PSALM 139:23-24 7/27/21*

^“Search me, God, and know my heart; Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me …”

Have you ever let shame stop you from praying that prayer?  Have you ever been afraid to ask God to Search your heart? …You might as well - He has already seen it. (Psalm 7)

Every selfish thought, every hypocrisy. Your pride, your lust, your perversions…The dark things you don’t even admit to yourself…He already knows.

But there is something YOU need to know…He has seen it all and He loves you. 

Regardless of what immorality turns up when your heart is examined…. God loves you; and proved it by dying for you while you were still rejecting Him.

Because God has seen it all…because He has faced it all - so can you. You don’t have to hide anything anymore – because it has all been viewed, paid for, and redeemed. 

Pray the prayer. Ask God to search your heart…and be ready to deal with whatever He finds…No more hiding. There is no sin that He cannot release you from, and there is nothing He can’t forgive…Face the hidden failings that you have been ashamed to confess and allow Him to restore your freedom.  

When you hide sin in the dark, it grows …Drag it out in the light of God’s grace and watch it disintegrate.

There is freedom in transparency - and there is bondage in hiding. It has been said that “we can endure all kinds of pain, but it is shame that eats men whole”. Confess it, knowing that nothing can separate you from His love. (Romans 8)

Cling to Christ and lay your sins at the cross - God has promised to make those sins as far from you, as the east is from the west, they are no longer part of your story. You don’t have to put up a façade. He knows all and loves you.

No more deception. Your value is based on His love not your past… Now you can walk in integrity and tell others about His grace offering the same forgiveness and freedom that has been given to you.

“An exciting and inspiring future awaits you beyond the noise in your mind, beyond the guilt, doubt, fear, shame, insecurity and heaviness of the past you carry around.”- Debbie Ford

Romans 15:14 7/20/2021*

 “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”

Admonishment is defined as a firm warning or reprimand.

When is the last time someone admonished you? .... How did you respond?  The bible is clear that as Christians we are called to do this for each other.

It is hard to admonish because we don’t like confrontation.  And it is hard to be admonished because we present ourselves as perfect.

Most people want “friends” who praise them and revere them…but seldom do we want to be corrected or reprimanded.

In other words, we want fans, not friends. 

If a fan sees a destructive flaw in my life, they will look the other way…If a friend sees one, he will call me on it.  

The bible tells us to love one another, be at peace with one another, be devoted to one another and those things are pleasant and provide fellowship …But it also says to admonish one another…and while not always pleasant, it is valuable because it improves and protects us.

I am thankful for people in my life who are willing to correct me…I seldom enjoy it, but it forces me to look in the mirror and it makes me better.

Having a friend that cares enough to admonish is like having a knowledgeable coach in the press box. It provides a vantage point that you cannot see for yourself. And if there is someone you trust in the press box, you will make better decisions on the field.

The key to being a successful “admonisher” is your motivation… If you correct me because you want to elevate yourself by pulling me down - your admonishment will be useless…but if you admonish me because you love me and want what is best for me…your words can be life changing. 

We all need friends who love us enough to be uncomfortable. That is the difference in an acquaintance and a brother.

Determine to have that in your life. Love your brother enough to tell him what he needs to hear – And love your brother enough to listen when he tells you what you need to hear.

“If you don’t love your friend more than you love your friendship then you don’t have either one.”

– Anonymous

1 Peter 5:12-14 7/13/2021*

“With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love.”

This letter was addressed to "resident aliens" scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. It was from “She who is in Babylon” which was the church in Rome. It calls for unity that crosses cultural, race, and community boundaries.

Peter’s instructions to greet each other with a kiss may be discouraged while practicing social distancing - but the concept is to be enthusiastic and loving when we see each other. Not just cordial, but really cherishing each other.

His refusal to allow unwarranted division is illustrated with his support of both Mark and Silas …These two were the counterparts to Paul and Barnabas after their argument regarding the mission team. Their spat was one of the first “church quarrels”, and it shows Peter’s refusal to pick sides and divide the body of Christ…This stubborn unity is noticeably missing in the church today.

