A Walk with Dad

Psalm 63:8 "My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me."

A toddler's legs can never keep up with the long strides of his father.  He giggles and laughs and tries to keep up, but soon his facial expressions grow serious, his eyes get large, and it becomes obvious the little boy is using all his energy and concentration to keep up.  This won't last long.  Something has to give.  As much as the little guy wants to keep pace with his dad, it's impossible -- it just can't happen.  Just when he starts to stumble, you see his dad's grip tighten and steady the hand.  You smile as you realize -- the father had him all that time.

God is a big God.  Really big.  Inconceivably huge.  We cannot understand our God, not in His fullness.  We cannot approach Him, not in His holiness.  We cannot even truly look into His face, for we are unworthy.

Our Father's stride is great; He passes through huge gaps of time and space without ever stretching.  "One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day."  "The whole earth is full of His glory."

God never tires:  "Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."
Your busy-paced life is not daunting to God. 
 
The good news is, just when you think God is asking too much from you -- just when you're wondering "Why me? Why now?" -- you will feel the grip of the Father's hand and His strength will hold you.
 
And then you realize that all the time, when you thought it was you chasing Him...all that time when He seemed to be outpacing you, and getting distant and getting farther away.. in truth, His hand was right there, holding your hand, upholding you. Good news, isn't it?
 
"The will of God will never lead you
Where the grace of God cannot keep you."

Filled With Understanding

"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding..."
Colossians 1:9-10

"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."
Ephesians 5:17

Few things bother me more than a half-empty water glass.  When eating at a restaurant, I do begin to worry when my glass reaches half-empty.  My wife notices me shifting my eyes and glancing about the room for the waiter, and she realizes that the waiter has forgotten me for the moment, and there is a very good chance I will finish my glass before they return.  That means I will be forced to eat, at least for a few minutes, with a dry mouth. For some reason this bothers me to no end.  (Don't worry -- I never verbally express my frustration to the waiter.  Their only clue that I am having a bad experience comes when they collect the tip. Hey, hey, I'm just kidding! Waiters out there please don't clobber me! I know you're busy!)  At night I always completely fill up a glass with cool water and put it beside me on my night stand.  Yet every morning when I wake up I carry a half-full glass back to dump in the sink. I end up wasting half the water I poured for myself; but do you know still yet at bedtime I can't bring myself to only fill the glass half-full.  I know logically I probably will never drink it all during the night, but it does comfort me to have a full glass.

Paul says his prayer is that we would be full of understanding.  It is a troubling, discouraging world.  How great it would be to have that quiet confidence that no matter what happens, God has already filled us with the understanding we will need to deal with our situations.  Now understanding can be a misunderstood / misapplied term in certain settings.  It's best to consider, from a Biblical point of view, God's plan for filling us with understanding. 
Consider some Biblical examples of people filled with a special understanding:

1. God gave Bezaleel a special understanding for handcrafting items for the Tabernacle.

Exodus 31:1-4
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass..."

2. God gave the tribal rulers special understanding so they could lead.

Deuteronomy 1:13
"Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you."

1 Chronicles 12:32
"And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment."

3. God gave Abigail understanding so that she could save her household in spite of her foolish and wicked husband.

1 Samuel 25:3
"Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb."

4. God gave Daniel and his friends great understanding to place them in positions of power in Babylon.

Daniel 1:17
"As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."

5. God gave Solomon more understanding than anyone before him so that he could lead Israel wisely.

1 Kings 3:12
"Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."

We need understanding to make the right decisions in life.

Psalm 111:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments."

Psalm 119:34
"Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart."

Psalm 119:144
"... give me understanding, and I shall live."

Proverbs 3:13
"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."

Proverbs 4:5-8
"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee."

We need to know the Source of our understanding: God's Word.

Deuteronomy 4:5-9
"Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.  Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.  For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon Him for?  And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this Law, which I set before you this day?

Psalm 119:99
"I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Thy Testimonies are my meditation."

Psalm 119:130
"The entrance of Thy Words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple."

Proverbs 1:1-4
"The Proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;  To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion."

Understanding is not an automatic gift from God; understanding must be asked for and it must be sought.

