Spiritual Exercises

“When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut” (Acts 21:27-30).

Jumping to conclusions is a dangerous spiritual exercise. Rumors had spread among Jewish converts in Jerusalem that the apostle Paul was teaching Jews in Gentile regions “...to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs'' (Acts 21:21).  That wasn’t true but, then again, rumors and gossip can’t be bothered by the truth. Who has time for that anyway? Paul, James, and the Jerusalem church leadership agree on a plan to put the rumors to rest.  The apostle would participate Jewish ritual at the temple with four other men who were under a vow (Acts 21:22-25).  That should do it, right?  Nope.  Paul’s doubters jump to the conclusion (“...they supposed…”) that he took a Gentile into the temple area and a riot erupts.

Instead of jumping to conclusions, let me suggest a better spiritual exercise: digging for facts.  Yes, it's harder work but it saves much trouble later.  Don’t automatically think the worst about someone.  There is usually a range of actions that can produce the same outcome.  You may guess right, but you may guess wrong.  Instead of starting a rumor, how about going to the source first and finding out what is going on directly from them?  Revolutionary, right?  Give it a try!

God loves you!

Mike

Comparative Values

“THERMOPOLIS -- Hidden in plain sight for years was a treasure that may be worth as much or more than the Wyoming museum that now has it. The treasure is one of the five original copies of a photograph that Harry Longabaugh — better known as the “Sundance Kid” — had taken with his paramour, Ethel “Etta” Place, just before the wanted outlaws fled the country for Argentina with notorious outlaw partner Butch Cassidy. The photo was taken in 1901 in New York by the DeYoung Photography Studio. Some historians have suggested it’s a wedding photo, as the two are rather handsomely dressed. Harry is holding onto a top hat, while Etta has a gold pocket watch pinned to the lapel of her dress, which Harry had just purchased for her at the Tiffany & Co. jewelry store.”*

Part of the opening sentence of this article caught my attention: “...worth as much or more than the Wyoming museum that now has it.”  In an even greater way, that concept aptly describes the treasure that has been placed within the people of God -- i.e. the church.  We are the repository of something of greater value than ourselves.  The Bible highlights this principle often.  “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).  In Christ, we “...are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 1:22).  “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:11).

As valuable as we are in the eyes of God, we are merely the temple for something of even greater value -- the very presence of God.  As Paul says: “...we are the temple of the living God...” (2 Corinthians 6:16).  What an incredible privilege!  What an incredible responsibility!

God loves you!

Mike

*https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/03/ultra-rare-sundance-kid-photo-may-be-worth-more-than-the-wyoming-museum-its-in/?fbclid=IwAR0MDZyIPJOKVXneUeM1cVVr20HoWboBjQQalkNO5i0cHwT_jnVximTz-Cc 

Whose Will Should Be Done?

“When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”” (Acts 21:12–14).

Paul and his traveling companions were making their way to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey.  During their stay with Philip the evangelist in Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus shares some disturbing news: Paul is headed for serious trouble in the capital city, including his arrest.  This revelation alarms Paul’s friends and they beg him not to continue on.  But Paul knows that it’s God will for him to fulfill this difficult assignment (cf. Acts 20:22-24) and he is determined to forge ahead.  Seeing the apostle’s resolve, the believers know it's useless to continue to try and sway him.  They surrender their wills to the will of God.

The human will can be a powerful force.  When we know what we want, it can be difficult to change our minds.  That can be a good thing.  Much good can be accomplished when we are determined to find a way to make it happen.  But we must always remember that there is another will that takes precedence over our own.  And that is the will of God.

Even the Son of God Himself wasn’t exempt from the need to submit His will to the will of God.  As He prayed in the garden not long before His crucifixion, His own will desired a way to avoid the cross.  But in the dark night of His soul, He said these words: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet no as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).

Father, may my will never get in the way of Your will.

God loves you!

