daniel knew God was not revealing such information for personal gain either for Daniel nor for the king but in order to cause Nebuchadnezzar to humble himself before God.   Even though God knew that approach would fail, it did show the king God’s authority and power and simply who God was and is and always will be.   Nebuchadnezzar ultimately didn’t get the message and repent until God stripped him of all he held precious.  Nebuchadnezzar wondered and lived like a wild animal without enjoying any of his riches or power or possessions for a period of 7 years.  It took 7 long years for the king to come to his senses and repent.  God spared his life those 7 years but allowed him to suffer.  Why?  Well, I believe because God knew he would repent.

We don’t know why some lives are snuffed out quick and early while others live long lives enduring great suffering and difficulty.  Just because we don’t know and understand doesn’t mean God doesn’t.   It is when we don’t understand but still “trust and obey”, when God works best and we experience greatest growth and love and fellowship with Him and with each other.

We may not fully understand and know everything the future holds, but we can place our faith and trust in the One who does. Our future is in good hands—place your trust in Him.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”  Corrie ten Boom

2/24/20                         GOD OVER ALL                                         24                                           [King Nebuchadnezzar] answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”   Daniel 2:47

Scripture Reading: DEUTERONOMY 10:14-17 “¹⁴ To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. ¹⁵ Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. ¹⁶ Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. ¹⁷ For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.”

COMMENTS: Consider the magnitude of Nebuchadnezzar’s response to Daniel after he revealed not only the interpretation but the unrevealed dream itself.  Nebuchadnezzar wisely realized anyone able to discern a dream should be able to learn the dream from its source.  King Nebuchadnezzar didn’t know Daniel’s God but knew his dream had significance and also knew it was from a god.  Daniel was ready to receive knowledge of that dream and its interpretation because he already had an intimate relationship with the God who gave that dream and because Daniel already had a history of faithful obedience to God.

Daniel was ready and willing to do God’s bidding even at risk of provoking Nebuchadnezzar’s anger, which was deadly.  But Daniel was different, as Nebuchadnezzar was about to find out.  Daniel reflected God’s righteousness and wisdom along with God’s faithfulness and goodness, something foreign to Nebuchadnezzar but something he recognized as rare and precious.  Nebuchadnezzar saw God through Daniel and in Daniel and knew instinctively Daniel had something he needed too.   For the king who had conquered the known world and was considered and feared as a god by his subjects to say “… Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could  reveal this secret”    The king was open enough to acknowledge God as the principal God but not yet ready to either acknowledge God as the only God or that  King Nebuchadnezzar’s God.   The king would soon forget about God but God would shake him to the core and remove his sanity and kingdom from him until he finally learned and accepted God as his God too.

Below are details:

Daniel 2:46-49 “46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. ⁴⁷ The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”⁴⁸ Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. ⁴⁹ Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.”

Consider all the miracles the Israelites experienced but later forgot God or rejected God for other gods.   But now consider how   quickly our society is turning from God and His moral code of conduct / His commands as we neglect and gravitate from God and to sinful amoral conduct.   During Noah’s time God brought judgment when man had digressed to only thinking and doing evil to the exclusion of any semblance of good and decent and honest conduct. 

God has repeated been longsuffering and only bringing judgment when all hope of repentance has efforts of prophets, He sent failed.   Granted He already knows they would failed but didn’t hinder His trying. 

Why would He try knowing His efforts would fail?  We can speculate but I do believe the evidence indicates the biggest or at least one of the major reasons is to show us His heart of compassion and passion to forgive and seek any opportunity to encourage and persuade us to repent.     God always has our best interest at heart and only permits punishment when all else fails so evil doesn’t   prevail and bring extinction on its own.

Unrestrained evil will always bring death, but God’s judgment purges evil from destroying good as satan intends. God’s perfect standards demands justice, which is punishing evil.  Since all men / humans are evil and worthy of judgment, God’s only option for redemption was to pay the price of sin Himself – the only perfect sinless sacrifice.  A sacrifice Christ was born and lived to adulthood to accomplish.

Stop and consider, God would show even Nebuchadnezzar – a brutal tyrant compassion and loved him enough to find a dramatic way of bringing him to repentance. That way was making him insane living like a wild beast in poverty while preserving his life and throne until he finally humbly came to God in repentance. 

I never grow used nor fail to be amazed, as I read these old bible stories, how God disciplined and cared for His people and repeated tried to use His people to reveal Himself to those who didn’t know Him.  Case in point is Nebuchadnezzar.  Another is Jonah and the Assyrian people of Nineveh.  

