What Will You Do with My Son? (Matthew 27:22)

Pilate said to them, “ What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
Matthew 27:22

God, the Father, asks this one question that everyone in the world must answer. “What will you do with My Son?”

Pilate did not want to answer the question for himself and attempted to shift the blame to the crowd, believing that he was absolving himself of the answer to the question.

The rich, young ruler who approached Jesus and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” was unwilling to do what was asked of him, to completely obey Jesus and get rid of anything that hindered absolute devotion to Him.

Peter, after adamantly proclaiming his loyalty to Jesus by stating, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble,” would deny that he knew Jesus, a mere few hours later.

Everyone in the world must answer this question. We may think we can artfully dodge the question; we may state that we accept Jesus as God but then turn aside when we consider the cost; or we may simply turn our back and deny Jesus.

God, the Father, asks, “What will you do with My Son?”

What will your answer be?

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

The Holy Spirit Restrains the Sin in Me (James 1:13-14)

Turn the television on or look at the headlines of any major newspaper and the majority of the stories are the same: murder, disasters, wars and rumors of wars. Even the most optimistic person must agree that there is much that is wrong with this world. The Bible has made it clear that this is not the world that God created for us to indwell. God created a world where man would have absolute dominion over nature, living in perfect harmony with all of God’s creation. But man rebelled and decided that his way was better and by doing so, sin entered the world. The result has been thousands of years of pain, suffering, war, hate, and crimes.

But as tragic this world is, it could be a lot worse. It is only through the loving mercy of God, through His Holy Spirit, that we are able to exist. God’s Holy Spirit is at work in this world, restraining sin, not only in me, but in every living person. Although it is almost unfathomable to think this, if God were NOT in the world restraining sin, it is highly unlikely that mankind would even exist. Total anarchy and annihilation would result. In spite of what philosophers may aver, man’s basic nature is not good. We are sinners and are separated from God, our Creator. Thus, if we were totally abandoned by God, our demise is more than assured.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God:for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:13-14

This is not the world that God planned for us, but someday, we will live and reign with Jesus Christ, if we have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. Trust in Jesus and strive to become more like Him.

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

Confronting Your Fears (1 John 4:18-19)

In the movie Divergent, the main characters all need to face a grueling set of tests in order to join a team of warriors known as the Dauntless. During the final stage of training, the heroine, Tris, must face her worst imagined fears when an injected neurological serum causes her to vividly live through them in her mind.

Most of us do not need to be reminded of our worst fears. We are constantly confronted with them; risks of a broken relationship, possible job loss at a downsizing company, the imminent loss of a ill loved one. God understands our fears and does not abandon us. He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, so that if we place our trust in Him, He will allows us to cast out this fear. We can truly be dauntless when we rely upon Jesus Christ!

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:18-19

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

Unceasing Prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

What happens when we pray without ceasing?

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Acts 12:5

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Romans 1:9

Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
2 Timothy 1:3

Prayer in this life is a rehearsal for what happens in Heaven. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is there, continually praying and interceding on our behalf.

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25

What happens when we pray without ceasing? God answers us with His perfect love and timing. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He intercedes on our behalf. The God of this Universe who holds all power in His hands, listens to our every prayer and answers them. What an awesome God we serve!

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

Delighting in God and Fearing God, the Other Side (Psalm 37:4)

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:4

How do we truly delight in God?

We know God is love, the ultimate and most perfect representation of love. We take comfort in this, knowing that God’s sacrifice and forgiveness covers all of our sins.

But the other side of the delight is the fear of God. The Bible tells us that we must fear God.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments:for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13

Fear often has a negative connotation. From an early age, the objects of our fear take on different manifestations: a person, a place, a time, an activity...all of these are embedded within our being, ready to be triggered and brought to the forefront by a seemingly unrelated event. But God knows that fear of God is clean or pure, and this leads to a perfect peace.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 19:9

False teachers claim that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament. They claim that the Old Testament God is vindictive, a jealous ruler, invoking fear. The New Testament God is love, a gentle shepherd, invoking peace. This is a false teaching. The God of the Bible is the same in the Old and New Testament.

