devotions.com

Winter Sun Helps To Clear Snow

2010-02-06T08:15:00.001-05:00

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“Winter Sun Helps Clear Snow”. One of the local television stations I watch had this headline on their website three days after a seven-inch snow storm arrived in our area and wreaked havoc with schools and businesses. Unfortunately, cloudy weather and extremely low temperatures did not help melting for a couple of days. Finally on day three, the sun broke through and the melting began. All that salt and brine on the roads disappeared once the sun showed up!

I was driving through my neighborhood as the snow began to melt and thought about God’s warmth once he melted all that sin away from my life. Indeed, when the Son showed up in my life, things began to change.

What a great analogy to what the “Son” can do for us when we allow him into our lives. In fact, a verse from one of the books of the Apocrypha, the 15 books that were considered but did not make it into the Old Testament, compares the love of God to the very same cold weather I just experienced. “In the day of thine affliction it shall be remembered; thy sins also shall melt away, as the ice in the fair warm weather.” (Ecclesiasticus 3:15)

When we come to a deep and close relationship with God, we experience a thawing of sorts, too. All the bitterness and hatred in our lives are removed. Our sins are washed away by God’s love, and our hearts are seen by him just as white and pure as the snowfall that has all but disappeared in my community.

But even though the snow is almost gone, I still see its effects. Vehicles that were stranded are still along the sides of roads, yards are cluttered with fallen tree branches, and businesses that were forced to close are struggling to meet their payrolls for the week. The snow may be gone, but its effects remain for us to deal with.

Sin that is forgiven has the very same effect. The blood of Jesus has washed it all away. We are completely forgiven. In the eyes of God, it is just as if it never happened. This is what the Apostle Paul refers to in Romans as “justification”. Yet, all the consequences that came from sinful living (wrong choices) remain with us - just like those problems that remained after the snowfall has long since melted away.

God’s love for us should never be in doubt. There is much to learn from the consequences of forgiven sin. He is giving us a second chance to deal with our mistakes - to confront them through forgiveness and to learn more from them out of grace. The second time around is always painful, but the lessons learned are always priceless.

Dr. Charles Stanley once wrote about the consequences of sin and like me sees it as a necessary extension of a deeper relationship with God. “The good news of Christ’s grace and forgiveness,” he wrote, “is our only real hope in this fallen world. Though unpleasant, focusing on sin’s consequences is necessary at times to remind us of the greatness of our salvation and to move us to obey God, even in the small things.”

Grace Really Is Amazing!

2010-01-30T09:17:00.000-05:00

“There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24)

What makes Christianity different from all other religions in the world? C.S. Lewis, a longtime defender of the gospel once said, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.”

Grace is difficult for the unbeliever to understand primarily because of the demonstrative change it can make in the life of a believer. And there isn’t a better example of the difference that grace made in one’s life than in the life of John Newton, author of America’s favorite hymn, Amazing Grace.

Newton understood what it meant to be a “wretch”. He commanded an English slave ship in the 1700’s and brought thousands of slaves to this country during his lifetime.

Captain Newton showed no compassion for his cargo. He chained them below the decks to prevent suicides. The slaves were laid side-by-side to save space, row after row, one after another, until his vessel boasted as many as 600 Africans. And if a slave became ill during the voyage, he was tossed overboard to prevent the infection from spreading.

Well that all changed one night when Newton’s ship almost sunk. He gave his life to Christ and spent the rest of his days scratching his head in disbelief over the change. When he was 82, he said, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great savior.”

Newton’s song reminds us all about how wretched we are. In fact, the Bible says that without Jesus, we are dead to sin. Indeed, we have no chance, but for the grace of God. That’s what Paul meant when he said in his letter to Titus, a young pastor, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3-7)

Grace is the unmerited favor of God. As one writer puts it, “The very heart of the gospel is the supreme truth that God accepts us with no conditions whatever when we put our trust in the atoning sacrifice of His incarnate Son.” That’s why it has long been said that the best way to describe grace is by using the very letters that make up the word: G-R-A-C-E, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

So our faith teaches us that grace can only come from God. But did you know that grace has a unique purpose of its own? The Bible says that grace “teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:11)

John Newton was no different than the rest of us which is why his song means so much to so many of us. It reminds us there is only one thing that distinguishes one sinner from another: Grace. And when you think about that, it really is amazing!

God’s Blueprint for Heaven

2010-01-23T19:15:00.000-05:00

“So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.” (2 Peter 1:12)

Did you know that there is a blueprint for heaven in the Bible? That’s right! We serve such a wonderful, loving God that he not only provides directions about how to get to heaven, he also left a painstaking description of it so that we will recognize it when we arrive.

Interestingly, while there are over 400 references to heaven in the Bible, only a handful of those verses tell us anything about it. In fact, we have to wait until the last book – Revelation - before we get any real description about this magnificent city where Jesus said he was going to “prepare a place” for us. (John 14:2)

Here’s the Apostle John’s description:

“It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates...The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass…The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.” (Revelation 21:11-21)

So heaven is a cube that stretches 1,500 miles in all directions. It’s hard to imagine, but if New Jerusalem were located in the United States, it would extend from the northernmost tip of Maine to the southernmost point of Florida, and would reach from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Colorado River.

But that’s only the measurement at the first level. The Bible says that the City is as high as it is wide. Think about it. The former Sears Tower in Chicago stands a quarter of a mile tall. However, it pales in comparison to heaven which is 1,500 miles high.

The jasper walls surrounding the first level are 1½ mile high. That is higher than any church steeple anywhere in the world. And all of its twelve gates are made of solid pearl.

Heaven contains 3⅓ billion cubic miles. Did you know that if half of heaven were taken up by it’s golden streets, there would still be enough room for nine quadrillion rooms 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high!

There are a couple of other interesting points about heaven that are brought out in Revelation 21. The city has no need of sun or moon, since the glory of God and the light of the Lamb are present. And the gates never close because its inhabitants have nothing to fear. In fact, no evil can enter through its gates. Instead, only those whose names are entered in the Lamb’s Book of Life have a ticket to heaven. (Revelation 21:23,25,27)

Frankly, God doesn’t spend a lot of time describing heaven because what it looks like is just not as important as how to get there. That’s why Jesus said, “You know the way to the place where I am going…I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:4,6)

I’m grateful that heaven is not a Motel Six, but I sure am glad that God left “The Light” on so we can all find it.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

2010-01-16T08:37:00.001-05:00

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Several years ago, I attended a breakfast at my church. I really wanted to sleep-in that morning, but something told me to get up and go.

It never registered with me that it was the Spirit that was telling me to get out of bed, but I realized afterwards that God had something to say that morning that he wanted me to hear. I now wonder how many times I might have missed out on an important message from the Lord because I didn’t recognize his voice.

My church had invited a member of a cult to give his testimony after breakfast. He spoke for over an hour and kept me on the edge of my seat. God had delivered him from more than the bondage of a cult. He was also supernaturally delivered from a life of drug abuse and adultery as well.

He admitted us that after he became a Christian, he continued to live in an adulterous relationship with his ex-wife. But the Lord spoke to him one night just before he climbed into bed with her.

