Message from Scripture: 5/31/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Eph. 2:8. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

 

Bumper stickers seem to be a medium where people express their feelings and beliefs. One I saw years ago was “I hope God isn’t too picky.” Asking God not to be picky is a wish that God will overlook most of the choices a person’s made in life, and offer eternal life no matter what. Certainly, we are all saved by God’s grace, for without the sacrifice of Christ everyone would be lost forever. It was the love of God for us that sent Christ to the cross. It was the love of Jesus that brought Him to live in the flesh and die for us. No one can earn, or deserve, God’s love and mercy.

 

This doesn’t mean, however, that God has no expectations for how we live. God expects us to die to ourselves that we might live for Him. He expects us to surrender our will to His. He demands we put Him first, and sacrifice ourselves for Him. As Jesus Himself said, “Be faithful continually until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

 

To wish God not to be picky is basically saying you want to live however you want, and it will please God. It will not. No, we won’t be, and can’t be perfect, but we can give Him our best. To live is Christ (Phil. 1:21). Christ is our life (Col. 3:4). We live by faith because He loves us and gave Himself for us (Gal. 2:20). We identify with our Lord’s statement, “Not My will but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). In a sense, God is picky, in that He picked His Son to die for us, and that demands us to offer our best for Him (Rom. 12:1-2).

 

Today, let’s go out and serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, offering Him our best, as He offered His best, Himself, for us. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/29/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Matt. 6:22. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”

 

There is an old saying, "What goes around comes around."  Listen to these words, written by Alexander Campbell December 4, 1826, and see how modern and relevant they still sound.

 

“The spirit and temperament of the ancient Christians inclined and drew them, as the law of gravitation does all bodies to the center of the system, to a most devout conformity to all the institutes of the Prince of Life.  They loved His will supremely.  Neither fire nor water, famine or sword, good fame or bad fame, prevented them in their obedience.  They took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, and loved not their lives unto death, rather than renounce their allegiance in any one point to Him who died for them.  His laws and institutions were all in all to them.  They reasoned this way:  if Jesus died for us, we owe our lives to Him. Our only concern should be, ‘Lord, what would You have us to do?’”

 

“Let the spirit, then, of the ancient Christians be restored, and we shall soon see their order of things clearly and fully exhibited.  ‘If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light;’ and if the heart be right, the practice will bear the test of examination.  The spirit of the present order of things is too much akin to the spirit of this world. Its supreme petition is not ‘Lord, what will You have me to do,’ but, ‘O Mammon!  Tell us plain, tell us fully, what you would have us to do to gain your admiration and, if possible along with this, to save our souls.’  This is not the spirit of all, but this appears the leading and triumphant spirit of the present order of things.”

 

Today, lets go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from His will, not the spirit of the world. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/28/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Mark 15:34. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”

 

How could God forsake His Son at any time, especially at this time?  Yet, this is what Jesus cried from the cross. Why would this be true?  During the hours of crucifixion, Jesus became sin for us.   “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).  Sin separates one from God (Isa. 59:2).  So, for the first and only time, Jesus was separated from the Father.  It wasn’t due to personal sinfulness on His part, but because He took our sins on Himself, that we might have life in Him.

 

What a price was paid for us!  Shouldn’t we, in all humility, thank God constantly, that He allowed His Son to die for us, taking sin’s penalty for Himself?  Rejoice that, through His death, though He was separated from the Father, we can be joined in fellowship with Him.  What kind of lives should we live, in view of the price paid for redemption?

 

It is possible we can separate ourselves from God. We can forsake Him by not assembling to worship Him, by not consciously living for Him, by taking for granted everything He has done for us in Christ, by the gospel not touching our hearts, and in living to please ourselves instead of dying to self to live for Christ. Why would we choose to live life from a carnal perspective, rather than in submission and devotion to Him? “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24).

 

Today, let’s reevaluate our priorities, and give ourselves wholly and freely in submission and service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ was separated to give us forgiveness of sin; may we not be separated because of our sins. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/27/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Col. 3:25. “For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.”

 

In the context of this passage, Paul is speaking to masters and slaves regarding their relationship to each other. Beyond the immediate context of master/slave relations, though, is a powerful application that still touches us today. The choices we make, and the actions that follow, have consequences. The ramifications of how we choose to live are enormous. It not only affects our lives, but the lives of those with whom we interact.  It not only affects the quality of life we have today, but eternally. 

