I OVERHEARD A MOTHER SAY…

It’s not that I intentionally eavesdropped. The mother sat next to me on a bench in the mall playground. Her toddler was playing with a built-in wall puzzle. My granddaughters were climbing giant blocks, and jumping off the monstrous drum. I was resting from my long walk across the mall…and watching…the kids, the parents, the shoppers.

The “mother” encouraged her son as he walked atop the giant xylophone. “Red, blue, green, yellow…green, blue, red.” Each step he took, she called out the color. You get the picture. A few moments later she watched as he nudged his way between a wall-puzzle and a baby who could barely stand.
“No, no! Watch out for the baby!” she cautioned as she jumped up and went to the other side of the play area. She picked up her two-year-old, carried him back to her seat and softly said, “You must not push. Now you must sit a minute to remember not to push.” She hugged him close. Her gentle voice instructed. “Watch. See? Everyone is playing. They are sharing. You must share, too. If someone is playing with something you want, you do not push. If you are playing with something, and someone does not want to share with you, then you find something else to do.” Slowly she released her grip. “If you learn this lesson, you will avoid a lot of suffering in life.” He squirmed out of her lap. “…a lot of suffering,” she repeated as he scurried off to play again.

I wondered. Was she speaking from experience?
Do we avoid suffering by letting others have their way? by relinquishing that which we are interested in, playing with, or doing? Wise warning that we must not push…nor bully our way into another’s space. And we most definitely should share. But walk away when trouble comes our way? When another treats us less than we are taught to treat them? When they want what we have?

Perhaps that is a lot like turning the other cheek…
Or like going the second mile…or handing over our best cloak when someone asks for it. Or sacrificing ourselves for another–or for a better good–or simply to avoid suffering something far worse in life. I can hear the wisdom. Can you? If not, how’s this?

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:30-31

Thank you, LORD, for this little bit of wisdom and picture of grace You reaffirmed in my mind today. Help me, LORD, to let go and not hold back the kindness you show the unlovely and the wicked. Let me live my life, not to escape suffering, but to avoid causing suffering for others.
© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

Stoned but Unshaken

We only had the car 3 months–a 2005 model, but in mint condition. Garage-kept, not a speck, nick, or scratch. Near perfect. One day my husband returned from an errand and asked how I got the crack in my windshield. I was dumbfounded. I went out to inspect my car and noticed a tiny hole on the driver’s side where the nine-inch crack had originated. I spotted another tiny hole on the passenger’s side.  To me, it was obvious; a couple of stones fell off a truck, or were tossed by a lawnmower and popped against my window.  As I drove over speed bumps, potholes and rough roads, the tiny hole trailed across my windshield.  Now the crack has grown; it extends nearly the entire height of the window.

^“5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. ⁶ Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. ⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. ⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 62:5-8

Just when life seems to be rolling along rather smoothly, a stone pops up and cracks the windshield of our lives. Often Christians can be like those stones which inadvertantly pop into the air and hit an unsuspecting soul. We do not notice the significance of that hit; we do not feel the sting of words hurled impulsively without thought during a passing conversation. We roll on thinking nothing of how we affect another’s world. I dare say that a good majority of the people who have hurt me in my lifetime are totally unaware of it.
I tend to stuff stuff; I swallow insults and tuck things away. I live with pinpricks and stone-fissures. Then one day, I hit a bigger bump that causes the tiny fissure in my security to fracture my heart. Unless I take the time to follow the crack to the origin, I may not know exactly why I am upset. But once I’ve gotten alone with God, prayed about my pain, lain my hurt before Him, He heals my heart and seals the fissure. He helps me see the initial offense I ignored that produced the crack.
Yes, sometimes a scar is there…visible to me, but not to others. Its tenderness, when touched by some unguarded moment, is a reminder for me to watch how I walk each day. I use it to pray for more discernment as I talk with others, as I pass them on the roads of life. I pray they not be shaken by troubling and burdening experiences. I pray they find the refuge available in Christ. I pray for those who cast stones to be filled with grace, to know the love of Christ. I ask God to have mercy upon them for the things they do and say that may inadvertantly crack my windshield.  Then I forgive and move on.
© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