“Have you ever stood in a room and thought someone was looking at you?” he asked us. “Well, that’s the feeling I had that night as I looked at her in the bed. Someone else was in that room with me. I finally realized that I had the Spirit of God dwelling in me. Both of us were looking at that bed.”

For the first time in his new life, he understood what it meant when he asked Jesus to come live in his heart. His whole perspective about his adulterous relationship changed when he remembered what the Bible says about our relationship with the Lord. “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)

J. B. Phillips once wrote, “Every time we say, ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit,’ we mean that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.” That’s exactly what that former cult member was trying to tell us.

All of us are able to experience the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit has the ability to be present in every place at the same time. “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalms 139:7)

When Jesus walked among us, he was not able to be everywhere at the same time. But when he ascended to heaven, he promised that he would always be with us. And so he is, through the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Jesus and the Father dwell in us through the Holy Spirit.

Paul once said, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9-10) But it was Jesus who tied it all together when he said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit can and will change our lives if we allow him. But remember, apart from Jesus we will never experience the fullness of life that God promises. That’s what prompted another Christian writer to observe, “If you have the Spirit without the Word, you blow up. If you have the Word without the Spirit, you dry up. If you have both the Word and the Spirit, you grow up.”

You Can’t “Work” on Salvation

2010-01-10T10:55:00.001-05:00

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44)

A friend of mine and I were talking the other day about life in general. I have been concerned for quite some time about his soul, but was afraid to ask him for fear that the question would divide us. I kept telling myself that I could do more good by trying to show him a godly lifestyle than I ever could by popping the question and driving him away.

A recent telephone call from another friend suggested that I might be wrong. I knew his health was failing, but I didn’t know about the chronic bouts of depression and the thoughts of suicide. It was no longer just a question for which the answer could wait. I needed to know which choice he had made, if any.

As God would have it, the opportunity presented itself. He told me how much he admired me for the stand I take for Jesus. We chatted a little bit about his life, particularly the trials and tribulations that he was facing. “Is your heart right with the Lord?” I asked. “No, but I’m working on it,” he replied.

I was encouraged by his response. “Well,” I thought to myself, “God is working on him.”

I have since realized that I was wrong to assume that he’s under any measure of conviction. He didn’t say God was working on him. He said, “I’m working on it.”

I don’t understand how conviction manifests itself in everyone’s life, but I know that for many of us, it will not come our way until we understand that we have no control whatsoever. The ultimate lasting solutions to the problems we confront depend solely on God. “My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.” (Proverbs 8:19)

The most common misunderstanding among non-Christians is that they have enough time left on the clock to put off salvation. But that’s not true. In fact, the Bible says, “Now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) And Jesus said it even more plainly in the form of a parable: “Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.' (Luke 13:25)

So the truth is none of us has the luxury of time to wait on salvation. God’s Word is clear: It may not be around when we want it, not to mention the fact that there’s nothing we can ever do to earn it.

I asked my wife the other night what she would do about the situation. “I don’t know,” she replied, “but I sure wouldn’t want to be standing in line when the Lord sends him to hell and have him look at me and say, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

I hate to leave you hanging, but I’m honestly not sure exactly what I plan to do. I could tell you I’m praying about it, and I am, but I’ve got a strange feeling God’s not going to let me leave it there. Nope. He’s not through using me yet.

I do know that I can’t write about Jesus to this one because he doesn’t read my column. I guess I’m going to have to lay the Plan out in front of him and see if we can have a little talk with Jesus.

Looking Back at 2009

2010-01-02T09:18:00.000-05:00

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” (Luke 17:33)

Christmas is over and the new year is here.

If you’re like me, you’ve already decided that 2010 is going to bring some major changes in your life. These “New Year’s Resolutions” are nothing more than outward and visible signs of things that are frustrating us in life. They are remedies to the failures that we have experienced. Interestingly, they often point to some our most glaring weaknesses.

Looking back at how we have lived is important. After all, as the saying goes, if we don’t learn from history, then we are sure to repeat it. But don’t look at just the physical, financial, or emotional dimensions of your life. Look at the spiritual progress that you have made over the last year. Are you closer to God today than you were this time last year?

2009 has been one of the most revealing years in my Christian life. Our Internet devotions ministry has exploded, I published a book, and had the honor to marry my son. Through these and other experiences that God brought my way, I have grown spiritually. I still don’t always understand him, but I can honestly say I am closer to him today than I was this same time last year.

I am grateful for the changes that God has made in me over the years, and even though I am not always pleased with the pace at which he brings change to me, I know that his way is best. The fact is any major change in my life will never last unless it comes slow enough for me to understand it. I guess that’s why he once said, “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

It’s hard being a Christian in today’s world. The distractions and demands that the world puts in front of us mean that we will occasionally stumble. The Apostle Paul said is this way: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23) It’s a fact of life. Christians are not immune from sin. We just happen to be running in a different direction.

The 1800’s songwriter, Horatius Bonar, realized that it’s the little things that can make or break the Christian. He wrote, “A holy life is made up of a multitude of small things. It is the little things of the hour and not the great things of the age that fill up a life…Little words, not eloquent speeches or sermons; little deeds, not miracles or battles, or one great heroic effort or martyrdom, make up the true Christian life. It’s the little constant sunbeam, not the lightning, the waters of Siloam that go softly in their meek mission of refreshment, not the waters of the rivers great and many rushing down in torrent noise, and force, that are the true symbols of a holy life.”

Most of us tend to look for big changes in our lives when we try to measure our spiritual progress. We shortchange God when we overlook the small victories he has brought our way.

This year instead of offering those New Year’s Resolutions that you never seem to be able to keep, acknowledge and enjoy the small changes that life can bring. It is there where you will find a loving and caring God who is more than ready to help you win the battles. After all, when he reached down and saved you, the war was won.

No One Is The Same After Meeting Jesus

2009-12-26T08:10:00.002-05:00

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, the departed into their own country another way .”

We’ve all heard the story so much that a few of us could probably quote the verses. So why talk about the wise men when Christmas has come and gone?

Even though their visit with the Christ Child is traditionally taught as a part of the Christmas Story, Bible scholars believe that these men from the east may not have seen Jesus until as late as two years after His birth. In other words, their visit doesn’t have to be associated just with Christmas. In addition, while we often concentrate on the gifts these men brought to honor Jesus, we often overlook what else we can learn from their visit - lessons that we can take with us into 2010.

Each of the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus symbolized something special about His birth.

- Gold symbolized the fact that He was (and still is) the King of Kings.

- Frankincense, a type of incense often burned at altars, emphasized His deity.

- Myrrh, which was often used in embalming, pointed to His death of the Cross.

The importance of, and meaning behind, these gifts cannot be ignored. But the account of the wise men’s visit brought other important scriptural principles that can serve us every day of the year. For example, notice in the story that the wise men came looking for God. Interesting, isn’t it? Most of us today rarely "go looking" for God. Instead, many of us sit around and wait for God to find us.