 

The selfish person will ignore them and go on, not worrying about whom they hurt or what happens to them in the process. The godly person will ask important questions first. It surprises many people to learn what pleases God isn't always what pleases us.  More important than gratifying selfish desires is making sure God is glorified.

 

We can ask, “What is the will of God for me in this?” “How will this affect others?” “What can I foresee happening as a result of doing or saying this?” Asking ourselves and others, "What if," can be helpful sometimes, especially when we're considering where our choices will lead.  We must open our world, not only to include ourselves, but others who love us, and God.  What a difference that can make in where our lives lead us, in how others perceive us, in what God has planned for us in eternity.

 

As we go about our lives this evening, may we make sure, in all we say and do, we serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and not ourselves. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/26/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Mark 1:35. “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.”

 

In our text for today, the phrase “early morning” usually had reference to the 3^rd watch of the night, from 3 am to 6 am. Jesus knew the value of prayer, and spent much time in it during His earthly ministry. Luke tells us, before He chose His apostles, “In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). Of course, we remember the intensity of His prayer before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, where drops of sweat like blood poured from His brow as He prayed to fulfill the will of God (Luke 22:44).

 

People can pray for all kinds of reasons. Some only think of praying when a crisis is upon them. One survey shows even nonbelievers take time to pray when they are in desperate straits. One person candidly admitted he didn’t pray until a crisis because he wanted ownership of his life and didn’t want to surrender that to anyone else, including God. Others pray for selfish reasons, to have their desires fulfilled (Jas. 4:2-3). Still others do so because it is an integral part of their daily lives, essential to their relationship with God (1 Thess. 5:17).  

 

Like Jesus, we should be constant in prayer (Rom. 12:12), to make God’s will our will. By humbling ourselves, and emptying ourselves of ourselves, one will find what a strength and blessing prayer really is. A genuine relationship with God is one where prayer is integral, along with the study of Scripture, worship of Him, and serving Him. What a difference it makes when God truly is the focus of every aspect of our lives. Today, lets be constant in genuine prayer. Let’s go out and serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from a pure and devoted heart and life. What a difference it makes. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/25/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Luke 9:23; “Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone purposes to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

 

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus tells us there are three things we must do if we are to truly be His disciples. He begins by reminding us we have to purpose, meaning to deliberately choose and determine to do it. It’s not to be a vague desire or abstract concept, but a commitment of the will to follow through and act on it.

 

First, we must deny ourselves. The term deny means to reject, to give up, to renounce one’s own character. We have to deny ourselves because we only get in the way of following Jesus by letting our will dominate over God’s will. No one can follow Christ who doesn’t put Him first in life, who allows his or her own desires to supersede what God wants.

 

Second, we must take up our cross daily. In Jesus’ day, this didn’t refer to the trials of life everyone endures, but it vividly illustrated a willingness to die, as the cross was a cruel instrument of death. Scripture reminds us, “This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).

 

Lastly, we must follow Him. The word follow means “to follow the same road.” Those walking with Him in life must follow His lead and act according to His example. John said, “The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). We don’t just consider it, think about it, or come back to it at a later date; we must actually do it.

 

Today, let’s go out and serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, being imitators of Him (1 Cor. 11:1). It will make a difference in us and others. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Is Life a Parade or Lived with a Purpose?

 

John Henry Fabre was a French entomologist and author, who lived from 1823 to 1915.  He is probably best known for his study of insects, and is considered by many to be the father of modern entomology. Much of his enduring popularity is due to his unique teaching ability and his manner of writing about the lives of insects in biographical form, which he preferred to a clinically detached, journalistic mode of recording. In doing so he combined what he called “my passion for scientific truth” with keen observations and an engaging, colloquial style of writing.

 

Fabre studied the habit of processionary caterpillars, so named because they move in columns in search of food, resembling a procession.  He conducted an unusual experiment with them, carefully arranging them in a circle around the rim of a flower pot, so that the lead caterpillar actually touched the last one, making a complete circle.  In the center of the pot he put pine needles, their natural food source.  The caterpillars started around the circular flower pot.  Around and around they went, hour after hour, day after day, for seven full days.  Finally, they dropped dead.  With an abundance of food less than six inches away, they literally starved to death.  They were engaged in constant activity, but were unable to accomplish the most essential of goals necessary for their existence.

