I was sharing this thought with our prayer group in church Tuesday: This past Monday I wrote about how, as God’s children, we need one another, about how important it is for us to always make an effort to encourage one another. I also mentioned those we hear from time to time declare that the only One they need in order to stay encouraged is the Lord. Unfortunately, believers such as these, although they are lacking in common sense and Christian charity, are correct. Nevertheless, this eternal truth does not diminish the importance of our need of one another. Neither does it change God’s will in this matter. From the beginning of time, He said that it was not good for man to be alone. (see Genesis 2:18) The Lord wants us to encourage one another as often as we can. In fact, when we share His word with others, we are in a position not only to encourage them, but perhaps comfort and strengthen them as well. Paul wrote this in his letter to the Romans: “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.” (Romans 1:12 New Living Translation)
That being said, the day will come when, for whatever reason, we will find ourselves all alone. In the psalms, David spoke of this situation often. He wrote in Psalms 27:10: “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” This is a reminder that sometimes even those who are the closest and dearest to us will not be around. It is at times like these when we will need an extra dose of God’s grace upon our lives. This will be the time when we will have to trust and cling to Him like never before. Without His grace at such times, our faith could be shattered. Many people have succumbed to situations such as these and have never come back to the relationship they once enjoyed with the Lord. Perhaps you may know of one or two.
If you are presently in a situation where it seems that the whole world is against you, let me remind you that you are not completely alone, even though it may appear that way. David, and many other believers after him, experienced situations like these on many occasions, yet the Lord always sustained and restored him. He will do the same for you, just trust Him. One more thing, however, and even though it is true: when the Lord comes through for you please don’t tell others that the only one you’ll ever need in order to stay encouraged is the Lord. This will never encourage anybody.
God’s promise for today: (Isaiah 41:13) “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.”
If you’ve ever read the heartbreaking account of Dinah, Jacob’s only daughter, in the 34th Chapter of Genesis, you will easily conclude that all the trouble that came upon her and her family could have been avoided had she not decided one day to go out to see how the rest of the world lived. Likewise, if you know the story of the prodigal son in the 15th Chapter of Luke, you will see that he too may have saved himself a lot of misery and grief had he not decided to leave the safety of his father’s home one day to go out and explore the world.
You may say that you understand the lessons in both stories but will protest that you have to go out into the world every day in order to make a living for you and your family. Yours is a valid point. In fact, when praying to the Father for His Disciples, Jesus said: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” (John 17:15) Obviously, it is virtually impossible for most of us not to go out into the world or be touched by it in one way or another. Nevertheless, we must also keep in mind that, although we are in the world, we are not of the world.
One eternal truth it will serve us well not to forget is this one: “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.”(1 Corinthians 15:33) The lesson here is clear. Whether “out in the world” or among those who call themselves God’s people, those we continually hang around with can either encourage and strengthen our faith, or else bring us down spiritually. Here too, it is almost impossible to avoid contact with those who have a negative impact on our lives because very often they are members of our own family. In this case, it will be helpful to pray for God’s grace and strength while we are around them. Even so, we should make it a point to try to have as much fellowship as we can with those who will help us stay inspired and motivated for God. In fact, I just thanked a special person a few days ago whose kind words of support continuously help me stay inspired and motivated to continue writing this blog. Lets be honest here: We all need to be encouraged every once in a while. I suppose there may be some who only need the Lord in order to stay encouraged but whether you are in that elite group or not, I pray you’ll remember to encourage those around you who are not as spiritually strong as you. To confirm the belief of many that we, as God’s children, need each other, Proverbs 27:17 says this: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”Finding such folks in our lives to hang around with is a sharp thing to do.
God’s word for today: (Hebrews 10:25 Common English Bible (CEB) “Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the Day drawing near.”
Right before I stepped up to the pulpit this past Sunday, one of our members handed me a small piece of paper with a poem on it. I chose to read it at the end of my sermon because, unsurprisingly, it fit very well with my theme. But that poem also reminded me that I have not written one in quite a while, so Monday when I shared the great memory of the school day scenes of long ago with my mom, I asked God to help me write a poem about it. As all the others I have written, it is simple and not too long. I hope it is a blessing to you, especially those of you whose mom is waiting for you in Heaven.