Most Christians think there were three wise men, but the Bible doesn’t tell us how many there were. We probably draw that conclusion since they presented Jesus with three gifts. Did you notice that they were also nameless? Rather than seek credit for traveling from afar and honoring the child who would one day call Himself the Son of God, these men apparently chose to remain anonymous. Sort of sounds like something I once read that Jesus said: "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men." (Matthew 6:2)

Finally, the Bible tells us that these men "departed into their own country another way." If you read the story again, it’s easy to see why. They were supposed to let Herod know where he could find Jesus. They knew what Herod wanted and they knew that their failure to honor his request would mean death for them.

But I’d like to also think that their lives, just like our lives, were changed after they met Jesus. The truth is we all go back "another way" after we’ve found the life-changing, life-saving power of Jesus Christ!

Holiday Season Should Be Christ-Filled

2009-12-19T10:34:00.000-05:00

“I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites.” (Psalms 26:4)

When my wife and I first met, it didn’t take long for me to realize that her faith was very important to her. “You’re pretty religious, aren’t you,” I asked her on our first date. I’ll never forget her answer: “No, I’m not religious at all. I’m a Christian.”

I couldn’t understand why she had a problem with being labeled as religious, at least not until I became a Christian and understood the difference from the inside out. The fact is there is a big difference between someone who is religious and someone who is a Christian.

Jesus had another word which he used to describe those who are religious. He called them “hypocrites”. In fact, that word is used 16 times in the Bible; 15 times by Jesus. And each time our Lord used that word, he was pointing out that their religious actions and customs have nothing to do with God.

Every time Jesus used the word hypocrites, he was speaking to the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the largest and most influential religious-political party during New Testament times. Ironically, they were also Jews and believed that God would send a messiah who would rise from the dead. Sadly, they didn’t recognize Jesus for what he was. But, Jesus recognized them.

Jesus once told the Pharisees and the Scribes - those who were charged with the task of recording all of the rules that the Pharisees developed to practice their religion - “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.” (Matthew 23:27)

Jesus was just talking to the Pharisees then, but his words also apply to those today who practice religion instead of Christianity. They may look like Christians on the outside, but Jesus knows differently. That’s why he said, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me’.” (Mark 7:6)

Jesus’ point is that religion and Christianity are two different things. It’s a dangerous combination. “You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, he once told the Pharisees, “and when he becomes one, you make him twice a much a son of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15)

The Christmas season has lost a lot of its meaning. It’s showing less of Christ every year, evidenced by the fact that only two of the nation’s major retailers are mentioning Christmas in their advertising this year. Instead of Merry Christmas, most retailers now say Happy Holidays.

Isn’t it great that we can celebrate Christmas instead of Happy Holidays? As Christians, we know that Christmas isn’t celebrated under the tree or measured by how much we spend on one another. Christmas is celebrated on the inside, from the heart.

What Salvation And Gift Cards Have In Common

2009-12-12T09:27:00.001-05:00

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 6:44)

Consumer analysts who track the whims of shoppers report that gift cards are being purchased this Christmas season in record numbers. It is one more indication of the quality of life that we enjoy. In other words, we are hard to shop for because we have just about everything we need.

Be careful if you were on the receiving end of a gift card. Some of them come with an expiration date. If you do not use it by the date that is shown on the card, then the card becomes worthless and cannot be redeemed for a purchase.

According to scriptures, God’s offer of salvation can expire, too, much like a gift card. While it’s not always the case, the Bible teaches that the call to salvation will not be offered repeatedly. The Apostle Paul - in writing to the church at Rome - hints at what can happen when an unbeliever ignores God’s call upon his life.

“For the wrath of God,” he wrote, “is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them…And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:18-19, 28-32)

We often see people turn their backs to God’s call for salvation. In fact, there is a man in my church for whom I often pray. I believe he is lost. When the invitation is given in our church at the end of the service, I look his way, hoping to see a lifted hand. His mother tells me that he is aware that God is calling him, but he’s too proud to respond.

I wonder how long the Lord will continue to knock on the door of his heart before he stops. Or worse yet, perhaps her son will just fail to recognize the knock for what it is because his mind is incapable of recognizing the Lord’s call on his life any longer.

The Christmas season will soon be over, but the gift that it brings is eternal. So as we look forward to the year ahead, let’s ask God to keep us ever mindful of the joy of knowing him and the need to share that knowledge with others.

Remember the words of the Apostle Paul: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16)

Light Always Overcomes Darkness

2009-12-05T10:54:00.003-05:00

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

I was snarled in traffic near a Chick-Fil-A the other day. Out in front of the restaurant, close to the road, stood of group of Christians protesting abortion. One of them had a megaphone and was literally quoting Scripture within earshot of all of us who were waiting for the signal to change.

That is something I could never do. I don’t argue with those who choose to serve Christ in that manner. However, I think there are much more effective ways to reach people regarding what Scripture says about moral issues we feel important to communicate. But Jesus did say that we should serve salt on occasion, and a salty gospel fights a decaying world. It also stings when it is used to cleanse a wound even when it’s one of mine.

The truth is boldness in a politically correct world is a difficult quality for most Christians to emulate in their lives. The Bible promises that the Gospel will be offensive and some of us just don’t feel equipped to deal with what being bold brings with it. If this describes you, take heart, because Jesus always provides a way for us to serve him.

In his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, Jesus emphasized that salt and light are both important qualities in Christians that the world needs to see. While salt can often be difficult to shake over others that we know, showing God’s light in our lives is something every Christian should find easy to do. Light doesn’t offend. It is quiet, but it is also powerful. When it is turned on, darkness will run from it. But it has a warm, comforting glow to it that draws people. No one wants to live in darkness.

God’s light in the heart of my wife is the reason I know Jesus today. When Robbie and I met in the early 1990’s, I immediately noticed that there was something different about her. As I grew to know her better, I was even more impressed by her smile and attitude. Here was a young lady who was struggling financially. I wondered how she could raise two children on what she made and indeed it was difficult. What I later learned about Robbie was that her faith was a bridge over the troubled waters of her life. That smile came from her faith and it was the light behind it that drew me to her and later led me to Christ. Had I not seen the light on her face through her smile, I would not be sitting here today writing about serving Christ.

Jesus said, “Let our light shine before men, that they may see your good works.” (Matthew 5:16) Notice that they must see light before they will ever notice any good that we have. The first step is ours. But the message here is that if we’ll turn the light on, God will take care of the rest and make sure his goodness is seen in our lives.

Remember, God’s light is a most powerful and effective tool and we have all Christians have his light in them. Felix Adler, a noted Jewish lecturer, said it this way, “The hero is the one who kindles a great light in the world, who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by. The saint is the man who walks through the dark paths of the world, himself a light. “

What To Do About Unrealized Dreams

2009-11-28T11:31:00.002-05:00

“Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, ‘See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.’ Then Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.’” (2 Samuel 7:1-3)

I love turning to Scripture in times of doubt and disappointment. My faith has taught me that there really isn’t anything that can happen to me in life that Scripture cannot help me to understand and accept. Indeed, the Bible really is the owner’s manual we should consult when things don’t seem to be working out.

One thing that comes our way - particularly later in life - is the reality that some of our dreams are just not going to happen. This disappointment can threaten our faith and often make us bitter. After all, if the Bible says that God will give us the desires of our hearts, why do we often find ourselves disappointed with him when those dreams that we hold closest to our hearts go unfulfilled?