 

In many ways, these processionary caterpillars mimic many people’s lives.  It’s so easy to get caught up in a routine, going around and around in life, engaged in constant activity.  The question is, where are we really going and what is it we’re really doing?  Too many confuse activity with accomplishment, with being busy to fulfilling our purpose.  We must be concerned, not only with what it is we do in life, but where it takes us.  Like those caterpillars, some people go around and around, but miss what is important, and die without understanding the goal.  For the Christian, life is Christ (Phil. 1:21), and our goal in living is to live for eternity (Phil. 3:20).  Whatever we do in life, if we don’t live for the spiritual, if God doesn’t come first, then all our activity is for nothing.  We will have found ourselves busy, but missing out on what life is all about.

 

We need to learn a lesson from these caterpillars.  We can have full schedules, be busy in all kinds of activities, run here and there and never have a minute to rest, but find out it only took up precious time and got us nowhere.  Perhaps Solomon best expressed it when he wrote, “I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.  Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun” (Eccl. 2:10-11).  We want to live for what offers promise beyond today, for that which leads to eternal life, to take hold of “that which is truly life” (1 Tim. 6:19).

 

Those caterpillars were only doing what they knew to do by instinct; they thought trudging along would ultimately lead them to their goal, but it didn’t.  Are we not more capable of discernment than they?  Don’t confuse activity with accomplishment, with doing something for doing what’s right.  “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17).

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/22/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Matt. 25:46. “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

 

I recently read an article where the authors were describing how no one would be punished in hell eternally. They did not deny hell exists eternally, and that it’s a place of torment, but that no one will occupy it eternally. In essence, whoever goes there will be forever annihilated, but hell itself will continue to exist. It seems as more people deny godly living, they try to find some way of not having to face God’s judgment for a sinful lifestyle.

 

However, Jesus words that some go to eternal destruction doesn’t mean they cease to exist forever. In this passage from Matthew, the term eternal means agelong, thus without end. It is descriptive of the nature of what the wicked have to endure throughout eternity. One is not eradicated out of existence for eternity, but suffers throughout eternity. The term is the same for the wicked as for the righteous. If the righteous exist for eternity to enjoy the beauty of heaven, then the wicked exist for eternity to be punished.

 

Some might argue this doesn’t seem right for God to do, if He is love and loves the whole world. In this life, one can commit such grievous crimes, he or she can be assigned consecutive life sentences, to show how despicable such acts are. One could ask if those consigned to hell suddenly start loving God, after living a life of sin? Paul reminds us that those who live for the flesh will reap the corruption it brings in eternity, while those who live for the spiritual will receive eternal life. There are no role reversals in eternity. The Hebrew writer also says, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

 

Isn’t it wonderful to know eternal torment is not what God desires for us? In Christ, through His blood, we have the sure promise of eternal life. Let’s live today to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, knowing life in Him is not in vain. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/21/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Rom. 8:26-27. “Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.”

 

A word frequently used in many conversations is hope.  The dictionary defines hope as “to expect with desire.”  We hope for rain, then we hope for sunshine. We hope for warmer weather, then we hope for cooler weather. We hope to accomplish certain things, then we hope certain things don’t happen, and on it goes.

 

Sometimes, we hope against hope.  This is a way of saying we hope even though there is no real basis to expect whatever we hope for really happening.  Many of the things we hope for in life are like that.  We want and desire a great many things, without any real basis except for our wants and desires.  Perhaps this is why so many people’s hopes end in despair.

 

As Christians we have a “living” hope, in contrast to all the dead promises others make, but never are able to bring to pass.  We can trust God to do what He has said because of His nature as God. The issue then is whether we will live in such a way that this hope becomes reality for us. One can profess to having such a hope, but it’s an empty claim if one’s life isn’t in harmony with the will of God. Scripture makes it clear we must “continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (Col. 1:23). Hope is a real and powerful factor in daily Christian living, but without daily Christian living, there can be no real hope.

 

We have full assurance that our hope in Christ will become reality. May we live in such a way that we truly share in this hope, not as an empty desire, but a lifestyle filled with promise (Heb. 6:11). With so great a hope, may we use our lives to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/20/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is 1 Pet. 3:8. “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and humble in spirit.”

 

How have you lived your life to this point in time? Have you accomplished what you wanted, or have you been distracted? Has life taken you in a direction you weren’t anticipating? Do you have unfulfilled goals? Have you made the best use of your abilities and opportunities? If your life were to end today, would you feel good about how you have lived, or would there be regrets?

