Message from Scripture: 1/30/2021

Our message from Scripture today comes from Mal. 3:6; “For I the Lord do not change.”

Transitions are a part of life, all of our lives.  We transition from one stage in life to another, as we pass from infant, to child, to youth, to adult, to middle-aged, to being older, to eternity. We may transition from one job to another. We may transition in health, finances, where we live, and a host of other ways. We are constantly being challenged to examine who we are, where we are in life, and how best to respond to these things.

Through all the transitions life brings, isn’t it wonderful to know there is something, someone, who remains constant?  The Hebrew writer reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).  This offers us confidence when we read the words of Jesus; “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). It is also comforting to know that, no matter where life takes us, God is already there. The questions we have in life, God knows the details about them. The uncertainties we may have and face, God offers confidence and conviction we can have in Him, no matter what they may be.

Through all the transitions we face in life, Christ offers to go with us, to offer us assurance, help, and strength.  He doesn’t promise to remove life’s obstacles, but to help us overcome them for good (John 16:33 / Romans 8:28).  This promise, of course, means we must remain faithful to Him, to His will as revealed in His word (Heb. 4:12-13). This is why we read in Proverbs we should trust in the Lord and not our own reasonings in life, as He alone has the answers to guide through everything that happens, that changes in life (Prov. 3:5-7).  May we rejoice that God is our constant no matter the transitions we face, and that His promises last forever. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/29/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Titus 2:11-12; “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.”

It may come as a surprise to some in the denominational world, but hopefully not to us in the body of Christ, that our response to the doctrine of Christ is the basis on which we have relationship with Jesus or not. We know we are saved by God’s grace, as we don’t earn or deserve His salvation in Christ. What most don’t realize is that grace and obedience do go together.

Consider Jesus words to those in His day. “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9).  It is obvious God was not pleased with how human tradition had replaced His divinely revealed will.  Paul expresses the same thought in Gal. 5:4; “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” Paul wrote to those who were adding elements of the Law to the gospel. In other words, they had some “doctrinal misunderstandings.”  Paul didn’t say grace covered them, but just the opposite; they were outside God’s grace!

Paul reminded Timothy, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16).  Doctrine and a relationship with our Lord are not mutually exclusive.  Sound doctrine is the foundation on which our relationship with God in Christ is established.  Scripture alone is our guide to truth and eternity.  We must not neglect it, nor alter it, but live by it.  Our relationship with God, now and forever, depends on it. May we allow the grace of God to do what God intends, to save us through Christ, to teach us to live faithful lives in Him, to help us reach eternal life. Praise God for grace and mercy, and the life it provides. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/27/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Psa. 103:2; “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

One person once said, “Be careful what you allow in your life, because when you are old, you are a captive of your memories.” How many memories do we take comfort in, that bring a smile to our faces and make us feel good in remembering? Then, there are also those memories that we may wince at, that are painful to remember, that we try to bury deep in the recesses of our minds, hoping they never surface again.

What we really seek with our memories is peace, and unpleasant memories only destroy it. It is interesting that Paul, speaking to the church in Philippi about those things that we should think about, continues after that by saying, “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9). Real peace comes only from God, and only a life centered in the Lord can provide peace. It is little wonder, then, that Peter encourages us to “live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (1 Pet. 4:2). Life lived “for the will of God” offers peace and inner security.

As Peter said, we have already spent enough time in the past to store up a host of unpleasant memories (1 Pet. 4:3). Now is the time to live for God, and prepare a host of good and pleasant memories that will bring us peace. If we are to be captive to our memories, let them be good ones, which bring a smile to our face and warmth to our hearts, because they have been ordered by God. It is these memories that point the way to the joys of heaven. David asked of God, “Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion; in keeping with Your faithful love, remember me because of your goodness, O LORD” (Psa. 25:7). May we have that same desire. Have a great day today. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/26/2021

 Today’s message from Scripture is Jas. 1:13; “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”

It’s easy to be deceived by sin, as it deals in lies and illusions, pretending to be what it isn’t, promising what it can’t provide. To allow oneself to be caught in its web is dangerous, as the longer one abides in it, the harder it is to break its grip on one’s thoughts and actions. A heart can become so hardened against the truth it no longer recognizes what is true or be positively influenced by it.