A. We must for understanding—it is not an automatic gift.

Psalm 119:169
"Let my cry come near before Thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to Thy Word."

Proverbs 2:3
"Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;"

B. Understanding is "gained" and "learned" and "stored up" — it is not something“implanted”.

Proverbs 1:5
"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:"

Proverbs 2:2
"So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;"

Proverbs 4:7
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

Proverbs 15:14
"The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness."

Proverbs 10:14
"Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction."

It would be foolish for us to wait for a desperate situation to surprise us, and then to hurriedly pray and search the Scriptures for God’s Will in that situation.


How much better to have been “laying up” that knowledge and that wisdom for just such an event!

Understanding by itself is not sufficient.

A. We must have a desire to obey what we understand to be God’s will.

Consider how Solomon had such a great gift of understanding—yet he ended up building temples for his wives' idols! It wasn’t his understanding that was the problem—it was his desire.

1 Kings 11:6-9
"And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.  And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.  And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,"

Psalm 40:8
"I delight to do Thy will, O my God: yea, Thy Law is within my heart."

Proverbs 21:16
"The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead."

Do you want to face Peer Pressure or Parental Pressure?  When our Desire to obey is not as strong as it ought to be ( perhaps because of Peer Pressure from the world ), we must be aware that God’s Parental Pressure is coming. God sometimes puts His own pressure on us to make the right decisions.

Psalm 32:8-9
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.  Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee."

B. As we grow in understanding, we must not get haughty but instead keep a humble spirit.

1 Corinthians 8:1; 8:4; 8:7; 8:9
"Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one... Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge …  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak."

The more understanding we gain, and the stronger we feel that we have a grasp of what the Christian life is all about, the easier it becomes to look down on others. We must remember that we have not and never will “arrive” at that level of perfect knowledge and understanding – we are always in the process of growing.

Our conscience and our mind can fail us. We are Spirit-filled but we are not infallible. There will be times when we are wrong, when we misinterpret Scripture, when our conscience misleads us, when we feel in our hearts that something is right only to discover that we have been mistaken.

In all cases, Christian love says, “I will love other Christians, exactly right where they are in their spiritual walk. My understanding is different than theirs-- my understanding may actually be better than theirs (more in line with the Scriptures) but I won’t let myself get puffed up into a better-than-him mindset.”

Understanding: Do you desire it?  Ask God for it, but don't expect some magical "implantation".  Search for understanding in God’s SourceBook. As you begin to discover understanding, apply it and obey it. Use your understanding in a loving way to help others—never abuse your knowledge in a way that would hurt or demean another Christian.

Buy the Truth, and Sell it Not

“Buy the truth, and sell it not … also wisdom, and instruction and understanding.”
Proverbs 23:23

My family used to host a garage sale once every year when I was a kid.  We would drag out all the unwanted stuff, and we kids would put ridiculously high prices on our old toys hoping to "get rich quick."  Sooner or later someone would show up to haggle and bargain, and we would end up dropping the price, and grinning ear to ear at the cash in our hand. 
The mental picture when I read this verse, "Buy the truth, and sell it not", is of someone sorting through the old dusty garage of their mind.  I see this person finding a box labeled "Truths", a collection of things he purchased years ago, and debating on whether it is worth keeping, or whether he should put his collection of "Truths" up for sale.

What is Truth?
 

Pilate wanted to know the same thing.
John 18:37-38
“Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.  Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in Him no fault at all.”

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the Truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

John 17:17 "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth."

These verses remind us that ultimately, Truth is : the Word of God, and the teachings and the Person of Jesus Christ.

In What Way might someone put Truth up for Sale? 
 
For Sale:  Absolute Truth
 
Relativism is the idea that everybody’s opinion counts the same – especially when it comes to religion, relativism teaches us that no one is truly in the wrong, we just all have different ideas.  The premise is: "Since nobody knows for sure -- can’t we all just get along?"


Absolute truth is an unwanted possession in modern days -- it certainly is becoming a very disposable "garage sale" type item.

The argument goes like this:  "So you go to a Baptist church. How do you know that you’re right and that everybody else is wrong?  Maybe we should all be Muslims … did you ever think about that?  Maybe we should all be Hindus, Mormons, or Catholics …  How do you know you’re right, and they're wrong?"

