Confused?

"In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6

If I were asked to describe the last ten years in one word, it would be confusion. Our government leaders are confused about how to solve a myriad of problems. Adolescents are confused about their gender identity. Teachers are confused about their roles. 

My personal opinion lies in how we view life. Our country was founded on a Biblical worldview, 99.9% of our founding fathers believed that Biblical principles should be the basis of government, and society.   When there is no moral standard to guide us, people will naturally follow their own values. This week a third-grade teacher was arrested for being intoxicated while teaching. She couldn't believe she was being arrested. She didn't do anything wrong. Right?

In the Old Testament, Israel went through a period when they did not have a king, so they did what was right in their own eyes. Today's philosophy is "If it feels right do it." We sing songs that boast, "I did it my way," as though this is a good thing. 

Proverbs 14:34 says, "Godliness makes a great nation but sin is a disgrace to any people." The real reason people do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior is they refuse to surrender control of their lives to Him. Matthew 16:24 They want to continue doing it their way. 

God doesn't want to ruin our fun. He wants only our best. "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

 With much wisdom comes much sorrow, the more knowledge, the more grief.  Ecclesiastes 1:18

A group of men pulled up to shore after a twenty-five-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. The man who came to retrieve their rafts told them about the COVID-19 virus. They thought he was joking. But as they left the canyon their phones pinged with their parents’ urgent messages. They were stunned. They wished they could return to the river and escape what they now knew.

In a fallen world, knowledge often brings pain. The wise Teacher of Ecclesiastes observed, “With much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief” (1:18). Who hasn’t envied a child’s blissful ignorance? They don’t yet know about racism, violence, and cancer. Weren’t we happier before we grew up and discerned our own weaknesses and vices? Before we learned our family’s secrets—why our uncle drinks heavily or what caused our parents’ divorce?

The pain from knowledge can’t be wished away. Once we know, it’s no use pretending we don’t. But there’s a higher knowledge that empowers us to endure, even thrive. Jesus is the Word of God, the light that shines in our darkness (John 1:1–5). He “has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Your pain is your reason to run to Jesus. He knows you and cares for you.

Being Tempted?

 

Every human being faces temptation at some time in their lives, You may be tempted to lie to protect your reputation. You may be tempted to cheat on a test to pass a subject in school. Everyone faces temptation but the good news is that God always provides a way out. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Temptation is anything that promises satisfaction at the cost of obedience to God. James 1:13 Temptation is not sinful because Jesus Himself was tempted. In Matthew 4, we read how Jesus faced temptation and was victorious. For 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus fasted in the wilderness AND He was being tempted by the devil, This is what Jesus was facing.

Jesus is faced with three temptations. These temptations are described as the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the lust of the eyes. Today we'll look at the lust of the flesh. We all have times in our lives when the lust of the flesh tempts us. This temptation says I want it." After 40 days without food, the devil tempts Jesus to turn stones to bread. Matthew 4:3 Nothing wrong in satisfying your hunger unless it is outside the will of God. Sin is fulfilling a God-given desire in a way that God never intended.

Jesus overcame temptation by quoting Scripture and relying on the power of God. Instead of saying "I want it" let's say "I want God."

Lion and a Lamb

Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6

Years ago, many Christians wore bracelets that had the letters WWJD, this referred to What Would Jesus Do. The Bible clearly teaches us that Jesus is to be our example on how we should live. 

The Bible also uses the metaphor of Jesus being a lion and a lamb. Revelation 5:5-6. So, how should we live as a Lion and a Lamb? It means to be tough for and tender with others.  Jesus was tough and tender. He was tough for those religious hypocrites and tender with those caught in sin.  

Recently I heard a story of a Special Operations sniper who would be dropped behind enemy lines to "take out" a certain evil person. After accomplishing his mission, he would return home to his family which included his little daughter. His daughter had a ritual to celebrate her father's return. She would have a tea party for him. This included little teacups, lace, and a crown making her a princess. This sniper could be tough for her and tender with her. She was never afraid of him because she only knew his tender side.

A Christ-follower needs at times be tough and at times be tender. 

Jesus: Our Blood Donor

 "The Life is in the blood."  Leviticus 17:11

Most people, when they retire, get a gold watch. James Harrison deserves so much more than that.

Harrison, known as the “Man With the Golden Arm,” has donated blood nearly every week for 60 years. After all those donations, the 81-year-old Australian man “retired” Friday. The occasion marked the end of a monumental chapter.

According to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, he has helped saved the lives of more than 2.4 million Australian babies. Harrison’s blood has unique, disease-fighting antibodies that have been used to develop an injection called Anti-D, which helps fight against rhesus disease.

