Heads, I Win!

What captain of a football team would not like to know, before he calls the toss, whether it will be heads or tails? By calling it right at the beginning of the game, he may just determine the outcome of it. That one call could decide defeat or victory.

There is no “may” win in determining the Christian’s outcome in the game of life. We can be certain, if we choose “heads,” we’ll win. God, speaking to His people in Deuteronomy chapter twenty-eight, tells them that if they will live for Him, then He will set them on high, above all others on earth. In verse thirteen, He promises us “And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath.”

PRAYER: Dear Lord, how I thank Thee that, at the beginning of the game, all those many years ago, when calling the toss, I chose “heads.” From that time to this, the outcome has always been certain. As my dear friend Mark Andrews always says, “It’s good to be on the winning team!” Amen Mark.

Sizing-Up People

A missionary friend told me this story some years ago. He said there was a godly old man in his home church, who, whenever he saw him turned away his eyes. The younger said he was sure the elder had something against him. When confronted, the senior saint explained he had been in the Second WW and had killed many young blue-eyed, blonde-headed boys like him. He said it was too painful for him to look upon him.

I have found to my own dismay, things are not generally the way I size them up to be. I am guilty of reading much more into a situation than is actually there. I’m too fast on the draw, so to speak. As a result, I’ve shot myself in the foot on more than one occasion. For example, I was once standing on the balcony of a motel looking down at the hood of my car, and I was sure I saw a big dent someone had put there. A friend standing close by, who I was trying desperately to convince, asked me to look at it from where he was standing. Needless to say, it was the sun’s reflection on that area that made it look so.

In the Gospels there is a story about a man who saw men as trees. Jesus touched his eyes, and we are told that he then saw clearly. Most of the time when judging situations, I find I need to take a second look. How about you? 

“And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.” (Isa.11:3)

                         

Divine Arithmetic

How like God’s people of old we are. It says of them, on more than one occasion, “They soon forgat his works...”; “They forgat God their Saviour.” How short our memories are. Very little time passes after Him working miraculously on our behalf before we begin again to complain and murmur. We question His goodness; we doubt His promises; and our praise becomes mute.

Is there no cure for this detestable condition? Thank God, there is. I call it “divine arithmetic.” When we add up all our past blessings, the attitude is completely changed. Counting our blessings is an ongoing thing, since there is no end to them. David says, “If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand…” “How great is the sum of them…”

“Count your blessings; name them one by one
Count your blessings; see what God hath done.
Count your blessings; name them one by one.
And it will surprise you what God hath done.”

Counting our blessings is like counting the stars; they’re innumerable.

(RDS)

Messianic Complex

“I know that [when] Messias cometh...he will tell us all things.” How many of us like to play the part of this Divine Personage. We have the answer for everyone’s problems. We are real problem-solvers. That is, unless it relates to our own lives. If those we try to impress with our deep understanding knew this, they would say to us, “Physician, heal thyself.”

We may act like “miniature messiahs,” but we are, at best, poor replicas. Many times while we are attempting to unscramble eggs, we make a bigger mess. I’m finding the best way to help those who are hurting is simply by listening. I do not want a place among Job’s so-called enlightened friends. I don’t want to come across as a know-it-all to those who are hurting. I’m not a messiah; I’m a man. May God help me to be “swift to hear, and slow to speak.”

It doesn’t matter what the question is; the answer is always Jesus

Frustrated Followers

“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not.”

John, speaking for the twelve, relates to Jesus how they had used their self-appointed authority to forbid one ministering in Christ’s name. One, who as John put it, “followeth not us.”  It seemed to them, no doubt, no one could possibly be for Christ who did not belong to their group and do things the way they did. But, as dear Matthew Henry says, “Christ’s grace is not tied to the visible Church.”

Does the above not remind us of Joshua’s words when two men prophesied in the camp but went not up with the rest to the door of the Tabernacle? “My lord Moses, forbid them.” To which the patriarch answered, “Enviest thou for my sake? The old man went on to say, “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that he  would put his spirit upon them!” I wonder if there was not a little envy among the disciples also because of the man successfully casting out a devil. Remember, a brief time earlier when they attempted to cast of a devil from a young child? We are told “they could not.”

