James 4:17 9/24/2019*

“Therefore, whoever knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.”

This verse would indicate that God wants us to play both sides of the ball. Of course we must defend against temptation, but we also need to run to the battle and play offense by doing what we know is right.

If you ask most people to define sin they will give you a long list of things you are not supposed to do. But this passage broadens that definition.

There are obviously sins of commission, but what about sins of omission?  Most of us don’t intend to kill and steal today …but do we have a plan to do what God has laid on our heart to do?...If we ignore His prodding James labels it a sin.

So, what is James talking about?   Maybe he is referring to the Spirit’s nudging about the guy you know that eats by himself each day? … or the widow in your neighborhood that God is pushing you to call or visit…  or the family you know in dire financial need?

Our faith is not just restrictive - it must be assertive as well. When we only worry about what we should not do, our faith becomes lifeless.  We need to have vibrant, active, busy faith. Faith that reaches for our wallet to help other people, faith that visits hospitals, faith that interrupts our daily schedule to help strangers. 

Let’s plan to DO something today.  Ask God to give you a “mission”. It won’t take Him long to put a need on your heart… when He does, go meet it.

No doubt it is important that you abstain from even the appearance of evil…but while you are not doing anything wrong today…let’s set out to do some things right.

Call Compassion and support a child, provide funding to a mission that feeds the homeless, pray for those God puts on your heart.

This verse says it’s a sin to ignore God and not do what you know is right. What it doesn’t mention is how exhilarating it is when you do what He says… play a little offense today and you will see what I mean.

“It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.” ― Molière

John 20:21 9/17/2019*

“Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Are you taking your mission seriously? 

Jesus says, “I am sending you” and it is not to make money and keep yourself comfortable.

God sent Jesus to die on a cross and provide a path to salvation… Now Christ is sending you IN THE SAME WAY to teach the way to salvation that the cross purchased.  

If your life has felt meaningless lately maybe you have allowed it to become that way…. This is your meaning…. your purpose is to love others and lead them to Christ.

“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” is not just a figure of speech. It is a comparison…a directive….it is an explanation as to how we are to view our role in spreading the gospel. We should have an urgency and focus like Jesus did with every person we meet today.

Sharing God’s plan of salvation is not just something on your “to do list” -- it is the reason you get out of bed in the morning…. It is why we are still here…. everything else is incidental.

So, what is your plan? What are you going to DO?

As you go to school, or work, or wherever God takes you today, approach it like a warrior crossing enemy lines.  Be alert… Look for the wounded and take them the life-giving truth of God. A few simple words from you could be a pivot point in their life with eternal impact.

Look for an opening to talk to someone today about what Jesus has done for you.  Put on the whole armor of God and run to the battle looking for any opportunity God provides for you to spread His love and plan.

Believe me the enemy will be intentional so you must be as well. Put together a game plan that puts you in a position to advance the Kingdom today… we have an eternally significant mission … so let’s go!

“Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” - Charles Spurgeon

2 Corinthians 4:18 9/10/2019*

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

This chapter recognizes the fact that we live in a fallen world in which we are getting older and wasting away…This verse is at the end of the chapter and while it acknowledges these trials it says we shouldn’t stare at them.

So, the question we must as ourselves is …what are our eyes fixed on?

Financial crisis?  Health issues? Family problems? Employment difficulties? ...This verse says all these things have one thing in common – they are temporary. 

They are used to distract us and take our focus off eternal matters.

In a shell game the trick is to not be distracted by the empty shells. Never look away from the shell that contains the prize. No matter what happens you never let it out of your sight. Life is the same way…you must never let the urgent distract you from the important.

We all have a long list of problems…regardless of our well-crafted on-line image…everyone is struggling with something. We also all have a long list of things for which we should be thankful. 

The tone of your life will be based on which list you focus on.

You must decide what you fix your eyes on realizing that your soul is eternal, and nothing temporary is ever going to satisfy it.   