by Hariette Petersen

Has someone hurt you?  Have you been wronged?  Have you done the best you know how to do and it still is not enough?  If you are human and walking among other people in this world, then I’m fairly certain you can answer “yes” to each of these questions.  As Christians we know we will encounter people who dislike us, who hate us, who will insult us if we are living a life for the glory of God.  Our Savior forewarned us and told us that we are “blessed if we are persecuted” on His account. Mt. 5:11.  Somehow it seems less shocking to have unbelievers who treat us wrongly.  It’s life.  It’s hardest for Christians when we endure rebuke, rebuffs, and anger from fellow Christians, or family.  It’s hard sometimes to remember that love:

“…is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5

This is the season when so many of us gather to be with family.  Tradition bids us come together and celebrate.  Yet, so often family members find themselves at odds with one another.  Many times conflict arises that has nothing to do with who carves the turkey, who sits next to whom at the table, who is late for dinner, or gets the wishbone.  Conflict comes from digging up bones from past grievances.  From harbored anger.  From unforgiven contention–sometimes decades old.  Sometimes we come with the best of intentions.  We vow to accept another’s irritating habits, to keep peace no matter what.  Then something happens and it dredges up the previous hurt feelings.  It’s time to let them go.  It’s time to ask God for grace to forgive.  For me to accomplish this, I center on the mercy the Lord has shown me.  He does not count my past against me.  I am forgiven from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9-10.

As we face the days ahead, I pray each wrong committed against us is quickly forgiven.  Life is so very short.  We show our love by not acting rudely, selfishly, or begrudgingly.  Yes, I know others may act that way towards us.  But we are not accountable for how others act, only ourselves.  We show accountability by not keeping record of wrongs.  May this be our sacrifice to a Savior who gave His all for our sin.  © Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

Wholesome and Clean

by Patricia Day

Ezekiel 37:23b – I will wash away their sin and make them clean, and I will protect them from everything that makes them unclean. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (CEV)

There is a major house renovation going on close to where we live. Actually, it has been in progress for weeks and weeks – new roof, insulation, siding, windows, doors, sunroom and storage addition – a complete overhaul! I don’t know, because I have not seen inside, but I have to assume that there is a great deal of updating, repair and cleaning being addressed inside the home too: and I assume this due to the time it is taking to complete the work.

I recall when my husband and I, were looking for a home in this park, that we viewed one particular unit that was in a beautiful location, the price was amazing (it would have left a great deal of ‘spare’ cash for renovations) but the condition inside was nothing short of ‘disgusting’: how anyone could have lived in the home in the condition it was in, was beyond our comprehension.

We had agreed that we were willing to move into a house of our choice and do work while living there, but the filth and the updates needed in that particular house, were way too bad for us to even consider moving in and living there in – there was far too much to do to make it habitable.

When some people are challenged to give their lives to God and invite Jesus into their hearts, they recognize the truth that they have sinned before God. As a result, they want to clean up their lives before they issue an invitation to Jesus. They don’t yet understand that God comes into our lives to clean us up, precisely because we can’t do it for ourselves.

Isaiah 64:6a – But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. (NKJV)

The good news is that God loves us just as we are. So when we become willing to accept God into our lives, thankfully, He does not shun our dirty lives like we rejected that dirty home. He welcomes us and cleanses us. He does not leave us as we are, with our disparaging thoughts, our criticism of others, our idolatry of all things material, and all our major and minor sinful ways. This process is called “sanctification”.

 Isaiah 1:16 – Wash yourselves clean! I am disgusted with your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong. (CEV)

Just as the house we viewed had much to clean up before being habitable, so God needs to clean up our lives, thoughts, and actions, so that we become a true reflection of His Son, Jesus, in our hearts, minds, and spirits.