It is good to keep in mind that friendship and hostility toward Christ do not exist together. To quote Henry again, “That which is good, and doth good, must not be prohibited, though there may be some defect or irregularity in the manner of doing it.” Jesus did not tell his disciples to join the man, to promote him, nor to persuade him to come in with them. He simply told them, “Forbid him not.” I find it wise to heed our Lord’s admonition to Peter when he asked Jesus what He had in mind for John. “What is that to thee? follow thou me.”

*Clowns Cry Too

Anyone who has lived awhile having observed human nature doesn’t have to be a psychologist to figure out there are different types of personalities. The common man may not be familiar with the term, “temperament,” used by professionals to describe these various dispositions; but still, he or she, is well aware such distinctions exist.

Among these diversified creatures of God is the loveable, outgoing, cheerful Sanguine. This type of individual lights up any room he or she enters. Their positive attitude and overflowing words of encouragement are a healing balm to any and all downtrodden souls. They are, as I like to refer to them, “God’s Lifter-Uppers.”

But it’s possible to leave a circus, being heartened by the one with the big smile and a willingness to do anything to get us to laugh, and forget that clowns cry too. May God help us to remember that behind the cheerful smile of that sanguine saint who is such a blessing to us, there can be tears underneath that external make-up.  

Unacceptable Sacrifice

The issue with God is not yours but you. If He has the latter, He most certainly will get the former. It’s a package deal, you see. But, it’s possible to give Him the first without you being in the bargain. And this is unacceptable with God. Paul alludes to this truth when writing of the Macedonian Christians. They had sacrificed what they had unto the Lord but had first given themselves.

A life is the only acceptable sacrifice God will take. Inanimate things are bloodless. And Cain found out, “you can’t get blood out a turnip.” Also that God has no respect for such things on His altar, unless, of course, they are connected with a life already on it.  For example, God doesn’t want your wallet in the offering plate; He wants you in it. If He gets that, He’ll have what’s in your pockets.

Going For the Gold

Paul likens the Christian life to running in a race. One of his admonitions for those who would win is to not look back. Or as the old black relief pitcher Satch Paige used to say, “Don’t look back, deh might be a-gainin’ on yuh!”

You can’t win a race looking backward. For this reason the Apostle tells us to forget those things which are behind. Two things will cause us to lose in life’s race: gloating over previous successes, or resurrecting former failings. The first will puff us up, bringing about a fall; and the latter will discourage us, and be the reason for our quitting. No one ever won the gold laying with his or her face in the dirt, nor was the prize presented to anyone who walked off the track in the middle of the race. 

Advancement comes from keeping your eye on the goal. And our goal is God! And that, my dear Christian friend, is the joy that is set before us. Go for it!

Original Intent

Sometimes when referring to the Constitution it’s asked “What was our Founding Fathers’ original intent? We would be wise to find out what The Founding Father’s original intent was in creating man. It certainly wasn’t soul winning; there were no sinners. Nor was it that Adam might pray to God. Prayer is basically asking and receiving. What can a man ask for who has everything?

Man was not created a robot. God’s original purpose for man was free-will worship. When you pray you want something; when you worship you want Someone. Man was not coerced into desiring God. God delights in being longed for and loved. When we are brought back from our fallen condition God’s original intent is still in effect. Jesus said that worship was to be our top priority, service holding second position. When He dealt with the woman at the well, the theme was worship. And so should ours be with everyone we encounter.

“There is a point in true worship where the mind may cease to understand and goes over to a kind of delightful astonishment---probably to what Carlyle described as "transcendent wonder," a degree of wonder without limit and beyond expression!….” A.W. Tozer

It's Not the Way; It's the Fact

"I will come again." There is nothing surer in the world than the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. On this fact, the three main views of prophecy agree. It is how He will return (that is, the events surrounding it) that causes the division in the different camps. The interpretation of prophetic events has brought deep diversity among those who hold the various views. Any debate about the subject seems to cause more friction than light.

Though my position is that of the historic Premillennialist (not to be confused with the Dispensational view), I have dear friends and loved ones who hold opposing views. Because of this fact it has allowed me to observe each position a little closer. Generally speaking, in my own opinion, the three views of prophecy have lost something very distinctive—something crucial, no matter what their belief. The Premillennialist seems to major on a Rapture, and the events associated with it. The Postmillennialist speaks of nothing but the coming Kingdom and an age of righteousness, while the Amillennialist seems to spend his time correcting the other two, seeking to disprove a thousand-year reign on earth in the future.

Whatever your view, you do not want to lose sight of Who it is all about—Jesus Christ. When one does this, even if theirs is the correct view, it becomes no better than the other two. One is always safe in saying, "Jesus is coming again!"