Peter spent three years living with our Lord, Jesus Christ. He witnessed His transfiguration and was an eyewitness to His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven. He called Jesus the Chief Shepherd, recognizing the kindness and forbearance of our Lord. But he also recognized that God deserves our respect and fear as the ultimate judge of all of our actions.

When we come before God, we must understand the complete character of God, not just pick and chose the characteristics we think God should be. God simply is. He is our Peace. He is our Provider. He is our Sustainer. And we know God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

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

What Will it Take? (Romans 13:11)

What will it take for God to reach your soul?

Will it be the tender moment of God using a believer to explain the Scripture to a seeker?

And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:31

Will God need to show His mercy by curing you or your illness or healing a sick loved one?

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
John 11:4

Will God need to strike someone dead in front of you before He gets your attention?

While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
Acts 5:4-5

Will it be the last moment of your life? The thief on the Cross recognized Jesus for who He was, the Lord and Savior. He cried out to him as he hung there dying.

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “ Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Luke 23:42-43

Now is the time to accept our Lord. We can reason with ourselves that we have time to make this decision, that when the time is “right”, we will be able to make the decision. But that right time is now. No excuses can be given.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Romans 13:11

What will it take? It only takes a response to God’s offer. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Your eternal destiny can begin anew at this very moment.

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

Do We Deny Jesus Like Peter? (Matthew 26:69-75)

Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”  But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”  And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “ Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.
Matthew 26:69-75

Reading this account of Peter denying his Lord, I wonder if I would be braver if faced with the same situation. Would Iproclaim Jesus to anyone who questioned my faith? Sadly, I know I have denied Jesus far too many times than I care to remember or admit.

What form does this denial take? It can be subtle and almost subliminal. We may deny Jesus Christ when we substitute these actions for true faith:

1. Hang around with other Christians. ("You also were with Jesus...")

2. Talk like other Christians ("...your speech betrays you...")

3. Take actions on behalf of other Christians (Peter cut off the High Priest's servant's ear Malthus, John 18:10-11)

Peter's denial is a reminder that we, too, can easily be led to think we are secure in following Jesus but not truly trusting or believing in Him. We may find a false sense of security when we surround ourselves with a Christian family and Christian friends. But it all comes down to your position with God. Are you truly following and relying upon God or relying upon others to support you?

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

A Burning Desire (Jeremiah 20:9)

When something unusual or special happens to us, we want to share the news with others. A promotion, good grades, an award-all of these are so much more meaningful when we share it others, especially with those whom we love. If something prevents us from immediately sharing the news, we may take the initiative to post the event on a social networking site, if only to allow others to learn about the event. In one way or another, we will get people to hear about what we want to say!

Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.”
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.
Jeremiah 20:9

Jeremiah loved his people and could not bear to see them punished for their sins, desperately asking them to turn from their sins and repent. God is patient but His time of patience of grace was to soon end and the wrath of God would descend upon the Jews who would be taken into Babylonian captivity.  In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah is discouraged that his message from God was greeted with such hostility. He complained that everyone mocked him, saying that all he did was proclaim bad news. Out of frustration, Jeremiah stated he would not speak anymore in God’s name. But he was in for a surprise! God’s Word is living and active and cannot be held within us when God commands us to speak it to others. And Jeremiah obeyed God and continued to speak about Him. His Word was a burning fire, unable to be held back.

Do we have as much excitement within our hearts to share God’s Word and love as we do with events in our own life?  James states we cannot be only hearers of the Word but doers as well. If God’s Word dwells within us, it will burn through our conscience and be shared with everyone with whom we come into contact.

God’s Word is a burning fire. It cannot be quenched by our efforts, no matter how stubborn or hostile we may be. The more we resist it, the more intense it will burn through our soul.

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

Be Predictable (Mark 9:35-37)

Google has a well-deserved reputation for being very selective with their job applicants and developing leaders. Using the immense power of their databases, the Google team has derived a complex set of algorithms designed to sift through thousands of data points to find the best traits for a potential leader. The results are a bit surprising.

