Walking God's Light

Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
I am reminded of a story of a man and his young son as they were just finishing work in their garden. The day was ending and the sun was going down. As they opened the darkening shed to put their tools away the boy ask, “Is it dark in the shed in the daytime?” “No” his father replied, “the window in the back lets in light.” The boy was intrigued that the window let the light in and he asks, “Does the window let the dark out?” If the light flowed in through the window then the darkness would flow out of the window he thought. Not wanting to confuse the boy the father said, “When the light comes in through the window the darkness goes away.” “But where does the darkness go?” Out of the mouths of babes we learn many things.
So where does the darkness go? Light dispels darkness and it replaces it. Have you ever noticed when you open a door into a dark room that the darkness disappears? The light floods the dark room from the light in the other room. The darkness does not rush out to fill the room where you are standing. The light consumes the darkness. This is a very simple thing that we all need to understand to walk with the Lord.
So it is with the Word of God. The light of God shines into our lives and dispels the darkness the devil would have us to wander through. No matter how dark things may look the power o the Word of God will shine through and guide our path. Have you ever walked a dark path with only a flashlight to guide you? If so then you have seen just how God’s light works in our lives. He will give us light to guide our feet. As it is with the flashlight we may not be able to see everything around us but we can see the path and know where to walk. As we walk the path of life we may not be able to see what is ahead but if we let the light of God guide us we can be sure we will stay on the right path.
In John 1:5 we see this clearly, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Without the light of God we would always walk in darkness and that would make our walk very difficult. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12
Then as the New Year ends do we want to walk in the dark or let the light of the Lord guide us?

What To Do About The New Year

Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. -Edith Lovejoy Pierce
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice. -T.S. Eliot
Take no thought for tomorrow for the day will take care of itself. The past is forever gone and cannot be changed so why worry about it? Tomorrow is just a dream and when it arrives it will be today. We all look at the future on New Year’s Day. Try as we might we still can only see the day. Prepare as many resolutions as we can and still the future is but a distant vision.
As Edith Lovejoy Pierce clearly states we now have a new chapter filled with blank pages. It is up to us to write on each page. What we write can affect us and others. God will help us write on our pages if we will but let Him. He will not write for us but will guide as we write.
An interesting thing about our new pages we can only change things as we write. Once written the record is forever sealed. Every page is a day that will tell how we used our time and talents. No page will be left blank.
This New Year has 365 new pages write upon them what you would be proud for others to read. Each page will be a record we will one day have to give account for. Write well and with care.

A Gift For The Lord

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “ John 3:16

In this one of the busiest times of the year we are hurriedly trying to get ready for the holidays. People are frantic to select just the right gift. Trying to give what will please others. Make the decorations look just right. Make sure all is in readiness for Christmas. The question you always hear is, “Are you ready for Christmas?” Most answer, “No I may never be ready?”
As we prepare for the Lord’s birthday let us not lose sight of what we must prepare.
We must prepare our gifts. Each selected with the utmost care and thought. We select gifts for all our loved ones. We give to each a gift selected and given with love. God is no different. He looked all over heaven and selected the most perfect gift He could find. In the book of John we get a glimpse of what God found to give to us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “ John 3:16

What kind of gift are you going to give to the Lord on his birthday? As I looked into God’s Word I found in 1 Corinthians 3:10-13 “According to the grace of God which is the master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be tried by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

On the Lord’s birthday many will give him precious stones—for they are shining lights to a world of darkness. These stones may look like service, testimony, talent, time; love one for another, just to mention a few.
Others will give gold, and silver. For they love the Lord and want to share with others what they have received. This may be in the form of spiritual or material gifts.
But the majority will give the Lord a box of sticks. Boxes filled with wood hay and stubble, the leftovers and the most worthless with only superficial value. This is evidenced by their lack of concern for the lost, needs of others, or for the Lord’s church. They love sin too much. There is pleasure in sin for a season then we must pay the price. Most just love themselves too much they only want what is in it for me. Sounds a lot like vanity and pride is coming before the Lord.
You can’t just go out to Wal-Mart and buy Christ a gift. You do have something he wants. You can give him your heart. How much do you really love God? How about your talent? God gave each of us special talents that only we can use. He would like to have you use those talents for him. It has been said if we don’t use the talents we have we stand a chance to lose those talents. What about your time? Oh wait now…. I am way too busy to give any of my time. Ok, but could you simply study to show yourself approved, pray for those who are in need of God’s help and guidance, how about telling someone about Jesus. How much time would that take?

Do we give God our best or is God last on our list? Is He even on our list? While you are making a list and checking it twice make sure Jesus is on your list. It is His birthday after all. On that first Christmas God gave the very best He had to offer. The best gift he owned. What will we give him? Why does God only get the seconds, thirds the unwanted? Why never the newest and best? We give our family and friends our best. We search every store to find the perfect gift. How come we leave God out?

If you knew Jesus was coming to your house Christmas morning what would He find under your tree with His name on it? Would he find his name on any gift? If there is a gift there would it be fit for a king or a pauper? God gave His best what will you give Him?

Independent Thinking

Matthew 4:3-4, “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
I was thinking how crucial is it that we yield everyday to God’s will? The enemy knows when and where we are weak. He also knows when we walk in complete surrender to God he has no control over us. As we walk with the Lord the devil can get no foothold in our lives.
It is when we act independently that we run into problems. Satan tried to get Jesus to act independently. He suggested that since Jesus was the Son of God he had the power to act on his own behalf. “Turn these stones into bread and feed yourself”, he tempted.
It is true Jesus could have done that and more but Jesus knew He could not act outside God’s will. He was to do things that only were pleasing to the Father. Remember what Jesus told Satan, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
The flesh was never intended to walk independent of God. Jesus was to walk by the Spirit and so should we. Our flesh was never intended to control us, that is the devils tool and the lies he whispers in our ears.
Sin has its roots in independent thinking and action that is outside the will of God. If we choose to walk outside God’s Will and Word we will fall into sin. The devil would have us think and act independent of God for he knows if we do he can defeat us. The wages of sin is death we are told. We will also fall for any and all of the devils snares. But if we will confess our sins the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. If we walk in the light and love of the Savior then the devil has no power in our lives.
One thing we must grasp like none other is that unforgiven sin in the life of the believer gives Satan a “hold”! Once we understand that reality we will flee from our lust and cast Satan and his band out of our lives. Satan can only have an effect on us when we allow him to have control.
Let us pray Lord help us to do and say only those things that are pleasing to You. When we are tempted to act on our own, let Your Spirit prompt us instead to seek Your will.

God Loves Me

1 John 4:19, “We love him, because he first loved us.”
Does God really love us? That question is asked by those who may be going through some trial or crisis. Sometimes it is hard to understand just how much God does love us. How deep His abiding love is for His children. Our pride and fear causes us to not be able to grasp that God does love us just as we are. It is that pride and fear that the devil will use to make us doubt God’s love.
At times we all struggle with pride; we tend to believe that we have earned any love we receive. Pride whispers we are only loved when we are loveable. At other times we feel the tug of fear. Somewhere deep inside we feel there is that nagging fear that we really don’t deserve to be loved. Our motives don’t seem to be pure, and fear tells us we will be rejected if those motives are exposed. While we bask in the acceptance there is the fear of revealing that we are much less than what others think us to be?
Many times we all feel our relationship to God and His affection toward us is based on our performance. When we are saintly He loves us when we are sinners not so much. When we do well He loves us more and when we mess up His love is less. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It is not for what we do or who we are that God loves us. Just as I am Jesus loves me and died so that I might live. God does not love us because we deserve it. He loves us in spite of who or what we are. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Romans 6:23 makes a clear statement of what we deserve, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
God loves us just as we are and His love will never fade. Just as a mother loves her child no matter if that child is clean or dirty so God loves us. When we make mistakes He loves us. When we are hurting He cares for us. When we fall He will pick us up.
It is because God loves us and what Jesus Christ did for us that we will always know God loves us. That simple truth shatters our pride and dispels our fears. So when we feel unloved consider this, no one is beyond the reach of God’s love.

