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 

I Know You

“In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand. He approached her and asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know me?' She responded, 'Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you'll never amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you.'

“The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, 'Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?' She again replied, 'Why yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone, and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him.' The defense attorney nearly died.

“The judge asked both counselors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said, 'If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me, I'll send you both to the electric chair (borrowed).”

Isn’t it great to know that our Father in heaven knows us inside and out and still is willing to love us? If our sins are forgiven, He won’t hold them against us and they can never come back to haunt us. “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:10-12).

God loves you!

Mike 

God Opened My Heart

“And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us” (Acts 16:13-15).

Speaking with reference to Lydia, what does Luke mean when he says “...and the Lord opened her heart…?” This phrase has occasioned much debate in religious circles. Some view this as a unilateral, sovereign action of God on Lydia’s heart. She was one of those whom God had individually and unconditionally chosen to be saved and, as a result, she was irresistibly given the grace and faith necessary to cause her to  respond to Paul’s preaching.  In other words, due to what God did for her, she had no choice but to choose to be saved.  If she hadn’t been one of the elect, God wouldn’t have opened her heart.

But does it strike you as odd that God would unilaterally and sovereignly choose some to be saved and some to be lost, especially when the Scriptures teach that God desires everyone to be saved and come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4)?  Doesn’t that make God show partiality in salvation, something the Bible says He does not do (Acts 10:34-35)?

God opened Lydia’s heart here just like he does for everyone else -- through the proclamation of Christ (Romans 10:17).  Yes, we are saved through the sovereign power and efforts of God, but it remains every person’s choice to accept or reject what God sovereignly offers through His power and efforts.  The “chosen” are everyone who chooses to put their faith in Christ.

God loves you!

Mike

Influencers

Perhaps you have heard someone described as an “influencer.”  What does that mean?  “Over the last decade, we have seen social media grow rapidly in importance. More than 4.59 billion people actively use social media. Inevitably these people look up to influencers in social media to guide them with their decision making. Influencers in social media are people who have built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a specific topic. They make regular posts about that topic on their preferred social media channels and generate large followings of enthusiastic, engaged people who pay close attention to their views. Brands love social media influencers because they can create trends and encourage their followers to buy products they promote.”*

But you know what? We don’t need to have a YouTube channel with several hundred thousand followers to be an influencer. We don’t even need to know how to spell “internet.” We are influencing others everyday with the way we think, act, and speak. No one is exempt. Sure, our influence may not be as far-reaching as others, but we are still affecting others -- for good or not-so-good.

Jesus referred to our influence in this way: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 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 5:13-16).

Be an influencer for Christ this week. Eyes are watching and ears are listening as we make our way through life. How will they be influenced by what they see and hear?

God loves you!

Mike

*https://influencermarketinghub.com/what-is-an-influencer/