 

No matter where we are in life, it is Christ who gives us meaning and importance! If we give ourselves to him, and live for him, God will be pleased with us. Do I have to live in a certain location to live for Christ? Do I have to have a particular occupation? Do I need a certain size family, live in a particular neighborhood, drive a certain model car, and have a huge amount in a 401k? Paul wrote, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

 

How do we use each day God gives us? Every day can be great if we keep our perspective, to use each day for Christ. Some of God’s greatest blessings for us begin in the attitudes of heart we hold, by which we use the events of each day for His honor and glory. It’s a matter of choice, a decision as to who we live for, and allowing His will to shape our lives. Be the salt of the earth, a city set on a hill, a light that can’t be hidden, especially in the everyday events of life (Matt. 5:13-16). “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17). This is the real stuff of life, no matter where you are in life.

 

May we go out today and serve Christ as our Lord and Savior. Doing so will give us the attitudes of heart Peter spoke about, a life pleasing to God. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/19/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Jer. 2:5. “This is what the Lord says: What fault did your ancestors find in me that they went so far from me, followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?”

 

To the people of Judah, Jeremiah uses a play on words to illustrate a spiritual truth to them. Since idols are the invention of the human imagination, and are simply reflections of the thoughts and desires of people, Jeremiah rightly calls them worthless, as far as being a deity is concerned. The Hebrew term for worthless is הֶבֶל (hebel), synonymous for an idol. Those who worshipped idols are called הָבַל‎ (hebal), to become worthless. Judah became spiritually what it pursued.  When they turned aside from God to worship idols, that which was vain and empty, they, too, became vain and empty. 

 

Paul describes this as happening to the Gentiles, as well.  “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures” (Rom. 1:21-23).

 

By contrast, we are exhorted to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).  If we fill our lives with spiritual values, we can grow in the image of our Lord, and in the quality of life Christ provides. Life is not a vacuum; our life becomes a reflection of whatever it is we devote ourselves to doing. Fill your life with positive spiritual values, and “...be filled up to all the fulness of God” (Eph. 3:19). Today, show the value of your life by going out to serve Christ as your Lord and Savior. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/18/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Luke 23:41-43. “We are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”

 

Most of us are familiar with this “thief on the cross” as he’s called, one of two criminals crucified with Jesus. At one time, both were insulting the Lord (Mark 15:32), but one had a change of heart, and rebuked the other for what they had been doing. He reminded the other of their guilt, for which crucifixion was what they deserved for their deeds. He also spoke to him of Jesus innocence, asking Jesus to remember him in His kingdom, to which Jesus promised him he would be with Him in Paradise.

 

Of course, this criminal doesn’t offer us the plan of salvation. Jesus lived under the Law of Moses, and was in His right as the Son of God to make such an offer. While some deny the criminal was immersed, we remember the great number of people who came from Jerusalem and all of Judea to be immersed by John. It is also possible he could have been immersed by Jesus’ disciples (John 4:1-2). We do know the Bible teaches us, in faith, to repent, to confess Jesus as Lord, and to be immersed so our sins can be forgiven (Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21).

 

Both criminals, though, do speak of the two ways one can encounter Christ. One found salvation, the other, as best as we can determine, condemnation. It is a vivid illustration of how we all will stand before Jesus, and be judged on how we respond to Him. Live for oneself, and received condemnation; deny oneself, live for Jesus, and receive life. These are our only two choices, so why not choose life? May we decide to humble ourselves and submit to the Lord, to find life. May we go about serving Christ as our Lord and Savior, living for Him today, and living with Him eternally. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/17/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Eph. 4:13. “Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

 

The term that Paul uses to describe the knowledge we are to have of the Son of God is an intensive form of the Greek word for knowledge, ἐπίγνωσις.  “It expresses a more thorough participation in the acquiring of knowledge on the part of the learner.  In the New Testament, it often refers to knowledge which very powerfully influences the form of religious life, a knowledge laying claim to personal involvement.” Paul isn’t just talking about knowing the reality of the existence of Christ, but of who He is, of His example for us, of living life in Him and the knowledge of His will that helps us grow in His image.

 

Knowing the facts of Scripture alone will never transform lives, and we must experience a transformation, from conformity to the world to living a sanctified life, if the goal of knowing Scripture is to be realized. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). We learn what Scripture teaches so we can practice it in everyday living. It is to be part of our conscience, its principles and precepts familiar to us, so when we face challenges in life, or temptations, or various types of decisions, we have the basis on which to decide how to respond.

 

With Scripture in our hearts and minds, we can choose right from wrong and discern the best course of action to take (Psa. 119:11). We have to know what Scripture teaches through study if we are to gain this knowledge, but we must also apply this knowledge if it is to transform our lives. We must see where it fits in daily life experiences. Based on this, we can go out to effectively serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/15/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Psa. 139:16. “Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.”

