*Let God Be God

I believe one of the great, but passed-over, statements in the Bible was made by Elijah. Apart from a small remnant of seven thousand, the entire Nation of Israel was steeped in apostasy. The old prophet, standing alone upon Mount Carmel, challenged the powerless people of his day with these words, “Let him be God.”  That is, “Let God be God.” He believed if God was God He must, and would, act like a God.

There were no anemic excuses made by Elijah for his God. His God did not need any well intentioned helper to steady His ark. His God was a “hands off” God. Elijah’s God could take care of himself; He didn’t need puny, humanistic hands to aid Him. For, says He, “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof.” God is independent of any and all of His creation. “In the beginning God…”

When dealing with God you’re dealing with a portrait, not a family picture. “When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.” Until all the great spiritual people (Moses and Elijah) are out of the picture, you’re refusing to “Let God Be God.”

The Two-Sided Saint

“What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” In life, it is important to realize that many, if not most, of our choices are determined by what others choose. How Paul acted was dependent upon the Corinthians’ actions. Whether he would comfort or correct—the ball was in their court. They would have to decide what to do with it.

A Scriptural saint is to have two sides to their life. Many are flaunting the fact of their love for the brethren, but are void of the side that seems to be unpleasant. They have difficulty reconciling one with the other. Yet, it is said of God, “As many as I love I chasten.” In our day, we seem to have sacrificed the one at the expense of the other.

Spiritual saints are sometimes saddened because they, of necessity, must reprove another. It is important at such times to realize, you did not choose to do this; the choice was made for you. There is no escaping these unpleasantries from time to time.

The wise man said, “Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”  Peter was severely rebuked openly before all his brethren by Paul. Later, Peter refers to him as, “Our beloved brother Paul.” Can we say this of the one God uses to rebuke us; even if He uses Balaam’s dumb ass to do it? (11Peter2:15-16)

Riches Without Sorrow

“...take not thy holy spirit from me.” Most will agree the Holy Spirit’s ministry of abiding and sealing was not the same in the Old Testament as it was after Pentecost. But I want to center our thinking on something with less controversy. The plain teaching of the text, which is not open for argument, is that David was more afraid of losing his spiritual blessings than the physical ones. “Take my child; take my crown; if need be, take my life,” cries David. “But don’t take your spiritual blessings from me.”

David had seen what happens to the man from whom God withholds His spiritual blessings. “But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.” And when this happened, a giant of a man was left both sad and sinful.

It’s not the physical birth we are to give priority to, but our spiritual birth; not a future, physical kingdom, but a present spiritual kingdom. And most certainly it is not the temporal earthly blessings, but the eternal Heavenly blessings that are spiritual. Remember; it’s the spiritual blessings that make one really rich, and He adds no sorrow to them.

The physical is necessary, but the spiritual is crucial.

With Him

“Father, I will that those which thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” My wife says, “I can understand me wanting to be with Him, but that He desires to be with me, I cannot comprehend.” Nevertheless, it seems to me that Christ will not be content till we are in His arms.

We saw this even when He was on earth. When He chose His disciples, we are told. “And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.” Their ministering for Him came second to their being with Him. It would seem He likes to have those He loves around Him.

Jesus is preeminently a people person. We should love to be in His presence always. And also, we should long to have Him at all the family gatherings of His children. Please pardon the expression but, “He is the Life of the party!”

Face to Face

“And they shall see his face.” This is one of the greatest utterances to be found in all the Holy Scriptures. We can only approach this text with a sense of awe. Think of it; “We shall see him as he is.” We will be privileged to gaze upon Him in all His splendor and majesty.

We are being prepared even now to someday enter the audience chamber of the King of kings, and the Lord of lords; Whom we will see face to face. When this truth grasps us—when it really gets hold of our hearts, then our lives on this earth will be revolutionized. Once this fact is realized, everything else pales into insignificance. All our problems and troubles fade with the thought of seeing His face.

Take heart, weary pilgrim, the great reception is at hand. We are going to see the King in all His beauty.

One look upon His face will erase a lifetime of heartaches.

Showing up the Devil

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Satan may have given our Lord a temporary bruise to His heel, but, while it was nailed to the Cross, that heel gave a permanent bruise to the devil’s head. This was the historical moment when God put Satan to open shame. God’s grace disgraced the devil.

Though He was crucified through weakness, this day a Stronger One than the strong man would enter his house, bind him, take away his armor wherein he trusted and divide his spoils. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Because of our union with Christ, He has given us power over the power. We need to cease cowering, and come out of our cowardly corners. We are seated with Christ in the Heavenlies, “far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion...” By faith, we need to claim our God-given authority over the power of darkness. For Paul tells us that we have been, “Delivered from… the power of Satan unto God… Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son.”

