James 1:2-4 4/27/2021*

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
 
This is a command not a suggestion.  It does not say “try” to consider it joy…it says to do it.
 
That seems counterintuitive.  Joy is the last thing that naturally comes to mind when things go wrong - and yet there it is in black and white…” consider it pure joy.”  
 
I suppose God knew this would confuse us because He explains in the next verse that the result of struggling is perseverance. It makes you stronger and braver.  Once you have endured something you do not fear it anymore…That is called Spiritual maturity.   
 
We are not supposed to relish trouble. But this passage says that it will come, and when it does, we should view it as spiritual weightlifting.  We should understand that overcoming problems builds spiritual muscle.
 
I have never been one of those guys who enjoyed the weight room…but I appreciated the results. Working out made me more effective on the field and allowed me to avoid injury. And while it was at times exhausting, there was a sort of joy that came from knowing you were improving.
 
Spiritually, that is what trials do. God is instructing us that when we go through rough waters, we are to appreciate the results of the struggle, and avoid self-pity by focusing on the growth. We must realize that the fight is making us better.
 
Our “instant gratification culture” does not produce or appreciate patience and endurance, but they are game changers.  Endurance is most often the difference between failure and success. You never truly fail until you stop trying – so endurance breeds accomplishment.
 
Each time you fall down and then get back up - you are encouraged, and your enemies are disheartened …So get up one more time. Make note of what you have learned - and try again.
 
Like most people, I would love to stay on the mountain top…but nothing grows up there.  Periodically we must travel through the valley to allow things to flourish.
 
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened..."
 - Helen Keller
 

Malachi 2:17 4/20/2021*

"You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, “How have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” or, “Where is the God of justice?”
 
If God was tired of hearing this duplicity 2500 years ago, imagine His weariness with us today? 
 
The Israelites were calling good evil, and evil good. Declaring that the Lord delighted in their sin all the while brazenly ignoring His law. Malachi says that God was exasperated by their attitude.
 
Like them, we have set our own standards…we are fine with someone saying God loves us - but resistant if we are told God wants us to change.
 
We have become incapable of saying “I am sorry”, as we have been raised to believe we are infallible. We call sin disease…we blame God, our parents, or the government for what we do…and we have an excuse for every action. Anyone who points out that our actions are evil, is labeled intolerant.
 
This wearies God.
 
It is dangerous that we imagine God as a heavenly Santa Clause and ignore the ominous God described in scripture.  The last question in this verse will one day be answered… “Where is the God of justice?”
 
The requirement of holiness has not been eliminated. It has been paid…but those who do not admit their guilt and accept His grace certainly will meet the God of Justice.
 
To accept forgiveness, we must first agree that we need it…. We must stop wearying God with our twisting of His commands and learn to not only admit sin - but turn away from it.
 
Do the Will of your Father. Your actions reveal your heart…The fruit on a tree doesn’t make the tree good…it just shows that it is.
 
Acknowledge your sin today.  Call it what it is, drop the chains, and turn to Jesus. Sin is tiresome for you – and for God as well.
 
Stop making excuses for evil and start living according to His design. You are an eagle, stop walking down the path of life…. Confess, repent, and then soar into freedom. 
 
You can be different.
 
“If you are truly renewed by grace, and were to meet your old self, I am sure you would be very anxious to get out of his company.”
― Charles H. Spurgeon
 
 

PSALM 34:1-2 4/13/2021*

 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord…”
 
What if we did that?...
 
What if we were continually praising God?... Instead of self-centeredness, or pride, or disrespect toward others…what if our mouths (and our keyboards) only praised God and lifted up His creation?
 
Think about that for a moment. What would your day look like if you spent it intentionally worshiping God?...
 
You can do that…it is your decision. But this is not a self-help verse about positive thinking - it is a statement about a changed world view that recognizes that God is in complete control.
 
The second point rings just as true – What if I only boasted about God?  What if my confidence and anxiety levels were not based on my circumstances - but on God’s power? How would my attitude change if I trusted all things to God’s control and depended on His authority?
 
I challenge you to see how long you can go today fixated on God’s blessings.  See how deep into the day you can get without a word of negativity.  Attempt to live an entire day without saying something derogatory about someone else and see what happens….
 
We all live in the same world - but your perception of it is based on the emissions of your heart.  Your experience is impacted by the attitude you carry around with you.
 