Harrison’s remarkable gift of giving started when he had major chest surgery when he was just 14, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service said. Blood donations saved his life, so he pledged to become a blood donor. A few years later, doctors discovered his blood contained the antibody which could be used to create Anti-D injections, so he switched over to making blood plasma donations to help as many people as possible.

As great as Mr. Harrison’s dedication was there is someone else whose blood donation was even greater, Jesus Christ. Jesus is a blood-donor not a blood-shedder. “The life is in the blood,” as the Scripture says. The New Testament doesn’t so much teach “forgiveness OF sin” as it does “freedom FROM sin.” Jesus’ blood is not just about paying for our past transgressions but rather providing for our future transfusion. He wants to infusion us with His life.  

More Than a Little Piece

 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." Matthew 16.24

We all leave a piece of ourselves behind when we move to a new place. But to become a long-term resident of Villas Las Estrellas, Antarctica. Leaving a piece of yourself behind is a literal thing. With the nearest hospital 625 miles away, a person will be in serious trouble if their appendix bursts. So every citizen is required to undergo an appendectomy before moving there.

Sounds drastic right? But it's not as drastic as becoming a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Because people want to follow Jesus on their own terms and not His. (Matthew 16:25-27) He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” This includes being prepared to let go of everything that competes with Him and His Kingdom.

As we take up our cross, we also take on a willingness to truly follow Him. This means following His lead as He guides us into service and sacrifice. Following Jesus means so much more than leaving a little piece of ourselves of ourselves behind. With His help, it's about submitting and surrendering our whole lives, including our bodies, to Him alone.

Saved By the Bell

The story involves Bessie, a young woman whose lover, Basil Underwood, has been arrested, thrown in prison by the Puritans and sentenced to die that night when the curfew bell rings. Knowing that Oliver Cromwell, member of Parliament in the 1660's, will be late in arriving, the young woman begs the old bell ringer to prevent the ringing of the curfew bell. When he refuses, she climbs to the top of the bell tower and heroically risks her life by manually stopping bell by clinging to the bell's clapper. She suffered terribly when the sexton tried to ring the bell. Cromwell hears of her deed and is so moved that he issues a pardon for Underwood.

This story is a small illustration of what Jesus Christ did for the human race. We all deserved that die Romans 4:25 but Jesus took our punishment and death in our places. 

Eighteen Inches from God

"Oh, taste and see the Lord is good! Psalm 34:8 

There is an incredible difference between knowing something in your head and experiencing it in your heart. On the first Sunday after the resurrection, Jesus joined two people on the Emmaus Road. Luke 24:13-35 tells the story as they walked along. They seemed to understand a great deal about Jesus (vs.19) yet, despite all of their knowledge, "their eyes were kept from recognizing him". They were eighteen inches from God - the distance from the head to the heart. 

Not long after, when they personally heard Jesus speak biblical truth and joined Him in worship, "their eyes were opened," and they finally recognized Him for who He truly is. The reality of Jesus moved from their heads to their hearts. 

God is less a concept to be understood than a Person to be experienced. I personally use devotionals for a daily time to meet with God. But the danger is assuming that making time for God, we must be experiencing God. If we are not careful, it's possible to learn about God without truly experiencing His love! 

Allow what you learn (head knowledge) to go 18 inches to your heart (personal experience). 

Leaving Differently

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.  Matthew 2:12

All across the world, airline terminals are buzzing with the returning footsteps of Christmastime visitors planning to go home. Most everyone is using the second half of a round-trip ticket.

The wise men planned a round-trip, and they changed their route home. The Bible does not tell us which way they went, but it does tell us why they changed their plan. “Being divinely warned,” the Bible says, they were led by the Holy Spirit to take a route that would protect them from being captured by Herod.

I don't want to read more into the verse that what it states but the thought that when people meet Jesus Christ, they leave different. You can't have a face-to-face encounter with Him and remain the same.

• Saul meets Jesus on the Damascus Road and had a radical transformation. Acts 9

• Zacchaeus had an encounter with Jesus and had a total change. Luke 19:1-9

• But not all encounters ended with a positive outcome. A rich young ruler refused to meet the requirement for discipleship and left very sad.

  Luke 18:18-24

As you leave Christmas 2022, I trust you had an encounter with Jesus Christ and you are determined to face 2023 in a new direction.

Read it Backwards

 

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” John 5:39

I love reading mystery books. The challenge is to try and solve the mystery and maybe find out who is the villain. However, some people cannot wait until the end of the book for answers, so they go to the last chapter and find what's happened. I never figured how they can go back to where they were reading knowing the ending.