David didn’t run from Goliath, but toward him, in the mighty name of the Lord.

The Center-Piece

In one of his many books, a dispensational Bible teacher says that the theme of the Bible is the Kingdom. How sad that so-called scholarship should be so shallow. The central theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ.  Theologians refer to it as, “Christocentric.” Eliminate Christ from the two Testaments and the Bible disintegrates into fragments. If He is subtracted you are left with unexplained ceremonies, unachieved purposes, unappeased longings, and unfulfilled prophecies.

In a well-meaning attempt today, I’m sure, many, in trying to bring about a moral change are majoring on the political, psychological, and philosophical aspects of life. But all such attempts apart from Christ are immoral. We are told, “…that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.”

Anything or anyone who is put in His place throws our lives completely off kilter. Nothing in this life is of any value unless directly related to Him. He is to be the center-piece on the mantle of our hearts, all else is to be moved to the sides.

Weighed in the Balance

“Let me be weighed in an even balance…” An old preacher once told me that the hardest thing in his Christian life was finding the right balance. After more than a half-century of preaching, I can say “Amen” to that. The believer’s life can be a teeter-totter at times. This is especially true in the realm of prophecy. Good and Godly men differ on this subject. But there is a great danger among them of getting off balance by going to extremes, attempting to prove their particular prophetic position. As a result, those who follow them unquestionably end up on a spiritual see-saw.

If you go too far on one position, you’re entire life goes into trying to clean up this condemned earth. To observe these people, it is apparent that Heaven has lost its sweetness. The second extreme is a group who can only talk or think about, to put it in their terms, “gettin’ out of here.” They cannot enjoy anything on this earth that God has given them. They have turned everything over to the devil. The third group can no longer pray, “Thy kingdom come,” for they believe it’s already here. There is no such thing as a future, glorious reign. Thus they lose their anxious anticipation.

I just wonder if all of them don’t have some element of truth. But, since we are such extremists, we have allowed this to throw us off balance. I may be wrong. All I know is that I am miserable whenever I go to seed on any particular one of these. It seems to me that none of the three is complete in itself.

Hated By Proxy

“…the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” Satan hates God, and the only way he could attack Him was by attacking the object of His love. And in this case, it was Christ. But now that Jesus is far removed from this earth, the devil has transferred his anger to God’s beloved children. And so we should not think it’s strange when the Evil One uses his puppets to cause us anguish of soul. You’ll remember, when Saul persecuted the saints, our Lord said it was against Him.

Even carnal Christians, out of the will of God, attempt to hurt us, simply because they are bitter toward God, and we are the only way they think they can get to Him. This is doubly true of a mate, siblings, or our children. The animosity that is shown toward us is, in reality, a desire to slap the face of God. So, don’t take it too personally; you just happen to be the closest at hand.

Want To or Ought To

“...men ought always to pray...” Notice our Lord did not say, “want to,” but, “ought to.” Though the superficially spiritual person will reject it, humble, honest saints will be the first to admit prayer can be irksome at times. Legion are the excuses we make for omitting it, all because we do not feel like praying. There is truth in the gospel song that says, “When you don’t feel like praying, pray.”

If you don’t think prayer works, stop doing it. But to do so will be to your own detriment. It is well to remember that some of our, so-called, worst times in prayer are probably our best. When feelings stop at the door, faith can enter the closet. And that is what pleases God.

The end of feelings is the beginning of faith.

Grace for the Disgraced

"He was…full of grace…And of his fullness have all we received…" It has been said, "Justice is getting what you deserve; mercy is getting less than you deserve; and grace is getting more than you deserve. Christ was full of grace, and we have received of that fullness. There is no area in the Christian life when a person displays more Christ-likeness than when he or she is showing grace towards the fallen. One who is controlled by the Spirit of Christ never says of another's misfortune, "They got what they deserved."

For years, I was associated with a movement that, to their credit, manifested abundant grace toward the vilest. But it stopped with the salvation of the sinner. It seemed grace ran dry when it came to manifesting it to the saint. Both in the homes, churches, and workplaces, there was only stringent rules and regulations to be kept. And there was no hope for one who came short in any one of these areas. And so, as a result of bringing personal embarrassment upon these lofty ones, who thought themselves exempt from the poor publican’s dilemma, the sinning saint received, not loving, tender grace, but a long time grudge.

The Christian cannot be full of grace, and, at the same time, full of self.

Unskilled Laborer

God has no unskilled laborers. Each of us in the Body of Christ has some skill to offer in the building up of His Kingdom. The problem comes when we try to minister in an area where we are unskilled. How would you like to go to an expensive restaurant, known for its exquisite food in the past, only to find they have just hired a grease mechanic for their chief-chef, all because, says the proprietor, he’s a good man with a good heart, and it has always been his desire to be a chef?