What Do We Ask God For?

Matthew 6:6-8, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
We hear a lot about making list and checking them twice this time of year. We all are guilty of making wish list and presenting them to God. Then setting back and waiting for Him to gather all the stuff we want and drop it on us. Then get upset when we don’t see any movement on our wish list. Satan then uses our confusion to whisper, “See I told you God really doesn’t want to give you the stuff you want.” Problem is we listen to the whisper instead of God. Could it be we have wants and needs confused? Are we listening to the wrong voice?
In Philippians 4:6 we are told to make our request known to God. But prayer is much more than telling God what we want Him to do for us. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. He began by telling them, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Mathew 6:8)
The Lord’s instruction about how to pray is more about living in a growing, trusting relationship with our Heavenly Father than about getting what we want from Him. Have you ever noticed most of our prayers are nothing more than a wish list of the things we want? As we grow in faith, our prayers will become less about making a wish list and more about having a conversation with the Lord. Would we be happy is we got everything we asked for? Toward the end of his life, C. S Lewis wrote, “If God had granted all the silly prayers I’ve made in my life, where should I be now?”
Just as our children ask us for things we know they only want and do not really need so then does our Heavenly Father know our hearts. Jesus made it real clear when He said, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
God really likes to just have a talk with us, an intimate and personal conversation. He already knows what we really need so maybe we need to shorten our wish list and only include the things that really matter. Share with the Lord the desires of our heart and not our heads. Do you start and end you day with a prayer or do you only talk to God only when you are in trouble. Do you thank Him for His goodness and for the wonders all around? Do you do all the talking or do you listen to hear the answer? Many years ago I heard a Sunday school teacher tell her class “when your mouth is open your ears are closed. If you are talking Jesus can’t talk to you.” Sound advice don’t you think?
Our highest privilege is to talk to God; our highest duty is to listen to Him.

Serving Others

Mark 9:41, “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”
How many times do we look for that one big splash to prove how much we love God and are devoted to His service? Jesus said the simple act of giving another a drink of water is never missed and the reward in never lost. There may not be press releases or banquets served but God sees and he remembers. The one you give the drink of water to my forget your moment of service after you render it and you may not consider it something great but God will never what you did for someone else.
Fortunately most Christians are not required to be martyred for their faith. Nor will they be tortured for the sake of Christ. But every Christian is required to die to self, to think of others and how the kingdom of God can be glorified and God’s name magnified.
Every day we all pass by on the other side when we see someone hurting or in need. Maybe all that is needed is a word of encouragement or just a compassionate listening ear. Is there someone in your church who has lost a loved one who could benefit from a phone call to see how they are doing and let them know someone cares? Maybe there is brother or sister who may need a helping hand physically or financially and god has shown you the need where you could help? Is there a teen who may be suffering from peer pressure that a mentor to overcome some personal insecurities? And then the one in the church who is most forgotten is the pastor. When was the last time he was given a word of encouragement or a thank you or a can I help with the burden you are carrying? Preachers are people too and they need support and care sometimes. The problem is most pastors will never let on they need help or could use a helping hand. God knows when and how His servants can benefit from the support of those He has placed under the shepherds care.
For those who are willing to serve and never get recognition are the ones God sees and will care for. The one who is willing to serve anonymously to glorify the kingdom will not lose their reward. Notice what Jesus said, you would not get a reward you would not lose your reward. God keeps good records and when it comes time to reward those who serve for His glory all rewards will be handed out. There are eternal blessings to each and every unselfish act to help another.
We all have been given special skills to be used for God’s glory. He knows who could use a kind word or a helping hand. He also knows who has the skills that are needed and who will need them. God will put those with the skills together with those who could use the help. Are you willing to be used by the Lord?

Christian Living

Galatians 2:20-21, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
As Paul is writing to the church at Galatia he is speaking to a group that is being taught to live by the law. Legalism has dominated their lives and the teaching that salvation is earned by works was causing problems. Paul makes a very interesting statement, I am dead yet I live. What he is talking about is the old man and the sinful nature was crucified with Jesus on the cross. It is through Jesus that he lives and his life is because of the Son of God. The law now has no affect on his life. Then as now many felt that to be saved and get to heaven you had to work your way there. You have to be good and perfect or you will miss heaven.
Paul does not claim that godly living is not a part of salvation. In fact he makes it very clear when he says, “I am not saved because I am good, I am good because I am saved: I live by the faith of the Son of God.”
The devil would have us to believe today that you have to work your way to heaven. If you believe that way you will work yourself to death and still not get to go. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
How much work would it take, if work were the standard for salvation, would we have to do to repay Jesus for the price He paid for us on Calvary? What kind of work would that be? How many would want that job? Paul makes a very clear statement when he says, “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
Christian living is not meant to be by a set of rules that we are to follow. It is about a Person we are to follow and pattern our lives after. Because Christ loved us and gave himself for us that we should love and give ourselves for him! Christian living is to be according to Christ and His teachings not structured by rituals and traditions. Christianity is more than belonging to a church or embracing a theology it is and should be about Christ and Him crucified. When we pattern our lives after Jesus church life and fellowship with God will be greater and more fulfilling.

Weed or Wheat

Matthew 13:24-26, “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.”
What does your life today say about where you will spend eternity? Jesus taught in parables that everyone could understand and relate to. One such parable was about sowing weeds in with the wheat.
If you were to look into a hand full of seeds it would be difficult to tell the weeds from the wheat. After they are all planted and grow then can you see the difference. As Jesus explained to remove the weeds sometimes will cause the wheat to be damaged. Let them both grow and then at harvest the weeds can be separated from the wheat.
If you were to be asked to describe the fruit that is growing in your life could you tell the weeds from the wheat? One thing the master deceiver will whisper in our ears is, “it really doesn’t matter what you believe just so you are sincere.” But it does matter! There is a difference in weeds and wheat.
If you walk down an aisle and cry on a pastor’s shoulder echo a few words that only come from your head and not from your heart it does matter. You will still be lost. You can even go through the baptismal waters but if your heart is not changed then all you get is wet. What about being born into a Christian family that should count for something? It counts but it will not get you through the gates of heaven. Salvation is a personal thing and as the old song goes you have to walk there all by yourself. No one can get saved for you. What about making a “public profession of faith” surely that would get someone’s attention? Yes but without repentance and faith in Jesus you will still be just a weed.
None of that will get you into heaven. Jesus said no man cometh unto the Father but through me. He also said by their fruit ye shall know them.
In every religious group there are wheat and tares. Each grows side by side but in the end one will be harvested and one will be burned. So what is the difference? One is washed in the blood of Calvary and the other is not. One has been born again and one is still stuck in tradition and religious rituals. It is vain to argue who is right and who is wrong each will be judged and examined by God and He will alone will know who is His and who is not. He will examine each and look for the blood of Calvary. Those who do not have the blood will be cast out.
Unlike seeds that cannot be changed we can be changed from weeds to wheat all it takes is trusting Jesus, confessing or sins and believing in our hearts he was raised from the dead. You can be religious and lost. Examine your heart to see if Jesus is there God does?