"The Second Coming of Christ is the medicine our condition especially needs."  C.S. Lewis

*The Humanness of Job

When you take humanness out of sainthood you create a monster, a “Super-Saint.” A creature no one else can relate too, other than their own self-fashioned, self-deceived kind. One who, if ever there was a vacancy in the Godhead, would be the first to apply for the position.

These superior saints would never utter the words that fell from the lips of this common man of clay. For their standing before the brethren is of more value to them than their standing before God. The words I refer to concern Job’s prayer life, “If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.”

Matthew Henry, commenting on Job’s words and what he was essentially saying, puts it this way, “Had He given the thing I called to Him for, yet, so weak and defective are my best prayers, that I would not believe He had therein hearkened to my voice.” Had God done so, his answer to the one relaying the good tidings, I believe, would no doubt have been the same as Mary’s to Rhoda, when Peter was delivered from prison while they prayed, “Thou art mad.”

What a wonderful God we have who would send His precious Son into the world in human form that He might explain to the Father Humanity’s humanness. No doubt, because He does understand this, it is written, “If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful.”

Instruction in Neglect

“I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it, and] received instruction [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come [as] one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

The book of Proverbs is about instruction, Ecclesiastes, experience. If one will not learn from the former, then the latter awaits them. “Experience is the best teacher,” generally, is not so. To heed the words, “the stove is hot and will burn you,” is much better than laying your hand on it to find out.

No matter what else the above text teaches, it certainly teaches the danger of neglect. There is no question one’s salvation, then his or her Christian life is at the top of the list in importance. But having looked well to these, there are many practical everyday things that if ignored, can cost us much in time, money, and inward peace.

I hesitate to mention any of these little, or big, irritants we all dread, lest I leave yours off the list. The Bible speaks of, “Daily duties.” Duty is not usually found under the category of “fun and games.” One cannot neglect the menial chores of life in pretense using the “spiritual” as an excuse for their negligence. All ground is holy ground! (1Cor.10:31)

Wheelers and Dealers

"Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him…And said, If Esau come upon the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.” Planning by faith is a good quality, but not as a result of fear. David gives us the recipe for such occasions: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” It is never time to fear, but it is always time to trust.

How like Jacob many of us are. We not only make sure our backside is covered, but all sides! Such individuals are habitually planning, manipulating, and arranging situations and people. They frustratingly try to arrange everything and everyone, placing them, garrison like, for their own protection. These people are to be kept safe from all unpleasantness, no matter the cost, even at the expense of loved ones and friends.

The title of Of Mice and Men is taken from a poem by Robert Burns. "To a Mouse" describes how a mouse’s home is destroyed by a farmer’s plow even though the mouse thinks he has discovered an invulnerable site. Steinbeck borrowed a significant line in the poem to use as his title: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” That is, even the best ideas can fail. Let us each give up our plans and get in on God’s!

Helps and Helpers

“Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.” Who were these disciples? What were their names? It is not recorded in the Holy Scriptures, but not because it was unimportant. There is always a name attached to every good thing done for God. Malachi tells us God has a personal journal that He keeps, called the “book of remembrance,” in which the names of such people are recorded. He refers to these unknown, unnamed saints as “my jewels.”

Paul never forgot this event. Years later, he recounts it to the Corinthian believers. My heart is moved when I think of all the helping hands that have undergirded me on my Christian journey. People who held the ropes that I might escape the enemy of my soul and fulfill God’s will for my life. Undoubtedly, this kind of people were the ones to whom the Apostle was referring when he penned “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

I may have forgotten their names; I may have forgotten their faces. But I have never forgotten what they did for me. (R.D.S)

Hymns and "Him"

Most Christians are aware that Psalms is the “hymnbook” of the Scriptures, but few seem to realize Hebrews is the “Him” book of the Bible. Some are so busy focusing on a few problem texts in this book that they lose sight of the Person of Christ.

This “Him” book is also a “better” book. It speaks of “better things,” a “better sanctuary,” a “better sacrifice,” “better promises,” and a “better covenant.” We are told that Jesus is “better” than the “angels,” “Moses,” “Joshua,” and “Aaron.” The book is all about “Him”. It stands as one of the greatest books in the entire Bible on assurance. In spite of some unlearned and ignorant souls trying to prove the opposite!

