Faith, Words, and Actions

 

Der breite und der schmale Weg ("the broad and the narrow road"), from 1866

By Charlotte Reihlen (Idee); Paul Beckmann (Ausführung)  Public Domain

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)

Matthew Henry's Commentary addresses these verses:

There may be a seeming importunity in prayer, Lord, Lord: but if inward impressions be not answerable to outward expressions, we are but as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. This is not to take us off from saying, Lord, Lord; from praying, and being earnest in prayer, from professing Christ's name, and being bold in professing it, but from resting in these, in the form of godliness, without the power.  ...  That it is necessary to our happiness that we do the will of Christ, which is indeed the will of his Father in heaven. The will of God, as Christ's Father, is his will in the gospel, for there he is made known, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: and in him our Father. Now this is his will, that we believe in Christ, that we repent of sin, that we live a holy life, that we love one another.

What brings this to my mind is a mother's words about her son. "I don't agree with his life choices, but he's a good man. He does a lot of good in his community and has worked to make life better for others." I know she believes in Jesus as her Lord and savior.  I know she has shown her beliefs in her actions - attending worship services, actively learning through the Bible in Sunday School, serving others with meals, befriending the grieving family members at a funeral. Her actions speak loudly of her beliefs - just as her son's remain silent.

Even saying "Lord, Lord!" remain simply words if there are no actions accompanying them.  I started this with Jesus' own words about heaven, but James knew the lesson well and shared it:

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:14-20 KJV)

Remember, as you begin to think that good works alone can offer eternal life with God:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:16-21 KJV)

Faith will bring forth fruit as good deeds - not to honor the man, though secular honor may well come. The good works must be done in God's name, for His glorification. When good deeds are done, they will be appreciated and the individual acclaimed. Without those good deeds being attributed to God's teachings and His will, those deads are dead with out faith, just as faith is dead without good deeds.

It came to me that this is a "meal" blog. Usually I share the gospel - the good news that God wants us to be with Him eternally and His plan is working. That's a "milk" blog - asking that people get to know God. Once you place your faith in Him, you should begin learning what He has in mind for your own ministry. We all have one. Part of toay, we'll look at the difference between "meat" and "milk" messages:

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (1 Corinthians 3:2 KJV)

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14 KJV)

We all need the "milk" messsages, the wonderment of discovery, the introduction to God's love and His plan for the world. Then we must put our belief into words, telling others what a tiny grain of faith has brought us. We can share that easily - but detractors will show up discounting your words and your faith. That's where what you learn as "meat" will give you answers to their questions as well as strength to continue in serious discussions.

What's your menu at the moment. Milk? Or are you ready to look deeper into scripture and find the "meat" in the Bible to grow in strength? I would appreciate any comments, but there's no need to answer the questions I ask. Letting God know your answers may be life changing.

Light and How We See It

 

NASA - Hubble - Explore Light

As you can tell, there is a line through this Hubble photograph, with a slight green line in the top quarter of the division. The screen capture was taken from NASA's site.  Hubble's photography depends on much more than our eyes can see. There are scientific methods to show what our eyes, nor telescope photography, cannot see. The above "...image of Mystic Mountain — a pillar of gas, dust, and newborn stars in the Carina Nebula — show how observations taken in visible and infrared light reveal different details of an object."  Credits to the screen capture and the quote: NASA, ESA, and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STScI)

We see the light God offers differently when we get to know Him and His works. God often appeared in the Bible as a light so bright that to look upon him would be damaging. As He said to Moses:

And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. (Exodus 33:17-20 KJV)

However, for me the best example of God being light comes with John's introduction to his gospel:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (John 1:1-10 KJV)

Jesus called Himself:

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12 KJV)

And that would be true while He was with us:

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.  (John 9:4-5 KJV)

He could not be with us forever, here in this world. He knew, and shared with His disciples, what would happen, and why:

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. (John 14:28-29 KJV)

After three years of hearing Him, but through their own prejudices, they forgot that He had prophesied:

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. (John 2:19-22 KJV)