It was a scene from long ago/ quite frankly ordinary /
It never crossed my mind back then/ How long that thought I’d carry /
As I’d come home from school each day / I’d look in every room /
And once I’d catch a glimpse of her / I’d say “Hey mom, I’m home.” /
And then the years went slowly by/ that scene would soon be fading /
I’d never be a boy again / I’d have no mother waiting /
But then one great and glorious day / Christ came into my life /
No longer would I be tormented / by misery and strife /
Among the many wondrous things / I now would have in Christ /
The wish I had from long ago / would now be back in sight /
That hope is real without a doubt / goes way beyond the tomb
In glory, when I see her there / I’ll say “Hey mom, I’m home!” /
In my message yesterday, I touched lightly on a memory that has been with me for as long as sixty years. Because I am a now a senior citizen, I’m sure I have brought out this subject from the pulpit more than a few times. After all, that is what old timers do, isn’t it? Anyway, I was recalling my normal routine when I would get home from school. I’d walk in, look for mom and then say: “Hey mom, I’m home.” The first thing she would always do was ask me if I wanted to eat anything. To that too, I can also say: “Isn’t that what mothers do?” Back then, I did not think much about that particular routine, neither did it dawn on me that one day, I would grow up, leave home, and those greetings would one day just be a memory, which is what it is today. Another thought I never entertained back then was that one day I would miss those after school greetings so much.
Then, in my adult life I experienced the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Christ came into my life. Now, because of Him, the yearning of again being able to say “Hey mom, I’m home” is now a reality. When King David’s son, the one that was born out of his affair with Bathsheba, died, David said with a grieving heart: “But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23) The circumstances around the death and departure of our loved ones, though different, was perhaps as painful as David’s experience. Nevertheless, because of Christ, we can all say like David: “I will go to him.” (her)
My reunion with my mom, along with my dad and the rest of my family, won’t be in the old house we lived in so many years ago but in our new celestial home. She got there way before the rest of my siblings and me. Nevertheless, as sure as I am here behind my PC writing about it today, she is there waiting for the rest of us to go join her. I don’t know if it will be this year, or next, or five, or ten, or more years from today. One thing I do know for sure is that I’ll be able to say once again, and for the last time: “Hey, mom, I’m home!” Dear child of God, I pray you will be blessed by that happy thought today for you too will be able to, not only see and say “hi” to your mom, or dad, or sibling, or child once again, you’ll be able to stay there with them forever.
God’s word for today: (Revelation 7:9) “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands.”
How often have you helplessly desired to take the place of a friend or loved one is going through an extremely difficult ordeal, knowing it is not possible? I read where during the Watergate scandals in the 70’s, the governor of Minnesota, Al Quie, offered to do Chuck Colson’s prison time. The law did not allow it. He knew that Colson’s family was already in crisis and would suffer even more once he was in prison. He felt that, since Colson had committed his life to Christ, he would better serve the Lord as well as his family now that his life had been transformed.
Two particular thoughts crossed my mind when I read that story. First: Can you imagine someone loving you enough to be willing to suffer for you so that you don’t have to? Yet, this is what true love really is. Jesus said: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) And this was not a mere expression for we all know that Jesus proceeded to lay down His life for all of us. Second: Christ did what you and I can’t. He took the penalty of death that sin had imposed on us. He suffered the pain and anguish we were destined for. Bottom line: He took our place!
The next time love causes us to want to take the place of a suffering friend or loved one and leaves us feeling helpless because we can’t, lets remember there is Someone who can do so much for them than we ever could. Let’s remember that the One who loves us can do all things. He can heal, comfort, encourage, even relieve the pain or eliminate it altogether. Better still, that kind of help is available 24/7. May your heart be comforted today with the thought that when we are frustrated because we can’t do more for our suffering loved ones, all we need to do is lift them up to the One who will.
God’s promise for today: (Psalm 10:14) “But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief to repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.”