When I turn to 2 Samuel and see that King David was denied one of his lifelong desires, I don’t just find solace in the disappointment that he experienced, I find comfort that God’s love for me has not diminished.

No one is remembered more in the Bible for his heart for God than David. In fact, even God described him as a man after his own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14). God blessed David richly in life. He ascended from the lowly rank of a shepherd as a boy to become the greatest king that Israel ever had.

But later in life, David apparently took stock of his blessings and felt that he had somehow cheated God. Here he lived in lavish surroundings, yet God did not have a permanent home for his church to worship. As he put it, “God dwells inside tent curtains.” (2 Samuel 7:2)

He confided in the prophet Nathan who encouraged him to build the temple.
No one could have done it better than David. He commanded the resources that would have been necessary. The Bible records that it took seven years to build the temple. That kind of time would not just require that sufficient resources be available, but someone with the charisma and leadership of David could make it happen rather effortlessly.

God disagreed and told Nathan to tell David that he would not build the temple. Can you imagine the disappointment? Here is a man who owed God everything, loved God more than life itself, and had everything at his disposal. Yet God said no!

It is at this point in the story that we can draw from David when disappointment comes our way. How did David react to Nathan’s declaration? Did he grow bitter? Did he blame God? Did he initiate a self-assessment of his life in an effort to find the answer? No. He accepted reality and thanked God for the many blessings that he enjoyed. “And now, O Lord God, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this goodness to your servant. Now therefore, let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue before you forever; for you, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” (2 Samuel 7:28-29)

When disappointments in the form of unfulfilled dreams come our way, we should thank God for what he has done for us instead of asking “why”. The Lord told Isaiah, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) David accepted this truth and moved on rather than agonizing over it.

Here in the United States, we just celebrated Thanksgiving – a national holiday derived from our Christian faith. I have a lot I still want to do with my life. There are several unfulfilled dreams that I hope to see accomplished. Hopefully, God is on the same page with me. But if he says no, I am grateful for what he has already done for me and refuse to sulk about what was never meant to happen.

Salvation Changes Our Hearts: A Thanksgiving Reminder

2009-11-21T08:42:00.002-05:00

“Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.” (Ezekiel 18:31)

Twenty-five years ago, I completed an instrument as part of a class to help me understand how I make decisions in my working life. The instructions directed me to select the answer to each question that most resembled how I might respond in the workplace. One of the dimensions of the test distinguished between my preferences as a cold, methodical thinker against that of a warm, compassionate person. My score was 58 for thinking and 0 for compassion. I was ashamed. But the more I thought about it, I knew that in work and in life, I tended to go about making decisions in a methodical manner, giving very little priority to how it might impact someone’s life. In this case, I thought whatever was best for the organization was the right thing to do.

I look at some of the decisions that I made twenty-five years ago in previous jobs I have held and know that my response would be differently today. For example, several years ago, an employee sent me a Thanksgiving bouquet of flowers and wrote on the card, “I will never forget what you did for me. I am eternally grateful.” Needless to say, I never received notes like that twenty-five years ago, which begs the question, “why”? I think you know the answer. I have had a change of heart.

Around this time each year, I try to take a spiritual look at myself. One of the questions I ask myself is what are some of the ways in which I can see that I’ve changed? Let me share a humorous story with you that speaks to why I think I get notes from employees like the one I just shared with you.

My wife joked with me the other day by saying “I can’t take you to the new Kroger opening because you would cry”. Can you believe it? The same man, who twenty-five years ago in the workplace and personally felt very little in the way of sympathy for others, now cries during episodes of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

The truth is that I cannot take any credit for this change in me. As that test clearly indicated, the change I now see in me is not of my own will. The Bible teaches us that salvation is a free gift from God. But God gives us so much more than an assurance of heaven. We receive spiritual gifts that we can use to serve him in this world. And over time, he miraculously changes our heart – the way we look at and respond to life situations.

The Apostle Paul talked about these changes when he wrote to the church at Corinth: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation”. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Isn’t the last sentence in that verse interesting? God “has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a long holiday season. Unfortunately, however, many Christian families do not enjoy the holidays as God would intend for us to enjoy them. What a shame.

Friends, if God has truly changed your heart, then use the ministry of reconciliation he has given you to free yourselves from the stress that comes with unforgiveness, conflict, or whatever the excuse may be as to why you can’t enjoy and share his forgiveness with others. Allow him to partner with you so that you can enjoy the holidays in ways that you never imagined you could. Remember what Jesus told his disciples, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Memorial Speaks Volumes About Daughter’s Faith

2009-11-14T08:25:00.001-05:00

“For he Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.’” (Hebrews 13:5)

It has been said, “On the wings of time, grief flies away.” In most cases, time often does heal a lot of wounds. But there are occasions when nothing seems to drown the grief that some people experience over the death of a loved one.

Several years ago, I read this memorial on an obituary page in the local newspapers. It was written by a daughter to her father, who had died twenty years ago:

Daddy,

As I sit here last night trying to comfort myself with a song,
I now realize what it feels like to be alone.
As I walk in this life with a frown on my face,
I realize how much I miss your warm embrace.
I ask myself why? Why are we born only to die?
I believe the answer to my question dwells in the sky!

I love you, Daddy.

Buffy

Her words troubled me. I didn’t know whether Buffy was a Christian, but if she was, she was not relying on her faith to help her with the answers.

First, we are not born to die. We are born to live, to live in fellowship with the Lord. He does not want us to wander through life with a frown on our face. He wants us to experience joy as we never thought we could.

Please don’t think that I don’t understand long-term grief. I lost my mother at the age of seven forty-nine years ago and still have questions I want to ask her. Do I ever grieve for her? Of course, but my mother was a saint of God, so I know I’ll get to see her again – and I will have an eternity to get the answers to all those questions.

Obviously, Buffy didn’t have the hope I have. Now I don’t look forward to the grief that comes with losing a loved one. But when it comes, I cling to the hope that the Gospel provides. The Apostle Paul said it this way: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint.” (Romans 5:1-5)

The truth is if we have hope, we may be disappointed by the trials that the world brings our way, but we will never be devastated - at least not for very long.

Dr. Larry Dossey is a Dallas physician who has become convinced that prayer and medicine can work together. He once told the story of a terminally ill patient he noticed praying before he entered his room. His curiosity got the best of him, so he asked what he was praying for. “I’m not praying for anything,” his patient told him. “I’m praying because I know that I am not alone.”

What troubled me most about Buffy’s letter to her dad was she felt alone. Christians are never alone! In fact, God himself said he would never leave or forsake us. Jesus, just before he ascended to sit at the right hand of God, said "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

I feel for Christians who have forgotten what God's Word says. The truth is, in times of trouble, we should stand firmly on his promises. Otherwise, as I believe the case is with Buffy, our faith is futile.

Christians Terms Used In Church Not Always Familiar To Visitors

2009-11-07T08:11:00.000-05:00

“And hearing they may hear and not understand.” (Mark 4:12)

Several weeks ago, my wife and I were visiting friends in Georgia and heard a humorous story about a misunderstanding their seven-year old daughter had. She attends a private Christian school operated by their church, but has a close friend that attends public school. When she was five, her mother was taking her to another town and they passed by a Publix Supermarket. “Mom,” she asked. “Is that the Publix School that he attends?”