Constant emphasis on temporary problems, possessions, and experiences will lead to a shallow life that swings wildly between despair and happiness.  But focusing on eternal things will create a solid foundation that leads to a life that radiates joy regardless of circumstances.

The key is understanding that it is a choice…and choices have consequences. 

So, decide today to place your attention on the everlasting.  Only give a passing glance at the temporary and build your foundation on the fact that we are “aliens and strangers” passing through this world on our way to our eternal home.

The first thing you learn in most sports…is the most important thing you will learn in life…. Block out distractions and keep your eye on the ball.

“Perpetual devotion to what a man calls his business, is only to be sustained by perpetual neglect of many other things.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson

1 Corinthians 15:33 9/3/2019*

“Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

This is a commonsense warning not an exclusionary statement. It deals with your “buddies” not people you spend time with occasionally.

It is a fact that the people we spend the most time with, influence us. They can make us better or make us worse. They can challenge us or make us comfortable in our mediocrity.

As a coach I used to say, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”.

Since we coached the same way every year, the differences in record reflected the differences in the team members. Attitude is contagious…you cannot spend a season with a group of guys and not have them impact you. You need to pick your team carefully… you should have a group you intentionally spend time with that pushes you to improve.

You need solid men, committed to Christ to encourage you and hold you accountable. Guys pursuing morality and integrity as opposed to those who would make you comfortable in lowering the bar. When iron strikes iron it sharpens it… You need a “life group” that makes you better.

This verse can be misapplied and appear snobbish. Make no mistake, you are not too good for anyone… you love everyone – You exclude no one – But you should have a squad that you intentionally and methodically invest time with that makes you stronger, braver, more disciplined, and more focused.

Look at the people you spend the most time with and you will see your future… If you don’t like what you see redirect time toward a team you can train with…It’s important and is something you should do strategically.

This will not happen by accident. You must Seek out people running toward the same goals you are chasing regarding your family, your career, and your walk with Christ.

When you stumble they will pick you up, and when they stumble you can return the favor.

Make a commitment to have each other’s back and to leave no one behind.  Like a group of soldiers find some guys you can trust with your life. Because whether you realize it or not that is exactly what you are doing.

“A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.” - Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Romans 5:8 8/27/2019*

^“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God didn’t wait for you to get your life straight to love you. His love initiates, it doesn’t respond. While you were still sinning…He was paying the price to restore you.  

…how many of us follow this path?

If you sin against me and then ask for me to forgive you…I probably will.
And by that, I mean I will stop actively being angry at you.  But I will withhold my affection and watch you and not let you close to me until I am sure you are sincere.

That’s comfortable and safe for me but it is not love…  There is no need to argue with me… I struggle here to… I’m just telling you what the bible says. 

Jesus said to “love others as I have loved you” (John 13:34) so we can debate all we want but Jesus is very clear. I must do the work to restore you even if you are moving away from me…that is how God demonstrated His love to me - and that is how I am told to demonstrate my love to others.

So again, I will ask…how many of us follow this path?

Some counselors will tell you this is unwise - but apparently, they and God disagree. So, you will have to decide who to follow. 

Let me challenge you to take God at His word and choose to love His way…

Will it make you happy?...I don’t know. But it will make you holy. And that is God’s purpose for your life. Holiness produces joy…and while happiness is circumstantial, joy is permanent.

Who in your life do you need to love while they are still sinning?  What load of animosity have you been carrying that you need to drop today? 

What person or group of people, do you need to reach out to and offer the redemptive love of God to… even though they don’t love you?

The instructions are clear. You must initiate restoration. The Holy Spirit will enable you to do it…. You just have to decide to obey.

I am not sure what it will do for the person you decide to love - but I am positive what it will do for you.

“There but for the grace of God go I.” – John Bradford

Peter 3:15-16 8/20/2019*

“His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction”

Peter is talking about Paul’s letters, and this short sentence carries some very significant implications. There are three important lessons to glean from this verse:

1.    Some people want to discount Paul’s writings because they contain things that are controversial, but Peter clearly states that they are scripture.

