Isaiah 59:14-15 11/28/2023*

“So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” 

Written nearly 3,000 years ago, this passage is poetic, powerful, and prophetic… It is an accurate description of our culture today. 

A few years ago, “post truth” was the most searched phrase on the web. We have become that society. “Truth is nowhere to be found” and each man does what is right in his own eyes. We elect leaders who say what our itching ears want to hear, and we are reaping the harvest. Truth has “stumbled in the streets,” we can no longer even define it, and we are afloat in a sea of uncertainty.

Not only do we no longer seek truth … we don’t tolerate it.  Men of morality are vilified as haters. The world hates truth, so it calls truth hate, and those who preach it have become “prey”... They are hunted, slandered,  and canceled. Our culture demands silent compliance, so what can the church do about it?

How about we become rebels and spread the truth anyway. Let’s shine a light on sin regardless of the consequences.  Our timidness has emboldened the enemy, and as we sit silently, lies are repeated until they are accepted as truth. It is the emperor’s new clothes all over again, and someone is going to have to say something… Someone is going to have to speak the truth. 

However, “speak the truth” is not the entirety of God’s command... God says someone is going to have to “speak the truth in love”. I can easily become angry enough to speak the truth …. But can I love others enough to do it? Truth lands differently when it comes from a place of love.  

If I know people who are walking toward destruction, and I watch in silence so as not to offend …that is not love… But neither is screaming vitriol at them and hoping for their demise… So, speak hard truth today… Be accurate and don’t water it down…  but don’t use it as a weapon… use it as a rescue rope to save those who are drowning in a sea of deceit. 

“Truth is not only violated by falsehood; it may be equally outraged by silence.” - Henri Frederic Amiel

2 Peter 1:10-11 10/21/2023*

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble.”

Peter encourages us to be diligent to make certain of God’s calling and choice of us. That is a peculiar statement in light of other scripture.  The Word of God is clear that we are saved through faith, yet Peter says our diligent obedience makes it more certain… You don’t hear many sermons on this, yet Peter speaks of it almost casually.  

Salvation is by grace through faith, and that faith is a gift from God, so we have nothing to boast about. But this verse says our diligent practice of obedience confirms the certainty of that gift…  That’s confusing because in Romans, Paul refers to  his own “good works” as rubbish in acquiring salvation.  

So how do we unite these two passages?

Let’s approach it this way… The appearance of apples on a tree… is not what makes it an apple tree, it simply proves that it is one.  In the same way, our conduct is not what makes us Christians, but it offers proof that we are.

Christians aren’t perfect and are still badly in need of grace, but our faith is confirmed as we strive to be more like Christ… “Fire insurance” salvation, where you walk the aisle, recite a prayer, and just continue down the same road, is not found in scripture.

Jesus said, "follow me", and that means changing direction. Grasping the relationship between obedience and salvation is challenging. But study it anyway… As you grow consume the meat of the Word, not just the milk. Dig deep into scripture. Verses like this can be uncomfortable but our goal is not comfort… it is holiness. Christ offers to be your Lord and Savior; and those titles are inseparable – so be diligent about His calling. 

As you grapple with Omnipotence, Holiness, and the myriad of other topics in scripture that can be hard to understand, make sure that you spend as much time obediently living out the things in His Word that you do understand. 

“The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The two are opposite sides of the same coin.” - A. W. Tozer

John 16:26-27 11/14/2023*

”In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”

In this passage Jesus clarifies that your salvation is personal… You should approach God as your Father. He desires to speak with you... Let me clarify… God wants to talk to you.  

It would have been a benevolent gesture had God just sent an interpreter. Someone who could bring our petitions to Him… Any opportunity to communicate with God would have been a blessing beyond measure.  

But God did much more than that… He sent a sacrifice to destroy the separation between us … His gift imputed holiness to you and created a way for you to have a relationship with Him.  

But the most astonishing part - is WHY He did it... 

God did all this because He loves you… That is staggering.  That statement is so outlandish that Jesus had to clarify it by saying  “I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father Himself loves you...”  