To reject God is a dangerous and self-destructive choice and never ends well. Scripture also guides us to realization that to faithfully follow God and obey Him and have a close fellowship and relationship with Him may not bring immediate blessing but will ultimately result in eternal life with Him and other faithful believers and family  without evil influence in  a perfect home (heaven ) He is still preparing for us.   We have no idea how He will perfectly use us to bless and help and encourage others if we are faithful to Him in the meantime, and we can’t imagine the blessing He is preparing for us in heaven while waiting here in anticipation of that time.

No, we shouldn’t dwell so much time on imagining what heaven is like that we squander time left on earth, but such imagining should encourage and motivate us to persevere, like Daniel, in the midst of either discouragement or hostile circumstances as well as when circumstances are encouraging and favorable.  Hopefully, you and I will not encounter circumstances as dramatic as Daniel did, but he had no idea how it would turn out in the midst of them either.  But if we are and remain as faithful as Daniel was, we too will have no idea how God will manage our humble acts of obedience to accomplish His passion – His dream – His Will.  If we refuse, we will miss out on the blessing, and He will have to find another to accomplish His Will.

Take a walk to imagine what if with me.   What if King Saul had remained faithful to God and his son, Jonathan had followed him to the throne?   We have some clues to believe and hope Jonathan would have conducted himself as such as to be called “A man after God’s own Heart”.     If that would have been the case, I’m certain God would have found an equally important but different role for David, but we can only imagine.

How about David?  What if he had waited and not married before Abigail and been faithful to her alone all his life.  The loss of a son born to Bathsheba would not have happen and Bathsheba’s husband and faithful soldier would not have been killed by David.  Solomon would have had a better example of his father to follow and a mother the character of Abigail to teach him.  Also, Absalom wouldn’t have died trying to take David’s kingdom from him by force.

So how many regrets do you and I have that wouldn’t have happened if only….

God in His Grace and Mercy does give us a fresh start and removes or limits the damage caused by our sins.  Far better not to sin but when we do, it is good to know God will manage and even bring good out of that damage. 

But be careful, it is not ok to deliberately sin knowing God will fix the mess sin leaves.  It isn’t ok to continue in sin knowing God will forgive when we ask.  Scars and memories often remain even after healing is completed.  Scars that only will be fully removed in heaven.  Only God knows and decides and controls the permanent outcome.  BUT IS STILL F AR  BETTER TO AVOID OR REFUSE SIN INSTEAD OF SEEKING FORGIVENESS AND HEALING.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    We have these and many other examples of God’s intervention and miracles recorded in Scripture for the common purpose of reminding us Who is truly God of all gods and worthy of our love and obedience and worship.

God is more than the “God of all gods”, He is the one and only God.  All others are idols and created by the imagination of men inspired by satan himself.

The God of the Bible is God alone…all other gods are idols.  R. B. Kuiper

2/25/20                                     TAKING THE LEAP OF FAITH – LOVE                                     25

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.   Proverbs 17:17

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE JOB 2:11-13 – ” ¹¹ Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. ¹² And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. ¹³ So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.”

COMMENTS: When tragedy comes, it is family and friends that give us the most meaningful comfort and strength and encouragement because our relationship with them and their caring attitude and compassion fills the need they have that no words can.   Job’s 3 friends did well to sit with him for 7 days crying with him and showing compassion and support.   It was during that time, as Job suffered and grieved, they did the most good for him.  But they, as do we, often feel that is not enough and try to fill the gap by saying words that often make things worse even if sincere.  In Job’s case, they decided such tragedy and suffering must be a judgment for sin from God to him and his family either because of his sin or a sin of one or more in his family.  They knew Job and his family and didn’t know of any such sin but concluded there must be a hidden sin, and kept trying to press Job to confess and repent of that sin.   It took 7 days to come to that conclusion, and to their credit, they didn’t conclude that in the beginning and did stay 7 days with him

But instead of praying with him seeking God’s purpose and help and revelation, they tried to resolve the mystery of Job’s suffering with their own reasoning.

You and I can’t not comprehend nor identifying the reasons why tragedy comes to some more frequently and more severely than to others.   Why some openly sinful people seem spared   while more righteous and kind people endure so much?    The bible is full of both examples.   Yet the only scriptures that apply well to both relate to reality that rain falls on the just and unjust alike (Matthew 5:45).  Then again, the story of Job also reveals the situation when satan exercises limited freedom he has to torment and that God permits a limited level of suffering to strengthen and prepare His faithful for a defined purpose.

Well, all this is true and applies one or more times for each of us, but bottom line is that God has ultimate authority to do  as He pleases and even though He loves us and has our best interest at heart, He chooses how and when to include suffering in our lives to prepare us for His greater and eternal  work.  Anyone who   has worked long and hard to reach a lofty goal like education to train for a career or discipline in training for an athletic competition knows the pain and sacrifice necessary to reach their goal and succeed.  God provides the resources and skills and talents but we must provide the “elbow grease”, the blood and sweat of exercise and study and time and work.  We must pay the price of pain and sacrifice to partner with God in working His Plan.  A Plan to bless us and to bless many others through us.