On the other hand, what if this coming Lord’s Day, at the beginning of the service, I seated myself at our church’s piano and attempted to play some Christian classic, all because I’ve always loved the piano and wanted to be able to play it? Scores of good Christians, with honest and good intentions, are attempting to do things to glorify God, but who have absolutely no skills in those particular areas. And if that were not bad enough, loved one’s and friends encourage them to do so. How many have had to suffer through sermons and songs, not to mention those blessed little children glued to their chairs, who all had to endure the unqualified mechanic trying to bake a cherry pie?

These fantasies that we can do certain things come from not being content with who we are and what we can do. It would be wise for us to look up the word “skill” and its derivatives, in the building of, and ministering in, the Old Testament temple.  

“Jack-of-all-trades, but master of none” was originally “master-of-one.” Let us master one, and let Jack worry about the others.

The Stranger Within

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” What a change it brings in a believer’s life when once they realize that they have not only a Divine Tenant living within their house of clay, but the Landlord, Himself. In spite of multitudes of Christians reciting the Apostle’s Creed every Sunday (“I believe in the Holy Ghost”), and fundamental and evangelical preachers making reference to Him from time to time, I believe few of God’s children are conscious of His blessed indwelling.

He is a Person. He can be grieved, lied to, and sinned against. He is a Teacher, Guide, and Comforter. The Scriptures speak of “the love of the Spirit,” yet we continue to spurn this One who longs to love us. How sad it must be to live within a house you bought and paid for, and your presence and rights are never recognized. The God Who indwelt the tabernacle, filled the temple, and lived in His Son, has taken up residence in us. How can we persist living the way some of us are?

Though God indwells all Christians, to many of them, He’s the Stranger within.

The Best Move

In giving an illustration our pastor said that in football the players are taught the most important move is to “fall forward.” Not backward toward your opponent’s goal, but forward toward yours. That way you don’t lose ground; plus, it can put you closer to your goal. I’ve seen many players score a touchdown using this method.

In the game of life, we are going to take some hard hits and be knocked down. When this happens we need to make sure we fall forward. Let us keep our eyes on the goal that is set before us. Don’t let Satan turn you around and point you toward his.

If you have been brought low recently, remember you’re still in the game and have some plays left. So get up, grab the ball and run. The goal is closer than any of us think.    

Isolated Texts

Sometime back I read an article in a popular evangelical magazine that told of a well-known personality who built his entire ministry on one, isolated passage in the Old Testament about Jabez. This poor man’s life and ministry, we are told, has now crumbled, along with many of his followers. He reportedly has said that the Jabez-type prayer didn’t work.

In almost fifty years of ministering, I have seen many fall into this tempting trap. Some have built an entire method of interpreting the Bible on 2 Timothy 2:15. Others teach the main goal of a Christian is “soul-winning,” based on Proverbs 11:30. The deeper life advocates use Galatians 2:20; and a popular prophetic group use a small, isolated portion of First Thessalonians four to convince their followers of the rightness of their position.

At the time when Jesus walked this earth, there was no New Testament, only the Old. But He built His entire life and ministry on the whole of it, not on an isolated text or small portion. We’d do well to follow His example, including, of course, the New Testament. Beware of anyone who uses an only text or an isolated portion to prove his or her point. If there is a thread of truth it will always be connected to the whole “spool.”

*Granny Had No Faults

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted…” My grandmother, on my father’s side, died while I was still an infant. My other granny, I knew, however. I loved to go to her house, as a boy. The table was always set in case someone dropped in unexpectedly. And you knew there was tantalizing food under the extra tablecloth that was used to cover it. It only needed to be warmed up a little.

When my granny unbraided her hair, it would reach the floor as she sat in her rocker and combed it, after a washing. Her apron, I found, was a part of her daily dress. She had a lot of Cherokee blood in her, which was evident by her dark complexion and high cheekbones. Grandma Morrison was an old-time Primitive Baptist. I can remember her rocking and reading her Bible as she puffed on her corncob pipe and chewed on a twist of tobacco. And who could forget her old spittoon made from an empty Maxwell House coffee can? She was one of the kindest, most tender-hearted people I have ever known. And when I remember that, the pipe and the chew don't seem to be that important to me. But, of course, you may feel differently about people like that.

It’s hard to find fault with someone who loves you unconditionally.

*Imposing Your Opposing View

God’s, “Thou shalt’s” and “Shalt not’s” are not open for discussion. They’re for all to observe and obey. But those many grey areas such as found in Romans chapter fourteen are individual, and are not to be imposed on everyone.

C.S. Lewis writes, “One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he cannot give up a thing himself without wanting everyone else to give it up. That is not the Christian way. An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sort of things for special reasons…but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning.”