The temptation to sin is based on our desires, so it has a degree of appeal to us, in temporally gratifying those desires. It is addictive in the sense it never completely satisfies, but leaves one longing for more. It hardens in that the longer one engages in it, it replaces God’s will as the standard by which one lives. It can so dominate one’s thoughts and activities, it can become impossible to be renewed to repentance in such a state (Heb. 6:4-6).

What are some tools we have access to that can help us to overcome temptations, to all God to lead us out of it, instead of blaming Him for it? Spending time in Scripture each day is a good way to discern truth from error in our minds and hearts (Psa. 119:11). Prayer allows us to seek God and His help in molding us in His image (1 Thess. 5:17). Fellowship keeps us focused on what is right and to stand apart from that which leads us astray (1 John 1:3). Worship of God reminds us He is what life is about (Heb. 10:25).

Sin is a hideous thing when compared to the lasting beauty of life in Christ. To forfeit eternal life for the fleeting pleasures of sin is a ghastly trade. Take the time to encourage, and be encouraged, by what we share together in Christ. Don’t give sin a foothold in your life; its cost is always too high. Have a great day in Christ today. God bless.

Robert

Message from Scripture: 1/25/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Jas. 1:22-25; “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.”

One of the last acts most of us perform before leaving the house is to take one final look in the mirror. We usually look and see if we need to make any last-minute adjustments to our hair, our face, our clothing, really anything to do with our outward appearance. If we are displeased with the reflection that comes back, we typically proceed to make the necessary changes. Even though we may not always like what we see in the mirror, the mirror will not lie to us.  It would be an injustice if it did.  We need to see what we really look like, so proper changes can be made.

In the same way, the Bible is our spiritual mirror.  Upon examining its teachings, we may see something amiss in our lives. The Bible will not lie. It may cause us to see things in our lives we don't particularly want to see, but if they are there, we need to see them and make the necessary adjustments.  Do you use the spiritual mirror, the Bible, every day, to examine your spiritual appearance?  Only you can make the changes if you are displeased with the reflection.  It is the person who makes those changes, not the person who only looks, that is blessed of God How do we respond to what Scripture tells us about ourselves? Do you heed what it says? It alone offers us the way to life today and eternally. Let’s make those necessary changes where we are truly doers of the word that find God’s rich blessings.

 Robert

 

The Never Ending Story

 

“They will still bear fruit in old age…” (Psa. 92:14).

 

While some of you may remember the heading of this article as a movie released in 1984 (Has it really been that long?), I am using it to refer to something else: retirement. I have tried to research, but been unable to locate, much information about retirement.  Oh, not from folks who are retired, to describe what it’s like being retired.  I mean, about the origin of retirement. I have a feeling, at least in our modern era, it’s integrally connected with the Social Security Act of 1935.  This Act provided what was then called Old-Age benefits (for retirement), in addition to other benefits, for most in American society.

 

Biblically, retirement is mentioned of those Levites who had reached a certain age, and were to cease serving in the tabernacle (tent of meeting). Of course, this didn’t mean they could quit serving God altogether. The above passage speaks of the life of the righteous (Psa. 92:12), so all, including Levites who no longer served in the tabernacle, were to serve God while they had the ability to do so. This thought is confirmed to us as Christians in the New Testament, as heaven is spoken of as a rest from labor for those who die in the Lord (Rev. 14:13).

 

While it may be permissible, and even desirable, to retire from one’s secular employment, there is no such thing in the life of a Christian. Unfortunately, there are those who do retire from the Lord’s work, while they still have the physical ability and opportunity to serve. There is a place for everyone to serve, as contrary to popular opinion, God is impartial as much to age as He is to gender, race, economics, or any other factor in one’s life.

 

When Paul wrote, “As we have opportunity (Gal. 6:10),” what conditions were attached?  I know of no Greek manuscript, or any English translation, that adds “except…” to this passage. Time does take its toll on our bodies, and getting older can mean we can’t always do what was once done. That isn’t the issue. It’s when we can do plenty of other things, except serve the Lord, that should be our concern. How many would be encouraged by a phone call or card?  How many need prayer? How many need to see a godly example? Opportunities change for us as we go through life. We must take advantage of them, whatever our age or abilities may be, whatever society presents to us, no matter what is happening in the world around us.