Mike 

Rescue

“On 5th August this year (2010) the San Jose copper mine, in the Atacama Desert in Chile collapsed. 33 men were trapped in darkness. The world and their relatives feared that there was no hope. The depth of the mine, the lack of food and water, and the absence of any signs of life all pointed to a terribly sad end. But after signs of life were detected, an audacious rescue attempt was launched. Starting from the surface of the desert during bright daylight, drills began to bore a narrow hole down into darkness. After meticulous planning, but recognising many risks, a rescue capsule called Phoenix was sent down into the depths to rescue the 33 men. One by one the men stepped into their rescue capsule and they were delivered to the surface to shouts of jubilation and joy. They had been feared dead, but every man that stepped into the capsule was saved, alive and well.”*

What an amazing story! As I read the words, I thought of the apostle Paul’s statement in the book of Colossians as he spoke of another even more amazing rescue. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).  Instead of being trapped under 2300 ft. of rock and dirt like the Chilean miners, we were trapped under the staggering weight of our own sin debt.  We were entombed in a kingdom of darkness, separated from any glimmer of spiritual light.

But then, God’s great rescue plan found its fulfillment in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Through His death and resurrection, the Son of God rendered the devil and his diabolical domain powerless (Hebrews 2:14-15).  Through His death and resurrection, the Deliverer stormed the gates of the satanic citadel and made the transfer of kingdoms possible for the faithful (Matthew 16:18; Acts 26:16-18). Praise God for His amazing rescue plan!

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/77900/an-audacious-rescue-by-warner-pidgeon 

Knowing Should Lead To Doing

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…” (Colossians 1:9-10).

In the early verses of his letter to the Colossian believers, Paul greets them warmly and praises them for their faith, love, and hope (vv. 1-5).  Of course, it was the gospel of Christ that was producing this growing harvest of fruit in their lives, beginning from the very moment they heard and obeyed it through the teaching of Epaphras, Paul’s friend and co-worker (vv. 6-9).  In the verses quoted at the beginning of this article, the apostle speaks of praying that the Colossian church would be filled with the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of God’s will.  What a great prayer!  Knowledge is certainly important.  Jesus taught that knowing the truth will lead to freedom (John 8:32).  The Savior also tied eternal life to knowing God and Jesus, the Son he sent (John 17:3).  Paul himself taught that eternal destruction awaits those who refuse to know God and obey the gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9).  So there is no doubt that knowledge is vital.

But knowledge isn’t an end in itself.  Paul prayed the saints in Colossae would be filled with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding SO THAT they would do something.  Knowledge was designed to produce godly living and productive work in the kingdom (v.10).  Knowing should naturally lead to doing.  What the head accumulates should work its way out to the hands and feet.

Father, please help me not only to know Your will but also to have that knowledge find expression in the way that I serve You.  May I think, speak, and live what I know to be true.

God loves you!

Mike 

What About The Ark Of The Covenant?

One of the favorite topics of modern “end times prophets” is the elusive Ark of the Covenant.  One example is a March article from charismanews.com by Shawn A. Akers titled “The Ark of the Covenant Found? This Isn’t Raiders of the Lost Ark.”  Here are some representative quotes from the article. “End times expert Michael Snyder says Israeli officials—among others—know exactly where the Ark of the Covenant is located, and there will come a time soon for that location to be revealed. And once that location is finally revealed, Snyder says, "the Israeli people will see an immediate need to construct a new temple for it."”*  After discussing various theories and traditions concerning the Ark’s location, he again quotes Snyder: "But we all agree where it is right now," Snyder says. "It is in a cave under the Temple Mount, and it will stay there until the time comes for it to be revealed. And, that could happen a lot sooner than you think." Once it is finally revealed, it will be just a matter of time before Jewish leaders start conducting sacrifices. In fact, the Temple Institute says that such offerings could actually begin before the building of the Temple itself.”*

There are a multitude of Scriptural problems with the idea of a rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem.  But concerning the idea of the reappearance and reuse of the Ark of the Covenant, the Bible itself destroys such a notion.  Speaking of the days of the restoration of Israel, the prophet Jeremiah says this about the Ark of the Covenant: “It shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land,” declares the Lord, “they will no longer say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’  And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, not will they miss it, nor will it be made again” (Jeremiah 3:16).

