"You Need a Good CFO! (Mark 3:13-14)

When I was with my former company, my partners thought it important for all of us to understand our strengths and weaknesses. Thus, we hired a business consultant who administered a test that would identify our personality types and aptitudes. My analysis was direct. I would be a good leader or CEO but would need a good accountant or CFO. No surprises there. My weakness has always been with numbers and financial forecasting. I have always surrounded myself and relied upon others with an excellent eye for financial analysis. Of course, this assumes the people I choose would also be compatible with my other advisors and managers. And this is where problems often arise.

In all my companies, I have endeavoured to surround myself with people who were adept in areas which I lacked. I have sought people who were skilled at advertising, marketing, sales, finances; and to direct everyone, a good manager. Any personal weakness would be compensated by others more talented than myself. But what looks good on paper, may not translate well into reality. Personality conflicts may arise, competing agendas may supplant the leader’s vision, and petty personal idiosyncrasies may explode into outright hostility.  We may need to find others to compensate for our weaknesses but the solution may sometimes not be worth the effort.

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.
Mark 3:13-14

I marvel at the men that Jesus Christ picked to be His Apostles. These twelve men had such varied backgrounds and frankly, it is a wonder that a civil war did not erupt. Simon the Zealot was called this because he was a virulently anti-Roman agitator. Matthew was a tax collector, a Jew who worked with the Romans. These two Apostles could not have been more opposite in outlook and occupation. Fishermen, tax collector, zealot... Jesus brought them together.  Would I have picked such men? I doubt it. Jesus was willing to use men who had many personality flaws and their own competing agendas. He did not focus upon their flaws but focused upon their hearts. He revealed to them that He was the Son of God and by placing their trust in Him, He used them to proclaim and preach the Good News to all people.

I am thankful that by God’s grace and mercy, He saved me. He uses me, in spite of all my personality flaws and weaknesses, to serve Him. I may surround myself with others to help me but I first need to believe that His grace is sufficient for me. His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

I Would Like to See My Grandchildren (Psalms 128:6)

During a breakout session at our recent church conference, I was placed with a group of 4 other adults. One woman was a grandmother, another man and woman had 3 grown children each, and one man was finishing college. The question was posed to each of us, “What would you like to see in your lifetime?” As I surveyed the group, a pleasant thought occurred to me and I stated, “I would like to see my grandchildren!”

The oldest woman, who was a grandmother, chuckled and said, “Your kids are only teenagers!”

“I know, “ I replied. “But it is still something that I wish!”

I am very proud of and thankful for my 2 children. And as I watch them both grow, it is my heartfelt wish to see them become godly adults and raise a godly family. God honors our families and also desires for us to see our grandchildren.

May you see your children's children!
Psalms 128:6

Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father.
Proverbs 17:6

I am greatly comforted that God addresses all of our desires, spoken and unspoken. On top of the exceedingly abundant blessings He has already showered upon me, He seeks to bestow further blessings through my children and grandchildren. It is never too early to seek God’s blessings within the lives of our children and hopefully, grandchildren!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Something Had to Change (John 3:30)

When I was a freshman in college in Southern California, it was the first time I was living away from my childhood home of Hawaii. I didn’t know anyone on the campus, I was suffering with the smog-infested air, and I was homesick. My pre-med classes were difficult and I struggled to adjust to intense pace of college and adapt to a new environment. My study habits that had previously served me well and allowed me to get accepted to this college, were now failing me. My first semester grades were three B’s and one A-, it was a good showing but not good enough. Berating myself, I uttered, “I will never get into medical school with these grades. It isn’t good enough.”

Something had to change. The courses were not going to get any easier, the environment was not going to change. No, I had to change. I had to completely change the way I studied and I needed to study harder, harder than I had ever previously done. It wasn’t easy and it meant sacrificing all of my free time during that second semester of my freshman year. But slowly, I saw progress. My new system of taking notes and studying was allowing me to be more productive and efficient. As a result, I felt more at ease with my classes and environment. The effort paid off and by the end of the second semester, I had three A’s and one B+. I was on my way to medical school!

This time in my life reminded me when I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I did not know how to grow in my faith, all of my usual methods of learning were failing me. I would read the Bible but it felt unfamiliar, transporting me to an ancient society with different traditions. I would speak to other Christians but I was overwhelmed and confused by words like “redemption” and “sanctification”. Something had to change. But instead of my usual habit of looking inward and attempting to marshall my own resources and self-determination, I looked outward and upward to Jesus Christ. I prayed to Him to fill me with His Holy Spirit and allow me to change to become more like Him. Slowly, my prayers became more focused, the words of the Bible began to resonate within my soul, and fellowship with other believers became sweeter.