The thought occurred to me that if Jesus's Disciples knew the end from the beginning, they would have better understood His teachings. They seemed to always be drawing the wrong conclusions. Jesus told them plainly about His suffering, death, and resurrection but they didn't get it. In fact, Jesus sternly rebuked Peter for his misunderstanding. Mark 8:33 Only AFTER Jesus's resurrection, did the disciples start to understand and put all the pieces together.

I think the church does a disservice to new converts by not telling them that the entire Bible teaches about Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, Christ is revealed. Theologians call this progressive revelation. As one read the Scriptures, more and more is revealed. It is like a photo of a large field with an object clear at the back. At first, you don't recognize what it is but the closer and get, you realize it is a human being. Only as you continue to get close, do you realize it is a man but you don't his identity. Finally, as you get closer can you know who it is.

By starting with Revelation (the back of the Bible) can we fully understand the Person of Christ and His ultimate mission of earth.

Never Ending Journey

The film Never Ending Story (1984) follows a boy who happens upon a magical book that tells of a young warrior who is given the task of stopping the Nothing, a dark force, from engulfing the wonderland world of Fantasia. The film's hero journeys through a cycle of life and destruction again and again in a never-ending journey. While this film is fantasy, real life is a never-ending journey.  Some believe that life ends when we die. 

But the Bible teaches life and death is everlasting. For those who have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are promised everlasting life. John 3:15-16

Eternal death is the fate that awaits all people who ultimately reject Jesus Christ and remain in their sin and obedience. Revelation 20:15 In verse 10, we are told that the Lake of Fire burns "forever and ever."

Any rational being should choose Christ and thereby receive everlasting life. No one plans to be eternally lost, they just postpone making that choice. They plan to make that choice someday.   But while they are waiting to make that decision, death often overtakes them. 

And this is the way to eternal life- to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One you sent earth. John 17:3 

Defense of the Faith

 

 "always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in... 1 Peter 3:15

From the time of Jesus, Christianity has been under attack. From the Roman Empire to today's Freedom from religion. The great Christian scholar, C.S. Lewis believed that faith in Christ could stand up to great scrutiny.  Many Christ-followers never share their faith because they feel inadequate. They don't have any theological training or don't know many verses from memory.

But trusting Christ isn't religious escapism or wishful thinking. Our faith is grounded in the facts of history and evidence of the creation bearing witness to its Creator.  People may challenge you on the miracles of the Bible or seeming contradictions but there is one fact they cannot dispute: a changed life. People cannot argue with a changed life.

Jim Cymbala, Pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, said, "People pay attention when they see that God actually changes persons and sets them free. When a new Christian stands up and tells how God has revolutionized his or her life, no one dozes off. When someone is healed or released from life-controlling bondage, everyone takes notice."

A transformed life is a fact that cannot be disputed. 

What's In Your Jar

 “...so that he [Jesus Christ] might hold first place in everything. “Colossians 1:18

A philosophy professor once stood up before his class with a large empty mayonnaise jar. He filled the jar to the top with large rocks and asked his students if the jar was full. The students said that yes, the jar was indeed full.

He then added small pebbles to the jar, and gave the jar a bit of a shake so the pebbles could disperse themselves among the larger rocks. Then he asked again, “Is the jar full now?” Fewer students agreed that the jar was still full.

The professor then poured sand into the jar to fill up any remaining empty space. Less students agreed that the jar was completely full.

The professor went on to explain that the jar represents everything that is in one's life.

The rocks are equivalent to the most important things you have going on, such as spending time on your relationship with God, spending time with your family and maintaining your health. This means that if the pebbles and the sand were lost, the jar would still be full, and your life would still have meaning.

The pebbles represent the things in your life that matter, but that you could live without. Your job, house, hobbies, and friendships, but they are not critical for you to have a meaningful life. These things often come and go, and are not permanent or essential to your overall well-being.

Finally, the sand represents the remaining filler things in your life, and material possessions. This could be small things such as watching television, browsing through your favorite social media site, or running errands. These things don't mean much to your life as a whole and are likely only done to waste time. 

So, what's the big lesson with the rock, pebbles, and sand in a jar story?

The metaphor here is that if you start with putting sand into the jar, you will not have room for rocks or pebbles. This holds true with the things you let into your life. If you spend all of your time on the small and insignificant things, you will run out of room for the things that are actually important.