We divide into opposing camps over the smallest issues. So much so that we are viewed as petty and insignificant, instead of powerful messengers of God, and when we stand against actual sin - it is seen as just one more negative in our confrontational organization.

We need action to change this perception…Peter does not say to march for unity…He says to love each other at a granular level. Stop bickering about the lack of love and spread some yourself. Mother Teresa said, “If you want to change the world go home and love your family.”

Don’t preach about it - model it. You cannot legislate love, but you can demonstrate it. We are God’s children, stop pointing and start hugging. Speak the hard truth – but speak it in love.

To clean up a garbage dump you don’t have a discussion about it - you start picking up trash. Examine your heart and remove any rubbish that has separated you from your brother. Love each other tenaciously and change the world one heart at a time...starting with yours.

“Love one another. We don't need more instructions; we need more examples.”

Bob Goff

Romans 6:1-2 7/6/2021*

 "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?  Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"  

Humans can be slippery…We can rationalize anything. We are chameleons, taking on the colors of our environment…Behaving one way on Sunday, and another way during the week. Although the law is clearly laid out before us - we find a way to profess righteousness without living it.

The problem with that is there is no end to it… 

Sin is never satisfied, perversion is never appeased, selfishness never has enough, anger never subsides…it is a slippery slope with no base - sending us into spiritual free fall. 

That was never God’s plan…as a Christian I cannot biblically rationalize continually living in sin…Nor can I ignore it.  Lack of confession keeps me from acknowledging sin…Lack of repentance keeps me in it… Confession is not so God knows ….it is so I know…and it must lead to remorse and repentance.

Paul asks, should we just get our “fire insurance” and keep living unchanged by the Cross? And His answer is unwavering … Bewildered by the thought, he ask how can we live in sin if we died to it? 

If your conversion did not produce change, you missed something. The entire purpose of the cross was to pay for your righteousness and break the chains that held you in sin…those are the reasons for the greatest sacrifice ever given.

It is easy to find preachers who will say what I want to hear…but if I justify my sinfulness, if I don’t fight against temptation…then I am ignorant of a fundamental biblical truth … Our old sinful life died on the cross with Jesus… “How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”

So, decide… There should be fruit in your life and that fruit shows itself in continued transformation…Hate sin and fight to be a man of God – or do not.  But don’t fool yourself by talking one way and walking another. Jesus didn’t die to make you comfortable in your sin…He died and rose again to free you from it.

“The religion of both Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent outspoken testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity.” 

- Charles Spurgeon

James 5:16 6/29/2021*

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

We don’t confess our sin to each other very often.  Because that would infringe on our national pastime of presenting a perfect self-image to the world. 

 
We use “filtered” photographs, staged activities, and blatant lies to present a deceptive picture of who we are…. 

Why would we ruin all that by telling someone the truth?

 
We might “humble brag” by confessing a struggle with pride or self-discipline.  But our propensity to tell the truth diminishes as the sin gets less socially acceptable.

Pornography, alcohol abuse, and drug addictions are less likely to be shared and the probability lessens as we get into sexual deviance, theft, and acts society deems as “darker” sins.…. We not only don’t confess these… we deny them.

  
This obsession with hiding our flaws and fighting our addictions by ourselves is the enemy’s greatest tool.  Our insistence on handling problems alone makes us vulnerable like an antelope that has wandered away from the herd. 

We hide our sin in the dark and put up a façade…. but sin flourishes in the dark, so God tells us to drag it out into the light.

  
Your first step is to find some loyal brothers and come clean about your struggle, then together you devise a plan to eliminate this sin from your life. 

The unmentionable wickedness that has paralyzed you for so long is a paper tiger… and if you will stop trying to be The Lone Ranger - stop hiding in the shadows - and reach out to some friends … its lack of power will become evident.

That does not mean to post it on Facebook or shout it in the streets.  It means to find some buddies you trust – tell them you need help and get their commitment to hold you accountable and to pray for you …. Resolve to remove this sin from your life whatever it costs …and according to God, the prayers of your friends will “accomplish much”.