He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30

When our usual methods and actions seem ineffective, we need to re-evaluate what we are doing. Sometimes the answer is change. But like John the Baptist’s revelation in the verse above, we need to be humble and admit that we must decrease and God must increase; we need to acknowledge that God is in control. God brings us into different situations in life to allow Him to reveal His glory to us. He works in our lives and through others to accomplish His will.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 
 

Just Don't Hurt Your Family (Proverbs 15:27)

I have a physician colleague who is an excellent surgeon and a successful businessman. When I was beginning my own medical business, I met with him for advice seeking wise counsel. After conversing for over an hour, he smiled and looked at me and uttered these sage words.

“Whatever you do, just don’t hurt your family.”

He shared that he had seen so many people make business decisions that ultimately ended up hurting their family. Some decisions were poor or risky financial investments, others took time taken away from the family, still others were dishonest and flaunted the law. Whichever the decision, the family was the loser.

Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.
Proverbs 15:27

Running a business requires a substantial investment of one’s time and financial resources. While the owner may list a multitude of reasons for starting it, ultimately, only a business that is dedicated to serving God will honor Him. The type of business does not matter. What matters is the heart and attitude of the owner. The Bible warns against greed and unscrupulous actions in any business dealings. Your family will be hurt. And God will hold you accountable.

In business and in life, none of our decisions are made in a vacuum. Seek God’s will first by believing and trusting in His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior. If you confess your sins to Him and truly repent, He is faithful and just to forgive you and grant you eternal salvation.

There is no more important decision you can make for yourself and for your family.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 
 

Just Do It! (Proverbs 14:12)

Just Do It!

If it feels right, do it!

You only live once, go for all the gusto you can!

We live in a culture inundated with advertisements instructing us to follow our indulgences. Don’t deny yourself what life has to offer! Obey your instincts! Sometimes, our instincts do steer us in the right direction, or at least what seems right. Life is a complex maze of competing interests, ours and the world. And if our interests match with the world’s, we perceive that we made the right decision. After all, we often think we are the best qualified person to make that choice. This is not truth, only a relative truth for what we want it to be.  

Thankfully, there is another way.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Proverbs 14:12

The Bible tells us that what man deems right or necessary is not always in his best interests. Only God knows what is the best path for us to take. And when we submit to God’s leading, it is not a life of denial but rather of freedom. It is living a life for which we were created. This is the truth.

Just do it!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

F.O.T.F. (Psalms 68:5)

I have always felt that family practice is one of the most challenging of medical specialties. Not only does the physician need to have the broadest knowledge base of any specialty, they must keep current with the latest medical advances. It is a daunting task to keep up with one medical specialty. Now, multiply this with knowledge needed to remain competent in obstetrics, pediatrics, internal medicine, radiology, and the laboratory. Although many family practitioners end up developing an expertise in certain areas it is difficult, if not impossible, to be master of all specialties. And if there is an area that is not within their expertise and the patient ends up being referred, the medical specialist who sees the patient may be critical of the family practitioner for not having an adequate depth of knowledge to treat the disease.

A while back, I wanted to create a dermatology newsletter to assist family practitioners and other medical specialists who do not have expertise in treating skin diseases. It was called “Skin Tags”. Privately, I called this newsletter, F.O.T.F. It was an acronym for “Friends of the Friendless.” These physicians, on the front lines of medicine, need immediate access to as many medical specialists as they can find. They often felt abandoned and vulnerable. I was honored to assist with their needs.

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
Psalms 68:5 (ESV)

God is a protector of those who feel abandoned and vulnerable. He commands us to watch over the disenfranchised and the neglected. We should happily oblige out of gratitude for what God has done for us. God is the Creator of the universe. He is the joy of our salvation. And God is the friend of the friendless. He proved it by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and reconcile our broken relationship with Him.

Will you trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
 

Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Acts 11:26)

There is a movement in medicine to rename diseases, previously designated by eponyms. Some of these diseases were named after German physicians who have been shown to have worked and collaborated with the infamous medical experimentation of the Nazi German regime, during World War II. One of these physicians was Friedrich Wegener. Dr. Wegener was a pathologist who discovered a disease in 1937. This rare disease, soon dubbed Wegener’s Granulomatosis, is an autoimmune disease, a condition where the body’s immune system attacks the blood vessels leading to devastating complications in the skin, kidneys, and lungs. However, once more information was revealed about Dr. Wegener’s past affiliations, a movement started to rename this disease descriptively as Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, a cumbersome but accurate description of the pathology of the disease. Because of the negative personal and professional associations of Dr. Wegener, other physicians no longer wanted to dignify a disease, which he discovered, with his name. The name evoked too many painful and negative memories.