So who should we believe?  Modern day prophecy pundits or Jeremiah?  I’ll stick with Jeremiah.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.charismanews.com/world/91857-the-ark-of-the-covenant-found-this-isn-t-raiders-of-the-lost-ark

Confession Is Good For The Soul

“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer” (Psalm 32:3-4).

The heading of this psalm of David doesn’t identify the specific sin in his life that was causing him such intense anguish.  The incident with Bathsheba quickly comes to mind, but we have no way of knowing for sure.  Whatever it was, as long as he remained unrepentant, it tormented him emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  It was only when he acknowledged his sin before God that forgiveness and healing was found (v. 5).  The relief David felt was something he couldn’t keep to himself.  This is something everyone needs to hear!  He encourages everyone to turn to God and enjoy the blessings he enjoyed through confessing his sin (vv. 6-7)

“Confession is good for the soul.”  Most sources attribute this expression to an old Scottish proverb from the 1800’s.  But David learned this truth long before the 19th century.  Acknowledging our sins before God and others is vital to a life of faith.  “Then Jerusalem was going out to him (John, the forerunner of Christ), and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins” (Matthew 3:5-6).  “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).  “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16).

Confession truly is good for the soul.  Remember: “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion” (Proverbs 28:13).

God loves you!

Mike 

Listening To Both Sides

“A great many people say, you must hear both sides; but if a man should write me a most slanderous letter about my wife, I don’t think I would have to read it; I should tear it up and throw it to the winds. Have I to read all the infidel books that are written, to hear both sides? Have I to take up a book that is a slander on my Lord and Master, who has redeemed me with His blood? Ten thousand times no! I will not touch it” (Moody’s Stories, D. L. Moody).

Living in the internet age provides us access to nearly inexhaustible amounts of information AND misinformation.  Clearly it's a blessing and a curse.  We have the incredible ability to research facts and figures and to seek the truth on any topic.  But that access makes us also vulnerable to the lies and deceptions of those who intentionally (or even unintentionally) seek to lead us astray.

Sometimes it’s best to not listen (or read).  In the days of Jeremiah, there were many false prophets who were spreading lies and misinformation.  They were contradicting the true words of God.  Over and over again, God spoke through Jeremiah, telling His people not to listen to the lies and propaganda (Jeremiah 23:16; 27:9,14,16,17; 29:8).  I can imagine the Israelites responding: “But surely we need to hear both sides, don’t we?”  Not according to God!  “Do not listen to them!”  If the Israelites had been living in the internet age, perhaps God would have told them: “Don’t visit their websites.  Don’t follow them on social media.  Don’t listen to their podcasts.”  

Truth has nothing to fear from examination and even critique.  There is a time and place for studying challenges to your faith, but only if you are first firmly grounded in your faith.  Only then can you discern the difference between truth and error.  Feed your faith instead of your doubts.  A steady diet of lies and misinformation can damage your spiritual health.  It can be fatal for your faith.

God loves you!

Mike

Complaining

“A Trappist monk was allowed to say only two words every three years. After the first three years, he said to the Brother Superior, “Bad bed.” Three years later he came back to say, “Bad food.” After three more years of silence the monk said, “No TV.” Another three years passed. This time the monk appeared with robes and sandals in hand and announced, “I quit.” The Brother Superior answered, “It’s no wonder. You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here!””*

It’s so easy to complain, isn’t it?  Sometimes it even happens when things are going well.  Take, for example, the people of God recently released from Egyptian slavery.  They had witnessed the plagues of God which brought a proud Pharoah and his nation to their knees. By the time the Lord was done with him, Pharaoh was demanding that the Hebrews leave.  After leaving Egypt, God delivered them on dry land through the heart of the Red Sea and then used the same sea to drown the Egyptian army who had chased after the freed slaves.  Surely after witnessing the awesome power of God, there could be nothing to complain about, right?

Wrong!  After singing God’s praises in Exodus 15:1-21, the attitude changes just three days later.  The Hebrews get thirsty and what do we read?  “So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink’” (Exodus 15:24).  Not too long afterwards, we read: “The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.  The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Exodus 16:2-3).