In order to have a more effective and efficient life, pay attention to the “rocks,” because they are critical to your long-ter

Your Best Friend

 

It is amazing the different misconceptions that people have about the person-hood of God! In some cultures, God is seen as an angry deity that can only be appeased by throwing a virgin into an active volcano. Some see God as a celestial policeman, waiting for you to misbehave so that He can hit you on the head for stepping out of line. While others see God as a divine vending machine. They deposit their prayers and God dispenses an answer. Personally as a young believer, I lived with a constant tension of trying to live such a “holy life” that the slightest misstep would displease God. Galatians 6:16

I believe that the majority of Christ-followers have not truly grasped the truth of John 15:15; “I no longer call you servants,... Instead, I have called you friends...” Christians think of Jesus as their Lord, Savior, King and Master. However, believers rarely think of Jesus as being a close friend. Though that might sound strange to you at first, Jesus actually wants us to think this way. Jesus is our King, but He never wants us to feel that we are beneath Him. He wants us to talk to Him, come to Him during our times of trouble, and build a loving, long-lasting friendship.

The amazing thing it is God who initiates this friendship. That means being a friend of God does not lessen our reverence of Him. Once you see all the things that a friendship with Jesus offers, you will realize that He is the best friend that you could ever have. A truly happy life is made possible when we choose to have a friendship with Him! 

Empty-Handed?

 

And when he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” –Luke 5:4

Do you remember the story in the book of Luke when the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing? Seeing they were empty handed, Jesus told Simon Peter to throw the nets on the other side of the boat.

Now, you can hear the lack of excitement in Simon Peter’s response when he said, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!” I can identify with Peter having fished all night and did not catch anything. And there is nothing more frustrating than someone giving a fisherman advice on how to catch fish! Especially from a carpenter (Jesus).

But still he threw the net out as Jesus told him to do. And a miracle happened! They caught so many fish that their two boats began to take on water!

So overwhelmed with what he saw, Simon Peter “fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8).

You see, Simon Peter came to the end of himself, but Jesus was just beginning! In fact, Jesus gave him a new calling saying, “From now on you’ll be catching men.” 

Have you reached the end of yourself?  Has your toil left you empty-handed? Are you exhausted from working in your own strength? If so, then it’s time to fall at Jesus’ feet.

Yield to Jesus completely. Follow his direction. And he will restore you and prepare you to fulfill your calling in his kingdom.

Teaching Racism

 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children,..." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Today Critical Race Theory [CRT] is a topic that is causing an uprising in our culture. For those for who may not be aware, CRT is “a cross-disciplinary intellectual and social movement of civil-rights scholars and activists who seek to examine the intersection of race and law in the United States and to challenge mainstream American liberal approaches to racial justice.” Wikipedia

The point of contention is should CRT be taught in our schools? As a Christ-follower, I strongly believe that the education of our children is NOT the responsibility of the educational system but the parents. Parents have a right to say what their children should be taught. Racism is taught through many avenues: Parents, peers, schools, movies, etc. That being the case, it is imperative that parents teach their children that racism is wrong and not biblical. Jesus personally demonstrated He came to overcome racism John 4.

The Bible clearly teaches the equality of ALL races. Galatians 3:28 Ephesians 2:14 Jesus Christ is not the Savior of the white race but the Savior of all mankind. Educating our children is NOT the responsibility of the educational system but the parents. Parents have a right to say what their children should be taught. Racism is taught through many avenues: Parents, peers, schools, movies, etc. That being the case, it is imperative that parents teach their children that racism is wrong and not biblical. Jesus personally demonstrated He came to overcome racism John 4. The Bible clearly teaches the equality of ALL races. Galatians 3:28 Ephesians 2:14 Jesus Christ is not the Savior of the white race but the Savior of all mankind.

Teaching our children Biblical truth does not make is spiritual crackpots. Living God’s Word does not require that we tack Scripture placards all over our walls and speak in a “holy” tone of voice. But it does mean that we teach our children how to apply God’s Word to appropriate situations.

Being Wise at Christmas

 Tomorrow, we celebrate Christmas! I am sure many thoughts and memories are filling our minds. The baby Jesus, shepherds, the angelic host, and of course the three wise men.