People with these arguments are trying to get you to "sell" something very precious at a cheap price-- they don't want you to hang on to absolute truth. 
But Jesus said, in no uncertain terms, “No man cometh unto the Father but by Me…” (John 14:6)

Peter said with resolve, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name, under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

How can we be so sure that this Christianity is absolute truth, truth worth hanging onto?

Well, there’s the testimony of the Prophets.  What other religion has so many prophecies that have come true ? Where else will you find the Promise of a Savior coming, and then see it fulfilled in so many ways?

Then there’s the Accuracy of the Scriptures.  Many people have searched this Bible, not to find truth, but to find errors! And how many do you think they’ve found? None!

But what really speaks to the idea of Absolute Truth is when a person has examined it for himself.  I’ve examined this Truth myself; I’ve experimented and tried the Good News of Salvation for myself.  And so from experience I know that it is absolutely true.  It works, it’s real! Jesus really has changed my heart.  When I hear God’s Word, I really do sense God speaking to me.  Absolute truth is not for sale -- it's absolutely real!

My friend, you’d better buy this truth for yourself – that there is absolute truth, not every religion is right.  Not all roads lead to a life hereafter; there is one Supreme truth, and that is Jesus Christ, His Word, and His teachings.

If you go to a secular college, understand that you will hear the idea of relativism, that everyone is right and no one is wrong.  That everyone should seek out and choose to believe what he feels is right for himself.  You will be invited to sell the absolute truth that you have heard for so long, that there is only One Way and Only One Truth!  Don't sell it.

Also For Sale: The Truth that Christianity is to Be Heartfelt, Not a Cold & Dead Religion …


Psalm 15:1-2 “LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”

Many people have “sold” this truth; they just don’t want to hear it anymore.  Many people call themselves Christians because they go to church, and are good people on the outside, and because they perform rituals.  But nothing, absolutely nothing, is happening in their hearts!

Many people think of church as a tradition. They grew up going to church, their parents took them, and so they know some things about Christ. They can repeat some Bible stories and even doctrines, so they believe they must be Christians. 

However, the Truth that we learn is not to be held in our heads, it is supposed to make a difference in our hearts!  Real Truth changes us …

Psalm 51:6 "Behold, Thou desirest Truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom."

God wants us to keep truth in our hearts -- but some people have discovered that dusty box labeled "Heart-felt Christianity" and have decided to discard that old box in their garage sale.  It is not real or important to them.
You are passionate about what is in your heart.  People want to be called Christians, but they don’t want to be passionate about being a Christian.  They don’t want it to be “heartfelt” religion.

1 Samuel 12:24 “Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.”

Satan wants so badly for you to sell this truth !  He certainly doesn’t want you hanging on to any idea that Christianity is a real personal relationship with Jesus. It is essential that you believe that real Truth is something that must lodge itself in your heart.  If you are determined to embrace Christianity, the Devil will try his hardest to persuade you that the Truth of Christianity is just a bunch of facts & stories that you can safely tuck away in your head.  Satan wants to place you in a church that emphasizes rituals and ceremonies so that you will “fall asleep on God” and never awaken to the idea that you can have a Heart-felt, Personal Relationship with God.

It is not enough to nod in assent to some creed and accept some doctrine; Truth must be lodged in our hearts.  Don’t sell the Truth of Heartfelt Christianity!

Also For Sale: Any Truth that Leads Us to Make Choices (about the Way we Do Things).


Psalm 119:30 “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.”

There is a concept out there that the Truths of Christianity are generally-speaking good ideas, but that the Truths of Christianity are not necessarily practical steps.  This concept tells us that the truth we learn should not be taken so seriously that it would force us to make any real decisions or choices in our lives.

It’s kind of like those fairy tales that we learned as kids-- Peter Pan, The Pied Piper, Old Mother Hubbard. We might find some good entertainment and maybe even learn a few good general lessons from such stories, but of course no one really looks back to those old Mother Goose fairy rhymes or Aesop’s Fables to help them make life decisions. Stories like that really do not make any difference in our lives.

