Proverbs 19:3 1/28/2020 *8/26*

“A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the Lord.”

We have become a people that thrive on blaming others.

Refusing to accept responsibility for our own problems, we blame our families, bosses, coaches, teachers, elected officials and ultimately we blame God… Anyone, but the person in the mirror.

On the surface this seems like a way to ease the pain of life, but it is actually the opposite. It creates an environment of helplessness. We can’t fix what we didn’t break…and if we convince ourselves that our anguish is the fault of others then we are powerless to change it.

This has produced a culture of anxiety and despair persuading us that we are victims of things we cannot control….

But humor me for a moment…Let’s pretend that some of your problems are your fault…let’s assume that some of your difficulties are of your own making - and that your foolishness has damaged your life…. What would that mean?

It would mean you can fix it…

It would mean you’re not a victim….You have control…you can pick up the phone and mend a relationship, you can stop being paranoid about what others think, you can love others instead of demanding you be loved first… all of a sudden this assumption gives you power.

And it is more than just an assumption…This verse states that our own folly is what wrecks our lives… our sin creates chaos and bitterness in our world and brings anger, pain and despair.

So, change it.  

Draw a circle around yourself today and take complete responsibility for everything that happens inside of that circle. Don’t worry about what happens outside of it - but make sure you control everything inside - and control your responses to whatever happens outside.

Then instead of blaming God…Put your faith in Him. Let Him fight the enemies outside of that circle, and you battle the one that is inside it.

You will be amazed at the peace and rest that will come when you take back responsibility for your life – and release the resentment you’ve held toward others.

Control what you can control – and rely on God to manage the rest.

“Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.” -  Charles Spurgeon

Mark 2:17 1/21/2020*8/12*

“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”

This was Jesus’ response when the religious leaders asked why he was eating with “tax collectors and sinners”.

His comment “the healthy don’t need a doctor” indicates He realized the Pharisees thought their righteousness eliminated their need for deliverance.

His answer was not implying that some people don’t need Him…He was simply pointing out that some people don’t know it.

The Pharisees thought the sinners were sick - but believed their own good deeds and religion had made them immune …Ironically, that attitude is a symptom of the disease.   

The Pharisee’s religion had blinded them to their chronic sinfulness allowing it to progress untreated. But the sinners were aware of their need for healing and were drawn to Christ for help.

Jesus came to call sinners because that is all there is to call. None of us are righteous…not one. We are all infected and the prognosis is terminal.

The Pharisees ignorance of their own sin shows that pride had produced a blind spot…. and allowed arrogance to infect their hearts with an attitude of superiority.

What about you… Has your religion blinded you? Do you find it hard to value people you disagree with?…Does your piousness and good deeds make you more important than others?  If so, you a have a problem… If you are unable to love and find worth in others, you have a lethal virus called arrogance.

Examine your spiritual health carefully so you will not be fooled as the pharisees were, into believing you are spiritually well enough not to need Christ. 

Jesus came to call sinners…which means all of us.  Sin is a condition we are born with… it is universal and aggressive. There is a cure, but it requires a substantial surgery to remove self-centeredness, and then a prescription of daily doses of Christ to keep us well.

Don’t let your church attendance blind you to your disease…Humbly accept the free gift of healing and stay on the prescribed treatment.

… then spend the rest of your life trying to get that treatment to others.

“None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.” - Charles Spurgeon

1 Corinthians 1:26 1/14/2020*

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.”

The Corinthian church was splitting into factions.  They were choosing sides. In their anger they had stopped discussing issues and started arguing positions.

Does that sound familiar?...

Our culture has adopted the mentality of sports fans when it comes to disagreements…accepting only facts that confirm our beliefs… assassinating the character of those who oppose us…and forming teams of only likeminded people.

Paul say the problem is arrogance…and a truthful look in the mirror should put an end to it.

Realizing what a fool I was without Christ should make it difficult for me to sustain my contempt for other fools.  And an honest assessment of me - should quickly soften my assessment of you.

The problem is our ego…our efforts to defend our position leave little time for self-evaluation… and even when we see our flaws we have become professional blame shifters, unwilling to acknowledge our failings.

But Paul says to own it. Remember the depth from which you have been raised.

When was the last time you felt remorse for something you did? How long has it been since you sincerely apologized to someone…not because you were caught, but because you were sorry? If it’s been a while, that means you’re either perfect, of you struggle with pride.