We not only have the information the disciples had, we have the books many of them wrote, along with two millennia of mankind's interaction with belief in Jesus as the Son of God, and our savior from our own sinfulness. That's the good news, the gospel, the reality of living with the light of the world. That life is now reflected in us:

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 KJV)

In the same way the moon reflects the light of the sun, we are able to reflect the light of God in our lives. And, just as this world can come between the light of the sun and there is only a partial reflection, our sin can lessen the light we wish to share with the world. We Christians have not reached perfection, though being as Christ-like as our faith, we continue to love and serve Him. As John says:

This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:24-25 KJV)

Those of us who believe and love Him continue to share the light, in deeds and words and writing.

Do You Have A Testimony?

 

"Saint Paul Writing His Epistles" by Valentin de Boulogne

That "testimony" is a Christian word that sometimes non-Christians aren't certain what it means. So today's blog is sort of a background, along with one of the best examples of a personal testimony to what Christ did in one man's life. I've never heard of anyone actually matching Paul's conversion experience, but some appear to have come close. Let's begin with a bit of background.

If you want the full background, read the Book of Acts in the New Testament. For this particular situation, we need to start in Acts 21:1 when Paul journeys to Jerusalem. Didn't take long for his former co-workers to be offended by his words. I won't go into them, because they'll be repeated later. When the Jewish leaders beat Paul, the Chief Captain brought soldiers and centurions to break up the crowd. This wasn't settled by Acts 23, when men planned to kill Paul, and Paul was sent to the Roman governor, Felix, for addditional protection in Caeserea. Acts 24 gives the the crimes Paul has commited, beginning with verse 5 where the high priest says, "For we have found the man a pestilent fellow." 

Felix and his wife heard from Paul "concerning the faith in Christ" and "Felix trembled," but waited another two years, when Festus came as governor and Paul was still in prison. When Festus considered sending Paul back to Jerusalem and stand trial before the Jewish council there, Paul appealed to Rome. Nothing changed, even when King Agrippa came to Caeserea. The way Matthew Henry describes it:

Agrippa was the most honourable person in the assembly, having the title of king bestowed upon him, though otherwise having only the power of other governors under the emperor, and, though not here superior, yet senior, to Festus; and therefore, Festus having opened the cause, Agrippa, as the mouth of the court, intimates to Paul a licence given him to speak for himself, ... This was a favour which the Jews would not allow him, or not without difficulty; but Agrippa freely gives it to him.

 Paul begins his testimony to King Agrippa with his own background.

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. (Acts 26:6-11 KJV)

It's not a bad way to confess that we are all sinners. Later Paul admits he was the chief of sinners in 1 Timothy 1:15. Then Paul got down to the serious business of explaining to King Agrippa how he became a Christian. That's a necessity in any Christian's testimony:

At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:13-18 KJV)

Paul literally saw the light of the world, and heard Jesus, risen from the dead. The risen Messiah, whose followers Paul was sending to death, had called him to turn them from darkness to light - for the forgiveness of their sins. This is the gospel message that Paul preached to everyone, just as Peter did, and the other disciples. Those who heard them either believed, denied, or answered as King Agrippa did:

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:28 KJV)

That can happen to any Christian who is following God's plan of sharing the good news that we have a risen savior. Once you've given your own testimony, there are many responses people can give. When it is neither yes, nor no, as Paul heard from Agrippa, it's a good testimony to use Paul's response to King Agrippa:

And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. (Acts 26:29 KJV)

Paul, and I, and others who give their testimony, do so to share the good news message in order for people to have the opportunity to choose life, eternally. That's what Jesus offered, that's what we offer through Him because we believe His promises:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:20 KJV)

Now - do you have a testimony about your relationship with Christ that you are willing to share with others?

Church Buildings Are For Sinners

 

This copyrighted graphic is on loan from Cynthia I. Maddox

I've known people who decline to attend church for a couple of reasons: 

1) they weren't good enough for the people there; 

2) the people there weren't good enough for them.