The message of salvation in Christ by God’s grace has been attacked and discredited ever since it was first proclaimed. The Apostle Paul’s fiercest opponents, just like Christ, were the Jewish religious leaders of his day. Even those who believed and embraced his message of salvation in Christ were more than reluctant to abandon the things pertaining to the old Mosaic Law. Wherever Paul established a new church, new teachers would appear once he left that would insist that new believers keep many of the rituals of the law, even asserting that they could not be right in God’s sight without them. Paul said some of these were false believers who had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. (see Galatians 2:4) In other words, they wanted to subject new believers to continue adhering to some of the features in the law of Moses which clearly was never intended to save anybody in the first place. That is why Paul also wrote: “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”(Romans 3:20)
Two thousand years have transpired since the message of the gospel was introduced, yet we still have many “believers” today who sincerely believe we should still be bound by the old law, in particular worshipping on Saturday. (Sabbath) Referring to this, Paul also wrote: “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.” (Colossians 2:16) The truth is that, in Christ, we have the liberty to choose to gather for worship in any or on all days of the week. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that the time has come when all that the Father wants is that believers worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, no matter where or when. (See John 4:23)
One of the reasons I felt compelled to write on this subject is that I have been reminded lately of how often Christians get “schooled” or corrected by those who still believe in complying with many of the mandates of the old law. Their church has convinced them that Christians who don’t believe the way they do are dishonoring God. They often succeed in making them think that they are also out of God’s will or are missing out on many of His blessings because of it. They did that to new believers in Paul’s day and they are still doing it today. Dear child of God, please keep this in mind: If you are in Christ, you are complete; you’re not missing out on anything and the only way you can dishonor God is by willfully choosing to do so. You are also free in Him to serve or honor Him as His Spirit leads you, and not in the way that others choose. To me, law says “I have to” and grace says “I want to.” I bet you’re in the “I want to” group.
God’s word for today: (Galatians 5:1) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
It has been said that a lot can be known about a person by the things that makes him or her happy. In a devotional from a favorite pastor of mine last week, I read about a man of modest income who told his wealthy friend “I have more than you have.” The rich man said “How can that be?” He answered “Because I have all I want, and you don’t.” Jesus said: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21) I know some of you may have a hard time believing it, but all of you are happier than most millionaires because money alone will never make anyone happy. A well known comedian once said “Money isn’t everything, but it is way ahead of whatever it is that’s in second place.” It may have been a funny line, but there is no truth in it. Jack Ma, the richest man in China told a luncheon crowd in New York in 2015 that he was happiest when he made 12 dollars a month. Think about this: If you had one pick, would you want to be rich or would you want to be happy?
Solomon, perhaps the richest man the world has ever known, had everything a heart could long for in this world. Yet, he wrote: “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11) The Amplified Bible (AMP) says it this way: “There was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun.”
If the goals we set for ourselves are on things that are good and reasonable, it won’t be that hard to find happiness. If we want money or material things, will we ever have enough? On the other hand, if things such as giving what we have, or helping others, or spending time with our family and friends, or accomplishing simple chores make us happy, there will be a lot of happiness in our lives. Sometimes we are blessed enough to have all of these events on the same day. My wife and I had one recently. That night, during my quiet time with the Lord, I just couldn’t stop thanking and praising Him for it. Oh happy day! I believe these are the things a genuine child of God looks for in this life in the first place, and I also believe that few people in the world can be happier than us. And I also believe this is what David had in mind when he wrote: “Happy are the people who are in such a state; happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” (Psalm 144:15) What makes you happy? Whatever it is, child of God, I hope you will see many, many happy days.
God’s word for today (Proverbs 16:20) “He who heeds the Word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.”
I read in one of my favorite pastor’s devotional page recently, his take on this verse: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2) Because it is one that, like many others, bible readers often take out of context, I highly suspect that this verse may be tough for many Christians to accept. It is understandable if some will say “How can I be joyful about the hard trials I have been experiencing lately?” If you read the verse carefully, however, you will note that James did not say we should be joyful when we’re going through trials. What he did say was that we should “consider” these times to be pure joy. The first thing that popped into my mind when I wrote the previous line was this verse: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Clearly, this last verse is a reminder that, although Jesus was in the middle of His painful and agonizing trial, He “considered” it a joy. He knew the glory that would follow shortly thereafter.