 

Life is a gift. We can rightly call it such by considering the process from which a human life originates. No one brought themselves into existence, but instead by two people joining as one. Of course, not every child born has the benefit of a loving, caring set of parents, but that doesn’t negate how special life itself is. No matter the commitment, or lack thereof, of the two people who bring a child into this world, the process of life was instituted and still cared for by God.

 

The eternal existence we have promised by God is not disconnected from the temporal life we now live in the flesh. The choices we make in life today, and the goals for which we live, determine which eternity we will have, either of joy or of judgment. We must always remember, no matter our circumstances in life, in all ways and at all times, God loves us with a never ending love. The coming of the Son of God into the world, and His death for our sins, is evidence of God’s love, and provides for eternal life.

 

We live in a sinful world, and we all have a sin problem, but this can never negate the love of God for us, or His help and encouragement, His blessings, and His promises in Christ. Never give up, for your life is precious to God, and in Christ will last an eternity. Live a faithful life for Him, so your eternity can be what God intends, which is only His best. If we humble ourselves, and yield ourselves to God, in Christ we have assurance of hope, of a life worth living today, a life beyond measure tomorrow. As Paul tells us,  “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up” (Gal. 6:9).

 

Today, realize how special you are to God and how much He cares for you as you go about serving your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 Suffering for Christ

 

If you think of the life the apostle Paul lived, what must the effects of his life in Christ done to his body before he was put to death? By his own account (2 Cor. 11:23-27), he received 39 lashes from the Jews 5 times. He was beaten with rods 3 times. He was stoned once. In addition to all this, he was near death many times and in various dangers from people and circumstances he encountered preaching the gospel. His body had been tortured numerous times, and he bore the marks of it on his body, his branding for Christ (Gal. 6:17). When Paul tells Timothy he was being poured out as a drink offering, it was his blood that was being offered (2 Tim. 4:6). Death would be a release from his physical suffering; “For Me, living is Christ, dying is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

 

I think Paul, Peter, all of the apostles, and so many unknown faithful brethren can be included in the category the writer of Hebrews speaks of when he recounted so many Old Testament notables in Heb. 11, of what they endured looking forward to what was yet to come. He said, “The world was not worthy of them” (Heb. 11:38). The term worthy here carries the idea of useful, deserving, comparable or suitable. Scripture tells us the gospel should so transform our lives we are worthy to live it, worthy of the calling it offers to imitate Christ (Eph. 4:1; 5:1-2). It’s certainly far different from what the world offers; it isn’t worthy of such.

 

Paul encouraged the Christians in Colossae, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body, that is, the church” (Col. 1:24). Paul is not saying Christ’s sacrifice was lacking on our part, but that living for Jesus would bring suffering (John 15:18-20). For Paul it was an honor to be counted worthy of such, as it reflected Christ living in him (Gal. 2:20). I wonder if we, I, count it worthy to face difficulties in life because our lives are that closely aligned with the gospel, with Christ?

 

It’s easy to complain about how we want things to be, about how we want to be treated, about getting our desires fulfilled. The building is too hot or cold. The pews not comfortable enough. It’s troublesome to come to both Sunday assemblies and on Wednesday night. Services are too long, or too short. Other activities beckon, are more alluring, more fun, than serving in the kingdom. And then, of course, there’s COVID. Satan does everything he can to distract us and convince us how hard we have it being Christians today. I wonder. I am ashamed of myself, when I think what a relationship with God meant to many in the first century, and what it means in the twenty-first century. I have not been set on fire, or beaten, or lost my family, or possessions, or many other things simply for wearing the name of Christ. Really, what are our priorities? Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (Matt. 6:33). Paul wrote, “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:4). Peter affirmed, “If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…But if anyone suffers as a ‘Christian,’ he should not be ashamed but should glorify God in having that name…So those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator” (1 Pet. 4:14, 16, 19).

 

I have not suffered for the faith as our first century brethren did, or as some in other places today are, but I pray to God for the strength that, if it comes my way, my life has not become so petty seeking after the comforts of today, I would not offer myself to Him, to help complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for His body. May God help us all reflect on what our Lord and His faithful followers in times past have offered for the faith, and to have that spirit within us today. Dear Lord, forgive us for what is lacking in our faith. We believe, but help us in our unbelief. May we sacrifice the selfishness of our hearts that you may mold us in your image and fit us for eternity.