But before I think too harshly of the Hebrews, I need to recall the times I have complained even after the Lord had blessed me.  That should temper my criticism (Philippians 2:14).

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.therocketcompany.com/10-new-preaching-stories/

 

The Sound Of Silence

“Since the days of Aristotle, scientists and philosophers have debated whether silence is ever 'heard'. A new series of experiments by researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the US may just have settled the issue. The research made clever use of a well-known trick called the one-is-more illusion, which fools the brains of listeners into thinking two discrete sounds are shorter than one single sound, even though in reality the total time is the same. Replacing sounds with silence, the team found that the illusion still worked. You can try it out for yourself. A single continuous silence is perceived as being longer than two separate silences, despite them actually being the same duration overall. "Silence, whatever it is, is not a sound – it's the absence of sound," says Rui Zhe Goh, a graduate student in philosophy and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. "Surprisingly, what our work suggests is that nothing is also something you can hear." The researchers posit that because we're reacting to silence in the same way as sound in these tricks, we're truly hearing that silence – not just inferring that it's there. It seems as though Simon & Garfunkel were on to something.”*

I may not be smart enough to weigh in on the discussion of the sound of silence but I can use the Scriptures to affirm the value of silence in some situations. The author of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is “...a time to be silent and a time to speak (Ecclesiastes 3:7).  Later, we are warned to “...not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2). We learn from Proverbs that “when there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19; cf. James 1.19).

Silence may not be silent but it can be golden.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.sciencealert.com/experiment-shows-humans-really-can-hear-silence-after-all?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email 

A Declaration Of Independence

Russell Moore writes: “A few years ago, I stood at the grave of Thomas Jefferson, and I was prompted to give thanks for his life and legacy. After all, if it weren’t for Jefferson and his majestic Declaration of Independence, there might not even be a United States of America, and certainly not a country quite like it is now.

“But standing at Jefferson’s grave prompted me to realize that Jefferson is, well, in a grave. Jefferson’s anti-supernaturalism is seen in visual form in his famous Bible, with the miraculous parts cut out, most significantly the bodily resurrection of Jesus. I love Jefferson for standing up against King George, but not for standing up against King Jesus…

“Thomas Jefferson is still dead. I thank God for him, but standing at his grave reminds me how limited even his legacy can be in the grand scheme of trillions of years of cosmic time. It also reminds me of the contrast with (the One) whose monument isn’t a house or…even a simple grave-marker. It’s instead a borrowed tomb that isn’t filled anymore.

“That empty tomb is, itself, a declaration of independence. By raising Jesus from the dead, God declared him (and all who are in him) to be free from death, free from the curse, free from Satan’s accusation. I suppose you could say that Jesus was endowed by his Father with certain unalienable rights, among these life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness … except that these blessings don’t end in a graveyard.”*

Every Sunday we remember the most important Independence Day of all.  The day of resurrection for Christ was the culmination of the crucifixion events that secured our freedom from the bondage of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.  So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36)

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2021/march/independence-day-and-empty-tomb.html 

A Cup Of Water

“During World War II, John Fawkes piloted a B-17. On one mission he sustained flak from Nazi anti-aircraft guns. Even though his fuel tanks were hit the plane did not explode, and Fawkes was able to land the plane safely. On the morning following the raid Fawkes asked his crew chief for the German shell, to keep it as a souvenir of his good fortune. The chief explained that not just one, but eleven shells had been found in the fuel tank, none of which exploded. Technicians opened the shells and found them void of explosive charge. They were clean and harmless, and with one exception empty. The exception contained a carefully rolled piece of paper. On it a message had been scrawled in the Czech language: ‘This is all we can do for now’.  A courageous assembly line worker was disarming bombs and had scribbled that note. He couldn’t end the war, but he could save one plane. He couldn’t do everything but he could do something and he did it.”*

Remember -- it’s not all up to us.  The weight of the world may seem to be on our shoulders but we need to remember that Jesus shoulders that load in your place.  The Savior promised rest to weary and heavy-laden travelers, not a heavier load.  In His own words, He said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

The job of saving the world was given to the Son of God, not you and me.  Yes, God uses us in His efforts to reach out to a lost and suffering world, but we are not responsible for the outcome.  Our calling is to be faithful in whatever task He sets before us.  Like the assembly worker in a German munitions plant, we can’t do it all --  no matter how hard we try.  But we can do that one seemingly insignificant thing that God can multiply in incredible ways.  A cup of water for a thirsty soul can make a big difference (Mark 9:41).