Paul acknowledges we are called by God… however it is not our perfection but our flaws that serve as credentials…. He says we were foolish enough to shame the wise - and weak enough to shame the strong. It turns out we are “qualified” …. but those qualifications should not cause us to boast, but to marvel at the grace of God.

If I can recapture my amazement at God’s grace for me - it makes it easier to extend that same grace to you.

I need to remember the foolishness for which I have been forgiven – and learn to disagree without dividing. I must embrace humility and allow it to cause me to adore God, and value you enough to listen.

Take a good long look in the mirror today.  “Think of what you were when you were called.” …and let that wipe away the pride that has blocked your vision of redemption and has stopped you from offering it to others.

“A Man Wrapped Up in Himself Makes a Very Small Bundle.”
 - Benjamin Franklin

1 Kings 19:11-12 1/7/2020*

“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

Are you paying attention?

We look for God in the midst of miracles.  The physical healings, the mending of relationships, the job offers that come just in the nick of time. But that is not always where He is…

Make no mistake, there are times He shouts His love to us through ground shaking miracles displaying His power…or glorious wind that rips the mountains in front of us apart, leaving no possible explanation but the power of God.

Yet there are also times, like in the verse above, when He whispers to us.  Times when instead of calming the storm He carries us through it. No perceivable miracles, no physical change of circumstances… just a quiet strength and peace… These are the times that He communicates His love with a whisper.

The problem with a whisper is – you can’t hear it if you’re not listening… If you’re looking for earthquakes, wind, or fire, you may be distracted and miss His voice. 

So, let me ask you again…. are you paying attention?

Have you prayed for a mighty fire to consume your troubles, but God hasn’t responded?... Have you waited for an earthquake to alter your life but God’s not showing up that way?

Maybe you need to be still…perhaps there is a gentle whisper that, in your exhaustion, you’re not hearing.

God is not frightened by your situation and He doesn’t want you to be either.  Fear does not come from God.  Don’t listen to the shouts of the enemy and don’t lean on your own understanding. Stop frantically searching and just listen.

Be still.

Fall to your knees and hear God’s gentle voice telling you that you are not alone…He is in control. He will either change the circumstances or carry you through them. But either way, His love is stronger than your problem.

“When someone speaks in a whisper, you have to get very close to hear. … And that’s what God wants.”  - Mark Batterson

2 Corinthians 4:18 12/31/2019*

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

Let me prepare you for the onslaught of “20/20 vision” references you are about to endure this year. And at the same time try to set your focus for a new decade.

What are your 2020 resolutions? … Are you pursuing the seen or the unseen?... The eternal or the temporary?

The most common resolutions are exercise, weight loss, and getting organized…and those are all good decisions…however they are also all temporary.

You are an eternal being, briefly living in what God calls an earthly tent (2 Cor. 5) so focusing on the short-term comes naturally – but, what are you doing for your soul?

Let me challenge you to make some lasting investments…

Your greatest eternal possessions are your relationship with your Heavenly Father, and your relationship with His children. So, let’s concentrate on those two objectives..

Let me use the list from last week’s blog and again encourage you to make these commitments for 2020:

-      Every day read your bible.

-      Every morning spend time in prayer. 

-      Daily work on scripture memorization.

-      Regularly meet with people who encourage and hold you accountable.

-      Allocate days each month to purposefully serve others.

Scripture, Prayer, Community, Compassion…all of these carry eternal repercussions. Nothing is wasted…Nothing diminishes with time.

This is not a list of fads or untested theories …These practices have always produced unending value. They are God’s clearly defined instructions for growth.

Stop chasing worldly things and short-term fixes. Your soul is eternal and will never be satisfied with temporary playthings. Set your eyes on the unseen… pursue treasures that will gain in value, not deteriorate.

If you are frustrated and disillusioned you don’t have to stay that way…. You are simply a bird walking on the ground…. Spread you wings and do what you were made to do – pursue things with everlasting worth.

God knows what you need…and if you want perfect vision you must fix your eyes on the unseen, only then will you discover the enduring treasures your eternal soul was created to enjoy.