 

μαράνα θᾶ

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/14/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Psa. 144:4. “O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow.”

 

When Emily Phillips found out she was going to die from pancreatic cancer, she decided to write her own obituary. In it she said, “It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. Everyone told me it would happen one day but that’s simply not something I wanted to hear, much less experience.” She would also add, “So…I was born; I blinked; and it was over.”

 

These two quotes included from Ms. Phillips probably reflects how a lot of people feel when forced to face one’s own mortality. It’s not what most want to hear will happen and have to experience. Reflecting on one’s life, no matter how long it may be, it typically seems way too short, or as she puts it, you’re born, you blink, and then it’s over.

 

Only in Christ is life called abundant (John 10:10). Life in Christ is the only life that fulfills its promise beyond the grave. The hope of eternal life is precious to those who have anchored their soul to Him (Heb. 6:19).

 

In a real sense, we’re all writing our own obituaries, perhaps not to be read in a newspaper or a funeral service someday, but certainly before God. “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done” (Rev. 20:12). Since all we have is today, let’s go out today and live for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let’s make this day count for what really matters when our days here come to an end. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/13/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is 1 John 5:4. “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith.”

 

How can we help strengthen our faith so it can be what God intends for us, so it can help us overcome life’s negative situations, rather than be controlled by them? You have probably heard the story of the oyster. The pearl is an abnormal growth resulting from the invasion of the body of the mollusk by a minute irritant. The particle creates a response from the mollusk, which coats it with layer upon layer of nacreous material, which is the substance forming the inner layers of the mollusk’s shell. It takes an irritant for an oyster to make the beautiful and valuable pearl.

 

The application is obvious. When we are faced with irritants in life, we need to cover them with the love of God, knowing He is at work in all situations of life to accomplish His goal in us, of maturing us in Him, growing us in His image, preparing us for eternity.  Remember the words of Paul to the church at Rome; “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

 

We will encounter no temptation in life but that God offers a way of escape to endure without yielding to it (1 Cor. 10:13). We will face nothing in life but that God goes with us (Matt. 28:20). Nothing will come our way that will cause God to stop loving us (Rom. 8:38-39). Through the avenue of prayer, He is always there to hear our concerns and give us strength (2 Thess. 1:11).

 

Don’t let life determine your response to God, what is the measure of your faith. Allow God through faith to help you through life, and find a life worth living. Today, live by faith as you go out to serve your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/12/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is 2 Tim. 4:2. “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”

 

I am an advocate of daily Bible reading. Actually, I am a BIG advocate for daily Bible reading.  Spending time in Scripture daily is a key element to successful Christian living. How can we know God’s will for us if we don’t spend regular time in His word? How can our consciences be shaped if the word of God isn’t there to offer input, leaving the voices of the world unfettered access to our thoughts and our hearts? How can we distinguish between right and wrong if the standard of right and wrong isn’t within us? 

 

Paul reminds us it takes all of Scripture to be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). To read all of Scripture reminds us God not only is a God of love, but a God who hates sin. We am reminded that life in the world is to be lived spiritually. We are called to remember we are not only children of God, but His servants, called to a life of submission. By reading all of Scripture regularly, in addition to the other avenues available, we are called to be whole Christians, not Christians of our own choosing.

 

As big a temptation as it is not to read the Bible daily, regularly, is only reading the Bible partially. Reading only those parts that confirm what one wants to believe, that are familiar, leaves one incomplete at best, and at worst, can be used to justify one’s desires, to be what one wants, not necessarily what God wants. Spend time in all of God’s word, and be all you can be, all God wants you to be. Today, let Scripture direct your mind and heart as you go about serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/11/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Jer. 23:29. “'Is not My word like fire,' declares the Lord, 'and like a hammer which shatters a rock?’”

 

There was a noticeable difference between the message of Jeremiah and the message of the false prophets, a difference found in the source of their preaching. The word of God burned itself into the hearts and minds of those who proclaimed it (Jer. 20:9). It convicted the hearers of sin and demanded complete obedience from them. It was powerful, especially in contrast to the "dreams" of the false prophets, which could not move men to a religious or moral commitment. It was the word of God.

 

Although there is still competition by so many for the attention of people today, only God's word can make an eternal impact on peoples' lives. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...” (Rom. 1:16).  Only the word of God is “living and active and sharper than any two‑edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).  Like a fire, it can melt hard hearts and burn with conviction; like a hammer, it can break in pieces the deceptions of our lives.