 

When do we retire spiritually? When we go home to be with the Lord. How long should we be righteous, and live a faithful Christian life? From the day we obey the gospel until we pass from this existence (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 1:17). “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).

 

μαράνα θᾶ (“Our Lord come”)

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/23/20 Our message from Scripture today is Hosea 4:6; “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

These were difficult days. Bloodshed was followed with more bloodshed. The land itself mourned, and everyone living there languished. What horrible conditions in which to live! The source of these troubles, however, was that there was no knowledge of God in the land, either of His will, or of His truth, mercy, and justice. Everyone's image of God, and response to Him, was based on their own desires, not on God's revelation of Himself in Scripture, His revealed truth.  The result was Hosea's cry we just read.

The above description, while written almost 2,700 years ago, would well fit our day and age. While there is a lot of talk about God, Jesus, and spirituality, there is little time spent in what reveals all this clearly and authoritatively, the Bible. However, it is a knowledge and understanding of God that must grab our attention, focus our emotions, and motivate our actions. Paul spoke of those in his day and age, "I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness" (Rom. 10:2-3).   The same is true of many today.

We must take Scripture to heart and apply it to life.  We must cease trying to form God to our image, and instead allow ourselves to be molded in His image.  As Paul prayed for the people in Philippi, "And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ" (Phil. 1:9-10). Let’s begin today to know, discern, and live for Christ. What a difference it will make. God bless. 

Robert

 

 

 

Message from Scripture: 1/22/2021

Our message from Scripture today is 2 Cor. 1:20. “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”

As has happened in our country for over 200 years, a transition of those who serve in our government has taken place. For some this is a cause of joy, for other angst. We don’t know how it all will turn out, but we do know the culture of the world is always changing.  What is acceptable today may not be tomorrow.  Similarly, what may be pushing the limits of society ethically and morally today may seem bland by tomorrow's standards.  How do we cope with such rapid changes?  How can we know right from wrong in the midst of an evolving culture?

We must anchor ourselves to Him who never changes, who is the same "yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8), and whose promises are always true and reliable. The Lord's church will prevail over the gates of Hades (Matt. 16:18), and God's eternal word is forever the pattern and source of life for the church (1 Pet. 1:23-25).  God's word reveals to us what must never change, as in the plan of salvation, avoiding the works of the flesh, growing in the fruit of the Spirit, and other areas. It also provides the foundation and principles to guide us through change, to make wise decisions, no matter the culture.

The Bible is as fresh and relevant today as when the inspired writers penned it. It applies to life and offers stability in any cultural circumstance or change we may face. We should trust it, know it, and live it. Considering the uncertainty of today, how well do you know God’s word?  Do you know what you must do to be saved?  Do you know what it says about the Lord’s church?  Do you follow it what it says about living for Christ today, about our hope for living with Him eternally?  You can navigate changes in your life if the spiritual is the anchor of your life. Have a great day today in Christ. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/21/2021

Our message from Scripture today is 1 John 3:2-3. “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

No one enjoys having to deal with the problems sin brings to life. Such is not a new experience to life, but one that began when sin was introduced in the Garden of Eden. It is a false hope to think a world filled with sin will resolve itself into one filled with hope, peace and love. Such qualities are virtues that proceed from God, and only a relationship with Him through Christ can help us know the “peace that passes understanding” (Phil. 4:7).

A relationship with God effects the world as it effects people’s lives to seek His righteousness, rather than sin. Sin only brings confusion and every evil thing (Jas. 3:16). Expectations in the world of what we may hope for or desire may evaporate, but hope and trust in God last a lifetime and beyond. This is our hope, our confidence, our source of joy and endurance.

In our Scripture today, John reminds us if we want to have a real hope for eternity, it must be accompanied by purification of sin. Earlier John would say, “By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:5-6). To say we have a real relationship with Jesus, we must seek to live for Him, to be like Him, now. With a Christlike life, our hope is real; without it, it’s just an illusion. Where is your hope today? Who do you hope in? We can know by looking at how we live compared to God’s word, by seeing if the life of Christ is alive in us. This is where real hope lives. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/20/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Eph. 5:15-17. “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Some time ago a person made this observation. “The thing which separates great men from just ordinary folks, is the wise use of time.  Everyone has 168 hours each week, but some utilize their moments better than others.”