James 4:8 – Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can’t make up your mind. (CEV)

Prayer: Abba, make us aware of all that is in our lives, our thoughts, and our deeds, that is unworthy of Your presence within us. Wash us clean, and renew our spirits and hearts so that we are wholesome, presentable, and welcoming to all who look at us and the ways that we live. We want to be acceptable to You and winsome to them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Proverbs 6 - Do Not Ever Co-Sign a Note

In order to succeed in life, there are certain do’s and don’ts that we must all follow. If we ignore these admonitions, we will find ourselves less than successful. As we study Proverbs 6 and 7, you will see that He warns us over and over again about finances, immorality, and laziness. We will examine these subjects each time they are brought up, so we can get God’s perspective.

Proverbs 6 has six big DO NOTS. Let us look at the first one today:
  Do Not Ever Co-Sign a Note
In thirty-seven years of ministry here in Las Vegas, there have been many times people have asked me to co-sign on a loan. It was to help them out of a tight situation they found themselves in financially. Because of this passage of Scripture, we have made it a policy never to co-sign. If I cannot give someone the money they need, than I should never put my name on a note that will put me in worse financial shape than I am right now. If I cannot give it, I will not lend it.

Verse 1 - God says that you should not go with a friend to a stranger and promise that he will pay with your name as guarantee.

Verse 2 - Your words will trap you. Remember Proverbs 22:11, says, “the borrower is servant to the lender.”

You may be reading this and thinking - What if I have already done this? Solomon answers that question.
1. He says, “Get out of the situation as soon as you can.”

2. Humble yourself before your friend. Tell him you cannot afford this. Often times, our pride causes us to over commit in areas God does not want us to commit.

3. Make sure your friend - the words make sure means to strengthen or to help his pride. Let your friend know he can do it without you. Strengthen him. Let him see he is as good or better than you are and he does not need your help. If he cannot get the loan on his own then you certainly do not want to help him get in worse shape than he is in right now.

4. Solomon goes on to say, this is more important than sleep. He says in verse 4, “Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe.” You are like a roebuck or a gazelle. You are being hunted. Run from co-signing like you would if you were a deer, and you saw a man with a gun aiming it at your head. RUN. RUN. RUN. Never co-sign a loan.

Your Friend,
David Teis

Proverbs 6:6-11 - Do Not Be Lazy

The Christian should be no stranger to hard work. In this passage of Scripture, we are instructed to learn how to live by watching the ant. “Go to the ant thou sluggard.” The wordsluggard means lazy person. He tells us to consider her ways and see them from God’s perspective. She has no one telling her what to do. She is wise enough to know her responsibilities. She does not get involved in everybody else’s job. She is diligent enough to fulfill her responsibilities. She provides herself food for the summer by gathering her food at harvest time.

I hope you enjoy this poem.
 

If you want to eat tomorrow, 

you must not stop today
If you want to fill your table, 

you must learn to work not play
There is a time to rest, 

but very first and best
You must labor for your meat, 

or expect no food to eat
The ant learns to store food in the good time, 

to assure plenty in the bad time

They never hinder, but always help one another in their work. They unite to accomplish tasks that are too large for one. They store their goods in places that will be protected. They are wise investors. They know how to preserve their hard earned resources. Ants will bite off the end of the grains of corn that they may not grow when they get wet.

Solomon ends this conversation with a sluggard by saying do not waste your life sleeping. You should learn to be a quick riser. The sleeper winds up in poverty, like the person who travels, like a person fit for destruction.

Your Friend,
David Teis

 

Do Not Hang with the Wicked Man (Proverbs 6:12-15)

In this passage, Solomon describes the wicked man and warns his son Rehoboam to stay away from him.