I asked my pastor a year or so ago to pray about preaching this “Him” book in the coming year. He smiled, and replied, “I don’t know if I could handle it.” This statement, in itself, proved that he can. Anyone who approaches the book of Hebrews with this kind of attitude and spirit of humility will find “Him” in Hebrews.

Hebrews is not about perplexing problems, but a precious Person. The problems fade in light of the Person. (R.D.S)

*Splintered

In a phone conversation with a black pastor friend, he reminded me of something I had mentioned to him some years ago. I had told him that the crowd we ran with (which I am no longer affiliated with), would end up fragmented because of their lack of charity and their exclusiveness. He informed me that they are now no more than splinter groups, attacking one another. I got to thinking about his statement, and how you cannot build anything out of splinters.

Paul warned the Galatians “…if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” A modern-day shepherd told me once that when sheep are not fed properly, they start chewing the back of the others. I wonder if this is not the main cause of so much backbiting among us today.

I remember the sweet times we all had years ago when during revival meetings, as high as twenty-five churches in our community would visit with us. And we returned the courtesy during their special meetings. I’m fearful that many, under the guise of separation, are really practicing isolation. It has always amazed me how we can work with other believers, but we can’t worship with them.

Insecurity, I find, generally is derived from immaturity. And the former usually avoids surroundings and people they’re not familiar with. I personally believe it is time for us to stop building walls and begin building bridges. We stanch Bible Believers are not lacking for the one, but we sadly are for the second. Whenever the Church has suffered persecution it is amazing to find the various types of Christians sharing the same foxhole!

*Coming to Jesus at Sunset

“Now when the sun was setting…” Jesus, as usual, had just finished a jam-packed day, and night was now setting in. We are told He would be up on the morrow, “in the morning, rising up a great while before day.” Nevertheless, people came to Him at this late hour seeking help both for themselves and loved ones. When one is in great need, he or she is apt to be less considerate of others than they naturally would be. But in spite of being, no doubt, weary from the long day, we are told that our Lord met the need of “every one of them.”

And so the case still is, though it be over two thousand years later. Be assured, when the sun is setting and others are closing up shop, the sign on our Lord’s door is always, “Open.” He is well-known for helping at “the eleventh hour.” Don’t be hesitant to come to Him “by night,” He will graciously receive you; ask Nicodemus! None of us, as Joshua of old, need ever ask the sun to stand still. He can and will give you calm in the midst of the storm, no matter if it is “the forth watch” of the night.

Whether the sun is setting on a long drawn out problem in your life and family; your age is coming to a close and you need more time to accomplish something special; or it is some lingering sin you feel will not be overcome, it’s never too late, even though darkness is rapidly approaching. No sincere soul ever came to Jesus for help, no matter the circumstances, place, or time, that supernatural assistance was not available. Is it any wonder then that God’s darling David penned, “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.”

*Appreciation of Creation

I believe few Christians have an appreciation for God's creation. A preacher friend in Canada took me outside one night to behold the Northern Lights. What an awesome sight it was! After seeing such a spectacular scene, I could only say with David, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?”

On a visit to the Midwest some years ago, my wife and I ate at a Cracker Barrel restaurant. The decor is rustic, and all around there is memorabilia. As we stood in line to pay the cashier, I looked up and saw that the ceiling was full of the same. I mentioned to my wife, "Just think how many never enjoy the sight, simply because they don't take time to look up."

Maybe each of us should take the time to look up at Gods' wonderful creation one night soon. It is part of His works, and we should love to view The Carpenter's handiwork.

Jesus Christ is the Divine Architect for all of creation; don't neglect to view it. (RDS)

The Scarlet Sin

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?” Is a spiritual sin less than a physical one? Is a sin against God of lesser importance than one against man? It may be well to remember that it is the spiritual sin of rejecting Christ, and not a physical one that sends a person to hell.

We Christians are prone to look down our pharisaical noses at an adulterer or adulteress. How upset we become if one of our own commits such a hideous sin. And are we not the first to demand church discipline in such cases? Certainly, these people are to be put out of the assembly, we say. Do I agree with this? Yes, but only if the person in question is not repentant.

On the other hand, what is to be done with the spiritual adulterer and adulteress? If we took the same action on them, many churches would drop drastically in membership. Not only that, a lot of them would lose their leading deacons, elders, and even their pastors. I do not profess to have the answer to this dilemma. I do know I need to be slower to condemn, and quicker to forgive, if for no other reason than for my own sake. For there’s been a few times; I have fallen into this latter category, that is, of having a secret love affair with this world. Haven’t you?