This is exactly the lie the Devil wants us to swallow…he wants us to rid ourselves of any idea that Truth leads us to Decisions and helps us make Choices.
Sometimes people come to church and they hear about the Lord Jesus, and they hear the stories of the prophets, and the miracles of the apostles, and they write all these things down in their minds, but then they go out and live the same way they’ve always lived.  Preachers scratch their heads, but behind the scenes a transaction has taken place.  People have heard the message, but decided to "sell" the idea that the Truths they hear are truly practical steps that should lead them to better choices and better living.

Psalm 43:3 "O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles."

Truth is a light beam -- how foolish it is when someone ignores the light shining in the darkness, and chooses instead to keep stumbling on their own way.  Yet somehow people across this nation have been convinced that it is no longer important to follow God's Truth as a series of practical guidelines.
Many of our political candidates are quick to advertise themselves as Christians; but have you noticed that when they are put under pressure and are asked about controversial subjects, they ignore Christian truths?  Their Christianity is not practical; it doesn’t influence the choices they make.

When a young person rides our church van to Sunday School or Bible Club, we are so glad that they are willing to come! But you know, it is disappointing to pour God's Word into young people week after week, and watch them go home and ignore it in everday living.  At an early age, and by watching their parents and older brothers and sisters, they are learning that God's Truth is impractical for daily living.  Some just go home and never try to use what they've heard in daily life.

I worked with a guy once who went to church every Sunday.  We talked often and I discovered he knew all kinds of things about his church history , and also a lot about the Bible. But do you know, of all the guys I worked with, I liked working with him the least?  He had a filthy mouth-- nearly every 3 or 4 sentences, he threw in a cussword.  He was constantly spewing vulgar remarks, dirty jokes, and rude words.  Obviously he was someone who did not allow the Truth he heard each week to sink in and affect his decisions and his manner of speech.
Psalm 25:5  "Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me . . ."

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Why Would Anyone Want to Sell these Truths?


1. The truths of Christianity are getting old-fashioned.

It is not modern or “cool” to be a dedicated, truth-keeping Christian .   Most people don’t appreciate “old-fashioned” -- old-fashioned clothes, old-fashioned thinking, old-fashioned customs.

We used to be a “Christian” nation – but that is not even allowed anymore.

You might chuckle or smile when you see somebody driving an old-fashioned car around, and wonder, "Why are they driving that?"  People will listen to you talk, and watch the way you live and then say, “Why are they living like that?”

Christian truth is strange – it’s not modern .

So some people sell the Truths of Christianity because they find out they are out of style, out of touch – and they just can’t stand it any longer.
2. The truths of Christianity are not convenient.

Life certainly seems to be much easier if you could just “sell” these truths – to get rid of them would free up so much space in your life,  because these truths do influence your life. 
If you stopped believing in God, you’d have your Sundays free, and you could make new plans.
If you stopped following the Lord, you’d probably get back some of your old friends and make some new ones…the kind who stayed away from you when you first started doing what was right …
If you stopped following the truths, if you sold the Truth, in a lot of ways your life might be smoother.

And so for convenience sake, some people sell the Truth.

3. The truths of Christianity are not always appealing.

Our senses demand appeal  -- most kids , if given the choice between a Gummy Bear or a carrot stick , would pick the gummy bear.  It is more appealing.

When you hold up the Truths of Christianity to consider their face value, judged on the way Truth appeals to our senses, many decide that Truth is quite boring and definitely not worth attention or time.

The glitz and the glamor of worldly ways and worldly thinking persuade many people to sell the Truth.
Something more attractive comes along and people quickly part with the Truth.

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Why Should I not Sell these Truths?
1. You should not sell these truths because you owe everything to the Lord.


1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.

2. You should not sell these truths because God is observing.

2 Kings 20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before Thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight.

3. You should not sell these truths because God chooses those who cherish truth to lead.

Exodus 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

1 Kings 2:4 That the LORD may continue His word which He spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said He) a man on the throne of Israel.

4. You should not sell these truths because that is where you find your hope.

Psalm 119:43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

5. You should not sell these truths because anything you trade for God’s truth will be of far less value.

Proverbs 3:1-4 My son, forget not My Law; but let thine heart keep My commandments:  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:  So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man

What Would Jesus Think?