Predictability, according to Google, is the most important character trait for leadership. Google reasons that when managers are predictable, employees are free to perform knowing the established boundaries within which they are able to act. This removes the biggest roadblock for many employees’ performance.

When we think about being a leader, traits such as boldness, perseverance, and charisma all come to mind. Even the disciples jockeyed for positions of leadership when they followed Jesus. Jesus knew their hearts and conversations. But instead of discouraging their ambition, He challenged them to redefine what it means to be a leader.

And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Mark 9:35-37

Predictability for leadership is important. But Jesus goes deeper. He asks us to examine our attitude and heart. What are our motives for being a leader? If we seek to be a leader to serve others, then we come closer to what Jesus expects of a true leader.

At some point in our lives, we will be asked to be a leader, whether we desire it or not. When that moment arrives, look to Jesus as the supreme example of leadership.

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

The Solution to Pollution (1 Corinthians 13:12)

“The solution to pollution is dilution.”

My chief resident in surgery used to quote this aphorism whenever we were operating. As a medical student, my solemn task was to make sure the operating field was free of blood and tissue so that the other surgeons could efficiently operate. I would hold an aspirator, a vacuum device, that would suck up the debris, and endeavour to keep the operating field clean. But sometimes, sterile saline would have to be added into the field to assist in the task. The saline would dilute the debris, making it easier to remove, and solve the problem. It would provide clarity.  “The solution to pollution is dilution.”

Clarity. We need to see clearly before we can start or complete a task. It may mean removing obstacles that hinder or distract our attention. It may mean letting go and stopping bad habits or sinful behaviors.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12

God is very clear about what He requires of us. We need to come to His Son, Jesus Christ, and accept Him as Lord and Savior. In this life, we see things dimly and will not be able to see His entire plan for our lives. But the insight He gives is enough to know what we need to do to follow Him. And one glorious day, we will see Jesus face to face and all of God’s plans for our lives will never be clearer.

We carry many obstacles and debris that hinder our vision of God. We need His clearing and healing touch to give us clarity.

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

The Most Powerful Addiction (Psalm 16:11)

I recently had an opportunity to listen to David Mann, a former lawyer and recovering drug addict. Mr. Mann spoke of the power of addictions and defined it as a disease, a brain disease. The addition keeps increasing the levels of dopamine, a powerful neurotransmitter in your brain. The elevated dopamine levels leads to the craving which builds and reinforces itself. The more dopamine, the more you want it. This is the science of addiction.

Listening to Mr. Mann describe the slippery slope that led to his addiction, he outlined several points that contributed to his plight. His addiction was the direct result of his denial, arrogance, pride, and greed. The motivations for his addiction were strong and immediate pleasure was the goal.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 16:11

God promises pleasure, far more satisfying than anything we can ever imagine and more powerful than any addiction. And God does it by providing an answer through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, a transformation occurs, a transformation so powerful that no drug rehabilitation program or self-help course can ever begin to approach. And to seal the deal, He gives us His Holy Spirit that begins the process of sanctification.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25

Do you want this kind of pleasure? Do you need this kind of peace and love? All you need to do is to acknowledge that the manner you have lived your life has separated you from God’s great and unlimited love. And once you have done that, ask God to forgive you of your sins by believing in the death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. It is only through belief in His Name that all worldly addictions, no matter how hopeless they may seem, will be conquered.

God is here to save you if you sincerely ask Him with all your heart!

Amen!

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

The Answer Has Been There All Along! (Romans 1:20)

For many years, surgical pathologists had observed a peculiar coating of bacteria on the surface mucosa of stomach biopsies. Many dismissed these bacteria as part of the normal flora within our gut. But between 1979-1982, two prescient physicians, an Australian pathologist, Robin Warren and an Australian gastroenterologist, Barry Marshall, identified this bacteria as Helicobacter pylori and suggested a link to the development of stomach ulcers.  