We laughed when her mother recounted the story for us. But it made me think about how frequently we use terms in our own churches that confuse other Christians and unbelievers. Typically, every denomination uses an expression or two that other denominations do not use. We should remember when others are visiting our churches that they may not only be unfamiliar with how we worship, but also may find that some of the words we hurl around are equally strange and foreign.

Here’s a great example of what I mean: When my wife and I were dating eighteen years ago, her ten-year-old daughter asked me if I was saved. I had never heard that expression and asked her what she meant. Suffice it to say, she did a more than able job of explaining what salvation meant, and indeed, I was saved about three months later.

A number of mainstream denominations do not use the word “saved” to refer to asking Jesus to come into their hearts. It doesn’t mean their members aren’t saved, or that there denomination is doctrinally wrong because it does not refer to a salvation experience as being saved. It just means they are different, which is in part what Paul meant when he said, “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:20)

Jesus confronted similar situations during his ministry. In fact, he often used parables to help other better understand a spiritual point he was making. “But to those who are outside, all things come in parables,” he once told his disciples, “so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand. Lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.” (Mark 4:11-12)

When visitors attend our churches, we should stop and think about the things we say and do. I’m not saying we should apologize for them, or refrain from some practice that is customary in our church. Indeed, it’s probably why we attend certain churches to begin with. But there is also nothing wrong with offering an explanation of what just happened, or what some expression means.

A former pastor of mine, who is always very sensitive to the fact that visitors may not understand what was just said or done, would literally stop the service and explain what just happened. He always used Scripture to back up what he said. His church has exploded in growth and I am one who happens to believe that his sensitivity to such feelings is a major reason why.

The next time you look around the sanctuary during one of your church services and notice a visitor, think about what aspect of your worship service might be a little different for them. Words like saved, Holy Eucharist, Spirit baptism, sacrament, justified, homily, Jehovah Jirah, liturgy, and many others are not common in all denominations. Reach out to them and help them enjoy your service. It’s the best way to make sure you see them another Sunday.

Staying Close To God Helps Us Avoid Life’s Roadblocks

2009-10-31T22:20:00.000-04:00

“I will open my mouth in parables. I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:35)

I enjoy parables. They are great teaching tools and were used by Jesus to convey spiritual truths that are often difficult to grasp. In Jesus’ case, he would use an everyday situation that happens in life to communicate how he felt we should live our lives, respond to life situations, etc. Jesus liked them so much that about forty of them, over a third of the Gospels, are recorded in the New Testament.

Pastors often use parables, too, although we don’t realize it because they don’t call them parables. In today’s pulpits, they are referred to as illustrations. Just like parables, illustrations are used in today’s sermons to communicate important spiritual truths. Call them what you like - they still work today as much as they ever have!

My wife gave me a great illustration the other day that I can use to convey a spiritual truth that I believe is important. A young man on his way to work was slowed by a big truck, which obstructed his view ahead. He tried several times to pass the eighteen-wheeler, but the winding road would not cooperate and give him the clear view ahead that he need to ensure there was no oncoming traffic. Suddenly, the truck veered to the left to avoid a fallen tree that was blocking the lane. Unfortunately, the young man did not react quickly enough and hit the tree, causing great injury to himself.

This modern-day parable emphasizes the importance of a close walk with Jesus. The winding road represents life with all its twists and turns. Indeed, we never really know what lies ahead in our lives - the trees that will block our way - but we do know the one who does know; and if we choose to follow him, we can avoid much of the trouble that lies ahead.

Just how do we maintain that close walk? Prayer, Bible study and church attendance help. In fact, I believe the abundant life that Jesus promises in John 10:10 can be more easily realized when we make sure these three practices become habits in our lives.

But the question really isn’t as much about how we maintain a close walk as it is about whether we will do our part. Prayer, Bible study and church attendance do not come without work. Just like exercise, most of us have to force ourselves to do it until it becomes habit

God repeatedly assures us in his Word that he will do his part. In fact, there are hundreds of promises in the Bible and not one of them has been broken. Just as God told the Prophet Isaiah, “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Even with prayer, Bible study and regular church attendance, no one is going to avoid all the road blocks that life brings our way. But when they do come, God will give us the grace and peace to deal with them. That, too, is a promise directly out of his Word. “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. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The Value Of A Man’s Soul Is Priceless

2009-10-24T07:59:00.000-04:00

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

Scientists tell us that the value of the human body in today’s market is less than $4.50. In other words, the chemicals and minerals found in our bodies have very little over-the-counter value.

Obviously, our lives are priceless to our families, even though our bodies are not worth very much at all. The soul, however, is a whole different story. Notice in the above verse what Jesus said. Clearly, Christ could not place a value on the worth of a man’s soul. Even the accrual of great wealth or fame -“gains the whole world” - could not equal the cost of losing a soul.

Why is the soul so valuable to God? That’s an easy question to answer if you think about John 3:16. God gave His Son, Jesus, so that we could have eternal life. Just as the lives of our children are priceless to us, the life of Jesus was priceless to His Father.

In spite of how simple it is to understand, for some of us, it is equally difficult to believe. Otherwise, we would not make the decisions in life that we make. Every day, people trade their souls for earthly riches, fame, and sinful pleasures. Sadly, many of us believe in God, but we don’t believe Him. At least, we don’t act as if we do.

There are other explanations why God places such a high value on our souls. For example, the Bible says that we were made in God’s image. But God is not visible. He is a spirit. (John 4:24) If we are made in his image, then it is in our souls, which we cannot see, where we most resemble what God is like!

The soul is also the one part of us over which we have some control. Think about it. Many of our bodily functions are not under our control. Most of the genetic traits we have are handed down to us from our parents. These predispositions are not negotiable. But the soul is different. If we allow God to work with us - and through us - the change that goes on inside of us, down to our souls, can change the way we appear and act towards others. After all, when we ask Jesus to come into our hearts and choose to live for him, the Bible says that we become a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Those genetic dispositions don’t change, but our hearts and our souls do.

Finally, it’s important to remember that unlike our bodies, the soul does not cease to exist at death. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Moreover, in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, in Luke 16, Jesus said, “The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went into hell.” (Luke 16:22-23)

Rabbi Harold Kushner, who wrote When Bad Things Happen to Good People, said, “The soul is not a physical entity, but instead refers to everything about us that is not physical - our values, memories, identity, sense of humor. Since the soul represents the parts of the human being that are not physical, it cannot get sick, it cannot die, it cannot disappear. In short, the soul is immortal”.

We shouldn’t worry as much about people as we should worry about the destiny of their souls. Every person has the promise of eternity. The problem is the choices we make decide whether it’s eternal life or eternal death. Jesus was right. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? “

Thorns In The Flesh

2009-10-17T10:58:00.000-04:00

“There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7)

You can’t help but wonder what this “thorn in the flesh” was, but we know from Scripture that it kept Paul humble. It also ensured that his prayer life remained active.