God Is Not A Renter

God, through the prophet Hosea says of His people, “Their heart is divided.” The true mother standing before Solomon would not have her child divided. And so it is with the Lord. He will not have His child with a divided heart. God is not a tenant that lives in one small room of our heart, while we rent out the other spaces to strangers.

Over and over again we read in the Scriptures how the Lord wants the “whole heart.” Anything less than this is unsatisfactory. Our love to God must be entire. He says, “…with all thy heart.” Our love is to be without measure. As the old Puritan put it, “The creature may have the milk of our love, but God must have the cream. Love to God must be above all things, as the oil swims above the water.”

In the Old Testament, the high priest could not marry a widow or a harlot. He could not marry the widow because He would not be her first love; He could not marry the harlot because He would not be her only love. “HE” is to be our first and only love!

Those Old Friends

“Pilate sought to release him.” Three times Pilate had said to the crowd concerning Jesus, “I find no fault in him.” Yet he gave in to their wishes to crucify Him, though it went against his conscience and better judgment. Why? God's Book tells us: “For the fear of man bringeth a snare.”

A man of convenience, full of self-love and self-interest, will always be intimidated by his peers to give up an intimate friend, whom he knows to be right, for an influential one. He chose to be a friend of Caesar rather than to be a friend to Christ.

Pilate’s breed has not died out; they live on today. For over fifty years, I have observed an appalling thing. Cowardly Christians have accepted and adapted to Pilate’s principles. A faithful friend who is suffering outside the camp is sacrificed, so they may be associated with false friends within the gate. The important and influential are more valuable to them than an old friend.

A puppet’s friends are decided by those who hold the strings; cut them, and you’re free to choose your own. (R.D.S.)

Leap Frog

When we leap frog over the doctrinal for the practical, we leave something behind us that is necessary to our Christian life. For example, justification is first in order, then sanctification. One comes before two. You can always spot those who have reversed the sequence; invariably they emphasize their merits, rather than God’s use of means.

Justification is foundational; sanctification is structural. The former has to do with our standing, the latter with our state. The one is eternally settled, both now and forever; the second is settled in eternity, but is on going in this life. To understand and accept these twin truths is life and peace. Not to, is frustration and anxiety.

Paul said that he was, “…accepted in the beloved.” Yet in another place he wrote, “Wherefore we labour, that…we may be accepted of him.” The old war-horse didn’t live for God in order to be accepted, but because of his acceptance. A wife doesn’t try and please her husband so she may become his wife, but because she is his wife.

A.W. Tozer has an article in one of his books entitled, “God is Easy to Live With.” A dear preacher friend of mine tells of hearing an old pastor once say, “Never make your Christian life so difficult, that you can’t enjoy it.” The Old Testament priests when ministering to the Lord were told that, “…no wool shall come upon them…they shall not gird themselves with anything that causeth sweat.” God doesn’t want His people to “sweat it,” so to speak, in living for Him. And don’t forget, we are referred to as “priests” in the New Testament.

Holding Our Peace

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron...died before the Lord...And Aaron held his peace.” When God corrects our own for their sin, it is our duty to be silent. We are not to quarrel with God or question His judgment, nor charge Him with folly, but accept his verdict. There is to be absolutely no complaint. Our Lord asked His disciples, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?”

Aaron patiently submitted to the holy will of God in this sad providence. He was dumb and opened not his mouth, because God did it. He wisely laid his hand upon his mouth and said nothing. Aaron refused to honor “his” over “Him.” Aaron’s loss of comforts was God’s gain in glory. Therefore, he has not a word to say against God or his dealings with his loved ones.

“The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this,
Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
(Job 1:21-22)

The Weakest Link

I think the little adage, “You’re only as strong as your weakest link,” to be a true saying. A fifty foot chain with a defective link is not one you would want to hold you while hanging over a thousand foot precipice.

I’m personally inclined to believe the weakest link in most Christians’ lives today is not Bible reading, but in their prayer life. I was shocked to hear my dear pastor years ago say from the pulpit that the greatest failing in his spiritual life was prayer. Now, after half a century of serving the Lord, I too must ashamedly add my own amen to this truthful confession.

When it comes to the subject of prayerlessness, I find I like to talk about it, preach about it, write about it, but do nothing about it! Jesus said, “When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” The context of this scripture is importune prayer.