I fear far too many of us are like Saul; who made a personal oath to the Lord, and then expected everyone else to do the same. And he was ready to condemn any and all who did not follow him, even godly Jonathan. People such as this go through life frustrated because others will not fall into the ranks of their strict regimentation. They can’t imagine anyone being a good and godly Christian who does not march to their drumbeat!    

We Came From a Good Root

John the Beloved, speaking of our Lord in the book of Revelation, tells us He was, “the Root of David.” This carries with it a double application. As to His humanity, Jesus had His roots in David; but as to His Deity, He was the Root of David. This is what baffled the Pharisees when Jesus told them He was both the Son of David, as well as David’s Lord.

Speaking of someone’s lineage, we say he or she had good roots. Well, this could certainly be said of God’s shepherd boy. His roots went back past his father, Jesse, to the eternal Son of God. Since Jesus was the root of David, we now understand how this man of clay could not be plucked up and cast aside by the devil, as some were in the story of the seed and the sower. David had an eternal root.

And so it is with God’s elect. Every angelic, or celestial, being had a time for their beginning. But we were chosen in Him in eternity. No created being that was created in time or eternity can go back as far as God Himself. And only in Him can you find my roots. Therefore, let the storms of life come—let the saw of man bring me down to the ground—but no one will ever destroy my root. This tree shall always grow again.

“For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant." (Job 14:7-9)

*Faith Without Frills

“Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” When this nobleman left his house the day previous, his son was at the point of death. Now returning with nothing to undergird him save his foundational faith in Jesus’ word, he hears the joyous news from the servants who came to meet him, “thy son liveth.” And upon inquiry, he was told the child was healed the exact hour in which Jesus had spoken and he had believed. During those long hours in between, the man lived by what I like to refer to as, “raw faith.”

I am not a prophet, but I am an observer of mankind. And I have witnessed these last twenty-five years or so, a desire among many of God’s people for a, “feel good faith.” But God’s order is, and always has been, Fact, Faith, and Feeling. My pastor illustrated the three walking steadily on a fence post, each following the other. But once faith looked back at feeling, he fell off. It is faith, then feeling. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. used to say, Feeling is what you fall over on the road of obedience.” Abraham, I think, didn’t “feel” some great emotion as he was taking Isaac to sacrifice him. Faith is without frills. Faith doesn’t wear lace, its denim durable. Faith, says Paul, “Fights.” It is only this kind of “rare” faith that pleases God. The kind that bleeds!  

The Old and the New

I heard an old camp-meeting preacher say once, “Has it ever occurred to you that nothing has ever occurred to God?” “In the beginning God created…” God, then, predates the beginning. And when we read, “…time shall be no more,” this does not void the eternal existence of God in the eons to come. He is, was, and will be, everlastingly God. He’s never weary, and He never sleeps. Therefore, we might say, He’s up on everything. Nothing takes Him by surprise.

God is not awestruck with the antique, nor is He overly impressed with the contemporary. God is both old-fashioned and modern day. In Heaven, we’re told, they sing the old song of Moses, but, along with it, they sing a new song. The Jews liked the old ways and doggedly clung to them. This resulted in their rejecting “…a new and living way,” which God provided. All that’s new is not necessarily bad; and all that’s old is not to be thought of as all good.

There is nothing new or old with God. One of my grandsons, Joseph, who sings with a Southern Gospel group, wrote and sings a song: “He’s Already Been There.” God is the only One of whom it can truly be said, “Been there; done that!”

Dear Readers and Supporters,

Just a brief note to update you on a few things many have asked about and some points of interest you might want to pray concerning.

As to my health, I will quote my wife when she’s asked about it, “It seems God gives him a blood transfusion each new day.” I can truly say that the scripture God gave me at the first to lay upon your hearts has come to pass, “For I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.” Please continue to remember me before the Mercy Seat.

My wife, Salle, is getting close to putting out her first book. I’ll keep you informed. I will no doubt follow pursuit as soon as she has completed hers, and has time to help me with mine.

Our 50th wedding anniversary is coming up October 14th, (along with our birthdays on the 5th and 15th). I’d like to do something special, but I just don’t know, with the economy being what it is. Pray God will give wisdom and direct me. It is hard to believe it has been fifty years for us, and even harder to realize that in two short years I’ll be eighty.

Salle will be flying to Louisiana later this month to be with our grandson, Timothy, and his wife, Lauren, who are expecting their first, a little girl, named Kiley Rae. It will be our fifth great-grandchild! I promised Salle she could be at the birth of each great-grandchild, if at all possible. Great-Grandmas like this, you know.

His and Your Debtor,

Brother Sandlin

David's Dilemma...Ours

“Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled...and there he died before God.” The ark was a symbol of the presence of God. It had been absent for over seventy-five years from the Divine sanctuary at Shiloh. Its rightful place was at Jerusalem in the center of the sanctuary. David knew if he could get God back in His rightful place the people would get their minds off their petty differences and divisions, and center their attention once again on the Lord.