Consider how many Joni Earickson Tata has blessed and led to Christ through 50+ years of suffering as a paraplegic and cancer survivor?  How many did Corrie Ten Boom lead to Christ as a Nazi concentration camp survivor and only surviving member of her beloved family? How many have been comforted by witnessing how we endured the loss of a parent or spouse or child and difference Christ made in giving us comfort and hope during that time of loss.  Enduring loss gives us credibility in comforting others enduring similar loss. 

If Job’s friends had enduring suffering like his, they would have realized there may be other reasons why Job was suffering and given him hope there was a light at the end of that dark tunnel and God was there with him to walk those remaining steps with him.  They would have prayed that Job see and feel God’s presence and be encouraged.  They would have also prayed that God please bring this time of suffering to a close as quickly as His Will permits and use this time of suffering to encourage and bless others and to give Job a greater mission to fulfill for Him.  These words of prayer would have   encouraged Job and who knows how they might have influenced God’s timing and reaction.

But God did fulfill His purpose and satan was soon quieted and Job’s time of suffering soon ended.  Job was given the explanation he sought.  But Job’s 3 friends were shamed instead of rejoicing with him when this dark page was turned.   But even their shame served the purpose of teaching them more about God’s ways and purposes and Will.

By having Job’s story recorded in scripture, we too are added to the countless multitude of people so taught through the ages from Job’s generation until ours.

So when you encounter those who believe exclusively in the “name it – claim it” theology or believe suffering only comes out of a lack of faith  or a punishment for sin, remind them of the story of Job or the story of Joni or the story of Corrie to remind them  there may be another reason known only to God.

The journey of faith and trust in God is at times bumpy and sometimes dark but always best for us and never taken alone without Him there beside and ahead of and behind us all at the same time.  Satan will do his worst to blind us from seeing and feeling God’s  presence and discourage us so we feel helpless and weak and lost and doomed. BUT GOD DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY AND WILL USE  SUFFERING SATAN INFLICTS TO BUILD SPIRITUAL MUSCLES   EQUIPPED FOR GREATER SERVICE OF ETERNAL VALUE AND BENEFIT IF WE TRUST HIM AND LEAN ON HIM INSTEAD OF OURSELVES! AMEN?  AMEN!

If you know someone who is suffering, take the love-leap. Sit with them, pray with them, write to them, take a meal to them, babysit their kids. A friend loves at all times.  If you don’t know what to say, maybe the best needed is to simply cry with them and love them. 

“Our job is to love people we don’t have to love.”  Keith Miller

2/26/20                              THY KINGDOM COME                                             26       

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.   Habakkuk 2:14

RECOMMENDED  READING:  ISAIAH 11:1-9     “ There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.² The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,The Spirit of counsel and might,The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.³ His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;⁴ But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,  And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.⁵ Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins,And faithfulness the belt of His waist.⁶ “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;And a little child shall lead them.⁷ The cow and the bear shall graze;Their young ones shall lie down together;And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.⁸ The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.⁹ They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.”

COMMENTS:  We live in a world in crisis – filled with life threatening crisis in every community and country.   Australia is enduring massive fires consuming homes and vegetation and food for animals and humans along with squelching temperatures over 110 F on a broader scale than every before while Venice is being flooded, ruining ancient – priceless structures and artifacts at an unprecedented scale.  Violence without restraint of moral limits or respect for women and children at least bringing a level of brutality and destruction of life and properly are finding their way into even the most historically peaceful and quiet communities.  Ancient ice bergs in arctic areas are melting more quickly than in previously recorded history.  Abortion and same sex marriage and family structures along with number of single parent homes are growing to affect nearly every family and in every community. 

Diseases seem to becoming epidemic that were not even diagnosed or identified 20-30 years ago.  Violence at the hand of terrorists is making   warn zones of death and destruction a risk in every public gathering, including schools and churches and community gatherings at the hands of radical individuals.  Individuals that are “home grown” but inspired by foreign world views.   Yet, those world views are becoming more commonly present and even accepted and defended.

So, is there a reason to be alarmed and is there a common cause?  If there is, what is it, and how can we defend against it or defeat it?

Well, scripture gives us many scriptures of prophecy about the future which give us insight into what to expect as we approach Christ’s return without falling to the trap of predicting when He will return.    We shouldn’t forget every generation since His Ascension have believed Christ’s return is imminent as do ours today. 

So, what is different today and what can we expect to unfold for us if we are living in the final days before Christ’s return?