The Cross of Christ

1 Corinthians 1:23-25, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
The apostles were preaching to a very mixed and divers crowd after Christ went to the cross. What was their message? Christ and Him crucified.
It was a lesson how something good could come from a tragic example. As the book of 1 Corinthians and most of the New Testament states it was the crucifixion of Christ which put away our sins and provided us a way to get to the righteousness we needed for salvation.
Why was this message a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks? The Jews were sure all their prayers, sacrifices and obedience to the laws Moses gave them would save them. It really gave them problems to think they had to believe a lowly man of Nazareth could provide them salvation. The Greeks on the other hand were scholars and technocrats and by that any message salvation through a crucified carpenter was totally nonsense. Their philosophical minds just could not comprehend this simple concept. Their theory about life, purpose, and meaning and to some since salvation was way more complicated than the death of a man they did not trust nor believe.
The Jews were religious and the Greeks were educated. Sounds a lot like us today. Many just can’t grasp the fact that salvation is as simple as asking God for forgiveness and accepting Jesus died to pay their sin debt. Many are hung up on religion and traditional symbolism. Jesus plan of salvation just does not make rational sense.
Many Jews did receive the message of Christ crucified, and countless Greeks embraces Jesus as their Lord and Savior. What made the difference to these? Some, Paul says, were called. The message of Christ was powerful enough to convince them the law they had been trying to follow was dead and wise enough to transcend their best philosophies. To them Jesus was not offensive or foolish; he was salvation. His was a message of freedom and a life of peace.
The message is the same today yet there are many who thing it foolishness and others who are offended. Many more try to put mans ideals into a simple plan only to find man’s plans do not work. Religion won’t save anyone, education won’t direct you to Jesus, membership in a church or organization is not a ticket to heaven. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
How do you view the cross? Is it offensive and foolish, or powerful and wise and liberating?

Spending Time WithGod

Proverbs 4:20-22, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
As we all look and live by a calendar have we put a time when we spend time with God? What is on our calendar for today? Have you scheduled a time you spend time with your Heavenly Father? In the midst of all your daily struggles and the demands of daily life is there a time we spend alone with the God of Heaven just to listen to His words?
It is critical that we slow down for a moment and look daily into the Word of God. Why? Because when we are not in the Word we forget who our God is and what He expects and requires of us. We place importance on things of this world and none on the holiness of Almighty God. We lose sight of eternity and get caught up in the temporal trial of life. Our perspective becomes blurred. Many today only open their bible on Sunday morning if they make it to church. By not being in tune with God we lose sight of truth and fall into subjection to the flesh.
Most today spend more time reading the paper, novels or watching TV than they do studying the Word of God. Study to show thy self approved. What would we do if the preacher on Sunday morning read a book report or quoted from the evening news? We would be appalled and think he had lost his mind and the wagging tongues would work overtime. All expect him to study so he can tell us what God had to say. While this is true it is not limited to only the pastor we should all want to know what God has to say. We should have that burning desire to follow and get as close to God as possible. We can only do that when we spend time in His Word. When was the last time you were hungry for spiritual uplift and spent time at the feet of Jesus in meditation and prayer? When did you last seek His guidance for the challenges you were facing?
In our daily verse we see where wise Solomon express the importance of our daily walk with the Lord through His Word. God has a great desire to communicate with His children. He wants us to know and understand His ways. To do that we have to spend time with Him hear what He has to say then apply His direction. I can hear all the excuses now, “I just don’t have time” “I don’t understand the bible” “I don’t remember where I put the bible”. Hum would your mother or father accept those excuses for not visiting with them? Neither will God!
Open God’s Word and spend time with the Father and let Him enrich your life and give peace to your soul. As you schedule each hour of your day don’t forget to schedule God some time. He really would like to hear from you and spend time with you. He loves you and misses you.

Sin And Its Effects

1 Samuel 2:17, “Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.”
Hebrews 3:13, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Many times we think sin is something that only happens to someone else or it is what we see on the evening news. Man by nature is a sinful creature. The bible gives us the definition of sin, “for him that knoweth to do right and doth it not to him it is sin.” Sin is something we don’t want to talk about and surely don’t want anyone to know about. It can come quick and it has long reaching fingers. It can and will deceive us. It is a lie that the devil uses to keep us from the God who loves us and paid a high price for us.
Sin can reach from the pulpit to the back pew. Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” No one is safe from the ravages of sin. 1 Samuel chapter 2 talks about how the sons of Eli the priest were causing a entire nation to turn away from God. Just like these sons of Belial, or worthless men loved sin more than they loved God we today are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. What dose sin cause? It causes us to harden our hearts and draw away from God. Sin comes in many forms and will affect many people. Whether the sin is lust or greed or anger or pride (to name a few) it will deceive us by promising to give us pleasure, satisfaction or success. To gain an upper hand or get more stuff is the lie the devil uses to lure us away from the truth of God.
This is nothing more than a lie Satan uses to defeat God’s children. He polishes up worldly stuff and bates us to just take one little taste. What can it hurt? He sneers. But it is a lie. True and lasting joy and peace can only come through the love of God. We must walk in constant vigilance for our adversary is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
We are in a war daily and we must be prepared to fight. We must fight while it is yet today for there is coming a day when we will not be able to fight. There is coming a day when all will have to stand and give account for the life God gave to each. We cannot afford to put off dealing with sin. The work of repentance and faithfulness is a fulltime and daily job.
Today is almost over and our Lord is one day closer to His return. Amos told us to prepare to meet our God. Are we ready for His coming? Will you get to go with Him or will you be left behind?

Why Did Jesus Cry In The Garden?

Matthew 26:36-38-38, “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”
Let us go to the garden of Gethsemane and see why Jesus cried. This was not the first time Jesus shed tears but it was the first time his tears were caused by such emotional and spiritual pain. Let us try to feel what Jesus felt as He prayed.
He had just been teaching in Jerusalem and had just told His disciples what was about to happen. The shadow of the cross was looming large. Vs 38 we get a glimpse of His emotional state, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death.”
Jesus knew all this had started in a garden and now it was coming to an end as He prayed in this garden. Three times He prayed for other options.
He saw Jerusalem as a city where religion and gone wild; a place where idols of gold and silver were worshiped in place of the God who created the heaven and earth. This hurt. Everyone in Jerusalem should have seen Him for who He was but none did. How that must have hurt? What must He feel as He looks on us today here is America?
He took His most trusted friends to the garden to watch and pray with Him. As He was agonizing in the garden these who had said they would die for Him were asleep. They were more concerned with taking a nap than they were with Jesus. How many today fit into that same mold?
What must Jesus feel about those who fill church rolls but never darken the doors? Or those who sing ‘Oh how I love Jesus’ on Sunday morning and take His name in vain on Monday. Do you think that brings a tear to His eye?
The greatest pain may have been about the lost souls He was about to die for. Jesus knew He was about to die for the sin of all mankind. He was to become sin and the penalty for that was DEATH.
He prayed not my will but thine be done.
I know they don’t love me---but I will gladly die for them.
I know they won’t serve me- -but I will gladly die for them.
I know they will wander off-- but I will gladly die for them.
I know judgment day is coming and I will have to cast many into a lake of fire--- but I will gladly die for them.

This may be just a small peak into why Jesus was crying in the garden. Are we still making Him cry by our actions and rejection of Him?

Do We Sow Mixed Seed?

1Peter 1:23, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.”
The seed must be the right seed. We need to sow the best seed if we expect to reap the best fruit. We are not to sow mixed seed. We can’t mix the seed so as to satisfy the natural man. I read a story about evangelist Sam Jones. At one of the services where he was preaching he was told that he was rubbing the fur the wrong way. He replied then you best turn the cat around. God is not the author of confusion. Satan on the other hand is the master of confusion. If he can get you to sow mixed seed then the pure message won’t get out and souls will be lost or God’s work will go undone. When Jesus preached he also was told “you offend these people…” . The natural man understandeth not the things of God. We are not to mix satan’s message with God’s message. “We don’t do that!” “Really?” Let us see if that is true. Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? Satan’s message is you really don’t have to do that? God’s message is, “Oh yes you do.” Satan’s message let’s take and separate church and state. Let’s take God out of our schools. After all we need to teach our kids and make sure they are well educated. Humm! God’s message, “children obey your parents for that is the first commandment with promise.”
Preach the gospel in season and out of season. That is God’s message. Preach the gospel to the entire world so that my house may be filled. Satan then injects it really doesn’t matter what you believe just as long as you are sincere. The road to hell is paved with sincerity. There will be a lot of sincere religious people standing at the gate begging for a drop of water to cool their tongues. That is God’s message.
The fact is that there will be many who are members of the church who will be standing in empty buildings one Sunday morning wondering why the preacher is late and why no one is preparing for the service. They will be joined by others who just didn’t have time to get involved. When God reaps the harvest of the save born again souls He will cast into the fire all the tares; those who did not believe God would do such a thing. Don’t believe me take a look at Matthew 13: 24-30. Especially note verse 30, “ Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” Now you don’t have to believe or accept this message. Satan would prefer you not listen. The choice is yours. Heaven or hell you chose.
Jesus said this message would fall in many places. It will fall on the hard hearted. Those who are just too good to be religious and don’t need to be saved, the ultra religious, those who just don’t need God in their lives. He also said it would fall on the half hearted. Those who are saved but just don’t have time to get involved. Just go to church when they feel it is needed. Those who would not ever tell anyone about Jesus for fear they might be labeled as a Christian. Then there is the whole hearted or what Jesus called fertile ground. When our seed falls on a heart that is truly looking for God that seed will take hold and God will give the increase. It is our job to sow the seed of the gospel. It is God’s job to give the increase. I ask this question. What kind of seed are you sowing? Do you keep your seed hidden? What type of harvest do you expect? Where will you be when Jesus comes for the harvest?