David, in this psalm, does not leave that to chance.
 
He doesn’t wait to see how he is treated at work today - or whether or not someone cuts him off on the freeway. He simply decides to contemplate the many blessings God has given him and intentionally live in a state of praise. Concentrating on God’s omnipotence instead of his own circumstances is what defines his experience.
 
Have you considered the power you wield with just your own thoughts? …Have you contemplated the effectiveness of your praises, or the destructiveness of your criticisms?
 
Your choices will determine how today goes…The psalmist says “I will bless the Lord” …what do you say?
 
“You can't blame things for being dark if the light bulbs aren't working… we're complaining about the darkness when the bulbs aren't working, and the Bible says that we are the light of the world.”
- Tony Evans

Revelation 5:8 4/6/2021*

 “When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

In John’s account of his vision regarding the end of time, he mentions a golden bowl “full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

That phrase caused me to wonder if my prayers and petitions smell like incense to God?
 
As I think about it, I am afraid that instead of a sweet aroma – many of my prayers may have a whiff of selfishness.
 
I fear that at times my prayers are so routine they may be stale and moldy.  Even worse, sometimes in my self-pity they may carry the unpleasant smell of my egotistical heart with them.
 
As a loving Father I know that God hears my prayers as the cries of His child and is moved by them…but this verse challenges me to make them a sweeter offering.
 
But how do we do that?
 
Prayers of gratitude would be a refreshing change to our King.  The habit of seeing His hand on every good thing in our lives would produce prayers that not only please God but strengthen us.
 
Prayers that lift up the needs of others also please God – As a daddy myself, I know that nothing touches my heart more than someone who loves my kids.
 
But the most important element in our prayers is faith…the bible is clear that without faith it is impossible to please God. Prayers that carry the sweet scent of confidence are the most pleasing to our Savior.
 
So, pray like you mean it.  Be grateful. Pray for others. Pray big and expect results.
 
God is not moved by routinely recited prayers that do not impact the heart of the one that is praying. And He is not moved by request that we do not believe will be answered.
 
Spend today creating the sweet scent of honest prayers. Open your heart and allow the faith, gratitude, and dependency you have in God to fill Heaven with the sweet aroma of a child’s loving, confident, appeal to their Father.
 
“Prayer and praise are the oars by which a man may row his boat into the deep waters of the knowledge of Christ.” – Charles Spurgeon
 

James 1:2 3/30/2021*

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves.”

 We have studied this verse before, but we may have gotten the cart before the horse.

 It obviously focuses on being a “doer” of the Word and indicates that if the Word of God does not change how you act – then you are fooling yourself…. But it also recognizes that we need to listen.

In scripture, Christ’s followers are at times, reprimanded for their lack of attention. In Matthew, after the disciples ask for explanation of a parable. Jesus says, “are you still so dull?” ...basically… have you not been paying attention?

The first Easter an Angel asks followers at the empty tomb why they are looking for the “living among the dead”?…essentially saying, didn’t you hear Him say He would rise?

There is no doubt that James 1:22 is clearly telling us to be men of action – but in our current “misinformation culture” with countless false teachers… it is crucial that we learn to be discerning listeners as well.

So how do we do that?

In Psalms, God says we need to be still.  Physically and emotionally still.

Quietly sitting alone can be difficult in this age of constant stimulation and connection, but it is required. We often read of Jesus going off by himself in the morning to pray. If Christ found that necessary then we certainly need to have intentional time alone in prayer and meditation.

Knowing your bible is the other prerequisite.  Jesus repeatedly says, “it is written” while He is teaching His followers - reinforcing the fact that God’s Word is our compass …and we need directions before moving.

If you examine history you will see the thread that runs through the life of every effective Christian - is that they spent time in prayer…and they accepted God’s word as truth.  I challenge you to find an effective Christian’s biography that does not contain those elements.

So, by all means, be a “Doer of the Word”. But don’t run off “doing” before you spend time “hearing”.  You must know the playbook to run the play.

Commit to prayer – Learn the Word – and then Go.

Removing any of those ingredients will diminish your ministry and make you ineffective as a soldier of the Cross.