1. Wars and rumors of coming wars happening at an unprecedented frequency and increasing rate.   Also, the capability of global annihilation possessed by more countries.  Matthew 24:6-7  
2. Famines and pestilences and earthquakes at increasing frequency and magnitude affecting more and more locations not previously impacted. Matthew 24:7-8
3. More and more leaders coming into public view claiming to be the messiah and deceiving many. Matthew 24:4-5
4. Jews returning to Israel. Amos 9:13-15 and Ezekiel 37:21-22.    Israel was established again in 1948 and has grown to become a formidable influence on world economy and affairs.   So much so that more and more countries are seeing Israel as a threat and conspiring to steal or take control of that influence for their purposes.
   1. 1882-1919 saw 75,000 Jews migrate to Palestine mostly from Russia, not only acquiring land from the Arab and Ottoman landholders but reinstituting their ancient Hebrew language. In 1917, during WWI, England revealed plans to restored Jews to their biblical homeland.
   2. 1945 saw the end of WWII and Hitler’s attempt to kill the world’s Jewish people failed and triggered an exit from the world’s countries back to Israel. Then May 1948, Israel declared its independence with the U.S. followed by most of the non-Arab countries recognizing their independence.
   3. Today 7,000,000 Jews populate Israel and in 2018 Israel celebrated it’s 70^th During those 70 years, a number of attempts by its neighboring Arab countries to capture and destroy Israel was made and failed.   Most failed in spite of being an overwhelming force compared to Israel’s defense force capability and size.
   4. The temple will be rebuilt on it’s original site and he “man of sin”, the anti-Christ, a satan possessed leader claiming to be their messiah will place himself in that temple as a global ruler demanding global worship and obedience. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4.
5. An increase in evil – wickedness / lawlessness and loss of love. Matthew 24:12. Evil will become the norm and good will become the exception so much that good will be judged evil and evil good as was during the time of Noah prior to the flood.  Matthew 24:37, Luke 17:26
6. There will come a strong delusion that will result in global belief in a lie and a leader of lies. 2 Thessalonians 2:11
   1. The lie or delusion will Spiritual tolerating and accepting and even encouraging murder and adultery and homosexuality and all kinds of evil as defined in God’s commandments in scripture.
   2. The delusion will be financial allowing a global money system and economy.
   3. The delusion will include politics with progressive governing groups justifying increasing power and control over global banks impacting economies and government decisions in every country.
7. One world government and dictator (Daniel 2:40). Evidence will be a step by step movement toward global control.
8. One global leader with one key assistant emerges:
   1. Revelation 13 reveals that leader being satan possessed and controlled coming as a messiah appealing to most with great oratory skills and appealing vision and promises. He will also make war on Christians and defeat and kill them not unlike Roman brutality of first century or Nazi Germany eliminating 6 million Jews during WW II.
   2. 2 Thessalonians 2 reveals a time of falling away from belief in Christ and His teaching and example. Most religions, including Islam are expecting a Messiah and many recognize Jesus as having lived but only as a great prophet, but they are open to receive a messiah coming as the great leader   they envision.  Muslims are looking for he Mahdi or 12^th  Buddhists are looking for the Great Buddha Maitreya to unify the world.  Hindus are awaiting Kalki.
9. Revelation 13: False religions led by false prophets will come and go but one will come into the forefront who will gain favor with the world religions     and people.  Even Jews and Christians will be vulnerable to his deception if they fail to put their allegiance and focus on Christ and His teaching.   Even born-again Christians can fall prey if they stray from their faith.
10. Technology will control global governments and people. Revelation 13
    1. Capability to having a cashless global money system that will entail a mark on the hand or forehead to access is now fully capable and even short term attainable.
11. Additional prophecies and signs of coming return of Christ to rescue His Church and judge satan and his followers:
    1. Signs of nature: Matthew 24:7 and Luke 21:11 describe earthquakes and famines and signs in heaven getter more severe in frequency and intensity.  Matthew 24:8 even describes them as “birth pangs” pointing to a final great event, which is exactly what is happening today.  These are God’s warning to repent but will go unheeded even by most professing Christians because of the power of the deception.  God used the arc prior to the Great Flood, the 10 pestilences for Egypt, numerous prophets sent to warn Israel in the past but will use global disasters to warn the world.  The coming event will be recognized as satan’s man but the disasters and plagues will continue and get worse until Christ does return to stop the insanity of following satan that the world insists on.   I invite you to read Revelation to discover prophecies revealing warning signs leading up to Christ’s return and work of defeating satan and his followers and rebuilding / restoring the earth the Eden God intended will implement at His return.  Also, how His faithful will be spared during this time.
    2. Signs of society: Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Romans 1:28, Isaiah 5:20 are among the list of prophecies describing the lawlessness and immoral behavior that will be judged good but still judged by God to be evil.  Abortion and adultery and homosexuality are at the center of with progressives demanding the church and businesses run by committed Christians either recognize those behaviors as good or face retribution and or legal litigation. 