In the first instance, the person truly felt that the sin in their life was so bad that God turned their back to them and their life went down hill from there. Which meant they felt God was incapable of loving everyone, even though Jesus said:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:14-17 KJV)

The Bible tells us that God is omnipotent - He knows how bad we are because He knows our history, heart, and our future. "Whosoever" comes from Greek: πᾶς , Strong's defines it as G3956 "pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever." No one would be left out. Another verse confirms that:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

Where did I learn this? From the Bible, and from attending a church that teaches from the Bible, for:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV)

That comes from a letter Paul was inspired to write to the church at Corinth, and is good today for Christ's followers. Remember, it was from the Old Testament that Jesus taught, Paul studied:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV)

Paul tells us what to use, and why. He also explained how people are reached:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? (Romans 10:13-15a KJV)

We can't have a good solid preacher until he has been through the steps of being saved: believing, calling on God, being called, becoming a preacher. Those steps are important. The next steps are studying: 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (2 Timothy 2:15-16 KJV)

We have to be careful when we are seeking God. We know He can be found, but how can we tell what is "profane and vain babblings" that we are to shun? Reading the first chapter of 1 Timothy can be helpful in understanding what we should shun. Here, Paul is strengthening Timothy to face those who do change the good news that God has given to mankind from the beginning. Paul was given direction for his life directly from the risen Christ - Acts 9. The trip he was taking to Damascus would have ended in the deaths of Christ's followers. Instead, Paul went to study to be one, which could have cost him his own life.

Like everyone else, Paul had to study. That is why we have church buildings, where people meet and learn how to apply the biblical lessons to our own lives. Where we fellowship with believers, and invite unbelievers to join in and see for themselves what being a Christian is like.

Are their some who will set your mind against being a Christian? Probably. Not all church attendees are dedicated to learning and application. There are people who do so for personal or business reasons. Our best answer is to pray God will send someone who will help open their hearts to him. From the Old Testament to the new, God receives those who come to Him:

Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. (2 Chronicles 19:7 KJV)

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: (Acts 10:34 KJV)

You have an open invitation to our nearby church, First Baptist Church of Cottondale, but there should be a Bible based church near for you. If not, feel free to join our services 11 am CST Sunday morning, 6 pm Sunday night, and 7 pm Wednesday night. Right now they can be reached through the church's Facebook page, and plans are to reach a streaming audience in the future. 

If you come to the building, please remember individuals there are works in progress, each one at a different spot working toward 2 Timothy 3:17's good works.

What Crown Will You Have to Cast?

Image by Juicy Fish on Freepik

Years ago I read of Queen Victoria saying she would like to lay her crown at Jesus' feet. I found that updated in a September, 2022 article by Charles Gardner:

“I wish Jesus would come back in my lifetime.” Asked why, she reportedly replied: “Because I would place my crown at his feet.” Victoria’s great-great granddaughter, Elizabeth, carried the same heart for Jesus.

In that same article, Gardner also wrote of a Christmas message from Queen Elizabeth II: 

Some years ago, for example, she quoted a verse from a well-known carol, In the bleak midwinter:

 “What can I give him, poor as I am, If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man, I would do my part, Yet what I can I give him, give my heart.”

As a true evangelist in the spirit of Billy Graham, she encouraged millions of viewers to give Jesus their heart. This was our Queen, and we are all so proud of her!

 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (Revelation 4:4 KJV)

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:10-11 KJV)

Do you know what crowns are available when we believe God exists, loves mankind, sent a Redeemer to remove our sins that keep from God, and provides us eternal life? Here's the short list:

Simply being in God’s presence is a joy filled crown of righteousness.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8 KJV)

The crown of righteousness is available to all.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12 KJV)

Same with the crown of life – another crown is available to all who love Him.

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4 KJV)

This following crown is not for all.  This one is special, for those here on earth who lead the church, feeding His flock.

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10 KJV)

Indeed, would we not want to follow the example of the elders and cast our crowns before the King of Kings who provided those very crowns simply because we loved Him when He loved us?