  
Life is not an individual activity…it is a team sport, and we must have each other’s back…Be courageous enough to tell the truth, and watch the truth set you free. 

“The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” - Saint Augustine

PSALM 23:1 6/22/2021*

 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

This Psalm begins with a massive truth - and then immediately inserts what should be the result of that truth.
 
The Shepherds in David’s day lived with their sheep. And unlike western Shepherds, they did not drive them - they led them. The sheep recognized their Shepherd and followed him wherever he went. In times of danger, they would move toward their protector.
 
Does that describe your relationship with the Lord? 
 
It seems at times I run to God only after I have run everywhere else.  I turn to Him after I have tried to fight the wolves on my own. Then after struggling - I come bruised and bloodied to Jesus so He can rescue me.

Sheep are not the brightest animals in the pasture, but at least they know what to do when they are threatened. It would seem useful for me to learn that principle myself.
 
The second phrase, “I shall not want”  means I will have all I need - but the wording also illuminates another important message for me.  
 
Not only will I not be in need - but If the Lord is my Shepherd - I should not want anything more than I have. I should understand that He knows what I need - and He knows what I don’t need. I ought to trust in what I am given and what I am denied with equal enthusiasm.  In other words, I should practice contentment.
 
How about you? ...When you wake up in the morning would you describe your mood as content? Or would you use words like anxious, worried, or exhausted? Those are words used to describe Sheep with no Shepherd. Those are words that describe someone fighting their own battles.
 
A lamb is safest when he is close to the shepherd.  Do you trust Jesus as your Shepherd? Do you move close to Him when you are threatened and rest comfortably in His protection…or do you “want”? 
 
Practice relaxation and contentment today…He has given you what you need.

Even though the wolves prowl nearby - if you stay close to The Shepherd, all they can do is growl - Because He that is in you, is greater than He that is in the world.
 
“Safety comes in our nearness to God, not in our distance from our enemies.” ― Dillon Burroughs
 
 
 

Numbers 12: 1-3 6/15/2021*

 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.…. At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.”

This may be the first recorded “trip to the woodshed” in biblical history.

Miriam and Aaron didn’t agree with some life choices Moses had made so they spoke out against God’s chosen leader.  The part of the passage that gets my attention is … “the Lord heard this”. 

That should be enough reading for the day. That should stop us in our tracks and give us something to think about.

At times I say things about God’s children that are not uplifting… this is usually done to elevate myself….and the problem is, the Lord hears it.

Miriam and Aaron started belittling Moses and God’s immediate response was “the four of us are going to have a discussion”.  I bet that was a long walk out to the tent for Aaron and Miriam. 

I remember in High School my typing teacher sent a message to my coach asking him to visit with me and my buddies at practice about being quieter in class…Coach sent back a message instructing her to have us come see him immediately…. that was a long walk as well.

I am aware that my kids aren’t perfect…but I would not respond well to someone degrading them - and it would be downright dangerous to demean them to their mother.

God is like that.  His servants aren’t perfect, but you should be careful if you plan to ridicule a child of God in public…because this scripture says God hears that…and He is partial to His kids.

Decide this morning to only say things that are “helpful for building others up according to their needs”.  If you do this, you will strengthen others - and avoid future long walks out to the woodshed with the Father.

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
- Leo Buscaglia

Malachi 4: 2-3 6/8/2021*

 ^“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and frolic like calves from the stall.” 
 
After the “Snow Apocalypse” last February – When the sun reemerged, I sat outside and let it warm me. The stress from the cold nights without water or power melted away and the warmth brought joy and energy because it signaled the end of the blizzard.
 
I believe it will be that way after the apocalypse of living a lifetime in this frozen world with its pain and disappointment …When I get to Heaven, the Son will warm my soul and bring it back to life. The stress will melt away and be replaced with the soothing Love of God.
 
That expectation is not a fictional concept designed to appease me – it is a trusted fact that my life is built upon - It is a game changer. This deliverance is the promise I count on.  It is my true North, and everything I do should be congruent with that calling. Time spent resting in the love of my Father is a beneficial habit that brings joy in this life - and it will be the glory of the next one.
 