...And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Acts 11:26

The Bible informs us that followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians in the city of Antioch. Prior to this, they were known as followers of the Way. But the name Christian is so much more powerful. It identifies the believer with their namesake, the object of their highest devotion.

A name is a powerful reminder of a person. Some names evoke shame and hatred and are best left unspoken. Others evoke love and awe and should be proudly declared. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the name of Jesus Christ should be spoken with reverence and love, wherever and whenever possible. There is no shame or hatred associated with the name.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Following the Disciples (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Peter, John, Thomas, Judas.

These are four of the disciples for whom the Bible gives us many fascinating details of their lives. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the first three men were radically transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to become leaders of the early Christian church; they led lives worthy for all of us to emulate and follow.  But prior to this, they exhibited faults that many of us will readily identify. During certain times of Jesus’ ministry, each of these men put their own goals or fears ahead of Jesus.

Peter placed his own fears ahead of identifying himself as a disciple of Jesus, frightened that he would be beaten and tortured like Jesus, if he revealed his relationship. John placed his pride and selfish ambitions ahead of Jesus’ mission as he asked to sit at a place of honor when Jesus established His kingdom. Thomas doubted the truth and power of the Resurrection even though his fellow disciples testified to the truth. And Judas put his greedy desire for money over Jesus’ offer of salvation.

Fear, pride, doubt, greed.

Each of these character traits led the disciples to deny or doubt Jesus Christ. Sadly, too often, I exhibit these same traits in my relationship with my Lord, Jesus Christ. There are times when fear seizes me and I am hesitant to speak up to defend the name of Jesus. My pride and ego focus upon my accomplishments instead of using my talents to further God’s Kingdom. During difficult times, I may doubt the power of God to cause all things to work together for good. And how many times have I made a decision to purchase something purely to satisfy a carnal need instead of focusing upon how the purchase will glorify God?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Only through the redeeming mercy and grace of God the Father and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit am I able to allow God to transform and renew my mind into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. I seek to follow the examples of the disciples after they received the power of the Holy Spirit and understood who Jesus Christ really was. He is God incarnate! And I should live a life empowered through God’s Holy Spirit rather than weakened and downtrodden by my own fears and goals.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"I Need Your Prayers!" (1 Timothy 5:17)

“I need your prayers!”

The pastor cried out to his congregation. We all sat in stunned silence as he broke down in tears. Several members stood up and embraced him and the service was halted as the congregation came together to pray for our pastor.

Over the past year, his marriage was under increasing strain as his wife separated from him and took their two children to live with her. This would be one of his last sermons to us. I had known this man for all of my adult life, first as a friend, later as a brother in Christ. For the last few months, he asked me to help with his church music ministry. It was during this time, I witnessed the unique pressures a pastor must face. He is teacher, preacher, counselor, administrator, and manager. Everyone is clamoring for his attention and their needs must be met yesterday. His most important responsibility is to preach the Word. But many of these other activities often supplant his ability to preach. And Satan continually lurks, ready to hinder and discourage the pastor’s work and ministry.

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
1 Timothy 5:17

All pastors need our prayers. They are called by God to be shepherds of the local churches. We, as the Body of Christ, should be doing everything possible to take over routine administrative responsibilities and counseling so that he may focus upon the preparation and teaching of God’s Word.

Our pastors need our prayers.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

M.H.D. (Mark 6:31)

When I was a resident, we had a white board at the entrance to our offices. On it were the names of all the residents with their pager numbers. Next to the names was a space designating the particular rotation each resident was currently engaged. Occasionally, instead of the rotation, there were three initials written, M.H.D. It was our code for “Mental Health Day.” When we took a vacation or day off, we wrote this. These initials best captured our feelings about taking time off. It was not to visit some exotic place, it was simply to rest our minds. We needed it!

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Mark 6:31

As impressive as Jesus’ care for the sick and needy, I am always overwhelmed with the compassion and consideration that Jesus had for His own disciples. The Gospel of Mark records a fast paced ministry with crowds continually clamoring for Jesus’ attention. Our Lord recognized the physical and mental demands upon Himself and His followers. He knew when to stop ministering to others and rest.