1. He is naughty.
He is worthless and good for nothing. It literally means he is a man of Belial.
  2. He is a troublemaker.
He is wicked. The word wicked means troublemaker, self-willed. He causes problems for others.
  3. He walks with a forward mouth.
Forward is a King James word which means crooked or distorted. You cannot trust what is coming out of his mouth. He says one thing to one person and another thing to another person. He is comfortable with distorting the truth.
  4. He will tell you much by his body language.

a. The Bible says, “He winketh with his eyes,”
Watch what he is looking at, and what he will not look at. Be careful about the man who will not look you square in the eye.

b. “He speaketh with his feet,”
Where he is going, tells you a lot about who he is.

c. “he teacheth with his fingers;”
His fingers are grasping on to things that he should not be grabbing on to.
  5. He has forwardness or perverseness in his heart. He devices mischief continually.
He uses his time to cause evil for others. This brings him peace. Be careful of the guy who wants revenge. He delights in causing division according to verse 14.
  6. His end is described in verse 15. His calamity will come suddenly. His disaster will come without notice. He shall be broken with no one to recover.

Stay away from the wicked man.

Your Friend,
David Teis

 

Do Not Be Part of What God Hates

This passage of Scripture, describes six things God hates and seven that are an abomination to Him. Let us look at them:

1. A proud look
We should always be thankful and never be proud. Pride indicates that I had something to do with my success. The truth of the matter is all glory should go to God for anything that is accomplished in our lives. We have what we have because of God’s mercy and God’s grace.
  2. A lying tongue
You need to always speak the truth. You do not always need to speak. There is no reason to be deceptive. That does not mean that we should be unkind to someone. Our lips should be seasoned with grace. Lying to cover up your sin or to make yourself look good is something that God hates.
  3. Hands that shed innocent blood
It is sad the number of murders we have in our nation on a yearly basis. It is terrible that we refer to murder as abortion. Abortion is the worst type of murder there is, because it is shedding the life of an innocent child who cannot do anything to protect itself. God hates the shedding of innocent blood. There is a difference between capital punishment and abortion. The difference is innocent blood. God has given the government the power to take care of wicked people, and He has ordained capital punishment.
  4. A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations
This describes the person that gets pleasure out of hurting others. Revenge has no place in the Christian’s heart.
  5. Feet that be swift running to mischief - that is evil
God hates those that are looking to do wrong.
  6. A false witness that speaketh lies
It is one thing to not tell the truth. God hates that, but here, He specifically says He hates those who tell lies about other people.
  7. He that soweth discord among the brethren
God hates it when someone causes division between brothers and sisters in Christ.

Do not be part of something that God hates.

Your Friend,
David Teis

 

Do Not Forget the Commandment of God

Today, many people talk about the fact that we are free from the law and that is true. The only way a person can get to Heaven is by putting their faith and trust in what Jesus Christ did for us. He suffered, died, and paid the penalty of our sin in our place. He rose from the dead and was seen by hundreds of people. The only way you can get to Heaven is by calling on Him and asking Him to be your Lord, Saviour, and God.

However, that does not discount the commandments of God. God has given us commandments and statues in order to benefit our lives. However, we are not saved by keeping the commandments; commandments give us God’s view point of life. If you want to know God’s opinion, study the law of God.

In this passage, we are told to keep the law of God close (verse 21). If we do, it will benefit us in several ways:

1. It will lead you as you travel.
2. It will guard you as you sleep.
3. It will talk to you when you are awake.
4. It will be a lamp to enlighten you along your path.
5. It will be a light to show you where to go and how to avoid tragedy.
6. It will show you how to really live.
Do not forget the commandments of God.

Your Friend,
David Teis

Proverbs 14:16-19

When we look at Proverbs, God is continually warning His people about the dangerous influence of the evil man. In these four verses, we are again admonished to be careful who we interact with.

Proverbs 14:16, “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.”
A wise man says, “This backslider is going to get himself into trouble, and me along with him. I’m going to stay away from him.” However the fool says, “I can handle anything that happens. Just bring it on.” We are told that he would fall into the same trap as the backslider.

Proverbs 14:17, “He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.”
This verse could not be clearer. He that gets angry very quickly is going to act like a fool. How often have you seen somebody go off and say things they wish they had not said?