Dressed For War

Ephesians 6:10-18, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
“Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war,” words from the old hymn remind us we are always to be ready to fight the devil. As Paul was writing to the Ephesian Christians he was giving them a picture of what one who was going into battle was to look like. It was a picture they all knew very well, that of a Roman soldier. Paul knew when we accept Christ as Savior we join the Army of God and would always be in a battle with God’s arch enemy, Satan. He also knew no one should go into battle without being fully prepared for the battle ahead.
Every day we wake up we enter into a battle with the devil. He is set to kill or damage as many Christians as he possibly can. He knows most never are prepared for the fight and as such will be defeated. Paul is showing us how we can win every battle and put the devil in his place.
In the business world we are always told we should dress for success. Why do we think we need not prepare for battle in a like manner? Our military folks never go into combat without being fully prepared. They know that should they enter combat without all the protection and weapons necessary they are facing certain death. We too cannot face the devil and his army without being fully dressed and ready for battle.
We face not a physical enemy but a spiritual one. One who is skilled in deception and stealth. One who will find your weakest point ant attack with all his might! For if he can make you look bad your testimony will be damaged and then he can scatter the army. Paul is telling us we all need to put on the whole armor of God so that we can face this enemy with the power of God. Try this for one week imagine as you wake each day that your first dress for war by putting on God’s armor asking God to give you strength for the trials of the day. Then thank Him at day’s end for the victory over sin and temptation.

Dealing With Problems

Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Living in this chaotic world not only causes health problems it also causes spiritual problems. By focusing on the problems we become problem-centered instead of God-centered. When we focus on the problems they get bigger and bigger. They begin to overwhelm us and cause the power of Almighty God to shrink in our minds. Instead of moving mountains by faith we create mountains by worrying and fretting putting needless pressure on ourselves and others.
When our problems seem larger that the God of the universe Isaiah gives us some good advise---wait upon the Lord.
The prophet reminds us just how great God is: “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.” Isaiah 40:15 then in verses 22-25 we are told: “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. “
This is not meant to make us feel insignificant but rather to know just how great and powerful God is. God wants us to see from His perspective. He offers us something that will enable us to live by what he sees not what we can see. If we will depend on Him instead of dwelling on our problems He has promised to give us peace. He will renew our strength, and wings of faith will lift our hearts to soar above our difficulties.
God offers us more than just a new perspective. He offers us something that will enable us to live a better life. If we will depend on Him and lean on His almighty arms our problems will seem small compared to His greatness. He will renew our strength, and give us wings to rise above our difficulties. As we rise on eagle wings our problems may be huge yet they will appear small. Jesus told us that if we have faith the size of grain of mustard seed we could move mountains. So with mountain moving faith and eagle wings and a God who is bigger that the universe He created we can feel secure.

Thanksgiving Thought

Psalm 100, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
As we prepare to share the bounty the Lord has provided let us pause to remember and count our many blessings. We are truly blessed to live in a free country. We may live with chaos but let us not forget the wars of the world have not yet been fought on our shores. We are free to express our opinions without fear. This country helps feed a large part of the peoples of the world. We are a free and diversified people who many times take our freedom for granted. Give thinks for all those who have paid the supreme sacrifice for freedom and for those who this day stands in harm’s way so that we can breathe free.
God has blessed because this country was founded on His Word and under His protection. As the Psalm so clearly states let us come before our Holy and righteous God with praise and thanksgiving. Let us stop and count our blessings. As we set down to a table filled with wonderful food and surrounded by family let us not forget to Thank God for what we are about to receive. Thank Him for our health and the health of our children and a roof over our heads.
Sing praises unto the Lord for had it not been for His blessings this day might not have happened. So pause for just a moment to count the many blessings God has spread before you on this Thanksgiving day.

Ripples On The Pond

Colossians 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
From ancient China comes a story about understanding. As the story goes a boy had spent several days building a toy sail boat. He was very excited to play with it and watch is float in the large pond near his home. Everything went well as he launched his boat. The boat stood straight in the water and moved surely as the boy directed it. Then a breeze was caught the sails and the boat began to drift out into the pond and out of the reach of the boy. Feeling he had lost his boat and that all his work would be lost he became frantic to try to get the boat back to shore. Try as he might nothing worked to get the boat to float back to the shore. He began to cry for someone to help him save his boat.
Standing by the shore was another boy who had been watching all that has happened. Hearing the other boy’s cry for help to recover his boat he offered to help. “Yes please help me get my boat back.”, pleaded the boat builder. So the second boy picked up a hand full of stones and began throwing them at the wayward boat. Distressed the boat builder saw the stones falling around his precious boat and he thought this so called friend was mean and trying to destroy his boat. As he watched each stone land just ahead of his boat he noticed that the ripples from the stones hitting the water were pushing the boat back toward the shore. It then occurred to him his friend was not trying to destroy his boat but was in fact saving it.
Sometimes it seems as if God is allowing circumstances to come into our lives that on the surface appear to be harming us or do not fit into our plans. Just as in the story we can be sure the waves of trial are intended to bring us back and closer to God. We are encouraged to set our minds on things above and not on things of this earth. God knows we are prone to drift away from Him so He sends waves to direct us back toward Him. He knows where to throw the stones and just how big the stones have to be to produce the waves to bring us back closer to His loving hands. The winds of doubt and fear will carry us farther away from our creator but the ripples will guide us back home.
Set our eyes on Him and know He will never leave us nor forsake us. God will use waves of trial to draw us closer to Him.

Helpless

Hebrews 4:14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Where in the bible does it say, ‘God helps those who help themselves.’? Ask anyone and most will say they are not sure. They have heard it all their lives so it must be in there somewhere. Truth is this is but a concept that many have come to believe to be written in scripture. Actually the bible doesn’t say that at all. It tells us quite the opposite. God helps the helpless. It is when we realize we can no longer do anything and turn the problem over to God that He does His best work.
When we read about the work Jesus did we see He never failed to help those who could not help themselves. He never withheld forgiveness or compassion. He did not turn away from those who had no power to change their circumstances. He was not concerned with public opinion. He saw value in everyone no matter their condition. The ones Jesus had the most problem with was those who felt they did not need any help.
God’s ways are not our ways His thoughts are not our thoughts. He sees things way different that we see things. By showing us our weakness he shows us how to rely on His strength.
It is when we run ahead and feel the success is due to our skill or craftiness that God may allow failure to redirect us back to Him. He does this to show us true success comes through His grace. Like salvation that is by grace not of works lest any should boast.
So when you feel helpless and down look up God is there to help you up. When you have fallen and don’t think you can get back up reach out for His hand and His love will lift you to your feet.
Come boldly to the throne of grace and humbly seek His help. When we admit we are weak God will be there in our time of need. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-29