2.    People will distort complicated scripture to suit their own purposes.

3.    Doing so leads to destruction.

This passage shows that trying to discount Paul’s letters (or any other scripture) is not a new phenomenon. It occurs when scripture not only teaches doctrine but shows how it should impact your actions.

Some people would rather change the truth, than change their behavior. So, instead of altering their lives to fit scripture, they alter scripture to fit their lives.

Peter says that is ignorant and unstable…. In other words -  it happens when you are uneducated in the Word of God, and it leaves you without a foundation.

If you choose to discount Paul’s words because you don’t like them, then you must disagree with Peter’s statement in this verse and toss it out as well…. if you follow that path you are headed for destruction.

The fact of the matter is that If you start picking and choosing what scripture you follow …you are no longer following scripture… you are following yourself.

The Bible is not a buffet – it is either God-breathed – or it is not. If God miraculously wrote it - He can miraculously protect it and defend its integrity.  Scripture, taken in context, is intended to be your guide. It is foundational.

If you intend to only follow scripture you agree with then stop wasting time with all the “theological open field running” it takes to justify your actions and just choose your own path.

But if you believe the Bible is the Living Word of God - then follow it …ALL of it.

Truth does not need majority approval, and untruth will lead you down a dangerous trail. Either follow the Bible or your own conclusions…. select your compass and get going.

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” - Jesus

John 13:7 8/13/2019*

“Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

There is an amazing amount of theological truth in that little verse.

Jesus is explaining why He is washing Peter’s feet. Reading about it now it seems foolish for Peter to argue with Him, but we often do the same thing. 

We all want God to be a part of our plan, when we should be seeking to be part of His.

We seldom understand His design because we have no desire to…We already have a strategy and our prayers are more instructional than inquisitive… they are often just a list of chores for God to do to achieve our goals.

The problem with that is we do not have the intel He has – we don’t see, or control the future as He does…so it makes little sense for us to insist on our plan, yet we do it all the time.

When Peter does it in this passage…Jesus basically says, “trust me on this one”.

So, the question is what situation is God saying “Trust me on this one” to you about?

Are there circumstances in your life that are causing you anxiety?  Are there things that you think God should handle differently?  Maybe God is saying “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Trust Him…The hardest thing for us to comprehend is that He actually loves us. That’s hard to believe, knowing what we know about ourselves, but it is true, and it is the key to having peace. 

Peter should have realized that when Jesus said “trust me, you’ll understand later” …and so should we.

Don’t let the enemy steal your peace ..his lies are only accurate if God is unable or unwilling to deliver you, and neither is true…God’s plan is unsurpassed, and He has the power to accomplish it… He is not pacing the floor in Heaven because He is in complete control… so trust Him on this one.

It is a choice…dwell on what you think might go wrong…or dwell on the power and love of God. Trust or argue…it is your call. But know that no one loves you more than He does…and no one can do more about your problems than He can.

“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.”- Charles Spurgeon

Romans 1: 21-22 8/6/2019*

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools”

Foolishness is a process.  It begins when you start ignoring God.

You become self-absorbed and ungrateful…from there the slope gets slippery and your thoughts become futile and pointless.

The farther down the tunnel you go, the darker your heart becomes, and the harder it is to reach you. The final nail in the coffin is this…while everyone sees your idiocy…you think you are brilliant.

We see it every day…men and woman proclaiming their genius while they whole world shakes their head…but no amount of facts or statistics can change their minds because their hearts have been darkened. This is what God calls becoming a fool.

So how do we avoid this fate? How do we stay off the slippery slope of foolishness? The beginning of this verse holds the key…” although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him”. 

How are you doing in that department? 

Is God someone you know of and might think about on Sundays…or is he someone you are grateful for and strive to glorify each day. 

Those are two very different scenarios and have two very different outcomes.