“In an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as being still.” — Pico Iver

Esther 4:14 3/23/2021*

 “… Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”
 
Esther had become the Queen of Persia which gave her opportunity to stop the slaughter of the Jews… It was no accident; it was God’s plan to save His people, but Esther didn’t know that… She did not know if her efforts would succeed until she stepped out in faith and acted.  
 
God always prepares a response when His children are threatened, and that response often comes from His followers.
 
In the 1500’s the church had lost its way, pursuing money instead of holiness. So, God raised up Wycliff, Calvin, Luther, and others to speak scriptural truth which began the “Protestant Reformation”.
 
A few hundred years later secular rationalism influenced church leaders to replace the gospel with entertainment. Avoiding topics like man’s depravity and the need we all have for redemption…Until a man named Jonathan Edwards preached a sermon entitled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” which spurred what is now known as the “Great Awakening”.
 
Fast forward to the 1960’s when the “sexual revolution” replaced God’s plan for intimacy, with depravity and disorder. So, Bill Bright, and Billy Graham were used to grow the “Jesus Movement” and teach that only holiness brings freedom.
 
Now here we are in the 2020’s and secular humanism is attacking God’s design of the family, twisting masculinity, and creating gender confusion and disfunction.  So, God is inspiring His people to answer.
 
It is time to speak up… stop apologizing for being men, and start living out biblical masculinity. We need to be good fathers, faithful husbands, and strong men willing to fight for the weak. Lies and misinformation have become widespread, and we must speak truth whether it is popular or not.
 
God is going to move, He always does. He will send people to respond…. The question is… will you be one of those people? Will you let God use you to change history?
 
Like Esther, Luther, Edwards, and Graham - you may be the person that God intends to use to initiate change…. Trust Him, and take the first step…. Because who knows, maybe God has placed you where you are, “for such a time as this”?
 
“There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.” -  John F. Kennedy

John 10:10 3/16/2021*

 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.”
 
When is the last time you thought of your life as abundant? 
 
If it has been a while, maybe you are not receiving what Jesus came to give you.
 
We tend to focus on stopping the enemy from stealing, killing, and destroying things that matter to us - But when is the last time you played a little offense? When is the last time you gave the opponent a reason to worry about God’s plan of abundance?
 
If when you hear the word “abundant” …you think of “stuff” then you have missed the point.  God made you for adventure. The life He created for you is one of excitement …He wants to give you abundance in faith, joy, and enthusiasm.  He wants you to be a fisher of men - on a mission of eternal significance…That should fuel your life.
 
Mundane boredom is not mentioned in this passage and has never been a part of God’s program. Attempting to fearfully hold on to what we have accumulated is not the game plan. That is your opponent’s strategy so do not succumb to the temptation.
 
Approach today differently…. Saddle up and go after abundance.  Look for opportunities to engage …Build up your family… Encourage your friends. Constantly look for ways to share Christ with others.
 
Each day is a blank canvass that you can either fill with grey - or splash colors all over and make it unforgettable…the choice is literally in your hands.
 
Jesus intends for you to live adventurously - so go for it.  Look for projects with eternal payoffs…seek out the hurting and encourage them …. Stop looking for material junk and look for infinite impact.
 
Yes, you must make a living, and you should be diligent in that... but more importantly you need to make a life…and Jesus came to make your life remarkable!
 
Stop settling for just existing…stop playing defense…and throw a few deep balls. You serve a Big God, and He wants you to live a Big life.  Go out today and make a difference.
 
“Just as drowning cannot be equated with swimming, mere existence is not the same as abundant life. We have been offered a new way to live – a new way to be human.”
Jon Foreman

Colossians 3:17 3/9/2021*

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father…”
 
If Paul had been writing to some old athletes he might have used the phrase “keep your head in the game”.  Or he might have said, “whatever you do always remember who you play for”.
 
Being a disciple is not a side gig… There are no part-time Christians. Jesus said you are either for Him, or against Him – There is no middle ground. Everything means EVERYTHING. No matter what I am doing – people should see the fingerprint of God on my activities.
 
It is popular to say that life is complicated, but it rarely is... Life can be difficult, but most of our struggles come, not in determining what is right…but in deciding whether or not we are going to do it.
 
However, if we commit to a team…commit to doing everything with the goal of pleasing God, our path becomes obvious.  You seldom have to search for God’s Will, because He seldom hides it. 
 