A young preacher who lived briefly with us years ago used to sing the song, “Why Worry When You Can Pray?” But he reversed it to say, “Why Pray When You Can Worry?” Very humorous, but sadly to say, very true.

I often say my prayers,
But do I ever pray?
And do the wishes of my heart
Go with the words I say?

I may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone,
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.



Silence Is Not Always Golden

“...dumb dogs, that cannot bark.” Some years ago I was in a meeting in Canada. The pastor (who is also a veterinarian) picked me up each evening at my motel. Upon entering the car one night I asked, “And how was your day?” His reply was, as always, “Fine.” But then he added, “I had to take the voice box out of two dogs today. Neighbors were complaining about their barking, so the owners brought them to me for the operation.”

A dog that can bark can warn of approaching danger, as well as scare away the menace, or at least, make him think twice. To take the voice box from a watch dog is to make those he guards easy prey for the enemy.

Isaiah is addressing those in places of leadership who are to be watchmen over God’s heritage. His indictment against them is that they cannot “bark.” No longer did they warn of oncoming danger but, rather, remained silent, allowing God’s innocent sheep to fall prey to ravenous wolves that would devour them without mercy. John the Baptist was a “voice.” His enemies were not satisfied till they had taken his voice box out, and neither will ours be.

Silence isn’t always golden; sometimes it’s just plain yellow!

*With Him

“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” I recently turned seventy-eight years of age. The greater part of my life has been spent in living for Him; so according to our Scripture, I would think it appropriate for me to say “to die is gain.” To have lived for Him has been unspeakable joy; but to be with Him will be unending bliss.

My dear, dear, preacher friend, Marvin Clanton, has on his tombstone, “With Christ...far better.” Paul knew to live for Christ was a wonderful thing, but to be with Him surpasses anything this life has to offer, even in the way of Christian service. Will your death be gain? Fill in the blank to find out: “For me to live is______________.”

“Pray that thy last days, and last works may be the best; and that when thou comest to die, thou mayest have nothing else to do but die.”

(Puritan Saying)

*It's Mutual

"Helping together in prayer." There are a number of ways in which we can (and ought) to help each other. But, among them all, there is no greater than prayer. Prayer is to be mutual; it is to be reciprocal between us and our brethren.

The Apostle Paul felt the need of prayer from others. On more than one occasion in his letters you will find him requesting prayer. For example, when writing the saints at Colosse, he assured them that he prayed always for them. But, before closing his correspondence, he asked prayer for himself from them.

Many Christians would have considered these people spiritually inferior to the great apostle; but he didn't. He knew that the weakest saint upon his or her knees became a mighty warrior to help him in his battles.

Jesus told Peter, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Our Lord refused to abandon him to the devil.

                                                                                

Say What You Mean/Mean What You Say

I am not against couples renewing their marriage vows. But as for me, fifty years ago, when I spoke those words to that lovely young lady standing beside me, I said what I meant and meant what I said!

And so it was when I bowed the knee to my blessed Lord fifty and four years ago. It is for this reason I personally do not believe in so-called “rededication.” What I do believe in is “repentance,” after one has broken their sacred vow to the Lover of their souls.

Far too many are copping-out, doing the first of the above mentioned, over and over again during a so-called “altar call,” when they should be doing the latter, with strong crying and tears in the privacy of their prayer closet.

Consecration is a once-for-all thing; repentance is on-going as long as we are in this flesh.

Loaded Down

“[In]…our trouble…we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth up the dead.”

We’re not told exactly what this “trouble” was, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. But we do know it was above and beyond the normalcy of everyday Christian trials. So much so that this suffering saint “despaired even of life.” This unknown and unique experience brought the apostle to the place of utter helplessness.

It’s well to remember that this human beast of burden had borne the heaviest of loads all his life. But this one weighed him down to the extent that it could be said, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

What are we to do at such a time of hopelessness? We can emulate Paul. He passed sentence on all fleshly confidence, letting it become history. And, in exchange, he put all his trust in the God who “…raiseth up all those that are bowed down.”

Weighted down with burdens now, weighted down with GLORY then! (2Cor.4:17) I’ll take that, won’t you?

Around the Clock Care

"I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." The song "Moment By Moment" should be a favorite of all believers who seek to live a victorious Christian life. There is not a moment, day or night, which God is not keeping us. Our God does not work shifts, but, rather, around the clock. David found great solace of soul in this truth. "He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth...shall neither slumber nor sleep."