Nation Needs Prayer

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
We all need to claim this promise.
The issues that now face our nation are not political economical or social, they are spiritual. Just as Israel once turned their back on God and faced near ruin, so then has the USA. This country is losing touch with God. Christians have too long been silent and allowed the godless crowd to dominate. History should teach us that when God is taken out of the picture evil will reign. The book of Hosea gives a clear picture of what Israel had done and the result. The picture looks very similar to the US today. God made it clear to Israel what would happen if they did not return to Him.
We have had warning upon warning and still we won't listen.
It is now time for all true born again children of God to pray as never before. Pray for this country, and then stand up for what made this country great. The current economic condition should give all Christians a strong wake up call.
There are no political parties now serving the interest of the people or willing to defend the principles this country was founded upon. This is a CHRISTIAN Nation and as such should be dominated by God loving and God serving people. Not run by Satan and the anti-Christian God hating minority.
It wasn't a single political party that caused the chaos that is prevalent today. It is the loss of national contact with God.
Our churches are struggling and Christians are cowering in corners afraid of offending someone. So afraid we will offend that we say nothing when our own existence is threatened.
Each person has the God given right to choose. If our Christian beliefs and principles offend you leave this country and find one that suites your political vision. Christians need to stand up and say enough. Don't remain silent while the God we love and serve is bashed and not allowed public air. How long will we stand and let those who are like those God has destroyed time and again continue to cripple this country?
This nation will continue to decline until we return and once again embrace the fundamental Christian principles upon which this nation was founded. Principles men and women died to protect.
‎2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
We all need to claim this promise.

How Do We Want to Be Forgiven

Matthew 6:12, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Jesus was teaching His disciples about many things as he was preparing them for the mission they were about to embark upon. Among the topics He taught was how to pray. He gave them an outline about how to structure their prayers. Today we call this the “Lord’s Prayer”. Inside the middle of the prayer the Lord gave them and us a specific request for forgiveness.
In the instructions Jesus made it clear we are to pray daily seeking our daily bread and also to ask for God’s forgiveness. Jesus knew we would be hard pressed to seek forgiveness on a daily basis. Today with all that fills our lives and crosses our minds we seem to forget to ask God to forgive us until we have amassed a large catch of sins do we come to God? As a result of that large mess of sin we feel estranged from God; our guilty conscience then makes it difficult to go to Him in prayer at all.
Jesus wanted to let us in on a great secret that the best way to keep things straight was to go to God on a regular basis and with a short sin list. We then can maintain a clear conscience with God and can go to Him with more weighty matters and can have assurance of our forgiveness and refreshing our spirit on a daily basis.
Notice something else that Jesus is making clear. Our daily forgiveness is tied purposefully and inseparably to our own forgiveness or others. Jesus is coaching His disciples and us that we must be willing to forgive others with the same forgiveness we want to be offered to us. And forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors is a very interesting statement. One that many today have either forgot or simply ignored. We have all heard someone say, “I could never forgive them for what they did to me.” According to Jesus then you may be cursing yourself. Jesus is not talking here about salvation and the sin debt that He would soon pay for all humankind. He is talking about sins committed on a daily basis. Even after we have asked for and received the salvation paid for on the cross we still will sin and do it on a daily basis. It is on a daily basis Jesus is telling us that we need to come to God and ask to be forgiven. Forgive us as we forgive others---do we want God to do exactly as we ask or as we act? We are to take our sin debt to God in prayer daily. Do we want God to forgive us totally when we hold a grudge and won’t forgive another?
Forgiveness is a real hard thing for us to understand and to do. Yet it is the foundation for how we are to life a separated life in and for Christ. Could it be the largest problem within the Christian community today is the ability or willingness to forgive may have been lost or forgotten?
The questions we all must ponder as we go to God in prayer is do we really want God to forgive us as we forgive others? How do we want to be forgiven? God forgives totally and without question---what do we do?

A Guide to Making Decisions

Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
The times in which we live have become more and more complicated. We have decisions to make daily some that have great affects on our lives and the lives of our children and those around us. What career path should I follow, how should I deal with serious family dynamics, to go back to school or not---each of these have different challenges. Jesus gives us a very simple guide to assist in making every decision from the simple to the complex. If we follow His advice we would simplify our decision making considerably. Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness. Don’t worry about personal advancement, financial security or self fulfillment. Look to God for direction.
So how should we apply this wisdom? Let’s see should we accept this promotion? Seek first the kingdom. How should we direct our children as they want to leave the nest? Seek first the kingdom. What about which church should we join? Seek ye first the kingdom.
No this directive does not give us specific answers to every problem we face it does eliminate a great number of options. Sure makes the decision making a lot easier. If what we want to do does not further the kingdom of God and reflect His righteousness then we might want to reconsider. Remember God has a plan for each and every life. He created each with talents for a specific purpose. He will comfort every hurt.
When we seek the welfare of the kingdom, then Jesus promises that God will seek our welfare. “and all these things shall be added unto you.” What things? Everything you will need and are necessary for you to make the right decision. God will provide everything necessary to advance the kingdom of Christ.
Many decisions we face daily have serious consequences. If we make decisions without God’s help and guidance we most often make the wrong decision. If the decision we are facing has dramatic effects on the life of another we most certainly would want to consult God before we make that decision. No matter how serious or how simple a decision the best rule to follow is: seek ye first the kingdom of God.
Making decisions is a full time job. It is also a job many do not do well; especially when it comes to life changing decisions. If you are facing a serious problem, looking to change directions, or are looking to help another then the best advice is: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
God knows what we have need of and He sees into our future. As you face difficult and convoluted questions today, filter your thoughts and decisions through this all-important objective: seek first the kingdom of God.

The Cross

Hebrews 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
As we look on the cross we can see many things and learn many lessons. What do we see when we look on the cross? Some see an instrument of death and dying. Others see a place of pain and suffering. The cross is so much more and has so many lessons for us to learn. From the cross we can learn how to endure injustice, and how to respond with goodness but this is just a small sampling of the lessons Jesus brings from the cross.
If we look on the cross with open minds and hearts we see far more than a suffering savior we see that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. We can see the cross was not an ending but a beginning on the way to a joyful coronation. We can see the cross as a vehicle Jesus used to defeat evil and death and give us life.
Jesus is the author and finisher of saving faith, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 Because of the work Jesus did on the cross is what transferred us from being dead to being alive. Because He put away our sin with His righteousness is the essence of where faith rest. True faith rest in a true reality, and there is no real salvation outside of Christ’s work on the cross. Jesus accomplished a great salvation for His people by the pain and suffering on the cross. Having attained this great purpose to free you and me from the bondage of sin and death He rose from the dead and took His place at the right hand of God where He sets as our intercessor and mediator. He is a righteous judge who knows the hearts of all who seek Him. He understands our need and feels our pain.
The cross is not to be worshiped it is to be experienced. Jesus used the cross to save all mankind. He hung between heaven and earth as an example and then defeated death on our behalf when He rose from the grave.
Let us look to the cross as a place of learning, a place where we can find peace and rest, and a place of power. Jesus is always there ready to take our hand and guide us. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What Happens When We Pray?

Acts12:5, “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”
Life has many turns and curves that will cause us to pray. Some may be painful, some due to loss or some crisis that has turned our world upside down. In the book of Acts we see a story where politics has driven a ruler to put a man of God in prison. Prejudice and jealousy has caused another preacher to lose his head. If you will follow this 12th chapter you will see how God turned things around and won the victory. Jesus and the gospel was magnified and Herod died.
Herod was trying to gain pleasure from the Jews and he thought if he got rid of Peter and James he would become more powerful and popular. What he did not count on was the power of prayer. Peter was in jail guarded by a vast number of soldiers waiting his execution… but prayer was made without ceasing. The power of God was brought to the jail that night. Prayer was the turning point in this chapter. Herod started out in control and on a rampage but in verse 24 we see “the word of God grew and multiplied”. It was not Herod’s reputation that was spread it was that of Jesus. When the church prayed without ceasing the events of history changed. What made this happen?
First prayer was made without ceasing. Jesus tells us that we will continue receiving and finding as we continue asking and searching. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew7:7-8). Second, the prayer was made by the church. If the body of Christ will not pray for each other who will pray for us?
The third thing about this prayer was that it was unto God. Not all prayer is to the one true and living God. Jesus says, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John14:6). The last thing to notice about the prayer it was made for Peter specifically. Personal intercessory prayer is Christ’s command to his church. Pray without ceasing and for a specific person or problem. We are to lay that person or problem on the alter and let God deal with it.
Prayer can and will change lives. When we go to God in prayer for another and seek His will God will answer and wonderful things will be seen. We must also remember God has a plan and a time. His time and His ways are not our ways or time. If we pray without ceasing unto God for a specific person rest assured God will hear and answer. When God does answer we are to rejoice and give Him praise.
The prayer of repentance for salvation will save a soul and a prayer made by the church without ceasing will change history.