2 Thessalonian 2:1-11  “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. ³ Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness^[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. ⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you, I used to tell you these things? ⁶ And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. ⁷ For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, ¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie ¹² and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”

Matthew 24:22 “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”

The important points to remember:

God is not a big bully powerful enough to   have His own way but a loving God who will allow free will until our choices become so destructive to ourselves and others that it must be stopped. 

God is also just and will not remain longsuffering forever, but will give ample warning and opportunity for repentance that no one can say “I didn’t know” when judgment comes.

“Bible teaching about the Second Coming of Christ was thought of as “doomsday” preaching. But not anymore. It is the only ray of hope that shines as an ever-brightening beam in a darkening world.”  Billy Graham

 

2/27/20                          WATCHING OVER YOU                                                          27   

The Lord watches over you.   Psalm 121:5

Recommended Reading:  PSALM 121 “ I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help?² My help comes from the Lord,Who made heaven and earth.³ He will not allow your foot to be moved;He who keeps you will not slumber.⁴ Behold, He who keeps IsraelShall neither slumber nor sleep.⁵ The Lord is your keeper;The Lord is your shade at your right hand.⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,Nor the moon by night.⁷ The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;He shall preserve your soul. ⁸ The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming inFrom this time forth, and even forevermore.”

COMMENTS: It is important and healthy to take some time often to reflect on all God’s blessings and provision.  The familiar hymn “count your many blessings and see what God has done” is most helpful putting words of instruction and direction of how to do this and benefits of doing so.  Have you ever taken acts of love and kindness for granted from anyone? A faithful mother or grandmother or father or??  Someone who may be in heaven now or maybe someone still blessing our lives. One of the common faults of being human is to get used to and take for granted to acts of kindness from others when they continue consistently over a long time.  Maybe you have felt neglected or unappreciated by others too?

What is the typical human reaction?    Anger?   Self-pity?   Resentment?

What is then the typical human response?    Withhold some or all those acts of kindness and love?   Confrontation?  

Well, also consider what peril we all would be in, and deserve to endure, if God reacted like we would or do.  Would the sun come up or would our hearts continue to beat or even gravity continue to hold us on earth? 

When we feel God has left, isn’t it really us who have turned and walked away from Him.  Is it not us who have neglected His Word or our daily   time of fellowship – prayer with Him?   Is it not us who have postponed or f ailed to   hear and obey His nudges to go and encourage someone or take a detour to do something not appealing to us?

When was the last time you expressed kindness and gratitude even with a simple “thank you” including name of person saying it to?   When was the last time you expressed gratitude using His name?   When was the last time you counted your blessing and noticed God’s faithfulness and expressed gratitude to Him?

Not time like now to catch us.

A devotional writer from the 1800s wrote, “[Why should] I despond since my heavenly Father watches over me yet more carefully, loves me yet more dearly, since himself has promised never to forsake or abandon me.”

Charles Spurgeon said, “If he be a Shepherd to no one else, he is a Shepherd to me; he cares for me, watches over me.”

Pastor and hymnist William C. Martin wrote, “I trust in God wherever I may be, / Upon the land or on the rolling sea, / For come what may, from day to day, / my heavenly Father watches over me.”

Not only does God provide faithfully for us each and every day without fail.  Not only has He provided for our salvation and redemption.   Not only has He forgiven and redeemed us permanently.  He has also reserved a place in heaven to be our eternal home with loved ones to encourage and fellowship with us.  He is also preparing that home for us, a home that will also include fellowship with and continual access to God Himself for all eternity.   That confident promise and hope makes any hardship or difficulty endured here not just bearable but encouraging since Christ endured such and far more also.

Our Heavenly Father also has a heavenly future for us, and a heavenly home. If darkness overwhelms your thoughts, remember the hope beyond understanding. Your heavenly Father has told you of the glory to come, and of the grace that will sustain you from now until then.

Even more, He is more than able to give me 100% constant focus while doing same for you and same for millions of others all at the same time.  Likewise, His love and care for each of us is not diminished because He is loving and caring for millions all at the same time.  You and I are not capable of giving attention effectively to more than one person or task at a time, but we should be thankful He does not have our limitations and weaknesses.  AMEN?  AMEN!