Our heavenly Father, says Jesus, is the heavenly Vine-dresser who promises He will keep us moment by moment. Whether it is the scorching heat of the day, or the long lonely hours of the night, the Keeper of our souls has us under His watch care. No wonder Paul could say, "I...am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

"Kept by the power of God" Who knew better than the one who penned these words...the Apostle Peter.

Individual and Personal

“...all things work together for good...” Some time ago, at a late hour, on my knees next to my bed, feeling the weight of a burden I thought would crush me; I received new light on this text. Previously, I held it as a precious promise to all God’s suffering saints who loved Him. But, though it may be true collectively, this is only so because individuals have experienced it personally. It is possible this text may include everyone and me, but it can also exclude everyone but me. This Scripture must be approached as though I were the only one involved.

Others may be part of the mix that is working together in my life, but I am not to concern myself with them. For I do not know their hearts; but I do know mine, that I love God and am assured that everything will work out for my ultimate good. My good; His glory—what more could I want?

Singing the Truth

My wife often testifies before congregations that prior to singing a special, she asks the Lord to keep her from singing a lie. That is, she wants her life to come up to her singing. I wonder how many of us sing a falsehood when we sing the words to such old songs as; “It’s not my brother or my sister but me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” If we are singing unto the Lord as we are supposed to, then we are singing a lie if we do not believe prayer is the great need of our life.

We come into this world in a fetal position, and we go out in that same position. Surely the Lord is showing mankind his life should to be one of continuous prayer. The first thing we are told of Paul, the new born babe in Christ is, “Behold he prayeth.” And the last pose we should be found in is the fetal position of prayer. We are told that both Thomas Watson the Puritan, and David Livingston the great missionary, were both found kneeling in prayer at their deaths.

Let’s face it, most, if not all our problems, are prayer problems. Even the medical world now recognizes the solace that comes to those who pray. How true the words, “O what peace we often forfeit, O, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” We all have a Divine invitation to enter His throne room (Hebrews 4:16). Let’s take advantage of it.

A.W. Tozer had what he called his “prayer pants”. He would put them on when entering his office in the morning before he prayed. The purpose was to keep from wearing out the knees of his suit pants. I’m sorry to say not too many of us have that problem. I say this to our own shame!

The Bottom Line

“But without faith it is impossible to please [God].” The bottom line in pleasing God is faith. Other things are good and right in their place, but faith is the starting point. We begin our spiritual journey with it, and we end with it. Having a variety of good things in one’s life does not necessarily mean you have the right thing.

Faith is as much at home with the impossible as it is with the possible, for faith’s reliance is upon God who knows no limitations. Real faith involves not an introspection of itself, but always its occupation upon God. When faith’s eye is looking to God, and not placed on itself, it makes the impossible, possible. But every true act of faith is followed by activity. As one has said, “A faith that does not walk may soon become too weak to stand.”

Faith has degrees; there is “no faith, little faith, and great faith.” Faith can be increased as we exercise it. The reason why our faith does not grow is because there is always a calculated risk connected to it. This makes us hesitant to put feet to our faith. But once we step out of the boat, our initial act becomes a habit; one step turns into a walk.

If we are to display “the prayer of faith,” then we must of necessity pray with faith. Prayer without faith reduces us to faith in ourselves. A real, honest to goodness faith only comes from the written Word of God. And it will never betray those who place their confidence in it!  

*A PRAYER OF MOTHER TERESA

Although I radically disagree with this dear woman’s church, as well as their doctrine, I do agree with one of her prayers. And so does the Bible. In speaking of the poor and hungry she said, “Lord, give them through our hand this day their daily bread.

This was Jesus’ teaching to his followers. He knew He would be leaving this earth, therefore He was training them to give to others what He had given to them. This is seen in the feeding of the multitude. Matthew records, “He gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.”  The principle is, “Freely ye have received, freely give.”

A little barefoot boy was sitting on a curbside singing, “Jesus loves me.” A passerby asked the little urchin, “If Jesus loves you so much, then why hasn’t He given you some shoes?” The small toe-head replied, “O, I’m sure He put it into someone’s heart to help me, I guess they just didn’t want to!”   

 “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these me brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Truth Tops Everything

“…for thou hast magnified thy word above thy all name.” This is a startling statement; nevertheless it stands like the Rock of Gibraltar in this topsy-turvy world. Without God’s final authority, every man will do that which is right in his own sight. When this occurs, the words “God says,” is replaced with “I think,” “I feel,” “I believe,” etc. For example, one can turn the Grace of God into lasciviousness (Jude 4), if he or she turns a deaf ear to what God has said about His Grace in Titus 2:11-12.