In this workaholic society in which we live, we must be mindful of the demands that life places upon us. When under stress, take time to heal your body and your mind. Go to a quiet place and place your burdens upon Jesus Christ. He will sustain and carry you.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

I'm Starving! (Proverbs 6:30-31)

“I’m starving!”

Like clockwork, this phrase is uttered before mealtimes throughout many a home. Of course, in most instances, it is an exaggeration. Aside from a growling stomach and a little discomfort, the meal could easily be skipped with little or no ill effect. Many of us eat very well and are nowhere near starvation. Yet, there are many families, in this country and throughout the world, who are starving and this exclamation is not an exaggeration at all, but a desperate cry for help. Sometimes this hunger leads to desperate measures, including stealing.

People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.
Proverbs 6:30-31

God does not condone stealing food and He holds every person accountable who does such an action. But God holds us accountable as well. We, who have food and resources in abundance, should be willing to share of our abundance with others who have less. It can be a donation of food or money or it can be actively participating in organizations that gather food and prepare it for the homeless and hungry. We should seek to care for others so that hunger does not drive a person to stealing and other desperate measures.

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:17-18

Let us love others with the love God has given to us.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

He Agrees With Me! (2 Chronicles 18:7)

When I was a resident, I had a professor who was an excellent diagnostic pathologist. Occasionally, he would come upon a rare diagnosis and would consult with other experts in the field. When he received the report from the consulting pathologist and if it agreed with his diagnosis he would exclaim, “Dr. Smith agrees with me so he must be a pretty good pathologist!”

I always chuckle when I reminisce about this statement. I, also, find myself thinking more favorably about others whose opinion agrees with mine. After all, who wants conflict?

So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla.”
2 Chronicles 18:7

This passage in 2 Chronicles depicts the ungodly attitude of King Ahab of Israel. He only liked a prophet if he prophesied good things about him. Thus he looked upon the prophet Micaiah with disdain because he only prophesied evil about King Ahab. But King Jehoshaphat of Judah prevailed upon him to persuade Ahab to inquire of Micaiah. And when he did prophesy evil and judgment, what was Ahab’s unsurprising response? ”Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

God’s Word may not always agree with our plans. But we need to only seek God’s approval, not the approval of others. We need to be honest with ourselves and the only way to do this is to honest before God.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 
 

Character Development (Luke 9:54)

Character development makes any story compelling. Whether it is in a movie, a book, or play, we are drawn to characters that evolve or devolve. From Luke Skywalker in the “Stars Wars” to Daisy Werthan in “Driving Miss Daisy”, the changes that occur help us to empathize or vilify the characters. It breathes life into the characters making the story more believable.

And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
Luke 9:54

James and John were brothers and Jesus nicknamed them the “Sons of Thunder”, no doubt because of their intense zeal. It was a zeal that would motivate them to ask Jesus to command fire to consume people who did not accept them. They had the audacity to ask Jesus if He would grant them the right to sit at His right and left hands when He is King. And this was immediately after Jesus had just shared the shocking prediction that He would be delivered to the Chief Priests to be put to death. They were driven but it was a zeal without knowledge. But Jesus was patient with them.

As they developed and learned from their Master, they, along with Peter, were privileged to witness the Transfiguration of Jesus, a glimpse of the glory He had in Heaven, before He came to earth. And in the last moments on the Cross, Jesus bestowed upon John the loving responsibility of caring for His own mother after He was gone.

At the end, when he was exiled on the island of Patmos, the Apostle John could reflect upon his life that was dramatically altered by the call to follow Jesus Christ. He began as a fisherman and ended as the author of the Book of Revelation, giving us a glimpse into the promises of eternity. He began as a Son of Thunder but he ended his life as the Apostle of Love.

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
1 John 3:18

Character development. God gives us so many memorable examples in the Bible to inspire us and teach us. All development is only fully realized when it leads to total submission to God. We allow God to develop us by confessing and repenting of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"How Could You Do This?" (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

“How could you do this?”

This is the plaintive cry of anyone who has been wronged by another. It is also the cry of anyone who has witnessed a loved one do a despicable action. It does not matter what explanation is given for the sin: revenge, jealousy, envy, lust, greed. The heart of the matter is we do not become sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners.

When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, He blessed and sanctified me and immediately began the beautiful and merciful transformation in my life, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  As Jesus Christ sanctifies my life, I have become more aware of just how depraved my life was without God. It is ugly. Sin is ugly.