Maybe we’ve been told that God loves us too many times… so many times that  we don’t really hear it anymore ... the statement should make us shudder… It is a shocking truth that should leave us stunned every time we hear it.  Being told that God, who knows your every thought, mistake, and shameful failure …  looks at you with love, should bring you to your knees.  

God allowed His Son to be executed for your transgressions… That is the ultimate demonstration of love. Because you love Jesus and believe that He came from God  - The Father Loves YOU. 

That’s the gospel… That’s life changing grace … In the midst of the storm, when the world says you’re not enough,  wrap your head around the fact that your faith in Jesus has given you new life, and that God adores you… Let that give you confidence and change how you approach God, and how you treat others.  

“We should be astonished at the goodness of God, stunned that He should bother to call us by name, our mouths wide open at His love, bewildered that at this very moment we are standing on holy ground.” ― Brennan Manning

ISAIAH 2:22 11/7/2023*

“Take no account of man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed?”

In this age of “influencers” attempting to sell you a template for your life… this verse is good advice… Stop looking to other humans for guidance, value, or self-esteem.

We frantically chase after diets, workouts, jobs, clothes… anything that we think can cover our insecurities… and worse, we think we are the only ones who feel that way.  This self-doubt is reinforced every time we look at our phones and see all our perfect “friends” with their perfect jobs, marriages, and lives. 

This verse says that that perception is a lie… They are in the same boat as you. Most are searching for meaning, and living their life “one escape after another”… This verse says that, just like you, they are 30 seconds away from needing their next breath just to continue living.  

Maybe that is why God has us breathe 22,000 times a day. To remind us that life is a fragile gift, and 22,000 times a day we should be grateful for it.

We should use more of those breaths to thank Him since every rich, powerful, famous person on earth would give everything they own – just for that next breath. 

So, it makes no sense to esteem people who are in the same predicament as you are… Why look to them for guidance?... They are searching for control they will never find – so why follow them?  Instead follow the one who breathed life into you in the first place. Look to Him to establish your value and give you direction. 

We are all running the same race… sinners in need of redemption which we cannot afford. “Self-help” is a misnomer… We need help from power not found within ourselves. Salvation is a gift only found through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  

Love everyone – envy no one. Stop looking for life models online, in clubs, or in the rich and famous …That’s all just smoke and mirrors.  

Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He came to give you life abundantly.  Your value and security come from walking humbly with God and following His Word… everything else is just a distraction.

“Religion says earn your life. Secular society says create your life. Jesus says, 'My life for your life. - Timothy Keller

James 1:1 10/31/2023*

“James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ...”

God didn’t use me to write the book of “James” because… well, it would have been called “Boyd” for one … but more significantly, I would have been too intent on listing my qualifications … If I were in James shoes, I would have used my kinship with Jesus to elevate myself …my letter would have started like this: “I’m Boyd, Jesus’ little brother… so I’m pretty important.” 

But James’s only claim to fame is his servanthood to God and Christ. 

Being a brother of the Savior, the leader of the church, a guy who spent his whole life with Christ and knew Him better that any of the disciples… None of these “credentials” mattered to James… Instead, the title he chose was “bondservant of God.”

What titles do you choose?... What accolades do you consider important?  Are there things you “humble brag” about to make sure you are listened to, and respected by others?

Scripture says we must decrease so He will increase, but most would rather tell you to do that, than do it themselves. We want to be humble, but we want people to admire our humility …and that’s a problem…self-promotion is a problem… Jesus says we have it backwards. 

Christ preached that the first shall be last… The servants will be the masters… Being poor in spirit is the only way to be rich.  And while we often preach these truths – we seldom pursue them. 

We call pride a sin but fail to recognize it as the original one… It is the enemy’s first and favorite weapon, and our semi-tolerance of it has allowed it to destroy countless lives. It breeds hypocrisy. It disguises itself as piety, and poisons churches …  Nothing disqualifies you as a follower of Christ more than pride.

Let’s try humility today… Not for a moment, but for the entire day … Let’s think of others as more important than ourselves. Praying that God will use us  - and not even let us know – so we may walk in humility with God, serve others, and not be tempted by the deadly sin of pride. 

Nothing will enrich your life more than choosing to elevate God and His children, instead of yourself.

“Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” - C. S. Lewis

Colossians 4:2-3 10/24/2023*

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.”

After encouraging the Colossians, Paul mentions that he is in chains.  If I were writing the letter, I would have started with that,  and encouraged them to pray for my freedom!  I usually pray about opening earthly doors… Paul desires prayer about opening doors for the gospel. 

He says, “devote yourself” to prayer so the mystery of Christ can be proclaimed … Am I devoted to talking to God?... And when I do pray, is it to promote His Kingdom or mine?

To be honest, the times I hit my knees in real devotion usually involve a personal emergency. And that is an appropriate response.  

But when did I last cry out to God about unbelievers?  When did I lose sleep because I was burdened by the sinfulness of our culture?  We are quick to post about politics, but do we pray for our country?  I cannot find the verse that tells me to lambast my political opponents online … but scripture clearly instructs me to pray for those in authority.  

It seems prayer is a more intricate issue than we have made it.  It’s not just a time to complain to God when we feel slighted… or place our order for the blessings we desire. 

Prayer is an avenue allowing us to be involved in God’s plan. It is an opportunity to wage war against “principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” That is what prayer is intended to be.  It is the greatest honor, and the most powerful weapon in all of creation …and we must not reduce it to a mantra, mindlessly uttered before meals. 

Let’s re-evaluate our approach to prayer. Let’s pray with passion and confidence making it our first, and last resort…. Prayer is powerful because God is … He is able to do more than we could ever ask for or imagine … That is what Jesus meant when He said... “Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”

I know of no better thermometer to your spiritual temperature than, the measure of the intensity of your prayer. – Charles Spurgeon

Jonah 4:11 10/17/2023*

“And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left…?”

God is sympathetically pointing out the condition of the lost people in Nineveh … But Jonah didn’t like the Ninevites because their sin was different than his.  God wasn’t telling Jonah to tolerate their sin, He told him to tell them to repent… but Jonah didn’t want to, because he was afraid they would listen and avoid the punishment he had decided they deserved. 

We shake our heads at Jonah’s judgmentalism, but don’t we do the same thing?  Don’t we know people who are so lost they can’t tell their right hand from their left – and our response is to judge them, and leave them in their “lostness”? 

Let’s be honest…there are sins that we somewhat tolerate…but if you venture outside of those sins, our attitude toward you changes. If you succumb to a sin outside of our acceptable list, we don’t offer redemption, we don’t pray for you… we label you as arrogant, sick, ignorant, perverted, selfish, the list goes on and on… 

Here’s the problem with that… God loves sinners… and instructed us to do the same.  Sin is never to be tolerated, it requires repentance and change… if not,  sin leads to destruction.  However, God will determine deliverance or devastation … that is not my department. 

My job is to love others and tell them the truth, and I can’t do one without the other.  Truth without love will be condemnatory and condescending… Love without truth leaves people lost in their sinfulness. Both Truth and love are required to be effective.

So, who are the Ninevites in your life? …. Which group of sinners have you become judge and jury for?  Who have you stopped praying for because they don’t “deserve” the gospel? 

 Are there people who have hurt or upset you to the point that you would just as soon see them go to hell?  If so, you have allowed your heart to harden like Jonah’s did, and if you’re not careful you may find yourself figuratively lying on a beach, in a puddle of fish vomit.

“I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Hebrews 12:1 10/10/2023*

“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us…”

What a great life verse….  

The first part reminds me of the beginning of a football game. In Highschool, parents would form two lines into Tully Stadium and the team would run between them, from the locker room onto the field.  I didn’t realize the symbolism of that then, but I do now.  

There are several ways to interpret the first part of this verse - but only one interpretation for the second….  It clearly says that each day as I enter the race,  I must throw off anything that can trip me up.  

When I ran through those lines, I was wearing gear that protected me, and nothing that would cause me to stumble.  The equipment was light weight so as not to sap my strength. I ran onto the field determined to succeed and that was my only focus. 

Every morning I should visualize running through those lines and beginning my day with the same mentality. There is a game plan. I must put on the full armor of God and eliminate any sin or habit that might cause me to lose balance…  Too many days I just wander onto the field unmotivated, and unprepared... hoping I might win by accident. I won’t.  