If we lift a text from Jeremiah, and transport it into our Twenty- first Century, we will see another example of putting God’s Word on the back burner. It is written, “Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love.” Applying this practically to the present is not a difficult thing to do. How many there are who, wanting to put on a good face before the brethren, trim truth under the guise of love. They do not want the stigma of being called judgmental and unloving. Such Christians are cowards copping out for the approval of today’s popular carnal society. They don’t want to take the heat that right principles bring. 

In Paul’s great chapter on love (1Cor.13), he plainly tells us, Biblical love rejoices in truth. Tough love is always tougher on the one administering it than the recipient, especially when the former is sincere and really cares for the latter. You’ll remember that though Joseph was tough on his erring loved ones in attempting to bring them to repentance, behind closed doors, where only God saw, he showed his tenderness and compassion in weeping uncontrollably for them. And it was this kind of love that got the job done. The wise man said, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” If you’re not willing to hurt them, you can’t help them. 

QUESTIONING GOD

Someone has said, “It is alright to ask God a question, but wrong to question Him.” Jesus falls under the heading of the former, when on the cross He asks God, “Why hast thou forsaken me?” Israel in the wilderness fits into the category of latter, when they questioned God by saying, “Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

As God’s “earthen vessels,” it is never acceptable to question Him as to why He made us the way we are. Or, as Paul so vividly illustrates this very thing in Romans, “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” 

One of the secrets of being comfortable in your own skin is in realizing that God made your skin and put you in it! We are not all the same, but we all had the same Maker. There is a great line spoken in the movie Viva Zapata, “Though we are all from the same clay, a jug is not a vase.” When you come right down to it, it really doesn’t make that much difference. All of us, (Christians) have the same treasure within. Whether it is a crock-pot, or fine china, it is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

The Christian's Critic

In Bible times, names depicted a person’s nature. They were descriptive and significant. This is especially true of the devil. The many names given to him reveal his character and activities. I read that he has at least thirty different names that describe his person and work. But, of all these names, I do not believe there is one that causes more depression and depreciation for a Christian than the title, “the accuser of the brethren.” We are told that he does this before God, night and day.

What makes this so tragic is the fact that what he accuses us of is, mainly, all true and factual. What is one to do with this constant condemnation of conscience? Thank God, we have a Heavenly Advocate to deal with our hellish adversary. Our Lawyer reminds him of the cross, and how all of our faults, failures, and sins were paid for there—that our past, present, and even the future have been wiped clean in the blood of the Lamb.

Judicially, we have been justified freely from all things, and need not concern ourselves with his condemnation of us. “Who is he that condemneth?” “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.” “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...the blood of Christ purge[d] your conscience...”

Emulation

One of the meanings for the word emulate is: to imitate a person or thing admired. They say, “Imitation is the truest form of flattery.” This may be true of the one, but certainly not of the impersonator. Emulation is said to be one of the works of the flesh. Therefore, no matter how good the performance, you can never please God.

George MacDonald writes, “No work noble or lastingly good can come of emulation any more than greed: I think the motives are spiritually the same.” He goes on to say, “When a man spends his energy on appearing to have, he is all the time destroying what he has and therein the very means of becoming what he desires to seem. If he gains his end, his success is his punishment.” And so, those who are always trying to be someone else will never know the love and plans God has for them, for they are never home when He calls.

“God help me to live in a morally and honest way, without pretending either to be what I am not or not to be what I am.” (J.I. Packer)

Pompous Piety

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Beware of the piety that denies the natural life.” He went on to warn, “Beware of passing off as a profound person; God became a Baby.” It is painful for many of us to admit to our flawed humanity. Rather than accept the fact, we have chosen to believe the devils lie, “Ye shall be as gods.” This is where “I thank thee, that I am not as other men are…” comes in.

Throughout the scriptures you find God coming to the aid of those who recognize their natural limitations and inabilities. Whenever we acknowledge our fallen humanity, there is hope. Our supernatural God will help His natural creation once we cease trying to pass ourselves off as miniature deities. I am afraid it is embarrassingly true, if it were possible that there was a vacancy in the Godhead, some are so pompously pious that they would apply for the position.

                                                                                                  

*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.