All of those crowns are handed to us through God's grace. There is not one thing we can do to earn them - not one iota of work is required:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

Oooops - there's that "work" word in verse 10. Seems to be pretty well tied to the grace, faith, walk, doesn't it. We are created to do good works. When we know what God has for us, we will do good work. James says it very well - and says more in that second chapter than this:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:17-20 KJV)

Once knowing the love of God that brought us to Him, it is given to us the understanding what work He has for us to do. That goes back to the lesson of the body of Christ. 1st Corinthians 12 has a lot of information on the "body of Christ." Bottom line, we are one with Christ and what we do in our lives has one goal - to be with Christ here on earth, always looking forward to being with Him in heaven.

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:13-14 KJV)

When you are with others, do you deliberately go out of your way to belittle them? Do it by accident? Or be aware of them and focus on bringing happiness to them and to yourself. That, my friend, is doing good work. Better work would to be certain they were aware of how important your belief in Jesus Christ is to you -- if it is. Too often, Jesus is not important in our livess and we do not work at letting others know our goal is bringing glorty to God through our lives.

Can people see your faith in your actions? Do they understand your faith will bring you crowns, and you'd like to share that with them?

Back To School

 

Designed by Freepik  (Didn't they do a good job?)

It is that time of the year. Everyone mentions school - and earlier than when I was attending. The Tuesday after Labor Day was usually our back to school day. The earliest this year for our family was a new college student headed for training on an athletic scholarship. Those young people do get an early start on school.

By this time, our athlete knows what to expect because there have been years of training, and achievements, to earn an education on an athlete's ability. Their scholastic achievements must be well above average, too, even when their most outstanding talent is athletics.

While almost all of the young people in the United States are going back to school - or just starting it as another family member - adults take advantage of educational opportunities, too. One such group is involved at our church. Our members signed up for Faith Bible Institute. The three honored last Sunday night started four years ago in a program that has been around for a long while.

When our church started the classes, we didn't really think about the facts of life - people move around, lives are changeable, relationships change. Usually it's young people who go through classes one right after another. By the second semester of the four year course, some people had to drop out and new people joined in. I overheard one person say, "I'm glad this starts the third semester, I already have two done and I can pick up now and complete."

This is not confined to our church members. I know of at least three different churches whose members attend the three hour course each week, studying out of a three" +/- thick tome well suited for college.

"All you need is a TV, DVD player and 10 students. We provide everything else to start you on this 3 year journey through the Word of God. There is no cost to your church and each student’s cost is just $157* for the first semester and $115* for all other semesters. Click here for a tour on how you can have a Bible college in your church."

For a small country church, where our attending membership fluctuated about 125-150 on Sunday mornings, I wondered about getting ten people interested the first time around. But that was a personal consideration. I would have enjoyed the class, I know, but making a four year commitment not long after my husband experienced two Myasthenia Gravis crises along with one sepsis incident, I became a care giver.

Later, as his ongoing treatment relegated crises to memories and ICUs weren't in our forseeable future, I did take one of the audit classes offered by the same organization that was only one semester. It was very educational. I believe the full four years of Bible study is one reason, especially during Covid, our church membership numbers remained the same, while attendance usually streamed about the same. Soon after Covid, though, the membership grew and the FBI classes grew, too. It was a good time to learn:

So - what are they studying? The Bible. From Genesis to Revelation. There is a study book, a class book and three hours of DVD college lectures each Tuesday night of the semester. There are tests, and there are diplomas at the completion of the four year course.

Why? For a couple of very good reasons. First is application in our own lives. How can you discuss Christian doctrine without being familiar with Christian doctrine? Second is the opportunity to share what you've learned with others.

Becoming familiar with biblical Christian doctrine is extremely important in understanding why there are different denominations. If you say "I am a Baptist," how is that different from saying "I am a Catholic"? Do not both religions believe God created the heavens and the earth, that Abraham was made a promise by God? Absolutely - but Muslims and Jews believe that very same thing. What sets Jews, Christians, and Muslims apart? Why do all three hold Abraham as the beginning of a relationship with God, but stand so far apart now?