We do not possess much detail about the three wise men but what we do know can benefit us today in our spiritual journey. Mentioned only in the second chapter of Matthew, the identity of the wise men or Magi has fascinated those who study the Bible. Who are these mysterious people who came "from the East" (Matthew 2:1)

1. These were learned (hence wise) priests who studied astronomy and other religions of their day. They knew of the prophecy concerning the King of the Jews and followed “His” star Matthew 2:2 But their search for this new king was not to satisfy their intellectual curiosity but their search was motivated by worship. We can learn that “wise men” today should seek Him to worship.
2. Many Bible scholars think the Magi traveled 1,000+ miles from their home which probably took them months to find Jesus. It took perseverance for them to reach Bethlehem. Today, it is hard to get people to drive across town to attend church.
3. We “assume” there were only three wise men because only three gifts are mentioned. But this is probably wrong. Stephen Collins, in his book "Lost Ten Tribes of Israel . . . Found!" - “Due to their elevated position, they probably traveled with a large entourage that included servants, cooks, and so on worthy of those of high rank. They also came with an armed escort of perhaps a few hundred soldiers, not only to protect their safety but also to guard the precious gifts they carried.”
4. "This Parthian delegation was offering tribute money to a 'king,' and therefore would more likely have brought a whole train of pack animals loaded with gold, frankincense, and... "Since the Parthian Magi were directed to Jesus by an angel of God, their sense of awe likely resulted in unusually large gifts being given to Jesus" (Stephen Collins)
5. After the magi found Jesus; they returned home by another route. I don't want to stretch this point, but once people truly meet Jesus, they are never the same. 2 Cor. 5:17

Hopefully, we can learn (and apply) what we know that made these men wise.

God's Opposites

 

There is a saying that just because everyone is doing it doesn't make it right. Our culture (the world system) is trying to press Christ-followers into their way of thinking. “Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold...” Romans 12:2

After 50+ years being a Christ-follower, I have discovered that the “natural” responses to life situations are often totally opposite to Christ's teaching and the principles of Scripture. For example:

• Self-promotion. If you want to get ahead in life, you have to look out for #1. The world says to make sure you get credit for all your accomplishments. Push your name to the head of the list. But Scripture teaches the opposite. It teaches the way up, is down. 1 Peter 5:6 says “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you it due time.”

• Getting wealth. While the Bible does not condemn riches, it says not to make it your life's goal.

  Deuteronomy 8:18 1 Timothy 9:9 also teaches “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation...That plunges people into ruin and destruction.”

• Revenge. How do you respond to someone that has hurt you, slandered you, or cheated you? The 'natural' response is to get even. Interesting phrase. When we get “even” we are on the same level as the one you did us wrong. The Bible's view is, “Bless them that curse you and pray for them which deceitfully use you. Luke 6:28

The list is endless but let me leave you with this thought. Often our first 'natural' response doesn't align with Scripture, so look at your response through the lens of Scripture.

I've Been Pranked!

 

Though pranks have been with us for thousands of years, it's taken a new turn with access to social media. A prank is defined as a practical joke or mischievous act.

As a true follower of Jesus Christ, I don't believe pranks are consistent with the Christian life. I realize that this is my personal opinion and pulling a prank is not a sin but I do not think it adds credibility to our testimony.

I look at life through the lens of a Biblical worldview. That is, I think the principles found in Scripture should guide how we live. For example, the “Golden Rule.” The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one wants to be treated. Matthew 7:12

Watch the videos and it looks like the only ones enjoying the prank are those committing them. I John 2:6 says as a Christ-followers - “The one who claims to remain in him [Jesus] ought to live in the same way as he lived.”

Can you imagine Jesus Christ pulling a prank on someone? The point of a prank is to laugh at someone's response to the prank. Would Jesus laugh at someone's embarrassment? Would Jesus prank someone for enjoyment? I don't think so. If someone has pranked you, how did you feel? I doubt you enjoyed it. No one likes being laughed at or being embarrassed.

Think before you prank!

One Way Out

 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6

When the disciples asked how they would get to the Father and his “house,” Jesus answered that he was the only way.

This fact that Jesus is the only way to heaven isn’t popular in our age of the “it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re sincere” and “all faiths lead to the same destination” way of thinking. People argue that having just one way is too narrow and limiting. “How can anyone claim to be the only way to God?” they assert.

In reality, Jesus’ way is wide enough for all who believe. Instead of arguing and worrying about how limited it sounds, people should be grateful that there actually is one way to God and eternal life.

When coming to a precipice and wishing to get to the other side of the great divide, we don’t pout and demand that a bridge is in place on the exact spot where we stand. Instead, we travel to the bridge, the only bridge, a few miles away, grateful that a way across has been provided.

Jesus is the way — ​follow him. Jesus is truth — ​believe him. Jesus is life — ​live in him. Regardless of the claims of cults, pop religion, or wishful thinking, no other bridge to the Father and his house exists.

Thank God He has provided the Way.

From Once-A-Day Devotional for Men