I have examined my own life, attempting to dissect the complex interactions and experiences that have shaped me. At times, these periods of introspection have led to some insights: it was the way my parents raised me; it was the childhood friend who betrayed me; it was the business partner who always usurped me. These exercises may be helpful but oftentimes the only result is assigning the blame to others.  These explanations still do not answer the most basic question, “How could I do this?”

I am a sinner.

I was born with my sinful nature. And even after accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, it still remains a battle between my old sinful self and my reborn spirit. I never wanted to admit this and acknowledge my utter helplessness with sin. I am too thoughtful. I am too intelligent. I am too good a person to do this. But God knows my heart and my true state.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;
Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
Jeremiah 17:9-10

I am a sinner. What I truly need is a Savior. What I truly need is to live a life completely yielded and obedient to Him. Thank you Jesus for dying on the Cross for my sins and taking the punishment I rightfully deserved. Through the power of the Resurrection, I have been forgiven of these sins and live a life that is being transformed into the man that You created me to be.

Praise God!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Digging Up Dirt (Colossians 2:13-14)

Digging up dirt. Skeletons in the closest. Carrying baggage.

We have colorful expressions to describe the sins of our past or that of others. None of them are elegant, and all of them remind us that the consequences of our past sins can come back to inflict more pain and damage, both upon ourselves and others.

And some memories die hard. I have heard many a conversation denigrating someone for an egregious sin, even though the person speaking was never directly involved or affected by the sin. And no matter how many years have passed since the event, whenever that name is brought it up, the conversation inevitably turns to that sin.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Colossians 2:13-14

God has wiped away the eternal penalties of our sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the Cross. But the memories of some sins still burns brightly for others. Sometimes, even time will not diminish the memory or hurt. The only answer is to bring these angry and bitter thoughts before God. Without God, we are complete sinners and can do nothing on our own to earn God’s favor or acceptance. When we realize the depth of God’s compassion and mercy for us, will we be able to view the sins of others in the proper perspective. God forgives all who come to Him with a truly repentant heart. And He did this so that we may also chose to forgive the sins of others.

Let go of the sins of others and hang on to the promises of God.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

A Five Sigh Day (Jeremiah 31:25)

When I first began working, I would often find myself sighing if I was confronted with a crisis or something that did not go the way I expected. On most days, 1 or 2 sighs would be emitted. But occasionally, I would encounter many fires that needed to be extinguished and with each encounter, a longer and louder sigh would be emitted.  I began categorizing my days by the number and timing of my sighs. If I emitted 5 sighs before 9 AM, it would probably be a very trying day.

How do I deal with such an experience? If I turn my thoughts inward and focus upon my plight, it will only lead to self-pity. It I turn my thoughts outward to my circumstances, it may lead to further frustration. The only solution is to look upward.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalms 121:1-2

The promise that God makes to all who trust in Him is to provide a replenishing strength and power to endure and a faith to trust in His provision.

For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.
Jeremiah 31:25

God’s promise to satisfy our soul can only come if we place our faith and trust in accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. If you have confessed your sins, truly asking Him for forgiveness, He will answer your prayers and give your soul the eternal rest and peace that it has always been seeking.

And a five sigh day will only lead to another opportunity for God to bless you even more!

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

IV Sedation (Galatians 3:13)

Several months ago, as our family was driving past a dental office, my daughter saw a sign that was advertising:

IV Sedation for Your Patients

My wife, a pediatric dentist, utilizes IV or intravenous sedation for some dental procedures. However, my daughter was unfamiliar with the terminology. So she asked us, “What does IV sedation mean?”

Seizing upon a teachable moment, my wife replied, “What do you think it means?”

With a thoughtful pause, she answered, “Four sedation?”

It took a moment for my daughter’s answer to sink in but at the same instance, both my wife and I burst into laughter, much to my daughter’s confusion! I shot her a big smile and reassured her, “Sweetheart, you’re too clever for us!”

When we see letters or symbols, they may represent different things depending upon one’s background and the situation. The letter “A” may represent academic success or may be worn as a shameful symbol of adultery. An outline of a fish may represent your occupation or hobby or it may signify your faith in Jesus Christ.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written,
“Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”
Galatians 3:13

The greatest crime in history is symbolized by a tree, pounded into the ground in the form of a cross, executing the greatest man who ever lived, Jesus Christ. But the greatest act of love is also symbolized by this same tree. For by it, God accepted the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, as payment for our sins, and raised Him from the dead. He now reigns in Heaven and someday, He will return to rule this world.