For many years now I've written this blog that encourages Bible reading. Four years with this FBI course, you'll learn much more than ten years of reading my blog, or any other. The coverage is theology more than personal application, but that makes even deeper personal applications available. However, my primary purpose remains to encourage people pick up their Bibles - they remain available in every book store, downloadable for every smart phone - most free, some with a small cost. I recommend YouVersion for the freebie and e-Sword for a small cost. Both are study Bibles with additional aids available.

I also recommend the King James Version. I know, people will "swear" by the 1611 version - don't download that one unless you are extremely determined to work through it. However, there is an English flow in the KJV that puts me in a worshipful mood because I'm spending time with a familiar book. I also know the translations source - which is a big deal for me. Both Bible apps I mentioned come with the KJV without additional cost. Most of the newer versions have a cost. I'm a firm believer you should be able to get a free Bible. We have missionaries handing them out freely on street corners. If you are on Facebook, follow Sam Ward, a missionary in Croatia, well known for street corner Bible handouts. Today he's mailing them by the hundreds to people in Croatia.

Paul wrote in Romans the process involved in learning about Jesus, God's Son, who provides us salvation:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:13-17 KJV)

That is such a small portion of what is available in the Bible - and Paul quoted an earlier writer, too:

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isaiah 52:7 KJV)

We Need Goals

 

Goalposts, Durdham Down by Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What first caught your eye? The beautiful field, the homes in the background? What thoughts and descriptions went through your mind? Oh - you paid attention to the the goalpost!! Good. Because you read the title, or because it is almost in the center of the graphic, and the largest item?

I have goals on my mind today due to a conversation I had with a young lady who changed one of hers in midstream. During our talk, I asked her what she was going to do next summer. Her answer was a job that often offers room/board, but not much money, if any. Fortunately, for her there would be a small income on top of room/board.

"What will you do with it," I asked.

"I intend to save it," she said.

"For what," I insisted, still wondering about her goals.

"I'm saving it to have on hand," she quizically replied.

Knowing she had not made application for college, and also knowing she hadn't mentioned anything about her new path for her future, I had to get a bit more basic. Eventually we discussed possible employment, along with transportion. We both live in a rural area, without an ounce of public transportion.

Thus, I've had goals on my mind - and realized 1) how few I really set in my own life, and 2) how many times mine changed due to events outside my control. I would wager these same items happen in most people's lives.

Yet the Bible tells us of a young, important, probably royalty, with more of a future than others in a kingdom, who came to purpose one thing in his heart that we all can do - Daniel.

In the first verses of Daniel (please, take time to read them on your own), we find Babylon overpowering Israel, and as part of their "peace agreement," the king's children and princes were taken to Babylon, ostensibly as teachers but no doubt hostages. There, they would eat the king's meals, as royalty would expect. But one chose otherwise:

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:8 KJV)

Jews had laws as to what they should eat, and what they could not eat. There were also Jewish laws about drunkenness, which was prevelant. Daniel set a goals for himself that he would not break God's Law. He achieved his goal, his purpose.

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. (Daniel 1:15 KJV)

What sent me to the Bible for examples was a verse in Proverbs:

Where there is no vision, the people perish: (Proverbs 19:18a KJV)

The Amplified Bible translates "vision" slightly differently:  

Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; (Proverbs 19:18a AMB)

I like that extra explanation. You see, as Christians, we believe that God has a purpose for our lives. We are where we are because God has something for us to do. Paul explains very well in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 (again, I ask that you go to your Bible for the whole reference - I'm using the one verse I have highlighted in mine):

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 KJV)

Just as each member of our own bodies have a purpose, so does each Christian. The difference is, the members of Christ's body have free will not to follow what God has in mind for us, but to make decisions on our own. Some members (think church, as well as "body") have actions that not only end up embarrassing them, but is an embarrassment to the congregation where they worship.

