August 6, 2008 by Administrator.

As I was perusing the selection of Bibles, I ran across this one: “Quick Study Bible: Making Bible Study Easy”. The word “quick” really bothered me. Nowhere in Scripture has God recommended that we take a quick break for studying His word. David would spend the day and night meditating on God’s Word (Psalm 1:2; 4:4; 63:6; 77:6). Don’t think that he had more time than us: David was king of a country. Jesus would spend the evenings and early mornings in prayer (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12). If you have a busy life, make time for the Lord. Don’t try to squeeze Him into a tight schedule so that you can check it off your to-do list.  Personally, I feel the only time that I can spend in quality time with my Savior is before I get going in the morning. It is different for everybody, but make time. Don’t give God a quick break in your busy day.

Think of a plant that says, “You know this photosynthesis thing takes a lot of time. It’s quite a task to get all this done in a day. So Mr. Sunshine, I can give you about 10 minutes of my day and then I’ve got to get working.” It’s absurd! The plant is dependent on the sun for its photosynthesis. As Christians, we are dependent on our time with the Lord and in His Word for our growth. It takes more than a quick peek at the Son to grow.

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July 24, 2008 by Administrator.

“For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, that as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” ~ 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 

The last phrase of this passage has been ringing in my mind since Sunday. Perhaps it is better to say that the Lord has burdened it on my heart. Every day I have been pondering this verse. Paul is speaking of false teachers who are out to deceive the church. Yet, the last portion of verse two seems to echo something simple, but so profound. I wanted to know how to be devoted to Christ in this simplicity and purity. My thoughts were pointed to Romans 16:19, which says: 

“For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.”

Maybe this was God’s way to simply, but purely, follow Him. Maybe I wasn’t having that childlike faith and trust in my Father. Maybe I wasn’t being content to let Him lead the way. How can I be simple to evil, yet wise to good? I also believe the Lord guided my mind to this final verse:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” ~ Romans 12:2

I believe that God (through these verses) was saying that it was more than time to be renewing my mind deeply in His Word, will, and grace. Its time to be simple towards evil, and wise to what is good. It’s time to simply, purely, and devotedly follow Christ Jesus. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

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June 9, 2008 by Administrator.

Not too long ago, a lost gentleman came to me and said,

“Do you know who I saw having lunch together?”

Of course I replied by saying that I didn’t know. He named a certain man and woman. Both of these people profess to be Christians and are married to different individuals. Then this lost gentleman asked me,

“No one was there with them. Now how does that look?”

My mind immediately went to the verse, which says, “Avoid the very appearance of evil.” I did not want to concede to his point, so I tried to defend their reputation and morality by saying,

“I know… I’m absolutely sure that there is nothing going on.”

Then he replied to me by saying,

“And I agree! I would bet one million dollars that nothing is going on. But how does it look?”

I glanced down, nodded my head, and pressed my gently clenched fist against my lips. Then leaning back, I looked up and met his eyes and said,

“You’re right.” 

It does not take a follower of Christ to know what the appearance of evil is. The smallest of things (that could be perceived as evil) can have very detrimental effects on the testimony of a Christian. We must take care to guard ourselves. Sometimes it can be disturbing to know that the world is always watching for something with which to tear down a Christian’s reputation. I say this not only for you, but also myself. We must be mindful of our surroundings so that we are not placing ourselves in the very appearance of evil. More than just our reputation is on the line… it’s Christ’s.

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May 23, 2008 by Administrator.

I have been thinking about a quote which says “Live every day as if it were your last”. This made me ask myself, “If I were to join the Lord today, would I leave this life content with the way I had lived it? If I knew that nine hours from now I was going to die, what would I change? What would I regret? Or would I carry on the same?” Of course, these questions flooded my mind with things that I should do and things that I should change. So I ask you the same question, if you were to pass away nine hours from now, would you change anything? Would you regret anything? Would you pass away wishing you had done something different or done something instead of procrastinating? These thoughts, though some may view them as morbid, I feel they are a great reminder as to why I need to be on my knees talking with my Savior. It puts in perspective how short life is. Not only do we need to pray, we need to get up and live today as if it was our last. Live for Jesus while we have been blessed with life. Don’t procrastinate for the Lord. Live for Him.

And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” ~ Luke 12:16-21 NASB

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May 9, 2008 by Administrator.