If you will remove the distractions and determine to do and say everything in the name of Jesus, most decisions will become evident. It is when you entertain other motives that your way becomes murky.
 
The bible is a “light unto your path” and the way to please God and avoid stumbling is to leave the light on so you can see where you are going.
 
Know your playbook, accept it as it is written. Never change the Bible to make it palatable. Reject “Progressive Christianity” …Truth does not change to fit culture…It is our culture that needs change.
 
If you are struggling – be sure you are struggling to follow God - not struggling to rationalize your lack of obedience? Do not strive to do good things so God will love you – Do them because He loves you … Obedience is born of gratitude.
 
Life is easier when you have decided where you are going. Have Faith in the Word of God and do EVERYTHING in the name of Jesus. Eliminate the duplicity in your life so the confusion will disappear, and you will become a decisive man of God who walks in confidence.
 
“Cling to the whole Bible, not a part of it.  A man is not going to do much with a broken sword.”
– D.L. Moody

Proverbs 4:23 3/2/2021*

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
 
How do your choices of entertainment stack up to this verse? Are you diligent about what goes into your heart and mind?
 
The constant theme in scripture is - what you plant, will grow…so how careful are you about your harvest?
 
A while ago I decided to stop allowing things to dull my senses. There are no neutral influences, so I decided to be more careful about what I allow in my head. I want to challenge you today to do the same thing.
 
The next time you pick up the television remote – instead of mindlessly putting on that series that compromises your values – or the monotonous one-sided news that gives you stress…. try doing something beneficial.
 
Go on Prime, or Netflix, or whatever source you have - and search names like Calvin, Luther, Wesley, Spurgeon, Anne Graham Lotz, Corrie Ten Boom.  Click on documentaries or movies about men and women that God has used to impact eternal souls.
 
Or search for “The Chosen” or other bible-based shows that help you visualize and contemplate scripture. There are more of these types of programs than you might imagine.
 
Once you have viewed one of these shows, most platforms will suggest others of the same kind, and you can begin spending time being both entertained and enriched…  Educating you, encouraging you, and challenging you to do more with your life than watch sitcoms.  Try this for a month…the change in your mindset will astound you.
 
Time is the only thing we cannot get more of - and every hour spent “bingeing” on a fictional series is a wasted hour. And every time I compromise my morals to be entertained - I numb myself to the destructiveness of sin. 
 
Guard your heart for from it springs your life…What I allow in my heart will grow and produce fruit…good or bad – depends on the seed. 
 
Do not be deceived…. saying “there is just a little filth in this show” is like saying there is “only a little dog poop in the cookies” ….it matters what you consume.
 
This verse says that if you improve the input - you will experience better results. If you believe that – then make the change.
 
“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
-Marcus Aurelius

Matthew 22: 36- 40 2/23/2021*

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus highlights “loving your neighbor” by including it in His answer, even though it was not part of the question … While the church has rightfully focused on loving God …our response to loving our neighbor has often been to look for loopholes. 

In Luke chapter 10, a lawyer asked Jesus, “who is my neighbor?”  What he meant was, “who do I have to love?” …or more to the point “who do I NOT have to love?” Instead of reducing the number of people who qualify … Jesus flipped the question, making it the lawyer’s obligation.

 
Jesus told a story about a mugging victim and discussed how different people responded when they came upon him injured … He did not tell the lawyer how to identify a neighbor – he told him how to be one.

Jesus basically said - it is your problem – being someone’s brother is “on you” … it is your responsibility, not theirs. You cannot limit who you love by race, occupation, political affiliation, or even how they treat you …you are to be a neighbor to everyone God puts in your path. 

Love them like you love yourself…THAT is the second greatest commandment - and Jesus said it is like the first.

 
The importance of brotherhood is in our DNA… In Genesis - God said, “it is not good for the man to be alone" - and that is not just talking about marriage.  

Psychologists who study solitary confinement say that it "destroys people as human beings."  Lack of community can cause anxiety- panic- Depression- Anger- Cognitive disturbances- etc.  If we ever doubted that isolation is dangerous, the statistics from this pandemic have made it crystal clear… As God said, “It Is Not Good.”

Stop looking for someone who looks like you to be your neighbor. Just love the people God has placed around you. It is not up to others to be your neighbor…it is up to you to be theirs. 

“If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar” – John (1 John 4:20)