God loves you!

Mike

*Cure For The Common Life, Max Lucado 

"I Know The Way..."

“A man and woman were married for many years. Whenever there was a confrontation, yelling could be heard deep into the night. The old man would shout, "When I die, I will dig my way up and out of the grave and come back and haunt you for the rest of your life!" Neighbors feared him. The old man liked the fact that he was feared. Then one evening, he died when he was 98. After the burial, her neighbors, concerned for her safety, asked, "Aren't you afraid that he may indeed be able to dig his way out of the grave and haunt you for the rest of your life?" The wife said, " Let him dig. I had him buried upside down...and I know he won't ask for directions" (Borrowed).

For whatever reason, asking for directions can be difficult for some.  Maybe it’s pride.  Perhaps it is an overactive sense of self-reliance.  In some cases, the consequences of such an attitude are relatively harmless.  It may just take a little longer to get home or our pride takes a hit.  Overall, it’s no big deal really.  But in some cases, a reluctance to seek and listen to directions has very serious consequences.

Our spiritual life is one of those situations.  The Bible is clear.  “LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).  Left to our own devices and decisions, we are hopelessly lost.  Left to our own devices and decisions, we will inevitably take the broad road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13).  After all, that’s the way that most people are headed so it has to be correct way, right?  Wrong!  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).  When it comes to your soul, don’t think you can make your own way.  Trust the One Who is the way.  He has the words of eternal life (John 6:68).

God loves you!

Mike

The World Doesn't Revolve Around Me

The article is titled: “The Ford Bronco is being recalled because people may get ‘discouraged’ trying to use the seatbelts.”  Here is part of what it said: “Ever have a car with a difficult-to-reach seatbelt? This recall is for you. Ford is having to recall 176,000 of its Ford Bronco SUVs, model years 2021 to 2023, because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drivers and front seat passengers can have difficulty reaching the metal portion of the belt when it is in the retracted position. “The customer may experience some dissatisfaction or be discouraged if they are unable to easily access the seatbelt… in its stowed position. Driving without the use of a seatbelt increases the risk of injury in a crash,” said the notice from the federal safety regulator. The recall involves only the five-door version of the Bronco.”*

I saw this article in passing and it struck a chord with me.  May I have a moment to go on a rant? What a nation of crybabies we have become!  Oh the horror of it all!  My seatbelt is hard to reach in a particular seat position.  I am so discouraged! I am so dissatisfied! No one should have to put up with that, right?  Really?  Are we so easily discouraged that this kind of thing ruins our day and demands regulatory action?  Ok, rant over.  Phew!  I feel better now.

Sadly, the trend of being too easily discouraged shows up in religious circles as well.  Someone says something I don’t like, so I just stay home.  The service doesn’t go just like I prefer, so I don’t attend.  My needs aren’t being met so what’s the use?  What I need to be reminded of is that it is not all about me.  I’m reminded in the Scriptures not to think too highly of myself (Romans 12:3), not to just please myself (Romans 15:1), and not to merely look out for my own personal interests (Philippians 2:4).  How about that?  Apparently the world doesn’t revolve around me.

God loves you!

Mike

*cnn.com; 5-31-23

Givers

        “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:33-35).

        As the apostle Paul says his final goodbyes to the elders of the church in Ephesus, he highlights how he had ministered among them. He wasn’t motivated by greed or financial gain. He worked hard. This commitment was evidenced by his willingness to support himself when necessary. Paul reveals that his sacrificial attitude was prompted by something he had heard from the Lord Jesus Himself: “It is more blessed to give than receive.” These were not empty words on the part of the Messiah. He Himself lived a life full of giving.