I was discussing with my family about rebellion as Christians. We all have had times of defiance and rebellion towards God. This attitude and lifestyle leads to our lonely misery. All the purpose and enjoyment out of life just dissipates. All the while, as followers of Christ, we know how to avoid this. We know that by repentance, prayer, fasting, the obedience of His will, and the study of His Word, our fellowship with Him can be restored. So why don’t we do this? Why do we persist in our rebellion persist in living a life where God would not have us? Why? Willful rebellion is sin. As believers, we know what to do. We know how to return to God. But we continue in the mire. This is sin (James 4:17). Swallow your pride and get on your knees.

I recall one time refusing to pray about a certain situation. Why? I didn’t pray because I already knew how God would answer me. Instead of yielding to His will, He had to break mine. I remember hearing that Israelite shepherds in the biblical times would discipline a rebellious sheep by breaking the legs of the animal. Then they would tote the sheep on their shoulders for however many weeks it took for the legs to heal. Once the legs were healed, the sheep would follow and trust in the shepherd. Will God have to break us of our rebellion? Or will we run and throw our arms around the neck of our loving and faithful Father?

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April 19, 2008 by Administrator.

“So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.” Hebrews 2:1 NLT 

As Christians, we are all in danger of being deceived by false teachers or chasing after the things of the world. We are advised by the writer of Hebrews to intently listen to the truth we have heard in God’s Word. I particularly like the implications of the word “drift” in this verse. This kind of drifting is like a ship without an anchor. It will be gently pushed by the waves away from where it began. Before long, the wind will howl and the torrential rains will pour. The ship will be surrounded by a thick darkness. The world’s influences will crash on us eagerly trying to capsize our witness for Christ. The fury of Satan will do all it can to overcome us. Without an anchor in Christ and His Word, we as Christians will drift into the tempestuously evil sea of the world. If we do not regard God’s Word as the infallible truth, then what do we have? Each person will do what is right in his own eyes. We cannot lean on our own understanding, but must see all things through the pages of God’s Word. If we do not heed the Truth, we will find ourselves far from where we ever expected to be.

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February 20, 2008 by Administrator.

“Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” ~ Matthew 16:23 

A few weeks ago I was amazed as I read the latter part of this verse. In the past, I always focused on the “get behind me, Satan!” Yet all the while I hadn’t studied the following words.   This verse has really made an impression on me. How often do we as Christians set our minds on our own interests and not God’s. I believe as Christians we can try to honor God, but we are also doing it for our own interests. For example, maybe we serve others while inwardly we are starving for praise. Or maybe we witness in hopes that we will have another number to add to our list of converts. Maybe we desire to teach others the Word of God and try to gratify our pride at the same time. Maybe we long to do mission work where God does not want us to go. Though Peter was being the mouthpiece of Satan, he simply desired that Christ would not suffer and die. Satan wished for Jesus to be swayed by His love and attachment for His disciples. Peter’s wishes were against the will of God. That made him a stumbling block.  

As Christians are we trying to live a life consumed with our own interests, but still attempting to please God at the same time? Can we as Christians please God if we act outside His will and interests? Are we striving to live a life of holiness within the confines of our own interests? I am guilty of this. I seek to bring God glory, but I wish to do so my way. Could my endeavors to honor God while keeping my own interests at the forefront of mind be a stumbling block to others?  It is time to yield. It is time to submit. It is time for God’s interest.

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January 28, 2008 by Administrator.

I know there have been times in my life when I have not wanted to ask God’s opinion about something. Most of the time I didn’t ask because I knew how He felt, but I didn’t want to change. All the while, I knew what He would say. Foolishly, I thought that if I didn’t think/pray/ask about it, God wouldn’t notice or voice His disapproval. The things we try to guard from God could be our movies, books, music, friends, hobbies, or aspirations. Though many of these things might not fall into a sinful category, they could fall into a category of defiance. If you fear that God will tell you to change, then change needs to happen. It is essential to our growth that we cut off what we know is not honoring to Jesus. Don’t live as though God doesn’t notice your actions. Don’t live as though God doesn’t care about what you do. God wants to be intimately close with us. How can we be close to Christ if we harbor what He disapproves of? If we know He might disapprove, it’s time we swallow our lump of pride and submit to our Lord and Savior. Ask. Submit. Obey. Honor the Lord of hosts.

Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. ~ James 4:17 NASB

Posted in Glory to God, Christian Living, Christian Applications | 4 Comments »

January 12, 2008 by Administrator.

This post has been kind of hard for me to type out. I’ve known all week that I wanted to go over the topic of gluttony, but it’s been difficult to flesh out. Perhaps it is because I deal with it first-hand in my life. This past Monday I realized that I was a glutton. Most of the things I shouldn’t do excessively, I do. The things I need to do more of, I don’t. I think my whole life I have ignored the fact that gluttony is a sin. I have over-eaten, I have over-slept, I have spent money frivolously, I have worked greedily to earn more, and I have put aside too much time for me. Not only this, but I cannot recall I time I was sorrowful for being gluttonous. I’ve looked back and said, “Man, I shouldn’t have bought all this junk.” I’ve also said, “I shouldn’t have eaten so much.” But was I ever repentant? I can’t say that I ever was. Our culture believes that we cannot have enough of anything: Our houses aren’t big enough, our closets aren’t full enough, our cars aren’t nice enough, our salaries aren’t high enough, our plates aren’t big enough, and our lives just aren’t good enough. As sinners, we crave more of what feeds our flesh, even to the point of gluttony.

The portrait above of Henry VIII is truly the epitome of gluttony. Observe that his clothes, his jewels, his size, and the room in which he stands are all examples of excess. Do we as Christians read the Word of God excessively or pray without ceasing? Or are we greedily desiring the things that Henry VIII flaunts: riches, power, and materialism all inside a palace.

If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. ~ 1 Timothy 6:8

He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. ~ Proverbs 28:7

A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished. ~ Proverbs 28:20

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,” then your poverty will come as a robber and your want like an armed man. ~ Proverbs 24:33-34

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ~ Luke 12:12

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January 3, 2008 by Administrator.

“Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~  2 Corinthians 12:10 NASB

It’s so amazing how the Lord brings certain passages to your attention as if they were brand new! As I read this verse, I said to myself, “Wow. Can I say that? Can I say that I’m content in the Lord’s strength when things are hard and stressful?” When we are weak and times are rough, we seek out the Lord. I have the tendency to be most happy and content when things are well. But when our surroundings are peaceful, we tend to drift. However, my idea of difficulties and Paul’s description of distress and difficulties are much different. How do my hardships compare to being imprisoned, beaten beyond count, lashed, beat with rods, stoned, shipwrecked three times, and being stranded for a day in the sea? Could I be content in the Lord’s grace and sovereignty if I had to endure what Paul experienced? There is so much to be learned from this verse.

Posted in Biblical Thoughts, Christian Living, Biblical Study | 1 Comment »

November 13, 2007 by Administrator.

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17 NASB 

God really laid this verse on my heart this morning. Sometimes “the right thing to do” is to just repent. Whenever I find myself wallowing in my flesh, I continue to do so until the booming voice of God calls out the error of my ways. Then I thought, “When I know that I’m wrong, why do I keep trying to gratify my flesh? Don’t wait for God to have to chase me down and chasten me. JUST STOP! Stop now! Repent here and now.” When I know gossiping is wrong, repent now. When I know pride is wrong, confess now. When I see selfishness consuming me, cry out now. Don’t wait and wallow, stop now. On several occasions in the past I have been driving and when I pull up to a stop sign, I focus on the word “stop”. Crazy as it may seem, but I feel God’s finger pointing at the various sins in my life. And I think, “What have I been doing? I need to stop trying to live for myself when all the while I know that You are the only thing worth living for.” Don’t wait for the next stop sign… stop now.

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October 25, 2007 by Administrator.

As Christians we should strive to live godly lives. Nearly all Christians would readily declare their willingness to die for Christ. I find this hard to believe since so many Christians struggle with living one day that honors the Lord. My focus turned to that yesterday: “How can I live just one day, TODAY, in a way that honors the Lord?” I tried to narrow my thoughts to the current moment rather than generalities such as “life”. Our lives as a whole should honor Christ, but are we honoring Him right here and now? If we cannot devote this day to Him, how are we going to give Jesus our lives unto death? Critique your lifestyle right now. Live the Christian life day by day. Take it slow and “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” ~ Philippians 2:12

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