What Do Your Eyes See

John 4:13-14, “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Jesus and his disciples were traveling back to Galilee and he decided to go through Samaria a region that was not favorable to Jews. They came to the city of Sychar that was near Jacobs well. It was hot and Jesus was tired so he sat down at the well to get a drink while his disciples went to get something to eat. The custom of the day was for women to come to the well in the early morning to draw water and visit with friends. Women of honor dared not come to the well in the middle of the day. As Jesus sat by the well a woman with a bad reputation came to get water and she came at mid day so as not to be scorned and called names by the women of the town. As she was starting to draw water Jesus asked her to give him a drink. Startled she asked, “How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” Jesus replied, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” Now she is really confused here is a Jewish rabbi who is asking her for a drink and is telling her he can give her living water but he has nothing to draw water with.
She thought--Who does he think he is? Is he better than Jacob our founder and patriarch? Confused yet she was now curious as to what this living water is and she thought if she could get that water she would never have to draw water again.
Here is a woman with a bad reputation but Jesus did not see that He saw someone who needed the love of God. He did not concern himself with the traditions of the time but took this opportunity to share the love of God with a lost soul. Was what he did politically correct? Did it look bad for a Jew to be talking to a lone woman in the middle of the day? Jesus was not concerned about what people thought or how things looked. He was concerned with this woman and how God loved her no matter what she had done. What did that mean to this woman? It showed her that she had worth. It showed her that someone cared about her and wanted to talk to her. This was far different from the life she currently led. She was shunned by everyone. She had several failed marriages and life didn’t hold much promise. As she talked to Jesus she began to see firsthand that God loved her.
What did Jesus see in this woman? He saw someone who needed someone to talk to, someone to care about her and someone who God loved. As he talked to her he looked into her heart and saw a lonely lost sheep that needed God’s care. Jesus did not condone her sin. He did not judge her for her mistakes. He saw past that and gave her the gift of life. How do we see people today through the eyes of political correctness or through the eyes of Jesus?

God's Love

John 3:1-3, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Who was Nicodemus? He was a very prominent man, a religious leader---a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. If anyone should have known who Jesus was it should have been Nicodemus. Maybe it was that he did know who Jesus was that made him come to see him at night so that he would not be seen talking to the Savior. After all he had a reputation to uphold. Yet there was something that was tugging at his heart that made him want to come to Jesus. So in the shadows of night he crept out and went to speak to Jesus.
How many times to we do like Nicodemus? Instead of professing our faith in God openly we cower back in a corner afraid someone will think we are a Christian. We hang around in the background of conversations hoping no one will notice us. We sure don’t want anyone to know we go to church or pray or that God is special to us. We don’t want anyone to see our faith. Jesus sees us. He knows what is in every heart. He knows if we are hiding and ashamed to be seen with the Lord.
Jesus understood the religious climate of his day. He understands the climate of today. He also understood that to be a follower of His one could not be half-hearted. You either were with him or against him. He knows the warfare that is raging in every heart. He knew why Nicodemus came and what he was looking for. Jesus did not make an exception just because Nicodemus was religious. He still makes no exceptions ---He still demands our unbridled commitment, faith and dedication.
Jesus told this very religious man what he had to do to get to heaven. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” When Nicodemus met the Lord his life changed. Jesus is the same today as He was then. He still is the only way we can get to heaven. For no man and come to the father but through Jesus. If religion would get you there Nicodemus had all the keys. Problem was none of his keys fit the door. We have the same problem today---we think we have the keys but unless we are born again our keys don’t fit either.
There is no doubt Nicodemus recognized Jesus as the Messiah. He knew all about Him but it was not until he came to Jesus and opened his heart that he came to know Jesus. It was not something he could explain. He did not fully understand how he felt. Undoubtedly God’s love and forgiveness drew him to the Savior. It was not until he witnessed God’s love displayed on the cross of Calvary that he fully understood God’s love. If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you today listen and come to know Jesus and let him change your life.

The Effects of Sin

Hosea 4:16-17, “For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.”
What a strange thing for a prophet of God to say, Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. This could be some of the saddest words in the Bible. If you go back and read all of Hosea you will see Israel had an idol problem. It appears the people of Ephraim had become so idolatrous that God said let them along and stay away from them. Some might say this was only God’s instruction to Hosea not to have any dealings with this group of people. “Let them alone; do not make friends with them; do not accept counsel from them; do not join yourself to them.” That sounds a lot like what Jesus said about the Jewish leaders who consistently refused to hear and understand God’s revelations to them. “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14). Why is it that many will follow a tradition and not listen to what God has to say? Could it be that they are so glued to their selfish ambitions and prejudices that they simply reject God’s authority for their lives.
It is clear here that god is telling his prophet not to have any more dealings with this group of people. He is saying the He will no longer give his preacher any messages for these people. It appears that God finally has had enough or their idolatry that He will not speak to them anymore. They have continued in rebellion and worship of idols and have refused to listen to the warnings God determines to leave them to their misery.
How terrifying could this be? Because of sin God no longer wants to talk to these folks. Is this Nation heading for the same fate? Are we becoming so hardened in sin that God will no longer speak to us? If we could look at what the Nation of Israel was doing and then compare that to what America is doing and you will see some very frightening similarities.
Do not trust your own strength or wisdom or goodness so much that you make friends with the devil and expect to stay holy. Don’t expect to play with fire and not get burned. Yes God is merciful and long suffering but there is a time coming when He will say enough and summon the arch angel and signal an end to all sin and corruption. Do not presume God’s mercy and put of repentance—the Holy Ghost Himself says, “Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:7-8.
The day of grace is still with us but it could end at any moment when Jesus comes to claim his own. Will you be among them? Or will you seek a place to hide hoping He won’t find you? There will be no place to hide. Amos 4:12 “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”

Right In God's Sight

Acts 4:14-19
“And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Here was a man, crippled since birth who was over forty years old standing before the most powerful religious group in Jerusalem (the Sanhedrin) -- healed. They were hard pressed to deny what was standing right in front of them. Had they made an issue of this man and tried to say he was something he was not would have been something that would have severely damaged their credibility. Did it matter what they believed? You bet it did matter! Everyone in Jerusalem had seen or knew what had just happened. Egos were hurt and their authority was certainly being challenged. The Sanhedrin had a problem they needed to stop this thing from spreading, so what was their solution? Stop them (Peter and John) from giving credit to Jesus (verse 17, "speak no longer to anyone in this name"). Sounds simple, just tell them to stop.

I love Peter and John's reply, “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” How often do we, when confronted with opposition to the gospel, sidestep around an issue or even worse be silent? Does it matter what you believe? It matters to God! Today Christians will not stand up for what they believe. Look what happened when God was taken out of our schools. Did we protest in the streets, write congressmen, no we just stood by and shook our heads and let it happen. What about when the Ten commands were taken down off the court house wall, did we say anything? Can’t pray at the ball game or at a social gathering for fear someone might get offended? Once again like a whipped pup we just stool with our heads down and said nothing. Is it any wonder few really believe we are really a Christian Nation? Who will you obey, the world or God? Will you succumb to societal and peer pressure, or will you stand firm in your convictions and beliefs?