That's why Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself, and why we would do well to do the same - purpose in our hearts to never be an embarrassment to Christ, unto whom we are baptized. That should be the first goal in our hearts, which will fulfill the most important commandment:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 KJV)

This is our primary goal. The second, of course, is to love our neighbor (see verses 22:39-40.) The third really falls under the first, which is to live the life God has planned for us. To do that, we must keep in touch with God, and hear His plans for us. Some of those were hidden from people during their early lives - such as Joseph, Daniel and Esther. Who would think a brother sold into slavery, a captive prince, and a woman to replace a rejected wife would follow God into royal palaces and literally save their people? 

Not all of us must make such sacrifices, but in each case here, there were rewards. Jesus followed God's will after praying that He wouldn't have to, for the joy that was to follow:

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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 KJV)

Like my young friend, set your goals to match what God has told us how to live, for we, too, are receivers of the joy set before us in heaven.

Neither Hot or Cold

 

By Darren Hester - Openphoto.net, CC BY-SA 2.5

I just ran across my notes from August 7, 2022 worship service. The first reference was Revelation 3:15-16. According to John, author of Revelation, Jesus spoke these words:

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16 KJV)

On BibleGateway, you’ll find the same verses slightly different, with notes:

15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are [a] neither cold (invigorating, refreshing) nor hot (healing, therapeutic); I wish that you were [b] cold or hot.

16 So because you are lukewarm (spiritually useless), and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth [rejecting you with disgust]. (Amplified Bible)

a.  This phrase and the word lukewarm in v 16 form a metaphor that is probably based on the quality of the water supply of Laodicea, which was delivered by aqueduct from the hot mineral springs about five miles away. During its journey, the water cooled to a warm or lukewarm temperature.

b. I.e. alive, productive—beneficial in one way or the other.

To me, those who were “hot” – or invigorating or refreshing, as AMP uses, or could be described as actively involved in the education and goals Jesus laid out for us. I’ve heard some described as “on fire for the Lord!”

Those hot are the least in need of God’s intention. They are doing what Jesus laid out for us to do and obviously seeking to learn more of God’s good news for mankind.

Those cold are the most in need. Those have no relationship with God and actually may be church members for personal or secular reasons.  They may be reached by those who are actively reaching out with God’s Word.

But – then there are the lukewarm, spiritually useless, unfit for service, and most likely feeling sure that they have fulfilled the requirement of John 3:16 and are quite safe for eternal life in heaven. I believe that is possible that they are safe, but they are unfulfilled by not understanding God has use of everyone who believes.

First and foremost is loving God. When you love someone you should want to know about them. What pleases them? What causes them joy, pain, and anger. The Bible describes each of those qualities for God. Where do you stand with Him? Do you bring Him joy, pain, or anger. How can you change that? The Bible has the answer in examples.

Second in importance – and actually covers the rest of His Commandments and the reality of prophecies – is loving our neighbors as ourselves. Always a problem when we don’t love ourselves, when we don’t understand that God accepts us as we are while He is able to change our lives. Once we understand that, we can be of service to help others as we follow His will in our lives.

Best part is finding beautiful verses that explain why God enjoys our company:

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8 KJV)

Do You Accept Free Gifts?

 

This is one of seven I’ve received just this morning. I’ve won so many over the past years – yet I do not have any new cookware, or any of the other remarkable items that would be free if only I would … That changes with the whim of the scammer/advertisers.

Yet we Christians keep telling unbelievers that believing will not cost them a thing – while at the same time it will change your life forever. We often forget to explain just how that happens.

Let’s start with someone who knows about religion. Not only do they know Jesus by name, they might combine it now and again with a socially unacceptable companion word. The fact that it is not socially accepted depends on who they are with, and where they are. Believing might cost you those friends:

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: (1 Peter 4:3-4 KJV)

That has happened to a number of people who have come to believe the most simple verses in Christian beliefs:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 KJV)

That is one major hurdle right there. God, a singularity, only one deity, who is presented to mankind in another verse as a trinity:

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (Luke 3:21-22 KJV)

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in one incident, proclaiming their togetherness, recognizably separate. That one has been difficult for a couple of people I love, but they come to understand, party because of:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:1-5 KJV)

Finally, the simplest of verses:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Believing really is that simple. Paul repeats in action to a jailer:

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30-31 KJV)

Remember, his house wasn’t saved because the jailer believed, but because he brought Paul and Silas to his home:

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. (Acts 16:32 KJV)

The Bereans didn’t find it that easy – they heard Paul’s preaching and had to do some studying:

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17:10-12 KJV)

Remember, it wasn’t the Bible as we know it today, it was what we call the Old Testament, prophecies from hundreds of years before, along with notes from men who studied them. Bible study is one of the things mentoring Christians should encourage for those asking why, how, or who to believe.