“Though billows roll, / He keeps my soul, / My heavenly Father watches over me.”  William C. Martin

 

 

2/28/20                                           MODERN IDOLATRY                                          28  

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  Colossians 3:5

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  COLOSSIANS 3:1-11 “ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.⁵ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

COMMENTS: God has lofty goals and expectations for each of us.   Goals for our good and His honor.  Goals which we would consider overwhelming or beyond any hope of accomplishing ourselves. So, why would God set goals beyond our ability   to reach?  Why would he expect more from us than we can give?  Why would He expect us to do things we don’t want to or interested in doing let alone things we are not capable of doing?

If you are a teen, that is an obvious yet unanswered question.  But if you are a parent, the   question an answer so obvious.  Because God desires for us to discover the blessing to ourselves and to others that come from doing what He asks plus God desires to walk with us helping and strengthening and encouraging and instructing us as we accomplish that task.  The task isn’t as important as the relationship with God that develops and grows as we obey Him.

A good parent sets limits and rules and assigns chores or work projects not to irritate or alienate their children but to help them grow into responsible adults with an attitude and perspective beyond themselves and their selfish goals and                               desires.

Teens long to be free and independent but lack life skills to make wise choices when confronted by distractions and temptations.  Granted, not all teens are rebellious against their parents nor are all adults any wiser.  That is why God, as the ever-wise Father of His children of all ages desiring and offering to guide and help us hand in His in discovery and   journey of obeying His Will and plan.

God set goals for us that enables success of eternal importance and lasting results, BUT GOALS NOT TO BE FOR HIM, SO NOT TOO BIG FOR US EITHER IF WE INVITE AND WELCOME HIM TO GO AND WORK WITH US.

That is the difference that not only changes our ability to accomplish His Will, but also opens us for Him to change our “I don’t want to” or “I have to” attitude into a “I want to “or “I can’t wait to – joyful” attitude.  How much more energy and ability and joy in doing His Work comes with state of our attitude?  Such makes all the difference!  So, attitude is a choice we make before it becomes an emotion that motivates us.

Colossians 3:1 says “seek those things which are above, where Christ is.”

Colossians 3:5 says “to put to death passions that come from below –   fornication, uncleanness, evil passions and desires.” 

When we choose to turn from things that tempt us and to Him and saturate our minds with His Word and communicating with Him, we soon leave only room in our emotions and desires to please Him instead of ourselves and our desires.  In time desires change from selfish and sinful to good and unselfish.  Until that happens, will and determination are necessary on our part but also to focus on only doing what pleases Him.  Idols are not just manufactured statues or images we bow and worship, but anything that consumes our time and resources that should go to God’s church and work.                                                                                                                                                                    

So, make sure Christ is at the center of your life and that your love for Him eclipses everything else!

“You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them…. Whatever you love more than God is your idol.”   D. L. Moody

  2/29/20                                       FORGERY OR FACT?                                                29      

Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. 1 John 3:7-8

 RECOMMENDED READING:  1 JOHN 1:1-9  “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— ² the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— ³ that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.⁵ This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“

COMMENTS: How do we discern genuine bible teachers and pastors and evangelists from false or misguided or teachers or evangelists or pastors or prophets?

Paul had to address this question because even during Paul’s ministry – just a few years after Easter – because false teachers were appearing and deceiving or misguiding sincere believers in increasing numbers then.

Paul gives concrete ways of testing / discerning false teachers and prophets from genuine God inspired and God honored teachers and prophets:

1. Test the origin of teaching – sound doctrine always originates directly with God. False doctrine originates with a human founder.  Galatians 1:11-12, John 7:16, Titus 1:2 are some examples.  Paul also gave examples of origin of false teaching:   Colossians 2:22, 1 Timothy 4:1, and John 8:44 are some examples of human fabricated doctrine and beliefs / world view not supported by scripture.
2. The Test of Authority: Sound doctrine always is supported in multiple places in scripture – the Bible.    Those teaching sound doctrine also show much diligence and research to provide sufficient proof.    The source of proof is primarily and exhaustively from the Bible and not respected human sources primarily. 
3. The Test of Consistency: Sound doctrine is consistent with the whole of scripture.  False doctrine is inconsistent with at least some parts of scripture.  In other words, scripture conflicts with false doctrine.   Some examples are found in Hebrews 13:9 and 1 Timothy 1:3, 6:3.  Seeking out trustworthy discerning leaders like Paul is helpful, but it is vital each searches scripture individually to gain proper discernment between false and genuine doctrine and bible teaching.
4. The Test of Spiritual Growth: The fourth is evidence of spiritual growth and maturity that comes from genuine doctrine.  Spiritual growth means believers becoming more Christ-like.    Paul told Timothy “If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained (nourished) in the words of faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed”  1Timothy  4:6.  Timothy had learned scripture from Paul but continued study himself.  That is why Paul called him “a man of God” with “sincere faith” (1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 1:5).
5. The Test of Godly living: Godly living is the fruit of genuine doctrine and ungodly living is from false doctrine.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17. Titus 3:8, 2:1)

 As we reflect on Paul’s concern and instruction related to identifying and dealing with counterfeit and false teaching, we soon realize not much has changed today.   Human still are commonly more willing to follow invented doctrine and invented gods instead of genuine doctrine and the One True God.