“Heaven wheels above you, displaying to you her eternal glories, and still your eyes are on the ground.” -  Dante Alighieri

1 Corinthians 9:25 12/24/2019*

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

How strict is your spiritual training now, compared to your physical training during your athletic career?  If you had approached athletics with the same consistency you currently have toward spiritual exercise how far would you have gone?

Everybody wants to improve …but “wanting” isn’t enough …you must put in the work in order to achieve results. Every day you must do the mundane, repetitive, difficult things that create progress.

Paul makes the “physical / spiritual” training comparison to the Corinthians and takes it a step further.  Not only should we train as hard spiritually as we do physically…but harder … because one is temporary and the other eternal.

Christmas should motivate us to serve God better, and a new decade gives us a clean slate to begin a training schedule that will produce results.

Expect it to take time. You didn’t begin working out one day and suddenly become an amazing competitor …It took hard work, discipline and consistency …and eventually you became skilled at your craft.  But it never would have happened had you not decided - and started.

So, let’s make the decision and start today…. Resolve to workout spiritually like you did athletically. No excuses:
 

-      Every day get in the Word.

-      Every morning spend time in prayer. 

-      Daily work on scripture memorization.

-      Commit to regular meetings with people who will encourage you and hold you accountable.

-      Allocate days each month that you will intentionally serve others.

These cannot be proposals; they must be commitments to your “spiritual weight room” that are non-negotiable.

Will you instantly become a great man or woman of God?...maybe not, but you will improve. And God says that the seeds you plant will grow. Plant some good seeds today - and tomorrow - and the next day … and soon you will enjoy a great harvest. 

By the power of God, the next decade really can be different…commit to it…start simply, and simply start.

“If we believe that life with God is possible in this world, and if we believe THAT life is the one we've always longed for, then it would be worth whatever it cost us to pursue it.”
― Mike Cosper

Luke 4:14 12/17/2019*

“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”

Jesus had been tempted for 40 days with hunger, fame, riches, and pride. Each attack was a misreading of scripture - which Jesus responded to with correct application of scripture. So, there is a lesson there… but let’s focus on the end of the verse. 

Christ had just overcome every temptation the enemy had hurled at Him…and yet the verse ends with satan leaving “until an opportune time.”

That should make it clear that we can never drop our guard. No matter how big a spiritual victory you are coming off of…. no matter how much God has done to clean up your life…you are not immune to temptation and must stay vigilant.

I assure you, no matter how well you’re doing, you’re an easier target than Jesus was…and If satan was planning a follow up attack on Christ – you can bet he’s not done tempting you.

Scripture says be alert and sober minded… “your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. Lions look for prey that is distracted… targets that have wandered away from the herd, confident in their own strength…And when prey escapes… lions begin planning their next attack.

You will never be in more danger than when you believe you are untouchable. Spiritual growth does not remove you from the danger zone and thinking it does puts you at more risk. Your marriage, your career, your reputation…are all targets that satan wants to kill, steal, and destroy. You must actively and intentionally protect them.

A reporter once asked Billy Graham how his ministry had avoided scandals for so long, to which Reverend Graham responded, “I run scared young man…I run scared”. Pride equals destruction but humility brings prudence.

Don’t allow the enemy an “opportune time”. Be in community with people who have your back.  Stay in the Word. Keep your head on a swivel. We are in a war – and will be - until we hear our King say, “Well done good and faithful servant”. Then you can drop your sword and relax.

But until then, stay alert and “play to the whistle.”

If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armor, I will tell you when Satan has left off temptation.  

- Charles Spurgeon

Romans 5:8 12/10/2019*

“But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

It is a shame that familiarity has lessened the impact of what this verse says…While it is not often thought of as a Christmas verse - it captures Christmas and contains the bulk of what you need to know about your salvation. 

Your Christmas gift is a receipt, stamped “Paid in Full” by God Himself. Offered only because He loves you…. You did nothing to earn it in fact you actively pushed it away.  

If you ever wanted proof that you are loved?.... Christmas is it.

The cost of sin is death…by definition, it separates us from a perfect, holy God. That is the price tag and there is no other possibility.  If you have sinned (and you have) you are under that sentence.

BUT God … did something that demonstrated His love. He didn’t want to lose you …so He paid your debt.  You were not pardoned…the debt was not forgiven…He did not decide to ignore it…. He paid it.

Don’t miss that…HE paid the price for YOUR sin. This didn’t happen because you cleaned up your act… you were still sinning when He set up the plan. It happened because He loves you…not because of your deeds - but in spite of them.  