This morning let’s be deliberate… throwing off “hinderances” like bailing water out of a sinking ship.  Let’s attack today being strong and courageous pursuing our goal of winning the race, knowing full well that it will take endurance to do it… “Quit” and “concede” will not be allowed into our vocabulary. 

How different would today be if you started it that way?... How different would your life be if you started every day that way?

We are surrounded by witnesses, and that is encouraging.  But we compete for an “audience of One”.  God is watching. So, hold nothing back. Look the opponent in the eye without blinking and run the race fearlessly. When life gets difficult, persevere like Jesus, who ran the race perfectly. 

Trust Him, one step at a time, and He will carry you until the race is over. 

“Heroism is endurance for one moment more.” - George F. Kennan

Mark 8:31-32 10/3/2023*

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.”

Peter’s “rebuke” provoked Jesus to say to Peter, “Get thee behind me satan” in the very next verse.  

This was Peter’s most caustic reprimand from Jesus …much more severe than when he denied Christ.  So, it would be worthwhile to know what produced such a fiery response from the Son of God.  

What appears to have bothered Christ, was that Peter put human concerns in front of Godly ones.  Peter balked when God’s plan didn’t fit with his own plan of success.

It’s hard to blame Peter for not wanting Jesus to suffer and die, but Peter’s focus was on earthly happiness above Heavenly purpose … Peter protested because God’s plan carried too high a personal cost… That prompted a shocking response from Christ.

That hits me right between the eyes.   

I am fine with vague talk of suffering … I can accept that some may think I am odd if I follow Jesus… But if you imply that I am expected to endure abuse, and loss for Christ, I will distance myself from you. That may seem like a mundane reaction, but it is a passive version of exactly what Peter did.

Our attitude of tolerating God’s plan until it cost too much, draws a harsh response from Christ … Jesus doesn’t just want me to allow Him to “influence” my life… He wants my life committed to Him - at all cost. 

He is my King, and He has said that sometimes on this earth I will suffer, … There will be times that He calms the storm - and other times that He calms His child. Only by fully trusting His plan will I be content in either circumstance.

So, when it starts to rain,  I must choose. Either have faith in God and follow Him, or rebuke God and follow my own plan. There is no compromise in this area that will not provoke a forceful response from my Creator. 

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” 

- Corrie Ten Boom

Mark 4:18-19 9/26/2023*

“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Jesus is referring to the gospel as seed, and people’s hearts as the soil where it  lands.  So, what is the condition of your soil?  When was the last time you examined your heart for thorns?

Even healthy plants suffer from the proximity of weeds and thorns which use up nutrition and block the spread of good roots. Unwanted plants interfere with production.  If you were to examine your heart for weeds and thorns, would you know what they look like? 

Some are obvious… immorality, substance abuse, self-centeredness… We all recognize these as unwanted and destructive.  But Jesus lists a few other things that sometimes pass under our radar unnoticed.

Christ calls “worrying” a thorn that stops you from bearing fruit.  We think of worry as a mental health issue, but Jesus says it impacts us spiritually.  Allowing worry to take root in my heart takes my focus off God and reduces my ability to make disciples.  According to Jesus, it’s also a waste of time … "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.” Anxiety is fruitless… Having confidence in God’s power removes the thorn of worry and replaces it with expectant and productive faith. 

The second thorn Christ mentions is wealth’s unquenchable desire. He calls it deceitful.  Its deceptiveness comes from the fact that money is not the root of all evil… it is the love of money that is the problem…. It will take root in your heart, distract you from chasing what matters, and choke out everything good you have planted.  You can’t pursue God and money; so, choose one.   Many who set out to accomplish worthy goals have seen the pursuit of profit take over and wreck their mission.  Love of money is destructive and will make a garden worthless.

Faith and discipline can remove thorns from your life… Confidence in God can eradicate worry and eliminate your obsession with money. Removing those thorns is easy…  deciding you want to, is what takes some doing.

“We gain the strength of the temptation we resist.” -  Ralph Waldo Emerson