Now that’s a daunting thought, isn’t it. How can you be sure that’s how it works today? You would have to study tons of material, right? Shouldn’t we memorize and follow the Ten Commandments? Jesus told us how to get started with that long before we understand all the laws, with one simple paragraph:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)

Yes, even the “neighbor” you hate for what you know is good reason. You will come to love those you know have done you harm, for they need Jesus, too, just as much as you and I do.

The New Testament is full of what we do get when we believe Jesus is the Christ, but God simplified what happens when we do – and when we don’t:

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18 KJV)

Take a bit more of you time and check out the verses I use to confirm their context and read as much as you can to see who is talking to whom, and how it is applicable today. Please – let me know if you have questions, or have a reason to disagree with my writings. I promise to answer biblically.

Tears In A Bottle

I've used this graphic before - although I have no idea what source. In that blog two years ago, "I Still Miss Her," I wrote of my sister-in-law, Janice Grove. She was one to share the good news of Jesus' resurrection and the promise that faith would keep us eternally. 

I really like the way my sister-in-law worded Pascal’s Wager (the emphasis is her own) on her own blog in 2011:

“I WOULD RATHER LIVE THINKING THERE IS A GOD AND DIE TO FIND OUT THERE ISN'T THAN TO LIVE THINKING THERE ISN'T A GOD AND DIE TO FIND OUT THERE IS.”

She found the answer October 18, 2011. I missed after that - and found that I still miss her, painfully, often afterward. I could speak to her about many subjects - and we shared a love for family history, to the point we referred to it as genealogy. We filled in many blanks.

She is on the very top of my mind, has been since last Friday, when her beloved husband, Kenneth Grove, made the same discovery she did.

There is so much to be told about our husbands, separated when they were pre-schoolers. In and out of a children's home in Maumee, Ohio during the first part of World War II, then separated by a divorce where their father took the two older sons to Oklahoma, leaving her husband, the youngest, with their mother. There wasn't a reunion for thirty-five years, after all three brothers had grown children.

Can you see how many tears our Lord has put in His botttle, how much is written in His book? And there are two less people who share our interest in sharing the work of the Lord. She would have loved discussing Pascal's wager in another blog:

An atheist commented as to how surprised Christians are going to be when they die and find there is no God.  To me, that shows he hasn’t thought through his own argument.  If death is the end, no eternity beyond, Christians will not be surprised, nor will anyone else.  However, if Christians are correct, eternity does exist as explained by them, I would not want to be an atheist.  Of course, that’s Pascal’s Wager.

My concept of the “play it safe rather than risk being sorry” is to study what is offered about God.  Others have done so and chosen different religious views.  I will but simply state my own beliefs and their source.

I still run across other articles, opinions, studies, refutations, and debates on Pascal's Wager, such as this one just two days ago. Check out Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy's "Pascal's Wager about God." It opens with:

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) offers a pragmatic reason for believing in God: even under the assumption that God’s existence is unlikely, the potential benefits of believing are so vast as to make betting on theism rational. The super-dominance form of the argument conveys the basic Pascalian idea, the expectations argument refines it, and the dominating expectations argument gives a more sophisticated version still.

 I will admit I've given you a lot of background and a lot of reading. I hope it makes you thinkk about what you would say if, as Paul was, you are brought before an authority, as Agrippa was, and you have the opportunity to explain what you believe, and why, as Paul did before Agrippa - and I give you more to read in Acts 26. Will you start an outline now? What do you believe about what the Bible says about Jesus - and why?