What a gift…what grace and mercy was delivered to the world on that first Christmas.  It is undoubtably the most important day in history. The pivot point for all humanity. The day God launched the rescue mission to restore us to Himself.

The cost of that plan shows how much He cares - paying for our crimes as we were still committing them - and offering us the benefit at the price of His Son. 

The gift is yours for the taking. Admit you need it, hate the depravity that made it necessary - and receive the Holy Spirit to empower you to resist sin.

You are being offered the key to freedom at no cost to you…and it cost Him the ultimate sacrifice…. That is love…and that is the only Christmas present that matters…because it is the only gift that will change your life.   

“Grace means undeserved kindness. It is the gift of God to man the moment he sees he is unworthy of God's favor.”  - Dwight L. Moody

Luke 15:20 Rev 19:13-15 12/3/2019*

Luke 15:20
“… his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ^“

Rev 19:13-15
“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, … ¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him…. ¹⁵ Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter.”

Both of these verses describe attributes of God …if one of them makes you uncomfortable then your view of God may be inaccurate.

If you picture God as a Santa Claus like figure on the auction block for your consideration … or you think He is a cruel judge waiting to zap you when you make a mistake – then you have been misled.

We tend to focus on certain aspects of God and insist He fit in the box we’ve made for Him. We feel the need to grant our approval of His actions, so we try to explain what He allows and rationalize everything that happens.  When men can’t do this, many will either declare God does not exist - or reject Him…

But the created should not expect to fully comprehend the creator.

Job says, “God is so great that he is beyond our understanding”.  The great theologian John Wesley said, “Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God.”

God is much bigger than you think He is - and the importance of grasping that is impossible to over-emphasize. 

We must not cling to one characteristic of God and ignore the others.  If you are not aware of the “mighty warrior” side of God then you cannot understand the price that was paid for access to the “Loving Father” side of God.

To not comprehend the repulsion and rage of a Holy Deity at your sin…is to not understand the dreadfulness of the Cross.  It is to not grasp the magnitude of what took place at Calvary.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…recognizing that our feeble attempts to define God are inadequate is the first step towards seeing the immensity of the Great I Am. What good would a god be that was little enough for you to explain?

No matter how we try to define God our box is too small…The righteous, powerful warrior is also the merciful Father who loves you …. So, stop trying to explain what you cannot comprehend and focus on what He has revealed to you in His word.

Just a glimpse of His grandeur… will produces a reverence that makes offering to Him anything less than all you have, unthinkable.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – God

Psalm 107:1 11/26/2019*

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

What percentage of your communication with God would you call gratitude?

When you talk to God do you mostly give thanks, or list your needs?
Do you stand amazed at His grace and mercy …or do you question what He allows and promote your own plans over His? 

The answer to those questions depends on how well you understand the end of this passage. The verse says “God is good” …that is a statement of fact.  Then the conclusion of the verse proves it with ….”His love endures forever”.

Stop and consider what it means.  His love – for you – NEVER ENDS…

That should astonish you.  You should be stunned by the fact that He is even aware of you…much less loves you eternally.

Just a cursory look at human history should make you wonder how God has tolerated mankind up to this point - and an honest look at ourselves should makes us wonder how He can possibly love us individually.

This verse encourages you to take a longer even more honest look in that mirror. Consider God’s stubborn love in your life. The times you have pushed Him away and He has refused to leave you. 

The result will be thankfulness - His goodness will overwhelm you and motivate you to “Give thanks to the LORD”. 

Try starting today by reflecting on his mercy and grace in your life. 

Consider what you have been forgiven of…exam the selfish heart that only you and He are aware of… and realize that nothing in the depths of that sinful heart has ever discouraged Him from loving you…that is mercy.

Then consider the blessing you have been given. Realize the protection He has provided throughout your life, calming some storms - and carrying you through others. And finally meditate on the dreadful Cross…and fall on your face and worship Him for His unmerited amazing grace.

His unending love for us proves He is good…it is not a product of anything we have done but of who He is…..and that should produce so much thankfulness in us that it defines who we are…if I take one breath today without thankfulness – it will be because I have forgotten that He is good, and  has promised to love me forever.  

“We are in a wrong state of mind if we are not in a thankful state of mind.”
- Charles Spurgeon