Unless you're a recent visitor to this planet :-)  you've definitely seen the arm-bracelets, T-shirts, ball caps, and bumper stickers with four famous letters: "WWJD".  The question "What Would Jesus Do?" is based on a classic Christian novel called "In His Steps" by Charles M. Sheldon.  The question "What Would Jesus Do?" can truly become a life-changing question, and it has influenced many people to ponder their actions before they proceed.

But would you consider for a moment an even more potent question?  What if we asked ourselves, "What Would Jesus Think?"

The King James Version reads in Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."  It is relaying the concept that not only should we imitate the actions of Jesus, but we should go so far as to imitate the very thoughts and the mindset of Christ.

There is a great possibility that we might do exactly what Jesus would do, and yet fail to think what Jesus would think. 

For an example -- let's look at Jeremy, an up-and-coming businessman in a fairly successful firm.

Recently, Jeremy has made a secret pledge before God that he will ask himself, "What Would Jesus Do?"   He is doing his best to fulfill that pledge.  Jeremy feels that he has proven himself at his company.  With a young family and increasing bills, Jeremy hopes that management's eye is on him and that he will soon see a promotion.  He is constantly being assigned new responsibilites, but the pay does not seem to measure up.  Meanwhile, his wife frets over the money situation and pressures him daily about upcoming bills.

One afternoon, Jeremy is approached by one of his seniors, who acknowledges Jeremy's workload and the mismatch in pay.  The man then confides  to Jeremy that he also is underpaid, and that the company payroll is managed by "cheapskates" who rarely give raises.  The good news, however, is that he has discovered a way to make money in spite of management.  The details he unfolds leave Jeremy quite uncomfortable.  Jeremy knows he could never accept the offer of dishonest dealings, not with his pledge to ask "What Would Jesus Do?"  And so Jeremy dismisses the offer.

As he drives home, he shakes his head and thinks about how easy that money would be, if only he were a dishonest man.  He considers the situation presented to him, and just for fun begins to "role-play the impossible" a bit in his mind.  He imagines the money -- just as the man described it would fall effortlessly into their hands.  He knows he will never follow through with it, but he does enjoy the mental image of the smile and beaming pride on his wife's face, if he brought home a paycheck like that.  He grins to himself, and then shakes it off because he knows it will not happen.

Jeremy, in his actions, has done what Jesus would have done, but he certainly has not thought the way Jesus would think -- Jeremy does not possess the "mind of Christ." 

It may be a foreign concept to us that there is a standard for Christians even for the way we think.   It is one thing to ponder our actions before we do them.  It is another thing altogether, to consider our thoughts before we think them.  Is that even possible?

Well, possible or not, God makes it clear that He wants to have control over every thought : “and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:5

What is your mindset? Do you have the mind of Christ?

We read in Matthew 7:21-23, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."  I do believe that a person on the outside could live a clean and Christlike life, and yet be a defiled person, because of things taking place on the inside -- in his heart and mind.

So, do you think like Jesus?



Consider, Would that good news you're so excited about be good news to Him?

You earned a huge promotion! More money. More power.  More responsibility.  On the downside, though, this promotion is going to cost your family a bit.  You'll be home less, so that does mean less family time.  Your wife will have to lead the family devotions -- most days you'll be gone before the kids are up and come home after they're in bed.  No more meals shared together either, so no more leading prayers at the dinnertable.  Of course, you'll have to give up that "date night" each week where you enjoyed one-on-one time with your spouse.   Rumor has it you may be assigned rotating shifts several weekends a month, so that will mean also missing driving your family to church services. Basically, you can forget about setting the example and being the spiritual leader in your home.  So, with this in mind ... what would Jesus think?  If you came to Christ with a beaming face, and shared your good news about your promotion with Jesus, would He smile?  Do you think your good news would be good news to Christ? What would He think?