The first attempt to bring the ark back is a good illustration of doing the right thing in the wrong way. David had not sought the mind of the Lord as at other times, and this always ends in tragedy. He knew how God had told Moses the ark was to be carried. Evidently, he had forgotten. The designated Levitical priests were to carry it on their shoulders. They were never to touch it, but carry it by the staves on the sides of the ark. Instead, they emulated the world, and carried it on a “new cart,” not following God’s pattern given on Sinai.

When the oxen stumbled, Uzza presumptuously put forth his hand to steady the ark, as though God’s throne needed steadying. His good intentions brought about his death. We can become overly familiar with God. When this happens, we get it in our heads that we can get away with things others can’t. Uzza may have thought he was a pet, but God used him as a pattern.

It’s never right to do wrong in order to get a chance to do right.

                                    (Dr. Bob Jones)

Heavenly Patriotism First

For some years now I have been concerned with what I would describe as the politicization of Christianity. I’m not speaking of employment with, but entanglement in the political process (2 Tim.2:4a). With some Christians and ministers, all they talk about, preach about, think about, or write about is politics. It can be found in segments of every major movement in Christianity.

I agree with C.S. Lewis when he writes, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were those who thought most of the next…all left their mark on earth precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither…we shall never save civilization as long as civilization is our main object. We must learn to want something else even more.”

He goes on to say in another place, “He who converts his neighbor has performed the most practical Christian-political act of all.” To which I add my, Amen and Amen!

“The problem with the “Religious Right” is not their position, but their posture. They more readily stand than knell.” (R.D.S.)

Playing Church

“And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.”

As children have always done, these were “play acting,” no doubt emulating what they had seen when with their parents. While accompanying Mother and Father at festivities, as well as funerals, they would have observed both jubilation at the one and sorry at the other of these events. They now wanted their little friends to enter into the enactment of these performances with them, of which it seems some, refused to do.

As a pastor for many years, I was able to observe on occasions the children of our people “playing church” in the church after the main services. Some were quite good. They had it all down pat, the singing, offering, prayer, and the preaching, along with a hearty “Amen,” once in a while. The one main element missing was the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Ghost does not anoint pretenders!

We are told in the gospels, “The power of the Spirit was present.” If this is not the case in your church and ministry, then you are “Like unto children sitting in the market place.”  Play your pretend games, if you will, that is your choice, but don’t get upset at those among us who refuse to “play act” with you.

“I never entered the pulpit when I did not think I’d die if God did not bless.” Bob Jones Sr.

Touchiness

Some words a standard dictionary associates with the word “touchiness” are: oversensitive, irritable, thin-skinned, peevish, flammable, difficult, hard. When we say one is touchy we mean that person is easy to take offence. This type of individual requires special tact or skill in handling them. Or as the little idiom goes, “You must walk on eggshells,” lest you upset or irritate this sort of problematic person.

My wife has a serious burn on her hand. Last evening I attempted to apply some aloe-vera to the wound, and when I did, she flinched, withdrawing her hand, adding, “Don’t touch it!” Is this not what we say to the Lord when He touches those touchy areas in our lives? Yet, when healing, we are told He touched a blind man’s eyes, and that He touched the tongue of one who could not speak, and still of another who had lost his ear, that He touched his ear.

If God is ever going to cure us of our touchiness, He must touch us there. As long as we withdraw and try to cover and protect that particular region, it will never be healed. It will always be a sore-spot. And woe be to the one who touches it, or even comes close. For he or she would rather go through life wearing a band-aide, rather than be cured of their hideous trait. And what’s worse, while this immature, insecure, adolescent goes through life, the rest have to spend their time pampering them. May God help us; may God help me!

The Enemy Within

As I was reading my devotions yesterday morning, it struck me that Jesus warned us to beware of the Pharisees and Sadducees. He didn’t caution His followers of the publicans and sinners, but rather to be on guard for the religious crowd. One thing that can be said about a sinner is “what you see is what you get.” This is not so in professing Christendom. Many times we find wolves parading themselves as God’s sheep. They look good on the outside, but these “white-washed tombs” are full of dead men’s bones.

How many Christians with means have been taken in by one of these religious charlatans? Good and godly young ladies, in their innocence, have been seduced by one of these black hearts who wear a white vest. Scores of young preacher boys have lost their faith in the midst of a Bible School, under the tutelage of one of these deceiving devils. And only God knows the number of His people that are sitting under religious externalists every Sunday, listening to a man emphasize the importance of the husk, while refusing to recognize the value of the inner kernel. Paul preached, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

You can always spot the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees: their one main concern is how others see you, while never troubling themselves to inform God’s people that the important thing is how God sees them.