 

We need to place our confidence in the power of God's word. We have been born "not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God" (I Pet 1:23). All else that competes for our attention will come and go, but the word of God abides forever. May we allow it to mold and shape our lives and conform us to His image. May it guide us today as we go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

 

Message from Scripture: 5/10/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Acts 13:47-48. “For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord.”

 

When the gospel began to be preached in the 1^st century, it was readily received by many Jews initially, but also by many Gentiles.  Paul’s missionary journeys recorded in Acts show that the Gentiles rejoiced to have an opportunity to hear and obey it. The Gentiles were running from a lifestyle that had been tried and found wanting. They were empty and wanted something more, something that offered hope. For the pagan world, finding the gospel was like finding the greatest treasure imaginable, offering them a quality of life unknown by them, and a peace that truly did pass understanding (Phil. 4:7).

 

It seems our society, instead of running to the gospel, is running away from the gospel into a modern form of paganism. We must live as New Testament Christians, so a world running to sin can see a sincere faith at work in us, walking in the light rather than the darkness of sin, showing others Christ in our words and deeds. Just as Paul told Timothy to preach the word in season and out of season, we must live the word before others in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2).

 

We must be true to our convictions in Christ, and show the difference Christ can make over sin. The world doesn’t need to see sinful lifestyles in Christians; it already knows all about sin. What a world dying in sin needs is to see the cure Christ alone can offer. Let your light shine today as you go about serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Mother and Child

 

What do children do for their mother on Mother’s Day? Young ones often draw pictures, pick some colorful “flowers” from the yard, offer lots of hugs, and allow dads to let them treat mom for a meal. As they get older, it may be some more expensive flowers than in the past, or a phone call, a corsage, along with cards and hugs. Hopefully it is a reflection of appreciation for all that mom has done, for the love they share, and something this is expressed more than one day a year. With the passage of time, it can be remembrances and reflections on a relationship that now is past, but lives on in one’s heart, memory, and the life they try to live, not just for themselves but for the children they have.

 

Being a mother, of course, involves bringing new life into the world. It is both a physical and emotional experience, which lasts for a lifetime. It is filled with ups and downs, the need for discipline and forgiveness, and never-ending support. It’s being there for so many events in a child’s life, doing one’s best to fix matters gone awry, and sharing in everything that happens, sometimes visibly and vocally, sometimes silently. It can seem a thankless task, but love motivates a mother to never give up. How appropriate, as Solomon points out, for her children to rise up and call her blessed (Prov. 31:28).

 

In our society today, there are all kinds of mothers and all kinds of children. There are forces at work that make it more difficult than ever to bring up children in the training and instruction of the Lord. It is so very important for mothers, with the nurturing they provide, to emphasize the spiritual as well. How encouraging can it be for children to hear their mother praying for them, sharing the truths of Scripture with them, and showing in her life how important the spiritual is to her, and so should be to them? “My son, you’re your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching. Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you. For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light, and corrective discipline is the way to life” (Prov. 6:20-23).

 

Moms, then, before a child is desired, and conceived, and brought from infancy to adulthood, need to commit themselves to God. How important it is to understand what a great blessing, and a great responsibility, they have in helping their child/children chart a course that leads to eternal life. What a great example Timothy’s grandmother and mother offered him, and no doubt made a difference in Timothy. Paul reminded him, “And you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). How did he know the sacred Scriptures from childhood? “Clearly recalling your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and that I am convinced is in you also” (2 Tim. 1:5).

 

Thank God for godly mothers! What a difference they can make in the lives of their progeny, who can make a difference in others. Seeking the Lord’s help in guiding their lives is a blessing to every mother as well, as it helps instill a deeper relationship with Him, a deeper spirituality in their own lives. God’s wisdom is so clearly seen in how we are meant to interact with Him and each other, especially as family. May God richly bless all mothers seeking His will in their lives and the lives of their children. May we pray for mothers, and be an encouragement to them in the awesome role they have in life. May we seek to honor them by living faithful lives in Christ, and share together in the hope of eternal life, the greatest gift a mother can receive from her children.

 μαράνα θᾶ

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/8/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Matt. 20:30. “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.”

 

As the time for Jesus’ death drew near, He traveled the road from Jericho to Jerusalem. On the way from Jericho, two blind beggars heard of Jesus’ approach. “Have mercy on us,” they cried.  The word mercy originally referred to the feeling of pity. It assumed a need on the part of those who received it, and the ability to meet the need, on the part of those who show it. These blind men had the need for sight, and they recognized Jesus as “the Lord, Son of David,” He who had the power to meet their need. Their cry for mercy not only acknowledged their need, but also their faith in Jesus as He who could solve it for them.