But what if the choice isn't black and white -- what if there are different points of view or perspectives? After all, the Bible doesn't speak specifically to every issue on which we may be confronted. The answer can found in the phrase "in God's sight". This really cleans up the doubt. "Right in God's sight" is not always the most obvious, easiest, least confrontational, or convenient. But it is always right. The next time you feel a little confused on the right thing to do, place it in God's sight. Your decision will become much clearer.
Have you been ignoring or sidestepping around an issue? Have you been trying to convince yourself that un-Christian language is okay on the golf course, or inappropriate joke telling is fine as long as it's with your friends? Answer this question, what is right in God's sight? Would you do or say what you do or say if Jesus was standing by your side? Guess what He is!

Who is Jesus?

Matthew 16:13-16, “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus had been teaching and preaching all around the region. He and his disciples came to Caesarea Philippi a metropolis not only a major trade route but a mecca for all religious activity. Religions of all kinds found a home there. When Jesus arrived there was no place that had more elaborate religious significance than Caesarea Philippi. In the midst of the marble columns, golden idols Jesus came with a rag tag group of men talking about the Kingdom of God. As this group sat listening to Jesus he asked them a very startling and emotional question. “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Quickly they came up with all kinds of answers. Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Then he asked them, “But whom say ye that I am?” Silence fell on the group. No one wanted to offer an opinion. This question began to stir something in the heart of Peter. His answer did not come without some hesitation. Everyone knew Jesus was the messiah even if he had not come with a mighty army or in pomp and circumstance. He spoke with a confidence they had never seen or heard before. Peter’s words shattered the silence, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Wow! Was Peter the only one who saw that? These men had all been walking and talking with Jesus they had seen everything he had done yet even though they had seen all this they still never saw Jesus for who he was. Many had looked at Jesus, knew about him but how many really knew Him? We are in a similar state today as were those who lived in Caesarea Philippi. We are engulfed in religion by every religion known to man and yet we are wandering in darkness.
Jesus is still asking this same question. “Who do you say that I am?” what will you tell him?
The answer goes to the very heart of every person. God looks on the heart so we all need to be careful how we answer. One day we all will have to stand before God Himself and answer another question, “What have you done with my son?”, how you answer that question will have eternal consequences. Today do you only see Jesus, know about Him or do you truly know Him?

When God Speaks do we Hear Him?

Psalm 85:8, “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.”
“How do you know when He is talking to you?” asked a six year old to his Sunday school teacher. How do you know when God is talking to you? This comes from a story about a teacher who had been teaching a class of six year children about how to love God and how God loves them. Children usually go right to the heart of the matter. In his lesson the teacher said you have to listen to God just like you listen to your parents. Well this made no sense to one boy. He knew how to listen to his parents because he could hear when they talked to him. How could he listen to God when he didn’t hear God speak? So how would you explain to a child just how to go about listening to God? At six most children know they hear with their ears and if they don’t hear anything with their ears then to them it is not said. When God speaks He speaks to the heart and that is confusing to a six year old.
As young Christians the same thing applies. The preacher says you must obey the commands of God. Ok but I didn’t hear God speak! Yes you did as you began to feel that there was something missing and there was a need to fill a hole inside you. God sent the Holy Spirit to begin to talk to you. Began to give you that empty feeling and also began to tell you things you never heard before. Things like God loves you, Jesus died for and forgave you on the cross. That small voice from inside that said that is wrong you need to stop and make some changes. That was God speaking. You did hear it right? In short God made you hungry for spiritual food so that you could grow close to Him.
But what about those who have not heard of Jesus how would they know God was speaking to them. God speaks through those who have come to know Him from a salvation experience and have been given the task to tell those lost and without to come inside and be saved. Come in out of the storm and be warm.
That’s how you know God is speaking. Are You listening? You lost and wandering in the storm? Jesus said, “Come unto me all ye that labor and I will give you rest.” How about those who are saved but still want to play in the storm and wind and rain? God is talking to you too. Hear the still small voice saying, you really shouldn’t be doing that or I could really use another Sunday school teacher, the choir needs another singer or when was the last time we had a chat?
God is talking are you listening?

The Lost Child

Luke 15:11-12, “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.”
Jesus taught using stories about real people doing real life things. Take the story we call the prodigal son. It is a story that has many lessons. Today let us peak into this story and look at just one of those lessons.
The younger of two sons decided he wanted more out of life than just hanging around his father’s house following rules that he felt restricted his pleasures. So he asks for his share of the inheritance and took off to see the world. We now see this young man setting in an empty room staring at an empty wallet. He is alone because the friends his money bought all left when the money ran out. I’ll just go get a job he thought that will help. So he gets up and soon discovers the economy is real bad due to a famine in the country. The only job he can get is feeding pigs; a very low wage job at best and one that didn’t even give him enough to eat on. “You know,” he thought “the servants at home all have plenty to eat and I am starving. I will go to dad and tell him I am sorry and ask for a job in his fields. At least then I can eat.” So he gets up and heads back home.
Back at home there is a much different picture. Dad gets up every morning and stares down an empty road straining his eyes in hopes he will see his son coming home. Day after day he looks but no son does he see. He breathes a prayer and goes about the business of the day. He wonders if his son is ok if he is well if he is eating and is warm. He thinks all the parenting things a father thinks about when a child leaves home.
This morning dad goes about his usual routine but something is different off in the distance slowing walking down the road he recognizes his son. Excitement fills his heart junior is coming home. The business of this day will have to wait. He can’t wait he runs to meet his son. With open arms he hugs him for he now knows his son is ok. Yes he is a bit dirty, very hungry and is trying to recite a well planned speech. “Dad I’m real sorry I blew it I have sinned against you and God and all I need is a job in the field.” “Nonsense, you are my son and you are home.” Calling all the staff dad shouts, “Get this boy some clean clothes, break out the fine china, get a fire started and start cooking the fatted calf we are going to have a party. My son has come home.”
Notice the father was not concerned about what his son had been doing. Did not care that his son was dirty and broke or that he had wasted all the money he was given. All he cared about was that once his son was lost but now was found. That’s forgiveness at its best.
God is like that. No matter what you have done, no matter where you have come from when you turn and ask God to forgive you, asks Jesus to come into your heart God shouts for joy and all heaven starts to sing. A lost soul is found and one of God’s creations is home. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Let the party begin!

The Man Who Didn't Know

Matthew 26:20-22, “Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?”
The twelve men that sat with Jesus at the table were all common men. We all have pictures in our minds of what each must have looked like. The rough fishermen, the tax collector, the doctor all give us an image of what they looked like. What about Judas what did he look like. He was numbered among the twelve. He had walked with the Lord for three years so what picture do we see of him. The fact that he betrayed the Lord conjures up visions of a man with an evil eye, a man who stands off from all the rest; a loner with cold and conniving expressions. An evil looking beady-eyed little man with a pointed beard. He must have had a bad childhood his parents must have left him on the street. But could that really be what he looked like?
Jesus did select him and he was numbered among the twelve. It is doubtful he was a loner as he was trusted as the treasurer. At the last supper when Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me” no one look straight at Judas. No one even considered him to be the traitor. Could we picture Judas as a man who was jovial, well liked by all and had been outgoing and well meaning. It is hard to say as the bible does not give us a picture of him.
So what do we know about Judas? I think Judas is like many today he knew about Jesus but had no real relationship with him. He had seen Jesus but he did not know who he was. He had heard Jesus speak yet he failed to understand anything he said. Judas was a man exactly what Satan needed to betray the Lord. He was looking for a man who had been seen with Jesus but did not see Jesus. Satan was looking for a man who had talked the talk but who did not walk the walk, a man who had little conviction and who could be easy swayed by the slightest wind. Satan also was looking for a man in the inner circle.
A great lesson is presented to us through Judas Iscariot. Satan’s best tool to destroy is found not outside the church but seated in the pew. It is not the drug dealers on the street that do the most damage to the Lord’s church it is those who sing Oh How I Love Jesus on Sunday morning and curse the driver in front of them on Monday. It is not the corrupt politician in Washington that will kill a church it is those with a selfish me and mine attitude that will close church doors. To quote Max Lucado, “The church will not die from without but from corrosion within—from those who bear the name of Jesus but have never met him and from those who have religion but no relationship with Jesus.”
Judas looked like one of the twelve, walked like one of the twelve, talked like one of the twelve, traveled with the Lord and wore the religious robes but he never knew the heart of Jesus. He had religion but had no relationship. How many today would fit into that picture?