        He gave up the riches of heaven to come to earth. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

        He gave up the comforts of earthly life. “Jesus *said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head”” (Matthew 8:20).

        He gave up equality with God. “...who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7).

        He gave His life. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

        Jesus Christ was a giver. Those who claim to follow Him will seek to be givers as well.

God loves you! Mike

Did You Hear About That Church?

“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel…” (Colossians 1:3-5).

Although it appears that the apostle Paul had never met any of the believers in Colossae (cf. 2:1), he had certainly heard about them.  As he begins his letter to this church, he mentions how grateful he is for their faith in Christ, their love for fellow disciples, and for the hope they shared due to their response to the gospel.  Were they perfect?  Of course not.  I’m sure they had their issues just like every church does.  But when the topic of the Colossian congregation came up, the problems weren’t the first thing that came to mind.  The good traits outweighed the not-so-good ones.

What about the group of disciples of which you are a part?  Wouldn’t it be great if every congregation of God’s people would be known for their faith, love, and hope?  Of course, you can’t always control the narrative.  Some “reporters” only focus on the problems and that’s all they want to talk about.  Apparently it's not as much fun to gossip about what is praiseworthy in a church.  How sad!

Is there anything you can do to influence what is being reported about your fellowship?  Yes!  First, you personally can live in such a way that makes it difficult for an observer to speak negatively about your congregation.  Jesus said it this way: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).  Second, you can personally determine to speak positively to others about your group.  When you badmouth your church, it just encourages others to do so.  Positivity fosters positivity just as negativity fosters negativity.  Say good things about God’s people!

God loves you!

Mike 

Savage Wolves

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:28-30).

The apostle Paul had invested himself deeply in the church in Ephesus.  His heart for missions usually didn’t allow him to stay too long in one place, but the Ephesian church was blessed to have Paul work among them for three years.  So now, when it was time to move on, he couldn’t do so without admonishing the Ephesian elders to carefully protect the people he loved so much.

Paul knew that, in his absence, the congregation would be more vulnerable to the attacks of those seeking to destroy their faith.  He describes these attackers as “savage wolves.”  What a vivid and apt description!  Like a pack of ravenous wolves circling a herd of sheep, these predators would attempt to isolate and devour the weak and unguarded members.  Paul himself had experienced the savagery of the Ephesian wolves, so he knows well the danger involved.  The “wild beasts at Ephesus” he mentions fighting in 1 Corinthians 15:32 likely refers to this same human threat.

The Scriptures pull no punches in describing those who seek to destroy our faith.  “But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed…” (2 Peter 2:12).  “But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed” (Jude 10).

Never doubt the resolve of those who seek to devour you spiritually.  Beware of the wolves who want to entice you away from the flock and then have you for lunch.

God loves you!

Mike

The Eye-Heart Connection

“If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hastened after deceit,let Him weigh me with accurate scales, and let God know my integrity. If my step has turned from the way, or my heart followed my eyes, or if any spot has stuck to my hands, let me sow and another eat, and let my crops be uprooted” (Job 31:5-8).

Job’s “friends” had done their best to convict him of some hidden sin in his life.  In their minds, there could be no other reason why he was experiencing so much suffering.  But throughout the book, Job has maintained his integrity.  As he reflects on his life, he can find nothing that would merit the pain and loss he has endured.  He is willing to face judgment if necessary but this seems out of proportion.

One phrase in the text above stands out to me: “If…my heart followed my eyes…  Our eyes are often gateways to sins of the heart.  I’m reminded of the story of Achan in the book of Joshua.  God had forbidden the Israelites from taking any of the spoil following the destruction of Jericho.  But Achan disobeyed God’s command.  Eventually his sin was revealed and he was confronted about it.  Notice how Achan responds: “So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it” (Joshua 7:20-21).

Sins of the heart often begin with the eyes.  Jesus Himself taught this: “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthey 5:27-28).  Guarding the heart begins with guarding the eyes.

God loves you!

Mike 

A Clean Break

Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices.  And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.  So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing” (Acts 19:18-20).