 

“Have mercy on us” should be the cry of every one of us, as well. No doubt we all can think of some physical need we would like remedied, but our need for mercy is greater than that. Everyone has a need for salvation, and only God through Jesus Christ can provide for that need.Through faith in Christ and submission to His will, we are recipients of God’s mercy, having our sins forgiven by Him alone who can forgive them.

 

In a sense, we’re all without spiritual sight until someone, in love and compassion, shares with us the light of the gospel. Knowing the mercy of God, receiving His compassion in the blood of Christ, shouldn’t we take the gospel to as many possible, that others can have their greatest need met? “Have mercy” should be our cry, our ambition, for ourselves and others. “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). Today, may we show mercy as we go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/7/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Jas. 5:16. “The effective prayer of the righteous can accomplish much.”

 

This passage of Scripture leaves no question we, as Christians, are to be identified by prayer. Paul tells us we should “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).  In prayer we offer praise to God as our Creator, Sustainer, and Father.  We can pour the needs of our hearts before Him, knowing He cares for us, and will do what is right for us.

 

What happens when we pray, individually and collective? What can God accomplish through us? As you offer your personal prayers for your needs, also include prayers behalf of the church. Here are some things that would be appropriate to include in your petitions: (1) Pray for our various programs of work, and those involved in serving in these areas; (2) Pray the Lord will provide us more opportunities for service and growth; and (3) pray you will seek, according to your own talents and abilities, to serve more fervently, more effectively.

 

By spending time in prayer, we can sift through the clutter of the world, and devote ourselves to what deserves our time. Being constant in prayer, we can draw closer to our heavenly Father. When we draw closer to God, we also draw closer to each other. Those who are constant in prayer reveal hearts open to God, and open to receive His blessings.  What can be accomplished when we join together in prayer? The prayer of the righteous can accomplish much. Today, make it a great day by praying to God and serving our Lord and Savior, to His honor and glory. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 5/6/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Heb. 13:5. “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

 

We live in uncertain times, with things changing around us at a rapid pace. We are very aware of the health issues that still plague our nation. The world is not getting safer, either. Personal suffering continues as well, and stress levels for many people are far beyond what they’ve experienced in the past.

 

Everywhere we look there is uncertainty and change.  Well, not everywhere.  There is one place of stability and security, no matter what happens in the world around us.  The Hebrew writer in our Scripture reference reminded us of God’s promise. The promise of God’s love and provision through Jesus is constant and sure; “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Even in the most difficult times, we know God will be there to help us and care for us.

 

There is nothing we can face that God does not already know. There is no crisis or difficulty in life that is greater than His strength, His love, or His promises. We cannot deal with anything in life that He is not willing to go through with us. What confidence we should have then, no matter our problems, our circumstances, our uncertainties, because our Lord is always there to help, comfort, and provide. We can have this confidence; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).

 

Today, let’s be confident in the love of God revealed through the sacrifice of Christ. If God is willing to do the greatest for us, He will provide all we need. As Paul said, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Today, lets serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who makes all this possible. God bless.

 

Robert

Message from Scripture: 5/5/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Prov. 15:13. “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

 

All of us have known the emotions spoken in this passage. Life is filled with experiences that both gladden and sadden, that can cheer as well as depress.  Generally speaking, facing good times is easy. Those times when the heart is sad, when we feel burdened with the trials of everyday living, are what offer us our greatest challenges. When our spirit seems broken, Satan waits to take advantage of our discouragement.

 

Christian living, however, is to fill us with joy and peace, a sense of victory.  Paul encourages us, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57).  How can we turn feelings of gloom and depression into an attitude of confidence and victory?  It is an active, growing faith that can turn a spirit of defeat into the promise of victory. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith” (1 John 5:4). Through an obedient faith (Gal. 3:26-27) we are born of God, and it is by faith that we are kept for salvation (1 Pet. 1:5). Prayer is another avenue of help, as is our fellowship together, both of which help keep our faith focused on the spiritual, and the promises of God, rather than Satan’s deceptions.

 

How do we turn a broken spirit into a joyful, unbeaten spirit?  Perhaps, it's best done by stepping back, looking to God through the eyes of faith, and allowing Him control over our lives.  In Him, we can find purpose and delight for life today, and eternally.  "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). Today, lets go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless.

 

Robert