Theologians have offered a number of possibilities.

Many have argued that Paul was talking about a speech impediment. There is some historical evidence that Paul was not a good speaker. Maybe he did suffer from stammering speech.

Perhaps it was an eye infection. The Bible records that eye infections were fairly common in southern Galatia when Paul visited the area on his first missionary journey. In fact, Paul told us in Galatians 4:13 that he had been having some problems with his eyes. “As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you…Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn…you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.” (Galatians 4:13-15)

Others have suggested that Paul had an eye problem all right. Maybe his problem was with a wandering eye, not an infected eye. The problem with that claim is there isn’t a shred of evidence that Paul struggled with the sin of lust.

I’m glad that Paul never felt led by the Spirit to tell us exactly what his “thorn in the flesh” was because his admission would enable us to rule out any spiritual lessons from all those other thorns in the flesh that nag us today. In other words, if Paul had told us that it was an eye infection, a speech impediment, lust, or whatever, then those of us who have other thorns in the flesh wouldn’t pay such close attention to what God was trying to teach us through Paul’s experience.

The truth is we can grow and learn spiritually from any thorn in the flesh. That’s part of what God is trying to get across. These thorns that plague us often produce patience and humility. These are virtues that none of us can get too much of.

Here’s the point: God refused to remove Paul’s weakness, but he never said that he wouldn’t demonstrate his power through Paul. What he said to Paul after he had repeatedly asked God for deliverance is one of my favorite verses: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

The fact that God’s power shows up in weak people should give us courage. It’s only when we recognize our limitations, that we stop patting ourselves on the backs. That’s an important moment because we are finally beginning to understand who’s really in charge.

Our weaknesses not only help us to develop Christian character, they can also deepen our worship. When we begin to acknowledge our weaknesses, the door then opens for God to affirm his strength in our lives. It’s another opportunity to let his glory shine right through our problems.

Facing The Trials of Life With Joy

2009-10-11T10:08:00.000-04:00

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” (James 1:2)

History tells us that Thomas Edison invented the microphone, the phonograph, the incandescent light, the storage battery, movies with sound, and more than 1,000 other things. The truth is the quality of our lives has been immeasurably improved by the genius of a man who overcame dyslexia and found that there was a great deal to learn from the failures and trials that life brought his way.

In 1914, the laboratory where many of Edison’s inventions were birthed caught on fire. Fire companies from eight surrounding towns responded, but inadequate water pressure and intense heat left firefighters with nothing more to do than watch two million dollars in assets that were insured for only $238,000 burn to the ground.

The inventor’s 24 year-old son, Charles, searched frantically for his father. He worried that his father might have been trapped in the structure. When he found him, he was calmly watching the fire, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind.

“My heart ached for him,” said Charles. “He was 67 - no longer a young man - and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, ‘Charles, where’s your mother?’ When I told him I didn’t know, he said, ‘Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives.’ “

The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.”

It is hard to face our trials with the spirit that was found in Thomas Edison, but that’s exactly what God expects us to do. You see God knows that real spiritual growth can only come from and through the trials that he allows to come our way. They are ultimately what form the basis for the joy that Christian maturity brings with it.

I ran across a poem recently that’s worth putting on our refrigerators and thinking about when trouble finds us. I don’t know who wrote it, but I sure know the One who inspired it:

It’s sometimes very difficult
For us to understand;
The wisdom and the love behind
The things that God has planned.

But we wouldn’t have the rainbow
If we didn’t have the rain;
We wouldn’t know the pleasure
If we never tasted pain.

We wouldn’t love the sunrise
If we hadn’t felt the night;
And we wouldn’t know our weakness
If we hadn’t sensed God’s might.

We couldn’t have the springtime
Or the yellow daffodil;
If we hadn’t experienced
The winter’s frosty chill.

And though the brilliant sunshine
Is something God has made;
He knew too much could parch our souls
So He created shade.

So God’s given us a balance:
Enough joys to keep us glad,
Enough tears to keep us humble,
Enough good to balance bad.

And if you’ll trust in Him you’ll see
Though yesterday brought sorrow;
The clouds will part and dawn will bring
A happier tomorrow.

What Is The Law Of Christ?

2009-10-03T07:18:00.001-04:00

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. “ (Galatians 6:2)

The law of Christ – just what does that mean anyway? I remember when Billy Graham spoke of the the mystery of evil during the memorial service held for the family members of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Evil is hard to understand sometimes. But for many of us, the law of Christ is a mystery, too.

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul never explained what he meant when he used this expression in one of his letters to a church in the Roman province of Galatia. In a letter to another church he wrote, “To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law.” (1 Corinthians 9:21 NIV) Again, Paul offers no explanation, which adds to the confusion. It also begs the question, Was he referring to the Great Commandment in Leviticus 19:18, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, or was he talking about the New Commandment found at John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”?

In spite of this uncertainty, we can be sure that there are certain behaviors that Jesus expects to see reflected in our lives. He told us all that we could recognize other Christians by their fruit. So while we have no right to serve as judges, we can be fruit inspectors.

I heard a song recently, the words of which stirred my sprit like no other has in years. It was written by Gloria Gaither and – for me – fully explains what the law of Christ means. It also reminds me that I am not yet where I need to be.

Then I Shall Live

I then shall live as one who's been forgiven.
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child and I am not afraid.
So, greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother;
The law of love I gladly will obey.

I then shall live as one who's learned compassion.
I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I'll dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.

Your Kingdom come around and through and in me;
Your power and glory, let them shine through me.
Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honor,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honor,
And may You feed a hungry world through me.

Amen, Amen, Amen

We may never know what the Apostle Paul meant by the law of Christ, but we do know that Christ expects us to show the change he has made in our lives by how we treat others. Indeed, if the unbelieving world is to ever come to know him, it will be by what they see in and through us.

Joseph of Arimathea Was Courageous In the End

2009-09-26T11:50:00.000-04:00

“After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.” (John 19:38)

In spite of his role in the crucifixion story, we don’t know much about Joseph of Arimathea. The Bible has very little to say about him. But what it does record is a story of a miraculous transformation.

We do know that he was extremely wealthy, so much so that he already had a tomb waiting for him upon his death. But even though he was known by John and the other three writers of the Gospels as a disciple of Jesus, he apparently did not want anyone else to know. Perhaps his wealth would be at stake; or maybe it was the fact that he held a high position as a member in the Sanhedrin, a governing body of the Jews, which would be jeopardized if he were to have taken a more visible role in the Jesus’ ministry. In short, apparently, he had too much to lose by standing up for his beliefs.

But Jesus’ death on the cross visibly changed Joseph inside and out. He boldly went to Pilate to plead for the body so that Jesus could have a fitting burial. I am sure other disciples were surprised to hear that it was Joseph of Arimathea who approached Pilate. Pilate consented and the Bible records that it was Joseph who showed up at the cross to take the body of Jesus.

Imagine that moment when Joseph took Jesus from the Cross. Once a man afraid to admit any relationship with Christ, now willing to physically drape him over his shoulder and carry him to his grave. One of my favorite songwriters said it this way:

He took the lifeless body down from Calvary
Struggled to stand just beneath the load.
Blood spilled on his hands and on his clothing
Still Joseph sang as he stumbled down the road.