Another person narrowed it down more specifically. He said, “Imagine there's a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.  It carries over no balance from day to day.  Every morning deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.  What would you do?  Draw out every cent, of course!”

He goes on to say, “Each of us has such a bank.  It's name is TIME.  Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off as lost whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance.  It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you.  Each night it burns the remains of the day.  If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against tomorrow. You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in God's blessings for life.  The clock is running. Make the most of today.”

The moral of these stories is, make the most of every opportunity you have to live for God, to glorify Him while you still have the time to invest it in Him. One day it will be too late. When will that day be? No one knows, but we know it’s coming ever closer. Make today a great day because you live it for Christ. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/19/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Acts 7:55. “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”

One hymn I have recently enjoyed is titled “My Savior My God.” The first verse says, “I am not skilled to understand, what God has willed, what God has planned, I only know at his right hand, stands one who is my Savior.” Typically, Jesus is portrayed as sitting at God’s right hand (Heb. 12:2), but in the above passage, along with this song, He is standing at God’s right hand. Some have wondered why He is depicted as standing here. One person explains it this way. “He stood out of respect for this one willing to die for his faith. We rise to our feet to honor someone. He stood ready to welcome Stephen with open arms. He stood ready to be Stephen’s advocate and confess him before God. He stood ready to come in judgment on Stephen’s murderers.” I believe Jesus stood in honor of one who gave himself to the Lord, and the Lord showed respect for the faith he had in Him.

Scripture doesn’t refer to this event anywhere but here, so it’s a matter of considering the nature of Christ, and the situation Stephen was facing, that we should consider. Whatever the answer may truly be, in a world where so many use the name of Christ so flippantly, so casually, for one to show this kind of faith, this type of commitment, this measure of devotion, is noteworthy to our Lord. Like those mentioned in Heb. 11, he was one of whom the world was not worthy (Heb. 11:38).

As the songs says, we can’t figure out what God’s will is for the world as time goes by, or what He has planned from day to day, but we can know Christ is our Savior, standing to cheer us on, and to welcome us to Himself someday. What kind of life are you living for Christ? It can be glorious, if we give our all for Him. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/18/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Heb. 2:14-15. “Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.”

Fear is an effect sin has on us. It’s first recorded in Gen. 3:10, where after sinning Adam and Eve were afraid to be in God’s presence. Using fig leaves to try and create suitable garments to cover themselves up reflects how fear can cause one to do irrational things.

In our passage today, the Hebrew writer speaks about how Satan can hold us captive through the fear of death. Certainly, none of us want to die, but later the Hebrew writer reminds us it is appointed for us to die (9:27), as the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). It begs the question, fearing what will happen no matter what, unless the Lord returns, what will we do by sinning trying to avoid what will happen anyway? Satan still uses fear to cause us to do irrational things. For some, it may be refusing to be immersed. For others, it may be not giving as one has been prospered. For still others, it may be not assembling together to worship. It can even be refusing to speak to others about the gospel that can save their soul. One can reason, “Well, what if this happens, or that happens, or they respond negatively,” or any other way Satan uses fear to handcuff us from doing what is right. Interestingly enough, the love of God and the fear of the Lord doesn’t factor in most of the time we make decisions, but the fear of Satan can and does.

Through the death of Christ, and the forgiveness it offers, death is not the end, but leads to eternal life. If eternal life is what God offers those in Christ, what real fear can death bring with it? On the basis of His death, Jesus can tell us to be faithful even to death (Rev. 2:10), and the testimony of heaven itself proclaims, “For they loved not their lives even unto death” (Rev. 12:11).

Live today in the fear of the Lord, but not the fear of Satan or sin. It makes all the difference in the world. God bless.

Robert

 

Right or Wrong?