Even more so than during Paul’s time, we are living in a world of deception, and it’s becoming more difficult to   discern false or fake from genuine teaching – God’s teaching.  The fruit of such teaching and world views proves it is false.  Moral conduct and disobeying God’s commandments are more and more accepted and even judged as good while moral conduct and God’s commandments are increasingly being viewed by society and more and more people as “evil”.

It is difficult to deceive a diligent student of the Bible.  The student who is accountable to faithful followers who are likeminded and diligent too.   Those who also reflect spiritual growth and are becoming more Christ-like as they grow in years.

However, it is much easier to deceive those who depend on others for their spiritual nourishment or are losing their appetite and hunger for scripture.    

So, we are living in increasingly dangerous times, when life’s demands and struggles take all the time and energy we have and more.  Taking time to have a regular relationship with God and studying the Bible and praying are all more of a commitment than most are willing or able to make. 

But we need to remember:

1. God returned far more back to us than we give to Him. He helps us readjust our priorities so we more efficiently live and function. 
2. He helps us sort out and postpone or eliminate the unimportant things that consume time and money that are needed for other issues and needs that are more urgent.
3. He helps us by giving us hope and joy and fulfillment that energize us and empower us.
4. He fills us with love and compassion that opens our hearts and eyes to see and respond to others as He does, which opens opportunities and choices to us that will make far better and even eternally positive impact on others and also on us.
5. God gives us the confident hope of eternal life – an eternal body and soul with Him and other loved ones in a wonderful place (heaven) He is preparing for us.
6. His word, the Bible, gives us words of live – words that refresh and inspire and guide and council. Words from God intended to give and sustain our life.
7. At end of life, what are you doing that will still matter? What will matter 100 years from now.  Take some time to reflect and discover the answer is: family, God, and our relationship with God and family.   Doing work God asks us, if we                 take the time to find out and obey, will be the work that will have lasting affect and still be vitally important 100 years from now.

So, consider taking the time to develop a relationship with God as an investment and not another obligation.   God is there ready to help and will help in ways no human could ever do.

 “The Bible’s power rests upon the fact that it is the reliable, errorless, and infallible Word of God.”    Charles Colson

Today’s devotion completes another month of studying God’s Word and sharing.  I pray God will allow us to continue this journey of discovered another month.  Below is the Gideon Bible Reference I have been included in monthly devotions for some time.  I decided to continue including this for benefit of new readers and to continue to make it accessible to any and all who read and share this journal.  I encourage you to use and share as God directs.  If you wish to contact me or access more devotions, below is link to access.   

In His Service,

Don McDaniel

Email: dmcdaniel12@zoominternet.net

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Don1951

Blog:  https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com/

GIDEON BIBLE REFERENCE SCRIPTURES:

HELP IN TIME OF NEED:

• The way of salvation:                                   John 14:6, Acts 16.32, Romans 10:9
• Comfort in time of loneliness:                    Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 13:5-6
• Comfort in time of sorrow                            2 Cor. 1:3-5, Romans 8:26-28
• Relief in time of suffering                             2 Cor. 12:8-10, Hebrews 12:3-13
• Guidance in time of decision                       James  1:5-6, Proverbs 3:5-6
• Protection in time of danger                       Psalm 91, Psalm 121
• Courage in time of fear                                  Hebrews 13:5-6, Ephesians 6:10-18
• Peace in time of turmoil                                 Isaiah 26:3-4, Philippians 4:6-7
• Rest in time of weariness                             Matthew 11:28-29, Psalm 23
• Strength in time of temptation                  James 1:12-16, 1Cor. 10:6-13
• Warning in time of indifference                 Gal. 5:19-21, Hebrews 10:26-31
• Forgiveness in time of conviction               Isaiah 1:18, 1Jn, 1:7-8

 

SUGGESTED READINGS (HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS):

