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 

Unseen Armies

In the early chapters of 2 Samuel, David has been consolidating his reign over Israel following the death of Saul.  The Philistines hear of his anointing and march against him.  David asks God whether he should engage them.  God assures him he will be victorious and that is exactly what happens.  But the Philistines aren’t so easily dissuaded.  They return and David again approaches God for guidance.  This time, the Lord advises a less direct battle plan:

“Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.  When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.  It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines”” (2 Samuel 5:22-24).

Perhaps this is a timely reminder to the new king to never forget who is really winning the battles.  The “sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees” was a visible sign of an invisible reality.  The Lord of hosts was leading His heavenly army into battle first!  This reminds me of another Old Testament story (2 Kings 8:6-23).  This time, the Arameans were seeking to capture Elisha, the prophet of God.  Finally, the king of Aram and his army have Elisha and his attendant surrounded.  Things looked hopeless and the servant cried out, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”  Notice Elisha’s response:

“So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17).

The child of God is never truly alone in the battles of life.  Remember that!

God loves you!

Mike 

In Plain Sight

“In early February, a sheriff’s officer clocked a 2020 grey Kia sedan cruising at a brisk pace of 95 miles per hour on Interstate 10 through Florida’s panhandle. The two men, in their mid 30’s, were driving back to Orlando. The vehicle was headed east towards the metropolitan areas of Orlando and Miami. This corridor is a major feeder for drug trafficking into the Sunshine State, so officers are constantly on the lookout for signs of smugglers. Federal law permits officers to stop those who are breaking the law, issuing arrests and tickets accordingly. But the Fourth Amendment prohibits the search of vehicles without probable cause, or reasonable suspicion.

“When the officers pulled the vehicle over last weekend, right in plain sight, they noticed two bags. Each zip-lock container was labeled “Bag full of drugs.” This sight, of course, would have doubtless provoked a number of questions, but more importantly, it prompted enough reasonable suspicion to warrant a search of the car, and the bags. Inside, Santa Rosa County Sheriff officers found methamphetamine, GHB, cocaine, fentanyl, MDMA tablets, and various drug paraphernalia. Both the driver and passenger were booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail without bond, and remained in custody Tuesday afternoon. Later, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office posted the following message to Facebook: “Santa Rosa K-9 Deputies recently assisted [Florida Highway Patrol] on a traffic stop on I-10 where a large amount of narcotics were discovered. Note to self — do not traffic your illegal narcotics in bags labeled ‘Bag Full Of Drugs.’ Our K-9’s can read.””*

Not every criminal is the sharpest pencil in the backpack, huh?  But, then again, not every believer is as well.  Some of us think that God doesn’t know about the sins we effectively hide from each other, even when the Bible tells us that nothing escapes His notice (Hebrews 4:13).  God sees our “bag full of sin” and we will have to deal with it.  As Moses said, “Be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/bag-full-of-wicked-things/

A Berean Believer

“The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:10-11).

Recent mission work for Paul and Silas had been difficult.  In Philippi, they angered the local fortune-tellers union and landed in jail.  In Thessalonica, their preaching in the synagogue prompted their opponents to form “...a mob and set the city in an uproar.”  When the missionaries escaped arrest, the mob turned their wrath on local believers.   Yes, they had success in both places, but the opposition was strong.

What a blessing it must have been, at least initially, to come to Berea.  As usual, the missionaries begin their efforts in the local synagogue.  But the listeners in the Berean synagogue were a breath of fresh air for the beleaguered preachers.  Luke tells us that “...they were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Could the words just quoted above describe you and me?  First of all, do we make it a priority to be present when God’s word is being taught?  Are we with fellow students in “the synagogue?”  Second, are we eager to receive God’s word?  Do we come with a desire to learn or are we just filling a chair?  Third, do we spend time in the Bible to determine if what we are being taught lines up with what God says?  Nowhere do the Scriptures teach that we are to blindly accept whatever a religious teacher says.

The church desperately needs more Berean believers.  Although trouble would eventually come to Berea as well, what an encouragement it must have been for Paul and Silas to have these kinds of learners in class!  Be a blessing to your church family.  Be a Berean believer.

God loves you!

Mike 

Greatness

“A group of tourists visiting a picturesque village walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked him, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.”*

We can all think of someone we admire as a great man or woman of God.  We applaud their faith and courage, perhaps even thinking about how amazing it would be to be just like them.  Then we begin to doubt ourselves, saying, “I could never do that!”  But remember -- all great men and women of God begin life in the same way every Christian does -- as a babe in Christ who is then called to grow and mature in their faith.  It is the calling of every believer, not just a privileged few.

Amy Carmichael said it this way: “Sometimes when we read the words of those who have been more than conquerors, we feel almost despondent. I feel that I shall never be like that. But they won through step by step, by little bits of wills, little denials of self, little inward victories, by faithfulness in very little things. They became what they are. No one sees these little hidden steps. They only see the accomplishment, but even so, those small steps were taken. There is no sudden triumph, no spiritual maturity. That is the work of the moment.”

It’s true.  Greatness is forged in the furnace of everyday life -- something we all face.  In that sense, greatness isn’t a gift, it’s something we grow into.  It’s the byproduct of a life lived faithfully.  It helps to remember as well that greatness doesn’t always look the same.  Some greatness is evident to all; other greatness is not.  According to Jesus, greatness looks alot like service.  “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant…” (Matthew 20:26).  The road to greatness can begin with one simple step of faithful service.  Be great today!

God loves you!

Mike

*Developing the Leader Within You, John Maxwell 

Late Night Praise And Worship

“But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God…” (Acts 16:25).

Paul and Silas made a great missionary team, didn’t they?  What godly men they must have been!  After working all day, serving the Lord by sharing the gospel in Philippi, they still take time for a late night praise and worship session.  Gathered around the campfire, sipping a latte, and giving thanks to God.  It doesn’t get much better than that, right?  Maybe so, but it can get a lot worse…

If you know your New Testament well, you are familiar with the immediate context of the partial verse listed above.  But if not, allow me to refresh your memory.  “The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods.  When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.  But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them…” (Acts 16:22-25).

Perhaps you, like me, find it difficult to praise God in the painful times of life.  I’ve never experienced anything like Paul and Silas did in Philippi, but yet I still find it easier to grumble and complain instead of praising and worshiping God.  Maybe I need to reflect more carefully on what James encouraged his readers to do: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Lord, please help me to view my struggles as opportunities to build my endurance and maturity.  May I learn to deal with adversity like my brothers Paul and Silas.

God loves you!

Mike