I’ll carry him upon my shoulder
I’ll bear the marks endure the shame.
I’ll serve my friend til life is over
And that is when the world will see He’ll carry me.

For I too have walked beneath a heavy burden
Stumbled down a dark and lonely road.
Trying hard not to be discouraged
Knowing victory awaits when I reach home.

He’ll carry me when he calls me from my sleeping
He’ll carry me toward the land of perfect day.
Across the golden vale into the glory
Where He’ll set me safely down inside the gate.

Until I’ll strive to walk and not grow weary
I’ll gladly bear my cross for all the world to see.
I’ll count it joy to carry Christ my savior
For very soon He’ll carry me.

Joseph of Arimathea played a vital role in the Gospel story. But his story is told in the Gospels for another reason, too. A lot of Christians, just like Joseph, secretly worship Jesus. We’re too afraid to stand up and be counted. We, too, think we have too much to risk. When I hear how Jesus feels about such shame, it makes me shutter: “For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26).

Joseph had time to change and to show his world that his faith in Jesus mattered. There is still time for us to change, too, and show how much Jesus has transformed our lives.

God Inhabits The Praises Of His People

2009-09-16T09:37:00.002-04:00

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3)

Robbie and I are in Louisville, Kentucky at the largest gathering of Southern Gospel music in the world – the National Quartet Convention. Unfortunately, one of our all-time favorite performers is not here. Roger Bennett died in 2007 and is with his Lord and savior now. Somehow I don’t think he is missing us as much as we are missing him!

I wrote a tribute to Roger upon his death and decided to feature it again this week. Google tells me that It is the most popular devotion on my website – and why not? The message is eternal.

If you go to church with any regularity, you may have heard your music minister say, “God inhabits the praises of his people”. I always thought that statement was nothing more than a way to get me to sing the praise choruses that so many of our churches use now.

The truth is we should heed that advice. It’s not just that it’s scriptural. It’s one of God’s principles that work when we apply it.

Many of you probably did not know Roger Bennett. Roger Bennett was a Southern Gospel piano player and songwriter who made a living serving the Lord in the ministry of music. Unfortunately, he succumbed to cancer last month after an 11-year battle.

The last several years were not particularly easy ones for Bennett. He had leukemia, which he thought was in remission, only to see it rage back in his life with vengeance. He fought it valiantly, but realized that the disease was winning, so he decided to take a stand and underwent a bone marrow transplant at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas – the first of three.

Bennett wrote about his experiences on his website, Roger Bennett’s Midnight Meditations. “I am convinced,” he told his readers, “that our enemy stalks us exactly in the way the Bible describes him, a roaring lion. He hides in the bushes waiting for any sign of weakness and then he strikes.”

Bennett admitted that his faith became weak in the loneliness that is associated with bone marrow transplants. He mentioned one particular night when he “bottomed out”.

“He didn’t strike me physically,” Bennett wrote. “That had been accomplished for him by the chemo. He struck a more critical part of my being - my joy, my confidence, my hope. Every thought I turned toward heaven bounced back to me as if it were made of brass. Every time I tried to ‘look on the bright side’, I ended up imaging a very dark future. Then he threw his most effective dart at me - Doubt. ‘You call yourself a Christian,’ he said. ‘What a hypocrite! You wrote, Don’t Be Afraid, and yet you are more afraid now than you’ve ever been. You wrote about joy and yet now you are filled with despair. So much for your faith, Mr. Gospel Singer.’”

Indeed, Bennett had hit rock bottom. “I believed everything Satan said,” he admitted. “I tried everything I knew to pull out of it - all to no avail. I thought if I could just doze off, this will pass by morning. But the clock seemed to move in slow motion. Sleep was nowhere near. I tried to lose myself in the Bible, but the words blurred to my eyes and I couldn’t make any sense of them.”

Finally, Bennett had an epiphany, a revelation of sorts. He thought about the story told in Acts when Paul and Silas were in jail. “They didn’t despair,” he said. “They sang…It became their weapon.”

So Bennett began singing. “One after another these old songs came to my memory and I sang them to my empty room. It wasn’t a great performance, but it may have been the most powerful blessing I’ve received in my life.”

Roger Bennett realized just how true God is to His Word. He really does inhabit the praises of his people.

When it begins to rain in your life, take Roger Bennett’s (and God’s) advice - Sing the Gospel and allow it take root in your heart. You may not sing your blues away, but I’ll bet you’ll feel the presence of a pretty powerful friend.

Walk In Fear Of The Lord But Don’t Be Afraid Of Him

2009-09-12T15:28:00.000-04:00

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)

Several years ago, my wife had severe abdominal pains. They became so severe I had to take her to the emergency room for treatment. One of the nurses charged with her care, a Christian, had a Chinese tattoo on his arm. “What does that mean,” my wife asked. “He who walks with no fear,” the nurse replied.

I noticed a cross on his neck and thought about the irony. How could a Christian walk with no fear when the Bible says that we should “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling”?

It’s a confusing verse because it reads as if our salvation may not be sure, which would certainly invoke fear and trembling in my spirit. Yet, the Bible promises that if we confess the Lord Jesus with our mouths and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, then we are saved. So the question is this: If we’re saved, why do we have to serve God with “fear and trembling”?

Paul never meant that we should quake in our boots as Christians. He simply meant that Christians should never want to offend God with their lives. Working out our salvation with fear and trembling implies a heightened sense of reverence for God by living our lives in ways that testifies to the fact that we are saved.

We all know that a modicum of fear is healthy. For example, a child’s fear of his parent will often produce the right behavior. The same is true for God. In fact, the Book of Proverbs provides great instruction about the fear of the Lord. Take a look at the scriptures below:

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.”

Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongs days.”

Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one
away from the snares of death.”

Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life.”

The truth is if we don’t have a healthy fear of the Lord, we cannot please God. The prophet Isaiah said it this way: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will build me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,’ says the Lord. ‘But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word’.” (Isaiah 66:1-2)

The Bible is clear about what a fear of the Lord can bring to our lives. Without it, we close ourselves to the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge; we will flirt with evil and be corrupted by it; our lives are likely to be shorter; and we will never come to know the love of God that gives us the assurance and confidence of our own salvation.

We really should walk in fear of the Lord, but we shouldn’t be afraid of Him. He is a life-long companion, an ever-present help in a time of trouble. Respect His ways, observe His truths, and walk in His light.

Sermon On The Mount Lasted For Days

2009-09-05T08:27:00.000-04:00

“Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.” (Matthew 5:1-2)

Most Christians don’t realize that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount actually lasted for several days. That’s because many of us only associate the Beatitudes with the Sermon of the Mount. The truth is Jesus spent the better part of a week encouraging and instructing believers about other equally important issues like witnessing, obedience, prophecy, anger, lust, divorce, integrity, retaliation, loving our enemies, caring for the poor, prayer, fasting, money, criticizing others, going to heaven, servanthood, and faith.

There are also more than a few Christians who believe that the Sermon on the Mount happened in the early days of Jesus ministry, if for no other reason, because it is located just five chapters into the Gospel of Matthew. Wrong again. Those few days in the life of Christ actually occurred about nine months into his Galilean ministry, which in and of itself consumed almost eighteen months of his three-year public ministry.