Someone once said, “More people might do right, if we could convince them that doing right is sinful.” Sometimes, it seems there is a measure of truth in this statement. There are many who run to sin, to fulfill its lusts and have their desires gratified. This thought is expressed time and again in the expression, “But everyone else is doing it; why can’t I?”

We tend to equate popularity with approval. So many people doing something, permitting something, or consenting to something, can’t be wrong.  Or can they? King Ahab of Israel had 400 prophets to act as his “yes men,” to justify his desire to do as he pleased. When asked if there was a prophet of God that could be consulted, Ahab responded, “There is still one man who can ask the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster” (1 Kings 22:8). Translated, Ahab is saying God’s way often opposed his way, so he hired false prophets to justify his actions. This is reminiscent of what Paul wrote Timothy. “For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

Jesus put it this way. “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it” (Matt. 7:13). Why is this?  Why will one do or live in such a way that he or she knows will lead to his or her destruction eternally? We allow ourselves to be deceived. Satan appeals to our desires, deceiving us into thinking wrong is right, and we follow. What we need is education, understanding, and insight.  God’s word can help fulfill our desires in righteousness, rather than sinfulness. A proper understanding helps us control our desires, instead of our desires controlling us. God’s word points us to a better way, a more noble way, which offers eternal life. What desire can be greater than this? Isn’t this better than what the world is offering now?

No matter how many are involved, no matter how good it feels, no matter how commonplace it becomes, sin is destructive. In Christ, we have all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). God can fill our desires through His mercy and grace and love. His way is the best way after all.

 μαράνα θᾶ (“Lord come quickly”)

Robert

 

 

Message from Scripture:  1/15/2021

Our message from Scripture for today comes from Acts 2:38. “Peter said, ‘Repent, and be immersed, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ into the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

In listening to Christian talk radio this morning on the way to the church office, the speaker told his audience they were probably unaware that the root meaning of baptism is to be joined to, to be connected with someone or something. He was trying to convince them one doesn’t have to be immersed in water to obey God’s command, but to just connect with the Lord in one’s heart and you would be saved.

Our English word baptize is a transliteration of the Greek word βαπτίζω (baptize), which literally means to immerse, to sink, to drown, to submerge. In examining all the Greek dictionaries I possess, and various online sources, nowhere does baptize mean to connect or identify with. Scripture is clear it is a submersion in water for, or to bring about, the forgiveness of our sins. We do identify in the act with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord (Rom. 6:3-4), but such happens in being literally immersed in water. This is clear in what Peter writes; “Immersion, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21).

Satan works through false teachers teaching false ideas to keep people from truly obeying the gospel and having confidence their sins have truly been washed away. We have confidence in a faith that has submitted to the will of God by literally being immersed, knowing in doing so we are cleansed by the blood of Christ. There are a host of other teachings of Scripture that have been twisted or rejected by the will of people, but isn’t it wonderful we have Scripture that confirms God’s truth to us? May our trust and confidence be in God and His word, not the deceit of sin taught be those deceived. Live confidently for Christ today, knowing, in your submission to His will, you have new life in Him. God bless.

Robert

 

 Message from Scripture:  1/13/2021

Our message from Scripture for today comes from Eph. 6:11. “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”

A song we often sing is "Soldiers of Christ, Arise."  One verse of this song states, “Stand, then in his great might, with all his strength endued; But take to arm you for the fight, the Panoply of God."  The Greek word for panoply refers to the full equipment of the heavily armed foot-soldier, including both offensive and defensive weapons.  Every Roman soldier going to battle would take special care to be thoroughly equipped and prepared, as his life literally depended on it.

This word is used in the New Testament, but in a spiritual, not physical, sense.  Paul exhorted the Ephesians to put on the “whole armor,” or panoply of God.  This would enable them to stand against the devil's schemes (Eph. 6:11).  From the breastplate of righteousness, to the sword of the Spirit, God has provided us the spiritual equipment needed to overcome sin, to be victorious in daily Christian living.

When Paul used this term, he wasn't romanticizing warfare.  He had in view the harsh and stern reality of the soldier's life.  Peter tells us this is true spiritually, as, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).  As Christians, we are engaged in a war for our souls (2 Cor. 10:3-5).  Let’s rejoice in the loving care God exercises through his Son, that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3).