The first one lulls you into a place of complacency and self-reliance. It is the beginning of the slide… If you feel the need to keep telling others how wise you are, then you may be headed down that slope.

But the second one is the opposite…it is the beginning of the climb.  Glorifying God and making Him the authority in your life, allows you to daily grow in wisdom and gratitude. These attributes are what prevent you from being a fool.

Rearrange your priorities and make sure the first thing you do this morning is to thank God and glorify Him for what He has done in your life. Focus on serving Him and loving His children. God will take care of the rest.

If you ignore God and take credit for yourself, you will slide into foolishness.

If you glorify Him and are thankful for His blessings…you will grow in wisdom.

“The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.”

 Niccolo Machiavelli

Lamentations 2:14 7/30/2019*

“The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin.”

Are the sermons at your church always “I’m OK, you’re OK”?  Are you constantly told that it’s not your fault and there is always someone else to blame?

That may feel nice, but it’s not true….

Some of your problems are completely your fault and require action from you.

On your own merit, you are not OK, and neither am I. We both struggle with sin at times, and if you don’t believe that I can name one of your sins right now.

You need to be part of a community that not only encourages you but lovingly challenges you.  One that will expose sin before it destroys you. You must not only be open to being challenged, but willing to gently challenge others as well.

You say "I don’t want to make my friend uncomfortable"…but If I claim to love you and refuse to point out something that can annihilate you …then my love is questionable.

God says a prophet that doesn’t point out sin is “false and worthless”.

Unfortunately, there are churches all over the world that fall into this category.  They have morphed into self-help organizations that hold pep rallies once a week to build up the congregation’s self-image. But they routinely ignore sin and God calls that false and worthless.

Should we leave church with a bloody nose every Sunday? .... of course not.  But if you have never been irritated by something the pastor says only to go to the bible and discover it is the Truth…then you are listening to a cheerleader not a prophet.

When you choose a church, the music matters, the activities matter, the children’s program is important…but if the pastor doesn’t point out your sin, and no one is watching your walk… then you are being lulled into a comfortable lie.

Find a group of believers that loves you enough to risk hurting your feelings.

Remorse and repentance are part of growth…make sure your pastor accurately handles the word and you have people willing to lovingly pull you back onto the path when you wander off.

“When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.”
― David Brin

Matthew 6:3-4 7/23/2019*

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

This may be one of the most overlooked scriptures in the bible.

Jesus is not only saying don’t publicize your gifts…He is saying hide them. 

You can’t be more secretive than not letting one hand know what the other is doing so I think His meaning is clear.  But why would Christ tell us to be mysterious when we bless others?

Of course, part of it is to avoid the self-centeredness that can result from accepting accolades and appreciation... but there is more to it than that.

There is an intimacy I share with God when only He and I know of my gift. There is a pureness in the offering when it is anonymous and completely without self-elevation.

We crave recognition.  We desire awards and words of appreciation from people or organizations we have helped, but Jesus says by accepting them we are giving up something better.  We are forfeiting the amazing joy that results from giving a pure unsoiled gift to our Creator. We give up the quiet smile from God as He approves our unselfish sacrifice.

The best way to understand the “reward” Jesus is referring to is to experience it. Let me challenge you to secretly bless someone today.  

Give something extravagant to someone who needs it.  Assist a family with a financial gift that God has placed on your heart  …. now here is the fun part…Not only don’t publicize your gift…but don’t even let the people you helped know it came from you.

It will take some planning to ensure your target receives the gift without knowing who sent it. You will need to develop strategies to be a silent donor.  But it will be worth the effort.

Whether it's paying for a stranger’s lunch, or buy a car for a family in need, the amount of the gift is not the point…God loves a cheerful giver. You will experience an amazing nearness to Him as He approves your offering purely motivated by love.

Try it …. You can’t out give God…I can guarantee you that if you secretly bless someone today the blessings will splash out all over you.

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” - Anne Frank