In an attempt to confirm their theory, in 1985, Dr. Marshall swallowed a pure Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) culture and developed a severe case of gastritis, which cleared without treatment, proving the bacteria could cause gastritis. Later work showed that H. pylori is involved in many other diseases of the stomach, including several types of cancers.

This bacteria had been observed, for well over a hundred years, ever since surgical pathologists first examined histologic slides of stomach biopsies. The answer to many types of gastritis and ulcers was right in front of their eyes, but no one recognized the association! The answer has been there all along!

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Romans 1:20

Sometimes the most astounding discoveries of life are within plain view and reach. The magnificence of God, His perfect love, His invisible attributes, are always on display before us in everything we see or do. But at times, we are unwilling or too proud to acknowledge Him. Some even attribute the beauty and complexity of nature to a series of random molecular, genetic, and chemical events that somehow came together in just the precise combination and circumstances to create life. And then, once life began, an even more astounding series of random events led to ever more complex forms of life, culminating in man. The sheer magnitude of the odds for all of this to happen and continue to happen staggers even the most imaginative, disciplined, and solipsistic of minds!

God has put His imprint upon every form of life and every chemical reaction in the universe. And the more one explores and discovers the complexity of His creation, the more it will lead one to the conclusion that only a Supreme Intelligence, an omnipotent God, could have created all of this.

The answer has been there all along!

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

Resistance is Futile (James 4:7)

The Borg were one of the great villains in the television and movie series, Star Trek. Whenever encountering another species, like humans, they recited the memorable phrase, “Resistance is futile.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZEJ4OJTgg8

Seemingly unstoppable, the Borg would “assimilate” any species and transform them into a weird symbiosis of machine and animal. The phrase, “Resistance is futile” struck fear in the hearts of all who encountered them. The Borg were the embodiment of evil.

We face a Borg by the name of Satan. But guess what? Resistance is not futile! All we need to do is call on God as our Lord and Savior!

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

Satan will flee from us when we obey God. Such a powerful and mighty God we serve! Nothing can stand in His way!

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

Not Independence but God-Dependence (Matthew 7:1-5)

Is our faith and spiritual life dependent upon the faith of others?

Do we ever allow the failings of others to influence us? If someone we interact with on a regular basis disappoints us, will that encourage or diminish our own faith or does it matter?

Disappointment has many faces. It may arrive harshly as an argument or missed appointment or slither in subtly as an unanswered question. Regardless of the reason, we may feel slighted because the offending party did not live up to our expectations. But at the heart of this disappointment is the fact is you are judging someone by your standards and not God’s. Are we in the place of God? Certainly not.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5

If we are believers, we should be looking to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as our example of how to treat others, especially if they disappoint us. We should allow God, through His Holy Spirit, to influence our every thought and action. And if we fail to do so, our spiritual life will be affected because our prayers and spiritual life will be hindered. Jesus warned Peter about what it means to truly forgive someone.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “ I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:21-22

We cannot hold grudges nor can we give lip service when it comes to forgiving others. True forgiveness involves a change in behavior on the part of the forgiver. True forgiveness is love and love is patient, kind, and bears all things. Our faith and spiritual life are only dependent upon God and how we forgive others is the true sign of whether we are living a true God-dependent life. It is not independence but God-dependence.

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

No One Deserves Death (Romans 3:23)

“I don't care how rude someone's humor is, no one deserves death.”

This was an anonymous posting on a social media site after the comedian Joan River’s death on September 4, 2014. It caught my eye as it seemed to encapsulate so many ideals of what the world believes. First, humor is acceptable even if it is at the expense of another person’s dignity. Second, one’s opinions are their own and do not have to be justified to anyone else. And finally, death is wrong and should not be the final fate of anyone.

I disagree with the first two points but the third is deserving of a deeper discussion.

There is nothing more wrong than death, on that point I agree. It robs us of those whom we love, often far too early in their lives. It may be preceded by a painful and/or prolonged illness. However, everyone on this earth, no matter how good or great a life they lived, is deserving of death. Does this sound harsh? It should.