I wasn’t surprised to learn that a large crowd showed up to hear what Jesus had to say. Word was spreading like wildfire that a young, charismatic Jewish carpenter was claiming that he was the Son of God. That alone was enough to convince the first century Jew to have a look-see. But this man had other credentials that intrigued people to seek him out.

The miracles he performed were unlike any that had ever been witnessed, and his incomparable wisdom often left the intellectuals of his day speechless. Even his ability to teach complex spiritual truths through parables, a then common-day form of storytelling, had both Jews and Romans alike shaking their heads in amazement.

The Bible records that people traveled for days to see him - sometimes getting nothing more than a brief glimpse, or a momentary chance to reach out and touch his garment in hopes of being healed.

But the crowd that showed up for the Sermon on the Mount was more than just curiosity seekers. They believed Jesus really was the Messiah that the prophets of the Old Testament had promised. So they listened intently while he taught extensively.

So why did Jesus start his Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes anyway? Why didn’t he just kick off what we might call today a “crusade-like event” with a more eye-catching, ear-snatching sermon, one that might have attracted an even greater crowd? The reason is simple, but not so obvious.

Remember that Jesus was speaking to believers rather than unbelievers. So he drew upon personal experiences to which every Christian, then and now, could relate. You see the Beatitudes don’t describe eight kinds of people. They describe eight kinds of experiences that every Christian is likely to remember.

Jesus was reminding these believers that Christian living involves a spiritual journey that begins when a believer realizes that he doesn’t have God in his life (“the poor in spirit”), but will one day end in victory (“great is your reward”). These eight Christian experiences deal with grace, conviction, repentance, faith, sanctification, servanthood, and persecution. And in each of these experiences, Jesus points out that the Christian will find all that is necessary for fullness in life, in spite of what else may be going on in the world.

William Barclay, in his book, The Gospel of Matthew, put it this way: “Blessed is an absolute. It is true anytime, anywhere--now as in the first century…(It) describes that joy which has its secret within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and self-contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and the changes of life.”

So you see Jesus began with the Beatitudes to emphasize that our Christian faith involves a spiritual walk in this world that must begin and end with a relationship. And if we don’t have a relationship, then everything else that he has to say to us really doesn’t matter.

Confession Is Good For The Soul

2009-08-30T09:27:00.001-04:00

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

All of us have likely heard the maxim, “Confession is good for the soul.” It’s an old Scottish proverb but there is a word missing. The proverb actually reads, “Open confession is good for the soul.”

I believe there is biblical truth to this maxim as well. In fact, the Bible supports the conclusion that absent open confession, salvation is not guaranteed. That’s the truth exposed in the Scripture leading today’s column.

You can imagine how startled I was to learn that a mainline denomination doesn’t believe that open confession is necessary for salvation. Just yesterday, a friend of my wife told her she asked her pastor if confession was necessary for salvation. He told her no and emphasized that Jesus saved her 2,000 years ago when he died on the cross.

I was stunned, and wondered how any denomination could read what Scripture says repeatedly and reach such a conclusion. Interestingly, this parishioner told my wife that all she needs to recite for salvation is the Apostles Creed. “I say it every Sunday,” she told her.

I believe the Apostles Creed, too – every word of it, but the Apostles Creed is a statement of faith, not a tool to secure one’s salvation. I like what the Concordia Theological Seminary, a Lutheran-based seminary had to say about the role of this long-standing Christian declaration of faith. “It is intended to be used daily in the life of the Christian and the Christian family for the purpose of faithful meditation upon the Word of God and as medicine to help the Christian against the ravaging disease of sin which infects his life.”

We need to be careful to examine whether our church’s doctrine lines up with Scripture. If you believe for a moment that Jesus’ work on the cross saved you automatically from hell, you are dead wrong. The verse I used to begin today’s column says that you have to do two things to secure salvation. Note that if you do, the verse emphasizes, “You will be saved.” “The verb “will” is the future tense. In other words, salvation was been provided for us by Jesus’ death on the cross, but it is secured at a future date and time when the two conditions prescribed by Romans 10:9 are met. That is exactly what Jesus meant at John 14:6 where he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus death on the cross is the “way” to salvation - the means, not the end.

There are other verses that support this truth. Think about these as you examine what your church believes.

• 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• Matthew 10:32: “Therefore whoever confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my father who is in heaven.”
• Psalm 32:5: “I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
• Acts2:21: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

We are creatures who have been given free will. When it comes to salvation, Jesus provided the way, and God will knock on the door to our hearts. But the next move is up to us. Indeed, confession is not just good for the soul. It’s what saves it for an eternity.

Christian Walk Comes From Daily Exercise

2009-08-22T08:03:00.000-04:00

“I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.” (Proverbs 4:11-12)

My wife and I walk together almost every day at the local high school track down the street from where we live. For the most part, I walk after work, but every now and then, my schedule allows me to get in an early morning walk. There’s something different about the early morning crowd I see at the track. They walk slower than the evening crowd. Why?

The obvious answer is that the morning crowd is older and just can’t maintain the faster pace set by the younger walkers who frequent the track after work during the evening hours. And while age probably is a factor, there is at least one other distinction that also helps to explain why their pace is slower.

Many of the morning walkers are retired and just don’t have the demands on their time that the younger walkers have. The truth is the reason they walk slower may have more to do with time than age. In short, maybe their lifestyle has more to do with their pace than their age does.

The same thing could be said about our Christian walk because the lifestyle choices we make have everything to do with the pace we are able to maintain on our journey of becoming more like Jesus.

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says a long journey begins with the first step. The same is true about sanctification, which is nothing more than a big word that explains our everyday walk with Jesus. That first step in the journey, salvation, is unarguably the most important, but we haven’t arrived when we get saved. So while salvation guarantees us a ticket into heaven, we still have a good bit to learn about being a Christian.

There’s not a day in my life when I don’t stop and think about my relationship with the Lord. To be quite honest with you, I’m not where I think I need to be, but I realize that the choices I make each day can either draw me closer to God or distance me from him.

I try not to measure my progress by what I notice in the lives of other Christians. My own mistakes are hard enough to swallow. But I’ve got admit that I do find comfort when I hear other Christians, who are lot farther down the road than I am, confess that poor choices have slowed their progress, too.

The Apostle Paul was one of the greatest Christians who ever lived. Yet even he once commented in a letter to Christians living in Rome that he could not believe some of the things he did. "I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15)

John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace, also struggled with his Christian walk, but pointed out that direction was just as important as pace. "I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be," he once said. "But thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, ‘By the grace of God I am what I am’."

Newton makes another point that we all lose sight of. We don’t live under law. We live under grace. Jesus death on the Cross was, and is, the final atonement for our sins. There’s nothing we can do to add to the finished work on the Cross.

So you see, while the choices we make in life will affect our relationship with Jesus, that doesn’t mean we can’t win when we stumble. If we’re headed in the right direction, God will make sure the light always shines on our path. The important thing is keep at it every day, which is what Paul meant when he said, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)