I am not much of a golfer but I have heard of irate golfers wrapping their very expensive golf clubs around tree trunks in a fit of anger. I have watched people kick their cars doing more damage than good. When anger controls you, you will have problems.

This Proverb goes on to say, that a man who plans and prosecutes wicked deeds, because of his angry heart, will be hated by everyone.

Proverbs 14:18, “The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.”
My mother used to say, “Birds of a feather flock together.” If you are foolish and do foolish things, you will receive more and more foolishness. Foolish people will surround you. Foolish actions will control you. Foolish consequences will fill your life.

On the other hand, the prudent will be rewarded with the results of their thoughtful cautious approach to life. God wants His children to be prudent.

Proverbs 14:19, “The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.”
This verse brings to mind Philippians 2:5-11. The Apostle Paul tells us that Christ is our example. He came to this earth as a humble servant obedient to the Father. His obedience was untimely death. The Bible tells us that because of His obedience, He will be exalted above everyone, and at His name every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

The end of the wicked, the end of the evil man is humility. The end of the good and the righteous is exaltation. If you want to be exalted in the eyes of the Father, we must daily surrender to His Spirit that we might live righteously in His sight.

Proverbs 14:20, “The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.”
This is true financially. This is true spiritually. This is true socially. If we choose to disobey God, we will reap the harvest of an empty life. If we obey His Word and are rich in our spiritual walk with Him, we will be a friend of God and a friend to many others. Let us choose God and walk in His wisdom.

God bless you.

Your friend,
David Teis

The Choice is Ours

by Rachel Olsen

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..." 1 Peter 1:3  (NIV)

I watch Samantha Brown, Travel Channel host, as she explores Old Town in Ecuador's capital city of Quito. Watching her experience the charming hotels, mouth-watering food, and tropical adventures there, I'm slightly envious. But as she points out the sights of this South American city, my mind wanders back in time.

I've been to Quito. Not to enjoy the food or see the architecture, but to visit people there who Jesus loves.

As the camera pans over Samantha's head, I'm looking for the spot where I visited a single mother, Maria. She and her baby lived in one room smaller than my home office. She had a twin size bed, a chest of drawers, and a small electric stove.

On the stove she fried plantains for me. I had trouble at first with the idea of eating them, knowing they were from her very limited food supply. As Maria happily served me, I wondered if I would choose to share my food so freely if it were as scarce for me as it is for her.

Maria told me she had received Jesus, and was now receiving training in child care, nutrition and child development through Compassion International. She'd received these South American bananas from them too. I noticed Maria had a visible hope that her life and her child's life were now on a better path.

Around the corner from Maria lived a young boy who has also been touched by Jesus. He is a sponsored child. When we met, Eduardo told me he hopes to be a pastor. He quoted scripture to me from memory—he was eight.

Our meeting wasn't planned, he just happened to stop by Maria's door while I was there. After talking with us briefly, Eduardo reached into his back pocket, pulled out a small New Testament and handed it to me. Said he wanted me to have it. And he wanted me to read it.

Said he hoped it would remind me of him, so I would pray that he could become a pastor.

I didn't tell him I have plenty of full-size Bibles at home. Or I wouldn't be able to read much of that one in Spanish. Instead I took the small red book, said "gracias," and prayed over him and his future ministry. He smiled a smile full of possibility and disappeared out the doorway.

I'm certain that around the corner from Maria there are other single moms and young boys who don't have this hope. They feel trapped, depressed, maybe hungry and short-changed.

It is my prayer they will find "new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:3).

Samantha Brown discovered Ecuador's luscious fruits, famous hat-making trade, and its romantic colonial architecture. Here's what I discovered:

• We always have a choice between hope and despair - no matter what circumstance we are in.

• We always have a choice between fear and faith - no matter how bleak things look.

• And we always have the choice to give and serve - no matter how little we own.

It's Jesus - and His church at work on the Earth - that affords us these choices.