No one thinks they are deserving of death. Death is feared because by many people, because there is a genuine uncertainty over what happens next. For some, it means the cessation of all consciousness, of all that whatever made you unique. For others, it may mean a rebirth as another person or even as a lower animal form. Still for others, there is a vague notion that if one led a “good life” they will be rewarded and be allowed to enter Heaven.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23

God has made it very clear that sin has separated us from Him. God is Holy and cannot accept sin in a person, no matter how good a life they have led or how many generous acts of kindness they have performed. At the heart of the matter, God desires an intimate fellowship with us, His greatest creation. But unless this sin that separates us from God’s glory and love is dealt with, we are condemned to a life without Him….and that means death and eternal separation from God.

God knows that none of our efforts will ever make us sinless and restore a broken relationship with Him. Thus, He took the initiative and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our substitute and receive the punishment that we deserve. By dying on the Cross and being raised from the dead and resurrected, Jesus Christ has shown that all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior will be saved. And although we will still die, at the moment of our death, we will be ushered into His glorious presence.

Death is a door that can lead to Jesus Christ and unlimited blessings with a continual fellowship with God, who created us. But it is a door that can only be opened if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Death is wrong. God knows it and took the initiative to do something about it.

Amen!

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

Now What? (Philippians 4:6-7)

The argument has finished but emotions are still running high. Apologies have been made to each other. And yet the sting of the episode is still raw. Now what?

This is the most difficult part-the aftermath of an argument. This has nothing to do with the other person. This is not about being right or wrong, or getting the last point. It is not about getting even or making the other person feel your pain. It is about surrendering the entire situation to God. If you have truly apologized to the person and have humbled yourself before God and confessed your sins, you wait and trust God to take care of the situation.

We don’t like to wait. We want action. We especially want it when our adrenaline is flowing, our hearts are racing and pounding, and our bodies are trembling. We need to find a way to release this tension. God knows that. This is why God promises us His peace.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

The Holy Spirit uses the word peace over 350 times in the Bible and over 90 times in the New Testament. God is peace and He wants us to enjoy it, claim it, and live it.

But a wound, particularly a fresh wound, is vulnerable and subject to further damage. In the body, when a wound occurs, the time of greatest danger, when a wound is weakest and can reopen, is by days 3 to 4. It is during this period, that the tissue repair is at its weakest and even a minimal amount of stress can cause great damage, sometimes even greater than the original injury.

Although our spirits are not made of the same flesh and blood, they are still vulnerable to further damage, particularly within a few days of the initial argument. A whisper of the triggering issues, unresolved issues on behalf of both parties, even an unrelated issue can reopen the wound in our spirits, at the critical time that God is working His healing and we need a time of separation. We must guard against this recurrence. For some of us, this may be difficult as we must work or live with the person with whom we had the initial argument. But God is calling us to peace. And if we do not claim this peace in His name, we will doubt the very power and omnipotence of God in our lives.

God created us as passionate and emotional beings. But we are all sinners and sometimes this passion leads to conflicts, particularly with those who are closest to us. Thank God for creating you and ask Him to transform your passions to serve Him and enjoy His peace.

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

Not Hearing What Was Spoken (Jeremiah 5:21)

Ever play the game called “Telephone”? A person starts and whispers a phrase to the person next to them. This person, in turn, whispers the same phrase to the person next to them. This continues with all the people are participating, the more the better. Finally, the last person who hears this phrase has to recite it out loud to everyone who can hear. The results are usually hilarious as the original phrase is often distorted and completely unlike the original phrase both in sound, meaning or intent.

When we listen to others, it is sometimes like that. We hear what we want to hear. Sometimes it leads to frustration on both speaker and listener. This is why it is always a good practice for the listener to repeat what they think the speaker is saying. In a group discussion or one on one counseling, the listener is rightly taught to say, “Let me repeat what I think I am hearing from you.” This simple action can avoid endless hours of frustration due to misunderstanding and makes listening an interactive process.