• The creation                 Genesis 1-2
• The fall of man                                                 Gen 3
• The flood of Noah                                 Gen 6-9
• The call of Abraham                                 Gen 12:1-9
• Deliverance of Israel from Egypt Exodus 11-14
• Dedication of the temple 2 Chronicles 5-7
• The Babylonian Captivity of Israel                 2 Chr. 36
• Revival of Israel after captivity                 Nehemiah 8-9
• Promises of the coming Messiah Isaiah 9:2-7, Ps22, Is.53
• The Birth of Christ                                                 Mtt1:18-2:23, Lk1:26-2:40
• The Triumphal Entry                                 Lk19:28-44
• The last supper                                                 Mk14:2-26
• The Garden of Gathsemane                 26:36-46
• The Betreyal of Jesus                                 26-47-56
• The arrest and trial of Jesus                 Jn 18:12-19:16
• The death of Christ                                                 Lk 23:26-56, Jn19:16-42
• The resurrection of Christ                                 Lk24, Jn20
• The ascension of Christ                                 Acts 1:1-12
• The coming of the Holy Spirit                 Acts2:1-21
• The conversion of Paul                                 Acts 9:1-31
• The heroes of Faith                                 Hebrews 11

 

SUGGESTED READINGS (SPIRITUAL STANDARDS)

• The 10 commandments                                 Exodus 20:1-17
• The sermon on the mount Mtt 5-7
• The golden rule                                                 Mtt7:12
• The greatest commandment Mtt 22:36-40
• The righteousness of Faith                 Romans 3:19-28
• The Royal Law                                 James 2:8, Romans 13:8-10
• Christ’s New Commandment John 13:34-35
• Christian love                                              1 Cor. 13

 

DYNAMIC DOCTRINES

• God’s greatness and man’s weakness                                                     Isaiah 40
• The two fold Revelation of God                                                                  Psalm 19
• Man’s universal guilt                                                                                       Rom 1:18-2:16
• Atonement                                                                                                        Leviticus 16, Romans 5
• The new birth                                                                                                    John 3
• Justification by Faith                                                                                       Eph 2:1-10, Gal 2:16-21
• Christ, the Good Shepherd                                                                          Ps 23, John 10:1-18
• Christ’s intercession for His Own                                                               Jn 17, Heb 7:25
• The High Priestly Work of Christ                                                                 Heb. 7:25, Heb. 4:14-16
• Christ’s Humiliation and Exhaltation                                                         Philippians 2:5-11
• Resurrection of the Christian Dead                                                           1 Cor. 16, 1Thess. 4:13-18
• The second coming of Christ                                                                        Mtt 24, 2 Thess. 1:7-2:12
• The Last Judgment                                                                                          Rev. 20:10-15
• The New Heaven and New Earth                                                               Rev. 21-22

 

PRACTICAL PRECEPTS:

• Christian Home relationships                      Eph. 5:22-6:4
• A model wife and mother                             Prov. 31:10-31
• Marriage and divorce                                     Mtt 19:3-9, Malachi 2:14-16
• The sin of adultery                                           Prov. 6:23-33
• The prodigal son                                               Luke 15:11-32
• Employer-employee relationships            Col 3:22-4:1
• Business and prof. principles                       Ps15, Prov. 3:1-12
• Seperation of worldliness                             2 Cor. 6:14-7:1, 1 Jn 2:15-17
• Decisions of doubtful things                        Rom.14
• Christian fruitfulness                                      Jn15
• Heavenly wisdom                                            James 3:14-18
• Christian responsibilities                               Rom. 12-13
• Christian stewardship                                    2 Cor. 8-9
• Christian witnessing                                        Mtt 28:18-20, Jm17:18-20
• Prevailing prayer                                              Mtt 6:5-15, Philippians 4:6-7
• Heavenly priorities                                          Mtt 6:25-33
• Brevity of man’s days                                     Ps 90
• The causes of war                                            James 4:1-4
• The value of the soul                                      Mk. 8:36-37

 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT:

• ITSELF:                                                                  2 Tim. 3:15-16   , Psalm 19:7
• GOD:                                                                     Psalm 99:9, 1 Tim.1:17, Isaiah 45:21-22
• MAN:                                                                   Gen. 1:27, Gen 2:7, Isaiah 43:7
• HEAVEN:                                                              Rev.21:3-4, 21:27
• SIN:                                                                        Romans 5:12, Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23
• HELL:                                                                     2 Thess 1:8-9, Rev. 20:15
• CHRIST –HIS ADVENT                                      Micah 5:2, Mtt.1:21-23, Lk 2:10-11
• CHRIST – HIS PERSON                                     John 10:30, 14:6
• CHRIST –HIS WORK                                          Lk. 22:19-20, 1 Peter 2:24, Col.1:14, Isaiah 53:5-6
• CHRIST-HIS RESURRECTION                         Lk. 24:36,39, 1 Cor. 15:3-4
• FAITH                                                                    Acts 20:20-21, Heb. 11:6, Eph. 2:8-9
• LIFE                                                                        John 3:3, 1:12-13, 3:36, 2 Cor.5:17

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