Your son made All-Stars on his sports team!  That was a daydream of yours -- now he's beaming, and you're beaming.  The coach passes out the travel schedule--- wait a minute, some of the games are on Sunday!  The practices are on Wednesay.  So for a few weeks your son can't attend church or youth group. You can't either, come to think of it.  He may also have to miss the church's summer Youth Camp.   You photocopy the team schedules, and shamelessly invite the proud grandparents to miss church and come watch their grandson play.  With a beaming face, you inadvertently train your kids that sports are more important than God.  Would that All-Star Team be good news to Christ?  What would He think?

Your daughter is brilliant: straight A's, top of her class.  Her good grades have earned her a partial scholarship to a great school, the one she really wanted!  All her dreams are coming true, and you are so happy for her.  And yet, you notice that with all her school activities and busywork, her heart seems to be growing cold on God.  She rarely listens in church, and seems to be daydreaming.  She is certainly focusing all her energies and attention on how she can succeed with her goals in life, and you now realize she has never truly consulted God's plan for her life.  Would that young success story be good news to Jesus?  What would He think?




Consider also, Would that bad news you're depessed about be bad news to Jesus?


In school, you’re being forced to take a strong stand against sin.  It all started when someone made fun of you after you invited them to church.  Now you're wishing you had kept your tract to yourself and your big mouth shut.  Somehow the whole school seems to know that you are "born again" and they won't leave you alone.  You come home crying to your parents, quite upset about the reaction you are getting, and wishing that you could just fit in.  But ponder for a minute -- Would this story be bad news to Jesus?  Would He think this same way if He was persecuted, holding self-pity and being remorseful for doing what was right? What would Jesus think? 


A widow is quite upset when her son announces his call to move to Asia as a missionary.  She has already lost a husband, and she finds it hard to believe that God wants her son to leave as well.  In her heart, she feels her family has already sacrificed enough.  Her husband died too young.  A child away in a foreign land seems too much.  To her closest friends she confides her bitterness and her misgivings about her son leaving.  But would that news, losing a child to the mission field, be bad news to Christ? Or would it cause Him to weep with joy? What would He think?
Consider also, Would that hard decision you're pondering be a hard decision for Jesus?

It’s been a hard month, and you’re a little short on cash. You’re debating skipping your tithes next month and saving your money.  But then you remember the way Jesus thinks:  Jesus applauded a little widow woman who gave her very last mite to God. Would tithing in difficult circumstances be a hard decision for Jesus? What does He think about it?

You’ve been invited to a company party where you are fairly sure you will find yourself in a compromising situation: dancing, alcohol , filthy conversation, and flirtation.  But your heart also worries that if you don’t show up and socialize with management, your name will probably drop off  "the big list" for the promotion.  And so you toss this difficult situation in your mind.  But would it be a hard decision for Jesus? Would He be struggling with this in His mind?  What would Jesus think?

Family members who rarely visit arrive in town late Saturday night.  They announce that they plan on sleeping in on Sunday morning.  You hesitate to invite them to church, and wonder if you will even go yourself.  You consider staying home with family and spending the morning with them when they wake up. It is honestly a very hard decision for you.  You're not sure what to do.  Would it be a hard decision for Jesus?  What would He think about this quandary?

Your kids have been invited on a camping trip with a neighbor family; but you don’t exactly trust their standards and morals.  Your kids are begging and pleading to go, and the neighbors are pressuring you too.  The kids really want permission, but something inside you worries about the off-chance that they may be exposed to sinful things.  It seems like a hard decision.  What would Jesus think? Would it be a hard choice for Him?

It's hard isn't it -- trying not only to do what Jesus would do, but to think the way He would think.  Let's ask the Lord to help us think like Him.

People are great ... God is better :-)

Sometimes what seems so obvious is forgotten in the busyness of life.


Every day I must remind myself of this simple truth: People are great ... God is better :-)

People are important... God is Supreme.