Bible verses are best understood when we know these three things: Who wrote it? To whom did he write it, and why? First, the writer: It was James the brother of Jesus. As with all writers, much can be known of him simply by the things he writes and the way he expresses himself. Think about this: In his letter, he never mentioned being the Lord’s brother. Instead, he humbly introduced himself as a “servant” of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I’ve often said from the pulpit, probably to the point of boring our congregation, that although it is a great honor to call ourselves God’s children, it is even greater to be able to say “I am a servant of God.” Secondly, who was he writing to and why? These were fellow Israelites who, because of their new found faith in Christ, had to flee their homelands because of persecution. If any would find it difficult to be joyful when going through hard trials, it was this group of believers. To them originally, and by one of their own, was the advice to consider this affliction a joy.
My better half is known to usually be the first one to recognize that when we, or anyone else we know, are going through a hard trial, it means that a great blessing is on the way. I agree 100 percent. It is like the scarecrow illustration I’ve shared before. Most birds see the scarecrow as the “man” that wants to do them harm, but the “wise birds” know that if the stick man has been put up, it is because there is some mighty good eating down there. If you have been going through a tough stretch lately, I pray you will open your eyes of faith today. As a child of God, expect to see something very good shortly. Therefore, “consider” your trial a pure joy.
God’s word for today: (Romans 8:18) “For I reckon (consider) that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
This past Sunday, we had an experience at our church some of you may have seen at your church as well. We had a prophet of gloom and doom, along with a sign carrying sidekick, stationed at our parking lot entrance, preaching to our members and visitors leaving our first service and those arriving for the second to repent. When personally confronted by some of our members, the “prophet” hinted that he also took exception to the message I had written for our church marquee which read: “So what if you’ve lost a round or two? In Christ, you’re going to win this fight.”
I can understand how some hard line believers can mistakenly interpret the message to suggest that our church doesn’t take a stand against sin, but I wrote it with the purpose of encouraging those in the family of God who have suffered a spiritual mishap or two, reminding them that ours is a God who forgives and restores, One in whom we will eventually be victorious. If the street prophet took offense to that, it is apparent that he preaches a condemning, “you better get right or else” message. Long before Jesus came into the world and the message of grace through Him was introduced, David had written this about God: “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:10) People, if God disowned us every time we sin, none of us would stand a chance, including that street preacher. Psalm 130:3 reads: “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?
One more thing: On Sunday night, one of our members asked me “Why did we not take the preacher and his assistant some bottled water to drink? It was hot out there.” Upon hearing that, I asked myself “Why did I not think of that?” In such cases, our first impulse is to retaliate in kind. That’s all part of being human. As God’s children, however, we have a greater force within us, the Holy Spirit Himself. When we let Him direct us, we react as Christ would react. To be sure, the love and kindness approach will not always work on everybody but the Bible says: “Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” (Romans 12:20) As I stated before, this method won’t work on everybody but its worth a try before we have to go to plan B. And if we should be revisited by this same street prophet and his friend, and you happen to pass by, resist the temptation to lash out. Smile and be friendly instead, but don’t engage in conversation with him. To try to reason with folks like him is virtually impossible. One last thing: someone asked: “Who sent him?” The answer is pretty obvious, don’t you think? Clue: It wasn’t God.
God’s word for today: (Romans 12:18) “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
I want to thank each one of you that took the time to email me with your kind words of encouragement and support after my announcement last week. My three life priorities are God, family, and ministry, in that order. The third one is the tricky one for me because within that bracket, I also have to properly prioritize sermon and study preparation, visitation, and church business. I consider writing, an extension of my ministerial calling but lately, because I love to do it, I had been committing more time to that than the previous three. I will continue to write as often as time allows it but because I also need to be more physically active, it may be far less than before, or maybe not that much, we’ll see. Nevertheless, I plan to keep on writing because, as the prophet Jeremiah said many centuries ago: “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” (Jer. 20:9) As a confirmation to me to keep on going, I saw an old-timer like me last Friday with a T-shirt which said: “Retired, not expired!” Once again thank you all.
PS: If any of you feel some of these blogs are worthy of publication, by all means go for it. You have my permission.
