Take care to have knowledge about the condition of your flocks,
looking well after your herds. Proverbs 7:23 

The context of this verse is of course addressed to an agrarian society. The herdsman had to know the temperament and health of each member of his herd so that he could properly care for them. While most of us do not tend cattle, horses, or sheep many have children or a spouse that we live with and relate to. Sadly, with our hectic pace of life, we are not building deep and rewarding relationships with those we love. I spent 30+ years as a pastor and I was concerned with the spiritual condition of the individuals in my congregation. 

When interacting with a husband/father I often would ask him if their child/spouse knew Christ as their personal Savior. Too many times they would respond they did not know. Having a personal relationship with Christ is THE most important aspect of life and yet we are often unaware of the spiritual condition of our family members. 

When was the last time we sat down with our children/spouse and had a serious discussion with them about their struggles, fears, ambitions, peer pressures, etc? 

Why not have a date night with your daughter and build that relationship? How about taking your son on a weekend camping trip to have a deep talk about what he is struggling with? Wives would be delighted if their husbands gave them their undivided attention. 

Life is tough! Having good relationships with our family members takes being intentional.   

Last Chance

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, Acts 16:31

It’s been 111 years since Titanic, the greatest ship of its time, sank on its maiden voyage, killing more than 1,500 passengers. The “unsinkable ship” had done the unthinkable. One of the unforgettable stories of the fateful event is of the Titanic preacher John Harper and his passion for saving souls.

On Sunday the 14th of April, 1912, the day when the iceberg was struck, Harper attended the church service for the passengers. His niece reported that later that afternoon she saw her Uncle speaking individually to people about their souls. It seems he was in the habit of seeking out the lost sheep wherever he went.

The Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 P.M. on April 14, 1912. One survivor distinctly remembered hearing him shout, "Women, children, and the unsaved into the lifeboats!" Harper knew that believers were ready to die but the unsaved were not ready. Harper then ran along the decks pleading with people to turn to Christ. As the ship began to lurch, he jumped into the icy waters and swam frantically to all he could reach, beseeching them to turn to the Lord Jesus and be saved.

Harper swam to the people one by one and asked them, “Are you saved?” One man later testified that he replied, No, I am not,' He replied, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved,' The waves bore him away; but later the waves brought him back and asked, 'Are you saved now?' ‘No,’ I said, ‘I cannot honestly say that I am.’ He said again, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,’ and shortly after he went down; and there, alone in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed. I am John Harper’s last convert.

Finally, as hypothermia set in, John Harper sank beneath the waters and passed into the Lord’s presence; he was 39. In the Hollywood movie of the Titanic, nothing was said about John Harper, but he was truly one of the great heroes of the Titanic.  In the face of death and drowning, he was concerned about the souls of men.

Do Not Conform

 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8

Some years ago, I was a principal in a Christian Academy. As part of my responsibilities, I would interview the seniors who were about to graduate. As expected,  they gave all the correct answers. A few days after their graduation, it came to my attention that one of the graduates was involved in drinking and sexual activity. While attending school, his behavior was above reproach, How could this happen? He had conformed his outward behavior, without allowing his heart to be transformed.  He knew the lingo, he knew what was expected of him and he conformed. 

But I'm afraid he isn't alone. Millions of professing Christians have done the same. They observed other Christians and saw them pray, go to church, give offerings, read their Bibles, etc., and thought "I can do that too!"  So, they conformed their lives and came to the conclusion, that they too were "Christians." But, they have never been transformed by the Holy Spirit. They were never made new. 2 Corinthians 5 If there hasn't been a change, it is doubtful you have been truly converted. 

Someone said, ""External conformity without internal transformation gives us an incomplete Christian identity." The Apostle Paul said it this way, "Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside..." NOTICE. Paul said don't change yourself, (Don't just conform!) But allow God to change you!

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

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 

Need More Time?

 

“And there was no day before it or after it...” Joshua 10:14

We have all said it, “I wish I had more time in a day!” Of course it's impossible to add more time to our allotted 24 hrs. but someone actually did add a whole day to his calendar. The Bible records of a battle where Joshua, Israel's leader, had a miraculous victory over his enemies. Joshua pursued the defeated army as they fled but time was running out to completely destroy his enemy.

Joshua then prayed for a miracle. He asked God to stop the sun and moon so he could finish his enemies and God answered his prayer. Joshua 10:13 Don't ask me to explain how God did it but He did. The earth stopped spinning on its axis with a catastrophic effect. All I can say Jehovah reigns outside of the constraints of time, so for Him to stop time is no problem.

Timelessness exists nowhere on the Earth. Timelessness exists nowhere in space. Stars and planets move through space as a constant indicator that time is passing. The only place that timelessness exists is within the heart of God; and because Joshua boldly prayed, God inserted timelessness into the Earth.

In 1964, The Rolling Stones, recorded Time is On Our Side, which became an instant hit. It makes a great love song BUT time is NOT on our side. Job 14:5 says, “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”

Since we cannot add one minute to our time on earth what should we do? Colossians 4:5 says “...making the most of the time.” Benjamin Franklin said, “Lost time is never found again.”

How Well do You Know God?

 

A father overheard his son playing with two friends in their backyard. As boys will often do, they were boasting about how important their fathers were. The first boy bragged that HIS father was so important, he knew the mayor of the city. The second boy not to be undone bragged HIS father personally knew the Governor of the state. The listening father wondered what his son might say about him. His son, with puffed up chest, said His father was so important he knew God!