However, some who are caught in this storm are not aware that there is a way out…they wander through life with no hope or direction.  Each day is just one escape after another – never knowing what they are pursuing. 
 
But that is not what we were created for...
 
It is true that in this world… we will endure trials and tribulations as Christ did - But we are not lost, or alone. We have a purpose and a promise. God walks with us, and He has given us His Word as a compass. We must use it to set our path out of the blizzard… and show others how to use the compass to help them find the healing warmth of the Son.
 
The Joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10) and that joy comes when you realize that this cold world is not your home - you are just passing through… Resting in the warmth of God’s glory is your final destination.
 
“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”  -  C. S. Lewis
 
 

2 Kings 22:12-13 6/1/2021*

"…When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes…. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book…”

The law is not soothing. The words of this book expose our sin and lead us to Christ. 

But our tendency is to downplay sin…we prefer to say we made a “mistake” or “slipped up” …. Instead of meeting our rebellion head on, we compartmentalize our sins and as long as they don’t fall outside our acceptable circle, we are content to believe that we “aren’t that bad”.

But that is not how God sees sin. God sees it as a grave violation of His holiness and the reason for the agonizing death of His only begotten Son.

We need to respond like King Josiah. Sin should produce remorse that ruins us.  We need confession and repentance - not minimization and denial. Sin is catastrophic.  The word itself should taste bad leaving your mouth.

Not owning the fact that we need forgiveness is the stumbling block many of us trip over…. When I was a coach, there were parents who could not accept that their kids were sinners. 

They would say “deep down he is a good kid” …. No, he is not …and neither are we…. In our DNA is a destructive, self-centered disease that we are born with – It is an affront to God and causes His anger to burn toward us. It must be destroyed.

There is only one therapy that will eliminate it and that is the complete submersion in the blood of Christ.

Christianity is not a sweet story intended to give you a warm feeling inside…. It is a narrative of redemption and rescue. It is a story of deliverance from a toxic, deadly virus at an unmentionable price.

The bible is extreme about sin and grace. And I must be an extremist in these areas also. If you are to understand the depth and width of the love of God – you must first grasp the horror and depravity of your sin. And your response should be like King Josiah’s… “tear your robe”, confess, and commit to repentance and change.

“Self-centered indulgence, pride and a lack of shame over sin are now emblems of the American lifestyle.” -  Billy Graham

Psalm 59:16-17 5/25/2021*

“But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. You are my strength, I sing praise to you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

On whom do you rely?

David wrote this psalm when King Saul had men hunting him in order to kill him.  The government is after David – the king of the land has issued a death warrant ….and David’s response is to wake up in the morning and start singing praises to the Lord.

I also claim to rely on God yet feel anxiety at the slightest hint of danger. Any threat, credible or not, can destroy my peace and send me into an episode of dwelling on the most catastrophic possible outcomes of my situation.

So, there appears to be a disconnect in what I say I believe, and how I live my life. And it seems to be related to my lack of understanding of the last phrase of this passage… “on whom I can rely”.

So, let me ask you again…who do you rely on?  When it comes down to it what is your fortress?  What do you trust in times of trouble? …Is it your money?  Is it your ability to avoid problems? … or maybe your connections to powerful people?

Those are all things we run to – but none of them are reliable. David’s peace is unshakable because his reliance is on God.

In this fallen world there are terrible threats. There are real dangers – but your God is powerful – He loves you and paid an incredible price to redeem you.  God withheld nothing when it came to purchasing your salvation, and He will not abandon you now. …Rest in that truth.

Make God your refuge during this time of trouble.  As you wake up this morning with dogs growling at the door … choose to sing praises to God. Choose to implicitly trust in the one you can rely on.  

Intentionally put your faith in your Father’s love…bank on it… rest in it…Let God be your refuge, and when fear knocks at your door - let your songs of praise drowned out its lies.

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
– Corrie Ten Boom