Why did Felix tremble?

Acts 24:24-27, “And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”
As the apostle Paul stood before those who accused him of all manner of incorrect actions he took this opportunity to tell his story about how he met Jesus. Picture this Paul was brought from prison to stand before the Roman governor and state his case. Also present were the Jews, the religious elite, who were jealous and afraid of Paul. Not only were they afraid of Paul they were afraid of Jesus. We see here the most powerful political figure in the region with the authority to kill or spare a man’s life. Felix was not afraid of Paul nor was he afraid of the Jews. So what did Paul say that made this powerful man tremble?
Paul had no power to do anything to him. Paul was a prisoner in chains. Paul told Felix about Jesus. If Felix refused and rejected Jesus offer that he would one day stand before someone more powerful than August Caesar. Stand before and be judged by someone who had the power to destroy body and soul in hell. He also told Felix he would have to give account for all his words that alone made Felix tremble.
There is nothing more freighting than to walk into a place that is unfamiliar and with known hostility all around. Knowing danger lurks around every corner and not knowing where or when an attack might come is a very scary thing. Felix did not know his destiny; could not see the future. This alone scared this powerful man. He did not know what lay ahead. Just like us today we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Many today are afraid not to trust Jesus. Yet the world has such a strong hold on them that they can’t or won’t let go. They don’t want to die. They don’t want to go the hell. They don’t want to stand before the most powerful judge and state why they rejected the Son of God. Yet they all want to be politically correct. Does that make you tremble? It did Felix.
Paul is still sending a warning to us today. You are going to die with or without Jesus. With Him heaven will be your home. Without Him Hell is waiting and is filling up fast. Jesus is weeping and waiting for you. He died for you. Shed His blood on a cruel Roman cross for you. God loves you so much He sent His son to die for you. What are you going to do?

Let Him Go

John 11:38-44, “Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”
Jesus preformed many miracles during His earthly ministry. Maybe the greatest was when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Mary and Martha were broken hearted not only for the loss of their brother but they felt Jesus had let them down. Four days after the funeral Jesus came to visit the family and to help the Jews see who He was. The sisters met Jesus crying, “If you had been here our brother would not have died.” Even when He told them He had come to raise Lazarus they did not believe Him. Asking where the grave was Jesus went and saw the tomb with the stone that sealed it. He also saw all those who mourned for the lost loved one. Seeing the pain on their faces and in their hearts He too wept but not just because Lazarus had died. He also wept for their lack of faith and trust in God. When He asked for the stone to be removed He again was met with resistance. He had the power to remove the stone with a word but He wanted all to see that there are things that people must do to be able to receive a miracle. Once the stone was removed Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus come forth.” Everyone fell silent waiting to see if this Nazarene could really do the impossible. Slowly Lazarus emerged from the grave wrapped tightly in his grave clothes, standing in the opening very much alive. What Jesus said next is very interesting. Now that Lazarus was given a new life before he could begin to enjoy it something had to be done. Everyone was standing amazed and in awe missed one very important thing---Lazarus could not move or free himself. He needed his friends to release him. Jesus spoke again, “Loose him let him go.”
Jesus is still saying that today. When we are wrapped in sin and asking for forgiveness—loose him and let him go. When tradition and prejudice are binding us to the glory of God ---loose him and let him go. When we get tangled up in the cares and problems of this world that are keeping us from the fellowship with our Heavenly Father---loose him and let him go. Anything that is keeping us from walking in the light and love of God, Jesus is saying, “Loose him and let him go.”
All gathered at the tomb trusted God to give Lazarus a new life. Lazarus had to trust his friends to untie him to allow him to experience his new life. What do we have in our lives that are hindering us from the blessings and riches of God’s grace? Jesus is once again saying, “Loose him and let him go.”

Give Account

Romans 14:11-13, “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”
Saved or lost all will have their day in court. Jesus will be the judge who hears all cases. The lost will be asked one question, “What did you do with Jesus?” The saved will have to give account for their lives and service to God. We each are accountable for many things. Jesus will hear and fairly try each case.
We shall all give account for what we do with our lives. If we are like the tree that bears no fruit we will have to give an account for that. We will have to give account for our faith. Why didn’t we trust God with our time, our talent, and our treasure? You know what the bible says? “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” What is faith anyway? Faith—the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Where might your faith be found? Is it in the bank? Is it in some man or men? Did you put your faith in a building with a religious name over the door? Is it in theology or ritual? Or is your faith in God the author and finisher of our faith?
We will have to give account for our faithfulness. Have we been faithful to His word, faithful to His house, and faithful to His commands? Do we abide in Him or in the world?
God commanded His church to go ye into all the world and teach all nations. If it took money to win the lost how many do you think would be won today? What price would you put on a soul?
The Lord doesn’t expect us to waste what He has given us but He does expect us to use it. Use it for His honor and glory. Use it to win the lost to Jesus. Use it to be able to hear, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
Yes we will all have to give account for where we have been what we have done. To coin a phrase we will all have to watch our own movie. We will have to watch it in front of Christ the Holy Righteous Judge. We will hear every word see every deed from beginning to end and so will Jesus. If there is no scene where we accept Jesus and ask for His forgiveness we won’t like the ending.
We all must give account!

Running From God Part 2

Jonah 1:1-2, “Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.”
In part one we looked at what makes people run from God. That very brief description gave us but a glimpse of what causes people to run from God. Today let us examine why people run from God.
Why do people run from God? First thought that comes to mind is they don’t truly trust God. That may be just the tip of the ice berg there may be deeper issues far too lengthy to explore here. If God has a plan and He wants to use us to complete that plan whose fault will it be if we refuse? Who will miss the blessing if we turn and run? Does that mean that God’s plan will fail? The answer is clear.
Most people run from God because they resist God’s way. “Who me, preach?” “I can’t teach a bunch of kids.” “What will people think if I follow Jesus?” Flimsy excuses at best but are the ones most heard. I would wager we all could add to that list without hesitation. The best one with the least understanding is--- “God you just don’t understand or know my situation?” Oh really! If God looks on the heart He knows!
Another reason that causes us to run from God is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure or simply not sure we heard things right. All of these are tools Satan uses to place doubt in our minds. Doubt that will draw all attention away from what God is calling us for. Jonah not only had doubts he had his mind made up. He bought a ticket got on a boat ant took off. He just started running. His flesh was weak and his spirit was certainly not willing.
God knows what he is doing and what is needed to complete the task. When He calls He already knows what is in our hearts and lives. He knows what needs to be changed or adjusted and what it will take to do that. Once we accept His call He begins to prepare us for what lays ahead. As He begins we may not see or understand what must be done or how it will be accomplished, but God does. All He asks is for us to trust Him.
He is also at work preparing the road that He is asking us to travel down. The problem comes when we want to take control and start listening to someone other than God.
The Devil says run and if we do it will become clear who we are listen to. Once the devil has our attention he then sues that to not only defeat us but to defeat those to whom we are to be sent. If the one who led Spurgeon or Moody or Graham to the Lord had turned and run what would have been the result. Some will say God would have sent someone else. Yes He could have done that but He didn’t he called someone and they answered His call and the world has never been the same. Many souls are now with the Lord and many more have been inspired to follow that same path as these men of God.
If we don’t answer God’s call and take off running does that mean God’s plan are doomed? No His plan will still work He just may have to use someone else. And another vessel lies broken and up on the shelf.
Next we will look at the How of running from God.