We should take seriously the struggle we face with sin daily.  We can be completely equipped and prepared for Satan's attacks, if we take advantage of the provision God offers through Christ.  Stand firm in the panoply of God and make use of it in the battles you face. Your soul's salvation depends on it. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture:  1/11/2021

Our message from Scripture for today comes from Eph. 4:22-24. “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Heart disease has often been called the "silent killer."   It has earned this title, because it may go undetected for some time, until its effects become undeniable, and the consequences destructive.  Unless you have regular checkups, you just don’t realize how your lifestyle can affect your future.

Sin works in a similar way.  You do something wrong, and your conscience bothers you about it, but, unlike Ananias and Saphirra, you're not struck down.  You may not even notice any adverse consequences immediately.  Then, sin begins to deceive you about its nature, so you won't notice how its hardening your heart.  The voice of conscience that once spoke so loudly soon becomes just a whisper, and then vanishes.  As sin runs its course, it finally bears its fruit. Is there time to repent, or even the desire to change?  How many ways has it affected your life?  What price has been paid for temporal pleasure?  You just didn't realize how your lifestyle was affecting your future.

Sin works so subtly, but even unnoticed, it works. The end result is judgment. Rather than passively allow sin to destroy us, we should become pro-active in seeking God. Be ever alert to the dangers of sin, and ever conscious of the blessings of life in Christ. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).  Your lifestyle does affect your future, today and eternally. What is yours working in you right now? God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/7/2021

Our message from Scripture today comes from Luke 5:31-32. “And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.’"

Have you read all the information found in medicine products, about their contents?  Pharmaceutical companies are required to provide specific listings about these products. Sometimes they list what they call the therapeutic benefits. Interestingly, the word therapeutic comes from the Greek language, and is used by the writers of the New Testament. The Greek term for therapeutic originally meant to serve. Later, however, doctors who offered service in healing the sick became known by this term.  It eventually took on the meaning, "to care for the sick, to treat medically, to cure."

The New Testament writers used the word in the sense of healing, but never in the sense of typical, medical cures. The term is always used about Jesus, and the true healing He performed by the power of God.  For example, a woman had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and “though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her” (Luke 8:43).  The therapeutic power of the Lord, however, caused her to be healed “immediately” (8:47).  When those who were sick with various kinds of diseases were brought to Him, He cured them (Luke 4:40).  As the Son of God, Jesus could provide completely for the needs of those about Him.

No matter the disorder, there is no greater disease than sin, and no other cure than Jesus. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick” (Luke 5:31).  Jesus is the great physician to those who believe and obey (Heb. 5:9).  The world may offer its remedies, but, like the woman with the hemorrhage, it just makes matters worse.  Only the blood of Christ can rid us of sin.  Let's rejoice in the salvation we have in Christ, and resolve to make known to a sin-sick world the therapeutic benefit of the gospel, eternal life. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 1/6/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today comes from Rom. 8:6-8. “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

We don’t typically hear the word carnal much anymore, so this passage is interesting in the use of the term. What was Paul saying by speaking of people who are carnally minded? The term in Greek is σάρξ (sarx), referring to that which is of the flesh. Here, Paul uses it to imply sinfulness, a propensity to sin, thus the carnal nature, the seat of carnal appetites and desires. It speaks of sinful passions, affections, and desires, whether physical or moral. It is an attitude about life that only considers the here and now, not that which is spiritual, eternal.

Paul says to focus one’s thoughts and lifestyle on our physical passions and desires is death. It was what brought about the process of physical death in the garden (Gen. 3:6), and if continually pursued brings about spiritual death, separation from God and condemnation. Paul reminded the congregation in Corinth, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). To live a worldly lifestyle and then claim spiritual promises is a contradiction in terms!

I can guarantee that to live without input from Scripture, spiritual truths, only results in a carnal mind, no matter what one may claim. Does the carnal programming on TV promote spirituality? Or the barrage of profanity that fills most music today? Has not the world taken a stand against true spirituality? If you want to think spiritually, and live spiritually, then God’s word must be integral to who we are. Spend time in reading God’s word today, thinking about what it says, and incorporating it in your life. This is how we will please God and have assurance in eternity. God bless.

Robert