Honestly, I wouldn't trade my trip to Ecuador for Samantha Brown's any day. Even if she did get to visit the stunning cloud forest. I'm thinking we'll have cloud forests in heaven to enjoy. And I'd like to see as much of the Ecuadorian population there as possible.

I think my eight year-old friend would like to see that too. I'm certain he will do his part toward that end - will we also do ours? We have that choice to make.

Dear Lord, thank You for living hope. Thank You for living water that quenches our eternal thirst. Anoint young Eduardo to share this hope with others in Ecuador. Show me how I can share it with others too. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Messed Up Theology

Job 13 "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him ..." (v. 15) A friend of mine who is an instructor in the field of Christian counseling says that one of the things he likes to do with his students is to mess up their theology. He does so by asking them difficult questions about the realities of the universe in order to see how they attempt to square these issues with their view of God. "God always answers the prayer of faith," said one of his students. "Then why," he asked the student, "did I pray for an hour for my father who was desperately sick to have a good night and then hear that he had the worst night since he had been in the hospital?" "You didn't pray in faith," replied the student. That's the kind of glib answer many people would give to that question. Such people can't sit quietly in the presence of mystery and say: "I don't understand why this is so but nevertheless I still believe God is good." They must have some kind of answer that they can hold on to because when they have no answers they have no faith. Faith is Job saying: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him." Anyone can believe when there are explanations and answers. The person who goes on to know God in a deep and intimate way is the one who can affirm that God is good even though there may be a thousand appearances to the contrary. Pray for me and I will pray for you that together we might come to the place of trusting God even when we cannot trace Him.   Prayer: O God, bring us closer day by day to that place of deep confidence and absolute trust. May we know You so deeply that nothing we see around us will shake or shatter our belief in Your unchanging goodness. In our Lord's Name we pray. Amen.

Forgiving the Unforgivable

by Berni Dymet

Matt. 5:43-44 "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."

I was interviewing a woman called Lorraine recently - whose son was hit by a drunk driver and left to die.  Now, if that driver had stopped to help - her son would probably still be alive today. 

What does forgiveness mean in a situation like that?

What struck me about Lorraine - was that the pain of her loss - a mother's pain - was still so raw in her heart.  But in the middle of all that, she was determined to forgive. 

And I've watched her since - the way she's healed - is so amazing.  She can never ever change what happened.  No form of justice can ever bring her son back. 

Jesus once said - love your enemies.  I think those three words sum up what it means to forgive.  Is it easy?  No.  But my hunch is that for Lorraine, as hard as it would have been to forgive that drunk driver, it was a whole bunch easier than carrying around the cancer of unforgiveness for the rest of her days.

Generosity

Psalms 112:5

Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.

 

Thoughts on today's verse

 

Generosity is love expressed in practical ways with joy. Generosity and justice are needed in our selfish world. They come from a heart touched by grace.

Prayer:

 

Loving Father, I know I will meet people today who need me to be generous with my love, time, forgiveness and money. Please help me to treat them fairly and with love, just as you have treated me. May my life reflect your grace to others who need your love. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Yes, We Need Each Other

Devotions taken from the messages of Adrian Rogers.
 
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

To exhort is to comfort and encourage. We need each other. We ought to be exhorting one another by saying, “Isn’t God wonderful? Isn’t Jesus great? Don’t you love Him? Let’s be true to Christ!”

Among fellow believers, we live in a climate that keeps our hearts tender. If we stray away from that climate and get away from the people of God by skipping worship services and fellowship opportunities, our hearts will grow hard.

When we exhort one another, we are sharing Christ. There’s something that happens in our hearts when we tell others about Jesus. It keeps our heart tender.

MY CHURCH IS BETTER THAN YOUR CHURCH

Do you hear through your eyes and smell through your hair? Denominationalism seems to say your body works different than mine.