Well you cannot top that! I wonder if our children could say that about us. What is there about our relationship with God that would convince our children that we personally know God? James 2:23 When we pray with our families, do we convey that our relationship with God is up-close and personal? Or God is some distant Deity? Do we share with our children how God is working in our lives?

In Genesis 5, there is a brief account of a man known as Enoch. The Bible tells us Enoch walked so close to God that God took him to heaven without him dying. I can only imagine the conversation around the evening meal in Enoch's home! “Your father won't be joining us tonight. He is having dinner with God!”

Fathers, take time to develop your relationship with God and then share with your family how God is working in your life!

Jesus the Magnet

 When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him... Matthew 8:1

We read throughout the New Testament that everywhere Jesus went He drew a crowd but He never intentionally drew people to Himself. In John 6 we have the account of Jesus attracting a crowd of over 5,000. I have been thinking a lot about why people are not drawn to me [or churches] like they were Jesus. Why are churches closing by the hundreds even though they are using a host of venues to attract people? What was Jesus 'secret' in drawing people?

• Jesus loved unbelievers People called Him the "Friend of Sinners."The command to love is the most repeated command in the Bible. We need to love people where they are.
• Jesus attracted people by meeting their needs. Jesus frequently asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" Many churches are more interested in meeting their own needs rather than meeting the needs of others. They need to know that they will be loved and accepted.
• Jesus' teachings were relevant. Jesus usually taught in response to a question or problem from someone in the crowd. Jesus' goal when teaching was to transform lives. We do not have to make the Bible relevant - it already is. When people understand how the Bible can affect and change their lives; they will be drawn to that church.

Some churches become like the world. Some isolate themselves from it. A third option is better - infiltrating the world! Jesus walked among people, in their world.

 

Ripples

Have you ever thrown a stone into a lake and watched the ripple effect? No matter the size of the stone, they all make a ripple. So it is with our witnessing for Christ. Just a simple word will cause a ripple effect in people's lives.

Early one Sunday, a young man dragged himself home from a night of partying. He collapsed into bed, setting his radio alarm for mid-afternoon. When the radio came on, he was jealous awake by the preaching of Donald Barnhouse, who was asking: " Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and he asked you, what right do you have to enter into my heaven - what would you say?"

That's the moment the Holy Spirit touch James Kennedy, one of America's eminent pastors, who is now with the lord. At the time, however, no one knew the results of that broadcast. It was unknown to Dr. Barnhouse, to the producers of the show. To the supporters who had given their gifts to put it on the air, or to the workers in the studio. Only heaven can tabulate the result of that Sunday afternoon broadcast.

Do not ever underestimate the handful of stones you're throwing into the pond whenever you say a word for Christ.

Need A New Heart?

 

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. Ezekiel 36:26

Science has produced many amazing medical advances. The most spectacular is the ability to transplant human body parts. A few decades ago, transplants were rare but these days everyone seems to know someone with a new hip, knee, kidney, liver, or heart.

When the prophet Ezekiel wrote the above verse he had no knowledge of organ replacements but he carefully recorded the message of a heart transplant. The "heart" in this passage doesn't refer to the physical, blood-pumping muscle in your chest. He was referring to the core of a person's being: Your mind, will, and emotions.

Ezekiel was addressing the nation of Israel who wanted nothing to do with worshipping the true God. They had rejected God for so long their hearts had become 'hardened.' (Sounds like America.) Hearts become hardened through repeated sin and living only for self.

The fact is we all need a new heart but we all have sinned against God. Romans 3:23 The Good News is no matter how hard your heart is; God can successfully give you a new heart. Ask God to perform spiritual heart surgery.

No Earls In Heaven

 

Are you as confused as I am concerning the levels of English nobility? Dukes, Duchesses, Earls, Lords, barons. Who outranks the other? The English are famous for their idea of nobility as a birthright. That might work in the kingdom of Britain bit it doesn't work in the Kingdom of God. Spiritual standing is a personal decision, not a birthright. No one is saved because his parents or grandparents were saved.

Jesus told a parable of five foolish virgins who failed to provide oil for their lamps. Matthew 25. When they sought to borrow oil from others, they were refused. Oil in the Bible represents the Holy Spirit, which is given to individuals only by God. Are you resting on your spiritual ancestry or own your own relationship with Jesus?

Regardless of who your parents are or were, you are not a Christ-follower until you personally accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.

“The tragedy of my life is that though I've led thousands of people to Jesus Christ, my own sons are not saved.” Billy Sunday – 20th-century American evangelist

The Walking Dead

 

I am not sure why some people are fascinated with "zombies" (walking dead). You are probably not aware that the "walking dead" are all around us. You work with many of them. That fellow student may be among them. You even go to church with them. Now, I am not speaking of the horrible, fleshing-eating creature of the silver screen. 

The walking dead has been with us for thousands of years. The Apostle wrote of them in Ephesians 2:1,4 As for you, you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world...vs 4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in our trespasses."

Paul was writing about people's past before they accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. Physically, they were walking around, breathing, and conversing with other 'walking dead.' But spiritually, they were totally unaware they were dead in their sins. 

The 'walking dead' of the big screen are totally unable to do anything to change their condition but those who realize they are spiritually dead, can turn to Jesus, repent of their sin and receive forgiveness AND a new life. The promise is Jesus "made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses..."