“Therefore it is of no great thing if his [Satan’s] ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.”

*The Rule of Life

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Some say since this is part of the Sermon on the Mount, it is addressed to Jews only, but I believe many say this, not because of what they believe but the because of the way they live. God’s standard for Christians today under Grace is no less than it was for Israel of old under Law.

You cannot implement this truth into society by legislation or education. Only by regeneration can one fulfill it. The natural man loves to praise the “Golden Rule,” but he’s inept in practicing it. The Golden Rule is not the Gospel; it’s the fruit of the Gospel. If God’s people lived by this rule, we could do away with our man-made rules.

You can take this rule negatively or positively. It always comes out the same. If we would simply put others on the same level as we ourselves, and treat them as we would be treated, it would make for a different world in the home, church, workplace, and school.

Christ came not only to teach us, but to show us. We will never see others aright until we first see God aright. Until our relationship with God is what it ought to be, our relationship with our neighbor will be lacking. We must see humanity through the eyes of God.

When a Christian lives by the “Golden Rule,” he or she becomes a person of worth.

But Do You Know It?

While texting with my older daughter, Leah, recently, I reminded her of a Spiritual truth. Her reply was, “I know dat,” quoting her granddaughter (and my great-granddaughter) Ava, who is two.

What we generally mean by the statement, “I know that,” is that we are familiar with it. But do we really know it? As an old preacher used to tell his son, “Know a thing and know you know it.”

There is a double knowledge both in the Word and in life. The first has to do with head knowledge, the second with heart knowledge. Until the former sinks into the latter, we’ll never know that we know.

Lest any think I’m speaking in riddles, John, in his first epistle says, “And hereby we do know that we know…” John did not think it was good enough knowing a thing; he believed you should know you know.

A man, who knows there is a sink-hole on the route he daily travels, yet continually gets stuck in it, doesn’t know anything.

*Understanding Why

“...lean not unto thine own understanding.”  We cannot always understand the “why’s” of life, but we can trust  “the ways of the Lord.” We will never find the peace we seek as long as we attempt to understand the “why” of every event in life.  

Bev Shea used to sing a song entitled “Someday I’ll Understand.” That day is not man’s day, but the future day of God. And, until that great day of revelation, we need to trust the wisdom, goodness, justice, and love of God, cleaving to the twin promises that He does all things well and all things will work out for good.

When we understand there are things in life we will never        understand the inward storm will be calmed

The Easy Way

“His commandments are not grievous.” That is, difficult to be borne, as a burden. No, His load is light. His way is the easy way. It’s the way of the transgressor that’s hard. The world loathes His laws. They are opposed to any and all of His commandments. This is seen in their maxims, principles, ideals, and attitude. They are contrary to His commands, and, as a result, there are, and always will be, a continual conflict between the two.

Whenever you find a professing Christian arguing God’s commands are unreasonable, to justify his or her unruly life, you will find just that, a professing Christian. Christ’s commands go against the grain of all those running the wrong way. You have never heard a true Christian say, “God is a hard taskmaster. As A.W. Tozer says, “God is easy to live with.”

Any duty the Lord may require of us is not beyond our ability to perform. What He commands, He enables us to do. Love lightens the load. Jacob toiled many years for Rachel, but they seemed as a few days for the love he had for her. There is no load to heavy that love cannot carry!

D.V.

D.V. (Deo volente) is the Latin abbreviation for, “God Willing.” I came across it some years ago while reading A.W. Pink’s little book, Letters of A.W. Pink. It often pops up in his correspondence.

The Will of God, for some, is a gradual thing. That is, they somehow seem to have fallen into the flow of it. They cannot pinpoint a day or hour but are assured there was a day and an hour. And their godly lives attest to this fact.

 For others, doing God’s Will was a crisis that became a process. Their thousand mile journey started with a first step. And they can tell you the time and the place they launched out.

Neither of these two is more spiritual than the other; the only important thing in both cases is that the Will of God is being carried out in their daily lives. The Lord’s Will is basically, “Doing the next thing. The Will of God is an ongoing matter. It primarily has to do with “doing.”

Many are confused in seeking God’s Will. They, like Elijah of old, are looking for a “great and strong wind…earthquake… or fire.” Not realizing God is in the “small,” insignificant things of life. You know, like doing dishes, mowing the lawn, finishing homework, etc.

All the above mentioned, along with a hundred and one other things we consider drudgery, are to be found in God’s will for our lives. Once we cease to anticipate the spectacular in our lives we can then see, accept, and enjoy life as it really is: LIFE!

The Possible and Impossible

We are plainly told, “With God nothing shall be impossible.” Yet, when Jesus prayed, “Father, all things are possible unto thee, take away this cup from me,” it was not done. In this case, the impossible was not possible.