Copyright 1999 / Leslie A Turvey

A servant of the only true and living God

LifeLines@cogeco.ca

Old timers will remember the kid’s song, “My dog is better than your dog.” It’s still sung today, but the words are, “My church is better than your church.”

Why do we have denominations? Why not just one world-wide church? The history of schisms within the church is too long to detail here. But it boils down to yet another version of the old song: “My doctrine’s better than your doctrine.”

Before I was introduced to the sabbath, the holy days, and the dietary laws, I was a Baptist. We had it all right. It was those Presbyterians who were wrong. And the Catholics: Well! They sprinkled babies. We baptized believers the bible’s way.

Oh yeah. Us Baptists had it all right. (Like Paul said in 2 Corinthians
11:23, “I speak as a fool”).

And what did the Catholics and the Presbyterians think? Those Baptists are sure out in left field.

The method of baptism, the day of worship, the frequency of the Lord’s supper, whether fermented wine or Welch’s grape juice should be served at communion, and a hundred other differences have divided congregations, and resulted in new denominations.

This isn’t something new. Paul wrote of it in 1 Corinthians 11:18, and described it well in chapter 12 where he observed there were differences of spiritual gifts – wisdom, knowledge of God’s word, the working of miracles, the gift of healing, and so on. But he points out these all come from one source, one Spirit.

Referring to the human body he wrote, “The body is not one member [part], but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body (verses 14-15)?” He goes on to note the eyes, the ears, the nose all have their own work to do, but they are all part of the one body.

In verse 27 Paul associated the human body with the spiritual body of Jesus Christ. He wrote, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” Unfortunately churches often use this verse to justify their denominations, but they compare apples and oranges.

My eyes do the same work as your eyes, don’t they? Doesn’t your right hand function the same as the next person’s. But the Baptists would have you believe their body is different than the Presbyterians or the Episcopalians or the Anglicans.

Where do they get this idea?

It all comes from ignoring a message from Peter. He wrote, “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20).” Dr James Strong and my favourite dictionary agree that prophecy is inspired speaking. Therefore Peter was speaking of the entire bible, not just references to future events.

Divisions arise because, as one man often said, “Most people change the meaning of God’s Word to make it conform to their belief, rather than changing their belief to make it conform to God’s Word.”

As long as people interpret the bible for themselves, rather than searching the scriptures, there will be denominational differences. But when Jesus Christ returns there will be no more Baptists or Presbyterians, nor your church or mine, but one unified church all teaching the same thing. It will be called The Church of God.

THE HANDS OF ESAU

"Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, 'The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau'" (Genesis 27:22 NIV). 

 

Esau and Jacob were twin brothers that were favorites of their father and mother respectively. Isaac their father wanted to give his last blessing to his favorite who was Esau the firstborn, but Rebecca their mother wanted the blessing to be the lot of her favorite, Jacob. Therefore, she colluded with Jacob to deceive Isaac in order that Jacob would get the blessing. Part of the conspiracy was that Jacob would use goatskin to cover some parts of his body so that Isaac would believe that Jacob was indeed Esau who naturally was a hairy man. In the course of their conspiracy, Isaac detected that the voice of the person that had come for his blessing was that of Jacob, but the goatskin deceived him to think that the hands of the person were those of Esau. 

 

Many people are still using this tactic of the voice of Jacob and the hands of Esau to deceive people to have their ways today. It is interesting to discover that many people even try to use it with God to get His blessings! However, the Bible says, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked" (Galatians 6:7 NIV). He is omniscient! 

 

The Jews, especially the Pharisees and teachers of the law, in Jesus' time on earth, and many people today, were hypocrites that tried to use their religiosity to deceive other people and God. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ has this to say about them: "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men" (Mark 7:6-8 NIV). 

 

In what way are you also using the hands of Esau to deceive people? Are you trying to do that with God also? Are you a hypocrite? A Yoruba proverb literally says, "A thief [and a deceiver] may have his way for many days, but nemesis will apprehend him one day." Moreover, you cannot deceive God. "A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Galatians 6:7-8 NIV).