Once in a dimly-lit workshop there were a group of freshly-made clay pots, who lined a wooden shelf near the window. It seemed very quiet in the dark shop, so the pots began to shyly introduce themselves and talk with each other. The pots were very pleased to observe how much in common they shared. "It's almost like we're brothers!" they cried in amazement, squinting to admire their similar smooth glaze finish and vibrant red colors. As they spoke more, the pots also found themselves laughing about their differences -- some were quite tall, others stooped low, some were thin, some were fat. They found much to discuss really: the dry weather, which made them crack so badly; and also the beautiful sunshine, and how more windows were needed in the dreary little shop. The pots completely forgot their surroundings and the hours passed quickly. Just as the sun was beginning to fade, a temporary hush stole over the group as they yawned and considered how nice it was to be surrounded by so many good friends. Just as a few eyes began to droop, there was a loud commotion at the door, and then the door swung open. Lantern in hand, a tall figure of a man framed the shadows. "What's that?" cried one of the braver pots, a bit alarmed. "Who is there?" "It is I," said the man. "The Potter." "The Potter?" demanded the little pot. "And who is the Potter?" The man shook his head in disbelief. "Have you forgotten me already?" he asked. He stretched out his open palms, and showed to the little group his strong delicate fingers, fingers that had made each one of them. "Have you forgotten these hands, little pots?"
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For all the "social butterflies" of the world, there is a lot of fun to be had in passing time with likeminded people. It is fascinating to lose yourself in animated conversation with someone who thinks the same way about the same things. Certainly the Republican loves to eat dinner with another Republican, and they spout politics in between bread slices. There's a flag football team that practices several times a week, but little do their wives know these men spend more time exercising their jaws than they do practicing "the option".
A group of teachers in the same high school get together the first Thursday night of each month to share ideas-- and pizza. And of course, our own Baptist denominations -- the huge flood of pastors and deacons and members storm into a new big city every summer for a week of mixed "business" and pleasure at their National Convention.
Yes, we certainly love to connect with people. When we wrap ourselves up in these kinds of interesting, daily conversations with others, the dreaded reality of "Boredom" rarely sets in. :-) Also, we get that unspoken feeling of "strength in numbers", and that very rewarding sense of "unity" and "brotherhood".
But how sad when we replace God with people. On our list of importance, people deserve everday interactions.
Interactions with God come on rare occasions, and because of our unfamiliarity with Him, a conversation with God may seem awkward.

We sometimes feel it is not our fault that this is so awkward-- we excuse ourselves saying that God should show Himself to us more and be more available and less invisible. Yet we cannot honestly say we have truly looked in the rearview mirror of our speeding lives, because we would see that God was standing there patiently waiting for us all the time. We get so wrapped up in conversations with others, we rudely never even look for God. Our Best Friend, our Maker, is uninteresting -- to believers!

The situation has become like Fred, a man who drives thru at the bank every payday Friday. Fred waits his turn in line, and flashes a friendly smile at the bank teller. As she slowly counts out his money, he secretly questions what could possibly take her so long to cash a simple check. His grin is frozen to his lips, though. She obviously does not appreciate his time, he imagines, because he has a bowling game tonight, and he feels a bit put out that she makes no hurry. Still, as he slips the money into his pocket and puts the car in motion, Fred waves an obliged "Thank you" and pulls away, pleased with himself that he was so kind, patient and generous to the bank employee. Although he sees her every week and speaks with her briefly, she is not his friend. She is his resource.

God can be forgotten as a Friend, and viewed instead as a resource. When a need arises, we pull into the bank of prayer, and impatiently wait in a long line of insincere thanksgivings and blessings. We feel a bit put out that we should have to spend our time interacting with God, Who is supposed to know exactly what we need and want; there are so many better things to be doing. And so God becomes a Resource, not a Friend.
We will always be able to sing, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" -- because He is always faithful and will never leave or forsake us. But it is sad to say, there are few Christians who can say they are a friend to God.
We choose people over God, and that is a mistake every time. People are great, but God is better. People are important, but God is Supreme.

Pitch that sermon straight over home plate :-)

Complacency is killing the American church! More and more, modern preachers are trading their responsibility to challenge their people for the much more comfortable job of encouraging their people.