Jesus told His followers, “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Yet, when James and John requested of Him that they be able to sit next to Him on His throne in the Kingdom, it was denied them. Why? Because, says our Lord, “Ye know not what ye ask.” He went on to say, “It shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.”

God has a pre-ordained plan for each life. To go contrary to this plan, and ask Him to do the impossible on your behalf, is an impossibility. The impossible is only possible in the will of God.

Keeping Your Spiritual Sanity

It’s all so simple when starting out in your Christian life. You take for granted all of God’s people believe like you, and the particular church or denomination you are associated with. But, gradually, and to your surprise, you realize this is not so. You discover that within Christendom, there are Calvinists, Arminians, Dispensationalists, Reformed, etc. These are found within the walls of churches such as Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Nazarene, and many others. All of which say their doctrine and teachings are the closest to the truth of the Scriptures. Some go so far as to say they are the only ones who are right, tagging all others as apostates and heretics.

If you are familiar with Church history, you realize this has always been the case, for the most part. And why is this? It’s very simple when you think about it. The problem derives from the fact that, although we have an infallible Bible, we ourselves are still fallible. Possessing the infallible doesn’t make us so. Throughout history, Christians have had heated disagreements on minor subjects, but all seem to have agreed on the cardinal doctrines of the Faith. The fall of man, the New Birth, the blood of Christ, the Resurrection, and His coming a second time were basic tenets which all believers adhered to. With so many different voices in the world of religion, if we are going to keep our spiritual sanity, let us major on these basic beliefs.

Someone told me of an old evangelist who said while preaching, that only Fundamentalists would be in Heaven. At my advanced age, I can still blush. And I did, when I heard that statement. How embarrassing to hear such ignorance displayed, no matter what group one may belong to.

In a family, some can be more right than others, but that doesn’t make the others any less kin.

A Word About Words

Job, I think, was expressing to both writer and speaker the power of words when he said, “How forcible are right words!” It could be, the thing making him aware of this was something he said later on, “Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!” Someone has said, “Of our unspoken words we are master; of our spoken words we are servant; of our written words we are slaves.”

As a writer, I claim C.S. Lewis as my main mentor more than any other person. Though posthumously, Lewis has taught me three great truths, each from his own life and writings, the first being his intellectual humility. Second, brevity is best, most of the time; and lastly, simplicity is life’s most becoming garb, as another has put it. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. told a great revival crowd in Chicago in the forties that he was going to bring a simple message that evening, because he felt the intellects among them needed a rest.

It must have been difficult for many of the great intellectuals of Jesus’ day to listen to the Sermon on the Mount. It was so very plain. Is it any wonder we’re told, “The common people heard Him gladly.” He didn’t try to impress by flexing His intellectual muscle. He knew in Himself He could, and that was enough. It was there, if and when He needed it. But He would not sacrifice the sheep for the giraffes; He put the feed on the bottom, where both could get it. The only way the higher- up couldn’t get it would be by refusing to bow his proud neck.

Paul, one of the world’s great thinkers and intellects, wrote, “I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.”  I doubt seriously the Apostle would have used uncommon words in speaking to common people, without first explaining their meaning. Polished words are like the curl on a pig’s tail, they’re pretty, but they don’t give you anymore pig!”

The Con Artist

One of the old-time con man’s tricks was to focus attention on his left hand while doing something different with his right. I’m noticing more and more Christians emphasizing on the one hand, the fact that their lifestyle is not sinful, while on the other hand, living one that is shameful.

Somewhere along the road, this generation has lost all sense of shame. Whether dress, speech, or manners, they seem to not know the meaning of the word embarrassed. Jeremiah, speaking of this sort said, “…neither could they blush.” We need a new group among God’s people who can once again get red- faced at such things as immodesty, immorality, and intemperance. No longer are we shocked by anything.

Shamefacedness is an invaluable characteristic in the life of a child of God. Our ability to feel shame is what distinguishes us from beasts. As George MacDonald writes, “The beast does not know that he is a beast, and the nearer a man gets to being a beast the less he knows it.”       

O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

                                                 

Twin Lies

Until recently, I didn’t realize that we Christians have two sins we hold in good standing. They are what you would call, “respectable sins.” Since most of us commit them, and they are done in “good taste,” we wink at them, giving them a pass. But I’m not sure God does.

They are twin sins, like Siamese twins--always connected together. They are committed in order and almost simultaneously, as in thunder and lightning. This duet goes something like this: “How are you? and the second answers, “Just fine.” Now, granted, I’m not speaking of every case, but, generally, we all know the truth of what I’m speaking of.