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Bristol Caverns

In northeast Tennessee there is a tourist attraction named Bristol Caverns. I don’t know how long ago they were found and opened for public tours but I went there several times during my elementary school days on field trips. It has the normal stalagtites and stalagmites in the different shapes and such that you find in caverns. At one point in the tour the guide asks everyone to look up to see the light coming in from the outside. The guide says that Indians, or should I say native Americans, lived in the cave. When they would go out they would hide the mouth of the cave but if they needed it, they had this hole they could escape through. They might have a wild animal after them or another person so they would not have time to uncover the mouth of the cave so they would slip around the mountainside to the hole where they could escape.
AS Christians we have enemies to watch out for. These include the devil and his demons and in some part of the world other individuals. More commonly we have to watch out for other things such as LSD. NO, I'm not talking about a
drug:
James 1:14-15 (NASB95)
14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
So you see the LSD I am writing about is lust, sin and death. If we know we are tempted in certain things the best thing for us to do is not go near those things. Sometimes this is not possible but we are given this promise:
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
So if you are tempted, don’t give in. Call on Jesus and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to help you escape. Then you can rejoice and give all the praise to Jesus Christ:
Proverbs 29:6 (NLT)
6 Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.
by Dean W. Masters

Understanding the Bible

by Dr. Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 2:12-16

“I just don’t understand the Bible.” That’s a comment I hear quite often, even from believers. We can understand why those without Christ are unable to comprehend biblical concepts, but why do those who know Him struggle? Some people think that a seminary education is the answer, but I have met several trained pastors and teachers who didn’t really understand the Word of God. They knew facts, but they had no excitement for the Scriptures or for the Lord.

The key is not education but obedience. As we act on what we read, the Holy Book “comes alive,” and we begin to hear and understand the voice of God. However, if we have not obeyed what He’s previously revealed to us, why would He give us His deeper truths? “The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him” (Ps. 25:14), and those who fear Him are the ones who obey His commandments and are promised “a good understanding” (Ps. 111:10).

Living a fleshly lifestyle of disobedience to the Lord clouds our eyes, diminishes our ability to hear, and fogs our thinking. Although we have full access to the mind of Christ, our attachment to our own sinful ways keeps us from tapping into the rich treasures of wisdom that are found in His Word.

As you read the Scriptures each day, look for God’s instructions. Then with reliance upon the Holy Spirit, commit to do what He tells you. When you obey His voice, He’ll reveal deeper truths, and your understanding will grow. Soon your time in the Word will become a delight instead of a duty.

Grace upon grace

For reading & meditation: John 1:1-17
"And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace." (v.16, RSV)

Today we ask: What purpose does God have in leading us into situations which are uncertain and ambiguous? He does so in order that we might learn to depend on Him and not on ourselves. Just as in times of loneliness we learn to realise His presence, so in times of uncertainty we learn to realise His power. The major reason why our lives are unfruitful lies right here: we depend more on our own strength than we do on His. How can God teach us dependence unless He puts us into situations which are so uncertain that we are compelled either to choose the way of frustration or the way of faith? And if we draw back from entering such situations, we will miss a valuable spiritual education and our lives will become barren. A statement I came across some time ago sums up what I want to say concerning ambiguity and uncertainty. It is this: "God's purposes are always God's enablings." In other words, when God steers you into strange and uncertain situations, He will keep you very much in the dark concerning His purposes, but He will not leave you bereft of His grace. The purpose of God and the grace of God are two sides of the one coin. If you accept the purpose, you get the grace; if you refuse the purpose, you annul the grace. Anything God purposes for you, He gives you the grace to perform. John speaks in our text for today of "grace upon grace". One preacher I know translates that text like this: "Use the grace I give you and rest assured - there will always be more to follow."

 

Prayer:

O Father, how wonderful it would be if I could master this lesson today, and become a living illustration of "grace upon grace". May it be so, to the honour and glory of Your peerless and precious Name. Amen.