Hear this now, O foolish people, Without understanding,
Who have eyes and see not, And who have ears and hear not.
Jeremiah 5:21

When we listen to God’s Word being preached or read to us, we must also guard against hearing what we only want to hear. In the passage cited above, the prophet Jeremiah is reminding the children of Israel that God is explicit in warning them to not follow after false gods. He is patient with them and the punishment and judgment that is now befalling them is because they heard God’s warning but just saw and heard what they wanted to believe. If we take this attitude, we may be able to get by with minimal consequences with our friends and family. But there is no second guessing God. God means what He says and we need to carefully listen and be attentive whenever God speaks to us. Actively listen and be willing to seek advice from your pastor or others who may be more knowledgeable in the Bible. But always test what they are saying against the Truth of God's Word.

Are you carefully listening to God speaking to you today?

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

No Shades of Gray (Romans 3:23)

There are no shades of gray when it comes to sin. All of us are sinners. We may justify different sins in our heart, contending that my sins are not of the magnitude of some others. While there are different consequences depending upon the sin, all sins are rebellion and disobedience to God.

God hates sin and He hates it when it destroys lives. Our feeble and misguided attempts to conquer sin in our lives have led to countless pop psychology books instructing us how to rid ourselves of the guilt of sin. Sin is not our fault, we are told, we are simply products of our environment.

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:26

There are no shades of gray in following Christ. The unspoken answer to Christ’s question is...nothing.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:23

Sin cannot be reasoned away like an experiment in logic or solved like a math equation. We are born sinners and because of this, we chose to rebel against an all loving and powerful God, who wants to bless us with His complete and consuming love. But we think we know better than the Creator of the universe and choose to do things our way, apart from God. God loves us but He will not force us to do anything that we do not freely chose. And this includes loving and accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior. To our last moment on this earth, God stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. All we have to do is let Him in. And if we do, our salvation is forever secured and we will be in the presence of Jesus Christ when we die.

There are no shades of gray. We either accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and are eternally saved or reject Him and face an eternity forever removed and estranged from God’s love and presence.

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

No Rain for this Final Battle (Acts 1:9-11)

Why do some many epic climactic final battles occur during a rainstorm? Think about it. The Seven Samurai, the Matrix Revolutions, Unforgiven, The Shawshank Redemption...this is hardly a comprehensive list, I am sure there are many others. Why rain? Is it to blur the gore of the battle? Is it to add to complicate an already difficult struggle? Is it symbolic of the final washing away and catharsis of all the pain and suffering of the hero? I have no idea. Whatever the reason, it does seem to heighten the drama.

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.
Acts 1:9-11

The only battle I care about is the final battle when Jesus returns. No mention of rain here….just a triumphant King returning to earth in the clouds, just like He left. And perhaps this is how it should be. There is no greater battle than God’s triumph over Satan’s rule on this earth! We don’t need any other special effects to heighten the drama when God acts!

Amen!

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

Guilty As Charged! (Philippians 1:6)

J. Vernon McGee wrote of an encounter that he had with a woman who shared with him, “Most Christians ought to have written on their backs, ‘This is not the best that the grace of God can do.’ “ This statement also made me think of another aphorism, “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Both quotations are sobering statements and a reminder to myself, that I am definitely a work in progress and I always will be. Although I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I still fall far short in many areas of my life, too often and too frequent than I want to think about or even acknowledge. I am embarrassed and disappointed to say that my life has not been a good witness for Jesus Christ. And if it were only up to my own efforts, my life would be futile and miserable.

But thanks be to God that He is faithful to keep His promises to me!

...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…
Philippians 1:6

The moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to indwell within us. And He begins to change us, sanctifying us, so that our character becomes more like Jesus Christ. Although I will never be perfect, I will look forward to the day when my old nature will not be in constant war with my new nature, as a child of God.

What the world sees of my life now is definitely not the best that the grace of God can do with me. He is changing me, transforming me, and sanctifying me. I would like to be convicted of being a Christian….guilty as charged. And by God’s grace and mercy and my obedience, that will happen.

Amen!

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