Some of those who turned to Christ in Ephesus were involved in the occult.  To their credit, these new believers wanted to make a clean break with their sinful past, even at a great personal cost.  The risk was too great to keep their magical textbooks around because the temptation would be to return to that profession, especially when things got tough as a follower of Christ.  And you wouldn’t want them to fall into the hands of others who might be tempted.  It would be better to burn them all and be done with it.

Perhaps this is why God was so insistent that the Israelites utterly destroy any remnants of the pagan idolatry that surrounded them.  “The graven images of their gods you are to burn with fire; you shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, or you will be snared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. You shall not bring an abomination into your house, and like it come under the ban; you shall utterly detest it and you shall utterly abhor it, for it is something banned” (Deuteronomy 7:25-26).

Could it be that we need to make a clean break with our own sinful past?  Are we hoarding remnants from a previous sinful lifestyle that could tempt us to return to it?  Is it worth the chance?  Perhaps it’s time for a good old-fashioned “book burning” in our own lives -- a sacrifice, if you will, of any ties that could cause us to stumble.  If only Jesus would have said something about this.  Oh wait!  He did (cf. Matthew 5:29-30).

God loves you!

Mike 

Friends

“Friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities, and in opening them up to friends, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of their loyalty. They understand. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse them, neglect them, tolerate them. Best of all, you can keep still with them. It makes no matter. They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them, pray with them. Through it all and underneath, they see, know, and love you. A friend? What is a friend? Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself.”*

True friendship is a beautiful thing!  The book of Proverbs highlights several key traits of a good friend.  Here are some of them: 1) “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).  2) “A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). 3) “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6).

I hope you have a friend like the one described in the Bible.  That type of friend is a gift that is priceless.  But even better, how about being that kind of friend to someone else?

God loves you!

Mike

*C. Raymond Beran, Bits and Pieces, September 19, 1991, pp. 3-4

Reverse Exorcism

God was doing some amazing miracles in Ephesus through the hands (as well as the handkerchiefs and aprons) of the apostle Paul.  The work of God was so exceptional that some local Jewish exorcists tried to “catch the wave,” as we say.  As part of their efforts, they began to add the name of Jesus to their demon-casting repertoire.  If it worked for others, it ought to work for them, right?  What could go wrong?  They were all about to find out.

“But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”  Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.  And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”  And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded” (Acts 19:13-16).

Apparently, merely invoking the name of Jesus doesn’t automatically guarantee that you have access to the power of God.  The problem is that these men didn’t know the One Whose name they were attempting to use.  This stands in stark contrast in the text to someone who definitely knew Jesus and Paul -- the evil spirit!  The demonic realm had certainly suffered loss due to the work of Jesus and Paul, no doubt about that.  The evil spirit knew it was no match for these servants of God.  But who were these lightweight pretenders?  By the time the dust settled in this encounter, the seven sons of Sceva knew they were in way over their heads!

What we have here is a reverse exorcism!  Rather than being cast out, the evil spirit casts the exorcists out.  Lesson?  Don’t try to use the power of God at least until you know the God Who has the power.

God loves you!

Mike

 

Jesus Is The Main Thing

“And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ” (Acts 18:27-28).

The Bible has been misused throughout human history.  For example, it has been used to divide churches, to start wars, and to defend sinful practices like racism and slavery.  It has been used to condemn innocent people to death for disagreeing with particular doctrines taught by the majority.  How could professed followers of the Author of the Scriptures get so far off track?  Perhaps it’s because we have missed or forgotten the primary purpose of the writings of God.

The Scriptures are designed to point us to Jesus and the salvation that comes through Him.  The Jews who were seeking to kill Jesus did so because they were missing the point of the Scriptures.  Jesus told them this: “You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.  You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life” (John 5:38-40).

The Book of God is not the source of eternal life.  The Book of God points us to the One Who is the source.  The Book points us to Jesus!  Paul emphasized this very thing to Timothy: “You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

As we study the Scriptures, remember that Jesus is the main thing.  Doing so will help keep us from misinterpreting and misapplying the Bible.

God loves you!

Mike