Here's how it goes: Soldiers in the Christian army show up at church to hear a sermon; then they are sent home from church each Sunday encouraged, but completely unprepared for the battles that await them that week. It is a desperately sad situation! What is going on? These soldiers have not been challenged.
We could learn a valuable lesson about challenges from any military boot camp. Boot Camp, we understand, is not comparable to a summer youth camp, with ice cream breaks, melon marches, and bonfires. No, the soldier's Boot Camp experience is a series of dangerous, sweat-drenching, intense challenges which are intended to properly prepare young soldiers for a battle. The Drill Sergeant barks orders and pushes the troops through mind-boggling pain and fatigue. Through everything, he is challenging his young men constantly to perform well. Obviously, the intention of this "awakening experience" is to open the eyes of these young soldier's to the realities and difficulties of war and the need for discipline of the body. While Boot Camp challenges are certainly not fun, it would be unfair and even cruel to send an undisciplined soldier to war. An unprepared young soldier would find himself in a state of shock at the first confrontation, and would get the gut-wrenching realization he was never told about how to endure this part of the battle.

Pastors continue to preach soft, inspirational messages, but they leave out the challenge which asks people to lift their level of spiritual commitment. Then the same preachers shake their heads in disbelief at the daily defeats they see in their congregation, and they wonder why their people have no victory in their lives! It is a contradiction to preach a soft gospel and expect a real Gospel to live out in the lives of your people.

Have you ever been to a ball game and watched a nervous pitcher attempting to purposely walk a hard-hitting slugger? Here's what happens: the pitcher is way too nervous to toss the ball straight over home plate (that would result in a home run, probably), so instead he proceeds to pitch the ball well outside, up and away from the batter's reach and comfort zone. Four pitches later, the slugger grins, shrugs his shoulders, tosses his bat, and trots to first base. The crowd groans and boos at the pitcher's obvious hesitancy. The whole transaction seems just too easy. It's a trade-off -- the pitcher gives up first base, but the slugger misses his potential home run.

Preachers all over America are "walking" their entire congregation, and then stranding the whole group on first base, every Sunday. These preachers are too nervous to preach a practical sermon, a sermon that really "comes home" and digs right into the heart of where their people live. They worry that kind of message may offend, and worry that someone might "strike out" on such a hard message. Of course, they don't want anybody to strike out. That would be unfair; that would be harsh; that would be graceless. So instead, the preacher pitches everybody to first base (which is the simple basics, the bare-bones minimum of Christian living), and then he is content to leave everyone stranded there.

But did you know "striking out" is part of life? And how fair is it to never give anyone something they can hit, to never throw a fastball down the middle? If a soft-hearted preacher is too soft-hearted to throw "over home plate", do you think any of his congregation will ever hit a home run? Not off his sermon pitching, they won't. If they ever do succeed in the Christian life, it will have to be off their own pitching.

Preachers, in our sermons, we need to "put the ball" in reach, straight over home plate, every time, all the time. This is a dirty, discouraging world. Our people give us their valuable time each week -- and they need something practical, something they can hit. Whenever we lob a sweet, encouraging sermon and leave out the challenge, we give everybody listening a "free walk" to first base: nobody in the congregation strikes out ; but -- guess what? -- nobody hits a home run either.

Our people need practical teaching. I'll say it again, our people need practical teaching. Let that pitch cross home plate all the time, every time. Sure, we can throw at different speeds, we can change up our style of preaching -- but certainly our people deserve to get a hittable pitch every time.

I believe in being challenged personally -- I need to be challenged. I need it regularly. Challenges strengthen me as a soldier.

I need God to throw it straight over home plate for me. When I open His Word, I need Him to convict me and challenge me in the area that needs improvement.

The greatest and most practical challenges come directly from the voice of God. Preachers should be the mouthpieces of God, delivering His challenges to His people -- but even when preachers fail to speak, challenges are not left unspoken. God can find others ways of delivering His message loud and clear.

We understand that primarily, God challenges us through His Word. The unchallenged Christian, the one who feels no conviction in his life, the one who hasn't felt a fastball come whizzing in directly at him in a long time-- is a person who either is not hearing God's Word regularly in its pure, raw form , or is not reading God's Word for himself, or is not meditating on that spoken and written Word.

Do you want to be a Strong Christian? Do you want victory? Let God build you up through challenges.

When was the last time you felt a challenge to your heart, directly from the Lord? Would you ask Him to challenge you today -- to speak to you about something so loud and clear that you know He is talking directly to you?