More times than not, the first, who questions, “How are you doing?” could care less about the other’s condition. As an old-timer said once to me, when I asked him this question, “Why tell it; nobody cares.” The second little white lie is the answer we give: “I’m doing just fine,” while all the time, we’re hurting from something. True, there are times we can ask in sincerity and truthfully answer in the affirmative. But lets’ make sure when we ask, we are really concerned. And when we answer, let’s be truthful. Lately, when asked this question, my reply is, “By faith, I’m doing great.” And that’s no lie!

God gives you permission to say, “I’m cold.” (Rev.3:16)

                                       Marvin Clanton

Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?

“...and set him [Christ] at his [God’s] own right hand in heavenly places, Far above all...dominion…God...hath raised us up together, and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” When Jesus raised Lazarus, He didn’t leave him in a grave yard. The next time we see this risen saint, he is seated with our Lord. And so it is with us; we are called from the grave, in grace, to be seated with Him in Glory. Our union with Him necessitates this. The text is not a prophecy of the future but a fact of the present. We are seated with Him now in Heavenly places.

Because of this, we are no longer under Satan’s dominion. We have been translated out of his earthly kingdom of darkness into the Heavenly kingdom of God’s dear Son. We have been turned “...from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.” We have been delivered “...from this present, evil world.”

Adam lost his dominion power to the devil. We regain it in Christ. We need not run from him but use our God-given authority to make him flee from us. Once we accept, by faith, our Heavenly, God-given position in Christ, we can exercise our rightful authority over the power of darkness, both in our lives and the lives of our loved ones.

Satan is not fearful of our vested authority as long as we do not exercise it.

*The Meek Man

Meekness is not weakness. It is primarily an internal virtue. Meekness has to do with our spirit; it’s a heart matter. It is something that God sees. We are told Moses was, “…very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” But I am sure many in his day would have questioned this quality hidden within this man’s man. This was the secret of his power; it was not his might, but his meekness that made him an overcomer.

Meekness is a very strong word. It implies force and strength held in check. The word was used of breaking-in horses, with the idea of energy held firmly in hand. It is controlling the forces of one’s character. The meek person will yield to no man, where eternal principles are involved. But he is strong enough to give way when a matter of purely personal advantage is involved.

Meekness can subdue wild, beastly, situations. Remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a wild ass’ colt!

*Onlookers

If we are not very careful in this game of life, we will spend all our time as spectators rather than participators. Some spend their lives collecting, but never distributing. Like the Dead Sea, it takes, but does not give.  

Each of us has at least one gift, and we are expected to use it, not hide it like the wicked servant. Jesus made this clear to His disciples when He told them, “…freely ye have received, freely give.” There are those with greater gifts than some of us, but our testimony should be to those in need, “…such as I have give I unto thee…”

A long life does not necessarily mean a fruitful one, nor a short one wasted. John the Baptist only had a six month ministry. As someone has so apply said, “The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.” 

Heavy Hearts

“I have great heaviness...in my heart.” The apostle who said he was a man “of like passions,” knew what it was like to carry a heavy heart for his kin. We, who are burdened down with concern for our loved ones’ Spiritual condition, will not only find solace from Paul, but other Bible saints.

Godly Esther cried out, “For how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?” Tender-hearted David, speaking of his wayward son, said, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man.” Rahab pleaded, “...show kindness unto my...father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have.” And who can forget the deep anguish of Job, the bereaved father? “Oh that I were as...when my children were about me.”

Our Lord knows what it is to have rebellious children (Isa.1:2); an unfaithful mate, resulting in divorce (Jer.3:8); loved ones who are unbelievers (Jno.7:5); and all the other heartbreaking experiences that may result from family situations. Because of this, we are told we have a High Priest who is touched by the feelings of our infirmities.

If the Lord has any children who are not exercised with spiritual temptations, I am sure that they are poorly qualified to “speak a word in season to them that are weary.” (John Newton)

                                              

The Purpose of Prayer

“As He was praying…when He ceased,  one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray…And He said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father…” A dear evangelist friend, now with the Lord, wrote a popular book years ago entitled, “Prayer-Asking and Receiving.” But this is only one of the many aspects, or should I say, bonuses of prayer. Any and all things resulting from our prayers are to be considered minor in comparison to being in the presence of our heavenly Father.

When we pray, if our main goal and chief desire is in wanting something, rather than “Someone,” then we have missed the real purpose of prayer. God first and foremost longs for fellowship with man, His supreme creation. And He is still seeking for communion with His children, just as He did when “walking in the garden in the cool of the day,” those many years ago.

When Jesus chose the twelve disciples, we’re told the purpose was, “that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach.” Before anything else, Jesus longed just to be with His chosen. This was not only true in His earthly life, but now in heaven also. In His high priestly prayer in John chapter seventeen, His request to God concerning His own was, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am.” As my wife has often said, “I can understand me wanting to be with Him, but I’ll never understand Him wanting to be with the likes of me.”

Prayer is firstly about relationship, not requests.