The Cross-a symbol of shame, a symbol of faith, hope, and love.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

Life Verses (Romans 8:39-39)

When I read biographies of great Christian saints, a life verse may be included. One of the more amusing examples was quoted by Dr. J. Vernon McGee, in his Through the Bible Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.

I remember hearing about a congregation where the pastor asked for some favorite verses of Scripture. One man got up and said his favorite verse was, "And it came to pass." He sat down, and everyone looked puzzled. The pastor asked him how in the world that could be his favorite passage. He answered, "When I get in trouble, I turn to where it says, 'It came to pass,' and I know my troubles came to pass. They didn't come to stay." God will bring us through the storms. We will finally be rid of all our troubles. How wonderful that is.

What a beautiful sentiment. God’s promises crystallized in this brief and common phrase!

It was in college when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. During that first year, I experienced several challenges in my nascent walk. At one point, I was frustrated with the pressures I was facing. In desperation I cried out to God for reassurance. God’s Word dramatically answered my prayers as His Holy Spirit directed me to this verse.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39

I yelled this verse for over an hour. It was the first Bible verse I committed to memory and it became, and still is, my life verse. If we know and are convinced that God is for us, then who can be against us? What trials and tribulations could ever come between us and God? Nothing!  We have the assurance of a God who loves us. His love is infinitely greater than any trial, creature, or power on this earth. And it will always bring us to victory if we trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

What is your life verse?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

I Know Who You Are (Romans 2:5)

I had a friend in college who fancied himself as an expert on personality types. He liked to figure out the kind of person you were and by doing so, would be able to predict your behavior. I learned of this peculiar trait after a few months with him. One day, he turned to me and said, “I know who you are!”

“What do you mean?” I stammered.

“You are the kind of person who likes to build a foundation. Your world has to be built one idea at a time. And if you find something that doesn’t fit on to that foundation, you discard it and find another that will.”

Amused, I asked him, “So what does that mean?”

“It means you are very stubborn and will not accept new ideas until you have examined it for a long time,” he confidently replied.

I reflected for a moment upon his statement. At least part of what he stated was true. New ideas that are presented to me do not find a quick acceptance. I study an idea, turn it around, and examine it from all viewpoints, until I am satisfied that it is valid.

And I believe this is why I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Through a series of encounters that was clearly the Hand of God directing events, I turned from atheism, to universalism, to Christianity. Along the way, I had to painstakingly convince myself of the truth of each belief system I encountered. But when I was confronted with Christianity, it was different. I was confronted with the truth; it was a glorious truth that completely turned my world upside down. In fact, I had to fight and struggle to consider reasons why this might NOT be the truth-all to no avail.

But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
Romans 2:5

This was me. I am stubborn. By my own efforts, I would never have come to God. It was only by God drawing me toward Him and revealing Himself to me, was I able to come to the point where I realized the depth of my depravity. I needed a Savior. I needed Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God’s mercy and grace. He saved me through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. The same stubbornness that kept me from His loving grace for so many years, now keeps me secure in His salvation. And I am eternally grateful!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

Shower Car (Matthew 6:13)

When my daughter was first learning to talk, she would sometimes substitute her own words for the usual ones. One memorable episode occurred when we passed a car wash. When she saw it, she gleefully exclaimed, “Shower car! Shower Car!” My wife and I smiled because although she did not use the correct name, her description was absolutely accurate!

The choice of words is important. Even as something as beloved and familiar as the Lord’s prayer can sometimes reveal more than what initially seems.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one….
Matthew 6:13 (NKJV)

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:13 (ESV)

Although both translations are accurate, it is understood that evil is not only a principle but a person, the evil one-Satan. Thus, when Jesus commands us to ask God, the Father, to deliver us from evil, He is asking us to pray that God will place a hedge of protection around us, hindering Satan’s attempts to attack us. God does not tempt anyone to sin. He  promises to protect us, if we allow Him. But too often, we follow our own evil desires and end up in sin.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full- grown, brings forth death.
James 1:13-15

We must choose our words carefully. We may blame everyone else, including God, for our sins. But until we accept the responsibility for our own actions, we will never acknowledge our desperate need for a Savior. Only by confessing our sins, repenting, and accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, will we be able to be forgiven our sins. Only then will we be able to pray the Lord’s prayer in confidence, knowing that He who saved us will never leave us nor forsake us.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.